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A permanent challenge for business organizations is to transform, adapt to the environment and innovate, so knowing the factors that influence the ability to innovate is relevant information. In this sense, the objective of this article is to determine and conceptualize the decisive factors that interact in a systemic way in the management of innovation in the manufacturing industry. The research has a qualitative approach, with a descriptive and transversal scope. In the first place, a review of the literature was carried out that allowed delimiting the management of innovation in the company in three main categories. Second, the categories were characterized, and subcategories and properties were identified, taking the manufacturing companies of Pichincha, Ecuador as the subject of study. This characterization was carried out through a qualitative study that takes the Grounded Theory as a reference, using research techniques: questionnaires, interviews, and documentary research. The results reveal that the relevant factors for the management of innovation in the company can be grouped into three main categories: knowledge management (KM), innovation capabilities (IC) and financial performance (FP). The subcategories that explain KM are policies and strategies, organizational structure, technology, people, incentive systems, organizational culture, and communication. The subcategories that explain IC are research and development capacity, management capacity, resource availability, human talent management, staff skills and technological capacity. The subcategories that explain the FP are sales and costs. This research contributes to the field of innovation management with new information and theory for action and emphasizes the systemic vision of innovation management and the key factors for the development of innovations in the Ecuadorian industrial sector, with the purpose of strengthening the theoretical and empirical advances of innovation management in the company.

The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic is evolving very quickly and means a special risk for both immunosuppressed and comorbid patients. Knowledge about this growing infection is also increasing although many uncertainties remain, especially in the kidney transplant population. This manuscript presents a proposal for action with general and specific recommendations to protect and prevent infection in this vulnerable population such as kidney transplant recipients. Resumen: La pandemia por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) está evolucionando de manera muy rápida y representa un riesgo especial en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y con comorbilidades añadidas. El conocimiento sobre esta infección emergente va también en aumento, si bien, aún sigue habiendo muchas incógnitas, sobre todo en la población con trasplante renal. Este manuscrito presenta una propuesta de actuación con recomendaciones generales y específicas para proteger y prevenir de la infección a esta población tan vulnerable como son los receptores de un trasplante renal.

Resumen: La pandemia por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) está evolucionando de manera muy rápida y representa un riesgo especial en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y con comorbilidades añadidas. El conocimiento sobre esta infección emergente va también en aumento, si bien, aún sigue habiendo muchas incógnitas, sobre todo en la población con trasplante renal. Este manuscrito presenta una propuesta de actuación con recomendaciones generales y específicas para proteger y prevenir de la infección a esta población tan vulnerable como son los receptores de un trasplante renal. Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic is evolving very quickly and means a special risk for both immunosuppressed and comorbid patients. Knowledge about this growing infection is also increasing although many uncertainties remain, especially in the kidney transplant population. This manuscript presents a proposal for action with general and specific recommendations to protect and prevent infection in this vulnerable population such as kidney transplant recipients.

Introduction: Currently, kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with kidney disease who require replacement therapy. Dialysis is a necessary step, but not mandatory prior to transplantation. There is the possibility of pre-emptive transplantation or transplantation in pre-dialysis, that is, without previous dialysis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the result of our experience with a pre-emptive kidney transplant from a deceased donor. Materials and methods: Retrospective, observational, matched cohort study. We compared 66 pre-emptive with 66 non pre-emptive recipients, who received a first renal graft performed at our centre, matched by age and gender of donors and recipients, time of transplant, immunological risk, immunosuppression and cold ischaemia time.Early graft loss, incidence of acute rejection, delayed graft function, renal function at 12 and 36 months and graft and recipient survival were assessed in this period. Results: The percentage of recipients who presented early graft loss, delayed graft function and acute rejection was similar in both groups. No differences were observed in their renal function at 12 and 36 months after transplantation, as well as the actuarial survival of patients (p = 0.801) and grafts (p = 0.693) in the studied period. The total calculated cost of the period on dialysis for the control group was 8,033,893.16 euros. Conclusions: Pre-emptive transplantation can yield comparable outcomes to those for post-dialysis kidney transplantation, and results in better quality of life for patients with end-stage kidney disease, as well as a reduced cost. Resumen: Introducción: Actualmente, el trasplante renal es el tratamiento de elección para pacientes con enfermedad renal que requieren terapia de sustitución. La diálisis es un paso necesario, pero no obligatorio, previo al trasplante. Existe la posibilidad del trasplante renal anticipado o en pre-diálisis, es decir, sin diálisis previa. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el resultado de nuestra experiencia en el trasplante renal anticipado con donante cadáver. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de tipo cohortes emparejadas. Seincluyó a 66 receptores de trasplante renal en situación pre-diálisis, frente a un grupo control de 66 pacientes ya en diálisis que recibieron un primer injerto renal, emparejados por edad y sexo de donante y receptor, momento del trasplante, riesgo inmunológico, inmunosupresión y tiempo de isquemia fría. Se evaluó la pérdida precoz del injerto, incidencia de rechazo agudo, función retrasada del injerto, función renal a los 12 y 36 meses y supervivencia de injerto y receptor en ese periodo. Resultados: El porcentaje de receptores que presentaron pérdida precoz del injerto, función retrasada del injerto y rechazo agudo fue similar en ambos grupos. Tampoco se observaron diferencias en la función renal a los 12 ni a los 36 meses después del trasplante, ni en lasupervivencia actuarial de pacientes (p = 0,801) e injertos (p = 0,693).El coste total del tratamiento renal sustitutivo en el grupo control fue: 8033893.16 euros. Conclusiones: El trasplante renal de donante cadáver ofrece a los pacientes en situación de prediálisis resultados superponibles a los de receptores en diálisis, además de ser económicamente rentable. Keywords: Pre-emptive renal transplant, Deceased donor, Patient and graft survival, Dialysis, Psychological aspects, Palabras clave: Trasplante renal anticipado, Donante cadáver, Supervivencia injerto y receptor, Diálisis, Impacto psicológico

Resumen: Introducción: Actualmente, el trasplante renal es el tratamiento de elección para pacientes con enfermedad renal que requieren terapia de sustitución. La diálisis es un paso necesario, pero no obligatorio, previo al trasplante. Existe la posibilidad del trasplante renal anticipado o en prediálisis, es decir, sin diálisis previa. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el resultado de nuestra experiencia en el trasplante renal anticipado con donante cadáver. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de tipo cohortes emparejadas. Se incluyó a 66 receptores de trasplante renal en situación de prediálisis, frente a un grupo control de 66 pacientes ya en diálisis que recibieron un primer injerto renal, emparejados por edad y sexo de donante y receptor, momento del trasplante, riesgo inmunológico, inmunosupresión y tiempo de isquemia fría. Se evaluó la pérdida precoz del injerto, incidencia de rechazo agudo, función retrasada del injerto, función renal a los 12 y 36 meses y supervivencia de injerto y receptor en ese período. Resultados: El porcentaje de receptores que presentaron pérdida precoz del injerto, función retrasada del injerto y rechazo agudo fue similar en ambos grupos. Tampoco se observaron diferencias en la función renal a los 12 ni a los 36 meses después del trasplante, ni en la supervivencia actuarial de pacientes (p = 0,801) e injertos (p = 0,693).El coste total del tratamiento renal sustitutivo en el grupo control fue de 8.033.893,16 euros. Conclusiones: El trasplante renal de donante cadáver ofrece a los pacientes en situación de prediálisis resultados superponibles a los de receptores en diálisis, además de ser económicamente rentable. Abstract: Introduction: Currently, kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with kidney disease who require replacement therapy. Dialysis is a necessary step, but not mandatory prior to transplantation. There is the possibility of pre-emptive transplantation or transplantation in pre-dialysis, that is, without previous dialysis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the result of our experience with a pre-emptive kidney transplant from a deceased donor. Materials and methods: Retrospective, observational, matched cohort study. We compared 66 pre-emptive with 66 non pre-emptive recipients, who received a first renal graft performed at our centre, matched by age and gender of donors and recipients, time of transplant, immunological risk, immunosuppression and cold ischaemia time.Early graft loss, incidence of acute rejection, delayed graft function, renal function at 12 and 36 months and graft and recipient survival were assessed in this period. Results: The percentage of recipients who presented early graft loss, delayed graft function and acute rejection was similar in both groups. No differences were observed in their renal function at 12 and 36 months after transplantation, as well as the actuarial survival of patients (P = 0.801) and grafts (P = 0.693) in the studied period. The total calculated cost of the period on dialysis for the control group was 8,033,893.16 euros. Conclusions: Pre-emptive transplantation can yield comparable outcomes to those for post-dialysis kidney transplantation, and results in better quality of life for patients with end-stage kidney disease, as well as a reduced cost. Palabras clave: Trasplante renal anticipado, Donante cadáver, Supervivencia injerto y receptor, Diálisis, Impacto psicológico, Keywords: Pre-emptive renal transplant, Deceased donor, Patient and graft survival, Dialysis, Psychological aspects

Comparative organizational network analysis makes it possible to identify the similarities and differences between organizations according to the content of their networks. This research is a comparative study of organizational networks based on formal power. To accomplish this goal, networks were developed in three organizations from different sectors with workers distributed in high, middle and operational levels in the organizational hierarchy. For the study, 100% of the workers within the identified networks were included. The results indicated that, considering centrality and connectivity network indices, there were no statistically significant differences between organizations according to formal power network behavior. However, we obtained statistically significant differences in terms connectivity and centrality considering the workers’ hierarchy. The representative nodes of high and middle hierarchical levels had higher indices of connectivity and centrality than the nodes representative of the operational level. This study makes it possible to identify the formal roles within networks based on legitimate power, which can serve as a basis for decision-making processes and resource allocations, for the strategic use of the networks created.

