Semantics-based Question Generation and Implementation

This paper presents a question generation system based on the approach of semantic rewriting. The state-of-the-art deep linguistic parsing and generation tools are employed to convert (back and forth) between the natural language sentences and their meaning representations in the form of Minimal Recursion Semantics (MRS). By carefully operating on the semantic structures, we show a principled way of generating questions without ad-hoc manipulation of the syntactic structures. Based on the (partial) understanding of the sentence meaning, the system generates questions which are semantically grounded and purposeful. And with the support of deep linguistic grammars, the grammaticality of the generation results is warranted. Further, with a specialized ranking model, the linguistic realizations from the general purpose generation model are further refined for our the question generation task. The evaluation results from QGSTEC2010 show promising prospects of the proposed approach

Equivalent phase current harmonic elimination in quadruple three-phase drives based on carrier phase shift method

Multiphase drives are entering the spotlight of the research community for transportation applications with their high power density and the possibility of high fault tolerance. The multi three-phase drive is one of the main types of multiphase drives that allows for the direct adoption of commercial three-phase converters and high control flexibility. The elimination of high-frequency current harmonics will reduce the flux linkage harmonics, torque ripple, vibration and noise in machine drives. Therefore, this work introduces a new method to the modelling of equivalent phase current in multi three-phase drives with the double integral Fourier analysis method. A new carrier-based pulse-width modulation (CPWM) method is introduced to reduce the equivalent phase current harmonics by applying proper carrier phase angle to each subsystem in the multi three-phase drives. The proposed angles of carrier signals are analyzed for quadruple three-phase drives, and the corresponding experimental results confirm the significance of the proposed phase-shifted CPWM method to eliminate the equivalent phase current harmonics

Endothelial toll-like receptor 4 maintains lung integrity via epigenetic suppression of p16INK4a.

We previously reported that the canonical innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical in maintaining lung integrity. However, the molecular mechanisms via which TLR4 mediates its effect remained unclear. In the present study, we identified distinct contributions of lung endothelial cells (Ec) and epithelial cells TLR4 to pulmonary homeostasis using genetic-specific, lung- and cell-targeted in vivo methods. Emphysema was significantly prevented via the reconstituting of human TLR4 expression in the lung Ec of TLR4-/- mice. Lung Ec-silencing of TLR4 in wild-type mice induced emphysema, highlighting the specific and distinct role of Ec-expressed TLR4 in maintaining lung integrity. We also identified a previously unrecognized role of TLR4 in preventing expression of p16INK4a , a senescence-associated gene. Lung Ec-p16INK4a -silencing prevented TLR4-/- induced emphysema, revealing a new functional role for p16INK4a in lungs. TLR4 suppressed endogenous p16INK4a expression via HDAC2-mediated deacetylation of histone H4. These findings suggest a novel role for TLR4 in maintaining of lung homeostasis via epigenetic regulation of senescence-related gene expression

A multi-port power conversion system for the more electric aircraft

In more electric aircraft (MEA) weight reduction and energy efficiency constitute the key figures. Additionally, the safety and continuity of operation of its electrical power distribution system (EPDS) is of critical importance. These sets of desired features are in disagreement with each other, because higher redundancy, needed to guarantee the safety of operation, implies additional weight. In fact, EPDS is usually divided into isolated sections, which need to be sized for the worst-case scenario. Several concepts of EPDS have been investigated, aiming at enabling the power exchange among separate sections, which allows better optimization for power and weight of the whole system. In this paper, an approach based on the widespread use of multi-port power converters for both DC/DC and DC/AC stages is proposed. System integration of these two is proposed as a multiport power conversion system (MPCS), which allows a ring power distribution while galvanic isolation is still maintained, even in fault conditions. Thus, redundancy of MEA is established by no significant weight increase. A machine design analysis shows how the segmented machine could offer superior performance to the traditional one with same weight. Simulation and experimental verifications show the system feasibility in both normal and fault operations

The microscopic anatomy of the esophagus including the individual layers, specialized tissues, and unique components and their responses to injury

The esophagus, a straight tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, has the complex architecture common to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract with special differences that relate to its function as a conduit of ingested substances. For instance, it has submucosal glands that are unique and have a specific protective function. It has a squamous lining that exists nowhere else in the gut except the anus and it has a different submucosal nerve plexus when compared to the stomach and intestines. All of the layers of the esophageal wall and the specialized structures including blood and lymphatic vessels and nerves have specific responses to injury. The esophagus also has unique features such as patches of gastric mucosa called inlet patches at the very proximal part and it has a special sphincter mechanism at the most distal aspect. This review covers the normal microscopic anatomy of the esophagus and the patterns of reaction to stress and injury of each layer and each special structure.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147079/1/nyas13705_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147079/2/nyas13705.pd

Evaluating the comfort of thermally dynamic wearable devices

Thermal discomfort is a widespread problem in the built environment, due in part to the variability of individual occupants’ thermal preferences. Personal comfort systems (PCS) address this individual variability, and also enable more energy-efficient thermal conditioning in buildings by reducing the need for tight indoor temperature control. This study evaluates a novel approach to PCS that leverages the time-dependence of human thermal perception. A 6.25 cm2 wearable device, Embr Wave, delivers dynamic waveforms of cooling or warming to the inner wrist. In three thermal comfort tests conducted in a climate chamber with N = 49 subjects and temperatures between 20 and 28 ºC, the device exhibited a corrective potential of 2.5 ºC within 3 minutes for both warm and cool populations, while consuming ~1 W of power. The effect is even more pronounced (corrective potential up to 3.3 ºC over periods of 3- and 45-minutes) when subjects are given control of the device’s operation. Subjects are found to optimize the device settings for pleasantness, not for the intensity of sensation. These results indicate that this low-power, wearable device improves whole-body thermal sensation, comfort, and pleasantness. It is an appropriate tool for addressing the problem of thermal discomfort in moderate indoor environments

Smith-Purcell radiation from time grating

Smith-Purcell radiation (SPR) occurs when an electron skims above a spatial grating, but the fixed momentum compensation from the static grating imposes limitations on the emission wavelength. It has been discovered that a temporally periodic system can provide energy compensation to generate light emissions in free space. Here, we introduce temporal SPR (t-SPR) emerging from a time grating and propose a generalized t-SPR dispersion equation to predict the relationship between radiation frequency, direction, electron velocity, modulation period, and harmonic orders. Compared to conventional SPR, t-SPR can: 1) Provide a versatile platform for manipulating SPR emission through temporal modulation (e.g., period, amplitude, wave shape). 2) Exhibit strong robustness to the electron-grating separation, alleviating the constraints associated with extreme electron near-field excitation. 3) Introduce additional energy channels through temporal modulation, enhancing and amplifying emission.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Characterization of Chronic Gastritis in Lynch Syndrome Patients With Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the Lynch syndrome (LS)-associated malignancies. Previous studies have suggested that LS patients with gastric cancer also had chronic atrophic gastritis in the background mucosa, but further histologic characterization was not attempted. This study aims to understand the histologic features of background chronic gastritis in LS patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: Eleven LS-associated gastric cancer cases were collected from five institutions. Demographics and clinical features were retrieved by review of medical charts. Pathological material was reviewed for tumor location and histologic type. In addition, non-neoplastic gastric mucosa was assessed for inflammation (chronic and active), atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the antrum and body, as well as pyloric gland metaplasia and enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyperplasia in the body. Results: Eleven LS patients with gastric cancer (four male and seven female) with a mean age of 63 years (range: 23 - 83) were included. Ten (90.9%) had personal cancer histories; however none of the patients had family history of gastric cancer. Eight (72.7%) patients underwent gastrectomy and three had endoscopic resection. Nine (81.8%) patients had tumor in the fundus and/or body and two had tumor present in the antrum. Seven (63.6%) cases were intestinal type or mixed type carcinoma, and the remaining four were signet ring cell carcinoma. Eight (of 11, 72.7%) patients had chronic gastritis, five (45.4%) had atrophy, and four (36.3%) had intestinal metaplasia. Four of five patients with both antrum and body mucosa available for evaluation (80%), demonstrated body-predominant chronic gastritis. Four patients had germline MLH1 alterations and all of these patients had chronic gastritis, including one Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis and three H. pylori-negative gastritis. Conclusions: None of LS patients with gastric cancer in our cohort had a family history of gastric cancer. Gastric adenocarcinomas in LS patients were primarily located in the fundus and/or body. Two-thirds of these tumors were of intestinal type and had a background chronic, H. pylori-negative gastritis. These results support a chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in LS-related gastric tumorigenesis, particularly in MLH1-mutated LS patients

A digital pathology tool for quantification of color features in histologic specimens.

In preclinical research, histological analysis of tissue samples is often limited to qualitative or semiquantitative scoring assessments. The reliability of this analysis can be impaired by the subjectivity of these approaches, even when read by experienced pathologists. Furthermore, the laborious nature of manual image assessments often leads to the analysis being restricted to a relatively small number of images that may not accurately represent the whole sample. Thus, there is a clear need for automated image analysis tools that can provide robust and rapid quantification of histologic samples from paraffin-embedded or cryopreserved tissues. To address this need, we have developed a color image analysis algorithm (DigiPath) to quantify distinct color features in histologic sections. We demonstrate the utility of this tool across multiple types of tissue samples and pathologic features, and compare results from our program to other quantitative approaches such as color thresholding and hand tracing. We believe this tool will enable more thorough and reliable characterization of histological samples to facilitate better rigor and reproducibility in tissue-based analyses

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition Is Protective in Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury.

AIMS: Studies have linked severe hyperoxia, or prolonged exposure to very high oxygen levels, with worse clinical outcomes. This study investigated the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in hyperoxia-induced lung injury at very high oxygen levels (\u3e95%). RESULTS: Effects of severe hyperoxia (100% oxygen) were studied in mice with genetically inhibited EGFR and wild-type littermates. Despite the established role of EGFR in lung repair, EGFR inhibition led to improved survival and reduced acute lung injury, which prompted an investigation into this protective mechanism. Endothelial EGFR genetic knockout did not confer protection. EGFR inhibition led to decreased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP) and decreased terminal dUTP nick end labeling- (TUNEL-) positive staining in alveolar epithelial cells and reduced ERK activation, which suggested reduced apoptosis CONCLUSION: In conditions of severe hyperoxia (\u3e95% for \u3e24 h), EGFR inhibition led to improved survival, decreased lung injury, and reduced cell death. These findings further elucidate the complex role of EGFR in acute lung injury