Hacia una taxonomía constructiva de las tapias de tierra y fábricas encofradas históricas = Towards a constructive taxonomy of the historical rammed-earth and formwork masonry

El objetivo fundamental de la investigación es el estudio de los fundamentos constructivos de las fábricas históricas de tapia de tierra y mampostería encofrada de las fortificaciones bajomedievales. Ante las incertidumbres detectadas en la datación de estas estructuras y frente al excesivo número de excepciones que quedan fuera de las clasificaciones tradicionalmente empleadas para estudiar este tipo de técnicas, el artículo desarrolla una propuesta de tipología o taxonomía constructiva basada en un sistema abierto. Este sistema nace del análisis de un número significativo de fábricas y atiende a diversos parámetros de control para la completa caracterización de cada fábrica: material, grado de compactación, función constructiva, encofrado, acabado superficial, combinación de materiales y situación, profundidad, formación y sección de los agujales. Cada fábrica se clasifica mediante una etiqueta alfanumérica. El sistema permite establecer tipos constructivos con los que se genera una clasificación cronotipológica constructiva. ----------ABSTRACT---------- The principal aim of the research is the study of the constructive reasons of the historical masonries built with rammed earth and formwork masonry, belonging to late medieval fortifications. Uncertainties have been warned about dating the historical masonries and there are excessive exceptions that do not fall in the rankings traditionally employed to study these techniques. Due to these reasons, the article develops a proposal of constructive typology or taxonomy based in an open system that comes from the analysis of a representative number of masonries and that attends to several control parameters tor the complete characterization of each masonry: material, compaction degree, constructive function, formwork, rendering, combination of materials and, last, the situation, deepness, formation and section of the putlogholes. Each masonry is classified through an alphanumeric label. The system allows establishing several constructive types which it is possible to do a cronotypological and constructive classification

A lean case study in an oncological hospital: implementation of a telephone triage system in the emergency service

Abstract: Lean practices and thinking have increased substantially in the last few years. Applications of lean practices to health care are found worldwide. Despite that, new contributions are required because the application of lean thinking to hospitals has a long way to go. Lean practices and thinking do not include, in the literature or practice programs, any references to triage systems in health care units. The common triage systems require physical presence, but there are alternative methods to avoid the need to move patients: these alternative triage systems, given their characteristics, may be included in the spectrum of lean practices. Currently, patients that are already known to suffer from cancer are encouraged to go to hospital (public or private, with an oncological focus) when facing side effects from chemotherapy or radiation treatments; they are then submitted to a triage system (present themselves to the hospital for examination). The authors of this paper propose the introduction of telephone or email triage for impaired patients as a valid substitute for moving them physically, thereby often avoiding several unnecessary moves. This approach has, in fact, characteristics similar to a lean practice in that it reduces costs and maintains, if done properly, the overall service offered. The proposed ‘remote’ triage emerged from the results of a large survey sent to patients and also as the outcome of a set of semistructured interviews conducted with hospital nurses. With the results they obtained, the authors felt comfortable proposing this approach both to public and private hospitals, because the study was conducted in the most important, largest, and best-known oncological unit in Spain. As a final result, the health care unit studied is now taking the first steps to implement a remote triage system by telephone, and has begun to reduce the previously necessary movement of impaired patients

The Management of Water Resources in a Disputed Border: The Case of Gazivoda Reservoir (Kosovo)

This paper aims to study the importance of a good management of the Gazivoda reservoir. In the instable region of Balkans, water is considered a strategic resource. Crossing the disputed border between Kosovo and Serbia, Gazivoda’s water plays an important role for economies and water supply in both countries. The desire of controlling Gazivoda may disrupt the relationship that Kosovo and Serbia report. Claims from ethnic minorities of Serbs in Kosovo, and Albanians in Serbia might pose risks to current frontiers. Borders need to be respected to achieve stability. Foreign models of cooperation can be followed in order to achieve a good management successful for society on both sides of the border.Este trabalho pretende estudar a importância de uma boa gestão do reservatório de Gazivoda. Na região instável dos Balcãs, a água é considerada um recurso estratégico. Atravessando a fronteira disputada entre o Kosovo e a Sérvia, a água de Gazivoda desempenha um papel importante nas economias e no abastecimento de água em ambos os países. O desejo de controlar Gazivoda pode interromper a relação que o Kosovo e a Sérvia relatam. Reclamações de minorias étnicas de sérvios no Kosovo, e os albaneses na Sérvia podem representar riscos para as fronteiras atuais. As fronteiras precisam ser respeitadas para alcançar a estabilidade. Modelos estrangeiros de cooperação podem ser seguidos para alcançar uma boa gestão bem sucedida para a sociedade em ambos os lados da fronteira

La política de ciencia, tecnología e innovación y el retorno del Estado: 2007-2010, años de inestabilidad The policy of science, technology and innovation and the return of the state: 2007 2010, years of instability

This article analyzes the implementation process of the Ecuadorian science, technology and innovation policy (PCTI) within the framework of the beginning of the post-neoliberal period, which implied the strengthening of the State and the insertion of the paradigm of buen vivir. For this purpose, the novel elements in the definition of this policy under the framework of buen vivir are described as an introductory note. Then, the complex construction process of the explicit PCTI during these years is reviewed. Finally, the instruments implemented and their relationship with the definition of PCTI are analyzed. To this end, the concepts of explicit scientific policy and implicit scientific policy of Herrera [1] and the notion of scientific-technological paradigm of Velho [2] are used. The chosen approach is framed in the new institutionalism that understands the definition and implementation of the PCTI as the result of the strategic game of the actors involved in these processes. This case study uses investigation of historical archives, documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with relevant actors. It is found that the PCTI during these years was unstable, as there were several short-term policy documents, and that its implementation was far from the ambitious rhetoric and the major objectives, limited to two instruments: international postgraduate scholarships and financing of research and development projects

Assessing obstetrics perceived service quality at a public hospital

Assessing service quality has become a major issue in the healthcare sector. Although direct evaluation has already taken place, literature is scarce in terms of the impact the distance covered by the user has on perceived service quality. The aim of this study was to assess the influence distance has on perceived service quality when no similar service alternatives are available. The Servperf instrument was used to collect data. All women who delivered babies in autumn 2011 were respondents to the questionnaire. Exploratory analysis was used to test research hypotheses. Cronbach’s alphas were computed to assess internal consistency. Findings show that Assurance is the quality dimension that contributes the most to patients’ perceived service quality and Tangibles is the one that contributes the least. It was also possible to conclude that the distance the patient has to cover to be served and its educational level influence patients’ perception of the service providedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio