Chinese–Spanish neural machine translation enhanced with character and word bitmap fonts

Recently, machine translation systems based on neural networks have reached state-of-the-art results for some pairs of languages (e.g., German–English). In this paper, we are investigating the performance of neural machine translation in Chinese–Spanish, which is a challenging language pair. Given that the meaning of a Chinese word can be related to its graphical representation, this work aims to enhance neural machine translation by using as input a combination of: words or characters and their corresponding bitmap fonts. The fact of performing the interpretation of every word or character as a bitmap font generates more informed vectorial representations. Best results are obtained when using words plus their bitmap fonts obtaining an improvement (over a competitive neural MT baseline system) of almost six BLEU, five METEOR points and ranked coherently better in the human evaluation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

NBLAST: Rapid, Sensitive Comparison of Neuronal Structure and Construction of Neuron Family Databases.

Neural circuit mapping is generating datasets of tens of thousands of labeled neurons. New computational tools are needed to search and organize these data. We present NBLAST, a sensitive and rapid algorithm, for measuring pairwise neuronal similarity. NBLAST considers both position and local geometry, decomposing neurons into short segments; matched segments are scored using a probabilistic scoring matrix defined by statistics of matches and non-matches. We validated NBLAST on a published dataset of 16,129 single Drosophila neurons. NBLAST can distinguish neuronal types down to the finest level (single identified neurons) without a priori information. Cluster analysis of extensively studied neuronal classes identified new types and unreported topographical features. Fully automated clustering organized the validation dataset into 1,052 clusters, many of which map onto previously described neuronal types. NBLAST supports additional query types, including searching neurons against transgene expression patterns. Finally, we show that NBLAST is effective with data from other invertebrates and zebrafish. VIDEO ABSTRACT.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council [MRC file reference U105188491] and European Research Council Starting and Consolidator Grants to G.S.X.E.J., who is an EMBO Young Investigator.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Cell Press via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.06.01

Refractive index inhomogeneity within an aerogel block

Evaluating local inhomogeneities of the refractive index inside aerogel blocks to be used as Cherenkov radiator is important for a high energy physics experiment where angular resolution is crucial. Two approaches are described and compared. The first one is based on the bending of a laser beam induced by refractive index gradients along directions normal to the unperturbed optical path. The second method exploits the Cherenkov effect itself by shooting an ultra-relativistic collimated electron beam through different points of the aerogel surface. Local refractive index variations result in sizable differences in the Cherenkov photons distribution. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Migration of Chadic speaking pastoralists within Africa based on population structure of Chad Basin and phylogeography of mitochondrial L3f haplogroup

BACKGROUND: Chad Basin, lying within the bidirectional corridor of African Sahel, is one of the most populated places in Sub-Saharan Africa today. The origin of its settlement appears connected with Holocene climatic ameliorations (aquatic resources) that started ~10,000 years before present (YBP). Although both Nilo-Saharan and Niger-Congo language families are encountered here, the most diversified group is the Chadic branch belonging to the Afro-Asiatic language phylum. In this article, we investigate the proposed ancient migration of Chadic pastoralists from Eastern Africa based on linguistic data and test for genetic traces of this migration in extant Chadic speaking populations. RESULTS: We performed whole mitochondrial genome sequencing of 16 L3f haplotypes, focused on clade L3f3 that occurs almost exclusively in Chadic speaking people living in the Chad Basin. These data supported the reconstruction of a L3f phylogenetic tree and calculation of times to the most recent common ancestor for all internal clades. A date ~8,000 YBP was estimated for the L3f3 sub-haplogroup, which is in good agreement with the supposed migration of Chadic speaking pastoralists and their linguistic differentiation from other Afro-Asiatic groups of East Africa. As a whole, the Afro-Asiatic language family presents low population structure, as 92.4% of mtDNA variation is found within populations and only 3.4% of variation can be attributed to diversity among language branches. The Chadic speaking populations form a relatively homogenous cluster, exhibiting lower diversification than the other Afro-Asiatic branches (Berber, Semitic and Cushitic). CONCLUSION: The results of our study support an East African origin of mitochondrial L3f3 clade that is present almost exclusively within Chadic speaking people living in Chad Basin. Whole genome sequence-based dates show that the ancestral haplogroup L3f must have emerged soon after the Out-of-Africa migration (around 57,100 +/- 9,400 YBP), but the "Chadic" L3f3 clade has much less internal variation, suggesting an expansion during the Holocene period about 8,000 +/- 2,500 YBP. This time period in the Chad Basin is known to have been particularly favourable for the expansion of pastoralists coming from northeastern Africa, as suggested by archaeological, linguistic and climatic data

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine ward

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases are a common cause of increased morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Bacteraemia in the elderly is a difficult diagnosis and a therapeutic challenge due to age-related vicissitudes and to their comorbidities. The main purpose of the study was to assess independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality among the elderly with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine Ward. METHODS: Overall, a cohort of 135 patients, 65 years of age and older, with bacteraemia were retrospectively studied. Data related to demographic information, comorbidities, clinical parameters on admission, source and type of infection, microorganism isolated in the blood culture, laboratory data and empirical antibiotic treatment was recorded from each patient. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of these 135 patients, 45.9% were women. The most common infections in this group of patients were urinary tract infections (46.7%). The main microorganisms isolated in the blood cultures were Escherichia coli (14.9%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (12.0%), non-MRSA (11.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (8.0%). The in-hospital mortality was 22.2%. Independent prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality were age ≥ 85 years, chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and cognitive impairment at admission (OR, 2.812 [95% CI, 1.039-7.611; p = 0.042]; OR, 6.179 [95% CI, 1.840-20.748; p = 0.003]; OR, 8.673 [95% CI, 1.557-48.311; p = 0.014] and OR, 3.621 [95% CI, 1.226-10.695; p = 0.020], respectively). By multivariate analysis appropriate antibiotic therapy was not associated with lower odds of mortality. CONCLUSION: Bacteraemia in the elderly has a high mortality rate. There are no set of signs or clinical features that can predict bacteraemia in the elderly. However, older age (≥ 85 years), chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and severe cognitive impairment adversely affects the outcome of elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine ward

42 Negative correlation between PlGF and Endocan-1 in women with preeclampsia

Introduction: Endocan-1 is a soluble proteoglican specifically expressed in endothelial cells, a biomarker/predictor of vascular endothelial related pathologies, as pre-eclampsia (PE). PlGF is an angiogenic factor, and a marker of placental dysfunction, which is down regulated in women with PE. We hypothesized that Endocan-1 and PlGF levels would be negatively correlated in pregnant women with PE. Objectives: To analyse Endocan-1 and PlGF levels in maternal plasma in normotensive and women with PE and test the correlation between the findings in the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Endocan-1 and PlGF levels were measured in maternal plasma from normotensive (n= 67) and PE (n= 50) women using MagPlexTH-C microspheres system. Data was analysed by ANCOVA, adjusted for BMI, gestational age and maternal age. To estimate the difference between groups, mean ratio (MR) and confidence interval (CI) of 95% was calculated. Analysis between Endocan-1 levels and PlGF were made by Pearson correlation. The null hypothesis was rejected when p < 0.05. Results: Higher concentrations of Endocan-1 were found in maternal plasma in PE (MR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.19–1.85,p= 0.001), with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s D = 0.84). When women with superimposed PE and HELLP syndrome were excluded, lower levels of PlGF were found in the PE group (MR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15–0.95 p = 0.041). A strong negative correlation between Endocan-1 e PlGF in the entire group (r=-0.605; p < 0.001); as well as in PE group (r=-0.545; p < 0.001) was observed. Conclusion: Endocan-1 levels are increased in patients with PE and are negatively correlated with PlGF levels. These data could be related to hypoxemia and fetal growth restriction (seen by lower PlGF levels), leading to a systemic response in order to find a volumetric compensation; leading to endothelial lesions (seen as the upregulation of Endocan-1). Thus, it is important to analyse angiogenic and proinflamatory molecules concomitantly in women with PE, in order to better understand the disease pathophysiology. In this case, both molecules are strong potentials as specific PE biomarkers

Is the atherosclerotic phenotype of pre-eclamptic placentas due to altered lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptors?: role of a small-for-gestational-age phenotype

Artherosis of spiral arteries in uteroplacental beds from pre-eclamptic women resemble those of atherosclerosis, characterised by increased plasma lipids and lipoproteins. We hypothesised 1) lipoproteins receptors/transporter in placenta would be up-regulated in pre-eclampsia, associated with increased maternal and fetal lipoprotein concentrations; 2) expression of these would be reduced in pre-eclamptic placentae from women delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Placental biopsies, maternal and umbilical serum samples were taken from 27 normotensive and 24 pre-eclamptic women. Maternal/umbilical cord serum LDL; HDL; total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Placental mRNA expression of lipoprotein receptors/transporters were quantified using qRT-PCR. Protein localisation/expression of LRP-1 in the pre-eclamptic with/without SGA was measured by immunohistochemistry. Placental mRNA expression of all genes except PON-1, MTTP and PDIA2 were observed. No differences for any lipoprotein receptors/transporters were found between groups; however, in the pre-eclamptic group placental LRP-1 expression was lower in SGA delivering mothers (n = 7; P=0.036). LRP-1 protein was localised around fetal vessels and Hofbauer cells. This is the first detailed study of maternal/fetal lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptor mRNA expression in normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. These findings do not support a role of altered lipid metabolism in pre-eclampsia, but may be involved in fetal growth

The trans-Saharan slave trade - clues from interpolation analyses and high-resolution characterization of mitochondrial DNA lineages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A proportion of 1/4 to 1/2 of North African female pool is made of typical sub-Saharan lineages, in higher frequencies as geographic proximity to sub-Saharan Africa increases. The Sahara was a strong geographical barrier against gene flow, at least since 5,000 years ago, when desertification affected a larger region, but the Arab trans-Saharan slave trade could have facilitate enormously this migration of lineages. Till now, the genetic consequences of these forced trans-Saharan movements of people have not been ascertained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The distribution of the main L haplogroups in North Africa clearly reflects the known trans-Saharan slave routes: West is dominated by L1b, L2b, L2c, L2d, L3b and L3d; the Center by L3e and some L3f and L3w; the East by L0a, L3h, L3i, L3x and, in common with the Center, L3f and L3w; while, L2a is almost everywhere. Ages for the haplogroups observed in both sides of the Saharan desert testify the recent origin (holocenic) of these haplogroups in sub-Saharan Africa, claiming a recent introduction in North Africa, further strengthened by the no detection of local expansions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The interpolation analyses and complete sequencing of present mtDNA sub-Saharan lineages observed in North Africa support the genetic impact of recent trans-Saharan migrations, namely the slave trade initiated by the Arab conquest of North Africa in the seventh century. Sub-Saharan people did not leave traces in the North African maternal gene pool for the time of its settlement, some 40,000 years ago.</p

Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Hyptis suaveolens,Hyptis pectinata and Hyptis marrubioides in Caenorhabditiselegans

The increasing trend for the use of natural products as sources of pharmacologically active molecules has changed attitudes in the population. Given the existing demand, a credible scientific analysis and validation of the effect of these natural products is necessary. The genus Hyptis Jacq. (Lamiaceae) has about 300 species with wide distribution, among which Hyptis suaveolens, Hyptis pectinata and Hyptis marrubioides (HS, HP, HM, respectively) are used in folk medicine and are commercialized in street markets for treatment of several diseases. This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective activity, as well as to elucidate some of the cellular mechanisms involved in the pharmacological action of HS/HP/HM plant extracts using Caenorhabditis elegans, as an animal model. For this purpose, we used a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), expressing a human mutant ATXN-3 and a C. elegans model of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17 (FTDP-17), expressing a mutant form of tau protein, and tested ethanolic leaf extracts from HS, HP, and HM. Our data showed that chronic treatment with 1 mg/ mL of HS/HP/HM extracts had a beneficial impact in these diseases since it significantly ameliorated the locomotor defects exhibited by C. elegans. Moreover, with C. elegans model of MJD, the chronic treatment with the Hyptis extracts also increased the animals survival. We observed, in both models, a significant protection against jugloneinduced oxidative damage (by more than 50%), after chronic treatment with these extracts. Using C. elegans reporter strains we also observed a higher induction of gst-4, in HS/HP/HM extract-treated animals upon exposure to oxidative damage. Our findings support an antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of HS, HP e HM, suggesting the activating specific antioxidant enzymes like gst-4.This work was supported by national funds from FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects PTDC/AGR-ALI/105169/2008, PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014, and INTERACT—ISAC project, no. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000017, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (North Regional Operational Program 2014/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The natverse, a versatile toolbox for combining and analysing neuroanatomical data.

To analyse neuron data at scale, neuroscientists expend substantial effort reading documentation, installing dependencies and moving between analysis and visualisation environments. To facilitate this, we have developed a suite of interoperable open-source R packages called the natverse. The natverse allows users to read local and remote data, perform popular analyses including visualisation and clustering and graph-theoretic analysis of neuronal branching. Unlike most tools, the natverse enables comparison across many neurons of morphology and connectivity after imaging or co-registration within a common template space. The natverse also enables transformations between different template spaces and imaging modalities. We demonstrate tools that integrate the vast majority of Drosophila neuroanatomical light microscopy and electron microscopy connectomic datasets. The natverse is an easy-to-use environment for neuroscientists to solve complex, large-scale analysis challenges as well as an open platform to create new code and packages to share with the community