Mitigation of stop-and-go traffic waves with intelligent vehicles at low market penetration rates

Stop-and-go traffic patterns sometimes manifest on roadways without any discernible congestion triggers. Such a phenomenon has been observed on homogeneous ring roads without lane changes. With the development of vehicle technology and measurement sensors, multiple researchers have focused on studying the influence of automated vehicles on traffic. In particular, there is a focus on the design of string-stable adaptive cruise control (ACC) strategies to dampen stop-and-go waves. However, there is no systematic comparison among different strategies nor a quantitative analysis of the oscillation reduction at low market penetration rates (MPRs). This paper proposes a framework to evaluate the impact of low MPRs across multiple ACC strategies. Then, through Monte Carlo simulations, our findings indicate that multi-vehicle anticipation technology yields nearly equivalent benefits in mitigating stop-and-go patterns compared to full vehicular connectivity, even at a modest MPR of 1\%. In contrast, partial connectivity among vehicles only eliminates stop-and-go waves if the MPR is larger

CO2 and nutrient-driven changes across multiple levels of organization in zostera noltii ecosystems

Increasing evidence emphasizes that the effects of human impacts on ecosystems must be investigated using designs that incorporate the responses across levels of biological organization as well as the effects of multiple stressors. Here we implemented a mesocosm experiment to investigate how the individual and interactive effects of CO2 enrichment and eutrophication scale-up from changes in primary producers at the individual (biochemistry) or population level (production, reproduction, and/ or abundance) to higher levels of community (macroalgae abundance, herbivory, and global metabolism), and ecosystem organization (detritus release and carbon sink capacity). The responses of Zostera noltii seagrass meadows growing in low-and high-nutrient field conditions were compared. In both meadows, the expected CO2 benefits on Z. noltii leaf production were suppressed by epiphyte overgrowth, with no direct CO2 effect on plant biochemistry or population-level traits. Multi-level meadow response to nutrients was faster and stronger than to CO2. Nutrient enrichment promoted the nutritional quality of Z. noltii (high N, low C : N and phenolics), the growth of epiphytic pennate diatoms and purple bacteria, and shoot mortality. In the low-nutrient meadow, individual effects of CO2 and nutrients separately resulted in reduced carbon storage in the sediment, probably due to enhanced microbial degradation of more labile organic matter. These changes, however, had no effect on herbivory or on community metabolism. Interestingly, individual effects of CO2 or nutrient addition on epiphytes, shoot mortality, and carbon storage were attenuated when nutrients and CO2 acted simultaneously. This suggests CO2-induced benefits on eutrophic meadows. In the high-nutrient meadow, a striking shoot decline caused by amphipod overgrazing masked the response to CO2 and nutrient additions. Our results reveal that under future scenarios of CO2, the responses of seagrass ecosystems will be complex and context-dependent, being mediated by epiphyte overgrowth rather than by direct effects on plant biochemistry. Overall, we found that the responses of seagrass meadows to individual and interactive effects of CO2 and nutrient enrichment varied depending on interactions among species and connections between organization levels.European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE; Portuguese funds through the FCT project [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011]

Importancia del Método Madre Canguro en Neonatología

El Método Madre Canguro (MMC) consiste en el contacto piel con piel del recién nacido con cualquiera de sus progenitores, está indicado sobre todo en niños pretérmino, se basa en un método sencillo y eficaz que mejora el confort y la salud del niño y se pretende resaltar su importancia. El uso de este método ofrece gran número de beneficios tanto al recién nacido como a la madre/padre, ya que favorece el vínculo materno/paterno filial reduciendo a su vez el nivel de ansiedad y estrés. Económicamente, la utilización de este método proporciona rentabilidad al sistema sanitario puesto que reduce el uso de incubadoras y acorta la estancia hospitalaria de los niños pretérmino. El personal de enfermería tiene gran importancia en la puesta en marcha del MMC. Es necesario un personal cualificado en las unidades de neonatología capaz de brindar información verídica y concisa a las familias que van a utilizar este método.Grado en Enfermerí

Descolonizing feminisms to making a critical pedagogy with gender approach: Mozambique's case

What does the normalization of gender inequality culture means? Does diversity show up in the dominant development and education models? Does the education include the principles of equity? This paper is based on the reflection about these questions, and tries to connect the non-hegemonic feminism with the subaltern voices. So, this approach makes up dialogues about gender constructions and cultural diversity. The main topic of this paper is the postcolonial feminist research which is related with particular contexts, such as: African development and the formal and non-formal education. From the proposals, this paper tries to decolonize the knowledge, to release the citizenships and to introduce changes in the political action for equity and social justice. The mainstreaming of this gender approach is based on the Mozambican girl’s education. As an action proposal, this paper highlights the keys to build a feminist pedagogy that transforms the discriminatory educational practices where education is understood as a non-neutral action and, therefore, as an important feminist strategy for women empowerment¿A qué responde la normalización de la cultura de la desigualdad de género? ¿Tiene cabida la diferencia en las lógicas dominantes del desarrollo y la educación? ¿Responde la educación a los principios de equidad e igualdad? Este artículo propone una serie de reflexiones desde un posicionamiento feminista postcolonial acerca de estos y otros interrogantes, con el fin de visibilizar las voces subalternas de las mujeres y configurar debates en torno a las construcciones de género y la cultura desde la diversidad. El escrito se hace eco de los diálogos mantenidos por referentes del feminismo postcolonial y africano en contextos de desarrollo y educación, a partir de propuestas que abogan por descolonizar el conocimiento, liberar los saberes y transformar las acciones políticas en favor de la equidad y la justicia social. Este enfoque de género crítico, aplicado desde la transversalidad, sirve como herramienta de análisis del estado de la educación de las niñas en Mozambique. Como propuesta de acción se resaltan las claves para la construcción de una pedagogía feminista crítica, donde la educación es entendida desde el convencimiento de la no neutralidad de sus implicaciones y, por lo tanto, como una importante estrategia de acción feminista y de empoderamiento de las mujeres y niña

Robinson and Self-Conscious Emotions: Appreciation Beyond (Fellow) Feeling

Jenefer Robinson believes that feelings can play an important role in the critical evaluation of artworks. In this paper, I want to put some pressure on two important notions in her theory: emotional understanding and affective empathy. I will do this by focusing on the nature of self-conscious emotions. My strategy will be, firstly, to demonstrate the difficulty that Robinson’s two step theory of emotions has in accommodating higher cognitive emotional responses to art. Secondly, I will discuss how the tight connection to the ‘self’ involved in self-conscious emotions makes it difficult to take the emotional perspective of another person as empathy requires. From here, I suggest that Peter Goldie’s feeling-towards and his critique of perspective-shifting may give a better understanding of the role of emotions in the appreciation of art, particularly in the case of reflective emotions. This issue will be explored through a discussion of the expression of autobiographical nostalgia in the work of the avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas

Application of conjugation to produce genetically modified lactobacilli

Lactic acid bacteria play a crucial role in the production of dairy food products, as well as in human and animal health as part of the microbiota. In particular, lactobacilli strains are well-known for their properties as probiotics and hence, they constitute an ideal candidate for therapeutic molecules delivery in humans. Despite their potential in the industry and biomedical applications, the genetic modification of this group is challenging due to their low transformation efficiency and complex diversity, especially in wild type strains. Recently, bacterial conjugation from Escherichia coli to lactobacilli strains has been successfully performed, opening a wide range of new possibilities; however, conjugation frequencies obtained were low. In this work we have tried to optimize this conjugation protocol to lactobacilli strains. First, several parameters of the protocol were modified such as the growth phases and the ratios between donors and recipients. During these experiments we have not seen an increase of the conjugation frequency; in fact, a decrease was observed under some conditions. We have also studied the effect of DNA methylation in bacterial conjugation frequencies using as donor an E. coli strain with a mutation in the DNA-cytosine methyltransferase system, in order to avoid restriction systems in the recipient. No increase in the transfer frequency of unmethylated DNA was observed. Finally, we have designed two different plasmid systems in order to combine bacterial conjugation with homologous recombination techniques to perform specific gene modifications in the recipient cell.Máster en Biología Molecular y Biomedicin

Creativity and innovation in ceramic industry and tile companies. Case of study. TAU Cerámica, S.L.U.

Treball Final de Grau en Administració d'Empreses. Codi: AE1049. Curs 2018-2019Currently, there are many ceramic companies in the market, since over the years new companies have been introduced in the sector, making the differentiation of the product by itself more and more complex. This situation means that small companies have to survive with respect to large companies, because these last have a lot more resources to obtain a competitive advantage. Usually, the competitive advantages that are obtained are made through creativity and innovation, since they are relevant aspects to be able to have an advantage in differentiation to be able to compete with the rest of the existing companies. This situation is reflected in the province of Castellon, which takes over 93% of the ceramic sector, there are a large number of companies that develop their activity in a small area that we will call cluster and study later. It is important for studying the ceramics sector because over the years it has had to introduce a several innovations in companies in order to supply the market demands. So, this work will be developed as follows: Chapter 2 will present a theorical framework, where we will talk about creativity and innovation in the ceramic sector. The influences and the strategies that will be carried out to implement them, as well as the concept of Cluster and its importance within the sector. Chapter 3 will describe the concept of the ceramic sector, as well as its production process by studying the two types of ceramics, ending with a current and future analysis of the sector. As well as, an analysis of a case in the company TAU Cerámica that belongs to Pamesa Business Group, being this one, the largest group at sectorial level. Chapter 4 will describe the concept and introduction of Inkjet technology within the sector, as well as the advantages, importance e implementation and therefore the changes and results that occurred when introduced in companies. Chapter 5 will set out the final conclusions and limitations, as well as future research that can be carried out in the future