Is it morally permissible to eat meat?

Many approaches have been taken regarding this topic, some of them are anthropological or scientific that pursue the understanding of why we eat meat, but from the philosophical lens this question is solved in the field of applied ethics, which is the area that debate about the moral status of animals (nonhuman animals) and where different theorizations that tried to explain the relationship between animals and humans and the examination of the morality of meat consumption take place. Some of these approaches could be find within the concepts of animal rights, vegetarianism, animal cruelty and so on

Propuesta de un sistema de compensación que impacte directamente la satisfacción laboral de la empresa de servicios temporales S&A Servicios y Asesorías S.A

Esta investigación se fundamenta en un trabajo práctico, que permite entender lo determinante del componente humano dentro de las organizaciones, debido a ello el punto central del estudio está directamente relacionado con la satisfacción laboral de los empleados de la empresa de servicios temporales S&A Servicios y Asesorías S.A, donde se pretende identificar los factores que impactan sobre la satisfacción laboral de manera que estos factores se puedan intervenir a través de los sistemas de compensación que en esta organización implementan para remunerar a sus grupo de trabajadores internos. El marco teórico que soporta este trabajo, posterior a la descripción y contextualización con el objeto social, la razón de ser y la funcionalidad de la entidad donde se ejecuta la investigación, hace referencia a los conceptos relacionados con los sistemas de remuneración y su funcionamiento, donde se detalla el tema de salario emocional y en una segunda parte se exponen los componentes motivacionales y de afectación del ser humano, sin embargo, el eje central lo constituye el diagnóstico de la percepción de los empleados de la entidad sobre diferentes factores organizacionales, este diagnóstico suministra información que permite evaluar y seleccionar un curso de acción sobre las variables evaluadas en el estudio para la empresa S&A Servicios y Asesoría S.A. Para ello se construyó un cuestionario con 7 preguntas, con el cual se pretendió analizar y reconocer el sentir de los empleados a partir de 7 variables: Afectación de la satisfacción laboral de los trabajadores internos, planes y políticas de reconocimiento de la empresa, beneficios Sociales e incentivos, flexibilidad en el trabajo, oportunidades de desarrollo, remuneración y condiciones laborales. Una vez implementado el instrumento y recopilados los resultados, se evidencian a partir de los mismos, en algunos casos niveles muy bajos de satisfacción laboral respecto a los componentes evaluados asociados a la remuneración salarial, además se percibe inestabilidad en sus puestos y un desinterés de las directivas hacia los empleados, en cuanto a los retrasos y demoras en el pago de la nómina. Lo anterior señala la urgencia de estudiar la implementación de acciones orientadas a desarrollar programas integrales de remuneración direccionados hacia el bienestar y la satisfacción laboral, y ajustes en las estrategias de reconocimiento del desempeño de las personas dentro de la organización, que permitan el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los funcionarios, su productividad y motivación en el puesto de trabajo.This research is based on a practical work that allows understanding how much important the human component within organizations is; therefore the central point of the study is directly related to the job satisfaction of employees in a company of temporary services S&A Servicios y Asesorías S. A. The study pretends to identify the elements that have an impact on the job satisfaction, as well as intervening them through the compensation systems that this organization implements to remunerate its group of employees. The theoretical framework that supports this work, After knowing the general backgrounds and description of the company researched, it refers to the concepts related to payment schemes and their operation, where first, it is possible to detail the emotional issue of salary and later, the motivational components and the elements that can affect the person in a work environment; however, the main interest about the study is what the perception of employees from different organizational factors is. The diagnosis provides information that allows you to evaluate and select an action plan on the variables which were assessed in the study for the company S&A Servicios y Asesoría S. A. The survey was developed in a questionnaire of 7 questions, they were created to analyze and recognize what the employees feel based on 7 variables: Affectation of the job satisfaction on internal workers, plans and policies of recognition of the company, social benefits and incentives, flexibility at work, opportunities for developing, remuneration and work conditions. Once it has implemented the instrument and it has compiled the results, it is evident that in some cases, there are very low levels of job satisfaction related to the components evaluated that are associated to the salary, also it is perceived instability in their positions at the company and a disinterest of the employers on the employees because of delays in the payment of the payroll. After analyzing whole the points of the study, it is evident the needs of implementing actions to develop comprehensive programs to remuneration, it routed to the welfare and job satisfaction, and adjusting the strategies of recognition for the performance of individuals within the organization for improving the quality of life of the employees, their productivity and motivation in the workplace

Penalización paralela del prestador de servicio obligatorio con el miembro en carrera de la fuerza pública

La presente investigación se desarrolla en el hilado ámbito de la responsabilidad penal que le asiste a los miembros de la fuerza pública dentro de la jurisdicción penal militar. Teniendo en cuenta que muchos de los sujetos penalizados responden ante el estado colombiano de diferentes formas en razón a su especialísima calidad y nexo con la función publica. De este modo teniendo como insumo teórico algunas precisiones jurisprudenciales, legales y doctrinarias se realiza una delimitación de lo que debería ser la responsabilidad penal atribuida a los miembros de la fuerza pública, concretamente los soldados regulares, bachilleres y auxiliares de policía dentro de la cuerda de la Jurisdicción Penal Militar y bajo los presupuestos dogmáticos del injusto en el Delito Penal Militar, las relaciones de sujeción, las garantías al debido proceso, el derecho a la Igualdad y el principio de proporcionalidad del ius puniendi. Lo que hace que la presente investigación proporcione líneas de reflexión, y posiciones personales que buscan un cuestionamiento jurídico por parte del creador de la norma, y de los operadores jurisdiccionales en donde se identifiquen cabalmente el procedimiento jurídico que se debe emplear a todos los subyugados activos en el proceso penal militar, soportado mediante el estudio de los elementos del hecho punible en acorde a la punibilidad de cada delito en la ley 522 de 1999, con el análisis de conductas típicas cometidas por los mismos sujetos con igualdad de causa y efecto en la jurisdicción penal militar y bajo el presupuesto arquetípico del que el derecho solo es un medio para alcanzar la Justici

Neurotrophin-3-enhanced nerve regeneration selectively improves recovery of muscle fibers expressing myosin heavy chains 2b

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) enhanced nerve regeneration on the reinnervation of a target muscle. Muscle fibers can be classified according to their mechanical properties and myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition. MHC1 containing slow-type and MHC2a or 2b fast-type fibers are normally distributed in a mosaic pattern, their phenotype dictated by motor innervation. After denervation, all fibers switch to fast-type MHC2b expression and also undergo atrophy resulting in loss of muscle mass. After regeneration, discrimination between fast and slow fibers returns, but the distribution and fiber size change according to the level of reinnervation. In this study, rat gastrocnemius muscles (ipsilateral and contralateral to the side of nerve injury) were collected up to 8 mo after nerve repair, with or without local delivery of NT-3. The phenotype changes of MHC1, 2a, and 2b were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and fiber type proportion, diameter, and grouping were assessed by computerized image analysis. At 8 mo, the local delivery of NT-3 resulted in significant improvement in gastrocnemius muscle weight compared with controls (NT-3 group 47%, controls 39% weight of contralateral normal muscle; P < 0.05). NT-3 delivery resulted in a significant increase in the proportion (NT-3 43.3%, controls 35.7%; P < 0.05) and diameter (NT-3 87.8 μm, controls 70.8 μm; P < 0.05) of fast type 2b fibers after reinnervation. This effect was specific to type 2b fibers; no normalization was seen in other fiber types. This study indicates that NT-3–enhanced axonal regeneration has a beneficial effect on the motor target organ. Also, NT-3 may be specifically affecting a subset of motoneurons that determine type 2b muscle fiber phenotype. As NT-3 was topically applied to cut nerves, our data suggest a discriminating effect of the neurotrophin on neuro–muscular interaction. These results would imply that muscle fibers may be differentially responsive to other neurotrophic factors and indicate the potential clinical role of NT-3 in the prevention of muscle atrophy after nerve injury

Opioid precursor protein isoform is targeted to the cell nuclei in the human brain

Background: Neuropeptide precursors are traditionally viewed as proteins giving rise to small neuropeptide molecules. Prodynorphin (PDYN) is the precursor protein to dynorphins, endogenous ligands for the kappa-opioid receptor. Alternative mRNA splicing of neuropeptide genes may regulate cell- and tissue-specific neuropeptide expression and produce novel protein isoforms. We here searched for novel PDYN mRNA and their protein product in the human brain. Methods: Novel PDYN transcripts were identified using nested PCR amplification of oligo(dT) selected full-length capped mRNA. Gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR, PDYN protein by western blotting and confocal imaging, dynorphin peptides by radioimmunoassay. Neuronal nuclei were isolated using fluorescence activated nuclei sorting (FANS) from postmortem human striatal tissue. lmmunofluorescence staining and con focal microscopy was performed for human caudate nucleus. Results: Two novel human PDYN mRNA splicing variants were identified. Expression of one of them was confined to the striatum where its levels constituted up to 30% of total PDYN mRNA. This transcript may be translated into ASP-PDYN protein lacking 13 N-terminal amino acids, a fragment of signal peptide (SP). Delta SP-PDYN was not processed to mature dynorphins and surprisingly, was targeted to the cell nuclei in a model cellular system. The endogenous PDYN protein was identified in the cell nuclei in human striatum by western blotting of isolated neuronal nuclei, and by confocal imaging. Conclusions and general significance: High levels of alternatively spliced Delta SP-PDYN mRNA and nuclear localization of PDYN protein suggests a nuclear function for this isoform of the opioid peptide precursor in human striatum. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

TCF7L2 is a master regulator of insulin production and processing

Genome-wide association studies have revealed >60 loci associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the underlying causal variants and functional mechanisms remain largely elusive. Although variants in TCF7L2 confer the strongest risk of T2D among common variants by presumed effects on islet function, the molecular mechanisms are not yet well understood. Using RNA-sequencing, we have identified a TCF7L2-regulated transcriptional network responsible for its effect on insulin secretion in rodent and human pancreatic islets. ISL1 is a primary target of TCF7L2 and regulates proinsulin production and processing via MAFA, PDX1, NKX6.1, PCSK1, PCSK2 and SLC30A8, thereby providing evidence for a coordinated regulation of insulin production and processing. The risk T-allele of rs7903146 was associated with increased TCF7L2 expression, and decreased insulin content and secretion. Using gene expression profiles of 66 human pancreatic islets donors', we also show that the identified TCF7L2-ISL1 transcriptional network is regulated in a genotype-dependent manner. Taken together, these results demonstrate that not only synthesis of proinsulin is regulated by TCF7L2 but also processing and possibly clearance of proinsulin and insulin. These multiple targets in key pathways may explain why TCF7L2 has emerged as the gene showing one of the strongest associations with T2

Genetic ablation of soluble TNF does not affect lesion size and functional recovery after moderate spinal cord injury in mice

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is followed by an instant increase in expression of the microglial-derived proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) within the lesioned cord. TNF exists both as membrane-anchored TNF (mTNF) and as cleaved soluble TNF (solTNF). We previously demonstrated that epidural administration of a dominant-negative inhibitor of solTNF, XPro1595, to the contused spinal cord resulted in changes in Iba1 protein expression in microglia/macrophages, decreased lesion volume, and improved locomotor function. Here, we extend our studies using mice expressing mTNF, but no solTNF (mTNFΔ/Δ), to study the effect of genetic ablation of solTNF on SCI. We demonstrate that TNF levels were significantly decreased within the lesioned spinal cord 3 days after SCI in mTNFΔ/Δ mice compared to littermates. This decrease did, however, not translate into significant changes in other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-5, IL-2, CXCL1, CCL2, or CCL5), despite a tendency towards increased IL-10 and decreased IL-1β, TNFR1, and TNFR2 levels in mTNFΔ/Δ mice. In addition, microglial and leukocyte infiltration, activation state (Iba1, CD11b, CD11c, CD45, and MHCII), lesion size, and functional outcome after moderate SCI were comparable between genotypes. Collectively, our data demonstrate that genetic ablation of solTNF does not significantly modulate postlesion outcome after SCI

Évaluation des glycosyles hydrolases de Streptomyces lividans pour la production d'oligosaccharides par glycosynthèse.

La transcription des symboles et des caractères spéciaux utilisés dans la version originale de ce résumé n’a pas été possible en raison de limitations techniques. La version correcte de ce résumé peut être lue en PDF.Des méthodes efficaces de synthèses d'oligosaccharides ne sont pas disponibles malgré l'importance de cette classe de biomolécules au niveau de plusieurs processus biologiques et en tant qu'agents thérapeutiques. En effet, les méthodes chimiques et enzymatiques via les glycosyltransférases et les glycosidases par le mode de transglycosylation ont été exploitées mais se sont avérées non efficaces pour une production à grande échelle.Dernièrement, une nouvelle méthode mettant à profit l'utilisation de glycosidases de rétention spécifiquement mutées a été élaborée et semble prometteuse. En effet, parmi les deux résidus d'acide aminé du site actif responsables de l'activité d'hydrolyse (Glu ou Asp), la substitution par une alanine du résidu nucléophilique a pour effet d'inactiver l'activité glycosidique de l'enzyme et du même coup rend possible la synthèse d'oligosaccharides. En conjonction avec un sucre donneur activé de configuration anomérique opposé au substrat normal et en présence d'un sucre accepteur approprié, l'enzyme mutée peut efficacement effectuer la synthèse d'oligosaccharides. D'excellents rendements de synthèse ont été obtenus (> 90%) pour l'enzyme mutée 13-glucosidase/galactosidase d'Agrobacterium (Mackenzie et al., 1998) et l'enzyme mutée 1 ,3-1 ,4-13-glucanase de Bac ill us licheniformis (Malet et Planas, 1998). Streptomyces lividans est une bactérie qui produit des glycosidases de rétention dont entre autres les xylanases A, B et C. L'objectif général du projet est de muter spécifiquement ces glycosyles hydrolases et d'évaluer leur capacité à synthétiser des oligosaccharides par cette réaction appelée glycosynthèse. Le résidu catalytique nucléophile des enzymes a donc été substitué par une alanine à 1' aide de la muta genèse dirigée par PCR. Suite à leur production et leur purification, l'activité résiduelle d'hydrolyse des enzymes mutées a été déterminée. Cependant, les résultats ont démontré que chacune des enzymes mutées possèdent une activité résiduelle d'hydrolyse. L'enzyme mutée XlnA2-E236A a présenté l'activité résiduelle d'hydrolyse la plus faible avec une valeur moyenne de 0,02% lorsque comparé à l'enzyme sauvage correspondante. De son côté, l'enzyme mutée XlnC-E85A a démontré une valeur moyenne d'activité résiduelle d'hydrolyse de 0,20%. Quant à l'enzyme mutée XlnB2-E8A, des valeurs beaucoup plus élevées s'élevant jusqu'à 11,9% ont été obtenues.Non disponible commercialement, le sucre donneur activé nécessaire à la réaction de glycosynthèse a par ailleurs été synthétisé. Parmi les nombreuses synthèses effectuées, seulement deux ont menées au sucre donneur activé 1-fluoroxylobiose. Des rendements très faibles, soit de 1,1% et 1,3%, ont cependant été obtenus. La première synthèse a fournit le sucre donneur fluoré sous une forme brute tandis qu'une forme pure a été obtenue lors de la seconde synthèse. Une première série de tests de glycosynthèse des enzymes mutées a été effectuée avec le sucre donneur fluoré sous forme brute et différents sucres accepteurs. Seules les enzymes mutées XlnA2-E236A et XlnB2-E8? A lorsque mises en présence du sucre donneur fluoré et du sucre accepteur xylotriose ont démontré, mais à un niveau très faible, un phénomène de synthèse. Par contre, ces résultats n'ont pu être reproduits lors de la seconde série de tests de glycosynthèse avec le sucre donneur fluoré sous forme pure