Explaining local manufacturing growth in Chile : the advantages of sectoral diversity

This paper investigates whether the agglomeration of economic activity in regional clusters affects long-run manufacturing total factor productivity growth in an emerging market context. It explores a large firm-level panel dataset for Chile during a period characterized by high growth rates and rising regional income inequality (1992-2004). The findings are clear-cut. Locations with greater concentration of a particular sector did not experience faster growth in total factor productivity during this period. Rather, local sector diversity was associated with higher long-run growth in total factor productivity. However, there is no evidence that the diversity effect was driven by the local interaction with a set of suppliers and/or clients. The authors interpret this as evidence that agglomeration economies are driven by other factors, such as the sharing of access to specialized inputs not provided solely by a single sector, such as skills or financing.Labor Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Economic Growth,Political Economy,Achieving Shared Growth

Openness and technological innovations in developing countries : evidence from firm-level surveys

The authors analyze the role of international technological diffusion for firm-level technological innovations in several developing countries. Their findings show that, after controlling for firm, industry, and country characteristics, exporting and importing activities are important channels for the diffusion of technology. They also find evidence that the majority of foreign-owned firms are significantly less likely to engage in technological innovations than minority foreign-owned firms or domestic-owned firms. The authors interpret this finding as evidence that the technology transferred from multinational parents to majority-owned subsidiaries is more mature than that transferred to minority-owned subsidiaries. This finding supports the idea that equity joint ventures maximize technology transfers to local firms.Technology Industry,ICT Policy and Strategies,Education for Development (superceded),Innovation,Foreign Direct Investment

Mesenchymal stem cells culture on poly(vinylidene fluoride) piezoelectric microspheres

Dissertação de mestrado em Biofísica e BionanossistemasNos últimos anos, as células estaminais mesenquimais (CEM’s) têm sido foco de interesse na comunidade científica devido à sua capacidade de diferenciação em diferentes linhagens celulares, tais como adipócitos, osteoblastos e condrócitos. Neste trabalho, CEM’s humanas foram combinadas com poli(fluoreto de vinilideno), PVDF, um polímero piezoelétrico biocompatível, de modo a impulsionar a sua expansão e proliferação in vitro, com o objetivo principal de obter um substancial número de células com fenótipo osteoblástico para regeneração de tecidos. Com este propósito, filmes de PVDF em fase α foram submetidos a electrospray com diferentes tempos de deposição, dando origem a dois substratos, com alta e baixa concentração de micropartículas de β-PVDF. Foram também produzidas micropartículas sem substrato com vista a criar um ambiente 3D e filmes planos de β-PVDF foram usados como referência. Antes do cultivo celular, os marcadores superficiais celulares característicos de CEM’s (CD105, CD90 e CD73) foram analisados por citometria de fluxo (CF). Quatro dias depois de serem cultivadas nos biomateriais, a viabilidade celular foi examinada. Em paralelo, CF, microscopia eletrónica de varrimento (MEV) e ensaios de imunocitoquímica de vinculina foram realizados de modo a avaliar a manutenção da multipotencialidade das CEM’s e a sua morfologia nos diferentes substratos. Quando a confluência celular foi atingida, foi introduzido um meio de diferenciação osteogénico e o cultivo continuou por 14 dias. Finalmente, CF e um ensaio de imunocitoquímica de osteocalcina foram realizados de modo a avaliar como as diferentes topografias dos biomateriais influenciavam a diferenciação osteogénica. A primeira análise de CF confirmou que as células utilizadas eram CEM’s humanas. No quarto dia, os resultados de MTS mostraram que a proliferação foi similar em todos os substratos. A MEV e o ensaio de imunocitoquímica de vinculina mostraram que as CEM’s adotaram diferentes morfologias dependendo do biomaterial. Adicionalmente, CF mostrou uma perda de marcadores específicos das CEM’s em meio de expansão e 14 dias depois da introdução de meio osteogénico, as células cultivadas nos filmes planos e com micropartículas revelaram existência de osteocalcina e perda de marcadores. Concluindo, as novas topografias com micropartículas de PVDF permitiram um incremento na diferenciação de CEM’s. As células proliferaram satisfatoriamente e a morfologia adotada nos substratos sugere aderência às microesferas. Concluindo, estes suportes mostraram induzir perda de multipotencialidade das CEM’s cultivadas em meio de expansão, mesmo antes da confluência celular.Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have attracted great interest in the scientific community in the past few years due to their differentiation potential towards cells belonging to the musculoskeletal lineages, such as adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. In this work, human MSCs were combined with poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF), a biocompatible piezoelectric polymer, allowing their in vitro expansion and proliferation, with the main goal of obtaining an important number of cells with osteoblastic phenotype for tissue regeneration. With this purpose, α-phase PVDF films were subjected to PVDF electrospray with different deposition times, producing two substrates, with high and low concentration of β-phase PVDF microspheres. Microspheres only were also produced to create a 3D environment. Flat β-phase films were used as reference. Before cell seeding, the characteristic cell surface markers of MSCs (CD105, CD90 and CD73) were analyzed by flow cytometry (FC). Cells were cultured onto the biomaterials and viability was assessed after 4 days. In parallel, FC, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and immunocytochemistry of vinculin were performed in order to evaluate the maintenance of MSCs multipotentiality and their morphology on the different substrates. When the confluence was reached, osteogenic differentiation medium was introduced and the culture was continued for 14 days. Finally, FC and an osteocalcin immunocytochemistry were performed in order to evaluate if the different substrate morphologies influenced MSCs osteogenic differentiation. First FC analysis confirmed that cells were actually human mesenchymal stem cells. At the fourth day, MTS results showed similar proliferation in all the substrates. SEM and vinculin immunocytochemistry have shown that a different morphology was adopted by MSCs depending on the substrate. Also, FC indicated loss of specific MSCs markers in expansion medium. After 14 days of osteogenic medium introduction, cells cultured on flat films and films with microspheres revealed osteocalcin staining and again, loss of multipotentiality. Concluding, this new shaped PVDF microspheres substrates were able to enhance hMSC’s differentiation. Cells proliferated at high rate and their morphology in the substrates suggests that these cells are adhering onto microspheres. Moreover, these supports’ topography induces loss of multipotenciality in MSCs cultured in expansion medium, even before reaching confluence

