Learning to rank with (a lot of) word features

In this article we present Supervised Semantic Indexing which defines a class of nonlinear (quadratic) models that are discriminatively trained to directly map from the word content in a query-document or document-document pair to a ranking score. Like Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), our models take account of correlations between words (synonymy, polysemy). However, unlike LSI our models are trained from a supervised signal directly on the ranking task of interest, which we argue is the reason for our superior results. As the query and target texts are modeled separately, our approach is easily generalized to different retrieval tasks, such as cross-language retrieval or online advertising placement. Dealing with models on all pairs of words features is computationally challenging. We propose several improvements to our basic model for addressing this issue, including low rank (but diagonal preserving) representations, correlated feature hashing and sparsification. We provide an empirical study of all these methods on retrieval tasks based on Wikipedia documents as well as an Internet advertisement task. We obtain state-of-the-art performance while providing realistically scalable methods.     

Study of Post-World War II French Aeronautical Aluminium Alloy and Coatings: Historical and Materials Science Approach

ABSTRACT

In many countries, collections of historic aircraft, conserved in Air and Space museums or local associations, reflect the importance of a national or local history. Mostly parked outdoors, aircraft suffer from significant corrosion requiring conservation operations. During renovation, metallic parts are often replaced by association members. This can lead to a major loss of information since industrial archives dealing with materials and processes do not always survive. However, if these elements can be considered, they could be a fundamental source of information on the materials originally used and of the technical history of aeronautics. This work reports a thorough study of aluminium-based alloy parts collected on a Breguet aeroplane dating from the 1950s, during its recent renovation. Thanks to an approach coupling multi-scale material characterisation and research in archives, information on the industrial knowledge is revealed. Several historic grades of aluminium-based alloys were found, namely A-U4G, A-U4G1, and A-U3G, depending on the role of the part. Similarly, different protective coatings were identified (anodic oxidation, primers, and paintings), depending on the role of the metallic part and its location in the plane. Knowledge of the materials from bulk metal to the coated surface is necessary for good conservation practices regarding aeronautical heritage artefacts. Related documents and archives also fundamentally help in understanding such complex artefacts.     

Complementing subjective with objective data in analysing expertise: A machine-learning approach applied to badminton

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess which combination of subjective and empirical data might help to identify the expertise level. A group of 10 expert coaches classified 40 participants in 5 different expertise groups based on the video footage of the rallies. The expertise levels were determined using a typology based on a continuum of 5 conative stages: (1) structural, (2) functional, (3) technical, (4) contextual, and (5) expertise. The video allowed empirical measurement of the duration of the rallies, and tri-axial accelerometers measured the intensity of the player’s involvement. A principal component analysis showed that two dimensions explained 54.9% of the total variance in the data and that conative stage and empirical parameters during rallies (duration, intensity of the game) were correlated with axis 1, whereas duration and acceleration data between rallies were correlated with axis 2. A random forest algorithm showed that among the parameters considered, acceleration, duration of the rallies, and time between rallies could predict conative stages with a prediction accuracy above possibility.

This study suggests that performance analysis benefits from the confrontation of subjective and objective data in order to design training plans according to the expertise level of the participants.     

The Perceived Impact of Eight Systemic Factors on Scientific Capital Accumulation

Minerva - In the global academic capitalist race, academics, institutions and countries’ symbolic power results from the accumulation of scientific capital. This paper relies on the...     

Malta's National Curriculum: A critical analysis

Malta has recently introduced a National Minimum Curriculum (NMC) for primary, secondary and post-secondary levels. The authors of this article argue that the NMC, like similar national curricula in Britain, the United States and other countries, is underpinned by a conservative ideology. They criticize the NMC for, among other things, discriminating against women, giving insufficient value to non-European cultures, and promoting a hierarchical form of education that is geared to a capitalist concept of work. They argue that the curriculum, in its present form, cannot serve to promote a genuinely democratic education.

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Zusammenfassung Malta hat vor kurzem ein National Minimum Curriculum (NMC — Nationales Minimum Curriculum) für Schulen der Primar-, Sekundar-und Post-sekundarbildung eingeführt. Die Autoren dieses Artikels argumentieren dahingehend, daß dem NMC, wie ähnlichen nationalen Curricula in Großbritannien, den Vereinigten Staaten und anderen Ländern, eine konservative Ideologie zugrunde liegt. Sie kritisieren das NMC u.a. für eine Diskriminierung der Frauen, eine ungenügende Integration nicht-europäischer Kulturen und die Förderung einer hierarchischen Bildungsform, die in ein kapitalistisches Arbeitskonzept mündet. Sie argumentieren, daß das Curriculum in seiner gegenwärtigen Form der Förderung einer wahrhhaft demokratischen Erziehung nicht dienlich sein kann.

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Résumé Le gouvernement de Malte a récemment instauré un programme minimum national (NMC) pour les cycles primaire, secondaire et universitaire. Les auteurs de l'article objectent que ce programme, comparable à ceux de Grande-Bretagne, des Etats-Unis et d'autres pays, se fonde sur une idéologie conservatrice. Ils dénoncent entre autres la discrimination des femmes, la mise en avant de la culture européenne, et la défense d'une hiérarchie pédagogique orientée vers une conception capitaliste du travail. Ils affirment que ce programme dans sa forme actuelle ne peut constituer le fondement d'une éducation véritablement démocratique.

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Sumario Malta acaba de introducir un Curriculum Mínimo Nacional (NMC) para niveles primarios, secundarios y post-secondarios. Los autores de este artículo sostienen que el NMC, al igual que otros currículos similares de Gran Bretaña, los Estados Unidos y otros países está apuntalado por una ideología conservadora. Entre otras cosas, ellos critican el NMC por discriminar a la mujer, valorar insuficientemente las culturas no europeas y promover una forma de educación jerárquica orientada hacia un concepto de trabajo capitalista. Además, opinan que el currículo en su forma actual no podrá servir para promover una educación genuinamente democrática.

     

Performance of Spanish universities in technology transfer: An empirical analysis

This paper investigates the performance of universities in the transfer of technology using a unique university-level dataset for Spain. The results suggest that universities with established policies and procedures for the management of technology transfer perform better. Universities with large and experienced technology transfer offices (TTOs) generate higher volumes of contract research, but the TTO characteristics appear to matter less for university performance in terms of licensing and creation of spin-offs. Furthermore, universities with a science park perform better than those without, which suggests that the agglomeration of knowledge close to universities has a positive effect on universities’ technology transfer performance.     

Larger strength losses and muscle activation deficits in plantar flexors induced by backward downhill in reference to distance-matched forward uphill treadmill walk

We tested the hypothesis that backward downhill walking (eccentric component) impairs both voluntary activation and muscle contractile properties in the plantar flexors and delays recovery as compared to a gradient and distance-matched uphill walk. Fourteen males performed two 30-min walking exercises (velocity: 1?m/?s; grade: 25%; load: 12% of body weight), one downhill (DW) and one uphill (UP), in a counterbalanced order, separated by 6?weeks. Neuromuscular test sessions were performed before, after, 24-, 48- and 72-h post-exercise, including motor nerve stimulations during brief (5?s) and sustained (1?min) maximal isometric voluntary contractions of the plantar flexors. DW (?18.1?±?11.1%, P?P?=.15), decreased torque production during brief contractions for at least three days post-exercise (P?P?P?=?.024) and DW (?25.6?±?10.3%, P?P?=?.001) was lower in DW than UP. Peak twitch torque and maximum rates of torque development and relaxation were equally reduced after UP and DW (P?P?P?>?.05). Using a direct comparison, the capacity to drive the plantar flexors during sustained contractions remains sub-optimal during the three-day recovery period in response to non-exhaustive, downhill backward walking in reference to an uphill exercise matched for distance covered.     

Sprint mechanical differences at maximal running speed: Effects of performance level

ABSTRACT

As the effect of performance level on sprinting mechanics has not been fully studied, we examined mechanical differences at maximal running speed (MRS) over a straight-line 35 m sprint amongst sprinters of different performance levels. Fifty male track and field sprinters, divided in Slow, Medium and Fast groups (MRS: 7.67 ± 0.27 m?s^?1, 8.44 ± 0.22 m?s^?1, and 9.37 ± 0.41 m?s^?1, respectively) were tested. A high-speed camera (250 Hz) recorded a full stride in the sagittal plane at 30–35 m. MRS was higher (p < 0.05) in Fast vs. Medium (+11.0%) and Slow (+22.1%) as well as in Medium vs. Slow (+10.0%). Twelve, eight and seven out of 21 variables significantly distinguished Fast from Slow, Fast from Medium and Medium from Slow sprinters, respectively. Propulsive phase was signi?cantly shorter in Fast vs. Medium (?17.5%) and Slow (?29.4%) as well as in Medium vs. Slow (?14.4%). Fast sprinters had significantly higher vertical and leg stiffness values than Medium (+44.1% and +18.1%, respectively) and Slow (+25.4% and +22.0%, respectively). MRS at 30–35 m increased with performance level during a 35-m sprint and was achieved through shorter contact time, longer step length, faster step rate, and higher vertical and leg stiffness.