Crisis económica y financiera. La respuesta de la UE: una evaluación de las políticas aplicadas y un análisis de las ineficiencias creadas.

VIII Premio de investigación Francisco Javier de Landaburu. Universitas 200

Segmentación automática de estudios PET cardíacos con ¹³NH_3 basada en correlación iterativa

Actas de: XXVIII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Española de Ingeniería Biomédica (CASEIB 2010). Madrid, 24-26 de noviembre de 2010.La obtención de la función de entrada en estudios dinámicos de corazón a partir de la imagen PET se realiza habitualmente mediante la selección previa de una región de interés (ROI) o utilizando procedimientos de análisis factorial para encontrar aquellas curvas actividad/tiempo que mejor se adaptan a la función de entrada. En este trabajo se presenta un método novedoso de segmentación automática y obtención de la función de entrada que utiliza mapas de correlación calculados sobre estudios dinámicos que emplean ¹³NH_3 como trazador. Partiendo de un modelo analítico inicial, se buscan las curvas temporales más parecidas en el estudio real empleando la correlación. Tomando como datos estas curvas se calculan nuevos modelos con los que realizar sucesivas iteraciones. El resultado final es tanto una segmentación automática como la curva de actividad/tiempo de cada región segmentada.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, TEC2007-64731, TEC 2008-06715-C02-1, la RETIC-RECAVA del Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, y el programa ARTEMIS S2009/DPI-1802 de la Comunidad de Madrid.Publicad

jClustering, an open framework for the development of 4D clustering algorithms

We present jClustering, an open framework for the design of clustering algorithms in dynamic medical imaging. We developed this tool because of the difficulty involved in manually segmenting dynamic PET images and the lack of availability of source code for published segmentation algorithms. Providing an easily extensible open tool encourages publication of source code to facilitate the process of comparing algorithms and provide interested third parties with the opportunity to review code. The internal structure of the framework allows an external developer to implement new algorithms easily and quickly, focusing only on the particulars of the method being implemented and not on image data handling and preprocessing. This tool has been coded in Java and is presented as an ImageJ plugin in order to take advantage of all the functionalities offered by this imaging analysis platform. Both binary packages and source code have been published, the latter under a free software license (GNU General Public License) to allow modification if necessary.Funded by TEC2011-28972-C02-01, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, CEN-20101014; Programa CENIT-CDTI, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; S2009/DPI-1802 (ARTEMIS), Comunidad de Madrid. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Publicad

Detection and Quantification of HspX Antigen in Sputum Samples Using Plasmonic Biosensing : Toward a Real Point-of-Care (POC) for Tuberculosis Diagnosis

Advancements that occurred during the last years in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis infection, have prompted increased survival rates of patients. However, limitations related to the inefficiency of an early detection still remain; some techniques and laboratory methods do not have enough specificity and most instruments are expensive and require handling by trained staff. In order to contribute to a prompt and effective diagnosis of tuberculosis, we report the development of a portable, user-friendly, and low-cost biosensor device for its early detection. By using a label-free surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, we have established a direct immunoassay for the direct detection and quantification of the heat shock protein X (HspX) of Mtb, a well-established biomarker of this pathogen, directly in pretreated sputum samples. The method relies on highly specific monoclonal antibodies that are previously immobilized on the plasmonic sensor surface. This technology allows for the direct detection of the biomarker without amplification steps, showing a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.63 ng mL-1 and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.12 ng mL-1. The direct analysis in pretreated sputum shows significant differences in the HspX concentration in patients with tuberculosis (with concentration levels in the order of 116-175 ng mL-1) compared with non-tuberculosis infected patients (values below the LOQ of the assay)

Iterative Automatic Segmentation in cardiac PET based on TAC correlation: preliminary results

Proceeding of: 2010 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and 17th Room Temperature Semiconductor Detector Workshop (IEEE), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, October 30 - November 6, 2010Conventional kinetic parameter estimation based on compartmental models requires an accurate estimation of arterial blood input function. To avoid invasive blood sampling, an image-derived input function can be obtained by manually defining a Region of Interest. Here we propose a new and simple, iterative method for automatic segmentation and input function calculation of PET cardiac studies using correlation as a distance metric between a priori information regarding the approximate shape of the final time-activity curve (TAC) and the actual TAC extracted from the image temporal series.This work was supported in part by the CENIT-AMIT Ingenio 2010, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, TEC2007-64731, TEC 2008-06715-C02-1, RETIC-RECAVA, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, and the ARTEMIS de la Comunidad de Madrid (S2009/DPI-1802) programsPublicad

Automatic TAC extraction from dynamic cardiac PET imaging using iterative correlation from a population template

This work describes a new iterative method for extracting time-activity curves (TAC) from dynamic imaging studies using a priori information from generic models obtained from TAC templates. Analytical expressions of the TAC templates were derived from TACs obtained by manual segmentation of three 13NH3 pig studies (gold standard). An iterative method for extracting both ventricular and myocardial TACs using models of the curves obtained as an initial template was then implemented and tested. These TACs were extracted from masked and unmasked images; masking was applied to remove the lungs and surrounding non-relevant structures. The resulting TACs were then compared with TACs obtained manually; the results of kinetic analysis were also compared. Extraction of TACs for each region was sensitive to the presence of other organs (e.g., lungs) in the image. Masking the volume of interest noticeably reduces error. The proposed method yields good results in terms of TAC definition and kinetic parameter estimation, even when the initial TAC templates do not accurately match specific tracer kinetics.This work is supported by the following grants: RD07/0014/2009, Subprograma RETICS, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. S2009/DPI-1802 (ARTEMIS), Comunidad de Madrid. CEN-20101014, Programa CENIT, CDTI, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. European Commission, EFPIA, INNOVATIVE MEDICINE INITIATIVE (PredDICT-TB project, 115337-1)Publicad

Computed tomography assesment in the characterization of mouse model for Costello Syndrome

Proceeding of: 2008 World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC 2008), 10-13 september 2008. Nice, Franc

Los niños y niñas de 6 a 8 años reflexionan sobre las prácticas de educación parental: un análisis de su discurso desde la teoría de la autodeterminación

This work aims to explore the discourse of students from 6 to 8 years of age when they reflect on the dynamics of education used by their parents. To do this, we start from the theory of self-determination and reflect on the practices of support for autonomy and parental control present in the discourse of minors. In this sense, we found that the students' discourse revolves mainly around parental practices that support autonomy, such as the possibility of choosing leisure activities, communicating problems and concerns to parents, and the autonomous performance of some tasks by minors. However, there is also evidence that autonomy support practices converge with others related to parental control in certain situations.Este trabajo tiene como objetivo explorar el discurso de los estudiantes de 6 a 8 años de edad cuando reflexionan sobre las dinámicas de educación empleadas por sus progenitores. Para ello, partimos de la teoría de la autodeterminación y reflexionamos sobre las prácticas de apoyo a la autonomía y de control parental presentes en el discurso de los menores. En este sentido, comprobamos que el discurso de los estudiantes gira, principalmente, en torno a prácticas parentales de apoyo a la autonomía como la posibilidad de elección de actividades de ocio, la comunicación de problemas y preocupaciones a los progenitores y el desempeño autónomo de algunas tareas por parte de los menores. Sin embargo, también hay evidencias de que las prácticas de apoyo a la autonomía convergen con otras relacionadas con el control parental en determinadas situaciones

Patrimonio geopaleontológico de los depósitos aluviales situados sobre la terraza +28 m del Jarama. Nuevos datos micropaleontológicos y cronológicos (Solar de la Real Fábrica de Paños de San Fernando de Henares)

Trabajo presentado en la Reunión de Arqueología Madrileña, celebrada en Alcalá de Henares el 20 y 21 de noviembre de 2014.[ES] Durante los trabajos de vigilancia de los movimientos de tierras asociados a la obra de la construcción de viviendas en el solar de la Real Fábrica de Paños (en adelante RFP) de San Fernando de Henares se documentaron materiales geológicos de edad miocena y cuaternaria con un contacto lateral dinámico entre ellos, constituido por una falla extensional de dirección norte-sur. En los niveles cuaternarios se registraron numerosos restos paleontológicos y algunas piezas de industria lítica. Según los estudios preliminares geomorfológicos y de macromamíferos (Tapias y Arango 2008; Yravedra et al. 2008; Dones et al. 2011) se asignó una cronología genérica de Pleistoceno Medio, confirmada por la datación obtenida por racemización de aminoácidos de un molar de Equus caballus (304 ka). En este trabajo se aportan nuevos datos a partir de la revisión y estudio de los restos de micromamíferos recuperados en la unidad 3. La presencia de Microtus brecciensis y M. arvalis en la base de los depósitos aluviales posibilita su adscripción cronológica al Pleistoceno Medio avanzado (MIS 8 o MIS 6).[EN] During the monitoring of the movements of land associated with the work of the construction of homes in the Solar of the Royal Factory of Cloths of San Fernando de Henares, some geological materials of Miocene and Quaternary age were documented. Numerous paleontological remains and some stone tools have been registered in these quaternary levels. According to geomorphological preliminary studies and macromammals (Tapias y Arango 2008; Yravedra et al. 2008; Dones et al. 2011) a generic Middle Pleistocene chronology was assigned. This was confirmed by the aminoacids racemization dating of Equus caballus molar (304 ka) This paper provides new data of the remains of micromammals recovered. The faunal assemblage, with Microtus brecciensis and M arvalis found at the base of the alluvial deposits, has allowed reviewing previous studies. It could be more specific on the geochronological and paleoenviromental contextualization of remains and materials that could be assigned to advanced Middle Pleistocene (MIS 8 or MIS 6).Peer reviewe

Validating a model of effective teaching behaviour and student engagement:perspectives from Spanish students

Research consistently shows that teaching behaviour is a highly-important indicator of learning environments. Based on a teacher effectiveness model with six observable teaching behaviour domains (safe learning climate, efficient classroom management, clarity of instruction, activating teaching, teaching–learning strategies, and differentiation), the present paper examines the psychometric quality of the My Teacher questionnaire for capturing student perceptions of teaching behaviour in the Spanish secondary-education context. Additionally, this study validated the model of teaching behaviour and student engagement and its relevance in Spain. 7114 students of 410 teachers attending 56 public and private Spanish schools constituted the sample. The six teaching behavioural dimensions model were confirmed in the Spanish context. Regarding student academic engagement, the presence of two domains (behavioural and emotional engagement) were confirmed. Furthermore, results of a multiple-group structural equation modeling path analysis, examining the relationship between teaching behaviour and student engagement across different teaching experiences, revealed differential effects of teaching behaviour influences on students’ engagement. The percentage of explained variance was larger for emotional engagement than for behavioural engagement. Furthermore, teachers’ teaching experience explained differences in the relationship between perceived teaching behaviour and engagement. Two domains (learning climate and activating teaching) appeared to be the two most-important teaching domains for students’ behavioural engagement while, for emotional engagement, the most important domains for student engagement were learning climate and teaching learning strategies