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Mobility simulations are crucial for research, industry, and governance. However, simulating mobility systems with reasonable accuracy requires large-scale efforts of data collection, data transformation, data analysis, and data visualization. The paradigm of the digital twin offers a novel perspective on how to manage the data efficiently and make the simulations available more steadily at a lower cost. We introduce the first prototype of the “CH on the move” digital twin that is designed to be openly available to all interested parties to enable a common baseline for transport research in Switzerland. This digital twin is based on the extensible Open Digital Twin Platform (ODTP) that uses containerization, loose coupling, and micro-services to provide dynamically composable digital twins. In its first iteration, “CH on the move” provides an easy-to-use version of the eqasim pipeline for MATSim making it possible to initiate simulations of Switzerland with one click. Future versions of “CH on the move” aim to include a rich set of relevant data sources and analytical pipelines related to transport and mobility and make them easily accessible to research, industry, and governance., ISBN:https://zenodo.org/communities/open-digital-twin-platform

The aim of this manuscript was to show the concepts involving data treatment of RGB based image analysis by univariate and multivariate approaches - the latter using Partial Least Squares (PLS) - using as a practical example application the determination of extravirgin olive oil adulteration. Digital images were collected using a device made of LEDs, batteries and a smartphone and results are shown in a tutorial format using Matlab computing environment. The experiment can serve as an example for teaching the subject for undergraduate and graduate students.

After fresh water, concrete is the most consumed material in the world; however, despite its extreme importance to the construction industry, it has drawbacks that must be effectively addressed. The increasing concern with the environmental footprint of concrete along with its life-span service provides strong motivation to develop concrete materials with greater durability, strength and stiffness but without increasing the effective cost of the concrete mix proportion. The aim of this dissertation is to provide new insights on the different physical/chemical interactions of the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the most important hydrate phase in concrete, with different soluble organic compounds used to improve the particles dispersion or to increase mechanical properties of C-S-H. These new results can contribute to enhance the concrete performance and are a step forward to develop more sustainable and durable concrete materials.The composition of all C-S-H used in this research had a Ca/Si ratio of 1.3. This composition guaranteed that the all the calcium was incorporated into C-S-H structure creating a monophasic material (i.e. without the presence of Ca(OH)2) and monomeric silicate structures that contain abundant reactive sites denominated as non-bonded oxygen. These reactive sites are thought to be potential locations where chemical bonds can be formed between the inorganic and organic phases.The first thrust of this study was focused on the understanding between the interaction between C-S-H and polycarboxylate-based superplasticizers (PCEs), one of the most advanced dispersant polymers used in concrete. Major developments in concrete technology have been achieved with the use of PCEs to improve the concrete rheology without increasing the water content of the concrete mixture. Currently, it is possible to control the fluidity of the fresh concrete and obtain stronger and more durable structures. Therefore, there is a strong incentive to understand the interactions between PCEs and cement hydrates at the atomic scale to design new customized functional PCEs according to the ever-increasing requirements of the concrete industry. In this work, the bonding types generated between a PCE with silyl functionalities (PCE-Sil) and a synthetic calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) were analyzed using XRD, 29Si NMR and synchrotron-based techniques, such as NEXAFS and EXAFS. The results indicated that the carboxylic groups present in PCE-Sil interact by a ligand-type bond with calcium, which modified not only the symmetry and coordination number of the calcium located at the surface of C-S-H but also the neighboring silicon atoms of the C-S-H. In addition, the silyl functionalities of the PCE-Sil generated covalent bonds through siloxane bridges between the silanol groups of PCE-Sil and the non-bonding oxygen located at the dimeric sites in C-S-H, forming new bridging silicon sites and subsequently increasing the silicate polymerization. These results give relevant information for tailoring new functionalities of PCE in order to develop molecules with adaptation capabilities that overcome the complex variation in the concrete chemistry. Moreover, the interactions described above are valuable data to validate advanced atomistic modeling.The second thrust of this dissertation focused on modifying the C-S-H mechanical properties by specific interaction with soluble organic compounds. The critical role of C-S-H to the concrete behavior, such as strength development, volume change over time, and durability makes C-S-H a target to enhance the properties of concrete. This can be a step-forward to produce a more sustainable and durable concrete material through a bottom-up approach. Considering the structural similarities between clays and C-S-H and the outstanding improvements of the clay/polymer properties, the modification of the C-S-H nanostructure by the interaction with two specific organic compound, a silane-based 3-aminopropyltriethoxylsilane [H2N(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3] (APTES) and aromatic amine aniline monomer [C6H7N] (Anil), are evaluated in detail.To obtain a detailed understanding of the strengthening mechanism of C-S-H, a combination of different techniques were used. High-pressure X-Ray diffraction synchrotron-based source (HP-XRD) was used to determine the deformations along the lattice directions and calculate the mechanical modulus. 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (29SI NMR) provided relevant information on the polymerization degree of the silicon atoms present in C-S-H and on how their chemical environment was modified by the interaction with the different organic compounds. Other techniques such as gas permeation chromatography (GPC), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetry are used for a comprehensive characterization of the materials.The C-S-H/APTES composites, often referred as nano-hybrid composites due to its stronger interphase (inorganic/organic) bonding, exhibited an increment of about 38% in the bulk modulus with respect to the reference sample. The stiffer behavior in all lattice direction and the consequent increment of the bulk modulus are associated to the formation of new Q2b structures through covalent bond formation, the secondary hydrogen bonds between APTES and the reactive sites of C-S-H, as well as the APTES intercalation in specific 2-D fashion allocations generate. The final phase of this research evaluated the properties of the C-S-H/Anil nanocomposite, which obtained an increment of 20% in its bulk modulus with respect to the reference. The increment of the bulk modulus is due to the stiffer behavior displayed by all lattice directions mainly by the physical interactions with aniline monomers. Therefore, the constrained allocation configuration adopted by the aniline monomer within the missing Q2b silicon sites of C-S-H as well as the intercalation of the aniline monomers in a single layer configuration within C-S-H basal space, play the main role on the strengthening mechanisms for the bulk modulus increment in C-S-H/Anil sample. Finally, the formation of hydrogen bonds is the only chemical interaction detected between the aniline phenyl structure and the Q1 sites of C-S-H. The C-S-H and aniline interaction can be denominated as a guest effect, since the formation of strong chemical bonds are not present between the two phases.The results reported in this dissertation are valuable inputs that introduce new insights related to the interaction at atomic scale of C-S-H with soluble polymers. The deeper understanding of features such as polymer adsorption and the improvements of the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites formed, are the baseline to conduct the development of advanced construction materials with tailored properties that allow more durable structures with lower environmental impact.

Maria Intriago, Genessis Maldonado, Roberto Guerrero, Mario Moreno, Letty Moreno, Carlos Rios Rheumatology Department, Universidad Espiritu Santo, Guayaquil, EcuadorCorrespondence: Genessis Maldonado Email genesismaldonadovelez92@gmail.comIntroduction: Disability in RA is associated with loss of workdays, greater use of health resources and a higher prevalence of depression. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of functional disability and the factors associated with it.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during January–June 2019 at a rheumatology clinic in the city of Guayaquil. Patients with pre-established RA were included. Functional disability was measured using the HAQ-DI. Data were analyzed using the statistical program SPSS v22. We compared characteristics between patients with and without disability using Student’s t-test and chi-square. A multiple logistic regression model for functional disability was made.Results: We included 395 patients, 87.8% female and 12.2% male with a mean age of 51.4± 12 years and mean duration of disease 13.8± 7 years. Most patients had extra-articular manifestations (80.8%) and comorbidities (81.3%). The mean HAQ-DI was 0.8± 0.9, with a prevalence of disability of 26.6%. We found a statistically significant relationship between disability and female sex (p=0.018), age (p=0.020), presence of extra-articular manifestations (p=0.008), myalgia (p< 0.001) and fatigue (p< 0.001). In addition, patients with disabilities had a lower employment rate (26.7%) compared to those without disability (45.5%, p=0.001). In the multivariate logistic analysis, only depression (p=0.029), diabetes (p=0.003), SJC (p=0.001) and VAS of pain (p=0.004) were significantly related to functional disability.Conclusion: Disability affects a quarter of patients with RA. Among the determinants of disability, we found female sex, older age, grade of pain, inflammatory markers and the level of disease activity.Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, disability, Ecuador

Colombia es un país que consume productos lácteos, en este caso específico el queso, de manera habitual, de tal forma que las personas demandan diferentes tipos de quesos y cada región tiene un consumo específico de cada producto. Hace parte de la canasta básica de los colombianos y es un producto que tanto su producción como su consumo está en aumento a nivel nacional e internacional. El modelo de negocio que se plantea toma en consideración todas las variables claves relacionadas con la descripción del servicio y el producto de un plan de negocio, presentando una propuesta de valor e identificando elementos que son clave para así desarrollar todas las estrategias operativas y de mercado para la viabilidad del negocio. Se realizarán análisis financieros, los cuales muestran una viabilidad y favorabilidad los primeros 5 años proyectados, concluyendo así que la implementación del negocio es recomendada para los dueños o inversionistas de la empresa., Colombia is a country that consumes dairy milk based products, in this specific case cheese on a regular basis, they demand different types of cheese and each region has a specific consumption of each product. Cheese is part of the basic basket of colombians consumption, also its a product that botch its production and its consumption is increasing nationally and internationally talking. The business model that is proposed to be considered in this case, the approach of all the key variables related to the description of the service and the product, the value proposal identified are key for the development of all operational and market strategies for the viability of the business. Financial analyzes are carried out, which show a viability and favorability for the first five years projected, we can conclude that the implementation of this business model is highly recommended for the owners or investors of the company.