The interaction of technological innovation and increases in productive capacity: Multiplication of loaves and fishes?

Using the experience curve as a basis, this study analyses the influence of technology and increases to productive capacity on business productivity. In addition, we tested if both variables are complementary. The data used comes from the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS), which refers to the Spanish economy in 2005. Our findings reveal that radical innovation activities and increases in productive capacity have a significant positive impact on business productivity. Incremental innovations do not have a significant influence, while the incorporation of technology through the purchase of machinery and equipment has a negative and significant influence. Finally, the conducted tests reveal that the different kinds of technologies analysed and increases in productive capacity are not complementary variables

A procedure to evaluate the resistance to biological colonization as a characteristic for product quality of ceramic roofing tiles

9 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, 22 references. The authors acknowledge the collaboration of the company Cerámica La Escandella (Spain) in supplying the samples of ceramic roofing tiles, and the advice and support by Dr. José Enrique Frias (Servicio de Cultivos Biológicos, Instituto de Biologia Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, CSIC, Seville, Spain) who provided us with the cyanobacterial strains used in this work.Ceramic roofing tiles suffer deterioration through time due to environmental exposure. Biological colonization affects the appearance and integrity of building materials, such as roofing tiles. The resistance to biocolonization represents an important property affecting the product quality of ceramic roofing tiles. While natural colonization of roofing tiles by organisms is a progressive, heterogeneous, and slow process, laboratory assessment of this phenomenon requires a sensitive procedure that can be carried out within a reasonable period of time. Different microorganisms have been evaluated and the use of phototrophs, specifically the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria, presented several advantages such as good adherence, homogeneous growth on surfaces, and the chlorophyll-autofluorescence which can be used for a sensitive detection. Colonization by Oscillatoria on roofing tiles was assessed by measuring the autofluorescence of cells. This study proposes the use of specific cyanobacterial cells and a simple method for monitoring biofilm formation and biological colonization of roofing tiles.. This study was funded by project PET2007-0080 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.Peer reviewe

ESTUDIO DEL PERFORMANCE DE LOS GRUPOS ESTRATÉGICOS EN EL SISTEMA DE FRANQUICIA ESPAÑOL

La preocupación por considerar la heterogeneidad en los comportamientos empresariales dentro de un sector de actividad, ha sido uno de los principales motivos para la búsqueda e identificación de grupos estratégicos, generando un debate inagotable en el ámbito de la estrategia empresarial. Sin embargo, esta preocupación no se ha limitado a identificar arquetipos o configuraciones empresariales, sino que también se ha extendido al estudio de posibles diferencias en el rendimiento entre los grupos identificados. En el presente trabajo, intentamos dar respuesta a esta doble preocupación y todo ello centrándonos en el ámbito de la franquicia. Para ello, se ha elaborado una base de datos con el total de cadenas franquiciadoras (664) que en el año 2005 operaban en España. Los resultados obtenidos revelan la existencia de cinco grupos estratégicos (tipos de franquiciadores) perfectamente diferenciados, los cuales son descritos a partir de las variables estratégicas que los definen. Igualmente, se demuestra la existencia de diferencias en los resultados inter-grupales a partir de determinados indicadores de desempeño (ingresos, resultados ordinarios y rentabilidad)

Aplicación de un programa de aquaeróbic de muy corta duración (4 semanas) para la mejora de la condición física saludable en mujeres jóvenes sanas

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la influencia sobre la condición física saludable de un programa de aquaerobic de muy corta duración en mujeres jóvenes sanas. Participaron en este trabajo 22 mujeres sin patologías aparentes (20,560,98 años), estudiantes de la licenciatura de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte, que no practicaban ningún deporte. Los sujetos llevaron a cabo un programa de acondicionamiento físico en el medio acuático basado en el aquaerobic de muy corta duración (8 sesiones de 30 minutos). Se valoró la condición física saludable, inmediatamente antes y después de la actividad. Los resultados muestran una disminución del peso graso estimado y una mejora de la flexibilidad de tronco, fuerza de prensión manual, fuerza-resistencia abdominal, equilibrio y potencia aeróbica máxima estimada. Las conclusiones del presente trabajo fueron: a) un programa de acondicionamiento físico de muy corta duración en el medio acuático se muestra eficaz en la reducción de la masa grasa corporal y b) mediante dicho programa se consiguen mejoras en la mayoría de los parámetros de la condición física saludable en mujeres jóvenes sanas, en especial en los relacionados con la fuerza, la flexibilidad y el equilibrio

Inflammatory markers and bone mass in children with overweight/obesity: the role of muscular fitness

Objectives To examine which inflammatory markers are associated with bone mass and whether this association varies according to muscular fitness in children with overweight/obesity. Methods Plasma interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF), and C-reactive protein were analyzed in 55 children aged 8–11 years. A muscular fitness score was computed. Bone mineral content (BMC) of the total body-less head (TBLH) and lumbar spine (LS) were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results IL-6 (β = −0.136) and VEGF (β = −0.099) were associated with TBLH BMC, while TNF-α (β = −0.345) and IL-1β (β = 0.212) were associated with LS BMC (P < 0.05). The interaction effect of muscular fitness showed a trend in the association of VEGF with TBLH BMC (P = 0.122) and TNF-α with LS BMC (P = 0.057). Stratified analyses by muscular fitness levels showed an inverse association of VEGF with TBLH BMC (β = −0.152) and TNF-α with LS BMC (β = −0.491) in the low-fitness group, while no association was found in the high-fitness group. Conclusion IL-6, VEGF, TNF-α, and IL-1β are significantly associated with bone mass. Higher muscular fitness may attenuate the adverse effect of high VEGF and TNF-α on bone mass

La interacción de procesos hidrológicos, químicos y microbiológicos en la formación de películas flotantes ricas en hierro en ambientes acuáticos de pH circumneutro

17 páginas.-- 3 figuras.-- 4 tablas.-- 53 referencias.-- Postprint (Versión editorial)[EN]: The direct contribution of microbial activity to the formation of iron-oxide minerals is difficult to prove in wetlands due to the high reactivity of solid iron phases with different compounds and the variety of redox processes that may occur at each oxic-anoxic boundary. Here, we propose an explanation for the formation of iron-oxide films in wetlands and groundwater seepage areas fed by sandy aquifers based on the interaction of hydrological, chemical and microbiological processes under circumneutral conditions. The presence of a floating iron-oxide film was found to create a boundary at the air-water interface that maintains a suboxic and slightly acidic environment below the film compared with the environments obtained in other free-film wetland areas. The water trapped below this film had an average pH of 6.1, was particularly poor in O2, HCO–3, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Tot-S, and has high concentrations of Tot-P, Tot-Fe, NH+4 and Zn. The formation of a floating iron-oxide film was reproduced under anaerobic conditions after progressive enrichment through the incubation of natural sediment samples in the laboratory. Heterotrophic bacteria belonging to the genus Enterobacter were the dominant bacteria in the enrichments that resulted in the formation of a floating iron-oxide film. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the presence of two-line ferrihydrite was common to the iron-oxide films collected in both the natural environment and the laboratory cultures, whereas other iron-oxides (goethite and low-crystalline lepidocrocite) were observed only in the natural environment. This study highlights the role of ubiquitous bacteria, which are generally considered unimportant participants in iron-transformation processes in the environment, and the contribution of both biological and non-biological processes to iron oxidation in natural systems under circumneutral conditions.[ES]: En los humedales, es difícil probar que la actividad microbiana sea la responsable de la formación de óxido de hierro mineral debido, tanto a la gran reactividad del hierro en fase sólida con diferentes sustancias, como a la variedad de procesos redox que pueden ocurrir en cada interfase óxica-anóxica. El presente trabajo propone una explicación, basada en la interacción de procesos hidrológicos, químicos y microbiológicos en condiciones circumneutras, para explicar la formación de un film de óxido de hierro en humedales y manaderos donde aflora agua subterránea proveniente de acuíferos de arenas silíceas. Además, la presencia de un film de óxido de hierro que flota sobre la interfase agua-aire genera condiciones subóxicas y ligeramente ácidas en el agua que queda atrapada debajo, y que son muy distintas a otras zonas libres de film en el mismo humedal. Este agua atrapada bajo el film se caracterizó por presentar un pH medio de 6.1, una menor concentración de O2, HCO–3, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, y S total, pero una mayor riqueza en P total, Fe total, NH+4 y Zn. La formación de un film flotante de óxido de hierro se reprodujo en el laboratorio, en condiciones anaeróbicas, tras el enriquecimiento progresivo de las muestras del sedimento natural que habían sido incubadas. En dichos enriquecimientos, donde se produjeron films flotantes de óxido de hierro, la bacteria dominante perteneció al género Enterobacter. Mediante difracción por rayos X, se encontró ferrihidrita con estructura en doble cadena, tanto en el film de muestras naturales como de cultivos de laboratorio. Además se encontraron otros tipos de óxidos minerales (goetita y lepidocrocita de pobre cristalización) sólo en las muestras naturales de film. El presente estudio muestra la relevancia de bacterias ubicuas, hasta ahora consideradas sin importancia en procesos naturales de transformación del hierro, y la participación tanto de procesos bióticos como abióticos en la oxidación del hierro en sistemas naturales sometidos a condiciones circumneutras.We are grateful to Han Golterman for his support and suggestions. We thank Lotte Fleskens and Christien van der Zwart for collaborating with the sediment collection and P-fractionation at the laboratory. This study was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CGL2004-03927-C02-01/BOS)Peer reviewe

Facial transplantation: a concise update

Objectives: Update on clinical results obtained by the first worldwide facial transplantation teams as well as review of the literature concerning the main surgical, immunological, ethical, and follow-up aspects described on facial transplanted patients. Study design: MEDLINE search of articles published on "face transplantation" until March 2012. Results: Eighteen clinical cases were studied. The mean patient age was 37.5 years, with a higher prevalence of men. Main surgical indication was gunshot injuries (6 patients). All patients had previously undergone multiple conventional surgical reconstructive procedures which had failed. Altogether 8 transplant teams belonging to 4 countries participated. Thirteen partial face transplantations and 5 full face transplantations have been performed. Allografts are varied according to face anatomical components and the amount of skin, muscle, bone, and other tissues included, though all were grafted successfully and remained viable without significant postoperative surgical complications. The patient with the longest follow-up was 5 years. Two patients died 2 and 27 months after transplantation. Conclusions: Clinical experience has demonstrated the feasibility of facial transplantation as a valuable reconstructive option, but it still remains considered as an experimental procedure with unresolved issues to settle down. Results show that from a clinical, technical, and immunological standpoint, facial transplantation has achieved functional, aesthetic, and social rehabilitation in severely facial disfigured patients

Obesity and its implication in breast cancer

La obesidad y el cáncer de mama constituyen dos patologías de extremada prevalencia en la actualidad y con un alto impacto en la sociedad. Numerosas investigaciones han intentado establecer una asociación entre ambos procesos, circunstancia que aún continúa en entredicho. Se llevó a cabo una recogida de datos a partir de las historias clínicas de 524 mujeres diagnosticadas y tratadas de cáncer de mama durante el período de enero de 2009 a septiembre de 2010. Los objetivos del estudio fueron verificar una posible asociación entre el estado nutricional de las mujeres y su relación con la edad de diagnóstico del tumor. En segundo lugar, determinar la posible implicación de la obesidad en relación con la edad de la menarquia y con ello en el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama. Se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre el estado nutricional de las mujeres y la edad a la cual fueron diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama (p < 0,0001), así como una asociación estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,0001) entre la edad de la menarquia y el estado nutricional de las pacientes. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio muestran que la obesidad se encuentra íntimamente asociada con el cáncer de mama.Obesity and breast cancer are two very frequent pathologies in the world today, which have a strong impact on society. Various research studies have tried linking the two. For this purpose, data was collected from the medical histories of 524 women who had been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer from January 2009 to September 2010. The objectives of the study were to find and verify a possible association between the nutritional state of these women and their age when they were diagnosed with the tumour (p < 0.0001) as well as a statistically significant association (p < 0.0001) between the age of the first menstruation and the nutritional state of the patients. The results obtained showed that obesity was closely related to breast cancer

Co-infections and superinfections complicating COVID-19 in cancer patients: A multicentre, international study

Background: We aimed to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of co-infections and superinfections in onco-hematological patients with COVID-19. Methods: International, multicentre cohort study of cancer patients with COVID-19. All patients were included in the analysis of co-infections at diagnosis, while only patients admitted at least 48 h were included in the analysis of superinfections. Results: 684 patients were included (384 with solid tumors and 300 with hematological malignancies). Co-infections and superinfections were documented in 7.8% (54/684) and 19.1% (113/590) of patients, respectively. Lower respiratory tract infections were the most frequent infectious complications, most often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only seven patients developed opportunistic infections. Compared to patients without infectious complications, those with infections had worse outcomes, with high rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and case-fatality rates. Neutropenia, ICU admission and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were independent risk factors for infections. Conclusions: Infectious complications in cancer patients with COVID-19 were lower than expected, affecting mainly neutropenic patients with high levels of CRP and/or ICU admission. The rate of opportunistic infections was unexpectedly low. The use of empiric antimicrobials in cancer patients with COVID-19 needs to be optimized