Predicting performance in team games: The automatic coach

This is an electronic version of the paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence, held in Rome on 2011A wide range of modern videogames involves a number of players collaborating to obtain a common goal. The way the players are teamed up is usually based on a measure of performance that makes players with a similar level of performance play together. We propose a novel technique based on clustering over observed behaviour in the game that seeks to exploit the particular way of playing of every player to find other players with a gameplay such that in combination will constitute a good team, in a similar way to a human coach. This paper describes the preliminary results using these techniques for the characterization of player and team behaviours. Experiments are performed in the domain of Soccerbots.This work has been partly supported by: Spanish Ministry of Science and Education under grant TIN2009-13692-C03-03, TIN2010-19872 and Spanish Ministry of Industry under grant TSI, 020110- 2009-205

An experimental evaluation of the incidence of fitness-function/search-algorithm combinations on the classification performance of myoelectric control systems with iPCA tuning

BACKGROUND: The information of electromyographic signals can be used by Myoelectric Control Systems (MCSs) to actuate prostheses. These devices allow the performing of movements that cannot be carried out by persons with amputated limbs. The state of the art in the development of MCSs is based on the use of individual principal component analysis (iPCA) as a stage of pre-processing of the classifiers. The iPCA pre-processing implies an optimization stage which has not yet been deeply explored. METHODS: The present study considers two factors in the iPCA stage: namely A (the fitness function), and B (the search algorithm). The A factor comprises two levels, namely A(1) (the classification error) and A(2) (the correlation factor). Otherwise, the B factor has four levels, specifically B(1) (the Sequential Forward Selection, SFS), B(2) (the Sequential Floating Forward Selection, SFFS), B(3) (Artificial Bee Colony, ABC), and B(4) (Particle Swarm Optimization, PSO). This work evaluates the incidence of each one of the eight possible combinations between A and B factors over the classification error of the MCS. RESULTS: A two factor ANOVA was performed on the computed classification errors and determined that: (1) the interactive effects over the classification error are not significative (F(0.01,3,72) = 4.0659 > f( AB ) = 0.09), (2) the levels of factor A have significative effects on the classification error (F(0.02,1,72) = 5.0162 < f( A ) = 6.56), and (3) the levels of factor B over the classification error are not significative (F(0.01,3,72) = 4.0659 > f( B ) = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the classification performance we found a superiority of using the factor A(2) in combination with any of the levels of factor B. With respect to the time performance the analysis suggests that the PSO algorithm is at least 14 percent better than its best competitor. The latter behavior has been observed for a particular configuration set of parameters in the search algorithms. Future works will investigate the effect of these parameters in the classification performance, such as length of the reduced size vector, number of particles and bees used during optimal search, the cognitive parameters in the PSO algorithm as well as the limit of cycles to improve a solution in the ABC algorithm

Optimal Timing for Cardiac Surgery in Infective Endocarditis with Neurological Complications: A Narrative Review

In patients with infective endocarditis and neurological complications, the optimal timing for cardiac surgery is unclear due to the varied risk of clinical deterioration when early surgery is performed. The aim of this review is to summarize the best evidence on the optimal timing for cardiac surgery in the presence of each type of neurological complication. An English literature search was carried out from June 2018 through July 2022. The resulting selection, comprising observational studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews and society guidelines, was organized into four sections according to the four groups of neurological complications: ischemic, hemorrhagic, infectious, and asymptomatic complications. Cardiac surgery could be performed without delay in cases of ischemic vascular neurological complication (provided the absence of severe damage, which can be avoided with the performance of mechanical thrombectomy in cases of major stroke), as well as infectious or asymptomatic complications. In the presence of intracranial hemorrhage, a delay of four weeks is recommended for most cases, although recent studies have suggested that performing cardiac surgery within four weeks could be a suitable option for selected cases. The findings of this review are mostly in line with the recommendations of the current European and American infective endocarditis guidelines

Descripción de los hallazgos histopatológicos en la terapia inicial del cáncer de tiroides en un centro de referencia en Bucaramanga, Colombia

Objetivo: Establecer la frecuencia de las características histopatológicas de los pacientes llevados a tiroidectomía con diagnóstico definitivo de tumor maligno de tiroides. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal, retrospectivo, realizado en un laboratorio de patología de la clínica Carlos Ardila Lülle (FOSCAL) en Bucaramanga, Colombia, donde se recopilaron los reportes de patología de los pacientes intervenidos por el servicio de cirugía, con diagnóstico de carcinoma de tiroides en el periodo comprendido entre 2001 y 2013. Resultados: Del total de 268 piezas quirúrgicas evaluadas, se encontraron 247 casos de carcinoma papilar, seguido de 16 registros de carcinoma folicular, 5 de carcinoma medular, 5 de carcinoma anaplásico y un solo caso de linfoma de tiroides. Los pacientes mayores de 45 años presentaron mayor compromiso de la cápsula y del tejido peritiroideo. De acuerdo con la guía latinoamericana para el manejo del cáncer de tiroides, 79,4% de los pacientes tenían al menos una característica de alto riesgo de recurrencia. Conclusión: La proporción del cáncer de tiroides en relación con el tipo de tumor, la variante histológica y la frecuencia de aparición por sexo en la población estudiada mantiene un comportamiento similar a la descrita en la literatura internacional. Sin embargo, es llamativo que la gran mayoría de los casos estudiados tienen riesgo alto de recurrencia luego de la terapia inicial. Abstract Objective: To establish the frequency of the histopathological characteristics in patients undergoing thyroidectomy with a final diagnosis of malignant thyroid tumor. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective, cross sectional, descriptive and observational study conducted at Clínica Carlos Ardila Lülle (FOSCAL) in Bucaramanga, Colombia where pathology reports were collected from patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma between 2001 and 2013. Results: Of the total 268 surgical specimens examined, 247 corresponded to papillary carcinoma, followed by 16 specimens of follicular carcinoma, 5 of medullary carcinoma, 5 of anaplastic carcinoma and only one thyroid lymphoma. Patients over 45 years of age showed a greater involvement of the thyroid capsule and perithyroid tissue. According to the Latin American guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer, 79.4% of patients had at least one feature for high risk of recurrence. Conclusions: The incidence of thyroid cancer per type of tumor, histologic variant, and gender distribution in the studied population is consistent with the international literature. Nevertheless, the observation that the vast majority of the cases studied present with a high risk of recurrence after initial treatment is intriguing

Real-world evidence of brexucabtagene autoleucel for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma

Altres ajuts: Beca PERIS 2018-2020 de la Generalitat de Catalunya (BDNS357800

Leveraging natural history biorepositories as a global, decentralized, pathogen surveillance network

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic reveals a major gap in global biosecurity infrastructure: a lack of publicly available biological samples representative across space, time, and taxonomic diversity. The shortfall, in this case for vertebrates, prevents accurate and rapid identification and monitoring of emerging pathogens and their reservoir host(s) and precludes extended investigation of ecological, evolutionary, and environmental associations that lead to human infection or spillover. Natural history museum biorepositories form the backbone of a critically needed, decentralized, global network for zoonotic pathogen surveillance, yet this infrastructure remains marginally developed, underutilized, underfunded, and disconnected from public health initiatives. Proactive detection and mitigation for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) requires expanded biodiversity infrastructure and training (particularly in biodiverse and lower income countries) and new communication pipelines that connect biorepositories and biomedical communities. To this end, we highlight a novel adaptation of Project ECHO’s virtual community of practice model: Museums and Emerging Pathogens in the Americas (MEPA). MEPA is a virtual network aimed at fostering communication, coordination, and collaborative problem-solving among pathogen researchers, public health officials, and biorepositories in the Americas. MEPA now acts as a model of effective international, interdisciplinary collaboration that can and should be replicated in other biodiversity hotspots. We encourage deposition of wildlife specimens and associated data with public biorepositories, regardless of original collection purpose, and urge biorepositories to embrace new specimen sources, types, and uses to maximize strategic growth and utility for EID research. Taxonomically, geographically, and temporally deep biorepository archives serve as the foundation of a proactive and increasingly predictive approach to zoonotic spillover, risk assessment, and threat mitigation

Universidad y sociedad: la psicología aprendida mediante colaboraciones

Este material está dirigido tanto a investigadores como a profesores y estudiantes que tengan el interés de aprender nuevas formas de relacionarse para intervenir, en colaboración, en diferentes espacios sociales y realidades problemáticas. También puede resultar de interés para los directivos de instituciones públicas, privadas y organizaciones no gubernamentales que tengan a su cargo programas de intervención social, así como a luchadoras y luchadores sociales que busquen formas de organizarse para transformar situaciones particulares de vulnerabilidad. En estas páginas hay una invitación a formar universitarias y universitarios a partir de su intervención en problemáticas y escenarios vivos, a reconocer el saber colectivo de los otros que están insertos en diferentes situaciones y aprender que el conocimiento se genera a partir del vínculo y la colaboración con la diversidad.ITESO. A.C

Genetic Footprints of Iberian Cattle in America 500 Years after the Arrival of Columbus

Background: American Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, andmay have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources. Methodology/Principal Findings: We sampled 27 Creole populations, 39 Iberian, 9 European and 6 Zebu breeds. We used microsatellite markers to assess the origins of Creole cattle, and to investigate the influence of different breeds on their genetic make-up. The major ancestral contributions are from breeds of southern Spain and Portugal, in agreement with the historical ports of departure of ships sailing towards the Western Hemisphere. This Iberian contribution to Creoles may also include some African influence, given the influential role that African cattle have had in the development of Iberian breeds, but the possibility of a direct influence on Creoles of African cattle imported to America can not be discarded. In addition to the Iberian influence, the admixture with other European breeds was minor. The Creoles from tropical areas, especially those from the Caribbean, show clear signs of admixture with Zebu. Conclusions/Significance: Nearly five centuries since cattle were first brought to the Americas, Creoles still show a strong and predominant signature of their Iberian ancestors. Creole breeds differ widely from each other, both in genetic structure and influences from other breeds. Efforts are needed to avoid their extinction or further genetic erosion, which would compromise centuries of selective adaptation to a wide range of environmental condition

Plasma Membrane Integrity and Survival of Melanoma Cells After Nanosecond Laser Pulses

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) photoacoustic detection systems can aid clinical decision-making in the treatment of cancer. Interaction of melanin within melanoma cells with nanosecond laser pulses generates photoacoustic waves that make its detection possible. This study aims at: (1) determining melanoma cell survival after laser pulses of 6 ns at λ = 355 and 532 nm; (2) comparing the potential enhancement in the photoacoustic signal using λ = 355 nm in contrast with λ = 532 nm; (3) determining the critical laser fluence at which melanin begins to leak out from melanoma cells; and (4) developing a time-resolved imaging (TRI) system to study the intracellular interactions and their effect on the plasma membrane integrity. Monolayers of melanoma cells were grown on tissue culture-treated clusters and irradiated with up to 1.0 J/cm2. Surviving cells were stained with trypan blue and counted using a hemacytometer. The phosphate buffered saline absorbance was measured with a nanodrop spectrophotometer to detect melanin leakage from the melanoma cells post-laser irradiation. Photoacoustic signal magnitude was studied at both wavelengths using piezoelectric sensors. TRI with 6 ns resolution was used to image plasma membrane damage. Cell survival decreased proportionally with increasing laser fluence for both wavelengths, although the decrease is more pronounced for 355 nm radiation than for 532 nm. It was found that melanin leaks from cells equally for both wavelengths. No significant difference in photoacoustic signal was found between wavelengths. TRI showed clear damage to plasma membrane due to laser-induced bubble formation

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Clave preliminar de las escamas de los peces de agua dulce de España, a nivel de familiaExito reproductor del Buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus) en NavarraAlimentación del Gavilán (Accipiter nisus) en la Isla de TenerifeEl Verdecillo (Serinus serinus): Tendencias en la estación de nidificación, en el tamaño del huevo y en la supervivencia.las batidas como método de censo en especiesde caza mayor: aplicación al caso del Jabalí (Sus scrofa L.) en la provincia de Burgos (Norte de España)La adquisición de madurez sexual en el camaleón común (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)Nuevas citas de Hemidactylus turcicus en la provincia de CáceresLa focha común (Fulica atra) en la isla de Gran Canaria: nueva especie nidificante en el archipiélago CanarioTraslado de huevos en incubación por la urraca (Pica pica)Predación de Falco peregrinus sobre Oryctolagus cuniculusCuatro nuevas especies de aves para Bolivia.Sobre la utilización de nidos de golondrina común abandonados.Parasitismo múltiple del críalo (Clamator glandarius)Predación del topo de rio (Galemys pyrenaicus, Geoffroy 1811) por parte de la lechuza común (Tyto alba, Scopoli 1769)Predación del zorro (Vulpes vulpes) sobre un pollo de buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus).Vulpes vulpes L. criando en una colonia de marmota (Marmota marmota L.) en el pirineo de LéridaObservaciones sobre la incidencia de Rattus (Fischer, 1803) en los cultivos ibéricos de caña de azúcaSituación actual de la jutiita de la tierra Capromys sanfelipensis (Rodentia, Mammalia)Notas sobre la intraducción y expansión de la ardilla común en Sierra Nevada, sureste de EspañaPeer reviewe