Estructuración de un modelo de gestión eficiente para AJ Colombia SAS

En la mayoría de los pa��ses, los negocios familiares representan un alto porcentaje de todas las empresas constituidas. Colombia no es la excepción a este comportamiento, donde las empresas familiares representan el 70% de todas las compa��ías, según la Superintendencia de Sociedades, en las que se incluyen PYMES y grandes grupos económicos. Este trabajo de grado tiene como objetivo estructurar un modelo de gestión eficiente para la empresa AJ Colombia S.A.S. una empresa mediana que se ha venido estructurando de manera empírica, por lo que tras el análisis de sus procesos encontramos posibles mejoras usando herramientas como el Cambio Estratégico y la Reingeniería, además de la generación de valor por medio de los Inventarios.

Sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor for low back pain : a systematic review

<b>Objectives b>To review systematically studies examining the association between sedentary lifestyle and low back pain (LBP) using a comprehensive definition of sedentary behaviour including prolonged sitting both at work and during leisure time.<br /><br /><b>Methods b>Journal articles published between 1998 and 2006 were obtained by searching computerized bibliographical databases. Quality assessment of studies employing a cohort or case&ndash;control design was performed to assess the strength of the evidence.<br /><br /><b>Results b>Using pre-determined keywords, we identified 1,778 titles of which 1,391 were considered irrelevant. Then, 20 of the remaining 387 publications were scrutinized for full review after an examination of all the 387 abstracts. Finally, 15 studies (10 prospective cohorts and 5 case&ndash;controls) were included in the methodological quality assessment, of which 8 (6 cohorts and 2 case&ndash;controls; 53%) were classified as high-quality studies. One high-quality cohort study reported a positive association, between LBP and sitting at work only; all other studies reported no significant associations. Hence, there was limited evidence to demonstrate that sedentary behaviour is a risk factor for developing LBP.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions b>The present review confirms that sedentary lifestyle by itself is not associated with LBP.<br />

Effect of increased temperature on erosion-corrosion under turbulent conditions in Bayer liquor

A study of the behaviour of mild steel in synthetic Bayer liquor at 25 °C and 95 °C showed that turbulent conditions had a small effect on the anodic currents at 25 °C, but caused large increases in currents at 95 °C. This may be due to the increased solubility of magnetite at the higher temperature.<br />

The effect of repeated boar exposure on cortisol secretion and reproduction in gilts

It has been proposed that short-term activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis, with a consequent increase in the secretion of cortisol, amy disrupt the endocrine events prior to ovulation and thereby impair reproduction in females. We investigated this concept in gilts in which oestrus was detected by introduction to boars, where intense physical contact is possible, or by applying pressure to the back of gilts (back-pressure test) during fence-line exposure to boars, where intense physical contact is prohibited. We expected that there would be a greater release of cortisol and that reproduction would be inhibited in gilts introduced to boars compared to gilts in which the back-pressure test was used. As expected, introduction of gilts to boars resulted in a significant transient increase in plasma concentrations of cortisol while there was no significant effect of using the back-pressure test on plasma cortisol. Nevertheless, introduction of gilts to boars did not impair reproduction and there was no effect of method of detecting oestrus on duration of oestrus, sexual receptivity, fertility or fecundity. The length of the oestrous cycle was decreased and ovulation rate increased in gilts that were introduced to boars compared to gilts that underwent the back-pressure test, indicating that introduction of gilts to boars may have stimulated these aspects of reproduction. These stimulatory effects may have been due to an increased exposure of gilts to sexual behaviour and stimuli from boars when introduced to boars and/or to stimulatory effects of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis on some aspects of reproduction.

Stochastic scheduling - A flow shop no wait application and solutions

Minimizing the makespan of a flow-shop no-wait (FSNW) schedule where the processing times are randomly distributed is an important NP-Complete Combinatorial Optimization Problem. In spite of this, it can be found only in very few papers in the literature. By considering the Start Interval Concept, this problem can be formulated, in a practical way, in function of the probability of the success in preserve FSNW constraints for all tasks execution. With this formulation, for the particular case with 3 machines, this paper presents different heuristics solutions: by integrating local optimization steps with insertion procedures and by using genetic algorithms for search the solution space. Computational results and performance evaluations are commented. Copyright (C) 1998 IFAC.

A paradoxical rise of neonatal seizures after treatment with vitamin B6

We report the case of a newborn with intractable epileptic seizures developing a paradoxical rise of seizure frequency and electroencephalogram alterations after administration of vitamin B6. We have been unable to determine the aetiology of this disorder. In a newborn presenting with drug-resistant epileptic seizures, the first therapeutic option remains the application of intravenous pyridoxine, but the physician should be aware of the risk of an increase in seizure frequency.

Brain electric microstates and momentary conscious mind states as building blocks of spontaneous thinking: I. Visual imagery and abstract thoughts

Prompted reports of recall of spontaneous, conscious experiences were collected in a no-input, no-task, no-response paradigm (30 random prompts to each of 13 healthy volunteers). The mentation reports were classified into visual imagery and abstract thought. Spontaneous 19-channel brain electric activity (EEG) was continuously recorded, viewed as series of momentary spatial distributions (maps) of the brain electric field and segmented into microstates, i.e. into time segments characterized by quasi-stable landscapes of potential distribution maps which showed varying durations in the sub-second range. Microstate segmentation used a data-driven strategy. Different microstates, i.e. different brain electric landscapes must have been generated by activity of different neural assemblies and therefore are hypothesized to constitute different functions. The two types of reported experiences were associated with significantly different microstates (mean duration 121 ms) immediately preceding the prompts; these microstates showed, across subjects, for abstract thought (compared to visual imagery) a shift of the electric gravity center to the left and a clockwise rotation of the field axis. Contrariwise, the microstates 2 s before the prompt did not differ between the two types of experiences. The results support the hypothesis that different microstates of the brain as recognized in its electric field implement different conscious, reportable mind states, i.e. different classes (types) of thoughts (mentations); thus, the microstates might be candidates for the `atoms of thought'.

Furosemide inhibits 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2.

11Beta-hydroxsteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11beta-OHSD2) protects the nonselective renal mineralocorticoid receptor from the endogenous glucocorticoid cortisol. Thus, drugs inhibiting 11beta-OHSD2 might enhance urinary loss of potassium. As diuretics influence the renal handling of potassium, we analyzed the impact of 13 commonly used diuretics on 11beta-OHSD2. Furosemide was the only inhibitor. Its inhibition constant (Ki) was 30 micromol when extracts from COS-1 cells transfected with human 11beta-OHSD2 were used as an enzyme source. The type of inhibition was competitive. To establish whether furosemide inhibits 11beta-OHSD2 and 11beta-OHSD1 in the renal target tissue, isolated tubular segments from rats were analyzed. Furosemide decreased the oxidative activity of 11beta-OHSD2 in intact distal tubules and 11beta-OHSD1 in proximal convoluted tubules. For the assessment of furosemide on the excretion of corticosterone metabolites in vivo, rats were given furosemide i.p., and the ratio of tetrahydrocorticosterone plus 5alpha-tetrahydrocorticosterone to 11-dehydrotetrahydrocorticosterone was determined in urine. This ratio increased after the administration of furosemide in all animals, indicating inhibition of the oxidative activity of 11beta-OHSD. Thus, furosemide inhibits the 11beta-OHSD2 enzyme in the target tissue and might by that mechanism enhance the mineralocorticoid effect of 11beta-hydroxyglucocorticoids.

CT myelography for diagnosis of brachial plexus avulsion in small animals

Avulsion of nerve roots of the brachial plexus can be diagnosed clinically, neurologically, radiographically and by electromyography. But like the myelography these techniques are inprecise for determination of the severity (partial or complete disruption) and the localization of the lesion. In human medicine the combination of computerized tomography with myelography shows high accuracy. Veterinary reports of experience in this field are not yet known. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate nerve root avulsions using myelography and computerized tomography. Three dogs and one cat with traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus were examined. The lesion could be seen in all patients. Thus CT-myelography results in an improved prognostic assessment of brachial plexus paralysis. Moreover, this technique could become one of the most important diagnostic methods for brachial plexus lesions involving nerve root reinsertion--neurotizations in veterinary medicine.