La coppia allo specchio: donne e uomini in relazione

Màster en Estudis de la Llibertat Femenina, Universitat de Barcelona. DUODA, Centre de recerca de dones, curs: 2011-2012, Tutora: Dra. Laura Biricolt

Machine Learning to Differentiate Between Positive and Negative Emotions Using Pupil Diameter

Pupil diameter (PD) has been suggested as a reliable parameter for identifying an individual’s emotional state. In this paper, we introduce a learning machine technique to detect and differentiate between positive and negative emotions. We presented 30 participants with positive and negative sound stimuli and recorded pupillary responses. The results showed a significant increase in pupil dilation during the processing of negative and positive sound stimuli with greater increase for negative stimuli. We also found a more sustained dilation for negative compared to positive stimuli at the end of the trial, which was utilized to differentiate between positive and negative emotions using a machine learning approach which gave an accuracy of 96.5% with sensitivity of 97.93% and specificity of 98%. The obtained results were validated using another dataset designed for a different study and which was recorded while 30 participants processed word pairs with positive and negative emotions

THEORETICAL DETERMINATION OF THE YIELD CURVE FOR UNSATURATED SOILS

An important step to developing a good understanding of the behavior of unsaturated soils is to adopt a formal and simple constitutive framework and to conduct high-quality and short-time experiments. Barcelona Basic Model (BBM) was the first elastoplastic constitutive model for unsaturated soils. The yield curve, which separates the elastic region from the elastoplastic region, is an important aspect of constitutive modeling for unsaturated soils. Most concepts for unsaturated soils were developed based upon the results from suction-controlled triaxial (SCTX) tests. Though, the SCTX tests on unsaturated soils are costly, time-consuming, and laborious, and their results are questionable. This study intends to develop an alternative method to overcome the limitations of the SCTX tests for the constitutive modeling of unsaturated soils and to determine correctly the shape and the evolution of the loading/collapse (LC) yield curves during yielding. A photogrammetry-based method is used to determine the absolute soil volume during triaxial testing. Further evaluation of triaxial testing is presented by determining the soil specimen misalignment and disturbance at different testing stages. The implication of misalignment on the stress-strain relationship of soils during triaxial testing is investigated. In addition, a study of the requirement of point density in image-analysis methods during triaxial testing is presented. Finally, the Modified State Surface Approach (MSSA) is adopted to calibrate the unsaturated soil parameters on constant water content (undrained) tests and determine the shapes of yield curves for unsaturated soils. A modification to BBM is also proposed to handle the dilatancy observed in the undrained triaxial tests and modified unconfined compression tests on silty soil specimens --Abstract, p. i

Arab unity in terms of law

In this thesis an attempt has been made to investigate the extent to which the Concept of Arab unity has been implemented in inter Arab states legal relations.... Zie Forewor

The potentials for corporatization of public hospitals: The case of Egypt

With changing health landscape across the globe, increasing burden of chronic diseases, increasing citizens expectations that accompanied by cost limitations, health reform becomes inevitable for Egyptian health system to maximize benefits and overcome challenges. Reform might include healthcare service provision, health policies, workforce planning or public health programs strategies. New Public Management concepts and principles represent the basis for many of reform plans since its emerging in the early 1990s. Many countries have used New Public Management guiding principles to shape its health reform program. Egypt is undergoing a reform plan across the whole sectors through Egypt 2030 plan announced by Ministry of Planning and Administrative reform. The reform plan has identified a set of goals for the health sector to achieve and another set of indicators to measure the progress and level of achievement. This paper presents corporatization of public hospital as a tool that can fit into the new reform program. With the execution of universal health coverage, the autonomy of hospitals will help to achieve the targeted level of performance, efficiency, and quality of services. The main challenge facing implementation is the high percentage of poverty in Egypt and their dependency on the government hospitals to get healthcare services. Transforming these hospitals into revenue generating organization will affect accessibility except there is a social insurance scheme that can protect poor against the commercialization of healthcare services. Research question: is corporatization improving performance, increasing accessibility and enhancing the quality of healthcare services? Methodology: qualitative research where semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professional and system experts locally and globally to get their views on the feasibility of implementation of such reform in Egypt. Conclusion: corporatization of public hospitals in Egypt represents a fair organizational reform strategy for Egyptian health system to increase efficiency and satisfaction. Yet, a rigorous readiness assessment of the system components (regulations, providers, payers, and beneficiaries) should be executed to measure the readiness for implementation

Fuzzy Logic Based Motor Control

This report presents the detailed design of both Type-1 Fuzzy logic PI controller and Type-2 Fuzzy Logic PI controller to control the speed of a DC servomotor. Both controllers are explored extensively in terms of number and type of membership functions and the defuzzification technique used. Rise time, Settling time, Percent overshoot and Integral Absolute error are used to judge between controllers during a unity step response, load disturbance and noise disturbance. Using Simulink Matlab, simulation to show the behavior of the DC servomotor will be carried; to compare type-2 fuzzy logic against conventional type-1. Moreover, explain the advantages and disadvantages of fuzzy logic over conventional PID controllers. A DC servo motor model was built and the performance of a PID controlled system was simulated. Afterwards, type-1 fuzzy logic controller was simulated to determine the system performance. Moreover, both types of controllers were compared against each other to determine the advantages and disadvantages of both. Furthermore, type-1 fuzzy logic controller was explored further where judgment of the performance of the system was carried by varying the number of membership functions, type of membership functions and defuzzification methods. Afterwards, type-2 fuzzy logic controller was simulated and explored in the same manner as type- 1 fuzzy logic controller. Both controllers were compared to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each. A comparative analysis with the conventional type-lfuzzy logic PI controller shows that overall, type-2 showed much improved results. This improvement is evident when it comes to handling ofload disturbance and noise added to the system

Vessel-to-Rail Intermodal Connectivity Analysis for The Port of Houston

Freight transportation is a crucial element of the economy and development of regions. Still, its dramatic growth in the road sector is rapidly offsetting the benefits through such impacts as congestion, noise, pollution, and environmental damage. Alternative transportation solutions such as a combined transportation network can help to reduce these impacts. Container rail-water intermodal transportation broadly means with the premise of rail transportation and water transportation as the primary, compatible with other modes of transportation to accomplish the complete transfer of the containers. As a fast-growing port, the Port of Houston Authority has grown to be very important because of its large tonnage handling capacity and its impact on the nation\u27s economy. With the growth in the economy which results in increased port activities, the port of Houston is gradually approaching capacity and sees the need for expansion of infrastructure needed for service efficiency provided. This study aims to identify the critical components of a vessel-rail intermodal system, analyze the significance of each of them, compare the competitiveness of the Port of Houston among the similar ports, pinpoint the gap between the existing condition and state of the art practices. The report will also focus on the feasibility of the Rail Intermodal System compared to the truck freight of the Port of Houston. Based on the existing intermodal system of the Port of Houston, the report will help identify critical factors and recommend processes that will promote the competitiveness of the system in handling and servicing future economic growth

A Suggested Program for Developing First Year University Students’ Agency

[EN] AbstractStudents joining universities sometimes lack the agency to lead their lives and succeed in higher education. In the educational context, agency refers to the more empowered positioning of students to be active agents in their own learning lives. Enhancing life skills/competencies can facilitate students’ agency when they instill positive set beliefs and personal competencies, creating agentic capacity. Action Learning is one of the methods used to enhance life skills/competencies by engaging students in real life problems, taking action, and continuously reflecting on their actions. This paper presents a suggested program for building firs-year university students’ agency through a balanced approach of Competency-based Learning, Action Learning, and Reflective Learning. El Souefi, NMF. (2023). A Suggested Program for Developing First Year University Students’ Agency. En 9th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'23). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 129-136. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd23.2023.1613412913