Assessing the Role of Knowledge and Project Management in the Competitiveness of Manufacturing Firms in Baja California

This article analyses the Knowledge Management (KM) and Project Management (PM) practices of manufacturing firms based in Baja California to determine their level of importance in generating competitive advantage in the manufacturing sector in Baja California. Key questions researched in this paper are: 1) How is KM managed through information technologies and organisational systems, ensuring empirical and industrial success? and 2) How do PM strategies increase competitiveness in the Baja California manufacturing sector? The research analyses currently-implemented management systems used for improved KM and PM, based on knowledge and new advantage orientation. One of the limitations found in this research is that several firms do not adopt standardised policies relating to knowledge procurement and development. Although competitiveness is perceived as vital for organisations, the combination of KM and PM are not yet fully developed and integrated into organisational processes to increase competitiveness. It is found that KM and PM have influence and correlations with competitiveness

Noise and transmission performance improvement of broadband distributed Raman amplifier using bidirectional Raman pumping with dual order co-pumps

We demonstrate a low noise bidirectional broadband distributed Raman pumping scheme combining dual order co-propagated pumps without increasing the signal RIN level. The noise performance improvement is compared experimentally and numerically with conventional counter-pumping only and bidirectional pumping with only a 2nd order co-pump for a 70nm bandwidth and 61.5km distributed Raman amplifier. The proposed broadband pumping scheme shows 1.2dB maximum noise figure improvement and extends the long-haul transmission reach up to 6150km with a Q-factor improvement of ~0.7dB compared with counter-pumping only scheme

Identifying Clusters of Complex Urban–Rural Issues as Part of Policy Making Process Using a Network Analysis Approach: A Case Study in Bahía de Los Ángeles, Mexico

Improving human settlements diagnosis is a key factor in effective urban planning and the design of efficient policy making. In this paper, we illustrate how network theory concepts can be applied to reveal the topological structure of functional relationships in a network of heterogeneous urban–rural issues. This mapping is done using clustering algorithms and centrality value techniques. By analyzing emergent groups of urban–rural related issues, our methodology was applied to a rural community, considering in this exercise environmental matters and real estate interests as a way to better understand the structure of salient issues in the context of its urban development program design. Results show clusters that arrange themselves not by an obvious similarity in their constituent components, but by relations observed in urban–rural settings that hint on the issues that the urban development program must focus. Due to its complex nature, the classification of these emerging clusters and how they must be treated in traditional planning instruments is a new challenge that this novel methodology reveals

Signal power asymmetry optimisation for optical phase conjugation using random DFB laser Raman amplification

3 pags., 3 figs. -- Asia Communications and Photonics Conference, Hong Kong Hong Kong 19–23 November 2015 .-- OCIS codes: 060.2320, 060.1660We numerically optimise in-span signal power asymmetry in advanced Raman amplification schemes, reaching 3% over 62 km SMF, and evaluate its impact on the performance of systems using mid-link OPC using 7×15 16QAM Nyquist-spaced WDM-PDM.We acknowledge the support of the EU through the MSC IF ”CHAOS” and FP7 ITN programme ICONE, Spanish MICINN Grant RAMAS, TEC2011-27314 and UK EPSRC Programme Grant UNLOC EP/J017582/1.Peer reviewe

A research of the mineralogy phases of clinker in a spanish cement using the method of Rietveldd

[ES]: Con el objetivo de implantar un método de control de calidad de forma continua en una fábrica de cementos española, para mejorar las características del producto final, se están desarrollando nuevas metodologías de caracterización. El método de Rietveld [1] se ha utilizado con éxito para analizar la composición de las fases principales del clínker. Utilizando esta metodología, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio para cuantificar adecuadamente la fase minoritaria de Cal Libre, de gran importancia en la calidad del clínker. El método ha permitido obtener unos resultados satisfactorios en muestras cuyos contenidos superan el 3% de CaO. Estos resultados son posibles combinando adecuadamente las técnicas de difracción y fluorescencia de rayos-X, así como los resultados del análisis por vía química.[EN]: In order to introduce continuously a quality control method in a Spanish cement factory to improve the final product feature new research methodology is being developed. The Rietveld method [1] has been successfully used to analyze the composition of the main phases of clinker. Using this methodologies, research has been carried out to quantize appropriately the minor phase of free lime which is extremely important in the clinker quality. This method leads to satisfactory results on samples with contents in CaO from 3%. These results are possible combining X- ray diffraction and fluorescence techniques as well as the chemical analysis data.Los autores agradecen a la empresa Tudela-Veguín las facilidades y la financiación para llevar a cabo este trabajo. Trabajo parcialmente financiado con el proyecto MAT2010-15094 y fondos FEDER.Peer reviewe

Modelling the Interaction Levels in HCI Using an Intelligent Hybrid System with Interactive Agents: A Case Study of an Interactive Museum Exhibition Module in Mexico

Technology has become a necessity in our everyday lives and essential for completing activities we typically take for granted; technologies can assist us by completing set tasks or achieving desired goals with optimal affect and in the most efficient way, thereby improving our interactive experiences. This paper presents research that explores the representation of user interaction levels using an intelligent hybrid system approach with agents. We evaluate interaction levels of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with the aim of enhancing user experiences. We consider the description of interaction levels using an intelligent hybrid system to provide a decision-making system to an agent that evaluates interaction levels when using interactive modules of a museum exhibition. The agents represent a high-level abstraction of the system, where communication takes place between the user, the exhibition and the environment. In this paper, we provide a means to measure the interaction levels and natural behaviour of users, based on museum user-exhibition interaction. We consider that, by analysing user interaction in a museum, we can help to design better ways to interact with exhibition modules according to the properties and behaviour of the users. An interaction-evaluator agent is proposed to achieve the most suitable representation of the interaction levels with the aim of improving user interactions to offer the most appropriate directions, services, content and information, thereby improving the quality of interaction experienced between the user-agent and exhibition-agent

Neuroimagen del linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central en pacientes inmunodeprimidos

ResumenObjetivosEl linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central (LPSNC) es una entidad rara con un pronóstico fatal. Dado el aumento en el número de casos con inmunosupresión adquirida, nuestros objetivos son estudiar las características epidemiológicas y neurorradiológicas de aquellos pacientes inmunodeprimidos con diagnóstico de LPSNC con afectación cerebral e investigar si existen diferencias entre los pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) positivo y negativo.Materiales y métodosSe realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de los pacientes inmunodeprimidos con afectación cerebral por LPSNC, diagnosticados durante los últimos 13 años en 2 hospitales de referencia. Se evaluaron múltiples variables. El nivel de significación estadística utilizado fue p<0,05.ResultadosEl grupo VIH-positivo tenía una media de edad de 36,82±5,4 años, frente a los 55,60 ± 21,43 años de los pacientes VIH-negativo (p<0,022). Los pacientes VIH-positivo tuvieron una media de 1,27 ± 0,65 lesiones por paciente, mientras que en el grupo VIH-negativo fue de 2,60 ± 1,78 (p<0,039). El 18,2% (n=2) del grupo VIH-positivo y el 80% (n=8) del grupo VIH-negativo presentaron lesiones homogéneas (p<0,005). Ningún paciente VIH-positivo tuvo afectación del cuerpo calloso, pero el grupo VIH-negativo presentó un 50% (n=5) de afectación (p<0,012).ConclusionesEl LPSNC en pacientes inmunodeprimidos puede presentar múltiples características en las imágenes. Existen diferencias entre los pacientes VIH positivo y negativo, por lo que es importante reconocerlas para establecer un manejo y tratamiento diferente entre ambos grupos.AbstractPurposesPrimary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare tumour with poor prognosis. Due to the increased number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency, our purposes are to describe epidemiological and imaging findings in immunodeficient patients with PCNSL of the brain and to study the differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with PCNSL.Materials and methodsA retrospective, descriptive study was performed with immunodeficient patients diagnosed of PCNSL of the brain during the last 13 years in two reference hospitals. Twenty-one patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Multiple variables were evaluated. Significance was defined as p<0.05.ResultsHIV-positive group was a mean age of 36,82±5,4 years and the mean age in HIV-negative group was 55,60±21,43 years (p<0,022). The mean number of lesions was 1,27±0,65 in HIV-positive group and 2,60±1,78 in HIV-negative group (p<0,039). The lesions were homogeneous in 18,2% (n=2) HIV-positive group and 80% (n=8) in HIV-negative group (p<0,005). No HIV-positive patient and 50% (n=5) of HIV-negative patients showed corpus callosum involvement (p<0,012).ConclusionsPCNSL in immunodeficient patients is associated with a large spectrum of radiological findings. There were differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients, is important recognize these differences as the therapeutic management of these two groups vary

3D-nanostructured Au electrodes for the event-specific detection of MON810 transgenic maize

In the present work, the development of a genosensor for the event-specific detection of MON810 transgenic maize is proposed. Taking advantage of nanostructuration, a cost-effective three dimensional electrode was fabricated and a ternary monolayer containing a dithiol, a monothiol and the thiolated capture probe was optimized to minimize the unspecific signals. A sandwich format assay was selected as a way of precluding inefficient hybridization associated with stable secondary target structures. A comparison between the analytical performance of the Au nanostructured electrodes and commercially available screen-printed electrodes highlighted the superior performance of the nanostructured ones. Finally, the genosensor was effectively applied to detect the transgenic sequence in real samples, showing its potential for future quantitative analysis

Long-distance soliton transmission through ultralong fiber lasers

We present the first experimental demonstration (to our knowledge) of long-distance unperturbed fundamental optical soliton transmission in conventional single-mode optical fiber. The virtual transparency in the fiber required for soliton transmission, over 15 complete periods, was achieved by using an ultralong Raman fiber laser amplification scheme. Optical soliton pulse duration, pulse bandwidth, and peak intensity are shown to remain constant along the transmission length. Frequency-resolved optical gating spectrograms and numerical simulations confirm the observed optical soliton dynamics

Characterization of the Normal Portal and Hepatic Blood Flow of Adult Holstein-Friesian Cows

In the past, hepatic blood flow in cows was invasively characterized to investigate different pathologies and physiological conditions. However, hepatic blood flow can be easily evaluated with transabdominal Doppler ultrasound. Sixteen healthy adult non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein-Friesian cows were examined using B-mode and Doppler ultrasound between the right flank and 9th intercostal space to establish the best approach to the different parts of the portal and hepatic vein systems, and determine normal blood flow characteristics. The main portal vein was characterized by a turbulent, high-velocity flow due to the opposing confluence of the splenic and cranial mesenteric veins, while hepatic and caudal vena cava veins have laminar blood flow, in which the phasicity is considered mainly respiratory in origin. Reference values were determined in relation to the anatomical point of observation. In conclusion, transabdominal Doppler ultrasound of the portal system is a simple technique that allows non-invasive characterization of portal and hepatic blood haemodynamics in cowsS