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The current work shows an approach to solve the QoS multicast routing problem by using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The problem of finding a route from a source node to multiple destination nodes (multicast) at a minimum cost is an NP-Complete problem (Steiner tree problem) and is even greater if Quality of Service -QoS- constraints are taken into account. Thus, approximation algorithms are necessary to solve this problem. This work presents a routing algorithm with two QoS constraints (delay and delay variation) for solving the routing problem based on a modified version of particle swarm optimization.

This work involved the following methodology: 1. Literature Review 2. Routing algorithm design 3. Implementation of the designed routing algorithm by java programming. 4. Simulations and results.

In this work we compared our routing algorithm against the exhaustive search approach. The results showed that our algorithm improves the execution times in about 40% with different topologies.

The algorithm was tested in three different topologies with 30, 40 and 50 nodes with and a dense graph topology.

Our algorithm implements a novel technique for fine tuning the parameters of the implemented bio-inspired model (Particles Swarm Optimization) by using a Genetic Meta-Optimizer. We also present a simple and multi implementation approach by using an encoding system that fits multiple bio-inspired models.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how artificial intelligence contributes to the preservation of the cultural identity of native peoples as well as to reduce the gap in access to verified information in native languages of Peru.

An analysis of the context of artificial intelligence in the field of preservation of native languages was developed. Subsequently, the case of the digital tool Quispe Chequea was highlighted, which uses artificial intelligence to produce journalistic content of verification in three native languages of Peru (Quechua, Aimara and Awajún). Finally, a reflection was made on the contributions of artificial intelligence in reducing the gap in access to information, vindication and preservation of native Peruvian languages.

The findings evidenced the importance of the principles of indigenous data sovereignty to respect cultural rights. Also, it was determined that artificial intelligence contributes to the preservation of cultural values of ethnic groups. It also provides verified information in the native language in order to promote inclusion. Finally, this enabling technology proved to be an important resource in reducing social and cultural gaps.

The use of artificial intelligence will enable the preservation of the native languages of marginalized and ethnic groups. It also favors the dissemination and communication of truthful information in native languages.

This opinion article highlights a little-explored context in the field of native Peruvian languages. It highlights the contribution that artificial intelligence can bring to ethnic groups, especially in the preservation of their languages and the reduction of the information access gap.

This paper aims to study the use of photos in corporate sustainability reports (CSRs) as a means to gain legitimacy concerning Colombian post-conflict representations.

From a critical perspective based on legitimacy theory and political economy theory, and using visual semiotics and critical discourse analysis, this paper examines the use of photographs in sustainability reports as a mechanism to account for corporate actions regarding peace in Colombia. This paper relies on 121 pictures from 30 CSRs.

The analysis shows that companies are gaining legitimacy by referring to post-conflict through visual forms. Nonetheless, the structural conditions that caused the Colombian conflict are still present. Sustainability reporting that includes peace action representations becomes a control and subordination mechanism to reproduce existing power relations in the Colombian social order. Indeed, the generation of opportunities for civilians and ex-combatants, victims reparation, security and reconciliation remains unresolved structural issues. Hence, the use of corporate economic resources and their strategic visual representation in reports is just one business way of representing firms as aligned with government initiatives to obtain tax incentives.

This study is centered on Colombian CSRs for the period 2016-2017; however, 2017 reports by some companies have not yet been published. This study also explored the messages contained in the images that include people. Images that do not depict persons were not examined.

This study provides evidence on visual representations of corporate peace actions aimed at gaining corporate legitimacy. Furthermore, this research examines a unique scenario that promoted more significant corporate social participation, following the signing of the peace agreements between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, Ejército del Pueblo).

The purpose of this research is to determine the convenience of using a contract model as an integration mechanism for decision-making in a decentralized supply chain of small agricultural producers in a developing country, taking as hypothesis coordinated chain achieves better management. The analysis is based on information obtained by direct inquiry to 99 small producers in the region, about planning, production, marketing and distribution in the chain, supplemented with secondary information sources.

As a methodology an analysis of maturity in the chain based on the Capability Maturity Model Integration is done, whose evaluation is later analyzed as a fuzzy logic model, with the support of the fuzzy logic of the MATLAB toolbox, to study the convenience of the use of the contract against the other mechanisms, and to establish an approximation to the level of readiness of the chain toward integration.

Results obtained show that the small farmer supply chain studied, from a maturity perspective, has a strong disposition for the use of contracts as an integration mechanism.

The supply chain for small producers presents a high dispersion, little consolidated offer capacity and lack of coordination. Limitations in terms of information and criteria unification are a challenge for future research. Results have socioeconomic implications for small producers and can serve as a guide to formulate policies by the governments in Latin American countries.

As practical implications, it can be stated that the use of supply contracts is a real mechanism that can be implemented in this type of chain, to break the mistrust between the echelons and improve the supply chain performance. This research will allow to establish support programs from local governments for the sustainability and improving income of small producers. In addition, contracts will allow to formalize the linkage of small producers to a sustainable commercial network.

Small agricultural producers in developing countries live in unfavorable conditions, with socioeconomic limitations. This work offers an alternative for their productive activity development that will allow them access to marketing chains in a safe way and improve their living conditions.

Previous studies related to the maturity toward the chain integration and fuzzy logic as a hybrid methodology, were not found in the literature, and less even applied to a chain of small agricultural products.

The mall industry in Latin America has grown rapidly in the past decade, offering diverse proposals oriented to improving the attractiveness of this commerce format; along this line, despite the fact that several studies have analyzed variables from an ecological perspective based on the relationship of the physical space with the consumers (from a marketing context), there is shortage in research regarding alternative attractiveness factors inspired by nature, although its connection with people’s behavior has been confirmed. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: Is the perception of environments with natural resources displayed in malls an alternative attractiveness factor for visitors? Thus, does it benefit its own competitive management against other attractiveness variables that focus on offering variety, accessibility, physical design and entertainment?

The quantitative method is an exploratory factor analysis that is followed by a confirmatory analysis and resulting in a measurement model based on 470 effective questionnaires. The exploratory and confirmatory nature focused on multidimensional verification of the measurement model (including the validation of the eco-natural environment) justified this choice in consistence with prior research that has used goodness of fit criteria.

The paper not only suggests the existence of a perception factor in the eco-natural environment, but it also determines its comparative importance over other traditional attractiveness factors reported in scientific literature. Particularly because commercial attractiveness is a consequence of how marketing variables are managed by malls and of how consumers respond to said variables, benefiting the visit’s experience.

The paper contributes to malls’ competitive management by suggesting and proving the importance of the eco-natural environment as a commercial attractiveness factor; thus, the results encourage this format’s developers to take into account new ways of persuasion considering its progressive and competitive rise in the past years in Latin America.

There is shortage of research on alternative attractiveness factors for malls; therefore, contrasting the eco-natural environment in a measurement model of commercial attractiveness allows contributing strategic information to the industry, which in turn constitutes an innovative resource to lure and motivate visitors. On the other hand, the paper contributes the state of knowledge of environmental variables over consumers’ assessments.

La industria de los centros comerciales en américa latina ha crecido rápidamente en la última década caracterizándose por diversas propuestas orientadas a mejorar la capacidad de atracción de estos formatos de comercio; en esta línea, a pesar de que existen varios estudios que han analizado dichas variables desde una perspectiva ecológica basada en la relación del ambiente físico con los consumidores en el contexto de marketing, existe una escases de investigación sobre factores alternativos de atracción inspirados en la naturaleza pese a su ya comprobada relación sobre el comportamiento de las personas. Por tanto, este documento tiene como objetivo responder a la siguiente pregunta: ¿La percepción de ambientes con recursos naturales dispuestos en centros comerciales son un factor alternativo de atracción para visitantes? y, por tanto, puede favorecer su propia gestión competitiva frente a otras variables de atracción centradas en la variedad de la oferta, la accesibilidad, el diseño físico y el entretenimiento.

El método cuantitativo corresponde a un análisis factorial exploratorio seguido por un análisis confirmatorio obteniendo un modelo de medida a partir de 470 cuestionarios efectivos. La naturaleza exploratoria y confirmatoria centrada en comprobación multidimensional del modelo de medida (incluyendo la validación del ambiente eco-natural) justificó esta elección en coherencia a investigaciones antecedentes que han utilizado criterios de bondad del ajuste.

La investigación no solamente sugiere la existencia del factor de percepción del ambiente eco-natural, sino que también permite determinar su importancia comparativa sobre otros factores tradicionales de atracción reportados por la literatura científica. Particularmente debido a que la atracción comercial es una consecuencia de cómo gestionan las variables de mercadeo los centros comerciales y de cómo responden los consumidores a dichas variables favoreciendo su experiencia de visita.

La investigación contribuye a la gestión competitiva de los centros comerciales al sugerir y demostrar la importancia del ambiente eco-natural como factor de atracción comercial, ante lo cual, los resultados alientan a desarrolladores de estos formatos a considerar nuevas formas de persuasión teniendo en cuenta su aumento progresivo y competitivo en los últimos años en américa latina.

Existe escases de investigaciones sobre nuevos factores alternativos de atracción para centros comerciales, en esta línea, contrastar el ambiente eco-natural en un modelo de medida de atracción comercial, permite aportar información estratégica a la industria constituyéndose un recurso innovador para conquistar e incentivar a visitantes. Por otra parte, la investigación logra aportar al estado de conocimiento de las variables ambientales sobre las evaluaciones del consumidor.

Ambiente ecológico, Ambiente de naturaleza, Factores de atracción,Centros comerciales

Trabajo de investigación

O setor de shopping centers na América Latina cresceu rapidamente na última década, oferecendo diversas propostas orientadas para melhorar a atratividade deste formato de comércio; Nessa linha, apesar de vários estudos terem analisado variáveis de uma perspectiva ecológica a partir da relação do espaço físico com os consumidores (de um contexto de marketing), há escassez de pesquisas sobre fatores de atração alternativos inspirados na natureza, embora a conexão com o comportamento das pessoas foi confirmada. Portanto, o objetivo deste documento é responder a seguinte pergunta: A percepção de ambientes com recursos naturais apresenta nos shoppings um fator de atratividade alternativo para os visitantes? Assim, beneficia a sua própria gestão competitiva contra outras variáveis de atratividade que se concentram em oferecer variedade, acessibilidade, design físico e entretenimento?

O método quantitativo é uma análise fatorial exploratória que é seguida por uma análise confirmatória e resulta em um modelo de mensuração baseado em 470 questionários efetivos. A natureza exploratória e confirmatória focada na verificação multidimensional do modelo de mensuração (incluindo a validação do ambiente eco-natural) justificou essa escolha em consistência com pesquisas anteriores que utilizaram critérios de qualidade de ajuste.

A pesquisa não apenas sugere a existência de um fator de percepção no ambiente eco-natural, mas também determina sua importância comparativa em relação a outros fatores de atratividade tradicionais relatados na literatura científica. Particularmente porque a atratividade comercial é uma consequência de como as variáveis de marketing são gerenciadas pelos shoppings e de como os consumidores respondem a essas variáveis, beneficiando a experiência da visita.

A pesquisa contribui para a gestão competitiva dos shoppings ao sugerir e comprovar a importância do ambiente ecologicamente natural como fator de atratividade comercial, assim, os resultados incentivam os desenvolvedores deste formato a levar em conta novas formas de persuasão, considerando sua progressividade e competitividade em aumento nos últimos anos na América Latina.

Há escassez de pesquisas sobre fatores de atratividade alternativos para shoppings, portanto, contrastando o ambiente eco-natural em um modelo de mensuração de atratividade comercial permite contribuir com informações estratégicas para a indústria, que por sua vez constitui um recurso inovador para atrair e motivar visitantes. Por outro lado, a pesquisa contribui para o estado do conhecimento das variáveis ambientais sobre as avaliações dos consumidores.

Ambiente ecológico, Ambiente de natureza, Fatores de atracção, Shopping

Artigo de pesquisa

Higher education is undergoing a significant transformation, demanding a rethinking of instructional methods, the establishment of novel assessment frameworks and the incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies to advance the development of learning competencies. The use of simulations is an alternative that offers satisfactory results and favors learning in new generations. This study aims to present a methodology for assessing the advancement of self-directed learning (SDL) in participants through simulation techniques and show that the incorporation of simulations can improve participants’ SDL skills.

This study uses a quantitative approach to evaluate the evolution of various competencies related to SDL among participants. Includes the application of scales specifically designed to measure readiness for SDL, the use of factor analysis to identify and validate essential factors and conducting hypothesis testing to verify shifts in students’ perceptions regarding the significance of SDL-related skills.

The findings of this study reveal a positive impact of simulations on the SDL readiness. Factor analysis identified five key factors: self-management skills, openness to learning opportunities, initiative and independence in learning, self-concept as an effective learner and desire for Learning. The use of simulations significantly improved critical thinking, logical reasoning, analysis and decision-making capabilities. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique as a valuable tool for developing SDL skills and highlight the potential of such interventions in complex and uncertain learning environments.

The study provided valuable insights into the impact of simulations in the logistics field, particularly in the development of SDL-related skills. There is a need for studies in other areas of knowledge that would allow for the generalization of these results. Likewise, it is advisable to use scales that measure the development of other types of skills. Additionally, the study’s focus on short-term effects may not fully capture the long-term development of SDL-related skills. Future research should address these limitations, expand the sample size, conduct longitudinal studies and explore possible contextual and external factors that may influence SDL outcomes in various educational settings, leading to broader and more robust conclusions.

The practical implications of this study are significant for both higher education institutions and educators in the logistics domain. The positive impact of the serious game on participants’ SDL skills highlights the potential of incorporating interactive and engaging learning tools in the curriculum. Educators can leverage serious games to foster critical thinking, logical reasoning and decision-making abilities in their students. Moreover, the identified key factors influencing SDL development provide valuable guidance for designing targeted interventions to enhance students’ self-management, initiative and love for learning.

The social implications of this study underscore the importance of equipping individuals with SDL skills in a rapidly changing world. By integrating serious games and fostering SDL competencies, higher education institutions can contribute to a more adaptable and resilient workforce. Empowering students with critical thinking, innovative thinking and independent learning, they can enhance their ability to navigate the challenges of the labor market. This, in turn, may lead to a more informed and proactive society capable of addressing complex issues and making well-informed decisions.

This article arises from empirical exploration with students from two countries in Latin America (Mexico and Colombia), examining the importance of games in developing SDL skills. Furthermore, it promotes the use of a methodology with a low level of complexity, and that can be replicated with different games. This perspective adds valuable insights to the existing literature, offering practical implications for educators and institutions seeking effective strategies to promote SDL skills among students.

This research aims to contribute to the existing literature on the image of global and foreign brands, but analyzing the impact on these brands, both ethnocentrism (CE) and xenocentrism (XEN) in the consumer. It also analyses the effects of XEN, dogmatism and national identity in the CE.

A cross-cultural and quantitative study was carried out, through a total sample of 778 valid questionnaires collected online of which 451 questionnaires were from a developing country (Colombia) and 327 questionnaires were from a developed country (Spain). The data were processed through PLS-SEM software 3.2.7, which is usually used in this type of predictive studies, also containing variables of formative and reflective type.

Results show that XEN has a positive impact on the image of global and foreign brands, whereas CE does not always have a negative effect on the image of global and foreign brands, as was believed. Both effects are moderated by the national culture and the perceived brand globalness. XEN also has a negative impact on CE while national identity and dogmatism influence positively CE.

This research performs the analysis of the effects of XEN together with CE on the perceptions of a service global brand, considering the moderating effects of the national culture and perceived brand globalness were taken into account, between a developed country and a developing country.