Extending the Framework for Developing Intelligent Virtual Environments (FIVE) with Artifacts for Modeling Internet of Things Devices and a New Decentralized Federated Learning Based on Consensus for Dynamic Networks.

One of the main lines of research in distributed learning in recent years is the one related to Federated Learning (FL). In this work, a decentralized Federated Learning algorithm based on consensus (CoL) is applied to Wireless Ad-hoc Networks (WANETs), where the agents communicate with other agents to share their learning model as they are available to the wireless connection range. When deploying a set of agents, it is essential to study whether all the WANET agents will be reachable before the deployment. The paper proposes to explore it by generating a simulation close to the real world using a framework (FIVE) that allows the easy development and modification of simulations based on Unity and SPADE agents. A fruit orchard with autonomous tractors is presented as a case study. The paper also presents how and why the concept of artifact has been included in the above-mentioned framework as a way to highlight the importance of some devices used in the environment that have to be located in specific places to ensure the full connection of the system. This inclusion is the first step to allow Digital Twins to be modeled with this framework, now allowing a Digital Shadow of those devices.

COVID-19 outbreaks analysis in the Valencian Region of Spain in the prelude of the third wave.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented social and mobility restrictions on a global scale. Since its start in the spring of 2020, numerous scientific papers have been published on the characteristics of the virus, and the healthcare, economic and social consequences of the pandemic. However, in-depth analyses of the evolution of single coronavirus outbreaks have been rarely reported. Methods: In this paper, we analyze the main properties of all the tracked COVID-19 outbreaks in the Valencian Region between September and December of 2020. Our analysis includes the evaluation of the origin, dynamic evolution, duration, and spatial distribution of the outbreaks. Results: We find that the duration of the outbreaks follows a power-law distribution: most outbreaks are controlled within 2 weeks of their onset, and only a few last more than 2 months. We do not identify any significant differences in the outbreak properties with respect to the geographical location across the entire region. Finally, we also determine the cluster size distribution of each infection origin through a Bayesian statistical model. Discussion: We hope that our work will assist in optimizing and planning the resource assignment for future pandemic tracking efforts.

Improvement of Contact Tracing with Citizen's Distributed Risk Maps.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for accurate information to contain its diffusion. Technological solutions are a complement that can help citizens to be informed about the risk in their environment. Although measures such as contact traceability have been successful in some countries, their use raises society's resistance. This paper proposes a variation of the consensus processes in directed networks to create a risk map of a determined area. The process shares information with trusted contacts: people we would notify in the case of being infected. When the process converges, each participant would have obtained the risk map for the selected zone. The results are compared with the pilot project's impact testing of the Spanish contact tracing app (RadarCOVID). The paper also depicts the results combining both strategies: contact tracing to detect potential infections and risk maps to avoid movements into conflictive areas. Although some works affirm that contact tracing apps need 60% of users to control the propagation, our results indicate that a 40% could be enough. On the other hand, the elaboration of risk maps could work with only 20% of active installations, but the effect is to delay the propagation instead of reducing the contagion. With both active strategies, this methodology is able to significantly reduce infected people with fewer participants.

Impact of Educational Technology on Teacher Stress and Anxiety: A Literature Review.

Educational technology has become an increasingly important element for improving the teaching and learning process of students. To achieve these goals, it is essential that teachers have the skills they need to be able to introduce technology into their teaching practice. However, this is often overwhelming and stressful for many of them. The aim of this review was to find out how research on teacher stress and anxiety associated with the use of educational technology was proceeding. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines through the following bibliographic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Sixteen articles were found from the review. The main findings show that teachers present high levels of anxiety or stress due to their use of educational technology in the classroom. Among the conclusions, the need for research on different strategies to prevent the emergence of these anxiety and stress symptoms in teachers stands out.

Parto en casa versus parto hospitalario / Home birth versus hospital birth

OBJETIVO: analizar las tendencias en la actualidad con respecto al parto en casa, así como examinar la evidencia científica actual en relación a las ventajas del parto en casa versus parto en el hospital. MÉTODO: se llevó a cabo una revisión narrativa, para lo cual se hizo una búsqueda a través de la consulta de las siguientes bases de datos: Pubmed, Medline, Uptodate, Scielo, Cuide, Cochrane plus y Google Académico. Para refinar la búsqueda se establecieron como límites de idioma: inglés, español; y la fecha de publicación entre 2000 y 2015. RESULTADOS: de la búsqueda bibliográfica realizada se seleccionó un total de 31 documentos. Entre la bibliografía seleccionada se distinguen revisiones sistemáticas de ensayos controlados aleatorizados, ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, estudios observacionales de cohortes y de casos y controles, revisiones bibliográficas y un documento elaborado por la Federación de Asociaciones de Matronas de España. Los estudios revelan que la seguridad del parto en casa es similar a la del parto hospitalario, no se han encontrado diferencias significativas en cuanto a morbimortalidad neonatal ni materna. El parto asistido en el domicilio es en el que menos intervenciones se llevan a cabo a la mujer y, por tanto, de menor coste. Los expertos describen que para que un parto en casa sea seguro debe ser atendido por matronas cualificadas, quienes deben ofrecer información científica veraz a la mujer para que esta pueda tomar la decisión. CONCLUSIONES: con los estudios disponibles en la actualidad se ha evidenciado que no hay un aumento de la morbimortalidad maternal y neonatal en el parto domiciliario, siempre que se hable de embarazos de bajo riesgo y de partos atendidos por matronas cualificadas. Es necesario realizar ensayos controlados randomizados para poder hacer un estudio más pormenorizado del tema

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the current trends regarding home birth, as well as to examine the current scientific evidence regarding the advantages of home birth versus hospital birth. METHOD: a narrative review was conducted, through a search in the following databases: Pubmed, Medline, Uptodate, Scielo, Cuide, Cochrane plus and Academic Google. In order to refine the search, English and Spanish were established as language limits, as well as publication date between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: a total of 31 documents were selected from the bibliographic search. The selected bibliography included: systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, randomized clinical trials, observational studies of cohorts and of cases and controls, bibliographic reviews, and a document prepared by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Midwives. These studies show that the safety of home birth is similar to that of hospital birth; no significant differences have been found regarding morbimortality in newborns or mothers. Assisted birth at home requires the lower number of interventions for women, and therefore, its cost is lower. Experts describe that a safe home birth requires assistance by qualified midwives, who must offer truthful scientific information to women, so that they can make their own decision. CONCLUSIONS: there is evidence, with currently available studies, of no increase in mother or newborn morbimortality in home birth, as long as there is a low-risk pregnancy, and it is assisted by qualified midwives. It is necessary to conduct randomized and controlled clinical trials in order to study the matter with further detail

Hipotermia terapéutica en la asistencia al neonato con encefalopatía hipóxico isquémica / Therapeutic hypothermia in managing newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

OBJETIVO: analizar la evidencia científica disponible sobre las circunstancias previas al parto que anteceden en el tiempo a la asfixia neonatal y sobre el protocolo de hipotermia corporal total moderada para prevenir o aminorar el daño cerebral asociado a la agresión hipóxico isquémica perinatal. MÉTODO: revisión integrativa en la que se realiza una búsqueda dela literatura en las bases de datos Medline, Cinahl, Cochrane Plus, Cuiden, Cuidatge, Bireme y Enfisp . La búsqueda se limitó a los idiomas español e inglés y no se marcó límite de años. Como criterios de inclusión se seleccionaron las revisiones sistemáticas, metaanálisis, revisiones no sistemáticas y ensayos clínicos sobre el tema, incluyendo estudios originales publicados hasta la actualidad. RESULTADOS: la encefalopatía hipóxico isquémica perinatal esuno de los acontecimientos más dramáticos e inesperados que pueden afectar a un recién nacido (RN) y su familia. Diversos estudios han demostrado que a los 18 meses de edad la terapia con hipotermia ha reducido el número de muertes y discapacidad mayor de forma significativa en relación con la terapia tradicional, así como los beneficios que se producen con el enfriamiento corporal total y con el enfriamiento selectivo del cerebro. CONCLUSIONES: la evidencia disponible apoya la utilización de la hipotermia terapéutica en la asistencia al neonato con encefalopatía hipóxico isquémica

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the scientific evidence available about the circumstances previous to labour which precede neonatal asphyxia in time, and about the protocol for whole-body moderate hypothermia in order to prevent or reduce the brain damage associated with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic aggression. METHOD: an integrative review where a literature search was conducted in the following databases: Medline, Cinahl, Cochrane Plus, Cuiden, Cuidatge, Bireme and Enfispo. The search was limited to the Spanish and English languages, and there was no limitation in years. As inclusion criteria, the following were selected: systematic reviews, meta-analyses, non-systematic reviews, and clinical trials on the subject, including original studies published up to this date. RESULTS: perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is one of the most dramatic and unexpected events that can affect a new born (NB) and his/her family. Different studies have demonstrated that at 18 months of age, therapy with hypothermia has reduced significantly the number of deaths and major disabilities vs. traditional therapy, as well as the benefits offered by whole-body cooling and by selective brain cooling. CONCLUSIONS: the evidence available supports the use of therapeutic hypothermia in managing new-borns with hypoxicischemic encephalopathy

Does the type of event influence how user interactions evolve on Twitter?

The number of people using on-line social networks as a new way of communication is continually increasing. The messages that a user writes in these networks and his/her interactions with other users leave a digital trace that is recorded. Thanks to this fact and the use of network theory, the analysis of messages, user interactions, and the complex structures that emerge is greatly facilitated. In addition, information generated in on-line social networks is labeled temporarily, which makes it possible to go a step further analyzing the dynamics of the interaction patterns. In this article, we present an analysis of the evolution of user interactions that take place in television, socio-political, conference, and keynote events on Twitter. Interactions have been modeled as networks that are annotated with the time markers. We study changes in the structural properties at both the network level and the node level. As a result of this analysis, we have detected patterns of network evolution and common structural features as well as differences among the events.