Clustering approach applied on an artificial neural network model to predict PM10 in mega cities of México

A cluster-based artificial neural network model called CLASO (Classification-Assemblage-Association) has been proposed to predict the maximum of the 24-h moving average of PM10 concentration on the next day in the three largest metropolitan areas of Mexico. The model is a self-organised, real-time learning neural network, which builds its topology via a process of pattern classification by using an historical database. This process is based on a supervised clustering technique, assigning a class to each centroid of the hidden layer, employing the Euclidean distance as a hierarchical criterion. A set of ARIMA models was compared with CLASO model in the forecast performance of the 24-h average PM10 concentration on the next day. In general, CLASO model produced more accurate predictions of the maximum of the 24-h moving average of PM10 concentration than the ARIMA models, although the latter showed a minor tendency to underpredict the results. The CLASO model solely requires to be built a historical database of the air quality parameter, an initial radius of classification and the learning factor. CLASO has demonstrated acceptable predictions of 24-h average PM10 concentration by using exclusively regressive PM10 concentrations. The forecasting capabilities of the model were found to be satisfactory compared to the classical models, demonstrating its potential application to the other major pollutants used in the Mexican air quality index

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento Huila, Magdalena y Cesar

El trabajo grupal desarrollado nos permite socializar el abordaje de las víctimas del conflicto armado en contextos desde los enfoques narrativos, identificando la importancia de este enfoque como herramienta para la atención psicosocial en escenarios de las víctimas. El análisis de los casos abordados en esta fase nos señala la realidad en la que se encuentran hoy las víctimas del conflicto armado, pero a la vez nos permite proponer estrategias que contribuyen a la mitigación del daño asociado al conflicto y secuelas a nivel individual y colectivo. En esta fase reflexiva en trabajo colaborativo se identificó que en los casos analizados se encuentran diversos recursos de afrontamiento de las víctimas deben reconocer con el fin de fortalecer la resiliencia y la reorientación del curso de vida. Desde el enfoque narrativo se convierte en una herramienta fundamental donde se generan espacios que nos ayudan a reconocer e identificar aspectos clave para realizar una atención psicosocial sin revictimizar. De la misma manera encontramos que en los diferentes casos analizados son reiterativas las quejas de las víctimas haciendo énfasis en la indiferencia de las instituciones y la vulneración de sus derechos ante los desplazamientos forzados y la reducción de oportunidades en el marco de la reparación. Concluimos que como próximos psicólogos(as) estamos llamados a prepararnos asumiendo con responsabilidad y ética nuestros roles aplicando metodologías y enfoques narrativos para garantizar una ruta que contribuya al restablecimiento de los derechos de la población víctima y la prevención de la revictimización.The group work developed allows us to socialize the approach to the victims of the armed conflict in contexts from narrative approaches, identifying the importance of this approach as a tool for psychosocial care in victim settings. The analysis of the cases addressed in this phase shows us the reality in which the victims of the armed conflict find themselves today, but at the same time allows us to propose strategies that contribute to mitigating the damage associated with the conflict and its consequences at the individual and collective level. In this reflective phase in collaborative work, it was identified that in the cases analyzed there are various coping resources that the victims must recognize in order to strengthen resilience and reorientation of the life course. From the narrative approach, it becomes a fundamental tool where spaces are generated that help us to recognize and identify key aspects to carry out psychosocial care without revictimizing. In the same way, we find that in the different cases analyzed, the complaints of the victims are reiterative, emphasizing the indifference of the institutions and the violation of their rights in the face of forced displacement and the reduction of opportunities in the framework of reparation. We conclude that as future psychologists we are called to prepare ourselves, assuming our roles responsibly and ethically, applying methodologies and narrative approaches to guarantee a route that contributes to the restoration of the rights of the victim population and the prevention of revictimization

Red neuronal auto-organizada con aprendizaje en tiempo real para la predicción de la calidad del aire en base a PM10 en Villahermosa Tabasco, México

Se diseño un modelo de red neuronal artificial para la predicción al día siguiente del máximo diario de PM10, (material particulado de menos de 10 micrometros de diámetro), el cual se construye de manera dinámica mediante la formación de clusters para la clasificación de patrones y evoluciona a través de los datos que recibe automáticamente y en tiempo real. Se generó una matriz de distancias a partir de los patrones de entrada para seleccionar el radio óptimo de clasificación. El modelo fue validado mediante la aplicación de datos históricos de variables meteorológicas y de PM10 registrados en Villahermosa, Tabasco, México de 2007 a 2009. Los experimentos realizados permitieron identificar las variables relevantes del modelo y se contemplaron datos normalizados y no-normalizados. Los mejores resultados del modelo se obtuvieron usando promedios móviles y valores máximos y mínimos de PM10 no normalizados como variables de entrada así como radios cercanos al valor mínimo calculado en la matriz de distancias.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Diagnostic role of new Doppler index in assessment of renal artery stenosis

BACKGROUND: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is one of the main causes of secondary systemic arterial hypertension. Several non-invasive diagnostic methods for RAS have been used in hypertensive patients, such as color Doppler ultrasound (US). The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of a new renal Doppler US direct-method parameter: the renal-renal ratio (RRR), and compare with the sensitivity and specificity of direct-method conventional parameters: renal peak systolic velocity (RPSV) and renal aortic ratio (RAR), for the diagnosis of severe RAS. METHODS: Our study group included 34 patients with severe arterial hypertension (21 males and 13 females), mean age 54 (± 8.92) years old consecutively evaluated by renal color Doppler ultrasound (US) for significant RAS diagnosis. All of them underwent digital subtraction arteriography (DSA). RAS was significant if a diameter reduction > 50% was found. The parameters measured were: RPSV, RAR and RRR. The RRR was defined as the ratio between RPSV at the proximal or mid segment of the renal artery and RPSV measured at the distal segment of the renal artery. The sensitivity and specificity cutoff for the new RRR was calculated and compared with the sensitivity and specificity of RPSV and RAR. RESULTS: The accuracy of the direct method parameters for significant RAS were: RPSV >200 cm/s with 97% sensitivity, 72% specificity, 81% positive predictive value and 95% negative predictive value; RAR >3 with 77% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 90% positive predictive value and 76% negative predictive value. The optimal sensitivity and specificity cutoff for the new RRR was >2.7 with 97% sensitivity (p < 0.004) and 96% specificity (p < 0.02), with 97% positive predictive value and 97% negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: The new RRR has improved specificity compared with the direct method conventional parameters (RPSV >200cm/s and RAR >3). Both RRR and RPSV show better sensitivity than RAR for the RAS diagnosis

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Kwapa: Gente del río. Estrategias transmedia de impacto social

PAP Alter Código produce materiales de interacción audiovisual que se organizan en un universo transmedia, trabaja con personas de todas las edades, su meta es difundir representaciones no estigmatizantes de grupos socialmente desfavorecidos, además de compartir esta visión a todo aquel que colabore en el proyecto. En la temporada de verano 2023, el equipo Alter CÓDIGO continuó con el desarrollo del videojuego “A la orilla del río”, para ello la organización del trabajo se dividió en múltiples áreas tanto como comunitarias como digitales para dar una mayor profundidad al producto. Los avances más significativos van desde una versión más actualizada del guion, storyboards, una primera animación, un demo, este último de lo que sería el gameplay, y un minijuego. Asimismo, se muestra la vinculación comunitaria e impacto social que se logró con el desarrollo de los talleres de intervención fotográfica con niños acerca de su territorio. Paralelamente se aborda la creación de redes sociales y página web para la difusión del proyecto por fuera del PAP. En los dos meses de trabajo se cumplieron con los ideales del Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional y se logró una difusión transmedia. A pesar de que el proyecto aún no llega a su finalización, los avances y el alcance superaron las metas que se otorgaron al inicio de la temporada.ITESO, A.C

Gestión del conocimiento. Perspectiva multidisciplinaria. Volumen 2

El libro “Gestión del Conocimiento. Perspectiva Multidisciplinaria”, es una publicación internacional, seriada, continua, arbitrada de acceso abierto a todas las áreas del conocimiento, es el esfuerzo de investigadores de varios países del mundo, orientada a contribuir con procesos de gestión del conocimiento científico, tecnológico y humanístico que consoliden la transformación del conocimiento en diferentes escenarios, tanto organizacionales como universitarios, para el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas del quehacer diario. En este sentido, partiendo de los aportes teóricos y prácticos que presentan los autores, resultados de sus trabajos de investigación, análisis de diversas teorías, propuestas, enfoques, así como experiencias que se han dado a nivel del tema de gestión del conocimiento, presentamos a la comunidad internacional el libro Gestión del conocimiento. Perspectivas multidisciplinarias, que permitirá un mayor conocimiento y aplicación de estos conceptos, traduciéndose en una mejor aplicación y posicionamiento de las organizaciones en la utilización del conocimiento, la apropiación y transformación del mismo

Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster.Methods Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3.Results Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3.Conclusions During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide