22 research outputs found
A vector representation of Fluid Construction Grammar using Holographic Reduced Representations
Trabajo presentado en la EAPCogSci 2015, EuroAsianPacific Joint Conference on Cognitive Science (4th European Conference on Cognitive Science y 11th International Conference on Cognitive Science), celebrada en TurĂn del 25 al 27 de septiembre de 2015.The question of how symbol systems can be instantiated in
neural network-like computation is still open. Many technical
challenges remain and most proposals do not scale up to realistic examples of symbol processing, for example, language un-
derstanding or language production. Here we use a top-down
approach. We start from Fluid Construction Grammar, a well-
worked out framework for language processing that is compatible with recent insights into Construction Grammar and inves-
tigate how we could build a neural compiler that automatically
translates grammatical constructions and grammatical processing into neural computations. We proceed in two steps. FCG is
translated from symbolic processing to numeric processing using a vector symbolic architecture, and this numeric processing
is then translated into neural network computation. Our experiments are still in an early stage but already show promise.Research reported in this paper was funded by the Marie
Curie ESSENCE ITN and carried out at the AI lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC), Barcelona, financed by the FET OPEN Insight Project and the Marie Curie Integration Grant EVOLAN.Peer reviewe
Space maze : experience-driven game camera control
Virtual camera control is a key factor in game experience be-
cause the camera dictates how players see the game world.
As the complexity and unpredictability of games increases,
automatic camera control becomes a fundamental require-
ment. In this paper, we present a game technology demon-
strator that showcases automatic camera control capable of
creating dissimilar experiences within a 3D prey/predator
game. An adaptation algorithm informed by predictors of
subjective experiences adjusts the behavior of the camera to
influence the experience of the player throughout the game.This research was supported, in part, by the ILearnRW (project no: 318803)
and the C2Learn (project no. 318480) FP7 ICT EU projects.peer-reviewe
Extended defects in natural diamonds: Atomic Force Microscopy investigation
Surfaces of natural diamonds etched in high-pressure experiments in H2O, CO2
and H2O-NaCl fluids were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy. Partial
dissolution of the crystals produced several types of surface features
including the well-known trigons and hillocks and revealed several new types of
defects. Besides well-known trigons and dissolution hillocks several new types
of defects are observed. The most remarkable ones are assigned to anelastic
twins of several types. The observation of abundant microtwins, ordering of
hillocks and presence of defects presumably related to knots of branched
dislocations suggests importance of post-growth deformation events on formation
of diamond microstructure. This work confirms previous reports of ordering of
extended defects in some deformed diamonds. In addition, the current work shows
that natural diamonds deform not only by dislocation mechanism and slip, but
also but mechanical twinning. The dominant mechanism should depend on
pressure-temperature-stress conditions during diamond transport from the
formation domain to the Earth surface.Comment: Submitted to special issue (1st European Mineralogical congress,
Frankfurt, Germany, September 2012) of European Journal of Mineralogy. 21
page, 9 figure
Expression of lymphoid structure-associated cytokine/chemokine gene transcripts in tumor and protein in serum are prognostic of melanoma patient outcomes
BackgroundProinflammatory chemokines/cytokines support development and maturation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) within the tumor microenvironment (TME). In the current study, we sought to investigate the prognostic value of TLS-associated chemokines/cytokines (TLS-kines) expression levels in melanoma patients by performing serum protein and tissue transcriptomic analyses, and to then correlate these data with patients clinicopathological and TME characteristics.MethodsLevels of TLS-kines in patientsâ sera were quantitated using a custom Luminex Multiplex Assay. The Cancer Genomic Atlas melanoma cohort (TCGA-SKCM) and a Moffitt Melanoma cohort were used for tissue transcriptomic analyses. Associations between target analytes and survival outcomes, clinicopathological variables, and correlations between TLS-kines were statistically analyzed.ResultsSerum of 95 patients with melanoma were evaluated; 48 (50%) female, median age of 63, IQR 51-70 years. Serum levels of APRIL/TNFSF13 were positively correlated with levels of both CXCL10 and CXCL13. In multivariate analyses, high levels of serum APRIL/TNFSF13 were associated with improved event-free survival after adjusting for age and stage (HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.95; p = 0.03). High expression of APRIL/TNFSF13 tumor transcripts was significantly associated with improved OS in TCGA-SKCM (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.93; p = 0.01) and in Moffitt Melanoma patients (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.32-0.82; p = 0.006). Further incorporation of CXCL13 and CXCL10 tumor transcript levels in a 3-gene index revealed that high APRIL/CXCL10/CXCL13 expression was associated with improved OS in the TCGA SKCM cohort (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.94; p = 0.035). Melanoma differentially expressed genes positively associated with high APRIL/CXCL10/CXCL13 tumor expression were linked to tumor infiltration by a diverse array of proinflammatory immune cell types.ConclusionSerum protein and tumor transcript levels of APRIL/TNFSF13 are associated with improved survival outcomes. Patients exhibiting high coordinate expression of APRIL/CXCL10/CXCL13 transcripts in their tumors displayed superior OS. Further investigation of TLS-kine expression profiles related to clinical outcomes in larger cohort studies is warranted
âNever waste a crisisâ: a commentary on the COVIDâ19 pandemic as a driver for innovation in maternity care
Abstract unavailable
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands maternity care responses to COVID-19: A comparative study
BackgroundThe national health care response to coronavirus (COVID-19) has varied between countries. The United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) have comparable maternity and neonatal care systems, and experienced similar numbers of COVID-19 infections, but had different organisational responses to the pandemic. Understanding why and how similarities and differences occurred in these two contexts could inform optimal care in normal circumstances, and during future crises.AimTo compare the UK and Dutch COVID-19 maternity and neonatal care responses in three key domains: choice of birthplace, companionship, and families in vulnerable situations.MethodA multi-method study, including documentary analysis of national organisation policy and guidance on COVID-19, and interviews with national and regional stakeholders.FindingsBoth countries had an infection control focus, with less emphasis on the impact of restrictions, especially for families in vulnerable situations. Differences included care providersâ fear of contracting COVID-19; the extent to which community- and personalised care was embedded in the care system before the pandemic; and how far multidisciplinary collaboration and service-user involvement were prioritised.ConclusionWe recommend that countries should 1) make a systematic plan for crisis decision-making before a serious event occurs, and that this must include authentic service-user involvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and protection of staff wellbeing 2) integrate womenâs and familiesâ values into the maternity and neonatal care system, ensuring equitable inclusion of the most vulnerable and 3) strengthen community provision to ensure system wide resilience to future shocks from pandemics, or other unexpected large-scale events
âNever waste a crisisâ: a commentary on the COVIDâ19 pandemic as a driver for innovation in maternity care
Abstract unavailable