Shop-floor scheduling as a competitive advantage:A study on the relevance of cyber-physical systems in different manufacturing contexts

The aim of this paper is to analyse the relevance of cyber-physical systems (CPS) in different manufacturing contexts and to study whether CPS could provide companies with competitive advantage by carrying out a better scheduling task. This paper is developed under the umbrella of contingency theory which states that certain technologies and practices are not universally applicable or relevant in every context; thus, only certain companies will benefit from using particular technologies or practices. The conclusion of this paper, developed through deductive reasoning and supported by preliminary simulation experiments and statistical tests, is that factories with an uncertain and demanding market environment as well as a complex production process could benefit the most from implementing a CPS at shop-floor level since a cyber-physical shop-floor will provide all the capabilities needed to carry out the complex scheduling task associated with this type of context. On the other hand, an increase in scheduling performance due to a CPS implementation in factories with simple production flows and stable demand could not be substantial enough to overcome the high cost of installing a fully operational CPS

Modelamiento Computacional de la Dinamica de Transmisión de la Varicela mediante Automatas Celulares (Cell-DEVS)

En el presente trabajo, se realiza un modelo computacional mediante los Autómatas Celulares (Cell-DEVS) que describa la dinámica de transmisión de la Varicela en un grupo cerrado de personas donde se pueda propagar la enfermedad. Desde la perspectiva de la epidemiología matemática se tiene el modelo matemático SEIR de W. O. Kermack y A. G. McKendrick que representa la dinámica de la epidemia, en nuestro caso la Varicela, donde se realizará las simulaciones computacionales tanto por los Métodos Numéricos como los Autómatas Celulares para analizar el desarrollo de la enfermedad

Modelamiento computacional de la dinámica de transmisión sexual del VIH/SIDA mediante autómatas celulares (Cell-DEVS)

In the present research article, a computational model is developed by means of cellular automatas (Cell-DEVS) that describes the transmission dynamics of HIV / AIDS in a closed group of heterosexual people who are sexually active. From the perspective of the mathematical epidemiology we have the mathematical model SI of W. O. Kermack and A. G. McKendrick that represents the dynamics of the sexually transmitted disease by means of the ordinary differential equations. Wherecomputational simulations will be carried out both by numerical methods and cellular automatas to analyze the evolution of the disease over time, and how the results obtained can be interpreted to generate adequate intervention activities as part of public politics.En el presente artículo de investigación, se desarrolla un modelo computacional mediante los autómatas celulares (Cell-DEVS) que describe la dinámica de transmisión del VIH/SIDA en un grupo cerrado de personas heterosexuales que son sexualmente activas. Desde la perspectiva de la epidemiología matemática se tiene el modelo matemático SI de W. O. Kermack y A. G. McKendrick que representa la dinámica de la enfermedad de transmisión sexual mediante las ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias. Donde se realizará las simulaciones computacionales tanto por los métodos numéricos como los autómatas celulares para analizar la evolución de la enfermedad en el tiempo, y cómo se puede interpretar los resultados obtenidos para generar adecuadas actividades de intervención como parte de políticas públicas

Miasis gástrica e intestinal por Ornidia obesa (Diptera: Syrphidae) en humanos. Primer reporte en Colombia

Myasis are parasitic infestations of animals and humans tissues and is caused by fly larvae. This kind of infestation has Public Health importance. In the Colombian biomedical literature the reports about myiasis in humans are scarce. In this paper, we report two cases of patients with gastrointestinal myiasis where the etiologic agents involved were Ornidia obesa and Ornidia sp (Diptera: Syrphidae). The taxonomic identification of the larvae was done at the Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine and taxonomic confirmation was done at the laboratory of medicine veterinary and Zoology of Sao Pablo University. These two cases of myiasis are of first report in ColombiaLas miasis son infestaciones de tejidos de animales y humanos, causadas por larvas de moscas, las cuales tienen importancia manifiesta en Salud Publica. En la literatura biomédica Colombiana, son escasos los reportes referentes a los diferentes tipos de miasis que se presentan en los humanos. En este trabajo se reportan dos casos de pacientes con miasis gastrointestinal, donde los agentes etiológicos implicados fueron Ornidia obesa y Ornidia sp (Diptera: Syrphidae). La identificación taxonómica de las larvas halladas en ambos pacientes se realizó en el Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical CES y fue confirmada en el Laboratorio del Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva en Salud Animal de la Facultdad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad de Sao Paulo. Estos dos casos de miasis se constituyen en el primer reporte en Colombia

Surprise-induced enhancements in the associability of Pavlovian cues facilitate learning across behavior systems

Surprising violations of outcome expectancies have long been known to enhance the associability of Pavlovian cues; that is, the rate at which the cue enters into further associations. The adaptive value of such enhancements resides in promoting new learning in the face of uncertainty. However, it is unclear whether associability enhancements reflect increased associative plasticity within a particular behavior system, or whether they can facilitate learning between a cue and any arbitrary outcome, as suggested by attentional models of conditioning. Here, we show evidence consistent with the latter hypothesis. Violating the outcome expectancies generated by a cue in an appetitive setting (feeding behavior system) facilitated subsequent learning about the cue in an aversive setting (defense behavior system). In addition to shedding light on the nature of associability enhancements, our findings offer the neuroscientist a behavioral tool to dissociate their neural substrates from those of other, behavior system- or valence-specific changes. Moreover, our results present an opportunity to utilize associability enhancements to the advantage of counterconditioning procedures in therapeutic contexts.National Institute on Drug Abuse 5R00DA036561National Institute on Drug Abuse 1R15DA051795Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN) PID2019-110739 GB-I0

Effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide dressings vs. platelet-rich plasma in diabetic foot ulcer: a pilot study of case series

Diverse treatments, including polyhexamethylene biguanide dressings, have been explored for managing diabetic foot ulcers. Platelet-rich plasma, known for its potential in chronic wound healing, has demonstrated efficacy both in vivo and in vitro, with possible intralesional or topical application. However, research on the production costs of PRP is scarce. This study compares the effectiveness and financial implications of polyhexamethylene biguanide dressings versus Platelet-rich Plasma in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Conducted at the General Hospital of Mexico from July to August 2019, this case series involved 8 patients, split equally between the two treatment groups. Weekly assessments showed consistent reductions in wound size in both groups. By the fourth week, 75% of patients achieved clinical healing. The PHMB group demonstrated a 75.13% reduction in wound size, compared to a 37.38% reduction in the PRP group. However, due to the small sample size, no statistical significance was found between wound size, healing time, and dressing type. This report suggests no clear relationship between treatment, healing duration, and wound diameter. Additionally, PRP did not show a clear financial advantage over PHMB dressings. Randomized control trials with sufficient sample sizes are required to demonstrate overall advantage for each therapy choice

Control system of a miniature 12 MeV race-track microtron

A simple control system has been developed for the commissioning of a compact 12 MeV race-track microtron which is under construction at the Technical University of Catalonia. It is of modular structure and is based on LabView programs at a conventional PC and ATmega microcontrollers. Apart from modules to monitor different RTM systems it also includes an Automatic Frequency Control of the magnetron frequency and interlocks. The architecture and main features of the modules are described and results of their operation are reported. Further developments of the control system and interfaces are on the way.Postprint (published version

De actividades productivas a estrategias sociales: floricultores de la zona central de Veracruz

It is important to consider that in production processes there are socially constructed spaces where local actors are key elements. The study contemplated an approach directed at the actor with farmers from the community of Coapichapan, Fortín, Veracruz, Mexico. The article argues that in the production process of Heliconias, farmers are social actors who intervene in the development of their community with their strategic actions. In this sense, the approach directed at the actor allowed the following: situating Heliconia producers, exposing the social ramifications constructed by these actors, and showing the strategies that they carry out as a means for subsistence. These strategies emerge as a way to respond in the presence of the protection of their natural resources, the urge to “move forward”, the lack of programs for the floriculturist sector, the dispute over improving the price of their product, the exchange of opinion with technicians, and the mistrust towards public representatives. Therefore, the conclusion is that the production of Heliconias in the community of Coapichapan is a social activity that represents hard work complemented with family support.Es importante considerar que, en el proceso de producción, existen espacios socialmente construidos, donde los actores locales son pieza clave. El estudio contempló un enfoque orientado al actor, con agricultores de la comunidad de Coapichapan, Fortín, Veracruz, México. El artículo argumenta que, en el proceso de producción de heliconias, los productores, son actores sociales que con sus acciones estratégicas intervinieron en el desarrollo de su comunidad. En ese sentido, el enfoque orientado al actor situó a los productores de heliconias, expuso las ramificaciones sociales que construyeron estos actores y muestra las estrategias que realizaron como medio de subsistencia. Estas estrategias surgen como medio de respuesta ante la protección de sus recursos naturales, las ganas de “salir adelante”, la falta de programas hacia el sector florícola, la disputa por mejorar el precio de su producto, el intercambio de opinión con los técnicos y la desconfianza por los representantes públicos. Por ello se concluye que la producción de heliconias en la comunidad de Coapichapan es una actividad social que representa un arduo trabajo y se complementa con el apoyo familiar