Sistema inteligente conversacional aplicado a la gobernanza local: Automatización de asistencia pública

Currently, technology has become an essential tool to improve people's quality of life and facilitate the development of cities and communities. In this context, intelligent conversational systems, also known as chatbots, have acquired great importance in multiple fields of innovative "smart cities". Although simple in appearance, a messaging application with the ability to sustain a large number of conversations with its users, which can maintain a flow of information greater than any other tool used so far, is of immense interest to public and private entities. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, recurrent neural networks, and machine learning, it can analyze enormous volumes of data, understand intentions and behaviors to offer accurate answers to any user by studying their context. This article will describe the work done to apply intelligent systems technology in creating a virtual assistant aimed at the local Employment Office of Caleta Olivia. A study is conducted on natural language processing concepts, language model analysis, and neural networks for the creation of a chatbot capable of resolving queries and providing information to any citizen who wishes to interact with this employment office. All of this is done with the use of natural language that is simple, easy to understand, personalized, and accessible. The chatbot is also competent in detecting unclear intentions and has a high level of expansion with self-learning.En la actualidad, la tecnología se ha convertido en una herramienta imprescindible para mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas y facilitar el desarrollo de las ciudades y comunidades. En este contexto, los sistemas inteligentes conversacionales, también conocidos como chatbots, han adquirido una gran importancia en múltiples campos de las novedosas “ciudades inteligentes”. Aunque simple en apariencia, una aplicación de mensajería con la capacidad de sostener un gran número de conversaciones con sus usuarios, que puede mantener un flujo de información mayor que cualquier otra herramienta utilizada hasta el momento, es de inmenso interés para entidades públicas y privadas. Utilizando tecnologías de Inteligencia Artificial (IA), redes neuronales recurrentes y aprendizaje de máquina, puede analizar enormes volúmenes de datos, comprender intenciones y comportamientos para ofrecer las respuestas correctas a cualquier usuario estudiando su contexto. En el presente artículo se describe el trabajo realizado para aplicar la tecnología de los sistemas inteligentes en la creación de un asistente virtual orientado a la Oficina de Empleo local de Caleta Olivia. Se realiza un estudio de los conceptos de procesamiento de lenguaje natural, análisis de modelos de lenguaje y de redes neuronales, para la creación del chatbot capaz de resolver consultas y entregar la información solicitada a cualquier posible ciudadano que desee interactuar con esta oficina de empleo. Todo esto teniendo en cuenta el uso de un lenguaje natural, sencillo y fácil de comprender, personalizado y accesible, competente en la detección de intenciones poco claras y un alto nivel de expansión con auto aprendizaje

Sistemas conversacionales aplicados a la gobernanza Asistencia automatizada al público

The term "smart cities" is one of today's most innovative concepts, a goal that many countries aspire to achieve and implement. One aspect of these smart cities is the intercommunication between various public and private sector actors; the ideal tool to realize this union is a chatbot, capable of intermediating both users. A chatbot is, quite simply, a messaging application that can hold conversations with its users, either by providing them with pre-established responses or intelligently generated by understanding the user's intent and data. This type of conversational system uses different artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies and can capture and analyze huge volumes of relevant customer data, understand the behavior and intent of the conversation, and provide answers to questions by adjusting them to different contexts. In this work, an open-source technology (Rasa) has been used, and the study of natural language processing concepts and neural network model analysis implemented in Rasa has been carried out to develop the virtual assistant (chatbot). This chatbot is oriented to customer service and can answer queries and deliver forms to those interested in the courses and jobs available at the local employment office in Caleta Olivia using natural language that is pleasant and easy to follow, also taking into account possible misrecognition of intentions and being able to learn from them.El término de “ciudades inteligentes” es uno de los conceptos más innovadores de la actualidad, un objetivo que muchos países aspiran conseguir e implementar. Un aspecto de estas ciudades inteligentes es la intercomunicación entre varios actores del sector público y privado; la herramienta ideal para realizar esta unión es un chatbot, capaz de intermediar ambos usuarios. Un chatbot es, simplemente, una aplicación de mensajería que es capaz de mantener conversaciones con sus usuarios, bien ofreciéndoles respuestas preestablecidas o generadas inteligentemente entendiendo la intención y los datos del usuario. Este tipo de sistema conversacional utiliza distintas tecnologías de inteligencia artificial y aprendizaje de máquina, y es capaz de captar y analizar volúmenes enormes de datos relevantes de clientes, entender el comportamiento y la intención de la conversación y ofrecer respuestas a las preguntas ajustándolas a diferentes contextos. En el presente trabajo se ha utilizado una tecnología de código abierto (Rasa), y se ha realizado el estudio de conceptos de procesamiento de lenguaje natural y análisis de modelos de redes neuronales implementados en Rasa, para poder desarrollar el asistente virtual (chatbot). Este chatbot está orientado a la atención al público que es capaz de responder consultas y entregar formularios a los interesados en los cursos y trabajos disponibles de la Oficina de Empleo local en Caleta Olivia utilizando lenguaje natural ameno y sencillo de seguir, también tomando en cuenta posibles reconocimientos erróneos de intenciones y pudiendo aprender de ellos

