A Generic Synthesis Algorithm for Well-Defined Parametric Design

This paper aims to improve the way synthesis tools can be built by formalizing: 1) the design artefact, 2) related knowledge and 3) an algorithm to generate solutions. This paper focuses on well-defined parametric engineering design, ranging from machine elements to industrial products. A design artefact is formalized in terms of parameters and topology elements. The knowledge is classified in three types: resolving rules to determine parameter values, constraining rules to restrict parameter values and expansion rules to add elements to the topology. A synthesis algorithm, based on an opportunistic design strategy, is described and tested for three design cases

On the mathematical problem that represents the steady state combustion of solid fuels

viii, 68 p.One of the most captivating experiences in childhood is that of contemplating fire. Fire appears as something entirely different from a solid, a liquid or a gas. In particular, this may have leaded the Greeks to choose fire (together with earth, air and water) as one of the elements that constitute all other substances. The fire caused by wood burning is just one instance of a number of phenomena referred to collectively as combustion phenomena. A lighted candle, a Bunsen burner, the explosion of gasoline in an internal combustion engine, a flying rocket, and even iron rusting, are instances of combustion processes. With the exception of iron rusting, it is natural to think that these phenomena are somehow variations of the same idea. It was not until the XVIIIth century that a scientific understanding of what combustion processes essentially are was achieved. In short, a combustion process is an exothermic chemical reaction between a compound (called fuel) and an oxidizer (usually oxygen). Let us consider some examples.Contenido parcial: Combustion -- Mathematical model -- Existence on general domains -- A second generalization of Gelfand's problem -- Spherical symmetry

Perception of maximum distance jumpable remains accurate after an intense physical exercise and during recovery

Earlier studies have revealed that changes in action capabilities due to fatigue or wearing a backpack have an effect on the perception of distance in meters or steepness in angles. Although these findings are interesting by themselves, they leave us uninformed about whether the accuracy of affordance perception is affected by fatigue. Are people still capable of accurately perceiving the maximum distance jumpable after an intense physical exercise? In the present experiment, this question is addressed. We found that after maximal exertion in a squatting task, the actual maximum jumping distance significantly decreased, but recovered quickly. Interestingly, on average, the participants accurately perceived their maximum jumping distance both before and after the squatting task. Apparently, the accuracy of the affordance perception remains intact after an intense physical exercise. The implications of this finding are discussed

Caracterización de empresas en ley 550 de 1999 en la ciudad de Barranquilla : caso de la empresa: Costa Glass Ltda

La caracterización de las empresas que se encuentran en proceso de restructuración o acogidas a la ley 550 de 1990, en este caso específico la empresa COSTA GLASS LTDA, con domicilio en Barranquilla, se ha convertido en la base para el estudio, el cual busca como resultado un documento que será de gran ayuda para analizar los síntomas que presentan las empresas cuando empiezan a presentar problemas económicos. Este proyecto es una herramienta muy importante para estudiantes y docentes, dado que ofrece alternativas didáctico-practico para realizar estudios financieros, diagnósticos de aquellas empresas en crisis. Lo anterior se logra gracias al estudio de un caso real, en el que se analiza el estado financiero de las empresas que se incorporaron a esta Ley, y por medio de un análisis general de los folios en estudio expuestos en la Superintendencia de Sociedades (estados financieros, cartas y documentos que hablan de la empresa), se busca encontrar los principales síntomas de la crisis, y después de identificar los motivos de ello, se analiza a través de un seguimiento histórico del comportamiento financiero, factores de orden político, factores de orden económico y social, decisiones gerenciales y operativas de la empresa antes y después de la acogencia a la Ley. En este documento se analiza la empresa Costa Glass.Incluye bibliografía, anexo

An analysis of home ranges, movements, foods, and breeding of kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) in a rural-urban landscape on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

