The Effects of Processing Non-Timber Forest Products and Trade Partnerships on People's Well-Being and Forest Conservation in Amazonian Societies

This study evaluated whether processing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and establishing trade partnerships between forest communities and companies enhance the outcomes of NTFP commercialization. In particular, we evaluated whether product processing, partnerships, or their combination was associated with a number of outcomes related to the well-being of forest inhabitants and forest conservation. We based our analyses on ethnographic and quantitative data (i.e., survey and systematic observations) gathered at seven communities from five societies of the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon. Our results indicated that product processing and partnerships do not represent a silver bullet able to improve the results of NTFP commercialization in terms of well-being and conservation indicators. Compared with cases without interventions, households adopting partnerships but not product processing were most often associated with improved economic proxies of well-being (total income, NTFP income, food consumption and gender equality in income). In comparison, the combination of product processing and partnerships was associated with similar outcomes. Unexpectedly, product processing alone was associated with negative outcomes in the economic indicators of well-being. All of the investigated strategies were associated with less time spent in social and cultural activities. With respect to forest conservation, the strategies that included a partnership with or without processing produced similar results: while household deforestation tended to decrease, the hunting impact increased. Processing alone was also associated with higher levels of hunting, though it did not reduce deforestation. Our results indicate that establishing partnerships may enhance the outcomes of NTFP trade in terms of the financial outcomes of local communities, but practitioners need to use caution when adopting the processing strategy and they need to evaluate potential negative results for indicators of social and cultural activities. With respect to conservation, the three strategies are promising for reducing deforestation, but more pervasive impacts, such as hunting, might increase.

Number of recent sexual partners among blood donors in Brazil: associations with donor demographics, donation characteristics, and infectious disease markers

BACKGROUND: Brazilian blood centers ask candidate blood donors about the number of sexual partners in the past 12 months. Candidates who report a number over the limit are deferred. We studied the implications of this practice on blood safety. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed demographic characteristics, number of heterosexual partners, and disease marker rates among 689,868 donations from three Brazilian centers between July 2007 and December 2009. Donors were grouped based on maximum number of partners allowed in the past 12 months for each center. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were conducted to examine associations between demographic characteristics, number of sex partners, and individual and overall positive markers rates for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus Types 1 and 2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis. RESULTS: First-time, younger, and more educated donors were associated with a higher number of recent sexual partners, as was male sex in Sao Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001). Serologic markers for HIV and syphilis and overall were associated with multiple partners in Sao Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001), but not in Belo Horizonte (p = 0.05, p = 0.94, and p = 0.75, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, number of recent sexual partners was associated with positive serologic markers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.2-1.5), especially HIV (AOR, 1.9-4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Number of recent heterosexual partners was associated with HIV positivity and overall rates of serologic markers of sexually transmitted infections. The association was not consistent across centers, making it difficult to define the best cutoff value. These findings suggest the use of recent heterosexual contacts as a potentially important deferral criterion to improve blood safety in Brazil.

Collybistin and gephyrin are novel components of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 complex

Abstract Background Collybistin (CB), a neuron-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, has been implicated in targeting gephyrin-GABAA receptors clusters to inhibitory postsynaptic sites. However, little is known about additional CB partners and functions. Findings Here, we identified the p40 subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3H) as a novel binding partner of CB, documenting the interaction in yeast, non-neuronal cell lines, and the brain. In addition, we demonstrated that gephyrin also interacts with eIF3H in non-neuronal cells and forms a complex with eIF3 in the brain. Conclusions Together, our results suggest, for the first time, that CB and gephyrin associate with the translation initiation machinery, and lend further support to the previous evidence that gephyrin may act as a regulator of synaptic protein synthesis.

Too Big to Ignore: Global Partnership on Small-Scale Fisheries Research - the Latin America and Caribbean network

Too Big to Ignore (TBTI; www.toobigtoignore.net) is a research network and knowledge mobilization partnership established to elevate the profile of small-scale fisheries (SSF), to argue against their marginalization in national and international policies, and to develop research and governance capacity to address global fisheries challenges. Network participants and partners are conducting global and comparative analyses, as well as in-depth studies of SSF in the context of local complexity and dynamics, along with a thorough examination of governance challenges, to encourage careful consideration of this sector in local, regional and global policy arenas. Comprising 15 partners and 62 researchers from 27 countries, TBTI conducts activities in five regions of the world. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, we are taking a participative approach to investigate and promote stewardship and self-governance in SSF, seeking best practices and success stories that could be replicated elsewhere. As well, the region will focus to promote sustainable livelihoods of coastal communities. Key activities include workshops and stakeholder meetings, facilitation of policy dialogue and networking, as well as assessing local capacity needs and training. Currently, LAC members are putting together publications that examine key issues concerning SSF in the region and best practices, with a first focus on ecosystem stewardship. Other planned deliverables include comparative analysis, a regional profile on the top research issues on SSF, and a synthesis of SSF knowledge in LAC

Longitudinal outcomes of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections as competing-risks events following cervical HPV test at baseline visit in the *NIS-LAMS** cohort

Background: The complex natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections following a single HPV test can be modeled as competing-risks events (i.e., no-, transient- or persistent infection) in a longitudinal setting. The covariates associated with these compet ng events have not been previously assessed using competing-risks regression models. Objectives: To gain further insights in the outcomes of cervical HPV infections, we used univariate- and multivariate competing-risks regression models to assess the covariaies associated with these competing events. Study Design and Methods: Covariates associated with three competing outcomes (no-, transient- or persistent HR-HPV infection) were analysed in a sub-cohort of 1,865 women prospectively followed-up in the NIS (n = 3,187) and LAMS Study (n = 12,114). Results: In multivariate competing-risks models (with two other outcomes as competing events), permanently HR-HPV negative outcome was significantly predicted only by the clearance of ASCUS+Pap during FU, while three independent covariates predicted transient HR-HPV infections: i) number of recent (< 12 months) sexual partners (risk increased), ii) previous Pap screening history (protective), and history of previous CIN (increased risk). The two most powerful predictors of persistent HR-HPV infections were persistent ASCUS+Pap (risk increased), and previous Pap screening history (protective). In pair-wise comparisons, number of recent sexual partners and previous CIN history increase the probability of transient HR-HPV infection against the HR-HPV negative competing event, while previous Pap screening history is protective. Persistent ASCUS+Pap during FU and no previous Pap screening history are significantly associated with the persistent HR-HPV outcome (compared both with i) always negative, and ii) transient events), whereas multiparity is protective. Conclusions: Different covariates are associated with the three main outcomes of cervical HPV infections. The most significant covariates of each competing events are probably distinct enough to enable constructing of a risk-profile for each main outcome.

Questões controvertidas sobre a responsabilidade do sócio e do ex-sócio no processo do trabalho

O presente estudo objetiva traçar um panorama atual sobre a responsabilidade subsidiária dos sócios nas hipóteses em que, em fase de execução no processo do trabalho, os bens da pessoa jurídica sejam insuficientes para satisfação dos créditos. A matéria propriamente dita nada tem de nova, remontando aos primeiros decretos que regulamentavam as sociedades por quotas de responsabilidade limitada, passando pelo Código Civil de 1916 e de 2002. Todavia, o estudo procurará demonstrar que, aos poucos, foi sendo abandonada a exigência de comprovação dos amplos poderes de mando e gestão do sócio, ou seu exercício abusivo, assim como foi aumentando simultaneamente a preocupação com a figura dos ex-sócios, objeto de investigação especial no presente trabalho. O artigo sustentará a tese de que essa maior liberdade na interpretação da responsabilidade de sócios e ex-sócios se deve, sobretudo, (a) à promiscuidade patrimonial verificada entre pessoas jurídicas e pessoas naturais, na sociedade brasileira, (b) às altíssimas taxas de encerramento das pessoas jurídicas logo no primeiro ou no segundo ano de existência e (c) à elevada rotatividade de sócios nos estatutos da empresa.

M-ficolin and leukosialin (CD43): new partners in neutrophil adhesion

M-ficolin specificity for sialylated ligands prompted us to investigate its interactions with the main membrane sialoprotein of human neutrophils, CD43. rM-ficolin bound CD43 and prevented the access of anti-CD43 mAb. Moreover, rM-ficolin reacted exclusively with CD43 on Western blots of neutrophil lysate. We confirmed that M-ficolin is secreted by fMLP-activated neutrophils, and this endogenous M-ficolin also binds to CD43 and competes with anti-CD43 mAb. Anti-CD43 antibody cross-linking or fMLP resulted in M-ficolin and CD43 colocalization on polarized neutrophils. The binding of rM-ficolin to resting neutrophils induced cell polarization, adhesion, and homotypic aggregation as anti-CD43 mAb. The M-ficolin Y271F mutant, unable to bind sialic acid, neither reacted with neutrophils nor modulated their functions. Finally, rM-ficolin activated the lectin complement pathway on neutrophils. These results emphasize a new function of M-ficolin, different from ficolin pathogen recognition, i.e., a participation to neutrophil adhesion potentially important in early inflammation, as nanomolar agonist concentrations are sufficient to mobilize M-ficolin to the neutrophil surface. This multivalent lectin could then endow the antiadhesive CD43, essentially designed to prevent leukocyte aggregation in the blood flow, with new adhesive properties and explain, at least in part, dual-adhesive/antiadhesive roles of CD43 in neutrophil recruitment. J. Leukoc. Biol. 91: 469-474; 2012.