Fluid net models: from behavioral properties to structural objects

Increasing the production in manufacturing systems is one of the main demands in modern systems. The naive approach that this goal can be achieved when more or faster resources are used is not always valid. In fact, the complex interactions among system’s elements may lead to paradoxical behaviors; for example, using faster machines could reduce the equilibrium throughput (number of part fabricated per unit time in steady state) of the system, or even worse, block all system activities, reducing it to zero. This work leverages the concepts about fluidization and analysis techniques used in Timed Continuous Petri nets (TCPN) presented in earlier works to study the behavior of the equilibrium throughput when more/faster machines are used. Herein, we illustrate how discontinuities induced bifurcations of the equilibrium throughput are due to the existence of paths that can increase/decrease the marking of certain subnets. In particular, if paths gaining/losing tokens are fired without a particular balance, then the equilibrium throughput exhibits discontinuities since the equilibrium marking loses hyperbolicity. Moreover, these discontinuities imply other undesired throughput behaviors; for example, the existence of non-monotonicities of the equilibrium throughput (when more/faster resources are used in the system, its equilibrium throughput is reduced). The discontinuities together with a homothecy property are used to explain non-monotonicities in the equilibrium throughput. A relevant aspect is that these undesired system behaviors appear when the net has structural objects named problematic configurations that are associated with certain subnets in which there are no P-semiflows. Although the number of these configurations increase exponentially in the size of the net, some reduction rules are introduced to remove configurations, while the problematic ones are kept (or can be recovered) in the reduced net. This saves computation time in the analysis and, more importantly, provides useful insights about the root of undesired behaviors. This work focus on systems that can be modeled with fluid (or continuous) mono T-semiflow Timed Continuous Petri nets. Even if under certain constraints, they are capable of capturing many characteristics of modern systems, such as interleaving of cooperation and competition

Diet and Lifestyle in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The liver is an essential metabolic organ which governs body energy metabolism connected with adipose tissue and skeletal muscle among other tissues. The prevalence of obesity has reached epidemic proportions in many countries around the world and continues to grow every year which is caused by multiple factors, with diet and lifestyle being the most researched and therefore most important. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the several metabolic complications associated with obesity. The pathology of NAFLD is difficult to recognize or diagnose especially in early stages without a biopsy and therefore can remain undetected for significant time allowing the disease to progress. The diagnosis of NAFLD is crucial to be able to start adequate treatment including changes in diet and lifestyle in the first stage of the disease when the pathology is reversible and prevent the development of severe forms of the disease such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or the irreversible cirrhosis stage. When the liver becomes damaged, this can lead to some metabolic alterations that have a severe and multifaceted impact in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), visceral obesity, and cardiovascular disease related to elevated plasmatic cholesterol, triglycerides, transaminases, and others that indicate hepatic disorders and oxidative stress. ..

Automotive Control Catalyzer to Synthetize CaCO3 from Residual Co2 Embedded Control System

La contaminación generada por el sector automotriz es un problema de medio ambiente por el que sectores gubernamentales y privados han tomado acciones para contrarrestarla. Uno de esos esfuerzos procura de proveer una solución para la emisión de gases de producidos de diferentes sistemas de combustión. El objetivo del presente proyecto es diseñar un sistema de alta calidad y confiable, capaz de transformar una cantidad considerable de los gases emitidos en nuevo combustible antes de ser liberados de vuelta al entorno. El módulo de control fue desarrollado considerando los requerimientos demandados por la industria automotriz. El controlador fue basado sobre la arquitectura AUTOSAR, este también incluyó el protocolo de comunicación estándar CAN 2.0 desempeñado con el microcontrolador validado como grado 2 por el Consejo de Electrónica Automotriz, y el sensor SHT11 usado fue certificado contra RoHS. La arquitectura de software cumple con la complejidad inherente de las especificaciones de AUTOSAR, por consiguiente, diferentes técnicas fueron requeridas para su solución, incluyendo la definición, diagramas de límites, especificación de requerimientos, interfaces de software e interacción de módulos. Una vez que los requerimientos fueron conocidos, el código fue implementado. Como resultado, este módulo puede ser categorizado como un producto de grado automotriz que puede ser introducido en el mercado automotriz.The pollution generated by the automotive sector has been an environmental issue in the latest years, and nowadays, different governmental and private sectors have taken actions on this matter. One of these efforts tries to provide a solution for contaminating gas emissions produced from different fuel combustion systems. The aim of the present project is to design a reliable and high-quality system that senses the environmental temperature, relative humidity, and calculates the dew point to control a catalyzer capable of transforming a considerable amount of exhaust gases into a new fuel component before they are released back into the environment. The control module was developed considering the requirements demanded by the automotive industry. The controller was based on an AUTOSAR architecture, it also included the standard CAN 2.0 communication protocol performed within the microcontroller validated as grade 2 by the Automotive Electronics Council, and the SHT11 sensor used was certified against RoHS. Equally important, the software architecture complied with the complexity inherent in AUTOSAR specifications. Therefore, different techniques were required for its solution, including, boundary diagram, requirement specifications, software interface, and module interaction definitions. Once these requirements where met, the code was implemented. As a result, this module could be categorized as an automotive-grade product that can be introduced in the automotive market.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Adapting to a changing world: Unraveling the role of man-made habitats as alternative feeding areas for Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)

Current rates of wildlife habitat loss have placed increasing demands on managers to develop, validate and implement tools aimed at improving our ability to evaluate such impacts on wildlife. Here, we present a case study conducted at the Natural Area of Doñana (SW Spain) where remote sensing and stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analyses of individuals were combined to unravel (1) the effect of variations in availability of natural food resources (i.e. from natural marshes) on reproductive performance of a Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) population, and (2) the role of two adjacent, artificial systems (a fish farm and saltmines) as alternate anthropogenic feeding areas. Based on long-term (1983-2004) remote-sensing, we inferred the average extent of flooded area at the marshland (a proxy to natural resource availability) annually. Estimated flooded areas (ranging from extreme drought [ca. 151 ha, 1995] to high moisture [15,049 ha, 2004]) were positively related to reproductive success of gulls (estimated for the 1993-2004 period, and ranging from ca. 0 to 1.7 fledglings per breeding pairs), suggesting that habitat availability played a role in determining their reproductive performance. Based on blood δ13C and δ15N values of fledglings, 2001-2004, and a Bayesian isotopic mixing model, we conclude that saltmines acted as the main alternative foraging habitat for gulls, with relative contributions increasing as the extent of marshland decreased. Although adjacent, anthropogenic systems have been established as the preferred breeding sites for this gull population, dietary switches towards exploitation of alternative (anthropogenic) food resources negatively affected the reproductive output of this species, thus challenging the perception that these man-made systems are necessarily a reliable buffer against loss of natural feeding habitats. The methodology and results derived from this study could be extended to a large suite of threatened natural communities worldwide, thus providing a useful framework for management and conservation

Evaluación del comportamiento mecánico de mezclas asfálticas templadas con 100 % de material reciclado

The use of Half Warm Mixes with high Reclaimed Asphalt content (HWMRA) has the potential to generate significant environmental advantages such as the reduction in consumption of natural resources and the emission of gases into the atmosphere. This paper therefore focuses on demonstrating the viability of using these types of mixes in wearing courses. For this purpose, an HWMRA with 70 % and 100 % Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and emulsion were designed in the laboratory. The performance of the mixes was then assessed and compared with that of conventional Hot Mix Asphalt. In a second stage, the mixes were manufactured in-plant, and laid and compacted in an Accelerated Pavement Test track. The cores were then extracted and tested for stiffness modulus and resistance to fatigue. The results from the tests conducted with both the laboratory specimens and the cores showed that the performance of HWMRA is comparable to that of HMA. These findings encourage greater confidence in promoting the use of these types of sustainable asphalt mixes.La utilización de mezclas asfálticas templadas con alto contenido de asfalto reciclado (HWMRA) conlleva ventajas medioambientales como la reducción del consumo de recursos naturales y la emisión de gases a la atmósfera. Este artículo se centra en mostrar la viabilidad de este tipo de mezclas para capas de rodadura. Para ello, se diseñaron mezclas HWMRA con 70 % y 100 % de asfalto reciclado en el laboratorio y se evaluó y comparó su comportamiento con una mezcla caliente convencional. En una segunda etapa, las mezclas fueron fabricadas en planta, extendidas y compactadas en una pista de ensayo acelerado de pavimentos. A continuación, se extrajeron testigos y se ensayaron para conocer su módulo de rigidez y resistencia a fatiga. Tanto los resultados de laboratorio como tras la fabricación en planta y puesta en obra mostraron que el comportamiento de mezclas HWMRA es comparable al de mezclas calientes convencionales. Dicha conclusión puede aportar confianza a este tipo de mezclas sostenibles promoviendo su mayor utilización

Nutritional Wasting Disorders in Sheep

The different ovine production and breeding systems share the cornerstone of keeping a good body condition to ensure adequate productivity. Several infectious and parasitic disorders have detrimental effects on weight gains and may lead to emaciation. Flock health management procedures are aimed to prevent such conditions. Nutritional management is equally important to guarantee adequate body condition. Persistent bouts of low ruminal pH due to excess concentrate in the diet may lead to subacute ruminal acidosis. Pre-stomach motility disorders may also lead to ill-thrift and emaciation. An adequate mineral supplementation is key to prevent the effects of copper, selenium, and other micronutrients deprivation, which may include, among others, loss of condition. This review elaborates on the clinico-pathologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of some of these conditions, and highlights the necessity of considering them as contributors to states of wasting in sheep flocks

Toxic Wasting Disorders in Sheep

Infectious and parasitic agents have been frequently associated with debilitating and wasting conditions in sheep. The prevalence of these agents has probably undermined the role of toxic causes as contributors to such disorders. In addition, many of these intoxications frequently produce acute clinical disease with specific and characteristic lesions, thus a causal relationship with the toxic substance may be relatively easy to establish. However, persistent exposure to some of these organic or inorganic toxic substances may lead to emaciation, ill-thrift, and poor external aspect. The anti-nutritional factors and alkaloids of several plants, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, among others, have also been associated with emaciation and/or poor general performance in sheep flocks. In this review, some of these disorders are discussed with an emphasis on clinical signs and lesions, relevant diagnostic aspects, and available therapeutic approaches. In most cases, demonstrating a history of exposure should be one of the most relevant aspects of the diagnostic approach, and removing the animals from the toxic source is the cornerstone of the majority of the treatment strategies

Dopamine interaction with a polyamine cryptand of 1H-pyrazole in the absence and in the presence of Cu(II) ions. Crystal structure of [Cu2(H21L](ClO4)3·2H2O

The crystal structure of the binuclear Cu2+ complex [Cu2(H21L)](ClO4)3·2H2O of the cryptand L = 1,4,7,8,11,14,17,20,21,24,29,32,33,36-tetradecaazapentacyclo[12.12.12.1^(6,9).1^(19,22),1,^31,34]hentetraconta-6,9(41),19(40), 21,31,34(39)-hexaene is presented; evidence for the formation in solution of binary L–dopamine and ternary Cu2+–L– dopamine complexes is presented.Escarti Alemany, Francisco, [email protected] ; Garcia-España Monsonis, Enrique, [email protected] ; Latorre Saborit, Julio, [email protected]