Primer registro de Asplenium harpeodes (Aspleniaceae) para la flora Argentina

The first finding of Asplenium harpeodes in Argentina is disclosed. This species was found growing in Jujuy and Salta provinces, inhabiting the Yungas. A description and an illustration are given, and information about its distribution and the habitat is provided. A key to differentiate this species from nearby ones with pinnate lamina is also presented.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Primer registro de Asplenium harpeodes (Aspleniaceae) para la flora Argentina

The first finding of Asplenium harpeodes in Argentina is disclosed. This species was found growing in Jujuy and Salta provinces, inhabiting the Yungas. A description and an illustration are given, and information about its distribution and the habitat is provided. A key to differentiate this species from nearby ones with pinnate lamina is also presented.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in an indigenous population in Brazil: an epidemiological study

This cross-sectional observational study that describes the epidemiological data of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Mato Grosso do Sul State, aimed to demonstrate the differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, characterize confirmed cases of COVID-19 according to risk factors related to ethnicity, comorbidities and their evolution and to verify the challenges in facing the disease in Brazil. SIVEP-Gripe and E-SUS-VE, a nationwide surveillance database in Brazil, from March 2020 to March 2021 in Mato Grosso do Sul state, were used to compare survivors and non-survivors from indigenous and non-indigenous populations and the epidemiological incidence curves of these populations. A total of 176,478, including 5,299 indigenous people, were confirmed. Among the indigenous population, 52.5% (confidence interval [CI] 51.2-53.9) were women, 38% (CI 36.7-39.4) were 20-39 years old, 56.7% were diagnosed by rapid antibody tests, 12.3% (CI 95%:11.5-13.2) had at least one comorbidity, and 5.3% (CI 95%:4.7–5.9) were hospitalized. In the non-indigenous patients, 56.8% were confirmed using RT-PCR, 4.4% (CI 95%:4.3-4.5) had at least one comorbidity, and 8.0% (CI 95%:7.9-8.2) were hospitalized. The majority of non-survivors were ≥60 years old (65.1% indigenous vs. 74.1% non-indigenous). The mortality in indigenous people was more than three times higher (11% vs. 2.9%). Indigenous people had a lower proportion of RT-PCR diagnoses; deaths were more frequent in younger patients and were less likely to be admitted to hospital. Mass vaccination may have controlled the incidence and mortality associated with COVID-19 in this population during the period of increased viral circulation

Diversidad de helechos y licofitas del Parque Nacional Calilegua, provincia de Jujuy, Argentina

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina. The biogeographic province of the “Yungas” is considered by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In this zone, Calilegua National Park is one of the “cores” of the Yungas, where ferns and lycophytes grow as epiphytic, terrestrial or saxicoulous in different environments. The aim of this study is to make known the ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Calilegua National Park, in order to provide information on Yungas biodiversity. For this purpose, 5 field trips were performed during december-May 2007-2011. Voucher specimens were deposited in the following herbaria: JUA, LP and RCV. Other herbaria and specific bibliography were also consulted. According to this study 103 taxa (species and varieties) of ferns and lycophytes inhabit in Calilegua National Park, grouped in 18 families and 43 genera. Six species are first recorded for the Province of Jujuy. Nomenclatural updates and keys for taxa identification are also given.La provincia biogeográfica de las Yungas es considerada por la UNESCO como una de las Reservas de la Biosfera. El Parque Nacional Calilegua es uno de los “core” de estas Yungas, donde los helechos y licofitas crecen en diferentes ambientes como epifitos, terrestres o saxicolas. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer los helechos y licofitas que habitan en el Parque Nacional Calilegua, con el fin de contribuir a la información sobre la biodiversidad en las Yungas y aportar a su conservación. El estudio se realizó teniendo en cuenta el material colectado en viajes de campo por diferentes zonas del Parque, durante los meses de diciembre a mayo de los años 2007 a 2011. Asimismo, se consultaron distintos herbarios nacionales y bibliografía específica. Se registraron en el PN Calilegua un total de 103 taxones (especies y variedades) de helechos y licofitas, agrupados en 18 familias y 43 géneros. Se dan a conocer seis nuevas citas para la provincia de Jujuy y se presentan actualizaciones nomenclaturales y claves para la identificación de los taxa registrados

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina

La provincia biogeográfica de las Yungas es considerada por la UNESCO como una de las Reservas de la Biosfera. El Parque Nacional Calilegua es uno de los “core” de estas Yungas, donde los helechos y licofitas crecen en diferentes ambientes como epifitos, terrestres o saxicolas. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer los helechos y licofitas que habitan en el Parque Nacional Calilegua, con el fin de contribuir a la información sobre la biodiversidad en las Yungas y aportar a su conservación. El estudio se realizó teniendo en cuenta el material colectado en viajes de campo por diferentes zonas del Parque, durante los meses de diciembre a mayo de los años 2007 a 2011. Asimismo, se consultaron distintos herbarios nacionales y bibliografía específica. Se registraron en el PN Calilegua un total de 103 taxones (especies y variedades) de helechos y licofitas, agrupados en 18 familias y 43 géneros. Se dan a conocer seis nuevas citas para la provincia de Jujuy y se presentan actualizaciones nomenclaturales y claves para la identificación de los taxa registrados.Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina. The biogeographic province of the “Yungas” is considered by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In this zone, Calilegua National Park is one of the “cores” of the Yungas, where ferns and lycophytes grow as epiphytic, terrestrial or saxicoulous in different environments. The aim of this study is to make known the ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Calilegua National Park, in order to provide information on Yungas biodiversity. For this purpose, 5 field trips were performed during december-May 2007-2011. Voucher specimens were deposited in the following herbaria: JUA, LP and RCV. Other herbaria and specific bibliography were also consulted. According to this study 103 taxa (species and varieties) of ferns and lycophytes inhabit in Calilegua National Park, grouped in 18 families and 43 genera. Six species are first recorded for the Province of Jujuy. Nomenclatural updates and keys for taxa identification are also given.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina

La provincia biogeográfica de las Yungas es considerada por la UNESCO como una de las Reservas de la Biosfera. El Parque Nacional Calilegua es uno de los “core” de estas Yungas, donde los helechos y licofitas crecen en diferentes ambientes como epifitos, terrestres o saxicolas. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer los helechos y licofitas que habitan en el Parque Nacional Calilegua, con el fin de contribuir a la información sobre la biodiversidad en las Yungas y aportar a su conservación. El estudio se realizó teniendo en cuenta el material colectado en viajes de campo por diferentes zonas del Parque, durante los meses de diciembre a mayo de los años 2007 a 2011. Asimismo, se consultaron distintos herbarios nacionales y bibliografía específica. Se registraron en el PN Calilegua un total de 103 taxones (especies y variedades) de helechos y licofitas, agrupados en 18 familias y 43 géneros. Se dan a conocer seis nuevas citas para la provincia de Jujuy y se presentan actualizaciones nomenclaturales y claves para la identificación de los taxa registrados.Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina. The biogeographic province of the “Yungas” is considered by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In this zone, Calilegua National Park is one of the “cores” of the Yungas, where ferns and lycophytes grow as epiphytic, terrestrial or saxicoulous in different environments. The aim of this study is to make known the ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Calilegua National Park, in order to provide information on Yungas biodiversity. For this purpose, 5 field trips were performed during december-May 2007-2011. Voucher specimens were deposited in the following herbaria: JUA, LP and RCV. Other herbaria and specific bibliography were also consulted. According to this study 103 taxa (species and varieties) of ferns and lycophytes inhabit in Calilegua National Park, grouped in 18 families and 43 genera. Six species are first recorded for the Province of Jujuy. Nomenclatural updates and keys for taxa identification are also given.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina

La provincia biogeográfica de las Yungas es considerada por la UNESCO como una de las Reservas de la Biosfera. El Parque Nacional Calilegua es uno de los “core” de estas Yungas, donde los helechos y licofitas crecen en diferentes ambientes como epifitos, terrestres o saxicolas. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer los helechos y licofitas que habitan en el Parque Nacional Calilegua, con el fin de contribuir a la información sobre la biodiversidad en las Yungas y aportar a su conservación. El estudio se realizó teniendo en cuenta el material colectado en viajes de campo por diferentes zonas del Parque, durante los meses de diciembre a mayo de los años 2007 a 2011. Asimismo, se consultaron distintos herbarios nacionales y bibliografía específica. Se registraron en el PN Calilegua un total de 103 taxones (especies y variedades) de helechos y licofitas, agrupados en 18 familias y 43 géneros. Se dan a conocer seis nuevas citas para la provincia de Jujuy y se presentan actualizaciones nomenclaturales y claves para la identificación de los taxa registrados.Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Calilegua National Park, Jujuy Province Argentina. The biogeographic province of the “Yungas” is considered by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In this zone, Calilegua National Park is one of the “cores” of the Yungas, where ferns and lycophytes grow as epiphytic, terrestrial or saxicoulous in different environments. The aim of this study is to make known the ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Calilegua National Park, in order to provide information on Yungas biodiversity. For this purpose, 5 field trips were performed during december-May 2007-2011. Voucher specimens were deposited in the following herbaria: JUA, LP and RCV. Other herbaria and specific bibliography were also consulted. According to this study 103 taxa (species and varieties) of ferns and lycophytes inhabit in Calilegua National Park, grouped in 18 families and 43 genera. Six species are first recorded for the Province of Jujuy. Nomenclatural updates and keys for taxa identification are also given.Fil: Ganem, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Agronomia y Zootecnia. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Botanica General; ArgentinaFil: Ramos Giacosa, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Luna, María Luján. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arana, Marcelo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Rotman, Alicia Dora. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Agronomia y Zootecnia. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Botanica General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Osvaldo Héctor. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Agronomia y Zootecnia. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Botanica General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: de la Sota, Elias Ramon. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Giudice, Gabriela Elena. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

HER-2, p53, p21 and hormonal receptors proteins expression as predictive factors of response and prognosis in locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel plus epirubicin combination

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been considered the standard care in locally advanced breast cancer. However, about 20% of the patients do not benefit from this clinical treatment and, predictive factors of response were not defined yet. This study was designed to evaluate the importance of biological markers to predict response and prognosis in stage II and III breast cancer patients treated with taxane and anthracycline combination as neoadjuvant setting. METHODS: Sixty patients received preoperative docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) in combination with epirubicin (50 mg/m(2)) in i.v. infusion in D1 every 3 weeks after incisional biopsy. They received adjuvant chemotherapy with CMF or FEC, attaining axillary status following definitive breast surgery. Clinical and pathologic response rates were measured after preoperative therapy. We evaluated the response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the prognostic significance of clinicopathological and immunohistochemical parameters (ER, PR, p51, p21 and HER-2 protein expression). The median patient age was 50.5 years with a median follow up time 48 months after the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: Preoperative treatment achieved clinical response in 76.6% of patients and complete pathologic response in 5%. The clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical parameters were not able to predict response to therapy and, only HER2 protein overexpression was associated with a decrease in disease free and overall survival (P = 0.0007 and P = 0.003) as shown by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical phenotypes were not able to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical response is inversely correlated with a risk of death in patients submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HER2 overexpression is the major prognostic factor in stage II and III breast cancer patients treated with a neoadjuvant docetaxel and epirubicin combination

[pt] EVOLUÇÃO E MODELAGEM DA ESTRUTURA A TERMO DE JUROS BRASILEIRA

A modelagem da estrutura a termo de juros tem atraído atenção crescente de pesquisadores e profissionais de mercado ao longo dos últimos anos, por seu papel central em Finanças como balizadora do custo de capital. A oferta de produtos atrelados à dinâmica de juros vem evoluindo continuamente, tanto em volumes negociados quanto em sofisticação das estruturas, sendo acompanhada por modelos cada vez mais complexos de análise e apreçamento. A alta dimensionalidade do objeto de estudo exige o uso de um ferramental matemático bastante desenvolvido e diferente do utilizado para a análise de outros ativos (ações, por exemplo). Como resultado, temos diversos modelos de curva, não necessariamente reconciliáveis sob um quadro teórico unificado, e alguns eventualmente distantes da prática de mercados específicos. No Brasil o problema de avaliação da ETTJ é ainda mais complexo, tanto pelo rápido amadurecimento do mercado de renda fixa nos últimos dez anos, quanto pela herança de sua evolução histórica, ainda presente nas funções de resposta dos agentes locais. Possivelmente, a maior distorção do ambiente econômico-financeiro brasileiro seja o nível extremamente alto das taxas de juros de curto prazo, apesar dos avanços estruturais recentes. A disparidade em relação às taxas praticadas em economias desenvolvidas - ou mesmo em comparação a mercados emergentes com níveis similares de risco soberano – cria uma série de disfunções que afetam virtualmente todos os segmentos da economia real. O objetivo desta Tese foi mapear (e utilizar para apreçamento de ativos e derivativos) algumas particularidades de comportamento da ETTJ brasileira, eventualmente não compartilhadas por curvas de outras economias, portanto usando uma abordagem relativamente segregada das principais correntes de pesquisa em modelagem de renda fixa. O trabalho está dividido em duas fases: a primeira exploratória, através da aplicação de técnicas de estatística multivariada, Teoria de Carteiras e instrumentos de avaliação de risco para traçar a evolução histórica da curva de juros brasileira e seus prêmios e preços de risco associados a fatores endógenos e exógenos. A segunda parte da pesquisa faz uso das evidências estatísticas levantadas, incorporando-as a priori em um modelo semiparamétrico de apreçamento de derivativos, combinando elementos básicos de Teoria da Informação. Sua aderência e representatividade foram testadas sobre uma ampla base de opções de futuros de DI, sendo comparadas aos resultados de um modelo tradicional de mercado (BGM). A Tese conclui que a dinâmica da ETTJ brasileira entre 2001 e 2010 deve incorporar no seu processo de modelagem uma perspectiva histórica de percepção de riscos, aproximando a relação entre abordagens clássicas de apreçamento e a prática corrente dos agentes locais.Modeling the term-structure movements of interest rates is a task that has been attracting a crescent number of researchers and practitioners in quantitative finance, given its importance as the main driver for the economic cost of capital. The volume of traded interest rate sensitive assets and derivatives has grown significantly over the last few years, followed by increasingly complex models of pricing and analysis. The high dimensionality of the object of study requires the use of mathematical tools quite different from standard stock market models, resulting in several approaches that eventually lack a unified framework, flexible enough to capture the dynamics of some particular markets. In Brazil the yield curve analysis is even more complex, due to the fast increase of fixed income products over the last ten years, and the historical shifts in the monetary policy conduction. The risk premium in the Brazilian term-structure of interest rates is partially driven by some specific defensive behavior, following past monetary decisions. Until 2008, the Brazilian Central Bank has primarily dealt with domestic and external crises by raising the short term rate to restrain capital outflows, generating a well-known asymmetry in the market’s response functions to risk aversion. Therefore, the traditional parameterization of risk based on mean and variance estimators fails to capture the market price of risk assigned to higher order moments of bond returns across several maturities. The main purpose of this thesis was to get a broad picture of the singularities of the Brazilian term-structure dynamics, and use it to propose alternative approaches to interest rate derivatives pricing – particularly, embodying the third and fourth (pseudo) moments of bond returns into the modeling cycle. The work is divided in two parts: the first exploratory, applying multivariate statistics, portfolio theory and risk management tools to trace the historical evolution of the Brazilian yield curve, and plot the timeline of risk premia and prices of risk linked to exogenous and endogenous factors. The second part of the research uses the statistical evidence gathered as input to a semi-parametric model for pricing derivatives, based on elements of Information Theory. The model was back-tested over an extensive database of local interest rate options, and compared to the results of a traditional market model (BGM). The thesis concludes that the dynamics of the Brazilian yield curve is in part driven by its historical heritage, and endogenous risk factors including moments of bond returns of third and fourth orders are relevant for the premia structure and evolution. Bringing these elements into a modeling process might partially bridge the gap between classical curve models and the local pricing practice