GPU-accelerated Parallel Solutions to the Quadratic Assignment Problem

The Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) is an important combinatorial optimization problem with applications in many areas including logistics and manufacturing. QAP is known to be NP-hard, a computationally challenging problem, which requires the use of sophisticated heuristics in finding acceptable solutions for most real-world data sets. In this paper, we present GPU-accelerated implementations of a 2opt and a tabu search algorithm for solving the QAP. For both algorithms, we extract parallelism at multiple levels and implement novel code optimization techniques that fully utilize the GPU hardware. On a series of experiments on the well-known QAPLIB data sets, our solutions, on average run an order-of-magnitude faster than previous implementations and deliver up to a factor of 63 speedup on specific instances. The quality of the solutions produced by our implementations of 2opt and tabu is within 1.03% and 0.15% of the best known values. The experimental results also provide key insight into the performance characteristics of accelerated QAP solvers. In particular, the results reveal that both algorithmic choice and the shape of the input data sets are key factors in finding efficient implementations.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figures; parts of this work appeared as short papers in XSEDE14 and XSEDE15 conferences. This version of the paper is a substantial extension of previous work with optimizations for newer GPU platforms and extended experimental result

Método para la recolección, procesamiento y análisis de la información para la aplicación de principios para la educación responsable en gestión

147 páginasLa Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) lanzo hace más de diez años los PRME (Principios responsables en educación en gestión), para liderar una formación responsable en el área gerencial. Actualmente, cerca de 700 escuelas de negocios en 80 países han adherido a estos principios, pero el universo es muy grande (más de 13 mil instituciones) por lo que hay una tarea importante que realizar para integrar valores universales a sus programas y así convertir a las empresas en un agente al servicio del beneficio mundial. Este trabajo propone un método basado en la gestión del conocimiento, que de una manera simple busca recoger información de las actividades que ya desarrollan las escuelas en temas relacionados con Responsabilidad Social Empresarial y Sostenibilidad, definirlas a partir de los principios y así facilitar el camino para la presentación del primer reporte de progreso. De igual forma permite dejar una hoja de ruta sobre los procesos de mejoramiento a realizar en sus actividades de docencia, investigación y extensión, y lograr una formación responsable para sus estudiantes con el fin de afectar positivamente, desde la base, los procesos empresariales del futuro para que estén alineados con los retos de la sostenibilidad.The United Nations (UN) launched more than ten years ago PRME (Principles responsible in management education), to lead responsible training in the management area. Currently, around 700 business schools in 80 countries have adhered to these principles, but the universe is very large (more than 13 thousand institutions) therefore is an important task to realize to integrate universal values into their programs and thus convert the companies in an agent to the service of the world benefit. This work proposes a method based on knowledge management, which in a simple way seeks to gather information on the activities already carried out by schools on issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, to define them based on principles and thus to facilitate the way for the presentation of the first progress report. Likewise, it allows to leave a roadmap on the improvement processes to be carried out in its teaching, research and extension activities, and to achieve a responsible formation for its students in order to positively affect, from the base, the business processes of the future so that they are aligned with the challenges of sustainability.Magíster en Responsabilidad Social y SostenibilidadMaestrí

Vulnerabilidad de la información, en el internet de las cosas

Introduction: This article is a product of the review of the "Vulnerability of information, on the Internet of Things", developed from the Juan de Castellanos University Foundation in 2021. Methods: Review of articles and relevant literature on the exposure of information and some vulnerabilities in devices that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Results: Information, as one of the most valuable assets, is essential, which is why it is important to have technology, devices that are part of the IoT, despite vulnerabilities. Conclusions: Keeping information secure has become a challenge, because it is one of the most important assets of any organization. Its manipulation requires many actors and involves many factors, making it is difficult to control and protect. The constant emergence of technology and their applications in various fields, along with their relative ease of use and smaller sizes, have made significant inroads possible; we must accept that they are a part of the IoT. Originality: In the bibliographic review of the information, which results from the use of technology, how the IoT is vulnerable and even more so when it is configured with the Internet. Limitation: Technology is becoming more and more dependent on it, despite the vulnerabilities of IoT devices and the Internet.Introducción: el presente artículo es producto de la investigación “Vulnerabilidad de la Información, en el internet de las cosas desarrollada  en la Fundación Universitaria Juan de Castellanos, 2021. Métodos: Revisión de artículos y literatura relevante, sobre la exposición de la información y algunas vulnerabilidades en los dispositivos que hacen parte del IoT. Resultados: La información, como uno de los activos más valiosos, es fundamental, por lo cual es importante contar con tecnología, dispositivos que hacen parte del internet de las cosas, no obstante de las vulnerabilidades. Conclusiones: Keeping information secure has become a challenge, because it is one of the most important assets of any organization, and in its manipulation take part many actors and factors, therefore it is difficult to control and protect, among many reasons. The constant emergence of technology and its applications, in various fields, which due to its ease of use of a large number of electronic instruments, and its smaller size, have made significant inroads, since by being connected to the global network you can overtake countless specific tasks, thus they have become part of the IoT. Originalidad: En la revisión bibliográfica de la información, que resulta por la utilización de la tecnología, como el internet de las cosas se expone y más aún cuando se configure con Internet. Limitaciones: La tecnología es cada vez mayor llegando a depender de ella, no obstante de las vulnerabilidades de los dispositivos IoT y del internet

La difusión cultural de los archivos histórico nacionales de Latinoamérica en Internet.

Los archivos históricos nacionales son instituciones que se encargan de conservar, custodiar, organizar y difundir el patrimonio cultural de un país. La función de difusión busca poner a disposición de todos los ciudadanos el patrimonio y los servicios que el archivo ofrece. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar y comparar cómo los archivos históricos nacionales latinoamericanos usan internet para cumplir la función de difusión cultural. Método: tras una identificación de las actividades culturales de los archivos mediante un estudio bibliográfico, se describe y analiza la estructura, los servicios y las actividades culturales expuestas en las sedes web y el perfil en las redes sociales en las que están presentes los archivos nacionales de los veinte países latinoamericanos, tomando como caso de estudio el mes de abril de 2020. Resultados: Los resultados muestran como los archivos, en general, muestran la misma información en sus sedes web, a diferencia de los servicios y actividades culturales que son muy diferentes de un archivo a otro; en cuanto a las redes sociales destacan Argentina, Brasil y México como los que más interacción muestran, a diferencia de países como Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panamá, Uruguay y Venezuela. Conclusiones: Se concluye que, aunque hay algunos países que todavía no tienen página web ni perfil en redes sociales, cada vez son más los archivos históricos nacionales latinoamericanos que hacen uso de Internet para la difusión cultural.<br /

La tecnología y el fraude bancario

Technology plays a major role in the development of the economy of a country and in general in organizations. It is known that it is used in the massive media, the Internet, known by society, which favors all, in this case banking, which allows its users facilities as the constant development of technology and easy setup supports, and also neglecting safety. In addition to the vulnerabilities in the configuration, technology, humans, applications, platforms, among others; exploited by Cybercriminals organizations operating at an international level, causing incalculable losses to the banking system, the worrying thing is that is growing. However, some banks are required to meet minimum safety standards, there will always be risks, in this way it won´t be possible to achieve information security one hundred percent.La tecnología juega un papel trascendental en el desarrollo de la economía de un país y en general de las organizaciones. Para darse a conocer utiliza los medios masivos de comunicación, el Internet, conocido por la sociedad, lo cual favorece a todos, en este caso a la banca, que permite a sus usuarios facilidades, por cuanto la constante aparición de tecnología y fácil configuración así lo admite, descuidando la seguridad. Además de las vulnerabilidades en la configuración, la tecnología, el ser humano, las aplicaciones, las plataformas, entre otras; aprovechadas por organizaciones de Ciberdelincuentes que operan a nivel Internacional, produciendo pérdidas incalculables al sistema bancario, lo preocupante es que va en crecimiento. No obstante, a pesar de que algunas entidades bancarias están obligadas a cumplir la norma de los estándares mínimos de seguridad, siempre habrá riesgos, así nunca se podrá lograr la seguridad de la información en un ciento por ciento

Histamine and immune biomarkers in CNS disorders

La desregulación neuroinmune es un fenómeno común en diferentes formas de trastornos del sistema nervioso central (SNC). Los enlaces cruzados entre los mecanismos inmunitarios centrales y periféricos parecen estar interrumpidos, como se refleja en una serie de marcadores inmunitarios (CD3, CD4, CD7, HLA-DR, CD25, CD28 y CD56) que muestran variabilidad en trastornos cerebrales como ansiedad, depresión , psicosis, accidente cerebrovascular, enfermedad de Alzheimer, enfermedad de Parkinson, trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad, migraña, epilepsia, demencia vascular, retraso mental, encefalopatía cerebrovascular, esclerosis múltiple, tumores cerebrales, neuropatías del nervio craneal, retraso mental y lesión cerebral postraumática. La histamina (HA) es una monoamina pleiotrópica involucrada en varias funciones neurofisiológicas, regulación neuroinmune y patogénesis del SNC. Los cambios en la HA cerebral muestran un patrón relacionado con la edad y el sexo, y las alteraciones en los niveles de HA cerebral están presentes en diferentes regiones del SNC de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA). La HA cerebral en los compartimentos neuronales y no neuronales desempeña una doble función (neurotrófica versus neurotóxica) de una manera específica del tejido. Los mecanismos patógenos asociados con la desregulación neuroinmune en la AD involucran HA, interleucina-1β , y TNF- α , cuya expresión aberrante contribuye a la neuroinflamación como factor agravante para la neurodegeneración y la muerte neuronal prematura

Perception and knowledge of the effect of climate change on infectious diseases within the general public: A multinational cross-sectional survey-based study

Infectious diseases are emerging and re-emerging due to climate change. Understanding how climate variability affects the transmission of infectious diseases is important for both researchers and the general public. Yet, the widespread knowledge of the general public on this matter is unknown, and quantitative research is still lacking. A survey was designed to assess the knowledge and perception of 1) infectious diseases, 2) climate change and 3) the effect of climate change on infectious diseases. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling, and an anonymous cross-sectional survey with informed consent was distributed to each participant. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed primarily focusing on the occupational background as well as nationality of participants. A total of 458 individuals participated in this study, and most participants were originally from Myanmar, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. Almost half (44%) had a background in natural sciences and had a higher level of knowledge on infectious diseases compared to participants with non-science background (mean score of 12.5 and 11.2 out of 20, respectively). The knowledge of the effect of climate change on infectious diseases was also significantly different between participants with and without a background in natural sciences (13.1 and 11.8 out of 20, respectively). The level of knowledge on various topics was highly correlated with nationality but not associated with age. The general population demonstrated a high awareness and strong knowledge of climate change regardless of their background in natural sciences. This study exposes a knowledge gap in the general public regarding the effect of climate change on infectious diseases, and highlights that different levels of knowledge are observed in groups with differing occupations and nationalities. These results may help to develop awareness interventions for the general public

Hydroxychloroquine is associated with a lower risk of polyautoimmunity: data from the RELESSER Registry

Objectives. This article estimates the frequency of polyautoimmunity and associated factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with SLE. Methods. RELESSER (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry) is a nationwide multicentre, hospital-based registry of SLE patients. This is a cross-sectional study. The main variable was polyautoimmunity, which was defined as the co-occurrence of SLE and another autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, RA, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy and MCTD. We also recorded the presence of multiple autoimmune syndrome, secondary SS, secondary APS and a family history of autoimmune disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible risk factors for polyautoimmunity. Results. Of the 3679 patients who fulfilled the criteria for SLE, 502 (13.6%) had polyautoimmunity. The most frequent types were autoimmune thyroiditis (7.9%), other systemic autoimmune diseases (6.2%), secondary SS (14.1%) and secondary APS (13.7%). Multiple autoimmune syndrome accounted for 10.2% of all cases of polyautoimmunity. A family history was recorded in 11.8%. According to the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with polyautoimmunity were female sex [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.72 (1.07, 2.72)], RP [1.63 (1.29, 2.05)], interstitial lung disease [3.35 (1.84, 6.01)], Jaccoud arthropathy [1.92 (1.40, 2.63)], anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies [2.03 (1.55, 2.67)], anti-RNP antibodies [1.48 (1.16, 1.90)], MTX [1.67 (1.26, 2.18)] and antimalarial drugs [0.50 (0.38, 0.67)]. Conclusion. Patients with SLE frequently present polyautoimmunity. We observed clinical and analytical characteristics associated with polyautoimmunity. Our finding that antimalarial drugs protected against polyautoimmunity should be verified in future studies