State of agile contracting in the software industry and the public sector, results of a systematic mapping of the literature

Context: Agile approaches are the answer to the rigid framework for traditional software development. These focus on creating products based on communication and continuous collaboration between the client and supplier, which are detailed characteristics in documents; it is also true that the contractual agreements for such approaches continue to be structured according to the restrictions of the traditional development of software products. Meticulous specifications and restrictions such as time, cost and scope are just some of the fixed conditions of the contractual agreement. In this sense, traditional contracts do not respond adequately to agile software development and, for this reason, agile contracts emerge as a framework of agreement that stipulates the conditions that are clearly necessary to allow development under these approaches. Methodology: a systematic mapping of the literature is presented that aims to show a current panorama of agile contracting for software development and its application in different sectors of the economy with an emphasis on the public sector. Results: The results obtained show few examples of the application of agile contracts, especially in the public sector; suggesting research opportunities and the generation of proposals in this context. Conclusions: It has been concluded that the contracting methods used by public institutions can be an obstacle to agile approaches. In addition, this document presents recommendations for adjusting contracts that seek to facilitate developments approached from the perspective of agile approaches in the public sector

Variación en los puntajes de depresión en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia paranoide luego de intervención con horticultura*

La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad gravemente incapacitante que altera el proyecto de vida en quienes la padecen. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue establecer si existían variaciones en los puntajes de una prueba de depresión, aplicada a pacientes con esquizofrenia tras una intervención con terapia hortícola. La terapia hortícola ha probado sus beneficios en diferentes patologías, sobre todo en el trastorno mental. Se utilizó un diseño pre experimental con prueba previa y posterior. Los resultados indican que existen variaciones entre la prueba previa y posterior aplicada a los sujetos del estudio. Se concluye que la depresión disminuye con la utilización de la horticultura como actividad coadyuvante de la terapia tradicional utilizada en estos pacientes

Applied diagnostics in liver cancer. Efficient combinations of sorafenib with targeted inhibitors blocking AKT/mTOR

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There is increasing interest in developing specific markers to serve as predictors of response to sorafenib and to guide targeted therapy. Using a sequencing platform designed to study somatic mutations in a selection of 112 genes (HepatoExome), we aimed to characterize lesions from HCC patients and cell lines, and to use the data to study the biological and mechanistic effects of case-specific targeted therapies used alone or in combination with sorafenib. We characterized 331 HCC cases in silico and 32 paired samples obtained prospectively from primary tumors of HCC patients. Each case was analyzed in a time compatible with the requirements of the clinic (within 15 days). In 53% of the discovery cohort cases, we detected unique mutational signatures, with up to 34% of them carrying mutated genes with the potential to guide therapy. In a panel of HCC cell lines, each characterized by a specific mutational signature, sorafenib elicited heterogeneous mechanistic and biological responses, whereas targeted therapy provoked the robust inhibition of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis along with the blockage of AKT/mTOR signaling. The combination of sorafenib with targeted therapies exhibited synergistic anti-HCC biological activity concomitantly with highly effective inhibition of MAPK and AKT/mTOR signaling. Thus, somatic mutations may lead to identify case-specific mechanisms of disease in HCC lesions arising from multiple etiologies. Moreover, targeted therapies guided by molecular characterization, used alone or in combination with sorafenib, can effectively block important HCC disease mechanisms.FUNDING: Grants from ISCIII, co-financed by the European Union (FEDER) (PI16/00156), Ramón and Cajal research program from MINECO (RYC-2013-14097) and FUNDACIÓN LUCHAMOS POR LA VIDA to JPV. Grants from ISCIII (RD06/0020/0107-RD012/0036/0060) to MAP. Grant from ISCIII (Ref. PIE15/00079) to JC & JPV. NGD is a recipient of a UC-IDIVAL pre-doctoral fellow. I.V. was also supported by the Ramón and Cajal research program

Tight-binding study of the structure of the electronic energy band of the quaternary solid solutions series CuIn

We report on the electronic properties of the solid solutions series CuIn1−xAlxTe2 using the tight-binding (TB) method and the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) for different values of amounts of Al, considering the ideal case and that with distortions. The parameters TB and VCA were determined, which allow the best fit of the theoretical results to the linear behavior reported in the literature of the band gap as a function of x. Using these parameters, we calculate the structure of the energy bands, obtaining that this material is a direct semiconductor at Γ for all the concentrations. In addition, discrimination of the orbitals in the bands was carried out, finding the existence of s orbitals of the cations Cu and (In,Al), and s and p orbitals of the anion Te in the lower part of the conduction band, which indicates the possibility of bonding between the cations and the anions, which would explain the chemical stability of the compound under strong illumination and high temperatures, making it a useful material for implementation in solar panels

Variation in the scores of depression in patients with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia after intervention with horticulture

La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad gravemente incapacitante que altera el proyecto de vida en quienes la padecen. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue establecer si existían variaciones en los puntajes de una prueba de depresión, aplicada a pacientes con esquizofrenia tras una intervención con terapia hortícola. La terapia hortícola ha probado sus beneficios en diferentes patologías, sobre todo en el trastorno mental. Se utilizó un diseño pre experimental con prueba previa y posterior. Los resultados indican que existen variaciones entre la prueba previa y posterior aplicada a los sujetos del estudio. Se concluye que la depresión disminuye con la utilización de la horticultura como actividad coadyuvante de la terapia tradicional utilizada en estos pacientes.Schizophrenia is a severely disabling disease that alters the life project in sufferers. The objective of the present study was to establish whether there were variations in scores on a test of depression, applied to patients with schizophrenia after an in-tervention with horticultural therapy. Horticultural therapy has proven its benefits in different diseases, especially in the mental disorder. A month design with pre and post test was used. The results indicate that there are variations between the pre and post test applied to the subjects of the study. It is conclu-ded that depression decreases with the use of horti-culture as an adjunct activity of traditional therapy used in these patients

Variation in depression scores in patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after intervention with horticulture

La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad gravemente incapacitante que altera el proyecto de vida en quienes la padecen. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue establecer si existían variaciones en los puntajes de una prueba de depresión, aplicada a pacientes con esquizofrenia tras una intervención con terapia hortícola. La terapia hortícola ha probado sus beneficios en diferentes patologías, sobre todo en el trastorno mental. Se utilizó un diseño pre experimental con prueba previa y posterior. Los resultados indican que existen variaciones entre la prueba previa y posterior aplicada a los sujetos del estudio. Se concluye que la depresión disminuye con la utilización de la horticultura como actividad coadyuvante de la terapia tradicional utilizada en estos pacientes.Schizophrenia is a seriously disabling disease that alters the life plan of those who suffer from it. The objective of the present work was to establish if there were variations in the scores of a depression test, applied to patients with schizophrenia after an intervention with horticultural therapy. The horticultural therapy has proven its benefits in different pathologies, especially in the mental disorder. A pre-experimental design was used with previous and subsequent tests. The results indicate that there are variations between the previous and subsequent tests applied to the subjects of the study. It is concluded that depression decreases with the use of horticulture as a coadjuvant activity of the traditional therapy used in these patients

Las prácticas Jurídicas como acceso de los ciudadanos a la administración de justicia

This reflection article has as its general objective to offer a theorization that from a pedagogical perspective exposes the most relevant competencies that must be developed in students who carry out legal practices in the different legal programs. To this end, a methodological strategy is assumed based on the academic and work experience of advisors, teachers and administrative members attached to the legal office, as well as in the critical, bibliographic, documentary review and use of methods such as content analysis and observation. The document contains several aspects related to professional practices based on the social commitment of the professional, moving on to the importance of the ethical, continuing with the relationship between the teaching of law and access to the administration of justice; Also carrying out a critical review of judicial practices in the offices; The text highlights the work of legal offices and conciliation centre in teaching strategies such as legal clinics, conciliations, high-impact litigation; To end with the importance of research from legal offices and a brief description of the active teaching method and/or case study and some conclusions of this academic work.Este artículo de reflexión tiene como objetivo general ofrecer una teorización que desde la perspectiva pedagógica, exponga las competencias más relevantes que se deben desarrollar en los estudiantes que realizan las prácticas jurídicas, en los diferentes programas de Derecho. Para ello, se asume una estrategia metodológica, basada en la experiencia académica y laboral de asesores, docentes y administrativos, adscritos al consultorio jurídico; además de la revisión crítica, bibliográfica, documental y el empleo de métodos en el análisis de contenido y la observación. El documento contiene varios aspectos relacionados con las prácticas profesionales partiendo del compromiso social del profesional, pasando a la importancia de lo ético, continuando con la relación existente entre la enseñanza del derecho y el acceso a la administración de justicia. Así mismo, efectuando una revisión crítica de las prácticas judiciales en los despachos; el texto resalta la labor de los consultorios jurídicos y centro de conciliación en estrategias del saber como las clínicas jurídicas, conciliatones, litigio de alto impacto. Se finaliza con la importancia de la investigación desde los consultorios jurídicos y una breve descripción del método de aprendizaje activo con estudio de caso y algunas conclusiones de este trabajo académico

Simultaneous Depression of Immunological Synapse and Endothelial Injury is Associated with Organ Dysfunction in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Rationale: A depressed expression of antigen presentation is, along with endothelial dysfunction, a recognized signature of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We aimed to evaluate the expression of a number of genes involved in the immunological synapse in non-critically ill CAP patients with or without organ dysfunction and to profile endothelial biomarkers such as proendothelin-1 (proET1) and proadrenomedullin (proADM). Methods: A nested study in a prospective cohort in CAP patients was performed. Expression levels of major histocompatibility complex class II DR alpha (HLA-DRA), CD40 ligand (CD40LG), CD3E, CD28, and inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) were quantified by using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction and endothelial biomarkers by immunofluorescence. Results: Ninety-four patients were included, 44.7% of whom had organ failure in one or more organs. A significant decrease in the expression of the five genes with increased levels of proadrenomedullin (proADM) and proendothelin-1 (proET1) was found in CAP with organ failure. The depressed expression of HLA-DRA (odds ratio (OR), 2.94), CD40LG (OR, 3.90), and CD28 (OR, 3.48) was independently associated with organ failure after adjustment for age, Charlson score, and severity. Conclusions. CAP with organ failure showed depressed expression of immunological synapse genes with increased levels of biomarkers denoting endothelial damage. Simultaneous profiling of immunological and endothelial signatures could help in the early identification of organ failure in CAP and in the implementation of personalized treatment

Las prácticas Jurídicas como acceso de los ciudadanos a la administración de justicia

This article has as its main objective to offer a theorization, from a pedagogical perspective, that exposes the most relevant competencies that must be developed by students who carry out legal practices in the different undergraduate legal programs.To this end, a methodological strategy is assumed based on the academic and work experience of advisors, teachers and administrative members that make part of the legal office, as well as in a critical, bibliographic, documentary review. We also applied methods such as content analysis and observation.There are several aspects related to professional practices based on the social commitment of the professional, moving on to the importance of ethics, continuing to the relationship between the teaching of law and the access to the administration of justice. From a critical review of judicial practices, the text highlights the work of legal offices and conciliation centers in teaching strategies such as legal clinics, conciliations, and high-impact litigation. We conclude by showing the importance of research studies carried out by legal offices and a brief description of the active teaching method and/or case study, added to some conclusions of this academic work. This work does not question the teaching of law in classrooms, but, precisely, provides a look at the implementation of the curricular duty reflected in the student litigation practice.Este artículo de reflexión tiene como objetivo general ofrecer una teorización que, desde la perspectiva pedagógica, exponga las competencias más relevantes que se deben desarrollar en los estudiantes que realizan las prácticas jurídicas en los diferentes programas de Derecho. Para ello, se adopta una estrategia metodológica basada en la experiencia académica y laboral de asesores, docentes y administrativos adscritos al consultorio jurídico; además de una revisión crítica, bibliográfica, documental mediante métodos del análisis de contenido y la observación. Son varios los aspectos relacionados con las prácticas profesionales, partiendo del compromiso social del profesional, pasando por la importancia de lo ético, y continuando con la relación existente entre la enseñanza del derecho y el acceso a la administración de justicia. Con base en una revisión crítica de las prácticas judiciales en los despachos, el texto resalta la labor de los consultorios jurídicos y centros de conciliación en el desarrollo de estrategias del saber, como las clínicas jurídicas, las conciliaciones, los litigios de alto impacto. Se finaliza destacando la importancia de la investigación desde los consultorios jurídicos y ofreciendo una breve descripción del método de aprendizaje activo con estudio de casos y algunas conclusiones de este trabajo académico. Se trata de una investigación cuyo centro no cuestiona la enseñanza del derecho en aulas, sino que precisamente da una mirada a la implementación del deber ser curricular reflejada en la práctica litigiosa estudiantil