Fluorescent patterning of paper through laser engraving

While thermal treatment of paper can lead to the formation of aromatic structures via hydrothermal treatment (low temperature) or pyrolysis (high temperature), neither of these approaches allow patterning the substrates. Somewhere in between these two extremes, a handful of research groups have used CO2 lasers to pattern paper and induce carbonization. However, none of the previously reported papers have focused on the possibility to form fluorescent derivatives via laser-thermal engraving. Exploring this possibility, this article describes the possibility of using a CO2 laser engraver to selectively treat paper, resulting in the formation of fluorescent compounds, similar to those present on the surface of carbon dots. To determine the most relevant variables controlling this process, 3 MM chromatography paper was treated using a standard 30 W CO2 laser engraver. Under selected experimental conditions, a blue fluorescent pattern was observed when the substrate was irradiated with UV light (365 nm). The effect of various experimental conditions (engraving speed, engraving power, and number of engraving steps) was investigated to maximize the fluorescence intensity. Through a comprehensive characterization effort, it was determined that 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural and a handful of related compounds were formed (varying in amount) under all selected experimental conditions. To illustrate the potential advantages of this strategy, that could complement those applications traditionally developed from carbon dots (sensors, currency marking, etc.), a redox-based optical sensor for sodium hypochlorite was developed.Fil: Clark, Kaylee M.. Clemson University; Estados UnidosFil: Skrajewski, Lauren. Clemson University; Estados UnidosFil: Benavidez, Tomás Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentina. Clemson University; Estados UnidosFil: Mendes, Letícia F.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bastos, Erick L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dörr, Felipe A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Sachdeva, Rakesh. Clemson University; Estados UnidosFil: Ogale, Amod A.. Clemson University; Estados UnidosFil: Paixão, Thiago R. L. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Garcia, Carlos D.. Clemson University; Estados Unido

Evaluación de modelos de crecimiento en diferentes condiciones de cultivo de pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis)

The pejerrey is one of the most important temperate native freshwater species of Argentina. Its culture is mainly done intensively and in recent years is being developed in floating cages in several Pampean lakes under semi-intensive and extensive conditions. To evaluate the growth of fish under different culture methodologies several models are used, most of which are based on the specific growth rate (SGR). The objective of this study is to compare how the SGR of pejerrey responds under different culture methods and generate a theoretical model to predict the growth that the species can reach. To carry out the models a data base was made with the available data of intensive, extensive and semi-intensive culture, to which an exponential and polynomial models were adjusted by the method of least squares and then the expected growth was simulated using the model that better fits. From the results it was observed that the polynomial model presented the best fit to different methods of culture. In all cases the models reflected the seasonality in the growth rates exhibited by the species, where SGR was lowest in winter and highest in spring. The growth simulation models also show that the semi-intensive culture could produce greater weight than other methods. Under these conditions, fish obtain zooplankton from the environment incorporating essential elements from its natural food source. This suggests that it is possible to improve the sizes of fish by using techniques that also incorporate natural food or its equivalent in the composition of the artificial diets.El pejerrey es una de las especies nativas de agua dulce templadas más importantes de Argentina. Su cultivo se realiza principalmente de forma intensiva y en los últimos años se está desarrollando en jaulas flotantes en varios lagunas pampeanas en condiciones semi-intensivas y extensivas. Para evaluar el crecimiento de peces bajo diferentes metodologías de cultivo, se utilizan varios modelos, la mayoría de los cuales se basan en la tasa de crecimiento específica (SGR). El objetivo de este estudio es comparar cómo responde la SGR de pejerrey bajo diferentes métodos de cultivo y generar un modelo teórico para predecir el crecimiento que la especie puede alcanzar. Para llevar a cabo los modelos se realizó una base de datos con los datos disponibles de cultivo intensivo, extenso y semi-intensivo, a los que se ajustaron los modelos exponencial y polinomial mediante el método de mínimos cuadrados y luego se simuló el crecimiento esperado utilizando el modelo que se ajusta mejor De los resultados se observó que el modelo polinomial presentaba el mejor ajuste para diferentes métodos de cultivo. En todos los casos, los modelos reflejaron la estacionalidad en las tasas de crecimiento exhibidas por la especie, donde SGR fue más baja en invierno y más alta en primavera. Los modelos de simulación de crecimiento también muestran que el cultivo semi-intensivo podría producir mayor peso que otros métodos. En estas condiciones, los peces obtienen zooplancton del ambiente incorporando elementos esenciales de su fuente de alimento natural. Esto sugiere que es posible mejorar el tamaño de los peces mediante el uso de técnicas que también incorporan alimentos naturales o su equivalente en la composición de las dietas artificiales

Relationship between employee involvement and lean manufacturing and its effect on performance in a rigid continuous process industry

Relationship between employee involvement and lean manufacturing and its effect on performance in a rigid continuous process industry DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2014.975852 Juan A. Marin-Garciaa* & Tomas Bonaviab Received: 1 Aug 2013 Accepted: 30 Sep 2014 Published online: 04 Nov 2014 This research aims to empirically test the effect of employee involvement on lean manufacturing (LM), and the effect of LM on production outcomes. Employee involvement is operationalised through four related variables: empowerment, training, contingent remuneration and communication. The effects are tested by recording management perceptions in a different industrial sector from those usually studied in previous research ceramic manufacturers, a highly competitive and internationally successful sector. We obtained data from 101 ceramic tile plants (64% of response rate) in the Valencia region of Spain. This approach is developed using a statistical method called partial least squares. All paths are significant except for contingent remuneration; specifically, relationships were found between empowerment, training, communication and LM, and between LM and performance.This paper has been written with financial support from the Project "Path Dependence and decision-making for selecting LM tools and practices" (PAID-06-12-SP20120717) of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Marín García, JA.; Bonavía Martín, T. (2015). Relationship between employee involvement and lean manufacturing and its effect on performance in a rigid continuous process industry. International Journal of Production Research. 53(11):3260-3275. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.975852S32603275531

Targeting the delivery of dietary plant bioactives to those who would benefit most: From science to practical applications

Background: A healthy diet and optimal lifestyle choices are amongst the most important actions for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. Despite this, it appears difficult to convince consumers to select more nutritious foods. Furthermore, the development and production of healthier foods do not always lead to economic profits for the agro-food sector. Most dietary recommendations for the general population represent a “one-size-fits-all approach” which does not necessarily ensure that everyone has adequate exposure to health-promoting constituents of foods. Indeed, we now know that individuals show a high variability in responses when exposed to specific nutrients, foods, or diets. Purpose: This review aims to highlight our current understanding of inter-individual variability in response to dietary bioactives, based on the integration of findings of the COST Action POSITIVe. We also evaluate opportunities for translation of scientific knowledge on inter-individual variability in response to dietary bioactives, once it becomes available, into practical applications for stakeholders, such as the agro-food industry. The potential impact from such applications will form an important impetus for the food industry to develop and market new high quality and healthy foods for specific groups of consumers in the future. This may contribute to a decrease in the burden of diet-related chronic diseases

The discovery BPD (D-BPD) program: Study protocol of a prospective translational multicenter collaborative study to investigate determinants of chronic lung disease in very low birth weight infants

Background: Premature birth is a growing and serious public health problem affecting more than one of every ten infants worldwide. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common neonatal morbidity associated with prematurity and infants with BPD suffer from increased incidence of respiratory infections, asthma, other forms of chronic lung illness, and death (Day and Ryan, Pediatr Res 81: 210-213, 2017; Isayama et la., JAMA Pediatr 171:271-279, 2017). BPD is now understood as a longitudinal disease process influenced by the intrauterine environment during gestation and modulated by gene-environment interactions throughout the neonatal and early childhood periods. Despite of this concept, there remains a paucity of multidisciplinary team-based approaches dedicated to the comprehensive study of this complex disease. Methods: The Discovery BPD (D-BPD) Program involves a cohort of infants < 1,250 g at birth prospectively followed until 6 years of age. The program integrates analysis of detailed clinical data by machine learning, genetic susceptibility and molecular translation studies. Discussion: The current gap in understanding BPD as a complex multi-trait spectrum of different disease endotypes will be addressed by a bedside-to-bench and bench-to-bedside approach in the D-BPD program. The D-BPD will provide enhanced understanding of mechanisms, evolution and consequences of lung diseases in preterm infants. The D-BPD program represents a unique opportunity to combine the expertise of biologists, neonatologists, pulmonologists, geneticists and biostatisticians to examine the disease process from multiple perspectives with a singular goal of improving outcomes of premature infants. Trial registration: Does not apply for this study.Fil: Ofman, Gaston. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados UnidosFil: Caballero, Mauricio Tomás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez Paggi, Damián Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marzec, Jacqui. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Nowogrodzki, Florencia. No especifíca;Fil: Cho, Hye Youn. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Sorgetti, Mariana. No especifíca;Fil: Colantonio, Guillermo. No especifíca;Fil: Bianchi, Alejandra. No especifíca;Fil: Prudent, Luis M.. Fundación para la Salud Materno Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Vain, Néstor Eduardo. Fundación para la Salud Materno Infantil; Argentina. Sanatorio de la Trinidad Palermo.; ArgentinaFil: Mariani, Gonzalo Luis. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Digregorio, Jorge. Sanatorio de la Trinidad Palermo.; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Turconi, Elba. No especifíca;Fil: Osio, Cristina. Sanatorio "Otamendi y Miroli S. A."; ArgentinaFil: Galletti, Maria Fernanda. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Quiros, Mariangeles. Clinica y Maternidad Suizo Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Brum, Andrea. Sanatorio de la Trinidad Palermo.; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Garcia, Santiago. No especifíca;Fil: Garcia, Silvia. Sanatorio "Otamendi y Miroli S. A."; ArgentinaFil: Bell, Douglas. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Jones, Marcus H.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Tipple, Trent E.. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados UnidosFil: Kleeberger, Steven R.. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Polack, Fernando Pedro. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados Unido

Reconstrucción de la evolución tectónica del Cerro Domuyo y del extremo norte de la cordillera del viento (36° - 37°s) a partir de la integración de datos geofísicos, estructurales, geocronológicos, y modelos termo-numéricos

El Cerro Domuyo es considerado uno de los centros ígneos del Plio-Pleistoceno más voluminosos de los Andes del Sur, y alberga uno de los campos geotérmicos de alta entalpía más grandes del mundo con una importante actividad actual. Su estructura ha sido caracterizada como un amplio anticlinal, con un eje N-S que inclina suavemente hacia el norte, desarrollado durante la orogenia andina y deformado en el Mioceno medio-Plioceno durante el emplazamiento del Complejo Volcánico Domuyo (CVD) (Llambías et al. 1978). El CVD está compuesto por un stock porfídico de composición granítica-diorítica, interpretado como la sección superior de una cámara magmática Miocena-Pliocena media, fuertemente erosionada y parcialmente expuesta, alimentada a través de un sistema de fracturas preexistentes y complementada por una espesa secuencia de rocas volcánicas y volcaniclásticas (Llambías et al. 1978; Miranda et al. 2006).La integración de un análisis estructural detallado con datos geofísicos preexistentes sugiere que el arreglo estructural del área ha sido controlado por la reactivación de estructuras de basamento (Galetto et al. 2018). La estructura principal inferida a lo largo del flanco occidental del cerro Domuyo es la Falla Manchana Covunco (FMC), caracterizada como una falla normal local, con vergencia occidental y rumbo N-S (Galetto et al. 2018). La FMC es una estructura ciega, cubierta por la secuencia volcánica Plio-Cuaternaria, que ejerce un control de primer orden sobre la dinámica del campo geotérmico de Domuyo (Galetto et al. 2018). Un conjunto de fallas de basamento de orientación ∼E-O la intersecta y controla la ubicación de las principales manifestaciones geotérmicas. El modelado termo-numérico de datos geocronológicos de U-Pb en circones magmáticos, junto con datos de trazas de fisión y (U-Th-Sm)/He en apatitas y circones del flanco occidental del cerro Domuyo, revela dos episodios de enfriamiento rápido durante el Albiano-Campaniano (∼110-75 Ma) y el Eoceno (∼55-35 Ma), que pueden ser vinculados con períodos de exhumación controlados por una tectónica de tipo compresiva (Galetto et al. 2021). El primer evento impulsó el enfriamiento-exhumación del basamento con el levantamiento de un amplio anticlinal de orientación N-S, mientras que el segundo es responsable de la inversión de la FMC y la deformación de la secuencia sedimentaria mesozoica. Nuevos datos termocronológicos provenientes del extremo norte de la Cordillera del Viento sugieren que el patrón de enfriamiento identificado en el área de Domuyo podría tener una impronta regional, extendiéndose en el ámbito de la Faja Plegada y Corrida de Chos Malal.Fil: Galetto, Antonella Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Victor Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zattin, Massimiliano. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Georgieva, Victoria. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Bechis, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio; ArgentinaFil: Sobel, Edward R.. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Glodny, Johannes. GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: Caselli, Alberto Tomás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Bordese, Sofia. LA - Te Andes S.A. Laboratorio de Termocronología de Los Andes; ArgentinaFil: Arzadún, Guadalupe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. LA - Te Andes S.A. Laboratorio de Termocronología de Los Andes; ArgentinaFil: Becchio, Raul Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaXVIII Reunión de TectónicaSan LuisArgentinaAsociación Geológica ArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico, Matemáticas y NaturalesComisión de Tectónica de la Asociación Geológica Argentin

Evaluating indices of traditional ecological knowledge: a methodological contribution

BACKGROUND: New quantitative methods to collect and analyze data have produced novel findings in ethnobiology. A common application of quantitative methods in ethnobiology is to assess the traditional ecological knowledge of individuals. Few studies have addressed reliability of indices of traditional ecological knowledge constructed with different quantitative methods. METHODS: We assessed the associations among eight indices of traditional ecological knowledge from data collected from 650 native Amazonians. We computed Spearman correlations, Chronbach's alpha, and principal components factor analysis for the eight indices. RESULTS: We found that indices derived from different raw data were weakly correlated (rho<0.5), whereas indices derived from the same raw data were highly correlated (rho>0.5; p < 0.001). We also found a relatively high internal consistency across data from the eight indices (Chronbach's alpha = 0.78). Last, results from a principal components factor analysis of the eight indices suggest that the eight indices were positively related, although the association was low when considering only the first factor. CONCLUSION: A possible explanation for the relatively low correlation between indices derived from different raw data, but relatively high internal consistency of the eight indices is that the methods capture different aspects of an individual's traditional ecological knowledge. To develop a reliable measure of traditional ecological knowledge, researchers should collect raw data using a variety of methods and then generate an aggregated measure that contains data from the various components of traditional ecological knowledge. Failure to do this will hinder cross-cultural comparisons