On building ensembles of stacked denoising auto-encoding classifiers and their further improvement

To aggregate diverse learners and to train deep architectures are the two principal avenues towards increasing the expressive capabilities of neural networks. Therefore, their combinations merit attention. In this contribution, we study how to apply some conventional diversity methods-bagging and label switching- to a general deep machine, the stacked denoising auto-encoding classifier, in order to solve a number of appropriately selected image recognition problems. The main conclusion of our work is that binarizing multi-class problems is the key to obtain benefit from those diversity methods. Additionally, we check that adding other kinds of performance improvement procedures, such as pre-emphasizing training samples and elastic distortion mechanisms, further increases the quality of the results. In particular, an appropriate combination of all the above methods leads us to reach a new absolute record in classifying MNIST handwritten digits. These facts reveal that there are clear opportunities for designing more powerful classifiers by means of combining different improvement techniques. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been partly supported by research grants CASI- CAM-CM ( S2013/ICE-2845, Madrid Community) and Macro-ADOBE (TEC2015-67719, MINECO-FEDER EU), as well as by the research network DAMA ( TIN2015-70308-REDT, MINECO )

Diversidad en aprendizaje profundo por auto-codificación

El diseño de aprendices profundos generales se ha mantenido como reto durante décadas. En el siglo actual se está produciendo la aparición de varios nuevos –y eficaces– procedimientos para ello. Esos procedimientos incluyen los métodos representacionales, que merecen especial atención porque no solo permiten construir máquinas potentes, sino que también extraen relevantes rasgos de alto nivel de las observaciones. Los auto-codificadores expansivos reductores de ruido son (elementos de) una de las familias de máquinas representacionales profundas. Por otra parte, los conjuntos son una alternativa sólidamente establecida para conseguir soluciones con altas prestaciones para problemas empíricos –basados en muestras– de inferencia. Se valen de la introducción de diversidad en un grupo de aprendices. Obviamente, este es un principio que también puede aplicarse a redes neuronales profundas; pero, sorprendentemente, hay muy pocos estudios que exploran esta posibilidad. En esta disertación doctoral se investiga si las técnicas convencionales de diversificación –incluyendo la binarización en el caso de bases de datos multiclase– permiten mejorar las prestaciones de clasificadores basados en auto-codificadores expansivos con reducción de ruido. Se usan tanto “Bagging” como “Switching”, junto con esquemas de binarización uno-contra-uno y de códigos de salida correctores de errores, sobre dos tipos básicos de arquitecturas: T, que tiene una unidad de auto-codificación común, y G, que también diversifica ese elemento representacional. Los resultados experimentales confirman que –si se incluye la binarización– la combinación de diversidad y profundidad conduce a mejores prestaciones, especialmente con las arquitecturas T. Para completar la exploración sobre posibles mejoras, se analiza también la aplicación de formas flexibles de pre-énfasis. Tales formas proporcionan por sí solas mejoras de prestaciones, pero las mejoras son muy importantes cuando el pre-énfasis se combina con la diversificación, en especial si se emplean diferentes parámetros de pre-énfasis a diferentes dicotomías en los problemas multiclase. Una distorsión elástica convencional permite alcanzar resultados récord. Estos resultados no son tan solo relevantes “per se”, sino que abren una vía de prometedoras líneas de investigación, las cuales se exponen en el capítulo final de esta tesis.Designing general deep learners has remained as a challenge along decades. The present century sees the emergence of several new effective procedures for it. Among them, representational methods merit particular attention, because they not only serve to build powerful machines, but also extract relevant high-level features of the observations. Expansive denoising auto-encoders are (elements of) one of such representational deep machine families. On the other hand, ensembles are a well established alternative to get high performance solutions for empirical –sample based– inference problems. They are principled on introducing diversity in a number of different learners. Obviously, this is a principle which can also be applied to deep neural networks, but, surprisingly, there are very few studies exploring this possibility. In this doctoral dissertation, we investigate if conventional diversification techniques –including binarization for multiclass databases– further improve the performance of expansive denoising auto-encoder based classifiers. Both “Bagging” and “Switching” are used, as well as one-versus-one and error-correcting-output-code binarization schemes, with two basic types of architectures: T, which has a common auto-encoding unit, and G, which also diversifies that representational element. The experimental results confirm that –if binarization is included– combining diversity and depth offers significant performance advantages, specially with T architectures. To complete the exploration on improving denoising auto-encoding based classifiers, the application of flexible enough pre-emphasis functions is also analyzed. Using this kind of pre-emphasis provides performance advantages by itself, but the advantages are very important when pre-emphasis is combined with diversification, specially if different emphasis parameters are applied to different dichotomies in multiclass problems. A conventional elastic distortion allows record results. These results are not only relevant by themselves, but they open a series of promising research avenues, that are presented in the final chapter of this thesis.Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Multimedia y ComunicacionesPresidente: Antonio Artés Rodríguez.- Secretario: Sancho Salcedo Sanz.- Vocal: Pedro Antonio Gutiérrez Peñ

