How the Role of Computing is Driving New Genetics' Public Policy

In this paper we will examine some ethical aspects of the role that computers and computing increasingly play in new genetics. Our claim is that there is no new genetics without computer science. Computer science is important for the new genetics on two levels: (1) from a theoretical perspective, and (2) from the point of view of geneticists practice. With respect to (1), the new genetics is fully impregnate with concepts that are basic for computer science. Regarding (2), recent developments in the Human Genome Project (HGP) have shown that computers shape the practices of molecular genetics; an important example is the Shotgun Method's contribution to accelerating the mapping of the human genome. A new challenge to the HGP is provided by the Open Source Philosophy (I computer science), which is another way computer technologies now influence the shaping of public policy debates involving genomics.     

Short-term economic incentives in new product development

This study investigates the use of variable compensation to motivate new product development managers and its impact upon the performance of new product development projects. Using data from 56 projects, the paper examines how technology-intensive firms compensate their product development managers. The study finds a positive and significant relationship between the use of short-term economic incentives and project performance; however, the slope of this relationship is not linear and its intensity (slope) decreases as the percentage of variable compensation increases; furthermore, the relationship is contingent on the level of project uncertainty. The results also indicate that higher project uncertainty is associated with a lower level of variable compensation. Moreover, organizational structure, through its effect upon the allocation of uncertainty among organizational participants, also affects the level of variable compensation.     

Reference values and improvement of aerodynamic drag in professional cyclists

The aims of this study were to measure the aerodynamic drag in professional cyclists, to obtain aerodynamic drag reference values in static and effort positions, to improve the cyclists' aerodynamic drag by modifying their position and cycle equipment, and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these modifications. The study was performed in a wind tunnel with five professional cyclists. Four positions were assessed with a time-trial bike and one position with a standard racing bike. In all positions, aerodynamic drag and kinematic variables were recorded. The drag area for the time-trial bike was 31% higher in the effort than static position, and lower than for the standard racing bike. Changes in the cyclists' position decreased the aerodynamic drag by 14%. The aero-helmet was not favourable for all cyclists. The reliability of aerodynamic drag measures in the wind tunnel was high (r > 0.96, coefficient of variation < 2%). In conclusion, we measured and improved the aerodynamic drag in professional cyclists. Our results were better than those of other researchers who did not assess aerodynamic drag during effort at race pace and who employed different wheels. The efficiency of the aero-helmet, and the validity, reliability, and sensitivity of the wind tunnel and aerodynamic field testing were addressed.     

Representación espacial en los niños ciegos: una investigación sobre las principales variables que la determinan y los procedimientos de objetivación más adecuados

Resumen

El objetivo fundamental de este trabajo es el estudio conjunto de los principales factores que determinan el conocimiento y la representación del entorno en los invidentes, haciendo especial énfasis en las relaciones entre desarrollo y aprendizaje. El marco teórico se toma de la psicologia ambiental y de la psicología evolutiva del conocimiento espacial. El procedimiento consiste en el aprendizaje de un entorno desconocido, en un máximo de cuatro sesiones. El conocimiento espacial se evalúa mediante tres tipos de técnicas. Los resultados no muestran, en términos generales, grandes diferencias entre ciegos de nacimiento y ciegos tardíos, ni tampoco entre el espacio pequeño y el grande. Las diferencias más significativas son las debidas a la edad de los sujetos, y el aprendizaje también se revela como factor importante, aunque en nuestro diseño parezca estar subordinado al desarrollo. La investigaáón tiene implicaciones claras para la instrucción de la orientación, movilidad y conocimiento del entorno en los invidentes.     

社会主义和哲学(一)

索列尔的序言并不符合历史唯物主义的本来观点.历史唯物主义中的人是与历史事件进程紧密相关并参与其中的.整个社会主义的实践问题在索列尔看来或许可以归纳为以下三方面:第一,无产阶级对自己作为一个阶级的存在是否有一个清晰的概念?第二,无产阶级自己是否有足够强大的力量来参加反抗其他阶级的斗争?第三,无产阶级是否将要推翻资本主义的组织结构,连同它的全部的传统思想体系?其实,历史唯物主义的理论传播现在还远赶不上社会达尔文主义,但历史唯物主义的研究方法却能让我们中的部分人写出关于历史的更加令人信服的著作,远比那些仅仅在哲学和古典学问的帮助下运用他们的技巧的文学家更加令人信服     

Clase social y situación dentro de la fratria: Interacción y efectos sobre el desarrollo del individuo

Resumen

En este estudio se analiza la influencia de la clase social, el número de hermanos y el orden de nacimiento sobre una serie de variables cognitivas y de rendimiento escolar.

Se ha realizado la investigación sobre una muestra de 507 alumnos de 1° de E.G.B., pertenecientes a los Centros Públicos de Valladolid y provincia. Las variables de rendimiento escolar se evaluaron a través de la opinión del profesor. La valoración, en cambio, de las cognitivas se realizó por medio de pruebas estandarizadas. Dentro de los efectos principales, y dejando aparte las diferencias marcadas por el medio social, obviamente esperadas, destacamos una fuerte influencia del orden de nacimiento sobre prácticamente todas las variables dependientes. Su interacción con la variable socio cultural es el resultado más destacable del presente trabajo. Dedujimos como hipótesis explicativa las diferentes pautas culturales que propician o no la estabilidad de los patrones educativos familiares.     

Family background,self-confidence and economic outcomes

In this paper we analyze the role played by self-confidence, modeled as beliefs about one's ability, in shaping task choices. We propose a model in which fully rational agents exploit all the available information to update their beliefs using Bayes’ rule, eventually learning their true type. We show that when the learning process does not converge quickly to the true ability level, small differences in initial confidence can result in diverging patterns of human capital accumulation between otherwise identical individuals. If differences in self-confidence are correlated with socio-economic background (as a large body of empirical literature suggests), self-confidence can be a channel through which education and earning inequalities perpetuate across generations. Our theory suggests that cognitive tests should take place as early as possible, in order to avoid that systematic differences in self-confidence among equally talented people lead to the emergence of gaps in the accumulation of human capital.