A Multi-Criteria Vertical Coordination Framework for a Reliable Aid Distribution

Purpose: This study proposes a methodology that translates multiple humanitarian supply chain stakeholders’ preferences from qualitative to quantitative values, enabling these preferences to be integrated into optimization models to ensure their balanced and simultaneous implementation during the decision-making process. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review is used to justify the importance of developing a strategy that minimizes the impact of a lack of coordination on humanitarian logistics decisions. A methodology for a multi-criteria framework is presented that allows humanitarian stakeholders’ interests to be integrated into the humanitarian decisionmaking process. Findings: The findings suggest that integrating stakeholders’ interests into the humanitarian decision-making process will improve its reliability. Research limitations/implications: To further validate the weights of each stakeholder’s interests obtained from the literature review requires interviews with the corresponding organizations. However, the literature review supports the statements in this paper. Practical implications: The cost of a lack of coordination between stakeholders in humanitarian logistics has been increasing during the last decade. These coordination costs can be minimized if humanitarian logistics’ decision-makers measure and simultaneously consider multiple stakeholders’ preferences. Social implications: When stakeholders’ goals are aligned, the humanitarian logistics response becomes more efficient, increasing the quality of delivered aid and providing timely assistance to the affected population in order to minimize their suffering. Originality/value: This study provides a methodology that translates humanitarian supply chain stakeholders’ interests into quantitative values, enabling them to be integrated into mathematical models to ensure relief distribution based on the stakeholders’ preferences.Peer Reviewe

Diagnóstico del Tokamak Esférico MEDUSA-CR

Proyecto de investigación (Código: 5402-1801-0504) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Extensión (VIE). Escuela de Física, 2017El 20 de febrero de 2013 el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica firmó el “Used Equipment Sales Agreement” con la “University of Wisconsin-Madison” de EE.UU donde se formaliza la compra por $ 1 (un dólar) de las partes industriales del Tokamak Esférico llamado MEDUSA (Madison EDUcation Small Aspect ratio tokamak) y un banco de 3000 capacitores (1500 μF, 450 VDC). Esta actividad de fortalecimiento tuvo por objetivo general el diagnosticar el estado en el que se encuentra el equipo llamado MEDUSA-CR ubicado en la actualidad en el Laboratorio de Plasmas para Energía de Fusión y Aplicaciones. Se realizaron dos objetivos específicos que buscaban: (1) Examinar el estado de los diferentes sistemas del Tokamak Esférico MEDUSA-CR y (2) Determinar las necesidades para implementarlo. La metodología utilizada fue inspección visual de los sistemas utilizando el criterio de experto para determinar su estado, así como el uso de equipo especializado y una guía técnica para el dispositivo [1]. Se elaboraron listados de componentes a reemplazar y necesarios para su construcción identificando al menos un proveedor, así mismo se indicaron las recomendaciones necesarias para la puesta a punto de forma segura. Como conclusión esta actividad logró identificar el estado actual de los diferentes sistemas en el Tokamak Esférico MEDUSA-CR desde el punto de vista de ingeniería. Así mismo se determinaron las necesidades para implementarlo al plantear mejoras para el funcionamiento del dispositivo y obteniendo listados de componentes por comprar. Como principal resultado se demuestra la viabilidad de poner en funcionamiento este Tokamak abriendo el camino para futuros proyectos de investigación

Implementation of stellarator of Costa Rica 1 SCR-1

ConferenciaThe SCR-1 is a small modular stellarator designed, constructed and is being implemented at Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. The project is its final phase of commissioning and it is expected to be operational in June 2015. This article aims at summarizing the SCR-1 project from the engineering and manufacturing point of view, particularly highlighting the construction of the toroidal vacuum vessel and the modular coils

Pharmacy-based immunization: a systematic review

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has prompted the exploration of new response strategies for such health contingencies in the near future. Over the last 15 years, several pharmacy-based immunization (PBI) strategies have emerged seeking to exploit the potential of pharmacies as immunization, medication sale, and rapid test centers. However, the participation of pharmacies during the last pandemic was very uneven from one country to another, suggesting a lack of consensus on the definition of their roles and gaps between the literature and practice.PurposeThis study aimed to consolidate the current state of the literature on PBI, document its progress over time, and identify the gaps not yet addressed. Moreover, this study seeks to (i) provide new researchers with an overview of the studies on PBI and (ii) to inform both public health and private organization managers on the range of possible immunization models and strategies.MethodologyA systematic review of scientific qualitative and quantitative studies on the most important scientific databases was conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyzes guidelines were followed. Finally, this study discusses the trends, challenges, and limitations on the existing literature on PBI.FindingsMust studies concluded that PBI is a beneficial strategy for the population, particularly in terms of accessibility and territorial equity. However, the effectiveness of PBI is affected by the economic, political, and/or social context of the region. The collaboration between the public (government and health departments) and private (various pharmacy chains) sectors contributes to PBI's success.OriginalityUnlike previous literature reviews on PBI that compiled qualitative and statistical studies, this study reviewed studies proposing mathematical optimization methods to approach PBI

Implementación y simulación del tokamak esférico MEDUSA-CR: Etapa 1

Proyecto de Investigación (Código: 14500016) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Extensión (VIE). Escuela de Física, Área Académica de Ingeniería Mecatrónica, Escuela de Ingeniería Electromecánica, 2018El tokamak esférico MEDUSA (Madison EDUcation Small Aspect ratio spherical tokamak, con un radio mayor de R < 0.14 m, radio menor de a < 0.10 m, campo toroidal BT < 0.5 T, corriente del plasma Ip < 40 kA, y 3 ms de pulso) fue construido y operado en la Universidad de Wisconsin en Madison en EE.UU. En el 2013 el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica recibió en donación este dispositivo experimental junto con un banco de 3000 capacitores (1500 μF, 450 VDC) que se encuentran hoy en día en el Laboratorio de Plasmas para Energía de Fusión y Aplicaciones. Un Tokamak esférico es un tipo de dispositivo que confina magnéticamente plasmas de alta temperatura para investigación en energía de fusión basado en el principio Tokamak (acrónimo de palabras rusas que en español significan cámara toroidal con bobinas magnéticas). La investigación en estos dispositivos se realiza con el objetivo futuro de tener una nueva fuente de energía renovable a partir de fusión nuclear. El objetivo general de este proyecto fue “Implementar el sistema de vacío, inyección de gas, diseñar y simular el sistema de carga y descarga de los capacitores, así como simular plasmas en el tokamak esférico MEDUSA-CR”. Para alcanzarlo se definió una metodología basada en el diseño de los sistemas utilizando el criterio de experto, referencias del estado del arte y uso de códigos computacionales para simulación de plasma disponibles en la comunidad científica de Tokamaks. Como principales resultados de este proyecto se logró implementar un nuevo sistema de vacío para MEDUSA-CR, así como un nuevo sistema de inyección de gas compacto y móvil que permite picos de 1 ms, tiempo que es lo suficientemente rápido para la inercia inherente al gas inyectado. Se logró diseñar y simular un sistema de control de corriente para las bobinas del Tokamak Esférico MEDUSA-CR que presenta la oportunidad de habilitar otros modos de operación en este dispositivo. En este caso se diseñó y simuló para que pueda operar en modo AC, el cual permite realizar descargas de larga duración. Esto le da más relevancia al experimento pues amplia la capacidad de experimentación Finalmente, se simuló el confinamiento de equilibrio para MEDUSA-CR usando los parámetros de construcción originales. Se encontró que las bobinas de campo poloidal externos de radio más pequeño son prescindibles. Además, se concluyó que la geometría para la forma del plasma más conveniente es la forme bean shape

Constructing a small modular stellarator in Latin America

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84938118149&partnerID=40&md5=1d385f1e177901beaf6f30228abdd67bThis paper aims at briefly describing the design and construction issues of the stellarator of Costa Rica 1 (SCR-1). The SCR-1 is a small modular stellarator for magnetic confinement of plasma developed by the Plasma Laboratory for Fusion Energy and Applications of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). SCR-1 will be a 2-field period small modular stellarator with an aspect ratio > 4.4; low shear configuration with core and edge rotational transform equal to 0.32 and 0.28; it will hold plasma in a 6061-T6 aluminum torus shaped vacuum vessel with an minor plasma radius 54.11 mm, a volume of 13.76 liters (0.01 m3), and major radius R = 238 mm. Plasma will be confined in the volume by on axis magnetic field 43.8 mT generated by 12 modular coils with 6 turns each, carrying a current of 767.8 A per turn providing a total toroidal field (TF) current of 4.6 kA-turn per coil. The coils will be supplied by a bank of cell batteries of 120 V. Typical length of the plasma pulse will be between 4 s to 10 s. The SCR-1 plasmas will be heated by ECH second harmonic at 2.45 GHz with a plasma density cut-off value of 7.45 × 1016 m-3. Two magnetrons with a maximum output power of 2 kW and 3 kW will be used. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Ad Astra Rocket Company,Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica,International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),Universidad Nacional de Costa Ric

Fatigue strength evaluation and fracture behavior of joined dual phase steel/AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy

The fatigue strength evaluation and fracture behavior for a dual phase steel-AA6061-T6 bonded joints with three different adhesives (DC-80, Betamate 120 and MP55420) are presented in this paper. Single lap shear tests were used to determine maximum shear loads, for the single lap shear testing for 5.0 mm overlap length were 2 to 3.5 times higher in comparison to the 12.7 mm overlap length specimens. The results for the strain measurement revealed that higher strain-stress were developed in the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy adherend and in all cases they were lower than the adherends yield strength. Fatigue testing was carried out at 30, 50 and 70 % of the maximum shear load, 0.1 of reversibility load ratio (R) and 30 Hz of frequency. After testing, Basquin and Wholer graphs were built for each adhesive at 12.7 and 50.0 mm of overlap length. The results suggested that at higher overlapping, the cyclic maximum load increased. Additionally, the maximum fatigue loading at 10^6 cycles for MP55420 adhesive was 1.3 kN for an overlapping of 12.7 mm and 2.9 kN for 50 mm. For DC80 adhesive was 1.75 kN for overlapping 12.7 mm and 4.8 kN for 50 mm. Finally, for the Betamate 120 adhesive was 1.8 kN for 12.7 mm of overlapping and 6 kN for 50 mm. The post-fracture visual inspection revealed that MP55420 and Betamate 120 adhesives had a cohesive failure, while the DC-80 showed cohesive-adhesive failure. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy evaluation on the spew fillet revealed resolved striations and a network of small micro-dimples for the Betamate 120 and MP55420 adhesives. On the other hand, DC-80 adhesive exhibited notable facet fragile failure that was confirmed by the shape of stress-strain plot with straight line from the origin to the point of fracture

Fatigue strength evaluation and fracture behavior of joined dual phase steel/AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy

The fatigue strength evaluation and fracture behavior for a dual phase steel-AA6061-T6 bonded joints with three different adhesives (DC-80, Betamate 120 and MP55420) are presented in this paper. Single lap shear tests were used to determine maximum shear loads, for the single lap shear testing for 5.0 mm overlap length were 2 to 3.5 times higher in comparison to the 12.7 mm overlap length specimens. The results for the strain measurement revealed that higher strain-stress were developed in the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy adherend and in all cases they were lower than the adherends yield strength. Fatigue testing was carried out at 30, 50 and 70 % of the maximum shear load, 0.1 of reversibility load ratio (R) and 30 Hz of frequency. After testing, Basquin and Wholer graphs were built for each adhesive at 12.7 and 50.0 mm of overlap length. The results suggested that at higher overlapping, the cyclic maximum load increased. Additionally, the maximum fatigue loading at 106 cycles for MP55420 adhesive was 1.3 kN for an overlapping of 12.7 mm and 2.9 kN for 50 mm. For DC80 adhesive was 1.75 kN for overlapping 12.7 mm and 4.8 kN for 50 mm. Finally, for the Betamate 120 adhesive was 1.8 kN for 12.7 mm of overlapping and 6 kN for 50 mm. The post-fracture visual inspection revealed that MP55420 and Betamate 120 adhesives had a cohesive failure, while the DC-80 showed cohesive-adhesive failure. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy evaluation on the spew fillet revealed resolved striations and a network of small micro-dimples for the Betamate 120 and MP55420 adhesives. On the other hand, DC-80 adhesive exhibited notable facet fragile failure that was confirmed by the shape of stress-strain plot with straight line from the origin to the point of fracture

Forensis Mujeres: datos para la vida

El objetivo de este análisis es evidenciar la magnitud de la violencia física y sexual hacia la mujer en Colombia, visto a través de las miles de mujeres víctimas de agresiones fatales y no fatales reconocidas por el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, a lo largo y ancho del país en los últimos cinco años. No obstante, es preciso reconocer que tan importante pretensión está limitada por el gran número de casos que todos saben que existen, pero que desafortunadamente, por impedimentos de diversos ordenes no alcanzan las instancias Institucionales en busca del resarcimiento de sus derechos vulnerados. La Metodología utilizada para el desarrollo de este proyecto, parte de la revisión de los datos recaudados históricamente por el Sistema de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Lesiones de Causa Externa SIVELCE, El cual es administrado por el Centro de Referencia Nacional sobre Violencia. Dichos datos son estudiados con las herramientas que brindan la epidemiología y otras ciencias sociales, para aproximar a un diagnóstico de la problemática en cuestión. Se propone aquí entonces un resumen de los análisis que se encontrarán con mayor profundidad a lo largo de cada capítulo. Resultados: Las agresiones dirigidas a las mujeres se identifican en los distintos contextos de producción de los actos violentos, es decir, desde la misma expresión del maltrato infantil se empieza a observar disparidad de género, es así como cerca del 53% de las víctimas de este tipo de violencia en Colombia en el último quinquenio fueron niñas

Comparative proteomics using 2-D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry as tools to dissect stimulons and regulons in bacteria with sequenced or partially sequenced genomes

We propose two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry to define the protein components of regulons and stimulons in bacteria, including those organisms where genome sequencing is still in progress. The basic 2-DE protocol allows high resolution and reproducibility and enables the direct comparison of hundreds or even thousands of proteins simultaneously. To identify proteins that comprise stimulons and regulons, peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis is the first option and, if results from this tool are insufficient, complementary data obtained with electrospray ionization tandem-MS (ESI-MS/MS) may permit successful protein identification. ESI-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF-MS provide complementary data sets, and so a more comprehensive coverage of a proteome can be obtained using both techniques with the same sample, especially when few sequenced proteins of a particular organism exist or genome sequencing is still in progress