Tolerance to aberration and misalignment in a two-point-resolving image inversion interferometer.

Image inversion interferometry can measure the separation of two incoherent point sources at or near the quantum limit. This technique has the potential to improve upon current state-of-the-art imaging technologies, with applications ranging from microbiology to astronomy. However, unavoidable aberrations and imperfections in real systems may prevent inversion interferometry from providing an advantage for real-world applications. Here, we numerically study the effects of realistic imaging system imperfections on the performance of image inversion interferometry, including common phase aberrations, interferometer misalignment, and imperfect energy splitting within the interferometer. Our results suggest that image inversion interferometry retains its superiority to direct detection imaging for a wide range of aberrations, so long as pixelated detection is used at the interferometer outputs. This study serves as a guide for the system requirements needed to achieve sensitivities beyond the limits of direct imaging, and further elucidates the robustness of image inversion interferometry to imperfections. These results are critical for the design, construction, and use of future imaging technologies performing at or near the quantum limit of source separation measurements.

Unraveling Signatures of Local Adaptation among Indigenous Groups from Mexico.

Few studies have addressed how selective pressures have shaped the genetic structure of the current Native American populations, and they have mostly limited their inferences to admixed Latin American populations. Here, we searched for local adaptation signals, based on integrated haplotype scores and population branch statistics, in 325 Mexican Indigenous individuals with at least 99% Native American ancestry from five previously defined geographical regions. Although each region exhibited its own local adaptation profile, only PPARG and AJAP1, both negative regulators of the Wnt/ß catenin signaling pathway, showed significant adaptation signals in all the tested regions. Several signals were found, mainly in the genes related to the metabolic processes and immune response. A pathway enrichment analysis revealed the overrepresentation of selected genes related to several biological phenotypes/conditions, such as the immune response and metabolic pathways, in agreement with previous studies, suggesting that immunological and metabolic pressures are major drivers of human adaptation. Genes related to the gut microbiome measurements were overrepresented in all the regions, highlighting the importance of studying how humans have coevolved with the microbial communities that colonize them. Our results provide a further explanation of the human evolutionary history in response to environmental pressures in this region.

The genomic landscape of Mexican Indigenous populations brings insights into the peopling of the Americas.

The genetic makeup of Indigenous populations inhabiting Mexico has been strongly influenced by geography and demographic history. Here, we perform a genome-wide analysis of 716 newly genotyped individuals from 60 of the 68 recognized ethnic groups in Mexico. We show that the genetic structure of these populations is strongly influenced by geography, and our demographic reconstructions suggest a decline in the population size of all tested populations in the last 15-30 generations. We find evidence that Aridoamerican and Mesoamerican populations diverged roughly 4-9.9 ka, around the time when sedentary farming started in Mesoamerica. Comparisons with ancient genomes indicate that the Upward Sun River 1 (USR1) individual is an outgroup to Mexican/South American Indigenous populations, whereas Anzick-1 was more closely related to Mesoamerican/South American populations than to those from Aridoamerica, showing an even more complex history of divergence than recognized so far.

US Obesity Mortality Trends and Associated Noncommunicable Diseases Contributing Conditions Among White, Black, and Hispanic Individuals by Age from 1999 to 2017.

This study aims to assess the effect of obesity as an underlying cause of death in association with four main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as contributing causes of mortality on the age of death in White, Black, and Hispanic individuals in the USA. To estimate mortality hazard ratios, we ran a Cox regression on the US National Center for Health Statistics mortality integrated datasets from 1999 to 2017, which included almost 48 million cases. The variable in the model was the age of death in years as a proxy for time to death. The cause-of-death variable allowed for the derivation of predictor variables of obesity and the four main NCDs. The overall highest obesity mortality HR when associated with NCD contributing conditions for the year 1999-2017 was diabetes (2.15; 95% CI: 2.11-2.18), while Whites had the highest HR (2.46; 95% CI: 2.41-2.51) when compared with Black (1.32; 95% CI: 1.27-1.38) and Hispanics (1.25; 95% CI: 1.18-1.33). Hispanics had lower mortality HR for CVD (1.21; 95% CI: 1.15-1.27) and diabetes (1.25; 95% CI: 1.18-1.33) of the three studied groups. The obesity death mean was 57.3 years for all groups. People who die from obesity are, on average, 15.4 years younger than those without obesity. Although Hispanics in the USA have a higher prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), they also have the lowest mortality HR for obesity as an underlying cause of death when associated with CVD and cancer. While there is no obvious solution for obesity and its complications, continued efforts to address obesity are needed.

Enhancing Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Anti-tumor Function through Advanced Media Design.

Effective chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is dependent on optimal cell culture methods conducive to the activation and expansion of T cells ex vivo, as well as infection with CAR. Media formulations used in CAR-T cell manufacturing have not been optimized for gene delivery, cell expansion, and overall potency. Bioactive components and derivatives that support the generation of functionally-competent T cell progeny with long-lasting persistence are largely undefined. Current media formulations rely on fetal bovine serum (FBS) or human serum (HS), which suffer from a lack of consistency or supply issues. We recognize that components of blood cellular fractions that are absent in serum may have therapeutic value. Here we investigate whether a concentrated growth factor extract, purified from human transfusion grade whole blood fractions, and marketed as PhysiologixTM xeno-free (XF) hGFC (Phx), supports CAR-T cell expansion and function. We show that Phx supports T cell proliferation in clinical and research-grade media. We also show that Phx treatment enhances lentiviral-mediated gene expression across a wide range of multiplicity of infections (MOIs). We compared the ability of anti-GD-2 CAR-T cells expanded ex vivo in medium conditioned with either Phx or HS to clear tumor burden in a human xenograft model of neuroblastoma. We show that T cells expanded in Phx have superior engraftment and potency in vivo, as well as CAR-induced cytolytic activity in vitro. Metabolomic profiling revealed several factors unique to Phx that may have relevance for CAR-T cell preclinical discovery, process development, and manufacturing. In particular, we show that carnosine, a biogenic amine modestly enriched in Phx relative to HS, enhances lentiviral gene delivery in activated T cells. By limiting extracellular acidification, carnosine enhances the metabolic fitness of T cells, shifting their metabolic profile from an acidic, stressed state toward an oxidative, energetic state. These findings are very informative regarding potential derivatives to include in medium customized for gene delivery and overall potency for T cell adoptive immunotherapies.

Evolution towards the elimination of congenital syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean: a multicountry analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Effective and low-cost interventions for preventing the vertical transmission of syphilis can substantially reduce mortality and morbidity related to maternal and congenital syphilis. This study aims to identify successes and problems in eliminating congenital syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). METHODS: Conducted in 2015, this multicountry study included qualitative data from focal point staff members of the Pan American Health Organization, as well as country information and answers to semiqualitative questions on the elimination of congenital syphilis. Additional information was obtained from five Caribbean countries and Panama. RESULTS: Few of the studied LAC countries use a rapid syphilis test, but most of them do have benzathine penicillin available in primary care facilities. The majority of the countries have national strategies and protocols for eliminating congenital syphilis. There were substantial differences among the national information systems, including with data collection, analysis, and quality control. The major challenges related to eliminating congenital syphilis are the need to improve: prenatal care; test coverage; health worker training about syphilis diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up; and access to institutional deliveries. Other problems include a lack of rapid tests; shortages of benzathine penicillin; and substandard laboratory quality. Poor follow-up of maternal syphilis cases and their sexual contacts was also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the LAC countries studied have national strategic plans and protocols and have advanced in the elimination of congenital syphilis. These countries must keep improving their capacity to collect high-quality data about coverage and inequities and use this data as a basis for decision-making. To accelerate the elimination of congenital syphilis, the good practices and actions that have been undertaken must be reinforced.

Evolution towards the elimination of congenital syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean: a multicountry analysis

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. Effective and low-cost interventions for preventing the vertical transmission of syphilis can substantially reduce mortality and morbidity related to maternal and congenital syphilis. This study aims to identify successes and problems in eliminating congenital syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Methods. Conducted in 2015, this multicountry study included qualitative data from focal point staff members of the Pan American Health Organization, as well as country information and answers to semiqualitative questions on the elimination of congenital syphilis. Additional information was obtained from five Caribbean countries and Panama. Results. Few of the studied LAC countries use a rapid syphilis test, but most of them do have benzathine penicillin available in primary care facilities. The majority of the countries have national strategies and protocols for eliminating congenital syphilis. There were substantial differences among the national information systems, including with data collection, analysis, and quality control. The major challenges related to eliminating congenital syphilis are the need to improve: prenatal care; test coverage; health worker training about syphilis diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up; and access to institutional deliveries. Other problems include a lack of rapid tests; shortages of benzathine penicillin; and substandard laboratory quality. Poor follow-up of maternal syphilis cases and their sexual contacts was also reported. Conclusions. Most of the LAC countries studied have national strategic plans and protocols and have advanced in the elimination of congenital syphilis. These countries must keep improving their capacity to collect high-quality data about coverage and inequities and use this data as a basis for decision-making. To accelerate the elimination of congenital syphilis, the good practices and actions that have been undertaken must be reinforced.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Intervenções efetivas de baixo custo para prevenção da transmissão vertical de sífilis podem reduzir consideravelmente a mortalidade e a morbidade relacionadas à sífilis materna e congênita. Este estudo visou identificar os bons resultados e os problemas relacionados à eliminação da sífilis congênita na América Latina e no Caribe (ALC). Métodos. Estudo plurinacional realizado em 2015 que examinou dados qualitativos obtidos do pessoal dos centros de coordenação da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS), informações fornecidas pelos responsáveis nos países e respostas dadas em um questionário semiqualitativo sobre a eliminação da sífilis congênita. Outros dados foram obtidos de cinco países do Caribe e do Panamá. Resultados. Um pequeno número dos países estudados da ALC faz uso do teste rápido para sífilis, mas a maioria dispõe de penicilina benzatina nos serviços de atenção primária. Muitos países têm estratégias e protocolos nacionais para eliminação da sífilis congênita. Verificaram-se diferenças consideráveis entre os sistemas nacionais de informação, inclusive no que se refere à coleta, análise e controle da qualidade dos dados. Os principais desafios relacionados à eliminação da sífilis congênita são a necessidade de melhorar a assistência pré-natal; cobertura do teste; capacitação dos profissionais da saúde no diagnóstico, tratamento e acompanhamento da sífilis e acesso ao parto institucional. Outros problemas são a falta de testes rápidos; desabastecimento dos estoques de penicilina benzatina e qualidade laboratorial abaixo do padrão. Observou-se também o acompanhamento deficiente dos casos de sífilis materna e dos respectivos contatos sexuais. Conclusões. A maioria dos países estudados da ALC tem planos e protocolos estratégicos nacionais e fez progresso na eliminação de sífilis congênita. Eles precisam continuar melhorando a capacidade de coleta de dados de alta qualidade relativos à cobertura e iniquidades e usar estes dados para fundamentar a tomada de decisão. Para acelerar a eliminação da sífilis congênita, devem ser reforçadas as boas práticas e as ações realizadas.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Hay intervenciones eficaces y de bajo costo para prevenir la transmisión maternofetal de la sífilis, que pueden reducir sustancialmente la mortalidad y la morbilidad relacionadas con la sífilis materna y congénita. Este estudio procura identificar los logros y los problemas para eliminar la sífilis congénita en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC). Métodos. Este estudio multinacional, realizado en el 2015, incluyó datos cualitativos proporcionados por funcionarios de los centros nacionales de enlace de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, así como información de los países y las respuestas a preguntas semicualitativas sobre la eliminación de la sífilis congénita. Se obtuvo información adicional de cinco países del Caribe y Panamá. Resultados. En pocos de los países de América Latina y el Caribe estudiados se aplica una prueba rápida de sífilis, pero en la mayoría de ellos se cuenta con bencilpenicilina benzatínica en los establecimientos de atención primaria. La mayoría de los países tienen estrategias y protocolos nacionales para eliminar la sífilis congénita. Hubo diferencias significativas entre los sistemas nacionales de información, relacionadas entre otros aspectos con la recopilación, el análisis y el control de calidad de los datos. El principal desafío que conlleva la eliminación de la sífilis congénita es la necesidad de mejorar la atención prenatal, la cobertura de las pruebas, la capacitación del personal de salud en materia de diagnóstico de la sífilis, el tratamiento y el seguimiento, y el acceso a los partos en establecimientos de salud. Otros problemas son la falta de pruebas rápidas, la escasez de bencilpenicilina benzatínica y una deficiente calidad de los laboratorios. También se señaló el seguimiento inadecuado de las pacientes con sífilis materna y sus contactos sexuales. Conclusiones. La mayoría de los países de América Latina y el Caribe estudiados tienen planes estratégicos y protocolos nacionales y han avanzado en la eliminación de la sífilis congénita. Estos países deben seguir mejorando su capacidad de recopilar datos de calidad acerca de la cobertura y las inequidades, y usar tales datos como base en la toma de decisiones. Para acelerar la eliminación de la sífilis congénita, deben reforzarse las prácticas y acciones adecuadas que se han emprendido.

Vaccination With Mouse Dendritic Cells Loaded With an IpaD-IpaB Fusion Provides Protection Against Shigellosis.

Diarrheal diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They are most prevalent in settings with inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and contaminated water. An important diarrheal pathogen in such settings is Shigella. No commercially available vaccine exists against shigellosis and immunity to the pathogen is serotype-restricted. We have previously shown that a polypeptide fusion of the Type Three Secretion Apparatus (T3SA) proteins IpaB and IpaD (named DBF) was efficacious as a vaccine against Shigella. Vaccination using different administration routes indicated that protection conferred by DBF did not fully correlate with antibodies. To define the immune responses involved in protection, we studied cellular responses to intranasal immunization with the DBF and the adjuvant dmLT. We found dendritic cell (DC) activation at the nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT). Activation markers CD86 and MHCII significantly increase in cells from immunized mice. Antigen exposure in vitro further confirmed the upregulation of CD80 and CD40 in primary dendritic cells. Animals immunized with antigen-primed dendritic cells were protected against Shigella infection, at levels comparable to the efficacy of immunization with the protein vaccine formulation. Therefore, we show that antigen-primed DCs are enough to provide immunity, and propose a mechanism of protection against Shigella spp. based on DC-mediated antigen presentation to T cells.

Soluble antigen arrays disarm antigen-specific B cells to promote lasting immune tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Autoreactive lymphocytes that escape central immune tolerance may be silenced via an endogenous peripheral tolerance mechanism known as anergy. Antigen-specific therapies capable of inducing anergy may restore patients with autoimmune diseases to a healthy phenotype while avoiding deleterious side effects associated with global immunosuppression. Inducing anergy in B cells may be a particularly potent intervention, as B cells can contribute to autoimmune diseases through multiple mechanisms and offer the potential for direct antigen-specific targeting through the B cell receptor (BCR). Our previous results suggested autoreactive B cells may be silenced by multivalent 'soluble antigen arrays' (SAgAs), which are polymer conjugates displaying multiple copies of autoantigen with or without a secondary peptide that blocks intracellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Here, key therapeutic molecular properties of SAgAs were identified and linked to the immunological mechanism through comprehensive cellular and in vivo analyses. We determined non-hydrolyzable 'cSAgAs' displaying multivalent 'click'-conjugated antigen more potently suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) compared to hydrolyzable SAgAs capable of releasing conjugated antigen. cSAgAs restored a healthy phenotype in disease-specific antigen presenting cells (APCs) by inducing an anergic response in B cells and a subset of B cells called autoimmune-associated B cells (ABCs) that act as potent APCs in autoimmune disease. Accompanied by a cytokine response skewed towards a Th2/regulatory phenotype, this generated an environment of autoantigenic tolerance. By identifying key therapeutic molecular properties and an immunological mechanism that drives SAgA efficacy, this work guides the design of antigen-specific immunotherapies capable of inducing anergy.

Characterization and Protective Efficacy of Type III Secretion Proteins as a Broadly Protective Subunit Vaccine against Salmonella enterica Serotypes.

Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica serotypes (NTS) are the leading cause of hospitalization and death due to foodborne illnesses. NTS are the costliest of the foodborne pathogens and cause ∼$4 billion annually in health care costs. In Africa, new invasive NTS are the leading cause of bacteremia, especially in HIV-positive children and adults. Current vaccines against S. enterica are not broadly protective and most are directed at the typhoid-causing serotypes, not the NTS. All S. enterica strains require two type III secretion systems (T3SS) for virulence. The T3SS needle tip protein and the first translocator are localized to the T3SS needle tip and are required for pathogenesis of S. enterica Collectively they are 95 to 98% conserved at the amino acid sequence level among all S. enterica strains. The Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 or 2 tip and first translocator proteins were genetically fused to produce the S1 and S2 fusion proteins, respectively, as potential vaccine candidates. S1 and S2 were then characterized using spectroscopic techniques to understand their structural and biophysical properties. Formulated at the proper pH, S1, S2, or S1 plus S2 (S1S2), admixed with adjuvant, was used to immunize mice followed by a lethal challenge with S. enterica serotype Typhimurium or S. enterica serotype Enteritidis. The S1S2 formulation provided the highest protective efficacy, thus demonstrating that an S1S2 subunit vaccine can provide broad, serotype-independent protection, possibly against all S. enterica serotypes. Such a finding would be transformative in improving human health.

Carnosine modulates nitric oxide in stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Excess nitric oxide (NO) production occurs in several pathological states, including neurodegeneration, ischemia, and inflammation, and is generally accompanied by increased oxidative/nitrosative stress. Carnosine [ß-alanine-histidine (ß-Ala-His)] has been reported to decrease oxidative/nitrosative stress-associated cell damage by reducing the amount of NO produced. In this study, we evaluated the effect of carnosine on NO production by murine RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharides + interferon-γ. Intracellular NO and intracellular and extracellular nitrite were measured by microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence and by the Griess assay, respectively. Results showed that carnosine causes an apparent suppression of total NO production by stimulated macrophages accompanied by an unexpected simultaneous drastic increase in its intracellular low toxicity endproduct, nitrite, with no inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy in a cell-free system showed the formation of multiple adducts (at different ratios) of carnosine-NO and carnosine-nitrite, involving both constituent amino acids (ß-Ala and His) of carnosine, thus providing a possible mechanism for the changes in free NO and nitrite in the presence of carnosine. In stimulated macrophages, the addition of carnosine was also characterized by changes in the expression of macrophage activation markers and a decrease in the release of IL-6, suggesting that carnosine might alter M1/M2 macrophage ratio. These results provide evidence for previously unknown properties of carnosine that modulate the NO/nitrite ratio of stimulated macrophages. This modulation is also accompanied by changes in the release of pro-inflammatory molecules, and does not involve the inhibition of iNOS activity.

Immunization with the MipA, Skp, or ETEC_2479 Antigens Confers Protection against Enterotoxigenic E. coli Strains Expressing Different Colonization Factors in a Mouse Pulmonary Challenge Model.

Achieving cross-protective efficacy against multiple bacterial strains or serotypes is an important goal of vaccine design. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is an important cause of diarrheal disease in underdeveloped nations. We have been interested in identifying and characterizing ETEC antigens that generate protective immune responses independent of ETEC colonization factor (CF) expression. Our previous studies used proteomics to identify the ETEC MipA, Skp, and ETEC_2479 proteins as effective in protecting mice from homologous challenge with ETEC H10407 using a pulmonary inoculation model. This model permits analysis of mouse survival, bacterial clearance, and the production of secretory IgA (sIgA) and has been employed previously for studies of enteric pathogens for which robust oral challenge models do not exist. MipA belongs to a family of proteins involved in remodeling peptidoglycan. Skp rescues misdirected outer membrane proteins. ETEC_2479 is predicted to function as an outer membrane porin. These proteins are conserved in pathogenic ETEC strains as well as in commensal Proteobacteria. Antibodies produced against the ETEC MipA, Skp, and ETEC_2479 proteins also reduced the adherence of multiple ETEC strains differing in CF type to intestinal epithelial cells. Here we characterized the ability of 10 heterologous ETEC strains that differ in CF type to cause clinical signs of illness in mice after pulmonary challenge. ETEC strains C350C1A, E24377A, E7476A, WS2173A, and PE360 caused variable degrees of lethality in this mouse model, while ETEC strains B7A, WS6866B, 2230, ARG-2, and 8786 did not. Subsequent challenge experiments in which mice were first vaccinated intranasally with MipA, Skp, or ETEC_2479, when combined with cholera toxin, showed both that each antigen was protective and that protection was strongly correlated with fecal IgA concentrations. We conclude that the MipA, Skp, or ETEC_2479 antigens generate protection in the mouse pulmonary challenge model against ETEC strains that express different CFs.

Antigen-Specific Binding of Multivalent Soluble Antigen Arrays Induces Receptor Clustering and Impedes B Cell Receptor Mediated Signaling.

A pressing need exists for autoimmune disease therapies that act in an antigen-specific manner while avoiding global immunosuppression. Multivalent soluble antigen arrays (SAgAPLP:LABL), designed to induce tolerance to a specific multiple sclerosis autoantigen, consist of a flexible hyaluronic acid (HA) polymer backbone cografted with multiple copies of autoantigen peptide (PLP) and cell adhesion inhibitor peptide (LABL). Previous in vivo studies revealed copresentation of both signals on HA was necessary for therapeutic efficacy. To elucidate therapeutic cellular mechanisms, in vitro studies were performed in a model B cell system to evaluate binding and specificity. Compared to HA and HA arrays containing only grafted PLP or LABL, SAgAPLP:LABL displaying both PLP and LABL exhibited greatly enhanced B cell binding. Furthermore, the binding avidity of SAgAPLP:LABL was primarily driven by the PLP antigen, determined via flow cytometry competitive dissociation studies. Fluorescence microscopy showed SAgAPLP:LABL induced mature receptor clustering that was faster than other HA arrays with only one type of grafted peptide. SAgAPLP:LABL molecules also reduced and inhibited IgM-stimulated signaling as discerned by a calcium flux assay. The molecular mechanisms of enhanced antigen-specific binding, mature receptor clustering, and dampened signaling observed in B cells may contribute to SAgAPLP:LABL therapeutic efficacy.

Community-based interventions for improving maternal health and for reducing maternal health inequalities in high-income countries: a systematic map of research.

BACKGROUND: This review is part of a European Commission project, MASCOT, aimed at reducing maternal and child health inequalities. The purpose was to identify and describe the literature on community-based interventions on maternal health in high-income countries (HIC) and conceptually map the literature according to country focus, topics addressed, nature of the intervention and the intervention provider, and interventions designed to address inequalities in maternal health. METHODS: The research protocol for this review was based on a low-income country (LMIC) systematic review protocol within the MASCOT Project. We searched PubMED and CINAHL databases for literature published between January 2000 and April 2013. OECD countries were used to determine the HIC and different terms were used to refer to community based interventions, defined as those "delivered in community settings or any activities occurring outside of health facilities". RESULTS: 119 publications were selected for inclusion in this mapping study. 95 (80%) were Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) and 24 (20%) were systematic reviews (SRs). We categorised the study topics according to the main interventions covered: breastfeeding assistance and promotion, preventing and treating post-natal depression, interventions to support and build capacity around parenting and child care, antenatal interventions preparing women for birth, postnatal planning of future births and control trials around changing maternal behaviours. The home was used as the most common setting to implement these interventions and health professionals accounted for the largest group of intervention providers. CONCLUSIONS: This review maps and brings knowledge on the type of studies and topics being addressed in community based interventions around maternal health in HICs. It opens the opportunity for further studies on interventions' effectiveness and knowledge transfer to LMICs settings.

Econograma: Diseño de un Instrumento Cualitativo para Investigación en Ambientes Sociales con poca o nula Información Socioeconómica de base / Econogram: designing a tool for qualitative research in social contexts with low or no socioeconomic information data base

Este artículo presenta un instrumento de investigación cualitativa denominado econograma y tiene su origen en la necesidad generar un conocimiento de base para evaluar la eficacia de los programas estatales implementados en la atención de población damnificada por un fenómeno de excesiva plu-viosidad, sucedido en Colombia entre noviembre de 2010 y marzo de 2011. Esta herramienta de investigación es a la vez un formato y una técnica, que pone en evidencia la estructura básica de las interacciónes que se establecen entre un individuo o un colectivo en términos económicos, y permite rastrear desplazamientos en los comportamientos económicos a través del tiempo, desde una perspectiva que permite inferir ciclos de producción y de consumo, tendencias y redes de producción.

This paper presents a qualitative research tool called Econogram. This instrument has its origin in the need to generate new knowledge to evaluate the effectiveness of the state programs, implemented to attend the population affected by a phenomenon of excessive rainfall in Colombia between November 2010 and March 2011. This research tool is both a format and a technique, which proves the structure of the interactions between an individual, or a group in economic terms. It also allows tracking and understanding shifts in economic behavior throughout time to infer cycles of production, consumption and production networks and trends.

In-Home Behavioral Monitoring Using Simultaneous Localization and Activity Detection.

Shifting demographics in the U.S. has created an urgent need to reform the policies, practices, and technology associated with delivering healthcare to geriatric populations. Automated monitoring systems can improve the quality of life while reducing healthcare costs for individuals aging in place. For these systems to be successful, both activity detection and localization are important, but most existing research focuses on only one of these technologies and systems that do collect both data treat these data sources separately. Here, we present SLAD {Simultaneous Localization and Activity Detection a novel framework for simultaneously processing data collected from localization and activity classification systems. Using a hidden Markov model and machine learning techniques, SLAD fuses these two sources of data in realtime using a probabilistic likelihood framework, which allows activity data to refine localization, and vice-versa. To evaluate the system, a wireless sensor network was deployed to collect RSSI data and IMU data concurrently from a wrist-worn watch; the RSSI data was processed using a radial basis function neural network localization algorithm, and the resulting position likelihoods were combined with the likelihoods from an IMU acitivty classification algorithm. In an experiment conducted in an indoor office environment, the proposed method produces 97% localization accuracy and 85% activity classification.

Impact of detergent on biophysical properties and immune response of the IpaDB fusion protein, a candidate subunit vaccine against Shigella species.

Shigella spp. are causative agents of bacillary dysentery, a human illness with high global morbidity levels, particularly among elderly and infant populations. Shigella infects via the fecal-oral route, and its virulence is dependent upon a type III secretion system (T3SS). Two components of the exposed needle tip complex of the Shigella T3SS, invasion plasmid antigen D (IpaD) and IpaB, have been identified as broadly protective antigens in the mouse lethal pneumonia model. A recombinant fusion protein (DB fusion) was created by joining the coding sequences of IpaD and IpaB. The DB fusion is coexpressed with IpaB's cognate chaperone, IpgC, for proper recombinant expression. The chaperone can then be removed by using the mild detergents octyl oligooxyethelene (OPOE) or N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide (LDAO). The DB fusion in OPOE or LDAO was used for biophysical characterization and subsequent construction of an empirical phase diagram (EPD). The EPD showed that the DB fusion in OPOE is most stable at neutral pH below 55 °C. In contrast, the DB fusion in LDAO exhibited remarkable thermal plasticity, since this detergent prevents the loss of secondary and tertiary structures after thermal unfolding at 90 °C, as well as preventing thermally induced aggregation. Moreover, the DB fusion in LDAO induced higher interleukin-17 secretion and provided a higher protective efficacy in a mouse challenge model than did the DB fusion in OPOE. These data indicate that LDAO might introduce plasticity to the protein, promoting thermal resilience and enhanced protective efficacy, which may be important in its use as a subunit vaccine.

A systematic mapping of funders of maternal health intervention research 2000-2012.

BACKGROUND: The priorities of research funding bodies govern the research agenda, which has important implications for the provision of evidence to inform policy. This study examines the research funding landscape for maternal health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS: This review draws on a database of 2340 academic papers collected through a large-scale systematic mapping of research on maternal health interventions in LMICs published from 2000-2012. The names of funders acknowledged on each paper were extracted and categorised into groups. It was noted whether support took a specific form, such as staff fellowships or drugs. Variations between funder types across regions and topics of research were assessed. RESULTS: Funding sources were only reported in 1572 (67%) of articles reviewed. A high number of different funders (685) were acknowledged, but only a few dominated funding of published research. Bilateral funders, national research agencies and private foundations were most prominent, while private companies were most commonly acknowledged for support 'in kind'. The intervention topics and geographic regions of research funded by the various funder types had much in common, with HIV being the most common topic and sub-Saharan Africa being the most common region for all types of funder. Publication outputs rose substantially for several funder types over the period, with the largest increase among bilateral funders. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of organisations provide funding for maternal health research, but a handful account for most funding acknowledgements. Broadly speaking, these organisations address similar topics and regions. This suggests little coordination between funding agencies, risking duplication and neglect of some areas of maternal health research, and limiting the ability of organisations to develop the specialised skills required for systematically addressing a research topic. Greater transparency in reporting of funding is required, as the role of funders in the research process is often unclear.