Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving the Objective Function in Minimum Error Rate Training

In Minimum Error Rate Training (MERT), the parameters of an SMT system are tuned on a certain evaluation metric to improve translation quality. In this paper, we present empirical results in which parameters tuned on one metric (e.g. BLEU) may not lead to optimal scores on the same metric. The score can be improved significantly by tuning on an entirely different metric (e.g. METEOR, by 0.82 BLEU points or 3.38% relative improvement on WMT08 English–French dataset). We analyse the impact of choice of objective function in MERT and further propose three combination strategies of different metrics to reduce the bias of a single metric, and obtain parameters that receive better scores (0.99 BLEU points or 4.08% relative improvement) on evaluation metrics than those tuned on the standalone metric itself.
Engineering Hoare Logic-Based Program Verification in K Framework

In this paper we describe a methodology for easy development of Hoare Logic verification tools using the K (operational) semantics of programming languages. We exploit the relationship between the Hoare Logic and Matching Logic Reachability, which allows us to translate Hoare triples into reachability rules. Then we use the symbolic execution support to check the derived reachability rules. A Hoare triple holds w.r. t. the partial correctness if and only if the execution of its reachability rule is successful. The methodology consists in enriching the operational semantics of a programming language with syntax and semantics for additional constructs required when using Hoare Logic. The obtained semantics is then used by the K Framework to verify annotated programs. We instantiate our methodology on a simple imperative language, by describing each step separately, and then we test the obtained tool over the KeY-Hoare tests suite.
The 360° News Experience: Audience Connections with the Ubiquitous News Organization

The current research extends propositions from uses and gratifications, the technology acceptance model, and the expectancy-value perspective and attempts to explain audience connections to the 360° or multimodal content provider (news organization). The findings suggest a strong connection between surveillance gratifications and ritualistic media use on attitudes or perceptual orientations toward the news organization; this in turn mediates and best predicts satisfaction with the 360° news experience. The overall findings also suggest a branding effect or an extension of the audience's television news perceptions to the multimodal content provided by the news organization.
The Effects of Parental Marital Violence on Young Adults: An Exploratory Investigation.

There is some evidence that both marital discord and marital violence have deleterious effects on the emotional health of witnessing children. Little attention has been paid to the effects of such turmoil on young adults, despite some evidence that negative effects may persist into adulthood. Standardized self-report measures of aggression, depression, and anxiety were administered to three groups of college students: (a) those who had viewed parental violence (n = 44); (b) those who had viewed nonviolent discord (n = 43); and (c) those whose parents were satisfactorily married (n = 77). Students who themselves had been abused by their parents were excluded. Results indicated that students who had viewed parental marital violence were significantly more anxious than those from satisfactory relationships, and that women who had viewed violence were more depressed and more aggressive than women in either of the comparison groups. Methodological and theoretical implications of these significant findings are discussed.
Tudor Staphylococcal Nuclease (Tudor-SN) Participates in Small Ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) Assembly via Interacting with Symmetrically Dimethylated Sm Proteins*

Background: Human Tudor staphylococcal nuclease (Tudor-SN) is involved in the snRNP assembly. Results: The efficient formation of Tudor-SN·SmB complex requires binding orientation of the methylated ligand and the specific binding pocket. Conclusion: Tudor-SN takes part in regulating pre-mRNA splicing via the recruitment of U5 snRNP and the association of Sm protein. Significance: The mechanism underlying the involvement of Tudor-SN in regulating snRNP biogenesis was revealed. Human Tudor staphylococcal nuclease (Tudor-SN) is composed of four tandem repeats of staphylococcal nuclease (SN)-like domains, followed by a tudor and SN-like domain (TSN) consisting of a central tudor flanked by two partial SN-like sequences. The crystal structure of the tudor domain displays a conserved aromatic cage, which is predicted to hook methyl groups. Here, we demonstrated that the TSN domain of Tudor-SN binds to symmetrically dimethylarginine (sDMA)-modified SmB/B′ and SmD1/D3 core proteins of the spliceosome. We demonstrated that this interaction ability is reduced by the methyltransferase inhibitor 5-deoxy-5-(methylthio)adenosine. Mutagenesis experiments indicated that the conserved amino acids (Phe-715, Tyr-721, Tyr-738, and Tyr-741) in the methyl-binding cage of the TSN domain are required for Tudor-SN-SmB interaction. Furthermore, depletion of Tudor-SN affects the association of Sm protein with snRNAs and, as a result, inhibits the assembly of uridine-rich small ribonucleoprotein mediated by the Sm core complex in vivo. Our results reveal the molecular basis for the involvement of Tudor-SN in regulating small nuclear ribonucleoprotein biogenesis, which provides novel insight related to the biological activity of Tudor-SN.
A Comparison of High Volume/Low Concentration and Low Volume/High Concentration Ropivacaine in Caudal Analgesia for Pediatric Orchiopexy

