The minimum number of measurements for colour, sparkle, and graininess characterisation in gonio-apparent panels

Materials with new visual appearances have emerged over the last few years. In the automotive industry in particular there is a growing interest in materials with new effect finishes, such as metallic, pearlescent, sparkle, and graininess effects. Typically, for solid colours the mean of three measurements with repetitions is sufficient to obtain a representative measurement for colour characterisation. However, gonio-apparent panels have non-homogeneous colours, and there are no studies that recommend the minimum number of repetitions for colour, sparkle, and graininess characterisation of this type of panel. We assume that colour panels incorporating special-effect pigments in their colour recipes will require a higher minimum number of measurements than solid colour panels. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to verify this assumption by using a multiangle BYK-mac spectrophotometer, given that it is currently the only commercial device that can measure colour, sparkle, and graininess values simultaneously. In addition, a possible methodology is given for establishing the minimum number of measurements when characterising gonio-apparent materials using a specific instrument, able to be implemented in future instruments when determining multiple appearance attributes (colour, gloss, sparkle, etc.) for many coloration technologies. Thus, we studied the minimum number of measurements needed to characterise the colour, sparkle, and graininess of three types of sample with solid, metallic, and pearlescent coatings respectively. Twenty measurements were made at twenty random positions (different target areas) of 90 samples. The minimum number of measurements for all these variables was determined on the basis of the point at which the cumulative mean value became constant. Thus, applying new statistical tools, it is clearly shown that metallic and pearlescent panels require more colour measurements than solid panels, in particular when geometries are being measured in a specular direction. As regards texture (sparkle and graininess), more measurements are needed for graininess than for sparkle, and more for metallic panels than for pearlescent panels.

Formación inicial y permanente de profesionales de la educación. Las competencias del maestro de educación infantil

El trabajo de investigación se centra en el tema de las competencias docentes del maestro/a de Educación Infantil, tratando de dilucidar cuáles son las capacidades fundamentales que ha de desarrollar el docente. Esta preocupación nace de la labor profesional en la formación del profesorado y del momento de cambio que hoy vivimos tras la implantación de los nuevos planes de estudio del Grado de Magisterio. Se trata de averiguar las competencias fundamentales en la formación de los futuros docentes con vistas a elaborar el nuevo perfil del docente que responda a las necesidades de una sociedad en continuo cambio. El modelo centrado en las competencias supone un cambio, y se opone al modelo tradicional basado en la adquisición de conocimientos teóricos aislados y desconectados entre sí. A partir de éstas reflexiones se han establecido los interrogantes básicos de la investigación y los objetivos. En la fundamentación teórica, tratamos de clarificar el paradigma en el que encuadramos nuestro trabajo. Para ello, hacemos un repaso de los diferentes modelos o paradigmas educativo posicionándonos en el enfoque de la investigación-acción que se basa en la reflexión sobre la propia práctica con una vocación transformadora de la realidad. A continuación se revisan las funciones de la escuela y del maestro de educación infantil y se realiza un análisis del enfoque competencial, que es clave en el marco europeo en las últimas décadas y que ha transformado el panorama educativo. En el currículo español las competencias básicas tienen tres referentes fundamentales: el ámbito académico, la Unión Europea y la OCDE (DeSeCo)...

Myocardial edema after ischemia/reperfusion is not stable and follows a bimodal pattern: Imaging and histological tissue characterization

It is widely accepted that edema occurs early in the ischemic zone and persists in stable form for at least 1 week after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. However, there are no longitudinal studies covering from very early (minutes) to late (1 week) reperfusion stages confirming this phenomenon. This study sought to perform a comprehensive longitudinal imaging and histological characterization of the edematous reaction after experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. The study population consisted of 25 instrumented Large-White pigs (30 kg to 40 kg). Closed-chest 40-min ischemia/reperfusion was performed in 20 pigs, which were sacrificed at 120 min (n = 5), 24 h (n = 5), 4 days (n = 5), and 7 days (n = 5) after reperfusion and processed for histological quantification of myocardial water content. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scans with T2-weighted short-tau inversion recovery and T2-mapping sequences were performed at every follow-up stage until sacrifice. Five additional pigs sacrificed after baseline CMR served as controls. In all pigs, reperfusion was associated with a significant increase in T2 relaxation times in the ischemic region. On 24-h CMR, ischemic myocardium T2 times returned to normal values (similar to those seen pre-infarction). Thereafter, ischemic myocardium-T2 times in CMR performed on days 4 and 7 after reperfusion progressively and systematically increased. On day 7 CMR, T2 relaxation times were as high as those observed at reperfusion. Myocardial water content analysis in the ischemic region showed a parallel bimodal pattern: 2 high water content peaks at reperfusion and at day 7, and a significant decrease at 24 h. Contrary to the accepted view, myocardial edema during the first week after ischemia/reperfusion follows a bimodal pattern. The initial wave appears abruptly upon reperfusion and dissipates at 24 h. Conversely, the deferred wave of edema appears progressively days after ischemia/reperfusion and is maximal around day 7 after reperfusion.

A 30-month worksite-based lifestyle program to promote cardiovascular health in middle-aged bank employees: Design of the TANSNIP-PESA randomized controlled trial

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. With atherosclerosis as the underlying cause for many CVD events, prevention or reduction of subclinical atherosclerotic plaque burden (SAPB) through a healthier lifestyle may have substantial public health benefits. The objective was to describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a 30-month worksite-based lifestyle program aimed to promote cardiovascular health in participants having a high or a low degree of SAPB compared with standard care. We will conduct a randomized controlled trial including middle-aged bank employees from the Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis cohort, stratified by SAPB (high SAPB n = 260, low SAPB n = 590). Within each stratum, participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive a lifestyle program or standard care. The program consists of 3 elements: (a) 12 personalized lifestyle counseling sessions using Motivational Interviewing over a 30-month period, (b) a wrist-worn physical activity tracker, and (c) a sit-stand workstation. Primary outcome measure is a composite score of blood pressure, physical activity, sedentary time, body weight, diet, and smoking (ie, adapted Fuster-BEWAT score) measured at baseline and at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up. The study will provide insights into the effectiveness of a 30-month worksite-based lifestyle program to promote cardiovascular health compared with standard care in participants with a high or low degree of SAPB.

Association of myocardial T1-mapping CMR with hemodynamics and RV performance in pulmonary hypertension

Early detection of right ventricular (RV) involvement in chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) is essential due to prognostic implications. T1 mapping by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as a noninvasive technique for extracellular volume fraction (ECV) quantification. We assessed the association of myocardial native T1 time and equilibrium contrast ECV (Eq-ECV) at the RV insertion points with pulmonary hemodynamics and RV performance in an experimental model of chronic PH. Right heart catheterization followed by immediate CMR was performed on 38 pigs with chronic PH (generated by surgical pulmonary vein banding) and 6 sham-operated controls. Native T1 and Eq-ECV values at the RV insertion points were both significantly higher in banded animals than in controls and showed significant correlation with pulmonary hemodynamics, RV arterial coupling, and RV performance. Eq-ECV values also increased before overt RV systolic dysfunction, offering potential for the early detection of myocardial involvement in chronic PH.

Efficacy and safety of out-of-hospital intravenous metoprolol administration in anterior ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction: insights from the METOCARD-CNIC trial

We seek to examine the efficacy and safety of prereperfusion emergency medical services (EMS)–administered intravenous metoprolol in anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing eventual primary angioplasty. This is a prespecified subgroup analysis of the Effect of Metoprolol in Cardioprotection During an Acute Myocardial Infarction trial population, who all eventually received oral metoprolol within 12 to 24 hours. We studied patients receiving intravenous metoprolol by EMS and compared them with others treated by EMS but not receiving intravenous metoprolol. Outcomes included infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 1 week, and safety by measuring the incidence of the predefined combined endpoint (composite of death, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, advanced atrioventricular block, cardiogenic shock, or reinfarction) within the first 24 hours. From the total population of the trial (N=270), 147 patients (54%) were recruited during out-of-hospital assistance and transferred to the primary angioplasty center (74 intravenous metoprolol and 73 controls). Infarct size was smaller in patients receiving intravenous metoprolol compared with controls (23.4 [SD 15.0] versus 34.0 [SD 23.7] g; adjusted difference –11.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] –18.6 to –4.3). Left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in the intravenous metoprolol group (48.1% [SD 8.4%] versus 43.1% [SD 10.2%]; adjusted difference 5.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 8.4). Metoprolol administration did not increase the incidence of the prespecified safety combined endpoint: 6.8% versus 17.8% in controls (risk difference –11.1; 95% CI –21.5 to –0.6). Out-of-hospital administration of intravenous metoprolol by EMS within 4.5 hours of symptom onset in our subjects reduced infarct size and improved left ventricular ejection fraction with no excess of adverse events during the first 24 hours.

Liderazgo y cultura organizacional en Latinoamerica

El presente estudio de corte descriptivo hace una revisión teórica de 68 artículos de 11 países de Latinoamérica con el fin de dar a conocer el panorama organizacional con relación a la cultura organizacional y el liderazgo en la región y cómo este ha ido evolucionando en el tiempo. La metodología utilizada se enfocó en un conteo de frecuencias usando el modelo de liderazgo y cultura organizacional de Bass y Avolio (Bass, 1999) permitiendo ordenar en tres estilos de liderazgo la información encontrada en la revisión teórica, y a su vez cada uno de los liderazgos con sus creencias, éstas tomadas como variables de la cultura organizacional. Finalmente se encontraron diferentes tipos de tendencias a nivel de los tipos de liderazgo implementados en las organizaciones y la cultura organizacional que se adopta. Se plantea la necesidad de profundizar más y de forma empírica en la temática planteada para que se conozcan las transformaciones que se han dado en el contexto organizacional y el impacto sea mayor en un futuro cercano.

Las limitaciones de la implementación del soft power en la política exterior China hacia Chile (2002-2012)

Este estudio de caso tiene como objetivo principal analizar la manera en la que las limitaciones de la implementación del soft power de la política exterior China hacia Chile han condicionado las relaciones sino-chilenas al aspecto económico en detrimento del aspecto político y cultural bajo el gobierno de Hu Jintao (2002-2012). Este análisis se elabora a partir de la conceptualización hecha por Joseph Nye en torno al soft power; al cual, se le han otorgado características adicionales dadas por teóricos chinos, como la introducción y, fortalecimiento de China a través de la diplomacia pública para la proyección de su imagen internacional, basada en la cooperación y beneficio mutuo, con el fin de lograr el desarrollo pacífico en el siglo XXI.

EL NOS-OTROS-ORIGINARIO: Sobre la posibilidad de respetar los derechos de el-otro

Este texto plantea la posibilidad de recuperar el nos-otros-originario como clave para la superación del «sufrimiento inútil» del sujeto; de este modo, muestra al nos-otros-originario como una zona de protección de los derechos de el-otro, hace una crítica en contra del nos-otros-caído como vulnerador de derechos fundamentales, y aborda la posibilidad de recuperar el nos-otros-originario a través de una consumación definitiva de la "justicia".

Plan de Negocios Bloompack

Bloompack nace a partir de la desaparición de una empresa que se dedicaba a la fabricación y comercialización de empaques para flores en el municipio de Cajicá, Cundinamarca y en la cual me desempeñaba como Jefe de Producción. Es decir, mi labor era recibir los pedidos que hacían las fincas floricultoras y responder por que la línea de producción elaborara la cantidad necesaria de empaques para cumplir con éstos. La producción se dará por fuente propia, se estableció la infraestructura necesaria para la elaboración de los empaques. Se adquirió la máquina para la elaboración de los empaques, una maquina que sella el plástico que se va a usar-polipropileno biorientado-y deja el empaque formado. De igual forma se adquirió media tonelada de plástico para atender los pedidos iniciales de los clientes. El establecimiento de la infraestructura de Bloompack significó una inversión inicial de $10’700.000.

ANALYSIS OF SPEECH GENDER COMIC STRIPS FROM THE SOCIOLOGICAL METHOD

Working with comic strips in the classroom for teaching languages requires scientific knowledge which are able to subsidize the understanding of the language as a socio-historical nature, constituted in interactive and discursive entanglements socially conveyed. For that, we aim in this paper, to present the speech genre comic strip in order to analyze it from the Sociological Method proposed by Bakhtin, which points out the thematic content, the compositional construction and style as elements for the study of language. To theoretically support our study, as well as Bakhtin (1998, 2000) and Bakhtin / Voloshinov (2004), we will discuss authors such Brait (2013); Silveira, Rohling and Rodrigues (2012), among others.

The contradiction as a constitutive problem of the language: the resonances between Ducrot and Bakhtin

This paper seeks to problematize the contradiction as constitutive sense of the language, from the studies developed by Ducrot (1987) and Bakhtin/Voloshinov (2006). We asked ourselves to what extent it would be possible to control the clarity of expression of ideas, and how you can delete any problem that risks a logical and coherent organization of saying. In the case of this work, we want to ask which place the contradiction takes on as well as the relation that it establishes with the coherence and incoherence. From the analysis of sustained statements in concepts of the Argumentation Theory and the Polyphony, from the authors mentioned before, it was possible to establish a contrastive relation between the two perspectives of analysis, bearing in mind the proposed question. What allowed us to say the discourse’s senses cannot be limited to the materiality of the language and a methodology of textual logic does not account for countless possibilities of organizing a text – it is necessary to involve other forms of analysis, in a study that takes advantage of the internal structures as contribution of external determinants than mean jointly.