Understanding and measuring the complex relationship between natural disasters and violence against children

Background:Violence against children is thought to increase after natural disasters, but evidence is limited. Methodological questions of how to measure possible associations are similarly unanswered. This thesis addresses these gaps by analyzing the relationship between natural disasters and violence against children, with emphasis on the 2010 Haitian earthquake,and by advancing design-based approaches for inference. Methods:The thesis is comprised of four related studies: (i) a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between natural disasters and violence against children; (ii) a systematic review of pathways to violence; (iii) a matched-pairs analysis of violence against girls and boys after internal displacement from the 2010 Haitian earthquake; and (iv) a simulation comparing bias reduction properties and accuracy of matching designs,with sexual violence against girls displaced to a camp as the motivating example. The first two components synthesize background literature, the third component is empirical, and the fourth is methodological. Results: Themeta-analysis found no clear association or directional effect, albeit with a limited number of studies that exhibited methodological weaknesses. Further systematic review identified five pathways to violence. In delving into one aspect of exposure, internal displacement from the 2010 Haitian earthquake was not associated with long-term violence. Sensitivity analysis, however, indicated that sexual violence against girls and physical violence perpetrated by authority figures against boys were sensitive to Unobserved covariates. Full matching incorporating an instrumental variable can mitigate measured and unmeasured biases to increase the accuracy of inference. Conclusion:This thesis begins to elucidate and quantify the relationship between natural disasters and violence against children. The findings identify gaps in knowledge and pathways to violence for future study. Additional high-quality research is needed to unpack the complex relationship. The methods piloted in this thesis present promising tools, particularly after rapid-onset natural disasters and in resource scarce settings

Spin-to-Orbital Angular Momentum Conversion in Semiconductor Microcavities

We experimentally demonstrate a technique for the generation of optical beams carrying orbital angular momentum using a planar semiconductor microcavity. Despite being isotropic systems, the transverse electric - transverse magnetic (TE-TM) polarization splitting featured by semiconductor microcavities allows for the conversion of the circular polarization of an incoming laser beam into the orbital angular momentum of the transmitted light field. The process implies the formation of topological entities, a pair of optical half-vortices, in the intracavity field

Single Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction To Detect Diverse Loci Associated with Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

We developed and tested a single multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that detects enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enteroinvasive, and Shiga-toxin–producing Escherichia coli. This PCR is specific, sensitive, and rapid in detecting target isolates in stool and food. Because of its simplicity, economy, and efficiency, this protocol warrants further evaluation in large, prospective studies of polymicrobial substances

The biological effects of bilirubin photoisomers

Although phototherapy was introduced as early as 1950's, the potential biological effects of bilirubin photoisomers (PI) generated during phototherapy remain unclear. The aim of our study was to isolate bilirubin PI in their pure forms and to assess their biological effects in vitro. The three major bilirubin PI (ZE- and EZ-bilirubin and Z-lumirubin) were prepared by photo-irradiation of unconjugated bilirubin. The individual photoproducts were chromatographically separated (TLC, HPLC), and their identities verified by mass spectrometry. The role of Z-lumirubin (the principle bilirubin PI) on the dissociation of bilirubin from albumin was tested by several methods: peroxidase, fluorescence quenching, and circular dichroism. The biological effects of major bilirubin PI (cell viability, expression of selected genes, cell cycle progression) were tested on the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. Lumirubin was found to have a binding site on human serum albumin, in the subdomain IB (or at a close distance to it); and thus, different from that of bilirubin. Its binding constant to albumin was much lower when compared with bilirubin, and lumirubin did not affect the level of unbound bilirubin (Bf). Compared to unconjugated bilirubin, bilirubin PI did not have any effect on either SH-SY5Y cell viability, the expression of genes involved in bilirubin metabolism or cell cycle progression, nor in modulation of the cell cycle phase. The principle bilirubin PI do not interfere with bilirubin albumin binding, and do not exert any toxic effect on human neuroblastoma cells

Referral of sexual violence against children: How do children and caregivers use a formal child protection mechanism in Harare, Zimbabwe?

Despite widespread expansion of policies to prevent and respond to violence over the past three decades, sexual violence against children remains common globally. Zimbabwe has expansive legal and policy frameworks to prevent, and formal services to respond to, sexual violence. Yet evidence is lacking about how children and caregivers use formal referral mechanisms. This study conducted secondary qualitative analysis of sexual violence cases [N=74] processed in Harare Magistrates Court and referred to Childline Zimbabwe, in October-November 2020, to examine which experiences children and/or their caregivers formally refer as sexual violence; how they perceive and manage these experiences; and how this relates to national policy contexts. Caregivers, particularly female, were central to reporting sexual violence. Data suggested that some forms of sexual violence were formally referred, including community sexual assault and abuse within families, however some adolescent girls faced blame and shame. There were gaps in reporting of sexual violence against boys, and sexual violence from dating partners or authority figures, with data suggesting that gendered stigma, shame, and fears of institutional authority, were barriers for reporting. Caregivers also reported consensual adolescent sexual relationships to police. These findings contribute to the limited evidence on forms of sexual violence that are and are not formally referred globally, and in sub-Saharan African settings. Existing policy frameworks in Zimbabwe can be strengthened around age of maturity, adolescent sexuality, sidelining of boy survivors, and the role of schools in child protection. Interventions should support caregivers’ efforts to report violence, while also addressing gendered blame and stigma, and stigmatisation of adolescent sexuality

Psoriasis como factor de riesgo de insuficiencia cardiaca en adultos

The aim of the present investigation was to demonstrate whether psoriasis is a risk factor for heart failure in adults, which was developed in adults attending the cardiology clinic of the Trujillo Regional Teaching Hospital. Material and methods. A case-control study was proposed with a sample of 744 people with a ratio of 3 controls for each case. Results: Psoriasis was present in 4% of the patients with congestive heart failure and in 1,3% of the population without congestive heart failure, finding a p= 0.031. In addition, an odds ratio of 3,08 with a 95% CI of 1,05 – 9,01 was obtained. Conclusions: The proportion of psoriasis exposure was higher in patients with heart failure compared to those without heart failure, and patients with psoriasis have two times the risk of developing congestive heart failure than those without psoriasis.El objetivo de la presente investigación fue demostrar si la psoriasis es un factor de riesgo de la insuficiencia cardiaca en adultos, el cual fue desarrollado en adultos atendidos consultorio de cardiología del Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo. Material y métodos. Se planteo un estudio de casos y controles con una muestra de 744 personas con una relación de 3 controles por cada caso. Resultados: la Psoriasis estuvo presente en el 4% de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva y en el 1,3% de la población sin insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva, encontrándose una p = 0,031. Además, se obtuvo un odds ratio de 3,08 con un IC95% de 1,05 – 9,01. Conclusiones: La proporción de exposición de la psoriasis fue mayor en los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca comparados con aquellos sin dicha insuficiencia cardiaca y los pacientes con psoriasis tienen dos veces más riego de desarrollar insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva que los que no padecen psoriasis

The lack of the TetR-like repressor gene BCG_2177c (Rv2160A) may help mycobacteria overcome intracellular redox stress and survive longer inside macrophages when surrounded by a lipid environment

Mycobacteria, like other microorganisms, survive under different environmental variations by expressing an efficient adaptive response, oriented by regulatory elements, such as transcriptional repressors of the TetR family. These repressors in mycobacteria also appear to be related to cholesterol metabolism. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of a fatty acid (oleic–palmitic–stearic)/cholesterol mixture on some phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of a tetR-mutant strain (BCG_2177c mutated gene) of M. bovis BCG, a homologous of Rv2160A of M. tuberculosis. In order to accomplish this, we have analyzed the global gene expression of this strain by RNA-seq and evaluated its neutral-lipid storage capacity and potential to infect macrophages. We have also determined the macrophage response by measuring some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expressions. In comparison with wild-type microorganisms, we showed that the mutation in the BCG_2177c gene did not affect the growth of M. bovis BCG in the presence of lipids but it probably modified the structure/composition of its cell envelope. Compared to with dextrose, an overexpression of the transcriptome of the wild-type and mutant strains was observed when these mycobacteria were cultured in lipids, mainly at the exponential phase. Twelve putative intracellular redox balance maintenance genes and four others coding for putative transcriptional factors (including WhiB6 and three TetR-like) were the main elements repeatedly overexpressed when cultured in the presence of lipids. These genes belonged to the central part of what we called the “genetic lipid signature” for M. bovis BCG. We have also found that all these mycobacteria genotypic changes affected the outcome of BCG-infected macrophages, being the mutant strain most adapted to persist longer inside the host. This high persistence result was also confirmed when mutant-infected macrophages showed overexpression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-ß versus pro-inflammatory cytokines. In summary, the lack of this TetR-like repressor expression, within a lipid environment, may help mycobacteria overcome intracellular redox stress and survive longer inside their host

R2D2 TPC: first Xenon results

Radial time projection chambers (TPC), already employed in the search for rare phenomena such as light Dark Matter candidate, could provide a new detection approach for the search of neutrinoless double beta decay ($\beta\beta0\nu$). The assessment of the performances of such a detector for $\beta\beta0\nu$ search is indeed the goal of the Rare Decays with Radial Detector (R2D2) R\&D. Promising results operating a spherical TPC with argon up to 1~bar have been published in 2021. Supplementary measurements were recently taken extending the gas pressure range up to 3~bar. In addition, a comparison between two detector geometries, namely spherical (SPC for spherical proportional counter) and cylindrical (CPC for cylindrical proportional counter), was performed. Using a relatively simple gas purification system the CPC detector was also operated with xenon at 1~bar: an energy resolution of 1.4\% full-width at half-maximum was achieved for drift distances up to 17~cm. Much lower resolution was observed with the SPC. These results are presented in this article.Comment: 16 pages 14 figure

Standalone vertex finding in the ATLAS muon spectrometer

A dedicated reconstruction algorithm to find decay vertices in the ATLAS muon spectrometer is presented. The algorithm searches the region just upstream of or inside the muon spectrometer volume for multi-particle vertices that originate from the decay of particles with long decay paths. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using both a sample of simulated Higgs boson events, in which the Higgs boson decays to long-lived neutral particles that in turn decay to bbar b final states, and pp collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011