Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface and Structure: Transcribing Intonation within and across Languages

Intonation is the phonologically structured variation in phonetic features, primarily pitch, to express phrase-level meanings. As in other speech sound domains, analyzing intonation involves mapping continuously variable physical parameters to categories. The categories of intonation are organized in a set of relations and rule-governed distributions that define the intonation system of a language. From physical realizations, as shown by pitch tracks, surface or phonetic tonal patterns can be identified in terms of tonal targets. Whether surface patterns correspond or not to categories within a given intonation system requires looking at their distributions and contrastiveness. In this paper, I assume the view that a transcription is an analysis of the intonation system, which ultimately aims to identify the contrastive intonation categories of a given language and establish how they signal meaning. Under this view, it is crucial to discuss the ways surface pitch patterns and structural pitch patterns (or phonological categories) are related. Given that intonational analysis is driven by system-internal considerations and that cues to a given category can vary across languages, it is also important to address the issue of how a language-specific transcription can be reconciled with the need and ability to do cross-language comparison of intonation. Bearing on these two issues, I discuss surface and structure in intonational analysis, drawing on mismatches between (dis)similarities in the phonetics and phonology of pitch contours, across languages and language varieties.
The anterior piriform cortex as a locus for early odor preference learning in rats

Early odor preference learning in rats has been localized to the physiological changes in the olfactory bulb. However, the role of the olfactory cortex (e.g. the piriform cortex) was unexplored. In this work, my experiments support a critical role of the piriform cortex in early odor preference learning. First, the anterior piriform cortex (aPCX) is a critical component of early odor preference learning circuitry. Transiently silencing cells using lidocaine or muscimol local infusions in the aPCX prevents odor learning and recall. Second, acquisition of early odor preference learning in the aPCX is dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation both in vivo and in vitro. NMDARs are highly implicated in synaptic plasticity and critical in many forms of associative learning. Pups are unable to learn following local infusion of D-amino-5- phosphonopentanoate (D-APV) prior to odor conditioning. In vitro, D-APV prevents LTP induction. Third, β-adrenoceptor activation in the aPCX is required and sufficient for early odor preference learning. Stroking elicits natural norepinephrine release from the locus coeruleus to the olfactory structures including PCX. Pups cannot learn following propranolol infusions before odor conditioning. If stroking is replaced by isoproterenol infusions in the aPCX during novel odor presentations, animals will learn to prefer that odor. Fourth, odor plus stroking (OS⁺) training enhances phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), a molecule highly implicated in intracellular signalling pathways involved in learning, expression in the trained hemisphere. Finally, learning induces NMDAR subunit expression changes. At 3 hr following OS+ training, there is a significant NR1 down-regulation and at 24 hr following OS⁺ training, NR1 displays a significant up-regulation from baseline expression levels.
Estimation of the bacteriocin ColE7 conjugation‐based “kill” – “anti‐kill” antimicrobial system by real‐time PCR, fluorescence staining and bioluminescence assays

The efficiency of the bacteriocin, colicin ColE7, bacterial conjugation‐based “kill” – “anti‐kill” antimicrobial system, was assessed using real‐time PCR, flow cytometry and bioluminescence. The ColE7 antimicrobial system consists of the genetically modified Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 harbouring a conjugative plasmid (derivative of the F‐plasmid) encoding the “kill” gene (ColE7 activity gene) and a chromosomally encoded “anti‐kill” gene (ColE7 immunity gene). On the basis of traJ gene expression in the killer donor cells, our results showed that the efficiency of the here studied antimicrobial system against target E. coli was higher at 4 than at 24 h. Flow cytometry was used to indirectly estimate DNase activity of the antimicrobial system, as lysis of target E. coli cells in the conjugative mixture with the killer donor strain led to reduction in cell cytosol fluorescence. According to a lux assay, E. coli TG1 (pXen lux+ Apr) with constitutive luminescence were killed already after 2 h of treatment. Target sensor E. coli C600 with DNA damage SOS‐inducible luminescence showed significantly lower SOS induction 6 and 24 h following treatment with the killer donor strain. Our results thus showed that bioluminescent techniques are quick and suitable for estimation of the ColE7 bacterial conjugation‐based antimicrobial system antibacterial activity.
Order out of Chaos: Proving Linearizability Using Local Views

Proving the linearizability of highly concurrent data structures, such as those using optimistic concurrency control, is a challenging task. The main difficulty is in reasoning about the view of the memory obtained by the threads, because as they execute, threads observe different fragments of memory from different points in time. Until today, every linearizability proof has tackled this challenge from scratch. We present a unifying proof argument for the correctness of unsynchronized traversals, and apply it to prove the linearizability of several highly concurrent search data structures, including an optimistic self-balancing binary search tree, the Lazy List and a lock-free skip list. Our framework harnesses {\em sequential reasoning} about the view of a thread, considering the thread as if it traverses the data structure without interference from other operations. Our key contribution is showing that properties of reachability along search paths can be deduced for concurrent traversals from such interference-free traversals, when certain intuitive conditions are met. Basing the correctness of traversals on such \emph{local view arguments} greatly simplifies linearizability proofs. To apply our framework, the user proves that the data structure satisfies two conditions: (1) acyclicity of the order on memory, even when it is considered across intermediate memory states, and (2) preservation of search paths to locations modified by interfering writes. Establishing the conditions, as well as the full linearizability proof utilizing our proof argument, reduces to simple concurrent reasoning. The result is a clear and comprehensible correctness proof, and elucidates common patterns underlying several existing data structures.
A study of associations between early DHA status and fatty acid desaturase (FADS) SNP and developmental outcomes in children of obese mothers

Abstract DHA from diet or endogenous synthesis has been proposed to affect infant development, however, results are inconclusive. In this study, we aim to verify previously observed fatty acid desaturase gene cluster (FADS) SNP-specific associations with erythrocyte DHA status in 9-month-old children and sex-specific association with developmental outcomes. The study was performed in 166 children (55 % boys) of obese mothers. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was analysed in blood-samples obtained at 9 months of age, and developmental outcomes assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 3 years. Erythrocyte DHA level ranged from 4·4 to 9·9 % of fatty acids, but did not show any association with FADS SNP or other potential determinants. Regression analysis showed associations between erythrocyte DHA and scores for personal–social skills (β 1·8 (95 % CI 0·3, 3·3), P=0·019) and problem solving (β 3·4 (95 % CI 1·2, 5·6), P=0·003). A tendency was observed for an association in opposite direction between minor alleles (G-variant) of rs1535 and rs174575 and personal–social skills (P=0·062 and 0·068, respectively), which became significant when the SNP were combined based on their previously observed effect on erythrocyte DHA at 9 months of age (β 2·6 (95 % CI 0·01, 5·1), P=0·011). Sex–SNP interaction was indicated for rs174575 genotype on fine motor scores (P=0·016), due to higher scores among minor allele carrying girls (P=0·043), whereas no effect was seen among boys. In conclusion, DHA-increasing FADS SNP and erythrocyte DHA status were consistently associated with improved personal–social skills in this small cohort of children of obese mothers irrespective of sex, but the sample was too small to verify potential sex-specific effects.
Instructional Design of Exercise-Centric Teaching Materials on UML Modeling

We have developed an instructional program for teaching literacy in the use of Unified Modeling Language (UML) modeling software at the University of Kitakyushu. In this paper, we show the instructional design of our teaching materials for the literacy, which students master as part of our program, and assess their effectiveness. Our strategies include three levels of instruction, each with numerous step-by-step exercises. The students learn 10 basic patterns of UML notation at level 1, composition of the notation at level 2, and creating UML system diagrams at level 3. We assess students achievement based on a rubric. Our teaching materials are effective: approximately 75 percent of 43 students met the criteria, albeit with some room for improvement.
0 Manipulation of Photonic Orbital Angular Momentum for Quantum Information Processing

More than a century ago, pioneering works carried out by Poynting (1909) and other physicists have provided the evidence of the validity of Marxwell equations for an electromagnetic field, showing how a beam of light carries energy and momentum, both in the linear and angular components. In particular the angular momentum of light, related to the generator of rotations in quantum mechanics, has been typically associated with its polarization, and more specifically with its circular polarization components. An optical beam traveling in the positive direction of the z axis that is circularly polarized, carries a z-component angular momentum content σ = ±h̄ per photon, which is positive if the circular polarization is left-handed and negative if it is right-handed. This angular momentum content is not just a formal property, but a very concrete one that can have significant mechanical effects as for example an observable induced rotation by absorption to a material particle Beth (1936); Friese et al. (1998)
p16 Controls p53 Protein Expression Through miR-dependent Destabilization of MDM2

