Academic literature on the topic '351.569 2'

Abstract Abstract 381FN2 The TS Zimmerman Program for the Molecular and Clinical Biology of von Willebrand Disease (ZPMCB-VWD) is a large NIH PPG to study existing subjects with von Willebrand Disease in the United States and to contrast these with prior and ongoing studies in Canada and the UK. 569 index cases (ICs) and 1732 family members were recruited from 8 Primary Clinical Centers and 19 Secondary Clinical Center. The inclusion criteria were that the subjects had a historical diagnosis of VWD and were registered as ongoing patients in the local HTC. 247 normal controls (NCs) were studied for comparison. Data included pre-existing diagnosis, historical diagnostic VWD testing, detailed bleeding history using a modified MCMDM-1VWD QBS, and subjects had plasma and DNA drawn for studies at a central laboratory for VWD, VWF phenotyping, and full length VWF exon sequencing. ICs included 391 type 1, 105 type 2, 43 type 3, and 30 unclassified. The recent HLBI Guidelines suggested that the diagnosis of VWD be based on a VWF level of <30 IU/dL (either VWF:Ag or VWF:RCo). Using the historical data, only 39.4% of ICs had either VWF:Ag or VWF:RCo of <30. Since historic data were studied using various lower limits of normal, we found 80% of subjects had either an Ag or RCO of <60. Central Laboratory testing of NCs and ICs was performed. While 7 of 247 NCs had reduced VWF:Ag or VWF:RCo, none of the NCs had <30 by either assay. Of the NCs with low VWF, 6 of 7 were blood type O and none had an abnormal bleeding score. While 372 of 569 ICs (65.4%) had reduced VWF assays by either method, only 201 (35.3%) had VWF assays that were below the NHLBI Guidelines of <30. Among ICs the correlation between current and historic VWF levels was an r2=0.199 for VWF:RCo and r2=0.268 for VWF:Ag. The current VWF:RCo correlated with the current VWF:Ag with an r2=0.827. The VWF:Ag and VWF:RCo were also restudied in a second laboratory with an r2=0.849 for VWF:Ag and r2=0.854 for VWF:RCo. The MCMDM-1VWD QBS was normal in all normal controls. In contrast, 350 of the ICs born prior to 1996, 247 (70.5%) had an abnormal QBS. Evaluated by pre-existing diagnosis, 65% of type 1 VWD, 78.6% of type 2 VWD and 100% of type 3 VWD had abnormal QBS. Interestingly, of the 351 VWD subjects born before 1996, the QBS was abnormal in 83.5% of males and 67.7% of females. In this age group, there were 248 females and 103 males followed with the diagnosis of VWD. VWF sequencing was carried out on all ICs and compared to the VWF Database maintained at the University of Sheffield. Sequence variations were present in 100% of the 391 type 1 VWD subjects with VWF levels of <10, 96% with VWF 11–20, 77% with VWF 21–30, 70% with VWF 31–40, 39% with VWF 41–50, and 42% of those with VWF 51–60. The decrease in VWF sequence variation between those <40 and those >40 seemed to be striking. The mean VWF:Ag levels of type 1 ICs with a VWF sequence variation was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than those with normal VWF sequence. More than 20 years ago, we demonstrated that besides blood type, age had the most significant effect on level of VWF in normal blood donors. We evaluated the VWF:Ag levels in our 247 NCs and VWF:Ag levels rose about 5% for each 10 years of age from age 20 to 60. In VWD it is not known if a similar process results in reduced bleeding symptoms with age or if this increase is related to the aging process or progressive vascular pathology. Stress is a significant confounding variable in the hemostatic evaluation of children – particularly for the diagnosis of VWD, but the effect of aging has not been defined. We therefore have demonstrated that the diagnosis of VWD was not consistently substantiated in a large group of patients diagnosed with VWD – particularly if using the VWF levels recommended by the NHLBI Guidelines. Historic VWF levels do not correlate with current levels of VWF. Moreover, 35% of these VWD subjects do not have evidence even of reduced VWF levels upon retesting. A number of questions remain. Are the NHLBI recommendations too strict? Is there an effect of aging on the normal level of VWF that affects the correct diagnosis of VWD? Will more rigid initial diagnostic testing improve the fidelity of the diagnosis of VWD? Is the diagnosis of VWD applied to a group of individuals with clinical bleeding with only some of these being associated with low VWF? Further longitudinal study of these VWD subjects is important. In those with significant clinical bleeding, other hemostatic abnormalities must be sought. The fidelity of the diagnosis of VWD needs improvement. Disclosures: Montgomery: GTI Diagnostics: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Biogen IDEC: Honoraria; Bayer: Consultancy; Baxter: Consultancy.

Abstract Purpose: To examine cancer-related follow-up (CRFU) health care utilization associated with fertility experiences among diverse adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Methods: Project Milestones is an ongoing survey study evaluating life outcomes among AYAs diagnosed with cancer at age 21-39 in Los Angeles (LA) County. AYAs had an initial 5-year survival probability of ≥50% and are currently 3-10 years post-diagnosis. A registry-based recruitment strategy through the SEER-affiliated LA Cancer Surveillance Program was used. Results: Overall, 1442 AYAs responded (Table 1). Compared to AYAs who did not, AYAs who saw: (1) their treating provider for CRFU were more likely to report a fertility discussion (56.0% vs. 41.2%, p&lt;.01); (2) another provider for CRFU were less likely to report a fertility discussion (38.1% vs. 52.0%, p&lt;.01); (3) their treating provider for CRFU were more likely to report preserving fertility (14.7% vs. 8.4%, p&lt;.01); (4) a primary care provider for CRFU were less likely to report preserving fertility (10.1% vs. 13.6% p&lt;.05). Compared with AYAs who reported a CRFU visit 1+ years ago or never, AYAs with a visit &lt;1 year ago: (1) had on average greater reproductive concerns (range 5-25, higher scores reflect greater concern, 13.8 vs. 13.4, p&lt;.05); and were more likely to report (2) worry passing on a genetic risk for cancer to their child (55.6% vs. 47.8%, p&lt;.01); and (3) caution about having children because they may not be around to raise them (23.6% vs. 16.6%, p&lt;.01). Discussion: Iatrogenic infertility concerns persistent into survivorship, yielding a need to optimize oncofertility care throughout the reproductive lifespan. Receiving CRFU care from the treating provider is related to better outcomes, and higher reproductive concerns among AYAs with a recent visit may reflect greater awareness of risk due to more points of contact with a provider. Table 1: Sample characteristics - N (%) or M (SD) Total Hispanic Non-Hispanic 1442 622 (43.1) 820 (56.9) Age at survey 39.5 (5.8) 39.3 (5.8) 39.6 (5.7) Female 1007 (69.8) 429 (69.0) 578 (70.5) White 850 (62.4) 301 (55.0) 549 (67.3) Had employee-sponsored insurance 909 (63.0) 347 (55.8) 562 (68.5) Age at diagnosis 31.0 (5.2) 30.8 (5.2) 31.2 (5.1) Cancer type Leukemia/Lymphoma 396 (27.5) 173 (27.8) 223 (27.2) Reproductive 382 (26.5) 208 (33.4) 174 (21.2) Thyroid 184 (12.8) 86 (13.8) 98 (12.0) Breast 179 (12.4) 61 (9.8) 118 (14.4) Skin 130 (9.0) 21 (3.4) 109 (13.3) Colorectal 86 (6.0) 35 (5.6) 51 (6.2) Other 85 (5.9) 38 (6.1) 47 (5.7) Discussed fertility 717 (50.3) 327 (53.4) 390 (48.0) Preserved fertility 176 (12.3) 48 (7.8) 128 (15.7) Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC) score 14.1 (3.9) 14.3 (4.2) 14.0 (3.8) Last visit with a health care provider for cancer related follow-up care Within the past year 862 (60.3) 343 (56.2) 519 (63.4) 1-2 years ago 218 (15.3) 90 (14.8) 128 (15.6) More than 2 years ago 303 (21.2) 152 (24.9) 151 (18.4) Never 46 (3.2) 25 (4.1) 21 (2.6) Provider seen for cancer related follow-up care Same doctor who treated me 885 (61.4) 369 (59.3) 516 (62.9) Primary care provider 539 (37.4) 224 (36.0) 315 (38.4) Another type of provider 179 (12.4) 65 (10.5) 114 (13.9) Cancer survivorship clinic 88 (6.1) 46 (7.4) 42 (5.1) Citation Format: Julia Stal, Kimberly A. Miller, Joel E. Milam, Molly Quinn, Sue E. Kim, Rachel C. Ceasar, David R. Freyer. Cancer-related follow-up health care utilization and fertility discussion, preservation, and reproductive concerns among diverse adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A population-based study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2253.

Abstract Background: Medical financial hardship, encompassing material, behavioral, and psychologic domains, is becoming an increasingly common consequence of illness in cancer patients. Identifying at-risk patients is the first step to develop proactive approaches to mitigate this problem. To try and address this need, Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR) is prospectively collecting data about financial concerns in addition to the usual sociodemographic and clinical information. Methods: We used data from Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry, a prospective cohort of consenting patients seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester within one year of initial breast cancer diagnosis. Participants completed baseline and annual follow-up surveys rating their financial concerns on a linear analogue scale from 0 (“none”) to 10 (“constant concerns”). We compared patient-reported financial concern at baseline to that on each patient’s most recent survey, with worsening concerns defined as a 1+-point increase. Logistic regression evaluated for predictors of worsening financial concerns. Results: 1,957 participants responded to financial concern questions on a baseline and at least one follow-up survey between 2015 and 2020. Mean age was 58.5 years (SD 12.5), and mean time between diagnosis and the most recent follow-up was 25.6 months (SD 16.2). 357 (18.2%) reported worsening financial concerns. Only lower baseline financial status was associated with a greater likelihood of worsening financial concerns (see Table). Conclusions: More than one in seven breast cancer survivors develop worsening financial concerns within 5-years of diagnosis, and those with less financial security at baseline appear to be most vulnerable. Funding: Breast Cancer Research Foundation (CLL) and NR015259 (KJR). Patient and tumor characteristics, compared by whether financial status worsened over time Full Cohort (n=1957) Worsening, ≥ 1-point change (n=357) Stable/Improved (n=1600) p value Full Cohort (n=1957) Worsening, ≥ 1-point change (n=357) Stable/Improved (n=1600) p value Age at diagnosis II or III 502 (25.7%) 98 (27.5%) 404 (25.3%) 0.239 ≤ 50 546 (27.9%) 105 (29.4%) 441 (27.6%) IV 67 (3.4%) 17 (4.8%) 50 (3.1%) 0.086 51-64 757 (38.7%) 136 (38.1%) 621 (38.8%) 0.562 Unknown 351 (17.9%) 65 (18.2%) 286 (17.9%) 0.536 ≥65 654 (33.4%) 116 (32.5%) 538 (33.6%) 0.506 ER and/or PR positive Race No/Unknown 482 (24.6%) 92 (25.8%) 390 (24.4%) White 1863 (95.2%) 337 (94.4%) 1526 (95.4%) Yes 1475 (75.4%) 265 (74.2%) 1210 (75.6%) 0.580 Non-white 24 (1.2%) 5 (1.4%) 19 (1.2%) 0.729 Her2 positive Other/Unknown/Choose not to respond 70 (3.6%) 15 (4.2%) 55 (3.4%) 0.478 No/Unknown 1746 (89.2%) 314 (88.0%) 1432 (89.5%) Educational status Yes 176 (9.0%) 37 (10.4%) 139 (8.7%) 0.321 Less than bachelor’s degree 880 (45.0%) 168 (47.1%) 712 (44.5%) Borderline 35 (1.8%) 6 (1.7%) 29 (1.8%) 0.898 Bachelor's degree or higher 1065 (54.4%) 187 (52.4%) 878 (54.9%) 0.384 Radiation Unknown 12 (0.6%) 2 (0.6%) 10 (0.6%) 0.832 No/Unknown 781 (39.9%) 140 (39.2%) 641 (40.1%) Financial status near time of diagnosis Yes 1176 (60.1%) 217 (60.8%) 959 (59.9%) 0.768 Pay bills, money for special things 1412 (72.2%) 244 (68.3%) 1168 (73.0%) Chemotherapy/targeted therapy Pay bills, no money for special things 367 (18.8%) 80 (22.4%) 287 (17.9%) 0.046 No/Unknown 1264 (64.6%) 221 (61.9%) 1043 (65.2%) Pay bills by making cuts 102 (5.2%) 19 (5.3%) 83 (5.2%) 0.729 Yes 693 (35.4%) 136 (38.1%) 557 (34.8%) 0.241 Unable to pay bills 56 (2.9%) 10 (2.8%) 46 (2.9%) 0.911 Hormone/endocrine therapy Unknown 20 (1.0%) 4 (1.1%) 16 (1.0%) 0.750 No/Unknown 710 (36.3%) 141 (39.5%) 569 (35.6%) Employment status at time of diagnosis Yes 1247 (63.7%) 216 (60.5%) 1031 (64.4%) 0.163 Employed full-time 462 (23.6%) 83 (23.2%) 379 (23.7%) Surgery type Employed part-time/unemployed/retired 525 (26.8%) 92 (25.8%) 433 (27.1%) 0.856 Lumpectomy 846 (43.2%) 145 (40.6%) 701 (43.8%) Not available 970 (49.6%) 182 (51.0%) 788 (49.3%) 0.716 Mastectomy 903 (46.1%) 165 (46.2%) 738 (46.1%) 0.535 Stage at time of diagnosis None/Unknown 208 (10.6%) 47 (13.2%) 161 (10.1%) 0.069 0 or I 1037 (53.0%) 177 (49.6%) 860 (53.8%) Citation Format: Michael H. Storandt, Urshila Durani, Daniela Stan, Nicole Larson, Charles Loprinzi, Fergus Couch, Janet E. Olson, Nandita Khera, Kathryn J. Ruddy. Financial hardship in breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1012.

Langston, Nancy. 2017. Sustaining Lake Superior: An Extraordinary Lake in a Changing World. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 292 pp. ISBN 978-0-300-21298-3.Moore, Margaret. 2019. Who Should Own Natural Resources? Cambridge, MA: Polity Press. 140 pp. ISBN 978-1-509-52916-2.Middleton Manning, Beth Rose. 2018. Upstream: Trust Lands and Power on the Feather River. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. 244 pp. ISBN 978-0-8165-3514-9.Van de Graaf, Thijs, and Benjamin K. Sovacool. 2020. Global Energy Politics. Cambridge: Polity Press. ISBN 978-1-5095-3048-9.Wapner, Paul. 2020. Is Wildness Over? Cambridge, MA: Polity Press. ISBN 978-1-5095-3212-4.DeSombre, Elizabeth R. 2020. What Is Environmental Politics? Cambridge: Polity Press. 202 pp. ISBN 978-1-5095-3413-5.Ptáčková, Jarmila. 2020. Exile from Grasslands: Tibetan Herders and Chinese Development Projects. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN: 9 78-0-295-74819-1.Liegey, Vincent, and Anitra Nelson. 2020. Exploring Degrowth: A Critical Guide. London: Pluto Press. 224 pp. ISBN 978-0-7453-4201-6.Behringer, Wolfgang. 2019. Tambora and the Year without a Summer: How a Volcano Plunged the World into Crisis. Medford, MA: Polity Press. 334 pp. ISBN 978-1-509-52549-2.Duvall, Chris S. 2019. The African Roots of Marijuana. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 351 pp. ISBN 978-1-4780-0394-6.

<P>Background: Obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes and prolonged hospitalization following conventional coronary artery bypass (CAB). For this reason and because of increased technical challenges, obesity has been considered a relative contraindication for minimally invasive bypass. The purpose of this study was to determine if in fact severe or morbid obesity is an independent risk factor for patients undergoing minimally invasive CAB. </P><P>Methods: Outcome data of 350 consecutive endoscopic, atraumatic CAB procedures performed at our institution over a 4-year period were reviewed with respect to patient body mass index (BMI). All operations consisted of thoracoscopic left or right internal mammary artery (IMA) harvesting followed by off-pump grafting of the left anterior descending (with/without diagonal coronary artery) or right coronary artery via a 4-cm thoracotomy. Patients were divided into 4 groups: small (BMI � 24 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP>), normal to mild obesity (24 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> < BMI 34 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP>), severe obesity (34 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> < BMI � 40 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP>), and morbid obesity (BMI >40 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP>). Results: Although the BMI >34 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> groups had a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, there was no statistical difference in operative risk between groups. Thirty-day mortality, conversion to sternotomy, transfusion rate, and wound, pulmonary, neurological, and myocardial complications were not significantly different between groups. The BMI >34 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> patients required longer IMA harvest times and total operating times, but the intensive care unit length of stay was not significantly different between groups. Hospital length of stay was longer for the BMI � 24 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> group than for the BMI 18 to 34 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> group (P = .025). Conclusion: Despite increased technical difficulty caused by obesity, it is not an independent risk factor for patients undergoing minimally invasive CAB.</P>

La resistencia a compresión axial influye en distintas etapas del proceso de producción de semillas, lo que incluye la selección de progenitores, acondicionamiento y almacenaje, además del diseño de maquinaria y de las operaciones. En este estudio, realizado en 2013 en el laboratorio de materiales de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Estado de México, se determinó la fuerza y deformación en los puntos de límite proporcional (LL), biocedencia (Y) y ruptura (R) de la semilla del híbrido de maíz (Zea mays L.) HS-2 de los estratos apical, medio y basal de la mazorca con humedades de 10 y 23 % sometidas a compresión axial. Para ello, las semillas se comprimieron en una máquina universal de ensaye entre superficies planas y pulidas. Las semillas del estrato medio estudiadas a 10 % de humedad, fueron más resistentes a la carga axial (LL = 301 N, Y = 434 N y R = 344 N) que las correspondientes a los estratos apical y basal (LL = 258 y 238 N, Y = 345 y 341 N, y R = 248 y 246 N, respectivamente). Semillas con 23 % de humedad presentaron mayor resistencia a la compresión que semillas con humedad de 10 % (LL = 429 vs. 301 N, Y = 598 vs. 434 N, y R = 568 vs. 344 N, respectivamente), además de una mayor elasticidad (LL = 0.827 vs. 0.215 mm) y desplazamiento en general (Y = 1.165 vs. 0.303 mm, y R = 1.215 vs. 0.341 mm, respectivamente).

Viral testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), particularly early in the COVID-19 pandemic, was limited by supply of reagents. We pooled nasopharyngeal samples from patients at low risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in groups of 3 for testing. Three weeks of testing using this strategy resulted in 530 patient tests in 179 cartridges; 4 positive test groups required the use of 11 additional cartridges with an overall positive rate of 0.8% in a low-risk population. This strategy resulted in the use of 340 fewer cartridges than if each test were performed on one patient sample. Pooled testing of lowrisk populations allows for continued testing even when supplies are relatively scarce. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2020;15:538-539. © Society of Hospital Medicine

Background and Objective: Obstetric fistula affects approximately 2 million women worldwide, predominantly in places with a high Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) burden. In Malawi, where thousands of women live with fistulas, HIV prevalence is 11-13%. Although repair is usually successful, surgical outcomes among immunocompromised women are poorly understood. Inconsistent guidelines regarding the Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) threshold necessary for repair make it difficult for surgeons to make informed decisions. This study compares the postoperative outcomes of women undergoing obstetric fistula repair with and without HIV, stratified by CD4 count. Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study using a database of women who underwent vesicovaginal fistula repair at the Fistula Care Center from 2010-2018. HIV-positive participants, stratified by CD4<350 and CD4>350, were matched to HIV-negative controls by age within 5 years and Goh classification. Controls were matched to cases in a 3:1 ratio. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were conducted on indicators based on HIV status and CD4 count stratification. Outcomes included dye test results, pad weights, and continence status at 2 weeks post-repair. Results: 54 seropositive women were matched to 135 seronegative women. Of the 54 HIV positive women, 22.2% (n=12) had a CD4 count < 350. We found no statistically significant difference in surgical outcomes between HIV-positive and negative patients. 93.5% of HIV positive and 90% of HIV negative women healed completely. In our sub-analysis of 12 seropositive women with CD4<350, we found a statically significant difference in successful closure, with 25% of women with CD4<350 having a positive dye test indicating incomplete closure, compared to 2.8% of women with CD4>350 (p=0.024). Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Our analysis confirms previous research indicating that seropositive women with a CD4>350 can safely undergo obstetric fistula repair. Further research is needed to evaluate postoperative outcomes among women with CD4<350. Copyright © 2021 Ganesh et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o potencial de multiplicação in vitro de dez cultivares de morangueiro: Aromas, Bürkley, Camarosa, Campinas, Dover, Milsei-Tudla, Oso Grande, Santa Clara, Sweet Charlie e Vila Nova. Utilizou-se protocolo similar ao dos laboratórios comerciais. A desinfestação dos estolões foi realizada em soluções à base de álcool e hipoclorito de sódio; a cultura dos meristemas em meio semi-sólido MS com 1 mg L-1 BAP, 0,01 mg L-1 ANA e 0,1 mg L-1 AG3; e a multiplicação em meio MS com 1 mg L-1 BAP, à 25 ± 4ºC, 20 µE m-2 s-1 e fotoperíodo de 16 horas. Partiu-se de 10 meristemas de cada cultivar, avaliando-se a taxa de multiplicação e os níveis de contaminação, vitrificação e oxidação durante as fases de estabelecimento (30 dias) e de multiplicação (quatro subcultivos). O número estimado de plântulas obtidas por meristema foi: 559 de 'Aromas'; 569 de 'Bürkley'; 516 de 'Camarosa'; 517 de 'Campinas'; 3.907 de 'Dover'; 1.841 de 'Milsei-Tudla'; 943 de 'Oso Grande'; 350 de 'Santa Clara'; 298 de 'Sweet Charlie', e 1.132 de 'Vila Nova'. A quantificação dessa variabilidade genética é importante para o planejamento da produção de matrizes de cada cultivar nos laboratórios de micropropagação.

Abstract. The filamentous and diazotrophic cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena plays a major role in the productivity of the Baltic Sea as it forms extensive blooms regularly. Under phosphorus limiting conditions Nodularia spumigena have a high enzyme affinity for dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) by production and release of alkaline phosphatase. Additionally, they are able to degrade proteinaceous compounds by expressing the extracellular enzyme leucine aminopeptidase. As atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing, we expect marine phytoplankton to experience changes in several environmental parameters, including pH, temperature, and nutrient availability. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of CO2-induced changes in seawater carbonate chemistry and of phosphate deficiency on the exudation of organic matter, and its subsequent recycling by extracellular enzymes in a Nodularia spumigena culture. Batch cultures of Nodularia spumigena were grown for 15 days under aeration with low (180 μatm), medium (380 μatm), and high (780 μatm) CO2 concentrations. Obtained pCO2 levels in the treatments were on median 315, 353, and 548 μatm CO2, respectively. Extracellular enzyme activities as well as changes in organic and inorganic compound concentrations were monitored. CO2 treatment–related effects were identified for cyanobacterial growth, which in turn influenced the concentration of mucinous substances and the recycling of organic matter by extracellular enzymes. Biomass production was increased by 56.5% and 90.7% in the medium and high pCO2 treatment, respectively, compared to the low pCO2 treatment. In total, significantly more mucinous substances accumulated in the high pCO2 treatment, reaching 363 μg Xeq L−1 compared to 269 μg Xeq L−1 in the low pCO2 treatment. However, cell-specific rates did not change. After phosphate depletion, the acquisition of P from DOP by alkaline phosphatase was significantly enhanced. Alkaline phosphatase activities were increased by factor 1.64 and 2.25, respectively, in the medium and high compared to the low pCO2 treatment. We hypothesise from our results that Nodularia spumigena can grow faster under elevated pCO2 by enhancing the recycling of organic matter to acquire nutrients.

Divestment is a socially responsible investing tactic to remove assets from a sector or industry based on moral objections to its business practices. It has historical roots in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The early-21st-century fossil fuel divestment movement began with climate activist and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben’s Rolling Stone article, “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math.” McKibben’s argument centers on three numbers. The first is 2°C, the international target for limiting global warming that was agreed upon at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2009 Copenhagen conference of parties (COP). The second is 565 Gigatons, the estimated upper limit of carbon dioxide that the world population can put into the atmosphere and reasonably expect to stay below 2°C. The third number is 2,795 Gigatons, which is the amount of proven fossil fuel reserves. That the amount of proven reserves is five times that which is allowable within the 2°C limit forms the basis for calls to divest.The aggregation of individual divestment campaigns constitutes a movement with shared goals. Divestment can also function as “tactic” to indirectly apply pressure to targets of a movement, such as in the case of the movement to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline in the United States. Since 2012, the fossil fuel divestment movement has been gaining traction, first in the United States and United Kingdom, with student-led organizing focused on pressuring universities to divest endowment assets on moral grounds.In partnership with 350.org, The Guardian launched its Keep it in the Ground campaign in March 2015 at the behest of outgoing editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger. Within its first year, the digital campaign garnered support from more than a quarter-million online petitioners and won a “campaign of the year” award in the Press Gazette’s British Journalism Awards. Since the launch of The Guardian’s campaign, “keep it in the ground” has become a dominant frame used by fossil fuel divestment activists.Divestment campaigns seek to stigmatize the fossil fuel industry. The rationale for divestment rests on the idea that fossil fuel companies are financially valued based on their resource reserves and will not be able to extract these reserves with a 2°C or lower climate target. Thus, their valuation will be reduced and the financial holdings become “stranded assets.” Critics of divestment have cited the costs and risks to institutional endowments that divestment would entail, arguing that to divest would go against their fiduciary responsibility. Critics have also argued that divesting from fossil fuel assets would have little or no impact on the industry. Some higher education institutions, including Princeton and Harvard, have objected to divestment as a politicization of their endowments. Divestment advocates have responded to this concern by pointing out that not divesting is not a politically neutral act—it is, in fact, choosing the side of fossil fuel corporations.

This chapter provides an overview of drug use in prison. It is centered on illicit drug use in Europe, where the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has been collecting aggregated data from various sources for 15 years. It also reviews, based on published literature, data from the four other global regions. A total of 59 studies from 31 countries in the five world regions were included for analysis. Results show that the prevalence of drug use varies greatly between studies. Lifetime prevalence of any illicit drug use in prison ranges between 2% to 76% worldwide with, in most cases, cannabis being the most frequently reported substance. More recent (past-month) illicit drug use is reported by <1% to 65% of inmates, while <1% to 39% report injecting illicit drugs during their stay in prison. Alcohol use in prison is reported in a few studies only, varying between 2% to 77% while the prevalence of current tobacco smoking ranges between 4% to 90%. In general, available data are scarce and patchy, especially outside Europe, with large variations in methodology relating to sampling strategy and measurement. This heterogeneity hampers comparison and may, in part, account for the wide range of prevalence estimates. Comparable methods and measures of drug use and its consequences in prison populations are needed to facilitate international comparisons and provide the sound information needed for development and implementation of drug interventions in various prison settings across the globe.

Hayes and Williams’ Family Law, now in its sixth edition, provides critical and case-focused discussion of the key legislation and debates affecting adults and children. The volume takes a critical approach to the subject and includes ‘talking points’ and focused ‘discussion questions’ throughout each chapter which highlight areas of debate or controversy. The introductory chapter within this edition provides a discussion of the law’s understanding of ‘family’ and the extent to which this has changed over time, a detailed overview of the meaning of private and family life within Article 8 of the ECHR, and a discussion of the Family Justice Review and subsequent developments. Part 1 of this edition, supplemented by the ‘Latest Developments’ section, outlines the most up-to-date statistics on the incidence of marriage, civil partnerships and divorce, discusses recent case law on the validity of marriage such as Hayatleh v Mofdy [2017] EWCA Civ 70 and K v K (Nullity: Bigamous Marriage) [2016] EWHC 3380 (Fam), and highlights the recent Supreme Court decision (In the Matter of an Application by Denise Brewster for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) [2017] 1 WLR 519) on the pension rights of unmarried cohabitants. It also considers the litigation concerning the prohibition of opposite-sex civil partnership registration from the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Steinfeld and Keidan v Secretary of State for Education [2017] EWCA Civ 81 to the important decision of the Supreme Court in R (on the application of Steinfeld and Keidan) (Application) v Secretary of State for International Development (in substitution for the Home Secretary and the Education Secretary) [2018] UKSC 32. This edition also provides an in-depth discussion of the recent Supreme Court decision in Owens v Owens [2018] UKSC 41 regarding the grounds for divorce and includes discussion of Thakkar v Thakkar [2016] EWHC 2488 (Fam) on the divorce procedure. Further, this edition also considers the flurry of cases in the area of financial provision on divorce such as Waggott v Waggott [2018] EWCA Civ 722; TAB v FC (Short Marriage: Needs: Stockpiling) [2016] EWHC 3285; FF v KF [2017] EWHC 1903 (Fam); BD v FD (Financial Remedies: Needs) [2016] EWHC 594 (Fam); Juffali v Juffali [2016] EWHC 1684 (Fam); AAZ v BBZ [2016] EWHC 3234 (Fam); Scatliffe v Scatliffe [2016] UKPC 36; WM v HM [2017] EWFC 25; Hart v Hart [2017] EWCA Civ 1306; Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408; Work v Gray [2017] EWCA Civ 270, and Birch v Birch [2017] UKSC 53. It also considers the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Mills v Mills [2018] UKSC 38 concerning post-divorce maintenance obligations between former partners, and the Privy Council decision in Marr v Collie [2017] UKPC 17 relating to the joint name purchase by a cohabiting couple of investment property.Part 2 focuses on child law, examining the law on parenthood and parental responsibility, including the parental child support obligation. This edition includes discussion of new case law on provision of child maintenance by way of global financial orders (AB v CD (Jurisdiction: Global Maintenance Orders)[2017] EWHC 3164), new case law and legislative/policy developments on section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (parental orders transferring legal parenthood in surrogacy arrangements), and new cases on removing and restricting parental responsibility (Re A and B (Children: Restrictions on Parental Responsibility: Radicalisation and Extremism) [2016] EWFC 40 and Re B and C (Change of Names: Parental Responsibility: Evidence) [2017] EWHC 3250 (Fam)). Orders regulating the exercise of parental responsibility are also examined, and this edition updates the discussion with an account of the new Practice Direction 12J (on contact and domestic abuse), and controversial case law addressing the tension between the paramountcy of the child’s welfare and the protected interests of a parent in the context of a transgender father’s application for contact with his children (Re M (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 2164). Part 2 also examines the issue of international child abduction, including in this edition the Supreme Court’s latest decision, on the issue of repudiatory retention (Re C (Children) [2018] UKSC 8). In the public law, this edition discusses the Supreme Court’s clarification of the nature and scope of local authority accommodation under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (Williams v London Borough of Hackney [2018] UKSC 37). In the law of adoption, several new cases involving children who have been relinquished by parents for adoption are examined (Re JL & AO (Babies Relinquished for Adoption),[2016] EWHC 440 (Fam) and see also Re M and N (Twins: Relinquished Babies: Parentage) [2017] EWFC 31, Re TJ (Relinquished Baby: Sibling Contact) [2017] EWFC 6, and Re RA (Baby Relinquished for Adoption: Final Hearing)) [2016] EWFC 47).

Abstract Skull, clavicles, vertebrae, upper limbs (ulnae, radius). Formerly London, Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. Present location unknown. E. W. A. H. Jones, J. of Anat. 66 (1932), 569-73 (achondroplasia); G. Brunton, Mostagedda and the Tasian Culture (London, 1937), 42 (‘Upper part of a male dwarf’); A. Bley er, Ann. Med. Hist. 2 (1940), 306 (achondroplasia); Ortner/Putschar, Pathological Conditions, 331.

Abstract Judging from the Greek sources the wealth of Achaemenid royal women was well known. Herodotus recalls that the Egyptian town Anthylla provided the king’s wife with shoes (2. 98. r). In Alcibiades l Plato refers to the vast amount of property owned by the mother of the Persian king, Amestris (Ale. l r21c-123cd). Xenophon mentions the estates of Parysatis in Syria from which she supplied the rebellious troops of her son Cyrus in his revolt against Artaxerxes II (an. I. 4. 9). It was also known that Parysatis owned villages in Media (an. 2. 4. 27; Lewis 1977: 22 and n. u3). Accordingly we have to assume that the peasants and craftsmen of these villages were officially in Parysatis’ service. When Parysatis was banned from the Persian court and moved lo Babylon, she presumably took up residence on her estates (Plut. Art. 19. 10).

Abstract Any discussion of the marriage alliances of the Achaemenid royal house must examine the questions whether Achaemenid kings practised polygamy and to what extent they permitted next-of-kin marriages. Polygamy and certain kinds of incestuous marriages were unacceptable in Greek society. The Greeks noticed that the Persian royal family appeared to engage in both and described these practices to emphasize the monstrosity of the Persian king, his decadence, and his domination by women. What seems to have been less well understood by Greek writers were the political motivations that underlay these practices. Both polygamy and en dogamic marriages are excellent tools to help concentrate and preserve power; they restrict the families from which a royal wife can be selected, and help to secure male offspring (XPf 28-32; Young 1988b: 71-2; Burn 1984: 277-8).

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, with the management of vulnerable patient populations, such as those with rheumatic diseases (RD), being of particular concern. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on patients with RD, focusing on disease course, vaccination, and the effect of concomitant therapy. The results of the study indicate that low activity of inflammatory arthritis (IA) or remission may serve as a reliable predictor of COVID-19 course and outcomes, with 56.3% of such patients exhibiting a mild infection course. Synthetic disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs), including both biological and targeted agents, may be useful in achieving this goal. Clinical manifestations in patients with low IA activity differed from those in the control group, with a lower incidence of fever above 38 ºС (OR 2.84; 95% CI 1.24 – 6.51) and a higher frequency of myalgia (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17 – 0.89). All other symptoms occurred with the same frequency. The use of the vitamin D3 prescription scheme proposed in the I-PREVENT: COVID PROTECTION PROTOCOL – FLCCC protocol may also be effective in reducing COVID-19 symptom duration (from 41.7 ± 11.4 days to 32.4 ± 9.6 days, p = 0.04) and leads to a greater decrease in the level of interleukin-6 (18.2 ± 5.9 pg/ml vs 23.7 ± 7.2 pg/ml) in the course of the treatment and increasing the level of IL-4 (2.74 ± 0.83 pg/ml vs 2.33 ± 0.61 pg/ml), which is considered a positive marker. Vaccination against COVID-19 infection is safe for patients with RD and results in immune response formation, albeit less pronounced than in healthy individuals (360 ± 110 BAU/ml vs 470 ± 150 BAU/ml, p=0.01, reference values – 10 BAU/ml). Notably, patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) with general suppression of the humoral response, exhibited the highest production of IgG class antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein when treated with the DMARD sulfasalazine: 566 ± 159 BAU/ml vs 321 ± 98 BAU/ml in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor group, p<0.0001 and vs 354 ± 102 BAU/ml in the methotrexate group, p=0.0036. No effect of vitamin D3 intake on the production of IgG antibodies to the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was observed in patients with RD. Ultimately, the optimal management of patients with RD during the COVID-19 pandemic involves achieving disease remission as the primary goal.

Abstract The earliest evidence of Man in the north-west region of the American continent is thought to come from the Old Crow Flats site in north-west Yukon where bones said to be associated with stone artefacts have been dated to c.29,000 BC (Klein, 1980: 95): this claim has frequently been challenged, as has the date of another early site in North America, the Meadow-croft Rock shelter (Adovasio, Donahue, and Stukenrath, 1990). The traditional view is that it was not until the Canadian ice sheets began to melt, some time after 18,000 BP (a time of lowest sea levels) that Man could spread from this north-western region eastwards and southwards (Fig. n.2). Dates from excavations in other parts of the Americas appear to support this late date: mid-tenth millennium BC for Chile; the southern tip of South America in the mid-ninth millennium BC; the Arctic regions from c.9000 BC (G. Clark, 1977: 353; Street, 1980: 56); and Greenland from c.2000 BC (McGhee, 1993).

ABSTRACT The Baie Verte Line in western Newfoundland marks a suture zone between (1) an upper plate represented by suprasubduction zone oceanic crust (Baie Verte oceanic tract) and the trailing continental Notre Dame arc, with related upper-plate rocks built upon the Dashwoods terrane; and (2) a lower plate of Laurentian margin metasedimentary rocks with an adjoining ocean-continent transition zone (Birchy Complex). The Baie Verte oceanic tract formed during closure of the Taconic seaway in a forearc position and started to be obducted onto the Laurentian margin between ca. 485 and 476 Ma (early Taconic event), whereas the Birchy Complex, at the leading edge of the Laurentian margin, was subducted to maximum depths as calculated by pseudosection techniques (6.7–11.2 kbar, 315–560 °C) by ca. 467–460 Ma, during the culmination of the Taconic collision between the trailing Notre Dame arc and Laurentia, and it cooled isobarically to 9.2–10.0 kbar and 360–450 °C by 454–449 Ma (M1). This collisional wedge progressively incorporated upper-plate Baie Verte oceanic tract rocks, with remnants preserved in M1 high-pressure, low-temperature greenschist-facies rocks (4.8–8.0 kbar, 270–340 °C) recording typical low metamorphic gradients (10–14 °C/km). Subsequently, the early Taconic collisional wedge was redeformed and metamorphosed during the final stages of the Taconic cycle. We relate existing and new 40Ar/39Ar ages between 454 and 439 Ma to a late Taconic reactivation of the structurally weak suture zone. The Taconic wedge on both sides of the Baie Verte suture zone was subsequently strongly shortened (D2), metamorphosed (M2), and intruded by a voluminous suite of plutons during the Salinic orogenic cycle. Calculated low- to medium-pressure, low-temperature M2 conditions in the Baie Verte oceanic tract varied at 3.0–5.0 kbar and 275–340 °C, with increased metamorphic gradients of ~17–25 °C/km during activity of the Notre Dame arc, and correlate with M2 assemblages in the Birchy Complex. These conditions are associated with existing Salinic S2 white mica 40Ar/39Ar ages of ca. 432 Ma in a D2 transpressional shear zone and synkinematic intrusions of comparable age. A third metamorphic event (M3) was recorded during the Devonian with calculated low-pressure, low-temperature conditions of 3.2–3.8 kbar and 315–330 °C under the highest metamorphic gradients (23–30 °C/km) and associated with Devonian–early Carboniferous isotopic ages as young as 356 ± 5 Ma. The youngest ages are related to localized extension associated with a large-scale transtensional zone, which reused parts of the Baie Verte Line suture zone. Extension culminated in the formation of a Middle to Late Devonian Neoacadian metamorphic core complex in upper- and lower-plate rocks by reactivation of Baie Verte Line tectonites formed during the Taconic and Salinic cycles. The Baie Verte Line suture zone is a collisional complex subjected to repeated, episodic structural reactivation during the Late Ordovician Taconic 3, Silurian Salinic, and Early–Late Devonian Acadian/Neoacadian orogenic cycles. Deformation appears to have been progressively localized in major fault zones associated with earlier suturing. This emphasizes the importance of existing zones of structural weakness, where reactivation took place in the hinterland during successive collision events.

<em>Abstract.</em>—Potomac River Northern Snakehead <em>Channa argus </em>has been the subject of considerable study since discovery in 2004. As part of that study, they were sampled in Virginia Potomac River tributaries monthly from March through October, and otoliths were removed. Age and growth information indicated highly variable length at age and rapid growth in the first three years. Some individuals attained 381 mm total length by the end of the first year (age-0) and 559 mm by age-1. Although Northern Snakehead otoliths viewed in the transverse plane appeared to have distinct, narrow bands interpreted as annuli; it is important to have validation confirming the periodicity of the putative annuli, especially given the high variability in growth rates. Marginal increment analysis is one method that has traditionally been employed to confirm this assumption. Thus, a subset of Northern Snakehead otoliths (<em>n </em>= 200) were subjected to marginal increment analyses (ages 2–10). Differences in index of completion scores occurred among months (<EM>F</EM>_7,192 = 18.26, <EM>P </EM>< 0.001) but were lowest in July. We demonstrated Northern Snakehead produced a single annulus on sagittal otoliths that is first detectable during early summer in the Potomac River. As such, we recommend the use of otoliths for aging Northern Snakehead accurately to determine critical population characteristics such as recruitment, growth, and mortality.

Frank Glorius of the Universität Münster devised (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 12626) a catalyst for the enantioselective acylation of a cyclopropene 1 to the ketone 3. Geum-Sook Hwang of Chungnam National University and Do Hyun Ryu of Sungkyunkwan University effected (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 20708) the enantioselective addition of the diazo ester 5 to an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 4 to give the cyclopropane 6. We showed (J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 7614) that face-selective allylation of an α-iodo enone 7 followed by Suzuki coupling and oxy-Cope rearrangement delivered the cyclopentanone 9. Karl Anker Jørgensen of Aarhus University combined (Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 4790) two organocatalysts to effect the addition of 11 to an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 10, leading to the cyclopentenone 12. Tomislav Rovis of Colorado State University also used (Chem. Sci. 2011, 2, 1835) two organocatalysts to condense 13 with 14 to give the cyclopentanone 15. Gregory C. Fu, now at CalTech, found (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 12293) that both enantiomers of the racemic allene 16 combined with 17 to give the cyclopentene 18 in high ee. Piotr Kwiatkowski of the University of Warsaw found (Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 3624) that under elevated pressure (8–10 kbar), enantioselective conjugate addition of nitromethane proceeded well even with a β-substituted cyclohexenone 19. Marco Bella of the Università di Roma observed (Adv. Synth. Catal. 2011, 353, 2648) remarkable diastereoselectivity in the addition of the aldehyde 22 to an activated acceptor 21. Following the procedure of List, Jiong Yang of Texas A&M University cyclized (Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 5696) 24 to 25 in high ee. Bor-Cherng Hong of the National Chung Cheng University described (Synthesis 2011, 1887) the double Michael combination of 26 with 27 to give 28 in high ee. Observing a secondary 13C isotope effect only at the β-carbon of 30, Li Deng of Brandeis University concluded (Chem. Sci. 2011, 2, 1940) that the addition to 29 was stepwise, not concerted. In contrast, the cyclization of 32 to 33 reported (Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 3932) by Tadeusz F. Molinski of the University of California San Diego likely was concerted.

Nonlinear optical materials based on π-conjugated organic monomer and polymer materials have the potential to possess extremely large and fast nonlinear coefficients. The organic crystal (−)2-(α-methyl-benzylamino)-5-nitropyridine (MBA-NP) has attracted much interest because of its high optical damage threshold and extremely large χ(2). We report on the observation of nonlinear optical effect of parametric hyper-Raman scattering in an ultra thin MBA-NP crystal. The nonlinear spectrum under 1054 nm excitation from 300-600 nm indicated that there are four distinct maxima located at 527 nm, about 560 nm, 351 nm, and about 364 nm. The signal at 527 nm and 351 nm are the second and third harmonic generations, respectively. Two new features are located at about 560 nm and 364 nm, which are shifted by phonon frequency from second and third harmonic generation signals, respectively. These signals may be from the parametric generation of the pump laser and its Raman scattering. A parametric instability theory is extended to quantitatively explain these experimental results.

Laser-diode-pumped erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) have recently demonstrated all their potential for very long haul transmissions [1]. In-line EDFA application is clearly identified for long undersea links. However, repeaterless transmissions have many applications, especially over 250 km lengths. Compared to direct detection, heterodyne detection allows to achieve a very high receiver sensitivity, increasing the overall link budget [2], Optical amplifiers highly improve this budget, particularly by compensating for the insertion loss of the external phase modulator in DPSK systems. We report a 565 Mbit/s DPSK transmission experiment at 1.532 μm using an EDFA module at the emission, operating in gain saturation regime. Pumped by laser diodes, this optical post-amplifier delivers an amplified output power exceeding +13 dBm, leading to a repeaterless power budget of 62.9 dB. This gives the potentiality to design over 350 km repeaterless links by use of a pure silica core fiber.

ЦЕЛЬ: оценить частоту гипер- и гиподиагностики сердечной недостаточности (СН) у госпитализиро- ванных пациентов с сахарным диабетом 2 типа (СД2). МАТЕРИАЛЫ И МЕТОДЫ: в одноцентровое проспективное исследование (регистр) с 01.08.2018 по 31.01.2019гг. было включено 1008 пациентов, поступивших в городскую больницу. Ключевые критерии включения: СД2 в анамнезе, возраст ≥40 лет. Ключевые критерии исключения: любые другие нарушения углеводного обмена, возраст до 40 лет, острый коронарный синдром. Наличие СН в диагнозе при по- ступлении оценивали по следующим критериям: СН IIA-III стадии и не ниже II функционального класса по NYHA. Всем пациентам проводили стандартную эхокардиографию и оценку NT-proBNP через 1-3 дня после поступления. Диагноз СН устанавливался в соответствии с рекомендациями по СН (ESC, 2016г.). После обследования пациенты были разделены на подгруппы: «Подтвержденная СН» (СН была в диагнозе, ее наличие подтверждено), «Неподтвержденная СН» (СН была в диагнозе, ее наличие исключено), «Впервые диагностированная СН» (СН в диагнозе не было, ее наличие было подтверждено) и «Нет СН» (СН в диагнозе не было и она была исключена). Также были проанализировали причины госпитализаций. РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ: СН в диагнозе при поступлении была отражена у 68,8% (n=693) пациентов и, соответ- ственно, отсутствовала у 31,2% (n=315). В соответствии с рекомендациями ESC СН была диагностирована у 68,1% (n=686) и, соответственно, у 31,9% (n=322) – исключена. Таким образом, у 55,4% (n=558) наличие СН было подтверждено и у 18,5% (n=187) было подтверждено ее отсутствие. Наличие СН не было подтверж- дено у 13,4% (n=135) (гипердиагностика), а впервые она была диагностирована у 12,7% (n=128) пациентов (гиподиагностика). При анализе причин госпитализаций показано, что среди 35 пациентов, поступивших с декомпенсацией СН и сопутствующим СД2, у которых наличие СН не было подтверждено, 11 (31,4%) по- ступили с пароксизмом фибрилляции предсердий, 7 (20,0%) с обострением хронической обструктивной болезни легких, 6 (17,1%) с тромбоэмболией легочной артерии, 4 (11,4%) с пневмонией, 4 (11,4%) с хрони- ческой болезнью почек и 3 (8,7%) с неконтролируемой бронхиальной астмой. Среди пациентов, госпитали- зированных с гипергликемией (n=146), у 35 (27,3%) СН была диагностирована впервые (гиподиагностика), у 24 (17,8%) ее наличие не было подтверждено (гипердиагностика), а у 33 (5,9%) и 54 (28,9%) подтверждено ее наличие и отсутствие. ВЫВОДЫ: среди госпитализированных пациентов с СД2 наблюдается аналогичная частота гипер- и ги- подиагностики СН. Пациенты с впервые диагностированной СН чаще госпитализировались по причинам, не связанным с сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями (ССЗ) и чаще всего с гипергликемией. Больные с неподтвержденной СН – по причинам, связанным с ССЗ, при этом причиной госпитализации у четверти пациентов была декомпенсация СН.

We measured sensitivity to sinusoidal temporal modulation as a function of the relative phase of two equally luminant chromatic sources. We previously reported data for three observers at a range of temporal frequencies (OSA 1985); now we report data for a range of observers at a single temporal frequency. The stimuli were presented in a two-channel Maxwellian view system employing red (625-nm) and green (564-nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The two sources were matched by heterochromatic flicker photometry, and their mixture was metameric to ~600 nm. The radiance of the LEDs was controlled by computer-driven electronic circuitry that provided a linear response up to 900 td/LED. A 350 td, 2° test field was superimposed on 8°, 600-nm adapting fields of 100 and 1000 td. We measured modulation sensitivity to 6-Hz flicker for eighteen phases from 0° to 340° and computed an axis of symmetry. Color-normal males had phase axes in the range of 123–173° and 112–156° for adapting fields of 100 and 1000 td (that is, stimulus condition red-leads-green gives minimum sensitivity). In comparison, color-defective males had phase axes of 176–184°. We discuss the data in terms of cone density ratios.

Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) upsizing project has historically an effective tool to optimize oil production. As a mature field, SK field currently was producing with average 97% water cut. Most of the ESPs installed in SK field were designed to produce 1,000 to 2,500 BLPD. Meanwhile, the potential maximum liquid rate of some wells is much higher than the current ESP rate, ranging from 8,000 to 17,000 BLPD. The oil production can then potentially be increased 3 to 5 times higher by upsizing the ESP. Hence, the objective of this study is to accelerate oil recovery from un-optimum oil well. This optimization can be achieved in 2 ways, either drill new big bore well or optimize existing well. By optimizing existing wells through ESP upsizing pilot project, we can save estimated USD 1.5 MM compared to drill a new well. The ESP upsizing project is planned into 3 phases; phase-1 pilot (2 wells), phase-2 implementation (6 wells) and phase-3 full-scale (35 wells). SK-354 and SK-225 were selected for the pilot project and upsized using ESP pump with recommended operating range 3,500 – 10,500 BLPD at 60Hz. The reservoir simulation, fractional flow evaluation, production network modelling, well performance and nodal analysis were conducted prior phase-1 execution to increase project confident level. To operate these high-rate wells, some improvements in electrical system, flowline safety devices and well test procedure are also required. Therefore, multidiscipline team was involved in this project. The pilot project phase-1 has successfully executed and currently producing 476 BOPD from initial rate 80 BOPD without significantly increasing of water cut. Estimated cumulative oil gain of these wells are 567 MBO. The successful phase-1 ESP upsizing will unlock the potency of phase-2 and 3. Through maximizing liquid production and reducing number of active ESP wells, oil production is expected to increase with lower operating cost (by reducing well count). Estimated oil gain from phase-2 & 3 implementation is 4.93 MMBO.

Окислительный стресс - один из наиболее значимых факторов развития поздних осложнений сахар- ного диабета. Дистальная полинейропатия у больных сахарным диабетом 2 типа является распростра- ненным поздним осложнением данного заболевания и одной из главных причин развития язв на стопах. Дистальная диабетическая полинейропатия в ряде случаев развивается на более ранних сроках заболева- ния, чем другие осложнения сахарного диабета. В отличие от других хронических осложнений сахарного диабета (диабетическая нефропатия, ретинопатия), дистальная полинейропатия может проявляться вы- раженной клинической симптоматикой, например, болевым синдромом, что приводит к значительному ухудшению качества жизни пациентов с сахарным диабетом 2 типа. В связи с этим важное значение имеет раннее выявление и изучение дистальной диабетической полинейропатии на стадиях, при которых воз- можно проведение профилактических мероприятий и назначение эффективного лечения. ЦЕЛЬ: изучить состояние антиоксидантной защиты у больных сахарным диабетом 2 типа (СД2) с ран- ними стадиями дистальной диабетической полинейропатии (ДНП). МАТЕРИАЛЫ И МЕТОДЫ: включено 88 больных с СД2 и ДНП, мужчин – 38 (43,2%), женщин – 50 (56,8%); средний возраст больных 56±6,9 года; средняя продолжительность СД2 составила 10,1±3,1 (7-14 лет). Контрольная группа включала 39 больных с СД2 без признаков ДНП (по данным неврологического статуса) в возрастной группе 51-58 лет (средний возраст 54±2,9 года). Средняя продолжительность СД2 в группе контроля составила 7,5±1,6 (5-10 лет). Больные с сахарным диабетом 1 типа; онкологическими заболевания- ми; хроническими заболеваниями печени и почек с нарушением функции; аллергическими заболеваниями; беременностью не были включены. С целью оценки компенсации углеводного обмена исследовался уровень гликемии натощак, гликиро- ванный гемоглобин; неврологический статус был оценен по состоянию основных видов чувствительности (вибрационной, температурной, болевой и тактильной) и в количественном выражении (соответственно числу баллов шкалы Модифицированного Нейропатического Дисфункционального счета); антиоксидантная защита оценивалась по содержанию церулоплазмина (ЦП) сыворотки крови. РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ: у всех пациентов с СД2 и ДНП было выявлено достоверное повышение уровня ЦП до 42,9±1,7 мкг/100 мл (р<0,01) по сравнению с контрольной группой 30,6±1,9 (р<0,01), что свидетельствует об активации антиоксидантной защиты. ВЫВОДЫ: 1. У пациентов СД 2 при развитии ДНП значительно повышается содержание ЦП, что свидетельствует об активации антиоксидантной защиты. 2. Увеличение содержания эндогенных антиоксидантов у пациентов с СД2 и ДНП позволяет широко ис- пользовать для лечения дистальной диабетической полинейропатии препараты с антиоксидантной активностью.

The purpose of this paper is to report studies on agricultural residual biomass gasification to power cogeneration. The classification was determined by availability and feedstock for thermochemical conversion of waste materials of flower industry in Colombia. Firstly, it was made an inventory of the main species of flowers produced, they were evaluated from the point of view of energy proximate and ultimate analysis of the available biomass[1]–[4] [5]. As a result of this work, the waste types with higher residual biomass per unit area were classified, they generate on average 665.59 Kg/ha of dry residual biomass. The elemental analysis (CHON) was expressed to be: C:35,47%, H:4,50%, O:52,24 % and N:2,291% and a calorific value of 3248,30 cal/kg. Experimental tests were conducted in a gasification updraft reactor using air as gasifying agent, steam and a mixture of air and steam at 850°C. The yields and gas composition were analyzed, in this case the values of CO, H2, CO2, N2 and CH4 have been on average 21.9%, 44.8%, 24.4%, 5.9% and 3.1% respectively [1], [2], [4], [6]–[10]. With the experimental test data was fed zero dimensional model in Aspen Plus® software, which highlights that 20% of energy from biomass producer gas is carried to later becoming electricity, it concludes that for each kilogram of biomass with 11% humidity fed to the process will provide 0.66 kW of electric power to the motor generator.

Introdução: A gestação é um período de grandes transformações para as mulheres, sendo dinâmico nos seus aspectos fisiológicos, metabólicos e/ou nutricionais. Nesse sentido, devido à condição nutricional materna pré gestacional e o ganho de peso durante a gestação, os desfechos maternos e neonatais podem ser diversos. Objetivo: Avaliar os desfechos perinatais adversos relacionados a obesidade prévia e o ganho de peso excessivo na gestação. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, analítico e transversal, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2020. A amostra foi composta por puérperas .Os desfechos primários avaliados foram, via de parto, Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional (DMG), Doença Hipertensiva da Gestação (DHEG) e recém nascidos Grandes para Idade Gestacional (GIG). As puérperas foram divididas em quatro grupos, no que se refere ao IMC pré gestacional (Índice de Massa Corporal ≥30) e o ganho de peso excessivo na gestação. No cálculo de razão de chance (RC), utilizou-se o intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%, ajustando-se os fatores de confusão. Resultados: As puérperas foram classificadas em Grupo 1 - controle - não obesas com ganho de peso não excessivo (n=767/45,9%), Grupo 2 - obesas com ganho de peso não excessivo (n=192/11,5%), Grupo 3 - não obesas com ganho de peso excessivo (n=521/31,2%) e Grupo 4 - obesas com ganho de peso excessivo (n=190/11,3%). Observou-se que a via de parto não sofreu influência dos parâmetros analisados. As chances foram significativas de DMG nos grupos 2 com RC de 3,5 (IC95% 2,5-5,1) e grupo 4 com RC 1,9 (IC95% 1,3-2,9), de DHEG com RC de 2,1 (IC 95% 1,2 -3,7), RC 1,9 (IC95% 1,2-3,0), RC 3,6 (IC95% 2,2-5,9) e recém nascidos GIG com RC 1,9 (IC95% 1,2-3,1), RC 2,5 (IC95% 1,8-3,5) e RC 2,4 (IC95% 1,6-3,8), nos grupos 2, 3 e 4 respectivamente. Conclusão: A via de parto não foi influenciada pela obesidade ou ganho de peso excessivo. A chance de DMG foi maior nos grupos 2 e 4, enquanto DHEG e recém nascidos GIG foram maiores nos três grupos analisados.

Five-needle white pines (Family Pinaceae, Genus Pinus, Subgenus Strobus), and in particular whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), limber pine (P. flexilis), and foxtail pine (P. balfouriana) are foundation species in upper subalpine and treeline forests of several National Park Service Pacific West Region parks, including Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) and Yosemite National Park (YOSE). The Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program, in collaboration with the Klamath Network, Upper Columbia Basin Network, and Mojave Desert Network have implemented a joint long-term monitoring protocol to assess the current status and future trends in high elevation white pine communities. Key demographic parameters within white pine forest communities will be estimated by monitoring individual trees within permanent plots through time. This report documents the results of the 2021 field season, which was the eighth year of monitoring in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) and Yosemite National Park (YOSE). The 2021 goal was to complete the third full re-measure of the second of three rotating panels (Panel 2) for each species-park population: YOSE-whitebark pine, SEKI-whitebark pine, and SEKI-foxtail pine. Each panel consists of 12 permanent 50 x 50 m (2,500 m2) plots that were randomly selected for each of the three populations. The full sampling array thus includes a total of 36 whitebark pine plots in YOSE, 36 whitebark pine plots in SEKI, and 36 foxtail pine plots in SEKI. Data from plot surveys will be used to characterize white pine forest community dynamics in SEKI and YOSE, including changes in tree species composition, forest structure, forest health, and demographics. The first full measure of all Panel 2 plots was completed over two years in 2013-2014, then a full remeasure of both parks? whitebark pine Panel 2 was conducted in 2016, with 10 of 12 SEKI-foxtail plots sampled that year. A third remeasure of all Panel 2 plots was not possible in 2021 because a smaller crew size was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, the crew visited 37 sites, and sampled 31, during the 2021 field season. One plot in the YOSE whitebark pine frame was uninstalled before reading and one plot in the SEKI whitebark pine frame was uninstalled after reading, both for safety concerns. Four plots were not visited due to lack of capacity with the reduced crew size: one in each of the YOSE and SEKI whitebark frames, and three in the SEKI foxtail frame. A plot from Panel 3 in each of the parks? whitebark frames was measured, for a total of 11 plots measured in each whitebark pine frame. Nine plots were measured in the SEKI foxtail pine frame. Within the 31 plots completed, a total of 5,728 trees was measured. Species composition, forest structure, and factors affecting tree health and reproduction, including incidence and severity of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) infection, mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) infestation, dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.) infection, canopy kill, female cone production and regeneration were recorded. During the 2021 field season, crews continued to count the total number of mature cones per tree for whitebark and foxtail pine, use crown condition codes to assess crown health, and tag individual seedlings to be tracked through time. All three of these procedures started in 2017 and are to be evaluated by each of the three participating networks over several years, to determine whether they should become permanent changes to the monitoring protocol. In YOSE, 11 whitebark pine plots were re-measured, from Panels 2 and 3. A total of 2,810 trees were sampled, which included 586 live whitebark pine trees and 2,097 other live conifers. An additional 127 trees (including 17 whitebark pine) were recorded as dead. The forest crew noted little sign of white pine blister rust (WPBR) in Yosemite in 2021, and just a single inactive canker was observed on one whitebark pine in Panel 3, Plot 42, near Dana Meadows. This infection was new to plot 42, and it expands the total number of plots where white pine blister rust has been documented in Yosemite to six. The crew also noted little mountain pine beetle activity, documenting beetle galleries on 15 lodgepole pines in three Panel 2 plots. Dwarf mistletoe was not observed. The average number of live whitebark pine trees per plot was 53 (SD = 56). This was a low cone crop year for whitebark pine, with two percent of live whitebark pine trees producing female cones. Cone bearing trees averaged 2 (SD = 1) cones per tree. Whitebark pine seedling density averaged 90 (SD = 157) seedlings per hectare. The largest number of whitebark pine seedlings found in a plot was four, and three of the eleven plots contained whitebark seedlings. In SEKI, 10 of 12 Panel 2, and one Panel 3, whitebark pine plots were re-measured. Within these plots, 1,246 live whitebark pine, 30 live foxtail pine, and 861 other live conifers were sampled. WPBR was infrequently documented in the SEKI whitebark frame as well, with indicators of infection in Plot 31 near Window Creek and Plot 44 near Upper State Lake. These were the first infections documented in these plots, bringing the number of plots where WPBR has been documented in the SEKI whitebark panel to nine. Although WPBR was documented in Plot 27 near Charlotte Dome in 2016, it was not documented this year because putative cankers showing three signs of infection in 2016 showed only two or fewer signs in 2021. Mountain pine beetle activity was observed in one live lodgepole pine and two recently dead whitebark pine, within three plots in the SEKI whitebark sample frame. An exception to the low levels of mountain pine beetle activity was outside Plot 31 in the Window Creek area, where the forest crew noted many recently dead whitebark pine with signs of beetle activity. Dwarf mistletoe was not encountered. The average number of live whitebark pine trees per plot was 113 (SD = 86). Less than one percent of live whitebark pine trees produced female cones, each producing on average 2 (SD = 1) cones. Whitebark seedling regeneration averaged 303 (SD = 319) seedlings per hectare. The largest number of whitebark seedlings found in a plot was eight, and eight of the 11 plots contained whitebark seedlings. Nine of the 12 SEKI foxtail Panel 3 plots were remeasured. Within these plots, 413 live foxtail pine, 67 live whitebark pine, and 402 other live conifers were sampled. Ninety-two dead or recently dead trees were also documented, 65 of which were foxtail pine. No signs of blister rust infection, mistletoe, or mountain pine beetle were observed in the foxtail plots sampled. The average number of foxtail pine trees per plot was 46 (SD = 33). Fifty-four percent of the foxtail pine trees produced female cones, averaging 14 (SD =15) cones/tree. Only one foxtail pine seedling was recorded within the 9 foxtail pine plots, resulting in an estimated 14 (SD = 41) seedlings per hectare. Eight whitebark pine seedlings were also found within two plots.

Original Objectives: 1. Purify and biochemically characterize RB60 orthologs in higher plant chloroplasts; 2. Clone the gene(s) encoding plant RB60 orthologs and determine their structure and expression; 3. Manipulate the expression of RB60; 4. Assay the effects of altered RB60 expression on thylakoid biogenesis and photosynthetic function in plants exposed to different light conditions. In addition, we also examined the gene structure and expression of RB60 orthologs in the non-vascular plant, Physcomitrella patens and cloned the poly(A)-binding protein orthologue (43 kDa RB47-like protein). This protein is believed to a partner that interacts with RB60 to bind to the psbA5' UTR. Thus, to obtain a comprehensive view of RB60 function requires analysis of its biochemical partners such as RB43. Background & Achievements: High levels of sunlight reduce photosynthesis in plants by damaging the photo system II reaction center (PSII) subunits, such as D1 (encoded by the chloroplast tpsbAgene). When the rate of D1 synthesis is less than the rate of photo damage, photo inhibition occurs and plant growth is decreased. Plants use light-activated translation and enhanced psbAmRNA stability to maintain D1 synthesis and replace the photo damaged 01. Despite the importance to photosynthetic capacity, these mechanisms are poorly understood in plants. One intriguing model derived from the algal chloroplast system, Chlamydomonas, implicates the role of three proteins (RB60, RB47, RB38) that bind to the psbAmRNA 5' untranslated leader (5' UTR) in the light to activate translation or enhance mRNA stability. RB60 is the key enzyme, protein D1sulfide isomerase (Pill), that regulates the psbA-RN :Binding proteins (RB's) by way of light-mediated redox potentials generated by the photosystems. However, proteins with these functions have not been described from higher plants. We provided compelling evidence for the existence of RB60, RB47 and RB38 orthologs in the vascular plant, Arabidopsis. Using gel mobility shift, Rnase protection and UV-crosslinking assays, we have shown that a dithiol redox mechanism which resembles a Pill (RB60) activity regulates the interaction of 43- and 30-kDa proteins with a thermolabile stem-loop in the 5' UTR of the psbAmRNA from Arabidopsis. We discovered, in Arabidopsis, the PD1 gene family consists of II members that differ in polypeptide length from 361 to 566 amino acids, presence of signal peptides, KDEL motifs, and the number and positions of thioredoxin domains. PD1's catalyze the reversible formation an disomerization of disulfide bonds necessary for the proper folding, assembly, activity, and secretion of numerous enzymes and structural proteins. PD1's have also evolved novel cellular redox functions, as single enzymes and as subunits of protein complexes in organelles. We provide evidence that at least one Pill is localized to the chloroplast. We have used PDI-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antisera to characterize the PD1 (55 kDa) in the chloroplast that is unevenly distributed between the stroma and pellet (containing membranes, DNA, polysomes, starch), being three-fold more abundant in the pellet phase. PD1-55 levels increase with light intensity and it assembles into a high molecular weight complex of ~230 kDa as determined on native blue gels. In vitro translation of all 11 different Pill's followed by microsomal membrane processing reactions were used to differentiate among PD1's localized in the endoplasmic reticulum or other organelles. These results will provide.1e insights into redox regulatory mechanisms involved in adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to light stress. Elucidating the genetic mechanisms and factors regulating chloroplast photosynthetic genes is important for developing strategies to improve photosynthetic efficiency, crop productivity and adaptation to high light environments.

A vegetation classi?cation and map for Guadalupe Mountains National Park (NP) is presented as part of the National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring - Vegetation Inventory Program to classify, describe, and map vegetation communities in more than 280 national park units across the United States. Guadalupe Mountains NP lies in far west Texas and contains the highest point in the state, Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft; 2,667 m). The mountain escarpments descend some 5,000 ft (1,500 m) to the desert basins below forming a complex geologic landscape that supports vegetation communities ranging from montane coniferous forests down to desert grasslands and scrub. Following the US National Vegetation Classi?cation (USNVC) standard, we identi?ed 129 plant associations hierarchically tiered under 29 groups and 17 macrogroups, making it one of the most ecologically diverse National Park Service units in the southwestern United States. An aspect that adds to this diversity is that the park supports communities that extend southward from the Rocky Mountains (?ve macrogroups) and Great Plains (one macrogroup) and northward from the Chihuahuan Desert (two macrogroups) and Sierra Madre Orientale of Mexico (three macrogroups). The remaining six macrogroups are found in the Great Basin (one macrogroup), and throughout the southwestern United States (remaining ?ve macrogroups). Embedded in this matrix are gypsum dunelands and riparian zones and wetlands that add further complexity. We describe in detail this vegetation classi?cation, which is based on 540 vegetation plots collected between 2006 and 2010. Full descriptions and diagnostic keys to the plant associations along with an overall plant species list are provided as appendices. Based on the vegetation classi?cation and associated plot data, the vegetation map was developed using a combined strategy of automated digital object-oriented image classi?cation and direct-analog image interpretation of four-band National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photography from 2004 and 2008 and Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The map is designed to facilitate ecologically-based natural resource management at a 1:24,000 scale with 0.5-ha minimum map unit size. The map legend is hierarchically structured: the upper Level 1 consists of 16 map units corresponding in most cases to the USNVC group level, and an additional map unit describing built-up land and agriculture; Level 2 is composed of 48 nested map units re?ecting various combinations of plant associations. A ?eld-based accuracy assessment using 341 vegetation plots revealed a Level 1 overall accuracy of 79% with 90% CI of 74?84% and 68% with 90% CI of 59?76% at Level 2. An annotated legend with summary descriptions of the units, distribution maps, aerial photo examples of map unit polygons, and representative photos are provided in Appendix D. Large wall-size poster maps at 1:35,000 scale were also produced following NPS cartographic standards. The report, plot data, and spatial layers are available at National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program https://www.nps.gov/im/vegetation-inventory.htm). Outcomes from this project provide the most detailed vegetation classi?cation and highest resolution mapping for Guadalupe Mountains NP to date to support many uses including ?re, recreation, vegetation, and wildlife management, among others. The upper Level 1 map is particularly suited to landscape-scale, park-wide planning and linkages to its sister park, Carlsbad Caverns NP. The Level 2 mapping provides added detail for use at a more localized project scale. The overall accuracy of the maps was good, but because Guadalupe Mountains NP is primarily wilderness park, there were logistical challenges to map development and testing in remote areas that should be considered in planning management actions. In this context, some map units would bene?t from further development and accuracy assessment. In particular, a higher resolution mapping of McKittrick Creek riparian habitat at 1:6,000 scale or ?ner is recommended for this important habitat in the park. In addition, developing a structural canopy height model from LiDAR imagery would be useful to more accurately quantify woody canopy density and height to support ?re management and other habitat management issues. With respect to understanding vegetation dynamics in this time of rapid environmental change, the 540 vegetation plots themselves are su?ciently georeferenced and have the data resolution to be useful in detecting change at the decadal scales across much of the park. To this end, an additional recommendation would be to install more plots to ?ll the gaps among the main vegetation units of the park, both spatially and thematically. Overall, the Vegetation and Classi?cation Map for Guadalupe Mountains NP will support the park?s management e?orts and enhance regional understanding of vegetation and ecology of ecosystems of the southwestern United States.

The Indiana Dunes (comprised of 15 geographic units (see Figure 1) which include Indiana Dunes National Park, Dunes State Park, and adjacent Shirley Heinze Land Trust properties) are remarkable in the Midwest and Great Lakes region for the vascular plant diversity, with an astounding 1,212 native plant species in an area of approximately 16,000 acres! This high plant diversity is the result of the interactions among postglacial migrations, the variety of soil substrates, moisture conditions, topography, successional gradients, ?re regimes, proximity to Lake Michigan, and light levels. This richness is all the more signi?cant given the past human alterations of the landscape resulting from logging; conversion to agriculture; construction of transportation corridors, industrial sites, and residential communities; ?re suppression; land abandonment; and exotic species invasions. Despite these impacts, multiple natural areas supporting native vegetation persist. Thus, each of the 15 units of the Indiana Dunes presents up to eight subunits varying in human disturbance and consequently in ?oristic richness. Of the most signi?cant units of the park in terms of number of native species, Cowles Dunes and the Dunes State Park stand out from all the other units, with 786 and 686 native species, respectively. The next highest ranked units for numbers of native species include Keiser (630), Furnessville (574), Miller Woods (551), and Hoosier Prairie (542). The unit with lowest plant richness is Heron Rookery (220), with increasing richness in progression from Calumet Prairie (320), Hobart Prairie Grove (368), to Pinhook Bog (380). Signi?cant natural areas, retaining native vegetation composition and structure, include Cowles Bog (Cowles Dunes Unit), Howes Prairie (Cowles Dunes), Dunes Nature Preserve (Dunes State Park), Dunes Prairie Nature Preserve (Dunes State Park), Pinhook Bog, Furnessville Woods (Furnessville), Miller Woods, Inland Marsh, and Mnoke Prairie (Bailly). Wilhelm (1990) recorded a total of 1,131 native plant species for the ?ora of the Indiana Dunes. This was similar to the 1,132 species recorded by the National Park Service (2014) for the Indiana Dunes. Based on the nomenclature of Swink and Wilhelm (1994), Indiana Dunes National Park has 1,206 native plant species. If we include native varieties and hybrids, the total increases to 1,244 taxa. Based on the nomenclature used for this report?the Flora of North America (FNA 2022), and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS 2022)?Indiana Dunes National Park houses 1,206 native vascular plant species. As of this writing (2020), the Indiana Dunes is home to 37% of the species of conservation concern in Indiana (241 out of 624 Indiana-listed species): state extirpated = 10 species, state endangered = 75, and state threatened = 100. Thus, 4% of the state-listed species in the Indiana Dunes are extirpated, 31% endangered, and 41% threatened. Watch list and rare categories have been eliminated. Twenty-nine species once documented from the Indiana Dunes may be extirpated because they have not been seen since 2001. Eleven have not been seen since 1930 and 15 since 1978. If we exclude these species, then there would be a total of 1,183 species native to the Indiana Dunes. Many of these are cryptic in their life history or diminutive, and thus are di?cult to ?nd. Looking at the growth form of native plants, <1% (nine species) are clubmosses, 3% (37) are ferns, 8% (297) are grasses and sedges, 56% (682) are forbs or herbs, 1% (16) are herbaceous vines, <1% (7) are subshrubs (woody plants of herbaceous stature), 5% (60) are shrubs, 1% (11) are lianas (woody vines), and 8% (93) are trees. Of the 332 exotic species (species introduced from outside North America), 65% (219 species) are forbs such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), 15% (50 species) are graminoids such as phragmites (Phragmites australis ssp. australis), 2% (seven species) are vines such as ?eld bindweed (Convulvulus arvensis), <1% (two species) are subshrubs such as Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), 8% (28 species) are shrubs such as Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), 1% (three species) are lianas such as oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), and 8% (23 species) are trees such as tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissimus). Of the 85 adventive species, native species that have invaded from elsewhere in North America, 14% (11 species) are graminoids such as broom sedge (Andropogon virginicus), 57% (48 species) are forbs such as fall phlox (Phlox paniculata), 5% (six species) are shrubs such as Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus), 3% (two species) are subshrubs such as holly leaved barberry (Berberis repens), 1% (one species) is a liana (trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), 3% two species) are herbaceous vines such as tall morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), and 17% (15 species) are trees such as American holly (Ilex opaca). A total of 436 species were found to be ?special? based on political rankings (federal and state-listed threatened and endangered species), species with charismatic ?owers, and those that are locally rare.

Banco de la República is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. This is a very significant anniversary and one that provides an opportunity to highlight the contribution the Bank has made to the country’s development. Its track record as guarantor of monetary stability has established it as the one independent state institution that generates the greatest confidence among Colombians due to its transparency, management capabilities, and effective compliance with the central banking and cultural responsibilities entrusted to it by the Constitution and the Law. On a date as important as this, the Board of Directors of Banco de la República (BDBR) pays tribute to the generations of governors and officers whose commitment and dedication have contributed to the growth of this institution.1 Banco de la República’s mandate was confirmed in the National Constitutional Assembly of 1991 where the citizens had the opportunity to elect the seventy people who would have the task of drafting a new constitution. The leaders of the three political movements with the most votes were elected as chairs to the Assembly, and this tripartite presidency reflected the plurality and the need for consensus among the different political groups to move the reform forward. Among the issues considered, the National Constitutional Assembly gave special importance to monetary stability. That is why they decided to include central banking and to provide Banco de la República with the necessary autonomy to use the instruments for which they are responsible without interference from other authorities. The constituent members understood that ensuring price stability is a state duty and that the entity responsible for this task must be enshrined in the Constitution and have the technical capability and institutional autonomy necessary to adopt the decisions they deem appropriate to achieve this fundamental objective in coordination with the general economic policy. In particular, Article 373 established that “the State, through Banco de la República, shall ensure the maintenance of the purchasing power of the currency,” a provision that coincided with the central banking system adopted by countries that have been successful in controlling inflation. In 1999, in Ruling 481, the Constitutional Court stated that “the duty to maintain the purchasing power of the currency applies to not only the monetary, credit, and exchange authority, i.e., the Board of Banco de la República, but also those who have responsibilities in the formulation and implementation of the general economic policy of the country” and that “the basic constitutional purpose of Banco de la República is the protection of a sound currency. However, this authority must take the other economic objectives of state intervention such as full employment into consideration in their decisions since these functions must be coordinated with the general economic policy.” The reforms to Banco de la República agreed upon in the Constitutional Assembly of 1991 and in Act 31/1992 can be summarized in the following aspects: i) the Bank was assigned a specific mandate: to maintain the purchasing power of the currency in coordination with the general economic policy; ii) the BDBR was designatedas the monetary, foreign exchange, and credit authority; iii) the Bank and its Board of Directors were granted a significant degree of independence from the government; iv) the Bank was prohibited from granting credit to the private sector except in the case of the financial sector; v) established that in order to grant credit to the government, the unanimous vote of its Board of Directors was required except in the case of open market transactions; vi) determined that the legislature may, in no case, order credit quotas in favor of the State or individuals; vii) Congress was appointed, on behalf of society, as the main addressee of the Bank’s reporting exercise; and viii) the responsibility for inspection, surveillance, and control over Banco de la República was delegated to the President of the Republic. The members of the National Constitutional Assembly clearly understood that the benefits of low and stable inflation extend to the whole of society and contribute mto the smooth functioning of the economic system. Among the most important of these is that low inflation promotes the efficient use of productive resources by allowing relative prices to better guide the allocation of resources since this promotes economic growth and increases the welfare of the population. Likewise, low inflation reduces uncertainty about the expected return on investment and future asset prices. This increases the confidence of economic agents, facilitates long-term financing, and stimulates investment. Since the low-income population is unable to protect itself from inflation by diversifying its assets, and a high proportion of its income is concentrated in the purchase of food and other basic goods that are generally the most affected by inflationary shocks, low inflation avoids arbitrary redistribution of income and wealth.2 Moreover, low inflation facilitates wage negotiations, creates a good labor climate, and reduces the volatility of employment levels. Finally, low inflation helps to make the tax system more transparent and equitable by avoiding the distortions that inflation introduces into the value of assets and income that make up the tax base. From the monetary authority’s point of view, one of the most relevant benefits of low inflation is the credibility that economic agents acquire in inflation targeting, which turns it into an effective nominal anchor on price levels. Upon receiving its mandate, and using its autonomy, Banco de la República began to announce specific annual inflation targets as of 1992. Although the proposed inflation targets were not met precisely during this first stage, a downward trend in inflation was achieved that took it from 32.4% in 1990 to 16.7% in 1998. At that time, the exchange rate was kept within a band. This limited the effectiveness of monetary policy, which simultaneously sought to meet an inflation target and an exchange rate target. The Asian crisis spread to emerging economies and significantly affected the Colombian economy. The exchange rate came under strong pressure to depreciate as access to foreign financing was cut off under conditions of a high foreign imbalance. This, together with the lack of exchange rate flexibility, prevented a countercyclical monetary policy and led to a 4.2% contraction in GDP that year. In this context of economic slowdown, annual inflation fell to 9.2% at the end of 1999, thus falling below the 15% target set for that year. This episode fully revealed how costly it could be, in terms of economic activity, to have inflation and exchange rate targets simultaneously. Towards the end of 1999, Banco de la República announced the adoption of a new monetary policy regime called the Inflation Targeting Plan. This regime, known internationally as ‘Inflation Targeting,’ has been gaining increasing acceptance in developed countries, having been adopted in 1991 by New Zealand, Canada, and England, among others, and has achieved significant advances in the management of inflation without incurring costs in terms of economic activity. In Latin America, Brazil and Chile also adopted it in 1999. In the case of Colombia, the last remaining requirement to be fulfilled in order to adopt said policy was exchange rate flexibility. This was realized around September 1999, when the BDBR decided to abandon the exchange-rate bands to allow the exchange rate to be freely determined in the market.Consistent with the constitutional mandate, the fundamental objective of this new policy approach was “the achievement of an inflation target that contributes to maintaining output growth around its potential.”3 This potential capacity was understood as the GDP growth that the economy can obtain if it fully utilizes its productive resources. To meet this objective, monetary policy must of necessity play a countercyclical role in the economy. This is because when economic activity is below its potential and there are idle resources, the monetary authority can reduce the interest rate in the absence of inflationary pressure to stimulate the economy and, when output exceeds its potential capacity, raise it. This policy principle, which is immersed in the models for guiding the monetary policy stance, makes the following two objectives fully compatible in the medium term: meeting the inflation target and achieving a level of economic activity that is consistent with its productive capacity. To achieve this purpose, the inflation targeting system uses the money market interest rate (at which the central bank supplies primary liquidity to commercial banks) as the primary policy instrument. This replaced the quantity of money as an intermediate monetary policy target that Banco de la República, like several other central banks, had used for a long time. In the case of Colombia, the objective of the new monetary policy approach implied, in practical terms, that the recovery of the economy after the 1999 contraction should be achieved while complying with the decreasing inflation targets established by the BDBR. The accomplishment of this purpose was remarkable. In the first half of the first decade of the 2000s, economic activity recovered significantly and reached a growth rate of 6.8% in 2006. Meanwhile, inflation gradually declined in line with inflation targets. That was how the inflation rate went from 9.2% in 1999 to 4.5% in 2006, thus meeting the inflation target established for that year while GDP reached its potential level. After this balance was achieved in 2006, inflation rebounded to 5.7% in 2007, above the 4.0% target for that year due to the fact that the 7.5% GDP growth exceeded the potential capacity of the economy.4 After proving the effectiveness of the inflation targeting system in its first years of operation, this policy regime continued to consolidate as the BDBR and the technical staff gained experience in its management and state-of-the-art economic models were incorporated to diagnose the present and future state of the economy and to assess the persistence of inflation deviations and expectations with respect to the inflation target. Beginning in 2010, the BDBR established the long-term 3.0% annual inflation target, which remains in effect today. Lower inflation has contributed to making the macroeconomic environment more stable, and this has favored sustained economic growth, financial stability, capital market development, and the functioning of payment systems. As a result, reductions in the inflationary risk premia and lower TES and credit interest rates were achieved. At the same time, the duration of public domestic debt increased significantly going from 2.27 years in December 2002 to 5.86 years in December 2022, and financial deepening, measured as the level of the portfolio as a percentage of GDP, went from around 20% in the mid-1990s to values above 45% in recent years in a healthy context for credit institutions.Having been granted autonomy by the Constitution to fulfill the mandate of preserving the purchasing power of the currency, the tangible achievements made by Banco de la República in managing inflation together with the significant benefits derived from the process of bringing inflation to its long-term target, make the BDBR’s current challenge to return inflation to the 3.0% target even more demanding and pressing. As is well known, starting in 2021, and especially in 2022, inflation in Colombia once again became a serious economic problem with high welfare costs. The inflationary phenomenon has not been exclusive to Colombia and many other developed and emerging countries have seen their inflation rates move away from the targets proposed by their central banks.5 The reasons for this phenomenon have been analyzed in recent Reports to Congress, and this new edition delves deeper into the subject with updated information. The solid institutional and technical base that supports the inflation targeting approach under which the monetary policy strategy operates gives the BDBR the necessary elements to face this difficult challenge with confidence. In this regard, the BDBR reiterated its commitment to the 3.0% inflation target in its November 25 communiqué and expects it to be reached by the end of 2024.6 Monetary policy will continue to focus on meeting this objective while ensuring the sustainability of economic activity, as mandated by the Constitution. Analyst surveys done in March showed a significant increase (from 32.3% in January to 48.5% in March) in the percentage of responses placing inflation expectations two years or more ahead in a range between 3.0% and 4.0%. This is a clear indication of the recovery of credibility in the medium-term inflation target and is consistent with the BDBR’s announcement made in November 2022. The moderation of the upward trend in inflation seen in January, and especially in February, will help to reinforce this revision of inflation expectations and will help to meet the proposed targets. After reaching 5.6% at the end of 2021, inflation maintained an upward trend throughout 2022 due to inflationary pressures from both external sources, associated with the aftermath of the pandemic and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, and domestic sources, resulting from: strengthening of local demand; price indexation processes stimulated by the increase in inflation expectations; the impact on food production caused by the mid-2021 strike; and the pass-through of depreciation to prices. The 10% increase in the minimum wage in 2021 and the 16% increase in 2022, both of which exceeded the actual inflation and the increase in productivity, accentuated the indexation processes by establishing a high nominal adjustment benchmark. Thus, total inflation went to 13.1% by the end of 2022. The annual change in food prices, which went from 17.2% to 27.8% between those two years, was the most influential factor in the surge in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Another segment that contributed significantly to price increases was regulated products, which saw the annual change go from 7.1% in December 2021 to 11.8% by the end of 2022. The measure of core inflation excluding food and regulated items, in turn, went from 2.5% to 9.5% between the end of 2021 and the end of 2022. The substantial increase in core inflation shows that inflationary pressure has spread to most of the items in the household basket, which is characteristic of inflationary processes with generalized price indexation as is the case in Colombia. Monetary policy began to react early to this inflationary pressure. Thus, starting with its September 2021 session, the BDBR began a progressive change in the monetary policy stance moving away from the historical low of a 1.75% policy rate that had intended to stimulate the recovery of the economy. This adjustment process continued without interruption throughout 2022 and into the beginning of 2023 when the monetary policy rate reached 12.75% last January, thus accumulating an increase of 11 percentage points (pp). The public and the markets have been surprised that inflation continued to rise despite significant interest rate increases. However, as the BDBR has explained in its various communiqués, monetary policy works with a lag. Just as in 2022 economic activity recovered to a level above the pre-pandemic level, driven, along with other factors, by the monetary stimulus granted during the pandemic period and subsequent months, so too the effects of the current restrictive monetary policy will gradually take effect. This will allow us to expect the inflation rate to converge to 3.0% by the end of 2024 as is the BDBR’s purpose.Inflation results for January and February of this year showed declining marginal increases (13 bp and 3 bp respectively) compared to the change seen in December (59 bp). This suggests that a turning point in the inflation trend is approaching. In other Latin American countries such as Chile, Brazil, Perú, and Mexico, inflation has peaked and has begun to decline slowly, albeit with some ups and downs. It is to be expected that a similar process will take place in Colombia in the coming months. The expected decline in inflation in 2023 will be due, along with other factors, to lower cost pressure from abroad as a result of the gradual normalization of supply chains, the overcoming of supply shocks caused by the weather, and road blockades in previous years. This will be reflected in lower adjustments in food prices, as has already been seen in the first two months of the year and, of course, the lagged effect of monetary policy. The process of inflation convergence to the target will be gradual and will extend beyond 2023. This process will be facilitated if devaluation pressure is reversed. To this end, it is essential to continue consolidating fiscal sustainability and avoid messages on different public policy fronts that generate uncertainty and distrust. 1 This Report to Congress includes Box 1, which summarizes the trajectory of Banco de la República over the past 100 years. In addition, under the Bank’s auspices, several books that delve into various aspects of the history of this institution have been published in recent years. See, for example: Historia del Banco de la República 1923-2015; Tres banqueros centrales; Junta Directiva del Banco de la República: grandes episodios en 30 años de historia; Banco de la República: 90 años de la banca central en Colombia. 2 This is why lower inflation has been reflected in a reduction of income inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient that went from 58.7 in 1998 to 51.3 in the year prior to the pandemic. 3 See Gómez Javier, Uribe José Darío, Vargas Hernando (2002). “The Implementation of Inflation Targeting in Colombia”. Borradores de Economía, No. 202, March, available at: https://repositorio.banrep.gov.co/handle/20.500.12134/5220 4 See López-Enciso Enrique A.; Vargas-Herrera Hernando and Rodríguez-Niño Norberto (2016). “The inflation targeting strategy in Colombia. An historical view.” Borradores de Economía, No. 952. https://repositorio.banrep.gov.co/handle/20.500.12134/6263 5 According to the IMF, the percentage change in consumer prices between 2021 and 2022 went from 3.1% to 7.3% for advanced economies, and from 5.9% to 9.9% for emerging market and developing economies. 6 https://www.banrep.gov.co/es/noticias/junta-directiva-banco-republica-reitera-meta-inflacion-3

Introducción En 2023 el Banco de la República celebra 100 años de su fundación. Este es un aniversario de gran significado, el cual ofrece la oportunidad de resaltar el aporte que el Banco ha hecho al desarrollo del país. Su trayectoria como garante de la estabilidad monetaria lo ha consolidado como la institución estatal independiente que genera mayor confianza entre los colombianos por su transparencia, capacidad de gestión y el cumplimiento efectivo de las funciones de banca central y culturales encomendadas en la Constitución y la Ley. En una fecha tan importante como esta, la Junta Directiva del Banco de la República (JDBR) hace un reconocimiento a las generaciones de directivos y funcionarios que con su compromiso y dedicación contribuyeron a engrandecer esta institución1. El mandato del Banco de la República se consolidó en la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente de 1991, para cuya integración los ciudadanos tuvieron la oportunidad de elegir a las setenta personas que tendrían como tarea redactar una nueva constitución. Los dirigentes de los tres movimientos políticos más votados fueron elegidos presidentes de la Asamblea, y esta presidencia tripartita reflejó la pluralidad y la necesidad de consenso entre las diferentes fuerzas políticas para sacar adelante la reforma. Entre los asuntos considerados, la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente le otorgó especial importancia a la estabilidad monetaria. Por esta razón decidió incluir el tema de banca central y dotar al Banco de la República de la autonomía necesaria para utilizar los instrumentos a su cargo sin injerencia de otras autoridades. El constituyente entendió que velar por la estabilidad de precios es un deber del Estado y que la entidad responsable de este cometido debe estar consagrada en la Constitución y contar con la capacidad técnica y autonomía institucional necesaria para adoptar las decisiones que considere pertinentes para alcanzar este objetivo fundamental, en coordinación con la política económica general. En particular, el artículo 373 estableció que “el Estado, por intermedio del Banco de la República, velará por el mantenimiento de la capacidad adquisitiva de la moneda”, disposición que coincidía con el esquema de banca central adoptado por países exitosos en el control de la inflación. En 1999, mediante sentencia 481, la Corte Constitucional indicó que “el deber de mantener la capacidad adquisitiva de la moneda no solo se predica de la autoridad monetaria, crediticia y cambiaria, esto es de la Junta del Banco de la República, sino también de quienes tienen responsabilidades en la formulación y ejecución de la política económica general del país” y que “la finalidad constitucional básica del Banco de la República es la protección de la moneda sana, pero esa autoridad debe tomar en consideración en sus decisiones los otros objetivos económicos de la intervención del Estado, como el pleno empleo, pues sus funciones deben coordinarse con la política económica general.” La reforma al Banco de la República concertada en la Constituyente de 1991 y en la Ley 31 de 1992 se puede resumir en los siguientes aspectos: i) asignó al Banco un mandato específico: mantener la capacidad adquisitiva de la moneda, en coordinación con la política económica general; ii) designó a la JDBR como autoridad monetaria, cambiaria y crediticia; iii) otorgó al Banco y a su Junta Directiva un importante grado de independencia frente al Gobierno; iv) prohibió al Banco otorgar crédito al sector privado distinto del financiero; v) estableció que para otorgar crédito al Gobierno se requería del voto unánime de su Junta Directiva, a menos que se trate de operaciones de mercado abierto; vi) determinó que el legislador, en ningún caso, podrá ordenar cupos de crédito a favor del Estado o de los particulares; vii) designó al Congreso, en representación de la sociedad, como principal destinatario del ejercicio de rendición de informes del Banco; y viii) delegó en el presidente de la República la función de inspección, vigilancia y control sobre el Banco de la República. Los miembros de la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente entendieron claramente que los beneficios de una inflación baja y estable se extienden a toda la sociedad y contribuyen al buen funcionamiento del sistema económico. Entre los más importantes cabe mencionar que una inflación baja promueve el uso eficiente de los recursos productivos, al permitir que los precios relativos guíen de mejor forma la asignación de recursos, lo cual promueve el crecimiento económico y aumenta el bienestar de la población. Igualmente, una inflación baja reduce la incertidumbre sobre la rentabilidad esperada de la inversión y sobre el precio futuro de los activos, lo que aumenta la confianza de los agentes económicos, facilita la financiación de largo plazo y estimula la inversión. Una inflación baja evita redistribuciones arbitrarias del ingreso y la riqueza, debido a que los estratos de ingresos bajos de la población no pueden protegerse de la inflación mediante la diversificación de sus activos, y concentran una elevada proporción de su ingreso en la compra de alimentos y otros bienes básicos, ítems que generalmente son los más afectados por los choques inflacionarios2. Por otra parte, una baja inflación facilita las negociaciones salariales, lo cual crea un buen clima laboral y reduce la volatilidad del nivel de empleo. Finalmente, una inflación baja contribuye a que el sistema de impuestos sea más transparente y equitativo, al evitar las distorsiones que la inflación introduce sobre el valor de los activos y de los ingresos que componen la base tributaria. Desde el punto de vista de la autoridad monetaria, uno de los beneficios más relevantes de una inflación baja es la credibilidad que los agentes económicos adquieren en la meta de inflación, lo que la convierte en un ancla nominal efectiva sobre el nivel de precios. Al recibir su mandato, y en uso de su autonomía, el Banco de la República empezó a anunciar metas puntuales de inflación anual a partir de 1992. Si bien en esta primera etapa las metas de inflación propuestas no se lograron cumplir de forma precisa, sí se consiguió imprimirle a la inflación una tendencia descendente, que la llevó desde un nivel del 32,4% en 1990 al 16,7% en 1998. Para aquella época la tasa de cambio se mantenía dentro de una banda, lo cual limitaba la efectividad de la política monetaria, que buscaba cumplir simultáneamente una meta de inflación y un objetivo de tasa de cambio. La crisis asiática se contagió a las economías emergentes y afectó de manera importante a la economía colombiana. La tasa de cambio presentó una fuerte presión a la depreciación al cerrarse el acceso al financiamiento externo en condiciones de un elevado desequilibrio externo. Lo anterior, junto con la falta de flexibilidad cambiaria, impidió hacer una política monetaria contracíclica, lo que condujo a una contracción del PIB del 4,2% en dicho año. En este contexto de desaceleración económica, la inflación anual se redujo al 9,2% a finales de 1999, situándose por debajo de la meta del 15% que se había fijado para ese año. Este episodio reveló plenamente lo costoso que podría ser, en términos de actividad económica, el tener simultáneamente metas para la inflación y para la tasa de cambio. Hacia finales de 1999 el Banco de la República anunció la adopción de un nuevo régimen de política monetaria que denominó Esquema de Inflación Objetivo. Este régimen, conocido internacionalmente como ‘Inflation Targeting,’ venía ganando creciente aceptación en países desarrollados, al haber sido adoptado a partir de 1991 por Nueva Zelanda, Canadá e Inglaterra, entre otros, logrando importantes avances en el manejo de la inflación, sin incurrir en costos en términos de actividad económica. En América Latina, Brasil y Chile también lo acogieron en 1999. En el caso colombiano, el último requisito pendiente por cumplir para adoptar dicho esquema de política era la flexibilidad de la tasa de cambio, la cual se materializó hacia septiembre de 1999, cuando la JDBR decidió abandonar las bandas cambiarias para permitir que la tasa de cambio se determinara libremente en el mercado. De forma coherente con el mandato constitucional, el objetivo fundamental de este nuevo esquema de política consistía en “el cumplimiento de una meta de inflación que contribuya a mantener un crecimiento del producto alrededor de su capacidad potencial”3. Dicha capacidad potencial se entendía como aquel crecimiento del PIB que la economía puede obtener si utiliza plenamente sus recursos productivos. Para cumplir este objetivo la política monetaria debe cumplir necesariamente un papel contracíclico en la economía. Ello porque cuando la actividad económica está por debajo de su potencial y existen recursos ociosos, la autoridad monetaria puede reducir la tasa de interés ante la ausencia de presiones inflacionarias para estimular por esa vía la economía y, de manera inversa, cuando el producto supera su capacidad potencial. Este principio de política, que está inmerso en los modelos para guiar la postura de política monetaria, hace que, en el mediano plazo, sean totalmente compatibles los objetivos del cumplimiento de la meta de inflación y de un nivel de actividad económica compatible con su capacidad productiva. Para alcanzar este propósito, en el esquema de inflación objetivo se utiliza la tasa de interés del mercado monetario (a la cual el banco central suministra liquidez primaria a los bancos comerciales), como el instrumento primordial de política. Con ello se sustituyó la cantidad de dinero como meta intermedia de política monetaria, que el Banco de la República, al igual que varios otros bancos centrales, utilizaron por mucho tiempo. En el caso colombiano, el objetivo del nuevo esquema de política monetaria implicaba, en términos prácticos, que la recuperación de la economía, luego de la contracción ocurrida en 1999, debía lograrse al tiempo que se cumplían las metas decrecientes de inflación establecidas por la JDBR. De manera notable este propósito se cumplió. En la primera mitad de la década del 2000 la actividad económica logró una recuperación importante, hasta alcanzar un crecimiento del 6,8% en 2006. Entretanto, la inflación fue descendiendo gradualmente, en línea con las metas de inflación. Fue así como la tasa de inflación se redujo desde el 9,2% en 1999 al 4,5% en 2006, cumpliendo con la meta de inflación establecida para ese año, mientras que el PIB alcanzó su nivel potencial. Después de lograrse este equilibrio en 2006, la inflación repuntó al 5,7% en 2007, por encima de la meta del 4% fijada para ese año, debido a que el crecimiento del PIB del 7,5% superó su capacidad potencial4. Luego de comprobarse la eficacia del esquema de inflación objetivo en sus primeros años de operación, este régimen de política continuó consolidándose a medida que la JDBR y el equipo técnico ganaron experiencia en su manejo y se incorporaron modelos económicos de última tecnología para diagnosticar el estado presente y futuro de la economía, y evaluar la persistencia de los desvíos de la inflación y sus expectativas con respecto a la meta de inflación. A partir de 2010 la JDBR estableció la meta de inflación anual de largo plazo del 3%, que continúa vigente en la actualidad. La menor inflación ha contribuido a crear un entorno macroeconómico más estable, que ha favorecido el crecimiento económico sostenido, la estabilidad financiera, el desarrollo del mercado de capitales y el funcionamiento de los sistemas de pagos. Gracias a ello se lograron reducciones en la prima por riesgo inflacionario y menores tasas de interés de los TES y de crédito. A su vez, la duración de la deuda interna pública aumentó de forma importante pasando de 2,27 años en diciembre de 2002 a 5,86 años en diciembre de 2022 y la profundización financiera, medida como el nivel de la cartera como porcentaje del PIB, pasó de cerca del 20% a mediados de la década de los noventa a valores superiores al 45% en años recientes, en un contexto saludable de los establecimientos de crédito. Los logros tangibles alcanzados por el Banco de la República en el manejo de la inflación al haber contado con la autonomía que le otorgó la Constitución para cumplir con el mandato de preservar el poder adquisitivo de la moneda, junto con los importantes beneficios que se derivaron del proceso de llevar la inflación a su meta de largo plazo, hacen que el reto que actualmente enfrenta la JDBR de retornar la inflación a la meta del 3% sea aún más exigente y apremiante. Como es bien conocido, a partir de 2021, y especialmente en 2022, la inflación en Colombia volvió a convertirse en un serio problema económico, con elevados costos de bienestar. El fenómeno inflacionario no ha sido exclusivo de Colombia y es así como muchos otros países desarrollados y emergentes han visto alejarse sus tasas de inflación de las metas propuestas por sus bancos centrales5. Las razones de este fenómeno se han analizado en los recientes Informes al Congreso, y en esta nueva entrega se profundiza al respecto con información actualizada. La sólida base institucional y técnica que soporta el esquema de inflación objetivo bajo el cual opera la estrategia de política monetaria le da a la JDBR los elementos necesarios para enfrentar con confianza este difícil reto. Al respecto, en su comunicado del 25 de noviembre la JDBR reiteró su compromiso con la meta de inflación del 3,0%, la cual prevé alcanzar hacia finales de 20246. La política monetaria continuará enfocada en cumplir este objetivo, al tiempo que velará por la sostenibilidad de la actividad económica, tal y como lo ordena la Constitución. Las encuestas a analistas llevadas a cabo en marzo mostraron un incremento importante (del 32,3% en enero al 48,5% en marzo) en el porcentaje de respuestas que sitúan las expectativas de inflación a dos años o más en un rango entre el 3% y 4%. Este es un indicativo claro de recuperación de credibilidad en la meta de inflación a mediano plazo, lo cual guarda coherencia con el anuncio de la JDBR de noviembre pasado. La moderación de la tendencia alcista de la inflación que se observó en enero, y especialmente en febrero, contribuirá a reforzar esta revisión de expectativas de inflación, y ayudará a cumplir los objetivos propuestos. Luego de registrarse una inflación del 5,6% a finales de 2021, la inflación mantuvo una tendencia alcista a lo largo de 2022 debido a las presiones inflacionarias tanto de origen externo, asociadas con las secuelas de la pandemia y las consecuencias del conflicto bélico en Ucrania, como de origen interno, resultantes de: el fortalecimiento de la demanda local; los procesos de indexación de precios estimulados por el aumento de las expectativas de inflación; las afectaciones a la producción de alimentos provocadas por el paro de mediados de 2021, y el traspaso de la depreciación a los precios. Los aumentos del salario mínimo del 10% en 2021 y del 16% en 2022, que en ambos casos superaron la inflación observada y el incremento de la productividad, acentuaron los procesos de indexación al haber establecido un elevado referente de ajuste nominal. De esta forma, la inflación total aumentó al 13,1% a finales 2022. La variación anual de alimentos, que subió del 17,2% al 27,8% entre esos dos años, fue el factor que más influyó en la aceleración del Índice de Precios al Consumidor (IPC). Otro rubro que contribuyó de manera importante a las alzas de precios fue el de regulados, cuya variación anual aumentó del 7,1% en diciembre de 2021 al 11,8% a finales de 2022. Por su parte, la medida de inflación básica sin alimentos ni regulados subió del 2,5% al 9,5% entre finales de 2021 y finales de 2022. El aumento sustancial de la inflación básica muestra que la presión inflacionaria se extendió a la mayoría de los rubros de la canasta familiar, lo cual es característico de procesos inflacionarios con una indexación de precios generalizada, como ocurre en Colombia. La política monetaria empezó a reaccionar tempranamente a estas presiones inflacionarias. Fue así como a partir de su sesión de septiembre de 2021 la JDBR inició un cambio progresivo de la postura de la política monetaria a partir del mínimo histórico del 1,75% de la tasa de interés de política al cual se había llegado para estimular la recuperación de la economía. Este proceso de ajuste prosiguió sin interrupción a lo largo de 2022 y hasta inicios de 2023, cuando la tasa de política monetaria alcanzó el 12,75% en enero pasado, con lo cual acumuló un incremento de 11 puntos porcentuales (pp). El público y los mercados se han mostrado sorprendidos de que la inflación continuara aumentando, a pesar de los significativos incrementos de la tasa de interés. Pero como lo ha explicado la JDBR en sus diversas comunicaciones, la política monetaria actúa con rezago. Así como en 2022 la actividad económica se recuperó hasta alcanzar un nivel superior al de prepandemia, impulsada, entre otros factores, por el estímulo monetario otorgado durante el período de pandemia y de los meses subsiguientes, así también los efectos de la actual política monetaria restrictiva se irán dando paulatinamente, lo que permite esperar que hacia finales de 2024 la tasa de inflación converja hacia el 3%, como es el propósito de la JDBR. Los resultados de la inflación en enero y febrero de este año mostraron incrementos marginales decrecientes (13 pb y 3 pb respectivamente), en comparación con la variación observada en diciembre (59 pb). Esto sugiere que se aproxima un punto de inflexión en la tendencia de la inflación. En otros países de América Latina, como Chile, Brasil, Perú y México, la inflación llegó a su techo y ha empezado a descender lentamente, aunque con algunos altibajos. Es previsible que en Colombia ocurra un proceso similar durante los próximos meses. El descenso previsto de la inflación en 2023 obedecerá, entre otros factores, a las menores presiones de costos externos por cuenta de la progresiva normalización de las cadenas de suministro, a la superación de los choques de oferta por razones de clima y por los bloqueos viales de años anteriores, lo que se reflejará en menores ajustes en los precios de los alimentos, como ya se observó en los primeros dos meses del año y, por supuesto, al efecto rezagado de la política monetaria. El proceso de convergencia de la inflación a la meta será gradual y se extenderá más allá de 2023. Dicho proceso se facilitará si se revierten las presiones a la devaluación, para lo cual resulta esencial que se continúe consolidando la sostenibilidad fiscal y se eviten mensajes en diferentes frentes de la política pública que generan incertidumbre y desconfianza. _______________________________________ 1 Este Informe al Congreso contiene el recuadro 1 que resume la trayectoria del Banco de la República en estos 100 años. Adicionalmente, con auspicio del Banco, varios libros que profundizan diversos aspectos de la historia de esta institución fueron publicados en años recientes. Véase, por ejemplo: Historia del Banco de la República 1923-2015; Tres banqueros centrales; Junta Directiva del Banco de la República: grandes episodios en 30 años de historia; Banco de la República : 90 años de la banca central en Colombia. 2 Es por ello que una menor inflación se ha reflejado en la reducción de la desigualdad del ingreso medida a través del coeficiente de Gini al pasar de 58,7 en 1998 a 51,3 en el año previo a la pandemia. 3 Véase Gómez Javier, Uribe José Darío, Vargas Hernando (2002). “The Implementation of Inflation Targeting in Colombia”. Borrador de Economía, núm. 202, marzo, disponible en: https://repositorio.banrep.gov.co/handle/20.500.12134/5220 4 Véase López-Enciso Enrique A.; Vargas-Herrera Hernando y Rodríguez-Niño Norberto (2016). “La estrategia de inflación objetivo en Colombia. Una visión histórica”, Borrador de Economía, núm. 952. https://repositorio.banrep.gov.co/handle/20.500.12134/6263 5 Según el FMI, la variación porcentual de los precios al consumidor entre 2021 y 2022 pasó del 3,1 % al 7,3 % para las economías avanzadas, y del 5,9 % al 9,9 % para las economías de mercados emergentes y en vías de desarrollo. 6 https://www.banrep.gov.co/es/noticias/junta-directiva-banco-republica-reitera-meta-inflacion-3

Flujos de ahorro inversión del tercer trimestre de 2023 1. Por sector institucional De acuerdo con las Cuentas Financieras calculadas por el BR, en el tercer trimestre de 2023, el déficit en cuenta corriente de la economía colombiana alcanzó el 1,4% del PIB trimestral, frente al 6,4% del mismo periodo del año 2022. Lo anterior es explicado principalmente por los déficits del Gobierno General (0,7 %) y de los Hogares (0,4%). En comparación con las cifras al tercer trimestre de 2022, las necesidades de financiamiento disminuyeron en 5,0 pp. Lo anterior se explicó principalmente por las menores necesidades de financiamiento neto de las Sociedades No Financieras (4,8 pp.) y por el menor endeudamiento neto de los Hogares (1,9 pp.). Estos cambios fueron compensados parcialmente por la disminución del flujo de los activos netos de las Sociedades Financieras (-1,0 pp.), que pasaron de registrar un superávit de 0,6 % a un déficit de 0,3 % del PIB trimestral, y por la mayor necesidad de financiamiento neto del Gobierno General (-0,6 pp). 2. Por instrumento financiero / financiamiento externo neto El balance trimestral negativo de ahorro inversión de la economía colombiana fue cubierto por flujos de financiamiento externos netos equivalentes al 1,4% del PIB trimestral. Los ingresos netos de recursos financieros desde el resto del mundo se canalizaron principalmente a través de inversión extranjera directa y otras participaciones de capital (F5) de 2,6% y a través de préstamos (F4) en el exterior de 2,2%. Lo anterior fue compensado con un aumento en los títulos de deuda (F3) en 5,4% del PIB trimestral. En comparación con las cifras al tercer trimestre de 2022, la disminución en los flujos de endeudamiento externo se explicó principalmente por el aumento en la adquisición de títulos de deuda (F3) en 5,3 pp. y por la disminución en los préstamos (F4) en 0,9 pp. Lo anterior se compensó parciamente con un aumento en el financiamiento externo en términos de cuentas por cobrar o pagar en 1,6 pp. y por la mayor desacumulación de los depósitos (F2) (0,4 pp.). Saldos de las Cuentas Financieras del tercer trimestre de 2023 1. Posición financiera neta por sector institucional Al final del tercer trimestre del 2023, la economía colombiana registró una posición deudora neta con el resto del mundo equivalente al -51,7% del PIB anual. Esta es explicada por la posición deudora neta de las Sociedades No Financieras (-82,6%) y del Gobierno General (-31,2%). Lo anterior fue parcialmente compensado por las posiciones acreedoras netas de los Hogares (50,1%) y las Sociedades Financieras (11,6%). En comparación con el tercer trimestre de 2022, se presentó un aumento de 1,4 pp en la posición deudora externa de la economía, explicada por la reducción en la posición acreedora de los Hogares (6,5 pp) y las Sociedades Financieras (3,8 pp). Estos cambios fueron parcialmente compensados por la disminución de las posiciones deudoras netas de las Sociedades No Financieras (5,9 pp) y del Gobierno General (3,0 pp). 2. Posición externa neta por instrumento financiero Al final del tercer trimestre de 2023, la posición deudora neta de la economía colombiana con el resto del mundo estuvo principalmente representada en participaciones de capital (F5) de -35,1% y Préstamos (F4) de -22,0% del PIB anual. Lo anterior fue parcialmente compensado por las tenencias en el exterior de los colombianos de Efectivo y depósitos (F2) de 4,8% y de Cuentas por cobrar o pagar netas (F8) de 0,8%. En comparación con el tercer trimestre de 2022, el aumento en la posición deudora neta de la economía en 1,4 pp se produjo principalmente por el mayor nivel de endeudamiento neto mediante inversión extranjera directa y otras participaciones de capital en 5,5 pp.