A Discussion of Thin Client Technology for Computer Labs

Computer literacy is not negotiable for any professional in an increasingly computerised environment. Educational institutions should be equipped to provide this new basic training for modern life. Accordingly, computer labs are an essential medium for education in almost any field. Computer labs are one of the most popular IT infrastructures for technical training in primary and secondary schools, universities and other educational institutions all over the world. Unfortunately, a computer lab is expensive, in terms of both initial purchase and annual maintenance costs, and especially when we want to run the latest software. Hence, research efforts addressing computer lab efficiency, performance or cost reduction would have a worldwide repercussion. In response to this concern, this paper presents a survey on thin client technology for computer labs in educational environments. Besides setting out the advantages and drawbacks of this technology, we aim to refute false prejudices against thin clients, identifying a set of educational scenarios where thin clients are a better choice and others requiring traditional solutions

Good practices in logistics for SMEs: a strategy for the global marketplace

Thanks to globalization, the environment in which companies operate today has changed. Whereas a few decades ago, the same government generated protectionist policies, today with the opening of markets, competition is not only national but also international, so companies, regardless of their size, must make changes in their business model, aiming at the internationalization of markets both for the acquisition of materials and goods and for the marketing of their products, being more agile in responding to their customers in terms of product quality, expected delivery time and cost. It is in this scenario where logistics plays a fundamental role as a tool for competitiveness and, therefore, the following work aims to highlight the impact of logistics on SMEs and the need to aim for continuous improvement of their logistics processes. By means of a qualitative/descriptive methodology, relevant aspects are reviewed, finding as a final result essential components that SMEs must incorporate to attend a world-class market

Analysis of the subcellular targeting of the smaller replicase protein of Pelargonium flower break virus

[EN] Replication of all positive RNA viruses occurs in association with intracellular membranes. In many cases, the mechanism of membrane targeting is unknown and there appears to be no correlation between virus phylogeny and the membrane systems recruited for replication. Pelargonium flower break virus (PFBV, genus Carmovirus, family Tombusviridae) encodes two proteins, p27 and its read-through product p86 (the viral RNA dependent-RNA polymerase), that are essential for replication. Recent reports with other members of the family Tombusviridae have shown that the smaller replicase protein is targeted to specific intracellular membranes and it is assumed to determine the subcellular localization of the replication complex. Using in vivo expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions in plant and yeast cells, we show here that PFBV p27 localizes in mitochondria. The same localization pattern was found for p86 that contains the p27 sequence at its N-terminus. Cellular fractionation of p27GFP-expressing cells confirmed the confocal microscopy observations and biochemical treatments suggested a tight association of the protein to membranes. Analysis of deletion mutants allowed identification of two regions required for targeting of p27 to mitochondria. These regions mapped toward the N- and C-terminus of the protein, respectively, and could function independently though with distinct efficiency. In an attempt to search for putative cellular factors involved in p27 localization, the subcellular distribution of the protein was checked in a selected series of knockout yeast strains and the outcome of this approach is discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This research was supported by grant BFU2006-11230 and BFU2009-11699 from MEC and MICINN (Spain), respectively, and by grants ACOM/2006/210 and ACOMP/2009/040 (Generalitat Valenciana, GV) to C.H. S.M.-T. was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from GV and of a predoctoral contract from MEC.Martínez Turiño, S.; Hernandez Fort, C. (2012). Analysis of the subcellular targeting of the smaller replicase protein of Pelargonium flower break virus. Virus Research. 163(2):580-591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2011.12.011S580591163

Ranking-based Ties Social Networks : an illustration based on a system of Fashion Capital Cities in the world.

Our paper aims to apply a non-conventional Social Network Analysis to a network generated from an initial sorting of data with mere order. The aim is to test whether and how one relationship set 'conveniently' generated by the ranking is able to provide a coherent system of interactions with possible practical and theoretical utility. We consider a system of city distributions where we focus on ¿Ranking-Based Ties¿ social networks, considering a system of 'objects' of the same class that would be able to interact. The objects in question are ordered according to their 'performance' in a particular ranking. According to a survey developed by Global Language Monitor, there is a ranked number for every capital that could be considered important among the world's most fashionable cities. Using the rank of scoring average we construct a fashion cities network in order to analyze the dynamics and the topology of the system following a gradual process of clustering or densification of relationships consistent with key network statistics analysis

Communication range dynamics using an energy saving self-adaptive transmission power controller in a wireless sensor network

The deployment of the nodes in a Wireless Sensors and Actuators Network (WSAN) is typically restricted by the sensing and acting coverage. This implies that the locations of the nodes may be, and usually are, not optimal from the point of view of the radio communication. And also when the transmission power is tuned for those locations, there are other unpredictable factors that can cause connectivity failures, like interferences, signal fading due to passing objects, and of course, radio irregularities. A control based self-adaptive system is a typical solution to improve the energy consumption while keeping a good connectivity. In this paper, we explore how the communication range for each node evolves along the iterations of an energy saving self-adaptive transmission power controller when using different parameter sets in an outdoor scenario, providing a WSAN that automatically adapts to surrounding changes keeping a good connectivity. The results obtained in this paper show how the parameters with the best performance keep a k-connected network, where k is in the range of the desired node degree plus or minus a specified tolerance value. In addition, the worst performance shows how a bad parameters choice can create isolated islands, groups of nodes disconnected from the rest of the network

Cognitive development of children in vulnerable contexts: the role of psychosocial intervention

Psychosocial intervention programs are carried out in Latin American communities with socioeconomic disadvantage to improve their quality of life; few evaluations are carried out to measure their effectiveness. The study aimed to determine if intervention processes in vulnerable communities might favor the children's development. An analysis of variance was used to find the dependence between different intervention processes and the cognitive development of 97 children between 3 and 6 years old. No relationship was found between the type of intervention received by the communities and their infants’ global cognitive development. However, the children of the community intervened by multiple agents and services showed significant differences related to a better performance in dimensions such as language, rhythm, memory, and attention. It is necessary to ensure nutrition and guarantee quality education, early stimulation, spaces of relationship with peers, and a community aware of their co-responsibility in childcare to improve children's cognitive developmen

Estimación en cálculo multiplicativo con números decimales

L'estimació en càlcul és una destresa bàsica, útil en la resolució de problemes aritmètics. En aquest article analitzem les dificultats, estratègies i errors en les estimacions de càlculs aritmètics de multiplicació i divisió amb nombres naturals i decimals. Servir una metodologia mixta, quantitativa - qualitativa, recollint dades mitjançant una prova d'estimació, seguida per una fase d'entrevistes. Hi participen 131 estudiants de Magisteri. Entre els resultats, els ítems amb decimals menors que 0,1 són els més difícils; amb decimals menors que 1, més difícils que amb naturals o decimals més grans que 1; i les divisions B (dividend menor que divisor), més difícils que les divisions A (dividend més gran que divisor). A la part qualitativa, amb entrevista semiestructurada, analitzem les estratègies i els errors en estimar. Detectem quatre estratègies bàsiques (primers dígits, substitució, fraccions i algorisme alternatiu) i 15 tipus d'errors (4 a la interpretació, 10 a l'execució i 1 a l'avaluació).Computational estimation is a basic skill, useful in solving arithmetic problems. In this paper, we analyze the difficulties, strategies and errors in computational estimation of multiplications and divisions with natural and decimal numbers. We use a mixed methodology, quantitative and qualitative, collecting data by means of an estimation test, followed by a phase of interviews. Participants in the study were 131 pre-service teachers. Among the results, tasks with decimals less than 0.1 are more difficult than others; tasks with decimals less than 1, more difficult than those with natural or decimals greater than 1; and B divisions (with dividend less than divisor) are more difficult than A divisions (with dividend larger than divisor). Qualitative study shows 3 basic estimation strategies (First digits, fractions, and alternative algorithm) and 15 types of errors (4 in interpretation phase, 10 in computation phase, and 1 in evaluation).La estimación en cálculo es una destreza básica, útil en la resolución de problemas aritméticos. En este artículo analizamos las dificultades, estrategias y errores en las estimaciones de cálculos aritméticos de multiplicación y división con números naturales y decimales. Empleamos una metodología mixta, cuantitativa-cualitativa, recogiendo datos mediante una prueba de estimación, seguida por una fase de entrevistas. Participan 131 estudiantes de Magisterio. Entre los resultados, los ítems con decimales menores que 0,1 son los más difíciles; con decimales menores que 1, más difíciles que con naturales o decimales mayores que 1; y las divisiones B (dividendo menor que divisor), más difíciles que las divisiones A (dividendo mayor que divisor). En la parte cualitativa, con entrevista semiestructurada, analizamos las estrategias y los errores al estimar. Detectamos cuatro estrategias básicas (primeros dígitos, sustitución, fracciones y algoritmo alternativo) y 15 tipos de errores (4 en la interpretación, 10 en la ejecución y 1 en la evaluación)