Inversión extranjera directa en Chile: proceso histórico, cambios en ideologías políticas y respuestas de empresas multinacionales

The objective of this paper is to identify how historical process and changing political ideologies have affected the responses of MNEs to investment in Chile. Using the historical dimension we provide a trajectory of development along which the Chilean economic system influenced by shifts in political ideologies has evolved. For each section we categorized the responses of MNEs during these periods of investment. We then offer some contributions to theory and implications for managers by suggesting that understanding the functioning of a political system assists firm to develop and execute appropriate risk management strategies.El objetivo de este artículo es identificar como el proceso histórico y los cambios en ideologías políticas han influenciado en la respuesta de inversión en Chile por parte de las empresas multinacionales. Con base en una dimensión histórica, se presenta una trayectoria de desarrollo a través de la cual el sistema económico chileno, influenciado por cambios en las ideologías políticas, ha evolucionado. En cada sección se categorizan las respuestas de las empresas multinacionales durante los distintos periodos de inversión. A continuación se proponen contribuciones a la teoría e implicancias para los administradores, sugiriendo que el entendimiento del funcionamiento del sistema político de un país asiste a la empresa para desarrollar y ejecutar estrategias de manejo de riesgo apropiadas

Natural clusters of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND): new findings from the TOSCA TAND research project.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND) have unique, individual patterns that pose significant challenges for diagnosis, psycho-education, and intervention planning. A recent study suggested that it may be feasible to use TAND Checklist data and data-driven methods to generate natural TAND clusters. However, the study had a small sample size and data from only two countries. Here, we investigated the replicability of identifying natural TAND clusters from a larger and more diverse sample from the TOSCA study. METHODS: As part of the TOSCA international TSC registry study, this embedded research project collected TAND Checklist data from individuals with TSC. Correlation coefficients were calculated for TAND variables to generate a correlation matrix. Hierarchical cluster and factor analysis methods were used for data reduction and identification of natural TAND clusters. RESULTS: A total of 85 individuals with TSC (female:male, 40:45) from 7 countries were enrolled. Cluster analysis grouped the TAND variables into 6 clusters: a scholastic cluster (reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, visuo-spatial difficulties, disorientation), a hyperactive/impulsive cluster (hyperactivity, impulsivity, self-injurious behavior), a mood/anxiety cluster (anxiety, depressed mood, sleep difficulties, shyness), a neuropsychological cluster (attention/concentration difficulties, memory, attention, dual/multi-tasking, executive skills deficits), a dysregulated behavior cluster (mood swings, aggressive outbursts, temper tantrums), and an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like cluster (delayed language, poor eye contact, repetitive behaviors, unusual use of language, inflexibility, difficulties associated with eating). The natural clusters mapped reasonably well onto the six-factor solution generated. Comparison between cluster and factor solutions from this study and the earlier feasibility study showed significant similarity, particularly in cluster solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this TOSCA research project in an independent international data set showed that the combination of cluster analysis and factor analysis may be able to identify clinically meaningful natural TAND clusters. Findings were remarkably similar to those identified in the earlier feasibility study, supporting the potential robustness of these natural TAND clusters. Further steps should include examination of larger samples, investigation of internal consistency, and evaluation of the robustness of the proposed natural clusters

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge, it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Inversión extranjera directa en Chile: proceso histórico, cambios en ideologías políticas y respuestas de empresas multinacionales

El objetivo de este artículo es identificar como el proceso histórico y los cambios en ideologías políticas han influenciado en la respuesta de inversión en Chile por parte de las empresas multinacionales. Con base en una dimensión histórica, se presenta una trayectoria de desarrollo a través de la cual el sistema económico chileno, influenciado por cambios en las ideologías políticas, ha evolucionado. En cada sección se categorizan las respuestas de las empresas multinacionales durante los distintos periodos de inversión. A continuación se proponen contribuciones a la teoría e implicancias para los administradores, sugiriendo que el entendimiento del funcionamiento del sistema político de un país asiste a la empresa para desarrollar y ejecutar estrategias de manejo de riesgo apropiadas

Foreign Direct Investment in Chile: Historical Process, changing political ideologies and the responses of MNEs Inversión extranjera directa en Chile: proceso histórico, cambios en ideologías políticas y respuestas de empresas multinacionales

The objective of this paper is to identify how historical process and changing political ideologies have affected the responses of MNEs to investment in Chile. Using the historical dimension we provide a trajectory of development along which the Chilean economic system influenced by shifts in political ideologies has evolved. For each section we categorized the responses of MNEs during these periods of investment.  We then offer some contributions to theory and implications for managers by suggesting that understanding the functioning of a political system assists firm to develop and execute appropriate risk management strategies.El objetivo de este artículo es identificar como el proceso histórico y los cambios en ideologías políticas han influenciado en la respuesta de inversión en Chile por parte de las empresas multinacionales. Con base en una dimensión histórica, se presenta una trayectoria de desarrollo a través de la cual el sistema económico chileno, influenciado por cambios en las ideologías políticas, ha evolucionado. En cada sección se categorizan las respuestas de las empresas multinacionales durante los distintos periodos de inversión. A continuación se proponen contribuciones a la teoría e implicancias para los administradores, sugiriendo que el entendimiento del funcionamiento del sistema político de un país asiste a la empresa para desarrollar y ejecutar estrategias de manejo de riesgo apropiadas.</span

The impact of foreign direct investment on local industry in Chile

Technology transfer, spillovers and linkages from MNEs to local industry may aid economic development in emerging economies. This paper argues that foreign affiliates in an emerging economy (Chile) will demonstrate multiple patterns of linkage formation which is a combination of competitive and collaborative linkages with local firms. Foreign affiliates will overcome their liability of foreignness (LOF) by engaging in collaborative relationships which augment their ownership advantages in terms of producing socially responsible products and processes (Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR). Using a sample of firms from the service sector in Chile case study techniques are employed within and across to analyse the degree of linkage (DOL) between foreign affiliates and local firms. Foreign affiliates do demonstrate multiple patterns of linkage formation and those firms with above average extent and quality of linkages are also likely to have above average scores for CSR linkages. The implications of these findings for policy and IB theory are discussed

Body fat at pubertal genital stage 2: A comparison between Spanish and Mexican boys

Background/Objectives: To compare body fat mass at the same stage of pubertal maturation, genital stage 2 (G2), in a Spanish and in a Mexican sample of boys. Subjects/Methods: Data from Spain (n = 177) were from aprevious longitudinal clinical follow-up and data from Mexico (n = 91) from a cross-sectional study. Subjects were grouped according to the presence of G2 at similar ages. Spanish sample was divided into boys with G2 at age 12 (n = 60), 13 (n = 74) and 14 (n = 43). In Mexican sample, 23 boys were at G2 at 12 years, 38 at age 13 and 30 at 14 years. Height, weight, upper arm circumference and four skinfold thicknesses were recorded. Genital development was assessed (Tanner scale). Sum of four skinfolds (SUM), body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (%BF) and extremity/ trunk skinfold ratio (ETR = (triceps+biceps)/(subscapular+suprailiac)) was calculated. Results: When comparing subjects with different ages at G2 from the same country, or with the same age at G2 from different countries, no significant differences were found in adiposity variables (%BF, SUM), nor in BMI. Nevertheless, there were differences in body fat distribution: ETR was higher in Spanish boys (P < 0.001), because of their greater triceps skinfold thickness (P = 0.013), and due to the greater trunk fat stores in Mexican boys (P < 0.01, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds). Conclusions: There is a subcutaneous fat mass store characteristic of G2 in boys, which is not only independent of age, but is also observable in two different populations

Cervical human papillomavirus infection in Mexican women with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis

Cervical human papillomavirus (HPV+) infection is associated with an increased risk of cervical dysplasia. Although the frequency of HPV+ in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been investigated in some races its prevalence in Hispanic women is still unknown. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of cervical HPV+ in Mexican women with SLE (n = 34) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 43) and in healthy controls (n = 146). These women were interviewed about risk factors for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cytology analysis was performed. HPV+ viral types were identified using PCR: HPV+ was observed in 14.7% of SLE, 27.9% of RA and 30.8% of controls. High-risk HPV types were observed in 11.7% of women with SLE, 27.9% of women with RA, and in 26% of the controls. High-risk viral types 58, 35 and 18 were the most frequently identified in SLE. Two women with SLE had a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and one had cervical cancer. An association was observed between methotrexate utilization, longer duration of therapy with prednisone, and HPV+ in RA or SLE. Thus, there is a high prevalence of cervical HPV infection in Mexican women with SLE or RA, and physicians must be vigilant in preventing the development of cervical dysplasia. © 2011 The Author(s)

Adubação orgânica da batata com esterco e, ou, Crotalaria juncea: I - produtividade vegetal e estoque de nutrientes no solo em longo prazo Organic fertilization of potato with manure and, or, Crotalaria juncea: I - long term plant productivity and soil nutrient stocks

No Agreste paraibano, a batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) é importante cultura comercial, embora seja limitada pela variabilidade e escassez de chuvas e pela baixa fertilidade do solo. O esterco é a principal fonte de nutrientes utilizada para fertilização do solo, porém geralmente não é disponível em quantidade suficiente nas propriedades rurais para suprir a demanda das culturas agrícolas. Como alternativa tem sido recomendada a adubação verde com Crotalaria juncea L. Realizou-se um experimento, de 1996 a 2002, em um Neossolo Regolítico, com o objetivo de quantificar a produtividade da batata e o estoque de nutrientes no solo, após incorporações anuais de esterco e, ou, crotalária. Os tratamentos consistiram de: incorporação da crotalária (C), adição de 15 t ha-1 de esterco caprino (E), incorporação de crotalária + 7,5 t ha-1 de esterco (CE) e testemunha (T). No final do experimento, o tratamento E promoveu aumentos de 73, 45, 221 e 43 % nos teores de N total, P total, P e K extraíveis (Mehlich-1) do solo, respectivamente, em relação à testemunha. Os tratamentos C e CE aumentaram o N total do solo em 76 e 63 %, mas não aumentaram o teor dos outros nutrientes. Os acúmulos médios de massa seca, N, P e K na parte aérea da crotalária nos tratamentos, ao longo dos cinco anos, foram de 3.550, 69, 6 e 55 kg ha-1, respectivamente. As produtividades médias de tubérculos, ao longo dos cinco anos de colheita, foram de 15.204, 12.053, 11.085 e 7.926 kg ha-1 nos tratamentos CE, C, E e T, respectivamente. Apesar de a adição de 15 t ha-1 de esterco ter proporcionado os maiores aumentos nos nutrientes do solo, as maiores produtividades de tubérculos ao longo do período do estudo foram obtidas quando se combinou o plantio e a incorporação de crotalária com a adição de 7,5 t ha-1 de esterco.<br>Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important cash crop in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil. However, potato productivity is limited by low soil fertility and the limited and highly variable precipitation pattern of this region. Animal manure is the main nutrient source for soil fertility amelioration, but farm manure available is usually not enough to fertilize crops. A cover crop could decrease the demand for animal manure. The characteristics of Crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea L.) recommend it as green manure. A field experiment was conducted from 1996 to 2002 to quantify the effects of annual organic fertilization with animal manure and/or crotalaria on potato productivity and soil nutrient stocks. Treatments consisted of: crotalaria incorporation (C), goat manure, 15 t ha-1 (E), crotalaria incorporation + goat manure, 7.5 t ha-1 (CE), and control plots (T). At the end of the study period, treatment E increased soil total N, total P and available P and K by 73, 45, 221 and 43 %, compared to the control plots. Treatments C and CE increased soil total N by 76 and 63%, but had no effect on other soil nutrients. Overall 5-year averages of crotalaria aboveground accumulation of dry matter, N, P and K were 3550, 69, 6 and 55 kg ha-1, respectively. Average potato productivities for the 5-year period were 15204, 12053, 11085, and 7926 kg ha-1, for treatments CE, C, E and T, respectively. Despite the significant increases in soil nutrient stocks as a result of the annual manure addition of 15 t ha-1, potato productivity was consistently higher in the combination of crotalaria plus 7.5 t ha-1 manure treatment