Search results for "cost"

Regulation of the type II oncostatin M receptor expression in lung-derived epithelial cells

1998

AbstractOncostatin M (OSM) is a potent modulator of human lung-derived epithelial cell function. This cytokine binds two distinct receptor complexes: type I OSM receptor which is also a functional receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and type II OSM-specific receptor. The role of these two distinct receptors in mediating the response of individual cell types to OSM has not been delineated. In contrast to LIF, OSM induces synthesis of α1-antichymotrypsin and α1-antiproteinase inhibitor in lung-derived epithelial cells. The differential responsiveness to LIF and OSM suggested that the response of lung epithelial cells to OSM may be mediated by the OSM-specific receptor. Therefore, w…

Pumice powder as filler of self-compacting concrete

2015

Abstract An experimental study on the rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete with pumice powder used as filler additive is presented. Self-compacting concrete (SCC) shows its peculiar characteristics in the fresh state and many researches have been developed with reference to its rheological characteristics paying attention to the techniques of self-compacting properties assessment. One of the most important aspect in concrete mix-design is the type and the amount of fillers with respect to water and cement: this amount has great influence not only on self-compacting properties (fluidity, segregation, etc.), but also on the mechanical properties of the mixture. Vo…

Experimental results of RC columns strengthnened with Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Mortars

2012

The structural behaviour of reinforced concrete columns strengthened with a system made up of fibre nets embedded in an inorganic stabilized cementitious matrix was investigated. Specimens with circular and square cross-section were cast and subjected to monotonic uniaxial compression to investigate the efficiency of a Polypara-phenylene-benzo-bisthiazole (PBO) Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Mortars (FRCM) system in increasing both carrying capacity and ductility. The experimental results show that confinement with PBO fibre produced a noticeable increment in strength and ductility, though the low mechanical ratios of fibre considered were not always able to ensure hardening behaviour up to …

Differential Promotion of Glutamate Transporter Expression and Function by Glucocorticoids in Astrocytes from Various Brain Regions

2005

Steroids that activate glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and mineralocorticoid receptors have important regulatory effects on neural development, plasticity, and the body's stress response. Here, we investigated the role of corticosteroids in regulating the expression of the glial glutamate transporters glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) in rat primary astrocytes. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone provoked a marked increase of GLT-1 transcription and protein levels in cortical astrocytes, whereas GLAST expression remained unaffected. Up-regulation of GLT-1 expression was accompanied by an enhanced glutamate uptake, which could be blocked …

Introduction

1990

Los costes, gastos, burocracia e incremento de productividad por la certificación en la norma ISO 9000 en las empresas de la Comunidad Valenciana

2004

Una pregunta que nos podemos hacer respecto l la certificación en la norma ISO 9000 de calidad es que si en verdad sirve para algo o si sólo es plasmar por escrito lo que se hace habitualmente en la empresa, esta pregunta la hemos realizado en una encuesta realizada a las empresas certificadas de la Comunidad Valencia, junto a otras para averiguar si la implantación origina un incremento de productividad, y la importancia que le dan las empresas a los costes cuando se decide implantar los sistemas de calidad. Los resultados que hemos obtenido son que en la mayor parte de los casos la implantación de los sistemas de calidad viene acompañada de un incremento de productividad. Que si bien los …

Cancer care for the homeless population: a literature review

2020

Abstract Background The last global survey in 2005 of the United Nations estimated that 100 million people were homeless. Cancer is becoming one of the most important public health problems worldwide, but specifically, the prevalence of cancer-related mortality for the homeless population has been reported to be double compared to the average adult population. To date, health research pays insufficient attention to studying cancer and improving the delivery of cancer care for the homeless population. Methods A systematic literature review of relevant databases was employed to identify all the quantitative studies addressing cancer care for the homeless population in English, Spanish, French…

Analysing Incentive Strategies to Promote Participation in Crowdsourcing Systems

2016

In this paper, we define two strategies for crowdsourcing systems to encourage users to participate at a cost that is close to the optimal cost for the system. In the scenario considered, the system has temporal constraints and potential participants have dynamic behaviors related to the expected rewards (i.e., users’ expected rewards in exchange of their contributions change over time). We propose and evaluate two types of strategies that promote participation of users through monetary rewards that can change as time passes in order to adapt them to the population dynamic behaviors.

On the use of fractional calculus for the probabilistic characterization of random variables

2009

In this paper, the classical problem of the probabilistic characterization of a random variable is re-examined. A random variable is usually described by the probability density function (PDF) or by its Fourier transform, namely the characteristic function (CF). The CF can be further expressed by a Taylor series involving the moments of the random variable. However, in some circumstances, the moments do not exist and the Taylor expansion of the CF is useless. This happens for example in the case of $\alpha$--stable random variables. Here, the problem of representing the CF or the PDF of random variables (r.vs) is examined by introducing fractional calculus. Two very remarkable results are o…

Path integral solution for non-linear system enforced by Poisson White Noise

2008

Abstract In this paper the response in terms of probability density function of non-linear systems under Poisson White Noise is considered. The problem is handled via path integral (PI) solution that may be considered as a step-by-step solution technique in terms of probability density function. First the extension of the PI to the case of Poisson White Noise is derived, then it is shown that at the limit when the time step becomes an infinitesimal quantity the Kolmogorov–Feller (K–F) equation is fully restored enforcing the validity of the approximations made in obtaining the conditional probability appearing in the Chapman Kolmogorov equation (starting point of the PI). Spectral counterpa…