Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Step by step: underspecified markup in incremental rhetorical analysis

While quite a few linguistic corpora with syntactic annotations are available today, resources are scarce on the level of discourse annotation. A flexible, extendible annotation format speeds up development. We therefore propose an XML format for annotating rhetorical structure trees. In human and automatic analysis, rhetorical structure is often difficult and assigned incrementally. Thus, the format allows for underspecification. The paper discusses the various design decisions involved, illustrates the format with an example, and sketches some applications.
Peer Review History Title (provisional) Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Faroese Men – a Cross-sectional Population-based Study of 481 Men

BMJ Open publishes all reviews undertaken for accepted manuscripts. Reviewers are asked to complete a checklist review form (see an example) and are provided with free text boxes to elaborate on their assessment. These free text comments are reproduced below. Some articles will have been accepted based in part or entirely on reviews undertaken for other BMJ Group journals. These will be reproduced where possible.
Maternal Serologic Screening to Prevent Congenital Toxoplasmosis: A Decision-Analytic Economic Model

Objective To determine a cost-minimizing option for congenital toxoplasmosis in the United States. Methodology/Principal Findings A decision-analytic and cost-minimization model was constructed to compare monthly maternal serological screening, prenatal treatment, and post-natal follow-up and treatment according to the current French (Paris) protocol, versus no systematic screening or perinatal treatment. Costs are based on published estimates of lifetime societal costs of developmental disabilities and current diagnostic and treatment costs. Probabilities are based on published results and clinical practice in the United States and France. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses are used to evaluate robustness of results. Universal monthly maternal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis with follow-up and treatment, following the French protocol, is found to be cost-saving, with savings of $620 per child screened. Results are robust to changes in test costs, value of statistical life, seroprevalence in women of childbearing age, fetal loss due to amniocentesis, and to bivariate analysis of test costs and incidence of primary T. gondii infection in pregnancy. Given the parameters in this model and a maternal screening test cost of $12, screening is cost-saving for rates of congenital infection above 1 per 10,000 live births. If universal testing generates economies of scale in diagnostic tools—lowering test costs to about $2 per test—universal screening is cost-saving at rates of congenital infection well below the lowest reported rates in the United States of 1 per 10,000 live births. Conclusion/Significance Universal screening according to the French protocol is cost saving for the US population within broad parameters for costs and probabilities.
Scavenger receptor-independent stimulation of cholesterol esterification in macrophages by low density lipoprotein extracted from human aortic intima.

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the artery wall may contribute to atherogenesis. A number of physiologically plausible modifications have been studied in vitro, including oxidation, aggregation, formation of complexes with glycosaminoglycans, and generation of LDL-immune complexes. Several studies of the properties of LDL extracted from the aortic intima have been published, but these indicate disagreement about both the nature and the extent of modification of LDL in the artery wall. The objectives of the present study were to determine the nature and extent of modification of LDL extracted from both normal and diseased human aortic intimas and to correlate this with the rate of LDL uptake in cultured cells. Analyses were performed on LDLs isolated from aortic intimas obtained at autopsy or at the time of organ harvest from 33 subjects. LDL from normal intima showed no clear evidence of oxidation but had slightly increased electrophoretic mobility compared with native plasma LDL, whereas LDL from plaques or fatty streaks exhibited variable but usually modest signs of oxidative change. Aortic LDL was more rapidly degraded by cultured macrophages than was plasma LDL and resulted in a greater stimulation of cholesterol esterification. The degree of stimulation of cholesterol esterification was correlated with the extent of modification of LDL as reflected by the degree of apolipoprotein B fragmentation. However, in all aortic LDLs the extent of oxidative change, as assessed by electrophoretic mobility or other physical parameters, was less than that required for scavenger receptor-mediated uptake. In all cases where sufficient amounts of LDL were recovered to permit degradation experiments, the uptake of aortic LDL was nonsaturable and could not be inhibited by polyinosinic acid or acetylated LDL. Chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B showed that most LDLs isolated from plaque contained a fraction that eluted in the void volume, and the size of this void peak correlated well with the stimulation of cholesterol esterification. Electron microscopy showed that the high-molecular-weight fraction contained several different types of aggregates. Some appeared to be clusters of LDL-size particles, but large vesicular structures with numerous adherent LDL particles as well as lipid droplets were also identified. These results indicate that the accelerated uptake by macrophages of LDL isolated from the arterial intima can largely be attributed to phagocytosis of LDL-containing aggregates. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Stability of density-stratified viscous Taylor-Couette flows

We consider the stability of density-stratified viscous Taylor-Couette flow using the Boussinesq approximation, but without any use of the short-wave approximation. Flows which are unstable according to the Rayleigh criterion (μ η, we never found unstable modes. The Reynolds numbers grow rapidly to very large values as this limit is approached (see Figs. 3 and 4). Also striking is that the marginal stability lines for the higher m penetrate less and less into the region beyond the Rayleigh line, so that we have to consider the stratorotational instability as a low-m instability. Finally, we briefly discuss the applicability of these results to the stability problem of accretion disks, with their strong density stratification and rapid rotation.
Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Programs: A National Study from the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs' Longitudinal Study of Training and Practice in Geriatric Medicine

This report documents the development and growth of geriatric medicine fellowship training in the United States through 2002. A cross‐sectional survey of geriatric medicine fellowship programs was conducted in the fall 2001. All allopathic (119) and osteopathic (7) accredited geriatric medicine fellowship‐training programs in the United States were involved. Data were collected using self‐administered mailed and Web‐based survey instruments. Longitudinal data from the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) National Graduate Medical Education (GME) Census, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) were also analyzed.
Sprint acceleration mechanics changes from children to adolescent

Sprint running is a critical performance parameter in many sports such as athletics, soccer or rugby that implies large forward acceleration. From a mechanical standpoint, previous studies showed that sprint performance is directly depending on the capacity to develop high amounts of horizontal force and power output over sprint acceleration (Morin et al. 2011). More precisely, the overall mechanical capability to produce horizontal external force during sprint acceleration is well described by the force-velocity (F-v) relationship (Morin et al. 2012; Rabita et al. 2015). This linear relationship characterizes the external mechanical limits of the entire neuromuscular system and is well summarized through the theoretical maximal horizontal force (F0) and velocity (v0) this system can develop, and the associated maximal power output (Pmax, Samozino et al. 2015). These variables represent a complex integration of numerous individual mechanical muscle properties, morphological and neural factors, but also the technical ability to apply external force effectively onto the ground (Morin et al. 2011, 2012). Therefore, determining individual F–v and P–v relationships and mechanical effectiveness during sprint propulsion is of great interest for coaches or sport practitioners. Several studies have been conducted to identify and understand the mechanism of sprint performance acceleration in subjects ranging from adult recreational to world class sprinters (Morin et al. 2011, 2012), and masters athletes (Morin et al., 2016) or between male and female runners (Korhonen et al. 2003; Slawinski et al. 2017). Surprisingly, only few studies have specifically focussed on the effect of age on sprint mechanics during growth (Papaiakovou et al. 2009). If it has been reported that age positively affects sprint performance (Papaiakovou et al. 2009), there is no information regarding sprint acceleration mechanics explaining this change in performance during the growth period of children and adolescents. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare sprint acceleration mechanics between children and adolescent in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms in sprint performance with age.
Covariant Compositional Networks For Learning Graphs

Most existing neural networks for learning graphs address permutation invariance by conceiving of the network as a message passing scheme, where each node sums the feature vectors coming from its neighbors. We argue that this imposes a limitation on their representation power, and instead propose a new general architecture for representing objects consisting of a hierarchy of parts, which we call Covariant Compositional Networks (CCNs). Here, covariance means that the activation of each neuron must transform in a specific way under permutations, similarly to steerability in CNNs. We achieve covariance by making each activation transform according to a tensor representation of the permutation group, and derive the corresponding tensor aggregation rules that each neuron must implement. Experiments show that CCNs can outperform competing methods on standard graph learning benchmarks.
From ZeuS to Zitmo: Trends in Banking Malware

In the crimeware world, financial botnets are a global threat to banking organizations. Such malware purposely performs financial fraud and steals critical information from clients' computers. A common example of banking malware is the ZeuS botnet. Recently, variants of this malware have targeted mobile platforms, as The-ZeuS-in-the-Mobile or Zitmo. With the rise in mobile systems, platform security is becoming a major concern across the mobile world, with rising incidence of compromising Android devices. In similar vein, there have been mobile botnet attacks on iPhones, Blackberry and Symbian devices. In this setting, we report on trends and developments of ZeuS and its variants.
A Role for the Adult Fat Body in Drosophila Male Courtship Behavior

Mating behavior in Drosophila depends critically on the sexual identity of specific regions in the brain, but several studies have identified courtship genes that express products only outside the nervous system. Although these genes are each active in a variety of non-neuronal cell types, they are all prominently expressed in the adult fat body, suggesting an important role for this tissue in behavior. To test its role in male courtship, fat body was feminized using the highly specific Larval serum protein promoter. We report here that the specific feminization of this tissue strongly reduces the competence of males to perform courtship. This effect is limited to the fat body of sexually mature adults as the feminization of larval fat body that normally persists in young adults does not affect mating. We propose that feminization of fat body affects the synthesis of male-specific secreted circulating proteins that influence the central nervous system. In support of this idea, we demonstrate that Takeout, a protein known to influence mating, is present in the hemolymph of adult males but not females and acts as a secreted protein.
Explaining Contradictory Relations Between Risk Perception and Risk Taking

Different studies have documented opposite relations between perceived risk and behavior. The present study tested a theoretical explanation that reconciles these conflicting results. Adolescents (N = 596) completed alternative measures of risk perception that differed in cue specificity and response format. As predicted by fuzzy-trace theory, measures that emphasized verbatim retrieval and quantitative processing produced positive correlations between perceived risk and risky behavior; risk perceptions reflected the extent to which adolescents engaged in risky behavior. In contrast, measures that assessed global, gist-based judgments of risk produced negative correlations; higher risk perceptions were associated with less risk taking, a protective rather than reflective relation. Endorsement of simple values and principles provided the greatest protection against risk taking. Results support a dual-processes interpretation of the relation between risk perception and risk taking according to which observed relations depend on whether the cues in questions trigger verbatim or gist processing.
Towards a Combinatorial Classification of Skew Schur Functions

We present a single operation for constructing skew diagrams whose corresponding skew Schur functions are equal. This combinatorial operation naturally generalises and unifies all results of this type to date. Moreover, our operation suggests a closely related condition that we conjecture is necessary and sufficient for skew diagrams to yield equal skew Schur functions.
DO WE NEED AN EXTENDED EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS?

Abstract The Modern Synthesis (MS) is the current paradigm in evolutionary biology. It was actually built by expanding on the conceptual foundations laid out by its predecessors, Darwinism and neo-Darwinism. For sometime now there has been talk of a new Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES), and this article begins to outline why we may need such an extension, and how it may come about. As philosopher Karl Popper has noticed, the current evolutionary theory is a theory of genes, and we still lack a theory of forms. The field began, in fact, as a theory of forms in Darwin's days, and the major goal that an EES will aim for is a unification of our theories of genes and of forms. This may be achieved through an organic grafting of novel concepts onto the foundational structure of the MS, particularly evolvability, phenotypic plasticity, epigenetic inheritance, complexity theory, and the theory of evolution in highly dimensional adaptive landscapes.
CD44 is a potential target of amplification within the 11p13 amplicon detected in gastric cancer cell lines

Classical cytogenetic approaches have revealed many of the chromosomal aberrations that may occur in gastric cancers (GC), although few alterations of specific genes have been identified so far. Genes that affect progression of this disease need to be identified if clinicians are to achieve optimal management of patients with GC. As the first step toward the cloning of gene(s) that may be involved in gastric carcinogenesis, we examined 25 GC cell lines for aberrations in DNA copy number to detect chromosomal gains and losses, as well as gene amplifications, by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Our CGH study revealed high‐level amplifications in chromosomal regions that had been well defined in GC but also in sites that had not, including 3p24, 5p15, 11p11.2–14, 13q34, 15q26, Xp24, and Xq26–28. The minimal common region at 11p13, within the 11p11.2–14 amplicon, harbors the CD44 gene. Northern and Western blot analyses showed that an alternatively spliced form of CD44, with variant exons 8–10 (CD44E), was overexpressed in all cell lines bearing the 11p13 amplicon. However, cell adhesion activity was no greater in these lines than in cell lines without amplifications at the CD44 locus, suggesting that the major property of upregulated CD44 in these cases might be to transduce signals critically associated with growth and proliferation of the tumor cells. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A survey of tobacco dependence treatment services in 121 countries

Aims To report progress among Parties to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in developing tobacco dependence treatment systems in accordance with FCTC Article 14 and the Article 14 guidelines recommendations. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Electronic survey from December 2011 to August 2012. Participants One hundred and sixty-three of the 174 Parties to the FCTC at the time of our survey. Measurements The 51-item questionnaire contained 21 items specifically on treatment systems. Questions covered the availability of basic treatment infrastructure and national cessation support systems. Findings We received responses from 121 (73%) of the 166 countries surveyed. Fewer than half of the countries had national treatment guidelines (n = 53, 44%), a government official responsible for tobacco dependence treatment (n = 49, 41%), an official national treatment strategy (n = 53, 44%) or provided tobacco cessation support for health workers (n = 55, 46%). More than half encouraged brief advice in existing health care services (n = 68, 56%), while only 44 (36%) had quitlines and only 20 (17%) had a network of treatment support covering the whole country. Low- and middle-income countries had less tobacco dependence treatment provision than high-income countries. Conclusion Most countries, especially low- and middle-income countries, have not yet implemented the recommendations of FCTC Article 14 or the FCTC Article 14 guidelines.
[Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the central western region. Retrospective study of 217 cases (Gericco 1991-1993)].

OBJECTIVES To analyze the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in western France observed from 1991 to 1993 in different patients populations (HIV+ infected patients, immunosuppressed non-HIV infected patients, non-immunosuppressed patients) and according to various localizations (lymph nodes, bone and joints, genital organs, nervous system and meninges, miliary disease). METHODS This retrospective study included 217 cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed from 1991 to 1993 in western France by GERICCO (Groupe d'Epidémiologie et de Recherche en Infectiologie Clinique du Centre-Ouest). Demographic, clinical, biological, microbiological and radiographic characteristics as well as clinical course on specific therapy were assessed. RESULTS Extrapulmonary tuberculosis generally occurred most often in immunosuppressed patients but 34% of cases were observed in people without any underlying disease or risk factors. Delay to diagnosis was especially long in the non-immunosuppressed patients (mean = 96 days) but shorter in the HIV-infected patients (mean = 59 days). It was shorter in case of nervous system involvement (mean = 52 days) or military disease (mean = 80 days) than in bone and joints (mean = 120 days) and lymph nodes (mean = 102 days). Microbiologically proven tuberculosis represented only 75% of cases despite numerous investigations. Overall prognosis was good except in nervous system and meninges localizations. Failures were mainly due to death in immunosuppressed patients. CONCLUSION Extrapulmonary tuberculosis remains frequent even in patients lacking risk factors. In 50% of cases, confirmation of diagnosis takes more than one month. In case of doubt, clinicians should not wait for laboratory results before implementing empirical specific therapy.
Crystal Structure of the Potassium Channel KirBac1.1 in the Closed State

The KirBac1.1 channel belongs to the inward-rectifier family of potassium channels. Here we report the structure of the entire prokaryotic Kir channel assembly, in the closed state, refined to a resolution of 3.65 angstroms. We identify the main activation gate and structural elements involved in gating. On the basis of structural evidence presented here, we suggest that gating involves coupling between the intracellular and membrane domains. This further suggests that initiation of gating by membrane or intracellular signals represents different entry points to a common mechanistic pathway.
No improvement in long-term wear and revision rates with the second-generation Biomet cup (RingLoc) in young patients

BackgroundA number of excellent results with the cementless titanium femoral component of the Mallory Head Total Hip Replacement have been published. Unfortunately, these excellent results have been counteracted by the poor performance of the cementless titanium acetabular components. In 1994, the HexLoc acetabular component was replaced with a second-generation design, the RingLoc. We hypothesized that the new generation would have improved the results. Methods We retrospectively studied 111 consecutive patients (150 hips) younger than 55 years. Median follow-up time was 14 (6–18) years for the HexLoc and 10 (1–14) years for the RingLoc. 7 patients were lost to follow-up and 7 patients died. The 10-year survival rate, radiographic liner wear, and radiographic signs of prosthesis failure were compared between the 2 acetabular components. Results The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate with revision for any reason as the endpoint showed a 10-year survival of 89% (95% CI: 81–97) for the HexLoc and 92% (CI: 85–98) for the RingLoc. The mean annual wear rate for the HexLoc was 0.16 (SD 0.16) mm and it was 0.15 (0.1) mm for the RingLoc (p = 0.3). The radiographic signs of failure were equally distributed between the 2 groups. Interpretation Compared to the HexLoc type, the RingLoc system did not improve the mean percentage survival at 10 years; nor did it reduce the liner wear. Despite correction of the known design flaws in the HexLoc design, the RingLoc system did not show a clinically relevant improvement compared to its predecessor.