Deep learning based deep-sea automatic image enhancement and animal species classification

The automatic classification of marine species based on images is a challenging task for which multiple solutions have been increasingly provided in the past two decades. Oceans are complex ecosystems, difficult to access, and often the images obtained are of low quality. In such cases, animal classification becomes tedious. Therefore, it is often necessary to apply enhancement or pre-processing techniques to the images, before applying classification algorithms. In this work, we propose an image enhancement and classification pipeline that allows automated processing of images from benthic moving platforms. Deep-sea (870 m depth) fauna was targeted in footage taken by the crawler “Wally” (an Internet Operated Vehicle), within the Ocean Network Canada (ONC) area of Barkley Canyon (Vancouver, BC; Canada). The image enhancement process consists mainly of a convolutional residual network, capable of generating enhanced images from a set of raw images. The images generated by the trained convolutional residual network obtained high values in metrics for underwater imagery assessment such as UIQM (~ 2.585) and UCIQE (2.406). The highest SSIM and PSNR values were also obtained when compared to the original dataset. The entire process has shown good classification results on an independent test data set, with an accuracy value of 66.44% and an Area Under the ROC Curve (AUROC) value of 82.91%, which were subsequently improved to 79.44% and 88.64% for accuracy and AUROC respectively. These results obtained with the enhanced images are quite promising and superior to those obtained with the non-enhanced datasets, paving the strategy for the on-board real-time processing of crawler imaging, and outperforming those published in previous papers.This work was developed at Deusto Seidor S.A. (01015, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) within the framework of the Tecnoterra (ICM-CSIC/UPC) and the following project activities: ARIM (Autonomous Robotic sea-floor Infrastructure for benthopelagic Monitoring); MarTERA ERA-Net Cofund; Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial, CDTI; and RESBIO (TEC2017-87861-R; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades). This work was supported by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI) (Grant No. EXP 00108707 / SERA-20181020)

Las consejerías territoriales como espacios de decisión colectiva. La organización de las mujeres frente al embarazo no deseado y la violencia de género

En el presente artículo reflexionamos en torno a las formas de organización de las mujeres para el cuidado de otras mujeres en situaciones de violencia o de embarazo no deseado como, así también, sobre las modalidades de toma de decisión frente a estos casos. Entendemos que, en distintas oportunidades las mujeres consultan con otras pares mujeres, ya sean amigas, compañeras, vecinas, familiares y/o también con las mujeres que atienden los espacios de Consejería, y, de esta manera, se gesta una decisión “colectiva” en relación a un tema “personal”. Esta identificación de nuevos formatos de toma de decisión en situaciones de vulnerabilidad evidencia algunos cambios relacionados a la discusión público/privado que el feminismo ha puesto en cuestión desde sus inicios. Este es el resultado del análisis del trabajo realizado por dos consejerías ubicadas en espacios y contextos distintos del partido de San Martín correspondiente a la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ciencia Abierta y publicación de artículos científicos

Si usted está interesado/a en este curso, puede matricularse en: https://udcaberta.udc.gal/El curso ha sido desarrollado en el marco del proyecto de creación de contenidos y evaluación de competencias digitales (DigCompEdu-FyA), financiado a través del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia de la UE “NEXTGENERATIONEU”. El proyecto DigCompEdu-FyA forma parte de la estrategia nacional denominada Plan Unidigital regulada por el Real Decreto 641/2021 (Modificado por el Real Decreto 576/2023, del 4 de julio) y la Orden por la que se conceden las subvenciones previstas en el Real Decreto 641/2021, del 27 de julio, por el que se regula la concesión directa de subvenciones a universidades públicas españolas para la modernización y la digitalización del sistema universitario español, asociada a la BDNS 582721 del 07/09/2021 (componente 21, línea de acción C21.15, código subproyecto S2, código proyecto P1) en el marco del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia y las órdenes HFP1030/2021 y HFP1031/2021 del Ministerio de Hacienda y Función Pública que lo desarrollan. Nivel A1, Indicadores: 7.3.A1.1; 7.3..A1.2; 7.3..A1.3 del marco DigCompEdu. Horas de trabajo para el alumnado: 10 Objetivo: El objetivo del curso es hacer una introducción a las prácticas de Ciencia Abierta, con especial énfasis en la publicación de artículos de investigación en acceso abierto, siguiendo los mandatos legales y de entidades financiadoras

Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Producción CientíficaBackground The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a variation in the circulation of common respiratory viruses. Our objective was to analyse the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with previous epidemic seasons. Methods We conducted an observational study involving infants with RSV bronchiolitis admitted to a tertiary hospital during two periods: pandemic COVID-19 (15 March 2020–30 September 2021) and pre-pandemic (1 October 2014–14 March 2020). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Results A total of 270 patients were admitted for RSV bronchiolitis: 253 in the pre-pandemic period with an average of 42 admissions per season vs 17 in the pandemic. During the pandemic, the RSV outbreak started late in June 2021 with a higher percentage of prematurity and PICU admissions. Conclusion A change in RSV seasonality was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unusual outbreak in summer 2021 of lower magnitude than previous seasons.Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCL

Highly deformable and strongly magnetic semi-interpenetrating hydrogels based on alginate or cellulose

The effective implementation of many of the applications of magnetic hydrogels requires the development of innovative systems capable of withstanding a substantial load of magnetic particles to ensure exceptional responsiveness, without compromising their reliability and stability. To address this challenge, double-network hydrogels have emerged as a promising foundation, thanks to their extraordinary mechanical deformability and toughness. Here, we report a semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs) approach to create diverse magnetic SIPNs hydrogels based on alginate or cellulose, exhibiting remarkable deformability under certain stresses. Achieving strong responsiveness to magnetic fields is a key objective, and this characteristic is realized by the incorporation of highly magnetic iron microparticles at moderately large concentrations into the polymer network. Remarkably, the SIPNs hydrogels developed in this research accommodate high loadings of magnetic particles without significantly compromising their physical properties. This feature is essential for their use in applications that demand robust responsiveness to applied magnetic fields and overall stability, such as a hydrogel luminescent oxygen sensor controlled by magnetic fields that we designed and tested as proof-of-concept. These findings underscore the potential and versatility of magnetic SIPNs hydrogels based on carbohydrate biopolymers as fundamental components in driving the progress of advanced hydrogels for diverse practical implementations.This study was supported by grant PID2020-118498GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Spain. A.L.-C. acknowledges grant FPU19/01801 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ESF Investing in your future”, Spain. V.M. acknowledges VIRTUOUS project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie-RISE Grant Agreement No. 872181 (https://www.virtuoush2020.com/) and the Project European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie-RISE Grant Agreement “SUSTAINABLE” No. 101007702 (https://www.projectsustainable.eu/). A.L.M.-C. acknowledges funding by Plan Propio-Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Granada: “Programa 9. Proyectos de Investigación para la Incorporación de Jóvenes Doctores a Nuevas Líneas de Investigación en Grupos de la UGR”. Profs. Manuel Toledano and Raquel Osorio are acknowledged for providing access to the universal testing machine Instron 3345. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA

A Flexible Autonomous Robotic Observatory Infrastructure for Bentho-Pelagic Monitoring

This paper presents the technological developments and the policy contexts for the project “Autonomous Robotic Sea-Floor Infrastructure for Bentho-Pelagic Monitoring” (ARIM). The development is based on the national experience with robotic component technologies that are combined and merged into a new product for autonomous and integrated ecological deep-sea monitoring. Traditional monitoring is often vessel-based and thus resource demanding. It is economically unviable to fulfill the current policy for ecosystem monitoring with traditional approaches. Thus, this project developed platforms for bentho-pelagic monitoring using an arrangement of crawler and stationary platforms at the Lofoten-Vesterålen (LoVe) observatory network (Norway). Visual and acoustic imaging along with standard oceanographic sensors have been combined to support advanced and continuous spatial-temporal monitoring near cold water coral mounds. Just as important is the automatic processing techniques under development that have been implemented to allow species (or categories of species) quantification (i.e., tracking and classification). At the same time, real-time outboard processed three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning has been implemented to increase mission autonomy capability, delivering quantifiable information on habitat features (i.e., for seascape approaches). The first version of platform autonomy has already been tested under controlled conditions with a tethered crawler exploring the vicinity of a cabled stationary instrumented garage. Our vision is that elimination of the tether in combination with inductive battery recharge trough fuel cell technology will facilitate self-sustained long-term autonomous operations over large areas, serving not only the needs of science, but also sub-sea industries like subsea oil and gas, and mining

Treatment with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate worsens the lipid profile of HIV‐infected patients versus treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, each coformulated with elvitegravir, cobicistat, and emtricitabine

[Abstract] Two elvitegravir/cobicistat‐based therapies combined with emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EVG/c/FTC/TDF) or emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (EVG/c/FTC/TAF) are currently available for HIV patients. This study evaluated the modifications in the lipid profile of patients who received these treatments in the last three years at our institution. A retrospective observational study in HIV‐infected patients who received EVG/c/FTC/TDF or EVG/c/FTC/TAF from January 2015 to January 2018 at a reference hospital in northwestern Spain was carried out. Epidemiological, clinical and immunovirological data were recorded. A statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. A total of 384 EVG/c‐based therapies were initiated during the study period, 151 EVG/c/FTC/TDF and 233 EVG/c/FTC/TAF. A significantly negative influence in all the lipid profile parameters in experienced patients and total cholesterol (TC), and LDL‐C in naïve patients were observed after 48 weeks of treatment with EVG/c/FTC/TAF, while these parameters remained stable in the EVG/c/FTC/TDF group. During follow‐up, a greater proportion of patients had lipid levels above the normal range (63.1% TC, 56.2% LDL‐C) and new lipid‐modifying drugs were prescribed (11.9%) in the EVG/c/FTC/TAF group. The number of cardiovascular risk factors (OR 1.66 [95% CI 1.01‐2.72]; P = 0.043) was recognised as an independent predictor of lipid‐lowering prescription for patients treated with both EVG/c/FTC/TDF and EVG/c/FTC/TAF. For patients treated with EVG/c/FTC/TAF, the mean total cholesterol to HDL ratio in the first 48 weeks of the study treatment was associated with a higher likelihood of lipid‐lowering prescription in multivariate analysis (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.12‐2.52]; P = 0.011). Significant changes in lipid profile have been observed in patients who have received EVG/c/FTC/TAF. It was necessary to prescribe almost twice the number of lipid‐lowering drugs to patients who received EVG/c/FTC/TAF (11.9%) vs EVG/c/FTC/TDF (4.7%)

Discontinuation due to neuropsychiatric adverse events with efavirenz- and dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy: a comparative real-life study

Obervational study[Abstract] Objectives: Despite the high efficacy of antiretroviral treatment, no drug is free from adverse events (AEs). Efavirenz (EFV) and dolutegravir (DTG) are antiretroviral drugs for which neuropsychiatric adverse events (NPAEs) have been described. This study evaluated the safety and tolerability of DTG-based and EFV-based antiretroviral regimens in HIV-infected patients. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out in HIV-infected patients who started DTG- or EFV-based antiretroviral treatment from January 2008 to December 2018 at a reference hospital in north-western Spain. Epidemiological, clinical and immunovirological data were recorded. A statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results: A total of 282 DTG- and 148 EFV-based therapies were initiated. During follow-up, statistically significant differences have been found between the rate of patients who discontinued DTG and EFV due to AEs (12.1% vs 35.8%, p<0.001) and the main AEs in both groups, NPAEs (8.2% vs 25.0%, p<0.001). Female gender (OR 2.610 (95% CI 1.327 to 5.133), p=0.005) was associated with discontinuations due to AEs. Patients with documented psychiatric disorders were at higher risk of discontinuation due to NPAEs (OR 4.782 (95% CI 1.190 to 19.220), p=0.027). The multivariate analysis showed a 61.2% risk reduction in benzodiazepine prescriptions in patients treated with DTG. In both groups, patients needed consultation and follow-up in the psychiatry unit (16.9% in the EFV group and 8.9% in the DTG group, p=0.021). Conclusions: We found a high rate of discontinuations due to AEs and NPAEs, prescription of benzodiazepines and a requirement for consultation in a psychiatric unit in both treatment groups, especially with EFV

In-hospital postoperative infection after heart transplantation: risk factors and development of a novel predictive score

[Abstract] Introduction: Infection is one of the most significant complications following heart transplantation (HT). The aim of this study was to identify specific risk factors for early postoperative infections in HT recipients, and to develop a multivariable predictive model to identify HT recipients at high risk. Methods: A single-center, observational, and retrospective study was conducted. The dependent variable was in-hospital postoperative infection. We examined demographic and epidemiological data from donors and recipients, surgical features, and adverse postoperative events as independent variables. Backwards, stepwise multivariable logistic regression with a P-value < 0.05 was used to identify clinical factors independently associated with the risk of in-hospital postoperative infections following HT. Results: Six hundred seventy-seven patients were included in this study. During the in-hospital postoperative period, 348 episodes of infection were diagnosed in 239 (35.9%) patients. Seven variables were identified as independent clinical predictors of early postoperative infection after HT: history of diabetes mellitus, previous sternotomy, preoperative mechanical ventilation, primary graft failure, major surgical bleeding, use of mycophenolate mofetil, and use of itraconazole. Based on the results of multivariable models, we constructed a 7-variable (8-point) score to predict the risk of in-hospital postoperative infection in HT recipients, which showed a reasonable ability to predict the risk of in-hospital postoperative infection in this population. Prospective external validation of this new score is warranted to confirm its clinical applicability. Conclusions: In-hospital postoperative infection is a common complication after HT, affecting 35% of patients who underwent this procedure at our institution. Diabetes mellitus, previous sternotomy, preoperative mechanical ventilation, primary graft failure, major surgical bleeding, use of mycophenolate mofetil, and itraconazole were all independent clinical predictors of early postoperative infection after HT

In-Hospital Post-Operative Infection after Heart Transplantation: Epidemiology, Clinical Management, and Outcome

Observational study[Abstract] Background: Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation (HT). Little information about its importance in the immediate post-operative period is available. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics, incidence, and outcomes of in-hospital post-operative infections after HT. Methods: We conducted an observational, single-center study based on 677 adults who underwent HT from 1991 to 2015 and who survived the surgical intervention. In-hospital post-operative infections were identified retrospectively according to the medical finding in the clinical records. Results: Over a mean hospital stay of 24.5 days, 239 patients (35.3%) developed 348 episodes of infection (2 episodes per 100 patient-days). The most common sources of infection were those related to invasive procedures (respiratory infections, 115 [33%]; urinary tract infections, 47 [13.5%]; bacteremia, 42 [12.1%]; surgical site infections, 25 [7.2%]), in addition to abdominal focus (33, 9.5%). Enterobacteriaceae (76, 21.8%) and gram-positive cocci (58, 16.7%) were the predominant germs, although opportunistic infections were not infrequent (69, 19.8%). Ninety-five septic episodes were detected with a mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score of 9.5 ± 5.3 points, with hemodynamic failure being the most severe organ dysfunction and renal dysfunction the most frequent one. Management included broad-spectrum antibiotics in 48.8% of episodes and surgical management in 13.8%. The overall antimicrobial success rate was 96.3%. Higher in-hospital mortality was observed among infected patients (15.1% vs. 10.3%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.067). The one-year survival and events were not different between patients suffering from a post-operative infection and those who did not. Conclusions: In-hospital infections were frequent in the post-operative period after HT and were associated with a poor short-term outcome. Patients who survived sepsis had a similar one-year morbidity and mortality compared with patients who did not develop an infection