Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein Values Predict the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C after Sustained Virological Response

Measurement of Wisteria floribundaagglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) in serum was recently shown to be a noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of serum WFA+-M2BP values to predict the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon treatment. For this purpose, we retrospectively analyzed 238 patients with SVR who were treated with interferon in our department. Serum WFA+-M2BP values were measured at pre-treatment (pre-Tx), post-treatment (24 weeks after completion of interferon; post-Tx), the time of HCC diagnosis, and the last clinical visit. Of 238 patients with SVR, HCC developed in 16 (6.8%) patients. The average follow-up period was 9.1 years. The cumulative incidence of HCC was 3.4% at 5 years and 7.5% at 10 years. The median pre-Tx and post-Tx WFA+-M2BP values were 1.69 (range: 0.28 to 12.04 cutoff index (COI)) and 0.80 (range: 0.17 to 5.29 COI), respectively. The WFA+-M2BP values decreased significantly after SVR (P 60 years), sex (male), pre-Tx platelet count ( 2.0 COI) were associated with the development of HCC after SVR. Conclusion: Post-Tx WFA+-M2BP (> 2.0 COI) is associated with the risk for development of HCC among patients with SVR. The WFA+-M2BP values could be a new predictor for HCC after SVR

Comparison between Amazon Go stores and traditional retails based on queueing theory

The Amazon Go Store model’s introduction posed a breakthrough in the shopping market due to its ground-braking approach, in which customers exercise the so-called self-service checkout. Although many qualitative analysis studies can be found, along with some quantitative approaches, a literature review on this matter shows a lack of comparative analysis between this model and traditional retail models using queueing theory, which could provide powerful insight into the improvements introduced by Amazon Go Store system. This work sets out the path to quantitative approaches for such comparison, as it aims to provide a performance analysis through queueing theory. The article compared two queueing systems; a traditional retail store vs. the Amazon Go Store. Both systems were analyzed as queueing stochastic networks. First, the traditional retail store was modeled as a two-stage (shopping and payment) network. On the other hand, the Amazon Go Store was modeled as a single-stage (shopping + payment) network. Both systems were assessed in two case scenarios: a high-demand typical day and a low-demand typical day. The implemented methodology allowed obtaining, for both compared systems, the key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the cycle time (CT), work in process (WIP), and the throughput (TP), revealing that the Amazon Go Store model exhibits better performance regarding the WIP and CT. Therefore, the Amazon Go Store model renders a higher-quality, more cost-effective service in the retail sector

Las alternativas ciudadanas para otros mundos posibles: pensamiento y experiencias

El documento está conformado por tres partes: la primera define algunos conceptos y expone ciertas teorías sobre el desarrollo y las alternativas (los artículos que componen este apartado son: "Diversidad y dinamismo de las alternativas ciudadanas", "¿Desarrollo alternativo o alternativas al desarrollo? repensando el concepto desde el territorio y el sur global"); la segunda, hace referencia a la construcción de algunas experiencias concretas relacionadas con las alternativas ciudadanas ("La gestión compleja del agua", "La alternativa educativa intercultural wixárika"; "Los procesos sociales en la construcción de alternativas a conflictos ambientales en la cuenca alta del río Santiago"). La tercera parte consiste en una propuesta de investigación sobre las alternativas ciudadanas ("Las alternativas ciudadanas: una propuesta de análisis")