On Hamiltonian alternating cycles and paths

We undertake a study on computing Hamiltonian alternating cycles and paths on bicolored point sets. This has been an intensively studied problem, not always with a solution, when the paths and cycles are also required to be plane. In this paper, we relax the constraint on the cycles and paths from being plane to being 1-plane, and deal with the same type of questions as those for the plane case, obtaining a remarkable variety of results. For point sets in general position, our main result is that it is always possible to obtain a 1-plane Hamiltonian alternating cycle. When the point set is in convex position, we prove that every Hamiltonian alternating cycle with minimum number of crossings is 1-plane, and provide O(n) and O(n2) time algorithms for computing, respectively, Hamiltonian alternating cycles and paths with minimum number of crossings.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Explainable automatic industrial carbon footprint estimation from bank transaction classification using natural language processing

Concerns about the effect of greenhouse gases have motivated the development of certification protocols to quantify the industrial carbon footprint (cf). These protocols are manual, work-intensive, and expensive. All of the above have led to a shift towards automatic data-driven approaches to estimate the cf, including Machine Learning (ml) solutions. Unfortunately, as in other sectors of interest, the decision-making processes involved in these solutions lack transparency from the end user’s point of view, who must blindly trust their outcomes compared to intelligible traditional manual approaches. In this research, manual and automatic methodologies for cf estimation were reviewed, taking into account their transparency limitations. This analysis led to the proposal of a new explainable ml solution for automatic cf calculations through bank transaction classification. Consideration should be given to the fact that no previous research has considered the explainability of bank transaction classification for this purpose. For classification, different ml models have been employed based on their promising performance in similar problems in the literature, such as Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Recursive Neural Networks. The results obtained were in the 90 % range for accuracy, precision, and recall evaluation metrics. From their decision paths, the proposed solution estimates the co2 emissions associated with bank transactions. The explainability methodology is based on an agnostic evaluation of the influence of the input terms extracted from the descriptions of transactions using locally interpretable models. The explainability terms were automatically validated using a similarity metric over the descriptions of the target categories. Conclusively, the explanation performance is satisfactory in terms of the proximity of the explanations to the associated activity sector descriptions, endorsing the trustworthiness of the process for a human operator and end users.Xunta de Galicia, Spain | Ref. ED481B-2021-118Xunta de Galicia, Spain | Ref. ED481B-2022-093Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial | Ref. EXP00146826/IDI-2022029

Demographic market segmentation on short banking movement descriptions applying Natural Language Processing

Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2018/05

Optimización bayesiana multisolución para la exploración eficiente de agarres robóticos

[Resumen] El uso de brazos robóticos con agarre de tipo mano permite automatizar tareas previamente realizadas por humanos, minimizando la necesidad de acondicionar el entorno al brazo robótico. Esto es debido a la destreza y capacidad de manipulación que otorgan este tipo de agarres. Su aplicación es evidente: desde permitir un mayor grado de automatización en procesos industriales a incrementar la capacidad motriz de personas con discapacidades mediante sistemas asistenciales. No obstante, estas aplicaciones requieren con frecuencia manipular objetos previamente desconocidos, lo que en la práctica conlleva un sobre-coste elevado para reconfigurar y reprogramar el agarre del robot al nuevo objeto. A pesar de la existencia de simuladores que nos permite de manera eficiente evaluar y verificar que la configuración es válida para el agarre, automatizar la identificación del agarre sigue siendo un aspecto desafiante de la robótica. Por otro lado, en función de la tarea a realizar es posible que el agarre óptimo pueda impedir la manipulación, es por tanto necesario que el sistema sea multisolución, es decir, sea capaz de encontrar múltiples agarres alternativos lo suficientemente viables. En este trabajo se abordará la identificación automática de múltiples agarres para un objeto previamente desconocido mediante el uso de aprendizaje automático. Para ello, se evaluará en un simulador robótico una aproximación de prueba y error basada en la optimización bayesiana multisolución, la variante multisolución de un método de optimización global de caja negra

Leadless pacemaker implantation with hybrid image mapping technique in a congenital heart disease case

Sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) is an interatrial communication caused by a deficiency of the common wall between the superior vena cava and the right-sided pulmonary veins. Implantation of a conventional pacemaker in this setting can be challenging. We report the feasibility of leadless pacemaker (LPM) implantation assisted by imaging integration and electroanatomical mappingS

Time discrimination and change detection could share a common brain network: findings of a task-based fMRI study

IntroductionOver the past few years, several studies have described the brain activation pattern related to both time discrimination (TD) and change detection processes. We hypothesize that both processes share a common brain network which may play a significant role in more complex cognitive processes. The main goal of this proof-of-concept study is to describe the pattern of brain activity involved in TD and oddball detection (OD) paradigms, and in processes requiring higher cognitive effort.MethodsWe designed an experimental task, including an auditory test tool to assess TD and OD paradigms, which was conducted under functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 14 healthy participants. We added a cognitive control component into both paradigms in our test tool. We used the general linear model (GLM) to analyze the individual fMRI data images and the random effects model for group inference.ResultsWe defined the areas of brain activation related to TD and OD paradigms. We performed a conjunction analysis of contrast TD (task > control) and OD (task > control) patterns, finding both similarities and significant differences between them.DiscussionWe conclude that change detection and other cognitive processes requiring an increase in cognitive effort require participation of overlapping functional and neuroanatomical components, suggesting the presence of a common time and change detection network. This is of particular relevance for future research on normal cognitive functioning in the healthy population, as well as for the study of cognitive impairment and clinical manifestations associated with various neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia

Differences in the Clinical Profile and Management of Atrial Fibrillation According to Gender. Results of the REgistro GallEgo Intercéntrico de Fibrilación Auricular (REGUEIFA) Trial

[Abstract] To analyze the clinical profile and therapeutic strategy in atrial fibrillation (AF) according to gender in a contemporaneous patient cohort a prospective, multicenter observational study was performed on consecutive patients diagnosed with AF and assessed by cardiology units in the region of Galicia (Spain). A total of 1007 patients were included, of which 32.3% were women. The mean age of the women was significantly greater than that of the men (71.6 versus 65.7 years; p < 0.001), with a higher prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and valve disease. Women more often reported symptoms related to arrhythmia (28.2% in EHRA class I versus 36.4% in men), with a poorer level of symptoms (EHRA classes IIb and III). Thromboembolic risk was significantly higher among women (CHA2DS2-VASc 3 ± 1.3 versus 2 ± 1.5), in the same way as bleeding risk (HAS-BLED 0.83 ± 0.78 versus 0.64 ± 0.78) (p < 0.001), and women more often received anticoagulation therapy (94.1% versus 87.6%; p = 0.001). Rhythm control strategies proved significantly less frequent in women (55.8% versus 66.6%; p = 0.001), with a lesser electrical cardioversion (ECV) rate (18.4% versus 27.3%; p = 0.002). Perceived health status was poorer in women. Women were older and presented greater comorbidity than men, with a greater thromboembolic and bleeding risk. Likewise, rhythm control strategies were less frequent than in men, despite the fact that women had poorer perceived quality of life and were more symptomatic

Long-term cardiac reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy

Introduction: The benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have been observed in the first year. However, there are few data on long-term follow-up and the effect of changes of LVEF on mortality. This study aimed to assess the LV remodeling after CRT implantation and the probable effect of changes in LVEF with repeated measures on mortality over time in a real-world registry. Methods: Among our cohort of 328 consecutive CRT patients, mixed model effect analysis have been made to describe the temporal evolution of LVEF and LVESV changes over time up with several explanatory variables. Besides, the effect of LVEF along time on the probability of mortality was evaluated using joint modeling for longitudinal and survival data. Results: The study population included 328 patients (253 men; 70.2 ± 9.5 years) in 4.2 (2.9) years follow-up. There was an increase in LVEF of 11% and a reduction in LVESV of 42 mL during the first year. These changes are more important during the first year, but slight changes remain during the follow-up. The largest reduction in LVESV occurred in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and the smallest reduction in patients with NYHA IV. The smallest increase in LVEF was an ischemic etiology, longer QRS, and LV electrode in a nonlateral vein. Besides, the results showed that the LVEF profiles taken during follow-up after CRT were associated with changes in the risk of death. Conclusion: Reverse remodeling of the left ventricle is observed especially during the first year, but it seems to be maintained later after CRT implantation in a contemporary cohort of patients. Longitudinal measurements could give us additional information at predicting the individual mortality risk after adjusting by age and sex compared to a single LVEF measurement after CRTS

Neuromodulatory Approaches for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

In this review, the authors describe evolving alternative strategies for the management of AF, focusing on non-invasive and percutaneous autonomic modulation. This modulation can be achieved – among other approaches – via tragus stimulation, renal denervation, cardiac afferent denervation, alcohol injection in the vein of Marshall, baroreceptor activation therapy and endocardial ganglionated plexi ablation. Although promising, these therapies are currently under investigation but could play a role in the treatment of AF in combination with conventional pulmonary vein isolation in the near future