Soja y minería: dos lecturas territoriales en la Argentina reciente

This paper analyzes the recent dynamics of two types of specialization in natural resources-intensive activities: one, of an agricultural nature, refers to the soybean complex; and the other, to metal mining. With quantitative methods, a stylized reading was made about those features that influence regional labor markets and provincial public finances, in which localized productive chains, regulatory frameworks, and national public policies were explored .The results show productive reconfigurationsthat have not generated significant increases in local employment structures, although they have caused considerable qualitative alterations , while the territorial redistributive effect of taxation mechanisms has had different impacts in the cases considered.Este artigo analisa a dinâmica recente de dois tipos de especialização em atividades intensivas em recursos naturais: uma, de natureza agrícola, refere-se ao complexo de soja; e a outra, a mineração de metais. Com a ajuda de métodos quantitativos, foi feita uma leitura estilizada das características que influenciam os mercados de trabalho regionais e as finanças públicas provinciais, na qual foram exploradas ligações produtivas localizadas, marcos regulatórios e políticas públicas nacionais. Os resultados mostram reconfigurações produtivas que não geraram aumentos significativos nas estruturas locais de emprego, embora tenha ocorrido consideráveis alterações qualitativas, enquanto o efeito redistributivo territorial dos mecanismos de tributação teve impactos diversos e diferentes nos casos considerados.Este trabajo analiza las dinámicas recientes de dos tipos de especializaciones en actividades intensivas en recursos naturales: una, de carácter agrícola, remite al complejo sojero; y la otra, a la minería metalífera. Con el auxilio de métodos cuantitativos se realizó una lectura estilizada sobre aquellos rasgos que ejercen influencia en los mercados de trabajo regionales y en las finanzas públicas provinciales, en la cual se exploraron encadenamientos productivos localizados, marcos regulatoriosy políticas públicas nacionales. Los resultados muestran reconfiguraciones productivas que no han generado aumentos significativos en las estructuras locales de empleo, aunque sí alteraciones cualitativas considerables, a su vez que el efecto redistributivo territorial de los mecanismos fiscales de tributación ha tenido impactos diversos y distintos en los casos considerados

Soja e mineração: duas leituras territoriais na argentina recente

This paper analyzes the recent dynamics of two types of specialization in natural resources-intensive activities: one, of an agricultural nature, refers to the soybean complex; and the other, to metal mining. With quantitative methods, a stylized reading was made about those features that influence regional labor markets and provincial public finances, in which localized productive chains, regulatory frameworks, and national public policies were explored .The results show productive reconfigurationsthat have not generated significant increases in local employment structures, although they have caused considerable qualitative alterations , while the territorial redistributive effect of taxation mechanisms has had different impacts in the cases considered.Este trabajo analiza las dinámicas recientes de dos tipos de especializaciones en actividades intensivas en recursos naturales: una, de carácter agrícola, remite al complejo sojero; y la otra, a la minería metalífera. Con el auxilio de métodos cuantitativos se realizó una lectura estilizada sobre aquellos rasgos que ejercen influencia en los mercados de trabajo regionales y en las finanzas públicas provinciales, en la cual se exploraron encadenamientos productivos localizados, marcos regulatoriosy políticas públicas nacionales. Los resultados muestran reconfiguraciones productivas que no han generado aumentos significativos en las estructuras locales de empleo, aunque sí alteraciones cualitativas considerables, a su vez que el efecto redistributivo territorial de los mecanismos fiscales de tributación ha tenido impactos diversos y distintos en los casos considerados.Este artigo analisa a dinâmica recente de dois tipos de especialização em atividades intensivas em recursos naturais: uma, de natureza agrícola, refere-se ao complexo de soja; e a outra, a mineração de metais. Com a ajuda de métodos quantitativos, foi feita uma leitura estilizada das características que influenciam os mercados de trabalho regionais e as finanças públicas provinciais, na qual foram exploradas ligações produtivas localizadas, marcos regulatórios e políticas públicas nacionais. Os resultados mostram reconfigurações produtivas que não geraram aumentos significativos nas estruturas locais de emprego, embora tenha ocorrido consideráveis alterações qualitativas, enquanto o efeito redistributivo territorial dos mecanismos de tributação teve impactos diversos e diferentes nos casos considerados

Solution structure of stem-loop α of the hepatitis B virus post-transcriptional regulatory element

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections may lead to severe diseases like liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV post-transcriptional regulatory element (HPRE) facilitates the nuclear export of unspliced viral mRNAs, contains a splicing regulatory element and resides in the 3′-region of all viral transcripts. The HPRE consists of three sub-elements α (nucleotides 1151–1346), β1 (nucleotides 1347–1457) and β2 (nucleotides 1458–1582), which confer together full export competence. Here, we present the NMR solution structure (pdb 2JYM) of the stem-loop α (SLα, nucleotides 1292–1321) located in the sub-element α. The SLα contains a CAGGC pentaloop highly conserved in hepatoviruses, which essentially adopts a CUNG-like tetraloop conformation. Furthermore, the SLα harbours a single bulged G residue flanked by A-helical regions. The structure is highly suggestive of serving two functions in the context of export of unspliced viral RNA: binding sterile alpha motif (SAM-) domain containing proteins and/or preventing the utilization of a 3′-splice site contained within SLα

Dimensional and hierarchical models of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II in an Arab college student sample

Abstract Background An understanding of depressive symptomatology from the perspective of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) could facilitate valid and interpretable comparisons across cultures. The objectives of the study were: (i) using the responses of a sample of Arab college students to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in CFA, to compare the "goodness of fit" indices of the original dimensional three-and two-factor first-order models, and their modifications, with the corresponding hierarchical models (i.e., higher - order and bifactor models); (ii) to assess the psychometric characteristics of the BDI-II, including convergent/discriminant validity with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). Method Participants (N = 624) were Kuwaiti national college students, who completed the questionnaires in class. CFA was done by AMOS, version 16. Eleven models were compared using eight "fit" indices. Results In CFA, all the models met most "fit" criteria. While the higher-order model did not provide improved fit over the dimensional first - order factor models, the bifactor model (BFM) had the best fit indices (CMNI/DF = 1.73; GFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.034). All regression weights of the dimensional models were significantly different from zero (P Conclusion The broadly adequate fit of the various models indicates that they have some merit and implies that the relationship between the domains of depression probably contains hierarchical and dimensional elements. The bifactor model is emerging as the best way to account for the clinical heterogeneity of depression. The psychometric characteristics of the BDI-II lend support to our CFA results.</p

Future perspectives in melanoma research: meeting report from the "Melanoma Bridge";: Napoli, December 3rd-6th 2014.

The fourth "Melanoma Bridge Meeting" took place in Naples, December 3-6th, 2014. The four topics discussed at this meeting were: Molecular and Immunological Advances, Combination Therapies, News in Immunotherapy, and Tumor Microenvironment and Biomarkers. Until recently systemic therapy for metastatic melanoma patients was ineffective, but recent advances in tumor biology and immunology have led to the development of new targeted and immunotherapeutic agents that prolong progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). New therapies, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitors as well as other signaling pathway inhibitors, are being tested in patients with metastatic melanoma either as monotherapy or in combination, and all have yielded promising results. These include inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases (BRAF, MEK, and VEGFR), the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway [PI3K, AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)], activators of apoptotic pathway, and the cell cycle inhibitors (CDK4/6). Various locoregional interventions including radiotherapy and surgery are still valid approaches in treatment of advanced melanoma that can be integrated with novel therapies. Intrinsic, adaptive and acquired resistance occur with targeted therapy such as BRAF inhibitors, where most responses are short-lived. Given that the reactivation of the MAPK pathway through several distinct mechanisms is responsible for the majority of acquired resistance, it is logical to combine BRAF inhibitors with inhibitors of targets downstream in the MAPK pathway. For example, combination of BRAF/MEK inhibitors (e.g., dabrafenib/trametinib) have been demonstrated to improve survival compared to monotherapy. Application of novel technologies such sequencing have proven useful as a tool for identification of MAPK pathway-alternative resistance mechanism and designing other combinatorial therapies such as those between BRAF and AKT inhibitors. Improved survival rates have also been observed with immune-targeted therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma. Immune-modulating antibodies came to the forefront with anti-CTLA-4, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway blocking antibodies that result in durable responses in a subset of melanoma patients. Agents targeting other immune inhibitory (e.g., Tim-3) or immune stimulating (e.g., CD137) receptors and other approaches such as adoptive cell transfer demonstrate clinical benefit in patients with melanoma as well. These agents are being studied in combination with targeted therapies in attempt to produce longer-term responses than those more typically seen with targeted therapy. Other combinations with cytotoxic chemotherapy and inhibitors of angiogenesis are changing the evolving landscape of therapeutic options and are being evaluated to prevent or delay resistance and to further improve survival rates for this patient population. This meeting's specific focus was on advances in combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Both combination targeted therapy approaches and different immunotherapies were discussed. Similarly to the previous meetings, the importance of biomarkers for clinical application as markers for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of treatment response was an integral part of the meeting. The overall emphasis on biomarkers supports novel concepts toward integrating biomarkers into contemporary clinical management of patients with melanoma across the entire spectrum of disease stage. Translation of the knowledge gained from the biology of tumor microenvironment across different tumors represents a bridge to impact on prognosis and response to therapy in melanoma