Challenges and Implications of Implementing Strategic Intelligence Systems in Mexico

Business intelligence (BI) allows companies to make faster and better-informed decisions. Unfortunately, implementing BI systems in companies in developing countries is minimal. Limited and costly access to the technology, coupled with the cultural background affecting how people perceive BI, has restricted such implementations. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of chief executive officers (CEOs) in northern Mexico to obtain insight into the challenges of implementing BI systems. Research questions focused on the reasons behind the lack of BI systems implementation and the challenges faced by these officers when implementing a new system. This study employed semistructured interviews of 9 CEOs of small- to medium-sized companies. Interview data were coded using open coding techniques to develop themes or patterns, which in turn were aggregated to address the research questions. The lack of implementation was largely attributed to an economic concern among CEOs regarding the final price of implementation. In addition, the lack of systems offerings of localized systems and the working culture of the personnel were significant factors for the lack of investment. These findings may contribute to positive social change by informing managers and officers of companies in Mexico and other developing countries about the challenges and implications in BI implementation. When BI systems can be successfully implemented, both companies and their customers may benefit from improved information processing such as reduced number of errors and faster response times

Antioxidants in Kidney Diseases: The Impact of Bardoxolone Methyl

Drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are the mainstay of therapy to retard the progression of proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) such as diabetic nephropathy. However, diabetic nephropathy is still the first cause of end-stage renal disease. New drugs targeted to the pathogenesis and mechanisms of progression of these diseases beyond RAAS inhibition are needed. There is solid experimental evidence of a key role of oxidative stress and its interrelation with inflammation on renal damage. However, randomized and well-powered trials on these agents in CKD are scarce. We now review the biological bases of oxidative stress and its role in kidney diseases, with focus on diabetic nephropathy, as well as the role of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and recent clinical trials targeting this pathway with bardoxolone methyl

Gastropod Larvae and Zooplankton in Reef-Related Areas of the Western Caribbean Sea

In order to estimate the composition, distribution and abundance of zooplankton in 3 areas off the western Caribbean, samples were collected in 15 stations at South Coast and Chinchorro Bank, Mexico, and Hol-Chan Belize, from April to December 1996. Duplicate samples (2.5 m3) were collected bimonthly using a submersible pump. The pumped water was filtered through a 202 μm mesh net yielding a total of 20 zooplankton groups. Chinchorro Bank had 19 groups, South Coast had 15 groups, and Hol-Chan had 14 groups. The most abundant groups were copepods (43.1%), fish eggs (29.0%), foraminifera (12.0%), decapod larvae (5.7%) and gastropod larvae (4.3%). Twenty-seven species of gastropod larvae were identified with Natica sp. 1, Rissoina sp. 1, Cerithiopsis hero, Cerithium atratum, and Epitonium sp.1 being dominant. Newly hatched veligers of Strombus gigas were collected only at Chinchorro Bank (5.7/10m-3). Zooplankton was diverse and showed marked changes during the sampling months. Chinchorro Bank had a higher number of marine zooplankters than South Coast and Hol-Chan, and this may be related to a greater oceanic influence. In spite of the environmental homogeneity, there were differences in the distribution and abundance of Strombus veligers, and this might be related to some water characteristics locally, affecting gastropod reproduction mainly in South Coast and Hol-Chan

Rating the Raters: Evaluating how ESG Rating Agencies Integrate Sustainability Principles

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating agencies, acting as relevant financial market actors, should take a stand on working towards achieving a more sustainable development. In this context, the objective of this paper is, on the one hand, to understand how criteria used by ESG rating agencies in their assessment processes have evolved over the last ten years and, on the other hand, to analyze whether ESG rating agencies are contributing to fostering sustainable development by the inclusion of sustainability principles into their assessment processes and practices according to the ESG criteria. This research is based on a comparative descriptive analysis of the public information provided by the most representative ESG rating and information provider agencies in the financial market in two periods: 2008 and 2018. The findings show that ESG rating agencies have integrated new criteria into their assessment models to measure corporate performance more accurately and robustly in order to respond to new global challenges. However, a deep analysis of the criteria also shows that ESG rating agencies do not fully integrate sustainability principles into the corporate sustainability assessment process

Anatomía e histoquímica del establecimiento del haustorio de Struthanthus interruptus (Kunth) Blume, planta parásita de Populus tremuloides Michx. Especie abundante en el arbolado del Distrito Federal

The presence of parasitic plants of family Loranthaceae in the urban trees of Mexic o City is a problem. Species of mistletoe introduced to the city, Struthanthus interruptus parasitize about 70 native species and introduced species of angiosperms and gymnosperms, frequent as little abundant in the trees, where it has been seen that Popul ustremuloides, a dominant species in the woodland town, short - term experience, a degree of infection and greater than other species parasitized mortality. That's why, it is important to know the process of establishing S.interruptus in P. tremuloides, from the knowledge of phenological events adhesion test and germination of the fruit in living and inert surfaces, as well as development evaluation disc root in prehaustorial and haustorial nursery trees phases of P. tremuloides, from the points of morpholog ical, anatomical and histochemical view. In the study site of the neighborhood Miguel Hidalgo, it was noted that phenological events flowering and fruiting - overlapping; the fruits ripen in 8 months with their presence in mature stage from January to May 2011. On the same site, mistletoe fruit trees growing on P. tremuloides were collected. Simulating the condition as birds discarded fruit after consuming them, most of the fruits that were attached parallel to the branches, cellophane, cork and glass, germin ated (day 5) and only some of those who were they stuck to the surface of the branches and cork, were grown to prehaustorial phase (day 14). Among the prehaustorial and haustorial phase occurs a series of decisive for the establishment of S. interuptus eve nts. Endophyte cell proliferation and ability to break and produce a secretory cavity, digesting cellular components host tissues, will result in the formation of the primary haustorio, by glass - glass close relationship. Events occurring within 30 days aft er inoculation.La presencia de las plantas pará sitas de la familia Loranthaceae en el arbolado urbano de la Ciudad de México, constituye un problema de sanidad, que es importante atender, dado los beneficios que brinda un arbolado sano en la Ciudades. De las especies de muérdago introducidas en la ciudad, S. interruptus parasita cerca de 70 especies tanto nativas como introducidas de angiospermas y gimnospermas, frecuentes como poco abundantes en el arbolado, en donde se ha visto que Populus tremuloides , una especie dominante en el arbolado de la Ciudad, experimenta a corto plazo, un grado de infección y mortalidad mayor que las demás especies parasitadas. Por esta razón, resulta importante conocer el proceso de establecimiento de S. interruptus en P. tremuloides, partiendo del conocimiento de los eventos fenológicos, de pruebas de adhesión y germinación de los frutos en superficies vivas e inertes, así como de la evaluación del desarrollo del disco radicular en las fases prehaustorial y haustorial en árboles de vivero de P. tremuloides , desde los puntos de vista morfológico, anatómico e histoquímico. En el sitio de estudio de la delegación Miguel Hidalgo, se observó que los eventos fenológicos de floración y fructificación se sobrelapan; los frutos maduran en 8 meses con presencia de ellos en estado maduro de enero a mayo del 2011. En el mismo sitio, se recolectaron frutos de muérdago que crecían en árboles de P. tremuloides. Simulando la condición de como las aves desechan los frutos después de consumirlos, la mayoría de los frutos que fueron adheridos de forma paralela a las ramas, al celofán, al corcho y al vidrio, germinó (día 5) y sólo algunos de los que fueron adheridos a la superficie de las ramas y del corcho, se desarrollaron hasta la fase prehaustorial (día 14). Entre la fase prehaustorial y haustorial ocurre una serie de eventos decisivos para el establecimiento de S. interuptus. La proliferación celular del endofito y su capacidad de romper y producir en una cavidad secretora, componentes celulares que digieren los tejidos del hospedante, darán lugar a la formación del haustorio primario, mediante la relación estrecha vaso - vaso. Hechos que ocurren a los 30 días a partir de la inoculación

Surfactant Protein C Deficiency in a Puerto Rican Adolescent With a Rare SFTPC Genetic Variant

Surfactant protein C (SP-C) is a hydrophobic lipoprotein necessary for lowering alveolar surface tension and lung defense mechanisms. Defects in its function due to genetic mutations in the SFTPC gene have been increasingly identified in patients presenting with childhood interstitial lung disease. SFTPC mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with reduced penetration and variable expressivity, although de novo mutations have also been documented. In this article, we present the case of an oxygen-dependent 13-year-old male with interstitial lung disease and severe pulmonary hypertension. Genetic analysis and lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of SP-C deficiency with the rare heterozygous mutation IVS4+2. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of SP-C deficiency in the Puerto Rican population and the second worldwide with the IVS4+2 genetic mutation