Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Alignment and Personality in Generated Dialogue

Variation in language style can lead to different perceptions of the interaction, and different behaviour outcomes. Using the CrAg 2 language generation system we examine how accurately judges can perceive character personality from short, automatically generated dialogues, and how alignment (similarity between speakers) alters judge perceptions of the characters' relationship. Whilst personality perception of our dialogues is consistent with perceptions of human behaviour, we find that the introduction of alignment leads to negative perceptions of the dialogues and the inter-locutors' relationship. A follow up evaluation study of the perceptions of different forms of alignment in the dialogues reveals that while similarity at polarity, topic and construction levels is viewed positively, similarity at the word level is regarded negatively. We discuss our findings in relation to the literature and in the context of dialogue systems.
Pattern formation by local self-activation and lateral inhibition.

In 1972, we proposed a theory of biological pattern formation in which concentration maxima of pattern forming substances are generated through local self-enhancement in conjunction with long range inhibition. Since then, much evidence in various developmental systems has confirmed the importance of autocatalytic feedback loops combined with inhibitory interaction. Examples are found in the formation of embryonal organizing regions, in segmentation, in the polarization of individual cells, and in gene activation. By computer simulations, we have shown that the theory accounts for much of the regulatory phenomena observed, including signalling to regenerate removed parts. These self-regulatory features contribute to making development robust and error-tolerant. Furthermore, the resulting pattern is, to a large extent, independent of the details provided by initial conditions and inducing signals.
Capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of the effect of sample preparation on early stages of Aβ1–40 aggregation

Aggregation of the amyloid‐β protein (Aβ) contributes to the neurodegeneration characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Of particular importance are the early stages of aggregation, which involve the formation of soluble oligomers and protofibrils. In these studies, we demonstrate the potential for CE with UV detection using a polyethylene oxide separation matrix to identify the evolution of various oligomeric species of Aβ1–40. To demonstrate the efficacy of this technique, UV‐CE was utilized to compare two methods commonly used to prepare Aβ for aggregation experiments and their effect on the formation of early aggregates. SEC‐purified Aβ1–40 initially contained more small species, including monomer, than did freshly dissolved Aβ1–40 pretreated with hexafluoroisopropanol. Strikingly, the lag time to oligomer formation for SEC‐isolated Aβ1–40 samples was ∼23 h shorter compared to freshly dissolved Aβ1–40 samples. Furthermore, oligomers formed from the aggregation of SEC‐purified Aβ1–40 persisted within solution for a longer period of time. These results indicate that the initial sample preparation has a drastic influence on the early stages of Aβ1–40 aggregation. This is the first report of the use of UV‐CE with a separation matrix to study the effect of sample preparation on early aggregation of Aβ1–40. UV‐CE was also used in parallel with dot blot analysis and inhibitory compounds to discern structural characteristics of individual oligomer peaks, demonstrating the capacity of UV‐CE as a complimentary technique to further understand the aggregation process.
A new unified probabilistic model

This paper proposes a new unified probabilistic model. Two previous models, Robertson et al.'s "Model 0" and "Model 3," each have strengths and weaknesses. The strength of Model 0 not found in Model 3, is that it does not require relevance data about the particular document or query, and, related to that, its probability estimates are straightforward. The strength of Model 3 not found in Model 0 is that it can utilize feedback information about the particular document and query in question. In this paper we introduce a new unified probabilistic model that combines these strengths: the expression of its probabilities is straightforward, it does not require that data must be available for the particular document or query in question, but it can utilize such specific data if it is available. The model is one way to resolve the difficulty of combining two marginal views in probabilistic retrieval.
Design and Evaluation of Bigels Containing Flurbiprofen

The present study was aimed of design and evaluation of bigel containing flurbiprofen. Bigels are interesting innovative two phase systems that have been recently proposed as structured system for delivery of active ingredients. They possess the advantages of both hydrogel and organogel. Organogel was prepared by pluronic lecithin and hydrogel was prepared using HPMC. Bigels were prepared by mixing of organogel and hydrogel in appropriate ratio. Organogel and hydrogel was evaluated for pH, viscosity, extrudability and spreadabilty. Formulation F3 from organogel and formulation H3 from hydrogel was selected as optimized formulations and was used for the preparation of bigel. The prepared bigel was evaluated for pH, viscosity, extrudability, spread ability, in vitro drug release studies, ex vivo permeation studies, stability studies and skin irritation test. All formulations of bigel showed extended release out of which formulation B3 was selected as the optimized formulation on the basis of evaluation parameters. In vitro permeation release was found to be 89.99% at the end of 8 hrs. The release kinetics of flurbiprofen bigel followed Higuchi model. The bigels were found to be stable and skin irritation studies on Wistar rats showed that the prepared bigels were compatible. Based on the encouraging results bigels containing flurbiprofen can be used as extended release system.
Combining dependence and data-flow analyses to optimize communication

Reducing communication overhead is crucial for improving the performance of programs on distributed-memory machines. Compilers for data-parallel languages must perform communication optimizations in order to minimize this overhead. In this paper, we show how to combine dependence analysis, traditionally used to optimize regular communication, and a data-flow analysis method originally developed to improve placement of irregular communication. Our approach allows us to perform more extensive optimizations message vectorization, elimination of redundant messages, and overlapping communication with computation. We also present preliminary experimental results that demonstrate the benefits of the proposed method. <<ETX>>
Neural regions that underlie reinforcement learning are also active for social expectancy violations

Abstract Prediction error, the difference between an expected and an actual outcome, serves as a learning signal that interacts with reward and punishment value to direct future behavior during reinforcement learning. We hypothesized that similar learning and valuation signals may underlie social expectancy violations. Here, we explore the neural correlates of social expectancy violation signals along the universal person-perception dimensions trait warmth and competence. In this context, social learning may result from expectancy violations that occur when a target is inconsistent with an a priori schema. Expectancy violation may activate neural regions normally implicated in prediction error and valuation during appetitive and aversive conditioning. Using fMRI, we first gave perceivers high warmth or competence behavioral information that led to dispositional or situational attributions for the behavior. Participants then saw pictures of people responsible for the behavior; they represented social groups either inconsistent (rated low on either warmth or competence) or consistent (rated high on either warmth or competence) with the behavior information. Warmth and competence expectancy violations activate striatal regions that represent evaluative and prediction error signals. Social cognition regions underlie consistent expectations. These findings suggest that regions underlying reinforcement learning may work in concert with social cognition regions in warmth and competence social expectancy. This study illustrates the neural overlap between neuroeconomics and social neuroscience.
Effects of the GABA‐uptake blocker NNC‐711 on spontaneous sharp wave–ripple complexes in mouse hippocampal slices

The precise temporal and spatial activity patterns of neurons in cortical networks are organized by different state‐dependent types of network oscillations. GABAergic inhibition plays a key role in the underlying mechanisms of such oscillations and it has been suggested that the duration of widely distributed phasic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) determines the frequency of the resulting network oscillation. Here, we test this hypothesis in an in vitro model of sharp wave–ripple (SPW‐R) complexes, a particularly fast pattern of network oscillations at ∼200 Hz which is involved in memory consolidation. We recorded SPW‐R in mouse hippocampal slices in the absence and presence of NCC‐711, an inhibitor of GABA uptake. The resulting prolongation of IPSP resulted in reduced occurrence of SPW‐R, whereas the superimposed fast oscillations as well as the precision of rhythmic cell synchronization remained stable. Application of Diazepam which is a positive modulator of the GABAA receptor led to consistent results. We conclude that phasic inhibition is a major regulator of network excitability in CA3 (where SPW‐Rs are generated), but does not set the frequency of hippocampal ripples. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis and Its Association with Risk Factors among Nonpregnant Women: A Hospital Based Study

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an ecological imbalance of the vaginal microbiota affecting mostly women of reproductive age group. This study was carried out among 160 nonpregnant women registered at the Outpatient Department of Gynaecology/Obstetrics of KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal, from November 2014 to May 2015. The aim of the study was to assess the association of the risk factors with BV and analyze the type of bacteria associated with BV. Nugent's scoring method was used for diagnosis of BV in this study. The overall prevalence of BV was 24.4% among symptomatic patients. Douching was statistically related to BV (P = 0.015). Also, BV was significantly associated with consistency (P = 0.0001), odor (P = 0.02), and amount of abnormal vaginal discharge (P = 0.09). Contraceptives users on anatomical sites were found more prone to BV than those who did not use contraceptives on anatomical sites. Pseudomonas spp. , Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter spp. , Proteus spp. , Klebsiella spp. , Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterobacter spp. , Citrobacter spp. , Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS), and Streptococcus agalactiae were associated with BV and out of those Lactobacillus spp. was the predominant organism. The higher prevalence of BV among symptomatic patients indicates interventions should be applied to reduce the incidence of stillbirth, abortion, and sterility.
Long-Range Temporal Correlations in Alpha Oscillations Stabilize Perception of Ambiguous Visual Stimuli

Ongoing brain dynamics have been proposed as a type of “neuronal noise” that can trigger perceptual switches when viewing an ambiguous, bistable stimulus. However, no prior study has directly quantified how such neuronal noise relates to the rate of percept reversals. Specifically, it has remained unknown whether individual differences in complexity of resting-state oscillations—as reflected in long-range temporal correlations (LRTC)—are associated with perceptual stability. We hypothesized that participants with stronger resting-state LRTC in the alpha band experience more stable percepts, and thereby fewer perceptual switches. Furthermore, we expected that participants who report less discontinuous thoughts during rest, experience less switches. To test this, we recorded electroencephalography (EEG) in 65 healthy volunteers during 5 min Eyes-Closed Rest (ECR), after which they filled in the Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire (ARSQ). This was followed by three conditions where participants attended an ambiguous structure-from-motion stimulus—Neutral (passively observe the stimulus), Hold (the percept for as long as possible), and Switch (as often as possible). LRTC of resting-state alpha oscillations predicted the number of switches only in the Hold condition, with stronger LRTC associated with less switches. Contrary to our expectations, there was no association between resting-state Discontinuity of Mind and percept stability. Participants were capable of controlling switching according to task goals, and this was accompanied by increased alpha power during Hold and decreased power during Switch. Fewer switches were associated with stronger task-related alpha LRTC in all conditions. Together, our data suggest that bistable visual perception is to some extent under voluntary control and influenced by LRTC of alpha oscillations.
Unraveling the role of mechanical stimulation on smooth muscle cells: A comparative study between 2D and 3D models

A thorough understanding of cell response to combined culture configuration and mechanical cues is of paramount importance in vascular tissue engineering applications. Herein, we investigated and compared the response of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) cultured in different culture environments (2D cell monolayers and 3D cellularized collagen‐based gels) in combination with mechanical stimulation (7% uniaxial cyclic strain, 1 Hz) for 2 and 5 days. When cyclic strain was applied, two different responses, in terms of cell orientation and expression of contractile‐phenotype proteins, were observed in 2D and 3D models. Specifically, in 2D configuration, cyclic strain caused ∼50% of cell population to align nearly perpendicular (80–90 degrees) to the strain direction, while not influencing the contractile‐phenotype protein expression, as compared to the 2D static controls. Conversely, the application of uniaxial strain to 3D constructs induced a ∼60% cell alignment almost parallel (0–10 degrees) to the strain direction. Moreover, 3D mechanical stimulation applied for 5 days induced a twofold increase of SM α‐actin level and a 14‐fold increase of calponin expression as compared to 3D static controls. Altogether these findings provide a new insight into the potential to drive cell behavior by modulating the extracellular matrix and the biomechanical environment. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2254–2263. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of positron emission tomography imaging to detect lymph node metastases in patients with extramammary Paget's disease

Patients with extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) have a relatively good prognosis, when spread of the tumor cells is limited to the epidermis. However, invasive EMPD has a poor prognosis, when the patients have regional lymph node metastasis. Detection of nodal metastasis is thus mandatory to manage EMPD. To evaluate the 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) imaging to assess lymph node metastasis, 15 patients with histologically proven primary EMPD were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent whole‐body PET prior to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of more than 2.5 was evaluated as positive PET indicative of malignancy. Among 14 cases with the primary genital lesions, 11 cases underwent bilateral SLNB of the inguinal nodal basin and the remaining three cases unilateral SLNB. One case with a primary axillary lesion underwent unilateral SLNB of the axillary nodal basin. Therefore, a total of 26 regional basins were investigated. In general, nodal basins can be categorized into four groups: (i) histologically negative and PET negative (true negative); (ii) histologically positive and PET negative (false negative); (iii) histologically positive and PET positive (true positive); and (iv) histologically negative and PET positive (false positive) groups. In the 26 nodal basins, there were 19 true negative and seven true positive cases, and neither false negative nor false positive cases were observed. The mean SUVmax was significantly higher in the true positive basins (8.03 ± 3.34) than in the true negative basins (0.26 ± 0.56). The SUVmax value may be useful for detection of nodal metastasis.
Gene characteristics of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Paratoxodera polyacantha and Toxodera hauseri (Mantodea: Toxoderidae)

The family Toxoderidae (Mantodea) contains an ecologically diverse group of praying mantis species that have in common greatly elongated bodies. In this study, we sequenced and compared the complete mitochondrial genomes of two Toxoderidae species, Paratoxodera polyacantha and Toxodera hauseri, and compared their mitochondrial genome characteristics with another member of the Toxoderidae, Stenotoxodera porioni (KY689118). The lengths of the mitogenomes of T. hauseri and P. polyacantha were 15,616 bp and 15,999 bp, respectively, which is similar to that of S. porioni (15,846 bp). The size of each gene as well as the A+T-rich region and the A+T content of the whole genome were also very similar among the three species as were the protein-coding genes, the A+T content and the codon usages. The mitogenome of T. hauseri had the typical 22 tRNAs, whereas that of P. polyacantha had 26 tRNAs including an extra two copies of trnA-trnR. Intergenic regions of 67 bp and 76 bp were found in T. hauseri and P. polyacantha, respectively, between COX2 and trnK; these can be explained as residues of a tandem duplication/random loss of trnK and trnD. This non-coding region may be synapomorphic for Toxoderidae. In BI and ML analyses, the monophyly of Toxoderidae was supported and P. polyacantha was the sister clade to T. hauseri and S. porioni.
Efficient Iris Recognition Method for Human Identification

— In this paper, an efficient method for personal identification based on the pattern of human iris is proposed. It is composed of image acquisition, image preprocessing to make a flat iris then it is converted into eigeniris and decision is carried out using only reduction of iris in one dimension. By comparing the eigenirises it is determined whether two irises are similar. The results show that proposed method is quite effective.
Effects of tranexamic acid during endoscopic sinsus surgery in children

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid (TA) on the intra-operative bleeding during the functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in children. Methods: A total of 100 children recruited to undergo FESS were randomized into two groups. Group I: Was given just after induction, intra-venous 25 mg/kg TA diluted in 10 ml of normal saline. Group II: Was given 10 ml of normal saline. Non-invasive blood pressure, heart rate, and quality of the surgical field were estimated every 15 min. Volume of bleeding and duration of the surgical procedure were recorded. Results: Surgical field quality after 15 min revealed that seven patients in group I had minimal bleeding versus no one in group II, P=0.006. Meanwhile, 35 patients in group I had mild bleeding versus 26 patients in group II, P=0.064. Higher number of patients in group II than in group I had moderate bleeding, P=0006. Also, at 30 min, revealed that 10 patients in group I had minimal bleeding versus one patient in group II, P=0.004. Meanwhile, 37 patients in group I had mild bleeding versus 28 patients in group II, P=0.059. Higher number of patients in group II than in group I had moderate bleeding, P<0001. Duration of the surgeries and volume of bleeding were significantly less in tranexamic group than the placebo group, P<0.0001. Conclusion: Single intra-venous bolus dose of tranexamic in children during the FESS improves quality of surgical field, reduces intra-operative bleeding, and duration of surgery.
p210bcr‐abl induces amoeboid motility by recruiting ADF/destrin through RhoA/ROCK1

We previously demonstrated that the Bcr‐Abl oncogene, p210bcr‐abl, through its unique GEF domain, specifically activates RhoA and induces spontaneous amoeboid motility. We intend to study the pathways downstream RhoA controlling amoeboid motility. Mouse prolymphoblastic cells (Ba/F3 cell line) expressing different forms of Bcr‐Abl were embedded in 3‐dimensional (3D) Matrigel to study motility and explore the effects of inhibiting Rho pathway (inhibitors and siRNAs). The phosphorylation levels of cofilin‐1 and destrin were analyzed by 2‐dimensional electrophoresis. Composition of Bcr‐Abl signalplex in different conditions was determined by coimmunoprecipitation. Ba/F3p190 and Ba/F3 expressing a mutant form of p210bcr‐abl (unable to activate RhoA) cells presented a spontaneous motility, but not an amoeboid type. p210bcr‐abl‐induced amoeboid motility in a 3D matrix requires isoform‐specific RhoA/ROCK‐1/destrin signaling. Next to the conventional Rho/ROCK/MLC/myosin pathway, this pathway is a crucial determinant for amoeboid motility, specific for the destrin isoform (and not its coexpressed homologue cofilin‐1). Also, the presence of destrin (and not cofilin‐1) in the p210bcr‐abl complex is dependent on ROCK1, and this signalplex is required for amoeboid motility. This underscores isoform‐specific function within the ADF/cofilin family and provides new insight into Bcr‐Abl signaling to amoeboid motility and possible impact on understanding chronic myeloid leukemia progression. —Rochelle, T. , Daubon, T. , Van Troys, M. , Harnois, T. , Waterschoot, D. , Ampe, C. , Roy, L. , Bourmeyster, N. , Constantin, B. p210bcr‐abl induces amoeboid motility by recruiting ADF/destrin through RhoA/ROCK1. FASEB J. 27, 123–134 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Trans-Pacific Air Pollution

It is increasingly recognized that air pollution is transported on mid-latitude westerly winds from Eurasia to the Pacific Ocean basin and across to North America. This trans-Pacific pollution reaches North America and may have substantial impacts on ecosystems and climate in the entire Pacific region. In their Perspective, Wilkening et al . report from a recent meeting where researchers attempted to synthesize and evaluate existing knowledge about trans-Pacific pollutant transport.
Significance of the melanocortin 1 receptor in the DNA damage response of human melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation

Activation of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) by α‐melanocortin (α‐MSH) stimulates eumelanin synthesis and enhances repair of ultraviolet radiation (UV)‐induced DNA damage. We report on the DNA damage response (DDR) of human melanocytes to UV and its enhancement by α‐MSH. α‐MSH up‐regulated the levels of XPC, the enzyme that recognizes DNA damage sites, enhanced the UV‐induced phosphorylation of the DNA damage sensors ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3‐related (ATR) and ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and their respect‐ive substrates checkpoint kinases 1 and 2, and increased phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) formation. These effects required functional MC1R and were absent in melanocytes expressing loss of function (LOF) MC1R. The levels of wild‐type p53‐induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1), which dephosphorylates γH2AX, correlated inversely with γH2AX. We propose that α‐MSH increases UV‐induced γH2AX to facilitate formation of DNA repair complexes and repair of DNA photoproducts, and LOF of MC1R compromises the DDR and genomic stability of melanocytes.