A human centred hybrid MAS and meta-heuristics based system for simultaneously supporting scheduling and plant layout adjustment

Manufacturing activities and production control are constantly growing. Despite this, it is necessary to improve the increasing variety of scheduling and layout adjustments for dynamic and flexible responses in volatile environments with disruptions or failures. Faced with the lack of realistic and practical manufacturing scenarios, this approach allows simulating and solving the problem of job shop scheduling on a production system by taking advantage of genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm combined with the flexibility and robustness of a multi-agent system and dynamic rescheduling alternatives. Therefore, this hybrid decision support system intends to obtain optimized solutions and enable humans to interact with the system to properly adjust priorities or refine setups or solutions, in an interactive and user-friendly way. The system allows to evaluate the optimization performance of each one of the algorithms proposed, as well as to obtain decentralization in responsiveness and dynamic decisions for rescheduling due to the occurance of unexpected events.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019

Transformaciones de haz mediante microlentes selfoc activas

[EN]: In this paper light propagation in an active selfoc microlens with complex refractive index and gradient parameter are examined. The ray-transfer matrix of an active material regarded as a diffraction-free first order optical system is presented to describe the beam transformations in active selfoc microlenses. Results concerning Gaussian beam transformationsand on-axis irradiance through the active selfoc microlens are discussed and commented. © Sociedad Española de Óptica.[ES]: En este trabajo se estudia la propagación de la luz a través de una microlente selfoc activa con un índice de refracción y parámetro de gradiente complejos. La matriz de transferencia de rayos, vista como un sistema óptico de primer orden libre de efectos de difracción, es introducida para describir las transformaciones que puede sufrir un haz en microlentes selfoc activas. Por último se presentan y comentan los resultados correspondientes a las transformaciones de haces Gaussianos y a la irradiancia en eje a través de la microlente selfoc activa.This work has been sponsored by Xunta de Galicia/Feder (INCITE08PXIB206013PR), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MAT2010-18519) and CDTI (SURFALUX SOL-00030930), Spain. Besides, Ana I. Gomez-Varela wants to acknowledge the financial support from the FPU (Formación de Profesorado Universitario) grant 2009 (Ministerio de Educación, Spain).Peer Reviewe

Planetary Nebulae in Gaia EDR3: Central Star Identification, Properties, and Binarity

[Abstract] Context. The Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), published in December 2020, features improved photometry and astrometry compared to that published in the previous DR2 file and includes a substantially larger number of sources, of the order of 2000 million, making it a paradigm of big data astronomy. Many of the central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are inherently faint and difficult to identify within the field of the nebula itself. Gaia measurements may be relevant not only in identifying the ionising source of each nebula, but also in the study their physical and evolutionary properties. Aims. We demonstrate how Gaia data mining can effectively help to solve the issue of central star misidentification, a problem that has plagued the field since its origin. As we did for DR2, our objective is to present a catalogue of CSPNe with astrometric and photometric information in EDR3. From that catalogue, we selected a sample of stars with high-quality astrometric parameters, on which we carried out a more accurate analysis of CSPNe properties. Methods.GaiaGBP − GRP colours allow us to select the sources with sufficient temperatures to ionise the nebula. In order to estimate the real colour of a source, it is important to take into account interstellar extinction and, in the case of compact nebulae, nebular extinction when available. In addition, distances derived from EDR3 parallaxes (combined with consistent literature values) can be used to obtain nebular intrinsic properties from those observed. With this information, CSPNe can be plotted in an Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. From information on the spectral classification of the CS (from the literature) and evolutionary models for post-AGB stars, their evolutionary state can then be analysed. Furthermore, EDR3 high-quality astrometric data enable us to search for objects comoving with CSs in the field of each nebula by detecting sources with parallaxes and proper motions similar to those of the CS. Results. We present a catalogue of 2035 PNe with their corresponding CS identification from among Gaia EDR3 sources. We obtain the distances for those with known parallaxes in EDR3 (1725 PNe). In addition, for a sub-sample (405 PNe) with the most accurate distances, we obtain different nebular properties such as their Galactic distribution, radius, kinematic age, and morphology. Furthermore, for a set of 74 CSPNe, we present the evolutionary state (mass and age) derived from their luminosities and effective temperatures from evolutionary models. Finally, we highlight the detection of several wide binary CSPNe through an analysis of the EDR3 astrometric parameters, and we contribute to shedding some light on the relevance of close binarity in CSPNe.This work has made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia mission and processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC). Funding for the DPAC has been provided by national institutions, in particular the institutions participating in the Gaia Multilateral Agreement. This research has made use of the Simbad database and the Aladin sky atlas, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. The authors have also made use of the VOSA tool, developed under the Spanish Virtual Observatory project supported by the Spanish MINECO through grant AYA2017-84089, and partially updated thanks to the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under grant 776403 (EXOPLANETS-A). Funding from Spanish Ministry project RTI2018-095076-B-C22, Xunta de Galicia ED431B 2021/36, PDC2021-121059-C22, and AYA-2017-88254-P is acknowledged by the authors. We also acknowledge support from CIGUS-CITIC, funded by Xunta de Galicia and the European Union (FEDER Galicia 2014-2020 Program) through grant ED431G 2019/01. IGS acknowledges financial support from the Spanish National Programme for the Promotion of Talent and its Employability grant BES-2017-083126 cofunded by the European Social FundXunta de Galicia; ED431B 2021/36Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/0

