The smart supply chain: a conceptual cyclic framework

Purpose: The objective of this work is to analyze the characteristics of the smart supply chain (SSC) and to propose a conceptual framework research. Given the pace of current technological change, there is a need to analyze the new features of the SSC, related to digital technologies and the incorporation of services. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of the literature is addressed, analyzing the latest studies on the subject. This methodology allows to propose a conceptualization of the SSC and incorporate new elements of analysis. Findings: The results show that much of the innovation and instrumentalization of supply chains involves incorporating digital services to expand their functionalities, especially in terms of agility and connectivity. The servitization of supply chains is therefore a key new feature. Put in relation to other characteristics identified in the literature, a conceptual cyclic framework is proposed for the SSC. Originality/value: This study contributes to strengthening the theoretical foundations of SSCs and serves as a guide for researchers and practitionersPeer Reviewe

Dominating 2-broadcast in graphs: complexity, bounds and extremal graphs

Limited dominating broadcasts were proposed as a variant of dominating broadcasts, where the broadcast function is upper bounded. As a natural extension of domination, we consider dominating 2-broadcasts along with the associated parameter, the dominating 2-broadcast number. We prove that computing the dominating 2-broadcast number is a NP-complete problem, but can be achieved in linear time for trees. We also give an upper bound for this parameter, that is tight for graphs as large as desired.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Implicación del neumoperitoneo quirúrgico en la diseminación celular durante los procedimientos laparoscópicos abdominales

Determinamos la presencia de células y restos tisulares en el líquido peritoneal, trocares de trabajo y filtro de CO2 en cirugía laparoscópica abdominal La importancia clínica de las MSPL (metástasis en el sitio del puerto laparoscópica), radica en que podrían tratarse de algo más que de una recidiva locorregional. El acceso a la cavidad peritoneal durante la cirugía laparoscópica con insuflación de gas, instrumentación, manipulación de los trocares y proceso de disección del tumor, derivaría a una diseminación linfática y sanguínea de células tumorales circulantes siendo ésta una condición de alto riesgo para desarrollar una carcinomatosos peritoneo. Evaluamos, en el grupo de neoplasias digestivas, las variables que pudieran influir en el depósito de células tumorales, como por ejemplo, el estadio tumoral y el tiempo quirúrgico. El flujo de CO2 dentro de la cavidad abdominal puede ser un factor determinante en la carcinogénesis y, por tanto, en la posible aparición de recurrencias. Podría funcionar como vehículo de transporte de células neoplásicas.Departamento de Cirugía, Oftalmología, Otorrinolaringología y Fisioterapi

On perfect and quasiperfect dominations in graphs

A subset S ¿ V in a graph G = ( V , E ) is a k -quasiperfect dominating set (for k = 1) if every vertex not in S is adjacent to at least one and at most k vertices in S . The cardinality of a minimum k -quasiperfect dominating set in G is denoted by ¿ 1 k ( G ). Those sets were first introduced by Chellali et al. (2013) as a generalization of the perfect domination concept and allow us to construct a decreasing chain of quasiperfect dominating numbers n = ¿ 11 ( G ) = ¿ 12 ( G ) = ... = ¿ 1 ¿ ( G ) = ¿ ( G ) in order to indicate how far is G from being perfectly dominated. In this paper we study properties, existence and realization of graphs for which the chain is short, that is, ¿ 12 ( G ) = ¿ ( G ). Among them, one can find cographs, claw-free graphs and graphs with extremal values of ¿ ( G ).Postprint (published version

General bounds on limited broadcast domination

Limited dominating broadcasts were proposed as a variant of dominating broadcasts, where the broadcast function is upper bounded by a constant k . The minimum cost of such a dominating broadcast is the k -broadcast dominating number. We present a uni ed upper bound on this parameter for any value of k in terms of both k and the order of the graph. For the speci c case of the 2-broadcast dominating number, we show that this bound is tight for graphs as large as desired. We also study the family of caterpillars, providing a smaller upper bound, which is attained by a set of such graphs with unbounded order.Preprin

Gestión del servicio de préstamos interbibliotecarios del Acuerdo de Bibliotecas Universitarias de la provincia de Córdoba (ABUC)

This work describes the management of interlibrary loans (PI) of the Córdoba University Libraries Agreement. The objectives to determine the level of use of the service, the percentage of documents obtained over the total number of requests made, the application of satisfaction surveys, the use of promotion / dissemination systems, the typology of users who use the service, the type of documents they request, the way libraries receive requests, the shipping methods used and the costs associated with the service were establised. It was also sought to identify the strengths and weaknesses regarding logistics and service management, the level of satisfaction with management software and the level of knowledge regarding IP regulations. A descriptive exploratory study with a quantitative approach was established. The design was cross-sectional framed in a field study whose units of analysis were the librarians in charge of the IP service and the directors of the ABUC member libraries. It was concluded that the greatest strength of the service is in access to other collections, which allows expanding the bibliographic heritage available to users. The major weaknesses of the interlibrary loan service were related to the problems related to the Cor-pib software and the sending and receiving of documents

Characterization of porous nickel-free austenitic stainless steel prepared by mechanical alloying

Nickel-free austenitic powder metallurgy stainless steels were prepared and characterized. The main issue was to obtain potential biocompatible materials. Mechanical alloying in a nitrogen atmosphere was used to obtain these powders. The main factor to be controlled was the milling time. Powder metallurgy was the technique to obtain massive samples from alloyed powders. Two sintering processes were applied by controlling the sinter-cooling rate (furnace and water-cooling). The sintering atmosphere applied was nitrogen because of its gammagenic effect. Samples made of powders milled for 48 h, sintered in nitrogen and water-cooled showed a clean austenitic microstructure, which is a suitable microstructure for biological applications. A complete microstructural characterization, including optical metallography, image analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy with X-ray microanalysis, X-Ray diffraction and Vickers hardness and microhardness, was carried out. The electrochemical behaviour in a simulated body fluid, phosphate buffered saline, was also studied. The biocorrosion behaviour was evaluated in terms of anodic polarization measurements.2020-07-102020-07-1

Hydroxycobalamin reveals the involvement of hydrogen sulfide in the hypoxic responses of rat carotid body chemoreceptor cells

Producción CientíficaCarotid body (CB) chemoreceptor cells sense arterial blood PO2, generating a neurosecretory response proportional to the intensity of hypoxia. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a physiological gaseous messenger that is proposed to act as an oxygen sensor in CBs, although this concept remains controversial. In the present study we have used the H2S scavenger and vitamin B12 analog hydroxycobalamin (Cbl) as a new tool to investigate the involvement of endogenous H2S in CB oxygen sensing. We observed that the slow-release sulfide donor GYY4137 elicited catecholamine release from isolated whole carotid bodies, and that Cbl prevented this response. Cbl also abolished the rise in [Ca2+]i evoked by 50 µM NaHS in enzymatically dispersed CB glomus cells. Moreover, Cbl markedly inhibited the catecholamine release and [Ca2+]i rise caused by hypoxia in isolated CBs and dispersed glomus cells, respectively, whereas it did not alter these responses when they were evoked by high [K+]e. The L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine slightly inhibited the rise in CB chemoreceptor cells [Ca2+]i elicited by sulfide, whilst causing a somewhat larger attenuation of the hypoxia-induced Ca2+ signal. We conclude that Cbl is a useful and specific tool for studying the function of H2S in cells. Based on its effects on the CB chemoreceptor cells we propose that endogenous H2S is an amplifier of the hypoxic transduction cascade which acts mainly by stimulating non-L-type Ca2+ channels.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project BFU2015-70616-R)Junta de Castilla y León (project VA106G18)Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias . Instituto de Salud Carlos III (project CIBER CB06/06/0050

Corrosion properties of a low-nickel austenitic porous stainless steel in simulated body fluids

Producción CientíficaNickel can cause severe allergic reactions. Therefore, efforts are made to reduce the content of nickel in austenitic stainless steels (SS). Powder metallurgy (PM) techniques can produce this steel in a highly affordable way. A novel low-nickel high-nitrogen austenitic powder metallurgy PM stainless steel is investigated in terms of corrosion behavior. Nitrogen, because of its gammagenic effect, is the applied sintering atmosphere. Two sintering processes are applied by controlling the sinter-cooling rate (furnace- and water-cooling). This material shows an austenitic microstructure free of precipitates only after the water-cooling process. The electrochemical behavior in two simulated body fluids—phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and Ringer solution—are studied. Corrosion behavior is evaluated by means of anodic polarization measurements and cyclic polarization curves. In addition, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy is used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of this steel in PBS at open circuit potential and at 100 mV above corrosion potential. The water-cooling process promotes better corrosion behavior in simulated body fluids for high nitrogen and low nickel than a conventional (high nickel) austenitic PM SS 316LN type

The role of dihydropydine-sensitive Ca2 + channels in stimulus-evoked catecholamine release from chemoreceptor cells of the carotid body

Producción CientíficaAhatraet-The present study utilized an in vitro preparation of the rabbit carotid body, with tissue catecholamine stores labeled by incubation with ‘H-tyrosine. The goal was to characterize pharmacologically the vol~g~~n&nt Ca*+ channels present in the type I (glomus) cells of this arterial chemoreceptor organ, and to elucidate their role as pathways for Ca2+ entry. We found that release of ‘H-dopamine induced by high external potassium was over 95% dependent on external cakium concentration and that this release was 9&100% inhibited by the dihydropy~~ne antagonists, nisoldipine and nitrendipine, and was potentiated by the dihydropyridine agonist, BayK 8444. Therefore, any stimulus-induced, cakiumdependent release of 3H-dopamine that was inhibited by nisoldipine and potentiated by BayK 8644, was considered to be supported by Ca2+ entry into the cells via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Significant differences were observed in the release of ‘H-dopamine induced by 75 vs 25mM K+. On prolonged stimulation, release induced by 75 mM K+ was large and transient, whilst that induced by 25 mM K+, although more moderate, was sustained. The release elicited by 75 mM K+ was inhibited approximately 90% by 1.5 mM Co2+ or 625 nM nisoldipine, while release by 25 mM K+ was completely blocked by 0.6 mM Co*+ or 125 nM nisoldipine. Low PO,-induced release of 3H-dopamine was 95% dependent on Ca*+, and was inhibited by nisoldipine (625 nM) in a manner inversely proportional to the intensity of hypoxic stimulation, i.e. 79% inhibition at a PO, of 49 Torr, and 20% inhibition at PO2 of 0 Torr. BayK 8644 potentiatcd the release induced by moderate hypoxic stimuli. Release elicited by high PCOJlow pH, or by Na+-propionate or dinitrophenol~n~ining solutions, was approximately 80% Ca’+-dependent, and the ~hyd~y~din~ failed to modify this release. It is concluded that type I mlls possess vol~~de~nd~t Ca ‘+ channels sensitive to the dihydropy~dines, which in agreement with previous el~trophysiolo~~l data should be defined as L-type Ca*+ channels. Calcium entry which supports the release of 3H-dopamine elicited by moderate hypoxia should occur mainly through these channels while the release induced by strong hypoxic stimuli will be SetNed by Ca2+ entry which occurs in part via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, and in part through an additional pathway, probably a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The insensitivity to dihydropyridines of the release of )H-dopamine induced by high 1DC02/low pH, Na+-propionate and dinitrophenol may indicate a complete loss of efficacy of the drugs to modulate Ca 2+ channels under these conditions or more likely, that other mechanisms are activated, probably the Na+-Ca’+ exchanger. Carotid body (CB) chemoreceptors are thought to be composite receptors in which the type I (glomus) cells detect changes in blood PO,, PCO, and pH and respond with the release of neurotransmitt~ to activate the closely apposed chemosensory nerve terminals.~** One such neurotransmitter that has received considerable attention in recent years and is known to be released by the type I cells is dopamine (DA). This biogenic amine has been shown to be released in proportion to both the intensity of stimulation and the resultant sensory discharge recorded from the carotid sinus nerve $To whom correspondence should be addressed. Abbr~~~~~~ CB, carotid body; CSN, carotid sinus nerve; DA, dopamine; DHMA, dihydrox~~delic acid, DOPAC, dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid; NE, norepinephrine. (CSN). This relationship between stimulu