Selection, tinkering and emergence in complex networks: crossing the land of tinkering

Complex biological networks have very different origins than technologic ones. The latter involve extensive design and, as engineered structures, include a high level of optimization. The former involve (in principle) contingency and structural constraints, with new structures being incorporated through tinkering with previously evolved modules or units. However, the observation of the topological features of different biological nets suggests that nature can have a limited repertoire of ”attractors” that essentially optimize communication under some basic constraints of cost and architecture or that allow the biological nets to reach a high degree of homeostasis. Conversely, the topological features exhibited by some technology graphs indicate that tinkering and internal constraints play a key role, in spite of the ”designed” nature of these structures. Previous scenarios suggested to explain the overall trends of evolution are re-analyzed in light of topological patterns.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Implementación de una gestión de inventarios para mejorar el nivel de servicio al cliente en la empresa Vidriera Lula S.A.C, 2022

La investigación estableció como objetivo implementar una gestión de inventarios para mejorar el nivel de servicio al cliente en la empresa Vidriera Lula S.A.C. para ello se indicó una investigación con una metodología aplicada con un enfoque cuantitativo y un diseño pre experimental; en tanto a la muestra se seleccionó a los 40 clientes regulares de la empresa en el periodo marzo-agosto 2022. Los resultados del diagnóstico mostraron una seria deficiencia en la gestión ya que alcanzaron niveles de incumplimientos mayores al 74% por medio de un check list; esto causa que existan una gran cantidad de quejas en lo que respecta a la calidad del producto y el tiempo de entrega, es por ello que al analizar la calidad de servicio se llegó a más del 50% de clientes insatisfechos con puntajes menores a dos en la fiabilidad y seguridad del servicio; en base a ello se estableció una clasificación basada en el valor, demanda y rotación del producto que al ser combinada se establecieron diferentes métodos de abastecimiento y ordenamiento de materiales; esto provocó que el nuevo análisis de la calidad de servicio aumentará a 70% de clientes satisfechos en donde los puntos más críticos de la evaluación superaran los 3 puntos. Con ello se puede concluir que la gestión de inventarios aumenta significativamente el nivel de calidad de servicio, debido a que se reducen tiempos y se aumenta la calidad

Mobile robot map building from time-of-flight camera

A map building algorithm for mobile robots is introduced in this paper. The perceived environment is represented in a map containing in each cell a probability of presence of an object or part of an object. The environment is represented as a collection of modular occupancy grids which are added to the map as far as the mobile robot finds objects outside the existing grids. In this approach a time-of-flight (ToF) camera is exploited as a range sensor for mapping. Indeed, one of the areas where ToF sensors are adequate is in obstacle avoidance, because the detection region is not only horizontal but also vertical, allowing to detect obstacles with complex shapes. The main steps of the map building algorithm are extensively described in the paper. The results of testing the algorithm are considered in two different indoor environments

Distinct epidemiology and resistance mechanisms affecting ceftolozane/tazobactam in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from ICU patients in Spain and Portugal depicted by WGS

STEP and SUPERIOR study groups.[Objectives] To analyse the epidemiology, the resistome and the virulome of ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible or -resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates recovered from surveillance studies in Portugal (STEP, 2017–18) and Spain (SUPERIOR, 2016–17).[Methods] P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from intra-abdominal, urinary tract and lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients admitted to 11 Portuguese and 8 Spanish hospitals. MICs were determined (ISO-standard broth microdilution, EUCAST 2020 breakpoints). A subset of 28 ceftolozane/tazobactam-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were analysed and compared with 28 ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible P. aeruginosa strains by WGS.[Results] Clonal complex (CC) 235 (27%) and CC175 (18%) were the most frequent, followed by CC244 (13%), CC348 (9%), CC253 (5%) and CC309 (5%). Inter-hospital clonal dissemination was observed, limited to a geographical region (CC235, CC244, CC348 and CC253 in Portugal and CC175 and CC309 in Spain). Carbapenemases were detected in 25 isolates (45%): GES-13 (13/25); VIM type (10/25) [VIM-2 (4/10), VIM-20 (3/10), VIM-1 (2/10) and VIM-36 (1/10)]; and KPC-3 (2/25). GES-13-CC235 (13/15) and VIM type-CC175 (5/10) associations were observed. Interestingly, KPC-3 and VIM-36 producers showed ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible phenotypes. However, ceftolozane/tazobactam resistance was significantly associated with GES-13 and VIM-type carbapenemase production. Six non-carbapenemase producers also displayed ceftolozane/tazobactam resistance, three of them showing known ceftolozane/tazobactam resistance-associated mutations in the PBP3 gene, ftsI (R504C and F533L). Overall, an extensive virulome was identified in all P. aeruginosa isolates, particularly in carbapenemase-producing strains.[Conclusions] GES-13-CC235 and VIM type-CC175 were the most frequent MDR/XDR P. aeruginosa clones causing infections in Portuguese and Spanish ICU patients, respectively. Ceftolozane/tazobactam resistance was mainly due to carbapenemase production, although mutations in PBP-encoding genes may additionally be involved.The study was funded by MSD Portugal (protocol VP6918) and MSD Spain (protocol MSD-CEF-2016-01). This study was also supported by Plan Nacional de I + D + i 2013–16 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases [RD16/0016/0001, RD16/0016/0004, RD16/0016/0006, RD16/0016/0007, RD16/0016/0010 and REIPI RD16/0016/0011], co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund ‘A way to achieve Europe’ (EDRF), Operative Program Intelligent Growth 2014–20. M.H.-G. is supported by a research contract from a European Project [IMI-JU-9–2013, Ref. iABC - 115721–2].Peer reviewe

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

Estudios actuales de literatura comparada. Teorías de la literatura y diálogos interdisciplinarios

Estos dos volúmenes constituyen una contribución al desarrollo de la comparatística que se realiza, principalmente, desde América Latina. El primer volumen está organizado en tres partes y consta de 22 artículos, mientras que el segundo reúne 24 capítulos.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Artes y Letras::Facultad de Letras::Escuela de Filología, Lingüística y LiteraturaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Sistema de Educación General::Escuela de Estudios GeneralesUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Artes y Letras::Maestría Académica en Literatura FrancesaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Artes y Letras::Maestría Académica en Literatura LatinoamericanaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Artes y Letras::Facultad de Letras::Escuela de Lenguas Moderna

Mobile robot localization through identifying spatial relations from detected corners

In this paper, the Harris corner detection algorithm is applied to images captured by a time-of-flight (ToF) camera. In this case, the ToF camera mounted on a mobile robot is exploited as a gray-scale camera for localization purposes. Indeed, the gray-scale image represents distances for the purpose of finding good features to be tracked. These features, which actually are points in the space, form the basis of the spatial relations used in the localization algorithm. The approach to the localization problem is based on the computation of the spatial relations existing among the corners detected. The current spatial relations are matched with the relations gotten during previous navigation

Lower-limb Dynamics of Muscle Oxygen Saturation During the Back-squat Exercise Effects of Training Load and Effort Level

© 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the [CC-BY 4.0] license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in [Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR)]

Physicochemical, microbiological, and nutrimental quality of tomato industrial by-product and its valorization as source of carotenoid rich oil

Objective: To valorize an industrial tomato byproduct from the Northwest Mexico based on the evaluation of its physicochemical, microbiological, and nutrimental quality and its potential as functional ingredient to obtain a carotenoids rich oil. Design/methodology/approach: The tomato by-product was collected form the food industry and it was oven dried. Fresh and dry tomato by-product quality was evaluated through physicochemical, microbiological, proximal composition, dietary fiber, and minerals analysis. HPLC carotenoids analysis was performed from the Soxhlet n-hexane extracted oil and dry-byproduct. Results: The by-product showed 81 and 9.7% of humidity; 0.26 and 0.53% meq of citric acid for titratable acidity in fresh and dried, respectively and 4.74 °Brix in fresh. The color gets paler due to the drying process, turning less red. The aerobic mesophylls, total coliforms and fungi and yeasts microbiological analysis in fresh by-product (170, <10, <10 CFU/g, respectively) and dried (180, <10, ?95 UFC/g, respectively), proved their acceptable microbiological safety. It stands out the dietary insoluble (52%) and soluble (9%) fiber, protein (14%), lipids (9.09%) content, as well as Mn>Zn>Fe>Cu, and K>P>Ca>Mg>Na. The carotenoids rich oil concentrated 13 times more lycopene (4.98 mg/g) and twice ?-carotene (0.48 mg/g) content, compared to the dry by-product from which it comes (0.38 mg/g and 0.22 mg/g, respectively). Limitations on study/implications: Great efforts were required to dry high amounts the tomato industrial by-product. Findings/Conclusion: The tomato industrial by-product from Northwest Mexico possess suitable physicochemical, microbiological, and nutrimental quality for its use as a functional ingredient for the generation of new products, for example a carotenoid rich oil.Objective: To valorize an industrial tomato byproduct from Northwest Mexico,based on the evaluation of its physicochemical, microbiological, and nutritionalquality and it´ s potential as a functional ingredient to obtain a carotenoids rich oil.Design / methodology / approach: Tomato by-product was collected from thefood industry and oven-dried. The fresh and dry tomato by-product quality wasevaluated through physicochemical, microbiological, proximal composition, dietaryfiber, and minerals analysis. HPLC carotenoids analysis was performed fromSoxhlet n-hexane extracted oil and dry-byproduct. Results: The by-product showed 81 and 9.7% of humidity; 0.26 and 0.53% meq ofcitric acid for titratable acidity in fresh and dried, respectively, and 4.74 ° Brix infresh. Their color got paler due to the drying process, turning less red. The aerobicmesophylls, total coliforms, fungi and yeasts microbiological analysis in a fresh by-product (170, <10, <10 CFU / g-1, respectively) and dried (180, <10, ?95 CFU / g-1, respectively), proved their acceptable microbiological safety. Their dietaryinsoluble (52%) and soluble (9%) fiber stands out, protein (14%), lipids (9.09%)content, as well as Mn> Zn> Fe> Cu, and K> P> Ca> Mg > Na. The carotenoids rich oil was 13 times more concentrated in lycopene (4.98 mg g-1) and twice ?-carotene (0.48 mg g-1) content compared to the dry by-product from which itcomes (0.38 mg g-1 and 0.22 mg g-1, respectively).Limitations on study / implications: Great efforts were required to dry highamounts of the tomato industrial by-product.Findings / Conclusion: The tomato industrial by-product from Northwest Mexicopossesses suitable physicochemical, microbiological, and nutritional quality to beused as a functional ingredient to generate new products, for example, acarotenoid-rich oil

Impact of Contextual Factors on External Load During a Congested-Fixture Tournament in Elite U'18 Basketball Players

© 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the [CC-BY 4.0] license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in [Frontiers in Psychology]. To access the final edited and published work see [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01100