La diversificación y automatización de los servicios: Caso hotelero

Presently, in the beginning of the XXI century, the businesses have been suffering a series of transformations in their organizational structures, helping them to become more and more competitive in global markets, which are the result of the phenomenon that is known as “ Globalization ”. This phenomenon has not only affected companies that produce goods, but also those that offer services, and which have had to be modernized through different strategies in order to subsist or to be leaders in these global markets. To reach the desired results it was necessary carry out a bibliographical review that provided a theoretical base, and open interviews of personnel related to these services were carried out. This paper explains the classification of Hotels as companies that offer services and which represent the platform for the development of the tourist industry in the country. Likewise one of the strategies which allows hotels to become more competitive by diversifying and automating services offered is explained. This diversification can be visualized by the five-star Hotels found in the city of Maracaibo. Through the use of comparative tables that contain the services offered in these hotels, the empirical evidence of this work is presented. As a conclusion, the hotel that all of us would like to see, the hotel of the future, is described.Actualmente, en pleno siglo XXI, las empresas han venido sufriendo una serie de transformaciones en sus estructuras organizativas, conllevándolas a ser cada vez más competitivas en los mercados globalizados, las cuales son el resultado del fenómeno que se conoce como “Globalización”. Este fenómeno no solamente ha afectado a las empresas productoras de bienes, sino también a las de servicios, las cuales han tenido que modernizarse a través de distintas estrategias para poder subsistir o ser líderes dentro de dichos mercados globales. Para alcanzar los resultados obtenidos se y realizó una revisión bibliográfica que sirvió de base teórica y se realizaron entrevistas abiertas a personal relacionado con el servicio. Es por ello que el presente trabajo explica la forma como los Hoteles forman parte de las empresas que prestan servicios y los cuales representan la plataforma del desarrollo turístico de un país; de igual modo se muestra que una de las estrategias para poder ser más competitivos es diversificar y automatizar los servicios prestados por estos establecimientos, esta diversificación se puede visualizar tomando como ejemplo los Hoteles de cinco (5) estrellas de la ciudad de Maracaibo a través de cuadros comparativos que contienen los servicios prestados por los mismos y lo que representa la evidencia empírica de este trabajo; para concluir se describe como sería el Hotel que todos queremos o llamado hoy día el Hotel del futuro

Topical and Systemic Cannabidiol Improves Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid Colitis in Mice

Background/Aims: Compounds of Cannabis sativa are known to exert anti-inflammatory properties, some of them without inducing psychotropic side effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) is such a side effect-free phytocannabinoid that improves chemically induced colitis in rodents when given intraperitoneally. Here, we tested the possibility whether rectal and oral application of CBD would also ameliorate colonic inflammation, as these routes of application may represent a more appropriate way for delivering drugs in human colitis. Methods: Colitis was induced in CD1 mice by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Individual groups were either treated with CBD intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg), orally (20 mg/kg) or intrarectally (20 mg/kg). Colitis was evaluated by macroscopic scoring, histopathology and the myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Results: Intraperitoneal treatment of mice with CBD led to improvement of colonic inflammation. Intrarectal treatment with CBD also led to a significant improvement of disease parameters and to a decrease in MPO activity while oral treatment, using the same dose as per rectum, had no ameliorating effect on colitis. Conclusion: The data of this study indicate that in addition to intraperitoneal application, intrarectal delivery of cannabinoids may represent a useful therapeutic administration route for the treatment of colonic inflammation. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Increased Expression of Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors in Achilles Tendinosis

BACKGROUND: The endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the control of pain. However, little is known as to the integrity of the cannabinoid system in human pain syndromes. Here we investigate the expression of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB₁) in human Achilles tendons from healthy volunteers and from patients with Achilles tendinosis. METHODOLOGY: Cannabinoid CB₁ receptor immunoreactivity (CB₁IR) was evaluated in formalin-fixed biopsies from individuals suffering from painful Achilles tendinosis in comparison with healthy human Achilles tendons. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: CB₁IR was seen as a granular pattern in the tenocytes. CB₁IR was also observed in the blood vessel wall and in the perineurium of the nerve. Quantification of the immunoreactivity in tenocytes showed an increase of CB₁ receptor expression in tendinosis tissue compared to control tissue. CONCLUSION: Expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 is increased in human Achilles tendinosis suggesting that the cannabinoid system may be dysregulated in this disorder

High Tumour Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Immunoreactivity Negatively Impacts Disease-Specific Survival in Stage II Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: There is good evidence in the literature that the cannabinoid system is disturbed in colorectal cancer. In the present study, we have investigated whether CB(1) receptor immunoreactive intensity (CB(1)IR intensity) is associated with disease severity and outcome. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: CB(1)IR was assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens collected with a consecutive intent during primary tumour surgical resection from a series of cases diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Tumour centre (n = 483) and invasive front (n = 486) CB(1)IR was scored from 0 (absent) to 3 (intense staining) and the data was analysed as a median split i.e. CB(1)IR <2 and ≥2. In microsatellite stable, but not microsatellite instable tumours (as adjudged on the basis of immunohistochemical determination of four mismatch repair proteins), there was a significant positive association of the tumour grade with the CB(1)IR intensity. The difference between the microsatellite stable and instable tumours for this association of CB(1)IR was related to the CpG island methylation status of the cases. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses indicated a significant contribution of CB(1)IR to disease-specific survival in the microsatellite stable tumours when adjusting for tumour stage. For the cases with stage II microsatellite stable tumours, there was a significant effect of both tumour centre and front CB(1)IR upon disease specific survival. The 5 year probabilities of event-free survival were: 85±5 and 66±8%; tumour interior, 86±4% and 63±8% for the CB(1)IR<2 and CB(1)IR≥2 groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The level of CB(1) receptor expression in colorectal cancer is associated with the tumour grade in a manner dependent upon the degree of CpG hypermethylation. A high CB(1)IR is indicative of a poorer prognosis in stage II microsatellite stable tumour patients

R.H. Moreno-Durán: fantasía y verdad. Valoración múltiple

Pocos escritores colombianos han explorado diversos géneros literarios con resultados satisfactorios; Moreno-Durán destaca en el panorama artístico de Colombia al cosechar logros en una amplia producción creativa que incluye novelas, cuentos, ensayos y en los últimos tiempos el teatro. / Contenido. Preliminares; Capítulo 1 - R.H. Moreno-Durán: a fondo; Capítulo 2 - R.H. Moreno-Durán: en breve; Anexos

Odontometric investigation of the origin of freestanding shrine ossuaries at Mayapan

Mayapan was the largest and most densely populated city in the Maya area during the Late Postclassic period (ca. AD 1200–1450), but was it truly cosmopolitan? This question was investigated through biodistance and population genetic analyses of heritable dental metric traits, the first such study conducted at this site.The analyses concentrated on burials excavated from a diverse array of contexts, such as mass graves, residences, and plaza floors, with a particular focus on freestanding shrine ossuaries. The results of both univariate and multivariate analyses suggest individuals interred in freestanding shrine ossuaries are genetically distinct from contemporary and earlier populations from northwestern Yucatan, suggesting this new burial practice was introduced by foreigners. These findings also have implications for the larger question of whether pan-Mesoamerican elite identity formationin the Postclassic period (AD 900–1543) was accompanied by more intense long-distance mixing of populations, rather than just the exchange of goods and ideas. Given the important role played by exchange in the regeneration of sociopolitical complexity in ancient societies from different parts of the world (Schwartz,2006), this study also contributes to the broader discussion of how cultures survive and respond to upheaval, as well as to a more nuanced consideration of the role of migration in culture change

In vitro antimicrobial assessment of Cuban propolis extracts

Propolis is a resinous mixture of different plant exudates collected by honeybees. Currently, propolis is widely used as a food supplement and in folk medicine. We have evaluated 20 Cuban propolis extracts of different chemical types, brown (BCP), red and yellow (YCP), with respect to their in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties. The extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum at low µg/mL concentrations, whereas they were not active against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The major activity of the extracts was found against the protozoa Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Plasmodium, although cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells was also observed. The BCP-3, YCP-39 and YCP-60 extracts showed the highest activity against P. falciparum, with 50% of microbial growth (IC50) values of 0.2 µg/mL. A positive correlation between the biological activity and the chemical composition was observed for YCP extracts. The most promising antimicrobial activity corresponds to YCP subtype B, which contains acetyl triterpenes as the main constituents. The present in vitro study highlights the potential of propolis against protozoa, but further research is needed to increase selectivity towards the parasite. The observed chemical composition-activity relationship of propolis can contribute to the identification of the active principles and standardisation of this bee product