PRODUCTIVITY, INFLATION, AND INVESTMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF CAUSALITY

This paper elaborates a Vector Error Correction (VEC) in order to determine the causality between inflation and productivity, and between the productivity and investment in Mexico. A VEC allows a causality analysis among cointegrated variables with the same integration order [Hall and Milne, 1994]. This work incorporates the test of constancy in the cointegration rank developed by Quintos (1997). The results show a consistent and bidirectional causality between inflation and productivity. Furthermore, these results denote that some investment components (mainly machinery and equipment imports, and construction) have a strong link with productivity.causality, constancy of rank

Relationship between overall child development and caries severity in Chilean three-year-old preschool children.

To determine the relationship between caries and overall child development in three-year-old children in the cities of Linares and Talca, Chile, 2014-2015. Method: Cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 170 preschool children attending daycare centers in Linares and Talca. Four dimensions of child development (language, cognition, motor skills and socio-emotional development) were qualitatively assessed using the child learning and development test (TADI, for its acronym in Spanish). Nutritional development was calculated with the weight/height index. Caries history was assessed by the dmft index and compromised tissue quantification. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's rho, ANOVA, Student’s t-test, Fisher’s exact test and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: A negative linear correlation was observed between dmft and total TADI score (r=-0.20, p=0.00), and the dimensions of language (r=-0.19, p=0.01), cognition (r=-0.18, p=0.02) and socio-emotional development (r=-0.21, p=0.01). Preschoolers with a dmft of >6.5 had a lower average TADI score than those with a dmft of <2.6 (p=0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in the level of compromised tissue quantification between preschool children with normal and altered development. No statistically significant association between dmft and nutritional development was found. Conclusion: A relationship between caries severity and overall child development in three-year-old preschool children was observed. Longitudinal studies are required to assess causality

A la sombra de la alameda

At the end of the XVIII century, in Caracas, a promenade related to Paseo del Prado, Madrid, was projected by the Governor Manuel González y Torres de Navarra. Small evidence of its construction has led some historians to assert that la alameda was never built. However, after examining historic documents, old maps and planes or the city, this article advances the alameda was indeed built to survive the 1812's earthquake, and the Independence war. In 1858, another promenade, el paseo de Caracas was projected on the same site were la alameda was once located.A finales del siglo XVIII, y promovida por el gobernador Manuel González y Torres de Navarra, se proyectó en la provincia de Caracas una alameda que estaría emparentada con el Paseo del Prado de Madrid. La escasa información sobre este proyecto ha contribuido a que muchos historiadores duden de su existencia. Sin embargo, la revisión de fuentes documentales y antiguos planos de la ciudad permiten deducir que la alameda no sólo se construyó, sino que sobrevivió a los embates del terremoto de 1812 y la Guerra de Independencia, sirviendo de base para la propuesta del Paseo de Caracas que, en 1858, se propuso en ese mismo lugar

Natural Resources, Tradable and Non-tradable Sector: An Exemplification with Bolivia, a Boom - Tradable and Non-tradable Model

In this document the transmission channel between natural resource dependence and its dynamic effects on growth is evaluated (Dutch disease hypothesis). An exemplification is done through a small open economy (Bolivia case) according to representative characteristics of high concentration in exports of hydrocarbon and minerals, and their implications in the productive sectors: boom (B), tradable (T), and non-tradable (NT) [Boom TNT model], plus the addition of domestic demand and relative prices (foreign and domestic) in alternative econometric specifications by structural restrictions (SVAR) for quarterly period from 2000 to 2015. The results show statistical predominance of long-term responses over short-term specifications, and different magnitudes between positive and negative shocks. Keywords: Dutch disease, Growth, Resource booms, Dependence, Tradable, Non-tradable. JEL Classifications: O13, Q33, O41

Patrón gammagráfico “superscan†en la osteomalacia hipofosfatémica asociada a Tenofovir en un paciente con infección por VIH.

El tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) constituye uno de los avances más importantes en el manejo de los pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Sin embargo, su uso a largo plazo conlleva el riesgo de aparición de enfermedades óseas como la osteporosis y la osteonecrosis. Uno de los fármacos más utilizados dentro de los esquemas de TARGA es el tenofovir disoproxil fumarato (TDF), un análogo de nucleótido inhibidor de la transcriptasa inversa que tiene buen perfil de seguridad y tolerancia, pero que ha sido asociado con el desarrollo de osteomalacia hipofosfatémica (OMH). Presentamos el caso de un varón de 56 años con infección crónica por VIH que desarrolló dolor óseo generalizado y debilidad durante el tratamiento con TDF, detectándose en el estudio analítico hipofosfatemia y aumento de su nivel basal de fosfatasa alcalina, con fosfaturia y calciuria normales. La radiografía mostraba aplastamientos vertebrales dorsales y la gammagrafía ósea reveló una hipercaptación difusa compatible con patrón “superscan†metabólico. Este patrón ha sido descrito de forma infrecuente en la OMH asociada a TDF, por lo que realizamos una revisión de los casos previamente publicados. Â

Educación para la ciudadanía democrática en la cultura digital

Asumiendo la importancia de las nuevas tecnologías en las aulas, especialmente en las actuales sociedades de la información y la comunicación, y siguiendo las recomendaciones de la Unión Europea a favor de la alfabetización mediática, el presente trabajo reflexiona acerca de la necesidad de educar no solo en los usos técnicos y eficientes de las tecnologías comunicativas, sino también en el uso responsable y cívico de las mismas, favoreciendo así los procesos participativos y deliberativos que son el sustento de una democracia viva. El sueño griego de la «isegoría», del igual derecho de todos al uso de la palabra, puede hacerse realidad en la cultura digital, si bien es cierto que un uso hiperselectivo de la tecnología comunicativa puede producir un efecto contrario: las nuevas formas de socialización pueden contribuir a la expansión de «cámaras de eco» o «nichos digitales», es decir, espacios discursivos cada vez más reducidos en donde el derecho a decir se desvincula de la responsabilidad de escuchar críticamente lo que procede de un espacio público más abierto y plural. Una de las metas de la educación en la cultura digital es precisamente frenar esta tendencia, detectada en los últimos años por autores como Sunstein, Wolton o Cortina. En el presente artículo se proponen orientaciones educativas para evitar estos sesgos y para fomentar, mediante la tecnología comunicativa, la ciudadanía digital y los valores éticos propios de sociedades democráticas.Given the importance of new technologies in the classroom, especially in today’s information and communication societies, and following European Union recommendations to promote media literacy, this article reflects the need to educate not only in technical and efficient applications of communication technologies but also in their civic and responsible use, thus promoting participatory and deliberative processes which are the lifeline of a functioning democracy. The Greek dream of «isegoria», everyone’s right to speak, can become a reality in a digital culture, yet the highly selective use of communication technology can have the opposite effect: new forms of socialization can contribute to the expansion of «echo chambers» or «digital niches», shrinking communication spaces in which the right to speak dissociates itself from the responsibility to listen critically to what arises from a more open, plural and public sphere. One of the goals of education in a digital culture is precisely to diminish this trend that authors such as Sunstein, Wolton and Cortina have detected in recent years. This article proposes educational guidelines to avoid this bias by using communication technology to promote digital citizenship and the ethical values sustained by democratic societies

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immunomodulation in the brain through environmental enrichment

Recent studies on environmental enrichment (EE) have shown cytokines, cellular immune components [e.g., T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells], and glial cells in causal relationship to EE in bringing out changes to neurobiology and behavior. The purpose of this review is to evaluate these neuroimmune mechanisms associated with neurobiological and behavioral changes in response to different EE methods. We systematically reviewed common research databases. After applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria, 328 articles remained for this review. Physical exercise (PE), a form of EE, elicits anti-inflammatory and neuromodulatory effects through interaction with several immune pathways including interleukin (IL)-6 secretion from muscle fibers, reduced expression of Toll-like receptors on monocytes and macrophages, reduced secretion of adipokines, modulation of hippocampal T cells, priming of microglia, and upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 in central nervous system. In contrast, immunomodulatory roles of other enrichment methods are not studied extensively. Nonetheless, studies showing reduction in the expression of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in response to enrichment with novel objects and accessories suggest anti-inflammatory effects of novel environment. Likewise, social enrichment, though considered a necessity for healthy behavior, results in immunosuppression in socially defeated animals. This has been attributed to reduction in T lymphocytes, NK cells and IL-10 in subordinate animals. EE through sensory stimuli has been investigated to a lesser extent and the effect on immune factors has not been evaluated yet. Discovery of this multidimensional relationship between immune system, brain functioning, and EE has paved a way toward formulating environ-immuno therapies for treating psychiatric illnesses with minimal use of pharmacotherapy. While the immunomodulatory role of PE has been evaluated extensively, more research is required to investigate neuroimmune changes associated with other enrichment methods.Gaurav Singhal, Emily J. Jaehne, Frances Corrigan and Bernhard T. Baun

Metodología de diagnóstico técnico ambiental en fuentes fijas industriales para prevenir y mitigar los episodios críticos de contaminación atmosférica y el impacto a la salud humana

El presente trabajo, elabora una metodolog&amp;iacute;a de diagn&amp;oacute;stico t&amp;eacute;cnico ambiental a fuentes fijas industriales, para prevenir y mitigar los episodios cr&amp;iacute;ticos de contaminaci&amp;oacute;n atmosf&amp;eacute;rica provocados por estas y minimizar el impacto a la salud de la poblaci&amp;oacute;n, aplicando m&amp;eacute;todos sin control agregado y con este. Se cre&amp;oacute; un nuevo m&amp;eacute;todo de clasificaci&amp;oacute;n de las fuentes fijas industriales, teniendo en cuenta los escenarios de la direcci&amp;oacute;n del viento, &amp;ldquo;predominante y variable&amp;rdquo;, inducido este &amp;uacute;ltimo por &amp;ldquo;fen&amp;oacute;menos meteorol&amp;oacute;gicos&amp;rdquo; y se elabor&amp;oacute; un m&amp;eacute;todo de pron&amp;oacute;stico de calidad del aire que tiene en cuenta el escenario de emisi&amp;oacute;n cubano y aplica medidas de control de operaciones y operatividad del proceso productivo para reducir las emisiones en las fuentes industriales, ambos m&amp;eacute;todos se incorporaron a la metodolog&amp;iacute;a de diagn&amp;oacute;stico t&amp;eacute;cnico ambiental. Adem&amp;aacute;s se propone la utilizaci&amp;oacute;n de equipos de reducci&amp;oacute;n de la emisi&amp;oacute;n, seleccionando la combinaci&amp;oacute;n de los ciclones y filtro de mangas como m&amp;eacute;todo con control agregado m&amp;aacute;s efectivo. Los resultados permitieron clasificar a la planta de zeolita, ubicada al norte del poblado de San Juan de los Yeras, municipio de Ranchuelo, como una fuente fija industrial &amp;ldquo;parcialmente bien ubicada&amp;rdquo;, que sus emisiones de material particulado originan episodios cr&amp;iacute;ticos de contaminaci&amp;oacute;n atmosf&amp;eacute;rica, bajo la influencia de los frentes fr&amp;iacute;os, exacerbando las crisis agudas de asma bronquial en 4,2 veces.Los pron&amp;oacute;sticos de calidad del aire y las medidas de control, permitieron minimizar estos episodios, con 24 horas de antelaci&amp;oacute;n su efectividad fue del 86% y la confiabilidad del 88,32 &amp;plusmn; 4,77%, influyendo positivamente en la salud de las personas, con un ahorro de los costos ambientales de 396 854,82 MT y una factibilidad econ&oacute;mica de 381 788,80 MT, siendo el m&amp;eacute;todo m&amp;aacute;s viable