The SPIRIT collection: an overview of a large web collection

A large scale collection of web pages has been essential for research in information retrieval and related areas. This paper provides an overview of a large web collection used in the SPIRIT project for the design and testing of spatially-aware retrieval systems. Several statistics are derived and presented to show the characteristics of the collection

Performance comparison of clustered and replicated information retrieval systems

The amount of information available over the Internet is increasing daily as well as the importance and magnitude of Web search engines. Systems based on a single centralised index present several problems (such as lack of scalability), which lead to the use of distributed information retrieval systems to effectively search for and locate the required information. A distributed retrieval system can be clustered and/or replicated. In this paper, using simulations, we present a detailed performance analysis, both in terms of throughput and response time, of a clustered system compared to a replicated system. In addition, we consider the effect of changes in the query topics over time. We show that the performance obtained for a clustered system does not improve the performance obtained by the best replicated system. Indeed, the main advantage of a clustered system is the reduction of network traffic. However, the use of a switched network eliminates the bottleneck in the network, markedly improving the performance of the replicated systems. Moreover, we illustrate the negative performance effect of the changes over time in the query topics when a distributed clustered system is used. On the contrary, the performance of a distributed replicated system is query independent

The bankrupcy of expectations; ageing generation and the pension system

[Resumen] El impacto que ha generado el envejecimiento en el aumento del número de pensionistas en la actualidad se desarrolla principalmente a partir de una cada vez más reducida tasa de fecundidad y mortalidad. A consecuencia de ello, tenemos una sociedad más envejecida que necesita de una mayor cobertura social lo que implica un mayor gasto en prestaciones. El presente trabajo de fin de grado tratará de interpretar, a partir de una perspectiva generacional (histórico-familiar), la percepción cultural en relación al cambio de expectativas respecto de las pensiones según la realidad social que a cada generación le ha tocado vivir. Por un lado se pretende analizar el grado de conciencia sobre la insostenibilidad de dicho sistema de pensiones y, por otro lado, tratar de desvelar la construcción ideológica que señala la variable demográfica como el factor de la insostenibilidad del sistema de pensiones.[Resumo] O impacto que xerou o envellecemento no aumento do número de pensionistas na actualidade desenvólvese principalmente a partir dunha cada vez máis reducida taxa de fecundidade e mortalidade. A consecuencia diso, temos unha sociedade máis envellecida que necesita dunha maior cobertura social o que implica un maior gasto en prestacións. O presente traballo de fin de grao tratará de interpretar, a partir dunha perspectiva xeracional (histórico-familiar), a percepción cultural en relación ao cambio de expectativas respecto das pensións segundo a realidade social que a cada xeración lle tocou vivir. Por un lado preténdese analizar o grao de conciencia sobre a insostenibilidade do devandito sistema de pensións e, por outro lado, tratar de desvelar a construción ideolóxica que sinala a variable demográfica como o factor da insostenibilidade do sistema de pensións.[Abstract] The impact generated by the aging in increasing the number of pensioners at present is mainly developed from an increasingly reduced rate of fecundity and mortality. As a result, we have an aged society that needs greater social coverage which means more spending on social benefits. This work try to interpret the generational perspective (historical and family), cultural perception in relation to changing expectations of pensions according to the social reality that each generation has lived. On the one hand it is to analyze the degree of awareness of the unsustainability of the pension system and, on the other hand, try to uncover the ideological construct that indicates the demographic variable as the factor of unsustainability of the pension system.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.SOC). Socioloxía. Curso 2014/201

Methodological analysis about the potential avoidability of motor vehicles colliding against pedestrians in urban areas

The main motivation of the authors of this article is to establish a rigorous definition of the potential capacity that a motor vehicle driver has to avoid a collision against a pedestrian. Henceforth we will call this capacity avoidability. To calculate the avoidability, it is necessary to analyze time, distance and itinerary, initial position of the pedestrian when exposed to the risk, initial speed; theoretical maximum speed developed by the vehicle and road limit speed; the driver’s reaction time and the influence of the environment; and the interrelation of the initial positions of vehicle and pedestrian with respect to the transversal axis of the road. The definition, categorized by variables, of a driver’s ability to avoid run over a pedestrian in an urban area has an evident usefulness: it allows knowing the influence of the initial speed of a vehicle as an isolated variable and the importance of the road limit speed in the ability to prevent an accident.Postprint (published version

Queuing theory-based latency/power tradeoff models for replicated search engines

Large-scale search engines are built upon huge infrastructures involving thousands of computers in order to achieve fast response times. In contrast, the energy consumed (and hence the financial cost) is also high, leading to environmental damage. This paper proposes new approaches to increase energy and financial savings in large-scale search engines, while maintaining good query response times. We aim to improve current state-of-the-art models used for balancing power and latency, by integrating new advanced features. On one hand, we propose to improve the power savings by completely powering down the query servers that are not necessary when the load of the system is low. Besides, we consider energy rates into the model formulation. On the other hand, we focus on how to accurately estimate the latency of the whole system by means of Queueing Theory. Experiments using actual query logs attest the high energy (and financial) savings regarding current baselines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in successfully applying stationary Queueing Theory models to estimate the latency in a large-scale search engine

El reino de Chile y las imágenes de la "Histórica relación" de Alonso de Ovalle: una aproximación a las crónicas de Indias

Este estudio supone un acercamiento, desde el punto de vista iconográfico y cultural, a las crónicas de Indias y a los libros sobre conquistas y guerras acaecidas en el Nuevo Mundo, en especial, a la Historia del reino de Chile. La obra que se analizará, Histórica relación del Reino de Chile y de las misiones y ministerios que ejercita en él la Compañía de Jesús, ha sido escrita por el jesuita chileno Alonso de Ovalle (Roma, 1646).This study supposes an approximation, from the iconographic and cultural point of view, to the chronicles of the Indies and to the books on conquests and wars happened in the New World, especially, to the History of the kingdom of Chile. The work that will be analyzed has been written by the Chilean jesuit Alonso de Ovalle (Rome, 1646)

Las plataformas logísticas de distribución urbana de mercancías: un elemento de desarrollo y regulación del transporte de mercancías en las ciudades

Postprint (published version

On-street illegal parking costs in urban areas

Private transport represents more than a third of all the journeys carried out in large cities urban areas. The high amount of traffic in metropolitan zones implies the appearance of congestion that is one of the most important complications transport engineers must fight against. Bottle necks are one of the most common reasons of congestion effect and on-street illegal parking (double parked or driving lane parked) implies the creation of a (or successive) bottle neck. This paper is focused on to evaluate the costs that appear when on-street illegal parking is detected. To achieve the paper’s goal, first of all, the different costs of the journey have been defined and formulated; next, the effect of illegal parking has been considered and the cost related to that has been formulated for each of the different types of cost. In order to use the formulation obtained two real scenarios have been evaluated, Barcelona and New York City. The results obtained in real scenarios have demonstrated that the economic cost due to car parking indiscipline to the whole city is significant; also it is worth to remark that unit cost (cost provoked for a single vehicle) differs depending on the location of the violation and the affected vehicle.Postprint (published version

Digital cooperation on Facebook and Twitter and financial impact on political crowdfunding campaigns

Although political crowdfunding has been a growing digital tool for resource mobilisation over the last decade, there has been little academic analysis on this topic. To fill this gap, we analysed the impact of digital cooperation materialised through Facebook and Twitter on the financial results and number of individual donations in more than 200 campaigns. Statistical tests show a positive association between the number of endorsements for the dissemination of a campaign message received on Facebook and Twitter from public figures and social and political actors such as associations, trade unions and political parties and the financial results and number of individual donations obtained. In conclusion, we found that digital cooperation improves financial results and allows political crowdfunding campaigners to mitigate the limitations of Facebook and Twitter and to expand their message among new audiences characterised by high social and political engagement

La coeducación patrimonial o cómo aplicar la perspectiva de género en la educación patrimonial en instituciones culturales y museos

La coeducación es una metodología pedagógica utilizada en la educación formal, que va más allá de la educación mixta y es la base para educar en igualdad a niños, niñas y adolescentes sin discriminación por razones de género. Pretende la desaparición de cualquier tipo de exclusión o infravaloración, la superación de estereotipos sexistas y la eliminación de roles y jerarquías de género androcéntricos en el desarrollo educativo desde los primeros años de escolarización de niños y niñas. La coeducación aplica la perspectiva de género a las prácticas educativas, que cuando se da en un contexto patrimonial se transforma en coeducación patrimonial. El objetivo del artículo es acercar al lector al conocimiento de una nueva metodología educativa basada en la coeducación patrimonial, a fin de poder aplicarla en los programas educativos ofrecidos a los centros educativos por museos e instituciones patrimoniales, para garantizar una educación igualitaria y no discriminatoria, que ayude a formar personas críticas, justas y libres