The UN peacebuilding process: an analysis of its shortcomings in Timor-Leste

This paper brings a comprehensive analysis of the peacebuilding process conducted by the UN in Timor-Leste. Drawing on fieldwork, interviews, and secondary sources, the paper brings light to the main fragilities of this process. Firstly, the paper briefly outlines the scholarly debate around UN peacebuilding process. Then, the paper brings an overview of the UN missions deployed to Timor-Leste. Finally, the paper identifies the major limitations of such engagement. By highlighting the main flaws of this peacebuilding process, the paper opens the space for (re)thinking alternative ways of building peace in post-conflict scenarios.

Influence de l'anhydrobiose sur l'infestation de Biomphalaria glabrata par un miracidium de Schistosoma mansoni

Sur 410 B. glabrata infestées par 1 miracidium de S. mansoni, 300 ont été placées dans des boîtes aérées, sur de la terre humide, et soumises à 6 semaines de dessiccation progressive. Au terme de l'expérience, il y avait 71 survivantes (23.66%), dont 9 positives. Les 110 autres planorbes ont cosntitué le lot témein, avec 106 survivantes (96.36%) à la première semaine d'apparition des cercaires. L'étude hebdomadaire des émissions cercariennes a montré des variations périodiques pour les deux sexes, une plus grande production de certaines femelles chez les témoins, mais une production de cercaires mâles ou femelles semblable chez les mollusques ayant subi l'anhydrobiose. Le faible nombre de ces dernies n'a pas permis une étude comparée significative de la survie des porteurs de formes larvaires mâles et femelles. La durée du développement du parasite chez son hôte ne semble pas modifiée si l'on tient compte de la phase d'estivation.

Résistance a la dessiccation de Biomphalaria glabrata adultes infestés par plusieurs miracidiums de Schistosoma mansoni

Les auteurs ont soumis à 6 semaines d'anhydrobiose 1200 Biomphalaria adultes, saines, ou parasitées par 8 ± 2 miracidiums de Schistosoma mansoni depois 3 ou 12 jours, ou émettant des cercaires. Les planorbes étaient placées individuellement sur, ou dans de la terre humide, dans des boîtes closes ou aérées. La survie a été nulle chez les planorbes saines, infestées, ou déjà positives, placées dans les boîtes closes. Chez les mollusques placés dans les boîtes aérées, elle a été de 44% chez les témoins sains, et de 40,6% pour l'emsemble des infestées depuis 3 et 12 jours, avec chez ces derniers une meilleure survie lorsqu'ils étaient en surface. N n'est pas apparu de différence entre les infestations de 3 jours et de 12 jours. La mortalité et la production cercarienne sont infériéures à celles de planorbes infestées et gardées en eau. L'analyse des émissions montre une production des cercaires mâles siginificativement inférieure à celle des cercaires femelles ou mâles et femelles. Chez toutes les B. glabrata positives, les auteurs ont observé des variations périodiques dans la production des cercaires, quel que soit le sexe de celles-ci. De plus, chez les mollusques préalablement soumis à dessiccation, il existe de nombreus arrêts ou pauses dans l'émission des larves.

The Bernhard Nocht Institute: 100 years of tropical medicine in Hamburg

The Bernhard Nocht Institute (BNI) is a four months younger and much smaller sibling of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. It was founded on 1 October 1900 as an Institut für Schiffs- und Tropenkrankheiten (Institute for Maritime and Tropical Diseases) and was later named after its founder and first director Bernhard Nocht. Today it is the Germany's largest institution for research in tropical medicine. It is a government institution affiliated to the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany and the Department of Health of the State of Hamburg. As the center for research in tropical medicine in Germany the BNI is dedicated to research, training and patient care in the area of human infectious diseases, which are of particular relevance in the tropics. It is the primary mission of the BNI to develop means to the control of these diseases. Secondary missions are to provide expertise for regional and national authorities and to directly and indirectly improve the health care for national and regional citizens in regard to diseases of the tropics.

Education for science and science for education: more than a play upon words

In the celebration of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute centenary, we wanted to stress our concern with the relationship between two of its missions: research and education. What are the educational bases required for science and technology activities on health sciences for the future years? How can scientists collaborate to promote the popularization of academic knowledge and to improve a basic education for citizenship in an ethic and humanistic view? In this article we pointed out to need of commitment, even in the biomedical post-graduation level, of a more integrated philosophy that would be centered on health education, assuming health as a dynamic biological and social equilibrium and emphasizing the need of scientific popularization of science in a cooperative construction way, instead of direct transfer of knowledge, preserving also macro views of health problems in the development of very specific studies. The contemporary explosion of knowledge, particularly biological knowledge, imposes a need of continuous education to face the growing illiteracy. In order to face this challenge, we think that the Oswaldo Cruz Institute honors his dialectic profile of tradition and transformation, always creating new perspectives to disseminate scientific culture in innovated forms.

The potential for vaccination in leprosy elimination: new tools for targeted interventions

Despite the huge effort and massive advances toward the elimination of leprosy over the last two decades, the disease has proven stubborn; new case detection rates have stabilised over the last few years and leprosy remains endemic in a number of localised regions. The American Leprosy Missions and Infectious Disease Research Institute have undertaken a large research effort aimed at developing new tools and a vaccine to continue the push for leprosy elimination. In this paper, we outline our strategy for the integration of rapid diagnostic tests and lab-based assays to facilitate the detection of early or asymptomatic leprosy cases, as well as the efficient and focused implementation of chemoprophylaxis and immunisation to intervene in leprosy development and transmission.

A Test Bed Applied Mobile Robot Navigation

It is presented a test bed applied to studies on dynamics, control, and navigation of mobile robots. A cargo ship scale model was chosen, which can be radio-controlled or operated autonomously through an embedded control system. A control program, which manages on board mission execution, is implemented on a microcontroller. Navigation is based on an electronic compass, which includes automatic compensation for pitch and roll motions. Heading control loop is based on this sensor, and on a rudder positioning system. A propulsion control system is also implemented. Typical manoeuvres as the turning test and "zig-zag", were implemented and tested. They are included on a manoeuvre library, and can be accessed independently or in combined modes. The embedded system is also in charge of signal acquisition and storing during the missions. It is possible to analyse experiments on identification of ship dynamics, control, and navigation, through the data transferred to a PC by serial communication. Navigation is going to be improved by including inertial sensors on board, and a DGPS. Preliminary tests are aimed to ship identification, and manoeuvrability, using free model tests. Future steps include extending this system for developing other mobile robots as, ROVs, AUVs, and aerial vehicles.