Auditoría universitaria y calidad

Consultable des del TDXTítol obtingut de la portada digitalitzadaLa Universidad española tiene en estos momentos ante sí uno de los retos más apasionantes que jamás esta Institución se haya planteado. En primer lugar, la adaptación a los grandes cambios socioeconómicos ocurridos en las últimas décadas que interaccionan desarrollo económico y calidad universitaria. En segundo lugar, como consecuencia de ello, a la búsqueda de la excelencia académica, profesional y científica, que se convierte en un tema clave para la competitividad y la calidad de un país. En tercer lugar, al cambio significativo que ha supuesto la implantación de una armonización universitaria europea a través de la integración y desarrollo en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. Por último, resaltar que el cambio europeo ha quedado sobrepasado por un reto mayor como es la globalización y que ha puesto a las Universidades ya no sólo ante una calidad y competencia europea sino mundial. La calidad y la competitividad de un país no depende solo de la calidad y productividad de sus empresas sino que vendrá determinado en gran parte por la calidad, productividad y competitividad de las Universidades y de sus miembros, tanto en su aspecto investigador como docente. Igualmente el desarrollo económico y del conocimiento de un país tiene mucho que ver con la calidad de la enseñanza de sus universidades. Éstas, al tomar decisiones dentro del ámbito de sus competencias, deberán considerar seriamente su posición competitiva. La Declaración de Bolonia marca las directrices de lo que debe ser la Universidad Europea, de ella se desprende la necesidad de hacer competitiva y atractiva la enseñanza universitaria europea a escala mundial, enfocada a contactar con las necesidades sociales y a hacer más comparables los distintos sistemas educativos. Los Sistemas de Garantía de Calidad son los instrumentos de reforma social y progreso más efectivos que podemos ofrecer en el ámbito universitario, así como una herramienta fundamental para la competitividad y rendición de cuentas. De esta forma se pretende romper con el estereotipo dominante de confundir estos instrumentos con técnicas inherentes y provenientes de la empresa privada en sus manifestaciones más liberales y mercantilistas. En dicho espacio debemos tener en cuenta que el eje mas vertebrado de la armonización van a ser los Sistemas de Garantía de Calidad Universitaria. No podemos olvidar que el cambio europeo ha quedado sobrepasado por un reto mayor, la globalización y que ha situado a las universidades ante una calidad y competencia mundial. No debemos desaprovechar el espacio de educación superior natural, que es Latinoamérica. España tendrá mucho más peso en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior si sabe construir rápidamente el Espacio Iberoamericano de Educación Superior. No somos conscientes de que nuestra calidad en Europa depende de que aceleremos el Espacio Iberoamericano dirigido por nosotros mismos con un sistema de evaluación y unos estándares establecidos en ese ámbito Iberoamericano de más de quinientos millones de habitantes de habla española y portuguesa. Esta visión estratégica de acelerar el Espacio Iberoamericano de Educación Superior no es excluyente sino que nos va a reforzar en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior y además nos va a servir, como ha sucedido con la experiencia empresarial, para situarnos en la competencia universitaria mundial. Auditoria y evaluación, como a menudo equivocadamente se piensa no es un puro tecnicismo, sino que es un instrumento indispensable para introducir nuevos valores en la sociedad, en el Estado, en la universidad, en la empresa a través de nuevos estándares e indicadores, como son por ejemplo los de calidad ambiental, los de diversidad lingüística y racial en la Universidad, etc. Por tanto la auditoria y evaluación es un sistema muy efectivo de introducir nuevos derechos y valores.The Spanish University has in these moments one of the challenges more exciting that this Institution has never appeared. First, the adjustment to the big socioeconomic changes happened in the last decades that interconnect economic development and university quality. Secondly, as consequence of it, to the search of the academic, professional and scientific excellence, this turns into a key topic for the competitiveness and the quality of a country. Thirdly, to the significant change that has supposed the implantation of a European university harmonization across the integration and development in the European Space of High Education. Finally, to highlight that the European change has remained exceeded by a major challenge as is the globalization and that it has put to the Universities already not only before a quality and European but world competition. The quality and the competitiveness of a country does not depend only on the quality and productivity of its companies but it will come determined largely by the quality, productivity and competitiveness of the Universities and of its members, so much in its investigative as educational aspect. Equally the economic development and of the knowledge of a country there has much that to see with the quality of the education of its universities. These, on having taken decisions inside the area of its competitions, will have to consider seriously its competitive position. The Declaration of Bologna marks the directives what must be the European University, with it there parts the need to make competitive and attractive the university European education on a worldwide scale, focused to contacting with the social needs and to making the different educational systems more comparable. The Systems of guarantee of Quality are the instruments of social reform and progress more workforce that we can offer in the university area, as well as a fundamental tool for the competitiveness and account surrender. Of this form one tries to break with the dominant stereotype of confusing these instruments with technologies inherent and from the private company in its more liberal manifestations and mercantilists. In the above mentioned space we must bear in mind that the axis more vertebrate of the harmonization they are going to be the Systems of Guarantee of University Quality. We cannot forget that the European change has remained exceeded by a major challenge, the globalization and that it has placed to the universities before a quality and world competition. We must not fail to take advantage of the space of top natural education, which is Latin America. Spain will have much more weight in the European Space of High Education if it can construct rapidly the Latin-American Space of High Education. We are not conscious that our quality in Europe depends of that we accelerate the Latin-American Space directed by us themselves with a system of evaluation and a few standards established in this Latin-American area of more than five hundred million inhabitants of Spanish and Portuguese speech. This strategic vision of accelerating the Latin-American Space of High Education is not exclusive but it is going to reinforce us in the European Space of High Education and in addition it is going to serve us, since it has happened with the managerial experience, to place in the university world competition. Audit and evaluation, since often wrongly it is thought is not a pure technicality, but it is an indispensable instrument to introduce new values in the society, in the State, in the university, in the company across new standards and indicators, since they are for example those of environmental quality, those of linguistic and racial diversity in the University, etc. Therefore the audit and evaluation is a very effective system of introducing new rights and values

Neuronal background of positioning of the posterior tentacles in the snail Helix pomatia

The location of cerebral neurons innervating the three recently described flexor muscles involved in the orientation of the posterior tentacles as well as their innervation patterns were investigated, applying parallel retrograde Co- and Ni-lysine as well as anterograde neurobiotin tracings via the olfactory and the peritentacular nerves. The neurons are clustered in eight groups in the cerebral ganglion and they send a common innervation pathway via the olfactory nerve to the flexor and the tegumental muscles as well as the tentacular retractor muscle and distinct pathways via the internal and the external peritentacular nerves to these muscles except the retractor muscle. The three anchoring points of the three flexor muscles at the base of the tentacle outline the directions of three force vectors generated by the contraction of the muscles along which they can pull or move the protracted tentacle which enable the protracted tentacle to bend around a basal pivot. In the light of earlier physiological and the present anatomical findings we suggest that the common innervation pathway to the muscles is required to the tentacle withdrawal mechanism whereas the distinct pathways serve first of all the bending of the protracted posterior tentacles during foraging

Intraguild Predation and Native Lady Beetle Decline

Coccinellid communities across North America have experienced significant changes in recent decades, with declines in several native species reported. One potential mechanism for these declines is interference competition via intraguild predation; specifically, increased predation of native coccinellid eggs and larvae following the introduction of exotic coccinellids. Our previous studies have shown that agricultural fields in Michigan support a higher diversity and abundance of exotic coccinellids than similar fields in Iowa, and that the landscape surrounding agricultural fields across the north central U.S. influences the abundance and activity of coccinellid species. The goal of this study was to quantify the amount of egg predation experienced by a native coccinellid within Michigan and Iowa soybean fields and explore the influence of local and large-scale landscape structure. Using the native lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata as a model, we found that sentinel egg masses were subject to intense predation within both Michigan and Iowa soybean fields, with 60.7% of egg masses attacked and 43.0% of available eggs consumed within 48 h. In Michigan, the exotic coccinellids Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis were the most abundant predators found in soybean fields whereas in Iowa, native species including C. maculata, Hippodamia parenthesis and the soft-winged flower beetle Collops nigriceps dominated the predator community. Predator abundance was greater in soybean fields within diverse landscapes, yet variation in predator numbers did not influence the intensity of egg predation observed. In contrast, the strongest predictor of native coccinellid egg predation was the composition of edge habitats bordering specific fields. Field sites surrounded by semi-natural habitats including forests, restored prairies, old fields, and pasturelands experienced greater egg predation than fields surrounded by other croplands. This study shows that intraguild predation by both native and exotic predators may contribute to native coccinellid decline, and that landscape structure interacts with local predator communities to shape the specific outcomes of predator-predator interactions

