58 research outputs found
Estudio de los determinantes del comportamiento de reciclaje en los ejecutivos de Lima Metropolitana
La presente investigaci?n tiene como objetivo general el desarrollar un modelo conceptual para determinar los principales factores que influyen en la intenci?n de reciclar en los ejecutivos de Lima Metropolitana, tomando como base la Teor?a del Comportamiento Planificado de Ajzen (1991) y la Teor?a de la Motivaci?n para la Protecci?n de Rogers (1983), con una muestra no probabil?stica de 231 ejecutivos en Lima Metropolitana mayores a veinticinco a?os y que laboran en diferentes sectores econ?micos. El modelo conceptual elaborado ha considerado como variables la actitud, normas subjetivas e intenci?n de la Teor?a del Comportamiento Planificado de Ajzen (1991) y las variables severidad percibida, vulnerabilidad percibida, autoeficacia percibida, costo de respuesta y eficacia de respuesta de la Teor?a de la Motivaci?n para la Protecci?n de Rogers (1983)
Plasma?-III tubulin, neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein are associated with neurodegeneration and progression in schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a progressive disorder characterized by multiple psychotic relapses. After every relapse, patients may not fully recover, and this may lead to a progressive loss of functionality. Pharmacological treatment represents a key factor to minimize the biological, psychological and psychosocial impact of the disorder. The number of relapses and the duration of psychotic episodes induce a potential neuronal damage and subsequently, neurodegenerative processes. Thus, a comparative study was performed, including forty healthy controls and forty-two SZ patients divided into first-episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic SZ (CSZ) subgroups, where the CSZ sub group was subdivided by antipsychotic treatment. In order to measure the potential neuronal damage, plasma levels of beta-III tubulin, neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed. The results revealed that the levels of these proteins were increased in the SZ group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, multiple comparison analysis showed highly significant levels of beta-III tubulin (P = 0.0002), Nf-L (P = 0.0403) and GFAP (P < 0.015) in the subgroup of CSZ clozapine-treated. In conclusion, beta-III tubulin, Nf-L and GFAP proteins may be potential biomarkers of neurodegeneration and progression in SZ
AGT haplotype in ITGA4 gene is related to antibody-mediated rejection in heart transplant patients
[Abstract] Introduction.
One of the main problems involved in heart transplantation (HT) is antibody-mediated rejection
(AMR). Many aspects of AMR are still unresolved, including its etiology, diagnosis and
treatment. In this project, we hypothesize that variants in genes involved in B-cell biology in
HT patients can yield diagnostic and prognostic information about AMR.
Methods.
Genetic variants in 61 genes related to B-cell biology were analyzed by next generation
sequencing in 46 HT patients, 23 with and 23 without AMR.
Results.
We identified 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms in ITGA4 gene (c.1845G>A, c.2633A>G,
and c.2883C>T) that conformed the haplotype AGT-ITGA4. This haplotype is associated
with the development of AMR. Moreover, AMR patients with the haplotype AGT-ITGA4
present lower levels of integrin α-4 in serum samples compared to the reference GAC haplotype
in control patients.
Conclusion.
We can conclude that polymorphisms in genes related to the biology of B-cells could have
an important role in the development of AMR. In fact, the AGT haplotype in ITGA4 gene
could potentially increase the risk of AMR.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI13/0217
The labor market effects of technology shocks
We analyze the effects of neutral and investment-specific technology shocks on hours worked and unemployment. We characterize the response of unemployment in terms of job separation and job finding rates. We find that job separation rates mainly account for the impact response of unemployment while job finding rates for movements along its adjustment path. Neutral shocks increase unemployment and explain a substantial portion of unemployment and output volatilityinvestment-specific shocks expand employment and hours worked and mostly contribute to hours worked volatility. We show that this evidence is consistent with the view that neutral technological progress prompts Schumpeterian creative destruction, while investment specific technological progress has standard neoclassical feature
Credit Supply: Identifying Balance-Sheet Channels with Loan Applications and Granted Loans
To identify credit availability we analyze the extensive and intensive margins of lending with loan applications and all loans granted in Spain. We find that during the period analyzed both worse economic and tighter monetary conditions reduce loan granting, especially to firms or from banks with lower capital or liquidity ratios. Moreover, responding to applications for the same loan, weak banks are less likely to grant the loan. Our results suggest that firms cannot offset the resultant credit restriction by turning to other banks. Importantly the bank-lending channel is notably stronger when we account for unobserved time-varying firm heterogeneity in loan demand and quality
A Search for Photons with Energies Above 2X10(17) eV Using Hybrid Data from the Low-Energy Extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory
Ultra-high-energy photons with energies exceeding 10(17) eV offer a wealth of connections to different aspects of cosmic-ray astrophysics as well as to gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy. The recent observations of photons with energies in the 10(15) eV range further motivate searches for even higher-energy photons. In this paper, we present a search for photons with energies exceeding 2 x 10(17) eV using about 5.5 yr of hybrid data from the low-energy extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The upper limits on the integral photon flux derived here are the most stringent ones to date in the energy region between 10(17) and 10(18) eV
Trimethylamine and Trimethylamine N-Oxide, a Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 (FMO3)-Mediated Host-Microbiome Metabolic Axis Implicated in Health and Disease
Flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) is known primarily as an enzyme involved in the metabolism of therapeutic drugs. However, on a daily basis we are exposed to one of the most abundant substrates of the enzyme, trimethylamine, which is released from various dietary components by the action of gut bacteria. FMO3 converts the odorous trimethylamine to non-odorous trimethylamine N-oxide, which is excreted in urine. Impaired FMO3 activity gives rise to the inherited disorder primary trimethylaminuria. Affected individuals cannot produce trimethylamine N-oxide and, consequently, excrete large amounts of trimethylamine. A dysbiosis in gut bacteria can give rise to secondary trimethylaminuria. Recently, there has been much interest in FMO3 and its catalytic product trimethylamine N-oxide. This is because trimethylamine N-oxide has been implicated in various conditions affecting health, including cardiovascular disease, reverse cholesterol transport and glucose and lipid homeostasis. In this review, we consider the dietary components that can give rise to trimethylamine, the gut bacteria involved in the production of trimethylamine from dietary precursors, the metabolic reactions by which bacteria produce and utilize trimethylamine and the enzymes that catalyze the reactions. Also included is information on bacteria that produce trimethylamine in the oral cavity and vagina, two key microbiome niches that can influence health. Finally, we discuss the importance of the trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide microbiome-host axis in health and disease, considering factors that affect bacterial production and host metabolism of trimethylamine, the involvement of trimethylamine N-oxide and FMO3 in disease and the implications of the host-microbiome axis for management of trimethylaminuria
- …