Abstract Myocardial ischemia continues to be the first cause of morbimortality in the world; the definitive treatment is reperfusion; however, this action causes additional damage to ischemic myocardial tissue; this forces to seek therapies of cardioprotection to reduce this additional damage. There are many cardioprotective agents; within these, cannabinoids have shown to have beneficial effects, mainly cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a non psychoactive cannabinoid. To evaluate the effect in experimental models of CBD in myocardial ischemia reperfusion in rats, twelve‐week‐old male rats have been used. The animals were divides in 3 groups: control(C), ischemia reperfusion (IR) and CBD pretreatment (1/day/5mg/kg /10days). Langendorff organ isolate studies were performed, and the area of infarction was assessed with triphenyl tetrazolium, in addition to molecular analysis of AT1 and AT2 receptors and Akt and Erk proteins and their phosphorylated forms related to RISK pathways. It was observed that there is an improvement with the use of CBD increasing inotropism and cardiac lusitropism, improving considerably the cardiovascular functionality. These could be related to the reduction of the area of infarction and activation of the AT2 receptor and the RISK pathway with absence of activation of the AT2 receptor (these could relate the reduction of the infarct area and the restoration of cardiovascular function with the activation of the AT2 receptor and the RISK pathway with the absence of activation of the AT2 receptor). The use of cannabinoids was shown to have beneficial effects when used as a treatment for myocardial reperfusion damage.

Resumen: El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las concentraciones valle (Cpvalle) y la pauta posológica de tacrolimus tras la conversión de Prograf o Advagraf a Envarsus (nueva forma farmacéutica con tecnología Meltdose que mejora la absorción de fármacos liposolubles) en pacientes con trasplante renal estable, y su función renal.Se seleccionaron los pacientes trasplantados renales estables que fueron convertidos a Envarsus. Se definieron dos periodos: basal y conversión (Envarsus), y se estratificaron en función de la forma farmacéutica utilizada en el periodo basal. Se incluyeron 61 pacientes (24 con Advagraf y 37 con Prograf), con una edad media de 52 años. El tiempo medio postrasplante en el momento de la conversión a Envarsus fue de 76,3 meses y el seguimiento medio en el periodo basal y conversión fue de 10,1 y 11,6 meses, respectivamente.En el grupo Prograf y Envarsus las medianas Cpvalle fueron 6,6 vs 6,4 ng/ml (p = 0,636), con una dosis diaria media que disminuyó significativamente de 3 a 2 mg (p

The aim of this study was to evaluate the trough concentrations (Cptrough) and the tacrolimus dosage regimen after the conversion of Prograf or Advagraf to Envarsus (new pharmaceutical form with MeltDose technology that improves the absorption of fat-soluble drugs) in patients with stable renal transplantation, and their renal function.We selected stable renal transplant patients who were converted to Envarsus. Two periods were defined: Baseline and Conversion (Envarsus) and they were stratified according to the pharmaceutical form used in the Baseline period. Sixty-one patients were included (24 with Advagraf and 37 with Prograf), with an average age of 52 years. The mean post-transplant time at the time of conversion to Envarsus was 76.3 months and the mean follow-up in the Baseline and Conversion period was 10.1 months and 11.6 months, respectively.In the Prograf and Envarsus group, the Cptrough medians were 6.6 vs 6.4 ng/ml (p = .636), with a mean daily dose that decreased significantly from 3 mg to 2 mg (p

The Internet is one of the most important technological innovations in human history. Nowadays, more than half of the global population is using Internet, and became the basis for the new Digital Economy. Although the Internet was created as a technology without a unique point of control, many actors have increased their efforts to control the infrastructure and traffic pursuing their own interests. In this scenario, with the changes driven by advances in technologies, services and the fast-growing of the Internet over the past two decades, the role of those who control the Internet infrastructure is one of the central issues of public debate about Internet policies. The main point of discussion is the Net Neutrality, that includes the access and control over content and applications without discrimination, the users and Internet service provider’s rights. This work analyzes how government authorities and stakeholders in four South American countries have approached the Net Neutrality debate between 2010 and 2017, also detail the particular conditions and characteristics of the situation that surround the creation and application of laws. The conclusions presents some problems and challenges that the countries should face in order to maintain the benefits of the policy.

Antibiotics are essential drugs used to treat pathogenic bacteria, but their prolonged use contributes to the development and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance is a serious challenge and has led to the need for new alternative molecules less prone to bacterial resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have aroused great interest as potential next-generation antibiotics, since they are bioactive small proteins, naturally produced by all living organisms, and representing the first line of defense against fungi, viruses and bacteria. AMPs are commonly classified according to their sources, which are represented by microorganisms, plants and animals, as well as to their secondary structure, their biosynthesis and their mechanism of action. They find application in different fields such as agriculture, food industry and medicine, on which we focused our attention in this review. Particularly, we examined AMP potential applicability in wound healing, skin infections and metabolic syndrome, considering their ability to act as potential Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme I and pancreatic lipase inhibitory peptides as well as antioxidant peptides. Moreover, we argued about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approaches to develop new antibiotics, the drug development strategies and the formulation approaches which need to be taken into account in developing clinically suitable AMP applications.

The Internet has become the ultimate platform for convergence, closely associated with network, technology, and media, due to its open and nondiscriminatory architecture. Convergence in telecommunications is propelled by ideas, ideologies, and policies progressively and cyclically, bringing further technological advancement, market, business, and policy changes. As a response to convergence, net neutrality seeks to regulate the relationship between Internet service providers and users to avoid discriminatory practices and ensure the openness of the Internet as a platform for innovation, economic development, and access to information for all. The objective of this work is to analyze the development of convergence in the telecommunications sector and the progress of net neutrality policies in South America, with five specific cases using a qualitative empirical approach. Within the findings, we identify different approaches for legislating net neutrality, controversies concerning the levels of commitment to the principles, ambiguity for effective enforcement of the rules, and commercial arrangements that in practice violate net neutrality.

Objective. In the pathogenesis of pterygium, the protective role of glutathione and nitric oxide production is unclear. These are important factors for homeostasis in the redox state of cells. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of these and related parameters in pterygium tissue. Patients and Methods. The study sample consisted of 120 patients diagnosed with primary or recurrent pterygium. Five groups of tissue samples were examined: control, primary pterygium, recurrent pterygium, and two groups of primary pterygium given a one-month NAC presurgery treatment (topical or systemic). The levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO), 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated in tissue homogenates. Results. Compared with the control, decreased levels of eNOS, NO, and 3-nitrotyrosine as well as the degree of oxidation of GSH (GSSG%) were observed in primary and recurrent pterygium. 3-Nitrotyrosine and GSSG% were reduced in the other pterygium groups. GSH and CAT were enhanced in recurrent pterygium and systemic-treated primary pterygium but were unchanged for topical-treated primary pterygium. There was a strong positive correlation of eNOS with NO and 3NT, GSSG% with NO and 3NT, and GSH with GSSG and CAT. Women showed a higher level of GSH and catalase in primary pterygium, whereas a lower level of GSH and a higher level of NO in recurrent pterygium. Conclusion. The results are congruent with the following proposed sequence of events leading to a protective response of the organism during the pathogenesis of primary pterygium: a decreased level of eNOS provokes a decline in the level of NO in pterygium tissue, which then leads to reduced S-nitrosylation of GSH or other thiols and possibly to the modulation of the intracellular level of GSH through synthesis and/or mobilization from other tissues.

It is well recognized that there are currently limitations in the spatial and temporal resolution of environmental exposure models due to significant variabilities and uncertainties in model inputs and parameters. Here we present the updated Pangea multi-scale multimedia model based on the more spatially resolved, catchment-based hydrological HydroBASINS dataset covering the entire globe. We apply it to predict spatially-explicit exposure concentrations of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and triclosan (TCS) as two chemicals found in homecare (HC) and personal care (PC) products in river catchments across Asia, and test its potential for identifying/prioritizing catchments with higher exposure concentrations. In addition, we also identify the key parameters in the model framework driving higher concentrations and perform uncertainty analyses by applying Monte Carlo simulations on emissions and other non-spatial model inputs.The updated combination of Pangea with the HydroBASINS hydrological data represents a substantial improvement from the previous model with the gridded hydrological dataset (WWDRII) for modelling substance fate, with higher resolution and improved coverage in regions with lower flows, with the results demonstrating good agreement with monitored concentrations for TCS in both the freshwater (R2 = 0.55) and sediment (R2 = 0.81) compartments. The ranking of water basins by Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs) was similar for both TCS and LAS, with highest concentrations (Indus, Huang He, Cauvery, Huai He and Ganges) being one to two orders of magnitude greater than the water basins with lowest predicted PECs (Mekong and Brahmaputra). Emissions per unit volume of each catchment, chemical persistence, and river discharge were deemed to be the most influential factors on the variation of predicted PECs. Focusing on the Huang He (Yellow River) water basin, uncertainty confidence intervals (factor 31 for LAS and 6 for TCS) are much lower than the variability of predicted PECs across the Huang He catchments (factors 90,700 for LAS and 13,500 for TCS). Keywords: Multimedia modelling, LAS, Triclosan, Household chemicals, Ecosystem exposure

The endophagous parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) of the larval stages of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) injects the egg, the venom, the calyx fluid, which includes a Polydnavirus (T. nigriceps BracoVirus: TnBV) and the Ovarian Proteins (OPs) into the host body during oviposition. The host metabolism and immune system are disrupted prematurely shortly after parasitization by the combined action of the TnBV, venom, and OPs. OPs are involved in the early suppression of host immune response, before TnBV infects and expresses its genes in the host tissues. In this work, we evaluated the effect of HPLC fractions deriving from in toto OPs. Two fractions caused a reduction in hemocyte viability and were subsequently tested to detect changes in hemocyte morphology and functionality. The two fractions provoked severe oxidative stress and actin cytoskeleton disruption, which might explain the high rate of hemocyte mortality, loss of hemocyte functioning, and hence the host’s reduced hemocyte encapsulation ability. Moreover, through a transcriptome and proteomic approach we identify the proteins of the two fractions: eight proteins were identified that might be involved in the observed host hemocyte changes. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of the secreted ovarian components and their role in parasitoid wasp strategy for evading host immune responses.

Insects, the most varied group of known organisms on Earth, are arousing great interest also for the possibility to use them as a feed and food source. The mass rearing of some species, defined as “bioconverters”, is spreading worldwide, thanks to their sustainability. At the end of the bioconversion process, breeders obtain eco-friendly biomolecules of high biological and economic value, including proteins and lipids, from larvae of bioconverter insects, in particular Hermetia illucens. Besides the most classical use of insect lipids as food additives, they are also used in the formulation of several products for personal care. The composition of insect lipids depends on the substrate on which the insects are reared but also on the insect species, so the cosmetic producers should consider these features to choose their insect starting point. The most abundant fatty acids detected in H. illucens are lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids, regardless of feed substrate; its fatty acids composition is favorable for soap composition, while their derivatives are used for detergent and shampoo. Here, we offer an overview of insect lipids, their extraction methods, and their application in cosmetics and personal care products.

En 2015, en el foro de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) se aprobaron los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) para cumplirse hasta el año 2030. Conviene preguntarse si Ecuador está encauzado a lograr esos objetivos, apoyándose en el uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC). En tal virtud, el objetivo de esta investigación es conocer el estado actual y perspectivas de la Sociedad de la Información (SI) en relación con el logro de las metas de los ODS, mediante el análisis de la información histórica y pronósticos de los indicadores SI, y actuaciones de investigación, desarrollo e innovación (I+D+i) en Ecuador. La metodología de investigación tiene un enfoque cuantitativo, no experimental y longitudinal. Se utilizaron fuentes de información secundarias como reportes nacionales y extranjeros que contienen índices estadísticos anuales, que convertidos en series de tiempo permitieron analizar pronósticos y determinar la tendencia futura de esos indicadores. Como resultados se encontró que el comportamiento de indicadores de uso de las TIC e indicadores de I+D+i están relacionados en forma directa o indirecta con el cumplimiento de las metas de los ODS cuarto, quinto, octavo y noveno. Se obtuvo como conclusión que, por un lado, la tendencia de cinco indicadores de la SI sintonizan con el logro de las metas de los ODS, mientras que otros tres indicadores requieren un fuerte impulso para cambiar la tendencia y lograr su meta asociada; y, por otro lado, la necesidad de que los diferentes actores de la sociedad ecuatoriana se comprometan a trabajar a partir de las potencialidades del uso de las TIC y actuaciones en I+D+i con el fin de lograr los ODS.

Power is one of the most complex organizational attributes to understand due to the multiple related variables and dimensions in which it appears. The ownership and use and of power are reflected in the interpersonal relationships within an organization, as a result, modeling its structure and interactions can lead to knowledge about the power networks that shape it. The objective of this study was to identify the behavior of organizational networks based on existing sources of power, using a consensual analysis of the different topologies present in these networks. The study was carried out in a private production company in Ecuador, which has representation at a domestic level. To this end, a 12-question personalized questionnaire was designed with the aim of identifying specific networks and was applied to 1190 workers in the company. The results were obtained using organizational network analysis and a consensus strategy to integrate the centralities found in multiple networks into one. This study can serve as a reference to organizations, so they can know the relationships between people within it, as part of their management process. In this way, the identification of people within power networks is useful for knowing the “key” actors in the promotion of organizational changes, as well as for the development of career plans based on the position that people occupy in the organizational system.

Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is an endophagous parasitoid of the larval stages of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). During oviposition, T. nigriceps injects into the host body, along with the egg, the venom, the calyx fluid, which contains a Polydnavirus (T. nigriceps BracoVirus: TnBV), and the Ovarian Proteins (OPs). Although viral gene expression in the host reaches detectable levels after a few hours, a precocious disruption of the host metabolism and immune system is observed right after parasitization. This alteration appears to be induced by female secretions including TnBV venom and OPs. OPs, originating from the ovarian calyx cells, are involved in the induction of precocious symptoms in the host immune system alteration. It is known that OPs in braconid and ichneumonid wasps can interfere with the cellular immune response before Polydnavirus infects and expresses its genes in the host tissues. Here we show that T. nigriceps OPs induce several alterations on host haemocytes that trigger cell death. The OP injection induces an extensive oxidative stress and a disorganization of actin cytoskeleton and these alterations can explain the high-level of haemocyte mortality, the loss of haemocyte functionality, and so the reduction in encapsulation ability by the host.

This article, dedicated to national teacher Celedonio Villa Tejederas, attempts to highlight the work done by many regeneration teachers «figure lower case» between the 19th and 20th centuries. He was an educator concerned and convinced of the power of education. He would, throughout his works and speeches at the Normal School of Seville, a plea for it. Through his words are noted their desire for renewal to a new school. He analyzes the educational system and highlights the poor care of the education authority with rural schools. Aware of his work, he puts up attractive methods for banishing school absenteeism.

The market of olive-based dietary supplements (OBDS) is composed of a broad range of natural extracts claiming different health effects and often sold without a clear statement on their chemical composition. The aim of this survey was to characterize the chemical profiles of 14 commercially available OBDS. As many as 378 compounds were tentatively annotated in the analyzed samples. Although for most of metabolites the annotation at level I was prevented due to the lack of the analytical standard, the spectra obtained from high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurements were very informative, allowing annotation of dozens of metabolites at level II or III. A targeted method allowed the quantification of 26 selected compounds. A large qualitative and quantitative variability was observed. The products obtained from buds by glyceric maceration were those with the lowest concentrations of all the quantified elements. The dose of 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol, corresponding to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim, was only reached by four products, all of them originating from the olive fruit or the leaves. If we also take into consideration oleuropein, two additional products provide this daily amount. This work demonstrates the high complexity and diversity in the composition of OBDS.

Over the last decades, climate change has triggered an increase in the frequency of spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) in Central Europe. More than 50% of forests in the Czech Republic are seriously threatened by this pest, leading to high ecological and economic losses. The exponential increase of bark beetle infestation hinders the implementation of costly field campaigns to prevent and mitigate its effects. Remote sensing may help to overcome such limitations as it provides frequent and spatially continuous data on vegetation condition. Using Sentinel-2 images as main input, two models have been developed to test the ability of this data source to map bark beetle damage and severity. All models were based on a change detection approach, and required the generation of previous forest mask and dominant species maps. The first damage mapping model was developed for 2019 and 2020, and it was based on bi-temporal regressions in spruce areas to estimate forest vitality and bark beetle damage. A second model was developed for 2020 considering all forest area, but excluding clear-cuts and completely dead areas, in order to map only changes in stands dominated by alive trees. The three products were validated with in situ data. All the maps showed high accuracies (acc > 0.80). Accuracy was higher than 0.95 and F1-score was higher than 0.88 for areas with high severity, with omission errors under 0.09 in all cases. This confirmed the ability of all the models to detect bark beetle attack at the last phases. Areas with no damage or low severity showed more complex results. The no damage category yielded greater commission errors and relative bias (CEs = 0.30–0.42, relB = 0.42–0.51). The similar results obtained for 2020 leaving out clear-cuts and dead trees proved that the proposed methods could be used to help forest managers fight bark beetle pests. These biotic damage products based on Sentinel-2 can be set up for any location to derive regular forest vitality maps and inform of early damage.

The spatial and temporal dynamics of the forest cover can be captured using remote sensing data. Forest masks are a valuable tool to monitor forest characteristics, such as biomass, deforestation, health condition and disturbances. This study was carried out under the umbrella of the EC H2020 MySustainableForest (MSF) project. A key achievement has been the development of supervised classification methods for delineating forest cover. The forest masks presented here are binary forest/non-forest classification maps obtained using Sentinel-2 data for 16 study areas across Europe with different forest types. Performance metrics can be selected to measure accuracy of forest mask. However, large-scale reference datasets are scarce and typically cannot be considered as ground truth. In this study, we implemented a stratified random sampling system and the generation of a reference dataset based on visual interpretation of satellite images. This dataset was used for validation of the forest masks, MSF and two other similar products: HRL by Copernicus and FNF by the DLR. MSF forest masks showed a good performance (OAMSF = 96.3%; DCMSF = 96.5), with high overall accuracy (88.7–99.5%) across all the areas, and omission and commission errors were low and balanced (OEMSF = 2.4%; CEMSF = 4.5%; relBMSF = 2%), while the other products showed on average lower accuracies (OAHRL = 89.2%; OAFNF = 76%). However, for all three products, the Mediterranean areas were challenging to model, where the complexity of forest structure led to relatively high omission errors (OEMSF = 9.5%; OEHRL = 59.5%; OEFNF = 71.4%). Comparing these results with the vision from external local stakeholders highlighted the need of establishing clear large-scale validation datasets and protocols for remote sensing-based forest products. Future research will be done to test the MSF mask in forest types not present in Europe and compare new outputs to available reference datasets.

O presente trabalho busca sistematizar tendências e prioridades das abordagens teórico-conceituais e das investigações empíricas sobre modalidades específicas de gestão de serviços no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil. Foi realizada uma revisão narrativa da literatura que identificou, em 33 publicações, a localização e a natureza dos serviços, os modelos de gestão, os procedimentos metodológicos e os desfechos dos estudos. A produção trata principalmente de aspectos conceituais, legais e práticas gerenciais dos modelos, além de abordar contratos, compras, recursos humanos, financiamento e mecanismos de controle. Concluiu-se que a literatura analisada é restrita, concentrada no Estado de São Paulo, com baixa diversidade de teorias e fragilidades de aportes metodológicos, sendo inconclusiva quanto à superioridade de um modelo de gestão sobre outro. São fundamentais novas pesquisas avaliativas capazes de comparar os diferentes modelos e julgar seus desempenhos e efeitos na qualidade da assistência prestada, na saúde da população e na organização do sistema de saúde.

Evaporative cooling systems using a combination of evaporative pads and extractor fans require greenhouses to be hermetic. The greatest concentration of greenhouses in the world is located in southeast Spain, but these tend not to be hermetic structures and consequently can only rely on fogging systems as evaporative cooling techniques. Evaporative cooling boxes provide an alternative to such systems. Using a low-speed wind tunnel, the present work has compared the performance of this system with four pads of differing geometry and thickness manufactured by two different companies. The results obtained show that the plastic packing in the cooling unit produces a pressure drop of 11.05 Pa at 2 m·s−1, which is between 51.27% and 94.87% lower than that produced by the cellulose pads. This pressure drop was not influenced by increases in the water flow. The evaporative cooling boxes presented greater saturation efficiency at the same flow, namely 82.63%, as opposed to an average figure of 65% for the cellulose pads; and also had a lower specific consumption of water, at around 3.05 L·h−1·m−2·°C−1. Consequently, we conclude that evaporative cooling boxes are a good option for cooling non-hermetic greenhouses such as those most frequently used in the Mediterranean basin.

RACIONAL: O correto posicionamento da sonda nasogástrica para nutrição enteral tem sido alvo de várias investigações, demonstrando as controvérsias e a complexidade do procedimento. OBJETIVO: Prever as medidas antropométricas para realizar a inserção de sonda para nutrição enteral até o estômago empregando a esofagogastroduodenoscopia para calcular-se o comprimento necessário até o estômago. MÉTODO: Medidas externas foram obtidas entre a ponta do nariz vs lobo da orelha vs apêndice xifóide vs umbigo e altura correlacionadas com a medida padrão obtida em pacientes submetidos à esofagogastroduodenoscopia diagnóstica. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se correlação estatisticamente significativa entre a transição esofagogástrica identificada durante a endoscopia, acrescida da distância da rima labial à arcada dentária superior, com a distância compreendida entre os pontos anatômicos lóbulo da orelha e apêndice xifóide (r=0.75). CONCLUSÃO: A distância entre o lóbulo da orelha ao apêndice xifóide (0.75) e a distância entre o lóbulo da orelha ao apêndice xifóide até o ponto médio da cicatriz umbilical, subtraindo a distância da ponta do nariz ao lóbulo da orelha, foram parâmetros anatômicos seguros para estimar-se a distância da transição esofagogástrica. A altura na posição em pé (r = 0,72) também pode ser utilizada como um indicador da distância necessária para inserir o tubo no estômago.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease, with a good outcome after total surgical correction. In spite of a low perioperative mortality and a good quality of life, late sudden death remains a significant clinical problem, mainly related to episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Fibro-fatty substitution around infundibular resection, intraventricular septal scar, and patchy myocardial fibrosis, may provide anatomical substrates of abnormal depolarization and repolarization causing reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. Several non-invasive indices based on classical examination such as ECG, signal-averaging ECG, and echocardiography have been proposed to identify patients at high risk of sudden death, with hopeful results. In the last years other more sophisticated invasive and non-invasive tools, such as heart rate variability, electroanatomic mapping and cardiac magnetic resonance added a relevant contribution to risk stratification. Even if each method per se is affected by some limitations, a comprehensive multifactorial clinical and investigative examination can provide an accurate risk evaluation for every patient.

Descreve-se uma família com síndrome dos cabelos anágenos frouxos (SCAF) associada à distrofia macular. Foram descritos os achados dermatológicos, oftalmológicos e de microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura de 11 indivíduos. Dois apresentaram SCAF, sem qualquer alteração ocular. Dos quatro indivíduos com alteração ocular, duas irmãs apresentaram SCAF e dispersões pigmentares em pólo posterior da retina, com coloboma da mácula. Em dois irmãos encontraram-se as mesmas características da SCAF e fundo de olho com dispersões pigmentares em pólo posterior, sem coloboma. Os achados sugerem que essa associação seja uma nova entidade nosológica dentro das displasias ectodérmicas.The article describes a family with loose anagen hair syndrome (LAHS) associated with macular dystrophy. Complete dermatological and ophthalmological exams, and hair examination under optical and electron microscopy were performed in eleven index cases. Two individuals demonstrated hair findings with LAHS without ocular problems. Within the four cases with ocular problems, two sisters presented with LAHS and pigmentary dispersion on the retina with macular coloboma. Two brothers presented with LAHS and pigmentary dispersion on the retina without macular coloboma. The findings suggest that this new association is a disorder among the ectodermal dysplasia.

Objetivo: verificar se existem diferenças nas taxas de sobrevida para as portadoras de carcinoma de mama, em função da fase do ciclo menstrual vivida pela paciente na data da cirurgia. Pacientes e Métodos: pesquisa retrospectiva de 451 mulheres com câncer de mama, em pré-menopausa, das quais foram selecionados 130 casos com idade entre 26 e 52 anos e acompanhados em seguimento mínimo de 60 meses. Foram operadas 68 na fase folicular e 62 na fase lútea. Foram também analisados os dados referentes ao estádio clínico das neoplasias, ao eventual comprometimento axilar e às determinações quantitativas dos receptores hormonais de estrógenos e de progesterona. Resultados: o seguimento das 130 pacientes demonstrou que 64,6% tiveram sobrevida assintomática após cinco anos e 43% superaram os dez anos. Dividindo os casos em dois subgrupos, segundo o dia da cirurgia executada, as taxas de sobrevida foram diferentes, caindo para 58,8% aos cinco e 36,7% aos dez anos, quando operadas na fase folicular e subindo para 70,9% e 50%, aos 5 e 10 anos respectivamente, durante a fase lútea. Conclusões: neste estudo, as pacientes operadas durante a fase lútea mostraram taxas mais altas de sobrevida do que aquelas operadas na fase folicular. Todavia, os índices foram inferiores aos proporcionados pelos fatores prognósticos clássicos de estado axilar e diâmetro tumoral.Purpose: to offer new data for the conflicting reports which present different prognosis for patients with breast carcinoma, according to the timing of surgery in relation to the menstrual cycle. Patients and Methods: in a retrospective study on 451 premenopausal women with breast cancer, aged between 26 and 52 years, 130 cases were selected and followed for 60 months, at least. Sixty-eight were operated during the follicular phase and 62 in the luteal period, whose findings regarding clinical stages, axillary involvement and estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptor concentrations of the neoplasms were also analyzed. Results: the follow-up of 130 patients showed that 64.4% had a disease-free survival after five years and 43% exceeded 10 years. Subdividing the cases into 2 subgroups, according to the timing of surgery, the survival rates were different, 58.8% at 5 and 36.7% at 10 years, when the operation occurred in the follicular phase, and 70.9% and 50%, at 5 and 10 years, respectively, during the luteal period. Conclusions: in this study, the patients operated in the luteal phase reached higher survival rates than the women operated during the follicular period. However, these values were lower than those displayed by the classic prognostic factors of axillary involvement and tumor size.

En este trabajo se analizan las estrategias lingüístico-discursivas empleadas por los periodistas en la recontextualización de la guerra de Irak. Se propone un modelo lingüístico-comunicativo para el análisis del tratamiento informativo de los conflictos interculturales y se demuestra su validez mediante su aplicación en el estudio de una muestra de dos textos publicados por los diarios venezolanos Panorama y El Nacional. Se concluye que en el tratamiento informativo de los conflictos interculturales deben integrarse estrategias lingüísticas y discursivas con un sustrato axiológico, que promuevan la cortesía verbal, la acción comunicativa y el entendimiento, para evitar las barreras en la comunicación, la polarización de las partes enfrentadas y la espectacularización de las situaciones conflictivas

In a multicenter trial, renal transplant recipients were randomized to tacrolimus with fixed-dose sirolimus (Tac/SRL, N = 318) or tacrolimus with MMF (Tac/MMF, N = 316). Targeted tacrolimus trough levels were lower in the Tac/SRL group after day 14. The primary endpoint was renal function at 6 months using creatinine clearance (Cockcroft-Gault) and was comparable at 66.4 mL/min (SE 1.4) with Tac/SRL and at 65.2mL/min (SE 1.3) with Tac/MMF (completers). Biopsy-confirmed acute rejection was 15.1% (Tac/SRL) and 12.3% (Tac/MMF). In both groups, graft survival was 93% and patient survival was 99.0%. Premature withdrawal due to an adverse event was twice as high in the Tac/SRL group, 15.1% versus 6.3%. Hypercholesterolemia incidence was higher with Tac/SRL (P30 consecutive days in previously nondiabetic patients was 17.8%, Tac/SRL, and 24.8%, Tac/MMF. Evaluation at 6 months showed comparable renal function using tacrolimus/sirolimus and tacrolimus/MMF regimens.

Alternatives to the traditional hormone receptor dosages for prognostic evaluation and clinical approach to breast cancer have been proposed for immunohistochemical determinations. For correlation purposes, such procedures were compared in 37 patients presenting 5 to 15 years of survival. Considering 30 fm/mg as the positivity index, the disagreement between both methods reached 35.1% with estrogen and 48.5% with progesterone receptors. When the positiveness level was changed to 20 fm/mg, the discrepancies were reduced to 32% with ER and increased to 57% with PgR. This study leads us to not recommend the immunohistochemical method applied to paraffin sections as an alternative procedure to the dextran-charcoal dosage for prognosis and therapeutic management of mammary carcinoma.