Evaluation of the Larval Therapy in the Healing Process of Infected Wounds with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Rabbits

Introduction. During the last two decades the larval therapy has reemerged as a safe and reliable alternative for the healing of cutaneous ulcers that do not respond to the conventional treatments. Objective. To evaluate the use of the larvae of Lucilia sericata as a treatment for infected wounds with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an animal model. Materials and methods. Twelve rabbits were randomly distributed in 3 groups: the first group was treated with larval therapy; the second was treated with antibiotics therapy and to the third no treatment was applied, therefore was established as a control group. To each animal a wound was artificially induced, and then a suspension of P. aeruginosa was inoculated into the lesion. Finally, every rabbit was evaluated until the infection development was recognized and treatment was set up for the first two groups according with the protocols mentioned above. Macroscopic evaluation of the wounds was based on the presence of edema, exudates, bad odor, inflammation around the wound and the presence of granulation tissue. The healing process was evaluated by monitoring histological changes in the dermal tissue. Results. Differences in the time required for wound healing were observed between the first group treated with larval therapy (10 days) and the second group treated with conventional antibiotics therapy (20 days). Conclusion. The L. sericata larva is and efficient tool as a therapy for infected wounds with P. aeruginosa.

Mejoras al proceso de control de presupuesto para actividades de educación médica continuada (EMC)

Las multinacionales son reconocidas por su perdurabilidad en el tiempo, todas tienen procesos operativos que permiten alcanzar los objetivos del negocio. Boehringer Ingelheim es una compañía con mas de 128 años en el negocio farmacéutico que se caracteriza por su trascendencia familiar. Esta es una de las pocas empresas que no tienen accionistas y es un caso de éxito en la industria. En Colombia, esta empresa se ve enfrentada a otros grandes laboratorios como lo son Pfizer, Novartis, Bayer, Roche, Tecnoquimicas, entre otros; por lo cual debe estar a la vanguardia tanto en medicamentos, tecnología y procesos. Este trabajo propone la mejora de uno de los procesos del área de mercadeo en el cual se ven involucradas las áreas de ventas y contabilidad, buscando reducir el tiempo operativo para ser implementado en actividades de mayor valor que beneficien a la empresa.

Diferencias individuales y desarrollo de habilidades de liderazgo : el rol del locus de control

El presente proyecto se ha elaborado con la finalidad de encontrar la relación existente entre el liderazgo y el locus de control, por medio de una revisión documental que permita dar una visión más amplia de estos dos fenómenos. De acuerdo con investigaciones realizadas, existen características individuales que afectan el desarrollo de liderazgo, lo cual a su vez tiene un impacto sobre el comportamiento de los individuos dentro de una sociedad. Uno de estos factores es el locus de control, el cual sesta determinado por características del individuo, y por el ambiente en el cual se desenvuelven las personas. Existen diferentes evidencias que soportan ésta relación entre locus de control y liderazgo. En éste estudio documental se describirán estos hallazgos, identificando las características del individuo y del contexto que influyen sobre ellos. Asimismo se pondrá en contexto a través del trabajo las características principales de los líderes y como se presentan las interacciones entre los lideres y seguidores, teniendo en cuenta que no todas las veces los seguidores desarrollan este papel al seguir a su líder, sino que por otro lado y estos pueden tomar parte fundamental en la interacción, influyendo de manera directa sobre el líder. Se recuerda que a los lideres los hacen sus seguidores y que sin estos no podrían desarrollar el papel de líder.

Relación entre el desarrollo de sistemas de control de gestión y los recursos y capacidades caso : Teleperformance Colombia

Siguiendo un marco teórico integrado por varios autores entorno a los sistemas de control de gestión a lo largo de varias décadas, este trabajo pretende estudiar y contrastar la relación entre el desarrollo de dichos sistemas y los recursos y capacidades. Para tal fin, se desarrolló un estudio de caso en Teleperformance Colombia (TC), una empresa dedicada a prestación de servicio de tercerización de procesos o business process outsourcing. En el estudio se establecieron dos variables para evaluar el desarrollo de sistema de control de gestión: el diseño y el uso. A su vez, para cada uno de ellos, se definieron los indicadores y preguntas que permitieran realizar la observación y posterior análisis. De igual manera, se seleccionaron los recursos y capacidades más importantes para el desarrollo del negocio: innovación, aprendizaje organizacional y capital humano. Sobre estos se validó la existencia de relación con el SCG implementado en TC. La información obtenida fue analizada y contrastada a través de pruebas estadísticas ampliamente utilizadas en este tipo de estudios en las ciencias sociales. Finalmente, se analizaron seis posibles relaciones de las cuales, solamente se ratificó el relacionamiento positivo entre uso de sistema de control gestión y el recurso y capacidad capital humano. El resto de relacionamientos, refutaron los planteamientos teóricos que establecían cierta influencia de los sistemas de control de gestión sobre recursos y capacidades de innovación y aprendizaje organizacional.

La cooperación hacia Mauritania y la externalización del control migratorio español como mecanismos de securitización de la política migratoria española hacia Mauritania (1996 - 2013)

La llegada masiva de migrantes irregulares provenientes del África sub-sahariana ha sido un fenómeno que ha afectado en términos económicos, sociales, políticos y culturales, a los países que conforman la Unión Europea. Es así como los países más afectados por este tipo de migración (España, Grecia e Italia) han pedido a los demás miembros de la Unión adoptar una política conjunta y armonizada con el fin de solucionar la problemática migratoria irregular. No obstante, la cooperación, como acción unilateral, ha resultado ser el mecanismo más efectivo, en especial el caso español, para contener y externalizar los controles del movimiento migratorio irregular subsahariano en países como Mauritania, como resultado de un proceso de securitización de la migración irregular al interior de España a comienzos del siglo XX.

¿Hacia una recentralización en Colombia?: una mirada desde el control fiscal excepcional

En materia de control fiscal territorial, se ha evidenciado la urgencia de una reforma en su estructura orgánica como consecuencia de los casos de corrupción que se han presentado en las entidades territoriales, los cuales han generado la intervención de la Contraloría General de la República en asuntos de carácter territorial, a través de una facultad constitucional denominada control fiscal excepcional. Dicha facultad no es ampliamente conocida y genera inquietud, pues no ha recibido un profundo estudio que permita determinar con claridad su carácter de excepcional, ya que en ciertos casos limita la competencia de las contralorías territoriales que puede traducirse en una nueva centralización. Es entonces que se emprende un análisis desde la perspectiva de la estructura del Estado, en el modelo descentralizado de las funciones de la Contraloría General de la República, donde el carácter limitante del control fiscal excepcional puede ser parte de un fenómeno que se denomina “recentralización. Es así que, a través del primer capítulo se desarrollan los conceptos de control fiscal, terminando con el análisis del modelo en la constitución de 1991, en el cual quedó establecido la facultad excepcional objeto de estudio. En el mismo sentido se estudia los pronunciamientos jurisprudenciales, como también los conceptos de descentralización y centralización para entender la finalidad del objeto de análisis, asimismo se revisó los casos relevantes entorno al control fiscal excepcional. Adicionalmente se construye un marco jurisprudencial para identificar la posición dominante de la Corte Constitucional y del Consejo de Estado, respecto al control fiscal excepcional. En la segunda parte del documento, primero se analiza cómo ha sido el proceso de centralización a la descentralización respecto del control fiscal, asimismo se expondrá el concepto de recentralización. Finalmente, se establece cuáles son los retos que se presentan en el fortalecimiento del control fiscal territorial, el papel en la lucha contra la corrupción y cómo se ha planteado desde otras esferas, un cambio del modelo del control fiscal territorial y una propuesta que recoge las apreciaciones estudiadas a lo largo de los cuatro capítulos de la investigación. Sobre la base de las consideraciones anteriores, se pretende dar un punto de vista diferente a la comunidad académica y además un estudio que permita una visión sobre la necesidad de reforzar el control fiscal territorial, como también frenar el retroceso que ha tenido a través del control fiscal excepcional, y de la misma manera la descentralización en Colombia.

Curriculum restructuring in higher educaction after the Bologna process : a new pedagogic regime?

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n. Monogr??fico con el t??tulo: El proceso de Bolonia : din??micas y desaf??os de la ense??anza superior en Europa a comienzos de una nueva ??poca

Development of a decision support system for the integrated control of membrane bioreactors

The work presented in this PhD thesis includes various partial studies aimed at developing a decision support system for membrane bioreactor integrated control. The decision support systems (DSS) have as a main goal to facilitate the operation of complex processes due to the multiple variables that are processed. For this reason, the research used has focused on aspects related to nutrient removal, and on the development of indicators or sensors capable of facilitating, automating and controlling the filtration process in an integrated way with the biological processes that taking place. Work has also been done on the design, development, implementation and validation of tools based on the knowledge made available by the automatic control and the supervision of the MBRs

Operation and control of SBR processes for enhanced biological nutrient removal from wastewater

In the last decades, the awareness of environmental issues has increased in society considerably. There is an increasing need to improve the effluent quality of domestic wastewater treatment processes. This thesis describes the application of the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology for Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) from the wastewater. In particular, the work presented evolves from the nitrogen removal to the biological nutrient removal (i.e. nitrogen plus phosphorous removal) with special attention to the operational strategy design, the identification of possible reactor cycle controls or the influent composition related to the process efficiency. In such sense, also the use of ethanol as an external carbon (when low influent Carbon:Phosphorus (C:P) or Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) ratios are presented) are studied as an alternative to maintain the BNR efficiency.

Control basat en lògica difusa per sistemes de fangs activats. Disseny, implementació i validació en EDAR reals

En aquesta tesi es presenten dues propostes de Sistemes de Control basats en Lògica Difusa (SCLD), des del seu disseny fins a la seva implementació i validació en dues instal·lacions: l'EDAR Granollers i l'EDAR Taradell. El capítol 1 explica els conceptes bàsics per comprendre el desenvolupament dels dos SCLD i el resum d'una revisió d'articles que relacionen la lògica difusa amb aigües residuals. A continuació, s'estableixen els objectius. En el capítol 3 es presenten els materials i mètodes. Els capítols 4 i 5 exposen el treball realitzat per arribar a la implementació dels dos SCLD. Ambdós capítols presenten la mateixa estructura: presentació, definició dels objectius del SCLD, descripció de l'EDAR on s'implementa el SCLD, desenvolupament d'índexs d'avaluació, explicació del disseny del SCLD i la seva avaluació mitjançant estudis de simulació, implementació i validació del SCLD a l'EDAR i, finalment discussió del treball realitzat. En el capítol 6 s'enumeren les conclusions obtingudes.

