Netlang: A software for the linguistic analysis of corpora by means of complex networks

To date there is no software that directly connects the linguistic analysis of a conversation to a network program. Networks programs are able to extract statistical information from data basis with information about systems of interacting elements. Language has also been conceived and studied as a complex system. However, most proposals do not analyze language according to linguistic theory, but use instead computational systems that should save time at the price of leaving aside many crucial aspects for linguistic theory. Some approaches to network studies on language do apply precise linguistic analyses, made by a linguist. The problem until now has been the lack of interface between the analysis of a sentence and its integration into the network that could be managed by a linguist and that could save the analysis of any language. Previous works have used old software that was not created for these purposes and that often produced problems with some idiosyncrasies of the target language. The desired interface should be able to deal with the syntactic peculiarities of a particular language, the options of linguistic theory preferred by the user and the preservation of morpho-syntactic information (lexical categories and syntactic relations between items). Netlang is the first program able to do that. Recently, a new kind of linguistic analysis has been developed, which is able to extract a complexity pattern from the speaker’s linguistic production which is depicted as a network where words are inside nodes, and these nodes connect each other by means of edges or links (the information inside the edge can be syntactic, semantic, etc.). The Netlang software has become the bridge between rough linguistic data and the network program. Netlang has integrated and improved the functions of programs used in the past, namely the DGA annotator and two scripts (ToXML.pl and Xml2Pairs.py) used for transforming and pruning data. Netlang allows the researcher to make accurate linguistic analysis by means of syntactic dependency relations between words, while tracking record of the nature of such syntactic relationships (subject, object, etc). The Netlang software is presented as a new tool that solve many problems detected in the past. The most important improvement is that Netlang integrates three past applications into one program, and is able to produce a series of file formats that can be read by a network program. Through the Netlang software, the linguistic network analysis based on syntactic analyses, characterized for its low cost and the completely non-invasive procedure aims to evolve into a sufficiently fine grained tool for clinical diagnosis in potential cases of language disorders

Influence of Fe doping and magnetic field on martensitic transition in Ni–Mn–Sn melt-spun ribbons

"Mn-rich Ni-Mn-Sn metamagnetic shape memory alloys exhibiting magnetostructural transformation are of a great potential as the base materials for solid-state refrigeration. With the aim of fine tuning of the transformation characteristics and improving functional properties, in the present work we have fabricated polycrystalline Ni50-xFexMn40Sn10 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 at.%) melt-spun ribbons, starting from the base alloy with x = 0, which is weakly magnetic in both austenitic and martensitic phases. By exploring martensitic transformation (MT) and magnetic behaviors as a function of Fe doping and magnetic field, we have found that Fe and/or magnetic field reduce the MT temperature and Curie temperature of austenite phase, becoming closer to each other as the Fe-content increases, accompanied by an increase of the magnetic moment of austenite, magnetization jump at MT, transformation volume, and magnetic contribution, Delta S-M, to the total entropy change at MT. The ribbons present moderate values of Delta S-M equal to 11 J kg(-11)K(-1) at 5 T for x = 8, moderate thermal hysteresis (10-14 K) nearly independent of Fe doping or magnetic field, and adjustable structural and magnetic transition temperatures close to room temperature. (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of cytomegalovirus infection in human neural precursor cells depend on their differentiation state

© 2015, Journal of NeuroVirology, Inc. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection in developed countries and a major cause of neurological disability in children. Although CMV can affect multiple organs, the most important sequelae of intrauterine infection are related to lesions of the central nervous system. However, little is known about the pathogenesis and the cellular events responsible for neuronal damage in infants with congenital infection. Some studies have demonstrated that neural precursor cells (NPCs) show the greatest susceptibility to CMV infection in the developing brain. We sought to establish an in vitro model of CMV infection of the developing brain in order to analyze the cellular events associated with invasion by this virus. To this end, we employed two cell lines as a permanent source of NPC, avoiding the continuous use of human fetal tissue, the human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell line, and an immortalized cell line of human fetal neural origin, hNS-1. We also investigated the effect of the differentiation stage in relation to the susceptibility of these cell lines by comparing the neuroblastoma cell line with the multipotent cell line hNS-1. We found that the effects of the virus were more severe in the neuroblastoma cell line. Additionally, we induced hNS-1 to differentiate and evaluated the effect of CMV in these differentiated cells. Like SK-N-MC cells, hNS-1-differentiated cells were also susceptible to infection. Viability of differentiated hNS-1 cells decreased after CMV infection in contrast to undifferentiated cells. In addition, differentiated hNS-1 cells showed an extensive cytopathic effect whereas the effect was scarce in undifferentiated cells. We describe some of the effects of CMV in neural stem cells, and our observations suggest that the degree of differentiation is important in the acquisition of susceptibility.CONACYT (CB16782 and #120452), PROMEP (103.5/10/7697), and FAI-UASLP (C12-FAI-03-62.62).Peer Reviewe

Design by simulation of a Fuzzy control and MPC for a level process

El artículo presenta la evaluación de un control Fuzzy y MPC para un proceso de nivel utilizando la herramienta Simulink de Matlab. El problema más frecuente en la industria de procesos es el control de nivel en tanques ya que presenta un modelo matemático no lineal. Comúnmente se utiliza controladores tradicionales como PID para la regulación del nivel en estos sistemas. Para la investigación se considera un tanque cilíndrico caracterizado por una función matemática no lineal. La salida del sistema está definida por que es el nivel del líquido, que cambia con la apertura de la válvula de entrada , esta válvula cambia de posición de 0 a 1 (0 a 100 %) y  representa la válvula de perturbación. Se implementa en Simulink un control en lazo abierto con el fin de verificar la dinámica de la planta para obtener el modelo matemático en espacio de estados, luego se diseña el control Fuzzy y el control basado en modelo MPC. Finalmente se contrastan los resultados de los controladores diseñados Fuzzy y MPC con el control tradicional PID, siendo el control Fuzzy: PD difuso con acción integral, presento un mejor rendimiento para el proceso de nivel implementado, ya que, el tiempo de establecimiento es de 119.407 segundos y ante una perturbación se estabiliza en un tiempo de 82.414 segundos y no presenta un sobre impulso.The paper presents the evaluation of a Fuzzy and MPC control for a level process using the Matlab tool Simulink. The most frequent problem in the process industry is the level control in tanks since it presents a nonlinear mathematical model. Traditional controllers such as PID are commonly used for level control in these systems. For the investigation, a cylindrical tank characterized by a nonlinear mathematical function is considered. The output of the system is defined by  which is the liquid level, which changes with the opening of the inlet valve , this valve changes position from 0 to 1 (0 to 100 %) and  represents the disturbance valve. An open loop control is implemented in Simulink in order to verify the dynamics of the plant to obtain the mathematical model in state space, then the Fuzzy control and the control based on MPC model are designed. Finally, the results of the designed Fuzzy and MPC controllers are contrasted with the traditional PID control, being the Fuzzy control: Fuzzy PD with integral action, presented a better performance for the implemented level process, since, the establishment time is 119.407 seconds and before a disturbance it stabilizes in a time of 82.414 seconds and it does not present an over impulse

Predicting potential distribution and identifying priority areas for conservation of the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) in Peru

Species distribution models (SDMs) provide conservationist with spatial distributions estimations of priority species. Lagothrix flavicauda (Humboldt, 1812), commonly known as the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, is one of the largest primates in the New World. This species is endemic to the montane forests of northern Peru, in the departments of Amazonas, San Martín, Huánuco, Junín, La Libertad, and Loreto at elevation from1,000 to 2,800 m. It is classified as “Critically Endangered” (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as by Peruvian legislation. Furthermore, it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Research on precise estimates of its potential distribution are scare. Therefore, in this study we modeled the potential distribution area of this species in Peru, the model was generated using the MaxEnt algorithm, along with 80 georeferenced occurrence records and 28 environmental variables. The total distribution (high, moderate, and low) for L. flavicauda is 29,383.3 km2, having 3,480.7 km2 as high potential distribution. In effect, 22.64 % (6,648.49 km2) of the total distribution area of L. flavicauda is found within Natural Protected Areas (NPAs), with the following categories representing the largest areas of distribution: Protected Forests (1,620.41 km2), Regional Conservation Areas (1,976.79 km2), and Private Conservation Areas (1,166.55 km2). After comparing the predicted distribution with the current NPAs system, we identified new priority areas for the conservation of the species. We, therefore, believe that this study will contribute significantly to the conservation of L. flavicauda in Peru

The Large Aperture GRB Observatory

The Large Aperture GRB Observatory (LAGO) is aiming at the detection of the high energy (around 100 GeV) component of Gamma Ray Bursts, using the single particle technique in arrays of Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCD) in high mountain sites (Chacaltaya, Bolivia, 5300 m a.s.l., Pico Espejo, Venezuela, 4750 m a.s.l., Sierra Negra, Mexico, 4650 m a.s.l). WCD at high altitude offer a unique possibility of detecting low gamma fluxes in the 10 GeV - 1 TeV range. The status of the Observatory and data collected from 2007 to date will be presented.Comment: 4 pages, proceeding of 31st ICRC 200

Water Cherenkov Detectors response to a Gamma Ray Burst in the Large Aperture GRB Observatory

In order to characterise the behaviour of Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCD) under a sudden increase of 1 GeV - 1 TeV background photons from a Gamma Ray Burst (GRB), simulations were conducted and compared to data acquired by the WCD of the Large Aperture GRB Observatory (LAGO). The LAGO operates arrays of WCD at high altitude to detect GRBs using the single particle technique. The LAGO sensitivity to GRBs is derived from the reported simulations of the gamma initiated particle showers in the atmosphere and the WCD response to secondaries.Comment: 5 pages, proceeding of the 31st ICRC 200

Decomposition techniques with mixed integer programming and heuristics for home healthcare planning

We tackle home healthcare planning scenarios in the UK using decomposition methods that incorporate mixed integer programming solvers and heuristics. Home healthcare planning is a difficult problem that integrates aspects from scheduling and routing. Solving real-world size instances of these problems still presents a significant challenge to modern exact optimization solvers. Nevertheless, we propose decomposition techniques to harness the power of such solvers while still offering a practical approach to produce high-quality solutions to real-world problem instances. We first decompose the problem into several smaller sub-problems. Next, mixed integer programming and/or heuristics are used to tackle the sub-problems. Finally, the sub-problem solutions are combined into a single valid solution for the whole problem. The different decomposition methods differ in the way in which subproblems are generated and the way in which conflicting assignments are tackled (i.e. avoided or repaired). We present the results obtained by the proposed decomposition methods and compare them to solutions obtained with other methods. In addition, we conduct a study that reveals how the different steps in the proposed method contribute to those results. The main contribution of this paper is a better understanding of effective ways to combine mixed integer programming within effective decomposition methods to solve real-world instances of home healthcare planning problems in practical computation time

Medición de radiación eritémica en sitios de altura de la provincia de Salta

Se presentan resultados obtenidos al medir la Irradiancia UV eritémica (UVER) en tres lugares de Salta (Argentina) y que se encuentran a distintas alturas, durante el período Diciembre 2012 - Mayo 2013. El efecto de la altitud se determinó mediante comparación horaria, diaria y promedio mensual de UVER. Las mediciones se realizaron con radiómetros UV-S-E-T de Kipp & Zonen. Los resultados experimentales indican altos valores de UVER en la ciudad de Salta (1.232 m.s.n.m), San Carlos (1.629 m.s.n.m) y El Rosal (3.354 m.s.n.m), alrededor del mediodía solar, con valores promedios entre 3.8 - 5.7 MEDII /hs. Se midió un aumento promedio en la dosis eritémica de un 5 – 8 %/km. Los índices de radiación solar ultravioleta en ausencia de nubosidad superan la calificación de riesgo extremo. Además, se calculan tiempos de exposición de riesgo (fototipos I-IV de Fitzpatrick) y Factores de Protección Solar (FPS) necesarios según la categoría de riesgo.Results obtained by measuring the UV radiation erythematic (UVER) in three places in Salta (Argentina) at different heights, during the period December 2012-May 2013. The effect of altitude was determined by comparing hourly, daily and monthly average UVER. The measurements were performed with UV-S-E-T radiometers Kipp & Zonen. The experimental results indicate high values of UVER in the city of Salta (1,232 m), San Carlos (1,629 m) and El Rosal (3,354 m) around solar noon, with average values between 5.7- 3.8 MEDII / Hs. An average increase in erythemal doses of a 5-8 %/km was measured. The indices of solar ultraviolet radiation in the absence of cloudiness outweigh the extreme risk. Furthermore, risk exposure times are calculated (phototypes I-IV of Fitzpatrick) and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) recommended by risk categoryAsociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES