Estratégia empresarial e inovação de produtos nas PMEs: O papel mediador das redes empresariais

A inovação de produtos é essencial para o crescimento e a rentabilidade das pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs). As evidências sugerem que tanto a estratégia empresarial quanto a participação em redes podem influenciar a inovação de produtos, enquanto a participação em redes também pode influenciar a configuração e a alocação de recursos e capacidades que ajudam a moldar a estratégia. O presente estudo visa analisar as redes empresariais como uma variável mediadora entre estratégia e inovação de produtos nas PMEs. O estudo utiliza uma amostra de 205 PMEs costa-riquenhas, coletada pelo Global Competitiveness Project. A mediação é testada usando um modelo de regressão. Os resultados mostram que as redes desempenham um papel mediador na relação entre a estratégia empresarial e a inovação de produtos. As conclusões têm implicações para as PMEs sobre a relevância da participação em redes que permeiam a estratégia e para os formuladores de políticas sobre a importância de gerenciar tais redes

Colitis por citomegalovirus en trasplante renal: presentación de 2 casos

Cytomegalovirus infection is a latent risk among immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients and is associated with increased risk of allograft failure and death. CMV infection can manifest as active infection or as CMV disease (divided in CMV syndrome and CMV tissue-invasive disease). We present two cases of tissue invasive CMV disease, presenting within 7 months after kidney transplantation. Both cases were D+/R-, received lymphocyte-depleting agents and mycophenolate, and both received CMV prophylaxis according to General Practice Guidelines. CMV disease criteria included detectable viral replication in blood, classical endoscopic findings and histopathological confirmation. We emphasize the need of categorical identification of CMV infection risk factors among kidney transplantation recipients, specially CMV donor/recipient serostatus and immunosuppressive medication. Although clinical practice guidelines suggest 1 to 3 months CMV prophylaxis in high-risk cases, extended prophylaxis and immunosuppressive medication adjustment should be considered.La infección por citomegalovirus (CMV) es un riesgo latente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos por trasplante renal, asociándose con aumento del riesgo de rechazo del injerto y muerte. La infección por CMV puede manifestarse como infección activa o enfermedad por CMV (dividida en síndrome por CMV y enfermedad tisular invasiva por CMV). Presentamos dos casos de enfermedad tisular invasiva por CMV, la cual se presentó entre los primeros siete meses posteriores al trasplante. Ambos casos eran D+/R-; recibieron agentes depletores de linfocitos y micofenolato y profilaxis para CMV de acuerdo con las guías de práctica clínica. Los criterios para enfermedad por CMV incluyeron replicación viral detectable en sangre, hallazgos endoscópicos clásicos y confirmación histopatológica. Hacemos énfasis en la necesidad de identificar los factores de riesgo para la infección por CMV en pacientes con trasplante renal, especialmente el seroestatus donador/receptor y los medicamentos inmunosupresores. Aun cuando las guías de práctica clínica sugieren de uno a tres meses de profilaxis para CMV en casos de alto riesgo, debería considerarse la profilaxis extendida y el ajuste de los medicamentos inmunosupresores

¿Cuál es el estilo parental óptimo para adolescentes con baja vs. alta autoeficacia? Autoconcepto, desajuste psicológico y rendimiento académico de los adolescentes en el contexto español

The aim of this paper is to establish which parenting style is associated with optimum outcomes among adolescents of Spanish families considering adolescents with low vs. high self-efficacy. Although classical studies identify the authoritative parenting style (based on warmth and strictness) as the best parental strategy, emerging research seriously questions the benefits of parental strictness. Additionally, the impact of parenting on the adolescent’s psychosocial competence has been studied for years, but less is known about whether it might vary depending on individual characteristics of the adolescent (e.g., self-efficacy). Participants were 1029 Spanish adolescents, 453 males (44%), aged 12-17 years. Families were classified in one of the parenting styles groups (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or neglectful), and adolescents were grouped by low vs. high self-efficacy. Adolescent psychosocial competence was examined through emotional and academic self-concept, psychological maladjustment (hostility/aggression, negative self-esteem, emotional responsivity, instability, and negative view of the world), and academic performance (grade point average and number of failing grades). Main and interaction effects of parenting style and adolescent self-efficacy were tested. Main effect results indicated that adolescents with low self-efficacy were always associated with the worst psychosocial competence. Consistently, the main effect findings indicated that adolescents from indulgent and authoritative families were associated with better results than those from neglectful and authoritarian families. However, the indulgent parenting style yielded the best results. The impact of parenting might not be the same for adolescents in all cultural contexts. Contrary to findings from classical studies, parental strictness seems to be unnecessary or even detrimental for adolescents with low and high self-efficacy.El objetivo de este estudio es identificar qué estilo parental se asocia con resultados óptimos entre los adolescentes de familias españolas considerando aquellos con baja vs. alta autoeficacia. Los participantes fueron 1029 adolescentes españoles, 453 varones (44%), de 12 a 17 años. Aunque los estudios clásicos identifican el estilo autorizativo (basado en el afecto y la severidad) como la mejor estrategia socializadora, las investigaciones emergentes cuestionan seriamente los beneficios de la severidad parental. Además, el impacto de la socialización parental en la competencia psicosocial del adolescente se ha estudiado durante años, pero se sabe menos sobre si podría variar en función de las características individuales del adolescente (e.g., la autoeficacia). Las familias fueron clasificadas por estilo parental (autorizativo, autoritario, indulgente o negligente), y los adolescentes por baja vs. alta autoeficacia. La competencia psicosocial se examinó a través del autoconcepto emocional y académico, el desajuste psicológico (hostilidad/agresión, autoestima negativa, irresponsividad emocional, inestabilidad emocional y visión negativa del mundo) y el rendimiento académico (nota media y número de cursos repetidos). Se comprobaron los efectos principales y de interacción de estilo parental y autoeficacia. Los resultados de los efectos principales indicaron que los adolescentes con baja autoeficacia presentaban siempre la peor competencia psicosocial. También que los adolescentes de familias indulgentes y autorizativas presentaron mejores resultados que los de familias negligentes y autoritarias. Sin embargo, el estilo parental indulgente se asoció a los mejores resultados. El impacto de la socialización parental podría no ser igual en todos los contextos culturales. Frente a los resultados de los estudios clásicos, la severidad parental parece ser innecesaria o incluso perjudicial para los adolescentes con baja y alta autoeficacia

Effects of exogenous enzymes and application method on nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of Pelibuey lambs

Pelibuey sheep is the main breed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, and high demand of sheep meat has favored the finishing of lambs in feedlots with diets containing high levels of grains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous enzymes (EE) and application method on nutrient intake and digestibility and performance of growing Pelibuey lambs. Treatments were based on comparison of two different methods of adding an enzyme product (sprayed on the total mixed ration or applied orally to the lambs) versus control treatment (no added enzyme). Twenty-one Pelibuey lambs, weighing 15.7 kg (SD = 1.8 kg) initial body weight, were individually housed in shaded pens and assigned randomly to one of the three enzyme treatments. At the end of study (lasting for 45 days), three lambs from each treatment were randomly selected and adapted to a pants and harness designed for fecal collection to measure nutrient digestibilities. Total body gain and average daily gain were affected (P < 0.05) by supplemental EE. The application method of EE had significant (P < 0.05) effect on FCE and FCR, but no effects were observed on nutrient intake. Supplemental EE did improve (P < 0.05) the digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, neutral and acid detergent fiber, but no differences were observed in crude protein digestibility. The application method of EE had significant (P < 0.05) effect on the digestibility of acid detergent fiber. Supplemental EE can improve body weight gain and nutrient digestibilities without affecting nutrient intake in Pelibuey lambs, but the results of feed conversion efficiency and acid detergent fiber digestibility depend on the application method used of the EE

Effects of different doses of Salix babylonica extract on growth performance and diet in vitro gas production in Pelibuey growing lambs

Twenty Pelibuey 3-4 month old and 23.7±3.3 kg body weight male lambs were used in a randomised design to study the effects of daily oral administration of Salix babylonica (SB) extract on dry matter (DM), water intake, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency for 72 days. Animals were divided into four groups fed the same total mixed ration with different doses of SB: 0 (Control), 20 (SB20), 40 (SB40) and 60 (SB60) mL/lamb/d. In vitro gas production (GP) of the same diet fed to lambs as a substrate was measured with different doses of SB (0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 mL/g DM). Daily administration of SB to lambs had no effects (P=0.05) on growth performance and DMI (linear effect, P=0.2805; quadratic effect, P=0.3747). Both low and moderate doses of SB (SB40>SB20) tended to increase (linear effect, P=0.4010; quadratic effect, P=0.9166) ADG. The asymptotic GP quadratically increased (PSB20) tended to increase (linear effect, P=0.4010; quadratic effect, P=0.9166) ADG. The asymptotic GP quadratically increased (PSB20) tended to increase (linear effect, P=0.4010; quadratic effect, P=0.9166) ADG. The asymptotic GP quadratically increased (P<0.001) with decreased GP rate and with increasing SB extract doses. In vitro GP increased (P<0.05) with advancing of incubation time in all SB doses. During the first 24 h of incubation, 0.3 mL SB/g DM had the highest GP, whereas 1.0 mL SB/g DM quadratically increased (P<0.001) GP. The low dose of SB extract increased ME (linear effect, P=0.024) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (linear effect, P=0.023). However, the highest dose quadratically decreased (P=0.02) DM degradability. In conclusion, administration of SB extract at 40 mL/lamb/d tended to increase DM intake, improve daily weight gain in growing lambs with increasing asymptotic in vitro ruminal GP and SB dose

Genetic improvement of sheep production by crossbreeding strategies with hair sheep breeds

The objective is to propose crossbreeding strategies with hair sheep breeds to improve meat production in Mexico. Two crossbreeding schemes are presented that can provide solutions to the problem of intensive use of several breeds in unplanned crosses that has occurred in some flock. The starting point of the first scheme is a hybrid base population (hair sheep x Dorper) in which the breed proportions are unknown, by using two hair sheep breeds alternatively as maternal lines and Dorper as paternal line. The second scheme aims to develop a hybrid or synthetic breed ⅝ Charollais ⅜ hair sheep. For purposes of this discussion the two hair sheep breeds Blackbelly and Pelibuey will be used along with Charollais as the meat-type breed in the understanding that any suitable breed may be used to achieve the objectives of a particular production system

Inequality in the distribution of ear, nose and throat specialists in 15 Latin American countries: an ecological study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore sociogeographical inequalities in the availability and distribution of ear, nose and throat specialists (ENTs) in 15 Latin American (LA) countries. DESIGN: Ecological. SETTING: Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries of LA.The number of registered ENTs in 2017 was obtained from the National ENT Society in each country. OUTCOME MEASURES: The ENT rate/million population was calculated at the national and subnational (eg, state) level. Three measures were calculated to assess subnational distributive inequality of ENTs: (1) absolute and (2) relative index of dissimilarity; and (3) concentration index (using the Human Development Index as the equity stratifier). Finally, the ratio of ENTs/million population in the capital area compared with the rest of the country was calculated. RESULTS: There was more than a 30-fold difference in the number of ENTs/million population across the included countries-from 61.0 in Argentina (95% CI 58.7 to 63.4) to 2.8 in Guatemala (95% CI 2.1 to 3.8). In all countries, ENTs were more prevalent in advantaged areas and in capital areas. To attain distributive equality, Paraguay would need to redistribute the greatest proportion of its ENT workforce (67.3%; 95% CI 57.8% to 75.6%) and Brazil the least (18.5%; 95% CI 17.6% to 19.5%). CONCLUSIONS: There is high inequality in the number and distribution of ENTs between and within the 15 studied countries in LA. This evidence can be used to inform policies that improve access to ear and hearing services in the region, such as scale-up of training of ENTs and incentives to distribute specialists equally. These actions to reduce inequities, alongside addressing the social determinants of ear and hearing health, are essential to realise Universal Health Coverage

Algunas evidencias de aplicación

Libro temático especializadoLa sustentabilidad también debe aplicarse al sistema de producción, buscando impulsar transformaciones graduales de los estilos y modelos productivos tradicionales a unas de mayor eficiencia. Y donde se incorpore la dimensión ambiental y geográfico-espacial, para crear estructuras productivas más progresivas y equitativas en las sociedades. Todo esto, como alternativa para revertir las tendencias de escasez y agotamiento de los recursos naturales, así como de los desequilibrios globales, cuyos costos permean todos los tejidos humanos. De esta manera, la “sustentabilidad productiva” se concibe como la generación de bienes y servicios con ciertos estándares de calidad, bajo un esquema de eficiencia, rendimiento y de organización inclusiva e integrada, con baja presión al ambiente y uso racional de los recursos, garantizando la estadía y permanencia de los insumos y materiales en el tiempo. Desde esta perspectiva, la producción sustentable y el crecimiento de largo plazo pueden ser explicados por la capacidad que tienen las economías para generar e incorporar conocimientos y tecnologías. De ahí que, la educación y las cualificaciones del capital humano, los cambios en la organización de la producción y la calidad institucional, sean elementos nodales para avanzar en la consolidación de este ambiente productivo