Direct research supply chain, in house or outsourcing? In the context of the manufacturing industry

Thefollowing research paper address thequestion regarding whether a manufacturing company should manage his supply chain by themselves or if they should outsource it to anexternal supplier. Nowadays, outsourcing auxiliary activities like supply chain iscommonly highlighted asa strategic decisionfor manufacturing firms.This studyaddresses the issue of outsourcing or not from a theoretical and practical approach. Theoretical in the sense that literature is reviewed regarding the evolution of supply chain and the analysis of outsourcing by enumeratingreasons both positive and negative. And practical because the researchtries to reflect by a qualitative methodology the factorsthat may lead to a successful decision of outsourcing, this factors are ultimately tested in a multi criteria decision model to solve the question. A list of factors wasidentified and studied to came up with the mentioned model that affect the outsourcingdecision

Mapas de contorno de tasa de precipitación y atenuación por lluvias para planificación preliminar de enlaces del satélite "Simón Bolívar" en Venezuela

YNA DOI: https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v86n209.73774 DYNA, Volumen 86, Número 209, p. 30-39, 2019. ISSN electrónico 2346-2183. ISSN impreso 0012-7353. Rainfall rate and rain attenuation contour maps for preliminary “Simon Bolivar” satellite links planning in Venezuela Mapas de contorno de tasa de precipitación y atenuación por lluvias para planificación preliminar de enlaces del satélite "Simón Bolívar" en Venezuela Angel Dario Pinto Mangones, Nelson Alexander Pérez García, Juan Manuel Torres Tovio, Eduardo José Ramírez, Samir Oswaldo Castaño Rivera, Jaime Velez Zapata, John Dwiht Ferreira Rodríguez, Leidy Marian Rujano Molina Texto completo: PDF (English) Bookmark and Share Resumen (en_US) Predicting precipitation rate and rainfall attenuation are key aspects in planning and dimensioning of wireless communications systems operating at frequencies above 10 GHz, such as satellite communication systems at Ku and Ka bands. In this paper, contour maps of rainfall rate and rain attenuation are developed for the first time in Venezuela, based on 1-min rain rate statistics obtained from measurements carried out in Venezuela over at least 30 years period with a higher integration time and using Rice-Holmberg model, refined Moupfouma-Martin model and Recommendation ITU-R P.837-7, for rain rate estimation and Recommendation ITU-R P.618-13, Ramachandran-Kumar model, Yeo-Lee-Ong model and Rakshit-Adhikari-Maitra model, for rain attenuation prediction in “Simon Bolivar” satellite links in Venezuela. The overall results of both types of maps represent a useful tool for preliminary planning of those links in the country, specifically, in Ku and Ka bands.La tasa de precipitación y la atenuación por lluvias son aspectos claves en la planificación y dimensionamiento de sistemas inalámbricos de comunicaciones que operan en frecuencias superiores a 10 GHz, tales como los sistemas de comunicación vía satélite en las bandas Ku y Ka. En este artículo, se desarrollan por primera vez en Venezuela mapas de contorno de tasa de precipitación y atenuación por lluvias, en base a estadísticas de lluvia de 1-minuto obtenidas a partir de mediciones realizadas en Venezuela en un periodo de al menos 30 años con alto tiempo de integración y usando los modelos Rice-Holmberg, Moupfouma-Martin refinado y Recomendación ITU-R P.837-7, para la estimación de la precipitación y los modelos Recomendación ITU-R P.618-13, Ramachandran-Kumar, Yeo-Lee-Ong y Rakshit-Adhikari-Maitra, para la predicción de la atenuación por lluvias para enlaces del satélite “Simón Bolívar” en Venezuela. Los resultados generales de ambos tipos de mapas representan una herramienta útil para la planificación preliminar de dichos enlaces en el país, específicamente, en las bandas Ku y Ka

Problems of public transport in the city of Saltillo, Coahuila

El “problema” del transporte público en las ciudades no es un factor de reciente aparición, pues es una problemática que se remonta a muchos años atrás. Sin embargo, al ser el transporte urbano algo tan cotidiano y de uso diario, siempre se tiene la sensación de “conocer bien el problema” y por ende su solución. terminando así en las “soluciones rápidas que fallan” (Senge, 2009), permitiendo que el problema solo crezca más. La ciudad de Saltillo, Coahuila al igual que muchas otras ciudades en el mundo ha sido víctima de un sistema de transporte publico deficiente durante muchos años y los resultados a las iniciativas emprendidas no han propiciado un buen sistema de transporte, ya sea, por la falta de unidades adecuadas, la falta de capacitación de los operadores, el precio inadecuado al estado de las unidades y prestación de servicio, la imposibilidad del usuario a planificar sus trayectos debido a la inconsistencia en los horarios, etc.  Ahora bien, dado que no existe una única causa que haga que el sistema de transporte público sea deficiente, es necesario conocer un modelo teórico de un sistema de transporte “ideal” que nos brinde una serie características y requerimientos para su buen funcionamiento. Para luego, utilizarlo como punto de partida en el estudio de las distintas problemáticas de transporte en la ciudad en los últimos años, y finalmente, lograr proponer soluciones integrales que permitan mejorar la prestación del servicio.The "problem" of public transport in cities is not a factor of recent appearance, as it is a problem that goes back many years. However, as urban transport is something so everyday and of daily use, you always have the feeling of "knowing the problem well" and therefore its solution. thus ending in “quick fixes that fail” (Senge, 2009), allowing the problem to only grow further. The city of Saltillo, Coahuila, like many other cities in the world, has been the victim of a poor public transportation system for many years and the results of the initiatives undertaken have not led to a good transportation system, either due to the lack of of adequate units, the lack of operator training, the inadequate price for the condition of the units and the provision of service, the impossibility of the user to plan their routes due to inconsistency in schedules, etc. Now, since there is no single cause that makes the public transport system deficient, it is necessary to know a theoretical model of an "ideal" transport system that provides us with a series of characteristics and requirements for its proper functioning. To then use it as a starting point in the study of the different transport problems in the city in recent years, and finally, to propose comprehensive solutions that allow improving service provision

Performance of an affordable urine self-sampling method for human papillomavirus detection in Mexican women

Introduction: Urine self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening is a non-invasive method that offers several logistical advantages and high acceptability, reducing barriers related to low screening coverage. This study developed and evaluated the performance of a low-cost urine self-sampling method for HPV-testing and explored the acceptability and feasibility of potential implementation of this alternative in routine screening. Methods: A series of sequential laboratory assays examined the impact of several pre-analytical conditions for obtaining DNA from urine and subsequent HPV detection. Initially, we assessed the effect of ethylaminediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a DNA preservative examining several variables including EDTA concentration, specimen storage temperature, time between urine collection and DNA extraction, and first-morning micturition versus convenience sample collection. We further evaluated the agreement of HPV-testing between urine and clinician-collected cervical samples among 95 women. Finally, we explored the costs of self-sampling supplies as well as the acceptability and feasibility of urine self-sampling among women and healthcare workers. Results: Our results revealed higher DNA concentrations were obtained when using a 40mM EDTA solution, storing specimens at 25°C and extracting DNA within 72 hrs. of urine collection, regardless of using first-morning micturition or a convenience sampling. We observed good agreement (Kappa = 0.72) between urine and clinician-collected cervical samples for HPV detection. Furthermore, urine self-sampling was an affordable method (USD 1.10), well accepted among cervical cancer screening users, healthcare workers, and decision-makers. Conclusion: These results suggest urine self-sampling is feasible and appropriate alternative for HPV-testing in HPV-based screening programs in lower-resource contexts

Initiatives and facilities for E&T in the nuclear science and technology master at UPM

The present Master/Doctorate in Nuclear Science and Technology programme implemented in the Department of Nuclear Engineering of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (NED-UPM) has the excellence qualification by the Spanish Ministry of Education. One of the main of this programme is the training for the development of methodologies of simulation, design and advanced analysis, including experimental tools, necessary in research and in professional work in the nuclear field

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (N-RAS) deficiency aggravates liver injury and fibrosis.

Progressive hepatic damage and fibrosis are major features of chronic liver diseases of different etiology, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully defined. N-RAS, a member of the RAS family of small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins also encompassing the highly homologous H-RAS and K-RAS isoforms, was previously reported to modulate cell death and renal fibrosis; however, its role in liver damage and fibrogenesis remains unknown. Here, we approached this question by using N-RAS deficient (N-RAS-/-) mice and two experimental models of liver injury and fibrosis, namely carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication and bile duct ligation (BDL). In wild-type (N-RAS+/+) mice both hepatotoxic procedures augmented N-RAS expression in the liver. Compared to N-RAS+/+ counterparts, N-RAS-/- mice subjected to either CCl4 or BDL showed exacerbated liver injury and fibrosis, which was associated with enhanced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and leukocyte infiltration in the damaged liver. At the molecular level, after CCl4 or BDL, N-RAS-/- livers exhibited augmented expression of necroptotic death markers along with JNK1/2 hyperactivation. In line with this, N-RAS ablation in a human hepatocytic cell line resulted in enhanced activation of JNK and necroptosis mediators in response to cell death stimuli. Of note, loss of hepatic N-RAS expression was characteristic of chronic liver disease patients with fibrosis. Collectively, our study unveils a novel role for N-RAS as a negative controller of the progression of liver injury and fibrogenesis, by critically downregulating signaling pathways leading to hepatocyte necroptosis. Furthermore, it suggests that N-RAS may be of potential clinical value as prognostic biomarker of progressive fibrotic liver damage, or as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic liver disease

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Memorias del Primer Congreso Ecuatoriano de Antropología. Volumen II

Este encuentro permitió visualizar los campos fundamentales en los que la antropología ecuatoriana ha incursionado y ha aportado como ciencia social. Se organizaron diez simposios que, de alguna manera, fueron un reflejo de las principales áreas de interés. Esa diversidad temática mostró que la antropología, a la vez que seguía preocupada por temáticas con larga trayectoria en el país como la arqueología, los estudios urbanos y rurales o la etnohistoria, también había incursionado en temáticas nuevas como son género, medio ambiente, identidad, entre otras

5to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

El V Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2019, realizado del 6 al 8 de febrero de 2019 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, ofreció a la comunidad académica nacional e internacional una plataforma de comunicación unificada, dirigida a cubrir los problemas teóricos y prácticos de mayor impacto en la sociedad moderna desde la ingeniería. En esta edición, dedicada a los 25 años de vida de la UPS, los ejes temáticos estuvieron relacionados con la aplicación de la ciencia, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación en cinco pilares fundamentales de nuestra sociedad: la industria, la movilidad, la sostenibilidad ambiental, la información y las telecomunicaciones. El comité científico estuvo conformado formado por 48 investigadores procedentes de diez países: España, Reino Unido, Italia, Bélgica, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Estados Unidos y Ecuador. Fueron recibidas un centenar de contribuciones, de las cuales 39 fueron aprobadas en forma de ponencias y 15 en formato poster. Estas contribuciones fueron presentadas de forma oral ante toda la comunidad académica que se dio cita en el Congreso, quienes desde el aula magna, el auditorio y la sala de usos múltiples de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, cumplieron respetuosamente la responsabilidad de representar a toda la sociedad en la revisión, aceptación y validación del conocimiento nuevo que fue presentado en cada exposición por los investigadores. Paralelo a las sesiones técnicas, el Congreso contó con espacios de presentación de posters científicos y cinco workshops en temáticas de vanguardia que cautivaron la atención de nuestros docentes y estudiantes. También en el marco del evento se impartieron un total de ocho conferencias magistrales en temas tan actuales como la gestión del conocimiento en la universidad-ecosistema, los retos y oportunidades de la industria 4.0, los avances de la investigación básica y aplicada en mecatrónica para el estudio de robots de nueva generación, la optimización en ingeniería con técnicas multi-objetivo, el desarrollo de las redes avanzadas en Latinoamérica y los mundos, la contaminación del aire debido al tránsito vehicular, el radón y los riesgos que representa este gas radiactivo para la salud humana, entre otros