Multivariate Bayesian semiparametric models for authentication of food and beverages

Food and beverage authentication is the process by which foods or beverages are verified as complying with its label description, for example, verifying if the denomination of origin of an olive oil bottle is correct or if the variety of a certain bottle of wine matches its label description. The common way to deal with an authentication process is to measure a number of attributes on samples of food and then use these as input for a classification problem. Our motivation stems from data consisting of measurements of nine chemical compounds denominated Anthocyanins, obtained from samples of Chilean red wines of grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carm\'{e}n\`{e}re. We consider a model-based approach to authentication through a semiparametric multivariate hierarchical linear mixed model for the mean responses, and covariance matrices that are specific to the classification categories. Specifically, we propose a model of the ANOVA-DDP type, which takes advantage of the fact that the available covariates are discrete in nature. The results suggest that the model performs well compared to other parametric alternatives. This is also corroborated by application to simulated data.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/11-AOAS492 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Análisis de conflictos: algunas consideraciones teóricas y éticas

Hope for development seems to be weathering. In recent years, research on development issues and developmental strategies has been replaced by a burgeoning literature on conflict analysis, conflict transformation and peace building. As the World is confronted with the catastrophic effects of free trade and open financial markets globalization –a catastrophe in terms of quality of life for the majority of the people, as well as in terms of social, gender and economic equality and environmental sustainability– we all are defied by the urgent need to make sense of this state of widespread political violence, Human Rights violations and massive international migration. The purpose of this work is to consider some ethical, theoretical and methodological issues about conducting research on conflict, and especially when dealing with the victims and their attempt to have their voices heard, and to move from victimization to social agency. In part one we give some consideration to the impact of contemporary violence and its manifestations. The second part reviews some of the most influential theories on political violence. The last part deals with some ethical and methodological challenges that stem from the task.La esperanza en las posibilidades de desarrollo se ha ido desvaneciendo. En los años recientes, la investigación sobre temas de desarrollo y el diseño de estrategias para su promoción han sido reemplazadas por una floreciente literatura sobre análisis de conflicto y construcción de paz. A medida que el mundo confronta los catastróficos efectos de la liberalización de los mercados financieros –una catástrofe en términos de desigualdad económica, social y de género, y de amenaza a la sostenibilidad medioambiental– se hace más urgente para todos enfrentar el reto de comprender este estado de violencia política generalizada, violaciones sistemáticas de los Derechos Humanos y migración internacional masiva. El propósito de este artículo es el de presentar algunas consideraciones de orden teórico y ético en torno a la investigación sobre el conflicto, y especialmente en lo que tiene relación con el tratamiento de las víctimas y la necesidad de que sus voces sean escuchadas, de manera tal que puedan hacer el tránsito de la victimización a la agencia. En la primera parte se hacen algunas consideraciones sobre el impacto de la violencia contemporánea y sus manifestaciones. La segunda parte revisa las teorías que más han influido la forma en que entendemos la violencia política. La parte final considera algunos de los retos éticos y metodológicos que nacen de la tarea que hay por hace

Classification of finite dimensional uniserial representations of conformal Galilei algebras

With the aid of the $6j$-symbol, we classify all uniserial modules of $\mathfrak{sl}(2)\ltimes \mathfrak{h}_{n}$, where $\mathfrak{h}_{n}$ is the Heisenberg Lie algebra of dimension $2n+1$.Comment: Some references added, introduction expanded, title change

Why the students of fifth year of the morning shift at Salomón de la Selva high school in Managua have a low level of proficiency in speaking and pronunciation skills in English as a foreign language

Nowadays English language has been one of the most relevant educational factors in Nicaragua and the population is being demanded to acquire it as a second language to exchange our cultural, social, political and economical aspects with foreign countries. During many years students in high schools have been taking English as a part of the curriculum set by the minister of education and therefore used by the teachers in public schools. In this research, we intend to find out the reasons that cause a low level of proficiency in speaking and pronunciation skills that students have in the second language acquisition and mostly, we have observed that the students of fifth year at Salomón de la Selva high school have a lot of difficulties in speaking and pronunciation skills through the teaching and learning process in the classroom. The problem has aroused our interest to look for specific information to help us find a solution. We focus our attention on the possible factors that lead to the problem of our concern: the materials used in the classroom and the kind of techniques the teacher carries out in class in order to fulfill his objectives. Our work lets you know about the previous knowledge and the linguistic problems the students have in English. And also how this can negatively affect them during their learning process in their last level of secondary schoo

Wind intermittency and CO2 reductions: the case of the spanish power system

Renewable energy sources are believed to reduce drastically greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be generated from fossil fuels used to generate electricity. This implies that a unit of renewable energy will replace a unit of fossil-fuel, with its CO2 emissions, on an equivalent basis (with no other effects on the grid). But, the fuel economy and emissions in the existing power systems are not proportional with the electricity production of intermittent sources due to cycling of the fossil fuel plants that make up the balance of the grid (i.e. changing the power output makes thermal units to operate less efficiently). This study focuses in the interactions between wind generation and thermal plants cycling, by establishing the levels of extra fuel use caused by decreased efficiencies of fossil back-up for wind electricity in Spain. We analyze the production of all thermal plants in 2011, studying different scenarios where wind penetration causes major deviations in programming, while we define a procedure for quantifying the carbon reductions by using emission factors and efficiency curves from the existing installations. The objectives are to discuss the real contributions of renewable energies to the environmental targets as well as suggest alternatives that would improve the reliability of future power systems

University, Biodiversity, and Education

Context: Biodiversity is a condition of human existence. By transforming nature, man has also transformed its context, with ensuing progressive degradation of biological diversity. This study stems from the need to improve the treatment of biodiversity from an educational perspective that includes professional education. Objective: The aim of this paper is to establish proper professional training interaction with biodiversity within their scope of action. It would be effective through more activities intended to achieve integration between professional education and the global issue of biodiversity. Methods: Empirical methods were used to reveal insufficiencies and potentialities. Theoretical methods were used to lay the foundations of this study, including its background; modeling was also used. Results: The contribution of this study consists in a pedagogical model to facilitate interaction of biodiversity with environmental education, and other factors that promote students’ culture in biological diversity. Conclusions: Assessment of transversal treatment of biodiversity throughout environmental education of undergraduates revealed positive effects on the participants. The pertinence of these actions was corroborated. Besides, emphasis was placed on the importance, topicality, and need of further research aimed to achieve proper professional training interaction with biodiversity within their scope of action. This would be effective through more activities intended to achieve integration between professional education and the global issue of biodiversity

On the feasibility of the use of wind SAR to downscale waves on shallow water

n recent years, wave reanalyses have become popular as a powerful source of information for wave climate research and engineering applications. These wave reanalyses provide continuous time series of offshore wave parameters; nevertheless, in coastal areas or shallow water, waves are poorly described because spatial resolution is not detailed. By means of wave downscaling, it is possible to increase spatial resolution in high temporal coverage simulations, using forcing from wind and offshore wave databases. Meanwhile, the reanalysis wave databases are enough to describe the wave climate at the limit of simulations; wind reanalyses at an adequate spatial resolution to describe the wind structure near the coast are not frequently available. Remote sensing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has the ability to detect sea surface signatures and estimate wind fields at high resolution (up to 300?m) and high frequency. In this work a wave downscaling is done on the northern Adriatic Sea, using a hybrid methodology and global wave and wind reanalysis as forcing. The wave fields produced were compared to wave fields produced with SAR winds that represent the two dominant wind regimes in the area: the bora (ENE direction) and sirocco (SE direction). Results show a good correlation between the waves forced with reanalysis wind and SAR wind. In addition, a validation of reanalysis is shown. This research demonstrates how Earth observation products, such as SAR wind fields, can be successfully up-taken into oceanographic modeling, producing similar downscaled wave fields when compared to waves forced with reanalysis wind

ASPM and the Evolution of Cerebral Cortical Size in a Community of New World Monkeys

The ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated) gene has been proposed as a major determinant of cerebral cortical size among primates, including humans. Yet the specific functions of ASPM and its connection to human intelligence remain controversial. This debate is limited in part by a taxonomic focus on Old World monkeys and apes. Here we expand the comparative context of ASPM sequence analyses with a study of New World monkeys, a radiation of primates in which enlarged brain size has evolved in parallel in spider monkeys (genus Ateles) and capuchins (genus Cebus). The primate community of Costa Rica is perhaps a model system because it allows for independent pairwise comparisons of smaller- and larger-brained species within two taxonomic families. Accordingly, we analyzed the complete sequence of exon 18 of ASPM in Ateles geoffroyi, Alouatta palliata, Cebus capucinus, and Saimiri oerstedii. As the analysis of multiple species in a genus improves phylogenetic reconstruction, we also analyzed eleven published sequences from other New World monkeys. Our exon-wide, lineage-specific analysis of eleven genera and the ratio of rates of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) on ASPM revealed no detectable evidence for positive selection in the lineages leading toAteles or Cebus, as indicated by dN/dS ratios of ,1.0 (0.6502 and 0.4268, respectively). Our results suggest that a multitude of interacting genes have driven the evolution of larger brains among primates, with different genes involved in this process in different encephalized lineages, or at least with evidence for positive selection not readily apparent for the same genes in all lineages. The primate community of Costa Rica may serve as a model system for future studies that aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive capacity and cortical size

Optimum bias point in broadband subcarrier multiplexing with optical IQ modulators

This paper develops a theoretical analysis of the tradeoff between carrier suppression and nonlinearities induced by optical IQ modulators in direct-detection subcarrier multiplexing systems. The tradeoff is obtained by examining the influence of the bias conditions of the modulator on the transmitted single side band signal. The frequency components in the electric field and the associated photocurrent at the output of the IQ modulator are derived mathematically. For any frequency plan, the optimum bias point can be identified by calculating the sensitivity gain for every subchannel. A setup composed of subcarriers located at multiples of the data rate ensures that the effects of intermodulation distortion are studied in the most suitable conditions. Experimental tests with up to five QPSK electrical subchannels are performed to verify the mathematical model and validate the predicted gains in sensitivity