Knowledge-Based Decision Support for Integrated Water Resources Management with an application for Wadi Shueib, Jordan

This book takes a two-staged approach to contribute to the contemporary Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) research. First it investigates sub-basin-scale IWRM modelling and scenario planning. The Jordanian Wadi Shueib is used as exemplary case study. Then, it develops a framework to collaboratively manage planning and decision making knowledge on the basis of semantic web technologies. Future IWRM initiatives can benefit from the valuable insights achieved in the presented study

Robot Autónomo Especial MFI-MR, en el Marco de Sistemas Globales de Gestión de la Calidad y Entornos de de Colaboración entre Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas

La importancia económico-social de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) es hoy ampliamente aceptada. Satisfacer las cambiantes necesidades de los clientes, armar organizaciones rentables teniendo en cuenta la importancia de la gestión de la calidad y la metrología, se potencia exponencialmente con el uso sistemático de las tecnologías de inteligencia artificial, la robótica y la informática industrial. El concepto innovador, llamado "Multi-Function Integrated Factory” MFIF (Fabricas Multifunción Integradas) permite una producción industrial ágil y optimizada, especialmente en un entorno de PYMES tecnológicas, que construyen bajo una concepción de trabajo inter-empresa en la aldea global. El presente trabajo aporta desarrollos en el campo de sistemas de aseguramiento de la calidad inteligente en industrias del tipo MFIF, y en muestra la posibilidades de una unidad robótica tipo MFI-MR" (Multi Function Intelligent Measure Robot), como célula de medición inteligente autónoma, recopilando y evaluando datos con SCP-CEP*, potenciando el vínculo cluster y la telepresencia.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Semi-synthetic puwainaphycin/minutissamide cyclic lipopeptides with improved antifungal activity and limited cytotoxicity

Microbial cyclic lipopeptides are an important class of antifungal compounds with applications in pharmacology and biotechnology. However, the cytotoxicity of many cyclic lipopeptides limits their potential as antifungal drugs. Here we present a structure-activity relationship study on the puwainaphycin/minutissamide (PUW/MIN) family of cyclic lipopeptides isolated from cyanobacteria. PUWs/MINs with variable fatty acid chain lengths differed in the dynamic of their cytotoxic effect despite their similar IC50 after 48 hours (2.8 mu M for MIN A and 3.2 mu M for PUW F). Furthermore, they exhibited different antifungal potency with the lowest MIC values obtained for MIN A and PUW F against the facultative human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (37 mu M) and the plant pathogen Alternaria alternata (0.6 mu M), respectively. We used a Grignard-reaction with alkylmagnesium halides to lengthen the lipopeptide FA moiety as well as the Steglich esterification on the free hydroxyl substituents to prepare semi-synthetic lipopeptide variants possessing multiple fatty acid tails. Cyclic lipopeptides with extended and branched FA tails showed improved strain-specific antifungal activity against A. fumigatus (MIC = 0.5-3.8 mu M) and A. alternata (MIC = 0.1-0.5 mu M), but with partial retention of the cytotoxic effect (similar to 10-20 mu M). However, lipopeptides with esterified free hydroxyl groups possessed substantially higher antifungal potencies, especially against A. alternata (MIC = 0.2-0.6 mu M), and greatly reduced or abolished cytotoxic activity (>20 mu M). Our findings pave the way for a generation of semi-synthetic variants of lipopeptides with improved and selective antifungal activities.Peer reviewe

Changes in appetite, energy intake, body composition and circulating ghrelin constituents during an incremental trekking ascent to high altitude

Purpose Circulating acylated ghrelin concentrations are associated with altitude-induced anorexia in laboratory environments, but have never been measured at terrestrial altitude. This study examined time course changes in appetite, energy intake, body composition, and ghrelin constituents during a high-altitude trek. Methods Twelve participants [age: 28(4) years, BMI 23.0(2.1) kg m−2] completed a 14-day trek in the Himalayas. Energy intake, appetite perceptions, body composition, and circulating acylated, des-acylated, and total ghrelin concentrations were assessed at baseline (113 m, 12 days prior to departure) and at three fixed research camps during the trek (3619 m, day 7; 4600 m, day 10; 5140 m, day 12). Results Relative to baseline, energy intake was lower at 3619 m (P = 0.038) and 5140 m (P = 0.016) and tended to be lower at 4600 m (P = 0.056). Appetite perceptions were lower at 5140 m (P = 0.027) compared with baseline. Acylated ghrelin concentrations were lower at 3619 m (P = 0.046) and 4600 m (P = 0.038), and tended to be lower at 5140 m (P = 0.070), compared with baseline. Des-acylated ghrelin concentrations did not significantly change during the trek (P = 0.177). Total ghrelin concentrations decreased from baseline to 4600 m (P = 0.045). Skinfold thickness was lower at all points during the trek compared with baseline (P ≤ 0.001) and calf girth decreased incrementally during the trek (P = 0.010). Conclusions Changes in plasma acylated and total ghrelin concentrations may contribute to the suppression of appetite and energy intake at altitude, but differences in the time course of these responses suggest that additional factors are also involved. Interventions are required to maintain appetite and energy balance during trekking at terrestrial altitudes

Knowledge-Based Decision Support for Integrated Water Resources Management with an application for Wadi Shueib, Jordan

This book takes a two-staged approach to contribute to the contemporary Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) research. First it investigates sub-basin-scale IWRM modelling and scenario planning. The Jordanian Wadi Shueib is used as exemplary case study. Then, it develops a framework to collaboratively manage planning and decision making knowledge on the basis of semantic web technologies. Future IWRM initiatives can benefit from the valuable insights achieved in the presented study

A Model of Global Cooperation to Enable Intelligent Metrology Applications by Means of an Integrated Teleoperation System

Today’s advanced production industry faces challenges of increasing quality and competition requirements in the global market. The new aspects of cooperation between the production industry and metrology laboratories enable a development capacity providing an information highway and expertise exchange by accommodating rising demand of services. This paper proposes a novel approach to develop a global network on two different continents that will moreover be a model for the industry without any limits of location, time difference or facility. Due to the high cost of special infrastructure, equipment and expertise for production of complex components, this study also proposes a strategic approach to develop a remotely controlled high precision metrology system with high accuracy as well as with the smallest measurement uncertainties for the micro- and nanotechnologies and intelligent integrated management system applicable in advanced manufacturing industry. This will provide a roadmap for the industrial applications as well as in educational organizations with the developed and integrated low-cost telepresence and teleoperation system