Decision system based on neural networks to optimize the energy efficiency of a petrochemical plant

The energy efficiency of industrial plants is an important issue in any type of business but particularly in the chemical industry. Not only is it important in order to reduce costs, but also it is necessary even more as a means of reducing the amount of fuel that gets wasted, thereby improving productivity, ensuring better product quality, and generally increasing profits. This article describes a decision system developed for optimizing the energy efficiency of a petrochemical plant. The system has been developed after a data mining process of the parameters registered in the past. The designed system carries out an optimization process of the energy efficiency of the plant based on a combined algorithm that uses the following for obtaining a solution: On the one hand, the energy efficiency of the operation points occurred in the past and, on the other hand, a module of two neural networks to obtain new interpolated operation points. Besides, the work includes a previous discriminant analysis of the variables of the plant in order to select the parameters most important in the plant and to study the behavior of the energy efficiency index. This study also helped ensure an optimal training of the neural networks. The robustness of the system as well as its satisfactory results in the testing process (an average rise in the energy efficiency of around 7%, reaching, in some cases, up to 45%) have encouraged a consulting company (ALIATIS) to implement and to integrate the decision system as a pilot software in an SCADA

Cochlear Implant in Single-Sided Deafness Children and Adults

Binaural hearing in humans ensures our effective communication as it improves the sound localization, the speech understanding in noise, the spatial awareness, the listening easiness, and the development of spoken language. The majority of the literature on patients with single-sided deafness and cochlear implantation involves adult patients; the cochlear implant is a viable and cost-effective treatment option for this population. So in this chapter, we will emphasize the importance of early treatment of unilateral hearing loss in the pediatric age and the emerging indication of the cochlear implant as a treatment

Risk Factors for Working Pregnant Women and Potential Adverse Consequences of Exposure: A Systematic Review

Objective: To assess the risk factors perceived as stressors by pregnant women in the work environment and the possible adverse consequences of such exposure for the normal development of pregnancy. Methods: Systematic review, guided by the PRISMA guidelines, and using Pubmed, Web of Science, Dialnet, SciELO, and REDIB databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools for non-randomised studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: A total of 38 studies were included. The main risk factors found in the work environment of pregnant women were chemical, psychosocial, physical-ergonomicmechanical factors, and other work-related factors. The main adverse consequences of exposure to these factors include low birth weight, preterm birth, miscarriage, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, as well as various obstetric complications. Conclusion: During pregnancy, working conditions that are considered acceptable in normal situations may not be so during this stage due to the major changes that occur during pregnancy. Many obstetric effects may have an important impact in the mother’s psychological status; therefore, it is important to optimise working conditions during this stage and to reduce or eliminate possible risksFunding for open access charge: Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT)

¿Predice la retribución diseñada a partir de la teoría de costes de transacción el rendimiento de la empresa y del equipo de ventas?

Transaction Cost Analysis provides an appealing framework for examining the role of salary versus incentive compensation because it identifies a set of theoretical constructs for determining the appropriate balance between these components. However, there is no evidence on the performance impact of a compensation plan designed on the theoretical basis of TCA. This work analyses this impact through a sample of 108 salesforces operating in Spain. We consider variables as difficulty of replacing salespeople, uncertainty, output variables adequacy to measure salesforce performance and salesforce size to verify the relationship between the compensation design and the company and salesforce performance. Our results permit us to state that the TCA framework is appropriate for determining the success of a compensation plan for salespeople, specifically regarding salesforce outcomes

The parents as assessors of the quality of life of their cochlear implanted children

Introducción y objetivo: El concepto de calidad de vida ha comenzado a utilizarse cada vez más en el campo de las evaluaciones en salud. Se ha empezado a investigar los efectos de la implantación a nivel del desarrollo social y emocional del niño. El objetivo es examinar los resultados de la salud relacionados con la calidad de vida en niños sordos implantados cocleares de entre 11 y 12 años de edad y sus padres. Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo transversal en 24 niños prelocutivos implantados unilaterales o bilaterales sucesivos de 11 y 12 años de edad y sus padres. Utilizando el cuestionario de calidad de vida pediátrica PedsQL™ (Versión 4.0, español para España), para medir la salud relacionados con la calidad de vida, completado de forma independiente por niños y padres respectivamente. Resultados: Mediante la T-Student los resultados de niños y padres en las diferentes escalas evaluadas observamos que en las escalas de funcionamiento emocional y académica es donde se obtienen resultados estadísticamente significativos (p <0,05). Al comparar el resultado total del cuestionario con las diferentes escalas evaluadas, en todas ellas se obtienen resultados estadísticamente significativos (p <0,05). Discusión: Probado el éxito del implante coclear en las áreas del habla y del lenguaje, esto nos lleva actualmente a preguntas más allá de estas áreas; el rendimiento en el hogar, en la escuela y en diferentes contextos sociales. Pocos estudios exploran a través de entrevistas o cuestionarios las expectativas de los padres y la percepción de la calidad de vida de sus hijos usuarios de implantes coclear. Conclusiones: Los resultados del estudio muestran que los niños disfrutan de los beneficios del uso de su implante coclear. Ellos reportan beneficios en todas las áreas estudiadas (física, emocional, social y académica). Los padres son periodistas válidos sobre el estado de la calidad de vida global de sus hijos ya que dieron respuestas similares a las dadas por sus hijos.Introduction and objective: Quality of life refers to the hability of an individual to enjoy normal life activities, including aspects of functional capacity and well-being. The concept of quality of life has been increasingly used in the field of health assessments. Only recently have the effects of Cochlear implantation from the perspective of emotional and social development begun to be investigate. To examine the results of health-related quality of life in cochlear implanted children between 11 and 12 years of age and their parents. Method: Observational, transversal descriptive study .24 unilateral or successive bilateral children implanted prelingually between 11 and 12 years of age and their parents. The pediatric quality of life questionnaire Persil ™ (Version 4.0, Spanish for Spain) was used to measure health-related quality of life. It was completed independently by children and parents. Results: The results were analyzed by means of a T -Student test. The outcomes of children and parents at different scales evaluated show that statistically significant results appear on scales of emotional and academic functioning (p < 0.05). When comparing the overall result of the questionnaire with the different scales evaluated, all show statistically significant results (p < 0.05). Discussion: It has been proven the success of a cochlear implant in speech and language field, this leads us calls into question beyond these areas; yield at home, at school and in different social contexts. There are few studies that explain through parental questionnaires expectations and their perception of the quality of life in cochlear implanted in children. Conclusions: The results of the study show that children enjoy the benefits of using a cochlear implant. They report benefits in all areas studied (physical, emotional, social and academic). Parents are reliable reporters about the state of the overall quality of life of their children since their answers were similar to those given by their children

CM363, a novel naphthoquinone derivative which acts as multikinase modulator and overcomes imatinib resistance in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a hematological stem cell disorder which is associated with activation of Bcr-Abl-Stat5 oncogenic pathway. Direct Bcr-Abl inhibitors are initially successful for the treatment of CML but over time many patients develop drug resistance. In the present study, the effects of CM363, a novel naphthoquinone (NPQ) derivative, were evaluated on human CML-derived K562 cells. CM363 revealed an effective cell growth inhibition (IC50 = 0.7 ± 0.5 μM) by inducing cancer cells to undergo cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CM363 caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction of cells in G0/G1 and G2/M phases. This cell cycle arrest was associated with increased levels of cyclin E, pChk1 and pChk2 whereas CM363 downregulated cyclin B, cyclin D3, p27, pRB, Wee1, and BUBR1. CM363 increased the double-strand DNA break marker γH2AX. CM363 caused a timedependent increase of annexin V-positive cells, DNA fragmentation and increased number of apoptotic nuclei. CM363 triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway as reflected by a release of cytochrome C from mitochondria and induction of the cleavage of caspase-3 and -9, and PARP. CM363 showed multikinase modulatory effects through an early increased JNK phosphorylation followed by inhibition of pY-Bcrl-Abl and pY-Stat5. CM363 worked synergistically with imatinib to inhibit cell viability and maintained its activity in imatinib-resistant cells. Finally, CM363 (10 mg/Kg) suppressed the growth of K562 xenograft tumors in athymic mice. In summary, CM363 is a novel multikinase modulator that offers advantages to circumvent imanitib resistance and might be therapeutically effective in Bcrl-Abl- Stat5 related malignancies.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2009-13296) and MINECO (SAF2012-37344, SAF2014-53526R, and SAF2015-65113-C2-2-R) with the co-funding of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This Project has been also supported by Centro Atlántico del Medicamento S.A. (CEAMED; www.ceamedsa.com) and Alfredo Martín-Reyes Foundation (Arehucas)-Canary Islands Foundation for Cancer Research (FICIC).Peer Reviewe

Effectiveness of Text Message Reminders on Adherence to Inhaled Therapy in Patients With Asthma : Prospective Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

Poor adherence to inhaled medication in asthma patients is of great concern. It is one of the main reasons for inadequate asthma control. The goal of the research was to determine if motivational messages using short message service (SMS, or text) improved adherence to inhaled medication in patients with asthma. A prospective multicenter randomized parallel-group clinical trial was conducted in 10 asthma clinics in Spain. Adherence was assessed with electronic monitors (Smartinhaler, Adherium Ltd) connected to inhalers. Patients in the SMS group received psychologist-developed motivational messages every 3 days for 6 months. There were 53 patients in the SMS group and 88 patients in the control group. After 6 months, mean electronic adherence was 70% (SD 17%) in the intervention group and 69% (SD 17%) in the control group (P =.82). Significant differences between the study groups in morning and evening adherence to inhaled therapy, asthma control, exhaled nitric oxide levels, or improvement of lung functions were not observed. Motivational messages were not useful to improve adherence to inhaled asthma medication compared with usual care

Evaluación del Pectimorf como regulador del crecimiento en la formación de callos con estructuras embriogénicas en Ipomoea batatas

Tuberous roots of sweet potato belonging to the clone INIVIT B 93-1, were gather ad and placed in flasks with water in the laboratory to induce the emergence of the yolks. Later on, explants of the limbo was selected to foliate (1 cm2) fields in the means of cultivation of Murashige and Skoog, 100 mg.l-1 myo-inositol, 1 mg.l-1 tiamine, 3% sucrose, 0.2% gelrite, 0.50 mg.l-1 2,4-D and 0.25 mg.l-1 6-BAP as control treatment and the same medium of above mentioned culture with different pectimorf concentrations (5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 mg.l-1) for the formation of callus with embryogenic structures. Thirty days later the percentage of formed callus, their the callus growth, color, texture and presence of roots were evaluated. The callus stayed in incubation camera under conditions of darkness, temperature of 25 ± 2°C and relative humidity of 80-90%. Good results were obtained in the formation of callus with embryogenic structures, when used the pectimorf at 15.0 mg.l-1 concentration.Key works: embryogenesis, sweet potato, oligopectatesFueron recolectadas raíces tuberosas de boniato pertenecientes al clon INIVIT B 93-1 que se colocaron en frascos con agua en el laboratorio para inducir la brotación de las yemas. Posteriormente, se seleccionaron explantes del limbo foliar (1 cm2) para la formación de callos con estructuras embriogénicas en el medio de cultivo propuesto por Murashige y Skoog, mio-inositol (100 mg.l-1), tiamina (1 mg.l-1), sacarosa (3%), gelrite (0.2%), 2,4-D (0.50 mg.l-1) y 6-BAP (0.25 mg.l-1) como control y el medio de cultivo anteriormente mencionado con diferentes concentraciones de Pectimorf (5.0, 10.0, 15.0 y 20.0 mg.l-1). Pasados treinta días se evaluaron el porcentaje de callos formados, desarrollo de los callos, color, textura y presencia de raíces. Los callos se mantuvieron en cámara de incubación en condiciones de oscuridad, temperatura de 25 ± 2°C y humedad relativa del 80-90%. Se obtuvieron buenos resultados en la formación de callos con estructuras embriogénicas al ser utilizado el Pectimorf a la concentración de 15.0 mg.l-1.Palabras clave: boniato, embriogénesis, oligopectato

The wide-field, multiplexed, spectroscopic facility WEAVE : survey design, overview, and simulated implementation

Funding for the WEAVE facility has been provided by UKRI STFC, the University of Oxford, NOVA, NWO, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Isaac Newton Group partners (STFC, NWO, and Spain, led by the IAC), INAF, CNRS-INSU, the Observatoire de Paris, Région Île-de-France, CONCYT through INAOE, Konkoly Observatory (CSFK), Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie (MPIA Heidelberg), Lund University, the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), the Swedish Research Council, the European Commission, and the University of Pennsylvania.WEAVE, the new wide-field, massively multiplexed spectroscopic survey facility for the William Herschel Telescope, will see first light in late 2022. WEAVE comprises a new 2-degree field-of-view prime-focus corrector system, a nearly 1000-multiplex fibre positioner, 20 individually deployable 'mini' integral field units (IFUs), and a single large IFU. These fibre systems feed a dual-beam spectrograph covering the wavelength range 366-959 nm at R ∼ 5000, or two shorter ranges at R ∼ 20,000. After summarising the design and implementation of WEAVE and its data systems, we present the organisation, science drivers and design of a five- to seven-year programme of eight individual surveys to: (i) study our Galaxy's origins by completing Gaia's phase-space information, providing metallicities to its limiting magnitude for ∼ 3 million stars and detailed abundances for ∼ 1.5 million brighter field and open-cluster stars; (ii) survey ∼ 0.4 million Galactic-plane OBA stars, young stellar objects and nearby gas to understand the evolution of young stars and their environments; (iii) perform an extensive spectral survey of white dwarfs; (iv) survey  ∼ 400 neutral-hydrogen-selected galaxies with the IFUs; (v) study properties and kinematics of stellar populations and ionised gas in z 1 million spectra of LOFAR-selected radio sources; (viii) trace structures using intergalactic/circumgalactic gas at z > 2. Finally, we describe the WEAVE Operational Rehearsals using the WEAVE Simulator.PostprintPeer reviewe

The wide-field, multiplexed, spectroscopic facility WEAVE: Survey design, overview, and simulated implementation

WEAVE, the new wide-field, massively multiplexed spectroscopic survey facility for the William Herschel Telescope, will see first light in late 2022. WEAVE comprises a new 2-degree field-of-view prime-focus corrector system, a nearly 1000-multiplex fibre positioner, 20 individually deployable 'mini' integral field units (IFUs), and a single large IFU. These fibre systems feed a dual-beam spectrograph covering the wavelength range 366$-$959\,nm at $R\sim5000$, or two shorter ranges at $R\sim20\,000$. After summarising the design and implementation of WEAVE and its data systems, we present the organisation, science drivers and design of a five- to seven-year programme of eight individual surveys to: (i) study our Galaxy's origins by completing Gaia's phase-space information, providing metallicities to its limiting magnitude for $\sim$3 million stars and detailed abundances for $\sim1.5$ million brighter field and open-cluster stars; (ii) survey $\sim0.4$ million Galactic-plane OBA stars, young stellar objects and nearby gas to understand the evolution of young stars and their environments; (iii) perform an extensive spectral survey of white dwarfs; (iv) survey $\sim400$ neutral-hydrogen-selected galaxies with the IFUs; (v) study properties and kinematics of stellar populations and ionised gas in $z<0.5$ cluster galaxies; (vi) survey stellar populations and kinematics in $\sim25\,000$ field galaxies at $0.3\lesssim z \lesssim 0.7$; (vii) study the cosmic evolution of accretion and star formation using $>1$ million spectra of LOFAR-selected radio sources; (viii) trace structures using intergalactic/circumgalactic gas at $z>2$. Finally, we describe the WEAVE Operational Rehearsals using the WEAVE Simulator.Comment: 41 pages, 27 figures, accepted for publication by MNRA