El sistema multifondos de pensiones colombiano bajo las nuevas teorías del comportamiento financiero

En Colombia, después de casi dos décadas de la creación del régimen de cuentas privadas, se implementó una reforma donde se pasa de un sistema con un unico fondo a uno multifondos. Este tipo de reformas se vienen implementando en diferentes paises europeos y de Latino America. A la luz de las teorías clásicas dicha reforma trae mejoras en el bienestar de los individuos; sin embargo, la literatura sobre las nuevas teorías del comportamiento sugiere que los individuos no siempre toman decisiones que están de acuerdo con los supuestos de las teorías clásicas. Este trabajo estudia esta reforma en Colombia bajo algunas de las teorías del comportamiento financiero. Se encuentra que aún cuando el afiliado se quede en la opción default , o actúe con aversión a la pérdida, va a obtener valores en sus cuentas privadas mayores a las que obtendría con un sistema de un único fondo.

El sistema multifondos de pensiones colombiano bajo las nuevas teorías del comportamiento financiero

En Colombia, después de casi dos décadas de la creación del régimen de cuentas privadas, se implementó una reforma donde se pasa de un sistema con un único fondo a uno multifondos. Este tipo de reformas se vienen implementando en diferentes países europeos y de Latino América. A la luz de las teorías clásicas dicha reforma trae mejoras en el bienestar de los individuos; sin embargo, la literatura sobre las nuevas teorías del comportamiento sugiere que los individuos no siempre toman decisiones que están de acuerdo con los supuestos de las teorías clásicas. Este trabajo estudia esta reforma en Colombia bajo algunas de las teorías del comportamiento financiero. Se encuentra que aún cuando el afiliado se quede en la opción default , o actúe con aversión a la pérdida, va a obtener valores en sus cuentas privadas mayores a las que obtendría con un sistema de un único fondo.

Utilização de chama para controle de plantas daninhas emersas em ambiente aquático

Dois estudos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de chama no controle de Eichhornia crassipes, Brachiaria subquadripara, Pistia stratiotes e Salvinia auriculata. No primeiro estudo foram utilizadas diferentes doses de chama, representadas pela quantidade de gás consumida durante a aplicação, e, no segundo, usaramse duas aplicações de chama em intervalo de 14 dias, uma aplicação seqüencial (intervalo de sete dias) e aplicação única. As diferentes doses, tanto no primeiro quanto no segundo, foram comparadas com plantas que não receberam nenhum tratamento térmico. Avaliações de injúria foram realizadas aos 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21 e 30 após a aplicação dos tratamentos, sendo realizadas também avaliações das biomassas secas das plantas aquáticas remanescentes em cada tratamento, ao final dos ensaios. No primeiro estudo foram observadas reduções significativas na produção da biomassa seca das espécies E. crassipes, B. subquadripara e P. stratiotes tratadas com as maiores doses referentes aos consumos de gás. Doses menores não diferiram estatisticamente da testemunha quanto à produção de biomassa seca, exceção feita para a espécie P. stratiotes. Todas as aplicações seqüenciais proporcionaram redução acima de 90% na produção da biomassa seca de E. crassipes e B. subquadripara. As aplicações seqüenciais e únicas proporcionaram reduções abaixo de 37% na produção da biomassa seca de S. auriculata. Os resultados demonstraram que existe a possibilidade de se utilizar o controle físico através da aplicação de chama como alternativa no manejo de plantas daninhas em ambientes aquáticos.

Uso do 5-fluorouracil no intra-operatório da cirurgia do pterígio

Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade e as complicações com a aplicação do 5- fluorouracil (5-FLU) no intra-operatório da cirurgia do pterígio. Método: Foram avaliados 28 olhos de 26 indivíduos quanto ao tipo e tamanho do pterígio, cirurgias prévias e a resposta ao tratamento cirúrgico (no 7º , 21º , 60º e 90º dia de pós-operatório). Logo após a exerese do pterígio, aplicou-se 5-FLU (25 mg/ml) no leito cirúrgico, durante cinco minutos; a seguir, realizou-se a técnica de deslizamento de retalho conjuntival. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes tinha mais de 50 anos de idade e apresentava pterígio primário (70,0%), grau II (60,7%), do tipo involutivo (60,7%). No pós-operatório observaram-se: isquemia (10,7%), deiscência da conjuntiva (7,1%), ceratite (3,5%), conjuntivite (3,5%) e recidiva da lesão em 1 olho (3,5%).Conclusão: O 5-FLU se mostrou droga segura e efetiva na prevenção das recidivas, podendo ser usado como coadjuvante no tratamento do pterígio para prevenir recidivas.

Occlusal caries prevention in high and low risk schoolchildren. A clinical trial

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspectos econômicos da adubação fosfatada para cultura do milho

Estudos econômicos da adubação fosfatada fazem-se necessários, em razão da sua participação expressiva no custo de produção da cultura do milho, especialmente em solos sob vegetação de cerrado e face à competitividade da atividade no mercado globalizado. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar alguns aspectos econômicos de modos de aplicação da adubação fosfatada a lanço e sulco simples comparados ao modo alternativo em sulco duplo, utilizando o híbrido de milho BR 3123. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelos modos de aplicação em sulco duplo, sulco simples e a lanço nas doses: 0; 0,50; 0,75; 1,00; 1,25; 1,50 vez a dose recomendada para adubação de manutenção para o milho, ou seja, 90 kg de P2O5 ha-1. Para a análise, considerou-se o preço médio da década de 90 para a tonelada do milho e do superfosfato triplo em R$189,33 e R$494,32, respectivamente, e o custo operacional total de R$ 752,90 ha-1. O aumento das doses de adubo fosfatado, em geral, incrementou a produção, o valor da produção e a receita líquida por hectare; a aplicação do adubo fosfatado a lanço não se mostrou viável economicamente; o modo alternativo em sulco duplo permitiu maior receita líquida e uma relação benefício/custo 17,7% superior, em relação ao sulco simples.

Aplicação de programa de análise de imagens na interpretação de fotomicrografias de alta resolução de argilominerais

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nitric oxide reduces oxidative damage induced by water stress in sunflower plants

Drought is one of the main environmental constraints that can reduce plant yield. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signal molecule involved in plant responses to several environmental stresses. The objective of this study was to investigate the cytoprotective effect of a single foliar application of 0, 1, 10 or 100 µM of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in sunflower plants under water stress. Water stressed plants treated with 1μM SNP showed an increase in the relative water content compared with 0 μM SNP. Drought reduced the shoot dry weight but SNP applications did not result in alleviation of drought effects. Neither drought nor water stress plus SNP applications altered the content of photosynthetic pigments. Stomatal conductance was reduced by drought and this reduction was accompanied by a significant reduction in intercellular CO2 concentration and photosynthesis. Treatment with SNP did not reverse the effect of drought on the gas exchange characteristics. Drought increased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline and reduced pirogalol peroxidase (PG-POD) activity, but did not affect the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). When the water stressed plants were treated with 10 μM SNP, the activity of PG-POD and the content of proline were increased and the level of MDA was decreased. The results show that the adverse effects of water stress on sunflower plants are dependent on the external NO concentration. The action of NO may be explained by its ability to increase the levels of antioxidant compounds and the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes.

Low-Level Laser Therapy Decreases Renal Interstitial Fibrosis

Objective: the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Background data: Regardless of the etiology, CKD involves progressive widespread tissue fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and loss of kidney function. This process also occurs in kidney allograft. At present, effective therapies for this condition are lacking. We investigated the effects of LLLT on the interstitial fibrosis that occurs after experimental UUO in rats. Methods: The occluded kidney of half of the 32 Wistar rats that underwent UUO received a single intraoperative dose of LLLT (AlGaAs laser, 780 nm, 22.5 J/cm(2), 30mW, 0.75W/cm(2), 30 sec on each of nine points). After 14 days, renal fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining under polarized light. Immunohistochemical analyses quantitated the renal tissue cells that expressed fibroblast (FSP-1) and myofibroblast (alpha-SMA) markers. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 and Smad3. Results: The UUO and LLLT animals had less fibrosis than the UUO animals, as well having decreased expression inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers. Conclusions: For the first time, we showed that LLLT had a protective effect regarding renal interstitial fibrosis. It is conceivable that by attenuating inflammation, LLLT can prevent tubular activation and transdifferentiation, which are the two processes that mainly drive the renal fibrosis of the UUO model.

Effect of low-dose gaseous ozone on pathogenic bacteria

Background: Treatment of chronically infected wounds is a challenge, and bacterial environmental contamination is a growing issue in infection control. Ozone may have a role in these situations. The objective of this study was to determine whether a low dose of gaseous ozone/oxygen mixture eliminates pathogenic bacteria cultivated in Petri dishes. Methods: A pilot study with 6 bacterial strains was made using different concentrations of ozone in an ozone-oxygen mixture to determine a minimally effective dose that completely eliminated bacterial growth. The small and apparently bactericidal gaseous dose of 20 mu g/mL ozone/oxygen (1: 99) mixture, applied for 5min under atmospheric pressure was selected. In the 2nd phase, eight bacterial strains with well characterized resistance patterns were evaluated in vitro using agar-blood in adapted Petri dishes (10(5) bacteria/dish). The cultures were divided into 3 groups: 1-ozone-oxygen gaseous mixture containing 20 mu g of O-3/mL for 5 min; 2- 100% oxygen for 5 min; 3- baseline: no gas was used. Results: The selected ozone dose was applied to the following eight strains: Escherichia coli, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter baumannii susceptible only to carbapenems, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptible to imipenem and meropenem. All isolates were completely inhibited by the ozone-oxygen mixture while growth occurred in the other 2 groups. Conclusion: A single topical application by nebulization of a low ozone dose completely inhibited the growth of all potentially pathogenic bacterial strains with known resistance to antimicrobial agents.

End-to-end testing per un'applicazione gestionale su web

Nel primo capitolo si analizzeranno alcune basi del software testing e delle applicazioni web che ci permetteranno di introdurre l'end-to-end testing nel secondo capitolo dove se ne analizzeranno il funzionamento tecnico e le sue prospettive. Successivamente, nel terzo capitolo, verrà presentato l'uso dell'end-to-end testing applicandolo ad un caso concreto, il gestionale Buudis, per poi dimostrarne la sua efficacia ed efficienza nell'ultimo capitolo.

Molecular crosstalk between a chemical and a biological stressor and consequences on disease manifestation in rainbow trout.

The aim of the present study was to examine the molecular and organism reaction of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, to the combined impact of two environmental stressors. The two stressors were the myxozoan parasite, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, which is the etiological agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) and a natural stressor to salmonid populations, and 17β-estradiol (E2) as prototype of estrogen-active chemical stressors in the aquatic environment. Both stressors, the parasite and estrogenic contaminants, co-exist in Swiss rivers and are discussed as factors contributing to the decline of Swiss brown trout populations over the last decades. Using a microarray approach contrasting parasite-infected and non-infected rainbow trout at low or high estrogen levels, it was observed that molecular response patterns under joint exposure differed from those to the single stressors. More specifically, three major response patterns were present: (i) expression responses of gene transcripts to one stressor are weakened by the presence of the second stressor; (ii) expression responses of gene transcripts to one stressor are enhanced by the presence of the second stressor; (iii) expression responses of gene transcripts at joint treatment are dominated by one of the two stressors. Organism-level responses to concurrent E2 and parasite treatment - assessed through measuring parasite loads in the fish host and cumulative mortalities of trout - were dominated by the pathogen, with no modulating influence of E2. The findings reveal function- and level-specific responses of rainbow trout to stressor combinations, which are only partly predictable from the response to the single stressors.

Botulinum toxin A and B raise blood flow and increase survival of critically ischemic skin flaps

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin (BTX) A and B are commonly used for aesthetic indications and in neuromuscular disorders. New concepts seek to prove efficacy of BTX for critical tissue perfusion. Our aim was to evaluate BTX A and B in a mouse model of critical flap ischemia for preoperative and intraoperative application. METHODS BTX A and B were applied on the vascular pedicle of an axial pattern flap in mice preoperatively or intraoperatively. Blood flow, tissue oxygenation, tissue metabolism, flap necrosis rate, apoptosis assay, and RhoA and eNOS expression were endpoints. RESULTS Blood-flow measurements 1 d after the flap operation revealed a significant reduction to 53% in the control group, while flow was maintained or increased in all BTX groups (103%-129%). Over 5 d all BTX groups showed significant increase in blood flow to 166-187% (P < 0.01). Microdialysis revealed an increase of glucose and reduced lactate/pyruvate ratio and glycerol levels in the flap tissue of all BTX groups. This resulted in significantly improved tissue survival in all BTX groups compared with the control group (62% ± 10%; all P < 0.01): BTX A preconditioning (84% ± 5%), BTX A application intraoperatively (88% ± 4%), BTX B preconditioning (91% ± 4%), and intraoperative BTX B treatment (92% ± 5%). This was confirmed by TUNEL assay. Immunofluorescence demonstrated RhoA and eNOS expression in BTX groups. All BTX applications were similarly effective, despite pharmacologic dissimilarities and different timing. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we were able to show on a vascular, tissue, cell, and molecular level that BTX injection to the feeding arteries supports flap survival through ameliorated blood flow and oxygen delivery.

MULTIPLE POSTTRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATORY FEATURES CONTROL EXPRESSION OF ETHANOLAMINE UTILIZATION GENES IN ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacterium that lives as a commensal organism in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, but can behave as an opportunistic pathogen. Our lab discovered that mutation of the eutK gene attenuates virulence of E. faecalis in the C. elegans model host. eutK is part of the ethanolamine metabolic pathway which was previously unknown in E. faecalis. I discovered the presence of two unique posttranscriptional regulatory features that control expression of eut locus genes. The first feature I found is an AdoCBL riboswitch, a cis-acting RNA regulatory element that acts as a positive regulator of gene expression. The second feature I discovered is a unique two-component system, EutVW. The EutV response regulator contains an ANTAR family domain, which binds RNA to trigger transcriptional antitermination. I determined that induction of expression of several genes in the eut locus is dependent on ethanolamine, AdoCBL and the two-component system. AdoCBL and ethanolamine are both required for induction of eut locus gene expression. Additionally, I discovered eutG is regulated by a unique mechanism of antitermination. Both the AdoCBL riboswitch and EutV response regulator control the expression of the downstream gene eutG. EutV potentially acts through a novel antitermination mechanism in which a dimer of EutV binds to a pair of mRNA stem loops forming an antitermination complex. My data show a unique mechanism by which two environmental signals are integrated by two different posttranscriptional regulators to regulate a single locus.

Multi-colour FISH in oesophageal adenocarcinoma-predictors of prognosis independent of stage and grade.

BACKGROUND Oesophageal adenocarcinoma or Barrett's adenocarcinoma (EAC) is increasing in incidence and stratification of prognosis might improve disease management. Multi-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) investigating ERBB2, MYC, CDKN2A and ZNF217 has recently shown promising results for the diagnosis of dysplasia and cancer using cytological samples. METHODS To identify markers of prognosis we targeted four selected gene loci using multi-colour FISH applied to a tissue microarray containing 130 EAC samples. Prognostic predictors (P1, P2, P3) based on genomic copy numbers of the four loci were statistically assessed to stratify patients according to overall survival in combination with clinical data. RESULTS The best stratification into favourable and unfavourable prognoses was shown by P1, percentage of cells with less than two ZNF217 signals; P2, percentage of cells with fewer ERBB2- than ZNF217 signals; and P3, overall ratio of ERBB2-/ZNF217 signals. Median survival times for P1 were 32 vs 73 months, 28 vs 73 months for P2; and 27 vs 65 months for P3. Regarding each tumour grade P2 subdivided patients into distinct prognostic groups independently within each grade, with different median survival times of at least 35 months. CONCLUSIONS Cell signal number of the ERBB2 and ZNF217 loci showed independence from tumour stage and differentiation grade. The prognostic value of multi-colour FISH-assays is applicable to EAC and is superior to single markers.