Aspects of kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) ecology were studied on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, from February 2004 until March 2005 (13 months). Telemetry equipment was used to locate 15 radio-tagged kereru. Characteristic of the human-modified landscape where this study took place is a mosaic of farmland, peri-urban areas, townships, native forest patches, and conifer plantations. Main study sites were at Church Bay and Orton Bradley Park. This study is part of the Kaupapa Kereru Programme which aims to enhance the kereru population on Banks Peninsula, and also contributes to national efforts to enhance kereru populations in human-modified landscapes. Before this study, little was known of kereru ecology in landscapes such as on Banks Peninsula. The breeding season extended from mid-July 2004 to at least March 2005. Sixty-seven percent of tagged kereru bred and seven chicks fledged from 20 nesting attempts (35% success rate). Breeding success was higher compared with kereru populations on mainland New Zealand, but not as successful as a relatively predator-free population or for populations in areas where predators were controlled. Kereru nested in native forest patches and in areas frequently occupied by humans. Kereru ate 11 native and 12 introduced plant species. Two to eight species were eaten each field week. Introduced species were eaten solely during parts of summer and autumn, and made up at least 50% of the diet during these periods. Native species were eaten during winter but made up less than 50% of diet. During mid to late summer, kereru ate solely native species. Native species provided leaves, flowers, and fruit. Introduced species provided leaves and flowers, except plum trees (Prunus spp.) which also provided fruit. Before and during the first part of the breeding season, kereru were recorded eating leaves and flowers, mostly of introduced deciduous species and kowhai. The crop content of one brooding female found dead suggested that a chick was at least partly raised on plum tree and willow (Salix spp.) leaves. The kereru population did not appear to be limited by food. However, planting of additional food sources could enhance food variety and ensure availability of sufficient foods for an increased population. Home ranges, estimated using cluster analysis, were significantly smaller during the breeding season than during the non-breeding season. Home ranges (1.8-22.2 ha) and core areas (0.01-0.28 ha) were significantly smaller than those found in the Whirinaki Forest Park (13.9-704.2 ha, and 1.1-26.7 ha respectively). Home range overlap was less at Orton Bradley Park than at Church Bay. Home range overlap was generally less during the breeding season than during the non-breeding season at both study sites. During the non-breeding season, six of 10 kereru moved away from Orton Bradley Park for about two months perhaps as a result of insufficient food. Daily movements were mostly less than 500 m at both study sites. Presence of kereru was regulated by food availability, except during the breeding season when kereru also required suitable nesting sites. The Church Bay and Orton Bradley Park study sites appeared to contain all required resources as home ranges were within these sites. However, more predation events occurred at Orton Bradley Park reducing its quality. Increased food availability across Banks Peninsula should allow kereru to colonise new areas. Additional (native) fruiting food species should improve carrying capacity of areas, diet choice of kereru, and indirectly improve species composition in forest patches through improved seed dispersal by kereru. Seed dispersal of native plant species occurred only during mid to late summer and mostly within 500m from foraging locations. Management efforts to enhance the kereru population on Banks Peninsula should first focus on predator control. Adult survival should be prioritised above reproductive output. Adult kereru were especially vulnerable to predation during summer and the breeding season when foraging on low scrub and while incubating or brooding. Five of 20 nests were preyed upon; four eggs and one chick were preyed upon. Kereru in human-modified landscapes elsewhere in New Zealand could be exposed to similar threats. Secondly, management should focus on providing suitable nesting sites and increasing the food availability before and during the breeding season for future, increased populations (i.e., following predator control). Suggestions for future research of kereru in human-modified landscapes are made

Desarrollo de kioscos digitales para un mejor uso de las TIC como apoyo al plan académico y mejoramiento de las competencias estudiantiles /

Durante el 2010 el Ministerio nacional de Colombia en conjunto con el ministerio de telecomunicaciones y el ministerio de las TIC con un proyecto innovador que pretende convertir a Colombia en un país más educado tratando de combatir el analfabetismo digital y con la llegada de los Smartphone teléfonos inteligentes de segunda y tercera generación se dio un gran salto tecnológico. A partir de allí comenzó una revolución en telecomunicaciones que facilitaron el acceso a más personas a el uso de la tecnología en sus hogares, colegios, universidad y a nivel empresarial de acuerdo con esto muchas personas de diferentes edades tienen acceso a el internet donde se puede explotar varias áreas del conocimiento y acceder a la información de manera más rápida y en un tiempo muy corto. El mismo ministerio lanzó un plan de Kioscos digitales en áreas rurales y apartadas de Colombia para que más personas pudieran acceder al uso de tecnologías y mejorar sus competencias educativas, su entorno social y económico. De acuerdo con esto nosotros conociendo la situación de la institución educativa san Lucas y después de haber recopilado información a través de un sondeo en una población estudiantil acerca del uso de las herramientas TIC y contenidos digitales que arrojaron resultados de un uso casi nulo de dichas herramientas decidimos construir un prototipo de kiosco digital de bajo presupuesto y consumo para que los estudiantes conozcan y tengan más acceso a los contenidos digitales y las herramientas TICIncluye referencias bibliográfica

Intoxicación herbácea en niños, aspectos básicos

Folk use of herbs and plants reputed as medicinal plants can cause adverse effects in the pediatric population, particularly newborns and infants younger with an underlying respiratory or digestive disease. Administration excessive and / or prolonged doses of a decoction in a patient previously ill, may explains herbs poisoning. Additionally, medical knowledge about herbal medicine is poor and patient’s family does not provide information about administration of these products. These circumstances could justify having basic information that allows to clinician to optimize diagnosis and treatment of plants poisoning and developing primary prevention programs.  El empleo folklórico de hierbas o plantas  reputadas como medicinales puede originar efectos adversos, en la población pediátrica, particularmente en los recién nacidos y lactantes menores, con una enfermedad respiratoria o digestiva subyacente. La administración excesiva y / o prolongada de una decocción, a un niño previamente enfermo, puede explicar una intoxicación por hierbas. Adicionalmente, el conocimiento del médico sobre medicina herbaria es deficiente y los familiares del paciente no aportan información sobre la administración de estos productos. Estas circunstancias podrían justificar disponer de información básica que permita al clínico, optimizar el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las intoxicaciones herbáceas, así como desarrollar programas de prevención primaria

Diseño y aplicación de un plan estratégico en el Terminal Marítimo Muelles el Bosque S. A. y Muelles el Bosque Operadores Portuarios S. A. para la mejora operacional del manejo de la carga

Mediante el siguiente Trabajo de Grado, se puede evidenciar el seguimiento de una metodología que permite determinar las causas que están provocando averías a la carga, además del planteamiento y aplicación de actividades de mejora que permitan amenizar las problemáticas. Este documento se desarrollo en 7 capítulos, de la siguiente manera: Inicialmente se establecieron las bases de la investigación, mediante el desarrollo de objetivos y alcance. Se establece la metodología que se usara en el trabajo y además este se enmarca mediante el marco teórico y referencial. Luego se realizan descripciones pertinentes acerca de la empresa con respecto a sus generalidades y su planeación estratégica, como historia, ubicación, servicios que brinda la empresa, misión, visión, análisis PEST, entre otros. Posteriormente se determina el enfoque basado en procesos de la empresa, obteniendo como resultado diferentes diagramas como mapa estratégico, SIPOCs, mapa por procesos y diagrama sistémico. Seguido a esto, con el fin de comprender más el proceso operativo se realiza un análisis de dicho proceso, en donde se realiza una descripción del proceso y diagramas de flujo respectivos. Los dos capítulos restantes se dedican a la identificación de las causas de las averías a la carga, mediante métodos de análisis de problemas, como lluvia de ideas, diagrama de pareto, diagrama causa efecto, entre otros; y el planeamiento de actividades que mediante su implementación mejoraran estas problemáticas consiguiendo que las averías a la carga disminuyanIncluye bibliografía, anexo