Heat Shock Protein-90 Inhibitors Enhance Antigen Expression on Melanomas and Increase T Cell Recognition of Tumor Cells

In an effort to enhance antigen-specific T cell recognition of cancer cells, we have examined numerous modulators of antigen-expression. In this report we demonstrate that twelve different Hsp90 inhibitors (iHsp90) share the ability to increase the expression of differentiation antigens and MHC Class I antigens. These iHsp90 are active in several molecular and cellular assays on a series of tumor cell lines, including eleven human melanomas, a murine B16 melanoma, and two human glioma-derived cell lines. Intra-cytoplasmic antibody staining showed that all of the tested iHsp90 increased expression of the melanocyte differentiation antigens Melan-A/MART-1, gp100, and TRP-2, as well as MHC Class I. The gliomas showed enhanced gp100 and MHC staining. Quantitative analysis of mRNA levels showed a parallel increase in message transcription, and a reporter assay shows induction of promoter activity for Melan-A/MART-1 gene. In addition, iHsp90 increased recognition of tumor cells by T cells specific for Melan-A/MART-1. In contrast to direct Hsp90 client proteins, the increased levels of full-length differentiation antigens that result from iHsp90 treatment are most likely the result of transcriptional activation of their encoding genes. In combination, these results suggest that iHsp90 improve recognition of tumor cells by T cells specific for a melanoma-associated antigen as a result of increasing the expressed intracellular antigen pool available for processing and presentation by MHC Class I, along with increased levels of MHC Class I itself. As these Hsp90 inhibitors do not interfere with T cell function, they could have potential for use in immunotherapy of cancer

Impairment of recent thymic emigrants in HCV infection.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) often has a more favorable course in younger patients. Considering the involution of the thymic function with age, we investigated the output of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) in HCV patients. To evaluate RTE, we used a competitive quantitative PCR in order to determine the percentages of cells with cj-T cell receptor excision circles (TREC). This study was performed in 14 HCV patients at diagnosis and before any anti-HCV treatment. The results obtained in this group were compared to those obtained in a group of age-matched controls. We found that in the 14 HCV patients naive for anti-HCV treatment the mean percentage of cj-TREC was 3%. We could not detect a correlation between the percentages of cj-TREC and age or patients' viremia. In contrast, in the 26 age-matched controls mean percentage of cj-TREC was 5.6% (P=0.01). Our study describes a novel immune defect in HCV patients. Additional studies are needed to get further insight in the possible role of TREC defect in the pathogenesis and prognosis of the disease

Impact of neuropeptide substance P an inflammatory compound on arachidonic acid compound generation

There is much evidence that neuropeptide substance P is involved in neurogenic inflammation and is an important neurotransmitter and neurmodulator compound. In addition, substance P plays an important role in inflammation and immunity. Macrophages can be activated by substance P which provokes the release of inflammatory compounds such as interleukins, chemokines and growth factors. Substance P is involved in the mechanism of pain through the trigeminal nerve which runs through the head, temporal and sinus cavity. Substance P also activates mast cells to release inflammatory mediators such as arachindonic acid compound, cytokines/chemokines and histamine. The release of these chemical mediators is crucial for inflammatory response. Among these mediators there are prostoglandins and leukotrines. Here we review the impact of substance P on inflammatory compounds

The ancient olive trees (Olea europaea L.) of the Maltese Islands : a rich and unexplored patrimony to enhance oliviculture

A prospecting campaign in the Maltese Islands has ensured the survival of several ancient olive trees (Olea europaea L.), genetically distant from known cultivars. Most of these plants were abandoned or partially cultivated. A two-year evaluation of fruit characteristics and compositions was performed on samples collected from the main representatives of these indigenous genotypes. Analyses were carried out using Gas Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Near Infrared Spectrometry. Among the fruit samples, a wide range of variations was observed. Some of the genotypes showed fruit traits suitable for table olive production. This is the case of samples with a pulp/pit ratio higher than four, such as 1Wardija, 1Caritas, 1Plattini, 1Bingemma Malta and 3Loretu, whilst 1Bidni, 1Mellieha, 2Qnotta, 3Loretu, 1Bingemma Malta and 1Caritas were suitable for dual purpose. The total phenol content ranged from 6.3 (1Wardija) to 117.9 (2Mtarfa) g/kg of fresh pulp. The average percentage of MUFA was quite low for most of the varieties. These genotypes, which presumably originated in the Maltese Islands and are well adapted to the local pedo-climatic conditions, are being propagated for the following evaluation of their bio-agronomical performance (production, suitability to intensive cultivation, environmental sustainability, product quality, etc.). The purpose is to select, among these local genotypes, the most outstanding varieties, in terms of phenolic and FA profile and agronomical potential, to spread into cultivation, thereby contributing to an increase in the quality of the local table and olive oil production, strongly linked to the territory.peer-reviewe