Jorge Alvarado

Combination of Process Mining and Simulation Techniques for Business Process Redesign: A Methodological Approach

Organizations of all sizes are currently supporting their performance on information systems that record the real execution of their business processes in event logs. Process mining tools analyze the log to provide insight on the real problems of the process, as part of the diagnostic phase. Nonetheless, to complete the lifecycle of a process, the latter has to be redesigned, a task for which simulation techniques can be used in combination with process mining, in order to evaluate different improvement alternatives before they are put in practice. In this context, the current work presents a methodological approach to the integration of process mining and simulation techniques in a process redesign project.

Drawing sounds: representing tones and chords spatially

Research on the crossmodal correspondences has revealed that seemingly unrelated perceptual information can be matched across the senses in a manner that is consistent across individuals. An interesting extension of this line of research is to study how sensory information biases action. In the present study, we investigated whether different sounds (i.e. tones and piano chords) would bias participants’ hand movements in a free movement task. Right-handed participants were instructed to move a computer mouse in order to represent three tones and two chords. They also had to rate each sound in terms of three visual analogue scales (slow–fast, unpleasant–pleasant, and weak–strong). The results demonstrate that tones and chords influence hand movements, with higher-(lower-)pitched sounds giving rise to a significant bias towards upper (lower) locations in space. These results are discussed in terms of the literature on forward models, embodied cognition, crossmodal correspondences, and mental imagery. Potential applications sports and rehabilitation are discussed briefly.

Simulation and experimental design applied to sizing supermarket cashiers in Colombia

A framework for Colombian supermarkets challenges in order to find an adequate number of cashiers and baggers was developed, translated to a simulation model using Promodel® and proved through an experiment varying register item time, number of cashiers and number of baggers for eight real Colombian supermarkets. The framework proved to be successful in finding a cashier-bagger combination for average waiting and system times, but not powerful enough for service promises involving all of the most part of the clients due to variability of maximum times. An interaction among cashiers and baggers combination was found that makes valuable to increase the number of baggers only for some specific number of cashiers working.

Simple lines and shapes are associated with, and communicate, distinct emotions

ABSTRACT We investigated whether lines and shapes that present face-like features would be associated with emotions. In Experiment 1, participants associated concave, convex, or straight lines with the words happy or sad. Participants found it easiest to associate the concave line with happy and the convex line with sad. In Experiment 2, participants rated (valence, pleasantness, liking, and tension) and categorised (valence and emotion words) two convex and concave lines that were paired with six distinct pairs of eyes. The presence of eyes affected participants’ valence ratings and response latencies; more congruent eye–mouth matches produced more consistent ratings and faster reaction times. In Experiment 3, we examined whether dots that resembled eyes would be associated with emotional words. Participants found it easier to match certain sets of dots with specific emotions. These results suggest that facial gestures that are associated with specific emotions can be captured using relatively simple shapes and lines.

Assessment of the effect of time in the repeatability of the stabilometric parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects during bipedal standing using the LorAn pressure distribution measurement system

This study was designed to assess the effect of time on the repeatability of the LorAn pressure distribution measurement system, and evaluate the variability of plantar pressure and postural balance, during barefoot standing in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, for future diabetic foot clinical evaluation. Fourteen subjects were evaluated (8 females, 6 males, 8 non-diabetics and 6 diabetics, age range 30–70 years) and had no musculoskeletal symptoms. Four variables were measured with the platform in the barefoot standing position. Ten measurements were taken using two different techniques for feet and posture positioning, during three sessions, once a week. The MANOVA test confirmed that the platform measurements are reproducible for variables body baricenter (x) and foot baricenter (x) through time, being the coefficients of variation, with a 99% confidence interval, lower than 1.6% for body baricenter (x), and lower than 2.06% for foot baricenter (x), for all studied conditions. For the remaining variables, the results were not stabilized through time, which makes necessary to standardize the measurement protocol that guarantees the repeatability in all variables.

Diabetic Foot Prevention: Repeatability of Platform Stabilometric Parameters in Bipedal Standing for Future Home Monitoring Applications in Diabetic Patients

This study was designed to assess the repeatability of the LorAn Platform, and evaluate the variability of plantar pressure and postural balance, during barefoot standing in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, for future diabetic foot clinical evaluation. Measurements were taken from 14 subjects (8 females, 6 males, 8 non-diabetics and 6 diabetics, age range 30-70 years) who had no musculoskeletal symptoms. Four variables were measured with the platform in barefoot standing position. Ten measurements were taken using two different techniques for feet and posture positioning, during three sessions, once a week. The MANOVA analysis (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) confirmed that the platform registers are reproducible for the Anterior-Posterior Load Distribution, the Average Pressure and the Body Baricenter variables, with both techniques. In the future, new measurements will guarantee reproducibility for the lateral load distribution and the foot baricenter variables, and implement home monitoring applications of plantar pressure distribution for diabetic patients.

Preliminary Study of Pressure Distribution in Diabetic Subjects, in Early Stages

Type 2 diabetes is considered a major public health challenge. Diabetic foot is a multifactorial disorder of vascular, nervous and mechanical origin that can seriously threaten the limb. Indeed, diabetes remains the leading cause of lower-limb amputations worldwide, and the use of imaging technologies can improve early diagnosis for prevention of ul- cer development, but its costs can limit its implementation in clinical practice, for homecare monitoring and customized treatment. Previous studies have compared certain parameters between males and females, attributed to anatomical and phys- iological differences, which could be significant in the distribu- tion of pressure on the foot. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pressure platform EPS/R1 (LorAn Engineering) in subjects with and without diabetes, of both genders, for its future implementation in clinical practice. Fourteen volunteers, 6 diabetics (4 females, 2 males) and 8 non-diabetics (4 females, 4 males), aged 30 - 70 years, and body mass index below 35, were recruited. Pressure platform EPS/R1 (LorAn Engineering) was used for registering plantar pressure variables: lateral load distribution (LLD), antero-posterior load distribution (APLD), average pressure (AP), body barycenter (BB), foot barycenter (FB), and points of maximum pressure (PML). Variables BB and FB presented interactions with gender and condition. Variables LLD, PML and AP presented interactions with condition and marginal with gender. Variable APLD presented no interactions with gender or condition. In general, subjects without diabetes had similar measurements over the 3 sessions in both genders, while measurements of subjects with diabetes changed as trials progressed. Some gender differences were found. This study in- dicated that males have better balance compared to females. In particular, it was found that females, in search of balance, pri- oritized support in the hindfoot, making this area susceptible to ulcers.

Extracción de Funciones de un Cargo usando Minería de Texto en Correos Electrónicos

A methodology to extract, from a group of electronic mails belonging to workers with defined responsibilities, a sample of electronic mails that are representative of the tasks assigned to the workers. This is done through natural language processing tools and data mining. The results showed that the methodology represents a good approach for extracting the functions of the workers, allowing 65% of the work descriptions in the evaluation stage. Thus, the proposed methodology can be used with relative confidence to gathered information about workers that suddenly quit their job positions and also for position changes and promotions.