Ranking Alternatives on the Basis of the Intensity of Dominance and Fuzzy Logic within MAUT

We introduce dominance measuring methods to derive a ranking of alternatives to deal with incomplete information in multi-criteria decision making problems on the basis of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT). We consider the situation where the alternative performances are represented by uniformly distributed intervals, and there exists imprecision concerning the decision-makers¿ preferences, by means of classes of individual utility functions and imprecise weights represented by weight intervals or fuzzy weights, respectively. An additive multi-attribute utility model is used to evaluate the alternatives under consideration, which is considered a valid approach in most practical cases. The approaches we propose are based on the dominance values between pairs of alternatives that can be computed by linear programming, which are then transformed into dominance intensities from which a dominance intensity measure is derived. The methods proposed are compared with other existing dominance measuring methods and other methodologies by Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The performance is analyzed in terms of two measures of efficacy: hit ratio, the proportion of all cases in which the method selects the same best alternative as in the TRUE ranking, and the Rank-order correlation, which represents how similar the overall rank structures of alternatives are in the TRUE ranking and in the ranking derived from the method. The approaches are illustrated with an example consisting on the selection of intervention strategies to restore an aquatic ecosystem contaminated by radionuclides

Influence of Elastomer Layers in the Quality of Aluminum Parts on Finishing Operations

In finishing processes, the quality of aluminum parts is mostly influenced by static and dynamic phenomena. Different solutions have been studied toward a stable milling process attainment. However, the improvements obtained with the tuning of process parameters are limited by the system stiffness and external dampers devices interfere with the machining process. To deal with this challenge, this work analyzes the suitability of elastomer layers as passive damping elements directly located under the part to be machined. Thus, exploiting the sealing properties of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), a suitable flexible vacuum fixture is developed, enabling a proper implementation in the manufacturing process. Two different compounds are characterized under axial compression and under finishing operations. The compression tests present the effect of the feed rate and the strain accumulative effect in the fixture compressive behavior. Despite the higher strain variability of the softer rubber, different milling process parameters, such as the tool feed rate, can lead to a similar compressive behavior of the fixture regardless the elastomer hardness. On the other hand, the characterization of these flexible fixtures is completed over AA2024 floor milling of rigid parts and compared with the use of a rigid part clamping. These results show that, as the cutting speed and the feed rate increases, due to the strain evolution of the rubber, the part quality obtained tend to equalize between the flexible and the rigid clamping of the workpiece. Due to the versatility of the NBR for clamping different part geometries without new fixture redesigns, this leads to a competitive advantage of these flexible solutions against the classic rigid vacuum fixtures. Finally, a model to predict the grooving forces with a bull-nose end mill regardless of the stiffness of the part support is proposed and validated for the working range.This research was funded by Basque Government (Eusko Jaurlaritza) under the ELKARTEK Program, SMAR3NAK project, grant number KK-2019/00051

Disentangling accretion disk and dust emissions in the infrared spectrum of type 1 AGN

We use a semi-empirical model to reproduce the 0.1-10um spectral energy distribution (SED) of a sample of 85 luminous quasars. In the model, the continuum emission from the accretion disk as well as the nebular lines are represented by a single empirical template (disk), where differences in the optical spectral index are reproduced by varying the amount of extinction. The near- and mid-infrared emission of the AGN-heated dust is modelled as the combination of two black-bodies (dust). The model fitting shows that the disk and dust components are remarkably uniform among individual quasars, with differences in the observed SED largely accounted for by varying levels of obscuration in the disk as well as differences in the relative luminosity of the disk and dust components. By combining the disk-subtracted SEDs of the 85 quasars, we generate a template for the 1-10um emission of the AGN-heated dust. Additionally, we use a sample of local Seyfert 1 galaxies with full spectroscopic coverage in the 0.37um to 39um range to demonstrate a method for stitching together spectral segments obtained with different PSF and extraction apertures. We show that the disk and dust templates obtained from luminous quasars also reproduce the optical-to-mid-infrared spectra of local Seyfert 1s when the contribution from the host galaxy is properly subtracted.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Research Topic "Quasars at all cosmic epochs"; proceedings of the conference "Quasars at all cosmic epochs", held in Padova, April 2-7, 201

Concepciones sobre algunas especies animales : ejemplificaciones del razonamiento por categorías. Dificultades de aprendizaje asociadas

In this paper we have studied the student's and the teacher's misconceptions and attitudes about several animals. The results show that students and teachers use a reasoning that divides the animals into categories and often in double classes: bad animalsJgood animals, strong animalsJweak animals, carnivores/herbivores, and others. We analyze the influence of fables and children tales on these misconceptions, the epistemological component of these ideas and the possible real obstacle. The implications in order to overcome the obstacle are discussed and the strategies wich may be more effective are suggested

Dominance Measuring Method Performance under Incomplete Information about Weights.

In multi-attribute utility theory, it is often not easy to elicit precise values for the scaling weights representing the relative importance of criteria. A very widespread approach is to gather incomplete information. A recent approach for dealing with such situations is to use information about each alternative?s intensity of dominance, known as dominance measuring methods. Different dominancemeasuring methods have been proposed, and simulation studies have been carried out to compare these methods with each other and with other approaches but only when ordinal information about weights is available. In this paper, we useMonte Carlo simulation techniques to analyse the performance of and adapt such methods to deal with weight intervals, weights fitting independent normal probability distributions orweights represented by fuzzy numbers.Moreover, dominance measuringmethod performance is also compared with a widely used methodology dealing with incomplete information on weights, the stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA). SMAA is based on exploring the weight space to describe the evaluations that would make each alternative the preferred one

Circulación monetaria, intervención pública y arbitrismo en el reino de Aragón durante el siglo XVII

Este artículo estudia la circulación monetaria en Aragón durante el siglo XVII, junto con la intervención pública y debate económico sobre la materia. La mayor demanda de numerario con menor contenido metálico por el mercado promovió la llegada de piezas locales falsas y foráneas. Pese a agilizar los intercambios, estos flujos originaron efectos adversos en la economía y generaron discusiones entre instituciones públicas sobre la conveniencia de rebajar el valor intrínseco de la moneda autóctona durante la segunda mitad de la centuria. El fracaso del debate monetario que tuvo lugar durante el último cuarto de la centuria impidió alumbrar una política monetaria autónoma orientada a promover la recuperación económica y facilitó la creciente intervención estatal durante el siglo XVIII.This paper studies monetary circulation in the kingdom of Aragon during the seventeenth century as well as public intervention and economic debate on this matter. Increasing market demand of currency with lesser metallic content prompted the irruption of counterfeit local coins and foreign currency. These monetary flows facilitated commercial transactions, but had some negative effects on the economy and generated disputes between public institutions about the advisability of decreasing the intrinsic value of local coins during the second half of the century. The failure of the monetary debate during the last quarter of the century effectively stopped the Aragonese autonomous monetary policies to help economic recovery and facilitate the increasing intervention of the State during the eighteenth century

El órgano de San Juan, en Cáceres. Obra de Juan Antonio de Larrea y Galarza (1762-1764)

Con este trabajo aportamos información documental sobre la construcción del órgano de la iglesia cacereña de San Juan, entre 1762 y 1764. El artífice principal es el maestro organero José Antonio de Larrea y Galarza, pero también hemos podido constatar la presencia de Vicente Barbadillo, autor de las trazas de la caja; Juan Pérez, ensamblador constructor del mueble; Joaquín Rodríguez, dorador, y otros artesanos que participan en tareas complementarias.With this piece of work we provide documentary information on the making of the organ of the parish church of St. John (Cáceres), between 1762 and 1764. The main artist is the master organ maker José Antonio de Larrea y Galarza, but we have also been able to confirm the presence of Vicente Barbadillo, author of the drawing of the box; Juan Pérez, assembler of the furniture; Joaquín Rodríguez, gilder, and other craftsmen who participate in complementary tasks.peerReviewe