Supply chain integration scales validation and benchmark values

Purpose: The clarification of the constructs of the supply chain integration (clients, suppliers, external and internal), the creation of a measurement instrument based on a list of items taken from earlier papers, the validation of these scales and a preliminary benchmark to interpret the scales by percentiles based on a set of control variables (size of the plant, country, sector and degree of vertical integration). Design/methodology/approach: Our empirical analysis is based on the HPM project database (2005-2007 timeframe). The international sample is made up of 266 plants across ten countries: Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden and the USA. In each country. We analized the descriptive statistics, internal consistency testing to purify the items (inter-item correlations, Cronbach’s alpha, squared multiple correlation, corrected item-total correlation), exploratory factor analysis, and finally, a confirmatory factor analysis to check the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales. The analyses will be done with the SPSS and EQS programme using the maximum likelihood parameter estimation method. Findings: The four proposed scales show excellent psychometric properties. Research limitations/implications: with a clearer and more concise designation of the supply chain integration measurement scales more reliable and accurate data could be taken to analyse the relations between these constructs with other variables of interest to the academic l fields. Practical implications: providing scales that are valid as a diagnostic tool for best practices, as well as providing a benchmark with which to compare the score for each individual plant against a collection of industrial companies from the machinery, electronics and transportation sectors. Originality/value: supply chain integration may be a major factor in explaining the performance of companies. The results are nevertheless inconclusive, the vast range of results obtained are due, amongst other things, to the fact that there is no exactness to the group of scales used, no-one has yet published an analysis of the measurement models nor clear benchmarks as to the variety of the scales used.Peer Reviewe

Insight into the mechanism of molecular recognition between human Integrin-Linked Kinase and Cpd22 and its implication at atomic level

Pseudokinases have received increasing attention over the past decade because of their role in different physiological phenomena. Although pseudokinases lack several active-site residues, thereby hindering their catalytic activity, recent discoveries have shown that these proteins can play a role in intracellular signaling thanks to their non-catalytic functions. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) was discovered more than two decades ago and was subsequently validated as a promising target for neoplastic diseases. Since then, only a few small-molecule inhibitors have been described, with the V-shaped pyrazole Cpd22 being the most interesting and characterized. However, little is known about its detailed mechanism of action at atomic level. In this study, using a combination of computational chemistry methods including PELE calculations, docking, molecular dynamics and experimental surface plasmon resonance, we were able to prove the direct binding of this molecule to ILK, thus providing the basis of its molecular recognition by the protein and the effect over its architecture. Our breakthroughs show that Cpd22 binding stabilizes the ILK domain by binding to the pseudo-active site in a similar way to the ATP, possibly modulating its scaffolding properties as pseudokinase. Moreover, our results explain the experimental observations obtained during Cpd22 development, thus paving the way to the development of new chemical probes and potential drugs

Narrativas transmedia y su impacto cultural a través de los artículos promocionales

La proliferación de tecnologías para la comunicación de masas ha dejado al serhumano inmerso en un mundo de pluralidad mediática, que ha sido aprovechada porcreativos de cada industria para ofrecer contenidos vinculados entre cada uno de losmedios de comunicación generando historias conocidas como Narrativas Transmedia.A partir de huecos estratégicos e imágenes exóticas, estos tipos de relato se hanposicionado en la mente del público creando un fenómeno cultural con implicacioneslúdicas partiendo de contenidos ficticios a actitudes cotidianas  que van de la ficción a objetos de consumo queextienden la experiencia mediática al mundo real

Diffusion Generative Inverse Design

Inverse design refers to the problem of optimizing the input of an objective function in order to enact a target outcome. For many real-world engineering problems, the objective function takes the form of a simulator that predicts how the system state will evolve over time, and the design challenge is to optimize the initial conditions that lead to a target outcome. Recent developments in learned simulation have shown that graph neural networks (GNNs) can be used for accurate, efficient, differentiable estimation of simulator dynamics, and support high-quality design optimization with gradient- or sampling-based optimization procedures. However, optimizing designs from scratch requires many expensive model queries, and these procedures exhibit basic failures on either non-convex or high-dimensional problems.In this work, we show how denoising diffusion models (DDMs) can be used to solve inverse design problems efficiently and propose a particle sampling algorithm for further improving their efficiency. We perform experiments on a number of fluid dynamics design challenges, and find that our approach substantially reduces the number of calls to the simulator compared to standard techniques.Comment: ICML workshop on Structured Probabilistic Inference & Generative Modelin

Role of Nitric Oxide in the Altered Calcium Homeostasis of Platelets from Rats with Biliary Cirrhosis

©2023. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Published, version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Journal of Molecular Sciences . To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310948: Introduction: Previously, we found that intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis is altered in platelets from an experimental model of liver cirrhosis, namely the bile-duct-ligated (BDL) rat. These alterations are compatible with the existence of a hypercoagulable state. Objective: In the present study, we analyzed the role of nitric oxide in the abnormal calcium signaling responses of an experimental cirrhosis model, the bile duct-ligated rat. Methods: Chronic treatment with LNAME was used to inhibit NO production in a group of control and BDL animals, and the responses compared to those obtained in a control and BDL untreated group (n = 6 each). The experiments were conducted on isolated platelets loaded with fura-2, using fluorescence spectrometry. Results: Chronic treatment with L-NAME increased thrombin-induced Ca2+ release from internal stores in both control and BDL rats. However, the effect was significantly greater in the BDL rats (p < 0.05). Thrombin-induced calcium entry from the extracellular space was also elevated but at lower doses and, similarly in both control and BDL platelets, treated with the NO synthesis inhibitor. Capacitative calcium entry was also enhanced in the control platelets but not in platelets from BDL rats treated with L-NAME. Total calcium in intracellular stores was elevated in untreated platelets from BDL rats, and L-NAME pretreatment significantly (p < 0.05) elevated these values both in controls and in BDL but significantly more in the BDL rats (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that nitric oxide plays a role in the abnormal calcium signaling responses observed in platelets from BDL rats by interfering with the mechanism that releases calcium from the internal stores

Job involvement and valuation of job resources: The mediating effect of satisfaction with job resources

Purpose: This paper has two objectives: the first, to analyse the relationship between job involvement and valuation of job resources; the second, to analyse the mediating effect of satisfaction with job resources on the relationship between job involvement and employees valuation of job resources. Design/methodology/approach: The survey was used as a research methodology. The participants correspond to a sample of 225 employees in Spain. Findings: The hypotheses are positively contrasted. Job involvement is positively related to valuation of job resources, and satisfaction with job resources mediates the relationship between job involvement and valuation of job resources. The results of this work indicate that the most involved employees give greater importance to job resources. Originality/value: This paper evidences the relationship between job involvement and the importance that employees attribute to job resources. Therefore, this research advances the job demands-resources model, as it suggests that employees high involvement in their job leads to greater involvement of resources, which is related to employees psychological contract

Graphite Thin Films Production by Laser Ablation.

Graphite thin films on silicon substrate were synthesized by the fundamental and second harmonics of a Nd : YAG pulsed laser, varying the substrate temperature from 200°C to 500°C . The oxygen gas pressure was of 2x10-5 Torr for all thin films grown. The samples were characterized by Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopy. With Raman spectroscopy the vibrational modes D, G and 2D, were identified. A strong dependence of the Absorbance of samples with substrate temperature was observed. The nanostructure of sample grown at 500°C corresponding to graphene oxide. The average thick of thin films was of 65 nm and 40 nm for fundamental and second harmonics respectively

Plan de negocios HLConsulting LTDA.

HLConsulting Ltda es una idea de negocio que pretende tener como objeto social la prestación de servicios de asesoría y de apoyo para agricultores independientes ubicados en la ciudad de Yopal- Casanare y sus alrededores; consultoría, respecto a el entorno de internacionalización; más claramente, el comercio exterior, con el fin de que para estas los tratados de libre comercio sean vistos como una oportunidad y no como un cuello de botella.Para realizar el uso del documento en formato EPUB, es recomendable instalar la extensión en Google con el nombre EPUB READER o el software para escritorio Thorium Reader.Profesional en Finanzas y Comercio Exterio

Compact Modeling of Multi-layered MoS2 FETs including Negative Capacitance Effect

Abstract—In this paper, we present a channel thickness dependent analytical model for MoS2 symmetric double-gate FETs including negative capacitance (NC) effect. In the model development, first thickness dependent model of the baseline 2D FET is developed, and later NC effect is included in the model using the Landau-Khalatnikov (L-K) relation. To validate baseline model behavior, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are taken into account to obtain numerical data for the K and valley dependent effective masses and differences in the energy levels of N-layer (N = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) MoS2. The calculated layer dependent parameters using DFT theory are further used in a drift-diffusion simulator to obtain electric characteristics of the baseline 2D FET for model validation. The model shows excellent match for drain current and total gate capacitance of baseline FET and NCFET against the numerical simulation. Index Terms—Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), Compact modeling, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), Double Gate (DG), Negative Capacitance FET (NCFET).Swarnajayanti FellowshipFIST Scheme of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of IndiaSpanish Government Grant FPU16/04043Juan de la Cierva Incorporación (MINECO/AEI) IJCI-2017-3229

Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5 A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation

[EN] In this paper, we propose a multi-agent-based architecture for a Unity3D simulation of dynamic agrirobot-fleet-coordination methods. The architecture is based on a Robot Operating System (ROS) and Agrobots-SIM package that extends the existing package Patrolling SIM made for multi-robot patrolling. The Agrobots-SIM package accommodates dynamic multi-robot task allocation and vehicle routing considering limited robot battery autonomy. Moreover, it accommodates the dynamic assignment of implements to robots for the execution of heterogeneous tasks. The system coordinates task assignment and vehicle routing in real time and responds to unforeseen contingencies during simulation considering dynamic updates of the data related to the environment, tasks, implements, and robots. Except for the ROS and Agrobots-SIM package, other crucial components of the architecture include SPADE3 middleware for developing and executing multi-agent decision making and the FIVE framework that allows us to seamlessly define the environment and incorporate the Agrobots-SIM algorithms to be validated into SPADE agents inhabiting such an environment. We compare the proposed simulation architecture with the conventional approach to 3D multi-robot simulation in Gazebo. The functioning of the simulation architecture is demonstrated in several use-case experiments. Even though resource consumption and community support are still an open challenge in Unity3D, the proposed Agri-RO5 architecture gives better results in terms of simulation realism and scalability.This work was partially supported by grants PID2021-123673OB-C32, PID2021-123673OBC33, TED2021-131295B-C31 and TED2021-131295B-C33 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF A way of making Europe and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR , respectively, as well as the Agrobots Project funded by the Community of Madrid, Spain, and the AGROBOTIX Project funded by the University Rey Juan Carlos.Gutiérrez Cejudo, J.; Enguix Andrés, F.; Lujak, M.; Carrascosa Casamayor, C.; Fernandez, A.; Hérnandez López, L. (2024). Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5 A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation. Electronics. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics1301008013