Drivers and Impact of ICT adoptation in the European Transport and Logistic Services

The availability of high quality transport and logistics services (TLS) is of paramount importance for growth and competitiveness of the European economy. The objective of this paper is to describe, from the continuous innovation perspective, how companies in this industry use ICT for conducting business and to assess the impact of this development for firms and for the industry as a whole. Using the SCP model and the bi-directional relationships of its elements the paper identifies the links between ICT adoption and innovation dynamics. Moreover, the analysis allows identifying the driving forces of ICT and its impact on selected business dimensions. On the driver’s side, there are three points that are worth mentioning: increasing market competition, the relationships of firms interacting with each other and the availability and quality of complementary assets such as employee skills and IT know-how. On the impacts’ side, firms advanced in terms of ICT usage are more likely to have outsourced business activities. Finally, a set of recommendations on how to further improve the continuous innovation factors in the TLS industry is presented

Medición de presión intraocular con el tonómetro Proview®

Purpose: To evaluate a new ocular tonometer (Proview®) which functions by visualizing a phosphene after putting pressure on the upper eyelid. To ascertain its accuracy and reproducibility with respect to the Goldmann tonometer (GT). Methods: A study on both eyes of 110 non-selected patients was performed. One measurement with GT and three subsequent measurements with Proview® were taken by the same investigator. The number of failed attempts to visualize the phosphene was recorded. We evaluated each eye separately to observe the possible learning effect. Results: The intraocular pressure (IOP) mean with Proview® is 5 mm Hg higher than the GT (p0.05). Conclusions: The Proview® tonometer showed low accuracy and reproducibility in comparison with the GT. This tonometer requires a long learning process before phosphene visualization. The results demonstrated that this tonometer is not clinically useful, except in patients with serious corneal diseases which make measurement with GT very difficul

Importance of the oxyl character on the IrO2 surface dependent catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction

Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICThe oxygen evolution reaction catalyst optimization is hindered because in the desirable acidic conditions the sole active catalysts are RuO and IrO. Thus, the understanding of the factors controlling the reactivity of these materials is mandatory. In this contribution, DFT (PBE-D2) periodic calculations are performed to analyze the catalytic activities of the main ((1 1 0), (0 1 1), (1 0 0) and (0 0 1)) IrO surfaces. Results show that the reaction only occurs if the Ir=O species on the surfaces exhibit an oxyl character. The water nucleophilic attack mechanism is the most favorable pathway on the (1 1 0), (1 0 0) and (0 0 1) surfaces. In contrast, for the (0 1 1) facet the oxo-coupling is preferred. The required overpotentials for the four IrO surfaces depend on the feasibility to oxidize the Ir-OH to Ir-O species and this is tuned by the coordination of the unsaturated iridium sites: the (1 0 0) and (0 0 1) surfaces appear to be more active than the (1 1 0) and (0 1 1)

Comparison of dynamic contour tonometry (Pascal®) with pneumotonometry and Goldmann tonometry

To compare the intraocular pressure measurements as defined by the Pascal tonometer, the Goldmann tonometer and the pneumotonometer. METHODS: This was an observational clinical study, which included two hundred and five randomly selected subjects recruited from the Ophthalmology Department. The intraocular pressure measurements were performed with each tonometry technique in a randomized order. RESULTS: The Pascal's intraocular pressure measurement was significantly higher than that measured by the other two tonometers (p<0.05). The quality data of Pascal was: optimum in 27.3% (56 of 205 patients), acceptable in 42% (86 of 205 patients) and unacceptable in 23.4% (48 of 205 patients). In 7.3% (15 of 205 patients) it was impossible to obtain any measurement using Pascal. A weak correlation coefficient between the Pascal and the Goldmann, and between Pascal and the pneumotonometer was found. The Bland-Altman method of measurement using these tonometers showed a high degree of discordance. CONCLUSION: As reported by others authors, the Pascal's intraocular pressure measurement is higher than that of the Goldmann tonometer. The measurement differs from 0.7 to 4.4 mmHg. In corneas with pathology, it is very difficult or even unacceptable to measure the intraocular pressure using the Pascal tonometer

Detectando prácticas agrarias antiguas en el territorio sur de Medellín. La expresión material de las actividades agrícolas protohistóricas del Suroeste peninsular

Trabajo presentado al VI Encuentro de Arqueología del Suroeste Peninsular, celebrado en Villafranca de los Barros (Badajoz) del 4 al 6 de octubre de 2012.[ES]: La repetición de determinadas prácticas agrarias resulta en la conformación de una huella material en la superficie del terreno susceptible de ser detectada con desigual facilidad. Su análisis puede llevarnos a la identificación de patrones en las entidades arqueológicas superficiales, lo que a su vez permite identificar las actividades llevadas a cabo en cada espacio. En este trabajo se plantea la documentación de dichas pautas de uso del espacio y explotación del medio, a través de un diseño de prospecciónintensiva en el territorio sur de Medellín. Se destaca el hecho de que en esta clase de trabajos es imperativo tener en cuenta diversos factores que distorsionan nuestra comprensión de la evidencia. En particular cómo la explotación agrícola intensiva a partir de los años 50 del siglo XX ha determinado la morfología del paisaje. Consecuentemente, un análisis de dichos condicionantes no debe ser obviado si nuestro objetivo es alcanzar una precisa caracterización de las prácticas agrarias en un entorno.[EN]: The repetition of specific agrarian practices results in an interesting surface archaeological compound. The record of their features and patterns allow us to identify a great range of activities that have taken place within a particular space. However, the detection of these material entities properties is not always easy. Consequently, the main objective of the survey strategy carried out in the territory south of Medellin was to obtain a detailed documentation of those land-use patterns. Nevertheless, the surface archaeological surveys are always influenced by an important number of biasing factors. For instance, the agricultural exploitation has determined the nowadays landscape morphology. Thus, an analysis of those constraining elements cannot be overlooked if we want to reach an accurate record of the agrarian practices within a specific space.Los trabajos desarrollados se insertan dentro del marco del proyecto de investigación “La evolución de un paisaje agrario: El territorio de Medellín entre la protohistoria y la romanización (Junta de Extremadura PRI08B050) 2009-2011” cuyo investigador principal es Victorino Mayoral Herrera.Peer Reviewe

Amniotic membrane transplantation with fibrin glue as treatment of refractory conjunctivochalasis

Case report: A 63-year-old man with bilateral conjunctivochalasis presented with tearing, irritation, foreign body sensation and a delayed fluorescein clearance test. After no symptomatic improvement with topical treatment, surgery was carried out, with amniotic membrane transplantation and fibrin sealant. Discussion: Conjunctivochalasis is a frequent disorder that shares symptoms with dry eye syndrome. When there is no response to topical treatment, surgical treatment is needed. The surgical technique described by Tseng, and based on amniotic membrane transplantation without suture, resulted in a very useful response, due to less inflammation and a rapid resolution and improvement of symptom

Analysis and description of HOLTIN service provision for AECG monitoring in complex indoor environments

In this work, a novel ambulatory ECG monitoring device developed in-house called HOLTIN is analyzed when operating in complex indoor scenarios. The HOLTIN system is described, from the technological platform level to its functional model. In addition, by using in-house 3D ray launching simulation code, the wireless channel behavior, which enables ubiquitous operation, is performed. The effect of human body presence is taken into account by a novel simplified model embedded within the 3D Ray Launching code. Simulation as well as measurement results are presented, showing good agreement. These results may aid in the adequate deployment of this novel device to automate conventional medical processes, increasing the coverage radius and optimizing energy consumption.The authors wish to thank the support given under project ENEIDA TEC2010-21563-C02-01, funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain

Circular economy assessment in recycling of LLDPE bags according to European Resolution, thermal and structural characterization

According to the Circular Economy Package promoted by the European directive, plastic bags companies must use in their formulations a percentage of polyethylene waste (industrial and/or domestic) greater than 70%. Following that regulation requires an understanding of its consequences in the final product from an industrial point of view. This manuscript analyzes the thermal and morphological changes related to the tear resistance of linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE) samples from industrial waste generated by the company Sphere Spain subjected to the degradation produced by the recycling cycles. The process is analogue to the industrial, starts from samples in pellets then a film by blow extrusion is obtained (odd steps) and posteriorly this film is recycled to pellets again (even steps). The results obtained show that the LLDPE samples develop two crystalline structures (CS1 and CS2) which evolve differently through the recycling cycles with a tendency to decrease in crystallinity due to degradation that is not the same for the process of obtaining film or recycling to pellet. The molecules with a more linear structure and a longer chain break and branch. The more branched structure increases and tends to crosslinking. This leads to a decrease in tear strength in the longitudinal direction, which is not so evident in the transversal direction. The samples could admit four recycling cycles with and acceptable tear resistance. The longitudinal tear strength value decreases by 40% for each film and 20% in the case of tearing in the transverse direction. The results obtained in this research work show that the regulations included in the cited circular economy package can be applied in the manufacture of consumer bags, helping also to reduce the dependence of manufacturers on fluctuations in delivery by collapses in shippinPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Did the Romans introduce the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) into the Iberian Peninsula?

New finds of bones of the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), one from Portugal and one from Spain, were directly ¹⁴C dated to the first century AD. While the Portuguese specimen was found without connection to the Chalcolithic occupation of the Pedra Furada cave where it was recovered, the Spanish find, collected in the city of Mérida, comes from a ritual pit that also contained three human and 40 dog burials. The finds reported here show that the Egyptian mongoose, contrary to the traditional and predominant view, did not first arrive in the Iberian Peninsula during the Muslim occupation of Iberia. Instead, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the species was first introduced by the Romans, or at least sometime during the Roman occupation of Hispania. Therefore, radiocarbon dating of new archaeological finds of bones of the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in the Iberian Peninsula push back the confirmed presence of the species in the region by approximately eight centuries, as the previously oldest dated record is from the ninth century. With these new dates, there are now a total of four ¹⁴C dated specimens of Egyptian mongooses from the Iberian Peninsula, and all of these dates fall within the last 2000 years. This offers support for the hypothesis that the presence of the species in Iberia is due to historical introductions and is at odds with a scenario of natural sweepstake dispersal across the Straits of Gibraltar in the Late Pleistocene (126,000–11,700 years ago), recently proposed based on genetic data.UNIARQ (Center of Archaeology, Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon) funded the 14C dating, and FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) funded CD's post-doctorate (grant: SFRHIBPD/ I 08326/2015). CF was suppolted by FCT, within the project UIDIBW00329/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Label-free biosensing for dry eye by Means of BICELLS

The use of Biophotonic Sensing Cells (BICELLs) based on micro-nano pattemed photonic architectures has been recently proven as an efficient methodology for label-free biosensing by using Optical Interrogation [1]. According to this, we have studied the different optical response for a specific typology of BICELL, consisting of structures of SU -8. This material is biocompatible with different types of biomolecules and can be immobilized on its sensing surface. In particular, we have measured the optical response for a biomarker in clinic diagnostic of dry eye. Although different proteins can be enstudied such as: PRDX5, ANXA 1, ANXA 11, CST 4, PLAA Y S 1 OOA6 related with ocular surface (dry eye), for this work PLAA (phospholipase A2) is studied by means of label free biosensing based on BICELLs for analyzing the performance and specificity according with means values of concentration in ROC curves