Exploring associations between micro-level models of innovation diffusion and emerging macro-level adoption patterns

A micro-level agent-based model of innovation diffusion was developed that explicitly combines (a) an individual's perception of the advantages or relative utility derived from adoption, and (b) social influence from members of the individual's social network. The micro-model was used to simulate macro-level diffusion patterns emerging from different configurations of micro-model parameters. Micro-level simulation results matched very closely the adoption patterns predicted by the widely-used Bass macro-level model (Bass, 1969). For a portion of the domain, results from micro-simulations were consistent with aggregate-level adoption patterns reported in the literature. Induced Bass macro-level parameters and responded to changes in micro-parameters: (1) increased with the number of innovators and with the rate at which innovators are introduced; (2) increased with the probability of rewiring in small-world networks, as the characteristic path length decreases; and (3) an increase in the overall perceived utility of an innovation caused a corresponding increase in induced and values. Understanding micro to macro linkages can inform the design and assessment of marketing interventions on micro-variables - or processes related to them - to enhance adoption of future products or technologies.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures and a table of supplementary data. Accepted for publicatio

Uso sustentable de pastizales naturales como fuente de bioenergía

Uso sustentable de pastizales naturales como fuente de bioenergíaFil: Feldman, Susana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Rainfall variability at decadal and longer time scales: signal or noise?

Rainfall variability occurs over a wide range of temporal scales. Knowledge and understanding of such variability can lead to improved risk management practices in agricultural and other industries. Analyses of temporal patterns in 100 yr of observed monthly global sea surface temperature and sea level pressure data show that the single most important cause of explainable, terrestrial rainfall variability resides within the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) frequency domain (2.5-8.0 yr), followed by a slightly weaker but highly significant decadal signal (9-13 yr), with some evidence of lesser but significant rainfall variability at interclecadal time scales (15-18 yr). Most of the rainfall variability significantly linked to frequencies tower than ENSO occurs in the Australasian region, with smaller effects in North and South America, central and southern Africa, and western Europe. While low-frequency (LF) signals at a decadal frequency are dominant, the variability evident was ENSO-like in all the frequency domains considered. The extent to which such LF variability is (i) predictable and (ii) either part of the overall ENSO variability or caused by independent processes remains an as yet unanswered question. Further progress can only be made through mechanistic studies using a variety of models

Sismicidad de la Precordillera Sanjuanina entre 29ºS y 32ºS: análisis de fuente sísmica y del campo de esfuerzos

En el presente estudio se analiza la sismicidad cortical (< 65 km) registrada en la Precordillera Sanjuanina durante 2008 y 2009 por 52 estaciones sismológicas temporales de banda ancha distribuidas en Cordillera, Precordillera, Sierras Pampeanas Orientales y Occidentales. Para este sector del retroarco andino se localizaron un total de 100 sismos corticales con profundidades focales < 65 km y sus correspondientes mecanismos focales. Los sismos localizados en Precordillera presentan magnitudes 0,4<ML<5,3 y 1,3<MW<5,3. El estudio de localización sísmica utilizando un modelo de velocidades mejorado permitió obtener profundidades focales comprendidades entre 5 km y 46 km de profundidad. El análisis de mecanismos focales utilizando primeros arribos indica mayor proporción de soluciones de fallamiento inverso o inverso con pequeña componente de rumbo y en menor abundancia mecanismos normales o conteniendo alguna componente de rumbo. El campo de esfuerzos obtenido sobre 100 sismos corticales claramente indica una componente del eje mayor compresivo orientado en dirección este-oeste. Estos resultados son consistentes con la tectónica compresiva de la Precordillera para niveles de corteza media a superior.Eje: Estudio del Interior Terrestre.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Banco de dados de genótipos para melhoramento genético animal.

Neste trabalho, propomos um de banco de dados e sistemas associados para armazenar genótipos baseado no Sistema de Gerenciamento de Banco de Dados (SGBD) PostgreSQL, linguagem de programação C ,Python e a ferramenta Django para o desenvolvimento da interface.CIIC 2014. Nº 14603

Hurgando el universo invisible con CART (Chinese Argentine Radio-Telescope): Geodesia Espacial en el OAFA

Since 1991, the Félix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory (OAFA) of the National University of San Juan (UNSJ) and the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), have maintained a long and successful agreement of international cooperation between both countries. The first agreement was materialized in 1992 with the arrival, at the OAFA headquarters, of a PAII Photoelectric Astrolabe astrometric telescope. Later, in 2005, a Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) system arrived, and in 2012 a GPS receiver, which was replaced six years later with a modern GNSS unit provided by the National Geographic Institute of Argentina. In addition, as a result of an agreement with the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) of France, a Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) beacon was installed in 2018. These three spatial geodetic techniques are co-located according to the precision standards required by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). Currently, at the high-altitude station of OAFA, the Carlos U. Cesco Station in Barreal, the final stage of assembly is underway for a large radio telescope with a 40-meter diameter antenna, called the Chinese Argentine Radio-Telescope (CART). CART\u27s working frequency will range from 1 GHz to 45 GHz, initially covering the S and X bands for geodesy, and later the L, C, Ku, K, Ka, and Q bands for astrophysical studies. The first light will be in the S and X bands (2–4 GHz and 8–12 GHz), contributing to the establishment of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) and the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The first light is expected by the end of the first half of 2026. This work describes the spatial geodetic techniques installed at OAFA and outlines the organization and objectives of CART’s operation.Desde 1991, el Observatorio Astronómico Félix Aguilar (OAFA) de la Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ) y los Observatorios Astronómicos Nacionales de China (NAOC), dependientes de la Academia China de Ciencias (CAS), mantienen un largo y exitoso convenio de cooperación internacional. El primer acuerdo se concretó en 1992 con la llegada, a la sede central del OAFA, de un telescopio astrométrico Astrolabio Foteléctrico PAII. Posteriormente, en 2005 arribó un sistema Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), y en 2012 un receptor GPS, reemplazado seis años después por un moderno equipo GNSS provisto por el Instituto Geográfico Nacional de la Argentina. Además, fruto de un acuerdo con el Centro Nacional de Estudios Espaciales (CNES) de Francia, en 2018 se instaló una baliza Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). Estas tres técnicas geodésicas espaciales están colocalizadas de acuerdo con los estándares de precisión exigidos por el International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). Actualmente, en la sede de altura del OAFA, Estación Carlos U. Cesco, en Barreal, se encuentra en su última etapa de ensamblado un enorme radiotelescopio con una antena de 40 metros de diámetro, denominado Chinese Argentine Radio-Telescope (CART). La frecuencia de trabajo de CART abarcará el rango de 1 a 45 GHz, cubriendo inicialmente las bandas S y X para geodesia, y posteriormente las bandas L, C, Ku, K, Ka y Q para estudios astrofísicos. La primera luz será en las bandas S y X (2–4 GHz y 8–12 GHz), colaborando en el establecimiento del Marco de Referencia Celeste (ICRF) y en las materializaciones del Marco de Referencia Terrestre (ITRF). Se estima que la primera luz podría alcanzarse a fines del primer semestre de 2026. Este trabajo describe las técnicas geodésicas espaciales instaladas en el OAFA y detalla la organización y objetivos del funcionamiento de CART

Meeting reports: Research on Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS): Approach, Challenges, and Strategies

Understanding the complexity of human–nature interactions is central to the quest for both human well-being and global sustainability. To build an understanding of these interactions, scientists, planners, resource managers, policymakers, and communities increasingly are collaborating across wide-ranging disciplines and knowledge domains. Scientists and others are generating new integrated knowledge on top of their requisite specialized knowledge to understand complex systems in order to solve pressing environmental and social problems (e.g., Carpenter et al. 2009). One approach to this sort of integration, bringing together detailed knowledge of various disciplines (e.g., social, economic, biological, and geophysical), has become known as the study of Coupled Human and Natural Systems, or CHANS (Liu et al. 2007a, b). In 2007 a formal standing program in Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems was created by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Recently, the program supported the launch of an International Network of Research on Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS-Net.org). A major kick-off event of the network was a symposium on Complexity in Human–Nature Interactions across Landscapes, which brought together leading CHANS scientists at the 2009 meeting of the U.S. Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology in Snowbird, Utah. The symposium highlighted original and innovative research emphasizing reciprocal interactions between human and natural systems at multiple spatial, temporal, and organizational scales. The presentations can be found at ‹http://chans- net.org/Symposium_2009.aspx›. The symposium was accompanied by a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in CHANS Research. This article provides an overview of the CHANS approach, outlines the primary challenges facing the CHANS research community, and discusses potential strategies to meet these challenges, based upon the presentations and discussions among participants at the Snowbird meeting

Evaluating Nuclei Concentration in Amyloid Fibrillation Reactions Using Back-Calculation Approach

Background: In spite of our extensive knowledge of the more than 20 proteins associated with different amyloid diseases, we do not know how amyloid toxicity occurs or how to block its action. Recent contradictory reports suggest that the fibrils and/or the oligomer precursors cause toxicity. An estimate of their temporal concentration may broaden understanding of the amyloid aggregation process. Methodology/Principal Findings: Assuming that conversion of folded protein to fibril is initiated by a nucleation event, we back-calculate the distribution of nuclei concentration. The temporal in vitro concentration of nuclei for the model hormone, recombinant human insulin, is estimated to be in the picomolar range. This is a conservative estimate since the back-calculation method is likely to overestimate the nuclei concentration because it does not take into consideration fibril fragmentation, which would lower the amount of nuclei Conclusions: Because of their propensity to form aggregates (non-ordered) and fibrils (ordered), this very low concentration could explain the difficulty in isolating and blocking oligomers or nuclei toxicity and the long onset time for amyloid diseases

Integrated monitoring of mola mola behaviour in space and time

Over the last decade, ocean sunfish movements have been monitored worldwide using various satellite tracking methods. This study reports the near-real time monitoring of finescale (< 10 m) behaviour of sunfish. The study was conducted in southern Portugal in May 2014 and involved satellite tags and underwater and surface robotic vehicles to measure both the movements and the contextual environment of the fish. A total of four individuals were tracked using custom-made GPS satellite tags providing geolocation estimates of fine-scale resolution. These accurate positions further informed sunfish areas of restricted search (ARS), which were directly correlated to steep thermal frontal zones. Simultaneously, and for two different occasions, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) videorecorded the path of the tracked fish and detected buoyant particles in the water column. Importantly, the densities of these particles were also directly correlated to steep thermal gradients. Thus, both sunfish foraging behaviour (ARS) and possibly prey densities, were found to be influenced by analogous environmental conditions. In addition, the dynamic structure of the water transited by the tracked individuals was described by a Lagrangian modelling approach. The model informed the distribution of zooplankton in the region, both horizontally and in the water column, and the resultant simulated densities positively correlated with sunfish ARS behaviour estimator (r(s) = 0.184, p < 0.001). The model also revealed that tracked fish opportunistically displace with respect to subsurface current flow. Thus, we show how physical forcing and current structure provide a rationale for a predator's finescale behaviour observed over a two weeks in May 2014