Development of paper-based hygro-mechanical systems for liquid characterization

Over the past few years, paper-based microfluidics systems have been extensively applied to perform different analytical tasks including detection and quantification of the specific analyte. Few works have reported the use of paper as a structural element to develop both sensors and actuators. These devices are extremely useful as they are inexpensive, easy to fabricate, disposable and portable. However, other features of paper that can be applied to develop new sensing principles have not been explored. Paper is a hygroscopic material that enables the generation of motion by hygromorphism. In this work, paper-based hygro-mechanical systems (PB-HMS) for liquid characterization are developed. The configuration of the developed PB-HMS is formed by the interaction of a paper-based cantilever beam and a liquid droplet. The paper-based cantilever beam acts as a hygroscopic sensitive element, while the liquid droplet triggers the bending response of the PB-HMS. These systems do not require any external source of energy to stimulate the sensing element (i.e. electric or magnetic field) as their interaction with the liquid droplet activates the motion. iv In addition, different gaps in the knowledge found in the literature were addressed to develop the PB-HMS. They are described as follows. First, an imbibition model based on Richards’ equation is developed in this thesis to predict liquid imbibition in complex paper-based networks. Second, a dimensionless stress-imbibition model including three main nonlinearities (imbibition, swelling and softening) is developed in this work. Third, the influences of such nonlinearities on the characteristic hygro-mechanical bending response of paper-based beams are studied. Fourth, the design of the PB-HMS is performed in order to extract information from the systems using their dynamic response. Finally, a method to quantify the dynamic performance of the PB-HMS in order to characterize liquid is developed

Propuesta de mejora en las áreas de producción y logística para reducir costos en una empresa del sector panadero

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar el impacto de la propuesta de mejora sobre los costos en las áreas de producción y logística de una empresa del sector panadero. Para ello se realizó un diagnóstico inicial, identificando causas raíces principales y se realizó un costeo obteniendo una pérdida total de S/835.79 al mes. Se definió las herramientas de mejora: PMP, MRP I, distribución de planta, Manual de procedimientos, Metodología 5S, ABC y Kardex reduciendo los costos a S/86.51 con un beneficio de S/749.28 al mes. Toda la propuesta tiene una inversión de S/.2,121.23 y un beneficio anual de S/8,991.40. El PMP aumentó a 99.5% el cumplimiento de demanda reduciendo los costos a S/22.5 al mes. El MRP logró aumentar a 93% las compras efectivas disminuyendo los costos en compras innecesarias a S/50.71. El manual de procedimiento redujo el porcentaje de productos defectuosos a 0.31% disminuyendo el costo perdido a S/13.50 al mes. Las 5S eliminó por completo el tiempo perdido en producción que se traduce en dejar de realizar 26 productos y por ende el costo perdido mensual de S/.117.00. El Kardex eliminó por completo el 1.03% de productos vencidos que significaban una pérdida de S/45.00 al mes. El ABC eliminó el tiempo perdido de 11.07 horas y con ello una pérdida de S/ 49.23 al mes y con la distribución de planta se eliminó el tiempo extra de 11.54 horas por traslados reflejado en una pérdida mensual de S/154.83. Por último, mediante indicadores como VAN, TIR y B/C se obtuvieron valores de S/.4,802, 30.1% y 2.52 respectivamente, lo que nos indica que la propuesta de mejora es factible y rentableThe objective of this work is to determine the impact of the improvement proposal on costs in the production and logistics areas of a company in the bakery sector. For this, an initial diagnosis was made, identifying the main root causes and a costing was made, obtaining a total loss of S/835.79 per month. The improvement tools were defined: PMP, MRP I, plant distribution, Procedures Manual, 5S Methodology, ABC and Kardex, reducing costs to S/ 86.51 with a benefit of S/.749.28 per month. The entire proposal has an investment of S/.2,121.23 and an annual benefit of S/. 8,991.40. The PMP increased demand fulfillment to 99.5%, reducing costs to S/22.5 per month. The MRP was able to increase effective purchases to 93%, reducing the costs of unnecessary purchases to S/.50.71. The procedure manual reduced the percentage of defective products to 0.31%, reducing the lost cost to S/13.50 per month. The 5S completely eliminated the lost time in production that translates into not making 26 products and therefore the monthly lost cost of S/.117 The Kardex completely eliminated 1.03% of expired products that meant a loss of S/. 45 a month. ABC eliminated the lost time of 11.07 hours and with it a loss of S/ 49.23 per month and with the plant distribution, the extra time of 11.54 hours due to transfers was eliminated, reflected in a monthly loss of S/.154.83. Finally, through indicators such as VAN, IRR and B/C, values of S/.4,802, 30.1% and 2.52 respectively were obtained, which indicates that the improvement proposal is feasible and profitable

Bilateral optic neuritis in a 26-year-old man with common variable immunodeficiency: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Common variable immunodeficiency encompasses a group of heterogeneous conditions linked by a lack of immunoglobulin production and primary antibody failure. Although primary immunodeficiencies are typically characterized by recurrent infections, autoimmune manifestations have increasingly been recognized. Neurological complications are extremely rare and to the best of our knowledge optic neuritis has not been described previously. We report the case of a patient with common variable immunodeficiency who developed loss of vision secondary to bilateral optic neuritis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 26-year-old Caucasian man with a diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency presented to our facility with loss of vision secondary to bilateral optic neuritis. Results of a thorough study for infectious, neoplastic and autoimmune diseases were negative. Our patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone with almost complete improvement and he remained asymptomatic at a 12-month follow-up.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Bilateral optic neuritis should be added to the list of autoimmune disorders related to common variable immunodeficiency. If a patient with common variable immunodeficiency experiences loss of vision, the possibility of bilateral optic neuritis should be considered as rapid initiation of high-dose corticosteroids may improve visual recovery.</p

Changes in metabolites in the brain of patients with fibromyalgia after treatment with an NMDA receptor antagonist

The aims of this work were to evaluate whether the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia with memantine is associated with significant changes in metabolite concentrations in the brain, and to explore any changes in clinical outcome measures. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed of the right anterior and posterior insula, both hippocampi and the posterior cingulate cortex. Questionnaires on pain, anxiety, depression, global function, quality of life and cognitive impairment were used. Ten patients were studied at baseline and after three months of treatment with memantine. Significant increases were observed in the following areas: N-acetylaspartate (4.47 at baseline vs. 4.71 at three months, p¿=¿0.02) and N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartate glutamate in the left hippocampus (5.89 vs. 5.98; p¿=¿0.007); N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartate glutamate in the right hippocampus (5.31 vs 5.79; p¿=¿0.01) and the anterior insula (7.56 vs. 7.70; p¿=¿0.033); glutamate+glutamine/creatine ratio in the anterior insula (2.03 vs. 2.17; p¿=¿0.022) and the posterior insula (1.77 vs. 2.00; p¿=¿0.004); choline/creatine ratio in the posterior cingulate (0.18 vs. 0.19; p¿=¿0.023); and creatine in the right hippocampus (3.60 vs. 3.85; p¿=¿0.007). At the three-month follow-up, memantine improved cognitive function assessed by the Cognition Mini-Exam (31.50, SD¿=¿2.95 vs. 34.40, SD¿=¿0.6; p¿=¿0.005), depression measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale (7.70, SD¿=¿0.81 vs. 7.56, SD¿=¿0.68; p¿=¿0.042) and severity of illness measured by the Clinical Global Impression severity scale (5.79, SD¿=¿0.96 vs. 5.31, SD¿=¿1.12; p¿=¿0.007). Depression, clinical global impression and cognitive function showed improvement with memantine. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy could be useful in monitoring response to the pharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia

New Trends and Challenges in Condition Monitoring Strategies for Assessing the State-of-charge in Batteries

Condition monitoring strategies play an important key role to ensure the proper operation and/or working conditions in electrical, mechanical, and electronic systems; in this sense, condition monitoring methods are commonly implemented aiming to avoid undesired breakdowns and are also implemented to extend the useful life of the evaluated elements as much as possible. Therefore, the objective of this work is to report the new trends and challenges related to condition monitoring strategies for assessing the state-of-charge in batteries under the Industry 4.0 framework. Specifically, this work is focused on the analysis of those signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques that are implemented in experimental and model-based assessing approaches. With this work, important aspects may be highlighted as well as the conclusions and prospects may be included for the development trend of condition monitoring strategies to assess and ensure the state-of-charge in batteries

Changes in Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Fragile Adults over Fifty Years of Age and in Elderly People Exclusively Fed Enteral Nutrition

We aim to evaluate whether exclusive feeding of an enteral formula enriched with n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) affects oxidative stress and the antioxidant defence system and may improve the levels of some relevant inflammatory, and cardiovascular biomarkers in frail adults over fifty years of age and in elderly subjects. Fifty-five patients were divided into two groups and were exclusively fed a newly designed normoproteic and isocaloric enteral formula enriched with eicosapentaenoic (98 mg/d) and docosahexaenoic acids (46 mg/d) (n=26) or a reference enteral diet (n=29). Oxidative, inflammatory and cardiovascular risk biomarkers and red blood cell fatty acid profiles were determined at the beginning and after 90 and 180 days of feeding. The n-3 LC-PUFA percentage tended to be higher (P=0.053) in the experimental group than in the reference group. Administration of the n-3 LC-PUFA diet did not increase oxidative stress or modify plasma antioxidant capacity but decreased antioxidant enzymatic activities. MMP-9 plasma concentration decreased with both formulae, whereas tPAI-1 tended to decrease (P=0.116) with the administration of the experimental formula. In conclusion, administration of the new n-3 LC-PUFA-enriched product for 6 months did not negatively alter the oxidative status and improved some cardiovascular risk biomarkers

Randomized crossover pharmacokinetic evaluation of subcutaneous versus intravenous granisetron in cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: 5-HT3-receptor antagonists are one of the mainstays of antiemetic treatment, and they are administered either i.v. or orally. Nevertheless, sometimes neither administration route is feasible, such as in patients unable to admit oral intake managed in an outpatient setting. Our objective was to evaluate the bioavailability of s.c. granisetron. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive 3 mg of granisetron either s.c. or i.v. in a crossover manner during two cycles. Blood and urine samples were collected after each cycle. Pharmacokinetic parameters observed with each administration route were compared by analysis of variance. RESULTS: From May to November 2005, 31 patients were included and 25 were evaluable. Subcutaneous granisetron resulted in a 27% higher area under the concentration-time curve for 0-12 hours (AUC(0-12h)) and higher levels at 12 hours, with similar values for AUC(0-24h). The maximum concentration was lower with the s.c. than with the i.v. route and was observed 30 minutes following s.c. administration. CONCLUSION: Granisetron administered s.c. achieves complete bioavailability. This is the first study that shows that s.c. granisetron might be a valid alternative to i.v. delivery. Further trials to confirm clinical equivalence are warranted. This new route of administration might be especially relevant for outpatient management of emesis in cancer patients

The Fourteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey and from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment

The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) has been in operation since July 2014. This paper describes the second data release from this phase, and the fourteenth from SDSS overall (making this, Data Release Fourteen or DR14). This release makes public data taken by SDSS-IV in its first two years of operation (July 2014-2016). Like all previous SDSS releases, DR14 is cumulative, including the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since the first phase began operations in 2000. New in DR14 is the first public release of data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS); the first data from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2), including stellar parameter estimates from an innovative data driven machine learning algorithm known as "The Cannon"; and almost twice as many data cubes from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey as were in the previous release (N = 2812 in total). This paper describes the location and format of the publicly available data from SDSS-IV surveys. We provide references to the important technical papers describing how these data have been taken (both targeting and observation details) and processed for scientific use. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has been updated for this release, and provides links to data downloads, as well as tutorials and examples of data use. SDSS-IV is planning to continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V.Comment: SDSS-IV collaboration alphabetical author data release paper. DR14 happened on 31st July 2017. 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by ApJS on 28th Nov 2017 (this is the "post-print" and "post-proofs" version; minor corrections only from v1, and most of errors found in proofs corrected