A semantically enhanced text retrieval framework with abstractive summarization

Recently, large pretrained language models (PLMs) have led a revolution in the information retrieval community. In most PLMs-based retrieval frameworks, the ranking performance broadly depends on the model structure and the semantic complexity of the input text. Sequence-to-sequence generative models for question answering or text generation have proven to be competitive, so we wonder whether these models can improve ranking effectiveness by enhancing input semantics. This article introduces SE-BERT, a semantically enhanced bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT) based ranking framework that captures more semantic information by modifying the input text. SE-BERT utilizes a pretrained generative language model to summarize both sides of the candidate passage and concatenate them into a new input sequence, allowing BERT to acquire more semantic information within the constraints of the input sequence's length. Experimental results from two Text Retrieval Conference datasets demonstrate that our approach's effectiveness increasing as the length of the input text increases.     

The early course of depression: A longitudinal investigation of prodromal symptoms and their relation to the symptomatic course of depressive episodes.

The present study explored longitudinal evidence for prodromal symptoms of depression episodes. A model based on previous findings of the relations between prodromal and residual symptoms was described and used to generate hypotheses tested in this study. Data were analyzed from 160 participants from the Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression (CVD) project (L. Alloy & L. Abramson, 1999) who experienced an episode of depression during the prospective follow-up period and 60 CVD participants who did not. Congruent with the hypothesis, individuals who subsequently developed an episode of depression experienced significantly greater numbers of depression symptoms in the period of time leading up to the acute episode compared with those who did not develop a depressive episode. Seven depression symptoms were particularly likely to appear before the onset of an acute episode. Furthermore, all 3 predictions from the model were supported: the durations of prodromal and residual phases were correlated, the prodromal and residual symptom profiles were quite similar, and the order of symptom onset was significantly and highly negatively correlated with the order of symptom remission. Additionally, residual symptom profiles were similar to subsequent prodromal symptom profiles in individuals who experienced more than 1 depressive episode. These findings are discussed in terms of the importance of understanding the earliest prodromal symptoms to appear and their relation to the symptomatic course of depression episodes. Implications for early intervention are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surface Microstructure Characterization of Sol-gel Derived Porous TiO_2 Thin Films

Several techniques, such as sol-gel [l], spraypyro1ysis [2], chemical vaPor deposition [3], canbe used to prepare titania thin films. Among the-se preparation techniques, the relatively simplesol-gel method is most widely used. The filmproperties are highly dependent uPon the prep-aration process and surface microsttucttoe, suchas panicle size, pore sttucfore, surface rough-ness, phase comPosition and so on. Therefore,the characterization of the surface microsttuc-tufe of thin films is vital …     

The transfer of stress through a steel to concrete adhesive bond

This paper describes part of a programme of research aimed at investigating the potential for strengthening reinforced concrete beams in shear by means of externally bonded steel plates. This may be a useful strengthening technique following the assessment of older bridge and building structures designed to outdated codes of practice. In order to produce a design guide for such shear plate bonding, a method for determining the anchorage length needs to be devised. By measuring the strain distribution in a steel plate adhesively bonded to a concrete block, the shear stress distribution within the adhesive and the effective anchorage length can be determined. A series of 15 experimental tests have been conducted to investigate the transfer of stress through a steel-concrete adhesive bond. The experimental programme was supported by theoretical and finite element analysis. The shear stress in a steel-concrete adhesive bond was found to be distributed exponentially, peaking at the loaded end of the specimen. For the specimens used, the stress distribution was distributed over a length of up to 155 mm for serviceability loads.     

Reduced angle sensitivity of structural coloration on an industrial aluminium platform

Existing structural coloration methods using thin films, commonly implemented in high‐purity aluminium, produce colours which are highly dependent on the viewing angle because of the inherent angular dependence of thin film interference. Adapting the thin film coloration mechanism to anodisation of industrial‐quality aluminium alloys, which scatter light more efficiently than their high‐purity counterparts, reduces angle dependence in the colour produced. This reduction of angle dependence, as well as the wide use of anodised aluminium in consumer products, suggests that structural colour based on anodised aluminium could potentially be scaled up for commercial scale production.     

Carbonaceous characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter in Hong Kong

In recent years, worldwide concern over global warming has been expressed. It has been reported that domestic wastewater and its treatment processes are sources of CH4 and N2O, designated as greenhouse gases, the reduction of which was noted to be extremely important at the Third Conference of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (Conference Of the Parties; COP3). Here we report a study of a field that has been unexplored until now: analytical evaluation of the properties of the emission of CH4 and N2O and methods of restricting their emission in soil-trench wastewater treatment processes, the use of which is spreading, mainly in developing nations. The results have provided the following information. A field fact-finding survey has confirmed that soil trenches emit 9.3-13.9 g CH4 m(-3) and 8.2-12.2 gN2O m(-3) in Japan, and 3.0-4.5 g CH4 m(-3) and 3.3-5.0 g N2O m(-3) in China. The emission properties widely vary according to the structure of the treatment system. The conversion ratio for nitrogen in the wastewater influent to N2O by a soil trench is between 2 and a maximum of 8%, and ranges from a few- to several 10-fold as much as that with the activated sludge method, suggesting that this can be a large source of N2O emission. It has also clearly been shown that the aerobic-anaerobic state inside the treatment system is closely related to its CH4 and N2O emission characteristics. By performing ventilation to maintain the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) near the trench at an aerobic condition of +200 mV or more, the quantities of CH4 and N2O emitted can be reduced by as much as 50% from the levels without this ventilation, and that this can make a large contribution.     

Preparation of Nanoporous Polyimide Films from Poly(urethane‐imide) by Thermal Treatment

Nanoporous polyimide films were prepared in two steps. The first step is the preparation of poly(urethane‐imide) films by casting blend solutions containing various weight percentages of poly(amic acid) and phenol blocked polyurethane prepolymer (from 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate and poly(ethylene glycol)). Three poly(amic acid)s were obtained from biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (or) 2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride with 1,4‐phenylenediamine (or) 2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine. Poly(urethane‐imide) films were characterized by density and surface energy measurements, AFM, DSC, TMA, mechanical properties and TGA. In the second step, these films were thermally treated above 300 °C to give nanoporous polyimide films. During thermal treatment, less thermally stable urethane domains decomposed, leaving porous polyimide films. The presence of pores was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric constant of the polyimide film was found to decrease with increasing amounts of urethane content.

A nanoporous polyimide film.     

DNA‐Directed Assembly of Antibody–Fluorophore Conjugates for Quantitative Multiparametric Flow Cytometry

Multiparametric flow cytometry offers a powerful approach to single‐cell analysis with broad applications in research and diagnostics. Despite advances in instrumentation, progress in methodology has lagged. Currently there is no simple and efficient method for antibody labeling or quantifying the number of antibodies bound per cell. Herein, we describe a DNA‐directed assembly approach to fluorescent labeling that overcomes these barriers. Oligonucleotide‐tagged antibodies and microparticles can be annealed to complementary oligonucleotides bearing fluorophores to create assay‐specific labeling probes and controls, respectively. The ratio of the fluorescence intensity of labeled cells to the control particles allows direct conversion of qualitative data to quantitative units of antibody binding per cell. Importantly, a single antibody can be labeled with any fluorophore by using a simple mix‐and‐match labeling strategy. Thus, any antibody can provide a quantitative probe in any fluorescent channel, thus overcoming major barriers to the use of flow cytometry as a technique for systems biology and clinical diagnostics.