Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ZAC.PB: An Annotated Corpus for Zero Anaphora Resolution in Portuguese

This paper describes the methodology adopted in the construction of an annotated corpus for the study of zero anaphora in Portuguese, the ZAC corpus. To our knowledge, no such corpus exists at this time for the Portuguese language. The purpose of this linguistic resource is to promote the use of automatic discovery of linguistic parameters for anaphora resolution systems. Because of the complexity of the linguistic phenomena involved, a detailed description of the different situations is provided. This paper will only focus on the annotation of subject zero anaphors. The main issues regarding zero anaphora in Portuguese are: indefinite subjects, either without verbal agreement marks or with first person plural or third person plural verbal agreement; position of the anaphor relative to its antecedent, i.e. anaphoric and cataphoric relations; coreference chains inside the same sentence and spanning several sentences; and determining the head of the antecedent noun phrase for a given anaphor. Finally, preliminary observations taken from the ZAC corpus are presented.
On the stringy nature of winding modes in noncommutative thermal field theories

We show that thermal non-commutative field theories admit a version of ``channel duality'' reminiscent of open/closed string duality, where non-planar thermal loops can be replaced by an infinite tower of tree-level exchanges of effective fields. These effective fields resemble closed strings in three aspects: their mass spectrum is that of closed-string winding modes, their interaction vertices contain extra moduli, and they can be regarded as propagating in a higher-dimensional ``bulk'' space-time. In non-commutative models that can be embedded in a D-brane, we show the precise relation between the effective ``winding fields'' and closed strings propagating off the D-brane. The winding fields represent the coherent coupling of the infinite tower of closed-string oscillator states. We derive a sum rule that expresses this effective coupling in terms of the elementary couplings of closed strings to the D-brane. We furthermore clarify the relation between the effective propagating dimension of the winding fields and the true codimension of the D-brane.
COPD in Nonsmokers: Reports from the Tunisian Population-Based Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Study

Background It’s currently well known that smoking and increasing age constitute the most important risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, little is known about COPD among nonsmokers. The present study aimed to investigate prevalence, risk factors and the profiles of COPD among nonsmokers based on the Tunisian Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. Methods 807 adults aged 40 years+ were randomly selected from the general population. We collected information about history of respiratory disease, risk factors for COPD and quality of life. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was performed for assessment of COPD. COPD diagnostic was based on the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio, according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. The lower limit of normal (LLN) was determined as an alternative threshold for the FEV1/FVC ratio. Results and Conclusions Among 485 nonsmokers, 4.7% met the criteria for GOLD grade I and higher COPD. These proportions were similar even when the LLN was used as a threshold. None of the nonsmokers with COPD reported a previous doctor diagnosis of COPD compared to 7.1% of smokers. Nonsmokers accounted for 45.1% of the subjects fulfilling the GOLD spirometric criteria of COPD. Nonsmokers were predominately men and reported more asthma problems than obstructed smokers. Among nonsmokers significantly more symptoms and higher co-morbidity were found among those with COPD. Increasing age, male gender, occupational exposure, lower body mass index and a previous diagnosis of asthma are associated with increased risk for COPD in nonsmokers. This study confirms previous evidence that nonsmokers comprise a substantial proportion of individuals with COPD. Nonsmokers with COPD have a specific profile and should, thus, receive far greater attention to prevent and treat chronic airway obstruction.
Comparison and evaluation of advanced motion models for vehicle tracking

The estimation of a vehiclepsilas dynamic state is one of the most fundamental data fusion tasks for intelligent traffic applications. For that, motion models are applied in order to increase the accuracy and robustness of the estimation. This paper surveys numerous (especially curvilinear) models and compares their performance using a tracking tasks which includes the fusion of GPS and odometry data with an Unscented Kalman Filter. For evaluation purposes, a highly accurate reference trajectory has been recorded using an RTK-supported DGPS receiver. With this ground truth data, the performance of the models is evaluated in different scenarios and driving situations.
Radio haloes from simulations and hadronic models – I. The Coma cluster

We use the results from a constrained, cosmological magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the Local Universe to predict the radio halo and the γ-ray flux from the Coma cluster and compare it to current observations. The simulated magnetic field within the Coma cluster is the result of turbulent amplification of the magnetic field during the build-up of the cluster. The magnetic seed field originates from starburst driven, galactic outflows. The synchrotron emission is calculated assuming a hadronic model. We follow four approaches with different distributions for the cosmic ray proton population within galaxy clusters. The radial profile of the radio halo can only be reproduced with a radially increasing energy fraction within the cosmic ray proton population, reaching > 100 per cent of the thermal-energy content at ≈1 Mpc, for example the edge of the radio-emitting region. Additionally, the spectral steepening of the observed radio halo in Coma cannot be reproduced, even when accounting for the negative flux from the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect at high frequencies. Therefore, the hadronic models are disfavoured from the present analysis. The emission of γ-rays expected from our simulated Coma is still below the current observational limits (by a factor of ∼6) but would be detectable by FERMI observations in the near future.
grape-sph chemodynamical simulation of elliptical galaxies — I. Evolution of metallicity gradients

