Effects of Disturbance (Mowing) on Florivory and Floral Defenses in \u3ci\u3eSolanum elaeagnifolium\u3c/i\u3e, a Noxious and Worldwide Invasive Weed

Chapter 1: Literature Review- In this literature review we have examined weed management as it concerns urban and agricultural ecosystems, as well as the need for mowing assessments as it relates to floral traits and defense against herbivory. Chapter 2: Experiments- In the experiments we examined the role of mowing on floral growth traits, floral defense traits, and their effect on Manduca sexta specialist herbivores. Chapter 3: Results- In the results we found SLN flowers to have larger diameters than unmowed flowers; however, flower mass was in line with our predictions as unmowed flowers were heavier in high mowing frequency populations. Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) was not significantly different between mowed and unmowed and the effect of mowed and unmowed plant parts incorporated in diet was found to be pronounced in unmowed diet-fed caterpillars which were significantly heavier than their control and mowed counterparts. Physical defenses in the form of spines were also significantly higher in density in mowed plants when compared to unmowed plants. Chapter 4: Discussion- From the results and experiments we can conclude that these findings are in line with our previous study on SLN that had not looked at floral traits but still found there to be trait induction in mowed SLN plants when compared to unmowed SLN plants

Collider phenomenology of vector resonances in WZ scattering processes

We study the production of vector resonances at the LHC via $WZ$ scattering processes and explore the sensitivities to these resonances for the expected future LHC luminosities. The electroweak chiral Lagrangian and the Inverse Amplitude Method (IAM) are used for analyzing a dynamically generated vector resonance, whose origin would be the (hypothetically strong) self interactions of the longitudinal gauge bosons, $W_L$ and $Z_L$. We implement the unitarized scattering amplitudes into a single model, the IAM-MC, that has been adapted to MadGraph~5. It is written in terms of the electroweak chiral Lagrangian and an additional effective Proca Lagrangian for the vector resonances, so that it reproduces the resonant behavior of the IAM and allows us to perform a realistic study of signal versus background at the LHC. We focus on the $pp\to WZjj$ channel, discussing first on the potential of the hadronic and semileptonic channels of the final $WZ$, and next exploring in more detail the clearest signals. These are provided by the leptonic decays of the gauge bosons, leading to a final state with $l^+_1l^-_1l^+_2\nu jj$, $l=e,\mu$, having a very distinctive signature, and showing clearly the emergence of the resonances with masses in the range of $1.5$-$2.5\,{\rm TeV}$, which we have explored.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, contributed to the XIII Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum - Confinement2018, 31 July - 6 August 2018, Maynooth University, Irelan

La sostenibilidad de la política fiscal en el América Latina: El caso de Venezuela

La economía venezolana se ha visto sometida desde mediados de la década de los setenta a un proceso de marcada inestabilidad y volatilidad, causado fundamentalmente por los shocks provenientes del mercado petrolero. La política fiscal ha jugado un rol determinante en la transmisión de esos shocks al resto de la economía. Por una parte, el gasto público ha mostrado un comportamiento procíclico en relación a los ingresos petroleros, transmitiendo la volatilidad de estos últimos a través de la demanda agregada interna y por tanto en las presiones inflacionarias y en el crecimiento económico. Por otra parte, el uso del tipo de cambio como mecanismo de corrección fiscal en algunas oportunidades y en otras como ancla nominal, conjuntamente con el comportamiento procíclico del gasto, han creado una situación prolongada de "stop and go" o de expansiones y ajustes recurrentes y transitorios con elevados costos de crecimiento, inflación y empobrecimiento de la población.

Evolutionary history of the SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant of concern (P.1): a perfect storm

Our goal was to describe in more detail the evolutionary history of Gamma and two derived lineages (P.1.1 and P.1.2), which are part of the arms race that SARS-CoV-2 wages with its host. A total of 4,977 sequences of the Gamma strain of SARS-CoV-2 from Brazil were analyzed. We detected 194 sites under positive selection in 12 genes/ORFs: Spike, N, M, E, ORF1a, ORF1b, ORF3, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b, ORF8, and ORF10. Some diagnostic sites for Gamma lacked a signature of positive selection in our study, but these were not fixed, apparently escaping the action of purifying selection. Our network analyses revealed branches leading to expanding haplotypes with sites under selection only detected when P.1.1 and P.1.2 were considered. The P.1.2 exclusive haplotype H_5 originated from a non-synonymous mutational step (H3509Y) in H_1 of ORF1a. The selected allele, 3509Y, represents an adaptive novelty involving ORF1a of P.1. Finally, we discuss how phenomena such as epistasis and antagonistic pleiotropy could limit the emergence of new alleles (and combinations thereof) in SARS-COV-2 lineages, maintaining infectivity in humans, while providing rapid response capabilities to face the arms race triggered by host immuneresponses

