[EN] Rice (Oryza sativa L) is the main staple food for over 3 billion people (almost half the world population), and rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is the major threat for this crop worldwide, triggering also important losses in Spain some years. Some resistant cultivars have been released, mainly with complete resistance genes (Pi genes), but their resistance has not lasted long, due to the emergence of new virulent isolates. Therefore, the efforts for obtaining effective and durable resistance are focused nowadays on the use of partial resistance or a combination of partial and complete resistance. Partial resistance is a quantitative character, controlled by numerous genes of small effects (QTLs), that can interact among them, and usually also strongly with the environment. For a better knowledge of the population of M. oryzae in the Albufera region, and of the resistance genes and QTLs that might be effective in various Spanish rice growing regions, we tested along four years 31 differential varieties (isogenic lines carrying one different Pi gene each); these studies showed that fungus population can significantly change from one year to the other. On the other hand, we analyzed the genetics of resistance to M. oryzae in two populations derived from crosses between local and well adapted, although moderately susceptible, varieties (Sivert, JSendra), and allegedly resistant but poorly adapted varieties (CAN-6159, Gigante Vercelly. In F3 lines of both populations, the leaf and panicle susceptibility was determined in field trials under conditions that favour the infection: SixCNA lines were tested in a plot in the Albufera region, and those of JSxGV in four locations of Valencia, the Ebro River Delta, and Seville; inoculations in controlled conditions were also carried out in the second population. We compare the different methodologies for assessing susceptibility, and we discuss the environmental influence on it. 22 QTLs were detected in SIxCNA, and 61 in JSxGV, most of them in only one location. All four parents displayed partial resistance QTLs; but some QTLs showed small additive effects and, often, high dominance. At the same time, most of these QTLs exhibit significant interactions with other QTLs; and many of them co-localize with QTLs found in other studies. We have discovered substantial coincidences between QTLs that control incidence in panicle and those that determine leaf severity, thus supporting the hypothesis that there are common defence mechanisms in both organs. Chromosomal regions of interest for marker assisted breeding of resistant genotypes have been identified. / [ES] El arroz (Oryza sativa L.) es la principal fuente de alimentación para más de 3.000 millones de personas, casi la mitad de la población mundial, y la "piriculariosis", causada por el hongo Magnaporthe oryzae Couch, es la enfermedad que más pérdidas causa en este cultivo a escala mundial; también en España ha causado pérdidas importantes algunos años. Se han obtenido diversas variedades resistentes, principalmente al incorporar genes de resistencia completa (genes Pi), pero la mayoría se han vuelto susceptibles en pocos años al aparecer nuevos aislados más virulentos. Actualmente, para conseguir una resistencia efectiva y duradera, se busca incorporar resistencia parcial, o una combinación de ambos tipos de resistencia. La resistencia parcial es un carácter cuantitativo, controlado por numerosos genes de efecto pequeño (o QTLs), que pueden interaccionar entre ellos y que, con frecuencia, también lo hacen intensamente con el ambiente. Para conocer mejor la población del patógeno presente en la zona de la Albufera, y qué genes y QTLs de resistencia pueden ser efectivos en ésta y otras zonas arroceras de España, por un lado se ensayaron durante varios años 31 variedades diferenciales (líneas con un gen Pi diferente cada una); esto demostró que la estructura de la población del hongo puede variar significativamente con los años. Por otro lado, realizamos estudios genéticos sobre la resistencia a M. oryzae en dos poblaciones, procedentes del cruzamiento entre variedades locales, bien adaptadas pero moderadamente susceptibles (Sivert y JSendra) y variedades resistentes, pero no adaptadas (CNA-6159 y Gigante Vercelli). En líneas F3 de ambas poblaciones se determinó la resistencia en campo, en condiciones favorables para el ataque del hongo, en hojas y órganos productivos: en SixCNA, en una parcela de la Albufera, y en JSxGV, en 4 localidades de Valencia, el Delta del Ebro y Sevilla; en JSxGV, además, se realizaron inoculaciones en condiciones controladas. Se comparan los diferentes sistemas de medida de la susceptibilidad, y se discute la influencia ambiental en ella. Se detectaron 22 QTLs en SixCNA, y 61 QTLs en JSxGV, la mayoría de los cuales sólo se expresan en una localidad. Todos los parentales aportan alelos de resistencia; pero la mayoría de los QTLs identificados son de efectos pequeños y, a menudo, con un notable componente dominante. Al mismo tiempo, gran parte de estos QTLs presentan interacciones significativas con otros QTLs; y muchos de ellos co-localizan con QTLs identificados en otros estudios. Hemos encontrado bastantes coincidencias entre QTLs que controlan la incidencia en panículas y los que determinan la severidad en las hojas, apoyando la hipótesis de que existen mecanismos de defensa comunes en ambos órganos. Se han localizado regiones cromosómicas de interés que podrían ser utilizadas para la selección de genotipos resistentes. / [CAT] L'arròs (Oryza sativa L.) és la principal font d'alimentació per a més de 3.000 millions de persones, quasi la meitat de la població mundial, i la "piriculariosi", causada pel fong Magnaporthe oryzae Couch, és la malaltia que més pèrdues origina en aquest conreu a escala mundial; també a Espanya ha causat pèrdues importants alguns anys. S'han obtès diverses varietats resistents, principalment en incorporar gens de resistència completa (gens Pi), però la majoria s'han tornat susceptibles en pocs anys en aparèixer nous aïllats més virulents. Actualment, per aconseguir una resistència efectiva i duradora, es cerca incorporar resistència parcial, o una combinació de tots dos tipus de resistència. La resistència parcial és un caràcter quantitatiu, controlat per nombrosos gens d'efecte reduït (o QTLs), els quals poden interaccionar entre sí i que, sovint, també ho fan intensament amb l'ambient. Per conéixer millor la població del patògen present a la zona de l'Albufera, i quins gens i QTLs de resistència poden ser efectius a aquesta i a d'altres zones arrosseres d'Espanya, per una banda s'assajaren durant diversos anys 31 varietats diferencials (línies amb un gen Pi diferent cadascuna); això demostrà que l'estructura de la població del fong pot variejar significativament amb els anys. Per altra banda, realitzàrem estudis genètics sobre la resistència a M. oryzae en dues poblacions, procedents del encreuament entre varietats locals, adaptades però moderadament susceptibles (Sivert i JSendra) i varietats resistents però no adaptades (CNA-6159 i Gigante Vercelli). En línies F3 d'ambdues poblacions es determinà la resistència en camp, en condicions favorables per a l'atac del fong, en fulles i òrgans productius: en SixCNA, en una parcel·la de l'Albufera, i en JSxGV en quatre localitats de València, el Delta de l'Ebre i Sevilla; en JSxGV, a més a més, es realitzaren inoculacions en condicions controlades. Es comparen els diversos sistemes de mesura de la susceptibilidad, i es discuteix la influència ambiental en aquesta. Es detectaren 22 QTLs en SixCNA i 61 QTLs en JSxGV, la major part dels quals solament s'expressen a una localitat. Tots els parentals aporten al·lels de resistència; però alguns dels QTLs identificats són d'efectes reduïts i, freqüentment, amb un notable component dominant. Paral·lelament, gran part d'aquestos QTLs presenten interaccions significatives amb altres QTLs; i molts d'aquestos co-localitzen amb QTLs identificats en altres estudis. Hem trobat bastants coincidències entre QTLs que controlen la incidència en panícules i els que determinen la severitat a les fulles, recolzant la hipòtesi que existeixen mecanismes de defensa comuns en ambdós òrgans. S'han localitzat regions cromosòmiques d'interès que podrien ser emprades per a la selecció de genotipus resistents / Pérez Lotz, J. (2016). Análisis genético de la resistencia parcial a Magnaporthe oryzae en arroz (Oryza sativa) en varias poblaciones y ambientes [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/62582 / TESIS

The subject of this diploma thesis is the modelling and the analysis of mechanisms that enable multiagentsystems to establish communication relations and using them to control the interaction. With regards to the emergence of such symbol systems one groundwork of this paper is the realization that coordination problems aren't applicative to advance to evolution of "higher communication capabilities". With this in mind, this analysis uses a class of problems with explicit conflicts of interests between agents and the necessity of solving such interaction problems with the help of communication. The paper determines and discusses mechanisms and constraints that enable multiagentsystems to evolve such self-organisating social structures as well as preserving them. / Thema dieser Diplomarbeit ist die Modellierung und Untersuchung von Mechanismen, auf deren Grundlage Multiagentensysteme in der Lage sind, Kommunikationsbeziehungen aufzubauen und kommunikative Akte interaktionssteuernd zu verwenden. Hinsichtlich der Emergenz derartiger Symbolsysteme besteht eine wesentliche Erkenntnis, auf der diese Arbeit aufbaut, darin, dass Koordinationsprobleme als Kontext für MAS kein geeignetes experimentelles Umfeld für die Herausbildung "höherer kommunikativer Fähigkeiten" darstellen. Davon ausgehend werden für eine Klasse von Problemen, in denen die Abstimmung über eine Interaktion aufgrund von Interessenkonflikten einen expliziten Teil des kommunikativ zu lösenden Problems darstellt, Mechanismen und Constraints herausgearbeitet und diskutiert, die Agenten in die Lage versetzen, ein sich selbst organisierendes soziales Gefüge aufzubauen und zu erhalten.

<div><div><div><p>The process of acquiring the large-scale complex systems is usually characterized with cost and schedule overruns. To investigate the causes of this problem, we may view the acquisition of a complex system in several different time scales. At finer time scales, one may study different stages of the acquisition process from the intricate details of the entire systems engineering process to communication between design teams to how individual designers solve problems. At the largest time scale one may consider the acquisition process as series of actions which are, request for bids, bidding and auctioning, contracting, and finally building and deploying the system, without resolving the fine details that occur within each step. In this work, we study the acquisition processes in multiple scales. First, we develop a game-theoretic model for engineering of the systems in the building and deploying stage. We model the interactions among the systems and subsystem engineers as a principal-agent problem. We develop a one-shot shallow systems engineering process and obtain the optimum transfer functions that best incentivize the subsystem engineers to maximize the expected system-level utility. The core of the principal-agent model is the quality function which maps the effort of the agent to the performance (quality) of the system. Therefore, we build the stochastic quality function by modeling the design process as a sequential decision-making problem. Second, we develop and evaluate a model of the acquisition process that accounts for the strategic behavior of different parties. We cast our model in terms of government-funded projects and assume the following steps. First, the government publishes a request for bids. Then, private firms offer their proposals in a bidding process and the winner bidder enters in a con- tract with the government. The contract describes the system requirements and the corresponding monetary transfers for meeting them. The winner firm devotes effort to deliver a system that fulfills the requirements. This can be assumed as a game that the government plays with the bidder firms. We study how different parameters in the acquisition procedure affect the bidders’ behaviors and therefore, the utility of the government. Using reinforcement learning, we seek to learn the optimal policies of involved actors in this game. In particular, we study how the requirements, contract types such as cost-plus and incentive-based contracts, number of bidders, problem complexity, etc., affect the acquisition procedure. Furthermore, we study the bidding strategy of the private firms and how the contract types affect their strategic behavior.</p></div></div></div>

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is a popular measure of psychosocial functioning and psychopathology in the assessment of individuals in a variety of settings. However, the method of construction employed with the MMPI more than 60 years ago with psychiatric patients challenges the applicability of the scales for determining the psychosocial functioning of individuals from different settings. The restandardisation conducted in 1987 made no effort to eradicate the item overlap that was a result of the criterion keying method with contrasted groups. Although restandardized and updated with more contemporary language and content, the original psychiatric constructs were retained in order to maintain continuity with its predecessor. The aims of this investigation were to develop a new structure for the MMPI-2 constructed at the item-level, empirically derived and which specifically represents the dimensions that are relevant and appropriate in evaluating the psychosocial functioning of personal injury claimants. This task included comparisons with a comparable scale-level analysis and developing optimal scoring strategies where items in components and facets are allocated weightings based upon their strength of association. Study 1 was conducted using a sample of 2989 personal injury claimants assessed in Australia and the United States of America. The final sample of 3230, included 241 normal individuals, was utilized to develop a scale-level structure from 79 standard MMPI-2 scales and subscales. A nine-component solution consisting of General Maladjustment /Emotional Distress, Asocial Beliefs, Social Vulnerability, Somatic Complaints, Psychological Disturbance, Impulsive Expression, Antisocial Practices, Stereotypic Fears and Family Difficulties was derived using principal component analysis. However, intercorrelation between components in the structure signaled the need to develop a structure that would eradicate problems that were perpetuated by item overlap. The second study was conducted with a set of best practice procedures with the same clinical sample of 2989 personal injury claimants as Study 1. Forty-one components were derived through principal component analysis. Through the application of a set of criteria, a 35-component solution was retained. The pattern coefficients from the allocation of items to components determined the weightings to be applied to each item. Further analysis of the 35 components derived a substructure of 37 facets. The 35 components included only 442 of the 567 items, with the reliability coefficients of the first 25 components that ranged between .5 and .97, and the remaining 10 components that ranged from .29 to .49. The latter unreliable components were not included in the final Structural Summary, leaving 25 components (400 items) and their 33 facets for interpretation. Hence, in demonstrating the utility of the newly-derived structure, only 25 components and their 33 facets were interpreted. The 25 components were grouped conceptually into six domains. In the emotional domain were Psychological Distress (PsyDist), Anger, Fears, Psychotic Symptoms (PsyS), Paranoia (Par), Irritability (Irrit), Elation (Elat), Fear of the Dark (FD), and Financial Worry (FinWo). Somatic Complaints (SomC), Sexual Concerns (SexCon), and Gastrointestinal Problems (GasP) made up the measures in the physiological domain. In the behavioural domain were Cognitive Difficulties (CogDiff), Stimulus-Seeking (StimuS), Discipline (Dis), and Delinquency (Del) whilst the interpersonal domain was formed by Social Withdrawal (SoW), Negative Interpersonal Attitude (NIA), Timidity (Tim), Lie, Dissatisfaction with Self (DWS) and Family Relationship Difficulties (FReD). Alcoholism (Alco) was the only measure in the substance abuse domain, and the gender domain was comprised of Masculinity (Mas) and Femininity (Fem). The third study established preliminary normative means and standard deviations using a small opportunistic Australian university student sample (N = 219). No substantial gender differences were found but gender norms were maintained to facilitate comparisons with the traditional MMPI-2 approach. Comparisons of frequency of 'true' item response between the Australian university student sample and the U.S. restandardisation sample found relatively little differences and permitted evaluation of between sample differences on components and facets. The utility of the structure was demonstrated with the illustration of two clinical case examples, and a comparison was made with the standard MMPI-2 scales and subscales. The Structural Summary for the MMPI-2 demonstrated discriminative measures of psychosocial functioning that were a result of no item overlap, and the ability to attend to the different levels of intensity of self-report items because of differential weightings.

Despite being the global leader in the “war on terror,” the United States has been accused of sponsoring terrorism against Cuba. The following study assesses these charges. After establishing a definition of terrorism, it examines U.S.-Cuban relations from 1808 to 1958, arguing that the United States has historically employed violence in its efforts to control Cuba. U.S. leaders maintained this approach even after the Cuban Revolution: months after Fidel Castro’s guerrilla army took power, Washington began organizing Cuban exiles to carry out terrorist attacks against the island, and continued to support and tolerate such activities until the 1970s, culminating in what was the hemisphere’s most lethal act of airline terrorism before 9/11. Since then, the United States has maintained contact with well-known anti-Castro terrorists, in many cases employing and harbouring them, despite its claims to be fighting an international campaign against terrorism.

Despite being the global leader in the “war on terror,” the United States has been accused of sponsoring terrorism against Cuba. The following study assesses these charges. After establishing a definition of terrorism, it examines U.S.-Cuban relations from 1808 to 1958, arguing that the United States has historically employed violence in its efforts to control Cuba. U.S. leaders maintained this approach even after the Cuban Revolution: months after Fidel Castro’s guerrilla army took power, Washington began organizing Cuban exiles to carry out terrorist attacks against the island, and continued to support and tolerate such activities until the 1970s, culminating in what was the hemisphere’s most lethal act of airline terrorism before 9/11. Since then, the United States has maintained contact with well-known anti-Castro terrorists, in many cases employing and harbouring them, despite its claims to be fighting an international campaign against terrorism.

This thesis explores the integration of IoT protocols to enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability by developing a flexible automated system. The research covers the integration of a palletization optimizer with a flexible robotic platform, a project conducted in collaboration with OpiFlex and Linköping University. Flexibility and sustainability in production, particularly in the food and beverage industry, are critical yet challenging to achieve. This research addresses these challenges by proposing a system that aligns the output with customer needs by combining these technologies. The research employs a combination of case study and exploratory methodologies. The development approach synthesizes elements from Set-Based Design, Point-Based Design, and Agile development frameworks. The primary research questions focus on identifying the best system architecture for integrating the palletization optimizer with a lower-level automation platform and outlining the steps needed to transform this integration into a commercially viable product. The system includes the optimizer, capable of processing customer orders and configuring products on mixed output pallets, integrated with a flexible robotic system provided by OpiFlex. The work involved evaluating communication protocols, MQTT, OPC UA, and TCP/IP, and designing robust interactions and interfaces between the subsystems. The results demonstrate the system's architecture and interaction protocols.  The thesis concludes with a discussion of the results in comparison to the application scenario and the standards consulted. The conclusion is that the chosen interface practices should remain largely intact but be re-developed using an OPC UA-based architecture. The main reasons for this are its support for both pub/sub and client-server models, increased security, and greater support for enterprise application integration. However, depending on the specific application, the downsides of OPC UA may outweigh its benefits.