Exploring University Performance through Multiple Factor Analysis: A Case Study

Visbal-Cadavid, DA.; Martínez-Gómez, M.; Escorcia-Caballero, R. (2020). Exploring University Performance through Multiple Factor Analysis: A Case Study. Sustainability. 12(3):1-23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030924S123123Venkataraman, B. (2009). Education for Sustainable Development. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(2), 8-10. doi:10.3200/envt.51.2.08-10Burton, I. (1987). Report on Reports: Our Common Future. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 29(5), 25-29. doi:10.1080/00139157.1987.9928891Jickling, B., & Wals, A. E. J. (2008). Globalization and environmental education: looking beyond sustainable development. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 40(1), 1-21. doi:10.1080/00220270701684667LOUGHLAND, T., REID, A., WALKER, K., & PETOCZ, P. (2003). Factors Influencing Young People’s Conceptions of Environment. Environmental Education Research, 9(1), 3-19. doi:10.1080/13504620303471Stevenson, R. B. (2006). Tensions and transitions in policy discourse: recontextualizing a decontextualized EE/ESD debate. Environmental Education Research, 12(3-4), 277-290. doi:10.1080/13504620600799026Madeira, A. C., Carravilla, M. A., Oliveira, J. F., & Costa, C. A. V. (2011). A Methodology for Sustainability Evaluation and Reporting in Higher Education Institutions. Higher Education Policy, 24(4), 459-479. doi:10.1057/hep.2011.18Nejati, M., & Nejati, M. (2013). Assessment of sustainable university factors from the perspective of university students. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 101-107. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.09.006Yuan, X., & Zuo, J. (2013). A critical assessment of the Higher Education For Sustainable Development from students’ perspectives – a Chinese study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 108-115. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.10.041Ferrer-Balas, D., Lozano, R., Huisingh, D., Buckland, H., Ysern, P., & Zilahy, G. (2010). Going beyond the rhetoric: system-wide changes in universities for sustainable societies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(7), 607-610. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.12.009Conferencia Mundial sobre la Educación Superior, Declaración mundial sobre la educación superior en el siglo XXIhttp://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/wche/declaration_spa.htmEducación Superior en Iberoamérica Informe 2011https://cinda.cl/publicacion/educacion-superior-en-iberoamerica-informe-2011/Educación Superior en Iberoamérica Informe 2016https://cinda.cl/publicacion/educacion-superior-en-iberoamerica-informe-2016/Osorio Tangarife, M. P., Rodríguez Arias, N., & Salamanca Grosso, G. (2017). Técnicas de análisis multivariado, modelamiento factorial múltiple y PLS-PATH para estudio y clasificación de tipos de mieles venezolanas de los estados de Lara y Yaracuy. CIENCIA EN DESARROLLO, 8(1). doi:10.19053/01217488.v8.n1.2017.4732Scholz, M. B. dos S., Kitzberger, C. S. G., Prudencio, S. H., & Silva, R. S. dos S. F. da. (2018). The typicity of coffees from different terroirs determined by groups of physico-chemical and sensory variables and multiple factor analysis. Food Research International, 114, 72-80. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.07.058Næs, T., Berget, I., Liland, K. H., Ares, G., & Varela, P. (2017). Estimating and interpreting more than two consensus components in projective mapping: INDSCAL vs. multiple factor analysis (MFA). Food Quality and Preference, 58, 45-60. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2016.11.012Tomic, O., Berget, I., & Næs, T. (2015). A comparison of generalised procrustes analysis and multiple factor analysis for projective mapping data. Food Quality and Preference, 43, 34-46. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2015.02.004Vtelleschi, M. S., & Chavasa, V. (2016). Análisis factorial múltiple para la caracterización de variedades de trigo pan en diferentes ambientes. FABICIB, 19, 113-120. doi:10.14409/fabicib.v19i0.5419Zárraga, A., & Goitisolo, B. (2009). Simultaneous analysis and multiple factor analysis for contingency tables: Two methods for the joint study of contingency tables. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 53(8), 3171-3182. doi:10.1016/j.csda.2008.04.020Pagès, J. (2005). Collection and analysis of perceived product inter-distances using multiple factor analysis: Application to the study of 10 white wines from the Loire Valley. Food Quality and Preference, 16(7), 642-649. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2005.01.006Stanimirova, I., Walczak, B., & Massart, D. L. (2005). Multiple factor analysis in environmental chemistry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 545(1), 1-12. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2005.04.054Escofier, B., & Pagès, J. (1994). Multiple factor analysis (AFMULT package). Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 18(1), 121-140. doi:10.1016/0167-9473(94)90135-xRobert, P., & Escoufier, Y. (1976). A Unifying Tool for Linear Multivariate Statistical Methods: The RV- Coefficient. Applied Statistics, 25(3), 257. doi:10.2307/2347233Josse, J., & Holmes, S. (2016). Measuring multivariate association and beyond. Statistics Surveys, 10(0), 132-167. doi:10.1214/16-ss116Garcı́a Lautre, I., & Abascal Fernández, E. (2004). A methodology for measuring latent variables based on multiple factor analysis. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 45(3), 505-517. doi:10.1016/s0167-9473(03)00037-9Asbahi, A. A. M. H. A., Gang, F. Z., Iqbal, W., Abass, Q., Mohsin, M., & Iram, R. (2019). Novel approach of Principal Component Analysis method to assess the national energy performance via Energy Trilemma Index. Energy Reports, 5, 704-713. doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2019.06.009Onat, N. C., Kucukvar, M., & Afshar, S. (2019). Eco-efficiency of electric vehicles in the United States: A life cycle assessment based principal component analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 212, 515-526. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.058Tam, V. W. Y., Tam, C. M., Yiu, K. T. W., & Cheung, S. O. (2006). Critical factors for environmental performance assessment (EPA) in the Hong Kong construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 24(11), 1113-1123. doi:10.1080/0144619060079962

Understanding the differences in catalytic performance for hydrogen production of Ni and Co supported on mesoporous SBA-15

Three mono and bimetallic Nix Co1−x /SBA-15 catalysts (x = 1, 0.5 and 0) with a total metallic content of 10 wt% have been prepared by a deposition–precipitation (DP) method. The catalytic performances on the dry reforming of methane reaction (DRM) have been determined and correlated with their physical and chemical state before and after the catalytic reaction. So, while the nickel monometallic system presents a high activity and stability in the DRM reaction, the Co/SBA-15 catalytic system turns out completely inactive. For its part, the Ni0.5Co0.5/SBA-15 has initially a catalytic performance similar to the Ni/SBA- 15 monometallic system, but rapidly evolving to an inactive system, therefore resembling the behavior of the cobalt-based catalyst. The characterization by TEM and in situ XPS techniques has allowed us to ascribe these differences to the initial state of metallic particles after reduction and their different evolution under reaction conditions. So, while after reduction both nickel containing Nix Co1−x /SBA-15 catalysts (x = 1 and 0.5) present a well dispersed metallic phase, the cobalt monometallic catalyst yields big metallic particles with a heterogeneous distribution of sizes. Additionally, unlike the Ni/SBA-15, the NiCo/SBA-15 system increases during reaction the metallic particle sizes. Besides indicating that the particle size is a major reason determining the catalytic performances, these results suggest that in the Ni–Co system both metals form after reduction a bimetallic phase mainly located inside the mesoporous channels of SBA-15 support. Under DRM reaction conditions, the cobalt is segregated to the surface of the bimetallic particles, which seems to determine the interaction with the support surface SBA-15. This feature gives rise to a much less stable metallic phase which suffers an important sintering process under DRM catalytic conditions. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Supported nickel catalytic systems are currently one of the most important industrial heterogeneous catalysts because its remarkable performance in a number of economically strategic processes [1–5]. Among them, the steam reforming of methane (SRM, CH4 + H2O ↔ 3H2 + CO) can be outlined as the main industrial process for obtaining hydrogen and synthesis gas, used to syn- thesize various important chemicals and fuels [6–9]. Although it is not yet commercially exploited, the dry reforming of methane (DRM, CH4 + CO2 ↔ 2H2 + 2CO) is an especially interesting reac- tion that transforms two of the most harmful greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide, into a mixture of hydrogen and car- bon monoxide [10–12]. Once again, Ni-based catalysts are the most ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (A. Caballero). widely tested in the literature for this reforming reaction, even though noble metal based catalysts such as Pt, Ru and Rh are much more performance toward methane conversion. The principal issue comes from the fact that Ni typically undergoes severe deactivation processes, mainly due to coke formation, but also due to sinter- ing of the metallic phase, generating big metallic particles which at the same time, favors the coke formation processes [13–17]. As an alternative to overcome these issues, a number of publications have shown as the use of bimetallic systems, as the combination of nickel and cobalt modified the catalytic performance in steam and dry reforming of methane [18–23]. But, depending on the support or the preparation methods both effects, improvements and wors- ening of the efficiency, have been reported. Main reasons explaining these contradictory findings are probably related with differences in the interaction of metals with support surface, which has been recognized as an essential factor affecting the stability of metal [24–26]. So, a strategy to avoid the growth of metallic particles is the use of special supports, and in particular mesoporous supports.Ministerio Economía y Competitividad de España (MINECO) y fondos FEDER de la Unión Europea-ENE2011-24412 y CTQ2014-60524-

Evaluación de técnica para reducción de residuos orgánicos a compost de hoteles Real en Barrancabermeja

The research presented below allows to complement previous phases of studies carried out with Sennova resource on the analysis of different methods of the manual turning technique for aerobic composting in the Real hotels of the district of Barrancabermeja; all this, due to the inadequate disposal of the mostly organic solid waste that is deposited in the landfill of the district and where currently there are problems of location because it is in an area classified as a nature reserve, in addition to being close to the San Silvestre swamp which provides the coastal population with vital liquid. Therefore, it is necessary to implement recovery methods for the transformation of organic plant waste generated in the hotel sector by means of the manual composting turnaround technique to produce organic fertilizers that minimize the environmental impact currently occurring at the final disposal site. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of reducing organic waste to compost generated in Real hotels, in order to establish whether it is really feasible and its percentage of transformation compared to the other composting methods by means of the manual tipping technique. It is estimated that, by making use of this type of use and the technique implemented, it can reduce impacts on the environment and improve the quality of life.La investigación que se presenta a continuación permite complementar fases anteriores de estudios realizados con recurso Sennova sobre el análisis de diferentes métodos de la técnica de volteo manual para compostaje aerobio en los hoteles Real del distrito de Barrancabermeja; todo esto, debido a la inadecuada disposición de los residuos sólidos en su mayoría orgánicos que son depositados en el relleno sanitario del distrito y donde actualmente se observa problemas de ubicación por encontrarse en un área catalogada como reserva natural, además de estar en cercanía de la ciénaga San Silvestre la cual surte a la población ribereña del vital líquido. Por lo anterior, se hace necesario implementar métodos de aprovechamiento para la transformación de los residuos orgánicos vegetales generados en el sector hotelero por medio de la técnica de volteo manual de compostaje para producir abonos orgánicos que minimicen el impacto ambiental que se ocasiona actualmente en el sitio de disposición final. Este estudio pretende evaluar la efectividad de reducción de los residuos orgánicos a compost generado en los hoteles Real, con el fin de establecer si es realmente viable y su porcentaje de transformación comparado frente a los otros métodos de compostaje por medio de la técnica de volteo manual. Se estima que, al hacer uso de este tipo de aprovechamiento y la técnica implementada, se pueda reducir los impactos al medio ambiente y mejoramiento de la calidad de vid

Impact of magnesium supplementation in muscle damage of professional cyclists competing in a stage race

