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This paper investigates the impact of gender diversity on the innovative performance of Caribbean firms, specifically analyzing women’s representation across three organizational areas: the overall workforce, management, and skilled production and non-production roles. The study used data from the Innovation, Firm Productivity, and Gender (IFPG) database, encompassing 1,979 firms across 13 Caribbean countries from 2017 to 2020. Probit models were employed for econometric analysis. The results confirm that diversity significantly enhances the likelihood of innovation, though the magnitude of its impact varies depending on women’s roles within firms. Gender diversity has stronger effects within the overall workforce and skilled production and non-production roles than within management teams. These findings suggest important managerial and policy implications for developing measures to reduce gender disparities in innovation.

Abstract Background The identification of low-frequency haplotypes, never observed in homozygous state in a population, is considered informative on the presence of potentially harmful alleles (candidate alleles), putatively involved in inbreeding depression. Although identification of candidate alleles is challenging, studies analyzing the dynamics of potentially harmful alleles are lacking. A pedigree of the highly endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed, including 471 individuals belonging to 51 different families with at least 5 offspring each, was genotyped using the Axiom PigHDv1 Array (658,692 SNPs). Analyses were carried out on four different cohorts defined according to pedigree depth and at the whole population (WP) level. Results The 4,470 Linkage Blocks (LB) identified in the Base Population (10 individuals), gathered a total of 16,981 alleles in the WP. Up to 5,466 (32%) haplotypes were statistically considered candidate alleles, 3,995 of them (73%) having one copy only. The number of alleles and candidate alleles varied across cohorts according to sample size. Up to 4,610 of the alleles identified in the WP (27% of the total) were present in one cohort only. Parentage analysis identified a total of 67,742 parent-offspring incompatibilities. The number of mismatches varied according to family size. Parent-offspring inconsistencies were identified in 98.2% of the candidate alleles and 100% of the LB in which they were located. Segregation analyses informed that most potential candidate alleles appeared de novo in the pedigree. Only 17 candidate alleles were identified in the boar, sow, and paternal and maternal grandparents and were considered segregants. Conclusions Our results suggest that neither mutation nor recombination are the major forces causing the apparition of candidate alleles. Their occurrence is more likely caused by Allele-Drop-In events due to SNP calling errors. New alleles appear when wrongly called SNPs are used to construct haplotypes. The presence of candidate alleles in either parents or grandparents of the carrier individuals does not ensure that they are true alleles. Minimum Allele Frequency thresholds may remove informative alleles. Only fully segregant candidate alleles should be considered potentially harmful alleles. A set of 16 candidate genes, potentially involved in inbreeding depression, is described.

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) /HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer allows real-time evaluation of drug efficacy as well as investigation of the biological and molecular changes that occur after estrogenic deprivation. Clinical and pathological evaluation after NET may be used to obtain prognostic and predictive information of tumour response to decide adjuvant treatment. In this setting, clinical scales developed to evaluate response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are not useful and there are not validated biomarkers to assess response to NET beyond Ki67 levels and preoperative endocrine prognostic index score (mPEPI). Methods In this prospective study, we extensively analysed radiological (by ultrasound scan (USS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) and pathological tumour response of 104 postmenopausal patients with ER+ /HER2- resectable breast cancer, treated with NET for a mean of 7 months prior to surgery. We defined a new score, tumour cellularity size (TCS), calculated as the product of the residual tumour cellularity in the surgical specimen and the tumour pathological size. Results Our results show that radiological evaluation of response to NET by both USS and MRI underestimates pathological tumour size (path-TS). Tumour size [mean (range); mm] was: path-TS 20 (0–80); radiological-TS by USS 9 (0–31); by MRI: 12 (0–60). Nevertheless, they support the use of MRI over USS to clinically assess radiological tumour response (rad-TR) due to the statistically significant association of rad-TR by MRI, but not USS, with Ki67 decrease (p = 0.002 and p = 0.3, respectively) and mPEPI score (p = 0.002 and p = 0.6, respectively). In addition, we propose that TCS could become a new tool to standardize response assessment to NET given its simplicity, reproducibility and its good correlation with existing biomarkers (such as ΔKi67, p = 0.001) and potential added value. Conclusion Our findings shed light on the dynamics of tumour response to NET, challenge the paradigm of the ability of NET to decrease surgical volume and point to the utility of the TCS to quantify the scattered tumour response usually produced by endocrine therapy. In the future, these results should be validated in independent cohorts with associated survival data.

Abstract Background In spite of the availability of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data, differentiation between observed homozygosity and that caused by mating between relatives (autozygosity) introduces major difficulties. Homozygosity estimators show large variation due to different causes, namely, Mendelian sampling, population structure, and differences among chromosomes. Therefore, the ascertainment of how inbreeding is reflected in the genome is still an issue. The aim of this research was to study the usefulness of genomic information for the assessment of genetic diversity in the highly endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed. Pedigree depth varied from 0 (founders) to 4 equivalent discrete generations (t). Four homozygosity parameters (runs of homozygosity, F ROH ; heterozygosity-rich regions, F HRR ; Li and Horvitz’s, F LH ; and Yang and colleague’s F YAN ) were computed for each individual, adjusted for the variability in the base population (BP; six individuals) and further jackknifed over autosomes. Individual increases in homozygosity (depending on t) and increases in pairwise homozygosity (i.e., increase in the parents’ mean) were computed for each individual in the pedigree, and effective population size (N e ) was computed for five subpopulations (cohorts). Genealogical parameters (individual inbreeding, individual increase in inbreeding, and N e ) were used for comparisons. Results The mean F was 0.120 ± 0.074 and the mean BP-adjusted homozygosity ranged from 0.099 ± 0.081 (F LH ) to 0.152 ± 0.075 (F YAN ). After jackknifing, the mean values were slightly lower. The increase in pairwise homozygosity tended to be twofold higher than the corresponding individual increase in homozygosity values. When compared with genealogical estimates, estimates of N e obtained using F YAN tended to have low root-mean-squared errors. However, N e estimates based on increases in pairwise homozygosity using both F ROH and F HRR estimates of genomic inbreeding had lower root-mean-squared errors. Conclusions Parameters characterizing homozygosity may not accurately depict losses of variability in small populations in which breeding policy prohibits matings between close relatives. After BP adjustment, the performance of F ROH and F HRR was highly consistent. Assuming that an increase in homozygosity depends only on pedigree depth can lead to underestimating it in populations with shallow pedigrees. An increase in pairwise homozygosity computed from either F ROH or F HRR is a promising approach for characterizing autozygosity.

Abstract Clinical management of breast cancer (BC) metastasis remains an unmet need as it accounts for 90% of BC-associated mortality. Although the luminal subtype, which represents >70% of BC cases, is generally associated with a favorable outcome, it is susceptible to metastatic relapse as late as 15 years after treatment discontinuation. Seeking therapeutic approaches as well as screening tools to properly identify those patients with a higher risk of recurrence is therefore essential. Here, we report that the lipid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a predictor of long-term survival in patients with luminal BC, and that it blocks tumor progression and lung metastasis in cell and mouse models of BC. Together, our findings highlight the potential of FAAH as a biomarker with prognostic value in luminal BC and as a therapeutic target in metastatic disease.

Introduction: COVID-19-related stigma towards healthcare professionals negatively influences their job performance and well-being, however, this issue has not been sufficiently investigated. Objective: To determine the frequency and variables associated with COVID-19-related stigma toward health care workers in a university population in Mexico. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was sent to 1,054 students between 18 and 29 years of age. Demographic variables, religiosity, fear of COVID-19 and its association with COVID-19-related stigma-discrimination towards health workers (dependent variable) were analyzed. Bivariate analysis and a generalized linear model were performed to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios. Results: The proportion of high stigma-discrimination was 12.4% and was associated with high fear of COVID-19 RPa= 1.51 (95% CI 1.06 - 2.23). Conclusion: the findings highlight the importance of establishing programs to reduce COVID-19-related stigmatization towards healthcare professionals.

Abstract Up to 478 Gochu Asturcelta pig parents-offspring trios (61 different families) were genotyped using the Axiom_PigHDv1 Array to identify the causes of Mendelian errors (ME). Up to 545,364 SNPs were retained. Up to 40,540 SNPs gathering 292,297 allelic mismatches were identified and were overlapped with SINEs and LINEs (Sscrofa genome 11.1). Copy number variations (CNV) were called using PennCNV. ME were classified into eight different classes according to the trio member (“Trio” meaning no assignment) and the allele on which ME was identified: TrioA/B, FatherA/B, MotherA/B, OffspringA/B. Most ME occurred due to systematic causes: (a) those assigned to the Father, Mother or Offspring occurred by null or partial null alleles characterized by heterozygote deficiency, varied with family size, involved a low number of loci (6506), and gathered most mismatches (228,145); (b) TrioB errors varied with family size, covaried with SINEs, LINEs and CNV, and involved most ME loci (33,483) and mismatches (65,682); and (c) TrioA errors were non-systematic ME with no sampling bias involving 1.2% of mismatches only and a low number of loci (1939). The influence of TrioB errors on the overall genotyping quality may be low and, since CNV vary among populations, their removal should be considered in each particular dataset. ME assignable to the Father, Mother or Offspring may be consistent within technological platforms and may bias severely linkage or association studies. Most ME caused by null or partial null alleles can be removed using heterozygote deficiency without affecting the size of the datasets.

En base a la investigación Biodiversidad, economía y empleo en España. Análisis y perspectivas de futuro (Oteros et al, 2022), nos centramos en las dimensiones de cambio de modelo productivo y, especialmente, en las ocupaciones y en el empleo, respetuosas con la biodiversidad. El objetivo consiste en: a) Examinar la inversión, gasto y tipo de actuación de la economía española en relación con el empleo y la biodiversidad entre 2011 y 2019;b) proyectar el empleo, bajo hipótesis de cambio hacia un modelo productivo basado en un metabolismo sociedad-naturaleza compatible respetuoso con la biodiversidad, proyectando para el periodo 2019-2028, según diferentes escenarios, de transición suave o intensa, en la estructura de ocupaciones; c) sugerir potenciales líneas de transformación necesarias -reconversiones de actividades y cambios en el tiempo de trabajo- para posibilitar una transición ecológica socialmente justa cuyas condiciones puedan prevenir los peligros que acechan a la biodiversidad en España.

