Технология извлечения структур знаний с использованием аппарата расширенных семантических сетей

В статье рассматривается задача извлечения из текстов естественного языка структур знаний: информационных объектов («именованных сущностей»), их свойств, связей и фактов участия в действиях. Для этих целей разработан инструментарий: язык представления знаний (расширенные семантические сети – РСС) и их обработки (язык преобразования структур – ДЕКЛ). На этой основе созданы технологии, которые обладают следующими особенностями. Из текстов извлекаются не отдельные объекты (именованные сущности), а структуры знаний, представляющие связи объектов и их участие в действиях и событиях. Для извлечения структур знаний разработан уникальный семантико-ориентированный лингвистический процессор (ЛП), осуществляющий глубинный анализ текстов ЕЯ и выявляющий десятки типов объектов вместе с их структурами. Процессор ЛП управляется лингвистическими знаниями, представляющими собой декларативные структуры и обеспечивающие быструю настройку ЛП на предметную область и язык. Основой лингвистических знаний являются правила, обладающие высокой степенью избирательности при выявлении объектов («сущностей»), средствами устранения коллизий при их применении. Это позволяет минимизировать шумы и потери.У статті розглядається задача знайдення у текстах природної мови структур знань: інформаційних об’єктів («іменованих сутностей»), їх якостей зв’язків і фактів участі у діях. Для цих цілей розроблений інструментарій: мова представлення знань (розширені семантичні мережі – РСМ) та їх обробки (мова перетворення структур – ДЕКЛ). На цій основі створені технології, що мають наступні особливості. З тестів виділяються не окремі об’єкти (іменовані сутності), а структури знань, що представляють зв’язки об’єктів та їх участь у діях та подіях. З метою виділення структур знань розроблений винятковий семантико-орієнтований лінгвістичний процесор (ЛП), що здійснює глибинний аналіз текстів ЕЯ та виявляє десятки типів об’єктів разом з їх структурами. Процесор ЛП керується лінгвістичними знаннями, які представляють собою декларативні структури та забезпечують швидке настроювання ЛП на предметну сферу та мову. Основою лінгвістичних знань є правила, що мають високий ступінь вибірковості при виявленні об’єктів («сутностей»), засобами усунення колізій при їхньому використанні. Це дозволяє мінімізувати шуми та втрати.The paper is devoted to the extracting of knowledge structures from the natural language texts, i.e. information objects (“Named Entities”), their features, relationships, and participation in the actions and events. For this purpose, the language used for knowledge representation (extended semantic networks/ESN) and tools for processing (language for structure conversion LSC) are considered. On this base, the new technologies are proposed. These technologies have the following features: extraction from the texts of knowledge structures that represent the links of named entities and their participation in actions and events. For the knowledge extraction the unique semantic-oriented language processor (LP) are designed. Processor LP provides the deep analysis of NL-texts and revealing set of objects together with their structures. Processor LP is controlled by the linguistic knowledge, which are declarative structures (on ESN) and which provides the quick tuning of LP on subject area and language, both Russian and English

Long-term outcome in relationship to neonatal transfusion volume in extremely premature infants: a comparative cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In premature born infants red blood cell (RBC) transfusions have been associated with both beneficial and detrimental sequels. Upon RBC transfusion, improvement in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation have been observed, while a more liberal transfusion policy may be associated with a better developmental outcome. The effect of the transfusion volume on long-term outcome is not known.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Observational follow-up study of a cohort of extremely premature born infants, treated in 2 neonatal intensive care units using a different transfusion volume (15 ml/kg in Unit A and 20 ml/kg in Unit B). The primary outcome was a composite of post discharge mortality, neuromotor developmental delay, blindness or deafness, evaluated at a mean corrected age (CA) of 24 months related to the transfusion volume/kg bodyweight administered during the postnatal hospital stay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Despite the difference in transfusion volume in clinically comparable groups of infants, they received a similar number of transfusions (5.5 ± 3.2 versus 5.5 ± 2.3 respectively in Unit A and B). The total transfused volume in unit A was 79 ± 47 ml/kg and 108 ± 47 ml/kg in unit B (p = 0.02). Total transfused RBC volume per kg bodyweight was not an independent predictor of the composite outcome (p = 0.96, OR 1.0 (CI 0.9-1.1).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was no relationship between the composite outcome at 24 months CA and transfusion volume received during the post natal hospital stay. As there was no clinical advantage of the higher transfusion volume, a more restrictive volume will reduce total transfusion volume and donor exposure. Future research on the optimal transfusion volume per event to extreme preterm infants should include larger, prospective studies with a longer follow-up period through to childhood or even adolescence.</p

Symptomatic asymmetry in the first six months of life: differential diagnosis

Asymmetry in infancy is a clinical condition with a wide variation in appearances (shape, posture, and movement), etiology, localization, and severity. The prevalence of an asymmetric positional preference is 12% of all newborns during the first six months of life. The asymmetry is either idiopathic or symptomatic. Pediatricians and physiotherapists have to distinguish symptomatic asymmetry (SA) from idiopathic asymmetry (IA) when examining young infants with a positional preference to determine the prognosis and the intervention strategy. The majority of cases will be idiopathic, but the initial presentation of a positional preference might be a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder. The purpose of this review is to synthesize the current information on the incidence of SA, as well as the possible causes and the accompanying signs that differentiate SA from IA. This review presents an overview of the nine most prevalent disorders in infants in their first six months of life leading to SA. We have discovered that the literature does not provide a comprehensive analysis of the incidence, characteristics, signs, and symptoms of SA. Knowledge of the presented clues is important in the clinical decision making with regard to young infants with asymmetry. We recommend to design a valid and useful screening instrument

Concurrent Validity Between Live and Home Video Observations Using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale

PURPOSE: Serial assessment of gross motor development of infants at risk is an established procedure in neonatal follow-up clinics. Assessments based on home video recordings could be a relevant addition. METHODS: In 48 infants (1.5-19 months), the concurrent validity of 2 applications was examined using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: (1) a home video made by parents and (2) simultaneous observation on-site by a pediatric physical therapist. Parents' experiences were explored using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient agreement between live and home video assessment was 0.99, with a standard error of measurement of 1.41 items. Intra- and interrater reliability: intraclass correlation coefficients were more than 0.99. According to 94% of the parents, recording their infant's movement repertoire was easy to perform. CONCLUSION: Assessing the Alberta Infant Motor Scale based on home video recordings is comparable to assessment by live observation. The video method is a promising application that can be used with low burden for parents and infants

Concurrent Validity Between Live and Home Video Observations Using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale

PURPOSE: Serial assessment of gross motor development of infants at risk is an established procedure in neonatal follow-up clinics. Assessments based on home video recordings could be a relevant addition. METHODS: In 48 infants (1.5-19 months), the concurrent validity of 2 applications was examined using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: (1) a home video made by parents and (2) simultaneous observation on-site by a pediatric physical therapist. Parents' experiences were explored using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient agreement between live and home video assessment was 0.99, with a standard error of measurement of 1.41 items. Intra- and interrater reliability: intraclass correlation coefficients were more than 0.99. According to 94% of the parents, recording their infant's movement repertoire was easy to perform. CONCLUSION: Assessing the Alberta Infant Motor Scale based on home video recordings is comparable to assessment by live observation. The video method is a promising application that can be used with low burden for parents and infants

Camoco: a computational framework for inter-relating GWAS loci and unraveling gene function using co-expression networks

<p>Co-expression networks have been shown to be a powerful tool for inferring a gene’s function when little is known about it. With the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the construction and analysis of co-expression networks is now possible in many non-model species. Here, we present a computational framework called Camoco, that performs co-expression based analyses using NGS data. Camoco has been used to rapidly build and analyze RNA-Seq based co-expression networks in both plant and animal species. Ontologies such as GO or MapMan are used to vet networks in a supervised manner by assessing their ability to capture known biological information. Built-in network clustering allows for rapid unsupervised analyses when gene annotations are poor or incomplete. Network comparison methods distinguish which biological clusters are shared or distinct to each network. </p><br>Camoco also integrates other functional data such as those derived from genome wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS have become the de facto approach to identify candidate genes in complex traits in non-model species. However, complex traits are often associated with potentially hundreds of statistically significant SNPs, many of which are located outside known gene models. Camoco analyzes the overlap between candidate loci generated from GWAS and the co-expression interactions that occur between them. In empirical studies, Camoco was effectively able to reduce the number of candidate genes by over two orders of magnitude and prioritize genes for follow up analysis. Camoco is implemented in Python 3.4 and is freely available at http://github.com/schae234/Camoco

A Comparison of the Thompson Encephalopathy Score and Amplitude-Integrated Electroencephalography in Infants with Perinatal Asphyxia and Therapeutic Hypothermia

BACKGROUND: In previous studies clinical signs or amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG)-based signs of encephalopathy were used to select infants with perinatal asphyxia for treatment with hypothermia. AIM: The objective of this study was to compare Thompson encephalopathy scores and aEEG, and relate both to outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thompson scores, aEEG, and outcome were compared in 122 infants with perinatal asphyxia and therapeutic hypothermia. Of these 122 infants, 41 died and 7 had an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Thompson scores were higher in infants with more abnormal aEEG background patterns (ANOVA, p < 0.001). The ROC analysis demonstrated that a Thompson score of 11 or higher or an aEEG background pattern of continuous low voltage or worse was associated with an adverse outcome (AUC 0.84 for both). CONCLUSIONS: High Thompson scores and a suppressed aEEG background pattern are associated with an adverse outcome after perinatal asphyxia and therapeutic hypothermia. Further studies are needed to identify the best technique with which to select patients for therapeutic hypothermia

The Impact of Low-Grade Germinal Matrix-Intraventricular Hemorrhage on Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Very Preterm Infants

BACKGROUND: Very preterm infants often show germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) on cranial ultrasound (cUS). AIM: To determine the impact of low-grade GMH-IVH on early neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm infants. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study in very preterm infants with and without low-grade GMH-IVH on cUS. Additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was available in all infants with a gestational age (GA) 28 weeks. Infants were seen at 2 years' corrected age to assess neurodevelopment. RESULTS: In total, 136 infants (GA 24-32 weeks) with low-grade GMH-IVH on cUS were matched with 255 controls. Outcome data was available for 342 (87%) infants. Adverse outcome (i.e., cerebral palsy [CP], neurodevelopmental delay) was present in 11 (9%) cases and 20 (9%) controls. No statistically significant differences in outcome were found between cases and controls. Additional MRI was performed in 165/391 infants (42%) and showed additional lesions in 73 (44%) infants that could explain subsequent development of CP in 2 out of 5 infants and epilepsy in 1 of 2 infants. CONCLUSION: Very preterm infants with low-grade GMH-IVH on cUS have a similar early neurodevelopmental outcome compared with controls. Additional MRI showed mostly subtle abnormalities that were missed with cUS, but these could not explain subsequent development of CP and developmental delay in all infants