“Buffets” as a learning experience in the subject of Statistics

[EN] Presentation of the experience in the subject of Theoretical Statistics in Business Administration degree. The philosophy is to offer a variety of resources and activities and each student chooses, according to their needs and preferences, their formation itinerary. In this approach there are few mandatory activities and each student decides how to get organized. The Moodle platform allows us to track what each student does throughout the course and how many times they have consulted the resources offered. From this information it is intended to assess what is the relationship between the use of these resources and the learning outcomes. In this sense, this experience shows us that three different types of students can be identified with regards to the use of the resources placed at their disposal: A first group of students with little interest that do not make use of the resources, a second group that use the resources but with little advantage, and a third group that devotes time and effort in using the materials. By analyzing the academic results of these three groups, it is observed that students in the third group are those with a higher grades. This experience leads us to an important reflection, it is not sufficient to make the materials available to students, no matter how good these are and it is not enough that the students access them. The key is to propose activities that make them work and reflect on the materials.[ES] Se presenta una experiencia en la asignatura Estadística Teórica en el grado de Administración de Empresas. La filosofía parte de ofrecer una gran variedad de recursos y actividades que cada alumno elige en función de sus necesidades y preferencias en su itinerario formativo. En este planteamiento hay pocas actividades obligatorias y cada estudiante decide cómo organizarse. La plataforma Moodle permite hacer un seguimiento de lo que hace cada alumno a lo largo del curso y de las veces que han consultado los recursos ofrecidos. A partir de esta información se pretende valorar qué relación hay entre la utilización de dichos recursos y los resultados de aprendizaje obtenidos. En este sentido, esta experiencia nos muestra que son identificables tres tipos diferentes de estudiantes en lo que se refiere al uso de los recursos: un primer grupo de alumnos poco interesados que no hacen uso de los recursos, un segundo grupo que sí los utilizan pero con poco aprovechamiento y un tercer grupo que dedica tiempo y esfuerzo a la hora de utilizar los materiales. Al analizar los resultados académicos de estos tres grupos se observa que los alumnos del tercer grupo son los que presentan unas mejores calificaciones. Esta experiencia nos conduce a una reflexión importante, no es suficiente poner a disposición de los alumnos materiales, por muy buenos que sean y tampoco basta con que el alumno acceda a ellos. La clave está en proponer actividades que les haga trabajar y reflexionar sobre los materiales.Jano Salagre, M.; Ortiz Serrano, S. (2017). “Buffet libre” como experiencia de aprendizaje en la asignatura de Estadística. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 15(2):179-192. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2017.676017919215

A Review of Communication Protocols for Intelligent Remote Terminal Unit Development

This paper reviewed all the possible interfacing communication protocols for remote terminal unit (RTU). Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is a central station that can communicate with other network using the protocol. Fundamentally, the architectures of all networks are based on the seven layers of open system interconnection (OSI) and International Standard Organization (ISO). The objective of designing the protocols is to check the status of all the input and output field devices and send the report according to that status. The corresponding protocol and communication parameters between the connecting devices will be included in designing a complex SCADA system. The available protocols to develop the communication of RTU are Modbus/ASCII, distributed network protocol (DNP3), controller area network (CAN), International Electro-technical Commission (IEC 60870), and transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP)

NSDI-BR - a historical and contemporary analysis

Proceedings of a pre-conference workshop of the 27th International Cartographic Conference: Spatial data infrastructures, standards, open source and open data for geospatial (SDI-Open 2015) 20-21 August 2015, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Rio de Jaineiro, Brazil.http://sdistandards.icaci.org/2015/09/sdi-open-2015-proceedingstm201

Deep Learning Algorithms for the Detection of Suspicious Pigmented Skin Lesions in Primary Care Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

Early detection of suspicious pigmented skin lesions is crucial for improving the outcomes and survival rates of skin cancers. However, the accuracy of clinical diagnosis by primary care physicians (PCPs) is suboptimal, leading to unnecessary referrals and biopsies. In recent years, deep learning (DL) algorithms have shown promising results in the automated detection and classification of skin lesions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of DL algorithms for the detection of suspicious pigmented skin lesions in primary care settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science. Data from eligible studies were extracted, including study characteristics, sample size, algorithm type, sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Three studies were included. The results showed that DL algorithms had a high sensitivity (90%, 95% CI: 90-91%) and specificity (85%, 95% CI: 84-86%) for detecting suspicious pigmented skin lesions in primary care settings. Significant heterogeneity was observed in both sensitivity (p = 0.0062, I² = 80.3%) and specificity (p < 0.001, I² = 98.8%). The analysis of DOR and PLR further demonstrated the strong diagnostic performance of DL algorithms. The DOR was 26.39, indicating a strong overall diagnostic performance of DL algorithms. The PLR was 4.30, highlighting the ability of these algorithms to influence diagnostic outcomes positively. The NLR was 0.16, indicating that a negative test result decreased the odds of misdiagnosis. The area under the curve of DL algorithms was 0.95, indicating excellent discriminative ability in distinguishing between benign and malignant pigmented skin lesions. DL algorithms have the potential to significantly improve the detection of suspicious pigmented skin lesions in primary care settings. Our analysis showed that DL exhibited promising performance in the early detection of suspicious pigmented skin lesions. However, further studies are needed

Ajuste de la curva de fractura de hormigón como función de densidad perteneciente a la familia generalizada de extremos

En este trabajo, la curva de fractura P-&#948;, registrada durante el proceso de fractura del hormigón en ensayos de flexión a tres puntos, se identifica con un fenómeno estadístico que se describe adecuadamente mediante una función de densidad de la familia de distribuciones generalizadas de valores extremos (DGVE), que demuestra ser de Fréchet de máximos, como caso particular entre las distribuciones de cola pesada. Dado que la función analítica propuesta ajusta todo el registro del ensayo, cabe esperar que permita estimar el trabajo de fractura no medido, correspondiente a la cola asintótica superior de la curva experimental de fractura P-&#948;, con mayor precisión, fiabilidad y sencillez que otros modelos reconocidos. El parámetro general de escala, &#937;, identificado como el área bajo la curva de fractura y los tres parámetros de la función de densidad de Fréchet, se estiman por optimización del ajuste al registro de la curva P-&#948; del ensayo mediante un programa de Matlab específico. La idoneidad del modelo se confirma mediante su aplicación al ajuste de datos experimentales de un extenso programa de ensayos y su comparación con los resultados obtenidos con otros modelos reconocidos.In this work, the load-displacement curve P-&#948;, recorded during the fracture process of concrete under 3-PB tests is identified as a statistical phenomenon, which is adequately described as a density function of the generalized extreme value distributions (GEVD) which proves to be maximal Fréchet, as a particular case of heavy tail distributions. Since the proposed analytical function fits throughout the test record, one expects that the non-measured fracture work, corresponding to the upper asymptotic tail of the fracture curve P-&#948;, will be estimated with higher accurateness, reliability and easier than using other models currently recognized. The general scale parameter &#937;, identified as the area under the fracture curve, and the three parameters of the Fréchet density function are estimated by optimizing the fitting of recorded data to the experimental P-&#948; curve using a specific Matlab program. The suitability of the model is confirmed after being applied to fit an extensive program of experimental data and the results being compared with those provided by other recognized models.Los autores agradecen el apoyo obtenido a través del Proyecto de investigación BIA2013-48352-P del Ministerio Español de Economía y Competitividad, así como del Proyecto SV-PA-11-012 y el apoyo obtenido por las Ayudas Predoctorales del Programa Severo Ochoa recibidas por el Gobierno Regional del Principado de Asturias

A user-friendly web portal for T-Coffee on supercomputers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Parallel T-Coffee (PTC) was the first parallel implementation of the T-Coffee multiple sequence alignment tool. It is based on MPI and RMA mechanisms. Its purpose is to reduce the execution time of the large-scale sequence alignments. It can be run on distributed memory clusters allowing users to align data sets consisting of hundreds of proteins within a reasonable time. However, most of the potential users of this tool are not familiar with the use of grids or supercomputers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper we show how PTC can be easily deployed and controlled on a super computer architecture using a web portal developed using Rapid. Rapid is a tool for efficiently generating standardized portlets for a wide range of applications and the approach described here is generic enough to be applied to other applications, or to deploy PTC on different HPC environments.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The PTC portal allows users to upload a large number of sequences to be aligned by the parallel version of TC that cannot be aligned by a single machine due to memory and execution time constraints. The web portal provides a user-friendly solution.</p

Achieving the ultimate quantum timing resolution

Accurate time-delay measurement is at the core of many modern technologies. We present a temporal-mode demultiplexing scheme that achieves the ultimate quantum precision for the simultaneous estimation of the temporal centroid, the time offset, and the relative intensities of an incoherent mixture of ultrashort pulses at the single-photon level. We experimentally resolve temporal separations 10 times smaller than the pulse duration, as well as imbalanced intensities differing by a factor of 10(2). This represents an improvement of more than an order of magnitude over the best standard methods based on intensity detection

Effect of medication review and cognitive behaviour treatment by community pharmacists of patients discharged from the hospital on drug related problems and compliance: design of a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drug related problems (DRPs) are common among elderly patients who are discharged from the hospital and are using several drugs for their chronic diseases. Examples of drug related problems are contra-indications, interactions, adverse drug reactions and inefficacy of treatment. Causes of these problems include prescription errors and non-compliance with treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of <it>medication review </it>and <it>cognitive behaviour therapy </it>of discharged patients by community pharmacists to minimize the occurrence of drug related problems.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A randomized controlled trial will be performed. Community pharmacists will be randomized into a control group and an intervention group. 342 Patients, aged over 60 years, discharged from general and academic hospitals, using five or more prescription drugs for their chronic disease will be asked by their pharmacy to participate in the study.</p> <p>Patients randomized to the control group will receive usual care according to the Dutch Pharmacy Standard. The medication of patients randomised to the intervention group will be reviewed by the community pharmacist with use of the national guidelines for the treatment of diseases, when patients are discharged from the hospital. The Pharmaceutical Care network Europe Registration form will be used to record drug related problems. Trained pharmacy technicians will counsel patients at home at baseline and at 1,3,6,9 and 12 months, using Cognitive Behaviour Treatment according to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The patient's attitude towards medication and patient's adherence will be subject of the cognitive behaviour treatment. The counselling methods that will be used are <it>motivational interviewing </it>and <it>problem solving treatment</it>. Patients adherence towards drug use will be determined with use of the Medication Adherence Report Scale Questionnaire. There will be a follow-up of 12 months.</p> <p>The two primary outcome measures are the difference in occurrence of DRPs between intervention and control group and adherence with drug use. Secondary endpoints are attitude towards drug use, incidence of Re-hospitalisations related to medicines, functional status of the patient, quality of life and the cost-effectiveness of this intervention.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Combining both medication review and Cognitive Behaviour Treatment may decrease DRPs and may result in more compliance with drug use among patients discharged from the hospital and using 5 or more chronic drugs.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Dutch Trial Register NTR1194</p