According to conventional portfolio theory, an increase in the interconnectedness of international financial markets may reduce the potential for constructing diversified portfolios. This article ...explores the implications of the creation of the Latin American Integrated Market (MILA)
1
over the dependence structure of its members using correlation and cointegration analysis as well as linear and nonlinear Granger causality tests. The creation of MILA aimed to enhance the integration process that Latin American financial markets "naturally" present while still providing diversification opportunities to investors. The results of our empirical analysis suggest that such objective is being achieved. Evidence of a rise in cross-country linear correlations and their linear causal relationship supports the idea of an increasing financial integration process in the region, while the absence of cointegration and the weakening of the nonlinear causal relationship favors the creation of diversified regional portfolios. These findings provide valuable insights for investment portfolio designers, regulators, and supervisors.
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BFBNIB, IZUM, KILJ, NMLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Extracts of neem (
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and
Gliricidia sepium Jacquin, locally known as ‘mata-raton’, are used to control pests of maize. Their application, however, is known to affect soil ...microorganisms. We investigated if these extracts affected emissions of methane (CH
4), carbon dioxide (CO
2) and nitrous oxide (N
2O), important greenhouse gases, and dynamics of soil inorganic N. Soil was treated with extracts of neem, mata-raton or lambda-cyhalothrin, used as chemical control. The soil was amended with or without urea and incubated at 40% and 100% water holding capacity (WHC). Concentrations of ammonium
(
NH
4
+
)
, nitrite
(
NO
2
-
)
and nitrate
(
NO
3
-
)
and emissions of CH
4, CO
2 and N
2O were monitored for 7
d. Treating urea-amended soil with extracts of neem, mata-raton or lambda-cyhalothrin reduced the emission of CO
2 significantly compared to the untreated soil with the largest decrease found in the latter. Oxidation of CH
4 was inhibited by extracts of neem in the unamended soil, and by neem, mata-raton and lambda-cyhalothrin in the urea-amended soil compared to the untreated soil. Neem, mata-raton and lambda-cyhalothrin reduced the N
2O emission from the unamended soil incubated at 40%WHC compared to the untreated soil. Extracts of neem, mata-raton and lambda-cyhalothrin had no significant effect on dynamics of
NH
4
+
,
NO
2
-
and
NO
3
-
. It was found that emission of CO
2 and oxidation of CH
4 was inhibited in the urea-amended soil treated with extracts of neem, mata-raton and lambda-cyhalothrin, but ammonification, N
2O emission and nitrification were not affected.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is a fruit of tropical and subtropical zones of the world, is an important source of phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins). ...Several studies have associated phytochemicals with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The objective of this work was to analyze the polyphenolic content, the antioxidant and antifungal properties of jackfruit extracts on phytopathogenic fungi. Two phenolic extracts of jackfruit of different maturity level (J1-J2) were used. The total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and total flavonoids (TFC) by the aluminum chloride method, the free radical trapping potential was measured using FRAP and ORAC methods. The results showed a TPC of 844 and 1,178 mgEAG/100 g and TFC of 37 and 68 mgQE/100 g, of dry jackfruit, the antioxidant potential analysis by FRAP was 7,575 and 8,691, by ORAC was 13.369 and 14.728 µmol Trolox/100 g, of dry jackfruit for J1 and J2 respectively. Additionally, it was observed that the phenolic extracts of jackfruit reduced the mycelial growth of: Penicillium digitatum (20-14%), Geotrichum candidum (56-55%), Aspergillus niger (72-67%) and Botrytis cinerea (100%-100%) for J1 and J2 respectively. We conclude that regardless of the degree of maturity, jackfruit has antioxidant and antifungal properties on phytopathogens important in agriculture.
Los chiles que le dan sabor al mundo Aguilar-Meléndez, Araceli; Bak-Geller Corona, Sarah; Balam Canché, Lorenza ...
IRD Éditions,
2018
eBook, Book
Open access
El chile es el condimento de la vida en diversas culturas del mundo. México es centro de origen y diversificación de la especie domesticada Capsicum annuum L, por lo que el chile se convirtió en ...elemento identitario y patrimonio biocultural de la nación. A pesar de la importancia de esta planta, desde la academia, se tienen pocos estudios integradores que analicen las complejas relaciones entre los chiles y los diferentes factores bióticos, abióticos y socioculturales que hacen posible su permanencia en el tiempo y el espacio. Este libro está conformado por 21 contribuciones de diversas mentes creativas como cocineras tradicionales, chefs, así como investigadoras e investigadores de las ciencias naturales y sociales que describen y analizan al chile mexicano con diferentes aproximaciones metodológicas y narrativas. Las evidencias presentadas desde diferentes disciplinas resaltan el uso continuo del chile como un condimento, alimento y elemento identitario en esta región del mundo. Queremos que el público lector disfrute de nuestro picante y -esperemos- sabroso compendio.
The differentiation of influenza and COVID-19 could constitute a diagnostic challenge during the ongoing winter due to their clinical similitude. Thus, novel biomarkers that enable distinguishing ...both diseases are required. Here, we evaluated whether the surfactant protein D (SP-D), a collectin produced at the alveolar epithelium with known immune properties, was useful to differentiate pandemic influenza A(H1N1) from COVID-19 in critically ill patients. Our results revealed high serum SP-D levels in severe pandemic influenza but not COVID-19 patients. This finding was validated in a separate cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients who also showed low plasma SP-D levels. However, plasma SP-D levels did not distinguish seasonal influenza from COVID-19 in mild-to-moderate disease. Finally, we found that high serum SP-D levels were associated with mortality and renal failure among severe pandemic influenza cases. Thus, our studies have identified SP-D as a unique biomarker expressed during severe pandemic influenza but not COVID-19.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a heterogeneous group of lipoproteins exhibiting a variety of properties like prostacyclin production stimulation, decrease in platelet aggregation, ...endothelial cell apoptosis inhibition, and low-density lipoprotein oxidation blockade. Epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse relation between HDL cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk. Low HDL cholesterol is associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden death, peripheral artery disease, and postangioplasty restenosis. In contrast, high HDL levels are associated with longevity and protection against atherosclerotic disease development. Given the evolving epidemic of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of low HDL will continue to rise. In the United States, low HDL is present in 35% of men, 15% of women, and approximately 63% of patients with coronary artery disease. Data extracted from the Framingham study highlight that 1-mg increase in HDL levels decreases by 2% to 3% the risk of cardiovascular disease. There is no doubt regarding clinical importance about isolated low HDL, but relatively few clinicians consider a direct therapeutic intervention of this dyslipidemia. In this sense, lifestyle measures should be the first-line strategy to manage low HDL levels. On the other hand, pharmacologic options include niacin, fibrates, and statins. Fibrates appear to reduce risk preferentially in patients with low HDL with metabolic syndrome, whereas statins reduce risk across all levels of HDL. Torcetrapib, a cholesteryl esters transfer protein inhibitor, represented a hope to raise this lipoprotein; however, all clinical trials on this drug had ceased after ILLUMINATE, RADIANCE and ERASE trials had recorded an increase in mortality, rates of myocardial infarction, angina, and heart failure. In the near future, drugs as beta-glucans, Apo-A1 mimetic peptides, and ACAT inhibitors, are the new promises to treat this condition.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of disability worldwide, especially in persons >55 years of age. Currently, controversy remains about the best therapeutic alternative for this disease ...when evaluated from a cost-effectiveness viewpoint. For Social Security Institutions in developing countries, it is very important to assess what drugs may decrease the subsequent use of medical care resources, considering their adverse events that are known to have a significant increase in medical care costs of patients with OA. Three treatment alternatives were compared: celecoxib (200 mg twice daily), non-selective NSAIDs (naproxen, 500 mg twice daily; diclofenac, 100 mg twice daily; and piroxicam, 20 mg/day) and acetaminophen, 1000 mg twice daily. The aim of this study was to identify the most cost-effective first-choice pharmacological treatment for the control of joint pain secondary to OA in patients treated at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS).
A cost-effectiveness assessment was carried out. A systematic review of the literature was performed to obtain transition probabilities. In order to evaluate analysis robustness, one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted. Estimations were done for a 6-month period.
Treatment demonstrating the best cost-effectiveness results lowest cost-effectiveness ratio $17.5 pesos/patient ($1.75 USD) was celecoxib. According to the one-way sensitivity analysis, celecoxib would need to markedly decrease its effectiveness in order for it to not be the optimal treatment option. In the probabilistic analysis, both in the construction of the acceptability curves and in the estimation of net economic benefits, the most cost-effective option was celecoxib.
From a Mexican institutional perspective and probably in other Social Security Institutions in similar developing countries, the most cost-effective option for treatment of knee and/or hip OA would be celecoxib.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Effect of malnutrition on K+ current in T lymphocytes Fernández, Rafael Godínez; Leehan, Joaquín Azpiroz; Pastrana, Reyna Fierro ...
Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology,
07/2005, Volume:
12, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Severe malnutrition in children is frequently associated with infectious diseases. Animal models have been useful for studying the effects of malnutrition. One of the immunosuppressive mechanisms of ...malnutrition is inhibition of the activation of T lymphocytes. The voltage-dependent K(V) potassium channels are vital for the activation of T lymphocytes. The blockade of K(V) channels inhibits the activation of T lymphocytes. Malnutrition could affect the suitable synthesis of K(V) channels in T lymphocytes, producing changes in the magnitude and/or dependency of the voltage of the K+ current. We reported a significant decrease in the K+ current and activation to a 20 mV more positive membrane potential in T lymphocytes of rats with severe malnutrition. These results indicate that the diminution in the K+ conductance by alteration of K(V) channels in severe malnutrition is one of the mechanisms that inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes.
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