Análisis de los procesos administrativos del Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado para la parroquia rural Simiatug, de la provincia de Bolívar, cantón Guaranda

El presente análisis de los procesos administrativos del Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado para la parroquia Rural Simiatug, de la provincia de Bolívar, cantón Guaranda, tiene como fin aportar en su modernización y en el mejoramiento continuo de sus procesos y procedimientos administrativos. Para el trabajo investigativo se revisó la normativa vigente, que apoyan el desarrollo de los procesos participativos en los GAD’s en todos los niveles de gobierno parroquiales. Para el análisis de los procesos administrativos se desarrolló el FODA Institucional, el mismo que devela las fortalezas y debilidades de la estructura orgánica, se realizó entrevistas y encuestas a las autoridades y funcionarios del GADP. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos se puede determinar que la institución no cuenta con una estructura administrativa que permita establecer una adecuada relación de los procesos, ya que ni siquiera cuenta un departamento administrativo. Por ende, se concluyó que la aplicación de un adecuado proceso administrativo aporta con una estructura que incluye procesos y subprocesos necesarios para la consecución de los objetivos institucionales y a su vez permita la satisfacción de las necesidades de la población. Razón por la cual se recomienda la aplicación de la presente investigación a fin de que permitan establecer los objetivos institucionales, caso contrario de manera oportuna se deberán establecer los correctivos pertinentes para su consecuciónThe present analysis of the administrative processes of the Autonomous Decentralized Government to Simiatug Rural parish from Bolívar province, Guaranda canton has as aim to contribute in its modernization and in the continuous improvement of its processes and administrative procedures. For the research work, the current norm that supports the development of participatory processes in the GAD’s at all levels of parish government were revised. The institutional SWOT was developed to the analysis of the administrative processes, which reveals the strengths, and weaknesses of the organic structure; interviews and surveys were carried out to the authorities and staff of the GADP. According to the achievement results, they can be determined that the institution does not have an administrative structure that allows establishing an adequate relationship of the processes, since it does not even have an administrative department. Therefore, it was concluded that the application of an adequate administrative process contributes with a structure that includes processes and sub processes necessary for the achievement of the institutional objectives and at the same time allows the satisfaction of the needs of the population. Reason for which, the application of the present investigation is recommended in order to allow establishing the institutional objectives, otherwise in a timely manner, the pertinent corrective measures must be established to achieve them

Lasting Effects of Soil Compaction on Soil Water Regime Confirmed by Geoelectrical Monitoring

Despite its importance for hydrological and ecological soil functioning, characterizing, and quantifying soil structure in the field remains a challenge. Traditional characterization of soil structure often relies on point measurements, more recently, we advanced the use of minimally invasive geophysical methods that operate at plot-field scales and provide information under natural conditions. In this study, we expand the application using geoelectrical and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) monitoring of soil water dynamics to infer impacts of compaction on soil structure and function. We developed a modeling scheme combining a new pedophysical model of soil electrical conductivity and a soil-structure-informed one-dimensional water flow and heat-transfer model. The model was used to interpret Direct Current (DC)-resistivity and TDR monitoring data in compacted soils at the Soil Structure Observatory (SSO) located in the vicinity of Zurich, Switzerland. We find that (1) soil compaction leads to a persistent decrease in soil electrical resistivity and (2) that compacted soils are typically drier than non-compacted soils during long drying events. The main decrease in electrical resistivity is attributed to decreasing macroporosity and increasing connectivity of soil aggregates due to compaction. Higher water losses in compacted soils are explained in terms of enhanced evaporation. Our work advances characterization of soil structure at the field scale with electrical methods by offering a physically based explanation of the impact of soil compaction on electrical properties and by interpreting DC-resistivity data in terms of soil water dynamics

Lasting Effects of Soil Compaction on Soil Water Regime Confirmed by Geoelectrical Monitoring

Despite its importance for hydrological and ecological soil functioning, characterizing, and quantifying soil structure in the field remains a challenge. Traditional characterization of soil structure often relies on point measurements, more recently, we advanced the use of minimally invasive geophysical methods that operate at plot-field scales and provide information under natural conditions. In this study, we expand the application using geoelectrical and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) monitoring of soil water dynamics to infer impacts of compaction on soil structure and function. We developed a modeling scheme combining a new pedophysical model of soil electrical conductivity and a soil-structure-informed one-dimensional water flow and heat-transfer model. The model was used to interpret Direct Current (DC)-resistivity and TDR monitoring data in compacted soils at the Soil Structure Observatory (SSO) located in the vicinity of Zürich, Switzerland. We find that (1) soil compaction leads to a persistent decrease in soil electrical resistivity and (2) that compacted soils are typically drier than non-compacted soils during long drying events. The main decrease in electrical resistivity is attributed to decreasing macroporosity and increasing connectivity of soil aggregates due to compaction. Higher water losses in compacted soils are explained in terms of enhanced evaporation. Our work advances characterization of soil structure at the field scale with electrical methods by offering a physically based explanation of the impact of soil compaction on electrical properties and by interpreting DC-resistivity data in terms of soil water dynamics

Diseño de un sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo basado en la Ley N° 29783 para minimizar riesgos laborales en LH Construcciones y Servicios S. R. L., Hualgayoc

El presente trabajo plantea la Propuesta del Diseño de un Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo Basado en la Ley N° 29783 Para Minimizar Riesgos Laborales, aplicado en una empresa que brinda que ofrece 3 unidades de negocio: Alquiler y arrendamiento de maquinaria pesada, extracción de minerales metalíferos no ferrosos y actividades vinculadas al transporte terrestre. Este trabajo de investigación no solo podrá replicarse en empresas similares, sino que también nos da un formato para aplicar a cualquier proyecto minero en el que se necesite un Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo. El objetivo principal es Diseñar un Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo Basado en la Ley N° 29783 para minimizar posibles riesgos laborales y mejorar el desempeño de los trabajadores en la empresa LH Construcciones y Servicios SRL. En primer lugar, se realiza un análisis de la Gestión de Seguridad mediante la lista de verificación del Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de la R.M 050- 2013- TR, encontrando un 5.31% en desempeño y un análisis de los principales problemas para poder implementar un SGSST, en el cual encontró varias deficiencias, las que se dieron solución alineando sus políticas y documentación a la normativa nacional vigente, logrando una mejora considerable de 84% en desempeño. Se analizó el monto de la inversión del sistema mediante el análisis del VAN obteniendo así un valor mayor a cero. Finalmente, se podrán verificar las conclusiones y recomendaciones en base a los objetivos y resultados que se obtuvieron después de la propuesta de diseño.This work proposes the Design Proposal of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System Based on Law No. 29783 to Minimize Occupational Risks, applied in a company that offers 3 business units: Rental and leasing of heavy machinery, extraction of non-ferrous metalliferous minerals and activities related to land transportation. This research work can not only be replicated in similar companies, but also gives us a format to apply to any mining project in which an Occupational Health and Safety Management System is needed. The main objective is to design an Occupational Health and Safety Management System based on Law No. 29783 to minimize possible occupational risks and improve the performance of workers in the company LH Construcciones y Servicios SRL. First, an analysis of the Safety Management is carried out through the checklist of the Occupational Safety and Health Management System of the R.M 050- 2013- TR, finding a 5.31% in performance and an analysis of the main problems to be able to implement a SGSST, in which it found several deficiencies, which were given solution by aligning its policies and documentation to the national regulations in force, achieving a considerable improvement of 98.23% in performance. The amount of the investment of the system was analyzed by means of the NPV analysis, obtaining a value greater than zero. Finally, conclusions and recommendations can be verified based on the objectives and results obtained after the design proposal

Estereotipos en la publicidad de la televisión japonesa : el papel de los extranjeros en los anuncios de TV

L'objectiu d'aquest treball és analitzar la publicitat a la televisió japonesa, i en concret la motivació per recórrer a estereotips que categoritzen els estrangers en funció de la seva aparença i lloc d'origen. A la primera part es presenta la història de la televisió japonesa i de la publicitat en la mateixa aprofundint en els estils i recursos més destacats que utilitza la publicitat. A continuació s'analitza la construcció de la representació social i imaginari sobre els estrangers al Japó, així com la jerarquització de la societat japonesa pel seu origen d'acord amb la informació transmesa pels anuncis de televisió. Aquest treball planteja tres hipòtesis: 1) l'estil i recursos publicitaris dels anuncis al Japó tenen característiques singulars; 2) els anuncis japonesos mostren una visió estereotipada dels estrangers; i 3) els estrangers estan representats de forma jeràrquica en els anuncis de la Televisió exercint un rol i ocupant una posició determinats.El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la publicidad en la televisión japonesa, y en concreto la motivación para recurrir a estereotipos que categorizan a los extranjeros en función de su apariencia y lugar de origen. En la primera parte se presenta la historia de la televisión japonesa y de la publicidad en la misma profundizando en los estilos y recursos más destacados que utiliza la publicidad. A continuación se analiza la construcción de la representación social e imaginario sobre los extranjeros en Japón, así como la jerarquización de la sociedad japonesa por su origen de acuerdo a la información transmitida por los anuncios de televisión. Este trabajo plantea tres hipótesis: 1) el estilo y recursos publicitarios de los anuncios en Japón tienen características singulares; 2) los anuncios japoneses muestran una visión estereotipada de los extranjeros; y 3) los extranjeros están representados de forma jerárquica en los anuncios de la Televisión desempeñando un rol y ocupando una posición determinados.The objective of this work is to analyze advertising on Japanese television, and specifically the motivation to resort to stereotypes that categorize foreigners according to their appearance and place of origin. In the first part the history of Japanese television and advertising is presented in it, delving into the most prominent styles and resources used by advertising. Next, the construction of social and imaginary representation about foreigners in Japan is analyzed, as well as the hierarchization of Japanese society by its origin according to the information transmitted by television commercials. This paper proposes three hypotheses: 1) the style and advertising resources of the advertisements in Japan have unique characteristics; 2) Japanese ads show a stereotyped view of foreigners; and 3) foreigners are represented in a hierarchical manner in the television ads playing a role and occupying a certain position

Discovery Of Isoxazole Analogues Of Sazetidine-A As Selective α4β2-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonists For The Treatment Of Depression

Depression, a common neurological condition, is one of the leading causes of disability and suicide worldwide. Standard treatment, targeting monoamine transporters selective for the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline, is not able to help many patients that are poor responders. This study advances the development of sazetidine-A analogues that interact with α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as partial agonists and that possess favorable antidepressant profiles. The resulting compounds that are highly selective for the α4β2 subtype of nAChR over α3β4-nAChRs are partial agonists at the α4β2 subtype and have excellent antidepressant behavioral profiles as measured by the mouse forced swim test. Preliminary absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) studies for one promising ligand revealed an excellent plasma protein binding (PPB) profile, low CYP450-related metabolism, and low cardiovascular toxicity, suggesting it is a promising lead as well as a drug candidate to be advanced through the drug discovery pipeline. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Long-Term Soil Structure Observatory for Monitoring Post-Compaction Evolution of Soil Structure

The projected intensification of agriculture to meet food targets of a rapidly growing world population are likely to accentuate already acute problems of soil compaction and deteriorating soil structure in many regions of the world. The key role of soil structure for soil functions, the sensitivity of soil structure to agronomic management practices, and the lack of reliable observations and metrics for soil structure recovery rates after compaction motivated the establishment of a long-term Soil Structure Observatory (SSO) at the Agroscope research institute in Zürich, Switzerland. The primary objective of the SSO is to provide long-term observation data on soil structure evolution after disturbance by compaction, enabling quantification of compaction recovery rates and times. The SSO was designed to provide information on recovery of compacted soil under different post-compaction soil management regimes, including natural recovery of bare and vegetated soil as well as recovery with and without soil tillage. This study focused on the design of the SSO and the characterization of the pre- and post-compaction state of the field. We deployed a monitoring network for continuous observation of soil state variables related to hydrologic and biophysical functions (soil water content, matric potential, temperature, soil air O2 and CO2 concentrations, O2 diffusion rates, and redox states) as well as periodic sampling and in situ measurements of infiltration, mechanical impedance, soil porosity, gas and water transport properties, crop yields, earthworm populations, and plot-scale geophysical measurements. Besides enabling quantification of recovery rates of compacted soil, we expect that data provided by the SSO will help improve our general understanding of soil structure dynamics

Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling Decreases Proliferation and Clonogenicity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) have the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes. We have previously shown that hMSC were endowed with a basal level of Hedgehog signaling that decreased after differentiation of these cells. Since hMSC differentiation is associated with growth-arrest we investigated the function of Hh signaling on cell proliferation. Here, we show that inhibition of Hh signaling, using the classical inhibitor cyclopamine, or a siRNA directed against Gli-2, leads to a decrease in hMSC proliferation. This phenomenon is not linked to apoptosis but to a block of the cells in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. At the molecular level, it is associated with an increase in the active form of pRB, and a decrease in cyclin A expression and MAP kinase phosphorylation. Inhibition of Hh signaling is also associated with a decrease in the ability of the cells to form clones. By contrast, inhibition of Hh signaling during hMSC proliferation does not affect their ability to differentiate. This study demonstrates that hMSC are endowed with a basal Hedgehog signaling activity that is necessary for efficient proliferation and clonogenicity of hMSC. This observation unravels an unexpected new function for Hedgehog signaling in the regulation of human mesenchymal stem cells and highlights the critical function of this morphogen in hMSC biology

Variations on a theme: diversification of cuticular hydrocarbons in a clade of cactophilic Drosophila

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We characterized variation and chemical composition of epicuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in the seven species of the <it>Drosophila buzzatii </it>cluster with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Despite the critical role of CHCs in providing resistance to desiccation and involvement in communication, such as courtship behavior, mating, and aggregation, few studies have investigated how CHC profiles evolve within and between species in a phylogenetic context. We analyzed quantitative differences in CHC profiles in populations of the <it>D. buzzatii </it>species cluster in order to assess the concordance of CHC differentiation with species divergence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-six CHC components were scored in single fly extracts with carbon chain lengths ranging from C₂₉to C₃₉, including methyl-branched alkanes, <it>n</it>-alkenes, and alkadienes. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that CHC amounts were significantly different among all species and canonical discriminant function (CDF) analysis resolved all species into distinct, non-overlapping groups. Significant intraspecific variation was found in different populations of <it>D. serido </it>suggesting that this taxon is comprised of at least two species. We summarized CHC variation using CDF analysis and mapped the first five CHC canonical variates (CVs) onto an independently derived <it>period </it>(<it>per</it>) gene + chromosome inversion + mtDNA COI gene for each sex. We found that the COI sequences were not phylogenetically informative due to introgression between some species, so only <it>per </it>+ inversion data were used. Positive phylogenetic signal was observed mainly for CV1 when parsimony methods and the test for serial independence (TFSI) were used. These results changed when no outgroup species were included in the analysis and phylogenetic signal was then observed for female CV3 and/or CV4 and male CV4 and CV5. Finally, removal of divergent populations of <it>D. serido </it>significantly increased the amount of phylogenetic signal as up to four out of five CVs then displayed positive phylogenetic signal.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CHCs were conserved among species while quantitative differences in CHC profiles between populations and species were statistically significant. Most CHCs were species-, population-, and sex-specific. Mapping CHCs onto an independently derived phylogeny revealed that a significant portion of CHC variation was explained by species' systematic affinities indicating phylogenetic conservatism in the evolution of these hydrocarbon arrays, presumptive waterproofing compounds and courtship signals as in many other drosophilid species.</p

Extensive DNA End Processing by Exo1 and Sgs1 Inhibits Break-Induced Replication

Homology-dependent repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by gene conversion involves short tracts of DNA synthesis and limited loss of heterozygosity (LOH). For DSBs that present only one end, repair occurs by invasion into a homologous sequence followed by replication to the end of the chromosome resulting in extensive LOH, a process called break-induced replication (BIR). We developed a BIR assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae consisting of a plasmid with a telomere seeding sequence separated from sequence homologous to chromosome III by an I-SceI endonuclease recognition site. Following cleavage of the plasmid by I-SceI in vivo, de novo telomere synthesis occurs at one end of the vector, and the other end invades at the homologous sequence on chromosome III and initiates replication to the end of the chromosome to generate a stable chromosome fragment (CF). BIR was infrequent in wild-type cells due to degradation of the linearized vector. However, in the exo1Δ sgs1Δ mutant, which is defective in the 5′-3′ resection of DSBs, the frequency of BIR was increased by 39-fold. Extension of the invading end of the plasmid was detected by physical analysis two hours after induction of the I-SceI endonuclease in the wild-type exo1Δ, sgs1Δ, and exo1Δ sgs1Δ mutants, but fully repaired products were only visible in the exo1Δ sgs1Δ mutant. The inhibitory effect of resection was less in a plasmid-chromosome gene conversion assay, compared to BIR, and products were detected by physical assay in the wild-type strain. The rare chromosome rearrangements due to BIR template switching at repeated sequences were increased in the exo1Δ sgs1Δ mutant, suggesting that reduced resection can decrease the fidelity of homologous recombination