The Use of Latent Semantic Indexing to Mitigate OCR Effects of Related Document Images

Due to both the widespread and multipurpose use of document images and the current availability of a high number of document images repositories, robust information retrieval mechanisms and systems have been increasingly demanded. This paper presents an approach to support the automatic generation of relationships among document images by exploiting Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). We developed the LinkDI (Linking of Document Images) service, which extracts and indexes document images content, computes its latent semantics, and defines relationships among images as hyperlinks. LinkDI was experimented with document images repositories, and its performance was evaluated by comparing the quality of the relationships created among textual documents as well as among their respective document images. Considering those same document images, we ran further experiments in order to compare the performance of LinkDI when it exploits or not the LSI technique. Experimental results showed that LSI can mitigate the effects of usual OCR misrecognition, which reinforces the feasibility of LinkDI relating OCR output with high degradation.CNPq[557976/2008-1]FAPESP[05/60038-5]FAPESP[05/60729-8]FAPESP[06/58984-2]FAPESP[09/14292-8]FAPESP[2009/05504-1]Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion[TIN2008-06566-C04-04]FEDERXunta de Galicia[07SIN005206PR]Innolution Sistemas de Informatic

Determination of Kresoxim-Methyl in Water and in Grapes by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Using PhotochemicalInduced Fluorescence and Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction (DLLME)

A high-performance chromatographic method was developed to determine the fungicide kresoxim-methyl. Off-line photochemical derivatization was used to induce the formation of a stable and fluorescent product since the fungicide does not present natural fluorescence. Intense fluorescence at 370/430nm was achieved by treating the analyte in solution at pH 6 to ultraviolet light for 45s. The chromatographic conditions included isocratic elution with 50/ 50% (v/v) acetonitrile/water and the photochemical product appeared at a retention time of 7.2min. The short and long term stabilities of the photoproduct were evaluated and variation of less than 5% was achieved. The limits of detection in water samples and in grapes samples were 0.019mg kg1 and 0.065mg kg1 of kresoxim-methyl residue, respectively. The linear response covered three orders of magnitude up to 10.6mg kg1 of kresoxim-methyl. The robustness was evaluated through a Box–Behnken experimental design showing the insignificance of all factors and their interactions. The potential interference of tebuconazole for the determination of kresoxim-methyl was studied. The use of the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) allowed recoveries between 80% and 101% depending on concentration with the minimum generation of waste products

Attenuation of motor deficits by hydroethanolic extract of Poincianella pyramidalis in a Parkinson's disease model

The present study aimed to evaluate the possible neuroprotective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Poincianella pyramidalis (EFIPp) (Tul.) L. P. Queiroz (Fabaceae), an endemic plant found in Northeastern Brazil, commonly used in folk medicine, on the motor deficits induced by repeated treatment with reserpine (RES) in rats. Adult male Wistar rats received 10 s.c. injections of 0.1 mg/kg RES or vehicle (VR), every 48 h, and daily i.p. injections daily of HEPp (25 mg/kg) or vehicle (VE). Throughout treatment, catalepsy behavior and oral movements were scored. After behavioral tests, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. RES treatment induced a progressive increase of catalepsy time in the treated group compared to control groups starting at day 15. RES also increased the number of vacuous chewing movements, tongue protrusions and duration of facial twitching. Treatment with HEPp attenuated the motor deficit in the catalepsy test and delayed the onset of oral movements induced by RES. No significant changes were observed in the antioxidant assay. Taken together, these results show a beneficial effect of HEPp on motor deficits induced by reserpine, suggesting a neuroprotective effect in a rat model of PD.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa e a Inovação Tecnologica do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC)Pro-reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (POSGRAP/UFS)Univ Fed Sergipe, Dept Physiol, Sao Cristovao, SE, BrazilUniv Massachusetts, Neurosci & Behav Program, Amherst, MA 01003 USAMinist Educ, CAPES Fdn, BR-70040020 Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sergipe, Dept Biosci, Itabaiana, SE, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene.

MotivationThe BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community-led open-source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene.Main types of variables includedThe database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, the database contains metadata relating to sampling methodology and contextual information about each record.Spatial location and grainBioTIME is a global database of 547,161 unique sampling locations spanning the marine, freshwater and terrestrial realms. Grain size varies across datasets from 0.0000000158 km2 (158 cm2) to 100 km2 (1,000,000,000,000 cm2).Time period and grainBioTIME records span from 1874 to 2016. The minimal temporal grain across all datasets in BioTIME is a year.Major taxa and level of measurementBioTIME includes data from 44,440 species across the plant and animal kingdoms, ranging from plants, plankton and terrestrial invertebrates to small and large vertebrates.Software format.csv and .SQL

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in real-world patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Brazil: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-infected patients at Brazilian reference centers. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-interferon, ribavirin, and either boceprevir (n=158) or telaprevir (n=557) between July 2013 and April 2014 at 15 reference centers in Brazil. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse events data were collected during treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 715 patients, 59% had cirrhosis and 67.1% were treatment-experienced. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained viral response was 56.6%, with similar effectiveness in both groups (51.9% for boceprevir and 58% for telaprevir, p=0.190). Serious adverse events occurred in 44.2% of patients, and six deaths (0.8%) were recorded. Cirrhotic patients had lower sustained viral response rates than non-cirrhotic patients (46.9% vs. 70.6%, p 465 years, diagnosis of cirrhosis, and abnormal hemoglobin levels/platelet counts prior to treatment were associated with serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: Although serious adverse events rates were higher in this infected population, sustained viral response rates were similar to those reported for other patient cohorts.Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilCtr Referencia & Treinamento DST Aids, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCDH, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHosp Fed Servidores Estado Rio de Janeiro HFSE, Setor Gastrohepatol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Gastroenterol, EPM, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina Infectol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, FMRP, Dept Clin Med, Div Gastroenterol, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil| Univ Fed do Maranhao UFMA, HUPD, Ctr Pesquisa Clin, Sao Luis, MA, BrazilUniv Fed Estado Rio de Janeiro UNIRIO, Disciplina Clin Med & Gastroenterol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio do Grande Sul UFRGS, Dept Med Interna, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Ambulatorio HIV AIDS Hepatites Virais, Vitoria, ES, BrazilSMS, Ctr Orientacao & Aconselhamento, Foz Do Iguacu, PR, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro UERJ, Serv Gastroenterol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilIMT, Lab Virol LIM 52, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Gastroenterol, EPM, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina Infectol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in real-world patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Brazil: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-infected patients at Brazilian reference centers. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-interferon, ribavirin, and either boceprevir (n=158) or telaprevir (n=557) between July 2013 and April 2014 at 15 reference centers in Brazil. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse events data were collected during treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 715 patients, 59% had cirrhosis and 67.1% were treatment-experienced. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained viral response was 56.6%, with similar effectiveness in both groups (51.9% for boceprevir and 58% for telaprevir, p=0.190). Serious adverse events occurred in 44.2% of patients, and six deaths (0.8%) were recorded. Cirrhotic patients had lower sustained viral response rates than non-cirrhotic patients (46.9% vs. 70.6%,

A“Dirty” Footprint: Macroinvertebrate diversity in Amazonian Anthropic Soils

International audienceAmazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils found throughout the Amazon Basin, created by pre-Columbian societies with sedentary habits. Much is known about the chemistry of these soils, yet their zoology has been neglected. Hence, we characterized soil fertility, macroinvertebrate communities, and their activity at nine archeological sites in three Amazonian regions in ADEs and adjacent reference soils under native forest (young and old) and agricultural systems. We found 673 morphospecies and, despite similar richness in ADEs (385 spp.) and reference soils (399 spp.), we identified a tenacious pre-Columbian footprint, with 49% of morphospecies found exclusively in ADEs. Termite and total macroinvertebrate abundance were higher in reference soils, while soil fertility and macroinvertebrate activity were higher in the ADEs, and associated with larger earthworm quantities and biomass. We show that ADE habitats have a unique pool of species, but that modern land use of ADEs decreases their populations, diversity, and contributions to soil functioning. These findings support the idea that humans created and sustained high-fertility ecosystems that persist today, altering biodiversity patterns in Amazonia