Plasma Biochemistries and Morphometric Indices of Body Condition in Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) Chicks

Plasma biochemistries provide a complementary method for assessing physiological and nutritional status of free-ranging wild birds. Triglycerides, total protein and alkaline phosphatase were determined in 110 free-living Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) chicks aged 16-35 days, at Punta León (Argentina) during 2010 and 2011. Body mass at 30 days of age ("pre-fledging body condition", 2010 only) and body mass corrected by tarsus length at the time of blood sampling ("current body condition", 2011 only) were also determined. Variability of parameters by sex, hatching order, survival, age and breeding season was assessed, and the relationship between biochemical and morphometric indices was also explored. Morphometric indices were higher in A-chicks (pre-fledging body condition also varied with sex), and explained 35-55% of B-chick survival. Biochemistries differed significantly between breeding seasons, being higher in 2011. Alkaline phosphatase increased with age, and total protein was higher in A-chicks. Triglycerides and total protein accounted for 26% and 30%, respectively, of variation in current body condition; however, they did not forecast pre-fledging body condition. Lastly, total protein levels predicted B-chick survival (higher levels in surviving B-chicks), but their prognostic value was relatively low. The results suggest that unlike morphometric indices, the biochemistries chosen are valuable to assess individual body condition at the time of sampling, yet their applicability for predicting chick survival requires further evaluation.Fil: Gallo, Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Flavio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Svagelj, Walter Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Uhart, Marcela María. University of California; Estados Unido

ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES BASED ON INTEGRATION OF DIFFERENT SIMULATION TOOLS

The present paper provides an example of software tools integration in order to perform simulations incomplex industry models, such as a ceramic tile manufacture. The first part of the paper presents thefeatures of the two simulation tools adopted: AutoMod\u2122 and VirtES. AutoMod\u2122 is a commercial suiteof simulation tools witch provides an environment easy to develop highly accurate models for analysis.VirtES simulation tool was developed by the Industrial Plants Research Group of the Department ofIndustrial and Civil Engineering (DIMeC) of the University of Modena and Reggion Emilia. Modelsdeveloped in VirtES are useful to investigate macro Key Performances Indicators (KPI), such aseconomic indicators. The integrated used of VirtES and AutoMod\u2122 allows to perform accuratesimulation at line production level developed by AutoMod\u2122 in multiple virtual scenarios created byVirtES

A modular modelling approach to stochastic simulation of production – logistic systems

The economic scenario today is highly competitive in terms of costs and number of competitors, so it isnecessary to adopt strategies that allow the constant improvement of manufacturing processes withinthe spending constrains. Simulation models are useful to support and drive company management inimproving the performances of production and logistic systems. The costs of simulation modeldevelopment could be reduced by the reuse of some of its parts. This work presents a case studyconcerning stochastic modeling of a small manufacture operating into the wood products field. Amodular simulation model composed of reusable sub-models has been developed using AutoMod™software package. The aim of the modular architecture is to allow the use of sub-models in differentproduction systems with little changes, decreasing the costs of development in order to became moreaffordable in a SME (small medium enterprise) contest

Increased basolateral amygdala metabolic activity during flavor familiarization: an experimental study

Background: Novel flavors elicit a cautious neophobic response which is attenuated as the flavor becomes familiar and safe. The attenuation of neophobia reveals the formation of a safe memory. Previous lesion studies in rats have reported that basolateral amygdala integrity is required for taste neophobia, but not neophobia to flavor, i.e., taste linked to an odorous component. Accordingly, immunohistochemical analyses show that novel tastes induced higher basolateral amygdala activity when compared to familiar ones. However, a different role of basolateral amygdala in flavor attenuation of neophobia is suggested by lesion studies using a vinegar solution. Studies assessing basolateral amygdala activity during flavor attenuation of neophobia are lacking. Thus, we quantified cytochrome oxidase as an index of basolateral amygdala activity along the first and second vinegar exposures in order to assess flavor neophobia and attenuation of neophobia. Methods: We exposed adult male Wistar rats either once or twice to a 3% cider vinegar solution or water, and compared the basolateral amygdala, piriform cortex and caudate putamen brain metabolic activity using cytochrome c-oxidase histochemistry. Results: We found increased flavor intake and cytochrome c-oxidase histochemistry activity during the second exposure in basolateral amygdala, but not in the piriform cortex and caudate/putamen. Conclusions: The main finding of the study is that BLA metabolic activity was higher in the group exposed to a familiar vinegar solution than in the groups exposed to either water or a novel vinegar solution.6 página

