Processing and Linking Audio Events in Large Multimedia Archives: The EU inEvent Project

In the inEvent EU project [1], we aim at structuring, retrieving, and sharing large archives of networked, and dynamically changing, multimedia recordings, mainly consisting of meetings, videoconferences, and lectures. More specifically, we are developing an integrated system that performs audiovisual processing of multimedia recordings, and labels them in terms of interconnected “hyper-events ” (a notion inspired from hyper-texts). Each hyper-event is composed of simpler facets, including audio-video recordings and metadata, which are then easier to search, retrieve and share. In the present paper, we mainly cover the audio processing aspects of the system, including speech recognition, speaker diarization and linking (across recordings), the use of these features for hyper-event indexing and recommendation, and the search portal. We present initial results for feature extraction from lecture recordings using the TED talks. Index Terms: Networked multimedia events; audio processing: speech recognition; speaker diarization and linking; multimedia indexing and searching; hyper-events. 1

Produção orgânica de cana-de-açúcar, manejo e biodiversidade.

Este trabalho objetivou trazer um resumo do conjunto das ações e práticas diferenciais de cultivo orgânico e manejo ecológico em um agroecossistema de cana-de-açúcar. Foi utilizada ampla revisão bibliográfica, consulta a acervos técnicos e científicos especializados, observações e incursões a campo. Foram analisadas as informações disponíveis, como documentos, diagnósticos, relatórios, dados primários e secundários. Os resultados das ações e práticas implementadas foram positivos e benéficos nas esferas ambientais, econômicas e sociais, diferentemente daqueles praticados nos sistemas convencionais. O modelo avaliado mostrou-se importante e efetivo na recuperação, conservação e manutenção da biodiversidade, além de se mostrar eficiente como instrumento de minimização dos impactos sociais associados ao setor. O sistema evidenciou um maior patamar de sustentabilidade quando comparado ao convencional

Interação genótipo x ambiente para ganho de peso pós-desmama de bovinos de corte compostos.

Foram estimados parâmetros genéticos para a característica ganho de peso pós-desmama (GP), com o objetivo de verificar a presença de interação genótipo x ambiente (GxE). Os ambientes foram definidos com base em variáveis climáticas e geográficas das fazendas por meio de técnicas de análise multivariada. Foram formados 6 grupos geoclimáticos de fazendas, sendo então o GP em um grupo, considerado como característica diferente em relação a outro grupo. As estimativas de herdabilidade variaram de 0,04 a 0,20, evidenciando heterogeneidade de variâncias. As correlações genéticas entre os grupos geoclimáticos variaram de 0,31 a 0,93, sendo a GxE mais pronunciada entre os grupos 1 e 3, 1 e 4. Estes grupos estavam justamente localizados nas regiões mais distintas entre si com relação às variáveis geoclimáticas. Foi constatada GxE entre a maioria dos grupos geoclimáticos de fazendas, evidenciando que a avaliação genética dos animais, neste caso, deveria ser feita regionalmente ou a GxE ser incluída no modelo estatístico

Fractional pennes' bioheat equation: Theoretical and numerical studies

Accepted for publication in Fractional calculus and applied analysisOriginally published in the journal Fract. Cal. Appl. Anal. Vol. 18 No. 4 / 2015 / pp.1080–1106 / DOI 10.1515/fca-2015-0062. The original publication is available at: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/fca.2015.18.issue-4/fca-2015-0062/fca-2015-0062.xml?rskey=sWWcn0&result=1In this work we provide a new mathematical model for the Pennes’ bioheat equation, assuming a fractional time derivative of single order. Alternative versions of the bioheat equation are studied and discussed, to take into account the temperature-dependent variability in the tissue perfusion, and both finite and infinite speed of heat propagation. The proposed bio heat model is solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme that we prove to be convergent and stable. The numerical method proposed can be applied to general reaction diffusion equations, with a variable diffusion coefficient. The results obtained with the single order fractional model, are compared with the original models that use classical derivatives.The authors L.L. Ferras and J. M. Nobrega acknowledge financial funding by FEDER through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and by FCT- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects UID/CTM/50025/2013 and EXPL/CTM-POL/1299/2013. L.L. Ferras acknowledges financial funding by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through the scholarship SFRH/BPD/100353/2014. M. Rebelo acknowledges financial funding by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through the project UID/MAT/00297/2013

SARS-CoV-2 Catalonia contact tracing program : evaluation of key performance indicators

Background: Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators have been recently revised by international public health agencies. The aim of the study is to describe and analyse contact tracing indicators based on Catalonia's (Spain) real data and proposing to update them according to recommendations. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis including Catalonia's contact tracing dataset from 20 May until 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics are performed including sociodemographic stratification by age, and differences are assessed over the study period. Results: We analysed 923,072 contacts from 301,522 SARS-CoV-2 cases with identified contacts (67.1% contact tracing coverage). The average number of contacts per case was 4.6 (median 3, range 1-243). A total of 403,377 contacts accepted follow-up through three phone calls over a 14-day quarantine period (84.5% of contacts requiring follow-up). The percentage of new cases declared as contacts 14 days prior to diagnosis evolved from 33.9% in May to 57.9% in November. All indicators significantly improved towards the target over time (p < 0.05 for all four indicators). Conclusions: Catalonia's SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators improved over time despite challenging context. The critical revision of the indicator's framework aims to provide essential information in control policies, new indicators proposed will improve system delay's follow-up. The study provides information on COVID-19 indicators framework experience from country's real data, allowing to improve monitoring tools in 2021-2022. With the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic being so harmful to health systems and globally, is important to analyse and share contact tracing data with the scientific community

Analysis of MicroRNA Expression in the Prepubertal Testis

Only thirteen microRNAs are conserved between D. melanogaster and the mouse; however, conditional loss of miRNA function through mutation of Dicer causes defects in proliferation of premeiotic germ cells in both species. This highlights the potentially important, but uncharacterized, role of miRNAs during early spermatogenesis. The goal of this study was to characterize on postnatal day 7, 10, and 14 the content and editing of murine testicular miRNAs, which predominantly arise from spermatogonia and spermatocytes, in contrast to prior descriptions of miRNAs in the adult mouse testis which largely reflects the content of spermatids. Previous studies have shown miRNAs to be abundant in the mouse testis by postnatal day 14; however, through Next Generation Sequencing of testes from a B6;129 background we found abundant earlier expression of miRNAs and describe shifts in the miRNA signature during this period. We detected robust expression of miRNAs encoded on the X chromosome in postnatal day 14 testes, consistent with prior studies showing their resistance to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. Unexpectedly, we also found a similar positional enrichment for most miRNAs on chromosome 2 at postnatal day 14 and for those on chromosome 12 at postnatal day 7. We quantified in vivo developmental changes in three types of miRNA variation including 5′ heterogeneity, editing, and 3′ nucleotide addition. We identified eleven putative novel pubertal testis miRNAs whose developmental expression suggests a possible role in early male germ cell development. These studies provide a foundation for interpretation of miRNA changes associated with testicular pathology and identification of novel components of the miRNA editing machinery in the testis

Mutations in KEOPS-Complex Genes Cause Nephrotic Syndrome with Primary Microcephaly

Galloway-Mowat syndrome (GAMOS) is an autosomal-recessive disease characterized by the combination of early-onset nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and microcephaly with brain anomalies. Here we identified recessive mutations in OSGEP, TP53RK, TPRKB, and LAGE3, genes encoding the four subunits of the KEOPS complex, in 37 individuals from 32 families with GAMOS. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout in zebrafish and mice recapitulated the human phenotype of primary microcephaly and resulted in early lethality. Knockdown of OSGEP, TP53RK, or TPRKB inhibited cell proliferation, which human mutations did not rescue. Furthermore, knockdown of these genes impaired protein translation, caused endoplasmic reticulum stress, activated DNA-damage-response signaling, and ultimately induced apoptosis. Knockdown of OSGEP or TP53RK induced defects in the actin cytoskeleton and decreased the migration rate of human podocytes, an established intermediate phenotype of SRNS. We thus identified four new monogenic causes of GAMOS, describe a link between KEOPS function and human disease, and delineate potential pathogenic mechanisms