Analysis of machine learning techniques applied to sensory detection of vehicles in intelligent crosswalks

Improving road safety through artificial intelligence-based systems is now crucial turning smart cities into a reality. Under this highly relevant and extensive heading, an approach is proposed to improve vehicle detection in smart crosswalks using machine learning models. Contrarily to classic fuzzy classifiers, machine learning models do not require the readjustment of labels that depend on the location of the system and the road conditions. Several machine learning models were trained and tested using real traffic data taken from urban scenarios in both Portugal and Spain. These include random forest, time-series forecasting, multi-layer perceptron, support vector machine, and logistic regression models. A deep reinforcement learning agent, based on a state-of-the-art double-deep recurrent Q-network, is also designed and compared with the machine learning models just mentioned. Results show that the machine learning models can efficiently replace the classic fuzzy classifier.Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of the Andalusian Government, Spain 5947info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multivariate explanatory model for sporadic carcinoma of the colon in Dukes’ stages I and IIa

We obtained before an explanatory model with six dependant variables: age of the patient, total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), VLDL cholesterol (VLDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and the CA 19.9 tumour marker. Our objective in this study was to validate the model by means of the acquisition of new records for an additional analysis.Ministerio de Educación y Cienci

Physiological Regulation of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase and the Role of 2-Oxoglutarate in Prochlorococcus sp. Strain PCC 9511

The enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH; EC 1.1.1.42) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate, to produce 2- oxoglutarate. The incompleteness of the tricarboxylic acids cycle in marine cyanobacteria confers a special importance to isocitrate dehydrogenase in the C/N balance, since 2-oxoglutarate can only be metabolized through the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway. The physiological regulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase was studied in cultures of Prochlorococcus sp. strain PCC 9511, by measuring enzyme activity and concentration using the NADPH production assay and Western blotting, respectively. The enzyme activity showed little changes under nitrogen or phosphorus starvation, or upon addition of the inhibitors DCMU, DBMIB and MSX. Azaserine, an inhibitor of glutamate synthase, induced clear increases in the isocitrate dehydrogenase activity and icd gene expression after 24 h, and also in the 2-oxoglutarate concentration. Iron starvation had the most significant effect, inducing a complete loss of isocitrate dehydrogenase activity, possibly mediated by a process of oxidative inactivation, while its concentration was unaffected. Our results suggest that isocitrate dehydrogenase responds to changes in the intracellular concentration of 2-oxoglutarate and to the redox status of the cells in Prochlorococcus

Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with plasma saturated fatty acids at baseline in PREDIMED plus trial

Scope: Plasma fatty acids (FAs) are associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study is to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and plasma FAs and their subtypes. Methods and Results: Plasma FAs are assessed in a cross-sectional analysis of a subsample of 240 subjects from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Participants are categorized into four groups of fruit, vegetable, and fat intake according to the food frequency questionnaire. Plasma FA analysis is performed using gas chromatography. Associations between FAs and F&V consumption are adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), total energy intake, and alcohol consumption. Plasma saturated FAs are lower in groups with high F&V consumption (-1.20 mg cL−1 [95% CI: [-2.22, - 0.18], p-value = 0.021), especially when fat intake is high (-1.74 mg cL−1 [95% CI: [-3.41, -0.06], p-value = 0.042). Total FAs and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs tend to be lower in high consumers of F&V only in the high-fat intake groups. Conclusions: F&V consumption is associated with lower plasma saturated FAs when fat intake is high. These findings suggest that F&V consumption may have different associations with plasma FAs depending on their subtype and on the extent of fat intake

Nuevos recursos tecnológicos para trabajar en un aula de educación infantil: el cuento interactivo considerado un recurso de aprendizaje

