La investigación en Bibliometría en la Argentina : Quiénes son y qué producen los autores argentinos que realizan estudios bibliométricos

Trabajo que tiene por objetivo observar y describir el panorama de la investigación bibliométrica en la Argentina en el período comprendido entre los años 1984 y 2012, a partir del análisis de las publicaciones de autores de instituciones argentinas localizadas en buscadores web, repositorios temáticos y bases de datos regionales e internacionales. Interpreta las formas que revisten los ítems estudiados enfocando la atención en el volumen y evolución de la producción, tipo de literatura, idioma, temas y unidades de análisis. Calcula el índice de coautoría y tasas de colaboración nacional e internacional. Identifica los autores más productivos y las instituciones de afiliación más frecuentes. Determina la existencia de algunos grupos de investigación, caracterizando sus temáticas de investigación, las revistas donde publican y los congresos más frecuentes en los que participan

Planktonic foraminiferal abundances and stable isotope ratios in middle Miocene sediments of the North Atlantic and the southwestern Pacific

A three-fold expansion of the Antarctic ice sheet at 13.60, 12.82, and 11.60 Ma has been inferred from delta18O maxima analyzed in planktonic and benthic foraminiferal tests, although accompanying changes in sea surface temperature have not been detailed. We present estimated changes in middle Miocene surface-water temperatures based on analysis of delta18O in planktonic foraminifera collected at mid-latitude Deep Sea Drilling Project sites in the North Atlantic and South Pacific oceans. We also identify periods of ice-sheet growth based on comparisons of benthic and planktonic foraminiferal delta18O values. Our results indicate: (1) a distinct cooling of the sea surface from 13.6 to 13.5 Ma immediately following a peak in ice volume at 13.6 Ma, (2) a cooling of the sea surface during a period of increasing ice volume from 13.2 to 13.0 Ma, and (3) a development of the Antarctic ice sheet during a period of cooling of the sea surface centered at 11.6 Ma.

(Table T1) In situ methane concentrations of ODP Site 201-1230

A method for quantifying in situ dissolved methane concentrations in sediment cores that have gas voids is described. The method relies on normalizing methane (CH4) in the gas voids to nitrogen (N2) and/or argon (Ar). The principles of the method are presented. The method was tested during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 201, and preliminary results indicate that it can be used to generate reproducible and accurate dissolved methane values if argon and nitrogen are both measured or if one is measured along with pressure of the gas void.

(Table 1) Deuterium ratios, chloride content and hydrate volume of pore water and hydrate meltwater from ODP Site 164-996

Site 996 is located above the Blake Diapir where numerous indications of vertical fluid migration and the presence of hydrate existed prior to Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 164. Direct sampling of hydrates and visual observations of hydrate-filled veins that could be traced 30-40 cm along cores suggest a connection between fluid migration and hydrate formation. The composition of pore water squeezed from sediment cores showed large variations due to melting of hydrate during core recovery and influence of saline water from the evaporitic diapir below. Analysis of water released during hydrate decomposition experiments showed that the recovered hydrates contained significant amounts of pore water. Solutions of the transport equations for deuterium (d2H) and chloride (Cl-) were used to determine maximum (d2H) and minimum (Cl-) in situ concentrations of these species. Minimum in situ concentrations of hydrate were estimated by combining these results with Cl- and d2H values measured on hydrate meltwaters and pore waters obtained by squeezing of sediments, by the means of a method based on analysis of distances in the two-dimensional Cl- d2H space. The computed Cl- and d2H distribution indicates that the minimum hydrate amount solutions are representative of the actual hydrate amount. The highest and mean hydrate concentrations estimates from our model are 31% and 10% of the pore space, respectively. These concentrations agree well with visual core observations, supporting the validity of the model assumptions. The minimum in situ Cl- concentrations were used to constrain the rates of upward fluid migration. Simulation of all available data gave a mean flow rate of 0.35 m/k.y. (range: 0.125-0.5 m/k.y.).

La investigación en Bibliometría en la Argentina : Quiénes son y qué producen los autores argentinos que realizan estudios bibliométricos

Trabajo que tiene por objetivo observar y describir el panorama de la investigación bibliométrica en la Argentina en el período comprendido entre los años 1984 y 2012, a partir del análisis de las publicaciones de autores de instituciones argentinas localizadas en buscadores web, repositorios temáticos y bases de datos regionales e internacionales. Interpreta las formas que revisten los ítems estudiados enfocando la atención en el volumen y evolución de la producción, tipo de literatura, idioma, temas y unidades de análisis. Calcula el índice de coautoría y tasas de colaboración nacional e internacional. Identifica los autores más productivos y las instituciones de afiliación más frecuentes. Determina la existencia de algunos grupos de investigación, caracterizando sus temáticas de investigación, las revistas donde publican y los congresos más frecuentes en los que participan

Systematic proteomic strategies to map the human signaling landscape

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-05

A modified particle filter for simultaneous robot localization and landmark tracking in an indoor environment

This paper presents the implementation of a modified particle filter for vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping of an autonomous robot in a structured indoor environment. Through this method, artificial landmarks such as multi-coloured cylinders can be tracked with a camera mounted on the robot, and the position of the robot can be estimated at the same time. Experimental results in simulation and in real environments show that this approach has advantages over the extended Kalman filter with ambiguous data association and various levels of odometric noise.

Edges and bars: where do people see features in 1-D images?

There have been two main approaches to feature detection in human and computer vision - based either on the luminance distribution and its spatial derivatives, or on the spatial distribution of local contrast energy. Thus, bars and edges might arise from peaks of luminance and luminance gradient respectively, or bars and edges might be found at peaks of local energy, where local phases are aligned across spatial frequency. This basic issue of definition is important because it guides more detailed models and interpretations of early vision. Which approach better describes the perceived positions of features in images? We used the class of 1-D images defined by Morrone and Burr in which the amplitude spectrum is that of a (partially blurred) square-wave and all Fourier components have a common phase. Observers used a cursor to mark where bars and edges were seen for different test phases (Experiment 1) or judged the spatial alignment of contours that had different phases (e.g. 0 degrees and 45 degrees ; Experiment 2). The feature positions defined by both tasks shifted systematically to the left or right according to the sign of the phase offset, increasing with the degree of blur. These shifts were well predicted by the location of luminance peaks (bars) and gradient peaks (edges), but not by energy peaks which (by design) predicted no shift at all. These results encourage models based on a Gaussian-derivative framework, but do not support the idea that human vision uses points of phase alignment to find local, first-order features. Nevertheless, we argue that both approaches are presently incomplete and a better understanding of early vision may combine insights from both. (C)2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A design environment for deadlock-free concurrent software

Using current software engineering technology, the robustness required for safety critical software is not assurable. However, different approaches are possible which can help to assure software robustness to some extent. For achieving high reliability software, methods should be adopted which avoid introducing faults (fault avoidance); then testing should be carried out to identify any faults which persist (error removal). Finally, techniques should be used which allow any undetected faults to be tolerated (fault tolerance). The verification of correctness in system design specification and performance analysis of the model, are the basic issues in concurrent systems. In this context, modeling distributed concurrent software is one of the most important activities in the software life cycle, and communication analysis is a primary consideration to achieve reliability and safety. By and large fault avoidance requires human analysis which is error prone; by reducing human involvement in the tedious aspect of modelling and analysis of the software it is hoped that fewer faults will persist into its implementation in the real-time environment. The Occam language supports concurrent programming and is a language where interprocess interaction takes place by communications. This may lead to deadlock due to communication failure. Proper systematic methods must be adopted in the design of concurrent software for distributed computing systems if the communication structure is to be free of pathologies, such as deadlock. The objective of this thesis is to provide a design environment which ensures that processes are free from deadlock. A software tool was designed and used to facilitate the production of fault-tolerant software for distributed concurrent systems. Where Occam is used as a design language then state space methods, such as Petri-nets, can be used in analysis and simulation to determine the dynamic behaviour of the software, and to identify structures which may be prone to deadlock so that they may be eliminated from the design before the program is ever run. This design software tool consists of two parts. One takes an input program and translates it into a mathematical model (Petri-net), which is used for modeling and analysis of the concurrent software. The second part is the Petri-net simulator that takes the translated program as its input and starts simulation to generate the reachability tree. The tree identifies `deadlock potential' which the user can explore further. Finally, the software tool has been applied to a number of Occam programs. Two examples were taken to show how the tool works in the early design phase for fault prevention before the program is ever run.

The evolving role of information specialists:change agents in process redesign

The research investigates the past, present and potential future role of Information Specialists (ISps) in process oriented companies. It tests the proposition that ISps in companies that have undertaken formal process reengineering exercises are likely to become more proactive and more business oriented (as opposed to technically oriented) than they had previously been when their organisations were organised along traditional, functional lines. A review of existing literature in the area of Business Process Reengineering and Information Management reveals a lack of consensus amongst researchers concerning the appropriate role for ISps during and after BPR. Opinion is divided as to whether IS professionals should reactively support BPR or whether IT/IS developments should be driving these initiatives. A questionnaire based ‘Descriptive Survey’ with 60 respondents is used as a first stage of primary data gathering. This is followed by follow-up interviews with 20 of the participating organisations to gather further information on their experiences. The final stage of data collection consists of further in-depth interview with four case study companies to provide an even richer picture of their experiences. The results of the questionnaire are analysed and displayed in the form of simple means, frequencies and bar graphs. The ‘NU-DIST’ computer based discourse analysis package was tried in relation to summarising the interview findings, but this proved cumbersome and a visual collation method is preferred. Overall, the researcher contends that the supposition outlined above is proven, and she concludes the research by suggesting the implications of these findings. In particular she offers a ‘Framework for Understanding and Action’ which is deemed to be relevant to both practitioners and future researchers.

A survey of some small firms in the rural areas of England: their structure and functions, with special reference to factors that affect their development

This study was concerned with the structure, functions and development, especially the performance, of some rural small firms associated with the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (C?SIRA) of England. Forty firms were used as the main basis of analysis. For some aspects of the investigation, however, data from another 54 firms, obtained indirectly through nine CoSIRA Organisers, were also used. For performance-analysis, the 40 firms were firstly ranked according to their growth and profitability rates which were calculated from their financial data. Then each of the variables hypothesised to be related to performance was tested to ascertain its relationship with performance, using the Spearman's Rank Correlation technique. The analysis indicated that each of the four factors .. the principal, the firm itself, its management, and the environment - had a bearing upon the performance of the firm. Within the first factor, the owner-manager's background and attitudes were found to be most important; in the second, the firm's size, age and scope of activities were also found to be correlated with performance; with respect to the third, it was revealed that firms which practised some forms of systems in planning, control and costing performed better than those which did not and, finally with respect to the fourth factor, it was found that some of the services provided by CoSIRA, especially credit finance, were facilitative to the firm's performance. Another significant facet of the firms highlighted by the study was their multifarious roles. These, meeting economic, psychological, sociological and political needs, were considered to be most useful to man and his society. Finally, the study has added light to the structural characteristics of the sampled firms, including various aspects of their development, orientation and organisation, as well as their various structural strengths and weakness. ' .

Expatriate managers adjustment and its impact on subordinates reactions: a cross cultural leadership study of Kenya and Ethiopia

Research on culture, leadership and adjustment shows that societal culture influences leadership in such a way that it can impact on expatriate managers' effectiveness and adjustment in a new culture. In previous research, cultural background, personality, motives or behaviour of expatriate managers and their followers' reactions to them have been investigated in Europe, America and Asia. However, little attention has been paid on research on expatriate managers in African cultures especially in Eastern Africa. The present study represents an attempt to address the gap by examining how societal culture, leadership and adjustment success are interrelated for expatriate managers in Kenya and Ethiopia. Questionnaire data were obtained from a) local middle managers (N=160) for studying societal culture and leadership in Kenya and Ethiopia, b) expatriate managers in non-governmental organizations - NGOs (N=28) for studying expatriate managers' personality, motives and adjustment success and c) their immediate subordinates (N=125) for studying the expatriate managers' behaviours and their subordinates' reactions to them. Additionally, expatriate managers were interviewed and responses were coded for implicit motives, experiences and adjustment. SPSS was used to analyse data from questionnaires to obtain cultural and leadership dimensions, leader behaviour and subordinate reactions. The NVIVO computer based disclosure analysis package was used to analyse interview data. Findings indicate that societal culture influences leadership behaviours and leadership perceptions while the expatriate managers' motives, behaviours, personality and the cross cultural training they received prior to their assignment impact on the expatriates' adjustment success and on subordinates' reactions to them. The cultural fit between expatriate managers' home country (19 countries) and the target country (Kenya or Ethiopia) had no significant association with adjustment success but was positively related to expatriate behaviour and negatively associated with subordinates reactions. However, some particular societal practices - obviously adopted by expatriates and transferred to their target country - did predict subordinates' commitment, motivation and job satisfaction. Furthermore, expatriates' responsibility motivation was positively related to their adjustment success. Regarding leadership behaviours and effectiveness, expatriate' supportive behaviours predicted subordinates' job satisfaction most strongly. Expatriate managers expressing their management philosophies and experience shed light on the various aspects of adjustment and management of NGOs. In addition, review of Kenyan and Ethiopian cultures and the NGO context in these countries offers valuable information for expatriate managers. This study's general imphcation for Cross Cultural Management and lnternational Human Resources Management is that the combination of culture general and culture specific knowledge and reflections on Eastern Africa countries can inform senior management and international HR staff about the critical issue of what to include in training, coaching, and actual experience in a particular host country in order to ensure effective leadership. Furthennore, this knowledge is expected to influence expatriate managers' behaviour modification to enhance positive subordinate reactions. Questions about how to prepare expatriate managers and subordinates to work more competently and sensitively across cultures are addressed. Further theoretical implications, limitations of the study and directions for future research are also addressed.

Shaping strategic action through the rhetorical construction and exploitation of ambiguity

This paper extends existing understandings of how actors' constructions of ambiguity shape the emergent process of strategic action. We theoretically elaborate the role of rhetoric in exploiting strategic ambiguity, based on analysis of a longitudinal case study of an internationalization strategy within a business school. Our data show that actors use rhetoric to construct three types of strategic ambiguity: protective ambiguity that appeals to common values in order to protect particular interests, invitational ambiguity that appeals to common values in order to invite participation in particular actions, and adaptive ambiguity that enables the temporary adoption of specific values in order to appeal to a particular audience at one point in time. These rhetorical constructions of ambiguity follow a processual pattern that shapes the emergent process of strategic action. Our findings show that (1) the strategic actions that emerge are shaped by the way actors construct and exploit ambiguity, (2) the ambiguity intrinsic to the action is analytically distinct from ambiguity that is constructed and exploited by actors, and (3) ambiguity construction shifts over time to accommodate the emerging pattern of actions.

Building a competitive advantage through sustainable operations strategy

This paper addresses an important gap in sustainability and technology management studies: the strategies for sustainable operations. Based on analysis of cases from automotive, textile, chemical, and food processing industries, the authors discuss the responses companies take to environmental and social pressures when aiming at increasing profitability. Our findings show that adaptations of traditional operations strategy frameworks can be useful when developing and assessing sustainability strategy for operations. Lastly, we also offer definitions for ‘sustainable operations strategy’ and ‘sustainable technology’ as those are not yet established in the literature. We consider the contribution of this article to be linked to the development and evaluation of sustainable operations strategies, which will invariably include the choice and use of technologies.