Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semantic Web Technologies for Explainable Machine Learning Models: A Literature Review

Due to their tremendous potential in predictive tasks, Machine Learning techniques such as Artiﬁcial Neural Networks have re-ceived great attention from both research and practice. However, often these models do not provide explainable outcomes which is a crucial requirement in many high stakes domains such as health care or transport. Regarding explainability, Semantic Web Technologies oﬀer semantically interpretable tools which allow reasoning on knowledge bases. Hence, the question arises how Semantic Web Technologies and related concepts can facilitate explanations in Machine Learning systems. To address this topic, we present current approaches of combining Machine Learning with Semantic Web Technologies in the context of model explainability based on a systematic literature review. In doing so, we also highlight domains and applications driving the research ﬁeld and discuss the ways in which explanations are given to the user. Drawing upon these insights, we suggest directions for further research on combining Semantic Web Technologies with Machine Learning.
chor-js: A Modeling Framework for BPMN 2.0 Choreography Diagrams

Choreography diagrams were introduced with the release of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0 to model inter-organizational business processes, for example in the context of contractual agreements. They have, however, failed to attract a degree of tooling support comparable to their process and collaboration counterparts. With chor-js, we alleviate this deficit by providing a web-based, open-source choreography modeling framework based on bpmn-js. chor-js aims to be an extensible, intuitive and easy-to-integrate choreography diagram modeler faithful to the BPMN 2.0 standard and targeted at researchers and users alike.
Revisión de técnicas de citogenética convencional y molecular y su implicación en el diagnóstico y pronóstico del cáncer

El analisis citogenetico de las celulas tumorales ha proporcionado importante informacion acerca de la biologia del cancer. En el ultimo Catalogo de Alteraciones Cromosomicas en Cancer se describen aproximadamente 100.000 alteraciones cromosomicas clonales en mas de 30.000 neplasias humanas. Muchas de ellas, se han caracterizado molecularmente, permitiendo la identificacion de nuevos oncogenes y genes supresores de tumores implicados en la genesis tumoral. En neoplasias hematologicas, y sarcomas, el analisis citogenetico constituye una importante herramienta diagnostica y pronostica incorporada a la rutina del laboratorio. Sin embargo, en tumores solidos su uso ha estado mas limitado debido a problemas tecnicos con los cultivos de las muestras, o a la presencia de multiples clones celulares y cariotipos complejos. El desarrollo de tecnicas de hibridacion in situ con fluorescencia (FISH) ha supuesto un enorme avance en la citogenetica del cancer, especialmente de tumores solidos. Hoy la tecnica de FISH tiene numerosas variantes tecnologicas como la hibridacion genomica comparada (CGH), el cariotipo espectral (SKY-FISH), o el multiplex FISH (M-FISH), entre otras. Todas ellas, constituyen una nueva disciplina denominada citogenetica molecular y proporcionan nuevos metodos mas precisos de deteccion de las alteraciones cromosomicas en las celulas tumorales. La combinacion de citogenetica convencional, FISH y analisis molecular permite la aproximacion diagnostica, la clasificacion de las neoplasias en subgrupos con distinto valor pronostico, y la monitorizacion del efecto del tratamiento. En esta revision, describiremos las distintas tecnicas geneticas y analizaremos su impacto en el diagnostico y pronostico del cancer.
Towards End-to-End Transformation of Arbitrary Tables from Untagged Portable Documents (PDF) to Linked Data

The paper is devoted to the problem of an end-to-end table transformation from untagged portable documents (PDF) to linked data. It covers the issues of the table extraction from documents, the reconstruction of logical table structure, the conceptualization of their natural-language content, and the linking of extracted data with exter-nal vocabularies. We consider some perspective approaches for the deep-learning-based table detection, heuristic-based table structure recognition, rule-based table analysis
On The Role of Knowledge Graphs in Explainable AI

The current hype of Artiﬁcial Intelligence (AI) mostly refers to the success of machine learning and its sub-domain of deep learning. However, AI is also about other areas, such as Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, or Distributed AI, i.e., areas that need to be combined to reach the level of intelligence initially envisioned in the 1950s. Explainable AI (XAI) now refers to the core backup for industry to apply AI in products at scale, particularly for industries operating with critical systems. This paper reviews XAI not only from a Machine Learning perspective, but also from the other AI research areas, such as AI Planning or Constraint Satisfaction and Search. We expose the XAI challenges of AI ﬁelds, their existing approaches, limitations and opportunities for Knowledge Graphs and their underlying technologies
Growth and Growth Factors

The last year has again seen some major advances in the Growth and Growth Factors field. Significant advances have been made in our understanding of the genetics of growth. For example, mutations in the pericentrin gene PCNT are associated with both primordial dwarfism and Seckel syndrome. Critically, these genes link DNA repair processes to growth. The identification of RNF135 brings into the field a novel gene implicated in growth. Additionally, genome–wide association studies have led to the identification of a number of loci that are implicated in normal growth. These include genes implicated in the Hedgehog signaling pathway and cell cycle regulation. These discoveries go some way towards explaining the genetic variation in height, but their importance may lie in other areas as well, for example cell cycle regulation. In addition, progress has been made in our understanding of Noonan syndrome by the discovery of further gene abnormalities in patients with this condition. Genetic mutations can now be identified in the majority of patients. Fundamental work has shown the importance of growth factor receptors in stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and the molecular mechanism behind activating growth factor receptor mutations. Some items are always on the growth factor research agenda, like direct and indirect actions of GH, the role of nuclear GHR and clinical effects of IGF1 but important new data have increased our understanding over the last year. We have attempted to discuss some of the key papers that have been published in this field.
Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy of melanosomes in vertebrates and cephalopods: implications for the affinity of Tullimonstrum

Screening pigments are essential for vision in animals. Vertebrates use melanins bound in melanosomes as screening pigments, whereas cephalopods are assumed to use ommochromes. Preserved eye melanosomes in the controversial fossil Tullimonstrum (Mazon Creek, IL, USA) are partitioned by size and/or shape into distinct layers. These layers resemble tissue-specific melanosome populations considered unique to the vertebrate eye. Here, we show that extant cephalopod eyes also show tissue-specific size- and/or shape-specific partitioning of melanosomes; these differ from vertebrate melanosomes in the relative abundance of trace metals and in the binding environment of copper. Chemical signatures of melanosomes in the eyes of Tullimonstrum more closely resemble those of modern cephalopods than those of vertebrates, suggesting that an invertebrate affinity for Tullimonstrum is plausible. Melanosome chemistry may thus provide insights into the phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic fossils where melanosome size and/or shape are equivocal.
Strong evidence of an information-theoretical conservation principle linking all discrete systems

Diverse discrete systems share common global properties that lack a unifying theoretical explanation. However, constraining the simplest measure of total information (Hartley–Shannon) in a statistical mechanics framework reveals a principle, the conservation of Hartley–Shannon information (CoHSI) that directly predicts both known and unsuspected common properties of discrete systems, as borne out in the diverse systems of computer software, proteins and music. Discrete systems fall into two categories distinguished by their structure: heterogeneous systems in which there is a distinguishable order of assembly of the system’s components from an alphabet of unique tokens (e.g. proteins assembled from an alphabet of amino acids), and homogeneous systems in which unique tokens are simply binned, counted and rank ordered. Heterogeneous systems are characterized by an implicit distribution of component lengths, with sharp unimodal peak (containing the majority of components) and a power-law tail, whereas homogeneous systems reduce naturally to Zipf’s Law but with a drooping tail in the distribution. We also confirm predictions that very long components are inevitable for heterogeneous systems; that discrete systems can exhibit simultaneously both heterogeneous and homogeneous behaviour; and that in systems with more than one consistent token alphabet (e.g. digital music), the alphabets themselves show a power-law relationship.
Attractiveness of thermally different, uniformly black targets to horseflies: Tabanus tergestinus prefers sunlit warm shiny dark targets

