La construcción social del “Buen Vivir“ (Sumak Kawsay) en Ecuador. Genealogía del diseño y gestión política de la vida.

Estos modos de vida otros aparecen en el texto de la nueva Constitución con las expresiones “buen vivir” –en castellano– y “sumak kawsay” –en kiwcha– y constituyen el paradigma de vida hacia el cual deberá orientarse el “desarrollo”. El “buen vivir” o “sumak kawsay” postula un reordenamiento general de lo que el término moderno “desarrollo” había querido expresar. En la medida que desborda los límites de un proyecto meramente económico, social o político, adquiere el carácter de paradigma regulador del conjunto total de la vida. Su perspectiva “holística” (León 2008a: 137) contrasta con los modelos de “desarrollo” que infructuosamente se han ensayado en la historia ecuatoriana y se plantea desde su novedad como una alternativa al modelo de “civilización” dominante

Use of data mining tools for cut soil slope condition state identification

Introduction: Transportation systems play a fundamental rule in nowadays society. Indeed, every developed or in development country had invested and keep investing to build a complete, safe and functional transportation network. Now, the main concern, particularly for developed countries, is to keep it operational under all security conditions. However, due to the network extension and increased budget constraints, such task is difficult to accomplish. In the framework of transportations networks, particularly for highway and railway, slopes are perhaps the element for which its failure can have a strongest impact at several levels. Although there are some models and systems to detect slop failures, most of them were developed for natural slopes, presenting some constrains when applied to man-made slopes. Moreover, most of the existent systems were developed based on particular case studies or require information gathered from complex/expensive tests, which can represent an important applicability limitation. Aiming to overcome this drawback, we are taking advantage of the learning capabilities of flexible DM algorithms, such Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), which can model complex nonlinear mappings. Both algorithms were fitted to predict the condition state of a given slope according to a pre-defined classification scale contemplating four levels (classes). One of the premises of this work is to try to identify the real condition state of a given slop using information collected during routine inspections complemented with geometric, geologic and geographic data

The epigenetic regulator ATF7ip inhibits Il2 expression, regulating Th17 responses.

T helper 17 cells (Th17) are critical for fighting infections at mucosal surfaces; however, they have also been found to contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases and have been targeted therapeutically. Due to the role of Th17 cells in autoimmune pathogenesis, it is important to understand the factors that control Th17 development. Here we identify the activating transcription factor 7 interacting protein (ATF7ip) as a critical regulator of Th17 differentiation. Mice with T cell-specific deletion of Atf7ip have impaired Th17 differentiation secondary to the aberrant overproduction of IL-2 with T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and are resistant to colitis in vivo. ChIP-seq studies identified ATF7ip as an inhibitor of Il2 gene expression through the deposition of the repressive histone mark H3K9me3 in the Il2-Il21 intergenic region. These results demonstrate a new epigenetic pathway by which IL-2 production is constrained, and this may open up new avenues for modulating its production

Rock slope condition state identification through the application of advanced statistical tools

Neste trabalho é analisada a adequabilidade da utilização de ferramentas de data mining (DM) no desenvolvimento de um modelo de classificação do estado de condição de taludes em rocha da rede rodo e ferroviária. O modelo proposto utiliza informação recolhida durante inspeções de rotina, por norma de fácil obtenção, complementada com informação geométrica, geológica e geográfica do talude e atribui um nível/classe ao estado de condição ao talude em análise. O sistema proposto, desenvolvido através da aplicação de ferramentas de inteligência artificial, procura maximizar a informação disponível visando uma classificação realista do estado de condição do talude. Para a aprendizagem dos modelos foi utilizada uma base de dados de taludes em rocha da rede ferroviária britânica. Os resultados obtidos permitem analisar a capacidade de aprendizagem de algoritmos de DM na análise de problemas de elevada complexidade e inferir sobre a informação necessária para uma correta identificação do real estado de condição de taludes em rocha.In the present work it is analysed the suitability of data mining techniques in the development of a classification model of the condition state of rock slopes of the highway and railway network. The proposed model is fed with information taken from routine inspections, usually easy to obtain, as well as geometric, geologic and geographic information of the slope and labels it with a class according to its condition state. The proposed model, developed based on the application of artificial intelligent tools, intends to maximize all the available information towards a representative classification of the rock slope condition state. For model learning, a data base was used with rock slope data from the UK railway network. The achieved results allow assessing the learning capacity of DM algorithms when applied to the analysis of complex problems, as well as inferring about the information required for a correct identification of the real condition state of a rock slope.Este trabalho foi financiado pela FCT - “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”, no âmbito do ISISE, projeto: UID/ECI/04029/2013 e no âmbito do projeto: UID/CEC/00319/2013, bem como através da bolsa de pós-doutoramento com a referência SFRH/BPD/94792/2013 (POCH e FSE). Este trabalho foi também financiado pelo COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043

Enhancing collaboration and community for the discipline of organizing

The overall purpose of this workshop is to strengthen the existing collaboration and community among instructors and schools using The Discipline of Organizing (Glushko 2015), to promote further innovation in digital publishing, and to enhance iSchool teaching practices through experimentation with new models of collaborative courses. Information about participation, planning materials, presentations, and follow-up artifacts for the workshop are at disciplineoforganizing.org.

Exploring Principal Leadership Roles within a Community of Practice to Promote Science Performance of English Language Learners

The world we live in continues to become more technologically advanced and educating youth to become productive citizens in an ever-changing global society is vital. The importance and necessity of educating an increasingly diverse student population has become a top priority for Pre-K-16 educators. To meet this challenge and set priorities for serving English Language Learners (ELLs), educators at all levels need to forge a clear vision and shared commitment for fostering “… a sense of belonging and community that inspires collaboration” among its members for the success of all students (Texas Association of School Administrators, 2008, p. 4)

Study of the Antimicrobial Activity of Cuprite Synthesized by Chemical Route

With the rise of nanotechnology, inorganic nanomaterials have been developed which have a marked microbicide effect on a wide variety of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. In the present work, the synthesis, characterization and study of the antimicrobial activity of cuprite (copper (I) oxide, Cu2O), obtained by chemical route was carried out. To obtain cuprite, copper sulfate pentahydrate was used as a precursor and ascorbic acid and glucose as organic reductants. The synthesis using glucose as a reductant resulted in the obtaining of 100% cuprite with variable morphology, spheres, cubes and tetrahedra were observed, very dependent on the concentration of NaOH used in each synthesis, with particle sizes in the nanoscale and micrometer, that is, nanoparticles and Cu2O nanostructures were obtained. According to the results of the antimicrobial activity, it can be concluded that Cu2O copper oxide has an antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, with the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, MIC, 16 mg/mL

Marketing in Higher Education: The Effects on the College Choice Experience of First-Generation Latinx Students

The Latinx population in the United States has drastically increased over the last twenty years. During the same period, the number of first-generation Latinx students enrolling in higher education post-recession has also increased by as much as 1.5 million students. The expansion of the Latinx student population in Oregon has mirrored the national trend by exponentially increasing over the last 10 years. As the population of first-generation Latinx students grows, it becomes essential to explore the issues and barriers Latinx students face in making their college choices. Previous researchers have found that selecting the right institution is important to increase the chances of satisfaction, retention, and completion of a college degree. At a time when institutions of higher education are facing financial challenges stemming from low student enrollment rates coupled with decreases in federal and state funding, many colleges and universities are forced to find new strategies to stay financially afloat. These strategies include marketing to build their unique brands and the college experience. Few studies exist on how marketing affects the college choice experience of first-generation Latinx students at state universities in the Pacific Northwest. Using social and culture capital frameworks as a guide, this basic qualitative research study employed qualitative interviews to explore the college choice experience of a group of 12 first-generation Latinx students at the University of Northwest Pacific (pseudonym) to gain an understanding of how marketing may have affected their experiences and the challenges they faced in navigating the college choice process. The study helped identify three themes: (1) Building a college-bound identity and self-resilience, (2) Accessing social and cultural capital, and (3) Marketing and its effects on students. The findings showed that family had a significant role in building the participants\u27 college-bound identity. Additionally, the study illustrated how social and cultural capital positively impacted participants with individualized assistance and mentors (e.g., counselors, teachers, friends). Lastly, the findings highlighted the challenges and barriers first-generation Latinx students face as they progress through their college choice stages and how marketing affected their selection of the University of Northwest Pacific (UNP). This study also discussed the findings\u27 implications and future research direction