Integrating Modular Pipelines with End-to-End Learning: A Hybrid Approach for Robust and Reliable Autonomous Driving Systems.

Autonomous driving navigation relies on diverse approaches, each with advantages and limitations depending on various factors. For HD maps, modular systems excel, while end-to-end methods dominate mapless scenarios. However, few leverage the strengths of both. This paper innovates by proposing a hybrid architecture that seamlessly integrates modular perception and control modules with data-driven path planning. This innovative design leverages the strengths of both approaches, enabling a clear understanding and debugging of individual components while simultaneously harnessing the learning power of end-to-end approaches. Our proposed architecture achieved first and second place in the 2023 CARLA Autonomous Driving Challenge's SENSORS and MAP tracks, respectively. These results demonstrate the architecture's effectiveness in both map-based and mapless navigation. We achieved a driving score of 41.56 and the highest route completion of 86.03 in the MAP track of the CARLA Challenge leaderboard 1, and driving scores of 35.36 and 1.23 in the CARLA Challenge SENSOR track with route completions of 85.01 and 9.55, for, respectively, leaderboard 1 and 2. The results of leaderboard 2 raised the hybrid architecture to the first position, winning the edition of the 2023 CARLA Autonomous Driving Competition.

Síndrome de Ellis-van Creveld. Reporte de un caso en Ecuador / Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome. A case report in Ecuador / Síndrome de Ellis-Van Creveld. Relato de um caso no Equador

Resumen: El síndrome de Ellis-van Creveld es una rara anormalidad genética autosómica recesiva causada por mutaciones en el cromosoma 4p16. Presenta una tétrada típica: condrodistrofia, polidactilia postaxial, displasia ectodérmica y cardiopatía congénita, siendo esta última la principal determinante de la mortalidad. Desde que fue descrito en 1940, se han registrado 150 casos en la literatura científica; en Sudamérica son pocos los casos registrados y en Ecuador no se encontró ningún caso publicado. Se presenta un paciente asintomático de 20 años que acude a un control médico de rutina donde se evidencia un soplo cardíaco.

Summary: Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is caused by a mutation in 4p16 chromosome. It is characterized by a classical tetrad: chondrodystrophy, postaxial polydactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and congenital heart defect. The congenital heart defect is the main determinant of mortality. Ellis-van Creveld syndrome was described in 1940; it has been registered 150 case reports. There are few reports in South America. In Ecuador, it wasn't found case reports. A 20 years old asymptomatic patient is presented, who goes to routine health care and is found to have a heart murmur.

Resumo: A síndrome de Ellis-van Creveld é uma esquisita doença autossômica recessiva. É causada por uma mutação no cromossomo 4p16. É caracterizada por quatro sinais típicas: condrodistrofia, polidactilia pós-axial, displasia ectodérmica e cardiopatia congênita. O defeito cardíaco congênito é o principal determinante da mortalidade. Desde que foi descrito em 1940 tenham sido registrados 150 relatos de caso. Na America do Sul existem poucos relatos, e no Equador não se encontrou nenhum publicado. É apresentado um paciente assintomático de 20 anos que vai para o controle médico de rotina, onde é encontrada uma bulha cardíaca.

Major cardiovascular risk factors in Latin America: a comparison with the United States. The Latin American Consortium of Studies in Obesity (LASO).

BACKGROUND: Limited knowledge on the prevalence and distribution of risk factors impairs the planning and implementation of cardiovascular prevention programs in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, abnormal lipoprotein levels, obesity, and smoking were estimated from individual-level patient data pooled from population-based surveys (1998-2007, n=31,009) from eight LAC countries and from a national survey of the United States (US) population (1999-2004) Age and gender specific prevalence were estimated and age-gender adjusted comparisons between both populations were conducted. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in LAC were 5% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.4, 7.9), 20.2% (95% CI: 12.5, 31), and 53.3% (95% CI: 47, 63.4), respectively. Compared to LAC region's average, the prevalence of each risk factor tended to be lower in Peru and higher in Chile. LAC women had higher prevalence of obesity and low HDL-cholesterol than men. Obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were more prevalent in the US population than in LAC population (31 vs. 16.1%, 16.8 vs. 8.9%, and 36.2 vs. 26.5%, respectively). However, the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was higher in LAC than in the US (53.3 vs. 33.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Major cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in LAC region, in particular low HDL-cholesterol. In addition, marked differences do exist in this prevalence profile between LAC and the US. The observed patterns of obesity-related risk factors and their current and future impact on the burden of cardiovascular diseases remain to be explained.

Tipologia y conducta de riesgo de infeccion con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV), de hombres homosexuales de Costa Rica, 1985-1987 / Typology and risk behavior for HIV infection in homosexual men in Costa Rica 1985-1987

Se describe una tipologia de hombres homosexuales en Costa Rica, de acuerdo a informacion obtenida mediante observacion prospectiva cuyo objetivo fue conocer factores de riesgo de infeccion y la ceroconversion al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV). Se reconocen cinco tipos de homosexuales, de los cuales se incluyeron en el estudio sin dificultad a tres ( "gays", prostitutos y prisioneros). Existe interacion sexual entre todos los tipos ya sea intra-tipo (por ejemplo, entre "gays" ), o inter-tipo (prostitutos con homosexuales "cripticos " y "cacheros"). Las practicas sexuales identificadas son similares a aquellas descritas en la literatura norteamericana y europea, e incluye conducta riesgosa como el coito anal receptivo,el fellatio con ingestion de semen y el anilingua receptivo e insertivo. La comprension de la tipologia tiene implicaciones en accion en salud publica tendente a disminuir la tasa de diseminacion del HIV entre hombres que practican practicas riesgosas.

Perfil demográfico de Costa Rica / Demographic profile of Costa Rica

Se describe la transición demográfica de Costa Rica, iniciada probablemente en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. En la primera fase de la transición, el crecimiento de la población se hizo cada vez más rápido, merced a la disminución de la mortalidad. Alrededor de 1960, Costa Rica entró en la segunda fase de la transición, cuando se inició un gran descenso de la natalidad. Una de las consecuencias de los cambios demográficos, es el envejecimiento de la población. Se muestran las perspectivas reales e hipotéticas del envejecimiento demográfico de Costa Rica, y se conclye que éste es practamente inevitable en el futuro