Bayesian outlier detection in Capital Asset Pricing Model

We propose a novel Bayesian optimisation procedure for outlier detection in the Capital Asset Pricing Model. We use a parametric product partition model to robustly estimate the systematic risk of an asset. We assume that the returns follow independent normal distributions and we impose a partition structure on the parameters of interest. The partition structure imposed on the parameters induces a corresponding clustering of the returns. We identify via an optimisation procedure the partition that best separates standard observations from the atypical ones. The methodology is illustrated with reference to a real data set, for which we also provide a microeconomic interpretation of the detected outliers

Practical application of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance mammography [CE-MRM] by an algorithm combining morphological and enhancement patterns

The purpose of this article is to report our practical utilization of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance mammography [DCE-MRM] in the diagnosis of breast lesions. In many European centers, was preferred a high-temporal acquisition of both breasts simultaneously in a large FOV. We preferred to scan single breasts, with the aim to combine the analysis of the contrast intake and washout with the morphological evaluation of breast lesions. We followed an interpretation model, based upon a diagnostic algorithm, which combined contrast enhancement with morphological evaluation, in order to increase our confidence in diagnosis. DCE-MRM with our diagnostic algorithm has identified 179 malignant and 41 benign lesions; final outcome has identified 178 malignant and 42 benign lesions, 3 false positives and 2 false negatives. Sensitivity of CE-MRM was 98.3%; specificity, 95.1%; positive predictive value 98.9%; negative predictive,. value, 92.8% and accuracy, 97.7%. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve

Subtle differences in growth rate drive contrasting responses of ephemeral primary producers to recurrent disturbances

Although the importance of time after disturbance is well established in the ecological literature, studies examining how differences in growth rate affect species recovery and persistence in relation to the interval between recurrent perturbations are rare. We examined the response of two ephemeral primary producers inhabiting high-shore rock pools, epilithic microphytobenthos (EMPB), and green filamentous algae, to disturbance regimes varying for the time interval between consecutive events. Informed from an empirically parametrized growth model's outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that EMPB would be able to recover from more frequent disturbance compared with filamentous algae in a field experiment involving three physical disturbance patterns differing for the clustering degree: high, moderate, and low (20, 40, and 80 days between disturbances). We predicted that: high clustering would prevent the recovery of both taxa; moderate clustering would prevent the recovery of the slower growing taxon only (filamentous algae); both taxa would recover under low clustering. Results showed that EMPB persisted independently of the clustering degree, whereas filamentous algae did not withstand any disturbance regime. Dramatically different effects of disturbance on organisms with subtle differences in their growth rate indicate that even stronger responses may be expected from taxa with more markedly contrasting life histories

TTV and other anelloviruses: The astonishingly wide spread of a viral infection

The broad family of viruses known as anelloviruses (AV) infects both humans and numerous animal species. They have a tiny, covalently closed single-stranded DNA genome and the astonishing capacity to infect a very high percentage of healthy and ill people with chronic infections that could last a lifetime. AV, and particularly the prototype Torquetenovirus, have established a successful interaction with the host's immune system and the rate at which they replicate is a gauge to measure overall immune function, even though many aspects of their life cycle and pathogenesis are still poorly understood

COMPARAÇÃO DE PULVERIZAÇÃO DE BAIXA (60 L HA-1) COM ALTA VAZÃO (170 L HA-1) EM PULVERIZAÇÃO DE BARRAS

Na aplicação de agroquímicos, é possível monitorar a qualidade operacional do processo selecionando-se indicadores de desempenho que permitam coletar dados no campo e a aferição de conformidades de acordo com a prescrição técnica estabelecida. O presente trabalho foi conduzido em uma propriedade agrícola de 1 ha, situada no distrito de Vila Nova, município de Toledo. Foram coletados dados de uma aplicação de agroquímicos, na metade da área com vazão de 60 L ha-1e na outra metade com vazão de 170 L ha-1. A aplicação foi monitorada através da disposição de 36 unidades de papel hidrossensível, posicionados a 15 cm de altura em relação ao solo, na intersecção de uma grade de 10 m x 20 m em cada área. Os papéis foram copiados digitalmente e os arquivos obtidos foram analisados pelo software GOTAS for Windows. Nos dois casos, pode-se observar que o volume real aplicado é maior que o desejado. A vazão de 60 L ha-1, apresentou menor cobertura do alvo, menor densidade de gotas e desuniformidade do tamanho de gotas

Sleep-disordered breathing and pregnancy outcomes: The impact of maternal oxygen saturation

ObjectiveTo investigate pathological associations between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and pregnancy outcomes. MethodsFrom May 2016 to September 2019, obese women during their uncomplicated singleton pregnancies underwent screening sleep questionnaires, oxygen saturation monitoring, and, in proper cases, complete overnight polysomnography. Their medical records were also recorded. ResultsIn all, 112 pregnant women were included in the study cohort; 44 showed an oxygen desaturation index & GE;10, and their newborns had a significantly higher rate of congenital abnormalities and respiratory distress syndrome compared with the women with normal pulse oximetry. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that basal oxygen saturation was independently associated with the occurrence of fetal growth restriction. ConclusionAmong obese pregnant women, the rate of congenital abnormalities is higher in the ones with altered pulse oximetry. Maternal basal oxygen saturation in the first trimester of pregnancy predicts fetal growth restriction independently of maternal age, ethnicity, body mass index, gravidity, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Control of Varroa destructor development in Africanized Apis mellifera honeybees using Aluen Cap (oxalic acid formulation)

Aluen Cap is an oxalic acid (OA) formulation that shows promise as a control method for Varroa destructor. This work explores the use and efficacy of Aluen Cap against V. destructor in Africanized honeybees in Veracruz Mexico, where capped brood is always present across the year and acaricide resistance was a problem. Twenty-four beehives were assessed over 42 days, a period of time associated with the liberation of OA from Aluen Cap. The acaricide formulation shows significantly higher mean efficacy (92.1%) than control hives (36.5%). This test suggests the high value of the new oxalic acid formulation in AHBs despite the high temperatures and presence of brood, avoiding the necessity of multiple applications of OA, hence simplifying colony management.Fil: Rodríguez Dehaibes, Sóstenes Rafael. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universid; MéxicoFil: Meroi Arcerito, Facundo René. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Chávez Hernández, Claudia. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universid; MéxicoFil: Luna Olivares, Gonzalo. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universid; MéxicoFil: Marcangeli, Jorge Augusto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones En Sanidad Produccion y Ambiente. - Comision de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones En Sanidad Produccion y Ambiente.; ArgentinaFil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones En Sanidad Produccion y Ambiente. - Comision de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones En Sanidad Produccion y Ambiente.; Argentin

Before-During-After Biomonitoring Assessment for a Pipeline Construction in a Coastal Lagoon in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy)

During 2006–2008, a pipeline was buried in Vallona lagoon in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). A Before-During-After environmental monitoring programme was scheduled to monitor possible alterations. Bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s, BTs (butyltins) and HMW-PAHs (High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), and biological responses (Condition index, air Survival –LT50, Acetylcholinesterase, Micronuclei –MN, acyl-CoA oxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde –MDA, and the total oxyradical scavenging capacity-TOSCA) were investigated in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) from November 2005 to June 2015. In opera (IO) results showed higher levels of HMW-PAHs (73 ± 13 ng/g), BTs (90 ± 38 ng Sn/g) and increasing levels of Pb (6.7 ± 0.7 mg/kg) and Zn (73.6 ± 6.08 mg/kg) probably linked to works. Other contaminant alterations, especially metal(loid)s, before (AO) and after (PO) the burial, were attributed to a general condition of the area and mostly unrelated to works. In addition, LT50, MN and TOSCA showed alterations, probably due to hotspots occurring in IO. TOSCA and MDA increases, right after the burial, were considered delayed responses of IO, whilst other biological responses detected later were connected to the general condition of the area. Comparisons between results of Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) highlighted partial overlapping of AO and IO, whilst PO differed only for contaminants. Visual correlations between PCAs highlighted the biomarkers’ latter response

Blue honeysuckle fruit (Lonicera caerulea L.) from eastern Russia: phenolic composition, nutritional value and biological activities of its polar extracts

In the present work we conducted a comprehensive chemical analysis of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea) spontaneously growing in eastern Russia. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis showed cyanidin-3-glucoside as the major constituent among phenolics, while nutritional analysis revealed fibre, protein, calcium and magnesium as the most important macro- and micronutrients, respectively. Fatty acid composition was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid being the most abundant. Furthermore, we evaluated several in vitro biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, wound healing and immunomodulatory effects of blue honeysuckle aqueous and ethanolic extracts that are often incorporated in food and nutraceutical preparations. While the fruit extracts were revealed to be potent radical scavengers with significant inhibition of ABTS radical, thus confirming the literature data, their inhibitory effects against microbial pathogens and tumor cell lines were negligible. The fruit aqueous extract did not show toxicity to human fibroblasts, but 24 h treatment with 150–200 μg per mL of extract slightly enhanced the cell migration when tested by scratched wound assay. Worth mentioning was the inhibitory effect displayed by the blue honeysuckle fruit aqueous extract on human lymphocytes