Iterative variable selection for high-dimensional data: prediction of pathological response in triple-negative breast cancer

In the last decade, regularized regression methods have offered alternatives forperforming multi-marker analysis and feature selection in a whole genome context.The process of defining a list of genes that will characterize an expressionprofile, remains unclear. This procedure oscillates between selecting the genes or transcripts of interest based on previous clinical evidence, or performing a whole transcriptome analys is that rests on advanced statistics. This paper introduces a methodology to deal with the variable selection and model estimation problems in the high-dimensional set-up, which can be particularly useful in the whole genome context. Results are validated using simulated data, and a real dataset from a triple negative breast cancer study

Escribir colaborativamente un informe de resolución de problemas en el área de Biología para aprender la disciplina

Este estudio de caso tiene como objetivo determinar los resultados de aprendizaje que alcanzan estudiantes universitarios que escriben en equipo un trabajo en el área de Biología con la metodología del Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (Meza et al., 2019; Rodríguez & Fernández, 2017). Se recogen datos (orales y escritos) dentro y fuera del aula tanto de los procesos de composición escrita y de aprendizaje (regulatorio y disciplinar) como del producto textual fi nal. Los resultados del análisis de contenido de los datos muestran que los aprendizajes de los estudiantes se desarrollan en tres espacios de enculturación (Prior & Bilbrio, 2012), en relación con 1) el discurso académico-científi co, 2) los procesos regulatorios (auto y corregulación) (Allal, 2018, 2019) al escribir en grupo este discurso y 3) la construcción del conocimiento disciplinar. Concluimos que los procedimientos de enculturación en cada uno de estos tres tipos de habilidades requieren ser explicitados para que la resolución del problema científico sea posible.The aim of this case study is to determine the learning obtained by university students who carry out a written work in the area of Biology as a team using the Problem-Based Learning methodology (Meza et al., 2019; Rodríguez & Fernández, 2017). Data (oral and written) are collected inside and outside the classroom in relation to both the process of written composition and learning (regulatory and disciplinary), as well as the fi nal textual product. The results of the content analysis of the data show that students’ learning takes place in three spaces of enculturation (Prior y Bilbrio, 2012), in relation to 1) academic-scientifi c discourse, 2) with the regulatory processes (self- and co-regulation) (Allal, 2018, 2019) when writing this discourse in groups, and 3) with the construction of disciplinary knowledge. We conclude that the enculturation procedures in each of these three types of skills must be made explicit for the resolution of the scientifi c problem to be possible.Esta investigación se enmarca en el proyecto Interculturalidad e intercomprensión en la evaluación de la competencia discursiva plurilingüe: formación en retroalimentación digital (2021-2025) (referencia PID2020-113796RB-I00)

El Trabajo Final de Grado de Ingeniería Informática: organización retórico-discursiva de la sección RESULTADOS

La escritura del Trabajo Final de Grado (TFG) es una tarea difícil para la mayoría de los estudiantes de grado. Este es el caso de Ingeniería Informática, disciplina en la que la presentación adecuada de los resultados es una actividad de producción escrita compleja (Ochoa & Cueva, 2017). La sección RESULTADOS es más complicada que otras debido a su estructura, sus propósitos comunicativos y la forma de alcanzarlos (Hussin, Syamimi & Nimehchisalem, 2018). Si bien se han realizado algunas descripciones de su organización retórico-discursiva (Bret, 1994; Chen & Kuo, 2012; Hussin et al., 2018; Venegas et al., 2016), la mayoría se ha centrado en la organización prototípica de solo uno de los tipos de TFG que se producen en esta disciplina. Por lo anterior, en esta investigación mixta de alcance descriptivo, analizamos retórico-discursivamente la sección RESULTADOS de los TFG de Ingeniería Informática, considerando las particularidades de los diferentes tipos de TFG existentes en el marco de la disciplina. Con este fin, empleando el análisis de género (Swales, 1990; 2004), analizamos 117 secciones RESULTADOS de TFG de Ingeniería Informática. Entre nuestros hallazgos se observa que en la sección se emplean de forma prototípica las movidas ‘Presentar información preparatoria’, ‘Reportar los resultados’ e ‘Interpretar los resultados’. A su vez, se establecen variaciones en la organización retórico-discursiva, las que se relacionan con los 4 tipos de TFG que se producen en la disciplina. Concluimos que existen 4 tipos de TFG en Ingeniería Informática, los que inciden en la organización retóricodiscursiva de la sección RESULTADOS. A su vez, sostenemos que se debe prestar atención a las particularidades del género y de cada sección, pues debido a los diferentes propósitos que se persiguen en cada uno de ellos, las unidades funcionales discursivas que se emplean difieren entre sí.Writing the Final Degree Project (TFG) is a difficult task for most undergraduate students. This is the case of Computer Engineering, a discipline in which the proper presentation of results is a complex written production activity (Ochoa & Cueva, 2017). The RESULTS section is more complicated than others due to its structure, its communicative purposes and the way to achieve them (Hussin, Syamimi & Nimehchisalem, 2018). While there have been some descriptions of its rhetorical-discursive organization (Bret, 1994; Chen & Kuo, 2012; Hussin et al., 2018; Venegas et al., 2016), most have focused on the prototypical organization of only one of the types of TFGs produced in this discipline. Therefore, in this mixed research of descriptive scope, we rhetorically-discursively analyze the RESULTS section of Computer Engineering TFG’s, considering the particularities of the different types of TFG’s existing within the discipline. To this end, using genre analysis (Swales, 1990; 2004), we analyzed 117 RESULTS sections of Computer Engineering Final Degree Project. Among our findings, it is observed that in the section the moves ‘Present preparatory information’, ‘Report results’ and ‘Interpret results’ are prototypically employed. In turn, variations in the rhetorical-discursive organization are established, which are related to the 4 types of TFG that occur in the discipline. We conclude that there are 4 types of TFG in Computer Engineering, which affect the rhetorical-discursive organization of the RESULTS section. At the same time, we argue that attention should be paid to the particularities of the genre and of each section, since due to the different purposes pursued in each of them, the discursive functional units used differ from each other

Wishes and perceptions about exercise programs in exercising institutionalized older adults living in long-term care institutions: A qualitative study.

The level of exercise among older adults is low, particularly among those living in health-care institutions. To gain insight into the perceptions of institutionalized older adults towards the exercise programs developed in long-term care institutions and to identify their wishes and needs regarding these programs, we conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions. Thirty-six institutionalized participants (≥ 65 years) were recruited. Six common themes emerged: participants' attitudes and motivations towards the exercise programs, self-perceived health, knowledge of the concept of physical exercise, perceived effects of the exercise programs, and wishes or expectations for the exercise programs. The main wishes were to increase frequency of exercise sessions, to exercise outdoor and to increase walking times. The results suggest the need for changes in the development of exercise programs, including changes in the frequency, performance environment and types of exercises performed

SO2 retention on CaO/activated carbon sorbents. Part I: importance of calcium loading and dispersion

Sorbents for SO2 retention at low temperature consisting of CaO supported on activated carbons have been prepared by different methods (physical mixing, incipient wetness impregnation, rotary evaporator impregnation, complex formation and ionic exchange). Ca(OH)2, CaCO3, CaO, Ca(CH3COO)2 and Ca(C2H5COO)2 have been used as calcium precursors. The preparation method affects calcium loading as well as calcium dispersion. SO2 retention depends both on the calcium loading and on the calcium dispersion. The best preparation method, among those tested, was impregnation of the activated carbon with calcium acetate. Similar calcium loading can be obtained by the physical mixing method but the resulting calcium dispersion is low. On the contrary, samples with higher calcium dispersion were obtained by the complex formation method, presenting the disadvantage of the low calcium loading reached. The molar calcium conversion results are much higher than values reported for unsupported calcium compounds

Formación Transversal y Trabajos Fin de Grado Interdisciplinares

El programa formativo de Trabajos Fin de Grado interdisciplinares (TFGi) comenzó en 2018, para dar solución a una serie de carencias detectadas en la formación de nuestro alumnado de grado. De esta manera, se ha puesto en marcha un programa formativo pionero transversal, abierto a todas las titulaciones, que trabaja sobre cuatro ejes: acceso a la información, trabajo colaborativo, comunicación-redes sociales y emprendimiento, cuyo objetivo es generar ideas y equipos interdisciplinares para elaborar TFGis y fomentar el abordaje interdisciplinar de proyectos, que supone la forma habitual de trabajo adaptado a las nuevas realidades laborales. Dicho plan formativo fue diseñado por un equipo base de profesorado de la Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) de distintas áreas de conocimiento, luego implementado y evaluado a través de encuestas realizadas a los participantes. Los resultados completos de dicha evaluación se presentan en esta comunicación, si bien cabe destacar la alta motivación inicial del alumnado por experimentar un nuevo modo de trabajo sobre problemas reales e impulsar sus competencias y oportunidades para su futuro profesional inmediato. Respecto a la valoración global de la experiencia educativa, el porcentaje de respuestas con valoraciones de 4 o 5 en una escala de Likert fue del 95.45%. Esto nos lleva a concluir que el programa formativo está favoreciendo la adquisición de nuevas competencias y el desarrollo eficaz de los TFGis

Could pulmonary low-dose radiation therapy be an alternative treatment for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia? Preliminary results of a multicenter SEOR-GICOR nonrandomized prospective trial (IPACOVID trial)

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lung low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) for pneumonia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and methods: Inclusion criteria comprised patients with COVID-19-related moderate-severe pneumonia warranting hospitalization with supplemental O2 and not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit because of comorbidities or general status. All patients received single lung dose of 0.5 Gy. Respiratory and systemic inflammatory parameters were evaluated before irradiation, at 24 h and 1 week after LD-RT. Primary endpoint was increased in the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) or the pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio of at least 20% at 24 h with respect to the preirradiation value. Results: Between June and November 2020, 36 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and a mean age of 84 years were enrolled. Seventeen were women and 19 were men and all of them had comorbidities. All patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest X‑ray. All patients received dexamethasone treatment. Mean SpO2 pretreatment value was 94.28% and the SpO2/FiO2 ratio varied from 255 mm Hg to 283 mm Hg at 24 h and to 381 mm Hg at 1 week, respectively. In those who survived (23/36, 64%), a significant improvement was observed in the percentage of lung involvement in the CT scan at 1 week after LD-RT. No adverse effects related to radiation treatment have been reported. Conclusions: LD-RT appears to be a feasible and safe option in a population with COVID-19 bilateral interstitial pneumonia in the presence of significant comorbidities

Early prognostic value of an Algorithm based on spectral Variables of Ventricular fibrillAtion from the EKG of patients with suddEn cardiac death: A multicentre observational study (AWAKE)

Objective: Ventricular fibrillation (VF)-related sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Current biological and imaging parameters show significant limitations on predicting cerebral performance at hospital admission. The AWAKE study (NCT03248557) is a multicentre observational study to validate a model based on spectral ECG analysis to early predict cerebral performance and survival in resuscitated comatose survivors. Methods: Data from VF ECG tracings of patients resuscitated from SCD will be collected using an electronic Case Report Form. Patients can be either comatose (Glasgow Coma Scale – GCS – ≤8) survivors undergoing temperature control after return of spontaneous circulation (RoSC), or those who regain consciousness (GCS = 15) after RoSC; all admitted to Intensive Cardiac Care Units in 4 major university hospitals. VF tracings prior to the first direct current shock will be digitized and analyzed to derive spectral data and feed a predictive model to estimate favorable neurological performance (FNP). The results of the model will be compared to the actual prognosis. Results: The primary clinical outcome is FNP during hospitalization. Patients will be categorized into 4 subsets of neurological prognosis according to the risk score obtained from the predictive model. The secondary clinical outcomes are survival to hospital discharge, and FNP and survival after 6 months of follow-up. The model-derived categorisation will be also compared with clinical variables to assess model sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Conclusions: A model based on spectral analysis of VF tracings is a promising tool to obtain early prognostic data after SCD. Resumen: Objetivo: La muerte súbita (MS) por fibrilación ventricular (FV) es una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad. Los métodos biológicos y de imagen actuales muestran limitaciones para predecir el pronóstico cerebral al ingreso hospitalario. AWAKE es un estudio observacional, multicéntrico, con el objetivo de validar un modelo basado en el análisis espectral del electrocardiograma (ECG), que predice precozmente el pronóstico cerebral y la supervivencia en pacientes resucitados y en estado de coma. Métodos: Se recogerán datos de los ECG con FV de pacientes reanimados de MS. Los pacientes pueden ser tanto supervivientes en estado de coma (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 8) sometidos a control de temperatura tras la recuperación de circulación espontánea (RCE), como aquellos que recuperan la consciencia (GCS = 15) tras RCE; todos ellos ingresados en unidades de terapia intensiva cardiológica de 4 hospitales de referencia. Los registros de FV previos al primer choque se digitalizarán y analizarán para obtener datos espectrales que se incluirán en un modelo predictivo que estime el pronóstico neurológico favorable (PNF). El resultado del modelo se comparará con el pronóstico real. Resultados: El objetivo principal es el PNF durante la hospitalización. Los pacientes se categorizarán en 4 subgrupos de pronóstico neurológico según la estimación de riesgo obtenida en el modelo predictivo. Los objetivos secundarios son supervivencia al alta hospitalaria, y PNF y supervivencia a los 6 meses. El resultado de este modelo también se comparará con el pronóstico según variables clínicas. Conclusiones: Un modelo basado en el análisis espectral de registros de FV es una herramienta prometedora para obtener datos pronósticos precoces tras MS por FV. Keywords: Coma, Sudden cardiac death, Ventricular fibrillation, Wavelet analysis, Prognosis, Resuscitation, Spain, Palabras clave: Coma, Muerte súbita, Fibrilación ventricular, Análisis de onda, Pronóstico, Reanimación, Españ