Consequências da exposição a longo-prazo de um antibiótico no peixe-zebra: do organismo ao microbioma

Due to high food demand, aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries. Hence, to supply all the needs, organisms are commonly grown under stress conditions (e.g. overcrowded) which favor the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. To combat this problem, broad-spectrum antibiotics such as oxytetracycline (OTC) are used. Since organisms are not able to absorb all the antibiotic consumed, it is known that a large part of these compounds is excreted in its active form and released to the environment. Once in the environment, antibiotics can have effects on non-target organisms such as fish, their microbiome, and the bacterial communities in the water. Thus, this work aimed to study, the impact of antibiotics, namely OTC, on zebrafish in an integrated analysis at various levels of biological organization. For this purpose, in a first experience, adult zebrafish were exposed to OTC for two months via water. The analysis of the effects was performed at a sub-individual level (e.g. enzyme activity), individual (e.g. behavior) and microbiome (e.g. structure, function, and selection of bacteria resistant to OTC and resistance genes). Then, to verify the reversibility of effects in a non-continuous exposure scenario, after a long-term exposure period, organisms were transferred and kept in clean water for one month. In this experiment, the analysis of the effects was performed at a sub-individual level (e.g. enzyme activity), and in the microbiome (e.g. structure, function, and selection of bacteria resistant to OTC and resistance genes). Analyses during the exposure (five days and two months of exposure) and in the post-exposure period (five days and one month of post-exposure) were also performed. During the exposure period, our results revealed that OTC had an impact in organisms at several biological organization levels. At a sub-individual level, a decrease in the detoxification mechanisms and cellular energy available was observed. At individual level, an increase of stress response was observed through the increase of hyperactivity of fish. At bacterial communities’ level, OTC exposure induced changes at structure and functional level in both fish gut and water. For instance, in water samples ou results suggested the selection of some bacterial phylotypes that play a role in the nitrogen cycle. Regarding the post-exposure period, in both parameters analyzed (energetic reserves and bacterial communities’ structure and function) differences between the exposed and control group were minimized indicating a recovery in the fish gut and water. The role of OTC in the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes was also verified. Namely, the selection of resistant bacteria indicated as potential pathogens to humans and fish was observed. Moreover, the pathogenic potential of some isolates was tested and confirmed in vivo. Overall, our work demonstrated that the water contamination with the antibiotic has an impact in zebrafish with consequences at several levels analyzed. The use of sensitive endpoints, that may act like early warning signals, allowed to assess effects at low concentrations. The effects observed at organisms’ level (e.g. behavior change, energy reserves) can compromise fish ability of prey capture and predator avoidance, leading to further consequences at population level. Moreover, the selection of potential pathogens and/or bacterial phylotypes related with nitrogen cycle may have an impact at ecosystem level. Hence our work reinforces the importance of interdisciplinary studies for a deeper understanding of the real impact of antibiotics in the environment.Para dar resposta à crescente necessidade de produção de alimentos, algumas indústrias têm assistido a um grande desenvolvimento, como é o caso das aquaculturas. De modo a atingir as metas pretendidas, os organismos são comummente mantidos em condições sub-ótimas (ex. altas densidades) favorecendo o aparecimento e disseminação de doenças. Para combater este problema, são utilizados antibióticos de largo-espectro como é o caso da oxitetraciclina (OTC). Uma vez que grande parte do composto consumido não é metabolizado pelo organismo, o antibiótico é excretado na sua forma ativa e libertado para o meio ambiente. Uma vez no meio ambiente, os antibióticos podem ter efeitos nos organismos não alvo como por exemplo nos peixes, no seu microbioma e nas comunidades bacterianas da água. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o impacto de antibióticos, nomeadamente da OTC, no peixe-zebra, numa análise integrada e dirigida a vários níveis de organização biológica. Para isso, numa primeira experiência, expuseram-se peixes-zebra adultos a OTC por dois meses. Foram analisados os efeitos a nível sub-individual (ex. atividade enzimática), do indivíduo (ex. comportamento) e do microbioma tanto dos organismos como da água de exposição (ex. estrutura, função e seleção de bactérias e genes de resistência à OTC). Em seguida, foi realizada uma experiência para verificar a reversibilidade dos efeitos observado. Neste caso os organismos foram expostos por dois meses nas mesmas condições e, seguidamente, foram transferidos para água limpa e assim mantidos durante um mês. Nesta experiência, foram analisados efeitos a nível sub-individual (ex. atividade enzimática), e no microbioma dos organismos e da água de exposição. Os efeitos foram avaliados tanto durante o período de exposição (cinco dias e dois meses de exposição) como no período de pós-exposição (cinco dias e um mês pós-exposição). Os resultados permitiram verificar que a OTC tem um impacto nos vários níveis de organização. A nível sub-individual, foi observada uma inibição dos mecanismos de destoxificação e a redução da energia celular disponível. A nível do indivíduo, a OTC provocou uma alteração do comportamento dos peixes, verificando-se hiperatividade como resposta ao stress químico. A nível das comunidades bacterianas, verificou-se uma alteração tanto a nível da estrutura como das funções das comunidades. Por exemplo, na água, os resultados sugeriam a seleção de bactérias que estão relacionadas com o ciclo do azoto. No período de pós-exposição foi possível verificar que tanto a nível das reservas energéticas como a nível do microbioma dos peixes e da água de exposição, as diferenças entre grupos expostos e grupo controlo diminuíram, sugerindo uma possível recuperação. A OTC demonstrou ter também um papel na seleção de bactérias resistentes a antibióticos e genes de resistência. Nomeadamente foi observada a seleção de géneros bacterianos indicados como potenciais patogénicos de peixes e humanos. O potencial patogénico de alguns isolados foi confirmado em ensaios in vivo. No geral este estudo demonstrou que a presença de OTC na água tem um efeito no peixe-zebra com consequências nos vários parâmetros analisados. O uso de parâmetros sensíveis, que podem funcionar como sinais de alerta precoce, permitiu observar efeitos mesmo após exposição a baixas concentrações do composto. Os efeitos observados ao nível dos organismos (ex. alteração do comportamento, reservas de energia) podem comprometer a capacidade dos peixes de capturar presas e evitar predadores, levando a consequências posteriores ao nível da população. Também, a seleção de potenciais bactérias patogénicas e/ou filotipos bacterianos relacionados com o ciclo do azoto pode vir a ter um impacto ao nível do ecossistema. Assim, o nosso trabalho demonstra a importância de mais estudos interdisciplinares para uma compreensão mais profunda do real impacto dos antibióticos no meio ambiente.Programa Doutoral em Biologia e Ecologia das Alterações Globai

Family disruption in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights

Comunicação apresentada na 47th Annual Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – Traversing the trail of alienation: mountains of emotion, rocky relationships, mile high conflict, Denver, Colorado, 5th June 2010This workshop aims to analyse the principles drawn out by the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in regard to family disruption matters, such as custody and access, children taken into public care and the right to respect for family life of prisoners and immigrants. The right to respect for family life, within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, requires a positive obligation of Member States to act in a manner calculated to allow family ties to develop normally. Furthermore, as the Strasbourg Court often stresses, the mutual enjoyment by parents and children of each other’s company constitutes a fundamental element of family life and thus one of the objectives pursued by Article 8. Therefore, the restriction or non-enforcement of custody and visiting rights, as well as the compulsory taking of children into public care and the implementation of care measures, or the limitation or prohibition of visits from family members to prisoners, or even the refusal of family reunification of immigrants, represent an interference with the right to respect for family life under Article 8. In this workshop, we intend to study under which grounds, according to this Court, Member States may legitimately interfere with the enjoyment of this right. This case-law analysis will allow us to conclude, e.g.¸ that, although a wide margin of appreciation may be granted to Member States in this field, the respect for family life will not be considered to be violated if parents’ procedural rights are safeguarded, if good faith efforts to enforce access arrangements are made, if measures of public care are taken with a view to the reunification of the family and if a fair balance between the conflicting interests is made

Brief Psychotherapy for Management of Primary Headaches: a Clinical Grounded Approach

This research explores the potentialities of psychotherapy for the management of chronic pain. The model used is brief therapy of systemic orientation and the chronic pain managed is primary headaches (namely, migraines and tension-type headaches). In order to produce clinically relevant material, this research is carried out within an alternative research paradigm. The raw data are the audio-recordings of two cases: one with a man suffering from migraines; the other with a woman suffering from chronic tension-type headaches (aggravated by migraine episodes). These were selected from a pool of cases because they illustrate the phenomena under study and both completed a follow-up which confirmed an acceptable headache management outcome. The recordings were transcribed in order to be studied using discourse analysis of social constructionist orientation (DA hereafter). The research questions explored are: How were the headache problems, the therapeutic aims and the resources for managing them constructed during therapy? What did the participants do with these constructions? How was this particular type of talk interaction helpful in changing the way these two people managed their primary headaches? DA reveals that: (1) the headache problems are entangled in many vicious cycles, Catch-22 situations and even double-binds, and that these patterns have the tendency to perpetuate the problems; (2) the meaning of the headaches vary from one patient to the other, being greatly influenced by their personal experiences, family histories and interaction with health professionals; (3) these meanings influence the co-construction of the therapeutic aims, with management (rather than a cure) emerging as a more achievable goal, with additional auxiliary aims also becoming very important; (4) specific interventions for managing the headaches and for achieving the auxiliary aims lead to concrete changes; (5) these changes are sometimes generalized for other situations, and therapy is seen as a useful resource. Thus, this study shows some of the potentialities of brief therapy of systemic orientation to manage primary headaches, producing concrete suggestions that can be applied in clinical work

High–power light–curing units commercially available: a qualitative systematic review

Objetivos: Esta revisão sistemática qualitativa analisa a evidência in vivo e in vitro de fotopolimerizadores-LED de alta-irradiância (≥2000 mW/cm2 ) e identifica os dispositivos comercialmente disponíveis. Desenvolvimento: Pesquisa na PubMed e B-on, por estratégia PRISMA; Critérios de inclusão: artigos in vitro e in vivo com fotopolimerizadores LED de alta irradiância (≥2000 mW/cm2 ), idioma Inglês, publicados entre 2010 e 2020; Os fotopolimerizadores-LED alta-potência disponíveis foram identificados pela base de dados de expositores do Congresso da Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas 2019. Dos 1803 artigos selecionados, 18 foram incluídos (15-in vitro e 3-in vivo). Foram descritos 32 fotopolimerizadores-LED; maioritariamente têm irradiância compreendida entre 2000-3000mW/cm2 ; FlashMaxP3Ô(CMS Dental, Dinamarca) apresentou a maior irradiância (6000mW/cm2 ). Conclusão: A evidência sobre fotopolimerizadores-LED de alta-potência e seu uso clínico é escassa. A investigação é escassa quanto ao uso inadequado, eventos adversos no complexo pulpo-dentinário/tecidos biológicos e efeitos colaterais nas taxas de sobrevivência clínica de materiais à base de resina.Aims: This qualitative systematic review describes the in vivo and in vitro evidence of high– power LED-Light-Curing Units (LED-LCU) and identifies those commercially available. Development: PubMed and B-on were assessed using PRISMA strategy. Studies that respected criteria: in vitro and in vivo studies of high–power (≥2000 mW/cm2 ) output LCUs, for dental resin-based-materials, English language, from 2010 to 2020, were included. High-power LEDLCUs available were identified by Exhibitor’s database of 2019 Portuguese-Dental-Association Congress. From 1803 screened articles, 18 (15 in vitro and 3 in vivo) included; Thirty-two LEDLCUs described: most with outputs of 2000-3000 mW/cm2 ; FlashMaxP3Ô (CMS Dental, Denmark) highest output (6000 mW/cm2 ). Conclusion: Evidence showing that high–power LCUs are the best clinical option is still very scarce. There is still insufficient research regarding the inadequate use of those LCUs, the adverse events in dentin-pulp complex/biological tissues and, the side-effects on resin-based materials clinical survival rates and polymerization quality