Global production networks and small and medium enterprises (SMES): a public policy perspective on the Chilean agrofood sector

This thesis addresses the conditions of SMEs and working conditions in the Chilean agrofood sector. Especially in an economy with a high degree of trade openness as Chilean economy. The current state of debate is that is more controversial the apparent success of Chilean agrofood sector due to the existence of these fault lines. The upgrading theories are mainly narrow minded and do not consider the weakest part of the production chains. It is required accordingly, a broader look to these problems such that embodies these problems. It is a research based mainly in an approach of political economy. Within this context, this thesis explores the role of SMEs within the Chilean economy and, in particular, their participation within the Chilean economy's insertion into global agrofood production networks, with the aim of giving new insights into the debates over the role of industrial policy in developing countries (an economy based on natural resources). This research will contribute to developing recommendations for the use of public policy tools (rejuvenated industrial policy) in an effective way in relation to the development of SMEs in the agrofood sector. Also there is an urgent need for industrial policy to consider working conditions, training and the acquisition of skills in a much more explicit way, particularly in an economy that is heavily based on the exploitation of natural resources as in the Chilean case

Low concentration of ethanol induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells: role of various signal transduction pathways

As we previously demonstrated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, ethanol at low concentration triggers the Fas apoptotic pathway. However, its role in other intracellular signaling pathways remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of low concentration of ethanol on different intracellular signaling pathways. For this purpose, HepG2 cells were treated with 1 mM ethanol for 10 min and the phosphorylation state of protein kinases was determined. In addition, the mRNA levels of transcription factors and genes associated with the Fas apoptotic pathway were determined. Our data demonstrated that ethanol-induced phosphorylation of protein kinases modulates both anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic mechanisms in HepG2 cells. Pro-apoptosis resulted mainly from the strong inhibition of the G-protein couple receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, the signal transduction initiated by ethanol-induced protein kinases phosphorylation lead to increased expression of the transcription factors with subsequent expression of genes associated with the Fas apoptotic pathway (Fas receptor, Fas ligand, FADD and caspase 8). These results indicate that low concentration of ethanol exert their effect by predominant activation of pro-apoptotic events that can be divided in two phases. An early phase characterized by a rapid transient effect on protein kinases phosphorylation, after 10 min exposure, with subsequent increased expression of transcription factors for up to 6 hr. This early phase is followed by a second phase associated with increased gene expression that began after 6 hr and persisted for more than 24 hr. This information provided a novel insight into the mechanisms of action of ethanol (1mM) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Functional genomics analysis of low concentration of ethanol in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Role of genes involved in transcriptional and translational processes

We previously found that ethanol at millimolar level (1 mM) activates the expression of transcription factors with subsequent regulation of apoptotic genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. However, the role of ethanol on the expression of genes implicated in transcriptional and translational processes remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the effect of low concentration of ethanol on gene expression profiling in HepG2 cells using cDNA microarrays with especial interest in genes with transcriptional and translational function. The gene expression pattern observed in the ethanol-treated HepG2 cells revealed a relatively similar pattern to that found in the untreated control cells. The pairwise comparison analysis demonstrated four significantly up-regulated (COBRA1, ITGB4, STAU2, and HMGN3) genes and one down-regulated (ANK3) gene. All these genes exert their function on transcriptional and translational processes and until now none of these genes have been associated with ethanol. This functional genomic analysis demonstrates the reported interaction between ethanol and ethanol-regulated genes. Moreover, it confirms the relationship between ethanol-regulated genes and various signaling pathways associated with ethanol-induced apoptosis. The data presented in this study represents an important contribution toward the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ethanol at low concentration in HepG2 cells, a HCC-derived cell line

Social Inclusion: The Higher Education Sector in Chile and in the United Kingdom

The Higher Education (HE) systems of Chile and the UK are compared in terms of the ‘massification’ (Altbach, 1989) and the relevance and adequacy of the private-public provision mix. Dissimilar, each country has tried to build social inclusion into HE outreach at the same time as allowing participation of the private sector. Also included in the research are a) the role of social capital as a positive contribution for the social and economic development; b) the current state of social inequality in access to HE; and c) an in-depth analysis of the implications of both state and private roles over social inclusion in HE. Outreach programmes from each country, the Propedeutico in Chile and Aimhigher in the UK, are also analysed for lessons learned

Digital Documentation and the Archaeology of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands

[EN] The Lower Pecos Canyonlands of southwest Texas and northern Mexico house some of the most complex and compositionally intricate prehistoric rock art in the world. Because of the unique nature and the incomparable richness of this cultural legacy, it is imperative to create a permanent visual, auditory and textual archive for present and future generations and to promote preservation of this resource through education. SHUMLA’s Lower Pecos Rock Art Recording and Preservation Project is meeting this need through digital documentation of rock art sites, creation of a digital library to archive rock art data, establishment of a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary research program, and continuation of hands-on education programs that connect people of all ages to this unique cultural legacy.[ES] Las cañadas de la parte baja del Rio Pecos en el suroeste de Texas y el norte de México se abren una serie de cuevas con impresionantes pictografias que presentan algunas de las composiciones más complejas e intrincadas del mundo. Debido a sus cualidades excepcionales y a la incomparable riqueza de este legado cultural, es urgente crear un archivo visual permanente, auditivo y documental que puedan aprovechar las generaciones presentes y futuras. El proyecto Shumla’s Lower Pecos Rock Art Recording and Preservation Project pretende lograr este objetivo a través de la documentación digital de los sitios con arte rupestre, de la creación de una biblioteca digital para archivar los datos relacionados con el arte rupestre y el desarrollo de un programa coherente de investigación multidiciplinaria.Boyd, CE.; Marcos Marín, F.; Goodmaster, C.; Johnson, A.; Castaneda, A.; Dwyer, B. (2012). Digital Documentation and the Archaeology of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. Virtual Archaeology Review. 3(5):98-103. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2012.4535OJS9810335BOYD, Carolyn E. (2003): Rock Art of the Lower Pecos. College Station: Texas A&M University Press.BOYD, Carolyn E. (2010): "El Arte Rupestre de Tejas: Análisis Contextual de Motivos Recurrentes en el Área de la Desembocadura del Río Pecos" in Revista Iberoamericana de Lingüística no 5, pp. 5-42.MARCOS-MARÍN, Francisco (2010): "Arte rupestre y Lingüística amerindia. Estilos y conceptos", in Revista Iberoamericana de Lingüística, no 5, pp. 43-71.MUELLER, Stephanie (2010): Museums and the Conservation and Interpretation of Rock Art. MA Thesis. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.ROWE, Marvin W. (2009): "Radiocarbon Dating of Ancient Rock Paintings" in Analytical Chemistry, 81(5), pp. 1728-1735. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac802555gTURPIN, Solveig A. (2004): "The Lower Pecos River Region of Texas and Northern Mexico", in The Prehistory of Texas, edited by Timothy K. Perttula. Texas A&M University Press. College Station.WILLIAMS, William Carlos (1970): Imaginations. New York: New Directions Publishing

Monitoreo Multidimensional de la condición –(MMC) basado en la descomposición en valores singulares –(SVD) Caso de estudio: Sistema Ferroviario*

El monitoreo multidimensional de síntomas aplicado a sistemas férreos permite detectar y localizar los tramos de la vía (rectos y curvos) que generan el decremento de la seguridad y el confort de los pasajeros; así mismo, evaluar el estado técnico de la interfase vía-vehículo. Además permite vigilar, evaluar y controlar la fiabilidad y disponibilidad del sistema

Monitoreo Multidimensional de la condición –(MMC) basado en la descomposición en valores singulares –(SVD) Caso de estudio: Sistema Ferroviario*

Multidimensional monitoring of symptoms as applied to railway systems allows detecting and identifying both the curved and straight lots that prejudice the security and comfort of passengers. Additionally, it helps to assess the way-vehicle interface’s technical conditions, as well as to monitor, evaluate and control the system’s reliability and availability. This  study  offers  an  alternative  way  to  assess  the  railway  systems’ technical condition from a dynamic approach guaranteeing the security and comfort of passengers. The aims of this model are to reduce maintenance operational costs; to enhance the effective employment of equipment used for these tasks on railways, vehicles and auxiliary equipment; to optimize the maintenance staff’s time, and the maintenance timing (corrective, preventive, etc.). Also, we aim at identifying variables related to maintenance actions highly influential on the system’s technical condition. In this paper, results obtained from applying a modeling of this type to a railway system are released, and it focuses in the application of the SVD theory to the system’s technical diagnosis.El monitoreo multidimensional de síntomas  aplicado a sistemas férreos permite detectar y localizar los tramos de la vía (rectos y curvos) que generan el decremento de la seguridad y el confort de los pasajeros; así mismo, evaluar el estado técnico de la interfase vía-vehículo. Además permite vigilar, evaluar y controlar la fiabilidad y disponibilidad del sistema

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in an urban Mexican population

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in an urban Mexican population.BackgroundThe present study was primarily designed to assess the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a Mexican urban population residing in Mexico and to evaluate certain biologic and socioeconomic conditions as risk factors for the development of renal disease.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted, which included 3564 patients of either gender aged >18 years, who were randomly selected from lists of patients assigned to primary care facilities in the city of Morelia. A questionnaire about personal current health status, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease in close relatives, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and blood and urine samples to measure glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine was obtained for each patient. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) was calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula. Patients were classified in 1 of the 5 Ccr categories established by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.ResultsThe prevalence rate of Ccr < 15mL/min was 1142 per million population, and that of Ccr <60mL/min 80,788 per million population. Alcohol and tobacco consumption, female gender, age >65 years, educational level < primary school, and income <US $4.00/day were significantly associated with reduced Ccr.ConclusionChronic kidney disease prevalence in this population is similar to that seen in industrialized countries. If these figures are similar to those of the entire Mexican population, only l out of 4 patients requiring renal replacement therapy in the country currently has access to it

Las juntas generales de accionistas, clases de juntas, competencias y las nulidades de sus actos conforme al código de comercio

Con la entrada en vigencia del primer Código de Comercio que rompe nexos con el primer Código Civil de El Salvador; se implementa una regulación especial y dedicada a las Juntas Generales de Accionistas, reconociéndolas como tal; se hace mención que tales no eran conocidas con ese nombre sino como “compañías mercantiles”, ahora, se les reconoce con el nombre de Juntas Generales de Accionista