Graph-of-Entity: A Model for Combined Data Representation and Retrieval

Managing large volumes of digital documents along with the information they contain, or are associated with, can be challenging. As systems become more intelligent, it increasingly makes sense to power retrieval through all available data, where every lead makes it easier to reach relevant documents or entities. Modern search is heavily powered by structured knowledge, but users still query using keywords or, at the very best, telegraphic natural language. As search becomes increasingly dependent on the integration of text and knowledge, novel approaches for a unified representation of combined data present the opportunity to unlock new ranking strategies. We tackle entity-oriented search using graph-based approaches for representation and retrieval. In particular, we propose the graph-of-entity, a novel approach for indexing combined data, where terms, entities and their relations are jointly represented. We compare the graph-of-entity with the graph-of-word, a text-only model, verifying that, overall, it does not yet achieve a better performance, despite obtaining a higher precision. Our assessment was based on a small subset of the INEX 2009 Wikipedia Collection, created from a sample of 10 topics and respectively judged documents. The offline evaluation we do here is complementary to its counterpart from TREC 2017 OpenSearch track, where, during our participation, we had assessed graph-of-entity in an online setting, through team-draft interleaving

Lipid colloidal systems: a strategy to deliver natural bioactive compounds

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preface: development in food industry: innovative functional food and food technology strategies

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dietary intake and different types of physical activity: full-day energy expenditure, occupational and leisure-time

Objective: To describe the relationship between dietary intake and different levels and types of physical activity (PA). Design: Cross-sectional evaluation of the EPIPorto study. Energy expenditure (metabolic energy equivalent tasks) and dietary intake during the past year were assessed using a PA questionnaire and a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, respectively. Setting: Representative sample of adults in Porto, Portugal. Subjects: Data were analysed for 2404 Portuguese Caucasian adults, aged between 18 and 92 years. Results: For total PA, males who were active had significantly higher mean intake of energy (10.76 (2570.7) vs. 9.78 (2336.9) MJ/d (kcal/d), P<0.001) and lower level of protein consumption (16.9 vs. 17.6% of energy, P<0.001) compared with sedentary males. In males, the association between total PA and energy intake remained after adjustment for age, education and body mass index. Similar results were observed when occupational activity was analysed. Concerning the energy expended in leisure time, in both genders, after adjustment for the previously described variables, a significant positive association was found between PA and intake of vitamin C (g/d): beta=0.12, 99% confidence interval (CI) 0.02, 0.21 for females and beta=0.13, 99% CI 0.03, 0.22 for males. Leisure-time activity in females was also positively associated with intakes of fibre, vitamin E, folate, calcium and magnesium, and negatively associated with saturated fat. Conclusions: Higher levels of PA in leisure time were associated with higher intakes of micronutrients and lower intakes of saturated fat, particularly in females. For total and occupational PA, similar nutrient intake was observed between active and sedentary individuals

A vida na metafísica ocidental: uma intersecção entre Agamben e Nietzsche

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências Jurídicas. Direito.Esta monografia tem como objetivo investigar possíveis relações entre a crítica da modernidade na obra de Friedrich Nietzsche e a teoria do estado de exceção de Giorgio Agamben. O primeiro capítulo desenvolverá a teoria do estado de exceção agambeniana como o paradigma jurídico-político moderno e a sua relação com a vida nua. O segundo capítulo trará a análise de Nietzsche acerca da metafísica ocidental durante a modernidade, buscando nela possíveis fundamentos para a teoria de Agamben. Por último, o terceiro capítulo tratará das semelhanças entre os dois autores, em especial suas investigações sobre as formas de vida modernas

