Can Latin America Move Forward after a Lost Decade in Technical Change? …Looking at Opportunities for Knowledge-based Change in Times of Increasing Uncertainty

In view of the current global context, which challenges are facing science- and technology-based developments and cooperation in a way to contribute for policies that stimulate localized learning, innovation and endogenous development in Latin America? This broad question has motivated the work behind the Special Issue introduced by this paper, which considers the development of case studies in selected Latin America regions. The analysis lead us to argue that value-based networks have the potential to make both public policies and markets more effective, promoting learning trajectories for the inclusive development of regions. But they require effective public investments to keep attracting and qualifying human resources, together with long-term developments towards technical industries and export capacity for emerging markets worldwide. Our analysis argues about the unique potential for further developing Latin America through strategic international, knowledge-based ventures, exploring the emerging role the internationalization of universities and scientific institutions may play at a global level. Above all, they require the systematic observation of science and technical change in international comparison, as well as a relational infrastructure for collective action, at an international level, in a context much influenced by a dynamic of change and a necessary balance between the creation and diffusion of knowledge towards the endogenous development of all parts involved. The role of Latin America Universities and science policies based on international cooperation are considered to be particularly important in this process.published_or_final_versio

Modelling the Interaction Levels in HCI Using an Intelligent Hybrid System with Interactive Agents: A Case Study of an Interactive Museum Exhibition Module in Mexico

Technology has become a necessity in our everyday lives and essential for completing activities we typically take for granted; technologies can assist us by completing set tasks or achieving desired goals with optimal affect and in the most efficient way, thereby improving our interactive experiences. This paper presents research that explores the representation of user interaction levels using an intelligent hybrid system approach with agents. We evaluate interaction levels of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with the aim of enhancing user experiences. We consider the description of interaction levels using an intelligent hybrid system to provide a decision-making system to an agent that evaluates interaction levels when using interactive modules of a museum exhibition. The agents represent a high-level abstraction of the system, where communication takes place between the user, the exhibition and the environment. In this paper, we provide a means to measure the interaction levels and natural behaviour of users, based on museum user-exhibition interaction. We consider that, by analysing user interaction in a museum, we can help to design better ways to interact with exhibition modules according to the properties and behaviour of the users. An interaction-evaluator agent is proposed to achieve the most suitable representation of the interaction levels with the aim of improving user interactions to offer the most appropriate directions, services, content and information, thereby improving the quality of interaction experienced between the user-agent and exhibition-agent

Performance improvement of broadband distributed Raman amplifier using bidirectional pumping with first and dual order forward pumps

In this paper, a new bidirectional pumping scheme with dual order forward pumps is proposed. Performance is compared numerically with conventional bidirectional and backward only pumping schemes for a 70 nm bandwidth, 61.5 km distributed Raman amplifier. We demonstrate that it is possible to design a flat gain spectrum with improved noise figure and OSNR, as well as a low gain ripple (<1 dB)

Ultralong Raman Fiber Lasers as Virtually Lossless Optical Media

By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser, we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber. As a by-product of our technique, the longest ever laser (to the best of our knowledge) has been implemented, with a cavity length of 75 km. A simple theory of the lossless fiber span, in excellent agreement with the observed results, is presented

Towards Team Formation Using Belbin Role Types and a Social Networks Analysis Approach

Problems relating to team formation is common across many industrial sectors, including education, sport and general business. For Team Leaders, team member selection can be a critical challenge due to the complexity in creating a well-balanced productive unit. It is beyond manual implementation to build near optimal teams as pools of employees grow. One of the essential skills of individuals is the ability to work in a team, and it takes on greater importance in engineering workgroups, where each member must know how to collaborate with their colleagues. In this paper, we use the combination of the Belbin roles and the social network analysis approach to find the possible members of a team. We present a case study based on an undergraduate course in computer engineering, we apply the Belbin test to each student, and each student expresses his preferences to work with his classmates. With this data, similarity patterns were searched within a social network using network analysis algorithms. We compare the results of the network analysis with the groups formed by a teacher. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of project teams, from the proposed approach

Human noise blindness drives suboptimal cognitive inference

Humans typically make near-optimal sensorimotor judgements but show systematic biases when making more cognitive judgements. Here we test the hypothesis that, while humans are sensitive to the noise present during early sensory encoding, the “optimality gap” arises because they are blind to noise introduced by later cognitive integration of variable or discordant pieces of information. In six psychophysical experiments, human observers judged the average orientation of an array of contrast gratings. We varied the stimulus contrast (encoding noise) and orientation variability (integration noise) of the array. Participants adapted near-optimally to changes in encoding noise, but, under increased integration noise, displayed a range of suboptimal behaviours: they ignored stimulus base rates, reported excessive confidence in their choices, and refrained from opting out of objectively difficult trials. These overconfident behaviours were captured by a Bayesian model blind to integration noise. Our study provides a computationally grounded explanation of human suboptimal cognitive inference

Unrepeatered 240-km 64-QAM transmission using distributed raman amplification over SMF fiber

We present a theoretical and experimental investigation of unrepeatered transmission over standard single-mode fiber (SMF-28) using several schemes of distributed Raman amplification, including first, second, and dual order. In order to further extend the transmission distance, we utilize advanced bidirectional higher-order ultra-long Raman fiber laser-based amplification, where we use fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) to reflect Stokes-shifted light from the secondary pumps. Our work demonstrates the possibility of transmission up to 240-km span length with a total span loss of 52.7 dB. Here, we use a 28-Gbaud signal using a 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation format. Our results highlight the contribution of nonlinear compensation using digital back propagation in a digital signal processor (DSP) code at the receiver

Economic and Environmental Assessment of Bacterial Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Production from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste

The management of municipal solid waste is a major logistic and environmental problem worldwide. Nonetheless, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a valuable source of nutrients which can be used for a variety of purposes, according to the Circular Economy paradigm. Among the possible applications, the bioproduction of a biodegradable polyester, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], using OFMSW as carbon platform is a promising strategy. Here, an economic and environmental assessment of bacterial P(3HB) production from OFMSW is presented based on previously published results. The SuperPro Designer (R) software was used to simulate P(3HB) production under our experimental parameters. Two scenarios were proposed depending on the fermentation medium: (1) enzymatic hydrolysate of OFMSW supplemented with glucose and plum waste juice; and (2) basal medium supplemented with glucose and plum waste juice. According to our results, both scenarios are not economically feasible under our experimental parameters. In Scenario 1, the low fermentation yield, the cost of the enzymes, the labour cost and the energy consumption are the factors that most contribute to that result. In Scenario 2, the cost of the extraction solvent and the low fermentation yield are the most limiting factors. The possibility of using process waste as raw material for the generation of other products must be investigated to enhance economic feasibility. From an environmental viewpoint, the photochemical oxidation potential (derived from the use of anisole as extraction solvent) and the generation of acid rain and global warming effect (caused by the burning of fuels for power generation) are the most relevant impacts associated to P(3HB) production under our experimental parameters.Jon Kepa Izaguirre was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Basque Governmen

Proyecto E-Orientación, una necesidad desde el campo de la orientación educativa

La Llei Orgànica 2/2006 d’Educació inclou l’orientació educativa i professional com un dels principis bàsics i de les finalitats del sistema educatiu. No obstant això, aquesta orientació continua precisant una considerable millora segons els mateixos alumnes. En aquest treball es presenta el Projecte E-Orientació: dissenyant el meu projecte  vital a través de la xarxa, a través del qual s’està validant una innovadora metodologia d’orientació on line en dos centres del Principat d’Astúries. Addicionalment, apareixen els resultats obtinguts en l’estudi previ a la seva  implementació: Amb una mostra de 167 subjectes, els resultats permeten confirmar que els alumnes presenten una percepció negativa de l’orientació rebuda fins l’inici del projecte, tot i que sembla afavorir els processos d’autoregulació i la presa de decisions amb finalitats  academicoprofessionals.The Organic Law 2/2006 of Education includes educational and professional guidance as one of the basic principles and purposes of the educational system. However, this guidance continues requiring considerable improvement according to said students. This work introduces the Project E-Guidance: designing my Vital Project through the network, by means of which we are validating an innovative online guidance methodology in two centres of the Principality de Asturias. Besides, it provides information about the results obtained in the study carried out before its implementation. With a sample of 167 subjects, results allow us to confirm that students have a negative perception of the guidance received up to the beginning of the Project despite the fact they seem to favour the self-regulation and decision-making processes with academic and professional purposes.La Ley Orgánica 2/2006 de Educación incluye la orientación educativa y profesional como uno de los principios básicos y de los fines del sistema educativo. Sin embargo, esta orientación continúa precisando una considerable mejora según los propios alumnos. En este trabajo se presenta el Proyecto E-Orientación: diseñando mi proyecto vital a través de la red, a través del cual se está validando una innovadora metodología de orientación online en dos centros del Principado de Asturias. Adicionalmente, se da cuenta de los resultados obtenidos en el estudio previo a su implementación: Con una muestra de 167 sujetos, los resultados permiten confirmar que los alumnos presentan una percepción negativa de la orientación recibida hasta el inicio del proyecto, pese a que parece favorecer los procesos de autorregulación y toma de decisiones con fines académico-profesionales