Cognitive Rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Disease: Evidence from Neuroimaging

Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has received little attention to date and as such, there are currently very few treatment options available. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cognitive training might alleviate these cognitive symptoms and if so, whether such changes might be correlated with altered brain patterns. The performance of 10 PD patients and 10 paired healthy controls was assessed in a modified version of the Stroop task performed in association with functional magnetic resonance imaging, and half of the PD patients were given 6 months of cognitive daily training based on Sudoku exercises. Results showed that the training program improved the cognitive performance in the Stroop test of the trained Parkinson’s patients during MRI, specifically in terms of reaction time, and of correct and missing answers. Moreover, training provoked reduced cortical activation patterns with respect to untrained patients that were comparable to the patterns of activation observed in controls. Based on these findings, we propose that cognitive training can contribute significantly to save brain resources in PD patients, maybe by readdressing the imbalance caused by the alterations to inhibitory circuitry. Furthermore, these data strongly support the development and use of standardized cognitive training programs in PD patients

A Soft Computing System to Perform Face Milling Operations

In this paper we present a soft computing system developed to optimize the face milling operation under High Speed conditions in the manufacture of steel components like molds with deep cavities. This applied research presents a multidisciplinary study based on the application of neural projection models in conjunction with identification systems, in order to find the optimal operating conditions in this industrial issue. Sensors on a milling centre capture the data used in this industrial case study defined under the frame of a machine-tool that manufactures industrial tools. The presented model is based on a two-phase application. The first phase uses a neural projection model capable of determine if the data collected is informative enough. The second phase is focus on identifying a model for the face milling process based on low-order models such as Black Box ones. The whole system is capable of approximating the optimal form of the model. Finally, it is shown that the Box-Jenkins algorithm, which calculates the function of a linear system from its input and output samples, is the most appropriate model to control such industrial task for the case of steel tools

A Soft Computing System to Perform Face Milling Operations

In this paper we present a soft computing system developed to optimize the face milling operation under High Speed conditions in the manufacture of steel components like molds with deep cavities. This applied research presents a multidisciplinary study based on the application of neural projection models in conjunction with identification systems, in order to find the optimal operating conditions in this industrial issue. Sensors on a milling centre capture the data used in this industrial case study defined under the frame of a machine-tool that manufactures industrial tools. The presented model is based on a two-phase application. The first phase uses a neural projection model capable of determine if the data collected is informative enough. The second phase is focus on identifying a model for the face milling process based on low-order models such as Black Box ones. The whole system is capable of approximating the optimal form of the model. Finally, it is shown that the Box-Jenkins algorithm, which calculates the function of a linear system from its input and output samples, is the most appropriate model to control such industrial task for the case of steel tools

Materiales docentes en formato audio. Podcasts de Historia Contemporánea

Memoria ID-0310. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

La producción cinematográfica como instrumento para la reconstrucción del pasado. Un eficaz recurso pedagógico para la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la historia y del arte

Memoria ID-0173. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2016-2017

Dose of furosemide before admission predicts diuretic efficiency and long-term prognosis in acute heart failure

Aims: The outpatient diuretic dose is a marker of diuretic resistance and prognosis in chronic heart failure (HF). Still, the impact of the preadmission dose on diuretic efficiency (DE) and prognosis in acute HF is not fully known. Methods and results: we conducted an observational and prospective study. All patients admitted for acute HF treated with intravenous diuretic and at least one criterion of congestion on admission were evaluated. Decongestion [physical examination, hemoconcentration, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) change, and lung ultrasound], DE (weight loss and urine output per unit of 40 mg furosemide), and urinary sodium were monitored on the fifth day of admission. DE was dichotomized into high-low based on the median value. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted to find predictors of HF readmission or mortality. A total of 105 patients were included between July 2017 and July 2019. Mean age was 74.5 ± 12.0 years, 64.8% were male, 33.3% had de novo HF, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 46 ± 17%. Median follow-up was 26 [15-35] months. Low DE based on weight loss was associated with a higher previous dose of furosemide (odds ratio [OR] 1.01 [1.00-1.02]), thiazide treatment before admission (OR 9.37 [2.19-40.14]), and lower diastolic blood pressure (OR 0.95 [0.91-0.98]) in the multivariate regression model. Only previous dose of furosemide (OR 1.01 [1.00-1.02]) and haemoglobin at admission (OR 0.76 [0.58-0.99]) were associated with low DE based on urine output in the multivariate analysis. The correlation between the previous dose of furosemide and DE based on weight loss was poor (r = -0.12; P = 0.209) and with DE based on urine output was weak to moderate (r = -0.33; P 80 mg in ADHF identified patients with particularly poor prognosis (log-rank < 0.001). In ADHF, the preadmission dose of furosemide (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34 [1.08-1.67] per 40 mg) and NT-proBNP at admission (HR 1.03 [1.01-1.06] per 1000 pg/mL) were independently associated with mortality or HF readmission in the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: the outpatient dose of furosemide before acute HF admission predicts DE and must be taken into account when deciding on the initial diuretic dose. In ADHF, the outpatient dose of furosemide can predict long-term prognosis better than DE during hospitalization

Uso docente de recursos digitales: testimonio y discursos de los artistas

Memoria ID-0168. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016

Range Contraction and Population Decline of the European Dupont’s Lark Population

The Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti) is an endangered passerine typical of Mediterranean shrub-steppes, whose European distribution is restricted to Spain. Here, we update the population size and distribution range of the species at a European scale and evaluate (i) the current status; (ii) the change in population size and distribution range of the species from 2004 to 2009 to the current period (2017–2022); and (iii) the effectiveness of the current network of special protection areas (SPAs) for protecting the Dupont’s lark. The European Dupont’s lark population showed a decrease of 29.9%, declining from ca. 3267 to 2289 territorial males from 2004 to 2009 to the current period. Moreover, the species has suffered a contraction in its distribution range of 35.9%, with only 39.3% of the species’ territories located within the current network of SPAs. Our findings agree with the previously described decline of the Dupont’s lark in Europe. The population decline was even larger in peripheral regions, which suggests that the species is suffering a centripetal process of contraction and extinction. These results indicate that if there is no change in present-day declining forces, several peripheral populations will reach extinction in a few decades and the overall population size of the species will continue decreasing. Our study should be considered as a last call for action and used for implementing urgent conservation measures to protect the species and its habitat. Future studies should focus on analyzing and managing the factors driving the species’ extinction and future actions for the conservation of the species should focus on increasing the percentage of the Dupont’s lark territories within protected areas, since the data are alarmingly low for a species that is facing clear risk of extinction