From Imitation to Prediction, Data Compression vs Recurrent Neural Networks for Natural Language Processing

In recent studies [1][13][12] Recurrent Neural Networks were used for generative processes and their surprising performance can be explained by their ability to create good predictions. In addition, data compression is also based on predictions. What the problem comes down to is whether a data compressor could be used to perform as well as recurrent neural networks in natural language processing tasks. If this is possible,then the problem comes down to determining if a compression algorithm is even more intelligent than a neural network in specific tasks related to human language. In our journey we discovered what we think is the fundamental difference between a Data Compression Algorithm and a Recurrent Neural Network

Early Arrival of New World Species Enriching the Biological Assemblage of the Santi Quattro Coronati Complex (Rome, Italy)

This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after the partial closure of a staircase, and from a mortar surface within a former porch in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex in Rome, Italy. The two contexts were in use in the Early Modern Age, when the complex served as a cardinal seat. The element that distinguishes the Santi Quattro Coronati from other contemporaneous contexts is the presence of New World species, until now only hypothesized based on a letter sent by the first resident bishop in Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then cardinal with the titulus of the Santi Quattro Coronati. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima/moschata) were found in the pit, while a pelvis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was found in a former porch. Numerous archaeobotanical remains preserved by mummification, identified mostly as food, and many archaeozoological specimens were found in the pit. Based on the data, it is hypothesized that the pit was used mainly as a deposit for table waste. The results as a whole help towards the investigation of the eating customs and daily habits of a Renaissance high-status clerical community

Osteonecrosis in genetic disorders

The avascular necrosis of bone is characterized by an abnormality of tissue that can occur whenever a disease process causes major cell stress. Some evidence supports a role for genetic factors in some avascular necrosis suggesting that gene mutations could play a role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis. These genetic studies provide hope that tools for identifying high risk patients will be available in the future

TDAH et usage addictif des jeux vidéo chez les enfants

Les symptômes du TDAH et l’addiction aux jeux vidéo semblent partager une relation bidirectionnelle que nous avons voulu explorer davantage en présentant un état des connaissances actuelles de la littérature puis une étude sous forme d’article actuellement soumis. L' étude TDAH et usage addictif des jeux vidéo chez les enfants a pour objectifs de mieux comprendre la relation constatée en clinique et dans la littérature scientifique entre l’usage/addiction aux jeux vidéo et le TDAH chez les enfants de 4 à 12 ans : en comparant les modalités d'utilisation des jeux vidéo (temps de jeu, score de dépendance et utilisation par âge) entre des enfants TDAH et des enfants sans TDAH; en examinant les associations entre l’addiction aux jeux vidéo et les symptômes du TDAH; en explorant l’impact du genre dans l'utilisation des jeux vidéo et le type de jeux vidéo joués par les enfants. L’étude comprend 280 enfants, 135 d’un groupe clinique et 145 d’un groupe communautaire.L’étude est transversale, multicentrique (CHU Sainte-Justine et CIUSSS NIM), exploratoire, descriptive et ouverte. La méthodologie consiste en la passation de 3 questionnaires remplis par l’un des parents en une fois : questionnaire socio-démographique avec des spécifications concernant l’usage des jeux vidéo et des questions sur l’usage des parents et leur perception; Strenghs and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); et le questionnaire sur l’attention et l’ordinateur (QUATTORD). Notre étude souligne la vulnérabilité des enfants TDAH pour l’usage excessif des jeux vidéo et les conséquences sur leur symptomatologie. Associées à ces résultats, nous avons procédé à des analyses complémentaires sur les caractéristiques de la population, et l’usage et perception des jeux vidéo chez les parents. Ces données semblent corroborer l’idée d’une relation multifactorielle à l’origine des comportements d’addiction aux jeux vidéo.ADHD symptoms and video game addiction seem to share a two-way relationship that we intended to explore further by describing the current state of knowledge of the literature and conducting a study presented in the form of a currently submitted article. The objectives of this project are to better understand the relationship between video game use / addiction and ADHD in children aged 4 to 12: by comparing the methods of using video games (playtime, dependence score and use by age) between ADHD children and children without ADHD; examining the associations between video game addiction and ADHD symptoms; exploring the impact of gender in the use of video games and the type of video games played by children. The study is transversal, multicentric (CHU Sainte-Justine and CIUSSS NIM), exploratory, descriptive and open. The methodology consists of taking 3 questionnaires completed by one of the parents at once: socio-demographic questionnaire with specifications concerning the use of video games and questions on the use of parents and their perception; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); and the Attention and Computer Questionnaire (QUATTORD). Our study highlights the vulnerability of ADHD children to excessive use of video games and the consequences on their symptoms. Associated with these results, we carried out additional analyzes on the characteristics of the population, and the use and perception of video games among parents. Our data seem to support the idea of a multifactorial relationship at the root of video game addiction behaviors

Genetic aspects of Paget’s disease of bone

Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) is a metabolic bone disease characterized by excessive bone resorption and formation due to increased osteoclasts activity. PDB mostly runs asymptomatically, although increased bone turnover can be present and in approximately 30% of patients bone abnormalities, such as bone pain and deformities, pathological fractures and deafness may occur. The existence of familial aggregation of PDB has been reported in numerous papers, describing the occurrence of disease in successive generations. It has been clearly established that PDB is genetically heterogeneous with several loci able to confer an increased susceptibility to develop this bone metabolic disorder. In particular, the PDB3 locus in chromosome 5q35-qter hosts the sequestosome1/ p62 (SQSTM1/p62) gene whose mutations account for most of the sporadic and familial forms of PDB reported in literature. SQSTM1/p62 gene encodes the SQSTM1/p62 protein, component of the NF-kB signaling pathway and mediating intracellular signaling from IL-1/TNF toward NF-kB, crucial for osteoclast differentiation and activity. A functional study suggests that the S Q S T M 1 mutation may predispose to PDB affecting the interaction between SQSTM1/p62 protein and a hitherto unidentified protein(s) modulating the bone turnover, but the underlying molecular mechanism need to be elucidated. However, independently from the knowledge of the functional aspects of S Q S T M 1 / p 6 2 mutation, the opportunity to perform germline mutational analysis in PDB patients may be helpful in detecting new genetic carriers in potentially familial forms of PDB and in studying the co-segregation of such DNA variants with the PDB phenotype. All together these studies could open new possibilities in the prevention and therapy of PDB and of other metabolic bone disorder

Nitrate sensing by the maize root apex transition zone: A merged transcriptomic and proteomic survey

Nitrate is an essential nutrient for plants, and crops depend on its availability for growth and development, but its presence in agricultural soils is far from stable. In order to overcome nitrate fluctuations in soil, plants have developed adaptive mechanisms allowing them to grow despite changes in external nitrate availability. Nitrate can act as both nutrient and signal, regulating global gene expression in plants, and the root tip has been proposed as the sensory organ. A set of genome-wide studies has demonstrated several nitrate-regulated genes in the roots of many plants, although only a few studies have been carried out on distinct root zones. To unravel new details of the transcriptomic and proteomic responses to nitrate availability in a major food crop, a double untargeted approach was conducted on a transition zone-enriched root portion of maize seedlings subjected to differing nitrate supplies. The results highlighted a complex transcriptomic and proteomic reprogramming that occurs in response to nitrate, emphasizing the role of this root zone in sensing and transducing nitrate signal. Our findings indicated a relationship of nitrate with biosynthesis and signalling of several phytohormones, such as auxin, strigolactones, and brassinosteroids. Moreover, the already hypothesized involvement of nitric oxide in the early response to nitrate was confirmed with the use of nitric oxide inhibitors. Our results also suggested that cytoskeleton activation and cell wall modification occurred in response to nitrate provision in the transition zone

Sexual Dimorphisms of Adrenal Steroids, Sex Hormones, and Immunological Biomarkers and Possible Risk Factors for Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Innate immunity and immunological biomarkers are believed to be interrelated with sex hormones and other neuroendocrine factors. Sexual dimorphism mechanisms may be operating in certain rheumatic and inflammatory diseases which occur more frequently in women than men, as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Less data have been available on altered interrelations of the combined neuroendocrine and immune (NEI) systems as risk factors for development of certain diseases. In this study, serological interrelations of NEI biomarkers are analyzed before symptomatic onset of RA (pre-RA) versus control (CN) subjects, stratified by sex. Sexual dimorphism was found in serum levels of acute serum amyloid A (ASAA), soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Rα), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1). Multiple steroidal and hormonal (neuroendocrine) factors also showed highly (p<0.001) significant sexual dimorphism in their assayed values, but less for cortisol (p=0.012), and not for 17-hydroxyprogesterone (p=0.176). After stratification by sex and risk of developing RA, differential NEI correlational patterns were observed in the interplay of the NEI systems between the pre-RA and CN groups, which deserve further investigation

Pharmacogenetics of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw.

An undesirable effect associated with bisphosphonates is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Case reports discussed ONJ development in patients with multiple myeloma or metastatic cancers receiving bisphosphonates as palliation for malignant bone disease. No causative relationship has been unequivocally demonstrated between ONJ and bisphosphonate therapy. To determine if a higher sensitivity to bisphosphonates could in part explain the development of ONJ, the segregation of A/C rs2297480 polymorphism of gene encoding for the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FDPS) with ONJ was evaluated in a cohort of 68 Caucasian patients treated with zoledronic acid for multiple myeloma and metastatic mammary and prostate cancer. The AA and CC genotypes were highly differently distributed among ONJ patients and controls, matched for sex and type of malignant disease, with a positive correlation between AA carrier status and occurrence of ONJ (p=0.03) after 18-24 months of treatment. Because FDPS gene variants have been associated with bone morbidity, these pharmacogenetic association likely reflect the interaction of amino-bisphosphonates with germline sensitivity to drug actions, and might identify patients at highest risk to develop ONJ