"Innovatio educativa tertio millennio": 12 years evoluting from learning from learning to teaching in courses on educational innovation and collaboration with the UNESCO chair of mining and industrial heritage

Twelve years ago a group of teachers began to work in educational innovation. In 2002 we received an award for educational innovation, undergoing several stages. Recently, we have decided to focus on being teachers of educational innovation. We create a web scheduled in Joomla offering various services, among which we emphasize teaching courses of educational innovation. The “Instituto de Ciencias de la Educacion” in “Universidad Politécnica de Madrid” has recently incorporated two of these courses, which has been highly praised. These courses will be reissued in new calls, and we are going to offer them to more Universities. We are in contact with several institutions, radio programs, the UNESCO Chair of Mining and Industrial Heritage, and we are working with them in the creation of heritage courses using methods that we have developed.

Pibamarmi Pavilion

The PIBAMARMI pavilion at the 2013 edition of MARMOMACC in Verona was designed by the Spanish architect Alberto CAMPO BAEZA, winner of the Fair’s International Award Architecture in Stone 2013 for the office building of the Castilla León Junta in front of the Cathedral in Zamora.

Country reports. Spain

Many diversified activities can be reported from the Spanish INHIGEO group. Professor Emerita, Carmina Virgili-Rodón, was awarded the Medal of Honour of the Complutense University of Madrid. Due to ill-health she was unable to attend the award ceremony and received the medal at her home in Barcelona.

Standing together for reproducibility in large-scale computing: report on reproducibility@XSEDE

This is the final report on reproducibility@xsede, a one-day workshop held in conjunction with XSEDE14, the annual conference of the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE). The workshop's discussion-oriented agenda focused on reproducibility in large-scale computational research. Two important themes capture the spirit of the workshop submissions and discussions: (1) organizational stakeholders, especially supercomputer centers, are in a unique position to promote, enable, and support reproducible research; and (2) individual researchers should conduct each experiment as though someone will replicate that experiment. Participants documented numerous issues, questions, technologies, practices, and potentially promising initiatives emerging from the discussion, but also highlighted four areas of particular interest to XSEDE: (1) documentation and training that promotes reproducible research; (2) system-level tools that provide build- and run-time information at the level of the individual job; (3) the need to model best practices in research collaborations involving XSEDE staff; and (4) continued work on gateways and related technologies. In addition, an intriguing question emerged from the day's interactions: would there be value in establishing an annual award for excellence in reproducible research? Overview

A General Purpose Configurable Navigation Controller for Micro Aerial Multirotor Vehicles

In this paper, we consider the problem of autonomous navigation of multirotor platforms in GPS-denied environments. The focus of this work is on safe navigation based on unperfect odometry measurements, such as on-board optical flow measurements. The multirotor platform is modeled as a flying object with specific kinematic constraints that must be taken into account in order to obtain successful results. A navigation controller is proposed featuring a set of configurable parameters that allow, for instance, to have a configuration setup for fast trajectory following, and another to soften the control laws and make the vehicle navigation more precise and slow whenever necessary. The proposed controller has been successfully implemented in two different multirotor platforms with similar sensoring capabilities showing the openness and tolerance of the approach. This research is focused around the Computer Vision Group's objective of applying multirotor vehicles to civilian service applications. The presented work was implemented to compete in the International Micro Air Vehicle Conference and Flight Competition IMAV 2012, gaining two awards: the Special Award on "Best Automatic Performance - IMAV 2012" and the second overall prize in the participating category "Indoor Flight Dynamics - Rotary Wing MAV". Most of the code related to the present work is available as two open-source projects hosted in GitHub.

