Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparación del portafolio óptimo del MILA y el óptimo de cada uno de los mercados que lo conforman: análisis de diversificación internacional

El proposito de este trabajo consiste en analizar la conveniencia de invertir en un portafolio constituido por activos pertenecientes al Mercado Integrado Latinoamericano- (MILA), del cual hacen parte las bolsas de valores de Colombia, Chile, Peru y Mexico; en contraste a portafolios conformados unicamente por activos locales de cada mercado; buscando maximizar la rentabilidad a causa de reducir o transferir el riesgo propio de la inversion mediante la estructuracion de una cartera internacional como medida de diversificacion. Los portafolios locales se estructuraron considerando los 10 activos mas liquidos en cada bolsa tomando como referencia sus cotizaciones diarias comprendidas desde el 1 de enero de 2015 hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2018. A partir de este conjunto de activos, y considerando una evaluacion ponderada de indicadores financieros y de mercado para cada activo se realizo la seleccion de los componentes de la cartera internacional (diversificada), eligiendo los de mayor puntaje. La estructuracion eficiente de los portafolios se realizo mediante un metodo de optimizacion basado en el Valor Condicional en Riesgo (CVaR), el cual considera las perdidas diarias esperadas de la inversion; y el Indice de Sharpe (SR) como medida de desempeno financiero. Una vez identificado y comparado el binomio de riesgo-rendimiento de la cartera optima del MILA con respecto a la optima de los mercados de Colombia, Chile, Peru y Mexico se encontro un aumento en la rentabilidad diaria del portafolio de 4,95; 7,77; 5,34 y 6,23 puntos basicos y una disminucion del nivel de riesgo en 2,8646; 0,1364; 0,4092 y 0,9012 puntos porcentuales respectivamente. Por lo anterior, se puede concluir que, por medio de la estructuracion de una cartera de renta variable internacional, un inversionista latinoamericano logra una mayor eficiencia en su estrategia de inversion que hacerla unicamente en su mercado local, minimizando el riesgo inherente a la cartera, pero a su vez logrando maximizar el rendimiento esperado.
Disrupting Transcriptional Feedback Yields an Escape-Resistant Antiviral

Drug resistance is a substantial clinical problem, with combination therapies often the only recourse. Here, we propose a novel antiviral approach that disrupts viral auto-regulatory circuits, which limits resistance by requiring multiple viral mutations. We provide proof-of-concept that DNA-based circuit-disruptor oligonucleotide therapies (C-DOTs) interfere with transcriptional negative feedback in human herpesviruses (CMV and HSV-1) thereby increasing viral transcription factors to cytotoxic levels. C-DOTs reduce viral replication >100-fold, are effective in high-viremic conditions where existing antivirals are ineffective, and show efficacy in mice. Strikingly, no C-DOT-resistant mutants evolved in >60 days of culture, in contrast to approved herpesvirus antivirals where resistance rapidly evolved. Oligonucleotide therapies that target feedback circuits could mimic combination therapy and represent escape-resistant interventions with broad applicability to viruses, microbes, and neoplastic cells. One Sentence Summary A single oligonucleotide breaks transcriptional feedback and mimics combination therapy to limit the emergence of antiviral resistance.
A Qualitative Analysis on Causes of Human Trafficking from the Perspective of Malaysian Authorities

Human trafficking is an issue prevalent in most countries including Malaysia.This article aims to discuss the findings of a qualitative analysis on the causes of human trafficking in Malaysia.The study involves data collection, in-depth interviews with five informants among the authorities involved directly in dealing with human trafficking. Based on the findings from the interviews conducted, there are several causes of human trafficking in Malaysia. Among these are human attitudinal weaknesses, the presence of demand and outsourcing companies and foreign employment agencies.
Caractéristiques phénotypiques et génotypiques des isolats de Staphylococcus Aureus colonisant les voies respiratoires des patients atteints de la fibrose kystique

