Improving online machine translation systems

In (Mellebeek et al., 2005), we proposed the design, implementation and evaluation of a novel and modular approach to boost the translation performance of existing, wide-coverage, freely available machine translation systems, based on reliable and fast automatic decomposition of the translation input and corresponding composition of translation output. Despite showing some initial promise, our method did not improve on the baseline Logomedia1 and Systran2 MT systems. In this paper, we improve on the algorithm presented in (Mellebeek et al., 2005), and on the same test data, show increased scores for a range of automatic evaluation metrics. Our algorithm now outperforms Logomedia, obtains similar results to SDL3 and falls tantalisingly short of the performance achieved by Systran

Is urinary type IV collagen a good marker of early impairment of renal function in childhood cancers survivors?

Introduction: Nephrotoxicity, as a side effect of antineoplastic treatment, can occur in childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). It worsens their quality of life especially if it leads to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Collagen turnover is known to be disturbed in CKD. Urinary type IV collagen (U-Col4) is recognized as an exponent of extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation in glomeruli and is thus involved in this turnover. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of U-Col4 in assessing early renal impairment in CCSs. Material and methods: Seventy-eight CCSs, without CKD, bilateral kidney tumors, congenital kidney defects, urinary tract infections and diabetes, at least one year after ending antineoplastic treatment, and aged 1–18 years, were divided into three groups: 1) patients after nephroblastoma treatment (n = 18); 2) patients after other solid tumors treatment (n = 42); and 3) patients after anti-hamatopoietic and lymphatic system proliferative treatment (n = 18). Concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C in serum, and of albumin, creatinine, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and U-Col4 in urine, were measured, and a general urine analysis was performed. The albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), the urine U-Col4/creatinine ratio, the urine NAG/creatinine ratio and the estimated glomerular filtration rate were calculated according to the Schwartz equation and the Filler equation. Results: We did not find any differences between the groups in the evaluated biochemical parameters. Weak negative correlations were found between U-Col4 and urine NAG/creatinine ratio (p = 0.02, R = –0.27) and ACR (p = 0.00, R = –0.39). Conclusions: Evaluation of the usefulness of U-Col4 in assessing early renal impairment in CCSs requires further study. CCSs should be monitored for potential complications of antineoplastic treatment, even many years after its completion

Death as a new life - funeral rituals in Islam

Niniejsza praca porusza temat obrzędów funeralnych w islamie opisanych na podstawie Sunny oraz Koranu. Każdy z trzech rozdziałów ma za zadanie opisać różne etapy w procesie przygotowania zmarłego oraz jego bliskich do ceremonii pochówku. W pierwszym z nich starałam się przedstawić czynności jakie umierający człowiek powinien wykonać jeszcze przed swoich odejściem. Rozdział drugi traktuje o przygotowaniu zwłok do złożenia w grobie oraz o obowiązkach jakie względem ciała i ducha zmarłego powinni dopełnić jego współbracia w wierze. Ostatnia część mówi o samej ceremonii pogrzebowej oraz zwyczajach popogrzebowych w religii muzułmańskiej. Chciałam również zwrócić uwagę na samo podejście do zjawiska śmierci w islamie, które różne jest od pojmowania i rozumienia go w kulturze zachodu. Praca nie wyczerpuje poruszanego w niej, rozległego tematu zwyczajów pogrzebowych w islamie, które wciąż ulegają dynamicznym zmianom. Jednakże moim celem było przedstawienie czytelnikowi pewnych, na stałe związanych z tą religią, tradycji funeralnych, głęboko zakorzenionych w historii i kulturze.This thesis raises the issue of funeral rituals in Islam according to Quran and Sunnah. Each of three chapters describes different stage in the process of preparation the deceased and his family to burial ceremony. First of them shows the steps that should be taken by dying man before moment of death. Next one deals with preparation of the body and also responsibilities brothers and sisters in faith towards body and soul of the deceased. The last part talks about burial ceremony and after burial customs and traditions in islamic religion. The purpose of this study was also to show relation between Muslims and the phenomenon of death, which is different from understanding it in Western culture.It must be remembered that funeral rites are still changing especially now -in times of technological development. However, my goal was to provide the reader with some permanently associated with the religion, funeral practices that are deeply rooted in history and culture

Dimethylarginines in Children after Anti-Neoplastic Treatment

Background and Objectives: According to a recent Cochrane systematic review, renal impairment can develop in 0–84% of childhood cancer survivors in the future. The renal function impairment in this patient group can be related to nephrectomy, nephrotoxic agents therapy, abdominal radiotherapy, and combinations of these treatment methods. In this study, in a population of patients after anti-neoplastic therapy, with particular emphasis on patients after Wilms’ tumour treatment, we compared new substances which play role in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis (asymmetric dimethylarginine—ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine—SDMA) with standard renal function markers (e.g., creatinine and cystatin C in serum, creatinine in urine, etc.) to assess the usefulness of the former. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four children, without CKD, bilateral kidney tumours, congenital kidney defects, or urinary tract infections, with a minimum time of 1 year after ending anti-neoplastic treatment, aged between 17 and 215 months, were divided into three groups: group 1—patients after nephroblastoma treatment (n = 21), group 2—after other solid tumours treatment (n = 44), and group 3—after lymphoproliferative neoplasms treatment (n = 19). The patients’ medical histories were taken and physical examinations were performed. Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cystatin C, C-reactive protein (CRP), ADMA, and SDMA in blood and albumin in urine were measured, and a general urine analysis was performed. The SDMA/ADMA ratio, albumin–creatine ratio, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated. eGFR was estimated by three equations recommended to the paediatric population by the KDIGO from 2012: the Schwartz equation (eGFR1), equation with creatinine and urea nitrogen (eGFR2), and equation with cystatin C (eGFR3). Results: Both the eGFR1 and eGFR2 values were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 3 (eGFR1: 93.3 (83.1–102.3) vs. 116.5 (96.8–126.9) mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.02; eGFR2: 82.7 (±14.4) vs. 94.4 (±11.9) mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.02). Additionally, there were weak positive correlations between SDMA and creatinine (p p p p p Conclusions: The usefulness of ADMA and SDMA in the diagnosis of renal functional impairment should be assessed in further studies. eGFR, calculated according to equations recommended for children, should be used in routine paediatric practice

Association between intestinal and antioxidant barriers in children with cancer

Objective: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in cancerogenesis processing and damage tissues. Furthermore, oncological treatment may impair proper function of the gut barrier. The aim of this study was to measure intestinal permeability in children in clinical remission for solid tumours and to search for a possible relationship between free radicals and the intestinal barrier. No such investigation in children has been reported so far. Research Methods and Procedures: The prospective study consisted of 19 paediatric patients with cancer after completion of chemotherapy. 32 healthy children from the outpatients clinics were recruited for measurement of intestinal permeability and antioxidant barrier as a control group. Intestinal permeability was assessed by measurement of urinary lactulose and mannitol after oral challenge. Antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes were assessed. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) concentration was measured in serum. Results: Cancer patients excreted less mannitol and more lactulose versus controls. The ratio of lactulose to mannitol was significantly higher in oncological children vs control (mean 0.188 and 0.0453, respectively, p=0.0006,). Significantly higher IMA level in the oncological group vs control was noted (mean 123.8 and 87.3 U/ml, respectively, p=0.0037). No correlation between intestinal permeability and oxidative stress barrier was found. Conclusions: Our data shows that intestinal barrier is damaged in paediatric cancer patients after chemotherapy. IMA is believed to play a protective role in the defence against tissue damage. No correlation was found between these two barriers

N-Methyl-2-thiocytisine

The rings of the three-ring cytisine system in the title compound [systematic name: (1R,5S)-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-1,5-methano-8H-pyrido[1,2-a][1,5]diazocine-8-thione], C12H16N2S, have planar [maximum deviation 0.0170 (7) Å], half-chair and chair conformations. In the crystal structure, relatively short and directional C—H...π interactions and weaker secondary C—H...S contacts join the molecules into helical chains along the [001] direction

Post-Mutational Voice Instability – a Case Report

Pomutacyjna niestabilność głosu (PNG) – puberfonia, jest schorzeniem występującym rzadko. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek rehabilitacji logopedycznej pacjenta ze zdiagnozowaną pomutacyjną niestabilnością głosu. Pacjent został objęty opieką przez lekarza foniatrę, logopedę oraz psychologa. Wdrożono indywidualnie dostosowaną terapię logopedyczną. Przed rozpoczęciem rehabilitacji oraz po jej zakończeniu pacjent dokonywał samooceny głosu przy użyciu kwestionariusza Voice Handicap Index (VHI), skali dyskomfortu traktu głosowego Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) oraz kwestionariusza Oceny Jakości Życia zależnej od głosu Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). Rehabilitację głosu prowadzono przez 6 miesięcy. W jej wyniku uzyskano niski, stabilny głos. Pozytywny efekt terapeutyczny u pacjenta był wynikiem ścisłej współpracy interdyscyplinarnego zespołu.Post-mutational voice instability (PNG) – puberphonia is a rare disease. The paper presents a case of logopedic rehabilitation of a patient with diagnosed PNG. The patient was cared for by a phoniatric specialist, speech therapist, and psychologist. Customized logopedic therapy has been implemented. Before and after rehabilitation, the patient performed voice self-assessment using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire, the Vocal Track Discomfort (VTD) scale and evaluating questionnaire on the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). Rehabilitation was conducted for 6 months. It resulted in a low, stable voice. The positive therapeutic effect was the result of the cooperation of an interdisciplinary team

Assessment of Metabolic Syndrome and Kidney and Heart Function in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Background: The survivors of childhood cancer suffer from a number of long-term side effects. These include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that develop earlier in adulthood than in the rest of the population. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors of developing atherosclerosis before the development of symptomatic CVD. Methods: A total of 141 children that were 7–18 years old were examined; there were 116 survivors of childhood malignancies (hematopoietic and lymphoproliferative malignancies—52; neuroblastoma—22; Wilms tumor—24; other solid tumors—18) and 25 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, ultrasonography of the abdomen, echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed. Results: There were no significant differences in gender distribution, time from the end of the treatment, weight, BMI, prevalence of central obesity, blood pressure and resistive index of the renal arteries, lipid profile, or glucose and fibrinogen levels. Patients with solid tumors had a significantly lower height and worse renal function. Patients with hematological malignancies significantly presented the lowest shortening fraction of the left ventricle. The salusin β levels were significantly higher in the control group than among the patients. Conclusions: The type and severity of side effects are closely related to the type of neoplasm and the treatment that has been undergone. Careful observation and regular follow-up are necessary