Fiducial Objects: Custom Design and Evaluation.

Camera pose estimation is vital in fields like robotics, medical imaging, and augmented reality. Fiducial markers, specifically ArUco and Apriltag, are preferred for their efficiency. However, their accuracy and viewing angle are limited when used as single markers. Custom fiducial objects have been developed to address these limitations by attaching markers to 3D objects, enhancing visibility from multiple viewpoints and improving precision. Existing methods mainly use square markers on non-square object faces, leading to inefficient space use. This paper introduces a novel approach for creating fiducial objects with custom-shaped markers that optimize face coverage, enhancing space utilization and marker detectability at greater distances. Furthermore, we present a technique for the precise configuration estimation of these objects using multiviewpoint images. We provide the research community with our code, tutorials, and an application to facilitate the building and calibration of these objects. Our empirical analysis assesses the effectiveness of various fiducial objects for pose estimation across different conditions, such as noise levels, blur, and scale variations. The results suggest that our customized markers significantly outperform traditional square markers, marking a positive advancement in fiducial marker-based pose estimation methods.

The use of readily available laboratory tests for the identification of the emerging yeast Candida auris in Mexico.

Identification of the emerging multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris is challenging. Here, we describe the role of the Mexico national reference laboratory Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos Dr. Manuel Martínez Báez (InDRE) and the Mexican national laboratory network in the identification of C. auris. Reference identification of six suspected isolates was done based on phenotypic and molecular laboratory methods, including growth in special media, evaluation of isolate micromorphology, and species-specific PCR and pan-fungal PCR and sequencing. The four C. auris isolates identified were able to grow on modified Sabouraud agar with 10% NaCl incubated at 42 °C. With one exception, isolates of C. auris were spherical to ovoid yeast-like cells and blastoconidia, with no hyphae or pseudohyphae on cornmeal agar. C. auris isolates were resistant to fluconazole. Species-specific and pan-fungal PCR confirmed isolates as C. auris. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of two different C. auris clades in Mexico, clade I (South Asia) and clade IV (South America).

Online Gambling Advertising Regulations in Spain. A Study on the Protection of Minors.

This article examines the online gambling advertising regulations in Spain currently in effect to assess the actual protection of underage youth. In recent years, online gambling among youth has increased. Through advertising, online gambling companies incite and encourage an involvement that can be harmful for vulnerable audiences. Some studies have demonstrated that advertising influences youths' assessment of gambling by increasing its appeal. We demonstrate that the shortcomings of the legal framework in force results in effective vulnerability of minors. We claim that society should seek to implement a regulatory framework to protect children from the risk of developing an addiction.

Este trabajo estudia la actual regulación que existe en materia de publicidad de los juegos de azar online en España, con el fin de valorar si consigue una protección real al menor. En los últimos años, se ha producido un aumento en el consumo de juegos de azar online por parte de los menores. A través de la publicidad, las empresas proveedoras de juegos de azar incitan y motivan a esta actividad. Debido a que el menor de edad es un público que por sus características de inmadurez, credulidad y facilidad de persuasión resulta especialmente vulnerable frente a la publicidad, y debido al riesgo de adicción que contiene esta práctica, se debe procurar un marco regulatorio que proteja al menor. Los resultados de este estudio demuestran que si bien por voluntad de la ley se limita la posibilidad de participar de los menores en los juegos de azar online, la publicidad está influyendo en su valoración, normalizando esta práctica y haciéndola atractiva. Asimismo muestran que el marco jurídico actual presenta carencias que permiten concluir que existe una efectiva desprotección del menor.

Bone mineral density, bone turnover markers and cytokines in alcohol-induced cirrhosis.

AIMS: Liver cirrhosis is a risk factor for osteoporosis. However, the pathogenesis of the bone mass loss in patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis (AC) is not well understood. Serum concentrations of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R55), neopterin and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R), activation markers of cellular immunity, correlate with clinical activity and severity of the AC. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of these soluble markers with the development of osteoporosis in patients with AC. METHODS: We studied 33 consecutive patients with AC and 24 healthy volunteers. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN). Neopterin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum concentrations of sTNF-R55 and sIL-2R were measured by enzyme immunoassay. We also determined serum levels of osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase as biochemical markers of bone formation, and deoxypyridinoline urinary excretion (D-Pyr) as marker of bone resorption. RESULTS: Patients with AC had reduced BMD (expressed as z-score) in all sites (LS: P < 0.001 and FN: P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of sTNF-R55 were significantly higher in patients with both AC and osteoporosis than in those with only AC (P < 0.001). Serum levels of sTNF-R55 positively correlated with D-Pyr urinary excretion (r = 0.354; P = 0.01). Serum levels of sIL-2R were significantly higher in patients with both AC and osteoporosis than in those with only AC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relation between activation of the cellular immunity and osteoporosis in AC. Bone mass loss could be related to the increased bone resorption found in these patients.

[Soluble interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor receptor in liver cirrhosis. Relationship with clinical severity and prognosis]. / Receptores solubles de la interleucina 2 y del factor de necrosis tumoral en la cirrosis hepática de diversas etiologías. Relación con el pronóstico y la gravedad clínica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The mechanism responsible for the beginning and progression of hepatic injury in liver cirrhosis of viral and alcoholic etiology are unknown currently. However, there are abnormalities in the immune system which may be implied in the pathogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The concentrations of the soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor (sTNF-R55) and the soluble receptor of interleukin-2 (sIL-2R) in 49 cirrhotic patients were determined by enzyme-linked inmunoassay. Patients were grouped according to the etiology (33 alcoholic and 16 viral) and prognosis (Child-Pugh classification) and they were compared with the values obtained in 26 healthy non-drinkers who made up the control group. RESULTS: The concentrations of sTNF-R55 and sIL-2R were significantly higher in both groups of patients when compared with controls. We found significant differences in sTNF-R55 concentrations in viral and alcoholic but not in sIL-2R concentrations. There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of both receptors and the degrees of Child-Pugh classification, as well as with albumin, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (all of them parameters related to the severity and prognosis of liver cirrhosis). CONCLUSIONS: The serum concentrations of soluble receptors of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-2 correlate with the prognosis of liver cirrhosis independently of its etiology. This fact may reflect the stimulation of T lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages, in liver cirrhosis.

Análisis de Conducta en Medicina Evaluadora: una propuesta interdisciplinary / Behavioral analysis in disability assessment medicine: an interdisciplinary proposal

Se propone un nuevo marco teórico, el Análisis de Conducta en Medicina, para abordar los desafíos que la evaluación de la incapacidad y la medicina pericial afrontan en su práctica clínica diaria. Mediante un enfoque con base científica interdisciplinar y flexible pero sistemático en su aplicación, el Sistema de Análisis de Validez en la Evaluación (SAVE) está diseñado para incorporar una amplia gama de métodos, técnicas y habilidades útiles, tomadas de diferentes fuentes (psicología forense, criminología, derecho sanitario, detección del engaño y el fraude, etc.). Se estructura en tres fases sucesivas, Verosimilitud (V1), que corresponde al análisis del contenido verbal de la declaración; Veracidad (V2) como congruencia entre lo verbal y lo no verbal, y Verificación (V3), el proceso de comprobación de la información previamente obtenida. Estos conocimientos y habilidades se pueden aprender y entrenar, todos ellos han sido probados científicamente y cuentan con un amplio número de referencias publicadas para profundizar en cada tema. Además, este proceso permite una fácil adaptación a cada caso y contexto, evitando molestar a los informados genuinamente impedidos al pasar desapercibido excepto cuando la probabilidad de fraude es elevada. Por lo tanto, creemos que cualquier profesional de la salud y especialmente los peritos médicos, sean funcionarios o independientes, se beneficiarán de este modo de realizar la consulta médica, mejorando la relación médico-paciente y la necesaria gestión del engaño cuando sea preciso (AU)

A new theoretical framework, the Behavioral Analysis in Medicine is proposed to address the challenges that disability assessment and clinical forensic medicine face in everyday practice. Through an interdisciplinary approach, scientifically based and flexible yet systematically applied, the System of Validity Analysis in Assessment (referred to by its Spanish acronym SAVE) is designed to incorporate a wide array of useful methods, techniques and skills from different sources (forensic psychology, criminology, health law science, deception and fraud detection, etc.). It is structured in three successive phases, Verisimilitude (V1), as verbal content analysis of the statement; Veracity (V2) as congruence between verbal and non-verbal communication, and Verification (V3), the checking process of previously obtained information. These knowledge and abilities are affordable to learn and train. All of them have been scientifically tested and have an extensive number of published references to delve deeper in each subject. Additionally, this process allows an easy adaptation to each case and context, avoiding disturbing those genuinely disabled examinees by going unnoticed unless there is a high probability of fraud. Hence, we believe that every health practitioner, especially the medical examiners, public servants or independent ones will benefit from this way to accomplish every medical consultation, improving the patient-physician relationship and the necessary fraud management whenever necessary (AU)

Opiniones de los inspectores médicos acerca de la distorsión clínica en la valoración de la incapacidad laboral en España / Opinions of medical inspectors about clinical distortion in assessment of work disability in Spain

El contexto médico-legal en el que se desarrolla la medicina evaluadora, permitiendo el acceso a prestaciones económicas, obliga a considerar la validez en las consultas de valoración médica de incapacidad para tratar de evitar el fraude por simulación. Por otra parte, en el ámbito médico asistencial son habituales los casos biomédicamente inexplicables que se acompañan de elevados niveles subjetivos de sufrimiento, para los que se ha propuesto el término MUPS (medically unexplained physical symptoms). Objetivos: Profundizar en el fenómeno de la distorsión clínica en la valoración médica de incapacidad, basado en los dos primeros criterios de Simulación del DSM-IV-TR, referido al marco teórico del Análisis de Conducta en Medicina. Métodos: Encuesta en línea dirigid el colectivo de los inspectores médicos evaluadores del Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) de España para conocer sus opiniones acerca de estos casos, presentes en su práctica diaria, su manejo de los mismos y su grado de concordancia con respecto a la bibliografía de referencia. Resultados: Incluyen a una proporción representativa de dichos inspectores médicos (15 por ciento), que aparecen como un colectivo variado, por su distinta formación profesional, experiencia previa y práctica diaria en las diferentes Unidades Médicas. Conclusiones: Consideran la distorsión clínica y sus cuadros anexos como situaciones frecuentes y relevantes en sus consultas, principalmente el fraude por simulación. Pese a ello, los inspectores médicos no parecen contar actualmente con referencias específicas suficientes ni con un discurso científico común estructurado para estos casos, que son abordados según criterios individuales más o menos ajustados al estado actual del conocimiento.(AU)

The forensic context in which disability assessment medicine is practiced in Spain, allowing access to workers' compensation benefits, requires consideration of the validity of disability assessment examinations. On the other hand, in clinical medicine biomedically unexplained cases ­for which the term medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) was proposed­ are common, often accompanied by high levels of subjective suffering. Aim: To deepen in the phenomenon of clinical distortion in disability assessment examinations, based on the first two criteria of Malingering in DSM-IV-TR, referring to the theoretical framework of the Behavior Analysis in Medicine. Methods: Online survey addressed to the group of medical examiners of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) of Spain to know their opinions on these cases, present in their everyday practice, their management and the extent of agreement to the literature of reference. Results: Collected a representative proportion of medical examiners (15 percent), they appear as a miscellaneous group due to their different professional training, previous experience and everyday practice in their different Medical Units. Conclusions: medical examiners consider the clinical distortion and related cases as frequent and relevant situations in their practice, mainly malingering. Nonetheless, medical examiners do not seem to have sufficient specific references or a structured common scientific discourse for these cases, which are approached according to individual criteria more or less adjusted to the current state of knowledge. (AU)

La regulación publicitaria de los juegos de azar online en España. Una reflexión sobre la protección del menor / Online Gambling Advertising Regulations in Spain. A Study on the Protection of Minors

Este trabajo estudia la actual regulación que existe en materia de publicidad de los juegos de azar online en España, con el fin de valorar si consigue una protección real al menor. En los últimos años, se ha producido un aumento en el consumo de juegos de azar online por parte de los menores. A través de la publicidad, las empresas proveedoras de juegos de azar incitan y motivan a esta actividad. Debido a que el menor de edad es un público que por sus características de inmadurez, credulidad y facilidad de persuasión resulta especialmente vulnerable frente a la publicidad, y debido al riesgo de adicción que contiene esta práctica, se debe procurar un marco regulatorio que proteja al menor. Los resultados de este estudio demuestran que si bien por voluntad de la ley se limita la posibilidad de participar de los menores en los juegos de azar online, la publicidad está influyendo en su valoración, normalizando esta práctica y haciéndola atractiva. Asimismo muestran que el marco jurídico actual presenta carencias que permiten concluir que existe una efectiva desprotección del menor

This article examines the online gambling advertising regulations in Spain currently in effect to assess the actual protection of underage youth. In recent years, online gambling among youth has increased. Through advertising, online gambling companies incite and encourage an involvement that can be harmful for vulnerable audiences. Some studies have demonstrated that advertising influences youths’ assessment of gambling by increasing its appeal. We demonstrate that the shortcomings of the legal framework in force results in effective vulnerability of minors. We claim that society should seek to implement a regulatory framework to protect children from the risk of developing an addiction