Highly-complex optical signal generation using electro-optical systems with non-linear, non-invertible transmission functions

We present a scheme whereby a static non-linear, non-invertible transmission function performed by the electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator produces highly complex optical chaos. The scheme allows the deterministic transformation of low-dimensional band-limited chaotic signals into much higher-dimensional structures with broadband spectra and without using any delay elements or feedback. Standard benchmark tests show that all the considered complexity indices are highly increased due to this transformation in a controlled fashion. This mechanism allows the design of simple optoelectronic delayed oscillators with extremely complex chaotic output.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Applied Physics Letters (August 2012

1D Convolutional Neural Network for Detecting Ventricular Heartbeats

This paper shows a novel approach for detecting ventricular heartbeats using a 1D Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN). The algorithm input is the raw ECG signal, i.e., no signal pre-processing nor feature extraction are involved. The output of the 1D-CNN is filtered using a combination of linear and nonlinear filters to produce the final output. The MIT-BIH arrhythmia database was used for both algorithm training/tuning and evaluation. The assessment methodology followed the interpatient paradigm, where the algorithm was trained and evaluated using independent subsets. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated for two tasks; QRS detection, and heartbeat classification. QRS detection resulted in a sensitivity of 99.0% and a positive predictivity of 96.5%. The performance assessment of the ventricular ectopic beat detection resulted in a sensitivity of 85.8% and a positive predictivity of 64.5%. Although there is still room for improvement, the results suggest that convolutional neural networks are a promising approach for building heartbeat classifiers

Innovate to Educate: Use of mobile devices in the teaching and learning of English

La utilización de los dispositivos móviles para la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa implica una exploración profunda de nuestra práctica y diseño docente. El presente estudio desvela a través del paradigma de las ciencias cognitivas algunos conceptos base que han sustentado la educación española, sugiere el empleo de los dispositivos como herramientas de innovación y por último analiza diversos materiales disponibles en la red para su aplicación en entornos educativos.The use of mobile devices to teach and learn English involves a deep exploration of our practice and teaching design. This paper reveals through the paradigm of cognitive science core concepts that have sustained the Spanish education, it suggests the use of the mobile devices as tools to develop innovation and finally it examines various materials available online to apply in educational environments

Kaizen–Kata, a Problem-Solving Approach to Public Service Health Care in Mexico. A Multiple-Case Study

3297Purpose: Mexico’s public hospitals are experiencing major operational problems which seriously a ect the care of Mexican citizens. Some hospitals have initiated e orts to apply the Kaizen philosophy to improve this situation. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to analyze the methodological impact of Kaizen–Kata implementation in Mexican public hospitals that have tried to solve operational problems using this improvement approach. Design/Methodology/Approach: The service organization implemented Kaizen–Kata methodology in order to improve one operational problem-process in health care. A case-study approach was used in this research in order to understand the e ects of the Kaizen–Kata methodology in solving problems in their operational procedures. Findings: Six specific drivers were identified when applying the Kaizen–Kata methodology. Furthermore, the impact on the levels of implementation of the Kaizen–Kata methodology in each of the improvement teams studied was also identified. Research Limitations: The main limitation of the research is that only three case-studies are presented thus it is not possible to generalize its results. Practical Implications (Where Possible): Other public hospitals can use this specific example as a working guide to solve the operational problems of health systems. Originality/Value: A methodology of continuous improvement in manufacturing was imported from the industry sector for application in an operational health care process. The Kaizen–Kata methodology contributed significantly to improving issues involving delays, customer complaints, process reworks and extra-cost, among other e ects of operational problems.S

Dereito e persoas con discapacidade. Unha experiencia universitaria

[Resumo] A Universidade da Coruña dispón dun servizo para a promoción da accesibilidade e a igualdade de oportunidades das persoas con discapacidade: a Unidade universitaria de atención á diversidade (ADI). Nela participa un grupo de estudantes, persoal de administración e servizos e persoal docente e investigador da Facultade de Dereito (Grupo de Dereito-ADI). A súa actuación se reflicte na elaboración de tres informes, nos que se reflexiona desde unha perspectiva xurídica sobre diversos aspectos relacionados co desenvolvemento cotián das persoas con discapacidade, sobre a remoción de barreiras para a súa integración na comunidade universitaria e sobre a tutela dos seus dereitos.[Abstract] The University Diversity Attention Service (ADI) is a Service of the University of A Coruña for improving the accessibility and equality in opportunities for people with disabilities. The Faculty of Law is represented by the Law-ADI Group, which consists of some members of the administrative and service staff, some members of the teaching and research staff, and a group of students. The Law-ADI Group has drawn up three reports, reflecting from the legal point of view on some matters related to the daily development of disabled people at the University, the removal of different barriers in order to encourage the integration of people with disability in the university community and the protection of their rights

Las bibliotecas universitarias en un entorno de enseñanza virtual

The academic libraries, in the beginnings of the XXIst century, are faced to a new model of education, where the virtual environment is fundamental. The above mentioned libraries, in his functions like CRAI, will be seen in the challenge of adapting his collections and services to the education platforms, of supporting to the professorship in the making of multimedia products and of designing a politics of literacy of information. The literacy informacional has turned into a fundamental axis in the new model of education defined by the European Space of Higher education, therefore an important part of our efforts must go towards his integration in the new educational proposal

Las bibliotecas universitarias en un entorno de enseñanza virtual

The academic libraries, in the beginnings of the XXIst century, are faced to a new model of education, where the virtual environment is fundamental. The above mentioned libraries, in his functions like CRAI, will be seen in the challenge of adapting his collections and services to the education platforms, of supporting to the professorship in the making of multimedia products and of designing a politics of literacy of information. The literacy informacional has turned into a fundamental axis in the new model of education defined by the European Space of Higher education, therefore an important part of our efforts must go towards his integration in the new educational proposal

Diseño de materiales multimedia para la formación de competencias informacionales

Los tutoriales multimedia se han convertido en objetos de aprendizaje esenciales en las políticas de formación en competencias informacionales, así como en el aprendizaje autónomo que se potencia en el Espacio Europeo de Enseñanza Superior.La creación  de los materiales multimedia debe fundamentarse en una serie de principios con el objetivo  de facilitar el proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes, por ello se debe tener en consideración aspectos como los mecanismos de aprendizaje de la memoria, un  estilo pedagógico o la interacción con los estudiantes. El  diseño instruccional - ADDIE- tendría como objetivo planificar el desarrollo de una política institucional para la elaboración de materiales multimedia.La colaboración en los procesos de enseñanza es uno de los elementos claves en el EEES. Las bibliotecas deberemos establecer mecanismos para desarrollar procesos formativos en competencias informacionales, así como en la elaboración de materiales multimedia