Visualizing Business Ecosystems: Applying a Collaborative Modelling Process in Two Case Studies

Business ecosystems are increasingly gaining relevance in research and practice. Because business ecosystems progressively change, enterprises are interested in analysing their ecosystem, to identify and address such changes. In order to gain a comprehensive picture of the business ecosystem, various stakeholders of the enterprise should be involved in the analysis process. We propose a collaborative approach to model and visualize the business ecosystem and we validate four central roles in the modelling process. The process consists of six steps, namely the definition of the business ecosystem focus, instantiation of the model, data collection, provision of tailored visualizations, collecting feedback and adapting the models, and using the visualization ‘to tell a story’. In this paper, we report case studies of two companies that have instantiated ecosystem models

Applying MILP/Heuristic algorithms to automated job-shop scheduling problems in aircraft-part manufacturing

This work presents efficient algorithms based on Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and heuristic strategies for complex job-shop scheduling problems raised in Automated Manufacturing Systems. The aim of this work is to find alternative a solution approach of production and transportation operations in a multi-product multi-stage production system that can be used to solve industrial-scale problems with a reasonable computational effort. The MILP model developed must take into account; heterogeneous recipes, single unit per stage, possible recycle flows, sequence-dependent free transferring times and load transfer movements in a single automated material-handling device. In addition, heuristic-based strategies are proposed to iteratively find and improve the solutions generated over time. These approaches were tested in different real-world problems arising in the surface-treatment process of metal components in the aircraft manufacturing industry.Fil: Aguirre, Adrian Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Mendez, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: García Sanchez, Alvaro. Universidad Politecnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Ortega Mier, Miguel. Universidad Politecnica de Madrid; Españ

Acute-Stress Biomarkers in Three Octopodidae Species After Bottom Trawling

Several Octopodidae species have a great potential for the diversification of worldwide aquaculture. Unfortunately, the lack of stress-related biomarkers in this taxon results an obstacle for its maintenance in conditions where animal welfare is of paramount relevance. In this study, we made a first approach to uncover physiological responses related to fishing capture in Eledone moschata, Eledone cirrhosa, and Octopus vulgaris. Captured octopus from all three species were individually maintained in an aquaculture system onboard of oceanographic vessel in south-western waters of Europe. Haemolymph plasma and muscle were collected in animals at the moment of capture, and recovery was evaluated along a time-course of 48 h in Eledone spp., and 24 h for O. vulgaris. Survival rates of these species captured in spring and autumn were evaluated. Physiological parameters such as plasma pH, total CO2, peroxidase activity, lysozyme, hemocyanin, proteases, pro-phenoloxidase, anti-proteases, free amino acids, lactate and glucose levels, as well as muscle water percentage, free amino acids, lactate, glycogen and glucose values were analyzed. The immune system appears to be compromised in these species due to capture processes, while energy metabolites were mobilized to face the acute-stress situation, but recovery of all described parameters occurs within the first 24 h after capture. Moreover, this situation exerts hydric balance changes, as observed in the muscle water, being these responses depending on the species assessed. In conclusion, three Octopodidae species from south-western waters of Europe have been evaluated for stress-related biomarkers resulting in differentiated mechanisms between species. This study may pave the way to further study the physiology of stress in adult octopuses and develop new methodologies for their growth in aquaculture conditions

Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion Improves Vascular and Contractile Function by Preserving Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production in Cardiac Grafts Obtained With Donation After Circulatory Death.

BACKGROUND Cardiac donation after circulatory death is a promising option to increase graft availability. Graft preservation with 30 minutes of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) before normothermic machine perfusion may improve cardiac recovery as compared with cold static storage, the current clinical standard. We investigated the role of preserved nitric oxide synthase activity during HOPE on its beneficial effects. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a rat model of donation after circulatory death, hearts underwent in situ ischemia (21 minutes), were explanted for a cold storage period (30 minutes), and then reperfused under normothermic conditions (60 minutes) with left ventricular loading. Three cold storage conditions were compared: cold static storage, HOPE, and HOPE with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). To evaluate potential confounding effects of high coronary flow during early reperfusion in HOPE hearts, bradykinin was administered to normalize coronary flow to HOPE levels in 2 additional groups (cold static storage and HOPE with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester). Cardiac recovery was significantly improved in HOPE versus cold static storage hearts, as determined by cardiac output, left ventricular work, contraction and relaxation rates, and coronary flow (P<0.05). Furthermore, HOPE attenuated postreperfusion calcium overload. Strikingly, the addition of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester during HOPE largely abolished its beneficial effects, even when early reperfusion coronary flow was normalized to HOPE levels. CONCLUSIONS HOPE provides superior preservation of ventricular and vascular function compared with the current clinical standard. Importantly, HOPE's beneficial effects require preservation of nitric oxide synthase activity during the cold storage. Therefore, the application of HOPE before normothermic machine perfusion is a promising approach to optimize graft recovery in donation after circulatory death cardiac grafts

Managing daily surgery schedules in a teaching hospital: A mixed-integer optimization approach

This study examined the daily surgical scheduling problem in a teaching hospital. This problem relates to the use of multiple operating rooms and different types of surgeons in a typical surgical day with deterministic operation durations (preincision, incision, and postincision times). Teaching hospitals play a key role in the health-care system; however, existing models assume that the duration of surgery is independent of the surgeon?s skills. This problem has not been properly addressed in other studies. We analyze the case of a Spanish public hospital, in which continuous pressures and budgeting reductions entail the more efficient use of resources.Fil: Pulido, Raul. Politecnico Di Milano; Italia. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales; EspañaFil: Aguirre, Adrian Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); ArgentinaFil: Ortega Mier, Miguel. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales; EspañaFil: García Sanchez, Alvaro. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales; EspañaFil: Mendez, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentin

Análisis los procesos administrativos y su incidencia en los niveles de disponibilidad de la información de la empresa publica EPUNEMI.

Después de cumplir con el estudio de los problemas que se presentan los empleados de la Empresa Publica de Producción y Desarrollo Estratégico (EPUNEMI) se ha encontrado varios factores de intervienen directa o indirectamente en el atraso de entrega de informes contables

Structural basis of redox-dependent modulation of galectin-1 dynamics and function

Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of a family of multifunctional lectins, plays key roles in diverse biological processes including cell signaling, immunomodulation, neuroprotection and angiogenesis. The presence of an unusual number of six cysteine residues within Gal-1 sequence prompted a detailed analysis of the impact of the redox environment on the functional activity of this lectin. We examined the role of each cysteine residue in the structure and function of Gal-1 using both experimental and computational approaches. Our results show that: (i) only three cysteine residues present in each carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) (Cys2, Cys16 and Cys88) were important in protein oxidation, (ii) oxidation promoted the formation of the Cys16-Cys88 disulfide bond, as well as multimers through Cys2, (iii) the oxidized protein did not bind to lactose, probably due to poor interactions with Arg48 and Glu71, (iv) in vitro oxidation by air was completely reversible and (v) oxidation by hydrogen peroxide was relatively slow (1.7 ± 0.2 M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.4 and 25°C). Finally, an analysis of key cysteines in other human galectins is also provided in order to predict their behaviour in response to redox variations. Collectively, our data provide new insights into the structural basis of Gal-1 redox regulation with critical implications in physiology and pathology.Fil: Guardia, Carlos Manuel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de Los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Caramelo, Julio Javier. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Trujillo, Madia . Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Mendez Huergo, Santiago Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Radi, Rafael . Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Estrin, Dario Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de Los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentin

Anesthetics Rapidly Promote Synaptogenesis during a Critical Period of Brain Development

Experience-driven activity plays an essential role in the development of brain circuitry during critical periods of early postnatal life, a process that depends upon a dynamic balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals. Since general anesthetics are powerful pharmacological modulators of neuronal activity, an important question is whether and how these drugs can affect the development of synaptic networks. To address this issue, we examined here the impact of anesthetics on synapse growth and dynamics. We show that exposure of young rodents to anesthetics that either enhance GABAergic inhibition or block NMDA receptors rapidly induce a significant increase in dendritic spine density in the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus. This effect is developmentally regulated; it is transient but lasts for several days and is also reproduced by selective antagonists of excitatory receptors. Analyses of spine dynamics in hippocampal slice cultures reveals that this effect is mediated through an increased rate of protrusions formation, a better stabilization of newly formed spines, and leads to the formation of functional synapses. Altogether, these findings point to anesthesia as an important modulator of spine dynamics in the developing brain and suggest the existence of a homeostatic process regulating spine formation as a function of neural activity. Importantly, they also raise concern about the potential impact of these drugs on human practice, when applied during critical periods of development in infants

Effect of Corticosteroids on C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia and High Inflammatory Response: The Effect of Lymphopenia

Background: Lymphopenic patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have shown high mortality rates. Corticosteroids have immunomodulatory properties and regulate cytokine storm in CAP. However, it is not known whether their modulatory effect on cytokine secretion differs in lymphopenic and non-lymphopenic patients with CAP. Therefore, we aimed to test whether the presence of lymphopenia may modify the response to corticosteroids (mainly in C reactive protein (CRP)) in patients with severe CAP and high inflammatory status). Methods: A post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial (NCT00908713) which evaluated the effect of corticosteroids in patients with severe CAP and high inflammatory response (CRP > 15 mg/dL). Patients were clustered according to the presence of lymphopenia (lymphocyte count below 1000 cell/mm3 ). Results: At day 1, 35 patients (59%) in the placebo group presented with lymphopenia, compared to 44 patients (73%) in the corticosteroid group. The adjusted mean changes from day 1 showed an increase of 1.19 natural logarithm (ln) cell/mm3 in the corticosteroid group and an increase of 0.67 ln cell/mm3 in the placebo group (LS mean difference of the changes in ln (methylprednisolone minus placebo) 0.51, 95% CI (0.02 to 1.01), p = 0.043). A significant effect was also found for the interaction (p = 0.043) between corticosteroids and lymphopenia in CRP values at day 3, with lower values in patients without lymphopenia receiving corticosteroids after adjustments for potential confounders. Conclusion: In this exploratory post hoc analysis from ramdomized controlled trial (RCT) data, the response to corticosteroids, measured by CRP, may differ according to lymphocyte count. Further larger studies are needed to confirm this data