Key facilitators to continuous improvement: a Spanish insight

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyse the nature of the facilitators of continuous improvement (CI), proposing a classification of them and identifying the different profiles of companies based on them. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this objective, first, a literature review was done in order to identify the main facilitators; second, some of them were included in a survey based on experts' opinions; third, a survey was conducted amongst people responsible for implementing CI; and finally factorial and cluster analysis were applied. Findings: Based on the results, three main factors were identified: "cultural facilitators", "tactical facilitators" and "human resources involvement facilitators". Additionally, five clusters were defined. Practical implications: As many companies still struggle when implementing CI, the results of this study can help all them to focus on the most important aspects in order to guarantee the sustainability of the CI system. Originality/value: From a theoretical point of view, this work contributes to the CI field by analysing the nature of the main facilitators companies can find when implementing these initiatives. Thus, not only does this study provide a hierarchy of the most important facilitators, but also classifies them. As far as authors are concerned, this is the first attempt to categorise CI facilitators

Continuous improvement enablers: Defining a new construct

ABSTRACT: Purpose: Continuous improvement is a means of promoting and working through business excellence. However, due to the complexity of the implementation process, many companies fail. Some authors consider that this partly due to the lack of studies which develop and validate theoretical constructs in order to push theory in the CI field. Therefore, this study aims at identifying and better understanding the factors that could act as enablers when implementing a CI initiative by designing and analyzing a new theoretical construct. Design/methodology/approach: After conducting a rigorous literature review and consulting a group of experts, Rasch Measurement Theory was used in order to validate the construct and rank the enablers. Findings: After validating the construct, a hierarchy of priority was obtained, being the following enablers the most important ones: establishing clear objectives, training, recognizing the achievements and learning from the CI process itself and motivation. Practical implications: Identifying the key enablers could help those companies that are about to start with the implementation process. Additionally obtaining a general classification could help managers to make good decisions and handle these enablers, fostering the most important one. Originality/value: This paper provides additional evidence regarding the main enablers that an organization that decides to implement CI can foster. Additionally, as far as authors are concerned, this is the first paper that defines a theoretical construct concerning continuous improvement enablers. Going one-step further, this paper obtains a hierarchy of priority, identifying the main enablers according to managers' opinions

A mechanism of carbapenem resistance due to a new insertion element (ISPa133) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study explored the evolutionary mechanism by which the clinical isolate PA110514 yields the imipenemresistantderivative PA116136. Both isolates were examined by PFGE and SDS-PAGE, which led to the identification of a new insertion sequence, ISPa133. This element was shown to have distinct chromosomal locations in each of the original isolatesthat appeared to explain the differences in imipenem susceptibilty. In strain PA110514, ISPa133 is located 56 nucleotides upstream of the translational start codon, which has no effect on expression of the porin OprD. However, in strain PA116136 ISPa133 it is located in front of nucleotide 696 and, by interrupting the coding region, causes a loss of OprD expression, thus conferring imipenem resistance. In vitro experiments mimicking the natural conditions of selective pressure yielded imipenem- resistant strains in which ISPa133 similarly interrupted oprD. Amechanism is proposed whereby ISPa133 acts as a mobile switch, with its position in oprD depending on the degree of selective pressure exerted by imipenem. [Int Microbiol 2011; 14(1):51-58

Investment in Human Capital and Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs providing accommodation services. The specificity of family firms

The general purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of Human Capital Investment (HCI) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in small and medium-sized enterprises providing accommodation services. Thus, this study has two aims: first, analyzing the effect that HCI exerts on CSR practices; and second, examining the moderating effect of being a family firm on prior relationship. The sample is obtained from a survey carried out during 2017 in Spain to 1136 family and non-family businesses, which 41 belong to "Accommodation Services" and the methodology used is PLS-SEM.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Cooperative Learning and Perception in Future Graduates of Business Administration and Management

The objective of this paper is to analyze the perception of future graduates in Business Administration and Management on the conceptualization, constitution and regulation of the work groups in the university classrooms. To achieve this objective, the Questionnaire for the Analysis of Cooperative Work in Higher Education (ACOES) will be used. The results show that the respondents consider that cooperative learning helps them to develop their social skills and is as an opportunity to get to know their peers. In addition, cooperative learning gives them the ability to reach agreements with different opinions and the ability to understand the ideas of other colleagues. Likewise, the main problem is the lack of coordination between the different subjects. Regarding the formation of the groups, the respondents prefer to form them by applying friendship criteria. Finally, the respondents consider that the groups should be permanents and formed by 4 or 5 members

Root and aerial growth in early-maturing peach trees under two crop load treatments

 The objectives of the paper were to study the pattern of root growth (measured by minirhizotrons) in relation to trunk, fruit and shoot growth and the effects of crop load on tree growth and yield in peach trees. Two crop load (commercial and low) treatments were applied in a mature early-maturing peach tree orchard growing in Mediterranean conditions. Root growth dynamics were measured using minirhizotrons during one growing season. Shoot, trunk and fruit growth were also measured. At harvest, all fruits were weighed, counted and sized. Roots grew throughout the year but at lower rates during the active fruit growth phase. Root growth was asynchronous with shoot growth, while root and trunk growth rates were highest after harvest, when the canopy was big enough to allocate the photo-assimilates to organs that would ensure the following season’s yield. Shoot and fruit growth was greater in the low crop load treatment and was accompanied by a non-significant increase in root growth. High level of fruit thinning decreased the current yield but the fruits were more marketable because of their greater size

Partial oxidation of H2S to sulfur on V-Cu-O mixed oxides bronzes

[EN] The present paper shows the influence of Cu-content in Cu-promoted V2O5 catalysts on both the physicochemical characteristics of catalysts and their catalytic performance in the partial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. Both, the catalytic activity for H2S conversion and the selectivity to sulfur increased when increasing the Cu/V ratio of catalysts. The best catalyst gives a selectivity to sulfur at ca. 98% at total conversion of H2S. According to the characterization results (XRD, FTIR), V2O5 is partially transformed into vanadium oxide bronze, i.e. beta-Cu0.261V2O5, up to Cu/V ratios of 0.25. For higher Cu/V ratios, CuV2O6 and beta-Cu0.261V2O5 are observed. In the same way, the reducibility of V-species increased when increasing the Cu/V ratio of catalysts. On the other hand, the characterization of used catalysts indicates the transformation of V2O5 into V4O9, whereas the vanadium oxide bronze is stable under the studied reaction. The catalytic results are explained on the basis of the nature of crystalline phases and the presence of V5+-O-V4+ pairs in the more selective catalysts.The authors would like to acknowledge the Spanish MINECO Projects (CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R and CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R) and Severo Ochoa Program (SEV-2016-0683), and FEDER funds, for financial support. LRR thanks the MINECO for a predoctoral contract.Ruiz-Rodríguez, L.; Blasco Lanzuela, T.; López Nieto, JM.; Rodríguez-Castellón, E. (2019). Partial oxidation of H2S to sulfur on V-Cu-O mixed oxides bronzes. Catalysis Today. 333:237-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.07.050S23724433

Percepción del estrés en los estudiantes de Enfermería ante sus prácticas clínicas

Objective: This research aims to establish what the Nursing students’ main stress sources are during their practice period, according to their gender, grade and age. Methodology. It is a descriptive transversal study. The sample was composed by 45 Nursing students, 30 women and 15 men, at the University of Murcia in 2010/2011. The information gathering tool was KEZKAK questionnaire. Results. The ignorance facing a determined clinical situation and the risk of damaging the patient are the Nursing students’ two main stress sources. Men often suffer from a bigger stress than women; nevertheless, as well as the age increases and the students pass grades, the stress level is smaller. Conclusions. Nursing students’ stress determines their formation within their clinical practices period. Thus, it is necessary that the theoretical learning that supports these practices considers theses needs that own Nursing students require.OBJETIVO. Esta investigación pretende conocer cuáles son las principales fuentes de estrés durante el periodo de prácticas de los estudiantes de Enfermería de la Universidad de Murcia en función de su sexo, curso y edad. METODOLOGÍA. Se trata de un estudio transversal de corte descriptiva. La muestra estuvo compuesta por un total de 45 alumnos, 30 mujeres y 15 hombres, de Enfermería de la Universidad de Murcia del curso académico 2010/2011. El instrumento de recogida de la información fue cuestionario KEKZAK. RESULTADOS. El desconocimiento ante una determinada situación clínica y el riesgo de dañar al paciente son las dos principales fuentes estresoras para los estudiantes de enfermería. Los hombres suelen sufrir un mayor estrés que sus compañeras; no obstante, a medida que aumenta la edad y se avanza de curso el grado de estrés es cada vez menor. CONCLUSIONES. El estrés de los estudiantes de enfermería marca su formación durante el período de prácticas clínicas. Por tanto, se hace necesario que el aprendizaje teórico que sustenta a las prácticas atienda a estas necesidades que los propios estudiantes de enfermería demandan

Aseguramiento de la calidad en los suministradores de defensa: diagnóstico inicial y análisis de los obstáculos para la certificación pecal

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar los principales obstáculos que la empresas pertenecientes a la industria Española de Defensa, identificadas en el Catálogo de la Industria Española de Defensa, econtraron durante el proceso de certificación PECAL. Para ello, se realiza, en primer lugar, un diagnóstico inicial de las certificaciones que poseen las diferentes empresas. En segundo lugar, se diseña una encuesta para que las empreas identifiquen y valoren los obstáculos con los que se encontraron a la hora de llevar a cabo el proceso de implantación de las normas. Finalmente, se ofrecen una serie de implicaciones prácticas para aquellas empresas que estén interesadas en ser suministradoras de Defensa

Endoglin Protein Interactome Profiling Identifies TRIM21 and Galectin-3 as New Binding Partners

This article belongs to the Special Issue TGF-beta/BMP Signaling PathwayEndoglin is a 180-kDa glycoprotein receptor primarily expressed by the vascular endothelium and involved in cardiovascular disease and cancer. Heterozygous mutations in the endoglin gene (ENG) cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1, a vascular disease that presents with nasal and gastrointestinal bleeding, skin and mucosa telangiectases, and arteriovenous malformations in internal organs. A circulating form of endoglin (alias soluble endoglin, sEng), proteolytically released from the membrane-bound protein, has been observed in several inflammation-related pathological conditions and appears to contribute to endothelial dysfunction and cancer development through unknown mechanisms. Membrane-bound endoglin is an auxiliary component of the TGF-ß receptor complex and the extracellular region of endoglin has been shown to interact with types I and II TGF-ß receptors, as well as with BMP9 and BMP10 ligands, both members of the TGF-ß family. To search for novel protein interactors, we screened a microarray containing over 9000 unique human proteins using recombinant sEng as bait. We find that sEng binds with high affinity, at least, to 22 new proteins. Among these, we validated the interaction of endoglin with galectin-3, a secreted member of the lectin family with capacity to bind membrane glycoproteins, and with tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21), an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Using human endothelial cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells, we showed that endoglin co-immunoprecipitates and co-localizes with galectin-3 or TRIM21. These results open new research avenues on endoglin function and regulation.This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of Spain (SAF2013-43421-R to CB and SAF2017-84183-R to MQ), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER; ISCIII-CB06/07/0038 to CB and contract CNV-234-PRF-360 to LR-L) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC; 201920E022 to CB). JC-V was supported by a postdoctoral contract co-funded by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the European Social Fund (ESF). CIBERER and CIBERNED are initiatives of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) of Spain supported by European Regional Development (FEDER) funds