Justifying Answer Sets using Argumentation

An answer set is a plain set of literals which has no further structure that would explain why certain literals are part of it and why others are not. We show how argumentation theory can help to explain why a literal is or is not contained in a given answer set by defining two justification methods, both of which make use of the correspondence between answer sets of a logic program and stable extensions of the Assumption-Based Argumentation (ABA) framework constructed from the same logic program. Attack Trees justify a literal in argumentation-theoretic terms, i.e. using arguments and attacks between them, whereas ABA-Based Answer Set Justifications express the same justification structure in logic programming terms, that is using literals and their relationships. Interestingly, an ABA-Based Answer Set Justification corresponds to an admissible fragment of the answer set in question, and an Attack Tree corresponds to an admissible fragment of the stable extension corresponding to this answer set.Comment: This article has been accepted for publication in Theory and Practice of Logic Programmin

Depoimento exclusivo de Claudia Toni à RT

Um depoimento exclusivo de Claudia Toni à Revista da Tulha

Induction of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 Mediates Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Activation in Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection

The recruitment and activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are of central importance for the elimination of pathogens in bacterial infections. We investigated the Streptococcus pneumoniae-dependent induction of the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 4 in PMNs as a potential regulator of PMN activation. We found that KLF4 expression is induced in human blood-derived PMNs in a time- and dose-dependent manner by wild-type S. pneumoniae and capsule knockout mutants. Unencapsulated knockout mutants induced stronger KLF4 expression than encapsulated wild types. The presence of autolysin LytA-competent (thus viable) pneumococci and LytA-mediated bacterial autolysis were required for KLF4 induction in human and murine PMNs. LyzMcre-mediated knockdown of KLF4 in murine blood-derived PMNs revealed that KLF4 influences pneumococci killing and increases the release of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and keratinocyte chemoattractant and decreases the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. Thus, S. pneumoniae induces KLF4 expression in PMNs, which contributes to PMN activation in S. pneumoniae infection

Geographical distribution and monitoring of dengue in 141 municipalities in the center-west of Brazil: Distribuição geográfica e monitoramento de dengue em 141 municípios no centro-oeste do Brasil

In fact, it appears that dengue is characterized as a disease that has relevance to public health in the country. For the year 2019, 1,544,987 cases of dengue could be reported, with the presence of 782 confirmed deaths. Regarding the interruption of dengue epidemic cycles, it was noted that measures associated with vector control have not been successful. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution associated with dengue cases present in the municipalities of the state of Mato Grosso, from 2015 to 2018, in order to identify the municipalities that have the highest risk rates related to the presence of arbovirus. Gross and Smoothed Rates were used through the Local Empirical Bayesian method. In order to calculate these Bayesian rates, a neighborhood matrix was developed with the presence of the continuity criterion that removed the zero risk of dengue from this calculation, thus minimizing the effects associated with the random fluctuations present in the areas that were monitored. Of course, the SaTScan software was used to calculate the Relative Risk (RR), and it was found that in this spatial scan clusters of low, medium and high risks were identified, demonstrating statistically significant data. The use of statistical techniques and spatial analysis employed in the study expanded the more detailed examination of the risk of transmission in the monitored areas, contributing significantly to the formulation and planning of integrated prevention and control strategies aimed at monitoring the arbovirus present in the state of Mato Grosso

Aprendizagem organizacional e relacionamentos interorganizacionais: um estudo de casos múltiplos

Cooperative interorganizational relationships are fundamentally based on trust, commitment and cooperation of individuals, which learn in this context from their practices. Therefore, this study aims to understand and analyze the learning processes arising from interorganizational relationships, focusing on relationship marketing practices between suppliers and customers. It is assumed that the learning process takes place in an interorganizational level and in a situated manner, especially among certain individuals and groups from different organizations (boundary spanners). We conducted a study of multiple cases involving marketing channels employees and intermediaries of a furniture company and a financial services company, through forty-six in-depth interviews and one direct observation in two collection phases. The technique for data analysis was based on grounded theory. The main results indicate the existence of learning processes and outcomes. Informal learning from experiences, exchanges and results is preponderant, as well as learning to trust. Formal processes of learning, in turn, serve as an opportunity for the occurrence of informal ones. Moreover, there is the staff turnover as a complicator. Regarding learning outcomes, market practices and cultural elements (meanings) predominate, and specifically to intermediaries, concepts and management systems. Therefore, in the case of interorganizational learning, it is clear the importance of the quality of the interactions among the individuals involved, in which specially learning to trust is developed.Keywords: interorganizational learning, interorganizational relationships, relationship marketing, situated learning. AcknowledgementThis paper received financial support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil. Relacionamentos interorganizacionais cooperativos estão baseados fundamentalmente na confiança, no comprometimento e na cooperação de indivíduos, os quais aprendem nesse contexto a partir de suas práticas. Assim sendo, este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender e analisar os processos de aprendizagem advindos dos relacionamentos interorganizacionais, tendo como foco as práticas do marketing de relacionamento entre fornecedores e clientes. Pressupõe-se que o processo de aprendizagem ocorre em um nível interorganizacional e de forma situada, principalmente entre determinados indivíduos e grupos de diferentes organizações (pessoal de fronteira). Efetuou-se um estudo de múltiplos casos, com a participação de funcionários e intermediários de canais de marketing de uma empresa moveleira e de uma empresa de serviços financeiros. Ocorreram duas fases de coleta: na primeira, foram realizadas vinte e seis entrevistas em profundidade e uma observação direta no contexto da empresa moveleira e onze entrevistas no contexto da empresa de serviços financeiros, utilizando-se de roteiros semiestruturados; na segunda, a partir dos resultados da primeira fase, elaborou-se um segundo roteiro semiestruturado, obtendo-se seis entrevistas em profundidade no contexto da empresa moveleira e nove no contexto da empresa de serviços. A técnica para análise de dados para ambas fases foi a baseada na grounded theory. Como principais resultados, evidenciaram-se os processos e resultados de aprendizagem. Preponderam os processos informais de aprendizagem, a partir de experiências, trocas e resultados, bem como o aprender a confiar. Os processos formais de aprendizagem, por sua vez, serviram como oportunidade para a ocorrência dos informais. Ademais, surge a rotatividade de pessoal como um limitador. Quanto aos resultados de aprendizagem, preponderaram as práticas do mercado e os elementos culturais (significações) e, especificamente em relação aos intermediários, conceitos e sistemas de gestão. Portanto, em se tratando de aprendizagem interorganizacional, ficou clara a importância da qualidade das interações entre os indivíduos envolvidos, na qual se desenvolva, sobretudo, o aprender a confiar.Palavras-chave: aprendizagem interorganizacional, relacionamentos interorganizacionais, marketing de relacionamento, aprendizagem situada. AgradecimentoEste trabalho recebeu apoio financeiro do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasil

Aprendizagem organizacional e relacionamentos interorganizacionais: um estudo de casos múltiplos

Cooperative interorganizational relationships are fundamentally based on trust, commitment and cooperation of individuals, which learn in this context from their practices. Therefore, this study aims to understand and analyze the learning processes arising from interorganizational relationships, focusing on relationship marketing practices between suppliers and customers. It is assumed that the learning process takes place in an interorganizational level and in a situated manner, especially among certain individuals and groups from different organizations (boundary spanners). We conducted a study of multiple cases involving marketing channels employees and intermediaries of a furniture company and a financial services company, through forty-six in-depth interviews and one direct observation in two collection phases. The technique for data analysis was based on grounded theory. The main results indicate the existence of learning processes and outcomes. Informal learning from experiences, exchanges and results is preponderant, as well as learning to trust. Formal processes of learning, in turn, serve as an opportunity for the occurrence of informal ones. Moreover, there is the staff turnover as a complicator. Regarding learning outcomes, market practices and cultural elements (meanings) predominate, and specifically to intermediaries, concepts and management systems. Therefore, in the case of interorganizational learning, it is clear the importance of the quality of the interactions among the individuals involved, in which specially learning to trust is developed.Keywords: interorganizational learning, interorganizational relationships, relationship marketing, situated learning. AcknowledgementThis paper received financial support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil. Relacionamentos interorganizacionais cooperativos estão baseados fundamentalmente na confiança, no comprometimento e na cooperação de indivíduos, os quais aprendem nesse contexto a partir de suas práticas. Assim sendo, este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender e analisar os processos de aprendizagem advindos dos relacionamentos interorganizacionais, tendo como foco as práticas do marketing de relacionamento entre fornecedores e clientes. Pressupõe-se que o processo de aprendizagem ocorre em um nível interorganizacional e de forma situada, principalmente entre determinados indivíduos e grupos de diferentes organizações (pessoal de fronteira). Efetuou-se um estudo de múltiplos casos, com a participação de funcionários e intermediários de canais de marketing de uma empresa moveleira e de uma empresa de serviços financeiros. Ocorreram duas fases de coleta: na primeira, foram realizadas vinte e seis entrevistas em profundidade e uma observação direta no contexto da empresa moveleira e onze entrevistas no contexto da empresa de serviços financeiros, utilizando-se de roteiros semiestruturados; na segunda, a partir dos resultados da primeira fase, elaborou-se um segundo roteiro semiestruturado, obtendo-se seis entrevistas em profundidade no contexto da empresa moveleira e nove no contexto da empresa de serviços. A técnica para análise de dados para ambas fases foi a baseada na grounded theory. Como principais resultados, evidenciaram-se os processos e resultados de aprendizagem. Preponderam os processos informais de aprendizagem, a partir de experiências, trocas e resultados, bem como o aprender a confiar. Os processos formais de aprendizagem, por sua vez, serviram como oportunidade para a ocorrência dos informais. Ademais, surge a rotatividade de pessoal como um limitador. Quanto aos resultados de aprendizagem, preponderaram as práticas do mercado e os elementos culturais (significações) e, especificamente em relação aos intermediários, conceitos e sistemas de gestão. Portanto, em se tratando de aprendizagem interorganizacional, ficou clara a importância da qualidade das interações entre os indivíduos envolvidos, na qual se desenvolva, sobretudo, o aprender a confiar.Palavras-chave: aprendizagem interorganizacional, relacionamentos interorganizacionais, marketing de relacionamento, aprendizagem situada. AgradecimentoEste trabalho recebeu apoio financeiro do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasil

Krueppel-Like Factor 4 Expression in Phagocytes Regulates Early Inflammatory Response and Disease Severity in Pneumococcal Pneumonia

The transcription factor Krueppel-like factor (KLF) 4 fosters the pro-inflammatory immune response in macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) when stimulated with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the main causative pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Here, we investigated the impact of KLF4 expression in myeloid cells such as macrophages and PMNs on inflammatory response and disease severity in a pneumococcal pneumonia mouse model and in patients admitted to hospital with CAP. We found that mice with a myeloid-specific knockout of KLF4 mount an insufficient early immune response with reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL) 10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma and an impaired bacterial clearance from the lungs 24 hours after infection with S. pneumoniae. This results in higher rates of bacteremia, increased lung tissue damage, more severe symptoms of infection and reduced survival. Higher KLF4 gene expression levels in the peripheral blood of patients with CAP at hospital admission correlate with a favourable clinical presentation (lower sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score), lower serum levels of IL-10 at admission, shorter hospital stay and lower mortality or requirement of intensive care unit treatment within 28 days after admission. Thus, KLF4 in myeloid cells such as macrophages and PMNs is an important regulator of the early proinflammatory immune response and, therefore, a potentially interesting target for therapeutic interventions in pneumococcal pneumonia