Algunas notas sobre el concepto de νοῦς

El artículo, compuesto en forma de ensayo, tiene la finalidad de destacar algunos puntos que el autor considera esenciales acerca del νοῦς o intellectus. Se trata del νοῦς como facultad y el νοῦς como hábito de los primeros principios. El autor revisa lo que escribe sobre él Anaxágoras, Aristóteles y Tomás de Aquino, Y sostiene que se trata de una teoría con vigencia.The article, written in essay form, is intended to highlight some points that the author considers essential about νοῦς or intellectus. It could be understood as νοῦς as faculty and νοῦς as habit of first principles. The author reviews what Anaxágoras, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas write about it, arguing that it is a valid theory

Probabilistic vortex crossing criterion for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors have emerged as a promising technology for quantum metrology from the mid-infrared to ultra-violet frequencies. Despite the recent experimental successes, a predictive model to describe the detection event in these detectors is needed to optimize the detection metrics. Here, we propose a probabilistic criterion for single-photon detection based on single-vortex (flux quanta) crossing the width of the nanowire. Our model makes a connection between the dark-counts and photon-counts near the detection threshold. The finite-difference calculations demonstrate that a change in the bias current distribution as a result of the photon absorption significantly increases the probability of single-vortex crossing even if the vortex potential barrier has not vanished completely. We estimate the instrument response function and show that the timing uncertainty of this vortex tunneling process corresponds to a fundamental limit in timing jitter of the click event. We demonstrate a trade-space between this intrinsic (quantum) timing jitter, quantum efficiency, and dark count rate in TaN, WSi, and NbN superconducting nanowires at different experimental conditions. Our detection model can also explain the experimental observation of exponential decrease in the quantum efficiency of SNSPDs at lower energies. This leads to a pulse-width dependency in the quantum efficiency, and it can be further used as an experimental test to compare across different detection models

Teaching technical and behavioural competences in project management

Managing projects is a complex issue and it implies leveraging on different competences. “Good” Project Management is achieved by leveraging properly on both technical and behavioural competences. We argue that addressing simultaneously and coherently both kinds of competences may pay off. This research is related to a massive training program conducted by an Italian Multinational Group that involved during 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 more than 700 Project Managers. Based on data collected during the development of this program, we aim at testing whether teaching both technical and behavioural competences simultaneously and jointly can improve the training experience and effectiveness

Developing a shared vision: strong teams have the power

he technological changes of the past decades have radically reshaped the global competitive environment. The increasing speed of change permeates companies’ operations with uncertainty regarding outcomes and development. Organizations must make sense of these changes to determine appropriate action. Organizations must frequently redefine their objectives and course of action to stay ahead in this competitive environment, developing ever-innovative ideas. This calls for a flexible organization where individuals and teams are autonomous in pursuing innovation. Robert Cooper, founding father of the Stage-Gate process, recognized in 2016 that even manufacturing firms are steering away from traditional and predominantly plan-based approaches to adopt more flexible working methods. Yet, a decentralized structure bears the risk that teams deviate from the organizational direction. While it is difficult to find single causes for innovation failure, alignment is undoubtedly crucial for its success. However, teams need support to stay aligned. A shared vision can align members of the organizations around a common direction to pursue. The shared vision acts as a glue that keeps the organization together. While many authors favor an organization-wide shared vision, how this should be developed is less clear. A novel goal-setting methodology took root over the past decades, which may provide an answer. Doerr (2018) presented objectives and key results (OKRs) as a goal-setting tool that adopts a highly interactive goal definition process, consisting of two components: objectives are aspirational and represent a long-term direction; key results are concrete and measurable. OKRs define what an organization should achieve and how to get there. Their successful adoption by Google, as narrated by Schimdt and Rosenberg (2014), paved the way for their diffusion among other silicon-valley firms first and digital companies later. Today, this method represents the preferred goal-setting tool for start-ups looking for growth and large enterprises aiming to increase engagement in a set direction. Companies need more than clarity and role division today – they need alignment and empowerment. We aim to explore whether and how OKRs can support even this challenge

Finite Element Analysis and Biological Growth Realization using Robot Swarms

Our understanding of growth and remodeling of biological systems has increased in the past two decades; however, this knowledge has not yet been used in human-designed systems or engineering applications. This project studies designing and building a network of robots that mimics the biological behavior of growth driven by cell-cell communication and control networks. The objective of this research is to harness the principles that govern tissue adaptation and morphogenesis, where peer-to-peer local communication determines global properties, to create human-made engineering systems with life-like capabilities. We used Arduino microcontrollers to control an individual robot in an expandable 3d-printed cuboid shell. Each individual cuboid robot will be able to communicate with up to 6 robots, one connected to each of its faces. Through local data communication, and enlarging and shrinking of individual robots, one would be able to model growth and other biological systems using a large assembly of these identical robots. Additionally, we expect (through additional research) to be able to physically demonstrate biological simulations of processes such as growth or morphogenesis to other researchers/laypersons, allowing quicker and deeper understanding of these complex processes to a large audience

A Parametric Study of the Mechanics of Different Skin Flap Techniques

In modern day plastic and reconstructive surgeries numerous skin flap designs have been developed and are used to close open wounds. Skin flaps are developed with the intention of imposing minimal tension in skin closure. Excessive tension can lead to poor blood flow that result in post-surgery complications such as necrosis. Currently there is no standard in choosing a skin flap design and a surgeon\u27s choice is based personal experience. A comparison of the mechanical loading in these various designs has not yet been done. We have developed a parametric study, using finite element analysis, of two advancement skin flaps designs. The study focuses on the stress in the design as the defect size is increased. The defect size is increased by scaled by scaling the overall boundary condition to size. From this study, we have found that the stresses of a skin flap on a planar surface are dependent on the defect size. In addition, the choice of skin flap can significantly impact the stresses

What kind of intimacy is meaningful to you? How intimate interactions foster individuals' sensemaking of innovation

This study examines how intimacy affects individuals' sensemaking of innovation in their organization. Although sensemaking facilitates understanding innovation and envisioning new worldviews, it involves a delicate process of self-disclosure, reflection, personal contact and communication. Intimacy focuses on time-bounded interactions that foster individuals' progressive self-disclosure and perceptions of mutual understanding. Therefore, drawing on intimacy theories, we investigate from a microlevel perspective how temporally bounded intimate interactions foster the meaningfulness of innovation for individuals. As sensemaking processes differ in large-scale radical and incremental innovations, we examine both contexts in a post hoc analysis. Through a field study, we show that different intimacy dynamics (emotional, cognitive and listening) influence meaningfulness perceptions. In particular, we find that the emotional intimacy dynamics positively influence meaningfulness perceptions in the context of radical innovation initiatives, while the cognitive and listening intimacy dynamics positively influence meaningfulness perceptions in the context of incremental innovation initiatives. This study contributes to the sensemaking innovation literature by introducing intimacy as an enabler of sensemaking. Our study also suggests that managers should encourage moments of intimate interaction when pursuing innovation to facilitate sensemaking of change