Consultoria del procés de logística interna del laboratori d'anàlisis clíniques a l'Hospital General de Vic

Com a resultat de les politiques i estratègies de col·laboració entre la universitat de Vic i de l’hospital i de la voluntat de realitzar activitats formatives conjuntes , s’estableix un línia de treball orientada a l’estudi i anàlisi de la situació logística interna actual del laboratori d’anàlisis clíniques de l’Hospital General de Vic. El treball es centra en el procés intern del laboratori i l’abast de l’estudi es troba limitat a les àrees especifiques d’hematologia i coagulació i bioquímica. D’aquestes dues àrees el treball realitza un estudi exhaustiu del seu procés intern, identifica les seves activitats i la seva metodologia de treball amb l’objectiu d’elaborar el Value Stream Map de cadascuna de les àrees. Les àrees de Microbiologia, Banc de Sang i Urgències resten fora d’aquest estudi exhaustiu tot i que són presents en el treball per la inevitable interacció que tenen en la globalitat del procés. El treball es centra bàsicament en els processos automatitzats tot i que els processos que es duen a terme en el laboratori són tant automatitzats com manuals. També es limita al sistema productiu intern del laboratori tot i la interacció que té aquest sistema intern amb altres centres productius del sistema com ara són els centres d’atenció primària, els diversos hospitals i centres d’atenció sociosanitària. El laboratori es troba immers en el moment de l’elaboració d’aquest treball en un situació de canvi i millora del seus processos interns que consisteixen principalment en la substitució de part la maquinària actual que obliguen a la definició d’un nou layout i d’una nova distribució de la producció a cada màquina. A nivell extern també s’estan produint millores en el sistema informàtic de gestió que afecten a part del seu procés. L’objectiu del treball és donar visibilitat total al procés de logística interna actual del laboratori, identificant clarament com són i quina seqüència tenen els processos logístics interns i els mètodes de treball actuals, tant de recursos màquina com recursos persona, per poder identificar sota una perspectiva de generació de valor, aquells punts concrets de la logística interna que poden ser millorats en quant a eficiència i productivitat amb l’objectiu que un cop identificats es puguin emprendre accions i/o projectes de millora. El treball finalitza amb un anàlisis final del procés logística interna des d’una òptica Lean. Per fer-ho, identifica aquelles activitats que no aporten valor al procés o MUDA i les classifica en set categories i es realitzen diverses propostes de millora com són la implantació d’un flux continu , anivellat i basat en un concepte pull , identifica activitats que poden ser estandarditzades i/o simplificades i proposa modificacions en les infraestructures físiques per donar major visibilitat al procés. L’aspecte humà del procés es planteja des d’un punt de vist de metodologia, formació, comunicació i aplicació de les 5S.

INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton observations towards the unidentified MeV source GRO J1411-64.

The COMPTEL unidentified source GRO J1411-64 was observed by INTEGRAL, and its central part, also by XMM-Newton. The data analysis shows no hint for new detections at hard X-rays. The upper limits in flux herein presented constrain the energy spectrum of whatever was producing GRO J1411-64, imposing, in the framework of earlier COMPTEL observations, the existence of a peak in power output located somewhere between 300-700 keV for the so-called low state. The Circinus Galaxy is the only source detected within the 4$\sigma$ location error of GRO J1411-64, but can be safely excluded as the possible counterpart: the extrapolation of the energy spectrum is well below the one for GRO J1411-64 at MeV energies. 22 significant sources (likelihood $> 10$) were extracted and analyzed from XMM-Newton data. Only one of these sources, XMMU J141255.6-635932, is spectrally compatible with GRO J1411-64 although the fact the soft X-ray observations do not cover the full extent of the COMPTEL source position uncertainty make an association hard to quantify and thus risky. The unique peak of the power output at high energies (hard X-rays and gamma-rays) resembles that found in the SED seen in blazars or microquasars. However, an analysis using a microquasar model consisting on a magnetized conical jet filled with relativistic electrons which radiate through synchrotron and inverse Compton scattering with star, disk, corona and synchrotron photons shows that it is hard to comply with all observational constrains. This and the non-detection at hard X-rays introduce an a-posteriori question mark upon the physical reality of this source, which is discussed in some detail.

BRST-invariant path integral for a spinning relativistic particle

The propagator of a relativistic spinning particle is calculated using the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin-(BRST)-invariant path-integral formalism of Fradkin and Vilkovisky. The spinless case is considered as an introduction to the formalism.

Equivalence of reduced, Polyakov, Faddeev-Popov, and Faddeev path-integral quantization of gauge theories

A geometrical treatment of the path integral for gauge theories with first-class constraints linear in the momenta is performed. The equivalence of reduced, Polyakov, Faddeev-Popov, and Faddeev path-integral quantization of gauge theories is established. In the process of carrying this out we find a modified version of the original Faddeev-Popov formula which is derived under much more general conditions than the usual one. Throughout this paper we emphasize the fact that we only make use of the information contained in the action for the system, and of the natural geometrical structures derived from it.

Poincar-Cartan integral invariant and canonical transformation for singular lagrangians

In this work we develop the canonical formalism for constrained systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom by making use of the PoincarCartan integral invariant method. A set of variables suitable for the reduction to the physical ones can be obtained by means of a canonical transformation. From the invariance of the PoincarCartan integral under canonical transformations we get the form of the equations of motion for the physical variables of the system.

Discretized integral hydrodynamics

Using an interpolant form for the gradient of a function of position, we write an integral version of the conservation equations for a fluid. In the appropriate limit, these become the usual conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy. We also discuss the special cases of the Navier-Stokes equations for viscous flow and the Fourier law for thermal conduction in the presence of hydrodynamic fluctuations. By means of a discretization procedure, we show how the integral equations can give rise to the so-called particle dynamics of smoothed particle hydrodynamics and dissipative particle dynamics.

Water tanks as ecosystems. Local ecosystemic perception for integral management of water tanks in Tamil Nadu, South India

Water tanks offer from many centuries ago solutions in South India for several problems related with water scarcity. They are a traditional water harvesting system wide spread in this territory, allowing a potential decentralized and participatory management of the local population on their own resources. Although water tanks¿ main function is irrigation, they have many other uses, functions and natural resources associated, involving stakeholders in the villages apart from those farmers making use of the irrigation. Water tanks provide a variety of landscapes and biodiversity that creates a valuable heterogeneous territory. The complexity of such an ecosystem should be managed with an integral perspective, considering all the elements involved and their relations, and understanding that water tanks are not just water deposits. This multidisciplinary study tries to demonstrate the idea of water tanks as ecosystems, describing and analyzing deeply and in an unprecedentedly way the functions, uses, natural resources and stakeholders. The research also focuses in the assessment of the ecosystemic perception of the local population of some villages in Tamil Nadu, employing diverse anthropological methodology.

Integral Bridge Abutment-to-Approach Slab Connection Final Report, June 2008

The Iowa Department of Transportation has long recognized that approach slab pavements of integral abutment bridges are prone to settlement and cracking, which manifests as the “bump at the end of the bridge”. A commonly recommended solution is to integrally attach the approach slab to the bridge abutment. Two different approach slabs, one being precast concrete and the other being cast-inplace concrete, were integrally connected to side-by-side bridges and investigated. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the approach slab performance and the impacts the approach slabs have on the bridge. To satisfy the research needs, the project scope involved a literature review, survey of Midwest Department of Transportation current practices, implementing a health monitoring system on the bridge and approach slab, interpreting the data obtained during the evaluation, and conducting periodic visual inspections. Based on the information obtained from the testing the following general conclusions were made: The integral connection between the approach slabs and the bridges appear to function well with no observed distress at this location and no relative longitudinal movement measured between the two components; Tying the approach slab to the bridge appears to impact the bridge; The two different approach slabs, the longer precast slab and the shorter cast-in-place slab, appear to impact the bridge differently; The measured strains in the approach slabs indicate a force exists at the expansion joint and should be taken into consideration when designing both the approach slab and the bridge; The observed responses generally followed an annual cyclic and/or short term cyclic pattern over time.

Power variation of some integral fractional processes

We consider the asymptotic behaviour of the realized power variation of processes of the form ¿t0usdBHs, where BH is a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H E(0,1), and u is a process with finite q-variation, q<1/(1¿H). We establish the stable convergence of the corresponding fluctuations. These results provide new statistical tools to study and detect the long-memory effect and the Hurst parameter.

Instrumentation and Monitoring of Precast Bridge Approach Tied to an Integral Abutment Bridge in Bremer County, SPR 0000-005, 2010

Approach slab pavement at integral abutment (I-A) bridges are prone to settlement and cracking, which has been long recognized by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). A commonly recommended solution is to integrally attach the approach slab to the bridge abutment. This study sought to supplement a previous project by instrumenting, monitoring, and analyzing the behavior of an approach slab tied to a integral abutment bridge. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the performance of the approach slab. To satisfy the research needs, the project scope involved reviewing a similar previous study, implementing a health monitoring system on the approach slab, interpreting the data obtained during the evaluation, and conducting periodic visual inspections of the bridge and approach slab. Based on the information obtained from the testing, the following general conclusions were made: the integral connection between the approach slab and the bridge appears to function well with no observed distress at this location and no relative longitudinal movement measured between the two components; the measured strains in the approach slabs indicate a force exists at the expansion joint and should be taken into consideration when designing both the approach slab and the bridge and the observed responses generally followed an annual cyclic and/or short term cyclic pattern over time; the expansion joint at one side of the approach slab does not appear to be functioning as well as elsewhere; much larger frictional forces were observed in this study compared to the previous study.

Pile Design and Tests for Integral Abutment Bridges, HR-273, 1987

Expansion joints increase both the initial cost and the maintenance cost of bridges. Integral abutment bridges provide an attractive design alternative because expansion joints are eliminated from the bridge itself. However, the piles in these bridges are subjected to horizontal movement as the bridge expands and contracts during temperature changes. The objective of this research was to develop a method of designing piles for these conditions. Separate field tests simulating a pile and a bridge girder were conducted for three loading cases: (1) vertical load only, (2) horizontal displacement of pile head only, and (3) combined horizontal displacement of pile head with subsequent vertical load. Both tests (1) and (3) reached the same ultimate vertical load, that is, the horizontal displacement had no effect on the vertical load capacity. Several model tests were conducted in sand with a scale factor of about 1:10. Experimental results from both the field and model tests were used to develop the vertical and horizontal load-displacement properties of the soil. These properties were input into the finite element computer program Integral Abutment Bridge Two-Dimensional (IAB2D), which was developed under a previous research contract. Experimental and analytical results compared well for the test cases. Two alternative design methods, both based upon the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Specification, were developed. Alternative One is quite conservative relative to IAB2D results and does not permit plastic redistribution of forces. Alternative Two is also conservative when compared to IAB2D, but plastic redistribution is permitted. To use Alternative Two, the pile cross section must have sufficient inelastic rotation capacity before local buckling occurs. A design example for a friction pile and an end-bearing pile illustrates both alternatives.

Validation of Design Recommendations for Integral Abutment Piles, HR-292, 1989

Since integral abutment bridges decrease the initial and maintenance costs of bridges, they provide an attractive alternative for bridge designers. The objective of this project is to develop rational and experimentally verified design recommendations for these bridges. Field testing consisted of instrumenting two bridges in Iowa to monitor air and bridge temperatures, bridge displacements, and pile strains. Core samples were also collected to determine coefficients of thermal expansion for the two bridges. Design values for the coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete are recommended, as well as revised temperature ranges for the deck and girders of steel and concrete bridges. A girder extension model is developed to predict the longitudinal bridge displacements caused by changing bridge temperatures. Abutment rotations and passive soil pressures behind the abutment were neglected. The model is subdivided into segments that have uniform temperatures, coefficients of expansion, and moduli of elasticity. Weak axis pile strains were predicted using a fixed-head model. The pile is idealized as an equivalent cantilever with a length determined by the surrounding soil conditions and pile properties. Both the girder extension model and the fixed-head model are conservative for design purposes. A longitudinal frame model is developed to account for abutment rotations. The frame model better predicts both the longitudinal displacement and weak axis pile strains than do the simpler models. A lateral frame model is presented to predict the lateral motion of skewed bridges and the associated strong axis pile strains. Full passive soil pressure is assumed on the abutment face. Two alternatives for the pile design are presented. Alternative One is the more conservative and includes thermally induced stresses. Alternative Two neglects thermally induced stresses but allows for the partial formation of plastic hinges (inelastic redistribution of forces). Ductility criteria are presented for this alternative. Both alternatives are illustrated in a design example.