OBOME - Ontology based opinion mining in UBIPOL

Ontologies have a special role in the UBIPOL system, they help to structure the policy related context, provide conceptualization for policy domain and use in the opinion mining process. In this work we presented a system called Ontology Based Opinion Mining Engine (OBOME) for analyzing a domain-specific opinion corpus by first assisting the user with the creation of a domain ontology from the corpus. We determined the polarity of opinion on the various domain aspects. In the former step, the policy domain aspect has are identified (namely which policy category is represented by the concept). This identification is supported by the policy modelling ontology, which describe the most important policy – related classes and structure. Then the most informative documents from the corpus are extracted and asked the user to create a set of aspects and related keywords using these documents. In the latter step, we used the corpus specific ontology to model the domain and extracted aspect-polarity associations using grammatical dependencies between words. Later, summarized results are shown to the user to analyze and store. Finally, in an offline process policy modeling ontology is updated

On determining cluster size of randomly deployed heterogeneous WSNs

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Clustering is an efficient method to solve scalability problems and energy consumption challenges. For this reason it is widely exploited in Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) applications. It is very critical to determine the number of required clusterheads and thus the overall cost of WSNs while satisfying the desired level of coverage. Our objective is to study cluster size, i.e., how much a clusterhead together with sensors can cover a region when all the devices in a WSN are deployed randomly. Therefore, it is possible to compute the required number of nodes of each type for given network parameters

A molecular-based fast method to determine the extent of DNA damages in higher plants and fungi

Comet assay also called ‘single cell gel electrophoresis is a technique for the detection of DNA damage and repair at the level of single cells, which is one of the most advanced techniques introduced to theagricultural sciences in recent years. The assay is one of the most popular tests of DNA damage detection (e.g. single and double-strand breaks, oxidative-induced base damage and DNA-DNA/DNAproteincross linking) by electrophoresis. The assay is very sensitive, rapid, easy to handle, noninvasive, visual and inexpensive compared to most conventional techniques to detect DNA damage, there is also little amount of cell samples required and it is applicable for most eukaryotic cells, thus, it has rapidly gained importance in the fields of genetic toxicology, medicine, environmental studies and agriculture. Isolated DNA from cells are embedded in a thin agarose gel on a microscope slide and unwound in a suitable buffer and exposed to a weak electric field to attract broken, negatively-charged DNA towards the anode. After electrophoresis, migrated DNA fragments stained with a fluorescent dye would resemble a shape of a comet observed by a fluorescence microscopy. The extent of comet-like shapes would indicate the level of DNA damage in cells. The intensity of comet tail relative to the head would also reflect the extent of DNA damage in numerical

JobIQ : recommending study pathways based on career choices

Modern job markets often require an intricate combination of multi-disciplinary skills or specialist and technical knowledge, even for entry-level positions. Such requirements pose increased pressure on higher education graduates entering the job market. This paper presents our JobIQ recommendation system helping prospective students choose educational programs or electives based on their career preferences. While existing recommendation solutions focus on internal institutional data, such as previous student experiences, JobIQ considers external data, recommending educational programs that best cover the knowledge and skills required by selected job roles. To deliver such recommendations, we create and compare skill profiles from job advertisements and educational subjects, aggregating them to skill profiles of job roles and educational programs. Using skill profiles, we build formal models and algorithms for program recommendations. Finally, we suggest other recommendations and benchmarking approaches, helping curriculum developers assess the job readiness of program graduates. The video presenting the JobIQ system is available online∗

Zinc/copper imbalance reflects immune dysfunction in human leishmaniasis: an ex vivo and in vitro study

BACKGROUND: The process of elimination of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania, requires a Th1 type immune response, whereas a dominant Th2 response leads to exacerbated disease. Experimental human zinc deficiency decreases Th1 but not Th2 immune response. We investigated if zinc and copper levels differ in different clinical forms of leishmaniasis, and if these trace metals might be involved in the immune response towards the parasite. METHODS: Blood was collected from 31 patients with either localized cutaneous (LCL), mucosal (ML) or visceral (VL) leishmaniasis, as well as from 25 controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. Anti-Leishmania humoral and cellular immune response were evaluated by quantifying specific plasma IgG, lymphoproliferation and cytokine production, respectively. Plasma levels of Cu and Zn were quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: A significant decrease in plasma Zn was observed in all three patient groups (p < 0.01 for LCL and ML, p < 0.001 for VL), as compared to controls, but only VL (7/10) and ML (1/7) patients displayed overt Zn deficiency. Plasma Cu was increased in LCL and VL (p < 0.001) but not in ML, and was strongly correlated to anti-Leishmania IgG (Spearman r = 0.65, p = 0.0028). Cu/Zn ratios were highest in patients with deficient cellular (VL<<LCL<ML) and exacerbated humoral (VL>LCL>ML) immune response. Ex vivo production of parasite-induced IFN-γ was negatively correlated to plasma Cu levels in LCL (r = -0.57, p = 0.01). In vitro, increased Cu levels inhibited IFN-γ production. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Zn deficiency in VL and ML indicate possible therapeutic administration of Zn in these severe forms of leishmaniasis. 2. Plasma Cu positively correlates to humoral immune response across patient groups. 3. Environmentally or genetically determined increases in Cu levels might augment susceptibility to infection with intracellular pathogens, by causing a decrease in IFN-γ production

A forced titration study of the antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Ambrotose AO supplement

Background Oxidative stress plays a role in acute and chronic inflammatory disease and antioxidant supplementation has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of these conditions. This study was designed to determine the optimal dose of an antioxidant supplement in healthy volunteers to inform a Phase 3 clinical trial. Methods The study was designed as a combined Phase 1 and 2 open label, forced titration dose response study in healthy volunteers (n = 21) to determine both acute safety and efficacy. Participants received a dietary supplement in a forced titration over five weeks commencing with a no treatment baseline through 1, 2, 4 and 8 capsules. The primary outcome measurement was ex vivo changes in serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The secondary outcome measures were undertaken as an exploratory investigation of immune function. Results A significant increase in antioxidant activity (serum ORAC) was observed between baseline (no capsules) and the highest dose of 8 capsules per day (p = 0.040) representing a change of 36.6%. A quadratic function for dose levels was fitted in order to estimate a dose response curve for estimating the optimal dose. The quadratic component of the curve was significant (p = 0.047), with predicted serum ORAC scores increasing from the zero dose to a maximum at a predicted dose of 4.7 capsules per day and decreasing for higher doses. Among the secondary outcome measures, a significant dose effect was observed on phagocytosis of granulocytes, and a significant increase was also observed on Cox 2 expression. Conclusion This study suggests that Ambrotose AO® capsules appear to be safe and most effective at a dosage of 4 capsules/day. It is important that this study is not over interpreted; it aimed to find an optimal dose to assess the dietary supplement using a more rigorous clinical trial design. The study achieved this aim and demonstrated that the dietary supplement has the potential to increase antioxidant activity. The most significant limitation of this study was that it was open label Phase 1/Phase 2 trial and is subject to potential bias that is reduced with the use of randomization and blinding. To confirm the benefits of this dietary supplement these effects now need to be demonstrated in a Phase 3 randomised controlled trial (RCT)

Induction, expression and characterisation of laccase genes from the marine-derived fungal strains Nigrospora sp. CBMAI 1328 and Arthopyrenia sp. CBMAI 1330

The capability of the fungi Nigrospora sp. CBMAI 1328 and Arthopyrenia sp. CBMAI 1330 isolated from marine sponge to synthesise laccases (Lcc) in the presence of the inducer copper (110 M) was assessed. In a liquid culture medium supplemented with 5 M of copper sulphate after 5 days of incubation, Nigrospora sp. presented the highest Lcc activity (25.2 UL1). The effect of copper on Lcc gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Nigrospora sp. showed the highest gene expression of Lcc under the same conditions of Lcc synthesis. The highest Lcc expression by the Arthopyrenia sp. was detected at 96 h of incubation in absence of copper. Molecular approaches allowed the detection of Lcc isozymes and suggest the presence of at least two undescribed putative genes. Additionally, Lcc sequences from the both fungal strains clustered with other Lcc sequences from other fungi that inhabit marine environments.M. Passarini was supported by Ph.D. grant from FAPESP (2008/06720-7), Sao Paulo, Brazil. The authors thank FAPESP for financial support (BIOTA-FAPESP grant 2010/50190-2 and FAPESP grant 2013/19486-0) and Roberto G.S. Berlinck and CEBIMAR for the support related to samples collecting. L.D. Sette thanks CNPq for Productivity Fellowships 304103/2013-6

Reliability, construct validity and measurement potential of the ICF comprehensive core set for osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to investigate the reliability and construct validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Comprehensive Core Set for osteoarthritis (OA) in order to test its possible use as a measuring tool for functioning.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>100 patients with OA (84 F, 16 M; mean age 63 yr) completed forms including demographic and clinical information besides the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36^®) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index of Osteoarthritis (WOMAC). The ICF Comprehensive Core Set for OA was filled by health professionals. The internal construct validities of "Body Functions-Body structures" (BF-BS), "Activity" (A), "Participation" (P) and "Environmental Factors" (EF) domains were tested by Rasch analysis and reliability by internal consistency and person separation index (PSI). External construct validity was evaluated by correlating the Rasch transformed scores with SF-36 and WOMAC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In each scale, some items showing disordered thresholds were rescored, testlets were created to overcome the problem of local dependency and items that did not fit to the Rasch model were deleted. The internal construct validity of the four scales (BF-BS 16 items, A 8 items, P 7 items, EF 13 items) were good [mean item fit (SD) 0.138 (0.921), 0.216 (1.237), 0.759 (0.986) and -0.079 (2.200); person item fit (SD) -0.147 (0.652), -0.241 (0.894), -0.310 (1.187) and -0.491 (1.173) respectively], indicating a single underlying construct for each scale. The scales were free of differential item functioning (DIF) for age, gender, years of education and duration of disease. Reliabilities of the BF-BS, A, P, and EF scales were good with Cronbach's alphas of 0.79, 0.86, 0.88, and 0.83 and PSI's of 0.76, 0.86, 0.87, and 0.71, respectively. Rasch scores of BF-BS, A, and P showed moderate correlations with SF-36 and WOMAC scores where the EF had significant but weak correlations only with SF36-Social Functioning and SF36-Mental Health.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since the four different scales derived from BF-BS, A, P, and EF components of the ICF core set for OA were shown to be valid and reliable through a combination of Rasch analysis and classical psychometric methods, these might be used as clinical assessment tools.</p