Editorial

Editoria

An Agent Architecture for Concurrent Bilateral Negotiations

Abstract. We present an architecture that makes use of symbolic decision-making to support agents participating in concurrent bilateral negotiations. The architecture is a revised version of previous work with the KGP model [23, 12], which we specialise with knowledge about the agent’s self, the negotiation opponents and the environment. Our work combines the specification of domain-independent decision-making with a new protocol for concurrent negotiation that revisits the well-known alternating offers protocol [22]. We show how the decision-making can be specialised to represent the agent’s strategies, utilities and prefer-ences using a Prolog-like meta-program. The work prepares the ground for supporting decision-making in concurrent bilateral negotiations that is more lightweight than previous work and contributes towards a fully developed model of the architecture

La formación de profesores de Ciencias en y para la diversidad

Este escrito da a conocer el producto de un equipo de docentes de diferentes áreas que forman parte del Grupo de Investigación en Educación en Ciencias Experimentales (GREECE), y desarrollan el proyecto AIDETC y ACACIA, éste último soporta el mismo pero no se profundizará en esta comunicación. Dentro de la Alianza de Instituciones para el Desarrollo de la Educación y la Tecnología en Colombia (AIDETC), el grupo tiene como objetivo desarrollar material didáctico para el uso, aprovechamiento y desarrollo adecuados de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación. En este sentido se desarrolló un curso con docentes en formación y en ejercicio para la elaboración Ambientes Virtuales de Aprendizaje (AVA), organizados y soportados bajo la estructura de una unidad didáctica (UD) de Sanmartí (2002). Se tiene presente que una de las características del AVA es que debía funcionar para poblaciones con diversidad, oyentes, hipo acúsicos o sordas

Proceso de formación de profesores en el diseño de Ambientes Virtuales de Aprendizaje incluyentes

El Grupo de Investigación en Enseñanza de las Ciencias Experimentales (GREECE) diseñó e implementó un curso en formación inicial para profesores de ciencias de la Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (UDFJC), haciendo énfasis en el diseño didáctico para la generación y adaptación de objetos virtuales de aprendizaje (OVA) como parte de un ambiente virtual de aprendizaje (AVA) que tiene como finalidad la inclusión de población sorda y población ciega en procesos de enseñanza aprendizaje. Dentro de la ruta metodológica se trabajan diferentes herramientas pensadas en términos de accesibilidad para las necesidades educativas especiales. Los resultados del curso se hacen tangibles con los nuevos cursos creados en la plataforma ATutor por parte de los estudiantes en formación, contando así con material inclusivo en aras de aportar a otros docentes en aulas diversas

Analysis technique for exceptional points in open quantum systems and QPT analogy for the appearance of irreversibility

We propose an analysis technique for the exceptional points (EPs) occurring in the discrete spectrum of open quantum systems (OQS), using a semi-infinite chain coupled to an endpoint impurity as a prototype. We outline our method to locate the EPs in OQS, further obtaining an eigenvalue expansion in the vicinity of the EPs that gives rise to characteristic exponents. We also report the precise number of EPs occurring in an OQS with a continuum described by a quadratic dispersion curve. In particular, the number of EPs occurring in a bare discrete Hamiltonian of dimension $n_\textrm{D}$ is given by $n_\textrm{D} (n_\textrm{D} - 1)$; if this discrete Hamiltonian is then coupled to continuum (or continua) to form an OQS, the interaction with the continuum generally produces an enlarged discrete solution space that includes a greater number of EPs, specifically $2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) [2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) - 1]$, in which $n_\textrm{C}$ is the number of (non-degenerate) continua to which the discrete sector is attached. Finally, we offer a heuristic quantum phase transition analogy for the emergence of the resonance (giving rise to irreversibility via exponential decay) in which the decay width plays the role of the order parameter; the associated critical exponent is then determined by the above eigenvalue expansion.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Evaluating a multicomponent program to improve hypertension control in Guatemala: Study protocol for an effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized trial

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite advances in hypertension prevention and treatment, the proportion of patients who are aware, treated and controlled is low, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We will evaluate an adapted version of a multilevel and multicomponent hypertension control program in Guatemala, previously proven effective and feasible in Argentina. The program components are: protocol-based hypertension treatment using a standardized algorithm; team-based collaborative care; health provider education; health coaching sessions; home blood pressure monitoring; blood pressure audit; and feedback.Methods: Using a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation design, we will evaluate clinical and implementation outcomes of the multicomponent program in Guatemala over an 18-month period. Through a cluster randomized trial, we will randomly assign 18 health districts to the intervention arm and 18 to enhanced usual care across five departments, enrolling 44 participants per health district and 1584 participants in total. The clinical outcomes are (1) the difference in the proportion of patients with controlled hypertension (< 130/80 mmHg) between the intervention and control groups at 18 months and (2) the net change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from baseline to 18 months. The context-enhanced Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM)/Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) framework will guide the evaluation of the implementation at the level of the patient, provider, and health system. Using a mixed-methods approach, we will evaluate the following implementation outcomes: acceptability, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, adaptation, reach, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.Discussion: We will disseminate the study findings, and promote scale up and scale out of the program, if proven effective. This study will generate urgently needed data on effective, adoptable, and sustainable interventions and implementation strategies to improve hypertension control in Guatemala and other LMICs.Fil: Paniagua Avila, Alejandra. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Fort, Meredith P.. Institute Of Nutrition Of Central America And Panamá; GuatemalaFil: Glasgow, Russell E.. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Gulayin, Pablo Elías. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Hernández Galdamez, Diego. institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panamá; GuatemalaFil: Mansilla, Kristyne. institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panamá; GuatemalaFil: Palacios, Eduardo. Ministerio de Salud y Asistencia Social; GuatemalaFil: Peralta, Ana Lucia. Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panamá ; GuatemalaFil: Roche, Dina. Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panamá ; GuatemalaFil: Rubinstein, Adolfo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; ArgentinaFil: He, Jiang. University Translational Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Ramirez Zea, Manuel. Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panamá ; GuatemalaFil: Irazola, Vilma. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Optical Biosensors Based on Semiconductor Nanostructures

The increasing availability of semiconductor-based nanostructures with novel and unique properties has sparked widespread interest in their use in the field of biosensing. The precise control over the size, shape and composition of these nanostructures leads to the accurate control of their physico-chemical properties and overall behavior. Furthermore, modifications can be made to the nanostructures to better suit their integration with biological systems, leading to such interesting properties as enhanced aqueous solubility, biocompatibility or bio-recognition. In the present work, the most significant applications of semiconductor nanostructures in the field of optical biosensing will be reviewed. In particular, the use of quantum dots as fluorescent bioprobes, which is the most widely used application, will be discussed. In addition, the use of some other nanometric structures in the field of biosensing, including porous semiconductors and photonic crystals, will be presented

Short term traffic congestion forecasting using hybrid metaheuristics and rule based methods a comparative study

In this paper, a comparative study between a hybrid technique that combines a Genetic Algorithm with a Cross Entropy method to optimize Fuzzy Rule-Based Systems, and literature techniques is presented. These techniques are applied to traffic congestion datasets in order to determine their performance in this area. Different types of datasets have been chosen. The used time horizons are 5, 15 and 30 min. Results show that the hybrid technique improves those results obtained by the techniques of the state of the art. In this way, the performed experimentation shows the competitiveness of the proposal in this area of application. Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo