Learning terminological Naïve Bayesian classifiers under different assumptions on missing knowledge

Knowledge available through Semantic Web standards can easily be missing, generally because of the adoption of the Open World Assumption (i.e. the truth value of an assertion is not necessarily known). However, the rich relational structure that characterizes ontologies can be exploited for handling such missing knowledge in an explicit way. We present a Statistical Relational Learning system designed for learning terminological naïve Bayesian classifiers, which estimate the probability that a generic individual belongs to the target concept given its membership to a set of Description Logic concepts. During the learning process, we consistently handle the lack of knowledge that may be introduced by the adoption of the Open World Assumption, depending on the varying nature of the missing knowledge itself

A graph regularization based approach to transductive class-membership prediction

Considering the increasing availability of structured machine processable knowledge in the context of the Semantic Web, only relying on purely deductive inference may be limiting. This work proposes a new method for similarity-based class-membership prediction in Description Logic knowledge bases. The underlying idea is based on the concept of propagating class-membership information among similar individuals; it is non-parametric in nature and characterised by interesting complexity properties, making it a potential candidate for large-scale transductive inference. We also evaluate its effectiveness with respect to other approaches based on inductive inference in SW literature

Coolant topology options for high temperature superconducting transmission and distribution systems

This paper investigates coolant topologies for High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) transmission and distribution cable systems. We explore options that allow for flexibility of operation, low temperature rise in the superconductor and low refrigerator power consumption. Topologies for cooling the cryostat and HTS in long-distance electric power transmission systems are explored. For transmission, the goal is to achieve long spans between cooling stations along the transmission line, and low power consumption. For HTS distribution systems, the issue is cooling the superconductor and the current leads and the goals are to minimize the power consumption and to prevent excessive heating of the superconductor. Means are explored to cool distribution systems where cryogenic loads are dominated by current lead loss. Use of multiple fluids or multiple coolant circuits of the same fluid to decrease the energy ingress in the low temperature environment is described. Potential alternative coolants are proposed. We show that it is possible to reduce electrical consumption by about a factor of 2, while also decreasing the temperature rise of the superconductor

The pVHL neglected functions, a tale of hypoxia-dependent and -independent regulations in cancer

The von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) is a tumour suppressor mainly known for its role as master regulator of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activity. Functional inactivation of pVHL is causative of the von Hippel-Lindau disease, an inherited predisposition to develop different cancers. Due to its impact on human health, pVHL has been widely studied in the last few decades. However, investigations mostly focus on its role in degrading HIFs, whereas alternative pVHL protein-protein interactions and functions are insistently surfacing in the literature. In this review, we analyse these almost neglected functions by dissecting specific conditions in which pVHL is proposed to have differential roles in promoting cancer. We reviewed its role in regulating phosphorylation as a number of works suggest pVHL to act as an inhibitor by either degrading or promoting downregulation of specific kinases. Further, we summarize hypoxia-dependent and -independent pVHL interactions with multiple protein partners and discuss their implications in tumorigenesis

Genotype-phenotype relations of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor inferred from a large-scale analysis of disease mutations and interactors

Familiar cancers represent a privileged point of view for studying the complex cellular events inducing tumor transformation. Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a familiar predisposition to develop cancer is a clear example. Here, we present our efforts to decipher the role of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) in cancer insurgence. We collected high quality information about both pVHL mutations and interactors to investigate the association between patient phenotypes, mutated protein surface and impaired interactions. Our data suggest that different phenotypes correlate with localized perturbations of the pVHL structure, with specific cell functions associated to different protein surfaces. We propose five different pVHL interfaces to be selectively involved in modulating proteins regulating gene expression, protein homeostasis as well as to address extracellular matrix (ECM) and ciliogenesis associated functions. These data were used to drive molecular docking of pVHL with its interactors and guide Petri net simulations of the most promising alterations. We predict that disruption of pVHL association with certain interactors can trigger tumor transformation, inducing metabolism imbalance and ECM remodeling. Collectively taken, our findings provide novel insights into VHL-associated tumorigenesis. This highly integrated in silico approach may help elucidate novel treatment paradigms for VHL disease

Distinctive Traits of Four Apulian Traditional Agri-Food Product (TAP) Cheeses Manufactured at the Same Dairy Plant

This study aimed to highlight the distinctive features of four Traditional Agri-food Products (TAP), namely, Caprino, Pecorino, Vaccino, and Cacioricotta cheeses produced at the same dairy plant to reveal any possible relationships between their microbiological and biochemical character-istics. Two distinct natural whey starter (NWS) cultures were used during Caprino and Vaccino cheesemaking, whereas no starter was used for the other cheeses. Cacioricotta retained the highest concentrations of salt and residual carbohydrates. Lactic acid bacteria dominated the microbiota of the cheeses. Furthermore, staphylococci represented an additional dominant microbial population in Cacioricotta. Although culture-dependent analysis showed that the use of NWS cultures only slightly affected the microbial community of cheeses, 16S metagenetic analysis showed that Lactobacillus helveticus dominated both the NWS cultures and the corresponding Caprino and Vaccino cheeses. This analysis indicated that Staphylococcus equorum and Streptococcus thermophilus dominated Cacioricotta and Pecorino cheeses, respectively. The highest peptidase activities were found in either Caprino or Vaccino. Enzymes involved in the catabolism of free amino acids and esterase showed the highest activity in Pecorino cheese. Each cheese showed a distinct profile of volatile organic compounds, with Pecorino being the richest cheese in carboxylic acids, ketones, and esters, related to lipolysis. The results of this study contribute to valorizing and safeguarding these TAP cheeses, sustaining local farming