Feasibility Study on the Valuation of Public Goods and Externalities in EU Agriculture

The present report develops and test an up-scaled non-market valuation framework to value changes in the provision level of the Public Goods and Externalities (PGaE) of EU agriculture from the demand-side (i.e. using valuation surveys). The selected PGaE included in the study are the following: cultural landscape, farmland biodiversity, water quality and availability, air quality, soil quality, climate stability, resilience to fire and resilience to flooding. The following achievements have been accomplished along the project development: 1) comprehensive description of the study selected PGaE, 2) quantification of the selected agricultural PGaE using agri-environmental indicators, 3) standardised description of PGaE disentangling the macro-regional agro-ecological infra-structures from its ecological and cultural services, 4) delimitation of wide areas with homogeneous agro-ecological infra-structures across EU (macro-regions), 5) delimitation of the macro-regions, independently from their supply of PGaE, 6) definition of “Macro-Regional Agri-Environmental Problems” (MRAEP), through the association of the macro-regions with the core PGaE supplied by them, delivering non-market demand-side valuation problems relevant to the agricultural and agri-environmental policy decision-makers, 7) design of a Choice Modelling (CM) survey able to gather multi-country value estimates of changes in the provision level of different PGaE supplied by different macro-regions, 8) successful testing of the valuation framework through a pilot survey and 9) delivering of alternative sampling plans for the EU level large-scale survey allowing for different options regarding the number of surveyed countries, the size and composition of respective samples, and the survey administration-mode, balanced with estimates for the corresponding budgetary cost.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Deleterious and oncogenic mutations in the IL7RA

Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is a critical cytokine that plays a fundamental role in B- and T-cell development and in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Its receptor (IL7R) is a transmembrane heterodimer formed by the IL7R alpha and the IL2R gamma chain (gamma c). The IL7R signals through the JAK/STAT pathway. Loss-of-function mutations and some polymorphisms of the IL7R alpha were associated to immunodeficiency and inflammatory diseases, respectively. Gain-of-function mutations were described in T-cell ALL and in high risk precursor B-cell ALL. Most confirmed loss-of-function mutations occur in the extracellular part of the IL7R alpha while oncogenic mutations are exclusively found in the extracellular juxtamembrane (EJM) or transmembrane regions. Oncogenic mutations promote either IL7R alpha/IL7R alpha homodimerization and constitutive signaling, or increased affinity to gamma c or IL-7. This work presents a review on IL7R alpha polymorphisms/mutations and attempts to present a classification based on their structural consequences and resulting biological activity1112CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP305896/2013-0; 301596/2017-4sem informação2/12802-1; 14/20015-

Ejecución presupuestal y cumplimiento de metas programa salud materno neonatal, Oficina de Gestión de Servicios de Salud Alto Mayo - 2021

El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación entre la ejecución presupuestal y cumplimiento de metas programa salud materno neonatal, Oficina de Gestión de Servicios de Salud Alto Mayo - 2021. La investigación fue básica, diseño no experimental, transversal, descriptivo correlacional. La población fue 98 y la muestra fue 70 colaboradores, la técnica fue la encuesta y el instrumento el cuestionario. Los resultados evidenciaron lo siguiente: La ejecución presupuestal tiene nivel bajo 95.7% y el cumplimento de metas un nivel regular 48.6%, existe correlación positiva muy baja entre la variable cumplimiento de meta con la dimensión compromiso, el coeficiente de correlación fue 0.032, el valor de Sig. (bilateral) = 0.794 es mayor a 0.05, existe correlación positiva muy baja entre la variable cumplimiento de meta con la dimensión devengado, el coeficiente de correlación fue 0.128, el valor de Sig. (bilateral) = 0.293 > 0.05 y existe correlación negativa muy baja entre la variable cumplimiento de meta con la dimensión pagado de la ejecución presupuestal, coeficiente de correlación -0.071 el valor de Sig. (bilateral) = 0.557 > 0.05. Concluyendo que, existe correlación positiva muy baja entre la ejecución presupuestal y el cumplimiento de metas, el coeficiente de correlación fue .049 el valor de p = 0.686 mayor a 0.05

Expression Patterns Of Passiflora Edulis Apetala1/fruitfull Homologues Shed Light Onto Tendril And Corona Identities

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Passiflora (passionflowers) makes an excellent model for studying plant evolutionary development. They are mostly perennial climbers that display axillary tendrils, which are believed to be modifications of the inflorescence. Passionflowers are also recognized by their unique flower features, such as the extra whorls of floral organs composed of corona filaments and membranes enclosing the nectary. Although some work on Passiflora organ ontogeny has been done, the developmental identity of both Passiflora tendrils and the corona is still controversial. Here, we combined ultrastructural analysis and expression patterns of the flower meristem and floral organ identity genes of the MADS-box AP1/FUL clade to reveal a possible role for these genes in the generation of evolutionary novelties in Passiflora. Results: We followed the development of structures arising from the axillary meristem from juvenile to adult phase in P.edulis. We further assessed the expression pattern of P.edulis AP1/FUL homologues (PeAP1 and PeFUL), by RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization in several tissues, correlating it with the developmental stages of P.edulis. PeAP1 is expressed only in the reproductive stage, and it is highly expressed in tendrils and in flower meristems from the onset of their development. PeAP1 is also expressed in sepals, petals and in corona filaments, suggesting a novel role for PeAP1 in floral organ diversification. PeFUL presented a broad expression pattern in both vegetative and reproductive tissues, and it is also expressed in fruits. Conclusions: Our results provide new molecular insights into the morphological diversity in the genus Passiflora. Here, we bring new evidence that tendrils are part of the Passiflora inflorescence. This points to the convergence of similar developmental processes involving the recruitment of genes related to flower identity in the origin of tendrils in different plant families. The data obtained also support the hypothesis that the corona filaments are likely sui generis floral organs. Additionally, we provide an indication that PeFUL acts as a coordinator of passionfruit development.8Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil) [2015/18900-3]Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES, Brazil)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq, Brazil)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

使用人工智能进行情感分析以改善虚拟课堂的教学过程

Introduction: In recent years, the teaching-learning process has been changing from face-to-face to virtual mode progressively worldwide, this was significantly accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the classroom went from face-to-face to virtual format, affecting all levels of education, many countries had to make a leap to digital knowledge more out of necessity than technological growth, which leads to seeking solutions to new problems from the virtual environment. Today in the new normal from now on, the virtual environment will be developed in parallel with the face-to-face environment. The objective of this research was to identify the emotional state that students have in the virtual classroom, to allow the teacher to evaluate the perception that students have during their class session and thus improve their teaching-learning strategies in real time. Method: An application in artificial intelligence with neural networks was proposed to capture the emotional state of students in the virtual classroom in real time to show the teacher the perception of their students during the virtual class session. Results: The results obtained allow to show the states of the group of students so that the teacher can perceive the sensation within their students at the time of the class and thus improve their teaching-learning strategies in real time. Conclusions: It is concluded that it is an efficient form of continuous improvement for active learning processes within the classroom in real time.Introducción: En los últimos años, el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje ha ido cambiando del modo presencial al virtual de forma progresiva a nivel mundial, esto se aceleró significativamente a causa de la pandemia del COVID-19 afectando todos los niveles de la educación, muchos países tuvieron que dar un salto al conocimiento digital, más por necesidad que por crecimiento tecnológico, lo cual originó buscar soluciones a los nuevos problemas a partir del entorno virtual. Hoy en la nueva normalidad, el entorno virtual se desarrollará paralelamente con el entorno presencial. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue identificar el estado emocional que tienen los estudiantes en el aula virtual, para permitir al docente evaluar la percepción que tienen los estudiantes durante su sesión de clase y así mejorar sus estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje en tiempo real. Método: Se propuso una aplicación de inteligencia artificial con redes neuronales que permiten capturar el estado emocional de los estudiantes dentro del aula virtual en tiempo real para mostrar al docente la percepción de sus estudiantes durante la sesión de clase virtual. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos muestran el estado emocional de los estudiantes dentro del aula, para que el docente pueda evaluar y así mejore en tiempo real sus estrategias dentro del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje. Conclusiones: Se concluye que es una forma eficiente de mejora continua para los procesos del aprendizaje activo dentro del aula en tiempo real.Введение: В последние годы во всем мире процесс преподавания-обучения постепенно переходит от очного к виртуальному режиму, это значительно ускорилось из-за пандемии COVID-19, затронувшей все уровни образования, многим странам пришлось совершить скачок к цифровым знаниям, больше из-за необходимости, чем из-за технологического роста, который возник для поиска решений новых проблем из виртуальной среды. Сегодня, в условиях новой нормальности, виртуальная среда будет развиваться параллельно с очной средой. Целью данного исследования было определить эмоциональное состояние студентов в виртуальном классе, чтобы позволить преподавателю оценить восприятие студентов во время занятия и таким образом улучшить свои стратегии преподавания-обучения в режиме реального времени. Метод: Было предложено приложение искусственного интеллекта с нейронными сетями для захвата эмоционального состояния студентов в виртуальном классе в реальном времени, чтобы показать преподавателю восприятие своих студентов во время сеанса виртуального класса. Результаты: полученные результаты показывают эмоциональное состояние учеников в классе, чтобы учителя могли оценить и улучшить свои стратегии в процессе преподавания-обучения в режиме реального времени. Выводы: Сделан вывод, что это эффективная форма непрерывного совершенствования процессов активного обучения в классе в режиме реального времени.引言：近年来，全球范围内的教学过程逐渐从面对面向虚拟模式转变。由于 COVID-19 疫情影响了各级教育，这一进程显着加快，许多国家不得不做出飞速补充数字知识，而不仅仅是技术的增长。这一必要性促使我们从虚拟环境中寻找新问题的解决方案。在新常态的今天，虚拟环境将与面对面环境并行发展。本研究的目的是确定学生在虚拟课堂中的情绪状态，让教师能够评估学生在课堂上的感受，从而实时改进他们的教学策略。 研究方法：我们提出了一个带有神经网络的人工智能应用程序，可以实时捕捉虚拟教室中学生的情绪状态，以向教师展示学生在虚拟课堂上的感受。 研究结果：获得的结果显示了学生在课堂上的情绪状态，以便教师在教学过程中实时评估并改进他们的策略。 研究结论：得出的结论是，它是一种持续改进课堂内实时主动学习过程的有效形式

Flux interactions on D-branes and instantons

We provide a direct world-sheet derivation of the couplings of NS-NS and R-R fluxes to various types of D-branes (including instantonic ones) by evaluating disk amplitudes among two open string vertex operators at a generic brane intersection and one closed string vertex representing the background fluxes. This world-sheet approach is in full agreement with the derivation of the flux couplings in the brane effective actions based on supergravity methods, but it is applicable also to more general brane configurations involving fields with twisted boundary conditions. As an application, we consider an orbifold compactification of Type IIB string theory with fractional D-branes preserving N=1 supersymmetry and study the flux-induced fermionic mass terms both on space-filling branes and on instantonic ones. Our results show the existence of a relation between the soft supersymmetry breaking and the lifting of some instanton fermionic zero-modes, which may lead to new types of non-perturbative couplings in brane-world models.Comment: 48 pages, 2 figures. One reference and some comments adde

Expression patterns of Passiflora edulis APETALA1/FRUITFULL homologues shed light onto tendril and corona identities

Abstract Background Passiflora (passionflowers) makes an excellent model for studying plant evolutionary development. They are mostly perennial climbers that display axillary tendrils, which are believed to be modifications of the inflorescence. Passionflowers are also recognized by their unique flower features, such as the extra whorls of floral organs composed of corona filaments and membranes enclosing the nectary. Although some work on Passiflora organ ontogeny has been done, the developmental identity of both Passiflora tendrils and the corona is still controversial. Here, we combined ultrastructural analysis and expression patterns of the flower meristem and floral organ identity genes of the MADS-box AP1/FUL clade to reveal a possible role for these genes in the generation of evolutionary novelties in Passiflora. Results We followed the development of structures arising from the axillary meristem from juvenile to adult phase in P. edulis. We further assessed the expression pattern of P. edulis AP1/FUL homologues (PeAP1 and PeFUL), by RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization in several tissues, correlating it with the developmental stages of P. edulis. PeAP1 is expressed only in the reproductive stage, and it is highly expressed in tendrils and in flower meristems from the onset of their development. PeAP1 is also expressed in sepals, petals and in corona filaments, suggesting a novel role for PeAP1 in floral organ diversification. PeFUL presented a broad expression pattern in both vegetative and reproductive tissues, and it is also expressed in fruits. Conclusions Our results provide new molecular insights into the morphological diversity in the genus Passiflora. Here, we bring new evidence that tendrils are part of the Passiflora inflorescence. This points to the convergence of similar developmental processes involving the recruitment of genes related to flower identity in the origin of tendrils in different plant families. The data obtained also support the hypothesis that the corona filaments are likely sui generis floral organs. Additionally, we provide an indication that PeFUL acts as a coordinator of passionfruit development

Transcriptional And Molecular Pathways Activated In Mesenteric Adipose Tissue And Intestinal Mucosa Of Crohn's Disease Patients

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by cytokine imbalance and transcription signaling pathways activation. In addition, the increase of mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) near the affected intestinal area is a hallmark of CD. Therefore, we evaluated the transcription signaling pathways and cytokines expression in intestinal mucosa and MAT of active CD patients. Ten patients with ileocecal CD and eight with noninflammatory diseases were studied. The biopsies of intestinal mucosa and MAT were snap-frozen and protein expression was determined by immunoblotting. RNA levels were measured by qPCR. The pIkB/IkB ratio and TNF alpha level were significantly higher in intestinal mucosa of CD when compared to controls. However, STAT1 expression was similar between intestinal mucosa of CD and controls. Considering the MAT, the pIkB/IkB ratio was significantly lower and the anti-inflammatory cytokine ILl0 was significantly higher in CD when compared to controls. Finally, the protein content of pSTAT1 was higher in MAT of CD compared to controls. These findings reinforce the predominance of the proinflammatory NF-kB pathway in CD intestinal mucosa. For the first time, we showed the activation of STATI pathway in MAT of CD patients, which may help to understand the physiopathology of this immune mediated disease.FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)FAEPEX (Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, a Pesquisa e Extensao)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP