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Latent diffusion for arbitrary zoom MRI super-resolution.
Full text linkIn various image processing tasks, enhancing resolution is a fundamental challenge, particularly along specific axes where resolution tends to be lower. This limitation can hinder the performance of models in tasks such as medical image analysis. Traditional approaches often involve interpolation techniques, but they may lead to loss of information or introduce artifacts. Recently, deep learning-based methods, especially those utilizing latent spaces, have shown promise in addressing this issue. Because typical super-resolution methods are designed for 2D images, they can easily be applied to increase resolution in two of the axes in a volumetric MRI, but not the other axis. While volumetric (3D) deep learning models for super-resolution have been proposed, they have very high computational requirements, even if the region of interest to super-resolve does not span the whole volume. In our work, we propose a novel approach that uses a diffusion latent model to increase resolution along an arbitrary axis. Our method involves transforming input images into a latent space, where a U-Net model is employed to capture high-level features. Crucially, just before decoding, we introduce a linear interpolation in the latent space to enhance resolution along the specified axis. This interpolated latent representation is then decoded by the decoder, yielding images with increased resolution, thus achieving a resolution across all axes and, therefore, an increase in resolution of the entire volume, using a 2D deep learning model rather than a fully-fledged 3D model. The proposal has been extensively tested with a wide range of brain lesions and brain tumor images of T1, T2, and FLAIR modes. The experimental comparison with several state-of-the-art methods has consistently shown the advantages of our approach.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUAThis work is partially supported by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia (Spain) under project UMA20-FEDERJA-108, project name Detection, characterization and prognosis value of the non-obstructive coronary disease with deep learning, and also by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, grant number PID2022-136764OA-I00, project name Automated Detection of Non Lesional Focal Epilepsy by Probabilistic Diffusion Deep Neural Models. It includes funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It is also partially supported by the University of Málaga (Spain) under grants B1-2021_20, project name Detection of coronary stenosis using deep learning applied to coronary angiography; B4-2022, project name Intelligent Clinical Decision Support System for Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Coronarographies; B1-2022_14, project name Detección de trayectorias anómalas de vehículos en cámaras de tráfico; and, by the Fundación Unicaja under project PUNI-003_2023, project name Intelligent System to Help the Clinical Diagnosis of Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Coronary Angiography. The authors thankfully acknowledge the computer resources, technical expertise and assistance provided by the SCBI (Supercomputing and Bioinformatics) center of the University of Málaga. They also gratefully acknowledge the support of NVIDIA Corporation with the donation of an RTX A6000 GPU with 48Gb. The authors also thankfully acknowledge the grant of the Universidad de Málaga and the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND
On-street parking space localization with deep learning using low-quality images from public cameras
No full textThe increasing demand for new services in cities leads to challenges that need an intelligent, holistic approach (smart cities). A crucial aspect of smart city planning is effectively managing public on-street parking spaces, influencing overall urban mobility and environmental sustainability. However, detecting these spaces is complex, often requiring costly cameras or sensors, and the variability in parking space sizes, depending on the vehicles parked, adds to the difficulty. Existing city cameras for traffic monitoring could be a solution, but their low
image quality and frequent movements (taking images from different angles) make accurate detection challenging. We propose a novel method for locating on-street parking spaces using low-quality images from non-static public traffic cameras. This approach is dataset-independent, applicable to various cities, and employs deep-learning models pretrained for tasks like vehicle detection, repurposing them for the novel task of identifying on-street public parking spaces. This method avoids specific retraining and intensive manual labeling. Tested in Malaga, Spain,
the pipeline includes Extraction (sourcing images from Internet traffic cameras), Matching (recognizing common features between reference and new images for detecting camera movements), Preprocessing (comparing different denoising and image-enhancing techniques for improving model inference), Detection (using models like YOLOv8 and Detectron2 for vehicle detection), and Postprocessing (transforming perspectives to estimate real-world parking space coordinates and sizes). Experimental results demonstrate that our proposal achieves accurate parking space
detection even in extreme light conditions and camera movements, providing a valuable new tool for parking management and urban planning.his research is funded by PID 2020-116727RB-I00 (HUmove) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and TAILOR ICT-48 Network (No 952215) funded by EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA. The authors thank the Supercomputing and Bioinnovation Center (SCBI) for their provision of computational resources and technical support. The views expressed are purely those of the writer and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission
Language learning and multilingualism in early childhood education: a mixed methods analysis in the Spanish education system
Full text linkLanguages are essential for an inclusive education. In current global societies, characterised by linguistic diversity, multilingual education is moving from an elitist to an inclusive approach. This research project, applied to the Spanish educational system, is framed within a social and educational context where multilingualism is becoming increasingly relevant, due to the significant increase in foreign student population. This paper presents a project proposal on the analysis of language learning and multilingualism in Early Childhood Education (3-6 years old) as fundamental pillars to achieve an inclusive education. Our study incorporates both the perspective of the teaching staff (active and in training), the pupils and their families of various schools in the province of Málaga. We intend to carry out a mixed methods analysis that includes a representative sample of the different people involved in the early education of children from 3 to 6 years old in Málaga, a province with one of the largest foreign populations in Spain. Despite the linguistic diversity of students in Andalusian schools, there is no support for non-Spanish-speaking students in Early Childhood Education. Therefore, migrant children who do not speak the language used at school are forced to follow the submersion method, according to which speakers of non-dominant languages are forced to learn through a language that they do not understand. This lack of support has very negative consequences in terms of social integration, emotional well-being, communication and academic success for these children. Furthermore, a survey answered by more than 262 students of the Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Málaga and by 223 teachers in the province of Málaga has revealed the teachers’ difficulties in dealing effectively with language learning situations in multilingual contexts and the need for urgent and priority training in the development of this teaching competence
Sex-specific alterations in emotional behavior and neurotransmitter systems in LPA1 receptor-deficient mice
Full text linkLysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are critical lipid signaling pathways involved in emotional regulation and behavior. Despite their interconnected roles and shared metabolic pathways, the specific contributions of LPA signaling through the LPA1 receptor to stress-related disorders remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of LPA1 receptor deficiency on emotional behavior and neurotransmitter-related gene expression, with a focus on sex-specific differences, using maLPA1-null mice of both sexes. We hypothesized LPA1 receptor loss disrupts the interplay between LPA and the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) signaling, resulting in distinct behavioral and molecular alterations. maLPA1-null mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behaviors and altered stress-coping responses compared to wild-type counterparts, with more pronounced effects observed in females. Female mice also displayed higher corticosterone levels, though no genotype-related differences were observed. Plasma analyses revealed elevated LPA levels in maLPA1-null mice, suggesting a compensatory mechanism, and reduced 2-AG levels, indicating impaired ECS signaling. Gene expression profiling in the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex showed significant alterations in the gene expression of key components of LPA and 2-AG signaling pathways, as well as neuropeptide systems such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Glutamatergic signaling components also exhibited sex-specific variations. These findings suggest that LPA1 receptor deficiency impacts behavioral response and disrupts sex-specific neurotransmitter signaling, emphasizing the importance of LPA-ECS crosstalk in emotional regulation. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress-related disorders such as depression and anxiety, which may inform the development of sex-specific therapeutic approaches.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBU
H2 and Fuel Cells. Book of Abstracts. Montreal (Canada) 23-25 July 2025
No full textThe future of energy is being reshaped by a collective commitment to sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration. It is with great enthusiasm that we present this conference booklet, a reflection of the global effort to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the pursuit of a cleaner and more equitable world.
This event is part of the H2 Excellence program, a European-Canadian partnership dedicated to fostering excellence in green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies
through advanced training, research, and transnational cooperation. It brings together scientists, engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who share a common goal: to make hydrogen energy not only technically feasible, but also affordable, safe, and widely accessible.
The speakers featured in this booklet represent a rich tapestry of expertise, vision, and passion. Their contributions span from cutting-edge scientific developments and policy frameworks to innovative educational platforms and real-world industrial applications. We are especially proud to highlight initiatives that bridge academia and industry, and that promote knowledge mobilization across borders and disciplines.
We invite you to explore the pages that follow with curiosity and purpose. May they ignite new insights, meaningful partnerships, and a renewed sense of urgency to address the energy challenges of our time.
Welcome to the future of hydrogen. Welcome to the H2 Excellence experience.El futuro de la energía está siendo remodelado por un compromiso colectivo con la sostenibilidad, la innovación y la colaboración internacional. Con gran entusiasmo presentamos este libro de resúmenes de la conferencia, un reflejo del esfuerzo global para acelerar el despliegue de tecnologías de hidrógeno y pilas de combustible en la búsqueda de un mundo más limpio y equitativo.
Este evento forma parte del programa H2 Excellence, una asociación europeo-canadiense dedicada a fomentar la excelencia en tecnologías de hidrógeno verde y pilas de combustible.
A través de formación avanzada, investigación y cooperación transnacional. Reúne a científicos, ingenieros, educadores y empresarios de diversos orígenes que comparten un objetivo común: hacer que la energía del hidrógeno no sólo sea técnicamente viable, sino también asequible, segura y ampliamente accesible.
Los speakers que aparecen en este folleto representan un rico tapiz de experiencia, visión y pasión. Sus contribuciones abarcan desde desarrollos científicos y marcos políticos de vanguardia hasta plataformas educativas innovadoras y aplicaciones industriales del mundo real. Estamos especialmente orgullosos de destacar iniciativas que unen la academia y la industria, y que promueven la movilización de conocimientos a través de fronteras y disciplinas.
Lo invitamos a explorar las páginas que siguen con curiosidad y propósito. Que generen nuevos conocimientos, asociaciones significativas y un renovado sentido de urgencia para abordar los desafíos energéticos de nuestro tiempo.
Bienvenidos al futuro del hidrógeno. Bienvenido a la experiencia H2 Excellence.Fundación Bancaria UnicajaPropolysCycle MomentumPengHarnois EnergiesCratosCanmetENERGIE VARENNESDNVH2 Excellence Erasmus
Trends in the “flowering” periods of Juniperus species (Cupressaceae) in the province of Malaga (western Mediterranean) during the last six decades (1971-2023).
No full texthttps://openpolicyfinder.jisc.ac.uk/id/publication/10459Phenological studies on Juniperus are scarce. It is a genus widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, with species that live in diverse habitats and altitudes. The University of Malaga has a herbarium with numerous preserved sheets from Malaga province (south of the Iberian Peninsula), a biodiversity hotspot. Therefore, our main objectives were to verify whether there were sufficient sheets to study flowering trends and to detect possible effects of climate change.
The herbarium specimens were carefully observed under a magnifying glass to note the presence of reproductive structures, both male and female.
We have found that over the last decades (1971-2023), there has been a significant advance in the sexual reproductive phenophase of J. communis subsp. hemisphaerica, J. sabina, and J. phoenicea subsp. phoenicea at a rate of three days per year. The first two live on mountain peaks, and their blooms have been advancing from summer to spring, because of climate change. In contrast, in the case of J. oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus, the trend was to lag rather than advance. J. phoenicea and J. oxycedrus, species widely distributed in the Mediterranean and at altitude, form unisexual cones throughout the year. A direct significant relationship was observed between the delay in cone formation and the increase in altitude for J. phoenicea and J. turbinata.
These results indicate that some Juniperus species have adapted to the Mediterranean climate by flowering at any time and are more resilient to global warming (J. oxycedrus, J. phoenicea). In contrast, the mountain peak species (J. communis, J. sabina) have short flowering periods and are more sensitive to global warming
A Hybrid Approach for Efficiently Illuminated Fabry-Pérot Cavity Antennas with Enhanced Bandwidth
No full textPolítica de acceso abierto tomada de: https://conferences.ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/author-ethics/guidelines-and-policies/post-publication-policies/#posting (Requiere un embargo de 24 meses)This contribution proposes a design methodology to realize Fabry-Perot cavity antennas with enhanced aperture efficiency and bandwidth. The proposed antenna employs a tapered Partially Reflective Surface (PRS) and leverages a com-bined approach incorporating principles from the simplified ray model and two-dimensional leaky-wave theory. By employing a transmission line model of the PRS, unit cells are selected that simultaneously satisfy the resonance condition, present a positive reflection phase slope, and synthesize the necessary leakage factor function. A design to obtain a uniform aperture distribution is carried out. The simulation results are compared against the best design from a previous study, thus showing the improvement realized by incorporating leaky-wave theory into the antenna design process.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y UniversidadesFondo Europeo de Desarrollo RegionalUniversidad de Málag
Emociones y percepciones sobre la indagación científica manifestada por estudiantes del Grado en Educación Infantil
Full text linkEsta tesis doctoral analiza emociones y percepciones de estudiantes del Grado en Educación Infantil respecto a la indagación científica y su influencia en la formación inicial docente. El objetivo principal es evaluar cómo estas emociones y la comprensión del enfoque indagativo impactan en su preparación para enseñar ciencias y fomentar el pensamiento crítico desde edades tempranas.
El estudio se desarrolla en el marco de dos proyectos del grupo de investigación ENCIC de la Universidad de Málaga y se centra en una temática poco explorada: la formación en indagación científica de futuros docentes de infantil. Introduce además una innovación metodológica al examinar cada etapa del proceso de indagación (formulación de preguntas, diseño, experimentación, análisis y comunicación) por separado, permitiendo comprender mejor su efecto en emociones y competencias.
Se implementó un programa formativo basado en la enseñanza de las ciencias mediante indagación (IBSE), combinando teoría y práctica. El estudiantado actuó como aprendiz y diseñador de actividades científicas, culminando en una feria de ciencias para comunicar resultados.
La investigación incluyó análisis cualitativos y cuantitativos a partir de cuestionarios, observaciones y reflexiones. Se valoraron percepciones iniciales, emociones en cada fase del proceso y la evolución de sus competencias pedagógicas y científicas.
Los resultados evidencian que la formación en indagación fortalece la autoeficacia docente, aumenta la confianza para enseñar ciencias y motiva al alumnado a integrar prácticas científicas en el aula. Emociones positivas como curiosidad y satisfacción resultan clave, aunque cada fase genera experiencias emocionales y cognitivas únicas que deben considerarse para diseñar estrategias pedagógicas eficaces.La tesis concluye destacando la necesidad de incorporar metodologías como la IBSE en la formación docente inicial, por su impacto en el desarrollo de competencias científicas, emocionales y críticas. También subraya la importancia de profundizar en el estudio de las emociones en esta etapa formativa y recomienda ampliar los recursos y oportunidades para su implementación efectiva
The inclusion of effective public participation mechanisms in international treaties for the management of shared water resources
No full textLa editorial solo da permiso para depositar los metadato
A New Varunid Subfamily (Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Varunidae) for Crabs From European and West African Waters, With the Description of Two New Genera and Two New Species.
Full text linkThe subfamily Asthenognathinae is currently composed of a single genus, Asthenognathus Stimpson, 1858, with three species, A. inaequipes Stimpson, 1858, A. hexagonus Rathbun, 1909 (both from the Indo-West Pacific), and A. atlanticus Monod, 1933 (European and West Tropical African waters). All Asthenognathus species are difficult to collect due to their small size and symbiotic lifestyle with fossorial organisms. The examination of specimens of A. atlanticus from European and West African waters deposited in scientific collections shows significant morphological and molecular differences with the Indo-West Pacific species, which makes the creation of a new subfamily (Schubartinae n. subf.) and two new genera necessary. The identity of A. atlanticus, the only species found along the East Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, is clarified, and a new genus, Dudekemus n. gen., is established for this species, Dudekemus atlanticus (Monod, 1933) n. gen., n. comb. This study also describes another new genus, Schubartus n. gen., based on morphological differences and genetic data. These two new genera can be distinguished from Asthenognathus by the carapace proportions and differences in the structures of the male pleonal somites, pereiopods and endostome. In addition, two new species distributed in Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, Schubartus mauritanicus n. gen., sp. nov., and S. ngankeeae n. gen., n. sp., are described. A key for species of the subfamilies Asthenognathinae and Schubartinae n.subf. is provided.Funding for this work was provided by Junta de Andalucía, Spain, to RNM 141 Research Group. Funding for open access fees has been providedby the University of Málaga/CBUA