Thinking of a sub-field of strategic thinking from a pluralistic approach to knowledge-invention

This article elaborates on the need for a sub-field of ‘Strategic Thinking’ as the science exploring the hidden side of strategy emergence. The site of our exploration is the discourse. We will investigate the intersystemic link between self-reflection and communication embedded in discourses among strategists for paradigm deconstruction and reconstruction. The rationale for a sub-field of Strategic Thinking is related to applying new research ‘technologies’. By engaging in action-research, researchers can observe self-reflection as embedded participants and super-observers. A pluralist perspective on self-reflection, as well as transformative competencies and attitudes will allow intentionality to regain a foundational role in knowledge-invention

Spectra of dynamical Dark Energy cosmologies from constant-w models

WMAP5 and related data have greatly restricted the range of acceptable cosmologies, by providing precise likelihood ellypses on the the w_0-w_a plane. We discuss first how such ellypses can be numerically rebuilt, and present then a map of constant-w models whose spectra, at various redshift, are expected to coincide with acceptable models within ~1%

Multiple IgE recognition on the major allergen of the Parietaria pollen Par j 2

tThe interaction between IgE antibodies and allergens is a key event in triggering an allergic reaction. Thecharacterization of this region provides information of paramount importance for diagnosis and therapy.Par j 2 Lipid Transfer Protein is one of the most important allergens in southern Europe and a well-established marker of sensitization in Parietaria pollen allergy. The main aim of this study was to map theIgE binding regions of this allergen and to study the pattern of reactivity of individual Parietaria-allergicpatients. By means of gene fragmentation, six overlapping peptides were expressed in Escherichia coli, andtheir IgE binding activity was evaluated by immunoblotting in a cohort of 79 Parietaria-allergic patients.Our results showed that Pj-allergic patients display a heterogeneous pattern of IgE binding to the differentrecombinant fragments, and that patients reacted simultaneously against several protein domains spreadall the over the molecule, even in fragments which do not contain structural features resembling thenative allergen. Our results reveal the presence of a large number of linear and conformational epitopeson the Par j 2 sequence, which probably explains the high allergenic activity of this allergen

Dynamical Dark Energy model parameters with or without massive neutrinos

We use WMAP5 and other cosmological data to constrain model parameters in quintessence cosmologies, focusing also on their shift when we allow for non-vanishing neutrino masses. The Ratra-Peebles (RP) and SUGRA potentials are used here, as examples of slowly or fastly varying state parameter w(a). Both potentials depend on an energy scale \Lambda. Here we confirm the results of previous analysis with WMAP3 data on the upper limits on \Lambda, which turn out to be rather small (down to ~10^{-9} in RP cosmologies and ~10^{-5} for SUGRA). Our constraints on \Lambda are not heavily affected by the inclusion of neutrino mass as a free parameter. On the contrary, when the neutrino mass degree of freedom is opened, significant shifts in the best-fit values of other parameters occur.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, submitted to JCA

CALIDAD, IMPACTO Y PODER TRANSFORMADOR DE LA EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR. UN ANÁLISIS COMPARADO

La universidad pública es un agente educativo, social y económico de primer orden en la sociedad del conocimiento. Las universidades son probablemente las instituciones que mayor impacto y valor añadido aportan a su territorio, ya sea por la vía de la formación y el capital humano, la investigación científica, el desarrollo social y cultural o la innovación y el progreso económico. Bajo estas premisas es que las universidades se posicionan como pilares fundamentales donde se sustenta el nuevo modelo de sociedad y, asegurar la calidad de la educación superior, se transforma en un tema de especial trascendencia. La calidad educativa es o debería ser, una temática ineludible a abordar en la agenda de todos los gestores de entidades universitarias. En este marco es necesario reconocer que el terreno de la enseñanza superior presenta particularidades que impiden que, los conceptos que ya han tenido éxito en las actividades industriales, sean extrapolados acríticamente. En tal sentido, el principal obstáculo que se presenta es que, aún hoy, existen dificultades para arribar a una conceptualización del término “calidad” que incluya la opinión de todos los estamentos involucrados en el proceso educativo. El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis comparativo de las opiniones de los/as decanos/as, las de los/as docentes y las de los/as estudiantes de las áreas de las Ciencias Sociales, Jurídicas y Humanas de universidades argentinas acerca del significado que tiene, para ellos, el concepto de “calidad de la enseñanza universitaria”. Las percepciones de estos actores permitirían una aproximación cualitativa para la medición y evaluación de la misma, lo cual se estima que es definitivamente útil para el diseño de políticas orientadas a mejorar tanto el impacto social de la educación superior en general como la calidad del sistema educativo universitario en particular

Highly transparent poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings for the conservation of matte painted artworks

A nanocomposite coating based on TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) is used as consolidant of matte painted surfaces (temperas, watercolors, modern paintings). The aim of this work is to provide advances in the conservation of these works of art, while preserving their optical appearance, in terms of colour and gloss. Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) measurements of a painting-model (an acrylic black monochrome) treated with the nanocomposite coatings revealed that it is possible to match the optical appearance of the painted surface by tuning the amount of nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix. The requirement of retreatability of the material has been verified by removing the nanocomposite cast on the painted surface with aqueous solutions. FTIR and SEM/EDX measurements showed that almost no traces of the nanocomposite remained on the painted surface, allowing its use for the treatment of real paintings. Test were performed using a contemporary studio-model on canvas attributed to Agostino Bonalumi (1935–2013)