Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human translation quality estimation : feature-based and deep learning-based

This thesis studies the technical and linguistic aspects of human translation quality estimation (HTQE) for trainee translations from English to Chinese. To this end, it is cast as a supervised machine learning task through conventional feature-based learning and deep learning to predict fine-grained translation quality scores through regression, using no reference translations. I investigated how human translations (HTs) can be effectively represented at both the document-level and the sentence-level for quality estimation, exploiting feature-based and deep learning-based methods. Specifically, an extensive frame- work of translation quality features has been designed at both the sentence- and document-level, and a novel stacked neural model with a cross-lingual attention mechanism, leveraging the strengths of convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks, also has been proposed. From the feature-based perspective, a supervised classification method is proposed to identify terminology for quality evaluation purpose, using language- independent statistics as features. I investigated the correlation of normalised term occurrences with human annotated quality scores. Descriptive and exploratory statis- tics are carried out on trainee and machine translation datasets through pairwise correlation and principal component analysis to study the contribution of individual and group features and the distribution of translation errors, having shown that HT errors cause mainly content inadequacy and machine translation (MT) errors are more about language misuse. Fine-grained document-level and sentence-level HTQE models are trained using the state-of-the-art XGBoost algorithm with grid search parameter optimisation. Multiple models built with different feature selection strategies are compared to a strong baseline QuEst for machine translation quality estimation. On HT and MT data, the optimal models outperform the baseline and other models in predicting the majority of quality scores on the criterion of the agreement with human judgements. From the deep learning-based perspective, a stacked neural model specifically for sentence-level HTQE is presented. The neural architecture has achieved good correlations with human judgements for HTs. For the prediction of MT post-editing efforts, it has achieved comparable performance to a strong baseline for predicting HTER scores of German-English MTs and English- German machine translations (MTs) on the WMT17 test data. The model has also produced good results for predicting keystrokes. I conclude that this work has created a framework for document-level and sentence-level HTQE and has possibly started a new direction for human translation quality assessment in Translation Studies. The results on HT data show promising performance of the proposed HTQE methods in predicting fine-grained translation quality from multiple aspects, sheddin
ACTIN GENE TRANSCRIPTION DURING SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE SEA STAR

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of actin gene expression in the sea star Pisaster ochraceus were investigated. Total testes RNA was isolated monthly from individual sea stars through two spermatogenic cycles and subjected to Northern blot analysis using an actin coding sequence probe and two actin gene-specific probes previously characterized in g. ochraceus. Three transcript size classes were identified. The largest (3.5 kb) was found to hybridize only with the actin coding probe and only at moderate stringencies. A 2.3 kb transcript encoding the cytoplasmic ( ~ y ) gene class was confirmed by hybridization to a gene specific probe and cDNA sequence comparisons with genomic sequence. The 2.1 kb size class hybridizes with the muscle (M) gene-specific probe. However, testes cDNA isolates representing actin coding sequence differ from those of an existing genomic isolate, suggesting expression of the other gene in this class. The Cy transcript is the dominant actin transcript, reaching its highest levels early in the cycle. Both the 3.5 kb transcript and M transcript(s1 appear at the onset of spermatogenesis. The M transcript maintains low and stable levels throughout the cycle while the 3.5 kb transcript levels increase as the cycle progresses. These patterns sharply contrast those observed for the transcripts of two other important sperm components, beta tubulin and histone H3.
Development of micropropagation protocols for selected indigenous plant species..

The herbal medicine trade is thriving in KwaZululNatal with an ever-increasing number of people harvesting and trading in indigenous plants, especially those species with medicinal and/or magical properties. The number of plants harvested has increased whereas the size of the plants collected has decreased, resulting in low recruitment into wild populations. As a result of these two factors, species diversity has decreased. To this end, the aim of these investigations was to establish micropropagation protocols for the selected species i.e. Bowiea volubilis, Haworthia_ limifolia and Cryptocarya latifolia. In addition, hardening-off protocols were also developed. The bulbous plant, Bowiea volubilis, was propagated via organogenesis using the inflorescence stem. Bulblet formation occurred directly without an intervening callus phase. Bulblets were produced on explants on Linsmaier and Skoog (1965) (LS) medium containing 30 g.r' sucrose and either I mg.r' BAP and I mg.r' 2,4-D or 1 mg.r' BAP and 1 mg.r' NAA. Shoots and roots were induced upon transfer to the basal medium devoid of plant growth regulators. Regenerated plantlets were successfully hardened-off. Haworthia limifolia, a succulent, was propagated via direct somatic embryogenesis using leaf material. Embryo formation was induced on a modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium containing 20 g.r' sucrose and 1 5 mg.r' 2,4-D. secondary embryogenesis occurred when the explants were transferred to the basal
Monoamine oxidase in neuronal cell death

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an oxidative enzyme that deaminates a variety of amine substrates, including the neurotransmitter dopamine. The enzymatic reaction requires molecular oxygen and produces hydrogen peroxide as a by-product. MAO is localised in the outer mitochondrial membrane and exists as two isoforms, MAO-A and MAO-B, which are differentially expressed in the body and differ in their substrate and inhibitor specificities. Previous studies have suggested that MAO-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to oxidative stress in the cell and can directly inhibit electron transport, cause damage to mitochondrial DNA and enhance cell death signalling. In this study the role of MAO in cell death was investigated in dopaminergic neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells, in three diverse models of mitochondrially-mediated apoptosis. The relevance of MAO in cell death signalling was confirmed with the use of two unrelated MAO inhibitors and the creation of stable SH-SY5Y cell lines that either over express MAO-A or have reduced levels of MAO-A. The study is the first to over express MAO-A using recombinant technology and to use miRNA to stably knock-down MAO-A expression in human neuronal cells.
Merging data-driven and computational methods to understand ice nucleation

Heterogeneous ice nucleation (IN) is one of the most ubiquitous phase transitions on earth and impacts a plethora of fields in industry (e.g. air transport, food freezing and harsh-weather operations) and science (e.g. freeze avoidance of animals, cryobiology, cloud research). Still to date, we are lacking reliable answers to the question: What is it at the molecular scale that causes an impurity to facilitate the freezing process of supercooled liquid water? In this thesis we make headway towards identifying such microscopic principles by performing computational studies combined with data-driven approaches. In chapter 3 we screen a range of model substrates to disentangle the contributions of lattice match and hydrophobicity and find that there is a complex interplay and an enormous sensitivity to the atomistic details of the interface. In chapter 4 we show that the heterogeneous setting can alter the polymorph of ice that forms and introduce the concept of pre-critical fluctuations, yielding new ideas to design polymorph-targeting substrates. Chapter 5 deals with the liquid dynamics before and during the nucleation event, an aspect of nucleation that mostly goes unrecognized. We show that the homogeneous nucleation event happens in relatively immobile regions of the supercooled liquid, a finding that opens new avenues to understand and influence heterogeneous nucleation by targeting dynamics rather than structure. Finally, Chapter 6 builds on the large amount of data created during this project in that we combine all previously simulated systems and devise a machine-learning approach to find the most important descriptors for their ice nucleation activity (INA). With this we identify new microscopic guidelines and demonstrate that the quantitative prediction of heterogeneous INA is in reach. The unveiling of a computational artifact that potentially
Age and Growth

Flatfi shes are very accessible in the wild and hardy in the laboratory, thus many of the early studies of fi sh growth used fl atfi shes, especially plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in the Atlantic and a number of species in the Pacifi c. As the science of fi sheries developed, so did the need to quantify the population structure and growth characteristics of the different fl atfi sh species. In fact, the importance of ageing fi shes and determining their growth rate was realised early in the last century (Allen 1916). Much of the early information on the aging and growth of fl atfi shes (primarily plaice) is referenced in Wimpenny (1953), Graham (1956) and Beverton & Holt (1957). Prior to the 1950s researchers had gained a fairly good understanding of the methods. A clear pattern of summer and winter growth was recognised in the otoliths, which were fi rst used in the late 1800s. Other bony structures such as opercular bones, the pectoral girdle and the concave faces of the vertebrae exhibited seasonal growth patterns (Cunningham 1905) but these were not as distinctive as those on the otoliths. The observation that a pair of rings may not delimit 1 year’s growth led to early verifi cation studies based on marginal increment analyses. Experimental work on plaice and fl ounder (Platichthys fl esus) showed that the seasonal pattern on both otoliths and scales was primarily driven by seasonal changes in water temperature rather than by variations in food availability. The use of otoliths for age estimation of fl atfi shes was not universal. Species differences slowly became apparent and methodological refi nements followed. Direct measurements of the growth of fl atfi shes were afforded by series of tagging and transplantation experiments, and laboratory or enclosure experiments (Johnstone et al. 1921). In all cases it was apparent that there was considerable variability in individual growth rates and that growth rates varied between areas. The widespread sexual dimorphism in growth with females growing faster and reaching larger sizes than males was also recognised (e.g. Johnstone et al. 1921; Bigelow & Schroeder 1953; Bagenal, 1955). The effects of gear selectivity and ontogenetic behavioural changes of fl atfi shes on the accurate estimation of age structure and growth rates were recognised, especially with the offshore movement of larger juvenile plaice from the nursery grounds and a general offshore movement with size and age. The possibility that fi shing pressure could make major changes to the age structure and growth of commercially exploited fl atfi sh populations was mentioned by Jones (1958), citing the prevalence of Rosa Lee’s phenomenon in plaice.
A genetic suppressor approach to the biogenesis, quality control and function of photosynthetic complexes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Central in oxygenic photosynthesis, the cytochrome b6f complex, couples electron transfer to proton translocation across the thylakoid membrane via its quinol:plastocyanin oxidoreductase activity, contributing to ATP formation. Cytochrome b6f complex differs from its respiratory homolog, the bc1 complex, by the presence of an additional heme, heme ci located within the quinone reduction site Qi and attached by a unique thioether bond. Mutants lacking heme ci show low accumulation of partially functional b6f complex and, hence, cannot grow phototrophically. This grounded a screen for suppressor mutations that would restore higher accumulation of b6f complexes whose function, even if compromised, would sustain phototrophic growth.The genetic suppressor approach undertook in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii during this PhD thesis led to the isolation and characterisation of the ftsh1-1 protease mutant (mutation R420C which should affect ATP hydrolysis). The mutant ftsh1-1 proved to be a versatile tool for the functional study of otherwise degraded proteins. The combination of genetic, biochemical, physiological and biophysical experiments demonstrated notably that: (i) a QiKO mutant, whose b6f complexes are devoid of both bh and ci hemes, can grow phototrophically despite a broken Q-cycle, (ii) the absence of covalently bound heme ci, in the Rccb2 mutant, triggers photosensivity enhanced in the presence of O2 supporting a role for heme ci in oxygen rich environment, (iii) FtsH is involved in the maintenance of the main photosynthetic complexes.
Semiotics of the Selfie: The Glorification of the Present

After anecdotic evidence providing biographic background for the author’s interest in selfies, the semiotic question of their meaning is tackled, distinguishing between the signification of taking selfies and the meaning of selfies thus taken. Both entail authorial, reception, and structural meaning, to be studied in the long period of the cultural history of self-representa-tion and in the context of a specific semiosphere. Selfies can, hence, be interpreted as symptoms of an emerging and increasingly hegemonic temporal ideology in which escape from both traumatic past and anguishing future gives rise to a valorization of the present express-ing itself also in the new visual format of the selfies: they attempt at bestowing an ontological aura to the insignificance of the postmodern present.
DANMAP 2016 - Use of antimicrobial agents and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from food animals, food and humans in Denmark

Borck Høg, Birgitte; Korsgaard, Helle Bisgaard; Wolff Sönksen, Ute; Bager, Flemming; Bortolaia, Valeria; Ellis-Iversen, Johanne; Hendriksen, Rene S. ; Borck Høg, Birgitte; Jensen, Lars Bogø; Korsgaard, Helle Bisgaard; Pedersen, Karl; Dalby, Tine; Træholt Franck, Kristina ; Hammerum, Anette M; Hasman, Henrik; Hoffmann, Steen; Gaardbo Kuhn, Katrin; Rhod Larsen, Anders; Larsen, Jesper; Møller Nielsen, Eva; Schytte Olsen, Stefan; Petersen, Andreas; Roer, Louise; Skovgaard, Sissel; Wolff Sönksen, Ute; Torpdahl, Mia; Vorobieva, Veronika
Larval stages of Digenea from Melanoides tuberculata (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) in Medellín, Colombia.

The larvae of two trematodes found in the freshwater mollusk Melanoides tuberculata (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) are described. 125 snails from the Medellin’s Botanical Garden Joaquin Antonio Uribe were collected. In the laboratory, each individual was placed alone and stimulated with light in order to have cercaria emission. 9.6% of the snails released cercariae. These were separated in three morphologies. From each one, 15 individuals were measured and drawn. Photographs were taken. Based on their morphological characteritics the presence of Centrocestus formosanus (Heterophyidae)
The influence of 7, 12-dimethylbanz(a) anthracene on virus titer and spleen weight in Friend virus leukemia

Follow ing the observation tha t c e r ta in carcinogen ic polycyclic a ro m a tic hydrocarbons had an an tagon istic effect on the developm ent of F rie n d v irus^ induced leukem ia , experim en ts w ere c a r r ie d out to de te rm ine if th is could be explained by inhibition of v ira l rep lica tio n . 7,12-dim ethylbensz(a)anthracene w as applied weekly to the skin of m ice p rev iously inoculated with F rie n d v iru s . M ice rece iv in g F rien d v iru s and no chem ical w ere used as com parison . The an im als w ere sa c rif ic e d at w eekly in te rv a ls . The sp leens w ere weighed and v iru s concen tra tion w as de te rm ined by an extinction"’dilution b io assay of sp len ic hom ogenates. The sp leen s of the D MB A -tre a te d an im als w ere consisten tly sm a lle r as com pared with the sp leens of the u n trea ted an im als . The v iru s t i te r of D M B A -treated an im als w as in g en era l s ligh tly low er and showed a sh a rp drop in the fourth week. T his o b se rv a tio n m ight be explained by an a lte ra tio n in su scep tib ility of the host ta rg e t ce lls and not by d ire c t in te rfe re n c e with v iru s rep lica tio n .
Desempenho de semeadoras-adubadoras no estabelecimento da cultura do arroz de sequeiro

Upland rice ( Oryza sativa L.) sowing with five sowing/fertilizing machines, EG 212-AS, PAR 3000, PST 2, MP 2000, and PP Solo models, working at three different displacement velocities, on a typic Haplustox soil, on two soil tillages (conventional and minimum tillage) was studied. The machines showed different performance in relation to operation velocity, sowing capacity and fuel consumption. Seed distribution, sowing depth and seed integrity were not affected by increasing machine operation velocity. There were less seeds per meter and sowing was deeper at minimum tillage. Fertilization depth was similar for all machines, independently of operation velocity and soil tillage. The worm gear fertilizer dosers were more suitable than the rosette or rotor ones. Rice sown with PST 2 yielded better than sown with EG 212-AS.
Étude du rôle des gènes TGF-β1 et HSP-70 lors du processus de régénération du membre chez l’axolotl

Urodele amphibians, such as the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), have the unique ability, among vertebrates, to perfectly regenerate many parts of their body throughout their life. Among the complex structures that can be regenerated, the limb is the most widely studied. Limb regeneration is divided in two main phases. The preparation phase, which begins right after amputation, includes wound healing and the formation of an apical ectodermal cap. During this phase, dermal fibroblasts and muscle cells will lose their characteristics and become pluripotent through a process called cellular dedifferentiation. The dedifferentiated cells migrate and accumulate under the apical ectodermal cap to form the blastema. During the redevelopment phase, the cells in the blastema proliferate and redifferentiate to regenerate the lost structures. It is interesting to highlight the fact that regeneration never leads to scar formation in the axolotl. In order to learn more about the molecular control of limb regeneration, the genes Heat-shock protein-70 (Hsp-70) and Transforming growth factor1 (Tgf1) were selected for their important roles in stress response and wound healing in mammals. HSP-70 is a molecular chaperone which is produced to protect cellular proteins when the cell faces a stress. TGF1 is a cytokine produced after wounding that activates the inflammatory response and stimulates wound closure in amniotes. Results presented in this thesis show that Hsp-70 is expressed and regulated during limb development and regeneration in the axolotl. We were also able to isolate the cDNA coding for axolotl Tgf1 and our results show that this gene is expressed
Characterization and modeling of microstructure evolution of cable insulation system under high continuous electric field

Le sujet de cette these porte sur la comprehension et la modelisation du comportement electrique de systeme d'isolation soumis a un fort champ electrique continu. Les proprietes electriques du polymere sont directement pilotees par ses heterogeneites chimiques et physiques presentes a plusieurs echelles. Dans cette etude, un nouveau modele est developpe ayant pour but de simuler l'evolution de la microstructure de polymere avec la temperature, le champ electrique et le temps et de simuler l'impact de cette evolution sur les proprietes electriques du polymere. Dans ce modele, des matrices sont utilisees pour decrire la distribution de chacune des heterogeneites et propriete electriques d'un polymere semi-cristallin. L'evolution de ces matrices de microstructure suit des lois genetiques dont la definition a ete obtenue a partir d'une caracterisation fine des proprietes physicochimiques et electriques de materiaux specifiques en fonction de la temperature et du champ electrique. Ces lois implementees sont bases sur des calculs simples permettant un temps de resolution plus rapide comparativement aux autres modeles preexistants. Basee sur ces lois d'evolutions genetiques, le comportement electrique sous champ electrique continue de polymere isolant peut etre simule uniquement a partir d'une caracterisation physique et chimique de ce polymere. Le modele est ainsi capable de reproduire le comportement electrique de plusieurs polymeres semi-cristallins et de suivre les donnees experimentales mesurees par ailleurs. Le modele integre plusieurs physiques tels que la diffusion, le transport ionique et le transport electronique, lui permettant ainsi de prendre en compte l'influence d'un grand nombre d'heterogeneites.
Effects of temperature on Pinus patula seedlings growing in pots in a controlled environment

Synopsis The re-establishment of Pinus patula seedlings into sites with high harvesting residue (slash) loads can negatively affect the survival of these plants. Field trials have examined the role that insect pests and fungal diseases play in causing this phenomenon. Research has also indicated that temperatures at ground level tend to be higher in the slash during the day, com pared to areas where slash had been removed. The current investigation aimed to determine whether the high temperatures experienced in the slash are likely to be the sole causal agent for the observed mortality. Pots containing P. patula seedlings were exposed to four different temperatures (26°, 32°, 38° and 44° C) in an illuminated growth chamber. The duration of exposure was 1, 2 or 3 hours. The exposure to the different temperatures was repeated on 7 days in a 10 day period. Respiration rates increased significantly at the high temperatures, while the chlorophyll a, band total chlorophyll concentrations were significantly reduced at the highest temperature. Increasing temperature also significantly reduced both height and new root growth in the seedlings during the experiment. The results indicate that, although no mortality was observed during the experiment, continued exposure to high temperatures over an extended period has the potential to cause seedling mortality. However, it is hypothesised that high temperatures predispose the seedlings to attack by pests and pathogens on site.