Interpretable Spectral Variational AutoEncoder (ISVAE) for time series clustering

The best encoding is the one that is interpretable in nature. In this work, we introduce a novel model that incorporates an interpretable bottleneck-termed the Filter Bank (FB)-at the outset of a Variational Autoencoder (VAE). This arrangement compels the VAE to attend on the most informative segments of the input signal, fostering the learning of a novel encoding ${f_0}$ which boasts enhanced interpretability and clusterability over traditional latent spaces. By deliberately constraining the VAE with this FB, we intentionally constrict its capacity to access broad input domain information, promoting the development of an encoding that is discernible, separable, and of reduced dimensionality. The evolutionary learning trajectory of ${f_0}$ further manifests as a dynamic hierarchical tree, offering profound insights into cluster similarities. Additionally, for handling intricate data configurations, we propose a tailored decoder structure that is symmetrically aligned with FB's architecture. Empirical evaluations highlight the superior efficacy of ISVAE, which compares favorably to state-of-the-art results in clustering metrics across real-world datasets

Representações sociais sobre educação ambiental num contexto rural

Social representations (SR) on environmental education (EE) reveal knowledge, imaginaries, cosmovisions and ways of seeing and facing educational processes in contexts characterized by natural, social, and cultural dynamics framed in a common time and space. Thus, this article analyzes the SR on EE of ten teachers from a rural educational institution. The methodology is framed within the interpretative paradigm and the qualitative approach. The results show that SR on EE are naturalistic, globalizing, anthropocentric, ethical-moral, and resolutive. A direct connection has also been observed between the area of training of the teacher and the time of interaction with the context. Likewise, since teachers only have experience in disciplinary areas, they do not mobilize interdisciplinary actions in favor of guiding a relevant EE, which makes it necessary to establish permanent training processes for teachers with a praxical, critical, and emancipatory vision on local environmental problems and the importance of EE in rural contexts.Las representaciones sociales (RS) sobre educación ambiental (EA) revelan saberes, imaginarios, cosmovisiones y formas de ver y de afrontar procesos educativos en contextos caracterizados por dinámicas naturales, sociales y culturales enmarcadas en un tiempo y un espacio comunes. Así, el presente artículo analiza las RS sobre EA de diez docentes de una institución educativa rural. La metodología se enmarca en el paradigma interpretativo y el enfoque cualitativo. Como resultados se encuentran RS sobre EA naturalistas, globalizantes, antropocéntricas, ético-morales y resolutivas. También se ha observado una relación directa entre el área de formación del docente y el tiempo de interacción con el contexto. Así mismo, ya que los docentes tienen solamente experiencia en áreas disciplinares, no movilizan acciones interdisciplinarias en pro de orientar una EA pertinente, ante lo cual es necesario establecer procesos de formación permanente de docentes con una visión práxica, crítica y emancipadora sobre las problemáticas ambientales locales y la importancia de la EA en contextos rurales.As representações sociais (RS) sobre educação ambiental (EA) revelam saberes, imaginários, cosmovisões e formas de ver e encarar processos educacionais em contextos caracterizados por dinâmicas naturais, sociais e culturais enquadradas num tempo e num espaço comum. Assim, este artigo analisa as RS sobre EA de dez professores de uma instituição de ensino rural. A metodologia é enquadrada no paradigma interpretativo e na abordagem qualitativa. Os resultados mostram que as RS sobre EA são naturalistas, globalizantes, antropocêntricas, ético-morais e resolutivas. Também foi observada uma relação direta entre a área de formação do professor e o tempo de interação com o contexto. Da mesma forma, como os professores só têm experiência em áreas disciplinares, eles não mobilizam ações interdisciplinares em favor de orientar uma EA pertinente, o que torna necessário estabelecer processos permanentes de formação de professores com uma visão práxica, crítica e emancipatória sobre a problemática ambiental local e a importância da EA nos contextos rurais

Thermal Analysis by Finite Elements of Hotends for 3D Printing by Fused Filament Fabrication

Nowadays, 3D printing Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) currently presents obstacles to achieve high printing speeds, mainly due to the inability of the hotend to process the filament fast enough. This article presents the results of the thermodynamic flow analysis carried out on commercial designs of hotends, in the aim intending to identify the design parameters with a higher incidence in the mass flow of material output, so therefore, in the speed and quality of printing. Finite elements thermal analysis was carried out performed in order to characterize the effect of the materials and geometric design elements of the hotends. In this analysis the behavior of the commercial, the commercial melters' behavior and the effects caused by the changes in geometry and materials were obtained. The control variables were the chamber volume and the glass transition volume of each model. These results will be used as the design criteria of a new hotend

Clasificación de patologías presentes en la columna vertebral mediante técnicas de máquinas de aprendizaje

Introduction: This paper shows the result of research entitled “Study of pathologies present in vertebral column using artificial Intelligence Techniques as support of diagnostic processes”, developed in University of Valle between the years 2016 and 2017. Problem: Studies and analyzes that are carried out on the health conditions of human beings are often invasive, which leads to greater issues. Objective: To provide a method of study from biomechanical attributes of human beings for the detection of pathologies present in vertebral column. Methodology: The study was based on testing three pattern recognition techniques, Bayes as a classic recognition technique, and intelligent techniques such as Radial Basis Functions Neural Networks (rbf), Support Vector Machines (svm) and Probabilistic Neural Networks (pnn). Results: During the classification process of the pathologies to study, the best results were obtained using pnn, while the other ones presented good classification results for a particular pathology. Conclusion: It was proven that study techniques contributes important characteristics to diagnosis processes of pathologies present in the vertebral column, such as disk hernia and spondylolisthesis. Originality: This study was carried out with information from real patients, providing study techniques and important results on the diagnosis of vertebral column pathologies.  Limitations: The study of vertebral column pathologies requires more information about the biomechanical attributes of human beings.Introducción: el artículo es resultado de la investigación “Estudio de patologías presentes en la columna vertebral empleando técnicas de inteligencia artificial como apoyo a los procesos de diagnóstico”, desarrollada en la Universidad del Valle entre 2016 y 2017. Problema: con frecuencia, los estudios y análisis que a menudo se realizan a las afecciones de salud en seres humanos con frecuencia son invasivos, lo cual conlleva problemas mayores. Objetivo: aportar un método de estudio a partir de los atributos biomecánicos de seres humanos para la detección de patologías que se presentan en la columna vertebral. Metodología: el trabajo se fundamentó en probar tres técnicas de reconocimiento de patrones; Bayes como técnica clásica de reconocimiento; y técnicas inteligentes como las redes neuronales de base radial (rbf), máquinas de soporte vectorial (svm) y redes neuronales probabilísticas (pnn). Resultados: durante el proceso de clasificación de las patologías a tratar, la que mejores resultados aportó fue la técnica de pnn, mientras que las demás presentaron buenos resultados de clasificación para una patología en particular. Conclusión: se comprobó que la aplicación de estas técnicas de estudio aporta características importantes a los procesos de diagnóstico de patologías presentes en la columna vertebral, tales como hernia discal y espondilolistesis. Originalidad: este trabajo se realizó con información de pacientes reales, y presenta técnicas de estudio y resultados importantes sobre el diagnóstico de patologías de columna vertebral. Limitaciones: el estudio de patologías de columna vertebral requiere tener más información sobre los atributos biomecánicos de los seres humanos

Modificación de la curva de compresibilidad de un suelo arcilloso blando por medio de nano-sílice

En este trabajo se muestra la modificación de una curva de compresibilidad, la cual es de suma importancia para el cálculo de asentamientos de estructuras desplantadas en suelos blandos, realizada en un suelo arcilloso del Valle de México, mediante la adición de nano-sílice en diferentes porcentajes. El método llevado a cabo fue mediante el ensayo de consolidación unidimensional en una muestra natural y en otras dos mejoradas con nanosustancia, así como el empleo del microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB) con el objeto de poder observar el reacomodo interno de las partículas de arcilla y el efecto que provoca la nanosustancia en los espacios vacíos del suelo, lo cual mostró un suelo menos permeable y por lo tanto menos compresible.This work shows the modification of a compressibility curve, which is of utmost importance for the calculation of settlements of displaced structures in soft soils, carried out in a clay soil of the Valley of Mexico, by adding nano-silica in different percentages The method carried out was through the one-dimensional consolidation test in a natural sample and in two others improved with nanosustance, as well as the use of scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to observe the internal rearrangement of clay particles and the effect caused by nanosustance in the empty spaces of the soil, which showed a less permeable and therefore less compressible soil

Influence of the menstrual cycle on physical and cognitive performance in eumenorrheic women.

Introduction: The female sexual hormones typical of the menstrual cycle not only have reproductive functions, they also influence other physiological systems and can affect sports and cognitive performance. The purpose of this study has been to evaluate different aspects such as body composition, endurance, muscle strength and some cognitive abilities at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Material and method: Eight young eumenorrheic women (age = 23.1 ± 4.4 years) with regular menstrual cycles participated in the study. A densitometry and bioimpedance test were performed to study body composition, a short-term visual memory test and a reaction time test to assess cognitive abilities, and muscle characteristics (thickness and stiffness of the anterior rectus and muscle strength) along with a progressive test to exhaustion were analyzed to assess performance during the mid-follicular (FF) and mid-luteal (FL) phases of the participants’ menstrual cycle. Results: During the follicular phase, the participants registered a greater total time (FF = 488.5 ± 93.18 s vs. FL = 468.6 ± 81.29 s; P = 0.015) and a lower initial heart rate (FF = 83.3 ± 10.23 PPM vs. FL = 92.9 ± 7.67 PPM; P = 0.034) in the progressive test to exhaustion. Regarding cognitive abilities, in the follicular phase, better results were obtained in reaction time both with the right hand (FF = 0.426 ± 0.082 s vs. FL = 0.453 ± 0.087 s; P = 0.036) and with the left hand (FF = 0.435 ± 0.096 s vs. FL = 0.466 ± 0.077 s; P = 0.034). On the other hand, a higher percentage of fat (FF = 27.3 ± 5.1% vs. FL = 27.9 ± 5.0%; P = 0.041) was found in the luteal phase. Conclusion: Performance in endurance and in cognitive test, such as reaction time was better in the Follicular Phase, while a higher percentage of fat was observed in the Luteal Phase. However, memory, strength and muscular characteristics were not affected by the hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.post-print337 K

Sprint performance and mechanical outputs computed with an iPhone app: Comparison with existing reference methods

The purpose of this study was to assess validity and reliability of sprint performance outcomes measured with an iPhone application (named: MySprint) and existing field methods (i.e. timing photocells and radar gun). To do this, 12 highly trained male sprinters performed 6 maximal 40-m sprints during a single session which were simultaneously timed using 7 pairs of timing photocells, a radar gun and a newly developed iPhone app based on high-speed video recording. Several split times as well as mechanical outputs computed from the model proposed by Samozino et al. [(2015). A simple method for measuring power, force, velocity properties, and mechanical effectiveness in sprint running. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12490] were then measured by each system, and values were compared for validity and reliability purposes. First, there was an almost perfect correlation between the values of time for each split of the 40-m sprint measured with MySprint and the timing photocells (r = 0.989–0.999, standard error of estimate = 0.007–0.015 s, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 1.0). Second, almost perfect associations were observed for the maximal theoretical horizontal force (F0), the maximal theoretical velocity (V0), the maximal power (Pmax) and the mechanical effectiveness (DRF – decrease in the ratio of force over acceleration) measured with the app and the radar gun (r = 0.974–0.999, ICC = 0.987–1.00). Finally, when analysing the performance outputs of the six different sprints of each athlete, almost identical levels of reliability were observed as revealed by the coefficient of variation (MySprint: CV = 0.027–0.14%; reference systems: CV = 0.028–0.11%). Results on the present study showed that sprint performance can be evaluated in a valid and reliable way using a novel iPhone app.Actividad Física y Deport