SOM-based Data Analysis of Speculative Attacks' Real Effects

In some cases, currency crises are followed by strong recessions (e.g., recent Asian and Argentinean crises), but in other cases they are not. This paper uses Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) to search for meaningful associations between speculative attacks' real effects and 28 variables that characterize the economic, financial, legal, and socio-political structure of the country at the onset of the attack. SOM is a neural network-based generalization of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) that provides an efficient non-linear projection of the multidimensional data space on a curved surface. This paper finds a strong association of speculative attacks' real effects with fundamentals and the banking sector structureexploratory data analysis, self-organizing maps, neural networks, speculative attacks' real effects

Biografía del Caribe

La obra que presentamos es, probablemente el libro más leído en América Latina, después de Cien años de Soledad. Su autor, Germán Arciniegas-Colombiano, como García Márquez- es un escritor "moderno": sumamente erudito, lúcido y coherente, de carácter humanista, autor d más de cincuenta libros, ha volcado sus preocupaciones al continente al que ha sido fiel: América Latina

Oral History Interview on School Residency and Civil Rights (with video)

Milly Arciniegas, founder of the Hartford Parent University, works in the community to help empower parents and encourage them to take control over their children’s education. Her involvement in the city of Hartford also brings her into contact with residency issues within and outside the Hartford district, where she feels that district lines should not dictate a child’s future in his or her early education. Milly recognizes a significant difference between the quality of schools in some districts versus others. She believes that a lack of adequate funding is largely to blame for these inequalities. Milly plans to continue being involved with residency issues and is optimistic about changes that could happen in the near future

Alcanzar altos AQL en frutas y verduras para la comercialización en los supermercados

La producción de alimentos de calidad, con destino a mercado interno y externo es de alta prioridad y es además lo que el consumidor demanda actualmente. El tema ha crecido fuertemente en los últimos años en el m undo. En los actuales mercados, la búsqueda de la excelencia y la calidad se convierten en metas fundamentales para los productores de alimentos. Las exigencias del consumidor actual de frutas y verduras se orientan cada vez más por los aspectos cualitativos más que los cuantitativos y éstos prefieren que tengan ciertas características sensoriales que lo satisfagan o, lo que es lo mismo, que tengan calidad. (Proyecto Eclair, Ferratto, 2003.

Understanding how adults approach technological challenges: A sequential mixed methods research

People from all backgrounds engage with technology in their everyday lives. There is, however, a gap in the public\u27s understanding of technology and limited research on how engineers and non-engineers approach technological challenges. Prior studies have focused on the public\u27s understanding of technology but limited research has been conducted on how people deal with technological challenges as part of their everyday lives. Studying how individuals with non-STEM backgrounds engage with technology will contribute a more comprehensive understanding of strategies for closing the technological literacy gap. Taking into account that technology developments rapidly occur, lifelong learning skills are another critical dimension of technological competency. ^ The purpose of this study is to identify how adults with STEM (specifically engineering) and non-STEM backgrounds with varying levels of lifelong learning approach technological challenges in their everyday lives. ^ A sequential mixed methods design using nested, purposeful sampling was performed. The quantitative strand included cluster analysis for outlier identification. The qualitative strand included thematic analysis. Four groups of participants were formed: Engineers with lower (LLE) and higher (HLE) levels of lifelong learning and non-STEM participants with lower (LLnE) and higher (HLnE) levels of lifelong learning. Twelve outliers —three in each group— were selected for the qualitative strand. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted on participants\u27 past and recent experiences with technology and challenges they faced during such interactions. ^ Three dimensions of approaching technology (attitudes, behaviors, and conceptions) emerged from the analysis. Those with broader conceptions of technology were more active users of technology and were emotionally neutral towards the challenge. Conversely, those who had narrower conceptions of technology were passive users of technology and had strong positive and negative emotions towards the challenge. The analyses resulted in five different approaches to technological challenges: disengagement, scaffolding, transitioning, emotional engagement, and ownership. In particular, background shaped conceptions about technology, engagement, and attitudes towards the challenge. This inclusive understanding informs future research and practice about new strategies for improving technology education for all citizens, aligned with the 21st century skills framework