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Combined explainable deep learning model to predict pediatric sleep apnea from ECG and SpO2
No full textCombining deep learning (DL) with eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques has led to clinically applicable models that simplify the diagnosis of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using a restricted number of cardiorespiratory signals. However, no prior study has applied these techniques to concurrently analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) data. Here, we present an explainable DL approach integrating convolutional neural networks with overnight SpO2 and ECG signals to identify pediatric OSA. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) XAI technique was used to extract relevant patterns linked to pediatric OSA and explain the model decisions. Patients (n = 3,320) from the semi-public Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT) and Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS), and the private University of Chicago (UofC) databases were analyzed. Performance obtained Cohen’s 4-class kappa of 0.549, 0.457, and 0.378 in CHAT, PATS, and UofC, respectively. Shapley values increased with OSA severity and highlighted the complementarity of SpO2 and ECG, with SpO2 being more relevant in moderate and severe cases and ECG in mild or no OSA cases. SHAP visualizations identified SpO2 desaturations linked to clusters of apneic events and those occurring independently. It also highlighted bradycardia-tachycardia and ECG cardiovascular risk patterns, including variations in P and T waves, PQ and QT intervals, and the QRS complex. Shapley values identified correlations between respiratory and cardiac patterns, showing that desaturations in OSA are linked to cardiac changes. Therefore, our interpretable DL approach may improve pediatric OSA diagnosis by integrating breathing information and accompanying cardiac changes, supporting its effective adoption in clinical settingsThis research is part of the project PID2023-148895OB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE+, and part of the project CPP2022-009735, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. This research was also supported by the project “0043_NET4SLEEP_2_E”, cofunded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-Portugal Program (POCTEP) 2021-2027; and by “CIBER-Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red” (CB19/01/00012) through “Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)”, co-funded with European Regional Development Fund. The Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT) was supported by the National Institutes of Health (HL083075, HL083129, UL1-RR-024134, UL1 RR024989). The National Sleep Research Resource was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R24 HL114473, 75N92019R002). The Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS) study was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (1U01HL125307, 1U01HL125295). The National Sleep Research Resource was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R24 HL114473, 75N92019R002). C. García-Vicente was supported by ‘Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la Formación de Doctores’ grant (PRE2021-100792) from the “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades”. David Gozal was supported in part by NIH grants HL166617 and HL169266
Detoxification Step of Citrus Pulp Hydrolysate Directs Clostridium Beijerinckii Metabolism Toward Butanol or Lactic Acid
No full textProducción CientíficaThis study evaluates the potential of citrus fruit pulp residue for obtaining butanol or lactic acid via fermentation by Clostridium beijerinckii. The citrus fruit pulp residue contains 44.4 ± 1.2% w w− 1 of total sugars and is recalcitrant because it has high lignin content (15.9 ± 0.9% w w− 1). Nevertheless, microwave-assisted pretreatment of this residue at 173 °C for 2.3 min in water recovered 63% of sugars, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis with Cellic CTec2 at 10 FPU g− 1 increased sugar recovery to 73%. Further detoxification of the hydrolysate with activated carbon at 2% (w/w) removed 83% of the fermentation inhibitors and caused only 4% of sugars to be lost. Fermentation assays demonstrated that the detoxification step was crucial to direct the fermentative product. Fermentation of the non-detoxified hydrolysate yielded up to 22.9 g L− 1 of lactic acid (yield 0.79 g g− 1), whereas fermentation of the detoxified hydrolysate yielded up to 5.3 g l− 1 of butanol (yield 0.2 g g− 1). Therefore, deciding whether to ferment the non-detoxified or the detoxified hydrolysate of citrus fruit pulp residue allows the final product to be selected on the basis of market demand and resource availability. This innovative approach reduces environmental impact by offering a flexible and sustainable alternative for reusing citrus fruit pulp.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU) / Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI): PID2020-115110RB-I00 (AEI/10.13039/501100011033) y PID2023-147967OB-I00 (MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, EU)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP: 2022/04024-0Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES: 88887.916481/2023-00 y 88887.701729/2022-0
A comparative assessment of the efficacy of rural depopulation policies in Spain: a system dynamics approach
No full textProducción CientíficaDepopulation in rural areas has become a critical issue in Europe. We examine the efficacy of rural development policies aimed at addressing depopulation, focusing on two case studies in Spain: Cinco Villas and Pirineo Navarro. Although both territories have been affected by depopulation, they exhibit structural differences in their population size, geographical concentration, and age structure, leading to distinct depopulation challenges. To conduct the study, we employed SPANDAM, a system dynamics model specifically designed to represent the multidimensionality of depopulation phenomena and to analyse the effects of various drivers – such as economic activity, infrastructure, and service provision – on long-term demographic trends. We designed a policy intervention scenario centred on improving service provision and infrastructure, as well as the economic situation of the population, and simulated its effects in both case–study regions. We find that initial structural and demographic conditions are decisive in shaping policy outcomes. Cinco Villas, larger and with a denser population, demonstrates a greater capacity to reverse depopulation trends compared to Pirineo Navarro, where a smaller, more dispersed, and older population renders policy interventions less effective. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring rural development strategies to specific characteristics of each region to achieve sustainable and impactful results.This article has been developed within the framework of the SPANDAM project, funded by the National Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI) and the Ministry of Science and Innovation, under contract number PLEC2021-008041
Circuits and codes implemented for paper "Developing AI-Resilient Assessments: A Case Study with Electric Circuits" IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) 2026.
No full textCircuits and codes implemented for paper "Developing AI-Resilient Assessments: A Case Study with Electric Circuits" IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) 2026.
**Usage Rights:** These codes can be used freely by citing the author and the indicated article.
How to cite: Ramón J. Durán Barroso et al., "Developing AI-Resilient Assessments: A Case Study with Electric Circuits," IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 2026.
Funding: This work was carried out within the framework of PID 64 (2025/26), funded by the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Universidad de Valladolid.Departamento de Teoría de la Señal y Comunicaciones e Ingeniería Telemátic
When the action is “hybrid”–ethical challenges of the emerging technologies in the operating room
No full textProducción CientíficaThe paper addresses some ethical issues arising from the interaction between surgeons and emerging technologies in the Operating Room (OR). We argue that introducing new technologies capable of performing some functions performed by the surgeon “autonomously” may transform the doctor-patient relationship, which is no longer direct, but “mediated” by autonomous devices. On the one hand, the patient is inserted in a “hybrid” environment, in which decision-making is hybrid as well: many of the actions take place almost independently of the presence (or action) of a human being. On the other, the surgeon is constantly under observation and his/her responsibility may be partially reduced. All of this implies new ethical reflections and challenges to the healthcare environment. To explain these changes and the need for a new ethical outlook, we consider three cases where emerging technologies have a crucial and sometimes controversial role in the OR: (1) the case of audio and panoramic video recording in the OR; (2) the case of the impact of artificial intelligence on surgical decision making; (3) the case of robotic-assisted tele-surgery. The new actions carried out through emerging technologies in the OR imply, thus, a change in our ethical outlook. To do so, we must first rethink the paradigm of technology we are using: following the post-phenomenological reflections, we argue that technologies are not just the “means” we use but the environments we interact with. This entails the idea of a “hybrid” responsibility and, therefore, a different assessment of the possible consequences of the actions
EL ECO DE LA SOCIEDAD: IMPACTO DE LOS VALORES Y ENCUESTAS EN LA ECONOMÍA SOCIAL EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN
No full textResalta la importancia que la Economía Social tiene y su papel fundamental a nivel de motor económico porque: distribuye de forma más igualitaria la renta y la riqueza, contribuye al desarrollo económico endógeno, incrementa la autonomía de los territorios, corrige los desequilibrios del mercado de trabajo, oferta más servicios de bienestar social, ayuda a la estabilidad económica y hace que el desarrollo económico sea sostenible
La autopreferencia (self-preferencing) en mercados digitales
No full textThe phenomenon of self-preferencing constitutes one of the most controversial and paradigmatic manifestations of the structural power exerted by large digital platforms over the markets they intermediate. Despite its obvious anticompetitive potential, the framework of traditional antitrust law often proves insufficient to capture the inherent complexity of this phenomenon. An analysis of self-preferencing from both economic and legal perspectives highlights the limitations of the classic antitrust approach, based exclusively on the strict notion of abuse of dominant position, and calls for the exploration of complementary avenues. In this context, the notion of abuse of economic dependence and the economic regulation of digital platforms may serve as effective complementary mechanisms to capture the various facets of the phenomenon and provide a more adequate response to the imbalances arising from the structural position of platforms in contemporary digital markets.El fenómeno de la autopreferencia constituye una de las manifestaciones más controvertidas y paradigmáticas del poder estructural que ejercen las grandes plataformas digitales sobre los mercados que intermedian. Pese a su evidente potencial anticompetitivo, el marco del Derecho de defensa de la competencia tradicional resulta en muchos casos insuficiente para captar la complejidad inherente a esta conducta. El análisis de la autopreferencia desde una doble perspectiva económica y jurídica pone de relieve las limitaciones del clásico enfoque antitrust, basado exclusivamente en la estricta noción de abuso de posición dominante, y exige explorar vías complementarias. En este contexto, la noción de abuso de dependencia económica y la regulación económica de las plataformas digitales pueden constituir vías complementarias eficaces para captar las distintas facetas del fenómeno y ofrecer una respuesta más adecuada a los desequilibrios derivados de la posición estructural de las plataformas en los mercados digitales contemporáneos.Escuela de DoctoradoDoctorado en Derech
Energy sustainability study, and indoor air quality, iaq, for health and thermal confort between two classroom buildings of a campus, (standard building and near zero energy building ,nZEB )
No full textThis doctoral research investigates how nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEB) can curb the European Union’s building-sector footprint, which currently represents about 40% of total energy consumption, more than 30% of electricity use, and roughly 36% of greenhouse-gas emissions. The case study is INDUVA, an advanced nZEB lecture building on the University of Valladolid (UVa) campus in Spain. The core objective is to quantify how energy-efficiency measures and on-site renewables jointly determine energy demand, primary energy use (renewable and non-renewable), and environmental impacts, while preserving high Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). The research evaluates energy intensity for primary, non-renewable, and renewable energy, the performance of HVAC systems, the building’s renewable energy ratio, and its global warming potential (GWP).
A rigorous, measurement-informed modeling workflow underpins the analysis. Dynamic simulations are performed in DesignBuilder (version 7) with the EnergyPlus engine to calculate detailed energy balances for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting. Models are calibrated against continuous monitoring data from INDUVA’s Building Management System (BMS), which captures multiple physical variables and end-use consumptions. This calibration enables reliable evaluation of key performance indicators and strengthens the link between simulated and real-world operation.
An important contribution is the holistic characterization of INDUVA’s envelope, systems, and controls. The building deploys state-of-the-art mechanical ventilation to assure high indoor air quality (IAQ), roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels for electricity generation, a geothermal heat-recovery strategy that leverages ventilation air, and connection to a biomass-fired district heating network. The BMS orchestrates these subsystems to optimize environmental conditions and energy use. Its high-resolution data stream supports both rigorous model calibration and ongoing operational tuning.
To assess future robustness, the research explores climate-change impacts and climatic transferability. Using CCWorldWeatherGen, current weather files are morphed to represent scenarios from 2022 to 2080. The building is then re-simulated across these horizons to quantify how warming affects loads, energy use, and associated CO₂ emissions. A relocation study further evaluates performance in contrasted climates—Juneau and Warsaw—revealing sensitivity to local weather patterns and informing the adaptability of nZEB strategies across different contexts.
The scope extends beyond energy to a comprehensive IEQ assessment. Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, ventilation effectiveness, lighting and daylight access, and acoustics are benchmarked against international standards, providing an integrated view of occupant-centric performance. This dual focus demonstrates that nZEBs must be engineered not only for low energy and emissions but also for consistently healthy and comfortable indoor conditions throughout the year.
Findings reveal a clear temporal shift driven by climate change: heating demand declines, yet cooling energy requirements and related CO₂ emissions increase. This asymmetry underscores the need for adaptive design strategies such as enhanced passive cooling, dynamic solar control, high-efficiency heat-rejection systems, and resilient control logic to preserve low-carbon outcomes as summers intensify. Results also indicate that maintaining high IAQ through mechanical ventilation is compatible with energy efficiency when heat recovery, demand-controlled ventilation, and intelligent scheduling are applied.
Finally, a comparative analysis contrasts INDUVA with a conventional lecture building on the same campus. The comparison isolates the nZEB features that deliver the largest benefits—superior envelope performance, integrated renewable generation, advanced HVAC with heat recovery, and BMS-guided operation—while highlighting practical challenges in scaling these solutions to the existing building stock that requires energetic rehabilitation. Overall, the study provides evidence-based guidance for designers, facility managers, and policy-makers: nZEB principles can deliver substantial energy and emissions reductions without compromising IEQ, but future-proofing against warmer climates demands thoughtful emphasis on cooling resilience, flexible controls, and context-specific renewable integration.A nivel europeo, el sector de la edificación concentra cerca del 40% de la energía, más del 30% de la electricidad y el 36% de las emisiones. Ante este reto, los edificios de consumo de energía casi nulo (nZEB) combinan envolventes de alto desempeño, sistemas eficientes y renovables para reducir demanda y CO₂. Esta investigación analiza el edificio INDUVA, en la Universidad de Valladolid, para cuantificar cómo la eficiencia y la generación in situ influyen en la demanda, la energía primaria y los impactos ambientales, manteniendo alta calidad ambiental interior.
La metodología emplea simulaciones dinámicas con DesignBuilder v7 y EnergyPlus para calcular balances de calefacción, ventilación, aire acondicionado e iluminación. Los modelos se calibran con datos de monitorización continua del sistema de gestión de edificios (BMS), que registra variables y consumos. Esta calibración alinea la simulación con la operación real y permite evaluar intensidad de energía primaria, rendimiento HVAC, fracción renovable y potencial de calentamiento global.
INDUVA integra ventilación mecánica de alta eficacia para asegurar buena calidad del aire, paneles fotovoltaicos para generación eléctrica, recuperación geotérmica de calor en el aire de ventilación y conexión a una red de calefacción urbana con biomasa. El BMS coordina estos subsistemas, optimiza consignas y horarios, y aporta datos que facilitan la calibración y el ajuste continuo.
Para comprobar la robustez futura, se evalúan los efectos del cambio climático y la transferibilidad de las soluciones nZEB. Con CCWorldWeatherGen se generan escenarios 2022-2080 y se re-simula el edificio para cuantificar el efecto del calentamiento en cargas, consumos y emisiones. Un estudio de reubicación evalúa el desempeño en climas contrastados, como Juneau y Varsovia, mostrando sensibilidad a patrones locales y adaptabilidad de las estrategias.
El análisis trasciende la energía para abarcar la calidad ambiental interior: calidad del aire, confort térmico, ventilación, iluminación y acústica, en contraste con estándares internacionales. Esta perspectiva centrada en los ocupantes confirma que un edificio de muy baja energía debe sostener salud, bienestar y productividad.
Los resultados muestran una tendencia clara: disminuye la demanda de calefacción, pero aumentan la energía de refrigeración y las emisiones asociadas. Esta asimetría exige diseños adaptativos: enfriamiento pasivo, sombreamiento y control solar dinámico, ventilación nocturna y rechazo de calor eficiente, junto con control resiliente para mantener bajas las emisiones en veranos más intensos.
Se confirma que la calidad del aire y la eficiencia coexisten combinando recuperación de calor, ventilación por demanda y programaciones inteligentes. La deshumidificación adecuada y la supervisión de CO₂ y compuestos volátiles ayudan a equilibrar salud, confort y consumo.
La comparación con un edificio convencional del mismo campus aísla las palancas nZEB más eficaces: envolvente de alto desempeño y estanqueidad, renovables integradas, HVAC con recuperación y operación guiada por BMS. A la vez, surgen retos para escalar estas soluciones al parque existente, con presupuestos limitados y obsolescencia.
Como respuesta, se proponen hojas de ruta con medidas de mejor coste-beneficio, protocolos de comisionado y retrocomisionado, y seguimiento basado en datos. Se aboga por regulación para rehabilitaciones profundas con garantías de desempeño y por mecanismos financieros que reduzcan barreras a la inversión.
En conjunto, la investigación ofrece una guía operativa para proyectistas, gestores y responsables públicos: diseñar con resiliencia climática y flexibilidad operativa, apoyarse en monitorización y calibración continuas, de manera robusta y verificable, priorizar refrigeración eficiente e integrar renovables de forma contextual. La evidencia demuestra que los nZEB reducen sostenidamente energía y emisiones sin sacrificar el bienestar interior cuando se combinan medidas pasivas, control avanzado y generación renovable in situ.Escuela de DoctoradoDoctorado en Ingeniería Industria
Compendio de Retórica. El arte de hablar en público
No full textProducción CientíficaLa retórica es definida por el DRAE como el “Arte de hablar con elocuencia”, y la elocuencia, a su vez, es descrita como la “Facultad de hablar o escribir de modo eficaz para deleitar, conmover o persuadir”. La finalidad básica de la retórica era la persuasión, lo que conlleva la triple necesidad de enseñar, conmover y deleitar a los oyentes, pues, como veremos, para persuadir es necesario mezclar los argumentos racionales con los estímulos emocionales y engalanar adecuadamente el discurso, haciéndolo atractivo. [Texto extraído del libro de Alfonso Martín Jiménez].Departamento de Literatura Española y Teoría de la Literatura y Literatura Comparad
Integrated enzymatic–yeast biostrategy to obtain reduced-alcohol wine
No full textProducción CientíficaOverripening of grapes, due to global warming, can result in unbalanced wines with higher alcohol content,
lower acidity and an altered sensory profile. Pre-fermentative treatment of the must with a glucose oxidase-
catalase enzyme system immobilized in silica‑calcium-alginate hydrogel capsules degraded up to 17.3% of the
glucose in the must in 48 h to obtain wines with 1.0–1.3% vol (v/v) lower alcoholic strength. Most of the
gluconic acid produced by glucose oxidation was retained in the capsules, resulting in a mild reduction in the pH,
thereby avoiding a strong acidification of the must. The remainder of the gluconic acid present in the must was
largely degraded during the fermentation process using a selected strain of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
(S. pombe). Both the enzymatic treatment of the must with the capsules and the use of S. pombe, either in unique
inoculation or in sequential inoculation with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), led to balanced wines with
a unique chemical profile. The combination of these two strategies, pre-fermentative and fermentative, presents
an innovative and promising approach, not investigated so far, to counteracting the adverse effects of rising
temperatures due to global warming