Abstract: The objective of this study was to develop and to analyze psychometric properties of two measurement scales that evaluate knowledge management practices and teamwork. An instrumental study was designed in a non-probabilistic sample of 334 research groups at Colombian higher education institutions. Measurement scales with 12 items for knowledge management practices and 18 items for teamwork were applied. The results confirm satisfactory adjustment of knowledge management practices to a two-factor structure and of teamwork to a three-factor structure. Validity evidence was provided based on test content and on relationships to other variables. The scores showed adequate levels of reliability. It is concluded that research groups scores on the two scales developed here have adequate psychometric properties and that, therefore, higher education institutions can use these scales.

Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar y analizar las propiedades psicométricas de dos escalas de medición que evalúen las prácticas de gestión del conocimiento y el trabajo en equipo. Se diseñó un estudio instrumental en una muestra no probabilística de 334 grupos de investigación en instituciones de educación superior colombianas. Se aplicaron las escalas de medición con 12 ítems para prácticas de gestión del conocimiento y de 18 ítems para trabajo en equipo. Los resultados confirman el buen ajuste de las prácticas de gestión del conocimiento a una estructura bifactorial y del trabajo en equipo a una estructura de tres factores. Se aportaron evidencias de validez basadas en el contenido y en la relación con otras variables. Asimismo, las puntuaciones obtuvieron adecuados niveles de fiabilidad. Se concluye que los puntajes de los grupos de investigación en las escalas desarrolladas poseen propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. Por tanto, estos instrumentos pueden ser utilizados en instituciones de educación superior.

Several studies have focused on the heart rate variability (HRV) of murine species, while studies discussing HRV in murine neonates and infants remain scarce, since recording hemodynamic signals through invasive methods in small animals has been found to be quite challenging. Thus, this study aimed at describing and validating a novel method to assess HRV in newborn rats. An electrocardiogram (ECG) system was used to determine RR intervals in awake newborns and evaluate HRV in normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) neonate rats. After birth, ECG was recorded in the awake newborns, and they were allowed to rest on a heated surface, restricted only by the weight of the adhesive ECG electrodes. The electrodes were cut and adapted to provide more comfort to the animal, and gently placed on the newborn's skin. RR intervals were recorded over a 30-min period using an ECG system together with LabChart software (4 KHz). Three sequences of 5 min each from the ECG recording period were analyzed in time and frequency domains, using CardioSeries software. ECG data resulted in a clearly interpretable signal that was used to generate an RR interval sequence through time for the analysis of HRV. SHR neonates presented increased cardiac sympathovagal balance compared to Wistar neonates (low frequency/high frequency: 3.85±0.71 vs 0.90±0.09). In conclusion, the ECG setup here described may be used to record RR intervals to assess HRV in neonate rats, thus detecting early impairment of HRV in hypertensive newborns.