Learning Representations for Face Recognition: A Review from Holistic to Deep Learning

For decades, researchers have investigated how to recognize facial images. This study reviews the development of different face recognition (FR) methods, namely, holistic learning, handcrafted local feature learning, shallow learning, and deep learning (DL). With the development of methods, the accuracy of recognizing faces in the labeled faces in the wild (LFW) database has been increased. The accuracy of holistic learning is 60%, that of handcrafted local feature learning increases to 70%, and that of shallow learning is 86%. Finally, DL achieves human-level performance (97% accuracy). This enhanced accuracy is caused by large datasets and graphics processing units (GPUs) with massively parallel processing capabilities. Furthermore, FR challenges and current research studies are discussed to understand future research directions. The results of this study show that presently the database of labeled faces in the wild has reached 99.85% accuracy

Plan básico de manejo ambiental para el centro eco-turístico los trapiches

El presente documento hace referencia al Plan Básico de Manejo Ambiental para el centro eco turístico Los Trapiches que se ubica en la vereda el Arracachal, municipio de San Antonio del Tequendama, departamento de Cundinamarca. Este Plan Básico de Manejo Ambiental se estructuró a partir de la investigación y recopilación de información primaria y secundaria, especialmente del Documento Técnico del Esquema de Ordenamiento (EOT)1 del municipio de San Antonio del Tequendama. El estudio comprende tres (3) fases, como primera medida se hace una caracterización general de las áreas de influencia directa (AID) e indirecta (AII), en donde se determinan las características físicas y bióticas más relevantes, además efectuando una caracterización detallada de los procesos, productos establecidos y ofrecidos por el centro eco turístico Los Trapiches. La segunda fase comprende la evaluación de los componentes ambientales dando a conocer las afectaciones positivas o negativas que dicho centro turístico genera al medio ambiente, realizando con esto una ponderación y una categorización de las prioridades de manejo ambiental que así se requieran. Por último se determinan la formulación de estrategias, medidas de manejo, y acciones a corregir en beneficio de la conservación de los recursos naturales mediante la formulación de fichas de manejo ambiental y planes de monitoreo y contingencia

Metodología para la creación de aplicaciones de realidad extendida aplicada a espacios expositivos. Caso de estudio: Museo Remigio Crespo Toral, Cuenca, Ecuador

Las aplicaciones de realidad extendida deben considerar aspectos críticos como el diseño de la experiencia, el diseño de la interacción y los requerimientos cambiantes del sistema. En especial, cuando se trata de aplicaciones desarrolladas para espacios expositivos, que son espacios en los que los usuarios buscan obtener experiencias únicas y satisfactorias, es necesario considerar aspectos que permitan a estas aplicaciones brindar a los usuarios buenas experiencias de uso. En este contexto, es necesaria la aplicación de una metodología de desarrollo con la cual se obtengan aplicaciones que brinden una buena experiencia de usuario. El objetivo de este trabajo es desarrollar y evaluar una metodología para la creación de este tipo de aplicaciones, fundamentada en el Diseño Centrado en el Usuario y en el enfoque de desarrollo Ágil, en el contexto de los espacios expositivos. Adicionalmente, se plantea un caso de estudio, en el cual se hace uso de la metodología propuesta para desarrollar el prototipo de una aplicación web que permita realizar recorridos 360° sobre la exposición de Elia Liut y la Reserva Arqueológica del Museo Municipal Remigio Crespo Toral de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador. Este trabajo considera una metodología de investigación experimental que contempla dos enfoques. El primer enfoque, consiste en un componente teórico que brinda los fundamentos necesarios para el desarrollo de este trabajo. El segundo enfoque, consiste en: i) la evaluación empírica de la metodología propuesta, frente al rendimiento y a las percepciones de los usuarios. ii) La evaluación empírica de la usabilidad de un prototipo desarrollado haciendo uso de la metodología propuesta. Finalmente, los resultados de este trabajo indican que la metodología de desarrollo propuesta es fácil de usar, útil y existe una intención de uso en el futuro. En cuanto al prototipo, se determinó que este es usable.Extended reality applications must consider critical aspects such as experience design, interaction design, and changing system requirements. In particular, when it comes to applications developed for exhibition spaces, which are spaces in which users seek to obtain unique and satisfactory experiences, it is necessary to consider aspects that allow these applications to provide users with good user experiences. In this context, it is necessary to apply a development methodology with which applications that provide a good user experience are obtained. The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate a methodology for the creation of this type of applications, based on UserCentered Design and the Agile development approach, in the context of exhibition spaces. Additionally, a case study is presented, in which the proposed methodology is used to develop the prototype of a web application that allows 360° tours of the Elia Liut exhibition and the Archaeological Reserve of the “Museo Municipal Remigio Crespo Toral” of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. This work considers an experimental research methodology that contemplates two approaches. The first approach consists of a theoretical component that provides the necessary foundations for the development of this work. The second approach consists of: i) the empirical evaluation of the proposed methodology, against the performance and perceptions of the users. ii) The empirical evaluation of the usability of a prototype developed using the proposed methodology. Finally, the results of this work indicate that the proposed development methodology is easy to use, useful and there is the intention of using it in the future. As for the prototype, it was determined that it is usable.Ingeniero de SistemasCuenc

El recurso virtual kahoot como medio didáctico para el desarrollo de la competencia comunicativa en inglés del grado tercero.

Las TIC se han convertido en el eje movilizador de la actual sociedad al integrar una multiplicidad de factores que impactan las formas de vida a nivel cultural, social, política, económica y educativa, notoriamente las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación han cobrado protagonismo al brindar optimización en diversas actividades de la vida cotidiana y la educación no puede ser ajena a dichas transformaciones culturales toda vez que las TIC y la conectividad han permeado la atención de niños, jóvenes y adultos. Por ello, resulta importante realizar procesos de inclusión en el aula de clase a través de las TIC haciendo uso de diversos recursos educativos que provee la internet con el firme propósito de transformar la didáctica educativa en la institución para lograr brindar una educación con pertinencia social, desde una perspectiva globalizada y ante todo de calidad, ahora bien son grandes los retos que impone la actual sociedad a los profesionales de la educación al comprender que el conocimiento es inacabado y continuamente se transforma junto a las tecnologías, de manera que el docente debe estar en una formación continua para lograr ir de la mano de la actual sociedad en pro de la transformación didáctica que potencie su rol como facilitador del conocimiento para que los estudiantes logren sortear las problemáticas contextuales desde los conocimientos académicos aplicados a la vida diaria. Este trabajo investigativo se sustenta bajo el direccionamiento del enfoque cualitativo, el cual permite la comprensión particular del contexto y los fenómenos que se gestan al interior de este.ICTs have become the mobilizing axis of today's society by integrating a multiplicity of factors that impact lifestyles at a cultural, social, political, economic and educational level, notably information and communication technologies have gained prominence in provide optimization in various activities of daily life and education cannot be alien to these cultural transformations since ICTs and connectivity have permeated the care of children, youth and adults. For this reason, it is important to carry out inclusion processes in the classroom through ICTs, making use of various educational resources provided by the Internet with the firm purpose of transforming educational didactics in the institution in order to provide an education with social relevance. From a global perspective and above all quality, however, the challenges imposed by today's society on education professionals are great, as they understand that knowledge is unfinished and continuously transforms along with technology, so that the teacher must be in a continuous training to manage to go hand in hand with the current society in favor of the didactic transformation that enhances its role as a facilitator of knowledge so that students manage to overcome contextual problems from academic knowledge applied to daily life. This investigative work is based on the direction of the qualitative approach, which allows the particular understanding of the context and the phenomena that are generated within it

Aerosol characterisation in the subtropical eastern North Atlantic region using long-term AERONET measurements

A comprehensive characterisation of atmospheric aerosols in the subtropical eastern North Atlantic has been carried out using long-term ground-based Aerosol Robotic NETwork (AERONET) photometric observations over the period 2005–2020 from a unique network made up of four stations strategically located from sea level to 3555 m on the island of Tenerife. This site can be considered a sentinel for the passage of airmasses going to Europe from Africa, and therefore the aerosol characterisation performed here adds important information for analysing their evolution during their path toward Northern Europe. Two of these stations (Santa Cruz de Tenerife – SCO – at sea level and La Laguna – LLO – at 580 m a.s.l.) are located within the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), and the other two (Izaña – IZO – at 2373 m a.s.l. and Teide Peak – TPO – at 3555 m a.s.l.) are high mountain stations within the free troposphere (FT). Monthly climatology of the aerosol optical depth (AOD), Ångström exponent (AE), aerosol concentration, size distribution and aerosol optical properties has been obtained for the MABL and FT. Measurements that are quite consistent across the four sites have been used to categorise the main atmospheric scenarios, and these measurements confirm an alternation between predominant background conditions and predominant dust-loaded Saharan air mass conditions caused by seasonal dust transport over the subtropical North Atlantic. Background conditions prevail in the MABL and FT for most of the year, while dust-laden conditions dominate in July and August.The authors also acknowledge the support from ACTRIS, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, through the projects SYNERA (PID2020-118793GA-I00) and ePOLAAR (RTI2018-097864-BI00) and from Junta de Castilla y León (grant no. VA227P20)

Altered fibrin clot structure and dysregulated fibrinolysis contribute to thrombosis risk in severe COVID-19

The high incidence of thrombotic events suggests a possible role of the contact system pathway in COVID-19 pathology. Here, we demonstrate altered levels of factor XII (FXII) and its activation products in critically ill COVID-19 patients in comparison to patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza virus (ARDS-influenza). Compatible with this data, we report rapid consumption of FXII in COVID-19, but not in ARDS-influenza, plasma. Interestingly, the lag phase in fibrin formation, triggered by the FXII activator kaolin, was not prolonged in COVID-19 as opposed to ARDS-influenza. Using confocal and electron microscopy, we showed that increased FXII activation rate, in conjunction with elevated fibrinogen levels, triggers formation of fibrinolysis-resistant, compact clots with thin fibers and small pores in COVID-19. Accordingly, clot lysis was markedly impaired in COVID-19 as opposed to ARDS-infleunza subjects. Dysregulatated fibrinolytic system, as evidenced by elevated levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, tissue-plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in COVID-19 potentiated this effect. Analysis of lung tissue sections revealed wide-spread extra- and intra-vascular compact fibrin deposits in COVID-19 patients. Together, compact fibrin network structure and dysregulated fibrinolysis may collectively contribute to high incidence of thrombotic events in COVID-19

Genome-wide association and HLA fine-mapping studies identify risk loci and genetic pathways underlying allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is the most common clinical presentation of allergy, affecting 400 million people worldwide, with increasing incidence in westernized countries1,2. To elucidate the genetic architecture and understand the underlying disease mechanisms, we carried out a meta-analysis of allergic rhinitis in 59,762 cases and 152,358 controls of European ancestry and identified a total of 41 risk loci for allergic rhinitis, including 20 loci not previously associated with allergic rhinitis, which were confirmed in a replication phase of 60,720 cases and 618,527 controls. Functional annotation implicated genes involved in various immune pathways, and fine mapping of the HLA region suggested amino acid variants important for antigen binding. We further performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens and nonallergic rhinitis, which suggested shared genetic mechanisms across rhinitis-related traits. Future studies of the identified loci and genes might identify novel targets for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis

A influência da síndrome de ovários policísticos e síndrome metabólica na escolha do tipo de parto: revisão de literatura

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) are interconnected through various physiological pathways, and their coexistence may have significant implications, especially during pregnancy and the childbirth process. During pregnancy, women with PCOS and MS may face an increased risk of obstetric complications. Regarding the impact on childbirth, PCOS and MS can influence the choice of the type of delivery. Methodology: This work constitutes a literature review, following the systematization with the five pillars described below. 1) Problem statement: "What is the influence of PCOS and MS on the choice of the type of delivery?". 2) Relevant studies were identified using the PUBMED platform with the descriptors "Metabolic Syndrome, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Parturition, Pregnancy," PUBMED all in accordance with MESH. 3) Initially, 11 studies were selected; 4 were discarded after a thorough reading as they did not contribute to the problem statement. 4) Data extraction was performed using a text editing program. 5) Experts were consulted. Results: The studies revealed that PCOS and MS are associated with a clinically significant increase in the risk of complications during pregnancy compared to control groups. Additionally, there is a 3 to 4 times higher likelihood of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, a threefold increase in the risk of gestational diabetes, and a twofold likelihood of premature birth. The elevated obstetric risk for women with PCOS is reflected in a higher rate of spontaneous abortion. Moreover, it was observed that, compared to the general population, PCOS and MS are more associated with cesarean delivery. Conclusion: Cesarean delivery is predominant in patients with PCOS and MS. Furthermore, there is a higher risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and premature birth.Introdução: A síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) e a síndrome metabólica (SM) estão interligadas por várias vias físicas, e sua coexistência pode ter implicações significativas, especialmente durante a gravidez e no processo de parto. Durante a gravidez, as mulheres SOP e SM podem enfrentar um risco aumentado de complicações obstétricas. Quanto ao impacto no parto, a SOP e a SM podem influenciar a escolha do tipo de parto Metodologia: Este trabalho trata-se de uma revisão de literatura, de acordo com a sistematização com os 5 pilares descritos a seguir. 1) Questão problema: “Qual a influência da SOP e SM na escolha do tipo de parto?”. 2) Estudos relevantes foram identificados utilizando na plataforma PUBMED os descritores “Metabolic Syndrome, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Parturition, Pregnancy”, na PUBMED, todos de acordo com MESH. 3) 11 estudos foram selecionados inicialmente, 4 foram descartados mediante leitura completa por não contribuir com a questão problema. 4) A extração de dados foi realizada em um programa de edição de texto. 5) Especialistas foram consultados.  Resultado: Os estudos revelaram que a SOP e SM estão associadas a um aumento clinicamente significativo no risco de complicações durante a gravidez, em comparação com os grupos de controle. Além disso, há uma probabilidade de 3 a 4 vezes maior de desenvolver hipertensão causada pela gravidez e pré-eclâmpsia, um aumento de 3 vezes sem risco de diabetes gestacional e uma probabilidade duas vezes maior de parto prematuro. O risco obstétrico elevado para mulheres com SOP se reflete em uma maior taxa de aborto espontâneo. Diante disso, observou-se que em relação a população em geral, SOP e SM associam-se mais com o parto cesariano. Conclusão: O parto cesariano é predominante em pacientes com SOP e SM. Além disso, há maior risco de desenvolver hipertensão causada pela gravidez, pré-eclâmpsia e parto prematuro

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field