p16INK4A and p53 are two major tumor suppressor proteins that are both upregulated in response to various cellular stresses and during senescence and aging. p53 is a well-characterized transcription factor, while p16INK4A a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor encoded by the CDKN2A gene, and controls the expression of several genes through protein–protein interactions and also via miRNAs. This report demonstrates a p16INK4A-dependent positive regulation of p53 expression, at the protein level, in various human cells as well as in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. p16 suppresses p53 turnover through inhibition of its MDM2-related ubiquitination. This effect occurs through p16-related promotion of the MDM2 mRNA turnover via the p16INK4A downstream effectors miR-141 and miR-146b-5p, which bind specific sites at the 3′ untranslated region of the MDM2 mRNA. Implications: The current findings show p16INK4A-dependent stabilization of p53 through miR-141/miR-146b-5p–related posttranscriptional repression of MDM2, thus providing new insights into the complex functional link between p16INK4A and p53. Mol Cancer Res; 16(8); 1299–308. ©2018 AACR.
Secondary Education in Five South American Countries

In this paper I focus on the Secondary Education in few countries of South America in order to identify recurrences among the problems, their possible interpretations, and their current processes of reforms. I analyse the changes of secondary education in four countries that are members of the MERCOSUR: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and I also take into account one country which is located in same region: Bolivia. Thus, I track the recent trajectories of government policies on secondary education, which have been modified by these five States of South America. For this purpose, first, I analyse the global level and the regional contexts in which educational reforms have taken place in the last decades. Second, after mention few historical characteristics of education development in Latin America –in general– and in these five nations –in particular–, I look at the reforms of secondary education in this region doing a normative analysis of the government policy documents of these five countries. This analysis shall allow us to define a period starting in the ‘1990s and continuing until the second decade of the current century, in which we can identify normative changes in the countries studied and also recognize some of their actual scope and limitations. Third, recognizing the complexity of current global networks and the dynamic of interaction, we approach the secondary education reform challenging the assumption that globalization leads to homogenization and results in the international convergence of educational systems. Finally, we discuss the meaning of secondary education for all from a regional perspective in order to identify current convergences in academic forms of secondary school and the constraints of their implementation according to academic traditions and the educational local settings.
An enhancement of the practical utilization of human performance tools by considering the personality

Objective: This study aims to enhance the practical utilization of the human performance tools in nuclear power plants (NPPs) through the personality survey. Background: The various guidelines, regulating criteria, and recommendations have been developed to prevent the human errors in industrial setups such as NPPs. Despite all these efforts accidents and disasters sometimes caused by human errors have steadily occurred, various human performance tools have been adopted as countermeasures to human errors. The major and inevitable contributing factor among many hazards to human errors might be the trait and personality that is considered to be inside human. Thus, we try to investigate the utilization of human performance tools by considering the different types of operating crew personality. We provide a more practical guidelines and recommendations to prevent human errors according to the personality. Method: The types of personality were investigated by Big 6 (HEXACO) model of personality structure. 9 human performance tools for workers in NPPs are selected including task preview, first check, questioning attitude, stop when unsure, self-checking, effective communication, pre-job briefing, verification practices, concurrent verification, independent verification, peer check, turnover, and post-job critique. We slightly modify them to help survey respondents understand better. A survey was conducted for ordinary persons over the age of 20. Results: The utilization of human performance tools shows the significant differences statistically by personality. The types of Honesty(H), Extraversion(X), Conscientiousness(C), and Openness to experience(O) show the higher utilization of human performance tools. We conclude that there need different kinds of recommendations according to the personality types during the performance and the training and educations of the human performance tools. Application: This information can be utilized as a guideline for the proactive recommendations according to the workers personality for more practical human performance tools to prevent human errors in NPPs.
Uncovering the Role of Sox2 in Oligodendroglia

In the CNS, oligodendrocytes are responsible for the formation of myelin. To build these insulating sheaths surrounding axons, cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage must go through an intricate and temporally matched sequence of proliferation, migration, differentiation, and myelination ([Michalski
Prognostic value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index in stage III gastric cancer after curative resection: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nutrition and inflammation play a crucial role in the development of cancer. The prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been confirmed in some types of human cancers. This study analyzed the prognostic significance of the preoperative PNI in patients with stage III gastric cancer after curative surgery. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN In this retrospective study, we enrolled 274 patients who underwent curative operation for stage III gastric cancer. The correlation between the preoperative PNI and overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS The patients with a high PNI had a significantly higher median OS than did those with a low PNI (46.8 months vs 24.1 months, p=0.01). In the subgroup analysis, the survival benefit of the PNI was limited to the patients with poorly differentiated gastric cancer (high PNI, 46.8 months; low PNI, 21.8 months, p=0.004) and was not observed in those with well and moderately differentiated cancer (high PNI, 30.3 months; low PNI, 26.7 months, p=0.30). In the multivariate analysis, the PNI was an independent prognostic factor for OS. CONCLUSIONS The PNI can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker for operable advanced gastric cancer.
External Modulation of the Sustained Attention Network in Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with impairments in processing speed as well as higher-level cognitive functions that depend on distributed neural networks, such as regulating and sustaining attention. Although exogenous alerting cues have been shown to support patients in sustaining attentive, goal-directed behavior, the neural correlates of this rehabilitative effect are unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of moderate to severe TBI on activity and functional connectivity in the well-documented right-lateralized frontal-subcortical-parietal sustained attention network, and to assess the effects of alerting cues. Method: Using multivariate analysis of fMRI data, TBI patients and matched neurologically healthy (NH) comparison participants were scanned as they performed the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) in 60-s blocks, with or without exogenous cueing through brief auditory alerting tones. Results: Results documented inefficient voluntary control of attention in the TBI patients, with reduced functional connectivity in the sustained attention network relative to NH participants. When alerting cues were present during the SART, however, functional connectivity increased and became comparable to activity patterns seen in the NH group. Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence of a neural mechanism for the facilitatory effects of alerting cues on goal-directed behavior in patients with damaged attentional brain systems, and support their use in cognitive rehabilitation.
Effects of PM 2 . 5 on proliferation , differentiation , apoptosis and cytokine secretion in rat bone marrow stromal cells

Objective: Discuss the impact of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) on proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and cytokine secretion of SD rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Method: Respectively detect the function of PM2.5 on proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, cell apoptosis, cycle change and cell factor secretion on BMSCs. Result: 10, 20 μg/ml PM2.5 stimulates the proliferation of BMSCs, but 50, 100, 200 μg/ml PM2.5 inhibits this proliferation (P<0.05). At the same concentration, PM2.5 with low concentration stimulates ALP activity, while PM2.5 with high concentration inhibits ALP activity. Under the same time, with an increased concentration of PM2.5, the inhibition function of ALP shall be increased. With the increased concentration of PM2.5, the apoptosis rate of the cells shall be gradually increased ; 200 μg/ml PM2.5 group, G0/G1 period, compared S period with the control group, the cell cycle was significantly prolonged (P<0.05). PM2.5 with low concentration stimulates cytokine secretion of BMSCs, while PM2.5 with high concentration inhibits cytokine secretion of BMSCs. Conclusion: PM2.5 with a low concentration can stimulate the proliferation of BMSCs, the activity generation of ALP and the effects of cytokine secretion; PM2.5 with a high concentration can inhibit the proliferation of BMSCs and apoptosis, and reduce the toxic function of cytokine secretion.
Social stratification, secondary school tracking and university enrolment in Italy

This paper looks at class inequality in the probability of enrolling in university in Italy from a long-term perspective. Given that Italian higher secondary education is tracked, it studies how tracking interacts over time with class origin in the production of inequality of educational opportunities, thus contributing to the growing literature on the inequality effects of the qualitative, or horizontal, stratification of educational systems. The paper has thus two research questions. First, it asks whether class inequality in participation in higher education has changed over time; second, whether and how this change was influenced by the tracked structure of upper secondary school. Empirical analyses are based on data from the Italian Longitudinal Household Survey, a retrospective panel survey including detailed life-course information about a representative sample of the Italian population. In an educational transition framework, we analyse the association between social class, tracking and university enrolment, applying the Karlson/Holm/Breen decomposition method for logistic regression coefficients. We find increasing inequality in accessing university, and a change in the role of upper secondary track, whose mediating role between family background and university choice appears to have weakened over time.
Scheduling level of detail with guaranteed quality and cost

This paper presents a framework for handling and on-the-fly generation of levels of detail. The application directly controls the trade-off between the amount of resources to be used and the accuracy of the final images. The basis for this choice is an accuracy curve which explicates the trade-off. This curve is calculated and updated hierarchically, which makes it especially suited for use with a scene graph. Integration of the framework with VRML is described. Measurements on our prototype implementation show that target resource loads and accuracies can adequately be reached.