782 research outputs found

    Graph Convolutional Networks for Traffic Forecasting with Missing Values

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    Traffic forecasting has attracted widespread attention recently. In reality, traffic data usually contains missing values due to sensor or communication errors. The Spatio-temporal feature in traffic data brings more challenges for processing such missing values, for which the classic techniques (e.g., data imputations) are limited: 1) in temporal axis, the values can be randomly or consecutively missing; 2) in spatial axis, the missing values can happen on one single sensor or on multiple sensors simultaneously. Recent models powered by Graph Neural Networks achieved satisfying performance on traffic forecasting tasks. However, few of them are applicable to such a complex missing-value context. To this end, we propose GCN-M, a Graph Convolutional Network model with the ability to handle the complex missing values in the Spatio-temporal context. Particularly, we jointly model the missing value processing and traffic forecasting tasks, considering both local Spatio-temporal features and global historical patterns in an attention-based memory network. We propose as well a dynamic graph learning module based on the learned local-global features. The experimental results on real-life datasets show the reliability of our proposed method.Comment: To appear in Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery (DMKD), Springe

    Innovando a través de la educación y el deporte para sanar heridas sociales

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    No aplicaPor medio del presente artículo se pretende evidenciar la sistematización de la experiencia realizada en La Fundación la Oportunidad Colombia, como un instrumento de transformación social, que, por medio de una educación deportiva e inclusiva basada en valores, facilita el cambio de pensamiento y el desenlace de una vida alejada del conflicto y los malos hábitos. La fundación cuenta con un recorrido amplio que garantiza, un alto grado de impacto para fortalecimiento de los niños, niñas y jóvenes en la comuna 4 de cazuza – Soacha. A los cuales han sensibilizado de manera efectiva para educar sobre valores. Su lema es “Crear y Potenciar” a lo cual le apuestan con todas las actividades que realizan, para favorecer cambios actitudinales y cognitivos en los menores. La experiencia se basó en la recolección de información por medio de un rastreo documental que permitió identificar sustancialmente las problemáticas de la comunidad, su ecosistema y redes de apoyo con las que se cuenta. Posteriormente se realizó un acercamiento directo a los líderes y beneficiarios para poder indagar sobre sus experiencias y realidades, ya que con ello lograremos una comprensión más detallada del impacto de estas estrategias de innovación y su nivel de maduración de acuerdo a la escala TRL en la formación de una nueva visión de la realidad, sostenible, sistematizada y organizada. Entendiéndola como una propuesta, que, apoyada con estrategias de aprendizaje, promoción, prevención, habilidades para la vida y manejo de emociones. Han ido cambiando la historia de más adolescentes y familias rescatándolos de una realidad basada en la violencia, drogadicción, pobreza y embarazos a temprana edad, problemáticas que pueden desaparecer, gracias a una transformación individual que sea trasmitida a las comunidades.Through this article, it is intended to demonstrate the systematization of the experience carried out in Foundation la Oportunidad Colombia, as an instrument of social transformation, which, through a sports and inclusive education based on values, facilitates the change of thought and the outcome. of a life away from conflict and bad habits. The foundation has a wide path that guarantees a high degree of impact for the strengthening of children and young people in the commune 4 de Cazucá - Soacha. To which they have effectively sensitized to educate about values. Their motto is "Create and Empower" to which they bet with all the activities they carry out, to favor attitudinal and cognitive changes in minors. The experience was based on the collection of information through a documentary tracking that allowed to substantially identify the problems of the community, its ecosystem and support networks that it has. Subsequently, a direct approach was made to the leaders and beneficiaries to be able to inquire about their experiences and realities, since with this we will achieve a more detailed understanding of the impact of these innovation strategies and their level of maturation according to the TRL scale in training. of a new vision of reality, sustainable, systematized and organized. Understanding it as a proposal, which, supported by learning strategies, promotion, prevention, life skills and emotion management. They have been changing the history of more adolescents and families, rescuing them from a reality based on violence, drug addiction, poverty and pregnancies at an early age, problems that can disappear thanks to an individual transformation that is transmitted to the communities

    400%/W second harmonic conversion efficiency in 14μm\mathrm{14 \mu m}-diameter gallium phosphide-on-oxide resonators

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    Second harmonic conversion from 1550~nm to 775~nm with an efficiency of 400% W1^{-1} is demonstrated in a gallium phosphide (GaP) on oxide integrated photonic platform. The platform consists of doubly-resonant, phase-matched ring resonators with quality factors Q104Q \sim 10^4, low mode volumes V30(λ/n)3V \sim 30 (\lambda/n)^3, and high nonlinear mode overlaps. Measurements and simulations indicate that conversion efficiencies can be increased by a factor of 20 by improving the waveguide-cavity coupling to achieve critical coupling in current devices.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

    Editorial: mobile elements and plant genome evolution, comparative analyzes and computational tools

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    Multiple changes that occur constantly in the plant genome allow an organism to develop from a single-celled embryo to a multicellular organism. A significant part of these changes is associated with the recombination activity of numerous classes of interspersed repeats. These numerous families of interspersed repeats were often called "junk DNA" as they were not associated with vital protein-coding processes (1). Transposable elements (TEs), such as DNA transposons and retrotransposons, are the main part of these interspersed repeats (2). DNA transposons can rightfully be called true mobile elements, the activity of which can occur at any stage of cell development and manifest itself at any moment and stage of the organism's development. The diverse families of retrotransposons are highly abundant genetic elements that are related to retroviruses (3). Although retrotransposons are not true mobile elements like DNA transposons, retrotransposable elements (RTEs) form a variety of chromosomal structures, such as centromeric and telomeric regions (4), and are the main intergenic part of the genome (5). Retrotransposons move to new chromosomal locations via an RNA intermediate that is converted into extrachromosomal DNA by the encoded reverse transcriptase/RNaseH enzymes prior to reinsertion into the genome. This replicative mode of transposition can rapidly increase the copy number of elements and can thereby greatly increase plant genome size. RTEs can be clustered into distinct families each traceable to a single ancestral sequence or a closely related group of ancestral sequences. In contrast to multigene families, which are defined based on their biological role, repetitive families are usually defined based on their active ancestors (called master or source genes) and on their generation mechanisms. Over time, individual elements from repetitive families may acquire diverse biological roles. Some RTEs can provide evolutionary advantages to the host and increase their chances of survival (6). While the view that RTEs are beneficial to the host is not new, recent progress in the field has placed RTEs squarely in the center of the ongoing debate on eukaryotic evolution. To advance this important research field, in the Research Topic "Mobile Elements and Plant Genome Evolution, Comparative Analyses, and Computational Tools" we focus on the role of mobile elements with host genome evolution, discovery, and comparative and genome-wide profiling analysis of transposable elements. Different retrotransposon families, each with its own lineage and structure, may have been active at distinct phases in the evolution of a species. Retrotransposon sequences bear the promoters that bind the nuclear factors of transcription initialization and initiate RNA synthesis by polymerases II or III. In the article entitled "Additional ORFs in Plant LTR-Retrotransposons" by Vicient C.M. and Casacuberta J.M., LTR-retrotransposons that carry additional, not retrotransposon-specific open reading frames (aORF), were discovered and analyzed. This discovery expands on the unique potential of LTR-retrotransposons as evolutionary tools, as LTR-retrotransposons can be used to deliver new gene variants within a genome. The presence of a unique aORF in some characterized LTR-retrotransposon families like maize Grande, rice RIRE2, or Silene Retand, are just as typical as retrovirus gene transduction. As dispersed and ubiquitous mobile elements, the life cycle of replicative transposition leads to genome rearrangements that affect cellular function (7). Transposable elements are important drivers of species diversity and exhibit great variety in structure, size, and mechanisms of transposition, making them important putative actors in genome evolution. The research group led by Kashkush K., reported the potential impact of miniature transposable element insertions on the expression of wheat genes in