A Mention-Ranking Model for Abstract Anaphora Resolution

Resolving abstract anaphora is an important, but difficult task for text understanding. Yet, with recent advances in representation learning this task becomes a more tangible aim. A central property of abstract anaphora is that it establishes a relation between the anaphor embedded in the anaphoric sentence and its (typically non-nominal) antecedent. We propose a mention-ranking model that learns how abstract anaphors relate to their antecedents with an LSTM-Siamese Net. We overcome the lack of training data by generating artificial anaphoric sentence--antecedent pairs. Our model outperforms state-of-the-art results on shell noun resolution. We also report first benchmark results on an abstract anaphora subset of the ARRAU corpus. This corpus presents a greater challenge due to a mixture of nominal and pronominal anaphors and a greater range of confounders. We found model variants that outperform the baselines for nominal anaphors, without training on individual anaphor data, but still lag behind for pronominal anaphors. Our model selects syntactically plausible candidates and -- if disregarding syntax -- discriminates candidates using deeper features.Comment: In Proceedings of the 2017 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP). Copenhagen, Denmar

A time lens for high resolution neutron time of flight spectrometers

We examine in analytic and numeric ways the imaging effects of temporal neutron lenses created by traveling magnetic fields. For fields of parabolic shape we derive the imaging equations, investigate the time-magnification, the evolution of the phase space element, the gain factor and the effect of finite beam size. The main aberration effects are calculated numerically. The system is technologically feasible and should convert neutron time of flight instruments from pinhole- to imaging configuration in time, thus enhancing intensity and/or time resolution. New fields of application for high resolution spectrometry may be opened.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure

Dry-season retreat and dietary shift of the dart-poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius (Anura: Dendrobatidae)

A precipitação sazonal afeta a dinâmica das florestas tropicais e o comportamento das espécies que fazem parte desse ecossistema. A relação positiva entre os padrões de atividade dos anfíbios e a precipitação já foi demonstrada repetidas vezes. Os membros da família Dendrobatidae, um clado de saposvenenodeflecha neotropicais, são bemconhecidos por seu uso de hábitat e comportamento durante a estação chuvosa, mas seu comportamento durante a estação seca tem recebido pouca atenção. Estudamos o uso de hábitat e a dieta do dendrobatídeo Dendrobates tinctorius na Guiana Francesa durante as estações chuvosa e seca. Ao contrário de muitos outros dendrobatídeos, D. tinctorius não mantém territórios ao longo de toda a estação chuvosa. Ambos os sexos colonizam clareiras recentemente abertas e permanecem apenas poucas semanas nessas manchas, onde os animais consomem uma grande variedade de presas, principalmente formigas, besouros, vespas, larvas de insetos e ácaros. Durante a estação seca, os animais movem-se para locais de abrigo na floresta madura, como brácteas de palmeiras e ocos de árvores. Nesse período, são menos ativos e consomem um menor número de itens alimentares; consomem menos vespas e larvas de insetos e mais cupins. Formigas constituem a presa mais comum durante as duas estações. Discutimos os efeitos das mudanças sazonais no uso de hábitat sobre o comportamento territorial dos dendrobatídeos.Seasonal rainfall affects tropical forest dynamics and behavior of species that are part of these ecosystems. The positive correlation between amphibian activity patterns and rainfall has been demonstrated repeatedly. Members of Dendrobatidae, a clade of Neotropical dartpoison frogs, are well known for their habitat use and behavior during the rainy season, but their behavior during the dry season has received little attention. We studied habitat use and diet of the dendrobatid frog Dendrobates tinctorius in French Guiana during the rainy and dry seasons. Unlike many other dendrobatid frogs, D. tinctorius does not maintain territories for the entire rainy season. Both sexes colonize recently formed canopygaps and stay in these forest patches for only a few weeks. The frogs in these patches consume a great diversity of prey, consisting of ants, beetles, wasps, insect larvae, and mites. During the dry season, frogs move to retreat sites in mature forest, such as palm bracts and tree holes. The frogs are less active and consume fewer prey items in the dry season, and they consume fewer wasps and insect larvae, but more termites. Ants are the most common prey items during both the wet and dry seasons. We discuss the effects of shifts in seasonal habitat use on the territorial behavior of dendrobatid frogs

Habitat Use of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) in the North Water Area (North Baffin Bay)

In conjunction with the International North Water Polynya Study in Smith Sound (northern Baffin Bay) in 1997-99, we examined the area use and diving activity of 23 ringed seals (Phoca hispida) that had been equipped with satellite transmitters on the Greenland side of the North Water (NOW) area. The study covered the period 12 August 1996-30 June 1999. Contact with the seals was maintained for an average of 108 days (range: 8-332 days). Four seals emigrated from the NOW area. During all seasons, the seals that remained in the area spent about 90% of the time in coastal (< 100 m deep) waters in the eastern parts of the NOW area. The total area visited by the seals during the open-water season ranged between 10 300 km² (1996) and 18 500 km² (1998), corresponding to about 15% to 25% of the entire NOW area. In winter, the total area visited by the seals varied between 2500 km² (1996-97) and 7000 km² (1998-99), and in spring, between 800 km² (1999) and 2100 km² (1997). Individual movement was significantly greater during the open-water season than during winter and spring. Maximum dive depths recorded were over 500 m (maximum for the instrument) outside and 376 m inside the NOW, for a 96 kg male seal. Non-adult seals spent about 99% of the time in waters less than 100 m deep, and more than 92% of the time in the upper 50 m. In contrast, adults tended to spend more time at greater depths. The study indicated that (1) the ringed seals took advantage of the generally lighter ice conditions in the eastern NOW, and (2) that non-adults likely exploited ice-associated amphipods and young polar cod (Boreogadus saida), and adults, mainly older polar cod and cephalopods taken at greater depths.Conjointement avec l'étude internationale sur la polynie de l'Eau du Nord dans le détroit de Smith (partie nord de la baie de Baffin) menée de 1997 à 1999, on a examiné l'utilisation de cette zone et l'activité de plongée de 23 phoques annelés (Phoca hispida) munis d'émetteurs-satellite du côté groenlandais de la région de l'Eau du Nord («NOW»). L'étude a couvert la période allant du 12 août 1996 au 30 juin 1999. Le contact avec les phoques a été maintenu pendant une moyenne de 108 jours (étendue: 8-332 jours). Quatre phoques ont émigré de la zone NOW. Durant toutes les saisons, les phoques qui restaient dans la zone passaient environ 90% du temps dans des eaux côtières (profondeur < 100 m) dans les secteurs orientaux de NOW. La superficie totale visitée par les phoques durant la saison d'eau libre allait de 10 300 km² (1996) à 18 500 km² (1998), correspondant à environ 15 à 25% de toute la zone NOW. En hiver, l'étendue totale fréquentée par les phoques allait de 2500 km² (1996-1997) à 7000 km² (1998-1999), et au printemps, de 800 km² (1999) à 2100 km² (1997). Les déplacements individuels étaient de beaucoup plus grands durant la saison d'eau libre qu'au cours de l'hiver et du printemps. Les profondeurs maximales de plongée enregistrées dépassaient 500 m (limite de l'instrument) à l'extérieur de la zone NOW et 376 m à l'intérieur, pour un phoque mâle de 96 kg. Les phoques non adultes passaient environ 99% du temps dans des eaux à une profondeur ne dépassant pas 100 m, et plus de 92% du temps dans les 50 m supérieurs. En revanche, les adultes avaient tendance à passer plus de temps à de plus grandes profondeurs. L'étude révèle 1) que les phoques annelés tiraient parti du fait qu'il y avait moins de glace dans la partie orientale de NOW, et 2) que, selon toute vraisemblance, les non-adultes exploitaient amphipodes et jeune morue polaire (Boreogadus saida) associés à la glace, les adultes se nourrissant surtout de morue polaire plus âgée et de céphalopodes prélevés à de plus grandes profondeurs

Simple Applications of q-Bosons

A deformation of the harmonic oscillator algebra associated with the Morse potential and the SU(2) algebra is derived using the quantum analogue of the anharmonic oscillator. We use the quantum oscillator algebra or $q$-boson algebra which is a generalisation of the Heisenberg-Weyl algebra obtained by introducing a deformation parameter $q$. Further, we present a new algebraic realization of the $q$-bosons, for the case of $q$ being a root of unity, which corresponds to a periodic structure described by a finite-dimensional representation. We show that this structure represents the symmetry of a linear lattice with periodic boundary conditions.Comment: LATEX2e, 10 pages, v2: few misprints corrected, added Journal-re

Generation of microbubbles in extracorporeal life support and assessment of new elimination strategies

Occurrence of microbubbles (MB) is a major problem during venoarterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with partially severe clinical complications. The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro ECLS setup for the generation and detection of MB. Furthermore, we assessed different MB elimination strategies. Patient and ECLS circuit were simulated using reservoirs, a centrifugal pump, a membrane oxygenator, and an occluder (modified roller pump). The system was primed with a glycerin solution of 44%. Three different revolution speeds (2500, 3000, and 3400 rpm) were applied. For MB generation, the inflow line of the pump was either statically or dynamically (15 rpm) occluded. A bubble counter was used for MB detection. The effectiveness of the oxygenator and dynamic bubble traps (DBTs) was evaluated in regard to MB elimination capacities. MB generation was highly dependent on negative pressure at the inflow line. Increasing revolution speeds and restriction of the inflow led to increased MB activity. The significant difference between inflow and outflow MB volume identified the centrifugal pump as a main source. We could show that the oxygenator’s ability to withhold larger MB is limited. The application of one or multiple DBTs leads to a significant reduction in MB count and overall gas volume. The application of DBT can significantly reduce the overall gas volume, especially at high flow rates. Moreover, large MB can effectively be broken down for faster absorption. In general, the incidence of MBs is significantly dependent on pump speed and restriction of the inflow. The centrifugal pump was identified as a major source of MB generation

Assessing pollen beetle dynamics in diversified agricultural landscapes with reduced pesticide management strategies: Exploring the potential of digital yellow water traps for continuous, high-resolution monitoring in oilseed rape

The European Farm to Fork strategy strives to reduce pesticide use and risk by 50% by 2030, preserving agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and human health. Novel research on crop diversification and new field arrangements, supported by digital technologies, offers sustainable innovations for pest control. This study evaluates digital yellow water traps, equipped with a camera and associated artificial intelligence model for continuous pollen beetle monitoring in diversified agricultural landscapes. Data were collected in oilseed rape from three harvest years (2021-2023) at the experimental site patchCROP, a landscape experiment established to study the effects of spatial and temporal crop diversification measures on yield, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. In patchCROP, crops were planted in smaller, 0.5 ha (72 × 72 m) squares called "patches" with different pesticide management strategies and were compared to surrounding commercial fields. The digital yellow water traps and AI were evaluated and found to be useful for gauging pollen beetle immigration into the crop. Across all years, higher insect pest pressure was recorded in the patches compared to commercial fields but did not necessarily compromise yields. Implementation of pesticide management strategies, including targeted insecticide applications at specific insect pest thresholds, were not associated with reduced yields in patches with flower strips. Future studies should consider examining the role of field size and alternative diversification approaches to fine-tune insecticide reduction strategies at the landscape scale

Electromagnetic modes of Maxwell fisheye lens

We provide an analysis of the radial structure of TE and TM modes of the Maxwell fisheye lens, by means of Maxwell equations as applied to the fisheye case. Choosing a lens of size R = 1 cm, we plot some of the modes in the infrared range.Comment: 2+6 pages in Latex, 3 figures to be found in the published referenc

Domain Decomposition Method for Maxwell's Equations: Scattering off Periodic Structures

We present a domain decomposition approach for the computation of the electromagnetic field within periodic structures. We use a Schwarz method with transparent boundary conditions at the interfaces of the domains. Transparent boundary conditions are approximated by the perfectly matched layer method (PML). To cope with Wood anomalies appearing in periodic structures an adaptive strategy to determine optimal PML parameters is developed. We focus on the application to typical EUV lithography line masks. Light propagation within the multi-layer stack of the EUV mask is treated analytically. This results in a drastic reduction of the computational costs and allows for the simulation of next generation lithography masks on a standard personal computer.Comment: 24 page