TimeSeq: sequences with normalized time information for Seq2Seq translation task

During last years, researchers have focused on developing Deep Learning models to translate natural language questions to SQL structured queries, what is known as the "text-to-sql" translation task. By 2020, DL models have reached outstanding results in WikiSQL and Spider challenges. However, there are still some challenges they have not addressed. Time normalization and small size of training samples stand out among these challenges. Nowadays, state-of-the-art models for text-to-sql task are not able to deal with common questions like, "what were the average sales for last three Christmas?" or "how much did I sell in every weekend of the last quarter of previous year?". On the other hand, models are trained with relatively small number of samples compared to the number of parameters in the deep learning models and collecting more questions and annotate the dataset is not easy. For these reasons, we propose TimeSeq, a new standard for annotating temporal information as normalized token sequences (time sequences), which can take advantage of DL models that perform seq-to-seq translation for automatically normalizing relative time information contained in common questions about business databases. Currently this standard applies to the context of questions made about the content of a transactional database; but could grow to other domains. We demonstrated with our experiments that deep learning models can learn to summarize the temporal information contained in a natural language question into a time sequence. We developed a process for data augmentation to increase the examples of pairs of questions and time sequences, based in the substitution of paraphrases corresponding to 3 ontologies we integrated: (1) Ontology of Paraphrases for Temporal Expressions, (2) Ontology of Paraphrases for General Business Database Querying, and (3) Ontology of Paraphrases for Specific Industry Domain, and an algorithm to perform the data augmentation, by creating new pairs of questions and time sequences without affecting the fidelity of the temporal information, as result of controlled combinations of paraphrases substituted at original pairs and at the new pairs generated. Our experiments also demonstrate the usefulness of paraphrases substitution for providing data to train models in the translation from questions to time sequences, that can generalize part of the learning to unseen datasets (0.65 accuracy in validation and test sets vs. 0.48 accuracy when training without data augmentation). However, training variability is not enough to represent the whole variability of unseen data, i.e., the models generalize what they can with the variability present in the data they were trained. Although our data augmentation method based in paraphrases substitution still needs to improve, it provides a relevant contribution for developing new data augmentation methods that enable the use of DL models in cases where the number of examples is too few for training

Impacto de estrategias de adquisición de vocabulario en primer año de inglés.

En el contexto de la problemática de la adquisición de vocabulario es pertinentepreguntarse si no existen rutas metodológicas factibles de ser aplicadas sistemáticamente en el aula para mejorar el léxico. Más específicamente, este proyecto, que se llevó a cabo en el año 2017, pretendió demostrar que los alumnos entrenados en el uso de estrategias de aprendizaje mejorarían su competencia léxica, la cual se reflejaría en la incorporación del vocabulario específico de las unidades temáticas enseñadas en clase. Partiendo de la hipótesis que los alumnos que reciban instrucción en el uso de estrategias de aprendizaje demostrarán una capacidad léxica más rica y específica en el empleo de nuevos vocablos, se planteó como objetivo general verificar si la instrucción sistemática en el uso de estrategias de aprendizaje facilitaba la adquisición de vocabulario. El estudio fue de corte cuasi experimental y las variables que se examinaron son la instrucción en las estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario (estrategias de memoria y cognitivas) seleccionadas para la ocasión (la variable independiente) y la mejora en la capacidad léxica de losestudiantes (la variable dependiente). La propuesta es repasar el trabajo realizado por el equipo y compartir los resultados y las conclusiones a las que se arribó

Propuesta de un plan de proceso de selección para mejorar el desempeño laboral de los colaboradores en la Empresa JEMAXCE de Huancayo

La investigación se desarrolló en la empresa JEMAXCE, que se dedica al rubro de la construcción, el objetivo principal fue desarrollar un plan de proceso de selección para mejorar el desempeño laboral de los colaboradores en la empresa JEMAXCE. Para desarrollar el estudio se buscó antecedentes nacionales como internacionales, se analizó bibliografía de diversos autores quienes dieron alcances sobre la selección de personal y desempeño laboral. En la investigación se planteó las hipótesis, las cuales fueron demostradas luego de la aplicación del plan de selección propuesta a la empresa; el enfoque es cuantitativo porque se usó una medición numérica, el tipo es básico ya que se define procesos sistemáticos y empíricos y el nivel es explicativo. El instrumento utilizado fue el cuestionario correspondiente a la selección, se aplicó al área de producción, la matriz de desempeño laboral fue aplicada por el residente de obra a los trabajadores del área de producción, y la guía de entrevista fue aplicada al gerente de la empresa para conocer aspectos importantes. Se desarrolló el plan de selección en el cual se propuso diseños de perfil de puestos para cada rol o función de trabajo de la empresa, se implementó métodos de reclutamiento y técnicas de selección, los cuales ayudarán a la organización captar al mejor talento humano y mejorar el desempeño laboral. Los resultados de la investigación demostraron que, luego de la implementación del plan de selección mejoró el desempeño laboral de los colaboradores, es necesario que la empresa aplique en lo sucesivo este plan para que logre posicionar a la empresa en el rubro de la construcción

Aplicativo móvil integrado con chatbot para la reserva de citas médicas del centro podológico Podoyimfeet

En el presente trabajo de investigación se planteó como objetivo general mejorar el proceso de reservas de citas médicas en el centro podológico podoyimfeet con la implementación de un aplicativo móvil integrado con chatbot, donde se utilizó la metodología Extreme Programming y como herramientas de desarrolló se usó Visual studio, Xamarin y el lenguaje C#, además se determinó 3 indicadores que se utilizaron para el presente trabajo, los cuales son nivel de servicio, nivel de satisfacción y tiempo promedio de espera. Se concluyó que la implementación de un aplicativo móvil mejoro y agilizo el nivel de servicio que brinda el centro podológico en su proceso de reserva de citas ,donde aumentó un 27.80 % a 83.30% de conformidad por parte del paciente, el chatbot fue de suma importancia en la integración del uso y manejo del aplicativo, como también incrementó la satisfacción del usuario con la atención del proceso de un 30.0% a 84.80%, Además, se obtuvo una reducción en el tiempo en reservar una cita médica de 10 a 2 minuto

Propensity score matched comparison of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus conventional surgery in intermediate and low risk aortic stenosis patients: A hint of real-world

Background: Recently, the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in inter­mediate-low risk patients has been evaluated in the PARTNER II randomized trial. However, in the last years, this therapy has been employed in this scenario with underreported results, as compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods: We enrolled 362 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and intermediate-low surgical risk (logEuroSCORE < 20%), treated in our center with TAVI (103 patients) or single SAVR (259 patients) between 2009 and 2014. Patients were matched according to age, gender, logEuroSCORE, and use of bioprosthesis. Results: Mean age of the patients was 73 ± 10.4 years, and 40.3% were women. LogEuroSCORE and Society Thoracic Surgeons score were 7.0 ± 4.4% and 4.2 ± 2.5%, respectively, with mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 52 ± 9%. There were no differences regarding other comorbidities. The length-of-hospitalization was 11 ± 5 days after TAVI vs. 17 ± 9 days after SAVR (p = 0.003). After matched comparison, no differences in terms of in-hospital mortality (5.7% after TAVI vs. 2.9% after SAVR, p = 0.687) and 1-year mortality (11.4% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.381) were found. The combined endpoint of stroke and mortality at 1-year was also similar between both groups (15.7% in TAVI patients vs. 14.4% after SAVR, p = 0.136). Multivariate analysis determined that aortic regurgitation (AR) was an independent predictor of mortality (OR = 3.623, 95% CI: 1.267–10.358, p = 0.016). Although the rate of AR was higher after TAVI, none of the patients treated with the newest generation devices (10.7%) presented more than a mild degree of AR. Conclusions: TAVI is feasible and shows comparable results to surgery in terms of early, 1-year mortality, as well as cerebrovascular events in patients with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate-low operative risk. Better transvalvular gradients, yet higher rates of AR were found, however, newer devices presented comparable rate of AR.

Secondary Infall in the Seyfert\u27s Sextet: A Plausible Way out of the Short Crossing Time Paradox

We used integral field spectroscopy from CALIFA DR3 and multiwavelength publicly available data to investigate the star formation histories of galaxies in the Seyfert\u27s Sextet (SS; HCG 79). The galaxies H79a, H79b, H79c, and H79f have low star formation rates despite showing strong signs of interaction. By exploring their individual specific star formation histories, we identified three earlier episodes of strong star formation common to these four galaxies. We use the last two episodes as markers of the epochs when the galaxies were crossing. We suggest that after the first turnaround, initially gas-rich galaxies crossed for the first time, consuming most of their gas. Hence, after the second turnaround most mergers from second crossings would be mixed or dry. The exception would be gas-rich galaxies intruding for the first time. Therefore, we suggest that SS galaxies have survived one crossing during a Hubble time. Strong Balmer absorption lines and the presence of counter-rotating disks provide independent bounds to the second and first crossing, respectively. This scenario provides a plausible way out of the short crossing time paradox

Improved image quality in pinhole SPECT by accurate modeling of the point spread function in low magnification systems

It is well-known that in pinhole SPECT (single-photon-emission computed tomography), iterative reconstruction methods including accurate estimations of the system response matrix can lead to submillimeter spatial resolution. There are two different methods for obtaining the system response matrix: those that model the system analytically using an approach including an experimental characterization of the detector response, and those that make use of Monte Carlo simulations. Methods based on analytical approaches are faster and handle the statistical noise better than those based on Monte Carlo simulations, but they require tedious experimental measurements of the detector response. One suggested approach for avoiding an experimental characterization, circumventing the problem of statistical noise introduced by Monte Carlo simulations, is to perform an analytical computation of the system response matrix combined with a Monte Carlo characterization of the detector response. Our findings showed that this approach can achieve high spatial resolution similar to that obtained when the system response matrix computation includes an experimental characterization. Furthermore, we have shown that using simulated detector responses has the advantage of yielding a precise estimate of the shift between the point of entry of the photon beam into the detector and the point of interaction inside the detector. Considering this, it was possible to slightly improve the spatial resolution in the edge of the field of view

Secondary Infall in the Seyfert's Sextet:A Plausible Way Out of the Short Crossing Time Paradox

We used integral field spectroscopy from CALIFA DR3 and multiwavelength publicly-available data to investigate the star-formation histories of galaxies in the Seyfert's Sextet (SS, HCG 79). The galaxies H79a, H79b, H79c, and H79f have low star-formation rates despite showing strong signs of interaction. By exploring their individual specific star formation histories (sSFH), we identified three earlier episodes of strong star formation common to these four galaxies. We use the last two episodes as markers of the epochs when the galaxies were crossing. We suggest that after the first turn-around, initially gas-rich galaxies crossed for the first time, consuming most of their gas. Hence after the second turn-around most mergers from second crossings would be mixed or dry. The exception would be gas-rich galaxies intruding for the first time. Therefore, we suggest that SS galaxies have survived one crossing during a Hubble time. Strong Balmer absorption lines and the presence of counter-rotating disks provide independent bounds to the second and first crossing, respectively. This scenario provides a plausible way out of the short crossing time paradox.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figues, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

New Adenovirus Groups in Western Palaearctic Bats

In the context of long-term screening for viruses on Western Palaearctic bats, we tested for the presence of adenovirus 1392 oropharyngeal swabs and 325 stool samples taken from 27 bat species. Adenoviruses were detected in 12 species of the Vespertilionidae and the Rhinolophidae families. Fifty positive respiratory and 26 positive stool samples were studied. Phylogenetic analyses of partial hexon protein and partial DNA-dependent DNA polymerase genes indicate that all these bat adenoviruses belong to the genus Mastadenovirus but without constituting a monophyletic cluster. According to genetic identities, the new groups are distinct to the previously described Bat mastadenovirus A and B species and contribute with potentially new members. Our data support that diversity of bat mastadenovirus is host-dependent and increase the knowledge of potentially pathogenic virus from bats. Due to the active role of bats as viral reservoirs, the characterization of these viruses is relevant for Public Health.This project was financially supported by an agreement between the Public Health Department of the Spanish Ministry of Health and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III for the development of "Rabies Surveillance in Spain" and by projects SAF 2006-12784-C02-01, SAF 2006-12784-C02-02, SAF 2009-09172 and SAF2013-47194-P of the General Research Programme of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education

Echocardiographic Changes with Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. Long-Term Pickwick Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Spanish Sleep Network.[Rationale] Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking. Rationale: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking.[Objectives] In a prespecified secondary analysis of the largest multicenter randomized controlled trial of OHS (Pickwick Project; N = 221 patients with OHS and coexistent severe obstructive sleep apnea), we compared the effectiveness of three years of NIV and CPAP on structural and functional echocardiographic changes.[Methods] At baseline and annually during three sequential years, patients underwent transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Echocardiographers at each site were blinded to the treatment allocation. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed-effects model with a treatment group and repeated measures interaction to determine the differential effect between CPAP and NIV. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 196 patients were analyzed: 102 were treated with CPAP and 94 were treated with NIV. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 40.5 ± 1.47 mm Hg at baseline to 35.3 ± 1.33 mm Hg at three years with CPAP, and from 41.5 ± 1.56 mm Hg to 35.5 ± 1.42 with NIV (P < 0.0001 for longitudinal intragroup changes for both treatment arms). However, there were no significant differences between groups. NIV and CPAP therapies similarly improved left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and reduced left atrial diameter. Both NIV and CPAP improved respiratory function and dyspnea.[Conclusions] In patients with OHS who have concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea, long-term treatment with NIV and CPAP led to similar degrees of improvement in pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction