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An agent-based simulator for quantifying the cost of uncertainty in production systems
Get PDFProduct-mix problems, where a range of products that generate different incomes compete for a
limited set of production resources, are key to the success of many organisations. In their
deterministic forms, these are simple optimisation problems; however, the consideration of stochasticity may turn them into analytically and/or computationally intractable problems. Thus,
simulation becomes a powerful approach for providing efficient solutions to real-world productmix problems. In this paper, we develop a simulator for exploring the cost of uncertainty in these
production systems using Petri nets and agent-based techniques. Specifically, we implement a
stochastic version of Goldratt’s PQ problem that incorporates uncertainty in the volume and mix
of customer demand. Through statistics, we derive regression models that link the net profit to the
level of variability in the volume and mix. While the net profit decreases as uncertainty grows, we
find that the system is able to effectively accommodate a certain level of variability when using a
Drum-Buffer-Rope mechanism. In this regard, we reveal that the system is more robust to mix
than to volume uncertainty. Later, we analyse the cost-benefit trade-off of uncertainty reduction,
which has important implications for professionals. This analysis may help them optimise the
profitability of investments. In this regard, we observe that mitigating volume uncertainty should
be given higher consideration when the costs of reducing variability are low, while the efforts are
best concentrated on alleviating mix uncertainty under high costs.This article was financially supported by the State Research Agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/50110 0 011033), via the project SPUR, with grant ref. PID2020–117021GB-I00. In addition, the authors greatly appreciate the valuable and constructive feedback received from the Editorial team of this journal and two anonymous reviewers in the different stages of the review process
Extracurricular Program for Girls to Improve Competencies and Self-Concept in Science and Technology
Get PDFThe gender gap in STEM areas is still a reality that constitutes a global concern. Many
initiatives have sought to strengthen the scientific-technological aspirations of girls, among them
extracurricular programs such as the one we present here. Its design is based on the available scientific
evidence to promote female interest and self-concept in those areas. In this study, we analyze the
impact of the extracurricular activities on the development of competencies and perceptive selfevaluation skills among eight girls aged between 8 and 11 years old regarding science and technology.
The results showed the effectiveness of the extracurricular activities both for the development of
skills and for the improvement of levels of self-concept, interest, and participation, which leads us to
highlight the need to promote initiatives of this sort in order to overcome gender stereotypes and to
achieve equality.This research was funded by Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, grant number FCT-19-15075
A Cross-Sectional Study: Determining Factors of Functional Independence and Quality of Life of Patients One Month after Having Suffered a Stroke
Get PDFLoss of quality of life (QoL) and functional independence are two of the
most common consequences of suffering a stroke. The main objective of this research is to study which
factors are the greatest determinants of functional capacity and QoL a month after suffering a stroke so
that they can be considered in early interventions
Using Eye Tracking Technology to Analyse Cognitive Load in Multichannel Activities in University Students
Get PDFMonitoring through the use of eye-tracking technology helps in understanding the cognitive load learners experience when doing tasks. This data gives the teacher and the student important information for improving learning outcomes. This study examined whether students’ participation in a learning virtual laboratory, with a self-regulated video monitored with eye-tracking, would influence their learning outcomes. It also examined whether students’ prior knowledge affected their learning outcomes. Lastly, the study identified clusters related to cognitive load in relevant Areas of Interest vs. non-relevant Areas of Interest. The sample comprised 42 university students of health sciences. The results indicate that participation in the virtual laboratory was related to better learning outcomes. In addition, prior knowledge did not affect cognitive load. A number of different clusters were found related to indicators of cognitive load in relevant and non-relevant AOIs. More applied studies are needed about the effects of monitoring on learning outcomes and on what it means for individualization of learning.his work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España. Proyectos de I + D+i-RTI Tipo B under Grant number [PID2020-117111RB-I00]
La mujer en la literatura de los años cuarenta: una propuesta de aprendizaje-servicio y aprendizaje basado en proyectos
Get PDFEste Trabajo Fin de Máster se conforma de dos apartados principales: el Marco teórico y
la Propuesta didáctica. En el primero de ellos se presenta una revisión bibliográfica de la
historia de la mujer en la primera mitad del S. XX, lo que considera, a su vez, los modelos
femeninos y la literatura elaborada por escritoras; una revisión del estado actual de la
literatura en la Educación Secundaria; y, finalmente, una recopilación de experiencias
previas en el ámbito de la educación formal relacionadas con la temática. Todo ello con
el objetivo de elaborar una propuesta didáctica en torno a Nada (1945) de Carmen Laforet
para cuarto curso de ESO en la materia de Lengua Castellana y Literatura, que instruya a
los alumnos en la igualdad y el respeto hacia el sexo femenino. Esta ha sido elaborada
bajo los fundamentos de las metodologías del Aprendizaje-Servicio y el Aprendizaje
Basado en Proyectos (ABP), llevadas a la práctica a través de la realización de un diario
intergeneracional con la herramienta digital Genial.ly y con la participación de mujeres
nacidas en los cuarenta y residentes de un centro residencial de Burgos.This Master's Thesis consists of two main sections: the Theoretical Framework and the
Didactic Proposal. The first section presents a literature review on the history of women
in the first half of the 20th century, which includes the female models and the literature
produced by women writers. It also includes a review of the current state of literature in
Secondary Education and a compilation of previous experiences in formal education
related to the topic. The purpose of this section is to develop a didactic proposal centered
around Carmen Laforet's "Nada" (1945) for fourth year of Spanish secondary education
(15-16 years old) in the subject of Spanish Language and Literature. The proposal aims
to educate students about equality and respect towards women. It has been developed
based on the principles of Service-Learning and Project-Based Learning (PBL),
implemented through the creation of an intergenerational diary using the digital tool
Genial.ly. The project involves the participation of women born in the 1940s and residing
in a nursing home in Burgos
Bioaccessibility and Genoprotective Effect of Melanoidins Obtained from Common and Soft Bread Crusts: Relationship between Melanoidins and Their Bioactivity
Get PDFBread crust constitutes an important by-product of the bakery industry, and its utilization
for the isolation of melanoidins to be used as a functional ingredient can enhance its added value
and contribute to health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccessibility, bioactivity, and
genoprotective effect of melanoidins derived from bread crust. Bioaccessibility was assessed in
gastric, intestinal digestion, and colonic fermentation fractions. The results revealed a relationship
between bioaccessible melanoidins and their type (common or soft bread). No cytotoxicity effects
were observed for bioaccessible fractions, as assessed by MTT and RTA methods, and they did not
affect the distribution of E-cadherin in Caco-2 cells, confirming their ability to maintain membrane
integrity. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that the gastrointestinal and colonic fermentation
fractions successfully transported across the intestinal barrier, without affecting cell permeability, and
showed antioxidant activity on the basolateral side of the cell monolayer. Remarkably, both fractions
displayed a significant genoprotective effect in Caco-2 cells. Our findings provide crucial insights
into the relationship between the melanoidins and their bioactivity and genoprotective effect. These
results demonstrated the potential of bioaccessible melanoidins as valuable bioactive compounds for
the development of functional foods, without showing toxic effects on gastrointestinal cells.This research was funded by the Autonomous Government of Castilla y Leon and Feder (JCyL/FEDER), grant number BU243P18