An allgorithm for mesh rezoning with application to strain localization problems

This paper describes an algorithm for automatic rezoning of the finite element mesh, which can be used in adaptivity techniques where the initial topology is conserved. Difficulties like the definition of an adequate mesh density, its continued interpolation and the description of curved boundaries have been overcome successfully. The algorithm has been used in some strain localization problems. The output of a first analysis with a coarse, constant density mesh is used as an indicator to control the mesh spacing in a subsequent calculation, leading to an improved solution. The improvement of the solution upon remeshing is shown

Genetic differentiation between two geographic subpopulations of Bermeya goat

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol.104Este trabajo es un análisis preliminar de la diversidad y grado de diferenciación genética entre las subpoblaciones Oriental y Occidental de la cabra de raza Bermeya de Asturias. Se han genotipado 27 microsatélites en 122 individuos pertenecientes a las poblaciones de cabra Bermeya Oriental, Bermeya Occidental, del Guadarrama, Alpine y Saanen. Las poblaciones de raza Bermeya presentaron heterocigosis esperadas menores de 0,6 y coascendencias moleculares dentro de población de 0,419, reflejando una alta identidad genética entre individuos. Asimismo, el número medio de alelos por locus, ajustado por el tamaño muestral, de las poblaciones Bermeya Oriental y Occidental fueron los menores encontrados (3,8 y 3,9, respectivamente). La mayor coascendencia molecular se encontró entre las poblaciones Bermeya Oriental-Guadarrama (0,388 ± 0,006), como consecuencia de la introgresión, en el Oriente asturiano de individuos de tipo Pirenáico. Este parámetro entre las poblaciones de Bermeya Oriental y Occidental fue de 0,371 ± 0,007. Puede ser necesario establecer estrategias de conservación diferenciadas para las dos poblaciones geográficas de cabra Bermeya.Two geographic subpopulations (Eastern and Western) of the Asturian Bermeya goat were analysed using 27 microsatellites. A total of 122 individuals of Bermeya, Guadarrama, Alpine and Saanen goat breeds were genotyped. The Eastern and Western Bermeya subpopulations had expected heterozygosity values lower than 0.6 and within-subpopulations molecular coancestry values of 0.419, thus illustrating a high between individuals genetic identity. The rarefacted average number of alleles per locus found in both the Eastern and the Western Bermeya subpopulations were the lowest in the dataset (3.8 and 3.9, respectively). The higher between-populations molecular coancestry values was found for the pair Eastern Bermeya-Guadarrama (0.388 ± 0.006), thus reflecting the introgression of the Pyrenean-type goat into Eastern Asturias. This parameter between the two Bermeya subpopulations was of 0.371 ± 0.007. It could be recommended the implementation of different conservation strategies for each of the geographic subpopulations of Bermeya goat

Síndrome compartimental en joven con alteración hemática

El síndrome compartimental es una patología bien conocida que se produce por un aumento de la presión dentro de un compartimiento miofascial. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con trombopenia que sufrió un traumatismo banal. Necesitó fasciotomía del compartimiento anteroexterno de la pierna y, más tarde, esplenectomía. El diagnóstico y tratamiento tardíos de esta complicación, así como una descomprensión inadecuada, pueden conducir a la pérdida de función en una extremidad.The compartment syndrome is a well described cli- nical entity that results from increased pressure within a myo- fascial compartment. An unusual case of a patient with thrombopenia and a minimal traumatism, is reported. He required fasciotomy of the anterolateral compartment of the leg and, later, splenectomy. Late recognition and treatment of this complication, as well as inadequate decompression, can lead to loss of limb

Phytosanitary certification of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT germplasm health laboratory

Plant Health 2022, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. August 6-10, 2022

Total quality management practices, competitive strategies and financial performance: the case of the Palestinian industrial SMEs

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Total Quality Management and Business Excellence on 19 Aug 2013, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14783363.2013.824714."The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM) practices, competitive strategies - cost leadership and differentiation- and firm performance in the Palestinian economy. Within this study total quality management has been conceptualized as soft and hard practices, in congruence with the literature. An empirical analysis based upon an extensive validation process was applied to refine TQM, competitive strategies and financial performance scales. Data were collected through surveying 202 in Palestinian industrial small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Structural Equation Modeling was carried out to test the anticipated relationships. Results derived from this study show that TQM practices have indirect, positive and significant relationship with financial performance through competitive strategies. In addition, a direct, positive and significant relationship between competitive strategies and financial performance was observed. Results derived from this study might help managers to implement TQM practices in order to effectively allocate resources and improve financial performance

Six sigma, absorptive capacity and organisational learning orientation

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Production Research, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00207543.2010.543175."The importance of the Six Sigma methodology in industry is growing constantly. However, there are few empirical studies that analyze the advantages of this methodology and its positive effects on organizational performance. The purpose of this paper is to extend understanding of the success of Six Sigma quality management initiatives by investigating the effects of Six Sigma teamwork and process management on absorptive capacity. It also seeks to understand the relation between absorptive capacity and organizational learning as two sources of sustainable competitive advantage. The information used comes from a larger study, the data for which were collected from a random sample of 237 European firms. Of these 237 organizations, 58 are Six Sigma organizations. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The main findings show that Six Sigma teamwork and process management positively affect the development of absorptive capacity. A positive and significant relationship is also observed between absorptive capacity and organizational learning orientation. The findings of this study justify Six Sigma implementation in firms. This study provides us with an in-depth understanding of some structural elements that characterize the Six Sigma methodology, enabling us to provide an explanation for its success

Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl

A review on probabilistic graphical models in evolutionary computation

Thanks to their inherent properties, probabilistic graphical models are one of the prime candidates for machine learning and decision making tasks especially in uncertain domains. Their capabilities, like representation, inference and learning, if used effectively, can greatly help to build intelligent systems that are able to act accordingly in different problem domains. Evolutionary algorithms is one such discipline that has employed probabilistic graphical models to improve the search for optimal solutions in complex problems. This paper shows how probabilistic graphical models have been used in evolutionary algorithms to improve their performance in solving complex problems. Specifically, we give a survey of probabilistic model building-based evolutionary algorithms, called estimation of distribution algorithms, and compare different methods for probabilistic modeling in these algorithms