From a large distance tabanid flies may find their host animal by means of its shape, size, motion, odour, radiance and degree of polarization of host-reflected light. After alighting on the host, tabanids may use their mechano-, thermo-, hygro- and chemoreceptors to sense the substrate characteristics. Female tabanids prefer to attack sunlit against shady dark host animals, or dark against bright hosts for a blood meal, the exact reasons for which are unknown. Since sunlit darker surfaces are warmer than shady ones or sunlit/shady brighter surfaces, the differences in surface temperatures of dark and bright as well as sunlit and shady hosts may partly explain their different attractiveness to tabanids. We tested this observed warmth preference in field experiments, where we compared the attractiveness to tabanids (Tabanus tergestinus) of a warm and a cold shiny black barrel imitating dark hosts with the same optical characteristics. Using imaging polarimetry, thermography and Schlieren imaging, we measured the optical and thermal characteristics of both barrels and their small-scale models. We recorded the number of landings on these targets and measured the time periods spent on them. Our study revealed that T. tergestinus tabanid flies prefer sunlit warm shiny black targets against sunlit or shady cold ones with the same optical characteristics. These results support our new hypothesis that a blood-seeking female tabanid prefers elevated temperatures, partly because her wing muscles are more rapid and her nervous system functions better (due to faster conduction velocities and synaptic transmission of signals) in a warmer microclimate, and thus, she can avoid the parasite-repelling reactions of host animals by a prompt take-off.
Ecological opportunity shapes a large Arctic charr species radiation

Ecological opportunity is considered a crucial factor for adaptive radiation. Here, we combine genetic, morphological and ecological data to assess species and ecomorphological diversity of Artic charr in six lakes of a catchment in southernmost Greenland, where only charr and stickleback occur. Because the diversity of habitats and resources increases with lake size, we predict a positive association between lake size and the extent of ecomorphological diversity. The largest lake of the catchment harbours the largest Arctic charr assemblage known today. It consists of six genetically differentiated species belonging to five ecomorphs (anadromous, littoral benthic, profundal dwarf, planktivorous, piscivorous), of which the latter comprises two ecomorphologically extremely similar species. Lakes of intermediate size contain two ecomorphologically and genetically distinct species. Small lakes harbour one genetically homogeneous, yet sometimes ecomorphologically variable population. Supporting our prediction, lake size is positively correlated with the extent of ecomorphological specialization towards profundal, pelagic and piscivorous lifestyle. Furthermore, assemblage-wide morphospace increases sharply when more than one genetic cluster is present. Our data suggest that ecological opportunity and speciation jointly determine phenotypic expansion in this charr radiation.
Rapid and positive responses of plants to lower precipitation predictability

Current climate change is characterized by an increase in weather variability, which includes altered means, variance and predictability of weather parameters, and which may affect an organism's ecology and evolution. Few studies have experimentally manipulated the variability of weather parameters, and very little is known about the effects of changes in the intrinsic predictability of weather parameters on living organisms. Here, we experimentally tested the effects of differences in intrinsic precipitation-predictability on two herbaceous plants (Onobrychis viciifolia and Papaver rhoeas). Lower precipitation-predictability led to phenological advance and to an increase in reproductive success, and population growth. Both species exhibited rapid transgenerational responses in phenology and fitness-related traits across four generations that mitigated most effects of precipitation-predictability on fitness proxies of ancestors. Transgenerational responses appeared to be the result of changes in phenotypic plasticity rather than local adaptation. They mainly existed with respect to conditions prevailing during early, but not during late growth, suggesting that responses to differences in predictability during late growth might be more difficult. The results show that lower short-term predictability of precipitation positively affected fitness, rapid transgenerational responses existed and different time scales of predictability (short-term, seasonal and transgenerational predictability) may affect organisms differently. This shows that the time scale of predictability should be considered in evolutionary and ecological theories, and in assessments of the consequences of climate change.
THE NITRIC OXIDE DONATOR NAPROXCINOD HAS BLOOD PRESSURE EFFECTS SIMILAR TO PLACEBO IN PATIENTS ON RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM BLOCKERS: 9D.02

Background: NSAIDs are associated with destabilization of systolic blood pressure (SBP), particularly in patients taking renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers. Naproxcinod is a new nitric oxide (NO) donating cycloxygenase inhibitor (CINOD) being developed for osteoarthritis (OA). To characterize the effects of this CINOD on BP in the subgroup of patients taking renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, a pooled analysis of the three large Phase 3 trials in patients with OA according to antihypertensive drug use was performed. Methods: Changes from baseline in SBP were evaluated using a mixed linear model with study and treatment as categorical fixed effects and baseline BP as continuous fixed effects. Heterogeneity testing showed no treatment-by-study interaction. Results: There were 332 patients on RAS blocker monotherapy who received naproxcinod (375 and 750 mg), naproxen 500 mg or placebo twice daily for 13 weeks. The mean age of the RAS blocker monotherapy subgroup was 63 years, 65% were women and baseline SBPs were similar (129–132 mmHg in each group. Both doses of naproxcinod had SBP changes from baseline at week 13 similar to placebo (1.0 ± 1.74 mmHg, p = 0.284 for 750 mg and 0.4 ± 2.39 mmHg, p = 0.438 for 375 mg) but naproxen did not (5.3 ± 2.17 mmHg, p = 0.008) (FIGURE). Changes in SBP between equimolar doses of naproxcinod 750 mg and naproxen 500 mg twice daily were also significant (−4.3 ± 2.15 mmHg, p = 0.048). Conclusions: These data demonstrate that naproxcinod would be less likely than a conventional NSAID to alter systolic BP control in OA patients on RAS blockers. This finding may be due in part to the potential reduction in angiotensin II production and action mediated through NO delivery. Figure 1. No caption available.
Transient Laterality of Cerebral Oxygenation Changes in Response to Head-of-Bed Manipulation in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Cerebral oxygenation monitoring provides important information for optimizing individualized management in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Although changes in cerebral oxygenation are known to occur in response to head-of-bed (HOB) elevation within 72 h after onset, changes in cerebral oxygenation during stroke recovery are unclear. We compared changes in total- (tHb), oxygenated- (HbO2), and deoxygenated-hemoglobin (deoxyHb) concentrations in response to HOB manipulation between the timeframes within 72 h and 7–10 days after AIS onset. Methods: We measured forehead ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, and ΔdeoxyHb in response to HOB elevation (30°) within 72 h (first measurement) and 7–10 days (second measurement) after AIS onset using time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. Results: We enrolled 30 participants (mean age 72.8 ± 11.3 years; 13 women) with a first AIS. There were no significant differences in ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, or ΔdeoxyHb measurements on the infarct or contra-infarct side. At the first measurement, ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, and ΔdeoxyHb measured on the contra-infarct side did not correlate with those measured on the infarct side: ΔtHb (r = 0.114, p = 0.539); ΔHbO2 (r = 0.143, p = 0.440); ΔdeoxyHb (r = 0.227, p = 0.221). Notably, at the second measurement, correlation coefficients of ΔtHb and ΔHbO2 between the contra-infarct and infarct sides were statistically significant: ΔtHb (r = 0.491, p = 0.008); ΔHbO2 (r = 0.479, p = 0.010); ΔdeoxyHb (r = 0.358, p = 0.054). Conclusion: Although changes in cerebral oxygenation in response to HOB elevation had a laterality difference between hemispheres within 72 h of AIS onset, the difference had decreased, at least partially, 7–10 days after AIS onset.
The “CHROME criteria”: Tool to optimize and audit prescription quality of psychotropic medications in institutionalized people with dementia

Abstract Objective: Describe and validate the CHROME (CHemical Restraints avOidance MEthodology) criteria. Design: Observational prospective longitudinal study. Setting: Single nursing home in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Participants: 288 residents; mean age: 81.6 (SD 10.6). 77.4% had dementia. Intervention: Multicomponent training and consultancy program to eliminate physical and chemical restraints and promote overall quality care. Clinicians were trained in stringent diagnostic criteria of neuropsychiatric syndromes and adequate psychotropic prescription. Measurements: Psychotropic prescription (primary study target), neuropsychiatric syndromes, physical restraints, falls, and emergency room visits were semi-annually collected from December 2015 to December 2017. Results are presented for all residents and for those who had dementia and participated in the five study waves (completer analysis, n=107). Results: For the study completers, atypical neuroleptic prescription dropped from 42.7% to 18.7%, long half-life benzodiazepines dropped from 25.2% to 6.5%, and hypnotic medications from 47.7% to 12.1% (p<0.0005). Any kind of fall evolved from 67.3 to 32.7 (number of falls by 100 residents per year). Physicians’ diagnostic confidence increased, while the frequency of diagnoses of neuropsychiatric syndromes decreased (p<0.0005). Conclusions: Implementing the CHROME criteria reduced the prescription of the most dangerous medications in institutionalized people with dementia. Two independent audits found no physical or chemical restraint and confirmed prescription quality of psychotropic drugs. Adequate diagnosis and independent audits appear to be the keys to help and motivate professionals to optimize and reduce the use of psychotropic medication. The CHROME criteria unify, in a single compendium, neuropsychiatric diagnostic criteria, prescription guidelines, independent audit methodology, and minimum legal standards. These criteria can be easily adapted to other countries.
Systematic investigation on quad-metallic AgAuPdPt and tri-metallic AuPdPt NPs through the solid-state dewetting of quad-layer Ag/Au/Pd/Pt thin films on c-plane sapphire

Multi-metallic alloy nanoparticles (MNPs) can offer valuable opportunities to meet the various demands of applications. MNPs consist of various noble metallic elements can combine diverse electronic, optical and catalytic properties in a single NP configuration, thus taking the advantage of each element. In this paper, the fabrication of tri- and quad- metallic alloy NPs with noble elements (Ag, Au, Pd and Pt) and the corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance (LPSR) properties are systematically demonstrated. Tri- and quad-metallic alloy NPs come in various size and configurations by the solid-state dewetting of Ag/Au/Pd/Pt quad-layers on sapphire (0001). Tri-metallic AuPdPt NPs are demonstrated by the systematic control of growth temperature along with the significant Ag atom sublimation. Strongly enhanced and tunable LPSR is exerted in the UV-VIS regions depending upon the size, configuration, spacing and elemental composition of the MNPs. The size dependent LSPR response of MNPs is discussed based on the absorption and scattering along with the excitation of dipolar, quadrupolar, high order and multipolar resonance modes. The MNPs exhibit much stronger and dynamic LSPR bands as compared with the monometallic Pt and Pd NPs with the comparable size and configurations.
Tar adhesives, Neandertals, and the tyranny of the discontinuous mind

Were the builders of Stonehenge and the painters of Altamira (Fig. 1) cognitively and behaviorally like present-day humans? Did those prehistoric people have language? In the absence of writing, these never-asked questions cannot be answered with direct evidence. However, we take it for granted that, yes, they were, and they did. We do so because we instinctively know that such works require the capacity for abstract thought, deep foresight, and sophisticated communication. In current scientific discourse, this “complex” cognition is set against the simpler modes that can be observed in other species and are assumed to also have characterized our nonhuman ancestors. Hence the question that lies at the core of much paleoanthropological research: When, how, and why did humans acquire language and so-called “modern” (i.e., like present-day) cognition and behavior? Or, put another way, when did humans become, well, “human”? In PNAS, Niekus et al. (1) speak to these issues based on their analysis of a 50,000-y-old flint flake dredged from the postglacially submerged Rhine-Meuse Valley in the North Sea off Holland. The flake is embedded in birch bark tar and is of Neandertal make. It adds to comparable finds showing that Neandertals used artificial adhesives to haft, or better handle, stone tools across their entire geographic range and since at least 200,000 y ago. Fig. 1. Material culture as a basis for inferences about language and cognition. ( A ) Neolithic stone circle at Stonehenge, England. ( B ) Upper Paleolithic tectiform sign from El Castillo Cave, Spain. ( C ) Middle Paleolithic stalagmite circle at Bruniquel Cave, France. Reprinted with permission from M. Soulier/Societe Speleo-Archeologique de Caussade. ( D ) Middle Paleolithic scalariform sign from La Pasiega, Spain. If A and B , which were made by anatomically modern people, imply language and cognitive capacities like those of present-day humans, so too should C and D , … [↵][1]1Email: joao.zilhao{at}ub.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1