Expressive Power of Entity-Linking Frameworks

We develop a unifying approach to declarative entity linking by introducing the notion of an entity linking framework and an accompanying notion of the certain links in such a framework. In an entity linking framework, logic-based constraints are used to express properties of the desired link relations in terms of source relations and, possibly, in terms of other link relations. The definition of the certain links in such a framework makes use of weighted repairs and consistent answers in inconsistent databases. We demonstrate the modeling capabilities of this approach by showing that numerous concrete entity linking scenarios can be cast as such entity linking frameworks for suitable choices of constraints and weights. By using the certain links as a measure of expressive power, we investigate the relative expressive power of several entity linking frameworks and obtain sharp comparisons. In particular, we show that we gain expressive power if we allow constraints that capture non-recursive collective entity resolution, where link relations may depend on other link relations (and not just on source relations). Moreover, we show that an increase in expressive power also takes place when we allow constraints that incorporate preferences as an additional mechanism for expressing "goodness" of links

A Declarative Framework for Linking Entities

The aim of this paper is to introduce and develop a truly declarative framework for entity linking and, in particular, for entity resolution. As in some earlier approaches, our framework is based on the systematic use of constraints. However, the constraints we adopt are link-to-source constraints, unlike in earlier approaches where source-to-link constraints were used to dictate how to generate links. Our approach makes it possible to focus entirely on the intended properties of the outcome of entity linking, thus separating the constraints from any procedure of how to achieve that outcome. The core language consists of link-to-source constraints that specify the desired properties of a link relation in terms of source relations and built-in predicates such as similarity measures. A key feature of the link-to-source constraints is that they employ disjunction, which enables the declarative listing of all the reasons as to why two entities should be linked. We also consider extensions of the core language that capture collective entity resolution, by allowing inter-dependence between links. We identify a class of "good" solutions for entity linking specifications, which we call maximum-value solutions and which capture the strength of a link by counting the reasons that justify it. We study natural algorithmic problems associated with these solutions, including the problem of enumerating the "good" solutions, and the problem of finding the certain links, which are the links that appear in every "good" solution. We show that these problems are tractable for the core language, but may become intractable once we allow inter-dependence between link relations. We also make some surprising connections between our declarative framework, which is deterministic, and probabilistic approaches such as ones based on Markov Logic Networks

Integrated Analysis of the Value of Wetland Services in Coastal Adaptation; Methodology and Case Study of Hampton-Seabrook Estuary, New Hampshire

The present impacts from coastal storms and high tides grow significantly over time due to SLR even over the relatively short period to 2060. Hydrodynamic model simulations of storm surge with and without sea level rise scenarios show that although flooding and inundation increases with increasing subtidal forcing and higher sea level, dissipation of the tide and storm surge in the estuary channel somewhat limits the maximum inundation that might otherwise be expected in the back marsh areas. The estuary is dominated by high marsh, which lies high in the intertidal zone and by 2060 it will convert to mostly low marsh unless it can build very rapidly (greater than 5 mm/year). The marsh supports fisheries and many charismatic birds, some marsh dependent, and provides a culturally significant view-scape across the estuary. The Sea Level Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) was used to predict habitat changes due to 0.73 m SLR by 2060 under different accretion rates and levels of protection for developed areas that became intertidal. Although the relative amounts of high marsh and low marsh varied dramatically, the overall marsh area remained within 5% of the current levels and mostly increased if marsh accretion rates exceeded 2 mm/year. Limited areas of intertidal flats supporting shellfish exist in present day, but in the near future culturally important recreational shellfish areas will convert to open water. However, areas that are currently low marsh will drown and may provide future shellfish areas. The open water harbor is important for boating, access to coastal waters and recreational fishing. Currently, the open water area is small, but may double in size by 2060 and the greater tides relative to the marsh elevation will create a different feel for the estuarine landscape in the future because high tides will regularly cover larger areas of the marsh with seawater. Outside of the estuary on the oceanfront, beaches and dunes support tourism and intensive recreational use as well as federally protected nesting shorebirds (piping plover, least tern). Most of the outer beach is exposed to Gulf of Maine waters. Where there are existing floodwalls, rising sea levels will worsen the storm danger and damage to the integrity of the walls. Unless walls are raised, storms will also transport massive amounts of beach sediments over the walls and across the barrier system. Beaches will have less width and steep ramping to the walls will severely decrease the value of the beach for tourism. In areas with dune systems, very little change is predicted for this area because the dynamic equilibria of the dune-beach system will allow the beach to build in elevation as sea level rises and wind-driven dune building will continue. Bedrock outcrops (at Plaice Cove, Great Boars Head and the inlet) help reduce landward erosion. The socio-economic impacts result in more people flooded as sea level rises, particularly of socially vulnerable populations, and more anchor institutions flooded. Residents presently living in the most socially vulnerable census blocks were 8.6 times more likely to be located in the flood zone, compared to those living in blocks with low social vulnerability. Under climate change,census blocks with high percentages of the population living in poverty were 17.7 times more likely to be located in the flood zone. This analysis more likely reflects the winter/spring population than the summer population. The estimated annual expected value damages in the present are approximately $0.90 M. In 2060 with SLR they are$4.8 M. Using a 7 % discount rate, the present expected value of these damages between 2018 and 2060 is approximately $27 M. There are many sources of possible error in this value due to missing data, and not including damages to infrastructure, human mortality and morbidity, lost business (particularly recreation), and other cascading and multiplier events. We also do not include the value of ecosystem services. The adaptation goal focused on protecting the socio-economic systems of the barrier beach areas. Engineering approaches that only use hard structures or grey solutions may weigh the communities down with severe debt, result in long term damage to the environment and degrade the charm and attractiveness of the area to tourists. On the other hand, allowing over-wash and marsh migration everywhere will reduce the number of people and tourists that benefit from the beaches and dunes, shellfish flats, marinas, fishing and marshes. Because marshes of limited area do not significantly decrease storm surge and there is limited wave activity on the western, inland side of the barrier beaches, the marshes may not directly contribute to reducing the flooding on the western side of the barrier beaches. Regional solutions such as building a berm or a floodwall (smaller footprint limits direct marsh losses) to limit land loss will prevent marsh migration. Flood protection berms to protect all residential development bordering the estuary will result in significant marsh loss. Individual site flood management actions such elevating buildings must be employed there. The most expensive adaptations are needed on the coastal side where the beach-dune system has been replaced by an armored shoreline (seawalls) designed for pedestrians and automobiles, but not beach goers. These walls need to be fortified; their expansion opens an opportunity to provide alternate transportation pathways that are safe (bike lane), green space, and a more attractive promenade (increasing ecosystem/cultural services for residents and visitors). The beaches need to be nourished to provide sandy areas at high tide (especially in the northern areas) to better support the tourism industry. The two oceanfront sections without walls or dune systems were especially vulnerable; these could benefit from green adaptation solutions that construct and maintain sacrificial dunes at relatively low cost. Residential areas landward of existing dune fields were deemed the best protected and only required low cost adaptation decisions (e.g., building sand barriers at beach access cuts and maintaining dune health). Heavily used roads that cross marshes on causeways will need to be raised. Although more expensive, roadways elevated above the marsh surface will reduce impacts from direct filling and provide better tidal exchange. Thus throughout the HSE, there are limited reasonable green options for coastal flood management here. The present value adaptation costs in 2018 including capital and maintenance costs discounted at 7$149 M. This adaptation cost is more than the previously estimated damage avoided cost or benefit of $27 M. Because, as noted earlier, this benefit estimate is significantly underestimated due to data and methodological limitations, we cannot really state this project is not cost-effective; it actually may be cost effective. A lower discount rate would also increase it cost-effectiveness. Adaptation would mitigate some of the direct impacts to social vulnerable populations, but in some areas would require towns investing in the protection of their individual residents instead of being part of a possibly less costly regional solution. The adaptation plan could provide important public health benefits through the addition of the green elevated walkway (in place of current parkingspaces) along the floodwall. We met with several local non-governmental (NG) and mixed governmental and NG organizations over the grant lifetime. They generally support our findings. One possible troubling possibility is that 75As described above, the marshes themselves are not major contributors to present and future flood protection in the area. They are, of course, valuable for other reasons. Examples include habitat, runoff treatment, recreation, tourism, and carbon storage. An estimate of the annual values of these services in HSE are approximately$370 M under present and future SLR conditions. Thus, their preservation should be a priority

CXC chemokines in angiogenesis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141036/1/jlb0001.pd

Aqueous hydroxylation mediated synthesis of crystalline calcium uranate particles

Metal uranates(VI) are solubility limiting U(VI) phases under high pH conditions and may act as suitable long-term wasteforms. The precipitation and thermal phase development mechanisms of calcium uranate particles formed via aqueous hydroxylation reactions are studied in order to address the lack of aqueous synthesis methods currently available. Hydrous Ca-deficient uranate particles formed from aqueous solutions saturated in U(VI) oligomers were found to thermally decompose via several weight-loss steps between 100 and 800 °C. Crystalline calcium uranate (Ca2U3O11) is initially formed at 700 °C via dehydration and dehydroxylation-olation reactions under redox-neutral conditions. This initial phase decomposes to biphasic CaUO4-UO2 particles at 800 °C via a reductive pathway

Plasma Chemokine Levels Are Associated with the Presence and Extent of Angiographic Coronary Collaterals in Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease

In patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD), the presence and extent of spontaneously visible coronary collaterals are powerful determinants of clinical outcome. There is marked heterogeneity in the recruitment of coronary collaterals amongst patients with similar degrees of coronary artery stenoses, but the biological basis of this heterogeneity is not known. Chemokines are potent mediators of vascular remodeling in diverse biological settings. Their role in coronary collateralization has not been investigated. We sought to determine whether plasma levels of angiogenic and angiostatic chemokines are associated with of the presence and extent of coronary collaterals in patients with chronic IHD.We measured plasma concentrations of angiogenic and angiostatic chemokine ligands in 156 consecutive subjects undergoing coronary angiography with at least one ≥90% coronary stenosis and determined the presence and extent of spontaneously visible coronary collaterals using the Rentrop scoring system. Eighty-eight subjects (56%) had evidence of coronary collaterals. In a multivariable regression model, the concentration of the angiogenic ligands CXCL5, CXCL8 and CXCL12, hyperlipidemia, and an occluded artery were associated with the presence of collaterals; conversely, the concentration of the angiostatic ligand CXCL11, interferon-γ, hypertension and diabetes were associated with the absence of collaterals (ROC area 0.91). When analyzed according to extent of collateralization, higher Rentrop scores were significantly associated with increased concentration of the angiogenic ligand CXCL1 (p<0.0001), and decreased concentrations of angiostatic ligands CXCL9 (p<0.0001), CXCL10 (p = 0.002), and CXCL11 (p = 0.0002), and interferon-γ (p = 0.0004).Plasma chemokine concentrations are associated with the presence and extent of spontaneously visible coronary artery collaterals and may be mechanistically involved in their recruitment

Novel therapeutic approaches for pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis represents the end stage of a number of heterogeneous conditions and is, to a greater or lesser degree, the hallmark of the interstitial lung diseases. It is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins within the pulmonary interstitium leading to the obliteration of functional alveolar units and in many cases, respiratory failure. While a small number of interstitial lung diseases have known aetiologies, most are idiopathic in nature, and of these, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common and carries with it an appalling prognosis – median survival from the time of diagnosis is less than 3 years. This reflects the lack of any effective therapy to modify the course of the disease, which in turn is indicative of our incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of this condition. Current prevailing hypotheses focus on dysregulated epithelial–mesenchymal interactions promoting a cycle of continued epithelial cell injury and fibroblast activation leading to progressive fibrosis. However, it is likely that multiple abnormalities in a myriad of biological pathways affecting inflammation and wound repair – including matrix regulation, epithelial reconstitution, the coagulation cascade, neovascularization and antioxidant pathways – modulate this defective crosstalk and promote fibrogenesis. This review aims to offer a pathogenetic rationale behind current therapies, briefly outlining previous and ongoing clinical trials, but will focus on recent and exciting advancements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which may ultimately lead to the development of novel and effective therapeutic interventions for this devastating condition