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the volume or concentration of local anesthetic influences its spread and quality of caudal analgesia when the total drug dose is fixed. METHODS: We performed this study in a prospective, randomized, observer-blind manner. Children aged 1–5 yr received a constant dose of 2.25 mg/kg of ropivacaine prepared as either 1.0 mL/kg of 0.225% (low volume/high concentration [LVHC], n = 37) or 1.5 mL/kg of 0.15% solution (high volume/low concentration [HVLC], n = 36). Both solutions contained radiopaque dye. RESULTS: The median spread levels with ranges in the HVLC group (confirmed by fluoroscopic examination) were significantly higher (T6, T3-11) than in the LVHC group (T11, T8-L2). There were no significant differences in recovery times, postoperative pain scores, or side effects between the two groups. After discharge, fewer children in the HVLC group required rescue oral acetaminophen compared with the LVHC group (50.0% vs 75.7%). First oral acetaminophen time was found to be significantly longer with HVLC patients than LVHC patients (363.0 min vs 554.5 min). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed (with fluoroscopy) that a caudal block with 1 mL/kg ropivacaine spreads to T11 and to T6 with 1.5 mL/kg. If the total dose is fixed, caudal analgesia with a larger volume of diluted ropivacaine (0.15%) provides better quality and longer duration after discharge than a smaller volume of more concentrated ropivacaine (0.225%) in children undergoing day-case orchiopexy. The spread level of ropivacaine correlated significantly with the first oral acetaminophen time after discharge.
Parental Leave of Absence: Some Not So Family‐Friendly Implications1

This experiment examined the effects of ratee gender, type of leave of absence, and level of performance on perceptions of organizational commitment, work commitment, family commitment, and recommendations for organizational rewards. The proposed 3-way interactions between gender, type of leave of absence, and performance level were not supported; however, main effects and 2-way interactions were revealed. Moreover, perceived organizational commitment and work commitment were found to moderate the relationship between performance level and reward recommendations. The findings also indicated that men who were depicted as taking a leave of absence from work for parental reasons were less likely to be recommended for rewards than were males who had not taken a leave of absence.
Optimizing the yield of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich cluster surveys

We consider the optimum depth of a cluster survey selected using the Sunyaev‐Zel’dovich effect. By using simple models for the evolution of the cluster mass function and detailed modelling for a variety of observational techniques, we show that the optimum survey yield is achieved when the average size of the clusters selected is close to the size of the telescope beam. Fo ra total power measurement, we compute the optimum noise threshold per beam as a function of the beam size and then discuss how our results can be used in more general situations. As a by-product we gain some insight into what is the most advantageous instrumental set-up. In the case of beam switching observations one is not severely limited if one manages to set the noise threshold close to the point which corresponds to the optimum yield. Considering a variety of alternative scenarios, we discuss how robust our conclusions are to modifications in the cluster model and cosmological parameters. The precise optimum is particularly sensitive to the amplitude of fluctuations and the profile of the gas in the cluster. Ke yw ords: galaxies: clusters ‐ cosmic microwave background.
Copycat Hand - Robot Hand Generating Imitative Behaviour at High Speed and with High Accuracy

In recent years, robots demonstrating an aping or imitating function have been proposed. Such functions can estimate the actions of a human being by using a non-contact method and reproduce the same actions. However, very few systems can imitate the behaviour of the hand or the fingers (Bernardin et al., 2005). On the other hand, reports in Neuroscience state that mirror neurons (Rizzolatti et al., 1996; Gallese et al., 1996), which participate in the actions imitated by chimpanzees, are activated only for actions of the hand and fingers, such as cracking peanut shells, placing a sheet of paper over an object, tearing the sheet into pieces, etc. Moreover, since human beings perform intelligent actions using their hands, it is important to attempt to artificially imitate the actions of hands and fingers in order to understand the dexterity and intelligence of human hands from an engineering viewpoint. The object actions in the case where one “looks at an action performed by others and imitates it” include not only grasping or manipulating objects but also the actions involving “imitating shapes and postures of hands and fingers” of others such as sign language and dancing motions. The latter two types of actions are often more complicated and require dexterity as compared to the former actions. In the action of imitating “the shape of hands and fingers” such as sign language, it is essential to estimate the shape of the hands and fingers. Furthermore, as compared to the imitation of the actions of the lower limbs, estimating the shape of the hands is significantly more important and difficult. In particular, human hands, which have a multi-joint structure, change their shapes in a complicated manner and often perform actions with self-occlusion in which the portion of one’s own body renders other portions invisible. In the case of an artificial system, we can utilize a multi-camera system that records a human hand for imitative behaviours by surrounding it with a large number of cameras. However, all the animals that mimic the motions of others have only two eyes. To realize the reproduction of the actions of hands and fingers by imitating their behaviour, it is desirable to adopt a single-eye or double-eye system construction. To roughly classify conventional hand posture estimation systems, the following two types of approaches can be used. The first approach is a 3D-model-based approach (Rehg & Kanade, 1994; Kameda & Minoh, 1996; Lu et al., 2003) that consists of extracting the local characteristics, or silhouette, in an image recorded using a camera and fitting a 3D hand model, which has been constructed in advance in a computer, to it. The second approach is a 2D-appearance-based approach (Athitos & Scarloff, 2002; Hoshino & Tanimoto, 2005) that
Spatial and temporal sensitivity degradation of primary visual cortical cells in senescent rhesus monkeys

Human visual function declines with age. Much of this decline is mediated by changes in the central visual pathways. In this study we compared the spatial and temporal sensitivities of striate cortical cells in young and old paralysed macaque monkeys. Extracellular single‐unit recordings were employed. Our results show that cortical neurons in old monkeys exhibit lower optimal spatial and temporal frequencies, lower spatial resolution and lower high temporal frequency cut‐offs than do cells in young adult monkeys. These changes in old monkeys are accompanied by increased visually evoked responses, increased spontaneous activities and decreased signal‐to‐noise ratios. The increased excitability of cells in old animals is consistent with an age‐related degeneration of intracortical inhibition. The degradation of spatial and temporal function in old striate cortex should contribute to the decline in visual function that accompanies normal aging.
Angiogenin Levels and ANG Genotypes: Dysregulation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Objective To determine whether 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associate with ALS in 3 different populations. We also assessed the contribution of genotype to angiogenin levels in plasma and CSF. Methods Allelic association statistics were calculated for polymorphisms in the ANG gene in 859 patients and 1047 controls from Sweden, Ireland and Poland. Plasma, serum and CSF angiogenin levels were quantified and stratified according to genotypes across the ANG gene. The contribution of SNP genotypes to variance in circulating angiogenin levels was estimated in patients and controls. Results All SNPs showed association with ALS in the Irish group. The SNP rs17114699 replicated in the Swedish cohort. No SNP associated in the Polish cohort. Age- and sex-corrected circulating angiogenin levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (p<0.001). An allele dose-dependent regulation of angiogenin levels was observed in controls. This regulation was attenuated in the ALS cohort. A significant positive correlation between CSF plasma angiogenin levels was present in controls and abolished in ALS. Conclusions ANG variants associate with ALS in the Irish and Swedish populations, but not in the Polish. There is evidence of dysregulation of angiogenin expression in plasma and CSF in sporadic ALS. Angiogenin expression is likely to be important in the pathogenesis of ALS.
Design of an access control module for an instrumentation gateway

This paper describes some of the preliminary work performed on a resource access control module for an instrumentation gateway. The access control module employs a variation of the popular role-based access control (RBAC) scheme described by various authors. The gateway has very little security; hence, any user able to log onto the system is able to control any resource. This module aims to implement a pluggable module whereby users are granted access to various parts of the system depending on their user rights, while giving the administrator a very powerful method of restricting access without sacrificing ease of administration.
Opioid-Induced Constipation among a Convenience Sample of Patients with Cancer Pain

Background Little is known regarding the burden of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) among patients who suffer from cancer-related pain. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted among cancer patients in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Germany, which included medical record data abstraction, Internet-based patient surveys, and physician surveys. Patients on daily opioid therapy (≥30 mg for ≥4 weeks) for treatment of cancer pain with self-reported OIC were recruited. Response to laxatives was defined by classifying participants into categories of laxative use and evaluating the prevalence of inadequate response. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate outcomes, including the patient assessment of constipation-symptom (PAC-SYM), patient assessment of constipation-quality of life, EuroQOL-5 dimensions, and global assessment of treatment benefit, satisfaction, and willingness to continue. Results Recruitment was difficult for this study with only 31 participants completing the baseline survey and meeting criteria for opioid use and OIC (26 UK, 1 Canada, and 4 Germany). Fifty-two percent (n = 16) of participants were male, and all were White. Breast (23%, n = 7), pancreatic (13%, n = 4), and multiple myeloma (13%, n = 4) were the most common cancers. Mean duration of chronic pain and opioid use were 2.3 and 1.3 years, respectively. Participants reported having a mean of 4.4 bowel movements/week in the 2 weeks prior to baseline, of which a mean of 0.9 were spontaneous. Most participants (90%, n = 28) were using at least 1 lifestyle approach to manage their constipation; 65% (n = 20) were taking ≥1 over-the-counter laxative; 19% (n = 6) were taking ≥1 prescription laxative; 23% (n = 7) reported no laxative use in the prior 2 weeks. Moderate-to-severe constipation symptoms on the PAC-SYM were common, and mean scores on health-related quality of life outcomes were comparable to chronic pain populations. Conclusion In this primarily UK sample, there appears to be considerable unmet OIC treatment needs among cancer patients.
An exploratory study on the role of L 1 Chinese and L 2 English in the cross-linguistic influence in L 3 French 1 Hansong C AI , South China Normal University , China

This research investigates cross-linguistic influence in the comprehension of L3 French past tense. A close examination was made on the L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English) transfer patterns among 20 English majors in their early acquisition of L3 French passe compose (PC). Data were collected through introspective think-aloud protocol in a comprehension task and a retrospective interview immediately afterwards. In addition, a grammar test on English past and perfect tenses was conducted as a comparison with participants’ knowledge in the French PC. A significant positive correlation was found between positive transfer in tense and aspect from English and the scores of test on English past and perfect tenses, but no relationship was detected between transfer in tense and aspect and general L2 proficiency. Even though a general positive picture of influence from L2 English to L3 French comprehension was observed, a smaller percentage of negative transfer in tense and aspect also received extensive discussion, which provided concrete evidence and implications for the necessity of including L2-L3 contrastive knowledge or translanguaging in L3 instruction as also advocated in recent literature.
Non-native word recognition in noise: the role of word-initial and word-final information

When listening in noisy conditions, word recognition seems to be much harder in a non-native language than in one’s native language. Native listeners use both word-initial and word-final information for word recognition in clean listening conditions, where word-initial information is the most important, though word-final information becomes relatively more important when listening in noise. This study investigates whether nonnative listeners are able to use word-initial and word-final information when recognizing words in noise, and whether these information sources are equally important when listening conditions become increasingly harder. Forty-seven Dutch students participated in an English word recognition experiment, where either a word’s onset or offset was masked by speech-shaped noise with different signal-to-noise ratios. The results showed that non-native listeners are able to use both word-initial and word-final information for word recognition, but fewer words were recognized with increasing difficulty of the listening conditions when the onset of words was masked. Thus, word-initial information is more important than word-final information for word recognition when listening conditions become harder. This increasing effect occurred independently from the proficiency level in the nonnative language of the participants, although proficiency level was correlated to test performance in general.
Can a higher education institution's marketing strategy improve the student‐institution match?

Purpose – Issues such as managing brand image, assessing advertising medium effectiveness and collecting market intelligence are common practice for higher education institutions (HEIs). Consequently, understanding the information needs of potential students to the HEI when they make their decisions is paramount. The aim of this survey is to analyse the decision‐making criteria of new undergraduates enrolling at a UK HEI on their first day in terms of marketing activities employed throughout the decision‐making period during their last 12 months. Focusing in particular on the effectiveness of the dissemination of information with the influences on their decisions of whether or not to keep this HEI in their preferred set and to enrol (purchase) will be investigated.Design/methodology/approach – The research was designed to establish the key marketing communication activities that contribute to the student decision‐making process. A survey of 318 students enrolling on their first day at a Welsh (traditional.
Importance of light smoking and inhalation habits on risk of myocardial infarction and all cause mortality. A 22 year follow up of 12 149 men and women in The Copenhagen City Heart Study

Study objective: To determine risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and all cause mortality associated with light smoking and inhalation habits in men and women. Design: Prospective cohort study with follow up of MI and all cause mortality through record linkage. Setting: The Copenhagen City Heart Study, a cardiovascular study based on a sample of the general population established in 1976. Participants: 6505 women and 5644 men followed up until 1998 for first MI and for death from all causes. Main results: During follow up 476 women and 872 men suffered a MI whereas 2305 women and 2883 men died. After adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors there was a dose-response relation between smoking with and without inhaling and both MI and all cause mortality. Among inhaling smokers significantly increased risks were found in women at a consumption of only 3–5 grams of tobacco per day with relative risks (RR) of MI and all cause mortality of 2.14 (95% CI 1.11 to 4.13) and 1.86 (95% CI 1.37 to 2.51), respectively. In men increased risks were seen when smoking 6–9 grams per day with RR of MI and all cause mortality of 2.10 (95% CI 1.40 to 3.14) and 1.76 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.23), respectively. Risks were also increased in non-inhaling smokers, although in men only significantly so for all cause mortality. After adjusting for inhalation and quantity smoked, cigarette smokers had a higher risk of all cause mortality (RR 1.16 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.26)) but not of MI (RR 1.11 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.30)). The RR associated with smoking were significantly higher in women than in men for both MI and all cause mortality. Conclusions: Smoking as little as 3–5 grams of tobacco per day or not inhaling the smoke was shown to carry a significantly increased risk of developing MI and of all cause mortality with higher RR found in women than in men. The study emphasises the importance of recognising that even very limited tobacco consumption has detrimental health effects.