Optimización de los movimientos de tierras en proyectos de obras lineales mediante técnicas de programación lineal: modelo basado en rendimientos de construcción

Las operaciones de movimiento de tierras representan una de las partidas más importantes en el presupuesto de cualquier obra lineal, e influyen de forma relevante tanto en el proceso de planificación como en el plazo de la obra. El estudio detallado y la optimización de estas operaciones son aspectos importantes a considerar durante la redacción de un proyecto de obra lineal. La asignación de los volúmenes de materiales que deben transportase desde los centros de producción (desmontes y préstamos) a los centros de consumo (terraplenes y vertederos) es un problema relativamente complejo, para cuya resolución se han propuesto en la literatura científica básicamente dos grupos de metodologías: una más tradicional, basada en el denominado diagrama de masas; y otras más novedosas, que se apoyan en técnicas de optimización. Mediante el diagrama de masas se establece una compensación longitudinal de los materiales, y se limita a informar sobre distancias medias de transporte. En relación al segundo grupo de metodologías, en las últimas décadas se han desarrollado diferentes procedimientos basados en programación lineal, en su forma particular del problema del transporte. Estas técnicas permiten optimizar de forma más precisa las operaciones de movimiento de tierras si bien no se ha estudiado con detalle la manera de generar o definir los centros de producción y consumo considerando aspectos relacionados con la planificación. En este artículo se desarrolla un procedimiento para la optimización de los movimientos de tierras en obras lineales mediante técnicas de programación lineal, en el cual los centros de producción y consumo son obtenidos a partir de los rendimientos de construcción de los equipos disponibles por el contratista. El procedimiento permite obtener tanto el coste mínimo de las operaciones de movimiento de tierras como el plazo de ejecución de las obras. Finalmente, se presentan los resultados de la aplicación a un caso real de una carretera

Synergic Effect of α

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among Mexican women. The treatment with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) has some serious side effects. Alpha-mangostin (α-M), has a protective effect against CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity, as well as antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, we explored the in vitro and in vivo effect of α-M on human cervical cancer cell proliferation when combined with CDDP. In vitro, The cytotoxic effect of α-M and/or CDDP was measured by the 3-(3,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium assay. Meanwhile, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the cell cycle were determined with flow cytometry. For α-M+CDDP treatment, both a coincubation and preincubation scheme were employed. In vivo, xenotransplantation was performed in female athymic BALB/c (nu/nu) mice, and then tumor volume and body weight were measured weekly, whereas α-M interfered with the antiproliferative activity of CDDP in the coincubation scheme, with preincubation with α-M+CDDP showing significantly greater cytotoxicity than CDDP or α-M alone, significantly inhibiting average tumor volume and preventing nephrotoxicity. This effect was accompanied by increased apoptosis and ROS production by HeLa cervical cancer cells, as well as an arrest in the cell cycle. These results suggest that α-M may be useful as a neoadjuvant agent in cervical cancer therapy

BD MAX Enteric Bacterial, Bacterial Plus, and Virus Panels for Diagnosis of Acute Infectious Gastroenteritis: a Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economic assessment is required to gauge the value of implementing PCR syndromic platforms in the microbiology laboratory for the diagnosis of community-acquired acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in pediatric and adult in- and outpatients. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted from a health care system perspective using BD MAX Enteric Bacterial, Bacterial Plus, and Virus panels. Two 6-month periods were selected, in which either conventional procedures (in 2017) or BD MAX PCR multiplex panels (in 2018) were used. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients with positive results and a representative sample of negative ones. A Markov model was used to represent transition probabilities between different health care states from time of stool microbiological study until completion of AGEepisode-associated health care. A total of 1,336 medical records were reviewed (829 in 2018 and 507 in 2017), showing overall a significantly higher positivity rate in 2018 than in 2017 (26% versus 6%, P , 0.001). The total cost per individual associated with health care for AGE was e314 in 2018 and e341 in 2017; when we only considered the pediatric cohort, the figures were e271 and e456, respectively. Using Tornado sensitivity analyses, we found that the three variables that most influenced the model in descending order of weight were the probability of longer hospital stays, the probability of returning to the emergency room (ER), and the probability of hospitalization from the ER. Use of BD MAX enteric PCR platforms for the diagnosis of community-acquired AGE instead of a non-PCR-based conventional approach results in an incremental benefit from a health care perspective in the general population, particularly children

General framework for calculating irradiance distributions of symmetric surface sources

Symmetries in system modeling can be exploited to obtain analytical results on the system behavior and to speed up computations using the symmetric model. This work explores the use of symmetries in radiant surfaces for calculating the induced irradiance distributions by developing a general mathematical expression. The obtained model is applied to flat, cylindrical, and spherical sources to obtain explicit expressions. An experimental evaluation of the flat source is carried out and compared with a traditional point source, and the obtained procedure for the flat scenario is compared with the direct integration approach, which shows an improvement in the computation time of at least two orders of magnitude with a relative root mean square error of less than 10%. The results show that the proposed approach enhances short-range predictions for extended sources. To demonstrate the impact of this in optical wireless communications we have outlined a few applications

Evaluación de los peligros naturales y antrópicos para el turismo en Playas del Este, Cuba

Coloquio de Geografía del Turismo, Ocio y Recreación de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles. Colmenarejo (Madrid), del 17 al 19 de junio de 2010.Esta investigación forma parte de los resultados del proyecto "El sistema de embalses como forma de regulación y aprovechamiento del agua en la cuenca del río Guanabo, Cuba. Indicadores de sostenibilidad" (Código: A/023914/09), financiado por la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo y cuyo investigador principal es José Damián Ruiz SinogaPublicad

Essential role of the N-terminal region of TFII-I in viability and behavior

Background: GTF2I codes for a general intrinsic transcription factor and calcium channel regulator TFII-I, with high and ubiquitous expression, and a strong candidate for involvement in the morphological and neuro-developmental anomalies of the Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). WBS is a genetic disorder due to a recurring deletion of about 1,55-1,83 Mb containing 25-28 genes in chromosome band 7q11.23 including GTF2I. Completed homozygous loss of either the Gtf2i or Gtf2ird1 function in mice provided additional evidence for the involvement of both genes in the craniofacial and cognitive phenotype. Unfortunately nothing is now about the behavioral characterization of heterozygous mice. Methods: By gene targeting we have generated a mutant mice with a deletion of the first 140 amino-acids of TFII-I. mRNA and protein expression analysis were used to document the effect of the study deletion. We performed behavioral characterization of heterozygous mutant mice to document in vivo implications of TFII-I in the cognitive profile of WBS patients. Results: Homozygous and heterozygous mutant mice exhibit craniofacial alterations, most clearly represented in homozygous condition. Behavioral test demonstrate that heterozygous mutant mice exhibit some neurobehavioral alterations and hyperacusis or odynacusis that could be associated with specific features of WBS phenotype. Homozygous mutant mice present highly compromised embryonic viability and fertility. Regarding cellular model, we documented a retarded growth in heterozygous MEFs respect to homozygous or wild-type MEFs. Conclusion: Our data confirm that, although additive effects of haploinsufficiency at several genes may contribute to the full craniofacial or neurocognitive features of WBS, correct expression of GTF2I is one of the main players. In addition, these findings show that the deletion of the fist 140 amino-acids of TFII-I altered it correct function leading to a clear phenotype, at both levels, at the cellular model and at the in vivo model

Pharmacological evaluation of two liposomal doxorubicin formulations

Two liposomal formulations of doxorubicin (Caelyx® and Doxopeg®) were evaluated for phospholipid content, doxorubicin concentration, liposomal size, zeta potential, osmolarity, phospholipid peroxidation, in vitro release of the drug, pharmacokinetic profile, and cytotoxicity in cancer cell cultures. Phospholipid concentration was not statistically different between formulations. Doxorubicin concentration was in the range of 2.0 mg/mL. Size and zeta potential were in the order of 80 nm and -37 mV, respectively. Osmolarity and peroxidation in both formulations was similar and the in vitro drug release assay indicated minimal release (2 %) of the doxorubicin content after 48 h. Pharmacokinetics parameters in both formulations were very similar and no statistical difference was observed between them; the effect on the growth inhibition in cell lines was also not different. Caelyx® and Doxopeg® are similar in terms of its composition, physical parameters, stability, pharmacokinetics and growth inhibition in cancer cell lines.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Essential role of the N-terminal region of TFII-I in viability and behavior

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>GTF2I </it>codes for a general intrinsic transcription factor and calcium channel regulator TFII-I, with high and ubiquitous expression, and a strong candidate for involvement in the morphological and neuro-developmental anomalies of the Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). WBS is a genetic disorder due to a recurring deletion of about 1,55-1,83 Mb containing 25-28 genes in chromosome band 7q11.23 including <it>GTF2I</it>. Completed homozygous loss of either the <it>Gtf2i </it>or <it>Gtf2ird1 </it>function in mice provided additional evidence for the involvement of both genes in the craniofacial and cognitive phenotype. Unfortunately nothing is now about the behavioral characterization of heterozygous mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By gene targeting we have generated a mutant mice with a deletion of the first 140 amino-acids of TFII-I. mRNA and protein expression analysis were used to document the effect of the study deletion. We performed behavioral characterization of heterozygous mutant mice to document <it>in vivo </it>implications of TFII-I in the cognitive profile of WBS patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Homozygous and heterozygous mutant mice exhibit craniofacial alterations, most clearly represented in homozygous condition. Behavioral test demonstrate that heterozygous mutant mice exhibit some neurobehavioral alterations and hyperacusis or odynacusis that could be associated with specific features of WBS phenotype. Homozygous mutant mice present highly compromised embryonic viability and fertility. Regarding cellular model, we documented a retarded growth in heterozygous MEFs respect to homozygous or wild-type MEFs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data confirm that, although additive effects of haploinsufficiency at several genes may contribute to the full craniofacial or neurocognitive features of WBS, correct expression of <it>GTF2I </it>is one of the main players. In addition, these findings show that the deletion of the fist 140 amino-acids of TFII-I altered it correct function leading to a clear phenotype, at both levels, at the cellular model and at the <it>in vivo </it>model.</p

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activities of a heteroscorpionate derivative platinum complex against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the species with the greatest clinical importance and greatest impact on public health. In fact, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is considered a pandemic pathogen, being essential to develop effective medicines and combat its rapid spread. This study aimed to foster the translation of clinical research outcomes based on metallodrugs into clinical practice for the treatment of MRSA. Bearing in mind the promising anti-Gram-positive effect of the heteroscorpionate ligand 1,1’-(2-(4-isopropylphenyl)ethane-1,1-diyl)bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole) (2P), we propose the coordination of this compound to platinum as a clinical strategy with the ultimate aim of overcoming resistance in the treatment of MRSA. Therefore, the novel metallodrug 2P-Pt were synthetized, fully characterized and its antibacterial effect against the planktonic and biofilm state of S. aureus evaluated. In this sense, three different strains of S. aureus were studied, one collection strain of S. aureus sensitive to methicillin and two clinical MRSA strains. To appraise the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) were determined. Moreover, successful outcomes on the development of biofilm in a wound-like medium were obtained. The mechanism of action for 2P-Pt was proposed by measuring the MIC and MBC with EDTA (cation mediated mechanism) and DMSO (exogenous oxidative stress mechanism). Moreover, to shed light on the plausible antistaphylococcal mechanism of this novel platinum agent, additional experiments using transmission electron microscopy were carried out. 2P-Pt inhibited the growth and eradicated the three strains evaluated in the planktonic state. Another point worth stressing is the inhibition in the growth of MRSA biofilm even in a wounded medium. The results of this work support this novel agent as a promising therapeutic alternative for preventing infections caused by MRSA