In this project, Dr. Ignacio Alvarez Illan proposes to develop a novel automated diagnosis system that supports the radiologist in the breast cancer diagnosis in Dynamic Contrast Enhance-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) by including critical components of the radiological work-flow such as motion compensation, segmentation and diagnosis of breast tumours. The expected results of this interdisciplinary project will definitely have applications and impact in the European society and its health and the overarching goals of the '2020 Vision for the European Research Area’. Specifically, improving diagnosis of major diseases such as breast cancer is a research priority in the European Union. The main goal and overall objective of this project is to develop computer aided diagnosis (CAD) methods, and image processing techniques to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of cancerrelated breast lesions. Non-mass-enhancing lesions exhibit a heterogeneous appearance in breast MRI with high variations in kinetic characteristics and typical morphological parameters, and have a specificity and sensitivity much lower than mass-enhancing lesions. For this reason, new segmentation algorithms and kinetic parameters can be potentially used as an alternative to the methods for mass-enhanced lesions. To develop and implement CAD methods and image processing techniques, three different research objectives are presented in this project. They include basic research, strategic research, applied research and transfer of knowledge: i) Develop non-rigid registration and segmentation techniques to incorporate spatial variations in temporal enhancement. ii) Develop kinetic feature descriptors to quantify significant differences between the benign and malignant lesions. iii) Develop and validate algorithms, interfaces and software implementation for real applications of CAD of breast cancer.

El presente proyecto de movilidad se enmarca dentro de la Estrategia de internacionalización de la Universidad de Granada (UGR), aprobada en sesión ordinaria del Consejo de Gobierno de 31 de enero de 2017, que concibe la movilidad del colectivo universitario como un pilar fundamental del desarrollo de las capacidades de las personas, la transferencia de conocimiento y el fortalecimiento de las relaciones con su entorno socio económico y cultural, tanto en el ámbito local y regional como en el de los países del programa. La trayectoria de la UGR en el proceso de internacionalización y la correspondiente experiencia acumulada en programas de movilidad financiados por la Comisión Europea han aportado al proyecto solidez y garantía ejecución satisfactoria. El proyecto ha recibido financiación para 2.790 personas (estudios: 2.290; prácticas: 150; docencia: 200; formación: 150) habiéndose declarado finalmente 2.671 movilidades (estudios: 2.178; prácticas: 249; docencia: 171; formación: 73) lo que se aproxima al objetivo inicial planteado. Estas cifras sugieren no sólo una adecuada ejecución del proyecto, sino también la efectividad de las medidas de promoción y gestión del mismo, tanto a nivel interno como con las instituciones socias.La ejecución del proyecto se ha llevado a cabo mediante los mecanismos contemplados en el programa: firma de acuerdos inter-institucionales con los socios; planificación, elaboración y gestión de las convocatorias (en sus distintas fases y procesos asociados); atención y acompañamiento del participante en los procesos de solicitud; formalización de documentación una vez concedida la plaza; ejecución de la movilidad; gestión de los pagos; informe de resultados y reconocimiento académico.El impacto del proyecto, tanto en las instituciones socias como en las personas participantes, es sin duda satisfactorio, tal y como refleja el elevado grado de satisfacción general de los participantes (apartado 7.2 del informe). Esta circunstancia redunda en un mejor y más completo desarrollo de las competencias, capacidades y aprendizaje de los participantes, tanto en los aspectos académicos y profesionales como en los personales.Además, el fuerte compromiso de la Universidad de Granada en la cooperación a nivel europeo se ha materializado mediante la creación, en septiembre de 2019, de la Alianza Universitaria Europea Arqus, coordinada por la Universidad de Granada, y que forma parte de una de las primeras 17 Universidades Europeas financiadas por el programa Erasmus+ de la Comisión Europea. Reúne a las universidades de Bergen, Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon, Padua y Vilna, con el objetivo de forjar una educación superior verdaderamente europea, que ofrezca amplias oportunidades de movilidad para estudiantes, personal docente e investigador, y personal de administración y servicios, entre otras.

Prior knowledge plays a central role in shaping our perception and interactions with the world. Predictive coding theories represent an influential framework formalizing the neural computations that underlie the integration of prior knowledge into perception. One central tenet of predictive coding is the computation of prediction errors, which signify the discrepancy between predictions, derived from our prior knowledge, and incoming sensory input. Despite ample empirical evidence supporting the existence of prediction errors, such as heightened sensory responses to unexpected compared to expected stimuli, several unresolved questions persist. One pivotal question pertains to the nature of the surprise encoded in sensory prediction errors across the visual cortical hierarchy. Does the computation of prediction errors reflect local surprise, specific to each level in the visual hierarchy (e.g., surprising orientations in primary visual cortex)? Alternatively, is the coding of surprise inherited top-down, aligning with the notion of predictive coding that predictions are relayed from higher to lower areas? Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the computation of surprise dynamically adapts to our goals or remains a static feature of cortical tuning. Lastly, the networks and temporal dynamics that underlie prediction and prediction error computations are poorly understood. Within the scope of the PreVision project, my objective is to address these critical knowledge gaps through the integration of advanced neuroimaging techniques and artificial intelligence methodologies, thereby shedding light on the fundamental neurocomputational mechanisms that drive perception. Consequently, this project represents an excellent opportunity for me to engage in innovative and pioneering research, investigating pressing questions within contemporary cognitive neuroscience, and significantly advance my scientific career.

REASONThe objective of this Module is to provide the necessary guidance in understanding the fundamentals of the European Union. We expect that the students participanting in the Lectures and Events will acquire a basic skill on the European topics. These skills are:1. Establishing constructive relationships based on respect and acceptance of singularities in the European Union.2. Contributing to their personal development in European issues.3. Encouraging activities that develop divergent thinking.4. Teaching to solve open issues through activities that require updated knowledge.OUTPUTTo achieve the objectives outlined we will use the following methodology:1. Interactive explanation of the contents programmed to spread the idea of the European Union to attendees, delivered in Spanish.2. Apply teaching methods and materials adapted to the profile of the students, using visual aids, printed material, direct questions, etc.3. Organize, direct and evaluate the work in groups.4. Evaluate objectives and programs using appropriate techniques and procedures, such as conducting an assessment of the knowledge and research that will include the results obtained in the project.IMPACT:We aim to stimulate the participants’ interest and curiosity in European affairs. After a period of reflection we will evaluate the results through a committee appointed for that.

This Erasmus+ Key Action 1 “International Credit Mobility” project coordinated by the University of Granada is aimed at consolidating and promoting both incoming and outgoing mobility of students and staff between our University and our partner institutions in different countries around the world, as a continuation of pre-existing cooperation links, either under the previous European programmes (Tempus, Alfa, Erasmus Mundus) or through bilateral mobility agreements. The project forms an integral part of the UGR’s Internationalization Strategy https://internacional.ugr.es/pages/plan_propio/estrategiainternacionalizacion) in which the type of cooperation to be carried out with each world region and the specific objectives are established. These vary from cooperation between researchers for the furthering of joint projects and initiatives, the promotion of outgoing and incoming mobility for undergraduate students, support for dual degree programmes existing at undergraduate and Master’s level, support for doctoral education in partner countries, to cooperation for the enhancement of the management of internationalization and in particular of international mobility programmes, or cooperation for the strengthening of specific disciplines at partner universities, among others.The project has managed to send a total of 557 students and professionals from 122 partner institutions in 31 countries (Spain incl.), 446 of them had the opportunity to visit the University of Granada. The activities carried out have been diverse depending on the country in question. It should be noted, that 346 professionals were received at the UGR, of which 300 have benefited from a training mobility. This is a key element for the promotion of cooperation among our institutions and the strengthening of those partner universities which have recently joined the Erasmus+ programme. This type of mobility contributes to consolidate the existing links and increase the quality in the mobility of students and staff. In this sense, the following activities aimed at welcoming staff from our partner institutions for training purposes have been organized at the University of Granada within the eligibility period of the project: six International Staff Training Weeks-STW (http://internacional.ugr.es/pages/perfiles/pas/staff-training-week) addressed to administrators and other staff in charge of the internationalization processes in our partner institutions, two of them specially designed for ICM incoming staff and three addressed to all our partners from both Erasmus+ programme and partner countries. These activities can be considered as excellent global networking events for all the involved academic institutions. Moreover, two editions of the innovative training initiative aimed at welcoming international researchers (International Researcher Development Week-IRDW) have taken place (http://internacional.ugr.es/pages/perfiles/profesorado/researcher-development-week-2327-july-2018/irdw2018draftprogram and http://internacional.ugr.es/pages/perfiles/profesorado/researchers-week/irdw2019provisionalprogramme). These eventes have been conceived as an excellent opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and have greatly benefited all partner institutions. At the same time, this has provided the possibility to exchange good practices on a multilateral basis and not only between the UGR and their home institutions.Moreover, 100 students have been received at the UGR with an outstanding impact in the internationalization process of our campuses. Although the nature of the programme has resulted in a significant lower number of outgoing students (20), those students from the University of Granada who have participated in the programme have benefited from an enriching individual learning experience, particularly in relation to intercultural competences.The impact of the individual benefits offered by the mobility experience is well known: language competence, cultural and intercultural competence, academic competence, professional skills and mainly personal development. Besides, the impact of the project at institutional level has been remarkable for the different universities involved, in particular for those with less experience in mobility and other international actions. The project has offered campus internationalization thanks to the incoming students and staff received, consolidation of the academic relations which brings benefit to teaching, research, training of teaching staff, training of administrative staff as well as institutional strengthening. Such an impact has been reinforced by the combination of three types of mobility (students, teaching, training) when it has been possible within the framework of the project.