Messages from Cape Town

While still in the midst of their study abroad experiences, students at Linfield College write reflective essays. Their essays address issues of cultural similarity and difference, compare lifestyles, mores, norms, and habits between their host countries and home, and examine changes in perceptions about their host countries and the United States. In this essay, Camila Arguello describes her observations during her study abroad internship program at IE3 Global in Cape Town, South Africa

Agricultural sector and competition in Colombia

In this chapter we provide a summary description of Colombian Competition Policy with an emphasis on the agricultural sector. Key developments and recent changes in institutional arrangements affecting competition policy, as it applies to the agricultural sector, are highlighted. Illustrative case studies are depicted to show the richness and complexity of policy developments and enforcement. Some general conclusions are drawn from this examination.Competition Policy, Agriculture, Colombia

A survey on colombian agriculture during the 1990s

This survey reviews some of the key developments in Colombian agriculture during the 1990s. While economic reform and macro policy appear to largely determine the evolution of the sector throughout most of the decade, the impact of sectoral policy is not that clear. The long-run significance of changes brought about in the structure of agricultural production, trade balance, and social conditions in rural areas is unclear. Whether they are the product of a transitional period between two macro and sectoral policy perspectives, of a temporarily distorted set of incentives, or a combination of the two is an open question. Hopefully, a set of interrogations may arise that help improve our understanding of Colombian agriculture.

Revisiting the Relationship between Income Distribution and Economic Growth

Most models exploring the exploring the relationship between income inequality and economic growth postulate the existence of a ngative correlation between the two operating through diverse channels. Parallel to the theoretetical models a number of empirical studies have attempted to appraise this relationship. A broad consensus had built validating the existence of such negative correlation until some panel data studies tended to show the opposite result. The review of the ensuing debate as well as the empirical estimation undertook in this paper show that estimates may not be as robust as believed. It is suggested that country case studies may be a way to more appropriately explore this issue.********************************************************************************************************La mayoría de los modelos que exploran la relación entre la desigualdad en la distribución del ingreso y el crecimiento económico, postulan la existencia de una correlación negativa entre las dos que es generada a través de diferentes mecanismos. Paralelamente a los modelos teóricos, un número importante de estudios empíricos han tratado de evaluar esta relación. De este esfuerzo ha surgido un consenso amplio que valida la existencia de dicha relación negativa. No obstante, estudios recientes basados en el uso de datos de panel han producido el resultado contrario, documentando la presencia de una relación positiva entre desigualdad y crecimiento. El examen del debate generado a partir de estos resultados, así como el trabajo empírico adelantado en este estudio, indican que las estimaciones obtenidas en diversos trabajos pueden no ser tan robustas como se creía. En consecuancia, se sugiere que la realización de estudios de caso por país puede ser una mejor vía para explorar este tema.Income Distribution, Economic Growth, Panel Data Econometrics, Multiregional

Simulación de un problema en Cabrí Geometre en el estudio de las funciones lineal y cuadrática: subgrupo de tecnologías, edumat-uis escuela de matemáticas

En este trabajo se reportan los resultados obtenidos con 39 estudiantes del Instituto Santa María Goretti de Bucaramanga, institución que viene participando en el proyecto “Incorporación de Nuevas Tecnologías en el Currículo de Matemáticas de la Educación Básica y Media de Colombia” desde el año 2002, quienes dieron solución a un problema de una carrera de fórmula 1, donde Juan Pablo Montoya sale de pits con una aceleración de 4 m/seg2 y en ese mismo instante pasa Michael Schumacher con una velocidad constante de 252 Km/hora. Este problema fue simulado en Cabrí Geometry en una pista circular, para el estudio de las funciones lineal y cuadrática. El trabajo con la simulación permitió que las estudiantes identificaran con mayor precisión las variables y no variables y que a través de la toma de datos y análisis de ellos llegaran a obtener diferentes representaciones (numérica, grafica, tabular, algebraica) de las funciones lineal y cuadrática. Además de relacionar los conceptos aprendidos en el estudio del movimiento uniforme y uniformemente acelerado

Topoisomerase expression and amplification in solid tumours: Analysis of 24,262 patients.

BackgroundTopoisomerase I (TOPO1) and topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) are specific targets of multiple chemotherapy drugs. Increased expression of TOPO1 protein and amplification of the TOP2A gene have been associated with treatment response in colorectal and breast cancers, respectively. TOPO1 and TOP2A may be potential therapeutic targets in other malignancies as well.Summary of methodsWe analysed TOPO1 protein expression and TOP2A gene amplification in patients (n = 24,262 specimens) with diverse cancers. Since HER2 and TOP2A co-amplification have been investigated for predictive value regarding anthracycline benefit, we analysed specimens for HER2 amplification as well.ResultsOverexpressed TOPO1 protein was present in 51% of the tumours. Four percent of the tumours had TOP2A amplification, with gallbladder tumours and gastroesophageal/oesophageal tumours having rates over 10%. Overall, 4903 specimens were assessed for both TOP2A and HER2 amplification; 129 (2.6%) had co-amplification. High rates (>40%) of HER2 amplification were seen in patients with TOP2A amplification in breast, ovarian, gastroesophageal/oesophageal and pancreatic cancer.ConclusionOur data indicate that increased TOPO1 expression and TOP2A amplification, as well as HER2 co-alterations, are present in multiple malignancies. The implications of these observations regarding sensitivity to chemotherapy not traditionally administered to these tumour types merits investigation

Sector agrícola y política de competencia

Los procesos de integración económica han puesto en evidencia que la separación tradicionalmente hecha entre las políticas comercial y de competencia no solo es ficticia, sino que mantenerla es simplemente contradictorio con la realidad de la economía internacional. En la medida en que los mercados domésticos se han abierto al comercio internacional, se ha considerado que las políticas de competencia pueden hacerse redundantes ya que la competencia extranjera tiende a garantizar que dichos mercados tienen un nivel adecuado de contestabilidad. Aca se discute la relacion general entre sector agrícola y política de competencia, en un contexto de relativa liberalización comercial.************************************************************************************************************Globalization has made it evident that the traditional separatio between trade and competition policies is not only artificial but in overt contradition with the international economy. It has been argued that, as the economy becomes more open, competition policy becomes useless since foreign competition would guarantee market contestability. However, as it is shown in tis paper for the case of agricultural sector, in this environment comptetition policy acquires a new and important role to play. This paper discusses the relationship between the agricultural sector and competition policy in a freer trade context. It is argued that it is convenient to apply competition policy to this sector, as it ensures the best possible conditions for enhancing technological change processes that are vital for agricultural development. In the same vein, it also argues thar rigorous competition policy enforcement for regulating the relationship between the, more competitive, agricultural sector and the sectors with which it relates up and down stream, as well as the latter's markets themselves, is necessary to avoid potential use of anticompetitive practices against the former. Market structure particularities must be taken into account in enforcing competition law. This may include considering well defined flexibilities and exclusions for the agricultural sector so that it can strengthen its bargaining power vis a vis other sectors in te economy.Sector agrícola, Política de Competencia, libre comercio

Centro de equipamientos para personas invidentes y débiles visuales / : punto y línea como elementos de un sistema binario para la orientación en el espacio, mediante el recurso de la memoria secuencial

The sense that prevailed in humans has been the sense of sight, as the enabling for faster perception of the environment that surronds human. This has displaced the other senses, relegating its importance and creating ―the image culture‖. What happen if we decided to manage without the sense of sight and focus in using the other senses? How can architecture respond to these new needs for desingn a space ?, for design a city ?. The purpose has been to find the ideal architectural parti to take as a basis system for the adjustment between sequential memory and a basic binary system, to build spaces that will guide the blind and weak visual in a building with neccesary equipment in the city of Quito . From this system of perception of intelligible forms through memory (repetition, rhythm, order) and various subsystems such as: touch (texture, materiality), smell (nature, outdoors), ear (acoustic, eco, context) proposes a more comprehensive and meditative space perception. Simultaneously, thinking about city, it is intended that the building promotes a restructuring of public space in the city, with the intention of being a cultural encounter, that promotes the value of knowledge, and sports, located along a longitudinal axis that connects citywide, easy and convenient access for all.El sentido que a primado en el ser humano ha sido el sentido de la vista, por ser el que permite una percepción más rápida del entorno que rodea al humano. Esto a desplazado a los demás sentidos, relegando su importancia y creando una sociedad que responde principalmente a la cultura de la imagen.¿Qué pasaría si decidimos prescindir del sentido de la vista y nos enfocáramos en los demás? ¿De qué manera puede responder la arquitectura ante estas nuevas necesidades al momento de diseñar un espacio?, ¿Al momento de diseñar una ciudad?. El objetivo ha sido encontrar el partido arquitectónico ideal que tome como fundamento al ajuste entre la memoria secuencial y un sistema binario base, para construir los espacios que van a orientar a las personas invidentes y débiles visuales en un edificio de equipamientos en la ciudad de quito. A partir de este sistema de percepción de formas inteligibles mediante la memoria (repetición, ritmo, orden) y de varios subsistemas como: tacto (texturas, materialidad), olfato (naturaleza, patios), oído (acústica, eco, contexto) se propone una percepción más integral y meditativa del espacio. Simultáneamente, al pensar en ciudad, se pretende que el edificio promueva una reestructuración del espacio público de la ciudad, con la intención de constituir un eje cultural, de valor del conocimiento, y del deporte, ubicado a lo largo de un eje longitudinal que conecte a toda la ciudad, de fácil y adecuado acceso para todos

Realities and perceptions around the prior consultation in colombia: an expert look

Después de 25 años y no pocos desarrollos legislativos y administrativos alrededor de la Consulta Previa existe todavía un mar de complejidades, divergencias y contradicciones a la hora de implementar / reglamentar este derecho, lo que hace que transitarlo sea tortuoso. A fin de puntualizar los aspectos adversos a que el ejercicio del derecho proceda, se indagó a profesionales expertos sobre aquellos que producen mayor encono. Sus respuestas, aquí presentadas y analizadas, constituyen un aporte en procura de superar los escollos y hacer del derecho a la consulta previa, una oportunidad constructiva de salvaguarda y verdadero desarrollo para la sociedad.25 years and not a few legislative and administrative developments after, around prior consultation there is still a sea of complexities, divergences and contradictions makes the implementing / regulating this right becomes tortuous. To point out the adverse exercise of the right appropriate aspects, professional experts on those who produce more animosity was investigated, their answers, here presented and analyzed, they constitute a contribution in an attempt to overcome the obstacles and make the right to prior consultation, a constructive opportunity to safeguard and real development for all society