Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Fluency by Reordering Target Constituents using MST Parser in English-to-Japanese Phrase-based SMT

We propose a reordering method to improve the ﬂuency of the output of the phrase-based SMT (PBSMT) system. We parse the translation results that follow the source language order into non-projective dependency trees, then reorder dependency trees to obtain ﬂuent target sentences. Our method ensures that the translation results are grammatically correct and achieves major improvements over PB-SMT using dependency-based metrics.
Novel IoT-Based Privacy-Preserving Yoga Posture Recognition System Using Low-Resolution Infrared Sensors and Deep Learning

In recent years, the number of yoga practitioners has been drastically increased and there are more men and older people practice yoga than ever before. Internet of Things (IoT)-based yoga training system is needed for those who want to practice yoga at home. Some studies have proposed RGB/Kinect camera-based or wearable device-based yoga posture recognition methods with a high accuracy; however, the former has a privacy issue and the latter is impractical in the long-term application. Thus, this paper proposes an IoT-based privacy-preserving yoga posture recognition system employing a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and a low-resolution infrared sensor-based wireless sensor network (WSN). The WSN has three nodes (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${x}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${z}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-axes) where each integrates <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8\times 8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pixels’ thermal sensor module and a Wi-Fi module for connecting the deep learning server. We invited 18 volunteers to perform 26 yoga postures for two sessions each lasted for 20 s. First, recorded sessions are saved as . csv files, then preprocessed and converted to grayscale posture images. Totally, 93 200 posture images are employed for the validation of the proposed DCNN models. The tenfold cross-validation results revealed that F<sub>1</sub>-scores of the models trained with <italic>xyz</italic> (all 3-axes) and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (only <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${y}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-axis) posture images were 0.9989 and 0.9854, respectively. An average latency for a single posture image classification on the server was 107 ms. Thus, we conclude that the proposed IoT-based yoga posture recognition system has a great potential in the privacy-preserving yoga training system.
Gender and Credit Risk: A View from the Loan Officer's Desk

In this paper we analyze the effect of loan officers' gender on the approval of loans and, in particular, on their subsequent performance. Using detailed bank information on a sample of close to half a million loans, we show that female loan officers have, conditional on the risk score, around a 15\% lower delinquency rate than that of male officers. In addition to the original scoring of the loans, we also have the recommendation of the expert system. We find that the risk profile of applicants screened by male and female loan officers is very similar, but conditional on risk score, women follow the recommendations more often than men. Moreover, we find evidence of gender bias in terms of a mistake-punishment trade-off, which could explain, at least in part, women's higher compliance with the recommendations. Indeed, there is a double standard in terms of the consequences for breaking the rules: errors, in the form of delinquent loans as a result of not following the recommendation of the system, are forgiven more often for male than for female loan officers.
Thermal transport in crystals as a kinetic theory of relaxons

Thermal conductivity in dielectric crystals is the result of the relaxation of lattice vibrations described by the phonon Boltzmann transport equation. Remarkably, an exact microscopic definition of the heat carriers and their relaxation times is still missing: phonons, typically regarded as the relevant excitations for thermal transport, cannot be identified as the heat carriers when most scattering events conserve momentum and do not dissipate heat flux. This is the case for two-dimensional or layered materials at room temperature, or three-dimensional crystals at cryogenic temperatures. In this work we show that the eigenvectors of the scattering matrix in the Boltzmann equation define collective phonon excitations, termed here relaxons. These excitations have well defined relaxation times, directly related to heat flux dissipation, and provide an exact description of thermal transport as a kinetic theory of the relaxon gas. We show why Matthiessen's rule is violated, and construct a procedure for obtaining the mean free paths and relaxation times of the relaxons. These considerations are general, and would apply also to other semiclassical transport models, such as the electronic Boltzmann equation. For heat transport, they remain relevant even in conventional crystals like silicon, but are of the utmost importance in the case of two-dimensional materials, where they can revise by several orders of magnitude the relevant time- and length-scales for thermal transport in the hydrodynamic regime.
Optimizing Region of Support for Boundary-Based Corner Detection: A Statistic Approach

Boundary-based corner detection has been widely applied in spline curve fitting, automated optical inspection, image segmentation, object recognition, etc. In order to obtain good results, users usually need to adjust the length of region of support to resist zigzags due to quantization and random noise on digital boundaries. To automatically determine the length of region of support for corner detection, Teh-Chin and Guru-Dinesh presented adaptive approaches based on some local properties of boundary points. However, these local-property based approaches are sensitive to noise. In this paper, we propose a new approach to find the optimum length of region of support for corner detection based on a statistic discriminant criterion. Since our approach is based on the global perspective of all boundary points, rather than the local properties of some points, the experiments show that the determined length of region of support increases as the noise intensity strengthens. In addition, the detected corners based on the optimum length of region of support are consistent with human experts' judgment, even for noisy boundaries.
Are the Scots getting a better deal on prescribed drugs than the English?

Geoff Watts explains why Scotland's drug rationing body seems able to make more drugs available to its citizens than its English equivalent Anger in England at the apparent austerity of its drug rationing body in comparison with its Scottish counterpart came to a head last week, when the English authority announced that it was not going to recommend the use of bortezomib (Velcade). The drug has already been approved for limited use in multiple myeloma north of the border. [][1] The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which advises on the use of treatments by the NHS in England, was obliged to bring forward its draft guidance on the use of bortezomib after a leak to the press of its latest appraisal. It confirmed that it would not recommend the drug in monotherapy for relapsed multiple myeloma. Leading the charge on this occasion was the Daily Mail . Under the headline “Medical apartheid as English cancer patients are denied life-extending drug” (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/, 20 Oct) it explained that the “new wonder drug” was to be withheld from NHS patients in England while still being … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Design of ultraspherical windows with prescribed spectral characteristics

A method for designing ultraspherical windows with prescribed spectral characteristics is proposed. The characteristics considered include the ripple ratio, main-lobe width, null-to-null width, and a user defined side-lobe pattern. The method employs a variety of short algorithms that calculate the ultraspherical window's independent parameters based on the prescribed spectral characteristics.
Effector Function Activities of a Panel of Mutants of a Broadly Neutralizing Antibody against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

ABSTRACT The human antibody immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) b12 neutralizes a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) isolates in vitro and is able to protect against viral challenge in animal models. Neutralization of free virus, which is an antiviral activity of antibody that generally does not require the antibody Fc fragment, likely plays an important role in the protection observed. The role of Fc-mediated effector functions, which may reduce infection by inducing phagocytosis and lysis of virions and infected cells, however, is less clear. To investigate this role, we constructed a panel of IgG1 b12 mutants with point mutations in the second domain of the antibody heavy chain constant region (CH2). These mutations, as expected, did not affect gp120 binding or HIV-1 neutralization. IgG1 b12 mediated strong antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) of HIV-1-infected cells, but these activities were reduced or abrogated for the antibody mutants. Two mutants were of particular interest. K322A showed a twofold reduction in FcγR binding affinity and ADCC, while C1q binding and CDC were abolished. A double mutant (L234A, L235A) did not bind either FcγR or C1q, and both ADCC and CDC functions were abolished. In this study, we confirmed that K322 forms part of the C1q binding site in human IgG1 and plays an important role in the molecular interactions leading to complement activation. Less expectedly, we demonstrate that the lower hinge region in human IgG1 has a strong modulating effect on C1q binding and CDC. The b12 mutants K322A and L234A, L235A are useful tools for dissecting the in vivo roles of ADCC and CDC in the anti-HIV-1 activity of neutralizing antibodies.
Retained Broken Knife Blades Within the Disc Space

Study Design Four cases in which, during standard lam nectomies, knife blades broke deep into the disc space are reported. Summary of Background Data These broken knife blades could not be removed at the time of initial operations. Results Follow-up studies indicated further anterior migration of retained fragments in two cases after ambulation. Conclusions Because of the potential hazards of late intraabdominal visceral or vascular injuries, removal of sharp retained fragments at another session is recommended.
Aspects of the History of Twin Research: Statistical Congresses in the 19th Century and Hellin's Law

In the 19th century, a series of international statistical congresses began that were important for population studies, including twin research. The introduction of common rules for the national demographic registers enabled scientists to contribute to the genesis of statistical research. The congress in St. Petersburg in 1872, in particular, focused on the movements of the population, and how they should be registered. Among the facts to be recorded were in multiple births, the sex and number of children born alive or still-born, whether legitimate or illegitimate, and the age of the mother at the date of the births. During the history of twin research, Hellin's law has played a central role because it is an approximately correct association between the rates of multiple maternities. It has been mathematically proven that Hellin's law does not hold as a general rule. Analyses show divergences from the law that are difficult to explain and/or eliminate. Varying improvements of this law have been proposed. The majority of all studies of Hellin's law are based on empirical rates of multiple maternities, ignoring random errors. Such studies can never confirm the law, but only identify errors with respect to Hellin's law that are too large to be characterized as random. It is of particular interest to note and explain why the rates of higher multiple maternities are sometimes too high or too low when Hellin's law is used as a benchmark. Studies have shown that there were investigators before Hellin who have contributed substantially to Hellin's law. In this article, we re-examine some old data sets and contributions in which Hellin's law has been evaluated and also analyze recent data.
MLC nand flash retention error recovery scheme through word line program disturbance

Aggressive scaling down of Nand Flash induced serious reliability degeneration. Endurance and data retention lifetime deteriorated has become important scaling barrier. In this paper we propose a data retention reliability enhancing scheme through word line program disturbance (RE-WPD) for high scaled Nand Flash. The key ideal of RE-WPD is injecting extra electrons into floating gate through word line program disturbance, and recovers data retention errors due to floating gate charge leakage. As the result, 54% data retention bit error rate and 67% endurance improvement is achieved on commercial 2Xnm MLC Nand Flash.
Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans: preventing plasticity or protecting the CNS?

It is well established that axonal regeneration in the adult CNS is largely unsuccessful. Numerous axon‐inhibitory molecules are now known to be present in the injured CNS, and various strategies for overcoming these obstacles and enhancing CNS regeneration have been experimentally developed. Recently, the use of chondroitinase‐ABC to treat models of CNS injury in vivo has proven to be highly beneficial towards regenerating axons, by degrading the axon‐inhibitory chondroitin sulphate glycosaminsoglycan chains found on many proteoglycans in the astroglial scar. This enzyme has now been shown to restore synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex of adult rats by disrupting perineuronal nets, which contain high levels of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CS‐PGs) and are expressed postnatally around groups of certain neurons in the normal CNS. The findings suggest exciting prospects for enhancing growth and plasticity in the adult CNS; however, some protective roles of CS‐PGs in the CNS have also been demonstrated. Clearly many questions concerning the mechanisms regulating expression of extracellular matrix molecules in CNS pathology remain to be answered.
New species of Central American Rhopalothrix Mayr, 1870 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

The ant genus Rhopalothrix is a rare inhabitant of wet forest leaf litter and soil. We propose a monophyletic R. isthmica clade that is restricted to the Neotropics, contains most of the species in the genus, and has its center of abundance and diversity in Central America. Thirteen species are recognized in the R. isthmica clade, of which eight are described as new and three are redescribed. A key to species in the R. isthmica clade is provided, and the following eight new species are described: R. andersoni Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. apertor Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. atitlanica Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. megisthmica Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. nubilosa Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. subspatulata Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., R. therion Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov., and R. triumphalis Longino & Boudinot, sp. nov. Queens are newly associated with workers for three Central American species. New synonymy is proposed for Rhopalothrix plaumanni Brown & Kempf, 1960 = R. acutipilis Kempf, 1962, syn. nov.
Non‐pathogenic Fusarium solani represses the biosynthesis of nematicidal compounds in vitro and reduces the biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica by Pseudomonas fluorescens in tomato

Aims: The aim of the present investigation was to determine the influence of various Fusarium solani strains on the production of nematicidal agent(s) in vitro and biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica in tomato by Pseudomonas fluorescens strains CHA0 and CHA0/pME3424.
Switched-Mode Active Decoupling Capacitor Allowing Volume Reduction of the High-Voltage DC Filters

This paper describes active shunt LC decoupling circuit with ceramic capacitors, allowing volume reduction and lifetime improvement of the high-voltage dc filters. Active filtering is based on the energy exchange between high-voltage coupling and low-voltage auxiliary capacitors. The coupling capacitor enables use of the low-voltage switched-mode power stage and low-voltage auxiliary decoupling capacitor. Advantageously, this allows to reduce power dissipation, switching frequency ripple current, and to reduce volume of the circuit. Additionally, power efficiency and capacitor lifetime are improved by using recent high-voltage coupling multilayer ceramic capacitors, reaching very low ESR. This paper provides description of the active decoupling capacitor, and shows an example of the feedback control. Obtained performances are demonstrated on the prototype of 1300-μF/450-V capacitor, allowing to reduce volume by three, when compared to ordinary 450-V electrolytic capacitor.
How are decision systems changing? The contribution of social media to the management of decisional liquefaction

Abstract The liquidity of data, information and knowledge is influencing the relationships among social and economic actors through the definition of a new socio-technical configuration in which new rules influence individual behaviours and different standards determine the success of every type of actions and decisions. In this new contest, decision-makers should understand that traditional hierarchical approaches are no longer able to face the challenges imposed by an emerging relational configuration in which decisions cannot be imposed but emerge from the interactions among actors. Aiming at supporting the definition of more affordable models of decision, the study proposes a reading key for the ongoing evolution and proposes some reflections useful for the emersion of a conceptual framework more fitting with the emerging scenario. The proposed reflections aim at supporting decision-makers in the identification of key variables likely to assure competitive advantages in the emerging social configurations.
Porphyromonas gingivalis may interfere with conception in women

ABSTRACT In this observational and prospective study, we investigated if microbiological and serological markers of periodontitis associated with conception in 256 non-pregnant women (Mage = 29.2 years; range 19–42 years). Clinical oral and gynecological examinations were performed, major periodontal pathogens in the saliva were detected, and serum and saliva antibodies against major periodontal pathogens were analyzed. The follow-up period for becoming pregnant was 12 months. Porphyromonas gingivalis was significantly (p = 0.032) more frequently detected in the saliva among those who did not become pregnant (8.3%) than among those who became pregnant (2.1%). The median levels of salivary P. gingivalis immunoglobulin A (IgA; p = 0.006) and IgG (p = 0.007) antibodies were higher among those who did not become pregnant compared to those who became pregnant. Hazard ratios (HR) for not becoming pregnant were HR = 3.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–13.9; p = 0.048) if the subject was polymerase chain reaction–positive for P. gingivalis with high salivary antibodies against it, and HR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.03–2.54; p = 0.035) if she had high levels of serum P. gingivalis IgA and signs of periodontal infection. P. gingivalis associated with no success in getting pregnant.
Regional adiposity distribution and insulin resistance in young Chinese and European Australian women

Abstract Objective: Lower than normal leg fat mass and excessive trunk fat mass are predictive of insulin resistance (IR) in obese women of European descent. Whether this regional adiposity relationship applies to moderately overweight women of Chinese descent is undetermined. Thus, the relationship between leg and trunk fat mass and IR of young (22.3 ± 0.3 years) sedentary Australian women of either Chinese (CW; n = 22) or European (EW; n = 36) descent was examined. Material and methods: Subjects underwent a maximal oxygen uptake test, blood draw, and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition. Fasting insulin levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed by ELISA and IR was calculated by HOMA-IR. Blood lipids and glucose were quantified by an automated enzymatic method (Cholestech LDX, USA). Results: Total, arm, trunk, and leg fat was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for the EW group, whereas IR was significantly higher for CW. Fasting lipids and glucose were within normal levels for both groups, whereas CRP levels were significantly higher in EW. For EW trunk fat mass was the only variable significantly correlated with IR (r = 0.40, p < 0.05). In contrast, for CW leg fat mass was significantly correlated with IR (r = − 0.49, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Greater trunk fat mass was associated with higher IR of Australian women of European descent, whereas smaller leg fat mass was associated with higher IR of women of Chinese descent.
Pipelined ADC with Virtual Ground Reference Buffers

The virtual ground reference buffer (VGRB) technique is introduced as a means to improve the performance of switched-capacitor circuits. The technique enhances the performance by improving the feedback factor of the op-amp without affecting the signal gain. The bootstrapping action of the level-shifting buffers relaxes key op-amp performance requirements including unitygain bandwidth, noise, open-loop gain and offset compared with conventional circuits. This reduces the design complexity and the power consumption of op-amp based circuits. Based on this technique, a 12b pipelined ADC is implemented in 65nm CMOS that achieves 67.0dB SNDR at 250MS/s and consumes 49.7mW of power from a 1.2V power supply.
Reliability Analysis of Converter Valves for VSC-HVDC Power Transmission System

In this paper reliability model of the converter valves in VSC-HVDC system is analyzed. The internal structure and functions of converter valve are presented. Taking the StakPak IGBT from ABB Semiconductors for example, the mathematical reliability model for converter valve and its sub-module is established. By means of calculation and analysis, the reliability indices of converter valve under various voltage classes and redundancy designs are obtained, and then optimal redundant scheme is chosen.
Effects of manual rib-cage compression versus PEEP-ZEEP maneuver on respiratory system compliance and oxygenation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVES Patients unable to perform breathing functions may be submitted to invasive mechanical ventilation. Chest physiotherapy acts directly on the treatment of these patients for the purpose of improving their lung function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of manual rib-cage compression versus the positive end expiratory pressure-zero end expiratory pressure (PEEP-ZEEP) maneuver, on compliance of the respiratory system and oxygenation in patients under invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODS A double centric, prospective, randomized and crossover study, with patients under invasive mechanical ventilation, in controlled mode for more than 48 hours was carried out. The protocols of chest physiothe-rapy were randomly applied at an interval of 24 hours. Data of respiratory system compliance and oxygenation were collected before application of the protocols and 30 minutes after. RESULTS Twelve patients completed the study. Intragroup analysis, for both techniques showed a statistically significant difference in tidal volume (p=0.002), static compliance (p=0.002) and dynamic compliance (p=0.002). In relation to oxygenation, in the group of manual rib-cage compression, peripheral oxygen saturation increased with a significant difference (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Manual rib-cage compression and PEEP-ZEEP maneuver have positive clinical effects. In relation to oxygenation we found a favorable behavior of peripheral oxygen saturation in the group of manual rib-cage compression.