Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross-Lingual Annotation Projection for Weakly-Supervised Relation Extraction

Although researchers have conducted extensive studies on relation extraction in the last decade, statistical systems based on supervised learning are still limited, because they require large amounts of training data to achieve high performance level. In this article, we propose cross-lingual annotation projection methods that leverage parallel corpora to build a relation extraction system for a resource-poor language without significant annotation efforts. To make our method more reliable, we introduce two types of projection approaches with noise reduction strategies. We demonstrate the merit of our method using a Korean relation extraction system trained on projected examples from an English-Korean parallel corpus. Experiments show the feasibility of our approaches through comparison to other systems based on monolingual resources.
Neurofeedback Using Real-Time Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Enhances Motor Imagery Related Cortical Activation

Accumulating evidence indicates that motor imagery and motor execution share common neural networks. Accordingly, mental practices in the form of motor imagery have been implemented in rehabilitation regimes of stroke patients with favorable results. Because direct monitoring of motor imagery is difficult, feedback of cortical activities related to motor imagery (neurofeedback) could help to enhance efficacy of mental practice with motor imagery. To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a real-time neurofeedback system mediated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), two separate experiments were performed. Experiment 1 was used in five subjects to evaluate whether real-time cortical oxygenated hemoglobin signal feedback during a motor execution task correlated with reference hemoglobin signals computed off-line. Results demonstrated that the NIRS-mediated neurofeedback system reliably detected oxygenated hemoglobin signal changes in real-time. In Experiment 2, 21 subjects performed motor imagery of finger movements with feedback from relevant cortical signals and irrelevant sham signals. Real neurofeedback induced significantly greater activation of the contralateral premotor cortex and greater self-assessment scores for kinesthetic motor imagery compared with sham feedback. These findings suggested the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a NIRS-mediated real-time neurofeedback system on performance of kinesthetic motor imagery. However, these results warrant further clinical trials to determine whether this system could enhance the effects of mental practice in stroke patients.
Detailed image-based 3 D geometric reconstruction of heritage objects

The attention in digital documentation and preservation of heritages is always increasing and fast but reliable, low cost, portable and practical solutions are more and more of great interest for archaeologists, restorators and the all heritage community. The goal of this work is to present the developed multi-photo image-based techniques able capture the fine 3D geometric details of such objects or sites. The size of the interesting area can be large and of any arbitrary shape. Although laser scanners can acquire a large number of 3D points at high speed, they can be impractical and slow to set up and move around in archaeological sites. With our approach we provide for geometric details in an automatic and reliable manner to achieve photo-realistic visualisation for heritage and archaeological applications. Our main contributions are the use of multiple image features (grid point, interest points and edges) and the simultaneous processing of multiple images. The reported results demonstrated the utility and flexibility of the technique and proved that it creates highly detailed models in a reliable manner with no unpredictable behaviour for many different types of surface detail. Accuracy tests with range data are also reported.
Exports, Imports and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis of Tunisia

The aim of this study is to investigate the export-led growth, import-led growth and foreign debt sustainability hypotheses in the case of Tunisia by using annual time series data for the period 1960-2008. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach is employed to determine the long-run relationship or direction of long-run causality between exports, imports and GDP, and the strength of causal relationship is examined by using variance decomposition method. The results indicate unidirectional causality from exports to economic growth and bidirectional relationship between imports and economic growth. Thus, both export-led growth and import-led growth are valid for Tunisia. On the other hand, there is bidirectional association between exports and imports. The long-run elasticity of exports with respect to imports is 1.02 and long-run elasticity of imports with respect to exports is 0.86. Thus, foreign debt is weakly sustainable in the case of Tunisia. The empirical findings of the study are important for policy makers of Tunisia in the formulation of trade policies.
Evolution of Arabidopsis MIR genes generates novel microRNA classes

In Arabidopsis, canonical 21-nt miRNAs are generated by Dicer-like (DCL) 1 from hairpin precursors. We have identified a novel class of functional 23- to 25-nt long-miRNAs that is generated independently from the same miRNA precursors by DCL3. Long-miRNAs are developmentally regulated and in some cases have been conserved during evolution implying that they have biological functions. Plant microRNA genes (MIR) have been proposed to evolve by inverted duplication of the target gene. We found that recently evolved MIR genes consistently give rise to long-miRNAs, while ancient MIR genes give rise predominantly to canonical miRNAs. Transcripts from inverted repeats representing evolving proto-MIR genes were processed by DCL3 into long-miRNAs and also by DCL1, DCL2 or DCL4 depending on hairpin stem length to produce different sizes of miRNAs. Our results suggest that evolution of MIR genes is associated with gradual, overlapping changes in DCL usage resulting in specific size classes of miRNAs.
Maternal Serum Heme-Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) Concentrations in Early Pregnancy and Subsequent Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) concentrations have been recently reported to be elevated in impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, no study has examined the association between HO-1 concentrations and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods In a case-control study, nested within a prospective cohort of pregnant women (186 GDM cases and 191 women who remained eu-glycemic through pregnancy), we assessed the association of maternal serum HO-1 concentrations, measured in samples collected at 16 weeks gestation, on average, with subsequent risk of GDM. Maternal serum HO-1 concentrations were determined using ELISA. We fitted multivariate logistic regression models to derive estimates of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Median serum HO-1 concentrations in early pregnancy were lower in women who subsequently developed GDM compared with those who did not (1.60 vs. 1.80 ng/mL, p-value = 0.002). After adjusting for maternal age, race, family history of T2DM and pre-pregnancy body mass index, women with HO-1≥3.05 ng/mL (highest decile) experienced a 74% reduction of GDM risk (95% CI; 0.09–0.77) compared with women whose concentrations were<1.23 ng/mL (lowest quartile). Conclusion Serum HO-1 concentrations were inversely associated with subsequent GDM risk. These findings underscore the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of GDM. Additional studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utility of serum HO-1 in diagnosis of GDM, particularly in the early pregnancy.
Constraints on galaxy structure and evolution from the light of nearby systems

We review knowledge of galaxy structures obtained by their emitted light and in the local universe where they can be studied in great detail. We discuss the shapes of, and stellar motions within, galaxies, compositional clues derived from their spectra, and what luminous matter implies about their dark matter content. Implications on the current theory of hierarchical galaxy formation are explored.
The Effectiveness of Child-Care Subsidies in Encouraging the Welfare-to-Work Transition of Low-Income Single Mothers

In recent years, public attitudes toward single mothers have changed dramatically, and policymakers are being pressed to devise reforms that will reduce their welfare dependency. In the summer of 1994, at least 11 separate welfare reform proposals were being debated by Congressional committees. Because child care is relatively expensive compared to potential earnings for single mothers, extensions to current child-care assistance programs will be an integral component of any welfare reform package. Very little evidence exists regarding child-care utilization patterns and links to employment for low-income mothers. Exceptions include Mark Berger and Dan Black (1992) and the recent Congressional testimony given by Jane Ross (1994) of the GAO. Contributing to the changing attitudes toward welfare recipients is the change in the demographic makeup of the labor force. Overall female labor-force participation rates have grown dramatically in the past 30 years, from 45 percent in the mid-1960's to 75 percent in the early 1990's. As a result, subsidizing poor single mothers so that they can stay at home with their children while more and more married mothers are working for pay has become less popular. This has led to the encouragement of work, particularly full-time work, as a means of poverty reduction for single mothers. Unfortunately, child care costs represent a significant employment barrier. On average, child care costs $63 per week overall, and $44 per week for care by a relative. For the typical single mother, child-care costs range between 15 percent and 30 percent of earned income, depending on the mode of care and hourly wage.2
Toward human interaction with bio-inspired robot teams

In this paper, we formalize the problem of human interaction with bio-inspired robot teams (HuBIRT). The formalism applies to a large class of bio-inspired team dynamics and uses simple algebraic graph theory representations to distinguish between interagent influence, environmental influence, and operator influence. These representations lead to metrics for interagent cohesiveness and responsiveness to human input. We then select two different classes of team dynamics, physicomimetics which encodes dynamics using artificial physics, and a biomimetic structure which encodes dynamics using a model of fish behavior. We then demonstrate the relevance of the metrics by conducting a series experiments that demonstrate differences between leader and predator styles of human influence, and conclude with a comparison of nearest-neighbor topologies to metric-based topologies.
Cities in the Developing World: Policies for Their Equitable and Efficient Growth

The unprecedented rate of urban growth in developing nations has created massive new tasks for national and local policymakers. This study delineates the major problems of adapting to the growth of cities in developing countries, and it discusses policies to increase the efficiency and equity of urban development. The areas covered include urban employment, income redistribution, transport, housing, and social services such as health and education. The author evaluates the effectiveness of policy instruments such as public investment, pricing, taxation, and regulation. Some of these policies can be used in ways that improve both the efficiency and the equity of the development of cities, without a conflict between these goals.
RODUCTION OF L EGAL R ULES BY A GENCIES AND B UREAUCRACIES

The main questions which the literature on rule production by agencies and bureaucracies deals with are: To what extent should legislators delegate rule making to bureaucracy? How can procedural rules curb an agency’s discretion in making substantive rules? Do legislators select bureaucratic decisions for oversight randomly or on the basis of complaints? Who exactly controls bureaucracy: some and which elements in the legislature or the judiciary? How does the process of bureaucratic rule making work inside an agency? This article reviews the literature with a special emphasis on the effect of procedural rules and on the spatial representation of the interplay between the bureaucracy and the legislature. It concludes by pointing out that more research should be conducted on the process of rule making within agencies and the underlying preferences. JEL classification: D73, H11, K23, K29
Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulations of the HLA-G Gene

HLA-G has a relevant role in immune response regulation. The overall structure of the HLA-G coding region has been maintained during the evolution process, in which most of its variable sites are synonymous mutations or coincide with introns, preserving major functional HLA-G properties. The HLA-G promoter region is different from the classical class I promoters, mainly because (i) it lacks regulatory responsive elements for IFN-γ and NF-κB, (ii) the proximal promoter region (within 200 bases from the first translated ATG) does not mediate transactivation by the principal HLA class I transactivation mechanisms, and (iii) the presence of identified alternative regulatory elements (heat shock, progesterone and hypoxia-responsive elements) and unidentified responsive elements for IL-10, glucocorticoids, and other transcription factors is evident. At least three variable sites in the 3′ untranslated region have been studied that may influence HLA-G expression by modifying mRNA stability or microRNA binding sites, including the 14-base pair insertion/deletion, +3142C/G and +3187A/G polymorphisms. Other polymorphic sites have been described, but there are no functional studies on them. The HLA-G coding region polymorphisms might influence isoform production and at least two null alleles with premature stop codons have been described. We reviewed the structure of the HLA-G promoter region and its implication in transcriptional gene control, the structure of the HLA-G 3′UTR and the major actors of the posttranscriptional gene control, and, finally, the presence of regulatory elements in the coding region.
The Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum from the Full COBE FIRAS Data Set

We have refined the analysis of the data from the FIRAS (Far-InfraRed Absolute Spectrophotometer) on board the COBE (COsmic Background Explorer). The FIRAS measures the difference between the cosmic microwave background and a precise blackbody spectrum. We find new, tighter upper limits on general deviations from a blackbody spectrum. The rms deviations are less than 50 parts per million of the peak of the cosmic microwave background radiation. For the Comptonization and chemical potential, we find |y| < 15 × 10–6 and |μ| < 9 × 10–5 (95% confidence level [CL]). There are also refinements in the absolute temperature, 2.728 ± 0.004 K (95% CL), the dipole direction, (1, b)/(264.°14 ± 0.30, 48.°26 ± 0.30) (95% CL), and the amplitude, 3.372 ± 0.014 mK (95% CL). All of these results agree with our previous publications.
Hyphopodium-Specific VdNoxB/VdPls1-Dependent ROS-Ca2+ Signaling Is Required for Plant Infection by Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae is a phytopathogenic fungus obligate in root infection. A few hyphopodia differentiate from large numbers of hyphae after conidia germination on the root surface for further infection. However, the molecular features and role of hyphopodia in the pathogenicity of V. dahliae remain elusive. In this study, we found that the VdPls1, a tetraspanin, and the VdNoxB, a catalytic subunit of membrane-bound NADPH oxidases for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, were specifically expressed in hyphopodia. VdPls1 and VdNoxB highly co-localize with the plasma membrane at the base of hyphopodia, where ROS and penetration pegs are generated. Mutant strains, VdΔnoxb and VdΔpls1, in which VdPls1 and VdNoxB were deleted, respectively, developed defective hyphpodia incapable of producing ROS and penetration pegs. Defective plasma membrane localization of VdNoxB in VdΔpls1 demonstrates that VdPls1 functions as an adaptor protein for the recruitment and activation of the VdNoxB. Furthermore, in VdΔnoxb and VdΔpls1, tip-high Ca2+ accumulation was impaired in hyphopodia, but not in vegetative hyphal tips. Moreover, nuclear targeting of VdCrz1 and activation of calcineurin-Crz1 signaling upon hyphopodium induction in wild-type V. dahliae was impaired in both knockout mutants, indicating that VdPls1/VdNoxB-dependent ROS was specifically required for tip-high Ca2+ elevation in hyphopodia to activate the transcription factor VdCrz1 in the regulation of penetration peg formation. Together with the loss of virulence of VdΔnoxb and VdΔpls1, which are unable to initiate colonization in cotton plants, our data demonstrate that VdNoxB/VdPls1-mediated ROS production activates VdCrz1 signaling through Ca2+ elevation in hyphopodia, infectious structures of V. dahliae, to regulate penetration peg formation during the initial colonization of cotton roots.
Object-Based Land Cover Classification Using High-Posting-Density LiDAR Data

This study introduces a method for object-based land cover classification based solely on the analysis of LiDAR-derived information—i.e., without the use of conventional optical imagery such as aerial photography or multispectral imagery. The method focuses on the relative information content from height, intensity, and shape of features found in the scene. Eight object-based metrics were used to classify the terrain into land cover information: mean height, standard deviation (STDEV) of height, height homogeneity, height contrast, height entropy, height correlation, mean intensity, and compactness. Using machine-learning decision trees, these metrics yielded land cover classification accuracies > 90%. A sensitivity analysis found that mean intensity was the key metric for differentiating between the grass and road/parking lot classes. Mean height was also a contributing discriminator for distinguishing features with different height information, such as between the building and grass classes. The shape- or texture-based metrics did not significantly improve the land cover classifications. The most important three metrics (i.e., mean height, STDEV height, and mean intensity) were sufficient to achieve classification accuracies > 90%.
The interaction effects of scheduling control and work–life balance programs on job satisfaction and mental health

Jang SJ, Park R, Zippay A. The interaction effects of scheduling control and work–life balance programs on job satisfaction and mental health Int J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: 135–143 © 2010 The Author(s), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and International Journal of Social Welfare. The demands of balancing employment and family responsibilities strain the health and welfare of many employees worldwide, and social welfare policy analysts are increasingly attending to the factors that can alleviate such stress. The present study examined associations between the availability of work–life balance programs, employees' authority to arrange their own work hours, job satisfaction, and mental health among 1,293 employees in 50 companies in South Korea. The study is unique in its use of multilevel analysis in examining individual- and company-level variables. The results add to the evidence regarding the positive relationship between the availability of scheduling control and work–life balance policies on the one hand, and job satisfaction and mental wellbeing, on the other.
Gender and primary schooling in Uganda

This report is part of a multi-country series of studies which are being conducted in Africa under the auspices of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in collaboration with national governments and the Institute of Development Studies Sussex. Since 1995 nine national reports have been completed as part of FAWEs Strategic Resource Planning for Girls Education in Africa Programme. This work has been funded by a Donor Partnership comprising the Govemments of Norway (NORAD) and Ireland (HEDCO) the Rockefeller Foundation the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) the World Bank Institute and FAWE itself. The main aims of each of these studies have been: to examine the causes of low participation persistence and performance of girls in primary schools both absolutely and relative to boys; and to identify the most promising policy choices facing states which wish seriously to universalise the enrolment of all children at prima W level and to investigate the resource implications of such alternative policies. Although the above aims have been common to all the studies each of them highlights the particular problems which are nationally perceived to be important. Accordingly the particular aims and emphases of the reports differ between the countries. The present report is based on an extensive period of fieldwork undertaken in Uganda between April 1998 and August 1999 which included surveys of and group discussions with school personnel pupils and parents as well as with those who had dropped out of school. In addition the team collected and analysed a large amount of contextual information on enrolment trends educational indicators costs and expenditures which have been used in the report to identify the main policy options faced by the government and to specify the cost and resource implications of alternative policy measures. (excerpt)
Income Instability of Lone Parents, Singles and Two-Parent Families in Canada, 1984 to 2004

This paper examines income instability of lone parents, singles and two-parent families in Canada in the past two decades using tax data. We attempt to answer the following questions: Has there been a widespread increase in earnings instability among lone parents (especially lone mothers) and unattached individuals over the past 20 years? How do the trends in earnings instability among lone parents and unattached individuals compare to the trends among the two-parent families? What is the role of government transfers and the progressive tax system in mitigating differences in earnings instability across different segments of the earnings distribution among the above-mentioned groups? We find little evidence of a widespread increase in earnings instability in the past two decades and show that government transfers play a particularly important role in reducing employment income instability of lone mothers and unattached individuals.