Probing Representations for Document-level Event Extraction

The probing classifiers framework has been employed for interpreting deep neural network models for a variety of natural language processing (NLP) applications. Studies, however, have largely focused on sentencelevel NLP tasks. This work is the first to apply the probing paradigm to representations learned for document-level information extraction (IE). We designed eight embedding probes to analyze surface, semantic, and event-understanding capabilities relevant to document-level event extraction. We apply them to the representations acquired by learning models from three different LLM-based document-level IE approaches on a standard dataset. We found that trained encoders from these models yield embeddings that can modestly improve argument detections and labeling but only slightly enhance event-level tasks, albeit trade-offs in information helpful for coherence and event-type prediction. We further found that encoder models struggle with document length and cross-sentence discourse.Comment: To appear in EMNLP 2023 Finding

Laser induced modifications and waveguides writing inside silicon

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems EngineeringShuting LeiSilicon is the basic material for semiconductor industry and laser direct writing in the bulk of silicon has attracted people’s attention since 20 years ago. However, the research of laser-matter interaction inside silicon is limited and the formation process of the subsurface modification is not clear enough. In addition, the attempts in the past decade to generate waveguides inside silicon are not satisfactory. Based on this situation, this dissertation has two objectives. The first one is to study the fundamental process of laser-matter interaction and have a better understanding of the material modification process inside silicon, and the second one is to write straight and curved waveguides inside silicon and characterize these waveguides. The first objective will be achieved through a comprehensive experimental study on the physics behind the nanosecond (ns) laser writing process. The experimental study will involve generating subsurface modifications inside silicon and characterize the modifications by optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The second objective will be achieved through laser transverse writing and by shaping the laser beam through a pair of cylindrical lenses and focusing the shaped beam inside the silicon. It is found that permanent modifications are made with tightly focused ns pulses at 1.55 μm wavelength inside silicon without damaging the front surface. Examinations of the modified zone using Raman spectroscopy and TEM reveal a disturbed crystal structure with defects and strained areas. For the first time, high resolution TEM images show a direct evidence of amorphous silicon inside ns laser induced modifications. A quantitative analysis based on Raman spectra of the modified zone indicates that the amorphous silicon accounts for only a small percentage of the total modification. More work is needed to determine the effects of laser parameters on the amorphous transition inside silicon. Nanosecond laser transverse writing of different types of waveguides inside silicon are demonstrated, such as straight waveguides, curved waveguides with different radii, and straight-curved waveguides. A nearly circular transverse guide-profile is formed with the shaped beam. The waveguides are found to support single-mode propagation for 1.55 μm wavelength light. The loss is found to be about 3 dB/cm for straight waveguide and can be larger for curved waveguides depending on the curvature. The knowledge gained from this research will enable us to have a better understanding of laser-matter interaction inside silicon and pave the way for its future applications in the semiconductor field

HIV/AIDS knowledge in detention in Hunan province, China

BACKGROUND: Injection drug use (IDU) is one of the major modes of HIV transmission in China. Drug use is illegal in China, all identified drug users are registered by Public Security Bureau, and most were sent to detention; most detainees engaged in high risk behaviours. In order to well understand the HIV/AIDS knowledge among detainees, a survey was conducted in different detention settings in Hunan province in 2008 to assess knowledge and attitudes about HIV among detainees and to provide useful information for HIV prevention and intervention strategies in detention centers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 10 detentions in Hunan province, China, and demographic information along with knowledge and attitude of HIV/AIDS was collected through standardized interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to describe HIV knowledge, attitudes, and education services among detainees. RESULTS: There were 956 detainees interviewed from 10 detention centers. The male to female ratio was 2.24:1. The majority detainees received nine years of compulsory education, accounting for 51.5%. There were nine questions to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge of detainees, and 35.7% of those surveyed answered all nine questions correctly. There were 92.3% (882/956) who consented to be informed about the HIV antibody test results when tested, and 81% (774/956) elected that their family members were also informed. All detention centers had an organized HIV/AIDS education program. CONCLUSION: This study gives us an overview about HIV/AIDS knowledge in detention in Hunan province, and all detention sites in the study provided HIV/AIDS intervention services among detainees that focused on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude, and health behaviors

A new approach for implementing the HLL approximate riemann solver for one-dimensional dam-break flows

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/732Several new techniques are proposed to overcome the deficiencies in the conventional formulation of the approximate Riemann solvers for one-dimensional dam-break flows, which include numerical imbalance and failure to satisfy mass conservation. The former arises in the case of irregular geometry and the latter in the presence of a hydraulic jump. These new techniques include: (1) adopting the form of the Saint Venant equations which include only one source term representing driving forces; (2) using water surface level as one of the primitive variables, in stead of crosssectional area; (3) defining discharge at interface and evaluating it according to the flux obtained by the HLL Riemann solver (Harten et al 1983). The performance of the resulting schemes is evaluated by means of theoretical analysis and various test examples, including ideal dam-break flows with dry bed, hydraulic jump, steady flow over bump with hydraulic jump, and a real-life dam-break flow in natural river valley with complex geometry. It is demonstrated that the scheme has excellent numerical balance and mass conservation property and is capable of satisfactorily reproducing various complicated open channel flows

Study on the Information Literacy Instruction Cases of America Academic Library: a Case of Otterbein University Library

Taking the information literacy instruction of Otterbein University library, for example, combining related research materials achieved from American academic libraries, the paper introduced the cooperation model, the main contents, the teaching methods, the applications of new technologies in information literacy of American academic library, summarized the characteristics and analyzed the meanings of the information literacy of America academic libraries for Chinese academic libraries

Research progress on the PEGylation of therapeutic proteins and peptides (TPPs)

With the rapid advancement of genetic and protein engineering, proteins and peptides have emerged as promising drug molecules for therapeutic applications. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in the field of chemical modification technology to address challenges associated with their clinical use, including rapid clearance from circulation, immunogenicity, physical and chemical instabilities (such as aggregation, adsorption, deamination, clipping, oxidation, etc.), and enzymatic degradation. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification offers an effective solution to these issues due to its favorable properties. This review presents recent progress in the development and application of PEGylated therapeutic proteins and peptides (TPPs). For this purpose, firstly, the physical and chemical properties as well as classification of PEG and its derivatives are described. Subsequently, a detailed summary is provided on the main sites of PEGylated TPPs and the factors that influence their PEGylation. Furthermore, notable instances of PEG-modified TPPs (including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), interferon, asparaginase and antibodies) are highlighted. Finally, we propose the chemical modification of TPPs with PEG, followed by an analysis of the current development status and future prospects of PEGylated TPPs. This work provides a comprehensive literature review in this promising field while facilitating researchers in utilizing PEG polymers to modify TPPs for disease treatment