Triplet entropy analysis of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase sequences measures influenza virus phylodynamics

The influenza virus has been a challenge to science due to its ability to withstand new environmental conditions. Taking into account the development of virus sequence databases, computational approaches can be helpful to understand virus behavior over time. Furthermore, they can suggest new directions to deal with influenza. This work presents triplet entropy analysis as a potential phylodynamic tool to quantify nucleotide organization of viral sequences. The application of this measure to segments of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of H1N1 and H3N2 virus subtypes has shown some variability effects along timeline, inferring about virus evolution. Sequences were divided by year and compared for virus subtype (H1N1 and H3N2). The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between groups. Results show that differentiation in entropy precedes differentiation in GC content for both groups. Considering the HA fragment, both triplet entropy as well as GC concentration show intersection in 2009, year of the recent pandemic. Some conclusions about possible flu evolutionary lines were drawn. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Economic policy measures for the improvement and protection of the environment

Analiza el papel de los instrumentos económicos aplicados a la política ambiental tomando en cuenta las condiciones políticas, sociales, administrativas y económicas que pueden existir al momento de ser aplicados.

Changing the way the United States measures income and poverty: a progress report, draft

Includes bibliography

Medidas de política interna para facilitar la integración de las economías pequeñas en el Area de Libre Comercio de las Américas = Internal policy measures to facilitate the integration of smaller economies into the Free Trade Area of the Americas

Incluye Bibliografía

Port Security Measures: One Year after the Entry into Force of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code)

New Page 1This issue of the FALBulletin presents information relating to the implementation in Latin Americanand Caribbean countries of the International Ship and Port Facility SecurityCode (ISPS Code) of the International Maritime Organization (OMI), one yearafter its entry into force on 1 July 2004. Information is included on the charges associated with the securitymeasures, in the world and in Latin America, together with an analysis ofcompliance with the measures in a group of countries from the Southern Cone ofthe region. 

Measures to improve energy efficiency in shipping

This paper provides an overview of several parameters that would improve the fuel efficiency of shipping. Calculations are carried out from a Latin American perspective, and illustrate the emmissions to air and the fuel consumed by different transport modes.

Measures for controlling traffic congestion

Traffic congestion has become a severe scourge in large cities, in both the industrialized and developing countries. Increasing demand for urban transport and transit has led to longer travel times, and a greater incidence of accidents, environmental problems and deterioration in the quality of life than is considered acceptable for citizens. A multidisciplinary approach is required in order to keep the negative effects of congestion under control and to ensure standards of living remain sustainable. In view of the seriousness of the problem, ECLAC with the support of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is carrying out a project to study measures that contribute to traffic control. As part of this project, initiatives regarding the supply of, and the demand for, transport have been examined, and a programme to disseminate information is being conducted.For further information, please contact Mr Alberto Bull .

The need to establish coordinated measures for the reduction of road accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean

This edition of the FAL Bulletin approaches road safety and the need for urgent, coordinated measures to be established between the public and private sectors and civil society in order to prevent the rapid increase in deaths and casualties in road accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean, an issue which is threatening the sustainability of regional development.

Convergence and Asymmetry in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in the Region's Trade Agreements

Sanitary and phytosanitary matters have acquired greater significance in the region's trade, as reflected in the significant number of complaints brought before the various dispute settlement mechanisms pertaining to the regional integration schemes. This may be attributed to the importance of the Latin American countries in world agricultural trade and to different phytosanitary and zoosanitary standards required by each. Given the multiplication of bilateral and plurilateral agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean, convergence on the sanitary standards required under such accords is crucial for the trade integration of a region that is an agro-exporter par excellence. Convergence is essential to facilitate market access and expedite trade flows. This bulletin assesses convergence of standards in the bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements signed by the countries of the region, the treatment afforded to the principles contained in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and the progress the region has made relative to that Agreement.

Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation Measures

Towards the end of 2004, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) formally launched negotiations on trade facilitation on the basis of the modalities set out in Annex D of the July Package adopted in 2004. This mandate instructed members to clarify and improve three articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), namely, article V on freedom of transit, article VIII on fees and formalities connected with importation and exportation, and article X on the publication and administration of trade regulations. To support these negotiations, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) created a trust fund, with contributions from the Governments of Sweden and Spain . This fund has been used to develop a series of seminars and meetings and to produce a total of 20 technical notes on specific trade facilitation measures. These notes cover in particular facilitation measures that are topics of specific proposals that were made during WTO negotiations. This edition of the FAL Bulletin summarizes several of these technical notes, focusing mainly on customs-related issues.