Confidence Statements for Ordering Quantiles

This work proposes Quor, a simple yet effective nonparametric method to compare independent samples with respect to corresponding quantiles of their populations. The method is solely based on the order statistics of the samples, and independence is its only requirement. All computations are performed using exact distributions with no need for any asymptotic considerations, and yet can be run using a fast quadratic-time dynamic programming idea. Computational performance is essential in high-dimensional domains, such as gene expression data. We describe the approach and discuss on the most important assumptions, building a parallel with assumptions and properties of widely used techniques for the same problem. Experiments using real data from biomedical studies are performed to empirically compare Quor and other methods in a classification task over a selection of high-dimensional data sets

Dynamics of radiating braneworlds

If the observable universe is a braneworld of Randall-Sundrum type, then particle interactions at high energies will produce 5-dimensional gravitons that escape into the bulk. As a result, the Weyl energy density on the brane does not behave like radiation in the early universe, but does so only later, in the low energy regime. Recently a simple model was proposed to describe this modification of the Randall-Sundrum cosmology. We investigate the dynamics of this model, and find the exact solution of the field equations. We use a dynamical systems approach to analyze global features of the phase space of solutions.Comment: error in figures corrected, reference adde

Footballer autonomous mobile robot: control and vision system

This paper describes an Autonomous Mobile Robot which plays football. This project was developed by three senior students from the Industrial Electronics Engineering course during their probation period. The rules dictated the same structure for every team but then each team would solve, develop and use different electronics, sensory systems, play algorithms, etc. This robot uses one major sensor which is a vision system with the use of a colour camera. All the image processing algorithms used by the robot were developed and are hereby described. This robot uses also an innovative approach to see the whole football field (or most of it) at any time. A convex mirror was placed on the top of the robot looking downwards and the video camera looks at it. This way, the robot can see both goals, the ball and other robots, all the time. This idea proved to be very usefull for this type of application. This paper describes all the image processing and control software made specially for it

Effects of dual-task interventions on gait performance of patients with parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that impair patients’ gait performance, especially while performing dual/concurrent tasks. These deficits impair patients’ daily function, because dual-tasking is a crucial ability in terms of everyday living. The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of dual task interventions on gait performance of patients with Parkinson’s disease. METHOD: Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS and SciELO. We used the PICOS strategy to determine eligibility criteria. The search strategy included an advanced search on the included databases, using the following search query: “Parkinson’s Disease” AND “Double Task” OR “Concurrent Tasks” OR “Gait” AND “Walk”. Study selection was carried out by two independent researchers and a third one was called when consensus was needed. RESULTS: A total of 188 articles were identified: 169 articles from Medline/PubMed, 10 articles in SciELO, 8 articles in LILACS and 1 item from manual searches. A total of 56 articles were analyzed regarding the eligibility and exclusion criteria based on full text. A final total of 7 studies were included in the systematic review. CONCLUSION: The different types of dual-task interventions reported (dance, sound stimuli, visual and somatosensory) were associated to improvements in several gait performance indicators of Parkinson’s disease patients, including gait speed, stride time and length, cadence and step length. External stimuli seem to play a critical role on specific training effects on dual-task gait performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implementacion de un establecimiento de larga estadia para el adulto mayor en la ciudad de Talca.

127 p.En este trabajo se realiza un estudio para la Implementación de un Establecimiento de Larga Estadía para el Adulto Mayor en la Ciudad de Talca, enfocado especialmente a los segmentos socioeconómicos ABC1 C2. Se lleva a cabo este proyecto porque en el actual escenario no existe un establecimiento que proporcione este tipo de servicio con una alta calidad, existen clientes por abastecer los cuales están en aumento por la transición demográfica que vive el país. Para lograr conocer el atractivo del mercado se utilizan dos herramientas en particular, el Análisis Porter de las fuerzas competitivas del que se genera una estrategia a nivel de negocio, y el Análisis Situacional FODA del que se genera una matriz con el fin crear estrategias para aprovechar las fortalezas internas, las oportunidades externas, disminuir las debilidades y enfrentar las amenazas. Una vez definido el atractivo del mercado se procede a realizar un análisis económico-financiero para evaluar si es factible llevar a cabo el proyecto y como reacciona al disminuir las principales variables de las que depende el ingreso del establecimiento. Una vez llevado a cabo el estudio se logra concluir que el proyecto es factible puesto que presenta un VAN positivo y además una TIR muy por sobre el costo de oportunidad utilizado para la evaluación del proyecto

La Formación de los Profesionales de la Actividad Física y del Deporte

En este estudio se describe la formación inicial y permanente de las personas que trabajan en funciones de actividad física y deporte. La metodología utilizada en este estudio es cuantitativa de corte descriptivo, cuyo instrumento de recogida de datos ha sido una entrevista individual, oral y estandarizada por medio de cuestionario llevada a cabo a 600 personas que trabajan en funciones de actividad física y deporte en entidades y/o instalaciones deportivas de la Comunidad Autónoma Valenciana. Los resultados de la investigación determinan que en el mercado laboral y profesional de la actividad física y deporte existe una gran cantidad de personas trabajando en funciones de actividad física y deporte sin posesión de ninguna de las titulaciones oficiales de actividad física y deporte. La formación continua de las personas con alguna de las distintas titulaciones de actividad física y deporte es amplia y diversificada

Population recovery, seasonal site fidelity and daily activity of pirarucu (Arapaima spp.) in an Amazonian floodplain mosaic

1. Pirarucu (Arapaima spp.) are the world's largest scaled freshwater fish, reaching 3 m in length and >200 kg in weight. Historical overfishing has devastated populations of this remarkable fish across Amazonian floodplains, but community‐based management programmes are now stimulating the recovery of wild populations. 2. Pirarucu have evolved a unique set of life history traits, some of which have important implications for population management. Individuals exhibit lateral annual migration patterns during the prolonged annual flood pulse, entering flooded forests to reproduce and forage. During this period, although managed fish stocks become less monopolisable by local communities responsible for managing protected lakes, pirarucu can occupy and reproduce in new environments and thus potentially contribute to population recovery. 3. Here, we show a strong pattern of pirarucu (Arapaima cf. gigas) population recovery under community‐based management in an area along the Juruá River, in western Brazilian Amazonia. We show evidence of population recovery even outside formal protected areas, reinforcing the suitability of pirarucu community‐based management as a powerful tool for both biodiversity conservation and the improvement of local livelihoods. We also show pirarucu movements across a floodplain mosaic—including lakes, the main river channel, tributary streams, and flooded forests—during the wet season. 4. Our results support evidence of site fidelity among migrating pirarucu, justifying the high effort invested by local communities in seasonally protecting lakes from poachers and illegal fishers. Finally, restricted daily movement patterns by pirarucu support the suitability of population estimates based on day‐time counts because the chance of double counting is substantially reduced during the day when these counts are conducted. We highlight the strong suitability of this species for community‐based management, since they can: (1) replenish new environments during the wet season through migration and possibly also reproduction; and (2) be efficiently harvested during the dry season, delivering social and ecological benefits at large spatial scales. 5. Positive examples of fisheries management, which align biodiversity conservation and social development, are important for building optimism, and influencing local and international stakeholders. Our study shows how engaging and empowering local communities to help monitor the movement ecology of target species can be an effective strategy to support the sustainable management of aquatic resources in tropical environments

Mechanics and electronics of the footballer autonomous mobile robot

This paper describes an Autonomous Mobile Robot which plays football. This project was developed by three senior students from the Industrial Electronics Engineering course during their probation period. The rules dictated the same structure for every team but then each team would solve, develop and use different electronics, sensory systems, playing algorithms, etc. This robot uses one major sensor which is a vision system with the use of a colour camera. This robot uses also a convex mirror placed on its top looking downwards with the video camera pointing to it. This way, the robot can see both goals, the ball and other robots, all the time. This paper describes the mechanics involved and the electronics. The encoders to detect position and orientation of the robot, the motor and its control, as well as the ball holder mechanics system are described