Mixed viral infections are common in plants, and the evolutionary dynamics of viral populations may differ depending on whether the infection is caused by single or multiple viral strains. However, ...comparative studies of single and mixed infections using viral populations in comparable agricultural and geographical locations are lacking. Here, we monitored the occurrence of pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) in tomato crops in two major tomato-producing areas in Murcia (southeastern Spain), supporting evidence showing that PepMV disease-affected plants had single infections of the Chilean 2 (CH2) strain in one area and the other area exhibited long-term (13 years) coexistence of the CH2 and European (EU) strains. We hypothesized that circulating strains of PepMV might be modulating the differentiation between them and shaping the evolutionary dynamics of PepMV populations. Our phylogenetic analysis of 106 CH2 isolates randomly selected from both areas showed a remarkable divergence between the CH2 isolates, with increased nucleotide variability in the geographical area where both strains cocirculate. Furthermore, the potential virus-virus interaction was studied further by constructing six full-length infectious CH2 clones from both areas, and assessing their viral fitness in the presence and absence of an EU-type isolate. All CH2 clones showed decreased fitness in mixed infections and although complete genome sequencing indicated a nucleotide divergence of those CH2 clones by area, the magnitude of the fitness response was irrespective of the CH2 origin. Overall, these results suggest that although agroecological cropping practices may be particularly important for explaining the evolutionary dynamics of PepMV in tomato crops, the cocirculation of both strains may have implications on the genetic variability of PepMV populations.
What are the most important factors for the success of a startup? This study aims to shed light on this issue through the statistical analysis of a bibliographical sample of 60 recent articles. ...Through a detailed study of the selected literature, but from the perspective of business experience, we have identified the comparative relevance of those factors that recent research has highlighted as the main drivers of start-up success. Our analysis allows us to define a core of seven practical business success factors supported by the academic literature (Core-7 SF). This core makes it possible to identify the intersection between success in business practice and academic research. Our Core-7 SF shows that the most important variable to predict the success of a start-up is the Idea, followed by the CEO's Leadership, the Business Model, the Marketing approach, and the Entrepreneurial Team. In addition, we found some differences between the geographic areas of affiliation of the authors, suggesting that cultural characteristics influence the weight given to the various reasons for success.
Abstract
The role of green banking (GB) in the green supply chain (CSC) is a relevant issue for green growth. The literature has pointed to some barriers identified as obstacles to the development of ...GSC. Since the publish of the framework of OECD for green growth, which is a reference for most of the countries, empirical research on GB has proliferated. Despite this, the barriers to the development of GSC have not yet been linked to empirical research on GB.Through a literature review of the empirical research on GB, this paper identifies by scientific impact the banking role, and we contribute with a mapping of the relationship among barriers to the development of GSC and conclusions of empirical research regarding GB, also considering the link with main topics of GB research. Additionally, it displays the main vectors related to area, year and methodology for each barrier and topic of empirical research on GB.
Currently, the usefulness of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in the teaching-learning process has not been discussed; unlike distance learning, these new tools are used via ...technologies. The current approach to social development, supported by the exercise of innovation, learning and research, is undeniable. Within this framework, student satisfaction regarding blended e-learning has been studied. However, in distance university models, which are supported by virtual platforms, it is necessary to ask ourselves the following question: are students satisfied when they are not in a face-to-face classroom environment?
The objective of this study is to analyse students’ perceptions of their satisfaction levels in a virtual learning environment. In this evaluation, the students’ generic skills were also considered, as well as their perception of the learning environment.
The findings of the analysis seem to reveal that students have a high perception of satisfaction, considering students’ perception and learning experience as a proxy of the feeling of satisfaction. Students’ perceptions of the virtual learning environment and of their own skill, which also takes on high values, could have some type of effect on their overall satisfaction. A significant finding is that students with a high positive perception of their generic skills are also satisfied with the learning process and with the virtual learning environment. The validity of the three construct designed to measure the latent variables—feelings of satisfaction, acceptance of the virtual learning environment and students’ self-perception on their generic skills—ensures their usefulness as variables of measurement.
In situ hybridization (ISH) is an informative and relatively accessible technique for the localization of viral genomes in plant tissue and cells. However, simultaneous visualization of related plant ...viruses in mixed infections may be limited by the nucleotide similarity in the genomes and the single chromogenic detection over the same sample preparation. To address this issue, we used two Pepino mosaic virus isolates and performed ISH over consecutive serial cross-sections of paraffin-embedded leaf samples of single and mixed infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Moreover, the probe design was optimized to reduce cross-hybridisation, and co-localization was based on the overlapping of consecutive cross-sections from mixed infected leaves; thus, our results showed that both Pepino mosaic virus isolates co-localized in the same leaf tissue. In turn, both isolates were localized in the cytoplasm of the same cells. These results provide valuable information for studying mixed infections in plants by using a simple ISH procedure that is accessible to any pathology laboratory.
This paper focuses on the stock market performance of a set of biopharmaceutical companies listed in the US stock exchange in response to news about the unfolding of the COVID pandemic and the ...development of COVID-19 vaccines.
We analyze the short-term impact of some episodes by means of event analysis. We consider two categories of events: news related to the expansion of the pandemic and information about the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
We find that the impact during the first months of the pandemic news impacted the returns of the pharmaceutical firms, but the effect was not large, in general. The only exceptions are two small biotechnological firms, Moderna and Novavax, are exceptions since they registered large positive abnormal returns, which vanished over time. Encouraging announcements about the success of Phase III results had a positive impact the share prices of Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax. Our results also suggest that the emergency authorization provided by the US regulatory agency to the Pfizer vaccine was anticipated several days in advance and welcomed by the market. The announcement of a deal to supply vaccines between Moderna and the European Commission have generated large positive returns for this company.
Our findings have policy implications. First, financial markets have supported and reinforced government strategies to fight the pandemic, characterized by funding of promising projects, building diversified vaccine portfolios and expediting approvals by regulatory agencies. Second, our findings suggest that not all drug developers have automatically obtained large profits from the design and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the behaviour of stock prices. These results cast doubts over attempts to discredit the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines with the argument that they are primarily a means to obtain large and quick profits by pharmaceuticals, or than vaccination campaigns are driven by economic goals rather than by public health considerations.
Abstract Seeking sustainable development, companies voluntarily implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach, considering economic, social and ...environmental aspects of interest to global society. Searching for sustainable development, the Circular Economy (CE) emerged as a new philosophy of life to meet the new challenges in society. This research links CSR and CE but considering jointly the Institutional and Stakeholder Theories to delimit the sustainable development framework from the EC approach driven by CSR. According to this framework, it was tested whether the CSR practices of companies positively and significantly impacts on a business orientation towards CE, through two models ( Model A and Model B ) each of them analyzed with two independent samples of companies in Spain. Both samples are composed of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at two different stages of CSR adoption. The hypotheses were analyzed through a structural equation modeling‐fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (SEM‐fsQCA). The result of the SEM supports the hypothesis in both models. So, CSR practices are driving companies towards CE, incorporating propositions on stakeholders' value creation. Moreover, an fsQCA revealed combinations of relationships that ensure the consistency of obtained results, generating five configurations based on two models defined. Main contribution of this work is CSR practices of companies and their orientation towards CE can be linked. This encourages to deep in analysis about the relations between CE and CSR, and of the specific CSR practices that should be enhanced for their beneficial effect on the implementation of CE.
Introduction CLINICAL HISTORY: 42 year old woman with no previous medical condition of any interest. For the last ten years she has been suffering a mental deterioration of a frontal sub cortical ...subtype, spasticity, hyperreflexia, bradikinesia and a parkinsonian gait which has become progressively worse over time. Multiple bone cysts have also developed with the final diagnosis being Nasu-Hakola disease. Materials and methods Four years ago, during a check up in the outpatient clinic, she had a seizure event which was finally diagnosed as a generalized epileptic associated disease and treatment with carbamazepine and levetiracetam was initiated. Periodic EEG studies show a generalized deterioration which is more notable as the disease progresses and a multifocal irritation which was limited to the posterior areas after the antiepileptic treatment. Within the last year a severe bruxism (not only sleep related) has been identified in a videoEEG study. Results Periodic EEG studies show a generalized deterioration which is more notable as the disease progresses and a multifocal irritation which was limited to the posterior. Conclusion Nasu-Hakola disease is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder (TREM2 and DAP12 gen mutation) characterized by progressive dementia and bone simptomatology with pathological fractures without pain. It has an evolution which includes personality changes, progressive amnesia, apraxia, agnosia, acalculia and disorientation. Some patients exhibit urinary or stool incontinence, convulsive attacks and pyramidal signs as with our patient. The sleep related bruxism is characterized by involuntary masticator muscle activities during sleep and is classified under somatoform disorders in the ICD-10. In the past two decades, it has been shown that it is a phenomenon regulated more within the central nervous system than peripherally with alteration in diverse neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine). There has been no clear relationship between Nasu-Hakola disease and bruxism. However, due to the possible central origin of sleep related bruxism, we consider this relationship a possible other condition of the Nasu-Hakola disease. Acknowledgements Nasu-Hakola disease: The first case reported by Nasu and review. Minoru Kaneko, et al. Neuropathology 2010;30,463–70. Association of genetic, psychological and behavioral factor with sleep bruxism in a Japanese population. Yuka Abe, et al. J. Sleep Res 2012;21,289–96. Genetic factors account for half of the phenotypic variance in liability to sleep-related bruxism in young adults: A nationwide finnish twin cohort study. Katariina Rintakoski, et al. Twin Research and Human Genetic 2012; 15(6),714–19. Genetic factors account for half of the phenotypic variance in liability to sleep-related bruxism in.
Introduction Clinical history: a 52 year old male, with no previous medical history of any particular interest, who was admitted due to a state of no coordination of the movements of the limbs on the ...left side and myoclonic movements in the upper and lower left limbs, which became progressively worse resulting in a complex partial crisis, treatment with three combined FAEs being ineffective. Associated deterioration of visual capacity, dysartria, dysphagia, continual abnormal movements and worsening of EEG for which pharmacological coma was induced. Materials and methods Various EEGs were done in which we observed the negative development the brain activity showed, including persistent critical epileptic discharges predominantly emanating from the rolandic medial region with association with involuntary movements in upper left limbs and in inferior left limbs on occasion. In the last EEG we identified periodic diffuse epileptic discharges, which were generalized in both hemispheres, associated with myoclonias predominantly in the inferior right extremities. Between both extremes we performed a polysomnografic diurnal sleep test with video recording in which we observed continuous associated partial epileptic discharges predominant in the patient. Results Discussion Epilepsy as the first manifestation of Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease supposes, according to sources consulted, less than ten percent of cases. Our patient initially showed a partial continuous epilepsy which is even more unusual and suggests other differential diagnoses before citing the final diagnosis. Conclusion We present the polysomnografic diurnal sleep study and serial EEGs of the patient which, in addition to neuro imaging, may help make an earlier diagnosis than in our case, given the peculiar implications in relation to prognosis and possible transmission of this type of degenerative prionic illness.
Introduction Nocturnal tongue biting as an isolated entity has been rarely reported. In the few published cases has not been possible to observe the tongue biting itself. The aim of this ...communication is the presentation of a patient in whom this symptom was dramatically presented due to its intensity and frequency and in which after several studies we were able to confirm eventually the tongue biting using video-EEG recording in a day nap. Materials and methods A 18 year old boy had been presenting, since 12 year old, several episodes per week of nocturnal tongue biting during sleep. He has a past history of a severe traffic crash with craneoencephalic trauma, but without evident lesions in the MRI. Seriated EEGs were performed in basal conditions or after sleep deprivation and a photo paroxistic response with generalized discharges was evidenced at intermediate photostimulation frecuencies (10–15 Hertzs). Anticonvulsant therapy was initiated that controlled the episodes, reappearing after the withdrawal. At that moment, a video-EEG recording was performed. Results During the video-EEG study the patient presented one episode of tongue biting during sleep, without the presence of epileptiform abnormalities in the EEG. In this basis, the episodes were diagnosed as facio-mandibular myoclonus. Conclusion During sleep, several motor activities affecting oro-facial musculature have been described, both physiological and pathological entities. Apart from the facio-mandibular myoclonus, the differential diagnosis comprises the orofacial automatisms, the bruxism, the epilepsy or the parasomnias with rhythmic or periodic movements. In our case, the final diagnosis was delayed and several treatments were essayed, and this allowed us to analyze the response to them.
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