Motives for exercising and associations with body composition in Icelandic adolescents

The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the motives that lead Icelandic teenagers to engage in physical exercise and the possible associations with variables of their body composition. For this purpose, the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise questionnaire (AMPEF) was administered to 387 students (54% boys and 46% girls, Mage = 13.38 years) from Reykjavik (Iceland). The results reveal the subscales Revitalization and Enjoyment, Strength and Endurance, Challenge and Competition as the main motives for exercising among the participants. Boys score higher in all subscales than girls except for Revitalization and Enjoyment. Associations between the motive Weight Management and Appearance, and BMI and Fat % levels were found. It can be concluded that the participants’ physical exercise practice is based on the feelings and experiences they perceive in the sports practice process

La satisfacción laboral en los servicios financieros: una comparación entre Reino Unido y EEUU

[EN] Rewards are common in jobs, particularly in the financial services industry, where they can be massive. The aim of any reward is to provide interest and motivation to employees in order to encourage productivity. Otherwise, the reward is useless. The purpose of this dissertation is to find out how effective rewards given in the context of the financial services industry can actually be. Undertaken in the huge metropolis of London and then in the small city of Raleigh, the capital of the state of North Carolina, this research was conducted using a survey strategy using simply a questionnaire as the research instrument in the financial districts of both cities. The data collected was of quantitative nature. Following a positivist philosophy and deductive approach, the research investigated how do intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence employee motivation. Once collected the data from both locations, a consecutive comparison was made and conclusions were developed. The emphasis given to the dissertation may come more from the point of view of psychology rather than a business standpoint, even though it is a dissertation done in the field of business management. The literature used includes theories from psychologists such as Maslow and Herzberg, and the use of sound journals in the field of psychology. The results ultimately showed that rewards are not effective if that will mean working more hours for the employee. For this reason, the findings proved that any company in the financial services sector should reward their employees by giving them more free time rather than any other kind of incentives.[ES] Los incentivos salariales son comunes en los puestos de trabajo, sobre todo en el sector de los servicios financieros, donde pueden llegar a ser masivos. El objetivo de cualquier recompensa es proporcionar interés y motivación en el empleado con el fin de fomentar la productividad; de lo contrario, la recompensa es inútil. El propósito de esta investigación consiste en averiguar cómo son de eficaces las recompensas dadas en el contexto del sector de servicios financieros. Llevada a cabo en la enorme metrópolis de Londres y posteriormente en la pequeña ciudad de Raleigh, capital del estado de Carolina del Norte en EE.UU., esta investigación se realizó utilizando una estrategia de un cuestionario como instrumento de investigación en los distritos financieros de ambas ciudades. Los datos recogidos fueron de naturaleza cuantitativa. Siguiendo una filosofía positivista y el enfoque deductivo, la investigación investigó fundamentalmente cómo los factores intrínsecos y extrínsecos influyen en la motivación del empleado. Una vez recogida la información de ambas ciudades, se realizó una comparación y se obtuvieron conclusiones. El énfasis dado a la tesis se desarrolla desde un enfoque del campo de la la psicología más que desde un punto de vista mercantil, a pesar de tratarse de una tesis realizada en el ámbito de la gestión empresarial. La bibliografía utilizada incluye teorías de psicólogos como Maslow y Herzberg, y el uso de renombradas revistas profesionales en el campo de la psicología. Los resultados obtenidos en primera instancia, demostraron que las recompensas no son eficaces si ello implica que el empleado trabaje más horas. Por esta razón, los resultados respaldan que cualquier empresa del sector siga la política de recompensar a sus empleados dándoles más tiempo libre en lugar de cualquier otro tipo de incentivos.Galán Verdú, P. (2018). La satisfacción laboral en los servicios financieros: una comparación entre Reino Unido y EEUU. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/106243TFG

Length Uncertainty in a Gravity's Rainbow Formalism

It is commonly accepted that the combination of quantum mechanics and general relativity gives rise to the emergence of a minimum uncertainty both in space and time. The arguments that support this conclusion are mainly based on perturbative approaches to the quantization, in which the gravitational interactions of the matter content are described as corrections to a classical background. In a recent paper, we analyzed the existence of a minimum time uncertainty in the framework of doubly special relativity. In this framework, the standard definition of the energy-momentum of particles is modified appealing to possible quantum gravitational effects, which are not necessarily perturbative. Demanding that this modification be completed into a canonical transformation determines the implementation of doubly special relativity in position space and leads to spacetime coordinates that depend on the energy-momentum of the particle. In the present work, we extend our analysis to the quantum length uncertainty. We show that, in generic cases, there actually exists a limit in the spatial resolution, both when the quantum evolution is described in terms of the auxiliary time corresponding to the Minkowski background or in terms of the physical time. These two kinds of evolutions can be understood as corresponding to perturbative and non-perturbative descriptions, respectively. This result contrasts with that found for the time uncertainty, which can be made to vanish in all models with unbounded physical energy if one adheres to a non-perturbative quantization.Comment: 12 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Quantum Time Uncertainty in a Gravity's Rainbow Formalism

The existence of a minimum time uncertainty is usually argued to be a consequence of the combination of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Most of the studies that point to this result are nonetheless based on perturbative quantization approaches, in which the effect of matter on the geometry is regarded as a correction to a classical background. In this paper, we consider rainbow spacetimes constructed from doubly special relativity by using a modification of the proposals of Magueijo and Smolin. In these models, gravitational effects are incorporated (at least to a certain extent) in the definition of the energy-momentum of particles without adhering to a perturbative treatment of the back reaction. In this context, we derive and compare the expressions of the time uncertainty in quantizations that use as evolution parameter either the background or the rainbow time coordinates. These two possibilities can be regarded as corresponding to perturbative and non-perturbative quantization schemes, respectively. We show that, while a non-vanishing time uncertainty is generically unavoidable in a perturbative framework, an infinite time resolution can in fact be achieved in a non-perturbative quantization for the whole family of doubly special relativity theories with unbounded physical energy.Comment: 8 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Canonical Realizations of Doubly Special Relativity

Doubly Special Relativity is usually formulated in momentum space, providing the explicit nonlinear action of the Lorentz transformations that incorporates the deformation of boosts. Various proposals have appeared in the literature for the associated realization in position space. While some are based on noncommutative geometries, others respect the compatibility of the spacetime coordinates. Among the latter, there exist several proposals that invoke in different ways the completion of the Lorentz transformations into canonical ones in phase space. In this paper, the relationship between all these canonical proposals is clarified, showing that in fact they are equivalent. The generalized uncertainty principles emerging from these canonical realizations are also discussed in detail, studying the possibility of reaching regimes where the behavior of suitable position and momentum variables is classical, and explaining how one can reconstruct a canonical realization of doubly special relativity starting just from a basic set of commutators. In addition, the extension to general relativity is considered, investigating the kind of gravity's rainbow that arises from this canonical realization and comparing it with the gravity's rainbow formalism put forward by Magueijo and Smolin, which was obtained from a commutative but noncanonical realization in position space.Comment: 18 pages, accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics

Index for asset value measure obtained from condition monitoring digitalized data interpretation. A railway asset management application

Hosted by the Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria. May 23-24, 2019The objective of any asset is to provide value to the organization, being the corner stone to get a highest possible economic benefit in a sustainable way. An effective asset value management demands method that allow measuring and comparing the expected value with the real value realized at any time during its life cycle for value informed decision-making. Digitalization is providing new data about events and states related to asset condition and risk, information that can be reinterpreted to generate value measure strategies. This paper presents a proposal of TVO (Total Value of Ownership) model where it is possible to quantify and measure the value, including its monitoring throughout the life cycle of the asset and/or system. Proposed TVO model is focused on Safety, one of the most relevant value factors for Industry and Infrastructure sectors. Asset events and states are intrinsically linked to the defined failure modes. Consequently, it is necessary to structure the system information around the failure modes that have been defined, in order to obtain a value measurement index. A railway use case is presented

Circadian effects of training

Background: Some physiological responses such as circulating glucose as well as muscle performance show a circadian rhythmicity. In the present study we aimed to quantitatively synthesize the data comparing the metabolic adaptations induced by morning and afternoon training. Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies comparing the metabolic adaptations (> 2 weeks) between morning and afternoon training. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models with DerSimonian-Laird methods for fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbAc1), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results: We identified 9 studies with 11 different populations (n = 450 participants). We found that afternoon exercise was more effective at reducing circulating triglycerides [standardized mean difference (SMD) - 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.616 to - 0.025] than morning training. Moreover, afternoon tended to decrease fasting blood glucose (SMD - 0.24; 95% CI - 0.478 to 0.004) to a greater extent than morning training. Conclusion: Metabolic adaptations to exercise may be dependent on the time of day. Morning training does not show superior effects to afternoon exercise in any of the analyzed outcomes. However, afternoon training is more effective at reducing circulating triglyceride levels and perhaps at reducing fasting blood glucose than morning training. The study was preregistered at PROSPERO (CRD42021287860)

BETTY: Benchmarking and Testing on the Automated Analysis of Feature Models

The automated analysis of feature models is a flourishing research topic that has called the attention of both researchers and practitioners during the last two decades. During this time, the number of tools and techniques enabling the analysis of feature models has increased and also their complexity. in this scenario, the lack of specific testing mechanisms to assess the correctness and good performance of analysis tools is becoming a major obstacle hindering the development of tools and affecting their quality and reliability. in this paper, we present BeTTy, a framework for BEnchmarking and TesTing on the analY sis of feature models. Among other features, BeTTy enables the automated detection of faults in feature model analysis tools. Also, it supports the generation of motivating test data to evaluate the performance of analysis tools in both average and pessimistic cases. Part of the functionality of the framework is provided through a web-based interface facilitating the random generation of both classic and attributed feature models

Redescubrimientos en la flora vascular de El Salvador

A compilation of 21 species considered rediscoveries for El Salvador in the last two decades is made, 1 fern (Pteridophyta), 3 shrubs (Dicotyledoneae) and 17 herbs between terrestrial, epiphytes and climbers (Monocotyledoneae and Dicotyledoneae) are presented. On the other hand, 14 species with more than 50 years of absence are reported, those with the longest time are Cologania procumbens (93) and Pteris grandifolia (91). The P.N. Montecristo is the locality with the highest number of records with 13 species. Species threatened with extinction at the national level were also registered: Tillandsia cryptopoda and Oncidium crista-galli. It includes the most recent and historical collections, an updated distribution map and photographic record.Se hace una recopilación de 21 especies consideradas redescubrimientos para El Salvador en las últimas dos décadas, se presentan 1 helecho (Pteridophyta), 3 arbustos (Dicotyledoneae) y 17 hierbas entre terrestres, epífitas y trepadoras (Monocotyledoneae y Dicotyledoneae). Por otra parte, se reportan 14 especies con más de 50 años de ausencia, las que presentan mayor tiempo son Cologania procumbens (93) y Pteris grandifolia (91). El P.N. Montecristo es la localidad con mayor cantidad de registros con 13 especies. También se registraron especies amenazadas de extinción a nivel nacional: Tillandsia cryptopoda y Oncidium crista-galli. Se incluyen las colectas históricas y las más recientes, un mapa de distribución actualizado y registro fotográfic

Multi-User Variability Configuration: a Game Theoretic Approach

Multi-user configuration is a neglected problem in variability-intensive systems area. The appearance of conflicts among user configurations is a main concern. Current approaches focus on avoiding such conflicts, applying the mutual exclusion principle. However, this perspective has a negative impact on users satisfaction, who cannot make any decision fairly. in this work, we propose an interpretation of multi-user configuration as a game theoretic problem. Game theory is a well-known discipline which analyzes conflicts and cooperation among intelligent rational decisionmakers. We present a taxonomy of multi-user configuration approaches, and how they can be interpreted as different problems of game theory. We focus on cooperative game theory to propose and automate a tradeoff-based bargaining approach, as a way to solve the conflicts and maximize user satisfaction at the same time