Deep recommender engine based on efficient product embeddings neural pipeline

Predictive analytics systems are currently one of the most important areas of research and development within the Artificial Intelligence domain and particularly in Machine Learning. One of the "holy grails" of predictive analytics is the research and development of the "perfect" recommendation system. In our paper, we propose an advanced pipeline model for the multi-task objective of determining product complementarity, similarity and sales prediction using deep neural models applied to big-data sequential transaction systems. Our highly parallelized hybrid model pipeline consists of both unsupervised and supervised models, used for the objectives of generating semantic product embeddings and predicting sales, respectively. Our experimentation and benchmarking processes have been done using pharma industry retail real-life transactional Big-Data streams.Comment: 2018 17th RoEduNet Conference: Networking in Education and Research (RoEduNet

New Results on Identity-based Encryption from Quadratic Residuosity

This paper surveys the results obtained so far in designing identity-based encryption (IBE) schemes based on the quadratic residuosity assumption (QRA). We begin by describing the first such scheme due to Cocks, and then we advance to the novel idea of Boneh, Gentry and Hamburg. Major improvements of the Boneh-Gentry-Hamburg scheme are then recalled. The recently revealed algebraic torus structures of the Cocks scheme allows for a better understanding of this scheme, as well as for new applications of it such as homomorphic and anonymous variants of it

COVER CROPS FROM WINTER WHEAT, TRITICALE AND PEAS CULTIVATED IN PURE STANDS AND MIXTURES – SOIL AND WEED SUPPRESSION BENEFITS

Cover crops had shown a potential to improving carbon sequestration in soil and environmental quality, but these beneficial effects can be modulated by precipitation conditions. In this paper was evaluated the effectiveness of three cover crops on soil chemical properties and weed suppression. The experiments were performed on cambic chernozem soil from NARDI Fundulea Romania in two contrasting years regarding the amount of precipitation. Three cover crops were studied. The cover crop consisting of peas + triticale has increased more soil carbon content and infestation with weeds were lower as compared with cover crop consisting of peas or triticale. The differences concerning carbon sequestration, soil organic carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio, weed suppression were influenced also by level of precipitations from experimental site. Cover crops were slow to impact C/N ratio of soil. In contrast, the floristic composition, and the degree of weed infestation were very significantly influenced by the composition of the cover crops. The use of cover crop mixtures offered an additional benefit to weed suppression that of individual cover crops

Multimodal Biosensing on Paper-Based Platform Fabricated by Plasmonic Calligraphy Using Gold Nanobypiramids Ink

In this work, we design new plasmonic paper-based nanoplatforms with interesting capabilities in terms of sensitivity, efficiency, and reproducibility for promoting multimodal biodetection via Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR), Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), and Metal Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF). To succeed, we exploit the unique optical properties of gold nanobipyramids (AuBPs) deposited onto the cellulose fibers via plasmonic calligraphy using a commercial pen. The first step of the biosensing protocol was to precisely graft the previously chemically-formed p-aminothiophenol@Biotin system, as active recognition element for target streptavidin detection, onto the plasmonic nanoplatform. The specific capture of the target protein was successfully demonstrated using three complementary sensing techniques. As a result, while the LSPR based sensing capabilities of the nanoplatform were proved by successive 13–18 nm red shifts of the longitudinal LSPR associated with the change of the surface RI after each step. By employing the ultrasensitive SERS technique, we were able to indirectly confirm the molecular identification of the biotin-streptavidin interaction due to the protein fingerprint bands assigned to amide I, amide III, and Trp vibrations. Additionally, the formed biotin-streptavidin complex acted as a spacer to ensure an optimal distance between the AuBP surface and the Alexa 680 fluorophore for achieving a 2-fold fluorescence emission enhancement of streptavidin@Alexa 680 on the biotinylated nanoplatform compared to the same complex on bare paper (near the plasmonic lines), implementing thus a novel MEF sensing nanoplatform. Finally, by integrating multiple LSPR, SERS, and MEF nanosensors with multiplex capability into a single flexible and portable plasmonic nanoplatform, we could overcome important limits in the field of portable point-of-care diagnostics

Is open surgery still part of the current treatment of inguinal hernias?

Inguinal hernia repair represents one of the most frequent pathologies with surgical addressability. From the multitude of surgical procedures, a limited number still keep their indication in the current treatment of hernias. Open surgery, the exclusive repair method until recently, is associated with laparoscopic techniques with benefits that are at least superposable on those in open repair. We conducted a study, analyzing several types of procedures in open surgery and comparing them to each other, but also with the TAPP approach, which is still at the beginning in our service. The non-mesh procedures scored poorly in terms of recurrence, the duration of the surgical intervention, and complications of the pain type, the Lichtenstein procedure was frequently associated with non-infectious inflammatory complications, and the TAPP, which is still in the learning curve, presented a prolonged duration of the surgical intervention. The Lichtenstein procedure maintains its usefulness and represents the most frequent technique for sanctioning inguinal hernia, the non-mesh processes, less used lately, are more frequently preferred in situations where hernia strangulation is associated with a septic complication. Open surgery hernia repair remains a feasible option in the era of minimal invasiveness, especially under the conditions of performing a tension-free technique, for specific categories of patients or surgical services remaining the first intention solution

FORAGE MIXTURES WITH ALFALFA CULTIVARS, PERENNIAL GRASSES AND ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS

Fodder crops consisting of several species are a way to obtain very good quality feed. They have been used more and more recently in Europe because, in addition to the superiority of feed production and quality, sowing mixtures of several species can lead to a significant reduction in the need for nitrogen fertilizer, an increase in performance and animal health. In Romania, there are few studies on the use of multi-species feed mixtures to reduce dependence on expensive inputs in order to increase the profitability and quality of feed, in organic agriculture production system. The objective was to compare forage yield, degree of coverage and weed infestation of alfalfa single crop and perennial grasses mixtures, which include 10 synthetic alfalfa cultivars and 5 varieties, grasses (a cultivar of Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Phleum pratense), mixed with herb Anethum graveolens. A field experiment was established in 2022 in the experimental field of the Center for Organic Agriculture at NARDI Fundulea. The results showed that mixtures of alfalfa with dill and festuca had a higher yield than alfalfa in pure crop. Anethum graveolens seeded with forage mixtures proved the efficacy as a natural repellent of Hypera variabilis in the first year of crop. In general, alfalfa-grass mixtures had beside higher feed yields and lower weed and pests infestations than alfalfa monocultures or mixtures of two species

Portable Plasmonic Paper-Based Biosensor for Simple and Rapid Indirect Detection of CEACAM5 Biomarker via Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence

Rapid, simple, and sensitive analysis of relevant proteins is crucial in many research areas, such as clinical diagnosis and biomarker detection. In particular, clinical data on cancer biomarkers show great promise in forming reliable predictions for early cancer diagnostics, although the current analytical systems are difficult to implement in regions of limited recourses. Paper-based biosensors, in particular, have recently received great interest because they meet the criteria for point-of-care (PoC) devices; the main drawbacks with these devices are the low sensitivity and efficiency in performing quantitative measurements. In this work, we design a low-cost paper-based nanosensor through plasmonic calligraphy by directly drawing individual plasmonic lines on filter paper using a ballpoint pen filled with gold nanorods (AuNR) as the colloidal ink. The plasmonic arrays were further successively coated with negatively and positively charged polyelectrolyte layers employed as dielectric spacers to promote the enhancement of the emission of carboxyl-functionalized quantum dots (QD)—previously conjugated with specific antibodies—for indirect detection of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5). The efficiency, sensitivity, as well as the specificity of our portable nanosensor were validated by recording the luminescence of the QD@Ab complex when different concentrations of CEACAM5 were added dropwise onto the calligraphed plasmonic arrays