How to Optimize Public Administration?: The Challenge and Transformation of Performance through Responsible Evaluations

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar el impacto de la evaluación del desempeño en la administración pública. Para ello se lleva a cabo un abordaje descriptivo a partir de la literatura consultada. De esta manera, se determinaron aspectos como las metodologías de evaluación del desempeño, la importancia de este proceso, los desafíos y críticas y la incidencia en la seguridad pública. También se presentan algunos estudios de caso de diferentes países en los que se muestra cómo ha sido la experiencia de la evaluación del desempeño dentro de determinadas instituciones y las lecciones aprendidas en este proceso. Se concluye que la evaluación del desempeño en el sector público es una herramienta estratégica que ayuda a optimizar el rendimiento de los funcionarios y, por lo tanto, permite construir equipos capacitados para afrontar los desafíos que se presentan en el ejercicio del servicio público. Finalmente, se plantea una serie de recomendaciones para fortalecer y mejorar el sistema de evaluación del desempeño que pueden llevar a su evolución y efectividad en el sector público.This study aims to determine the impact of performance evaluation in public administration. To this end, we carried out a descriptive approach based on the consulted literature. In this way, aspects such as performance evaluation methodologies, the importance of this process, challenges and criticisms, and the impact on public safety were determined. We also present some case studies from different countries, which show the experience of performance evaluation within certain institutions and the lessons learned in this process. We conclude that performance evaluation in the public sector is a strategic tool that allows optimizing the performance of officials and, therefore, enables the building of trained teams to face the challenges presented in the exercise of public service. Finally, we propose a series of recommendations to strengthen and improve the performance evaluation system that can lead to its evolution and effectiveness in the public sector

Pathogen-insect interaction candidate molecules for transmission-blocking control strategies of vector borne diseases

Objective. To analyze the current knowledge of pathogen-insect interactions amenable for the design of molecular-based control strategies of vector-borne diseases. Materials and methods. We examined malaria, dengue, and Chagas disease pathogens and insect molecules that participate in interactions during their vectors infection. Results. Pathogen molecules that participate in the insect intestine invasion and induced vector immune molecules are presented, and their inclusion in transmission blocking vaccines (TBV) and in genetically modify insect (GMI) vectors or symbiotic bac­teria are discussed. Conclusion. Disruption of processes by blocking vector-pathogen interactions provides several candidates for molecular control strategies, but TBV and GMI efficacies are still limited and other secondary effects of GMI (improving transmission of other pathogens, affectation of other organisms) should be discarded

Brief bibliometric study on solidarity economy

In this study, we carried out a bibliometric analysis of scientific production (282 articles) of the solidarity economy category in the 2010-2019 in the Web of Science database. An increase in the number of publications on Solidarity Economy until 2017 was identified. Most documents were scientific (76%), followed by book chapters. The authors with the highest number of publications were S. Calvo and A. Morales. In contrast, the organizations with the highest production were the Cooperative University of Colombia and the University of Bournemouth. The country with the highest production was Brazil, and Colombia is in seventh place, which confirms the need to expand and enrich its scientific heritage vis-à-vis the solidarity economy.En este estudio se realizó un análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica (282 artículos) de la categoría economía solidaria en el periodo 2010-2019 en la base de datos Web of Science. Se identificó un aumento en el número de publicaciones sobre economía solidaria hasta 2017. La gran mayoría de los documentos fueron artículos científicos (76 %), seguidos de capítulos de libro. Los autores con mayor número de publicaciones fueron S. Calvo y A. Morales, mientras que las organizaciones con mayor producción fueron la Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia y la Bournemouth University. El país con mayor producción fue Brasil, y Colombia ocupó el séptimo puesto, lo cual ratifica la necesidad de ampliar y enriquecer el acervo científico del país frente a la economía solidaria.Uma análise bibliométrica da produção científica (total de 282 artigos) da categoria economia solidária foi realizada na janela 2010-2019 na base de dados Web of Science. Foi identificado um aumento no número de publicações sobre Economia Solidária até 2017. A grande maioria dos documentos era científica (76%), seguida de capítulos de livros. Os autores com maior número de publicações foram S. Calvo e A. Morales, enquanto as organizações com maior produção foram a Universidade Cooperativa da Colômbia e a Universidade de Bournemouth. O país com maior produção foi o Brasil, e a Colômbia ocupa o sétimo lugar, o que confirma a necessidade de expandir e enriquecer o patrimônio científico do país em relação à economia solidária

Extraction of Mn from Black Copper Using Iron Oxides from Tailings and Fe2+ as Reducing Agents in Acid Medium

Exotic type deposits include several species of minerals, such as atacamite, chrysocolla, copper pitch, and copper wad. Among these, copper pitch and copper wad have considerable concentrations of manganese. However, their non-crystalline and amorphous structure makes it challenging to recover the elements of interest (like Cu or Mn) by conventional hydrometallurgical methods. For this reason, black copper ores are generally not incorporated into the extraction circuits or left unprocessed, whether in stock, leach pads, or waste. Therefore, to dilute MnO2, the use of reducing agents is essential. In the present research, agitated leaching was performed to dissolve Mn of black copper in an acidic medium, comparing the use of ferrous ions and tailings as reducing agents. Two samples of black copper were studied, of high and low grade of Mn, respectively, the latter with a high content of clays. The effect on the reducing agent/black copper ratio and the concentration of sulfuric acid in the system were evaluated. Better results in removing Mn were achieved using the highest-grade black copper sample when working with ferrous ions at a ratio of Fe2+/black copper of 2/1 and 1 mol/L of sulfuric acid. Besides, the low-grade sample induced a significant consumption of H2SO4 due to the high presence of gangue and clays.The authors are grateful for the contribution of the Scientific Equipment Unit- MAINI of the Universidad Católica del Norte for aiding in generating data by automated electronic microscopy QEMSCAN® and for facilitating the chemical analysis of the solutions. We are also grateful to the Altonorte Mining Company for supporting this research and providing slag for this study, and we thank to Marina Vargas Aleuy and María Barraza Bustos of the Universidad Católica del Norte for supporting the experimental tests. Also, we Conicyt Fondecyt 11,171,036 and Centro CRHIAM Project Conicyt/Fondap/15130015. This research received no external fundin

Ecdysis-related pleiotropic neuropeptides expression during Anopheles albimanus development

Objective. To analyze the transcription pattern of neuropeptides in the ontogeny of a malaria vector, the mosquito Anopheles albimanus. Materials and methods. The transcription pattern of Crustacean CardioActive peptide (CCAP), corazonin, Ecdysis Triggering Hormone (ETH), allatostatin-A, orcokinin, Insulin Like Peptide 2 (ILP2), Insulin Like Peptide 5 (ILP5) and bursicon was evaluated using qPCR on larvae (1st – 4th instar), pupae and adult mosquitoes. Results. Unlike in other insects, transcripts of CCAP (70.8%), ETH (60.2%) and corazonin (76.5%) were expressed in 4th instar larvae, probably because these three neuropeptides are associated with the beginning of ecdysis. The neuropeptide ILP2 showed higher transcription levels in other stages and orcokinin decreased during the development of the mosquito. Conclusion. The CCAP, corazonin and ETH neuropeptidesare potential targets for the design of control strategies aimed at disrupting An. albiamnus larval development

Adaptations in energy metabolism and gene family expansions revealed by comparative transcriptomics of three Chagas disease triatomine vectors

Background: Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is an important public health problem affecting around seven to eight million people in the Americas. A large number of hematophagous triatomine insect species, occupying diverse natural and human-modified ecological niches transmit this disease. Triatomines are long-living hemipterans that have evolved to explode different habitats to associate with their vertebrate hosts. Understanding the molecular basis of the extreme physiological conditions including starvation tolerance and longevity could provide insights for developing novel control strategies. We describe the normalized cDNA, full body transcriptome analysis of three main vectors in North, Central and South America, Triatoma pallidipennis, T. dimidiata and T. infestans. Results: Two-thirds of the de novo assembled transcriptomes map to the Rhodnius prolixus genome and proteome. A Triatoma expansion of the calycin family and two types of protease inhibitors, pacifastins and cystatins were identified. A high number of transcriptionally active class I transposable elements was documented in T. infestans, compared with T. dimidiata and T. pallidipennis. Sequence identity in Triatoma-R. prolixus 1:1 orthologs revealed high sequence divergence in four enzymes participating in gluconeogenesis, glycogen synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, indicating high evolutionary rates of these genes. Also, molecular evidence suggesting positive selection was found for several genes of the oxidative phosphorylation I, III and V complexes. Conclusions: Protease inhibitors and calycin-coding gene expansions provide insights into rapidly evolving processes of protease regulation and haematophagy. Higher evolutionary rates in enzymes that exert metabolic flux control towards anabolism and evidence for positive selection in oxidative phosphorylation complexes might represent genetic adaptations, possibly related to prolonged starvation, oxidative stress tolerance, longevity, and hematophagy and flight reduction. Overall, this work generated novel hypothesis related to biological adaptations to extreme physiological conditions and diverse ecological niches that sustain Chagas disease transmission.Centro Regional de Estudios Genómico

Comparative genomics analysis of triatomines reveals common first line and inducible immunity-related genes and the absence of Imd canonical components among hemimetabolous arthropods

Background: Insects operate complex humoral and cellular immune strategies to fend against invading microorganisms. The majority of these have been characterized in Drosophila and other dipterans. Information on hemipterans, including Triatominae vectors of Chagas disease remains incomplete and fractionated. Results: We identified putative immune-related homologs of three Triatominae vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma pallidipennis, T. dimidiata and T. infestans (TTTs), using comparative transcriptomics based on established immune response gene references, in conjunction with the predicted proteomes of Rhodnius prolixus, Cimex lecticularis and Acyrthosiphon pisum hemimetabolous. We present a compressive description of the humoral and cellular innate immune components of these TTTs and extend the immune information of other related hemipterans. Key homologs of the constitutive and induced immunity genes were identified in all the studied hemipterans. Conclusions: Our results in the TTTs extend previous observations in other hemipterans lacking several components of the Imd signaling pathway. Comparison with other hexapods, using published data, revealed that the absence of various Imd canonical components is common in several hemimetabolous species.Centro Regional de Estudios Genómico

Design and efficacy of an Ecohealth competency-based course on the prevention and control of vector diseases in Latin America

Objective. To design and analyze the efficacy of an Ecohealth competency-based course on the prevention and control of vector-borne-diseases for specific stakeholders. Materials and methods. Multiple stakeholders and sectors of the region were consulted to identify Ecohealth group-specific competencies using an adjusted analysis matrix. Eight courses based on the competencies were implemented to train EA tutors. The effectiveness of the course was evaluated through the use of paired- t-tests by intervention group. Results. Strategic, tactical, academia and community stakeholder groups and their competencies were identified. An overall gain of 43 percentage points (p<0.001) was observed in terms of competencies score in trained tutors, which further trained 1 033 people. Conclusion. The identification of the stakeholders and their competencies proved to be useful to guide training courses to significantly improve the initial competencies and create a critical mass to further advance the EA in the regio

Association of dengue fever with Aedes spp. abundance and climatological effects

Objective. To analyze the association of dengue fever incidence with Aedes mosquito’s abundance, and the effect of climatological and geographical variables, in a region in Morelos State, Mexico. Materials and methods. Weekly data during the period 2010 to 2014 was used. Mosquito abundance was determined using ovitraps. Confirmed dengue cases were obtained from the Epidemiological Surveillance System. Climatic variables were obtained from weather monitoringstations. The correlation between climate variables and ovitraps data was estimated using a multivariate regression model. Results. A correlation of mosquito abundance with dengue fever incidence, and a yearly pattern with seasonal variations were observed. The daily mean temperature, relative humidity and rainfall parameters were associated with mosquito egg abundance. Time lags of three and four weeks between egg counts and dengue fever incidence were observed. Conclusion. Time lags between egg counts and dengue incidence could be useful for prevention and control interventions

Propuesta de Diseño del Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo en la Microempresa Panadería y Pastelería “Mana”, de Sandoná (Nariño) Cuarto Trimestre de 2021

No aplicaEn esta investigación se enfrenta a una situación de verificación sobre el sistema de seguridad y salud en el trabajo SG-SST, para el caso de una Panadería, enfocados en el cumplimiento de los estándares mínimos de seguridad como lo establecen en las diferentes normas, decretos y resoluciones emitidas por los entes de control para las empresas que se encuentran en Colombia, debido a que muchas empresas no tienen el conocimiento o no les interesa la implementación del sistema, vulnerando los derechos a que tienen sus empleados de brindarle la seguridad y salud en el trabajo. Siendo un objetivo primordial el planteamiento del sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en trabajo (SG-SST), en la microempresa “Panadería y Pastelería MANA”, con el único propósito de evaluar los riesgos y peligros que actualmente tiene la microempresa, con dar a conocer los medios y requisitos legales como también dar recomendaciones significativas sobre el manejo del riesgo, donde cada actividad en el trabajo conlleva a un posible accidente, con ello se apoya a evaluar los riesgos asociados con el trabajo, tomando medidas de control para evitar novedades que afecten su condición tanto de salud como física, planteando como metodología de investigación de enfoque cualitativa y de alcance descriptivo, siendo un estudio explicativo para el personal que integra la microempresa, utilizando documentos sustentables confiables según sus fuentes bibliográficas establecidas para su explicación. Palabras Claves: Seguridad, investigación, riesgo, accidentes, vulnerando los derechos.In this research project show us a situation to check it about security system and health in the work SG-SST. For a case of a bakery, focus to get the goals in laws, norm, resolutions in different control institutions to companies is in Colombia. Some companies do not have knowledge or they do not take care to implement this system where many people are in dangerous when they are doing their works. In the same way, these companies are forgotten that they have to protect worker´s human right, like, security, and health in the work SGSST. This small company called bakery and pastry “MANA”. This research proposes to value the risk and danger. Even though, it is giving some meaning recommendation and advice who every actions will have any accidents mentality, healthy, physically when people are at work. It focuses qualitative and descriptive research. It is to explain to people that they are in the small company. Using legal documents according to bibliographic establish to its explanation. Keywords: Security, investigation, risk, accidents, forgotten human rights