Climate Change-Based Modeling of Potential Land Use Arrangements for Coffee (Coffea arabica) and Forest in Costa Rica

Besides the need to reduce its own emissions, the challenge of the agricultural sector worldwide is also to adapt to a changing and more variable climate. Coffee is an important crop in Costa Rica based on cultivated area and on the number of families connected to this activity that has a long historical tradition. In this context, the potential distribution shifts of coffee production based on climate change scenarios has been identified and targeted in this study. Bioclimatic variables along with elevation were used to evaluate changes in suitable areas for coffee production under the framework of four climate change scenarios for the year 2070. Results suggest that highlands have a high probability of being suitable for coffee under all four scenarios and unsuitability seems to be associated with lowlands. All four climate change scenarios showed high overlap between the projected suitable areas for coffee and current forested areas. This investigation suggests that the long term management of coffee production in Costa Rica should carefully consider climate change given its potential conflict with other land uses and associated socioeconomic implications

A Comparative Study on Denoising Algorithms for Footsteps Sounds as Biometric in Noisy Environments

Biometrics is the automated identification of a person based on distinctive characteristics, such as fingerprints, face, voice, or the sound of footsteps. This last characteristic has significant challenges considering the background noise present in any real-life application, where microphones would record footsteps sounds and different types of noise. For this reason, it is crucial to consider not only the capacity of classification algorithms for recognizing a person using foostetps sounds, but also at least one stage of denoising algorithms that can reduce the background sounds before the classification. In this paper we study the possibilities of a two-stage approach for this problem: a denoising stage followed by a classification process. The work focuses on discovering the proper strategy for applying combinations of both stages for specific noise types and levels. Results vary according to the type and level of noise, e.g., for White noise at signal-to-noise ratio level, accuracy can increase from 0.96 to 1.00 by applying deep learning based-filters, but the same option does not benefit the cases of signals with low level natural noises, where Wiener filtering can increase accuracy from 0.6 to 0.77 at the highest level of noise. The results represent a baseline for developing real-life implementations of footstep biometrics.Universidad de Costa Rica/322–B9-105/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ingeniería::Facultad de Ingeniería::Escuela de Ingeniería Eléctric

Visuospatial working memory and attention control make the difference between experts, regulars and non-players of the videogame League of Legends

Video games have been postulated as an emerging field for studying the cognition-expertise relationship. Despite this, some methodological practices hinder scientific advance (e.g., heterogeneous samples, an ambiguous definition of expertise, etc.). League of Legends (LOL) is a massively played video game with a moderately defined structure that meets the requirements to overcome current study limitations. The aim of this study was to analyze cognitive differences among expert LOL players, regular LOL players, and non-videogame players. A sample of 80 participants was enrolled in three different groups of expertise. Participants were evaluated with behavioral tests of working memory, attention, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition. Kruskal- Wallis tests for group comparison showed that the experts performed significantly better than regular players and non-videogame players in the working memory test. Significant differences were also found between players and non-videogame players in the attention test. Methodological implications for future research in neuroscience and human-computer interaction are discussed.Ayudas a la realizacion de Proyectos de Grupos de Investigacion from Plan propio de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Murcia (UCAM) PMAFI-03/1

O design na área radiológica: proposta de diretrizes para o desenvolvimento de interfaces para visualizadores de imagens médicas

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Design e Expressão Gráfica, Florianópolis, 2014Desde a descoberta do "raio X", essa tecnologia vem sendo utilizada e aprimorada para fins medicinais, mais especificamente na busca de inconformidades no corpo humano, sem a necessidade de cirurgias. Na atualidade, exames de tomografia, ressonância magnética e inclusive os próprios raios X produzem imagens digitais que precisam ser organizadas de maneira acessível. Desta forma, foram desenvolvidos diversos padrões e softwares específicos para a área da medicina radiológica. Este trabalho tratou de avaliar as interfaces gráficas destes, pois diversas dessas ferramentas apresentam fragilidades dos pontos de vista ergonômico, de usabilidade e design em suas interfaces. Sendo assim, tem-se como objetivo a partir dos elementos identificados como frágeis nessas interfaces, propor diretrizes com potencial para auxiliar desenvolvedores e designers a projetar interfaces menos problemáticas. Com o intuito de atingir tal objetivo, métodos qualitativos de pesquisa são utilizados para confrontar o ponto de vista do pesquisador com aquele do usuário final. Para tal, utilizou-se a ferramenta Ergolist como ferramenta de avaliação dos softwares selecionados e os resultados desta foram contrapostas com informações coletadas mediante entrevista realizadas com usuários. A análise destas informações possibilitou identificar potencialidades e fragilidades relevantes para um bom projeto de interface, o que permitiu a indicação de uma lista de diretrizes para o design de interfaces para softwares de visualização de imagens DICOM.Abstract: Since its discovery the "X-ray" technology has been improved and used for medicinal purposes, specifically in the human body unconformities studies without a surgery need. Nowadays, CT scans, MRI and even the X-rays, produces digital images that needs to be organized in an accessibly way. Thereat, several standards and specific software has been developed for the radiological medicine area. This study dealt to evaluate the software's graphical interfaces, because many of these tools have been showing weaknesses in ergonomic, usability and design points of view. Being so, the study has-as objective from the elements identified as fragile in these interfaces, to propose guidelines with potential to help developers and designers to delineate least problematic interfaces. Aiming to reach such objective, qualitative research methods are used to confront the standpoint of researcher with that standpoint of end user. Thereunto, the Ergolist tool was used as an evaluation of the selected softwares tool and the results from this method were counterposed with information collected upon interview performed with users. Analysis of these information permitted identify potentialities and relevant fragilities in order to have a good project of interface, which allowed the indication of a list of guidelines for the design of interfaces for visualization softwares of DICOM images

FATORES RELEVANTES E DIFICULTADORES PARA O ENSINO E A APRENDIZAGEM A DISTÂNCIA A PARTIR DA PERSPECTIVA DOS ALUNOS

O objetivo desse trabalho é fazer um levantamento dos fatores relevantes e dificultadores para o ensino e a aprendizagem a distância a partir da perspectiva dos alunos. Para tanto, foram coletados dados através de um questionário, que foi aplicado no dia da realização da prova da disciplina de Administração de Materiais do Curso de Administração a distância da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Fizeram parte da amostra 185 alunos, de 4 estados distintos e que estão presentes em 12 diferentes pólos. Dentre os principais resultados da pesquisa, podem-se destacar que o material impresso é a mídia mais importante para os alunos e que dentre os fatores que mais dificultam o aprendizado, os alunos destacaram: a falta de tempo (77,30%), distância do pólo (18,92%) e acesso à internet (18,38%). Constatou-se que a idade média dos alunos atuais do curso onde foi realizada a pesquisa é de 30 anos

Propuesta Didáctica para el estudio de la Metodología BIM en la Especialidad de Dibujo Arquitectónico del Colegio Profesional de Artes y Oficios Nocturno de Cartago

Proyecto Final de Graduación (Licenciatura en Educación Técnica) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Educación Técnica, 2019.El presente estudio de investigación se basa en una Propuesta didáctica para la enseñanza de la metodología BIM en la Especialidad de Dibujo Arquitectónico de Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios Nocturno de Cartago. La implementación y uso de la metodología BIM en el área de la construcción ha constituido un cambio en la forma de gestionar los proyectos constructivos. El rápido avance de las tecnologías de información ha logrado proponer nuevos sistemas de trabajo que realizan tareas con mayor eficiencia, en menor tiempo y con menos recursos. La metodología BIM es una las nuevas propuestas que está generando un importante cambio en la forma de hacer las cosas en el sector de la construcción. Estamos viviendo una etapa de transición entre la forma de trabajo tradicional, utilizando CAD para planos en 2 dimensiones y de trabajo independiente entre las especialidades a un trabajo utilizando BIM para modelar en 3 dimensiones y realizar un trabajo colaborativo entre las diferentes especialidades. El cambio de la forma de trabajar provoca la demanda de profesionales y técnicos que dominen las nuevas tecnologías, es por ello que el Ministerio de Educación Pública y demás entidades de rectoras de la educación técnica en el Costa Rica se han preocupado por actualizar los estándares y competencias que deben de tener los técnicos en el área de la arquitectura y construcción. La enseñanza de BIM en los Colegios Técnicos Profesionales, especialmente en la especialidad de Dibujo Arquitectónico está por implementarse desde la modificación de su plan de estudios. Para esto es importante considerar los cambios en los métodos de la enseñanza. Se entrevistaron a los docentes de la Especialidad de Dibujo Arquitectónico del COVAO nocturno quienes proponen diferentes metodologías para abordar la temática de BIM entre las más notorias el trabajo colaborativo e incentivar la investigación en los estudiantes. La propuesta va dirigida a los docentes quienes pronto enfrentaran un cambio significativo en la especialidad que imparten.This research study is based on a didactic proposal for the teaching of the BIM methodology in the Architectural Drawing career of the Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios Nocturno de Cartago. The implementation and use of the BIM methodology in the area of construction has constituted a change in the way of managing construction projects. The rapid advance of information technologies has managed to propose new work systems that perform tasks with greater efficiency, in less time and with less resources. The BIM methodology is one of the new proposals that is generating a major change in the way of doing things in the construction sector. We are experiencing a transition stage between the traditional way of working, using CAD for plans in 2 dimensions and independent work between the specialties to a job using BIM to model in 3 dimensions and perform a collaborative work between the different specialties. The change in the way of working provokes the demand of professionals and technicians who dominate the new technologies, that is why the Ministry of Public Education and other entities of the governing bodies of technical education in Costa Rica have been concerned with updating the standards and skills that technicians must have in the area of architecture and construction. The teaching of BIM in the Professional Technical Colleges, especially in the career of Architectural Drawing is about to be implemented since the modification of its curriculum. For this it is important to consider the changes in teaching methods. Teachers of the Architectural Drawing career of the COVAO nocturno were interviewed who propose different methodologies to address the BIM theme among the most notorious collaborative work and encourage research in students. The proposal is aimed at teachers who will soon face a significant change in the career they teach

Monitoreo de variables eléctricas de bancos de baterías en subestaciones de la Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz.

Proyecto final de graduación (Licenciatura en Ingeniería Electrónica). Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Escuela de Ingeniería Electrónica, 2011.La Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz cuenta con un sistema SCADA de monitoreo y adquisición de datos para diversos procesos en subestaciones eléctricas, se plantea la necesidad de obtener datos de variables eléctricas de las baterías que abastecen de tensión auxiliar a los equipos en la subestación, para lograrlo se diseña un sistema de gestión de las baterías por medio del cual se obtiene el valor de tensión y corriente del banco, éste se muestra en un módulo de visualización LCD y se comunica con el sistema SCADA para tener los datos en tiempo real en el centro de monitoreo. El proyecto contempla todas las etapas necesarias para diseñar el sistema electrónico capaz de solventar la necesidad de CNFL de incrementar los datos que se obtienen del banco de baterías ubicado en el patio de interruptores Porrosatí. El sistema involucra un banco de baterías, conectarse a una red Ethernet con protocolo MODBUS, comunicación de datos vía puerto Ethernet, un sistema micro controlado, sensores con acondicionamiento de señal y módulos de visualización.Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica; Escuela de Ingeniería Electrónica; Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz

Investigación de mercado para identificar el mercado potencial que justifique el desarrollo del proyecto turístico en Piedades Sur de San Ramón, Alajuela elaborada para la Empresa Termales del Río S.A / Carlos

Proyecto de graduación (Bachillerato en Administración de Empresas) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Administración de Empresas, 2008La presente investigación de mercados busca conocer la opinión de agencias de viajes y tour operadores de Costa Rica sobre la infraestructura, servicios y actividades que la empresa Termales del Río Resort & Spa pretende ofrecer en la zona de Piedades Sur de San Ramón. Es importante conocer las necesidades que los clientes manifiestan a las agencias y con base en ello, y el punto de vista de la agencia o tour operador ofrecer las mejores condiciones ya sea para hospedaje, recreación, o inclusive servicio al cliente. Es por ello que la empresa manifiesta la necesidad de realizar un estudio y reforzar las ideas que se poseen, adquirir nuevas ideas que mejoren la calidad del proyecto y de ello obtener éxito en el mercado competente costarricense. El estudio se enfoca en cualquier tipo de agencia o tour operador pero una vez realizado el proceso de muestreo, la empresa manifiesta un interés particular por las agencias que poseen clientes de cruceros o charters debido a la cercanía del proyecto con el puerto de Puntarenas y Caldera que son las zonas de arribo de este tipo de transporte en la zona del Pacifico de nuestro país. Los resultados que se obtuvieron logran esclarecer dudas que poseían los inversionistas, y dan a conocer el interés que poseen las agencias sobre el proyecto, se crea un perfil del cliente con las necesidades que posee según su lugar de procedencia, su intención y forma de viajar. En consecuencia se propone una serie de recomendaciones con respecto a infraestructura, servicios y necesidades que intentan ofrecer el mejor servicio de hospedaje y recreación en el segmento de mercado que se ubic

Visuospatial working memory and attention control make the difference between experts, regulars and non-players of the videogame League of Legends

Video games have been postulated as an emerging field for studying the cognition-expertise relationship. Despite this, some methodological practices hinder scientific advance (e.g., heterogeneous samples, an ambiguous definition of expertise, etc.). League of Legends (LOL) is a massively played video game with a moderately defined structure that meets the requirements to overcome current study limitations. The aim of this study was to analyze cognitive differences among expert LOL players, regular LOL players, and non-videogame players. A sample of 80 participants was enrolled in three different groups of expertise. Participants were evaluated with behavioral tests of working memory, attention, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition. Kruskal-Wallis tests for group comparison showed that the experts performed significantly better than regular players and non-videogame players in the working memory test. Significant differences were also found between players and non-videogame players in the attention test. Methodological implications for future research in neuroscience and human-computer interaction are discussed