Prevalence of psychological and physical intimate partner aggression in Madrid (Spain) : A dyadic analysis

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

One- and two-center physical space partitioning of the energy in the density functional theory

A conceptually new approach is introduced for the decomposition of the molecular energy calculated at the density functional theory level of theory into sum of one- and two-atomic energy components, and is realized in the "fuzzy atoms" framework. (Fuzzy atoms mean that the three-dimensional physical space is divided into atomic regions having no sharp boundaries but exhibiting a continuous transition from one to another.) The new scheme uses the new concept of "bond order density" to calculate the diatomic exchange energy components and gives them unexpectedly close to the values calculated by the exact (Hartree-Fock) exchange for the same Kohn-Sham orbitals

Improvement of strategies for the management of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). Evaluation and optimization of physical and chemical control methods, and use of decision support systems

El foc bacteri�� ��s una malaltia que afecta a plantes de la fam��lia de la ros��cies, causada pel bacteri Erwinia amylovora. El seu rang d'hostes inclou arbres fruiters, com la perera, la pomera o el codonyer, i plantes ornamentals de gran inter��s comercial i econ��mic. Actualment, la malaltia s'ha dispersat i es troba ��mpliament distribu��da en totes les zones de clima temperat del m��n. A Espanya, on la malaltia no ��s end��mica, el foc bacteri�� es va detectar per primer cop al 1995 al nord del pa��s (Euskadi) i posteriorment, han aparegut varis focus en altres localitzacions, que han estat convenientment eradicats. El control del foc bacteri��, ��s molt poc efectiu en plantes afectades per la malaltia, de manera que es basa en mesures encaminades a evitar la dispersi�� del patogen, i la introducci�� de la malaltia en regions no end��miques. En aquest treball, la termoter��pia ha estat avaluada com a m��tode d'eradicaci�� d'E. amylovora de material vegetal de propagaci�� asimptom��tic. S'ha demostrat que la termoter��pia ��s un m��tode viable d'eradicar E. amylovora de material de propagaci��. Gaireb�� totes les esp��cies i varietats de ros��cies mantingudes en condicions d'humitat sobrevivien 7 hores a 45 ��C i m��s de 3 hores a 50 ��C, mentre que m��s d'1 hora d'exposici�� a 50 ��C amb calor seca produ��a danys en el material vegetal i redu��a la brotaci��. Tractaments de 60 min a 45 ��C o 30 min a 50 ��C van ser suficients per reduir la poblaci�� ep��fita d'E. amylovora a nivells no detectables (5 x 102 ufc g-1 p.f.) en branques de perera. Els derivats dels fosfonats i el benzotiadiazol s��n efectius en el control del foc bacteri�� en perera i pomera, tant en condicions de laboratori, com d'hivernacle i camp. Els inductors de defensa de les plantes redueixen els nivells de malaltia fins al 40-60%. Els intervals de temps m��nims per aconseguir el millor control de la malaltia van ser 5 dies pel fosetil-Al, i 7 dies per l'etefon i el benzotiadiazol, i les dosis ��ptimes pel fosetil-Al i el benzotiadiazol van ser 3.72 g HPO32- L-1 i 150 mg i.a. L-1, respectivament. Es millora l'efic��cia del fosetil-Al i del benzotiadiazol en el control del foc bacteri��, quan es combinen amb els antibi��tics a la meitat de la dosi d'aquests ��ltims. Tot i que l'estrat��gia de barrejar productes ��s m��s pr��ctica i f��cil de dur a terme a camp, que l'estrat��gia de combinar productes, el millor nivell de control de la malaltia s'aconsegueix amb l'estrat��gia de combinar productes. Es va analitzar a nivell histol��gic i ultrastructural l'efecte del benzotiadiazol i dels fosfonats en la interacci�� Erwinia amylovora-perera. Ni el benzotiadiazol, ni el fosetil-Al, ni l'etefon van induir canvis estructurals en els teixits de perera 7 dies despr��s de la seva aplicaci��. No obstant, despr��s de la inoculaci�� d'E. amylovora es va observar en plantes tractades amb fosetil-Al i etefon una desorganitzaci�� estructural cel��lular, mentre que en les plantes tractades amb benzotiadiazol aquestes alteracions tissulars van ser retardades. S'han avaluat dos models (Maryblyt, Cougarblight) en un camp a Espanya afectat per la malaltia, per determinar la precisi�� de les prediccions. Es van utilitzar dos models per elaborar el mapa de risc, el BRS-Powell combinat i el BIS95 modificat. Els resultats van mostrar dos zones amb elevat i baix risc de la malaltia. Maryblyt i Cougarblight s��n dos models de f��cil ��s, tot i que la seva implementaci�� en programes de maneig de la malaltia requereix que siguin avaluats i validats per un per��ode de temps m��s llarg i en ��rees on la malaltia hi estigui present.

Studies of dynamics of physical agent ecosystems

This thesis addresses the problem of learning in physical heterogeneous multi-agent systems (MAS) and the analysis of the benefits of using heterogeneous MAS with respect to homogeneous ones. An algorithm is developed for this task; building on a previous work on stability in distributed systems by Tad Hogg and Bernardo Huberman, and combining two phenomena observed in natural systems, task partition and hierarchical dominance. This algorithm is devised for allowing agents to learn which are the best tasks to perform on the basis of each agent's skills and the contribution to the team global performance. Agents learn by interacting with the environment and other teammates, and get rewards from the result of the actions they perform. This algorithm is specially designed for problems where all robots have to co-operate and work simultaneously towards the same goal. One example of such a problem is role distribution in a team of heterogeneous robots that form a soccer team, where all members take decisions and co-operate simultaneously. Soccer offers the possibility of conducting research in MAS, where co-operation plays a very important role in a dynamical and changing environment. For these reasons and the experience of the University of Girona in this domain, soccer has been selected as the test-bed for this research. In the case of soccer, tasks are grouped by means of roles. One of the most interesting features of this algorithm is that it endows MAS with a high adaptability to changes in the environment. It allows the team to perform their tasks, while adapting to the environment. This is studied in several cases, for changes in the environment and in the robot's body. Other features are also analysed, especially a parameter that defines the fitness (biological concept) of each agent in the system, which contributes to performance and team adaptability. The algorithm is applied later to allow agents to learn in teams of homogeneous and heterogeneous robots which roles they have to select, in order to maximise team performance. The teams are compared and the performance is evaluated in the games against three hand-coded teams and against the different homogeneous and heterogeneous teams built in this thesis. This section focuses on the analysis of performance and task partition, in order to study the benefits of heterogeneity in physical MAS. In order to study heterogeneity from a rigorous point of view, a diversity measure is developed building on the hierarchic social entropy defined by Tucker Balch. This is adapted to quantify physical diversity in robot teams. This tool presents very interesting features, as it can be used in the future to design heterogeneous teams on the basis of the knowledge on other teams.

Parental and peer support on physical activity among portuguese children and adolescents

Objetivo: A presente disserta����o de mestrado teve como principal objetivo estudar a associa����o entre o suporte parental e dos pares na atividade f��sica das crian��as e adolescentes dos 10 aos 17 anos de idade. M��todo: Foi efetuada uma revis��o sistem��tica de literatura (RSL) onde se sumarizou o estado da arte sobre a tem��tica. Posteriormente foi realizado um estudo observacional transversal onde se investigou como o suporte dos pais (tang��vel e intang��vel) e dos pares est��o associados com a atividade f��sica entre crian��as e adolescentes, examinando as diferen��as entre g��neros e a sua varia����o com a idade. Participaram no estudo 1876 crian��as e adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, entre os 10 aos 17 anos de idade, participantes do projeto PESSOA. Resultados: Os resultados do estudo transversal corroboram os resultados de alguns estudos da revis��o sistem��tica de literatura uma vez que, apesar das diferen��as metodol��gicas entre os estudos, foram encontradas correla����es significativas entre o suporte parental e o n��vel de atividade f��sica das crian��as e adolescentes. H�� diferen��as entre g��neros no tipo de suporte parental e no suporte dos pares. O estudo transversal demonstrou uma associa����o positiva entre o suporte dos pares e a idade. Esta associa����o destaca-se na transi����o da inf��ncia para a adolesc��ncia. Em ambos os g��neros, o suporte dos pares registou uma maior associa����o �� atividade f��sica do que o suporte dos pais. Conclus��es: A realiza����o deste estudo demonstra que os pais e os pares s��o fatores chave na atividade f��sica das crian��as e adolescentes. Em diferentes fases da inf��ncia e da adolesc��ncia, o papel de cada um deles altera-se de acordo com v��rios fatores do envolvimento f��sico e social. �� necess��rio mais investiga����o nesta ��rea, preferencialmente estudos longitudinais que permitam uma melhor compreens��o de como as diferentes fontes (pais e pares) e os diferentes tipos de suporte (tang��vel e intang��vel) evoluem ao longo da inf��ncia e da adolesc��ncia e qual o seu impacto nos diferentes n��veis de atividade f��sica.

A comparison of physical measurements of pure-tones, third-octave bands of noise and third-octave bands of speech to subjective judgments of audibility threshold, MCL and UCL for three normally hearing listeners

This study investigates the relation between physical measurements of pure-tones, third-octave bands of noise and third-octave bands of speech and subjective judgments of auditory threshold, most-comfortable listening level (MCL) and uncomfortable-listening level (UCL) for three normally hearing listeners.

Physical education and the hearing impaired

This paper compares the performance of perceptual-motor skills of physically and mentally normal hearing-impaired children who have participated in a physical education program with those who have not participated in a physical education program.

Physical and perceived noise levels within the neonatal intensive care unit of St. Louis Children's Hospital

This paper studies the success of the renovation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Louis Children's Hospital in reducing noise levels and improving the work environment.

A multiwave range test for obstacle reconstructions with unknown physical properties

We develop a new multiwave version of the range test for shape reconstruction in inverse scattering theory. The range test [R. Potthast, et al., A ���range test��� for determining scatterers with unknown physical properties, Inverse Problems 19(3) (2003) 533���547] has originally been proposed to obtain knowledge about an unknown scatterer when the far field pattern for only one plane wave is given. Here, we extend the method to the case of multiple waves and show that the full shape of the unknown scatterer can be reconstructed. We further will clarify the relation between the range test methods, the potential method [A. Kirsch, R. Kress, On an integral equation of the first kind in inverse acoustic scattering, in: Inverse Problems (Oberwolfach, 1986), Internationale Schriftenreihe zur Numerischen Mathematik, vol. 77, Birkh��user, Basel, 1986, pp. 93���102] and the singular sources method [R. Potthast, Point sources and multipoles in inverse scattering theory, Habilitation Thesis, G��ttingen, 1999]. In particular, we propose a new version of the Kirsch���Kress method using the range test and a new approach to the singular sources method based on the range test and potential method. Numerical examples of reconstructions for all four methods are provided.