386 research outputs found
Preface to the Sixth Workshop on Natural Language for Artificial Intelligence (NL4AI)
No full textNatural Language Processing (NLP) is an important research topic in Artificial Intelligence (AI), as it is the target of different scientific and industrial interests. Natural Language is at the crossroad of Learning, Knowledge Representation, and Cognitive Modeling. Several recent AI achievements have repeatedly shown their beneficial impact on complex inference tasks, with huge application perspectives in linguistic modeling, processing, and inferences. However, Natural Language Understanding is still a rich research topic, whose cross-fertilization spans
a number of independent areas such as Cognitive Computing, Robotics as well as HumanComputer Interaction. For AI, Natural Languages are the research focus of paradigms and applications but, at the same time, they act as cornerstones of automation, autonomy, and learnability for most intelligent phenomena ranging from Vision to Planning and Social Behaviors. A reflection about such diverse and promising interactions is an important target for current AI studies, fully in the core mission of AI*IA. This workshop, supported by the Special Interest Group on NLP of AI*IA1 and by the Italian Association of Computational Linguistics
(AILC)2, aims at providing a broad overview of recent activities in the eld of Human Language Technologies (HLT) in Italy. In this context, the organization of NL4AI 2021 [1] provided researchers with the opportunity to share experiences and insights about AI applications focused on NLP in several domains. The 2022 edition of NL4AI is co-located with the 21th International Conference of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence (AIxIA 2022), taking place on November 30th in Udine, Italy. The program of the meeting is available on the official workshop
website3. We received 17 submissions, 14 of which were accepted after peer-review
Concorso internazionale a inviti per Nuove terme,hotel e Masterplan per S.Pellegrino terme
No full textConcorso internazionale a inviti per Nuove terme,hotel e Masterplan per S.Pellegrino term
Levels of soluble endothelial protein C receptor are associated with CD4+ changes in Maraviroc-treated HIV-infected patients.
No full textBackgroundInflammation is a key feature of HIV infection and is correlated with long-term negative cardiovascular outcomes. Therapy-induced increases in CD4(+) cell counts can control inflammation, as shown by decreases of coagulation and inflammation markers during efficacious therapy. Maraviroc, a CCR5-antagonist, has resulted in larger increases in CD4(+) counts both in naïve and experienced subjects compared to traditional antiretroviral therapy.Objectives and methodsTo examine if a member of the protein C anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory pathway, and marker of coagulation and inflammation, the soluble endothelial protein C receptor, is modified by infection and therapy-related variables in patients treated with Maraviroc. Endothelial protein C receptor, together with other established markers of inflammation and coagulation (CRP, IL-6, D-dimer and soluble thrombomodulin) was studied in 43 patients on traditional antiretroviral therapy and in 45 on Maraviroc during 48 weeks of follow-up.ResultsSoluble endothelial protein C receptor was the only marker that could discriminate at least partially between patients with a good response to Maraviroc and patients who did not respond with an adequate increase in CD4(+) cell counts (more than 500 cells/µL by week 48).ConclusionsElevated levels of soluble endothelial protein C receptor, a sensitive marker of endothelial damage, indicated a low level of inflammation and coagulation activation in Maraviroc treated patients not picked up by other widely used markers. Persistent elevated levels of this marker at 48 weeks from beginning of treatment with Maraviroc were related to a poor increase in CD4(+) cells
Concorso internazionale a inviti per la riqualificazione della Darsena,Milano
No full textConcorso internazionale a inviti per la riqualificazione della Darsena,Milan
Determination of the Three-Dimensional Solution Structure of the Oxidised Form of Mesophilic Thioredoxin from Escherichia Coli and Modeling by Homology of the Thermophilic Thioredoxin from Bacillus Acidocaldarius
No full textPlateau phase in multiple myeloma: an end-point of conventional-dose chemotherapy
No full textBackground and objective. In multiple myeloma (MIM) patients treated with conventional chemotherapy, the attainment and duration of a plateau phase seems to affect survival more than the degree of response to initial treatment. The aims of this study are: 1) to analyze within a cohort of previously untreated MM patients the incidence and the duration of the plateau phase; 2) to correlate It with the presenting features; 3) to assess ifs impact on survival.
Design and Methods A series of 146 consecutive MM patients treated with conventional chemotherapy were evaluated far this study. Of 146 patients, 102 responded (13 achieving complete response, 21 partial response, and 68 minimal response), and 44 showed less than minimal response or a progression. A plateau phase was documented in 115 patients (comprising all responders and 13 non responders. The median plateau phase duration was 21.6 months. The majority of patients received Intermittent cycles of chemotherapy (melphalan or interferon) during the plateau phase. In multivariate analysis, lytic lesions, response, and time to the best response (TBR) correlated with the attainment of a plateau, while stage, response as a whole, and TBR showed a significant correlation with the duration. In contrast, the type of response did not correlate with either the attainment or the duration of plateau. To analyze the prognostic impact of presenting features, response to therapy and plateau we used a hierarchical model for survival. The analysis showed that the response to therapy and the duration of plateau significantly affect the survival.
Interpretation and Conclusions In multiple myeloma a plateau phase of at least 6 months' duration has a higher impact an survival than the degree of response to conventional chemotherapy so plateau duration could be used as target of therapeutic trials. The best way to maintain the plateau phase remains, however, undefined
Soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) as an inflammatory biomarker in naive HIV-infected patients during ART
No full textBackground: After the advent of ART, non-AIDS-related comorbidities are the main causes of death in HIV patients. Multiple biomarkers have been studied as markers of disease. We wanted to test soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) in an HIV setting. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine whether sEPCR decreases after 48 weeks of ART in naive HIV patients. Secondary objectives were to compare sEPCR levels between patients with chronic HIV infection (CHI) and primary HIV infection (PHI) and to analyse if there is a correlation between sEPCR and both immunovirological parameters and different markers of inflammation. Patients and methods: We analysed sEPCR in 33 patients with CHI and 19 patients with PHI naive to ART. sEPCR was compared together with immunovirological parameters (HIV RNA and CD4 cell count) and IL-6 or D-dimer (DD). Results and conclusions: After 48 weeks of ART, in CHI, the sEPCR decrease was significant (P=0.0006) and sEPCR at baseline was correlated with both CD4 cell increase (r=+0.463, P=0.007) and HIV RNA decrease (r=-0.363, P=0.038). In PHI, sEPCR was stable (P=0.35); there was a correlation between 48 week DD change and IL-6 change (r=+0.696, P=0.0009) and also between 48 week DD change and sEPCR change (r=+0.553, P=0.014). Despite the small sample size, we hypothesize that sEPCR levels reflect coagulant pathway activation caused by the endothelial damage during chronic infection more than a marker of the cytokine storm that occurs during PHI. Alternatively, in PHI, the link found between sEPCR and DD secondary to IL-6 suggests sEPCR is an indirect marker of inflammation
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