We simulate the formation and chemodynamical evolution of 124 elliptical galaxies using a GRAPE-SPH code that includes various physical processes that are associated with the formation of stellar systems: radiative cooling, star formation, feedback from Type II and Ia supernovae and stellar winds, and chemical enrichment. In our cold dark matter (CDM)-based scenario, galaxies form through the successive merging of subgalaxies with various masses. Their merging histories vary between a major merger at one extreme and a monolithic collapse of a slow-rotating gas cloud at the other extreme. We examine the physical conditions during 151 merging events that occur in our simulation. The basic processes driving the evolution of the metallicity gradients are as follows: (i) destruction by mergers to an extent dependent on the progenitor mass ratio; (ii) regeneration when strong central star formation is induced at a rate dependent on the gas mass of the secondary; and (iii) slow evolution as star formation is induced in the outer regions through late gas accretion. We succeed in reproducing the observed variety of the radial metallicity gradients. The average metallicity gradient Δlog Z/Δlog r ≃ -0.3 with dispersion of ± 0.2 and no correlation between gradient and galaxy mass are consistent with observations of Mg 2 gradients. The variety of the gradients stems from the difference in the merging histories. Galaxies that form monolithically have steeper gradients, while galaxies that undergo major mergers have shallower gradients. Thus merging histories can, in principle, be inferred from the observed metallicity gradients of present-day galaxies. The observed variation in the metallicity gradients cannot be explained either by monolithic collapse or by major merger alone. Rather it requires a model in which both formation processes arise, such as the present CDM scheme.
SISP: a new framework for searching the informative subgraph based on PSO

A significant number of applications on graph require the key relations among a group of query nodes. Given a relational graph such as social network or biochemical interaction, an informative subgraph is urgent, which can best explain the relationships among a group of given query nodes. Based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), a new framework of SISP (Searching the Informative Subgraph based on PSO) is proposed. SISP contains three key stages. In the initialization stage, a random spreading method is proposed, which can effectively guarantee the connectivity of the nodes in each particle; In the calculating stage of fitness, a fitness function is designed by incorporating a sign function with the goodness score; In the update stage, the intersection-based particle extension method and rule-based particle compression method are proposed. To evaluate the qualities of returned subgraphs, the appropriate calculating of goodness score is studied. Considering the importance and relevance of a node together, we present the PNR method, which makes the definition of informativeness more reliable and the returned subgraph more satisfying. At last, we present experiments on a real dataset and a synthetic dataset separately. The experimental results confirm that the proposed methods achieve increased accuracy and are efficient for any query set.
A MAP3k1 SNP Predicts Survival of Gastric Cancer in a Chinese Population

Objectives Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) MAP3K1 rs889312 is a genetic susceptibility marker significantly associated with a risk of hormone-related tumors such as breast cancer. Considering steroid hormone-mediated signaling pathways have an important role in the progression of gastric cancer, we hypothesized that MAP3K1 rs889312 may be associated with survival outcomes in gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis. Methods We genotyped MAP3K1 rs889312 using TaqMan in 884 gastric cancer patients who received subtotal or total gastrectomy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to analyze the association between MAP3K1 rs889312 genotypes and survival outcomes of gastric cancer. Results Our findings reveal that the rs889312 heterozygous AC genotype was significantly associated with an increased rate of mortality among patients with diffuse-type gastric cancer (log-rank P = 0.028 for AC versus AA/CC, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–1.69), compared to those carrying the homozygous variant genotypes (AA/CC). Additionally, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrate that rs889312 polymorphism was an independent risk factor for poor survival in these patients. Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrate that MAP3K1 rs889312 is closely correlated with outcome among diffuse-type gastric cancer. This raises the possibility for rs889312 polymorphisms to be used as an independent indicator for predicting the prognosis of diffuse-type gastric cancer within the Chinese population.
Cost benefit analysis of war

Purpose Among the many perspectives to analyze war, such as rational actor, organizational process, governmental politics and ethics, the perspective that actually incorporates the costs and benefits into a systematic theoretical structure has hardly been analyzed. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the costs and benefits perspective. Design/methodology/approach Three kinds of value are distinguished, i.e. human, economic and influence. Different actors (politicians, populations, stakeholders, etc). assign different weights to the three kinds of value. Six gradually more complicated models are developed. The first subtracts losses from gains for the three kinds of value. Thereafter, the paper accounts for multiple periods, time discounting, attitude towards risk, multiple stakeholders, subcategories for the three kinds of value, sequential decision-making and game theory. Findings The rich theoretical structure enables assessing costs and benefits more systematically and illuminatingly. The cost benefit analysis is illustrated with the 2003-2011 Iraq War. The paper estimates gained and lost value of human lives, economic value and influence value, and show how different weights impact the decision of whether to initiate war differently. Originality/value The paper provides scientists and policy makers with a theoretical structure within which to evaluate the costs and benefits of war, accounting for how different actors estimate weights, the future, risk and a variety of parameter values differently.
Finding the positive in a hostile world: Relationships between aspects of social information processing, prosocial behaviour, and aggressive behaviour, in children with ADHD and disruptive behaviour.

Three studies were conducted to investigate relationships between unique social information processing (SIP) abilities, aggressive behaviour, prosocial behaviour, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In study one a questionnaire containing twenty vignettes comprising a variety of social situations was developed and validated through expert panel review and adult classification. Five categories of social vignette were developed and validated containing situations where peer intention and situation outcome were clearly positive, clearly negative, ambiguous, or mixed (i.e., ambiguous peer intention with negative or positive situational outcome). In study two and three, vignettes were read to 68 children; 21 of which had ADHD and aggression, 18 had ADHD-only, and 29 children were controls. Vignettes were followed by a series of questions assessing the cue encoding, interpretation, and response generation steps of Crick and Dodges, 1994 SIP model. Child responses were coded for positive, negative, or neutral cue detection, peer intention attribution, situational outcome attribution, and response generation. Responses were compared between groups and used to predict specific forms of aggression (i.e., reactive and proactive) and prosocial behaviour (i.e., adult and peer preferred). Results of study two and three showed that groups of children differed in most SIP abilities with children in the ADHD groups typically demonstrating biased processing. Control children tended to detect more positive and neutral cues, attribute less negative and positive intent, focus more on situational outcome, and generate more positive responses compared to either ADHD group. Differences between the ADHD-only and ADHD-aggression groups were mixed, suggesting similarity in information processing in some areas and differences in others. Behaviourally, children with ADHD-aggression demonstrated the least adult and peer preferred prosocial behaviour, followed by the ADHD-only and control groups. Additionally, children that focussed on the intention of peers in the vignettes had associated higher levels of reactive and proactive aggression, and less adult and peer preferred prosocial behaviour. Conversely, an outcome focus was associated with less aggression and more prosocial behaviour. Results of the series of studies support a growing body of research emphasising the relationship between SIP with both the aggression and prosocial spectrums of behaviour. Results also support the need for clear delineation of SIP and behaviour connections that are situation specific.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE NUCLEOLUS DURING MITOSIS IN THE GRASSHOPPER NEUROBLAST CELL

The behavior of the nucleolus during mitosis was studied by electron microscopy in neuroblast cells of the grasshopper embryo, Chortophaga viridifasciata. Living neuroblast cells were observed in the light microscope, and their mitotic stages were identified and recorded. The cells were fixed and embedded; alternate thick and thin sections were made for light and electron microscopy. The interphase nucleolus consists of two fine structural components arranged in separate zones. Concentrations of 150 A granules form a dense peripheral zone, while the central regions are composed of a homogeneous background substance. Observations show that nucleolar dissolution in prophase occurs in two steps with a preliminary loss of the background substance followed by a dispersal of the granules. Nucleolar material reappears at anaphase as small clumps or layers at the chromosome surfaces. These later form into definite bodies, which disappear as the nucleolus grows in telophase. Evidence suggests both a collecting and a synthesizing role for the nucleolus-associated chromatin. The final, mature nucleolar form is produced by a rearrangement of the fine structural components and an increase in their mass.
Selling Consultancy Services: The Portuguese Case in Historical and Comparative Perspective

Reports in the general and specialist press as well as several (semi-)official estimates [e.g. UNCTAD, 1993, EU, 1989-1996], point at a rapid increase in the use of management consultants during the post-war period and especially from the 1960s onwards. The relevant literature suggests several inter-related reasons for this development. A number of authors link the growth in consultancy use with the increasing complexity of markets and technology. Drawing on the resource-based view, they argue that clients employ consultants in order to gain access to external expertise not available within the firm [e.g. Bennett, 1990, p. 35]. Other authors suggest that managers use consultants mainly in order to reduce the high level of uncertainty prevalent in today's economy [Tordoir, 1995]. But there are many motives that extend beyond the realm of economic efficiency. Consultants might be used for legitimisation purposes, for example to transmit the impression of modernity, to signal that "best practices"are being applied, to facilitate the acceptance of "tough decisions" or to break internal deadlock and get things moving [e.g. McLarty and Robinson, 1998].
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Nurses on Surveillance of Adverse Events following Childhood Immunization in Nairobi, Kenya

Background. Although vaccines currently approved for routine childhood immunization are safe and effective, frequent adverse events following immunization often cause illnesses and sometimes loss of public trust in immunization programs. Nurses are essential in this surveillance system. Objective. To determine nurses' knowledge, perception, and practice towards surveillance of postimmunization adverse events within Nairobi County health centers, Kenya. Methods. This is a cross-sectional survey involving nurses (n = 274). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Differences in proportions of categorical variables were compared between groups using chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression model was used to compute independent predictors of outcome. Results. 29.2%, 32.1%, and 45.3% of the respondents had good knowledge, good practices, and good perceptions on AEFI surveillance, respectively. Respondents with diploma or degree nursing training level were 1.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to have good knowledge and good perception in AEFI surveillance, respectively. Nurses with previous AEFI training were 9.7 times and 1.8 times more likely to have good AEFI knowledge and practices, respectively. Conclusion. There is a need to train and mentor nurses on AEFI surveillance. Findings of this study will be valuable in informing policy review on childhood immunization programs.
Septation of Infectious Hyphae Is Critical for Appressoria Formation and Virulence in the Smut Fungus Ustilago Maydis

Differentiation of hyphae into specialized infection structures, known as appressoria, is a common feature of plant pathogenic fungi that penetrate the plant cuticle. Appressorium formation in U. maydis is triggered by environmental signals but the molecular mechanism of this hyphal differentiation is largely unknown. Infectious hyphae grow on the leaf surface by inserting regularly spaced retraction septa at the distal end of the tip cell leaving empty sections of collapsed hyphae behind. Here we show that formation of retraction septa is critical for appressorium formation and virulence in U. maydis. We demonstrate that the diaphanous-related formin Drf1 is necessary for actomyosin ring formation during septation of infectious hyphae. Drf1 acts as an effector of a Cdc42 GTPase signaling module, which also consists of the Cdc42-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor Don1 and the Ste20-like kinase Don3. Deletion of drf1, don1 or don3 abolished formation of retraction septa resulting in reduced virulence. Appressorium formation in these mutants was not completely blocked but infection structures were found only at the tip of short filaments indicating that retraction septa are necessary for appressorium formation in extended infectious hyphae. In addition, appressoria of drf1 mutants penetrated the plant tissue less frequently.
Three dimensional tangible user interface for controlling a robotic team

We describe a new method for controlling a group of robots in three-dimensional (3D) space using a tangible user interface called the 3D Tractus. Our interface maps the task space into an interactive 3D space, allowing a single user to intuitively monitor and control a group of robots. We present the use of the interface in controlling a group of virtual software bots and a physical Sony AIBO robot dog in a simulated Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) environment involving a bomb hidden inside of a building. We also describe a comparative user study we performed where participants were asked to use both the 3D physical interface and a traditional 2D graphical user interface in order to try and demonstrate the benefits and drawbacks of each approach for HRI tasks.
Trait mindfulness at work: A meta-analysis of the personal and professional correlates of trait mindfulness

ABSTRACT Popular and academic press alike have concluded that mindfulness significantly benefits healthy individuals as well as those suffering from physical and psychological problems. Workplace interventions, clinical therapies, and popular self-help programs aimed at enhancing mindfulness abound, and research has demonstrated the efficacy of such mindfulness interventions in enhancing mindful states. It is of importance to note that research also suggests the average frequency with which individuals experience states of mindfulness varies from person to person, underscoring the existence of a dispositional tendency toward mindfulness—trait mindfulness. We meta-analytically cumulate the results of 270 independent studies (N = 58,592 adults from nonclinical samples) of trait mindfulness in order to explore its personal and professional correlates. Results suggest the benefits of trait mindfulness extend to both personal and professional domains. With regards to personal benefits, trait mindfulness was found to be positively correlated with confidence (ρ = .39), mental health (ρ = .38), emotional regulation (ρ = .40), and life satisfaction (ρ = .36), and negatively correlated with perceived life stress (ρ = –.43), negative emotions (ρ = –.40), anxiety (ρ = –.34), and depression (ρ = –.38). Professionally, results suggest trait mindfulness may benefit job satisfaction (ρ = .29), performance (ρ = .34), and interpersonal relations (ρ = .31), while also reducing burnout (ρ = –.48) and work withdrawal (ρ = –.17). Meta-analytic regressions also suggest trait mindfulness adds incremental predictive variance over more traditional predictors of employee burnout and work performance.