Cross-lingual ontology matching as a challenge for the Multilingual Semantic Web

Recently, the Semantic Web has experienced significant advancements in standards and techniques, as well as in the amount of semantic information available online. Nevertheless, mechanisms are still needed to automatically reconcile information when it is expressed in different natural languages on the Web of Data, in order to improve the access to semantic information across language barriers. In this context several challenges arise [1], such as: (i) ontology translation/localization, (ii) cross-lingual ontology mappings, (iii) representation of multilingual lexical information, and (iv) cross-lingual access and querying of linked data. In the following we will focus on the second challenge, which is the necessity of establishing, representing and storing cross-lingual links among semantic information on the Web. In fact, in a “truly” multilingual Semantic Web, semantic data with lexical representations in one natural language would be mapped to equivalent or related information in other languages, thus making navigation across multilingual information possible for software agents.

Using WYSIWYM to Create an Open-ended Interface for the Semantic Grid

Publisher PDF

A single serine residue controls the cation dependence of substrate transport by the rat serotonin transporter

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a member of the Na+/Cl−-dependent neurotransmitter transporter family and constitutes the target of several clinically important antidepressants. Here, replacement of serine-545 in the recombinant rat SERT by alanine was found to alter the cation dependence of serotonin uptake. Substrate transport was now driven as efficiently by LiCl as by NaCl without significant changes in serotonin affinity. Binding of the antidepressant [3H]imipramine occurred with 1/5th the affinity, whereas [3H]citalopram binding was unchanged. These results indicate that serine-545 is a crucial determinant of both the cation dependence of serotonin transport by SERT and the imipramine binding properties of SERT.

Interaction of the herbicide glyphosate with its target enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase in atomic detail

Biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants, many bacteria, and microbes relies on the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, a prime target for drugs and herbicides. We have identified the interaction of EPSP synthase with one of its two substrates (shikimate 3-phosphate) and with the widely used herbicide glyphosate by x-ray crystallography. The two-domain enzyme closes on ligand binding, thereby forming the active site in the interdomain cleft. Glyphosate appears to occupy the binding site of the second substrate of EPSP synthase (phosphoenol pyruvate), mimicking an intermediate state of the ternary enzyme⋅substrates complex. The elucidation of the active site of EPSP synthase and especially of the binding pattern of glyphosate provides a valuable roadmap for engineering new herbicides and herbicide-resistant crops, as well as new antibiotic and antiparasitic drugs.

C/EBPɛ mediates myeloid differentiation and is regulated by the CCAAT displacement protein (CDP/cut)

Neutrophils from CCAAT enhancer binding protein epsilon (C/EBPɛ) knockout mice have morphological and biochemical features similar to those observed in patients with an extremely rare congenital disorder called neutrophil-specific secondary granule deficiency (SGD). SGD is characterized by frequent bacterial infections attributed, in part, to the lack of neutrophil secondary granule proteins (SGP). A mutation that results in loss of functional C/EBPɛ activity has recently been described in an SGD patient, and has been postulated to be the cause of the disease in this patient. We have previously demonstrated that overexpression of CCAAT displacement protein (CDP/cut), a highly conserved transcriptional repressor of developmentally regulated genes, suppresses expression of SGP genes in 32Dcl3 cells. This phenotype resembles that observed in both C/EBPɛ−/− mice and in SGD patients. Based on these observations we investigated potential interactions between C/EBPɛ and CDP/cut during neutrophil maturation. In this study, we demonstrate that inducible expression of C/EBPɛ in 32Dcl3/tet cells results in granulocytic differentiation. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis of G-CSF-induced CDP/cut overexpressing 32Dcl3 cells revealed absence of C/EBPɛ mRNA. We therefore hypothesize that C/EBPɛ positively regulates SGP gene expression, and that C/EBPɛ is itself negatively regulated by CDP/cut during neutrophil maturation. We further demonstrate that the C/EBPɛ promoter is regulated by CDP/cut during myeloid differentiation.

Dominância funcional e monitoramento da resistência de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a tecnologias Bt no Brasil

Plantas transgênicas que expressam toxinas de Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) têm sido amplamente utilizadas para o controle de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) no Brasil. Entretanto, a evolução da resistência é um dos maiores entraves para a continuidade do uso desta tecnologia. Para subsidiar programas de Manejo da Resistência de Insetos (MRI), foram conduzidos estudos para o aprimoramento dos programas de manejo da resistência de S. frugiperda a tecnologias Bt. Foram realizadas estudos para determinar a dominância funcional da resistência de S. frugiperda a tecnologias Bt mediante a avaliação da sobrevivência de larvas neonatas provenientes das linhagens de S. frugiperda resistentes ao milho Herculex® que expressa a proteína Cry1F (HX-R), ao milho YieldGard VT PRO™ que expressa as proteínas Cry1A.105 e Cry2Ab2 (VT-R), ao milho PowerCore™ que expressa as proteínas Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2 e Cry1F (PW-R), e ao milho Agrisure Viptera™ que expressa a proteína Vip3Aa20 (Vip-R), além da linhagem suscetível (Sus) e de suas respectivas linhagens heterozigotas em diversas tecnologias de milho e algodão Bt. Posteriormente, um método prático para o monitoramento fenotípico da suscetibilidade a diferentes tecnologias de milho e algodão Bt foi testado a partir da avaliação da sobrevivência de larvas neonatas em folhas de plantas Bt em populações de S. frugiperda provenientes dos Estados do Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, São Paulo, Goiás e Bahia na safra agrícola 2014/15. E por último, a estimativa da frequência de alelos de resistência de S. frugiperda a Vip3Aa20 foi validada pelo método de F1 screen. Em geral, observou-se alta mortalidade dos heterozigotos nas tecnologias Bt testadas, comprovando que a resistência de S. frugiperda a proteínas Bt é funcionalmente recessiva o que suporta a estratégia de refúgio em programas de MRI. Verificou-se também que linhagens resistentes a eventos que expressam proteínas Cry não sobrevivem em tecnologias que expressam proteína Vip. No monitoramento prático da suscetibilidade a tecnologias Bt, sobrevivência larval superior a 70% foi observada para populações de campo do Paraná, Goiás e Bahia no milho Herculex®. Em tecnologias de milho PowerCore™ e YieldGard VT PRO™ houve sobrevivência larval variando de 1,1 a 17,9%. Em contraste, não houve sobreviventes em tecnologias de milho Viptera™. Em algodão WideStrike® que expressa as proteínas Cry1Ac e Cry1F, sobrevivência acima de 41% foi observada para populações de campo de S. frugiperda. A sobrevivência larval em Bollgard II® que expressa as proteínas Cry1Ac e Cry2Ab2 variou de 14 a 40%. No algodão TwinLink® que expressa as proteínas Cry1Ab e Cry2Ae, a sobrevivência larval das populações foi menor que 20%. O método de F1 screen foi eficiente na detecção de alelos de resistência a Vip3Aa20 em populações de S. frugiperda provenientes de diferentes regiões produtoras de milho no Brasil na safra 2014/2015. De 263 isofamílias testadas, foram detectadas três isofamílias positivas oriundas do Paraná, Mato Grosso e Goiás. A frequência de resistência estimada a Vip3Aa20 variou de 0,0140 a 0,0367 nas populações avaliadas, sendo que a frequência total foi de 0,0076. Neste estudo, fornecemos informações para refinar as estratégias de MRI, além de introduzir novas técnicas para monitorar a resistência de S. frugiperda a tecnologias Bt no Brasil.

Genetic diversity and susceptibility to Vip3Aa20 protein in Brazilian populations of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was officially reported in Brazil in 2013. This species is closely related to Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and has caused significant crop damage in Brazil. The use of genetically modified crops expressing insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) has been one of the control tactics for managing these pests. Genetically modified maize expressing Vip3Aa20 was approved to commercial use in Brazil in 2009. Understanding the genetic diversity and the susceptibility to B. thuringiensis proteins in H. armigera and H. zea populations in Brazil are crucial for establishing Insect Resistance Management (IRM) programs in Brazil. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (a) to infer demographic parameters and genetic structure of H. armigera and H. zea Brazil; (b) to assess the intra and interspecific gene flow and genetic diversity of H. armigera and H. zea; and (c) to evaluate the susceptibility to Vip3Aa20 protein in H. armigera and H. zea populations of Brazil. A phylogeographic analysis of field H. armigera and H. zea populations was performed using a partial sequence data from the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. H. armigera individuals were most prevalent on dicotyledonous hosts and H. zea individuals were most prevalent on maize crops. Both species showed signs of demographic expansion and no genetic structure. High genetic diversity and wide distribution were observed for H. armigera. A joint analysis indicated the presence of Chinese, Indian, and European lineages within the Brazilian populations of H. armigera. In the cross-species amplification study, seven microsatellite loci were amplified; and showed a potential hybrid offspring in natural conditions. Interespecific analyses using the same microsatellite loci with Brazilian H. armigera and H. zea in compare to the USA H. zea were also conducted. When analyses were performed within each species, 10 microsatellites were used for H. armigera, and eight for H. zea. We detected high intraspecific gene flow in populations of H. armigera and H. zea from Brazil and H. zea from the USA. Genetic diversity was similar for both species. However, H. armigera was more similar to H. zea from Brazil than H. zea from the USA and some putative hybrid individuals were found in Brazilian populations.Tthere was low gene flow between Brazilian and USA H. zea. The baseline susceptibility to Vip3Aa20 resulted in low interpopulation variation for H. zea (3-fold) and for H. armigera (5-fold), based on LC50. H. armigera was more tolerant to Vip3Aa20 than H. zea (≈ 40 to 75-fold, based on CL50). The diagnostic concentration for susceptibility monitoring, based on CL99, was fairly high (6,400 ng Vip3Aa20/cm2) for H. zea and not validated for H. armigera due to the high amount of protein needed for bioassays. Implementing IRM strategies to Vip3Aa20 in H. armigera and H. zea will be of a great challenge in Brazil, mainly due to the low susceptibility to Vip3Aa20 and high genetic diversity and gene flow in both species, besides a potential of hybrid individuals between H. armigera and H. zea under field conditions.

Berlin, Germany, 1748 (Image 1 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de la ville de Berlin : levé et dessiné par ordre et privilege privatif du Roy sous la direction du Marchall Comte de Schmettau, par Hildner approuvé par l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin ; gravé sous la direction de G.F. Schmidt Graveur du Roy. It was published by l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin in 1748. Scale [ca. 1:6,500]. Covers Berlin, Germany. This layer is image 1 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the northeast portion of the map. Map in French and German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, parks, cemeteries, ground cover, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes also view and inset engravings: Prospect du Stadt Berlin von Süden gegen Norden -- 1. Prospect des grossen Platzes von Opera Hausse 2. der Cathol. Kirche St. Hedwig 3. und einer Seite des Marggraff Henrich. Pallais -- Prospect der Neuen Schloss u Dohm Kirche -- Prospect des Neuen Königl. Printz Heinrich. Pallais den Opern Hausse gegen über.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Berlin, Germany, 1748 (Image 2 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de la ville de Berlin : levé et dessiné par ordre et privilege privatif du Roy sous la direction du Marchall Comte de Schmettau, par Hildner approuvé par l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin ; gravé sous la direction de G.F. Schmidt Graveur du Roy. It was published by l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin in 1748. Scale [ca. 1:6,500]. Covers Berlin, Germany. This layer is image 2 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the southeast portion of the map. Map in French and German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, parks, cemeteries, ground cover, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes also view and inset engravings: Prospect du Stadt Berlin von Süden gegen Norden -- 1. Prospect des grossen Platzes von Opera Hausse 2. der Cathol. Kirche St. Hedwig 3. und einer Seite des Marggraff Henrich. Pallais -- Prospect der Neuen Schloss u Dohm Kirche -- Prospect des Neuen Königl. Printz Heinrich. Pallais den Opern Hausse gegen über.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Berlin, Germany, 1748 (Image 3 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de la ville de Berlin : levé et dessiné par ordre et privilege privatif du Roy sous la direction du Marchall Comte de Schmettau, par Hildner approuvé par l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin ; gravé sous la direction de G.F. Schmidt Graveur du Roy. It was published by l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin in 1748. Scale [ca. 1:6,500]. Covers Berlin, Germany. This layer is image 3 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the northwest portion of the map. Map in French and German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, parks, cemeteries, ground cover, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes also view and inset engravings: Prospect du Stadt Berlin von Süden gegen Norden -- 1. Prospect des grossen Platzes von Opera Hausse 2. der Cathol. Kirche St. Hedwig 3. und einer Seite des Marggraff Henrich. Pallais -- Prospect der Neuen Schloss u Dohm Kirche -- Prospect des Neuen Königl. Printz Heinrich. Pallais den Opern Hausse gegen über.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Berlin, Germany, 1748 (Image 4 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de la ville de Berlin : levé et dessiné par ordre et privilege privatif du Roy sous la direction du Marchall Comte de Schmettau, par Hildner approuvé par l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin ; gravé sous la direction de G.F. Schmidt Graveur du Roy. It was published by l'Academie Royale de Science â Berlin in 1748. Scale [ca. 1:6,500]. Covers Berlin, Germany. This layer is image 4 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the southwest portion of the map. Map in French and German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, parks, cemeteries, ground cover, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes also view and inset engravings: Prospect du Stadt Berlin von Süden gegen Norden -- 1. Prospect des grossen Platzes von Opera Hausse 2. der Cathol. Kirche St. Hedwig 3. und einer Seite des Marggraff Henrich. Pallais -- Prospect der Neuen Schloss u Dohm Kirche -- Prospect des Neuen Königl. Printz Heinrich. Pallais den Opern Hausse gegen über.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Erlangen, Germany, 1721 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Accurater Grundris und Gegend des Hoch-Fürstl. Brandenb. Bayreuth. neu-erbauten Stadt Christian-Erlang : samt denen Prospecten des Hoch-Fürstl. Residenz-Schloss und anderer ansehnlichen Gebäuen, wie auch der nach ihrem fatalen Brand wieder gantz aufgebauten neuen Alt-Stadt Erlang, Joh. Christoph Homann Geometrice delineavit A. 1721 ; edirt von Ioh. Bapt. Homann keiserl. Geogr. It was published by Johann Baptist Homann in 1721. Scale [ca. 1:8,200]. Covers Erlangen, Germany. Map in German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortifications, ground cover, and more. Relief shown with hachures. Includes also index and 7 views of the city.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Schlossgarten, Erlangen, Germany, ca. 1721 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Accurater Grundris und Prospect des Hoch-Fürstl. Brandenb. Bayreuthisch. Residenz-Schloss und Lustgarten in Christian-Erlang, edirt von Ioh. Baptist Homann, S. C. M. Geographo. It was published by Ioh. Baptist Homann, ca. 1721. Scale [ca. 1:1,300]. Covers Schlossgarten, Erlangen, Germany. Map in German.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as garden paths and roads, ground cover, palace buildings, garden monuments, and more. Includes also 8 city views.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Berlin, Germany, 1851 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Berlin, engraved & printed by J. Henshall; drawn by W.B. Clarke. It was published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge [by] Charles Knight & Co. in 1851. Scale [ca. 1:19,400]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Deutsches Hauptdreiecksnetz (DHDN) 3-degree Gauss-Kruger Zone 4 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, buildings (schools, churches, hospitals, etc.), parks, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes index and engravings at lower margin entitled, "A comparison of the Prinicpal Buildings in Berlin": Brandenburger Thor -- Schauspiel Hans (Theatre) -- Zeughaus -- Königlich Schloss (Castle) -- Dom (Cathedral) -- Opera House -- Museum -- Catholic Church -- Französische Kirche -- Königs Palais. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Maine, 1798 Raster Image

This layer is a digitized geo-referenced raster image of a 1798 map of Maine drawn by D.F. Sotzmann. These Sotzmann maps (10 maps of New England and Mid-Atlantic states) typically portray both natural and manmade features. They are highly detailed with symbols for churches, roads, court houses, distilleries, iron works, mills, academies, county lines, town lines, and more. Relief is usually indicated by hachures and country boundaries have also been drawn. Place names are shown in both German and English and each map usually includes an index to land grants. Prime meridians used for this series are Greenwich and Washington, D.C.