Alberto Sols Biomedical Research Institute
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On the use of DiaPer models and matching algorithm for RTVE speaker diarization 2024 dataset
No full textSpeaker diarization in broadcast media presents significant challenges due to long-duration recordings, numerous speakers, and complex acoustic conditions. End-to-end neural diarization models like DiaPer (Diarization with Perceiver), which directly predict speaker activity from audio features without intermediate clustering steps, have shown promising results. However, their application to extended recordings remains computationally prohibitive due to quadratic complexity with respect to input length. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing a framework that applies DiaPer to short audio chunks and subsequently reconciles speaker identities across segments using a matching algorithm. We systematically analyze optimal chunk durations for DiaPer processing and introduce an enhanced chunk-matching algorithm leveraging state-of-the-art speaker embeddings, comparing Emphasized Channel Attention, Propagation and Aggregation in Time Delay Neural Network (ECAPA-TDNN), Residual Networks (ResNet), and Reshape Dimensions Network (ReDimNet) architectures. Our experimental evaluation on the challenging Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) datasets shows that ReDimNet embeddings consistently outperform alternatives, achieving substantial improvements in speaker identity consistency across segments. The proposed approach yields a Diarization Error Rate (DER) of 17.34% on the RTVE 2024 test set, which is competitive with state-of-the-art systems while achieving a 63.6% relative improvement over the baseline DiaPer model applied directly to complete audio recordings. This demonstrates that end-to-end neural approaches can be successfully extended to hour-long recordings while maintaining computational efficiencyThis research was supported by project PID2021-125943OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE and project PID2024-160789OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE and project SI4/PJI/2024-00237 (COSER-IA), Comunidad de Madri
The impact of violence at home to psychoemotional distress, well-being and suicidal risk: a massive mental health screening using smartphones
No full textViolence at home and mental health disorders are psychosocial factors related to suicidality. In Mexico, these factors are claimed to be associated with suicides from adolescents to elders. This study aimed to replicate a study undertaken in 2019 to explore the relationship between well-being and suicidality, adding violence at home together with emotional distress in the Mexican State of Yucatan after the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 32,530 citizens who were surveyed using a smartphone app, and partial least squares structural equation models were applied. We examined whether domestic violence operates primarily indirectly—via depression or anxiety—on suicidality and whether associations differ by gender. A total of 17,846 complete cases (from 15 to 80 years old) responded. Depression showed the strongest direct association with suicidality, with concomitant links to higher anxiety and lower well‑being. Domestic violence had no direct path to suicidality but showed a significant total (indirect) effect via depression and anxiety. Gender‑stratified models indicated differences across sex; namely, a non‑significant anxiety to suicidality path among women, and a non‑significant well‑being to suicidality path among men. Domestic violence was reported as frequent/very frequent a 12.0% of the sample, high suicidality in 10.3%, clinically relevant anxiety in 12.2%, and low well‑being in 27.3%. Well-being was protective against suicidal risk except in men, while anxiety was unrelated to suicidality in women. Findings support a stress–appraisal pathway where domestic violence acts as a chronic stressor primarily increasing suicidality indirectly via emotional distress, with gender-specific patterns. At system level, population-scale digital screening
can complement community detection and referral in YucatánThis research was supported by CIBER -Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (código CIBER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea – European Regional Development Fund (ISCIII PI20/01555), by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/a Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/5011000
11033 and “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR (TED2021-131120B-I00) by the Madrid Regional Government S2022/BMD-7216, AGES 3-CM), and by Fundació La Marató de TV3 (202226-31
Pedra Cabaleira: Characterisation of a vernacular building stone from the Courel mountains UNESCO Global Geopark
No full textThis paper presents the characterisation of Pedra Cabaleira, a historically significant vernacular building stone from the Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp), Spain. Pedra Cabaleira presents a noticeable lithological and aesthetic contrast with the predominant lithologies in this UGGp in northwestern Spain. This stone has been historically used in religious and military buildings associated with the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. This research aims to characterize the mineralogical, petrographic, and petrophysical properties of the stone to contribute to its valorisation as a significant vernacular building material in the context of the Courel Mountains UGGp. Field surveys identified three main lithotypes: a conglomerate (PC-1), a breccia (PC-2), and sandstone beds with intercalated clay-rich layers (PC-3). Analytical techniques included X-ray diffraction, optical petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry, hydric properties, mechanical strength, and salt weathering tests, which revealed significant variations among these lithotypes. The results indicate that the conglomerate and the sandstone beds show the most favourable parameters for construction, with lower microporosity, higher strength, and better durability, while the clay-rich layers within the sandstone show weaker mechanical performance and higher susceptibility to weathering. The study highlights the interplay between geological heritage and built heritage, demonstrating the importance of locally sourced building materials in sustaining historical structures and promoting geotourism in the Courel Mountains UGGp and the potential of this stone to become a Heritage StoneThe research leading to these results received funding from a research contract funded by Courel Mountains UGGp, within the framework of the agreement signed by the Provincial Government of Lugo, TEC-Heritage-CM programme (TEC 2024/TEC-39) from the Regional Government of Madrid (Spain) and CIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, grant numbers PID2020-116896RBC21 and PID2020-116896RBC2
From waste to resources: Integrating advanced oxidation and hydrochar production for potassium recovery and carbon retention
No full textThe escalating demand for fertilizers and the scarcity of natural potassium (K) reserves highlight the need for sustainable recovery strategies. Vinasse, a by-product of sugarcane ethanol, contains exceptionally high organic loads (>100 g L 1 COD) and is discharged from the process at elevated temperature, conditions that enable efficient persulfate thermal activation (TAP) and justify its treatment with a combined TAP–Fenton process. Using substoichiometric doses of persulfate and hydrogen peroxide, the combined treatment promoted partial oxidation and coagulation, generating an iron-rich sludge (50 % Carbon) suitable for valorization. This sludge was transformed into hydrochar via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and subsequently activated with NaOH (HTC-A), which increased surface reactivity via deprotonated oxygenated groups. The activated hydrochar displayed strong K+ retention (up to 14.5 mg g 1) with pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.99), indicating chemisorption by oxygenated functional groups. The spent hydrochar (HTC-S) also co-adsorbed phosphorus, supporting its use as a slow release, multinutrient soil amendment. Carbon retention analysis indicated a net sequestration potential of 1.25–1.45 t CO eq per ton of hydrochar. This combined functionality, namely nutrient recovery and carbon retention, supports the potential of the TAP–Fenton/HTC route as a circular strategy for the treatment and valorization of high-load agro-industrial effluentsThis work was supported by project PDC-2022-133805-100, funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain. Jefferson E. Silveira acknowledges support from CAPES: Science Without Borders Program, Ministry of Education Brazil (grant BEX-1046/13-6). Jos´ e Duarte gratefully acknowledges the CNPq and FULBRIGHT fellowship
Hybrid MILP-deep reinforcement learning approach for reusable container flows in the automotive industry
No full textThe management of Returnable Transport Items (RTIs), also called Reusable Transit Packaging (RTP), within automotive Just-in-Time (JIT) supply chains presents significant operational and strategic challenges, particularly for second-tier suppliers who face high demand volatility and limited control over RTI availability. Inefficient RTI flows lead to increased costs, service failures, and adverse environmental impacts. This paper addresses the complex problem of optimizing production scheduling and reusable container logistics for a second-tier plastic injection supplier by proposing a novel hybrid approach that integrates Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) with Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). The MILP component models detail operational decisions, including production sequencing with mold changeovers, inventory management for parts and containers (both reusable and disposable), and explicit transshipment operations, aiming to minimize total systemic costs including an environmental penalty for CO2 emissions. The DRL agent learns an adaptive policy to strategically determine the optimal initial inventory of empty reusable containers at the beginning of each planning cycle, dynamically informing the MILP model. generated instances, characterized by diverse demand patterns (Stable, Peaks, Volatile), demonstrate the proposed hybrid approach's effectiveness. Results indicate that the MILP-DRL approach achieves competitive total system costs and significantly reduces service level failures, while effectively navigating the trade-offs between operational costs, backorders, transshipments, and CO2 emissions. The study provides valuable insights into the benefits of adaptive, learning-based strategies for RTI management and offers practical guidance for second-tier suppliers striving to enhance efficiency and sustainability in demanding JIT environmentsThis work was supported by the Comunidad de Madrid through the project “Gestión Integral de Materiales y Residuos en la Industria de la Construcción: Fomentando la Economía Circular mediante la Adopción de Inteligencia Artificial y Sistemas Inteligentes” (grant SI4/PJI/2024-00211), a direct grant aimed at fostering research and technology transfer at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Additional funding was provided by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement No. 101147855 (DATAWiSE – Intelligent and Sustainable Building Management powered by Cross-Sectoral Lifecycle Data) and Grant Agreement No. 101177368 (MaaSAI – Agile Manufacturing as a Service through AI Autonomous Agent
Introducción a los nuevos movimientos religiosos cristianos en Corea
No full textThis work was supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2024-OLU-2250001
Terapia con bacteriófagos frente a infecciones causadas por cepas multirresistentes de Pseudomonas aeruginosa
No full textTesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología. Fecha de Lectura: 26-09-2024Esta tesis tiene embargado el acceso al texto completo hasta el 26-03-2026Pseudomonas aeruginosa es un bacilo gramnegativo no fermentador, ubicuo en ambientes acuáticos. Constituye uno de los principales patógenos oportunistas que puede causar una amplia variedad de infecciones, entre las que se incluyen las infecciones de heridas y quemaduras, entre otras. Presenta una elevada tasa de resistencia frente a antibióticos debido a su elevada resistencia innata. Además, es capaz de desarrollar resistencias frente a la mayoría de antimicrobianos. El fallo de los tratamientos antimicrobianos actuales se encuentra asociado, entre otros factores, a su capacidad de formar biofilm. Debido a la ausencia de tratamientos apropiados y efectivos se están buscando nuevas estrategias terapéuticas, siendo la terapia con bacteriófagos una de las alternativas terapéuticas más prometedoras. La capacidad de los bacteriófagos de no solo destruir a las células bacterianas sino también de replicarse dentro de ellas junto con su elevada especificidad, pone de manifiesto su elevado potencial terapéutico como tratamiento de enfermedades infecciosas en el campo de la medicina personalizada.
En esta tesis doctoral se evaluó la capacidad antibacteriana del bacteriófago aislado de novo vB_PaeP-F1Pa frente a cepas clínicas multirresistentes de P. aeruginosa en estado planctónico y en biofilm con o sin la presencia de antibióticos. Además, se estudió el efecto preventivo del bacteriófago sobre la capacidad de formadora de biofilm de estas cepas multirresistentes en un modelo in vitro de herida.
El bacteriófago F1Pa fue aislado de las aguas residuales del Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz. La secuenciación genómica reveló que pertenecía al género Hollowayvirus y que presentaba una región codificante para una integrasa probablemente funcional. F1Pa fue capaz de infectar al 60,5% de las cepas clínicas de P. aeruginosa analizadas, incluyendo al 56,3% de cepas multirresistentes. El periodo de latencia del bacteriófago fue de 50 minutos y el burst size de 394±166 partículas de bacteriófago por bacteria infectada. Con respecto a su estabilidad, F1Pa fue estable a diferentes pHs (4,5, 7,4 y 8) y temperaturas (4ºC, 21ºC, 37ºC y -20ºC), experimentando una reducción de 100 veces a -80ºC y fue inviable tanto a pH 1 y como a temperatura de 60 ºC.
El efecto inhibitorio del bacteriófago sobre el crecimiento bacteriano en estado planctónico in vitro de las estirpes clínicas multirresistentes se determinó mediante curvas de crecimiento para una misma concentración de bacteria frente a diferentes concentraciones de bacteriófago en presencia o ausencia de diferentes antibióticos betalactámicos (aztreonam, doripenem, imipenem, meropenem y piperacilina/tazobactam). El bacteriófago fue capaz de inhibir el crecimiento bacteriano hasta las 12 horas del periodo de incubación; mientras que el tratamiento combinado con ambos fue capaz de inhibir el crecimiento bacteriano hasta las 72 horas.
F1Pa fue capaz de inhibir la formación de biofilm y de disminuir la biomasa del biofilm maduro adherido y favorecer la dispersión de las cepas multirresistentes de P. aeruginosa en estado de biofilm, lo cual puso de manifiesto que se trata de un bacteriófago prometedor para la terapia fágica contras las infecciones causadas por cepas multirresistentes de P. aeruginosa.
Para determinar la reducción de la viabilidad del biofilm maduro de P. aeruginosa, se generó dicho biofilm en un dispositivo de Calgary, adhiriéndose a las clavijas del dispositivo. Posteriormente, el biofilm fue tratado con diferentes concentraciones de F1Pa en presencia o ausencia de antibióticos betalactámicos. Tanto el tratamiento con el bacteriófago como el tratamiento combinado redujeron la concentración de bacterias planctónicas derivadas del biofilm; mientras que el tratamiento combinado con betalactámicos fue el único capaz de disminuir la viabilidad del biofilm maduro de P. aeruginosa. Estos resultados sugieren un potencial terapéutico del tratamiento combinado de bacteriófagos y antibióticos betalactámicos en infecciones crónicas y persistentes, como las relacionadas con los tejidos blandos e incluso infecciones profundas como la osteomielitis, siempre y cuando se elimine toda posibilidad de lisogenia.
Por último, la formación de biofilm en el modelo in vitro de herida, por parte de las cepas clínicas multirresistentes de P. aeruginosa fue significativamente inhibida por el bacteriófago, lo que demostraría el potencial terapéutico de F1Pa como tratamiento tópico en heridas y quemaduras frente a infecciones pseudomónica
Las “garantías de indemnidad” en favor de los administradores de sociedades de capital
No full textCon la expresión “garantía de indemnidad” se alude en el tráfico a la obligación que adquiere un sujeto (garante o promitente) de mantener indemne a otro (garantizado) del daño patrimonial que este último experimente como consecuencia de su eventual responsabilidad frente a un acreedor o frente a un tercero lesionado. En los últimos años, este tipo de “garantías” han cobrado una particular relevancia en el ámbito de la responsabilidad de los administradores de sociedades de capital, donde se utilizan básicamente en tres escenarios distintos: (i) el comprador de una participación de control se compromete a mantener indemne al vendedor y administrador saliente a fin de obtener una rebaja en el precio o como contrapartida al otorgamiento de las “warranties”; (ii) la sociedad matriz de un grupo hace lo propio con los consejeros dominicales de sus filiales como alternativa a la contratación de un seguro “D&O”; o, en fin, (iii) una compañía otorga a sus administradores una garantía de indemnidad para incentivar una gestión más arriesgada, de la que espera obtener una mayor rentabilidad. El presente trabajo se propone estudiar la validez de estos pactos en el ordenamiento español, abordando los problemas de configuración que presentan en las tres hipótesis antes descritas. A tal fin, se ha creído preferible tratar de identificar las reglas aplicables en cada escenario concreto, en función de los distintos intereses en juego, huyendo de una construcción abstracta y puramente dogmática de esta figura contractual atípicaThe term “contractual indemnity” refers to the obligation acquired by one party (indemnifier or promisor) to indemnify another (indemnified party or promisee) against any damages that the latter may suffer as a consequence of his liability towards a creditor or an injured third party. In recent years, such “indemnities” have gained particular relevance in the field of directors” liability, where they are basically used in three different scenarios: (i) the purchaser of a controlling interest undertakes to hold the outgoing seller and director harmless in order to obtain a reduction in the price or in exchange for the granting of warranties; (ii) the parent company of a group promises to protect the nominee directors of its subsidiaries against third party claims as an alternative to taking out D&O insurance; or, finally, (iii) a company grants its directors a contractual indemnity in order to encourage riskier management, from which it expects to obtain a higher return. The purpose of this paper is to study the validity of these agreements under Spanish law, addressing the problems of configuration that they present in the three aforementioned cases. To this end, it has been considered preferable to try to identify the rules applicable in each specific scenario, depending on the different interests at stake, avoiding an abstract and purely dogmatic construction of this atypical contractual figureEl presente trabajo está destinado a los Estudios en Homenaje al Profesor Ricardo Alonso Soto y se ha realizado en el marco del Proyecto de Investigación «La adaptación al Derecho europeo de la empresa: los nuevos retos del Derecho de sociedades y de los mercados de capitales» (PID2020-113958GB-I00), financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, del que son Investigadores Principales los Profesores Aurora Martínez Flórez y Alberto Vaquerizo Alonso
