Adapted user-dependent multimodal biometric authentication exploiting general information

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Pattern Recognition Letters. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Pattern Recognition Letters 26.16 (2005): 2628 – 2639, DOI: 10.1016/j.patrec.2005.06.008A novel adapted strategy for combining general and user-dependent knowledge at the decision-level in multimodal biometric authentication is presented. User- independent, user-dependent, and adapted fusion and decision schemes are com- pared by using a bimodal system based on ¯ngerprint and written signature. The adapted approach is shown to outperform the other strategies considered in this pa- per. Exploiting available information for training the fusion function is also shown to be better than using existing information for post-fusion trained decisions.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Tech- nology under projects TIC2003-09068-C02-01 and TIC2003-08382-C05-01

Obtaining Adaptation of Virtual Courses by Using a Collaborative Tool and Learning Design

In this work is described a collaborative tool Learning Activity Management System, LAMS (Macquarie University, Australia) which has been developed for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning activities. It provides teachers with a highly intuitive visual authoring environment for creating sequences of learning activities. These activities can include a range of individual tasks, small group work and whole class activities based on both content and collaboration. Then a methodology to apply this tool is described

Unveiling the birth and evolution of the HII region Sh2-173

Based on a multiwavelength study, the interstellar medium around the H II region Sh2-173 has been analysed. The ionized region is clearly detected in the optical and the radio continuum images. The analysis of the H I data shows a region of low emissivity that has an excellent morphological correlation with the radio continuum emission. The H II region is partially bordered by a photodissociation region, which, in turn, is encircled by a molecular structure. The H I and CO structures related to Sh2-173 are observed in the velocity ranges from −25 to −31 km s−1 and from −27 to −39 km s−1, respectively. Taking into account the presence of non-circular motions in the Perseus spiral arm, together with previous distance estimates for the region, we adopt a distance of 2.5 ± 0.5 kpc for Sh2-173. Seven hot stars were identified in the field of Sh2-173, being only one O-type star. The amount of energetic photons emitted by this star is enough to keep the region ionized and heat the dust. Given that an expanding H II region may trigger star formation, a search for young stellar object (YSO) candidates was made using different infrared point source catalogues. A population of 46 YSO candidates was identified, projected on to the molecular clouds. On the other hand, Sh2-173 is located in a dense edge of a large (∼5°) H I shell, GSH 117.8+1.5-35. The possibility of Sh2-173 being part of a hierarchical system of three generations is suggested. In this scenario, the large H I shell, which probably originated due to the action of Cas OB5, would have triggered the formation of Sh2-173, which, in turn, is triggering new stars in its surrounding molecular cloud. To test this hypothesis, the ages of both the H II region and the large shell were estimated and compared. We concluded that Sh2-173 is a young H II region of about 0.6–1.0 Myr old. As for the large shell, we obtained a dynamical age of 5 ± 1 Myr. These age estimates, together with the relative location of the different structures, support the hypothesis that Sh2-173 is part of a hierarchical system.Instituto Argentino de RadioastronomíaFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Influence of stress control in the sports performance: self-confidence, anxiety and concentration in athletes

En esta investigación se realiza un estudio sobre el control del estrés en deportistas, utilizando como muestra 100 jugadores de fútbol semiprofesionales. Se parte de la consideración de que controlar el estrés para no llegar a estados de ansiedad es imprescindible, ya que alcanzar estos estados provoca efectos negativos en otras variables psicológicas del deportista, disminuyendo su autoconfianza y perjudicando el control atencional. El objetivo de esta investigación es describir los niveles de ansiedad, autoconfianza y atención-concentración en futbolistas semiprofesionales, mediante el análisis de la variable psicológica control del estrés. El instrumento utilizado para el estudio es la escala control del estrés del cuestionario de Características Psicológicas relacionadas con el Rendimiento Deportivo (CPRD). Como conclusiones del estudio, cabe destacar que desarrollar la habilidad psicológica de control del estrés, previene alcanzar estados de ansiedad y como consecuencia, posibilita mantener elevada la autoconfianza y una buena capacidad de atención-concentración durante la competición.In this research, a study on stress management in athletes is carried out with a sample of 100 semi-professional football players. Stress control is essential for avoiding a state of anxiety, as this state may have negative effects on other psychological variables of athletes, decreasing their self-confidence and harming their attentional control. The objective of this research is to describe anxiety, self-confidence, and attention-concentration levels in semi-professional footballers by means of analysing stress control. The instrument used for the study is the stress control scale from the Psychological Characteristics related to Sports Performance (CPRD) questionnaire. As a conclusion, it is noteworthy that developing the psychological ability of controlling stress prevents the appearance of anxiety states, allowing athletes to maintain high self-confidence and good attentionconcentration capacity during competitions

Diseño de un esquema de desarrollo de nuevos productos en el sector de productos naturales, bajo los principios y criterios del biocomercio y desde un enfoque farmacéutico

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autorDiseña un esquema para desarrollar nuevos productos en el sector de productos naturales, bajo los principios y criterios del biocomercio desde el enfoque farmacéutico, aplicado a la actividad empresarial.Se realizó un estudio exploratorio descriptivo, previo al diseño para obtener información actualizada y real sobre la actividad de desarrollo de nuevos productos en el sector de productos naturales, así como el análisis de fortalezas, debilidades, oportunidades y amenazas del sector. Se diseñó el esquema propuesto integrando los principios y criterios del biocomercio y finalmente se validó la viabilidad del esquema con la metodología de consultora a expertos. Los resultados indican la viabilidad del esquema y demuestran su factibilidad al integrar los principios y criterios del biocomercio al ejercicio empresarial y en el desarrollo de nuevos productos naturales

Use of a truncated conical tank to improve underwater acoustic experiments

Peer Reviewe

Smart vest for respiratory rate monitoring of COPD patients based on non-contact capacitive sensing

In this paper, a first approach to the design of a portable device for non-contact monitoring of respiratory rate by capacitive sensing is presented. The sensing system is integrated into a smart vest for an untethered, low-cost and comfortable breathing monitoring of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients during the rest period between respiratory rehabilitation exercises at home. To provide an extensible solution to the remote monitoring using this sensor and other devices, the design and preliminary development of an e-Health platform based on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) paradigm is also presented. In order to validate the proposed solution, two quasi-experimental studies have been developed, comparing the estimations with respect to the golden standard. In a first study with healthy subjects, the mean value of the respiratory rate error, the standard deviation of the error and the correlation coefficient were 0.01 breaths per minute (bpm), 0.97 bpm and 0.995 (p < 0.00001), respectively. In a second study with COPD patients, the values were -0.14 bpm, 0.28 bpm and 0.9988 (p < 0.0000001), respectively. The results for the rest period show the technical and functional feasibility of the prototype and serve as a preliminary validation of the device for respiratory rate monitoring of patients with COPD.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PI15/00306Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación DTS15/00195Junta de Andalucía PI-0010-2013Junta de Andalucía PI-0041-2014Junta de Andalucía PIN-0394-201

Sampling strategies using the "accumulation chamber" for monitoring geological storage of CO2

Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (CIUDEN) is carrying out a project of geological storage of CO2, where CO2 injection tests are planned in saline aquifers at a depth of 1500 m for scientific objectives and project demonstration. Before any CO2 is stored, it is necessary to determine the baseline flux of CO2 in order to detect potential leakage during injection and post-injection monitoring. In November 2009 diffuse flux measurements of CO2 using an accumulationchamber were made in the area selected by CIUDEN for geological storage, located in Hontomin province of Burgos (Spain). This paper presents the tests carried out in order to establish the optimum sampling methodology and the geostatistical analyses performed to determine the range, with which future field campaigns will be planned