A microscopy technique based on bio-impedance sensors

It is proposed a microscopy for cell culture applications based on impedance sensors. The imagined signals are measured with the Electrical Cell-Substrate Spectroscopy (ECIS) technique, by identifying the cell area. The proposed microscopy allows real-time monitoring inside the incubator, reducing the contamination risk by human manipulation. It requires specific circuits for impedance measurements, a two-dimensional sensor array (pixels), and employing electrical models to decode efficiently the measured signals. Analogue Hardware Description Language (AHDL) circuits for cell-microelectrode enables the use of geometrical and technological data into the system design flow. A study case with 8x8 sensor array is reported, illustrating the evolution and power of the proposed image acquisition.Junta de Andalucía P0-TIC-538

Data-Analytics Modeling of Electrical Impedance Measurements for Cell Culture Monitoring

High-throughput data analysis challenges in laboratory automation and lab-on-a-chip devices’ applications are continuously increasing. In cell culture monitoring, specifically, the electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing technique (ECIS), has been extensively used for a wide variety of applications. One of the main drawbacks of ECIS is the need for implementing complex electrical models to decode the electrical performance of the full system composed by the electrodes, medium, and cells. In this work we present a new approach for the analysis of data and the prediction of a specific biological parameter, the fill-factor of a cell culture, based on a polynomial regression, data-analytic model. The method was successfully applied to a specific ECIS circuit and two different cell cultures, N2A (a mouse neuroblastoma cell line) and myoblasts. The data-analytic modeling approach can be used in the decoding of electrical impedance measurements of different cell lines, provided a representative volume of data from the cell culture growth is available, sorting out the difficulties traditionally found in the implementation of electrical models. This can be of particular importance for the design of control algorithms for cell cultures in tissue engineering protocols, and labs-on-a-chip and wearable devices applicationsEspaña, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Universidades project RTI2018-093512-B-C2

Verbs d'actitud

En aquest article es defineix la classe dels verbs d'actitud, tant intensionalment, a partir de criteris sintàctics i semàntics, com extensionalment. Quant a la sintaxi, s'observa que els verbs que pertanyen a aquest grup presenten almenys una estructura distintiva compartida; pel que fa a la semàntica, a més d'identificar-hi els mateixos components de significat, s'ha observat que presenten també el mateix tipus general d'estructura esdevenimental. La hipòtesi de treball és la de Levin -els verbs que tenen el mateix significat comparteixen el mateix comportament sintàctic-, encara que amb alguns matisos. El punt de partida és també la classificació d'aquesta autora, sobre la qual es proposa una reagrupació en funció dels criteris esmentats.In this article we propose a new semantic class that we have named: the attitude predicates. We define this class both intensionally, using syntactic as well as semantic criteria, and extensionally. Regarding syntax, it is noticed that the verbs that belong to this group share at least one dintinctive structure. As far as the semantic analysis of the predicates is concerned, we define a set of common meaning components to all of them as well as presenting the same type of event structure. The hipothesis upon which this work is based is that of Levin -verbs that have the same meaning also present an identical syntactic behavior-, even though there are several differences between our approach and hers. The starting point is also the classification this author provides, a regrouping of which is proposed according to the criteria already mentioned

Modelling vessel fleet composition for maintenance operations at offshore wind farms

Chartering a vessel fleet to support maintenance operations at offshore wind farms (OWF's) constitutes one of the major costs of maintaining this type of installations. Literature describes deterministic optimization models based on complete information within scenarios to schedule the maintenance and support decisions on the vessel fleet composition. The operations to be carried out can be classified as preventive and corrective tasks. The first type aims at reducing the likelihood of breakdowns and to prolong the life of turbine components. Corrective tasks are needed to repair breakdowns in turbines when they occur. Our research question is how to generate a vessel fleet composition, where the evaluation is based on scheduling without complete information. Such a model is a bi-level decision problem. On the first (tactical) level, decisions are made on the fleet composition for a certain time horizon. On the second (operational) level, the fleet is used to schedule the operations needed at the OWF, given random events of failures and weather conditions. A scenario based approach allows evaluation by parallel operational scheduling for each scenario..Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Spanish Ministry (TIN2015-66680

Effectiveness of psychological interventions for eating disorders in adolescence: An overview of systematic reviews

Eating disorders (EDs) are high prevalent among adolescents with serious consequences. Evidence of effectiveness of psychological interventions for eating disorders in adolescents lacks a systematic synthesis of systematic reviews. The goal of this umbrella review is to summarize evidence from systematic reviews examining effects of psychological interventions for eating disorders targeting adolescents. Web of Science, PsycINFO and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for systematic reviews on effectiveness and/or efficacy of any psychological intervention aiming to treat eating disorders in terms of outcomes in adolescents (improvement of eating-disorder symptoms, weight restoration and treatment retention). The methodological quality of each study was assessed using AMSTAR 2. The original search identified 831 reviews, 9 of which were included in the overview of systematic reviews rated as having a low methodological quality. Predominant psychological interventions for EDs in adolescents are family-based interventions. The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy and third-wave treatments has been less researched. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the EDs that have been studied the most. This study provides evidence supporting the positive impact of psychological interventions on eating disorders in adolescents. Family based treatment is the most evidence-based psychological intervention. There is a need for high-quality systematic reviews as well as systematic reviews to examine if psychological interventions are effective for different eating disordersEficacia de las Intervenciones Psicológicas en el Tratamiento de los Trastornos Alimentarios en Adolescentes: Una Meta-Revisión. La prevalencia de los trastornos alimentarios es elevada entre los adolescentes con consecuencias graves. La evidencia de la eficacia de las intervenciones psicológicas para los trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes carece de una meta-revisión de revisiones sistemáticas. El objetivo de esta revisión paraguas es resumir la evidencia de las revisiones sistemáticas que examinan los efectos de las intervenciones psicológicas para los trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes. Se realizaron búsquedas en Web of Science, PsycINFO y Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews de revisiones sistemáticas sobre la efectividad y/o eficacia de las intervenciones psicológicas para trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes (reducción de síntomas, restauración del peso y retención en el tratamiento). La calidad metodológica de cada estudio se evaluó mediante AMSTAR 2. En la búsqueda inicial se identificaron 831 registros, y 9 revisiones sistemáticas se incluyeron en la meta-revisión con una valoración de calidad metodológica baja. Las intervenciones psicológicas predominantes para los trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes fueron las intervenciones basadas en la familia. La eficacia de la terapia cognitivo-conductual y los tratamientos de tercera generación está menos estudiada. La anorexia nerviosa y la bulimia nerviosa son los trastornos alimentarios con mayor número de estudios. Hay evidencia del impacto positivo de las intervenciones psicológicas para los trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes. El tratamiento basado en la familia es la intervención psicológica con mayor evidencia. Se necesitan revisiones sistemáticas de mayor calidad, así como revisiones sistemáticas para examinar la eficacia de las intervenciones psicológicas para los distintos trastornos alimentario

La articulación del espacio doméstico en las casas de patio central. Un estudio para el Noreste peninsular ibérico entre los siglos IV - II a. C.

In this paper we approach a diachronic comparative study through space syntax analysis methodology of a set of courtyard houses from the East of the Iberian Peninsula dated between the IVth century and the IInd B.C., period previous and immediately to the beginning of Roman domination of these regions. These big complex houses with courtyard have been interpreted as the residences of minority powerful groups, that is to say, local aristocracy. In view of this, we shall try to study the evolution of this social class during this period characterized by economic and politic changes. Domestic space syntax analyses allows us to see the consequences of the adoption of formal changes in houses, for the social relationships. The high syntactic complexity observed in protohistorical houses is the main difference between these and roman houses.Presentamos un estudio comparativo diacrónico a través de la metodología analítica de la sintaxis espacial de un conjunto de casas de patio del este de la Península Ibérica datadas entre el siglo IV y el II a. C., periodo anterior e inmediatamente posterior al inicio de la conquista romana de esta región. Estas grandes casas complejas y con patio han sido interpretadas como las residencias de grupos minoritarios y poderosos: las aristocracias locales. A partir de esta idea trataremos de conocer el comportamiento y evolución de esta clase social durante el periodo de cambio que abordamos. La aplicación de un análisis sintáctico del espacio sobre una serie de casos nos ha permitido conocer las diferentes connotaciones que pueden adquirir las casas con patio. La principal diferencia entre las casas prerromanas e hispanorromanas está marcada por la mayor complejidad sintáctica de las primeras, que procede de las formas de la tradición indígena

Grado de Satisfacción de los adultos con los Programas Universitarios

This research analyses the degree of satisfaction of a sample of 874 students from University Programmes for adults and elderly, from Spain. The investigation is framed along the lines of positive psychology, specifically in Martin Seligman’s proposal, founder of this movement, who advocates that the main objective of this branch of psychological science is to investigate the healthy aspects of human life. The methodology applied is mixed. The level of satisfaction, collected through the survey technique was analysed by the SPSS 20.0 (using method CHAID) statistical program for the quantitative data; and by the Programme Atlas.Ti 6.0 (textual and conceptual analyses) for the qualitative data. The analysed data reveal that students are highly satisfied with the programme, the teachers and their peers. The discussion confirms these results, since it has also stood out in others studiesLa presente investigación analiza el grado de satisfacción de una muestra de 874 alumnos/as de Programas Universitarios para Adultos-Mayores (PUM) de todo el Estado Español. La investigación se enmarca dentro de la psicología positiva, específicamente en la propuesta de Martin Seligman, creador de este movimiento, quien propugna que el principal objetivo de esta rama de la ciencia psicológica es investigar los aspectos saludables de la vida del ser humano. La metodología utilizada es mixta. El grado de satisfacción, recogido a través de la técnica de la encuesta, fue analizado mediante el programa estadístico SPSS 20.0 (análisis de segmentación- CHAID) para la información cuantitativa; y el programa Atlas.Ti 6.0 (análisis textual y conceptual) para la información cualitativa. Los datos analizados revelan que el alumnado se encuentra altamente satisfecho con el Programa, el profesorado y sus compañeros/as. La discusión corrobora estos resultados, dado que también se han puesto de relieve en otros estudios

Apuntes de Teoría de Autómatas y Lenguajes Formales

IS17: Teoria d'Autòmats i Llenguatges Formal

Developing pre-service teachers’ noticing of students’ understanding of the derivative concept

This research study examines the development of the ability of pre-service teachers to notice signs of students’ understanding of the derivative concept. It analyses preservice teachers’ interpretations of written solutions to problems involving the derivative concept before and after participating in a teacher training module. The results indicate that the development of this skill is linked to pre-service teachers’ progressive understanding of the mathematical elements that students use to solve problems. We have used these results to make some suggestions for teacher training programmes.This paper was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain (EDU2011-27288) and Bird Project GRE10-10 from University of Alicante, Spain

Changes in how prospective teachers anticipate secondary students’ answers

This study focuses on how prospective teachers learn about students’ mathematical thinking when (i) anticipating secondary students’ answers reflecting different characteristics of understanding and (ii) propose new activities in relation to the classification of quadrilaterals. The data were collected from forty-eight prospective secondary school teachers enrolled in an initial training programme. The results indicate three changes in how the prospective teachers anticipate secondary students’ answers in relation to the role given to a perceptual or relational perspective of the classification of quadrilaterals. These changes are described considering how prospective teachers grasp the students’ understanding of the inclusive relation among quadrilaterals as a conceptual advance. We argue that prospective teachers’ learning was promoted after participating in a structured environment where they had the opportunity to discuss how to recognize the features of student’s understanding.This research was supported by the project from the Ministry MINECO, Spain, nº reference EDU2014-54526-R and from the Project I+D for emergent research groups GV/2014/075 of the Consellería de Educación, Cultura y Deporte de la Generalitat Valenciana