Análisis comparativo de los aliviaderos de ladera superficial con evacuación frontal y cerrado con pozo vertical, en los sistemas hidráulicos fluviales de carga pequeña y media

El presente proyecto tiene como fin el análisis comparativo de dos tipos de aliviaderos desde un embalse de regulación: el abierto de margen con de evacuación frontal y el cerrado con pozo vertical, en sistemas hidráulicos fluviales para cargas pequeñas y medias. Mediante la elaboración de algoritmos por medio del software Excel, se realiza un dimensionamiento de las obras que forman parte de cada uno de los aliviaderos, para flujos de variación gradual o uniformes; los resultados obtenidos fueron comparados, a partir de la variación del caudal y la carga que son los parámetros que tienen incidencia fundamental en el diseño. Se constató que el caudal unitario constituye un parámetro de fundamental incidencia no solamente en las características constructivas de estos tipos de aliviaderos de excedentes sino además en su costo; en efecto, el incremento del caudal unitario determina la disminución de las dimensiones geométricas del vertedero de entrada, no así de la estructura de disipación, dando lugar a la necesidad de realizar un análisis técnico-económico para identificar la alternativa optima. Dentro de este marco conceptual la mejor entre las dos alternativas planteadas del aliviadero de excedentes será aquella que resulta seleccionada como consecuencia del análisis técnico económico.The purpose of this project is the comparative analysis of two types of spillways from a regulation reservoir: open margin spillway with frontal evacuation and closed spillway with vertical well, in fluvial hydraulic systems for small and medium loads. Through the elaboration of algorithms through Excel software, performing a dimensioning of the works that are part of each one of the spillways, for flows of gradual or uniform variation; The results obtained were compared, based on the variation of the flow and the load, which are the parameters that have a fundamental impact on the design. It was found that the unit flow constitutes a parameter of fundamental incidence not only in the constructive characteristics of the spillways of the types of surplus spillways but also in their cost; In effect, the increase in the unit flow determines the decrease in the geometric dimensions of the input weir, but not in the dissipation structure, giving rise to the need to carry out a technical-economic analysis to identify the optimal alternative. Within this conceptual framework, the best of the two proposed alternatives for the surplus spillway will be the one selected because of the technical-economic analysis

¿Pueden las Fuerzas Armadas intervenir en el crimen organizado transnacional?

La existencia del crimen organizado transnacional produjo altos índices de criminalidad en la sociedad ecuatoriana, haciendo ineficiente el actuar de la Policía. Motivo por el cual, analizamos la posibilidad de la intervención militar para el combate de esta amenaza, por medio de recopilación de información y un análisis jurídico de los hechos. Para concluir que, si existe la posibilidad de la intervención de las Fuerzas Armadas; ya sea, de forma excepcional, por los altos índices de criminalidad cuando estos afecten el orden interno, o de forma plena, en cumplimiento de su misión constitucional siempre y cuando exista amenaza a la soberanía. En conclusión, sin necesidad de una reforma constitucional existen posibilidades de combatir de manera integral el crimen organizado

¿Pueden las Fuerzas Armadas intervenir en el crimen organizado transnacional?

The existence of transnational organized crime has produced high crime rates in Ecuadorian society, making the Police performance infficient. Therefore, we analyze the possibility of military intervention to combat this threat. Through the collection of information and a legal analysis of the facts, the resulting conclusions lead to the possibility of intervention of the Armed Forces; exceptionally, due to high crime rates when these affect internal order, or fully, in compliance with their constitutional mission as long as there is a threat to sovereignty. In conclusion, there are possibilities to comprehensively combat organized crime without the need for a constitutional reform.La existencia del crimen organizado transnacional produjo altos índices de criminalidad en la sociedad ecuatoriana, haciendo ineficiente el actuar de la Policía. Motivo por el cual, analizamos la posibilidad de la intervención militar para el combate de esta amenaza, por medio de recopilación de información y un análisis jurídico de los hechos. Para concluir que, si existe la posibilidad de la intervención de las Fuerzas Armadas; ya sea, de forma excepcional, por los altos índices de criminalidad cuando estos afecten el orden interno, o de forma plena, en cumplimiento de su misión constitucional siempre y cuando exista amenaza a la soberanía. En conclusión, sin necesidad de una reforma constitucional existen posibilidades de combatir de manera integral el crimen organizado

The Root Hair Specific SYP123 Regulates the Localization of Cell Wall Components and Contributes to Rizhobacterial Priming of Induced Systemic Resistance

Indexación: Web of Science.Root hairs are important for nutrient and water uptake and are also critically involved the interaction with soil inhabiting microbiota. Root hairs are tubular-shaped outgrowths that emerge from trichoblasts. This polarized elongation is maintained and regulated by a robust mechanism involving the endomembrane secretory and endocytic system. Members of the syntaxin family of SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) in plants (SYP), have been implicated in regulation of the fusion of vesicles with the target membranes in both exocytic and endocytic pathways. One member of this family. SYP123, is expressed specifically in the root hairs and accumulated in the growing tip region. This study shows evidence of the SYP123 role in polarized trafficking using knockout insertional mutant plants. We were able to observe defects in the deposition of cell wall proline rich protein PRP3 and cell wall polysaccharides. In a complementary strategy, similar results were obtained using a plant expressing a dominant negative soluble version of SYP123 (SP2 fragment) lacking the transmembrane domain. The evidence presented indicates that SYP123 is also regulating PRP3 protein distribution by recycling by endocytosis. We also present evidence that indicates that SYP123 is necessary for the response of roots to plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) in order to trigger trigger induced systemic response (ISR). Plants with a defective SYP123 function were unable to mount a systemic acquired resistance in response to bacterial pathogen infection and ISR upon interaction with rhizobacteria. These results indicated that SYP123 was involved in the polarized localization of protein and polysaccharides in growing root hairs and that this activity also contributed to the establishment of effective plant defense responses. Root hairs represent very plastic structures were many biotic and abiotic factors can affect the number, anatomy and physiology of root hairs. Here, we presented evidence that indicates that interactions with soil PGPR could be closely regulated by signaling involving secretory and/or endocytic trafficking at the root hair tip as a quick way to response to changing environmental conditions.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2016.01081/ful

Trasplante de células hematopoyéticas

El trasplante de células hematopoyéticas (TCH) es la infusión de células progenitoras a fin de restablecer la función medular e inmune en pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas malignas y no malignas adquiridas y genéticas. El impacto del TCH se refleja en las alternativas de tratamiento, mayor difusión de la técnica y mejores opciones al paciente.El procedimiento consiste en la obtención de progenitores hematopoyéticos periféricos, mediante las células CD34+ (2- 2.5 x 106/Kg peso); es un excelente predictor de prendimiento del injerto. El trasplante de donante no relacionado, permite tratamiento a pacientes que carecen de donantes familiares histo-idénticos. Otra variante de TCH es el mini-trasplante, utilizando dosis bajas de quimioterapia e inmunosupresores, produciendo menos complicaciones, pero jerarquizando el efecto “injerto sobre tumor”, que permite la remisión de enfermedades neoplásicas hematológicas y no hematológicas, siendo una alternativa en países en vías de desarrollo, por la posibilidad de disminuir costos y complicaciones

On the use of convolutional neural networks for robust classification of multiple fingerprint captures

Fingerprint classification is one of the most common approaches to accelerate the identification in large databases of fingerprints. Fingerprints are grouped into disjoint classes, so that an input fingerprint is compared only with those belonging to the predicted class, reducing the penetration rate of the search. The classification procedure usually starts by the extraction of features from the fingerprint image, frequently based on visual characteristics. In this work, we propose an approach to fingerprint classification using convolutional neural networks, which avoid the necessity of an explicit feature extraction process by incorporating the image processing within the training of the classifier. Furthermore, such an approach is able to predict a class even for low-quality fingerprints that are rejected by commonly used algorithms, such as FingerCode. The study gives special importance to the robustness of the classification for different impressions of the same fingerprint, aiming to minimize the penetration in the database. In our experiments, convolutional neural networks yielded better accuracy and penetration rate than state-of-the-art classifiers based on explicit feature extraction. The tested networks also improved on the runtime, as a result of the joint optimization of both feature extraction and classification