Currently, the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are considered a key resource for education. This concept is progressing and we have a new term: LCT (Learning and Communication Technologies). This communication analyzes some resources which can be used and integrated in classrooms of pre – school education, in particular the interactive story, because according to the current regulations, we must introduce it during this period. With the purpose of integrating technological resources in the school area, we must educate teachers to get technological competences, innovate and experiment in classrooms together with their student body.Actualmente, las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) se consideran un recurso clave para la enseñanza, de tal manera que este concepto está evolucionando y tenemos un nuevo término: TAC (Tecnologías del Aprendizaje y la Comunicación). Esta comunicación analiza algunos de los recursos que pueden ser utilizados e integrados en aulas de Educación Infantil, en concreto los cuentos interactivos, ya que según la normativa actual debemos introducirlas durante esta etapa. Con el fin de integrar los recursos tecnológicos en el ámbito escolar, se debe formar al profesorado para que adquiera competencias tecnológicas, innove y experimente en el aula junto a su alumnado

La relevancia de los programas educativos y formativos como elementos favorecedores del proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores

In a clear attempt to organize, manage and facilitate the process of social and labor reintegration of juvenile offenders, the societies of the moment tend to use a wide range of programs and strategies with which they try to prevent the emergence of Criminal and illicit behaviors or, in the event that they are developed, intervene to redirect them to other types of social and labor behavior that end up being widely accepted and valued by the main social and labor networks. Among these programs and strategies of prevention and intervention that have been developed and implemented, in recent years the scientific community begins to accept and recognize the enormous benefits derived from working with these smaller programs of an educational and formative nature, the most significant being the acquisition (Empathy, solidarity, tolerance, cooperation, sacrifice, self-esteem, self-control, etc.) that end up facilitating their full and effective integration into social, community and labor structures. In order to carry out good research in this field, therefore, it is essential to determine all those variables and factors that are present in this type of educational and training programs. Therefore, the present study analyzes the main works developed on the subject of study, with the intention of analyzing and describing the different factors and variables that are present in the educational and training programs, as well as the most outstanding benefits and Parabienes that can report to juvenile offenders who end up becoming habitual users of them. In this way, it is possible to delimit the point from which the successive empirical investigations and programs that try to manage the process of social reintegration and labor of the juvenile offenders will have to start.Las sociedades del momento suelen recurrir, en un claro intento de organizar, gestionar y facilitar el desarrollo del proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores, al empleo de un amplio elenco de programas y estrategias con las que intentan prevenir la aparición de las conductas delictivas e ilícitas o, en el caso de que éstas se acaben desarrollando, intervenir para reconducirlas hacia otro tipo de conductas sociales y laborales que acaben siendo ampliamente aceptadas y valoradas por los principales entramados sociales y laborales. Entre estos programas y estrategias de prevención e intervención que se vienen desarrollando e implementando, en los últimos años la comunidad científica comienza a aceptar y a reconocer los enormes beneficios derivados de trabajar con estos menores programas de naturaleza educativa y formativa, siendo los más significativos la adquisición de un amplio abanico de valores y actitudes personales, sociales y laborales (empatía, solidaridad, tolerancia, cooperación, sacrificio, autoestima, autocontrol, etc.) que acaban facilitando su plena y efectiva integración en las estructuras sociales, comunitarias y laborales. Para realizar buenas investigaciones dentro de este ámbito, por tanto, resulta imprescindible determinar todas aquellas variables y factores que se encuentran presentes en este tipo de programas educativos y formativos. Por lo tanto, en el presente estudio se analizan los principales trabajos desarrollados sobre la temática objeto de estudio, con la intención de analizar y describir los distintos factores y variables que están presentes en los programas educativos y formativos, así como los más destacados beneficios y parabienes que pueden reportar a los menores infractores que se acaben convirtiendo en usuarios habituales de los mismos. De esta manera, es posible delimitar el punto desde el que habrán de partir las sucesivas investigaciones empíricas y programas que traten de gestionar el proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores

Efectos de la fatiga sobre la actividad muscular durante sucesivos test de sentadilla (30 seg).

Resumen:  Introducción: La fatiga se define como la incapacidad del Sistema neuromuscular para mantener un nivel determinado de potencia. La monitorización de la pérdida de Altura de salto ha sido utilizada como un indicador de fatiga muscular. La Electromiografía (EMG) es también una herramienta adecuada para determinar la fatiga ya que tiene una alta correlación con las unidades motoras activas (reclutamiento de fibras musculares). El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar los efectos de la fatiga sobre la actividad muscular en las extremidades inferiores durante sucesivos test de media sentadilla (30 segundos). Métodos: 5 sujetos sanos entrenados participaron en el estudio. Realizaron 2 sesiones de test, un test de potencia máxima de media sentadilla y 4 series de un test de capacidad anaeróbica de media sentadilla (30 seg.). Resultados: Se observaron diferencias significativas (P=0.002) en la comparativa de los efectos inter-sujetos (Vasto lateral vs. Recto femoral). Observamos también diferencias significativas en la comparación por pares (P<0.001). Conclusiones: Observamos cómo la fatiga modifica la activación neuromuscular del vasto lateral y el recto femoral durante la ejecución de 4 test consecutivos de media sentadilla (30 seg.).Peer Reviewe

Multiple sclerosis and bilingualism: some initial findings

It has been suggested that bilingualism is beneficial for executive control and could have positive long-term effects by delaying the onset of symptoms of degenerative diseases. This research investigates, for the first time, the impact of bilingualism on executive control (monitoring and inhibitory control) in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease which commonly causes deficiencies in the cognitive system. Bilingual and monolingual adults, with and without an MS diagnosis, performed a flanker task with two degrees of monitoring demands (high monitoring vs. low monitoring). Results showed that bilingual MS patients had inhibitory control and monitoring abilities that were similar to healthy bilingual controls. In contrast, monolingual MS patients showed similar inhibitory control but significantly worse monitoring abilities compared to monolingual healthy controls. We propose that the similar behaviour between bilingual groups suggests that bilingualism might counteract cognitive deficits related to MS, especially with respect to monitoring. The high monitoring cost observed in monolingual patients seems related to underlying deficits in monitoring and possibly switching, executive control abilities commonly impaired in MS patients from early stages. Our findings provide some preliminary evidence for the cognitive reserve hypothesis in bilingual MS patients

A Two-Photon Probe Based on Naphthalimide-Styrene Fluorophore for the In Vivo Tracking of Cellular Senescence

Cellular senescence is a state of stable cell cycle arrest that can negatively affect the regenerative capacities of tissues and can contribute to inflammation and the progression of various aging-related diseases. Advances in the in vivo detection of cellular senescence are still crucial to monitor the action of senolytic drugs and to assess the early onset or accumulation of senescent cells. Here, we describe a naphthalimide-styrene-based probe (HeckGal) for the detection of cellular senescence both in vitro and in vivo. HeckGal is hydrolyzed by the increased lysosomal β-galactosidase activity of senescent cells, resulting in fluorescence emission. The probe was validated in vitro using normal human fibroblasts and various cancer cell lines undergoing senescence induced by different stress stimuli. Remarkably, HeckGal was also validated in vivo in an orthotopic breast cancer mouse model treated with senescence-inducing chemotherapy and in a renal fibrosis mouse model. In all cases, HeckGal allowed the unambiguous detection of senescence in vitro as well as in tissues and tumors in vivo. This work is expected to provide a potential technology for senescence detection in aged or damaged tissues

Axonal Guidance Using Biofunctionalized Straining Flow Spinning Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers as Scaffold

After an injury, the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system makes the reconnection and functional recovery of the affected nervous tissue almost impossible. To address this problem, biomaterials appear as a promising option for the design of scaffolds that promote and guide this regenerative process. Based on previous seminal works on the ability of regenerated silk fibroin fibers spun through the straining flow spinning (SFS) technique, this study is intended to show that the usage of functionalized SFS fibers allows an enhancement of the guidance ability of the material when compared with the control (nonfunctionalized) fibers. It is shown that the axons of the neurons not only tend to follow the path marked by the fibers, in contrast to the isotropic growth observed on conventional culture plates, but also that this guidance can be further modulated through the biofunctionalization of the material with adhesion peptides. Establishing the guidance ability of these fibers opens the possibility of their use as implants for spinal cord injuries, so that they may represent the core of a therapy that would allow the reconnection of the injured ends of the spinal cord.Unidad Docente de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Óptica y OptometríaTRUEMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación de EspañaComunidad de Madrid (España)Banco Santander (España)Universidad Complutense de Madrid (España)pu