Targeting the poor in Mexico

This report reevaluates PROGRESA's targeting methods since the program began adding beneficiary households through a process called “densification.” The authors first evaluate PROGRESA's accuracy in targeting both at the community and household levels. Second, they evaluate the targeting in terms of its impact on poverty alleviation relative to other feasible methods assuming the same total budget.Education ,Mexico ,

Soliton dynamics in finite nonlocal media with cylindrical symmetry

The effect of finite boundaries in the propagation of spatial nonlocal solitons in media with cylindrical symmetry is analyzed. Using Ehrenfest's theorem together with the Green's function of the nonlinear refractive index equation, we derive an analytical expression for the force exerted on the soliton by the boundaries, verifying its validity by full numerical propagation. We show that the dynamics of the soliton are determined not only by the degree of nonlocality, but also by the boundary conditions for the refractive index. In particular, we report that a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation appears when the boundary condition exceed a certain threshold value

Osmoacondicionamiento de semillas de Leucaena spp con agua caliente para rompimiento de latencia

"La demanda de ingredientes de alto valor nutricional para el ganado ha propiciado el incremento de los precios de éstos. El uso de Leucaena leucocephala como fuente de proteína para rumiantes, es una alternativa a dicha problemática, puesto que, además de proveer forraje, puede suministrar ingredientes para la dieta y otras necesidades de los humanos. Sin embargo, presenta una baja tasa de germinación de semillas, lo que limita su uso. Por lo tanto, los objetivos de este trabajo fueron, aumentar el porcentaje de germinación de semillas al romper su estado de latencia y producir plántulas con buenos parámetros de calidad morfológica. Fueron distribuidas 220 semillas en cinco tratamientos: A (agua a temperatura ambiente) y agua calentada a 39, 52, 78 y 93°C para mejorar la germinación, se sembraron en charolas utilizando como sustrato una mezcla de 60% hojarasca, 35% suelo y 5% tezontle"

Strengthening mathematical skills through MOOCs: a case study

[EN] Recently there has been a huge development in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) with the aim to ease and complement the learning process, especially at university level. In this context we presented four MOOCs entitled Basic Mathematics: Numbers and Terminology, Differentiability, Integrals and Algebra on the platforms UPV[X] and EdX, aiming to match the freshmen s level in mathematics at engineering grades. We have used these courses to reinforce theoretical knowledge during the first year of university and to promote them as an educational complement among the students showing more difficulties in mathematics. The implementation of these MOOCs as an element of the learning process has brought new methodological opportunities. The resources and tools offered make learning a more social and collaborative process as connect students with each other, allowing new methodologies focused on problem-solving techniques. In addition, although the MOOCs impose a sequence of contents, this is usually quite adaptable and contributes to the individualization of learning, allowing students to work at their own pace and in an environment of their choice. The procedure has been based on tracking students with lower academic performance or those showing mathematical gaps and offering them the opportunity to reinforce such knowledge through the use of specific MOOCs. The process has been done mainly online but with periodic meetings with the teachers to evaluate student progress. This methodology (based in a blended learning methodology) is intended to enhance the motivation and improve the performance of the students, avoiding dropouts. The results of the students joining these courses are presented versus the results from the students that did not participated.The authors would like to thank the Department of Applied Mathematics for the Teaching Innovation Projects, PID-DMA-2014, which funds this research.López Alfonso, S.; Moll López, SE.; Sánchez, S.; Vega Fleitas, E. (2016). Strengthening mathematical skills through MOOCs: a case study. International Journal for e-Learning Security. 6(1):488-493. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijds.2046.4568.2016.0062S4884936

Air infiltration modelling based on low-pressure airtightness measurements

The building sector has been responsible for around 30% of carbon emissions. These emissions come from the construction materials, but mainly by the building operation. The largest energy user of a building usually is the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system (HVAC). The ventilation efficiency depends on a correct design; however there is an unintended part of the ventilation called air infiltration. One-third of the heating load of a building is related to infiltration. The fewer leakage paths the building envelope has, the less infiltration it will allow. These leakage paths define the airtightness of a building. Air infiltration mainly (but not only) depends on the airtightness. Air infiltration measurements are taken through invasive and disruptive tracer gas methods. Infiltration energy losses are calculated via air infiltration predictions obtained using infiltration models. Examples of infiltration models are LBL, AIM-2 AIDA, CONTAM, or DOMVENT3D. Airtightness is typically measured at a high-pressure differential. Infiltration occurs most of the time in a lower pressure difference. Infiltration is then predicted based on those high-pressure airtightness measurements. This project found that there are no models predicting infiltration using low-pressure airtightness measurements. The steady pressurisation method is the most common airtightness measuring test. It measures the building airtightness typically between 10-60 Pa pressure difference (quoted at 50 Pa). This method has shortcomings such as the disruption of building integrity, the potential creation of new leakage paths, and the uncertainty created when extrapolating from high to low pressure. Pulse is a low-pressure airtightness testing method. It measures the building airtightness typically between 1-10 Pa pressure difference (quoted at 4 Pa). Pulse maintains the building integrity and its measurements avoid the uncertainties created by extrapolation. Pulse is used in this thesis to obtain infiltration predictions based on modified infiltration models. This project aims to review, calibrate, test and validate infiltration models based on airtightness measurements taken using the Pulse technique. The overall methodology is to do air infiltration and airtightness tests in various dwellings across the East-Midlands in the UK. Dwelling parameters and environmental conditions are also recorded. Measurements and predictions are compared and statistically analysed. The first model tested was a leakage-infiltration ratio: the "divide-by-20" rule of thumb. The rule of thumb overestimated the infiltration rate for all dwellings. A divide-by-38 rule fitted better the data obtained. When using low-pressure airtightness measurements, a divide-by-8 rule fitted the data. It was concluded that leakage-infiltration ratios are not accurate when predicting infiltration. The LBL model was used to predict air infiltration from high (LBL50) and low (LBL4) pressure airtightness measurements. Both LBL models delivered similar results: comparable standard errors and relative percentage difference. DOMVENT3D model was used to predict air infiltration using both airtightness methods' measurements (DOMVENT3D-50 when using the steady pressurisation method measurements and, DOMVENT3D-4 when using Pulse). DOMVENT3D-4 model turned to predict with and RPD accuracy of 3%±14%. Both models are comparable and can be used regardless of the airtightness inputs. A sensitivity analysis of all the models showed that the variables used interact similarly. Comparing all models, DOMVENT3D-4 was the most accurate model (mean RPD 3%), whereas the LBL-50 was the one with the lowest standard error (3%). The least accurate is the divide-by-20 rule of thumb (95%). The best overall predictions were given by the DOMVENT3D-4 model: 3%±14%. The conclusion is that measurements from the Pulse method can be used to predict infiltration. Regardless of the infiltration model, when using the Pulse method, there is not added error or uncertainty compared with the standard steady pressurisation method. Recommendations regarding the creation or revision of legislation and the extension of Pulse's development are given

Proyecto para el Fondo Nacional de las Artes, año 2015

Se planteó el rediseño total de la identidad del Fondo Nacional de las Artes y del sistema completo de comunicación visual que necesita la institución. Dicho ente otorga becas, préstamos y organiza eventos, para artistas del país en disciplinas como: Arquitectura y urbanismo (aspectos estéticos), Artes aplicadas, Artes plásticas, Cinematografía, Danza y ballet, Diseño Gráfico e Industrial, Expresiones folklóricas, Fotografía y audiovisuales, Letras e industria editorial, Música e industria fonográfica, Radiofonía, Teatro y otras artes del espectáculo, Televisión y video. Estratégicamente se pensó diseñar desde un enfoque dirigido a un público joven (18 a 35 años), con la idea de fomentar y difundir los beneficios y actividades que otorga el FNA. El Proyecto incluye también el desarrollo de la comunicación visual de la Casa de la Cultura, institución que depende el FNA.Mesa D.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Iterative Lambert's Trajectory Optimization for Extrasolar Bodies Interception

[EN] Interception of extrasolar objects is one of the major current astrophysical objectives since it allows gathering information on the formation and composition of other planetary systems. This paper develops a tool to design optimal orbits for the interception of these bodies considering the effects of different perturbation sources. The optimal trajectory is obtained by solving a Lambert's problem that gives the required initial impulse. A numerical integration of a perturbed orbital model is calculated. This model considers the perturbations of the joint action of the gravitational potentials of the Solar System planets and the solar radiation pressure. These effects cause a deviation in the orbit that prevents the interception from taking place, so an iterative correction scheme of the initial estimated impulse is presented, capable of modifying the orbit and achieving a successful interception in a more realistic environment.This research has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, Project PID2019-109753GB-C22.Herrero Debón, A.; Moll López, SE.; Moraño Fernández, JA.; Vázquez, D.; Vega, E. (2021). Iterative Lambert's Trajectory Optimization for Extrasolar Bodies Interception. Aerospace. 8(12):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace812036611681

Experimental Setup of the Fast Current Controller for the Buenos Aires Heavy Ion Microbeam

Recently we used the heavy ion microprobe of the Buenos Aires TANDAR Laboratory for Single Event Effects (SEE) and Total Dose (TD) experiments in electronics devices and components, requiring very low beam currents. The facility includes a fast beam switch that allows the control of the ion beam current and a mobile Si PIN (p-type, intrinsic, n-type) diode that directly measures the number of ions hitting the device. The fast beam deflector was used to reduce the current by producing a pulsed beam or generating a quasi-continuous (Poisson-like distributed) beam with currents ranging from tens to hundreds of ions/s. As an application for this current control method we present a single event effect (SEE) pulses map generated by a 32S8+ beam at 75 MeV on two 0.5 µm technology CMOS digital output buffers where the device was formed by cascading four CMOS inverters with increasing sizes from input to output to drive large loads. Using the same concept of pulse width modulated deflection, we developed a novel gradient scanning method. This system allows to produce in a single irradiation a distribution with a cumulative damage with a difference of two orders of magnitude at constant gradient. To demonstrate the method, we irradiated a lithium niobate monocrystal with 32S8+ beam at 75 MeV energy and later analyzed the produced damage by the micro-Raman technique and an optical profilomete.Fil: Vega, Nahuel Agustín. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes. Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Müller, Nahuel Agustín. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes. Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones; ArgentinaFil: De la Fourniére, Emmanuel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes. Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Halac, Emilia Beatriz. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes. Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Debray, Mario Ernesto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes. Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Autoimmune Epilepsy: New Development and Future Directions

In recent years, there has been accumulating evidence to support an autoimmune etiology for some patients with drug-resistant seizures, typically in the context of an antibody-mediated encephalopathy; any seizure disorder that may be caused by pathogenic autoantibodies, are an example of autoimmune epilepsy. Autoimmunity is characterized by loss of immune tolerance that causes the destruction of cells and tissues. The largest complex histocompatibility system has had a strong association with autoimmune disease, although certain genes encoding cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules increase genetic susceptibility. In spite of having scientific advances in this research area, the conditions underlying mechanisms are unknown.Goal: this chapter aims to present in synthesized form, the genetic, immunological, and environmental factors role in the autoimmunity to epilepsy, as well as the therapeutic approach that has been used to control seizures, mainly where there is a suspected anti-neuronal-antibodies circulation. Methods: a review of the work achieved during the last years in patients with this condition provides information and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of this epilepsy type. For this, a systematic search of PUBMED is conducted using the search terms “autoimmune and epilepsy, auto antibodies and epilepsy, NMDA and epilepsy, AMPA and epilepsy, and GAD and epilepsy.” The list of identified articles was complemented by additional searches for relevant articles in the reference section of the publications captured by the initial search