Tourist departments and destinations of Colombia according to the Regional Tourist Competitiveness Index (ICTRC)

El boom turístico de las últimas décadas ha motivado a los gobiernos a enfocarse en impulsar la competitividad turística de sus países y destinos, como un catalizador del desarrollo humano. La presente investigación realiza un análisis comparativo de las diversas variables del Índice de Competitividad Turística Regional de Colombia (ICTRC) desarrollado por el Centro de Pensamiento Turístico (CPTUR), inherentes a la dimensión de Gestión del Destino en 22 territorios de Colombia. Se aplicó el método del análisis de componentes principales para medir la correlación entre 18 variables seleccionadas del ICTRC, que dan cuenta de la gestión de destinos en Colombia. Se identificó que, para mejorar la competitividad turística de los destinos en Colombia, los focos principales deben orientarse hacia la información turística, los eventos terroristas, los niveles de presupuestales, el retorno a la contribución parafiscal y la inclusión del turismo en los planes de desarrollo. Se recomienda que las entidades gubernamentales formulen, implementen y validen procesos a nivel macro y micro en los constructos referidos, con el fin de impactar considerablemente la competitividad turística de los destinos.In recent decades, the tourism boom has motivated governments to focus on boosting the tourism competitiveness of their countries and destinations, as a catalyst for human development. This research performs a comparative analysis of the various variables from the Regional Tourism Competitiveness Index of Colombia (ICTRC), developed by the Centre for Tourism Thinking (CPTUR), within the Destination Management dimension in 22 departments of Colombia. The principal components analysis method was applied to measure the correlation between 18 variables selected from the ICTRC, which provide a measurable account of the efficacy of destination management in Colombia. It was identified that, to improve tourist destination competitiveness in Colombia, the main focus should be on tourist information, terrorist events, budget levels, the return to the parafiscal contribution and the inclusion of tourism in development plans. It is recommended that government entities formulate, implement and validate processes at the macro and micro level in the aforementioned constructs, in order to considerably impact tourist destination competitiveness

Estilos de liderazgo y cultura de la innovación en hoteles del Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga (Colombia)

The objective of the article is to show the correlation between leadership and culture of innovation in hotels affiliated and not affiliated with the Colombian Hotel and Tourism Association - COTELCO. For the fulfillment of the objective, a methodology with a correlational quantitative approach was used, implementing two instruments in a sample of fifty hotels from the four municipalities that make up the Metropolitan area of Bucaramanga. The first instrument analyzed the leadership variable through the measurement of the leadership of Blake and Monton, the second, measured the culture of innovation from the questionnaire proposed by the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia. It was concluded that In the leadership variable, they allow observing a higher trend in the people dimension and the innovation culture a trend towards two dimensions: people and strategy.El objetivo del artículo es mostrar la correlación entre liderazgo y cultura de la innovación en hoteles afiliados y no afiliados a la Asociación Hotelera y Turística de Colombia (COTELCO). Para el cumplimiento del objetivo se usó una metodología con enfoque cuantitativo de tipo correlacional, implementando dos instrumentos en una muestra de cincuenta hoteles de los cuatro municipios que integran el Area Metropolitana de Bucaramanga. El primer instrumento analizó la variable liderazgo a través de la medición del liderazgo de Blake y Montón, mientras que el segundo midió la cultura de la innovación desde el cuestionario propuesto por el Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones de Colombia. Se concluyó que en la variable liderazgo se observa una tendencia superior en la dimensión “personas” y en la cultura de la innovación una tendencia hacia dos dimensiones: las personas y la estrategia

The mRNA degradation factor Xrn1 regulates transcription elongation in parallel to Ccr4

Co-transcriptional imprinting of mRNA by Rpb4 and Rpb7 subunits of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and by the Ccr4–Not complex conditions its posttranscriptional fate. In turn, mRNA degradation factors like Xrn1 are able to influence RNAPII-dependent transcription, making a feedback loop that contributes to mRNA homeostasis. In this work, we have used repressible yeast GAL genes to perform accurate measurements of transcription and mRNA degradation in a set of mutants. This genetic analysis uncovered a link from mRNA decay to transcription elongation. We combined this experimental approach with computational multi-agent modelling and tested different possibilities of Xrn1 and Ccr4 action in gene transcription. This double strategy brought us to conclude that both Xrn1-decaysome and Ccr4–Not regulate RNAPII elongation, and that they do it in parallel. We validated this conclusion measuring TFIIS genome-wide recruitment to elongating RNAPII. We found that xrn1Δ and ccr4Δ exhibited very different patterns of TFIIS versus RNAPII occupancy, which confirmed their distinct role in controlling transcription elongation. We also found that the relative influence of Xrn1 and Ccr4 is different in the genes encoding ribosomal proteins as compared to the rest of the genome

CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup: Altitude impact on goals and results in 16 years of soccer matches

Background: The CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup, is the continent’s most important international club tournament. Teams are exposed to different altitudes with short acclimatization periods. The present study describe the effect of altitude on the results and goals of soccer club teams matches between 2000 and 2015 in the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup. Materials & Methods: All home and visiting matches from the group phase onwards and which have been played at the traditional team venue were taken into account, thus, 2039 games were analysed. The teams were classified into altitude categories according to the physiological impact and registered hometown altitude. Poisson´s generalized linear model was used to study the relationship between the altitude of both home and visiting teams and the number of goals scored for each team according to the altitude category. The probabilities that the home team winning, drawing, or losing the match were estimated using a regression model for ordinal variables and assuming a multinomial probability distribution with the logistic linkage. Factors as heat, temperature and general performance of the teams were not considered. Results: Local team scores more (2.62 goals) when the visiting team descends three altitude categories, followed by a descent of two altitude categories (2.01 goals) and an ascent of three altitude categories (1.89 goals). This is associated with an increase probability of winning for the local team, being 5.5 times more likely when the visiting team descends three altitude categories, 2.3 times more when it descends two categories, and 2.5 times more when it ascends three altitude categories. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the visiting team is more likely to lose a match when it has to descend two or three altitude categories and when it ascends three altitude categories

Concordance between the indirect V̇O2max value estimated through the distance in Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 and the direct measurement during a treadmill protocol test in elite youth soccer players

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between the indirect V̇O2max value estimated by the distance achieved in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1) and the direct measurement during a treadmill protocol test (TP) in elite youth soccer players. Methods: Fourteen elite under 20 year’s old soccer players from a first division soccer club were evaluated. Test were performed one week apart. In both tests V̇O2, was measured with an ambulatory gas exchange measurement. YYIR1 estimated V̇O2max was calculated using the equation described by Bangsbo et al. (2008) and in TP was calculated using American College of Sport Medicine equation. Results: Lin´s concordance correlation coefficient between direct V̇O2max in TP and estimated V̇O2max in YYIR1=0.271 (poor concordance). Conclusions: The poor concordance between direct and indirect V̇O2max measurements in TP and YYIR1, indicated that in an elite population both test, are not good indirect predictors of V̇O2max, reached in those tests using current predictive equations. The YYIR1 is well established as a performance-relevant test in elite players, but our data suggests that due to its poor concordance with imprecise estimation of V̇O2max, which should be measured directly if this variable is of specific interest

Taking the pulse of Earth's tropical forests using networks of highly distributed plots

Tropical forests are the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. While better understanding of these forests is critical for our collective future, until quite recently efforts to measure and monitor them have been largely disconnected. Networking is essential to discover the answers to questions that transcend borders and the horizons of funding agencies. Here we show how a global community is responding to the challenges of tropical ecosystem research with diverse teams measuring forests tree-by-tree in thousands of long-term plots. We review the major scientific discoveries of this work and show how this process is changing tropical forest science. Our core approach involves linking long-term grassroots initiatives with standardized protocols and data management to generate robust scaled-up results. By connecting tropical researchers and elevating their status, our Social Research Network model recognises the key role of the data originator in scientific discovery. Conceived in 1999 with RAINFOR (South America), our permanent plot networks have been adapted to Africa (AfriTRON) and Southeast Asia (T-FORCES) and widely emulated worldwide. Now these multiple initiatives are integrated via ForestPlots.net cyber-infrastructure, linking colleagues from 54 countries across 24 plot networks. Collectively these are transforming understanding of tropical forests and their biospheric role. Together we have discovered how, where and why forest carbon and biodiversity are responding to climate change, and how they feedback on it. This long-term pan-tropical collaboration has revealed a large long-term carbon sink and its trends, as well as making clear which drivers are most important, which forest processes are affected, where they are changing, what the lags are, and the likely future responses of tropical forests as the climate continues to change. By leveraging a remarkably old technology, plot networks are sparking a very modern revolution in tropical forest science. In the future, humanity can benefit greatly by nurturing the grassroots communities now collectively capable of generating unique, long-term understanding of Earth's most precious forests. Resumen Los bosques tropicales son los ecosistemas más diversos y productivos del mundo y entender su funcionamiento es crítico para nuestro futuro colectivo. Sin embargo, hasta hace muy poco, los esfuerzos para medirlos y monitorearlos han estado muy desconectados. El trabajo en redes es esencial para descubrir las respuestas a preguntas que trascienden las fronteras y los plazos de las agencias de financiamiento. Aquí mostramos cómo una comunidad global está respondiendo a los desafíos de la investigación en ecosistemas tropicales a través de diversos equipos realizando mediciones árbol por árbol en miles de parcelas permanentes de largo plazo. Revisamos los descubrimientos más importantes de este trabajo y discutimos cómo este proceso está cambiando la ciencia relacionada a los bosques tropicales. El enfoque central de nuestro esfuerzo implica la conexión de iniciativas locales de largo plazo con protocolos estandarizados y manejo de datos para producir resultados que se puedan trasladar a múltiples escalas. Conectando investigadores tropicales, elevando su posición y estatus, nuestro modelo de Red Social de Investigación reconoce el rol fundamental que tienen, para el descubrimiento científico, quienes generan o producen los datos. Concebida en 1999 con RAINFOR (Suramérica), nuestras redes de parcelas permanentes han sido adaptadas en África (AfriTRON) y el sureste asiático (T-FORCES) y ampliamente replicadas en el mundo. Actualmente todas estas iniciativas están integradas a través de la ciber-infraestructura de ForestPlots.net, conectando colegas de 54 países en 24 redes diferentes de parcelas. Colectivamente, estas redes están transformando nuestro conocimiento sobre los bosques tropicales y el rol de éstos en la biósfera. Juntos hemos descubierto cómo, dónde y porqué el carbono y la biodiversidad de los bosques tropicales está respondiendo al cambio climático y cómo se retroalimentan. Esta colaboración pan-tropical de largo plazo ha expuesto un gran sumidero de carbono y sus tendencias, mostrando claramente cuáles son los factores más importantes, qué procesos se ven afectados, dónde ocurren los cambios, los tiempos de reacción y las probables respuestas futuras mientras el clima continúa cambiando. Apalancando lo que realmente es una tecnología antigua, las redes de parcelas están generando una verdadera y moderna revolución en la ciencia tropical. En el futuro, la humanidad puede beneficiarse enormemente si se nutren y cultivan comunidades de investigadores de base, actualmente con la capacidad de generar información única y de largo plazo para entender los que probablemente son los bosques más preciados de la tierra. Resumo Florestas tropicais são os ecossistemas mais diversos e produtivos da Terra. Embora uma boa compreensão destas florestas seja crucial para o nosso futuro coletivo, até muito recentemente os esforços de medições e monitoramento foram amplamente desconexos. É essencial formarmos redes para obtermos respostas que transcendem fronteiras e horizontes de agências financiadoras. Neste estudo nós mostramos como uma comunidade global está respondendo aos desafios da pesquisa de ecossistemas tropicais, com equipes diversas medindo florestas, árvore por árvore, em milhares de parcelas monitoradas à longo prazo. Nós revisamos as maiores descobertas científicas deste trabalho, e mostramos também como este processo está mudando a ciência de florestas tropicais. Nossa abordagem principal envolve unir iniciativas de base a protocolos padronizados e gerenciamento de dados a fim de gerar resultados robustos em escalas ampliadas. Ao conectar pesquisadores tropicais e elevar seus status, nosso modelo de Rede de Pesquisa Social reconhece o papel-chave do produtor dos dados na descoberta científica. Concebida em 1999 com o RAINFOR (América do Sul), nossa rede de parcelas permanentes foi adaptada para África (AfriTRON) e Sudeste asiático (T-FORCES), e tem sido extensamente reproduzida em todo o mundo. Agora estas múltiplas iniciativas estão integradas através de uma infraestrutura cibernética do ForestPlots.net, conectando colegas de 54 países de 24 redes de parcelas. Estas iniciativas estão transformando coletivamente o entendimento das florestas tropicais e seus papéis na biosfera. Juntos nós descobrimos como, onde e por que o carbono e a biodiversidade da floresta estão respondendo às mudanças climáticas, e seus efeitos de retroalimentação. Esta duradoura colaboração pantropical revelou um grande sumidouro de carbono persistente e suas tendências, assim como tem evidenciado quais direcionadores são mais importantes, quais processos florestais são mais afetados, onde eles estão mudando, seus atrasos no tempo de resposta, e as prováveis respostas das florestas tropicais conforme o clima continua a mudar. Dessa forma, aproveitando uma notável tecnologia antiga, redes de parcelas acendem faíscas de uma moderna revolução na ciência das florestas tropicais. No futuro a humanidade pode se beneficiar incentivando estas comunidades basais que agora são coletivamente capazes de gerar conhecimentos únicos e duradouros sobre as florestas mais preciosas da Terra. Résume Les forêts tropicales sont les écosystèmes les plus diversifiés et les plus productifs de la planète. Si une meilleure compréhension de ces forêts est essentielle pour notre avenir collectif, jusqu'à tout récemment, les efforts déployés pour les mesurer et les surveiller ont été largement déconnectés. La mise en réseau est essentielle pour découvrir les réponses à des questions qui dépassent les frontières et les horizons des organismes de financement. Nous montrons ici comment une communauté mondiale relève les défis de la recherche sur les écosystèmes tropicaux avec diverses équipes qui mesurent les forêts arbre après arbre dans de milliers de parcelles permanentes. Nous passons en revue les principales découvertes scientifiques de ces travaux et montrons comment ce processus modifie la science des forêts tropicales. Notre approche principale consiste à relier les initiatives de base à long terme à des protocoles standardisés et une gestion de données afin de générer des résultats solides à grande échelle. En reliant les chercheurs tropicaux et en élevant leur statut, notre modèle de réseau de recherche sociale reconnaît le rôle clé de l'auteur des données dans la découverte scientifique. Conçus en 1999 avec RAINFOR (Amérique du Sud), nos réseaux de parcelles permanentes ont été adaptés à l'Afrique (AfriTRON) et à l'Asie du Sud-Est (T-FORCES) et largement imités dans le monde entier. Ces multiples initiatives sont désormais intégrées via l'infrastructure ForestPlots.net, qui relie des collègues de 54 pays à travers 24 réseaux de parcelles. Ensemble, elles transforment la compréhension des forêts tropicales et de leur rôle biosphérique. Ensemble, nous avons découvert comment, où et pourquoi le carbone forestier et la biodiversité réagissent au changement climatique, et comment ils y réagissent. Cette collaboration pan-tropicale à long terme a révélé un important puits de carbone à long terme et ses tendances, tout en mettant en évidence les facteurs les plus importants, les processus forestiers qui sont affectés, les endroits où ils changent, les décalages et les réactions futures probables des forêts tropicales à mesure que le climat continue de changer. En tirant parti d'une technologie remarquablement ancienne, les réseaux de parcelles déclenchent une révolution très moderne dans la science des forêts tropicales. À l'avenir, l'humanité pourra grandement bénéficier du soutien des communautés de base qui sont maintenant collectivement capables de générer une compréhension unique et à long terme des forêts les plus précieuses de la Terre. Abstrak Hutan tropika adalah di antara ekosistem yang paling produktif dan mempunyai kepelbagaian biodiversiti yang tinggi di seluruh dunia. Walaupun pemahaman mengenai hutan tropika amat penting untuk masa depan kita, usaha-usaha untuk mengkaji dan mengawas hutah-hutan tersebut baru sekarang menjadi lebih diperhubungkan. Perangkaian adalah sangat penting untuk mencari jawapan kepada soalan-soalan yang menjangkaui sempadan dan batasan agensi pendanaan. Di sini kami menunjukkan bagaimana sebuah komuniti global bertindak balas terhadap cabaran penyelidikan ekosistem tropika melalui penglibatan pelbagai kumpulan yang mengukur hutan secara pokok demi pokok dalam beribu-ribu plot jangka panjang. Kami meninjau semula penemuan saintifik utama daripada kerja ini dan menunjukkan bagaimana proses ini sedang mengubah bidang sains hutan tropika. Teras pendekatan kami memberi tumpuan terhadap penghubungan inisiatif akar umbi jangka panjang dengan protokol standar serta pengurusan data untuk mendapatkan hasil skala besar yang kukuh. Dengan menghubungkan penyelidik-penyelidik tropika dan meningkatkan status mereka, model Rangkaian Penyelidikan Sosial kami mengiktiraf kepentingan peranan pengasas data dalam penemuan saintifik. Bermula dengan pengasasan RAINFOR (Amerika Selatan) pada tahun 1999, rangkaian-rangkaian plot kekal kami kemudian disesuaikan untuk Afrika (AfriTRON) dan Asia Tenggara (T-FORCES) dan selanjutnya telah banyak dicontohi di seluruh dunia. Kini, inisiatif-inisiatif tersebut disepadukan melalui infrastruktur siber ForestPlots.net yang menghubungkan rakan sekerja dari 54 negara di 24 buah rangkaian plot. Secara kolektif, rangkaian ini sedang mengubah pemahaman tentang hutan tropika dan peranannya dalam biosfera. Kami telah bekerjasama untuk menemukan bagaimana, di mana dan mengapa karbon serta biodiversiti hutan bertindak balas terhadap perubahan iklim dan juga bagaimana mereka saling bermaklum balas. Kolaborasi pan-tropika jangka panjang ini telah mendedahkan sebuah sinki karbon jangka panjang serta arah alirannya dan juga menjelaskan pemandu-pemandu perubahan yang terpenting, di mana dan bagaimana proses hutan terjejas, masa susul yang ada dan kemungkinan tindakbalas hutan tropika pada perubahan iklim secara berterusan di masa depan. Dengan memanfaatkan pendekatan lama, rangkaian plot sedang menyalakan revolusi yang amat moden dalam sains hutan tropika. Pada masa akan datang, manusia sejagat akan banyak mendapat manfaat jika memupuk komuniti-komuniti akar umbi yang kini berkemampuan secara kolektif menghasilkan pemahaman unik dan jangka panjang mengenai hutan-hutan yang paling berharga di dunia

La gestión de departamentos y destinos turísticos de Colombia según el Índice de Competitividad Turística Regional (ICTRC)

In recent decades, the tourism boom has motivated governments to focus on boosting the tourism competitiveness of their countries and destinations, as a catalyst for human development. This research performs a comparative analysis of the various variables from the Regional Tourism Competitiveness Index of Colombia (ICTRC), developed by the Centre for Tourism Thinking (CPTUR), within the Destination Management dimension in 22 departments of Colombia. The principal components analysis method was applied to measure the correlation between 18 variables selected from the ICTRC, which provide a measurable account of the efficacy of destination management in Colombia. It was identified that, to improve tourist destination competitiveness in Colombia, the main focus should be on tourist information, terrorist events, budget levels, the return to the parafiscal contribution and the inclusion of tourism in development plans. It is recommended that government entities formulate, implement and validate processes at the macro and micro level in the aforementioned constructs, in order to considerably impact tourist destination competitiveness. Keywords: Tourist competitiveness; touristic destinations; principal component analysis; Colombia.El boom turístico de las últimas décadas ha motivado a los gobiernos a enfocarse en impulsar la competitividad turística de sus países y destinos, como un catalizador del desarrollo humano. La presente investigación realiza un análisis comparativo de las diversas variables del Índice de Competitividad Turística Regional de Colombia (ICTRC) desarrollado por el Centro de Pensamiento Turístico (CPTUR), inherentes a la dimensión de Gestión del Destino en 22 territorios de Colombia. Se aplicó el método del análisis de componentes principales para medir la correlación entre 18 variables seleccionadas del ICTRC, que dan cuenta de la gestión de destinos en Colombia. Se identificó que, para mejorar la competitividad turística de los destinos en Colombia, los focos principales deben orientarse hacia la información turística, los eventos terroristas, los niveles de presupuestales, el retorno a la contribución parafiscal y la inclusión del turismo en los planes de desarrollo. Se recomienda que las entidades gubernamentales formulen, implementen y validen procesos a nivel macro y micro en los constructos referidos, con el fin de impactar considerablemente la competitividad turística de los destinos. Palabras clave: Competitividad turística; destinos turísticos; análisis de componentes principales; Colombia

Coenzyme q at the hinge of health and metabolic diseases

© 2021 by the authors.Coenzyme Q is a unique lipidic molecule highly conserved in evolution and essential to maintaining aerobic metabolism. It is endogenously synthesized in all cells by a very complex pathway involving a group of nuclear genes that share high homology among species. This pathway is tightly regulated at transcription and translation, but also by environment and energy requirements. Here, we review how coenzyme Q reacts within mitochondria to promote ATP synthesis and also integrates a plethora of metabolic pathways and regulates mitochondrial oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q is also located in all cellular membranes and plasma lipoproteins in which it exerts antioxidant function, and its reaction with different extramitochondrial oxidoreductases contributes to regulate the cellular redox homeostasis and cytosolic oxidative stress, providing a key factor in controlling various apoptosis mechanisms. Coenzyme Q levels can be decreased in humans by defects in the biosynthesis pathway or by mitochondrial or cytosolic dysfunctions, leading to a highly heterogeneous group of mitochondrial diseases included in the coenzyme Q deficiency syndrome. We also review the importance of coenzyme Q levels and its reactions involved in aging and age-associated metabolic disorders, and how the strategy of its supplementation has had benefits for combating these diseases and for physical performance in aging.This work was supported by Junta de Andalucía grants P18-RT-4572, UPO-126247, UPO1265673 and BIO-177, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III FIS grant FIS PI20/00541, the FEDER Funding Program from the European Union, and CIBERER (U729)-ISCIII, and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities grant RED2018-102576-T to P.N. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports through fellowship FPU16/03264 to J.D.H-C