different wheat species in the articles entitled "The Evolutionary Dynamics of a Novel Miniature Transposable Element in the Wheat Genome" and "Where the Wild Things Are: Transposable Elements as Drivers of Structural and Functional Variations in the Wheat Genome". The induced genetic rearrangements and insertions of mobile genetic elements in regions of active euchromatin contribute to genome alteration, which leads to "genomic stress" (8). TEmediated epigenetic modifications lead to phenotypic diversity, genetic variation, and environmental stress tolerance. TEs also contribute to genome plasticity and have a dramatic impact on the genetic diversity and evolution of the wheat genome. Using transposon display (9) and genome-wide profiling analysis of insertional polymorphisms of transposable elements (10), the authors discovered large genomic rearrangement events, such as deletions and introgressions in the wheat genome. High-throughput bioinformatics with next-generation sequencing (NGS) were key tools in these studies (11). Chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications, and transposable element content may have a large impact on genomic structure, which could generate new phenotypic traits (7). In the article entitled "Genome Size Variation and Comparative Genomics Reveal Intraspecific Diversity in Brassica rapa", de Carvalho J.F. et al investigated structural variants and repetitive content between two accessions of Brassica rapa genomes and genome-size variation among a core collection using comparative genomics and cytogenetic approaches. Large genomic variants with a chromosome length difference of 17.6% between the A06 chromosomes of 'Z1' compared to 'Chiifu' belonging to different cultigroups of B. rapa highlighted the potential impact of differential insertion of repeat elements and inversions of large genomic regions in genome size intraspecific variability. Transposable elements are also the driving force in the evolution of epigenetic regulation and have a long-term impact on genomic instability and evolution. Remnants of RTEs appear to be overrepresented in transcription regulatory modules and other regions conserved among distantly related species, which may have implications for our understanding of their impact on speciation. RTEs are dynamic and play a role in chromosome crossing over recognition and in DNA recombination between homologous chromosomes. In the article entitled "Sequencing Multiple Cotton Genomes Reveals Complex Structures and Lays Foundation for Breeding", Wang X. et al revealed that post-polyploidization of cotton genome instability resulted in numerous genomic structural changes, DNA inversion and translocation, illegitimate recombinations, accumulation of repetitive sequences, and functional innovation accompanied by elevated evolutionary rates of genes. This genome study also revealed the evolutionary past of cotton plants, which were recursively affected by polyploidization, with a decaploidization contributing to the formation of the genus Gossypium, and a neo-tetraploidization contributing to the formation of the currently widely cultivated cotton plants. The centromere is a unique part of the chromosome that combines a conserved function with extreme variability in its DNA sequence. In the article entitled "Functional Allium fistulosum centromeres comprise arrays of a long satellite repeat, insertions of retrotransposons and chloroplast DNA" Kirov G.I., et al studied the largest plant genomic organization of the functional centromere in large-sized chromosomes in Allium fistulosum and A. cepa. Long, high-copy repeats are associated with insertions of retrotransposons and plastidial DNA, and the landscape of the centromeric regions of these species possess insertions of plastidial DNA. Among evolutionary factors, repetitive sequences play multiple roles in sex chromosome evolution. As such, the Spinacia genus serves as an ideal model to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the transition from homomorphic to heteromorphic sex chromosomes. This was studied in the article entitled "Genome-Wide Analysis of Transposable Elements and Satellite DNAs in Spinacia Species to Shed Light on Their Roles in Sex Chromosome Evolution" by Li N., et al. Major repetitive sequence classes in male and female genomes of Spinacia species and their ancestral relative, sugar beet, were elucidated in the evolutionary processes of sex chromosome evolution using NGS data. The differences of repetitive DNA sequences correlate with the formation of sex chromosomes and the transition from homomorphic sex chromosomes to heteromorphic sex chromosomes, as heteromorphic sex chromosomes existed exclusively in Spinacia tetrandra.Non peer reviewe

    Physical separation from the mate diminishes male’s attentiveness towards other females: a study in monogamous prairie voles Microtus ochrogaster

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    We tested whether continuous cohabitation in monogamous voles affects the mated male’s attentiveness to his breeding partner versus another female. Each male was housed in a 3-chamber apparatus with a Focal female (FF) and a Control female (CF) for 13 days then placed in a T-maze to assess his attentiveness to and memory of those females. The Distal male remained physically separated from both females, but received their distal cues. The Separate male cohabited with the FF for 3 days then remained physically separated from both females. The Disrupt male’s continuous cohabitation with the FF was disrupted by having him physically separated from her after 10 days and placed with the CF for the last 3 days. The Continuous male cohabited continuously with the FF for 13 days. With females in the T-maze, the Separate and Disrupt males spent more time near the FF’s box and the Disrupt males spent more time manipulating the FF’s box than the CF’s box. The Separate males groomed themselves more when near the FF’s box than the CF’s box. The Distal and Continuous males’ attentiveness to the two females did not differ. Results suggest that physical distance from the partner may reduce male’s attentiveness toward other potential mates. Prairie voles might be similar to socially monogamous primates in using tactile cues as a signal for maintaining their social bonds

    J Clin Med

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    Frailty and sarcopenia are characterized by a loss of muscle mass and functionality and are diagnosed mainly by functional tests and imaging parameters. However, more muscle specific biomarkers are needed to improve frailty diagnosis. Plasma 3-methylhistidine (3-MH), as well as the 3-MH-to-creatinine (3-MH/Crea) and 3-MH-to-estimated glomerular filtration rate (3-MH/eGFR) ratios might support the diagnosis of frailty. Therefore, we investigated the cross-sectional associations between plasma 3-MH, 3-MH/Crea and 3-MH/eGFR with the frailty status of community-dwelling individuals (>65 years). 360 participants from two French cohorts of the FRAILOMIC initiative were classified into robust, pre-frail and frail according to Fried's frailty criteria. General linear models as well as bivariate and multiple linear and logistic regression models, which were adjusted for several confounders, were applied to determine associations between biomarkers and frailty status. The present study consisted of 37.8% robust, 43.1% pre-frail and 19.2% frail participants. Frail participants had significantly higher plasma 3-MH, 3-MH/Crea and 3-MH/eGFR ratios than robust individuals, and these biomarkers were positively associated with frailty status. Additionally, the likelihood to be frail was significantly higher for every increase in 3-MH (1.31-fold) and 3-MH/GFR (1.35-fold) quintile after adjusting for confounders. We conclude that 3-MH, 3-MH/Crea and 3-MH/eGFR in plasma might be potential biomarkers to identify frail individuals or those at higher risk to be frail, and we assume that there might be biomarker thresholds to identify these individuals. However, further, especially longitudinal studies are needed

    Prospective pragmatic quasi-experimental study to assess the impact and effectiveness of an innovative large-scale public health intervention to foster healthy ageing in place: the SoBeezy program protocol

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    INTRODUCTION: With the accelerating pace of ageing, healthy ageing has become a major challenge for all societies worldwide. Based on that Healthy Ageing concept proposed by the WHO, the SoBeezy intervention has been designed through an older person-centred and integrated approach. The programme creates the environments that maximise functional ability to enable people to be and do what they value and to stay at home in best possible conditions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Five levers are targeted: tackling loneliness, restoring feeling of usefulness, finding solutions to face material daily life difficulties, promoting social participation and combating digital divide. Concretely, the SoBeezy programme relies on: (1) a digital intelligent platform available on smartphone, tablet and computer, but also on a voice assistant specifically developed for people with digital divide; (2) a large solidarity network which potentially relies on everyone's engagement through a participatory intergenerational approach, where the older persons themselves are not only service receivers but also potential contributors; (3) an engagement of local partners and stakeholders (citizens, associations, artisans and professionals). Organised as a hub, the system connects all the resources of a territory and provides to the older person the best solution to meet his demand. Through a mixed, qualitative and quantitative (before/after analyses and compared to controls) approach, the research programme will assess the impact and effectiveness on healthy ageing, the technical usage, the mechanisms of the intervention and conditions of transferability and scalability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Inserm Ethics Committee and the Comité Éthique et Scientifique pour les Recherches, les Études et les Évaluations dans le domaine de la Santé approved this research and collected data will be deposited with a suitable data archive

    Age-related differences in self-report and objective measures of cognitive function in older patients prior to chemotherapy

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    Aim: Evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics and subjective and objective measures of cognitive function (CF) between younger older adults (YOA, 60–69 years) and older adults (OA, ≥70 years). Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: Older oncology patients (n = 139) completed subjective (Attentional Function Index, European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC) CF scale) and objective (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trail Making Test (TMT) A & B) measures of CF prior to chemotherapy. Data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests. Results: No differences were found between the two groups for any of the subjective or objective CF measures, except that OA patients had higher TMT B scores. Compared with the general population, OAs had significantly higher EORTC CF scores and YOAs had significantly worse scores for all of the objective tests. Clinically meaningful difference between group differences was found for the TMT B test

    alpha-Tocopherol Acetate Attenuates Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption and Maintains Primitive Cells within Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Population

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    We present here the data showing, in standard cultures exposed to atmospheric O-2 concentration, that alpha-tocopherol acetate (alpha-TOA) has a positive impact on primitive cells inside mesenchymal stromal cell (MstroC) population, by maintaining their proliferative capacity. alpha-TOA decreases the O-2 consumption rate of MStroC probably by impacting respiratory chain complex II activity. This action, however, is not associated with a compensatory increase in glycolysis activity, in spite of the fact that the degradation of HIF-1 alpha was decreased in presence of alpha-TOA. This is in line with a moderate enhancement of mtROS upon alpha-TOA treatment. However, the absence of glycolysis stimulation implies the inactivity of HIF-1 alpha which might - if it were active - be related to the maintenance of stemness. It should be stressed that alpha-TOA might act directly on the gene expression as well as the mtROS themselves, which remains to be elucidated.This is the peer reviewed version of the paper: Loncarić, D., Rodriguez, L., Debeissat, C., Touya, N., Labat, V., Villacreces, A., Bouzier-Sore, A.-K., Pasquet, J.-M., de la Grange, P. B., Vlaski-Lafarge, M., Pavlović, S., & Ivanović, Z. (2021). Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate Attenuates Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption and Maintains Primitive Cells within Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Population. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 17(4), 1390–1405.[ https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-020-10111-9]Related to published version: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1491

    A two-component parameterization of marine ice-nucleating particles based on seawater biology and sea spray aerosol measurements in the Mediterranean Sea

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    Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) have a large impact on the climate-relevant properties of clouds over the oceans. Studies have shown that sea spray aerosols (SSAs), produced upon bursting of bubbles at the ocean surface, can be an important source of marine INPs, particularly during periods of enhanced biological productivity. Recent mesocosm experiments using natural seawater spiked with nutrients have revealed that marine INPs are derived from two separate classes of organic matter in SSAs. Despite this finding, existing parameterizations for marine INP abundance are based solely on single variables such as SSA organic carbon (OC) or SSA surface area, which may mask specific trends in the separate classes of INP. The goal of this paper is to improve the understanding of the connection between ocean biology and marine INP abundance by reporting results from a field study and proposing a new parameterization of marine INPs that accounts for the two associated classes of organic matter. The PEACETIME cruise took place from 10 May to 10 June 2017 in the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout the cruise, INP concentrations in the surface microlayer (INPSML) and in SSAs (INPSSA) produced using a plunging aquarium apparatus were continuously monitored while surface seawater (SSW) and SML biological properties were measured in parallel. The organic content of artificially generated SSAs was also evaluated. INPSML concentrations were found to be lower than those reported in the literature, presumably due to the oligotrophic nature of the Mediterranean Sea. A dust wet deposition event that occurred during the cruise increased the INP concentrations measured in the SML by an order of magnitude, in line with increases in iron in the SML and bacterial abundances. Increases in INPSSA were not observed until after a delay of 3 days compared to increases in the SML and are likely a result of a strong influence of bulk SSW INPs for the temperatures investigated (T=−18 ∘C for SSAs, T=−15 ∘C for SSW). Results confirmed that INPSSA are divided into two classes depending on their associated organic matter. Here we find that warm (T≥−22 ∘C) INPSSA concentrations are correlated with water-soluble organic matter (WSOC) in the SSAs, but also with SSW parameters (particulate organic carbon, POCSSW and INPSSW,−16C) while cold INPSSA (T<−22 ∘C) are correlated with SSA water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) and SML dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. A relationship was also found between cold INPSSA and SSW nano- and microphytoplankton cell abundances, indicating that these species might be a source of water-insoluble organic matter with surfactant properties and specific IN activities. Guided by these results, we formulated and tested multiple parameterizations for the abundance of INPs in marine SSAs, including a single-component model based on POCSSW and a two-component model based on SSA WIOC and OC. We also altered a previous model based on OCSSA content to account for oligotrophy of the Mediterranean Sea. We then compared this formulation with the previous models. This new parameterization should improve attempts to incorporate marine INP emissions into numerical models
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