Coordinación global basada en controladores locales reactivos en la RoboCup

Actas del Primer Workshop Hispano-Luso en Agentes Físicos, Tarragona, 12/13-X-2000El principal problema a que nos enfrentamos al diseñar sistemas multi-agente es cómo coordinar los agentes que pertenecen a este sistema para obtener un comportamiento global eficiente. En algunos trabajos, el comportamiento coordinado de los agentes se obtiene gracias a un conocimiento total del dominio en el que se pueden aplicar planificadores tradicionales. Sin embargo, en muchos dominios esta aproximación no es posible por tratarse de dominios demasiado grandes y la comunicación y capacidad de memoria de los agentes muy limitada. En este trabajo se presenta un diseño multi-agente que permite obtener un comportamiento global coordinado basado en los comportamientos reactivos de los agentes que son controlados o dirigidos por la información local que poseen. En el diseño se ha minimizado la comunicación entre los agentes, ya que el proceso de coordinación se basa en reglas locales reactivas. Esta propuesta tiene una primera aplicación en el dominio de la RoboCup (Robot World Cup Iniciative), proyecto ampliamente utilizado por la comunidad investigadora. Palabras Clave: Inteligencia artificial distribuida, sistemas multi-agente, comportamientos cooperativos, comportamientos reactivos, RoboCupComisión Interministerial de Ciencia y TecnologíaRed Temática EUROBOT-IBEscola Técnica Superior d'Enginyeria (ETSE)Grup de Robótica i Visió Intel•ligents (RIVI)Departament d'Enginyeria Electrónica, Eléctrica i Automática (DEEEA)Departament d'Enginyeria Informática i Matemática (DEIM)Publicad

Cooperación en sistemas distribuidos de robots reactivos minimizando la cantidad de información comunicada

Actas de: Simposio Español de Infomática Distribuida (SEID 2000), Ourense, 25-27 de septiembre de 2000La coordinación emergente pretende obtener comportamientos colaborativos entre diversos agentes sin que eso implique que cada individuo deba tener un conocimiento global del dominio, y sin que ese conocimiento deba estar centralizado. Al no requerir conocimiento global, se minimiza la comunicación entre los agentes de forma que cada uno de ellos puede comportarse de forma reactiva y totalmente autónoma. En este trabajo se presenta una primera aproximación a este modelo de coordinación aplicado al dominio de la RoboCup.Publicad

Towards photonic biosensing using a three-port mach-zehnder interferometer in a silicon nitride platform

Integrated photonics enables sensitive and label-free optical biosensors for the detection of chemical and biological substances and is therefore promising for future lab-on-chip solutions. In this article we present our current development of silicon nitride based integrated photonic biosensing devices working at telecom wavelengths. Our approach of three-port based interferometric sensing circumvents the issues of conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometers, providing a constant sensitivity, and allowing to use a fixed wavelength sensing scheme. Preliminary experimental results show that the fabricated devices work as expected from simulations.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Shared Resources in Industrial Districts: Information, know-how and institutions in the Spanish tile industry

The aim of this paper is to measure the effect of shared resources on individual firm performance. Using the Industrial District as a definition of the interorganizational context, we propose a model that includes a set of factors that are associated with the endowment of external resources, that is, collective information and know-how, and involvement in local institutions. In order to illustrate the theoretical argumentation, we develop an empirical study using a one hundred-firm sample from the Spanish Ceramic Tile industry in order to search for a statistical association between resource variables and performance of the firms. Finally, findings of the paper suggest that in order to increase performance firms must develop a distinct capacity so as to be able to shape and exploit shared or collective resource

Publicidad contextual: Una alternativa de la eficacia en Internet

Proponemos analizar la “publicidad interactiva” en España y, de forma particular del formato denominado “publicidad contextual” o de “enlaces patrocinados” (entre otros, sus aspectos funcionales y operativos). La velocidad de los procesos de esta nueva forma de comunicación y la falta de estudios relacionados con el tema, invita a discutir y profundizar en los aspectos singulares que pudiera aportar Internet como herramienta en la gestión del marketing, en esa búsqueda constante por contactar con el público objetivo determinado. La accesibilidad que caracteriza a este formato -se le podría denominar como “democrático”, ya que no necesita grandes inversiones para alcanzar una elevada efectividad-, y su transparencia y rapidez en la evaluación de los resultados lo hacen interesante para cualquier organización que considere estratégica la utilización de Internet como medio para sus comunicaciones comerciales. La inclusión del desarrollo de un proyecto real, además de ser un apoyo explicativo a nuestro discurso, permite evaluar en sus aspectos cuantitativos y cualitativos las características de nuestro objeto de estudio.We aim to analyse “interactive advertising” in Spain, particularly the format known as “contextual advertising” or “sponsored links” (including their functional and operative aspects). The speed of processes in this new form of communication and the absence of studies on the matter invite discussion, examining the special features that Internet could contribute as a marketing management tool, in that constant striving to contact a given target public. The accessibility that characterises this format -it could be called “democratic” since it can be highly effective without requiring heavy investment- and its transparency and speed in assessing results make it interesting for any organisation that considers Internet a strategic medium for commercial communication. By including the development of a real project, apart from backing up our dissertation, we are able to assess the quantitative and qualitative aspects of our subject matter

Predictor factors of perceived health in family caregivers of people diagnosed with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease

Caring for a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has a negative impact on family caregivers’ psychological health. This study examined the factors related to ‘perceived health’ and ‘presence of new-onset mental health problems’ in family caregivers of people diagnosed with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease. A cross-sectional observational study carried out in Almeria’s Healthcare District (Spain). A total of 255 family caregivers (42.4% cared for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease and 57.6% cared for people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease) participated in the study from January to December 2015. Mainly, caregivers were women (81.5% in the mild Alzheimer’s disease group and 88.4% in the moderate Alzheimer’s disease group), and their average age was 56.54 years (standard deviation (SD) = 13.13) and 54.47 years (SD = 11.71), respectively. Around 47% of the caregivers had been caring for the person with Alzheimer’s between two and five years. The Goldberg General Health Questionnaire was used to measure perceived health and the presence of new-onset mental health problems. An exploratory descriptive analysis and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. For caregivers of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease, ‘perceived health’ was related to ‘perceived social support’ (r = −0.21; p = 0.028), ‘person’s level of dependency’ (r = −0.24, p = 0.05), ‘severity of the person’s neuropsychiatric symptoms’ (r = 0.22; p = 0.05), and ‘caregiver’s emotional distress in response to the person’s neuropsychiatric symptoms’ (r = 0.22; p = 0.05). For caregivers of people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, ‘perceived health’ was related to ‘perceived social support’ (r = −0.31; p ˂ 0.01), ‘presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms’ (r = 0.27, p = 0.01), ‘severity of the person’s neuropsychiatric symptoms’ (r = 0.32, p = 0.01) and ‘caregiver’s emotional distress in response to the person’s neuropsychiatric symptoms’ (r = 0.029; p = 0.01). The presence of new-onset mental health problems was detected in 46.3% (n = 50) of caregivers of people with mild Alzheimer’s and 61.9% (n = 91) of caregivers of people with moderate Alzheimer’s. When people are diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease, intervention programs for caregivers should aim to regulate emotions and promote positive coping strategies. When people are diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, intervention programs for caregivers must allow them to adapt to caregiving demands that arise with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Experiences of mothers of extremely preterm infants after hospital discharge

The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the experiences of mothers of extremely preterm infants during the first twelve months at home following discharge from a neonatal intensive care unit. A qualitative, interpretative approach using Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics was carried out. One focus group and fifteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted twelve months after hospital discharge. Responses were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis. The study´s participants were twenty women. The following themes emerged from the data analysis: 1) 'The journey home: the discharge process', which included the sub-themes 'escaping the hospital environment: between desire and fear' and 'preparing parents for hospital discharge: practice and formal support'; and 2) 'The difficulty of living with an extremely preterm infant', including the sub-themes 'the challenge of an unexpected form of childcare', 'overprotection of and bond with a child with special needs' and 'disturbance in the social/familiar setting: when a mother becomes a nurse'. The process of hospital discharge and the first months at home are difficult. The birth and care of an extremely preterm infant affect the mothers' quality of life as well as their family and social life. Practice and early discharge programmes can make the discharge process easier. The knowledge and understanding of the experience of mothers of extremely preterm infants in the first months at home after hospital discharge could help healthcare professionals to develop educational strategies and counselling interventions in accordance with the mothers' needs. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design and psychometric analysis of the COVID-19 prevention, recognition and home-management self-efficacy scale

In order to control the spread of COVID-19, people must adopt preventive behaviours that can affect their day-to-day life. People’s self-efficacy to adopt preventive behaviours to avoid COVID-19 contagion and spread should be studied. The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically test the COVID-19 prevention, detection, and home-management self-efficacy scale (COVID-19-SES). We conducted an observational cross-sectional study. Six-hundred and seventy-eight people participated in the study. Data were collected between March and May 2020. The COVID-19-SES’ validity (content, criterion, and construct), reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), and legibility were studied. The COVID-19-SES’ reliability was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.906; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.754). The COVID-19-SES showed good content validity (scale’s content validity index = 0.92) and good criterion validity when the participants’ results on the COVID-19-SES were compared to their general self-efficacy (r = 0.38; p 0.001). Construct validity analysis revealed that the COVID-19-SES’ three-factor structure explained 52.12% of the variance found and it was congruent with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations to prevent COVID-19 contagion and spread. Legibility analysis showed that the COVID-19-SES is easy to read and understand by laypeople. The COVID-19-SES is a psychometrically robust instrument that allows for a valid and reliable assessment of people’s self-efficacy in preventing, detecting symptoms, and home-managing COVID-19