Noise Is Not Error: Detecting Parametric Heterogeneity Between Epidemiologic Time Series

Mathematical models play a central role in epidemiology. For example, models unify heterogeneous data into a single framework, suggest experimental designs, and generate hypotheses. Traditional methods based on deterministic assumptions, such as ordinary differential equations (ODE), have been successful in those scenarios. However, noise caused by random variations rather than true differences is an intrinsic feature of the cellular/molecular/social world. Time series data from patients (in the case of clinical science) or number of infections (in the case of epidemics) can vary due to both intrinsic differences or incidental fluctuations. The use of traditional fitting methods for ODEs applied to noisy problems implies that deviation from some trend can only be due to error or parametric heterogeneity, that is noise can be wrongly classified as parametric heterogeneity. This leads to unstable predictions and potentially misguided policies or research programs. In this paper, we quantify the ability of ODEs under different hypotheses (fixed or random effects) to capture individual differences in the underlying data. We explore a simple (exactly solvable) example displaying an initial exponential growth by comparing state-of-the-art stochastic fitting and traditional least squares approximations. We also provide a potential approach for determining the limitations and risks of traditional fitting methodologies. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results for the interpretation of data from the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in Africa

Systematic-interdisciplinary approach to eHealth equipment design

eHealth has improved the performance of multiple health systems worldwide by integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into national (structured and coordinated) strategies in the health sector. However, once the foundation is laid for the development and implementation of eHealth solutions, researchers, engineers, doctors and other stakeholders have no single way to develop eHealth solutions. Therefore, a systematic interdisciplinary method is proposed to design electronic health equipment to meet the requirements and needs of all people involved in the use of the equipment, and comply with the laws and regulations of different countries.On the basis of systematic and interdisciplinary methods, a method is proposed, that is, the collaborative use of different systematic methods allows stakeholders to continue to cooperate and share the experience. Consequently, the method will allow the design of eHealth devices that, regardless of their use, meet the needs of the user, the requirements of the personnel who will use them, the standards and regulations of the country where they are developed, and provide total satisfaction with the device. Finally, the eHealth solution is designed through systematic thinking, through the analysis of needs and needs, and through exploring different perspectives, observation backgrounds, participant participation, discussion and stakeholder consistency, so as to provide a sustainable product that meets all participants

Performance evaluation for 68Ga and 18F of the ARGUS small-animal PET scanner based on the NEMA NU-4 standard

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, 201068Ga is one of the non-conventional nuclides that are being used in preclinical imaging. One disadvantage of 68Ga versus 18F is its larger positron range, which deteriorates the effective spatial resolution and the overall image quality. In this work we present a performance evaluation of the ARGUS smallanimal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for two positron emitters, 68Ga and 18F. These experiments followed the procedure based on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 4-2008 standard. We show how the use of 68Ga may affect the NEMA performance of the system in terms of image quality and spatial resolution. The recovery coefficients (RC) measured in the image-quality phantom ranged from 0.17 to 0.72 for 68Ga and from 0.28 to 0.92 for 18F, using iterative image reconstruction methods and applying all corrections. Under the same conditions the image noise (%STD) in a uniform region was 17.0% for 68Ga and 15.1% for 18F. The respective spillover ratios (SOR) were 0.13 and 0.09 in air, and 0.21 and 0.12 in water. Attenuation correction yielded an improvement of the SOR close to 50% for both radionuclides in the air-filled region. This work evaluates the image reconstruction methods and corrections available in the ARGUS PET for 68Ga and 18F to assess the influence of their physical properties on the NEMA parameters.Publicad

Evaluation of APD and SiPM Matrices as Sensors for Monolithic PET Detector Block

Gamma detectors based on monolithic scintillator blocks coupled to APDs matrices have proved to be a good alternative to pixelated ones for PET scanners. They provide comparable spatial resolution, improve the sensitivity and make easier the mechanical design of the system. In this study we evaluate by means of Geant4-based simulations the possibility of replacing the APDs by SiPMs. Several commercial matrices of light sensors coupled to LYSO:Ce monolithic blocks have been simulated and compared. Regarding the spatial resolution and linearity of the detector, SiPMs with high photo detection efficiency could become an advantageous replacement for the APD

Las especies exóticas predominan en la flora leñosa urbana de Chile central

The expansion of cities promotes the replacement of local biotas with exotic species causing a decrease in global diversity.As urbanization continues to expand, efforts directed towards the conservation within urban landscapes could supportregional biodiversity conservation. The biogeographic region of central Chile displays a native flora of global importancebecause of its high endemism. Up to date, studies analysing the composition of the floras within the cities are scarce. Thepresent study aims at characterizing the compositional and distributional patterns of the ornamental flora of five cities ofcentral Chile (La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Rancagua, and Talca). For this purpose, we sampled several streets andsquares recording all woody species. The species were then characterized by their biogeographical origin and incidence.It was recorded 302 species of which approx. 86% were exotic and 14% were native, a consistent pattern found in the fivecities studied; these results contrast with the European urban flora, where native species can usually overcome 50% of theplant species. Almost half of the exotic species had their origin in Asia (including Australasia, Temperate, and TropicalAsia), Europe, and North America. Consequently, the representation of the regional flora within the urban context is lowfor central Chile, with the native species registered, accounting for only 0.81% of the total species described for thecountry. Urban habitats could support regional biodiversity conservation, so a shift towards sustainable urban planningcould promote local biological conservation.La expansión de las ciudades promueve el reemplazo de biotas locales (nativas) por especies exóticas, lo que causa unadisminución en la diversidad. A medida que la urbanización continúa, los esfuerzos dirigidos a la conservación dentrode los paisajes urbanos podrían apoyar la conservación de la biodiversidad regional. La región biogeográfica de ChileCentral muestra una flora nativa de importancia mundial debido a su alto endemismo. No obstante, hasta la fecha haypocos estudios que analicen la composición de las floras dentro de las ciudades de esta región. El presente estudio analizala composición de la flora ornamental para cinco ciudades de Chile central: La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Rancaguay Talca. Para ello realizamos un muestreo de calles y plazas de estas ciudades, registrando especies de plantas leñosas,distinguiendo su origen biogeográfico y su incidencia. Se registraron 302 especies de las cuales aprox. el 86% fueronespecies exóticas y el 14% nativas, patrón numéricamente consistente en las cinco ciudades estudiadas. Casi la mitad delas especies exóticas provienen de Asia (incluyendo Australasia y Asia tropical y templada), Norteamérica y Europa. Enconsecuencia, la representación de la flora regional dentro del contexto urbano es baja para el centro de Chile. Los habitatsurbanos podrían apoyar la conservación de la biodiversidad regional, por lo que un cambio hacia una planificación urbanasostenible podría promover la conservación biológica local

Proposal for the Implementation of a Geography Curriculum in Colombia.

En Colombia la educación geográfica, enmarcada en la política educativa, ha tenido cambios significativos. Se ha dado la transición de área autónoma a un área integrada con la historia, la democracia y la Constitución política, bajo la denominación de Ciencias Sociales, a partir de 1994 con la Ley 115 de Educación y, recientemente, con la expedición de la Ley 1874 del 2017, que le dio a la historia un estatus diferente al de las demás ciencias sociales escolares. Estos cambios evidencian una geografía escolar disminuida y cada vez más difuminada. Desde el Grupo Interinstitucional de Investigación Geopaideia, buscando responder al porqué y al para qué de la educación geográfica escolar, se han sistematizado algunas experiencias cuyo propósito ha sido definir unas temáticas curriculares para la enseñanza de la geografía. El presente artículo es producto de estas reflexiones y de la práctica de los tres autores en políticas educativas, currículo, formación docente y enseñanza escolar.In Colombia, geographic education, in the framework of an educational policy, has experienced significant changes, with little curricular and formative support. It has undergone a transition from an autonomous to an integrated area—along with history, democracy and the political Constitution—under the name of social sciences, starting in 1994 with Law 115 of Education, and recently, with Law 1874 of 2017—which assigns History a different status to the other school social sciences—. Such changes show a diminished and increasingly blurred school geography. The Inter-Institutional Research Group Geopaideia, seeking to answer the why and what in school geographical education, has systematized some experiences aimed at defining curricular topics for the teaching of geography. This article is the product of these reflections and the practice of the three authors in educational policies, curriculum, teacher training, and school education

Proposal for the Implementation of a Geography Curriculum in Colombia

In Colombia, geographic education, in the framework of an educational policy, has experienced significant changes, with little curricular and formative support. It has undergone a transition from an autonomous to an integrated area—along with history, democracy and the political Constitution—under the name of social sciences, starting in 1994 with Law 115 of Education, and recently, with Law 1874 of 2017—which assigns History a different status to the other school social sciences—. Such changes show a diminished and increasingly blurred school geography. The Inter-Institutional Research Group Geopaideia, seeking to answer the why and what in school geographical education, has systematized some experiences aimed at defining curricular topics for the teaching of geography. This article is the product of these reflections and the practice of the three authors in educational policies, curriculum, teacher training, and school education.En Colombia la educación geográfica, enmarcada en la política educativa, ha tenido cambios significativos. Se ha dado la transición de área autónoma a un área integrada con la historia, la democracia y la Constitución política, bajo la denominación de Ciencias Sociales, a partir de 1994 con la Ley 115 de Educación y, recientemente, con la expedición de la Ley 1874 del 2017, que le dio a la historia un estatus diferente al de las demás ciencias sociales escolares. Estos cambios evidencian una geografía escolar disminuida y cada vez más difuminada. Desde el Grupo Interinstitucional de Investigación Geopaideia, buscando responder al porqué y al para qué de la educación geográfica escolar, se han sistematizado algunas experiencias cuyo propósito ha sido definir unas temáticas curriculares para la enseñanza de la geografía. El presente artículo es producto de estas reflexiones y de la práctica de los tres autores en políticas educativas, currículo, formación docente y enseñanza escolar.Na Colômbia, a educação geográfica, enquadrada na política educacional, sofreu mudanças significativas, mas com pouco apoio curricular e formativo. A transição da área autônoma para uma área integrada com a história, a democracia e a constituição política sob o nome de ciências sociais, a partir de 1994 com a Lei 115 da Educação e, recentemente, a Lei 1874 de 2017, da qual é dada para a história um status diferente das outras ciências sociais da escola, elas mostram uma geografia escolar reduzida e cada vez mais turvas. Do Grupo de Pesquisa Interinstitucional Geopaideia, procurando responder o porquê? e para quê? Na educação escolar geográfica, algumas experiências foram sistematizadas, cujo propósito foi definir disciplinas curriculares para o ensino da geografia. Este artigo é o produto dessas reflexões e da prática dos três autores em políticas educacionais, currículo, formação de professores e educação escolar

Diseño de estructura de pavimento flexible de 2 kilómetros Lineales de calle por el método AASHTO 93 y drenaje menor, Juigalpa, Chontales

Presenta el diseño de la estructura de Pavimento y drenaje menor en algunas calles del Barrio Nuevo Amanecer y la Vía principal que conduce al Rastro Municipal, y a las nuevas instalaciones de la Sede de la Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI-RCJ), para proponer una Solución a la problemática y dificultades que afecta a pobladores de la zona

Evaluation of a PET Prototype Using LYSO:Ce Monolithic Detector Block

We have analyzed the performance of a PET demonstrator formed by two sectors of four monolithic detector blocks placed face-to-face. Both front-end and read-out electronics have been evaluated by means of coincidence measurements using a rotating 22Na source placed at the center of the sectors in order to emulate the behavior of a complete full ring. A continuous training method based on neural network (NN) algorithms has been carried out to determine the entrance points over the surface of the detectors. Reconstructed images from 1 MBq 22Na point source and 22Na Derenzo phantom have been obtained using both filtered back projection (FBP) analytic methods and the OSEM 3D iterative algorithm available in the STIR software package [1]. Preliminary data on image reconstruction from a 22Na point source with Ø = 0.25 mm show spatial resolutions from 1.7 to 2.1 mm FWHM in the transverse plane. The results confirm the viability of this design for the development of a full-ring brain PET scanner compatible with magnetic resonance imaging for human studies

UBosque + CO2CERO®, una herramienta de la comunidad El Bosque para compensar su huella de carbono

A través de los diferentes tratados internacionales como el protocolo de Kyoto y el acuerdo de París se han incentivado acciones para la mitigación del cambio climático, así mismo varias organizaciones científicas, movimientos ambientalistas, instituciones no gubernamentales, entre otras, han desarrollado diferentes investigaciones y propuestas que contribuyan a este mismo fin.En este contexto, la siembra de árboles constituye una herramienta eficaz para la captación de toneladas de CO2eq en la atmósfera; y es por esto que la Universidad El Bosque ha querido unirse a esta causa, a través del fomento de la aplicación UBosque + CO2CERO® para los sistemas operativosmóviles IOS y Android que le permite a los usuarios calcular su huella de carbono, plantearse cómo influye su estilo de vida en el planeta y posteriormente compensarla a través de la adquisición de certificados de carbono.La aplicación “UBosque + CO2CERO®”, permite a las personas y organizaciones obtener en minutos un indicador de control sobre la cantidad de CO2eq generado por cada persona y cúal sería la compensación aproximada en número de árboles a plantar, medida que se quiere llevar a cabo por la unidad de gestión ambiental de la Universidad El Bosque, que a su vez busca concientizar a la comunidad universitaria para mitigar su impacto personal con la siembra de árboles