Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adversarially Regularising Neural NLI Models to Integrate Logical Background Knowledge

Adversarial examples are inputs to machine learning models designed to cause the model to make a mistake. They are useful for understanding the shortcomings of machine learning models, interpreting their results, and for regularisation. In NLP, however, most example generation strategies produce input text by using known, pre-specified semantic transformations, requiring significant manual effort and in-depth understanding of the problem and domain. In this paper, we investigate the problem of automatically generating adversarial examples that violate a set of given First-Order Logic constraints in Natural Language Inference (NLI). We reduce the problem of identifying such adversarial examples to a combinatorial optimisation problem, by maximising a quantity measuring the degree of violation of such constraints and by using a language model for generating linguistically-plausible examples. Furthermore, we propose a method for adversarially regularising neural NLI models for incorporating background knowledge. Our results show that, while the proposed method does not always improve results on the SNLI and MultiNLI datasets, it significantly and consistently increases the predictive accuracy on adversarially-crafted datasets – up to a 79.6% relative improvement – while drastically reducing the number of background knowledge violations. Furthermore, we show that adversarial examples transfer among model architectures, and that the proposed adversarial training procedure improves the robustness of NLI models to adversarial examples.
Vanadium Dioxide Circuits Emulate Neurological Disorders

Information in the central nervous system (CNS) is conducted via electrical signals known as action potentials and is encoded in time. Several neurological disorders including depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), originate in faulty brain signaling frequencies. Here, we present a Hodgkin-Huxley model analog for a strongly correlated VO2 artificial neuron system that undergoes an electrically-driven insulator-metal transition. We demonstrate that tuning of the insulating phase resistance in VO2 threshold switch circuits can enable direct mimicry of neuronal origins of disorders in the CNS. The results introduce use of circuits based on quantum materials as complementary to model animal studies for neuroscience, especially when precise measurements of local electrical properties or competing parallel paths for conduction in complex neural circuits can be a challenge to identify onset of breakdown or diagnose early symptoms of disease.
Social play among black and gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) immatures during intergroup encounters

We studied intergroup social play (IGSP) among immatures in wild black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in northeastern Argentina. IGSP events are one form of affiliative interaction that can occur during intergroup encounters. The main goal of this study was to analyze IGSP in A. caraya immatures and assess how intrinsic (e.g., age and sex) and extrinsic (e.g., seasonality) factors can influence the development of this type of social behavior. We followed 12 groups between 2008 and 2015 and recorded 182 encounters and 61 events of IGSP. Considering the composition of play partners, most IGSP events occurred among juveniles of both sexes (33%), followed by juveniles that were only‐male (31%), and finally between mixed‐sex juveniles and infants (20%) interactions. Additionally, most IGSP events occurred mainly in summer (56%), followed by spring (29%), with fewer events occurring in autumn (15%) and no IGSP events recorded in winter. Our results suggest that IGSP constitutes a beneficial activity in wild A. caraya that promotes behavioral flexibility, where immatures acquire social skills, such as tolerance, by interacting with unknown individuals. Moreover, the higher participation of young males in IGSP is consistent with the fact that adult black and gold howler males tend to be more actively involved in group encounters than females, supporting the hypothesis that social play provides benefits in the development of motor and social skills. Finally, seasonality in the frequencies of IGSP might be related to availability of foods with high and easily mobilized energy content in summer and spring.
Extraction of Probabilistic Behaviour Models Based on Contexts

Model extraction allows the automatic construction of behaviour models from an available implementation, which can be fed into existing analysis tools. Even though these models are usually analysed using qualitative properties, many interesting and relevant properties of current systems are related to quantitative aspects, such as the probability of reaching a certain state or how many times a certain task is expected to be executed. In this work, we extend an existing model extraction approach to include probabilistic information. The original approach creates Labelled Transition Systems (LTS) from Java code based on execution traces. The traces are processed by a tool that identifies contexts, which represent abstract states of the system, considering static and dynamic information, producing context traces. We use these context traces to calculate transition probabilities and generate models in the input language of a probabilistic model checker. We evaluate our approach in case studies and demonstrate that, by using context traces rather than simple traces, we produce more accurate models, thereby with probabilistic information closer to the real behaviour of programs, based on their observed traces. We also show how to build models of programs with single and multiple components.
Synergistic Enhancement of Thermal Conductivity and Dielectric Properties in Al2O3/BaTiO3/PP Composites

Multifunctional polymer composites with both high dielectric constants and high thermal conductivity are urgently needed by high-temperature electronic devices and modern microelectromechanical systems. However, high heat-conduction capability or dielectric properties of polymer composites all depend on high-content loading of different functional thermal-conductive or high-dielectric ceramic fillers (every filler volume fraction ≥ 50%, i.e., ffiller ≥ 50%), and an overload of various fillers (fthermal-conductive filler + fhigh-dielectric filler > 50%) will decrease the processability and mechanical properties of the composite. Herein, series of alumina/barium titanate/polypropylene (Al2O3/BT/PP) composites with high dielectric- and high thermal-conductivity properties are prepared with no more than 50% volume fraction of total ceramic fillers loading, i.e., ffillers ≤ 50%. Results showed the thermal conductivity of the Al2O3/BT/PP composite is up to 0.90 W/m·K with only 10% thermal-conductive Al2O3 filler, which is 4.5 times higher than the corresponding Al2O3/PP composites. Moreover, higher dielectric strength (Eb) is also found at the same loading, which is 1.6 times higher than PP, and the Al2O3/BT/PP composite also exhibited high dielectric constant (εr = 18 at 1000 Hz) and low dielectric loss (tan δ ≤ 0.030). These excellent performances originate from the synergistic mechanism between BaTiO3 macroparticles and Al2O3 nanoparticles.
Molecular insights into Vibrio cholerae’s intra-amoebal host-pathogen interactions

Vibrio cholerae, which causes the diarrheal disease cholera, is a species of bacteria commonly found in aquatic habitats. Within such environments, the bacterium must defend itself against predatory protozoan grazers. Amoebae are prominent grazers, with Acanthamoeba castellanii being one of the best-studied aquatic amoebae. We previously showed that V. cholerae resists digestion by A. castellanii and establishes a replication niche within the host’s osmoregulatory organelle. In this study, we deciphered the molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of V. cholerae’s intra-amoebal replication niche and its ultimate escape from the succumbed host. We demonstrated that minor virulence features important for disease in mammals, such as extracellular enzymes and flagellum-based motility, play a key role role in the replication and transmission of V. cholerae in its aqueous environment. This work, therefore, describes new mechanisms that provide the pathogen with a fitness advantage in its primary habitat, which may have contributed to the emergence of these minor virulence factors in the species V. cholerae.
Crestal Bone Changes around immediately loaded Single-piece Implants using Flap and Flapless Technique: A Radiographic Study.

AIM With the trend shifting toward the minimally invasive surgeries in implant surgery, the flapless technique of implant placement is gaining popularity among the implantologists. This study was done to assess the crestal bone loss level in flap and flapless surgery at follow-up periods of 0, 1, and 3 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients presenting with missing teeth requiring dental implants for rehabilitation were included in the study. Implant placement was done in 10 patients with traditional flap technique, while in other 10 patients, flapless technique was performed after determining the availability of sufficient bone width with ridge mapping. Radiographical follow-up was done for 3 months at 0-, 1-, and 3-month intervals. RESULTS It was observed that for most of the flapless cases, the bone loss settled at 1st thread or just below the implant collar after 3 months. CONCLUSION It was seen that crestal bone height was reduced in both flap and flapless techniques. On comparing the bone loss, the flapless approach showed statistically significant lesser reduction as determined by radiovisiography. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The study has been done to evaluate crestal bone level using flap and flapless technique. It was seen that reduction of crestal bone height was seen in both flapless and with flap techniques. However, on comparison, less bone resorption was observed in flapless technique.
Assessment of antibacterial activity of 2.5% NaOCl, chitosan nano-particles against Enterococcus faecalis contaminating root canals with and without diode laser irradiation: an in vitro study

Abstract Objective: This study was done to evaluate the antibacterial effect of chitosan nano-particles (CNPs) root canal irrigant as a new alternative to Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for disinfection of root canals inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis, with and without laser activation. Methodology: Sixty single rooted human premolars were decoronated, prepared and had their apical foramina sealed. E. faecalis were incubated in the root canals for 15 days. The teeth were then randomly divided into two experimental groups (n = 30) according to the disinfection protocol used. In Group I: disinfection was performed using the irrigant solutions only (Saline, 2.5% NaOCl, CNPs). Whereas in Group II, disinfection was done using the same irrigants followed by Diode laser at (980-nm) at 2 W output for 5 × 5 s. Intra-canal bacterial samples were taken before and after canal disinfection to determine the CFU count. Results: In group I, 2.5% NaOCl was as effective as CNP in eradication and significantly more effective than Saline (p = 0.008) in eradication of E. faecalis. In Group II, either 2.5% NaOCl or CNP in combination with diode laser irradiation showed a similarly high effect in bacterial eradication. Conclusions: Within the parameters used in this study, a combination therapy consisting of irrigation followed by diode laser irradiation should be utilized as an effective treatment modality for eliminating E. faecalis from root canal systems.
Performance of a new short‐type double‐balloon endoscope with advanced force transmission and adaptive bending for pancreaticobiliary intervention in patients with surgically altered anatomy: A propensity‐matched analysis

A new short‐type double‐balloon endoscope (DBE) has been developed with a major focus on facilitating scope insertion to the target site for pancreaticobiliary interventions in patients with surgically altered anatomy. We investigated the performance of this new short‐type DBE by comparing it with a conventional DBE.
Modeling of an enterprise and information system: process specification based on the flow of things

Current modeling of enterprise and information systems is based on diverse methods such as function-orientation, data-orientation, process-orientation object-orientation, and object/process-orientation. Other emerging modeling methods include the ontology capture method and Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). These approaches have been criticized for lack of execution environment into which events that cause change could be incorporated. Such a topic is important in the study of dynamic behavior of systems for both analysis and control. This paper further develops a new approach oriented toward things that flow. Specifically, the paper concentrates on the study of process specification in analysis and design of enterprise/system architectures in order to most effectively facilitate their control. Here we produce a single, integrated diagrammatic representation that uniformly incorporates structural and behavioral aspects into an underlying conceptual description. The viability of the model is demonstrated by applying it to a case study of services provided by an existing organizational unit.
Co-Expression of the Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Latent Membrane Proteins and the Pathogenesis of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in the tumour cells of a subset of patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), yet the contribution of the virus to the pathogenesis of these tumours remains only poorly understood. The EBV genome in virus-associated cHL expresses a limited subset of genes, restricted to the non-coding Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNAs (EBERs) and viral miRNA, as well as only three virus proteins; the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1), and the two latent membrane proteins, known as LMP1 and LMP2, the latter of which has two isoforms, LMP2A and LMP2B. LMP1 and LMP2A are of particular interest because they are co-expressed in tumour cells and can activate cellular signalling pathways, driving aberrant cellular transcription in infected B cells to promote lymphomagenesis. This article seeks to bring together the results of recent studies of the latent membrane proteins in different B cell systems, including experiments in animal models as well as a re-analysis of our own transcriptional data. In doing so, we summarise the potentially co-operative and antagonistic effects of the LMPs that are relevant to B cell lymphomagenesis.
Game Addiction Scale Assessment Through a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adult Men: Item Response Theory Graded–Response Modeling

Background The 7-item Game Addiction Scale (GAS) has been validated under standard confirmatory factor analysis and exhibits good psychometric properties. Whether this scale satisfies the necessary conditions for consideration by item response theory (IRT) modeling remains unknown. However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) recently proposed criteria, in its section 3, to define internet gaming disorder (IGD) to promote research on this possible condition. Objective The objective of our study was to (1) analyze GAS in the context of IRT (graded-response) modeling; (2) investigate differential item functioning (DIF), a feature of IRT modeling, in 2 subsamples; and (3) contribute to the ongoing (IGD) debate related to the validity of the DSM-5 criteria using GAS items as a proxy. Methods We assessed 2 large representative samples of Swiss men (3320 French-speaking and 2670 German-speaking) with GAS. Results All items comprised high discrimination parameters. GAS items such as relapse, conflict, withdrawal, and problems (loss of interests) were endorsed more frequently in more severe IGD stages, whereas items related to tolerance, salience (preoccupation), and mood modification (escape) were endorsed more widely among participants (including in less severe IGD stages). Several DIF effects were found but were classified as negligible. Conclusions The results of the analyses partly support the relevance of using IRT to further establish the psychometric properties of the GAS items. This study contributes to testing the validity of the IGD criteria, although cautious generalization of our findings is required with GAS being only a proxy of the IGD criteria.
Phantom Ray-Hair Intersector

We present a new approach to ray tracing swept volumes along trajectories defined by cubic Bézier curves. It performs at two-thirds of the speed of ray-triangle intersection, allowing essentially even treatment of such primitives in ray tracing applications that require hair, fur, or yarn rendering. At each iteration, we approximate a radially symmetric swept volume with a tangential cone. A distance from the ray-cone intersection to the cone's base is then used to compute the next curve parameter t. When this distance is zero, the ray intersects the swept volume and the cone at the same point and we stop the iterations. To enforce continuity of the iterative root finding, we introduce "phantom" intersection, padding the cone until it touches the ray if the ray-cone intersection does not exist.
Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C-1 Improves Growth Performance, Stimulates GH/IGF-1, and Regulates the Gut Microbiota of Growth-Retarded Beef Calves

Growth retardation of calves is defined as a symptom of impaired growth and development, probably due to growth hormone disorder as well as natural and environmental factors in livestock. The growth-promoting effects of probiotics were determined in 50 growth-retarded growth calves. They were supplied with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C-1 (Ba, 4 × 1010CFU/d, n = 16), B. subtilis (Bs, 4 × 1010CFU/d, n = 18), and negative control (NC, n = 16) for 30 days. Pre- and post-intervention, the growth performance (weight gain rate, feed intake and feed conversion rate) was analyzed, the serum GH, IGH-1 and immunoglobulin levels were assayed, and the fecal microbiota was detected. Calves in Ba and Bs groups demonstrated increased body weight gain, feed intake and GH/IGF-1 levels, as well as a more efficient feed conversion rate, compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the abundances of bacteria contributing to the production of energy and SCFAs (short chain fatty acids), including Proteobacteria, Rhodospirillaceae, Campylobacterales, and Butyricimonas were increased compared with NC group (P < 0.05, FDR < 0.1); and the suspected pathogens, which included Anaeroplasma and Acholeplasma were decreased (P < 0.05, FDR < 0.1) in both the Bs and Ba groups. Akkermansia, which is involved in the intestinal mucosal immune response, was increased in Bs group after intervention (P < 0.05, FDR < 0.1), but exhibited no obvious difference in Ba group. The increased bacterial genera in Ba group were Sphaerochaeta and Treponema (P < 0.05, FDR < 0.1). These results indicate that the probiotics B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis exhibited similar therapeutic potential in terms of growth performance by regulating hormones, and improving the intestinal and rumen development in growth-retarded animals.
Evaluation of a New Exercise Program in the Treatment of Scapular Dyskinesis

Abstract An abnormal motion of the scapula, or scapular dyskinesis (SD), can be effectively treated through conservative therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new specific exercise program to restore normal position. A standardized and specific exercise program was created. In a prospective multi-center approach, patients were randomized into two groups: one group received the specific exercise program over a period of six weeks and the controls received massage therapy. The visual-analog scale, QuickDASH score, SICK scapula rating scale, hand press-up position test, lateral scapular slide test and internal rotation of the shoulder were evaluated. Twenty-eight patients were included in the study: fifteen in the exercise group and thirteen in the control group. Pain levels on the visual analog scale (VAS) were significantly reduced in both groups (exercise p=0.007; control p=0.004). The scores for QuickDASH (p=0.001), SICK scapula rating scale (p=0.003) and hand press-up position test (p=0.026) were significantly improved in the exercise group only. Scapula-focused exercise programs, as well as massage therapy, can effectively relieve pain in patients with SD. However, scapula-focused exercises resulted, specifically, in greater improvement of shoulder function.
Ensemble Learning Applied to Classify GPS Trajectories of Birds into Male or Female

We describe our first-place solution to the Animal Behavior Challenge (ABC 2018) on predicting gender of bird from its GPS trajectory. The task consisted in predicting the gender of shearwater based on how they navigate themselves across a big ocean. The trajectories are collected from GPS loggers attached on shearwaters' body, and represented as a variable-length sequence of GPS points (latitude and longitude), and associated meta-information, such as the sun azimuth, the sun elevation, the daytime, the elapsed time on each GPS location after starting the trip, the local time (date is trimmed), and the indicator of the day starting the from the trip. We used ensemble of several variants of Gradient Boosting Classifier along with Gaussian Process Classifier and Support Vector Classifier after extensive feature engineering and we ranked first out of 74 registered teams. The variants of Gradient Boosting Classifier we tried are CatBoost (Developed by Yandex), LightGBM (Developed by Microsoft), XGBoost (Developed by Distributed Machine Learning Community). Our approach could easily be adapted to other applications in which the goal is to predict a classification output from a variable-length sequence.
Predefined Sparseness in Recurrent Sequence Models

Inducing sparseness while training neural networks has been shown to yield models with a lower memory footprint but similar effectiveness to dense models. However, sparseness is typically induced starting from a dense model, and thus this advantage does not hold during training. We propose techniques to enforce sparseness upfront in recurrent sequence models for NLP applications, to also benefit training. First, in language modeling, we show how to increase hidden state sizes in recurrent layers without increasing the number of parameters, leading to more expressive models. Second, for sequence labeling, we show that word embeddings with predefined sparseness lead to similar performance as dense embeddings, at a fraction of the number of trainable parameters.