Metodología de Diseño y Análisis de Sistemas Teleoperados Considerando Dinámica No Lineal

Cuando la separación física entre el sistema local y remoto es relativamente corta, el retardo no es perceptible; sin embargo, cuando el manipulador local y el manipulador remoto se encuentran a una distancia lejana uno del otro, el retardo de tiempo ya no es insignificante e influye negativamente en la realización de la tarea. El retardo de tiempo en un sistema de control introduce un atraso de fase que a su vez degrada el rendimiento del sistema y puede causar inestabilidad. Los sistemas de teleoperación pueden sacar provecho de la posibilidad de estar presente en dos lugares simultáneamente, sin embargo, el uso de Internet y otras redes de conmutación de paquetes, tales como Internet2, impone retardos de tiempo variables, haciendo que los esquemas de control ya establecidos elaboren soluciones para hacer frente a inestabilidades causadas por estos retardos de tiempo variables. En este trabajo de tesis se presenta el modelado y análisis de un sistema de teloperación bilateral no lineal de n grados de libertad controlado por convergencia de estado. La comunicación entre el sitio local y remoto se realiza mediante un canal de comunicación con retardo de tiempo. El análisis presentado en este trabajo considera que el retardo puede ser constante o variable. Los principales objetivos de este trabajo son; 1) Desarrollar una arquitectura de control no lineal garantizando la estabilidad del sistema teleoperado, 2) Evaluar la estabilidad del sistema considerando el retardo en la comunicación, y 3) Implementación de los algoritmos desarrollados para probar el desempeño de los mismos en un sistema experimental de 3 grados de libertad. A través de la teoría de Estabilidad de Lyapunov y el funcional Lyapunov-Krasovskii, se demuestra que el sistema de lazo cerrado es asintóticamente estable. Estas conclusiones de estabilidad se han obtenido mediante la integración de la función de Lyapunov y aplicando el Lema de Barbalat. Se demuestra también que se logra sincronizar las posiciones del manipulador local y remoto cuando el operador humano no mueve el manipulador local y el manipulador remoto se mueve libremente. El esquema de control propuesto se ha validado mediante simulación y en forma experimental empleando un sistema de teleoperación real desarrollado en esta tesis doctoral y que consta de un un manipulador serie planar de tres grados de libertad, un manipulador local, PHANTOM Omni, el cual es un dispositivo haptico fabricado que consta de 3 grados de libertad (en fuerza) y que proporciona realimentación de fuerza en los ejes x,y,z. El control en tiempo real se ha diseñado usando el Sistema Operativo en Tiempo Real QuaRC de QUARC en el lado local y el Simulink Real-Time Windows TargetTM en el lado remoto. Para finalizar el resumen se destaca el impacto de esta tesis en el mundo científico a través de los resultados publicados: 2 artículos en revistas con índice de impacto , 1 artículo en una revista indexada en Sistemas, Cibernética e Informática, 7 artículos en congresos y ha obtenido un premio en la 9a. Conferencia Iberoamericana en Sistemas, Cibernética e Informática, 2010. ABSTRACT When the physical separation between the local and remote system is relatively short, the delay is not noticeable; however, when the local manipulator and the remote manipulator are at a far distance from each other, the time delay is no longer negligible and negatively influences the performance of the task. The time delay in a control system introduces a phase delay which in turn degrades the system performance and cause instability. Teleoperation systems can benefit from the ability to be in two places simultaneously, however, the use of Internet and other packet switched networks, such as Internet2, imposes varying time delays, making established control schemes to develop solutions to address these instabilities caused by different time delays. In this thesis work we present a modeling and analysis of a nonlinear bilateral teloperation system of n degrees of freedom controlled by state convergence strategy. Communication between the local and remote site is via a communication channel with time delay. The analysis presented in this work considers that the time-delay can be constant or variable. The main objectives of this work are; 1) Develop a nonlinear control schemes to ensure the stability of the teleoperated system, 2) Evaluate the system stability considering the delay in communication, and 3) Implementation of algorithms developed to test the performance of the teleoperation system in an experimental system of 3 degrees of freedom. Through the Theory of Stability of Lyapunov and the functional Lyapunov-Krasovskii, one demonstrates that the closed loop system is asymptotically stable.. The conclusions about stability were obtained by integration of the Lyapunov function and applying Barbalat Lemma. It further shows that the positions of the local and remote manipulator are synchronize when the human operator stops applying a constant force and the remote manipulator does not interact with the environment. The proposed control scheme has been validated by means of simulation and in experimental form using a developed system of real teleoperation in this doctoral thesis, which consists of a series planar manipulator of three degrees of freedom, a local manipulator, PHANTOM Omni, which is an haptic device that consists of 3 degrees of freedom (in force) and that provide feeback force in x-axis, and, z. The control in real time has been designed using the Operating system in Real time QuaRC of Quanser in the local side and the Simulink Real-Time Windows Target in the remote side. In order to finalize the summary, the highlights impact of this thesis in the scientific world are shows through the published results: 2 articles in Journals with impact factor, one article in a indexed Journal on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 7 articles in Conferences and has won an award in 9a. Conferencia Iberoamericana en Sistemas, Cibernética e Informática, 2010.

Eliminación de nutrientes mediante tratamientos biopelícula : corrientes actuales y necesidades de investigación

Los tratamientos biopelícula fueron unos de los primeros tratamientos biológicos que se aplicaron en las aguas residuales. Los tratamientos biopelícula presentan importantes ventajas frente a los cultivos en suspensión, sin embargo, el control de los tratamientos biopelícula es complicado y su modelización también. Las bases teóricas del comportamiento de las biopelículas empezaron a desarrollarse fundamentalmente a partir de los años 80. Dado que el proceso es complejo con ecuaciones de difícil resolución, estas conceptualizaciones han sido consideradas durante años como ejercicios matemáticos más que como herramientas de diseño y simulación. Los diseños de los reactores estaban basados en experiencias de plantas piloto o en comportamientos empíricos de determinadas plantas. Las ecuaciones de diseño eran regresiones de los datos empíricos. La aplicabilidad de las ecuaciones se reducía a las condiciones particulares de la planta de la que provenían los datos empíricos. De tal forma que existía una gran variedad y diversidad de ecuaciones empíricas para cada tipo de reactor. La investigación médica durante los años 90 centró su atención en la formación y eliminación de las biopelículas. Gracias al desarrollo de nuevas prácticas de laboratorio que permitían estudiar el interior de las biopelículas y gracias también al aumento de la capacidad de los ordenadores, la simulación del comportamiento de las biopelículas tomó un nuevo impulso en esta década. El desarrollo de un tipo de biopelículas, fangos granulares, en condiciones aerobias realizando simultaneamente procesos de eliminación de nutrientes ha sido recientemente patentado. Esta patente ha recibido numerosos premios y reconocimientos internacionales tales como la Eurpean Invention Award (2012). En 1995 se descubrió que determinadas bacterias podían realizar un nuevo proceso de eliminación de nitrógeno denominado Anammox. Este nuevo tipo de proceso de eliminación de nitrógeno tiene el potencial de ofrecer importantes mejoras en el rendimiento de eliminación y en el consumo de energía. En los últimos 10 años, se han desarrollado una serie de tratamientos denominados “innovadores” de eliminación de nutrientes. Dado que no resulta posible el establecimiento de estas bacterias Anammox en fangos activos convencionales, normalmente se recurre al uso de cultivos biopelícula. La investigación se ha centrado en el desarrollo de estos procesos innovadores en cultivos biopelícula, en particular en los fangos granulares y MBBR e IFAs, con el objeto de establecer las condiciones bajo las cuales estos procesos se pueden desarrollar de forma estable. Muchas empresas y organizaciones buscan una segunda patente. Una cuestión principal en el desarrollo de estos procesos se encuentra la correcta selección de las condiciones ambientales y de operación para que unas bacterias desplacen a otras en el interior de las biopelículas. El diseño de plantas basado en cultivos biopelícula con procesos convencionales se ha realizado normalmente mediante el uso de métodos empíricos y semi-empíricos. Sin embargo, los criterios de selección avanzados aplicados en los Tratamientos Innovadores de Eliminación de Nitrógeno unido a la complejidad de los mecanismos de transporte de sustratos y crecimiento de la biomasa en las biopelículas, hace necesario el uso de herramientas de modelización para poder conclusiones no evidentes. Biofilms were one of the first biological treatments used in the wastewater treatment. Biofilms exhibit important advantages over suspended growth activated sludge. However, controlling biofilms growth is complicated and likewise its simulation. The theoretical underpinnings of biofilms performance began to be developed during 80s. As the equations that govern the growth of biofilms are complex and its resolution is challenging, these conceptualisations have been considered for years as mathematical exercises instead of practical design and simulation tools. The design of biofilm reactors has been based on performance information of pilot plants and specific plants. Most of the times, the designing equations were simple regressions of empirical data. The applicability of these equations were confined to the particular conditions of the plant from where the data came from. Consequently, there were a wide range of design equations for each type of reactor During 90s medical research focused its efforts on how biofilm´s growth with the ultimate goal of avoiding it. Thanks to the development of new laboratory techniques that allowed the study the interior of the biofilms and thanks as well to the development of the computers, simulation of biofilms’ performance had a considerable evolution during this decade. In 1995 it was discovered that certain bacteria can carry out a new sort of nutrient removal process named Anammox. This new type of nutrient removal process potentially can enhance considerably the removal performance and the energy consumption. In the last decade, it has been developed a range of treatments based on the Anammox generally named “Innovative Nutrient Removal Treatments”. As it is not possible to cultivate Anammox bacteria in activated sludge, normally scientists and designers resort to the use of biofilms. A critical issue in the development of these innovative processes is the correct selection of environment and operation conditions so as to certain bacterial population displace to others bacteria within the biofilm. The design of biofilm technology plants is normally based on the use of empirical and semi-empirical methods. However, the advanced control strategies used in the Innovative Nutrient Removal Processes together with the complexity of the mass transfer and biomass growth in biofilms, require the use of modeling tools to be able to set non evident conclusions.

