Evaluación de la gestión operativa de la empresa comercial lambayecana Inversiones J&E SAC para mejorar su eficiencia a través de un modelo de Balanced Scorecard en los años 2015-2017

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue diseñar un modelo de Balanced Scorecard en la empresa comercial INVERSIONES J&E SAC, lo que permitirá, establecer metas, alinear sus objetivos estratégicos y mejorar el control interno, logrando la mayor eficacia en la gestión operativa de la organización. Para ello, la investigación se desarrolló bajo una perspectiva descriptiva simple. Tomando como muestra a la empresa comercial INVERSIONES J&E SAC. Utilizando información proporcionada por la misma, tales como, informes financieros e información recolectada mediante cuestionarios aplicados. Evaluando la gestión operativa de la empresa, desde la situación interna actual hasta las posibles amenazas externas que puede acarrear, utilizando indicadores financieros, de gestión administrativa; herramientas como la cadena de valor; matrices, EFI, EFE y EI. Así como, cuestionarios, entrevistas y un Focus Group aplicado al gerente y colaboradores de la empresa comercial INVERSIONES J&E SAC. El análisis de los resultados de la situación actual de la empresa, dieron a conocer el tipo de estrategias que la gerencia debería tomar en cuenta, siendo éstas y en concordancia con el diagnostico financiero y de gestión, estrategias intensivas y de integración que permitan crecer y construir una empresa que logre utilizar sus recursos de manera eficaz y eficiente, las cuales fueron utilizadas como base en el diseño del Balanced Scorecard. Implementar el modelo del Balanced Scorecard en la empresa comercial INVERSIONES J&E SAC logrará, al aplicarlo, tener un mayor control de la gestión operativa, el correcto uso de sus recursos, una mejor ejecución de sus actividades y planeación tanto financiera, como estratégica, siendo medible y mejorable en el tiempo

Promoter sequence of Shiga Toxin II (Stx2) is recognized in vivo leading to the production of biologically active Stx2

Shiga toxins (Stxs) are the main agent responsible for the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the most severe and life-threatening systemic complication of infection with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains. We previously reported Stx2 expression by eukaryotic cells after they were transfected in vitro with the stx2 gene cloned into a prokaryotic plasmid (pStx2). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether mammalian cells were also able to express Stx2 in vivo after pStx2 injection. Mice were inoculated by hydrodynamic based transfection (HBT) with pStx2. We studied the survival, the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in plasma, plasma urea levels and histology of the kidney and the brain of mice. Mice displayed a lethal dose-response to pStx2. Stx2-mRNA was recovered from the liver and Stx2 cytotoxic activity was observed in plasma of mice injected with pStx2. Stx2 was detected by immunofluorescence in the brains of mice inoculated with pStx2, and markers of central nervous system (CNS) damage were observed, including increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and fragmentation of NeuN in neurons. Moreover, anti-Stx2B immunized mice were protected against pStx2 inoculation. Our results show that Stx2 is expressed in vivo from the wild stx2 gene, reproducing pathogenic damage induced by purified Stx2 or secondary to EHEC-infection.Fil: Bentancor, Leticia Veronica. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Mejias, Maria Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pinto, Alípio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Bilen, Marcos Fabian. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular y Celular; ArgentinaFil: Meiss, Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Galan, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Natalia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Pedrotti, Luciano Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Goldstein Raij, Jorge. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia; ArgentinaFil: Ghiringhelli, Pablo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular y Celular; ArgentinaFil: Palermo, Marina Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Energetics and the evolution of carnivorous plants - Darwin's "most wonderful plants in the world"

Carnivory has evolved independently at least six times in five angiosperm orders. In spite of these independent origins, there is a remarkable morphological convergence of carnivorous plant traps and physiological convergence of mechanisms for digesting and assimilating prey. These convergent traits have made carnivorous plants model systems for addressing questions in plant molecular genetics, physiology, and evolutionary ecology. New data show that carnivorous plant genera with morphologically complex traps have higher relative rates of gene substitutions than do those with simple sticky traps. This observation suggests two alternative mechanisms for the evolution and diversification of carnivorous plant lineages. The “energetics hypothesis” posits rapid morphological evolution resulting from a few changes in regulatory genes responsible for meeting the high energetic demands of active traps. The “predictable prey capture hypothesis” further posits that complex traps yield more predictable and frequent prey captures. To evaluate these hypotheses, available data on the tempo and mode of carnivorous plant evolution were reviewed; patterns of prey capture by carnivorous plants were analyzed; and the energetic costs and benefits of botanical carnivory were reevaluated. Collectively, the data are more supportive of the energetics hypothesis than the predictable prey capture hypothesis. The energetics hypothesis is consistent with a phenomenological cost-benefit model for the evolution of botanical carnivory and also accounts for data suggesting that carnivorous plants have leaf construction costs and scaling relationships among leaf traits that are substantially different from non-carnivorous plants.Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyOther Research Uni

The paradoxical signals of two TrkC receptor isoforms supports a rationale for novel therapeutic strategies in ALS

Full length TrkC (TrkC-FL) is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose mRNA can be spliced to a truncated TrkC.T1 isoform lacking the kinase domain. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) activates TrkC-FL to maintain motor neuron health and function and TrkC.T1 to produce neurotoxic TNF-α; hence resulting in opposing pathways. In mouse and human ALS spinal cord, the reduction of miR-128 that destabilizes TrkC.T1 mRNA results in up-regulated TrkC.T1 and TNF-α in astrocytes. We exploited conformational differences to develop an agonistic mAb 2B7 that selectively activates TrkC-FL, to circumvent TrkC.T1 activation. In mouse ALS,2B7 activates spinal cord TrkC-FL signals, improves spinal cord motor neuron phenotype and function, and significantly prolongs life-span. Our results elucidate biological paradoxes of receptor isoforms and their role in disease progression, validate the concept of selectively targeting conformational epitopes in naturally occurring isoforms, and may guide the development of pro-neuroprotective (TrkC-FL) and anti-neurotoxic (TrkC.T1) therapeutic strategies.Fil: Brahimi, Fouad. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Maira, Mario. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Barcelona, Pablo Federico. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; Canadá. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Galan, Alba. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Aboulkassim, Tahar. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Teske, Katrina. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Rogers, Mary Louise. Flinders University, Department Of Human Physiology; AustraliaFil: Bertram, Lisa. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Wang, Jing. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Yousefi, Masoud. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Rush, Robert. Flinders University, Department Of Human Physiology; AustraliaFil: Fabian, Marc. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Cashman, Neil. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Saragovi, H. Uri. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; Canad

Las tecnologías de la información y comunicación como herramienta para la gestión de los procesos logísticos en los micronegocios

This research presents an analysis of the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a tool for managing the logistical processes of microbusinesses in Cali\u27s Commune 19, emphasizing their potential to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen competitiveness in dynamic markets, applicable across various identified typologies. Critical barriers to ICT adoption were identified, including resistance to change, limited digital literacy, and economic constraints, which hinder the implementation of advanced technological tools such as enterprise management software and digital platforms. The study found that although ICT is perceived as a facilitator of logistical transformation, its adoption by microbusinesses in Commune 19 is constrained by the prevalence of traditional practices and inadequate infrastructure. It is concluded that the effective integration of ICT not only optimizes logistical processes but also contributes to the sustainability and economic growth of microbusinesses, establishing technological innovation as a crucial axis for their development and competitive positioning.La presente investigación muestra un análisis del papel de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC) como herramienta para la gestión de los procesos logísticos de los micronegocios en la comuna 19 de Cali, enfatizando su potencial para mejorar la eficiencia operativa, reducir costos y fortalecer la competitividad en mercados dinámicos, en común para las diferentes tipologías encontradas. Se identificaron las barreras críticas para la adopción de las TIC como la resistencia al cambio, la limitada alfabetización digital y las restricciones económicas, las cuales dificultan la implementación de herramientas tecnológicas avanzadas como software de gestión empresarial y plataformas digitales. Se encontró que, aunque las TIC son percibidas como facilitadoras de la transformación logística, su adopción por parte de los micronegocios de la comuna 19 de Cali, se encuentra condicionada por la prevalencia de prácticas tradicionales y la falta de infraestructura adecuada. Se deduce que la integración efectiva de las TIC no solo optimiza los procesos logísticos, sino que también contribuye a la sostenibilidad y crecimiento económico de los micronegocios, estableciendo la innovación tecnológica como un eje esencial para su desarrollo y posicionamiento competitivo

Quite a few reasons for calling carnivores "the most wonderful plants in the world"

A plant is considered carnivorous if it receives any noticeable benefit from catching small animals. The morphological and physiological adaptations to carnivorous existence is most complex in plants, thanks to which carnivorous plants have been cited by Darwin as ‘the most wonderful plants in the world’. When considering the range of these adaptations, one realizes that the carnivory is a result of a multitude of different features. Scope: This review discusses a selection of relevant articles, culled from a wide array of research topics on plant carnivory, and focuses in particular on physiological processes associated with active trapping and digestion of prey. Carnivory offers the plants special advantages in habitats where nutrient supply is scarce. Counterbalancing costs are the investments in synthesis and the maintenance of trapping organs and hydrolysing enzymes. With the progress in genetic, molecular and microscopic techniques, we are well on the way to a full appreciation of various aspects of plant carnivory. Conclusions: Sufficiently complex to be of scientific interest and finite enough to allow conclusive appraisal, carnivorous plants can be viewed as unique models for the examination of rapid organ movements, plant excitability, enzyme secretion, nutrient absorption, food-web relationships, phylogenetic and intergeneric relationships or structural and mineral investment in carnivory

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life

Association of BMI, lipid-lowering medication, and age with prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: a worldwide cross-sectional study

Background: Statins are the cornerstone treatment for patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia but research suggests it could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in the general population. A low prevalence of type 2 diabetes was reported in some familial hypercholesterolaemia cohorts, raising the question of whether these patients are protected against type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a well known risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate the associations of known key determinants of type 2 diabetes with its prevalence in people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Methods: This worldwide cross-sectional study used individual-level data from the EAS FHSC registry and included adults older than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia who had data available on age, BMI, and diabetes status. Those with known or suspected homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and type 1 diabetes were excluded. The main outcome was prevalence of type 2 diabetes overall and by WHO region, and in relation to obesity (BMI ≥30·0 kg/m2) and lipid-lowering medication as predictors. The study population was divided into 12 risk categories based on age (tertiles), obesity, and receiving statins, and the risk of type 2 diabetes was investigated using logistic regression. Findings: Among 46 683 adults with individual-level data in the FHSC registry, 24 784 with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia were included in the analysis from 44 countries. 19 818 (80%) had a genetically confirmed diagnosis of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Type 2 diabetes prevalence in the total population was 5·7% (1415 of 24 784), with 4·1% (817 of 19 818) in the genetically diagnosed cohort. Higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed in the Eastern Mediterranean (58 [29·9%] of 194), South-East Asia and Western Pacific (214 [12·0%] of 1785), and the Americas (166 [8·5%] of 1955) than in Europe (excluding the Netherlands; 527 [8·0%] of 6579). Advancing age, a higher BMI category (obesity and overweight), and use of lipid-lowering medication were associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, independent of sex and LDL cholesterol. Among the 12 risk categories, the probability of developing type 2 diabetes was higher in people in the highest risk category (aged 55–98 years, with obesity, and receiving statins; OR 74·42 [95% CI 47·04–117·73]) than in those in the lowest risk category (aged 18–38 years, without obesity, and not receiving statins). Those who did not have obesity, even if they were in the upper age tertile and receiving statins, had lower risk of type 2 diabetes (OR 24·42 [15·57–38·31]). The corresponding results in the genetically diagnosed cohort were OR 65·04 (40·67–104·02) for those with obesity in the highest risk category and OR 20·07 (12·73–31·65) for those without obesity. Interpretation: Adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in most WHO regions have a higher type 2 diabetes prevalence than in Europe. Obesity markedly increases the risk of diabetes associated with age and use of statins in these patients. Our results suggest that heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia does not protect against type 2 diabetes, hence managing obesity is essential to reduce type 2 diabetes in this patient population. Funding: Pfizer, Amgen, MSD, Sanofi-Aventis, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Regeneron

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years