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International rankings have achieved great prestige as an instrument for measuring university excellence as a quality assurance mechanism. Thus, this research aims to observe the behavior of the best-positioned universities in these rankings, as well as the trajectories of indicators and institutions. In fact, the Top-15 universities of ARWU, THE, and QS were selected, and an analysis was carried out using the Dynamic Biplot technique, which allows the study of the relationship between a set of multivariate data developed on more than one occasion. The results prove that world-class universities show different characteristics and trajectories when analyzed multivariate and dynamically. The ranking indicators also reveal different correlations that may affect the final ranking.

In this paper, we reflect on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bulgaria's online retail sector. As a proposal, it is suggested that AI is an essential tool to contemporary business management because it increases and complements the competitive advantages of the company. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the case of online supermarkets to propose models of innovation and optimization on the performance in the market. Regarding the methodological frame of this paper, we use a mixed methodology due to the use of statistical data and structured and semi-structured interviews conducted with the managers in charge of the application of artificial intelligence. It also uses Big Data statistical techniques (Biplot). The research results are focused on transforming the business models due to AI. We include recommendations addressed to the impact of AI and Big Data on business performance.

Global rankings help boost the international reputation of universities, which thus attempt to achieve good positions on them. These rankings attract great interest each year and are followed attentively by stakeholders in higher education. This paper investigates the trajectory of Spanish universities in the ARWU and THE rankings over the last 5 years using the dynamic biplot technique to study the relationship between a multivariate dataset obtained at more than one time point. The results demonstrate that Spanish universities achieve low positions on international rankings when analyzed using this multivariate and dynamic approach. Indeed, only a small percentage occupy good positions in both studied rankings and stand out in terms of some of the indicators, whereas most achieve weak scores in the global context. Spanish universities should attempt to improve this situation, since the prestige resulting from a good position on these lists will always be beneficial in terms of the visibility of both the universities themselves and the whole Spanish university system.

Purpose or Objective: Moderate hypofractionation has been more popular in the last years, however no standard dosimetric parameters has been stablished. The majority of the dose-volume-constraints (DVCs) published refer to conventional 2 Gy/ fraction. In this study, we analyse different dosimetric parameters in patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy (RCT) or radiotherapy (RT) alone with radical intention and hypofractionated scheme in pandemic era. Due to the lack of consensus on this aspect, we analyse the relationship between tolerance to treatment and dosimetric parameters to aid its use in the clinic. Materials and Methods: Retrospective and multicentric study of 49 pts with locally advanced NSCLC treated from November 2019 to December 2020. During SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, hypofractionated schedules have allowed to decrease the duration of thoracic radiotherapy. The hypofractionated scheme used was 20 fractions of 2.75 Gy/daily (total dose 55 Gy, BED10=70 Gy). 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) were allowed. We report gross tumour volume (GTV), planning tumour volume (PTV) and D98% and D95% PTV. Organ-at-risk (OARs) examined included lungs- GTV (V20

The role of universities is crucial in creating knowledge that allows the development and improvement of societies. These days, higher education institutions are experiencing a complicated time. In this sense, problems as environmental insecurities, persisting war conflicts, child poverty, among others, are issues that affect contemporary societies and that have emerged around all the globe. Additionally, they have increased the levels of uncertainty regarding the future of societies. Considering this context, contemporary University has been challenged to generate holistic and efficient management, regarding, on the one hand, the problems and matters that face the society today, and on the other hand, the incorporation of advanced quality standards that are necessary to approach future challenges.

Currently, higher education faces the great challenge of promoting the enduring improvement of its actions, and thus achieve not only satisfaction and integral formation of its students, but also a permanent growth and institutional development. At the World Conference of Higher Education, CMES 2009, the subject of quality and university management was emphasized, understanding that both favor the decision-making that directly benefits the continuous progress by incorporating mechanisms and instruments that ensure quality, such as: the hiring of qualified personnel, the optimization of resources and the accomplishment of institutional goals. The Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins has defined and specified in its 2016-2020 institutional strategic plan, strategic objectives and indicators that show their degree of effectiveness through a Balanced Scorecard System. For this, it was necessary to select and specify indicators of relevant performance (KPIs) which would allow to execute a more specific follow up to overall performance and results. By using a similar methodology to the Dupon analysis a crossed-impact matrix was designed, which classified the 31 identified indicators in 4 KPIs of general matrix performance that allowed to systematically evaluate the institution and assess its integral overall performance by looking at only 4 indicators referring to the degree of advancement and institutional quality. Thus, achieving the study’s goal by designing and implementing a modern management model sustained in key indicators that might influence the institutional quality, measured through the institutional and careers accreditation and the correlation analysis between years and accreditation areas and the selected indicators.

This article investigates the effects of public financing policies on the expansion of social mobility and coverage, between the years 1990 to 2015, in the Chilean higher education. It is based on the combination of three different methods: the case study; documen research supported by primary and secondary sources, and the compilation and analisis of statistical information. It also analyses the need to revalue investment in the production of knowledge based on in academic research as part of the social role of universities. Finally, it shows that the current system of financing has influenced, directly and positively in the social mobility of the country, especially in the first two income quintiles. It also explains the importance of educational and research work of universities in favour of development and social progress.

Sr. Editor: El pioderma gangrenoso es una dermatosis inflamatoria poco frecuente que se incluye en el grupo de las dermatosis neutrofilicas. Aunque se desconoce su etiologia, en su patogenesis se ha postulado una disregulacion del sistema immune. Su presentacion clinica mas frecuente es la aparicion de grandes ulceras dolorosas en extremidades inferiores. Actualmente no existe una terapia de eleccion. Ninguno de los tratamientos propuestos ha sido persistentemente eficaz y los inmunosupresores sistemicos siguen siendo la terapia mas utilizada. La ciclosporina oral ha demostrado ser eficaz en varios reportes, pero existe poca evidencia de su utilidad por via topica para esta enfermedad. Presentamos nuestra experiencia con dos pacientes portadores de grandes ulceras de pioderma gangrenoso, quienes presentaron una excelente y rapida respuesta al tratamiento topico con la formulacion en unguento de ciclosporina 5%, clobetasol 0,05% y gentamicina 0,2%, aplicada dos veces al dia. Una mujer de 29 anos consulto por una dolorosa ulcera de 9 x 8 cm. en la region mamaria derecha y otra ulcera similar de 6 x 6 cm. en la region suprapubica, lesiones de uno y dos anos de evolucion, respectivamente, no precedidas por intervenciones quirurgicas o traumatismos previos. Se habia tratado anteriormente con antibioticos orales y prednisona, sin mejoria significativa. El estudio histopatologico era consistente con el diagnostico clinico de pioderma gangrenoso y la asociacion con posibles patologias sistemicas fue descartada. Leer mas...

With the objective to determine the frequency of microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria and the associated clinic and metabolic features among insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) Brazilian patients attending at a general University Hospital, a total of 50 outpatients, aged 21.9 +/- 7 years with IDDM duration of 6.8 +/- 5.8 years were studied cross-sectionally. Urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) was determined in timed overnight urine samples. Microalbuminuria was defined when two out of three urine samples had AER ranging 20-200 micrograms/min. Microalbuminuria was present in 12% of our patients. No macroalbuminuric patient was found. Among patients with diabetes duration < or = 5 years (n = 24), 8.3% (n = 2) had microalbuminuria. Retinopathy was strongly associated with microalbuminuria (P = 0.004) although no proliferative retinopathy was noted. No difference was observed concerning FBG and HBAI between normo and microalbuminuria patients. Univariate analysis has revealed no influence of these variables in AER. Systolic blood pressure (sBP) was high in microalbuminuria patients and stepwise multiple regression analysis has shown that it was the only significant independent variable to influence AER. (R = 0.42 r2 = 0.18 P = 0.002). In conclusion, the frequency of microalbuminuria in this sample of IDDM Brazilian patients was similar to other populational groups and was associated with retinopathy and sBP.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of first morning urinary volume (collected on three different non-consecutive days), fasting blood glucose (determined on the first and third days of urine collection), and glycosylated hemoglobin (determined on the first and third days of urine collection) on the albumin concentration in first morning urine samples collected on three different days. We found 3.6% asymptomatic bacteriuria in the urine samples; therefore, every urine sample must be tested to exclude infection. One hundred and fifty urine samples were provided by 50 IDDM patients aged 21.9 +/- 7 (12-38) years with a disease duration of 6.8 +/- 5.8 (0.4-31) years attending the Diabetes Clinic at the State University Hospital of Rio de Janeiro. There were no differences in albumin concentration (6.1 vs 5.8 vs 6.2 micrograms/ml; P = NS) or urinary volume (222.5 vs 210 vs 200 ml) between the three samples. In addition, there were no differences in fasting blood glucose (181.9 +/- 93.6 vs 194.6 +/- 104.7 mg%; P = NS) or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) (8.4 +/- 1.3 vs 8.8 +/- 1.5%; P = NS) between the first and third blood samples. Six patients (group 1) had a mean urinary albumin concentration of more than 20 micrograms/ml for the three urine samples. This group was compared with the 44 patients (group 2) with a mean urinary albumin concentration for the three urine samples of less than 20 micrograms/ml. No difference was found between groups 1 and 2 in relation to fasting blood glucose (207.1 +/- 71.7 vs 187.6 +/- 84.6 mg/dl), HbA1 (8.1 +/- 0.9 vs 8.6 +/- 1.1%) or urinary volume [202 (48.3-435) vs 246 (77.3-683.3) ml]. Stepwise multiple regression analysis with albumin concentration of first morning urine samples as the dependent variable, and urinary volume, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin as independent variables, showed that only 12% (P = 0.01) of the albumin concentration could be accounted for by the independent effect of morning urine volume on the first day of urine collection. No urine samples showed a change in the cutoff level of 20 micrograms/ml of albumin concentration as the result of volume. Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin did not influence the urinary albumin concentration. Considerable variability in urinary albumin concentration was found in the three morning urine samples with a mean intraindividual coefficient variation of 56%. In conclusion, in the present study, urinary volume had a minimal, though not constant, effect on first morning urinary albumin concentration. Day-to-day metabolic and clinical control of IDDM patients, except probably for ketoacidosis, should not contraindicate microalbuminuria screening in first morning urine samples.