La revolución del big data: baloncesto 2.0

Treball final de Grau en Periodisme. Codi: PE0932. Curs acadèmic 2015-201

The memory associative test of the district of Seine-Saint-Denis (tma-93) validation as Alzheimer's disease diagnosis test

INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia (60-80%). Loss of binding and difficulties in encoding new information are early signs of hippocampal dysfunction and may facilitate an early AD diagnosis, a challenge for clinicians who evaluate patients with memory complaints. To detect hippocampal dysfunction, we employ screening and memory tests. As we live in a low-educated population area, verbal memory tests have several limitations. In this context, we aimed to validate the "Associative memory test of the Seine-Saint-Denis district" TMA-93, which examines "visual relational binding." Through this doctoral work, we travel to TMA-93 validation and normative studies. METHODS AND RESULTS In the preliminary TMA-93 validation (phase I), we compared its diagnostic accuracy with FCSRT to differentiate patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from Healthy Controls (HCs), including 41.7% low-educated participants. ROC curve analysis determined an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.89 - 1.00, p <.001) to distinguish between aMCI patients and HCs. The TMA-93 accuracy did not show significant differences with the FCSRT. Within the test reliability, the TMA-93 internal consistency between the related pictures was "optimal" (Cronbach's alpha = 0.936). TMA-93 showed a “good” test-retest reliability at 2-4 months for HCs [ICC = 0.802 (95% CI = 0.653 - 0.887)], suggesting stability in the over-time performance. The inter-rater TMA-93 reliability was “optimal” for the total score [ICC = 0.999, 95% CI 0.999 - 1], number of errors [ICC = 0.996, 95% CI 0.993 - 0.998], and number of intrusions [ ICC = 0.985, 95% CI 0.974- 0.992]. All participants completed the test, without significant differences in administration time regarding educational level, with an average time of 6 minutes in aMCI patients. TMA-93 Spanish normative study provides normative percentiles data through a systematized recruitment study on an 1131 participants' sample. We describe the healthy population's reference scores with a broad representation of our region's community. TMA-93 total score was influenced by age and educational level, but not by gender. We finally validated the test’s diagnostic accuracy by comparing TMA-93 and FCSRT variables’ predictive value with biomarkers’ result (CSF or Amyloid-PET), considered the Gold-Standard. TMA-93 demonstrated "reasonable" diagnostic utility in discriminating between "positive" and "negative" biomarker groups (AUC = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.62 - 0.82, p <.001), higher than FCSRT variables. The sequential use of the TMA-93 after the pictorial FCSRT increased the diagnostic sensitivity up to 95.3%. DISCUSSION TMA-93 uses ten semantically related pairs of drawings, assessing binding. Binding ability decreases in prodromal AD so that it could facilitate an early diagnosis. TMA-93 is a specific memory test suitable for elder and low-educated patients. It is probably more accurate for diagnosing aMCI than others testing episodic memory, and its short administration time turns the test suitable for Primary Care or General Neurology outpatient clinics, in which there is limited time per patient. We first validated TMA-93, comparing its diagnostic accuracy with FCSRT to differentiate aMCI patients from HCs, finding a similar diagnostic accuracy. Afterwards, we studied test’s reliability, finding an “optimal” internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.936), “good” test-retest, and “optimal” inter-rater reliability. TMA-93 showed itself feasible as all participants completed the test in an average time of 6 minutes in aMCI patients. Through the normative study, we provide normative percentiles data through a representative population. TMA-93 was influenced by age and educational level but not by gender. This study showed wide variations of the 5th and 10th TMA-93 percentiles, lower for the older and less educated groups, suggesting that the ability to learn by visual association is lower and more sensitive to aging in the low-educated group. We finally validated TMA-93 by comparing it and the FCSRT variables with biomarkers (Gold Standard). The TMA-93 demonstrated "reasonable" diagnostic utility in discriminating between biomarker groups (positive or negative). Memory impaired patients with an MMSE ≥ 22 and TMA-93 total score ≤ 5th and 10th percentiles showed 75% and 86% sensitivity and 41% and 29% specificity, respectively, for AD biological diagnosis. These high sensitivity values position the TMA-93 as a good memory screening test, particularly for limited face-to-face time settings. Therefore, we propose the patients' memory examination to start with the TMA-93 (as screening), followed by the AD-pathology confirmation with the highest specific test at present: biomarkers. The sequential use of the TMA-93 after the pictorial FCSRT increased the diagnostic sensitivity up to 95.3%. CONCLUSIONS TMA-93 is highly discriminative to distinguish MCI patients without excluding loweducated individuals. It has a high internal consistency and precision, with high interobserver and good test-retest reliability. TMA-93 administration spends between 3-7 minutes, suitable for Primary Care. It seems as accurate as FCSRT to discriminate between positive and negative AD biomarkers' results, improved by adding TMA-93 to FCSRT variables. All together, position the test as a good screening tool in limit face-toface consultations

EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE PATTERN FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade,

Synaptic interactions between perifornical lateral hypothalamic area, locus coeruleus nucleus and the oral pontine reticular nucleus are implicated in the stage succession during sleep-wakefulness cycle

This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. it is reproduced with permissionThe perifornical area in the posterior lateral hypothalamus (PeFLH) has been implicated in several physiological functions including the sleep-wakefulness regulation. The PeFLH area contains several cell types including those expressing orexins (Orx; also known as hypocretins), mainly located in the PeF nucleus. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the synaptic interactions between Orx neurons located in the PeFLH area and different brainstem neurons involved in the generation of wakefulness and sleep stages such as the locus coeruleus (LC) nucleus (contributing to wakefulness) and the oral pontine reticular nucleus (PnO) nucleus (contributing to REM sleep). Anatomical data demonstrated the existence of a neuronal network involving the PeFLH area, LC, and the PnO nuclei that would control the sleep-wake cycle. Electrophysiological experiments indicated that PeFLH area had an excitatory effect on LC neurons. PeFLH stimulation increased the firing rate of LC neurons and induced an activation of the EEG. The excitatory effect evoked by PeFLH stimulation in LC neurons was blocked by the injection of the Orx-1 receptor antagonist SB-334867 into the LC. Similar electrical stimulation of the PeFLH area evoked an inhibition of PnO neurons by activation of GABAergic receptors because the effect was blocked by bicuculline application into the PnO. Our data also revealed that the LC and PnO nuclei exerted a feedback control on neuronal activity of PeFLH area. Electrical stimulation of LC facilitated firing activity of PeFLH neurons by activation of catecholaminergic receptors whereas PnO stimulation inhibited PeFLH neurons by activation of GABAergic receptors. In conclusion, Orx neurons of the PeFLH area seem to be an important organizer of the wakefulness and sleep stages in order to maintain a normal succession of stages during the sleep-wakefulness cycl

The Semiotics of images in Archaeology: the case of ‘shell-like motifs’

En sociedades carentes de escritura o de otro soporte material del texto lingüístico, la imagen es, frecuentemente, uno de los respaldos discursivos más corrientes de la ideología de grupo. La imagen, tal como aparece en el arte rupestre, en la cerámica o en la textilería arqueológicas, tiene mucho para decir sobre cómo se pensaron a sí mismas y cómo pensaron el mundo culturas hoy desaparecidas; así también, sobre cómo se dieron en ellas las disputas por el poder que es, siguiendo a Anthony Giddens, uno de los tres aspectos de la interacción social y al que el sociólogo británico entiende como “la aptitud de producir una diferencia en un estado de cosas o curso de sucesos preexistentes” (2011:23). Para el estudio de la imagen –en nuestro caso, la imagen arqueológica-, creemos que la semiótica peirceana es una herramienta sumamente útil, capaz de abrirnos camino a hipótesis interpretativas eficaces y bien sustentadas. De acuerdo a estos lineamientos, presentamos el análisis semiótico de las representaciones de hachas personificadas, conocidas como “escutiformes”, cuya presencia en el arte rupestre tardío del Noroeste argentino (s. X – XV), se ha asociado siempre a la idea de surgimiento y consolidación de individuos o élites de poder que pugnan por el control de determinados territorios y recursos, en un contexto de conflicto endémico que, en este lapso, afectó a gran parte de la comunidades andinas centromeridionales.Within societies which do not possess any writing system or another material support for linguistic texts, images frequently are one of the common discursive endorsements of group ideology. The image, as it appears in rock art, ceramics or archaeological textiles, has much to say on how disappeared cultures thought about themselves and the world, as well as on the fight over power that is, following Anthony Giddens, one of the three aspects of social interaction, understood as “the ability to produce a difference on a state of things or a preexistent events course” (Giddens 2011:23). If we want to analyze and study images –in our case, archaeological images-, peircean semeiotics is an extremely useful tool, very able to lay way for us to well sustained and effective interpretative hypotheses. Following these lines, we present hereby the semeiotic analysis of representations of personified axes, known as “escutiformes”, whose presence in the late rock art of Argentinean northwest area (s. X - XV), has always been associated to the idea of sprouting and consolidation of individuals or elites of power that struggled over the control of certain territories and resources, in a context of endemic conflict that affected great part of central and southern Andes communities during this period.Fil: Martel, Alvaro Rodrigo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Giraudo, Silvia Estela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentin

Aplicação de mapas de Kohonen à análise cinética da marcha humana

In recent years the use of artificial neural networks for classification and analysis of kinematic and kinetic characteristics of human locomotion has greatly increased. This happens in an attempt to overcome the limitations of traditional dynamic analysis and to find new clinical indicators for interpreting quick and objectively the large amount of information obtained in a gait lab. One of the most widely used neural networks for human gait analysis is the self-organizing or Kohonen map, based on unsupervised learning without prior definition of the formed natural groups. Among the advantages of using this type of neural network is the data dimensionality reduction, with minimal loss of information content, and the grouping of them in function of their similarities. Taking into account this, in this work an application case of a Kohonen map for clustering of locomotion kinetic characteristics in normal and Parkinson's disease individuals is presented. The results indicate that the groups identified by the map are consistent with the classification carried out by experts in function of traditional gait dynamic analysis, showing the potential of this technique for distinguishing between a population of individuals with normal gait and with gait disorders of different etiology.Nos últimos anos, tem aumentado significativamente o uso de redes neurais artificiais para a classificação e análise cinemática e cinética da marcha humana, em uma tentativa de superar as limitações da análise dinâmica tradicional e de encontrar novos indicadores clínicos para interpretar, de forma rápida e objetiva, a grande quantidade de informação obtida em laboratórios de marcha humana. Uma das redes neurais mais utilizadas para análise de marcha é o mapa de Kohonen ou mapa auto-organizado, baseado em aprendizado não supervisionado, sem uma definição prévia de grupos naturais que se formam. O uso deste tipo de rede neural tem mostrado benefícios significativos associados com a redução da dimensionalidade dos dados com mínima perda de conteúdo de informação e com o agrupamento de dados de acordo com suas semelhanças. Neste contexto, este trabalho apresenta um caso de aplicação de um mapa de Kohonen como classificador das características cinéticas da locomoção em indivíduos normais e com doença de Parkinson. Os resultados indicam que os grupos identificados no mapa são consistentes com a classificação feita por especialistas com base em análise dinâmica tradicional, que mostra o potencial desta técnica para diferenciar populações de indivíduos com marcha normal e de indivíduos com distúrbios da marcha de etiologia diferente.Fil: Rodrigo, Silvia Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Lescano Pastor, Claudia Noemí. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Rodrigo, Rodolfo Horacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Electromecánica; Argentin

Aplicação de mapas de Kohonen à análise cinética da marcha humana

In recent years the use of artificial neural networks for classification and analysis of kinematic and kinetic characteristics of human locomotion has greatly increased. This happens in an attempt to overcome the limitations of traditional dynamic analysis and to find new clinical indicators for interpreting quick and objectively the large amount of information obtained in a gait lab. One of the most widely used neural networks for human gait analysis is the self-organizing or Kohonen map, based on unsupervised learning without prior definition of the formed natural groups. Among the advantages of using this type of neural network is the data dimensionality reduction, with minimal loss of information content, and the grouping of them in function of their similarities. Taking into account this, in this work an application case of a Kohonen map for clustering of locomotion kinetic characteristics in normal and Parkinson's disease individuals is presented. The results indicate that the groups identified by the map are consistent with the classification carried out by experts in function of traditional gait dynamic analysis, showing the potential of this technique for distinguishing between a population of individuals with normal gait and with gait disorders of different etiology.Nos últimos anos, tem aumentado significativamente o uso de redes neurais artificiais para a classificação e análise cinemática e cinética da marcha humana, em uma tentativa de superar as limitações da análise dinâmica tradicional e de encontrar novos indicadores clínicos para interpretar, de forma rápida e objetiva, a grande quantidade de informação obtida em laboratórios de marcha humana. Uma das redes neurais mais utilizadas para análise de marcha é o mapa de Kohonen ou mapa auto-organizado, baseado em aprendizado não supervisionado, sem uma definição prévia de grupos naturais que se formam. O uso deste tipo de rede neural tem mostrado benefícios significativos associados com a redução da dimensionalidade dos dados com mínima perda de conteúdo de informação e com o agrupamento de dados de acordo com suas semelhanças. Neste contexto, este trabalho apresenta um caso de aplicação de um mapa de Kohonen como classificador das características cinéticas da locomoção em indivíduos normais e com doença de Parkinson. Os resultados indicam que os grupos identificados no mapa são consistentes com a classificação feita por especialistas com base em análise dinâmica tradicional, que mostra o potencial desta técnica para diferenciar populações de indivíduos com marcha normal e de indivíduos com distúrbios da marcha de etiologia diferente.Fil: Rodrigo, Silvia Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Lescano Pastor, Claudia Noemí. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Rodrigo, Rodolfo Horacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Electromecánica; Argentin

Challenging the Status Quo: Transmodernity and Hybridity in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America

This thesis presents a study of the play by North American author Tony Kushner Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes (1993), focused on the analysis of the character of Belize, an ex-ex-mulatto drag queen. After considering the various attempts by different authors at including this playwright within the categories of either Modernism or Postmodernism, that do not seem to properly fit into Kushner’s vision, I propose his categorization within the paradigm of Transmodernity, a term coined by Rosa María Rodríguez Magda which, as I contend, reflects the vision of the author in this pivotal work. Contrary to Modernist and Postmodernist visions of the text, this analysis proves how the sense of continuity and progress have more weight than the eschatological conception suggested by authors like Stanton B. Garner. Moreover, through the analysis of Belize from the perspective of the ‘other’ based on the concepts of race and genre that highlight his/her marginalization, we see how this character, a clear example of hybridity, can be apprehended from the perspective of relevant critical theories of the frontier. As a result, we observe the way in which Belize embodies the main ideas of Transmodernity since s/he incorporates a number of concepts that reflect the present moment in society. Este trabajo plantea un estudio de la obra teatral del escritor norteamericano Tony Kushner Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes (1993), centrado en el análisis del personaje de Belize, un/a ex-ex-drag queen mulato/a. Tras examinar los diversos intentos por parte de varios autores de incluir a este dramaturgo bien en el paradigma del Modernismo, o bien en el del Postmodernismo, que no han terminado de encajar en la visión de Kushner, propongo su categorización dentro del paradigma de la Transmodernidad, término acuñado por la filósofa Rosa María Rodríguez Magda, y que a mi entender refleja la perspectiva del autor en esta obra clave. Frente a las visiones Modernistas y Postmodernistas del texto, en este análisis se demuestra cómo el sentido de la continuidad y progreso tiene mayor peso que la concepción escatológica propuesta por autores como Stanton B. Garner. Por otro lado, a través del análisis de Belize desde la perspectiva del ‘otro’ a partir de los conceptos de raza y género que subrayan su marginación, se relaciona a este personaje con las teorías de la frontera, presentándolo como un ejemplo claro de hibridismo. Como resultado, se observa el modo en que Belize personifica las principales ideas de la Transmodernidad pues incorpora una serie de conceptos que se ajustan al momento actual de la sociedad

Environmental regulation and international trade patterns for agro-industrial under a South-North Perspective

This paper aims at examining the relation between the international trade and the environment, particularly focused on sensitive agribusiness sectors. It consists on an empirical test to the conflicting positions supported by economists, some following the traditional approach (trade-off or neoclassical), while others supporting the Porter’s hypothesis, which considers that impacts of the stricter environmental regulation can benefit the trade competitiveness. A Heckscher-Ohlin- Vanek model was applied to net exports as the dependent variable. The agricultural products analyzed were total agriculture, rice, maize, soybean, wheat, dairy and swine; run for 97 countries, divided as developing and developed, in a cross-section approach. This modeling allows including the environmental endowment as explanatory variables. Moreover the Environmental Performance Index (Esty et al, 2008) was also tried as explanatory variables in order to catch any effect of the environmental regulation on the trade patterns. Results were not conclusively as they show that the net exports of the selected products, considered environmentally sensitive, can be affected even positively or negatively (neoclassical approach) by the environmental regulation. The results depend on the products. A remarkable outcome to highlight is that the dummy for developing countries and developed countries was significant, pointing that for rice, for example, it makes difference being a developing country, as well as it does for wheat, being a developed country.Trade, environmental regulation, agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade,

16th International NooJ 2022 Conference: Book of Abstracts

Libro de resúmenes presentados en la "16th International NooJ 2022 Conference", de modalidad híbrida, realizada en el ECU (Espacio Cultural Universitario, UNR) en Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, entre el 14 y 15 de junio de 2022.Fil: Reyes, Silvia Susana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Humanidades y Artes; Argentin