Detection of leaf structures in close-range hyperspectral images using morphological fusion

Close-range hyperspectral images are a promising source of information in plant biology, in particular, for in vivo study of physiological changes. In this study, we investigate how data fusion can improve the detection of leaf elements by combining pixel reflectance and morphological information. The detection of image regions associated to the leaf structures is the first step toward quantitative analysis on the physical effects that genetic manipulation, disease infections, and environmental conditions have in plants. We tested our fusion approach on Musa acuminata (banana) leaf images and compared its discriminant capability to similar techniques used in remote sensing. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of our fusion approach, with significant improvements over some conventional methods

Equivalence of solutions for non-homogeneous p(x)-Laplace equationsy

We establish the equivalence between weak and viscosity solutions for non-homogeneous p(x)-Laplace equations with a right-hand side term depending on the spatial variable, the unknown, and its gradient. We employ inf- and sup-convolution techniques to state that viscosity solutions are also weak solutions, and comparison principles to prove the converse. The new aspects of the p(x)- Laplacian compared to the constant case are the presence of log-terms and the lack of the invariance under translations.Fil: Medina, Maria. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Ochoa, Pablo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentin

Acculturation among a Hispanic population in San Bernardino County

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hispanics and their levels of acculturation. This study\u27s intent was to incorporate variables in order to identify generation and language as defining factors for acculturation. A Likert-type Bidemensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS) was used to test six hypotheses

Assessment of habitat quality and landscape connectivity for forest-dependent cracids in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mesoamerican biological corridor, Mexico

Assessing landscape connectivity allows us to identify critical areas that impede or facilitate the movement of organisms and their genes and to plan their conservation and management. In this article, we assessed landscape connectivity and ecological condition of the habitat patches of a highly biodiverse region in Chiapas, Mexico. We employed data of three cracid species with different characteristics in habitat use and mobility. The habitat map of each species was derived from a spatial intersection of the models of potential distribution and a high-resolution map of current land cover and land use. The ecological condition of vegetation types was evaluated using 75 field plots. Structure of landscape was estimated by fragmentation metrics, while functional connectivity was assessed using spatially explicit graph analysis. The extent of suitable habitat for Oreophasis derbianus, Penelopina nigra, and Penelope purpurascens correspond to 25%, 46%, and 55% of the study area (5,185.6 km2), respectively. Although the pine-oak forests were the most fragmented vegetation type, habitats of the three species were well connected, and only 4% to 9% of the fragments located on the periphery of the corridor had low connectivity. Landscape connectivity depends mainly on land uses with an intermediate and lower ecological condition (secondary forests and coffee agroforestry systems). Therefore, we suggest that in addition to promoting the improvement in connectivity in fragmented forests, conservation efforts should be aimed at preventing the conversion of mature forests into agricultural uses and maintaining agroforestry systems

Predicting topology propagation messages in mobile ad hoc networks: The value of history

This research was funded by the Spanish Government under contracts TIN2016-77836-C2-1-R,TIN2016-77836-C2-2-R, and DPI2016-77415-R, and by the Generalitat de Catalunya as Consolidated ResearchGroups 2017-SGR-688 and 2017-SGR-990.The mobile ad hoc communication in highly dynamic scenarios, like urban evacuations or search-and-rescue processes, plays a key role in coordinating the activities performed by the participants. Particularly, counting on message routing enhances the communication capability among these actors. Given the high dynamism of these networks and their low bandwidth, having mechanisms to predict the network topology offers several potential advantages; e.g., to reduce the number of topology propagation messages delivered through the network, the consumption of resources in the nodes and the amount of redundant retransmissions. Most strategies reported in the literature to perform these predictions are limited to support high mobility, consume a large amount of resources or require training. In order to contribute towards addressing that challenge, this paper presents a history-based predictor (HBP), which is a prediction strategy based on the assumption that some topological changes in these networks have happened before in the past, therefore, the predictor can take advantage of these patterns following a simple and low-cost approach. The article extends a previous proposal of the authors and evaluates its impact in highly mobile scenarios through the implementation of a real predictor for the optimized link state routing (OLSR) protocol. The use of this predictor, named OLSR-HBP, shows a reduction of 40–55% of topology propagation messages compared to the regular OLSR protocol. Moreover, the use of this predictor has a low cost in terms of CPU and memory consumption, and it can also be used with other routing protocols.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Analisis critico de la politica exterior del Ecuador relativa al plan retorno voluntario, digno y sostenible

La maestrante entrega tres ejemplares empastadas de su tesis y tres CD con el contenido de la misma en Word y en formato PDFEsta tesis pretende ilustrar de mejor manera la situación actual y los contratiempos que lastimosamente se han incrementado para los ecuatorianos al momento de requerir ingresar su menaje de casa al país. He recurrido a información estadística con el fin de analizar minuciosamente casos proporcionados por el Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador SENAE, así como también he revisado quejas de migrantes que demuestran claramente la importancia de buscar una vía de salida en aras de evitar que situaciones como las que se detallan en el presente documento sigan suscitándose. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es revisar las exenciones tributarias que el Estado Ecuatoriano otorga a los compatriotas que desean acogerse al Plan de Retorno Voluntario, Digno y Sostenible, en concordancia con la normativa vigente, con la finalidad de clarificar la información confusa y que se contrapone al espíritu de la norma, partiendo de la premisa de que en Derecho Público solo se puede hacer lo que está escrito. El marco teórico proporciona información relevante sobre el menaje de casa, el cual por estar constituido por bienes destinados al uso privativo del viajero que retorna al país, se lo ha considerado como un régimen de excepción, lo cual implica que se someterá a procedimientos simplificados conforme lo dispuesto en el Código Orgánico de la Producción, Comercio e Inversiones (COPCI), el Reglamento al Título de la Facilitación Aduanera para el Comercio, Del Libro V del Código Orgánico de la Producción, Comercio e Inversiones y, a la normativa que para el efecto dicte el Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador (SENAE). La hipótesis plantea la existencia de decenas de ecuatorianos que todos los días se ven en los exteriores de los consulados en busca de información que los lleve a conocer las normas y procedimientos para poder regresar al país conjuntamente con sus efectos personales; con el Plan de Retorno Voluntario, Digno y Sostenible, se trata de contrarrestar esta situación, brindando garantías y facilidades para aquellos ecuatorianos que deseen regresar al país. El análisis crítico del Decreto Ejecutivo 888, norma que regula los menajes de casa, trae como resultado la creación de un nuevo documento llamado “Procedimiento para regular los menajes de casa y equipos de trabajo”, con el que se espera conseguir, de una manera sencilla y práctica, que los migrantes reciban de parte de los Consulados toda la información necesaria sobre los bienes que pueden traer consigo en su retorno al País.This thesis aims to better illustrate the current situation and the setbacks that have increased for Ecuadorians at the moment of bringing back their household goods to the country. I have used statistical information to dissect cases delivered by the National Customs Service of Ecuador SENAE; also I have checked complaints presented by migrants which clearly demonstrate the importance of finding a way out in order to prevent that situations like the ones detailed in this document keep happening. The main objective of this research is to review the tax exemptions granted by the Ecuadorian State to compatriots who want to qualify for the Voluntary, Sustainable and Worthy Return Plan, according to current regulations, in order to clarify information that is confusing and it’s opposed to the spirit of the law, based on the premise that in Public Law you can only do what it’s written. The theoretical framework provides relevant information on household goods, which by its condition of property for the exclusive use of the traveler who returns to the country, has been qualified as an exemption, which implies that undergo simplified procedures according the dispositions included in the Organic Production, Trade and Investment Law (COPCI), and the procedures determined by the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE). The hypothesis posits the existence of dozens of Ecuadorians who ask in foreign consulates for information that leads them to know the rules and procedures to return home along with his personal effects. With the Voluntary, Sustainable and Worthy Return Plan, the Government tries to solve this problem providing guarantees and facilities for those who wish to return to our country. The critical review of the Executive Decree Nr. 888 has as consequence the creation of a new document called "Rules of enforcement for household goods and work equipment according to Executive Decree Nr. 888", expected to get in a simple and practical way, that migrants receive from consulates all the relevant information of the goods they can bring back to the country

Influencia del financiamiento en la competitividad de las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYMES) en el municipio de Matagalpa durante el año 2010

Las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas en Matagalpa son entidades productivas que generan empleos y divisas, al país como al municipio, proporcionando servicios y productos. Así mismo, estas se clasifican en pequeñas y medianas empresas según el número de trabajadores, volumen de unidades producidas o por el volumen de ventas, como está establecido en la Ley 645 del Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio (MIFIC). Diversos factores impiden a las pequeñas y medianas empresas ser más competitivas en un mercado cambiante, una de ellas es el financiamiento que es un elemento tan fundamental para la realización de todas las operaciones de una empresa. Al analizar el financiamiento, se tomaron muy en cuenta los diferentes aspectos como: el acceso que tienen las PYMES los créditos, sus políticas, las tasas de interés que aplican las instituciones financieras, los plazos. En la realización de nuestro trabajo tomamos como referencias a las pequeñas y medianas empresas de dos grandes sectores el comercial y el Industrial, las cuales ocupan el mayor número de instituciones existentes en la ciudad de Matagalpa. El financiamiento es una herramienta que proporciona estabilidad económica siendo un complemento para el equilibrio de una empresa, es por ello que se le considera el punto de partida para el desarrollo sostenible de una entidad económic