Reflexiones en torno a la vinculación entre materiales, movimientos y configuraciones gestuales en la música tonal

Un emergente interesante de los enfoques gestuales de la música tonal, es el que permite vincular las organizaciones formales tradicionales con aquellas organizaciones que proponen rupturas respecto de esa tradición. Esta vinculación requiere de ciertos métodos de análisis que contemplen tanto la simplicidad, el orden, la linealidad, como las estructuras abiertas, no lineales, que den lugar a la percepción de la complejidad de sus organizaciones compositivas.Eje temático 1: Perspectivas teóricas y metodológicas.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Reflexiones en torno a la vinculación entre materiales, movimientos y configuraciones gestuales en la música tonal

Un emergente interesante de los enfoques gestuales de la música tonal, es el que permite vincular las organizaciones formales tradicionales con aquellas organizaciones que proponen rupturas respecto de esa tradición. Esta vinculación requiere de ciertos métodos de análisis que contemplen tanto la simplicidad, el orden, la linealidad, como las estructuras abiertas, no lineales, que den lugar a la percepción de la complejidad de sus organizaciones compositivas.Eje temático 1: Perspectivas teóricas y metodológicas.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Combining Electrical and Pressure Measurements for Early Flooding Detection in a PEM Fuel Cell

Water flooding is one of the main causes of performance degradation for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (FCs), and its prompt detection is therefore important to guarantee optimal FC operation. This paper aims at comparing the most common methods for flooding diagnosis, which are based on electrical or gas pressure measurements. Their differences in terms of sensitivity to flooding are investigated, primarily focusing on their suitability for its early detection. In particular, the differences between anodic and cathodic pressure drop measurements are highlighted, as well as their relationship with the FC electrical output. The experimental results show that cathodic pressure measurements are the most convenient choice for early flooding detection. Measurements have been performed on a single cell, since it allows an easier interpretation of the results, although the applicability of the considered methods to FC stacks for commercial applications is also discussed

Diagnosis of PEM Fuel Cell Drying and Flooding Based on Power Converter Ripple

This paper discusses the possibility to use the current ripple introduced by switch mode power converters for low-cost monitoring of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC) state-of-health, suitable for commercial applications that cannot afford dedicated instrumentation. In more details, an estimate of the ohmic resistance, which is a good indicator of the membrane water content, can be obtained from the high-frequency ripple response by data processing in the frequency domain, while lower frequency ripple at 100/120 Hz (when present) is in the typical frequency range of activation processes. All the available impedance estimates, together with the dc voltage measurement, can be used to promptly detect FC drying and flooding, that are the two opposite failure modes as far as water balance is concerned. The proposed diagnostic approach is tested on a single PEM FC in drying and flooding conditions, by emulating three-phase and single-phase inverter ripples by means of an electronic load

Low-Cost PEM Fuel Cell Diagnosis Based on Power Converter Ripple With Hysteresis Control

This paper deals with a low-cost diagnostic technique for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FCs), which exploits the ripple produced by power converters to monitor the equivalent ohmic resistance. While the available literature on this topic is focused on constant-frequency control of the power converter (such as pulsewidth modulation), this paper discusses the measurement issues that arise when hysteresis current control is employed for a dc/dc boost converter, which represents the simplest solution from the implementation point of view, and therefore particularly suitable for low-cost applications. The classic frequency-domain analysis for ohmic resistance identification, based on the Fourier transform, is compared with a time-domain analysis based on a simple identification algorithm, and a real-time implementation of the latter is presented. The experimental results are obtained on a single PEM FC, but the extension to FC stacks for commercial applications is also discussed

Reddito di cittadinanza e disponibilità a trasferirsi per lavoro

The new national policy to fight poverty, the ‘Citizenship Income’ (Rdc), consists of an economic benefit conditional on the signing of a socio-work activation project. The policy debate and empirical analysis have so far concentrated, in addition to the estimation of potential beneficiaries, on monetary transfer and the possible impact of the latter in the reduction of poverty and income inequality in Italy. By contrast, this study focuses on the conditionality provided by the measure, in order to provide some initial micro-based evidence on issues concerning the employment activation of the beneficiaries. In particular, by using data obtained from the sample survey Inapp PLUS 2018, this article examines the immediate availability for work and, above all, the willingness to transfer to work among the unemployed with low family income, i.e. those to whom the Rdc is primarily addressed. The results of the analysis show that such availability among individuals potentially affected by the Rdc cannot be taken for granted