Dynamics of global business cycles interdependence

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the time-varying interdependence among the economic cycles of the major world economies during the post-Great Moderation period. We document a significant increase in the global business cycles interdependence occurred in the early 2000s. Such increase is mainly attributed to the emerging market economies, since their business cycles became more synchronized with the rest of the world around that time. Moreover, we find that the increase in global interdependence is highly related to decreasing differences in sectoral composition among countries

Generalized commutation relations and Non linear momenta theories, a close relationship

A revision of generalized commutation relations is performed, besides a description of Non linear momenta realization included in some DSR theories. It is shown that these propositions are closely related, specially we focus on Magueijo Smolin momenta and Kempf et al. and L.N. Chang generalized commutators. Due to this, a new algebra arises with its own features that is also analyzed.Comment: accepted version in IJMP

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Short- and Medium-Span Bridges

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) has been defined as a method to assess the total cost of a project. It is a simple tool to use when a single project has different alternatives that fulfill the original requirements. Different alternatives could differ in initial investment, operational and maintenance costs among other long term costs. The cost involved in building a bridge depends upon many different factors. However, long-term cost need to be considered to estimate the overall cost of the project and determine its LCC. Without watchful consideration of the long-term costs and full life-cycle costing, current investment decisions that look attractive could be resulting in a waste of economic resources in the future. This research is focused on short and medium span bridges (between 30 ft and 130 ft) which represents 57% of the NBI INDIANA bridge inventory. Bridges are categorized in three different groups of span ranges. Different superstructure types are considered for both concrete and steel options. Types considered include: bulb tees, AASHTO prestressed beams, slab bridges, prestressed concrete box beams, steel beams, steel girders, folded plate girders and simply supported steel beams for dead load and continuous for live load (SDCL). A design plan composed of simply supported bridges and continuous spans arrangements was carried out. Analysis for short and medium span bridges in Indiana based on LCCA is presented for different span ranges and span configurations. Results will help designers to consider the most cost-effective bridge solution for new projects, resulting in cost savings for agencies involved

Recent variation of the Las Vacas Glacier Mt. Aconcagua region, Central Andes, Argentina, based on ASTER stereoscopic images

This work presents the results of the ASTER stereoscopic image processing to calculate the volume changes of Las Vacas Glacier. The processing of medium resolution satellite images (ASTER level 1A – pixel 15 m) from February 2001 and 2007 was performed applying the satellite digital photogrammetry method (Kääb, 2005). The comparison of the two generated DTM returns results that are acceptable within the parameters and precisions that can be obtained with this kind of sensor and the processing methodology

Diabetes mellitus tipo II

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivos investigar las variables que propician los autocuidados en las dimensiones de dieta y ejercicio físico en sujetos con diabetes mellitus tipo II que poseen valores de control metabólico que se encuentran dentro de los niveles normales, conocer los significados que éstos les atribuyen a dichas dimensiones y favorecer la adquisición de nociones relacionadas con la promoción y prevención de la salud en dichos sujetos. Se realizó una investigación de tipo cuali – cuantitativa en un inicio enmarcada dentro de los estudios narrativos y en un segundo momento dentro de procedimientos cuantitativos para el análisis de los datos. Se trabajó con 14 sujetos con diabetes mellitus tipo II, con más de 5 años de evolución de la enfermedad y buen control metabólico. Las técnicas utilizadas fueron: entrevista en profundidad y redes semánticas naturales. Resultados: Los sujetos que manifestaron conductas de mayor salud tanto en la dimensión de dieta como de ejercicio físico experimentaron emociones positivas, motivación extrínseca y pautas delimitadas de organización. Las palabras estímulo “dieta“ y “ejercicio físico” fueron representadas por la definidora “salud” y también fueron asociadas con los cuidados y actividades necesarias para lograr una mejor calidad de vida, unido a los beneficios que ambas dimensiones aportan si se efectúan de manera continua.The present study had the following objectives: to describe the psychological meaning of the words “cancer” and “health”; and the use of coping strategies and health locus of control construct in a group of women who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. A descriptive investigation was realized, with a non probabilistic sample of six women with breast cancer. The instruments applied were: Inventario de Respuestas de Afrontamiento or Coping Responses Inventory (Moos, 1993; adaptación Ahumada y Santiago, 2009), Multidimensional Health Locus of control scale Form C (Wallston, Stein y Smith, 1994) and Redes Semánticas Naturales (Valdez Medina, 2004). Results: behavioral coping estrategies were prevalent over cognitive ones; no differences were found between avoiding and approaching coping strategies; dimensions such as “Internal”, “Health Proffesionals” and “Powerfull Others” had a high porcentaje of agreement, while “Chance” had a high rate of desagreements; the meaning of the word “cancer” was related with different aspects of the illness, amongst other things, and the word “health” with activities and emotions associated to it.Fil: Leiva, Marina L

Histochemical analyses of muscle injury induced by venom from Argentine Bothrops alternatus (víbora de la cruz)

Histochemical methods were used to study necrosis of skeletal muscle fibers induced by Bothrops alternatus snake venom from Argentina. Rats with a body weight between 220–270 g, were used. Animals received an i.m. venom injection (800 μg) in the gastrocnemius. To determine creatinphosphokinase activity (CPK), blood samples were taken from the tail 60 min, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after the envenoming. About 24 h later, rats received chloral hydrate anesthesia for histological analysis with Hematoxilin–Eosin (H–E) stain, and histochemical studies such as lipid peroxidation (Schiff’s reaction), and calcium precipitation (alizarin red stain). Results showed an increment in plasma CPK level, with its major peak at 3 h. Histochemical analyses revealed an intense destruction of muscular fibers as a consequence of a significant lipid peroxidation and calcium precipitation as well. Histochemical methods can be considered as a valuable tool in applied research regarding toxicological problems such as snake venom intoxication. It can be concluded that B. alternatus snake venom leads to a lipid peroxidation accompanied by citoplasmatic calcium precipitation. In addition, it was demonstrated that H–E stain made on frozen cuts (histochemical technique) is effective to evidence a panoramic tissular view of muscular lesion caused by B. alternatus venom, with the advantage of demanding a shorter execution lapse (few hours) in relationship to classic H–E histological technique, which requires several days of procesing

Desarrollo de un Bot Evolutivo Interactivo para Unreal Tournament 2004

En este trabajo se ha implementado un algoritmo genético interactivo en un bot para el juego Unreal Tournament 2004, utilizando como base un bot que se definió anteriormente modelando el conocimiento de un jugador experto. El algoritmo ofrece dos tipos de interacción: por parte de un experto en el juego, o por parte de un experto en el algoritmo. Cada uno influirá en distintos aspectos del algoritmo, para dirigirlo hacia unos mejores resultado con respecto a la humanidad que presente el bot (objetivo de este artículo). Se ha hecho un análisis de la influencia del experto en la ejecución y los resultados muestran cierta mejoría con la versión sin interactividad. El mejor bot obtenido como resultado ha sido presentado a la BotPrize competition de 2014 (buscan el bot más humano posible), quedando en segundo lugar.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Evolutionary Interactive Bot for the FPS Unreal Tournament 2004

This paper presents an interactive genetic algorithm for generating a human-like autonomous player (bot) for the game Unreal Tournament 2004. It is based on a bot modelled from the knowledge of an expert human player. The algorithm provides two types of interaction: by an expert in the game and by an expert in the algorithm. Each one affects different aspects of the evolution, directing it towards better results regarding the agent’s humanness (objective of this work). It has been conducted an analysis of the experts’ influence on the performance, showing much better results after these interactions that the non-interactive version. The best bot were submitted to the BotPrize 2014 competition (which seeks for the best human-like bot), getting the second positionUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Multiscale conceptual design of a scalable and sustainable process to dissolve and regenerate keratin from chicken feathers

A multiscale strategy was used to conceptually design and economically analyze a scalable and sustainable process for dissolving and regenerating keratin from chicken feathers by using a sodium acetate-urea deep eutectic solvent as the reacting media. In this study, the recovery and recycling of the solvent were also considered. Moreover, molecular modeling of the solvent, keratin and its derivatives, property estimation of the corresponding mixtures, and simulation of the different process alternatives proposed, including the equipment sizing, estimation of energy needs, and economic analysis were presented. A quasi-planar cluster governed by H-bond interactions resulted in the most stable configuration of the deep eutectic solvent. Molecular models having molecular weights higher than 1.400 g/mol were created to represent the keratin species, where the most abundant amino acids in the feathers were included and conveniently ordered in the chain. Property estimations performed with the conductor-like screening model-real solvent succeeded in describing the main features of the interactions between the keratin derivatives and the solvents used. The process analysis performed on several alternatives showed that the process is technically and economically viable at the industrial scale, the costs being strongly dependent on the excess of both the solvent used to dissolve keratin and the water added for its regeneration. Several options to improve the process and reduce the costs are discussedEuropeanUnion’s Horizon 2020 Researchand Innovation program undergrant agreement 72326