Back propagation with balanced MSE cost Function and nearest neighbor editing for handling class overlap and class imbalance

The class imbalance problem has been considered a critical factor for designing and constructing the supervised classifiers. In the case of artificial neural networks, this complexity negatively affects the generalization process on under-represented classes. However, it has also been observed that the decrease in the performance attainable of standard learners is not directly caused by the class imbalance, but is also related with other difficulties, such as overlapping. In this work, a new empirical study for handling class overlap and class imbalance on multi-class problem is described. In order to solve this problem, we propose the joint use of editing techniques and a modified MSE cost function for MLP. This analysis was made on a remote sensing data . The experimental results demonstrate the consistency and validity of the combined strategy here proposedPartially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science under grants CSD2007–00018, TIN2009–14205–C04–04, and by Fundació Caixa Castelló–Bancaixa under grants P1–1B2009–04 and P1–1B2009–45; SDMAIA-010 of the TESJO and 2933/2010 from the UAE

SUCESION ESTACIONAL DEL FITOPLANCTON DE LA ALBUFERA DE VALENCIA

A seasonal study of the phytoplanktonic communities in the Albufera of Valencia, an hypertrophic coastal lagoon, has been undertaken at the point of its maximum depth (3 m) along the vertical profile. The extreme eutrophy of the Albufera produces notoriously high phytoplanktonic densities; a summer maximum of 5,57 x 1012 individuals/m2 has been registered. The minimum density, five times lower (1,16 x 1012 ind/m2), occurs in winter. Cyanobacteria constitute the dominant phytoplanktonic group, reaching relative abundances above 96% in august, due mainly to species of the genera Lyngbya and Oscillatoria. The dominance of cyanobacteria is constant during the whole annual cycle constituing more than the 77% of the total phytoplankton, with the only exception of the month of april, in which a relative minimum of 41% was registered. Consequently, in this month, other algal groups reach their maximum representation, mainly chlorophyceae (35%), diatoms (16%) and cryptophyceae (4,2%). It is interesting to note the presence of Anabaenopsis circularis, a species of tropical distribution, whose growth in the Albufera has only recently been observed. All these results show that an important and recent change on the specific composition of the Albufera phytoplankton has occurred, due to its extreme eutrophication process.La hipertrofia extrema de la Albufera de Valencia produce densidades fitoplanctónicas extraordinariamente elevadas, habiendo sido registrado un máximo estival de 5.57 x 10'2 ind/m2. El mínimo poblacional se produce en invierno con una densidad cinco veces menor (1.1 6 x 10'2 ind/m2). Las cianobacterias constituyen el grupo fitoplanctónico dominante, alcanzando densidades relativas superiores al 96% en agosto, debidas principalmente a especies de los géneros Lyngbya y Oscillatoria. La dominancia de las cianobacterias es constante durante el resto del ciclo anual con valores superiores al 77%, excepto en el mes de abril en el que se registra un mínimo relativo del 41 %. Consecuentemente, en este mes adquieren su máxima importancia otros grupos algales, principalmente clorofíceas (35%), diatomeas (1 6%) y criptofíceas (4.2%). Es interesante constatar la presencia actual de Anabaenopsis circularis, especie de distribución tropical cuyo desarrollo en la Albufera sólo se ha observado en fechas recientes. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto un cambio profundo y reciente en la composición específica del fitoplancton de la Albufera, que es consecuencia de su proceso de eutrofización extrema

A hybrid method to face class overlap and class imbalance on neural networks and multi-class scenarios

Class imbalance and class overlap are two of the major problems in data mining and machine learning. Several studies have shown that these data complexities may affect the performance or behavior of artificial neural networks. Strategies proposed to face with both challenges have been separately applied. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid method for handling both class imbalance and class overlap simultaneously in multi-class learning problems. Experimental results on five remote sensing data show that the combined approach is a promising method

Effect of low doses of biocides on the antimicrobial resistance and the biofilms of Cronobacter sakazakii and Yersinia enterocolitica

The susceptibility of Cronobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544 (CS) and Yersinia enterocolitica ATCC 9610 (YE) to sodium hypochlorite (10% of active chlorine; SHY), peracetic acid (39% solution of peracetic acid in acetic acid; PAA) and benzalkonium chloride (BZK) was tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (planktonic cells; microdilution broth method) of 3,800 ppm (SHY), 1,200 ppm (PAA) and 15 ppm (BZK) for CS, and 2,500 ppm (SHY), 1,275 ppm (PAA) and 20 ppm (BZK) for YE, were found. In some instances, an increase in growth rate was observed in presence of sub-MICs (0.25MIC, 0.50MIC or 0.75MIC) of biocides relative to the samples without biocides. The cultures exhibited an acquired tolerance to biocides and an increase in antibiotic resistance after exposure to sub-MICs of such disinfectants. Strains were able to form strong biofilms on polystyrene after 48 hours (confocal laser scanning microscopy), with average biovolumes in the observation field (14,161 µm2) of 242,201.0 ± 86,570.9 µm3 (CS) and 190,184.5 ± 40,860.3 µm3 (YE). Treatment of biofilms for 10 minutes with disinfectants at 1MIC or 2MIC reduced the biovolume of live cells. PAA (YE) and BZK (CS and YE) at 1MIC did not alter the percentage of dead cells relative to non-exposed biofilms, and their effect of countering biofilm was due principally to the detachment of cells. These results suggest that doses of PAA and BZK close to MICs might lead to the dissemination of live bacteria from biofilms with consequent hazards for public healthMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RTI2018-098267-R-C33Junta de Castilla y León | Ref. LE164G1

End-of-day dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in contact lens wearers

Purpose: To study the relationship among the variables intensity ofthe end-of-day (EOD) dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in soft contact lens (CL) wearers. Methods: Thirty-eight soft CL wearers (25 women and 13 men; mean age 27.1 ± 7.2 years) were enrolled. EOD dryness was assessed using a scale of 0–5 (0, none to 5, very intense). Mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) sensitivity were measured using a Belmonte’s gas esthesiometer. The blink rate was recorded using a video camera while subjects were wearing a hydrogel CL and watching a film for 90 min in a controlled environmental chamber. Results: A significant inverse correlation was found between EOD dryness and mechanical sensitivity (r: −0.39; p = 0.02); however, there were no significant correlations between EOD dryness and thermal sensitivity. A significant (r: 0.56; p < 0.001) correlation also was observed between EOD dryness and blink rate, but no correlations were found between blink rate and mechanical or thermal sensitivity. Conclusions: CL wearers with higher corneal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation reported more EOD dryness with habitual CL wear. Moreover, subjects reporting more EOD dryness had an increased blink rates during wear of a standard CL type. The increased blink rate could act to improve the ocular surface environment and relieve symptom

Default mode network components and its relationship with anomalous self-experiences in schizophrenia: A rs-fMRI exploratory study

Producción CientíficaAnomalous self-experiences (ASEs) in schizophrenia have been under research for the last 20 years. However, no neuroimage studies have provided insight of the possible biological underpinning of ASEs. In this novel approach, the connectivity within the default mode network, calculated through a ROI-based analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, was correlated to the ASEs scores assessed by the Inventory of Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences (IPASE) in a sample of 22 schizophrenia patients. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between IPASE scores and intrahemispheric connectivity of the parahippocampal gyrus with the isthmus cingulate cortex in both hemispheres, and right parahippocampal gyrus with the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex were positive and significant suggesting a relation between hyperactive functional connectivity and anomalous self-experiences intensity. Prior literature reported these areas to have a role in self-processing and consciousness as well as being anatomically connected. Further research with larger sample size and comparison with controls are needed to confirm the relationship of this connectivity with anomalous self-experiences.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (beca ID PI18/00178)Junta de Castilla y León (Dirección Regional de Salud de Castilla y León - grant ID GRS 2121/A/20)Junta de Castilla y León” and the European Social Fund (grant IDs VA-183-18 to IFL, VA-223-19 to RMBR

Murine models for the study of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: An overview

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated to different physical, behavioral, cognitive, and neurological impairments collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The underlying mechanisms of ethanol toxicity are not completely understood. Experimental studies during human pregnancy to identify new diagnostic biomarkers are difficult to carry out beyond genetic or epigenetic analyses in biological matrices. Therefore, animal models are a useful tool to study the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the central nervous system and analyze the benefits of promising therapies. Animal models of alcohol spectrum disorder allow the analysis of key variables such as amount, timing and frequency of ethanol consumption to describe the harmful effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. In this review, we aim to synthetize neurodevelopmental disabilities in rodent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder phenotypes, considering facial dysmorphology and fetal growth restriction. We examine the different neurodevelopmental stages based on the most consistently implicated epigenetic mechanisms, cell types and molecular pathways, and assess the advantages and disadvantages of murine models in the study of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the different routes of alcohol administration, and alcohol consumption patterns applied to rodents. Finally, we analyze a wide range of phenotypic features to identify fetal alcohol spectrum disorder phenotypes in murine models, exploring facial dysmorphology, neurodevelopmental deficits, and growth restriction, as well as the methodologies used to evaluate behavioral and anatomical alterations produced by prenatal alcohol exposure in rodents.This work was supported by Red de Salud Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID) (RD12/0026/0003 and RD16/0022/0002) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the PI15/01179 grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos II

Elaboración e implantación de estrategias docentes para el trabajo con estudiantes chinos

Memoria ID-0123. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2016-2017

A new methodology to assess the performance of AOPs in complex samples: Application to the degradation of phenolic compounds by O3 and O3/UV-A Vis

[EN] A methodology combining experimental design methodology, liquid chromatography, excitation emission matrixes (EEM) and bioassays has been applied to study the performance of O3 and O3/UVA-vis in the treatment of a mixture of eight phenolic pollutants. An experimental design methodology based on Doehlert matrixes was employed to determine the effect of pH (between 3 and 12), ozone dosage (02¿1.0¿g/h) and initial concentration of the pollutants (1¿6¿mg/L each). The following conclusions were obtained: a) acidic pH and low O3 dosage resulted in an inefficient process, b) increasing pH and O3 amount produced an enhancement of the reaction, and c) interaction of basic pH and high amounts of ozone decreased the efficiency of the process. The combination of O3/UVA-vis was able to enhance ozonation in those experimental regions were this reagent was less efficient, namely low pH and low ozone dosages. The application of EEM-PARAFAC showed four components, corresponding to the parent pollutants and three different groups of reaction product and its evolution with time. Bioassys indicated important detoxification (from 100% to less than 30% after 1¿min of treatment with initial pollutant concentration of 6¿mg/L, pH¿=¿9 and ozone dosage of 0.8¿g/h) according to the studied methods (D. magna and P. subcapitata). Also estrogenic activity and dioxin-like behavior were significantly decreased.The authors thank the financial support of the European Union(PIRSES-GA-2010-269128, EnvironBOS) and Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CTQ2015-69832-C4-4-R). Sara García-Ballesteros thanks Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad for providing her fellowship (BES-2013-066201).García-Ballesteros, S.; Mora Carbonell, M.; Vicente Candela, R.; Vercher Pérez, RF.; Sabater Marco, C.; Castillo López, M.; Amat Payá, AM.... (2019). A new methodology to assess the performance of AOPs in complex samples: Application to the degradation of phenolic compounds by O3 and O3/UV-A Vis. Chemosphere. 222:114-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.015S11412322

Desarrollo e incorporación de aplicaciones móviles para la docencia y el aprendizaje en el Grado de Turismo

Memoria ID-0274. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016