A local and territorial approach to the operation of the culture economy in medium and small cities: case study of the Spanish cities of Merida and Cuenca

The chief objective of this research is to analyze the weight that several factors linked to territory and/or urban society (such as proximity, heritage, image, or infrastructures) exert in the development and operation of cultural clusters in small and medium-sized cities. To this end, a local territorial approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods has been undertaken and applied to the Spanish cities of Merida and Cuenca. The results from this case study show that many parameters observed in the international bibliography that form part of the idiosyncrasy of medium and small cities (''closeness'', possibility of face-to-face contact, quality of life, low production costs) are considered by selected interviewees as essential to understanding the operation of their organizations and the urban cultural economic cluster as a whole. In general, these parameters appear in the international bibliography as contributing to the development of the cultural economy, but their importance in medium and small cities had been tested only rarely

La creació 'd'estudis de cas' per part de l'alumnat: superant el buit entre la teoria i la pràctica. Els alumnes com a protagonistes en el desenvolupament de competències

En general, el professorat universitari interessat en la participació de l'alumnat, té provat que els estudis de cas proporcionen una base fèrtil per a l'aplicació de conceptes a situacions del món real. L'estudi correlacional presentat aquí ha tingut com objectiu que l'alumnat de psicologia social de la Universitat de Barcelona experimentés com a subjectes actius del seu procés d'aprenentatge, creant estudis de cas. Com a resultat, l'alumnat ha fet un aprenentatge significatiu que l'ha beneficiat també en l'examen final, en la nota de final de curs i en la seva satisfacció amb l'assignatura

The impact of writing case studies: Benefits for students' success and well-being

University professors often use case studies because they provide a fertile basis for the application of theoretical concepts to real world situations, enhancing student participation. The present correlational study aims to present social psychology's students from the University of Barcelona (UB) as active participants of their learning process through their work with case studies. Results demonstrate that students made significant learning through the writing of case studies, which has benefited their results in the final exam, course grades, and course's satisfaction

Planetary nebulae in Gaia EDR3: Central star identification, properties, and binarity

Context. The Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), published in December 2020, features improved photometry and astrometry compared to that published in the previous DR2 file and includes a substantially larger number of sources, of the order of 2000 million, making it a paradigm of big data astronomy. Many of the central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are inherently faint and difficult to identify within the field of the nebula itself. Gaia measurements may be relevant not only in identifying the ionising source of each nebula, but also in the study their physical and evolutionary properties. Aims. We demonstrate how Gaia data mining can effectively help to solve the issue of central star misidentification, a problem that has plagued the field since its origin. As we did for DR2, our objective is to present a catalogue of CSPNe with astrometric and photometric information in EDR3. From that catalogue, we selected a sample of stars with high-quality astrometric parameters, on which we carried out a more accurate analysis of CSPNe properties. Methods.GaiaGBP − GRP colours allow us to select the sources with sufficient temperatures to ionise the nebula. In order to estimate the real colour of a source, it is important to take into account interstellar extinction and, in the case of compact nebulae, nebular extinction when available. In addition, distances derived from EDR3 parallaxes (combined with consistent literature values) can be used to obtain nebular intrinsic properties from those observed. With this information, CSPNe can be plotted in an Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. From information on the spectral classification of the CS (from the literature) and evolutionary models for post-AGB stars, their evolutionary state can then be analysed. Furthermore, EDR3 high-quality astrometric data enable us to search for objects comoving with CSs in the field of each nebula by detecting sources with parallaxes and proper motions similar to those of the CS. Results. We present a catalogue of 2035 PNe with their corresponding CS identification from among Gaia EDR3 sources. We obtain the distances for those with known parallaxes in EDR3 (1725 PNe). In addition, for a sub-sample (405 PNe) with the most accurate distances, we obtain different nebular properties such as their Galactic distribution, radius, kinematic age, and morphology. Furthermore, for a set of 74 CSPNe, we present the evolutionary state (mass and age) derived from their luminosities and effective temperatures from evolutionary models. Finally, we highlight the detection of several wide binary CSPNe through an analysis of the EDR3 astrometric parameters, and we contribute to shedding some light on the relevance of close binarity in CSPNe.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. AYA2017-84089-PAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-095076-B-C22Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PDC2021-121059-C22Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. AYA2017-88254-PXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431G 2019/01Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. BES-2017-08312

University students strengths associated with an optimal academic and professional performance

At university level, the awareness and the use of personal strengths (defined as forms of behaviour, thoughts and emotions that are associated with optimal performance), can enhance students´ learning process, and their future professional performance. However, there is little research on this topic, especially research framed within the social psychology field. The present descriptive study analyzed (a) the students´ signature strengths, (b) the signature strengths for an optimal professional performance, and (c) the signature strengths related to the academic performance. Participants were 83 students enrolled in an 'Applied Social Psychology' course following an ongoing assessment in the degree of Psychology (University of Barcelona). To assess the students´ personal strengths, the 'Values in Action' Inventory of Strengths was used (VIA-IS; Seligman, Park & Peterson, 2004). To evaluate the academic performance, a total score was calculated from the weighted average of: (1) a test, (2) two individual works, and (3) teamwork. The strengths needed for an optimal professional performance were discussed until a consensus was reached during a session conducted by the professors. The signature strengths more commonly encountered in the sample were in this order: gratitude, teamwork, fairness, perspective and kindness. The signature strengths related to the professional practice were: curiosity, social intelligence, perspective, hope and self-regulation. Finally, the strengths showing a greater relationship with the academic performance were: perseverance, teamwork, prudence, honesty and self-regulation. Overall, it should be noticed that teamwork was one of the students' signature strengths related to optimal academic performance, and perspective was one of the students' signature strengths related to optimal professional performance. However, the majority of strengths related to academic and professional domains did not coincide. This lack of relationship represents an opportunity to develop learning practices that enhance those participants´ signature strengths that are more related to an optimal performance in the professional and academic fields

Fortalezas personales relacionadas con el rendimiento académico y profesional en el campo de la psicología social y la psicología social aplicada

Podeu consultar el document complet a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/58585Las fortalezas personales, entendidas como formas de comportamiento, pensamientos y emociones que se asocian con un rendimiento óptimo, pueden mejorar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes universitarios y su futuro desempeño profesional. Sin embargo, el desarrollo empírico sobre este tema es escaso, especialmente en el campo de la Psicología Social. Por eso, el presente estudio descriptivo analiza (a) las fortalezas más destacables en estudiantes universitarios, (b) las fortalezas más relacionadas con el rendimiento académico y (c) las fortalezas más relacionadas con el rendimiento profesional en este campo. Se utilizaron dos muestras de estudiantes del grado de Psicología de la Universidad de Barcelona (N=67 de la asignatura de “Psicología Social” y N= 136 de la asignatura de “Psicología Social Aplicada”). Para evaluar las fortalezas personales del alumnado, se administró una versión reducida del “Values in Action" Inventory of Strengths. Para evaluar el rendimiento académico, se calculó la media ponderada de (a) un examen, (b) dos trabajos individuales y (c) un trabajo en grupo. Las fortalezas necesarias para un rendimiento profesional óptimo fueron discutidas y consensuadas a lo largo de una sesión conducida por el equipo docente. Los resultados muestran que las fortalezas relacionadas con la virtud justicia son las de mayor presencia en ambos grupos, mientras que las relacionadas con la virtud coraje guardan una mayor relación con el rendimiento académico, y las relacionadas con la virtud sabiduría son las que están más relacionadas con el rendimiento profesional. Se discute la adecuación de fomentar las fortalezas del alumnado relacionadas con el rendimiento

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Hepatitis A in Spain in the Context of the 2016/2017 European Outbreak

The aim of our study was to describe the results of the epidemiological surveillance of hepatitis A infections in Spain in the context of the 2016/2017 European outbreak, particularly of hepatitis A outbreaks reported in the MSM population, incorporating the results of a spatiotemporal analysis of cases. Hepatitis A cases and outbreaks reported in 2016–2017 to the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network were reviewed: outbreaks in which some of the cases belonged to the MSM group were described, and clusters of hepatitis A cases in men and women were analysed using a space–time scan statistic. Twenty-six outbreaks were identified, with a median size of two cases per outbreak, with most of the outbreak-related cases belonging to the 15–44 years-old group. Nearly 85% occurred in a household setting, and in all outbreaks, the mode of transmission was direct person-to-person contact. Regarding space–time analysis, twenty statistically significant clusters were identified in the male population and eight in the female population; clusters in men presented a higher number of observed cases and affected municipalities, as well as a higher percentage of municipalities classified as large urban areas. The elevated number of cases detected in clusters of men indicates that the number of MSM-related outbreaks may be higher than reported, showing that spatio-temporal analysis is a complementary, useful tool which may improve the detection of outbreaks in settings where epidemiological investigation may be more challenging.The APC was funded by the Programme of Prevention, Surveillance, and Control of Transmissible Diseases (PREVICET), CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid (Spain)