Prophylactic treatment of migraine; the patient's view, a qualitative study

Contains fulltext : 109202.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Prophylactic treatment is an important but under-utilised option for the management of migraine. Patients and physicians appear to have reservations about initiating this treatment option. This paper explores the opinions, motives and expectations of patients regarding prophylactic migraine therapy. METHODS: A qualitative focus group study in general practice in the Netherlands with twenty patients recruited from urban and rural general practices. Three focus group meetings were held with 6-7 migraine patients per group (2 female and 1 male group). All participants were migraine patients according to the IHS (International Headache Society); 9 had experience with prophylactic medication. The focus group meetings were analysed using a general thematic analysis. RESULTS: For patients several distinguished factors count when making a decision on prophylactic treatment. The decision of a patient on prophylactic medication is depending on experience and perspectives, grouped into five categories, namely the context of being active or passive in taking the initiative to start prophylaxis; assessing the advantages and disadvantages of prophylaxis; satisfaction with current migraine treatment; the relationship with the physician and the feeling to be heard; and previous steps taken to prevent migraine. CONCLUSION: In addition to the functional impact of migraine, the decision to start prophylaxis is based on a complex of considerations from the patient's perspective (e.g. perceived burden of migraine, expected benefits or disadvantages, interaction with relatives, colleagues and physician). Therefore, when advising migraine patients about prophylaxis, their opinions should be taken into account. Patients need to be open to advice and information and intervention have to be offered at an appropriate moment in the course of migraine

Jellyfish Modulate Bacterial Dynamic and Community Structure

Jellyfish blooms have increased in coastal areas around the world and the outbreaks have become longer and more frequent over the past few decades. The Mediterranean Sea is among the heavily affected regions and the common bloom - forming taxa are scyphozoans Aurelia aurita s.l., Pelagia noctiluca, and Rhizostoma pulmo. Jellyfish have few natural predators, therefore their carcasses at the termination of a bloom represent an organic-rich substrate that supports rapid bacterial growth, and may have a large impact on the surrounding environment. The focus of this study was to explore whether jellyfish substrate have an impact on bacterial community phylotype selection. We conducted in situ jellyfish - enrichment experiment with three different jellyfish species. Bacterial dynamic together with nutrients were monitored to assess decaying jellyfish-bacteria dynamics. Our results show that jellyfish biomass is characterized by protein rich organic matter, which is highly bioavailable to ‘jellyfish - associated’ and ‘free - living’ bacteria, and triggers rapid shifts in bacterial population dynamics and composition. Based on 16S rRNA clone libraries and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, we observed a rapid shift in community composition from unculturable Alphaproteobacteria to culturable species of Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria. The results of sequence analyses of bacterial isolates and of total bacterial community determined by culture independent genetic analysis showed the dominance of the Pseudoalteromonadaceae and the Vibrionaceae families. Elevated levels of dissolved proteins, dissolved organic and inorganic nutrient release, bacterial abundance and carbon production as well as ammonium concentrations characterized the degradation process. The biochemical composition of jellyfish species may influence changes in the amount of accumulated dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. Our results can contribute insights into possible changes in bacterial population dynamics and nutrient pathways following jellyfish blooms which have important implications for ecology of coastal waters

Thermal Evolution of the Proton Irradiated Structure in Tungsten–5 wt% Tantalum

We have monitored the thermal evolution of the proton irradiated structure of W–5 wt% Ta alloy by in-situ annealing in a transmission electron microscope at fusion reactor temperatures of 500–1300 °C. The interstitial-type a/2 dislocation loops emit self-interstitial atoms and glide to the free sample surface during the early stages of annealing. The resultant vacancy excess in the matrix originates vacancy-type a/2 dislocation loops that grow by loop and vacancy absorption in the temperature range of 600–900 °C. Voids form at 1000 °C, by either vacancy absorption or loop collapse, and grow progressively up to 1300 °C. Tantalum delays void formation by a vacancy-solute trapping mechanism

