Detection of abnormal cardiac response patterns in cardiac tissue using deep learning

This study reports a method for the detection of mechanical signaling anomalies in cardiac tissue through the use of deep learning and the design of two anomaly detectors. In contrast to anomaly classifiers, anomaly detectors allow accurate identification of the time position of the anomaly. The first detector used a recurrent neural network (RNN) of long short-term memory (LSTM) type, while the second used an autoencoder. Mechanical contraction data present several challanges, including high presence of noise due to the biological variability in the contraction response, noise introduced by the data acquisition chain and a wide variety of anomalies. Therefore, we present a robust deep-learning-based anomaly detection framework that addresses these main issues, which are difficult to address with standard unsupervised learning techniques. For the time series recording, an experimental model was designed in which signals of cardiac mechanical contraction (right and left atria) of a CD-1 mouse could be acquired in an automatic organ bath, reproducing the physiological conditions. In order to train the anomaly detection models and validate their performance, a database of synthetic signals was designed (n = 800 signals), including a wide range of anomalous events observed in the experimental recordings. The detector based on the LSTM neural network was the most accurate. The performance of this detector was assessed by means of experimental mechanical recordings of cardiac tissue of the right and left atria.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

A computer vision-based application for the assessment of head posture: A validation and reliability study

As its name implies, the forward head position (FHP) is when the head is further forward of the trunk than normal. This can cause neck and shoulder tension, as well as headaches. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) measured with 2D systems such as Kinovea software is often used to assess the FHP. Computer vision applications have proven to be reliable in different areas of daily life. The aim of this study is to analyze the test-retest and inter-rater reliability and the concurrent validity of a smartphone application based on computer vision for the measurement of the CVA. Methods: The CVAs of fourteen healthy volunteers, fourteen neck pain patients, and fourteen tension-type headache patients were assessed. The assessment was carried out twice, with a week of rest between sessions. Each examiner took a lateral photo in a standing position with the smartphone app based on computer vision. The test-retest reliability was calculated with the assessment of the CVA measured by the smartphone application, and the inter-rater reliability was also calculated. A third examiner assessed the CVA using 2D Kinovea software to calculate its concurrent validity. Results: The CVA in healthy volunteers was 54.65 (7.00); in patients with neck pain, 57.67 (5.72); and in patients with tension-type headaches, 54.63 (6.48). The test-retest reliability was excellent, showing an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.92 (0.86–0.95) for the whole sample. The inter-rater reliability was excellent, with an ICC of 0.91 (0.84–0.95) for the whole sample. The standard error of the measurement with the app was stated as 1.83°, and the minimum detectable change was stated as 5.07°. The concurrent validity was high: r = 0.94, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The computer-based smartphone app showed excellent test-retest and inter-rater reliability and strong concurrent validity compared to Kinovea software for the measurement of CVA.Postprint (published version

Ten years of local water resource management : Integrating satellite remote sensing and geographical information systems

On 2002, a novel initiative was undertaken by the local water administration of Catalonia (the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, leading to a ten-year project where a high number of medium resolution satellite images (MODIS and Landsat) were integrated to the daily water management to improve decision making effectiveness. This paper describes the methodology followed in the successful application of remote sensing, as well as the main problems that had to be overcome during its execution. It also presents the products that have been calculated. These are integrated into the Agency's corporate GIS and immediately available via the intranet for the staff, and a selection is available on the Internet

Efectividad de un protocolo de entrenamiento con el dispositivo de facilitación de movimiento cervical en sujetos con déficit de fuerza de la musculatura profunda cervical. Estudio piloto

Neck pain is one of the major public health problems, which has a great impact on the quality of people's lives, with a high prevalence and recurrence rate. The deep cervical muscles play a key role in neck stability. Deficits in deep cervical muscle strength are related to different clinical conditions: cervicogenic dizziness, cervical radiculopathy, chronic mechanical neck pain, cervical pain, and cervical instability. Training protocols can help to improve pain, cervical function, posture, and cross-sectional area. However, there are no training protocols in subjects with strength deficit in deep cervical muscles, including deep neck extensor and flexor muscles. The cervical device treatment (CDAT) allows us to train the cervical flexor and extensor muscle in a simple and comfortable way. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results in upper cervical range of motion, endurance, and self-perceived functional capacity by a training protocol with the new device for cervical treatment (GD) and the conventional training protocol (GH) versus a control group (GC) in subjects with cervical deep muscle strength deficit

Disseny d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional o de Furuta i estabilització amb control en l'espai d'estats mitjançant realimentació del vector d'estat amb observador i swing-up per estratègia de control energètica

En aquest projecte es presenta el disseny i control d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional, més conegut com a pèndul de Furuta. Inicialment s’obtenen les equacions correctes que descriuen la dinàmica del pèndol rotacional de Furuta mitjançant formulació Lagrangiana. El sistema de control estarà format per dos controladors; un controlador d’elevació i un controlador de balanceig i una estratègia de commutació per escollir el moment en què funcionarà el swing-up i el control per realimentació de variables d'estat. La commutació es realitzarà en funció la posició que es trobi situat el braç del pèndol. El controlador de balanceig, balancing controler, permet estabilitzar localment el pèndol en la posició d’equilibri, és realitzarà amb control lineal en l’espai d’estats mitjançant realimentació de les variables d’estat a partir de la linealització de les equacions que descriuen la dinàmica pèndul de Furuta. El controlador d’elevació, swimingup controler, porta el pèndol a una regió propera al seu punt d'equilibri inestable, estarà basat en un control energètic. L’efectivitat de les lleis de control proposades es verificarà mitjançant simulacions numèriques

Disseny d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional o de Furuta i estabilització amb control en l'espai d'estats mitjançant realimentació del vector d'estat amb observador i swing-up per estratègia de control energètica

En aquest projecte es presenta el disseny i control d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional, més conegut com a pèndul de Furuta. Inicialment s’obtenen les equacions correctes que descriuen la dinàmica del pèndol rotacional de Furuta mitjançant formulació Lagrangiana. El sistema de control estarà format per dos controladors; un controlador d’elevació i un controlador de balanceig i una estratègia de commutació per escollir el moment en què funcionarà el swing-up i el control per realimentació de variables d'estat. La commutació es realitzarà en funció la posició que es trobi situat el braç del pèndol. El controlador de balanceig, balancing controler, permet estabilitzar localment el pèndol en la posició d’equilibri, és realitzarà amb control lineal en l’espai d’estats mitjançant realimentació de les variables d’estat a partir de la linealització de les equacions que descriuen la dinàmica pèndul de Furuta. El controlador d’elevació, swimingup controler, porta el pèndol a una regió propera al seu punt d'equilibri inestable, estarà basat en un control energètic. L’efectivitat de les lleis de control proposades es verificarà mitjançant simulacions numèriques

Disseny d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional o de Furuta i estabilització amb control en l'espai d'estats mitjançant realimentació del vector d'estat amb observador i swing-up per estratègia de control energètica

En aquest projecte es presenta el disseny i control d'un pèndol invertit de moviment rotacional, més conegut com a pèndul de Furuta. Inicialment s’obtenen les equacions correctes que descriuen la dinàmica del pèndol rotacional de Furuta mitjançant formulació Lagrangiana. El sistema de control estarà format per dos controladors; un controlador d’elevació i un controlador de balanceig i una estratègia de commutació per escollir el moment en què funcionarà el swing-up i el control per realimentació de variables d'estat. La commutació es realitzarà en funció la posició que es trobi situat el braç del pèndol. El controlador de balanceig, balancing controler, permet estabilitzar localment el pèndol en la posició d’equilibri, és realitzarà amb control lineal en l’espai d’estats mitjançant realimentació de les variables d’estat a partir de la linealització de les equacions que descriuen la dinàmica pèndul de Furuta. El controlador d’elevació, swimingup controler, porta el pèndol a una regió propera al seu punt d'equilibri inestable, estarà basat en un control energètic. L’efectivitat de les lleis de control proposades es verificarà mitjançant simulacions numèriques

Comparison between experimental digital image processing and numerical methods for stress analysis in dental implants with different restorative materials

The aim of this study is to evaluate the stresses transferred to peri-implant areas from single implants restored with different restorative materials and subjected to a static vertical load with low eccentricity. A total of 12 crowns were made with four types of materials: carbon fiber-composite, metal-ceramic, metal-composite, and full-metal, all of them cemented over a titanium abutment. Three different ways of approaching the problem have been used independently to verify the robustness of the conclusions. The experimental results of stress distribution around the implant were obtained by two image processing techniques: Digital Photoelasticity and Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The tests have been modelled by 3D Finite Element Method (FEM). The FEM models have also been used to study the sensitivity of the results to slight changes in geometry or loads, so that the robustness of the experimental techniques can be analyzed. In addition, the realistic bone morphology of the mandible has also been modelled by FEM, including the cortical and trabecular bone property distinctions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Remotely sensed indicators and open-access biodiversity data to assess bird diversity patterns in Mediterranean rural landscapes

Biodiversity monitoring at simultaneously fine spatial resolutions and large spatial extents is needed but limited by operational trade-offs and costs. Open-access data may be cost-effective to address those limitations. We test the use of open-access satellite imagery (NDVI texture variables) and biodiversity data, assembled from GBIF, to investigate the relative importance of variables of habitat extent and structure as indicators of bird community richness and dissimilarity in the Alentejo region (Portugal). Results show that, at the landscape scale, forest bird richness is better indicated by the availability of tree cover in the overall landscape than by the extent or structure of the forest habitats. Open-land birds also respond to landscape structure, namely to the spectral homogeneity and size of open-land patches and to the presence of perennial vegetation amid herbaceous habitats. Moreover, structure variables were more important than climate variables or geographic distance to explain community dissimilarity patterns at the regional scale. Overall, summer imagery, when perennial vegetation is more discernible, is particularly suited to inform indicators of forest and open-land bird community richness and dissimilarity, while spring imagery appears to be also useful to inform indicators of open-land bird richness

A 3D finite element analysis model of single implant-supported prosthesis under dynamic impact loading for evaluation of stress in the crown, abutment and cortical bone using different rehabilitation materials

In the literature, many researchers investigated static loading effects on an implant. However, dynamic loading under impact loading has not been investigated formally using numerical methods. This study aims to evaluate, with 3D finite element analysis (3D FEA), the stress transferred (maximum peak and variation in time) from a dynamic impact force applied to a single implant-supported prosthesis made from different materials. A 3D implant-supported prosthesis model was created on a digital model of a mandible section using CAD and reverse engineering. By setting different mechanical properties, six implant-supported prostheses made from different materials were simulated: metal (MET), metal-ceramic (MCER), metal-composite (MCOM), carbon fiber-composite (FCOM), PEEK-composite (PKCOM), and carbon fiber-ceramic (FCCER). Three-dimensional FEA was conducted to simulate the collision of 8.62 g implant-supported prosthesis models with a rigid plate at a speed of 1 m/s after a displacement of 0.01 mm. The stress peak transferred to the crown, titanium abutment, and cortical bone, and the stress variation in time, were assessed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version