Assessment of Data Fusion Algorithms for Earth Observation Change Detection Processes.

In this work a parametric multi-sensor Bayesian data fusion approach and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) are used for a Change Detection problem. For this purpose two sets of SPOT5-PAN images have been used, which are in turn used for Change Detection Indices (CDIs) calculation. For minimizing radiometric differences, a methodology based on zonal "invariant features" is suggested. The choice of one or the other CDI for a change detection process is a subjective task as each CDI is probably more or less sensitive to certain types of changes. Likewise, this idea might be employed to create and improve a "change map", which can be accomplished by means of the CDI's informational content. For this purpose, information metrics such as the Shannon Entropy and "Specific Information" have been used to weight the changes and no-changes categories contained in a certain CDI and thus introduced in the Bayesian information fusion algorithm. Furthermore, the parameters of the probability density functions (pdf's) that best fit the involved categories have also been estimated. Conversely, these considerations are not necessary for mapping procedures based on the discriminant functions of a SVM. This work has confirmed the capabilities of probabilistic information fusion procedure under these circumstances.

Situación de las unidades de patología cervical en España. Resultados de una encuesta nacional / Cervical pathology units in Spain today. Results of a national survey

Objetivos. Conocer el grado de implementación de las Unidades de Patología Cervical (UPC) en los hospitales españoles. Describir su organización asistencial y volumen de trabajo, así como sus necesidades formativas, de protocolización y control de calidad, como base para la elaboración de un proyecto conjunto de la Sociedad Española de Ginecología y Obstetricia (SEGO) y la Asociación Española de Patología Cervical y Colposcopia (AEPCC) de Acreditación de UPC. Material y métodos. Análisis descriptivo de los resultados de una encuesta dirigida a los Servicios de Ginecología de los hospitales españoles, entre noviembre del 2012 y enero del 2013. De las 220 encuestas enviadas, se obtuvo respuesta en 128 (58%), representando a todas las comunidades autónomas españolas. Resultados. El 70% de los hospitales encuestados disponen de UPC. La media de ginecólogos que trabajan a tiempo completo en la UPC es de 3 y a tiempo parcial, de 20. El promedio de actividad anual reportada fue de 178 nuevos diagnósticos, 79 casos de neoplasia intraepitelial de cérvix 2 positivas y 87 cirugías de conización cervical. El 60% de los hospitales disponen de registros de complicaciones y de correlaciones citológicas, colposcópicas e histológicas. Un 90% sigue las recomendaciones de AEPCC y SEGO para la prevención primaria y secundaria del cáncer de cérvix. Más del 90% de los médicos consultados considerarían adecuado que la AEPCC y la SEGO promoviesen la acreditación de las UPC. Conclusiones. La situación global de las UPC en España es buena pero mejorable en algunos aspectos. La mayoría de los centros ven adecuada la existencia de una acreditación para las UPC (AU)

Objectives. To determine the extent to which Cervical Pathology Units (CPU) are implemented in Spanish hospitals and to describe their organization and workload and requirements for training, standardization, and quality assurance, as a basis for a joint project of the Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SEGO) and the Spanish Association of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (AEPCC) for CPU accreditation. Material and methods. We performed a descriptive analysis of the results of a survey of Gynecology Services at Spanish hospitals between November 2012 and January 2013. A total of 220 surveys were sent and replies were received from 128 services (58%) representing all the Spanish regions. Results. A total of 70% of the hospitals in the survey had a CPU. There was an average of 3 full-time gynecologists and 20 part-time gynecologists at each CPU. The mean annual reported activity was 178 new cases, 79 cervical intraepithelial lesions 2 positive, and 87 conizations. Sixty percent of the hospitals had a register of complications and cytological, colposcopic and histological correlations. Ninety percent followed the recommendations of the AEPCC and the SEGO for primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer. More than 90% of the gynecologists believed it would be appropriate for the AEPCC and the SEGO to promote CPU accreditation. Conclusions. The overall situation of CPU in Spain is good but could be improved. Most hospitals in the survey believe that implementing the accreditation process would not be difficult (AU)

Predictors of human papillomavirus infection in women undergoing routine cervical cancer screening in Spain: the CLEOPATRE study.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that may lead to development of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. The aim of the current study was to investigate socio-demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors for potential associations with cervical HPV infection in women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Spain. METHODS: The CLEOPATRE Spain study enrolled 3 261 women aged 18-65 years attending cervical cancer screening across the 17 Autonomous Communities. Liquid-based cervical samples underwent cytological examination and HPV testing. HPV positivity was determined using the Hybrid Capture II assay, and HPV genotyping was conducted using the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify putative risk factors for HPV infection. RESULTS: A lifetime number of two or more sexual partners, young age (18-25 years), a history of genital warts, and unmarried status were the strongest independent risk factors for HPV infection of any type. Living in an urban community, country of birth other than Spain, low level of education, and current smoking status were also independent risk factors for HPV infection. A weak inverse association between condom use and HPV infection was observed. Unlike monogamous women, women with two or more lifetime sexual partners showed a lower risk of infection if their current partner was circumcised (P for interaction, 0.005) and a higher risk of infection if they were current smokers (P for interaction, 0.01). CONCLUSION: This is the first large-scale, country-wide study exploring risk factors for cervical HPV infection in Spain. The data strongly indicate that variables related to sexual behavior are the main risk factors for HPV infection. In addition, in non-monogamous women, circumcision of the partner is associated with a reduced risk and smoking with an increased risk of HPV infection.

Characterizing olive grove canopies by means of ground-based hemispherical photography and spaceborne RADAR data.

One of the main strengths of active microwave remote sensing, in relation to frequency, is its capacity to penetrate vegetation canopies and reach the ground surface, so that information can be drawn about the vegetation and hydrological properties of the soil surface. All this information is gathered in the so called backscattering coefficient (σ(0)). The subject of this research have been olive groves canopies, where which types of canopy biophysical variables can be derived by a specific optical sensor and then integrated into microwave scattering models has been investigated. This has been undertaken by means of hemispherical photographs and gap fraction procedures. Then, variables such as effective and true Leaf Area Indices have been estimated. Then, in order to characterize this kind of vegetation canopy, two models based on Radiative Transfer theory have been applied and analyzed. First, a generalized two layer geometry model made up of homogeneous layers of soil and vegetation has been considered. Then, a modified version of the Xu and Steven Water Cloud Model has been assessed integrating the canopy biophysical variables derived by the suggested optical procedure. The backscattering coefficients at various polarized channels have been acquired from RADARSAT 2 (C-band), with 38.5° incidence angle at the scene center. For the soil simulation, the best results have been reached using a Dubois scattering model and the VV polarized channel (r(2) = 0.88). In turn, when effective LAI (LAI(eff)) has been taken into account, the parameters of the scattering canopy model are better estimated (r(2) = 0.89). Additionally, an inversion procedure of the vegetation microwave model with the adjusted parameters has been undertaken, where the biophysical values of the canopy retrieved by this methodology fit properly with field measured values.

Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: from normal cognitive intrusions to clinical obsessions.

Cognitive behavioral models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) assume continuity between normal obsessional intrusive thoughts (OITs) and obsessions. However, this assumption has recently been criticized. This article examines this issue using a new instrument (the Obsessional Intrusive Thoughts Inventory, INPIOS) specifically designed to assess the frequency and content of 48 OITs, which was completed by 734 community subjects and 55 OCD patients. Confirmatory factor analysis suggests six first-order factors included in two second-order factors, one containing aggressive, sexual, religious, immoral and repugnant OITs, and the other containing contamination, doubts and checking, symmetry and order, and superstition OITs. This structure integrates the research on OC symptoms and OITs. The INPIOS showed excellent known-groups validity, and it adequately represented obsessions as well as OITs. OCD and community subjects experience OITs representative of all types of obsessional contents. The dimensional structure is discussed in terms of OIT/obsessive-compulsive symptom structures currently proposed.

Dysfunctional belief domains related to obsessive-compulsive disorder: a further examination of their dimensionality and specificity.

International consensus has been achieved on the existence of several dysfunctional beliefs underlying the development and/ or maintenance of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Nevertheless, questions such as the dimensionality of the belief domains and the existence of OCD-specific dysfunctional beliefs still remain inconclusive. The present paper addresses these topics through two different studies. Study 1: A series of confirmatory factor analyses (N = 573 non-clinical subjects) were carried out on the Obsessive Beliefs Spanish Inventory-Revised (OBSI-R), designed to assess dysfunctional beliefs hypothetically related to OCD. An eight-factor model emerged as the best factorial solution: responsibility, over-importance of thoughts, thought-action fusion-likelihood, thought action fusion-morality, importance of thought control, overestimation of threat, intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism. Study 2: The OBSI-R and other symptom measures were administered to 75 OCD patients, 22 depressed patients, and 25 non-OCD anxious patients. Results indicated that, although OCD patients differed from their non-clinical counterparts on all of the OBSI-R subscales, no evidence of OCD-specificity emerged for any of the belief domains measured, as the OCD subjects did not differ from the other two clinical groups of patients.

Dysfunctional belief domains related to obsessive-compulsive disorder: a further examination of their dimensionality and specificity

International consensus has been achieved on the existence of several dysfunctional beliefs underlying the development and/or maintenance of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Nevertheless, questions such as the dimensionality of the belief domains and the existence of OCD-specific dysfunctional beliefs still remain inconclusive. The present paper addresses these topics through two different studies. Study 1: A series of confirmatory factor analyses (N= 573 non-clinical subjects) were carried out on the Obsessive Beliefs Spanish Inventory-Revised (OBSI-R), designed to assess dysfunctional beliefs hypothetically related to OCD. An eight-factor model emerged as the best factorial solution: responsibility, over-importance of thoughts, thought-action fusion-likelihood, thought action fusion-morality, importance of thought control, overestimation of threat, intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism. Study 2: The OBSI-R and other symptom measures were administered to 75 OCD patients, 22 depressed patients, and 25 non-OCD anxious patients. Results indicated that, although OCD patients differed from their non-clinical counterparts on all of the OBSI-R subscales, no evidence of OCD-specificity emerged for any of the belief domains measured, as the OCD subjects did not differ from the other two clinical groups of patients (AU)

Hay un consenso internacional sobre la existencia de ciertas creencias disfuncionales que subyacen al desarrollo y/o al mantenimiento del trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC). No obstante, temas tales como la dimensionalidad de tales creencias y si son específicas del TOC, siguen pendientes de resolución. Este artículo examina estos aspectos mediante dos estudios diferentes: Estudio 1: Se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios (573 sujetos no clínicos) del Inventario Español de Creencias Obsesivas-Revisado (ICO-R), que fue diseñado para evaluar creencias disfuncionales relacionadas con el TOC. La mejor solución factorial posible fue la de 8 factores: responsabilidad; importancia de los pensamientos; fusión pensamiento-acción probabilidad; fusión pensamiento-acción, moralidad; importancia de controlar los pensamientos; sobrestimar el peligro; intolerancia a la incertidumbre; y perfeccionismo. Estudio 2: El ICO-R se administró, junto con otros cuestionarios de síntomas, a 75 pacientes TOC, 22 deprimidos, y 25 pacientes con trastornos de ansiedad no-TOC. Los resultados indican que, si bien los pacientes TOC difieren de la población no clínica en todas las subescalas del ICO-R, ninguno de los dominios de creencias es específico del TOC, dado que estos pacientes no se diferenciaron de los otros dos grupos en ninguna de las subescalas del ICO-R (AU)

To seek advice or not to seek advice about the problem: the help-seeking dilemma for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with considerable distress, it has been reported that OCD patients delay considerably in seeking treatment for their problem. The present study aimed to explore some variables hypothetically involved in the help-seeking process among OCD patients. METHODS: Twenty-six OCD patients without comorbid conditions completed the Interview of Help-Seeking, specifically designed for this study, which assesses to what extent patients delay seeking treatment for their problem, and three group of variables: factors influencing the recognition of the problem, reasons for delaying the treatment-seeking, and reasons for finally seeking treatment. Participants also completed OCD measures, as well as a questionnaire on thought control strategies. RESULTS: The mean length of delay in seeking treatment was 39.38 (SD = 50.95) months, and a great variety of reasons for delaying were observed. The OCD patients who delayed consultation longer, in comparison with patients who delayed less time, used fewer social control strategies, and they were less aware of the interference and behavioral changes associated with the problem. CONCLUSIONS: To gain more insight about the problem and to experience greater interference from the symptoms were determinants in the active search for help. Conversely, the main barriers to the help-seeking were the fears of stigma and the meaning of the thought contents. Additionally, the fact that patients are willing to disclose their obsessions to other people may favor an adequate representation of the problem and the need to seek mental health treatment.

Clinical obsessions in obsessive-compulsive patients and obsession-relevant intrusive thoughts in non-clinical, depressed and anxious subjects: where are the differences?

Contemporary cognitive models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) assume that clinical obsessions evolve from some modalities of intrusive thoughts (ITs) that are experienced by the vast majority of the population. These approaches also consider that the differences between "abnormal" obsessions and "normal" ITs rely on quantitative parameters rather than qualitative. The present paper examines the frequency, contents, emotional impact, consequences, cognitive appraisals and control strategies associated with clinical obsessions in a group of 31 OCD patients compared with the obsession-relevant ITs in three control groups: 22 depressed patients, 31 non-obsessive anxious patients, and 30 non-clinical community subjects. Between-group differences indicated that the ITs frequency, the unpleasantness and uncontrollability of having the IT, and the avoidance of thought triggers obtained the highest effect sizes, and they were specific to OCD patients. Moreover, two dysfunctional appraisals (worry that the thought will come true, and the importance of controlling thoughts) were specific to OCD patients. The OCD and depressed patients shared some dysfunctional appraisals about their most disturbing obsession or IT (guilt, unacceptability, likelihood thought would come true, danger, and responsibility for having the IT), whereas the non-obsessive anxious were nearer to the non-clinical participants than to the other two groups of patients. The OCD patients showed an increased use of thought control strategies, with overt neutralizing, thought suppression, and searching for reassurance being highly specific to this group.

Effects of suppressing neutral and obsession-like thoughts in normal subjects: beyond frequency.

Recent cognitive-behavioral theories on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show that deliberate attempts to suppress intrusive and undesirable thoughts lie at the genesis of clinical obsessions. In this paper the results of an experimental study on the suppression of neutral and obsession-like thoughts in normal subjects are presented. Eighty-seven university students performed in three experimental periods: (1) base-line monitoring, (2) experimental instruction, and (3) monitoring. For each of these periods, the frequency of the occurrence of a "white bear" thought or a personally relevant intrusive thought was registered. Half of the subjects received instructions to suppress the target-thought in period 2, and the other half were instructed to only monitor the target-thought in each of the experimental periods. Several measures were also obtained before and after the experiment: annoyance caused by the intrusion, suppression effort, subjective success, and evaluative appraisals of the target-thought. The results showed neither immediate nor delayed frequency increases of the target thought. However, evidence was found that deliberate thought suppression efforts, regardless of their content, had greater negative consequences than did non suppression. These results are discussed in relation to the recent cognitive proposals about OCD.