Decentralized multi-tasks distribution in heterogeneous robot teams by means of ant colony optimization and learning automata

This paper focuses on the general problem of coordinating multiple robots. More specifically, it addresses the self-election of heterogeneous specialized tasks by autonomous robots. In this paper we focus on a specifically distributed or decentralized approach as we are particularly interested on decentralized solution where the robots themselves autonomously and in an individual manner, are responsible of selecting a particular task so that all the existing tasks are optimally distributed and executed. In this regard, we have established an experimental scenario to solve the corresponding multi-tasks distribution problem and we propose a solution using two different approaches by applying Ant Colony Optimization-based deterministic algorithms as well as Learning Automata-based probabilistic algorithms. We have evaluated the robustness of the algorithm, perturbing the number of pending loads to simulate the robot’s error in estimating the real number of pending tasks and also the dynamic generation of loads through time. The paper ends with a critical discussion of experimental results

Effects of discontinued endurance methods on VO2max in judokas

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el efecto de dos diferentes planes de entrenamiento de resistencia basados en la metodología discontinua (intermitente e interválica), sobre el VO2Máx de atletas Antioqueños de Judo de rendimiento. Para ello, 21 Judokas de la Selección Antioqueña pertenecientes a la categoría Senior (20,43±4,18 años), fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en tres grupos, dos grupos experimentales y un grupo control. Ambos grupos experimentales entrenaron la resistencia durante 4 semanas con 4 estímulos por semana, uno de los grupos experimentales basó su entrenamiento en el método interválico y el otro en el intermitente. Por su parte, el grupo control no realizó ningún tipo de entrenamiento de la resistencia. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre pretest y postest de ninguno de los grupos ni experimentales ni el de grupo control (p>0,05). Se concluyó que el entrenamiento de la resistencia basado en métodos discontinuos no produjo diferencias significativas en el VO2Máx

Competitividad e innovación en la gestión de las pequeñas y medianas empresas de Villavicencio

Competitiveness and innovation are critical to business sustainability. This paper shows the results of the research project in which an approach is made to the concepts of sustainable business and corporate sustainability holistically “determining management factors for the business sustainability of SMEs inVillavicencio” and in order to identify aspects relevant management from the perspective of the business people, which has allowed the survival of companies with more than five (5) years on the market. The present findings suggest actions to strengthen organizations in order to counter the effects of competition and interaction of globalizing markets. Also they intended to contribute to strengthening public policies andunion efforts to strengthen the business tissue of the city and the sustainability of organizations.La competitividad y la innovación son fundamentales para la sostenibilidad empresarial. El presente documento muestra los resultados del proyecto de investigación “Factores de gestión determinantes para la sostenibilidad Empresarial en las Pymes de Villavicencio” en el cual se hace una aproximación a los conceptos de empresa sostenible y de sostenibilidad empresarial de manera holística y con el fin de identificar aspectos relevantes de la gestión desde la perspectiva de los empresarios, que ha permitido la supervivencia de empresas con mas de cinco (5) años en el mercado. Los hallazgos permiten plantear acciones de fortalecimiento de las organizaciones con miras a contrarrestar los efectos de la competencia y la interacción globalizante de los mercados. Igualmente, pretenden aportar al fortalecimiento de las políticas públicas y los esfuerzos gremiales para el fortalecimiento del tejido empresarial de la ciudad y la sostenibilidad de las organizaciones. &nbsp

Design and Integration of a Deserializer Module for a SerDes Mixed Signal System on Chip

This document presents a mixed signal System on Chip design developed at ITESO as a test vehicle for manufacturing at 180 nm node through MOSIS manufacturing services. The ITESO TV1 is a serializer and deserializer based on the PCIe protocol. The current report includes details on the design for the deserializer digital module for the SerDes. The testing done at RTL and gate level abstractions to the Deserializer are presented. The report finishes by discussing the VLSI technique used for the system integration of analog and digital modules in the SerDes. This research effort is a first attempt at ITESO to generate a mixed signal complex system for manufacturing.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Performance and challenges in the value chain of the Anadara tuberculosa bivalve mollusk in Ecuador

The bivalve mollusk, Anadara tuberculosa (Black Shell, in Spanish Concha Prieta), is found on America’s Pacific coast, where it is harvested for subsistence and commercial markets. This paper aims to diagnose the performance of the black shell’s value chain. We also identify several challenges that must be addressed to improve the sustainability of the black shell fishery in Ecuador. The applied methodology was quantitative and descriptive. Its design was non-experimental, field, cross-sectional and ex post facto. The investigation was carried out from January to October 2019 in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro province, Ecuador. The study population consisted of 565 individuals, shellfish collectors, shellfish associations managers, traders, and restaurants from the A. tuberculosa production chain. The sample size was estimated at 222 informants. The type of sampling used was probabilistic, random, stratified, and with proportional allocation, with an effective participation rate of those selected of approximately 80%. The questionnaire was applied personally through the structured survey method, in writing, in the work area, and with their consent. The performance of the value chain was diagnosed in the dimensions of productivity, competitiveness, and quality of life, reaching a 75.1% index, a result that indicates that the value chain has a moderate to good performance level. The competitiveness dimension reached the highest performance, followed by productivity. Quality of life was the dimension with the lowest performance. The value chain can be improved if the following challenges are met: (1) Restoration of the mangrove ecosystem, (2) Promotion of low-intensity shellfish aquaculture, (3) Good sanitary management and purification, (4) Promotion of value-focused ventures, (5) Strengthening of organizations and agreements for the use and custody of mangroves, and (6) Strengthening of institutions that contribute to the advancement of these challenge

Plan de mejoramiento en el servicio de reclamaciones en la compañía estatal de seguros la previsora S.A.

Graficas, tablas, anexosLa compañía estatal “La Previsora S.A.”, es una organización dedicada a comercializar seguros para todo tipo de vehículos, donde se pretende además, presentar un plan de mejoramiento para el desarrollo de los procesos comprometidos en el área de las reclamaciones de manera que mediante la agilización de los trámites necesarios se logre un mayor rendimiento de los agentes involucrados y por consiguiente la actuación competitiva en el sector de los seguros, respecto a las otras entidades de su género tanto en el ámbito oficial como privado. Esta compañía lleva en el mercado de seguros alrededor de unos cincuenta y tres (53) años, cuyo fin es el de celebrar y ejecutar contratos de Seguro, coaseguro y reaseguro que amparen los intereses asegurables que tengan las personas naturales o jurídicas privadas en las diferentes localidades de la ciudad de Bogotá y fuera de ésta. Debido a la situación ubicada en el Departamento de reclamaciones de la compañía estatal de seguros con respecto a las demoras y el deficiente desempeño por parte de los empleados de la misma área, viéndose reflejados en las constantes quejas de los clientes que tiene asegurados sus vehículos. Por tanto, se debe proceder a realizar algunas capacitaciones al personal que labora allí para agilizar dicha tramitología. De acuerdo a lo anterior, se procede a proponer un plan de mejoramiento con el apoyo de un trabajo de campo donde se aplicarán algunas herramientas como encuestas a los empleados y clientes lo cual permitirá recolectar información necesaria para determinar las falencias que se están dando actualmente en el Departamento de reclamaciones de “La Previsora S.A.” y que se llevará a cabo con una coordinación, ejecución y control con la participación de las directivas y el recurso humano con que cuenta el la compañía estatal de seguros. La presente investigación analizará y buscará mejoras a la problemática ubicada en el Departamento de reclamaciones de la compañía estatal de seguros para de esa manera mejorar el proceso que se lleva de servicio al cliente que se lleva allí.No Abstrac

Considering neighborhood effects improves individual dbh growth models for natural mixed-species forests in Mexico

International audienceAbstractKey messageMore accurate diameter at breast height (dbh)-growth models are needed for developing management tools for mixed-species forests in Mexico. Individual distance-dependent dbh growth models that quantify local neighborhood effects have been developed for four species groups in such forests. The performance of the models is improved by distinguishing between inter- and intraspecific group competitions.ContextThe management of mixed-species forests in the northwest of Durango, Mexico, is mainly based on the selection method. Understanding the interspecific and intraspecific competition is critical to developing management tools for such mixed-species forests.AimsAn individual-based distance-dependent modeling approach was used to model the growth of dbh and to evaluate neighborhood effects for four species groups in Mexican mixed-species stands.MethodsTwenty-two species were classified into four groups: Pinus (seven species), other conifers (three species), other broadleaves (four species), and Quercus (eight species). Four methods were used to select neighboring trees and 12 competition indices (CIs) were calculated. Comparisons of the neighboring trees selection methods and CIs and tests of assumptions about neighborhood effects were conducted.ResultsIntra-species-group competition significantly reduced diameter growth for all species groups, except for the Quercus group. The Pinus, other conifers, and Quercus groups had significant and negative neighborhood effects on the other broadleaves species group, and not vice versa. The Quercus group also had negative neighborhood effect on the Pinus and other conifers species groups, and not vice versa. The Pinus and other conifers species groups had negative neighborhood effects on each other. All fitted age-independent dbh growth models showed a good of fit to the data (adjusted coefficient of determination larger than 0.977).ConclusionThe growth models can be used to predict dbh growth for species groups and competition in mixed-species stand from Durango, Mexico

Identifying Individuals at Risk for Fracture in Guatemala

INTRODUCTION: The FRAX calculator combines a set of clinical risk factors with country-specific incidence rates to determine the ten-year absolute risk of major osteoporotic fracture. However, regional or country-specific databases from Central American countries are not available. We compared the use of various FRAX databases and the Pluijm algorithm in determining risk of fracture. METHODS: We collected clinical risk factor data needed for the FRAX calculator and Pluijm algorithm of Hispanic women in Guatemala and calculated the FRAX absolute risk measures of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture. Subjects were postmenopausal women greater than age 40 with no history of using medication that affect bone. A random sample of 204 women in 34 different regions women in Guatemala City was visited in their homes to complete the surveys. The Pluijm risk score and FRAX risk score using the US Hispanic, Spain, and Mexican databases were calculated. RESULTS: We used the US NOF guidelines for treatment which suggest a treatment threshold for patients with a 10-year hip fracture probability ≥ 3% or a 10-year major osteoporotic fracture risk ≥ 20%. The number of patients meeting the suggested threshold limits for treatment using the Spain and Mexico calculators were identical. There was 100% conformity in threshold limits for both hip and major osteoporotic fracture risk. The mean conformity for any fracture risk between US Hispanic and the other two databases was 97.5%. Conformity was 99.0% based on major osteoporotic fracture and 97.5% based on risk of hip fracture. The Pluijm evaluation shows conformity of 87.2% and 83.3%, respectively, when compared to the US Hispanic and Spain/Mexico FRAX thresholds for risk of fracture. DISCUSSION: Although the different FRAX databases provide variations in the absolute risk of fracture, the overall conformity to treatment thresholds amongst the US Hispanic, Spain, and Mexico databases show the database used would have little effect as to the decision to treat. The Pluijm tool conforms to the FRAX thresholds and can be used as well. It does not matter which country-specific calculator or assessment tool is used, as there are a similar number of patients that would meet the intervention threshold

Efectos de los métodos discontinuos de resistencia sobre VO2 máx de judokas

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different endurance training protocols based on discontinuous methodology (intermittent and interval), on the VO2Peakof Antioquia's top Judo athletes. To do this, 21 judokas of Antioquia’s judo team, belonging to the category of Major (20.43±4.18 years) were randomized into two experimental groups and a control group. Both experimental groups were trained in endurance for 4 weeks with 4 weekly stimuli, one of the experimental groups was trained based on the interval training method, and the other was trained based on the intermittent method. Meanwhile, the control group made no endurance training.No significant differences between pretest and posttest of both experimental groups, (intermittent and interval training protocols), nor in the control group were found (p> 0.05). It was concluded that the endurance training protocols based on discontinuous methodology, produced no significant difference in VO2Peakof Antioquia's top Judo athletes.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el efecto de dos diferentes planes de entrenamiento de resistencia basados en la metodología discontinua (intermitente e interválica), sobre el VO2Máx de atletas Antioqueños de Judo de rendimiento.Para ello, 21 Judokas de la Selección Antioqueña pertenecientes a la categoría Senior (20,43±4,18 años), fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en tres grupos, dos grupos experimentales y un grupo control. Ambos grupos experimentales entrenaron la resistencia durante 4 semanas con 4 estímulos por semana, uno de los grupos experimentales basó su entrenamiento en el método interválico y el otro en el intermitente. Por su parte, el grupo control no realizó ningún tipo de entrenamiento de la resistencia.             No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre pretest y postest de ninguno de los grupos ni experimentales ni el de grupo control (p>0,05). Se concluyó que el entrenamiento de la resistencia basado en métodos discontinuos no produjo diferencias significativas en el VO2Máx.