Carolyn Banner

Carolyn had a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Langston University and a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Minnesota. In 1959 Carolyn came to Lincoln as acting principal of the laboratory Elementary School and Supervisor of Elementary Student Teaching. She nurtured and taught hundreds of Lincoln’s students to be the finest, most qualified teachers in the country. Once retired she was able to enjoy the many awards that she received through out her years. The awards she received were citations, and honors: AAUW Woman of Achievement Award, and the MUATE Outstanding Teacher Educator Award. She was elected the first Black President of AAUW in 1965. She was appointed to the Mayor’s Census and Redistricting Committee in 1981. On June 21st, 1985 Mayor George Hartsfield declared that day as “Carolyn Banner Day” in Jefferson City. Carolyn Banner retired from Lincoln University in July 1985.

Religião, ética e axiologia no campo empresarial: um estudo das empresas que adotam a cultura da excelência

Este trabalho tem como objeto de estudo a ética e a constituição dos valores que fundamentam os campos religioso e empresarial e suas similaridades levando em consideração os aspectos socio-antropológicos. A ética dentro do campo das organizações empresariais vem se tornando tema de fundamental importância não apenas na visão dos empresários, mas, principalmente, na visão dos investidores e consumidores, e, muitas vezes, tem definido o sucesso ou o fracasso dessas organizações. A religião é aqui estudada como um fato social e cultural que influencia e é influenciada por outros fenômenos sócio-culturais. A pergunta principal que norteia este trabalho é se há influência de valores religiosos na formulação da conduta ética empresarial, tendo como universo de pesquisa os ciclos de premiação do Prêmio Nacional da Qualidade (PNQ). Buscando respostas para esta questão são abordados os aspectos simbólicos dos rituais de premiação; os valores culturais que permeiam os campos religioso e empresarial; e, uma análise da conduta ética empresarial tendo como referência a implementação da Cultura da Excelência do PNQ, com destaque aos seus critérios de excelência que têm incorporado as demandas de mercado, tais como responsabilidade social, ambiental e ética.(AU)

Religião, ética e axiologia no campo empresarial: um estudo das empresas que adotam a cultura da excelência

Este trabalho tem como objeto de estudo a ética e a constituição dos valores que fundamentam os campos religioso e empresarial e suas similaridades levando em consideração os aspectos socio-antropológicos. A ética dentro do campo das organizações empresariais vem se tornando tema de fundamental importância não apenas na visão dos empresários, mas, principalmente, na visão dos investidores e consumidores, e, muitas vezes, tem definido o sucesso ou o fracasso dessas organizações. A religião é aqui estudada como um fato social e cultural que influencia e é influenciada por outros fenômenos sócio-culturais. A pergunta principal que norteia este trabalho é se há influência de valores religiosos na formulação da conduta ética empresarial, tendo como universo de pesquisa os ciclos de premiação do Prêmio Nacional da Qualidade (PNQ). Buscando respostas para esta questão são abordados os aspectos simbólicos dos rituais de premiação; os valores culturais que permeiam os campos religioso e empresarial; e, uma análise da conduta ética empresarial tendo como referência a implementação da Cultura da Excelência do PNQ, com destaque aos seus critérios de excelência que têm incorporado as demandas de mercado, tais como responsabilidade social, ambiental e ética.(AU)

Increasing the quality of seismic interpretation

Euan Macrae was funded by a NERC Open CASE PhD award (NE/F013728/1) with Midland Valley Exploration Ltd. as the industry partner. We thank the 763 geoscientists for their participation, and in particular, the reference experts who gave their time freely to the project. Marian Scott (University of Glasgow, UK) is thanked for assisting with the statistical analysis. Four reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments which improved the manuscript.

Crowdsourcing without a crowd : Reliable online species identification using Bayesian models to minimize crowd size

Acknowledgment This research is supported by an award made by the RCUK Digital Economy program to the University of Aberdeen’s dot.rural Digital Economy Hub (ref. EP/G066051/1).

Co-morbidity burden in Parkinson’s disease : Comparison with controls and its influence on prognosis

Open Access funded by Parkinson's UK Financial support: This study was funded by Parkinson’s UK, the Scottish Chief Scientist Office, NHS Grampian endowments, the BMA Doris Hillier award, RS Macdonald Trust, the BUPA Foundation, and SPRING. The funders had no involvement in the study. We acknowledge funding for the PINE study from Parkinson’s UK (G-0502, G-0914 G-1302), the Scottish Chief Scientist Office (CAF/12/05), the BMA Doris Hillier award, RS Macdonald Trust, the BUPA Foundation, NHS Grampian endowments and SPRING. We thank the patients and controls for their participation and the research staff who collected data and supported the study database.

The role of lipids in mechanosensation

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by Wellcome Trust grants WT092552MA (J.H.N. and I.R.B.), Senior Investigator Award WT100209MA (J.H.N.), 093228 (T.K.S.) and 092970 (M.S.P.S.), and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grants BB/I019855/1 (M.S.P.S.), BB/H017917/1 (J.H.N. and I.R.B.) and BB/J009784/1 (H.B.). We acknowledge the Diamond Light Source for beam time. I.R.B. is supported as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow. J.H.N. is supported as a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award holder and as a 1000 Talent Scholar at Sichuan University. A.C.E.D. was supported by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre student fellowship. We thank R. Phillips, A. Lee and S. Conway for helpful discussions.

QUAL : A Provenance-Aware Quality Model

The research described here is supported by the award made by the RCUK Digital Economy program to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub; award reference: EP/G066051/1.