Washington Dollars and the Puerto Rican Economy: Amounts, Impacts, Alternatives

By examining the Washington to Puerto Rico flow of funds in some detail and comparing it with the flow of federal funds to the states, this paper demonstrates that the island’s receipt of funds is not uniquely large and cannot be viewed as representing the “largess” of U.S. taxpayers. The funds coming from Washington to Puerto Rico cannot bear the weight of responsibility for the island’s economic problems that various sources have placed upon them. Puerto Rico’s economic ills have to be explained by a larger set of factors. Nonetheless, some of the Washington to Puerto Rico transfer programs may create a set of incentives that are not in the interests of Puerto Ricans. As a result, the policy prescriptions offered here have much in common with those of analysts who see the transfer programs as a major problem, in particular with regard to the Earned Income Tax Credit. The policy prescriptions offered here, however, go beyond others in suggesting a more favorable treatment of Puerto Rico with regard to federal procurements and the Child Tax Credit. An overall message of the analysis is that the flow of federal funds could be changed in a positive rather than punitive manner to improve the operation of the Puerto Rican economy

The best-achieving Online Students are overrepresented in Course Ratings

Student ratings are the most used and influential measure of performance in Higher Education, and an integral component of formative and summative decision making. This may be particularly relevant in the relatively new online courses, where the pedagogical model is still developing. However, student ratings face strong controversy, and some remarkable challenges –one of which stems from the fact that not all students provide ratings. Nonresponse bias, or the lack of representativeness of the providers of ratings, has been measured and discussed in traditional courses, but to date no study has analysed nonresponse bias in the online evaluation of a fully online higher education course. Our study aims to close this gap. We analysed archival data for the students completing the intake module of four psychology online postgraduate programmes in a 2-year period (June 2014 to May 2016; n = 457). Statistical analyses included correlation, chi-square test, Mantel-Haenszel test of trend, Mann-Whitney’s U and regression analysis; effect size was measured with odds radios, Cramer´s V, and r. We found that the likelihood of providing ratings was not associated with sex, age, educational background, or familiarity with the British higher education system; however, respondents presented significantly higher values than nonrespondents in the key variable used to measure their learning experience –final mark. The implications of this finding are discussed in relation to Groves’ (2006) causal models for nonresponse bias, as well as the validity and leniency hypotheses

Cyclic cocycles on twisted convolution algebras

We give a construction of cyclic cocycles on convolution algebras twisted by gerbes over discrete translation groupoids. For proper \'etale groupoids, Tu and Xu provide a map between the periodic cyclic cohomology of a gerbe-twisted convolution algebra and twisted cohomology groups which is similar to a construction of Mathai and Stevenson. When the groupoid is not proper, we cannot construct an invariant connection on the gerbe; therefore to study this algebra, we instead develop simplicial techniques to construct a simplicial curvature 3-form representing the class of the gerbe. Then by using a JLO formula we define a morphism from a simplicial complex twisted by this simplicial curvature 3-form to the mixed bicomplex computing the periodic cyclic cohomology of the twisted convolution algebras. The results in this article were originally published in the author's Ph.D. thesis.Comment: 39 page

RESPONSABILIDADE SOCIAL NO MEIO ACADÊMICO: UM ESTUDO COM ALUNOS DE CIÊNCIAS CONTÁBEIS

O estudo objetivou avaliar a percepção sobre responsabilidade social que os discentes do curso de Ciências Contábeis possuem. Para tanto se desenvolveu uma pesquisa de survey com questionário de autopreenchimento aplicado em dois cursos ministrados em campus diferentes de uma universidade comunitária de Santa Catarina. Levantaram-se dados sobre as características sociodemográficas dos alunos, aos que se questionou sobre uma situação fictícia de compra de um produto. Os métodos estatísticos usados foram análise fatorial e análise de variância. Os resultados indicam que a maioria possui um conhecimento adequado da temática. A maior diferença se observa entre os estudantes que se autoavaliem como comprometidos com o meio ambiente e não comprometidos. Os primeiros foram os que mais bem avaliam as ações da empresa fictícia do relato. Quanto à percepção de justiça a maioria considera justo que o preço seja diferenciado, cobrando-se mais pelo produto se comparado com um similar oferecido pela concorrência que não realiza ações de responsabilidade social. Embora a ANOVA não mostrasse diferença significativa cabe também mencionar que a disciplina Responsabilidade Social quando ministrada em regime presencial favorece um discernimento relativamente mais eficiente

Habitat heterogeneity and connectivity shape microbial communities in South American petlands

Bacteria play critical roles in peatland ecosystems. However, very little is known of how habitat heterogeneity affects the structure of the bacterial communities in these ecosystems. Here, we used amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA and nifH genes to investigate phylogenetic diversity and bacterial community composition in three different sub-Antarctic peat bog aquatic habitats: Sphagnum magellanicum interstitial water, and water from vegetated and non-vegetated pools. Total and nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities from Sphagnum interstitial water differed significantly from vegetated and non-vegetated pool communities (which were colonized by the same bacterial populations), probably as a result of differences in water chemistry and biotic interactions. Total bacterial communities from pools contained typically aquatic taxa, and were more dissimilar in composition and less species rich than those from Sphagnum interstitial waters (which were enriched in taxa typically from soils), probably reflecting the reduced connectivity between the former habitats. These results show that bacterial communities in peatland water habitats are highly diverse and structured by multiple concurrent factors.Fil: Oloo, Felix. University Of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Valverde, Angel. University Of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Quiroga, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - la Plata. Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus.; ArgentinaFil: Vikram, S.. University Of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Cowan, Donald Arthur. University Of Pretoria; SudáfricaFil: Mataloni, Maria Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Limnología y Conservación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Sistema de gestión de calidad bajo la ISO 9001:2015 para mejorar la rentabilidad del Molino Villa Hermosa S.R.L., Arequipa 2021

Respecto a la investigación la cual se titula; SISTEMA DE GESTIÓN DE CALIDAD BAJO LA ISO 9001:2015 PARA MEJORAR LA RENTABILIDAD DEL MOLINO VILLA HERMOSA S.R.L., AREQUIPA 2021, que tiene como objetivo determinar en qué medida el sistema de calidad bajo la ISO 9001:2015 mejorara la rentabilidad del Molino Villa Hermosa S.R.L. 2020. En la investigación se trabajó con un diseño pre experimental, a través de la cual se hicieron uso de las técnicas análisis documentario y técnicas de fichaje, con los instrumentos guía de análisis documentario y guía de fichas bibliográficas. Se pudo concluir que el incremento de la rentabilidad en la empresa se debe a que se incrementó sus ingresos (ventas) en casi el 100%, para lo cual tuvo que invertir en sus activos como implementos tecnológicos de última generación, equipos de seguridad más sofisticados, y capacitación a su personal. Respecto a la rentabilidad neta dio una diferencia entre el primer y segundo semestre del 2020 un 30.88%; impactando de forma positiva a la empresa. De la misma forma se pudo observar un incremento la utilidad bruta dando como resultado una diferencia del 18.58%. Finalmente, se pudo observar el incremento la utilidad operativa dando como resultado 30.76%

Molecular mechanism of Gαi activation by non-GPCR proteins with a Gα-Binding and Activating motif

Heterotrimeric G proteins are quintessential signalling switches activated by nucleotide exchange on Gα. Although activation is predominantly carried out by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), non-receptor guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have emerged as critical signalling molecules and therapeutic targets. Here we characterize the molecular mechanism of G-protein activation by a family of non-receptor GEFs containing a Gα-binding and -activating (GBA) motif. We combine NMR spectroscopy, computational modelling and biochemistry to map changes in Gα caused by binding of GBA proteins with residue-level resolution. We find that the GBA motif binds to the SwitchII/α3 cleft of Gα and induces changes in the G-1/P-loop and G-2 boxes (involved in phosphate binding), but not in the G-4/G-5 boxes (guanine binding). Our findings reveal that G-protein-binding and activation mechanisms are fundamentally different between GBA proteins and GPCRs, and that GEF-mediated perturbation of nucleotide phosphate binding is sufficient for Gα activation

A dark hole in our understanding of marine ecosystems and their services : perspectives from the mesopelagic community

In the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures acting on the Earth system, urgent actions are needed to guarantee efficient resource management and sustainable development for our growing human population. Our oceans - the largest underexplored component of the Earth system - are potentially home for a large number of new resources, which can directly impact upon food security and the wellbeing of humanity. However, the extraction of the resources fostered by marine ecosystems has repercussions for biodiversity and the oceans ability to sequester green house gases and thereby climate. In the search for new “resources to unlock the economic potential of the global oceans, recent observations have identified a large unexploited biomass of mesopelagic fish living in the deep ocean. This biomass has recently been estimated to be 10 billion metric tonnes, at least 10 times larger than previous estimates. If we are able to exploit this community at sustainable levels without impacting upon biodiversity and compromising the oceans’ ability to sequester carbon, we can produce more food and potentially many new nutraceutical products. However, to meet the needs of present generations without compromising the needs of future generations, we need to guarantee a sustainable exploitation of these resources. To do so requires a holistic assessment of the community and an understanding of the mechanisms controlling this biomass, its role in the preservation of biodiversity and its influence on climate as well as management tools able to weigh the costs and benefits of exploitation of this community

COVID-19 outbreak and increased risk of amblyopia and epidemic myopia: Insights from EUROCOVCAT group

The most common cause of vision impairment in children is amblyopia. It is defined as impaired visual acuity in one or both eyes that is present with no demonstrable abnormality of the visual pathway and is not immediately resolved by wearing glasses. After the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, widespread changes and restrictions to social and sanitary practices have presented significant issues in access to eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A reduction of more than 80% in pediatric eye care volume up to its total cessation has been observed in different departments. In this scenario, reduced or absent eyesight, due to delay in timely treatment of amblyopic conditions, could create major, long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services. Processes coming out of lockdown should be gradually easing restrictions giving priority to ophthalmology and eye care facilities so that amblyopia does not remain unattended and irreversible as in adults due to lack of timely treatments. If not reversible, this process could lead to a dramatic increase in disability and unsustainable social costs for many governments

COVID-19 outbreak and increased risk of amblyopia and epidemic myopia: Insights from EUROCOVCAT group

The most common cause of vision impairment in children is amblyopia. It is defined as impaired visual acuity in one or both eyes that is present with no demonstrable abnormality of the visual pathway and is not immediately resolved by wearing glasses. After the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, widespread changes and restrictions to social and sanitary practices have presented significant issues in access to eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A reduction of more than 80% in pediatric eye care volume up to its total cessation has been observed in different departments. In this scenario, reduced or absent eyesight, due to delay in timely treatment of amblyopic conditions, could create major, long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services. Processes coming out of lockdown should be gradually easing restrictions giving priority to ophthalmology and eye care facilities so that amblyopia does not remain unattended and irreversible as in adults due to lack of timely treatments. If not reversible, this process could lead to a dramatic increase in disability and unsustainable social costs for many governments