A Quasi-Metric for Machine Learning

The subsumption relation is crucial in the Machine Learning systems based on a clausal representation. In this paper we present a class of operators for Machine Learning based on clauses which is a characterization of the subsumption relation in the following sense: The clause C 1 subsumes the clause C 2 iff C 1 can be reached from C 2 by applying these operators. In the second part of the paper we give a formalization of the closeness among clauses based on these operators and an algorithm to compute it as well as a bound for a quick estimation.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC 2000-1368-C03-0Junta de Andalucía TIC-13

Generalizing Programs via Subsumption

In this paper we present a class of operators for Machine Learning based on Logic Programming which represents a characterization of the subsumption relation in the following sense: The clause C 1 subsumes the clause C 2 iff C 1 can be reached from C 2 by applying these operators. We give a formalization of the closeness among clauses based on these operators and an algorithm to compute it as well as a bound for a quick estimation. We extend the operator to programs and we also get a characterization of the subsumption between programs. Finally, a weak metric is presented to compute the closeness among programs based on subsumption.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC 2000-1368-C03-0Junta de Andalucía TIC-13

Lymphogranuloma venereum: a retrospective analysis of an emerging sexually transmitted disease in a Lisbon Tertiary Center

Commentary: G. Ciccarese et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35:1606-1607. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17468.Background: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexual transmitted infection (STI), currently endemic within the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) of Western Countries. L2B variant has been reported as the predominant strain in the current LGV epidemics, although a shift towards L2-434 has been observed in some European countries. Objectives: To evaluate and characterize the population with LGV infection diagnosed in Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all LGV diagnoses between 2016 and 2019 was performed. The diagnosis was established through ompA-genotyping of samples yielding a positive result to Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). All considered samples were retrieved from the clinician activity, through swabbing and urine analysis and CT infection diagnosis was obtained using real-time PCR. Results: During the period studied 16 279 CT diagnostics tests were employed, with a striking increase from 2016 (n = 467) to 2019 (n = 9362). A total of 1602 diagnoses of CT were established, from which 168 (10.5%) corresponded to LGV, with both infections showing a rising evolution, between 2016 and 2019, of 2.9 and 2.7 times, respectively. The majority of the LGV strains were genotyped as L2/434 (67.3%; n = 113). LGV predominantly affected MSM and men who have sex with men and women (97.0%; n = 163). Anorectal infection was the most prevalent one (90.5%; n = 152), being proctitis the main clinical presentation (76.2%; n = 128). Absence of symptoms was reported in almost 15% of the cases (n = 24). The presence of concomitant infection with human immunodeficiency virus was dominant (73.2%; n = 123) and the prevalence of one or more STI co-infections was about 60.1% (n = 99). Conclusions: An increasing evolution of CT and LGV testing and diagnosing was observable throughout the studied period. Characteristics of the population are similar with those described within LGV epidemics. In accordance with recent European studies, predominance towards L2 genotype was identified.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La modulación tonal en las formas musicales del Flamenco: propiedades de preferencia e hibridación armónica

En este trabajo se describe un fenómeno musical, la modulación tonal, que aparece con frecuencia en determinadas formas o estilos del cante flamenco, y se analiza su ejecución desde un punto de vista etnomusical. Planteamos la tesis de que se trata, en efecto, de una propiedad de preferencia que persigue una determinada estética musicalThis paper describes a musical phenomenon: tonal modulation, which frequently appears in certain flamenco types or styles, and analyzes their performance under an ethnomusic point of view. We propose the thesis that it is indeed a preference property that pursues a particular musical aestheti

Retrospective health impact assessment for ozone pollution in Mexico City from 1991 to 2011

AbstractAir pollution is the main environmental issue in Mexico City, where ozone is one of the most damaging pollutants for human health. In this work we present a retrospective health impact assessment (HIA) study split up by age groups for evaluating the benefits of ozone regulatory strategies from 1991 to 2011 in Mexico City. Since people move from one place to another during the day, which may affect their potential exposure to pollutants, we consider time-dependant spatial population distributions during the day. Ozone data is made up of observations taken with hourly frequency from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2011, at approximately 22 stations of the monitoring network of Mexico City. Interpolated values for unknown locations are also taken into account in the HIA. The Cressman objective analysis method is applied for interpolating the observed ozone concentrations from monitoring stations to grids of convenient resolution. We demonstrate that different age groups present different spatial patterns of exposure, being the working-age people (between 18 and 64 years) the most benefited. We also confirm the hypothesis that, in general, people move to less polluted regions during the day

