Are R&D collaborative agreements persistent at the firm level? Empirical evidence for the Spanish case

We provide evidence on the dynamics in firms’ R&D cooperation behaviour. Our main objective is to analyse if R&D collaborative agreements are persistent at the firm level, and in such a case, to study what are the main drivers of this phenomenon. R&D cooperation activities at the firm level can be persistent due to true state dependence, this implying that cooperating in a given period enhances the probability of doing it in the subsequent period and it can also be a consequence of firms’ individual heterogeneity, so that certain firms have certain characteristics that make them more likely to carry out technological alliances.

Are R&D collaborative agreements persistent at the firm level? Empirical evidence for the Spanish case

We provide evidence on the dynamics in firms’ R&D cooperation behaviour. Our main objective is to analyse if R&D collaborative agreements are persistent at the firm level, and in such a case, to study what are the main drivers of this phenomenon. R&D cooperation activities at the firm level can be persistent due to true state dependence, this implying that cooperating in a given period enhances the probability of doing it in the subsequent period and it can also be a consequence of firms’ individual heterogeneity, so that certain firms have certain characteristics that make them more likely to carry out technological alliances.

Designing online interaction to address disciplinary competencies: A cross-country comparison of faculty perspectives

This study was conducted at colleges in three countries (United States, Venezuela, and Spain) and across three academic disciplines (engineering, education, and business), to examine how experienced faculty define competencies for their discipline, and design instructional interaction for online courses. A qualitative research design employing in-depth interviews was selected. Results show that disciplinary knowledge takes precedence when faculty members select competencies to be developed in online courses for their respective professions. In all three disciplines, the design of interaction to correspond with disciplinary competencies was often influenced by contextual factors that modify faculty intention. Therefore, instructional design will vary across countries in the same discipline to address the local context, such as the needs and expectations of the learners, faculty perspectives, beliefs and values, and the needs of the institution, the community, and country. The three disciplines from the three countries agreed on the importance of the following competencies: knowledge of the field, higher order cognitive processes such as critical thinking, analysis, problem solving, transfer of knowledge, oral and written communication skills, team work, decision making, leadership and management skills, indicating far more similarities in competencies than differences between the three different applied disciplines. We found a lack of correspondence between faculty¿s intent to develop collaborative learning skills and the actual development of them. Contextual factors such as faculty prior experience in design, student reluctance to engage in collaborative learning, and institutional assessment systems that focus on individual performance were some of these reasons.

Image-Based Coral Reef Classification and Thematic Mapping

This paper presents a novel image classification scheme for benthic coral reef images that can be applied to both single image and composite mosaic datasets. The proposed method can be configured to the characteristics (e.g., the size of the dataset, number of classes, resolution of the samples, color information availability, class types, etc.) of individual datasets. The proposed method uses completed local binary pattern (CLBP), grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), Gabor filter response, and opponent angle and hue channel color histograms as feature descriptors. For classification, either k-nearest neighbor (KNN), neural network (NN), support vector machine (SVM) or probability density weighted mean distance (PDWMD) is used. The combination of features and classifiers that attains the best results is presented together with the guidelines for selection. The accuracy and efficiency of our proposed method are compared with other state-of-the-art techniques using three benthic and three texture datasets. The proposed method achieves the highest overall classification accuracy of any of the tested methods and has moderate execution time. Finally, the proposed classification scheme is applied to a large-scale image mosaic of the Red Sea to create a completely classified thematic map of the reef benthos

Manual de la técnica de rejilla mediante el programa RECORD ver. 2.0: Capítulos I (introducció), II (Etapa de diseño) y III (Fase de administración)

La técnica de rejilla es un instrumento de evaluación de las dimensiones y estructura del significado personal que se deriva de la teoría de los constructos personales. Tanto en la versión original de G. A. Kelly (1955) como en sus continuas actualizaciones, esta técnica pretende captar la forma en que una persona da sentido a su experiencia en sus propios términos. No se trata, por tanto, de un test convencional, sino de una forma de entrevista estructurada orientada a explicitar y analizar los constructos con los que la persona organiza su mundo. De la entrevista se genera una matriz de datos que se somete a varios análisis para revelar su estructura implícita. El programa RECORD ofrece los resultados de una forma clara y proporciona además una serie de gráficos de fácil interpretación. Todo ello permite dibujar la estructura del mapa cognitivo del sujeto desde su propia semántica, culminando así, con rigor metodológico, una vieja aspiración fenomenológica. Se trata de un instrumento muy 'flexible que puede adaptarse a diversas áreas de aplicación: evaluación individual, grupal, familiar y de pareja, intervención psicoeducativa, asesoramiento vocacional, investigación de mercados, asesoramiento empresarial, investigación terapéutica, estudio de la estructura cognitiva de la personalidad, etc.

Manual de la técnica de rejilla mediante el programa RECORD ver. 2.0: Capítulos I (introducció), II (Etapa de diseño) y III (Fase de administración)

La técnica de rejilla es un instrumento de evaluación de las dimensiones y estructura del significado personal que se deriva de la teoría de los constructos personales. Tanto en la versión original de G. A. Kelly (1955) como en sus continuas actualizaciones, esta técnica pretende captar la forma en que una persona da sentido a su experiencia en sus propios términos. No se trata, por tanto, de un test convencional, sino de una forma de entrevista estructurada orientada a explicitar y analizar los constructos con los que la persona organiza su mundo. De la entrevista se genera una matriz de datos que se somete a varios análisis para revelar su estructura implícita. El programa RECORD ofrece los resultados de una forma clara y proporciona además una serie de gráficos de fácil interpretación. Todo ello permite dibujar la estructura del mapa cognitivo del sujeto desde su propia semántica, culminando así, con rigor metodológico, una vieja aspiración fenomenológica. Se trata de un instrumento muy 'flexible que puede adaptarse a diversas áreas de aplicación: evaluación individual, grupal, familiar y de pareja, intervención psicoeducativa, asesoramiento vocacional, investigación de mercados, asesoramiento empresarial, investigación terapéutica, estudio de la estructura cognitiva de la personalidad, etc.

Self-Organising Maps and Correlation Analysis as a Tool to Explore Patterns in Excitation-Emission Matrix Data Sets and to Discriminate Dissolved Organic Matter Fluorescence Components

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complex mixture of organic compounds, ubiquitous in marine and freshwater systems. Fluorescence spectroscopy, by means of Excitation-Emission Matrices (EEM), has become an indispensable tool to study DOM sources, transport and fate in aquatic ecosystems. However the statistical treatment of large and heterogeneous EEM data sets still represents an important challenge for biogeochemists. Recently, Self-Organising Maps (SOM) has been proposed as a tool to explore patterns in large EEM data sets. SOM is a pattern recognition method which clusterizes and reduces the dimensionality of input EEMs without relying on any assumption about the data structure. In this paper, we show how SOM, coupled with a correlation analysis of the component planes, can be used both to explore patterns among samples, as well as to identify individual fluorescence components. We analysed a large and heterogeneous EEM data set, including samples from a river catchment collected under a range of hydrological conditions, along a 60-km downstream gradient, and under the influence of different degrees of anthropogenic impact. According to our results, chemical industry effluents appeared to have unique and distinctive spectral characteristics. On the other hand, river samples collected under flash flood conditions showed homogeneous EEM shapes. The correlation analysis of the component planes suggested the presence of four fluorescence components, consistent with DOM components previously described in the literature. A remarkable strength of this methodology was that outlier samples appeared naturally integrated in the analysis. We conclude that SOM coupled with a correlation analysis procedure is a promising tool for studying large and heterogeneous EEM data sets.

Efficacy of a dilemma-focused intervention for unipolar depression: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background Depression is one of the more severe and serious health problems because of its morbidity, disabling effects and for its societal and economic burden. Despite the variety of existing pharmacological and psychological treatments, most of the cases evolve with only partial remission, relapse and recurrence. Cognitive models have contributed significantly to the understanding of unipolar depression and its psychological treatment. However, success is only partial and many authors affirm the need to improve those models and also the treatment programs derived from them. One of the issues that requires further elaboration is the difficulty these patients experience in responding to treatment and in maintaining therapeutic gains across time without relapse or recurrence. Our research group has been working on the notion of cognitive conflict viewed as personal dilemmas according to personal construct theory. We use a novel method for identifying those conflicts using the repertory grid technique (RGT). Preliminary results with depressive patients show that about 90% of them have one or more of those conflicts. This fact might explain the blockage and the difficult progress of these patients, especially the more severe and/or chronic. These results justify the need for specific interventions focused on the resolution of these internal conflicts. This study aims to empirically test the hypothesis that an intervention focused on the dilemma(s) specifically detected for each patient will enhance the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression. Design A therapy manual for a dilemma-focused intervention will be tested using a randomized clinical trial by comparing the outcome of two treatment conditions: combined group CBT (eight, 2-hour weekly sessions) plus individual dilemma-focused therapy (eight, 1-hour weekly sessions) and CBT alone (eight, 2-hour group weekly sessions plus eight, 1-hour individual weekly sessions). Method Participants are patients aged over 18 years meeting diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder, with a score of 19 or above on the Beck depression inventory, second edition (BDI-II) and presenting at least one cognitive conflict (implicative dilemma or dilemmatic construct) as assessed using the RGT. The BDI-II is the primary outcome measure, collected at baseline, at the end of therapy, and at 3- and 12-month follow-up; other secondary measures are also used. Discussion We expect that adding a dilemma-focused intervention to CBT will increase the efficacy of one of the more prestigious therapies for depression, thus resulting in a significant contribution to the psychological treatment of depression. Trial registration ISRCTN92443999; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01542957.

Autoevaluación intercativa y lúdica de Tecnología Farmacéutica

[eng] The individual work of the student, in the European space for higher education, takes a particular relevance. At the same time, in this context, a complex challenge is presented to the professors, in the educational and formative work aimed at the students as well as in the organization of educational plans. Among the different activities that the system of ECTS comprises, we can highlight the preparation and accomplishment of examinations. This fact means to integrate into the learning process the individual and autonomous work that the students have to carry out to acquire the knowledge and to surpass the evaluation test. To achieve this objective, a database including multiple choice questions with three possible answers has been developed (similar to those composing part of the Pharmaceutical Technology test). This database has a design that facilitates its use by professors and students interested in this area and allows as the interactive evaluation of obligatory and optional subjects from the formal point of view, as a corporate recreational environment to make their employment more attractive for the students. The edition of the Web page of the Pharmaceutical Technology Teaching Innovation Group of the UB has been used to place this database within everybody"s reach. [spa] El trabajo individual del alumno adquiere, dentro del marco europeo de educación superior, una particular relevancia. Al mismo tiempo, en este contexto, a los profesores se nos presenta un reto complejo, tanto en nuestra labor docente y formativa del alumno, como en la organización de los planes docentes. De las distintas actividades que engloba el crédito europeo podemos destacar la preparación y realización de exámenes, hecho que supone integrar en el proceso de aprendizaje el trabajo individual y autónomo que realiza el estudiante para adquirir los conocimientos y superar las pruebas de evaluación. Para conseguir este objetivo se ha planteado la elaboración de una base de preguntas con tres respuestas posibles (del tipo de las que componen parte de los exámenes de Tecnología Farmacéutica), en forma de base de datos con un formato que facilite su utilización por parte de profesores y alumnos interesados en este ámbito y que permita tanto la evaluación interactiva de las asignaturas troncales y optativas desde el punto de vista formal, como su aplicación en un entorno lúdico corporativo para hacer más atrayente su empleo por los estudiantes. Se ha aprovechado la edición de la página Web del Grupo de Innovación Docente de Tecnología Farmacéutica de la UB para ponerlo al alcance de todos.

Optimització d’estructures d’acer porticades per a naus industrials mitjançant la utilització de programes comercials de disseny estructural

El treball té dos focus d’estudi en la optimització d’estructures. Per una banda es realitza l’optimització de cada nau de manera individual i per altra banda, s’analitzen els resultats obtinguts en funció de les variables llum del pòrtic, alçada del pilar i la modulació entre pòrtics. Com a objectiu es té la optimització de pes per unitat de superfíci de corretges, pòrtics d’acer de naus industrials a dues aigües amb la incorporació de cartel·les per a la optimització. Es pretén estudiar la tendència del pes de la estructura en funció de les variables més importants d’un pòrtic. També es pretén analitzar el comportament de les cartel·les al llarg dels 48 pòrtics per esbrinar les variables més influents en la seva funció optimitzadora

Estratègies de desenvolupament local de la comarca de la Noguera

El present document constitueix el Treball Final de Grau de Geografia i Ordenació del Territori. Basant-se en una anàlisi socioeconòmica de la comarca de la Noguera per, posteriorment, poder aproximar-nos cap a unes interpretacions dels resultats extrets que ens permetin fer una radiografia sintètica de l’estat actual de la comarca. A partir d’aquestes interpretacions es farà una anàlisi DAFO per tal d’extreure’n les fortaleses i les debilitats principals i, a partir d’aquest, obtindre unes bases per poder obtenir un seguit d’estratègies claus que es desenvolupin a través de diferents línies d’actuació específiques. Així doncs, el treball que desenvolupat al llarg del projecte, consta d’una primera part on s’hi inclouen diferents tècniques d’obtenció d’informació que s’han après al llarg de la carrera. En una segona part s’hi presenta una tasca més personal i amb un toc d’aportació individual, amb la invenció i enfocament de les diferents estratègies de desenvolupament.

De la nova joiera a la joieria contemporània

La joieria contemporània ha esdevingut en els darrers seixanta anys una manifestació artística significativa dins dels paràmetres de la creació individual a Catalunya. Una joieria que rebutja l’ostentació donada pel valor de la matèria i que s’identifica amb els pressupostos de l’art contemporani. Aquest treball pretén ser una primera aproximació per a la comprensió i l’estudi de la joieria contemporània catalana, des de la seva aparició fins a la situació actual, a partir de les hibridacions constants que s’estableixen amb Europa.

Studies on the characterization of dental whitening process by using both hyperspectral imaging and colorimeter techniques

A beautiful smile is directly related with white teeth. Nowadays oral care has increased and developed processes for beautiful smiles. Dental bleaching is frequently used in odontology, not just for health care also for aesthetic treatment. With the possibility of teeth bleaching, now the importance is in, how white the tooth is? Because color is relate to an individual perception. In order to assets teeth correct color identification has been developed many color guides, models, spaces and analytical methods. Spite all of these useful tools the color interpretation depends on environmental factors, position of the sample in the data acquisition and most importantly the instrument sensitivity. The commons methods have proved to be useful. They are easy to handle, some are portable but they do not have a high sensitivity. The present work is based on the integration of a new analytical technique for color acquisition. High spectral Image (HSI) is able to performed image analysis with high quality and efficiency. HSI is used in many fields and we used it for color image analysis within the bleaching process. The main comparison was done with the HSI and the colorimeter through the processes of two different bleaching protocols. The results showed that HSI has higher sensitivity than the colorimeter. During the analysis the dental surface with the HSI we were able to notice surface changes. These changes were analyzed by roughness studies.

A Sequential Allocation Problem: The Asymptotic Distribution of Resources

In this paper we consider a sequential allocation problem with n individuals. The first individual can consume any amount of some endowment leaving the remaining for the second individual, and so on. Motivated by the limitations associated with the cooperative or non-cooperative solutions we propose a new approach. We establish some axioms that should be satisfied, representativeness, impartiality, etc. The result is a unique asymptotic allocation rule. It is shown for n = 2; 3; 4; and a claim is made for general n. We show that it satisfies a set of desirable properties. Key words: Sequential allocation rule, River sharing problem, Cooperative and non-cooperative games, Dictator and ultimatum games. JEL classification: C79, D63, D74.

Transfer entropy reconstruction and labeling of neuronal connections from simulated calcium imaging

Neuronal dynamics are fundamentally constrained by the underlying structural network architecture, yet much of the details of this synaptic connectivity are still unknown even in neuronal cultures in vitro. Here we extend a previous approach based on information theory, the Generalized Transfer Entropy, to the reconstruction of connectivity of simulated neuronal networks of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We show that, due to the model-free nature of the developed measure, both kinds of connections can be reliably inferred if the average firing rate between synchronous burst events exceeds a small minimum frequency. Furthermore, we suggest, based on systematic simulations, that even lower spontaneous inter-burst rates could be raised to meet the requirements of our reconstruction algorithm by applying a weak spatially homogeneous stimulation to the entire network. By combining multiple recordings of the same in silico network before and after pharmacologically blocking inhibitory synaptic transmission, we show then how it becomes possible to infer with high confidence the excitatory or inhibitory nature of each individual neuron.