Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Report on Consistency Checking Rules for Information Extraction Dissemination Level Public D5.4 Report on Consistency Checking Rules for Information Extraction Table of Contents D5.4 Report on Consistency Checking Rules for Information Extraction D5.4 Report on Consistency Checking Rules for Informa

This project is supported by the European Commission under the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Theme of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Abstract In this deliverable we describe the application of the Khresmoi Knowledge Base to two radiology use cases – the modality classification of images and their retrieval. In order to achieve this we made use of an domain ontology and semantic information extraction techniques. A significant improvement in the modality classification was achieved by combining a novel semantic classification approach with the existing visual features method. Two advanced search services were developed that allow the generation of consensus terms from a set of reports and the retrieval of reports in which a set of terms co-occur. 1 Executive summary The consistency checking rules are a common approach to improve the data quality by detecting errors or conflicts in the generated information. In the scope of WP5, the Khresmoi KB deals with large datasets created as result of complex transformation or data generation jobs, which are persistently stored into an abstract information model – RDF. This deliverable explores the information semantics and links its usage to multiple project use cases by augmenting the capabilities of the visual retrieval system using background knowledge. The work behind this deliverable involves close collaboration between Ontotext, HES-SO and MUW. Three new services were developed that make use of the semantic repository. The constraint service exposes an image modality classification algorithm. It makes use of information extracted from non-structured text associated with the images by linking the latter to instances from the RadLex ontology. A heuristic scoring scheme is applied to the extracted data to assign modalities to images. The approach on its own successfully assigns the imaging techniques to 82% of the test set. In addition, a combination of the semantic classification approach and the classification method developed by the HES-SO improves the correct assignment to 90%. The other two services were developed in order to integrate semantic search into the clinical radiology retrieval platform. For this purpose data from unstructured radiology reports was extracted based on RadLex terms and loaded into the KB. Two advanced semantic search services were set up – one for calculating the consensus term set for a corpus of reports and one for retrieving reports in which a given terms co-occur. In combination, these two services and the visual retrieval system can augment an …
Cosmology with the largest galaxy cluster surveys: going beyond Fisher matrix forecasts

We make the first detailed MCMC likelihood study of cosmological constraints that are expected from some of the largest, ongoing and proposed, cluster surveys in different wave-bands and compare the estimates to the prevalent Fisher matrix forecasts. Mock catalogs of cluster counts expected from the surveys — eROSITA, WFXT, RCS2, DES and Planck, along with a mock dataset of follow-up mass calibrations are analyzed for this purpose. A fair agreement between MCMC and Fisher results is found only in the case of minimal models. However, for many cases, the marginalized constraints obtained from Fisher and MCMC methods can differ by factors of 30-100%. The discrepancy can be alarmingly large for a time dependent dark energy equation of state, w(a); the Fisher methods are seen to under-estimate the constraints by as much as a factor of 4-5. Typically, Fisher estimates become more and more inappropriate as we move away from ΛCDM, to a constant-w dark energy to varying-w dark energy cosmologies. Fisher analysis, also, predicts incorrect parameter degeneracies. There are noticeable offsets in the likelihood contours obtained from Fisher methods that is caused due to an asymmetry in the posterior likelihood distribution as seen through a MCMC analysis. From the pointmore » of mass-calibration uncertainties, a high value of unknown scatter about the mean mass-observable relation, and its redshift dependence, is seen to have large degeneracies with the cosmological parameters σ{sub 8} and w(a) and can degrade the cosmological constraints considerably. We find that the addition of mass-calibrated cluster datasets can improve dark energy and σ{sub 8} constraints by factors of 2-3 from what can be obtained from CMB+SNe+BAO only . Finally, we show that a joint analysis of datasets of two (or more) different cluster surveys would significantly tighten cosmological constraints from using clusters only. Since, details of future cluster surveys are still being planned, we emphasize that optimal survey design must be done using MCMC analysis rather than Fisher forecasting. « less
Unlocking Hospitality Managers Career Transitions through Applying Schein's Career Anchors Theory.

Purpose This paper seeks to unlock the career transitions of hospitality managers through applying Schein’s career anchors theory. It seeks to understand how Schein’s Career Anchors help explain the career transitions of managers in the Scottish hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a non-sequential multi-method design. All 22 hospitality managers who participated in the study completed an online version of Schein’s Career Anchors containing 40 items covering all eight career anchors. The career histories of participants were then gathered through use of a semi-structured interview. Comparisons were then drawn across the career anchor classification and the data on career transitions collected from participants. Findings The results highlight the continued relevance of Schein’s career anchors theory and indicate that Schein’s career anchors theory may constitute a useful tool for understanding hospitality managers’ career needs and engaging in meaningful career planning. Originality/value The study provides a useful insight into hospitality managers’ career motivations, and knowledge of career anchors will help hospitality organisations more effectively engage, recruit and retain hospitality managers.
Observations on balancing discipline and agility

Agile development methodologies promise higher customer satisfaction, lower defect rates, faster development times and a solution to rapidly changing requirements. Plan-driven approaches promise predictability, stability, and high assurance. However, both approaches have shortcomings that, if left unaddressed, can lead to project failure. The challenge is to balance the two approaches to take advantage of their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. We believe this can be accomplished using a risk-based approach for structuring projects to incorporate both agile and disciplined approaches in proportion to a project's needs. We present six observations drawn from our efforts to develop such an approach. We follow those observations with some practical advice to organizations seeking to integrate agile and plan-driven methods in their development process.
A novel full density QSTBC scheme with low complexity

In this paper, a new design criterion for quasi-orthogonal space time block codes is proposed for four transmit anntenas and four receivers MIMO communication system when it experiences the Rayleigh fading channel. Based on the design criterion, an improved design of QOSTBC(Quasi Orthogonal Space Time Block Code) for coherent channal interference is proposed that avoids repeated transmission of symbols by mapping symbols into another symbol domain which can maximize the euclidean distance between the symbols. Based on the optimal design of symbol structure, the proposed codes have lower decode complexity which performs close to the linear decoder. In the algorithm performance and BER analysis that the results are validated by Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the improved algorithm compared with other tranditional methods has higher coding/diversity gain and lower complexity.
Autonomic Denervation of Lymphoid Organs Leads to Epigenetic Immune Atrophy in a Mouse Model of Krabbe Disease

Lysosomal β-galactosylceramidase deficiency results in demyelination and inflammation in the nervous system causing the neurological Krabbe disease. In the Twitcher mouse model of this disease, we found that neurological symptoms parallel progressive and severe lymphopenia. Although lymphopoiesis is normal before disease onset, primary and secondary lymphoid organs progressively degenerate afterward. This occurs despite preserved erythropoiesis and leads to severe peripheral lymphopenia caused by reduced numbers of T cell precursors and mature lymphocytes. Hematopoietic cell replacement experiments support the existence of an epigenetic factor in mutant mice reconcilable with a progressive loss of autonomic axons that hampers thymic functionality. We propose that degeneration of autonomic nerves leads to the irreversible thymic atrophy and loss of immune-competence. Our study describes a new aspect of Krabbe disease, placing patients at risk of immune-related pathologies, and identifies a novel target for therapeutic interventions.
Risk of Ventricular Proarrhythmia with Selective Opening of the Myocardial Sarcolemmal versus Mitochondrial ATP-Gated Potassium Channel

Myocardial ATP-gated potassium channels (K-ATPs) are critical in the intracellular signaling cascade resulting in ischemic preconditioning (IP). Mitochondrial K-ATP channels seem to be responsible for IP, whereas the functions of K-ATP channels in the sarcolemmal membrane are less well understood. The proarrhythmic potential of specific versus nonspecific opening of K-ATP channels has not been investigated. In this study, Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were exposed to either pinacidil (1.25 μM), a nonselective K-ATP channel agonist, or selective mitochondrial or sarcolemmal K-ATP channel agonists or antagonists. The hearts were then subjected to 12 min of hypoxic perfusion and 40 min of reoxygenation. Hearts were monitored for the induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF). No heart subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation without drug treatment developed VF (0 of 5). Pinacidil pretreatment induced VF (12 of 14; p = 0.004 versus control). Pinacidil's effect was blocked by HMR-1098 (1-[5-[2-(5-chloro-o-anisamide)ethyl]-2-methoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-3-methylthiourea) (1 μM), a selective sarcolemmal K-ATP channel antagonist (1 of 7; p = 0.007 versus pinacidil; N.S. versus control). Hearts pretreated with 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) (100 μM), a putatively selective mitochondrial K-ATP channel blocker developed VF in one of eight trials (N.S. versus control). 5-HD did not alter the effects of pinacidil (6 of 8; p < 0.05 versus control; N.S. versus pinacidil alone). Selective mitochondrial K-ATP channel activation with [(3R)-trans-4-((4-chlorophenyl)-N-(1H-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carbonitril monohydrochloride] (BMS-191095) (6 μM) resulted in zero of five hearts developing VF (N.S. versus control). Our data suggest that selective opening of the sarcolemmal K-ATP channel during hypoxia-reoxygenation induced VF, whereas opening of the mitochondrial channel was not associated with VF. The findings suggest that caution should be exercised when developing compounds aimed at inducing IP, and nonspecific opening of the K-ATP channel should be avoided.
Central obesity and the aging brain.

BACKGROUND Central adiposity as an indicator of visceral fat is linked to vascular and metabolic factors that in turn are related to cognitive decline and dementia. OBJECTIVE To determine whether larger waist-hip ratio (WHR) is associated with structural brain changes that underlie cognitive decline and dementia. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of an epidemiologic cohort study of cognitive and functional decline (Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging). SETTING California Central Valley. PARTICIPANTS A total of 112 individuals selected from an ongoing cohort study of 1789 older Latino individuals. Baseline anthropomorphic measures (WHR) and measurements of fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, and insulin levels and blood pressure were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Baseline magnetic resonance images were analyzed quantitatively to determine the hippocampal volumes in the right and left hemispheres and rated for the percentage of white matter hyperintensities. RESULTS Greater WHR (P = .02) and older age (P<.001) were negatively related to hippocampal volumes. The WHR and age were positively related to white matter hyperintensities (P = .02 and P = .001, respectively). A 1-SD increase in WHR was associated with a 0.2-SD decrease in hippocampal volume and a 27% increase in white matter hyperintensities. These relationships were not affected by adjustment for body mass index, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and insulin levels or systolic blood pressure in the models. CONCLUSION A larger WHR may be related to neurodegenerative, vascular, or metabolic processes that affect brain structures underlying cognitive decline and dementia.
R2D2at NTCIR: Using the Relevance-based Superimposition Model

Our information retrieval project submitted fully automatic ad-hoc results. We use only description fields as queries. is the baseline tf idf result, and is the result using the proposed RS model which expands document vectors based on the relevance of documents. This method is expected to show better retrieval effectiveness than conventional methods, such as query expansion. The RS run achieved about 12% improvement of precision over the baseline tf idf run .
Spectral k-Support Norm Regularization

The k-support norm has successfully been applied to sparse vector prediction problems. We observe that it belongs to a wider class of norms, which we call the box-norms. Within this framework we derive an efficient algorithm to compute the proximity operator of the squared norm, improving upon the original method for the k-support norm. We extend the norms from the vector to the matrix setting and we introduce the spectral k-support norm. We study its properties and show that it is closely related to the multitask learning cluster norm. We apply the norms to real and synthetic matrix completion datasets. Our findings indicate that spectral k-support norm regularization gives state of the art performance, consistently improving over trace norm regularization and the matrix elastic net.
When Hyperparameters Help: Beneficial Parameter Combinations in Distributional Semantic Models

Distributional semantic models can predict many linguistic phenomena, including word similarity, lexical ambiguity, and semantic priming, or even to pass TOEFL synonymy and analogy tests (Landauer and Dumais, 1997; Grifﬁths et al., 2007; Turney and Pantel, 2010). But what does it take to create a competitive distributional model? Levy et al. (2015) argue that the key to success lies in hyperparameter tuning rather than in the model’s architecture. More hyperparameters trivially lead to potential performance gains, but what do they actually do to improve the models? Are individual hyperparameters’ contributions independent of each other? Or are only speciﬁc parameter combinations beneﬁcial? To answer these questions, we perform a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of major hyperparameters as identi-ﬁed in previous research.
Design optimization of microstrip fed rectangular microstrip antenna using differential evolution algorithm

Microstrip Antenna (MSA) found widespread applications in satellite communications, wireless and microwave systems, direct broadcast systems; due to their reduced cost and compact-planar structure. Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is a recent evolutionary computing technique. In this paper, we have implemented DE algorithm to optimize the resonant frequencies of the inset line fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna considering their geometrical design parameters like patch length, patch width and the length of the inset fed as an unknown variables. Simulations have been done for different microwave frequencies (3 to 18 GHz) for the optimized antennas.
Long-term effects of self-reported physical function and disability after participation in an individually adjusted and specific progressive balance training programme for older adults with fear of falling and tendency to fall

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effects from a 12-week balance-training programme on self-rated physical function and disability in healthy older adults with a tendency to fall and fear of falling. Method: RCT, 59 participants, 67–93 years (42 women). The participants were randomised to an exercise group (n = 38) and a control group (n = 21). The intervention consisted of a specific and progressive balance-training programme three times/week for 12 weeks and was evaluated using the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) before training, directly after the training period and 6 and 12 months thereafter training. Data were analysed using a mixed model. Results: Significant effects were found regarding physical function: ‘Functioning total’, ‘Basic lower extremity’ and ‘Advanced lower extremity’ in favour for the Exercises group. The exercise group improved significantly from baseline to directly after the training. At the 6 months follow-up, the effects had decreased to values similar to before the training, and remained unchanged until the 12 months follow-up. No significant effects regarding disability were found. The control group remained unchanged over time. Conclusion: No long-term effects were found for physical function or disability assessed with the LLFDI after participation in a specific and progressive balance-training programme for healthy older adults.
Pancreatic cancer risk in hereditary pancreatitis

Inflammation is part of the body's immune response in order to remove harmful stimuli—like pathogens, irritants or damaged cells—and start the healing process. Recurrent or chronic inflammation on the other side seems a predisposing factor for carcinogenesis and has been found associated with cancer development. In chronic pancreatitis mutations of the cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) gene have been identified as risk factors of the disease. Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare cause of chronic pancreatic inflammation with an early onset, mostly during childhood. HP often starts with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis and the clinical phenotype is not very much different from other etiologies of the disease. The long-lasting inflammation however generates a tumor promoting environment and represents a major risk factor for tumor development This review will reflect our knowledge concerning the specific risk of HP patients to develop pancreatic cancer.
An artificial neural network to find correlation patterns among an arbitrary number of variables

Methods to find correlation among variables are of interest to many disciplines, including statistics, machine learning, (big) data mining and neurosciences. Parameters that measure correlation between two variables are of limited utility when used with multiple variables. In this work, I propose a simple criterion to measure correlation among an arbitrary number of variables, based on a data set. The central idea is to i) design a function of the variables that can take different forms depending on a set of parameters, ii) calculate the difference between a statistics associated to the function computed on the data set and the same statistics computed on a randomised version of the data set, called "scrambled" data set, and iii) optimise the parameters to maximise this difference. Many such functions can be organised in layers, which can in turn be stacked one on top of the other, forming a neural network. The function parameters are searched with an enhanced genetic algortihm called POET and the resulting method is tested on a cancer gene data set. The method may have potential implications for some issues that affect the field of neural networks, such as overfitting, the need to process huge amounts of data for training and the presence of "adversarial examples".
J ul 2 00 5 Off-perturbative states in disordered systems

The systematic approach for the off-perturbative calculations in disordered systems is developed. The proposed scheme is applied for the random temperature and the random field ferromagnetic Ising models. It is shown that away from the critical point, in the paramagnetic phase of the random temperature model, and in the ferromagnetic phase of the random field one, the free energy contains non-analytic contributions which have the form of essential singularities. It is demonstrated that these contributions appear due to localized in space instanton-like excitations.
Evidence for mitochondrial K channels as effectors of human

Background: Sublethal periods of ischemia preceding a prolonged interval of ischaemia protect the myocardium. This myocardial preconditioning (PC) appears to be effected by K channels. These channels occur both in the sarcolemma and the mitochondrial ATP membrane. We investigated whether mitochondrial K channels are the end-effector of PC in the human myocardium. Methods: Right ATP atrium specimens obtained from patients undergoing cardiac surgery were prepared and incubated in buffer solution at 378C. After 30-min stabilisation, the muscles were made ischemic for 90 min and then reperfused for 120 min. The preparations were randomised into eight experimental groups (n56 / group): (1) Aerobic control — incubated in oxygenated buffer for 210 min, (2) ischemia alone — 90 min ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion, (3) PC — preconditioned with 5 min ischemia / 5 min reperfusion, (4) Glibenclamide (10 mM) in the incubation media for 10 min before PC, (5) 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, MitoK blocker, 1 mM) in the incubation media for 10 ATP min before PC, (6) HMR 1883 (SarcK blocker, 10 mM) in the incubation media for 10 min before PC, (7) Pinacidil (0.5 mM) in the ATP incubation media for 10 min before ischemia, and (8) Diazoxide (MitoK opener, 0.1 mM) in the incubation media for 10 min before ATP
Summary and discussion of : “ Why Most Published Research Findings Are False ” Statistics Journal Club

Recently, there has been a great deal of attention given to a perceived “replication crisis” in science, both in the popular press (Freedman 2010, “Trouble at the lab” 2013, Chambers 2014), and in top-tier scientific journals (Ioannidis 2005a, Ioannidis 2005b, Schooler 2014). To a certain extent, science is understood to be an accumulative, iterative, self-correcting endeavour, where mistakes are a normal short-term side-effect of a long-term process of accumulating knowledge. However, concern over a number of high profile retractions (Wakefield et al. 1998, Potti et al. 2006, Sebastiani et al. 2010) has had people questioning the standards and ethics of both scientists and science journals. Most discussions of this topic begin with a reference to a 2005 paper called by John Ioannidis, where he argues that under reasonable assumptions, more than half of claimed discoveries in scientific publications are probably wrong, particularly in fields such as psychology and medicine. Ioannidis has published a large number of papers on this theme, both empirical investigations of the literature, and the more theoretical 2005 paper. This document will summarize the important points in this body of work, as well as a dissenting view (Jager and Leek 2014).
Direction following control of planar snake robots using virtual holonomic constraints

This paper investigates the problem of direction following for planar snake robots. The control objective is to regulate the linear velocity vector of the snake robot to a constant reference while guaranteeing boundedness of the system states. The proposed feedback control strategy enforces virtual constraints encoding a lateral undulatory gait, parametrized by states of dynamic compensators used to regulate the orientation and forward speed of the snake robot.