Inter-terminal transfer between port terminals. A continuous mathematical programming model to optimize scheduling and deployment of transport units

[EN] In most large port cities, the challenge of inter-terminal transfers (ITT) prevails due to the long distance between multiple terminals. The quantity of containers requiring movement between terminals as they connect from pre-carrier to on-carrier is increasing with the formation of the mega-alliances. The paper proposes a continuous time mathematical programming model to optimize the deployment and schedule of trucks and barges to minimize the number of operating transporters, their makespan, costs and the distance travelled by the containers by choosing the right combination of transporters and container movements while fulfilling time window restrictions imposed on reception of the containers. A multi-step routing problem is developed where transporters can travel from one terminal to another and/or load or unload containers from a specific batch at each step. The model proves successful in identifying the costless schedule and means of transportation. And a sensibility analysis over the parameters used is provided.Morales Fusco, P.; Pedrielli, G.; Zhou, C.; Lee, L.; Chew, E. (2016). Inter-terminal transfer between port terminals. A continuous mathematical programming model to optimize scheduling and deployment of transport units. En XII Congreso de ingeniería del transporte. 7, 8 y 9 de Junio, Valencia (España). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1471-1481. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2015.4149OCS1471148

Impacto del aprendizaje cooperativo en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de historia de la cultura en un Instituto Superior Tecnológico de Lima en el periodo 2018 – 2

El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo por objeto explicar el impacto del aprendizaje cooperativo en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de Historia de la Cultura en un Instituto Superior Tecnológico de Lima en el período 2018-2. Los participantes fueron 120 estudiantes de ambos géneros cuyas edades oscilan entre los 17 a 21 años aproximadamente, los cuales están matriculados en el Instituto Superior en el cual se ha hecho la investigación. La metodología empleada desarrolla el enfoque mixto porque integra los enfoques cuantitativos y cualitativos, el alcance de la investigación es explicativo porque están dirigidos a responder por las causas de los eventos y fenómenos físicos o sociales. El diseño es concurrente anidado o incrustado concurrente de modelo dominante debido a que colecta la información cualitativa y cuantitativa al mismo tiempo, pero uno de los métodos, el predominante, guía la investigación; en este caso la parte cuantitativa es el predominante pues contiene la data de promedios de notas de las actividades realizadas para analizar el rendimiento académico. Los resultados mostraron que los participantes del grupo experimental obtuvieron promedios, de las fichas de observación la cual es acerca de las dimensiones del aprendizaje cooperativo, 17,36; 17,29 y 16,65 en las tres actividades planificadas (mapa mental, cuadro comparativo y propuesta creativa), mientras los promedios 15,92; 15,57 y 15,39 se obtuvieron del grupo control. En el caso del rendimiento académico los promedios obtenidos en la actividad mapa mental en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,83 y 18.53, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 16.68 y 17.50; para la actividad del cuadro comparativo en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,88 y 16.04, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 16.12 y 15.78. Para la propuesta creativa en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,83 y 17.24, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 17.62 y 16.26. Todas las comparaciones concernientes a la data de los grupos experimentales y control fueron validadas estadísticamente con la prueba del T-student. Se concluye que la aplicación del aprendizaje cooperativo en la praxis docente mejora el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de historia de la cultura como un buen desenvolvimiento de las dimensiones del aprendizaje cooperativo.Trabajo de investigaciónCampus Lima Centr

Impacto del aprendizaje cooperativo en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de historia de la cultura en un instituto superior tecnológico de Lima en el periodo 2018 – 2

El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo por objeto explicar el impacto del aprendizaje cooperativo en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de Historia de la Cultura en un Instituto Superior Tecnológico de Lima en el período 2018-2. Los participantes fueron 120 estudiantes de ambos géneros cuyas edades oscilan entre los 17 a 21 años aproximadamente, los cuales están matriculados en el Instituto Superior en el cual se ha hecho la investigación. La metodología empleada desarrolla el enfoque mixto porque integra los enfoques cuantitativos y cualitativos, el alcance de la investigación es explicativo porque están dirigidos a responder por las causas de los eventos y fenómenos físicos o sociales. El diseño es concurrente anidado o incrustado concurrente de modelo dominante debido a que colecta la información cualitativa y cuantitativa al mismo tiempo, pero uno de los métodos, el predominante, guía la investigación; en este caso la parte cuantitativa es el predominante pues contiene la data de promedios de notas de las actividades realizadas para analizar el rendimiento académico. Los resultados mostraron que los participantes del grupo experimental obtuvieron promedios, de las fichas de observación la cual es acerca de las dimensiones del aprendizaje cooperativo, 17,36; 17,29 y 16,65 en las tres actividades planificadas (mapa mental, cuadro comparativo y propuesta creativa), mientras los promedios 15,92; 15,57 y 15,39 se obtuvieron del grupo control. En el caso del rendimiento académico los promedios obtenidos en la actividad mapa mental en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,83 y 18.53, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 16.68 y 17.50; para la actividad del cuadro comparativo en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,88 y 16.04, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 16.12 y 15.78. Para la propuesta creativa en los grupos experimentales (A y B) fueron 17,83 y 17.24, mientras en los grupos control (C y D) fueron 17.62 y 16.26. Todas las comparaciones concernientes a la data de los grupos experimentales y control fueron validadas estadísticamente con la prueba del T-student. Se concluye que la aplicación del aprendizaje cooperativo en la praxis docente mejora el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes en el curso de historia de la cultura como un buen desenvolvimiento de las dimensiones del aprendizaje cooperativo.Trabajo de investigaciónCampus Lima Centr

Design and verification of an effective state-of-charge estimator for thermal energy storage

Thermal energy storage (TES) is widely used in district heating and cooling systems (DHCS) to act as a buffer between the supply and demand schedules. The adequate control of charging and discharging modes of TES may improve the overall performance of a DHCS and, to this end, an effective regulation of its state‐of‐charge (SoC) is required. However, the calculation of SoC depends on the availability and accuracy of temperature measurements. A model‐based observer for the calculation of the SoC of water‐based TES tanks is presented. A dynamic model of a one‐dimensional stratified water tank is adopted to develop the observer. Its effectiveness is assessed through ‘model‐in‐the‐loop’ cosimulations, with the observer and the feedback control system being implemented in MATLAB/Simulink and a high‐fidelity water tank component available in Apros being used as the plant model. Simulation results considering three different system configurations demonstrate that the model‐based observer accurately estimates the temperature distribution within the tank, leading to an effective SoC computation and control—even in the case of sensor failure or upon limited sensor availability

Sham or real—Post hoc estimation of stimulation condition in a randomized transcranial magnetic stimulation trial

Selecting a suitable sham condition within the frame of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment trials is a central issue. On the one hand, the ideal sham condition should not have a real stimulation effect; on the other hand, it should not be recognized as sham by patients, particularly when considering that real stimulation conditions come along with rTMS specific side effects. Within the course of a multi-centre trial assessing the antidepressant effects of rTMS, patients were randomized to sham or real stimulation, in both cases using a standard stimulation coil. In one centre, patients (n = 33) were asked about their impression whether they received the sham or the real treatment, and if they would recommend the treatment to others. 29 patients returned the questionnaires and were included into the analysis. From 15 subjects with real stimulation, 11 suggested to have obtained real, and 4 to have obtained sham. From 14 sham stimulated subjects, 9 suggested to have obtained the real condition and 5 to have been sham stimulated. This difference was not significant (p = 0.60, chi square test). In addition, the major part of patients in both stimulation conditions would recommend rTMS to others. In both conditions, real and sham, the majority of subjects believed to have obtained the real condition. This implies suitability of the sham condition used since subjects appeared not to be able to identify the condition. The results imply the feasibility of a valid sham condition with a “real” coil

Experimental validation of a hybrid 1-D multi-node model of a hot water thermal energy storage tank

Hot water-based thermal energy storage (TES) tanks are extensively used in heating applications to provide operational flexibility. Simple yet effective one-dimensional (1-D) tank models are desirable to simulate and design efficient energy management systems. However, the standard multi-node modelling approach struggles to reproduce the dynamics of highly thermally stratified tanks due to their artificial numerical diffusion. In this paper, a novel 1-D multi-node modelling approach is introduced for accurately simulating water tanks with a high extent of thermal stratification. A non-linear, hybrid continuous–discrete time model able to capture the sudden temperature change within the tank is presented. The modelling approach was adopted to simulate a commercial TES tank, with the model being implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. Results from experimental tests were compared with simulation results, demonstrating that a hybrid continuous–discrete 12-node model accurately estimates the temperatures of the tank. It is also shown that the hybrid model avoids the numerical diffusion exhibited by standard multi-node models. This has been evidenced by the reduced root mean square and mean absolute errors exhibited by the hybrid model when compared with the experimental data

Absence of system xc⁻ on immune cells invading the central nervous system alleviates experimental autoimmune encephalitis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), leading to neurodegeneration and chronic disability. Accumulating evidence points to a key role for neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity in this degenerative process. System x(c)- or the cystine/glutamate antiporter could tie these pathological mechanisms together: its activity is enhanced by reactive oxygen species and inflammatory stimuli, and its enhancement might lead to the release of toxic amounts of glutamate, thereby triggering excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration. Methods: Semi-quantitative Western blotting served to study protein expression of xCT, the specific subunit of system x(c)-, as well as of regulators of xCT transcription, in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients and in the CNS and spleen of mice exposed to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an accepted mouse model of MS. We next compared the clinical course of the EAE disease, the extent of demyelination, the infiltration of immune cells and microglial activation in xCT-knockout (xCT(-/-)) mice and irradiated mice reconstituted in xCT(-/-) bone marrow (BM), to their proper wild type (xCT(+/+)) controls. Results: xCT protein expression levels were upregulated in the NAWM of MS patients and in the brain, spinal cord, and spleen of EAE mice. The pathways involved in this upregulation in NAWM of MS patients remain unresolved. Compared to xCT(+/+) mice, xCT(-/-) mice were equally susceptible to EAE, whereas mice transplanted with xCT(-/-) BM, and as such only exhibiting loss of xCT in their immune cells, were less susceptible to EAE. In none of the above-described conditions, demyelination, microglial activation, or infiltration of immune cells were affected. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate enhancement of xCT protein expression in MS pathology and suggest that system x(c)- on immune cells invading the CNS participates to EAE. Since a total loss of system x(c)- had no net beneficial effects, these results have important implications for targeting system x(c)- for treatment of MS

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatmentTreatment for cancer (including bone marrow transplant) can cause oral mucositis (severe ulcers in the mouth). This painful condition can cause difficulties in eating, drinking and swallowing, and may also be associated with infections which may require the patient to stay longer in hospital. Different strategies are used to try and prevent this condition, and the review of trials found that some of these are effective. Two interventions, cryotherapy (ice chips) and keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin®) showed some benefit in preventing mucositis. Sucralfate is effective in reducing the severity of mucositis, and a further seven interventions, aloe vera, amifostine, intravenous glutamine, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), honey, laser and antibiotic lozenges containing polymixin/tobramycin/amphotericin (PTA) showed weaker evidence of benefit. These were evaluated in patients with different types of cancer, undergoing different types of cancer treatment. Benefits may be restricted to the disease and treatment combinations evaluated

Anisotropic flow of charged hadrons, pions and (anti-)protons measured at high transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76 TeV

The elliptic, $v_2$, triangular, $v_3$, and quadrangular, $v_4$, azimuthal anisotropic flow coefficients are measured for unidentified charged particles, pions and (anti-)protons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Results obtained with the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods are reported for the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ at different collision centralities and as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, out to $p_{\rm T}=20$ GeV/$c$. The observed non-zero elliptic and triangular flow depends only weakly on transverse momentum for $p_{\rm T}>8$ GeV/$c$. The small $p_{\rm T}$ dependence of the difference between elliptic flow results obtained from the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods suggests a common origin of flow fluctuations up to $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$. The magnitude of the (anti-)proton elliptic and triangular flow is larger than that of pions out to at least $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$ indicating that the particle type dependence persists out to high $p_{\rm T}$.Comment: 16 pages, 5 captioned figures, authors from page 11, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/186

Centrality dependence of charged particle production at large transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}} = 2.76 TeV

The inclusive transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) distributions of primary charged particles are measured in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ as a function of event centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The data are presented in the $p_{\rm T}$ range $0.15<p_{\rm T}<50$ GeV/$c$ for nine centrality intervals from 70-80% to 0-5%. The Pb-Pb spectra are presented in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm{AA}}$ using a pp reference spectrum measured at the same collision energy. We observe that the suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles strongly depends on event centrality. In central collisions (0-5%) the yield is most suppressed with $R_{\rm{AA}}\approx0.13$ at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7 GeV/$c$. Above $p_{\rm T}=7$ GeV/$c$, there is a significant rise in the nuclear modification factor, which reaches $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx0.4$ for $p_{\rm T}>30$ GeV/$c$. In peripheral collisions (70-80%), the suppression is weaker with $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx 0.7$ almost independently of $p_{\rm T}$. The measured nuclear modification factors are compared to other measurements and model calculations.Comment: 17 pages, 4 captioned figures, 2 tables, authors from page 12, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/284