On the possible Computational Power of the Human Mind

The aim of this paper is to address the question: Can an artificial neural network (ANN) model be used as a possible characterization of the power of the human mind? We will discuss what might be the relationship between such a model and its natural counterpart. A possible characterization of the different power capabilities of the mind is suggested in terms of the information contained (in its computational complexity) or achievable by it. Such characterization takes advantage of recent results based on natural neural networks (NNN) and the computational power of arbitrary artificial neural networks (ANN). The possible acceptance of neural networks as the model of the human mind's operation makes the aforementioned quite relevant.Comment: Complexity, Science and Society Conference, 2005, University of Liverpool, UK. 23 page

Is there any real substance to the claims for a 'new computationalism'?

'Computationalism' is a relatively vague term used to describe attempts to apply Turing's model of computation to phenomena outside its original purview: in modelling the human mind, in physics, mathematics, etc. Early versions of computationalism faced strong objections from many (and varied) quarters, from philosophers to practitioners of the aforementioned disciplines. Here we will not address the fundamental question of whether computational models are appropriate for describing some or all of the wide range of processes that they have been applied to, but will focus instead on whether `renovated' versions of the \textit{new computationalism} shed any new light on or resolve previous tensions between proponents and skeptics. We find this, however, not to be the case, because the 'new computationalism' falls short by using limited versions of "traditional computation", or proposing computational models that easily fall within the scope of Turing's original model, or else proffering versions of hypercomputation with its many pitfalls

Uso de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y comunicación en la formación de residentes médicos

AntecedentesLa Universidad Veracruzana avala diecisiete programas de especialidades médicas y siendo congruente con el componente de eLearning de la Estrategia y Plan de acción sobre Salud (2012-2017) de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, hace uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) para facilitar los procesos de educación en salud.Objetivo generalGenerar una Red de Teleeducación utilizando plataformas en línea (learning management systems) y videoconferencia vía Web, fortaleciendo los procesos educativos para formación de profesores y residentes médicos.MetodologíaAprovechamiento de la plataforma Eminus V3.0 (aula virtual) y Blackboard Collaborate (videoconferencia), ambos para generar sesiones clínicas y cursos en línea. Capacitación en uso de estas herramientas a 96 profesores, ubicados en las cinco regiones que opera la Universidad Veracruzana.ResultadosDel 2012 al 2014 generación de 279 aulas virtuales y 121 videoconferencias dirigidas a residentes médicos, y 53 videoconferencias en tópicos de salud pública, medicina, y telemedicina abiertas a diversos profesionales de la salud.DiscusiónEl uso de las TIC en la formación de médicos especialistas en la Universidad Veracruzana tiene poco menos de tres años y a pesar de existir aún alguna resistencia para su empleo, cada vez se acepta con mayor convicción que estas son una opción que facilita el acceso a la capacitación.ConclusionesLas TIC ya son parte de la formación de los médicos residentes en la UV, su uso está en aumento y su impacto en el aprendizaje de los residentes será motivo de una línea de investigación futura

Sistemas de Producción y Cultivos Agrícolas en México

El presente volumen contiene 11 capítulos arbitrados que se ocupan de asuntos sobre Sistemas de Producción y Cultivo. Bustamante-Espinosa y colaboradores inician la obra con un estudio sobre la hidratación de matrices granulares esféricas de tierra diatomita adicionada con cal para alojar nemátodos entomopatógenos. Escalante-Estrada, Rodríguez-González y Escalante-Estrada proponen un modelo de estimación del rendimiento del frijol con base a sus componentes fisiológicos y morfológicos. Por su parte Espinoza-García y colaboradores reportan la optimización de agua de riego en alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) utilizando sensores de humedad en el suelo. Herrera-Isidrón y colaboradores presentan una caracterización molecular de especies del género Agave, mediante SSR e ISTR, de la Colección Nacional de Agaves UG-SAGARPA. López-Diaz, Suarez-Gaona, Fitz-Rodríguez y Jiménez-Regalado analizan las propiedades físico-mecánicas de la planta de higuerilla relacionadas con el diseño de cosechadoras. Macías, Rodríguez, Andrés, Gómez, Espinosa, Tadeo y Barrón discuten el comportamiento agronómico de variedades sintéticas de maíz para el trópico húmedo de México. Orosco-Alcalá y colaboradores examinan el efecto de la salinidad en las características morfológicas mediante un injerto en pimiento morrón. Peralta-Antonio y colaboradores analizan la calidad y macronutrientes al experimentar en la fertilización orgánica en mango. Rocha-Granados y López-Medina analizan el enraizamiento in vitro de arándano (Vaccinium sp.) var. Biloxi. Rojas-Sánchez, Apáez-Barrios, López-Medina y Rocha-Granados reportan la eficiencia de regeneración de tres selecciones de fresa (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) y finalmente Toral-Juárez, Peralta-Antonio y Mendoza-Mexicano cierran la obra con su trabajo sobre la producción de lechugas en hidroponía con sistema de solución estática y aireación capilar, desde un enfoque de horticultura urbana

Solid-State Fermentation in a Bag Bioreactor: Effect of Corn Cob Mixed with Phytopathogen Biomass on Spore and Cellulase Production by Trichoderma asperellum

The solid-state fermentation (SSF) is the best option to produce spores of biological control agents (BCA), because the spores have a long shelf life, compared with the obtained in liquid cultures. The spore production under SSF conditions using polyethylene bioreactors (bag-type) is a new topic. Only little information mainly about bioreactors design and adequate conditions to spore production is available. The main aim of this study was to use the corn cob as substrate in SSF and produce spores of the fungi BCA Trichoderma asperellum in a polyethylene bioreactor. In the process was added biomass of the phytopathogenic fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Phytophthora capsici as inducers of hydrolase enzymes (endoglucanases, exoglucanases and chitinases). It is possible to obtain high levels of spores, cellulases and chitinases using a polyethylene bioreactor under SSF conditions by T. asperellum and corn cob as substrate. Under the SSF conditions evaluated, the biomass of C. gloeosporioides has an inducer effect just on the spore production. However, P. capsici have effect on all response variables evaluated. The spore production was twice when used P. capsici as inducer. The most influential factor under SSF was the moisture. Levels of 66 and 50% of this factor increase the yield in all response variables evaluated (sporulation, cellulases and chitinases), C. gloeosporioides and P. capsici, respectively

Technical note: Productive variables of Pelibuey lambs and ewes induced to estrus with exogenous hormones and with different types of suckling

With the objective of analyzing the productive and reproductive response of lambs and ewes subjected to induced or synchronized estrus and to three different types of suckling, 60 Pelibuey ewes and their lambs were randomly assigned, at seven days postpartum, to one of three groups (n = 20); continuous suckling (AC), restricted suckling (AR) and early weaning (DP). The animals were weighed weekly from birth until the eighth week. At 30 d postpartum, the hormonal treatment applied was intravaginal progestagen (P4) plus 0.05 mg of PGF2á and 300 UI of eCG two days before the removal of P4. The percentage of estrus was higher (95%) in DP and AR groups compared with AC (60%; P < 0.05), as was fertility (DP, 80%; AR 75%) versus 40% in AC (P < 0.05), and prolificacy (lambs/ewe, 1.87 and 1.5; P < 0.05). Weight of lambs at 8 wk of age was higher for AC (16.8) and AR (16.5) than for DP (11.9 kg; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the restriction of suckling and early weaning, improved the reproductive efficiency in Pelibuey ewes. However, DP reduced weight gain of the lambs and increased their mortality rate relative to AC and AR

Exploratory factorial model of knowledge management in a public university in the center of Mexico in the face of COVID-19

The objective of this study is to explain the performance of a knowledge network, understood as a management, production and transfer system between the demands of the environment and the capabilities of the organization. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample selection of 100 administrators, teachers and students of a public university, considering their interaction in professional practices. The results show a confirmatory structure of three components related to the formation, production and transfer of knowledge, although the relationship matrix suggests the inclusion of another factor alluding to the creation of knowledge observed in creative organizations. The contrast of the model in another sample and study context is recommended, as well as the adjustment of the dimensions to a model with the inclusion of a fourth factor.The objective of this study is to explain the performance of a knowledge network, understood as a management, production and transfer system between the demands of the environment and the capabilities of the organization. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample selection of 100 administrators, teachers and students of a public university, considering their interaction in professional practices. The results show a confirmatory structure of three components related to the formation, production and transfer of knowledge, although the relationship matrix suggests the inclusion of another factor alluding to the creation of knowledge observed in creative organizations. The contrast of the model in another sample and study context is recommended, as well as the adjustment of the dimensions to a model with the inclusion of a fourth factor

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Search for displaced vertices arising from decays of new heavy particles in 7 TeV pp collisions at ATLAS

We present the results of a search for new, heavy particles that decay at a significant distance from their production point into a final state containing charged hadrons in association with a high-momentum muon. The search is conducted in a pp-collision data sample with a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 33 pb^-1 collected in 2010 by the ATLAS detector operating at the Large Hadron Collider. Production of such particles is expected in various scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. We observe no signal and place limits on the production cross-section of supersymmetric particles in an R-parity-violating scenario as a function of the neutralino lifetime. Limits are presented for different squark and neutralino masses, enabling extension of the limits to a variety of other models.Comment: 8 pages plus author list (20 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version to appear in Physics Letters