Modelling, control and supervision for a class of hybrid systems

The aim of this thesis is to narrow the gap between two different control techniques: the continuous control and the discrete event control techniques DES. This gap can be reduced by the study of Hybrid systems, and by interpreting as Hybrid systems the majority of large-scale systems. In particular, when looking deeply into a process, it is often possible to identify interaction between discrete and continuous signals. Hybrid systems are systems that have both continuous, and discrete signals. Continuous signals are generally supposed continuous and differentiable in time, since discrete signals are neither continuous nor differentiable in time due to their abrupt changes in time. Continuous signals often represent the measure of natural physical magnitudes such as temperature, pressure etc. The discrete signals are normally artificial signals, operated by human artefacts as current, voltage, light etc. Typical processes modelled as Hybrid systems are production systems, chemical process, or continuos production when time and continuous measures interacts with the transport, and stock inventory system. Complex systems as manufacturing lines are hybrid in a global sense. They can be decomposed into several subsystems, and their links. Another motivation for the study of Hybrid systems is the tools developed by other research domains. These tools benefit from the use of temporal logic for the analysis of several properties of Hybrid systems model, and use it to design systems and controllers, which satisfies physical or imposed restrictions. This thesis is focused in particular types of systems with discrete and continuous signals in interaction. That can be modelled hard non-linealities, such as hysteresis, jumps in the state, limit cycles, etc. and their possible non-deterministic future behaviour expressed by an interpretable model description. The Hybrid systems treated in this work are systems with several discrete states, always less than thirty states (it can arrive to NP hard problem), and continuous dynamics evolving with expression: with Ki ¡ Rn constant vectors or matrices for X components vector. In several states the continuous evolution can be several of them Ki = 0. In this formulation, the mathematics can express Time invariant linear system. By the use of this expression for a local part, the combination of several local linear models is possible to represent non-linear systems. And with the interaction with discrete events of the system the model can compose non-linear Hybrid systems. Especially multistage processes with high continuous dynamics are well represented by the proposed methodology. Sate vectors with more than two components, as third order models or higher is well approximated by the proposed approximation. Flexible belt transmission, chemical reactions with initial start-up and mobile robots with important friction are several physical systems, which profits from the benefits of proposed methodology (accuracy). The motivation of this thesis is to obtain a solution that can control and drive the Hybrid systems from the origin or starting point to the goal. How to obtain this solution, and which is the best solution in terms of one cost function subject to the physical restrictions and control actions is analysed. Hybrid systems that have several possible states, different ways to drive the system to the goal and different continuous control signals are problems that motivate this research. The requirements of the system on which we work is: a model that can represent the behaviour of the non-linear systems, and that possibilities the prediction of possible future behaviour for the model, in order to apply an supervisor which decides the optimal and secure action to drive the system toward the goal. Specific problems can be determined by the use of this kind of hybrid models are: - The unity of order. - Control the system along a reachable path. - Control the system in a safe path. - Optimise the cost function. - Modularity of control The proposed model solves the specified problems in the switching models problem, the initial condition calculus and the unity of the order models. Continuous and discrete phenomena are represented in Linear hybrid models, defined with defined eighth-tuple parameters to model different types of hybrid phenomena. Applying a transformation over the state vector : for LTI system we obtain from a two-dimensional SS a single parameter, alpha, which still maintains the dynamical information. Combining this parameter with the system output, a complete description of the system is obtained in a form of a graph in polar representation. Using Tagaki-Sugeno type III is a fuzzy model which include linear time invariant LTI models for each local model, the fuzzyfication of different LTI local model gives as a result a non-linear time invariant model. In our case the output and the alpha measure govern the membership function. Hybrid systems control is a huge task, the processes need to be guided from the Starting point to the desired End point, passing a through of different specific states and points in the trajectory. The system can be structured in different levels of abstraction and the control in three layers for the Hybrid systems from planning the process to produce the actions, these are the planning, the process and control layer. In this case the algorithms will be applied to robotics ¡V a domain where improvements are well accepted ¡V it is expected to find a simple repetitive processes for which the extra effort in complexity can be compensated by some cost reductions. It may be also interesting to implement some control optimisation to processes such as fuel injection, DC-DC converters etc. In order to apply the RW theory of discrete event systems on a Hybrid system, we must abstract the continuous signals and to project the events generated for these signals, to obtain new sets of observable and controllable events. Ramadge & Wonham¡¦s theory along with the TCT software give a Controllable Sublanguage of the legal language generated for a Discrete Event System (DES). Continuous abstraction transforms predicates over continuous variables into controllable or uncontrollable events, and modifies the set of uncontrollable, controllable observable and unobservable events. Continuous signals produce into the system virtual events, when this crosses the bound limits. If this event is deterministic, they can be projected. It is necessary to determine the controllability of this event, in order to assign this to the corresponding set, , controllable, uncontrollable, observable and unobservable set of events. Find optimal trajectories in order to minimise some cost function is the goal of the modelling procedure. Mathematical model for the system allows the user to apply mathematical techniques over this expression. These possibilities are, to minimise a specific cost function, to obtain optimal controllers and to approximate a specific trajectory. The combination of the Dynamic Programming with Bellman Principle of optimality, give us the procedure to solve the minimum time trajectory for Hybrid systems. The problem is greater when there exists interaction between adjacent states. In Hybrid systems the problem is to determine the partial set points to be applied at the local models. Optimal controller can be implemented in each local model in order to assure the minimisation of the local costs. The solution of this problem needs to give us the trajectory to follow the system. Trajectory marked by a set of set points to force the system to passing over them. Several ways are possible to drive the system from the Starting point Xi to the End point Xf. Different ways are interesting in: dynamic sense, minimum states, approximation at set points, etc. These ways need to be safe and viable and RchW. And only one of them must to be applied, normally the best, which minimises the proposed cost function. A Reachable Way, this means the controllable way and safe, will be evaluated in order to obtain which one minimises the cost function. Contribution of this work is a complete framework to work with the majority Hybrid systems, the procedures to model, control and supervise are defined and explained and its use is demonstrated. Also explained is the procedure to model the systems to be analysed for automatic verification. Great improvements were obtained by using this methodology in comparison to using other piecewise linear approximations. It is demonstrated in particular cases this methodology can provide best approximation. The most important contribution of this work, is the Alpha approximation for non-linear systems with high dynamics While this kind of process is not typical, but in this case the Alpha approximation is the best linear approximation to use, and give a compact representation.

Collaboration between infection control and occupational health in three continents: a success story with international impact

Globalization has been accompanied by the rapid spread of infectious diseases, and further strain on working conditions for health workers globally. Post-SARS, Canadian occupational health and infection control researchers got together to study how to better protect health workers, and found that training was indeed perceived as key to a positive safety culture. This led to developing information and communication technology (ICT) tools. The research conducted also showed the need for better workplace inspections, so a workplace audit tool was also developed to supplement worker questionnaires and the ICT. When invited to join Ecuadorean colleagues to promote occupational health and infection control, these tools were collectively adapted and improved, including face-to-face as well as on-line problem-based learning scenarios. The South African government then invited the team to work with local colleagues to improve occupational health and infection control, resulting in an improved web-based health information system to track incidents, exposures, and occupational injury and diseases. As the H1N1 pandemic struck, the online infection control course was adapted and translated into Spanish, as was a novel skill-building learning tool that permits health workers to practice selecting personal protective equipment. This tool was originally developed in collaboration with the countries from the Caribbean region and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Research from these experiences led to strengthened focus on building capacity of health and safety committees, and new modules are thus being created, informed by that work. The products developed have been widely heralded as innovative and interactive, leading to their inclusion into “toolkits” used internationally. The tools used in Canada were substantially improved from the collaborative adaptation process for South and Central America and South Africa. This international collaboration between occupational health and infection control researchers led to the improvement of the research framework and development of tools, guidelines and information systems. Furthermore, the research and knowledge-transfer experience highlighted the value of partnership amongst Northern and Southern researchers in terms of sharing resources, experiences and knowledge.

El control de convencionalidad y la protección del derecho a la propiedad privada a partir de la sentencia del caso Salvador Chiriboga vs. Ecuador (Tema Central)

The contents of this article analyze the right to private property after the decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case “Salvador Chiriboga vs. Ecuador”. The author´s concern is the fact that this case represents the most expensive sentence inside the Inter-American protection system due to the violation of the right to private property (art. 21.2 AC); judicial guarantees (art. 8.1 AC) and judicial protection (art. 25.1 CA). This subject has special relevance since Ecuador is facing a judicial reform process and it is necessary to consider that the diffusion of this decision among judges could prevent the commission of the same mistakes; specially, those related to denial of justice as it occurred in the present case study.

Modeling the mechanisms that control in-stream dissolved organic carbon dynamics in upland and forested catchments

[1] We present a new, process-based model of soil and stream water dissolved organic carbon (DOC): the Integrated Catchments Model for Carbon (INCA-C). INCA-C is the first model of DOC cycling to explicitly include effects of different land cover types, hydrological flow paths, in-soil carbon biogeochemistry, and surface water processes on in-stream DOC concentrations. It can be calibrated using only routinely available monitoring data. INCA-C simulates daily DOC concentrations over a period of years to decades. Sources, sinks, and transformation of solid and dissolved organic carbon in peat and forest soils, wetlands, and streams as well as organic carbon mineralization in stream waters are modeled. INCA-C is designed to be applied to natural and seminatural forested and peat-dominated catchments in boreal and temperate regions. Simulations at two forested catchments showed that seasonal and interannual patterns of DOC concentration could be modeled using climate-related parameters alone. A sensitivity analysis showed that model predictions were dependent on the mass of organic carbon in the soil and that in-soil process rates were dependent on soil moisture status. Sensitive rate coefficients in the model included those for organic carbon sorption and desorption and DOC mineralization in the soil. The model was also sensitive to the amount of litter fall. Our results show the importance of climate variability in controlling surface water DOC concentrations and suggest the need for further research on the mechanisms controlling production and consumption of DOC in soils.

Process planning methodology: dynamic short-term planning for off-site construction in Slovenia

Planning is a vital element of project management but it is still not recognized as a process variable. Its objective should be to outperform the initially defined processes, and foresee and overcome possible undesirable events. Detailed task-level master planning is unrealistic since one cannot accurately predict all the requirements and obstacles before work has even started. The process planning methodology (PPM) has thus been developed in order to overcome common problems of the overwhelming project complexity. The essential elements of the PPM are the process planning group (PPG), including a control team that dynamically links the production/site and management, and the planning algorithm embodied within two continuous-improvement loops. The methodology was tested on a factory project in Slovenia and in four successive projects of a similar nature. In addition to a number of improvement ideas and enhanced communication, the applied PPM resulted in 32% higher total productivity, 6% total savings and created a synergistic project environment.