Small-colony variants (SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus have been associated with chronic lung infections during cystic fibrosis (CF) but little is known about the impact of S. aureus and SCVs in the adult CF population. In this study, we evaluated the incidence and characteristics of S. aureus and, more particularly SCVs, in regard to P. aeruginosa colonization, antibiotic therapy and patients'clinical data among a cohort of 31 adult CF patients. S. aureus isolates were cultured from sputum specimens or deep throat swabs and characterized (Agr typing and multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeat analysis, SCV phenotype, antibiotic susceptibility profile, SCCmec types for MRSA, biofilm production, hypermutability). Results showed that 52% of patients (16/31) were positive for S. aureus including 7 patients positive for SCVs. Normal S. aureus and SCVs were frequently isolated from patients who were not receiving antibiotic treatment (50% [8/16] and 71% [5/7], respectively). P. aeruginosa was more frequently isolated (73%) in the 15 S. aureus-negative patients than in the 16 S. aureuspositive patients (73% versus 44%), whereas SCVs were apparently not associated with the presence of P. aeruginosa. Overall, 87% of S. aurews-positive patients were colonized with isolates resistant to at least one antibiotic, 19% were colonized with MRSA and an important population of aminoglycoside-resistant strains was also detected. Although isolated SCVs produced more biofilm than prototypical S. aureus (P < 0.05), neither normal S. aureus strains nor SCVs had a detectable impact on the patient forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1). In contrast, the presence of P. aeruginosa was associated with a lower FEV1 (P < 0.05). Finally, although we found some hypermutable strains, the presence of SCVs was not necessarily associated with a high mutation frequency in genetically-related co-isolates of the normal phenotype. Our results suggest that S. aureus isolates are well equipped (resistance determinants, SCV phenotype, biofilm production) for long-term persistence in adult CF patients. A longitudinal study is now necessary to evaluate their impact on the health of patients over time.
Vascular Plant Biodiversity of Floodplain Forest in Morava and Dyje Rivers Confluence (Forest District Soutok), Czech Republic

Abstract This paper presents an evaluation of full-area floristic investigation of floodplain forests in Soutok forest district (Židlochovice Forest State Enterprise) based on an individual forest stand inventory. The study area encompasses 5103 ha of forests, where 1186 segments were inventoried, and 71 223 single records about presence of vascular plant species were done. We found 761 taxa (species, subspecies and hybrids), out of which 655 were herbs, 106 woody plants, 156 were endangered species and 177 adventive species. The average area of a segment was 4.3 ha. The mean number of species per segment was 64.42 in a range of 4–180.
Experimental Analysis of the Spatial Variations of Air Pollution in a University Campus

Since air pollution constitutes one of the main environmental threats for human, the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as other national or regional authorities established Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) to monitor the air pollution and prevent its harmful impact on the population. This paper presents the results of a monitoring program of the air pollution in the scientific campus of Lille university, which aims at measuring the exposure of the campus users to air pollution and to analyse the spatial variation of the pollution in the campus. Results show that despite some peaks in the air pollution and important spatial variation, the air quality is acceptable regarding EU and WHO recommendations.
An in situ approach for measuring biogeochemical fluxes in structurally complex benthic communities

The exchange of energy and nutrients are integral components of ecological functions of benthic shallow‐water ecosystems and are directly dependent on in situ environmental conditions. Traditional laboratory experiments cannot account for the multidimensionality of interacting processes when assessing metabolic rates and biogeochemical fluxes of structurally complex benthic communities. Current in situ chamber systems are expensive, limited in their functionality and the deployment is often restricted to planar habitats (e.g. sediments or seagrass meadows) only. To overcome these constraints, we describe a protocol to build and use non‐invasive, cost‐effective and easy to handle in situ incubation chambers that provide reproducible measurements of biogeochemical processes in simple and structurally complex benthic shallow‐water communities. Photogrammetry tools account for the structural complexity of benthic communities, enabling to calculate accurate community fluxes. We tested the performance of the system in laboratory assays and various benthic habitats (i.e. algae growing on rock, coral assemblages, sediments and seagrass meadows). In addition, we estimated community budgets of photosynthesis and respiration by corals, rock with algae and carbonate sediments, which were subsequently compared to budgets extrapolated from conventional ex situ single‐organism incubations. The tests highlight the transparency (>90% light transmission) of the chambers and minimal water exchange with the surrounding medium on most substrates. Linear dissolved oxygen fluxes in dependence to incubation time showed sufficient mixing of the water by circulation pumps and no organismal stress response. The comparison to single‐organism incubations showed that ex situ measurements might overestimate community‐wide net primary production and underestimate respiration and gross photosynthesis by 20%–90%. The proposed protocol overcomes the paucity of observational and manipulative studies that can be performed in in situ native habitats, thus producing widely applicable and realistic assessments on the community level. Importantly, the tool provides a standardized approach to compare community functions across a wide range of benthic habitats. We identify multiple experimental strategies, including the manipulation of stressors/factors, and discuss how the method may be implemented in a variety of aquatic studies.
Estudo numérico da difusão unidimensional transiente empregando o Cálculo Fracionário

This paper presents the results obtained in numerical simulations of the transient one-dimensional di usion problem of a passive scalar where, unlike the traditional approaches, we employ a fractional space and time version of the governing equation of the problem. In the study, the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives were considered and the problem was solved by the Finite Di erence Method, in order to verify how the solution pro les are in uenced by the orders of the derivatives. Among the obtained results, we veri ed signi cant changes in the concentration pro les for di erent values of the order of derivatives, 0 < α < 1, showing the great potential of the fractional models in the modeling of problems in which the classical models are not able to represent as accurately as needed.
Understanding and assessing vegetation health by in situ species and remote‐sensing approaches

Human activities exert stress on and create disturbances to ecosystems, decreasing their diversity, resilience and ultimately the health of ecosystems and their vegetation. In environments with rapid changes in vegetation health (VH), progress is needed when it comes to monitoring these changes and underlying causes. There are different approaches to monitoring VH such as in situ species approaches and the remote‐sensing approach. Here we provide an overview of in situ species approaches, that is, the biological, the phylogenetic, and the morphological species concept, as well as an overview of the remote‐sensing spectral trait/spectral trait variations concept to monitor the status of VH as well as processes of stress, disturbances, and resource limitations affecting VH. The approaches are compared with regard to their suitability for monitoring VH, and their advantages, disadvantages, potential, and requirements for being linked are discussed. No single approach is sufficient to monitor the complexity and multidimensionality of VH over the short to long term and on local to global scales. Rather, every approach has its pros and cons, making it all the more necessary to link approaches. In this paper, we present a framework and list crucial requirements for coupling approaches and integrating additional monitoring elements to form a multisource vegetation health monitoring network (MUSO‐VH‐MN). When it comes to linking the different approaches, data, information, models or platforms in a MUSO‐VH‐MN, big data with its complexity and syntactic and semantic heterogeneity and the lack of standardized approaches and VH protocols pose the greatest challenge. Therefore, Data Science with the elements of (a) digitalization, (b) semantification, (c) ontologization, (d) standardization, (e) Open Science, as well as (f) open and easy analyzing tools for assessing VH are important requirements for monitoring, linking, analyzing, and forecasting complex and multidimensional changes in VH.
Comparative analysis of sfRNA in the genome of pre-epidemic and epidemic Zika viruses for host interacting proteins potentially related to the recent epidemic

Zika virus (ZIKV), circulating in more than 70 countries since 2014, is causing severe developmental abnormality to compare to pre-epidemic infection. ZIKV related flaviviruses as the ability to produce subgenomic flaviviral RNAs (sfRNAs) which are associated with pathogenicity in foetal mice. This study, delineate the increased virulence of ZIKV through sfRNA mediated host protein interaction. Phylogenetically ZIKV sfRNA formed three distinct clades of African, Asian and American strains. Compare with preepidemic, the epidemic ZIKV sfRNA has genetic, RNA secondary structure and host protein interacting profile diversity. Interestingly this study found that ZIKV sfRNA interacting proteins involved in the neuronal development, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis along with spermatogenesis, host immunity and viral pathogenesis. The difference in the interaction profile and interaction strength between pre-epidemic and epidemic virus could be the reason for the increased virulence of the recent epidemic viruses. Targeting this protein will be the potent choice for antiviral drug designing.
Pentas lanceolata and Hibiscus rosa sinensis as bee flora for urban conservation of Apis dorsata (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Flower visitation of Apis dorsata (Fab.) were observed regularly for three years on 17 plants in an urban garden in Bangalore. Data indicated that visitsof A. dorsata were only on two plants namely Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Pentas lanceolate. The meanvisits (pooled) recorded on H. rosa sinensis and P. lanceolate was 2.13/sqm/ 2 minutes and 2.48 sqm/ 2 minutes at 10 am. At 1pm mean visits (pooled) recorded was H. rosa sinensis 0.41/sqm/ 2 minutes and P. lanceolate 0.53 /sqm/ 2 minutes and at 4 pm H. rosa sinensis 0.19 /sqm/ 2 minutes and P. lanceolate 0.23 /sqm/ 2 minutes. Urban gardens planted with Pentas and Hibiscus therefore would augment thegiant bee. A. dorsata. This is significant as A. dorsata is dwindling due to urbanization and loss of plants.
Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Although in use for more than 150 years, dental amalgam has been questioned more or less vigorously as a dental restoration material due to its alleged health hazard. Humans are exposed to mercury and the other main dental amalgam metals (Ag, Sn, Cu, Zn) via vapour, corrosion products in swallowed saliva, and direct absorption into the blood from the oral cavity. Dental amalgam fillings are the most important source of mercury exposure in the general population. Local, and in some instances, systemic hypersensitivity reactions to dental amalgam metals, especially mercury, occur at a low frequency among amalgam bearers. Experimental and clinical data strongly indicate that these and other subclinical systemic adverse immunological reactions to dental amalgam metals in humans will be linked to certain MHC genotypes, and affect only a small number of the exposed individuals. These individuals will be very difficult to detect in a mixed population of susceptible and resistant individuals, including persons with alleged symptoms due to dental amalgam fillings, where many of the individuals are likely to suffer from conditions with no proven immunological background such as multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Intensified studies should be performed to identify such susceptible MHC genotypes, taking advantage of the reported cases of more heavily metal-exposed humans with systemic autoimmune reactions. Further studies will also be needed to ascertain whether the combined exposure to the metals in dental amalgam may lower the threshold for adverse immunological reactions, since recent studies have shown that the metals in alloy, especially silver, may induce autoimmunity in genetically susceptible mice.
The Effects of Angiogenic Growth Factors on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation to Vascular Cell Fates

THE EFFECTS OF ANGIOGENIC GROWTH FACTORS ON MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION TO VASCULAR CELL FATES by William D'Angelo May 2013 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into several cell lineages, including mural cells, which surround and support blood vessels, and possibly endothelial cells, which form the blood vessel walls. In this study, we investigated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two of the best-characterized angiogenic factors, on MSC proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesized that treatment with these two factors could inhibit mural cell character and promote differentiation toward an endothelial cell fate. C3H/10Tl/2 cells (a line of MSCs derived from mouse embryonic tissues) were treated with bFGF and VEGF, either alone or in combination, over a 9-day course. The effects on cell proliferation and cell type-specific marker expression were determined by cell cycle analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, and flow cytometry. bFGF significantly stimulated MSC proliferation and inhibited expression of mural cell markers, with no apparent effect on endothelial marker expression. VEGF alone or in combination with bFGF had no significant effects on expression of mural cell or endothelial cell differentiation markers. We conclude that these angiogenic factors, although critical in maintaining the properties of endothelial cells, are not sufficient to promote C3H/10Tl/2 cell differentiation to endothelial cells.
Analysis of the Content of Macroelements in Soil and Seeds of Winter Rape (Brassica Napus Var. Napus) as a Result of Fertilization using Two-Component Mineral Fertilizers

The subject of the study was an analysis of the influence of two-component mineral fertilizers of Polish, Lithuanian and Russian production on the changes in the soil pH and the contents of available phosphorus and potassium as well as exchangeable magnesium after winter rape cultivation and the content of macroelements in winter rape seeds. The study also focused on the effect of using varying doses of fertilizers. A two-year field experiment was carried out on soil belonging to loamy sand, the IVa bonitation class. The experimental plant was winter rape, DK EXPLICIT hybrid. The experiment was established using random blocks design in 4 replicates. Two factors were compared in the studies: I. factor – 3 two-component mineral fertilizers of Russian, Lithuanian and Polish production (POLIDAP®). II. factor – 3 doses of fertilization (minimum, optimum, maximum, which were respectively: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 dt per hectare). Introducing the two-component fertilizers and diversification of their doses was a factor that did not change the soil acidification. The applied two-component fertilizers (Russian, Lithuanian and Polish POLIDAP®) caused an increase in the amount of available phosphorus in the soil, with no differences depending on the fertilizer type. Diversification of the two-component fertilizers and potassium salt doses was reflected in a significant, but not proportional to the dose, increase in the amount of available phosphorus and potassium in the soil. While using fertilizers of Russian, Lithuanian and Polish production (POLIDAP®) during rape cultivation, there was no difference in the nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur contents in the seeds of cultivated winter rape of hybrid DK EXPLICIT cv.
REALIDAD VIRTUAL: EVALUACIÓN E INTERVENCIÓN EN EL TRASTORNO DEL ESPECTRO AUTISTA

La realidad virtual (RV) es una tecnologia que ha venido incursionando de manera asombrosa en el campo de la evaluacion e intervencion clinica, por lo que el presente articulo de revision teorica tiene como objetivo la seleccion, revision y descripcion de las ultimas tendencias en evaluacion e intervencion por medio de la RV en el trastorno del espectro autista; condicion que se caracteriza por dificultades en la comunicacion social, la rigidez en la conducta y un patron de conductas estereotipadas. Este trabajo es una revision de tema que “se deriva de macro proyecto efectividad de los dispositivos de inmersion virtual en el tratamiento de las fobias especificas” de la Universidad de Manizales. En la presente revision se emplearon los descriptores en la plataforma Pubmed “autism spectrum disorder” “virtual reality” “Neuropsychology” “neuropsychological rehabilitation”. Despues de la revision del titulo y el resumen de los trabajos encontrados, se incluyo un total de 67 trabajos. Los trabajos se encuentran enmarcados en la intervencion de la dimension comunicativa y social, contacto visual y expresion facial, procesos cognitivos y aprendizaje, vocabulario y otras aplicaciones. Los resultados de los diferentes trabajos aun no son concluyentes sobre la efectividad de la intervencion por medio de la RV, por lo que se requiere realizar investigacion con grupos mas grandes, hacer comparaciones con un grupo control y hacer seguimientos longitudinales.
Evaluation of Feeding Dairy Cow with Whole Wheat Hay and Alfalfa

The preliminary results of this laboratory (unpublished) indicate that the nutritional value of whole wheat hay (wheat hay, for short) is very high, and the milk stage is the best period of wheat hay harvest. In this study, we investigated the feeding effect and economic benefits using wheat hay instead of alfalfa diet for dairy cows under the condition of the same energy and crude protein levels. Three types of diets were used: alfalfa diet, wheat hay diet and alfalfa + wheat hay diet. The results showed that the dry matter digestibility of alfalfa diet and alfalfa + wheat hay diet did not differ significantly (P > 0.1), but was significantly higher than that of wheat hay diet (P 0.1). There was no significant difference in milk somatic cell count and body condition score among the three groups (P > 0.1). The wheat hay diet could significantly increase milk protein and lactose (P contents of interleukin-6 in cows fed alfalfa diet and alfalfa + wheat diet were significantly higher than that in cows fed wheat hay diet (P 0.05). The use of wheat hay to replace imported alfalfa in whole or in part could save feed costs. Full substitution of alfalfa with wheat hay could have a daily economic benefit of 13.74 yuan.