Making ubicomp acceptable in the home

This thesis is concerned with the uses of ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) technologies in everyday domestic settings. In contrast to goal-oriented technology adoption (e.g. in the workplace), the integration of pervasive technology in the home faces not only social but also physical and technical constraints. We propose a design framework for the introduction of ubicomp technology into today’s homes that, firstly, considers a holistic approach to integrating pervasive technology; secondly, takes into account social factors and domestic activity when defining the nature of the system’s interaction; and thirdly, allows the user to adapt the system’s interaction and collaboration. Most of the work to date on domestic ubicomp takes the customization of domestic spaces for granted, presuming that the integration of sensing technologies can be accomplished to any required degree and usually assuming that context-aware systems have to be proactive, limiting users to the role of consumers of the system’s actions rather than allowing them a more participative or cooperative role. We have applied our framework to design a domestic ubicomp system to support parents with childcare in the home. The “Context-Aware Room” and the “The Parent-Child Companion Tool” prototypes are built to take account of the interaction between the social and physical and the social and digital contexts in order to address issues of integration of sensing technology, socially respectful collaboration and system adaptation. Two studies explore the potential social acceptance of the PChCT. The panel study considers parents’ overall perceptions of whether these kinds of ubicomp tools might help with parental tasks. The usability study considers the usefulness and usability of the PChCT. The results of the study reflect a positive attitude to the PChCT. Parents liked the collaborative resources and facilities to tailor collaboration. Further work might be done to assess how the system’s adaptation might fit within a wider context of user needs. Nevertheless, we argue that the use of our framework can lead to more socially acceptable ubicomp experiences in the home

Making ubicomp acceptable in the home

This thesis is concerned with the uses of ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) technologies in everyday domestic settings. In contrast to goal-oriented technology adoption (e.g. in the workplace), the integration of pervasive technology in the home faces not only social but also physical and technical constraints. We propose a design framework for the introduction of ubicomp technology into today’s homes that, firstly, considers a holistic approach to integrating pervasive technology; secondly, takes into account social factors and domestic activity when defining the nature of the system’s interaction; and thirdly, allows the user to adapt the system’s interaction and collaboration. Most of the work to date on domestic ubicomp takes the customization of domestic spaces for granted, presuming that the integration of sensing technologies can be accomplished to any required degree and usually assuming that context-aware systems have to be proactive, limiting users to the role of consumers of the system’s actions rather than allowing them a more participative or cooperative role. We have applied our framework to design a domestic ubicomp system to support parents with childcare in the home. The “Context-Aware Room” and the “The Parent-Child Companion Tool” prototypes are built to take account of the interaction between the social and physical and the social and digital contexts in order to address issues of integration of sensing technology, socially respectful collaboration and system adaptation. Two studies explore the potential social acceptance of the PChCT. The panel study considers parents’ overall perceptions of whether these kinds of ubicomp tools might help with parental tasks. The usability study considers the usefulness and usability of the PChCT. The results of the study reflect a positive attitude to the PChCT. Parents liked the collaborative resources and facilities to tailor collaboration. Further work might be done to assess how the system’s adaptation might fit within a wider context of user needs. Nevertheless, we argue that the use of our framework can lead to more socially acceptable ubicomp experiences in the home

Entropy based parametrization of soils: Models and Tools

Particle-size distribution (PSD) is a fundamental soil physical property. The PSD is commonly reported in terms of the mass percentages of sand, silt and clay present

Nutraceutic effect of free condensed tannins of lysiloma acapulcensis (kunth) benth on parasite infection and performance of pelibuey sheep

Abstract Forty-five Pelibuey sheep were experimentally infested with nematodes to evaluate the effect of three free condensed tannin (FCT) levels of Lysiloma acapulcensis on fecal egg counts (FECs), packed cell volumes (PCV), ocular mucosa colors (OMC), average daily gain (ADG), and adult nematode count. Five treatments were used: 12.5, 25.0, and 37.5 mg of FCT kg−1 of body weight (BW); sterile water (control); and ivermectine (0.22 mg kg−1 of BW) as chemical group. The data were processed through repeated measure- ment analysis. Even though the three FCT doses decreased (P < 0.05) the FEC, the highest reduction was obtained with 37.5 mg kg−1 of BW. No differences were observed in PCV and OMC. Higher ADG (P < 0.05) was observed with 37.5 mg kg−1 of BW of FCT. The count of adult nematodes (females and males) in the higher dose of FCT was similar to chemical treatment. Dose of 37.5 mg kg−1 of BW decreased the parasite infection and improved the lamb performance. Therefore, this dose could be used as a nutraceutic product in sheep production.This work was undertaken with funds from the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (Project UAEM 1026/2014RIFC). Our gratitude also goes to the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the grant received by Cesar García Hernández

a cross-sectional study

Objectives We determined the seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Pregnant women were enrolled in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Participants We studied 338 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in 3 public health centres. Primary and secondary outcome measures Women were examined for IgG/IgM antibodies to T. gondii by using commercially available enzyme immunoassays, and an avidity test. Multiple analyses were used to determine the association of T. gondii seropositivity with the characteristics of the pregnant women. Results Of the 338 pregnant women studied, 21 (6.2%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii, and 1 (4.8%) of them was also positive for IgM antibodies to T. gondii. Avidity of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was high in the IgM-positive sample. Logistic regression analysis of sociodemographic, behavioural and housing variables showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with white ethnicity (OR=149.4; 95% CI 10.8 to 2054.1; p<0.01), not washing hands before eating (OR=6.41; 95% CI 1.73 to 23.6; p=0.005) and use of latrine (OR=37.6; 95% CI 4.63 to 306.31; p=0.001). Conclusions Results demonstrate that pregnant women in Aguascalientes City have a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. However, this low prevalence indicates that most pregnant women are at risk for a primary infection. Factors associated with T. gondii exposure found in this study, including food hygiene, may be useful to determine preventive measures against T. gondii infection and its sequelae

Machine learning methods applied to combined Raman and LIBS spectra: Implications for mineral discrimination in planetary missions

Producción CientíficaThe combined analysis of geological targets by complementary spectroscopic techniques could enhance the characterization of the mineral phases found on Mars. This is indeed the case with the SuperCam instrument onboard the Perseverance rover. In this framework, the present study seeks to evaluate and compare multiple machine learning techniques for the characterization of carbonate minerals based on Raman-LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) spectroscopic data. To do so, a Ca-Mg prediction curve was created by mixing hydromagnesite and calcite at different concentration ratios. After their characterization by Raman and LIBS spectroscopy, different multivariable machine learning (Gaussian process regression, support vector machines, ensembles of trees, and artificial neural networks) were used to predict the concentration ratio of each sample from their respective datasets. The results obtained by separately analyzing Raman and LIBS data were then compared to those obtained by combining them. By comparing their performance, this work demonstrates that mineral discrimination based on Gaussian and ensemble methods optimized the combine of Raman-LIBS dataset outperformed those ensured by Raman and LIBS data alone. This demonstrated that the fusion of data combination and machine learning is a promising approach to optimize the analysis of spectroscopic data returned from Mars.Agencia Estatal de Investigación, grant (PID2022-142490OB-C32)Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO),Grant/Award Number (RDE2018-102600-T

Genetic potential of S1 lines derived from native maize populations of Tamaulipas, Mexico

This study is designed to evaluate and select the best S1 maize top cross lines to continue their process of inbreeding. Nineteen top crosses samples were examined from three contrasting environments (two places from Tamaulipas and one place from the Central High Valleys of Mexico) during 2008. These S1 lines were derived from native populations of four ecological zones of Tamaulipas; one tester from the High Valleys was used. Some top crosses had high yield as well as favorable agronomic traits, though these varied between environments. Some had better performance in Northern Tamaulipas, mainly the tropical groups 1 and 2 that are from hot and dry climates. In the High Valleys these groups had lower yields compared with the top crosses groups 3 and 4. Group 1, the top cross of I-C3001-2915-2 with high yield in the Central and Northern Tamaulipas environments (2.4 and 5.8 t ha-1, respectively) was outstanding. In the High Valleys, the top crosses from group 3 (from the Tamaulipas Huasteca, a hot, and humid climate zone) had yields of 7.4 to 8.5 t ha-1 and from group 4, the top cross of IV-C4031-2939-5(C) yielded 8.8 t ha-1. The S1 lines being evaluated show potential for those top crosses with better grain yield and earliness, indicating good combining ability. It has been suggested that the S1 lines are better to continue the inbreeding process, planning test crosses and field assessments in the environments where they had better performance

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Triterpene-Coumarin Conjugates.

A set of 12 maslinic acid-coumarin conjugates was synthesized, with 9 being maslinic acid-diamine-coumarin conjugates at the C-28 carboxylic acid group of triterpene acid and the other three being maslinic acid-coumarin conjugates at C-2/C-3 and/or C-28 of the triterpene skeleton. The cytotoxic effects of these 12 triterpene conjugates were evaluated in three cancer cell lines (B16-F10, HT29, and Hep G2) and compared, respectively, with three nontumor cell lines from the same or similar tissue (HPF, IEC-18, and WRL68). The most potent cytotoxic results were achieved by a conjugate with two molecules of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid coupled through the C-2 and C-3 hydroxy groups of maslinic acid. This conjugate showed submicromolar IC50 values in two of the three cancer cell lines tested (0.6, 1.1, and 0.9 μM), being between 110- and 30-fold more effective than its corresponding precursor. Furthermore, this conjugate (10) showed percentages of cell viability for the three nontumor lines of 90%. Four maslinic acid-coumarin conjugates displayed apoptotic effects in the treated cells, with total apoptosis rates of between 40 and 85%, relative to the control. Almost all the compounds assayed caused cell-cycle arrest in all cancer cell lines, increasing the number of these cells in the G0/G1 phase

Modelo ECR aplicado a la industria láctea Colombiana

273 Páginas.En un mundo globalizado en donde los consumidores tienen poder de decisión, las industrial nacionales e internacionales deben estar preparadas para definir y redefinir sus estrategias acorde a las necesidades cambiantes del mercado, se hace necesario que modelos como ECR “Enfoque Conducta Resultado”, le permita a las industrias analizar sus acciones pasadas, presentes y futuras respecto al comportamiento de sus clientes y competidores, con el objetivo de definir y establecer cuál es la mejor estrategia a elegir. Por lo anterior, el presente trabajo de grado pretende analizar por medio del modelo ECR la industria lechera de Colombia tomando como referencias empresas tales como ALPINA Productos Alimenticios S.A., ALQUERIA S.A. y la Cooperativa Lechera Antioqueña COLANTA LTDA

Improvement on social representation of climate change through a knowledge-based MOOC in spanish

Climate Change is the most important threat to our society and all species on Earth. Large alterations in the climate are affecting every aspect of our society and in order to limit this impact we must decarbonize the economy before 2050. Although science presents solid evidence on the magnitude of the problem and outlines precisely the consequences, people do not act accordingly and do not consider this issue a priority for their survival. The reason behind this paradox might be a non-appropriate Social Representation of Climate Change in society as the Social Representation conditions and forms the response of the society. In this paper, we extend previous investigations of how this Social Representation is formed in order to find ways to improve it through a Massive Online Open Course on the Science of Climate Change. Using a validated questionnaire, we investigated the knowledge dimension of the Social Representation of Climate Change in a group of students of a MOOC on Climate Change. A pre- and posttest revealed general improvements in all the categories that were considered in this study. A detailed analysis showed different degrees of improvement for different groups, providing new insights in the efficiency of knowledge-based online courses. Well designed Massive Online Open Courses, based on scientific evidence, targeted to the general public might improve the Social Representation of Climate Change, which may in turn trigger awareness and an effective mobilization to address this important and urgent topicThis research was funded by the project 2017/00287/001 of the Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (España)S