Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigations on hierarchical phrase-based machine translation

In this thesis we investigate the hierarchical phrase-based approach to machine translation, with special attention to the search problem. This approach is nowadays one of the most widely applied for statistical machine translation, and thus a detailed study helps in advancing the state-of-the-art in the field. Two are the most widely used algorithms for translating using the hierarchical phrase-based approach: cube pruning and cube growing. For each of this algorithms we study their behaviour in terms of translation quality and computational requirements (speed and memory usage), and propose novel extensions which improve the computational costs of the generation process. These extensions enable us to apply the hierarchical approach to wider domains and allow the use of larger sets of parallel corpora, which in turn improve translation quality. Furthermore, we design extensions of the hierarchical model that include linguistically motivated information into the translation process, comparing them with other approaches proposed by other research groups. By inspecting the behaviour of one of these methods, which includes additional information in the form of syntactic constituents, we propose a generalization that retains the structural properties of the model, but substitutes the syntactic information by information derived from automatic clustering techniques. This allows the use of this method for a broader spectrum of languages, where the necessary linguistic tools for the original method may not be available. An additional result of this thesis is the open source machine translation toolkit Jane, which was made available to the scientific community, free of charge for noncommercial purposes. The methods described in this thesis are all implemented in the toolkit, which provides a wider dissemination of the results, as well as allowing better replicability. Some practical implementation aspects are also discussed in this thesis. In the second part of the thesis, we turn our attention to the evaluation of machine translation output, focusing on three concrete subtopics of this broad area. First, we propose a novel method for performing human evaluation based on binary comparisons, which aims at speeding up the time-consuming process of evaluating machine translation output by human judges. Second, we present a framework for the classification of errors in machine-generated translations, which allows to detect the main problems of a translation system and focus research efforts. Lastly, we give evidence about the lack of correlation between the alignment error rate measure and the final translation quality, thus motivating a better inspection of the improvements
Loss of Function of Endothelin-2 Leads to Reduced Ovulation and CL Formation

Endothelin-2 (EDN2), a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, is transiently produced by periovulatory follicles at the time of ovulation when corpus luteum (CL) formation begins. EDN2 induces contraction of ovarian smooth muscles ex vivo via an endothelin receptor A-mediated pathway. In this study, we aimed to determine if EDN2 is required for normal ovulation and subsequent CL formation in? vivo. In the ovaries of a mouse model that globally lacks the Edn2 gene (Edn2 knockout mouse; Edn2KO), histology showed that post-pubertal Edn2KO mice possess follicles of all developmental stages, but no corpora lutea. When exogenous gonadotropins were injected to induce super-ovulation, Edn2KO mice exhibited significantly impaired ovulation and CL formation compared to control littermates. Edn2KO ovaries that did ovulate in response to gonadotropins did not contain histologically and functionally identifiable CL. Intra-ovarian injection of EDN2 peptide results suggest partial induction of ovulation in Edn2KO mice. Endothelin receptor antagonism in wild type mice similarly disrupted ovulation, CL formation, and progesterone secretion. Overall, this study suggests that EDN2 is necessary for normal ovulation and CL formation.
Integrating Culture, Pedagogy, and Humor in CBT With Anxious and Depressed Youth

Among the many innovations introduced by cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), the use of adjuncts to therapy in the form of conceptual (e.g., psychoeducation) and concrete tools (e.g., worksheets) figures prominently. Moreover, the employment of structured, preplanned activities within and beyond the therapy hour that address clients’ particular needs has been a hallmark of CBT. Manuals for treating children and adolescents with anxiety and/or depression based on CBT’s nomothetic principles have popularized some CBT tools. Nonetheless, tailoring these conceptual and concrete tools in an idiographic manner to build upon clients’ unique strengths has remained a challenge. This article examines some of the existing conceptual and concrete tools within CBT to treat children and adolescents experiencing anxiety and/or depression. It then supplements those tools by offering detailed cultural considerations, pedagogical principles, and the use of humor in the treatment of these youth. Specifically, the role of culture is discussed at every step of treatment to individualize CBT; pedagogical principles are emphasized to facilitate treatment engagement; and the use of humor in therapy is exemplified as a powerful tool that facilitates adaptive empathic alliance, relaxation, and coping. These additional tools are intended to aid practitioners in their aspirations to best serve diverse clients in contemporary U.S. society. They are designed to build a strong working alliance through a culturally grounded empathic appreciation of youth clients’ strengths and difficulties while extending therapeutic application and generalizability.
Robust Data Hiding Technique for Video Error Concealment over DVB-H channel

In this paper a method for providing additional information for error concealment during the transmission of a video file over an error-prone channel is presented. The transmission of the additional information is performed without increasing the bandwidth occupation, by hiding this information into the video itself at the encoder side. The considered transmission system is the DVB-H system. The performance of the method has been investigated by simulations and experimental tests in order to evaluate the perceived quality of the processed video and the robustness of the data hiding method against the H.264/AVC coding.
Bayesian network inference with qualitative expert knowledge for group decision making

In this paper, we propose a practical framework and a methodology for transforming final group decision making statements or expert knowledge into a set of qualitative statements and probability inequality constraints for inference in a Bayesian Network. First we present several techniques in the decision process to produce a group preference ranking and a final group solution. Second, we describe a detailed method to transform the final group solution into a set of qualitative statements and an “a priori” distribution for Bayesian probabilistic models. The decision-making assumptions and the mathematical equation for Bayesian inference are derived based on data and knowledge obtained from experts. We also propose a simplified method for constructing the “a priori” model distribution. Each statement obtained from the group's solution is used to constrain the model space to the subspace which is consistent with the statement provided. Finally, we present qualitative knowledge models and then show a full formalism of how to translate a set of qualitative statements into probability inequality constraints.
Interactive representations for reflection in group simulations

A set of tools is presented within the theoretical framework of activity systems that is designed and developed to reify the communication acts of team members to support reflective learning. An evaluation tests the acceptability of the tools used within two multi-agent virtual reality simulations. We explore the affordance of the tools and issues around their acceptability in two experimental user populations.
Metapopulation persistence of insects living in hollow oaks: effects of adding oaks in the surrounding landscape

The oak district of Ostergotland is one of the largest oak forests left in Europe and it harbours many threatened species dependent on old hollow trees. In this study, the saproxylic beetle Osmoderma eremita living in hollow oaks was used as a model species and parameterised for a metapopulation model (the incidence function model) at the level of individual trees. The aim was to set up a number of conservation management scenarios, where new oaks were added to increase the quality of the matrix and then simulate the resulting metapopulation occupancy, using three levels of dispersal. A real data set of hollow oaks was used as the base for modeling. Oaks were added to cells in a lattice covering the study landscape, where cell size, cell position and numbers of oaks per hectare were varied. The results show that a larger area of added oaks and a greater number of oaks per hectare will give a higher increase in total occupancy, no matter the dispersal, but the second smallest cell size used (3.4 km2 ) will give the highest response per effort for medium and high dispersal abilities, and smaller cells with greater number of oaks per area can be more effective. The spatial position of the increase in occupancy differs depending on dispersal ability of the focal species and should be considered in conservation management work. For unoccupied cells, the effort required to get the cell occupied will be smaller for cells having a greater number of oaks.
Static Analysis of Malware to Detect Exception Return

Malware is rapidly becoming a major security issue. In order to avoid being analyzed statically, malwares resort to various obfuscation techniques to hide their malicious behaviors. The technique based on the exception return of subroutine is one of the techniques. Currently disassemblers couldn’t deal with malware which uses this technique. This paper presents a static disassembly algorithm base on virtual stack for handling malware with exception return. The result of the test proves that the algorithm is effective.
Technique : Formal Model and Its Prototype Implementation

Both anonymity and end-to-end encryption are recognized as important properties in privacy-preserving communication. However, secure and anonymous communication protocol that requires both anonymity and end-to-end encryption cannot be realized through a simple combination of current anonymous communication protocols and public key infrastructure (PKI). Indeed, the current PKI contradicts anonymity because the certificate for a user’s public key identifies the user. Moreover, we believe that anonymous communication channels should have certain authentication mechanisms because such a channel could incubate criminal communication. To cope with this issue, we propose a secure and anonymous communication protocol by employing identity-based encryption for encrypting packets without sacrificing anonymity, and group signature for anonymous user authentication. Communication occurs in the protocol through proxy entities that conceal user IP addresses from service providers (SPs). We also introduce a proofof-concept implementation to demonstrate the protocol’s feasibility and analyze its performance. Finally, we conclude that the protocol realizes secure and anonymous communications between users and SPs with practical performance. INDEX TERMS Anonymous communication, anonymous authentication, secure channel, identity-based encryption, group signature.
Scaling Understanding up to Mental Spaces

Mental Space Theory (Fauconnier, 1985) encompasses a wide variety of complex linguistics phenomena that are largely ignored in today’s natural language processing systems. These phenomena include conditionals (e.g. If sentences), embedded discourse, and other natural language utterances whose interpretation depends on cognitive partitioning of contextual knowledge. A
Model-based echolocation of environmental objects

This paper presents an algorithm that can recognize and localize objects given a model of their contours using only ultrasonic range data. The algorithm exploits a physical model of the ultrasonic beam and combines several readings to extract outline object segments from the environment. It then detects patterns of outline segments that correspond to predefined models of object contours, performing both object recognition and localization. The algorithm is robust since it can account for noise and inaccurate readings as well as efficient since it uses a relaxation technique that can incorporate new data incrementally without recalculating from scratch. <<ETX>>
Salient region detection using background contrast

In this paper, the salient region detection problem is investigated by using background contrast. Since background colors usually appear near image border, and all background colors can be mainly represented by the colors in the image boundary, the boundary-based model is established via computing the different between the intern colors and the boundary colors. As we know, the nearer the patches are close to center, the more they affect other patches. Based on this, a new distribution-based model is proposed. Because of the fact that pixels in the small neighborhood usually have the very similar color components, and computing region-based contrast can reduce the computational complexity, the superpixel algorithm is used in the pretreatment process. Finally, experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches.
Differential flatness-based motion control of a steer-and-drive omnidirectional mobile robot

This paper presents a point-to-point pose tracking controller design for a steer-and-drive omnidirectional mobile robot. A method is proposed for smooth position and orientation tracking of the omnidirectional mobile platform based on a differential flatness approach. This method is full-state controllable, which can plan a smooth trajectory for the mobile platform to cope with the problem of limited working space in an indoor environment. It features exploiting unique features of omnidirectional mobility of the motion platform. Experimental results of a four-wheeled steer-and-drive mobile platform validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Shared Decision-Making in Oncology – A Qualitative Analysis of Healthcare Providers’ Views on Current Practice

Background Despite an increased awareness of shared decision-making (SDM) and its prominent position on the health policy agenda, its implementation in routine care remains a challenge in Germany. In order to overcome this challenge, it is important to understand healthcare providers’ views regarding SDM and to take their perspectives and opinions into account in the development of an implementation program. The present study aimed at exploring a) the attitudes of different healthcare providers regarding SDM in oncology and b) their experiences with treatment decisions in daily practice. Material and Methods A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups and individual interviews with different healthcare providers at the University Cancer Center Hamburg, Germany. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results N = 4 focus groups with a total of N = 25 participants and N = 17 individual interviews were conducted. Attitudes regarding SDM varied greatly between the different participants, especially concerning the definition of SDM, the attitude towards the degree of patient involvement in decision-making and assumptions about when SDM should take place. Experiences on how treatment decisions are currently made varied. Negative experiences included time and structural constraints, and a lack of (multidisciplinary) communication. Positive experiences comprised informed patients, involvement of relatives and a good physician-patient relationship. Conclusion The results show that German healthcare providers in oncology have a range of attitudes that currently function as barriers towards the implementation of SDM. Also, their experiences on how decision-making is currently done reveal difficulties in actively involving patients in decision-making processes. It will be crucial to take these attitudes and experiences seriously and to subsequently disentangle existing misconceptions in future implementation programs.
Mobile technology acceptance for library information service: A theoretical model

The rapid growth of mobile technology provides a great potential to support users to work in a dynamic mobile environment. Research findings indicate that students expect to access their institutes' service from their handheld devices. To cope with this trend, this paper aims to propose a theoretical model for academic institutes and service providers by addressing the following question: What are the key determinant factors for the mobile technology acceptance in using library information services? How to integrate between patron' perspective and technical perspective in the process of mobile technology acceptance in library context? While the Venketesh (2012), UTAUT2 model helps understanding and predicting the drivers of acceptance of new information technologies by consumers, the Goodhue (1995), task-technology fit model helps explaining how technology leads to the impact of user involvement on performance when technology provides features and support that fit the requirement of a task. Adapting the UTAUT2 model requires re-specification to suit a specific information system. The re-specific model introduces new constructs and new measuring instruments. New constructs will add to the UTAUT2 model as well as including integration variables namely technology characteristics and task characteristics. The research includes both exploratory and quantitative techniques. The structural equation model will be used for data analysis. The contribution of the model is a design guideline for the mobile technology function that is consistent with the library context.
REBASE—restriction enzymes and DNA methyltransferases

REBASE is a comprehensive database of information about restriction enzymes, DNA methyltransferases and related proteins involved in restriction–modification. It contains both published and unpublished work with information about recognition and cleavage sites, isoschizomers, commercial availability, crystal and sequence data. Experimentally characterized homing endonucleases are also included. Additionally, REBASE contains complete and up-to-date information about the methylation sensitivity of restriction endonucleases. An extensive analysis is included of the restriction–modification systems that are predicted to be present in the sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes from GenBank. The contents of REBASE are available by browsing from the web (http://rebase.neb.com/rebase/rebase.html) and through selected compilations by ftp (ftp.neb.com) and as monthly updates that can be requested via email.
On the Management of Cloud Non-Functional Properties: The Cloud Transparency Toolkit

The cloud computing paradigm supports a vision of IT where virtual resources are distributed as commodities on either a subscription or a pay-per-use price model, without the need for any upfront investment in hardware or software assets for its tenants (i.e., customers and service providers). Since these resources, as well as data and applications moved to the cloud, are no longer directly controlled by their owners under tenancy, there is an increasing need for new solutions that reduce the uncertainty of tenants about the status of their data and applications in the cloud. In this paper, we present the architecture of the Cloud Transparency Toolkit (CTT), whose goal is to provide a general purpose and interoperable approach that increases the transparency of the cloud, improving the effectiveness of non-functional property verification and management.
A Multiple Case Study that Looks at the Implementation of character Education in English Classroom

This research observed and analyzed the implementation of character education in English classrooms. It sought to find out how English teachers develop and select materials and strategies for implementing character education in their classroom, how the English teachers implement and integrate character education in their classroom, and what factors the teachers found to be the inhibiting and supporting system for implementing character education in their school. Three teachers from three schools – a public vocational school, a public senior high school, and a religious-based public high school – participated in this research as the respondents. The purpose of involving three different type of schools was that this research needed to observe the implementation of character education in three different settings. By implementing multiple case study, this research gathered data through interview and observation. This research found that teachers in the two schools – vocational and senior high school – begun the implementation of character education by developing a plan consisted of what character they need to develop and what materials that triggered students’ interest. Moreover, this research also found that the two schools share similar strategies in implementing character education as follows: using authentic materials, verbal instructions, and cultural approach. Meanwhile, in the religious-based senior high school, the teacher did not specifically develop and select materials intended to implement character education since the school had already subjects and extracurricular programs in religion teaching and intended to develop students’ character. Lastly, this research found that the three schools share similar supporting and inhibiting factors in implementing character education namely lack of good examples in school, family, and community, lack of partnership between school, parents, and community member, and lack of commitment among the school community members to support the character education in school. And the supporting system they had were that the schools had already developed code of conducts, rules, and extracurricular programs intended to develop students’ character.
Intergroup Socialization: The Influence of Parents’ Family Communication Patterns on Adult Children’s Racial Prejudice and Tolerance

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of family communication environments on children’s intergroup socialization. Adult children (n = 200) reported on their parents’ conformity and conversation orientations and their own racial attitudes and intergroup orientations. Results evidenced ingroup bias, social dominance, and identification with parent as mediators of the positive relationship between conformity orientation and racial prejudice and the negative relationship between conformity orientation and racial tolerance. Results also revealed that children from consensual and protective families harbor the most racial prejudice and least racial tolerance. Future directions related to intergroup contact interventions, racially diverse families, and qualitative assessments of parent–child interactions are discussed.