Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Layered charts for speech translation

We are going to present an architecture for natural language processing systems especially designed for spontaneous speech. We introduce the notion of a layered chart for information separation and information hiding. Complex distributed systems can be built using this approach which do not rely on a central data structure or control model. We describe a typed feature formalism with appropriateness suitable for such systems by providing a compact and relocatable storage schema for feature structures. We set out an architecture for spontaneous speech translation that relies on partial parsing to minimize complex operations at an early syntactic stage, but rather carries out utterance integration after building up small scale syntactic objects. We adopt the notion of a variable depth of analysis by providing a module specialized to the translation of idioms and show how an global scoring schema for sub-paths in graphs can be used to block further operation on idioms already accounted for.
A DISK-BASED DYNAMICAL MASS ESTIMATE FOR THE YOUNG BINARY AK SCO

We present spatially and spectrally resolved Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of gas and dust in the disk orbiting the pre-main sequence (pre-MS) binary AK Sco. By forward-modeling the disk velocity field traced by CO J = 2–1 line emission, we infer the mass of the central binary, M * = 2.49 ± 0.10 ? > M ⊙ ? > , a new dynamical measurement that is independent of stellar evolutionary models. Assuming the disk and binary are co-planar within ∼2°, this disk-based binary mass measurement is in excellent agreement with constraints from radial velocity monitoring of the combined stellar spectra. These ALMA results are also compared with the standard approach of estimating masses from the location of the binary in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, using several common pre-MS model grids. These models predict stellar masses that are marginally consistent with our dynamical measurement (at ∼2σ), but are systematically high (by ∼10%). These same models consistently predict an age of 18 ± 1 Myr for AK Sco, in line with its membership in the Upper Centaurus–Lupus association but surprisingly old for it to still host a gas-rich disk. As ALMA accumulates comparable data for large samples of pre-MS stars, the methodology employed here to extract a dynamical mass from the disk rotation curve should prove extraordinarily useful for efforts to characterize the fundamental parameters of early stellar evolution.
Bridging Category-level and Instance-level Semantic Image Segmentation

We propose an approach to instance-level image segmentation that is built on top of category-level segmentation. Specifically, for each pixel in a semantic category mask, its corresponding instance bounding box is predicted using a deep fully convolutional regression network. Thus it follows a different pipeline to the popular detect-then-segment approaches that first predict instances' bounding boxes, which are the current state-of-the-art in instance segmentation. We show that, by leveraging the strength of our state-of-the-art semantic segmentation models, the proposed method can achieve comparable or even better results to detect-then-segment approaches. We make the following contributions. (i) First, we propose a simple yet effective approach to semantic instance segmentation. (ii) Second, we propose an online bootstrapping method during training, which is critically important for achieving good performance for both semantic category segmentation and instance-level segmentation. (iii) As the performance of semantic category segmentation has a significant impact on the instance-level segmentation, which is the second step of our approach, we train fully convolutional residual networks to achieve the best semantic category segmentation accuracy. On the PASCAL VOC 2012 dataset, we obtain the currently best mean intersection-over-union score of 79.1%. (iv) We also achieve state-of-the-art results for instance-level segmentation.
Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure: A Prospective Study Among United States Adults

Background— Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been associated with an elevated risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes mellitus. However, the effects of SSB consumption on blood pressure (BP) are uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in SSB consumption and changes in BP among adults. Methods and Results— This was a prospective analysis of 810 adults who participated in the PREMIER Study (an 18-month behavioral intervention trial). BP and dietary intake (by two 24-hour recalls) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 months. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the changes in BP in responding to changes in SSB consumption. At baseline, mean SSB intake was 0.9±1.0 servings per day (10.5±11.9 fl oz/d), and mean systolic BP/diastolic BP was 134.9±9.6/84.8±4.2 mm Hg. After potential confounders were controlled for, a reduction in SSB of 1 serving per day was associated with a 1.8-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.4) reduction in systolic BP and 1.1-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 1.4) reduction in diastolic BP over 18 months. After additional adjustment for weight change over the same period, a reduction in SSB intake was still significantly associated with reductions in systolic and diastolic BPs (P<0.05). Reduced intake of sugars was also significantly associated with reduced BP. No association was found for diet beverage consumption or caffeine intake and BP. These findings suggest that sugars may be the nutrients that contribute to the observed association between SSB and BP. Conclusions— Reduced consumption of SSB and sugars was significantly associated with reduced BP. Reducing SSB and sugar consumption may be an important dietary strategy to lower BP. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000616.
A law of large numbers for finite‐range dependent random matrices

We consider random Hermitian matrices in which distant above‐diagonal entries are independent but nearby entries may be correlated. We find the limit of the empirical distribution of eigenvalues by combinatorial methods. We also prove that the limit has an algebraic Stieltjes transform by an argument based on dimension theory of Noetherian local rings. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Motion planning for humanoid robots stepping over obstacles

In this paper, we address the problem of how a humanoid robot can step over a given obstacle. Obstacle stepping-over has two aspects, namely, feasibility analysis and motion planning. The former determines whether the robot can step over the obstacle, and the latter discusses how to realize the stepping-over, if it is feasible, by trajectory planning. The paper focuses on the latter. Specifically, based on our previous analysis of feasibility, we present a novel algorithm to plan suitable trajectories for obstacle stepping-over, taking into account two basic requirements. The first requirement is to avoid any collision between the robot and the obstacle, and the second to maintain stability or balance of the robot. To meet them, we decompose the whole body motion of the robot into two parts, corresponding to the upper body motion and the lower body, respectively. We first plan collision-free trajectories of the feet and the waist for lower body motion, and then adjust upper body motion by resolved momentum control to guarantee the robot stability. This novel planning method is adaptive to obstacle sizes and hence oriented to autonomous stepping-over of humanoid robots guided by vision or other range finders. Its effectiveness is shown by simulation and experiment on our humanoid platform HRP-2.
We read with great interest the article by Södergren and colleagues in a recent issue of Arthritis Research & Th erapy (‘Atherosclerosis in early rheumatoid arthritis: very early endothelial activation and rapid progression of intima

colleagues in a recent issue of Arthritis Research & Th erapy (‘Atherosclerosis in early rheumatoid arthritis: very early endothelial activation and rapid progression of intima media thickness’) [1]. In the study reported in the article, the authors showed no diff erences of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with controls at baseline [1]. However, in the subgroup of individuals who were re-evaluated 18 months after the fi rst ultrasound measurement, the carotid IMT had increased signifi cantly among the patients with RA. However, this was not the case for the controls [1]. With respect to these interesting observations, we would like to further emphasize the importance of carotid ultrasonography in the evaluation of the cardiovascular risk of patients with RA and the importance of the duration of the disease as a predictor of severity, so it can infl uence the development of cardiovascular events in these patients. We previously reported that, in longstanding RA patients with no classic cardiovascular risk factors at the time of the carotid assessment, the duration of the disease was the best predictor of carotid plaques [2]. On the other hand, RA is a chronic infl ammatory disease, and even in the apparently quiescent phases of the disease, the cumulative eff ect of the chronic infl ammatory burden may account for the progression of the atherosclerosis disease. In this regard, we observed that the mean values of C-reactive protein (CRP) over an extended follow-up rather than a single determination of CRP at the time of the carotid ultrasonography evaluation were associated with the carotid IMT [3]. Moreover, we found that carotid artery IMT had a high predictive power for the development of cardiovascular events over a 5-year follow-up period in 47 patients with RA without clinically evident cardiovascular disease at the time of the carotid ultrasonography evaluation [4]. In our study, carotid IMT categorized in quartiles was strongly asso ciated with the development of cardiovascular events [4]. When logistic regression models were performed, carotid IMT at the time of the ultrasonographic study yielded a high predictive power for the development of cardio vascular events over the 5-year follow-up period. On the other hand, the duration of the disease is also considered an important risk factor of future cardio vascular events [5]. Taking all of these considerations together, we propose that ultrasonographic assessment of the carotid artery be performed on all patients with RA in order to establish a subgroup of patients with a high risk of cardiovascular complications. Th is procedure should be carried out at the time of the disease diagnosis and periodically thereafter, in particular in those patients with severe disease and persistent elevation of markers of infl ammation.
Karakteristik dan Jenis Kesulitan Belajar Anak Slow Learner

Children with special needs (ABK) is that they are hampered by physical, cognitive, and social in developing their maximum potential. This study aims to determine the characteristics and learning difficulties slow learner child. The method used in this research is descriptive method with cross sectional approach. Sample was taken by purposive sampling. The results showed that out of 33 respondents, the proportion of the most experienced slow learner is in the age group 15-16 years (51.5%), male gender (66.7%), father's occupation is Labor (57.6 %), education is the father of junior high (39.4%) and the mother's education, namely junior high (45.5% and has a brother numbered 2 (66.7%). This type of disorder found in children as the low capability of understanding (66.7 %). Slow in doing academic work (66.7%), learning achievement is very low (66.7%), while children who grade (75.7) and were failing a grade (24.3%). Keywords : special needs children, slow learner, characteristics, learning difficulties
Spatial, temporal, and modulatory factors affecting GasNet evolvability in a visually guided robotics task

Spatial, temporal, and modulatory factors affecting the evolvability of GasNets — a style of artificial neural network incorporating an analogue of volume signalling — are investigated. The focus of the article is a comparative study of variants of the GasNet, implementing various spatial, temporal, and modulatory constraints, used as control systems in an evolutionary robotics task involving visual discrimination. The results of the study are discussed in the context of related research. © 2010Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 16: 35–44, 2010 © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Endothelial function in HIV-infected patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy: does immune competence affect cardiovascular risk?

BACKGROUND The use of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) as a component of combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients has been associated with dyslipidaemia, but its significance as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease is unclear. Endothelial dysfunction is an early phase of atherogenesis that may be assessed non-invasively with ultrasonography in vivo. AIM To evaluate vascular function and investigate potential determinants of endothelial dysfunction of the peripheral circulation in PI-treated, HIV-infected men with dyslipidaemia. DESIGN Observational, case-control study. METHODS We studied 24 HIV-infected, PI-treated men with dyslipidaemia and 24 normolipidaemic, healthy male controls matched for age and body mass index. Brachial artery endothelial function was studied using high-resolution ultrasound and computerized edge-detection software. This non-invasive technique measured post-ischaemic flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and the endothelium-independent vasodilatory response to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). RESULTS Within the HIV patient group, FMD was significantly associated with percentage of 'naïve' CD4 + 45RA + T cells (p = 0.03), while plasma lipid/lipoprotein and insulin levels, body mass, and smoking status did not correlate with endothelial function. FMD was not significantly different between the study group and the controls. CONCLUSIONS The atherogenic potential of PI-associated dyslipidaemia may be attenuated in HIV-infected patients with decreased immune competence, reflecting a possible contribution of cell-mediated immune responses to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
The cell-layer- and cell-type-specific distribution of GalNAc-transferases in the ocular surface epithelia is altered during keratinization.

PURPOSE It has been hypothesized that the biosynthesis of O-linked glycans on proteins, particularly on the highly O-glycosylated mucins, by the corneal and conjunctival epithelium is necessary for the protection and maintenance of a healthy ocular surface. The initial step in O-glycosylation is the enzymatic addition of N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc) to serine and threonine residues by a large family of polypeptide GalNAc-transferases (GalNAc-Ts). The purpose of this study was to determine the cellular distribution of GalNAc-Ts in the normal ocular surface epithelia and to compare their distribution with that in pathologically keratinized conjunctival epithelia. METHODS Five conjunctival biopsy specimens and 5 corneas from normal individuals, and 14 conjunctival specimens from patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) were used. Based on the histologic characteristics of their epithelia, OCP specimens were divided into two groups: less advanced, nonkeratinized (n = 6), and late-stage, keratinized (n = 8). Five monoclonal antibodies raised against the GalNAc-T1, -T2, -T3, -T4, and -T6 isoenzymes, were used for immunofluorescence microscopic localization according to standard protocols. RESULTS Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of GalNAc-T2, -T3, and -T4 isoforms within the stratified epithelium of the cornea and the conjunctiva. The GalNAc-T4 isoenzyme was found in the apical cell layers, whereas GalNAc-T2 was found in the supranuclear region of the basal cell layers of both cornea and conjunctiva. GalNAc-T3 was distributed throughout the entire ocular surface epithelium, whereas GalNAc-T1 was found in scattered cells in conjunctiva only. Binding of antibody to GalNAc-T6 was restricted exclusively to conjunctival goblet cells. There were distinct alterations in expression patterns of GalNAc-T2, -T6, and -T1 in nonkeratinized OCP epithelia compared with normal epithelia. Both GalNAc-T2 and -T6 were expressed in the apical stratified epithelia, and T1 was detected in all cell layers in five of six biopsy specimens. By comparison with nonkeratinized OCP epithelia, a marked reduction in the binding of GalNAc-T antibody was observed in the late-stage keratinized conjunctival epithelia of patients with OCP. In all samples, apical GalNAc-T2 was absent, and GalNAc-T6 was entirely absent. Only one of eight samples was positive for GalNAc-T1. CONCLUSIONS The presence of GalNAc-T isoenzymes in the human corneal and conjunctival epithelia is cell-layer and cell-type specific. The increased distribution of GalNAc-Ts observed in early stages of the keratinization process in patients with OCP suggests a compensatory attempt of the ocular surface epithelium to synthesize mucin-type O-glycans to maintain a wet-surface phenotype. This early increase in isoenzymes in nonkeratinized OCP epithelia is reduced as keratinization proceeds in the disease.
Antiviral Activity of Binase against the Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

The lack of effective antiviral drugs restricts the control of the dangerous RNA-containing influenza A (H1N1) virus. Extracellular ribonuclease of Bacilli (binase) was shown to manifest antiviral activity during single- and multi-cycle viral replication in the range of concentrations non-toxic to epithelial cells and 0.01-0.1 multiplicity of infection. During antiviral treatment for 15-30 min, the concentration of 1 μg/ml binase reduced the amount of focus-forming units of viruses by a factor of 3-10 and suppressed the virus-induced cytopathic effect in A549 human lung cells. The possible mechanisms of interaction between the virus and enzyme are discussed. Positive charges in both binase and viral hemagglutinin cause electrostatic interaction with negatively charged sialic acid on the host cell’s surface followed by its penetration into the cell. Capsid elimination and release of viral RNA from endosome to the cytoplasm allows catalytic RNA cleavage by internalized binase. The data obtained confirm that binase is an effective antiviral agent against the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Certain progress in this field is associated with clarifying the detailed mechanism underlying the antiviral action of binase and development of the most effective way for its practical use.
The Influence of Fuzzy Logic Theory on Students' Achievement.

As science and technology develop, the use’s areas of Fuzzy Logic Theory develop too. Measurement and evaluation in education is one of these areas. The purpose of this research is to explain the influence of fuzzy logic theory on students’ achievement. An experimental method is employed in the research. The traditional achievement marks and The Fuzzy Logic Theory-based achievement marks of students are calculated and compared in the research. In the result, a significant difference between the traditional achievement marks ( X =52.77; S=17.92; N=32) and Fuzzy Logic Theory-based achievement marks ( X =64.84; S=12.87; N=32) are found in favour of fuzzy logic (t=-10.87; p<0.05; r=0.61).
Terminations VI and VIII (∼ 530 and ∼ 720 kyr BP) tell us the importance of obliquity and precession in the triggering of deglaciations

The main variations of ice volume of the last million years can be explained from orbital parameters by assuming climate oscillates between two states: glaciations and deglaciations (Parrenin and Paillard, 2003; Imbrie et al., 2011) (or terminations). An additional combination of ice volume and orbital parameters seems to form the trigger of a deglaciation, while only orbital parameters seem to play a role in the triggering of glaciations. Here we present an optimized conceptual model which realistically reproduce ice volume variations during the past million years and in particular the timing of the 11 canonical terminations. We show that our model looses sensitivity to initial conditions only after ∼200 kyr at maximum: the ice volume observations form a strong attractor. Both obliquity and precession seem necessary to reproduce all 11 terminations and both seem to play approximately the same role. More precisely, obliquity plays a fundamental role in the triggering of termination VI (~530 kyr BP), while precession plays a fundamental role in the triggering of termination VIII (~720 kyr ago).
The Berlin Affective Word List for Children (kidBAWL): Exploring Processing of Affective Lexical Semantics in the Visual and Auditory Modalities

While research on affective word processing in adults witnesses increasing interest, the present paper looks at another group of participants that have been neglected so far: pupils (age range: 6–12 years). Introducing a variant of the Berlin Affective Wordlist (BAWL) especially adapted for children of that age group, the “kidBAWL,” we examined to what extent pupils process affective lexical semantics similarly to adults. In three experiments using rating and valence decision tasks in both the visual and auditory modality, it was established that children show the two ubiquitous phenomena observed in adults with emotional word material: the asymmetric U-shaped function relating valence to arousal ratings, and the inversely U-shaped function relating response times to valence decision latencies. The results for both modalities show large structural similarities between pupil and adult data (taken from previous studies) indicating that in the present age range, the affective lexicon and the dynamic interplay between language and emotion is already well-developed. Differential effects show that younger children tend to choose less extreme ratings than older children and that rating latencies decrease with age. Overall, our study should help to develop more realistic models of word recognition and reading that include affective processes and offer a methodology for exploring the roots of pleasant literary experiences and ludic reading.
Rhythmical Factors in Stress Shift

In phrases such as THIRteen MEN, stress in the first word is shifted forward from its canonical word-final position. Our general hypothesis is that this stress shift is controlled in part by the global rhythmical pattern of the utterance, informally defined as a Rhythmic Constraint on onset times of stressed vowels, in real time. This hypothesis yields two specific predictions about the occurrence of stress shift. First, stress shift should depend on preceding contexts as well as following contexts. Second, stress shift should be more frequent at faster speaking rates. These predictions were tested using shiftable number words, preceded by words that are metrically wS, Sw or Sww. These two-word phrases were read in a list, at various speaking rates controlled by a metronome. The resulting proportions of stress shift verify both predictions. First, stress-shifted realizations are most frequent after Sww words, and less frequent after Sw or wS words. Second, for SS number words, the proportion of stress-shifted realizations increases with faster speaking rate. In addition, for Sww number words, speakers restructure the whole phrase, yielding low incidence of stress shift. These results support the existence of a Rhythmic Constraint that explains why and when stress is shifted.