We explore how a code, soft quota and a proposal for supranational law for board gender diversity affects women directors’ human capital characteristics and corporate outcomes with an unbalanced ...panel of 116 non‐financial firms and 1,321 firm‐year observations from 2003 to 2016 in Spain. Consistent with resource dependence theory, after a non‐punitive law is passed, boards seek to appoint more female directors who possess human capital attributes that will reduce uncertainty and bring necessary resources to firms. Compared with their pre‐law counterparts, the new female directors tend to have more human capital in terms of executive experience in non‐listed firms, and some non‐executive backgrounds, education and international experience; however, these new women directors generally possess less human capital than their male counterparts. Upper echelons theory suggests that board directors can meaningfully impact corporate outcomes. Overall, our results contradict upper echelons predictions about the impact of a regulation‐driven increase of women directors on corporate outcomes. Indeed, we find a lack of impact of the increase in women's presence on boards on corporate outcomes. Regarding policy, our findings substantially differ from those reported for countries with ‘hard law’ board gender quotas.
Oxytocin (OT) has emerged as a mediator of endogenous analgesia in behavioral and electrophysiological experiments. In fact, OT receptors (OTRs) in the spinal dorsal horn participate in a selective ...inhibition of the neuronal activity mediated by Aδ and C fibers but not Aβ fibers. This study shows that OTRs are expressed in the terminal nerve endings and are able to inhibit nociceptive neuronal firing. Indeed, local peripheral OT blocked the first sensorial activity of Aδ and C fibers recorded in the spinal cord neurons. Furthermore, using the formalin behavioral nociceptive test, we demonstrated that only ipsilateral OTR activation inhibits pain behavior. Our data are reinforced by the fact that the OTR protein is expressed in the sciatic nerve. Consistent with this, immunofluorescence of primary afferent fibers suggest that OTRs could be located in nociceptive-specific terminals of the skin. Taken together, our results suggest that OTRs could be found in nociceptive terminals and that on activation they are able to inhibit nociceptive input.
The heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts onto a solid support is a step towards a more sustainable chemistry. The recovery and reuse of catalysts is extremely important from a practical, ...economic and environmental point of view. In this regards, we report a series of polymer‐supported tetrahydropyran‐based hybrid dipeptides that serve as active catalysts for the enantioselective Michael addition of aldehydes to β‐nitrostyrenes. These supported catalysts have been designed considering the optimal anchor position and orientation between the catalyst and the solid support. Additionally, the influence of the linker length on the catalytic efficiency was studied. The catalysts allowed the transformation of a variety of substrates in 76–98% yield and with 94–97% enantiomeric excess. Detailed deactivation studies have provided important information, which allows to increase the useful life of these immobilized catalysts.
Herein, we introduce and demonstrate how carbohydrates can be used as conformational control units of organocatalysts to tune their catalytic properties. New hybrid dipeptide‐like organocatalysts ...based on ζ‐sugar aminoacids and proline were prepared and tested for the asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to β‐nitrostyrenes. Taking full advantage of the modular nature of the carbohydrate motif, both reactivity and stereoselectivity were significantly improved. By simple structural changes, such as the elimination of the methoxy group in the C4 position of the tetrahydropyran ring, we obtained two complementary catalysts that allow access to both enantiomers of the γ‐nitroaldehydes with excellent yields, diastereoselectivity, and enantiomeric excesses between 97 and 99%, using a catalytic load even below 1 mol%.
En este artículo, personas que han sido editoras de la Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología (reps) presentan: (a) su visión del desarrollo de la reps, (b) sus objetivos editoriales, logros, ...facilitadores y barreras para alcanzarlos, (c) su evaluación del impacto de la reps y (d) sugerencias para el fortalecimiento de la revista. Los resultados incluyen datos de 14 entrevistas a personas editoras en jefe y de ediciones especiales, integrantes de juntas editoriales y 16 editoriales. Se destaca el desarrollo de la revista y su impacto sobre la disciplina, la enseñanza y la investigación. Este desarrollo es promovido principalmente por el peritaje, compromiso y trabajo de las personas editoras. Las principales barrreras reportadas por las personas editoras fueron el trabajo y tiempo que la tarea requiere, la falta de adiestramiento y la ausencia de una cultura de publicación. La Asociación de Psicología de Puerto Rico se menciona como facilitadora y como barrera del trabajo editorial. Se incluyen numerosas recomendaciones para el desarrollo de la reps.
La Violencia de Pareja Íntima (VPI) es un problema social universal (Organización Internacional de Trabajo, 2021) y en Puerto Rico, son diversas sus manifestaciones en el escenario del trabajo. El ...propósito de esta investigación fue conocer la experiencia de manejar situaciones de VPI en el escenario del trabajo. El diseño fue uno fenomenológico de carácter exploratorio. Realizamos entrevistas a profundidad a seis personas, entre las edades de 21 a 53 años. Cuatro se encontraban en una relación de pareja y practicaban alguna religión. Todas las personas tenían estudios a nivel graduado, pero solo dos tenían preparación en recursos humanos. Todas las personas participantes laboraban en empresas de más de 50 personas empleadas. Analizamos sus respuestas utilizando el método fenomenológico interpretativo. Para las personas participantes, la experiencia de manejar los casos de VPI fue diversa. Las emociones experimentadas incluyeron empatía, satisfacción, bienestar, incomodidad, incertidumbre, ansiedad, preocupación, tristeza, carga emocional, impotencia y coraje. Expresaron sentir apoyo de la gerencia y habían tomado diversos adiestramientos sobre el tema. Coincidieron en que la frecuencia para tomar adiestramientos no era uniforme y en que hay muchas áreas sobre las cuales requieren educación continua. Incluimos recomendaciones para las organizaciones.
miRNAs are short single‐stranded noncoding RNAs that participate as epigenetic regulators in inflammatory bowel disease. Most miRNAs detectable in serum are concentrated in exosomes, with relevant ...cargo for immunobiological processes. We set to evaluate the exosomes miRNAs content in the serum of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and run a prospective observational study on CD patients on biological monotherapy and healthy controls. miRNA cargo was evaluated in peripheral blood‐derived exosomes. Serum autophagy and inflammatory substrates were measured. Patients were followed for 6 months. Patients (n = 28) showed an overexpression of miR‐376a‐3p and a downregulation of miR‐20a‐5p compared to controls (n = 10), without significant differences between patients according to biologics. Serum autophagy substrates ATG4C (r = .57; p = .001) and ACRV1C (r = .66; p = .001) inversely correlated with miR‐376a‐3p expression, whereas IGF1R correlated with miR‐20a‐5p expression (r = .42; p = .02). Th1‐related cytokines correlated with miR‐376a‐3p expression, whereas the Th17‐associated cytokines inversely correlated with miR‐20a‐5p expression. Smoking (β = −2.301 CI 95% −3.790/−0.811, p = .004) remained as independent factor related to the overexpression of miR‐376a‐3p, whereas diagnosis before 16 years of age (β = 2.044 CI 95% 0.934/3.154, p = .001) and a younger age of patients (β = −.720 CI 95% −0.108/−0.035, p = .001) were related to decreased miR‐20a‐5p expression. Seven patients (25%) had a flare in the 6‐month follow‐up. Patients with overexpression of miR‐376a‐3p at the baseline showed an increased risk of flare during this period (OR 0.475 0.237–0.950, p = .035). Finally, a comparative miRNA signature between biologic monotherapies was also explored. Targeting miR‐376a‐3p and miR‐20a‐5p epigenetic regulators may yield homeostatic effects on relevant biological processes related to disease progression in CD patients.
Serum exosome‐derived miRNAs may impact functional immunobiological processes in Crohn's disease. CD patients show significantly increased miR‐376a‐3p and reduced miR‐20a‐5p expression in peripheral blood exosomes compared to healthy donors. miR‐376a‐3p and miR‐20a‐5p participate in the regulation of systemic autophagy substrates and Th‐related pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels, and are influenced by patients’ smoking habit, perianal disease and age. The modulation of these miRNAs may help restore relevant biological processes related to disease progression in CD patients.
Cells activation in A) Control, B) NMDA, C) NMDA+OT and D) OT. Each number represent a cell activated for each situation and the lines represent the simultaneous activation. Colors correspond to ...cells grouped. Notice that NMDA promotes specific cell activation and NMDA + OT promotes more interactions possible mechanism to suppress the NMDA activity, OT induced activation similar to Control activity.
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•Calcium spinal cord cells activities were scarce.•Pre-treatment with NMDA enhances the spinal cord cells activities.•Oxytocin did not interfere with the NMDA increased activity.•Oxytocin blocks the NMDA produces coactivity.
Recently, oxytocin (OT) has been studied as a potential modulator of endogenous analgesia by acting upon pain circuits at the spinal cord and supraspinal levels. Yet the detailed action mechanisms of OT are still undetermined. The present study aimed to evaluate the action of OT in the spinal cord dorsal horn network under nociceptive-like conditions induced by the activation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and formalin injection, using calcium imaging techniques. Results demonstrate that the spontaneous Ca2+-dependent activity of the dorsal horn cells was scarce, and the coactivity of cells was mainly absent. When NMDA was applied, high rates of activity and coactivity occurred in the dorsal horn cells; these rates of high activity mimicked the activity dynamics evoked by a neuropathic pain condition. In addition, although OT treatment increased activity rates, it was also capable of disrupting the conformation of coordinated activity previously consolidated by NMDA treatment, without showing any effect by itself. Altogether, our results suggest that OT globally prevents the formation of coordinated patterns previously generated by nociceptive-like conditions on dorsal horn cells by NMDA application, which supports previous evidence showing that OT represents a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.
A Life Cycle Analysis of End-of-Life Computers was developed for management of computers discarded in Mexico for the year 2014 through LCA methodology (ISO 14044) and using specialized software named ...Umberto® version 5.5.4 with database Ecoinvent 2.2. The modeling consisted in the current scenario in Mexico (10% recycling) versus four alternative scenarios: 0% recycling, 25% recycling, 35% recycling and elimination of open dump disposal considering experience in other countries and real possibilities of medium-term management. All practices of management and recycling are considered in the model with changes in the recycling rates and installed infrastructure for different alternatives proposals. On the other hand, the model included that dismantling operations are done mostly with manual labor; transportation, extraction and processing of printed wiring boards, including local process of transforming, heating and melting of materials and considering recycling in Asian countries with all the environmental burdens processes involving transoceanic transportation and metallurgy. The majority of non-precious metals recycling was considered to take place locally. A substantial benefit was identified for all recycling scenarios, particularly in the elimination of open dump disposal and the recycling of 35% of the stream and was found that there was a high impact on climate change and adverse toxic effects to health and natural environments for the practice of accumulating waste in sanitary landfills and dumpsites as well as by burning of materials (plastics and others) in open areas. The use of recycled materials versus virgin materials was also beneficial up to 10 times for reduction in global warming potential impact and up to 3 times reduction for human toxic potential. Public policies might be recommended in order to protect health and environment. As public policy recommendations, it is proposed reinforcement the national infrastructure to collect EoL computers- and transformation of materials into new commercial products, and as a starting point for the recycling of all generated materials, including plastics and printed wiring boards, but should also include the promotion of research for the transformation of plastic waste and the implementation of new technologies that can be adopted by the national recycling industry and create new regulations that result in the production or import of EoL computers and other electronics with low levels of toxic substances as their main components. Other public policies should include the legal prohibition of use of landfills and dumps for containment of EoL computers and other electrical and electronic equipment.
•We modeled environmental impact of recycling scenarios of end-of-life computers.•Increasing recycling rates will reduce releases to environment compared with disposal.•Elimination of open dump disposal reduces importantly impacts in the environment for e-wastes disposal.
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