Determinantes da incidência da obesidade na coorte EPIPorto

Objectivo: Identificar o contributo das características demográficas, sociais e comportamentais na incidência de obesidade numa população urbana de Portugal. Métodos: Fazendo parte do estudo de coorte EPIPorto, avaliaram-se prospectivamente 1515 adultos (18-92 anos), residentes no Porto, seleccionados pela técnica de aleatorização de dígitos telefónicos. Os períodos de avaliação decorreram entre 1999-2003 e 2005-2007. Mediu-se o peso e altura em todos os participantes e foram classificados como obesos os indivíduos com IMC≥30 kg/m2. A informação foi recolhida através de um questionário estruturado, compreendendo questões acerca das características demográficas, sociais e comportamentais. Estimou-se a associação entre os determinantes e a incidência de obesidade, usando a regressão de Poisson. Resultados: A taxa de incidência de obesidade entre os adultos do Porto foi de 1,9 (1,5-2,5) nas mulheres e de 1,1 (0,7-1,6) nos homens, por 100 pessoas ano. Em análise univariada, a incidência de obesidade associou-se inversamente com o sexo masculino, com o nível de escolaridade, com os fumadores regulares, com a ingestão energética, com o consumo moderado de álcool, e com o nível moderado de actividade física de lazer. Pelo contrário, foram encontradas associações positivas entre a idade, a ingestão de hidratos de carbono e a incidência de obesidade. Em análise multivariada, os indivíduos mais velhos (≥65 anos) apresentaram 2,6 vezes mais risco de se tornarem obesos quando comparados com os mais novos (18-44 anos). Mantiveram-se após ajuste, associações inversas significativas entre o nível de escolaridade (>11 anos vs. <5 anos), RR=0,51 (0,27-0,95), a actividade física de lazer (vigorosa vs. leve), RR=0.55 (0,32-0,95) e a incidência de obesidade. Conclusões: Nesta população, os principais determinantes de desenvolver obesidade foram a idade, o nível de escolaridade e a actividade física de lazer

Broad phonetic class definition driven by phone confusions

Intermediate representations between the speech signal and phones may be used to improve discrimination among phones that are often confused. These representations are usually found according to broad phonetic classes, which are defined by a phonetician. This article proposes an alternative data-driven method to generate these classes. Phone confusion information from the analysis of the output of a phone recognition system is used to find clusters at high risk of mutual confusion. A metric is defined to compute the distance between phones. The results, using TIMIT data, show that the proposed confusion-driven phone clustering method is an attractive alternative to the approaches based on human knowledge. A hierarchical classification structure to improve phone recognition is also proposed using a discriminative weight training method. Experiments show improvements in phone recognition on the TIMIT database compared to a baseline system

Seasonal influence in the succession of entomological fauna on carrions of Canis familiaris in Lisbon, Portugal

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaIn the last years, there has been a significant increment on the study of sarcosaprophagous insects and other arthropods as an important tool in the resolution of crime processes. This branch of forensics is known as forensic entomology, and one of its many applications is to provide estimates of the time elapsed since death by taking into consideration the entomofauna present on a decomposing carrion. Although relatively well documented in human forensics, there is still a lot of room for research and improvement in the veterinary field. The present study represents the first research on the insect succession on carrions of dogs (Canis familiaris) performed in Portugal, enabling the acquisition of information concerning its entomological succession and the documentation of forensically relevant Diptera and Coleoptera species occurring in the region of Lisbon, Portugal. This study also aimed to investigate differences regarding both quantity and quality of the entomofauna occurring along the decomposition process and between different seasons. The entomological material was collected in Lisbon (Portugal) during the winter and summer seasons by using a modified version of the “Malaise” trap associated with a “Pitfall”. Identification and analysis focused mainly on the Diptera and Coleoptera orders. As anticipated, climatic factors had a major influence in the carrions’ decomposition rate and entomological succession. The quantity of specimens collected differed greatly between seasons, with twice the amount of Diptera and four times more Coleoptera in summer. As for quality, both seasons had Calliphoridae as the predominant family of the Diptera order, with Calliphora vicina, C. vomitoria and Pollenia sp. predominating in winter, and Chrysomya albiceps in summer. The species Pollenia vagabunda was recorded for the first time in Portugal. Regarding the Coleoptera order, Staphylinidae was the most prevalent family in both seasons, while Dermestidae and Histeridae were mostly present in summer.RESUMO - Influência sazonal na sucessão da fauna entomológica em cadáveres de Canis familiaris em Lisboa, Portugal - Nos últimos anos tem-se vindo a assistir a um aumento no interesse pelo estudo de artrópodes associados a cadáveres como ferramenta coadjuvante na resolução de processos criminais. Este ramo das ciências forenses é designado por entomologia forense e permite, entre inúmeras aplicações, a realização de estimativas do intervalo pós-morte tendo como base a entomofauna presente no cadáver. Embora já relativamente bem documentada no Homem, existe ainda muito espaço para investigação e desenvolvimento desta área no sector veterinário. O presente estudo representa a primeira investigação relativa à sucessão de insectos em cadáveres de cão (Canis familiaris) efectuada em Portugal, possibilitando a aquisição de informação relativa à sua fauna entomológica, bem como a documentação taxonómica de dípteros e coleópteros de interesse forense presentes na região de Lisboa, Portugal. Este estudo teve ainda como objectivo a investigação de diferenças tanto na quantidade como qualidade da entomofauna presente ao longo do processo de decomposição e entre diferentes estações do ano. Todo o material entomológico foi recolhido em Lisboa ao longo das estações de Inverno e Verão, recorrendo a armadilhas do tipo “Malaise” e “Pitfall”. A identificação e análise dos espécimes focou-se principalmente nas ordens Diptera e Coleoptera. Tal como esperado, os factores climáticos exerceram uma grande influência no processo de decomposição e sucessão entomológica nos cadáveres. A quantidade de espécimes diferiu grandemente entre estações, com duas vezes mais dípteros e quatro vezes mais coleópteros no Verão. A família Calliphoridae, da ordem Diptera, foi a mais prevalente em ambas as estações, com as espécies Calliphora vicina, C. vomitoria e Pollenia sp. predominando no Inverno, e Chrysomya albiceps no Verão. Uma das espécies identificadas, Pollenia vagabunda, foi relatada pela primeira vez em Portugal. Em relação à ordem Coleoptera, a família Staphylinidae foi a mais prevalente em ambas as estações, enquanto as Dermestidae e Histeridae ocorreram principalmente no Verão.N/

Development of new functional bakery products with health benefits from yoghurt and curd cheese enrichment

Doutoramento em Engenharia Alimentar / Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de LisboaTogether with the increasing consumer´s awareness about the relation between diet and health, the growing number of individuals with gluten and wheat-related illnesses, such as celiac and irritable bowel diseases, have been the main responsible driver´s for the continued innovation of food companies and the launching of healthy products, including gluten-free version, on the market. Additionally, the strategy of health-food development goes on not only by the usage of nutritional sources but also to the application of alternative processes to meet the consumer’s expectations for natural, clean-label, nutritional and sustainable foods. In those matters, following the current food market trends, the present dissertation was based on the development of new bread formulations, including gluten-free versions, with nutritional and functional added benefits, by the incorporation of nutritional sources, plain yoghurt and curd cheese. The study was extended to the field of sourdough fermentation, combining the yoghurt nutritional properties with the potential of its lactic acid bacteria to be used as a starter in sourdough fermentation. At first approach, the influence of yoghurt and curd cheese (6%-50%) additions to improve the technological, nutritional, and sensory properties of the wheat bread, was studied. Subsequently, the influence of both dairy products (6%-25%) to reduce the wheat bread´s glycemic response, was detailed assessed. Ultimately, the impact of both dairies’ additions (25%) to enhance the wheat bread´s bioactivity, was an important complementary study. At second approach, the protein reinforcement by the incorporation of yoghurt and curd cheese enrichment (5%-20%) to overcome the technological challenge of gluten absence was evaluated, and so that resulted bread would improve nutritional/functional profile. Subsequently, the influence of both dairies (10%-20%) to reduce the glycemic index while improving the bread´s bioactivity, was as well appraised. In the third approach, the usage of plain yoghurt (25%) as a starter in sourdough fermentation aiming for a more functional and easily digestible wheat bread, was studied. Two wheat dough matrices: 1) wheat flour and 2) wheat and whole-grain flour (50% ratio) were considered. Overall, it can be stated that the development of new bread formulations, including gluten-free and sourdough-wheat bread, was successfully achieved, rendering higher nutritional added-value products with health-promoting benefits, that can be linked to a preventive consumer’s diet and include health claims, responding well to the innovation needs of the bakery industryN/