Modular Web Queries — From Rules to Stores

Even with all the progress in Semantic technology, accessing Web data remains a challenging issue with new Web query languages and approaches appearing regularly. Yet most of these languages, including W3C approaches such as XQuery and SPARQL, do little to cope with the explosion of the data size and schemata diversity and richness on the Web. In this paper we propose a straightforward step toward the improvement of this situation that is simple to realize and yet effective: Advanced module systems that make partitioning of (a) the evaluation and (b) the conceptual design of complex Web queries possible. They provide the query programmer with a powerful, but easy to use high-level abstraction for packaging, encapsulating, and reusing conceptually related parts (in our case, rules) of a Web query. The proposed module system combines ease of use thanks to a simple core concept, the partitioning of rules and their consequences in flexible “stores”, with ease of deployment thanks to a reduction semantics. We focus on extending the rule-based Semantic Web query language Xcerpt with such a module system though the same approach can be applied to other (rule-based) languages as well

Collaborative Semantic Content Management: an Ongoing Case Study for Imaging Applications

This paper presents a collaborative solution for knowledge management, implemented as a semantic content management system (CMS) with the purpose of knowledge sharing between users with different backgrounds. The CMS is enriched with semantic annotations, enabling content to be categorized, retrieved and published on the Web thanks to the Linked Open Data (LOD) principle which enables the linking of data inside existing resources using a standardized URI mechanism. Annotations are done collaboratively as a social process. Users with different backgrounds express their knowledge using structured natural language. The user knowledge is captured thanks to an ontologic approach and it can be further transformed into RDF(S) classes and properties. Ontologies are at the heart of our CMS and they naturally co-evolve with their communities of use to provide a new way of knowledge sharing inside the network. The ontology is modeled following the so-called DOGMA (Developing Ontology-Grounded Methods and Applications) paradigm, grounded in natural language. The approach will be demonstrated on a use case concerning the semantic annotation of anatomical data (e.g. medical images).257-26

A Framework for Representation, Validation and Implementation of Database Application Semantics

New application domains in data-processing environments pose new requirements on the methodologies, techniques and tools used to design them. The applications’ semantics should be fully represented at an increasingly high level, and the representation should be subject to rigorous validation and verification. We present a semantic representation framework (including the language, methods and tools) for design of data-processing applications. The new features of the framework include a small number of precisely defined domain-independent concepts, high-level possibilities for describing behavioural semantics (methods and constraints) and the validation and verification tools included in the framework. We present examples of the use of the framework, including the use of its tools

Viewpoints on emergent semantics

Authors include:Philippe Cudr´e-Mauroux, and Karl Aberer (editors), Alia I. Abdelmoty, Tiziana Catarci, Ernesto Damiani, Arantxa Illaramendi, Robert Meersman, Erich J. Neuhold, Christine Parent, Kai-Uwe Sattler, Monica Scannapieco, Stefano Spaccapietra, Peter Spyns, and Guy De Tr´eWe introduce a novel view on how to deal with the problems of semantic interoperability in distributed systems. This view is based on the concept of emergent semantics, which sees both the representation of semantics and the discovery of the proper interpretation of symbols as the result of a self-organizing process performed by distributed agents exchanging symbols and having utilities dependent on the proper interpretation of the symbols. This is a complex systems perspective on the problem of dealing with semantics. We highlight some of the distinctive features of our vision and point out preliminary examples of its applicatio

The impact of growth promoters on muscle growth and the potential consequences for meat quality

To meet the demands of increased global meat consumption, animal production systems will have to become more efficient, or at least maintain the current efficiency utilizing feed ingredients that are not also used for human consumption. Use of growth promoters is a potential option for increasing production animal feed efficiency and increased muscle growth. The objective of this manuscript is to describe the mechanisms by which the growth promoters, beta-adrenergic agonists and growth hormone, mediate their effects, with specific consideration of the aspects which have implications for meat quality.The work described in this manuscript was supported by a BBSRC LINK Zoetis grant, number BB/J005320/1, as well as a BBSRC CASE PhD studentship awarded to David Brown and Krystal Hemmings and a PhD scholarship awarded to Molebeledi HD Mareko by the Botswana College of Agricultur

Impact of cancer and chemotherapy on autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular reactivity in young adults with cancer: a case-controlled feasibility study

Background Preliminary evidence suggests cancer- and chemotherapy-related autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction may contribute to the increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity- and mortality-risks in cancer survivors. However, the reliability of these findings may have been jeopardized by inconsistent participant screening and assessment methods. Therefore, good laboratory practices must be established before the presence and nature of cancer-related autonomic dysfunction can be characterized. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting concurrent ANS and cardiovascular evaluations in young adult cancer patients, according to the following criteria: i) identifying methodological pitfalls and proposing good laboratory practice criteria for ANS testing in cancer, and ii) providing initial physiologic evidence of autonomic perturbations in cancer patients using the composite autonomic scoring scale (CASS). Methods Thirteen patients (mixed diagnoses) were assessed immediately before and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Their results were compared to 12 sex- and age-matched controls. ANS function was assessed using standardized tests of resting CV (tilt-table, respiratory sinus arrhythmia and Valsalva maneuver) and sudomotor (quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test) reactivity. Cardiovascular reactivity during exercise was assessed using a modified Astrand-Ryhming cycle ergometer protocol. Our feasibility criteria addressed: i) recruitment potential, ii) retention rates, iii) pre-chemotherapy assessment potential, iv) test performance/tolerability, and v) identification and minimizing the influence of potentially confounding medication. T-tests and repeated measures ANOVAs were used to assess between- and within-group differences at baseline and follow-up. Results The overall success rate in achieving our feasibility criteria was 98.4 %. According to the CASS, there was evidence of ANS impairment at baseline in 30.8 % of patients, which persisted in 18.2 % of patients at follow-up, compared to 0 % of controls at baseline or follow-up. Conclusions Results from our feasibility assessment suggest that the investigation of ANS function in young adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is possible. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report CASS-based evidence of ANS impairment and sudomotor dysfunction in any cancer population. Moreover, we provide evidence of cancer- and chemotherapy-related parasympathetic dysfunction – as a possible contributor to the pathogenesis of CV disease in cancer survivors

An Essay on The Role and Evolution of Data(base) Semantics

The IFIP DS-6 Working Conference on Database Semantics was the sixth conference of its type organized by the IFIP Working Group WG2.6 (Database). For the proceedings of its five precursors, see [MSt85] [MSe87] [MZC90] [MKK91] [NS-D93]. As with these other events, the subject matter turned around aspects of semantics (in a broad sense; see below) related to the theory, design

Concepts and tools for the design of semantical databases

The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. A case study defined by a complex database for document handling will be used as example (lecture 3).The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. Lecture 1, part 2.The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. Lecture 1.The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. Lecture 2.The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. A case study defined by a complex database for document handling will be used as example (lecture 3). Lecture 3.The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. A case study defined by a complex database for document handling will be used as example (lecture 3). Lecture 3, part 2.The design and implementation of modern more "semantical" databases involves the use of high-level conceptual abstraction mechanisms and methodologies. An illustration of this process is given using the NIAM method and notation (lecture 1), its transformation into relational database with triggers (e.g. using SYBASE0 (lecture 2) and a study of the requirements for suitable tools (RIDL*) and their extension and applicability for e.g. object-oriented databases. A case study defined by a complex database for document handling will be used as example (lecture 3). Lecture 2, part 2