Contribución del Bosque en Cerro Pelado a la Mitigación del Cambio Climático: Almacenamiento y Secuestro de Carbono

This study deals with the estimation of the carbon associated to the Above Ground Biomass, in a permanent plot of measurement located in the Cerro Pelado Tropical Hydrology Observatory in Gamboa, Panama. The objective is to highlight the contribution made by one-hectare of this forest to the local Climate Change mitigation. We employed a relation to carbon storage and sequestration, based on the important species of the tree community with diameter at breast height equal to or greater than 10 cm. It was found an increase in the Above Ground Biomass at the plot, with values of: 193 Mg*ha-1, 218 Mg*ha-11 and 225 Mg*ha-1, for the 2008, 2012 and 2015 censuses, respectively. The net growth in Above Ground Biomass is eliminating approximately 7 to 8 Mg de CO2*ha-1year-1 from the atmosphere, which means that it is acting as a sink and sequestrator of CO2. In this habitat, it is recognizable the important contribution of the Pera arborea species in terms of sustaining carbon sequestration in the Above Ground Biomass.Keywords: Gamboa, Panama, Above Ground Biomass, Climate Change, CO

Development of an Emergency Radio Beacon for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) used to locate manned aircrafts are not well suited to find and recover small crashed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). ELTs utilize an international satellite system for search and rescue (Cospas-Sarsat System), which should leverage its expensive resources to save lives as a priority. Besides, ELTs are too big and heavy to be used within small UAVs. Some of the existing solutions for this problem are based on receivers that detect signal strength, which may be a long and tedious process not suitable for user needs. Others do not have enough range or require radio license and expensive amateur radio receivers. This paper presents an emergency radio beacon specifically designed to locate small UAVs. It is triggered automatically in the event of a crash and allows finding and recovering a crashed UAV in a fast and simple way. It meets not only the required specifications of user-friendliness, size and weight of this kind of application, but also it is a high precision and low cost device. Besides, it has enough range and endurance. The experiments carried out show the operation of the proposed system

Desarrollo de un Bot Evolutivo Interactivo para Unreal Tournament 2004

En este trabajo se ha implementado un algoritmo genético interactivo en un bot para el juego Unreal Tournament 2004, utilizando como base un bot que se definió anteriormente modelando el conocimiento de un jugador experto. El algoritmo ofrece dos tipos de interacción: por parte de un experto en el juego, o por parte de un experto en el algoritmo. Cada uno influirá en distintos aspectos del algoritmo, para dirigirlo hacia unos mejores resultado con respecto a la humanidad que presente el bot (objetivo de este artículo). Se ha hecho un análisis de la influencia del experto en la ejecución y los resultados muestran cierta mejoría con la versión sin interactividad. El mejor bot obtenido como resultado ha sido presentado a la BotPrize competition de 2014 (buscan el bot más humano posible), quedando en segundo lugar.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Evolutionary Interactive Bot for the FPS Unreal Tournament 2004

This paper presents an interactive genetic algorithm for generating a human-like autonomous player (bot) for the game Unreal Tournament 2004. It is based on a bot modelled from the knowledge of an expert human player. The algorithm provides two types of interaction: by an expert in the game and by an expert in the algorithm. Each one affects different aspects of the evolution, directing it towards better results regarding the agent’s humanness (objective of this work). It has been conducted an analysis of the experts’ influence on the performance, showing much better results after these interactions that the non-interactive version. The best bot were submitted to the BotPrize 2014 competition (which seeks for the best human-like bot), getting the second positionUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

La articulación, requisito básico de un producto de investigación educativa

The scientific production, in the field of education, constantly refers to linkage as a special condition to develop research. However, its meaning and the way to achieve that condition are not always clear, particularly for those who are in a training stage of research in education. Meanwhile, the academic production reviewers consider linkage as a very important aspect and essential characteristic of any research project. This paper suggests that linkage involves an epistemological discussion on the research factors in each one of the research stages, such as the construction of the object of study, the definition of methodology, and the data analysis and interpretation, among the most important stages. Linkage takes shape in a written product showing the results from an orderly construction and communication of thought, according to the rules established in a particular field of knowledge.Recibido 27 de agosto de 2011 • Aceptado 23 de febrero 2012 • Corregido 02 de abril de 2012     Dentro de la producción científica en el campo de la educación se hace constante referencia a la articulación como una condición esencial en el desarrollo de una investigación. No obstante, el significado de esta condición y la forma de conseguirla es un asunto que no siempre queda claro, sobre todo para quienes se encuentran en una etapa de formación en la investigación educativa. Mientras, quienes fungen como lectores y lectoras que realizan crítica de la producción académica señalan la articulación como aspecto relevante y la solicitan como rasgo fundamental en cualquier trabajo de investigación. Para aportar a la discusión sobre este aspecto, la reflexión de este trabajo propone que la articulación comprende, por una parte, una reflexión epistemológica sobre los componentes de la investigación en cada una de sus etapas, como la construcción del objeto de estudio, la definición de la metodología, el análisis de los datos y su interpretación, entre las más importantes. Por otra parte, la articulación se cristaliza en un producto escrito que refleja los resultados de una construcción y comunicación ordenada de pensamiento, acorde con las reglas establecidas en un campo de conocimiento.   &nbsp

