Efectividad comparativa del seguimiento remoto a personas con marcapasos cardíacos frente al convencional: calidad de vida a los 6 meses.

BACKGROUND The use of remote follow-up (RF) of people with pacemakers (PM) is limited in comparison to the hospital modality (HS), being still poor the scientific evidence that shows their comparative effectiveness. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life in individuals with different modalities of follow-up. METHODS Controlled, not randomized nor masked clinical trial, with data collection at pre and post-implantation of pacemakers during the 6 months follow-up. All patients over 18 years-old who were implanted a PM during the study period were selected (n = 83), and they were assigned to RF (n = 30) or HF (n = 53) groups according to their personal characteristics and patient's preferences. Baseline characteristics and number of visits to the hospital were analysed, the EuroQol-5D (EQ5D) questionnaire was administered to evaluate the health-related quality of life, and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) to assess the functional capacity. RESULTS There were no significant differences between both groups in relation to the baseline analysis, EQ5D (RF:0.7299; HF:0.6769) and DASI (RF:21.41; HF:19.99). At 6 months the quality of life was improved in both groups (EQ5D RF:0.8613; HF:0.8175; p = 0,439) still without significant differences between them. DASI score was similar to baseline (20.51 vs 21.80). RF group performed less transmissions/visits per patient (1.57) than hospital group (1.96; relative reduction 31%; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS Remote follow-up of people with pacemakers might be considered as an equivalent option to the hospital follow-up in relation to the quality of life and it reduces the number of hospital visits.

Biopolymers

Plants naturally synthesize a variety of polymers that have been used by mankind as a source of useful biomaterials. For example, cellulose, the main constituent of plant cell wall and the most abundant polymer on earth, has been used for several thousand years as a source of fibers for various fabrics. Similarly, rubber extracted from the bark of the tree Hevea brasiliensis, has been a major source of elastomers until the development of similar synthetic polymers. In the last century, the usefulness of plant polymers as biomaterials has been expanded through the chemical modification of the natural polymers. For example, a number of plastics have been made by substituting the hydroxyl groups present on the glucose moiety of cellulose with larger groups, such as nitrate or acetate, giving rise to materials such as cellulose acetate, a clear plastic used in consumer products such as toothbrush handles and combs. Similarly, starch has been used in the manufacture of plastics by either using it in blends with synthetic polymers or as the main constituent in biodegradable plastics. The advent of transformation and expres- sion of foreign genes in plants has created the possibility of expanding the usefulness of plants to include the synthesis of a range of biomolecules. In view of the capacity of certain crops to produce a large quantity of organic raw material at low cost, such as oils and starch, it is of interest to explore the possibility of using transgenic plants as efficient vectors for the synthesis of biopolymers. Such plant based biopolymers could replace, in part, the synthetic plastics and elastomers produced from petroleum, offering the advantage of renewability and sustainability. Furthermore, being natural pro- ducts, biopolymers are usually biodegradable and can thus contribute to alleviate problems associated with the management of plastic waste. In this article, the emphasis will be on the use of transgenic plants for the synthesis of two novel classes of industrially useful polymers, namely protein based polymers made from natural or artificial genes, and polyhydroxyalkanoates, a family of bacterial poly- esters having the properties of biodegradable plastics and elastomers.

Avaliação Externa de Escolas: Estudo Comparativo entre Portugal e Cabo Verde

A avaliação externa de escolas assumiu, nos últimos anos, uma grande centralidade nas políticas educativas e apercebemos que cada vez mais, se tornou uma exigência nos estabelecimentos de ensino. É nesta perspetiva que levamos a cabo uma investigação cuja preocupação central assenta na avaliação externa de escolas como nosso objeto de estudo, uma vez que, devido à pertinência atribuída pelas políticas educativas e sustentada nas boas práticas internacionais é considerada um gerador de mudança que contribui para a melhoria da aprendizagem dos alunos e para o desenvolvimento das instituições. Assim, optamos por realizar o trabalho segundo uma abordagem predominantemente qualitativa, através de um inquérito por entrevistas, com o propósito de obter dados que permitissem compreender e conhecer o modelo da avaliação externa de escolas, que, enquanto área de avaliação e de melhorias é assumida como uma das prioridades na educação, que caminha para o progresso das escolas, qualificando-as, com o objetivo de gerar impacto na melhoria dos resultados dos alunos. De uma forma global constatamos que nas últimas décadas, particularmente em Portugal, varias foram as iniciativas de avaliação de escolas e que a lei nº 31/2002, de 20 de dezembro, veio dar continuidade aos programas antes implementados, atribuindo-lhe um caráter obrigatório. Entretanto, Cabo Verde não dispõe de nenhum regulamento que estabeleça a obrigatoriedade da mesma, mas tendo consciência do impacto que a avaliação externa de escolas tem suscitado em muitos países europeus, a inspeção - geral da educação iniciou-se uma experiência em março de 2012, mas falta ainda fazer a revisão dos normativos que permitam regularizar este fenómeno, de modo a que se torne seja uma prática regularizada e consistente. De acordo com os argumentos dos entrevistados, os dados revelam-se que, a avaliação externa de escolas têm como finalidade a melhoria do sistema educativo e os efeitos nomeadamente a este nível são o desenvolvimento a nível institucional e profissional dos professores, a boa gestão pedagógica e ainda o de produzir uma cultura de autoavaliação nas escolas.

Estudo exploratório sobre as atitudes e os comportamentos de alunos e professores do ensino secundário

A exploração exacerbada dos recursos naturais para a satisfação das necessidades humanas e para a manutenção de certos padrões de consumo e estilos de vida provocou a exaustão dos recursos da natureza, a degradação sócio ambiental e a perda de valores na relação homem natureza. O problema não é o consumo porque somos consumidores. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal aferir e compreender o nível de conhecimento, os comportamentos pró e pós-consumo, a natureza e a extensão das oportunidades e ameaças, bem como pontos fortes e fracos que os alunos e professores da escola secundária selecionada apresentam em relação ao consumo e sustentabilidade e a promoção de ações conducentes à sustentabilidade ambiental. Para a sua realização utilizou-se um guião de entrevistas elaborado para servir de instrumento de gestão da entrevista semi estruturada dirigida a uma amostra de 18 participantes. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos participantes apresenta um nível de conhecimento satisfatório sobre o consumo e a sustentabilidade, embora se tenha verificado algumas discrepâncias entre os discursos ambientalmente sustentáveis e as práticas de consumo diário. As dificuldades financeiras, os preços elevados e a iliteracia ambiental são as justificativas apresentadas. Constatou-se no grupo uma consciência e sensibilidade para a proteção ambiental, aliadas a uma forte recetividade às informações veiculadas ao longo do estudo, valores que devem ser valorizados e estimulados pela educação ambiental, que deve ser transversal a toda a sociedade, pois para a sustentabilidade do planeta é necessário que todos passem por uma alfabetização ecológica.

6

Corporations do not exist in a vacuum, they are embedded in a socio-political context. This context shapes our ideas about what managers within corporations and corporations within society do or should do. The rise of a global world order at the threshold of the 21st century is transforming our society at high speed. Questions of business integrity and sustainability move center stage. This book, written on the occasion of the HEC Lausanne centennial by some thirty professors, discusses various aspects of responsible management practices for the 21st century and provides some key insights for managers today and tomorrow.

Effects of tillage systems on physical properties of a cohesive yellow argisol in the northern state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Tillage systems are a key element of the technology of crop production, both with a view to crop yield and from the perspective of soil conservation and sustainability of the production system. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of five tillage systems on the physical properties of a cohesive Yellow Argisol. The experiment was installed in the field on January 21, 2011 and lasted 260 days, in an area previously used as pasture with Brachiaria grass without liming or fertilization, but irrigated by a low pressure spray system. The treatments, in five replications and in a randomized block design, consisted of: 1) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + ridge-furrow tillage (raising a ridge along the planting row), 135 days after transplanting (DP + RID); 2) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow (DP no RID); 3) subsoiler (SB); 4) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + scarification with three shanks along the plant row (DP + SPR); and 5) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + scarification with three shanks in the total area (DP + STA). In all tillage systems, furrows were mechanically opened for the papaya plants. After the treatments, the mechanical resistance to penetration was determined, followed by soil moisture, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), bulk density (BD), macroporosity (Ma), microporosity (Mi), and number of fruits per plant. There were differences in penetration resistance (PR) between treatments. The subsoiler was more effective to decrease RP to a distance of 0.35 m from the plants, perpendicular to the plant row. The scarifier resulted in a lower PR than DP or SB, even at the depth of 0.40 m, and it was more effective at greater distances perpendicular to the plant. All tillage systems induced a PR between 2.0 and 3.0 MPa at the depth with the highest concentration of papaya tree roots (0-0.25 m), improving the physical conditions to this depth. There was no statistical difference among the treatments for BD, Ma, Mi, MWD, and GMD at a depth of 0.20 m. The disk plow changed the physical properties of the soil most intensely to a depth of 0.20 m. The use of scarification, reduced tillage with a forest subsoiler, or ridge-furrow tillage did not improve the physical properties in the rhizosphere. Reduced tillage with a forest subsoiler resulted in a lower number of fruits per plant than all other treatments, which did not differ from each other.

Sistema de indicadores para la gestión sostenible de un destino turístico: aplicación a la Costa Brava centro

Strategic management is based upon a performance measurement system that allows gearing decision making towards accomplishing the established objectives.In a changing economic situation, the measurement of the effects of tourism is fundamental in order to know the efficiency and sustainability of that industry and of the territory in which takes place its activity. We propose a performance measurement system for the sustainable management of a tourism destination, so it will support the adoption of public policies and their follow-up, and as an instrument that will promote the responsible participation of the stakeholders with stakes in the destination. In accordance with the guidelines of the Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism, we design a system based on the identification of the axes over which hinges the success of the management of tourism destinations, taking into account the long-term sustainability of this activity. We position the performance measurement system, and especially the balanced scorecard, as a support tool for the strategic planning of destinations. To the extent that this is possible, the performance measures are selected and structured according to the patterns of the balanced scorecard. Finally, we apply the conceptual model to the central Costa Brava

Factors that determine the evolution of high-growth businesses

The study herein discusses research aimed at elucidating the factors that contribute to a business' ability to maintain high growth. The database from the Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System (SABI, from its initials in Spanish) was used to identify 250 industrial Catalonian businesses with high growth during 2004-2007. These companies participated in a survey on strategies and management practices; in 2013, they were re-analyzed to investigate the factors that contributed to continued growth for certain companies. Through diverse statistical techniques, business policies related to quality, innovation, internationalization and finance were shown to influence business growth and sustainability over time. High-growth businesses have been studied throughout the world, but this is the first study to investigate the evolution of businesses after a high-growth phase.

Exploration of the social dimension of corporate responsibility in a welfare state

This study focuses on corporate social responsibility (or CSR)as the latest dimension to emerge in the corporate responsibility and sustainability agenda, which in the recent past has rapidly risen to the top of the list of concerns for civil societies worldwide. Despite the continuing debates and discussions about the scope, benefits, and impacts of CSR to business and community in various sectors, levels, and types of society, many companies have moved forward to confront the opportunities and challenges of CSR. Thus, this study is about those proactive companies with a focus on the importance of CSR and its management inside and outside the company. It is an exploration and learning from the experience of Finnish companies, as well as other actors interested or involved in shaping the course of CSR, locally and globally. It also looks closely at how national culture affects the views, thinking, and management of CSR in a welfare state. This dissertation primarily draws on the analyses of information collected from a series of qualitative interviews and the existing literature in the area. This is complemented by an analysis of written and published documents on CSR from various sources. The results of the study give insightful information and detailed descriptions of a roadmap useful in learning and understanding CSR in Finnish companies. Despite the varying conceptual connotations, essential roadmap indicators point to the importance of framing CSR within the corporate responsibility concept, Finnish development and the welfare state system, globalization, stakeholders, and the pursuit of sustainable development as the main drivers of CSR, the remarkable progress of CSR in companies, and identification of key management areas and practices relevant to CSR. Similarly,the study reveals the importance of culture as essential in understanding and learning CSR. Finnish culture has a positive influence on the views, thinking, and management practices of CSR issues. Such a positive influence of culture, therefore, makes it easy for business people to discuss and understand CSR, because those CSR issues are already considered common and taken-for-granted by Finns and are implicit in the welfare state provisions. The experience of Finnish companies in implementing CSR policies in the supply chain is a concrete proactive step in advancing the message of CSR, that is, to bring companies and suppliers together to work on improving and strengthening relationships towards socially responsible practices worldwide. Such a forward step to deal with CSR issues in the supply chain reflects the companies' commitments and belief that CSR can be managed with the suppliers and gain positive benefits. Despite the problems and complexities, particularly in the global supply chain, managing CSR for Finnish companies presents new opportunities and challenges that are expected to intensify in the near future. The focus on CSR policy implementation inthe supply chain points to the importance of companies taking initiatives and forging cooperation with suppliers with the aim of addressing and improving CSR questions in the supply chains. The proactive stance of Finnish companies toward CSR is complemented by the active supporting role of important societalactors such as the government and NGOs. These actors carry out various promotional efforts and campaigns, thus bringing CSR into the mainstream of Finnish companies and strengthening the synergistic learning about CSR within the Finnish business and civil circles. The efforts of the government and NGOs to promote CSR are indicative of the importance of multipartite involvement and the emergence of better civil regulations. Likewise, their drive to learn from each other, exchange experiences, and contribute in CSR debates facilitated the evolution of CSRnetworks in the country. The results of this study add to the mounting evidence that CSR, in general, has created a new dimension in managing corporate sustainability. This study provides compelling empirical evidence and some direct quotations about CSR in the Finnish context. This information can be used to learn and gain new useful insights, approaches, and concepts for managing CSR.

Análisis de la responsabilidad social corporativa en empresas del mercado continuo español

En este trabajo se presenta un análisis descriptivo de la responsabilidad social corporativa, en el área medioambiental. En concreto, se estudia la información medioambiental que detallan las empresas en su Memoria normal de las cuentas anuales en relación con la que regula el PGC07. También analizamos si las empresas que siguen fielmente el PGC07 son las que más certificados medioambientales y Memorias de sostenibilidad presentan. Hemos escogido como muestra un conjunto de empresas de determinados sectores de actividad del mercado continuo español en el ejercicio 2008. Los resultados alcanzados nos permiten concluir que las empresas que tienen alguna certificación medioambiental son las que presentan más información medioambiental en su Memoria contable avalando el cambio que se está produciendo en la cultura empresarial.

eLab, a Personal Learning Environment for the Green Open Innovation Platform

Open Innovation is a relatively new concept which involves a change of paradigm in the R+D+i processes of companies whose aim is to create new technologies or new processes. If to this change, we add the need for innovation in the new green and sustainability economy, and we set out to create a collaborative platform with a learning space where this can happen, we will be facing an overwhelming challenge which requires the application of intelligent programming technologies and languages at the service of education.The aim of the Green IDI (Green Open Innovation) ¿ Economic development and job creation vector in SMEs, based on the environment and sustainability project is to create a platform where companies and individual researchers can perform open innovation processes in the field of sustainability and the environment.The Green IDI (Green Open Innovation) project is funded under the program INNPACTO by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and is being developed through a consortium formed by the following institutions: GRUPO ICA; COMPARTIA; GRUPO INTERCOM; CETAQUA and the Instituto de Investigación en Inteligencia Artificial (IIIA) from Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). Also the consortium include FUNDACIÓ PRIVADA BARCELONA DIGITAL; PIMEC and UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (UOC).Sustainability and positive action for the environment are considered the principle vector of economic development for companies. As Nicolás Scoli says (2007) ¿in short, preventing unnecessary consumption and the efficient consumption of resources means producing greater wealth with less. Both effects lead to reduced pollution linked to production and consumption¿.The Spanish Sustainable Development Strategy (EEDS) plan defends consumption and sustainable production linked to social and economic development by adhering to the commitment not to endanger ecosystems and abolishing the idea that economic growth is directly proportional to the deterioration of the environment.Uniting the Open Innovation and New Green Economy concepts leads to the "Green Open Innovation¿ Platform creation project.This article analyses the concept of open innovation and defines the importance of the new green and sustainable economy. Lastly, it proposes the creation of eLab. The eLab is defined as an Open Green Innovation Platform personal and collaborative education space which is fed by the interactions of users and which enables innovation processes based on new green economy concepts to be carried out.The creation of a personal learning environment such as eLab on the Green Open Innovation Platform meets the need to offer a collaborative space where platform users can improve their skills regarding the environment and sustainability based on collaborative synergies through Information and Communication Technologies.

The International Distribution of Energy Intensities: some synthetic results

The paper examines the international distribution of energy intensities as a conventional proxy indicator of energy efficiency and sustainability in the consumption of resources, by employing some descriptive tools from the analysis of inequality and polarization. The analysis specifically focuses on the following points: firstly, inequalities are evaluated synthetically based on diverse summary measures and Lorenz curves; secondly, different factorial decompositions are undertaken that assist in investigating some explanatory factors (weighting factors, multiplicative factors and decomposition by groups); and thirdly, an analysis is made of the polarization of intensities when groups of countries are defined endogenously and exogenously. The results obtained have significant implications from both academic and political perspectives.

Recursos humanos para novos cenários

The Brazilian Chemical Society - SBQ has made substantial contributions to the formation of qualified human resources at all levels since its foundation in 1977. Several papers addressing this subject have been published in Quimica Nova by different authors over the last years. In this paper, we discuss the present need for "Curriculum Guidelines" for undergraduate education in Chemistry with actions to be taken in accord with the Principles of Green Chemistry and Sustainability.

Väestönkasvu muslimimaiden haasteena

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Potential of utilization of rain water excess for irrigation of green roofs in Mato Grosso, Brasil

The aim of this study was to identify the relation between the evapotranspirometer demand and the supply of water from local rainfall, evaluating the possibility of using water excess for irrigation of Green Roofs in the State of Mato Grosso, in Brazil. The study was done using a series of historical data provided by the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET - Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia) which has official climatological stations in 12 cities and regions of the State. The evapotranspiration values were obtained by the Penman-Monteith method and by the Climatic Water Balance (CWB) by the Thornthwaite and Mather method using Available Water Capacity (AWC) of 12mm. With the CWB the excess and deficit were calculated, which were used for the estimative of the volume and area of a reservoir as a function of a collector area of a roof of 100m² and the volume of supplementary water for irrigation. With the obtained results, it was found that in most investigated regions of the State the use of green roofs is not compromised by the water deficiency. On the other hand, the use of a reservoir to accumulate the rain water excess may be impractical, because it requires a considerable area for installation and also because of the high cost of the land.