Recurso. Modelo de crecimiento de árbol individual para plantaciones de pino radiata en el noroeste de España

Individual-tree basal area and height increment models were developed with data from 130 permanent plots of Pinus radiata D. Don located in Galicia (northwestern Spain). Mixed-models techniques were used for model fitting. Covariates acting at tree and stand level were included as fixed effects. Estimated values of stand variables obtained from aggregation of individual-tree predictions were used in model evaluation. The developed models accounted for 54% of the variability in basal area increment and 36% of the variability in height increment, with mean errors of 16 cm2 and 0.36 m, respectively. These models, along with an existing individual-tree mortality model, constitute a whole individual-tree growth model that can be used to simulate forest management alternatives, helping in forest managers’ decision making.En este estudio se han desarrollado modelos de incremento en sección normal y altura de árbol individual, utilizando datos de 130 parcelas de Pinus radiata D. Don localizadas en Galicia. La técnica de modelos mixtos se utilizó en el ajuste de los modelos. Se incluyeron covariables que actúan a nivel de árbol y a nivel de rodal como efectos fijos en los modelos. En la evaluación de los modelos se utilizaron estimaciones de variables de rodal obtenidas por agregación de las predicciones de árbol individual. Los modelos desarrollados explicaron el 54% de la variabilidad en el incremento en sección normal y el 36% de la variabilidad en el incremento en altura, con errores medios de 16 cm2 y 0.36 m, respectivamente. Estos modelos, junto al modelo de mortalidad de árbol individual existente, forman un modelo de crecimiento de árbol individual que puede utilizarse para simular alternativas de gestión forestal, ayudando a la toma de decisiones de los gestores forestales

Experimental investigation of a quantum heat engine powered by generalized measurements

Generalized measurements may allow the control of its invasiveness on the quantum system interpolating from a very weak to strong projective action. Such a measurement can fuel a quantum heat engine or extract work depending on the system-meter interaction. Here, we performed a proof-of-concept experiment using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques to investigate a spin quantum heat engine driven by non-selective generalized (weak) measurements without feedback control. Our prototype of a quantum thermal device operates with a measurement protocol and a single heat bath. The protocol is composed of two non-selective measurement channels with variable measurement strengths, one dedicated to fueling the device (analogous to a hot heat source) and the other committed to work extraction. The experimental results highlight that this kind of quantum thermal device can reach unit efficiency with maximum extracted power by fine-tuning of the measurement strengths.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

A new player in cartilage homeostasis: adiponectin induces nitric oxide synthase type II and pro-inflammatory cytokines in chondrocytes

SummaryObjectiveRecent studies revealed a close connection between adipose tissue, adipokines and articular degenerative inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The goal of this work was to investigate the activity of adiponectin in human and murine chondrocytes and to study its functional role in the modulation of nitric oxide synthase type II (NOS2). For completeness, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) accumulation have been evaluated in adiponectin-stimulated chondrocytes cell culture supernatants.MethodsMurine ATDC5 cell line, C28/I2, C20A4, TC28a2 human immortalized chondrocytes, and human cultured chondrocytes were used. Nitrite accumulation was determined by Griess reaction. Adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy and confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NOS2 expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis whereas cytokines, prostanoids and metalloproteinases production was evaluated by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsHuman and murine chondrocytes express functional AdipoRs. Adiponectin induces NOS2. This effect is inhibited by aminoguanidine, dexamethasone and by a selective inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In addition, adiponectin is able to increase IL-6, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MCP-1 by murine cultured chondrocytes whereas it was unable to modulate TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-2, TIMP-1, PGE2 and LTB4 release.ConclusionsThese results bind more closely the interactions between fat-derived adipokines and articular inflammatory diseases, and suggest that adiponectin is a novel key element in the maintenance of cartilage homeostasis which might be considered as a potential therapeutical target in joint degenerative diseases

Reducing scrap and improving an air conditioning pipe production line

30th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM2021) -15-18 June 2021, Athens, GreeceThe automotive industry is considered one of the most demanding and competitive sectors in the global market. This increasingly implies having a stable and optimized production process, always with a view to continuous improvement. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of all the waste that is generated in all production and logistics operations and take action to reduce them. In this regard and considering the process of producing air conditioning pipes for the automotive industry, a high scrap value was detected mainly due to soldering process. Therefore, the entire production process is analyzed in order to identify the main causes behind the high scrap value. Several Lean and quality tools are used to reduce not only the amount of scrap but also to increase the line productivity. In order to face this challenge, after elaborating the action plan and corresponding implementation, the scrap value is reduced by 12% in general, and productivity increased by 29%, 55% and 22.5% in three different references produced by the same machine. Although this solution is a bit expensive, the corresponding payback is reduced, so it can easily be applied transversally to other similar machines allowing extremely interesting gains in the short term.Andresa Baptista acknowledges the financial support of CIDEM- Research Center of Mechanical Engineering, FCT –Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher ducation, under the Project UID/EMS/0615/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio