Assessing customs performance in the Mediterranean ports. KPI selection and Best practices identification as part of the MEDNET project

[EN] The seamless flow of goods, people and investments across the Mediterranean necessitates a well-functioning port and transport system. More efficient port operations enhance seamless logistics and promote safety, efficiency, interoperability and interconnectivity of transport networks in the Mediterranean area.To promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise relevant to port and customs procedures and simplification of clearance for vessels and cargoes in the Mediterranean, the MEDNET project was launched. As part of the project a common evaluation framework for the performance of ports in the form of a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) together with a list of the best practices in terms of operations and customs procedures was developed.In total, 50 ports were analyzed and given a KPI regarding traffic, financial, operational and human resources, sustainability and customs procedures. The values were latter crossed with the current good practices on operation in terms of customs procedures. And a small correlation between KPIs performance and implantation degree of good practices in customs procedures was found. This presentation exposes the methodology to assess the ports’ performance and the best practices identification.Morales Fusco, P.; Saurí Marchán, S.; Lekka, AM.; Karousos, I. (2016). Assessing customs performance in the Mediterranean ports. KPI selection and Best practices identification as part of the MEDNET project. En XII Congreso de ingeniería del transporte. 7, 8 y 9 de Junio, Valencia (España). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1482-1500. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2015.4221OCS1482150

Statins Impair Antitumor Effects of Rituximab by Inducing Conformational Changes of CD20

Jakub Golab and colleagues found that statins significantly decrease rituximab-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against B cell lymphoma cells

Assessment of a transport policy potential for intermodal mode shift on a European scale

Policies of general nature for improving the competitive position of intermodal transport have not always been successful. On the contrary, specific policies, such as targeting the supply chain or the offered services and transport are probably more effective in identifying and subsequently shifting transport from road to intermodal. The aim of the paper is the development of a methodology with the necessary tools to assess the potential of a specific policy measure to produce a modal shift in favour of intermodal transport. In addition, for the cases of positive outcomes, the necessary elements for the policy action plan are presented. The methodology comprises of three parts: a toolbox called the macro-scan, which assesses the potential for modal shift, a sensitivity analysis and the policy action plan. Thus, an insight on the impact of a modal shift on supply chains and on the potential for modal shift is acquired. The methodology, developed within the SPIN Research Project of the European Commission, will be useful to policy makers at governmental level as well as to the private sector, especially in the European Union countries.

Assessing customs performance in the Mediterranean ports. KPI selection and Best practices identification as part of the MEDNET project

The seamless flow of goods, people and investments across the Mediterranean necessitates a well-functioning port and transport system. More efficient port operations enhance seamless logistics and promote safety, efficiency, interoperability and interconnectivity of transport networks in the Mediterranean area. To promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise relevant to port and customs procedures and simplification of clearance for vessels and cargoes in the Mediterranean, the MEDNET project was launched. As part of the project a common evaluation framework for the performance of ports in the form of a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) together with a list of the best practices in terms of operations and customs procedures was developed. In total, 61 ports were analyzed and given a KPI regarding traffic, financial, operational and human resources, sustainability and customs procedures. The values were latter crossed with the current good practices on operation in terms of customs procedures. A small correlation between KPIs performance and implantation degree of good practices in customs procedures was found. This presentation exposes the methodology to assess the ports' performance and the good practices identification. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Plastic electrode decorated with polyhedral anion tetrabutylammonium octamolybdate [N(C4H9)4]4 Mo8O26 for nM phosphate electrochemical detection

Inorganic phosphorous (as phosphate (PO43−), is one of the essential nutrients for all living forms, either terrestrial or marine. In oligotrophic seawaters, this macronutrient is limited (10−9 M) and its ratio with other elements (nitrogen or carbon) is denoting the health state of the marine environment; a small variation of its concentration can produce eutrophication. The gold standard method used for PO43− detection is based on colorimetric detection of phosphomolybdate. The colored complex is obtained by mixing water-soluble molybdenum salts (Mo(VI)) and reducing agents in acid media, along with the sample containing PO43−. Moreover, the kinetic of complex formation is slow, about 1 h is generally required for color to develop, exposing the assay to the drawbacks of interferences as those from silica. The detection is preferably performed in a controlled environment (i.e. in a laboratory) because several chemicals and steps of preparations are required as well as the optical instrumentation is not intended for in-field use. Electrochemical sensors offer portability and simplicity making them a practical option for on-site detection applications. To gain an analytical alternative in measuring low quantities of PO43− (10−9 M), and overcome some of the drawbacks of the classical approaches, we optimised a new easy way to produce a plastic electrode decorated with an alkyl Mo-polyoxometalate (Mo8O264−), that is soluble in organic solvents. This tetra-butyl-ammonium octamolybdate powder, [N (C4H9)4]4 Mo8O26, purposely synthetized was identified with FTIR, Raman, MS methods, and the electroactivity and reactivity with PO43− was confirmed in solution with cyclic voltammetry (CV). When the Mo-decorated electrode was in contact with PO43−, an electroactive phosphomolybdate aggregate formed at the electrode surface that was electrochemically detectable with square wave voltammetry (SWV). A remarkably low detection limit of 6.1 nM, to PO43−, as well as good stability and selectivity were obtained also in real samples. In fact, PO43− was measured in saline simulated and real seawater samples at nM concentrations in less than 5 min. The present investigation provides a new alternative to the current standard colorimetric methods to detect low phosphate concentrations, showing the potential to be used for monitoring nutrients in oligotrophic seawater