Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRANSRW at SemEval-2018 Task 12: Transforming Semantic Representations for Argument Reasoning Comprehension

This paper describes our system in SemEval-2018 task 12: Argument Reasoning Comprehension. The task is to select the correct warrant that explains reasoning of a particular argument consisting of a claim and a reason. The main idea of our methods is based on the assumption that the semantic composition of the reason and the warrant should be close to the semantic representation of the corresponding claim. We propose two neural network models. The first one considers two warrant candidates simultaneously, while the second one processes each candidate separately and then chooses the best one. We also incorporate sentiment polarity by assuming that there are kinds of sentiment associations between the reason, the warrant and the claim. The experiments show that the first framework is more effective and sentiment polarity is useful.
Association of serum levels of lipoprotein A-I and lipoprotein A-I/A-II with high on-treatment platelet reactivity in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Objective High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are a very heterogeneous group of particles. Little is known about the impact of their subfractions including lipoprotein A-I (LpA-I) and lipoprotein A-I/A-II (LpA-I/A-II) on platelet function and high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR), particularly in the acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II and HPR in STEMI patients. Methods Fifty-two consecutive STEMI patients (26.9% women, mean age 60.6±9.1 years) were enrolled into this study. Clinical and demographic data were collected and HDL subfractions were measured by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Platelet reactivity was assessed using light transmission aggregometry and quantitative flow cytometry. Results We found a positive correlation between platelet aggregation after both ADP-5 and ADP-20 stimulation and serum level of LpA-I. Compared with subjects with satisfactory platelet response to clopidogrel, patients with HPR had 32.44% higher serum level of LpA-I (p=0.021). On the other hand, patients with HPR assessed by ADP-5 stimulation had 22.13% lower serum level of LpA-I/A-II (p=0.040). Regression analysis showed that LpA-I [odds ratio (OR) 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1-1.07; p=0.049] and current smoking (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.04-0.81; p=0.025) were independent predictors of HPR. With receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we designated the cut-off point at serum level of 57.52 mg/dL for LpA-I for predicting HPR (AUC=0.71, p=0.010). Conclusion This study showed that higher serum level of LpA-I measured in the acute phase of STEMI is an independent risk factor for HPR. Our study is the first to demonstrate an important and distinct activity of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II that can prove pleiotropic and different functions of HDL subfractions in acute STEMI.
Campylobacter sp in eggs from cloacal swab positive breeder hens

Campylobacter sp is a microaerophilic, thermotolerating Gram negative bacterium, known to be one of the main causes of food-borne human infections. Among the foods that carry these microorganisms, the chicken is outstanding. In Brazil, a large chicken exporting country, few researches are conducted about their prevalence in breeder hens and the transmission through eggs. The aim of this research was to verify the presence of Campylobacter sp in the shells and within the eggs from positive cloacal swab breeder hens. Microbiological analyses were made on cloacal swabs of 140 weighed breeder hens. The positive breeder hens were set aside and in a total of 244 of their eggs, Campylobacter sp was present in macerated shells and yolk contents during 7 weeks. Out of the 140 researched breeder hens, 25 (17.8%) were positive from cloacal swabs, however the eggs were not positive. The physiological characteristics of the birds, their eggs and Campylobacter sp favor the bacterium entering and surviving in the eggs, but in this study, no positive result was found in macerated shells or in the yolks, indicating that vertical transmission is probably an unusual event.
Hybrid Analog-Digital Processing System for Amplitude-Monopulse RSSI-Based MiMo WiFi Direction-of-Arrival Estimation

We present a cost-effective hybrid analog digital system to estimate the Direction of Arrival (DoA) of WiFi signals. The processing in the analog domain is based on simple well-known RADAR amplitude monopulse antenna techniques. Then, using the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) delivered by a commercial MiMo WiFi cards, the DoA is estimated using the so-called digital monopulse function. Due to the hybrid analog digital architecture, the digital processing is extremely simple, so that DoA estimation is performed without using IQ data from specific hardware. The simplicity and robustness of the proposed hybrid analog digital MiMo architecture is demonstrated for the ISM 2.45 GHz WiFi band. Also, the limitations with respect to multipath effects are studied in detail. As a proof of concept, an array of two MiMo WiFi DoA monopulse readers is distributed to localize the two-dimensional position of WiFi devices. This cost-effective hybrid solution can be applied to all WiFi standards and other Internet of Things narrowband radio protocols, such as Bluetooth Low Energy or Zigbee.
Generating Rescheduling Knowledge using Reinforcement Learning in a Cognitive Architecture

In order to reach higher degrees of flexibility, adaptability and autonomy in manufacturing systems, it is essential to develop new rescheduling methodologies which resort to cognitive capabilities, similar to those found in human beings. Artificial cognition is important for designing planning and control systems that generate and represent knowledge about heuristics for repair-based scheduling. Rescheduling knowledge in the form of decision rules is used to deal with unforeseen events and disturbances reactively in real time, and take advantage of the ability to act interactively with the user to counteract the effects of disruptions. In this work, to achieve the aforementioned goals, a novel approach to generate rescheduling knowledge in the form of dynamic first-order logical rules is proposed. The proposed approach is based on the integration of reinforcement learning with artificial cognitive capabilities involving perception and reasoning/learning skills embedded in the Soar cognitive architecture. An industrial example is discussed showing that the approach enables the scheduling system to assess its operational range in an autonomic way, and to acquire experience through intensive simulation while performing repair tasks.
Assessment of diversity in aloe barbadensis miller using morphological and molecular markers

In this study, genetic diversity of 38 accessions of Aloe barbadensis, collected from different parts of India were evaluated using morphological and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data. Statistical analysis showed significant differences for all morphological characteristics among the accessions, suggesting that selection for relevant characteristics could be possible. The analysis of molecular diversity was used the RAPD technique, with 14 random primers of 10-mer oligonucleotides. RAPD analysis was performed with 14 primers chosen a er a previous screening. Significant genetic variability among those 38 cultivars was obtained both at the morphological and molecular level. This study demonstrated that for determining the genetic variability among some cultivars, the molecular markers technique is more precise than the morphological traits.
Energy Saving Techniques in Mobile Crowd Sensing: Current State and Future Opportunities

With the prevalence of sensor-rich smartphones, MCS has become an emerging paradigm to perform urban sensing tasks in recent years. In MCS systems, it is important to minimize the energy consumption on devices of mobile users, as high energy consumption severely reduces their participation willingness. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of energy saving techniques in MCS and identify future research opportunities. Specifically, we analyze the main causes of energy consumption in MCS and present a general energy saving framework named ESCrowd that we use to describe the different detailed MCS energy saving techniques. We further present how the various energy saving techniques are utilized and adopted within MCS applications and point out their existing limitations, which inform and guide future research directions.
Leopard Panthera pardus fusca Density in the Seasonally Dry, Subtropical Forest in the Bhabhar of Terai Arc, Nepal

We estimated leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) abundance and density in the Bhabhar physiographic region in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. The camera trap grid, covering sampling area of 289 km2 with 88 locations, accumulated 1,342 trap nights in 64 days in the winter season of 2008-2009 and photographed 19 individual leopards. Using models incorporating heterogeneity, we estimated 28 (±SE 6.07) and 29.58 (±SE 10.44) leopards in Programs CAPTURE and MARK. Density estimates via 1/2 MMDM methods were 5.61 (±SE 1.30) and 5.93 (±SE 2.15) leopards per 100 km2 using abundance estimates from CAPTURE and MARK, respectively. Spatially explicit capture recapture (SECR) models resulted in lower density estimates, 3.78 (±SE 0.85) and 3.48 (±SE 0.83) leopards per 100 km2, in likelihood based program DENSITY and Bayesian based program SPACECAP, respectively. The 1/2 MMDM methods have been known to provide much higher density estimates than SECR modelling techniques. However, our SECR models resulted in high leopard density comparable to areas considered better habitat in Nepal indicating a potentially dense population compared to other sites. We provide the first density estimates for leopards in the Bhabhar and a baseline for long term population monitoring of leopards in Parsa Wildlife Reserve and across the Terai Arc.
Affixoide: Nur was benannt wird, kann auch verstanden werden

Im Mittelpunkt des Artikels stehen die sogenannten Affixoide bzw. Halbaffixe sowie ihre positionsbedingttn Entsprechungen Prafixoid/Halbprafix und Suffixoid/Halbsuffix, haufig genannte Kandidaten sind arm,fra, leer, voll, riesen, affen, mords, bomben. Der Schwerpunkt liegt hier neben den Begriffen vor allem auf dir Kategorie. Nach einem kurzen Abriss zur Entstehung des Affixoid-Konzepts im deutschsprachigen Raun werden einige unterschiedliche Ansichten dazu vorgestellt. Es folgt die Erorterung verschiedener Grunce fur die Vorzuge einer solchen Kategorie.
Deletion of Keap 1 in the Lung Attenuates Acute Cigarette Smoke – Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is the primary factor associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CS increases the level of oxidants in the lungs, resulting in a depletion of antioxidants, which promotes oxidative stress and the destruction of alveolar tissue. In response to CS, pulmonary epithelial cells counteract increased levels of oxidants by activating Nrf2dependent pathways to augment the expression of detoxification and antioxidant enzymes, thereby protecting the lung from injury. We hypothesize that increasing the pathways activated by Nrf2 will afford protection against CS-induced lung damage. To this end we have developed a novel mousemodel in which the cytosolic inhibitor of Nrf2, Keap1, is genetically deleted in Clara cells, which predominate in the upper airways in mice. Deletion of Keap1 in Clara cells resulted in increased expression of Nrf2-dependent genes, such as Nqo1 and Gclm, as determined by microarray analysis and quantitativePCR. Deletionof Keap1 in airwayepitheliumdecreasedKeap1 protein levels and significantly increased the total level of glutathione in the lungs. Increased Nrf2 activation protected Clara cells against oxidative stress ex vivo and attenuated oxidative stress and CS-induced inflammation in vivo. Expression of KEAP1 was also decreased in human epithelial cells through siRNA transfection, which increased the expression of Nrf2-dependent genes and attenuated oxidative stress. In conclusion, activating Nrf2 pathways in tissue-specific Keap1 knockout mice represents an important genetic approach against oxidant-induced lung damage.
Battery management system in isolated microgrids considering forecast uncertainty

Microgrids are gaining a significant interest as a promising solution to handle several electricity-related issues worldwide. Isolated Microgrids as one of the most applied topologies in the emergency power supplying systems, essentially incorporate battery storage system (BSS), acting as a stabilizing agent by balancing the unmet power for the system. Moreover, BSS is playing a great role in the context of energy cost minimizing of the system. This work proposes an adaptive operation policy for BSS in an isolated microgrid incorporating conventional generation (e.g. Diesel Generator) and Renewable resources (e.g. PV solar array) in addition to BSS, based on the driven forecast. Yet, it handles the uncertain prediction of both renewable generation and load profile. More precisely, an offline optimal policy of charging and discharging of BSS is firstly derived assuming a perfect prediction and the algorithm then responds instantaneously to act upon the actual changes of the given forecast. The simulation results show a significant reduction of the total operation cost, even in the worst case scenario, when compared with the blind method which does not employ the prediction.
CARAMBA: Concept, Assertion, and Relation Annotation using Machine-learning Based Approaches

This year’s i2b2/VA challenge is dedicated to medical concept extraction as well as the annotation of assertions and relationships of concepts. Several kinds of concepts, assertions, and relations must be processed. In this paper, we present the methods we used, mainly based upon machine-learning systems. The results we obtained on the final ground truth (Fmeasures up to 0.773 for concepts, 0.931 for assertions, and 0.709 for relations) constitute a basis for
Word embedding-based approach to aspect detection for aspect-based summarization of persian customer reviews

Many1 ecommerce websites provide the customers with the ability to share their opinions about the products. These opinions can assist other customers to purchase wisely and manufacturers to improve their products and services. Due to a huge volume of product reviews in the online websites and hence difficulty of perusing all of them, it is essential to produce a concise summary of the reviews about different aspects of the products. Aspect detection is a vital step of aspect-based summarization, aiming at identifying the most important product aspects about which users express their opinions. In this paper, we propose a novel unsupervised approach to aspect detection employing word embedding techniques to identify relevant aspects and their semantically related words, called aspect keywords and categorize aspects into semantic categories. The main purpose of our method is to use semantic and syntactic relationships in word embedding vectors in order to improve extraction of multiword aspects and distinguishing explicit and implicit aspects from their keywords. Our experimental results indicate the improvements.
γδT Cells Exacerbate Podocyte Injury via the CD28/B7-1-Phosphor-SRC Kinase Pathway

Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is a devastating pediatric disorder. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Previous studies detected B7-1 in podocytes; meanwhile, γδT cells play pivotal roles in immune diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether and how γδT cells impact podocytes via the CD28/B7-1 pathway. WT and TCRδ−/− mice were assessed. LPS was used to induce nephropathy. Total γδT and CD28+γδT cells were quantitated in mouse spleen and kidney samples. B7-1 and phosphor-SRC levels in the kidney were detected as well. In vitro, γδT cells from the mouse spleen were cocultured with mouse podocytes, and apoptosis rate and phosphor-SRC expression in podocytes were assessed. Compared with control mice, WT mice with LPS nephropathy showed increased amounts of γδT cells in the kidney. Kidney injury was alleviated in TCRδ−/− mice. Meanwhile, B7-1 and phosphor-SRC levels were increased in the kidney from WT mice with LPS nephropathy. CD28+γδT cells were decreased, indicating CD28 may play a role in LPS nephropathy. Immunofluorescence colocalization analysis revealed a tight association of γδT cells with B7-1 in the kidney. High B7-1 expression was detected in podocytes treated with LPS. Podocytes cocultured with γδT cells showed higher phosphor-SRC and apoptosis rate than other cell groups. Furthermore, CD28/B7-1 blockage with CTLA4-Ig in vitro relieved podocyte injury. γδT cells exacerbate podocyte injury via CD28/B7-1 signaling, with downstream involvement of phosphor-SRC. The CD28/B7-1 blocker CTLA4-Ig prevented progressive podocyte injury, providing a potential therapeutic tool for PNS.
Efficient Routing Protocols For Vehicular Adhoc Network

Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) is an emerging new technology integrating ad hoc network ,wireless LAN (WLAN) and cellular technology to achieve intelligent inter-vehicle communications and improve road traffic safety and efficiency. In these networks, vehicles communicate with each other and possibly with a roadside infrastructure to provide a long list of applications varying from transit safety to driver assistance and Internet access. In these networks, knowledge of the real-time position of nodes is an assumption made by most protocols, algorithms, and applications . VANETs are distinguished from other kinds of ad hoc networks by their hybrid network architectures, node movement characteristics, and new application scenarios. Therefore, VANETs pose many unique networking research challenges, and the design of an efficient routing protocol for VANETs is very crucial. In this article, we discuss the research challenge of routing in VANETs and survey recent routing protocols for VANETs. Vehicular ad hoc networks have been envisioned to be useful in road safety and many commercial applications ,
The Word Analogy Testing Caveat

There are some important problems in the evaluation of word embeddings using standard word analogy tests. In particular, in virtue of the assumptions made by systems generating the embeddings, these remain tests over randomness. We show that even supposing there were such word analogy regularities that should be detected in the word embeddings obtained via unsupervised means, standard word analogy test implementation practices provide distorted or contrived results. We raise concerns regarding the use of Principal Component Analysis to 2 or 3 dimensions as a provision of visual evidence for the existence of word analogy relations in embeddings. Finally, we propose some solutions to these problems.
Good neighbor distributed beam scheduling in coexisting multi-RAT networks

Spectrum sharing and employing highly directional antennas in the mm-wave bands are considered among the key enablers for 5G networks. Conventional interference avoidance techniques like listen-before-talk (LBT) may not be efficient for such coexisting networks. In this paper, we address a coexistence mechanism by means of distributed beam scheduling with minimum cooperation between spectrum sharing subsystems without any direct data exchange between them. We extend a “Good Neighbor” (GN) principle initially developed for decentralized spectrum allocation to the distributed beam scheduling problem. To do that, we introduce relative performance targets, develop a GN beam scheduling algorithm, and demonstrate its efficiency in terms of performance/complexity trade off compared to that of the conventional selfish (SLF) and recently proposed distributed learning scheduling (DLS) solutions by means of simulations in highly directional antenna mm-wave scenarios.
Short‐term direct contact with soil and plant materials leads to an immediate increase in diversity of skin microbiota

Immune‐mediated diseases have increased during the last decades in urban environments. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that increased hygiene level and reduced contacts with natural biodiversity are related to the increase in immune‐mediated diseases. We tested whether short‐time contact with microbiologically diverse nature‐based materials immediately change bacterial diversity on human skin. We tested direct skin contact, as two volunteers rubbed their hands with sixteen soil and plant based materials, and an exposure via fabric packets filled with moss material. Skin swabs were taken before and after both exposures. Next‐generation sequencing showed that exposures increased, at least temporarily, the total diversity of skin microbiota and the diversity of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Alpha‐, Beta‐ and Gammaproteobacteria suggesting that contact with nature‐based materials modify skin microbiome and increase skin microbial diversity. Until now, approaches to cure or prevent immune system disorders using microbe‐based treatments have been limited to use of a few microbial species. We propose that nature‐based materials with high natural diversity, such as the materials tested here, might be more effective in modifying human skin microbiome, and eventually, in reducing immune system disorders. Future studies should investigate how long‐term changes in skin microbiota are achieved and if the exposure induces beneficial changes in the immune system markers.
A commutation formula for root vectors in quantized enveloping algebras

Root vectors are important to understand quantized enveloping algebras. In this paper we establish a commutation formula for root vectors. By means of the formula we show that particular orders on root system are not necessary in constructing some integral bases of a quantized enveloping algebra (Theorem 2.4). Moreover using the formula we can show that certain PBW bases are orthogonal bases of the bilinear form considered by Kashiwara in his work on crystal bases, see 3.9.
Non-rigid registration of serial section images by blending 2 D rigid transformations

The 3D structure of biological tissue is crucial to gain structural insights for physiology and pathology. Histological section images have higher resolution compared to MR and CT image. Therefore, a 3D model reconstructed from histological section images gives us more detailed structural information. However, histological section images have non-rigid deformation (e.g. tissue stretching, tearing) caused by the sectioning process of the tissue. This deformation causes a gap between neighbor images. Therefore, image registration is required to reduce the gap for reconstructing 3D model from histological sections. In the registration process, we obtain appropriate transformation that maps the source image onto the target one. Several popular methods in registration for histological images [1], [2] are based on the Free-form deformations (FFD) with B-spline interpolation. FFD estimates displacement at control points and calculates the displacement at every point using interpolation. However, the descriptive power of the deformation highly depends on the resolution of the grid of the control points [3]. In this paper, we propose a novel non-rigid registration method that extends FFD. The proposed method has three improvements on the displacement field. First, each control point has a rigid transformation (translation and rotation) where a control point of FFD has a displacement (translation). Second, the interpolation method is also modified as a weighted blending of rigid transformations rather than taking a weighted sum of translational vectors. Third, the control points are defined not on a grid, but on several local regions according to the pattern