Improving Natural Language Inference Using External Knowledge in the Science Questions Domain

Natural Language Inference (NLI) is fundamental to many Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications including semantic search and question answering. The NLI problem has gained significant attention thanks to the release of large scale, challenging datasets. Present approaches to the problem largely focus on learning-based methods that use only textual information in order to classify whether a given premise entails, contradicts, or is neutral with respect to a given hypothesis. Surprisingly, the use of methods based on structured knowledge -- a central topic in artificial intelligence -- has not received much attention vis-a-vis the NLI problem. While there are many open knowledge bases that contain various types of reasoning information, their use for NLI has not been well explored. To address this, we present a combination of techniques that harness knowledge graphs to improve performance on the NLI problem in the science questions domain. We present the results of applying our techniques on text, graph, and text-to-graph based models, and discuss implications for the use of external knowledge in solving the NLI problem. Our model achieves the new state-of-the-art performance on the NLI problem over the SciTail science questions dataset.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 5 table

Cowpea in evolving livestock systems

Demand for livestock products has been increasing through much of the semi-arid tropics and will likely continue to increase along with the use of purchased feedstuffs. As smallholder livestock systems evolve and become more market oriented, the type of diets fed to livestock may change and the importance of feed marketing may increase. Mixed crop–livestock systems are key to meeting this increasing livestock product demand and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) fodder (haulms) is an important component of these systems in semi-arid regions of the tropics where its high nutritional quality allows it to be used as a supplement to livestock diets based on cereal stovers and other low-quality forages. Improving the nutritional quality of cowpea fodder for use by livestock is important to improving the productivity and profitability of these mixed farming systems. Legume fodders will remain an important part of changing livestock diets and the development of cowpea varieties that better feed both people and their farm animals will give farmers new and better choices for improving levels and efficiency of livestock production. Cowpea breeding programs have worked toward producing dual-purpose varieties that emphasize the production of grain and fodder since the late 1980s and have produced several that have become well accepted when tested on-farm. Systematic screening of cowpea genetic resources is important for advancing development of dual-purpose varieties. Involvement of cultivar release agencies and seed production programs are also important to advance the use of improved dual-purpose crop varieties

An Anti-Human ICAM-1 Antibody Inhibits Rhinovirus-Induced Exacerbations of Lung Inflammation

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) cause the majority of common colds and acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Effective therapies are urgently needed, but no licensed treatments or vaccines currently exist. Of the 100 identified serotypes, ∼90% bind domain 1 of human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as their cellular receptor, making this an attractive target for development of therapies; however, ICAM-1 domain 1 is also required for host defence and regulation of cell trafficking, principally via its major ligand LFA-1. Using a mouse anti-human ICAM-1 antibody (14C11) that specifically binds domain 1 of human ICAM-1, we show that 14C11 administered topically or systemically prevented entry of two major groups of rhinoviruses, HRV16 and HRV14, and reduced cellular inflammation, pro-inflammatory cytokine induction and virus load in vivo. 14C11 also reduced cellular inflammation and Th2 cytokine/chemokine production in a model of major group HRV-induced asthma exacerbation. Interestingly, 14C11 did not prevent cell adhesion via human ICAM-1/LFA-1 interactions in vitro, suggesting the epitope targeted by 14C11 was specific for viral entry. Thus a human ICAM-1 domain-1-specific antibody can prevent major group HRV entry and induction of airway inflammation in vivo

Comparing efficacy of selected biopesticides and Lambdacot 500EC for controlling leaf rollers in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Field experiments were conducted during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons at the University of Maiduguri to compared the efficacies of selected aqueous plant extracts on the management of the population of eggplant leaf roller (Eublemma olivacea Wlk.) infesting eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The extracts were from neem leaf; bitter melon; black current; ginger rhizome and wild onion. They were compared with a conventional insecticide, Lambdacot 500EC and the absolute control. Extracts were applied at 5 % w/v while Lambdacot was applied at 1.5 g a.i/ha. The results indicated that the mean number of leaf rollers in treated plots were significantly (P< 0.05) lower than the control. The highest mean number of leaf rollers was 3.01 and 3.93. Lambdacot 500 EC had the lowest eggplant leaf roller counts per plant followed by neem, ginger rhizome and wild onion. The mean number of leaves damaged per plant followed similar trend. There was significantly (P< 0.05) higher number of eggplant fruits/plant, fruit weight and fruit yield in the decreasing order of Lambdacot 500 EC, neem, wild onion, bitter melon and black current. The absolute control had the fewest number of eggplant fruits/plant, fruit weight and fruit yield. These aqueous extracts should be adopted by eggplant farmers as they are cost effective and friendly to the environment. However, the actual quantities of these extracts to be applied per plant depending on the variety of eggplant, season and weather condition of the cropping season and canopy architecture remain to be critically explored

SYMMETRIC BILINEAR CRYPTOGRAPHY ON ELLIPTIC CURVE AND LIE ALGEBRA

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) has gained widespread adoption in the field of cryptography due to its efficiency and security properties. Symmetric bilinear pairings on elliptic curves have emerged as a powerful tool in cryptographic protocols, enabling advanced constructions and functionalities. This paper explores the intersection of symmetric bilinear pairings, elliptic curves, and Lie algebras in the context of cryptography. We provide a comprehensive overview of the theoretical foundations, applications, and security considerations of this amalgamation

Soluble polysaccharides reduce binding and inhibitory activity of tea polyphenols against porcine pancreatic α-amylase

The effects of three soluble polysaccharides on the inhibitory activity of tea polyphenols against porcine pancreatic α-amylase (PPA) were studied through PPA inhibition, half inhibition concentration (IC50), inhibition kinetics and fluorescence quenching. The results show that citrus pectin, wheat arabinoxylan and oat β-glucan could each increase the IC50 values and competitive inhibition constants (Kic), and decrease the fluorescence quenching constants (KFQ) of tea polyphenols interacting with PPA. The data show a competitive interaction equilibrium among polysaccharides, polyphenols and PPA. For individual polyphenols, there were negative linear correlations between both the values of 1/Kic and KFQ and that of IC50 with and without polysaccharides, indicating that the decreased inhibitory activity of polyphenols induced by the polysaccharides was caused by the reduced binding of polyphenols with PPA. Additionally, the slopes of the linear relationship between IC50 and Kic and that between KFQ and 1/Kic remained stable with and without polysaccharides, suggesting that these constants may be combined to characterize the effects of soluble polysaccharides on the PPA inhibition by polyphenols

Implementation of an optical fiber sensor system to monitor the response of reinforced concrete due to formwork removal

Abstract : The movement of a section of a newly constructed reinforced 2-way suspended floor slab in the Department of Civil Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg was monitored with an embedded optical fiber sensor (OFS) system during and after construction. The sensor system was used to monitor the strain in the structure before, during and after formwork removal. An OFS system was used due to its inherently distinct advantages such as its unobtrusiveness, lightweight and immunity to corrosion. This paper is concentrated on the findings of the results of these strain measurements with emphasis on the use of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG). Strain was measured over a 10 month period in a 5 m section of the suspended floor slab. Three periods during the 10 month period were observed. The first stage was showed 128 micro strain experienced by the structure. During the second stage the formwork was removed and large variations were monitored due to excessive external movement around the structure. The third stage indicated a 10 micro strain change. It was found that an OFS system can accurately measure the movement of reinforced concrete, thereby affording the design engineer to opportunity to monitor the structure during and after construction for large movements that can negatively affect the durability and the serviceability of the structure