A Model to Visualize Information in a Complex Streets’ Network

his paper discusses a process to graphically view and analyze information obtained from a network of urban streets, using an algorithm that establishes a ranking of importance of the nodes of the network itself. The basis of this process is to quantify the network information obtained by assigning numerical values to each node, representing numerically the information. These values are used to construct a data matrix that allows us to apply a classification algorithm of nodes in a network in order of importance. From this numerical ranking of the nodes, the process finish with the graphical visualization of the network. An example is shown to illustrate the whole process.

Open business intelligence: on the importance of data quality awareness in user-friendly data mining

Citizens demand more and more data for making decisions in their daily life. Therefore, mechanisms that allow citizens to understand and analyze linked open data (LOD) in a user-friendly manner are highly required. To this aim, the concept of Open Business Intelligence (OpenBI) is introduced in this position paper. OpenBI facilitates non-expert users to (i) analyze and visualize LOD, thus generating actionable information by means of reporting, OLAP analysis, dashboards or data mining; and to (ii) share the new acquired information as LOD to be reused by anyone. One of the most challenging issues of OpenBI is related to data mining, since non-experts (as citizens) need guidance during preprocessing and application of mining algorithms due to the complexity of the mining process and the low quality of the data sources. This is even worst when dealing with LOD, not only because of the different kind of links among data, but also because of its high dimensionality. As a consequence, in this position paper we advocate that data mining for OpenBI requires data quality-aware mechanisms for guiding non-expert users in obtaining and sharing the most reliable knowledge from the available LOD.

Analyzing the commercial activities of a street network by ranking their nodes: a case study in Murcia, Spain

Urban researchers and planners are often interested in understanding how economic activities are distributed in urban regions, what forces influence their special pattern and how urban structure and functions are mutually dependent. In this paper, we want to show how an algorithm for ranking the nodes in a network can be used to understand and visualize certain commercial activities of a city. The first part of the method consists of collecting real information about different types of commercial activities at each location in the urban network of the city of Murcia, Spain. Four clearly differentiated commercial activities are studied, such as restaurants and bars, shops, banks and supermarkets or department stores, but obviously we can study other. The information collected is then quantified by means of a data matrix, which is used as the basis for the implementation of a PageRank algorithm which produces a ranking of all the nodes in the network, according to their significance within it. Finally, we visualize the resulting classification using a colour scale that helps us to represent the business network.

Mujeres empresarias en el uso de la web 2.0: discursos de un preludio

Este trabajo presenta los principales resultados de una investigación cuya finalidad es conocer la adopción de las redes sociales on-line en las pymes dirigidas por mujeres. Se parte de la base de que el uso de redes, como elemento estratégico de comunicación, se encuentra todavía en una fase incipiente de desarrollo, lejos aún de ser una práctica consolidada. Nuestro interés en este trabajo es conocer la predisposición y motivaciones de las empresarias hacia el uso estas redes, así como las utilidades y dificultades a las que han de enfrentarse. Nos interesa visibilizar el cambio actitudinal y competencial que las empresarias están imprimiendo en sus empresas dentro del marco competitivo en el que se encuentran. En definitiva, nos interesa estudiar la percepción que tienen las empresarias sobre el uso de las redes sociales online en la medida en que están insertas, como una herramienta más de gestión empresarial. Nos situamos ante un nuevo ámbito de conocimiento sobre el que apenas existen referencias bibliográficas ni se ha realizado apenas investigación; de ahí que la investigación tenga una finalidad fundamentalmente exploratoria y de carácter cualitativo. Para la obtención de la información se realizaron catorce entrevistas semi-estructuradas entre empresarias andaluzas de distintos sectores de actividad. Entre los principales resultados encontramos que algo menos de la mitad de ellas las utilizan, o están implantadas en sus empresas, como herramientas de comunicación. El resto, y relacionado con el tamaño de sus negocios, las utilizan como una prolongación del uso personal en el que se iniciaron.

Astrocytes and Müller Cell Alterations During Retinal Degeneration in a Transgenic Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa includes a group of progressive retinal degenerative diseases that affect the structure and function of photoreceptors. Secondarily to the loss of photoreceptors, there is a reduction in retinal vascularization, which seems to influence the cellular degenerative process. Retinal macroglial cells, astrocytes, and Müller cells provide support for retinal neurons and are fundamental for maintaining normal retinal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of macroglial changes during retinal degeneration in P23H rats. Methods: Homozygous P23H line-3 rats aged from P18 to 18 months were used to study the evolution of the disease, and SD rats were used as controls. Immunolabeling with antibodies against GFAP, vimentin, and transducin were used to visualize macroglial cells and cone photoreceptors. Results: In P23H rats, increased GFAP labeling in Müller cells was observed as an early indicator of retinal gliosis. At 4 and 12 months of age, the apical processes of Müller cells in P23H rats clustered in firework-like structures, which were associated with ring-like shaped areas of cone degeneration in the outer nuclear layer. These structures were not observed at 16 months of age. The number of astrocytes was higher in P23H rats than in the SD matched controls at 4 and 12 months of age, supporting the idea of astrocyte proliferation. As the disease progressed, astrocytes exhibited a deteriorated morphology and marked hypertrophy. The increase in the complexity of the astrocytic processes correlated with greater connexin 43 expression and higher density of connexin 43 immunoreactive puncta within the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of P23H vs. SD rat retinas. Conclusions: In the P23H rat model of retinitis pigmentosa, the loss of photoreceptors triggers major changes in the number and morphology of glial cells affecting the inner retina.