132,260 research outputs found
Towards explainable data-to-text generation
No full textIn recent years there has been a renewed burst of interest in systems able to textually summarize data, producing natural language text as a description of input data series. Many of the recently proposed approaches to solve the data-to-text task are based on Machine Learning (ML) and ultimately rely on Deep Learning (DL) techniques. This technological choice often prevents the system from enjoying explainability properties. In this paper we outline our ongoing research and present a framework that is ML/DL free and is conceived to be compliant with xAI requirements. In particular we design ASP/Python programs that enable explicit control of the abstraction process, descriptions' accuracy and relevance handling, and amount of synthesis. We provide a critical analysis of the xAI features that should be implemented and a working proof of concept that addresses crucial aspects in the abstraction of data. In particular we discuss: how to model and output the abstraction accuracy of a concept w.r.t. data; how to identify what to say with controlled synthesis level: i.e., the key descriptive elements to be addressed in the data; how to represent abstracted information by means of visual annotation to charts. The main advantages of such approach are a trustworthy and reliable description, a transparent methodology, logically provable output, and measured accuracy that can control natural language modulation of descriptions
IDENTIFICATION OF 1-D MAGNETIC FIELD PROFILES IN HIGH CURRENT PLASMAS
No full textThe identification of magnetic field profiles is crucial in many applications where a
direct measurement is difficult. We discuss here a technique, based on the injection of charged
particles in the region under examination, which promises to be an innovative and effective tool in
the analysis of 1-D field profiles in high current plasma discharges. After the decription of the
inverse problem related to the field construction, we consider a suitable discrete identification
scheme, and analyze some properties of the latter. The field map in the interest region is
reconstructed via a minimization procedure, which identifies the coefficient of a well-suited
expansion for the field. In particular, we discuss the precision and robustness of the identification
procedure, with respect to the chosen optimization scheme, the amount of data, the order in the
field expansion, and the influence of noise on the data
Essential oils of three species of scutellaria and their influence on Spodoptera littoralis
No full textThe recent literature about the essential oils of different species of Scutellaria have been reviewed (Skaltsa et al., 2000,
2005; Rosselli et al. (2007); Formisano et al. (2011). As far as we know, there is no report on the chemical composition of S.
brevibracteata. Recently Raccuglia et al. (2010) isolated seven neo-clerodane diterpenoids from S. hastifolia, three of which
showed significant antifeedant activity against Spodoptera littoralis. No studies have been carried out on the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of these two species, while the essential oil of S. orientalis ssp. alpina has been described
(Formisano et al., 2011).
Recently, the chemical composition of the essential oil of Scutellaria rubicunda Hornem. ssp. linnaeana (Caruel) Rech. has
been reported, along with its effect on the feeding and egg laying behaviour of S. littoralis (Rosselli et al., 2007). As a continuation of our studies on species of Scutellaria (Bruno et al., 1996, 1998; Raccuglia et al., 2010), we describe the volatile
compounds in the essential oils of S. brevibracteata, S. Hastifolia and S. orientalis ssp. alpina as well as their activity against the
feeding and egg laying behaviour of S. littoralis
Effect of Germacrene-Rich Essential Oil of Parentucellia latifolia (L.) Caruel Collected in Central Sicily on the Growth of Microorganisms Inhabiting Historical Textiles
No full textIn the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Parentucellia latifolia (L.) Caruel collected in Central Sicily was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, with germacrene D and germacrene B accounting, respectively, for 59.2% and 24.3% of the total oil. Different colonies of bacteria and fungi frequently affect cellulosic objects such as books stored in libraries and museums. The antibacterial and antifungal activity against some microorganisms infesting historical-artistic craftsmanship was determined, demonstrating that the essential oil was particularly active against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus vulgaris
Valore pratico e valenza euristica della paura in Hans Jonas
No full textTra gli aspetti originali – e non meno controversi – della proposta etico-filosofica di Hans Jonas, l’“euristica della paura” occupa senza dubbio una posizione di rilievo. Intorno ad essa si gioca infatti una sfida duplice e decisiva. Innanzitutto, la ridefinizione del suo (tormentato) rapporto con la scienza moderna e la visione scientifica del mondo che quest’ultima veicola. In secondo luogo, il confronto costante dell’etica del futuro con la sua storia, con la storia dell’etica tradizionale. Su quest’ultimo versante, la sfida principale consiste nel tentativo di “liberare” il razionalismo etico dal formalismo tradizionale. Questa, in effetti, è la base a partire da cui è ricercata la possibilità per un rinnovato incontro e un’integrazione efficace tra razionalità etica e sentimento, pensiero calcolante e paura, in un equilibrio mai dato “una volta per tutte”, e che pertanto si presenta più in termini di compito (alla maniera, cioè di un imperativo, nel senso prettamente prescrittivo di un “dover fare”, o piuttosto un dover essere) che non come “dato di fatto” compiuto e innegabile
STEEL SHEAR PANELS AS RETROFITTING SYSTEM OF EXISTING MULTI-STORY RC BUILDINGS: CASE STUDIES
No full textThe seismic retrofitting of existing reinforced concrete buildings is currently a major economic and social activities for the redevelopment of congested urban areas. Innovative reversible technologies by metal devices are capable of protecting buildings from damage, providing high levels of structural safety. The current paper is framed within this context, where steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) as retrofitting system of multi-story residential RC buildings, designed for vertical loads and located in the historic center area of Torre del Greco (Naples, Italy), have been used. The vulnerability analysis performed on the inspected buildings have shown their inability to withstand seismic actions. Therefore, the retrofitting design of such buildings through partial bay and full bay SPSWs has been done. The retrofitted buildings behaviour has been assessed through numerical analysis carried out in the non-linear field. The achieved results have shown a significant improvement of the structural performance of the tested improved buildings in terms of strength and stiffness. As a further research development, the available information on the design of SPSWs for retrofitting existing RC buildings will allow to design useful design charts capable of providing the optimal plate geometric dimensions as a function of predetermined performance targets
Psoriasis and Vitamin D: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textPsoriasis is a chronic immune-dysregulated inflammatory disease and hypovitaminosis D is considered a risk factor. We conducted an online database search to review and meta-analyze the relationship between vitamin D, other bone metabolism parameters, and psoriasis. The efficacy of oral vitamin D supplementation in improving Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was also evaluated. Non-original articles, case reports, and animal studies were excluded. Bias risk was assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case–control studies, respectively. Unstandardized mean differences were used for data synthesis. Twenty-three studies reported serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in 1876 psoriasis patients and 7532 controls. Psoriasis patients had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than controls (21.0 ± 8.3 vs. 27.3 ± 9.8, p < 0.00001). Conversely, 450 psoriasis patients had lower levels of parathormone than 417 controls (38.7 ± 12.8 vs. 43.7 ± 16.5, p = 0.015). Four RCTs examined the effect of oral vitamin D supplementation on psoriasis for 173 patients and 160 patients were treated with placebo. No significant differences were found in PASI after 3, 6, and 12 months of supplementation. It is shown that 25(OH)D serum levels are significantly lower in psoriasis, but, although the granularity of RCT methodology may have influenced the pooled analysis, vitamin D supplementation did not seem to improve clinical manifestations
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