Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pair-based language model for the robust lexical analysis in Chinese text-to-speech synthesis

This paper presents a robust method of lexical analysis for Chinese text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis using a pair-based Language Model (LM). The traditional way of Chinese lexical analysis simply regards the word segmentation and part-of-speech (POS) tagging as two separated phases. Each of them utilizes its own algorithms and models. Actually, the POS information is useful for word segmentation, and vice versa. Therefore, a pair-based language model is proposed to integrate basic word segmentation, POS tagging and named entity (NE) identiﬁcation into a uniﬁed framework. The objective evaluation indicates that the proposed method achieves the top-level performance, and conﬁrms its effectiveness in Chinese lexical analysis.
The allosteric transition in DnaK probed by infrared difference spectroscopy. Concerted ATP‐induced rearrangement of the substrate binding domain

The biological activity of DnaK, the bacterial representative of the Hsp70 protein family, is regulated by the allosteric interaction between its nucleotide and peptide substrate binding domains. Despite the importance of the nucleotide‐induced cycling of DnaK between substrate‐accepting and releasing states, the heterotropic allosteric mechanism remains as yet undefined. To further characterize this mechanism, the nucleotide‐induced absorbance changes in the vibrational spectrum of wild‐type DnaK was characterized. To assign the conformation sensitive absorption bands, two deletion mutants (one lacking the C‐terminal α‐helical subdomain and another comprising only the N‐terminal ATPase domain), and a single‐point DnaK mutant (T199A) with strongly reduced ATPase activity, were investigated by time‐resolved infrared difference spectroscopy combined with the use of caged‐nucleotides. The results indicate that (1) ATP, but not ADP, binding promotes a conformational change in both subdomains of the peptide binding domain that can be individually resolved; (2) these conformational changes are kinetically coupled, most likely to ensure a decrease in the affinity of DnaK for peptide substrates and a concomitant displacement of the lid away from the peptide binding site that would promote efficient diffusion of the released peptide to the medium; and (3) the α‐helical subdomain contributes to stabilize the interdomain interface against the thermal challenge and allows bidirectional transmission of the allosteric signal between the ATPase and substrate binding domains at stress temperatures (42°C).
Genetic Control of VEGF and TGF-β1 Gene Polymorphisms in Childhood Urinary Tract Infection and Vesicoureteral Reflux

We investigated whether genetic polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), potential candidate genes in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI) and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), are associated with the susceptibility to UTI and VUR, and renal scarring. We recruited 89 controls and 86 UTI and 58 VUR children. The UTI group was subdivided into two groups according to renal scarring. Two polymorphisms of VEGF and three of TGF-β1 genes were investigated by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In both UTI and VUR groups, there was an increase in frequency of the VEGF –460 CC (control, 4.3; UTI, 15.9; VUR, 17.8%; p < 0.05), TGF-β1 –509 CC (control, 8.7; UTI, 34.6; VUR, 35.1%; p < 0.001), and TGF-β1 –800 GG genotypes (control, 19.1; UTI, 40.5; VUR, 40.4%; p < 0.05). An increase in the TGF-β1 +869 CC (scar-positive, 35.4; scar-negative, 10.3%; p < 0.05) and a decrease in the +869 TC genotype (scar-positive, 29.2; scar-negative, 55.2%; p < 0.05) were observed in the scar-positive subjects. There were no differences in +405 VEGF genotype frequencies. The VEGF T-460C and the TGF-β1 C-509T, G-800A, and T869C polymorphisms could be genetic markers of the process of UTI and VUR.
ISAR imaging of helicopter

Conventional envelope alignment method of ISAR imaging assumes that the target is a rigid body, and therefore, the correlation between one-dimensional range profiles at neighboring time slots gives a larger value compared to correlation between time separated range profiles. But this is not the case for targets such as helicopter which have rotating body parts. In this paper, an envelope alignment algorithm for helicopter target ISAR imaging is proposed. For every range profile, correlation with other range profiles are done, and the range profiles with larger correlation value are used to provide an initial estimate of the target motion parameters by polynomial fitting. Then the estimated parameters are averaged to get a better estimation. The position of the rotor signals are obtained by taking the difference of the range profiles in the slow time domain. The rotor signals are then suppressed by zero-force windowing technique. Simulation results have shown the effectiveness of this algorithm.
Identification of procyanidins in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and chocolate using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Monomeric and oligomeric procyanidins present in cocoa and chocolate were separated and identified using a modified normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with on-line mass spectrometry (MS) analysis using an atmospheric pressure ionization electrospray chamber. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a silica stationary phase in combination with a gradient ascending in polarity. This qualitative report confirms the presence of a complex series of procyanidins in raw cocoa and certain chocolates using HPLC/MS techniques. Although both cocoa and chocolate contained monomeric and oligomeric procyanidin units 2-10, only use of negative mode provided MS data for the higher oligomers (i.e., >pentamer). Application of this method for qualitative analysis of proanthocyanidins in other food products and confirmation of this method as a reliable quantitative tool for determining levels of procyanidins in cocoa, chocolate, and other food products are currently being investigated.
Does evening exposure to mobile phone radiation affect subsequent melatonin production?

Purpose: To test whether exposure to the emissions from a digital mobile phone handset prior to sleep alters the secretion of melatonin. Materials and methods: In a double-blind cross-over design, 55 adult volunteers were both actively exposed or sham-exposed (in random order on successive Sunday nights) to mobile phone emissions for 30 min (0.25 W average power). Urine collection occurred immediately prior to retiring to bed and on rising the next morning. Melatonin output was estimated from principal metabolite concentrations (6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) via radioimmunoassay), urine volumes and creatinine concentrations. Results: Total melatonin metabolite output (concentration×urine volume) was unchanged between the two exposure conditions (active 14.1±1.1 μg; sham 14.6±1.3 μg). The pre- and post-bedtime outputs considered separately were also not significantly different, although the pre-bedtime value was less for active versus sham exposure. When melatonin metabolite output was estimated from the ratio of aMT6s to creatinine concentrations, the pre-bedtime value was significantly less (p = 0.037) for active compared to sham. Examination of individual responses is suggestive of a small group of ‘responders’. Conclusions: Total nighttime melatonin output is unchanged by mobile phone handset emissions, but there could be an effect on melatonin onset time.
Thermal and mechanical behavior of composite mortars containing natural sorptive clays and fly ash

Mineral additives are extensively applied as cement replacement materials in both construction concrete and mortar. Fly ash is one of the most commonly utilized additives which improve rheological properties, as well as thermal and mechanical behavior of mortar, and as such it has been widely investigated. This industrial byproduct comprises heavy metals in its composition; therefore further research is needed to optimize its effective dosage. Moreover, certain sorptive clays, such as natural zeolite and bentonite, can prevent migration of toxic elements from fly ash by immobilizing them in their structure. Ten experimental mortars are prepared with Portland cement, river sand and addition of fly ash, zeolite and/or bentonite in accordance with chemometric experimental design rules. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of mineral additives on thermal and mechanical performances of mortar. Thermal characteristics were monitored via dilatometric analysis and DTA method. Principal component analysis was used on the results of physico-mechanical testing (workability, bulk density, water absorption, shrinkage, compressive and flexural strength) to enable the divisions of the observed samples into groups in the factor space. The performance of Artificial Neural Network was compared with the experimental data in order to develop rapid and accurate method for prediction of mechanical parameters of mortar. The ANN model showed high overall prediction accuracy (r2 = 0.989, during training cycle). The test results indicate that incorporation of the mineral additives gave cost effective mortars with sufficiently good properties. However, tools of analytical modeling highlighted mortar with zeolite and fly ash as the optimal composition regarding its mechanical performance.
Genome scan of the fifty‐six bipolar pedigrees from the NIMH genetics initiative replication sample: Chromosomes 4, 7, 9, 18, 19, 20, and 21

The NIMH genetics initiative on bipolar disorder was established to collect uniformly ascertained bipolar pedigrees for genetic studies. In 1997, the four participating sites published a genome scan on the initial set of 97 bipolar pedigrees. Fifty‐six additional bipolar pedigrees have now been ascertained and evaluated. This replication pedigree set contains 354 genotyped subjects, including 139 bipolar I (BPI) subjects, five schizoaffective bipolar type SA/BP subjects, 41 bipolar II (BPII) subjects, and 43 recurrent unipolar (RUP) depression subjects. Our site has recently genotyped the replication study bipolar pedigrees using 107 microsatellite markers from chromosomes 4, 7, 9, 18, 19, 20, and 21. We are now reporting parametric and nonparametric linkage results from this effort. Multipoint nonparametric linkage analysis produced three candidate regions with allele sharing LOD scores ≥ 1.0. The linkage signal on 4q35 peaked between markers D4S3335 and D4S2390 with an allele sharing LOD score of 2.49. This finding exceeds standard criteria for suggestive linkage. Two additional loci approach suggestive linkage levels: the 4q32 finding had its maximum near marker D4S1629 with an allele sharing LOD score of 2.16, and the 20p12 finding peaked at D20S162 with an allele sharing LOD score of 1.82. Multipoint parametric linkage analysis produced similar findings. When we combined the genotype data from the original and the replication pedigree sets, 20p12 yielded a nonparametric LOD score of 2.38, which exceeds standard criteria for suggestive linkage, and a corresponding parametric HLOD score of 2.98. The combined analysis did not provide further support for linkage to 4q32 and 4q35. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measurements in the Future: Beyond the 20th Century

This article presents a brief history of psychometrics and the development in the USA shortly after the end of World War II of university graduate programs to educate and train psychometricians. Three decades later these programs in North America were on a steady decline. But, at the same time there was a surge in universities abroad in producing well-trained psychometricians, particularly in Western European countries, especially The Netherlands. Broad implications of the effect of this movement on psychological testing are suggested.
Killing Two Birds with One Stone - Querying Property Graphs using SPARQL via GREMLINATOR

Knowledge graphs have become popular over the past decade and frequently rely on the Resource Description Framework (RDF) or Property Graph (PG) databases as data models. However, the query languages for these two data models -- SPARQL for RDF and the PG traversal language Gremlin -- are lacking interoperability. We present Gremlinator, the first translator from SPARQL -- the W3C standardized language for RDF -- and Gremlin -- a popular property graph traversal language. Gremlinator translates SPARQL queries to Gremlin path traversals for executing graph pattern matching queries over graph databases. This allows a user, who is well versed in SPARQL, to access and query a wide variety of Graph Data Management Systems (DMSs) avoiding the steep learning curve for adapting to a new Graph Query Language (GQL). Gremlin is a graph computing system-agnostic traversal language (covering both OLTP graph database or OLAP graph processors), making it a desirable choice for supporting interoperability for querying Graph DMSs. Gremlinator currently supports the translation of a subset of SPARQL 1.0, specifically the SPARQL SELECT queries.
Time-varying transmission effects of external shocks into inflation: how different is China from Korea?

This article examined the time-varying effects of external shocks that determine inflation on Chinese and Korean consumer price index (CPI) inflation, using data from the period 2010:1 to 2013:4. For this experimentation, we adopted the Kalman filter algorithm. Key findings include the following: first, the lagged CPI inflation is the main determinant of inflation rate in both China and Korea that is significant and has positive effects. Second, as expected, the effects of independent variables on CPI inflation rate have a considerable difference in China and Korea from the coefficients’ size and sign. Especially, China’s CPI inflation is mainly affected by domestic output growth, while Korea is more readily affected by external shocks. Third, we confirmed the time-varying effects. For instance, the positive effect of the output variable is decreasing in the Chinese inflation equation, but its negative effect is decreasing in the Korean inflation equation. Finally, we can guess Korea is a more import dependent economy than China and also the trends of estimated coefficients of China’s inflation are changing similarly to Korea. It has been proved from recent changes that there is a decreasing effect of output growth, but negatively and increasing effects of exchange rate and import dependence. Hence, those recent changes imply that this is caused by the change of the Chinese economy to be more trade dependent as well as we cannot deny the possibility of the external factors that play a role in CPI inflation, and its influence is gradually increasing in China.
Downregulation of Bim, a Proapoptotic Relative of Bcl-2, Is a Pivotal Step in Cytokine-Initiated Survival Signaling in Murine Hematopoietic Progenitors

ABSTRACT Two distinct signaling pathways regulate the survival of interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent hematopoietic progenitors. One originates from the membrane-proximal portion of the cytoplasmic domain of the IL-3 receptor (βc chain), which is shared by IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and is involved in the regulation of Bcl-xL through activation of STAT5. The other pathway emanates from the distal region of the βc chain and overlaps with downstream signals from constitutively active Ras proteins. Although the latter pathway is indispensable for cell survival, its downstream targets remain largely undefined. Here we show that the expression of Bim, a member of the BH3-only subfamily of cell death activators, is downregulated by IL-3 signaling through either of two major Ras pathways: Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin. Akt/phosphokinase B does not appear to play a significant role in this regulatory cascade. Bim downregulation has important implications for cell survival, since enforced expression of this death activator at levels equivalent to those induced by cytokine withdrawal led to apoptosis even in the presence of IL-3. We conclude that Bim is a pivotal molecule in cytokine regulation of hematopoietic cell survival.
Influences on Gambling Behaviours and Outcomes: A Model for the Design of Effective Interventions

The paper explores design issues in relation to problem gambling, and proposes a conceptual model for identifying influences on gambling behaviours as a guide for attaining greater specificity in targeting interventions. A risk and protective factor approach, with the addition of moderating factors, is adopted in the model presented, with intervention targets being identified as: influencing the propensity to gamble, either in terms of initiating gambling or progressing from social gambling to heavy or problematic levels of gambling; restricting or modifying supply of gambling products, including modification of the properties of those products; and ameliorating the negative outcomes and consequences of problematic gambling, at the level of the individual, family or community.
Non-crossing quantile regression curve estimation

Since quantile regression curves are estimated individual ly, the quantile curves can cross, leading to an invalid distribution for the response. A simple con strained version of quantile regression is proposed to avoid the crossing problem for both linear and nonparametric quantile curves. A simulation study and a reanalysis of tropical cyclone inten sity data shows the usefulness of the procedure. Asymptotic properties of the estimator are equi valent to the typical approach under standard conditions, and the proposed estimator reduces to the classical one if there is no crossing. The performance of the constrained estimator has shown significant improvement by adding smoothing and stability across the quantile levels.
Financial Volatility Forecasting

The volatility of equity and foreign exchange market is an important input to portfolio selection and to asset pricing models. Many investment decisions and valuation of derivatives frequently rely on predictions of volatility. In this paper we review the existing empirical literature in forecasting volatility of financial time series. Particularly, we decompose the forecasting procedure into the choice of an "actual" volatility measure (since volatility is unobservable), the relavant forecasting horizon, the forecasting rule to emplyed and the criterion is used in the volatility forecasting evaluation.
THE INFLUENCE OF HABITAT AND FISHING ON REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN CUBA

Abstr A ct : The abundance of selected fish species was estimated using the stationary visual census technique in the northwestern region of the Cuban shelf. A total of 26,809 individuals of 32 species were counted in 1,172 stationary point censuses made at 10 reef sites along the coast. We found that the abundance patterns were most probably the consequence of the presence/absence of mangroves and seagrass beds in adjacent lagoon areas. A second factor influencing the spatial variation appeared to be overfishing on an east-west gradient, with lower abundances of commercially targeted species near Havana City in the east. resumen : La abundancia de especies de peces seleccionadas fue estimada usando una tecnica de censo visual esta
Characterization of Posa and Posa-like virus genomes in fecal samples from humans, pigs, rats, and bats collected from a single location in Vietnam

Abstract Porcine stool-associated RNA virus (posavirus), and Human stool-associated RNA virus (husavirus) are viruses in the order Picornavirales recently described in porcine and human fecal samples. The tentative group (Posa and Posa-like viruses: PPLVs) also includes fish stool-associated RNA virus (fisavirus) as well as members detected in insects (Drosophila subobscura and Anopheles sinensis) and parasites (Ascaris suum). As part of an agnostic deep sequencing survey of animal and human viruses in Vietnam, we detected three husaviruses in human fecal samples, two of which share 97–98% amino acid identity to Dutch husavirus strains and one highly divergent husavirus with only 25% amino acid identity to known husaviruses. In addition, the current study found forty-seven complete posavirus genomes from pigs, ten novel rat stool-associated RNA virus genomes (tentatively named rasavirus), and sixteen novel bat stool-associated RNA virus genomes (tentatively named basavirus). The five expected Picornavirales protein domains (helicase, 3C-protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and two Picornavirus capsid domain) were found to be encoded by all PPLV genomes. In addition, a nucleotide composition analysis revealed that the PPLVs shared compositional properties with arthropod viruses and predicted non-mammalian hosts for all PPLV lineages. The study adds seventy-six genomes to the twenty-nine PPLV genomes currently available and greatly extends our sequence knowledge of this group of viruses within the Picornavirales order.
Improving Battery Lifetime of Gridable Vehicles and System Reliability in the Smart Grid

The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources (RESs) and unpredictable load demands are two major challenges in providing uninterrupted power supply from a smart grid. One way to address these challenges is to use storage devices that can store surplus energy from RESs and discharge the energy back to the grid when needed. Researchers have recently introduced the idea to use electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid capability, which are called “gridable vehicles” (GVs), as storage devices in the smart grid. Using GVs as loads is well accepted, but as sources, they disrupt system reliability if insufficient GVs are available for discharging when needed. An availability planning model is thus required to address this issue. GV owners' concern over battery lifetime reductions is another issue that impedes the required participation rates for GVs in vehicle-to-grid discharge programs. In this paper, we present an intelligent smart grid system model, which mitigates real-time unavailability of GV sources via an availability planning model. We also propose a GV selection model that prevents GV batteries from premature expiry due to their vehicle-to-grid operations. Simulation results confirm that our proposed models maintain better overall reliability and increase average battery lifetime by up to 3.5 years compared with existing vehicle-to-grid models.
Trichoderma viride infection in a liver transplant recipient

Summary. Zusammenfassung. Der Empfänger eines Lebertransplantats entwickelte eine Infektion eines perihepatischen Hämatoms durch Trichoderma viride. Bevor der Befund erstellt war, erhielt der Patient immunsuppressive Medikation in hoher Dosis und über einen langen Zeitraum antibakterielle und antimykotische Behandlung. Auch wenn der Tod des Patienten nicht in direktem Zusammenhang mit der Pilzinfektion stand, wurde der Erreger trotz vorheriger chirurgischer Drainage und intensiver Behandlung durch Amphotericin B und Fluconazol bei der Autopsie in großer Menge im perihepatischen Hämatom vorgefunden.