Challenges in Representation Learning: A report on three machine learning contests

The ICML 2013 Workshop on Challenges in Representation Learning focused on three challenges: the black box learning challenge, the facial expression recognition challenge, and the multimodal learning challenge. We describe the datasets created for these challenges and summarize the results of the competitions. We provide suggestions for organizers of future challenges and some comments on what kind of knowledge can be gained from machine learning competitions.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

HASKER: An efficient algorithm for string kernels. Application to polarity classification in various languages

String kernels have successfully been used for various NLP tasks, ranging from text categorization by topic to native language identification. In this paper, we present a simple and efficient algorithm for computing various spectrum string kernels. When comparing two strings, we store the p-grams in the first string into a hash table, and then we apply a hash table lookup for the p-grams that occur in the second string. In terms of time, we show that our algorithm can outperform a state-of-the-art tool for computing string similarity. In terms of accuracy, we show that our approach can reach state-of-the-art performance for polarity classification in various languages. Our efficient implementation is provided online for free at http://string-kernels.herokuapp.com

Biofilm Inhibition: Compounds with Antibacterial Effects

Biofilms can form on living or inert surfaces and prevail in natural, industrial, and hospital environments. They are made of bacteria organized in a coordinated functional community. Biofilms do not respond to antibiotic treatment due to multiple mechanisms of tolerance and resistance. If bacteria are coordinated in a biofilm form, they are significantly less susceptible to antibiotics, thus making the therapeutic approach difficult. The possibility of using drugs aimed at inhibiting the formation of biofilms in combination with current antibiotics is a therapeutic approach with a major potential for this type of persistent bacterial infection. This bibliographic study aims to present the main compounds that act by inhibiting or destroying the bacterial biofilm

Standard or individualized quality of life for larynx cancer patients?

Locally advanced larynx cancer benefits from curative surgery therapy. Clinical trials have been proposed for assessing the quality of life for patients with larynx malignant neoplasia who underwent radical surgery. The removal of the “voice box” is known to have great impact on the social reintegration of these patients as well as psychological distress. The presence of tracheostomy and voice impairment are two of the major issues that need to be thought of by patients that will have a total laryngectomy. The quality of life is a multi-dimensional subjective and personal concept which includes normal physical activity, looks, psychological status, somatic symptoms and, non the less, sexual activity. Cancer free survival intervals for patients with larynx cancer must be evaluated physical and psychological modifications with particular considerations to stress, anxiety and depression related symptoms and to functional rehabilitation adaptation regarding swallowing and speech. Oncology surgeons must consider that QoL is impaired in all patients with larynx cancer that benefit from total laryngectomy. However, there is evidence presented below that the difference in QoL parameters is small when comparing radical surgery, total laryngectomy, and larynx conservation by radio and chemotherapy

Nanocrystalline graphite thin layers for low-strain, high-sensitivity piezoresistive sensing

Bulk nanocrystalline graphite has been investigated as a possible candidate for piezoresistive sensors. The thin films were grown using capacitively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and a technological workflow for the transfer of the active material onto flexible substrates was established in order to use the material as a piezoresitive element. Preliminary electrical measurements under mechanical strain were performed in order to test the piezoresistive response of the material and promising GF values of 50 − 250 at 1% strain were obtained

Quality of Life in Patients with Surgically Removed Skin Tumors

Background and Objectives: Skin cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies. The main goal of the therapeutic management is total excision with the prevention of recurrence and metastasis. The quality of life of the patients with skin cancer is affected by the morbidity risk, surgery, and cosmetic or functional aspects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with skin cancer prior to and post surgical intervention. Material and methods: We performed a prospective study on 247 patients with skin tumors. Quality of life was evaluated through an initial questionnaire that was given to all consenting patients. This was used to determine patients’ mobility, selfcare, normal activities, pain, and despair, using a five-point Likert scale. The general autoperceived health state was also recorded using a 100-point scale. The study included the responses of all patients at hospital admission, after one month of surgery, and after one year of surgery. Results: In patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the general health state indicator statistically significantly decreased one month after surgery and increased at one-year follow-up. In malignant melanoma (MM) patients, mobility, selfcare, normal activities, and discomfort presented a decrease in values one year after surgery, compared to the values registered at hospital admission. In patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), all indicators of quality of life presented an impaired value one year after surgery, after a decreasing trend. The general health state indicator statistically significantly increased one month after surgery and after one year. Conclusions: Surgery is one of the main steps in treating skin cancer. It has a great impact on patients’ quality of life because of pain andthe effect on mobility and normal activities. Skin cancers influence the quality of life of patients both psychologicallyand physically

A SILENT MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN A DIABETIC PATIENT AFTER PARTIAL FOOT AMPUTATION: CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The diabetic foot syndrome is the most common cause of diabetic patients hospitalization, being a challenging complication of diabetes. This is a case report of a diabetic patient who presented a silent myocardial infarction after partial foot amputation. The patient presented normal troponin at admission, but after 21 days of hospitalization he acused a very slight pain in the chest and breathing difficulty. The troponin was 682 ng/l. He was transfered immediately in the intensive care unit for specific treatment. The evolution of the surgical intervention was favourable even under the poor general status. The patient fully recovered after 10 days and left the cardiology department in a good clinical condition. A silent myocardial infarction seems to occur with increased frequency in patients with diabetes, due to the cardiac autonomic dysfunction. It is highly important a quick diagnosis and a good management of the patient