Modelamiento de distribución de productos cárnicos como un TSP (Traveling Salesman Problem) con teoría de grafos

This paper has as its main objective of use the TSP (Traveling Salesman Problem) with graph theory in order to design routing strategies in a distribution network, looking for an efficient way to be made in regard to distance and time used for attending customer’s requirements. Additionally, the paper develops a case of application of the methodology in a Meat Company located in the city of Medellín. As a result, we find that the use of TSP with graph produces a route with the minimum distance in the distribution network; it was demonstrated in the case of application.El presente artículo tiene como objetivo utilizar el TSP (Traveling Salesman Problem) junto con teoría de grafos para diseñar estrategias de ruteo en una red distribución, buscando que esta se realice de manera eficiente respecto a la distancia y tiempos utilizados en la atención de los pedidos de los clientes. Adicionalmente, se desarrolla un caso de aplicación de la metodología en una empresa de cárnicos ubicada en la ciudad de Medellín. Como resultado, se obtiene que la utilización de TSP con grafos, permite obtener una ruta con la mínima distancia en la red de distribución, lo que se demuestra en el caso de aplicación

El acceso a los servicios de salud bucodental para la población adulta mayor en la red hospitalaria pública de Medellín (Colombia)

Antecedentes/Objetivos: La población adulta mayor es un grupo poblacional significativo teniendo en cuenta los cambios demográficos de las últimas décadas. En el país y en la ciudad de Medellín, este grupo presenta alta vulnerabilidad social, así mismo se observan necesidades en salud bucal, descritas en los estudios nacionales y regionales en el tema. Aunque se han realizado investigaciones que tratan de identificar determinantes que afectan el acceso y la utilización de los servicios de salud, los estudios en salud bucal son más escasos y en especial en la población adulta mayor. Objetivo: identificar barreras y facilitadores de acceso a los servicios de salud bucal en población adulta mayor atendida en la red hospitalaria pública de Medellín desde la perspectiva del personal de salud. Métodos: Estudio cualitativo. Se realizaron 34 entrevistas semiestructuradas en personal que presta servicios de salud en la red Metrosalud de Medellín. Se identificaron barreras y facilitadores según el modelo de Tanahashi sobre cobertura en los servicios de salud a través de 4 categorías: disponibilidad (D), accesibilidad (A), aceptabilidad (P) y contacto con el servicio (C). Se utilizó la herramienta informática AtlasTi. Resultados: Se identificaron barreras relacionadas con: dificultades en la implementación de políticas sociales debido a que la salud bucal no es una prioridad; se han priorizado otras poblaciones para dar atención en salud bucal y existe insuficiente recurso humano para prestar los servicios de salud (D); la situación de discapacidad de los adultos mayores (A); aspectos educativos, culturales y de género (P); y la crisis del sector salud como una barrera estructural del sistema (C). En cuanto a los facilitadores se mencionan: la existencia de programas que facilitan la demanda inducida a programas de salud bucal y de mecanismos para hacer valer los derechos en salud a través de instancias gubernamentales y otras (D); la ubicación de las unidades y centros de salud en zonas de fácil acceso (A); la capacidad de los profesionales para atender esta población (P) y la articulación de la odontología con otras áreas (C). Conclusiones: Se identificaron determinantes que afectan el acceso a servicios sanitarios en la población adulta mayor, por lo que se requieren estrategias para mejorar la calidad de la atención en salud bucal en este grupo socialmente vulnerable.E.S.E Metrosalud. Medellín (Código: C02-E11-L3-01)

Production of Cellulosic Pulp from Reed (Phragmites australis) to Produce Paper and Paperboard

Due to the global increase in the demand for paper and cardboard, and depletion in some areas of wood resources (main raw material in the paper industry), it has been necessary to investigate new raw materials to substitute the conventional ones. In this work, Phragmites australis, commonly known as reed, has been studied. It has been characterized the chemical composition of the raw material by determining the ash content, α-cellulose, holocellulose, lignin and their extractables in ethanol, 1% soda and hot water. Subsequently three pulping processes have been conducted, using the “soda method" under three different operating conditions. The cellulosic pulps and the papersheets made from the pulps were analysed in order to determine the chemical and physical properties following the relevant TAPPI, UNE and ISO standards. Comparing the results obtained, it can be possible to conclude that the pulp obtained under the following operating conditions: 175°, 90 minutes and 14% of NaOH, presents the best results

The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap: a review

Breast cancer is recognized worldwide as a major health problem among women due to its high incidence and high mortality and morbidity rates. Breast reconstruction is an approach of great value for those patients who underwent mastectomy, impacting their quality of life and psychological stress. The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap was described as the preferred graft for breast reconstruction with an autologous flap by surgeons because it represented a decrease in complications for the time and obtained better results. DIEP flap reconstruction requires microsurgical skills as well as continuous monitoring of the patient to identify and resolve possible associated complications.

Biorefinery of biomass of agro-Industrial banana waste to obtain high-value biopolymers

On a worldwide scale, food demand is increasing as a consequence of global population growth. This makes companies push their food supply chains’ limits with a consequent increase in generation of large amounts of untreated waste that are considered of no value to them. Biorefinery technologies offer a suitable alternative for obtaining high-value products by using unconventional raw materials, such as agro-industrial waste. Currently, most biorefineries aim to take advantage of specific residues (by either chemical, biotechnological, or physical treatments) provided by agro-industry in order to develop high-value products for either in-house use or for sale purposes. This article reviews the currently explored possibilities to apply biorefinery-known processes to banana agro-industrial waste in order to generate high-value products out of this residual biomass source. Firstly, the Central and Latin American context regarding biomass and banana residues is presented, followed by advantages of using banana residues as raw materials for the production of distinct biofuels, nanocellulose fibers, different bioplastics, and other high-value products Lastly, additional uses of banana biomass residues are presented, including energy generation and water treatmen

Fair Value Accounting, Earnings Management and the use of Available-for-Sale Instruments by Bank Managers

Fair value accounting in banking has been criticized for the increased volatility that it generates in some accounting variables. One of its advantages, however, is that it reduces the possibility of discretionary earnings management, given that all gains and losses are immediately recognized. In this paper we qualify both considerations. The accounting regime of available-for-sale (AFS) securities allows for some degree of earnings and capital management: an AFS asset is reported at fair value but gains and losses over historical cost go into net income and measures of regulatory capital only when the asset is sold and the gain or loss realized. We use comprehensive data from US commercial banks and bank holding companies and provide evidence that fair value gains in AFS assets have consistently been used for earnings and capital management and that the holdings of AFS assets are related to the intensity of this activity. Our results show that the earnings management behavior is present both in listed and non-listed banks, suggesting that the motivations go beyond the incentives provided by capital markets. We also uncover significant differences in earnings management behavior over the years of the financial crisis

Allelic diversity and patterns of selection at the major histocompatibility complex class I and II loci in a threatened shorebird, the Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

Background: Understanding the structure and variability of adaptive loci such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is a primary research goal for evolutionary and conservation genetics. Typically, classical MHC genes show high polymorphism and are under strong balancing selection, as their products trigger the adaptive immune response in vertebrates. Here, we assess the allelic diversity and patterns of selection for MHC class I and class II loci in a threatened shorebird with highly flexible mating and parental care behaviour, the Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) across its broad geographic range. Results: We determined the allelic and nucleotide diversity for MHC class I and class II genes using samples of 250 individuals from eight breeding population of Snowy Plovers. We found 40 alleles at MHC class I and six alleles at MHC class II, with individuals carrying two to seven different alleles (mean 3.70) at MHC class I and up to two alleles (mean 1.45) at MHC class II. Diversity was higher in the peptide-binding region, which suggests balancing selection. The MHC class I locus showed stronger signatures of both positive and negative selection than the MHC class II locus. Most alleles were present in more than one population. If present, private alleles generally occurred at very low frequencies in each population, except for the private alleles of MHC class I in one island population (Puerto Rico, lineage tenuirostris). Conclusion: Snowy Plovers exhibited an intermediate level of diversity at the MHC, similar to that reported in other Charadriiformes. The differences found in the patterns of selection between the class I and II loci are consistent with the hypothesis that different mechanisms shape the sequence evolution of MHC class I and class II genes. The rarity of private alleles across populations is consistent with high natal and breeding dispersal and the low genetic structure previously observed at neutral genetic markers in this species

Comparación del uso del ácido amsónico y Blanco de Calcofluor para colorear hongos sobre bloques de agar

Introducción El diagnóstico temprano y veraz de las micosis invasivas es fundamental para mejorar la calidad de vida de pacientes inmunocomprometidos al disminuir las complicaciones fatales. Aunque las coloraciones que se están aplicando son útiles, tienen baja especificidad y valor predictivo positivo que disminuyen su eficacia en el diagnóstico. Es por esto que es necesario explorar nuevos colorantes como los derivados del estilbeno que son capaces de emitir fluorescencia al unirse a enlaces presentes en la pared celular fúngica. Objetivo Identificar las características operativas de la técnica de coloración ácido amsónico y compararlas con la coloración Blanco de Calcofluor. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio de pruebas diagnósticas, en el que se evaluaron 186 láminas parafinadas para cada coloración con hongos o bacterias. Resultados La especificidad de la microscopía fue mayor con ácido amsónico que con Blanco de Calcofluor (100% y 49,4%, respectivamente). La sensibilidad fue del 96,7% con Blanco de Calcofluor y 93,5% con ácido amsónico. Conclusiones El ácido amsónico es una técnica más específica que el Blanco de Calcofluor y las dos coloraciones requieren entrenamiento previo para la detección microscópica de hongos

Cigarette smoke induces pulmonary arterial dysfunction through an imbalance in the redox status of the soluble guanylyl cyclase

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose main risk factor is cigarette smoking (CS), is one of the most common diseases globally. Some COPD patients also develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), a severe complication that leads to premature death. Evidence suggests reactive oxygen species (ROS) involvement in COPD and PH, especially regarding pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) dysfunction. However, the effects of CS-driven oxidative stress on the pulmonary vasculature are not completely understood. Herein we provide evidence on the effects of CS extract (CSE) exposure on PASMC regarding ROS production, antioxidant response and its consequences on vascular tone dysregulation. Our results indicate that CSE exposure promotes mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. However, this superoxide increase did not parallel a counterbalancing antioxidant response in human pulmonary artery (PA) cells. Interestingly, the mitochondrial superoxide scavenger mitoTEMPO reduced mitochondrial fission and membrane potential depolarization caused by CSE. As we have previously shown, CSE reduces PA vasoconstriction and vasodilation. In this respect, mitoTEMPO prevented the impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, while vasoconstriction remained reduced. Finally, we observed a CSE-driven downregulation of the Cyb5R3 enzyme, which prevents soluble guanylyl cyclase oxidation in PASMC. This might explain the CSE-mediated decrease in PA vasodilation. These results provide evidence that there might be a connection between mitochondrial ROS and altered vasodilation responses in PH secondary to COPD, and strongly support the potential of antioxidant strategies specifically targeting mitochondria as a new therapy for these diseasesThe Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, ´ Programa Retos en Investigacion ´ (grant number PID2019-104406RB-100) to MJC provided the financial support for the conduct of the research included in this manuscript. Garantia Juvenil program from Comunidad de Madrid contributed with the research assistant contract to M-R,