Validation and Adaptation of the Brief Self-Control Scale With Spanish Adolescents: Factorial Structure and Evidences of Reliability, Validity, and Factor Invariance Across Gender and Age

During adolescence, the difficulty to control impulses is especially notable. The Brief Self-Control Scale has been used in different countries for years to study associations between self-control and other variables. However, its factor structure is not completely clear, and it is necessary to have a scale with psychometric assurances that evaluates self-control in adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the factorial structure of the Brief Self-Control Scale and to provide evidences of reliability, validity, and factor invariance across gender and age in a sample of Spanish adolescents. Participants were 693 adolescents from Southeastern Spain, aged 13 to 18 years. Data supported an excellent fit to a two-dimensional model and evidences of reliability, validity and factor invariance across gender and age were obtained. This study provides new data on the two-dimensionality of self-control. The need of this tool becomes increasingly relevant to the susceptibility of new emerging addictions, such as mobile phones or internet

Comprehensive transient-state study for CARMENES-NIR high thermal stability

CARMENES has been proposed as a next-generation instrument for the 3.5m Calar Alto Telescope. Its objective is finding habitable exoplanets around M dwarfs through radial velocity measurements (m/s level) in the near-infrared. Consequently, the NIR spectrograph is highly constraint regarding thermal/mechanical requirements. As a first approach, the thermal stability has been limited to \pm 0.01K (within year period) over a working temperature of 243K. This can be achieved by means of several temperature-controlled rooms. The options considered to minimise the complexity of the thermal design are here presented, as well as the transient-state thermal analyses realised to make the best choice

Identifying clusters of anomalous payments in the salvadorian payment system

We develop an unsupervised methodology to group payments and identify possible anomalies. With our methodology, we identify clusters based on a set of network features, using transactional (unlabeled) information from a systemically important payment system of El Salvador. We first preprocess network features, such as degree and strength, through a principal components analysis we reduce the dimensionality of the newly defined data, then we place the main variables into clustering algorithms (k-means and DBSCAN) to analyze anomalous payments. We then analyze, these clusters using random forest to obtain the main network feature. Our results suggest that the proposed methodology works very well to detect anomalous payments, and it is very important to study the case of El Salvador, because of the recent restructuring of the Massive Payment System in El Salvador (promoted by the Transfer365 project), because the authorities want to increase financial inclusion. This change will make the SPM available to the public, to diversify services and incorporate more participants because, historically, it has operated with only three active participants. We expected that Transfer365 will interconnect the LBTR participants' systems with their banking core, the systems of the Ministry of Finance, and other authorized participants to channel large payment flows. Then, identifying possible anomalies through methodology will enhance risk monitoring and management by payment systems overseers

Análisis sobre la influencia de la densidad en la termografía de infrarrojos y el alcance de esta técnica en la detección de defectos internos en la madera

This paper shows the results of a laboratory phase for the determination of the 1limits of infrared thermography in detecting internal defects in wood and, furthermore, it analyses how the density of this material can influence the surface temperature displayed in a thermogram. To this end, experimental work is carried out whereby a series of work and environmental parameters are monitored (such as environmental temperature, relative humidity, distance to target), and the process is systematized by using pieces of different wood species (different densities) and by devising a set of samples for which various possible cases are analysed in terms of size and internal position of the damage. Similarly, using these samples, a study has been conducted on the effect on the thermal image produced by an increase of humidity inside the defect phenomena normally associated with wood decay.En el presente artículo se muestran los resultados obtenidos en una fase de laboratorio al tratar de determinar el alcance de la termografía de infrarrojos en la detección de defectos internos en la madera y, por otro lado, cómo interviene la densidad de este material sobre la temperatura superficial mostrada en un termograma. Para ello se ha desarrollado un trabajo experimental donde se han controlado una serie de parámetros ambientales y de trabajo (temperatura ambiente, humedad relativa, distancia al objetivo…), y se ha sistematizado el proceso utilizando piezas de distintas especies de madera (distintas densidades) y diseñando una serie de probetas donde se han analizado varias casuísticas posibles en cuanto a tamaño y posición interna de los daños. Análogamente, sobre estas probetas se ha estudiado el efecto que produce sobre la imagen termográfica un incremento de humedad interna en el defecto asociada normalmente a los fenómenos de pudrición de la madera

Internalizing and externalizing symptoms in Spanish children aged 6-8: Results of a latent profile analysis

Background Internalizing and externalizing problems are widely addressed in research. However, most studies use variable-centred approaches and ignore the possible co-occurrence of both types of symptoms. This study aimed to identify homogeneous groups of children with similar psychological difficulties and strengths, using latent profile analysis as a person-centred approach. Methods The parents of 107 Spanish children aged 6 to 8 years completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results The results revealed the existence of four latent groups. The children who belonged to the high difficulties group showed the most severe symptoms in emotional problems, peer problems and hyperactivity. The children classified in the externalizing group showed high levels of hyperactivity, behavioral problems, and emotional problems. On another hand, the internalizing profile grouped children with emotional and peer problems. Finally, the well-adjusted group showed an adequate psychological adjustment in all evaluated variables. High difficulties were associated with lower educational attainment of their parents. Limitations Data were reported from a single source of information, father or mother. Also, the socio-demographic variables that were related to each one of the four profiles only considered the age and educational level of the main informant. Conclusions These data suggest that co-occurrence of symptoms is very high in young Spanish children. It is essential to carry out clinical assessments that include both types of symptoms. Considering externalization and internalization as independent and exclusive phenomena can compromise the effectiveness of psychological treatments and preventive programs

The EBLM project. II. A very hot, low-mass M dwarf in an eccentric and long period eclipsing binary system from SuperWASP

In this paper, we derive the fundamental properties of 1SWASPJ011351.29+314909.7 (J0113+31), a metal-poor (-0.40 +/- 0.04 dex), eclipsing binary in an eccentric orbit (~0.3) with an orbital period of ~14.277 d. Eclipsing M dwarfs orbiting solar-type stars (EBLMs), like J0113+31, have been identified from WASP light curves and follow-up spectroscopy in the course of the transiting planet search. We present the first binary of the EBLM sample to be fully analysed, and thus, define here the methodology. The primary component with a mass of 0.945 +/- 0.045 Msun has a large radius (1.378 +/- 0.058 Rsun) indicating that the system is quite old, ~9.5 Gyr. The M-dwarf secondary mass of 0.186 +/- 0.010 Msun and radius of 0.209 +/- 0.011 Rsun are fully consistent with stellar evolutionary models. However, from the near-infrared secondary eclipse light curve, the M dwarf is found to have an effective temperature of 3922 +/- 42 K, which is ~600 K hotter than predicted by theoretical models. We discuss different scenarios to explain this temperature discrepancy. The case of J0113+31 for which we can measure mass, radius, temperature and metallicity, highlights the importance of deriving mass, radius and temperature as a function of metallicity for M dwarfs to better understand the lowest mass stars. The EBLM Project will define the relationship between mass, radius, temperature and metallicity for M dwarfs providing important empirical constraints at the bottom of the main sequence.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in A&

Análisis sobre la influencia de la densidad en la termografía de infrarrojos y el alcance de esta técnica en la detección de defectos internos en la madera

This paper shows the results of a laboratory phase for the determination of the 1limits of infrared thermography in detecting internal defects in wood and, furthermore, it analyses how the density of this material can influence the surface temperature displayed in a thermogram. To this end, experimental work is carried out whereby a series of work and environmental parameters are monitored (such as environmental temperature, relative humidity, distance to target), and the process is systematized by using pieces of different wood species (different densities) and by devising a set of samples for which various possible cases are analysed in terms of size and internal position of the damage. Similarly, using these samples, a study has been conducted on the effect on the thermal image produced by an increase of humidity inside the defect phenomena normally associated with wood decay.<br><br>En el presente artículo se muestran los resultados obtenidos en una fase de laboratorio al tratar de determinar el alcance de la termografía de infrarrojos en la detección de defectos internos en la madera y, por otro lado, cómo interviene la densidad de este material sobre la temperatura superficial mostrada en un termograma. Para ello se ha desarrollado un trabajo experimental donde se han controlado una serie de parámetros ambientales y de trabajo (temperatura ambiente, humedad relativa, distancia al objetivo…), y se ha sistematizado el proceso utilizando piezas de distintas especies de madera (distintas densidades) y diseñando una serie de probetas donde se han analizado varias casuísticas posibles en cuanto a tamaño y posición interna de los daños. Análogamente, sobre estas probetas se ha estudiado el efecto que produce sobre la imagen termográfica un incremento de humedad interna en el defecto asociada normalmente a los fenómenos de pudrición de la madera

Parques temáticos en Colombia : construyendo empresas perdurables que acepten el desafío de subirse a la montaña de la turbulencia global

En la actualidad, las personas buscan actividades culturales y de entretenimiento que les permitan compartir y disfrutar momentos de esparcimiento con sus familiares y amigos. Una de esas alternativas se encuentra en los parques temáticos, los cuales emergen como espacios en donde no solo se puede disfrutar de atracciones mecánicas y participar en dinámicas, sino también aprender, por medio de educación no formal, acerca de temáticas culturales, sociales e históricas que hacen parte de nuestra comunidad y que demandan ser transmitidas a personas de cualquier edad. Más allá de la importancia cultural y educacional que caracteriza a los parques temáticos, estos lugares de entretenimiento contribuyen en gran proporción a la atracción de visitantes y, por ende, al incremento del turismo en un determinado territorio. En el caso colombiano, el sector turístico ha cobrado importancia en los últimos años, convirtiéndose en uno de los más importantes generadores de divisas después de la exploración y comercialización del petróleo y el carbón

Background studies and shielding effects for the TPC detector of the CAST experiment

Sunset solar axions traversing the intense magnetic field of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment may be detected in a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detector, as X-rays signals. These signals could be masked, however, by the inhomogeneous background of materials in the experimental site. A detailed analysis, based on the detector characteristics, the background radiation at the CAST site, simulations and experimental results, has allowed us to design a shielding which reduces the background level by a factor of ~4 compared to the detector without shielding, depending on its position, in the energy range between 1 and 10 keV. Moreover, this shielding has improved the homogeneity of background measured by the TPC.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted in New Journal of Physic