Attention: A view suggested by systemic and cybernetic consideration

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Current views and models about attention regard man as a 'transmitter channel' and try to characterise the properties of that 'odd channel'. Another characteristic of the current views is that attention is regarded as a specific mental operation in a person which can be described, irrespective of the purposes of the subject. By contrast we examine attention as an activity at the service of the purposes of the person. Attention is examined as an activity by means of which the field of consciousness is structured around the 'object of attention'. This object of attention is not a specific 'stimulus' but a system in the sense of General System Theory. Hence, the approach is mainly holistic in character. Activity is looked upon as an INTERTRAFFIC between the person and his relation with the world. And where there is relatedness, information theory, in a cybernetic sense, can be used. The approach developed benefits of the advantages from previous models allowing also for a better explanation of the limitation present in the cognitive realm without appeal to some 'filter mechanism' in the physiological structure of a person.Consejo de Desarrollo Cientifico y Humanistico U. C. V. Caraca

Bio-inspired route estimation in cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio is a technique that was originally created for the proper use of the radio electric spectrum due its underuse. A few methods were used to predict the network traffic to determine the occupancy of the spectrum and then use the ‘holes’ between the transmissions of primary users. The goal is to guarantee a complete transmission for the second user while not interrupting the trans-mission of primary users. This study seeks the multifractal generation of traffic for a specific radio electric spectrum as well as a bio-inspired route estimation for secondary users. It uses the MFHW algorithm to generate multifractal traces and two bio-inspired algo-rithms: Ant Colony Optimization and Max Feeding to calculate the secondary user’s path. Multifractal characteristics offer a predic-tion, which is 10% lower in comparison with the original traffic values and a complete transmission for secondary users. In fact, a hybrid strategy combining both bio-inspired algorithms promise a reduction in handoff. The purpose of this research consists on deriving future investigation in the generation of multifractal traffic and a mobility spectrum using bio-inspired algorithms

Kohti jatkuvaa ja formatiivista arviointia espanjan A1-tason kursseilla

A la hora de evaluar las habilidades y conocimientos adquiridos en los niveles iniciales, resulta bastante común servirse de exámenes finales. Sin embargo, las habilidades situacionales y el desempeño estrechamente vinculado a cierto contexto pueden ser estimados haciendo uso de la evaluación formativa. En este artículo pretendemos describir el cambio, gradual pero definitivo, en el proceso de evaluación de las destrezas de los estudiantes a partir de una aproximación parcialmente sumativa hasta una formativa en los cursos iniciales de español (nivel A1 del CEFR). El estudio refleja cómo hemos desarrollado nuestra enseñanza y métodos de evaluación en un contexto socioconstructivista con el fin de garantizar la coherencia entre el proceso de aprendizaje y el sistema de evaluación. El artículo, asimismo, explora en la percepción de los estudiantes en cuanto a sus destrezas lingüísticas, su proceso de aprendizaje, y la posición del profesor como fuente de retroalimentación en estos cursos. Tomamos como marco el aprendizaje situacional, que nos ofrece un canal a través del cual poder observar y evaluar el proceso del aprendizaje de la lengua. El objetivo de nuestro escrito es reflexionar sobre una forma no tan tradicional de evaluación, y descubrir si este tipo de evaluación suscita un aprendizaje más profundo en el estudiante. Para realizar este estudio, tomamos como fuente cuatro cursos de español llevados a cabo en otoño de 2016 en el Centro de Lenguas de la Universidad de Helsinki. La información fue recopilada por medio de cuestionarios y examinada mediante un análisis cualitativo.Peer reviewe

Mid-UV Narrow-Band Indices of Evolved Simple Stellar Populations

We explore the properties of selected mid-ultraviolet (1900-3200 angstrom) spectroscopic indices of simple stellar populations. We incorporate the high-resolution UVBLUE stellar spectral library into an evolutionary population synthesis code, based on the most recent Padova isochrones. We analyze the trends of UV indices with respect to age and chemical composition. As a first test against observations, we compare our results with the empirical mid-UV spectral indices of Galactic globular clusters (GGCs), observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. We find that synthetic indices exhibit a variety of properties, the main one being the slight age sensitivity of most of them for ages >2 Gyr. However, for high metallicity, two indices, Fe II 2332 and Fe II 2402, display a remarkably different pattern, with a sharp increase within the first two Gyr and, thereafter, a rapid decline. These indices clearly mark the presence of young (similar to 1 Gyr) metal-rich (Z >= Z(circle dot)) stellar populations. We complement existing UV indices of GGCs with new measurements, and carefully identify a subsample of 10 indices suitable for comparison with theoretical models. The comparison shows a fair agreement and, in particular, the strong trend of the indices with metallicity is well reproduced. We also discuss the main improvements that should be considered in future modeling concerning, among others, the effects of alpha-enhancement in the spectral energy distributions

Potential uses of natural zeolites for the development of new nanomaterials

Zeolites stand apart among the many families of porous materials. Due to their structure, they have a number of important practical properties such as a high adsorption capacity and the ability to cation exchange. However, the main feature distinguishing them from other porous bodies and inherent only for zeolites is the ordering of the pores in their size, orientation, and mutual locations. Pore diameters for the crystalline structures of various zeolites may vary from 0.25 to about 1.5 nanometers. The crystalline arrangement of these pores in space converts zeolites in the naturally existing nanostructured materials

Influence of Higher Wheat Prices on Ready-to-Eat Cereal Companies in 2010

In 2010, sever droughts and fires destroyed 20 percent of Russia’s wheat crop. This incident increased dramatically the prices of wheat worldwide. This paper studies the financial consequences that these higher wheat prices brought to companies that use wheat to manufacture ready-to-eat cereal and wheat-related products. The international cereal companies selected for this study were Kellogg Company, Nestlé Group and Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., owner of Post Foods Company. Keywords: Wheat, cereal companies, increase, Russi

Matriz de política pública criminal para reducir el delito de negociación incompatible en el Gobierno Regional San Martín, 2018-2019

La presente investigación titulada “Matriz de política pública criminal para reducir el delito de negociación incompatible en el Gobierno Regional San Martín, 2018-2019”; tiene como objetivo de estudio Determinar si la matriz de una política pública criminal reducirá el índice del delito de negociación incompatible en el Gobierno Regional de San Martin; esta investigación es cualitativa ya que su utilización es recoger datos sin medición numérica desarrollando capacidades de comprensión, interpretación, descripción y teorías fundamentadas que respaldan la investigación, así mismo, se tuvo como resultado que la matriz de política pública elaborada si reduciría el índice del delito de negociación incompatible en el Gobierno Regional de San Martin, concluyendo que para ello, dicha Entidad debe: 1. Fortalecer el accionar interinstitucional en la lucha contra el delito de negociación incompatible, ampliando la presencia efectiva de las oficinas de control interno, 2.Crear unidades de inteligencia administrativa y financiera, que permita mejorar la investigación y ampliar la capacidad sancionatoria de estos casos, 3.Contar con un comité de control interno

Down-regulation of transforming growth factor-β type II receptor (TGF-βRII) protein and mRNA expression in cervical cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical carcinogenesis is a multistep process initiated by "high risk" human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV), most commonly HPV16. The infection <it>per se </it>is, however, not sufficient to induce malignant conversion. Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) inhibits epithelial proliferation and altered expression of TGF-β or its receptors may be important in carcinogenesis. One cofactor candidate to initiate neoplasia in cervical cancer is the prolonged exposure to sex hormones. Interestingly, previous studies demonstrated that estrogens suppress TGF-β induced gene expression. To examine the expression of TGF-β2, TGF-βRII, p15 and c-myc we used <it>in situ </it>RT-PCR, real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry in transgenic mice expressing the oncogene E7 of HPV16 under control of the human Keratin-14 promoter (K14-E7 transgenic mice) and nontransgenic control mice treated for 6 months with slow release pellets of 17β-estradiol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Estrogen-induced carcinogenesis was accompanied by an increase in the incidence and distribution of proliferating cells solely within the cervical and vaginal squamous epithelium of K14-E7 mice. TGF-β2 mRNA and protein levels increased in K14-E7 transgenic mice as compared with nontransgenic mice and further increased after hormone-treatment in both nontransgenic and transgenic mice. In contrast, TGF-βRII mRNA and protein levels were decreased in K14-E7 transgenic mice compared to nontransgenic mice and these levels were further decreased after hormone treatment in transgenic mice. We also observed that c-myc mRNA levels were high in K14-E7 mice irrespective of estrogen treatment and were increased in estrogen-treated nontransgenic mice. Finally we found that p15 mRNA levels were not increased in K14-E7 mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that the synergy between estrogen and E7 in inducing cervical cancer may in part reflect the ability of both factors to modulate TGF-β signal transduction.</p