Towards an Approach for Applying Early Testing to Smart Contracts

Immutability -  the ability for a Blockchain (BC) Ledger to remain an unalterable, permanent and indelible history of transactions - is a feature that is highlighted as a key benefit of BC. This ability is very important when several companies work collaboratively to achieve common objectives. This collaboration is usually represented by using business process models. BC is considered as a suitable technology to reduce the complexity of designing these collaborative processes using Smart Contracts. This paper discusses how to combine Model-based Software Development, modelling techniques, such as use cases models and activity diagram models based on Unified Model Languages (UML) in order to simplify and improve the modelling, management and execution of collaborative business processes between multiple companies in the BC network. This paper includes the neccessity of using transformation protocols to obtain Smart Contract code. In addition, it presents systematic mechanisms to evaluate and validate Smart Contract, applying early testing techniques, before deploying the Smart Contract code in the BC network.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2016-76956-C3-2-R (POLOLAS

A Framework to Evaluate Software Developer’s Productivity The VALORTIA Project

Currently, there is a lack in companies developing software in relation to assessing their staff’s productivity before executing software projects, with the aim of improving effectiveness and efficiency. QuEF (Quality Evaluation Framework) is a framework that allows defining quality management tasks based on a model. The main purpose of this framework is twofold: improve an entity’s continuous quality, and given a context, decide between a set of entity’s instances on the most appropriate one. Thus, the aim of this paper is to make this framework available to evaluate productivity of professionals along software development and select the most appropriate experts to implement the suggested project. For this goal, Valortia platform, capable of carrying out this task by following the QuEF framework guidelines, is designed. Valortia is a platform to certify users' knowledge on a specific area and centralize all certification management in its model by means of providing protocols and methods for a suitable management, improving efficiency and effectiveness, reducing cost and ensuring continuous quality.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2013-46928-C3-3-

Quality of life in patients subjected to bariatric surgery

Objective: To determine the perception of quality of life in patients with type I obesity and metabolic disorder and types II and III, six months after having bariatric surgery at Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo University Hospital from September 2011 to March 2015. Method: Quasi-experimental research, clinical series and before-and-after studies. Central tendency measures, dispersion and comparison of before-and-after averages were calculated. Results: It is apparent that patients who were treated with bariatric surgery have improved their perception of quality of life, demonstrated by an improvement in mental and physical health according to the SF 36 quality of life scale. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery positively affects the quality of life of patients with a body mass index classified as type I obesity with metabolic disorder and types II and III in the medium term

Sistema de planeación, programación y control de la producción en la empresa R & R plásticos S.A.S.

RESUMEN En el presente trabajo se muestra el desarrollo del proyecto SISTEMA DE PLANEACIÓN, PROGRAMACIÓN Y CONTROL DE LA PRODUCCIÓN EN LA EMPRESA R & R PLÁSTICOS S.A.S, que tiene como finalidad ofrecer una alternativa para optimizar la producción en la empresa y a su vez dar solución a las fallas generadas por la falta de planeación de la producción. Se realizó el diagnóstico de la empresa mediante observación, encuestas, entrevistas y listas de chequeo. Con esto se caracterizó las variables y parámetros que alimentarían el sistema de planeación, programación y control de la producción. Herramientas como los pronósticos, estudios de tiempos, capacidad de planta, plan agregado, entre otras más, fueron claves para el desarrollo del sistema. Por medio de los indicadores de gestión se validó el proyecto y junto a la evaluación financiera se comprobó la viabilidad del proyecto.The present work shows the developed project of “SISTEMA DE PLANEACIÓN, PROGRAMACIÓN Y CONTROL DE LA PRODUCCIÓN EN LA EMPRESA R & R PLÁSTICOS S.A.S”, which offer an alternative to optimize production in the company and in turn solve faults generated by a lack of production planning. Company diagnosis through observation, surveys, interviews and checklists was performed. With this might characterize the variables and parameters that would feed system planning, scheduling and production control. Tools such as forecasting, time studies, plant capacity, added plan, among others, were key to the development of the system. Through management indicators could validate the system and with the financial evaluation project feasibility was checked.Universidad Libre de Colombia - Facultad de ingeniería - Ingeniería Industria

Coherence length of a tea CO2 laser determination

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la determinación de la longitud de coherencia de un láser de CO2 TEA desarrollado en el CEILAP. Para ello se armó un interferómetro de Michelson de cerca de 5 metros de diferencia de longitud de camino óptico. En una de las ramas del interferómetro se colocó una unidad de traslación motorizada a fin de variar la longitud de camino óptico en varias longitudes de onda mientras que la otra rama se varió manualmente de a pasos de varias decenas de centímetros. Mediante filtrado espacial intracavidad se llevó al láser a operar en el régimen monomodo transversal. A partir del análisis de los datos utilizando un novedoso método estocástico se pudieron determinar la cantidad de modos longitudinales, la amplitud y la coherencia individual promedio de cada uno y la longitud de coherencia global del láser.In this work the results of the measurement of the coherence length of a TEA CO2 laser developed in CEILAP are presented. A Michelson interferometer of about 5 m of optical path length difference was assembled for this purpose. A motorized translation unit was placed in one arm in order to enable the variation of the optical path length in many wavelengths. The length of the other arm was varied manually in steps of several tens of centimeters. The laser was made to work in the transversal monomode regime by spatial filtering. From the data analysis with an innovative stochastic method the amount of longitudinal modes, the amplitude and the individual average coherence of each mode as well as the global coherence length of the laser were determined.Fil: Codnia, Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Nicolás Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez Azcárate, Maria Lia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; Argentin

Neurofeedback training with a motor imagery-based BCI: neurocognitive improvements and EEG changes in the elderly

Producción CientíficaNeurofeedback training (NFT) has shown to be promising and useful to rehabilitate cognitive functions. Recently, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) were used to restore brain plasticity by inducing brain activity with a NFT. In our study, we hypothesized that a NFT with a motor imagery-based BCI (MI-BCI) could enhance cognitive functions related to aging effects. To assess the effectiveness of our MI-BCI application, 63 subjects (older than 60 years) were recruited. This novel application was used by 31 subjects (NFT group). Their Luria neuropsychological test scores were compared with the remaining 32 subjects, who did not perform NFT (control group). Electroencephalogram (EEG) changes measured by relative power (RP) endorsed cognitive potential findings under study: visuospatial, oral language, memory, intellectual and attention functions. Three frequency bands were selected to assess cognitive changes: 12, 18, and 21 Hz (bandwidth 3 Hz). Significant increases (p<0.01) in the RP of these frequency bands were found. Moreover, results from cognitive tests showed significant improvements (p<0.01) in four cognitive functions after performing five NFT sessions: visuospatial, oral language, memory, and intellectual. This established evidence in the association between NFT performed by a MI-BCI and enhanced cognitive performance. Therefore, it could be a novel approach to help elderly people.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (TEC2014-53196)Junta de Castilla y León (VA059U13

Chemical composition of PM10 at a rural site in the western Mediterranean and its relationship with the oxidative potential

A comprehensive chemical characterization (water-soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon, water- and methanol-soluble organic carbon, levoglucosan, and major and trace metals) of PM10 samples collected in a rural area located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula was performed. Additionally, the oxidative potential of the samples, used as an indicator of aerosol toxicity, was determined by the ascorbic acid (OPAA) and dithiothreitol (OPDTT) assays. The average concentration of PM10 during the study period, spanning from late winter to early spring, was 20.2 ± 10.8 μg m 3. Nitrate, carbonate and calcium (accounting for 20% of the average PM10 mass concentration) and organic matter (with a contribution of 28%) were the main chemical components of PM10. Average concentrations of traffic tracers such as elemental carbon, copper and zinc (0.31 μg m 3, 3 ng m 3, and 9 ng m 3, respectively) were low compared with those obtained at an urban site in the same region, due to the almost total absence of traffic in the surrounding of the sampling site. Regarding levoglucosan and K+, which can be considered as tracers of biomass burning, their concentrations (0.12 μg m 3 and 55 ng m 3, respectively) were in the lower range of values reported for other rural areas in Europe, suggesting a moderate contribution form this source to PM10 levels. The results of the Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that volume-normalised OPAA and OPDTT levels (average values of 0.11 and 0.32 nmol min 1 m 3, respectively) were sensitive to different PM10 chemical components. Whereas OPAA was not strongly correlated with any of the species measured, good correlation coefficients of OPDTT with water-soluble organic carbon (r = 0.81) and K+ (r = 0.73) were obtained, which points to biomass burning as an important driver of the DTT activity

The current limitations of blockchain traceability: challenges from industry

Blockchain technology is a chain of cryptographically linked blocks. It was designed to be immutable, so that the identity and traceability of the information entered would be guaranteed. After analyzing several traceability solutions, in the context of a Spanish company project, it was found that in order for a traceability solution to be efficient and agile, an additional layer is necessary in the blockchain. Since this need originated in the industrial sector, the subject has awakened considerable interest in the research community. This paper explains why the extra layer is essential and why it should ideally be totally independent of the information that is recorded on the blockchain network. Although data in a blockchain network is immutable, the paper also outlines the need for additional verification mechanisms capable of determining whether the raw data was correct. Finally, it includes planned future work.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades PID2019-105455GB-C31Junta de Andalucía CEI-12-TIC02

Percepción del estrés en los estudiantes de Enfermería ante sus prácticas clínicas

Objective: This research aims to establish what the Nursing students’ main stress sources are during their practice period, according to their gender, grade and age. Methodology. It is a descriptive transversal study. The sample was composed by 45 Nursing students, 30 women and 15 men, at the University of Murcia in 2010/2011. The information gathering tool was KEZKAK questionnaire. Results. The ignorance facing a determined clinical situation and the risk of damaging the patient are the Nursing students’ two main stress sources. Men often suffer from a bigger stress than women; nevertheless, as well as the age increases and the students pass grades, the stress level is smaller. Conclusions. Nursing students’ stress determines their formation within their clinical practices period. Thus, it is necessary that the theoretical learning that supports these practices considers theses needs that own Nursing students require.OBJETIVO. Esta investigación pretende conocer cuáles son las principales fuentes de estrés durante el periodo de prácticas de los estudiantes de Enfermería de la Universidad de Murcia en función de su sexo, curso y edad. METODOLOGÍA. Se trata de un estudio transversal de corte descriptiva. La muestra estuvo compuesta por un total de 45 alumnos, 30 mujeres y 15 hombres, de Enfermería de la Universidad de Murcia del curso académico 2010/2011. El instrumento de recogida de la información fue cuestionario KEKZAK. RESULTADOS. El desconocimiento ante una determinada situación clínica y el riesgo de dañar al paciente son las dos principales fuentes estresoras para los estudiantes de enfermería. Los hombres suelen sufrir un mayor estrés que sus compañeras; no obstante, a medida que aumenta la edad y se avanza de curso el grado de estrés es cada vez menor. CONCLUSIONES. El estrés de los estudiantes de enfermería marca su formación durante el período de prácticas clínicas. Por tanto, se hace necesario que el aprendizaje teórico que sustenta a las prácticas atienda a estas necesidades que los propios estudiantes de enfermería demandan