Sistema automático de verificación de tareas de desensamblado

La demanda actual de reciclaje lleva consigo la necesidad de desarrollo de sistemas de desensamblado automático. Estos sistemas requieren la presencia de un elemento verificador que determine si el proceso se realiza según lo previsto o si, por lo contrario, es necesaria una rectificación del proceso de desensamblado. Este artículo realiza una descripción de los distintos componentes de un sistema encargado de realizar la verificación de un sistema de desensamblado automático. Se muestra un modelo del sistema basado en diferentes niveles de Redes de Petri que capta con sucesivo nivel de “granularidad” las acciones a realizar por el sistema de verificación. Estas acciones, a menudo compuestas de procesamientos de imágenes, también habrán de determinar la localización del sistema de visión para captar suficiente información del entorno para determinar si el proceso de desensamblado se realiza de forma correcta

Activation of bee venom phospholipase A2 through a peptide-enzyme complex

Phospholipase A2 activation by membrane‐bound peptides was investigated in order to understand the role of the membrane‐induced conformation on activation, and to examine the occurrence of a peptide‐enzyme complex at the lipid/water interface. For the peptides studies, bee venom phospholipase A2 was stimulated regardless of the membrane‐bound conformation (α‐helix, β‐sheet or random coil). Using antisera raised against melittin, we were able to demonstrate the occurrence of a calcium‐dependent complex involving the enzyme, phospholipid substrate, and peptide

Stabilisation of mixed peptide/lipid complexes in selective antifungal hexapeptides

AbstractThe design of antimicrobial peptides could have benefited from structural studies of known peptides having specific activity against target microbes, but not toward other microorganisms. We have previously reported the identification of a series of peptides (PAF-series) active against certain postharvest fungal phytopathogens, and devoid of toxicity towards E. coli and S. cerevisiae [López-Garcı́a et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68 (2002) 2453]. The peptides inhibited the conidia germination and hyphal growth. Here, we present a comparative structural characterisation of selected PAF peptides obtained by single-amino-acid replacement, which differ in biological activity. The peptides were characterised in solution using fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. Membrane and membrane mimetic–peptide interactions and the lipid-bound structures were studied using fluorescence with the aid of extrinsic fluorescent probes that allowed the identification of mixed peptide/lipid complexes. A direct correlation was found between the capability of complex formation and antifungal activity. These studies provide a putative structural basis for the mechanism of action of selective antifungal peptides

Using Sewage-Sludge Ash as Filler in Bituminous Mixes

In this study, the behavior of bituminous mixes made with sewage sludge ash (SSA) as mineral filler was investigated. The behavior of these mixes was evaluated with the Cantabro, indirect tensile strength, water sensitivity, permanent deformation, and resilient modulus tests. The results show that SSA waste may be used in bituminous mixes at approximately 2–3% weight percent, maintaining adequate levels of cohesion and adhesion in the mixtures, which is comparable to mixtures made with active fillers such as hydrated lime and cement. Moreover, its use does not increase permanent deformations. However, the resilient modulus test gave slightly lower results for mixes made with SSA than for mixtures made with other fillers. It may be concluded that SSA waste may be used as a filler for bituminous mixes with better results than for mixes made with limestone fillers and with similar results for mixes made with other fillers such as hydrated lime and cement.This work has been financed by the University of Alicante through projects VIGROB-256 and GRE10-28 and by the Valencian Provincial government through Project GV/2012/113

Solving the time capacitated arc routing problem under fuzzy and stochastic travel and service times

[EN] Stochastic, as well as fuzzy uncertainty, can be found in most real-world systems. Considering both types of uncertainties simultaneously makes optimization problems incredibly challenging. In this paper we propose a fuzzy simheuristic to solve the Time Capacitated Arc Routing Problem (TCARP) when the nature of the travel time can either be deterministic, stochastic or fuzzy. The main goal is to find a solution (vehicle routes) that minimizes the total time spent in servicing the required arcs. However, due to uncertainty, other characteristics of the solution are also considered. In particular, we illustrate how reliability concepts can enrich the probabilistic information given to decision-makers. In order to solve the aforementioned optimization problem, we extend the concept of simheuristic framework so it can also include fuzzy elements. Hence, both stochastic and fuzzy uncertainty are simultaneously incorporated into the CARP. In order to test our approach, classical CARP instances have been adapted and extended so that customers' demands become either stochastic or fuzzy. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach when compared with more traditional ones. In particular, our fuzzy simheuristic is capable of generating new best-known solutions for the stochastic versions of some instances belonging to the tegl, tcarp, val, and rural benchmarks.Spanish Ministry of Science, Grant/Award Number: PID2019-111100RB-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; Barcelona Council and the "la Caixa" Foundation under the framework of the Barcelona Science Plan 2020-2023, Grant/Award Number: 21S09355-001; Generalitat Valenciana,Grant/Award Number: PROMETEO/2021/065Martín, XA.; Panadero, J.; Peidro Payá, D.; Pérez Bernabeu, E.; Juan-Pérez, ÁA. (2023). Solving the time capacitated arc routing problem under fuzzy and stochastic travel and service times. Networks. 82(4):318-335. https://doi.org/10.1002/net.2215931833582

A fluorescent polarization-based assay for the identification of disruptors of the RCAN1/calcineurin A protein complex

5 pages, 4 figures, a table. 19891949 [PubMed]Calcineurin is a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase involved in many biological processes and developmental programs, including immune response. One of the most studied substrates of calcineurin is the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) responsible for T-cell activation. Different anticalcineurin drugs, such as cyclosporine A and FK506, are the most commonly used immunosuppressants in transplantation therapies. Unfortunately, their mechanism of action, completely blocking the calcineurin phosphatase activity while also requiring continuous administration, bears severe side effects. During recent years, the family of regulators of calcineurin (RCAN) has been described and studied extensively as modulators of calcineurin signaling pathways. The RCAN1 region, spanning amino acids 198 to 218 and responsible for inhibiting the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway in vivo, has been identified. An RCAN1-derived peptide spanning this sequence interferes with the calcineurin-NFAT interaction without affecting the general calcineurin phosphatase activity. Here we report the development of an optimized in vitro high-throughput fluorescence polarization assay based on the disruption of the RCAN1(198-218)-CnA interaction for identifying molecules with immunosuppressant potential. This approach led us to identify dipyridamole as a disruptor of such interaction. Moreover, three small molecules with a potential immunosuppressive effect were also identifiedThis work was supported by grants from Fundació La Marató de TV3 (Ref. 030830), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (SAF2006-04815, BIO2004-00998, BIO2007-60066, CTQ2005-00995/BQU), the Fundación Mutua Madrileña 2007 and from the Generalitat de Catalunya (Ref. 2006 BE 00051)Peer reviewe

Multiple Mobile Agent System Framework Suitable for Pervasive Computing

In this article we present a formal framework based on the action and reaction model that allows us to cover the dynamics of multi-agent systems (MAS) made up of mobile software agents suitable for scalable networks. This model is based on the operation of the human nervous centres. At the present time, we are applying it in works related with the control of biological systems and also in those related to the network management. In the case of systems based on mobile agents, the main problem is the different vision the agents have of the world and the impossibility of being aware of and synchronizing all the influences brought by the different agents acting on it. We have compared our proposal with the conventional MAS by solving an extension of the predator-prey problem. The results show the advantages of mobility as the size of the problem grows in a distributed system

Petrer: el paisaje urbano y natural. Contexto de interpretación

El municipio de Petrer está configurado por numerosos y variados paisajes, que configuran su identidad como proyección de la sociedad que lo habita. Desde una perspectiva general, el presente artículo realiza una aproximación al concepto de paisaje como herramienta para la comprensión, análisis y planificación del territorio, que aglutina, junto al contexto espacial, el reconocimiento social. Realizado dentro del marco de las Jornadas sobre Patrimonio de Petrer, el texto hace un recorrido por el municipio y sus potencialidades

Internal Sulphate Attack in Masonry Mortars with Thaumasite Formation

The present paper focuses on the study of mortar samples where expansions with thaumasite formation occur as a consequence of sulphate attack. The samples correspond to a masonry mortar used in a rural construction located in the Spanish province of Toledo made of cement with limestone filler addition CEM II/AL. Composition and microstructure of the mortars have been analysed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using secondary and backscattered electrons (BSE) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that aggregates are contaminated with gypsum, which is the source of the sulphates for the internal attack. It seems that thaumasite is formed through an ettringite transformation where aluminium atoms are replaced with silicon atoms by means of a solid solution. The study highlights that thaumasite can be formed in warm weather through an internal sulphate attack due to gypsum contamination of aggregates.This research was funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) through the Research Project BIA2010-20913-C02-02 (PREDICEX) and BIA2011-28798-C02-02 “La reacción sulfática interna entre áridos con distintos compuestos de azufre y cementos de diferente contenido de aluminatos”

BLEACHING NEPTUNE BALLS

Posidonia Oceanic is a seaweed from Mediterranean Sea and it is more concentrated at the Balerian SEA. This implies the Valencian Community also. It forms vaste underwater meadows in the sea and are part of the Mediterranean ecosystem. It is a sea-grass specie with fruits and flowers. Leaves are ribbon-like and they grow in winter and at the end of summer some of them are separated and arrive to some sea line. Fuit is separated and can floate, it is known as “the olive of the sea” mainly in Italy, or as the Neptune Balls. As it can be used in different fields, it is is being studied in order ro have the precitice tests. Some authors have reported the manufacturing of fully bio-based comites with a gluten matrix by hot-press molding. And it has been considered as an effective insulator for building industry or even though to determine the presence of mercure in the Mediterranean sea some years ago. As many applications can be designed from that fibers, it has been considered to be bleached in order to used them in fashionable products. Consequently, its original brown color is not the most suitable one and it should be bleached as many other cellulosic fibers. The aim of this paper is to bleache neptune balls however, the inner fibers were not accessible at all and it implied not to bleach the inner fibers in the neptune ball. Further studiesd will consider bleaching the individualized fibers