Objective: To measure 3-year care costs of breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers disaggregated by site and clinical stage. Method: A retrospective observational design was employed to investigate care costs of cases recorded in the Registry of the Basque Country between 2010 and 2015. Data gathered included TNM stage and demographic, clinical and resource use variables. Total costs per patient with stage IV disease were calculated by combining generalized linear models with parametric survival analysis. Unit costs were obtained from the analytical accounting system of the Basque Health Service. Results: The sample comprised 23,782 cancer cases (7801 colorectal, 5530 breast, 4802 prostate and 5649 lung cancer). The mean 3-year costs per patient with stage I to III disease were €11,323, €13,727, €8,651 and €12,023 for colorectal, breast, prostate and lung cancer, respectively. The most important cost components were surgery and chemotherapy. Total survival-adjusted costs until death for patients with stage IV disease (€27,568, €26,296, €16,151 and €15,931 for breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, respectively) were higher than the 3-year costs for those with earlier-stage disease. Conclusions: This study quantitatively shows the pattern of changes in the economic burden of cancer throughout its natural history and the great magnitude of this burden for the health system. The use of indicators based on real-world data from each regional health service would allow cancer care in each region to be tailored to local population needs. Resumen: Objetivo: Determinar el coste del tratamiento de los cánceres de mama, próstata, colorrectal y pulmón según la localización y el estadio clínico. Método: Se utilizó un diseño observacional retrospectivo con los casos del Registro de Euskadi entre 2010 y 2015. Los datos incluyeron el estadio TNM, variables demográficas y clínicas, y uso de recursos. Los costes totales por paciente en estadio IV se calcularon combinando modelos lineales generalizados con el análisis paramétrico de supervivencia. Los costes unitarios se obtuvieron del sistema de contabilidad analítica del Servicio Vasco de Salud. Resultados: La muestra estuvo compuesta por 23.782 casos (7801 colorrectal, 5530 de mama, 4802 de próstata y 5649 de pulmón). Los costes medios por paciente a 3 años en estadio I a III fueron 11.323 €, 13.727 €, 8651 € y 12.023 € para los cánceres colorrectal, de mama, de próstata y de pulmón, respectivamente. Los costes para el estadio IV (27.568 €, 26.296 €, 16.151 € y 15.931 € para los cánceres de mama, colorrectal, de pulmón y de próstata, respectivamente) fueron mayores que en los estadios iniciales. Conclusiones: Este estudio muestra cuantitativamente el cambio en la carga económica del cáncer a lo largo de su evolución y la gran carga que supone para el sistema de salud. El uso de datos del mundo real de cada servicio de salud permitiría adaptar la atención del cáncer a las necesidades de la población local.

Las empresas necesitan abrirse en muchas ocasiones a la colaboración con diversos actores para llevar a cabo sus proyectos de innovación y, a la vez, deben contar con mecanismos para prevenir posibles fugas indeseadas de conocimiento que dificultarían la apropiación de los beneficios en la fase de comercialización. Aunque resultados recientes muestran que distintos mecanismos de apropiación (formales o estratégicos) pueden tener un efecto diferenciado sobre la decisión de cooperar con socios externos, la mayoría de estas investigaciones eluden la importancia del contexto y se centran en empresas ubicadas en economías desarrolladas. En este trabajo, se analiza el comportamiento de esta relación en el contexto de las economías emergentes y, en particular, en las empresas manufactureras de Colombia. Los resultados muestran que, si bien el uso de los dos tipos de mecanismos afecta de forma positiva la probabilidad de cooperación de las empresas estudiadas, el tamaño del efecto difiere entre los tipos de cooperación y también cuando la cooperación se limita al objetivo específico de la i+d. Las implicaciones que se derivan del análisis tienen interés tanto para la comprensión de la estrategia empresarial como para las políticas de innovación.

Introducción: Los tumores intradurales extramedulares son causa de morbilidad y mortalidad. Para identificarlos y analizarlos, la resonancia magnética resulta el método diagnóstico imagenológico de elección. Objetivo: Caracterizar a pacientes con tumores y seudotumores raquídeos intradurales extramedulares según variables clínicas, imagenológicas (por resonancia magnética) e histopatológicas. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo en 20 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de sospecha de tumor o seudotumor intradural extramedular o no, confirmado mediante resonancia magnética, quienes fueron atendidos en el Departamento de Imagenología del Hospital General Docente Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba de enero del 2014 a igual mes del 2017, procedentes de los hospitales generales de esta provincia y de Guantánamo. Resultados: Existió una mayor frecuencia del sexo masculino (70,0 %), principalmente en las edades de 60 y más años (30,0 %), así como del dolor vertebral (100,0 %) y las alteraciones de los reflejos osteotendinosos (65,0 %) como síntomas y signos de los procesos neoplásicos. Según la intensidad de las señales captadas en la resonancia magnética, primaron los tumores isointensos en la secuencia T1 (70,0 %) y los hiperintensos e isointensos en la secuencia T2 (35,0 % en cada uno), sobre todo de localización dorsal (60,0 %). Asimismo, el diagnóstico clínico de sospecha más usual fue el de mielopatía compresiva (25,0 %), en tanto, entre los diagnósticos imagenológicos e histopatológicos sobresalieron las metástasis y los meningiomas. Conclusiones: La resonancia magnética ofrece una aproximación al diagnóstico definitivo de estos tumores, el cual es corroborado con el estudio histopatológico.

Copy number variations regions (CNVRs) can be classified either as segregating, when found in both parents, and offspring, or non-segregating. A total of 65 segregating and 31 non-segregating CNVRs identified in at least 10 individuals within a dense pedigree of the Gochu Asturcelta pig breed was subjected to enrichment and functional annotation analyses to ascertain their functional independence and importance. Enrichment analyses allowed us to annotate 1018 and 351 candidate genes within the bounds of the segregating and non-segregating CNVRs, respectively. The information retrieved suggested that the candidate genes spanned by segregating and non-segregating CNVRs were functionally independent. Functional annotation analyses allowed us to identify nine different significantly enriched functional annotation clusters (ACs) in segregating CNVR candidate genes mainly involved in immunity and regulation of the cell cycle. Up to five significantly enriched ACs, mainly involved in reproduction and meat quality, were identified in non-segregating CNVRs. The current analysis fits with previous reports suggesting that segregating CNVRs would explain performance at the population level, whereas non-segregating CNVRs could explain between-individuals differences in performance.

Introduction: The intramedullary tumors are not very usual and they are generated inside the tissue of the spinal cord, displacing or invading the white matter, tracts and neuronal bodies. Objective: To characterize patients with intradural intramedullary spinal canal tumors and seudotumors according to clinical, imaging (magnetic resonance) and histopatologic variables. Methods: An observational, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study of 11 patients with clinical provisional diagnosis of intramedullary spinal canal tumor or seudotumor was carried out, confirmed by means of magnetic resonance who were assisted in the Imaging Department of Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba from January, 2014 to the same month in 2017, coming from the general hospitals of this province and Guantánamo. Results: In the investigation there was a prevalence of females (63.6 %), mainly in the ages of 40 to 59 (45.4 %), as well as the clinical signs of muscular weakness (100.0 %) and pain in the spine (81.8 %). According to the intensity of signs obtained in the magnetic resonance, the heterogeneous images were more frequent, predominantly in the dorsal area. Also, dorsal compressive myelopathy was notable (27.3 %) as clinical diagnosis of suspicion, while 54.5 % of the imaging diagnosis was histopathologically confirmed, with a higher percentage in the case of astrocytomas (36.4). Conclusions: The magnetic resonance is the radiological method of election for the identification of these tumors, since it offers an approach to the definitive diagnosis, which is corroborated by means of the pathologic study.

Las distrofias retinianas, producen en las personas que las padecen, una progresiva degeneración de la retina que conlleva pérdida de la visión a lo largo de los años, afectando negativamente a su capacidad funcional y su participación social. La investigación empleó metodología mixta con un diseño CUAN+CUAL. La parte cuantitativa fue un estudio de casos y controles con muestra no probabilística e intencional de 30 personas, con y sin retinosis pigmentaria pareados por edad y sexo. A todos ellos se les pasó la Encuesta Modelo de Discapacidad, Versión Corta (EMDc) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se compararon factores externos, que pueden influir sobre problemas cotidianos relacionados con la salud, apoyo familiar y social y actitudes de los demás. La parte cualitativa consistió en el análisis de datos obtenidos mediante entrevistas en profundidad a las 15 personas con retinosis pigmentaria del grupo caso. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre los grupos, que muestran mayores dificultades de las personas con distrofias en su vida cotidiana que las que no la padecen, como la movilidad, la realización de tareas domésticas o con la participación social. El ruido, la luminosidad, no disponer de medios tecnológicos que faciliten la accesibilidad y el ocularcentrismo existente en la sociedad, además de provocarles malestar y nerviosismo, son fuente de exclusión social. Los resultados aportan evidencias que permitirán a los/las trabajadores/as sociales intervenir para favorecer la participación social de un colectivo afectado por una enfermedad rara de la visión evitando inequidades y avanzar en sus derechos.

Objective: To carry out a cost-utility analysis of the application of the Oncotype genomic test to inform the decision to use or not to use chemotherapy in the Basque Country (Spain). Method: The cost-utility study was carried out using a discrete event simulation model representing the natural history of breast cancer. The decision of treatment with chemotherapy based on Oncotype was compared with the standard of treatment based on clinical-pathological criteria. The model included clinical data from Basque hospitals and the literature and was processed by deterministic and probabilistic analysis to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), the cost-effectiveness plane, the acceptability curve and the expected value of perfect information. The study adopted both a health and societal perspective. Results: From a health perspective, the deterministic analysis estimated an ICER for Oncotype of 17,453 euros/quality-adjusted life year (QALY), discount included, and 9,613 euros/QALY without the discount. Eighty five percent (85%) of the simulations were below the efficiency threshold for Spain. The parametric variability associated with the Oncotype results was the main uncertainty factor in the decision. Conclusions: Oncotype is a cost-effective intervention from a health system perspective since each QALY gained costs less than 25,000 euros. From a societal perspective, it is dominant since it provides greater health and is accompanied by cost savings. Resumen: Objetivo: Llevar a cabo un análisis de coste-utilidad del uso del test genómico Oncotype en el País Vasco (España) para informar la decisión de uso de quimioterapia. Método: El estudio de coste-utilidad se realizó mediante un modelo de simulación de eventos discretos que representó la evolución natural del cáncer de mama. La decisión de tratamiento con quimioterapia basada en Oncotype se comparó con el estándar de tratamiento basado en criterios clínico-patológicos. El modelo incluyó datos clínicos de hospitales vascos y la literatura para calcular la ratio de coste-efectividad incremental (RCEI) mediante análisis determinista y probabilístico, el plano coste-efectividad, la curva de aceptabilidad y el valor esperado de la información perfecta. El estudio adoptó una perspectiva tanto sanitaria como social. Resultados: El análisis determinista estimó una RCEI para Oncotype de 17.453 euros/año de vida ajustado por calidad (AVAC) con descuento y 9613 euros euros/AVAC sin descuento, desde la perspectiva sanitaria. El 85% de las simulaciones estuvieron por debajo el umbral de aceptabilidad para España. La variabilidad paramétrica asociada a los resultados de Oncotype fue el mayor factor de incertidumbre de la decisión. Conclusiones: Oncotype constituye una intervención coste-efectiva, ya que cada AVAC ganado tiene asociado un coste inferior a 25.000 euros. El test es dominante desde una perspectiva social al lograr mayor salud acompañada de ahorros. Keywords: Oncotype Dx, Genomic test, Cost-effectiveness, Acceptability curve, Expected value of perfect information, Discrete event simulation, Palabras clave: Oncotype Dx, Test genómico, Coste-efectividad, Curva de aceptabilidad, Valor esperado de la información perfecta, Simulación de eventos discretos

In this paper, we present the technological possibilities of sports technicians during their distance training. It does special emphasis in the role that the communication has for all participants and as it differentiates of the face-to-face delivery to benefit those sportive specialities with fewer practitioners and/or with heterogeneous distribution in the territory. Besides, this training delivery contributes to the application of the new knowledge to the sessions and trainings in which they participate. The research begins with the following questions: (a) does access to the courses facilitate the fact that it is online; and (b) how does the use of the platform contribute to communication between participants? The study focuses on participants during their first on-line course under the current legislation of the sportive technicians of the distinct sportive specialities of the Royal Spanish Federation of Skating. The methodology used is qualitative for interviewing the coordinator and both qualitative and quantitative for students’ and instructors’ questionnaires. This research concludes with a clear need for teachers to be taught using the same technologies that they later have to deliver and, that the communication in the platform is rather limited. Extending the kind of tools that the platform has is a key factor to give an array of possibilities of online training.

A total of 106 West African taurine cattle belonging to the Lagunaire breed of Benin (33), the N’Dama population of Burkina Faso (48), and N’Dama cattle sampled in Congo (25) were analyzed for Copy Number Variations (CNVs) using the BovineHDBeadChip of Illumina and two different CNV calling programs: PennCNV and QuantiSNP. Furthermore, 89 West African zebu samples (Bororo cattle of Mali and Zebu Peul sampled in Benin and Burkina Faso) were used as an outgroup to ensure that analyses reflect the taurine cattle genomic background. Analyses identified 307 taurine-specific CNV regions (CNVRs), covering about 56 Mb on all bovine autosomes. Gene annotation enrichment analysis identified a total of 840 candidate genes on 168 taurine-specific CNVRs. Three different statistically significant functional term annotation clusters (from ACt1 to ACt3) involved in the immune function were identified: ACt1 includes genes encoding lipocalins, proteins involved in the modulation of immune response and allergy; ACt2 includes genes encoding coding B-box-type zinc finger proteins and butyrophilins, involved in innate immune processes; and Act3 includes genes encoding lectin receptors, involved in the inflammatory responses to pathogens and B- and T-cell differentiation. The overlap between taurine-specific CNVRs and QTL regions associated with trypanotolerant response and tick-resistance was relatively low, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying such traits may not be determined by CNV alterations. However, four taurine-specific CNVRs overlapped with QTL regions associated with both traits on BTA23, therefore suggesting that CNV alterations in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes can partially explain the existence of genetic mechanisms shared between trypanotolerance and tick resistance in cattle. This research contributes to the understanding of the genomic features of West African taurine cattle.

This article explores challenges and opportunities for science, technology and innovation (STI) policy in Ibero-America related to the COVID-19 pandemic, considering a multidirectional approach that combines: (i) transversality, for national innovation systems (NIS) integration with other subsystems; and (ii) coordination of STI across national and international spaces. We claim that a new approach to STI policy is required. Departing from the situation of the region, the sanitary and economic crisis, and the evolution of NIS and policy rationale, we propose some guidelines for a new STI policy agenda based on the region’s challenges ahead and the need for mechanisms of coordination.

El proceso de internacionalización de la empresa vía inversión directa extranjera (IDE) obedece a una decisión individual y, como tal, ha sido generalmente analizada desde una perspectiva microeconómica que justifica la emergencia de empresas multinacionales (EMN) en la existencia de determinadas ventajas de propiedad. Los condicionantes de país, por su parte, han intervenido fundamentalmente en la explicación de los factores determinantes de la localización de la IDE. Sin embargo, aún es escasa la evidencia empírica disponible que emana del análisis de los factores determinantes de la emisión de IDE en el plano agregado, aspecto al que se dedica este trabajo. La reciente emergencia de EMN en países en desarrollo acentúa aún más la importancia de analizar tales factores y su relación con la relevancia de las ventajas de propiedad. En este artículo se utiliza una muestra integrada por 48 países, incluyendo tanto economías desarrolladas como en desarrollo. Los resultados permiten afirmar la existencia de un conjunto de factores que desde una perspectiva macro condicionan el proceso de acumulación de capacidades que influye positivamente en las salidas de inversión, y que éstos difieren entre los dos grupos de países estudiados.

Abstract Background Metaphors in communication can serve to convey individuals’ backgrounds, contexts, experiences, and worldviews. Metaphors used in a health care setting can help achieve consensual communication in professional–patient relationships. Patients use metaphors to describe symptoms, or how disease affects them. Health professionals draw on shared understanding of such metaphors to better comprehend and meet patient needs, and to communicate information that patients can more easily integrate into their lives. This study incorporated a theoretical framework based on four worldviews, each with an underlying foundational metaphor (root metaphor). The use of these root metaphors (formism, mechanism, contextualism, and organicism) can have an explanatory function and serve to impart new meanings, as each type of metaphor can lead to a particular interpretation. The study aimed to extract and discuss the root metaphors, with a view to analyzing the communication between health professionals and patients. Methods In a case study in Spain over a six-month period, we analyzed the content of recorded, transcribed interviews conducted by one nurse with 32 patients who had chronic illnesses. We inductively extracted five categories that emerged from the interviews: blood sugar, cholesterol, exercise, blood pressure, and diet. We then examined these categories from the standpoint of each of the four root metaphors using two approaches: A series (deductive) and an emergent (inductive) approach. Results The results show that the nurse tended to primarily use two worldviews: mechanism and formism. In contrast, patients tended to favor mechanism when discussing cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, whereas contextualism was predominant when the category was diet or exercise. Conclusions This study adds to the existing literature on health professionals and patients’ communication. It shows how the use of Pepper’s root metaphors help to analyze the communication between the nurse and patients. Furthermore, it shows they are both using different root metaphors when they are talking about illness and treatments especially regarding blood sugar, cholesterol, exercise, blood pressure, and diet. Further qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to solidly these findings.

En este trabajo abordamos el análisis mirando al panorama generado por ese sistema alimentario y la forma en la que no se han abordado las desigualdades creadas a lo largo de la cadena alimentaria, para proponer elementos para una transición agroecológica feminista.

Si algo caracteriza a las alternativas cons- truidas desde la agroecología es que más allá del punto de partida, todas intentan incorporar una vertiente relacional que se aleje de la cen- tralidad del mercado desde los sistemas capi- talistas. Sin embargo, al abordar las causas por las que pueden no funcionar generalmente se abordan desde miradas productivistas y pocas veces desde una perspectiva que mire los cui- dados y la habitabilidad dentro de las propias iniciativas, un eslabón que vemos clave para su sostenibilidad. Por ello planteamos analizar los grupos de consumo desde un enfoque femi- nista, que ponga sobre la mesa cuestiones a nuestro juicio no tomadas en cuenta a la hora de concluir que este es un modelo agotado.

Background: The minor allele (C) of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11212617, located near the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene, has been associated with an increased likelihood of treatment success with metformin in type 2 diabetes. We herein investigated whether the same SNP would predict clinical response to neoadjuvant metformin in women with early breast cancer (BC).Methods: DNA was collected from 79 patients included in the intention-to-treat population of the METTEN study, a phase 2 clinical trial of HER2-positive BC patients randomized to receive either metformin combined with anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy and trastuzumab or equivalent regimen without metformin, before surgery. SNP rs11212617 genotyping was assessed using allelic discrimination by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed a significant relationship between the rs11212617 genotype and the ability of treatment arms to achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) in patients (odds ratio [OR]genotype×arm = 10.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–82.89, p = 0.028). In the metformin-containing arm, patients bearing the rs11212617 C allele had a significantly higher probability of pCR (ORA/C,C/C = 7.94, 95%CI: 1.60–39.42, p = 0.011). Conversely, no association was found between rs11212617 and clinical response in the reference arm (ORA/C,C/C = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.20–2.92, p = 0.700). After controlling for tumor size and hormone receptor status, the rs11212617 C allele remained a significant predictor of pCR solely in the metformin-containing arm.Conclusions: If reproducible, the rs11212617 C allele might warrant consideration as a predictive clinical biomarker to inform the personalized use of metformin in BC patients.Trial Registration: EU Clinical Trials Register, EudraCT number 2011-000490-30. Registered 28 February 2011, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2011-000490-30/ES.

A sample of 185 West African cattle belonging to nine different taurine, sanga, and zebu populations was typed using a set of 33 microsatellites and the BovineHD BeadChip of Illumina. The information provided by each type of marker was summarized via clustering methods and principal component analyses (PCA). The aim was to assess differences in performance between both marker types for the identification of population structure and the projection of genetic variability on geographical maps. In general, both microsatellites and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) allowed us to differentiate taurine cattle from zebu and sanga cattle, which, in turn, would form a single population. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients computed among the admixture coefficients (fitting K = 2) and the eigenvectors corresponding to the first two factors identified using PCA on both microsatellite and SNP data were statistically significant (most of them having p < 0.0001) and high. However, SNP data allowed for a better fine-scale identification of population structure within taurine cattle: Lagunaire cattle from Benin were separated from two different N’Dama cattle samples. Furthermore, when clustering analyses assumed the existence of two parental populations only (K = 2), the SNPs could differentiate a different genetic background in Lagunaire and N’Dama cattle. Although the two N’Dama cattle populations had very different breeding histories, the microsatellite set could not separate the two N’Dama cattle populations. Classic bidimensional dispersion plots constructed using factors identified via PCA gave different shapes for microsatellites and SNPs: plots constructed using microsatellite polymorphism would suggest the existence of weakly differentiated, highly intermingled, subpopulations. However, the projection of the factors identified on synthetic maps gave comparable images. This would suggest that results on population structuring must be interpreted with caution. The geographic projection of genetic variation on synthetic maps avoids interpretations that go beyond the results obtained, particularly when previous information on the analyzed populations is scant. Factors influencing the performance of the projection of genetic parameters on geographic maps, together with restrictions that may affect the election of a given type of markers, are discussed.

A sample of Burkina Faso Djallonké (West African Dwarf) sheep was analyzed to identify stretches of homozygous segments (runs of homozygosity; ROH) overlapping with ancient homozygosity-by-descent (HBD) segments. HBD segments were considered ancient if they were likely to be inherited from ancestors living from 1024 to 2048 generations ago, roughly coinciding with the time in which sheep entered into West Africa. It is hypothesized that such homozygous segments can inform on the effect of the sheep genome of human-mediated selection for adaptation to this harsh environment. PLINK analyses allowed to identify a total of 510 ROH segments in 127 different individuals that could be summarized into 124 different ROH. A total of 32,968 HBD segments were identified on 119 individuals using the software ZooRoH. HBD segments inherited from ancestors living 1024 and 2048 generations ago were identified on 61 individuals. The overlap between consensus ROH identified using PLINK and HBD fragments putatively assigned to generations 1024 and 2048 gave 108 genomic areas located on 17 different ovine chromosomes which were considered candidate regions for gene-annotation enrichment analyses. Functional annotation allowed to identify six statistically significant functional clusters involving 50 candidate genes. Cluster 1 was involved in homeostasis and coagulation; functional clusters 2, 3, and 6 were associated to innate immunity, defense against infections, and white blood cells proliferation and migration, respectively; cluster 4 was involved in parasite resistance; and functional cluster 5, formed by 20 genes, was involved in response to stress. The current analysis confirms the importance of genomic areas associated to immunity, disease resistance, and response to stress for adaptation of sheep to the challenging environment of humid Sub-Saharan West Africa.

This paper is based on the evaluation of the program Yo Aprendo y Emprendo [I learn and take action] conducted in Antofagasta, Chile. This program aims to contribute to the development of young students providing them with tools to embrace an entrepreneurial culture in their life and formation. An evaluation was conducted through Propensity Score Matching with a sample of 150 students from five secondary schools. In general, the evaluation suggests that the program has a positive effect on the scores obtained by the students in the creative imagination test and in the narrative creativity and graphical creativity subtests. Recibido 10 de junio de 2013 • Corregido 11 de julio de 2013 • Aceptado 31 de julio de 2013Este artículo presenta la evaluación del programa Yo aprendo y emprendo ejecutado en la ciudad de Antofagasta, Chile. El programa tiene como objetivo contribuir al desarrollo de jóvenes estudiantes a través de la entrega de herramientas que les permitan incorporar el espíritu emprendedor como actitud de vida y formación. Se realizó una evaluación de impacto mediante Propensity Score Matching, a una muestra de 150 estudiantes de cinco escuelas secundarias. En general, la evaluación sugiere que el programa tiene un efecto positivo sobre el puntaje obtenido por los estudiantes en la prueba de imaginación creativa y las subpruebas de creatividad narrativa y creatividad gráfica.

