Approach to acoustic mapping through continuous mobile monitoring

For the production of representative noise maps, a large amount of information is necessary, which includes, among others, on-site measurements of environmental noise. Thus, for noise maps based on measurements, mobile sampling emerges as a possible solution for the enhancement of data acquisition. The present research proposes a complete framework to perform mobile sampling. Since the normative requires long-term values to be presented in a noise map, a sampling strategy based on temporal stratification, which reduces the required sampled days to estimate the annual equivalent noise level, is presented. Furthermore, to compute long-term values for the night period, since they are usually affected by noise sources different to traffic, specifically leisure noise, a complementary temporal and spatial stratification is also presented. Then, the statistical requirements to perform mobile noise measurements using bicycles is evaluated. The vehicles and bicycles journeys are reproduced based on micro-traffic simulation and then coupled with an acoustic modeling. The estimation error of LAeq for the mobile sampling is compared to reference static samples, in terms of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and is computed for different aggregation radius of mobile receivers, and as a function of the number of passes-by and to the distance to its nearest cross street. To perform the mobile sampling on a real scenario, a low-cost noise monitoring device with the aim of performing georeferenced noise sampling, is developed. The accuracy tests suggest that it is able to acquire noise levels with an equivalent accuracy as a Class 2 sound level meter. Finally, to validate the results obtained through the modeling framework, a noise monitoring device is mounted on a bicycle and on-site mobile measurements are performed simultaneously to reference static ones. The same scenario is again recreated based on micro-simulation of traffic complemented with acoustic modeling. Then, for the simulated framework and the on-site measurements, the RMSE of the estimation of LAeq for different aggregation radius of mobile samples is compared to the reference static ones. It is confirmed that mobile sampling is a solution to improve noise data acquisition, which reduces the resources required to produce a noise map without sacrificing the accuracy and representativeness.Para la producción de mapas de ruido representativos, una gran cantidad de información es necesaria, que incluye, entre otras, mediciones de ruido ambiental en sitio. Por lo tanto, para los mapas de ruido basados en mediciones, el muestreo móvil surge como una posible solución para mejorar la adquisición de datos. La presente investigación propone un marco completo para realizar el muestreo móvil. Dado que la normativa requiere de valores de largo plazo para realizar un mapa de ruido, se propone una estrategia de muestreo basada en estratificación temporal que reduce los días de muestreo necesarios para estimar el nivel de ruido equivalente anual. Además, para calcular los valores a largo plazo para el período nocturno, ya que generalmente se ve afectado por fuentes de ruido distintas al tráfico, específicamente de ruido de ocio, se presenta una estratificación temporal y espacial complementaria. Por otra parte, se evalúan los requisitos estadísticos para realizar mediciones de ruido móviles utilizando bicicletas. Los trayectos de los vehículos y las bicicletas se reproducen en base a una microsimulación de tráfico para después combinarse con modelado acústico. El error de estimación del indicador LAeq calculado con el muestreo móvil se compara, en términos del error cuadrático medio (RMSE), con muestras de referencia obtenidas de forma estática para diferentes radios de agregación de receptores móviles, y también en función del número de pases y de la distancia al cruce de calles más cercano. Para realizar el muestreo móvil en un escenario real, se desarrolla un dispositivo de monitoreo de ruido de bajo costo con el objetivo de realizar un muestreo de ruido georreferenciado. Las pruebas de precisión muestran que es capaz de adquirir niveles de ruido con una precisión equivalente a un sonómetro de Clase 2. Finalmente, para validar los resultados obtenidos a través de las simulaciones, se equipa una bicicleta con el dispositivo de monitoreo y se realizan mediciones móviles en sitio al mismo tiempo que mediciones estáticas de referencia. El mismo escenario se recrea basándose nuevamente en una microsimulación de tráfico complementada con modelado acústico. Después, para los niveles de ruido simulados y las mediciones en sitio, el RMSE de la estimación del indicador LAeq para distintos radios de agregación de muestras móviles se compara con el muestreo estático de referencia. Con ello, se confirma que el muestreo móvil es una solución para mejorar la adquisición de datos de ruido, lo que reduce los recursos necesarios para producir un mapa de ruido sin sacrificar la precisión y la representatividad.Postprint (published version

Real-Time Salient Closed Boundary Tracking via Line Segments Perceptual Grouping

This paper presents a novel real-time method for tracking salient closed boundaries from video image sequences. This method operates on a set of straight line segments that are produced by line detection. The tracking scheme is coherently integrated into a perceptual grouping framework in which the visual tracking problem is tackled by identifying a subset of these line segments and connecting them sequentially to form a closed boundary with the largest saliency and a certain similarity to the previous one. Specifically, we define a new tracking criterion which combines a grouping cost and an area similarity constraint. The proposed criterion makes the resulting boundary tracking more robust to local minima. To achieve real-time tracking performance, we use Delaunay Triangulation to build a graph model with the detected line segments and then reduce the tracking problem to finding the optimal cycle in this graph. This is solved by our newly proposed closed boundary candidates searching algorithm called "Bidirectional Shortest Path (BDSP)". The efficiency and robustness of the proposed method are tested on real video sequences as well as during a robot arm pouring experiment.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, The 2017 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2017) submission ID 103

Immigration and Trauma: Examining Coping and Resiliency Among Latina/o Immigrants

Presentation made at Latinos in the Heartland (12th : 2014 : St. Louis, Mo.) and published in the annual conference proceedingLatinas/os are the largest racial/ethnic minority group, accounting for 16% of the U.S. population (Census, 2010). Between 2000 and 2010, more than half of the growth in the United States was due in part to Latinas/os (Census, 2010). Historically, the immigration process for Latina/o immigrants has been known to cause significant distress and to present perilous obstacles. Specifically, traumatic experiences and stressors while crossing the U.S./Mexico border were commonly found among Latinas/os (Shattell et al., 2008). In regards to rates of trauma, Fortuna, Porche, & Alegria (2008) found that 76% of Latina/o immigrants have had other traumatic experiences such as personal, physical, and sexual violence, in addition to political violence. With increasing immigration rates and significantly high trauma rates, it is important to analyze coping mechanisms and resiliency amongst Latina/o immigrants who experience adverse events as they transition into the United States. Cultural values and their influence on coping amongst Latina/o immigrants are often shaped by cultural and individual differences, also influencing the perception of what resources are available and acceptable for individuals (Bonnano, 2004). Latina/o cultural values, particularly amongst Mexican individuals, enact family and religious rituals that create a sense of collectivism, support, and ?familismo,? which ultimately emphasizes the prominence of support (Cervantes & Ramirez, 1992). Although familismo support has been vital to the transition process of Latina/o immigrants in the United States, there is limited literature on coping mechanisms they use. The research on coping suggests that Latinas/os engage in positive reinterpretation, focusing and venting emotions, social support, active coping, religion, emotional support, and planning as ways to cope, and those mechanisms were associated with positive physical and psychological health (Vaughn & Roesch, 2003). Additionally, Lucid (2010) reported that self-affirmation coping was a common Latina/o cultural value, which was found through religious faith. However, the limited research previously conducted on Latina/o coping strategies has primarily targeted college students, leaving a large portion of the Latina/o population less studied. The immigration experience is daunting and traumatic as Latinas/os encounter unknown terrain. This exploratory paper summarizes available literature relating to trauma, coping, and resiliency among Latina/o immigrants and suggests next steps for interventions. Additionally, this paper will introduce and explore the various types of trauma experienced by Latinas/os www.cambio.missouri.edu/Library/ 94 Cambio de Colores/Change of Colors | 2012 Conference Proceedings Immigration and Trauma: An Overview Latina/os are the largest racial/ethnic minority group, accounting for 16% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Between 2000 and 2010, more than half of the growth in the United States was due in part to Latina/os (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). According to the Department of Homeland Security Report (2009), Mexican and Central American immigrants together account for 37% of all U.S. immigrants (4.7% of the total U.S. population). Given the high influx of Latina/os that are arriving in the United States, it is important to assess the likelihood that traveling immigrants will experience dangers, obstacles, and trauma. In addition, Latina/o immigrants experience discrimination not only in the United States upon arrival, but also within their home countries (Fortuna, Porche, & Alegria, 2008; Finch, Kolody, &Vega, 2000). This may serve as one factor towards increasing motivation to immigrate. Therefore, it is vital to examine the various dangers and traumas experienced during the immigration process and the negative psychological and behavioral effects on Latina/o immigrants. This exploratory paper summarizes the available literature relating to trauma, coping, and resiliency among Latina/o immigrants and suggests next steps for interventions. There are a vast number of perilous obstacles that Latina/os may face en route to the United States when traveling from their home countries. The dangers encountered by undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border consist of environmental conditions (heat and cold injuries), traumatic injuries (dehydration), and encounters with wild animals (DeLuca, McEwen, & Keim, 2008). However, there are additional traumatic events that Latina/o immigrants may encounter en route to the United States. Traumatic events can also include, but are not limited to, deaths of others who are traveling in the same group, encounters with border patrol, physical injuries, physical assault at the hands of their coyote, and sexual abuse (DeLuca et al., 2008). Also, DeLuca et al. (2008) reported that even with the known dangers and potential adversity, 63% of their sample stated that they would attempt crossing a second and third time if they were not successful on the first attempt. An encounter with such experiences during immigration may increase the likelihood of experiencing some form of psychological distress and negative behavioral outcomes. Historically, the immigration process for Latina/os has been known to cause significant distress and present hazardous obstacles. Specifically, traumatic experiences and stressors while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border were commonly found among Latina/os (Shattell et al., 2008). In regards to rates of trauma, 76% of Latina/o immigrants have experienced other traumatic experiences such as personal, physical, and sexual violence in addition to political violence (Fortuna, Porche, & Alegria, 2008). With regard to sexual trauma, Cuevas and Sabina?s (2010) research suggests that lifetime rates of sexual assault may be as high as 17.2% among Latina women, whereas research among Latino men is virtually nonexistent. The rates of personal, physical, and sexual violence warrant further investigation regarding sexual assault, in addition to the research that has been conducted on political violence. This does not suggest that personal, physical, and sexual violence are weighted higher in severity of psychological distress among Latina/o immigrants than political violence, rather, it is necessary to continue the examination of all possible traumas that may be experienced. Trauma and violence are additional societal concerns in Latin American countries. With Keywords: immigrant trauma, migration issues, violence toward immigrants during migration that include (but are not limited to) exposure to political violence, psychosocial trauma, sexual violence, and witnessing violence (Fortuna, Porche, & Alegria, 2008)

The different dimensions of livelihood impacts of Payments for Environmentals Services (PES) schemes: A systematic review

Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature, this paper analyzes evidence of the livelihood impacts of Payments for Environmental Services (PES). Forty-six studies assessed PES livelihood impacts. The assessments presented more positive livelihood impacts than negative ones, focusing on financial benefits. Non-monetary and non-material impacts of PES were largely understudied. Most reviews focused on ES providers, hindering the understanding of broader societal impacts. The review yielded examples where participants lost from their participation or where improvements in one livelihood dimension paralleled deterioration in another. Consequently, we identified key research gaps in: i) understanding the social and cultural impacts of PES, ii) evaluating environmental and economic additionality from improving other ES at the expense of cultural ones, iii) and assessing PES impacts in terms of trade-offs between multiple livelihood dimensions. Moreover, increased knowledge is needed on the impact of PES on changes in household expenditure and choice, and on trade-offs between household income and inequality in ES provider communities. Finally, if PES schemes are implemented to sustainably improve livelihoods, targeting disaggregated populations, understanding equity and social power relations within and between ES providers and users, and better monitoring and evaluation systems that consider locally relevant livelihood dimensions are needed

Aplicación de Herramientas de Análisis Financiero en las empresas Pesquera Nicafisheries S,A. localizada en Managua, Nicaragua para los periodos del 2012-2013

El presente trabajo tenía como propósito evaluar la aplicación de las herramientas financieras en los estados financieros de la empresa Nicafisheries, S.A, la cual se dedica a la venta y procesamiento de mariscos. Para esto se tomó como base un comparativo de estados financieros de dos años, donde se realizó los cálculos de las razones financieras, sus aumentos y disminuciones en cada cuenta contable. Posterior a la aplicación de los métodos de análisis financieros a los estados financieros de la compañía, se efectuaron las conclusiones así como las debidas recomendaciones para mejorar la situación económica y financiera de la compañía