Características sociodemográficas y su influencia en el uso de Tecnologías de Información en Chile

Este estudio examina la relación entre características sociodemográficas de las personas y su uso de Tecnologías de Información (TI) en Chile, empleando una versión abreviada del Modelo de Aceptación de Tecnología, TAM (Technology Acceptance Model, por su sigla en inglés). Los datos recolectados apoyan al TAM, mostrando que tanto la facilidad de uso percibida (FUP) como la utilidad percibida (UP) impactan positivamente en el uso de computadores (U). A su vez, la facilidad de uso favorece la utilidad percibida. Dentro de las variables sociodemográficas, el ingreso familiar (IF) y nivel educacional (NE) influyen favorablemente en FUP, UP y el uso (U) de computadores, al contario de la edad (E), la cual impacta negativamente en dichas variables. Asimismo, se advirtió que existe una correlación positiva entre ingreso familiar y nivel educacional, y una correlación negativa entre edad y NE. A diferencia de otros estudios, esta investigación recolectó datos de una muestra heterogénea con sujetos de diferentes ingresos familiares, edades y niveles educacionales, aproximándose a la población urbana chilena. Por ello, este estudio presenta una panorámica del uso de TI, de utilidad para guiar políticas gubernamentales enfocadas en la promoción del uso colectivo de TI en un país en desarrollo.This paper examines the relationship between people’s socio-demographic characteristics and their use of Information Technology (IT) in Chile, employing an abridged version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The data collected supports the TAM, showing that the perceived easiness of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) positively impact the use of computers (U). In turn, perceived ease of use favors perceived usefulness. Regarding the socio-demographic variables, family income (FI) and educational level (EL) positively influence PEOU, PU and U, contrary to age (A), which negatively impacts those variables. Likewise, the data showed a positive correlation between FI and EL, and a negative correlation between A and EL. Unlike previous studies, this research gathered data using a heterogeneous sample, which included subjects who exhibited different income, age, and educational levels, approximating the urban Chilean population. Thus, this paper presents a picture of the use of IT, which makes it useful for guiding government policy making aimed at promoting the collective use of IT in a developing country.  Cette étude examine les relations entre caractéristiques sociodémographiques des personnes et leur recours aux Technologies de l’Information (TI) au Chili,  usant pour cela d’une version abrégée du Modèle d’Acceptation de Technologie, TAM (Technology Acceptance Model en anglais). Les données obtenues corroborent le TAM, indiquant que la facilité d’emploi perçue (FUP en espagnol) ainsi que l’utilité perçue (UP) ont un impact positif sur l’usage des ordinateurs (U). De même, la facilité d’emploi favorise l’utilité perçue. Au sein des variables sociodémographiques, le revenu familial (IF en espagnol) et le niveau d’éducation (NE) influent favorablement sur la FUP, l’UP et l’usage (U) des ordinateurs, contrairement à l’âge (E en espagnol), qui a un impact négatif sur ces variables. De cette manière, nous remarquons qu’il existe une corrélation positive entre le revenu familial et le niveau d’éducation, ainsi qu’une corrélation négative entre l’âge et le NE. Se distinguant d’autres études, cette recherche a procéder à une collecte de données d’un échantillon hétérogène incluant des sujets de revenus familiaux, d’âges et de niveaux d’éducation variés, correspondant dans son ensemble à la population urbaine chilienne. Pour cela, ce travail présente une approche panoramique de l’usage de TI, nécessaire afin d’orienter les politiques gouvernementales destinées à promouvoir l’usage collectif de TI dans un pays en voie de développement.Este estudo examina a relação entre as características sociodemográficas dos indivíduos eo uso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) no Chile, usando uma versão abreviada do Modelo de Aceitação de Tecnologia, TAM. Os dados coletados apoiam a TAM, mostrando que tanto a facilidade de uso percebida (FUP) e utilidade percebida (PU) têm um impacto positivo sobre o uso de computadores (U). Por sua vez, facilidade de uso promove a utilidade percebida. Entre as variáveis __sócio-demográficas, a renda familiar (IF) e nível de escolaridade (NE) influenciam favoravelmente FUP, UP e use (U) de computadores, para dizer a idade (E), que tem um impacto negativo sobre essas variáveis. Também foi observado que há uma correlação positiva entre renda familiar e nível educacional e uma correlação negativa entre idade e NE. Diferentemente de outros estudos, esta pesquisa colheu dados de uma amostra heterogênea com sujeitos de renda familiar diferente, idade e níveis de ensino, aproximando-se da população chilena urbana. Portanto, este estudo apresenta uma visão geral do uso de TI, útil para orientar as políticas governamentais voltadas para a promoção do uso coletivo de TI em um país em desenvolvimento

Percepción social de la tecnología en Chile

The present study analyzes how technology is perceived and conceptualized by Chile’s adult population. A quantitative study was conducted based on a sample of 181 adult individuals resident in the region of Valparaíso, Chile. The results of the study show that the concept of technology is ascribed different meanings depending on the age, gender, and socioeconomic status of the individual. Women tend to associate the concept with the internet, while men think of complex manufacturing processes. Individuals of high and medium-high socioeconomic status tend to perceive technology more positively than other socioeconomic groups. Interestingly, in institutional terms, the Government is considered by the majority of individuals to be the leading agent within the national innovation system, seen as having the greatest responsibility in terms of generating genuine technological development, followed by private firms and universities. The analyzed results serve as a contribution to the discussion surroundingtechnological development in Chile.El presente trabajo de investigación analiza cómo es percibida y conceptualizada la tecnología por la población adulta en Chile. Con este propósito, se diseñó un estudio cuantitativo con una muestra de 181 personas adultas habitantes de la Quinta Región de Valparaíso, Chile. Los resultados de la investigación muestran que el concepto de tecnología asume distintos significados conforme a la edad, sexo y grupo socioeconómico de las personas. Las mujeres tienden a asociar el concepto a la idea de internet y los hombres a procesos productivos complejos, en tanto que personas de estratos altos y medio-altos tienden a percibir la tecnología como algo más positivo que el resto de los grupos. A su vez, el Gobierno en tanto institución, es considerado por la mayoría de las personas como el agente principal del sistema nacional de innovación y el principal responsable de la generación de un desarrollo tecnológico genuino, seguido por las empresas y las universidades. Los resultados se analizan a fin de contribuir a la discusión respecto al desarrollo tecnológico en Chile

What Drives Innovation? Findings from Medium Sized Plastic firms in Chile

The research objective was to understand the main reasons that would impel firms to innovate. The firms analyzed in this study were medium-size firms of the plastic manufacturing sector in Chile. After the analysis of the theory related to technological innovation, a model of the drivers for technological innovation was developed and a set of hypotheses was proposed. A questionnaire was designed covering several factors that could influence the tendency of firms to engage in technological innovation activities. According to the data, the most influential factors that would encourage innovation in the set of firms studied are a high degree of competition in the industry, the availability of qualified workers, and a strategic relationship with customers

Interaction of the α7-nicotinic subunit with its human-specific duplicated dupα7 isoform in mammalian cells: Relevance in human inflammatory responses

The α7 nicotinic receptor subunit and its partially duplicated human-specific dupα7 isoform are coexpressed in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. In these cells, α7 subunits form homopentameric α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChRs) implicated in numerous pathologies. In immune cells, α7-nAChRs are essential for vagal control of inflammatory response in sepsis. Recent studies show that the dupα7 subunit is a dominant-negative regulator of α7-nAChR activity in Xenopus oocytes. However, its biological significance in mammalian cells, particularly immune cells, remains unexplored, as the duplicated form is indistinguishable from the original subunit in standard tests. Here, using immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, coimmunoprecipitation, FRET, flow cytometry, and ELISA, we addressed this challenge in GH4C1 rat pituitary cells and RAW264.7 murine macrophages transfected with epitope- and fluorescent protein-tagged α7 or dupα7. We used quantitative RT-PCR of dupα7 gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with sepsis to analyze its relationship with PBMC α7 mRNA levels and with serum concentrations of inflammatory markers. We found that a physical interaction between dupα7 and α7 subunits in both cell lines generates heteromeric nAChRs that remain mainly trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum. The dupα7 sequestration of α7 subunits reduced membrane expression of functional α7-nAChRs, attenuating their anti-inflammatory capacity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Moreover, the PBMC's dupα7 levels correlated inversely with their α7 levels and directly with the magnitude of the patients' inflammatory state. These results indicate that dupα7 probably reduces human vagal anti-inflammatory responses and suggest its involvement in other α7-nAChR-mediated pathophysiological processes.This work was supported in part by Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Government of Spain Grants SAF2011-23575, SAF2014-56623-R, and SAF2017-82689-R (to C. M. and F. A.).Peer reviewe

Defects in G-Actin Incorporation into Filaments in Myoblasts Derived from Dysferlinopathy Patients Are Restored by Dysferlin C2 Domains

International audienceDysferlin is a transmembrane C-2 domain-containing protein involved in vesicle trafficking and membrane remodeling in skeletal muscle cells. However, the mechanism by which dysferlin regulates these cellular processes remains unclear. Since actin dynamics is critical for vesicle trafficking and membrane remodeling, we studied the role of dysferlin in Ca2+-induced G-actin incorporation into filaments in four different immortalized myoblast cell lines (DYSF2, DYSF3, AB320, and ER) derived from patients harboring mutations in the dysferlin gene. As compared with immortalized myoblasts obtained from a control subject, dysferlin expression and G-actin incorporation were significantly decreased in myoblasts from dysferlinopathy patients. Stable knockdown of dysferlin with specific shRNA in control myoblasts also significantly reduced G-actin incorporation. The impaired G-actin incorporation was restored by the expression of full-length dysferlin as well as dysferlin N-terminal or C-terminal regions, both of which contain three C2 domains. DYSF3 myoblasts also exhibited altered distribution of annexin A2, a dysferlin partner involved in actin remodeling. However, dysferlin N-terminal and C-terminal regions appeared to not fully restore such annexin A2 mislocation. Then, our results suggest that dysferlin regulates actin remodeling by a mechanism that does to not involve annexin A2