| 1. |
- Arévalo, Carmen, et al.
(författare)
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Program for the Promotion of Researchers (PPI) in Venezuela: acknowledgment or stimulus?
- 1996
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 21:2, s. 86-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 1990 Venezuela started its Program for the Promotion of Researchers (PPI), in order to foster research in science and technology A partial evaluation of the effects of the program on scientific and technological activities can be carried out using data from the System for :the Promotion of Researchers Foundation Fund (SPI). A complete and definitive evaluation is not possible, due to the fact that the Venezuelan science and technology community has obtained other incentives and has been negatively affected by situations not related to the PPI. Here we do not evaluate the influence of these other factors over scientific endeavor. After the initial pow at the start of the program in 1990, the number of membership requests remained at a fairly constant level until the 1995 convocation, when the number of requests was doubled. The increased interest in the program may be ascribed to the change of the Technical Secretary and his policies of dialogue and information. About 50% of all accredited researchers are classified in level I. The rates of growth of levels III and Candidate are lower than expected. The norms of access to level III may be over-valued, as indicated by the fact that in the area of physics, mathematics and chemistry (CMFQ), 48 years of production al the stipulated rate are needed to reach that level. The surprisingly low number of Candidates points to the need of forming human resources with post-graduate studies in science and technology. In Venezuela, a researcher produces approximately one paper every two years. This is the production rate established for the enhance and permanence at level I, and it has remained fairly invariant along the 5 years of activity of the PPI. The rate of scientific production in Venezuela is notably less than that of the other four countries with largest scientific production in Latin America. Thanks to the PPI the country has a data base of the scientific-technical sector. Through this characterization, the researcher has been acknowledged and valued in his productive activity; nevertheless, the PPI has not had the expected impact over the country's scientific and technological production. The composition of the Committees of Areas has been a polemical factor in the application of the program. Of the potential evaluators, only 15% have sewed in the committees for medical, biological and agricultural sciences, and for physics, mathematics and chemistry, 25% in the committee for the social sciences, and 51% in the committee for engineering, technology and earth sciences. Although these committees have been formed according to regulations, their composition are a cause of uneasiness in the community, and therefore a change of the rules should be analyzed. Similar uneasiness is caused by a lack of a Committee of Appeals. The financial contribution of the PPI is less than 20% of a researcher's salary. To maintain the program's economic incentives, the State should recapitalize the SPI. The institutions that employ 82% of all researchers in the program are IVIC, LUZ, UCV, ULA and USE. Those which implemented institutional policies of stimulus to research (LUZ and USB), were successful in raising efficiency We conclude it is necessary to evaluate the program integrally and to study some statute modifications. Furthermore, the country's scientific institutions must cooperate to stimulate the sector, creating additional incentives, the State must back the program financially, and the scientific community must remain vigilant to keep and perfect this effort to support and promote national research.
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| 2. |
- Galar, Diego, et al.
(författare)
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Cálculo de la vida útil remanente mediante trayectorias móviles entre hiperplanos de máquinas de de soporte vectorial : [Rul prediction using moving trajectories between svm hyper planes]
- 2013
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 38:8, s. 556-562
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Se propone un nuevo método de predicción de vida útil remanente (RUL) inspirado en clasificadores de máquinas de soporte vectorial (SVM). Los datos históricos de condición de un sistema durante su tiempo de vida se utilizan para crear una clasificación mediante hiperplanos en SVM. Para estimar la RUL de un sistema, la velocidad de degradación se evalúa calculando la distancia mínima definida con base en las trayectorias de degradación; es decir, el acercamiento del sistema al hiperplano que segrega información de las condiciones buenas y malas en diferentes horizontes de tiempo. Se puede estimar la vida final de un componente específico, o la información de la RUL de una población ser calculada, mediante la agregación de múltiples estimaciones RUL usando un método de estimación de densidad. La degradación de un sistema se ve afectado por muchos factores desconocidos que, además de complicar los comportamientos de degradación, dificultan la recolección de datos con calidad. Debido a falta de conocimiento y medidas incompletas, normalmente se carece de información importante del contexto de los datos recogidos. Por ello se agrupan datos históricos del sistema con gran variedad de patrones de degradación, con los que la búsqueda de un modelo global depredicción RUL es extremadamente difícil. Esto lleva a buscar técnicas avanzadas de predicción más allá de los modelos tradicionales. El modelo propuesto desarrolla un método eficaz de predicción RUL que aborda múltiples retos en pronósticos de sistemas complejos. Las similitudes entre trayectorias de degradación pueden contrastarse para enriquecer las metodologías actuales de prognosis. Para verificar el modelo se emplean datos del monitorizado de condición en rodamientos.
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| 3. |
- Marquardt, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Small-scale Farmers' Land Management Strategies in the Upper Amazon: an Action Research Case Study
- 2010
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Ingår i: Interciencia -Caracas-. - 0378-1844. ; 35, s. 421-429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Local agricultural knowledge in the Amazon and its processes of experimentation and diffusion continues to receive scant attention from researchers despite its growing regional importance. This case study has documented and evaluated the broad variety of land management activities which small-scale farmers perform in the Peruvian Upper Amazon in terms of slope-, fallow-, fire‑, weed- and agro-biodiversity management. The research shows that local non-indigenous farmers are testing different strategies in order to handle their situation of erosion and land degradation, and that these land management techniques are relevant from a larger land management perspective. The research also shows that farmers prefer to re-direct soil management related questions to a “forest perspective”, that is, considering the spatial and temporal dynamics of agriculture as related to fallowing cycles and spatial rotation of gardens. This highlights the importance of reflecting on the farmers’ point of departure when talking about agriculture and soil. The conception of soils as a property of the forest, and forest management as the driver of the forest-soil complex, has important implications on how to develop land management processes in the region. The action research approach used in the study strongly supports participatory methods and local, contextually adapted, knowledge and skills in land management programs
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| 4. |
- Moreira da Silva, Ricardo, et al.
(författare)
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Framework para análise da sustentabilidade de fontes de energia
- 2013
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 38:11, s. 760-768
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The energy matrix in countries is composed by different energy sources. The possibilities of choices and the decisions for energy use and about investments have many answers and can lead to economic, ecologic and/or social damages at different levels of sustainability. This article proposes a framework based on losses and damages that compares sustainability, classifying it by levels, considering the whole process of capture, transformation and consumption of energy (and not only the use) of energy sources used in a national electrical matrix. In addition to the traditional economic, environmental and social issues, verified by the Triple Top Line, the framework considers also, trough the Agency Theory, additional damages to authors and institutions related with energy policies. The methodology used for its construction was: 1) construction of tables of driving force-state-response of energy sources with focus in sustainability, 2) systematization of the model, and 3) validation of the framework through ANOVA among randomized blocks. An application of this framework is made in Brazil and it is concluded that established paradigms by common sense like 'hydropower doesn't issues CO2' and 'nuclear energy is unsustainable' are broken.
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| 5. |
- Perez Sira, Elevina Eduviges, et al.
(författare)
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Production and characterization of cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) flours using different thermal treatments
- 2007
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 32:9, s. 615-619
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to produce flours from the edible portion of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots, treat them by heat in different forms (normal and pressure cooking, in limited and excess water conditions, and in the presence or absence of NaCl) and characterize them in their chemical composition, physical and functional properties. The flour preparation procedure affected both the chemical composition and gelatinization profile. The control (raw flour) and heat-treated samples displayed a set-back reduction. Pregelatinized flours showed decreased consistency and absorption indices, and augmented departure time, stability, tolerance index and time to breakdown values, as compared to control sample. These flours are suggested as potential ingredients in new or conventional product development.
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| 6. |
- Russell, Jane M., et al.
(författare)
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"Seed money" and publication output in Mexican research: A case study of IFS grantees
- 2007
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 32:1, s. 14-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study assesses the effect of grants given to young Mexican researchers by the International Foundation for Science (IFS) on the development of their academic careers through an analysis of their publication output. Since 1974 IFS has supported similar to 4000 young scientists in developing countries conducting relevant and high quality research on the sustainable use of biological natural resources. In March 2000 publication lists received from 105 of the 138 current and former Mexican grantees were coded for type and format of publication, language of publication, publication in mainstream journals, co-authorships and author position. These variables were analyzed in relation to the time period when the grant was given, number of grants given, research area and membership of the Mexican National Researchers System (SNI). The publication trends show that IFS support contributed to publication output, to more frequent publication in English and more often in mainstream journals, thus increasing the international visibility of their work and contributing to the internationalization of Mexican science. It is suggested that the grantees receiving IFS financing were able to establish themselves as bona fide scientists in Mexico, especially those from minor universities and research institutes, reducing the likelihood of brain drain and contributing to strengthen national research. Nonetheless, it is concluded that while IFS may not be considered essential to the development of most scientist's research, its funding is an effective facilitator for a continuing research career.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Tovar, J, et al.
(författare)
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In vitro digestibility of starch in cooked-milled common beans
- 2005
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Ingår i: Interciencia. - 0378-1844. ; 30:12, s. 780-783
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In spite of the importance of legumes in Latin American diets, nutritional features of carbohydrates in these seeds are scarcely known. The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro digestibility of starch in cooked powdered black beans, a common type of product in Mexico and Central America. The properties of a commercial product were compared to those of an experimental material obtained by seed pressure cooking, milling and drum drying. Available starch content varied between 29 and 35% (d.m.b.), whereas retrograded resistant starch (RS) levels ranged between 2.7 and 3.7%. The experimental product exhibited the highest RS values. Both types of samples were slowly digested by a-amylase, in particular the commercial preparation, suggesting that these products may elicit low glycemic responses.
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