Causal Scoring Medical Image Explanations: A Case Study On Ex-vivo Kidney Stone Images

On the promise that if human users know the cause of an output, it would enable them to grasp the process responsible for the output, and hence provide understanding, many explainable methods have been proposed to indicate the cause for the output of a model based on its input. Nonetheless, little has been reported on quantitative measurements of such causal relationships between the inputs, the explanations, and the outputs of a model, leaving the assessment to the user, independent of his level of expertise in the subject. To address this situation, we explore a technique for measuring the causal relationship between the features from the area of the object of interest in the images of a class and the output of a classifier. Our experiments indicate improvement in the causal relationships measured when the area of the object of interest per class is indicated by a mask from an explainable method than when it is indicated by human annotators. Hence the chosen name of Causal Explanation Score (CaES

Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 RirA is required for oxidative stress resistance and efficient symbiosis with Soybean

Members of Rhizobiaceae contain a homologue of the iron-responsive regulatory protein RirA. In different bacteria, RirA acts as a repressor of iron uptake systems under iron-replete conditions and contributes to ameliorate cell damage during oxidative stress. In Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, mutations in rirA do not impair symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this study, a rirA mutant of broad host range S. fredii HH103 has been constructed (SVQ780) and its free-living and symbiotic phenotypes evaluated. No production of siderophores could be detected in either the wild-type or SVQ780. The rirA mutant exhibited a growth advantage under iron-deficient conditions and hypersensitivity to hydrogen peroxide in iron-rich medium. Transcription of rirA in HH103 is subject to autoregulation and inactivation of the gene upregulates fbpA, a gene putatively involved in iron transport. The S. fredii rirA mutant was able to nodulate soybean plants, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation was impaired. Nodules induced by the mutant were poorly infected compared to those induced by the wild-type. Genetic complementation reversed the mutant’s hypersensitivity to H2O2, expression of fbpA, and symbiotic deficiency in soybean plants. This is the first report that demonstrates a role for RirA in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.Andalucian Government Grant No. P11-CVI-7500Spanish Government Grant Nos. BIO2013-42801-P and BIO2016-78409-REuropean Regional Development Funds (ERDF)VPPI (V Plan Propio de Investigación) of University of Seville

A Multi-Peer, Low Cost Immersive Communication System for Pandemic Times

Porceeding of: 28th IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR 3D UI Contest), March 27-April 3, 2021, VirtualThis work has been partially supported by the Spanish Administration Agency CDTI under Project IDI-20200225 (TARDIS). This work has also received funding from the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ETN TeamUp5G, grant agreement No. 813391

Propuesta de un modelo educativo generador de competencias laborales en los institutos superiores tecnológicos del Ecuador

The Higher Technical and Technological Institutes of Ecuador, in 2014 became part of the Higher Education System governed by the Secretariat of Higher Education Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT); these to be admitted into the higher education system, must meet the quality parameters established by the Council for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (CACES); In the year 2021, CACES approved an institutional evaluation model for accreditation purposes, which is made up of 6 criteria; Organization, Infrastructure, Professors, Teaching, R&D and Innovation and Linkage with Society, 15 sub-criteria and 43 effectiveness indicators; Regarding the pertinence criterion, the educational model, which is the primary basis of the pedagogical management of Technical and Technological Education, is embodied; for this, we proceeded to build a proposal divided into four phases, starting from the documentary analysis, followed by determining the needs of the environment (relevance), continuing with the documentary study of the pedagogical approaches according to the latest trends, to conclude with the proposed design of the Educational Model, which is based on constructivism as the axis of training appropriate to this type of establishments.Los Institutos Superiores Técnicos y Tecnológicos del Ecuador, en el año 2014 pasaron a formar parte del Sistema de Educación Superior regentado por la Secretaría de Educación Superior Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT); estos al ser admitidos en el sistema educativo de nivel superior, deben cumplir los parámetros de calidad establecidos por el Consejo de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (CACES); , en el año 2021 el CACES aprobó un modelo de evaluación institucional con fines de acreditación, el cual está conformado por 6 criterios; Organización, Infraestructura, Profesores, Docencia, I+D e Innovación y Vinculación con la Sociedad, 15 subcriterios y 43 indicadores de eficacia; en lo referente al criterio pertinencia, está plasmado el modelo educativo, el cual es la base primordial de la gestión pedagógica de Educación Técnica y Tecnológica; para esto, se procedió a construir una propuesta dividida en cuatro fases, iniciando desde el análisis documental, siguiendo por determinar las necesidades del entorno (pertinencia), continuando por el estudio documental de los enfoques pedagógicos según las últimas tendencias, para así concluir con la propuesta del diseño del Modelo Educativo, el que está basado en el constructivismo como eje de formación apropiado a este tipo de establecimientos

A Complex Regulatory Network Governs the Expression of Symbiotic Genes in Sinorhizobium Fredii HH103

Introduction: The establishment of the rhizobium-legume nitrogen-fixing symbiosis relies on the interchange of molecular signals between the two symbionts. We have previously studied by RNA-seq the effect of the symbiotic regulators NodD1, SyrM, and TtsI on the expression of the symbiotic genes (the nod regulon) of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 upon treatment with the isoflavone genistein. In this work we have further investigated this regulatory network by incorporating new RNA-seq data of HH103 mutants in two other regulatory genes, nodD2 and nolR. Both genes code for global regulators with a predominant repressor effect on the nod regulon, although NodD2 acts as an activator of a small number of HH103 symbiotic genes. Methods: By combining RNA-seq data, qPCR experiments, and b-galactosidase assays of HH103 mutants harbouring a lacZ gene inserted into a regulatory gene, we have analysed the regulatory relations between the nodD1, nodD2, nolR, syrM, and ttsI genes, confirming previous data and discovering previously unknown relations. Results and discussion: Previously we showed that HH103 mutants in the nodD2, nolR, syrM, or ttsI genes gain effective nodulation with Lotus japonicus, a model legume, although with different symbiotic performances. Here we show that the combinations of mutations in these genes led, in most cases, to a decrease in symbiotic effectiveness, although all of them retained the ability to induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. In fact, the nodD2, nolR, and syrM single and double mutants share a set of Nod factors, either overproduced by them or not generated by the wild-type strain, that might be responsible for gaining effective nodulation with L. japonicus.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2019-107634RB-I0

Tracing the retina to analyze the integrity and phagocytic capacity of the retinal pigment epithelium

We have developed a new technique to study the integrity, morphology and functionality of the retinal neurons and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Young and old control albino (Sprague-Dawley) and pigmented (Piebald Virol Glaxo) rats, and dystrophic albino (P23H-1) and pigmented (Royal College of Surgeons) rats received a single intravitreal injection of 3% Fluorogold (FG) and their retinas were analyzed from 5 minutes to 30 days later. Retinas were imaged in vivo with SD-OCT and ex vivo in flat-mounts and in cross-sections. Fifteen minutes and 24 hours after intravitreal administration of FG retinal neurons and the RPE, but no glial cells, were labeled with FG-filled vesicles. The tracer reached the RPE 15 minutes after FG administration, and this labeling remained up to 30 days. Tracing for 15 minutes or 24 hours did not cause oxidative stress. Intraretinal tracing delineated the pathological retinal remodelling occurring in the dystrophic strains. The RPE of the P23H-1 strain was highly altered in aged animals, while the RPE of the RCS strain, which is unable to phagocytose, did not accumulate the tracer even at young ages when the retinal neural circuit is still preserved. In both dystrophic strains, the RPE cells were pleomorphic and polymegathic.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional “Una manera de hacer Europa” (PI16/00031, PI16/00380, PI19/00071, PI19/00203, SAF2015-67643-P, RD16/0008, RD16/0008/0026 and RD16/0008/0016) and by the Fundación Séneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología Región de Murcia (19881/GERM/15)

La Acción Tutorial en la Facultad de Económicas: perspectivas presentes y futuras

El Programa de Acción Tutorial de Económicas, conocido coloquialmente como PATEC, cumple su novena edición en el presente curso académico 2013-2014. Desde sus inicios el PATEC se ha adaptado a las distintas titulaciones adscritas al Centro gracias a su gran flexibilidad, aspecto fundamental si tenemos en cuenta el tamaño y la heterogeneidad de nuestro Centro y las diferentes características de nuestros estudiantes. El objetivo de esta comunicación es dar a conocer el PATEC, sus objetivos, características y datos más relevantes, así como analizar su evolución lo que nos permitirá obtener una radiografía completa del Programa. Teniendo en cuenta las dificultades encontradas en la implementación del Programa en sus distintas ediciones trataremos de abordar planteamientos alternativos entre los que se encuentra la creación de una Red de Tutores que persigue optimizar la labor tutorial y facilitar el trabajo de futuros tutores. Asimismo, se expondrán diferentes experiencias innovadoras llevadas a cabo con el objetivo de incrementar la participación del alumnado

Cómo mejorar el PATEC: comparativa de experiencias en universidades públicas españolas

En este curso 2014-2015 se cumplen 10 años del inicio del Programa de Acción Tutorial de la Facultad de Económicas (PATEC). En estos años este programa se ha ido consolidando e incrementando su relevancia en la Facultad y, en especial, a través de su web. Además, este programa se ofrece a todos los alumnos del centro con independencia del curso o la titulación en la que estén matriculados y se diseñan actividades complementarias que contribuyen a la formación integral del alumnado. En este sentido, la experiencia acumulada permite tener una amplia perspectiva para reflexionar sobre cómo debe ser el PATEC en los próximos años. No sólo teniendo en cuenta esta experiencia sino también considerando la organización y funcionamiento de otros programas de acción tutorial que existen en otras universidades españolas. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el funcionamiento de programas de acción tutorial implantados en otros centros para identificar las mejores prácticas con el fin de estudiar la posibilidad de introducirlas en el funcionamiento del PATEC. De esta manera podemos reflexionar sobre nuestras prácticas y mejorar la eficiencia del PATEC para ofrecer a todo su alumnado un servicio de calidad adaptado a sus necesidades académicas, profesionales y personales

No radiographic sacroiliitis progression was observed in patients with early spondyloarthritis at 6 years: results of the Esperanza multicentric prospective cohort

Objective: To estimate the 6-year radiographic progression of sacroiliitis in patients with early spondyloarthritis (SpA). Patients and methods: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) radiographs (baseline and 6 years) of 94 patients with recent-onset SpA from the Esperanza cohort were scored, blindly and in a random order, by nine readers. The modified New York criteria were used to define the presence of sacroiliitis. As the gold standard for radiographic (r) sacroiliitis, the categorical opinion of at least five readers was used. Progression was defined as the shift from non-radiographic (nr) to r-sacroiliitis. Results: In the 94 SIJ radiographs (baseline and 6 years), 78/94 (83%) pairs of radiographs had not changed from baseline to 6 years. Sacroiliitis was present in 20 patients at baseline (21.3%) and in 18 (19.2%) patients at 6 years; 11 patients had sacroiliitis at both the baseline and final visits; 9 patients changed from baseline r-sacroiliitis to nr-sacroiliitis at 6 years, and 7 changed from baseline nr-sacroiliitis to r-sacroiliitis at 6 years. The mean continuous change score (range: -8 to +8) was 2.80 at baseline and 2.55 at 6 years (mean net progression of -0.25). The reliability of the readers was fair (mean inter-reader kappa of 0.375 (0.146-0.652) and mean agreement of 73.7% (58.7-90%)). Conclusion: In the early SpA Esperanza cohort, progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA over 6 years was not observed, although the SIJ radiographs scoring has limitations to detect low levels of radiographic progression