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Análisis crítico del discurso de los stakeholders del Sistema Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Paraguay

[ES] Este estudio se propuso analizar los discursos usados por los principales actores implicados en el sistema nacional de ciencia y tecnología -mediante entrevistas a investigadores, gestores académicos universitarios, funcionarios y empresarios- para contribuir a la descripción del estado actual de la ciencia en Paraguay y su lugar en la sociedad del conocimiento globalizada. El hecho de indagar sobre el sistema nacional de innovación a partir de la consulta directa a los skateholders permitió profundizar por sobre la información que aportan los policy makers. Y es aquí donde radica el carácter innovador de este material, en el contexto de investigaciones que abordan la política de innovación y que se centran en el análisis de documentos o declaraciones de los policy makers, mientras que aquí se ha trabajado con una multivocalidad que puso en relieve discursos opuestos, otros que se complementan y aquellos dominantes. Así pues, desde una perspectiva basada en el constructivismo social -de acuerdo con la cual el lenguaje construye la realidad social-, se analizó la forma en que el discurso de determinados grupos incide sobre cómo se constituye el sistema nacional de ciencia y tecnología paraguayo. Esto permitirá dar cuenta de cuáles son las posturas, convergentes y divergentes, que subyacen a la construcción social del sistema nacional de ciencia y tecnología paraguayo y en qué medida dichas posturas inciden en los procesos actuales de transformación de este impulsados por el Estado. El análisis discursivo efectuado puso en relieve problemáticas y percepciones que evidencian que el sistema conformado por el sector público y el sector privado no funciona adecuadamente. A la par de ello, los discursos de los distintos tipos de stakeholders involucrados en el sistema nacional de ciencia y tecnología paraguayo, obedecen a sus intereses de parte, sin tener en cuenta -en ciertos casos- las reales necesidades de la sociedad en post de su beneficio, y anteponiendo el beneficio sectorial o particular.[CA] Aquest estudi es va proposar analitzar els discursos emprats pels principals actors implicats en el sistema nacional de ciència i tecnologia -mitjançant entrevistes a investigadors, gestors acadèmics universitaris, funcionaris i empresaris- per a contribuir a la descripció de l'estat actual de la ciència a Paraguai i el seu lloc en la societat del coneixement globalitzada. El fet d'indagar sobre el sistema nacional d'innovació a partir de la consulta directa als *skateholders va permetre aprofundir per sobre la informació que aporten els *policy *makers. I és ací on radica el caràcter innovador d'aquest estudi, en el context d'investigacions que aborden la política d'innovació i que se centren en l'anàlisi de documents o declaracions dels *policy *makers, mentre que ací s'ha treballat amb una *multivocalidad que va posar en relleu discursos oposats, uns altres que es complementen i aquells dominants. Així doncs, des d'una perspectiva basada en el constructivisme social -d'acord amb la qual el llenguatge construeix la realitat social-, es va analitzar la forma en què el discurs de determinats grups incideix sobre com es constitueix el sistema nacional de ciència i tecnologia paraguaià. Això permetrà donar compte de quins són les postures, convergents i divergents, que subjauen a la construcció social del sistema nacional de ciència i tecnologia paraguaià i en quina mesura aquestes postures incideixen en els processos actuals de transformació d'aquest impulsats per l'Estat. L'anàlisi discursiva efectuada va posar en relleu problemàtiques i percepcions que evidencien que el sistema conformat pel sector públic i el sector privat no funciona adequadament. A l'una d'això, els discursos dels diferents tipus de *stakeholders involucrats en el sistema nacional de ciència i tecnologia paraguaià, obeeixen als seus interessos de part, sense tindre en compte -en uns certs casos- les reals necessitats de la societat en post del seu benefici, i anteposant el benefici sectorial o particular.[EN] This study aimed to analyze the discourses used by the main actors involved in the national science and technology system - through interviews with researchers, university academic managers, officials, and businesspeople - to contribute to the description of the current state of science in Paraguay and its place in the globalized knowledge society. The fact of inquiring about the national innovation system based on direct consultation with the stakeholders made it possible to delve deeper into the information provided by the policy makers. And this is where the innovative character of this study lies, in the context of research that deals with innovation policy and that focuses on the analysis of documents or declarations by policy makers, while here we have worked with a multivocality that put in relief opposing discourses, others that complement each other and those that are dominant. Thus, from a perspective based on social constructivism -according to which language constructs social reality-, the way in which the discourse of certain groups affects how the Paraguayan national science and technology system is constituted was analyzed. This will allow us to account for the positions, convergent and divergent, that underlie the social construction of the Paraguayan national science and technology system and to what extent these positions affect the current processes of transformation of this promoted by the State. The discursive analysis conducted highlighted problems and perceptions that show that the system made up of the public sector and the private sector does not work properly. At the same time, the speeches of the diverse types of stakeholders involved in the Paraguayan national science and technology system, obey their interests, without considering -in certain cases- the real needs of society in post of its benefit, and prioritizing the sectoral or particular benefit.Dávalos Dávalos, LA. (2022). Análisis crítico del discurso de los stakeholders del Sistema Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Paraguay [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/18331

El estado de la ciencia en Paraguay

The objective is to make an approximation to the state of science in Paraguay based on this in the analysis of the most relevant indicators of the sector. The methodology will consist of a descriptive analysis of the activities of science and technology in the period 2005-2015. It will strive to provide a true picture of the state of science in Paraguay and its level of adaptation to the needs of the country to achieve development.El objetivo es realizar una aproximación al estado de la ciencia, en Paraguay basándonos para ello en el análisis de los indicadores más relevantes del sector. La metodología consistirá en un análisis descriptivo de las actividades de ciencia y tecnología en el período 2005 - 2015. Se intentará ofrecer una imagen fiel del estado de la ciencia en Paraguay y su nivel de adecuación a las necesidades del país para alcanzar el desarrollo.Dávalos Dávalos, LA. (2017). El estado de la ciencia en Paraguay. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/89789TFG

Programa plan lector para mejorar la comprensión crítico valorativo de los estudiantes de la carrera de Comunicación de la Universidad de Guayaquil

El programa plan lector para mejorar la comprensión crítico valorativo de los estudiantes de la carrera de comunicación de la Universidad de Guayaquil, enfoca de forma científica la problemática del bajo nivel de la comprensión crítico valorativo, el mismo que se evidencia durante el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje y en el no dominio de competencias comunicativas por parte de los estudiantes. El objetivo del trabajo de investigación diseñar un programa plan lector para la mejora de la comprensión crítico valorativo de los estudiantes de la Carrera de Comunicación Social de la Universidad de Guayaquil. La línea de investigación apunta dentro al campo de la innovación pedagógica. El enfoque metodológico es de carácter cuantitativo, de tipo descriptiva y diseño no experimental. Se utilizó como técnica la encuesta y como instrumento el cuestionario. El resultado y la discusión, evidencia que la variable comprensión crítico valorativo está en la categoría de bajo. Es decir, se justifica el diseño del programa plan lector PLANLEC para la mejora de la comprensión crítico valorativa. En conclusión, el programa se constituye es una metodología andragógica que responderá al contexto curricular de la Carrera de Comunicación y el desarrollo de competencias comunicativas

Molecular Targets of Omega 3 and Conjugated Linoleic Fatty Acids – “Micromanaging” Cellular Response

Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized de novo by mammals and need to be ingested either with the diet or through the use of supplements/functional foods to ameliorate cardiovascular prognosis. This review focus on the molecular targets of omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, as paradigmatic molecules that can be exploited both as nutrients and as pharmacological agents, especially as related to cardioprotection. In addition, we indicate novel molecular targets, namely microRNAs that might contribute to the observed biological activities of such essential fatty acids

Designing Spiral Plate Heat Exchangers to Extend Its Service and Enhance the Thermal and Hydraulic Performance

Spiral plate heat exchangers are well suitable for handling fluids with features linked to fouling, high viscosities, fluids with suspended fragments of solids and process streams with tough heat transfer targets. Correlations to describe the thermal and hydraulic performance are a function of the geometrical configuration of the equipment. The present work shows procedures to design spiral plate heat exchangers as a function of the fluid arrangements, government flow, as well whether the thermal equipment is for condensing, cooling or heating duty. An additional study looking for determining the geometrical variables that allow to enhance and improve the thermal and hydraulic performance is presented. Moreover, computational fluid dynamics to validate the thermal and hydraulic method is performed

Entrepreneurial Profile. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale (EAO) in Peruvian University Students

"Entrepreneurship is a possible solution that can guarantee labour insertion, but also allows its inclusion in disparate societies. also allows its inclusion in disparate societies. The aim of the study was to validate by means of a confirmatory factor analysis a measurement model to determine the profile of the university entrepreneur that from the constructs proposed in the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale (EAO) can be tested in the university context in particular. The study corresponds to a quantitative approach, non-experimental design, cross-sectional, carried out in a private university in Lima, Peru, where 271 undergraduate and postgraduate students were selected. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to check the sustainability of the instrument. The proposed model corroborated the main fit indicators of the confirmatory factor analysis, the covariances between constructs are highly significant and positive, so the structure is confirmed by the data. The findings allow us to approve and corroborate the empirical sustainability of the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation Scale (EAO) for the entrepreneurial profile model in Peruvian university students.

Nogo-B Receptor Stabilizes Niemann-Pick Type C2 Protein and Regulates Intracellular Cholesterol Trafficking

SummaryThe Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) is a recently identified receptor for the N terminus of reticulon 4B/Nogo-B. Other than its role in binding Nogo-B, little is known about the biology of NgBR. To elucidate a basic cellular role for NgBR, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen for interacting proteins, using the C-terminal domain as bait, and identified Niemann-Pick type C2 protein (NPC2) as an NgBR-interacting protein. NPC2 protein levels are increased in the presence of NgBR, and NgBR enhances NPC2 protein stability. NgBR localizes primarily to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and regulates the stability of nascent NPC2. RNAi-mediated disruption of NgBR or genetic deficiency in NgBR lead to a decrease in NPC2 levels, increased intracellular cholesterol accumulation, and a loss of sterol sensing, all hallmarks of an NPC2 mutation. These data identify NgBR as an NPC2-interacting protein and provide evidence of a role for NgBR in intracellular cholesterol trafficking

A Human Pharmacokinetic Study

Funding: This research was supported by the Projects PID2019-103914RB-I00 and PID2019-109369RBI00 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Spain). C.E.I.- A. is the holder of a predoctoral grant FPU18/03961 from MICIN. M.C.L.-H. is a receipt of a Juan de la Cierva Grant IJC2020-044353-I/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/EU/PRTR.Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) that regulate intercellular signaling by transferring small RNAs, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other metabolites to local or distant organs, including the brain, by crossing the blood-brain barrier. However, the transport of (poly)phenols in human EVs has not yet been described. Therefore, we aimed here to explore (i) whether resveratrol and (or) its derived metabolites are found in the cargo of human plasma exosome-containing EVs (E-EVs), (ii) when this incorporation occurs, and (iii) whether resveratrol intake stimulates the release of E-EVs. Thus, in a pharmacokinetic study, healthy volunteers (n = 16) consumed 1 capsule (420 mg resveratrol) in the evening before attending the clinic and one more capsule on the day of the pharmacokinetics. The plasma and the isolated E-EVs were analyzed using UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Of 17 metabolites in the plasma, 9 were identified in the E-EVs, but not free resveratrol. The kinetic profiles of resveratrol metabolites were similar in the plasma and the E-EVs, a higher metabolite concentration being detected in the plasma than in the E-EVs. However, the plasma/E-EVs ratio decreased in the gut microbial metabolites, suggesting their better encapsulation efficiency in E-EVs. In addition, glucuronide conjugates of resveratrol, dihydroresveratrol, and lunularin were incorporated into the E-EVs more efficiently than their corresponding sulfates despite glucuronides reaching lower plasma concentrations. Notably, more E-EVs were detected 10 h after resveratrol consumption. This exploratory study provides the first evidence that (i) resveratrol metabolites are transported by E-EVs, with a preference for glucuronide vs. sulfates, (ii) the gut microbial metabolites concentration and kinetic profiles are closely similar in E-EVs and plasma, and (iii) resveratrol intake elicits E-EVs secretion. Overall, these results open new research avenues on the possible role of E-EVs in (poly)phenol health effects.publishersversionpublishe

RNA-Seq, bioinformatic identification of potential microRNA-like small RNAs in the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus and experimental approach for their validatiol

Although genomes from many edible mushrooms are sequenced, studies on fungal micro RNAs (miRNAs) are scarce. Most of the bioinformatic tools are designed for plants or animals, but the processing and expression of fungal miRNAs share similarities and differences with both kingdoms. Moreover, since mushroom species such as Agaricus bisporus (A. bisporus, white button mushroom) are frequently consumed as food, controversial discussions are still evaluating whether their miRNAs might or might not be assimilated, perhaps within extracellular vesicles (i.e., exosomes). Therefore, the A. bisporus RNA-seq was studied in order to identify potential de novo miRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) that might allow their later detection in diet. Results pointed to 1 already known and 37 de novo milRNAs. Three milRNAs were selected for RT-qPCR experiments. Precursors and mature milRNAs were found in the edible parts (caps and stipes), validating the predictions carried out in silico. When their potential gene targets were investigated, results pointed that most were involved in primary and secondary metabolic regulation. However, when the human transcriptome is used as the target, the results suggest that they might interfere with important biological processes related with cancer, infection and neurodegenerative disease