149 research outputs found

    Aplicación de la herramienta estandarización de procesos para mejorar la calidad del servicio del área de emisión de pólizas de seguro médico, en la empresa SÚPER ENVÍOS & LOGÍSTICA S.A.C, San Isidro 2019

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    La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo general determinar de qué manera la aplicación de la herramienta estandarización de procesos mejora la calidad de servicio en el área de emisión de pólizas de seguro médico, en la Empresa Súper Envíos & Logística S.A.C. El método empleado fue el hipotético-deductivo, el tipo de investigación fue aplicativo de enfoque cuantitativo; de nivel explicativo y de diseño cuasi experimental. La población estuvo formada por el número de servicios realizados por el área de emisión de pólizas de seguro médico, durante 30 días laborables de lunes a viernes, en Súper Envíos & Logística S.A.C. La técnica empleada para recolectar información fue la observación directa y el instrumento de recolección de datos fue una ficha de observación y control de tiempos. Se concluyó que la aplicación de la herramienta estandarización de procesos incrementa la calidad del servicio en el área de emisión de pólizas de seguro médico en la empresa Súper Envíos & Logística S.A.C. La media de la calidad del servicio antes de la aplicación de la herramienta estandarización de procesos era 80.52%, la media de la calidad del servicio luego de la aplicación de la herramienta estandarización de procesos fue de 91.36%

    SÚPER RESOLUCIÓN Y MEJORA DEL ALGORITMO CANNY PARA LA DETECCIÓN DE BORDES EN IMÁGENES MÉDICAS

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    La detección de bordes en imágenes es de suma importancia para encontrar objetos de interés en estas, especialmente si se trata de imágenes médicas, donde la búsqueda de cuerpos extraños es la actividad crítica para el médico al momento de analizar los estudios en imágenes del paciente. Sin embargo, normalmente las imágenes a examinar, presentan ruido que dificulta el proceso de diagnóstico. Por ello, en este artículo, se propone un sistema de Tratamiento Digital de Imágenes que mejore la resolución de imágenes de resonancia magnética (MRI) con técnicas de Súper Resolución (SR) y un algoritmo de detección de bordes, denominado CannySu, que consiste en el algoritmo de Canny en combinación con el algoritmo de Otsu para establecer valores de umbral al detector de bordes. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la efectividad de esta propuesta

    Brachionus paranguensis sp. nov. (Rotifera, Monogononta), a member of the L group of the Brachionus plicatilis complex

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    This article is in memory of Gloria and Balthazar, the first author’s aunt and uncle. Authors appreciate the discussions with Paul Hebert, Teresa Crease and Sean Prosser from the University of Guelph to understand concerted evolution and discordance between ITS1 and COI genes.The Brachionus plicatilis complex represents the most studied group of rotifers, although the systematics of the species complex has not been completely clarified. Many studies have been conducted trying to explore the diversity within the complex, leading to the recognition of three major morphotypes: large (L), small-medium (SM), and small (SS). Currently six species have been described and classified under these types and another nine taxa have been identified but not formally described. Within the L group, three species have been officially described [B. plicatilis s.s. (L1), B. manjavacas (L2), and B. asplanchnoidis (L3)], while a formal description of L4, unofficially known as B. ‘Nevada’, is still lacking. In the present study, a new species, Brachionus paranguensis sp. nov., is formally described and presented as a representative of the L4 clade. The species has been named after a high altitude saline crater lake from Central Mexico, where the specimens were collected. An integrated approach using DNA taxonomy through COI and ITS1 markers, morphology, and ecology was used to confirm the identity of the new species.This work is a contribution of the Mexican Barcode of Life Network (MEXBOL) supported by CONACYT (251085

    Geodiversity influences limnological conditions and freshwater ostracode species distributions across broad spatial scales in the northern Neotropics

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    Geodiversity is recognized as one of the most important drivers of ecosystem characteristics and biodiversity globally. However, in the northern Neotropics, the contribution of highly diverse landscapes, environmental conditions, and geological history in structuring large-scale patterns of aquatic environments and aquatic species associations remains poorly understood. We evaluated the relationships among geodiversity, limnological conditions, and freshwater ostracodes from southern Mexico to Nicaragua. A cluster analysis (CA), based on geological, geochemical, mineralogical, and water-column physical and chemical characteristics of 76 aquatic ecosystems (karst, volcanic, tectonic) revealed two main limnological regions: (1) karst plateaus of the Yucatán Peninsula and northern Guatemala, and (2) volcanic terrains of the Guatemalan highlands, mid-elevation sites in El Salvador and Honduras, and the Nicaraguan lowlands. In addition, seven subregions were recognized, demonstrating a high heterogeneity of aquatic environments. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified water chemistry (ionic composition) and mineralogy as most influential for aquatic ecosystem classification. Multi-parametric analyses, based on biological data, revealed that ostracode species associations represent disjunct faunas. Five species associations, distributed according to limnological regions, were recognized. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that geodiversity explains limnological patterns of the study area. Limnology further explained species composition, but not species richness. The influence of conductivity and elevation were individually evaluated in SEM and were statistically significant for ostracode species composition, though not for species richness. We conclude that geodiversity has a central influence on the limnological conditions of aquatic systems, which in turn influence ostracode species composition in lakes of the northern Neotropical region

    Geodiversity influences limnological conditions and freshwater ostracode species distributions across broad spatial scales in the northern Neotropics

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    Geodiversity is recognized as one of the most important drivers of ecosystem characteristics and biodiversity globally. However, in the northern Neotropics, the contribution of highly diverse landscapes, environmental conditions, and geological history in structuring large-scale patterns of aquatic environments and aquatic species associations remains poorly understood. We evaluated the relationships among geodiversity, limnological conditions, and freshwater ostracodes from southern Mexico to Nicaragua. A cluster analysis (CA), based on geological, geochemical, mineralogical, and water-column physical and chemical characteristics of 76 aquatic ecosystems (karst, volcanic, tectonic) revealed two main limnological regions: (1) karst plateaus of the Yucatán Peninsula and northern Guatemala, and (2) volcanic terrains of the Guatemalan highlands, mid-elevation sites in El Salvador and Honduras, and the Nicaraguan lowlands. In addition, seven subregions were recognized, demonstrating a high heterogeneity of aquatic environments. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified water chemistry (ionic composition) and mineralogy as most influential for aquatic ecosystem classification. Multi-parametric analyses, based on biological data, revealed that ostracode species associations represent disjunct faunas. Five species associations, distributed according to limnological regions, were recognized. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that geodiversity explains limnological patterns of the study area. Limnology further explained species composition, but not species richness. The influence of conductivity and elevation were individually evaluated in SEM and were statistically significant for ostracode species composition, though not for species richness. We conclude that geodiversity has a central influence on the limnological conditions of aquatic systems, which in turn influence ostracode species composition in lakes of the northern Neotropical region.</p

    Species Diversity and Phylogeographical Affinities of the Branchiopoda (Crustacea) of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

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    The region of Churchill, Manitoba, contains a wide variety of habitats representative of both the boreal forest and arctic tundra and has been used as a model site for biodiversity studies for nearly seven decades within Canada. Much previous work has been done in Churchill to study the Daphnia pulex species complex in particular, but no study has completed a wide-scale survey on the crustacean species that inhabit Churchill's aquatic ecosystems using molecular markers. We have employed DNA barcoding to study the diversity of the Branchiopoda (Crustacea) in a wide variety of freshwater habitats and to determine the likely origins of the Churchill fauna following the last glaciation. The standard animal barcode marker (COI) was sequenced for 327 specimens, and a 3% divergence threshold was used to delineate potential species. We found 42 provisional and valid branchiopod species from this survey alone, including several cryptic lineages, in comparison with the 25 previously recorded from previous ecological works. Using published sequence data, we explored the phylogeographic affinities of Churchill's branchiopods, finding that the Churchill fauna apparently originated from all directions from multiple glacial refugia (including southern, Beringian, and high arctic regions). Overall, these microcrustaceans are very diverse in Churchill and contain multiple species complexes. The present study introduces among the first sequences for some understudied genera, for which further work is required to delineate species boundaries and develop a more complete understanding of branchiopod diversity over a larger spatial scale

    Issues Number 12. Journal of the Center for Research in Social Sciences, Education and Arts

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    En el pasado Encuentro Académico de Facultades de Comunicación Social organizado por AFACOM, el profesor Jesús Martín-Barbero nos invitaba a trascender el. "Encuentro de Teorías" en favor de un encuentro con el País. Es que hay tiempo para todo y en la coyuntura actual, de exaltación de la violencia, de corrupción política y administrativa, de economía angustiante y desbocada, urge revisar las responsabilidades que como comunicadores nos competen. Si la teoría no nos es de utilidad para comprender y transformar la vida, carece de sentido promoverla.Comunicación en tiempos de crisis Comunicación y gestión, un llamado para superar la desarticulación Palabras y comunicación El juego con las palabras: Pasión, razón y creación Sin interacción no hay contexto Desde la estética Hacia una nueva pedagogía Escríbir ensayos u ordenar la cabeza La lectura de textos como producción de sentido Música: ¿Sublime contaminación?In the last Academic Meeting of Faculties of Social Communication organized by AFACOM, Professor Jesús Martín-Barbero invited us to transcend the. "Encounter of Theories" in favor of an encounter with the Country. It is that there is time for everything and in the current situation, of exaltation of violence, political and administrative corruption, of distressing and runaway economy, it is urgent to review the responsibilities that we as communicators are responsible for. If the theory is not useful to us to understand and transform life, there is no point in promoting it

    Suicidal behavior in patients with gambling disorder and their response to psychological treatment: The roles of gender and gambling preference

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    Suicidal ideation and attempts are prevalent among patients with gambling disorder (GD). However, patients with GD and a history of lifetime suicidal events are not a homogeneous group. The main objective of this study was to compare sociodemographic, clinical, personality, and psychopathological features among different profiles of adults with GD with and without a history of suicidal behavior, taking into account two relevant variables: gender and gambling preference. The second aim was to examine how the different profiles of patients with a history of suicidal events responded to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). A total of 1112 treatment-seeking adults who met the criteria for GD were assessed at a hospital specialized unit for the treatment of behavioral addictions. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires to explore GD, personality traits, and psychopathological symptomatology. The lifetime histories of suicidal ideation and attempts, and gambling preferences, were assessed during semi-structured face-to-face clinical interviews. Of the total sample, 229 patients (26.6%) reported suicidal ideation and 74 patients (6.7%), suicide attempts. The likelihood of presenting suicidal ideation was higher for women than men, but no differences were observed based on gambling preference. Regarding suicide attempts, the odds were higher among women with non-strategic forms of gambling. Suicidal ideation and attempts were associated with higher GD severity, a worse psychopathological state and higher self-transcendence levels. In terms of treatment outcomes, neither gambling preference nor past suicidal behavior had an influence on dropouts and relapses. Nevertheless, female gender and a lack of family support constitute two good predictors of a worse treatment outcome

    The prevalence and features of schizophrenia among individuals with gambling disorder

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    Background-objectives: Few studies have analyzed the comorbid presence of gambling disorder (GD) with schizophrenia, its sociodemographic correlates and clinical implications. This study estimated the prevalence of the dual diagnosis (GD with schizophrenia) and the differences in the profiles of patients with and without the dual condition. Method: The sample included n = 3,754 patients consecutively accepted for treatment for GD. Sociodemographics, gambling-related variables, psychopathological state and personality traits were assessed and compared between the groups. Results: The prevalence of schizophrenia within patients who met clinical criteria for GD was 4.4% (95% confidence interval: 3.8%-5.1%). Variables related to the dual presence of GD with schizophrenia were single marital status, lower education level, inactive working status, socioeconomic disadvantage, younger age, earlier onset of gambling problems, worse global psychopathological state and more dysfunctional personality profile (higher level in harm avoidance and lower level in cooperativeness, reward dependence, persistence and selfdirectedness). Conclusion: The presence of schizophrenia among patients with GD was around 4 times higher than the prevalence rate estimated in the reference general population. The differences in the profiles of GD patients with and without schizophrenia suggest that individuals with the dual diagnosis condition require unique assessment considerations and tailored treatment interventions specifically designed for the clinical and functioning higher risk

    Unraveling the real magnitude of illegal wildlife poisoning to halt cryptic biodiversity loss

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    Illegal wildlife poisoning is a global threat for biodiversity, yet the magnitude of its impact on ecosystems is largely underestimated as most of poisoning episodes remain undetected. Here, we conducted a large-scale field experiment to better understand the real dimension of the illegal wildlife poisoning in terms of composition and number of species and abundance of impacted individuals, as well as the ecological factors driving it. We used camera traps to monitor simulated poison baits placed in 25 study areas in SW Europe and applied Good–Turing theory to estimate the richness of species of the entire assemblage (observed plus undetected). We recorded 3095 individuals from 39 vertebrate species that consumed 94 % of the baits (N = 590). Yet, using sample completeness to estimate the entire species assemblage yielded a total of 47 species exposed to illegal poisoning. The observed assemblage included different trophic and functional groups (from lizards and snakes to apex species among birds and mammals), as well as a 38 % of threatened and near threatened species (according to Spanish and Portuguese vertebrate red list and UICN list). The size (weight) of the bait outstands as a reliable predictor of the number of species (0–8 species/bait, mean = 2) and individuals (0–99 individuals/bait, mean = 5) susceptible to poisoning. The habitat where the bait was placed modulated the abundance of individuals affected (greater in open than in closed habitats). Type of bait and habitat drove the compositional variation of species. Our approach enables uncover entire species assemblages prone to illegal poisoning and their ecological drivers associated, advancing the understanding of the impact of wildlife poisoning in ecosystemsThis work was supported by the project TOXICO funding by “BBVA FOUNDATION GRANTS TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TEAMS, CALL 2018”. WWF Spain and SEO/BirdLife provided access to the ANTíDOTO database of wildlife poisoning in Spain. The Ohio Wesleyan University supported with logistical material (5 camera-traps). JVLB was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (RYC-2015-18932; CGL2017-87528-R AEI/FEDER EU). JVLB and PMT were supported by a GRUPIN research grant from the Regional Government of Asturias (AYUD/2021/51314). In Portugal, this study was financed through the Sentinelas project funded by Fundo Ambiental – Minist´erio do Ambiente e da Aç˜ ao Clim´ atica. We are grateful to Instituto da Conservaçao ˜ da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), Principado de Asturias, Junta de Castilla y Leon, ´ Xunta de Galicia, Gobierno de Cantabria, Comunidad de Madrid, Junta de Andalucía, Picos de Europa National Park, Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Cabaneros ˜ National Park and Monfragüe National Park for granted permission
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