Monoidal functors, acyclic models and chain operads

We prove that for a topological operad $P$ the operad of oriented cubical singular chains, $C^{\ord}_\ast(P)$, and the operad of simplicial singular chains, $S_\ast(P)$, are weakly equivalent. As a consequence, $C^{\ord}_\ast(P\nsemi\mathbb{Q})$ is formal if and only if $S_\ast(P\nsemi\mathbb{Q})$ is formal, thus linking together some formality results which are spread out in the literature. The proof is based on an acyclic models theorem for monoidal functors. We give different variants of the acyclic models theorem and apply the contravariant case to study the cohomology theories for simplicial sets defined by $R$-simplicial differential graded algebras.

Beyond pure public and pure private management models: Partial privatization in the European airport industry

The use of private funding and management is enjoying an increasing trend in airports. The literature has not paid enough attention to the mixed management models in this industry, although many European airports take the form of mixed public-private companies, where ownership is shared between public and private sectors. We examine the determinants of the degree of private participation in the European airport sector. Drawing on a sample of the 100 largest European airports, we estimate a multivariate equation in order to determine the role of airport characteristics, fiscal variables, and political factors on the extent of private involvement. Our results confirm the alignment between public and private interests in partially privatized airports. Fiscal constraints and market attractiveness promote private participation. Integrated governance models and the share of network carriers prevent the presence of private ownership, while the degree of private participation appears to be pragmatic rather than ideological.

Microquasar models for 3EG J1828+0142 and 3EG J1735-1500

Microquasars are promising candidates to emit high-energy gamma-rays. Moreover, statistical studies show that variable EGRET sources at low galactic latitudes could be associated with the inner spiral arms. The variable nature and the location in the Galaxy of the high-mass microquasars, concentrated in the galactic plane and within 55 degrees from the galactic center, give to these objects the status of likely counterparts of the variable low-latitude EGRET sources. We consider in this work the two most variable EGRET sources at low-latitudes: 3EG J1828+0142 and 3EG J1735-1500, proposing a microquasar model to explain the EGRET data in consistency with the observations at lower energies (from radio frequencies to soft gamma-rays) within the EGRET error box.

Beyond pure public and pure private management models: Mixed firms in the European Airport Industry

The use of private funding and management enjoys an increasing trend in airports. The literature has not paid enough attention to the mixed management models in this industry, although many European airports take the form of mixed firms or Institutional PPP, where ownership is shared between public and private sectors. We examine the determinants of the degree of private participation in the European airport sector. Drawing on a sample of the 100 largest European airports we estimate a multivariate equation in order to determine the role of airport characteristics, fiscal variables and political factors on the extent of private involvement. Our results confirm the alignment between public and private interests in PPPs. Fiscal constraints and market attractiveness promote private participation. Integrated governance models and the share of network carriers prevent the presence of private ownership, while the degree of private participation appears to be pragmatic rather than ideological.

Esquisse d'une anthropologie clinique I. Anthropopsychiatrie et anthropologie sémiotique

La psychiatrie (la clinique psychopathologique en général) connaît en ce début de XXIe siècle une situation complexe. Coincée entre naturalisation de l'esprit et constructionnisme social, la possibilité de contribuer à la constitution d'une science autonome qui traite de la souffrance psychique est aujourd'hui problématique. Les nombreux réductionnismes à l'oeuvre, de type nosographique, diagnostique, psychopharmacologique, les concurrences épistémologiques et les dogmatismes des modèles psychothérapeutiques, dessinent un paysage où s'engager à poursuivre la voie d'une psychiatrie spécifiquement humaine et articulée aux sciences naturelles relève de la gageure. C'est le défi de l'anthropologie clinique. Deux articles lui sont consacrés. Dans ce premier article, après avoir fait le constat de certaines impasses qui menacent la psychiatrie contemporaine et rappelé les origines du projet de l'anthropologique clinique, les auteurs présentent les deux démarches qui la fondent, chacune opérant dans un esprit d'interdisciplinarité : l'anthropopsychiatrie de Jacques Schotte et l'anthropologie sémiotique formulée par Jean Lassègue, Victor Rosenthal et Yves-Marie Visetti. Un deuxième article déploiera le potentiel intégratif d'un tel paradigme, constitué sur la base de ces deux démarches conjointes. Psychiatry (psychopathology clinics in general) is in a complex situation at the beginning of 21st century. Wedged between mind naturalization and social constructionism, the possibility of contributing to the establishment of an autonomous science that deals with mental suffering is problematic today. The many nosographic, diagnostic, psychopharmacological reductionisms at work as well as the competing epistemologies and the dogmatisms of psychotherapeutic models draw a challenging landscape for those following the path of a specifically human psychiatry articulated to natural sciences. This is the challenge of clinical anthropology which is presented in two parts. In the first part, after examining several dead ends which threaten contemporary psychiatry and pointing out the origins of the clinical anthropology project, the authors present its two foundational approaches. Each approach driven by a spirit of interdisciplinarity : Jacques Schotte's anthropopsychiatry and the semiotic anthropology as formulated by Jean Lassègue, Victor Rosenthal and Yves-Marie Visetti. A second part will describe the integrative potential of such a paradigm, based on these two joint approaches.

