Climate Change Law and the Rights of Nature: A Colombian Example Through an International Perspective

In 2018, the Colombian Supreme Court bestowed rights to the Amazon Region. The growing climate change risks brought the Court to rule this way. The ruling relied on international environmental law, comparative law, and national policies. The discussion of Rights of Nature is not new; various States have relied on this practice to strengthen environmental protection. Constitutional provisions, legal acts and courts’ decisions are the source chosen by States to entitle the environment with rights. Remarkably, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights already identified how rights of nature are applied in certain American States, raising this discussion to international environmental law. The Colombian Court award may cause further discussions: first, it will allow rights of nature as an alternative in environmental litigation processes, included climate ones. Second, concerning international environmental law, it may contribute to the idea of constituting a regional state practice on rights of nature recognition

Short-term memory binding in mild cognitive impairment

We showed that short-term memory (STM) binding is sensitive to sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) but is not affected by healthy ageing, chronic depression in the elderly or other forms of dementia. STM binding deficits were also observed in individuals with a genetic susceptibility for AD in the preclinical stages. Hence, we aim to investigate longitudinally individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) using STM binding tasks. Here we report on preliminary cross-sectional results. A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and a visual STM task were given to 21 MCI patients and 20 controls. The STM task required participants to recognise changes across two consecutive arrays presenting either single features (colour or shape) or feature bindings. The MCI group performed significantly poorer than controls on standard tests of memory, attention and on the binding condition of the STM task, but not on single feature conditions. Performance on the binding task and on standard memory tests did not correlate. Eight MCI patients clearly performed outwith the range of normality in the binding task. However, they did not significantly differ from the other 13 MCI patients in disease severity or demographic and neuropsychological variables. Six patients with binding impairments showed a multiple domain profile whereas ten patients with a preserved binding function showed an amnesic profile [Chi-square = 5.45, p = 0.020]. These results suggest that (1) the binding task is assessing a function different from other memory tests and that (2) STM binding may be differentially impaired in MCI subgroups

Enabling Practical IPsec authentication for the Internet

On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2006: OTM 2006 Workshops (First International Workshop on Information Security (IS'06), OTM Federated Conferences and workshops). Montpellier, Oct,/Nov. 2006There is a strong consensus about the need for IPsec, although its use is not widespread for end-to-end communications. One of the main reasons for this is the difficulty for authenticating two end-hosts that do not share a secret or do not rely on a common Certification Authority. In this paper we propose a modification to IKE to use reverse DNS and DNSSEC (named DNSSEC-to-IKE) to provide end-to-end authentication to Internet hosts that do not share any secret, without requiring the deployment of a new infrastructure. We perform a comparative analysis in terms of requirements, provided security and performance with state-of-the-art IKE authentication methods and with a recent proposal for IPv6 based on CGA. We conclude that DNSSEC-to-IKE enables the use of IPsec in a broad range of scenarios in which it was not applicable, at the price of offering slightly less security and incurring in higher performance costs.Universidad de Montpellier IIPublicad

Microscopy-based siRNA screen of microglia to identify neuroprotective drug targets

The uploaded accepted version corresponds to pages E419-E429 of the publication "GLIA Edinburgh 2017: Abstracts Oral Presentations, Posters, Indexes" available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/glia.23157.Neuroinflammation is a fundamental process contributing to the death of neurons in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson ́s (PD) or Alzheimer ́s disease (AD). During this process, activated microglia secrete cytotoxic substances which lead to neuronal death (1). Therefore, we are looking for the molecular mechanism that reverses the inflammatory activation of microglia, since this knowledge would be essential to protect from neurodegeneration. Our previous data (2) indicate that adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) exert important anti-inflammatory actions on microglia. We observed that microglia exposed to ASCs or their secreted factors (conditioned medium, CM) underwent a dramatic cell shape change into a highly elongated morphology (Fig. 1A), similar to the phenotype of microglia observed in a healthy brain (3). The elongation induced by ASCs was associated with a decrease of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFalpha (Fig. 1B) as well as with an upregulation of neurotrophic factors (2). Thus, ASC stimulated microglia represent an ideal tool to study the intracellular events necessary for the transition from inflammatory activated to non-inflammatory neuroprotective microglia. Exploiting these anti-inflammatory properties of ASCs we set up a microscopy-based siRNA screen (Fig. 1C), identifying its hits by cell morphology (see Fig. 1A). In this light, we searched for molecules that inhibited the anti-inflammatory ASC-induced phenotype and thus are involved in the transition from neurotoxic microglia to neuroprotective ones. As changes in the cell shape are intrinsically related to changes of the cytoskeleton, we carried out the screen with the major cytoskeletal regulators. In addition, we included regulators of microglia-specific activation/inflammatory pathways as siRNA targets. Our project is the first siRNA screen performed in primary microglia and we have identified a list of molecules that are specifically implicated in the reversion from activated to neuroprotective microglia. Since our positive hits represent potential neuroprotective drug targets, the outcome of this screen opens up a variety of novel investigation lines and therapies in PD, AD or other neurodegenerative diseases.Michael J Fox Foundation research gran

Tsunamis and tsunami prepardness in Costa Rica, Central America

Artículo científico -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Vicerrectoría de Acción Social. Extensión Docente, 2005. Para mayor información puede escribir a [email protected] and Atlantic sides of Costa Rica there are coastal segments characterised by a flat relief, which increases the vulnerability of the coastal communities. In addition to tsunamis originating in the Middle American Trench (MAT), Costa Rican communities are at risk of a local tsunami generated by an earthquake in an undersea thrust fault system that runs along the Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica and Panama (NPDB). Furthermore, recent bathymetric studies reveal evidence of prehistorical submarine landslides in the Pacific Ocean capable of generating large tsunamis. The Golfo Dulce tsunami in 1854 in the Pacific and the Bocas del Toro tsunami in 1991 in the Caribbean are the real evidence of the hazard in the country. The University of Costa Rica is working on the implementation of the Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Ferropenia como factor de riesgo para convulsión febril en niños menores de 5 años en el Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo.

Se realizará una investigación para establecer si la ferropenia es una condición de riesgo para la presentación de convulsión febril en infantes de 3 meses a 60 meses de edad en el Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo (HRDT); la investigación será analítica, observacional, retrospectiva, de casos y controles. La poblacion estara formada por niños de 3 meses a 5 años que fueron evaluados en el Departamento de Pediatría del HRDT en el periodo abril – noviembre 2019, quienes se adecuaron a los criterios establecidos. La evaluación estadistica se realizará mediante la prueba delaChi Cuadrado (X 2 ) para variables cualitativas; consderándose las asociaciones estadisticamente significativas con una probabilidad de errar menor al 5% (p < 0.05). Debido a que es una investigación que determinará la relación entre variables mediante un estudio de casos y controles; se obtendrá el odds ratio (OR) que ofrecen la exposición a ferropenia en concordancia con la convulsión febril. Se realizará la estimación del IC al 95% según el estadígrafo respectivo.Trabajo de investigació

Muy bajo y extremo bajo peso al nacer

ResumenAntecedentesEl peso al nacer es uno de los principales factores predictores de la mortalidad infantil y se asocia a cifras elevadas de morbilidad. En los países en desarrollo, los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacer (menos de 1.500g) tienen 200 veces más riesgo de morir, en comparación con los recién nacidos de peso adecuado. El muy bajo y el extremadamente bajo peso al nacer (menos de 1.000g) son causas de secuelas en los niños y de perturbaciones en sus familias.ObjetivosSe trata de una revisión narrativa sobre muy bajo y extremadamente bajo peso al nacer, en la que se tuvieron en cuenta tópicos como definiciones, factores asociados, morbilidad, mortalidad y prevención de estos resultados.MetodologíaSe hizo una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura científica en las bases de datos de Medline, Lilacs y Google académico, con los términos MeSH: “infant”, “very low birthweight”; “extremely low birthweight”; “risk factors”; “morbidity”; “mortality” y “prevention”; y en español: “recién nacido de muy bajo peso”, “recién nacido con peso al nacer extremadamente bajo”, “factores de riesgo”, “morbilidad”, “mortalidad” y “prevención”. Se seleccionaron los artículos publicados en los últimos diez años hasta el 31 de enero de 2016.ResultadosAunque los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacer representan entre 1 y 1,5% del total de los nacimientos, contribuyen significativamente a la mortalidad neonatal (50 a 70%) e infantil (25 a 40%) en la región del Cono Sur de América. Los factores que se han establecido asociados dependen de dónde se estudien. En los países desarrollados se ha encontrado asociación con la enfermedad vascular hipertensiva, los antecedentes de abortos previos y la muerte fetal previa. En los países en desarrollo, se ha encontrado asociación estadísticamente significativa con ausencia de control prenatal (OR=3,8; IC95% 3,0-5,0); preeclampsia (OR=7,3; IC95% 5,1-10,6); hemorragia (OR=7,5; IC95% 5,0-11,1); amenaza de parto prematuro (OR=15,9; IC95% 12,1-21,0). Las complicaciones que se presentan pueden ser a corto o a largo plazo: hipotermia, hipoglucemia, asfixia, dificultad respiratoria, desequilibrios de líquidos y electrolitos, hiperbilirrubinemia, infección, problemas neurológicos y sensoriales, e incluso, enfermedades cardiovasculares en la vida adulta.ConclusionesSe requieren más estrategias preventivas en Colombia para evitar este tipo de resultados; esto se evidencia en los datos del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE), que demuestran que no ha descendido la proporción de bajo peso al nacer desde el año 2008 y, por el contrario, actualmente se encuentra en 9,1%.AbstractBackgroundBirthweight is one of the biggest predictors of infant mortality, and is associated with high levels of morbidity. In developing countries, infants with very low birth weight (less than 1,500g) have 200 times more risk of mortality compared with babies of the appropriate weight. Very low and extremely low birthweight (less than 1,000g) leaves sequelae in children, and causes disruptions in their families.ObjectivesA narrative review is presented on very low and extremely low birthweight, taking into account topics such as definitions, associated factors, morbidity, mortality, and prevention of these outcomes.MethodologyAn exhaustive search was conducted in literature databases of Medline, Lilacs, and Google Scholar with MeSH terms: “infant”, “very low birthweight”; “extremely low birthweight”; “risk factors”; “morbidity”; “mortality”, and “prevention”; and in Spanish: “recién nacido de muy bajo peso”, “recién nacido con peso al nacer extremadamente bajo”, “factores de riesgo”, “morbilidad”, “mortalidad” y “prevención”. Articles published in the last ten years up to 31 January 2016, were includedResultsAlthough infants with very low birth weight account for 1 to 1.5% of total births, they contribute significantly to neonatal mortality (50% to 70%) and child mortality (25% to 40%) in the Southern Cone in South America. The associated factors found depend on where they were studied. In developed countries, associations were found with: hypertensive vascular disease, history of previous abortion, and previous stillbirth. In developing countries it was found to be significantly associated with lack of prenatal care, with an OR of 3.8 (3.0-5.0); pre-eclampsia, OR 7.3 (5.1 to 10.6); bleeding, OR 7.5 (5.0 to 11.1), and preterm labour, with an OR of 15.9 (12.1 to 21.0). The complications that arise can be short or long-term: hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, asphyxia, respiratory distress, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, hyperbilirubinaemia, infection, neurological and sensory problems, and even cardiovascular disease in adulthood.ConclusionsMore preventive strategies are required in Colombia to avoid such outcomes. This is observed in the DANE statistics that show that the proportion of low birthweight has not decreased since 2008, and is currently at 9.1%

Un Análisis de Viabilidad del proceso de gestión de proyectos del Estándar ISO/IEC 29110: Un Estudio de Caso en una Compañía Automotora Ecuatoriana

Software process standards such as the ISO/IEC 29110 have been implemented by Very Small Entities (VSE) in order to develop quality software and achieve improvements in terms of time, budget, documentation, and other subjects. The generic profile group established in such a standard includes a set of profiles with situational factors of occurrence applicable to some VSEs. However, documented case studies of the ISO/IEC 29110 implementation in Latin America companies are limited, causing uncertainty about the viability of such a standard in VSEs established in the region. Different conditions of each environment—company type, size, country, etc.—can influence the implementation of a software project. Such a fact can affect the possibility of quality improvement by using the standard. In this paper we aim to implement the project management process included in the basic profile of the ISO/IEC 29110 in an automotive Ecuadorian company. We intend to provide VSEs a preliminary judgment in terms of time and cost overruns when developing a first-time implementation of the project management process. Besides, we summarize a set of lessons learned acquired during such an implementation. Finally, the findings of this study will allow VSEs to decide whether is convenient to implement this standard in such an environment.Estándares de procesos de software tales como ISO/ IEC 29110 se implementan en organizaciones pequeñas (en inglés, Very Small Entities, VSE) con el fin de desarrollar software de calidad y lograr mejoras en términos de tiempo, presupuesto, documentación y otros campos. El grupo de perfiles genéricos establecido en dicha norma incluye un conjunto de perfiles con factores situacionales de ocurrencia aplicables a algunas VSEs. Sin embargo, los casos de estudio documentados sobre la implementación de ISO/IEC 29110 en empresas de América Latina son limitados, generando incertidumbre sobre la viabilidad de tal estándar en VSEs establecidas en la región. Las diferentes condiciones de cada entorno (tipo de empresa, tamaño, país, etc.) pueden influir en la implementación de un proyecto de software. Este hecho puede afectar la posibilidad de mejora de la&nbsp;calidad mediante el uso de la norma. En este estudio se pretende implementar el proceso de gestión de proyectos incluido en el perfil básico de la norma ISO/IEC 29110 en una empresa automotriz ecuatoriana. Se procura proporcionar a las VSEs un juicio preliminar en términos de tiempo y sobrecostos al desarrollar una implementación por primera vez del proceso de gestión de proyectos. Además, se resume un conjunto de lecciones aprendidas durante dicha implementación. Finalmente, los hallazgos de este estudio permitirán a las VSEs decidir si es conveniente implementar este estándar en dicho entorno