Spatial spillovers in public expenditure on a municipal level in Spain

A key function of local governments is to provide a wide array of public services. The supply of these services has been found to create spatial spillovers among neighbouring municipalities. Although it is generally agreed that spillovers are present in models that explain government expenditures, their type—whether endogenous, exogenous or residual—and sign—whether positive or negative—remain ambiguous. In most cases, a subjective process is used to select the type of spatial regression model used in analysis, with mixed results. Per capita expenditures of ten subprogrammes (Security, Housing, Welfare, Environment, Social services, Employment promotion, Health, Education, Culture and Sport) are analysed for all Spanish municipalities with more than 5000 inhabitants in the 2010–2012 period. A Spatial Seemingly Unrelated Regression methodology in a panel framework is used to incorporate correlation between different subprogrammes and spatial dependence. Our results show that the three types of spatial effects are present. Furthermore, substantive dependence is positive in most cases, while negative residual dependence is observed in some.We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of three anonymous reviewers in helping us improve the quality of this paper. Prof. Fernando A. López , grateful for the financial support offered by the projects from Programa de Ayudas a Grupos de Excelencia de la Región de Murcia, Fundación Seneca (#19884-GERM-15) and Ministry of Economy and Competiveness (ECO2015-651758)

Shop-floor scheduling as a competitive advantage:A study on the relevance of cyber-physical systems in different manufacturing contexts

The aim of this paper is to analyse the relevance of cyber-physical systems (CPS) in different manufacturing contexts and to study whether CPS could provide companies with competitive advantage by carrying out a better scheduling task. This paper is developed under the umbrella of contingency theory which states that certain technologies and practices are not universally applicable or relevant in every context; thus, only certain companies will benefit from using particular technologies or practices. The conclusion of this paper, developed through deductive reasoning and supported by preliminary simulation experiments and statistical tests, is that factories with an uncertain and demanding market environment as well as a complex production process could benefit the most from implementing a CPS at shop-floor level since a cyber-physical shop-floor will provide all the capabilities needed to carry out the complex scheduling task associated with this type of context. On the other hand, an increase in scheduling performance due to a CPS implementation in factories with simple production flows and stable demand could not be substantial enough to overcome the high cost of installing a fully operational CPS

τ−→π−ηντ\tau^- \to \pi^- \eta \nu_\tau decay induced by QED one-loop effects

The $\tau^- \to \pi^-\eta\nu_{\tau}$ decay is forbidden in the Standard Model in the limit of exact $G$-parity, it becomes a rare decay due to isospin symmetry breaking and it is very sensitive to the effects of effective scalar interactions. Since the parameters driving isospin breaking, $(m_d-m_u)/(m_s-\bar{m})$ and $\alpha$, are of the same order, one may expect their $G$-parity breaking effects in this decay can be of similar magnitudes. In this work, we evaluate the effects of isospin-breaking amplitudes originated from a virtual photon at one-loop in a resonance dominance model to describe photon-hadron interactions. We find that these effects can shift the leading SM predictions based on the $u-d$ quark mass difference by roughly $12\%$, and should be taken into consideration in a precision comparison of theory and experiment in order to draw meaningful conclusions on New Physics. The effects in the rate of the analogous $\tau^- \to \pi^-\eta'\nu_{\tau}$ decay can be larger ($\sim$ $78\%$), under the approximations assumed in this model.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure, 4 table

Fronthaul network modeling and dimensioning meeting ultra-low latency requirements for 5G

Enabling the transport of fronthaul traffic in next-generation cellular networks [fifth-generation (5G)] following the cloud radio access network (C-RAN) architecture requires a redesign of the fronthaul network featuring high capacity and ultra-low latency. With the aim of leveraging statistical multiplexing gains, infrastructure reuse, and, ultimately, cost reduction, the research community is focusing on Ethernet-based packet-switch networks. To this end, we propose using the high queuing delay percentiles of the G/G/1 queuing model as the key metric in fronthaul network dimensioning. Simulations reveal that Kingman's exponential law of congestion provides accurate estimates on such delays for the particular case of aggregating a number of evolved Common Public Radio Interface fronthaul flows, namely functional splits Iu and IID. We conclude that conventional 10 G, 40 G, and 100 G transponders can cope with multiple legacy 10-20 MHz radio channels with worst-case delay guarantees. Conversely, scaling to 40 and 100 MHz channels will require the introduction of 200G, 400G, and even 1T high-speed transponders.The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Spanish project TEXEO (grant no. TEC2016-80339-R), and the H2020 EU-funded project BlueSPACE (grant no. 762055)

Realidad aumentada como alternativa didáctica en escuelas públicas en zonas rurales y semiurbanas de San Quintín y Mexicali, México

There is a technological gap between rural and semi urban schools in San Quintín and Mexicali (Baja California, Mexico). The objective of this study was to establish the bases of a pedagogical intervention (using augmented reality) that enabled middle and upper-middle school students there to interact more with their own reality. This study applied the ethnomethodological approach known as action research and problem-based learning, which has a constructivist origin. An augmented reality model was designed to facilitate such intervention, and questionnaires were used to evaluate students’ and teachers’ perceptions of it. Their responses were discussed and analyzed adopting a mixed-methods approach. It was found that, in general, mobile devices are less available in rural schools than in their semi urban counterparts. Students and teachers perceived that the implementation of this didactic intervention fostered disaster prevention and was easy. Most preferred 3D graphic representations in augmented reality, and teachers agreed that it was more motivating to design an augmented reality map because it encouraged participation, reaffirmed values, and promoted learning. Problem-based learning encouraged students to be active subjects who provide solutions, are aware of their participation, and adopt the values of disaster prevention and inclusion.Existe una brecha tecnológica en escuelas rurales y urbanas de San Quintín y Mexicali, el objetivo de este estudio fue establecer las bases de una intervención pedagógica, utilizando recursos que permitieran mayor interacción del estudiante con su propia realidad, a través del uso de tecnología en escuelas de nivel medio y medio-superior en Baja California, que sustenta la propuesta etnometodológica de investigación - acción, apoyándose en el método del Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas; de origen constructivista. En este trabajo se diseñó un modelo de realidad aumentada que facilitara dicha intervención didáctica, así como instrumentos para evaluar la percepción por estudiantes y maestros para discutir y analizar sus respuestas con un enfoque mixto. En general, se identificó poca disponibilidad de dispositivos móviles en escuelas rurales, comparadas con la escuela urbana. En la evaluación sobre la percepción que tuvieron estudiantes y maestros sobre su implementación, se obtuvo que la propuesta didáctica induce a la prevención, siendo además considerada una actividad “Fácil”, donde hubo mayor preferencia por las representaciones gráficas en 3D en realidad aumentada, y los docentes involucrados coincidieron en que existió “Motivación al diseñar mapa con realidad aumentada”, pues “Fomentó la participación en la actividad”, “Reafirmación en los valores” y “Potencia en el aprendizaje”. El efecto obtenido de incluir la metodología del aprendizaje basado en problemas indujo a los estudiantes a ser sujetos activos en la solución de estos, siendo conscientes de su participación y con orientación a seguir valores preventivos e incluyentes

Procedimiento para evaluar factores clave de la gestión del talento humano en PyMES del sector comercial

Objetivo: Diseñar un procedimiento para evaluar factores clave de la gestión del talento humano en PyMES del sector comercial de Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México. Métodos y técnicas: Análisis documental, entrevistas y criterios de expertos. Principales resultados: La concepción de un procedimiento para la evaluación de factores clave de la gestión del talento humano en PyMES del referido territorio. Conclusiones: Con la concepción del procedimiento propuesto se contribuye en el orden teórico y metodológico a la sistematización del estudio del proceso de gestión del talento humano. Su aplicación permitirá a los empresarios de las organizaciones objeto de estudio: identificar, determinar y evaluar los factores clave de ese proceso con un fundamento científico. Además, se establecen las bases para futuras investigaciones, sobre la correlación entre los factores clave del proceso de gestión del talento humano, con los resultados de las PyMES y por consiguiente con su competitividad. Por tanto, el procedimiento puede contribuir a brindar información para estudios correlacionales-explicativos

R-SQL: An SQL Database System with Extended Recursion

The relational database language SQL:1999 standard supports recursion, but thisapproach is limited to the linear case. Moreover, mutual recursion is not supported,and negation cannot be combined with recursion. We designed the language R-SQLto overcome these limitations in [ANSS13], improving termination properties in re-cursive definitions. In addition we developed a proof of concept implementation ofan R-SQL system. In this paper we describe in detail an improved system enhanc-ing performance. It can be integrated into existing RDBMS’s, extending them withthe aforementioned benefits of R-SQL. The system processes an R-SQL databasedefinition obtaining its extension in tables of an RDBMS (such as PostgreSQL andDB2). It is implemented in SWI-Prolog and it produces a Python script that, uponexecution, computes the result of the R-SQL relations. We provide some perfor-mance results showing the efficiency gains w.r.t. the previous version. We alsoinclude a comparative analysis including some representative relational a deductive systems

Multimodal harbor wave climate characterization based on wave agitation spectral types

A new numerical methodology reaching an improved characterization of the historical harbor wave agitation climate is presented in this work. A detailed frequency-direction wave spectrum definition of wave agitation patterns within harbor basins is achieved, providing an in-depth description of the whole multidirectional and multireflective wave patterns occurring as a natural harbor response. This constitutes an advance from the monoparametric/aggregated wave height parameter-based approaches, traditionally used for wave agitation characterization, to a multivariate and disaggregated representation of in-port waves and the multiple wave transformation processes within harbor basins. In addition, the wave agitation spectral type concept is proposed, whereby the wave agitation spectral shapes are classified into representative clusters of the historical wave agitation response in a harbor. A detailed multiannual analysis of the wave agitation response, based on the different in-port spectral wave components, their relation with the outer-harbor forcing waves, and their interactions with the harbor structures, can be achieved with the proposed methodology. This improved harbor wave climate characterization can be especially relevant for port operability and downtime analyses. The methodology is applied and validated in Africa basin (Las Palmas Port, Spain).This work was supported by a FPU (Formación de Profesorado Universitario) grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities to the first author (FPU18/03046). This work was also partially funded under the State R&D Program Oriented to the Challenges of the Society (PID2020-118285RB-I00) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Contribuciones científicas de la agroecología en América Latina y el Caribe : una revisión

A systematization and a quantitative and qualitative analysis of scientific documents are presented, which respond: What are the main contributions of research in relation to the demands of agroecology in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)? What factors approaches and methods have been used in time and space? The quantitative approach predominates, followed by the qualitative one, and the mixed one to a lesser extent. The development of agroecology in LAC is distributed in: a country with greater consolidation (Brazil), a larger group in development, another with initial contributions and, finally, one with minimal contributions. The most considered factors in the investigations are the physical-biological ones, followed by the social, economic, cultural, and political ones. Two thirds of the contributions to agroecological demands were: agroecological management, maintenance of biodiversity, self-management and local self-sufficiency, and soil and water conservation. Some contributions have been intensified at present, while agroecological management has prevailed over time. The predominance of conventional research approaches, methods and techniques is evident; the challenge is to generate new ways of seeing and doing research, which allow addressing the disciplinary interfaces of the complex problem in the society-nature relationship.Se presenta una sistematización y análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de documentos científicos, que responden ¿Cuáles son los principales aportes de las investigaciones en relación con las demandas de la agroecología en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC)? ¿Qué factores, enfoques y métodos han utilizado en tiempo y espacio? Predomina el enfoque cuantitativo, seguido del cualitativo y menormente el mixto; el desarrollo de la agroecología en ALC está distribuido en: un país con mayor consolidación (Brasil), un grupo más grande en desarrollo, otro con aportaciones iniciales y, finalmente, uno con mínimos aportes. Los factores más considerados en las investigaciones son los físico-biológicos, seguido de los sociales, económicos, culturales y políticos. Las dos terceras partes de los aportes a las demandas agroecológicas fueron: manejo agroecológico, mantenimiento de la biodiversidad, autogestión y autosuficiencia local y conservación de suelo y agua. Algunos aportes se han intensificado actualmente, mientras que el manejo agroecológico ha prevalecido a través del tiempo. Es evidente el predominio de enfoques, métodos y técnicas de investigación convencionales; el reto es generar nuevas formas de ver y hacer investigación, que permitan abordar las interfaces disciplinares de la compleja problemática en la relación sociedad-naturaleza.Fil: Gallardo-López, Felipe. Colegio de Postgraduados (México). Campus Veracruz. Posgrado en Agroecosistemas Tropicales.Fil: Hernández-Chontal, Mario Alejandro. Colegio de Postgraduados (México). Campus Veracruz. Posgrado en Agroecosistemas Tropicales.Fil: Linares-Gabriel, Ariadna. Colegio de Postgraduados (México). Campus Veracruz. Posgrado en Agroecosistemas Tropicales.Fil: Cisneros-Saguilán, Pedro. Instituto Tecnológico de Pinotepa (México). Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias