Reunión de Gobernadores del Fondo Monetario Internacional y del Banco Mundial

En los últimos seis años, después de la recesión de 1980-1982, las economías de los países industrializados han tenido un rápido crecimiento al tiempo que en las de América Latina y el Caribe, en casi todos los países el producto interno bruto per cápita de 1987 fue menor al de 1980.Para el grupo de países clasificados por el Banco Mundial como altamente endeudados, la deuda en relación con el producto pasó de 37 por ciento en 1981 a 61 por ciento en 1986.Parecería que hay una voluntad de parte de las autoridades oficiales y de las instituciones multilaterales para solucionar la grave restricción de recursos que afrontan las economías endeudadas. Urge que esta posición se convierta de una vez en una pronta realidad. Para ello se requiere un compromiso político de todas las partes involucradas con el fin de superar definitivamente esta ya insostenible situación y devolver a nuestros países su capacidad de crecimiento

Organizational improvement through standardization of the innovation process in construction firms

[EN] The purpose of this article is to identify the drivers, success factors, benefits, and barriers to innovation in a medium size construction firm with a standardized innovation management system. The case study method is used to compare theory to reality from different perspectives, building explanations from a Spanish contractor observed over a three year period. Findings suggest that innovation management can be standardized, which leads to an organizational improvement for the company, and at the same time this improvement facilitates organizational problem-solving on a regular basis, increasing technical capabilities, knowledge management, business profit, and client satisfaction. The framework described in this research aims to provide guidance for managers, thus they can innovate in a systematic way; however, this exploratory study has still to be validated by empirical investigations on a larger scale through a significant number of certified companies, which is currently not yet the case in the Spanish construction industry.The research described in this paper was partially funded by Universidad Católica del Maule (project MECESUP-UCM0205), the Spanish Ministry of Infrastructure (grant 2004-36), and the Universitat Politècnica de València (contract UPV-20050921). The authors are most grateful to Ricardo Lacort, Francisco J. Vea, and Manuel Civera for their cooperation throughout the research period. Finally, the valuable commentaries and suggestions of three anonymous reviewers improved the final version of the paper.Pellicer Armiñana, E.; Correa Becerra, CL.; Yepes Piqueras, V.; Alarcón, LF. (2012). Organizational improvement through standardization of the innovation process in construction firms. Engineering Management Journal. 24(2):40-53. doi:10.1080/10429247.2012.11431935S405324

Strategies for improving safety performance in construction firms

Over the years many prevention management practices have been implemented to prevent and mitigate accidents at the construction site. However, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of individual or combined practices used by companies to manage occupational health and safety issues. The authors selected a sample of 1180 construction firms and 221 individual practices applied in these companies to analyze their effectiveness reducing injury rates over a period of four years in Chile. Different methods were used to study this massive database including: visual analyses of graphical information, statistical analyses and classification techniques. Results showed that practices related to safety incentives and rewards are the most effective from the accident rate viewpoint, even though they are seldom used by companies; on the other hand, practices related to accidents and incidents investigation had a slight negative impact on the accident rate because they are frequently used as a reactive measure. In general,the higher the percentage of prevention practices implemented in a strategy, the lower the accident rate.However, the analysis of the combined effect of prevention practices indicated that the choice of the right combination of practices was more important than just the number of practices implemented.Alarcón, LF.; Acuña, D.; Diethelm, S.; Pellicer, E. (2016). Strategies for improving safety performance in construction firms. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 94:107-118. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2016.05.021S1071189

Kinetics of the nopol synthesis by the Prins reaction over tin impregnated MCM-41 catalyst

ABSTRACT: The kinetics of the nopol synthesis by Prins condensation of b-pinene and paraformaldehyde over Sn-MCM-41 synthesized by impregnation was evaluated using the initial reaction rate method. The reaction rate equation obtained from a kinetic model based on the Langmuir–Hinshelwood formalism with the surface reaction of adsorbed reactants on catalytic sites of the same nature as the limiting step, gave a good prediction of the experimental data. The effect of temperature on the kinetics of nopol synthesis over Sn-MCM-41 obtained by impregnation was studied between 75 and 100 °C. The robustness analysis of the kinetic model showed that the surface reaction constant, k0 sr , should be about 0.185 mol g-1 h-1 at 90 °C, while the ratio between the adsorption equilibrium constant of b-pinene, KA, and formaldehyde species, KB, is approximately 1.2:1 (KA:KB). The obtained apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor are 78 kJ/mol and 2.3 * 1010 mol g-1 h-1, respectively, but compensation effect analysis using both experimental and simulated data gave strong evidence of the dependency in temperature of the apparent Arrhenius parameters

Creación e implementación del Sistema de Entrega de Medicamentos a Pacientes Crónicos SIENMECRO: estudio cualitativo

Introduction: Faced with the pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2, the Peruvian government implemented several measures such as the temporary closure of primary care facilities and the health system implemented various policies and strategies; one of them was to create and implement the Drug Delivery System for Chronic Patients (SIENMECRO) project. Objective: To describe the creation and implementation process of SIENMECRO project. Methods: Qualitative case study that involved reviewing existing documentation such as texts and videos and conducting in-depth interviews with officials and collaborators involved since the preparation of SIENMECRO proposal. Results: SIENMECRO project emerges as a positive initiative with the aspiration of promoting an integrated health system that addresses the health reality from the social determinants of health, due to patients’ difficulties to go to their controls and to receive their treatment. Although there was no comprehensive plan for the implementation and control of the project, it was essential to cover the need for health care for a vulnerable segment of the population, avoiding their transfer and preserving the health of the people most likely to suffer complications from COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: It is an initiative where the health system takes a more proactive role for the benefit of the population, implementing the use of technology of the information and communication in health care, articulating with the various providers and bringing services closer to the most vulnerable citizens.Introducción: Frente a pandemia producida por el SARS-CoV-2, el gobierno peruano implementó diversas medidas como el cierre temporal de los establecimientos del primer nivel de atención y el sistema sanitario implementó diversas políticas y estrategias; una de ellas, fue la creación e implementación del proyecto del Sistema de Entrega de Medicamentos a Pacientes Crónicos (SIENMECRO). Objetivo: Describir el proceso de creación e implementación del proyecto SIENMECRO. Métodos: Investigación cualitativa de tipo estudio de caso que implicó la revisión de la documentación existente como textos y videos y, realización de entrevistas en profundidad a funcionarios y colaboradores involucrados desde la elaboración de la propuesta del SIENMECRO. Resultados: El proyecto SIENMECRO surge como una iniciativa positiva con la aspiración de impulsar un sistema integrado de salud que aborde la realidad sanitaria desde los determinantes sociales de la salud, debido a las dificultades de los pacientes para acudir a sus controles y recibir su tratamiento. A pesar de que no se contó con un plan integral de implementación y control del proyecto, fue fundamental para cubrir la necesidad de atención sanitaria a un segmento vulnerable de la población, evitando su traslado y preservando la salud de las personas más susceptibles de padecer complicaciones por la infección por COVID-19. Conclusiones: Es una iniciativa donde el sistema sanitario toma un rol más proactivo en beneficio de la población, implementando el uso de las tecnologías de información y comunicación en la atención de salud, articulando con los diversos prestadores y acercando los servicios a los ciudadanos más vulnerables

Actividad física de estudiantes universitarios antes y durante el confinamiento por la Covid-19

COVID-19 lockdown has changed student’s lifestyle, especially the physical activity (PA) as many students remained at home with limitations to perform PA. Objective: To determine the level of physical activity of private university students before and during lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including all pre-graduated students of the Public Health and Administration Faculty (N=161) invited by e-mail.  To measure the level of PA before and during the lockdown, a short version of the questionnaire IPAQ was applied via Google Forms. Results: The answer rate was 56.5% (n=91). A significant reduction in PA before and during lockdown was observed, values were 55.6%, 10.9% and 11.1% for the high, intermediate, and low levels of PA. The number of students that performed PA based on WHO’s recommendation decreased from 36 to 23 (36.1%). Conclusions: The lockdown impacted negatively in the intensity and frequency of PA based on WHO’s recommendations.El confinamiento a consecuencia de la Covid-19 ha ocasionado cambios en los estilos de vida de los estudiantes, especialmente en la práctica de actividad física (AF), ya que la mayoría permanecieron en sus casas con limitaciones para desarrollar AF. Objetivo: Determinar los niveles de actividad física de los estudiantes de una universidad privada antes y durante el confinamiento por la pandemia de la Covid-19. Material y métodos: Investigación cuantitativa, observacional de corte transversal comparativa, se invitó vía e-mail a todos los estudiantes de pregrado de la Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración (N=161). Para medir el nivel de AF de antes y durante se aplicó el cuestionario IPAQ versión corta mediante Google Forms. Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue 56,5% (n=91). Al comparar AF antes y durante la pandemia, la cantidad de alumnos con nivel alto de AF disminuyó en 55,6% y en nivel moderado cayó en 10,9%, mientras que en nivel bajo aumentó en 111,1%. En relación con la frecuencia, la cantidad de alumnos que realizaban AF según las cifras recomendadas de la OMS, disminuyó de 36 a 23 (36,1%). Conclusiones: El confinamiento tuvo consecuencias negativas tanto en el nivel y frecuencia de AF según lo recomendado por OMS

Diseño y dimensionamiento de un generador solar fotovoltaico y sus componentes, para la producción de energía eléctrica presentando como zona experimental el municipio de Tibasosa Boyacá.

Se realiza el diseño y Dimensionamiento de un generador fotovoltaico para producir la energía suficiente que requieren las bombas de la bocatoma del acueducto de Tibasosa Boyacá, dando especial importancia al brillo solar de la zona y calculando con la mayor eficiencia posible de los componentes.The design and sizing of a photovoltaic generator is carried out to produce the sufficient energy required by the pumps of the intake of the Tibasosa Boyacá aqueduct, giving special importance to the solar brightness of the area and calculating with the highest possible efficiency of the components

Estrategias didácticas y la evaluación como una herramienta eficaz para el desarrollo del estudiante de educación superior

La universidad contemporánea exige cambios y consecuentemente la búsqueda de nuevas estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje, de manera que las habilidades y capacidades de los estudiantes se avengan con las exigencias de los nuevos retos en su preparación integral en las diferentes ramas de la ciencia y la técnica. Es por ello que las ciencias Administrativas y Humanísticas deben contribuir al desarrollo de habilidades que conduzcan al educando a un desempeño profesional independiente y creativo. Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir algunos posicionamientos teóricos sobre las estrategias didácticas de evaluación como una herramienta eficaz y su influencia en el desarrollo del proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje del estudiante. Este proceso ha estado vinculado directamente a los cambios políticos, económicos y sociales que se han generado en los diferentes países, donde el desarrollo social, de la ciencia, la técnica, la práctica y la investigación, han obligado a aplicar -no en el discurso, sino en la práctica efectiva- los conceptos de eficiencia, calidad y exigencia en los procesos educativos que realizan las universidades, cada vez más comprometidas y en interacción con la sociedad. Los docentes en su función tienen que mejorar la manera de enseñar, para lo cual deben prepararse para asumir ese reto y mantenerse siempre competitivos, sin miedo a los cambios tecnológicos que se estén generando, esta preparación e innovación debe ir en el sentido de estar al día con el uso y manejo de las Tecnologías de la Informática y las Comunicaciones, para tener una educación superior de excelencia y calidad. ABSTRACTThe contemporary university requires changes and consequently the search for new teaching strategies - learning so that the skills and abilities of students are in line with the demands of the new challenges in their comprehensive training in the different branches of science and technique. That is why the Administrative and Humanistic sciences should contribute to the development of skills that lead to educating independent and creative professional performance. This study aims to describe some theoretical positions on the teaching strategies as an effective evaluation tool and its influence on the development of the teaching and student learning. This process has been linked directly to political, economic and social changes that have generated in the different countries where social development, science, technology, practice and research, have-not obliged to apply in speech but in practice effectively the concepts of efficiency, quality and high standards in education by the universities, increasingly engaged and interacting with society. Teachers in their role must improve the way of teaching, which must be prepared to take on this challenge and always stay competitive, without fear of the technological changes that are being generated, this preparation and innovation should go in the sense of being the day with the use and management of ICT, to have a higher education excellence and quality

Nopol production over Sn-MCM-41 synthesized by different procedures – Solvent effects

ABSTRACT: Nopol production over impregnated Sn-MCM-41 under several reaction conditions was examined and compared with Sn-MCM-41 materials previously synthesized by CVD or hydrothermal procedures. The effect of solvent on catalytic activity of Sn-MCM-41 materials and leaching tests of impregnated samples were also assessed. Selected materials were characterized by BET, XPS and H2-TPR. The effect of solvent was explained in terms of polarity by the solvatochromic parameter, ET(30), and paraformaldehyde solubility by the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP). Nopol selectivity was enhanced at intermediate values of ET(30), and the highest b-pinene conversion was obtained when the HSP was close to 18.2 MPa0.5. Leaching experiments confirmed that the reaction was truly heterogeneous. Catalysts characterization suggested that tin was deposited as tin oxide nanoparticles, when MCM-41 was modified by CVD and impregnation with stannic and stannous chloride, respectively. Conversely, most of the tin hydrothermally incorporated is presumably present as aggregates in the inner walls of MCM-41 and a small fraction of tin isomorphously substituted silicon atoms