bioNMF: a versatile tool for non-negative matrix factorization in biology

Medical imaging has become an absolutely essential diagnostic tool for clinical practices; at present, pathologies can be detected with an earliness never before known. Its use has not only been relegated to the field of radiology but also, increasingly, to computer-based imaging processes prior to surgery. Motion analysis, in particular, plays an important role in analyzing activities or behaviors of live objects in medicine. This short paper presents several low-cost hardware implementation approaches for the new generation of tablets and/or smartphones for estimating motion compensation and segmentation in medical images. These systems have been optimized for breast cancer diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging technology with several advantages over traditional X-ray mammography, for example, obtaining patient information during a short period. This paper also addresses the challenge of offering a medical tool that runs on widespread portable devices, both on tablets and/or smartphones to aid in patient diagnostics.

Classificação das amostras do ensaio de Baumann através do processamento digital de imagens.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma alternativa ao processo de classificação do defeito da segregação central em amostras de aço, utilizando as imagens digitais que são geradas durante o ensaio de Baumann. O algoritmo proposto tem como objetivo agregar as técnicas de processamento digital de imagens e o conhecimento dos especialistas sobre o defeito da segregação central, visando a classificação do defeito de referência. O algoritmo implementado inclui a identificação e a segmentação da linha segregada por meio da aplicação da transformada de Hough e limiar adaptativo. Adicionalmente, o algoritmo apresenta uma proposta para o mapeamento dos atributos da segregação central nos diferentes graus de severidade do defeito, em função dos critérios de continuidade e intensidade. O mapeamento foi realizado por meio da análise das características individuais, como comprimento, largura e área, dos elementos segmentados que compõem a linha segregada. A avaliação do desempenho do algoritmo foi realizada em dois momentos específicos, de acordo com sua fase de implementação. Para a realização da avaliação, foram analisadas 255 imagens de amostras reais, oriundas de duas usinas siderúrgicas, distribuídas nos diferentes graus de severidade. Os resultados da primeira fase de implementação mostram que a identificação da linha segregada apresenta acurácia de 93%. As classificações oriundas do mapeamento realizado para as classes de criticidade do defeito, na segunda fase de implementação, apresentam acurácia de 92% para o critério de continuidade e 68% para o critério de intensidade.

Illuminating faith : the Bute Book of Hours

"The Bute Book of Hours, an English manuscript dating to c. 1500 in The Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum, has received cursory attention from scholars in the past. This paper is the first to conduct a comprehensive examination of the object, evaluating its style, iconography, content, religious significance, and patronage. Careful study has revealed that the Bute Book is greatly indebted to early engravings for its imagery, perhaps more than any other known manuscript. The suffrages to saints were selected based on their powers against the plague, Tudor religious preferences, and regional significance. Special attention has been given to more unusual insertions such as Sts. Armel and Ninian, and Henry VI. The Bute Book of Hours was created for a wealthy Englishman, most likely with Yorkshire connections, and it illustrates the tenor of a nation undergoing rapid political, social and religious changes"

Computational approach to anaphora resolution in Spanish dialogues

This paper presents an algorithm for identifying noun-phrase antecedents of pronouns and adjectival anaphors in Spanish dialogues. We believe that anaphora resolution requires numerous sources of information in order to find the correct antecedent of the anaphor. These sources can be of different kinds, e.g., linguistic information, discourse/dialogue structure information, or topic information. For this reason, our algorithm uses various different kinds of information (hybrid information). The algorithm is based on linguistic constraints and preferences and uses an anaphoric accessibility space within which the algorithm finds the noun phrase. We present some experiments related to this algorithm and this space using a corpus of 204 dialogues. The algorithm is implemented in Prolog. According to this study, 95.9% of antecedents were located in the proposed space, a precision of 81.3% was obtained for pronominal anaphora resolution, and 81.5% for adjectival anaphora.

PHORA: a system to solve the anaphora in Spanish

In this paper we present a whole Natural Language Processing (NLP) system for Spanish. The core of this system is the parser, which uses the grammatical formalism Lexical-Functional Grammars (LFG). Another important component of this system is the anaphora resolution module. To solve the anaphora, this module contains a method based on linguistic information (lexical, morphological, syntactic and semantic), structural information (anaphoric accessibility space in which the anaphor obtains the antecedent) and statistical information. This method is based on constraints and preferences and solves pronouns and definite descriptions. Moreover, this system fits dialogue and non-dialogue discourse features. The anaphora resolution module uses several resources, such as a lexical database (Spanish WordNet) to provide semantic information and a POS tagger providing the part of speech for each word and its root to make this resolution process easier.

Captores del fósforo: preferencias de los pacientes en hemodiálisis y su repercusión sobre el cumplimiento del tratamiento y el control del fósforo

Introducción: En la actualidad disponemos de un amplio abanico de captores del fósforo (CF), pero sabemos poco acerca de las preferencias de los pacientes y de su repercusión sobre el cumplimiento del tratamiento y el control de los niveles de fósforo. Objetivo: Estudiar las preferencias y creencias de los pacientes respecto a los CF, y su influencia sobre el cumplimiento del tratamiento y el control de los niveles de fósforo. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal. Se incluyeron 121 pacientes que respondieron un cuestionario genérico de cumplimiento del tratamiento (SMAQ) y a un cuestionario específico sobre cumplimiento del tratamiento con CF, tipo de CF preferido y razones de dicha preferencia. Todos los pacientes entrevistados habían probado dos o tres CF. Las consecuencias de la falta de cumplimiento del tratamiento con CF se estimaron indirectamente analizando los valores promedio de fósforo sérico. Resultados: El 40% de los pacientes era incumplidor según el cuestionario SMAQ; se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la falta de cumplimiento en general y no alcanzar el objetivo de fósforo sérico promedio <5,5 mg/dl (OR = 4,8; IC 95%, 1,0-6,6; p = 0,02). El 21,4% de los pacientes reconocía un incumplimiento específico para los CF; estos pacientes presentaban una mayor probabilidad de tener cifras medias de fósforo >5,5 mg/dl (OR = 4,7; IC 95%, 1,1-6,5; p = 0,03). Un 43,8% de los pacientes no refirió tener preferencias entre los diferentes tipos de CF; para el resto de pacientes, el CF preferido fue Royen®, seguido de Fosrenol®, Renagel® y Pepsamar®. Las razones expresadas para el desagrado con el Renagel® fueron las siguientes: incomodidad en la toma por su gran tamaño (28,8%), necesidad de tomar muchos comprimidos y gran consumo de agua (57,7%) e intolerancia gástrica (13,3%). En el caso del Fosrenol®: incómodo de tomar (72,7%) e intolerancia gástrica (27,2%); para el Pepsamar®: mal sabor (54,5%) e intolerancia gástrica (45,4%). Sólo al 9,4% no le gustaba el Royen®. Al analizar los conocimientos de los pacientes respecto a la utilidad de los CF, un 42% sabía que servían para controlar el fósforo; un 52% no lo sabía y un 6% tenía ideas equivocadas. En cuanto a su importancia: un 47% no conocía por qué son importantes; un 2% tenía ideas erróneas; un 9% creía que era beneficioso para la salud; un 11% creía que era bueno «porque lo dice el medico»; un 26% porque controla el fósforo y un 5% lo relacionaba con el hueso. Ningún paciente relacionó los CF con la enfermedad cardiovascular. Un 24,4% no se llevaba los CF cuando salía fuera de casa o estaba con los amigos; eran pacientes más jóvenes a quienes se les habían prescrito un mayor número de comprimidos de CF y que presentaban un mayor riesgo de no cumplir el objetivo de fósforo (OR = 10,5; IC 95%, —1,8 a —16,4; p <0,001). El porcentaje de pacientes a quienes no les gustaba el CF prescrito fue del 54,5%; dichos pacientes presentaban un mayor riesgo de tener niveles séricos de fósforo >5,5 mg/dl (OR = 13.3; IC 95%, 1,1-1,5; p = 0,0001). Paradójicamente, los pacientes que no cumplían con el tratamiento demostraban un mejor conocimiento de su uso (OR = 17,3; IC 95%, 2,2-10,1; p <0.0001) e importancia (OR = 10,4; IC 95%, 1,5-6,6; p = 0,001). Conclusión: Los pacientes a los que se les habían prescrito CF que no les gustaban tenían un peor control de los niveles de fósforo sérico y se les habían recomendado dosis más altas de los fármacos. El conocimiento de las preferencias de los pacientes acerca de las medicaciones que se les prescriben puede ser un factor esencial para conseguir un mayor cumplimiento del tratamiento y, por ende, lograr mejores resultados en la consecución de los objetivos terapéuticos.

Nueva técnica de fusión de clasificadores aplicada a la mejora de la segmentación de audio

Este artículo presenta un nuevo algoritmo de fusión de clasificadores a partir de su matriz de confusión de la que se extraen los valores de precisión (precision) y cobertura (recall) de cada uno de ellos. Los únicos datos requeridos para poder aplicar este nuevo método de fusión son las clases o etiquetas asignadas por cada uno de los sistemas y las clases de referencia en la parte de desarrollo de la base de datos. Se describe el algoritmo propuesto y se recogen los resultados obtenidos en la combinación de las salidas de dos sistemas participantes en la campaña de evaluación de segmentación de audio Albayzin 2012. Se ha comprobado la robustez del algoritmo, obteniendo una reducción relativa del error de segmentación del 6.28% utilizando para realizar la fusión el sistema con menor y mayor tasa de error de los presentados a la evaluación.

Estudio de las preferencias de los estudiantes de 4º de Grado en Enfermería sobre su futuro profesional e intención de emigrar

Introducción y objetivos: Conocer y analizar las preferencias laborales y la intención de emigrar de los estudiantes de 4º de Grado en Enfermería de la Universidad de Murcia (España). Método: Estudio de diseño descriptivo concurrente e incidental, previo análisis bibliográfico. Se incluyó 37 test. Los participantes recibieron personalmente una encuesta de variables sociodemográficas y de intención de futuro. El análisis estadístico de los datos se realizó mediante el SPSS 15.0. Resultados: De los 37 encuestados el 35,1% fueron varones y el 64,9% mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre 21 y 50 años. La mayoría de encuestados (94,6%) conoce al menos un idioma. La primera intención de futuro mayoritaria es trabajar en España (40,5%), seguida de preparar la especialización (EIR) (35,1%); la segunda intención muestra las mismas preferencias que la primera. En ambos casos emigrar lo eligió el 15%. No dominar ningún idioma es factor excluyente para emigrar, aunque saber algún idioma no es determinante para emigrar. Todos los encuestados que eligieron emigrar son menores de 25 años. Ninguno de los mayores de 25 años eligió como primera opción preparar la especialización, siendo en los menores de 25 años la opción preferida. Conclusiones: Los jóvenes enfermeros españoles deciden desarrollar su profesión fuera de España impulsados más por una necesidad que al interés por trabajar en el extranjero. Los órganos gestores españoles deberían poner en marcha programas que fomentasen la rápida inserción laboral de los jóvenes enfermeros en su país.

Procrastiner au péril de l'humanité : une perspective psychologique au problème du changement climatique

Dans ce mémoire, je cherche à rendre compte de l’inaction des individus à l’égard de la lutte contre les changements climatiques. Je soutiens que la procrastination permet d’expliquer l’inaction de certaines personnes à la fois informées et préoccupées par cet enjeu environnemental. Dans un premier temps, je présente différentes conceptions de la procrastination en philosophie. J’avance que la procrastination n’est pas nécessairement un comportement irrationnel et propose une définition descriptive de celle-ci. Dans un deuxième temps, je valide la légitimité du concept de la procrastination pour décrire l’attitude de certains individus face au changement climatique. Dans un troisième temps, je présente différents facteurs de la procrastination relative au changement climatique, à savoir les émotions négatives, la perspective temporelle, les préférences intransitives et la dissonance cognitive. Je conclus que la procrastination eu égard au changement climatique s’explique ultimement par une stratégie à court terme de régulation des émotions.

Ordnung muss nicht sein. Developments on the German political scene. OSW Commentary No. 55, 2011-06-27

The results of parliamentary elections in seven German federal states, ongoing since early 2011, show the collapse of the existing order on the German political scene, both on a national level and on the level of the individual federal states. So far, the federal states have been governed by one of the catch-all parties1 – i.e. the Christian Democrats or Social Democrats – in coalitions with smaller partners – the FDP and the Greens, respectively2. This year’s elections have fully revealed the extent of social transformation in Germany and its impact on voting preferences and the hitherto stable party system in this country. The largest and most popular parties so far – the CDU and the SPD – are losing the voters’ confidence and support, whereas the parties associated with protest movements (such as the Greens) are gaining prominence. Moreover, the German political scene is undergoing increasing fragmentation, as new small, local groups are appearing who have no political aspirations at the federal level but who are attractive to voters acting as successful groups of common cause. The changes in the existing balance of power on the German political scene are being sped up by the specific features of the federal system. Elections to the parliaments of the federal states are held at regular intervals which increasingly affects policies on the national level. The key decisions that concern domestic and foreign affairs are made under the pressure of constant election campaigns.

Testing for Subsidiarity. Bruges European Economic Policy (BEEP) Briefing 13/2006

In the EU circuit (especially the European Parliament, the Council and Coreper) as well as in national parliaments of the EU Member States, one observes a powerful tendency to regard 'subsidiarity' as a 'political' issue. Moreover, subsidiarity is frequently seen as a one-way street : powers going 'back to' Member States. Both interpretations are at least partly flawed and less than helpful when looking for practical ways to deal with subsidiarity at both EU and Member states' levels. The present paper shows that subsidiarity as a principle is profoundly 'functional' in nature and, hence, is and must be a two-way principle. A functional subsidiarity test is developed and its application is illustrated for a range of policy issues in the internal market in its widest sense, for equity and for macro-economic stabilisation questions in European integration. Misapplications of 'subsidiarity' are also demonstrated. For a good understanding, subsidiarity being a functional, two-way principle neither means that elected politicians should not have the final (political!) say (for which they are accountable), nor that subsidiarity tests, even if properly conducted, cannot and will not be politicised once the results enter the policy debate. Such politicisation forms a natural run-up to the decision-making by those elected for it. But the quality and reasoning of the test as well as structuring the information in a logical sequence ( in accordance with the current protocol and with the one in the constitutional treaty) is likely to be directly helpful for decisionmakers, confronted with complicated and often specialised proposals. EU debates and decision-making is therefore best served by separating the functional subsidiarity test (prepared by independent professionals) from the final political decision itself. If the test were accepted Union-wide, it would also assist national parliaments in conducting comparable tests in a relatively short period, as the basis for possible joint action (as suggested by the constitutional treaty). The core of the paper explains how the test is formulated and applied. A functional approach to subsidiarity in the framework of European representative democracy seeks to find the optimal assignment of regulatory or policy competences to the various tiers of government. In the final analysis, this is about structures facilitating the highest possible welfare in the Union, in the fundamental sense that preferences and needs are best satisfied. What is required for such an analysis is no less than a systematic cost/benefit framework to assess the (de)merits of (de)centralisation in the EU.

Keep capital markets union simple. ECMI Commentary No. 38/July 2015

A few additional initiatives will need to be taken before a European capital markets union is able to unleash its full potential. The main problem is fragmentation, arising from the deep differences existing from one country to another in the structure of markets, user preferences and the availability of well organised, long-term saving schemes. Several attempts have been made to address these barriers, but with limited or uneven success so far

Vučić’s plebiscite almost slipped on arithmetics. EPC Commentary, 29 April 2016

As largely anticipated, the incumbent Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, secured another four years in power at the snap elections that took place on 24 April. However, the results suggest that Vučić has overplayed his hand with this personal plebiscite: simple arithmetics unmasked his exaggerated hope to wipe out the opposition and consolidate political dominance. This might bode well for political pluralism but voters’ preferences and the affixed party options caution against taking Serbia’s commitment to European integration for granted.

Hoxb6 can interfere with somitogenesis in the posterior embryo through a mechanism independent of its rib-promoting activity

Formation of the vertebrate axial skeleton requires coordinated Hox gene activity. Hox group 6 genes are involved in the formation of the thoracic area owing to their unique rib-promoting properties. Here we show that the linker region (LR) connecting the homeodomain and the hexapeptide is essential for Hoxb6 rib-promoting activity in mice. The LR-defective Hoxb6 protein was still able to bind a target enhancer together with Pax3, producing a dominant-negative effect, indicating that the LR brings additional regulatory factors to target DNA elements. We also found an unexpected association between Hoxb6 and segmentation in the paraxial mesoderm. In particular, Hoxb6 can disturb somitogenesis and anterior-posterior somite patterning by dysregulation of Lfng expression. Interestingly, this interaction occurred differently in thoracic versus more caudal embryonic areas, indicating functional differences in somitogenesis before and after the trunk-to-tail transition. Our results suggest the requirement of precisely regulated Hoxb6 expression for proper segmentation at tailbud stages.

Atitude dos estudantes de enfermagem ao cuidar a pessoa com dor

Introdução: Cuidar da pessoa com dor é imprescindível à excelência dos cuidados de enfermagem. Refletindo sobre a natureza desses cuidados pelos estudantes, é possível promover atitudes de abertura ao sofrimento, para que como futuros profissionais respondam à necessidade de alívio. O comportamento humano é intencional, reflete preferências e para o prever podemos simplesmente examinar atitudes. Objectivo: Estimar a validade e confiabilidade da escala e analisar a atitude dos estudantes de enfermagem ao cuidar da pessoa com dor. Material e Método: Estudo analítico, correlacional e transversal, realizado com 255 estudantes da ESSV. Os dados recolhidos através de questionário autoaplicado que integra a escala: Atitude dos Estudantes de Enfermagem ao Cuidar a Pessoa com Dor. Resultados: Após o estudo psicométrico, a escala apresenta 17 itens e 2 fatores, fator 1 “Aptidão Terapêutico-Curativa” e fator 2 “Aptidão Centrada na Pessoa”. Os estudantes apresentam uma média de idade de 21.91 anos, 77.3% do sexo feminino, maioritariamente solteiros e 40.8% frequentam o 4º ano. Todos avaliam a dor nos ensinos clínicos, 86.4% com a EN e 94.9% conjuga intervenções farmacológicas e não farmacológicas, mais de 55% emprega a diminuição do ruído e luminosidade, aplicação do frio e massagem, havendo 87.5% que usa posicionamentos. Os do sexo masculino que aplicam exercícios de relaxamento e os do sexo feminino com idade ≥21 anos, do 3º ano, apresentam uma atitude mais adequada. Conclusão: A formação no tema dor ao longo do curso é preponderante no desenvolvimento de competências, mas também na aquisição de conhecimento e promoção de atitudes. Palavras chave: Estudantes de Enfermagem, Atitude; Dor; Cuidar.