Effectiveness of values communication through cross-cultural corporate symbol design

Intercultural communication occurs between people whose culture, language, and visual perceptions are distinct enough to alter the communication event between them. In this arena, the graphic designer plays the role of a visual ambassador, creating vehicles of communication intended to carry messages within or across cultural barriers. The task is challenging and necessary because of the contemporary tendency toward globalization. In today\u27s global market, multinational corporations are creating brands to express their corporate values. As a result, these corporations are more connected to their customers and are differentiated from their competition.;This study tested the effectiveness of communicating values instead of products in the design of a symbol for a cross-cultural corporation. For this study, the existing corporate symbol of a Colombian coffee company was redesigned into three different versions in an attempt to communicate values to a cross-cultural audience. Each symbol was tested by means of a survey completed by participants from different parts of the world who were studying at Iowa State University. The first survey tested the effectiveness of a symbol that communicates values only. The second survey tested the effectiveness of a symbol that communicates the same values when accompanied by a reference to a product. The final survey tested the influence of values perception when the symbol uses a universally recognized icon. This methodology provided a clear idea of the possibility to universally communicate values through a corporate symbol.;The results of this study showed that the corporate symbol which combined product and values had the highest percentage of values recognition. It can also be suggested that by using this corporate symbol redesign, the Colombian coffee company would effectively communicate what the company is and its brand values to a cross-cultural audience

Implications for teaching college physics in the development of creativity.

In this research the current requirements to higher education, which should be in line with the scientific-technological development while encouraging the development potential of each student, are considered. A summary of the essential relationships between the epistemological nature of physics since its connotation for teaching and learning process in college is shown. Furthermore, the epistemological characteristics of this science, which have a direct and relationship with their didactic process oriented to the development of the creativity in students, is valued. Also the significance that may have the study of physics for students when linked to other sciences and life in general is taken into account. For this objective the experimental - practical activities play an important role

Numerical integration rules with improved accuracy close to singularities

Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a numerical integration using only discretised data. In some cases, the data contains singularities which position is known but does not coincide with a discretisation point, and the jumps in the function and its derivatives are available at these positions. The motivation of this paper is to use the previous information to obtain numerical quadrature formulas that allow approximating the integral of the discrete data over certain intervals accurately. This work is devoted to the construction and analysis of a new nonlinear technique that allows to obtain accurate numerical integrations of any order using data that contains singularities, and when the integrand is only known at grid points. The novelty of the technique consists in the inclusion of correction terms with a closed expression that depends on the size of the jumps of the function and its derivatives at the singularities, that are supposed to be known. The addition of these terms allows recovering the accuracy of classical numerical integration formulas even close to the singularities, as these correction terms account for the error that the classical integration formulas commit up to their accuracy at smooth zones. Thus, the correction terms can be added during the integration or as post-processing, which is useful if the main calculation of the integral has been already done using classical formulas. The numerical experiments performed allow us to confirm the theoretical conclusions reached in this paper.Comment: 23 pages, 5 Figures, 3 Table

Mixed gamification with virtual tools modify poor school performance

Currently, the use of gamifiers as teaching tools in virtuality is present due to the digital education that is developed in Latin America. The objective was to determine the effects of two methodologies: i) Mixed gamification; and ii) Usefulness of virtual teaching tools, in the cognitive processes of poor school performance. The methodology was experimental, quantitative. The evaluation was carried out on 150 Spanish-speaking schoolchildren, grouped into three comparison groups (8.5 years of age ±0.4). They underwent 40 learning sessions with the D-S-F methodology (dynamics, strategy, feedback). The validated instruments were three performance tests on the areas of mathematics, science and communication. Significant results were obtained in cognitive processes from the activities designed with mixed gamification, although the effects were not decisive in the area of communication. It is concluded that gamification reduces low performance to raise cognitive processes for logical reasoning, cognitive deduction in mathematics, skills to generate hypotheses in science; and those of reading and oral expression. It is suggested to develop experiments with variables that include a digital evaluation of text writing, to avoid the limitations presented in this research

Mixed gamification with virtual tools modify poor school performance

Currently, the use of gamifiers as teaching tools in virtuality is present due to the digital education that is developed in Latin America. The objective was to determine the effects of two methodologies: i) Mixed gamification; and ii) Usefulness of virtual teaching tools, in the cognitive processes of poor school performance. The methodology was experimental, quantitative. The evaluation was carried out on 150 Spanish-speaking schoolchildren, divided into three comparison groups (8.5 years of age ±0.4). They underwent 40 learning sessions with the D-S-F methodology (dynamics, strategy, feedback). The validated instruments were three performance tests on the areas of mathematics, science and communication. Significant results were obtained in cognitive processes from the activities designed with mixed gamification, although the effects were not decisive in the area of communication. It is concluded that gamification reduces low performance to raise cognitive processes for logical reasoning, cognitive deduction in mathematics, skills to generate hypotheses in science; and those of reading and oral expression. It is suggested to develop experiments with variables that include a digital evaluation of text writing, to avoid the limitations presented in this research

Using approximate Bayesian inference for a “steps and turns” continuous-time random walk observed at regular time intervals

The study of animal movement is challenging because movement is a process modulated by many factors acting at different spatial and temporal scales. In order to describe and analyse animal movement, several models have been proposed which differ primarily in the temporal conceptualization, namely continuous and discrete time formulations. Naturally, animal movement occurs in continuous time but we tend to observe it at fixed time intervals. To account for the temporal mismatch between observations and movement decisions, we used a state-space model where movement decisions (steps and turns) are made in continuous time. That is, at any time there is a non-zero probability of making a change in movement direction. The movement process is then observed at regular time intervals. As the likelihood function of this state-space model turned out to be intractable yet simulating data is straightforward, we conduct inference using different variations of Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC). We explore the applicability of this approach as a function of the discrepancy between the temporal scale of the observations and that of the movement process in a simulation study. Simulation results suggest that the model parameters can be recovered if the observation time scale is moderately close to the average time between changes in movement direction. Good estimates were obtained when the scale of observation was up to five times that of the scale of changes in direction. We demonstrate the application of this model to a trajectory of a sheep that was reconstructed in high resolution using information from magnetometer and GPS devices. The state-space model used here allowed us to connect the scales of the observations and movement decisions in an intuitive and easy to interpret way. Our findings underscore the idea that the time scale at which animal movement decisions are made needs to be considered when designing data collection protocols. In principle, ABC methods allow to make inferences about movement processes defined in continuous time but in terms of easily interpreted steps and turns.Fil: Ruiz Suarez, Sofia Helena. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Estadística; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Leos Barajas, Vianey. North Carolina State University; Estados UnidosFil: Alvarez Castro, Ignacio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Morales, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

Aprendizaje de la programación guiado por los errores de compilación

Los errores de programación y en concreto los de tiempo de compilación siempre han sido un área de interés en el campo de la enseñanza de la programación. Esto lo demuestran los distintos artículos que aparecen periódicamente en congresos de docencia de la informática, tanto nacionales como internacionales. Estos estudios se basan en la relación entre errores de programación y carencias conceptuales o malas prácticas de programación, y orientar a los docentes en las áreas y conceptos de programación que se tendrían que reforzar en la enseñanza de la programación. Sin embargo, estos estudios se realizan siempre fuera del proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes, con lo cual sólo se extraen conclusiones generales para posteriores cursos y sin poder proporcionar una realimentación real e individualizada a los alumnos. Hemos creado un sistema, denominado COLMENA que se integra con el entorno de desarrollo integrado para recopilar información sobre el análisis estático, errores de compilación y warnings, que los estudiantes generan durante un ejercicio de programación. Además, esta información sobre errores se visualiza a los usuarios clasificada por familias de errores, sesiones de prácticas y alumnos. Permitiendo al profesor realizar un seguimiento completamente personalizado, para un grupo o un alumno concreto. Por otra parte, facilita la documentación de los distintos errores, estableciendo una relación de estos con los conceptos de programación y buenas prácticas relacionadas. Además, permite a los alumnos darse cuenta de los errores que cometen con más frecuencia y reforzar el conocimiento de estos. A través de esta herramienta, por tanto, se consigue un flujo de intercambio de información que puede ayudar a profesores y alumnos en la mejora del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, y así perfeccionar explícitamente detalles sobre pautas de programación o conceptos relativos a la misma que antes no se apreciaban o conocer la evolución de los errores de un grupo a lo largo de una asignatura.SUMMARY -- Studies on errors in programming activities have always been considered relevant among scientific communities. Thus, different approaches are explored every year in national and international conferences about programming teaching and learning. All of these studies deal with the relationship between programming errors and bad habits in programming, in order to generate guidance for teachers in concepts where their students fail. However, these kinds of studies are conducted outside the students' natural programming process, which prevents teachers from receiving a feedback report in real-time. We have created an eclipse plug-in, called COLMENA, whose purpose is to recover compilation errors and warnings generated by the students during programming lessons. Moreover, this information is displayed in a specific portal where students can retrieve information about the errors, their solutions and different reports about individual and collective information, such as specific groups or sessions inside a subject. Students have the possibility to learn about the solution to their most common errors in the system or their top-10 error list. Through COLMENA, we aim to assist teachers and students with programming tips and ideas that generate less errors and improve the teacher-learning process. This kind of information, previously discarded, allows us to gain a new perspective about the problems that users have in a specific practical lesson or in a whole subject

Adsorption of bentazon on CAT and CARBOPAL activated carbon: Experimental and computational study

Removal of the bentazon by adsorption on two different types of activated carbon was investigated under various experimental conditions.Kinetics of adsorption is followed and the adsorption isotherms of the pesticide are determined. The effects of the changes in pH, ionic strength and temperature are analyzed. Computational simulation was employed to analyze the geometry and the energy of pesticide absorption on activated carbon. Concentration of bentazon decreases while increase all the variables, from the same initial concentration. Experimental data for equilibrium was analyzed by three models: Langmuir, Freundlich and Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer isotherms. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetics are tested with the experimental data, and pseudo-second-order kinetics was the best for the adsorption of bentazon by CAT and CARBOPAL with coefficients of correlation R 2 = 0.9996 and R 2 = 0.9993, respectively. The results indicated that both CAT and CARBOPAL are very effective for the adsorption of bentazon from aqueous solutions, but CAT carbon has the greater capacity.Fil: Spaltro, Agustín. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Simonetti, Sandra Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Física del Sur; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez Torrellas, Silvia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid,Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Catálisis y Procesos de Separación; EspañaFil: García Rodriguez, Juan. Universidad Complutense de Madrid,Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Catálisis y Procesos de Separación; EspañaFil: Ruiz, Danila Luján. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Juan, Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Física del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Allegretti, Patricia Ercilia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; Argentin

Dismorfia muscular y uso de sustancias ergogénicas. Una revisión sistemática.

El uso de sustancias ergogénicas (USE) no se restringe a la consecución de un mayor desempeño atlético, actualmente también es una conducta de cambio corporal, vía el desarrollo muscular; no obstante, poco se sabe de la relación entre dismorfia muscular (DM) y USE. Por tanto se realizó una revisión sistemática de los estudios empíricos que, durante la última década (2004-2014), la han examinado. De entrada, destaca el hecho de que, de los 22 artículos analizados, solo en 13 se explicita este interés. Además, aunque los datos documentados delinean algunas vertientes relevantes, como la existencia de una alta concomitancia (60-90%) de DM y USE, en general las evidencias son aún incipientes e inciertas, principalmente debido a la gran disparidad metodológica entre estudios y, particularmente, en cuanto a los indicadores, los parámetros y las medidas que, en el contexto de la DM, se han venido empleando para evaluar USE

Using graph theory and social media data to assess cultural ecosystem services in coastal areas: Method development and application

The use of social media (SM) data has emerged as a promising tool for the assessment of cultural ecosystem services (CES). Most studies have focused on the use of single SM platforms and on the analysis of photo content to assess the demand for CES. Here, we introduce a novel methodology for the assessment of CES using SM data through the application of graph theory network analyses (GTNA) on hashtags associated to SM posts and compare it to photo content analysis. We applied the proposed methodology on two SM platforms, Instagram and Twitter, on three worldwide known case study areas, namely Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos Islands and Easter Island. Our results indicate that the analysis of hashtags through graph theory offers similar capabilities to photo content analysis in the assessment of CES provision and the identification of CES providers. More importantly, GTNA provides greater capabilities at identifying relational values and eudaimonic aspects associated to nature, elusive aspects for photo content analysis. In addition, GTNA contributes to the reduction of the interpreter's bias associated to photo content analyses, since GTNA is based on the tags provided by the users themselves. The study also highlights the importance of considering data from different social media platforms, as the type of users and the information offered by these platforms can show different CES attributes. The ease of application and short computing processing times involved in the application of GTNA makes it a cost-effective method with the potential of being applied to large geographical scales.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 2 appendice