Innovating in the textile industry: An uncoordinated dance between firms and their territory?

Considering the process of innovati on development, this paper aimed to examine the eff ect of diff erent dimensions of proximity and the level of coordinati on that exists in a texti le cluster. This study employed a qualitati ve method, based on indepth interviews that were conducted with two leading fi rms in a texti le cluster in Valencia, Spain, which is subject to intense competi ti on from producers in Asia. Firms were selected according to the criteria of innovati on development and opportunity. This is a pilot study that precedes a more ambiti ous one. The results suggested that fi rms' innovati ons are developed in an isolated, disconti nuous, marginal, and uncoordinated way, and clustering has a marginal eff ect. Furthermore, despite high geographical and cogniti ve proximity, low social proximity is maintained by the low level of trust between the fi rms. These fi ndings may be of signifi cant practi cal value for practi ti oners and insti tuti ons. Firms can gain a bett er understanding of the importance of being located in a cluster, as this is a key factor for their survival under intense competi ti on. However, geographical proximity is not suffi cient, and fi rms need to cooperate with each other and share their ideas and experiences. In additi on, insti tuti ons should interact more with companies, speak their language, meet their needs, and devise strong cluster initi ati ves. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of how insti tuti ons and fi rms interact within a cluster in the process of innovati on development and elaborate upon diff erent dimensions of proximity among fi rm

Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography for the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders

Background: Over recent years a revolutionary trend happened on imaging technologies to diagnose and monitor treatment of a varied group of ophthalmic pathologies. Recent reports have analyzed the microstructural changes of various ocular surface and corneal disorders, particularly ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and keratoconus using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Aim of this short communication is to elaborate on clinical applications AS-OCT for the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders. Methods: We performed an English literature search without a time limit and intending to identify articles related to the AS-OCT applications in the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders. The most relevant articles were selected.  practical points of selected papers and advantages and disadvantages of AS-OCT were retrieved from them and summarized. Results:.Many records reported the AS-OCT applications for diagnosing many ocular surface disorders, the microstructural changes of different inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, and dystrophic corneal disorders. Its applications in identifying disease activity and therapeutic monitoring of various corneal pathologies, including stromal edema associated with angle-closure glaucoma, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, infectious keratitis, and bullous keratopathy, are promising. The percentage of diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of artificial intelligence methodologies applied to AS-OCT imaging analysis today has reached 94% to 100%. Moreover, AS-OCT is very useful for analyzing the extension of scar and leukoma depth for surgical planning of partial or total corneal transplantation. Conclusions: There is a clear prospect for expanding application of corneal OCT imaging technology, a rapid, non-invasive, and now a promising lower-cost device, which is becoming an in-office standard-of-care tool for the assessment of different corneal and ocular surface pathologies. KEYWORDS anterior-segment optical coherence tomography, AS-OCT, ocular surface disorders, corneal disorders, ocular surface squamous neoplasia, OSSN, keratoconu

Eficacia del diclofenaco tópico vs. nepafenaco tópico en la reducción del dolor durante la fotocoagulación panretiniana

ResumenPropósitoComparar la eficacia del diclofenaco tópico 0.1% vs. nepafenaco tópico en reducir el dolor asociado a la fotocoagulación panretiniana con láser argón.Material y métodosEnsayo clínico aleatorizado doble enmascarado, 132 pacientes (183 ojos) con diagnóstico de retinopatía diabética proliferativa tratados con fotocoagulación panretiniana. Aleatorización en 2 grupos: diclofenaco y nepafenaco tópicos. Se aplicaron 2 dosis de los analgésicos tópicos previas a la fotocoagulación panretiniana, se evaluó el dolor inmediatamente y 15min después. Se analizó nivel de dolor, efectos adversos y síntomas asociados al finalizar la fotocoagulación retiniana.ResultadosLa mediana de la edad para ambos grupos fue de 55 años, relación H:M de 1:1.4. El nivel de dolor inmediato fue de 35.5 (RIC 14-72) para el nepafenaco y de 45 (RIC 14-70) para el diclofenaco (p=0.48). A los 15min fue de 30 (RIC 4-50) para el nepafenaco y de 20 (RIC 2-50) para el diclofenaco (p=0.48). No hubo diferencias significativas en síntomas asociados entre los grupos ni efectos adversos en la superficie ocular.ConclusionesEl tratamiento previo con nepafenaco y diclofenaco tópicos es igualmente eficaz y seguro para reducir el dolor asociado a la fotocoagulación panretiniana en pacientes con retinopatía diabética proliferativa.AbstractPurposeTo compare the efficacy of topical diclofenac 0.1% vs topical nepafenac in reducing pain associated to argon laser retinal photocoagulationMaterial and methodsDouble blinded, randomized clinical trial. One hundred thirty two patients with diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with retinal photocoagulation. Randomization in to 2 groups: topical diclofenac and nepafenac. Before retinal photocoagulation 2 doses of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were applied, pain was assessed immediately and 15minutes after. Level of pain, adverse effects and associated symptoms at the end of retinal photocoagulation were analyzed.ResultsThe median for age in both groups was 55 years, M:F ratio of 1:1.4. The immediate level of pain was 35.5 (ICR 14-72) for nepafenac and 45 (ICR 14-70) for diclofenac (P=.48). At 15minutes the pain level was 30 (ICR 4-50) for nepafenac and 20 (ICR 2-50) for diclofenac. There was no difference in associated symptoms or adverse effects among groups.ConclusionsThe preventive treatment with topical nepafenac and diclofenac is equally effective and safe for reducing the pain associated with retinal photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

In Vivo Corneal Microstructural Changes in Herpetic Stromal Keratitis: A Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis

Purpose: To describe and analyze the microstructural changes in herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) observed in vivo by spectral-domain ocular coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at different stages of the disease. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational, and comparative SD-OCT analysis of corneas with active and inactive keratitis was performed, and the pathologic differences between the necrotizing and non-necrotizing forms of the disease were analyzed. Results: Fifty-three corneas belonging to 43 (81.1%) women and 10 (18.8%) men with a mean age of 41.0 years were included for analysis. Twenty-four (45.3%) eyes had active keratitis, and 29 (54.7%) had inactive keratitis; the majority (83.0%) had the non-necrotizing form. Most corneas (79.1%) with active keratitis showed stromal edema and inflammatory infiltrates. Almost half of the active lesions affected the visual axis, were found at mid-stromal depth, and had a medium density. By contrast, corneas with inactive keratitis were characterized by stromal scarring (89.6%), epithelial remodeling (72.4%), and stromal thinning (68.9%). In contrast to non-necrotizing corneas, those with necrotizing HSK showed severe stromal scarring, inflammatory infiltration, and thinning. Additionally, most necrotizing lesions (77.7%) affected the visual axis and had a higher density (P = 0.010). Conclusion: Active HSK is characterized by significant epithelial and stromal thickening and the inactive disease manifests epithelial remodeling at sites of stromal thinning due to scarring. Necrotizing keratitis is characterized by distorted corneal architecture, substantial stromal inflammatory infiltration, and thinning. In vivo SD-OCT analysis permitted a better understanding of the inflammatory and repair mechanisms occurring in this blinding corneal disease

LASIK monocular en pacientes adultos con ambliopía por anisometropía

ResumenObjetivoDeterminar la eficacia y la seguridad del LASIK en el tratamiento de la ambliopía por anisometropía en pacientes adultos.MétodosSerie de casos. Estudiamos a 12 pacientes adultos ambliopes por anisometropía a los cuales se realizó LASIK monocular de nuestro servicio de Córnea y Cirugía Refractiva. Evaluamos el error refractivo pre y postoperatorio, equivalente esférico (ES), la agudeza visual sin corrección (AVSC) y la agudeza visual mejor corregida (AVMC). La agudeza visual medida por la cartilla de Snellen fue convertida a LogMAR con fines de análisis estadístico.ResultadosLa edad promedio fue de 31.92 (± 12.13) años. El ES preoperatorio promedio en el ojo tratado fue de –3.49 D (± 3.24), el ES promedio del ojo no tratado fue de 0.25 D (± 0.30). La AVSC preoperatoria fue de 1.12 (± 0.3) LogMAR y la AVMC preoperatoria fue 0.31 (± 0.1) LogMAR. El seguimiento promedio fue de 19.1 (rango 6-74) meses. El ES promedio postoperatorio disminuyó a –0.28 (± 0.48). Cinco pacientes (42%) ganaron una línea de visión, un (8%) paciente ganó 2 líneas de visión y un (8%) paciente ganó 3 líneas de visión. El resto (42%) permaneció sin cambios comparados a la AVMC preoperatoria. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la AVSC preoperatoria (1.12 [±0.3]) y la AVSC postoperatoria (0.27 [±0.1]) (p=0.002, Z-Wilcoxon) y entre la AVMC postoperatoria (0.23 [±0.12]) y la AVMC preoperatoria (0.31 [±0.1]) (p=0.014, Z-Wilcoxon). No hubo complicaciones relacionadas con la cirugía.ConclusionesLa cirugía refractiva monocular en pacientes con ambliopía por anisometropía es una opción terapéutica segura y efectiva que ofrece resultados visuales satisfactorios, preservando o incluso mejorando la AVMC preoperatoria.AbstractPurposeTo investigate the efficacy and safety of LASIK for the correction of anisometropic amblyopia in adult patients.MethodsA retrospective, case series. We found 12 amblyopic adult patients that underwent monocular LASIK for anisometropía in our Cornea and Refractive service. We evaluated the preoperative and postoperative refractive error, spherical equivalent (SE), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Snellen visual acuity measurements were converted to LogMAR for statistical purposes.ResultsThe mean age was 31.92 (±12.13) years. The average preoperative SE in the treated eyes was -3.49 (±3.24), the average SE of the untreated eye was 0.25(±0.30). Preoperative UCVA was 1.12 (±0.3) and average preoperative BCVA was 0.31 (±0.1). All patients had LASIK with an average follow-up time of 19.1(6-74) months. The average postoperative SE decreased to -0.28 (±0.48). Five patients (42%) gained 1 line of vision, 1 (8%) patient gained 2 lines of vision, 1 (8%) patient gained 3 lines of vision and the rest (42%) remained unchanged compared to preoperative BCVA. Statistically significant differences were observed between the preoperative UCVA [1.12 (±0.3)] with the postoperative UCVA [0.27 (±0.1)](p=0.002, Z-Wilcoxon) and between the postoperative BCVA [0.23 (±0.12)] with the preoperative BCVA [0.31 (±0.1)] (p=0.014, Z-Wilcoxon). There were no complications related to the surgical procedures.ConclusionsMonocular refractive surgery in adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia is a safe and effective therapeutic option that offers a satisfactory visual outcome, preserving or even improving the preoperative BCVA

Patología psiquiátrica en una muestra de pacientes alcohólicos abstinentes.

En una muestra de pacientes alcohólicos abstinentes, se estudia la presencia de patología psiquiátrica, por medio del Cuestionario de Salud General de Goldberg, resultando que los pacientes alcohólicos estudiados tienen una menor proporción de patología psiquiátrica en el primer año de abstinencia que la población general y que una muestra de pacientes con patología reumática

Transcranial propagation with an ultrasonic mono-element focused transducer

This article belongs to a special issue: 43rd Annual UIA Symposium 23—25 April 2014 CSIC Madrid, Spain. Edited By Margaret Lucas and Enrique Riera[EN] Focused Ultrasound is the only truly transient, local and non-invasive technique able to induce safe Blood-Brain Barrier Opening (BBBO), technique used in Parkinson or Alzheimer diseases research. However, the presence of the skull in the path usually affects the focus characteristics (gain, beam width, shape and maxima location). In this work, transcranial acoustic wave propagation generated by a mono-element focused transducer has been modeled using 2D and 3D FDTD methods. Skull structure of the non-human primate under test can be compared in terms of density and sound speed with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films. Then, focus aberration and the phenomena that cause it are characterized, providing a better control of the beam focus using the BBBO technique. Results throw that focal axial displacements are constant with the angle of incidence for PMMA flat films. In normal incidence, a shift of 6 mm is given for axial displacement in the 2D transcranial propagation. Moreover, if the skull geometry under the action of the ultrasonic beam can be compared with the curvature radius of the transducer, displacements should be constant with angle independency, like those seeing in the homogenous flat films with the same thickness.This work was supported by: “Programa de Apoyo a la Investigación y Desarrollo de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia” PAID-05-12 Ref: SP20120696, Spain.Iglesias, PC.; Jimenez, N.; Konofagou, E.; Camarena Femenia, F.; Redondo, J. (2015). Transcranial propagation with an ultrasonic mono-element focused transducer. Physics Procedia. 63:103-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.03.017S1031076