Towards Multilingual Coreference Resolution

The current work investigates the problems that occur when coreference resolution is considered as a multilingual task. We assess the issues that arise when a framework using the mention-pair coreference resolution model and memory-based learning for the resolution process are used. Along the way, we revise three essential subtasks of coreference resolution: mention detection, mention head detection and feature selection. For each of these aspects we propose various multilingual solutions including both heuristic, rule-based and machine learning methods. We carry out a detailed analysis that includes eight different languages (Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, German, Italian and Spanish) for which datasets were provided by the only two multilingual shared tasks on coreference resolution held so far: SemEval-2 and CoNLL-2012. Our investigation shows that, although complex, the coreference resolution task can be targeted in a multilingual and even language independent way. We proposed machine learning methods for each of the subtasks that are affected by the transition, evaluated and compared them to the performance of rule-based and heuristic approaches. Our results confirmed that machine learning provides the needed flexibility for the multilingual task and that the minimal requirement for a language independent system is a part-of-speech annotation layer provided for each of the approached languages. We also showed that the performance of the system can be improved by introducing other layers of linguistic annotations, such as syntactic parses (in the form of either constituency or dependency parses), named entity information, predicate argument structure, etc. Additionally, we discuss the problems occurring in the proposed approaches and suggest possibilities for their improvement

ОЦЕНКА НА ИМУНИЗАЦИЯТА СРЕЩУ ЧОВЕШКИ ПАПИЛОМА ВИРУС ВЪВ ВАРНЕНСКИ РЕГИОН ЗА ПЕРИОДА 2015-2022Г.

Човешкият папиломен вирус (HPV) е най-често предаваната по полов път инфекция. Неговите патогенни и онкогенни качества са документирани и е известно, че причинителят се среща, както при жени, така и при мъже. Заразяването става предимно в юношеска и млада възраст. Към днешна дата,в световен мащаб са лицензирани шест HPV ваксини. В много страни нивото на ваксинация е високо не само сред подрастващите момичета, но и момчета. Към момента в България се изпълнява третата Национална програма за първична профилактика на рака на маточната шийка.Целта е да се представи епидемиологична характеристика на обхванатите с имунизация срещу HPV момичета във Варненска област за периода 2015-2022 г.Материали и методи. Ретроспективен анализ (2015г.-2022г.) на официални данни от годишните анализи на РЗИ-Варна.Резултати и дискусия. Поради незадължителния характер на ваксината, официалните данни не са пълни. През 2015г. са ваксинирани 667 момичета на възраст 12-13 години. За периода 2016г.- 2019г. сред обхванатите момичета с ваксината срещу HPV се отчита спад като най-малковаксинирани е имало през 2018г. - 275. През 2020г. се наблюдава покачване на броя на ваксинирате спрямо предходните четири години - 424, но през 2022 г. е регистрирана най-ниска активност на имунизацията срещу HPV за целия анализиран период - 170 момичета.Заключение. Забелязва се тенденция към понижаване на броя на обхванатите момичета с ваксина против човешки папилома вирус в регион Варна. Явлението се дължи най-вече на широко разпространения сред обществото негативизъм към ваксината срещу рак на маточната шийка

Kidney stone disease (Nephrolithiasis) - Pathogenesis, types of imaging diagnostic methods in contemporary medicine

Рискът от развитие на нефролитиаза в развитите страни е около 12% при мъжете и 6% при жените. Бялата раса е по-засегната от черната. Честотата на заболяването се увеличава правопропорционално на увеличената честота на захарен диабет тип ІІ и наднорменото тегло. Съотношението мъже / жени е 1,3:1. Честотата се увеличава във възрастта над 20 години, a пикът на патологията е във възрастовата група между 40-60 години, след което намалява и остава константа. Нефролитиазата е известна още като бъбречно-каменна болест и се развива при пациенти с генетична предиспозиция, при широк спектър от метаболитни заболявания, a също и при множество коморбидни състояния. Повечето камъни са изградени от калциев оксалат и пикочна киселина, струвит (амониево-магнезиев сулфат), цистин, амониев урат. Напоследък се повишава честотата на лекарствено индуцираната нефролитиаза, която се наблюдава при имобилизирани пациенти.Образнодиагностичните методи започват с ултразвуковото изследване на пикочо-отделителната система. То открива голям процент от всички конкременти, както и паренхимни процеси, които биха могли да имитират ренална колика. Обзорната рентгенография на бъбреци, уретери, пикочен мехур (БУМ) представлява рентгеново изследване на отделителната система, което демонстрира конкременти с калциево съдържимо; обикновено предшества венозната урография и други рентгенови изследвания. Венозна урография - методът дава информация както за позицията и размера на конкремента, така и за състоянието на бъбречната функция. Методът обаче има риск от известна нефротоксичност. Компютърна томография без използване на контрастна материя демонстрира конкременти във всяка една част от отделителната система.Има редица заболявания, които могат да имитират симптомите на БКБ и поради тази причина е необходимо те да бъдат изключени в хода на диагностичния процес. Днес развитието на науката допринесе за по-задълбочено разбиране на причините и механизмите за образуване на камъни и съответно - за много по-ефективно клинично диагностициране и лечение. Необходимо е периодично да се следи здравословното състояние чрез редовни консултации с нефролог или уролог, който да извършва ехографско изследване.The risk of nephrolithiasis in developed countries is roughly 12% in men and 6% in women. Caucasians are more likely to form kidney stones than black people. The frequency of this pathology increases proportionally to the rising frequency of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The ratio of male to female sufferers is 1.3:1. The disease is mostly observed in individuals over the age of 20, while the pique is between 40 and 60 years. Nephrolithiasis is more commonly known as kidney stone disease and develops primarily in genetically predisposed patients, patients with metabolic disorders, and multiple comorbidities. Most stones are made up of calcium oxalate and uric acid, struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), cystine, ammonium urate. Recently there has been an increase in medicamentation-induced nephrolithiasis, observed in immobilized patients.The imaging diagnostics begins with abdominal ultrasonography - it can find a large percentage of all calculi, as well as parenchymal processes which could simulate a renal colic. Plain abdominal radiographs can demonstrate calcium-containing stones, and usually precedes venous urograms and other exams. Venous urograms provide insight into a calculus position, as well as regarding renal function. It is, however, associated with potential nephrotoxicity. Computed tomography can natively (without contrast material) demonstrate virtually all stones in every part of the excretory system.There are several conditions which mimic the symptoms of kidney stone disease, and must therefore be exlcuded along the diagnostic pathway. Currently, advanced understanding of the reasons and mechanisms of calculus formation have contributed to more effective diagnostic and treatment methods. Periodic consultations and ultrasonographies with a nephrologist or urologist are advisable

Imaging diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer in contemporary medicine. Types and prevention

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer (colorectal carcinoma) is a malignant tumor, stemming from the wall of the colon. It is the second most common carcinoma in men (after pulmonary and before stomach cancers) and the third most common in women (after breast and uterine carcinomas). Its frequency has been increasing steadily in the last years. It most often affects people past 50 years of age, but about 20% of cases occur before that point. Histologically, 80% of cases are of adenocarcinoma and about 20% - mucinous. Carcinomas generally develop on the basis of adenomas.AIM: To examine the types, the prevention and the imaging diagnostic methods for the cancer of the large intestine and of the colon of modern medicine.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research applies statistical methods. The data was processed through statistical and graphical analyses.RESULTS: Screening methods applied with success are as follows: rectoromanoscopy, fibrocolonoscopy, irigography, computed tomographic colonography, magnetic resonance tomography. The most frequently used two are irigography with a barium enema and fibrocolonoscopy. The former allows for a thorough radiological topographical analysis of the whole colon, while the latter allows for direct mucosal visualization and biopsy (both cytological and histological) without radiation by means of a flexible metallic tube inserted retrogradely. Fibrocolonoscopy enables minor minimally invasive surgery such as polyp and small tumor removal. Rectoromanoscopy is a dated method, solely with historical significance. The latest imaging diagnostic methods are the tomographic ones - computed tomography, computed tomography virtual colonoscopy, and magnetic resonance tomography. They are highly informative for all diseases of the colon, contributing considerably to tumor staging, and to preoperative assessment.CONCLUSIONS: Screening programs, timely consultations with specialists and the increasing availability of imaging diagnostic equipment lead to a marked tendency of decreasing colorectal carcinoma mortality in Bulgaria

The effect of X-ray radiation on the human body - pros and cons. Radiation protection in medical imaging and radiotherapy

INTRODUCTION: The discovery of X-rays in November 1895 by Roentgen opened a new chapter in the scientif­ic development and pretty soon it became clear that these rays can be useful for diagnostics and treatment. The most frequent use of X-rays is related to their ability to pass through matter. The main fields of application of the rays are medicine, industry, checks of goods and packages and scientific studies. Modern medicine consti­tutes approximately 80% of the overexposure. The contribution of diagnostic radiology is approximately 22% of the total exposure of Bulgarian population. The quality of the medical services depends to a great extent on the accurate and timely diagnoses set through different methods using also ionizing radiation. The exposure of the patient should be reasonably justified and optimized but cannot be limited. The risk of exposure to high doses of radiation is justified only if this is appropriate for the diagnosis or the treatment. Each overexposure, including medical irradiation, is related to certain radiation risk. Radiation protection is a means to apply the measures intended to protect the health from ionizing radiation-related risks. It is essential to know the bene­fits and risks of the medical procedures.AIM: To investigate radiation protection means, and the benefits and risks of medical procedures.MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analysis of literature sources was conducted.RESULTS: The medical control of the radiation protection divides exposure into three categories: professional exposure, medical exposure and exposure of the population. Irradiation by any source should be conducted by optimizing the protection and the safety, maintaining the size of the individual dose, the number of exposed persons and the exposure at levels as low as reasonably achievable considering the social and economic factors. This is the so-called optimization of the protection

Gallstone disease (Cholelithiasis) - pathogenesis, prevention and contemporary methods of imaging diagnostics

INTRODUCTION: Cholelithiasis is a metabolic disorder, leading to stone formation in the bile ducts and gall­bladder. The stones are classified by their composition as cholesterol, pigment, and mixed. The condition is more frequent in overweight individuals, with a stationary way of life, diabetics, and women on oral contracep­tives. There is a female predilection with a 3.5:1 ratio. The disease has several forms. The latent one is devoid of complaints - stones are an incidental finding. The acute form manifests with right upper quadrant pain. Bili­ary colic is typical - it comes in fits of right subcostal pain, nausea, and frequently - vomiting. Complications are frequent - gallbladder and bile duct inflammation, biliary obstruction, gallbladder perforation, and bili­ary peritonitis.AIM: To analyze the pathogenesis, the prevention and the modern medical imaging methods related to the gallstones disease.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research applied statistical methods. The data was processed through sta­tistical and graphical analysis.RESULTS: Accurate diagnosis requires a compound approach. Anamnesis of biliary colic initiates it. Abdomi­nal ultrasonography is the fastest and most accessible imaging method for finding gallstones. It can also pres­ent the gallbladder itself - whether it is enlarged, inflamed, or folded. Additional methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and some hybrid techniques. If the data of cholelithi­asis is ambiguous, the latter can be confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - an endoscope is introduced to the level of the papilla of Vater, and contrast is injected into it. The biliary path­ways also used to be imaged by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, which now is a dated technique.CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis includes avoiding risk factors of alimentary nature and undergoing periodic con­trol ultrasonographies, especially in individuals with a family history of gallstones. This is crucial, as chroni

Beauty today – natural or acquired

Since antiquity beauty has been one of the main aims of mankind. We have a great variety of options for reaching it, some of them completely harmless and others a bit more radical. Provoked by the outburst of role models we decided to check whether they actually have any influence. The goal of our research is to determine the public attitudes about aesthetic procedures. The subjects of our online survey are 244 women between 15 and 65 years of age, from all over Bulgaria. According to a significant part (65.16%) a “pretty woman” is the one who takes care of her natural look and no one appears to include plastic surgery in this definition. More than the half of them (52.87%) would not change anything and more than one quarter (26.64%) consider there is a huge marketing manipulation about the eventual consequences. Mostly young ladies are willing to go for aesthetic manipulations and a small but an important part of them (4.26%) admit they aim to attract the attention of others. Whether this propaganda has any impact on the society, the possible presence of any vulnerable groups and whether we have enough information about all the procedures on the market are among the questions we will try to answer with our research

Multilinguale Koreferenz-Resolution

The current work investigates the problems that occur when coreference resolution is considered as a multilingual task. We assess the issues that arise when a framework using the mention-pair coreference resolution model and memory-based learning for the resolution process are used. Along the way, we revise three essential subtasks of coreference resolution: mention detection, mention head detection and feature selection. For each of these aspects we propose various multilingual solutions including both heuristic, rule-based and machine learning methods. We carry out a detailed analysis that includes eight different languages (Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, German, Italian and Spanish) for which datasets were provided by the only two multilingual shared tasks on coreference resolution held so far: SemEval-2 and CoNLL-2012. Our investigation shows that, although complex, the coreference resolution task can be targeted in a multilingual and even language independent way. We proposed machine learning methods for each of the subtasks that are affected by the transition, evaluated and compared them to the performance of rule-based and heuristic approaches. Our results confirmed that machine learning provides the needed flexibility for the multilingual task and that the minimal requirement for a language independent system is a part-of-speech annotation layer provided for each of the approached languages. We also showed that the performance of the system can be improved by introducing other layers of linguistic annotations, such as syntactic parses (in the form of either constituency or dependency parses), named entity information, predicate argument structure, etc. Additionally, we discuss the problems occurring in the proposed approaches and suggest possibilities for their improvement