Cost Analysis and Air Pollution Impact of Electric Vehicles on a Metropolitan Area.

During the 1990\u27s, increasing attention has been paid to electric vehicles (EV\u27s) because of their potential to reduce air pollution in metropolitan areas such as the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area in the U.S., Mexico City and Its Metropolitan Area in Mexico, Greater London in the United Kingdom and other urban areas. However, few studies to determine the costs and benefits of reducing air pollution by introducing EV\u27s into these mega cities have been carried out. A model to determine the marginal costs and environmental impact of electric vehicles on a metropolitan area is designed in this study. The model simulates the changes of vehicle characteristics in a transportation system caused by the introduction of EV\u27s. It determines the number of vehicles of each type and their age distribution for every year. Then, the model creates the information required to determine emission factors of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NO\rm\sb{x}). The emission factors are determined with MOBILE5, software provided by the U.S. EPA. After these factors are determined, the total emissions caused by the remaining internal combustion vehicles (ICV\u27s) are calculated. The reduction of emissions and the benefits of EV\u27s pollution control programs are estimated. With this model it is possible to determine the reduction of emissions per dollar invested in EV\u27s and the relationship between their costs and benefits. Five scenarios are analyzed. The first three scenarios consider the replacement of ICV\u27s with EV\u27s at different introduction rates. The fourth scenario is the no action taken scenario. The last scenario is one that considers the retirement of the oldest ICV\u27s in the system and replaces these vehicles with new ICV\u27s. Overall, the results indicate that EV\u27s pollution control programs are expensive but effective over the long term when compared to the replacement of old ICV\u27s with new ICV\u27s and other pollution control alternatives

A note on the likelihood and moments of the skew-normal distribution

In this paper an alternative approach to the one in Henze (1986) is proposed for deriving the odd moments of the skew-normal distribution considered in Azzalini (1985). The approach is based on a Pascal type triangle, which seems to greatly simplify moments computation. Moreover, it is shown that the likelihood equation for estimating the asymmetry parameter in such model is generated as orthogonal functions to the sample vector. As a consequence, conditions for a unique solution of the likelihood equation are established, which seem to hold in more general setting

South-Central Andean Area Settlement, Evolution, and Biocultural Interactions

El presente trabajo integra una serie de experiencias realizadas con la finalidad conocer aspectos relevantes de la biología de la población humana prehistórica que habitó en el Área Andina Centro Meridional una región clave de América del Sur. Los trabajos citados incluyen (1) la caracterización biológica de las poblaciones locales mediante el análisis de un conjunto de factores como el sexo, la edad y la deformación artificial; (2) la descripción de la estructura de las poblaciones a nivel local y regional; (3) inferir sus relaciones genéticas; y (4) establecer los factores que determinaron su evolución. Además, se incluye una síntesis del desarrollo cultural del Norte de Chile y del Noroeste Argentino para permitir la comprensión de las circunstancias históricas sociales y naturales asociadas con la colonización y ocupación del territorio regional.This article integrates a series of studies carried out with the aim to illustrate important aspects of the biology of the prehistoric human population that lived in the south-central Andean area, a key region of South America. These studies include (1) biological characterization of the local populations through analysis of a set of factors such as sex, age, and artificial deformation; (2) description of the structure of the populations at local and regional levels; (3) investigation of their genetic relationships; and (4) definition of the factors that determined their evolution. A synthesis of the cultural development of northern Chile and northwestern Argentina is also included to understand the natural and social historical circumstances associated with the colonization and occupation of the region.O presente trabalho integra uma série de experiências realizadas com a finalidade de conhecer aspectos relevantes da biologia da população humana pré-histórica que habitou na Área Andina Centro Meridional uma região chave de América do Sul. Os trabalhos citados incluem (1) a caracterização biológica das populações locais mediante a análise de um conjunto de fatores, tais como sexo, idade e deformação artificial; (2) a descrição da estrutura das populações a nível local e regional; (3) inferir suas relações genéticas; e (4) estabelecer os fatores que determinaram sua evolução. Ademais, incluise uma síntese do desenvolvimento cultural do Norte de Chile e do Noroeste Argentino para permitir o entendimento das circunstâncias históricas, sociais e naturais associados à colonização e ocupação do território regional.Fil: Varela, Hector Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente.; ArgentinaFil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente.; Argentin

Post marital residence pattern in ancient populations of the North of Chile

Although kinship relationships and residence patterns in current native communities in northern Chile are known, there is little information available on ancient populations. In this paper, social relationships and postmarital residence pattern are investigated through the analysis of phenotypic traits of six localities (Punta de Teatinos, El Cerrito, CaletaHuelén 42, Pisagua, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama). These localities include 21 archaeological sites and 946 individuals dated from 3000 BC to AD 1450. The distributions of mean phenotypes between localities and between sexes by locality were evaluated using discriminant analysis and phenotypic divergence by the Fst statistic. The residence pattern was determined by the estimation for each sex of Fst statistics between localities and archaeological periods. The results allow to infer a pattern of matrilocal or bilocal residence in the Archaic and Agroalfarero periods. The female group integrates a highly structured population model with fewer migrants per generation and the male group a less structured model with more migrants per generation. In general, the observed residential pattern depends on the differences in migration rates and the effective sizes of both sexes.Fil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Hector Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Valdano, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin

Effects of artificial deformation on cranial morphogenesis in the South Central Andes

One of the most interesting issues of the interface between biology and culture is the artificial deformation of the skull. This modification is produced during early morphogenesis through the use of devices that alter the normal growth and development, to obtain a culturally established model. This paper, using a large cranial sample from the South Central Andes (1586 individuals), describes and documents a detailed morphometric study of the changes affecting the vault, cranial base, face, orbits and nasal region resulting from the tabular erect (TE), tabular oblique (TO), circular erect (CE) and circular oblique (CO) deformations with respect to the model without deformation. Data from 17 metric variables were processed by a one-way ANOVA and LSD test for paired comparisons. All of the deformation types produce significant morphometric divergence in most of the anatomical structures of the skull. The TE exhibits: a restriction of antero-posterior growth producing expansion in cranial width and height, frontal flattening, shortening of the face and cranial base, widening of the face, increased nasal and orbit height (ORH) and a foramen magnum size increase. The TO exhibits: most change reflected in the widening of the cranial vault, shortening of the cranial base and face, frontal flattening, increased nasal and ORH and foramen magnum size decrease. The CE style exhibits: a decrease in cranial width and strong increase in the cranial height, a reduction in frontal width, expansion of the cranial base and face, increased nasal and ORH, orbital widening and a foramen magnum size increase. The CO style exhibits: a decrease of the cranial vault´s width and height, expansion along its length, stretching of the cranial base and face, reduced frontal width, fronto-malar and biorbitary elongation of the face and further development of foramen magnum.Fil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Hector Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: O'Brien, T. G.. University of Iowa; Estados Unido

Kinship and Phenotypic Divergence in the Ancient Population of the Puna Plateau of Northwestern Argentina

The Puna de Jujuy is a characteristic region of Northwest Argentina, and archaeological evidence shows remarkable development in this area during the period of Regional Development (PRD) or Late period. The aim of this paper is to study the genetic structure of the late population of the Puna de Jujuy (Argentina) using cranial metric traits. The sample comprised 302 adult individuals belonging to six different localities: Agua Caliente, Casabindo, Doncellas, Queta, Río Negro and Sorcuyo. The research included 27 cranial metric variables, a discriminant analysis and the calculation of Mahalanobis? D2 distance and the fixation or genetic divergence index. The results showed little phenotypic differentiation between six locations; 1% of the genetic variation explains the differences between groups, and the rest represents variations within the group. The sites of Queta and Sorcuyo have lower observed variance values than expected in the model of balance between genetic drift and gene flow, and Agua Caliente showed higher observed variance values than expected. The remaining sites showed values close to the ones expected in the model. The calculated distances suggest that the differentiation between localities is moderate. These results are compared to FST calculated for other local populations. A differential distribution of morphological variability between sites was observed. Agua Caliente, Casabindo, Doncellas and Río Negro showed higher morphological variability due to higher gene flow values, whereas Queta and Sorcuyo showed lower morphological variability.Fil: Fuchs, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Hector Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Valley to valley: the biological connection between prehispanic residents of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Azapa, Chile

One of the most interesting problems facing the interpretation of south central Andean prehistory is to de- cipher the genetic relationships among ancient groups that inhabited this region. This study evaluates the biological relationships between the ancient inhabitants of the coast and interior valleys of the Azapa region in northern Chile and the Cochabamba valleys of Bolivia, with reference to highland Tiwanaku groups. Craniometric data (N = 299) were statistically evaluated to compute group means using Mahalanobis (D2) values. Results demonstrate that there is a notable difference between coastal and interior valley populations of the Azapa region; whereas a close biological association exists between groups from the Cochabamba valleys and the interior Azapa valleys, especially for those associated with the Formative and Tiwanaku Periods.Fil: Varela, Hector H.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales; Argentina;Fil: O'brien, Tyler G.. University Of Iowa; Estados Unidos de América

Elaboración de un nuevo producto "Pozol con Leche" en la panaderia "Tinoco" ubicada en la ciudad de Juigalpa durante el II Semestre del 2014

El presente trabajo, es un estudio de campo de tipo experimental que ha tenido por finalidad: Elaborar un nuevo producto “Pozol con Leche” en la Panadería “Tinoco” ubicada en la ciudad de Juigalpa durante el II semestre del 2014. En esta investigación se abordó la iniciativa de convertir un producto tradicional en un producto de fácil acceso, creando un flujo de proceso para su elaboración donde fue utilizado Microsoft Visio para la creación de éste y la normativa ASME (Sociedad Americana de Ingenieros Mecánicos) para la simbología del mismo. Además, se hizo un estudio de la vida útil del nuevo producto a través del método “Turn Over” dando como resultado 13 días, para los costos de su elaboración se utilizó la fórmula del costo unitario dando como resultado C$10 por cada envase de 250 ml con un margen de ganancia del 80%. Para determinar la aceptación de éste se aplicaron encuestas realizadas en la UNAN-FAREM, Chontales, donde se presentó el producto y se preguntó a los encuestados sobre las características organolépticas siendo todas muy bien aceptadas. Todos éstos resultados están expresados en gráficos para la interpretación de las encuestas realizadas, diagramas y ecuaciones de manera analítica y explicativa a lo largo del documento. Llevando a una serie de conclusiones que se detallan conforme a los objetivos de ésta investigación. A final del documento se encuentran las recomendaciones que son una serie de sugerencias basadas en la investigación realizada sobre el mejoramiento del nuevo producto antes de lanzarlo al mercado y posteriormente los anexos. Palabras Claves: Flujo de Proceso, Vida útil, Costos, Características organolépticas

Sexual dimorphism in prehispanic populations of the Cochabamba Valleys, Bolivia

The expression of sexual dimorphism may vary across time and space, as well as within and between populations depending on genetic and environmental factors that influence growth and development. The objective of the present work is to contribute to the knowledge of factors that determine the physical characteristics of ancient human groups in the eastern valleys of Cochabamba?a key region for cultural development, inter-regional interaction with northern Chile and northwest Argentina, and their noticeable role in the settlement of the south central Andean region. This paper analyzes the differences between males and females crania representing ancient human groups that inhabited the eastern valleys of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Thirty-one craniometric variables are analyzed from a sample of 234 individuals. Differences are evaluated using univariate analysis by ANOVA and multivariate discriminant analysis. The results indicate the existence of higher mean values in males compared to females in most cranial measurements (mean difference 5.3%). The discriminant analysis also reveals a significant morphological difference exists between sexes. Furthermore, by means of the discriminant function, the reclassification of correct sex was 99% of cases. This information indicates that members of this population could live in optimal conditions, with adequate resources to ensure growth and development and normal expression of the phenotype of each sex.Fil: Cocilovo, Jose Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales;Fil: Fuchs, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales;Fil: O' Brien, T. G.. University of Northern Iowa; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Varela, Hector Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales

Identification and characterization of a novel large insertion/deletion polymorphism of 1464 base pair in the human thyroglobulin gene

We identified a novel large insertion/deletion (Indel) polymorphism of 1464 bp localized in intron 18 of the human thyroglobulin gene. Data from sequence showed a high A+T content (62%), two 17-bp long motif repeats, and three different types of 10-bp long palindromic sequences. The comparison between these 1464 bp and sequences deposited in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)/GenBank database exhibit a nonsignificant degree of homology with any previously described sequences. The long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to amplify the genomic DNA region containing intron 17/exon 18/intron 18/exon 19/intron 19 by primers situated in the introns 17 and 19. The amplification generates two fragments of 3.5 and 5.0 kb that correspond to the exclusion or inclusion of a 1464-bp segment, respectively. Both variants are thus widely represented in the human population; giving allele frequencies of 0.56 (insertion) and 0.44 (deletion). Finally, the polymorphism was confirmed by sequence analysis of the 5.0- and 3.5-kb amplified fragments.Fil: Moya, Christian M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Varela, Viviana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Rivolta, Carina Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Mendive, Fernando M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Targovnik, Hector Manuel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentin