Damages caused by cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus zanjonensis, on sugar cane in San Pedrosula, Honduras

Technical assistance was given to Compañía Azucarera Hondureña, S.A. (Agro-Industrial Co.), Honduras, Central America, to determine if a campaign against noxious rodents to agriculture crops was needed. Several trappings were carried out at different places using snap traps to determine the population structure of rodents associated with the crop, and live traps to determine the index or density of the Sigmodon hispidus rat population, which was identified as being responsible for the damage to sugarcane. Results were 43.24% adult males, 14.86% young males, 31.41% adult females, and 10.47% young females. Of the adult females captured, 54.83% were pregnant with an average of 3 to 4 embryos per rat. A control demonstration combat was carried out at one of the experimental stations with a bait prepared with 2% zinc phosphide in a place where it had been previously determined there was a population of 39 rats per hectare. After such control, the population was reduced to 18 rats per hectare, which represents an efficiency of 53.85%. An evaluation of damages was also measured at different places to determine the degree of loss caused by the rats, which proved to be 22.79% damage. The size of the sample was estimated in 3 samples per hectare, with a level of confidence of 95%

Knowledge Management and Collaboration Strategies for Technology-Based Firms in Baja California

Knowledge Management (KM) and Collaboration are viewed as a key strategy for achieving competitive advantage in companies around the world. Knowledge by itself is considered one of the most valuable assets owned by an organization. In technology-based firms, it is perceived as being of the upmost value. In Baja California, Mexico, several companies exist which develop products and services using knowledge creation as a core value. In this paper, we summarize the results of 14 interviews with general managers and directors of knowledge-oriented firms to further understand which KM strategies are employed in seeking to gain competitive advantage. Results indicate that all firms adopt different approaches to KM. A common opinion amongst those interviewed was that knowledge provides greater value to businesses, improving corporate performance. All confirmed a significant relationship exists between KM, collaboration and competitive advantage

Assessing the Role of Knowledge and Project Management in the Competitiveness of Manufacturing Firms in Baja California

This article analyses the Knowledge Management (KM) and Project Management (PM) practices of manufacturing firms based in Baja California to determine their level of importance in generating competitive advantage in the manufacturing sector in Baja California. Key questions researched in this paper are: 1) How is KM managed through information technologies and organisational systems, ensuring empirical and industrial success? and 2) How do PM strategies increase competitiveness in the Baja California manufacturing sector? The research analyses currently-implemented management systems used for improved KM and PM, based on knowledge and new advantage orientation. One of the limitations found in this research is that several firms do not adopt standardised policies relating to knowledge procurement and development. Although competitiveness is perceived as vital for organisations, the combination of KM and PM are not yet fully developed and integrated into organisational processes to increase competitiveness. It is found that KM and PM have influence and correlations with competitiveness

Spillover and diffraction sidelobe contamination in a double-shielded experiment for mapping Galactic synchrotron emission

We have analyzed observations from a radioastronomical experiment to survey the sky at decimetric wavelengths along with feed pattern measurements in order to account for the level of ground contamination entering the sidelobes. A major asset of the experiment is the use of a wire mesh fence around the rim-halo shielded antenna with the purpose of levelling out and reducing this source of stray radiation for zenith-centered 1-rpm circular scans. We investigate the shielding performance of the experiment by means of a geometric diffraction model in order to predict the level of the spillover and diffraction sidelobes in the direction of the ground. Using 408 MHz and 1465 MHz feed measurements, the model shows how a weakly-diffracting and unshielded antenna configuration becomes strongly-diffracting and double-shielded as far-field diffraction effects give way to near-field ones. Due to the asymmetric response of the feeds, the orientation of their radiation fields with respect to the secondary must be known a priori before comparing model predictions with observational data. By adjusting the attenuation coefficient of the wire mesh the model is able to reproduce the amount of differential ground pick-up observed during test measurements at 1465 MHz.Comment: 14 pages, 17 eps + 1 gif figures and 4 Tables. Accepted for publication in A&AS. Fig.7 available at full resolution from http://www.das.inpe.br/~tello/publications.ht

La producción académica sobre educación en la Argentina : Un análisis del período 2001-2010

En esta ponencia se presentan resultados parciales de una investigación que se propone realizar un mapeo del campo de la producción de conocimiento en educación, tanto en lo referido a las agencias y los agentes productores como de las formas de producción y difusión de conocimientos, en el período 2001-2010. Se realizó un relevamiento de las publicaciones de académicos de instituciones argentinas en el área de la educación, incluyendo libros y artículos en las revistas argentinas especializadas y en una selección de revistas extranjeras, y se analizó la producción en relación a volumen global, región geográfica, sector institucional (universidades públicas y privadas, centros independientes, organismos internacionales, etc.), área disciplinaria y autores. En base a ese análisis, se discuten los niveles de consolidación de la producción y difusión que revela el volumen de publicaciones existente, en general y por áreas disciplinarias; el peso de distintos tipos de instituciones; y las diferencias que existen entre la producción en revistas nacionales, extranjeras y librosFil: Tello, César. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina

Analysis of the Thermal Behavior of a Vehicle Cabin Using a Dynamic Thermal Model

This work analyzes the thermal behavior of a vehicle cabin by using a dynamic thermal model, which allows to accurately reproduce the vehicle interior temperature under different external environmental conditions. The thermal model considers heat transfer through the glazed and opaque surfaces of the vehicle using the energy balance method. It considers changes in weather conditions, vehicle geometry, body construction characteristics, types of opaque and glazed surfaces, and existing thermal loads. Experimental tests (with and without solar radiation) were carried out to validate the dynamic thermal model. The model predicts the temperature variations of the air inside the vehicle cabin. The results showed a maximum variation of 1.38 K without solar incidence and 3.78 K with solar radiation. Keywords: dynamic thermal model, vehicle, heat balance, thermal load. Resumen El objetivo principal del presente trabajo fue analizar el comportamiento térmico de la cabina de un vehículo utilizando un modelo térmico dinámico, que permite reproducir de manera precisa el comportamiento de la temperatura interior del vehículo bajo distintas condiciones ambientales externas. El modelo térmico considera la transferencia de calor a través de las superficies acristaladas y opacas del vehículo utilizando el método de balance de energía, para lo cual se toman en cuenta los cambios en las condiciones climatológicas, la geometría del vehículo, las características constructivas de la carrocería, tipos de superficies opacas y acristaladas y las cargas térmicas existentes. Se realizaron ensayos experimentales (con y sin radiación solar) para validar el modelo térmico dinámico. El modelo permite reproducir las variaciones de la temperatura del aire interior de la cabina del vehículo. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una variación máxima de 1.38 K, sin incidencia solar y 3.78 K con radiación solar. Palabras Clave: modelo térmico dinámico, vehículo, balance de calor, carga térmica

Cataract Surgery in Anterior Megalophthalmos: A Review

Anterior megalophthalmos is characterized by megalocornea associated with a very broad anterior chamber and ciliary ring elongation. It is also known as X-linked megalocornea. It is accompanied by the early development of cataracts, zonular anomalies, and rarely vitreoretinal disorders. Cataract surgery involves the risk of subluxation of the cataract because zonular weakness. In addition, in most cases, standard IOL decentration is a danger due to the enlargement of the sulcus and capsular bag. Cataract surgery is challenging because of these unique circumstances. Several approaches have been performed to date. Implantation of a retropupillary iris-claw aphakic intraocular lens might be a good option, since it is easier than suturing the IOL and could have better and more stable anatomic and visual outcomes compared with the other techniques