PGTask: Introducing the Task of Profile Generation from Dialogues

Recent approaches have attempted to personalize dialogue systems by leveraging profile information into models. However, this knowledge is scarce and difficult to obtain, which makes the extraction/generation of profile information from dialogues a fundamental asset. To surpass this limitation, we introduce the Profile Generation Task (PGTask). We contribute with a new dataset for this problem, comprising profile sentences aligned with related utterances, extracted from a corpus of dialogues. Furthermore, using state-of-the-art methods, we provide a benchmark for profile generation on this novel dataset. Our experiments disclose the challenges of profile generation, and we hope that this introduces a new research direction.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Use of explicit replies as coordination mechanisms in online student debate

People in conversation entrain their linguistic behaviours through spontaneous alignment mechanisms [7] - both in face-to-face and computer-mediated communication (CMC) [8]. In CMC, one of the mechanisms through which linguistic entrainment happens is through explicit replies. Indeed, the use of explicit replies influences the structure of conversations, favouring the formation of reply-trees typically delineated by topic shifts [5]. The interpersonal coordination mechanisms realized by how actors address each other have been studied using a probabilistic framework proposed by David Gibson [2,3]. Other recent approaches use computational methods and information theory to quantify changes in text. We explore coordination mechanisms concerned with some of the roles utterances play in dialogues - specifically in explicit replies. We identify these roles by finding community structure in the conversation's vocabulary using a non-parametric, hierarchical topic model. Some conversations may always stay on the ground, remaining at the level of general introductory chatter. Some others may develop a specific sub-topic in significant depth and detail. Even others may jump between general chatter, out-of-topic remarks and people agreeing or disagreeing without further elaboration

Decentralized Multi-Agent System Applied to the Decision Making Process of the Microgrid Restoration Procedure towards Sustainability

A significant procedure to ensure the consumer supply is Power System Restoration (PSR). Due to the increase of the number of distributed generators in the grid, it is possible to shift from the conventional PSR to a new strategy involving the use of distributed energy resources (DER). In this paper, a decentralized multi-agent system (MAS) is proposed to cope with the restoration procedure in a microgrid (MG). Each agent is assigned to a specific consumer or microsource (MS), communicating with other agents at every stage of the restoration procedure so that a common decision is reached. The 0/1 knapsack problem is the problem that every agent solves to determine the best load connection sequence during the restoration of the MG. Two different case studies are used to test the MAS on a dynamically modeled benchmark MG: a total blackout and a partial blackout. Regarding the partial blackout case, demand response emergency programs are considered to manage the loads in the MG. The MAS is developed in Matlab/Simulink environment and by performing the corresponding dynamic simulations it is possible to validate this system towards sustainability

An investigation into fuzzy negation in semantic similarity measures

Machine computation of semantic similarity between short texts aims to approximate human measurements of similarity, often influenced by context, domain knowledge, and life experiences. Logical negation in natural language plays an important role as it can change the polarity of meaning within a sentence, yet it is a complex problem for semantic similarity measures to identify and measure. This paper investigates the impact of logical negation on determining fuzzy semantic similarity between short texts containing fuzzy words. A methodology is proposed to interpret the implications of a negation word on a fuzzy word within the context of a user utterance. Three known fuzzy logical not operators proposed by Zadeh, Yager and Sugeno are incorporated into a fuzzy semantic similarity measure called FUSE. Experiments are conducted on a sample dataset of short text inputs captured through human engagement with a dialogue system. Results show that Yager's weighted operator is the most suitable for achieving a matching threshold of 90.47% accuracy. This finding has significant implications for the field of semantic similarity measures. It provides a more accurate way to measure the similarity of short texts that contain fuzzy words combined with logical negation. Whilst validation of the approach on more substantial datasets is required, this study contributes to a better understanding of how to account for logical negation in fuzzy semantic similarity measures and provides a valuable methodology for future research in this area

Determinant Factors of the Organizational Innovative Performance: Cooperation, Absorptive Capacity and Public Policy

This paper aims to analyze the determinants of the innovative performance of the Portuguese firms which, in the context of this research are: cooperation, public policies to stimulate innovation and absorptive capacity. Indeed, the set of approaches that have come to appear as a reference of the subject of innovation are assumed of conceptual importance, leading to an empirical basis that allows to analyze the determinants of innovative performance, using the available data from the Community Innovation Survey CIS 2010 and the application of statistical patterns, through logistic regression modelsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognostic value of podoplanin expression in intratumoral stroma and neoplastic cells of uterine cervical carcinomas

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological significance of podoplanin expression in the intratumoral stroma and neoplastic cells of early stage uterine cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients with clinical stage I and IIA uterine cervical carcinomas underwent surgery between 2000 and 2007. Clinicopathological data and slides associated with these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Immunodetection of podoplanin expression in histologic sections of tissue microarray blocks was performed using the monoclonal antibody D2-40. RESULTS: Expression of podoplanin was detected in neoplastic cells in 31/143 (21.6%) cases, with 29/31 (93.5%) of these cases diagnosed as squamous carcinoma. For all of the cases examined, the strongest signal for podoplanin expression was observed at the proliferating edge of the tumor nests. The rate of positive podoplanin expression for node-positive cases was lower than that of node-negative (18.9% vs. 22.6%, respectively). Furthermore, the rate of positive podoplanin expression in fatal cases was 10.5% vs. 21.6%, respectively. In 27/143 (18.8%) cases, podoplanin expression was detected in fibroblasts of the intratumoral stroma, and this expression did not correlate with patient age, clinical stage, tumor size, histologic type, depth of infiltration, or vascular involvement. Moreover, expression of podoplanin in intratumoral stroma fibroblasts was only negatively associated with nodal metastasis. A greater number of fatal cases was observed among negative intratumoral stroma fibroblasts (15.5% vs. 3.7%, respectively), although this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that podoplanin may have a role in host-tumor interactions and, as a result, may represent a favorable prognostic factor for squamous cervical carcinomas

Barriers to innovation activities as determinants of ongoing activities or abandoned

Purpose – This paper aims to analyses barriers as a determinant of ongoing or abandoned innovation activities. The literature exploits barriers as the nature of innovation and its influence on firm’s. The main focus is the Portuguese SMEs and the impacts that act as barriers in the development of innovation activities. Design/methodology/approach – The database was obtained through the Community Innovation Survey 2010 (CIS 2010) that was coordinated by EUROSTAT. In this sense, a logistic regression model is proposed, which makes it possible to analyse the relations between three or more variables, depending on whether the relationship is one of dependence or interdependence, thus allowing the application of distinct statistical techniques, using 6,160 firms Findings – There are several sources of information that are associated with the development of innovation projects. Practical implications – The importance of barriers to the development of innovation activities, as well as it being a decisive factor in the impediment to and abandon of the same, was noted. Originality/value – This study also demonstrated that each case is different and that a barrier in one firm can at the same time be a window of opportunity for another firm.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognostic value of podoplanin expression in intratumoral stroma and neoplastic cells of uterine cervical carcinomas

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological significance of podoplanin expression in the intratumoral stroma and neoplastic cells of early stage uterine cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients with clinical stage I and IIA uterine cervical carcinomas underwent surgery between 2000 and 2007. Clinicopathological data and slides associated with these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Immunodetection of podoplanin expression in histologic sections of tissue microarray blocks was performed using the monoclonal antibody D2-40. RESULTS: Expression of podoplanin was detected in neoplastic cells in 31/143 (21.6%) cases, with 29/31 (93.5%) of these cases diagnosed as squamous carcinoma. For all of the cases examined, the strongest signal for podoplanin expression was observed at the proliferating edge of the tumor nests. The rate of positive podoplanin expression for node-positive cases was lower than that of node-negative (18.9% vs. 22.6%, respectively). Furthermore, the rate of positive podoplanin expression in fatal cases was 10.5% vs. 21.6%, respectively. In 27/143 (18.8%) cases, podoplanin expression was detected in fibroblasts of the intratumoral stroma, and this expression did not correlate with patient age, clinical stage, tumor size, histologic type, depth of infiltration, or vascular involvement. Moreover, expression of podoplanin in intratumoral stroma fibroblasts was only negatively associated with nodal metastasis. A greater number of fatal cases was observed among negative intratumoral stroma fibroblasts (15.5% vs. 3.7%, respectively), although this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that podoplanin may have a role in host-tumor interactions and, as a result, may represent a favorable prognostic factor for squamous cervical carcinomas

Association between intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) and clinicopathologic features in endometrial cancer: a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer significantly decreases survival rate. Few data on the influence of intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) on survival in endometrial cancer are available. Our aim was to assess the intratumoral LMVD of endometrial carcinomas and to investigate its association with classical pathological factors, lymph node metastasis and survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty-seven patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 underwent complete surgical staging and evaluation of intratumoral LMVD and other histologic variables. Lymphatic microvessels were identified by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody against human podoplanin (clone D2-40) and evaluated by counting the number of immunostained lymphatic vessels in 10 hot spot areas at 400× magnification. The LMVD was expressed by the mean number of vessels in these 10 hot spot microscopic fields. We next investigated the association of LMVD with the clinicopathologic findings and prognosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean number of lymphatic vessels counted in all cases ranged between 0 and 4.7. The median value of mean LMVD was 0.5, and defined the cut-off for low and high LMVD. We identified low intratumoral LMVD in 27 (47.4%) patients and high LMVD in 30 (52.6%) patients. High intratumoral LMVD was associated with lesser miometrial and adnaexal infiltration, lesser cervical and peritoneal involvement, and fewer fatal cases. Although there was lower lymph node involvement among cases with high LMVD, the difference did not reach significance. No association was seen between LMVD and FIGO staging, histological type, or vascular invasion. On the other hand, low intratumoral LMVD was associated with poor outcome. Seventy-five percent of deaths occurred in patients with low intratumoral LMVD.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show association of high intratumoral LMVD with features related to more localized disease and better outcome. We discuss the role of lymphangiogenesis as an early event in the endometrial carcinogenesis.</p

Acid-base and biochemical stabilization and quality of recovery in male cats with urethral obstruction and anesthetized with propofol or a combination of ketamine and diazepam

This study compared acid-base and biochemical changes and quality of recovery in male cats with experimentally induced urethral obstruction and anesthetized with either propofol or a combination of ketamine and diazepam for urethral catheterization. Ten male cats with urethral obstruction were enrolled for urethral catheterization and anesthetized with either ketamine-diazepam (KD) or propofol (P). Lactated Ringer's solution was administered by intravenous (IV) beginning 15 min before and continuing for 48 h after relief of urethral obstruction. Quality of recovery and time to standing were evaluated. The urethral catheter was maintained to measure urinary output. Hematocrit (Hct), total plasma protein (TPP), albumin, total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, pH, bicarbonate (HCO3-), chloride, base excess, anion gap, sodium, potassium, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide in mixed venous blood (pvCO(2)) were measured before urethral obstruction, at start of fluid therapy (0 h), and at subsequent intervals. The quality of recovery and time to standing were respectively 4 and 75 min in the KD group and 5 and 16 min in the P group. The blood urea nitrogen values were increased at 0, 2, and 8 h in both groups. Serum creatinine increased at 0 and 2 h in cats administered KD and at 0, 2, and 8 h in cats receiving P, although the values were above the reference range in both groups until 8 h. Acidosis occurred for up to 2 h in both groups. Acid-base and biochemical stabilization were similar in cats anesthetized with propofol or with ketamine-diazepam. Cats that received propofol recovered much faster, but the ketamine-diazepam combination was shown to be more advantageous when treating uncooperative cats as it can be administered by intramuscular (IM) injection.Cette étude visait à comparer les changements biochimiques et acide-base ainsi que la qualité de la convalescence chez des chats mâles avec une\ud obstruction urétrale induite expérimentalement et anesthésiés avec soit du propofol ou une combinaison de kétamine et diazépam pour une\ud cathétérisation urétrale. Dix chats mâles avec une obstruction urétrale ont été recrutés pour cathétérisation urétrale et anesthésiés avec soit\ud une combinaison kétamine-diazépam (KD) ou du propofol (P). Une solution de lactate de Ringer a été administrée par voie intraveineuse (IV)\ud débutant 15 min avant et continuant 48 h après l’élimination de l’obstruction urétrale. La qualité de la convalescence et le délai avant de se\ud tenir debout ont été évalués. Le cathéter urinaire était laissé en place pour mesurer l’excrétion urinaire. Les valeurs des paramètres suivants\ud ont été mesurées avant l’obstruction urétrale, au début de la fluidothérapie (0 h) et à des intervalles subséquents : hématocrite (Hct), protéines\ud plasmatiques totales (TPP), albumine, protéines totales (TP), azotémie (BUN), créatinine, pH, bicarbonate (HCO3\ud 2), chlorure, excès de base,\ud trou anionique, sodium, potassium, pression partielle de dioxide de carbone dans le sang veineux (pvCO2). La qualité de la convalescence et\ud le temps avant de se tenir debout étaient respectivement de 4 et 75 minutes dans le groupe KD et de 5 et 16 minutes dans le groupe P. Les\ud valeurs de BUN étaient augmentées à 0, 2 et 8 h dans les deux groupes. La créatinine sérique augmenta à 0 et 2 h chez les chats recevant KD\ud et à 0, 2 et 8 h chez les chats recevant P, bien que les valeurs étaient supérieures à l’écart de référence dans les deux groupes jusqu’à 8 h. Une\ud acidose s’est produite pendant 2 h dans les deux groupes. L’équilibre acide-base et la stabilisation biochimique étaient similaires chez les chats\ud anesthésiés avec du propofol ou avec KD. Les chats qui ont reçu du propofol ont récupéré beaucoup plus rapidement, mais la combinaison KD\ud s’est avérée plus avantageuse pour traiter des chats non-coopératifs étant donné la possibilité d’administration par voie intra-musculaire