3,233 research outputs found

    Horizontal collaboration in freight transport: concepts, benefits and environmental challenges

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    [EN] Since its appearance in the 1990s, horizontal collaboration (HC) practices have revealed themselves as catalyzers for optimizing the distribution of goods in freight transport logistics. After introducing the main concepts related to HC, this paper offers a literature review on the topic and provides a classification of best practices in HC. Then, the paper analyses the main benefits and optimization challenges associated with the use of HC at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels. Emerging trends such as the concept of ` green' or environmentally- friendly HC in freight transport logistics are also introduced. Finally, the paper discusses the need of using hybrid optimization methods, such as simheuristics and learnheuristics, in solving some of the previously identified challenges in real- life scenarios dominated by uncertainty and dynamic conditions.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness & FEDER (TRA2013-48180-C3-P, TRA2015-71883-REDT), The Erasmus+ program (2016-1-ES01-KA108-023465), the Ibero American Program of Science and Technology for Development (CYTED2014-515RT-0489), the CAN Foundation (CAN2014-3758, CAN2015-70473), and the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU-14/00024).Serrano-Hernandez, A.; Juan, AA.; Faulin, J.; Perez-Bernabeu, E. (2017). Horizontal collaboration in freight transport: concepts, benefits and environmental challenges. SORT. Statistics and Operations Research Transactions. 41(2):393-414. https://doi.org/10.2436/20.8080.02.65S39341441

    A novel ultrasonic cavitation enhancer

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    We introduce a Cavitation Intensifying Bag as a versatile tool for acoustic cavitation control. The cavitation activity is spatially controlled by the modification of the inner surface of the bag with patterned pits of microscopic dimensions. We report on different measurements such as the transmission of ultrasound, temperature increase inside the bag during sonication. Several applications of interest to other scientific activities are also demonstrated

    Attentional development can help us understand the inattentional blindness effect in visual search

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    Introduction: Inattentional Blindness (IB) is the failure to notice an unexpected, usually salient stimulus while immersed in a different, often demanding attentional task. More than just a laboratory curiosity, IB is an important phenomenon to understand because it may be related to real-world errors such as missed “incidental findings” in medical image or security searches. Interest in individual differences in susceptibility to IB has produced a number of studies showing inconclusive results. Methods: Here, we tested IB in a sample of 277 participants, 4-25 years old performing a visual search task. On two critical trials, an unexpected letter and an unexpected word were presented among photorealistic objects. Results: There was a clear age effect with younger individuals showing higher IB levels. IB correlated with attentional control in visual search and with Continuous Performance Test-CPT for d-prime, response times and attentional shifting measures. These effects disappeared if age was controlled. There were no general effects of intelligence (IQ; RIST) or gender. Younger observers showed a negative correlation of IB for the word with the verbal components of the RIST IQ-proxy (no effect for the letter). Discussion: These results support a relationship between IB and cognitive-developmental changes, showing that maturation of attention and executive processes can help us understand the intriguing phenomenon of (sometimes) missing what is in front of our eyesThis work was supported by the Research Grant Project PSI2015-69358-R (MINECO/FEDER) Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) and the ongoing project PID2021-122621OBI00 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España) granted to BG-G. It was also supported by the Fulbright Commission, and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, FORAGEKID 793268, also granted to BG-G, as well as by the NIH EY017001 granted to J

    Evaluación del proceso de coagulación de los ácidos húmicos (AHs) en presencia de Fe³⁺

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    En esta investigación se realizó la extracción de un ácidos húmico (AHs) de un suelo de Atotonilco (estado de Hidalgo), empleando Na₂P₂O₇.10H₂O e NaOH como agentes extractantes. El análisis fisicoquímico del ácido húmico extraído (AH-A), utilizando diferentes métodos y técnicas analíticas mostro que sus características alifáticas y poliácidas fueron similares comparadas con el ácido húmico comercial (AH-CH). Con respecto a su capacidad de coagulación con iones de Fe³⁺, evaluada por medio de lecturas de potencial zeta se evidenció que existe una rápida interacción de los AHs con este metal. Incrementa su coagulación al aumentar la concentración del metal y a un pH mayor de 4, debido a la desprotonación de los grupos carboxílicos (-COOH) principalmente, que bajo estas condiciones pueden coordinarse, reduciendo la carga neta negativa y permitiendo así que tales complejos se aproximen entre sí e interactúen a través de puentes de hidrógeno. Con estos resultados se pudo demostrar la afinidad de los AHs con Fe³⁺ y su importancia en el transporte de nutrientes en sistemas ambientales.In this research the extraction of a humic acid (HAs) from a soil of Atotonilco (Hidalgo state) were performed using Na₂P₂O₇.10H,O and NaOH as extracting agents. Physicochemical analysis of extracted humic acid (HA-A), were obtained using differents analytical methods and techniques showed that their polyacidic and aliphatic characteristics was similar compared with the commercial humic acid (HA-CH). In regard to its ability to coagulation with Fe³⁺ions, evaluated through zeta potential values, it was shown that there is a rapid interaction of the HAs with this metal. Coagulation increases at higher metal concentration and an pH higher than 4, because of the greater deprotonation of carboxylic groups (-COOH) principally, that can coordinate under these conditions, reducing the net negative charge and enabling such complexes approach one another and interact through hydrogen bonding. It could be demonstrated the affinity of AHs with Fe³⁺ and their importance in nutrient transport in environmental systems

    Effects of the 4N(v) chromosome from Aegilops ventricosa on agronomic and quality traits in bread wheat

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    Advanced wheat lines carrying the Hessian fly resistance gene H27 were obtained by backcrossing the wheat/Aegilops ventricosa introgression line, H-93-33, to commercial wheat cultivars as recurrent parents. The Acph-N v 1 marker linked to the gene H27 on the 4Nv chromosome of this line was used for marker assisted selection. Advanced lines were evaluated for Hessian fly resistance in field and growth chamber tests, and for other agronomic traits during several crop seasons at different localities of Spain. The hessian fly resistance levels of lines carrying the 4Nv chromosome introgression (4D/4Nv substitution and recombination lines that previously were classified by in situ hybridisation) were high, but always lower than that of their Ae. ventricosa progenitor. Introgression lines had higher grain yields in infested field trials than those without the 4Nv chromosome and their susceptible parents, but lower grain yields under high yield potential conditions. The 4Nv introgression was also associated with later heading, and lower tiller and grain numbers/m2 . In addition, it was associated with longer and more lax spikes, and higher values of grain weight and grain protein content. However, the glutenin and gliadin expression, as well as the bread-making performance, were similar to those of their recurrent parent

    MetastamiRs: Non-Coding MicroRNAs Driving Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

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    MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides that function as negative regulators of gene expression by either inhibiting translation or inducing deadenylation-dependent degradation of target transcripts. Notably, deregulation of miRNAs expression is associated with the initiation and progression of human cancers where they act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors contributing to tumorigenesis. Abnormal miRNA expression may provide potential diagnostic and prognostic tumor biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in cancer. Recently, several miRNAs have been shown to initiate invasion and metastasis by targeting multiple proteins that are major players in these cellular events, thus they have been denominated as metastamiRs. Here, we present a review of the current knowledge of miRNAs in cancer with a special focus on metastamiRs. In addition we discuss their potential use as novel specific markers for cancer progression

    De novo valve tissue morphology following bioscaffold mitral valve replacement in a juvenile non-human primate model

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    The utility of implanting a bioscaffold mitral valve consisting of porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS) in a juvenile baboon model (12 to 14 months old at the time of implant; n = 3) to assess their in vivo tissue remodeling responses was investigated. Our findings demonstrated that the PSIS mitral valve exhibited the robust presence of de novo extracellular matrix (ECM) at all explantation time points (at 3-, 11-, and 20-months). Apart from a significantly lower level of proteoglycans in the implanted valve’s annulus region (p \u3c 0.05) at 3 months compared to the 11-and 20-month explants, there were no other significant differences (p \u3e 0.05) found between any of the other principal valve ECM components (collagen and elastin) at the leaflet, annulus, or chordae tendinea locations, across these time points. In particular, neochordae tissue had formed, which seamlessly integrated with the native papillary muscles. However, additional processing will be required to trigger accelerated, uniform and complete valve ECM formation in the recipient. Regardless of the specific processing done to the bioscaffold valve, in this proof-of-concept study, we estimate that a 3-month window following bioscaffold valve replacement is the timeline in which complete regeneration of the valve and integration with the host needs to occur

    Realidades interculturales, miradas hacia el género y la educación

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    Este texto contribuye al análisis científico de varias áreas del conocimiento como la filosofía social, la patología, la educación para el cuidado del medio ambiente y la sustentabilidad que inciden en diversas unidades de aprendizaje de la Licenciatura en Educación para la Salud y de la Maestría en Sociología de la SaludLa presente obra, es la reunión de varias investigaciones que se han dado cita para construir un libro que representa el horizonte de autores y lectores en la pasión del dialogo. Se trata de experiencias de los observadores e interpretes de la realidad de los observadores e interpretes de la realidad social quienes se aventuraron a reunir las voces de los informantes que resguardan los secretos de sus comunidades acerca de su cultura, organización simbólica, y de sus practicas y rituales engarzados en la vida cotidiana

    SALMANTICOR study. Rationale and design of a population-based study to identify structural heart disease abnormalities: a spatial and machine learning analysis

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    [EN]Introduction: This study aims to obtain data on the prevalence and incidence of structural heart disease in a population setting and, to analyse and present those data on the application of spatial and machine learning methods that, although known to geography and statistics, need to become used for healthcare research and for political commitment to obtain resources and support effective public health programme implementation. Methods and analysis: We will perform a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected residents of Salamanca (Spain). 2400 individuals stratified by age and sex and by place of residence (rural and urban) will be studied. The variables to analyse will be obtained from the clinical history, different surveys including social status, Mediterranean diet, functional capacity, ECG, echocardiogram, VASERA and biochemical as well as genetic analysis. Ethics and dissemination: The study has been approved by the ethical committee of the healthcare community. All study participants will sign an informed consent for participation in the study. The results of this study will allow the understanding of the relationship between the different influencing factors and their relative importance weights in the development of structural heart disease

    The mutation of Transportin 3 gene that causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1F induces protection against HIV-1 infection

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    The causative mutation responsible for limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1F (LGMD1F) is one heterozygous single nucleotide deletion in the stop codon of the nuclear import factor Transportin 3 gene (TNPO3). This mutation causes a carboxy-terminal extension of 15 amino acids, producing a protein of unknown function (TNPO3_mut) that is co-expressed with wild-type TNPO3 (TNPO3_wt). TNPO3 has been involved in the nuclear transport of serine/arginine-rich proteins such as splicing factors and also in HIV-1 infection through interaction with the viral integrase and capsid. We analyzed the effect of TNPO3_mut on HIV-1 infection using PBMCs from patients with LGMD1F infected ex vivo. HIV-1 infection was drastically impaired in these cells and viral integration was reduced 16-fold. No significant effects on viral reverse transcription and episomal 2-LTR circles were observed suggesting that the integration of HIV-1 genome was restricted. This is the second genetic defect described after CCR5Δ32 that shows strong resistance against HIV-1 infection.This work was supported by crowfunding site PRECIPITA from FECYT, the MERCKSALUD Foundation, the Spanish Ministry of Science (FIS PI12/00969; PI16CIII/00034; SAF2016-78480-R); the Spanish AIDS Research Network RD16CIII/0002/0001 that is included in Acción Estratégica en Salud, Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2016-2020, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Region Development Fund (FEDER); CIBERer-ISCIII (FIS PI16/00316) co-financed by the European Regional Development Founds (FEDER), IIS La Fe (2016-0388; 2018-0200), and Fundación Isabel Gemio (http://www.fundacionisabelgemio.com). The work of Dra. Sara Rodríguez-Mora is supported by the Asociación Conquistando Escalones, funded by Spanish LGMD1F patients and Sara Borrell grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The work of Dra. María Rosa López-Huertas is financed by ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación and European Funding for Regional Development (FEDER) and by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PIE13/00040). The work of Elena Mateos is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness SAF2016-78480-R. The work of Lorena Vigón is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.S
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