Alt��rations anatomopathologiques li��es au traitement par cerclage des globes oculaires atteints de d��collement de r��tine [Histological changes related to scleral buckling for treatment of retinal detachment].

Treatment of retinal detachment frequently uses biocompatible materials to obtain scleral buckling. These materials are not devoid of consequences on surrounding tissues. In 3 eyes enucleated for failure of surgical treatment using scleral buckling materials, the changes prompted by episcleral implants could be observed. The sclera underwent both an inversion of its curvature and a reduction of its thickness under the material, as well as an encapsulation of the material was observed. While a silicone sponge was used in part to encircle one of these eyes, its capsular inner surface was regular and smooth. In contrast, hydrogel implants used in the three eyes showed a peripheral fragmentation prompting in two of them a typical foreign body giant cell granulomatous reaction. Changes in scleral curvature and scleral thinning were observed reflecting the consequences of the buckling procedure. The capsule formation occurred as it does for any nonabsorbable mat��rial implanted in tissues. Degradation and fragmentation of the hydrogel material suscitated a granuloma in response to fragments. These hydrogel specific changes should be recognized on microscopic examination of slides of either capsule or eyes previously in contact with this implanted material. They attested of the instability of hydrogel after implantation.

trEST, trGEN and Hits: access to databases of predicted protein sequences.

High throughput genome (HTG) and expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences are currently the most abundant nucleotide sequence classes in the public database. The large volume, high degree of fragmentation and lack of gene structure annotations prevent efficient and effective searches of HTG and EST data for protein sequence homologies by standard search methods. Here, we briefly describe three newly developed resources that should make discovery of interesting genes in these sequence classes easier in the future, especially to biologists not having access to a powerful local bioinformatics environment. trEST and trGEN are regularly regenerated databases of hypothetical protein sequences predicted from EST and HTG sequences, respectively. Hits is a web-based data retrieval and analysis system providing access to precomputed matches between protein sequences (including sequences from trEST and trGEN) and patterns and profiles from Prosite and Pfam. The three resources can be accessed via the Hits home page (http://hits. isb-sib.ch).

Landscape genetics of the Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris) inferred from a strip-based approach

Habitat destruction and fragmentation are known to strongly affect dispersal by altering the quality of the environment between populations. As a consequence, lower landscape connectivity is expected to enhance extinction risks through a decrease in gene flow and the resulting negative effects of genetic drift, accumulation of deleterious mutations and inbreeding depression. Such phenomena are particularly harmful for amphibian species, characterized by disjunct breeding habitats. The dispersal behaviour of amphibians being poorly understood, it is crucial to develop new tools, allowing us to determine the influence of landscape connectivity on the persistence of populations. In this study, we developed a new landscape genetics approach that aims at identifying land-uses affecting genetic differentiation, without a priori assumptions about associated ecological costs. We surveyed genetic variation at seven microsatellite loci for 19 Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris) populations in western Switzerland. Using strips of varying widths that define a dispersal corridor between pairs of populations, we were able to identify land-uses that act as dispersal barriers (i.e. urban areas) and corridors (i.e. forests). Our results suggest that habitat destruction and landscape fragmentation might in the near future affect common species such as M. alpestris. In addition, by identifying relevant landscape variables influencing population structure without unrealistic assumptions about dispersal, our method offers a simple and flexible tool of investigation as an alternative to least-cost models and other approaches.

Genetic differentiation in two European tree frog (Hyla arborea) metapopulations in contrasted landscapes of Western Switzerland

The survival of threatened species as the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) is strongly dependent on the genetic variability within populations, as well as gene flow between them. In Switzerland, only two sectors in its western part still harbour metapopulations. The first is characterised by a very heterogeneous and urbanized landscape, while the second is characterised by a uninterrupted array of suitable habitats. In this study, six microsatellite loci were used to establish levels of genetic differentiation among the populations from the two different locations. The results show that the metapopulations have: (i) weak levels of genetic differentiation (FST within metapopulation ≈ 0.04), (ii) no difference in levels of genetic structuring between them, (iii) significant (p = 0.019) differences in terms of genetic diversity (Hs) and observed heterozygozity (Ho), the metapopulation located in a disturbed landscape showing lower values. Our results suggest that even if the dispersal of H. arborea among contiguous ponds seems to be efficient in areas of heterogeneous landscape, a loss of genetic diversity can occur.

Conservation of a threatened European tree frog (Hyla arborea) metapopulation

Summary: Amphibians are among the most vulnerable animals of the world. One third of all species are currently threatened with extinction. Habitat loss is the major menace to pond- and stream-breeding species in the old world. In highly urbanized landscape like the Swiss Plateau, most species suffer from habitat reduction and fragmentation. Among all indigenous species, the European tree frog (Hyla arborea L., 1758) is one of the most endangered. It experienced an alarming decline during the last century and its regional long-term persistence is not guaranteed. We developed a monitoring framework based on calling male counts which included multiple visits to each wetland during the reproduction period in order to precisely determine its distribution on the Lemanic coast. Our results indicate that visiting populations 3 limes under suitable climatic conditions (temperature >20��C) provides reliable presence/absence data. Based on our monitoring data, we analyzed the species requirements regarding its breeding habitat. It appeared that anthropogenic activities had paradoxical effects on the species. On one hand, urbanization, traffic and intensive agriculture had a strong detrimental effect on tree frog distribution. On the other hand, large tree frog populations were frequently associated with gravel pits and military training grounds. Our results allowed us to create a habitat suitability map taking into account detrimental landscape elements around ponds (>1100m away from urban areas and >500m away from first class roads). In parallel, we developed a metapopulation model of the European tree frog in order to identify the critical threats to the long term persistence of the species. Our results indicated that suitable pond density is at the low end of the species requirements. Pond creation must therefore be considered an essential complementary approach to pond conservation and restoration. Our model also provided a mapping solution permitting the location of the must suitable area for pond creation from a metapopulation perspective. As many other amphibians, the European tree frog is not only exposed to an aquatic habitat (breeding and larval period), but also to a terrestrial stage (summer and overwintering habitats). Unfortunately, animals in their terrestrial phase are less conspicuous and, as a consequence, their terrestrial needs are relatively unknown. Using a recent tracking method (the Harmonic Direction Finder), we followed post-breeding frogs and identified favored terrestrial habitats, thus providing another practical conservation tool. We conclude that only the combination of multiple spatially explicit approaches (landscape-scale habitat suitability, metapopulation dynamics and terrestrial needs) is likely to provide wildlife managers with effective tools for the conservation of highly endangered amphibians. R��sum��: Les amphibiens font partie des animaux les plus vuln��rables du monde. Un tiers des esp��ces est actuellement menac�� d'extinction. Dans l'ancien monde, la disparition des habitats constitue la principale menace pour les grenouilles, crapauds, tritons et salamandres. Dans les paysages fortement urbanis��s comme le Plateau Suisse, la plupart des esp��ces souffrent d'une r��duction et d'une fragmentation de leurs habitats. Parmi toutes les esp��ces indig��nes, la rainette verte (Hyla arborea L., 1758) est l'une des plus menac��e. Sa distribution a r��gress�� de mani��re alarmante durant le si��cle pass�� et sa survie r��gionale �� long terme n'est pas assur��e. Nous avons d��velopp�� une m��thode de suivi des populations se basant sur le comptage des m��les chanteurs durant la p��riode de reproduction. Cette m��thode requiert plusieurs visites �� chaque plan d'eau de mani��re �� d��terminer pr��cis��ment la distribution de l'esp��ce. Nos r��sultats d��montrent que 3 visites par population dans des conditions climatiques favorable (temp��rature >20��C) permettent d'obtenir des donn��es de pr��sence/ absence valables. Sur la base de nos comptages sur la C��te l��manique, nous avons analys�� les exigences de l'esp��ce concernant ses sites de reproduction. Il est apparu que les activit��s humaines avaient un effet paradoxal sur l'esp��ce. D'une part, l'urbanisation, le trafic routier et l'intensification de l'agriculture ont un effet fortement pr��judiciable, tandis que d'autre part les plus grandes populations sont souvent associ��es �� des gravi��res et autres places d'armes. Nos r��sultats ont permis de cr��er une carte de qualit�� d'habitat prenant en compte les ��l��ments paysagers pr��judiciables �� la rainette (situ�� �� plus de 1100m de zones urbaines et �� plus de 500m de routes de premi��re classe). En parall��le, nous avons d��velopp�� un mod��le m��tapopulationnel (incluant l'ensemble des populations) de mani��re �� identifier les menaces pr��pond��rantes sur la survie �� long terme de l'esp��ce. Nos r��sultats ont permis de d��terminer que la densit�� actuelle de plans d'eau ad��quats est �� la limite inf��rieure des exigences de l'esp��ce. La cr��ation d'��tangs doit donc ��tre consid��r��e comme une approche indispensable et compl��mentaire �� la protection et �� la restauration des sites existants. Notre mod��le a ��galement fourni des r��sultats cartographiables permettant l'identification des sites les plus appropri��s dans une perspective m��tapopulationnelle. Comme de nombreux autres amphibiens, la rainette verte est expos��e �� un habitat aquatique (reproduction et d��veloppement larvaire) ainsi qu'�� un habitat terrestre (��t�� et hiver). Les animaux ��tant particuli��rement cryptiques dans cette seconde phase, leurs besoins terrestres sont relativement mal connus. Nous avons donc d��velopp�� une nouvelle m��thode de t��l��m��trie bas��e sur le goniom��tre harmonique. Cette m��thode nous a permis de suivre des rainettes dans leurs migrations jusqu'�� leurs habitats d'��t�� et d'��tablir ainsi des recommandations pratiques pour la conservation de la rainette. Nous concluons que la combinaison de multiples approches spatialement explicites (qualit�� d'habitat, dynamique de m��tapopulation et habitats terrestres) est seule �� m��me de produire des outils efficaces pour la conservation des esp��ces menac��es d'amphibiens.

Inflammation-induced alteration of astrocyte mitochondrial dynamics requires autophagy for mitochondrial network maintenance.

Accumulating evidence suggests that changes in the metabolic signature of astrocytes underlie their response to neuroinflammation, but how proinflammatory stimuli induce these changes is poorly understood. By monitoring astrocytes following acute cortical injury, we identified a differential and region-specific remodeling of their mitochondrial network: while astrocytes within the penumbra of the lesion undergo mitochondrial elongation, those located in the core-the area invaded by proinflammatory cells-experience transient mitochondrial fragmentation. In brain slices, proinflammatory stimuli reproduced localized changes in mitochondrial dynamics, favoring fission over fusion. This effect was triggered by Drp1 phosphorylation and ultimately resulted in reduced respiratory capacity. Furthermore, maintenance of the mitochondrial architecture critically depended on the induction of autophagy. Deletion of Atg7, required for autophagosome formation, prevented the reestablishment of tubular mitochondria, leading to marked reactive oxygen species accumulation and cell death. Thus, our data reveal autophagy to be essential for regenerating astrocyte mitochondrial networks during inflammation.

Comrades or Culprits? Donor Engagement and Budget Transparency in Aid Dependent Countries

Budget transparency has come to be considered a key aspect of governance. Over the past decade, donors have invested increasing resources in strengthening processes through which budget transparency in developing countries can be enhanced. According to the 2008 Open Budget Index (OBI) Report, however, aid dependency and budget transparency appear to be inversely correlated. This article looks at the role of donor agencies in promoting or preventing budget transparency in aid dependent countries. It analyzes data for a sample of 16 aid-dependent countries included in the OBI, to test some preliminary hypotheses and select six countries for which more detailed findings are then presented. All of these countries have implemented reforms aimed at enhancing budget transparency, with substantial donor support. These, however, often had only limited success, partly because they were not well adapted to the local context, and partly because donors put limited emphasis on improving public access to budget information. Donor efforts were also often offset by other characteristics of donor interventions, namely their fragmentation, lack of transparency, and limited use of program aid modalities such as budget support and pooled sector funding.

Muscimol-induced death of GABAergic neurons in rat brain aggregating cell cultures.

During brain development, spontaneous neuronal activity has been shown to play a crucial role in the maturation of neuronal circuitries. Activity-related signals may cause selective neuronal cell death and/or rearrangement of neuronal connectivity. To study the effects of sustained inhibitory activity on developing inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons, three-dimensional primary cell cultures of fetal rat telencephalon were used. In relatively immature cultures, muscimol (10 microns), a GABAA receptor agonist, induced a transient increase in apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by a cycloheximide-sensitive increase of free nucleosomes and an increased frequency of DNA double strand breaks (TUNEL labeling). Furthermore, muscimol caused an irreversible reduction of glutamic acid decarboxylase activity, indicating a loss of GABAergic neurons. The muscimol-induced death of GABAergic neurons was attenuated by the GABAA receptor blockers bicuculline (100 microns) and picrotoxin (100 microns), by depolarizing potassium concentrations (30 mM KCl) and by the L-type calcium channel activator BAY K8644 (2 microns). As compared to the cholinergic marker (choline acetyltransferase activity), glutamic acid decarboxylase activity was significantly more affected by various agents known to inhibit neuronal activity, including tetrodotoxin (1 micron), flunarizine (5 microns), MK 801 (50 microns) and propofol (40 microns). The present results suggest that the survival of a subpopulation of immature GABAergic neurons is dependent on sustained neuronal activity and that these neurons may undergo apoptotic cell death in response to GABAA autoreceptor activation.

An��lisis de la dimensi��n ambiental de la tenencia de la tierra. El caso de la Zona Protectora y Parque Nacional Volc��n Tenorio de Costa Rica

El presente estudio consiste en la elaboraci��n de un mapa del estado de tenencia de la tierra actual de la Zona Protectora y Parque Nacional Volc��n Tenorio situado al norte de Costa Rica. A partir de este resultado cartogr��fico se efectuar��n estudios referentes al estado legal de las propiedades, al tipo de propiedad, a la ubicaci��n de las propiedades dentro del ��rea Silvestre Protegida y al eval��o de los conflictos legales dentro de ��sta. Por otro lado, se analiza la cobertura de la tierra y el estado de conservaci��n. La metodolog��a utilizada se basa en el uso de Sistemas de Informaci��n Geogr��fica y en la verificaci��n de la informaci��n mediante puntos GPS tomados al campo y su an��lisis en la oficina. Los resultados muestran una reubicaci��n de los planos m��s precisa y real que la indicada por el Catastro Nacional. Aunque las propiedades privadas son mayoritarias, el ��rea de estudio presenta en general un porcentaje alto de masa boscosa, mientras que en las zonas lim��trofes se encuentra una fragmentaci��n del h��bitat determinada por herbazales. Este estudio contribuye a una mejor gesti��n y conservaci��n del ��rea Protegida y es un avance en el ordenamiento territorial del pa��s.

Law and the practise of principle in diverse societies

Projecte de recerca elaborat a partir d���una estada a la London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, entre 2007 i 2009. L���objecte principal del projecte ha estat analitzar les implicacions jur��dico-pol��tiques i institucionals d���una teoria de la just��cia i la igualtat liberals aplicada a societats multiculturals amb un marcat predomini de la diversitat cultural. L���an��lisi desenvolupa una l��nia d'investigaci�� interdisciplinar - entre el dret i la teoria pol��tica - iniciada en una tesis doctoral sobre multiculturalisme i drets de les minories culturals (UPF, 2000) que va culminar en la publicaci�� de Group Rights as Human Rights (Springer, 2006). La recerca adopta com a punt de partida les conclusions de l'esmentada obra, en especial, la rellev��ncia del reconeixement de drets col���lectius; tanmateix, el tipus de q��estions plantejades, l���enfoc i la metodologia emprades s��n substancialment diferents. En concret, s'adrecen preguntes espec��fiques sobre el model i aspiracions del constitucionalisme democr��tic i el paper del dret en contextos multiculturals. Tamb�� s���atorga un pes central a la dimensi�� institucional dels models de gesti�� de la diversitat que s���analitzen, prioritzant un enfocament comparatiu a partir de l���estudi de controv��rsies concretes. L���objectiu ��s superar algunes limitacions importants de la literatura actual, com ara la tend��ncia a examinar en abstracte la compatibilitat de determinades demandes amb el constitucionalisme democr��tic, sense abordar el funcionament d'estrat��gies de gesti�� de la diversitat cultural emprades en contextos concrets. Els treballs producte d'aquest projecte articulen les l��nies b��siques d���un model pluralista, basat en principis m��s que en regles, que desafia els plantejaments dominants actualment. Aquest model es caracteritza pel comprom��s amb la legitimitat i igualtat comparatives, rebutjant el paternalisme i les visions liberals t��piques sobre el paper de la regulaci��. La presumpci�� de l������standing��� moral dels grups identitaris ��s fonamental per tal de considerar-los interlocutors v��lids amb interessos genu��ns. Tamb�� s���argumenta que la integraci�� social en contextos multiculturals no dep��n tant de l���eliminaci�� del conflicte sin��, sobre tot, d���una gesti�� eficient que eviti abusos de poder sistem��tics. El model defensa el rol del dret en la institucionalitzaci�� del di��leg intercultural, per�� admet que el di��leg no necess��riament condueix a l���acord o a una estructura reguladora coherent i uniforme. Les aspiracions del ordre jur��dic pluralista s��n m��s modestes: afavorir la negociaci�� i resoluci�� en cada conflicte, malgrat la persist��ncia de la fragmentaci�� i la provisionalitat dels acords. La manca d'un marc regulador com�� esdev�� una virtut en la mesura que permet la interacci�� de diferents subordres; una interacci�� governada per una multiplicitat de regles no necess��riament harm��niques. Els avantatges i problemes d���aquest model s'analitzen a partir de l'an��lisi de l���estructura fragment��ria de l'ordre jur��dic internacional i del r��gim Europeu de drets humans.

A strategy for cancer control in Ireland / National Cancer Forum

To address the rapidly rising burden of cancer, this second National Cancer Strategy A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006 advocates a comprehensive cancer control policy programme. Cancer control is a whole population, integrated and cohesive approach to cancer that involves prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive and palliative care. It places a major emphasis on measurement of need and on addressing inequalities and implies that we must focus on ensuring that all elements of cancer policy and service are delivered to the maximum possible extent. This Strategy also focuses substantially on reform and reorganisation of the way we deliver cancer services, in order to ensure that future services are consistent and are associated with a high-quality experience for patients and their carers. There is evidence of considerable variation in cancer survival between regions and also significant fragmentation of services for cancer patients. These interrelated factors are of major concern to the National Cancer Forum.

The MIGCLIM R package - seamless integration of dispersal constraints into projections of species distribution models

The MIGCLIM R package is a function library for the open source R software that enables the implementation of species-specific dispersal constraints into projections of species distribution models under environmental change and/or landscape fragmentation scenarios. The model is based on a cellular automaton and the basic modeling unit is a cell that is inhabited or not. Model parameters include dispersal distance and kernel, long distance dispersal, barriers to dispersal, propagule production potential and habitat invasibility. The MIGCLIM R package has been designed to be highly flexible in the parameter values it accepts, and to offer good compatibility with existing species distribution modeling software. Possible applications include the projection of future species distributions under environmental change conditions and modeling the spread of invasive species.

Fibrogenesis and collagen resorption in the heart and skeletal muscle of Calomys callosus experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: immunohistochemical identification of extracellular matrix components

Intense inflammatory lesions and early development of interstitial fibrosis of the myocardium and skeletal muscle with spontaneous regression, have been described in Calomys callosus infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The genetic types of collagen present in this model were investigated through immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies, combined with histopathology and Picro-Sirius staining of collagen. Thirty-five calomys were infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi and sacrificed at 24, 30, 40, 60 and 90 days post-infection. Inflammatory lesions and fibrogenesis were prominent at the early phase of infection and significantly decreased during late infection. Immunoisotyping of the matrix components was performed by indirect immunofluorescence on 5 ��m thick cryostat sections using specific antibodies against laminin, fibronectin and isotypes I, III and IV of collagen. In the early phase, positive deposits of all the matrix components were present, with predominance of fibronectin, laminin and collagens types I and III in the myocardium and of types III and IV in the skeletal muscles. From the 40th day, type IV collagen predominates in the heart. At the late phase of infection (60th to 90th day), a clear fragmentation and decrease of all the matrix components were detected. Findings of the present study indicate that a modulation of the inflammatory process occurs in the model of C. callosus, leading to spontaneous regression of fibrosis independent of the genetic types of collagen involved in this process.

The in vitro cytopathology of a porcine and the simian (SA-11) strains of rotavirus

Rotaviruses have been implicated as the major causal agents of acute diarrhoea in mammals and fowls. Experimental rotavirus infection have been associated to a series of sub-cellular pathologic alterations leading to cell lysis which may represent key functions in the pathogenesis of the diarrhoeic disease. The current work describes the cytopathic changes in cultured MA-104 cells infected by a simian (SA-11) and a porcine (1154) rotavirus strains. Trypan blue exclusion staining showed increased cell permeability after infection by both strains, as demonstrated by cell viability. This effect was confirmed by the leakage of infected cells evaluated by chromium release. Nuclear fragmentation was observed by acridine orange and Wright staining but specific DNA cleavage was not detected. Ultrastructural changes, such as chromatin condensation, cytoplasm vacuolisation, and loss of intercellular contact were shown in infected cells for both strains. In situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tunel) assay did not show positive result. In conclusion, we demonstrated that both strains of rotavirus induced necrosis as the major degenerative effect.