Classification models for neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection based on demographic and clinical variables

Objective: We used demographic and clinical data to design practical classification models for prediction of neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people with HIV infection. Methods: The study population comprised 331 HIV-infected patients with available demographic, clinical, and neurocognitive data collected using a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Classification and regression trees (CART) were developed to btain detailed and reliable models to predict NCI. Following a practical clinical approach, NCI was considered the main variable for study outcomes, and analyses were performed separately in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients. Results: The study sample comprised 52 treatment-naïve and 279 experienced patients. In the first group, the variables identified as better predictors of NCI were CD4 cell count and age (correct classification [CC]: 79.6%, 3 final nodes). In treatment-experienced patients, the variables most closely related to NCI were years of education, nadir CD4 cell count, central nervous system penetration-effectiveness score, age, employment status, and confounding comorbidities (CC: 82.1%, 7 final nodes). In patients with an undetectable viral load and no comorbidities, we obtained a fairly accurate model in which the main variables were nadir CD4 cell count, current CD4 cell count, time on current treatment, and past highest viral load (CC: 88%, 6 final nodes). Conclusion: Practical classification models to predict NCI in HIV infection can be obtained using demographic and clinical variables. An approach based on CART analyses may facilitate screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and complement clinical information about risk and protective factors for NCI in HIV-infected patients.

Disseny, layout i planificació d'una empresa de producció d'equips foraborda elèctrics

Aquest projecte es basa en l'aplicació de models de simulació de processos a un exemple d'empresa de producció i la seva adaptació en dimensió i recursos al mercat en un entorn de poca capacitat d'inversió i finançament, de forma que l'entorn de simulació digital aporti valor a la presa de decisions emmarcada en l'estratègia de l'empresa en cada escenari de mercat en que aquesta es trobi. Es realitza el treball sobre el cas d'una empresa, INNOVANAUTIC, dedicada a la innovació, desenvolupament i producció de sistemes de propulsió d'embarcacions. La simulació es una tècnica que permet optimitzar els processos, representant-ne i comprovant el funcionament dels processos, tant entorns físics, de producció com dels serveis associats o subcontractacions de diferents processos i els seus impactes en la disponibilitat de recursos, espais i terminis d'entrega, sense haver de recórrer a procediments de prova i error sobre sistemes reals que impliquen costos a tots nivells en l'empresa. Aquestes metodologies son habitualment emprades en d'altres països o també en el nostre país però en empreses de gran tamany. El present treball, emmarcat dins un entorn socioeconòmic convuls, amb grans limitacions financeres i de recursos per les empreses, demostra com la utilització d'eines de simulació és útil per a PIMES en aquest entorn i permet el dimensionament i la modelització dels processos de forma que es permeti trobar els punts òptims en els que l'empresa ha de donar un pas de creixement en alguns dels paràmetres. La metodologia amb que s'elabora el present treball es la de plantejar una simulació complerta del procés, i definir diversos escenaris de mercat per als productes fabricats, cercant els punt òptims de canvi de dimensió de l'empresa atenent a espai físic, sotscontractació de processos, personal i recursos.