A practical approach to language complexity: a wikipedia case study

In this paper we present statistical analysis of English texts from Wikipedia. We try to address the issue of language complexity empirically by comparing the simple English Wikipedia (Simple) to comparable samples of the main English Wikipedia (Main). Simple is supposed to use a more simplified language with a limited vocabulary, and editors are explicitly requested to follow this guideline, yet in practice the vocabulary richness of both samples are at the same level. Detailed analysis of longer units (n-grams of words and part of speech tags) shows that the language of Simple is less complex than that of Main primarily due to the use of shorter sentences, as opposed to drastically simplified syntax or vocabulary. Comparing the two language varieties by the Gunning readability index supports this conclusion. We also report on the topical dependence of language complexity, that is, that the language is more advanced in conceptual articles compared to person-based (biographical) and object-based articles. Finally, we investigate the relation between conflict and language complexity by analyzing the content of the talk pages associated to controversial and peacefully developing articles, concluding that controversy has the effect of reducing language complexity

Reflections on integrating bioinformatics into the undergraduate curriculum:The Lancaster experience

Bioinformatics is an essential discipline for biologists. It also has a reputation of being difficult for those without a strong quantitative and computer science background. At Lancaster University, we have developed modules for the integration of bioinformatics skills training into our undergraduate biology degree portfolio. This article describes those modules, situating them in the context of the accumulated quarter century of literature on bioinformatics education. The constant evolution of bioinformatics as a discipline is emphasized, drawing attention to the continual necessity to revise and upgrade those skills being taught, even at undergraduate level. Our overarching aim is to equip students both with a portfolio of skills in the currently most essential bioinformatics tools and with the confidence to continue their own bioinformatics skills development at postgraduate or professional level

International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics.

Position statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) provides an objective and critical review of the mechanisms and use of probiotic supplementation to optimize the health, performance, and recovery of athletes. Based on the current available literature, the conclusions of the ISSN are as follows: 1)Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host (FAO/WHO).2)Probiotic administration has been linked to a multitude of health benefits, with gut and immune health being the most researched applications.3)Despite the existence of shared, core mechanisms for probiotic function, health benefits of probiotics are strain- and dose-dependent.4)Athletes have varying gut microbiota compositions that appear to reflect the activity level of the host in comparison to sedentary people, with the differences linked primarily to the volume of exercise and amount of protein consumption. Whether differences in gut microbiota composition affect probiotic efficacy is unknown.5)The main function of the gut is to digest food and absorb nutrients. In athletic populations, certain probiotics strains can increase absorption of key nutrients such as amino acids from protein, and affect the pharmacology and physiological properties of multiple food components.6)Immune depression in athletes worsens with excessive training load, psychological stress, disturbed sleep, and environmental extremes, all of which can contribute to an increased risk of respiratory tract infections. In certain situations, including exposure to crowds, foreign travel and poor hygiene at home, and training or competition venues, athletes' exposure to pathogens may be elevated leading to increased rates of infections. Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut and probiotic supplementation has been shown to promote a healthy immune response. In an athletic population, specific probiotic strains can reduce the number of episodes, severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections.7)Intense, prolonged exercise, especially in the heat, has been shown to increase gut permeability which potentially can result in systemic toxemia. Specific probiotic strains can improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes.8)Administration of selected anti-inflammatory probiotic strains have been linked to improved recovery from muscle-damaging exercise.9)The minimal effective dose and method of administration (potency per serving, single vs. split dose, delivery form) of a specific probiotic strain depends on validation studies for this particular strain. Products that contain probiotics must include the genus, species, and strain of each live microorganism on its label as well as the total estimated quantity of each probiotic strain at the end of the product's shelf life, as measured by colony forming units (CFU) or live cells.10)Preclinical and early human research has shown potential probiotic benefits relevant to an athletic population that include improved body composition and lean body mass, normalizing age-related declines in testosterone levels, reductions in cortisol levels indicating improved responses to a physical or mental stressor, reduction of exercise-induced lactate, and increased neurotransmitter synthesis, cognition and mood. However, these potential benefits require validation in more rigorous human studies and in an athletic population

Chemical fate and biological effects of several endocrine disrupters compounds in two echinoderm species

Two echinoderm species, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the feather star Antedon mediterranea, were exposed for 28 days to several EDCs: three putative androgenic compounds, triphenyltin (TPT), fenarimol (FEN), methyltestosterone (MET), and two putative antiandrogenic compounds, p,p0-DDE (DDE) and cyproterone acetate (CPA). The exposure nominal concentrations were from 10 to 3000 ng L-1, depending on the compound. This paper is an attempt to join three different aspects coming from our ecotoxicological tests: (1) the chemical behaviour inside the experimental system; (2) the measured toxicological endpoints; (3) the biochemical responses, to which the measured endpoints may depend. The chemical fate of the different compounds was enquired by a modelling approach throughout the application of the ‘Aquarium model’. An estimation of the day-to-day concentration levels in water and biota were obtained together with the amount assumed each day by each animal (uptake in lg animal-1 d-1 or ng g-wet weight-1 d-1). The toxicological endpoints investigated deal with the reproductive potential (gonad maturation stage, gonad index and oocyte diameter) and with the regenerative potential (growth and histology). Almost all the compounds exerted some kind of effect at the tested concentrations, however TPT was the most effective in altering both reproductive and regenerative parameters (also at the concentration of few ng L-1). The biochemical analyses of testosterone (T) and 17b-estradiol (E2) also showed the ability of the selected compounds to significantly alter endogenous steroid concentrations.The present work has received financial support from the EU ‘COMPRENDO’ project no. EVK1-CT-2002-00129.Peer reviewe

Estudo da incidência de coledocolitíase em pacientes com colecistite calculosa aguda e crônica submetidos à colecistectomia vídeolaparoscópica

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência da coledocolitiase em pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia laparoscópica, portadores de colecistopatia calculosa aguda e crônica. O presente estudo, também, analisa se a era laparoscópica modificou a incidência e a história natural da litíase da via biliar quando compara os dados da literatura com os índices do Grupo estudado. MÉTODO: O estudo foi realizado em um Grupo de 946 pacientes, distribuídos em Grupo A de 214 pacientes de 1991-1995 e Grupo B de 732 pacientes de 1999-2007 colecistectomizados pelo método laparoscópico. O critério diagnóstico de coledocolitíase foi estabelecido por colangiofluoroscopia de rotina em todas as operações. RESULTADOS: A incidência total de coledocolitiase no Grupo A de 9,8% e no B de 5,8% não mostram diferença estatística significativa entre si e com a literatura mundial (p=0,08).Nos pacientes operados por colecistite aguda também não se observou diferença estatística entre o grupo A e B na incidência de litíase da via biliar( p=0,8). A análise dos dados nos pacientes operados por colecistite crônica revela uma taxa de coledocolitíase menor no Grupo B de 3,7% com significância estatística do que no A de 8,4% p=0,03. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo revela uma diminuição expressiva na incidência de coledocolitiase no Grupo B em relação ao A e a literatura mundial quando a indicação cirúrgica ocorre na fase não complicada da doença litiásica biliar. O estudo também demonstra um aumento significativo na indicação da colecistectomia laparoscópica eletiva mais precoce no Grupo B como já observado em diversas publicações da literatura médica