Innovación aplicada a la producción de contenidos transmedia en publicidad Luis Piquer

Artículo para la sección Tribuna de adComunica

Price caps, efficiency payoffs, and infrastructure contract renegotiation in Latin America

Twenty years ago, as the United Kingdom was getting ready to launch the privatization of its public services, Professor Littlechild developed and operationalized the concept of price caps as a regulatory regime to control for residual monopoly conditions in those services. Ten years later, Latin American countries, as they embarked into their own infrastructure reforms, also adopted the price cap regulatory model. Relying on a large data base on the factors driving contract renegotiation in the region and a survey of the literature on efficiency gains, the authors assess the impact of this regulatory regime in Latin America. They show that while the expected efficiency gains were amply achieved, these gains were seldom passed on to the users. Instead they were shared by the government and the firms. Moreover, the adoption of price caps implied higher costs of capital and hence, tariffs, and brought down levels of investment.International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Decentralization,Labor Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Water Supply and Sanitation Participation,Community Participation in Water Supply and Sanitation

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MODEL FOR DIRECTORS OF RESEARCH CENTERS IN MEXICO

The objective of this article is to show the results of IE-Martruj, a model designed for measuring emotional intelligence in directors of research centers (RCs), which was appliedto forty-three directors of research centers in Mexico. The validation model and reliability tests are described in detail, as well as the mathematical formulae used. As a general conclusion of this research, we show that: The model studied is an adequate instrument for the task proposed, and that the Emotional intelligence (EI) of directors of RCs is positively associated with: motivation, self-assessment, self-regulation, empathy and social skills. Also, the following hypotheses were tested with positive results:H1 - Motivation, initiative, optimism and involvement are conditions positively correlated with the effectiveness of directors of RCs.H2 - Self knowledge, emotional awareness, precise self evaluation and self awareness are positively correlated with each other, and are essential parts of intrapersonal intelligence.H3 - Self-regulation, self control, adaptability and self awareness are positively correlated with each other, and are also part of intrapersonal intelligence.H4 - Empathy, comprehension of others, development of subordinates´ skills, readiness to serve, capacity to manage diversity, and political coherence exhibited by an RC directorare positively correlated with each other, and are part of interpersonal intelligence.H5 - Social skills exhibited by directors, that are also part of interpersonal intelligence, allow a director to exert a greater influence on the working group, facilitating communication,conflict management, leadership, collaboration, cooperation and development of team skills.Emotional intelligence, Interpersonalintelligence, Intrapersonalintelligence, Models of intelligence,Assessment of intelligence, Researchcenters.

PLLA/ZnO nanocomposites: dynamic surfaces to harness cell differentiation

This work investigates the effect of the sequential availability of ZnO nanoparticles, (nanorods of ∼40 nm) loaded within a degradable poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix, in cell differentiation. The system constitutes a dynamic surface, in which nanoparticles are exposed as the polymer matrix degrades. ZnO nanoparticles were loaded into PLLA and the system was measured at different time points to characterise the time evolution of the physicochemical properties, including wettability and thermal properties. The micro and nanostructure were also investigated using AFM, SEM and TEM images. Cellular experiments with C2C12 myoblasts show that cell differentiation was significantly enhanced on ZnO nanoparticles—loaded PLLA, as the polymer degrades and the availability of nanoparticles become more apparent, whereas the release of zinc within the culture medium was negligible. Our results suggest PLLA/ZnO nanocomposites can be used as a dynamic system where nanoparticles are exposed during degradation, activating the material surface and driving cell differentiation

Propuesta de conservación del pepino cohombro (Cucumis Sativus L) utilizando diferentes métodos que eviten su deterioro

El pepino se encuentra dentro de la categoría de “frutas y hortalizas frescas” las cuales son reconocidas por ser productos perecibles por su tendencia deteriorarse rápidamente, esto conlleva a grandes pérdidas poscosecha en todo el proceso, es decir, durante la cosecha, después durante el acopio y distribución y finalmente cuando el consumidor compra y utiliza el producto. Según datos del Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP) de este año, en Colombia anualmente las pérdidas y desperdicio de los alimentos alcanza el 34% y de este total el 19,8% corresponde a desperdicio y pérdidas poscosecha y almacenamiento. La Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la alimentación y la agricultura – FAO, ha declarado a Colombia dentro de los siete países como potenciales despensas de comida para el mundo. Por ello es un gran reto para Colombia, primero disminuir sus índices de desnutrición y disminuir las pérdidas poscosecha

Multidimensionality and renegotiation : evidence from transport-sector public-private-partnership transactions in Latin America

Multidimensional auctions are a natural and practical solution when auctioneers pursue more than one objective in their public-private-partnership transactions. However, it is difficult to achieve auction efficiency with multiple award criteria. Using auction data from road and railway concessions in Latin America, the probability of renegotiation this paper estimates by a two-stage least squares technique with a binary selection in the first-stage regression. The findings show that auctioneers tend to adopt the multidimensional format when the need for social considerations, such as alleviation of unemployment, is high. This implies that such political considerations could hinder efficiency and transparency in auctions. The analysis also shows that the renegotiation risk in infrastructure concessions increases when multidimensional auctions are used. Rather, good governance, particularly anti-corruption policies, can mitigate the renegotiation problem.Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Debt Markets,Infrastructure Economics,E-Business,Emerging Markets

NeuroArquitectura: nuevas métricas para el diseño arquitectónico a través del uso de neurotecnologías

Tesis por compendio[ES] La dependencia del entorno lleva a adaptar el espacio a las necesidades. En este sentido, desde que la arquitectura apareciese se han producido sucesivos actos de ordenación del espacio. El resultado es el espacio construido actual. De forma que, al igual que el entorno natural, la arquitectura también tiene importantes efectos en el ser humano. Estos efectos se han abordado a través de diferentes esfuerzos teóricos y prácticos, recibiendo más atención aquellas cuestiones más susceptibles de ser objetivadas. Así, existe un amplio bagaje sobre variados aspectos constructivos que han cristalizado en estándares y normas técnicas. Sin embargo, no son los únicos efectos. También son críticas las cuestiones relacionadas con los efectos sobre el procesamiento y valoración de la información (cognición), y las consecuentes reacciones adaptativas (emoción). Que haya sido sistemáticamente más difícil de estudiar, ha dado lugar a un menor recorrido al respecto. La consciencia sobre esta necesidad, no obstante, no es algo nuevo. La idea de que la dimensión cognitivo-emocional también pueda y deba ser apoyada desde el diseño arquitectónico ha sido foco de reflexiones e investigaciones. Entre ellas, desde: la geometría, la fenomenología del espacio, la geografía de la experiencia, la filosofía, y la psicología; cada una con sus metodologías, de carácter cuantitativo o cualitativo. De alguna forma, estas aproximaciones "tradicionales" se han ido encadenando y combinando para resolver algunos de sus condicionantes específicos. Dilatadamente desarrolladas, ofrecen un cuerpo experimentado para estudiar la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura. Sin embargo, las aproximaciones tradicionales suelen contar con limitaciones derivadas fundamentalmente de dos asuntos: 1) los estímulos presentados; y 2) las evaluaciones empleadas. Por un lado, los estímulos habitualmente empleados son fotografías y vídeos; formatos que carecen de interactividad. Este empobrecimiento de la experiencia puede ser crítico; al diferir la simulación ambiental de la realidad, los resultados también podrían estar distorsionados. Por otro lado, las evaluaciones usualmente se basan en el auto-reporte; sistemas de evaluación que son propensos al sesgo, ya que sólo registran aspectos conscientes de la respuesta humana. Así, la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura requiere ser abarcada desde diferentes perspectivas. La interrelación entre metodologías, especialmente entre las cuantitativas y las cualitativas, puede suponer un avance significativo. De manera más reciente, han surgido nuevas herramientas para aproximarse a la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura. Estas, hasta cierto punto, superan las limitaciones descritas. Lo hacen a través de la incorporación de: 1) estímulos más similares a los espacios reales representados; y 2) evaluaciones más objetivas de la respuesta humana. Así, por un lado, en la actualidad existen formatos para la representación de entornos de manera realista. Por otro lado, la neurociencia y sus tecnologías aplicadas permiten registrar e interpretar las reacciones neurológicas. Sin embargo, sus potenciales no han sido suficientemente explorados en este ámbito de estudio. El objetivo de la presente Tesis Doctoral es contribuir en la investigación y diseño de la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura, a nivel teórico y práctico. A nivel teórico implicó una revisión bibliográfica, contextualizada y crítica, sobre el estudio cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura desde una perspectiva amplia, considerando el conjunto de aproximaciones: las tradicionales (o base) y las nuevas. Asimismo, también se abordaron ambas aproximaciones a nivel práctico. En cuanto a las tradicionales, la finalidad fue explorar los beneficios de combinar las metodologías cuantitativas y cualitativas más usualmente empleadas. En cuanto a las nuevas, la finalidad fue validar el uso de los actuales sistemas de simulación ambiental y examinar su uso combinado con los sistemas de registro neurofisiológico.[CA] La dependència de l'entorn porta a adaptar l'espai a les necessitats. En aquest sentit, des que l'arquitectura apareguera s'han produït successius actes d'ordenació de l'espai. El resultat és l'espai construït actual. De manera que, igual que l'entorn natural, l'arquitectura també té importants efectes en l'ésser humà. Aquests efectes s'han abordat a través de diferents esforços teòrics i pràctics, rebent més atenció aquelles qüestions més susceptibles de ser objectivades. Així, existeix un ampli bagatge sobre diversos aspectes constructius que han cristal·litzat en estàndards i normes tècniques. No obstant això, no són els únics efectes que té i deu resoldre l'arquitectura. També són crítiques les qüestions relacionades amb els efectes sobre el processament i valoració de la informació (cognició), i les conseqüents reaccions adaptatives (emoció). Que haja sigut sistemàticament més difícil d'estudiar, ha donat lloc a un menor recorregut sobre aquest tema. La consciència sobre aquesta necessitat, no obstant, no és ninguna novetat. La idea que la dimensió cognitiu-emocional també puga i dega ser secundada des del disseny arquitectònic ha sigut focus de reflexions i investigacions. Entre elles, desde de: la geometria, la fenomenologia de l'espai, la geografia de l'experiència, la filosofia i la psicologia; cadascuna amb les seues metodologies, de caràcter quantitatiu o qualitatiu. D'alguna forma, aquestes aproximacions "tradicionals" o "base" s'han anat encadenant i combinant per a resoldre alguns dels seus condicionants específics. Dilatadament desenvolupades, ofereixen un cos experimentat per a estudiar la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura. No obstant això, les aproximacions tradicionals solen comptar amb limitacions derivades -fonamentalment- de dos assumptes: 1) els estímuls presentats; i 2) les avaluacions emprades. D'una banda, els estímuls habitualment emprats són fotografies i vídeos; formats que manquen d'interactivitat. Aquest empobriment de l'experiència pot ser crític, ja que si la simulació ambiental difereix de la realitat, els resultats també podrien estar distorsionats. D'altra banda, les avaluacions usualment es basen en l'auto-report; sistemes d'avaluació que són propensos al biaix, ja que només registren aspectes conscients de la resposta humana. La dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura requereix ser abordada des de diferents perspectives. Així, la interrelació entre metodologies, especialment entre les quantitatives i les qualitatives, pot suposar un avanç significatiu. D'una manera més recent, han sorgit noves eines per a aproximar-se a la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura. Aquestes, fins a un cert punt, superen les limitacions descrites. Ho fan a través de la incorporació de: 1) estímuls més similars als espais reals representats; i 2) avaluacions més objectives de la resposta humana. Així, d'una banda, en l'actualitat existeixen formats per a la representació d'entorns de manera realista. D'altra banda, la neurociència i les seues tecnologies aplicades permeten registrar i interpretar les reaccions neurològiques. No obstant això, els seus potencials no han sigut prou explorats en aquest àmbit d'estudi. L’objectiu de la present Tesi Doctoral és contribuir en la investigació i disseny de la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l’arquitectura, a nivell teòric i pràctic. A nivell teòric va implicar una revisió bibliogràfica, contextualitzada i crítica, sobre l’estudi cognitiu-emocional de l’arquitectura des d’una perspectiva àmplia, considerant el conjunt d’aproximacions: les tradicionals (o base) i les noves. Així mateix, també es van abordar ambdues aproximacions a nivell pràctic. Quant a les tradicionals, la finalitat va ser explorar els beneficis de combinar les metodologies quantitatives i qualitatives més usualment emprades. Quant a les noves, la finalitat va ser validar l’ús dels actuals sistemes de simulació ambiental i examinar el seu ús combinat amb els sistemes de registre neurofisiològic.[EN] Dependence on the environment leads to the adaptation of space to needs. Since the advent of architecture, successive space management activities have taken place. The result is the built environment, our greatest artifact. Like the natural environment, architecture has important effects on humans. These effects have been addressed by different theoretical and practical approaches, with most attention being paid to issues more likely to be objectified. Thus, there exists extensive background on various aspects of construction that have crystallised into technical standards and regulations. However, these are not the only effects that architecture must address. Architectural design triggers brain activation, which raises critical questions about its effects on the processing and assessment of information (cognition) and consequent adaptive reactions (emotion). The fact that the effects of cognition and emotion are systematically difficult to study means that there has been less research in this area. The awareness of the need for more research, however, is not new. The idea that the cognitive-emotional dimension can and should be supported by architectural design has been the focus of earlier thinking and research. The issue has not always been approached from a solely architectural perspective. Among these are geometry, the phenomenology of space, geographical experience, philosophy, and psychology. Each approach has its methodologies, quantitative or qualitative in nature. In various ways, these "traditional" or "base" approaches have been combined to address some of their specific determinants. These approaches offer a developed base from which to study the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture. However, traditional approaches often have limitations arising, fundamentally, from two issues: (1) the stimuli presented; and (2) the evaluations employed. On the one hand, the stimuli most commonly presented are photographs and videos, formats that lack interactivity. This experiential impoverishment can be critical, as the more that an environmental simulation differs from reality, the greater the chance that any results obtained will be distorted. On the other hand, evaluations are usually based on self-reports, which are prone to bias as they record only conscious human responses. The cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture needs to be approached from different perspectives. Thus, the combination of methodologies, especially the quantitative and qualitative, can provide a significant step forward. In recent times new tools have emerged to address the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture. These, to some extent, overcome the above-mentioned limitations. They do so by incorporating: 1) stimuli more similar to the actual spaces represented; and 2) more objective assessments of human responses. On the one hand, formats now exist that can present environments realistically. On the other hand, neuroscience and its applied technologies allow researchers to record and interpret neurological reactions. However, their potential has not been sufficiently explored in this field of study. The objective of this doctoral thesis is to contribute to the research and design of the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture, both on a theoretical and on a practical level. At the theoretical level this involves a bibliographic review, contextualised and critical, of the cognitive-emotional study of architecture from a broad perspective, considering various approaches, the traditional (or base) and new. Both approaches are addressed also on a practical level. The purpose in addressing the traditional approaches is to explore the benefits of combining the most commonly used quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The aim of addressing the new approaches is to validate the environmental simulation systems in current use and examine their operation in combination with neurophysiological measures.Thanks to the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain (Projects TIN2013-45736-R, BIA2017-86157-R and PRE2018-084051), to the Dirección General de Tráfico - Ministerio del Interior of Spain (Project SPIP2017-02220), and to the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (John Paul Eberhard Fellow 2020).Higuera Trujillo, JL. (2021). NeuroArquitectura: nuevas métricas para el diseño arquitectónico a través del uso de neurotecnologías [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/171261TESISPremiadoCompendi

Computational simulations in materials for energy applications 1. Crystal and electronic structure in \u3ci\u3eLn\u3c/i\u3e-U-O compounds. 2. Dynamics of point defect interaction with dislocations in bcc iron.

Nuclear energy is a viable solution to the world’s energy demands. Nuclear energy applications involve rich and complex physics, with high energy events, the incorporation of fission products, and the production of point and extended defects. All these phenomena have an impact on the microstructure of the constituent materials and represent efficiency and safety concerns. A mature understanding of the microstructural evolution of the component materials in the nuclear reactor core is essential to have a safe and reliable process. Experimental investigation of materials in radiation environments is difficult and expensive, making computational simulations a suitable alternative. In this dissertation, employ computational methods to study the microstructural evolution of both nuclear fuel and the iron based reactor structural components, and the impact on their material properties. In the nuclear fuel side, we investigate the crystallographic and electronic structure of Ln-U-O compounds that may be formed inside nuclear fuel operational life by the incorporation of lanthanide fission products using density functional theory (DFT). We used a layered atomic model to propose ordered structures and compared their stability to disordered phases. We also employed the atom-in-molecule approach to study the oxidation state of uranium atoms, and the iconicity/covalency of the U-O bonds. In the structural components side, we studied the migration mechanisms of self-interstitial dumbbells and vacancies around single edge or screw dislocations. The actual saddle point energy and configuration as a function of position with respect of the dislocation core was calculated with the self-evolving atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo (SEAKMC) method, and used this data as an input for KMC calculations. This allowed the analysis of the migration paths, the range of interaction of point defects with dislocations, and the preferential absorption of self-interstitial dumbbells over vacancies, known as dislocation bias, which is responsible for swelling in irradiated materials. The understanding of the mechanism responsible for the microstructural changes, and how these changes impact the material properties is a key aspect to be able to develop materials with enhanced radiation resistance, and achieve high performance under extreme conditions that are vital for nuclear energy generation with improved efficiency and safety