Somatic embryogenesis in Abies nebrodensis, an endangered Sicilian fir

Somatic embryogenesis, as a promising biotechnological tool for many conifer trees, has never been applied for the Abies nebrodensis species. Although all the encouraging results previously obtained by the EU LIFE (European LIFE program) funded projects in over ten years, the critically endangered Sicilian fr remains alarmingly close to extinction. In this study, we reported the first protocol of somatic embryogenesis obtained from mature zygotic embryos of the Abies nebrodensis. Seeds from Abies adult trees with specifc identifcation numbers (IN) were collected and full seeds were identifed by X-ray. Diferent experiments were carried out for callus initiation, from both zygotic immature and mature embryos, testing diferent culture media. The immature embryos did not give embryogenic tissue (ET). Embryogenic callus (EC) was successfully induced from mature embryos with variable frequencies (0–40%). Schenk and Hilderbrandt (SH) was the most suitable initiation medium where the obtained callus initiation rate reached up to 40% for IN7 (frst experiment). 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) showed to be essential to induce EC (second experiment). IN8 presented the highest callus initiation rate (40%) among all tested donor trees, whereas IN13 recorded the lowest rate with 4% (third experiment). ET maturation from each singular embryo of IN7, IN8, IN10 and IN21 was successfully achieved in SH medium containing 37,83 µM abscisic acid (ABA), 8% of polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000) and 4% maltose. The encapsulation technology was assessed on the obtained ET and its proliferation was observed after encapsulation

L’acupuncture : comme alternative dans la prise en charge de la paralysie faciale peripherique idiopathique : experience tunisienne

La paralysie faciale périphérique idiopathique ou à frigoré (PfPi) est la plus fréquente des paralysies faciales. Elle pose un problème thérapeutique malgré la diversité des traitements proposés. L’acupuncture est une des alternatives proposées parmi cet arsenal thérapeutique. Le but de ce travail est d’évaluer l’apport de l’acupuncture dans le traitement de la PfPi et de dégager les différents facteurs pronostiques pouvant influencer la récupération de la fonction faciale. Notre étude a regroupé 40 patients porteurs de PfPi recrutés aux services d’ORL de l’hôpital régional de Jendouba et de l’hôpital de Charles Nicolle sur une période de 14 mois et pris en charge aux centres d’acupuncture à l’hôpital Mongi Slim et à l’hôpital régional de Jendouba. Tous les patients ont été traités, auparavant, selon le concept de la médecine occidentale, et n’ont été adressés qu’après échec du traitement médical conventionnel. L’évaluation de notre travail est basée sur deux tests : le testing musculaire de freyss et le grading de House et Brackman. L’étude statistique s’est basée sur le logiciel « SPSS ». Les résultats de cette étude montrent que le traitement par acupuncture trouve son indication lorsque le traitement médical conventionnel a échoué, même après un long délai de consultation.Mots-clés : paralysie faciale périphérique, acupuncture, traitement.The Bell’s palsy is the most common peripheral facial paralysis. it poses a therapeutic problem despite the diversity of treatments. Acupuncture is an alternative among the proposed therapeutic arsenal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of acupuncture in the treatment of facial paralysis and to identify different prognostic factors that may influence the recovery of facial function. Our study included 40 patients with Bell’s palsy recruited in the services of ENT in Jendouba hospital and Charles Nicolle hospital over a period of 14 months and supported in centers of acupuncture in Mongi Slim hospital and Jendouba hospital. All patients were previously under the concept of medical treatment, and were sent after failure of this treatment. The evaluation of our work is based on two tests: muscle testing of freyss and grading of House and Brackman. The study is based on statistical software "SPSS". The results of this study show that treatment with acupuncture is indicated in Bell’s palsy when conventional medical treatment has failed and even after a long period of consultation.Keywords: facial palsy, acupuncture, treatment

Multivariate risks and depth-trimmed regions

We describe a general framework for measuring risks, where the risk measure takes values in an abstract cone. It is shown that this approach naturally includes the classical risk measures and set-valued risk measures and yields a natural definition of vector-valued risk measures. Several main constructions of risk measures are described in this abstract axiomatic framework. It is shown that the concept of depth-trimmed (or central) regions from the multivariate statistics is closely related to the definition of risk measures. In particular, the halfspace trimming corresponds to the Value-at-Risk, while the zonoid trimming yields the expected shortfall. In the abstract framework, it is shown how to establish a both-ways correspondence between risk measures and depth-trimmed regions. It is also demonstrated how the lattice structure of the space of risk values influences this relationship.Comment: 26 pages. Substantially revised version with a number of new results adde

Phase boundary between Na–Si clathrates of structures I and II at high pressures and high temperatures

Understanding of the covalent clathrate formation is a crucial point for the design of new superhard materials with intrinsic coupling of superhardness and metallic conductivity. It has been found that silicon clathrates have the archetype structures, which can serve an existent model compounds for superhard clathrate frameworks Si–B, Si–C, B–C and C with intercalated atoms (e.g., alkali metals or even halogens) that can assure the metallic properties. Here we report our in situ and ex situ studies of high-pressure formation and stability of clathrates Na₈Si₄₆ (structure I) and Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (structure II). Experiments have been performed using standard Paris–Edinburgh cells (opposite anvils) up to 6 GPa and 1500 K. We have established that chemical interactions in the Na–Si system and transition between two structures of clathrates occur at temperatures below silicon melting. The strong sensitivity of crystallization products to the sodium concentration has been observed. A tentative diagram of clathrate transformations has been proposed. At least up to ~ 6 GPa, Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (structure II) is stable at lower temperatures as compared to Na₈Si₄₆ (structure I).Изучен in situ и ex situ процесс образования при высоких давлениях и стабильности клатратов Na₈Si₄₆ (структура I) и Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (структура II). Эксперименты были проведены в стандартных Париж-Эдинбургских ячейках (opposite anvils) при давлениях и температурах до 6 ГПа и 1500 K соответственно. Установлено, что химическое взаимодействие в системе Na–Si и переходы между двумя структурами клатратов происходят при температурах ниже температуры плавления кремния. Предложено первое приближение диаграммы превращений клатратов. Отмечена большая чувствительность продуктов кристаллизации к концентрации натрия. Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (структура II) является стабильной при более низких температурах по сравнению с Na₈Si₄₆ (структура I), по крайней мере до ~ 6 ГПа.Вивчено in situ і ex situ процес утворення при високих тисках і стабільності клатратів Na₈Si₄₆ (структура I) і Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (структура II). Експерименти було проведено в стандартних Париж-Единбурзький комірках (opposite anvils) при тисках і температурах до 6 ГПа і 1500 K відповідно. Встановлено, що хімічна взаємодія в системі Na–Si і переходи між двома структурами клатратов відбуваються при температурах нижче температури плавлення кремнію. Запропоновано перше наближення діаграми перетворень клатратів. Відзначено велику чутливість продуктів кристалізації до концентрації натрію. Na₂₄₊xSi₁₃₆ (структура II) є стабільною при більш низьких температурах у порівнянні з Na₈Si₄₆ (структура I), принаймні до ~ 6 ГПа

Synthesis of Learning from a Decade of CGIAR Research Programs

The objective of this forward-looking synthesis was to bring together learning from a decade of experience with CGIAR research programs (CRPs), based on existing evaluative evidence. The purpose of this meta-review is to review lessons from the CRP experience to inform the development of future research programs of One CGIAR. The 2021 Synthesis and Lessons Learned from a Decade of CRPs is delivered in response to the request of the CGIAR System Council and aligned with the synthesis terms of reference endorsed by SIMEC in February 2021. The synthesis examined evidence from the two phases of CRP implementation: 2011–2016 and 2017–2019. Four key issues were addressed: (1) patterns and trends between the two phases of CRPs related to the quality of science (QoS) and research for development, achievement of sustainable development outcomes, and management and governance; (2) systemwide issues affecting CRP achievements; (3) recommendations for the future orientation of CGIAR research and innovation; and (4) key evidence gaps and needs for future evaluations. A narrative synthesis approach was used, employing secondary source data from 47 existing evaluations and reviews. External evaluations were systematically coded and analyzed by senior subject matter experts (SMEs) using a standardized analytical framework. A bibliometric trend analysis was carried out, and findings were triangulated against earlier syntheses and validated by members of the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC), CRP leaders, and expert peer reviewers

Lamellar nickel hydroxy-halides: anionic exchange synthesis, structural characterization and magnetic behavior:

Nickel-layered hydroxy-halides LHS-Ni-X (X = Cl, Br, and I) have been prepared by exchange reactions conducted in an aqueous medium under an inert atmosphere starting from the parent nickel-layered hydroxyacetate. The latter was prepared by a hydrolysis reaction conducted in a polyol medium. IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show total exchange. These compounds exhibit a brucite-like structure with a turbostratic nature. Their interlamellar distance varies linearly with the radius of the halide anion in the range 7.9-8.7 angstrom while the hydroxyacetate interlamellar distance is 10.53 angstrom. In comparison with the acetate ion which replaces hydroxyl groups in the brucite-like layer, EXAFS and XRD investigations show that halide ions are intercalated into the interlayer space along with water molecules without any covalent bonding to the nickel ion. All compounds have similar structural features and can be considered as alpha-type nickel hydroxides, alpha-Ni(OH)(2). These compounds exhibit a ferromagnetic character. The latter is discussed on the basis of the Drillon-Panissod model of ferromagnetic layers interacting via dipole interactions and taking into account the structural features established by XANES and XRD studies along with the intrinsic properties of the halide anions

Market consistent valuations with financial imperfection

In this paper, we study market consistent valuations in imperfect markets. In the first part of the paper, we observe that in an imperfect market one needs to distinguish two type of market consistencies, namely types I and II. We show that while market consistency of type I holds without very strong conditions, market consistency of type II (which in the literature is known as the usual definition of market consistency) is only well defined in perfect markets. This is important since the existing literature on market consistency considers perfect markets where the two market consistencies are equivalent. In the second part of the paper, by introducing a best estimator we find strong connections between hedging and market consistency of either type. We show under very general conditions, the type I and the type II market consistent evaluators are best estimators, and establish a two-step representation for the market consistent risk evaluators. In the third part of the paper, we present several families of market consistent evaluators in imperfect markets

Using equity premium survey data to estimate future wealth

We present the first systematic methods for combining different experts' responses to equity premium surveys. These techniques are based on the observation that the survey data are approximately gamma distributed. This distribution has convenient analytical properties that enable us to address three important problems that investment managers must face. First, we construct probability density functions for the future values of equity index tracker funds. Second, we calculate unbiased and minimum least square error estimators of the future value of these funds. Third, we derive optimal asset allocation weights between equities and the risk-free asset for risk-averse investors. Our analysis allows for both herding and biasedness in expert responses. We show that, unless investors are highly uncertain about expert biases or forecasts are very highly correlated, many investment decisions can be based solely on the mean of the survey data minus any expected bias. We also make recommendations for the design of future equity premium surveys

On the Existence of Shadow Prices

For utility maximization problems under proportional transaction costs, it has been observed that the original market with transaction costs can sometimes be replaced by a frictionless "shadow market" that yields the same optimal strategy and utility. However, the question of whether or not this indeed holds in generality has remained elusive so far. In this paper we present a counterexample which shows that shadow prices may fail to exist. On the other hand, we prove that short selling constraints are a sufficient condition to warrant their existence, even in very general multi-currency market models with possibly discontinuous bid-ask-spreads.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, to appear in "Finance and Stochastics

Set optimization - a rather short introduction

Recent developments in set optimization are surveyed and extended including various set relations as well as fundamental constructions of a convex analysis for set- and vector-valued functions, and duality for set optimization problems. Extensive sections with bibliographical comments summarize the state of the art. Applications to vector optimization and financial risk measures are discussed along with algorithmic approaches to set optimization problems