Subcellular peptide localization in single identified neurons by capillary microsampling mass spectrometry

Single cell mass spectrometry (MS) is uniquely positioned for the sequencing and identification of peptides in rare cells. Small peptides can take on different roles in subcellular compartments. Whereas some peptides serve as neurotransmitters in the cytoplasm, they can also function as transcription factors in the nucleus. Thus, there is a need to analyze the subcellular peptide compositions in identified single cells. Here, we apply capillary microsampling MS with ion mobility separation for the sequencing of peptides in single neurons of the mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis, and the analysis of peptide distributions between the cytoplasm and nucleus of identified single neurons that are known to express cardioactive Phe-Met-Arg-Phe amide-like (FMRFamide-like) neuropeptides. Nuclei and cytoplasm of Type 1 and Type 2 F group (Fgp) neurons were analyzed for neuropeptides cleaved from the protein precursors encoded by alternative splicing products of the FMRFamide gene. Relative abundances of nine neuropeptides were determined in the cytoplasm. The nuclei contained six of these peptides at different abundances. Enabled by its relative enrichment in Fgp neurons, a new 28-residue neuropeptide was sequenced by tandem MS

The attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of GPs regarding exercise for chronic knee pain: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Joint pain, specifically chronic knee pain (CKP), is a frequent cause of chronic pain and limitation of function and mobility among older adults. Multiple evidence-based guidelines recommend exercise as a first-line treatment for all patients with CKP or knee osteoarthritis (KOA), yet healthcare practitioners' attitudes and beliefs may limit their implementation. This systematic review aims to identify the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of General Practitioners (GPs) regarding the use of exercise for CKP/KOA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched four electronic databases between inception and January 2008, using subject headings to identify studies examining the attitudes, beliefs or behaviours of GPs regarding the use of exercise for the treatment of CKP/KOA in adults aged over 45 years in primary care. Studies referring to patellofemoral pain syndrome or CKP secondary to other causes or that occurring in a prosthetic joint were excluded. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, study data were extracted and summarised. Study quality was independently reviewed using two assessment tools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 2135 potentially relevant articles, 20 were suitable for inclusion. A variety of study methodologies and approaches to measuring attitudes beliefs and behaviours were used among the studies. Quality assessment revealed good reporting of study objective, type, outcome factors and, generally, the sampling frame. However, criticisms included use of small sample sizes, low response rates and under-reporting of non-responder factors. Although 99% of GPs agreed that exercise should be used for CKP/KOA and reported ever providing advice or referring to a physiotherapist, up to 29% believed that rest was the optimum management approach. The frequency of actual provision of exercise advice or physiotherapy referral was lower. Estimates of provision of exercise advice and physiotherapy referral were generally higher for vignette-based studies (exercise advice 9%-89%; physiotherapy referral 44%-77%) than reviews of actual practice (exercise advice 5%-52%; physiotherapy referral 13-63%). <it>A</it><it>dvice to exercise </it>and exercise <it>prescription </it>were not clearly differentiated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Attitudes and beliefs of GPs towards exercise for CKP/KOA vary widely and exercise appears to be underused in the management of CKP/KOA. Limitations of the evidence base include the paucity of studies directly examining attitudes of GPs, poor methodological quality, limited generalisability of results and ambiguity concerning GPs' expected roles. Further investigation is required of the roles of GPs in using exercise as first-line management of CKP/KOA.</p

The search for the ideal biocatalyst

While the use of enzymes as biocatalysts to assist in the industrial manufacture of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals has enormous potential, application is frequently limited by evolution-led catalyst traits. The advent of designer biocatalysts, produced by informed selection and mutation through recombinant DNA technology, enables production of process-compatible enzymes. However, to fully realize the potential of designer enzymes in industrial applications, it will be necessary to tailor catalyst properties so that they are optimal not only for a given reaction but also in the context of the industrial process in which the enzyme is applied