Identification of Fertile Translations in Medical Comparable Corpora: a Morpho-Compositional Approach

This paper defines a method for lexicon in the biomedical domain from comparable corpora. The method is based on compositional translation and exploits morpheme-level translation equivalences. It can generate translations for a large variety of morphologically constructed words and can also generate 'fertile' translations. We show that fertile translations increase the overall quality of the extracted lexicon for English to French translation

What is the overlap between HIV and shigellosis epidemics in England: further evidence of MSM transmission?

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that sexual transmission between men has replaced foreign travel as the predominant mode of Shigella transmission in England. However, sexuality and HIV status are not routinely recorded for laboratory-reported Shigella, and the role of HIV in the Shigella epidemic is not well understood. METHODS: The Modular Open Laboratory Information System containing all Shigella cases reported to Public Health England (PHE) and the PHE HIV and AIDS Reporting System holding all adults living with diagnosed HIV in England were matched using a combination of Soundex code, date of birth and gender. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2015, 88 664 patients were living with HIV, and 10 269 Shigella cases were reported in England; 9% (873/10 269) of Shigella cases were diagnosed with HIV, of which 93% (815/873) were in men. Shigella cases without reported travel history were more likely to be living with HIV than those who had travelled (14% (751/5427) vs 3% (134/4854); p<0.01). From 2004 to 2015, the incidence of Shigella in men with HIV rose from 47/100 000 to 226/100 000 (p<0.01) peaking in 2014 at 265/100 000, but remained low in women throughout the study period (0-24/100 000). Among Shigella cases without travel and with HIV, 91% (657/720) were men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV preceded Shigella diagnosis in 86% (610/720), and 65% (237/362) had an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/mL). DISCUSSION: We observed a sustained increase in the national rate of shigellosis in MSM with HIV, who may experience more serious clinical disease. Sexual history, HIV status and STI risk might require sensitive investigation in men presenting with gastroenteritis

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Virological failure and development of new resistance mutations according to CD4 count at combination antiretroviral therapy initiation

Objectives: No randomized controlled trials have yet reported an individual patient benefit of initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) at CD4 counts > 350 cells/μL. It is hypothesized that earlier initiation of cART in asymptomatic and otherwise healthy individuals may lead to poorer adherence and subsequently higher rates of resistance development. Methods: In a large cohort of HIV-positive individuals, we investigated the emergence of new resistance mutations upon virological treatment failure according to the CD4 count at the initiation of cART. Results: Of 7918 included individuals, 6514 (82.3%), 996 (12.6%) and 408 (5.2%) started cART with a CD4 count ≤ 350, 351-499 and ≥ 500 cells/μL, respectively. Virological rebound occurred while on cART in 488 (7.5%), 46 (4.6%) and 30 (7.4%) with a baseline CD4 count ≤ 350, 351-499 and ≥ 500 cells/μL, respectively. Only four (13.0%) individuals with a baseline CD4 count > 350 cells/μL in receipt of a resistance test at viral load rebound were found to have developed new resistance mutations. This compared to 107 (41.2%) of those with virological failure who had initiated cART with a CD4 count < 350 cells/μL. Conclusions: We found no evidence of increased rates of resistance development when cART was initiated at CD4 counts above 350 cells/μL. HIV Medicin

Quels moyens financiers pour le bloc communal ?

International audienceSuite aux actes successifs de décentralisation, depuis les années 1980, les collectivités en général, les communes et leurs intercommunalités à fiscalité propre en particulier, ont vu leurs compétences s’élargir de façon notoire, au point de devenir des acteurs majeurs dans l’offre d’équipements et de services publics locaux. Intervenant dans des domaines aussi variés que l’aménagement de l’espace, la conduite des politiques de l’habitat, le développement économique, la préservation de l’environnement, ainsi que pour la fourniture des services de proximité, leur « pouvoir d’agir » revêt une grande importance.Un fonctionnement décentralisé suppose que toutes ces entités locales disposent de moyens fiscaux et financiers suffisants pour assumer les missions qui leur sont dévolues. Il suppose également que leurs représentants puissent procéder à des arbitrages, moduler les dépenses à effectuer, les recettes à percevoir de façon à les rendre cohérentes avec les politiques qu’ils adoptent pour leur territoire. Il en va de leur libre administration ainsi que de leur autonomie financière et de gestion.Ces principes sont posés dans la Constitution elle-même. Les capacités d’action des décideurs locaux peuvent toutefois être contrariées. Tout d’abord, elles ne s’avèrent pas toujours suffisantes pour s’adapter à l’hétérogénéité des situations territoriales, aux multiples priorités ou choix locaux. L’unité n’est pas toujours aisée à conjuguer avec la diversité… Surtout quand celle-ci se manifeste par une insuffisance ou une érosion des ressources, suite au départ d’entreprises ou à un moindre dynamisme du développement local

Finances publiques locales et enjeux territoriaux

International audienceLocal Public Finance and Territorial IssuesWithin the local public finances, the budgets of the municipalities and their associations occupy the first place. In fact the role and the competencies of the public inter-municipality cooperation establishments (EPCI) have been reinforced with successive reforms. The financial resources for these EPCI (dynamic taxes, a specific funding allocation) have allowed the growth of their expenditures, their interventions for the provision of local public services according to the needs of citizens and territories.When the financial model of these local authorities is rather strong, it seems to be weakening. Due to (national/supranational) constraints that are far from local concern, local governments are involved in the restoration of public accounts. The decrease of State grants, the limits for their expenditures evolution constrained their operational capacity. Local taxes become less and less local ; local fiscal autonomy decreases. That trend (based on a vertical logic) raises challenges about coherence in public policies, and also about finances of decentralized governments, according to territorial issues.Classification JEL : H70, H71, H72, H74.Au sein des finances publiques locales, les budgets des communes et de leurs groupements à fiscalité propre occupent la première place. Cette affirmation progressive est principalement imputable à celle des intercommunalités, dont le rôle et les compétences ont été confortés par des vagues successives de réformes. Les moyens dont ont été dotées ces intercommunalités (une fiscalité dynamique, une dotation spécifique) ont contribué à l'expansion de leurs dépenses, à leurs interventions en matière de fourniture de services publics locaux, au plus près des enjeux territoriaux.Alors que le modèle financier du bloc local semblait jusque-là robuste, les ingrédients qui l'ont soutenu sont en voie d'effritement. Au nom de contraintes éloignées des préoccupations locales, les communes et leurs groupements sont associés au redressement des comptes publics. La baisse – brutale – des dotations étatiques et l'encadrement de l'évolution de la dépense locale affectent leurs capacités d'intervention. La fiscalité dont disposent ces collectivités devient de moins en moins locale et leur autonomie en la matière se restreint. Ce mouvement d'éloignement, fondé sur une logique verticale de pouvoir, interpelle non seulement quant à la cohérence des politiques publiques, mais aussi du point de vue de la permanence des entités décentralisées et de celle de leurs réalités financières.Classification JEL : H70, H71, H72, H74

Extraction of domain-specific bilingual lexicon from comparable corpora: compositional translation

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Identification of Fertile Translations in Medical Comparable Corpora: a Morpho-Compositional Approach

International audienceThis paper defines a method for lexicon in the biomedical domain from comparable corpora. The method is based on compositional translation and exploits morpheme-level translation equivalences. It can generate translations for a large variety of morphologically constructed words and can also generate 'fertile' translations. We show that fertile translations increase the overall quality of the extracted lexicon for English to French translation

Deep Eddy Kinetic Energy in the Tropical Pacific From Lagrangian Floats

At the ocean surface, satellite observations have shown evidence of a large spectrum of waves at low latitudes. However, very little is known about the existence and properties of the deep variability. Most of the subsurface observations rely on localized measurements, which do not allow for a global estimation of this variability. In this study, we use velocity estimates, provided by Argo float drifts at 1,000 m, to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of the deep eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and its spectral signature with an unprecedented time and space coverage. In the tropical Pacific, high EKE is found along the equator, at the western boundary and poleward of 7°N. EKE meridional distribution is also found to vary at the scale of the meridionally alternating mean zonal jets: it is higher inside eastward currents. We develop an original statistical scale analysis to determine the temporal and spatial scale dependence of this deep EKE footprint. We show the presence of periodic features whose characteristics are compatible with theoretical equatorial waves dispersion relations. Annual and semiannual Rossby waves are observed at the equator, as well as ∼30‐day Yanai waves, consistent with surface tropical instability waves. The location and intensification of these waves match the downward energy propagation predicted by ray tracing linear theory. Short‐scale variability (with ∼70‐day periods and 500‐km wavelength) has also been detected poleward of 7°N. The generation mechanisms of this variability are discussed, as well as its potential importance for the mean circulation. Plain Language Summary Energy in the deep ocean is important as it is a potential driver of the deep circulation, which has important climate feedbacks. Because of its singular dynamics, the equatorial ocean is a preferential region of transfer of energy from the surface to the interior of the ocean. Very little is known, however, about the energy content in the deep equatorial oceans. In this study, we use the large number of floats, called Argo floats, drifting at 1,000‐m depth in the ocean to describe the deep kinetic energy in equatorial regions. We show that various energetic waves are present at 1,000 m in the tropical Pacific, and we discuss their potential generation mechanisms as well as their implications for the circulation. These new observations may help to validate some theories or numerical simulations of the deep equatorial and tropical circulation