Selecting POS Systems for Table Service Restaurants

A point-of-sale system can enhance decision making, operational control, guest service, and revenues. However, not all POS systems offer the same features and potential for profit improvement. The author discusses those factors which are critical to POS system selection for table service restaurants

A Modified Heffron-Phillip's Model for The Design of Power System Stabilizers

In this paper a modified Heffron-Phillip's (K-constant) model is derived for the design of power system stabilizers. A knowledge of external system parameters, such as equivalent infinite bus voltage and external impedances or their equivalent estimated values is required for designing a conventional power system stabilizer. In the proposed method, information available at the secondary bus of the step-up transformer is used to set up a modified Heffron-Phillip's (ModHP) model. The PSS design based on this model utilizes signals available within the generating station. The efficacy of the proposed design technique and the performance of the stabilizer has been evaluated over a range of operating and system conditions. The simulation results have shown that the performance of the proposed stabilizer is comparable to that could be obtained by conventional design but without the need for the estimation and computation of external system parameters. The proposed design is thus well suited for practical applications to power system stabilization, including possibly the multi-machine applications where accurate system information is not readily available.

Distance Relay Co-ordination Using Support Vector Machines in Power Transmission System

In this paper, a new approach to enhance the transmission system distance relay co-ordination is presented. The approach depends on the apparent impedance loci seen by the distance relay during all possible disturbances. In a distance relay, the impedance loci seen at the relay location is obtained by extensive transient stability studies. Support vector machines (SVMs), a class of patterns classifiers are used in discriminating zone settings (zone-1, zone-2 and zone-3) using the signals to be used by the relay. Studies on a sample 9-bus are presented for illustrating the proposed scheme.

On the stability of a nonlinear system with periodic coefficients

A quasi-geometric stability criterion for feedback systems with a linear time invariant forward block and a periodically time varying nonlinear gain in the feedback loop is developed.

Adaptation as a part of system resilience. insights from fish producers organizations in Portugal

Complex problems of globalized society challenge its adaptive capacity. However, it is precisely the nature of these human induced problems that provide enough evidence to show that adaptability may not be on a resilient path. This thesis explores the ambiguity of the idea of adaptation (and its practice) and illustrates the ways in which adaptability contributes to resilience of social ecological systems. The thesis combines a case study and grounded theory approach and develops an analytical framework to study adaptability in resource users’ organizations: from what it depends on and what the key challenges are for resource management and system resilience. It does so for the specific case of fish producers’ organizations (POs) in Portugal. The findings suggest that while ecological and market context, including the type of crisis, may influence the character of fishers’ adaptation within POs (i.e. anticipatory, maladaptive and reactively adaptive), it does not determine it. Instead, it makes agency even more crucial (i.e. leadership, trust and agent’s perceptions in terms of their impact on fishers’ motivation to learn from each other). In sum, it was found that internal adaptation can improve POs’ contribution to fishery management and resilience, but it is not a panacea and may, in some cases, increase system vulnerability to change. Continuous maladaptation of some Portuguese POs points at a basic institutional problem (fish market regime), which clearly reduces fisheries resilience as it promotes overfishing. However, structural change may not be sufficient to address other barriers to Portuguese fishers’ (PO members) adaptability, such as history (collective memory) and associated problematic self-perceptions. The agency (people involved in structures and practices) also needs to change. What and how institutional change and agency change build on one another (e.g. comparison of fisheries governance in Portugal and other EU countries) is a topic to be explored in further research.

Las formas jurídicas (pos)neoliberales desde Colombia: el sistema de salud en las dinámicas lucro-destructivas del derecho útil al capital

La transformación de los servicios de salud en Colombia desde la década de los años noventa con la expedición de la ley 100 y sus posteriores desarrollos ha estado acompañada por diversos dispositivos jurídicos que han permitido su desarrollo y construcción del derecho a la salud. Sin embargo, ¿cuál ha sido el papel de estos mecanismos jurídicos? A partir del análisis de las diversas reformas a la ley 100 de 1993, el litigio en salud, y las complejas dinámicas alrededor del sistema de salud se argumenta que las formas jurídicas han devenido en formas útiles a la acumulación capitalista en salud, y que articulan la acumulación por desposesión en el momento posneoliberal que se desarrolla en Colombia.

Impacto financiero de la unificación del plan obligatorio de salud subsidiado (pos-s) en las empresas sociales del estado (ese) de mediana complejidad de Cundinamarca

A partir de la Ley 100 de 1993, el sistema de salud en Colombia ha presentado una serie de trasformaciones que buscan mejorar la prestación de los servicios y lograr cubrimiento de la población no favorecida y excluida del Plan Obligatorio de Salud (POS). Sin embargo, las Empresas sociales del Estado (ESE), en aras de dar cumplimiento a las disposiciones y normatividades que exige la ley, funcionan y prestan sus servicios acorde con los objetivos corporativos planteados por ellas mismas, a pesar de tener una gran cartera por parte de las Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS). El propósito de esta investigación es evaluar el impacto financiero en una muestra de cuatro hospitales públicos de Cundinamarca (las ESE San Rafael de Facatativá, Fusagasugá, Cáqueza, y el Salvador de Ubaté), luego de la aplicación del Acuerdo 032 del 2012 de la Comisión de Regulación en Salud (CRES). Se seleccionaron cuatro hospitales públicos de mediana complejidad de Cundinamarca, por ser uno de los departamentos más representativos en hospitales de este tipo. Se encontró una mayor convergencia en términos de estructura administrativa y financiera, lo que hace posible que la información obtenida sea comparable y útil para la medición en términos de presupuesto y liquidez. El incremento de la cartera y la disminución de la rotación de la misma, con la afectación respectiva de la liquidez y la rentabilidad, dificultan el logro de las instituciones como lo son la sostenibilidad y perdurabilidad. El cambio del pagador después de la aplicación de la norma incidió directamente en lo anterior; igualmente, traspasar la población no cubierta al régimen subsidiado eliminó el desembolso por parte de la Secretaría de Salud y lo trasladó a las EPS subsidiados, afectando directamente los tiempos de rotación de cartera como se documenta en el análisis.

Regulação da mobilização de lipídios e proteinas por hormônios, fontes de carbono e nitrogênio durante o crescimento pos-germinativo em girassol

The mobilization of food reserves in storage tissues and allocation of their hydrolysis products in the growing axis are critical processes for the establishment of seedlings after germination. Therefore, it is crucial for mobilization of reserves to be synchronized with the growing axis, so that photosynthetic activity can be started before depletion of reserves. For this, integrative approaches involving different reserves, different hydrolysis products and interaction between storage and growing axis tissues, either through hormones or metabolites with signaling role, can contribute greatly to the elucidation of the regulation mechanisms for reserve mobilization. In this study, was hypothesized that hormones and metabolites have different actions on reserve mobilization, and there must be a crossed effect of sugars on the mobilization of proteins and amino acids on lipids and starch mobilization in sunflower seedlings. This study was conducted with seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid Helio 253 using in vitro culture system. Seeds were germinated on Germitest® paper and grown on agar-water 4 g/L without addition of nutrients during 9 days after imbibition (DAI) for growth curve. To verify the effect of metabolites and hormones, seedlings were transferred in the 2nd DAI to agar-water 4 g/L supplemented with increasing concentrations of sucrose or L-glutamine, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid or indolebutyric acid. The results of this study confirm that the mobilization of lipids and storage proteins occurs in a coordinated manner during post-germination growth in sunflower, corroborating the hypothesis that the application of external carbon (sucrose) and nitrogen (L-glutamine) sources can delay the mobilization of these reserves in a crossed way. Moreover, considering the changes in the patterns of reserve mobilization and partition of their products in seedlings treated with different growth regulators, it is evident that the effects of metabolites and hormones must involve, at least in part, distinct mechanisms of action

Influence of feeding regime and finishing system on lamb muscle fiber and meat quality

Avaliou-se a influência dos níveis nutricionais da ovelha antes do parto, da idade à desmama e do sistema de terminação sobre as fibras musculares e a qualidade da carne dos cordeiros. Utilizaram-se matrizes mestiças Ile de France × Bergamacia criadas a pasto. As ovelhas foram divididas em dois grupos: um com suplementação alimentar 30 dias antes do parto e outro sem suplementação. Os animais (ovelha e cordeiros) foram subdivididos de acordo com a idade à desmama (45 ou 60 dias de idade) e os cordeiros desmamados foram submetidos a três sistemas de terminação: confinamento com dieta completa; confinamento somente com feno; e confinamento somente no pasto. O abate dos cordeiros foi realizado aos 30 kg de peso vivo ou aos 150 dias de idade. As características de carcaça analisadas foram morfofisiologia da fibra do músculo longissimus dorsi, fragmentação miofibrilar pós-morte (maturados nos dias 0, 3 e 7 pos mortem) e redução do pH e da temperatura da carne pós-abate. Não houve efeito da suplementação às ovelhas ou da idade à desmama sobre nenhuma das características avaliadas. A composição em fibras de contração lenta e oxidativa, contração rápida e oxidativa ou contração rápida e glicolítica não foi alterada pelos fatores em estudo, mas a área transversal das fibras foi menor nos cordeiros terminados com feno, assim como os valores de pH, temperatura e as medidas dos fragmentos de miofibrila. Com o aumento do tempo de maturação de 0 para 3 e 7 dias post mortem, houve redução do comprimento dos fragmentos de miofibrilas. O sistema de terminação de cordeiros em confinamento somente com feno interfere mais intensamente na qualidade da carne que o sistema de terminação a pasto ou em confinamento com dieta completa.

Interesting proposals of the AMP Working Party on a new pricing system

Informa acerca de las conclusiones y propuestas del Grupo de Trabajo encargado de revisar el protocolo de comercializacion agricola (AMP)

Partitioning and extraction of collagenase from Penicillium aurantiogriseum in poly(ethylene glycol)/phosphate aqueous two-phase system

Purification of collagenase produced by Penicillium aurantiogriseum URM4622 was carried using a PEG/phosphate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). A 2(3)-full experimental design was used to investigate the influence of PEG molar mass, PEG concentration and phosphate concentration on the selected responses, namely partition coefficient, activity yield and purification factor. The ATPS was composed of PEG (molar mass of 550, 1500 and 4000 g/mol) at concentrations of 15.0, 17.5 and 20.0% (w/w) and phosphate at concentrations of 12.5, 15.0 and 17.5% (w/w). The best results of one-step extraction of collagenase from the fermentation broth (partition coefficient of 1.01, activity yield of 242% and purification factor of 23.5) were obtained at pH 6.0 using 20.0% (w/w) PEG 550 and 17.5% (w/w) phosphate. The results of this preliminary study demonstrate that the selected ATPS is satisfactorily selective for the extraction of such a collagenase. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A New Diminutive Species of Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Paraguay System, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Loricaria coximensis. new species, is described from the Rio Paraguay basin, in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. It is distinguished from all other species of Loricaria, except L. holmbergi, L. lundbergi, L. parnahybae, and L. pumila by having abdominal plates confined to the pre-anal shield and posterior median abdominal area, usually loosely joined or separated by naked areas, pectoral girdle mostly naked, with isolated plates near base of pectoral fins and posterior to gill opening vs. abdominal plates well developed and tightly arranged across the entire median abdominal area, including the pectoral girdle. It is distinguished from these other four species by meristic counts and several morphometric proportions, particularly a broader head (19.4-21.3% SL vs. 14.1-19.1% SL). Loricaria coximensis becomes the third described paedomorphic species of Loricaria, along with L. nickeriensis and L. pumila, based on its small adult size (<100 mm SL), reduced number of lateral dermal plates, and incomplete abdominal plate development. The new species is presently known only from a limited section of the Rio Coxim, which has been severely impacted by a hydroelectric dam and widespread conversion of land for agriculture.

Peronismo, pos-peronismo y profesionalización : Trayectorias académicas, estrategias de auto-preservación y círculos discipulares en la antropología porteña, 1945-1963

En el presente artículo se analiza el campo antropológico porteño en el período comprendido entre 1945 y 1963. El objetivo es reconstruir las trayectorias, los reposicionamientos y las estrategias adoptadas por los miembros estructuralmente significativos de la disciplina durante el peronismo y en la etapa posterior. Se sostiene que, si bien la presencia estatal modificó las condiciones de acción de los agentes (llevándolos a extender la disputa a la arena política), no parece haberse registrado una crisis de las jerarquías, un desmembramiento de los círculos discipulares ni una alteración de las reglas del orden sucesorio. Por consiguiente, la hipótesis de la que se parte es que, aunque el advenimiento del peronismo trazaría antagonismos, su impronta en el sistema disciplinar fue secundaria, predominando los mecanismos de auto-preservación, las redes de sociabilidad, las lealtades interpersonales y las afinidades electivas. En ese sentido, se pretende mostrar la operatividad de las lógicas de producción y reproducción académicas (la autonomía relativa del campo) en una etapa de enorme efervescencia política, ideológica e intelectual

Peronismo, pos-peronismo y profesionalización : Trayectorias académicas, estrategias de auto-preservación y círculos discipulares en la antropología porteña, 1945-1963

En el presente artículo se analiza el campo antropológico porteño en el período comprendido entre 1945 y 1963. El objetivo es reconstruir las trayectorias, los reposicionamientos y las estrategias adoptadas por los miembros estructuralmente significativos de la disciplina durante el peronismo y en la etapa posterior. Se sostiene que, si bien la presencia estatal modificó las condiciones de acción de los agentes (llevándolos a extender la disputa a la arena política), no parece haberse registrado una crisis de las jerarquías, un desmembramiento de los círculos discipulares ni una alteración de las reglas del orden sucesorio. Por consiguiente, la hipótesis de la que se parte es que, aunque el advenimiento del peronismo trazaría antagonismos, su impronta en el sistema disciplinar fue secundaria, predominando los mecanismos de auto-preservación, las redes de sociabilidad, las lealtades interpersonales y las afinidades electivas. En ese sentido, se pretende mostrar la operatividad de las lógicas de producción y reproducción académicas (la autonomía relativa del campo) en una etapa de enorme efervescencia política, ideológica e intelectual

Peronismo, pos-peronismo y profesionalización : Trayectorias académicas, estrategias de auto-preservación y círculos discipulares en la antropología porteña, 1945-1963

En el presente artículo se analiza el campo antropológico porteño en el período comprendido entre 1945 y 1963. El objetivo es reconstruir las trayectorias, los reposicionamientos y las estrategias adoptadas por los miembros estructuralmente significativos de la disciplina durante el peronismo y en la etapa posterior. Se sostiene que, si bien la presencia estatal modificó las condiciones de acción de los agentes (llevándolos a extender la disputa a la arena política), no parece haberse registrado una crisis de las jerarquías, un desmembramiento de los círculos discipulares ni una alteración de las reglas del orden sucesorio. Por consiguiente, la hipótesis de la que se parte es que, aunque el advenimiento del peronismo trazaría antagonismos, su impronta en el sistema disciplinar fue secundaria, predominando los mecanismos de auto-preservación, las redes de sociabilidad, las lealtades interpersonales y las afinidades electivas. En ese sentido, se pretende mostrar la operatividad de las lógicas de producción y reproducción académicas (la autonomía relativa del campo) en una etapa de enorme efervescencia política, ideológica e intelectual