On the development of an automatic voice pleasantness classification and intensity estimation system

In the last few years, the number of systems and devices that use voice based interaction has grown significantly. For a continued use of these systems, the interface must be reliable and pleasant in order to provide an optimal user experience. However there are currently very few studies that try to evaluate how pleasant is a voice from a perceptual point of view when the final application is a speech based interface. In this paper we present an objective definition for voice pleasantness based on the composition of a representative feature subset and a new automatic voice pleasantness classification and intensity estimation system. Our study is based on a database composed by European Portuguese female voices but the methodology can be extended to male voices or to other languages. In the objective performance evaluation the system achieved a 9.1% error rate for voice pleasantness classification and a 15.7% error rate for voice pleasantness intensity estimation.Work partially supported by ERDF funds, the Spanish Government (TEC2009-14094-C04-04), and Xunta de Galicia (CN2011/019, 2009/062

The Potyviridae P1a leader protease contributes to host range specificity

[EN] The P1a protein of the ipomovirus Cucumber vein yellowing virus is one of the self-cleavage serine proteases present in Potyviridae family members. P1a is located at the N-terminal end of the viral polyprotein, and is closely related to potyviral P1 protease. For its proteolytic activity, P1a requires a still unknown host factor; this might be linked to involvement in host specificity. Here we built a series of constructs and chimeric viruses to help elucidate the role of P1a cleavage in host range definition. We demonstrate that host-dependent separation of P1a from the remainder of the polyprotein is essential for suppressing RNA silencing defenses and for efficient viral infection. Intergenus replacement of leader proteases could broaden host range definition, as shown by the local infection capacity of viral chimeras. These findings support the role of viral proteases as important determinants in host adaptation.H.S. is supported by the China Scholarship Council; F.P. and C.R. were financed by La Caixa PhD fellowships, and C.C. by a scholarship from the Spanish government (MAEC-AECID). This work was funded by Grants BIO2013-49053-R and Plant-KBBE PCIN-2013-056 from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad.Shan, H.; Pasin, F.; Valli, A.; Castillo, C.; Rajulu, C.; Carbonell, A.; Simon-Mateo, C.... (2015). The Potyviridae P1a leader protease contributes to host range specificity. Virology. 476:264-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2014.12.013S264270476ADAMS, M. J., ANTONIW, J. F., & BEAUDOIN, F. (2005). Overview and analysis of the polyprotein cleavage sites in the family Potyviridae. Molecular Plant Pathology, 6(4), 471-487. doi:10.1111/j.1364-3703.2005.00296.xBrigneti, G. (1998). Viral pathogenicity determinants are suppressors of transgene silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. 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(2012). Virus variants with differences in the P1 protein coexist in a Plum pox virus population and display particular host-dependent pathogenicity features. Molecular Plant Pathology, 13(8), 877-886. doi:10.1111/j.1364-3703.2012.00796.xMartinez, F., & Daros, J.-A. (2014). Tobacco etch virus Protein P1 Traffics to the Nucleolus and Associates with the Host 60S Ribosomal Subunits during Infection. Journal of Virology, 88(18), 10725-10737. doi:10.1128/jvi.00928-14Pasin, F., Kulasekaran, S., Natale, P., Simón-Mateo, C., & García, J. (2014). Rapid fluorescent reporter quantification by leaf disc analysis and its application in plant-virus studies. Plant Methods, 10(1), 22. doi:10.1186/1746-4811-10-22Pasin, F., Simón-Mateo, C., & García, J. A. (2014). The Hypervariable Amino-Terminus of P1 Protease Modulates Potyviral Replication and Host Defense Responses. PLoS Pathogens, 10(3), e1003985. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003985Peng, C.-W., Peremyslov, V. V., Mushegian, A. R., Dawson, W. 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A new Merluccius polli reference genome to investigate the effects of global change in West African waters

Genome resources have become crucial to assess genome-wide level of variation as well as to detect adaptive variation. This is particularly important for studying diversity in marine species inhabiting regions highly affected by accelerated climate warming and pollution, also known as global change. A greater awareness of the impacts of global change is urgently needed to ensure sustainable marine fisheries. Despite recent efforts, there are still many gaps in fish reference genomes, both geographical and taxonomic. Here, we sequence, assemble and annotate the genome of Merluccius polli. The total length of this new assembly (~582 Kb, N50 = 168Kb) is approximately 40% longer and much less fragmented than a previous version. Even though it might not be intrinsic of this species, low level of heterozygosity (1.16 SNPs/Kb) and low proportion of repeat content (9.21%) was found in this genome. This hake species has a wide latitudinal distribution; therefore, it is exposed to a changing temperature gradient and to a variety of contaminants in part of its distribution along West African coast. Special emphasis was laid on the identification and characterization of candidate genes known to respond to different stressors (depth, temperature, hypoxia, and heavy metals) happening along its geographical distribution. A total of 68 of the selected candidate genes known to be associated with responses to these stressors were found in the current assembly of the genome, and their predicted sequence can be considered as full-length. Therefore, it is expected that this genome would serve as a tool to further investigations of global change in one of the most stressed marine regions in the planet

The Spanish Epidemological Surveillance Services webpages as an information dissemination tool in 2006

BACKGROUND: Taking into account that one of the Spanish National Epidemological Surveillance Network's missions is that of providing information for taking action, it is then absolutely essential that its information be disseminated in a timely manner. This study is aimed at ascertaining what information is being published on the National Epidemology Center webpages and on those of the Municipal and Autonomous Community Epidemiological Surveillance Services and assessing the timeliness of the information published. METHODS: A review was conducted of the contents of the Surveillance Services webpages of April 3 - May 5, 2006. The information was considered to be "timely" if the information read on the webpage during Week 17 provided the epidemological week 15 bulletin. RESULTS: A total of ninety percent (90%) of the Services have a webpage, fifty percent (50%) of which provide the listing of the compulsorily reportable disease and the case definition, a total of 44% having protocols for taking action and 11% having dynamic tables. The epidemological bulletins can be accessed via eight-three percent (83%) of the pages, six percent of which are updated in a timely manner. A total of seventy-seven (77%) of the pages provide weekly influenza information, seventy-eight percent (78%) in week 15. A total seventy-two percent (72%) have a search system as well as links to other Surveillance Services. CONCLUSIONS: The information provided by the Epidemological Surveillance Services has been found to vary to a certain degree. Influenza information is being disseminated in a timely manner, this however not being the case for the Epidemiological Bulletin. Fundamento: Teniendo en cuenta que una de las misiones de la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica es aportar información para la acción, se hace imprescindible su difusión en tiempo oportuno. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el contenido de las páginas web del Centro Nacional de Epidemiología y de los Servicios de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de las Ciudades y Comunidades Autónomas y evaluar su oportunidad en el tiempo. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión del contenido de las páginas web de los Servicios de Vigilancia durante el período del 3 de abril al 5 de mayo de 2006. La difusión de la información se consideró «en tiempo oportuno» si la consulta durante la semana 17 ofrecía el boletín de la semana epidemiológica 15. Resultados: El 90% de los Servicios de Vigilancia epidemiológica tiene página web. El 50% ofrece el listado de las enfermedades de declaración obligatoria y la definición de caso. Protocolos de actuación el 44% y tablas dinámicas el 11%. En el 83% de las páginas se tiene acceso a los boletines epidemiológicos, el 6% está actualizado en tiempo oportuno. El 77% de las páginas ofrece la información semanal de la gripe y de ellas el 78% en la semana 15. El 72% tiene un sistema de búsqueda, así como enlaces con otros Servicios de Vigilancia. Conclusiones: La información difundida por los Servicios de Vigilancia Epidemiológica a través de las páginas web es variable. Es oportuna la difusión de la información de la gripe, no así para el Boletín Epidemiológico

Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city

Resource depletion, climate change and degradation of ecosystems are challenges faced by cities worldwide and will increase if cities do not adapt. In order to tackle those challenges, it is necessary to transform our cities into sustainable systems using a holistic approach. One element in achieving this transition is the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). NBS can provide a range of ecosystem services beneficial for the urban biosphere such as regulation of micro-climates, flood prevention, water treatment, food provision and more. However, most NBS are implemented serving only one single purpose. Adopting the concept of circular economy by combining different types of services and returning resources to the city, would increase the benefits gained for urban areas. The COST Action Circular City aims to establish a network testing the hypothesis that: ‘A circular flow system that implements NBS for managing nutrients and resources within the urban biosphere will lead to a resilient, sustainable and healthy urban environment’. In this paper we introduce the COST Action Circular City by describing its main objectives and aims. The paper also serves as introduction to the review papers of the Action's five Working Groups in this Special Issue

EVI1 as a Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

The transcription factor EVI1 plays an oncogenic role in several types of neoplasms by promoting aggressive cancer features. EVI1 contributes to epigenetic regulation and transcriptional control, and its overexpression has been associated with enhanced PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling in some settings. These observations raise the possibility that EVI1 influences the prognosis and everolimus-based therapy outcome of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, gene expression and protein immunohistochemical studies of ccRCC show that EVI1 overexpression is associated with advanced disease features and with poorer outcome-particularly in the CC-e.3 subtype defined by The Cancer Genome Atlas. Overexpression of an oncogenic EVI1 isoform in RCC cell lines confers substantial resistance to everolimus. The EVI1 rs1344555 genetic variant is associated with poorer survival and greater progression of metastatic ccRCC patients treated with everolimus. This study leads us to propose that evaluation of EVI1 protein or gene expression, and of EVI1 genetic variants may help improve estimates of prognosis and the benefit of everolimus-based therapy in ccRCC

enhancing the circular economy with nature based solutions in the built urban environment green building materials systems and sites

Abstract The objective of this review paper is to survey the state of the art on nature-based solutions (NBS) in the built environment, which can contribute to a circular economy (CE) and counter the negative impacts of urbanization through the provision of ecosystem services. NBS are discussed here at three different levels: (i) green building materials, including biocomposites with plant-based aggregates; (ii) green building systems, employed for the greening of buildings by incorporating vegetation in their envelope; and (iii) green building sites, emphasizing the value of vegetated open spaces and water-sensitive urban design. After introducing the central concepts of NBS and CE as they are manifested in the built environment, we examine the impacts of urban development and the historical use of materials, systems and sites which can offer solutions to these problems. In the central section of the paper we present a series of case studies illustrating the development and implementation of such solutions in recent years. Finally, in a brief critical analysis we look at the ecosystem services and disservices provided by NBS in the built environment, and examine the policy instruments which can be leveraged to promote them in the most effective manner – facilitating the future transition to fully circular cities

Classifying depression symptom severity: Assessment of speech representations in personalized and generalized machine learning models

There is an urgent need for new methods that improve the management and treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Speech has long been regarded as a promising digital marker in this regard, with many works highlighting that speech changes associated with MDD can be captured through machine learning models. Typically, findings are based on cross-sectional data, with little work exploring the advantages of personalization in building more robust and reliable models. This work assesses the strengths of different combinations of speech representations and machine learning models, in personalized and generalized settings in a two-class depression severity classification paradigm. Key results on a longitudinal dataset highlight the benefits of personalization. Our strongest performing model set-up utilized self-supervised learning features and convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) back-end

The Multiscenario Multienvironment BioSecure Multimodal Database (BMDB)

A new multimodal biometric database designed and acquired within the framework of the European BioSecure Network of Excellence is presented. It is comprised of more than 600 individuals acquired simultaneously in three scenarios: 1) over the Internet, 2) in an office environment with desktop PC, and 3) in indoor/outdoor environments with mobile portable hardware. The three scenarios include a common part of audio/video data. Also, signature and fingerprint data have been acquired both with desktop PC and mobile portable hardware. Additionally, hand and iris data were acquired in the second scenario using desktop PC. Acquisition has been conducted by 11 European institutions. Additional features of the BioSecure Multimodal Database (BMDB) are: two acquisition sessions, several sensors in certain modalities, balanced gender and age distributions, multimodal realistic scenarios with simple and quick tasks per modality, cross-European diversity, availability of demographic data, and compatibility with other multimodal databases. The novel acquisition conditions of the BMDB allow us to perform new challenging research and evaluation of either monomodal or multimodal biometric systems, as in the recent BioSecure Multimodal Evaluation campaign. A description of this campaign including baseline results of individual modalities from the new database is also given. The database is expected to be available for research purposes through the BioSecure Association during 2008Comment: Published at IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence journa

Microenvironment Eradication of Hepatitis C: A Novel Treatment Paradigm

OBJECTIVES: Prisons are major reservoirs of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in which a therapeutic approach has been particularly difficult so far. Our aim was to create a permanent program of HCV elimination in a prison based on a "test and treat" strategy. METHODS: This open-label clinical trial was conducted in the Spanish prison "El Dueso" between May 2016 and July 2017. Viremic patients were treated with a ledipasvir-sofosbuvir regimen (8-12 weeks) according to the 2015 Spanish Guidelines. A teleconsultation program was established to follow-up patients from the hospital. Non-responders were submitted for a phylogenetic analysis and offered retreatment. An evaluation of new cases of HCV infection was performed every 6 months and upon release in all inmates. RESULTS: 847 (99.5%) inmates accepted to participate. HCV antibodies were present in 110 (13.0%) and 86 (10.2%) had detectable viremia. Most of them were genotype 1 or 3 (82.6%) and had <F2 fibrosis (52.2%). Treatment was started in the 69 inmates whose stay in prison was longer than 30 days. Sustained virological response was achieved in 64 out of 66 patients (96.9%), three of whom were successfully rescued with a salvage regimen after treatment failure. Two patients were lost to follow-up and three are currently on treatment without viremia. As a result, by July 2017 none of the 409 imprisoned was viremic, and neither reinfections nor de novo infections were detected. CONCLUSIONS: A sustained "test-and-treat" strategy against HCV in prisons is feasible and beneficial. Spreading this strategy should entail a public health impact.Supported by Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013–2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, cofinanced by European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe”,Operative program Intelligent Growth 2014–2020 and grant PIE15/00079. This study received funding assistance from Gilead Sciences, Spain (IN-ES-337-2089), C/Vía de los Poblados, 3, 28033 Madrid, Spain, http://www.gilead. com/about/worldwide-operations/europe/spain; phone number: +34 913789830), who played no part in study design, data analysis, or in the preparation of the manuscript. All study investigators declare to be independent from funders