Producción CientíficaMagnesium is a cofactor of different enzymatic reactions involved in anabolic and catabolic processes that affect muscular performance during exercise. In addition, it has been suggested that magnesium could participate in maintaining muscle integrity during demanding effort. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of magnesium supplementation in preventing muscle damage in professional cyclists taking part in a 21-day cycling stage race. Eighteen male professional cyclists (n = 18) from two teams were recruited to participate in the research. They were divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 9) and the magnesium-supplemented group (n = 9). The supplementation consisted of an intake of 400 mg/day of magnesium during the 3 weeks of competition. Blood samples were collected according to World Anti-Doping Agency rules at three specific moments during competition: immediately before the race; mid competition; and before the last stage. Levels of serum and erythrocyte magnesium, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine kinase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, myoglobin, aldolase, total proteins, cortisol and creatinine were determined. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels decreased during the race. Circulating tissue markers increased at the end of the race in both groups. However, myoglobin increase was mitigated in the supplemented group compared with the controls. We conclude that magnesium supplementation seems to exert a protective effect on muscle damage

IMPROVEMENT OF PICK-UP ROUTES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING ENTERPRISE BY USING A HEURISTIC METHOD

Route design is an important factor for the management of supply and logistics operations required by production processes. In this work the re-design of pick-up/delivery routes for an international shipping enterprise was performed to improve vehicle utilization for pick-up/delivery operations and reduce transportation time. The re-design of the routes was accomplished by using a random heuristic method. As a result, it was obtained that pickup/delivery for all clients can be performed with a small number of vehicles. Also, vehicle utilization can be maximized over 90.00% with a significant reduction in total transportation time which leads to decrease operational cost. The additional available time then can be used to cover a higher number of clients, increasing the presence of the enterprise in the market

The immunomodulatory function of vitamin D, with particular reference to SARS-CoV-2

Producción CientíficaVaccines are the only way to reduce the morbidity associated to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The appearance of new mutations urges us to increase the effectiveness of vaccines as a complementary alternative. In this context, the use of adjuvant strategies has improved the effectiveness of different vaccines against virus infections such as dengue, influenza, and common cold. Recent reports on patients infected by COVID-19 reveal that low levels of circulating vitamin D correlate with a severe respiratory insufficiency. The immunomodulatory activity of this micronutrient attenuates the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and at the same time, increases antibody production. Therefore, the present review proposes the use of vitamin D as adjuvant micronutrient to increase the efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection

Respuesta en el crecimiento de los juveniles de Oreochromis niloticus alimentados con dos tipos de dieta: Experimental al 28 % de proteína (a base de cáscara de plátano y soya), vs. Comercial al 28%.

Respuesta en el crecimiento de los juveniles de Oreochromis niloticus alimentados con dos tipos de dieta: Experimental al 28 % de proteína (a base de cáscara de plátano y soya), vs. Comercial al 28%. Para determinar que tratamiento obtuvo mayor crecimiento se realizó la toma de factores físico-químicos (Oxígeno Disuelto, Temperatura y pH) y parámetros poblacionales (Crecimiento Acumulado, Sobrevivencia y Factor de Conversión Alimenticia). Recolectando estos datos durante 25 días donde las Tilapias Oreochromis niloticus tuvieron un peso inicial de 7.9 gr en ambos tratamientos. Según los resultados obtenidos en el experimento, el tratamiento con alimento comercial al 28 % de proteína adquirió un crecimiento final de 13.1gr obteniendo como promedio 10.5 gr en cambio el tratamiento con alimento experimental al 28 % de proteína a base de harina de cascara de plátano y soya adquirió un peso final de 10.2 gr obteniendo como promedio 8.97 gr. El tratamiento comercial al 28 % de proteína gano más tamaño y biomasa debido a que estos asimilaron en mayor manera y en menor tiempo el alimento, en cambio el tratamiento con alimento experimental al 28 % de proteína a base de harina de cascara de plátano y soya gano poca biomasa y menos tamaño ya que estos se demoraron en asimilar y acostumbrarse al alimento que se puso a experimental, al aplicar el análisis estadístico se encontró que p>0.05 que el crecimiento de las Tilapias Oreochromis niloticus ahí diferencia significativa debido a que entre tratamientos se muestra gran diferencia entre los pesos obtenidos

Ethical Considerations in Research and Medical Care of Menopause

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation, and among the main symptoms reported have been night sweats, heat waves, increased body fat at the central level, dyslipidemia, hypertension, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, diabetes, mild cognitive impairment, depression, periodontitis, varicose veins, apnea, urinary genital discomfort, as well as dryness in the mouth and eye. The diagnosis, study, and care of menopausal or postmenopausal women have had great advances, such as recognizing the sub-inclusion of women and female animal models in basic and clinical studies and proposing in the same design of the study the analysis by sex. Subsequently, the need for specialized ethical training was identified, beginning in undergraduate, postgraduate, and clinical practice. To achieve this, several actions were carried out, such as the foundation of Women’s Health Institutes, the implementation of the Institutional and Private Committees of Ethic, and the development of validated instruments to evaluate signs and symptoms. Currently, there is no consensus that meets the ethical requirements for care and research in these patients. Efforts have been made practically by pathology, without considering together the social and psychobiological condition. What is intended in this document is to present the ethical aspects related to the study and medical care of women in menopause

DIAGNÓSTICO DE LA SITUACIÓN DEL AGAVE-MEZCAL Y OPCIONES DE DESARROLLO LOCAL EN COMUNIDADES INDÍGENAS DE OAXACA

La situación de crisis económica y ambiental que impera en todo el mundo se ha reflejado en la sobreexplotación de los recursos naturales, ocasionando con ello la pérdida de biodiversidad, contaminación y agotamiento de los mismos; además de, un mayor empobrecimiento de comunidades, debilitamiento cultural y ahondamiento de las brechas regionales. Por ello cobra gran importancia la búsqueda de alternativas que permitan la conservación in-situ de cultivos de especies nativas que ayuden a mitigar la pérdida de la diversidad genética, como es el Agave spp. utilizado para la producción de mezcal artesanal en el estado de Oaxaca. Las condiciones de desigualdad y pobreza que imperan en el estado de Oaxaca son muy notables y de manera particular en la región mixteca donde las condiciones geográficas y de los suelos, que no son aptos para la agricultura, ocasionan los bajos niveles de productividad de la actividad agrícola, en la cual se ocupa gran parte de la población económicamente activa. Aunado a esto se presentan altos índices de marginación, migración y pobreza, donde los programas de apoyo social para la comunidad han sido deficientes, razón por la cual es necesaria la búsqueda de alternativas que les permita contar con una mejor productividad y desarrollo económico y laboral

Modulation of exercise-induced muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative markers by curcumin supplementation in a physically active population: A systematic review

Producción CientíficaPhysical activity, particularly high-intensity eccentric muscle contractions, produces exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). The breakdown of muscle fibers and the consequent inflammatory responses derived from EIMD affect exercise performance. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol extracted from turmeric, has been shown to have mainly antioxidant and also anti-inflammatory properties. This effect of curcumin could improve EIMD and exercise performance. The main objective of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the effectiveness of curcumin supplementation on EIMD and inflammatory and oxidative markers in a physically active population. A structured search was carried out following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and Medline (PubMed) from inception to October 2019. The search included original articles with randomized controlled crossover or parallel design in which the intake of curcumin administered before and/or after exercise was compared with an identical placebo situation. No filters were applied to the type of physical exercise performed, the sex or the age of the participants. Of the 301 articles identified in the search, 11 met the established criteria and were included in this systematic review. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the McMaster Critical Review Form. The use of curcumin reduces the subjective perception of the intensity of muscle pain; reduces muscle damage through the decrease of creatine kinase (CK); increases muscle performance; has an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8; and may have a slight antioxidant effect. In summary, the administration of curcumin at a dose between 150–1500 mg/day before and during exercise, and up until 72 h’ post-exercise, improved performance by reducing EIMD and modulating the inflammation caused by physical activity. In addition, humans appear to be able to tolerate high doses of curcumin without significant side-effects