Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Event entailment chains extraction for Text-to-Scene conversion

In our study of Text-to-Scene conversation (TTS), which translates natural language into animations automatically, we realized that event entailment knowledge is useful in generating scenes since the main part of a scene is to show an event. In this paper, we provide some results of our attempt to extract event entailment knowledge. We use entailment chains instead of traditional entailment rules since the sequence of events is a process which make useful in TTS. The result shows that the work is worth to continue to study.
Governance Indicators in the Law of Development Finance: A Legal Analysis of the World Bank’s ‘Country Policy and Institutional Assessment’

The article presents a legal critique of and a legal framework for the ‘Country Policy and Institutional Assessment’ (CPIA), the indicator system used by the World Bank to evaluate the governance performance of its borrowers and to allocate aid to its poorest members. The CPIA is becoming increasingly rules-based and raises important questions for legal research: First, what legal role does the CPIA play in the allocation of public resources by the World Bank, and how can the CPIA’s financial, reputational, and cognitive effects be conceptualized from a legal point of view? Secondly, what is the existing legal framework for influential governance rating exercises like the CPIA, and should this framework be developed further along the lines of Global Administrative Law or ‘public’ law thinking? And finally, what is the appropriate role of ‘technocratic’ instruments such as indicators in global (re)distribution of financial resources? The main argument is that the CPIA is a promising tool to make development more effective, but that it also represents a powerful exercise of international public authority which requires an appropriate public law framework. This framework already exists in part within the administrative law of development cooperation, which enables us to transform certain concerns about the CPIA’s effectiveness and legitimacy into legal arguments. However, this framework remains deficient and must be further developed, for which the article makes some concrete suggestions. The article proceeds in three main steps: It first develops an analytical and regulatory framework for indicators used in development cooperation. It then applies this framework to the CPIA, analysing its genealogy, contents, and effects, as well as existing mechanisms of participation, reason-giving, transparency, and review. The third section evaluates the CPIA’s existing legal regime against the principles of development cooperation law, namely development-orientation and efficacy as well as collective and individual autonomy. The conclusion reflects on how this framework potentially captures the tensions between distributive politics and expert-driven, technocratic instruments like indicators.
How do analysts deal with hard-to-value firms? Evidence of herding

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effects on analyst herding when firms are difficult to value. We predict that herding behaviour by financial analysts will be more likely to appear in association with firms and/or times requiring more subjective valuation, making the task of the analyst more complicated. This hypothesis is supported by the observation of a stronger tendency for analysts to herd in the presence of uncertainty versus certainty regarding the firm’s valuation. Herding behaviour is particularly evident at times when analysts’ earnings forecasts may convey unfavourable or pessimistic news about the firm. Such behaviour does not manifest itself in an overall analysis.
Probabilistic Approach for Long-Run Price Projections: Case Study of Concrete and Asphalt

AbstractPractitioners increasingly use pavement management systems for determining the allocation of resources for multidecade investments. One important and uncertain input that will affect decisions in these frameworks is future changes in cost for rehabilitation and reconstruction actions. Despite this, existing paradigms overlook its consideration largely because little research to date has evaluated the performance of forecasting over extended time horizons. Therefore, the contribution of this study is the demonstration (via a case study) of the long-term fidelity of probabilistic price projections relative to current practice. Two paving materials, asphalt and concrete, are projected through a probabilistic hybrid forecasting model that convolves conventional forecasts for underlying constituent prices and a long-term price equilibrium relationship between commodities. Out-of-sample forecasts are conducted to test the performance of the proposed model in estimating future prices in terms of their (1.
EEG Diagnostic Procedures and Special Investigations in the Assessment of Photosensitivity

Summary: Photosensitivity can be assessed in laboratory conditions with different methods. The most common procedure is intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), whose effectiveness in detecting photosensitivity depends largely on methodologic aspects. Although IPS is a widespread and routinely used procedure in EEG laboratories, only recently has a standardization of the IPS method been proposed. Furthermore, other modalities of visual stimulation, including pattern stimulation and low‐luminance visual stimulation (LLVS), have proven their usefulness in detecting photosensitivity. We provide an overview of the methodologic aspects and clinical implications of these procedures, resulting from recent consensus meetings, and the diagnostic usefulness of the LLVS technique in photosensitive individuals whose seizures are triggered particularly by television images. Finally, we briefly illustrate the potential of advanced neurophysiological (magnetoencephalography and high‐density EEG) and functional imaging techniques in the investigation of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying photosensitivity.
Albuminuria and risk of cardiovascular events, death, and heart failure in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals.

CONTEXT Microalbuminuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. The relationship between the degree of albuminuria and CV risk is unclear. OBJECTIVES To estimate the risk of CV events in high-risk individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and without DM who have microalbuminuria and to determine whether levels of albuminuria below the microalbuminuria threshold increase CV risk. DESIGN The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study, a cohort study conducted between 1994 and 1999 with a median 4.5 years of follow-up. SETTING Community and academic practices in North and South America and Europe. PARTICIPANTS Individuals aged 55 years or more with a history of CV disease (n = 5545) or DM and at least 1 CV risk factor (n = 3498) and a baseline urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death); all-cause death; and hospitalization for congestive heart failure. RESULTS Microalbuminuria was detected in 1140 (32.6%) of those with DM and 823 (14.8%) of those without DM at baseline. Microalbuminuria increased the adjusted relative risk (RR) of major CV events (RR, 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-2.05), all-cause death (RR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.84-2.38), and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (RR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.54-4.10). Similar RRs were seen for participants with or without DM, even after adjusting for other CV risk factors (eg, the adjusted RR of the primary aggregate end point was 1.97 [95% CI, 1.68-2.31] in those with DM and 1.61 [95% CI, 1.36-1.90] in those without DM). Compared with the lowest quartile of ACR (<0.22 mg/mmol), the RRs of the primary aggregate end point in the second quartile (ie, ACR range, 0.22-0.57 mg/mmol) was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.95-1.30); third quartile, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.19-1.60; ACR range, 0.58-1.62 mg/mmol); and fourth quartile, 1.97 (95% CI, 1.73-2.25; ACR range, >1.62 mg/mmol) (P for trend <.001, even after excluding those with microalbuminuria). For every 0.4-mg/mmol increase in ACR level, the adjusted hazard of major CV events increased by 5.9% (95% CI, 4.9%-7.0%). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that any degree of albuminuria is a risk factor for CV events in individuals with or without DM; the risk increases with the ACR, starting well below the microalbuminuria cutoff. Screening for albuminuria identifies people at high risk for CV events.
A3 adenosine receptor activation triggers phosphorylation of protein kinase B and protects rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 mast cells from apoptosis.

Adenosine accumulates to high levels in inflamed or ischemic tissues and activates A3 adenosine receptors (ARs) on mast cells to trigger degranulation. Here we show that stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 mast-like cells with the A3 AR agonists N6-(3-iodo)benzyl-5'-N-methylcarboxamidodoadenosine (IB-MECA; 10 nM) or inosine (10 microM) stimulates phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt). IB-MECA (1 microM) also causes a >50% reduction in apoptosis caused by exposure of RBL-2H3 cells to UV light. Akt phosphorylation is not stimulated by 100 nM N6-cyclopentyladenosine (A1-selective) or CGS21680 (A2A-selective) and is absent in cells pretreated with wortmannin or pertussis toxin. The KI values of the AR antagonists BW-1433 and 8-sulfophenyltheophylline (8-SPT) were determined in radioligand binding assays for all four subtypes of rat ARs: BW-1433 (A1, 5.8 +/- 1.0 nM; A2A, 240 +/- 37; A2B, 30 +/- 10; A3, 12,300 +/- 3, 700); 8-SPT (A1, 3.2 +/- 1.2 microM; A2A, 57 +/- 4; A2), 2.2 +/- 0.8; A3, >100). BW-1433 and the A3-selective antagonist MRS1523 (5 microM), but not 8-SPT (100 microM), block IB-MECA-induced protection from apoptosis, confirming the A3 AR as the mediator of the antiapoptotic response. The data suggest that adenosine and inosine activate Gi-coupled A3 ARs to protect mast cells from apoptosis by a pathway involving the betagamma subunits of Gi, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase beta, and Akt. We speculate that activation of A3 ARs on mast cells or other cells that express A3 ARs (e.g., eosinophils) may facilitate their survival and accumulation in inflamed tissues.
Neuromodulation of the locomotor network by dopamine in the isolated spinal cord of newborn rat

We have analysed the action of the neuromodulatory catecholamine, dopamine (DA), on the lumbar locomotor network using an isolated in vitro newborn rat spinal cord preparation. We have also attempted to determine the respective contribution of the D1‐ and D2‐like receptors on the dopamine‐mediated effects. Bath application of DA‐induced slow locomotor‐like rhythmic activity (cycle‐period 20–30 s) in ventral motor roots. Bursts were alternating between segmental right and left side and between ipsilateral flexor and extensor units. This rhythm was blocked by D1 (SCH‐23390) and D2 (raclopride, sulpiride) receptor antagonists, but was unaffected by the dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase blocker, fusaric acid, thereby ruling out indirect noradrenaline‐mediated effects. The D1 agonist, SKF‐81297 induced prolonged slow rhythmic bursting, while the selective D2 agonists, quinpirole and quinelorane, had no effect. DA and the D1 agonist, SKF‐81297 also increased the period and burst amplitude of N‐methyl‐d‐l‐aspartate‐induced locomotor activity. The effects of dopamine and SKF‐81297 on the N‐methyl‐d‐l‐aspartate‐induced rhythm were long‐lasting; persisting for 1 hour after washout. The DA action was blocked by MDL‐12 330 A, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, suggesting the involvement of cAMP. Together these results indicate that dopamine can exert neuromodulatory actions on mammalian motor networks via short‐lasting permissive influences and a newly reported, long‐lasting modulation of motor network activity.
Reduced CD44 standard expression is associated with tumour recurrence and unfavourable outcome in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

CD44 was detected with an antibody recognizing all forms of CD44 (CD44 standard) and others specific for its v3 and v6 variant isoforms; their prognostic value was evaluated in 213 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The staining patterns of CD44 standard (s) and CD44v6 in tumour tissue were quite similar, 176 cases (83%) being highly positive for CD44s and 153 cases (72%) for CD44v6. Only 18 (9%) tumours showed high expression of CD44v3. Papillary carcinomas were significantly more often high expressors of CD44s and CD44v6 than follicular carcinomas (p<0.001 for both). Age older than 60 years, distant metastases, and advanced pTNM stage were related to loss of expression of CD44s (p<0.001, p=0.021, and p=0.003, respectively). Tumour recurrence and cancer‐related mortality were related to the reduced level of CD44s (p=0.049 and p=0.042). CD44v3 did not associate with any of the clinicopathological factors. In univariate analysis, CD44s was the only significant prognostic factor for disease‐free survival (p=0.0488). In multivariate analysis, CD44s and thyroglobulin level were significant prognostic factors for disease‐free survival (p=0.040 and p<0.001, respectively). The reduced level of CD44s in DTC patients seems to be an independent prognostic factor for unfavourable disease outcome. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparative Study of the Haemostatic Properties and Cardiovascular Effects of Adrenaline and Ornipressin in Children during Enflurane Anaesthesia

In a randomised, double‐blind trial, haemostatic and cardiovascular effects of ornipressin and adrenaline were compared in 30 children requiring surgery for “bat‐ear” deformity. Mean total blood loss was 14.3 ml with ornipressin and 11.7 ml with adrenaline, this difference being insignificant. There was a significant and progressive reduction in mean heart rate in children who received ornipressin. from 134 to 116 bpm (P<0.0.5). and a significant rise from 127 to 134 bpm (P<0.05) with adrenaline. Mean systolic pressure was unaltered by ornipressin but was significantly increased from 97 to 105 mmHg (P<0.05) in children receiving adrenaline. Ornipressin is as effective a haemostatic agent as adrenaline and the rises in heart rate and systolic pressure associated with adrenaline, which are factors known to predispose to the onset of ventricular dysrhythmias, do not occur with ornipressin.
Efficacy of sequential treatment of HCT116 colon cancer monolayers and xenografts with docetaxel, flavopiridol, and 5-fluorouracil

AbstractAim:Clinical treatment of solid tumors with docetaxel, flavopiridol, or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) often encounters undesirable side effects and drug resistance. This study aims to evaluate the potential role of combination therapy with docetaxel, flavopiridol, or 5-FU in modulating chemosensitivity and better understand how they might be used clinically.Methods:HCT116 colon cancer cells were treated with docetaxel, flavopiridol, and 5-FU in several different administrative schedules in vitro, either sequentially or simultaneously. Cell survival was measured by MTT assay. The activity of caspase-3 was determined by caspase-3 assays and the soft agar colony assay was used to test the colony formation of HCT116 cells in soft agar. We also established xenograft models to extend in vitro observations to an in vivo system.Results:The maximum cytotoxicity was found when human colon cancer HCT116 cells were treated with docetaxel for 1 h followed by flavopiridol for 24 h and 5-FU for another 24 h. This sequential combination therapy not only inhibits tumor cell growth more strongly compared to other combination therapies but also significantly reduces colony formation in soft agar and augments apoptosis of HCT116 cells. Sequencing of docetaxel followed 1 h later by flavopiridol, followed 24 h later by 5-FU in xenograft models, also resulted in delayed tumor growth and higher survival rate.Conclusion:These results highlight the importance of an administrative schedule when combining docetaxel with flavopiridol and 5-FU, providing a rationale explanation for its development in clinical trials.
Handwritten Word Recognition Using Classifier Ensembles Generated From Multiple Prototypes

Handwritten text recognition is one of the most difficult problems in the field of pattern recognition. In this paper, we describe our efforts towards improving the performance of state-of-the-art handwriting recognition systems through the use of classifier ensembles. There are many examples of classification problems in the literature where multiple classifier systems increase the performance over single classifiers. Normally one of the two following approaches is used to create a multiple classifier system. (1) Several classifiers are developed completely independent of each other and combined in a last step. (2) Several classifiers are created out of one prototype classifier by using so-called classifier ensemble creation methods. In this paper an algorithm which combines both approaches is introduced and it is used to increase the recognition rate of a hidden Markov model (HMM) based handwritten word recognizer.
Protein Traffic from the Secretory Pathway to the Endosomal System in Pancreatic β-Cells*

Constitutive-like secretion involves vesicular trafficking corresponding kinetically and biochemically with a post-trans-Golgi network (TGN) origin. In pancreatic β-cells, the budding of AP-1/clathrin-coated vesicles, a portion of which is derived from immature secretory granules, has been hypothesized to initiate constitutive-like trafficking. However, ∼30 min after release of a 20 °C intracellular transport block in pancreatic β-cells (to synchronize protein egress from the TGN), addition of brefeldin A (BFA) (which inhibits AP-1 recruitment) was reported not to block subsequent constitutive-like secretion. To further explore post-TGN trafficking in pancreatic β-cell lines, we have followed the fate of pulse-labeled procathepsin B (ProB, a lysosomal proenyzme) after postpulse wortmannin treatment or the BFA treatment described above. We find that continuous wortmannin treatment allows ProB to reach immature secretory granules but inhibits its egress from maturing granules. Remarkably, BFA treatment causes augmented unstimulated secretion of newly synthesized ProB that is not paralleled by insulin. This effect requires a delay of 25–35 min after release from the 20 °C block. Further, when ProB delivery to endosomes is inhibited, its BFA-augmented secretion is eliminated. We hypothesize that the constitutive-like pathway involves an endosomal intermediate.
Physical-Layer Security Against Known/Chosen Plaintext Attacks for OFDM-Based VLC System

This letter introduces a chaos-based physical-layer security approach for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based visible light communication (VLC) system with the capability against known-plaintext attacks (KPAs) and chosen-plaintext attacks (CPAs). This approach generates dynamic cyphertexts by exploiting the random characteristics of chaotic keys and input data. It performs chaotic permutation of subcarrier allocation in time/frequency domains and chaotic polarity reversal of subcarriers. For secret-key generation, we present chaotic key generation protocol with the help of the position-sensitive and real-valued channel state information of the VLC channel. The results show that our approach supports superior confidentiality for OFDM-based VLC systems against KPAs and CPAs.
Relationship between cellular and whey components in buffalo milk

High somatic cell count (SCC) affects milk quality and cheesemaking, resulting in a reduction in cheese yield and quality. In dairy cows, quarter milk samples with >200000 cells/ml are considered to have subclinical mastitis, while there is much uncertainty on the corresponding levels of SCC in buffalo milk. In this study 30 lactating water buffaloes were selected and SCC, differential somatic cell counts and several whey components were tested in quarter milk samples to assess the relationship between inflammation markers and milk quality. Overall 236 quarter milk samples were considered. To evaluate the relationship between cellular markers (SCC, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, PMN, and N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, NAGase) and other milk components, three classes were defined (low, medium and high). Analysis of milk yield showed a significant reduction in the high class of each of the three markers chosen. Overall, the highest class was characterized by significant changes in milk composition and a lower milk quality. The presence of an inflammatory status of the udder was frequent after the first trimester of lactation and in buffaloes with two or more parturitions. This study showed that significant changes in milk components can be observed when SCC are >400000 cells/ml, PMN are >50% and NAGase is >100 units. These thresholds could be suggested as levels to define udder health status in buffalo cows.
An Investigation of the Response of the Spouse to Chronic Pain Behavior1

&NA; A study was conducted to assess the responses of spouses to chronic pain behavior. In this study, spouses watched videotapes of “painful” and “neutral” facial expressions emitted both by their mates, hospitalized chronic pain patients, and by a number of performers. Skin conductance and heart rate to each of these displays were monitored and spouses also rated the perceived pain intensity of each display. Spouses showed greater increases in skin conductance to painful than to neutral facial displays, whether emitted by performers or by patients. Additionally, spouses reporting relatively high levels of marital satisfaction showed greater increases in skin conductance to the painful displays of their mates than did relatively unsatisfied spouses, while both groups gave similar ratings to these same displays. Implications of these data for the development of psychiatric and psychosomatic difficulties in responses of chronically ill patients are discussed.
Diesel exhaust particles disturb gene expression in mouse testis

Inhalation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) has been found to reduce sperm production. There is a possibility that DEP exposure elicits changes in gene expression in testis. To identify the alteration of gene expression resulting from DEP exposure, we constructed subtracted cDNA libraries from mouse testis using the suppression subtractive hybridization method. We isolated 16 candidate clones whose expression levels changed after exposure. Some of these candidates were highly similar to known testis‐specific genes. Some of the clones also seemed to correlate with spermatogenesis. Northern blot analysis revealed that DEP exposure changed the expression levels of several clones in a dose‐dependent manner. For example, the expression of clone R8, which was very similar to human XRRA1, increased by 2.3‐fold in testis after DEP exposure. On the other hand, the expressions of long‐chain acyl‐CoA synthetase 6 (Acsl6) and serine/threonine kinase 35 reduced by 0.3‐fold. These results indicated that some constituents of DEP alter gene expression in the testis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 58–63, 2007.