Analysis of engineering management characteristics employed in the defense industry

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-45).An analysis of the engineering management characteristics present in companies in the defense industry was performed. These aspects include the organization characteristics of structure, hierarchy, and standards and procedures, as well as various features of company culture. This study revealed that the companies that make up most of the defense industry, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, have very similar organization characteristics. They mostly use a matrix structure to run their businesses. They exhibit group relationships, employ an intermediate degree of centralization, and issue a decreasing span of control with increasing power. Moreover, they follow the Department of Defense Acquisition Model, apply engineering management consistent with military standards, and use Capability Maturity Model Integration. However, defense companies are set apart by their cultures. Raytheon has the culture that is most conducive to running a successful company. It places a strong emphasis on its Six Sigma management philosophy, which is a major driving force for the whole organization's operations. Its culture also includes a great value placed on training and graduate education, a confident and customer-focused attitude, and a high regard for ethics. This has led it to have a net income per employee of $23,000 in 2008, the highest out of all four contractors. It also has the highest gross profit margin and revenue growth. While Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman also exhibit positive company culture traits, they do not measure up to Raytheon's. The differences in culture have influenced each company's position in the market.by Sara S. Gutierrez.S.B

Tumor-induced neurogenesis and immune evasion as targets of innovative anti-cancer therapies

Normal cells are hijacked by cancer cells forming together heterogeneous tumor masses immersed in aberrant communication circuits that facilitate tumor growth and dissemination. Besides the well characterized angiogenic effect of some tumor-derived factors; others, such as BDNF, recruit peripheral nerves and leukocytes. The neurogenic switch, activated by tumor-derived neurotrophins and extracellular vesicles, attracts adjacent peripheral fibers (autonomic/sensorial) and neural progenitor cells. Strikingly, tumor-associated nerve fibers can guide cancer cell dissemination. Moreover, IL-1β, CCL2, PGE2, among other chemotactic factors, attract natural immunosuppressive cells, including T regulatory (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and M2 macrophages, to the tumor microenvironment. These leukocytes further exacerbate the aberrant communication circuit releasing factors with neurogenic effect. Furthermore, cancer cells directly evade immune surveillance and the antitumoral actions of natural killer cells by activating immunosuppressive mechanisms elicited by heterophilic complexes, joining cancer and immune cells, formed by PD-L1/PD1 and CD80/CTLA-4 plasma membrane proteins. Altogether, nervous and immune cells, together with fibroblasts, endothelial, and bone-marrow-derived cells, promote tumor growth and enhance the metastatic properties of cancer cells. Inspired by the demonstrated, but restricted, power of anti-angiogenic and immune cell-based therapies, preclinical studies are focusing on strategies aimed to inhibit tumor-induced neurogenesis. Here we discuss the potential of anti-neurogenesis and, considering the interplay between nervous and immune systems, we also focus on anti-immunosuppression-based therapies. Small molecules, antibodies and immune cells are being considered as therapeutic agents, aimed to prevent cancer cell communication with neurons and leukocytes, targeting chemotactic and neurotransmitter signaling pathways linked to perineural invasion and metastasis

Evaluación de la producción de gliotoxina en 10 cepas de Aspergillus fumigatus obtenidas de aislamientos clínicos

In the present study, gliotoxin production from 10 different strains isolated from clinical cases of Aspergillus fumigatus was studied. It was found that two of them ( C-3, and C-8) produced a compound similar to the gliotoxin standard. While another five strains (C-2, C-5, C-7, C-9, C-10) showed a similar behaviour to the gliotoxin standard. For strain C-4, no conclusions could be made as the extract was lost during the final High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) determination. The other two strains (C-1 and C-6) did not produced any compound similar to gliotoxina. HPLC was applied to the extracts in order to quantify their production of gliotoxin, finding that only strains C-3 and C-8 produced a compound with a similar retention time to that of the standard gliotoxin. After that, a characterization of the gliotoxin similar compound from strain C-3 was carried out using mass spectrometry and infrared spectrometry, finding that the mass spectrum presented a peak at 326 m/z (mass by intensity) that corresponds to the molecular weight found for gliotoxin, in the infrared spectrometry some functional groups corresponding to gliotoxin were found. These findings confirm the production of gliotoxin by strains C-3 and C-8, while the rest of the native strains studied did not showed production of these particular compounds, which suggest that gliotoxin is not produced by all the strains of A. fumigatus and might therefore not be the only compound associated with the presence of avian aspergillosis due to this fungus.Se evaluó la producción de gliotoxina en 10 cepas obtenidas de aislamientos clínicos de Aspergillus fumigatus. Ocho (C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, C-8, C-9 y C-10) presentaron la producción de un compuesto que se comportó similar al estándar de gliotoxina. Se aplicó cromatografía de líquidos de alta presión (CLAP) obteniendo que las cepas C-3 y C-8 presentaron un compuesto con un tiempo de retención similar al de la gliotoxina estándar. Posteriormente se realizó una caracterización del compuesto producido por la cepa C-3, encontrando en el espectro de masas un pico de 326 m/z (masa por intensidad) que corresponde al peso molecular reseñado para gliotoxina, en el de infrarrojo se obtuvieron algunos grupos funcionales de la molécula de gliotoxina, lo que confirmó su producción por estas cepas (C-3 y C-8), mientras que de las otras cepas nativas, cinco de ellas (C-2, C-5, C-7, C-9 y C-10) presentaron compuestos similares a gliotoxina, en el caso de la cepa C-4, no se pudo corroborar la presencia de compuestos similares a la gliotoxina, debido a la pérdida del extracto durante la determinación por CLAP, y las cepas C-1 y C-6 no presentaron la producción de este compuesto, lo cual mostró que la gliotoxina no es producida por todas las cepas de A. fumigatus. Si bien la gliotoxina es uno de los compuestos más estudiados asociado a la producción de aspergilosis aviar, se debe considerar la presencia de otros compuestos que sin lugar a dudas intervienen en la patogenia de la enfermedad

Sampling protocol to assess occupational exposure to microbial contamination in wood working environments

This project was supported by FCT/MCTES UIDP/05608/2020, and UIDB/05608/2020. This work is also supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES/FSE/UE, 2023.01366.BD; UI/BD/153746/2022 and CE3C unit UIDB/00329/2020; UI/BD/151431/2021; and Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, national support through IPL/2022/InChildhealth/BI/12M; IPL/IDI&CA2023/FoodAIIEU_ESTeSL; IPL/IDI&CA2023/ASPRisk_ESTeSL; IPL/IDI&CA2023/ARAFSawmills_ESTeSL.The sawmill market is driven by rising construction demand and it is foreseen an increase due to the need to overcome the lack of housing throughout Europe. Workers in the sawmill industry may be exposed to wood derivatives, microorganisms, and their products. Wood products can cause health effects such as decreased lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and various respiratory disorders. Exposure to wood dust infected with microorganisms, particularly fungi, can lead to allergic alveolitis and asthma in woodworkers. There is a knowledge gap in the field of microbial occupational exposure assessment in sawmills. The importance of an accurate assessment and risk management should be emphasized. This study aims to define a protocol that allows a proper assessment of microbial contamination in woodworking environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of the gas-liquid flow configuration in the absorption column on photosynthetic biogas upgrading in algal-bacterial photobioreactors

Producción CientíficaThe potential of an algal-bacterial system consisting of a high rate algal pond (HRAP) interconnected to an absorption column (AC) via recirculation of the cultivation broth for the upgrading of biogas and digestate was investigated. The influence of the gas-liquid flow configuration in the AC on the photosynthetic biogas upgrading process was assessed. AC operation in a co-current configuration enabled to maintain a biomass productivity of 15 g m−2 d−1, while during counter-current operation biomass productivity decreased to 8.7 ± 0.5 g m−2 d−1 as a result of trace metal limitation. A bio-methane composition complying with most international regulatory limits for injection into natural gas grids was obtained regardless of the gas-liquid flow configuration. Furthermore, the influence of the recycling liquid to biogas flowrate (L/G) ratio on bio-methane quality was assessed under both operational configurations obtaining the best composition at an L/G ratio of 0.5 and co-current flow operation.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Project CTM2015-70442-R and Red NOVEDAR

Physical Activity Coparticipation and Independent Mobility as Correlates of Objectively Measured Nonschool Physical Activity in Different School Grades: The UP&DOWN Study

Background: The aim was to investigate the association of (i) parental, sibling, and friend coparticipation in physical activity (PA); and (ii) independent mobility (IM) for walking, cycling, and taking public transport with objectively measured nonschool PA on week- and weekend days in different school grades. Methods: A total of 1376 Spanish youngsters (50.8% boys; mean age 11.96 ± 2.48 years) participated in the study. Participants reported the frequency of their parental, sibling, and best friend coparticipation in PA with them and their IM for walk- ing, cycling, and taking public transport. PA was objectively measured by accelerometry. Results: Coparticipation in PA and IM were more frequently related to nonschool PA among adolescents than among children. Friend coparticipation in PA was positively associated with higher levels of nonschool PA in adolescents. IM for walking and IM for cycling in adolescents were related to nonschool PA on weekdays. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for age-focused interventions and the integration of family and friends to promote PA in youth

Microbial occupational exposure in e-waste recycling: biological hazards, their sources, and potential toxic effects

This research was funded by the Polish Minister of Education and Science, under the program "Regional Initiative of Excellence" in 2019 - 2022 (Grant No. 008/RID/2018/19) and by Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal for funding the Projects IPL/2023/FoodAIIEU_ESTeSL; IPL/2023/ASPRisk_ESTeSL; IPL/2023/ARAFSawmil_ESTeSL. H&TRC authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT/MCTES national support through the UIDB/05608/2020 and UIDP/05608/2020 and to the PhD Grants UI/BD/151431/2021 and UI/BD/153746/2022 and CE3C unit UIDB/00329/2020.E-waste management is a major environmental concern that also poses serious risks to occupational health. While e-waste workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals, little is known about occupational exposure to microbiological agents. This study aims to fill that gap. For that purpose, two e-waste facilities were assessed: one battery-recycling facility (BRF), and another facility (SRE) dedicated to e-waste sorting and storage before sending it for different processing. Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD, 24 samples) and settled dust (13 samples) were collected using standardized sampling approaches, and analyzed by culture-based, chemical, and molecular methods. Workers also filled in a questionnaire regarding work activities and the use of FRPD. Microbial loads, fungal diversity, azole resistance, and prevalence of Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi and mycotoxins (as surrogates of harmful fungal contamination) were determined. To estimate potential health effects related to exposure, the FRPD cytotoxicity was determined in human A549 lung and HepG2 hepatic cells. Microbial contaminants with pathogenicity and toxigenic potential were observed in FRPDs and settled dust. Aspergillus section Fumigati was widespread. The observed presence of Aspergillus section Flavi relates to the risk of exposure to aflatoxin B1 (a potent hepatocarcinogen). Four different mycotoxins were detected in 8% FRPD and 15% dust samples, including pathogenic fumonisin B1 and sterigmatocystin (below the limit of quantification). A low to moderate cytotoxic effect of sampled FRPD was observed, with human lung alveolar cells more sensitive than hepatic cells. No relevant azole resistance was observed, nor correlations between fungal reduced azole-susceptibility and fungal growth at 37º C or cytotoxicity. In summary, it can be concluded that this approach using FRPD and settled dust presents a promising potential for screening occupational exposure to microbiological contaminants in e-waste management. More studies in this occupational context should be prioritized to identify critical biological hazards and to support the implementation of appropriate health risk mitigation strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Wnt9a deficiency discloses a repressive role of Tcf7l2 on endocrine differentiation in the embryonic pancreas

Transcriptional and signaling networks establish complex cross-regulatory interactions that drive cellular differentiation during development. Using microarrays we identified the gene encoding the ligand Wnt9a as a candidate target of Neurogenin3, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that functions as a master regulator of pancreatic endocrine differentiation. Here we show that Wnt9a is expressed in the embryonic pancreas and that its deficiency enhances activation of the endocrine transcriptional program and increases the number of endocrine cells at birth. We identify the gene encoding the endocrine transcription factor Nkx2-2 as one of the most upregulated genes in Wnt9a-ablated pancreases and associate its activation to reduced expression of the Wnt effector Tcf7l2. Accordingly, in vitro studies confirm that Tcf7l2 represses activation of Nkx2-2 by Neurogenin3 and inhibits Nkx2-2 expression in differentiated β-cells. Further, we report that Tcf7l2 protein levels decline upon initiation of endocrine differentiation in vivo, disclosing the downregulation of this factor in the developing endocrine compartment. These findings highlight the notion that modulation of signalling cues by lineage-promoting factors is pivotal for controlling differentiation programs

Educación virtual y aprendizaje institucional : la experiencia de una universidad mexicana

1 archivo PDF (181 páginas)Este es un libro acerca de un aprendizaje colectivo en una institución universitaria para adaptar y desarrollar una práctica de educación virtual1 en su versión híbrida. es decir. como apoyo de la enseñanza presencial. La particularidad de los actores implicados y la casuística que conlleva , no son obstáculo, a juicio de quien esto escribe, para proporcionar al lector una visión reflexiva sobre el tema central: cómo se generan las capacidades internas y las prácticas de una organización que innova en procedimientos y tecnologías empleadas, para cumplir sus objetivos. En nuestro caso, estos objetivos son los de enseñanza aprendizaje, para alumnos de nuestra universidad, la UAM Azcapotzalco. PALABRAS CLAVE: Educación virtual. Computer-assisted instruction. Virtual educatio

Factors That Influence the Brand Loyalty and Dealer Loyalty of the Automotive Industry: the Case of Mexican Consumers in the Central Region of Mexico

In this study we investigate which factors determine the automobile brand and dealer loyalty of Mexican consumers, and to what extent. We collected data on brand loyalty and dealer loyalty among customers who bought their vehicle two years or more ago to permit evaluation of loyalty behavior. Our findings show that the core factor that appears to determine the loyalty of the Mexican consumer in the automotive industry is the satisfaction with the technical-functional quality of the automobile. Within this factor, satisfaction with the vehicle's safety (in event of an accident), the vehicle's maneuverability and vehicle comfort are the highestranked variables. In second place appears the satisfaction with the global cost of the vehicle and with the dealer after sales service. This study further reveals that it does not exist an authentic/real brand or dealer loyalty among Mexican car purchasers. This means that in spite of a customer's current preference for the brand studied, the customer has tried and has bought different brands in the past, or simply has been sensitive to the competitors' marketing actions or strategies