Este artículo plantea la construcción de paginas web como vehículo para facilitar la integracion de las tecnologias de la informacion y la comunicacion en el aula para futuros maestros. El término Página Web Coherente enfatiza la utilización de páginas cuyo objetivo principal es promover el aprendizaje siguiendo un proceso colaborativo, una estructura integradora y un contenido educativo.

We study an endogenous stochastic growth model whose dynamic evolution is determined by an adaptive learning process defining the accumulation of technological knowledge within countries. Both the assimilation of technological knowledge and the arrival rate of innovations depend on the technological development level of countries. We illustrate how heterogeneous levels of technological development provide laggard countries with insufficient innovation incentives, leading to divergences in total factor productivity and their technological stagnation. The model is simulated numerically using data from the current Innovation Union Scoreboard where the main expected growth patterns of the Baltic States are compared to those of the reference innovators within the European Union area. First published online: 10 Jun 2015

El CD-ROM “Modelizaciones Dinámicas en Matemáticas. Usos del GeoGebra” es un material destinado a profesores de Matemáticas de Educación Secundaria y Bachillerato. Consta de once proyectos diferentes sobre modelización matemática, en los que, utilizando el software GeoGebra, se resuelven problemas matemáticos basados en situaciones del mundo real.

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el Hospital General Docente "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" de Santiago de Cuba, desde septiembre del 2010 hasta mayo del 2011, con vistas a mostrar el valor del uso del gadolinio para el diagnóstico de diferentes afecciones mediante la resonancia magnética simple y con contraste. En la casuística primaron el sexo femenino, los grupos etarios de 16-25 y de 26-35 años, los tumores cerebrales e hipofisarios como las afecciones que más necesitaron el contraste, el realce ligero de la lesión y la comprobación del diagnóstico posterior a la administración de dicho contraste.A descriptive study was carried out in "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from September, 2010 to May, 2011, with the objective of showing the value of gadolinium to diagnose different diseases by means of the contrast and simple magnetic resonance. Female sex, age groups from16-25 and 26-35 years, brain and hypophysis tumors prevailed in the case material as the disorders which mostly needed the contrast, the slight enhancement of the lesion and the confirmation of the diagnosis subsequent to the administration of this contrast.

Este artículo presenta el potencial educativo que ofrece el tratar el fenómeno de la Sociedad de la Información desde seis visiones diferentes (hipótesis del mundo). Si bien las visiones son independientes, el conjunto de ellas aporta una visión más precisa, orgánica. Para ilustrar el potencial de cada una ellas, se ha utilizado como ejemplo el texto: Guerra y Paz en la Aldea Global (McLuhan y Fiore). El artículo concluye con las dificultades y posibilidades educativas de utilizar visiones diferentes para comprender un fenómeno complejo.

Este artículo presenta nuestro progreso con el trabajo realizado en la Formación Inicial del Profesorado (magisterio) pensando maneras alternativas sobre cómo integrar las TIC en los centros educativos. Los alumnos de magisterio trabajaron en grupos, siguiendo un enfoque constructivista, donde crearon webs educativas utilizando conceptos y prácticas similares a sus futuras clases. Durante este proceso los alumnos reflexionaron sobre su aprendizaje pedagógico y tecnológico. El artículo se plantea los desafíos y logros de trabajar con alumnos sin experiencia docente previa y en un contexto acostumbrado a la transmisión del conocimiento.

En este artículo presentamos el trabajo que estamos realizando, centrado en la creación de entornos que permitan la construcción conjunta del conocimiento mediante herramientas informáticas, en concreto la herramienta Knowledge Forum como elemento mediador en el proceso de discusión y generación de conocimiento. Las experiencias se están realizando en la Universidad de Barcelona, en los títulos de Pedagogía, Formación de Profesorado y Pedagogía Social de la Universidad de Barcelona, abarcando diversas asignaturas obligatorias y optativas. Los objetivos son los siguientes: aprender a trabajar en colaboración y crear entornos de aprendizaje semi-presencial que complementen el trabajo de los diversos grupos y el desarrollo de los contenidos presenciales de las asignaturas.

Sin resumen

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is the most commonly used cytokine for the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although the administration of this cytokine is considered safe, knowledge about its long-term effects, especially in hematopoietic progenitor cells, is limited. On this background, the aim of our study was to analyze whether or not granulocyte colony-stimulating factor induces changes in gene and microRNA expression profiles in hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors, and to determine whether or not these changes persist in the long-term. For this purpose, we analyzed the whole genome expression profile and the expression of 384 microRNA in CD34+ cells isolated from peripheral blood of six healthy donors, before mobilization and at 5, 30 and 365 days after mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Six microRNA were differentially expressed at all time points analyzed after mobilization treatment as compared to the expression in samples obtained before exposure to the drug. In addition, 2424 genes were also differentially expressed for at least 1 year after mobilization. Of interest, 109 of these genes are targets of the differentially expressed microRNA also identified in this study. These data strongly suggest that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor modifies gene and microRNA expression profiles in hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors. Remarkably, some changes are present from early time-points and persist for at least 1 year after exposure to the drug. This effect on hematopoietic progenitor cells has not been previously reported.

BackgroundTrastuzumab improves survival outcomes in patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. The Long-Her study was designed to identify clinical and molecular markers that could differentiate long-term survivors from patients having early progression after trastuzumab treatment.MethodsData were collected from women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab that experienced a response or stable disease during at least 3 years. Patients having a progression in the first year of therapy with trastuzumab were used as a control. Genes related with trastuzumab resistance were identified and investigated for network and gene functional interrelation. Models predicting poor response to trastuzumab were constructed and evaluated. Finally, a mutational status analysis of selected genes was performed in HER2 positive breast cancer samples.Results103 patients were registered in the Long-HER study, of whom 71 had obtained a durable complete response. Median age was 58 years. Metastatic disease was diagnosed after a median of 24.7 months since primary diagnosis. Metastases were present in the liver (25%), lungs (25%), bones (23%) and soft tissues (23%), with 20% of patients having multiple locations of metastases. Median duration of response was 55 months. The molecular analysis included 35 patients from the group with complete response and 18 patients in a control poor-response group. Absence of trastuzumab as part of adjuvant therapy was the only clinical factor associated with long-term survival. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that PI3K pathway was associated with poor response to trastuzumab-based therapy: tumours in the control group usually had four or five alterations in this pathway, whereas tumours in the Long-HER group had two alterations at most.ConclusionsTrastuzumab may provide a substantial long-term survival benefit in a selected group of patients. Whole genome expression analysis comparing long-term survivors vs. a control group predicted early progression after trastuzumab-based therapy. Multiple alterations in genes related to the PI3K-mTOR pathway seem to be required to confer resistance to this therapy.

Evaluar un Proyecto Comunitario de Estimulación Temprana; describir los factores de riesgo biopsicosociales asociados al neurodesarrollo; relacionar la evolución con factores de riesgo y conocer la evolución de los pacientes en el proyecto. Se hace un estudio analítico (antes y después), cuyo universo estuvo constituido por 376 pacientes, con antecedentes de riesgo biosicosocial y/o con alguna manifestación de retardo del neurodesarrollo remitidos a consulta en el período comprendido entre 2000 y 2006, en el municipio Habana Vieja. Estos fueron evaluados por un equipo interdisciplinario, con un seguimiento trimestral a los que presentaron alteraciones del neurodesarrollo y aplicándoles estimulación semanal en el gimnasio. Se realizó cortes evaluativos a los niños de riesgo con examen clínico-neurológico y exámenes paraclínicos a los niños de riesgo. Para evaluar la efectividad de la intervención, se aplicaron los instrumentos de evaluación al inicio (3 meses) y al final (4 años); y se analizó la significación de las diferencias de los saltos cualitativos negativos o positivos en la escala motora y mental. Como resultado se tuvo que fue el insulto perinatal “hipoxia” el factor de riesgo más representado (52.72%). Fue significativa la estimulación en hogar. La evolución favorable correspondió con el bajo peso mayor de 1 500gr, el mayor tiempo de permanencia en el programa (64.29%), los normopesos (61%) y la lactancia materna exclusiva. El mayor tiempo de evolución se relacionó con la categoría de evolución “favorable” (64.29%). La evolución fue favorable en 53 % y superada en 16%. El resultado del proyecto se evaluó como satisfactorio. Palabras clave: Estimulación temprana comunitaria, neurodesarrollo, evolución, insulto perinatal, estimulación en el hogar.

This paper describes the on-line courses for sport technicians. It approaches them to show the virtues of this formative modality. In the Educational Spanish System, the sportive technician training is part of special teaching, and many of specialties are in transitional period. The final of this period concludes in the official recognition of the titles. It is, therefore, that it compares to post-compulsory studies, baccalaureate and vocational training, to check the evolution that has occurred in recent years. For this study, we have a data producing sample near to 100 students. They answered an ad-hoc questionnaire with two parts: one with quantitative data and the other with qualitative data. The main conclusions reached by the study are: the students have a very high degree of acceptance of the new technologies and a good opinion of the use of Moodle platform. These results are independents of the experience of distance learning. The majority of negative attitudes towards this course come from those students without experience in distance training. The problems are in the use that the teachers make of the platform because it hinders the flexibility of the course.

Paclitaxel is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer (BC), including as a front-line treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, resistance to paclitaxel remains one of the major causes of death associated with treatment failure. Multiple studies have demonstrated that miRNAs play a role in paclitaxel resistance and are associated with both disease progression and metastasis. In the present study, we used a miRNA-encoding lentiviral library as a gain-of-function screen for paclitaxel resistance in the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line. We identified that miR-181b, miR-29a, miR-30c, miR-196 and miR-1295 conferred a resistant phenotype to cells. The expression of miR-29a also induced resistance to eribulin and vinorelbine, while miR-181b and miR-30c induced resistance to vinorelbine. We measured the levels of these miRNAs in breast cancer patients and observed higher levels of miR-29a in treatment-refractory patients. Taken together, we suggest that miR-29a and miR-181b may be good candidates for miRNA inhibition to overcome resistance to chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción: El cadmio (Cd) es un metal cuyo principal efecto es la nefrotoxicidad. Su carácter irreversible alerta sobre la importancia en la prevención de la exposición laboral y el diagnóstico precoz de daño renal. Este trabajo resume la evidencia científica entre la exposición a Cd y la alteración de los biomarcadores de exposición y de daño renal. Material y métodos: se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura científica publicada entre 2005 y 2015, en 7 base de datos utilizando ecuaciones de búsqueda con términos MESH. Se filtraron las referencias en base a los objetivos excluyéndose artículos no originales. La lectura crítica se realizó en base a una matriz de síntesis de la evidencia, empleándose los criterios SIGN para su determinación. Resultados: Se recuperaron 968 referencias y se incluyeron en la revisión 8; el 90% de diseño transversal. Se encuentra asociación entre la exposición a Cd y los niveles del metal en sangre y orina. Los marcadores de daño renal que se correlacionan con exposición son la beta2-microglobulina, albúmina, enzimas y marcadores de estrés oxidativo. El principal factor modificador del efecto es el tabaco. Conclusiones: A pesar de la limitación por el diseño de los estudios analizados, existen evidencias científicas sin discrepancias en la asociación entre la exposición a Cd y la alteración de biomarcadores de exposición y de daño renal, inclusive ante niveles bajos de exposición a Cd (< 2 µg/g Cr en orina). Se necesitan estudios prospectivos para identificar la pertinencia de plantear una reducción del VLB.