Université de Montréal

About: Université de Montréal is a education organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 45641 authors who have published 100476 publications receiving 4004007 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Montreal & UdeM.

Metaheuristics in Combinatorial Optimization

Abstract: The emergence of metaheuristics for solving difficult combinatorial optimization problems is one of the most notable achievements of the last two decades in operations research This paper provides an account of the most recent developments in the field and identifies some common issues and trends Examples of applications are also reported for vehicle routing and scheduling problems

FiLM: Visual Reasoning with a General Conditioning Layer

Abstract: We introduce a general-purpose conditioning method for neural networks called FiLM: Feature-wise Linear Modulation. FiLM layers influence neural network computation via a simple, feature-wise affine transformation based on conditioning information. We show that FiLM layers are highly effective for visual reasoning - answering image-related questions which require a multi-step, high-level process - a task which has proven difficult for standard deep learning methods that do not explicitly model reasoning. Specifically, we show on visual reasoning tasks that FiLM layers 1) halve state-of-the-art error for the CLEVR benchmark, 2) modulate features in a coherent manner, 3) are robust to ablations and architectural modifications, and 4) generalize well to challenging, new data from few examples or even zero-shot.

Reactive oxygen species in vascular biology: implications in hypertension

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide (*O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl anion (OH-), and reactive nitrogen species, such as nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), are biologically important O2 derivatives that are increasingly recognized to be important in vascular biology through their oxidation/reduction (redox) potential. All vascular cell types (endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and adventitial fibroblasts) produce ROS, primarily via cell membrane-associated NAD(P)H oxidase. Reactive oxygen species regulate vascular function by modulating cell growth, apoptosis/anoikis, migration, inflammation, secretion, and extracellular matrix protein production. An imbalance in redox state where pro-oxidants overwhelm anti-oxidant capacity results in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and associated oxidative damage are mediators of vascular injury and inflammation in many cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Increased generation of ROS has been demonstrated in experimental and human hypertension. Anti-oxidants and agents that interrupt NAD(P)H oxidase-driven *O2- production regress vascular remodeling, improve endothelial function, reduce inflammation, and decrease blood pressure in hypertensive models. This experimental evidence has evoked considerable interest because of the possibilities that therapies targeted against reactive oxygen intermediates, by decreasing generation of ROS and/or by increasing availability of antioxidants, may be useful in minimizing vascular injury and hypertensive end organ damage. The present chapter focuses on the importance of ROS in vascular biology and discusses the role of oxidative stress in vascular damage in hypertension.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 1420 European patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019.

Abstract: Background: The clinical presentation of European patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection is still unknown. Objective: To study the clinical presentation of COVID-19 in Europe. Methods: Patients with positive diagnosis of COVID-19 were recruited from 18 European hospitals. Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained through a standardized questionnaire. Bayesian analysis was used for analysing the relationship between outcomes. Results: A total of 1,420 patients completed the study (962 females, 30.7% of healthcare workers). The mean age of patients was 39.17 ± 12.09 years. The most common symptoms were headache (70.3%), loss of smell (70.2%), nasal obstruction (67.8%), cough (63.2%), asthenia (63.3%), myalgia (62.5%), rhinorrhea (60.1%), gustatory dysfunction (54.2%) and sore throat (52.9%). Fever was reported by 45.4%. The mean duration of COVID-19 symptoms of mild-to-moderate cured patients was 11.5 ± 5.7 days. The prevalence of symptoms significantly varied according to age and sex. Young patients more frequently had ear, nose and throat complaints, whereas elderly individuals often presented fever, fatigue and loss of appetite. Loss of smell, headache, nasal obstruction and fatigue were more prevalent in female patients. The loss of smell was a key symptom of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients and was not associated with nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. Loss of smell persisted at least 7 days after the disease in 37.5% of cured patients. Conclusion: The clinical presentation of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 substantially varies according to the age and the sex characteristics of patients. Olfactory dysfunction seems to be an important underestimated symptom of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 that needs to be recognized as such by the WHO.