Gamer Resistance to Marketization of Play

Video games provide an important context to understand the role of markets in a virtual space. Particularly, consumerism has appeared to have transferred from actual reality in the virtual reality in video games. For instance, growth in use of microtransactions by companies enable consumers to exchange real currency for in-game currency. Thus, the distinction between reality and fiction appears to be blurring. This may be problematic given the hegemony of AAA video game developers (Triple-A games are those with very high development and promotion budgets), commonality of neoliberal appeals in video games, and the potential influence that video games can have on the gamer’s material world. This article provides an analysis of the connections between video games and a market society and identifies some forms of consumer rejection of the commodification of virtual items in the virtual worlds established by video games. Additionally, the implications of microtransactions on the market in video games along with resistance to commodification of video games are discussed

Amelogenin Peptide Extract Increases Differentiation and Angiogenic and Local Factor Production and Inhibits Apoptosis in Human Osteoblasts

Enamel matrix derivative (EMD), a decellularized porcine extracellular matrix (ECM), is used clinically in periodontal tissue regeneration. Amelogenin, EMD’s principal component, spontaneously assembles into nanospheres in vivo, forming an ECM complex that releases proteolytically cleaved peptides. However, the role of amelogenin or amelogenin peptides in mediating osteoblast response to EMD is not clear. Human MG63 osteoblast-like cells or normal human osteoblasts were treated with recombinant human amelogenin or a 5 kDa tyrosine-rich amelogenin peptide (TRAP) isolated from EMD and the effect on osteogenesis, local factor production, and apoptosis assessed. Treated MG63 cells increased alkaline phosphatase specific activity and levels of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, prostaglandin E2, and active/latent TGF-β1, an effect sensitive to the effector and concentration. Primary osteoblasts exhibited similar, but less robust, effects. TRAP-rich 5 kDa peptides yielded more mineralization than rhAmelogenin in osteoblasts in vitro. Both amelogenin and 5 kDa peptides protected MG63s from chelerythrine-induced apoptosis. The data suggest that the 5 kDa TRAP-rich sequence is an active amelogenin peptide that regulates osteoblast differentiation and local factor production and prevents osteoblast apoptosis

Problemática de la dirección femenina en cooperativas agropecuarias

Se valoraron los principales factores que limitan a las mujeres cooperativistas para ocupar cargos de dirección en el sector agropecuario de la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba. El estudio —realizado entre 2006 y 2009 en 12 cooperativas— presenta una propuesta metodológica novedosa, por la combinación de estudios de caso desde la perspectiva de género, la aplicación de técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas, así como el análisis desde diferentes dimensiones de la información. Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron con el paquete estadístico profesional SPSS´. Se develaron un conjunto de factores (materiales y culturales) que obstaculizan la participación de las mujeres en la dirección de los procesos productivos y en el desarrollo de la economía pecuaria. Las pocas mujeres dirigentes realizan su trabajo en condiciones desventajosas en comparación con sus pares masculinos, debido a prejuicios, falta de capacitación, entre otros factores. Los horarios de reuniones dificultan la participación femenina. Los resultados del trabajo pueden constituir una guía para la solución de los problemas de la dirección femenina en este sector

Effects of maternal subnutrition during early pregnancy on cow hematological profiles and offspring physiology and vitality in two beef breeds

This experiment evaluated the effects of subnutrition during early gestation on hematology in cows (Bos Taurus) and on hematological, metabolic, endocrine, and vitality parameters in their calves. Parda de Montaña and Pirenaica dams were inseminated and assigned to either a control (CONTROL, 100% requirements) or a nutrient‐restricted group (SUBNUT, 65%) during the first third of gestation. Dam blood samples were collected on days 20 and 253 of gestation, and calf samples were obtained during the first days of life. Pirenaica dams presented higher red series parameters than Parda de Montaña dams, both in the first and the last months of gestation. During early pregnancy, granulocyte numbers and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were lower in Pirenaica‐SUBNUT than in Pirenaica‐CONTROL cows. Calves from the SUBNUT cows did not show a physiological reduction in red series values in early life, suggesting later maturation of the hematopoietic system. Poor maternal nutrition affected calf endocrine parameters. Newborns from dystocic parturitions showed lower NEFA concentrations and weaker vitality responses. In conclusion, maternal nutrition had short‐term effects on cow hematology, Pirenaica cows showing a higher susceptibility to undernutrition; and a long‐term effect on their offspring endocrinology, SUBNUT newborns showing lower levels of IGF‐1 and higher levels of cortisol.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Business and the European Union Regional Development Funds (INIA RTA 2013‐00059‐C02 and INIA RZP 2015‐001) and the Government of Aragon under the Grant Research Group Funds (A14_17R). A. Noya received a PhD grant from INIA‐Government of Aragon

Modelo conceptual para la reducción del riesgo de desastres: contribución al desarrollo local sostenible

Se analizó el riesgo de desastres en el contexto naturaleza-cultura-desarrollo local y se identificaron elementos que forman su modelo conceptual. La previsión de ese riesgo —en sus facetas social y regional— se abordó como construcción social dinámica y cambiante, que exige gestión del conocimiento y estrategias de comunicación. Se propuso un modelo conceptual para reducir el riesgo de desastres e introducir cultura de prevención a nivel local

Potencialidad de los recursos del potencial de desarrollo local y su posicionamiento estratégico

El enfoque potencial de desarrollo local explica la existencia de un grupo de recursos con la capacidad de favorecer el desarrollo de un espacio determinado. Sin embargo, la simple existencia de estos recursos no determina su potencialidad. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar el nivel de potencialidad de estos y utilizar esa información para posicionarlos estratégicamente. Para ello se usó el análisis estratégico del potencial de desarrollo pues permite mayor objetividad a la planificación estratégica y al diseño de estrategias locales. Se aportó un instrumento dividido en dos etapas: en la primera se expone la determinación del nivel de potencialidad de los recursos y en la segunda se muestra cómo posicionarlos estratégicamente

Latin America: the next region for haematopoietic transplant progress

Haematopoietic cell transplant activity in the 28 countries comprising Latin America is poorly defined. We conducted a voluntary survey of members of the Latin American Bone Marrow Transplantation Group regarding transplant activity 2009–2012. Collated responses were compared with data of transplant rates from the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation for other geographic regions. Several socio-economic variables were analysed to determine correlations with transplant rates. In total, 94 teams from 12 countries reported 11519 transplants including 7033 autotransplants and 4486 allotransplants. Annual activity increased from 2517 transplants in 2009 to 3263 in 2012, a 30% increase. Median transplants rate (transplant per million inhabitants) in 2012 was 64 (autotransplants, median 40; allotransplants, median 24). This rate is substantially lower than that in North America and European regions (482 and 378) but higher than that in the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Pacific regions (30 and 45). However, the Latin America transplant rate is 5–8-fold lower than that in America and Europe, suggesting a need to increase transplant availability. Transplant team density in Latin America (teams per million population; 1.8) is 3–4-fold lower than that in North America (6.2) or Europe (7.6). Within Latin America, there is substantial diversity in transplant rates by country partially explained by diverse socio-economic variables including per capita gross national income, health expenditure and physician density. These data should help inform future health-care policy in Latin America