Economic Growth from a Theoretical Perspective of Knowledge Economy: an Empirical Analyisis for Mexico

This paper analyzes some theoretical aspects of the knowledge economy and measures the effects of the knowledge factor on Mexico’s economic performance over the two past decades. We propose specific indicators to measure the activities of production, acquisition, diffusion, and application of knowledge and verifying their relationship to the GDP per capita through a co-integration econometric model. The overall results agree with the economic theory, since the global knowledge economy indicator is positive and significant. Analyzing the activities individually we found that production and application performed as expected; whereas the values found for acquisition and diffusion are not significant. The amount of knowledge generated in the world increases constantly so that the acquisition of this production cannot keep pace and the capabilities of Mexico to implement knowledge are lagging behind. The acquisition of knowledge has different unregistered elements, such as the informal acquisition, the different qualities of the acquired knowledge and the characteristics of who acquires the knowledge.  Perhaps, the most complex indicator is the diffusion of knowledge, which mainly occurs through invisible channels, from person to person, linking tacit knowledge, this phenomenon is hard to quantify

Genetic regulation of pituitary gland development in human and mouse

Normal hypothalamopituitary development is closely related to that of the forebrain and is dependent upon a complex genetic cascade of transcription factors and signaling molecules that may be either intrinsic or extrinsic to the developing Rathke’s pouch. These factors dictate organ commitment, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation within the anterior pituitary. Abnormalities in these processes are associated with congenital hypopituitarism, a spectrum of disorders that includes syndromic disorders such as septo-optic dysplasia, combined pituitary hormone deficiencies, and isolated hormone deficiencies, of which the commonest is GH deficiency. The highly variable clinical phenotypes can now in part be explained due to research performed over the last 20 yr, based mainly on naturally occurring and transgenic animal models. Mutations in genes encoding both signaling molecules and transcription factors have been implicated in the etiology of hypopituitarism, with or without other syndromic features, in mice and humans. To date, mutations in known genes account for a small proportion of cases of hypopituitarism in humans. However, these mutations have led to a greater understanding of the genetic interactions that lead to normal pituitary development. This review attempts to describe the complexity of pituitary development in the rodent, with particular emphasis on those factors that, when mutated, are associated with hypopituitarism in humans

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

Cultura organizacional das instituições prestadoras de serviço da saúde do Valle de Aburrá

Introducción: la cultura organizacional es definida como la conciencia colectiva que se expresa en el sistema de significados compartidos por los miembros de la organización que los identifica y diferencia de otros; además, esta marca las pautas de comportamiento de las personas de la organización. Objetivo: identificar la percepción que tienen los empleados del sector salud acerca de la cultura organizacional en las instituciones públicas y privadas en el Valle de Aburrá, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, de corte transversal, se aplicaron encuestas a 224 empleados de instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud de mediana y alta complejidad. Resultados: el 79 % de los investigados manifestaron que en la institución existen mecanismos para evaluar inquietudes, dudas e ideas, especialmente en las instituciones públicas y de alta complejidad. El 44 % declaró tener excelente comunicación con sus superiores y compañeros de trabajo. El 62 % asumió positivamente el cambio en los procesos institucionales, con mayor participación para el sexo femenino. Discusión: la adecuada cultura organizacional de las instituciones de salud de mediana y alta complejidad contribuye a la generación del conocimiento, al logro de los objetivos institucionales y a la sostenibilidad de la organización en un mercado de salud cada vez más complejo. Conclusión: la mayoría de los empleados perciben que el clima organizacional en sus instituciones es bueno.Introdução: a cultura organizacional é de nida como a consciência coletiva que se expressa no sistema de signi cados partilhados pelos membros da organização que os identi ca e diferencia de outros: além disso, marca as pautas de comportamento das pessoas de uma organização. Objetivo: este trabalho identi cou a percepção que têm os empregados do setor saúde acerca da cultura organizacional nas instituições públicas e privadas no Valle de Aburrá, Colômbia. Materiais e métodos: realizou-se um estudo quantitativo, de corte transversal, aplicaram-se enquetes a 224 empregados de instituições prestadoras de serviços de saúde de mediana e alta complexidade. O 44% declararam ter excelente comunicação com os seus superiores e companheiros de trabalho. O 62% assumiu positivamente a mudança nos processos institucionais, com maior participação para o sexo feminino. Discussão: a adequada cultura organizacional das instituições de saúde de mediana e alta complexidade contribui à geração do conhecimento, ao sucesso dos objetivos ins- titucionais e à sustentabilidade da organização em um mercado de saúde cada vez mais complexo. Conclusão: a maioria dos empregados percebem que o clima organizacional nas suas instituições é bom.Introduction: The organizational culture is de ned as the collective conscience that is expressed in the system of significances shared by the members of the organization that you identify them and tells apart of other ones; in addition, it marks the guidelines of behavior of the persons of an organization. Objective: This work identified the perception of the health sector employees about the organizational culture at the public institutions and private at Valle of Aburrá, Colombia. Materials and methods: There was realized a quantitative study, cross-sectional, maked the application of inquiry to 224 employees of lending institutions of services of health of medium and loud complexity. Results: 79 % of those surveyed said that in the institution there are mechanisms to evaluate concerns, questions and ideas, especially in public institutions and highly complex. 44 % reported having excellent communication with his superiors and colleagues. 62 % took a positive change in the institutional processes, greater participation for women. Discussion: The suitable culture organizacional of the institutions of health of medium and high complexity con- tributes to the generation of the knowledge, to the achievement of the institutional aims and to the sustainability of the organization on a market of health increasingly complex. Conclusion: Most employees perceive organizational climate in their institutions is good

Mechanistic Studies on the Selective Reduction of CO₂ to the Aldehyde Level by a Bis(phosphino)boryl (PBP)-Supported Nickel Complex

This work describes a thorough investigation of the mechanism of a highly selective hydrosilylation of CO₂ to the formaldehyde level catalyzed by a bis­(phosphino)­boryl (PBP)­Ni­(II) complex in the presence of B­(C₆F₅)₃. CO₂ activation by insertion into the Ni–H bond of the catalyst precursor <b>2</b> is shown to occur very easily, because of the <i>trans</i> influence exerted by the boryl ligand. During catalysis, the limiting step is B­(C₆F₅)₃ dissociation from the active species (PBP)­Ni–OCHO·B­(C₅F₆)₃ (<b>4</b>), which controls the amount of free borane that can lead to over-reduction to methane. Free borane activates the silane by formation of [R₃Si–H···B­(C₆F₅)₃], which can then transfer the silylium (R₃Si⁺) fragment to the oxygen atoms of the Ni formate and Ni acetal intermediates. The ion pair [(PBP)­Ni]­[HB­(C₆F₅)₃] (<b>5</b>) is the key species that activates CO₂ in the catalytic cycle (and silylformate in a second step) with [HB­(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ as the source of hydride. Hydride transfer to [(PBP)­Ni–OCO]⁺ is virtually barrierless, whereas hydride transfer to [(PBP)­Ni–OCHOSiR₃]⁺ has the second-highest energy barrier of the process (25.2 kcal mol^–1). Therefore, the (PBP)Ni framework is instrumental in both reduction steps of the catalysis and controls the selectivity of the reaction by sequestering B­(C₆F₅)₃

Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Microalgae in a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor

The microalgae species <i>Nannochloropsis gaditana</i> (<i>N. gaditana</i>, marine) and <i>Scenedesmus almeriensis</i> (<i>S. almeriensis</i>, freshwater) were subjected to hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL; 350 °C; residence time of 15 min) in a continuous stirred-tank reactor (190 mL) at microalgae loadings of 9.1 and 18.2 wt % in the feed. The results indicate that the high loading of biomass in the feed promotes the formation of biocrude oil, with a maximum yield of 54.8 ± 3.4 wt % for <i>N. gaditana</i>. A similar type of biocrude was obtained with both species. Its nitrogen and carbon contents increased at the high biomass loading, as well as the higher heating value. The HTL product yields varied from those reported for batch experiments carried out at the same reaction conditions. Most of the nutrients initially present in the feedstock were recovered to some extent in bioavailable forms in the aqueous phase, especially in the case of <i>N. gaditana</i>