Agencias de viajes: nuevos retos en la industria del turismo

El caso muestra el ingreso de un recién graduado del programa Especialización en Administración a una empresa familiar dentro de un sector económico dinámico como el turismo, el cual se ve afectado por múltiples variables socioeconómicas comoel poder adquisitivo de la sociedad, la cultura de los diferentes pueblos y su concepción del turismo, la violencia y la tendencia mundial a la globalización que empuja constantemente a la masificación de los proveedores de productos y servicios mediante alianzas estratégicas entre los diferentes participantes de la cadena de valor de un mismo renglón o de diferentes segmentos con el fin de reducir costos y ser más competitivos y atractivos a los clientes. El recién graduado debe identificar el nuevo rol de las agencias de viaje dentro de la cadena de valor de la industria del turismo, de tal forma que la pequeña agencia de viajes sea un negocio viable y sostenible en el largo plazo.Sector turismo, Agencias de viajes, Empresas familiares, Cadena de valor, Transporte aéreo

Effectiveness of a motivational intervention on overweight/obese patients in the primary healthcare: a cluster randomized trial

Background: Overweight and obesity are common health problems which increase the risk of developing several serious health conditions. The main difficulty in the management of weight-loss lies in its maintenance, once it is achieved. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a motivational intervention, together with current clinical practice, was more efficient than a traditional intervention, in the treatment of overweight and obesity and whether this intervention reduces cardiovascular risk factors associated with overweight and obesity. Methods: Multi-centre cluster randomized trial with a 24-month follow-up included 864 overweight/obese patients randomly assigned. Motivational intervention group (400 patients), delivered by a nurse trained by an expert psychologist, in 32 sessions, 1 to 12 fortnightly, and 13 to 32, monthly, on top of their standard programmed diet and exercise. The control group (446 patients), received the usual follow-up. Results: Weight reduction was statistically significant in the second year with a mean reduction of 1.0 Kg in the control group and 2.5 Kg in the intervention group (p = 0. 02). While 18.1% of patients in the control group reduced their weight by more than 5%, this percentage rose to 26.9% in the intervention group, which is statistically significant (p = 0.04). Patients in the motivational intervention group had significantly greater improvements in triglycerides and APOB/APOA1ratio. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of the group motivational interview in the treatment of overweight /obese patients in primary care, and in the improvement of their associated cardiovascular risks factors. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01006213 October 30, 2009. Keywords: Overweight, Obesity, Motivational interview, Weight-loss, Cardiovascular risk factor

NFC en Contextos Asistenciales: Un Complemento a la Enfermedad de Alzheimer

Los enfermos de Alzheimer requieren una gran atención por parte de los cuidadores, que no pueden distraerse ni un solo segundo para escribir los incidentes que van ocurriendo en la jornada diaria. Por esta razón, toda tecnología que complemente y facilite el proceso de escritura será de gran utilidad. En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta para adaptar la tecnología NFC (Near Field Communications) a un centro de día de enfermos de Alzheimer. Mediante una simple interacción del móvil con una etiqueta es posible manejar la información de manera más natural y cercana al usuario.Los enfermos de Alzheimer requieren una gran atención por parte de los cuidadores, que no pueden distraerse ni un solo segundo para escribir los incidentes que van ocurriendo en la jornada diaria. Por esta razón, toda tecnología que complemente y facilite el proceso de escritura será de gran utilidad. En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta para adaptar la tecnología NFC (Near Field Communications) a un centro de día de enfermos de Alzheimer. Mediante una simple interacción del móvil con una etiqueta es posible manejar la información de manera más natural y cercana al usuario

Influence of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sources on Their Regenerative Capacities on Different Surfaces

Current gold-standard strategies for bone regeneration do not achieve the optimal recovery of bone biomechanical properties. To bypass these limitations, tissue engineering techniques based on hybrid materials made up of osteoprogenitor cells—such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)—and bioactive ceramic scaffolds—such as calcium phosphate-based (CaPs) bioceramics—seem promising. The biological properties of MSCs are influenced by the tissue source. This study aims to define the optimal MSC source and construct (i.e., the MSC–CaP combination) for clinical application in bone regeneration. A previous iTRAQ analysis generated the hypothesis that anatomical proximity to bone has a direct effect on MSC phenotype. MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and dental pulp, then cultured both on a plastic surface and on CaPs (hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate), to compare their biological features. On plastic, MSCs isolated from dental pulp (DPSCs) presented the highest proliferation capacity and the greatest osteogenic potential. On both CaPs, DPSCs demonstrated the greatest capacity to colonise the bioceramics. Furthermore, the results demonstrated a trend that DPSCs had the most robust increase in ALP activity. Regarding CaPs, β-tricalcium phosphate obtained the best viability results, while hydroxyapatite had the highest ALP activity values. Therefore, we propose DPSCs as suitable MSCs for cell-based bone regeneration strategies

Adaptación de las asignaturas básicas de primer curso de la ETSI Navales de la UPM: Primeras experiencias

En el marco de la reforma de las titulaciones con motivo de la puesta en marcha del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, un grupo de profesores hemos decidido coordinar todas las asignaturas básicas de primer curso y una asignatura de segundo curso en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Navales de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid con el fin de dar una visión mas homogénea y compacta al alumno de lo que debe ser la formación básica del ingeniero. Para llevar a cabo dicho fin, la Universidad nos ha concedido un Proyecto de Innovación Educativa en la convocatoria 2008 para poder alcanzar una serie de objetivos en el curso 2008-2009, como son la coordinación de todas las asignaturas básicas de primer curso, la aplicación de nuevas metodologías en la práctica educativa, y una mejor adaptación de los alumnos de nuevo ingreso

Hydroxychloroquine is associated with a lower risk of polyautoimmunity: data from the RELESSER Registry

Objectives. This article estimates the frequency of polyautoimmunity and associated factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with SLE. Methods. RELESSER (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry) is a nationwide multicentre, hospital-based registry of SLE patients. This is a cross-sectional study. The main variable was polyautoimmunity, which was defined as the co-occurrence of SLE and another autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, RA, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy and MCTD. We also recorded the presence of multiple autoimmune syndrome, secondary SS, secondary APS and a family history of autoimmune disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible risk factors for polyautoimmunity. Results. Of the 3679 patients who fulfilled the criteria for SLE, 502 (13.6%) had polyautoimmunity. The most frequent types were autoimmune thyroiditis (7.9%), other systemic autoimmune diseases (6.2%), secondary SS (14.1%) and secondary APS (13.7%). Multiple autoimmune syndrome accounted for 10.2% of all cases of polyautoimmunity. A family history was recorded in 11.8%. According to the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with polyautoimmunity were female sex [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.72 (1.07, 2.72)], RP [1.63 (1.29, 2.05)], interstitial lung disease [3.35 (1.84, 6.01)], Jaccoud arthropathy [1.92 (1.40, 2.63)], anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies [2.03 (1.55, 2.67)], anti-RNP antibodies [1.48 (1.16, 1.90)], MTX [1.67 (1.26, 2.18)] and antimalarial drugs [0.50 (0.38, 0.67)]. Conclusion. Patients with SLE frequently present polyautoimmunity. We observed clinical and analytical characteristics associated with polyautoimmunity. Our finding that antimalarial drugs protected against polyautoimmunity should be verified in future studies

Long-term follow-up of certolizumab pegol in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases : multicentre study of 80 patients

Objectives To evaluate effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Methods Multicentre study of CZP-treated patients with IMID uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant. Effectiveness was assessed through the following ocular parameters: best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, macular thickness and retinal vasculitis. These variables were compared between the baseline, and first week, first, third, sixth months, first and second year. Results We studied 80 (33 men/47 women) patients (111 affected eyes) with a mean age of 41.6±11.7 years. The IMID included were: spondyloarthritis (n=43), Behçet's disease (n=10), psoriatic arthritis (n=8), Crohn's disease (n=4), sarcoidosis (n=2), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1), reactive arthritis (n=1), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), relapsing polychondritis (n=1), Conclusions CZP seems to be effective and safe in uveitis related to different IMID, even in patients refractory to previous biological drugs

Structure des grands bassins glaciaires dans le nord de la péninsule ibérique : comparaison entre les vallées d'Andorre (Pyrénées orientales), du Gallego (Pyrénées centrales) et du Trueba (Chaîne cantabrique)

Les grandes vallées glaciaires de la Péninsule Ibérique sont situées dans la chaîne pyrénéo-cantabrique, principalement dans le bassin de l’Èbre. Ainsi, les vallées d’Andorre, de la Noguera Pallaresa et de la haute vallée du Gállego, dans les Pyrénées, ont eu des appareils glaciaires longs de 42, 50 et 40 km respectivement. Dans les vallées du Sil (bassin du Miño) et du Trueba, dans la Chaîne Cantabrique, ils atteignaient 42 et 16,5 km (Serrano-Cañadas, 1996 ; Gómez-Ortiz et al., 2001 ; Turu & Peña, 2006a et b ; Redondo-Vega et al., 2006). L’une des caractéristiques géomorphologiques de la plupart de ces vallées est l’existence d’une dépression morphologique du substratum dans les parties moyennes et terminales, interprétée comme la conséquence de l’érosion glaciaire. Dans tous les cas, on observe une architecture litho-stratigraphique commune (Vilaplana & Casas, 1983 ; Bordonau et al., 1989 ; Bordonau, 1992 ; Turu et al., 2002) représentée par trois unités géoélectriques : une unité inférieure très épaisse, avec des résistivités électriques basses (70 – 200 Ohms par mètre), qui traduit la présence de matériaux fins considérés comme d’origine lacustre ; une unité intermédiaire, moins épaisse, avec des valeurs de résistivité plus élevées (400 – 800 Ohms par mètre), pouvant être interprétée comme un système fluvio-deltaïque pro‑glaciaire et une unité géoélectrique supérieure, avec des valeurs de résistivité très variables (100 – 1500 Ohms par mètre), constituée de sédiments alluviaux subactuels. La comparaison des données de type géophysique et géomécanique (sismique à réfraction et essais pressiométriques) montre que l’unité intermédiaire, considérée comme d’origine fluvio-deltaïque, présente des valeurs de vitesse sismique anormalement élevées, ainsi que de hautes valeurs de consolidation. Cette observation effectuée pour la première fois dans la vallée d’Andorre (Turu, 2000) montre des remarquables corrélations entre les hautes vitesses sismiques et les valeurs élevées de consolidation, ainsi que la très nette corrélation entre les hautes valeurs de consolidation et les tills sous-glaciaires. Elle permet d’interpréter l’unité intermédiaire comme essentiellement glaciaire et de remettre en question le modèle simple d’une séquence de comblement lacustre et deltaïque proposé jusqu´à maintenant.Valley glaciers between 16 and 50 km in length developed during Pleistocene glacial maxima in the southern part of the Pyrenean-Cantabric range (Iberian Peninsula). Glacially-overdeepened basins are a common feature of the middle and lower sections of these glaciated valleys. Three geoelectrical units can be recognized in several basins: a thick lower unit, with low resistivity values (70 – 200 Ohms per metre), interpreted as fine glaciolacustrine deposits; a thinner intermediate unit, with higher resistivity values (400 – 800 Ohms per metre), interpreted as glaciofluvial deltaic deposits; and an upper geoelectrical unit with very variable resistivity values (100 – 1500 Ohms per metre) considered to be recent alluvial deposits. Vertical electrical resistivity soundings (VES) have been complemented by seismic soundings and geotechnical tests. Seismic profiles show anomalous high velocities (higher than 3000 m/sec) for the intermediate geoelectrical unit of deltaic sands and gravels. Pressurometer tests carried out in the sediments corresponding to the upper unit also show anomalously high pre-consolidation values (higher than 2 MPa) which cannot be attribuated to the sedimentary load. As shown by Boulton & Hindmarsh (1987), Boulton & Dobbie (1993), Boulton et al. (2001) in an Icelandic glacier, and Turu (2000) in the Andorra glaciated valley, layers with high seismic velocities and high consolidation values are best explained as subglacial tills deposited in setting of a high hydraulic gradients. The new data also suggests that the intermediate geoelectrical unit is of glacial origin

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted

Zoonosis, cambio climático y sociedad

La sociedad contemporánea se enfrenta a uno de los retos más grandes de la historia humana, el calentamiento global, mismo que acarrea enormes consecuencias, tales como los disturbios climáticos, así como los patrones de las enfermedades de origen animal transmisibles al hombre. Precisamente ante este escenario las instituciones educativas de nivel superior deben dar cumplimiento a su responsabilidad y ser las generadoras de alternativas de solución mediante el trabajo especializado de investigación; y para ello, la pesquisa científica es la mejor de las alternativas a nuestro alcance para comprender y encarar estos desafíos.Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México y Ediciones y Gráficos Eón, S.A. de C.V