Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Automated Text Simplification

Text simplification modifies syntax and lexicon to improve the understandability of language for an end user. This survey identifies and classifies simplification research within the period 1998-2013. Simplification can be used for many applications, including: Second language learners, preprocessing in pipelines and assistive technology. There are many approaches to the simplification task, including: lexical, syntactic, statistical machine translation and hybrid techniques. This survey also explores the current challenges which this field faces. Text simplification is a non-trivial task which is rapidly growing into its own field. This survey gives an overview of contemporary research whilst taking into account the history that has brought text simplification to its current state.
Neuroprotective effects of carnosic acid on neuronal cells under ischemic and hypoxic stress

Abstract Ischemia/hypoxia induces oxidative stress which is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The present study investigated protective mechanism of carnosic acid (CA) on ischemia/reperfusion and hypoxia-induced neuronal cell injury. The results showed that CA reduced 52% of the infarct volume from brains under ischemia/reperfusion in vivo and protected the PC12 cells from hypoxic injury in vitro. CA (1.0 µM) enhanced cell viability, prevented lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release, scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased superoxide dismutase activity, and attenuated Ca2+ release, lipid peroxidation, and prostaglandin E2 production in hypoxic PC12 cells. In addition, CA also reduced nitric oxide (NO) and interleukine (IL)-1 and IL-6 production from activated BV-2 microglia. Furthermore, its effect on hypoxia-induced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway and caspase-3 was examined. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases, c-jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK were activated during hypoxia. CA inhibited MAPKs, caspase-3, and COX-2 activation and correlated well with the diminished LDH release and apoptosis (TUNEL) in PC12 cells under hypoxia. Taken together, CA protected neuronal cells under ischemia/hypoxia through scavenging or reducing of ROS and NO, inhibiting COX-2 and MAPK pathways by anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Acute wound healing in the human central corneal epithelium appears to be independent of limbal stem cell influence.

PURPOSE In the adult cornea, epithelial cells are maintained by limbal stem cells (LSCs) that cycle slowly and give rise to transient amplifying (TA) cells. These migrate centripetally, differentiate outward to the surface, and are then lost by desquamation. This study was conducted to analyze the contribution of human central corneal epithelial cells toward corneal epithelial regeneration. METHODS A human corneal organotypic culture model was used to assess corneal healing in vitro in 12 matched cornea pairs. Two types of ablation were studied: (1) A ring-shaped, transepithelial, excimer laser (193 nm) ablation, of 7 mm outer diameter and 3 mm inner diameter, to a depth of 80 mum-sparing the central and peripheral corneal epithelium; and (2) an ablation pattern identical to that in (1) with ablation of the limbal epithelium in addition. Corneal healing was followed using time-lapse dark-field microscopy for up to 12 hours, and the corneas were analyzed by using immunohistochemical markers for cell proliferation and stem cells. RESULTS In the donut model, corneal epithelial repair originated from both the limbus and the central corneal epithelium with the average rate of epithelial recovery from the center being similar to the rate from the periphery (0.06 +/- 0.01 mm/h vs. 0.07 +/- 0.03 mm/h, P = 0.44). When the area of recovery was calculated relative to original edge circumferences, the central epithelial rate tended to be faster than the peripheral (0.06 +/- 0.02 mm(2)/mm/h vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01 mm(2)/mm/h, P = 0.04). Similar rates in epithelial recovery were identified in centripetal and centrifugal directions in both the donut and donut+limbus ablation models. Central epithelial cell density increased 36% over the control cornea within 12 hours after surgery, but there was no change at the periphery. Cell proliferation, assessed using Ki67 and BrdU labeling, was observed across the entire cornea. Expression of the putative stem cell markers p63 and ABCG2 was clearly evident in the basal layer of the limbus. However, weaker labeling was also observed in the central epithelium. Connexin 43 (Cx43), a differentiation marker, was mainly absent in the normal untreated limbal basal cells, but more Cx43-positive cells were labeled in the basal layer of the limbus after wounding. CONCLUSIONS After wounding, the capacity for epithelial cell proliferative and migration appears to be as active in the central cornea as in the periphery/limbus. Central and peripheral epithelial recovery remains equal even after ablation of the limbus. Central human corneal epithelial cells are therefore capable of corneal epithelial regeneration, at least in the first 12 hours after wounding.
Deep Integration and Trade-Productivity Links: Tentative Lessons for CGE International Trade Models

Currently, single- and multi-country models do not, and cannot, Incorporate any of the elements of deep integration that recent research at the micro level indicates might underlie potential trade-productivity links. Such links are incorporated in a very ad hoc fashion, if at all, in current CGE models. This paper will discuss limitations of existing models, including implementation of the Armington approach, and briefly discuss possible new approaches to modeling trade-productivity links. This paper would also survey recent econometric work at the USDA/ERS estimating the relationship between agricultural value added and a lot of variables that capture agricultural policy, as well as general institutional and infrastructure characteristics of different economies. This work allows us to explore trade-productivity links in agriculture, with possible lessons for incorporating such links in CGE models.
Energy-aware keyword search on mobile phones

With the explosive growth of communication technologies, modern mobile phones become more powerful than ever. Unfortunately, the battery lifetime of mobile phones is still limited, and energy awareness is a priority of designing applications on mobile phones. To demonstrate the energy awareness on mobile phones, we propose a new approach for full-text keyword searches to retrieve content matching input keywords. The proposed approach generalizes the two solutions that answer the keyword searches either (i) locally by mobile phones themselves or (ii) remotely by power servers when the keywords are offloaded to such servers. Instead, for low energy, we propose to split the keywords in a search into two subsets, such that one subset is processed by the mobile phone and another by the remote server. Our preliminary experiment results indicate the hybrid approach can save the most energy for the keyword searches than the local and remote approaches. In our example tests, energy of the hybrid approach saves 75% and 47% of energy when compared to local execution and complete offloading approaches, respectively.
Structural Characteristics and Thermal Properties of Native Cellulose

In 1838 the French chemist Anselme Payen discovered and isolated cellulose from green plants [1-2]. After more than 170 years of the discovery of the “sugar of the plant cell wall”, consumers, industry and government are increasingly demanding products from renewable and sustainable resources that are biodegradable, non-petroleum based, carbon neutral and at the same time generating low environmental, animal/human health and safety risks [3]. Therefore, cellulose is one of the most abundant material on earth and the most common organic polymer, representing about 1.5 x 1012 tons of the annual biomass production [1,3]. Cellulose is considered an almost inexhaustible source of raw material for the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and biocompatible products. Therefore, wood remains one of the most important raw material source for obtaining cellulose, but other sources can be used as well. Natural cellulose-based materials (wood, hemp, cotton, sisal, ramie, etc.) have been used as engineering materials for thousands of years and their use currently continues as demonstrated by the huge number of forest products-based worldwide industries, such as paper, textiles, etc. Such cellulose derivatives produced on an industrial scale are used for coatings, laminates, optical films and sorption media, as well as for property-determining additives in building materials, composites and nanocomposites, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and cosmetics [2-3]. As a consequence, several reviews and scientific papers have been published on cellulose research in the last two decades [2-4].
Working Paper Series No . 73-2014 Aid and Taxation : Evidence from Ethiopia

The relation between aid and tax has been largely debated in the literature, given its far-reaching consequences: the presence of a crowding-out effect of aid on domestic revenue would seriously impair the sustainability of the development process. This paper explores this relation by adopting a case-study approach, which overcomes some of the common limits of the cross-country literature. I use time series data for Ethiopia for 1960-2009, a longer time series than most country studies of this kind. The estimation is based on an error correction model that allows separating long-run equilibrium relations and short-run dynamics. The analysis shows that both foreign grants and loans have a positive relation with tax revenue in Ethiopia. This effect seems to be robust to endogeneity and to structural breaks, although clearly establishing causality remains a challenge. The results show that aid has a beneficial effect on tax revenue, which may be due to its role in supporting fiscal reforms and improvements in tax administration.
A Survey on Shape Correspondence

We review methods designed to compute correspondences between geometric shapes represented by triangle meshes, contours or point sets. This survey is motivated in part by recent developments in space–time registration, where one seeks a correspondence between non‐rigid and time‐varying surfaces, and semantic shape analysis, which underlines a recent trend to incorporate shape understanding into the analysis pipeline. Establishing a meaningful correspondence between shapes is often difficult because it generally requires an understanding of the structure of the shapes at both the local and global levels, and sometimes the functionality of the shape parts as well. Despite its inherent complexity, shape correspondence is a recurrent problem and an essential component of numerous geometry processing applications. In this survey, we discuss the different forms of the correspondence problem and review the main solution methods, aided by several classification criteria arising from the problem definition. The main categories of classification are defined in terms of the input and output representation, objective function and solution approach. We conclude the survey by discussing open problems and future perspectives.
Increased diffusion capacity maintains arterial saturation during exercise in the Quechua Indians of Chilean Altiplano

The majority of Quechua Indians of the Altiplano of Northern Chile spend their lives between 3,500 and 4,500 meters, while some work as miners at much higher altitudes. In order to gain insight into the factors of O2 transfer in the lung that permit them to live and work in this hypoxic environment, we studied 20 male Quechuas (26.2 ± 1.1 years) of Ollaque, Chile, at 3,900 meters (barometric pressure = 490 torr). Resting pulmonary function and hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) tests were done. Progressive exercise to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer was performed, and measurements of ventilation (VE, l/min, BTPS) oxygen consumption (VO2, STPD), heart rate (bpm), steady‐state diffusion capacity (DLCO, cc/m/torr), and hemoglobin (Hgb, gm/dl) were made. Vital capacities were 5.1 ± 0.1 1 (BTPS) while DLCO's were 36.9 ± 2.6 cc/m/torr. Hemoglobin values were 18.3 ± 0.4 gm/dl. Isocapnic HVR's were −0.17 ± 0.05 (VE l/min/BTPS/SaO2, %). During steady‐state exercise at 600 kpm/min subjects reached a VO2 of 1.7 ± 0.1 l/min, a ventilatory equivalent (VE/VO2) of 33.2 ± 1.02, a DLCO of 71.2 ± 4.5 cc/m/torr with heart rates of 169.6 ± 6.8 bpm, and an SaO2 of 84.74 ± 2.8%. At maximum exercise there was no subsequent arterial oxygen desaturation (SaO2 = 87.0 ± 1.0%) while VE/VO2's were increased to 44.5 ± 3.4 with a VO2 of 2.3 ± 0.3 l/min or 43.8 ± 9.5 cc/kg/min. The ventilatory responses are similar to those of lowlanders exposed to comparable hypoxia during exercise (Schoene et al., Fed. Proc. 42: 978, 1983) but the DLCOs are significantly higher. We conclude that high‐altitude natives of the Andes maintain arterial oxygen saturation during exercise because of an increased diffusion capacity for oxygen at the lung.
ExpI and PhzI Are Descendants of the Long Lost Cognate Signal Synthase for SdiA

SdiA of E. coli and Salmonella is a LuxR homolog that detects N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). Most LuxR homologs function together with a cognate AHL synthase (a LuxI homolog), but SdiA does not. Instead, SdiA detects AHLs produced by other bacterial species. In this report, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of SdiA. The results suggest that one branch of the Enterobacteriaceae obtained a rhlR/rhlI pair by horizontal transfer. The Erwinia and Pantoea branches still contain the complete pair where it is known as expR/expI and phzR/phzI, respectively. A deletion event removed the luxI homolog from the remainder of the group, leaving just the luxR homolog known as sdiA. Thus ExpR and PhzR are SdiA orthologs and ExpI and PhzI are descendants of the long lost cognate signal synthase of SdiA.
Modelling of sensory and instrumental texture parameters in processed cheese by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

This study investigated the application of near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy to the measurement of texture (sensory and instrumental) in experimental processed cheese samples. Spectra (750 to 2498 nm) of cheeses were recorded after 2 and 4 weeks storage at 4 °C. Trained assessors evaluated 9 sensory properties, a texture profile analyser (TPA) was used to record 5 instrumental parameters and cheese ‘meltability’ was measured by computer vision. Predictive models for sensory and instrumental texture parameters were developed using partial least squares regression on raw or pre-treated spectral data. Sensory attributes and instrumental texture measurements were modelled with sufficient accuracy to recommend the use of NIR reflectance spectroscopy for routine quality assessment of processed cheese.
Google Econometrics and Unemployment Forecasting

The current economic crisis requires fast information to predict economic behavior early, which is difficult at times of structural changes. This paper suggests an innovative new method of using data on internet activity for that purpose. It demonstrates strong correlations between keyword searches and unemployment rates using monthly German data and exhibits a strong potential for the method used.
Visible light communications: Application to cooperation between vehicles and road infrastructures

The last couple of years, the vehicle industry tends to increase the performance of lights based on led technologies. Nowadays, led systems are used as a standard by motor vehicles manufacturers. Led lights present higher reliability and are more flexible regarding design or power adjustments. Furthermore, led systems are also very convenient for intensity modulation used in telecommunication fields. We developed a very simple data transmission system based on led lights which is highly robust for short or medium distances ± from a few meters up to 15 meters. This visible light communication is dedicated to the cooperation between vehicles and road infrastructures to enhance traffic security. This paper explains the choices and first results on the data transmission performances. In this paper, we present a first prototype of our system and experimental results.
Integration Host Factor and Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Are Required for TyrR-Mediated Activation of tpl inCitrobacter freundii

ABSTRACT The tpl gene of Citrobacter freundiiencodes an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion ofl-tyrosine to phenol, pyruvate, and ammonia. This gene is known to be positively regulated by TyrR. The amplitude of regulation attributable to this transcription factor is at least 20-fold. Three TyrR binding sites, designated boxes A, B, and C, centered at coordinates −272.5, −158.5, and −49.5, respectively, were identified in the upstream region of the tpl promoter. The results of mutational experiments suggest that TyrR binds in cooperative fashion to these sites. The nonavailability of any TyrR site impairs transcription. Full TyrR-mediated activation of tplrequired integration host factor (IHF) and the cAMP receptor protein (CRP). By DNase I footprinting, it was shown that the IHF binding site is centered at coordinate −85 and that there are CRP binding sites centered at coordinates −220 and −250. Mutational alteration of the IHF binding site reduced the efficiency of the tpl promoter by at least eightfold. The proposed roles of CRP and IHF are to introduce bends into tpl promoter DNA between boxes A and B or B and C. Multimeric TyrR dimers were demonstrated by a chemical cross-linking method. The formation of hexameric TyrR increased whentpl DNA was present. The participation of both IHF and CRP in the activation of the tpl promoter suggests that molecular mechanisms quite different from those that affect other TyrR-activated promoters apply to this system. A model wherein TyrR, IHF, and CRP collaborate to regulate the expression of thetpl promoter is presented.
Comparison of Volatile Oil between the Fruits of Amomum villosum Lour. and Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen Based on GC-MS and Chemometric Techniques

Fructus Amomi (FA) is usually regarded as the dried ripe fruit of Amomum villosum Lour. (FAL) or Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen (FALX.). However, FAL, which always has a much higher price because of its better quality, is often confused with FALX. in the market. As volatile oil is the main constituent of FA, a strategy combining gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemometric approaches was applied to compare the chemical composition of FAL and FALX. The results showed that the oil yield of FAL was significantly higher than that of FALX. Total ion chromatography (TIC) showed that cis-nerolidol existed only in FALX. Bornyl acetate and camphor can be considered the most important volatile components in FAL and FALX. , respectively. Moreover, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) successfully distinguished the chemical constituents of the volatile oils in FAL and FALX. Additionally, bornyl acetate, α-cadinol, linalool, β-myrcene, camphor, d-limonene, terpinolene and borneol were selected as the potential markers for discriminating FAL and FALX. by partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). In conclusion, this present study has developed a scientific approach to separate FAL and FALX. based on volatile oils, by GC-MS combined with chemometric techniques.
Collaborating for Change: How an Urban School District and a Community-Based Organization Support and Sustain School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Background Research suggests that schools’ capacity to successfully implement and sustain reform programs may rest, in part, with district-level facilitation. The importance of district leadership has been established for a variety of educational reforms, including school, family, and community partnerships. However, few studies have been conducted to understand how successful district leaders implement and sustain school, family, and community partnerships as an educational reform. Focus of Study This case study seeks to fill this gap. It describes leadership strategies employed by the office of parent involvement in an urban school district in the United States. More specifically, this article focuses on the collaborative relationship between the office of parent involvement and a community-based parent involvement organization (CPIO). Research Design The study employed a multiple case study design, which included interviews with district, school, and parent leaders; observations of workshops, meetings, presentations, and other work-related activities of key district-level respondents; document collection and review; and school site visits. Findings Analyses suggest that the collaboration between the district's office of parent involvement and the CPIO has helped to support and sustain school, family, and community partnerships as a reform initiative for nearly a decade. The relationship has resulted in (1) complementary parent leadership training for school-based partnership teams, (2) joint planning and implementation of districtwide partnership activities, and (3) community advocacy for district partnership personnel and resources.
Effects of multi-modal guidance for the acquisition of sight reading skills: A case study with simple drum sequences

We introduce a learning system for the sight reading skill of simple drum sequences. Sight reading is a cognitive-motor skill that requires reading of music symbols and actions of multiple limbs for playing the music. The system provides knowledge of results (KR) pertaining to the learner's performance by color-coding music symbols, and guides the learner by indicating the corresponding action for a given music symbol using additional auditory or vibrotactile cues. To evaluate the effects of KR and guidance cues, three learning methods were experimentally compared: KR only, KR with auditory cues, and KR with vibrotactile cues. The task was to play random 16-note-long drum sequence displayed on a screen. Thirty university students learned the task using one of the learning methods in a between-subjects design. The experimental results did not show statistically significant differences between the methods in terms of task accuracy and completion time. This suggests that KR can be dominant for learning the task and the role of guidance cues can be subsidiary.