Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Connectionist modelling of lexical segmentation and vocabulary acquisition

Adults typically hear sentences in their native language as a sequence of separate words and we might therefeore assume, that words in speech are physically separated in the way that they are perceived. However, when listening to an unfamiliar language we no longer experience sequences of discrete words, but rather hear a continuous stream of speech with boundaries separating individual sentences or utterances. Theories of how adult listeners segment the speech stream into words emphasise the role that knowledge of individual words plays in the segmentation of speech. However, since words can not be learnt until the speech stream can be segmented, it seems unlikely that infants will be able to use word recognition to segment connected speech. For this reason, researchers have proposed a variety of strategies and cues that infants could use to identify word boundaries without being able to recognise the words that these boundaries delimit. This chapter, describes some computational simulations proposing ways in which these cues and strategies for the acquisition of lexical segmentation can be integrated with the infants acquisition of the meanings of words. The simulations reported here describe simple computational mechanisms and knowledge sources that may support these different aspects of language acquisition.
A lean FPGA soft processor built using a DSP block

As Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have advanced, the capabilities and variety of embedded resources have increased. In the last decade, signal processing has become one of the main driving applications for FPGA adoption, so FPGA vendors tailored their architectures to such applications. The resulting embedded digital signal processing (DSP) blocks have now advanced to the point of supporting a wide range of operations. In this paper, we explore how these DSP blocks can be applied to general computation. We show that the DSP48E1 blocks in Xilinx Virtex-6 devices support a wide range of standard processor instructions which can be designed into the core of a basic processor with minimal additional logic usage.
Identifying and Characterizing Regulatory Sequences in the Human Genome with Chromatin Accessibility Assays

After finishing a human genome reference sequence in 2002, the genomics community has turned to the task of interpreting it. A primary focus is to identify and characterize not only protein-coding genes, but all functional elements in the genome. The effort includes both individual investigators and large-scale projects like the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project. As part of the ENCODE project, several groups have identified millions of regulatory elements in hundreds of human cell-types using DNase-seq and FAIRE-seq experiments that detect regions of nucleosome-free open chromatin. ChIP-seq experiments have also been used to discover transcription factor binding sites and map histone modifications. Nearly all identified elements are found in non-coding DNA, hypothesizing a function for previously unannotated sequence. In this review, we provide an overview of the ENCODE effort to define regulatory elements, summarize the main results, and discuss implications of the millions of regulatory elements distributed throughout the genome.
On the Privacy of Encrypted Skype Communications

The privacy of voice over IP (VoIP) systems is achieved by compressing and encrypting the sampled data. This paper investigates in detail the leakage of information from Skype, a widely used VoIP application. In this research, it has been demonstrated by using the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm, that sentences can be identified with an accuracy of 60%. The results can be further improved by choosing specific training data. An approach involving the Kalman filter is proposed to extract the kernel of all training signals.
The distribution of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity in the telencephalon of the adult and developing domestic chicken

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine the distribution of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity in the telencephalon of chicken. The densest accumulation of enkephalinergic neurons and fibers was observed within the paleostriatal complex, the avian equivalent of the mammalian basal ganglia. Numerous small enkephalinergic neurons were observed in both lobus parolfactorius (LPO) and the paleostriatum augmentatum (PA), the two components of the small‐celled portion of the paleostriatal complex. The enkephalinergic neurons of LPO‐PA appeared to give rise to a dense plexus of enkephalinergic fibers within the large‐celled zone of the paleostriatal complex, the paleostriatum primitivum (PP). The distribution of enkephalin within the avian paleostriatial complex, when compared to the distribution of enkephalin within the mammalian basal ganglia, supports previous proposals that PP is comparable to the mammalian globus pallidus and that PA‐LPO are comparable to the caudate‐putamen (Karten and Dubbeldam, '73; Kitt and Brauth, '81; Parent and Olivier, '70; Reiner et al., '83). Observations on the development of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity within the chicken paleostriatal complex also support the suggestion that the major component nuclei of the avian paleostriatal complex have correspondents within the mammalian basal ganglia.
GMOS spectroscopy of the S0 galaxy NGC 3115

We present Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph longslit spectroscopy of the isolated S0 galaxy NGC 3115. We have determined kinematical data and Lick/IDS absorption linestrength indices for the major axis out to around 9 kpc and for the minor axis out to around 5 kpc (around 2Re). Using stellar population models which include the effects of variable [α/Fe] ratios, we derive metallicities, abundance ratios and ages for the stellar population of NGC 3115. We find that [α/Fe] remains fairly constant with increasing radius at around [α/Fe] = 0.17 for the major axis but increases rapidly for the minor axis to around [α/Fe] = 0.3. We also find that to first order, this behaviour can be explained by a simple spheroid + disc model, where the spheroid has [α/Fe] = 0.3 and the disc shows close to solar abundance ratios. The disc also appears considerably younger than the spheroid, having an age of around 6 Gyr compared to 12 Gyr for the spheroid. We compare these results to those previously presented for the globular cluster system of NGC 3115.
Owner-Manager Separation and the Structure of IT Governance in Small Business

Owner-Manager Separation and the Structure of IT Governance in Small Business by Jeffrey S. Saffer MS, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1992 MEd, University of West Alabama, 1973 BA, New Jersey City University, 1972 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University July 2014 Abstract Small business owners and small business managers tend to favor different information technology (IT) governance structures. Such differences can lead to ineffective management and control of IT in small businesses. The purpose of this correlationalSmall business owners and small business managers tend to favor different information technology (IT) governance structures. Such differences can lead to ineffective management and control of IT in small businesses. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the extent and nature of the association between owner-manager separation in small businesses and the structure of IT governance in the businesses. Agency theory formed the theoretical framework of this study. Data were collected using a web-based survey and randomly sampled 3,697 small business owners and managers located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Chi-square statistics indicated no significant association between owner-manager separation and the IT governance structure used in small businesses. A centralized form of IT governance was most prevalent in small businesses. Small business owners maintained influence over IT governance decisions despite ceding responsibility to managers for operational components of their business, a condition that appears to conflict with pure agency theory. The research findings may contribute to a better understanding of technology governance in small businesses, which in turn could lead to more effective and efficient operation of those businesses. Increases in small business effectiveness and efficiency can result in positive social change from greater employment opportunities as small businesses prosper and grow. Owner-Manager Separation and the Structure of IT Governance in Small Business by Jeffrey S. Saffer MS, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1992 MEd, University of West Alabama, 1973 BA, New Jersey City University, 1972 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University July 2014
Computational Modeling Reveals Optimal Strategy for Kinase Transport by Microtubules to Nerve Terminals

Intracellular transport of proteins by motors along cytoskeletal filaments is crucial to the proper functioning of many eukaryotic cells. Since most proteins are synthesized at the cell body, mechanisms are required to deliver them to the growing periphery. In this article, we use computational modeling to study the strategies of protein transport in the context of JNK (c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase) transport along microtubules to the terminals of neuronal cells. One such strategy for protein transport is for the proteins of the JNK signaling cascade to bind to scaffolds, and to have the whole protein-scaffold cargo transported by kinesin motors along microtubules. We show how this strategy outperforms protein transport by diffusion alone, using metrics such as signaling rate and signal amplification. We find that there exists a range of scaffold concentrations for which JNK transport is optimal. Increase in scaffold concentration increases signaling rate and signal amplification but an excess of scaffolds results in the dilution of reactants. Similarly, there exists a range of kinesin motor speeds for which JNK transport is optimal. Signaling rate and signal amplification increases with kinesin motor speed until the speed of motor translocation becomes faster than kinase/scaffold-motor binding. Finally, we suggest experiments that can be performed to validate whether, in physiological conditions, neuronal cells do indeed adopt such an optimal strategy. Understanding cytoskeletal-assisted protein transport is crucial since axonal and cell body accumulation of organelles and proteins is a histological feature in many human neurodegenerative diseases. In this paper, we have shown that axonal transport performance changes with altered transport component concentrations and transport speeds wherein these aspects can be modulated to improve axonal efficiency and prevent or slowdown axonal deterioration.
Coloplasty Neorectum versus Straight Anastomosis in Low Rectal Cancers

Introduction. Patients with the diagnosis of carcinoma rectum after random allocation were assigned to 2 groups. One group was subjected to total mesorectal excision with coloplasty neorectum reconstruction and another group to total mesorectal excision with straight anastomosis. This randomization was done by odds and even method by the sister in charge of the ward to avoid bias in randomization. The study included 42 patients with diagnosis of carcinoma rectum from 4 to 12 centimeters from anal verge. Composite incontinence score, bladder function, and sexual function were considered as the main outcome measures. Results. All patients of transverse coloplasty group had mild or moderate composite incontinence score while 7 (36.8%) patients of straight anastomosis group had a severe score at 7th POD (P < 0.05). At 6 months, 100% patients in transverse coloplasty group had a nil score which was not achieved by any of the patients in the other group. An intragroup comparison showed an improvement in score with time in both groups more marked in transverse coloplasty group. Conclusion. Transverse coloplasty group showed a better QOL so far as anal incontinence is considered. However, no statistically significant difference was achieved when comparing bladder and sexual dysfunction between the two groups.
In Vitro Reconstitution of Yeast tUTP/UTP A and UTP B Subcomplexes Provides New Insights into Their Modular Architecture

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis is a multistep process involving more than 150 biogenesis factors, which interact transiently with pre-ribosomal particles to promote their maturation. Some of these auxiliary proteins have been isolated in complexes found separate from the ribosomal environment. Among them, are 3 large UTP subcomplexes containing 6 or 7 protein subunits which are involved in the early steps of ribosome biogenesis. The composition of the UTP subcomplexes and the network of binary interactions between protein subunits have been analyzed previously. To obtain further insights into the structural and biochemical properties of UTP subcomplexes, we established a heterologous expression system to allow reconstitution of the yeast tUTP/UTP A and UTP B subcomplexes from their candidate subunits. The results of a series of reconstitution experiments involving different combinations of protein subunits are in good agreement with most of the previously observed binary interactions. Moreover, in combination with additional biochemical analyses, several stable building blocks of the UTP subcomplexes were identified. Based on these findings, we present a refined model of the tUTP/UTP A and UTP B architecture.
Sports-related sudden cardiac deaths in the young population of Switzerland

Background In Switzerland, ECG screening was first recommended for national squad athletes in 1998. Since 2001 it has become mandatory in selected high-risk professional sports. Its impact on the rates of sports-related sudden cardiac death (SCD) is unknown. Objective We aimed to study the incidence, causes and time trends of sports-related SCD in comparison to SCD unrelated to exercise in Switzerland. Methods We reviewed all forensic reports of SCDs of the German-speaking region of Switzerland in the age group of 10 to 39 years, occurring between 1999 and 2010. Cases were classified into three categories based on whether or not deaths were associated with sports: no sports (NONE), recreational sports (REC), and competitive sports (COMP). Results Over the 12-year study period, 349 SCD cases were recorded (mean age 30±7 years, 76.5% male); 297 cases were categorized as NONE, 31 as REC, and 21 as COMP. Incidences of SCD per 100,000 person-years [mean (95% CI)] were the lowest in REC [0.43 (0.35–0.56)], followed by COMP [1.19 (0.89–1.60)] and NONE [2.46 (2.27–2.66)]. In all three categories, coronary artery disease (CAD) with or without acute myocardial infarction (MI) was the most common cause of SCD. Three professional athletes were identified in COMP category which all had SCD due to acute MI. There were no time trends, neither in overall, nor in cause-specific incidences of SCD. Conclusions The incidence of SCD in young individuals in Switzerland is low, both related and unrelated to sports. In regions, like Switzerland, where CAD is the leading cause of SCD associated with competitions, screening for cardiovascular risk factors in addition to the current PPS recommendations might be indicated to improve detection of silent CAD and further decrease the incidence of SCD.
Localization and traces in open-closed topological Landau-Ginzburg models

We reconsider the issue of localization in open-closed B-twisted Lan- dau-Ginzburg models with arbitrary Calabi-Yau target. Through careful analsysis of zero-mode reduction, we show that the closed model allows for a one-parameter fam- ily of localization pictures, which generalize the standard residue representation. The parameter λ which indexes these pictures measures the area of worldsheets with S 2 topology, with the residue representation obtained in the limit of small area. In the boundary sector, we find a double family of such pictures, depending on parameters λ andwhich measure the area and boundary length of worldsheets with disk topology. We show that setting � = 0 and varying λ interpolates between the localization picture of the B-model with a noncompact target space and a certain residue representation proposed recently. This gives a complete derivation of the boundary residue formula, starting from the explicit construction of the boundary coupling. We also show that the various localization pictures are related by a semigroup of homotopy equivalences.
The Alterations of Cortical Volume, Thickness, Surface, and Density in the Intermediate Sporadic Parkinson's Disease from the Han Population of Mainland China

Many symptoms of sporadic Parkinson's disease (sPD) can't be completely explained by the lesion of simple typical extrapyramidal circuit between striatum and substantia nigra. Therefore, we investigated the alteration of cortical volume, thickness, surface, and density in the intermediate sPD from the Han population of Mainland China in order to find the new pathological brain regions associated with the complex clinical manifestations of sPD. The cortical volume, thickness, surface and density were examined using the voxel-based cortical morphometry and corticometry on magnetic resonance image (MRI) in 67 intermediate sPD and 35 controls, the multiple adjusted comparisons analysis of all MRI data were employed to assess the relationships between the cortical morphometric alteration in the specific brain regions and sPD. Results showed that a significantly shrunk volume, thinned thickness and enlarged or reduced surface of cortex in some specific brain regions were closely associated with sPD, but all cortical densities were not different. The majority of morphometric alteration of hemisphere cortex was symmetric, but that in the left hemisphere was more significant. The cortical morphometric alterations in the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital and limbic lobe, cerebellum, caudate, and thalamus were closely related to the clinical neural dysfunction (Clinical manifestations) of sPD. Our data indicated that the deficits of extensive brain regions involved in the development of sPD, resulted in a series of correspondent complex clinical manifestations in the disease.
The effect of brassinosteroids on radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings growing under cadmium stress

The effect of 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide on seed germination and seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was studied under cadmium toxicity. The impact of brassinosteroids (BRs) on free proline levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbic peroxidase (APOX; EC 1.11.1.11) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) in radish seedlings under Cd toxicity was evaluated. The effect of BRs on the activity of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO; EC 1.10.3.3) and lipid peroxidation in radish seedlings challenged with Cd stress was also investigated. BRs supplementation alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination and seedling growth. Out of the two substances, HBL was found to be more effective than EBL in stress alleviation. HBL (3μM) alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination by 57% over Cd and 20% over unstressed control. Similarly supplementation of HBL (3μM) caused an increase of 156%, 78% and 91% in length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedling, respectively, over Cd treatment alone. The amelioration of seedling growth by BRs under metal toxicity was associated with enhanced levels of free proline. The activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, APOX and GPX were increased in the seedlings from treatments with Cd along with BRs. Brassinosteroid treatment reduced the activity of POD and AAO in heavy metal stressed seedlings. Lipid peroxidation induced by Cd was found reduced with the supplementation of BRs. The results obtained in the study clearly indicated the ameliorative influence of brassinosteroids on the inhibitory effect of Cd toxicity.
Activity in Prelimbic Cortex Is Necessary for the Expression of Learned, But Not Innate, Fears

The amygdala has long been considered to be both necessary and sufficient for classical fear conditioning, but recent evidence suggests that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) may also be involved. The prelimbic (PL) subregion of mPFC projects to the amygdala, and neurons in PL show fear-related increases in activity. It is unknown, however, whether PL activity is necessary for expression of learned fears, expression of innate fears, or the learning of fear associations. To address this, we used the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin to inactivate PL during fear learning or expression. Inactivation of PL reduced freezing to both a tone and a context that had been previously paired with footshock (learned fear) but had no effect on freezing to a cat (innate fear). Inactivation of PL before conditioning, however, did not prevent the formation of auditory or contextual fear memories. Thus, activity in PL is critical for the expression, but not the acquisition, of learned fears. We suggest that PL integrates information from auditory and contextual inputs and regulates expression of fear memories via projections to the basal nucleus of the amygdala.
IDENTITY, SOCIAL IDENTITY, COMPARISON, AND STATUS: FOUR THEORIES WITH A COMMON CORE

We examine four sociobehavioral theories – identity theory, social identity theory, comparison theory, and status theory – and we find that all four share a common core of three basic elements: personal quantitative characteristics, personal qualitative characteristics, and primordial outcomes. Though all four theories retain substantial areas outside the common core, nonetheless the existence of the common core suggests new perspectives and new research directions. These include an augmented conceptualization of self and identity, a new recognition that comparison processes and status processes may be in competition with each other, the possibility of a new theoretical form, and a new research strategy combining ingredients drawn from the four separate theories. The new research strategy expands the possibilities for all four theories, considerably enlarging their scope of application and their predictive capacity. To illustrate the new research strategy, we analyze the three-way contest between orientation to self, to subgroup, and to group in a two-subgroup society, deriving many new testable predictions, for example, that the ablest individuals in a society will not make good leaders as their first loyalty is to self.
Social capital and technology adoption on small farms : the case of banana production technology in Uganda

In recent years, development practitioners and policy makers have increasingly become interested in social capital as an additional instrument for economic development. However, within the applied economics literature on the adoption of agricultural technologies, research on the role of social capital in adoption decisionmaking is scant. Furthermore, there is a paucity of information regarding the determinants of social capital accumulation among rural households in developing economies. This study examines the nature of the relationship between social capital and crop management decisions of Ugandan banana farmers. This dissertation develops a model of technology adoption that incorporates social capital and offers two explicit mechanisms through which social capital may influence technology adoption. A model of the agricultural household, which considers the effects of incomplete markets in farm production decisions, provided the theoretical framework for an econometric analysis to predict the choice and demand of improved banana management technology. The core theoretical framework was extended by explicitly incorporating social capital as a component of exogenous income and information accumulation processes. University of Pretoria etd, Katungi E M (2007)