Classification of red grapes according to their state of ripeness using a low-cost multispectral device

[ES] El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la idoneidad de un sensor multiespectral de bajo costo para la determinación del estado de maduración de uvas tintas. El dispositivo propuesto se basa en un sensor multiespectral, con 18 bandas de detección en el rango entre los 410 y los 940 nm. La recogida de muestras se llevó a cabo en un viñedo comercial situado en Rociana del Condado, Huelva. El dispositivo propuesto se utilizó para adquirir la respuesta espectral de 80 racimos de uva en condiciones de laboratorio. Tras esto, cada una de las muestras fue analizada mediante métodos estándar de laboratorio para obtener indicadores objetivos de su estado de maduración (sólidos solubles totales y acidez). Los 18 valores de reflectancia ofrecidos por el sensor fueron usados como datos de entrada para entrenar redes neuronales artificiales para la clasificación de las muestras de uva en función de los parámetros objetivo. Los resultados obtenidos fueron prometedores, lo cual allana el camino hacia la implementación de un sistema para la monitorización del estado de maduración de uvas asequible para los vinicultores.[EN] The present work aims to evaluate a low-cost multispectral device for non-destructive grape ripening status assessment. The proposed device is based on a multispectral sensor, with a spectral response of 18 channels in a range from 410 to 940 nm. The experimental validation was carried out in a commercial vineyard in Rociana del Condado, Huelva. The proposed device was used to analyze 80 grape samples under laboratory conditions. After being processed with the proposed device the grape samples were analyzed with standard chemical methods to generate ground truth values of ripening status indicators (solid soluble content, and acidity). The 18-reflectance data corresponding to the spectral channels of the employed sensor, were used as input variables for developing artificial neural network models to classify the berries samples based on the mentioned ripeness indicators. The obtained results were promising, which paves the way for the implementation of a portable grape ripening appraisal system affordable for grape growers

Impact of a new palliative care consultation team on opioid prescription in a University Hospital

There are no validated measuring tools to gauge the effectiveness of a Hospital Palliative Care Consultation Team (PCCT). One way would be to consider its effect on the consumption of opioids expressed in total amounts and different formulations administered. We perform this study to evaluate the impact of a hospital PCCT on the trends of opioid prescription in a University Hospital. Methods: A seven year retrospective study on opioid prescription was carried out in the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. The period includes three years before and three years after the PCCT was implemented. Prescription was analysed calculating yearly the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) adjusted to 1000 hospital stays (DDD/1000HS). Indicators considered were the proportion of patients treated using opioids compared to the total estimated in need of treatment (rate of effectiveness) and the proportion of patients potentially requiring opioids but not treated who were incorporated into the treatment group (rate of improvement). Results: From 2001 to 2007, total opioid prescription was low in non-oncology Departments (range: 69–110 DDD/1000HS) while parenteral morphine and fentanyl did not register any changes. In the same period of time, total opioid prescription increased in the Oncology Department from 240 to 558 DDD/1000HS. The rate of effectiveness in the three years prior to the implantation of the consultation team was 64% and in the three following years rose to 87%. The rate of improvement prior to the palliative care consultation team was 43% and in the three following years was 64%. A change in opioid prescription was registered after the implementation of the PCCT resulting in an increase in the prescription of parenteral morphine and methadone and a decrease in transdermal fentanyl. Conclusion: Implementation of a PCCT in a University Hospital is associated with a higher and more adequate use of opioids

Common principles and best practices for engineering microbiomes

Despite broad scientific interest in harnessing the power of Earth's microbiomes, knowledge gaps hinder their efficient use for addressing urgent societal and environmental challenges. We argue hat structuring research and technology developments around a design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle will advance microbiome engineering and spur new discoveries on the basic scientific principles governing microbiome function. In this Review, we present key elements of an iterative DBTL cycle for microbiome engineering, focusing on generalizable approaches, including top-down and bottom-up design processes, synthetic and self-assembled construction methods, and emerging tools to analyze microbiome function. These approaches can be used to harness microbiomes for broad applications related to medicine, agriculture, energy, and the environment. We also discuss key challenges and opportunities of each approach and synthesize them into best practice guidelines for engineering microbiomes. We anticipate that adoption of a DBTL framework will rapidly advance microbiome-based biotechnologies aimed at improving human and animal health, agriculture, and enabling the bioeconomy

Pharmacinema: teaching resource in the learning of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy

Introducción: El objetivo prioritario de la actividad Farmacinema es favorecer el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Farmacología (Licenciatura o Grado en Farmacia), con una metodología complementaria a la empleada en la enseñanza tradicional, utilizando películas comerciales para reforzar aspectos terapéuticos y bioéticos. Los estudiantes.Metodología: Los estudiantes pueden asistir a 3 sesiones distintas durante el curso: 2 en grupo amplio (80-100 estudiantes) y una sesión en grupos reducidos (16), que se realiza en las prácticas de Farmacia Clínica. Las películas seleccionadas han sido: El aceite de la vida y Despertares en las sesiones generales, en el primer y segundo trimestre de curso, respectivamente; Los chicos de la señorita Evers y El jardinero fiel en las sesiones en prácticas. En cada sesión el procedimiento utilizado es similar: breve introducción sobre las características técnicas más importantes de la película así como los puntos fuertes, aspectos a destacar para enfocar el interés de los estudiantes a lo que creemos más útil para conseguir los objetivos propuestos; visualización de la película y debate. Para motivar la atención del alumno hacia estos “puntos fuertes”, se les entrega un tríptico con la información básica sobre la película y con una serie de cuestiones que tienen que ir contestando a lo largo de la sesión o bien al acabar ésta. Estas cuestiones sirven de base para plantear y suscitar el debate. Resultados y conclusión: La asistencia es voluntaria y ha ido aumentando en los tres años que se ha ofertado esta actividad. Los estudiantes valoran muy positivamente el Farmacinema.Introduction: The main objective of Pharmacinema is to favour the teaching-learning process of Pharmacology students of the School of Pharmacy, as a complementary method to the conventionally used one, using commercial movies to reinforce therapeutic and bioethical aspects. Methodology: Students may assist to 3 different sessions throughout the school year: 2 in big groups (80-100 students) and one in small groups (16 students) to be performed during the practical lessons of Clinical Pharmacy. The selected movies were: Lorenzo’s oil and Awakenings for the general sessions of the first and second trimesters respectively, Mrs Evers’ boys and The constant gardener for the practical lessons sessions. The procedure used for each session was similar: a brief introduction stating the major technical characteristics of the movie ant the strong points, aspects to be pointed out in order to address the students’ interest towards what we consider most relevant to achieve the proposed objectives; movie visualization and debate. To motivate the student’s attention towards these strong points, the students received a flyer with the basic information about the movie and a series of questions that they have to answer during or at the end of the session. These questions also are used as a start point for the debate. Results and conclusion: Assistance to the general sessions is voluntary, and has increased over the three years in which this activity has been offered. Students have evaluated Pharmacinema as a very positive activity

Tareas escolares en pandemia. Percepción parental de los cambios asociados a la digitalización de la educación

This descriptive-inferential research aims to compare the parental assessment of 1,787 families with respect to schoolwork in times of confinement according to the nationality and level of education of the families. The results show that immigrant families identify more changes in schoolwork in all aspects except for emotional exhaustion. In addition, the educational level of both parents has a significant impact on some study variables such as emotional distress, perceived increase in time spent on homework and promotion of the positive effects of homework.En la presente investigación de corte descriptivo-inferencial se pretende conocer la valoración parental de 1.787 familias respecto a la transformación que han experimentado las tareas escolares durante el confinamiento en función de la nacionalidad y el nivel de estudios de los progenitores. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que las familias inmigrantes identifican más cambios en las tareas escolares en todos los aspectos, a excepción del desgaste emocional. Además, el nivel de estudios de ambos progenitores incide de forma significativa en algunas variables del estudio, como el malestar emocional, el aumento de tiempo percibido en las tareas o la promoción de los efectos positivos de los deberes

Solution of the Kwiecinski evolution equations for unintegrated parton distributions using the Mellin transform

The Kwiecinski equations for the QCD evolution of the unintegrated parton distributions in the transverse-coordinate space (b) are analyzed with the help of the Mellin-transform method. The equations are solved numerically in the general case, as well as in a small-b expansion which converges fast for b Lambda_QCD sufficiently small. We also discuss the asymptotic limit of large bQ and show that the distributions generated by the evolution decrease with b according to a power law. Numerical results are presented for the pion distributions with a simple valence-like initial condition at the low scale, following from chiral large-N_c quark models. We use two models: the Spectral Quark Model and the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. Formal aspects of the equations, such as the analytic form of the b-dependent anomalous dimensions, their analytic structure, as well as the limits of unintegrated parton densities at x -> 0, x -> 1, and at large b, are discussed in detail. The effect of spreading of the transverse momentum with the increasing scale is confirmed, with growing asymptotically as Q^2 alpha(Q^2). Approximate formulas for for each parton species is given, which may be used in practical applications.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, RevTe

Students' perception on learning methods in engineering disciplines

This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here (please insert the web address here). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.[EN] Purpose - This study explores the preferences for learning methods among the students of seven engineering disciplines in a Spanish technical university. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the students' views and from them contribute to the knowledge of the effectiveness of learning methodologies. Design/methodology/approach - An online anonymous questionnaire survey was adopted to collect students' perceptions. Seven learning methods were compared in seven engineering degrees. The authors sampled 1660 students, and 426 completed responses were analysed. In addition to a descriptive analysis of the results, a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was performed using R data processing software. Findings - It was found that project-based learning and problem-based learning were perceived as the more effective ones. MCA identified response patterns between the preference and the efficiency of learning methods showing that students can be classified into two groups according to their preferred level of activeness in learning. Research limitations/implications - The study focusses on a single technical university and not all engineering degrees could be sampled. However, five different engineering fields were studied and no significant differences among them were found. Practical implications - The results add up to the known literature showing that students have different learning needs and consequently they perceive some methods as more effective. Instructors can use this information to strengthen their learning activities. Results also suggest that students can be classified into two groups in relation to their level of activeness in learning. This can also help to enhance general student motivation if two paths with different levels of activeness are planned. Originality/value - No previous studies have compared several learning methods in different engineering fields. Thus, this study contributes to fill this gap and contributes to the body of evidence around learning methodologies from the perspective of students.Vidal Rodriguez, B.; Fenollosa Ribera, ML.; Ribal, J.; Sanchis Kilders, P.; García-Rupérez, J.; Bes-Piá, M.; Blasco-Tamarit, E.... (2022). Students' perception on learning methods in engineering disciplines. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 14(3):946-957. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-01-2021-0041S94695714

Spanish "fine tuning" of language to describe depression and anxiety

On screening tools for emotional distress, the terms "depression" and "anxiety" are commonly used for patients with advanced cancer. However, these terms could have negative connotations in Spanish such that cultural and unexpected differences in perception may invalidate or skew the results of the screening if the best terms are not chosen. The goal of this study was to determine the best expression that can be used to explore anxiety and depression in Spanish. A prospective study of 100 Spanish-speaking patients was performed. Spanish patients with cancer completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and six Verbal Numerical Scales (VNS) exploring the level of anxiety using the terms ansioso (anxious), nervioso (nervous), or intranquilo (uneasy/disquiet), and the level of depression using the terms deprimido (depressed), desanimado (discouraged), or triste (sad). The correlation, sensitivity, and specificity for all the VNS and HADS (8 and 11 cutoff points) were analyzed. The correlation (Spearman rho) between HADS and the anxiety VNS was r = 0.557 using "anxious"; r = 0.603 using "nervous"; and r = 0.594 using "uneasy." The correlation for the depression VNS was r = 0.662 using "depression"; r = 0.759 using "discouraged" and r = 0.596 using "sad"; alpha < 0.001 was used in all VNS. A cutoff point of 4 of 10 for any term used to explore anxiety achieved the best levels for sensitivity (0.80) and specificity (0.70). The term "discouraged" with a cutoff point of 4 of 10 shows a sensitivity of 0.89, a specificity of 0.84, as well as a predictive positive value of 0.77 and a negative value of 0.93. In Spanish, the term desanimado seems to be more suitable in screening for depression. Alternate terms could be used to explore anxiety in Spanish. Exploring depression with simple questions in Spanish achieves greater accuracy than the same approach to exploring anxiety

Structural and dielectric properties of Sr2_{2}TiO4_{4} from first principles

We have investigated the structural and dielectric properties of Sr$_{2}$TiO$_{4}$,the first member of the Sr$_{n+1}$Ti$_{n}$O$_{3n+1}$ Ruddlesden-Popper series, within density functional theory. Motivated by recent work in which thin films of Sr$_{2}$TiO$_{4}$ were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on SrTiO$_{3}$ substrates, the in-plane lattice parameter was fixed to the theoretically optimized lattice constant of cubic SrTiO$_{3}$ (n=$\infty$), while the out-of-plane lattice parameter and the internal structural parameters were relaxed. The fully relaxed structure was also investigated. Density functional perturbation theory was used to calculate the zone-center phonon frequencies, Born effective charges, and the electronic dielectric permittivity tensor. A detailed study of the contribution of individual infrared-active modes to the static dielectric permittivity tensor was performed. The calculated Raman and infrared phonon frequencies were found to be in agreement with experiment where available. Comparisons of the calculated static dielectric permittivity with experiments on both ceramic powders and epitaxial thin films are discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, 8 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev.