Noisy continuous--opinion dynamics

We study the Deffuant et al. model for continuous--opinion dynamics under the influence of noise. In the original version of this model, individuals meet in random pairwise encounters after which they compromise or not depending of a confidence parameter. Free will is introduced in the form of noisy perturbations: individuals are given the opportunity to change their opinion, with a given probability, to a randomly selected opinion inside the whole opinion space. We derive the master equation of this process. One of the main effects of noise is to induce an order-disorder transition. In the disordered state the opinion distribution tends to be uniform, while for the ordered state a set of well defined opinion groups are formed, although with some opinion spread inside them. Using a linear stability analysis we can derive approximate conditions for the transition between opinion groups and the disordered state. The master equation analysis is compared with direct Monte-Carlo simulations. We find that the master equation and the Monte-Carlo simulations do not always agree due to finite-size induced fluctuations that we analyze in some detail

Diffusing opinions in bounded confidence processes

We study the effects of diffusing opinions on the Deffuant et al. model for continuous opinion dynamics. Individuals are given the opportunity to change their opinion, with a given probability, to a randomly selected opinion inside an interval centered around the present opinion. We show that diffusion induces an order-disorder transition. In the disordered state the opinion distribution tends to be uniform, while for the ordered state a set of well defined opinion clusters are formed, although with some opinion spread inside them. If the diffusion jumps are not large, clusters coalesce, so that weak diffusion favors opinion consensus. A master equation for the process described above is presented. We find that the master equation and the Monte-Carlo simulations do not always agree due to finite-size induced fluctuations. Using a linear stability analysis we can derive approximate conditions for the transition between opinion clusters and the disordered state. The linear stability analysis is compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Novel interesting phenomena are analyzed

Industrialización de la riqueza vegetal: oportunidades sociales y económicas

Las empresas enfrentan un importante desafío es esta economía globalizada, porque para sobrevivir tienen que ofrecer nuevos productos con valor agregado en los mercados internacionales. Para ello se requieren profesionales entrenados en las metodologías para el desarrollo de nuevos productos (DNP), y los egresados universitarios tienen que tener estas habilidades para que puedan contribuir a enfrentar esta situación. J unto con esto se requieren también productos innovadores de la mano con la conservación del medio ambiente y aprovechando al máximo los recursos disponibles, bien sea de la tierra o de transformación tecnológica. Con este proyecto se pretende abrir una ventana de oportunidad para que los alumnos del programa de Ingeniería de Procesos puedan adquirir el entrenamiento necesario para desempeñarse con éxito en el DNP. A demás, los empresarios del campo puedan obtener un valor agregado para sus productos como alternativa en tiempos de precios desfavorables.Companies face a major challenge is this globalized economy, because to survive they have to offer new products with added value in the international market. This requires professionals trained in the methodologies for the development of new products (DNP) and university graduates must have these skills so that they can contribute to deal with this situation. A long with this they also require innovations running by the side of conservation of the environment and the taking of full advantage of available resources, either from land or technological transformation. This project is to open a window of opportunity so that the Process Engineering students can acquire the knowledge needed to perform successfully in the DNP training. A lso field employers can get valueadded products as an alternative in times of unfavourable prices

Training for innovation in Spain

The capacity for innovation of an organisation largely depends on its ability to acquire and develop new knowledge. Training is particularly important in this process, as it allows employees to constantly acquire new competences. This study provides a preliminary picture of the situation of training for innovation in Spain, and identifies the characteristics of companies offering training for innovation. Results show that 35.3% of Spanish companies undertake innovation processes and 22.3% offer training related to these innovation processes. For the 82% of these companies training helped the innovation process, so training is an important tool for innovative change

ESTRUCTURA ARBÓREA DEL BOSQUE TROPICAL CADUCIFOLIO USADO PARA LA GANADERÍA EXTENSIVA EN EL NORTE DE LA SIERRA DE MANANTLÁN, MÉXICO. ANTAGONISMO DE USOS

Tropical deciduous forests are among the leaststudied forests in Mexico and the most diverse dry forests in the world. Extensive cattleranching and changes in land use to pasturesare important pressures for these forests,which are considered among the most threatened in the world. This paper analyzes thestructure, species diversity and uses of treespecies of the tropical deciduous forest foundin the Northern portion of the Sierra deManantlan Biosphere Reserve. Four areas oftropical deciduous forest used by cattle wereselected. These correspond to: a 10 year oldsecondary vegetation corridor, two areasof 15 and 20 year old forest, and another oneof approximately 30 years. Vegetation data werecollected through a randomly point centeredquadrant sampling and ethnobotanic datathrough open interviews. We conclude that:1) over 80% of the tree species in the secondary deciduous tropical forest in Zenzontla haveat least one use, 2) species diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index) in Zenzontla’s deciduoustropical forests is higher than that of othervegetation types found in the Sierra deManantlan, such as cloud forest, pine forestand pine-oak forest, 3) species diversity anduse increase with time, 4) the number of individuals of forage species is less than thenumber of individuals of the group of specieswith other uses, and 5) size structure sugeststhat in the future non-forage species will bemore dominant than forage species. Paradoxically, important areas of the deciduous tropical forest used for forage and other uses (mainly medicinal and food) are under pressure for substitution for pastures.El bosque tropical caducifolio es uno de losbosques menos estudiados en México y esuno de los más diversos del mundo. Laganadería extensiva y el cambio de uso delsuelo (de bosques a pastos) representan unapresión importante para este bosque tropical,por lo que está considerado entre los másamenazados de los bosques tropicales delmundo. En este trabajo se analizan laestructura, la diversidad de especies y usosde las especies arbóreas del bosque tropicalcaducifolio del norte de la reserva de la BiosferaSierra de Manantlán. Se seleccionaron cuatroáreas de bosque tropical caducifolio usadaspor el ganado que corresponden a: un corredorde vegetación secundaria de 10 años, dos áreasde bosque de 15 y 20, y otro más conaproximadamente 30 años. Los datos de lavegetación se tomaron a través de muestreosaleatorios de punto cuadrante y entrevistas abiertas para los datos etnobotánicos.Concluimos que: 1) más del 80 por ciento delas especies arbóreas del bosque tropicalcaducifolio secundario de Zenzontla tienen almenos un uso, 2) la diversidad de especies(índice de Shannon-Wiener) de Zenzontla esmayor que otros tipos de vegetación de laSierra de Manantlán, por ejemplo, bosquemesófilo de montaña, bosque de pino y bosquede pino-encino, 3) a través del tiempo, ladiversidad de especies y de usos aumenta, 4)el número de individuos de especies con usoforrajero es menor que el número de individuosde especies con otros usos, y 5) la estructurade tamaños sugiere que, en el futuro, lasespecies no forrajeras podrían ser másdominantes que las forrajeras. La paradoja esque áreas importantes del bosque tropicalcaducifolio con especies de uso forrajero y otrosusos (principalmente medicinal y alimenticio),presentan una fuerte presión debido a sueliminación total o parcial de estas áreas paraser sustituidas por pastizales

Non-L\'evy mobility patterns of Mexican Me'Phaa peasants searching for fuelwood

We measured mobility patterns that describe walking trajectories of individual Me'Phaa peasants searching and collecting fuelwood in the forests of "La Monta\~na de Guerrero" in Mexico. These one-day excursions typically follow a mixed pattern of nearly-constant steps when individuals displace from their homes towards potential collecting sites and a mixed pattern of steps of different lengths when actually searching for fallen wood in the forest. Displacements in the searching phase seem not to be compatible with L\'evy flights described by power-laws with optimal scaling exponents. These findings however can be interpreted in the light of deterministic searching on heavily degraded landscapes where the interaction of the individuals with their scarce environment produces alternative searching strategies than the expected L\'evy flights. These results have important implications for future management and restoration of degraded forests and the improvement of the ecological services they may provide to their inhabitants.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. First version submitted to Human Ecology. The final publication will be available at http://www.springerlink.co

Blue-space availability, environmental quality and amenity use across contrasting socioeconomic contexts

Over 60% of the global population are expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Urban blue spaces are critical for biodiversity, provide a range of ecosystem services, and can promote human health and wellbeing. Despite this, access to blue space is often unequally distributed across socioeconomic gradients, and the availability of quality blue space could extend to environmental justice issues. Three stages of analysis were carried out in Mexico City, Mexico and Bristol, UK to (i) assess associations between blue space and socioeconomic metrics at a regional scale, (ii) apply a rapid assessment tool to assess amenity, access and environmental quality, (iii) consider local quality across socioeconomic gradients at a regional scale. Still water availability was indicative of higher socioeconomic status, but contrasting city evolutions underpinned differences. Locally, there were environmental gradients from more complex to disturbed habitats that influenced potential wellbeing and amenity benefits. In combination, this may exacerbate inequalities and risk increasing ecosystem disservices. If cities are to be socially, and environmentally resilient to higher levels of disturbance in the future, healthy ecosystems will be key. However, further research is needed to address various dimensions of injustice in urban areas beyond blue space distribution

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE