T-Norm y desajuste léxico y acústico en reconocimiento de locutor dependiente de texto

Actas de las V Jornadas en Tecnología del Habla (JTH 2008)Este trabajo presenta un estudio extenso sobre T-norm aplicado a Reconocimiento de Locutor Dependiente de Texto, analizando también los problemas del desajuste léxico y acústico. Veremos cómo varían los resultados teniendo en cuenta la dependencia de género y realizando T-norm a nivel de frase, fonema y estado con cohortes de impostores de distintos tamaños. El estudio demuestra que implementar T-norm por fonema o estado puede llegar a conseguir mejoras relativas de hasta un 16% y que realizar una selección de cohorte basada en el género puede mejorar más aún los resultados con respecto al caso independiente de género

Flavor-changing top quark rare decays in the Bestest Little Higgs Model

This paper investigates the effects of parameters in the Bestest Little Higgs Model (BLHM) on rare flavor-changing decays of the top quark. As a result, flavor-changing phenomena are introduced in the BLHM for the first time. In this study, we incorporate new flavor mixing terms between the light quarks of the Standard Model (SM) and the fermions and bosons of the BLHM. We compute the one-loop contributions from the heavy quark $(B)$ and the heavy bosons $(W^{\prime\pm}, \phi^{\pm}, \eta^{\pm},H^{\pm})$. Our findings demonstrate that the branching ratios of decays $t\to qV$ and $t\to qh^0$, where $q=u,c$ and $V=Z, \gamma, g$, exhibit improvements compared to their counterparts in the SM, except for the gluon case. Moreover, we observe that the processes with higher sensitivity are $Br(t\to cZ)\sim 10^{-5}$, $Br(t\to c\gamma)\sim 10^{-6}$ and $Br(t \to ch^0) \sim 10^{-8}$ within the appropriate parameter space.Comment: 13 pages and 10 figure

The Conditions Needed for a Buffer to Set the pH in a System

It is a known fact that buffer systems are widely used in industry and in diverse laboratories to maintain the pH of a system within desired limits, occasionally narrow. Hence, the aim of the present work is to study the buffer capacity and buffer efficacy in order to determine the useful conditions to impose the pH on a given system. This study is based on the electroneutrality and component balance equations for a mixture of protons polyreceptors. The added volume equations were established, V, for strong acids or bases, as well as the buffer capacity equations with dilution effect, β dil, and the buffer efficacy, ε, considering that the analyte contains a mixture of the species of the same polyacid system or of various polyacid systems. The ε index is introduced to define the performance of a buffer solution and to find out for certain, whether the buffer is adequate or not to set the pH of a system, given the proper conditions and characteristics

Psychometric evaluation and cultural adaptation of the Spanish version of the “Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal”

Objective: To translate, culturally adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ (SEOLCAS). Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Convenience sample of 201 informal end-of-life caregivers recruited in a southern Spanish hospital. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed through its internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and temporal stability (Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) between test-retest). The content validity index of the items (I-CVI) and the scale (S-CVI/Ave) was calculated. Its criterion validity was explored through performing a linear regression analysis to evaluate the SEOLCAS’ predictive validity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine its construct validity. Results: The SEOLCAS’s reliability was very high (Cronbach’s α=0.92). Its content validity was excellent (all items’ content validity index=0.8–1; scale’s validity index=0.88). Evidence of the SEOLCAS’ criterion validity showed that the participants’ scores on the SEOLCAS explained approximately 79.3% of the between-subject variation of their results on the Zarit Burden Interview. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of the SEOLCAS’ construct validity. This analysis revealed that two factors (‘internal contingencies’ and ‘external contingencies’) explained 53.77% of the total variance found and reflected the stoic Hispanic attitude towards adversity. Significance of the results: The Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ has shown to be an easily-applicable, valid, reliable and culturally-appropriate tool to measure the impact of end-of-life care provision on Hispanic informal caregivers. This tool offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to easily explore Hispanic informal end-of-life caregivers’ experiences and discover the type of support they may need (instrumental or emotional) even when there are communicational and organisational constraints

Social support for female sexual dysfunction in fibromyalgia

The aim of this study is to describe and understand experiences related to social support for women with fibromyalgia who suffer from sexual dysfunction. An interpretive qualitative research methodology based on Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics was used. Data collection included a focus group and in-depth interviews with 13 women who averaged 44.8 years of age and 14.3 years since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Data were analyzed using Fleming’s method and two themes were identified: “searching for understanding in socio-family support” and “lack of formal support regarding fibromyalgia patient’s sexuality.” The partner constitutes the main support for women with fibromyalgia. Although they can find understanding and social support in patient associations, they lack formal support from health care professionals. Women demand trusted and expert professionals, like sexologists and nurses, to carry out a multidisciplinary approach to tackle sexual dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia

Top anomalous chromomagnetic dipole moment in the Bestest Little Higgs Model

We investigate the anomalous Chromomagnetic Dipole Moment (CMDM), $\hat{\mu}^{BLHM}_t$ of the top quark in the Bestest Little Higgs Model (BLHM). We include new interactions with the involvement of the extended CKM matrix of the BLHM and we explore most of the allowed parameter space, obtaining multiple CMDM in the range of $10^{-4}-10^{-2}$. We consider experimental and model parameter uncertainties to integrate them into all our calculations using a Monte Carlo method. This enables us to determine the extent to which deviations arising from experimental errors can be accommodated within the statistical errors of the model and which relate to the physics framework of the BLHM, guiding future theory, phenomenological, and experimental research

Quality assessment of ozone total column amounts as monitored by ground-based solar absorption spectrometry in the near infrared (> 3000 cm−1)

This study examines the possibility of ground-based remote-sensing ozone total column amounts (OTC) from spectral signatures at 3040 and 4030 cm−1. These spectral regions are routinely measured by the NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) ground-based FTIR (Fourier transform infraRed) experiments. In addition, they are potentially detectable by the TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) FTIR instruments. The ozone retrieval strategy presented here estimates the OTC from NDACC FTIR high-resolution spectra with a theoretical precision of about 2 and 5% in the 3040 and 4030 cm−1 regions, respectively. Empirically, these OTC products are validated by inter-comparison to FTIR OTC reference retrievals in the 1000 cm−1 spectral region (standard reference for NDACC ozone products), using an 8-year FTIR time series (2005–2012) taken at the subtropical ozone supersite of the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (Tenerife, Spain). Associated with the weaker ozone signatures at the higher wave number regions, the 3040 and 4030 cm−1 retrievals show lower vertical sensitivity than the 1000 cm−1 retrievals.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 284421 (NORS project) and from the Ministerio de Economía and Competitividad from Spain for the project CGL2012-37505 (NOVIA project). M. Schneider and Y. González are supported by the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement no. 256961 and E. Sepúlveda is supported by the NOVIA Project

Investigating the long-term evolution of subtropical ozone profiles applying ground-based FTIR spectrometry

This study investigates the long-term evolution of subtropical ozone profile time series (1999–2010) obtained from ground-based FTIR (Fourier Transform InfraRed) spectrometry at the Izaña Observatory ozone super-site. Different ozone retrieval strategies are examined, analysing the influence of an additional temperature retrieval and different constraints. The theoretical assessment reveals that the FTIR system is able to resolve four independent ozone layers with a precision of better than 6% in the troposphere and of better than 3% in the lower, middle and upper stratosphere. This total error includes the smoothing error, which dominates the random error budget.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program ([FP7/2007- 2013]) under grant agreement no. 284421 (see Article II. 30. of the Grant Agreement). M. Schneider is supported by the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement no. 256961 and E. Sepúlveda enjoys a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education

A comparison of the peers method and traditional methodologies, and risk behaviors in studies of the prevalence of drug consumption in a population of female, chilean students

Este estudio investiga el consumo de drogas y los comportamientos de riesgo de alumnas entre los 8º y 12º cursos en dos comunidades de la ciudad de Santiago, Chile. Empleando dos métodos para investigar el consumo, y basándonos en los estudios de poblaciones universitarias, hipotetizamos que los autoinformes de las alumnas sobre su consumo de drogas legales tenderán a ser consistentes con el uso real de dichas drogas, mientras que su consumo de drogas ilícitas será susceptible y tenderán a infra-informar de ello cuando se evalúa a través de medidas tradicionales de autoinforme. Para comparar los dos métodos, se diseñó un estudio transversal que compararía el consumo informado, primero empleando el método de pares, y después por medio del autoinforme tradicional, en un grupo de 350 alumnas. Los resultados muestran que los informes de las chicas sobre su consumo de drogas legales convergen empleando los dos métodos, mientras que, como se ha sugerido, infra-informaban sobre su consumo de drogas ilegales cuando se empleaban metodologías tradicionales.The present study investigates drug consumption and risk behaviors among female students between 8th and 12th grade in two communities in the city of Santiago, Chile. Based on studies of university populations, we hypothesize that the students’ reports of their consumption of licit drugs will tend to be consistent with their actual use of said drugs using two methods to investigate consumption, while their consumption of illicit drugs will be susceptible, and will tend to be under reported when evaluated through traditional self-report measures. In order to compare the two methods, a cross-sectional study was designed that would compare reported drug consumption, first using the peers method, and then by means of traditional self-report in a group of 350 students. The results show that women’s reports of licit drug consumption converge using the two methods, while as earlier suggested, women’s illicit drug consumption was found to be under reported when traditional methodologies were used

CO2 total column amounts at TCCON sites Izana (28.3 N, 16.5 W) and Karlsruhe (49.1 N, 8.5 E)

The Total Carbon Observing Network (TCCON) is a global network of ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometers recording direct solar spectra in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Accurate and precise columnaveraged abundances of different greenhouse gases (GHGs) are retrieved, which are used for carbon cycle research [1] and for satellite validation (e.g. SCIAMACHY, GOSAT, OCOII). Official TCCON data are generated using the GFIT code compared FTIR retrieval results with in-situ measurements developed at NASA/JPL [2]. In this study, we compare FTIR retrieval results with in-situ measurements as well as the GFIT code with the radiative transfer and retrieval algorithm PROFFIT [3]