Revisión sistemática de la aplicación de gestión del conocimiento y Six Sigma en instituciones de educación superior

El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo analizar los hallazgos más relevantes referentes al tema sobre el desarrollo e implementación de modelos de gestión del conocimiento y Six Sigma en Instituciones de Educación Superior, así como su impacto en la mejora de los procesos de éstas. Para ello se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática la cual constó de cuatro fases: 1) planteamiento de la pregunta de investigación; 2) criterios de inclusión y exclusión de la información; 3) obtención de datos y procedimiento de análisis; 4) conclusiones. Los resultados indican que, aunque hay evidencia de la aplicación exitosa de la gestión del conocimiento y la metodología Six Sigma en Instituciones de Educación Superior, no se han realizado estudios sobre la combinación de ambas en ningún tipo de organización. Se propone realizar un análisis más profundo sobre los elementos que integran ambas metodologías para lograr articular un modelo que permita alcanzar las metas que con éstas pueden alcanzarse

Enzimska ekstrakcija hidroksicinamičnih kiselina iz otpada nastalog pri proizvodnji kave

Ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acids are classified as hydroxycinnamic acids, presenting anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this work, enzymatic extraction has been studied in order to extract high value-added products like hydroxycinnamic acids from coffee pulp. A commercial pectinase and enzyme extract produced by Rhizomucor pusillus strain 23aIV in solid-state fermentation using olive oil or coffee pulp (CP) as an inducer of the feruloyl esterase activity were evaluated separately and mixed. The total content (covalently linked and free) of ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acids was 5276 mg per kg of coffee pulp. Distribution was as follows (in %): chlorogenic acid 58.7, caffeic acid 37.6, ferulic acid 2.1 and p-coumaric acid 1.5. Most of the hydroxycinnamic acids were covalently bound to the cell wall (in %): p-coumaric acid 97.2, caffeic acid 94.4, chlorogenic acid 76.9 and ferulic acid 73.4. The content of covalently linked hydroxycinnamic acid was used to calculate the enzyme extraction yield. The maximum carbon dioxide rate for the solid-state fermentation using olive oil as an inducer was higher and it was reached in a short cultivation time. Nevertheless, the feruloyl esterase (FAE) activity (units per mg of protein) obtained in the fermentation using CP as an inducer was 31.8 % higher in comparison with that obtained in the fermentation using olive oil as the inducer. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating the composition of both esterified and free ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acids in coffee pulp. The highest yield of extraction of hydroxycinnamic acids was obtained by mixing the produced enzyme extract using coffee pulp as an inducer and a commercial pectinase. Extraction yields were as follows (in %): chlorogenic acid 54.4, ferulic acid 19.8, p-coumaric acid 7.2 and caffeic acid 2.3. An important increase in the added value of coffee pulp was mainly due to the extraction of chlorogenic acid.Ferulinska, kafeinska, p-kumarinska i klorogena kiselina pripadaju u hidroksicinamične kiseline, koje imaju antikarcinogena, protuupalna i antioksidativna svojstva. U radu je ispitana enzimska ekstrakcija hidroksicinamičnih kiselina iz otpada nastalog pri proizvodnji kave. Upotrijebljene su, zasebno i u smjesi, komercijalna pektinaza te enzimski esktrakt dobiven fermentacijom na čvrstoj podlozi od maslinovog ulja ili otpada nastalog pri proizvodnji kave (da bi se potaknula aktivnost feruloil esteraze), s pomoću Rhizomucor pusillus 23aIV. Ukupni je udio kovalentno vezanih i slobodnih hidroksicinamičnih kiselina bio 5276 mg/kg otpada. Od toga je bilo: 58,7 % klorogene; 37,6 % kafeinske; 2,1 % ferulinske i 1,5 % p-kumarinske kiseline. Većina je hidroksicinamičnih kiselina bila kovalentno vezana za staničnu stijenku, i to: 97,2 % p-kumarinske; 94,4 % kafeinske; 76,9 % klorogene i 73,4 % ferulinske kiseline. Pomoću udjela kovalentno vezanih hidroksicinamičnih kiselina izračunat je prinos ekstrahiranog enzima. Maksimalni je udio fermentacijom proizvedenog CO2 postignut na čvrstoj podlozi od maslinovog ulja, i to za kraće vrijeme nego na podlozi od otpada nastalog pri proizvodnje kave, iako je feruloil esteraza proizvedena primjenom ove druge podloge pokazala aktivnost veću za 31,8 %. Prema spoznajama autora ovo je prvo istraživanje u kojem su određeni udjeli vezanih i slobodnih hidroksicinamičnih kiselina u otpadu nastalom pri proizvodnji kave. Najveći je prinos ekstrakcije hidroksicinamičnih kiselina postignut primjenom komercijalne pektinaze i enzimskog ekstrakta. Pritom je izdvojeno 54,4 % klorogene; 19,8 % ferulinske; 7,2 % p-kumarinske i 2,3 % kafeinske kiseline, pa je zaključeno da je ovaj postupak dobar za ekstrakciju klorogene kiseline

Microbial aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia and its relation to severity

Background: The distribution of the microbial aetiology and mortality of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was investigated in relation to the clinical setting and severity scores (pneumonia severity index (PSI) and confusion, blood urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age (CURB-65)). Methods: 3523 patients with CAP were included (15% outpatients, 85% inpatients). The distribution of the microbial aetiology in relation to the clinical setting and severity scores (PSI, CURB-65) and the relative mortality of different aetiologies across the severity scores were analysed. Results: The aetiology was established in 1463 patients (42%), of whom 257 died (7%). The ranking of aetiologies varied according to site of care, with increasing frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae and mixed aetiologies and decreasing frequency of atypical pathogens in hospitalised patients and those in ICUs. The distribution of aetiologies according to severity scores showed corresponding patterns; however, the severity scores were more sensitive to Gram-negative enteric bacilli (GNEB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and less sensitive in identifying mixed aetiologies as moderate- and high-risk conditions. Mortality rates according to aetiology and severity scoring showed increasing mortality rates for all pathogens except atypical pathogens. S pneumoniae had the highest number of deaths while GNEB, P aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and mixed aetiologies had the highest mortality rates. Legionella pneumophila was similarly distributed according to site of care and prognostic scores. Conclusions: CAP due to atypical bacterial pathogens is recognised both clinically and by severity scoring as a low-risk condition. Severity scores are more sensitive in identifying patients with GNEB and P aeruginosa as moderate- and high-risk aetiologies whereas mixed aetiologies may be underestimated

Biomarkers improve mortality prediction by prognostic scales in community-acquired pneumonia

Background: Prognostic scales provide a useful tool to predict mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the inflammatory response of the host, crucial in resolution and outcome, is not included in the prognostic scales. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate whether information about the initial inflammatory cytokine profile and markers increases the accuracy of prognostic scales to predict 30-day mortality. To this aim, a prospective cohort study in two tertiary care hospitals was designed. Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and the systemic cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukins IL6, IL8 and IL10 were measured at admission. Initial severity was assessed by PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index), CURB65 (Confusion, Urea nitrogen, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, > or = 65 years of age) and CRB65 (Confusion, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, > or = 65 years of age) scales. A total of 453 hospitalised CAP patients were included. Results: The 36 patients who died (7.8%) had significantly increased levels of IL6, IL8, PCT and CRP. In regression logistic analyses, high levels of CRP and IL6 showed an independent predictive value for predicting 30-day mortality, after adjustment for prognostic scales. Adding CRP to PSI significantly increased the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) from 0.80 to 0.85, that of CURB65 from 0.82 to 0.85 and that of CRB65 from 0.79 to 0.85. Adding IL6 or PCT values to CRP did not significantly increase the AUC of any scale. When using two scales (PSI and CURB65/CRB65) and CRP simultaneously the AUC was 0.88. Conclusions: Adding CRP levels to PSI, CURB65 and CRB65 scales improves the 30-day mortality prediction. The highest predictive value is reached with a combination of two scales and CRP. Further validation of that improvement is needed

Eyespot resistance gene Pch-1 from Aegilops ventricosa is associated with a different chromosome in wheat line H-93-70 than the resistance factor in "Roazon" wheat

The hexaploid wheat line H-93-70 carries a gene (Pch-1) that has been transferred from the wild grass Aegilops ventricosa and confers a high degree of resistance to eyespot diesease, caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. Crosses of the resistant line H-93-70 with the susceptible wheat Pané 247 and with a 7D/7Ag wheat/Agropyron substitution line were carried out and F2 kernels were obtained. The kernels were cut transversally and the halves carrying the embryos were used for the resistance test, while the distal halves were used for genetic typing. Biochemical markers were used to discriminate whether the transferred Pch-1 gene was located in chromosome 7D, as is the case for a resistance factor present in Roazon wheat. In the crosses involving Pané 247, resistance was not associated with the 7D locus Pln, which determines sterol ester pattern (dominant allele in H-93-70). In the crosses with the 7D/7Ag substitution line, resistance was neither associated with protein NGE-11 (7D marker), nor alternatively inherited with respect to protein C-7 (7Ag marker). It is concluded that gene Pch-1 represents a different locus and is not an allele of the resistance factor in Roazon whea

An Institutional Framework to Explain the University: Industry Technology Transfer in a Public University of Mexico

In the last years, studies and modifications to the science and technology regulatory framework in Mexico show the increase in the attention to transfer the research results of professors and researchers from higher education institutions, towards the productive sector with the purpose of generating regional, national and international growth and development. This study has conducted to the search of the factors that determine the increase of linkage activities and technology transfer. Based on the literature review, this study develops a framework integrated with the factors considered that have a significantly impact in the university-industry linkage and technology transfer. The proposed independent variables are the following: Institutional Factors, Academic Profile, and Innovation

Nursing Home-Acquired Pneumonia: a 10 year single-centre experience

Background: Pneumonia among nursing home (NH) residents has increased considerably in recent years, but it remains unclear whether it should be considered as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or a new category of infection. Methods 150 consecutive cases of NH-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) (from 1 February 1997 to 1 July 2007) were analysed. Results: Patients (median age, 82 years; range, 77-87 years) showed numerous co-morbidities, (neurological, 55%; pulmonary, 38%; cardiac, 35%) and severe disability for daily activities (partial, 32%; total, 31%). Cases of NHAP were mainly classified as mild to moderate according to the CRB-65 score (CRB-65 classes 0-1 and 2, 41% each). In-hospital and 30-day mortality were 8.7% and 20%, respectively. Aetiology was defined in 57 cases (38%). The most common isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae (58%), Enterobacteriaceae (Gram-negative bacteria (GNB)) (9%), atypical bacteria (7%), respiratory viruses (5%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (5%) and Legionella pneumophila (5%). The most frequent causes of treatment inadequacy were use of β-lactams alone (25%) and lack of aspiration assessment (15%). Prognostic factors of 1-month mortality were neurological comorbidities (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.3 to 15.7; p=0.020), septic shock (OR 6.6; 95% CI 1.3 to 34.0; p=0.025), pleural effusion (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 11.7; p=0.036) and isolation of GNB or MRSA (OR 16.4; 95% CI 2.1 to 128.9; p=0.008). Conclusions: The patients show clinical characteristics (eg, age and co-morbidities) comparable with those with hospital-acquired pneumonia. However, microbiological and mortality data of patients with NHAP are more similar to the data of those with CAP. Isolation of GNB or MRSA was associated with increased mortality risk. CAP empirical antibiotic coverage is still indicated in NHAP, although specific risk factors for multidrug-resistant infections should be assessed on an individual basis

Diversity in oat potential immunogenicity: basis for the selection of oat varieties with no toxicity in coeliac disease

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ and http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode.[Background and aims] Coeliac disease (CD) is triggered by an abnormal reaction to gluten. Peptides resulting from partially digested gluten of wheat, barley or rye cause inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa. Previous contradictory studies suggest that oats may trigger the abnormal immunological response in patients with CD. Monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) against the main immunotoxic 33-mer peptide (A1 and G12) react strongly against wheat, barley and rye but have less reactivity against oats. The stated aim of this study is to test whether this observed reactivity could be related to the potential toxicity of oats for patients with CD.[Methods] In the present study, different oat varieties, controlled for their purity and by their distinct protein pattern, were used to examine differences in moAb G12 recognition by ELISA and western blot. Immunogenicity of oat varieties was determined by 33-mer concentration, T cell proliferation and interferon γ production.[Results] Three groups of oat cultivars reacting differently against moAb G12 could be distinguished: a group with considerable affinity, a group showing slight reactivity and a third with no detectable reactivity. The immunogenicity of the three types of oats as well as that of a positive and negative control was determined with isolated peripheral blood mononuclear T cells from patients with CD by measurement of cell proliferation and interferon γ release. A direct correlation of the reactivity with G12 and the immunogenicity of the different prolamins was observed.[Conclusions] The results showed that the reactivity of the moAb G12 is proportional to the potential immunotoxicity of the cereal cultivar. These differences may explain the different clinical responses observed in patients suffering from CD and open up a means to identify immunologically safe oat cultivars, which could be used to enrich a gluten-free dietThis work was supported by Asociacio´n de Celı ´acos de Madrid (to SC) by grants PET2008_0055 from VI Plan Nacional de Investigacio´n Cientı ´fica, Desarrollo e Innovacio´n Tecnolo´gica (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n), IAB (Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnologı ´a) (to SC) and by AGR2009-4966M (Proyecto de Excelencia, Junta de Andalucı ´a) (to TM). Biomedal thanks Corporacio´n Tecnolo´gica de Andalucı ´a and Agencia IDEA for co-founding this study (to CA).Peer reviewe

Aortic remodelling induced by obstructive apneas is normalized with mesenchymal stem cells infusion

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) promotes aortic dilatation, increased stiffness and accelerated atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms of vascular remodelling are not known. We aimed to assess vascular remodelling, its mechanisms, and the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) infusions in a clinically relevant rat model of chronic OSA involving recurrent airway obstructions leading thoracic pressure swings and intermittent hypoxia/hypercapnia (OSA-rats). Another group of rats were placed in the same setup without air obstructions (Sham-rats) and were considered controls. Our study demonstrates that chronic, non-invasive repetitive airway obstructions mimicking OSA promote remarkable structural changes of the descending thoracic aorta such as eccentric aortic hypertrophy due to an increased wall thickness and lumen diameter, an increase in the number of elastin fibers which, in contrast, get ruptured, but no changes in tunica media fibrosis. As putative molecular mechanisms of the OSA-induced vascular changes we identified an increase in reactive oxygen species and renin-angiotensin system markers and an imbalance in oxide nitric synthesis. Our results also indicate that MSC infusion blunts the OSA-related vascular changes, most probably due to their anti-inflammatory properties