Multimodal dialog system based on statistical models

En este trabajo presentamos un sistema de diálogo multimodal. Además de la multimodalidad de entrada y salida, la principal característica del sistema es que los módulos más importantes están basados en modelos estadísticos.In this paper, we present a multimodal dialog system. In addition to input and output multimodality, the main feature of the system is that its key modules are based on statistical models.Trabajo parcialmente subvencionado por el gobierno español con el proyecto TIN2008-06856-C05-02 y la Universitat Politècnica de València con el proyecto 20100982

Selección de bombas en redes de riego a presión

[ES] Dada la aplicación cada vez más extendida de las redes colectivas de riego a la demanda, se presenta una herramienta de utilización general como ayuda a la toma de decisiones para el dimensionamiento y regulación de las estaciones de bombeo. Se trata de una aportación novedosa que trata de dar soluciones a un problema todavía sin resolver sobre el mejor equilibrio entre coste total (inversión y operación) y garantía de suministro. Para la selección del tipo y número de bombas de velocidad fija y variable se presenta un procedimiento fácil de implementar (Excel, Visual Basic), que proporciona la solución de menor coste total utilizando equipos existentes en el mercado. Los resultados indican que, es muy importante seleccionar correctamente el tipo de bomba que mejor seadapta a las necesidades de la demanda de la red, y que la solución de mínimo coste total es con una o dos bombas de velocidad variable y el resto de velocidad fija.Planells, P.; Carrión, P.; Ortega, JF.; Moreno, MA.; Tarjuelo Martín-Benito, JM. (2006). Selección de bombas en redes de riego a presión. Ingeniería del agua. 13(1):47-57. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.2006.2881OJS4757131Awumah, K., Bhatt, S.K. and Goulter, I.C. (1989). An integer programming model for layout design of water distribution networks. Engineering Optimization, Vol. 15, pp.57-70Bethery J. 1990. Réseaux collectifs d'irrigation ramifiés sous pression. Calcul et fonctionnement. CEMAGREF. Etudes nº 6Bhave, P.R. and Lam, C.F. (1983). Optimal layout for branching distribution networks. Journal of Transportation Engineering (ASCE), Vol 109. Nº 4, pp. 534-547Clément, R. and Galand, A. (1986). El riego por aspersión y las redes colectivas de distribución a presión. Editores Técnicos Asociados.EPANET: Lewis A. Rossman (1997). Manual de Usuario de Epanet. Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cincinnati, OH.García-Serra, J. y Madalena, M. (1992). La inyección directa a red con grupos de velocidad fija y variable. Curso de ingeniería hidráulica aplicada a los sistemas de distribución de agua. U.D. de Mecánica de Fluidos, Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Tomo 2, Capítulo 17.Labye, Y., Olson, M.A., Galand, A. Y Tsourtis, N. (1988). Design and optimisation of irrigation distribution network. Irrigation and drainage paper nº 44. FAO.Lamaddalena N. (2000). Performance analysis of on-demand pressurized irrigation systems. Nº 59 de FAO, Serie de riegos y drenajes,Lansey, K.E., and Mays, L.W. (1989). Optimization model for water distribution system design. J. Hydraul. Eng., 115(10), 1401-1418.Martínez, F. y Vela, A. (1993). Regulación de estaciones de bombeo. Curso de Diseño hidráulico de redes de riego. U.D. de Mecánica de Fluidos, Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Capítulo 10.Moreno, M.A. (2005). Análisis hidráulico y energético de redes de riego a la demanda. Tesis doctoral. CREA y E.T.S.I. Agrónomos de Albacete. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (junio 2005).López-Luque, R., Reca, J., Camacho, E., Roldán, J. y Alcaide, M. (1995). Valoración energética y diseño óptimo de impulsiones con caudal variable. Ingeniería del Agua 2: 19-24.Mavropoulos, T.I. 1997. Sviluppo di una nuova formula per il calcolo delle portate de punta nelle reti irrigue don esercizio alla domanda. Riv. Di Irr. E Dren. 44(2):27-35.Planells, P., Tarjuelo, J.M., Ortega, F and Casanova, M.I. (2001). Design of water networks for on-demand irrigation. Irrig Sci 20:189-201Planells, P. y Tarjuelo, J.M. 2001. Generación aleatoria de curvas de demanda y sus aplicaciones. XIX Congreso Nacional de Riegos. Zaragoza, 12 a 14 de junio de 2001Pulido, I., R. López y J. Roldán. 1998. Caracterización horaria y estacional de la demanda en una red de distribución de agua para riego. XVI Congreso Nacional de Riegos. AERYD.Pulido-Calvo, I., Roldan, J., López-luque, R. and Gutiérrez-Estrada, J.C. (2003). Water delivery system planning considering irrigation simultaneity. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 129(2), 247-25

The Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on Biomarkers of Vascular Wall Inflammation and Plaque Vulnerability in Subjects with High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. A Randomized Trial

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. However, how the MD exerts its effects is not fully known. Aim: To assess the 12-month effects of two enhanced MDs compared to a low-fat diet on inflammatory biomarkers related to atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability in a subcohort of the PREDIMED (Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea) study. Methods: A total of 164 participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease were randomized into three diet groups: MD supplemented with 50 mL/d of extra virgin olive oil (MD+EVOO) or 30 g/d of nuts (MD+Nuts) and a low-fat diet. Changes in classical cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability were measured after 12 months of intervention. Results: Compared to participants in the low-fat diet group, those receiving MD+EVOO and MD+Nuts showed a higher decrease in systolic (6 mmHg)and diastolic (3 mmHg) blood pressure (P = 0.02; both), as well as a reduction of 10% and 8% in LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.04), respectively. Patients in the MD+Nuts group showed a significant reduction of 34% in CD40 expression on monocyte surface compared to low-fat diet patients (P = 0.03). In addition, inflammatory biomarkers related to plaque instability such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were reduced by 45% and 35% and 95% and 90% in the MD+EVOO and MD+Nuts groups, respectively (P<0.05; all) compared to the low-fat diet group. Likewise, sICAM and Pselectin were also reduced by 50% and 27%, respectively in the MD+ EVOO group (P = 0.04) and P-selectin by 19% in MD+Nuts group (P = 0.04) compared to the low-fat diet group. Conclusions: Adherence to the MD is associated with an increase in serum markers of atheroma plaque stability which may explain, at least in part, the protective role of MD against ischemic heart disease

Random scenarios generation with minimun energy consumption model for sectoring optimization in pressurized irrigation networks using a simulated annealing approach

A pressurized irrigation network may operate in two ways, namely, on demand and organized under operating sectors. In the first case, the user decides when to irrigate, and the pumping station has to meet the discharge and pressure head requirements of the group of users that is demanding water at any time. In the second case, the operating hydrants at a given moment are previously established, which permits identification of scenarios related to lesser energy consumption. In this work, a new model was developed that identifies such scenarios. The optimization process is carried out by means of simulated annealing (SA). The model was applied to an example and the result obtained was compared with the same network operating on demand and sectorized using the criterion of hydrant elevation with respect to the pumping station. The scenario adopted for SA saved 11.8% and 15.5% in energy consumption compared with the two other scenarios, and decreased the installed power requirement by 38.3% and 21.6%, respectively.García Prats, A.; Guillem Picó, S.; Martínez Alzamora, F.; Jiménez Bello, MA. (2012). Random scenarios generation with minimun energy consumption model for sectoring optimization in pressurized irrigation networks using a simulated annealing approach. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 138(7):613-624. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000452S613624138

FAIM-L Is an IAP-Binding Protein That Inhibits XIAP Ubiquitinylation and Protects from Fas-Induced Apoptosis

The neuronal long isoform of Fas Apoptotic Inhibitory Molecule (FAIM-L) protects from death receptor (DR)-induced apoptosis, yet its mechanism of protection remains unknown. Here, we show that FAIM-L protects rat neuronal Type II cells from Fas-induced apoptosis. XIAP has previously emerged as a molecular discriminator that is upregulated in Type II and downregulated in Type I apoptotic signaling. We demonstrate that FAIM-L requires sustained endogenous levels of XIAP to protect Type II cells as well as murine cortical neurons from Fas-induced apoptosis. FAIM-L interacts with the BIR2 domain of XIAP through an IAP-binding motif, the mutation of which impairs the antiapoptotic function of FAIM-L. Finally, we report that FAIM-L inhibits XIAP auto-ubiquitinylation and maintains its stability, thus conferring protection from apoptosis. Our results bring new understanding of the regulation of endogenous XIAP by a DR antagonist, pointing out at FAIM-L as a promising therapeutic tool for protection from apoptosis in pathological situations where XIAP levels are decreased.This work was funded by the Spanish Government Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CB06/05/1104 to J.X.C.), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2010–19953 to J.X.C.; SAF2012–31485 to V.J.Y.), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CP11/00052 to M.F.S.), and the Generalitat de Catalunya (Suport als Grups de Recerca Consolidats 2009SGR346). F.M.-F. and L.P.-F. are supported by postgraduate fellowships from the Spanish Government Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. J.U. is supported by a postgraduate fellowship from the Generalitat de Catalunya. R.S.M. and V.J.Y. were under the Juan de la Cierva and the Ramon y Cajal programs, respectively, from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain), cofinanced by the European Social Fund. M.F.S. is under the Miguel Servet program from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund

Sistema de diálogo multimodal basado en modelos estadísticos

[ES] En este trabajo presentamos un sistema de diálogo multimodal. Además de la multimodalidad de entrada y salida, la principal característica del sistema es que los módulos más importantes están basados en modelos estadísticos.[EN] In this paper, we present a multimodal dialog system. In addition to input and output multimodality, the main feature of the system is that its key modules are based on statistical models.Sanchís Arnal, E.; Hurtado Oliver, LF.; Gómez Adrian, JA.; García Granada, F.; Pastor Pellicer, J.; Planells Lerma, J.; Segarra Soriano, E. (2011). Sistema de diálogo multimodal basado en modelos estadísticos. PROCESAMIENTO DEL LENGUAJE NATURAL. (47):325-326. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/28872S3253264

Preditores de desligamento e mortalidade em ventilação mecânica prolongada - sobrevivendo por sobrevivencia

Objectives: to describe a sample of tracheostomized patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation who were admitted to a weaning center, to analyze their evolution and to determine the predictors of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation and of mortality. Design: an observational and retrospective cohort study was carried out, in the period between January 2005 and December 2017. Setting: weaning and rehabilitation center Patients: all tracheostomized patients requiring mechanical ventilation who were admitted during the study period were included. Of 1027 patients admitted to the respiratory care service, a consecutive sample of 677 patients was analyzed. Main variables of interest: the main variables were mortality and weaning failure from mechanical ventilation. Results: age older than 70 years (OR 1,461 95% CI 1,016-2,099), a cardiovascular history (OR 1,533 95% CI 1,050-2,237), admission due to respiratory disease (OR 1,538 95% CI 1,001-2,364) and presenting more than 105 days of hospitalization (OR 0.408 95% CI 0.261-0.637) were found as predictors of weaning failure. The predictors of mortality were, age over 70 years (OR 2,116 95% CI 1,491-3,004), history of cerebrovascular accident (OR 1,991 95% CI 1,255-3,158), admission to intensive care due to cardiorespiratory arrest (OR 5,821 95% CI 2,193-15,445) and presenting more than 64 days of hospitalization (OR1.63 95% CI 1,116-2,292). Conclusion: The data found in this study manage to describe factors associated with weaning and mortality of patients in a weaning and rehabilitation center.Objetivos: describir una muestra de pacientes traqueostomizados con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica prolongada que ingresaron a un centro de desvinculación, analizar su evolución y determinar los predictores de fracaso de desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica y de mortalidad. Diseño: se realizó un estudio de cohorte observacional y retrospectivo, en el período comprendido entre enero del 2005 y diciembre del 2017. Ámbito: centro de desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica y de rehabilitación. Pacientes: se incluyeron a todos los pacientes traqueostomizados con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica, que ingresaron durante el periodo de estudio. De 1027 pacientes ingresados al servicio de cuidados respiratorios, se analizó una muestra consecutiva de 677 pacientes. Variables de interés principales: las variables principales fueron mortalidad y falla en la desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica. Resultados: Se encontraron como predictores del fracaso de la desvinculación la edad mayor a 70 años (OR 1.461 IC95% 1.016-2.099), tener antecedentes cardiovasculares (OR 1.533 IC95% 1.050-2.237), motivo de ingreso por afección respiratoria (OR 1.538 IC95% 1.001-2.364) y presentar más de 105 días de internación (OR 0.408 IC95% 0.261-0.637). Los predictores de mortalidad fueron, la edad mayor a 70 años (OR 2.116 IC95% 1.491-3.004), tener como antecedente un accidente cerebro-vascular (OR&nbsp; 1.991 IC95% 1.255-3.158), motivo de ingreso a terapia intensiva por paro cardiorrespiratorio (OR 5.821 IC95% 2.193-15.445) y presentar más de 64 días de internación (OR1.63 IC95% 1.116-2.292). Conclusión: Los datos hallados en este estudio logran describir factores asociados a la desvinculación y mortalidad de los pacientes en un centro de desvinculación.Metas: descrever uma amostra de pacientes traqueostomizados com necessidade de ventilação mecânica prolongada que foram admitidos em um centro de dissociação, analisar sua evolução e determinar os preditores de falha no desligamento da ventilação mecânica e mortalidade. Desenho: foi realizado um estudo de coorte observacional e retrospectivo, no período de janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2017.. Local: centro para desligamento da ventilação mecânica e reabilitação. Pacientes: foram incluídos todos os pacientes traqueostomizados com necessidade de ventilação mecânica e internados durante o período do estudo. De 1.027 pacientes admitidos no serviço de assistência respiratória, uma amostra consecutiva de 677 pacientes foi analisada. Principais variáveis ​​de interesse: as principais variáveis ​​foram mortalidade e não desligamento da ventilação mecânica. Resultados: Os preditores de falha de desengajamento foram encontrados em idade acima de 70 anos (OR 1.461 IC 95% 1.016-2.099), com história cardiovascular (OR 1.533 IC 95% 1.050-2.237), motivo de admissão devido a doença respiratória (OR 1.538 95 % CI 1.001 -2.364) e apresentando mais de 105 dias de internação (OR 0,408 IC 95% 0,261-0,637). Os preditores de mortalidade foram idade superior a 70 anos (OR 2.116 IC95% 1.491-3.004), história de acidente vascular encefálico (OR 1.991 IC95% 1.255-3.158), motivo de internação em terapia intensiva por parada cardiorrespiratória (OU 5.821 IC 95% 2.193-15.445) e apresentando mais de 64 dias de internação (OR1,63 IC 95% 1.116-2.292). Conclusão: Os dados encontrados neste estudo são capazes de descrever fatores associados ao desligamento e mortalidade de pacientes internados em um centro de desligamento

Cross-sectional assessment of nut consumption and obesity, metabolic syndrome and other cardiometabolic risk factors: the PREDIMED study

INTRODUCTION: Prospective studies have consistently suggested that nut consumption is inversely related to fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease. Limited data are available on the epidemiological associations between nut intake and cardiometabolic risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between frequency of nut consumption and prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors [obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia] in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 7,210 men and women (mean age, 67 y) recruited into the PREDIMED study. MetS was defined by the harmonized ATPIII and IDF criteria. Diabetes and hypertension were assessed by clinical diagnosis and dyslipidemia (high triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, and hypercholesterolemia) by lipid analyses. Nut consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and categorized as 3 servings/wk. Control of confounding was done with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Compared to participants consuming 3 servings/wk had lower adjusted odds ratios (OR) for obesity (0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 0.68; P-trend <0.001), MetS (0.74, 0.65 to 0.85; P-trend<0.001), and diabetes (0.87, 0.78 to 0.99; P-trend = 0.043). Higher nut consumption was also associated with lower risk of the abdominal obesity MetS criterion (OR 0.68, 0.60 to 0.79; P-trend<0.001). No significant associations were observed for the MetS components high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or elevated fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Nut consumption was inversely associated with the prevalence of general obesity, central obesity, MetS, and diabetes in subjects at high cardiovascular risk

Oxidative stress is associated with an increased antioxidant defense in elderly subjects: a multilevel approach.

BACKGROUND: Studies of associations between plasma GSH-Px activity and cardiovascular risk factors have been done in humans, and contradictory results have been reported. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the scavenger antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma and the presence of novel and classical cardiovascular risk factors in elderly patients. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with baseline data from a subsample of the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study in Spain. Participants were 1,060 asymptomatic subjects at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), aged 55 to 80, selected from 8 primary health care centers (PHCCs). We assessed classical CVD risk factors, plasma oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) using multilevel statistical procedures. RESULTS: Mean GSH-Px value was 612 U/L (SE: 12 U/L), with variation between PHCCs ranging from 549 to 674 U/L (Variance =  013.5; P<0.001). Between-participants variability within a PHCC accounted for 89% of the total variation. Both glucose and oxidized LDL were positively associated with GSH-Px activity after adjustment for possible confounder variables (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a population at high cardiovascular risk, a positive linear association was observed between plasma GSH-Px activity and both glucose and ox-LDL levels. The high GSH-Px activity observed when an oxidative stress situation occurred, such as hyperglycemia and lipid oxidative damage, could be interpreted as a healthy defensive response against oxidative injury in our cardiovascular risk population

Mediterranean dietary pattern and depression: the PREDIMED randomized trial

Background: A few observational studies have found an inverse association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the risk of depression. Randomized trials with an intervention based on this dietary pattern could provide the most definitive answer to the findings reported by observational studies. The aim of this study was to compare in a randomized trial the effects of two Mediterranean diets versus a low-fat diet on depression risk after at least 3 years of intervention. Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, primary prevention field trial of cardiovascular disease (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED Study)) based on community-dwelling men aged 55 to 80 years and women aged 60 to 80 years at high risk of cardiovascular disease (51% of them had type 2 diabetes; DM2) attending primary care centers affiliated with 11 Spanish teaching hospitals. Primary analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Cox regression models were used to assess the relationship between the nutritional intervention groups and the incidence of depression. Results: We identified 224 new cases of depression during follow-up. There was an inverse association with depression for participants assigned to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts (multivariate hazard ratio (HR) 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55 to 1.10) compared with participants assigned to the control group, although this was not significant. However, when the analysis was restricted to participants with DM2, the magnitude of the effect of the intervention with the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts did reach statistical significance (multivariate HR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.98). Conclusions: The result suggest that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts could exert a beneficial effect on the risk of depression in patients with DM2