How Can Procurement Create (Sustainable) Public Value Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal?

The economic response of the US government to the COVID-19 pandemic envisions massive investment in infrastructure construction. Yet, governments contract out public works and might lack the capacity to meet the increased demand for new construction. Drawing on a mix of survey and interview data, we identify critical deficiencies in contract capacity that might lead to a loss of public resources and further erode trust in the government. We propose a plan for restructuring public procurement systems and offer solutions around four foci: collaboration, training, flexibility, and sustainability. This transformation path would enhance government contract capacity and use markets to signal a demand for sustainable infrastructure and create public value in line with the strategic objectives of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

Galletas chocochip con aguacate como fuente de grasa

Producir alimentos tradicionales con menos grasa saturada y menor densidad calórica, pero manteniendo su calidad sensorial es de suma importancia para proveer a los consumidores con opciones más saludables. En este trabajo, se estudió el efecto de la sustitución de mantequilla por puré de aguacate, y la adición de lecitina como emulsificante en la producción de galletas chocochip de chocolate. Se realizó un diseño factorial 22 con repeticiones del punto central y se estudiaron la tasa de extensión (diámetro/altura) y la actividad acuosa como variables de respuesta. El modelo matemático y el resultado del ANOVA demuestran la influencia significativa de estos factores sobre las variables de respuesta, y se pudo concluir que la combinación de lecitina 1,5% y sustitución con aguacate 37,5% es la formulación que maximiza la tasa de expansión y minimiza la actividad acuosa, siendo estas propiedades tecnológicas importantes en la producción de galletas

In silico Analyses of Immune System Protein Interactome Network, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Tissues, and Artificial Neural Networks Reveal Potential Therapeutic Targets for Drug Repurposing Against COVID-19

Background: There is pressing urgency to identify therapeutic targets and drugs that allow treating COVID-19 patients effectively.Methods: We performed in silico analyses of immune system protein interactome network, single-cell RNA sequencing of human tissues, and artificial neural networks to reveal potential therapeutic targets for drug repurposing against COVID-19.Results: We screened 1,584 high-confidence immune system proteins in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells, finding 25 potential therapeutic targets significantly overexpressed in nasal goblet secretory cells, lung type II pneumocytes, and ileal absorptive enterocytes of patients with several immunopathologies. Then, we performed fully connected deep neural networks to find the best multitask classification model to predict the activity of 10,672 drugs, obtaining several approved drugs, compounds under investigation, and experimental compounds with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics.Conclusion: After being effectively analyzed in clinical trials, these drugs can be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Scripts can be downloaded at

UNA LA CULTURA DE SEGURIDAD INTEGRAL Y SU IMPACTO SOCIAL Y AMBIENTAL EN LA POBLACIÓN MEDIANTE LA EJECUCIÓN DE PROYECTOS DE VINCULACIÓN CON LA SOCIEDAD POR LA TECNOLOGÍA SUPERIOR EN CIENCIAS MILITARES AERONÁUTICAS: LA CULTURA DE SEGURIDAD INTEGRAL Y SU IMPACTO SOCIAL Y AMBIENTAL EN LA POBLACIÓN MEDIANTE LA EJECUCIÓN DE PROYECTOS DE VINCULACIÓN CON LA SOCIEDAD POR LA TECNOLOGÍA SUPERIOR EN CIENCIAS MILITARES AERONÁUTICAS

El Proyecto de Vinculación con la Sociedad denominado “Desarrollo de Cultura de Seguridad, en Comunidades Rurales durante el período septiembre 2019 - septiembre 2022”, ejecutado en su parte pertinente entre el 20 de marzo y el 14 de mayo de 2021, por la Tecnología Superior en Ciencia Militares Aeronáuticas, Modalidad Dual del Departamento de Seguridad y Defensa de la Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas – ESPE, en el sector rural de la Provincia de Cotopaxi, del Cantón Latacunga, de la Parroquia Mulaló en la Comuna San Ramón y el Barrio Ticatilín, en éste los estudiantes de la carrera pusieron en práctica sus conocimientos sobre seguridad integral, permitiendo dar a conocer a la comunidad las responsabilidades sociales en el marco de la salud y cuidado ambiental ante la presencia del COVID-19, logrando que la población objetivo haga suyo el conocimiento. Frente a la incultura de la comunidad sobre seguridad integral, los discentes capacitaron en prevención y enfrentamiento de amenazas a través de la instrucción en medidas de: bioseguridad, defensa y protección del medio ambiente, asistencia y ayuda humanitaria. En el estudio de investigación se utilizó la observación directa, bibliográfica, de campo y un aplicativo para evaluar el impacto en la zona. De los resultados obtenidos se desprende que se mejoró el estilo de vida de los miembros de la comunidad al utilizar las medidas de seguridad integral ante la pandemia de COVID 19 y se fortaleció las relaciones entre los actores civiles y militares, posicionando la imagen institucional

Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Spectral analysis of EEG oscillation in Angelman syndrome

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Long-lasting cortical reorganization as the result of motor imagery of throwing a ball in a virtual tennis court

In order to characterize the neural signature of a motor imagery (MI) task, the present study investigates for the first time the oscillation characteristics including both of the time-frequency measurements, event related spectral perturbation and intertrial coherence (ITC) underlying the variations in the temporal measurements (event related potentials, ERP) directly related to a MI task. We hypothesize that significant variations in both of the time-frequency measurements underlie the specific changes in the ERP directly related to MI. For the MI task, we chose a simple everyday task (throwing a tennis ball), that does not require any particular motor expertise, set within the controlled virtual reality scenario of a tennis court. When compared to the rest condition a consistent, long-lasting negative fronto-central ERP wave was accompanied by significant changes in both time frequency measurements suggesting long-lasting cortical activity reorganization. The ERP wave was characterized by two peaks at about 300 ms (N300) and 1000 ms (N1000). The N300 component was centrally localized on the scalp and was accompanied by significant phase consistency in the delta brain rhythms in the contralateral central scalp areas. The N1000 component spread wider centrally and was accompanied by a significant power decrease (or event related desynchronization) in low beta brain rhythms localized in fronto-precentral and parieto-occipital scalp areas and also by a significant power increase (or event related synchronization) in theta brain rhythms spreading fronto-centrally. During the transition from N300 to N1000, a contralateral alpha (mu) as well as post-central and parieto-theta rhythms occurred. The visual representation of movement formed in the minds of participants might underlie a top-down process from the fronto-central areas which is reflected by the amplitude changes observed in the fronto-central ERPs and by the significant phase synchrony in contralateral fronto-central delta and contralateral central mu to parietal theta presented here.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Electroencephalography microstates highlight specific mindfulness traits.

The present study aimed to investigate the spontaneous dynamics of large-scale brain networks underlying mindfulness as a dispositional trait, through resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) microstates analysis. Eighteen participants had attended a standardized mindfulness-based stress reduction training (MBSR), and 18 matched waitlist individuals (CTRL) were recorded at rest while they were passively exposed to auditory stimuli. Participants' mindfulness traits were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). To further explore the relationship between microstate dynamics at rest and mindfulness traits, participants were also asked to rate their experience according to five phenomenal dimensions. After training, MBSR participants showed a highly significant increase in FFMQ score, as well as higher observing and non-reactivity FFMQ sub-scores than CTRL participants. Microstate analysis revealed four classes of microstates (A-D) in global clustering across all subjects. The MBSR group showed lower duration, occurrence and coverage of microstate C than the control group. Moreover, these microstate C parameters were negatively correlated to non-reactivity sub-scores of FFMQ across participants, whereas the microstate A occurrence was negatively correlated to FFMQ total score. Further analysis of participants' self-reports suggested that MBSR participants showed a better sensory-affective integration of auditory interferences. In line with previous studies, our results suggest that temporal dynamics of microstate C underlie specifically the non-reactivity trait of mindfulness. These findings encourage further research into microstates in the evaluation and monitoring of the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on the mental health and well-being of individuals.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

EEG spectral analysis in non-convulsive status epilepticus in Angelman syndrome and other conditions

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe