Análisis del papel desempeñado por terceros actores (ONU – EE. UU.) en la búsqueda de la seguridad en Somalia, periodo 1992-2006

Con el fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y el escenario que planteaba la Guerra Fría, la manera de entender y explicar la seguridad en la comunidad internacional se amplió, y pasó de ser concebida únicamente en términos políticos y militares, a incluir aspectos como el medio ambiente, la economía y la sociedad. Por esta razón el concepto de seguridad se complejizó dando paso a la construcción de distintas definiciones y debates alrededor de la ampliación de la agenda de seguridad y los temas que en ella se debían tratar. Así pues el fin principal del presente trabajo es el análisis de un fenómeno socialmente relevante en el marco de las relaciones internacionales como lo es la configuración de seguridad, a partir de intervenciones de terceros actores que involucran poblaciones afectadas como en el caso somalí, la cual enfrentó una situación de crisis como producto de la emergencia de seguridad que se produce en el año 1991 con la expulsión de Siad Barre del poder. Su importancia radica en la reivindicación de la trascendencia tanto de los derechos humanos, como de la relevancia del papel de las organizaciones internacionales y de los Estados más poderosos del Sistema Internacional, en la protección de esos derechos y de las comunidades vulnerables que conforman dicho sistema.

Trabajo nocturno e índice de masa corporal en los trabajadores de la salud : una revisión de la literatura

Introducción: Se considera el trabajo rotativo nocturno como aquel que se lleva a cabo fuera de las horas laborales diurnas. Se ha planteado que el trabajo en horas nocturnas podría estar relacionado con diversos desordenes, dentro de ellos un incremento en el índice de masa corporal con el consecuente desarrollo de sobrepeso y obesidad. El objetivo de este estudio es realizar una revisión de la literatura existente, acerca del trabajo rotativo nocturno y su relación con el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en trabajadores de la salud. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de información publicada en los últimos 10 años en la base de datos PUBMED y se seleccionaron únicamente los artículos de texto completo relacionados con este tema en los idiomas inglés, español e italiano. Resultados: A través de la búsqueda se encontraron 10 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión definidos. Predominantemente se obtuvieron estudios de diseño transversal. Tres de estos estudios encontraron una asociación entre trabajo rotativo nocturno actual e incremento en el IMC y por el contrario dos estudios no hallaron esta asociación. Por otro lado, seis estudios coinciden en una asociación positiva entre mayor tiempo acumulado en trabajo rotativo nocturno y un incremento en el IMC. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos encontrados en los estudios analizados apuntan a la existencia de una estrecha relación entre el aumento del Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) con los turnos nocturnos (o rotativos que incluyen este horario) llevados a cabo de manera prolongada, en los trabajadores de la salud, en comparación con los trabajadores que realizan turnos diurnos regulares.

ANÁLISIS ESPACIAL DE LOS ACCIDENTES DE TRANSITO EN EL CANTÓN DE POCOCÍ

El estudio de los accidentes de tránsito desde la geografía en el cantón Pococí es un aporte a los procesos de planificación de los sistemas de transportes emplazados en el cantón. El estudio de los accidentes toma como base los principio del enfoque del riesgo, utilizando como base las características de las bases de datos generadas en el sitio de los accidentes en el cantón de Pococí entre el periodo del año 2005 al 2009, se realiza el análisis espacial de los diferentes tipos de accidentes y usuarios en sistema de carreteras del cantón. Como último resultado del proyecto se propone un modelo de análisis espacial para la determinación de tramos de carreteras peligrosos, donde existe la posibilidad de que aumente la ocurrencia de accidentes. El presente documento corresponde a un eje temático del diagnóstico relacionado con el proyecto de intervención del cantón de Pococí, llevado a cabo por el Área de Investigación. El mismo ha sido desarrollado desde la óptica de la geografía. Este pretende como último fin realizar un aporte a la planificación del sistema de transporte, enfocándose en la seguridad vial, tomado como análisis la distribución espacial de los accidentes de tránsito y la infraestructura vial del cantón de Pococí.

COMPARACIÓN DE ALGUNAS ESTACIONES METEOROLÓGICAS DEL BACHILLERATO UNIVERSITARIO Y UTILIZACIÓN DE LAS AGUAS PLUVIALES

El objetivo de este trabajo está relacionado con el uso de las aguas pluviales, con tal propósito se analizaron las temperaturas y precipitación del año 2009 correspondiente a  las estaciones de los planteles: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 y 9 del Programa de Estaciones Meteorológicas del Bachillerato Universitario (PEMBU). Se realizaron gráficas, mapas con isotermas e isoyetas y cuadros comparativos de las estaciones, se identificó la distribución desigual de la lluvia en el D.F. Los alumnos del Club de Meteorología investigaron dos alternativas sustentables: la utilización del agua oluvial que cae en las azoteas de los planteles de la Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, posteriormente, este proyecto podría extenderse a toda la Universidad., la otra, consiste en la instalación de vegetación en las azoteas de viviendas particulares, empresas, hospitales y otras edificaciones. A dicha propuesta se le denomina “azotea verde” o “la cuarta fachada”.

LAS FUENTES BIBLIOGRAFICAS PARA LOS ESTUDIOS URBANOS EN COSTA RICA

En este documento se recoge un listado bibliográfico más o menos exhaustivo relacionado con los estudios urbanos en nuestro país, con especial énfasis en aquellos referidos al Area Metropolitana de San José.

SEÑALIZACIÓN TURÍSTICA EN COSTA RICA: HACIA UN MODELO ATRACTIVO Y RESPONSABLE EN CONDICIONES DE COMPETITIVIDAD Y SOSTENIBILIDAD

Es sabido que una adecuada señalización turística puede repercutir favorablemente en el desarrollo turístico de un destino, con las consecuencias socioeconómicas positivas que de ello se derivan. No obstante, algunos análisis que se derivan del Plan Nacional de Turismo Sostenible de Costa Rica 2002-2012 determinan que esta es escaza o nula en rutas nacionales y otras carreteras. Aunado a ello, existe un vacío tanto académico como técnico-administrativo relacionado con la temática; lo que ha motivado la realización de este estudio. El mismo se organiza en tres partes. En la primera de ellas se revisan de forma breve las iniciativas y los convenios que anteceden el periodo comprendi-do entre los años 2004-2009. En la segunda parte, se describe el estado actual de la señalización tu-rística en Costa Rica, el cual abarca los años mencionados anteriormente. Finalmente, en la tercera parte se presentan cuatro estrategias a través de las cuales la señalización turística puede constituir un elemento diferenciador e innovador, capaz de incrementar la sostenibilidad y competitividad de nuestro país en el mercado global.

L'efficacia dell'idrokinesiterapia su dolore, fatigue e qualità della vita nei pazienti fibromialgici; una revisione sistematica

La fibromialgia (FMS) è una sindrome reumatica non infiammatoria, caratterizzata da dolore diffuso, presenza di “punti sensibili” alla palpazione (“tender points”, TP), affaticamento, disturbi del sonno e cognitivi, sintomi che comportano aumento del livello di disabilità ed effetti negativi sulla qualità della vita (QoL). L’idrokinesiterapia è l’esercizio aerobico assistito svolto in acqua, preferibilmente riscaldata, che sfrutta le proprietà dell’acqua per il recupero di condizioni patologiche. Indagare l’efficacia dell’idrokinesiterapia (HKT) su dolore, faticabilità e qualità di vita nelle persone affette da sindrome fibromialgica. E' stata condotta una ricerca sulle banche dati di soli studi primari inerenti all’efficacia dell’HKT sulla FMS. Sono stati ricercati studi di alta qualità (con valore ≥ a 6/10 alla PEDro scale) che includessero persone adulte con diagnosi di FMS, che prevedessero l’HKT come trattamento isolato e che misurassero dolore, fatigue e QoL. La qualità metodologica degli studi inclusi all’interno della revisione è stata valutata tramite la scala PEDro. I dati sono stati ricavati attraverso griglia di estrazione ed analizzati qualitativamente. Sono stati inclusi 6 studi che hanno soddisfatto i criteri d'eleggibilità, per un totale di 262 donne. 1 studio ha confrontato HKT con esercizio aerobico a secco 3 volte a settimana per 8 settimane, 1 studio con fisioterapia convenzionale 3 vt/sett per 3 settimane, 1 con HKT in mare 3 vt/sett per 12 settimane, 2 studi con gruppi di controllo 2 e 3 vt/sett per 16 e 32 settimane rispettivamente, 1 con programma educativo 1 vt/sett per 11 settimane. In tutti gli studi il gruppo sperimentale ha mostrato miglioramento degli outcome, ad eccezione dello studio con posologia di una vt/ sett che non ha registrato miglioramenti nei gruppi. Conclusioni: L’idrokinesiterapia può portare ad un miglioramento dei sintomi di dolore, fatica e della qualità della vita delle persone affette da fibromialgia.

Antitumor Activity Of Irradiated Riboflavin On Human Renal Carcinoma Cell Line 786-o.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a precursor for coenzymes involved in energy production, biosynthesis, detoxification, and electron scavenging. Previously, we demonstrated that irradiated riboflavin (IR) has potential antitumoral effects against human leukemia cells (HL60), human prostate cancer cells (PC3), and mouse melanoma cells (B16F10) through a common mechanism that leads to apoptosis. Hence, we here investigated the effect of IR on 786-O cells, a known model cell line for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), which is characterized by high-risk metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. IR also induced cell death in 786-O cells by apoptosis, which was not prevented by antioxidant agents. IR treatment was characterized by downregulation of Fas ligand (TNF superfamily, member 6)/Fas (TNF receptor superfamily member 6) (FasL/Fas) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 1a (TNFR1)/TNFRSF1A-associated via death domain (TRADD)/TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF) signaling pathways (the extrinsic apoptosis pathway), while the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was upregulated, as observed by an elevated Bcl-2 associated x protein/B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl-2) ratio, reduced cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (c-IAP1) expression, and increased expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). The observed cell death was caspase-dependent as proven by caspase 3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP) cleavage. IR-induced cell death was also associated with downregulation of v-src sarcoma (Schmidt-Ruppin A-2) viral oncogene homologue (avian)/protein serine/threonine kinase B/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (Src/AKT/ERK1/2) pathway and activation of p38 MAP kinase (p38) and Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK). Interestingly, IR treatment leads to inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and reduced expression of renal cancer aggressiveness markers caveolin-1, low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (LMWPTP), and kinase insert domain receptor (a type III receptor tyrosine kinase) (VEGFR-2). Together, these results show the potential of IR for treating cancer.

Qualidade da água para consumo humano e concentração de fluoreto

O artigo visa analisar a concentração de fluoreto na água para consumo humano, considerando o balanço entre benefícios e riscos à saúde, e produzir subsídios para atualização da legislação brasileira. Estudos de revisão sistemática, documentos oficiais e dados meteorológicos foram examinados. As temperaturas nas capitais brasileiras indicam que o fluoreto deveria variar de 0,6 a 0,9 mg/L para prevenir cárie dentária. Concentração de fluoreto natural de 1,5 mg/L é tolerável para consumo no Brasil se não houver tecnologia de custo-benefício aceitável para ajuste/remoção do seu excesso. A ingestão diária de água com fluoreto em concentração > 0,9 mg/L representa risco à dentição em menores de oito anos de idade e os consumidores deveriam ser expressamente informados desse risco. Considerando a expansão do programa nacional de fluoretação da água para regiões de clima tipicamente tropical, deve-se revisar a Portaria 635/75, relacionada ao fluoreto adicionado às águas de abastecimento público.

Pós-alta em Hanseníase no Ceará: limitação da atividade funcional, consciência de risco e participação social

Caracterizar a limitação funcional, de atividade, consciência de risco, e restrição à participação social em pessoas atingidas pela hanseníase no pós-alta. Estudo seccional-descritivo com 69 residentes em Sobral, Ceará, com alta entre 2003 a 2005. Foram realizados exame físico dermato-neurológico, avaliação demográfica, de limitação funcional-atividade-consciência de risco e de restrição à participação social. Vinte (28,9%) apresentaram escores SALSA 19 e 20 e escore EHF zero. O maior escore EHF foi alcançado por dois participantes, com 25 e 28 na escala SALSA. Na escala de participação 37 (53,6%) não apresentaram restrição e tinham escore EHF zero. Dois (2,9%) com escore EHF zero tinham leve restrição e 1 (1,5%), grande restrição. Reafirma-se a potencialidade destas ferramentas para a atenção integral aos portadores.

Changes in cardiac heparan sulfate proteoglycan expression and streptozotocin-induced diastolic dysfunction in rats

Background: Changes in the proteoglycans glypican and syndecan-4 have been reported in several pathological conditions, but little is known about their expression in the heart during diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo heart function changes and alterations in mRNA expression and protein levels of glypican-1 and syndecan-4 in cardiac and skeletal muscles during streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by STZ administration. The rats were assigned to one of the following groups: control (sham injection), after 24 hours, 10 days, or 30 days of STZ administration. Echocardiography was performed in the control and STZ 10-day groups. Western and Northern blots were used to quantify protein and mRNA levels in all groups. Immunohistochemistry was performed in the control and 30-day groups to correlate the observed mRNA changes to the protein expression. Results: In vivo cardiac functional analysis performed using echocardiography in the 10-day group showed diastolic dysfunction with alterations in the peak velocity of early (E) diastolic filling and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) indices. These functional alterations observed in the STZ 10-day group correlated with the concomitant increase in syndecan-4 and glypican-1 protein expression. Cardiac glypican-1 mRNA and skeletal syndecan-4 mRNA and protein levels increased in the STZ 30-day group. On the other hand, the amount of glypican in skeletal muscle was lower than that in the control group. The same results were obtained from immunohistochemistry analysis. Conclusion: Our data suggest that membrane proteoglycans participate in the sequence of events triggered by diabetes and inflicted on cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Continuous extraction of alpha-toxin from a fermented broth of Clostridium perfringens Type A in perforated rotating disc contactor using aqueous two-phase PEG-phosphate system

A 2(3-1) factorial experimental design was used to evaluate the performance of a perforated rotating disc contactor to extract alpha-toxin from the fermented broth of Clostridium perfringens Type A by aqueous two-phase system of polyethylene glycol-phosphate salts. The influence of three independent variables, specifically the dispersed phase flowrate, the continuous phase flowrate and the disc rotational speed, was investigated on the hold up, the mass transfer coefficient, the separation efficiency and the purification factor, taken as the response variables. The optimum dispersed phase flowrate was 3.0 mL/min for all these responses. Besides, maximum values of hold up (0.80), separation efficiency (0. 10) and purification factor (2.4) were obtained at this flowrate using the lowest disc rotational speed (35 rpm), while the optimum mass transfer coefficient (0. 165 h(-1)) was achieved at the highest agitation level (140 rpm). The results of this study demonstrated that the dispersed phase flowrate strongly influenced the performance of PRDC, in that both the mass transfer coefficient and hold up increased with this parameter. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Chemical treatment of Escherichia coli: 3. Selective extraction of a recombinant protein from cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in intact cells

In previous parts of this study we developed procedures for the high-efficiency chemical extraction of soluble and insoluble protein from intact Escherichia coli cells. Although high yields were obtained, extraction of recombinant protein directly from cytoplasmic inclusion bodies led to low product purity due to coextraction of soluble contaminants. In this work, a two-stage procedure for the selective extraction of recombinant protein at high efficiency and high purity is reported. In the first stage, inclusion-body stability is promoted by the addition of 15 mM 2-hydroxyethyldisulfide (2-HEDS), also known as oxidized P-mercaptoethanol, to the permeabil ization buffer (6 M urea + 3 mM ethylenediaminetetra-acetate [EDTA]). 2-HEDS is an oxidizing agent believed to promote disulfide bond formation, rendering the inclusion body resistant to solubilization in 6 M urea. Contaminating proteins are separated from the inclusion-body fraction by centrifugation. in the second stage, disulfide bonds are readily eliminated by including reducing agent (20 mM dithiothreitol [DTT]) into the permeabilization buffer. Extraction using this selective two-stage process yielded an 81% (w/w) recovery of the recombinant protein Long-R-3-IGF-I from inclusion bodies located in the cytoplasm of intact E. coli, at a purity of 46% (w/w). This was comparable to that achieved by conventional extraction (mechanical disruption followed by centrifugation and solubilization). A pilot-scale procedure was also demonstrated using a stirred reactor and diafiltration. This is the first reported study that achieves both high extraction efficiency and selectivity by the chemical treatment of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in intact bacterial cells. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Cytokine-related genes identified from the RIKEN full-length mouse cDNA data set

To identify novel cytokine-related genes, we searched the set of 60,770 annotated RIKEN mouse cDNA clones (FANTOM2 clones), using keywords such as cytokine itself or cytokine names (such as interferon, interleukin, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor). This search produced 108 known cytokines and cytokine-related products such as cytokine receptors, cytokine-associated genes, or their products (enhancers, accessory proteins, cytokine-induced genes). We found 15 clusters of FANTOM2 clones that are candidates for novel cytokine-related genes. These encoded products with strong sequence similarity to guanylate-binding protein (GBP-5), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 2 (IRAK-2), interleukin 20 receptor alpha isoform 3, a member of the interferon-inducible proteins of the Ifi 200 cluster, four members of the membrane-associated family 1-8 of interferon-inducible proteins, one p27-like protein, and a hypothetical protein containing a Toll/Interleukin receptor domain. All four clones representing novel candidates of gene products from the family contain a novel highly conserved cross-species domain. Clones similar to growth factor-related products included transforming growth factor beta-inducible early growth response protein 2 (TIEG-2), TGFbeta-induced factor 2, integrin beta-like 1, latent TGF-binding protein 4S, and FGF receptor 4B. We performed a detailed sequence analysis of the candidate novel genes to elucidate their likely functional properties.

Activity of the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala underlies one-trial tolerance of rats in the elevated plus-maze

The anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines are reduced after a single exposure of rats to elevated plus-maze test (EPM). Midazolam showed an anxioselective profile in animals submitted to one session (T1) but did not change the usual exploratory behavior of rats exposed twice (T2) to the EPM. In this study we examined further the one-trial tolerance by performing a factor analysis of the exploratory behavior of rats injected with saline before both trials as well as an immunohistochemistry study for quantification of Fos expression in encephalic structures after these sessions. Factor analysis of all behavioral categories revealed that factor I consisted of anxiety-related categories in T1 whereas these same behavioral categories loaded on factor 2 in T2. Risk assessment was also dissociated as it loaded stronger on T2 (factor 3) than on T1 (factor 4). Locomotor activity in T1 loaded on factor 5. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed that Fos expression predominated in limbic structures in T1 group. The medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala were the main areas activated in T2 group. These data suggest that anxiety and risk assessment behaviors change their valence across the EPM sessions. T2 is characterized by the emergence of a fear factor, more powerful risk assessment and medial prefrontal cortex activation. The amygdala functions as a switch between the anxiety-like patterns of T1 to the cognitive control of fear prevalent in T2. The EPM retest session is proposed as a tool for assessing the cognitive activity of rodents in the control of fear. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.