Change Process Modelling using the EKD - Change Management Method

International audienceThe Enterprise Knowledge Development - Change Management Method (EKD-CMM) provides a systematic way to organise and to guide the organisational change management. The EKD-CMM road map, implemented in the electronic guide book , describes the different routes to manage change through modelling using EKD-CMM. Roughly speaking a route is a sequence of steps to be followed by the EKD-CMM user. Every step in one possible EKD-CMM route is supported by guidelines. This paper presents the guideline allowing an enterprise to construct its change process model when its current goals, its external constraints, its future requirements and its existing processes are known. The undertaken modelling approach, called "goal deployment" approach, proposes an iterative process which consists in progressively generating the hierarchy of change goals by studying the impact of the external constraints onto the current goals and of defining the impacts of the change on current business processes. The approach is illustrated using examples borrowed to an industrial case of the electricity supply sector where change management is motivated by European deregulation rules

El baúl de la paz : sistematización de una práctica pedagógica de la cátedra de la paz

RESUMEN: En el año 2014 se marcaron unas directrices a los docentes de Colombia para la implementación de la Cátedra de la Paz en las instituciones educativas, lo que se tradujo en la posibilidad de reconfigurar nuevas dinámicas en el contexto educativo, que trascendieran a lo comunitario y familiar, que aportaran en la reconstrucción del tejido social y en la reconciliación. A razón de ello, en el año 2016, en la Institución Educativa Antonio Derka sede Amapolita, se implementó esta cátedra mediante la estrategia El Baúl de la Paz, que tuvo como sustento contribuir en la transformación del territorio escolar. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación, fue identificar, visibilizar y evidenciar, por medio de la sistematización de esta experiencia pedagógica, el impacto de esta apuesta en los procesos de socialización de la escuela, fomentando el respeto a la integridad, la diversidad y promoviendo espacios para validar nuevas formas de comunicación e interacción, teniendo como uno de los principales resultados que los sujetos participantes dialogan en clave de Derechos Humanos, de pluralidad, de resolución pacífica de los conflictos, exaltando la importancia de la convivencia para la construcción de paz como una práctica constante de su formación ciudadana. Palabras claves: Cátedra de la Paz, paz, convivencia, conflictos, formación ciudadana, prácticas pedagógicas.ABSTRACT: In 2014 guidelines were set for teachers in Colombia for the implementation of the Chair of Peace in educational institutions, which resulted in the possibility of reconfiguring new dynamics in the educational context, which transcended the community and family that contributed to the reconstruction of the social fabric and reconciliation. Therefore, in 2016, at the Antonio Derka Educational Institution headquarters Amapolita, this chair was implemented through the strategy named “El Baúl de la Paz”, which had as its livelihood to contribute to the transformation of the school territory. The objective of this research work was to identify, make visible and evidence, through the systematization of this pedagogical experience, the impact of this commitment on the processes of socialization of the school, promoting respect for integrity, diversity and promoting spaces to validate new forms of communication and interaction, having as one of the main results that the participating subjects dialogue in the key of Human Rights, plurality, peaceful resolution of conflicts, exalting the importance of coexistence for the construction of peace as a constant practice of their citizen formation. Keywords: Chair of Peace, peace, coexistence, conflicts, citizen training, pedagogical practices

Associational resistance and associational susceptibility: specialist herbivores show contrasting responses to tree stand diversification

Heterospecific neighbors may reduce damage to a focal plant by lowering specialist herbivore loads (associational resistance hypothesis), or enhance damage by increasing generalist herbivore loads (associational susceptibility hypothesis). We tested the associational effects of tree diversity on herbivory patterns of the tropical focal tree Tabebuia rosea in an experimental plantation setup, which contained tree monocultures and mixed stands. We found higher herbivore damage to T. rosea at higher tree diversity, indicating that T. rosea did not benefit from associational resistance but rather experienced associational susceptibility. The specific consideration of the two dominant insect herbivore species of T. rosea, the specialist chrysomelid Walterianella inscripta and the specialist pyralid Eulepte gastralis, facilitated understanding of the detected damage patterns. Tree diversity exerted opposite effects on tree infestation by the two herbivores. These findings point to resource concentration effects for the chrysomelid beetle (favored by tree monoculture) and to resource dilution effects for the pyralid caterpillar (favored by tree mixture) as underlying mechanisms of herbivore distribution. A strong contribution of the pyralid to overall damage patterns in diversified stands suggests that associational susceptibility may not necessarily be related to higher abundances of generalist herbivores but may also result from specialized herbivores affected by resource dilution effects. Thus, the identity and biology of herbivore species has to be taken into account when attempting to predict damage patterns in forest ecosystem

Supervivencia y crecimiento de postlarvas y juveniles de Argopecten nucleus Y Nodipecten nodosus (bivalvia: pectinidae) producidos en laboratorio

Se evaluó el crecimiento y la supervivencia de las postlarvas de Argopecten nucleus y Nodipecten nodosus producidas en laboratorio y sometidas a diferentes condiciones de asentamiento y cultivo. Evaluando el efecto del tipo de colector (bolsas cebolleras, césped artificial y placas de fibra de vidrio), de la aplicación de estímulos inductores al asentamiento (epinefrina y baja temperatura), y del ambiente de cultivo (mar y laboratorio). Un mayor número de postlarvas fue obtenido en colectores de césped artificial que en placas de fibra de vidrio y bolsas cebolleras. El crecimiento de las postlarvas de A. nucleus no fue afectado por el tipo de colector, pero el de N. nodosus fue mayor en los colectores de placas de fibra de vidrio y menor en las bolsas cebolleras. La estimulación térmica y química de las larvas competentes permitió recuperar un mayor porcentaje de postlarvas. El crecimiento de las postlarvas de A. nucleus fue mayor cuando se aplicaron estímulos inductores del asentamiento, pero las de N. nodosus no fueron afectadas por esta variable. La supervivencia de las postlarvas fue mayor en el laboratorio que en el mar, excepto en las postlarvas de A. nucleus adheridas a colectores, las cuales presentaron supervivencias similares en los dos ambientes. El crecimiento de las postlarvas adheridas a colectores y libres fue mayor en el mar que en laboratori

Efecto de VIH-1 en la desregulación de los linfocitos B. Papel de dendrímeros carbosilano en la respuesta inflamatoria, como agentes transfectantes y en la polarización de macrófagos de tipo M2

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Molecular. Fecha de lectura: 13-12-2013Este trabajo ha sido realizado en el Laboratorio de Inmuno-Biología Molecular del Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón de Madrid. El trabajo experimental que se recoge en esta Memoria ha sido financiado por el proyecto europeo EuroNanoMed 2010, Fondos de Investigación Sanitaria (INTRASALUD PI09/02029, PS09/02669, PS09/02523), la Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria ISCIII (RETIC RD06/0006/0035 y RD12-0017-0037), INDISNET S-2011-BMD2332, FIPSE, y COST action TD0802.This work is divided into two main subjects: “the effect of HIV-1 on the deregulation of B lymphocytes”, and “the role of carbosilane dendrimers in inflammatory response, as transfecting agents and, on the polarization of M2-type macrophages”. PART I: B cells are a critical component of the adaptive immune system, due to its capacity of producing highly specific antibodies. During HIV infection, patients with AIDS could exhibit hyperimmunoglobulinemia, increased expression of cell-activation markers, depletion of memory B cells, polyclonal B-cell hyperactivity, and altered differentiation of naïve B cells that could result in impaired immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR), and thus production of nonspecific immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgE and IgA antibodies. All of these processes finally provoke the exhaustion of B-cell and defective responses against opportunistic pathogens. However, little is know about the molecular mechanism responsible of the B-cell deregulation and whether it is due to a direct effect of HIV on B cells. In this study we have evaluated the effects of a direct exposition of B cells to HIV-1 particles in order to identify and describe the deregulation of B cells by HIV-1 evaluating CSR, AID protein expression, AID-related miRNA expression and Ig production in an environment free of T lymphocytes. We showed that HIV-1 particles deregulate human primary B cells, increasing their survival, proliferation, modifying their phenotype and function on cultured B-cell. Moreover, expression level of AID mRNA in human primary B cells was highly increased and its subsequent IgM/IgE; IgM/IgA and IgM/IgG class switch was detected in vitro. Finally, the results indicate that the mechanism by which HIV-1 deregulates B cells is through the BCR/SYK signaling pathway, promoting the mobilization of BCR in the membrane, which leads to the activation of JNK. In summary, in this study we have demonstrated that direct contact between HIV-1 particles and B-cell was sufficient to induce a deregulation of B-cell. The model in vitro developed in this study, which is independent of CD4 T cells and CD40L, can be useful to study the mechanisms of B-cell deregulation in the context of HIV infection. In addition, these results may highlight a possible relation between HIV-1 infection and B cells hyperactivation, loss of memory B cells or hyperglobulinemia. By all that, these results contribute to the better understanding of the general immune deregulation observed in HIV-1 patients, and allow us to lay the groundwork for development of better anti-HIV vaccines. PART II: New objectives of nanomedicine consist in developing and characterizing nanoparticles as new preventive treatment, therapeutic or diagnostic tools with the aim to improve current treatments. The major advantage of carbosilane dendrimers is based on their regular structure and skeletons and surfaces easy to modify. Moreover, carbosilane dendrimers can be used as molecules that have an effect per se in the treatment of HIV-1, in autoimmune diseases and inflammation, as well as molecules that can shuttle nucleic acids and drugs to the cell interior. We have studied the ability of cationic dendrimers 2G-NN16 and 2G-03NN24 to transfect siRNA-Nef in CD4 T lymphocytes, in the context of HIV-1. The results have shown that both dendrimers are able to form stable complexes with siRNA and protect them against RNase. Both dendrimers facilitate CD4 T lymphocytes transfection with siRNA. The 2G-03NN24 dendrimer is better transfectant than 2G-NN16. Our results indicate that 2G-03NN24 could protect its cargo better than 2G-NN16. We have also studied the effect of 5 carbosilane dendrimers (anionic dendrimer 2G-S16 and cationic dendrimers 2G-NN16, 1G-03NN12, 2G-03NN24 and 3G03NN48) on M1 macrophages. Dendrimers did not induce the release of TNF-α, IL-12p40, CCL3, CCL4, IL-1β and IL-6. Especially, 2G-NN16 decreased the expression of several genes implicated in the pro-inflamnmatory function of M1 macrophages, suppressed the expression of TNF-α and IL-12p40. These data indicate that 2G-NN16 has a slightly non-inflammatory effect, which could be beneficial in HIV therapy because local inflammation allows higher cell activation, which facilitates the HIV-1 infection. An additional effect of the 2G-03NN24 is the decreased expression of the CCR2 co-receptor which is involved in macrophage infection by HIV-1. The results obtained with different dendrimers in M1 open promising lines of research, suggesting that they could be used as safe biological agents without promoting inflammation and that they could be useful for the treatment of several medical conditions. Since most of the tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are similar to M2, we have also studied the role of carbosilane dendrimers on M2 macrophages to determine if they are able to induce a switch on the macrophages phenotype, to evaluate the potential application of dendrimers in tumor immunotherapy. Tumor microenvironment favours the escape from immunosurveillance, promoting anti-inflammatory responses and inhibiting pro-inflammatory ones. The 2G-03NN24 dendrimer decreases the production of IL-10 by the LPS-stimulated M2 macrophages and also switches the M2 genetic phenotype to a M1 phenotype. Furthermore, this dendrimer decreases the activity of STAT3 by diminishing its phosphorylation through the PDGFR and EGFR receptors pathways. In vivo, dendrimer-treated tumors show that the TAM over-express iNOS, a protein typically expressed by the M1, that possess anti-tumor properties. In addition, other changes induced by the dendrimer would create a more favorable microenvironment within tumors as seen in preliminary in vivo studies. Results indicate that 2G-03NN24 dendrimer might be used for the therapy of tumors through its ability to suppress polarization of M2 macrophages, generally associated with tumor proliferation. These results are very encouraging showing that the 2G-03NN24 dendrimer can be a new anti-tumor compound

Manejo Integrado de Plagas para el control de Varroa destructor y sus implicaciones para las colonias de Apis mellifera

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest management system that, in the socioeconomic context of farming systems, the associated environment and the population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques in a compatible manner as possible to maintain the pest population levels below those causing economic injury. This article covers the principal aspects of the interaction between Apis mellifera and Varroa destructor and it describes the classical control forms applied to reduce the mite negative impact on colonies. Some examples of IPM activities that have been done to control this parasite in the southeast of Buenos Aires province, Argentina have shown good results. Several products worldwide have shown good effectiveness as well. Nevertheless, there are certain risks and hazards inherent to their use, such as: their negative impact on human health, resistance phenomena, loss of beneficial insects and native fauna, environmental pollution and drug residues in the hive products harmful for human consumption. The development of acaricide resistance in V. destructor populations and the possibility of incorporating contaminants in colonies by means of this type of treatment have promoted the addition of new molecules to minimize these disadvantages. The application of organic acids, essential oils and their components have become a worthwhile alternative. It can be concluded that to achieve an integrated management of V. destructor entails a change of mind for beekeepers and the active participation of all actors involved in the beekeeping sector to promote scientific activities aimed to discovering and developing new tools to be incorporated in an IPM Program against V. destructor.El Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIP) es un sistema de manejo que en el contexto socioeconómico de los sistemas agrícolas, asociado al ambiente y a la dinámica poblacional de las especies plaga, utiliza las técnicas apropiadas de una manera compatible para mantener, las poblaciones de la plaga por debajo de los niveles que causan daño económico. Este artículo cubre los principales aspectos de la interacción entre Apis mellifera y Varroa destructor y describe las formas clásicas de control aplicadas para reducir el impacto del ácaro en las colonias. Algunos ejemplos de las actividades de manejo integrado de plagas realizadas para controlar este parásito en el Sureste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, mostraron buenos resultados. Existen algunos productos acaricidas de síntesis en el mundo, que presentaron buena efectividad. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de resistencia a los acaricidas en poblaciones de V. destructor y la posibilidad de incorporación de contaminantes en las colonias por este tipo de tratamientos, se han transformado en cuestiones de gravedad. Esto ha promovido la búsqueda de nuevas moléculas para minimizar estas desventajas. Ácidos orgánicos, aceites esenciales y sus componentes se han convertido en una valiosa alternativa. El éxito de la implementación de herramientas para el Manejo Integrado de Varroa involucra un cambio de mentalidad en los apicultores y la participación activa de todos los actores del sector apícola, para promover actividades científicas que ayuden a desarrollar nuevas alternativas para ser incorporadas en Programas Regionales de Manejo Integrado de esta parasitosis.Fil: Ruffinengo, Sergio Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Cátedra de Apicultura; ArgentinaFil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Marcangeli, Jorge Augusto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Principal, Judith. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado”. Lara; VenezuelaFil: Barrios, Carlos. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado”. Lara; VenezuelaFil: de Piano, Fiorella Giselle. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Giullia, Mitton. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Two-dimensional plasmons in the random impedance network model of disordered thin-film nanocomposites

Random impedance networks are widely used as a model to describe plasmon resonances in disordered metal-dielectric nanocomposites. In order to study thin films, two-dimensional networks are often used despite the fact that such networks correspond to a two-dimensional electrodynamics [J.P. Clerc et al, J. Phys. A 29, 4781 (1996)]. In the present work, we propose a model of two-dimensional systems with three-dimensional Coulomb interaction and show that this model is equivalent to a planar network with long-range capacitive connections between sites. In a case of a metal film, we get a known dispersion $\omega \propto \sqrt{k}$ of plane-wave two-dimensional plasmons. In the framework of the proposed model, we study the evolution of resonances with decreasing of metal filling factor. In the subcritical region with metal filling $p$ lower than the percolation threshold $p_c$, we observe a gap with Lifshitz tails in the spectral density of states (DOS). In the supercritical region $p>p_c$, the DOS demonstrates a crossover between plane-wave two-dimensional plasmons and resonances associated with small clusters.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, revtex; references adde

Evaluación del índice de MANTRELS en el diagnóstico de la apendicitis aguda

Introducción: el índice de MANTRELS, fue creado como un instrumento diagnóstico para contribuir a identificar de forma precoz a los pacientes con apendicitis aguda. Objetivo: evaluar el índice de MANTRELS en el diagnóstico de la apendicitis aguda en los pacientes admitidos en el Hospital General Docente “Leopoldito Martínez”, de San José de las Lajas, provincia Mayabeque. Métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo y descriptivo en el servicio de Cirugía General, del Hospital General Docente “Leopoldito Martínez”, en el período comprendido desde enero de 2012 hasta diciembre de 2012. El universo estuvo constituido por 135 pacientes que ingresaron en la institución con diagnóstico presuntivo de apendicitis aguda, a quienes se les aplicó el índice de MANTRELS. Las determinaciones de la escala se hicieron al ingreso y hasta establecer el diagnóstico. Resultados: la edad promedio fue de 29 años. El sexo masculino predominó sobre el femenino. El dolor espontáneo en la fosa ilíaca derecha y a la descompresión en dicha zona, se identificaron en el 100 % de los pacientes En el 85 % de los pacientes se constató una relación directa entre el Índice de MANTRELS positivo y los hallazgos histológicos del apéndice cecal. El Índice de MANTRELS presentó una sensibilidad y especificidad de 98 % y 83 % respectivamente. La eficacia general de la escala fue de un 96 %. Conclusiones: el Índice de MANTRELS es un instrumento efectivo, de aplicación rápida, simple, económica, no invasiva, de elevada sensibilidad y eficacia. Permite el diagnóstico precoz de la apendicitis aguda