Relación Entre el Índice de Área Foliar y el Índice Normalizado de Vegetación en el Bosque Húmedo Tropical de Panamá en Gamboa

El índice de área foliar (LAI) es una variable útil para describir la productividad y dinámica de los ecosistemas forestales además de un indicador de la salud y desarrollo del dosel. Se han realizado pocos estudios de esta variable en regiones de bosque húmedo tropical (Bh- T). En este proyecto se desarrolló un modelo empírico para estimar el LAI en el Bh-T, a través de imágenes satelitales y se realizó su validación mediante el desarrollo de campañas de medición con metodología óptica indirecta utilizando el Ceptómetro AccuPAR LP-80. Se utilizaron imágenes de alta resolución del satélite WordView-2 y Quickbird. Este estudio fue de tipo correlacional, relacionando las variables LAI y el Índice normalizado de vegetación (NDVI, por sus siglas en inglés). En estudios previos, se ha demostrado la correlación que existe entre ambos. Los programas Erdas Imagine y Atcor fueron empleados para el análisis de imágenes satelitales y la obtención del NDVI. Las mediciones de campo se desarrollaron en el “Camino del Oleoducto”, en el Área de Avifauna (Gamboa), en donde se ubicaron los puntos de control. Mediciones adicionales fueron tomadas en las parcelas del Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales (STRI) ubicadas en la Isla de Barro Colorado y en el Parque Nacional Soberanía. El empleo de diferentes sitios permitió estudiar el comportamiento espacial del LAI. Las correlaciones resultantes entre las variables LAI-NDVI para los diferentes conjuntos de datos, presentaron correlaciones positivas de moderadas a bajas. Se utilizó el error cuadrado medio para hacer las comparaciones entre modelos

Low Power Implementation of Trivium Stream Cipher

This paper describes a low power hardware implementation of the Trivium stream cipher based on shift register parallelization techniques. The de-sign was simulated with Modelsim, and synthesized with Synopsys in three CMOS technologies with different gate lengths: 180nm, 130nm and 90 nm. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the suitability of this technique and compare the power consumption and the core area of the low power and standard implemen-tations. The results show that the application of the technique reduces power consumption by more than 20% with only a slight penalty in area and operating frequency.Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC-03674info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP5/01867Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2010-16870/MI

Effects of buffer insertion on the average/peak power ratio in CMOS VLSI digital circuits

The buffer insertion has been a mechanism widely used to increase the performances of advanced VLSI digital circuits and systems. The driver or repeater used to this purpose has effect on the timing characteristics on the signal on the wire, as propagation delay, signal integrity, transition time, among others. The power concerns related to buffering have also received much attention, because of the low power requirements of modern integrated systems. In the same way, the buffer insertion has strong impact on the reliability of synchronous systems, since the suited distribution of clock requires reduced or controlled clock-skew, being the buffer and wire sizing, a crucial aspect. In a different way, buffer insertion has been also used to reduce noise generation, especially in heavily loaded nets, since the inclusion of buffers help to desynchronize signal transitions. However, the inclusion of buffers of inverters to improve one or more of these characteristics have often negative effect on another parameters, as it happens in the average and peak of supply current. Mainly, the inclusion of a buffer to reduce noise (peak power), via desynchronizing transitions, could introduce more dynamic consumption, but reducing the short-circuit current because of the increment of signal slope. Thus, the average/peak current optimization can be considered a design trade-off. In this paper, the mechanism to obtain an average/peak power optimization procedure are presented. Selected examples show the feasibility of minimizing switching noise with negligible impact on average power consumption.MEC TEC2004-01509 DOCJunta de Andalucía TIC2006-635 Project

Inspection of Biomimicry Approaches as an Alternative to Address Climate-Related Energy Building Challenges: A Framework for Application in Panama

In the Panama context, energy consumption in the building sector is mostly related to the conditioning of indoor spaces for cooling and lighting. Different nature strategies can be mimic to strongly impact these two aspects in the building sector, such as the ones presented here. A comprehensive analysis regarding literature related to biomimicry-based approaches destined to improve buildings designs is presented here. This analysis is driven by the increasing energy regulations demands to meet future local goals and to propose a framework for applications in Panama. Such biomimicry-based approaches have been further analyzed and evaluated to propose the incorporation of organism-based design for three of the most climate types found in Panama. Consequently, a SWOT analysis helped realized the potential that biomimicry-based approaches might have in improving the odds of in meeting the local and global regulations demands. The need for multidisciplinary collaboration to accomplish biomimicry-based-designed buildings, brings an increment in the competitivity regarding more trained human-assets, widening the standard-construction-sector thinking. Finally, the analysis presented here can serve as the foundation for further technical assessment, via numerical and experimental meansIn the Panama context, energy consumption in the building sector is mostly related to the conditioning of indoor spaces for cooling and lighting. Different nature strategies can be mimic to strongly impact these two aspects in the building sector, such as the ones presented here. A comprehensive analysis regarding literature related to biomimicry-based approaches destined to improve buildings designs is presented here. This analysis is driven by the increasing energy regulations demands to meet future local goals and to propose a framework for applications in Panama. Such biomimicry-based approaches have been further analyzed and evaluated to propose the incorporation of organism-based design for three of the most climate types found in Panama. Consequently, a SWOT analysis helped realized the potential that biomimicry-based approaches might have in improving the odds of in meeting the local and global regulations demands. The need for multidisciplinary collaboration to accomplish biomimicry-based-designed buildings, brings an increment in the competitivity regarding more trained human-assets, widening the standard-construction-sector thinking. Finally, the analysis presented here can serve as the foundation for further technical assessment, via numerical and experimental mean

Novedades para las aráceas costarricenses (Araceae) con notas nomenclaturales

Background and Aims: Araceae is a worldwide family of herbaceous plants, most notable for its striking morphological diversity and broad habitat diversity. It comprises eight subfamilies, 143 genera, and 3667 species. The Central American region has about 780 species, of which 262 are distributed in Costa Rica. In this contribution, we include four new aroid records for the Costa Rican flora belonging to the genera Anthurium, Philodendron, and Spathiphyllum. In addition, nomenclatural aspects of A. myosuroides are discussed. Methods: The new records resulted from fieldwork on Fila Anguciana, Cerro Turrubares, and Volcán Miravalles. The correct taxonomic identity of the species was confirmed based on literature and comparison with herbarium specimens, especially type specimens from the herbaria of the Universidad de Panama (PMA) and the Missouri Botanical Garden (MO), as well as consultation of the JSTOR Global Plants database and the collections of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris (P) online. Descriptions, taxonomic discussions, and figures of the morphological characteristics of the new records are provided. Key results: We present Anthurium roseospadix, A. myosuroides, Philodendron pseudauriculatum and Spathiphyllum dressleri as new records for the Costa Rican flora. Moreover, lectotypification for Pothos myosuroides is proposed. Conclusions: Considering the new records presented in this work, the aroid flora of Costa Rica now comprises 266 species, and the total species numbers for Anthurium, Philodendron, and Spathiphyllum increased to 94, 63, and 10, respectively.Antecedentes y Objetivos: Araceae es una familia de plantas herbáceas ampliamente distribuida en el mundo, es notable por su sorprendente diversidad morfológica y su vasta variedad de hábitats. La familia comprende ocho subfamilias, 143 géneros y 3667 especies. La región centroamericana posee alrededor de 780 especies, de las cuales 262 se encuentran en Costa Rica. En esta contribución, incluimos cuatro nuevos registros de aráceas para la flora de Costa Rica, pertenecientes a los géneros Anthurium, Philodendron y Spathiphyllum. Adicionalmente, se discuten aspectos nomenclaturales de A. myosuroides. Métodos: Los nuevos registros se realizaron mediante trabajo de campo en Fila Anguciana, Cerros Turrubares y Volcán Miravalles. La correcta identidad taxonómica de las especies se confirmó mediante la revisión de literatura y por comparación con especímenes de herbario, especialmente los ejemplares tipo provistos por los herbarios de la Universidad de Panamá (PMA) y el Jardín Botánico de Missouri (MO). También se consultó, en línea, la base de datos de JSTOR Global Plants y la colección del Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de París (P). Se proporcionan descripciones, discusiones taxonómicas e ilustraciones de las características morfológicas de los nuevos registros. Resultados clave: Se presentan Anthurium roseospadix, A. myosuroides, Philodendron pseudauriculatum y Spathiphyllum dressleri como nuevos registros para la flora de Costa Rica. Además, se propone una lectotipificación para Pothos myosuroides. Conclusiones: Considerando los nuevos registros presentados en este trabajo, la flora de aráceas de Costa Rica ahora comprende 266 especies, donde la diversidad de Anthurium, Philodendron y Spathiphyllum aumentó a 94, 63 y 10 especies, respectivamente