Epidemiologic Behavior of Obesity in the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study

Introduction: Obesity is a worldwide public health issue. Since the epidemiological behaviour of this disease is not well established in our country, the purpose of this study was to determinate its prevalence in the Maracaibo City, Zulia State- Venezuela. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken using the data set from the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study. The sample consists of 2108 individuals from both genders and randomly selected: 1119 (53.09%) women and 989 (46.91%) men. The participants were interrogated for a complete clinical history and anthropometric measurements. To classify obesity, the WHO criteria for Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Circumference (WC) from the IDF/NHLBI/AHA/WHF/IAS/IASO-2009 (IDF-2009) and ATPIII statements were applied. Results: For BMI, obesity had an overall prevalence of 33.3% (n = 701), and according to gender women had 32.4% (n = 363) and men had 34.2% (n = 338). Overweight had a prevalence of 34.8% (n = 733), Normal weight had 29.8% (n = 629), and Underweight had 2.1% (n = 45). Adding Obesity and Overweight results, the prevalence of elevated BMI (.25 Kg/m2) was 68.1%. Using the IDF-2009 WC’s cut-off, Obesity had 74.2% prevalence, compared to 51.7% using the ATPIII parameters. Conclusions: These results show a high prevalence of abdominal obesity in our locality defined by the WHO, IDF-2009 and ATPIII criteria, which were not designed for Latin-American populations. We suggest further investigation to estimate the proper values according to ethnicity, genetic background and sociocultural aspects

Antiplatelet efficacy of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in Mediterranean patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic coronary syndromes: A crossover pharmacodynamic investigation

IntroductionPatients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have augmented platelet reactivity and diminished responsiveness to clopidogrel. Ticagrelor, a more potent P2Y(12) inhibitor, is clinically superior to clopidogrel in acute coronary syndromes, although its role in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) is still the subject of debate. The aim of this investigation was to compare the pharmacodynamic effectiveness of ticagrelor and clopidogrel in Mediterranean DM patients with CCS.Materials and methodsIn this prospective, randomized, crossover study, patients (n = 20) were randomized (1:1) to receive, on top of aspirin therapy, either ticagrelor 180 mg loading dose (LD)/90 mg maintenance dose (MD) b.i.d. or clopidogrel 600 mg LD/75 mg MD o.d. for 1 week in a crossover fashion with a 2-4 week washout period between regimens. Platelet function measurements were performed at 4 timepoints in each period (baseline, 2 h and 24 h after LD, and 1 week), including light transmission aggregometry (LTA, primary endpoint), VASP assay, Multiplate and VerifyNow P2Y(12).ResultsThe ticagrelor LD achieved greater platelet inhibitory effect than clopidogrel LD, assessed with LTA (20 mu M ADP as agonist), at 2 h (34.9 & PLUSMN; 3.9% vs. 63.6 & PLUSMN; 3.9%; p < 0.001) and 24 h (39.4 & PLUSMN; 3.5% vs. 52.3 & PLUSMN; 3.8%; p = 0.014). After 1 week of therapy, platelet reactivity was again significantly inferior with ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel (30.7 & PLUSMN; 3.0% vs. 54.3 +/- 3.0%; p < 0.001). The results were consistent with the other platelet function assays employed.ConclusionIn Mediterranean patients with DM and CCS, ticagrelor provides a more potent antiplatelet effect than clopidogrel after the LD and during the maintenance phase of therapy

Strategic planning process: Stages carried out in small and medium-sized enterprises to optimize competitiveness

El estudio estuvo orientado en analizar la planificación estratégica en la Pymes, considerando sus etapas para optimizar su competitividad. Metodológicamente se enmarcó en las pymes que exportan productos de confección textil, en la ciudad de Barranquilla, utilizando un enfoque cuantitativo positivista, de tipo descriptivo y diseño no experimental, transaccional de campo. Concluyendo, que en las pymes las tres etapas están presentes en forma moderada, pero se destacan las fases de planeación y evaluación de la estrategia, presentando oportunidad de mejora la etapa de implementación.The study was oriented in analyzing the strategic planning in SMEs, considering their stages to optimize its competitiveness . Methodologically it was framed in the SMEs that export textile products, in the city of Barranquilla, using a positivist quantitative approach, descriptive type and non-experimental, transactional field design. Concluding that in SMEs the three stages are present in a moderate way, but the planning and evaluation phases of the strategy stand out, presenting an opportunity to improve the implementation stage

Desarrollo clínico-biológico de ratas alimentadas con dieta semi-purificada a base de clara de huevo

There is a shortage of concentrated feeds for animals in the country and therefore the research focused on developing a diet based on the guidelines of the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN) with endogenous ingredients and testing them in rats in pregnancy, lactation and growth. In Experiment 1, 12 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats of 5-6 weeks were worked, half of them fed with a control diet and the other half with a non-purified diet based on egg white (EWP) for six weeks. In Experiment 2, 10 pregnant SD rats were subjected to the same diets (control and EWP) to select 14 four-week-old male neonates to continue with the same feeding regimens for five more weeks (7 in control diet and 7 in EWP). In both experiments, an evaluation of clinical-metabolic parameters (body weight, clinical evaluation and metabolic cage study) was carried out. In the second experiment, biological parameters (protein concentration and hematology) were also evaluated. The results show stable clinical-metabolic parameters and normal biological parameters, which allows to conclude that EWP is suitable for the optimal and healthy development of laboratory rats.Ante la escasez de alimento concentrado para animales en el país, la investigación se centró en elaborar una dieta basada en las directrices del Instituto Americano de Nutrición (AIN) con ingredientes endógenos y probarlos en ratas en gestación, lactancia y crecimiento. En el Experimento 1 se trabajó con 12 ratas Sprague Dawley (SD) machos de 5-6 semanas, la mitad alimentada con dieta control y la otra mitad con dieta no purificada a base de clara de huevo (EWP) durante seis semanas. En el Experimento 2 se trabajó con 10 ratas SD gestantes sometidas a las mismas dietas (control y EWP), para seleccionar 14 crías macho de cuatro semanas de edad para continuar con los mismos regímenes de alimentación por cinco semanas más (7 control y 7 EWP). En ambos experimentos se realizó evaluación de parámetros clínicos-metabólicos (peso corporal, evaluación clínica y estudio en caja metabólica), En el segundo experimento se evaluaron, además, parámetros biológicos (concentración de proteínas y hematología). Los resultados muestran parámetros clínicos-metabólicos estables y parámetros biológicos normales, lo que permite concluir que EWP es adecuada para el desarrollo óptimo y sano de las ratas de laboratorio

High-sensitivity c-reactive protein epidemiological behavior in adult individuals from Maracaibo, Venezuela

Objectives: High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) is one of the most applied inflammation markers; therefore, the main objective of this research is to evaluate its epidemiological behavior in adult subjects of the Maracaibo City, Venezuela. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,422 subjects, 704 women (49.5%) and 718 men (50.5%), were enrolled in the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study. The results were expressed as medians and inter-quartile ranges (p25-p75). Differences were determined through the Mann-Whitney U test and one-way ANOVA test with the Bonferroni adjustment. A multiple logistic regression model was designed for the analysis of the main factors associated with high serum hs-CRP levels. Results: Overall hs-CRP median was 0,.372 mg/L (0.126- 0.765 mg/L), 0,382 mg/L (0.122-0.829 mg/L) for women and 0.365 mg/L (0.133-0.712 mg/L) for men; p=0.616. An increasing pattern was observed in hs-CRP concentrations through age, BMI, waist circumference and HOMA2-IR categories. After adjusting for independent variables, a greater risk for elevated hs-CRP levels was observed with female gender, hypertriacylglyceridemia, obesity, diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and very large waist circumference values. Conclusions: Elevated hs-CRP levels are related to the metabolic syndrome but not with each of their separate components, being a greater waist circumference one of the more important risk factors, but only at values much higher than those proposed for our population.&nbsp

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in Venezuela:An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: The deterioration of Venezuela's health system in recent years undoubtedly contributes to an increased impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic could inform their medical training and improve their preparedness. Methods: A online national cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 26th and May 30th, 2020, to assess KAPs among HCWs in Venezuela. Results: A total of 1,441 HCWs from all 24 regions of the country responded to the survey. The mean age of the HCWs was 44 (SD [standard deviation] 14) years; most were women (66.4%). Most HCWs were specialized doctors (48%), followed by nurses (13%) and resident doctors (12.3%). The majority of HCWs had good knowledge (76.3%), obtained information mainly from scientific literature (85.4%); had negative attitudes (53.6%), felt uncomfortable with their work during the current pandemic (59.8%); and reported appropriate practices (76.9%). However, participation in COVID-19 related training was absent in more than half of the HCWs. Positive attitudes were significantly more frequent in frontline workers than in non-frontline workers (p = 0.001). Bioanalysts, students, and doctors were more likely to have good knowledge; participating in training was a predictor for positive attitudes and older age was an appropriate practice predictor. Conclusions: HCWs, knowledge in Venezuela could be improved by strengthening education and training programs. Strategies should focus on reducing fear and improving attitudes toward the care of COVID-19 patients, as well as the promotion of preventive practices