Análisis de una comunidad on-line a partir de su lista de discusión

En este artículo se presenta una metodología  para el análisis y caracterización de comunidades online a partir de los mensajes intercambiados en una lista de discusión. Mediante técnicas de análisis basadas en redes sociales se detecta la estructura, relaciones y el papel que juegan los diferentes miembros de la comunidad. La metodología propuesta se evalúa usando los mensajes procesados por la lista de discusión EDUTEC-L durante el periodo 1998-2004. Abstract The current work introduces a methodology for the analysis and characterization of on-line communities through the messages exchanged in a discussion list. The structure, relationships and user roles in the community are inferred using social network analysis techniques. The proposed methodology is assessed using the messages processed by the EDUTEC-L discussion list during the period 1998-2004

How to quantify and improve organizational communication using social network analysis

Aquest projecte s'ha realitzat amb la start-up Elephants in the Room, situada a Eindhoven (Països Baixos). L'objectiu tant del projecte com de la start-up és identificar problemes en altres empreses, normalment relacionats amb la comunicació, i resoldre'ls per millorar-ne el rendiment. En el transcurs del projecte, s'analitza la informació obtinguda prèviament de les empreses mitjançant enquestes per crear un gràfic que representi l'empresa amb tots els empleats, i quantificar-ne la connectivitat. Posteriorment, s'identifiquen els diferents equips amb mala comunicació entre ells, cosa que provoca diferents punts de vista a l'empresa sobre quin procés cal millorar, aquesta diferència d'opinions crea friccions dins de l'empresa i afecta negativament el rendiment. Per resoldre el problema, s'identifiquen els veritables líders d'aquests equips, que sovint no coincideixen amb els establerts, i la xarxa s'optimitza connectant-los entre si. El resultat és una empresa molt més connectada i alineada.This project has been done with the start-up Elephants in the Room, located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The objective of both the project and the start-up is to identify problems in other companies, usually related to communication, and solve them in order to improve their performance. In the course of the project, the information previously obtained from the companies through surveys is analyzed to create a graph representing the company with all its employees, and quantify its connectivity. Subsequently, the different teams with poor communication between them are identified, which causes different points of view in the company about which process needs to be improved, this difference of opinions creates friction within the company and affects the performance adversely. To solve the problem, the real leaders of these teams, who are often not the same as the established ones, are identified and the network is optimized by connecting them to each other. This results in a much more connected and aligned company

Contact lens case cleaning procedures affect storage solution pH and osmolality

Purpose. To investigate pH and osmolality changes in the solutions stored in contact lens (CL) cases, when different case rinsing and drying methods are used on a daily basis. Methods. Four multipurpose solutions (Opti-Free Express, Solo-Care Aqua, Re-Nu Multiplus, and Complete) and two hydrogen peroxide systems (AOsept and Oxysept) were studied. Cases were filled with the solutions and kept sealed. After 8 h, the cases underwent different rinsing (rinsing; non-rinsing) and drying (air drying-AD; lint-free tissue drying-LFTD; non-drying-ND) procedures on a daily basis. Five cases of each rinsing/drying combination for each solution were evaluated. The pH and osmolality of the case-contained solution were evaluated on the 1st, 7th, 15th, and then, 30th day. Results. pH and osmolality increased significantly from day 1 to 30, except for Complete in which a significant decrease in pH was found. Rinsing vs. non-rinsing CL cases did not have any influence on the pH or osmolality, except for Oxysept, which showed a significantly higher osmolality value when cases were not rinsed. However, the drying procedure did influence both measurements; pH was significantly higher in the AD compared with the ND group (p 0.05), and there was a significant difference in osmolality between the three drying conditions (p 0.05), with the AD group showing the highest values, and the LFTD group showing the lowest. Conclusions. Osmolality and pH values are time and drying process-dependent in a CL case cleaning schedule. Regarding drying conditions, LFTD causes less increase in osmolality. Future studies should determine whether these changes might affect bacterial growth, lens parameters, or subject comfort during CL wear.This research was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIN) and European FEDER funds under project Ref. No. DPI2009-08879, and the Spanish Optometry Network (SAF2008-01114-E)

Digital-based technology for fabric structure analysis

In this chapter, typical applications of image-based technologies used for the analysis of fabric structure and texture are summarized and discussed. Among them, a new digital method, based on the dual side scanning and active grid model (AGM), is introduced to demonstrate how to identify the weave pattern of woven fabrics. Some preliminary experiments and discussions are also included to validate this method.Institute of Textiles and Clothin