Process evaluation

This thesis analyzed the existing process for preparing quotes for standard hardware and software at TECH Corporation in order to evaluate its cost effectiveness and customer satisfaction. In addition, a new process for the preparation of standard quotes is proposed with short- and long-term business outcomes

A Content Analysis on Two Different Immigrants’ Stories in California from Two Novels: A Step from Heaven: a Korean Girl and Esperanza Rising: a Mexican Farm Worker

This study intends to compare and analyze two stories of young immigrants coming to California from Korea and Mexico. The themes through thematic analysis on migration motives, ethnic customs, family interactions, and assimilation process are identified and analyzed. The two novels also pointed out the importance of using young adult narratives as a means that libraries, schools, and cultural centers could use to promote cultural understandings

ENERGY REDUCTION IN AUTOMOTIVE PAINT SHOPS A REVIEW OF HYBRID/ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY MANUFACTURING

Automotive industry is facing fundamental challenges due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, energy saving and environmental concerns. The need of sustainable energy development has motivated the research of energy reduction and renewable energy sources. Efficient use of energy in vehicle manufacturing is demanded, as well as an alternative energy source to replace gasoline powered engines. In this thesis, we introduce a case study at an automotive paint shop, where the largest amount of energy consumption of an automotive assembly plant takes place. Additionally, we present a summary of recent advances in the area of hybrid and electrical vehicles battery manufacturing, review commonly used battery technologies, their manufacturing processes, and related recycling and environmental issues. Our study shows that energy consumption in paint shops can be reduced substantially by selecting the appropriate repair capacity, reducing the number of repainted jobs and consuming less material and energy. Also, it is seen that considerable effort needs to be devoted to the development of batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles in the near future, which will make this area challenging and research opportunities promising

The relationship of telomere length to baseline corticosterone levels in nestlings of an altricial passerine bird in natural populations.

BackgroundEnvironmental stressors increase the secretion of glucocorticoids that in turn can shorten telomeres via oxidative damage. Modification of telomere length, as a result of adversity faced early in life, can modify an individual's phenotype. Studies in captivity have suggested a relationship between glucocorticoids and telomere length in developing individuals, however less is known about that relationship in natural populations.MethodsIn order to evaluate the effect of early environmental stressors on telomere length in natural populations, we compared baseline corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere length in nestlings of the same age. We collected blood samples for hormone assay and telomere determination from two geographically distinct populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) that differed in brood size; nestlings body mass and primary productivity. Within each population we used path analysis to evaluate the relationship between brood size, body mass, baseline CORT and telomere length.ResultsWithin each distinct population, path coefficients showed a positive relationship between brood size and baseline CORT and a strong and negative correlation between baseline CORT and telomere length. In general, nestlings that presented higher baseline CORT levels tended to present shorter telomeres. When comparing populations it was the low latitude population that presented higher levels of baseline CORT and shorter telomere length.ConclusionsTaken together our results reveal the importance of the condition experienced early in life in affecting telomere length, and the relevance of integrative studies carried out in natural conditions

Planeación Financiera a Corto Plazo:Analiss del Desempeño del Presupuesto Operativo como Herramienta de Planeación Financiera a Corto Plazo de la Planta de Alimento de la Empresa (Ganadería Integral de Nicaragua S,A)GINSA durante el año 2014

El presente informe de seminario de graduación tiene como objetivo analizar el presupuesto como herramienta de planeación financiera a corto plazo de la planta de alimento de la empresa Ganadería Integral Nicaragua S.A. basado en la comparación de lo presupuestado frente a lo real durante el periodo del año 2014. El desarrollo de este trabajo está basado en la recolección de diversas fuentes tales como libros, monografías, internet, revistas, periódicos, videos y aprendizaje obtenidos durante la formación de la carrera. En el caso práctico se ha empleado la recolección de información de diversas fuentes como documentos internos, observación, entrevistas, experiencias laborales para la conclusión práctica de los presupuestos. Las finanzas tienen como fin que los administradores, contadores y directivos tengan en mente las diversas posibilidades de llevar el control de los recursos financieros de la empresa, proponiendo metas y objetivos a largo y corto plazo, cuyo propósito están basados en supuestos y realidades. Esto ayudara a las empresas a estar alertas de cualquier cambio en su entorno y que no afecte sus operaciones. La planeación financiera a corto plazo basada en las empresas industriales es una herramienta por la cual se preparan los objetivos que se pretende cumplir a corto plazo, es un instrumento para la toma decisiones apoyándose en el buen manejo de los presupuestos. En la interpretación del caso práctico se ha encontrado que el proceso presupuestario de la empresa Ganadería Integral Nicaragua S, A. permaneció similar a los reales, sin embargo hay variables que no se pueden medir tales como factores climáticos que durante el 2014 fueron de beneficio óptimo para la empresa. Este informe está enfocado en tres puntos importantes: primero se ha iniciara con la historia de las finanzas, su importancia y funciones. El segundo punto a bordar es la planeación financiera a corto plazo en general y para las empresas industriales, y para concluir , el uso de los presupuestos aplicados a la planta de alimento de la empresa Ganadería Integral Nicaragua S

Dynamin- and Rab5-Dependent Endocytosis of a Ca²⁺-Activated K⁺ Channel, KCa2.3

Regulation of the number of ion channels at the plasma membrane is a critical component of the physiological response. We recently demonstrated that the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa2.3 is rapidly endocytosed and enters a Rab35- and EPI64C-dependent recycling compartment. Herein, we addressed the early endocytic steps of KCa2.3 using a combination of fluorescence and biotinylation techniques. We demonstrate that KCa2.3 is localized to caveolin-rich domains of the plasma membrane using fluorescence co-localization, transmission electron microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). Further, in cells lacking caveolin-1, we observed an accumulation of KCa2.3 at the plasma membrane as well as a decreased rate of endocytosis, as assessed by biotinylation. We also demonstrate that KCa2.3 and dynamin II are co-localized following endocytosis as well as demonstrating they are associated by co-IP. Further, expression of K44A dynamin II resulted in a 2-fold increase in plasma membrane KCa2.3 as well as a 3-fold inhibition of endocytosis. Finally, we evaluated the role of Rab5 in the endocytosis of KCa2.3. We demonstrate that expression of a dominant active Rab5 (Q79L) results in the accumulation of newly endocytosed KCa2.3 on to the membrane of the Rab5-induced vacuoles. We confirmed this co-localization by co-IP; demonstrating that KCa2.3 and Rab5 are associated. As expected, if Rab5 is required for the endocytosis of KCa2.3, expression of a dominant negative Rab5 (S34N) resulted in an approximate 2-fold accumulation of KCa2.3 at the plasma membrane. This was confirmed by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rab5. Expression of the dominant negative Rab5 also resulted in a decreased rate of KCa2.3 endocytosis. These results demonstrate that KCa2.3 is localized to a caveolin-rich domain within the plasma membrane and is endocytosed in a dynamin- and Rab5-dependent manner prior to entering the Rab35/EPI64C recycling compartment and returning to the plasma membrane. © 2012 Gao et al

Disinfection Potential of the Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation (CWPO) for inactivation of intestinal parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum

Introduction WHO (World Health Organization) has estimated that around 24 % of the diseases at a global scale are related to environmental factors like consumption of insecure drinking water. Recent laws have become more stringent about the permitted parameters of quality, including more careful surveillance on the presence of resistant forms of Giardia (cysts) and Cryptosporidium (oocysts) in water for human consumption. It has been pointed out that some particular physicochemical properties of their cysts/oocysts cell walls make them strongly resistant against conventional chlorine disinfection [1]. Moreover, complex mechanisms there implied are not still completely elucidated. Therefore, conventional disinfection by chlorine should be assisted or even replaced by novel, safer technologies like the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The CWPO is a very efficient, not expensive AOP [2] that could offer a very interesting performance for effective and safe inactivation of resistant pathogen agents like the cysts/oocysts of the intestinal parasites Giardia and Cryptosporidium, even under very mild conditions of ambient temperature and pressure (15 – 25 °C; < 1 atm). This work is devoted to explore the true potential of the CWPO technology in the inactivation of these couple of resistant forms of dangerous parasites

A Differential Redox Regulation or the Pathways Metabolizing Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Tunes the Production of Reducing Power in the Cytosol of Plant Cells

Adaptation to aerobic life leads organisms to sense reactive oxygen species and use the signal for coordination of the entire metabolism. Glycolysis in plants is a particular network where specific steps, like oxidation of glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate (Ga3P), are critical in order for it to function. The triose-phosphate can be converted into 3-phosphoglycerate through the phosphorylating Ga3P dehydrogenase (Ga3PDHase, EC 1.2.1.12) producing ATP and NADH, or via the non-phosphorylating enzyme (np-Ga3PDHase; EC 1.2.1.9) generating NADPH. In this work we found redox regulation to be a posttranslational mechanism allowing the fine-tuning of the triose-phosphate fate. Both enzymes were inactivated after oxidation by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Kinetic studies determined that Ga3PDHase is marked (63-fold) more sensitive to oxidants than np-Ga3PDHase. Thioredoxin-h reverted the oxidation of both enzymes (although with differences between them), suggesting a physiological redox regulation. The results support a metabolic scenario where the cytosolic triose-phosphate dehydrogenases are regulated under changeable redox conditions. This would allow coordinate production of NADPH or ATP through glycolysis, with oxidative signals triggering reducing power synthesis in the cytosol. The NADPH increment would favor antioxidant responses to cope with the oxidative situation, while the thioredoxin system would positively feedback NADPH production by maintaining np-Ga3PDHase at its reduced active state.Fil: Piattoni, Claudia Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; Argentina;Fil: Guerrero, Sergio Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; Argentina;Fil: Iglesias, Alberto Alvaro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; Argentina

La prueba pericial civil

La entrada en vigor de la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil 1/2000 introdujo modificaciones en materia de prueba pericial civil. Este medio de prueba se regula de manera dispersa, recogiéndose principalmente en los artículos 335 a 352 y otorgándole el valor de un auténtico medio de prueba del que actualmente pueden valerse las partes para conseguir la convicción del juez. A lo largo del presente trabajo llevaremos a cabo un análisis normativo, jurisprudencial y doctrinal de la prueba pericial civil, haciendo mención a su objeto y finalidad, y prestando especial atención a la interpretación que la jurisprudencia ha venido realizando de este medio de prueba desde la aprobación de la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil 1/2000.The entry into force of the Civil Procedure Act 1/2000 introduced changes in the field of civil expert evidence. This means of evidence is regulated in a dispersed manner, being mainly included in articles 335 to 352, and granting it the value of an authentic means of evidence which the parties can currently use to obtain the conviction of the judge. Throughout this research we will carry out a normative, jurisprudential and doctrinal analysis of civil expert evidence, mentioning its object and purpose, and paying special attention to the interpretation that jurisprudence has been giving to this means of evidence since the approval of the Civil Procedure Act 1/2000.Departamento de Derecho Constitucional, Procesal y Eclesiástico del EstadoGrado en Derecho y Grado en Administración y Dirección de Empresa

Upwelling, a common phenomenon in the northern coast of the Rio de la Plata?

En este trabajo se estudiaron las escalas de variabilidad de la temperatura superficial del mar (TSM) en el Río de la Plata y los procesos físicos que las producen. Se utilizaron datos diarios satelitales de TSM y viento en superficie, con resoluciones espaciales de 10 y 25 kilómetros respectivamente, y datos de caudal de los tributarios para el período julio 2002 - julio 2008. Los resultados fueron validados con datos in situ. Se encuentra que la mayor parte de la varianza está asociada al ciclo anual, sencillamente porque la amplitud de la señal de verano a invierno es grande (mayor de 13°C). Sin embargo, ocurre abundante variabilidad en la escala sub-anual, fundamentalmente vinculada a la variabilidad sinóptica del viento, en el Río Exterior. El primer modo de variabilidad en esta escala está relacionado con vientos anómalamente intensos del este o el oeste, que fuerzan la ocurrencia de núcleos más cálidos o más fríos, respecto a la temperatura del agua circundante a lo largo de la costa norte del Río Exterior, entre Montevideo y Punta del Este. Los eventos fríos se observan con mayor frecuencia en los meses de primavera y verano, con anomalías de temperatura de hasta -5.5ºC y ocurren bajo condiciones de vientos intensos del este/noreste paralelos a la costa, lo que sugiere surgencia de agua más profunda. Los eventos de surgencia observados resultaron de gran persistencia, alcanzando en varios casos una duración mayor a un mes. También presentan un marcado ciclo estacional, resultando un fenómeno muy común en la estación cálida. Su ocurrencia también parece estar modulada por la descarga continental, en la medida que ésta modifica las condiciones de estratificación a lo largo de la costa.Fil: Luz Clara Tejedor, Moira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; ArgentinaFil: Simionato, Claudia Gloria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; ArgentinaFil: Campetella, Claudia Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; ArgentinaFil: Moreira, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; ArgentinaFil: Guerrero, Raul Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentin