Spatial behavior in groups: an agent-based approach

We present an agent-based model with the aim of studying how macro-level dynamics of spatial distances among interacting individuals in a closed space emerge from micro-level dyadic and local interactions. Our agents moved on a lattice (referred to as a room) using a model implemented in a computer program called P-Space in order to minimize their dissatisfaction, defined as a function of the discrepancy between the real distance and the ideal, or desired, distance between agents. Ideal distances evolved in accordance with the agent's personal and social space, which changed throughout the dynamics of the interactions among the agents. In the first set of simulations we studied the effects of the parameters of the function that generated ideal distances, and in a second set we explored how group macrolevel behavior depended on model parameters and other variables. We learned that certain parameter values yielded consistent patterns in the agents' personal and social spaces, which in turn led to avoidance and approaching behaviors in the agents. We also found that the spatial behavior of the group of agents as a whole was influenced by the values of the model parameters, as well as by other variables such as the number of agents. Our work demonstrates that the bottom-up approach is a useful way of explaining macro-level spatial behavior. The proposed model is also shown to be a powerful tool for simulating the spatial behavior of groups of interacting individuals.

Referral from primary care to a physical activity programme: establishing long-term adherence? A randomized controlled trial. Rationale and study design

Background: Declining physical activity is associated with a rising burden of global disease. There is little evidence about effective ways to increase adherence to physical activity. Therefore, interventions are needed that produce sustained increases in adherence to physical activity and are cost-effective. The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of a primary care physical activity intervention in increasing adherence to physical activity in the general population seen in primary care. Method and design: Randomized controlled trial with systematic random sampling. A total of 424 subjects of both sexes will participate; all will be over the age of 18 with a low level of physical activity (according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), self-employed and from 9 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC). They will volunteer to participate in a physical activity programme during 3 months (24 sessions; 2 sessions a week, 60 minutes per session). Participants from each PHC will be randomly allocated to an intervention (IG) and control group (CG). The following parameters will be assessed pre and post intervention in both groups: (1) health-related quality of life (SF-12), (2) physical activity stage of change (Prochaska's stages of change), (3) level of physical activity (IPAQ-short version), (4) change in perception of health (vignettes from the Cooperative World Organization of National Colleges, Academies, and Academic Associations of Family Physicians, COOP/WONCA), (5) level of social support for the physical activity practice (Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, SSPAS), and (6) control based on analysis (HDL, LDL and glycated haemoglobin).Participants' frequency of visits to the PHC will be registered over the six months before and after the programme. There will be a follow up in a face to face interview three, six and twelve months after the programme, with the reduced version of IPAQ, SF-12, SSPAS, and Prochaska's stages. Discussion: The pilot study showed the effectiveness of an enhanced low-cost, evidence-based intervention in increased physical activity and improved social support. If successful in demonstrating long-term improvements, this randomised controlled trial will be the first sustainable physical activity intervention based in primary care in our country to demonstrate longterm adherence to physical activity. Trial Registration: A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Developed by the National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00714831.

La producció de l'espai en la Modernitat Líquida

The article aims to show how the theoretical framework of liquid modernity, explained by Zygmunt Bauman, can offer new fields for exploration and new perspectives on the study of geographical phenomena. The article is based on the division of space conceived by French sociologist Henri Lefebvre in spatial practice, representation of space and representational spaces. An example in each dimension is analysed using liquid modernity as an analytical framework; there are, successively, local development policies, geoweb and no-places as new symbolic spaces. At the end, the article acknowledges the value of contributions from liquid modernity to analyse each example, and also some possible contributions that liquid modernity could offer for a geographical analysis

Social reciprocity measures based on dyadic discrepancies: Methodological review and software development

This paper examines statistical analysis of social reciprocity at group, dyadic, and individual levels. Given that testing statistical hypotheses regarding social reciprocity can be also of interest, a statistical procedure based on Monte Carlo sampling has been developed and implemented in R in order to allow social researchers to describe groups and make statistical decisions.

El Diseño de Diálogos de la Comunicación En Línea. Hacia una nueva gestión del Conocimiento Científico en la era del Software Social

Este artículo es un recorrido a través del proceso de diseño de Diálogos de la Comunicación versión en línea, un procedimiento que ha incluido diferentes fases: desde la fijación de objetivos hasta la realización de un prototipo, pasando por el estudio de buenas prácticas (benchmarking), el desarrollo de la arquitectura de la información y la realización del diseño de la interfaz. El trabajo también aporta una reflexión sobre la situación de las revistas científicas en los entornos de comunicación colaborativa en línea.

Learning 2.0 : concepts and experiences with social networks and software

Peer-reviewed

Localización de áreas prioritarias de actuación para la ubicación decortafuegos usando software libre GIS: gvSIG, SEXTANTE y PostGIS

El present projecte se centrarà en l'aplicació dels SIG a la prevenció dels incendis forestals a Catalunya. En concret en la localització de zones òptimes per a la instal lació de tallafocs, mitjançant la utilització dels programes lliures gvSIG i Sextant, a més de la base de dades (BDD) espacial PostgreeSQL / PostGIS.

Uso de ODR en las comunidades de desarrollo de software libre

La revolució del programari lliure ha estat i és un dels fenòmens més imprevisibles i de major abast que han sorgit des del desenvolupament de les Tecnologies de la Informació. No obstant això és un fenomen que, a causa de pròpia construcció social i distribuïda, està intrínsecament unit a la noció de conflicte, la manifestació del qual més notòria és la bifurcació o fork. En el present treball analitzem els diferents tipus de conflictes i els mecanismes habitualment emprats per a la resolució dels mateixos, i si formen part dels denominats mètodes alternatius de resolució de controvèrsies en Línia o ODR o si són part d'una categoria diferent i separada.

Sistema de Administración de Propiedades Proyecto de Software Libre Wakodi

El trabajo se centra en proporcionar una solución informática para la Administración de Propiedades haciendo uso de nuevas tecnologías y a su vez dotar de las herramientas necesarias para la construcción de una comunidad. El desarrollo de la solución pasa por la descripción de las herramientas empleadas y las etapas para su construcción, que incluyen el análisis, diseño, implementación y posterior implantación. Se hace énfasis en el Framework elegido para demostrar las ventajas de su aplicación. En la construcción de la comunidad se describen las herramientas utilizadas para la difusión del proyecto que incluyen la publicación de una página del proyecto, el uso de redes sociales y páginas publicitarias y la puesta en marcha de un software de colaboración para la administración del desarrollo del proyecto.

Software per al cronometratge de temps mitjançant sensors digitals

L’Slot, conegut per tots amb el nom d’Scalextric, s’ha implantat com a una forma d’oci habitual, la pràctica del qual no queda restringida als més petits, sinó que cada vegada crea més afició entre els grans. El fet que l’Slot s’hagi extès entre els adults n’ha revolucionat la pràctica. L’entrada al mercat de l’Slot de gent adulta, i amb poder adquisitiu molt superior als adolescents, ha provocat que les marques especialitzades vagin evolucionant els seus productes cada vegada més. Totes les marques s’han vist obligades a desenvolupar vehicles més competitius i alhora treure al mercat accessoris que augmentin la realitat del joc. Una de les necessitats que s’ha creat és la de competir entre jugadors. Aquesta competició tan pot ser en forma de carrera entre diversos participants, com de forma individual, cronometrant el temps de cada participant en un circuit. L’objectiu principal del projecte és crear un sistema capaç de realitzar cronometratges en temps real mitjançant sensors digitals ja existents en el mercat de l’Slot i poder controlar i visualitzar la informació des d’un PC. Per a poder captar els senyals dels sensors s’ha utilitzat un sistema microcontrolat, que garanteix gran velocitat d’adquisició, processament de dades i transmissió. La comunicació del Microcontrolador amb el PC s’ha realizat mitjançant el bus USB. El PC serà el controlador del sistema i donarà les ordres al Microcontrolador, podent així tenir control total sobre el funcionament del programa. També serà el PC el que tractarà els crocometratges enregistrats i els mostrarà per pantalla

Traducción técnica del capítulo III del libro Advanced Data Warehouse design: from conventional to spatial and temporal applications

The proposal to work on this final project came after several discussions held with Dr. Elzbieta Malinowski Gadja, who in 2008 published the book entitled Advanced Data Warehouse Design: From Conventional to Spatial and Temporal Applications (Data-Centric Systems and Applications). The project was carried out under the technical supervision of Dr. Malinowski and the direct beneficiary was the University of Costa Rica (UCR) where Dr. Malinowski is a professor at the Department of Computer Science and Informatics. The purpose of this project was twofold: First, to translate chapter III of said book with the intention of generating educational material for the use of the UCR and, second, to venture in the field of technical translation related to data warehouse. For the first component, the goal was to generate a final product that would eventually serve as an educational tool for the post-graduate courses of the UCR. For the second component, this project allowed me to acquire new skills and put into practice techniques that have helped me not only to perfom better in my current job as an Assistant Translator of the Inter-American BAnk (IDB), but also to use them in similar projects. The process was lenggthy and required torough research and constant communication with the author. The investigation focused on the search of terms and definitions to prepare the glossary, which was the basis to start the translation project. The translation process itself was carried out by phases, so that comments and corrections by the author could be taken into account in subsequent stages. Later, based on the glossary and the translated text, illustrations had been created in the Visio software were translated. In addition to the technical revision by the author, professor Carme Mangiron was in charge of revising the non-technical text. The result was a high-quality document that is currently used as reference and study material by the Department of Computer Science and Informatics of Costa Rica.

A virtual exhibition of open source software for libraries

Frequently the choice of a library management program is conditioned by social, economic and/or political factors that result in the selection of a system that is not altogether suitable for the library’s needs, characteristics and functions. Open source software is quickly becoming a preferred solution, owing to the freedom to copy, modify and distribute it and the freedom from contracts, as well as for greater opportunities for interoperability with other applications. These new trends regarding open source software in libraries are also reflected in LIS studies, as evidenced by the different courses addressing automated programs, repositorymanagement, including the Linux/GNU operating system, among others. The combination of the needs of the centres and the new trends for open source software is the focus of a virtual laboratory for the use of open source software for library applications. It was the result of a project, whose aim was to make a useful contribution to the library community, that was carried out by a group of professors of the School of Library and Information Science of the University of Barcelona, together with a group of students, members of a Working Group on Open Source Software for Information Professionals, of the Professional Library Association of Catalonia.

Implantación de un sistema VoIP basado en software libre con Asterisk

Este proyecto busca analizar, diseñar e implementar una nueva solución de telefonía para el Centro Social de Oficiales de la Policía Nacional contemplando la posibilidad de optar por una migración hacia un sistema VoIP bajo software libre con Asterisk. En consecuencia, se deben evaluar las tecnologías actuales buscando proveer nuevas funcionalidades en el servicio telefónico generando bajos costos en su implementación, funcionamiento y mantenimiento.

Smart antennas in software radio base stations

The application of adaptive antenna techniques to fixed-architecture base stations has been shown to offer wide-ranging benefits, including interference rejection capabilities or increased coverage and spectral efficiency.Unfortunately, the actual implementation ofthese techniques to mobile communication scenarios has traditionally been set back by two fundamental reasons. On one hand, the lack of flexibility of current transceiver architectures does not allow for the introduction of advanced add-on functionalities. On the other hand, theoften oversimplified models for the spatiotemporal characteristics of the radio communications channel generally give rise toperformance predictions that are, in practice, too optimistic. The advent of software radio architectures represents a big step toward theintroduction of advanced receive/transmitcapabilities. Thanks to their inherent flexibilityand robustness, software radio architecturesare the appropriate enabling technology for theimplementation of array processing techniques.Moreover, given the exponential progression ofcommunication standards in coexistence andtheir constant evolution, software reconfigurabilitywill probably soon become the only costefficientalternative for the transceiverupgrade. This article analyzes the requirementsfor the introduction of software radio techniquesand array processing architectures inmultistandard scenarios. It basically summarizesthe conclusions and results obtained withinthe ACTS project SUNBEAM,1 proposingalgorithms and analyzing the feasibility ofimplementation of innovative and softwarereconfigurablearray processing architectures inmultistandard settings.

A Semantic wiki for quality management in software development projects

Quality management has become a strategic issue for organisations and is very valuable to produce quality software. However, quality management systems (QMS) are not easy to implement and maintain. The authors' experience shows the benefits of developing a QMS by first formalising it using semantic web ontologies and then putting them into practice through a semantic wiki. The QMS ontology that has been developed captures the core concepts of a traditional QMS and combines them with concepts coming from the MPIu'a development process model, which is geared towards obtaining usable and accessible software products. Then, the ontology semantics is directly put into play by a semantics-aware tool, the Semantic MediaWiki. The developed QMS tool is being used for 2 years by the GRIHO research group, where it has manages almost 50 software development projects taking into account the quality management issues. It has also been externally audited by a quality certification organisation. Its users are very satisfied with their daily work with the tool, which manages all the documents created during project development and also allows them to collaborate, thanks to the wiki features.