The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation: Pawn or Global Player?,

This contribution aims at exploring the significance of the new generation of UNESCO conventions for the recognition of higher education qualifications. It discusses three possible scenarios and links them to the empirical findings of a study that compares the enabling conditions of the first generation of recognition conventions established in the 1970s and 1980s with the ones establishing the second generation today. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the paper argues that the changes illustrate a more general shift in the architecture of the global order and highlights a new role of UNESCO.

Developments in the scientific and clinical understanding of gout.

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in the elderly. In the last two decades, both hyperuricemia and gout have increased markedly and similar trends in the epidemiology of the metabolic syndrome have been observed. Recent studies provide new insights into the transporters that handle uric acid in the kidney as well as possible links between these transporters, hyperuricemia, and hypertension. The treatment of established hyperuricemia has also seen new developments. Febuxostat and PEG-uricase are two novel treatments that have been evaluated and shown to be highly effective in the management of hyperuricemia, thus enlarging the therapeutic options available to lower uric acid levels. Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals are potent inducers of inflammation. Within the joint, they trigger a local inflammatory reaction, neutrophil recruitment, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as other inflammatory mediators. Experimentally, the uptake of MSU crystals by monocytes involves interactions with components of the innate immune system, namely Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4, and CD14. Intracellularly, MSU crystals activate multiple processes that lead to the formation of the NALP-3 (NACHT, LRR, and pyrin domain-containing-3) inflammasome complex that in turn processes pro-interleukin (IL)-1 to yield mature IL-1 beta, which is then secreted. The inflammatory effects of MSU are IL-1-dependent and can be blocked by IL-1 inhibitors. These advances in the understanding of hyperuricemia and gout provide new therapeutic targets for the future.

The combination of social and personal contexts affects dominance hierarchy development in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

Many animals that live in groups maintain competitive relationships, yet avoid continual fighting, by forming dominance hierarchies. We compare predictions of stochastic, individual-based models with empirical experimental evidence using shore crabs to test competing hypotheses regarding hierarchy development. The models test (1) what information individuals use when deciding to fight or retreat, (2) how past experience affects current resource-holding potential, and (3) how individuals deal with changes to the social environment. First, we conclude that crabs assess only their own state and not their opponent's when deciding to fight or retreat. Second, willingness to enter, and performance in, aggressive contests are influenced by previous contest outcomes. Winning increases the likelihood of both fighting and winning future interactions, while losing has the opposite effect. Third, when groups with established dominance hierarchies dissolve and new groups form, individuals reassess their ranks, showing no memory of previous rank or group affiliation. With every change in group composition, individuals fight for their new ranks. This iterative process carries over as groups dissolve and form, which has important implications for the relationship between ability and hierarchy rank. We conclude that dominance hierarchies emerge through an interaction of individual and social factors, and discuss these findings in terms of an underlying mechanism. Overall, our results are consistent with crabs using a cumulative assessment strategy iterated across changes in group composition, in which aggression is constrained by an absolute threshold in energy spent and damage received while fighting.

Organismos filantrópicos y no gubernamentales en el desarrollo de nuevas ciencias y tecnologías: el caso de las micro y nanotecnologías en México

RESUMEN: La emergencia de nuevas ciencias y tecnologías vienen acompañadas de nuevas dinámicas en la producción, el uso y la diseminación de nuevos conocimientos científicos y tecnológicos. Estas nuevas dinámicas se reflejan en la reorganización de las actividades científicas, en la creación o la reorientación de nuevas temáticas en la investigación, en la emergencia de nuevas preocupaciones y debates sobre los riesgos e implicaciones sociales, y en la participación de nuevos actores en el desarrollo de la ciencia y la tecnología, entre otros factores. En este artículo se presentan los resultados del estudio sobre las funciones de un organismo con orígenes filantrópicos y no gubernamental que ha sido central en el desarrollo de los sistemas microelectromecánicos (MEMS) en México. Las funciones que se analizan han sido y son desarrolladas en las diferentes etapas del desarrollo de esta tecnología emergente en este país. Además de mostrar las funciones desempeñadas por este tipo de organismo, este texto se cuestiona sobre la modelización de las relaciones entre las diferentes entidades presentes en el desarrollo e instalación de nuevas tecnologías. En las conclusiones intentamos avanzar algunos elementos para tomar en cuenta estos organismos y enriquecer los estudios sociales sobre las nuevas ciencias y tecnologías. ABSTRACT: The emergence of new sciences and technologies come with new dynamics in the production, use and dissemination of new scientific and technological knowledge. These new dynamics are reflected in the reorganization of scientific activities, in creating or redirecting new topics in research, in the emergence of new concerns and debates about the risks and social implications, and the participation of new actors in the development of science and technology, among other factors. This article presents the results of the study on the functions of an organism with philanthropic and non-governmental sources that has been central to the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in Mexico. The functions have been discussed and are developed at different stages of development of this emerging technology in this country. In addition to showing the functions of such a body, this text is questioned on modeling the relationships between the various entities in the development and deployment of new technologies. In the conclusions we try moving some elements to take into account these organisms and enrich social studies on the new sciences and technologies.

Meeting report of the European mouse complex genetics network SYSGENET.

The second scientific meeting of the European systems genetics network for the study of complex genetic human disease using genetic reference populations (SYSGENET) took place at the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences in Bilbao, Spain, December 10-12, 2012. SYSGENET is funded by the European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technological Research (COST) and represents a network of scientists in Europe that use mouse genetic reference populations (GRPs) to identify complex genetic factors influencing disease phenotypes (Schughart, Mamm Genome 21:331-336, 2010). About 50 researchers working in the field of systems genetics attended the meeting, which consisted of 27 oral presentations, a poster session, and a management committee meeting. Participants exchanged results, set up future collaborations, and shared phenotyping and data analysis methodologies. This meeting was particularly instrumental for conveying the current status of the US, Israeli, and Australian Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse GRP. The CC is an open source project initiated nearly a decade ago by members of the Complex Trait Consortium to aid the mapping of multigenetic traits (Threadgill, Mamm Genome 13:175-178, 2002). In addition, representatives of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium were invited to exchange ongoing activities between the knockout and complex genetics communities and to discuss and explore potential fields for future interactions.