Structurally optimized shells.

Shells, i.e., objects made of a thin layer of material following a surface, are among the most common structures in use. They are highly efficient, in terms of material required to maintain strength, but also prone to deformation and failure. We introduce an efficient method for reinforcing shells, that is, adding material to the shell to increase its resilience to external loads. Our goal is to produce a reinforcement structure of minimal weight. It has been demonstrated that optimal reinforcement structures may be qualitatively different, depending on external loads and surface shape. In some cases, it naturally consists of discrete protruding ribs; in other cases, a smooth shell thickness variation allows to save more material. Most previously proposed solutions, starting from classical Michell trusses, are not able to handle a full range of shells (e.g., are restricted to self-supporting structures) or are unable to reproduce this range of behaviors, resulting in suboptimal structures. We propose a new method that works for any input surface with any load configurations, taking into account both in-plane (tensile/compression) and out-of-plane (bending) forces. By using a more precise volume model, we are capable of producing optimized structures with the full range of qualitative behaviors. Our method includes new algorithms for determining the layout of reinforcement structure elements, and an efficient algorithm to optimize their shape, minimizing a non-linear non-convex functional at a fraction of the cost and with better optimality compared to standard solvers. We demonstrate the optimization results for a variety of shapes, and the improvements it yields in the strength of 3D-printed objects

Assessing the sensitivity of matching algorithms: The case of a natural resource management programme in Honduras

A fundamental challenge in impact evaluations that rely on a quasi-experimental design is to define a control group that accurately refl ects the counterfactual situation. Our aim is to evaluate empirically the performance of a range of approaches that are widely used in economic research. In particular, we compared three diff erent types of matching algorithms (optimal, greedy and nonparametric). These techniques were applied in the evaluation of the impact of the MARENA programme (Manejo de Recursos Naturales en Cuencas Prioritarias), a natural resource management programme implemented in Honduras between 2004 and 2008. The key findings are: (a) optimal matching did not produce better-balanced matches than greedy matching; and (b) programme impact calculated from nonparametric matching regressions, such as kernel or local linear regressions, yielded more consistent outcomes. Our impact results are similar to those previously reported in the literature, and we can conclude that the MARENA programme had a significant, positive impact on beneficiaries

An ecological and fishing approach to support management decisions

Leitão, F., Monteiro, J. N., Cabral, P., Teodósio, M. A., & Roa-Ureta, R. H. (2023). Revealing the role of crab as bait in octopus fishery: An ecological and fishing approach to support management decisions. Marine Policy, 158, 1-11. [105878]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105878 --- This study received Portuguese National Funding from MAR2020 project CRUSTAPANHA (MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0005 CRUSTAPANHA). FL has received Portuguese national funds from FCT within the contract program DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0008 and FCT 2022.04803. CEECIND. JNM received an FCT PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/06336/2021. This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through projects UIDB/04326/2020, UIDP/04326/2020 and LA/P/0101/2020. Authors would like to acknowledge all fishers’ associations that participated in CRUSTAPANHA project and helped the completion of the study: AAPF- Associação de Armadores e Pescadores da Fuseta (Fuseta); Associação Armalgarve Polvo Organização De Produtores (Quarteira); OLHAOPESCA Organização de Produtores de Pesca do Algarve, C.R.L. (Olhão). We acknowledge DGRM for fisheries data provided and for granting licenses for researchers onboard fishing vessel; To the coast guards forces of the following ports: Capitania do Porto de Albufeira; Capitania do Porto de Faro; Capitania do Porto de Olhão; Capitania do Porto de Lagos; Capitania do Porto de Tavira; We would like to acknowledge specific captains due to their role in the study, namely: Ricardo Santana; Francisco Molina; Arlindo da Silva Correia; Paulo Guerreiro. We would like to acknowledge all the members of ECOREACH group that help in the measurement of the octopus specimens, namely Andreia Ovelheiro, Daniela Nobre, Juan Bueno-Pardo and Miguel PintoIn southern Portugal, artisanal octopus fisheries play an important socioeconomic role. Live crab bait in traps was used up to 2010 and banned in 2012. Such regulation, based on co-management advice, was not established under a scientific fundament. As a result, a long-standing controversy ensued with some fishing associations claiming that live crab bait increased fishing effort and exploitation rates and therefore risked the octopus stock status, while other fishers denied all these alleged impacts. The issue has not been resolved so far due to lack of scientific studies. In this study, we resolve the controversy conducting experimental fishing to determine by-catch and octopus catch rates using live crab bait versus other types of baits based on fish and assess the stock status of octopus over-time with constant parameters (hypothesis of no effect of the use of live crab bait) versus time-varying parameters (hypothesis of raised exploitation rates and riskier stock status). Bycatch was very low regardless of bait type. Our experimental fishing trials showed that fish-based baits increase bycatch and octopus catch rates. Stock assessment models showed that exploitation rates and stock status do not worsen in years of use of crab bait. We conclude that the use of crab bait in octopus fishery does not lead to increased exploitation rate or risks for stock sustainability status. Other considerations involving fishing costs and fishing operations further highlight the advantages of lifting the ban on the use of live crab bait in the Algarve octopus fishery.publishersversionpublishe

Gobernabilidad de las empresas familiares peruanas y principios de buen gobierno corporativo

El crecimiento significativo de las empresas familiares en todo el mundo y tambi?n en el Per? plantea la necesidad de introducir en ellas mejores pr?cticas organizacionales y de gesti?n que converjan hacia el objetivo com?n: la generaci?n de utilidades y el retorno de la inversi?n. En este contexto surge la importancia de establecer par?metros que delimiten las funciones de accionistas, directores y trabajadores, as? como mecanismos adecuados de direcci?n y control en este tipo de empresas. En la actualidad existe una vasta literatura acerca del gobierno corporativo, que va desde una base te?rica expuesta por los economistas acad?micos hasta una serie de recomendaciones elaboradas por la OCDE y adaptadas a la realidad peruana por la Conasev. Sin embargo, el grado de aplicabilidad de estos principios a la realidad de las empresas familiares peruanas es todav?a muy escaso. Por tanto, esta investigaci?n analiza la situaci?n del gobierno corporativo de las medianas y grandes empresas familiares peruanas y propone principios orientados espec?ficamente a ellas. Su prop?sito es servir como instrumento para el crecimiento de las empresas familiares y permitir la soluci?n de sus problemas m?s frecuentes, como la superposici?n de la familia en la empresa, los conflictos de inter?s, los conflictos familiares y los problemas de sucesi?n. De esta manera se busca responder a la interrogante: ?cu?les son los principios de gobernabilidad que deben adoptar las empresas familiares peruanas para garantizar su continuidad

HIRAYA

Hiraya is a sole proprietorship business founded in February 2020 by Jan Marc Portal, an ABM student in DLSU-SHS. Its mission is to provide the community with pouch bags that feature sustainability, affordability, and durability, promoting the Philippines’ indigenous designs using locally sourced materials such as Abaca and cotton canvas. Hiraya’s vision is to create a convenient and practical experience for the general lifestyle of the people by catering local products. The owner formed a business venture with his co-students in the ABM Strand, namely: Aeriel Punzalan (operations), Jarvis Servino (financial), Katriona Ureta (marketing), Jin Ha Kim (human resource), and Jiro Mhaye Salayo (advertising). The officers possess individual skills related to their departments, such as leadership, project management, and marketing, contributing to the development of Hiraya. The business took the opportunity to sell products through the online platform, reaching millennials and Gen-Z as its target market. The business’s location was strategically placed in Laguna. The venture considers itself to be different from its competitors as it features an accented Abaca design inspired by local Kalinga tattoo artists in its products. In terms of the initial capital, the business had invested Php 31,500 to operate. The capital was able to produce 120 bags, costing Php 349 each (39.6% mark-up). Once the break-even is reached, Hiraya intends to diversify its products by putting another Php 27,488 for capital. Hiraya plans to continually expand in the future to remain true to its cause in helping indigenous people as part of its social responsibility

Technological Aspects of the Production of Fructo and Galacto-Oligosaccharides. Enzymatic Synthesis and Hydrolysis

Fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides (FOS and GOS) are non-digestible oligosaccharides with prebiotic properties that can be incorporated into a wide number of products. This review details the general outlines for the production of FOS and GOS, both by enzymatic synthesis using disaccharides or other substrates, and by hydrolysis of polysaccharides. Special emphasis is laid on technological aspects, raw materials, properties, and applications

Flow Cytometric microsphere-based immunoassay as a novel non-radiometric method for the detection of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies in type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The first measurable sign of arising autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is the detection of autoantibodies against beta-cell antigens, such as glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65). GAD65 autoantibodies (GADA) are usually measured by Radioligand Binding Assay (RBA). The aim of this work was to develop protocols of Flow Cytometric microsphere-based immunoassays (FloCMIA) which involved glutamic acid decarboxylase fused to thioredoxin (TrxGAD65) adsorbed on polystyrene microspheres. Detection of bound GADA was accomplished by the use of anti-human IgG-Alexa Fluor 488 (Protocol A), anti-human IgG-biotin and streptavidindichlorotriazinyl aminofluorescein (DTAF) (Protocol B) or TrxGAD65-biotin and streptavidin- DTAF (Protocol C). Serum samples obtained from 46 patients assayed for routine autoantibodies at Servicios Tecnológicos de Alto Nivel (STAN-CONICET) were analyzed by RBA, ELISA and three alternative FloCMIA designs. Protocol C exhibited the highest specificity (97.8%) and sensitivity (97.4%) and a wide dynamic range (1.00-134.40 SDs). Samples obtained from 40 new-onset diabetic patients were also analyzed to further evaluate the performance of protocol C. The latter protocol showed a sensitivity of 58.6% and a prevalence of 47.5%. Two patients resulted positive only by FloCMIA protocol C and its SDs were higher than RBA and ELISA, showing a significantly wide dynamic range. In conclusion, FloCMIA proved to be highly sensitive and specific, requiring a low sample volume; it is environmentally adequate, innovative and it represents a cost-effective alternative to traditional GADA determination by RBA and/or ELISA; making it applicable to most medium-complexity laboratories.Fil: Guerra, Luciano Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Trabucchi, Aldana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Faccinetti, Natalia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Iacono, Ruben Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Ureta, Daniela Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Poskus, Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; ArgentinaFil: Valdez, Silvina Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentin

A review on the contribution of crop diversification to Sustainable Development Goal 1 “No poverty” in different world regions

I am grateful to Professor Maggie Gill and Dr Leslie Lipper for initial discussions, to Dr Leslie Lipper for arranging the meetings with the experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and to the experts at FAO for the valuable discussions on the topic. I would also like to thank Kirsten MacSween for revising the English. This research has been funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), NE/N005619/1.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Current and Future Niche of North and Central American Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Climate Change Scenarios

Ecological niche models are useful tools to infer potential spatial and temporal distributions in vector species and to measure epidemiological risk for infectious diseases such as the Leishmaniases. The ecological niche of 28 North and Central American sand fly species, including those with epidemiological relevance, can be used to analyze the vector’s ecology and its association with transmission risk, and plan integrated regional vector surveillance and control programs. In this study, we model the environmental requirements of the principal North and Central American phlebotomine species and analyze three niche characteristics over future climate change scenarios: i) potential change in niche breadth, ii) direction and magnitude of niche centroid shifts, iii) shifts in elevation range. Niche identity between confirmed or incriminated Leishmania vector sand flies in Mexico, and human cases were analyzed. Niche models were constructed using sand fly occurrence datapoints from Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Nine non-correlated bioclimatic and four topographic data layers were used as niche components using GARP in OpenModeller. Both B2 and A2 climate change scenarios were used with two general circulation models for each scenario (CSIRO and HadCM3), for 2020, 2050 and 2080. There was an increase in niche breadth to 2080 in both scenarios for all species with the exception of Lutzomyia vexator. The principal direction of niche centroid displacement was to the northwest (64%), while the elevation range decreased greatest for tropical, and least for broad-range species. Lutzomyia cruciata is the only epidemiologically important species with high niche identity with that of Leishmania spp. in Mexico. Continued landscape modification in future climate change will provide an increased opportunity for the geographic expansion of NCA sand flys’ ENM and human exposure to vectors of Leishmaniases