Ecological urbanism as a condition underpinning urban life for internally displaced peoples in Colombia.

This paper employs the concepts of sustainability and habitability to define and measure ecological urbanism in informal settlements founded by people who have been forcibly displaced by violence. The objective is to identify the obstacles in meeting the tenets of ecological urbanism in informal settlements. We offer primary research from La Primavera, an informal settlement founded by internally displaced people in the late 1970s, located in the corregimiento El Hatillo of Barbosa, Antioquia in northwestern Colombia. Primary research includes qualitative and quantitative data gathered through 72 surveys and 45 technical assessments of properties and houses in the settlement. Situated between the Aburrá River and the northbound highway, above a gas pipeline and under an electricity pylon, La Primavera exists in a state of extreme risk, exacerbated by increasing migration which threatens to exceed the carrying capacity of the territory. Moreover, in Article 35 of Law 388 of 1997, the territory was declared a protected or restricted area and earmarked for the development of the regional commuter train, called the Tren de Cercanías, in 2017. The case study highlights the contradictions in the development agenda in Colombia by showing how development projects designed for the economic betterment and environmental conservation of the region negatively impact the quality of life for the most vulnerable inhabitants and expose them to greater environmental, economic, and social risk.

Impacto de la pandemia y las medidas de confinamiento sobre la violencia letal contra las mujeres en México y Colombia / Impact of the pandemic and confinement measures on lethal violence against women in Mexico and Colombia / Impacto da pandemia e das medidas de confinamento na violência letal contra as mulheres no México e na Colômbia

La emergencia sanitaria ocasionada por la pandemia del virus SARS-CoV-2 produjo limitaciones y cambios en la movilidad que transformaron el comportamiento, tanto de la sociedad en general como de los actores criminales en particular, impactando en los índices delictivos. Esto llevó a pensar a algunos analistas en la posibilidad de un "efecto rebote en el delito", luego de terminar el resguardo derivado de la pandemia. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar el impacto de la pandemia y sus medidas de confinamiento sobre la violencia letal contra las mujeres en México y Colombia. Para ello, a través de un ejercicio de estadística descriptiva, se analiza la tendencia del comportamiento del homicidio en ambos países desagregado por género, focalizando el análisis en 2019, 2020 y 2021, años considerados como periodos pre pandemia, pandemia y pos pandemia. Los hallazgos demuestran la falta de evidencia de un aumento significativo en los delitos de homicidio, homicidios de mujeres y feminicidios en relación con el periodo pre pandemia. Los homicidios de mujeres y los feminicidios dan cuenta de una continuidad en la cadena de violencias que reciben las mujeres a lo largo de su vida.

The health emergency caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to limitations and changes in mobility that transformed the behaviour of both society in general and criminal actors in particular, having an impact on crime rates. This led some analysts to consider the possibility of a "rebound effect on crime" after the end of the pandemic's safe haven. The aim of this article is to review the impact of the pandemic and its confinement measures on lethal violence against women in Mexico and Colombia. To do so, by means of a descriptive statistical exercise, we analyse the trend in homicide behaviour in both countries disaggregated by gender, focusing the analysis on 2019, 2020 and 2021, years considered as pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The findings demonstrate the lack of evidence of a significant increase in homicide, female homicide and femicide offences relative to the pre-pandemic period. Homicides of women and femicides show a continuity in the chain of violence against women throughout their lives.

A emergência de saúde causada pela pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 levou a limitações e mudanças na mobilidade que transformaram o comportamento da sociedade em geral e dos atores criminais em particular, com um impacto nas taxas de criminalidade. Isso levou alguns analistas a considerar a possibilidade de um "efeito rebote no crime" após o fim do refúgio seguro da pandemia. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o impacto da pandemia e suas medidas de confinamento sobre a violência letal contra as mulheres no México e na Colômbia. Para isso, por meio de um exercício de estatística descritiva, analisamos a tendência do comportamento dos homicídios em ambos os países desagregados por gênero, concentrando a análise em 2019, 2020 e 2021, anos considerados como períodos pré-pandêmico, pandêmico e pós-pandêmico. Os resultados demonstram a falta de evidências de um aumento significativo nos crimes de homicídio, homicídio feminino e feminicídio em relação ao período pré-pandêmico. Os homicídios de mulheres e os feminicídios mostram uma continuidade na cadeia de violência contra as mulheres ao longo de suas vidas.

A unique mRNA decapping complex in trypanosomes.

Removal of the mRNA 5' cap primes transcripts for degradation and is central for regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. The canonical decapping enzyme Dcp2 is stringently controlled by assembly into a dynamic multi-protein complex together with the 5'-3'exoribonuclease Xrn1. Kinetoplastida lack Dcp2 orthologues but instead rely on the ApaH-like phosphatase ALPH1 for decapping. ALPH1 is composed of a catalytic domain flanked by C- and N-terminal extensions. We show that T. brucei ALPH1 is dimeric in vitro and functions within a complex composed of the trypanosome Xrn1 ortholog XRNA and four proteins unique to Kinetoplastida, including two RNA-binding proteins and a CMGC-family protein kinase. All ALPH1-associated proteins share a unique and dynamic localization to a structure at the posterior pole of the cell, anterior to the microtubule plus ends. XRNA affinity capture in T. cruzi recapitulates this interaction network. The ALPH1 N-terminus is not required for viability in culture, but essential for posterior pole localization. The C-terminus, in contrast, is required for localization to all RNA granule types, as well as for dimerization and interactions with XRNA and the CMGC kinase, suggesting possible regulatory mechanisms. Most significantly, the trypanosome decapping complex has a unique composition, differentiating the process from opisthokonts.

Real-world evidence of nivolumab for non-small-cell lung cancer in a developing country.

Nivolumab is a human programmed death receptor-1 blocking antibody, used as treatment option in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We assessed the nivolumab efficacy in terms of survival and response to treatment as second-line (2L) or third-line (3L) therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. This is a multicentric observational study. Data of patients with advanced NSCLC who received nivolumab as 2L or 3L treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Information regarding patient demographics and clinical backgrounds, treatment patterns from diagnosis to post-nivolumab treatment, effectiveness, and safety of nivolumab treatment were collected. The outcomes evaluated were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) to treatment. OS and PFS were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and the differences were evaluated through the log-rank test. Data of 178 patients were included. The median follow-up was 26.8 months (interquartile range (IQR): 20.3-40.4). Nivolumab was commonly used as a 2L treatment (77.5%). The outcomes in this setting (2L) were as follows: ORR was 21.0%, and the median PFS and OS were 5.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.5-6.5) and 12.4 months (95% CI: 10.8-14.0), respectively. In 3L, the ORR with nivolumab was 15.0%, the median PFS and OS were 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.1-5.1) and 10.1 months (95% CI: 9.4-10.6), respectively. Three patients (1.7%) required discontinuation due to toxicity. Nivolumab effectiveness and safety in this scenario was consistent with that reported by previous trials and other real-world data.

Is mRNA decapping by ApaH like phosphatases present in eukaryotes beyond the Kinetoplastida?

BACKGROUND: ApaH like phosphatases (ALPHs) originate from the bacterial ApaH protein and have been identified in all eukaryotic super-groups. Only two of these proteins have been functionally characterised. We have shown that the ApaH like phosphatase ALPH1 from the Kinetoplastid Trypanosoma brucei is the mRNA decapping enzyme of the parasite. In eukaryotes, Dcp2 is the major mRNA decapping enzyme and mRNA decapping by ALPHs is unprecedented, but the bacterial ApaH protein was recently found decapping non-conventional caps of bacterial mRNAs. These findings prompted us to explore whether mRNA decapping by ALPHs is restricted to Kinetoplastida or could be more widespread among eukaryotes. RESULTS: We screened 827 eukaryotic proteomes with a newly developed Python-based algorithm for the presence of ALPHs and used the data to characterize the phylogenetic distribution, conserved features, additional domains and predicted intracellular localisation of this protein family. For most organisms, we found ALPH proteins to be either absent (495/827 organisms) or to have non-cytoplasmic localisation predictions (73% of all ALPHs), excluding a function in mRNA decapping. Although, non-cytoplasmic ALPH proteins had in vitro mRNA decapping activity. Only 71 non-Kinetoplastida have ALPH proteins with predicted cytoplasmic localisations. However, in contrast to Kinetoplastida, these organisms also possess a homologue of Dcp2 and in contrast to ALPH1 of Kinetoplastida, these ALPH proteins are very short and consist of the catalytic domain only. CONCLUSIONS: ALPH was present in the last common ancestor of eukaryotes, but most eukaryotes have either lost the enzyme, or use it exclusively outside the cytoplasm. The acceptance of mRNA as a substrate indicates that ALPHs, like bacterial ApaH, have a wide substrate range: the need to protect mRNAs from unregulated degradation is one possible explanation for the selection against the presence of cytoplasmic ALPH proteins in most eukaryotes. Kinetoplastida succeeded to exploit ALPH as their only or major mRNA decapping enzyme. 71 eukaryotic organisms outside the Kinetoplastid lineage have short ALPH proteins with cytoplasmic localisation predictions: whether these proteins are used as decapping enzymes in addition to Dcp2 or else have adapted to not accept mRNAs as a substrate, remains to be explored.

The exacerbation of violence against women as a form of discrimination in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis provoked by COVID-19 has rapidly and profoundly affected Latin America. The impacts are seen not only in infection and mortality rates, but also in the economic decline and increased inequality that plague the region, problems which have been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. Women, in particular, constitute one of the groups most heavily impacted by the pandemic, facing higher rates of unemployment and furloughing due to structural discrimination and a subsequent increase in economic dependency as they are forced to return to traditional unremunerated occupations like caregiving and homemaking. However, it is the increase of direct violences that has received the most media attention and remains the most visible manifestation of the impact of the pandemic on women. Nonetheless, in countries like Mexico and Colombia, said violences are compounded in contexts of criminal violence which make the public sphere more dangerous than the private. Thus, this article focuses the analysis on the structural factors that consign women to a reality in which they permanently face discrimination. This article analyzes the behavior of violence against women in the period of pandemic in the cases of Colombia and Mexico from the perspective of horizontal inequality. It emphasizes that violence against women is a form of discrimination that inhibits the full exercise and enjoyment of one's rights (Interamerican Court of Human Rights [ICHR], 2009). Finally, the responsibility of the State is evaluated in relation to granting women access to emergency assistance and the administration of justice. It is argued that violence against women is a continuum, the most extreme form of which is feminicide, permitted by the failure of the State to guarantee equal protection for women.

Environmental determinants of the distribution of planktonic diplonemids and kinetoplastids in the oceans.

We analysed a widely used barcode, the V9 region of the 18S rRNA gene, to study the effect of environmental conditions on the distribution of two related heterotrophic protistan lineages in marine plankton, kinetoplastids and diplonemids. We relied on a major published dataset (Tara Oceans) where samples from the mesopelagic zone were available from just 32 of 123 locations, and both groups are most abundant in this zone. To close sampling gaps and obtain more information from the deeper ocean, we collected 57 new samples targeting especially the mesopelagic zone. We sampled in three geographic regions: the Arctic, two depth transects in the Adriatic Sea, and the anoxic Cariaco Basin. In agreement with previous studies, both protist groups are most abundant and diverse in the mesopelagic zone. In addition to that, we found that their abundance, richness, and community structure also depend on geography, oxygen concentration, salinity, temperature, and other environmental variables reflecting the abundance of algae and nutrients. Both groups studied here demonstrated similar patterns, although some differences were also observed. Kinetoplastids and diplonemids prefer tropical regions and nutrient-rich conditions and avoid high oxygen concentration, high salinity, and high density of algae.

Violencia en contra de las mujeres como discriminación en contextos de violencia criminal: el caso del feminicidio en Medellín y el Estado de México / Violence against women as discrimination in contexts of criminal violence: the case of feminicide in Medellín and the State of Mexico / Violência em contra das mulheres como discriminação em contextos de violência criminal: o caso do feminicídio em Medellín e o Estado do México Fec

Resumen El incremento de los índices de violencia en países como Colombia y México ha tenido un impacto diferencial en las mujeres, expresado este a través de múltiples formas, entre ellas, su expresión de mayor escala, el feminicidio. No obstante, su trasfondo de discriminación ha sido invisibilizado por los distintos actores que detentan el poder, el más importante de ellos, el Estado, que, desde las disposiciones normativas y las políticas públicas en torno al tema, sigue circunscribiendo el fenómeno a sus categorías íntimas, esto es, vinculándolo, principalmente, a las relaciones de afinidad y consanguinidad. En tal sentido, en materia de manejo de información sobre la violencia en contra de las mujeres y el feminicidio en particular, surgen dos retos fundamentales: la categorización y el subregistro. Frente a estos, tanto la legislación como la política pública colombiana y mexicana han dado pasos importantes; sin embargo, en función de atacar la violencia estructural y simbólica que subyace a la problemática, tal como afirma en Colombia la Corte Constitucional (2016), es necesario integrar la perspectiva de género en el derecho penal, flexibilizando, con esto, el acercamiento a la prueba para permitir la introducción de los elementos del contexto configurantes de la violencia de género.

Abstract The increase in violence rates in countries such as Colombia and Mexico has had a differential impact on women, expressed through multiple forms, including its larger scale expression, feminicide. However, its discrimination background has been made invisible by the different actors who hold power, being the most important of them, the State, who, from the regulatory provisions and public policies around the issue, continues to circumscribe the phenomenon to its intimate categories, that is, linking it, mainly, to relationships of affinity and consanguinity. In this regard, in the area of information management on violence against women and feminicide in particular, two fundamental challenges arise: categorization and underreporting. Faced with these, both Colombian and Mexican legislation and public policy have taken important steps; however, in order to attack the structural and symbolic violence that underlies the problem, as the Constitutional Court (2016) affirms in Colombia, it is necessary to integrate the gender perspective into criminal law, thereby making the approach to the test flexible, to allow the introduction of elements of context configurative of gender violence.

Resumo O incremento dos índices de violência em países como a Colômbia e o México tem tido um impacto diferencial nas mulheres, expressado este através de múltiplas formas, entre eles, a sua expressão de maior escala, o feminicídio. Não obstante, o seu pano de fundo de discriminação tem sido invisibilizado pelos distintos atores que detêm o poder, o mais importante deles, o Estado, que, desde as disposições normativas e as políticas públicas em torno ao tema, segue circunscrevendo o fenómeno à suas categorias íntimas, isto é, vinculando-o, principalmente, às relações de afinidade e consanguinidade. Neste sentido, em matéria de manejo de informação sobre a violência em contra das mulheres e o feminicídio em particular, surgem dois retos fundamentais: a categorização e o subregistro. Face a estes, tanto a legislação como a política pública colombiana e mexicana têm dado passos importantes; no entanto, em função de atacar a violência estrutural e simbólica que subjaz à problemática, tal como afirma na Colômbia a Corte Constitucional (2016), é necessário integrar a perspectiva de género no direito penal, flexibilizando, com isto, a aproximação à prova para permitir a introdução dos elementos do contexto que configuram violência de género.

Cultivation and breeding of Chinese medicinal plants in Germany.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is increasingly used in Germany and Europe. Due to the need for herbal drugs of consistent quality and reliable supply, methods for commercial field cultivation and post-harvest processing under south German conditions have been developed for selected plant species used in CHM since 1999. The project used an interdisciplinary approach covering all aspects from seed sourcing to medicinal application. This paper describes the outcome of the agricultural seed and field experiments, breeding program, botanical and chemical characterization of the experimental material, comparison of experimental and imported herbal material with respect to their pharmaceutical quality, transfer of production methods and plant material to specialized farmers, medicinal application and, finally, information for users along the chain of distribution about the benefits of the locally produced herbal material.

[Evaluating traditional Chinese medicine as applied in the Clinic at Steigerwald. Part 1: Methods of assessment]. / Evaluation von Verfahren der traditionellen chinesischen Medizin in der Klinik am Steigerwald. Teil 1: Erhebungsmethodik.

BACKGROUND: In the 'Klinik am Steigerwald' (Gerolzhofen, Germany), founded in 1996 and providing accommodation for 44 patients, European physicians apply methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). OBJECTIVE: To develop an assessment system which is suitable for the evaluation of therapies, can be integrated into daily routine, takes into account the particular therapeutic approach of the hospital, and promotes quality management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The hospital admits all kinds of patients with chronic and often therapy-resistant diseases. Patients are primarily treated with Chinese phytotherapy and acupuncture. Methods of classical naturopathy and Western medicine complete the therapeutic range. All admitted patients are to be assessed. Exclusions are made according to a previously determined set of criteria. A written consent is mandatory. RESULTS: The assessment system comprises 3 questionnaires; 2 to be filled in by the patients, and 1 to document the physician's evaluation of the therapeutic success, based on his final consultation of the patient. Between January 2000 and December 2004, 2,021 patients were admitted to the hospital and followed-up until 2006. Of these, 1,609 patients met the inclusion criteria; 1,282 of these, again, agreed to participate in the interviewing process. The questionnaires of 1,110 patients were eligible for analysis. The present paper describes the methods of assessment. Its results are to be published in a future paper. CONCLUSION: Over the past 7 years, the assessment system has shown to be effective and appropriate to evaluate the type of therapy in question. It is intended to shorten the questionnaires.