Equity home bias—A global perspective from the shrunk frontier

Equity home bias research explicates the need for correct characterisation of benchmark (optimum) foreign equity investment weights required for the estimation of equity home bias. This paper improves upon the traditional mean–variance optimisation framework by utilising the Bayes–Stein shrinkage technique to obtain optimal equity weights and home bias estimates for 39 countries for the period, 2000–2009. A regression model estimated with system GMM identifies financial integration, trade openness (exposure), stock market capitalisation, idiosyncratic risk and Global Financial Crisis (GFC) as the significant determinants of equity home bias. Unlike earlier studies, the relationship between home bias and financial integration is found to be U-shaped

Recovery of gold(0) nanoparticles from aqueous solutions using effluents from a bioremediation process

The use of biological processes with the aim of the recovery of gold from low-concentration solutions derived from leaching of secondary sources is gaining increasing importance owing to the scarcity of the primary resources and the economic and environmental advantages usually presented by these methods. Thus, the addition in batch and continuous processes of different solutions containing biogenic sulphide, which was generated by the activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), to gold(III) solutions was investigated for that purpose. In the batch experiments, AuS nanoparticles with sizes of between 6 and 14 nm were obtained (corresponding to 100% removal of Au(III) from solution) if the biogenic sulphide was generated in a typical nutrient medium for SRB, whereas Au(0) nanoparticles with sizes of below 8 nm were obtained (corresponding to 62% removal of Au(III)) if effluent from a SRB bioremediation process for treating acid mine drainage (AMD) was used instead. These results stimulated the development of a continuous process of addition, in which two sulphide-rich effluents, which resulted from a SRB bioremediation process for treating two types of AMD (from a uranium mine and a polysulphide mine), were tested. In both cases, Au(0) nanoparticles with sizes of between 6 and 15 nm were mainly obtained, and the percentage removal of Au(III) from solution ranged from 76% to 100%. The processes described allow the simultaneous treatment of AMD and recovery of metallic gold nanoparticles, which are a product with a wide range of applications (e.g., in medicine, optical devices and catalysis) and high economic value. The synthesis process described in this work can be considered as novel, because it is the first time, to our knowledge, that the use of effluent from a SRB bioremediation process has been reported for the recovery of gold(III) as gold(0) nanoparticles.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets

Efficacy of Ceftazidime-Avibactam on the Carbapenem Resistant Strains of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - a Retrospective Study

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) are a big challenge in clinical practice because of restricted choices in treatment. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is considered a possible alternative, but its effectiveness depends on the mechanism of resistance. The susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant isolates to CZA is assessed in this study in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study done between October 2023 and March 2024 in a tertiary care facility at Jamshedpur, India. Data were retrieved from the microbiology laboratory with emphasis on culture and antimicrobial resistance patterns of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was done by Vitek2 compact system, and susceptibility to CZA was determined following CLSI guidelines (2023-2024).Results: Out of 107 carbapenem-resistant isolates, Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=69, 63.89%) was the most common, followed by Escherichia coli (n=17, 15.74%) and P. aeruginosa (n=21, 19.44%). In total, 22 isolates (20.56%) were sensitive to CZA, with Klebsiella pneumoniae having the highest susceptibility (30.43%) and E. coli having minimal susceptibility (5.88%). All P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to CZA.Conclusion: CZA is moderately effective against CRE, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae, but not against CRPA. The results emphasize the importance of continued surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and novel treatment approaches against carbapenem-resistant infections. Research into combination therapies and new agents is essential to combat emerging resistanc

Implementation of PWM Based Firing Scheme for Multilevel Inverters Using Microcontroller

The power electronics device which converts DC power to AC power at required output voltage and frequency level is known as inverter. Inverters can be broadly classified into single level inverter and multilevel inverter. Multilevel inverter as compared to single level inverters have advantages like minimum harmonic distortion, reduced EMI/RFI generation and can operate on several voltage levels. A multi-stage inverter is being utilized for multipurpose applications, such as active power filters, static var compensators and machine drives for sinusoidal and trapezoidal current applications. The drawbacks are the isolated power supplies required for each one of the stages of the multiconverter and it’s also lot harder to build, more expensive, harder to control in software. This project aims at generation of carrier based PWM scheme using POD strategy through the means of an AT89C51 microcontroller. The salient features are: Firstly, Both the high frequency triangular carrier wave and the sinusoidal reference signal are being generated in the microcontroller. The digital to analog converter(DAC0808)is then employed for converting them into their analog signal forms An opamp based comparator then compares these two carrier & reference signals to give us the desired sinusoidal pulse width modulated signal as the required final-output. The PWM signal thus generated is then used as triggering pulses for the multilevel inverters

Dynamics of a Quantum Phase Transition and Relaxation to a Steady State

We review recent theoretical work on two closely related issues: excitation of an isolated quantum condensed matter system driven adiabatically across a continuous quantum phase transition or a gapless phase, and apparent relaxation of an excited system after a sudden quench of a parameter in its Hamiltonian. Accordingly the review is divided into two parts. The first part revolves around a quantum version of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism including also phenomena that go beyond this simple paradigm. What they have in common is that excitation of a gapless many-body system scales with a power of the driving rate. The second part attempts a systematic presentation of recent results and conjectures on apparent relaxation of a pure state of an isolated quantum many-body system after its excitation by a sudden quench. This research is motivated in part by recent experimental developments in the physics of ultracold atoms with potential applications in the adiabatic quantum state preparation and quantum computation.Comment: 117 pages; review accepted in Advances in Physic

Microbial surfactants: fundamentals and applicability in the formulation of nano-sized drug delivery vectors

Microbial surfactants, so-called biosurfactants, comprise a wide variety of structurally distinct amphipathic molecules produced by several microorganisms. Besides exhibiting surface activity at the interfaces, these molecules present powerful characteristics including high biodegradability, low toxicity and special biological activities (e.g. antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, among others), that make them an alternative to their chemical counterparts. Several medical-related applications have been suggested for these molecules, including some reports on their potential use in the formulation of nano-sized drug delivery vectors. However, despite their promises, due to the generalized lack of knowledge on microbial surfactants phase behavior and stability under diverse physicochemical conditions, these applications remain largely unexplored, thus representing an exciting field of research. These nano-sized vectors are a powerful approach towards the current medical challenges regarding the development of efficient and targeted treatments for several diseases. In this review, a special emphasis will be given to nanoparticles and microemulsions. Nanoparticles are very auspicious as their size, shape and stability can be manipulated by changing the environmental conditions. On the other hand, the easiness of formulation, as well as the broad possibilities of administration justifies the recent popularity of the microemulsions. Notwithstanding, both vector types still require further developments to overcome some critical limitations related with toxicity and costs, among others. Such developments may include the search for other system components, as the microbial surfactants, that can display improved features.The author acknowledges the financial support from the Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and project ref. RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (project number FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) funded by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia

Distribution, habitat suitability, natural history, bite report, and medical importance of the Asian tarantula Chilobrachys spp.

The Chilobrachys tarantula, a genus of Old-World tarantulas, is known for its unique behavior and venomous bites, which have varying effects on humans. This research provides a comprehensive overview of Chilobrachys species distribution, bite incidents, and medical treatment based on bioclimatic modeling and clinical case reports. Chilobrachys species thrive in regions with moderate daily temperature ranges (−7.9°C to 43.3°C), stable climates, and sufficient precipitation (0 mm to 2,325 mm), particularly in Southeast Asia. Key bioclimatic variables such as maximum temperature of the warmest month (BIO5) and precipitation during both warm and cold months (BIO18, BIO19) significantly influence species distribution. Field data from 24 confirmed Chilobrachys bites reveal that most incidents occur between April and July, with bite symptoms ranging from severe localized pain, swelling, and necrosis to systemic effects like fever and hemoglobinuria. Case studies demonstrate the cytotoxic effects of Chilobrachys venom, leading to complications such as cellulitis, necrosis, and compartment syndrome, particularly in untreated or delayed cases. Medical reports indicate that treatment involves immediate first aid (RICE protocol), pain management, antihistamines for allergic reactions, and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections. In severe cases, surgical intervention is required for necrosis and compartment syndrome management. Bioclimatic and clinical data emphasize the need for public awareness, healthcare training, and early intervention to mitigate the risks associated with Chilobrachys bites. This research provides crucial insights into the ecological and medical aspects of these tarantulas, aiding in the prevention and management of envenomation cases

Japanese encephalitis virus induces human neural stem/progenitor cell death by elevating GRP78, PHB and hnRNPC through ER stress

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is a causative agent of sporadic encephalitis, harbours itself inside the neural stem/progenitor cells. It is a well-known fact that JEV infects neural stem/progenitor cells and decreases their proliferation capacity. With mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic study, it is possible to reveal the impact of virus on the stem cells at protein level. Our aim was to perceive the stem cell proteomic response upon viral challenge. We performed a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomic study of the human neural stem cells (hNS1 cell line) post JEV infection and found that 13 proteins were differentially expressed. The altered proteome profile of hNS1 cell line revealed sustained endoplasmic reticulum stress, which deteriorated normal cellular activities leading to cell apoptosis. The proteomic changes found in hNS1 cell line were validated in vivo in the subventricular zone of JE infected BALB/c mice. Congruent alterations were also witnessed in multipotent neural precursor cells isolated from human foetus and in autopsy samples of human brain clinically diagnosed as cases of JE patients. Endoplasmic reticulum resident chaperone GRP78, mitochondrial protein Prohibitin and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein hnRNPC (C1/C2) have been shown to interact with viral RNA. Hence it is proposed that these are the principle candidates governing endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in JEV infection

Biography and Homoeopathy in Bengal: Colonial lives of a European heterodoxy

AbstractDespite being recognized as a significant literary mode in understanding the advent of the modern self, biographies as agenrehave received relatively little attention from South Asian historians. Likewise, histories of science and healing in British India have largely ignored the colonial trajectories of those sectarian, dissenting, supposedly pseudo-sciences and medical heterodoxies that have flourished in Europe since the late eighteenth century. This article addresses these gaps in the historiography to identify biographies as a principal mode through which an incipient, ‘heterodox’ Western science like homoeopathy could consolidate and sustain itself in Bengal. In recovering the cultural history of a category that the state archives render largely invisible, this article argues that biographies are more than a mere repository of individual lives, and in fact are a veritable site of power. In bringing histories of print and publishing, histories of medicine, and histories of life writing practices together, it pursues two broad themes: first, it analyses the sociocultural strategies and networks by which scientific doctrines and concepts are translated across cultural borders. It explores the relation between medical commerce, print capital, and therapeutic knowledge to illustrate that acculturation of medical science necessarily drew upon and reinforced local constellations of class, kinship, and religion. Second, it simultaneously reflects upon the expanding genre of homoeopathic biographies published since the mid-nineteenth century: on their features, relevance, and functions, examining in particular the contemporary status of biography vis-à-vis ‘history’ in writing objective pasts.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from CUP at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X1400057