Cognitive abilities that predict success in a computer-based training program.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were (a) to identify cognitive abilities and other factors related to successful completion of training for computer-based tasks that simulated real jobs and (b) to create a brief assessment battery useful in assessing older adults for these kinds of jobs. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants from three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older) completed a battery of cognitive measures. They then trained on one of three computer-based tasks that simulated actual jobs and were asked to perform the tasks for 3 days. We recorded whether they completed training and whether and how well they did the tasks. In a series of logistic regressions, we evaluated the ability of a subset of cognitive measures drawn from a larger battery to predict participants\u27 ability to successfully complete training and go on to task performance. RESULTS: Results confirmed theory-based expectations that measures of domain knowledge, crystallized intelligence, memory, and psychomotor speed would predict success in computer-based activities. A brief battery was able to predict older adults\u27 successful completion of training for one task but was less useful for another. IMPLICATIONS: A brief battery of cognitive measures may be useful in evaluating individuals for job selection. Different measures are related to job-related criteria depending on task and group evaluated, although it was not possible to identify a reduced battery for one task. The specific cognitive abilities related to participants\u27 success have implications for task and interface design for the elderly population

Eating fermented: Health benefits of lab-fermented foods

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are involved in producing a considerable number of fermented products consumed worldwide. Many of those LAB fermented foods are recognized as beneficial for human health due to probiotic LAB or their metabolites produced during food fermentation or after food digestion. In this review, we aim to gather and discuss available information on the health-related effects of LAB-fermented foods. In particular, we focused on the most widely consumed LAB-fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, cheese, and plant-based products such as sauerkrauts and kimchi

Levelised cost of energy: a theoretical justification and critical assessment.

Although widely accepted as a measure of the comparative lifetime costs of electricity generation alternatives, levelised cost of energy (LCOE) lacks a theoretical foundation in the academic literature and encompasses a number of areas where caution is important. Therefore, this paper seeks to provide a theoretical foundation by comparing the metric with alternative LCOE metrics and by undertaking a brief literature review to describe its strengths and weaknesses. In comparison with other potential measures of unit cost of energy, LCOE is found to be the preferred choice, in large part because of its widespread adoption. The weaknesses of the LCOE are found to centre on discount rate, inflation effects and the sensitivity of results to uncertainty in future commodity costs. These weaknesses are explored in the context of comparing combined cycle gas fired generation and offshore wind in the UK, based on publicly available cost measures. It is found that with variability of future fuel gas prices, and a Monte Carlo approach to modelling LCOE, the range of LCOE for CCGT is much broader in comparison to the LCOE of offshore wind. It is urged that explicit account be taken of the areas of weakness in future use of LCOE

Comparison of epoxy and braze-welded attachment methods for FBG strain gauges

This paper presents experimental results from fatigue and static loading tests performed on both epoxy and braze-welded FBG strain sensors. Most FBG attachment methods are relatively understudied, with epoxy the most commonly used. Long curing times and humidity sensitivity during curing render epoxy inappropriate for certain implementations. This work shows that a bespoke braze-welded attachment design is able to achieve a higher static failure limit of 22kN when compared to strain gauge epoxies, which fail at 20kN. Both methods demonstrate high fatigue life, with no significant deterioration after two million cycles. Epoxy swelling was observed when the sensors were held at a relative humidity of 96%, applying ~0.6 mϵ of tension to the FBG, whereas a braze-weld attachment was unaffected by humidity

Wind turbine lifetime extension decision-making based on structural health monitoring

In this work, structural health monitoring data is applied to underpin a long-term wind farm lifetime extension strategy. Based on the outcome of the technical analysis, the case for an extended lifetime of 15 years is argued. Having established the lifetime extension strategy, the single wind turbine investigated within a wind farm is subjected to a bespoke economic lifetime extension case study. In this case study, the local wind resource is taken into consideration, paired with central, optimistic, and pessimistic operational cost assumptions. Besides a deterministic approach, a stochastic analysis is carried out based on Monte Carlo simulations of selected scenarios. Findings reveal the economic potential to operate profitably in a subsidy-free environment with a P90 levelised cost of energy of £25.02 if no component replacement is required within the nacelle and £42.53 for a complete replacement of blades, generator, and gearbox

On-line tracking of the human gut microbial metabolism: high-throughput screening during colonic in-vitro fermentation

The human gut encloses a large community of bacteria producing a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when fermenting undigestible substrates. This study aims to provide a high throughput method to study in real-time the gut microbial volatilome when the microbiota process undigestible dietary substrates. Background: Small metabolites from the human gut microbiota are recognized as the intermediates of the microbiome-host cross-talk [1]. The research on the human gut metabolome is mainly based on discrete sampling representing discontinuous ‘snapshot’ of these complex biological systems [2]. The aim of this research work is to enhance the current understanding of the dynamics of the gut microbiota by integrating non-invasive and continuous analytical methods with in-vitro gut simulators, to monitor in real-time, the progression of small molecules released into the headspace [2,3] Methodology: Automated Head space-Solid Phase Micro Extraction coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and Static Headspace- Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (SHS-PTR-ToF-MS) are used for the purpose of this investigation. The objective is to screen and monitor a specific set of masses of interest, to gain system level mechanistic insights on primary metabolism of the gut microbial consortia. Results: This methodology enabled the continuous monitoring of multiple metabolites in time, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) derived from 24h oat bran fermentation. A mixture of -odd and -even chain acids were co-released into the culture headspace after 4 hours of fermentation and their relative abundance increased in time over 24 hours. The production of multiple MCFAs from the substrate is most likely a community optimization strategy to maximize ATP production from oat degradation by means of reverse beta-oxidation which involves the utilization of fermentation intermediates, such as propanol and acetate. Furthermore, the untargeted screening allowed the detection of low abundant sulfur metabolites, thiophenes, which, to our knowledge, were never investigated before as gut microbial metabolites (GMMs). Conclusion: By integrating non-invasive and continuous analytical methods with an in-vitro gut simulator, it was possible to monitor in real-time the progression of two important class of small molecules released by the microbial consortia into the headspace. The collected information can be jointly integrated to shed light on the dynamics of bacterial foraging of complex undigestible substrates (e.g. bran from cereals). Overall, these results confirm the idea to consider the bacterial headspace as a highly dynamic chemical system that contains information on microbial community behavio

Mejora del comportamiento en la extrusión de pastas cerámicas de baja plasticidad.

Shaping by extrusion may be used for the manufacture of tiles, bricks, and also refractory products. The three fundamental aspects that must be considered to achieve ideal extrusion conditions are the nature of the material, particle size and Plastic behaviour. Of these, obtaining a mass of adequate plasticity is essential during the processing in order to prevent defects such as cracks, laminations or migrations of the liquid phase [1]. Plastic behaviour depends on numerous factors [2]: size and shape of the particle, mineralogical composition, presence of electrolytes, organic matter, etc. With regard to traditional ceramics, as is the case of the manufacture of ceramic tiles, clay materials are those with the necessary plasticity to carry out the extrusion process. However, in the absence of clays with sufficient plasticity or when the composition incorporates a high proportion of other non-plastic ingredients, the extrusion operation may be seriously compromised, particularly for the manufacture of large or complex tiles. In these cases it is necessary to add plasticizers or binders to the pastes to achieve rheological behaviour and plasticity enabling correct processing of the composition [3]. In this report the influence of different additives in different proportions on the plasticity index of a ceramic composition was evaluated and the variation of the plasticity index was related to the behaviour of the paste during extrusion.El conformado por extrusión se puede utilizar para la fabricación de baldosas, ladrillos, tejas o también productos refractarios. Los tres aspectos fundamentales que se deben considerar para lograr unas condiciones de extrusión idóneas son la naturaleza del material, el tamaño de partícula y el comportamiento plástico. De éstas, obtener una masa de plasticidad adecuada es fundamental durante el procesado, para evitar la aparición de defectos tales como grietas, laminaciones o migraciones de la fase líquida [1]. El comportamiento plástico depende de numerosos factores [2]: tamaño y forma de la partícula, composición mineralógica, presencia de electrolitos, materia orgánica, etc. En lo que concierne a las cerámicas tradicionales, como es el caso de la fabricación de baldosas cerámicas, los materiales arcillosos son los que confieren la plasticidad necesaria para llevar a cabo el proceso de extrusión. Sin embargo, cuando no se dispone de arcillas con la plasticidad suficiente o cuando la composición incorpora otros ingredientes no plásticos en elevada proporción, la operación de extrusión se puede ver seriamente comprometida, sobre todo en la fabricación de baldosas de gran formato o de geometría compleja. En estos casos es necesario añadir a las pastas aditivos plastificantes o ligantes para conseguir un comportamiento reológico y plasticidad que permitan un correcto procesado de la composición [3]. En este trabajo se evaluó la influencia de la incorporación de diferentes aditivos en distintas proporciones sobre el índice de plasticidad de una composición cerámica y se relacionó la variación del índice de plasticidad con el comportamiento de la pasta durante la extrusión

La innovació castellonenca en el Sector Logístic. Caracterització de les empreses logístiques i processos d’innovació

Estudiar el sector logístico desde la perspectiva del proyecto AVALEM (esto es, haciendo hincapié en aspectos laborales y territoriales) obliga a centrar el análisis en un territorio concreto y, en la medida de lo posible, en unos pocos segmentos tanto del servicio logístico como de modalidades de empresa. Bien es cierto que el concepto de logística abarca una casuística muy amplia, ya que incluye toda la planificación, organización y gestión de las actividades destinadas al traslado y gestión de materiales y mercancías hasta su entrega al cliente, bien sea este el consumidor final o el intermediario en la cadena de valor. A partir de este enfoque generalista, el estudio se centra en el análisis tanto de la acción logística dentro de la empresa (al formar parte de su actividad productiva) como de la externalización de partes significativas de las tareas asociadas a la misma. De acuerdo con esta definición del objeto de estudio, el presente informe se centra en el análisis de las actividades logísticas de dos sectores centrales en la actividad productiva de la provincia de Castellón: la cerámica (y empresas anexas/auxiliares) y las empresas hortofrutícolas especializadas en cítricos. Es por ello que el informe analiza los retos y pormenores logísticos a los que se enfrentan ambos sectores. Esta delimitación sectorial permite concretar también territorialmente, focalizando el trabajo en las comarcas de la Plana Baixa, la Plana Alta y parte de l’Alcalatén, territorios que cuentan con cuatro Pactos Territoriales por el Empleo (PATE) como son los de Plana Baixa, Municipis Ceràmics, Plana Alta Nord y el Pacto de Castelló de la Plana Castelló CREA.Estudiar el sector logístic des de la perspectiva del projecte AVALEM (és a dir, posant l’accent en aspectes laborals i territorials) obliga a centrar l’anàlisi en un territori concret i, tant com es puga, en uns pocs segments tant del servei logístic com de modalitats d’empresa. Val a dir que el concepte de logística abraça una casuística molt àmplia perquè inclou tota la planificació, l’organització i la gestió de les activitats destinades al trasllat i la gestió de materials i mercaderies fins que es lliuren al client, bé siga el consumidor final o l’intermediari en la cadena de valor. A partir d’aquest enfocament generalista, l’estudi se centra en l’anàlisi tant de l’acció logística dins de l’empresa (perquè forma part de la seua activitat productiva) com de l’externalització de parts significatives de les tasques associades. D’acord amb aquesta definició de l’objecte d’estudi, el nostre informe se centra en l’anàlisi de les activitats logístiques de dos sectors centrals en l’activitat productiva de la província de Castelló: la ceràmica (i empreses afins o auxiliars) i les empreses hortofructícoles especialitzades en cítrics. És per això que l’informe analitza els reptes i detalls logístics als quals s’enfronten els dos sectors. Aquesta delimitació sectorial permet concretar també territorialment i focalitzar l’estudi a les comarques de la Plana Baixa, la Plana Alta i part de l’Alcalatén, territoris que disposen de quatre pactes territorials per l’ocupació (PATO) com ara els de la Plana Baixa, Municipis Ceràmics, Plana Alta Nord i el Pacte de Castelló de la Plana Castelló CREA