theory and praxis

This paper offers a review of technological developments regarding massive storage devices and the emergence of new streaming services for audio and video on-demand. While the capacity of storage devices has been increasing exponentially, the price of a stored bit has been falling at an even faster rate. Audio and video files can be stored on-line in personal computers and computer networks. Accessing this information requires new type of databases capable of handling special types of queries: access through annotations and metadata, access by similarity, and access by feature search. Databases with in-built streaming capabilities would be extremely useful for transmitting the information to the end user, while providing at the same time consistency checks, indexing, reporting, and querying features. They should also be fast and scalable. This paper reviews recent academic and industrial projects, and describes an implementation of a streaming video servlet based on the Oracle SQL database, its Binary Large Object storage data type, and the Java Database Connectivity interface

Trends in hardware architecture for mobile devices

In the last ten years, two main factors have fueled the steady growth in sales of mobile computing and communication devices: a) the reduction of the footprint of the devices themselves, such as cellular handsets and small computers; and b) the success in developing low-power hardware which allows the devices to operate autonomously for hours or even days. In this review, I show that the first generation of mobile devices was DSP centric – that is, its architecture was based in fast processing of digitized signals using low- power, yet numerically powerful DSPs. However, the next generation of mobile devices will be built around DSPs and low power microprocessor cores for general processing applications. Mobile devices will become data-centric. The main challenge for designers of such hybrid architectures is to increase the computational performance of the computing unit, while keeping power constant, or even reducing it. This report shows that low-power mobile hardware architectures design goes hand in hand with advances in compiling techniques. We look at the synergy between hardware and software, and show that a good balance between both can lead to innovative lowpower processor architectures

Abordajes sobre la tercerización laboral en América Latina : Aportes y perspectivas

Esta ponencia propone una aproximación a una problemática que, aunque de inmensa relevancia, sólo recientemente ha comenzado a adquirir mayor importancia en distintos ámbitos de investigación y producción, sean académicos o político- sindicales (gubernamentales y no gubernamentales) en América Latina. Intentaremos aquí realizar una contribución al análisis del fenómeno de la tercerización en América Latina en las últimas décadas, a partir de una aproximación sintética a los distintos abordajes y aportes que se han realizado en 7 países de América Latina -Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, México y Venezuela, que fueron seleccionados, tanto por el volumen de trabajos disponibles sobre la problemática, que permitía reconstruir ciertas dinámicas y tendencias, como porque reflejan, aún con puntos en común, una diversidad de trayectorias y formas que asume este fenómeno. Nos proponemos dar cuenta de dichos aportes aquí en forma muy breve y limitada, como un punto de partida necesario para comenzar a realizar un diagnóstico de la situación de la tercerización y de sus consecuencias sobre la clase trabajadora.Mesa 30: A la búsqueda del trabajo perdido. Tercerización y subcontratación laboral: sobre el trabajo y su precarización.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

What enables and hinders implementation? A mixed-methods case study of a mental health programme implemented in primary care clinics in rural Mexico

Background: The integration of mental health services into primary health care (PHC) is considered a key strategy to improve access to care for people with common mental disorders (CMDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet mental health services remain largely unavailable at the PHC level. In Mexico, mental health services are only available at 30% of PHC clinics. Difficulties in translating research findings into routine health service delivery represent a major obstacle to integration of mental health care in PHC. This project investigated the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of mental health programmes integrated in PHC platforms in low-resource settings. Methods: I conducted a systematic review of the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of programmes for CMDs in primary care in LMICs. Then I conducted a mixed-methods case study of a mental health programme integrated in PHC clinics located in rural Mexico to examine implementation process and outcomes, and elicit potential barriers and facilitators to the programme implementation. First, I used mixed-methods to describe the programme implementation and examine outcomes. Subsequently, I used mixed-methods to explore factors related to non-attendance to mental health follow-up consultations. Finally, I used qualitative methods to elicit barriers and facilitators to implementation from the perspectives of service providers and service users. Results: Factors influencing programme implementation were identified through the systematic review including the organisation’s readiness for implementation, the attributes, knowledge and beliefs of service providers, complex service user needs, adaptability and perceived advantage of interventions, and the processes of planning and evaluating the implementation. The case study showed that implementation outcomes included: programme integration, and high levels of acceptability and feasibility enabled through support from the implementing organisation. Fidelity was limited due to the low provision of talk-based interventions. Providers identified that delivering talk-based interventions was unfeasible due to time constraints and limited specialist support to develop the skills needed to provide them. Non-attendance to mental health consultations was an important challenge to implementation fidelity. Main barriers to attendance included, long distance to the clinics, type of treatment, and waiting times; facilitators were the presence of a comorbidity, and perceived need of treatment. Experiences with providers or treatments were identified as both facilitators and barriers. Key facilitators to the programme implementation were the cultural adaptation and perceived advantage of interventions to deliver mental health care, the commitment of health providers, the availability of key resources, an organisational culture that promoted health care as a human right, and the presence of a strong programme leadership. Key barriers included the complexity of mental health interventions, low self-efficacy from health providers, insufficient availability of mentorship from specialists, and the complex needs and expectations of service users. Conclusions: Strengthening the health system is a necessary first step to implement mental health programmes in PHC to ensure ongoing capacity building mechanisms, essential resources, and specialist support are available. Moreover, to adequately address the health and social needs of service users in low-resource settings, locally relevant social interventions and intersectoral collaboration are essential

La mirada de una abuela: Las relaciones afectivas y las ideas sobre la educación infantil en las cartas de María Luisa de Parma, reina de España, a la infanta María Luisa, reina de Etruria

María Luisa de Parma, queen of Spain, has been one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Hispanic Monarchy. Much negativity has been written about her, including her interference in politics, alleged promiscuity, her relationship with Prime Minister Manuel Godoy, and her relationship with her children. Despite this, evidence suggests she had a strong affection for her third daughter, the Infanta María Luisa, who married her cousin, Prince Louis of Bourbon. María Luisa played a significant role in advising her daughter on the upbringing of her grandchildren, showing a conservative approach to education with a focus on religion. However, she also supported innovative ideas like vaccination. Her correspondence reveals a caring grandmother, deeply concerned about the well-being and upbringing of her grandchildren, despite the physical distance separating them