The curse of technological race: the red queen effect

Economic prosperity is tied to scientific development, i.e., there is a strong correlation between science, technology and the wealth of nations. We collected data from scientific and technological production of 183 countries of the last thirty years (1974 to 2003) and applied a super-paramagnetic clustering technique on them, finding nations divided in three regimes, distinguished by the interactions between the agents of their National Systems of Innovation (NSI). The identification of these groups allows us to define the dynamical behavior of the thresholds, that grow exponentially and whose growth rate we have calculated. We show that for the period 1974-2003 the threshold between the immature and the developed NSIs increases by an annual rate of 6.6% (per capita). We identify clearly a "Red Queen Effect". Finally we show that the transitions between the regimes are discontinuous, represented by a structural breakthrough. Therefore, the prerequisite to move from regime I to regime II, and then to regime III are structural changes within NSIs.national systems of innovation; super-paramagnetic clustering technique; moving thresholds

A tessitura do discurso argumentativo numa sala de aula de ciencias

Compreendendo o discurso como dialógico e heterogêneo, reconhecemos que sua construção se dá na relação com outro discurso e não se restringe a um tipo textual. Buscamos revelar como a argumentação aparece junto a outras sequências textuais na abordagem sobre alimentação. Realizamos videogravações. Diante do cenário discursivo encontrado identificamos que (1) houve maior frequência de explicações, narrativas e injunções; (2) as sequencialidades argumentativas obedeceram a dois modos organizativos: sequência argumentativa homogênea e sequência argumentativa heterogênea e; (3) houve momentos de colaboração entre as sequências, as quais se integram a estrutura do argumento realizando funções diversas. Concluímos que propor situações discursivas que explorem a variedade tipológica favorece um trabalho amplo e dialógico do conhecimento científico

Matrices of science and technology interactions: implications for development

Scientific and other non-patent references (NPRs) in patents are important tools to analyze interactions between science and technology. This paper organizes a database with 514,894 USPTO patents granted globally in 1974, 1982, 1990, 1998 and 2006. There are 165,762 patents with at least one reference to science and engineering (S&E) literature, and there are 1,375,503 references. In 2006 there are 83 countries with USPTO patent citing S&E literature. Through a lexical analysis 71.1% of this S&E literature is classified by S&E fields. These data underscore the elaboration of global and national tri-dimensional matrices (by OST technological domains, ISI science and engineering fields and number of references). Descriptive statistics investigate how science and technology linkages differ over time across countries and across levels of development. This paper highlights how the existence (or not) of a pattern of structured growth differentiates mature and immature systems of innovation.science and technology linkages, stages of economic development, systems of innovation

Modeling economic growth fuelled by science and technology

This paper suggests a simulation model to investigate how science and technology fuel economic growth. This model is built upon a synthesis of technological capabilities represented by national innovation systems. This paper gathers data of papers and patents for 183 countries between 1999 and 2003, GDP and population for 2003. These data show a strong correlation between science, technology and income. Three simulation exercises are performed. Feeding our algorithm with data for population, patents and scientific papers, we obtain the world income distribution (R=0.99). These results support our conjecture on the role of science and technology as a source of the wealth of nations.simulation models; systems of innovation; economic growth

A diversidade de género dentro do setor de tecnologia da informação: um estudo de caso sobre uma empresa de tecnologia brasileira

Globalmente, o tema diversidade tem sido debatido em todos os lugares, tais como: governo, universidades, empresas, partidos políticos, entre outros. Assim, o presente trabalho foi baseado num estudo de caso sobre uma empresa de Tecnologia da Informação, sediada na cidade de Belo Horizonte (Brasil). Este estudo, de carácter quantitativo (n = 57) e qualitativo (n = 6), tem como objetivo analisar como a questão de género, identidade e conflito trabalho-família (TF) e família-trabalho (FT) estão presentes dentro do setor da tecnologia e verificar quais os efeitos destas variáveis nos comportamentos dos indivíduos, principalmente, relacionados ao sexismo ambivalente. Procurou ainda entender-se como o conflito TF-FT atravessa e impacta a vida dos trabalhadores do setor de Tecnologia da Informação, favorecendo ou não a diversidade de género, e como as ações afirmativas relacionadas ao género são percebidas por estes indivíduos. Os resultados mostram que o neosexismo está cada vez mais presente dentro das organizações e as pessoas negam o facto de preconceitos e discriminações ainda estarem presentes na sociedade, principalmente em empresas com o modelo cultural de startups. Os temas diversidade e preconceito continuam latentes. Somente com estudos e ações que, realmente modifiquem os comportamentos sexistas, poderemos caminhar para uma sociedade onde todos gozam de direitos iguais.Globally, the issue of diversity has been debated everywhere, such as: government, universities, companies, political parties, among others. Thus, the present work was based on a case study about an Information Technology company, based in the city of Belo Horizonte (Brazil). This quantitative (n = 57) and qualitative (n = 6) study aims to analyze how the issue of gender, identity and work-family (WF) and family-work (FW) conflict are present within the technology sector and to verify the effects of these variables on the behavior of individuals, mainly related to ambivalent sexism. We also sought to understand how the WF-FW conflict crosses and impacts the lives of Information Technology workers, whether or not they favor gender diversity, and how gender-affirmative actions are perceived by these individuals. The results show that neosexism is increasingly present within organizations and people deny the fact that prejudice and discrimination are still present in society, especially in companies with the cultural model of startups. The themes diversity and prejudice remain latent. Only through studies and actions that really change sexist behavior can we move towards a society where everyone enjoys equal rights

Innovation in health-care companies: a strategy to increase customer service productivity

Purpose – To promote access to their services, health-care companies provide various communication channels to their customers (beneficiaries) to enable the receipt of requests, such as authorization for examinations, procedures and hospitalizations. Under the approach of innovation studies, the management of customer relationship channels for health-care companies is characterized as a knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS). The purpose of this study is presenting innovation as a strategy to increase customer service productivity, as well as the monitoring of the quality of the service, the generation of health information for beneficiaries and compliance with the regulation set by the Brazilian National Health Agency (ANS). Design/methodology/approach – The study is characterized as an applied research, as it proposes solutions to problems faced by supplemental health-care companies using the strategy of action research, i.e. an independent, social research with an empirical basis. Findings – The result of this study shows that a computerized health-care system can increase productivity by 21.96%, and it presents an innovative solution for health-care companies to guarantee the process of meeting the demands and requests of their beneficiaries, ensuring the compliance with ANS regulations. Practical implications – These results can be replicated to other healthcare companies and contribute to those seeking innovation, increased productivity and quality improvements in their services. Originality/value – This work was also motivated by the lack of lstudies in the areas of health-care companies in Brazil

Dynamic models of multicriteria to combine variables: the use of parametric model and genetic algorithm in the study of the World Heritage area recognized by UNESCO in Pampulha, Brazil

O presente trabalho pesquisa modelos dinâmicos de multicritério para combinar variáveis ​​usando o modelo paramétrico e algoritmo genético como método de alteração do nível de adequação de variáveis ​​em uma análise multicritério (MCA). O objetivo é simular cenários if-then de ocupação territorial do comércio, habitação e áreas verdes. O estudo de caso é um MCA para a zona tampão da moderna montagem de Niemeyer na região da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brasil, declarada Patrimônio Mundial pela UNESCO. O modelo paramétrico foi desenvolvido no software Grasshopper. O nível de adequação / pontuação das unidades territoriais para caracterizar atratividade e vulnerabilidades à mudança no uso da terra foi definido por "orientado ao conhecimento" nas camadas: Riscos de Segurança, Fragilidade na Infraestrutura, Ponto de Ônibus e Centralidades devido ao Potencial de Interação. A simulação de mudança de uso da terra "se-então" foi definida por "orientada a objetivos", devido ao uso da função de aptidão no algoritmo genético, com o objetivo de obter a melhor distribuição das mudanças no uso da terra, a fim de resultar em uma uso equilibrado do território (comércio, habitação ou vegetação), mas também considerando atratividade e vulnerabilidades definidas pelas características dos bairros (centralidades, transporte, segurança e fragilidades na infraestrutura). O modelo paramétrico gera simulação "se-então", calculando um índice de adequação para cada unidade territorial e alterando o uso da terra de acordo com o objetivo-objetivo a ser alcançado na função de condicionamento físico.The present paper surveys dynamic models of multicriteria to combine variables using parametric model and genetic algorithm as a method of changing the adequacy level of variables in a multicriteria analysis (MCA). The aim is to simulate if-then scenarios of territorial occupation of commerce, housing and green areas. The case study is a MCA for the buffer zone of the modern assembly of Niemeyer in Pampulha region, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The parametric model was developed in Grasshopper software. The level of adequacy/score of the territorial units to characterize attractiveness and vulnerabilities to land use change was defined by "knowledge-driven" in the layers: Safety Risks, Fragility in Infrastructure, Bus Stop and Centralities due to Interaction Potential. The land use change simulation "if-then" was defined by "objective-driven", due the use of fitness-function in genetic algorithm, with the goal to achieve the best distribution of land use changes, in order to result in a more balanced use of the territory (commerce, housing or vegetation), but also considering attractiveness and vulnerabilities defined by the characteristics of the neighborhoods (centralities, transportation, safety and fragilities in infrastructure). The parametric model generates “if-then” simulation, calculating an index of suitability for each territorial unit and changing the land use according to the objective-driven to be achieved in fitness-function

The scientific and technological trajectories of four Latin American countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Brazil

This paper introduces the differences and similarities of interactions between science and technology (S&T) among four Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico. Through the analysis of articles and patents data as well as the elaboration of global matrices and national three-dimensional matrices, it was possible to observe the recent trajectory of the scientific and technological production of countries. The results indicate that the Latin American countries have a similar pattern regarding their scientific and technological structure and they are part of a regime characterized by immature National Systems of Innovation (NSI).Latin American countries, science and technology interaction, national systems of innovation

Study of the X-ray properties of the neutron-star binary 4U 1728−-34 from the soft to hard state

We studied five XMM-Newton observations of the neutron-star binary 4U 1728$-$34 covering the hard, intermediate and soft spectral states. By jointly fitting the spectra with several reflection models, we obtained an inclination angle of 25$-$53$\deg$ and an iron abundance up to 10 times the solar. From the fits with reflection models, we found that the fluxes of the reflection and the Comptonised components vary inconsistently; since the latter is assumed to be the illuminating source, this result possibly indicates the contribution of the neutron star surface/boundary layer to the disc reflection. As the source evolved from the relatively soft to the intermediate state, the disc inner radius decreased, opposite to the prediction of the standard accretion disc model. We also explore the possible reasons why the supersolar iron abundance is required by the data and found that this high value is probably caused by the absence of the hard photons in the XMM-Newton data.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure