Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Question Paraphrases for QA from Encarta Logs

Question paraphrasing is critical in many Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications, especially for question reformulation in question answering (QA). However, choosing an appropriate data source and developing effective methods are challenging tasks. In this paper, we propose a method that exploits Encarta logs to automatically identify question paraphrases and extract templates. Questions from Encarta logs are partitioned into small clusters, within which a perceptron classier is used for identifying question paraphrases. Experiments are conducted and the results have shown: (1) Encarta log data is an eligible data source for question paraphrasing and the user clicks in the data are indicative clues for recognizing paraphrases; (2) the supervised method we present is effective, which can evidently outperform the unsupervised method. Besides, the features introduced to identify paraphrases are sound; (3) the obtained question paraphrase templates are quite effective in question reformulation, enhancing the MRR from 0.2761 to 0.4939 with the questions of TREC QA 2003.
Sic Transit Gloria Manuscriptum: Two Views of the Aggregate Fate of Ancient Papers

When PageRank began to be used for ranking in Web search, a concern soon arose that older pages have an inherent --- and potentially unfair --- advantage over emerging pages of high quality, because they have had more time to acquire hyperlink citations. Algorithms were then proposed to compensate for this effect. Curiously, in bibliometry, the opposite concern has often been raised: that a growing body of recent papers crowds out older papers, resulting in a collective amnesia in research communities, which potentially leads to reinventions, redundancies, and missed opportunities to connect ideas. A recent paper by Verstak et al. reported experiments on Google Scholar data, which seemed to refute the amnesia, or aging, hypothesis. They claimed that more recently written papers have a larger fraction of outbound citations targeting papers that are older by a fixed number of years, indicating that ancient papers are alive and well-loved and increasingly easily found, thanks in part to Google Scholar. In this paper we show that the full picture is considerably more nuanced. Specifically, the fate of a fixed sample of papers, as they age, is rather different from what Verstak et al.'s study suggests: there is clear and steady abandonment in favor of citations to newer papers. The two apparently contradictory views are reconciled by the realization that, as time passes, the number of papers older than a fixed number of years grows rapidly.
Rosuvastatin does not affect human apolipoprotein A‐I expression in genetically modified mice: a clue to the disputed effect of statins on HDL

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Besides a significant reduction of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, statins moderately increase high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. In vitro studies have indicated that this effect may be the result of an increased expression of apolipoprotein (apo)A‐I, the main protein component of HDL. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vivo the effect of rosuvastatin on apoA‐I expression and secretion in a transgenic mouse model for human apoA‐I.
Surgical Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease of skin, characterized by recurrent draining sinuses and abscesses, predominantly in skin folds carrying terminal hairs and apocrine glands. Method: This study reviewed 54 sites in 27 patients with moderate to extensive chronic inflammatory skin lesions treated surgically in our hospital from 2004 through 2009, with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Result: A total number of 54 operative procedures were performed during the study period with 42% (23 sites) involving the axilla, 20% (11 sites) involving the gluteal area, %24 (13 sites) involving the perineal area and 12% (7 sites) involving the inguinal region. Conclusion: Conservative treatment methods have little or no effects especially on gluteal, perineal/perianal, axillary hidradenitis suppurativa. The morbidity associated with the established form of this disease is significant, and the only successful treatment is wide surgical excision.
Trichothecene and beauvericin mycotoxin production and genetic variability in Fusarium poae isolated from wheat kernels from northern Italy

The importance and widespread incidence of Fusarium poae as a natural contaminant of wheat in different climatic areas warrants investigation into the genetic diversity and toxin profile of a northern Italy population. Eighty-one strains of F. poae isolated from durum wheat kernels, identified by species-specific polymerase chain reaction and translation elongation factor-1α gene sequence analysis, were genetically characterized by the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique and analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography for their ability to produce the beauvericin (BEA) and trichothecene mycotoxins. A high level of variability was observed by using AFLP analyses, with the lowest level of genetic similarity among the strains being approximately 61%. Most of the strains, 95%, produced BEA at <2655 µg g−1; 88% produced the trichothecene nivalenol at <865 µg g−1 and 76% produced the trichothecene fusarenon-X at <167 µg g−1. These data show that F. poae can produce high amounts of BEA together with trichothecenes, and can represent a high potential mycotoxin risk in Italy for wheat colonized by this species.
Finite wavelength cloaking by plasmonic resonance

We consider cloaking by a coated cylindrical system using plasmonic resonance, and extend previous quasistatic treatments to include the effect of finite wavelength. We show that a probe cylinder can still be cloaked at finite wavelengths, but the cloaking cylinder develops a nonzero scattering cross section. We show that this latter effect is dominated by a monopole term in the case of an ideal (lossless) cloaking material, and by a dipole term in the case of a realistic (lossy) material. It can be reduced but not eliminated by variations of geometric or dielectric parameters of the cloaking cylinder.
Battlefield conditions: Different environment but the same duty of care

Using an interpretative research approach to ethical and legal literature, it is argued that nursing in the battlefield is distinctly different to civilian nursing, even in an emergency, and that the environment is so different that a duty of care owed by military nurses to wounded soldiers should not apply. Such distinct differences in wartime can override normal peacetime professional ethics to the extent that the duty of care owed by military nurses to their patients on the battlefield should not exist. It is also argued that as military nurses have legal and professional obligations to care for wounded soldiers on the battlefield, this obligation conflicts with following military orders, causing a dual loyalty conflict. This is because soldiers are part of the ‘fighting force’ and must be fit to fight and win the battle. This makes them more of a commodity rather than individual persons with distinct health care needs.
Mildronate, a Regulator of Energy Metabolism, Reduces Atherosclerosis in apoE/LDLR–/– Mice

Background/Aims: Mildronate, an inhibitor of L-carnitine biosynthesis and transport, is used in clinics as a modulator of cellular energy metabolism and is a cardioprotective drug. L-Carnitine is a pivotal molecule in fatty acid oxidation pathways and its regulation in vasculature might be a promising approach for antiatherosclerotic treatment. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of mildronate treatment on the progression of atherosclerosis and the content of L-carnitine in the vascular wall. Methods: ApoE/LDLR–/– mice received mildronate at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg for 4 months. Lipid profile was measured in plasma and atherosclerotic lesions were analyzed in whole aorta and aortic sinus. L-Carnitine concentration was assessed in rat aortic tissues after 2 weeks of treatment with mildronate at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Results: The chronic treatment with mildronate at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the size of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic roots and in the whole aorta, and slightly decreased the free cholesterol level. In addition, mildronate treatment decreased L-carnitine concentration in rat aortic tissues. Conclusions: Long-term mildronate treatment decreases L-carnitine content in aortic tissues and attenuates the development of atherosclerosis in apoE/LDLR–/– mice.
AKT and GSK-3 Are Necessary for Direct Ezrin Binding to NHE3 as Part of a C-terminal Stimulatory Complex

Background: Phosphoinositides and ezrin form a complex with NHE3, which stimulates basal transport activity. How this complex is regulated is unknown. Results: GSK-3 and Akt stimulate NHE3 activity by changing ezrin binding. Conclusion: Sequential effects of two kinase regulate the association of NHE3 with ezrin to affect basal activity. Significance: A novel Ser cluster in the NHE3 C-terminal domain regulates its ezrin binding. Basal activity of the BB Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 requires multiprotein complexes that form on its C terminus. One complex stimulates basal NHE3 activity and contains ezrin and phosphoinositides as major components; how it stimulates NHE3 activity is not known. This study tested the hypothesis that ezrin dynamically associates with this complex, which sets ezrin binding. NHE3 activity was reduced by an Akti. This effect was eliminated if ezrin binding to NHE3 was inhibited by a point mutant. Recombinant AKT phosphorylated NHE3 C terminus in the domain ezrin directly binds. This domain (amino acids 475–589) is predicted to be α-helical and contains a conserved cluster of three serines (Ser515, Ser522, and Ser526). Point mutations of two of these (S515A, S515D, or S526A) reduced basal NHE3 activity and surface expression and had no Akti inhibition. S526D had NHE3 activity equal to wild type with normal Akti inhibition. Ezrin binding to NHE3 was regulated by Akt, being eliminated by Akti. NHE3-S515A and -S526D did not bind ezrin; NHE3-S515D had reduced ezrin binding; NHE3-S526D bound ezrin normally. NHE3-Ser526 is predicted to be a GSK-3 kinase phosphorylation site. A GSK-3 inhibitor reduced basal NHE3 activity as well as ezrin-NHE3 binding, and this effect was eliminated in NHE3-S526A and -S526D mutants. The conclusions were: 1) NHE3 basal activity is regulated by a signaling complex that is controlled by sequential effects of two kinases, Akt and GSK-3, which act on a Ser cluster in the same NHE3 C-terminal domain that binds ezrin; and 2) these kinases regulate the dynamic association of ezrin with NHE3 to affect basal NHE3 activity.
Binary consensus with Gaussian communication noise: A probabilistic approach

In this paper we consider the impact of Gaussian communication noise on a network that is trying to reach consensus on the occurrence of an event. We take a probabilistic approach and formulate the consensus problem using Markov chains. We show that the steady state behavior in the presence of any amount of non-zero communication noise is unfavorable as the network loses the memory of the initial state. However, we show that the network can still reach and stay in accurate consensus for a long period of time. In order to characterize this, we derive a close approximation for the second largest eigenvalue of the network and show how it is related to the size of the network and communication noise variance.
Opportunity Analysis for Enterprise Collaboration between Networks of SMEs

The competitive environment within the corporate have forced the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be more dynamic in adapting new business strategies. To achieve this objective, SME s resort to enterprise collaboration to ooze out more business opportuniti es. Eventually, this culminates into a need for more useful enterprise c ollaboration to develop the integrated products. This aspect has ac celerated the SMEs to adopt high level mechanism to move on from simple analysis to deep learning in order to realize more profit. This stud y is focused towards investigation of exploiting the Big Data capabiliti es to find out the potential opportunity lurking in the versatile natu re of ever increasing organizational data. We have highlighted the issues of interoperability in the paradigm of avalanche of data, the analysis of potential opportunity as a result of enterprise collaboration leading to an added value. The analysis have been collected at surface level and t hen integrated into deep learning. The outcome of the study is business assets wherein the ontological modelling has been used at intermediate level.
Multi-Operational Machining Processes Modeling for Sequential Root Cause Identification and Measurement Reduction

Variation propagation modeling has been proved to be an effective way for variation reduction and design synthesis in multi-operational manufacturing processes (MMP). However, previously developed approaches for machining processes did not directly model the process physics regarding how fixture, and datum, and machine tool errors generate the same pattern on part features. Consequently, it is difficult to distinguish error sources at each operation. This paper formulates the variation propagation model using the proposed equivalent fixture error (EFE) concept. With this concept, datum error and machine tool error are transformed to equivalent fixture locator errors at each operation. As a result, error sources can be grouped and root cause identification can be conducted in a sequential manner. The case studies demonstrate the model validity through a real cutting experiment and model advantage in measurement reduction for root cause identification. © 2004 ASME
Transmembrane Amyloid-Related Proteins in CSF as Potential Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease

In the continuing search for new cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reasonable candidates are the secretase enzymes involved in the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), as well as the large proteolytic cleavage fragments sAPPα and sAPPβ. The enzymatic activities of some of these secretases, such as BACE1 and TACE, have been investigated as potential AD biomarkers, and it has been assumed that these activities present in human CSF result from the soluble truncated forms of the membrane-bound enzymes. However, we and others recently identified soluble forms of BACE1 and APP in CSF containing the intracellular domains, as well as the multi-pass transmembrane presenilin-1 (PS1) and other subunits of γ-secretase. We also review recent findings that suggest that most of these soluble transmembrane proteins could display self-association properties based on hydrophobic and/or ionic interactions leading to the formation of heteromeric complexes. The oligomerization state of these potential new biomarkers needs to be taken into consideration for assessing their real potential as CSF biomarkers for AD by adequate molecular tools.
Developing consensus on important factors associated with lower limb prosthetic prescription and use

Purpose: There is an ongoing concern in lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation with underuse and nonuse of prosthetic technology. The aim of this study was to gather expert opinion on the most important outcomes, predictors and facilitators of lower limb prosthetic prescription and use, with a long-term goal of improving satisfaction with prosthetic technology. Method: An electronic Delphi study was conducted using an expert panel of 21 service providers and users and was undertaken over three iterations. Results: The process resulted in the identification of 13 outcomes, 19 predictor and 34 facilitator factors. Conclusions: Psychosocial factors related to service provision and prosthetic use have not been widely recognized or incorporated into clinical practice. We highlight the need for creating standardized measures that incorporate psychosocial factors and that can contribute to a broadly applicable evidence base for optimal prosthetic prescription. Implications for Rehabilitation A key component of the rehabilitation process of persons with lower limb amputation is the prescription of a prosthesis. Nonuse and underuse of prosthetic technology is of increasing concern. This research aims to improve the quality of life for people with lower limb amputation by developing consensus on important outcomes, predictors and facilitators of lower limb prosthetic prescription and use. These findings emphasize the importance of psychological and social factors when considering prosthetic prescription and use and are an important step in informing the tailoring and evaluation of interventions to facilitate the use of a prosthesis, the delivery of services and appropriate outcome measurement.
Inhibition of UDP‐Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) Isoforms by Arctiin and Arctigenin

Arctiin is the major pharmacological ingredient of Fructus Arctii, and arctigenin is the metabolite of arctiin formed via the catalysis of human intestinal bacteria. The present study aims to investigate the inhibition profile of arctiin and arctigenin on important phase II drug‐metabolizing enzymes UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), indicating the possible herb–drug interaction. In vitro screening experiment showed that 100 μM of arctiin and arctigenin inhibited the activity of UGT1A3, 1A9, 2B7, and 2B15. Homology modeling‐based in silico docking of arctiin and arctigenin into the activity cavity of UGT2B15 showed that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions contributed to the strong binding free energy of arctiin (−8.14 kcal/mol) and arctigenin (−8.43 kcal/mol) with UGT2B15. Inhibition kinetics study showed that arctiin and arctigenin exerted competitive and noncompetitive inhibition toward UGT2B15, respectively. The inhibition kinetic parameters (Ki) were calculated to be 16.0 and 76.7 μM for the inhibition of UGT2B15 by arctiin and arctigenin, respectively. Based on the plasma concentration of arctiin and arctigenin after administration of 100 mg/kg of arctiin, the [I]/Ki values were calculated to be 0.3 and 0.007 for arctiin and arctigenin, respectively. Based on the inhibition evaluation standard ([I]/Ki < 0.1, low possibility; 0.1 < [I]/Ki < 1, medium possibility; [I]/Ki > 1, high possibility), arctiin might induce drug–drug interaction with medium possibility. Based on these results, clinical monitoring the utilization of Fructus Arctii is very important and necessary. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving the multifunctional behaviour of structural supercapacitors by incorporating chemically activated carbon fibres and mesoporous silica particles as reinforcement

Novel structural supercapacitors have been fabricated which can simultaneously carry mechanical loads as well as store electrochemical energy. Structural supercapacitors are fabricated by impregnating activated carbon fibre mat electrodes and glass fibre mat separator with crosslinked polymer electrolytes using the resin infusion under flexible tooling method. Mesoporous silica particles are also used as reinforcements to further improve the electrochemical and mechanical performance of structural supercapacitors. The fabricated structural supercapacitors have been characterised through chronoamperometry method and impedance spectroscopy to evaluate the electrochemical performance and in-plane shear properties to evaluate the mechanical performance. A multifunctional structural supercapacitor, exhibiting simultaneously a power density of 34 W kg−1, an energy density of 0.12 Wh kg−1 and a shear modulus of 1.75 GPa, has been fabricated.
Comparing two haptic interfaces for multimodal graph rendering

This paper describes the evaluation of two multimodal interfaces designed to provide visually impaired people with access to various types of graphs. The interfaces consist of audio and haptics which is rendered on commercially available force feedback devices. This study compares the usability of two force feedback devices: the SensAble PHANToM and the Logitech WingMan force feedback mouse in representing graphical data. The type of graph used in the experiment is the bar chart under two experimental conditions: single mode and multimodal. The results show that PHANToM provides better performance in the haptic only condition. However, no significant difference has been found between the two devices in the multimodal condition. This has confirmed the advantages of using multimodal approach in our research and that low-cost haptic devices can be successful. This paper introduces our evaluation approach and discusses the findings of the experiment.
Sialolithiasis of the Submandibular Gland

Sialolithiasis of the salivary gland is a benign pathology that occurs most frequently in the submandibular gland because of its anatomic features. Depending on the sialolith size and calcification degree, it can be visible in radiographic examinations. Commonly, patients may experience pain and/or edema, when the ducts are obstructed. The authors report the case of sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland in a 42-year-old, female, white-skinned patient, noticed during routine dental examination. Following diagnosis confirmed by clinical and radiographic examinations, the treatment plan consisted of surgery for removal of the calcified mass. The prognosis is often good, and generally there is no recurrence.
First-born siblings show better second language skills than later born siblings

We examined the extent to which three sibling structure variables number of siblings, birth order, and presence of an older sibling at school age are linked to the second language skills of bilingual children. The research questions were tested using an ethnically heterogeneous sample of 1209 bilingual children with German as a second language. Controlling for children’s age, sex, nationality, number of children’s books at home, family language and parental German language skills, hierarchical regression analyses showed an inverse relationship between the number of siblings and second language skills: the more siblings a child had, the lower was his/her second language proficiency. This relationship was mediated by attendance in early education institutions. Moreover, first-born siblings showed better second language skills than later born siblings. The current study revealed that the resource dilution model, i.e., the decrease in resources for every additional sibling, holds for second language acquisition. Moreover, the results indicate that bilingual children from families with several children benefit from access to early education institutions.
Activity of Rho-family GTPases during cell division as visualized with FRET-based probes

Rho-family GTPases regulate many cellular functions. To visualize the activity of Rho-family GTPases in living cells, we developed fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)–based probes for Rac1 and Cdc42 previously (Itoh, R.E., K. Kurokawa, Y. Ohba, H. Yoshizaki, N. Mochizuki, and M. Matsuda. 2002. Mol. Cell. Biol. 22:6582–6591). Here, we added two types of probes for RhoA. One is to monitor the activity balance between guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GTPase-activating proteins, and another is to monitor the level of GTP-RhoA. Using these FRET probes, we imaged the activities of Rho-family GTPases during the cell division of HeLa cells. The activities of RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 were high at the plasma membrane in interphase, and decreased rapidly on entry into M phase. From after anaphase, the RhoA activity increased at the plasma membrane including cleavage furrow. Rac1 activity was suppressed at the spindle midzone and increased at the plasma membrane of polar sides after telophase. Cdc42 activity was suppressed at the plasma membrane and was high at the intracellular membrane compartments during cytokinesis. In conclusion, we could use the FRET-based probes to visualize the complex spatio-temporal regulation of Rho-family GTPases during cell division.