Estudi de les estratègies comportamentals dels gripau corredor (Bufo Calamita) a la zona semi-àrida de Mas de Melons (terme municipal de Lleida) durant l'hivern i principis de primavera del 2007

En aquest treball s’han radiomarcat, un total de 4 gripaus corredors (Bufo calamita) que posteriorment foren alliberats a la Bassa de l’Astor, per tal d’estudiar les estratègies comportamentals de l’espècie en una zona semi-àrida. Dels 4 animals alliberats, un es perdé als pocs dies, la resta foren seguits mitjançant radioseguiment uns 64 dies, entre finals d’hivern i principis de primavera del 2007. En el treball de seguiment s’anotà en cada una de les localitzacions la temperatura ambiental del moment i la freqüència a la qual emetia l’emissor. Donat que es tenien els emissors calibrats, a partir d’aquesta freqüència es podia obtenir la temperatura a la qual es trobava l’emissor, és a dir la temperatura corporal del gripau en aquest cas. Mitjançant programes estadístics s’ha pogut determinar que durant el període hivernal i principis de primavera existeix una relació estadísticament significativa entre la variació de la temperatura ambiental i la temperatura corporal dels gripaus. Aquesta relació no es dona però en el període estival. Això fa pensar que el comportament del calamita esdevé una forma de termoregulació actuant per tal d’evitar extrems crítics de temperatura i humitat. S’ha pogut determinar també que gràcies a les característiques dels refugis utilitzats en la zona d’estudi (munts de pedres o caus d’altres espècies) els gripaus aconsegueixen mantenir-se en ambients on la variació de temperatura és inferior a la variació de la temperatura exterior. Així la variació de la temperatura corporal dels gripaus és també inferior. Pel que fa als moviments entre els diferents refugis, aquests han variat en funció de cada animal. La distància mitja recorreguda en el total dels desplaçaments ha estat d’uns 185 metres lineals. Aquests desplaçaments s’han donat sempre en dies de pluja o l’endemà d’un dia de pluja.

Some remarks on the class of continuous (Semi-) strictcly quasiconvex functions

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Generic optimality conditions for semi-algebraic convex programs

We consider linear optimization over a nonempty convex semi-algebraic feasible region F. Semidefinite programming is an example. If F is compact, then for almost every linear objective there is a unique optimal solution, lying on a unique \active" manifold, around which F is \partly smooth", and the second-order sufficient conditions hold. Perturbing the objective results in smooth variation of the optimal solution. The active manifold consists, locally, of these perturbed optimal solutions; it is independent of the representation of F, and is eventually identified by a variety of iterative algorithms such as proximal and projected gradient schemes. These results extend to unbounded sets F.

An algorithm for semi-infinite polynomial optimization

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Discrete time Non-homogeneous Semi-Markov Processes applied to Models for Disability Insurance

In this paper, we present a stochastic model for disability insurance contracts. The model is based on a discrete time non-homogeneous semi-Markov process (DTNHSMP) to which the backward recurrence time process is introduced. This permits a more exhaustive study of disability evolution and a more efficient approach to the duration problem. The use of semi-Markov reward processes facilitates the possibility of deriving equations of the prospective and retrospective mathematical reserves. The model is applied to a sample of contracts drawn at random from a mutual insurance company.

Semi-online neural-Q_leaming for real-time robot learning

Reinforcement learning (RL) is a very suitable technique for robot learning, as it can learn in unknown environments and in real-time computation. The main difficulties in adapting classic RL algorithms to robotic systems are the generalization problem and the correct observation of the Markovian state. This paper attempts to solve the generalization problem by proposing the semi-online neural-Q_learning algorithm (SONQL). The algorithm uses the classic Q_learning technique with two modifications. First, a neural network (NN) approximates the Q_function allowing the use of continuous states and actions. Second, a database of the most representative learning samples accelerates and stabilizes the convergence. The term semi-online is referred to the fact that the algorithm uses the current but also past learning samples. However, the algorithm is able to learn in real-time while the robot is interacting with the environment. The paper shows simulated results with the "mountain-car" benchmark and, also, real results with an underwater robot in a target following behavior

Generació semi-automàtica de façanes procedurals

L’objectiu d’aquest PFC és desenvolupar una eina d’edició de façanes procedural apartir d’una imatge d’una façana real. L’aplicació generarà les regles procedurals de lafaçana a partir de dades adquirides del model que es vol representar, com unafotografia. L’usuari de l’aplicació generarà de forma semi-automàtica i interactiva lesregles de subdivisió i repetició, especificant també la inserció de elementsarquitectònics (portes, finestres), que podran ser instanciats a partir d’una llibreria. Uncop generades, les regles s’escriuran en el format del sistema BuildingEngine perintegrar-se completament dins el procés de modelatge urbà.Aquest projecte es desenvoluparà en Matlab

Semi-purity of tempered Deligne cohomology

In this paper we define the formal and tempered Deligne cohomology groups, that are obtained by applying the Deligne complex functor to the complexes of formal differential forms and tempered currents respectively. We then prove the existence of a duality between them, a vanishing theorem for the former and a semipurity property for the latter. The motivation of these results comes from the study of covariant arithmetic Chow groups. The semipurity property of tempered Deligne cohomology implies, in particular, that several definitions of covariant arithmetic Chow groups agree for projective arithmetic varieties.

Impedance field and transition from thermal to shot noise in Cd1-xZnxTe semi-insulating Ohmic detectors

Within a drift-diffusion model we investigate the role of the self-consistent electric field in determining the impedance field of a macroscopic Ohmic (linear) resistor made by a compensated semi-insulating semiconductor at arbitrary values of the applied voltage. The presence of long-range Coulomb correlations is found to be responsible for a reshaping of the spatial profile of the impedance field. This reshaping gives a null contribution to the macroscopic impedance but modifies essentially the transition from thermal to shot noise of a macroscopic linear resistor. Theoretical calculations explain a set of noise experiments carried out in semi-insulating CdZnTe detectors.

Using spatially distributed parameters and multi-response objective functions to solve parameterization of complex applications of semi-distributed hydrological models

Application of semi-distributed hydrological models to large, heterogeneous watersheds deals with several problems. On one hand, the spatial and temporal variability in catchment features should be adequately represented in the model parameterization, while maintaining the model complexity in an acceptable level to take advantage of state-of-the-art calibration techniques. On the other hand, model complexity enhances uncertainty in adjusted model parameter values, therefore increasing uncertainty in the water routing across the watershed. This is critical for water quality applications, where not only streamflow, but also a reliable estimation of the surface versus subsurface contributions to the runoff is needed. In this study, we show how a regularized inversion procedure combined with a multiobjective function calibration strategy successfully solves the parameterization of a complex application of a water quality-oriented hydrological model. The final value of several optimized parameters showed significant and consistentdifferences across geological and landscape features. Although the number of optimized parameters was significantly increased by the spatial and temporal discretization of adjustable parameters, the uncertainty in water routing results remained at reasonable values. In addition, a stepwise numerical analysis showed that the effects on calibration performance due to inclusion of different data types in the objective function could be inextricably linked. Thus caution should be taken when adding or removing data from an aggregated objective function.