Las propiedades técnicas deseables en las plataformas educativas y herramientas de autor como productoras de contenido estandarizado

Ante la creciente oferta de herramientas de autor que facilitan la producción de contenido educativo por parte de docentes y alumnos y de plataformas educativas que gestionan las interacciones didácticas es necesario analizar las propiedades técnicas que propician la producción de contenido didáctico estandarizado y reusable para el buen funcionamiento de las plataformas educativas actuales. En este análisis se describen las características técnicas de los estándares usados en las plataformas educativas contemporáneas y los beneficios que obtiene la educación mediada mediante la estandarización de contenidos. De igual forma se analizan las propiedades técnicas de algunas herramientas de autor y plataformas educativas de alta aceptación en la comunidad Iberoamericana para reconocer las características necesarias en las herramientas de autor que permiten una mayor potencialidad de reuso de los contenidos generados por las mismas

Direct Hydroxylation of Phenol to Dihydroxybenzenes by H2O2 and Fe-based Metal-Organic Framework Catalyst at Room Temperature

A semi-crystalline iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF), in particular Fe-BTC, that contained 20 wt.% Fe, was sustainably synthesized at room temperature and extensively characterized. Fe-BTC nanopowders could be used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of dihydroxybenzenes (DHBZ), from phenol with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as oxidant under organic solvent-free conditions. The influence of the reaction temperature, H2O2 concentration and catalyst dose were studied in the hydroxylation performance of phenol and MOF stability. Fe-BTC was active and stable (with negligible Fe leaching) at room conditions. By using intermittent dosing of H2O2, the catalytic performance resulted in a high DHBZ selectivity (65%) and yield (35%), higher than those obtained for other Fe-based MOFs that typically require reaction temperatures above 70◦C. The long-term experiments in a fixed-bed flow reactor demonstrated good Fe-BTC durability at the above conditionsThe authors thank the financial support by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) for the grant number 764635 and the project 256296; and to TNM for the supporting project 5627.19.P. Also, to the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN) and FEDER program (EU) through the projects: CTM2016-76454-R (MICINN) and RTI2018-095052-B-I00 ((MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE

Lean logistics management in healthcare: A case study

Objetivo: estudiar la aplicabilidad de los principios del Justo a Tiempo o Just in Time (JIT) o Lean Production a la gestión de la cadena de suministros de un hospital. En concreto, tratamos de conocer qué prácticas y principios de Lean son aplicables, los beneficios que se pueden obtener y las principales barreras para su aplicación. La gestión de la cadena de suministros de los hospitales es un tema importante, tanto por su incidencia en la calidad asistencial como por su impacto en los costes. Métodos: Este trabajo se basa en un estudio de caso durante el periodo 2005-2010. Ámbito: Hospital Virgen Macarena de Sevilla. Proceso de implantación de un plan integral de gestión logística basado en la aplicación de principios Lean y en el desarrollo de inversiones tecnológicas. Resultados: La implantación del plan integral ha reducido los inventarios, disminuido los plazos de entrega y mejorado la calidad del servicio. Asimismo, se han producido otras mejoras importantes: mejora en la satisfacción de los trabajadores e incremento de la productividad del personal, tanto sanitario como del dedicado a tareas logísticas. Conclusiones: La experiencia analizada ha permitido comprobar la aplicabilidad e idoneidad de los principios Lean y de algunas de sus técnicas a la gestión de la logística de hospitales. También se han identificado algunas de las principales dificultades que pueden presentarseObjective: To study the applicability of the principles of Just in Time (JIT) or Lean Production to manage the supply chain of a hospital. In particular, we seek to know what Lean practices and principles are applicable, the benefits to be gained and the main barriers for implementation. Managing the supply chain of hospitals is an important issue, both for its effect on the quality of care and its impact on costs. Methods: This study is based on a case study during the period 2005-2010. Scope: Hospital Virgen Macarena in Seville. Process of implementing a comprehensive logistics management plan based on Lean principles and technology investments. Results: The implementation of the comprehensive plan has reduced inventory, reduced lead times and improved service quality. Also, there have been other important improvements: improved worker satisfaction and increased staff productivity, both dedicated to health and the logistics. Conclusions: The experience analyzed has shown the applicability and appropriateness of the principles Lean and some of his techniques to manage the logistics of hospitals. Also identifies some of the main difficulties that may aris

Verificación de cumplimiento de buenas prácticas de Higiene para alimentos no procesados y semiprocesados establecidos en el reglamento técnico centroamericano RTCA 67.06.55:09

El presente estudio se realizó en la Empresa Finca Santa Clara, ubicada en Jinotepe, departamento de Carazo, Nicaragua de la cruz de Guadalupe 500 varas al sur, tomando como base de estudios las áreas de la empresa específicamente construcción de los establecimientos, servicio, control de operaciones, mantenimiento y saneamiento, higiene personal, información sobre los productos, capacitación, vigilancia y verificación, de ahí el propósito de la investigación consistió en la verificación del cumplimiento de buenas prácticas de higiene para alimentos semiprocesados. Por lo cual se realizó una descripción del semiproceso en la producción de mermelada de ciruela, luego se elaboró una matriz de verificación de cumplimiento de buenas prácticas de higiene, posteriormente se evaluó el cumplimiento de la norma RTCA 67.06.55:09 en la empresa Santa Clara y finalmente se propusieron recomendaciones de mejora al cumplimiento de la norma RTCA 67.06.55:09. Metodológicamente el trabajo se enfoca desde la perspectiva descriptiva, transversal, con un diseño de investigación donde la población fue la empresa Santa Clara, de la cual se tomó como muestra el área de producción de mermelada de ciruela. La técnica fue la observación directa del establecimiento, así como también se realizó una entrevista al Gerente general de la empresa Dominique Rougsegger y al encargado de producción Msc. Darío Juárez. El estudio permitió concluir que las áreas donde no se cumplen las verificaciones de buenas prácticas de higiene son las de los espacios físicos tales como las construcciones de los establecimientos y servicios de la empresa; solamente cumplen con un porcentaje del 98% que el reglamento RTCA 67.06.55:09 establece como buenas condiciones

Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of vanillic acid as a lignin model compound towards the renewable production of dicarboxylic acids

tLignin can be depolymerised and used as a feedstock to obtain renewable raw-materials,providing a green alternative to fossil counterparts. Among others, C4dicarboxylic acids(DCA), like succinic, malic, maleic and fumaric acids, which can find applications in phar-maceuticals, food industry, and act as solvents, can be obtained from lignin oxidation. Toinvestigate their formation, the oxidation of vanillic acid (VA), a lignin model compound, wasstudied under catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) conditions, using titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) as the catalyst. The effect of temperature, pH, and reaction time were studied. Ina second phase, catalyst modification with transition metal oxides (Fe, Co, Cu) was tested.Results showed that oxidation under pH = 10.5 gives rise to complete VA conversion withhydroxylated DCA, namely malic (15 mol%) and tartaric (5 mol%) acids, as the main products.At pH = 4.0, the production of succinic acid was improved (7.4 mol%), with VA conversionachieving 78% after 2.0 h of reaction. At alkaline pH, H2O2reactivity is higher, leading to C4-DCA degradation to low-molecular weight compounds. Catalyst desilication was observed,pointed out for the convenience of using neutral and acidic pH. In acidic pH, Fe and Cu cat-alysts enhanced VA conversion, and Fe catalyst was more selective towards succinic acidproduction.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from Fundac¸ãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, Grant num-bers: UID/EQU/50020/2019, UID/AGR/00690/2019; European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Grant numbers: Lig-noCOST (CA17128) and Costa Rican Science, Technology andTelecommunications Ministry, Costa Rica. Scholarship num-ber: MICITT-PINN-CON-2-1-4-17-1-002.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Lignin conversion into C4 dicarboxylic acids by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation using titanium silicalite-1

Lignin valorisation towards added-value products has become a relevant topic to consolidate a future circular bioeconomy. In this context lignin oxidation to C4 dicarboxylic acids (C4-DCA) by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation is emerging as a value-added strategy, supported by the extensive use of these building blocks in several industrial fields. In this work, lignins from different sources and processes (Indulin AT, Lignol, alkali and E. globulus kraft lignins) were oxidised using H2O2 and titanium silicalite-1 catalyst (TS-1) under different operating conditions (temperature, pH, time, H2O2, and TS-1 load). Indulin AT was the lignin leading to the highest succinic acid yield (11.3 wt%), and TS-1 catalyst enhanced its production four times over the noncatalysed reaction. Malic acid was also produced at high yields, especially for Lignol lignin. The other lignins (E. globulus kraft, and alkali lignins) also produced these C4 acids but at lower yields. The catalyst remained stable at the used experimental conditions, and showed potential to be reused for several cycles without being deactivated. Overall, the catalytic conversion of lignin to C4-DCA can help to guide the pathway to renewable chemicals production.This work was financially supported by: Base Funding - UIDB/50020/2020 of the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM - funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); Base Funding - UIDB/00690/2020 of CIMO - Centro de Investigação de Montanha—funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). COST Action LignoCOST (CA17128). Carlos Vega-Aguilar thanks the Costa Rica Science, Technology and Telecommunications Ministry for the PhD. Scholarship MICITT-PINN-CON-2-1-4-17-1-002. The authors thank Dr. Maria José Sampaio and Prof. Dr. Joaquim Faria (LA LSRE-LCM) for the help with the ATR measurements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of methoxy substituents on wet peroxide oxidation of lignin and lignin model compounds: understanding the pathway to c4 dicarboxylic acids

Lignin depolymerization through peroxide oxidation produces dicarboxylic acids (DCA), especially C4-DCA, like succinic acid. In this work, the effect of methoxy substituents on C4-DCA production using peroxide oxidation of lignin model compounds (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and syringic acid) and hardwood and softwood lignin samples was studied. It was concluded that methoxy substituents increased the reactivity toward peroxide oxidation. The succinic acid yield was higher for the model compounds with fewer methoxy groups, achieving 5.8 wt % of succinic acid for p-hydroxybenzoic acid. For Eucalyptus globulus kraft lignin (hardwood lignin with guaiacyl and syringyl units), an increased reactivity was verified, and more succinic acid (3.5 wt %) was produced in a shorter time, comparatively with Indulin AT lignin (softwood lignin, with only guaiacyl units), which produced 2.7 wt %. This evidence suggests that E. globulus kraft lignin might be a better raw material than Indulin AT for succinic acid production by peroxide oxidation.This work was financially supported by Base Funding − UIDB/50020/2020 of the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM − funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); Base Funding−UIDB/00690/2020 of CIMO, Centro de Investigação de Montanha−funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); COST Action LignoCOST (CA17128). C.A.V.-A. thanks the Costa Rican Science, Technology and Telecommunications Ministry for the Ph.D. Scholarship MICITT-PINN-CON-2-1-4-17-1-002.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CD44-high neural crest stem-like cells are associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor survival in neuroblastoma tumours

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma is a paediatric tumour originated from sympathoadrenal precursors and characterized by its heterogeneity and poor outcome in advanced stages. Intra-tumoral cellular heterogeneity has emerged as an important feature in neuroblastoma, with a potential major impact on tumour aggressiveness and response to therapy. CD44 is an adhesion protein involved in tumour progression, metastasis and stemness in different cancers; however, there has been controversies about the significance of CD44 expression in neuroblastoma and its relationship with tumour progression. METHODS: We have performed transcriptomic analysis on patient tumour samples studying the outcome of patients with high CD44 expression. Adhesion, invasion and proliferation assays were performed in sorted CD44high neuroblastoma cells. Tumoursphere cultures have been used to enrich in undifferentiated stem-like cells and to asses self-renewal and differentiation potential. We have finally performed in vivo tumorigenic assays on cell line-derived or Patient-derived xenografts. FINDINGS: We show that high CD44 expression is associated with low survival in high-grade human neuroblastoma, independently of MYCN amplification. CD44 is expressed in a cell population with neural crest stem-like features, and with the capacity to generate multipotent, undifferentiated tumourspheres in culture. These cells are more invasive and proliferative in vitro. CD44 positive cells obtained from tumours are more tumorigenic and metastatic, giving rise to aggressive neuroblastic tumours at high frequency upon transplantation. INTERPRETATION: We describe an unexpected intra-tumoural heterogeneity within cellular entities expressing CD44 in neuroblastoma, and propose that CD44 has a role in neural crest stem-like undifferentiated cells, which can contribute to tumorigenesis and malignancy in this type of cancer. FUNDING: Research supported by grants from the "Asociación Española contra el Cáncer" (AECC), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation SAF program (SAF2016-80412-P), and the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant to RP).Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation SAF program (SAF2016-80412-P