Association between EBV serological patterns and lymphocytic profile of SjS patients support a virally triggered autoimmune epithelitis

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, i.e. autoimmune epithelitis. Lymphocytes are central in SjS pathogenesis, with B-cell hyperactivity mediated by T-cells. B-cells are main targets of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, a frequently-suggested trigger for SjS. We aimed to evaluate how the EBV infection modulates B and T-cell subsets in SjS, including as controls Rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and healthy participants (HC). SjS patients presented decreased CXCR5+T-cells, although IL21-secreting Tfh and Tfc cells were increased. Tfc were positively correlated with ESSDAI scores, suggesting their relevant role in SjS pathogenesis. As previously described, SjS patients showed expanded circulating naïve B-cell compartments. SjS patients had a higher incidence of EBV-EA-D-IgG+ antibodies, characteristic of recent EBV-infection/reactivation. SjS patients with past infection or recent infection/reactivation showed increased CXCR3+Th1 and CXCR3+Tfh1 cells compared to those without active infection. SjS patients with a recent infection/reactivation profile presented increased transitional B-cells compared to patients with past infection and increased plasmablasts, compared to those without infection. Our results suggest EBV-infection contributes to B and T-cell differentiation towards the effector phenotypes typical of SjS. Local lymphocyte activation at ectopic germinal centres, mediated by Tfh and Tfc, can be EBV-driven, perpetuating autoimmune epithelitis, which leads to gland destruction in SjS.publishersversionpublishe

Novel genomic approach to decode syphilis

A sífilis é uma doença sexualmente transmissível causada pela bactéria Treponema pallidum e constitui um problema de saúde pública mundial, em parte devido à ausência de uma vacina para prevenção da sua transmissão. A investigação desta doença tem sido atrasada pela incapacidade histórica de cultivar T. pallidum in vitro, dificultando por exemplo o desenvolvimento de estudos genómicos. De facto, há uma grande lacuna no conhecimento da epidemiologia molecular deste agente patogénico, assim como da base molecular que medeia a patogénese da sífilis. No estudo aqui apresentado, foi possível implementar uma abordagem inovadora para capturar o genoma de T. pallidum no contexto de infeção humana, evitando-se, assim, a necessidade da cultura da bactéria em modelo animal. Esta estratégia permitiu estudar, pela primeira vez, como é que este agente patogénico vai alterando o seu genoma para se adaptar e sobreviver como agente infecioso humano. Nomeadamente permitiu descodificar os principais mecanismos genéticos pelos quais a bactéria T. pallidum evade o sistema imunitário e se adapta ao Homem nesta complexa e multifásica doença. A aplicação desta estratégia inovadora de monitorização da interação Homem-bactéria poderá ser importante para o desenvolvimento de novas medidas profiláticas e/ou terapêuticas. Acresce que esta abordagem constitui também um ponto de viragem para o aperfeiçoamento de metodologias de diagnóstico e de epidemiologia molecular, o que permitirá aumentar o conhecimento da distribuição geográfica, das vias de transmissão e das propriedades de virulência deste agente patogénico para bem da saúde pública.Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium T. pallidum, remains a global problem with an estimated 6 million people infected each year, which is in part attributed to the absence of a vaccine to prevent infection and transmission. Despite its tremendous public health impact, research in syphilis has been considerable hampered due to the historical inability to culture T. pallidum in vitro, which has hampered, for instance, the acquisition of consistent genomic data. As such, there is a strong lack of knowledge on the molecular epidemiology of this important human pathogen as well as on the molecular mechanisms underlying syphilis pathogenesis. In the work presented here, we have bypassed the culture bottleneck by means of a targeted strategy never applied to uncultivable bacterial human pathogens to directly capture whole-genome T. pallidum data in the contex t of human infection. This strategy allowed, for the first time, to understand how this pathogen shapes its genome towards adaptation and sur vival during syphilis. While this work demonstrates the exceptional power of monitoring the pathogen adaptability during human infection, it also provides critical data that may guide the development of novel treatments and prophylactic measures, such as a vaccine. In other perspective, it is anticipated that the implemented methodological approach constitutes a disruptive step towards the improvement of the current diagnostics and typing methodologies, which will enhance the knowledge on the geographic distribution of strains, its transmissibility and propensity to cause disease.Este estudo foi financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (EXPL/BIA-MIC/0309/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio