Increase In Local Production Research Articles

Perspectives on progression of transboundary disease, one health and ecosystem health management in the Greater Mekong Subregion and beyond

Livestock production in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) reflects the inefficient smallholder ‘keeper’ system that has been slow to adapt to the rapidly expanding demand for animal protein-sourced foods in the region as urban economies have flourished and food preferences altered. The prolonged surge in demand, with only modest increases in local production, has increased the movement of animals and products into and from the GMS, accompanied by surging risks of transboundary animal disease (TAD) incursions, including the one health (OH) threats of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. As a consequence, the region has been subjected to epidemics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), new strains of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus, with recent incursions of African swine fever (ASF), lumpy skin disease (LSD), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and risks of peste petits ruminants (OPR) occurring in Southeast Asia (SEA) and beyond. These incidents reflect inadequate biosecurity, a sustainability issue that was clearly of relevance in the covid-19 pandemic, reflecting ecosystem health (EH) deficits, including land-use issues and unregulated trading in wildlife-sourced and poorly processed foods through the predominant ‘wet markets’. These challenges are increasingly confounded by slow adaption to the impacts of the climate crisis, including flooding, drought, crop failures and hypothermia episodes. The increase in animal and product movements enhances disease transmission risk, yet coincides with emerging concerns of greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGe) from livestock production, especially from large ruminants, as the world attempts to find pathways in managing the climate crisis. Despite the prolonged collaborative efforts of the SEA China FMD program from 1997 to 2023, a recent review confirmed persistent deficits in biosecurity, vaccine resourcing, disease surveillance, engagement of farmers, and national emergency disease-response capacities. A major project is about to fund major improvements in livestock value chains in Cambodia, including more effective biosecurity, surveillance and emergency disease-response capacities for TADs, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonoses. Similarly, a private-sector investment in Laos has developed a more climate-resilient livestock-feeding system that decreases GHGe impacts from ruminant production. These developments are likely to extend beyond both countries and be potentially transformational for the livelihoods of many of the poorest citizens in the region.

Factors Affecting Food Prices in Pakistan

The purpose of the study is to identify the factors affecting food prices in Pakistan. The findings reveal that there is a negative and significant impact of the real effective exchange rate on wheat prices in the long run. Similarly, the real interest rate affects wheat and rice prices indirectly, while it has a direct impact on tea prices. There is a positive and significant impact of international crude oil prices and international food prices on most food commodities. Moreover, the study explains that in the long run, the increase in local production significantly reduces the prices of food commodities. It is also found that the government policy of adjusting (increasing) wheat support prices also has a positive and significant impact on wheat prices.

Editorial

At the dawn of the devastating events of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the editorial of the first issue of 2020, as well as in the articles, topics related to the overwhelming impact of the emerging crisis were explored (Van der Maesen 2020). In particular, reference was made to the topical performances of the federal governments of the United States and Brazil, as well as the British government. As an introduction to this special issue, it is interesting to recall and extend some of the observations that were made last year.In the case of the United States, when COVID-19 appeared, the hazards of the virus were downplayed and even neglected. The president countered the opinion of public health experts with false, misleading comparisons to other countries (Qiu 2020). It was proposed to cut the budget of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention by 16 percent starting in October 2020. Long-lasting contacts and collaboration with the World Health Organization were broken. Due to export restrictions on medical products, importing countries were unable to obtain sufficient medical equipment, resulting in a shortage in healthcare equipment that had to be made for up via a mandatory increase in local production. This came at a high cost and with serious delays (Krueger 2020). For the United States itself, the initial attitude of the government resulted in a dramatic blow to its public health resources and capabilities. The quality of hundreds of health departments around the country suggests that the nation may be less prepared for the next pandemic than it was for the current one (Baker and Ivory 2021). The violence toward public health professions is gradually taking shape (Schreiber 2021). An overriding societal pattern, which in the United States undermines the principles of effective public health, is the primacy of personal rights over collective responsibility and solidarity. More than half of US states have introduced new laws to restrict public health measures, including policies requiring quarantine and mandating vaccines and/or masks.

Buy Local and Social Interaction

This paper examines the buy local movement using social interactions. Social interaction arises if some consumers have preferences for local economic output due to altruism toward local producers and/or because of local amenities that benefit the community. This introduces an incentive for some consumers to advocate for localism and convert other consumers to buy locally. However, when there are competing communities, global efforts to buy more local products leads to lower utility from consumption and, under some scenarios, no increases in local production. This paper analyzes the benefits and costs of buying locally under various types of localism and market structures.

Between industry labs and audience formation: Film festivals and the transformation of the field of film production in Chile

In the last ten years, the field of film production in Chile has been considerably transformed, showing an exceptional increase in local production, a growing professionalization and wider international recognition. Chilean film festivals have played a pivotal role in this change, both as sociocultural hubs that promote regular encounters and exchanges among filmmakers, and also by fostering a local cinematographic culture among film audiences. This article is based on a multi-sited ethnography conducted in the Chilean field between 2010 and 2018, including participant observation and in-depth interviews with festival organizers and participants. It analyzes the major transformations seen in Chilean film festivals, from relatively informal showcases for local cinephiles and hangouts for filmmakers to professionalized “industrial” hubs and nodes for project development, education and “audience formation”. These developments are linked to diverse changes in a Chilean cultural policy that considers national cinema as a creative industry, while they also reflect the global trend of film festivals toward a “business model”. The Chilean case shows how festivals can articulate new, at times contradictory, modes of film practice, serving to reconfigure a local field of cultural production.

Geographical Indication

The present work discusses Geographical Indications, which have increasingly grown in Brazil, becoming of extreme importance for territorial development. With this in mind, this work is aimed at establishing a centrality indicator for municipalities, capable of contributing for Geographical indication, based on the development on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of services for promoting local development. The measurement of centrality adopted in this work is based on the arrangement of GDP data on services, according to the Central Place Theory, in which cities are hierarchically organised and some services are only provided by more relevant locations. The database used for assessing the levels of centrality of municipalities were divided into four different groups: participation of the gross value added of services, excluding public administration on the gross value at total current prices; in the state level; in the microregion; in the country. The analysis observed simple structure averages to operationalise the hierarchical ruler, having established that the best route concerned attributing weighting coefficients to the group of indicators through a linear combination algorithm. It is important to point out that the most important tool considered included the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Accordingly, it was established that a location is an important territory with what concerns the spatial contour, with the service sector (excluding the public service) having an impact on local economy. Therefore, the registration of a Geographical Indication may promote economic development, attributed to the increase in local production, demand and greater added value and, consequently, an upsurge in the generation of jobs and wealth, having a relevant impact in the notoriety of the region.

Cellular mechanisms involved in induction of selective degeneration of orexin neurons in the hypothalamus

Narcolepsy is a kind of sleep disorder featured by selective loss of orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Several lines of evidence, including association with specific HLA haplotypes, gene polymorphism in T cell receptor and detection of autoantibodies in a subpopulation of patients, suggest that autoimmune responses play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Potential relationship with influenza virus infection has also been a matter of interest. However, these events may not be able to explain all cases of narcolepsy. Based on the structural features of orexin, in addition to the findings on the characteristics of orexin neurons obtained from studies in organotypic hypothalamic slice cultures, we proposed novel mechanisms potentially involved in selective degeneration of orexin neurons. Increase in local production of nitric oxide induced by several life style-related conditions such as shortage of sleep and intake of high fat diet leads to inactivation of protein disulfide isomerase. Consequently, abnormal aggregates of orexin and/or its precursor that possess two intra-molecular disulfide bonds accumulate within orexin neurons. In addition to the increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress, accumulation of orexin as abnormal aggregates leads to increased excitability of orexin neurons by shutdown of feedback inhibition resulting from deficits in orexin release. These mechanisms may provide a clue to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders accompanied by a decrease of orexin.

Gospodarka niskoemisyjna jako podstawa rozwoju regionu

All the time GDP per capita is far from the level in developed countries. Much worse was with the development, which was lower than the rate of economic growth. That is why we have in Poland, among others, a high level of poverty, the problem with providing adequate housing and health conditions, relatively high tax burden on people with the lowest incomes. In the next decade, the average growth rate of GDP may be significantly reduced because we have failed to build a sustainable competitive advantage. The previous success was mainly due to low labor costs, rather than innovation. Regions that wish to obtain long-term and high rate of economic development must build an advantage based on modern technology products and services. A low emission economy creates the chance. Especially that in the current financing perspective (2014-2020) the EU has allocated considerable resources for activities related to carbon efficiency. The article focuses on the benefits that region can get after the implementation of low emission economy. They concern, inter alia, the increase in local production of goods and services, growth in employment and average wages, improvement of the quality of the natural environment and ensuring energy security. These benefits come down to sustainable economic development in the long term. Building a low emission economy will allow to systematically increase the well-being of the population and improve the quality of life of people living in the municipality.

Impairment of Small Intestinal Function in Ulcerative Colitis: Role of Enteric Innervation.

Small intestinal dysfunction has been described in patients with ulcerative colitis and in experimental animal models of colitis. This is demonstrated by a decrease in fluid, electrolyte, amino acid, fat and carbohydrate absorption as well as by deranged intestinal motility. Histopathological changes in the small intestines in colitis have not been consistently demonstrated, but there is evidence of structural and biochemical alterations as shown by increased intestinal permeability and a decrease in the expression of multiple brush border membrane enzymes such as disaccharidases and aminopetidases, in both humans and experimental animals. The pathophysiology of this dysfunction has not been elucidated, but it is thought to include alterations in neural circuitry such as increased neuronal excitability, neuronal damage and changes of neuropeptidergic innervation and receptors as well as an increase in local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and alterations in the production of some neurohumoral mediators. In the following, we provide an update on the advancement of clinical and scientific contributions to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the alteration of the functions of apparently intact small intestinal segments, induced by ulcerative colitis.

Local Generation of Kynurenines Mediates Inhibition of Neutrophil Chemotaxis by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

During epithelial infections, pathogenic bacteria employ an array of strategies to attenuate and evade host immune responses, including the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN; neutrophils). Among the most common bacterial infections in humans are those of the urinary tract, caused chiefly by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). During the establishment of bacterial cystitis, UPEC suppresses innate responses via multiple independent strategies. We recently described UPEC attenuation of PMN trafficking to the urinary bladder through pathogen-specific local induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan catabolic enzyme previously shown to have regulatory activity only in adaptive immunity. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which IDO induction attenuates PMN migration. Local tryptophan limitation, by which IDO is known to influence T cell longevity and proliferation, was not involved in its effect on PMN trafficking. Instead, metabolites in the IDO pathway, particularly L-kynurenine, directly suppressed PMN transepithelial migration and induced an attached, spread morphology in PMN both at rest and in the presence of chemotactic stimuli. Finally, kynurenines represent known ligands of the mammalian aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), and UPEC infection of Ahr(-/-)mice recapitulated the derepressed PMN recruitment observed previously in Ido1(-/-)mice. UPEC therefore suppresses neutrophil migration early in bacterial cystitis by eliciting an IDO-mediated increase in local production of kynurenines, which act through the AHR to impair neutrophil chemotaxis.

Abstract A103: Intracellular immunotherapy of disseminated pancreatic cancer activates potent IFNγ and CD8+ T cell dependent anti-tumor responses

Abstract Innovative therapies with the ability to activate effective cellular-based immune mechanisms in conjunction with current treatment strategies have potential to combat highly aggressive solid and metastatic tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which remains one of the most deadly cancers with an overall 5-year survival rate of 6% following diagnosis. In this study, we explored the immunotherapeutic mechanisms triggered by an avirulent and nonreplicating obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (cps strain), which preferentially invades myeloid cell types, in the disseminated pancreatic tumor environment. We hypothesized the strong induction of Th1 responses in the tumor environment triggered by cps may stimulate significant mechanisms that could halt or eliminate established pancreatic cancer. Pan02 cells were injected intraperitoneally into syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Seven days later, these mice were treated with 2, 3, or 5 doses of cps or PBS, as a treatment control. Pan02 tumor-bearing mice treated with cps had a significant survival advantage over untreated mice. Additionally, treatment with heat-killed cps, which is unable to actively invade, led to loss of treatment efficacy. Following a single cps treatment CD11b+CD11c+ dendritic cell populations increased and CD11b+F4/80+CD11c- macrophage populations decreased in the peritoneum. Cps-invaded macrophages and dendritic cells in the tumor environment upregulated surface expression of CD80 and CD86, and there was an increase in local production of IL-12 up to 7 days post-treatment. Pan02 tumor-bearing mice unable to produce IL-12 lost protection mediated by cps treatment. Seven days post-cps treatment, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly higher than within the tumor microenvironment of untreated mice. Local T cells had lower expression of CD62L and increased expression of CD44 and CD69 indicating activation of recruited T cells. Six and seven days post-cps treatment, local IFNγ production in Pan02 tumor-bearing mice increased and the numbers of IFNγ+ CD4+ and IFNγ+ CD8+ T cells were higher. Similar to IL-12, loss of IFNγ within the tumor microenvironment led to a loss of treatment efficacy. A lack of CD8+ T cells prior to and during therapy resulted in a loss of treatment efficacy, whereas CD4+ T cells and NK cells were not required for treatment efficacy. CD8+ T cells isolated from the spleens of treated animals 10 days after cps treatment robustly produced IFNγ ex-vivo when stimulated with Pan02 cells. This response appears to be tumor specific as stimulation with irrelevant tumor antigen did not induce an IFNγ response from the same CD8+ T cells. Cps-mediated activation of tumor-associated myeloid cells leads to increases in local IFNγ+ CD8+ T cells, which drive specific anti-tumor responses. Cps induction of host Th1 responses elicited in the tumor microenvironment demonstrates the capability of cps to be broadly applied as an immunotherapeutic against pancreatic tumors. Citation Format: Kiah L. Sanders, Barbara A. Fox, David J. Bzik. Intracellular immunotherapy of disseminated pancreatic cancer activates potent IFNγ and CD8+ T cell dependent anti-tumor responses. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A103.

Challenges facing poultry production in Kuwait

In Kuwait, poultry meat is popular and a major source of dietary protein. Despite the increase in local production, importation to Kuwait has increased, to cover the high local demand for poultry meat. Self-sufficiency has, however, reached 20% of the local demand for poultry meat. This is mainly due to the continuous rise in human population and an increased demand for poultry meat with an average of 75.3 kg/capita/yr from year 2000 to 2011. Conversely, local egg production reached 42000 tons in 2011 with self-sufficiency of 101%. The poultry industry in Kuwait depends on the import of major feed ingredients such as corn and soybean from Unite States of America (USA) and India. In addition, the industry imports one day old chicks for layer and broiler hatching from Europe. Therefore, any changes in the quality or price in Europe and USA will affect the local poultry industry in Kuwait. As a result, the major challenges facing the poultry industry in Kuwait include high production costs, improvements in production efficiency, health monitoring programmes, environmental impact, and changes in policies and trade practices in the country. Solutions to these challenges are discussed in this paper. It can be concluded that more development and improvement in poultry meat production is needed through technology transfer as well as research and development relative to local production. This can be done by working closely with the local scientific institutions and government organisations to enhance and develop the poultry sector's capability to reduce production cost and improve profit.

Il social banking per le filiere corte: aspetti etici e fiscali

The relationship between the banking system and the agricultural sector ismarked by several difficulties related to firm size, variability in agriculturalincomes, technical risks and strict evaluation rules for creditworthiness. On theother hand, a progressive distancing of production from consumers is observedwithin the main production chains, with weakening of product identity and ofproduction with respect to other actors in the chain. The rediscovery, in the nineties,of integration among operators has brought under the spotlight the concepts oftraceability and sustainability of productions and the principle of proximity,making purchase directly, from the producer one of the consumer’s main objectives.Widespread awareness of this factor has contributed to an increase in localproduction and consumption circuits and has awoken interest in some banks, whichhave set out social banking instruments for farming concerns which face difficultiesin accessing ordinary bank loans.The analysis refers to Toscana, a regional context in which short chain examplescoexist with a particular microcredit system. In particular, the aim is evaluatingapproaches to social banking adopted by short chains and identifying the mainentrepreneurial advantages and socio-economic results.The methodology, therefore, took as reference the short chain entrepreneurialforms found in Tuscany and carried out focused interviews with Banca Etica andConsorzio Fidi Toscana in order to comprehend their vision of the overall businessmodel, even though it may not be strictly agricultural. The aim was also to identifyspecial needs and expectations as expressed by the short chain entrepreneurs as wellas their motivation in changing the boundaries of their area of operation. The finalaim of the analysis was to understand what banking services are available and howthey might help in establishing short supply-chains and making them morewidespreads in their region.The starting point was to identify the main manifestations of existing shortsupply-chain operations (direct sales to consumers, solidarity purchase groupsamongst producers and markets). The main characteristics of banking servicesoffered to them were also investigated. Were they responding to the idea itself ofsocial banking for food processing and not merely offering of banking services tomarginal customers? Was this a targeted approach specially adopted for the shortsupply-chain market: a segment characterized by low levels of income and by theneed for innovative financial solutions which are, at the same time, both accessibleand inexpensive. The results enabled us to highlight the key role of social banking inlocal production and consumption circuits in terms of both start-up activities and thesupply of technical assistance and training services. Moreover, they indicated thatshort supply-chain operations are not only associated with shorter distances, but alsowith greater transparency and responsibility in production-consumption relationships.

AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF THE DETERMINANTS OF GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SOME NON-TRADITIONAL EGYPTIAN VEGETABLE CROPS

Despite the increase in vegetable exports from 329 thousand ton in the year 2000 to about 3156 thousand tons in 2010, and the increase in vegetable local production from 14.8 million tons to 1019.5 million tons during the same period,the deficit in the agricultural trade balance has increased from $ 11 million in the year 2007 to about $ 18 million in 2012.However, it is noticed that exports of strawberries and artichoke the nontraditional crops, have increased from $ 2.2 million in 2002 to about $ 24.9 million in 2012. For this, the study endeavor to give special concerns to the two products particularly for their high average export prices which have tripled compared with potatoes and onions in recent years. The paper revealed that average exports of strawberries have increased to about 6391 ton and to about 32.6 thousand tons during the period 2005-2007 and 2008-2010 respectively. Belgian market absorbed about 19% and 23 % of the quantity exported during the two periods. Saudi Arabia imported about 11.3 % and 21.4 % of Egyptian strawberries. Egypt has a comparative advantage in producing strawberries as it came the second after Spain. Strawberries face strong competition and the penetration index was put at 0.002 and 0.779 during the two studied periods. This also noticed that Egypt has a relative price advantage compared with Holland, France, Belgium and Spain. For artichoke, the study shows a decrease of average exports from 14.8 thousand tons during the first period to about 11.7 thousand tons during the second period. Italian market absorbed about 64 % and 80 % of total artichoke. Egypt has a relative advantage in producing this crop compared with competing countries. Egypt also price advantage in artichoke compared with Spain, France, and Italy. The paper shows that determinants of total global demand of Strawberries as export to Saudi Arabia, relative price of Saudi price and export price of Egypt and Spain. For artichoke, the determinants were production in Italy, France export price in addition to production and price ratio in French market. The first equation in the econometric model shows that per head consumption of strawberries increases by about 0.95 % with the increase in local production. The second equation in the model shows that per head consumption in important imported countries increases with the increase of per head local production, exchange rate, the increase of per head income in Germany. The study shows that Egyptian –European partnership agreement has its positive effect on strawberries exports. The third equation in the model shows that per head local production has increased by about 0.02 % , 0.07 % and 0.1% with the increase in per head local consumption in the last year and the decrease each of per head production in Italy and Russia in the last year, respectively. As for artichoke, the study shows in the first equation of the model that average per head consumption has increased by about 1.01 %, 0.01 % and 0.1% with the increase in local production and the decrease each of artichoke exports and Egyptian price, respectively. The second equation in the model shows that per head Egyptian export in important imported countries with the increase by about 1.1% , 1.2% , 1.8% ,2.1% ,4.7% with the increase each of export prices in France, Italy, Spain, exchange rate and per capita income in Germany , respectively., Per head of Egyptian export of artichoke has Also increased by about 0.97% , 0.2% with the decrease each of per head consumption in Egypt and export price of Egypt , respectively . The study showed a negative effect of Egyptian European partnership agreement and SPS treaty on artichoke exports. The third equation in the model shows that per head local production has increased by about 0.01 % , 1.8 % , 1.4% and 0.38% with the increase in per head local production in the last year and the decrease all of per head production in Italy , Russia and Greece in the last year , respectively.

β-Amyloid Fibrillation and/or Hyperhomocysteinemia Modify Striatal Patterns of Hyaluronic Acid and Dermatan Sulfate: Possible Role in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimers Disease

A key event in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is the formation of insoluble peptides beta-amyloid aggregates and this process is favoured by a condition of hyperhomocysteinemia. To date, there is growing evidence that implicates glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the pathophysiology of amyloidosis but no data are available on the characterization of brain GAGs involved in the enhancing beta-amyloid fibrillogenesis in relationship to their structure and physico-chemical properties. Furthermore, few studies have been performed on the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount and chemical structure of GAGs in rat striatal areas where beta-amyioid fibrillogenesis was induced, and in conditions of hyperhomocysteinemia. The intrastriatal injection of beta-amyloid produced a significant decrease (-40.8%) in the hyaluronic acid (HA) percentage and an increase (+14.5%) in the dermatan sulfate (DS) with a total charge density increasing of 14.9%. A significant decrease (-19.5%) in the HA percentage and an increase (+6.9%) in the DS % was also observed in striata obtained from the hyperhomocysteinemic animals. The total charge density increased by 6.8%. Quite the same trend was observed in rats after intrastriatal injection of beta-amyloid and in a condition of hyperhomocysteinemia. The observed increase of DS concentration and the correspondent decrease of the nonsulfated polymer HA after in vivo treatment with beta-amyloid and in a condition of hyperhocysteinemia support the hypothesis that an increase in local production of sulfated GAGs may reduce beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. However, the consequent modification of the ECM network might impair the extracellular diffusion pathways of different signal molecules and participate in the progression of AD.

A process-oriented model study of equatorial Pacific phytoplankton: The role of iron supply and tropical instability waves

The response of phytoplankton growth to iron supply and its modulation by large-scale circulation and tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the eastern equatorial Pacific has been investigated with an ocean biogeochemical model. This process study shows that iron can be efficiently advected from the New Guinea shelf through the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) to the eastern Pacific. The presence of a continental iron source is necessary for the maintenance of the observed subsurface iron maximum in the EUC core. In the eastern Pacific region, phytoplankton production is enhanced when additional iron is available in the EUC. Simulated phytoplankton variability is linked to TIWs activity, as revealed by a wavelet analysis of the total autotrophic carbon. The net local effect of the waves on phytoplankton can be either positive or negative depending on several factors. When the iron nutricline is sufficiently shallow to be reached by the wave vertical scale, the effect of the waves is to enhance iron availability in the euphotic zone leading to a net local increase of phytoplankton biomass. We therefore suggest that the local maxima of phytoplankton observed in moorings off the Equator in the eastern Pacific might be not only the result of concentration mechanisms, but also the result of an increase in local production sustained by advected iron.

Environmental evaluation of localising production as a strategy for sustainable development: a case study of two consumer goods in Jamaica

The objective of this study was to compare the life-cycle environmental impacts of changed production structures for two consumer goods (high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shopping bags and beds) in Jamaica. A scenario technique was used to construct three alternative production structures for each product; each scenario reflecting an increase in local production in Jamaica which depended on an increased supply of input materials which may be sourced: (1) externally from overseas suppliers, (2) from post-consumer recycling, and (3) locally on the island of Jamaica. These three constructed scenarios were then compared to the existing supply chain or reference scenarios of the products. The results showed that for both case products the recycling scenario was most preferable for localising production, resulting in the lowest environmental impact. This was because the production of raw materials accounted for the largest effect on total environmental impact. As such, the most immediate environmental improvements were realised by lowering the production of virgin materials.

High-risk papillomavirus infection is associated with altered antibody responses in genital tract: non-specific responses in HPV infection.

In order to gain more information about local humoral immune responses to HPV infection, we quantified IgG, IgM, secretory-IgA (S-IgA), and total-IgA by ELISA, and lysozyme and lactoferrin by TR-IFMA, in cervical and cervicovaginal secretions of 40 healthy women and 28 high-risk HPV infected patients (11 were HPV16+). IgG, total-IgA, and S-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions (p < 0.0001) and high IgG and total-IgA concentrations (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) in endocervical secretions were significantly higher in HPV+ patients than in the healthy group. Since the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was significantly lower in cervicovaginal (7.5%) and endocervical secretions (36.5%) in HPV+ women compared to the control group (p < 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively), HPV could be responsible for an increase in local production of non-secretory IgA (monomeric and dimeric forms). IgG and total-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal and endocervical secretions fell in the same general percentage range in both HPV16+ and HPV+ groups (80% and 15%, respectively). However, the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was much lower in HPV16+ than in HPV+ women, in both cervicovaginal secretions (3.4%) (p < 0.003) and in endocervical secretions (23.3%) (p < 0.001). Innate immunity proteins and local S-IgA response could not stop the spread of HPV infection in spite of high lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations. HPV16+ disturbed the local humoral immune system, which could partly explain its low clearance.

High-Risk Papillomavirus Infection Is Associated with Altered Antibody Responses in Genital Tract: Non-specific Responses in HPV Infection

In order to gain more information about local humoral immune responses to HPV infection, we quantified IgG, IgM, secretory-IgA (S-IgA), and total-IgA by ELISA, and lysozyme and lactoferrin by TR-IFMA, in cervical and cervicovaginal secretions of 40 healthy women and 28 high-risk HPV infected patients (11 were HPV16+). IgG, total-IgA, and S-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions (p <0.0001) and high IgG and total-IgA concentrations (p <0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) in endocervical secretions were significantly higher in HPV+ patients than in the healthy group. Since the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was significantly lower in cervicovaginal (7.5%) and endocervical secretions (36.5%) in HPV+ women compared to the control group (p < 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively), HPV could be responsible for an increase in local production of non-secretory IgA (monomeric and dimeric forms). IgG and total-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal and endocervical secretions fell in the same general percentage range in both HPV161 and HPV+ groups (80% and 15%, respectively). However, the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was much lower in HPV16+ than in HPV+ women, in both cervicovaginal secretions (3.4%) (p < 0.003) and in endocervical secretions (23.3%) (p < 0.001). Innate immunity proteins and local S-IgA response could not stop the spread of HPV infection in spite of high lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations. HPV16+ disturbed the local humoral immune system, which could partly explain its low clearance.

Mechanism of elevated local oxidant stress in early anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis: an evaluation of oxidant production and superoxide dismutase expression.

The present study was designed to identify the mechanism of increased oxidant stress in the rat model of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis. Sixty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with nephrotoxic serum and evaluated 1 to 24 hours later. In these rats, CeCl3 deposition, an index of hydrogen peroxide production, was observed on the surfaces of glomerular endothelial cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, whereas no such depositions were observed in controls. Renal cortical level of lipid peroxidation products (phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide) was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated at one hour after the injection and remained elevated at least for 24 hours. Protein levels of glomerular Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased from 1.55 +/- 0.38 microgram/mg protein to 0.67 +/- 0.18 microgram/mg protein at one hour and normalized by 12 hours after the injection. The activity of the enzyme showed a similar trend. In contrast, Mn-SOD mRNA increased 3.4-fold at 3 hours after the injection. In situ hybridization showed increased Mn-SOD mRNA expression in glomeruli. Cu/Zn-SOD mRNA expression was transiently suppressed. These results indicated that both increase in local production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduction in antioxidant enzyme activities are responsible for the enhanced oxidant stress in the heterologous phase of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis. The paradoxical increase in Mn-SOD mRNA expression indicates that the posttranscriptional down regulation of Mn-SOD (i.e., reduction in protein and activity) and the increased ROS may activate transcription of the gene.