Knowledge Management and Leadership in the Higher Education: A First Approach

Today, it is more and more important to develop competences in the learning process of the university students (that is to say, to acquire knowledge but also skills, abilities, attitudes and values). This is because professional practice requires that the future graduates design and market products, defend the interests of their clients, be introduced in the Administration or, even, in the Politics. Universities must form professionals that become social and opinion leaders, consultants, advisory, entrepreneurs and, in short, people with capacity to solve problems. This paper offers a tool to evaluate the application for the professor of different styles of management in the process of the student’s learning. Its main contribution consists on advancing toward the setting in practice of a model that overcomes the limitations of the traditional practices based on the masterful class, and that it has been applied in Portugal and Spain

W and Mo doped TiO2: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity

W-doped TiO2 and Mo-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized by EISA method and were characterized by different techniques. The photoactivity of these materials was evaluated by the degradation of 4- chlorophenol without oxygen supply. The catalysts exhibited only anatase crystalline phase and high specific surface areas of about 179 m2 g 1. The amount of dopant cations in TiO2 was a key parameter to increase the photoactivity. The results obtained show that with low dopant concentrations the degradation is improved, and this can be attributed to an increase in the lifetime of the photogenerated charges due to that dopant cations may easily trap electrons decreasing the recombination rate. Doped photocatalysts degraded 95% of 4CP, three times faster than Degussa P25. 69% reduction of total organic carbon (TOC) content was achieved by 1 wt.% W-doping

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Titania by Co-Doping with Mo and W

Various W and Mo co-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) materials were obtained through the EISA (Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly) method and then tested as photocatalysts in the degradation of 4-chlorophenol. The synthesized materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), N2 physisorption, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the W-Mo-TiO2 catalysts have a high surface area of about 191 m2/g, and the presence of an anatase crystalline phase. The co-doped materials exhibited smaller crystallite sizes than those with one dopant, since the crystallinity is inhibited by the presence of both species. In addition, tungsten and molybdenum dopants are distributed and are incorporated into the anatase structure of TiO2, due to changes in red parameters and lattice expansion. Under our experimental conditions, the co-doped TiO2 catalyst presented 46% more 4-chlorophenol degradation than Degussa P25. The incorporation of two dopant cations in titania improved its photocatalytic performance, which was attributed to a cooperative effect by decreasing the recombination of photogenerated charges, high radiation absorption capacity, high surface areas, and low crystallinity. When TiO2 is co-doped with the same amount of both cations (1 wt.%), the highest degradation and mineralization (97% and 74%, respectively) is achieved. Quinones were the main intermediates in the 4 chlorophenol oxidation by W-Mo-TiO2 and 1,2,4-benzenetriol was incompletely degraded.PROMEP (project 103.5/13/S257) CONACYT (project 269093). Scholarship 378292 by CONACY

Gender heterophily and equality: a contribution to gender equality in the Chilean scientific sector

Women’s insertion or consolidation in science has been thoroughly researched. Such discussion could be particularly relevant concerning sustainable development goal five (SDG 5) on Gender Equality advancement. However, the debate is focused on women percentages inserted into scientific labor, leaving the issue of symbolic experience for women in research unaddressed and with little empirical support. The data come from a survey developed under a FONDECYT project, which studied knowledge production in Chile. Researchers obtained contacts through invitations on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and databases containing scientists’ emails working in Chile. The non-probabilistic sample collected 583 cases, with participants residing in 15 of the 16 country regions. As a result, this document presents the findings of a study on symbolic experience using an instrument to determine whether there are any homophily patterns. It aims to determine if scientists tend to cite others as referents only when they encounter a situation like their own. The findings reveal a clear way scientists estimate the effect of others in terms of their gender homophily. This intervening factor could be crucial in reproducing the disparities and asymmetries that characterize Chile’s scientific field

Recuperación de un suelo contaminado por una mezcla de hidrocarburos

In Mexico, a soil poor in nitrogen (N) polluted by 100000 ppm of waste motor oil (WMO) is an environmental problem also because is drastically affecting soil´s proprieties related with mineralization of organic matter and lost its fertility since exceeding the maximum accepted limit of 4400 ppm of the Mexican environmental rule called NOM-138-SEMARNAT-2012 (NOM-138). An ecological alternative to solve it is to treat for eliminating WMO and to recover its fertility. Therefore, the aims of this research were: a) bioremediation of soil polluted by 100000 ppm of WMO b) phytoremediation by Sorghum vulgare with Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chryso-genum to decrease WMO´s concentration at lower value of 4400 ppm accepted by the NOM-138. In that sense the variable response to measure soil´s recovering was: a) WMO´s concentration with Soxhlet, after bioremedia-tion and phytoremediation b) while at phytoremediation the phenology and biomass at seedling stage of S. vulgare with A. niger and P. chrysogenum. All experimental data were validated by ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Results showed that bioremediation and phytoremediation decreased WMO until 3400 ppm, numerical value lower than the maximum established by NOM-138, both processing were efficient to recover for cropping aim. In 120 days regarding as a short period of time.En México, un suelo agrícola pobre en nitrógeno (N) contaminado por un derivado de hidrocarburos como el aceite residual automotriz (ARA), con una relativa alta concentración de 100000 ppm, es un problema ambiental, pero también porque afecta drásticamente las propiedades del suelo asociadas con la mineralización de la materia orgánica y la pérdida de fertilidad, ya que sobrepasa el límite máximo aceptado de 4400 ppm de la norma mexi-cana llamada, NOM-138-SEMARNAT-2012 (NOM-138). Una alternativa de solución es tratarlo con acciones ecológicas para eliminar el ARA y recuperar esa fertilidad. Por lo que los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: i) biorremediación de suelo contaminado por 100000 ppm de ARA ii) fitorremediación mediante Sorghum vulgare con Aspergillus niger y Penicillium chrysogenum para decrecer el ARA a un valor inferior a 4400 ppm de la NOM-138. Para ello la recuperación de suelo se realizó mediante la variable-respuesta: desaparición del ARA por Soxhlet al inicio y después de la biorremediación y al final de la fitorremediación con S. vulgare con la fenología y biomasa a plántula. Todos los datos experimentales se validaron por ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Los resultados indicaron que la biorremediación y la fitorremediación del suelo contaminado por 100000 ppm de ARA, la decrecieron hasta 3400 ppm, valor inferior al máximo establecido por la NOM-138, suficiente para la recuperación del suelo en la producción agrícola, en 120 días un periodo de tiempo relativamente corto

Suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz: bioestimulación y fitorremediación

In México any soil polluted by 90000 ppm waste motor oil (WMO), this concentration is over the maximun acepted of 4400 ppm by regulation law called as a NOM-138-SEMARNAT / SSA1-2003 (NOM-138), 9000 ppm of WMO is causing soil`s fertility decreasing. An alternative solution is biostimulation (BIS) by detergent following by mineral solution then. Subsequently the BIS by H2O2 as a supplier of O2 and a crude fungi extract containing laccase able to hydrolyze aromatic of WMO, then by Phaseolus vulgaris as a green manure to reduce WMO; concluding by phytoremediation (PHYTO) with Cicer arietinum The objectives of this research were: i) BIS of soil contaminated by 90000 ppm of WMO ii) PHYTO by C. arietinum with Micromonospora echinospora and Penicillium chrysogenum to decrease WMO at lower concentration value than the maximum accepted by NOM-138. In sense at soil`s, variable-response of BIS was initial and final concentration of WMO by Soxhlet, at the PHYTO, phenology and biomass of C. arietinum were taken at seedling. The experimental data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey HSD P <0.05%. Results showed that BIS and PHYTO of soil impacted by 90000 ppm of WMO decreased until 1200 ppm numerical value statistically different compared to 79000 ppm of soil polluted by WMO, without BIS and either PHYTO or negative control. Those results showed that BIS and PHYTO are an effective technique for recovering soil polluting by relative high level of WMO according to NOM-138.En México un suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz (ARA), excede la máxima concentración permitida de 4400 ppm según la NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2003 (NOM-138) y que le causa infertilidad. Una alternativa solución es la por bioestimulación (BIS) integral con un detergente, una solución mineral, con H2O2 fuente O2, un extracto fúngico crudo con una lacasa que hidroliza aromáticos del ARA, luego con Phaseolus vulgaris o abono verde. Estas acciones se concluyen por fitorremediación (FITO) mediante Cicer arietinum. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: i) BIS de un suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de ARA, ii) FITO mediante C. arietinum con Micromonospora echinospora y Penicillium chrysogenum para decrecer el ARA a valor inferior al máximo aceptado de la NOM-138. En suelo la variable-respuesta de la BIS fue la concentración inicial y final de ARA por Soxhlet, en la FITO se registró la fenología y biomasa de C. arietinum a plántula. Los datos experimentales se analizaron por ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Los resultados muestran que la BIS y FITO en suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de ARA, lo decrecieron hasta 1200 ppm, valor numérico estadísticamente distinto comparado con suelo con 79000 ppm de ARA sin BIS ni FITO o control negativo. Se concluye que en suelo impactado por una relativa alta concentración de ARA la BIS y FITO fue estrategia integral suficiente para recupera acorde con la NOM-138

Trade-offs among aboveground, belowground, and soil organic carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients in Andean tropical montane forests

Tropical montane forests (TMFs) play an important role as a carbon reservoir at a global scale. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding on the variation in carbon storage across TMF compartments [namely aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and soil organic matter] along altitudinal and environmental gradients and their potential trade-offs. This study aims to: 1) understand how carbon stocks vary along altitudinal gradients in Andean TMFs, and; 2) determine the influence of climate, particularly precipitation seasonality, on the distribution of carbon stocks across different forest compartments. The study was conducted in sixty 0.1 ha plots along two altitudinal gradients at the Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador) and Río Abiseo National Park (Peru). At each plot, we calculated the amount of carbon in AGB (i.e. aboveground carbon stock, AGC), BGB (i.e. belowground carbon stock, BGC), and soil organic matter (i.e. soil organic carbon stock, SOC). The mean total carbon stock was 244.76 ± 80.38 Mg ha–1 and 211.51 ± 46.95 Mg ha–1 in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian plots, respectively. Although AGC, BGC, and SOC showed different partitioning patterns along the altitudinal gradient both in Ecuador and Peru, total carbon stock did not change with altitude in either site. The combination of annual mean temperature and precipitation seasonality explained differences in the observed patterns of carbon stocks across forest compartments between the two sites. This study suggests that the greater precipitation seasonality of colder, higher altitudes may promote faster turnover rates of organic matter and nutrients and, consequently, less accumulation of SOC but greater AGC and BGC, compared to those sites with lesser precipitation seasonality. Our results demonstrate the capacity of TMFs to store substantial amounts of carbon and suggest the existence of a trade-off in carbon stocks among forest compartments, which could be partly driven by differences in precipitation seasonality, especially under the colder temperatures of high altitudesAuthorizations to work in protected areas were granted by national authorities: Ecuador (MAE-DNB-CM2015-0016) and Perú (001-2016-SERNANP-PNRA-JEF

Hidrodesoxigenación catalítica: uso de compuestos derivados de biomasa para la generación de biocombustibles

This study examined the importance of the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process, which allows us to obtain molecules with the necessary calorific potential to be useful as biofuels, an example of which is the phenol molecule, predominant in the mixtures remaining from cellulose liquefaction processes. The process was standardized using NiMoW trimetallic catalysts supported on Al2O3 which is based on two routes; the direct hydrogenation of the aromatic ring, followed by the cleavage of the Csp3-O bond and the direct cleavage by deoxygenation of the Csp2-O bond of the molecule, both routes are carried out simultaneously generating as reaction products: molecules such as: benzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, methylcyclopentane, cilohexanone and cyclohexanol. This type of catalysts present conversions of up to 92% of oxygenated molecules such as phenol, showing desirable textural properties (surface area, distribution and pore size), which allows a greater interaction in the reaction mixture, favoring the conversion, providing a promising alternative for purification processes of oxygenated molecules provided by nature for the optimization of obtaining biofuels.En este estudio se examinó la importancia del proceso de hidrodesoxigenación (HDO), el cual nos permite obtener moléculas con el potencial calorífico necesario para ser útiles como biocombustibles, ejemplo de ello es la molécula de fenol, predominante en las mezclas remanentes de procesos de licuefacción celulósica. Se estandarizó el proceso utilizando catalizadores trimetálicos NiMoW soportados en Al2O3 el cual se basa en dos vías; la hidrogenación directa del anillo aromático, seguido de la escisión del enlace Csp3-O y la escisión directa por desoxigenación del enlace Csp2-O de la molécula, ambas rutas se llevan a cabo simultáneamente generando como productos de reacción: moléculas como: benceno, ciclohexano, ciclohexeno, metilciclopentano, cilohexanona y ciclohexanol. Este tipo de catalizadores presentan una conversión de hasta el 92% de moléculas oxigenadas como el fenol, mostrando propiedades texturales deseables (área superficial, distribución y tamaño de poro), lo cual permite una mayor interacción en la mezcla de reacción, favoreciendo la conversión, proporcionando una alternativa prometedora para procesos de purificación de moléculas oxigenadas que provee la naturaleza para la optimización de obtención de biocombustibles. &nbsp

Biochemical and clinical characterization of metabolic phenotypes: a cross-sectional study from Maracaibo city, Venezuela [version 1; referees: awaiting peer review]

Background: In 1980, Reuben Andresen observed that in certain individuals, obesity did not increase mortality, introducing an atypical phenotype called “healthy obese”. Other studies reported that 10-15 % of lean individuals presented insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate biochemical and clinical characteristics of metabolic phenotypes in Maracaibo city. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a randomized multistage sampling was performed including 1226 non diabetic individuals from both sexes. For phenotype definition, the subjects were first classified according to their BMI into Normal-Weight, Overweight and Obese; then divided in metabolically healthy and unhealthy using a two-step analysis cluster. To evaluate the relationship with coronary risk, a multiple logistic regression model was performed. Results: In the studied population, 5.2% (n=64) corresponded to unhealthy lean subjects, and 17.4% (n=217) to healthy obese subjects. Metabolically unhealthy normal-weight (MUNW) phenotype was found in males in 53.3% in contrast to 51.3% of metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotype found in females. An association between metabolically unhealthy phenotypes and a higher risk of a coronary event was found, especially for obese individuals (MHO: OR=1.85 CI95%: 1.11-3.09; p=0.02 and MUO: OR=2.09 CI95%: 1.34-3.28; p<0.01). Conclusion: Individuals with atypical metabolic phenotypes exist in Maracaibo city. Related factors may include insulin resistance, basal glucose levels, and triglycerides levels. Lastly, cardiovascular risk exhibited by healthy obese individuals should be classified in categories of major coronary risk related to lean subjects