Concept logic trees: enabling user interaction for transparent image classification and human-in-the-loop learning

Interpretable deep learning models are increasingly important in domains where transparent decision-making is required. In this field, the interaction of the user with themodel can contribute to the interpretability of themodel. In this research work, we present an innovative approach that combines soft decision trees, neural symbolic learning, and concept learning to create an image classificationmodel that enhances interpretability and user interaction, control, and intervention. The key novelty of our method relies on the fusion of an interpretable architecture with neural symbolic learning, allowing the incorporation of expert knowledge and user interaction. Furthermore, our solution facilitates the inspection of the model through queries in the form of first-order logic predicates. Our main contribution is a human-in-the-loop model as a result of the fusion of neural symbolic learning and an interpretable architecture.We validate the effectiveness of our approach through comprehensive experimental results, demonstrating competitive performance on challenging datasets when compared to state-of-the-art solutions.HAT.tec GmbHFunding for open access publishing: Universidad de Granada/CBUA

Una reconstrucción preliminar de la tradición democrática

En términos conceptuales “reconstruir” significa articular ideas aisladas cuyo origen se desconoce, con el objeto de aunar un conocimiento medianamente ordenado para organizarlo teóricamente. Por sencillo que parezca, este ha sido el propósito inicial que, seguramente, más trabajo ha costado a la mayoría de los autores que se han preocupado por la democracia. Dada la vasta literatura y las innumerables expresiones políticas que se han manifestado en la práctica, el estudio de la democracia les ha demandado una profunda y rigurosa sistematización. Algunos han buscado respuestas en los precisos pero a la vez reduccionistas modelos económicos, cuya presunta objetividad científica se ha utilizado para explicar los comportamientos políticos en una democracia, mientras otros han procurado explicar la evolución histórica de la democracia como consecuencia de la lucha o sustitución entre paradigmas –entendidos como visiones de mundo- que dotan de significado a las obras individuales

Venting out : exports during a domestic slump

En este artículo utilizamos variación geográfica plausiblemente exógena en la reducción de la demanda interna causada por la Gran Recesión en España para documentar la existencia de una robusta relación causal negativa a nivel de empresa entre cambios provocados por la demanda en las ventas internas y en los flujos de exportaciones. Las empresas manufactureras españolas cuyas ventas internas se redujeron en mayor medida durante la crisis experimentaron un mayor incremento en sus flujos de exportación, incluso una vez que se controla por sus determinantes de oferta, tales como sus costes laborales. Esta relación negativa entre cambios en las ventas internas y cambios en los flujos de exportación provocados por cambios de la demanda ilustra la capacidad de los mercados de exportación para compensar el impacto negativo de shocks de demanda locales. Los resultados presentados en el artículo se racionalizan a través de un modelo estándar de exportaciones con heterogeneidad de empresas que permite la existencia de costes marginales de producción no constantes. Utilizando una versión de este modelo estimada de manera estructural, concluimos que las respuestas a nivel de empresa a la caída de la demanda interna en España podrían explicar alrededor de la mitad del espectacular incremento de las exportaciones de bienes en España (el denominado «milagro exportador español») en el período 2009-2013We exploit plausibly exogenous geographical variation in the reduction in domestic demand caused by the Great Recession in Spain to document the existence of a robust, within-firm negative causal relationship between demand-driven changes in domestic sales and export flows. Spanish manufacturing firms whose domestic sales were reduced by more during the crisis observed a larger increase in their export flows, even after controlling for firms’ supply determinants (such as labor costs). This negative relationship between demand-driven changes in domestic sales and changes in export flows illustrates the capacity of export markets to counteract the negative impact of local demand shocks. We rationalize our findings through a standard heterogeneous-firm model of exporting expanded to allow for non-constant marginal costs of production. Using a structurally estimated version of this model, we conclude that the firm-level responses to the slump in domestic demand in Spain could well have accounted for around one-half of the spectacular increase in Spanish goods exports (the so-called “Spanish export miracle”) over the period 2009-1

Use of Carbonated Water as Kneading in Mortars Made with Recycled Aggregates

The increased concern about climate change is revolutionising the building materials sector, making sustainability and environmental friendliness increasingly important. This study evaluates the feasibility of incorporating recycled masonry aggregate (construction and demolition waste) in porous cement-based materials using carbonated water in mixing followed (or not) by curing in a CO2 atmosphere. The use of carbonated water can be very revolutionary in cement-based materials, as it allows hydration and carbonation to occur simultaneously. Calcite and portlandite in the recycled masonry aggregate and act as a buffer for the low-pH carbonated water. Carbonated water produced better mechanical properties and increased accessible water porosity and dry bulk density. The same behaviour was observed with natural aggregates. Carbonated water results in an interlaced shape of carbonate ettringite (needles) and fills the microcracks in the recycled masonry aggregate. Curing in CO2 together with the use of carbonated water (concomitantly) is not beneficial. This study provides innovative solutions for a circular economy in the construction sector using carbonated water in mixing (adsorbing CO2), which is very revolutionary as it allows carbonation to be applied to in-situ products

Use of carbonated water to improve the mechanical properties and reduce the carbon footprint of cement-based materials with recycled aggregates

Carbon curing of cement-based materials shows great potential for reducing the carbon footprint and improving the physical-mechanical properties. Accelerated carbonatation is usually carried out by increasing the CO2 concentration in the curing atmosphere. The use of carbonated water (source of CO2) as mixing water is an alternative that has great potential in the manufacture of in-situ cement-based materials. This study evaluated the effect of the use of carbonated water used as the mixing and/or curing solvent on cement-based material properties at an early curing age, as well as the CO2 sequestration capacity. Three variables of a porous cement-based material were tested: (i) type of aggregate (natural aggregate (NA) or recycled masonry aggregate (RMA)), (ii) type of water mixing (normal water or carbonated water), and (iii) type of curing regime (air curing or water curing with normal or carbonated water). The use of commercial carbonated water as the mixing solvent and RMA increased the CO2 sequestered by 181 % with respect to the reference material after 7 d of curing. Commercial carbonated water as the mixing solvent favoured the carbonation phenomenon and improved the physical-mechanical properties of cured samples, except for cement-based materials prepared with NA having a curing age of 1 d. Curing with normal or carbonated water is not recommended to increase the CO2 capture capacity or increase the physical-mechanical properties of cement-based materials. The best variable compared to the others tested was the use of carbonated water as mixing water

Review of the Application of Hydrotalcite as CO2 Sinks for Climate Change Mitigation

In recent decades, the environmental impact caused by greenhouse gases, especially CO2, has driven many countries to reduce the concentration of these gases. The study and development of new designs that maximise the efficiency of CO2 capture continue to be topical. This paper presents a review of the application of hydrotalcites as CO2 sinks. There are several parameters that can make hydrotalcites suitable for use as CO2 sinks. The first question is the use of calcined or uncalcined hydrotalcite as well as the temperature at which it is calcined, since the calcination conditions (temperature, rate and duration) are important parameters determining structure recovery. Other aspects were also analysed: (i) the influence of the pH of the synthesis; (ii) the molar ratio of its main elements; (iii) ways to increase the specific area of hydrotalcites; (iv) pressure, temperature, humidity and time in CO2 absorption; and (v) combined use of hydrotalcites and cement-based materials. A summary of the results obtained so far in terms of CO2 capture with the parameters described above is presented. This work can be used as a guide to address CO2 capture with hydrotalcites by showing where the information gaps are and where researchers should apply their efforts

CO2 adsorption by organohydrotalcites at low temperatures and high pressure

In this study, the maximum CO2-capture capacities of two families of organohydrotalcites, with intercalated dodecyl sulphate or tetradecanedioate anions in their uncalcined and calcined states, were studied. Adsorption conditions with high CO2 gas pressures (up to 35 atm) and low temperatures (0 °C and 35 °C) were tested. The calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcite with tetradecanedioate anion had the highest CO2-adsorption capacity (176.66 mg·g−1 at 0 °C), which was 24.4% higher than the best results obtained with the calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites with carbonate. Approximately, 1.34 g of calcined hydrotalcite was necessary to reduce the amount of CO2 in 1 m3 of air to the preindustrial level. A thorough characterisation of the surfaces and structures of the samples was performed using different techniques. The CO2 adsorption process was modelled using different mathematical equations: Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, Toth, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin. The adsorption nature of the hydrotalcites enables us to achieve adsorption–desorption cycles by simply changing the CO2 pressure conditions. These results may contribute to the development of new CO2 capture materials for use in carbon capture and use technologies and for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

Modulation scheme for the bidirectional operation of the Phase Shift Full Bridge Power Converter

This paper proposes a novel modulation technique for the bidirectional operation of the Phase Shift Full Bridge (PSFB) DC/DC power converter. The forward or buck operation of this topology is well known and widely used in medium to high power DC to DC converter applications. In contrast, backward or boost operation is less typical since it exhibits large drain voltage overshoot in devices located at the secondary or current-fed side; a known problem in isolated boost converters. For that reason other topologies of symmetric configuration are preferred in bidirectional applications, like CLLC resonant converter or Dual Active Bridge (DAB). In this work, we propose a modulation technique overcoming the drain voltage overshoot of the isolated boost converter at the secondary or current-fed side, without additional components other than the ones in a standard PSFB and still achieving full or nearly full ZVS in the primary or voltage-fed side along all the load range of the converter. The proposed modulation has been tested in a bidirectional 3.3 kW PSFB with 400 V input and 54.5 V output, achieving a 98 % of peak efficiency in buck mode and 97.5 % in boost mode operation. This demonstrates that the PSFB converter may become a relatively simple and efficient topology for bidirectional DC to DC converter applications

Evaluación sobre historia clínica electrónica. Asociación entre indicadores de proceso medidos sobre historia electrónica y resultados intermedios en salud, en pacientes con hipertensión

ResumenObjetivoDeterminar, en pacientes con hipertensión, si la medición sobre historia electrónica de cada indicador de proceso del Sermas, se asocia a resultados intermedios en salud.DiseñoEstudio epidemiológico descriptivo transversal.EmplazamientoÁrea 1 de Atención Primaria de Madrid. 2010.ParticipantesTodos los pacientes del Área con hipertensión. n=80.306.Mediciones principalesVariables independientes. Indicadores institucionales de proceso (Cartera de Servicios). Dependientes. Resultados intermedios: cifras controladas de tensión arterial (TA), LDL, y peso, no consumo de tabaco y detección de complicaciones. Potencialmente confusoras. Edad y sexo, comorbilidad, fármacos y variables del profesional.ResultadosEl 55,1% (ES 0,2%) tenía cifras controladas de TA. En el análisis bivariante y multivariante mediante regresión logística, el registro de algunos indicadores de proceso se asoció con un aumento, en general moderado, de la probabilidad de alcanzar resultados intermedios: consejo tabaco (OR: 1,69; IC95%: 1,61-1,77), revisión antecedentes (OR: 1,54; IC95%: 1,42-1,68), medición TA (OR: 1,19; IC95%: 1,14-1,25), iones (OR: 1,14; IC95%: 1,09-1,19), IMC (OR: 1,08; IC95%: 1,04-1,12); también medición de glucemia, edemas y creatinina pero con sesgo temporal. En otros indicadores no se encontró asociación (intervenciones en estilo de vida, antecedentes familiares, clasificación, orina, revisión tratamiento farmacológico, LDL, EKG y auscultación cardiaca).ConclusionesEn hipertensión, se encontró asociación entre algunos indicadores de proceso del Sermas, medidos sobre historia electrónica, y un aumento moderado de la probabilidad de alcanzar resultados intermedios en salud. Parece recomendable integrar en la cartera de servicios la medición de resultados e incorporar otras intervenciones de impacto, priorizar mejoras en indicadores de baja realización y alto impacto y eliminar o modificar sustancialmente indicadores sin asociación con resultados.AbstractObjectiveTo study relationship between institutional process indicators (measured using electronic records) and intermediate outcomes of patients with hypertension.DesignCross-sectional epidemiological study.SettingPrimary Care Health District 1. Madrid. 2010.PatientsAll patients with hypertension. n=80,306.Main measurementsVariables. Independent. Institutional process indicators. Dependent. Intermediate outcomes: blood pressure within target limits, LDL-cholesterol, tobacco and weight and detected complications. Confounding. Age, gender, co-morbidity, drugs and professional variables.ResultsThe BP of 55.1% (SE 0.2%) of patients was within target limits. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression showed that the recording of some process indicators was associated with an increase in the probability to achieve targets in intermediate outcomes: smoking advice (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.61 - 1.77), reviewing personal history (OR: 1.54, 95% CI:1.42-1.68), increase was less or biased: BP (OR: 1.19, 95% CI:1.14-1.25), sodium and potassium (OR: 1.14, 95% CI:1.09-1.19), BMI (OR 1.08, 95% CI:1.04-1.12); also diabetes, edema, and creatinine, but there was timing bias. The relationship between other indicators (those oriented to lifestyle, family history, classification, urine examination, reviewing of drug therapy, LDL, electrocardiogram and cardiac auscultation) and a higher probability to achieve targets was not found.ConclusionsIn hypertension, some institutional process indicators measured on electronic records were associated with an increase in the probability to achieve targets in intermediate outcomes. No relationship was found between other indicators. This suggests maintaining process and outcome measurement, to include the impact of interventions, to prioritize improvements in process indicators that show low performance and high impact and to remove or to change process indicators where no relationship is found

El cerro de Alarcos (Ciudad Real)

El cerro de Alarcos (Ciudad Real): Formación y desarrollo de un oppidum ibérico presents the results of archaeological work which has been carried out since 1997 in so-called Sector III of the Alarcos site, located on a hill next to the Guadiana river, a few kilometres from Ciudad Real. These archaeological campaigns have made it possible to obtain essential information to understand the communities that, from the end of the Bronze Age to the end of the Iron Age, inhabited this large town and its surrounding area. An interesting set of structures and other evidence of material culture have been recovered, which allow us to characterize the daily activities of people between the 10th-11th century BC and, in addition, they enable us to understand the paleoenvironment of this territory and the nature of the economy and the food transformation activities of these protohistoric populations. The use of this territory has been determined over the centuries, being originally a residential area which later, in Iberian times, assumed economic functionality, as it was intended for grain storage, grinding and cooking food. The documentation of a wide and varied repertoire of ceramic materials and an interesting set of foreign ceramics corroborates the dynamism this settlement achieved, during both the Pre-Iberian period and the full Iberian period