Report on perceived policy needs and decision contexts

Adaptation to climate change is a new challenge for existing institutions and decision-making processes. In order to assess what form this challenge takes for decision-makers, we conducted interviews and a policy review to determine the perceived policy needs in Austria, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom. In each country, interviews are conducted at the national level and the sub-national (state) level if the national level is not sufficiently active in adaptation planning yet. We focus on general adaptation policy as well as specific sectors for each country, in line with the distribution of MEDIATION case studies. Different countries are at different stages of developing adaptation policy, but the underlying needs are similar across them. We group the needs into nine categories: inter-agency coordination, multi-level governance, mainstreaming, awareness-raising, coping with uncertainty, research needs, tools and information access, financial and human resources, and political commitment. We also look at suggestions for the EU's role in coordinating adaptation policy

Plan financiero de la Empresa CrediScotia Financiera

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar a la empresa desde la perspectiva financiera con el fin de valorizarla y poder hallar su valor futuro a un horizonte de cinco años, para determinar: (a) el grado de liquidez en el que se encontrará, (b) el beneficio que obtendrán los principales socios, y (c) cómo sus principales stakeholders se beneficiarán con los indicadores. La metodología utilizada para desarrollar el trabajo de investigación es cualitativa y cuantitativa centrada en las características de la Financiera CrediScotia. El modelo teórico pretende establecer la situación actual del sector y su relevancia para la financiera, para luego hacer un análisis interno de la empresa, y poder valorar sus principales indicadores y su valor a diciembre de 2015, y para los próximos diez años. Finalmente, se desarrollan los objetivos y metas que la financiera deberá programar para establecer su éxito a futuro. Tomando en cuenta la importancia de conocer: (a) la perspectiva de la empresa en cuanto a sus metas financieras a largo plazo, (b) el grado de inversión que maneja, y (c) las proyecciones a futuro de sus ingresos con el fin de poder tener claro la brecha de inversión que debe manejar la empresa para llegar a cumplir todos sus objetivos. El plan financiero para CrediScotia Financiera se proyecta hasta el año 2025, en el identificamos la existencia de diversos factores internos relacionados a la organización y la capacidad de gestión de sus ejecutivos para incrementar los ingresos y la rentabilidad. Además, se identifican y analizan los diversos factores externos como la inflación, variaciones del tipo de cambio, decisiones políticas en otros que influyen en los resultados de la empresa. La aplicación del plan orienta la prevención del riesgo de perdida que afecte capital bancario, disminuyendo la liquidez por la disminución de las utilidades, debido a las pérdidas en los negocios de la financieraThe following assignment has as its main aim to assess the business from a financial view in order to price it and to be able to find out its worth in a five-year skyline, to establish: (a) the degree of liquidity in which it will be found, (b) the profit which the main business associates will make, and (c) the way its leading stakeholders will benefit from economic data. The methodology being used in order to develop the research study is qualitative and quantitative focused on Financiera CrediScotia features. The theoretical model attempts to set the nowadays situation of the region and its relevance to the Financiera, so that, later, a business inside analysis can be carried out, and to be able to price its main economic data and its value up to December 2015, and for the incoming 10 years. Finally, aims and goals will be developed which the Financiera will have to schedule to lay down its future success. Considering it is important to know the following: (a) the business perspective about its longterm aims, (b) the investment degree which is handled, and (c) incomes’ future projections with the purpose of enlightening the investment gap which the business must handle in order to achieve all its goals. The financial plan for CrediScotia Financiera is projected up to 2025, in which we identify the presence of a number of internal factors related to arrangement and its executives’ management capacity to increase incomes and profitability. Furthermore, a number of outside facts such as inflation, exchange rate, political atmosphere, among others are identified and studied and they will influence in the business outcomes. Enforcement of this plan leads us to prevent risk of loss which affects bank capital, lowering liquidity for profits’ reduction because of financiera’s businesses’ lossTesi

Development of a Humanized Antibody with High Therapeutic Potential against Dengue Virus Type 2

Dengue virus (DENV) infection remains a serious health threat despite the availability of supportive care in modern medicine. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of DENV would be powerful research tools for antiviral development, diagnosis and pathological investigations. Here we described generation and characterization of seventeen mAbs with high reactivity for E protein of DENV. Four of these mAbs showed high neutralizing activity against DENV-2 infection in mice. The monoclonal antibody mAb DB32-6 showed the strongest neutralizing activity against diverse DENV-2 and protected DENV-2-infected mice against mortality in therapeutic models. We identified neutralizing epitopes of DENV located at residues K310 and E311 of viral envelope protein domain III (E-DIII) through the combination of biological and molecular strategies. Comparing the strong neutralizing activity of mAbs targeting A-strand with mAbs targeting lateral ridge, we found that epitopes located in A-strand induced stronger neutralizing activity than those located on the lateral ridge. DB32-6 humanized version was successfully developed. Humanized DB32-6 variant retained neutralizing activity and prevented DENV infection. Understanding the epitope-based antibody-mediated neutralization is crucial to controlling dengue infection. Additionally, this study also introduces a novel humanized mAb as a candidate for therapy of dengue patients

Avian Colibacillosis and Salmonellosis: A Closer Look at Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Control and Public Health Concerns

Avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis are considered to be the major bacterial diseases in the poultry industry world-wide. Colibacillosis and salmonellosis are the most common avian diseases that are communicable to humans. This article provides the vital information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control and public health concerns of avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis. A better understanding of the information addressed in this review article will assist the poultry researchers and the poultry industry in continuing to make progress in reducing and eliminating avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis from the poultry flocks, thereby reducing potential hazards to the public health posed by these bacterial diseases

FoxO and Stress Responses in the Cnidarian Hydra vulgaris

Background: In the face of changing environmental conditions, the mechanisms underlying stress responses in diverse organisms are of increasing interest. In vertebrates, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans, FoxO transcription factors mediate cellular responses to stress, including oxidative stress and dietary restriction. Although FoxO genes have been identified in early-arising animal lineages including sponges and cnidarians, little is known about their roles in these organisms. Methods/Principal Findings: We have examined the regulation of FoxO activity in members of the well-studied cnidarian genus Hydra. We find that Hydra FoxO is expressed at high levels in cells of the interstitial lineage, a cell lineage that includes multipotent stem cells that give rise to neurons, stinging cells, secretory cells and gametes. Using transgenic Hydra that express a FoxO-GFP fusion protein in cells of the interstitial lineage, we have determined that heat shock causes localization of the fusion protein to the nucleus. Our results also provide evidence that, as in bilaterian animals, Hydra FoxO activity is regulated by both Akt and JNK kinases. Conclusions: These findings imply that basic mechanisms of FoxO regulation arose before the evolution of bilaterians an

Primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an immune-mediated chronic cholestatic liver disease with a slowly progressive course. Without treatment, most patients eventually develop fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver and may need liver transplantation in the late stage of disease. PBC primarily affects women (female preponderance 9–10:1) with a prevalence of up to 1 in 1,000 women over 40 years of age. Common symptoms of the disease are fatigue and pruritus, but most patients are asymptomatic at first presentation. The diagnosis is based on sustained elevation of serum markers of cholestasis, i.e., alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, and the presence of serum antimitochondrial antibodies directed against the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Histologically, PBC is characterized by florid bile duct lesions with damage to biliary epithelial cells, an often dense portal inflammatory infiltrate and progressive loss of small intrahepatic bile ducts. Although the insight into pathogenetic aspects of PBC has grown enormously during the recent decade and numerous genetic, environmental, and infectious factors have been disclosed which may contribute to the development of PBC, the precise pathogenesis remains enigmatic. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is currently the only FDA-approved medical treatment for PBC. When administered at adequate doses of 13–15 mg/kg/day, up to two out of three patients with PBC may have a normal life expectancy without additional therapeutic measures. The mode of action of UDCA is still under discussion, but stimulation of impaired hepatocellular and cholangiocellular secretion, detoxification of bile, and antiapoptotic effects may represent key mechanisms. One out of three patients does not adequately respond to UDCA therapy and may need additional medical therapy and/or liver transplantation. This review summarizes current knowledge on the clinical, diagnostic, pathogenetic, and therapeutic aspects of PBC

Housing and Housing Finance - A Review of the Links to Economic Development and Poverty Reduction

The paper provides a review of the literature that links housing, housing finance, and economic development. The housing sector may support poverty reduction and inclusive growth in two general ways. First, housing construction contributes to economic output, creates employment, and generates a demand for materials and related services. Second, improved housing raises the standard of living of occupants. At the same time, housing purchases are costly for individuals, constituting the most valuable asset owned by most households and often requiring housing finance (mortgages) to allow for purchase. These links - between housing and the economy and between housing and housing finance - are explored in this review paper. It finds that the benefits of housing for individuals accrue in large part indirectly through better health, based on improved water and sanitation. Housing also generates large multiplier effects in terms of employment and output. Employment is created for both skilled and poorer, unskilled workers. The evidence also suggests that there is a symbiotic relationship between housing finance and financial sector development. Housing finance helps to develop the financial sector (contributing to economic growth) and is also helped by financial sector development