Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contextual constraints based on dialogue models in database search task for spoken dialogue systems

This paper describes the incorporation of contextual information into spoken dialogue systems in the database search task. Appropriatedialoguemodeling is requiredto manageautomatic speech recognition (ASR) errors using dialogue-level information. We define two dialogue models: a model for dialogue flow and a model of structured dialogue history. The model for dialogueflowassumesdialoguesin the databasesearchtaskconsist of only two modes. In the structured dialogue history model, query conditions are maintained as a tree structure, taking into consideration their inputted order. The constraints derived from these models are integrated by using a decision tree learning, so that the system candeterminea dialogueact of the utteranceand whether each content word should be accepted or rejected, even when it contains ASR errors. The experimental result showed that our method could interpret content words better than conventional one without the contextual information. Furthermore, it was also shown that our method was domain-independent because it achieved equivalent accuracy in another domain without any more training.
[Effect of urotensin II on proliferative potential and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 of adventitial fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rat].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of urotensin II ( U II ) on the proliferative potential of adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and to determine whether extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway is involved in this progress. METHODS 3H-thymidine incorporation test was used to estimate the U II -induced proliferative potential of AFs from SHR and the influence of Urantide (U II receptor antagonist) and PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor). Western blotting was used to test the U II -induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation as well as the effect of Urantide and PD98059 on U II -induced ERKl/2 phosphorylation. RESULTS U 11 increased the proliferative potential of AFs from SHR in a dose-dependent way. Urantide and PD98059 wholly or partly inhibited U II -induced proliferation of SHR-AFs. In SHR-AFs, U II induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a time-dependent way, which was completely inhibited by Urantide and PD98059. CONCLUSION U II can increase the proliferative potential of AFs from SHR and ERK1/2 pathway is partly involved in this progress.
Lineages, quantal cell cycles, and the generation of cell diversity

Most theories of determination or differentiation assume that embryonic cells differ from mature cells. Embryonic cells are thought to have metastable control mechanisms. These labile controls are believed to become progressively more stabilized as the cells differentiate. Zygote, blastula, neural plate, limb bud, somite, or ‘stem’ cells are conceived of as undifferentiated, totipotent, or multipotential cells. As such, these cells supposedly have available for activation a larger repertoire of phenotypic programmes than their progeny. A necessary corollary to this view is that the activation of one particular phenotypic programme out of the many available is a function of instructive exogenous inducing molecules.
Clinical course and management of postoperative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus keratitis in immunocompromised patients: two case reports

We describe the clinical course and successful treatment of two cases of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis. In case 1, MRSA keratitis occurred 5 days after cataract extraction, associated with endophthalmitis; in case 2, diagnosis was made 19 months after penetrating keratoplasty. Treatment in both cases consisted of topical fortified vancomycin and fortified bacitracin. A third topical antibiotic, polymyxin B-trimethoprim, was added to the therapeutic regimen in case 2, one month into the treatment. Oral doxycycline was prescribed to reduce collagenase activity and treat blepharitis. Mupirocin nasal ointment and skin antiseptics were used to decrease and eliminate potential MRSA colonization. Topical prednisolone acetate 1% was applied conservatively to mitigate inflammation in both cases. In case 2, topical cyclosporine A was also used for similar purposes. Keratitis may have worsened while on these immune-modulating drops, especially in case 2, and eradication of infection may have been slowed. Eventually both patients achieved full resolution of infection. Duration of keratitis was 3 and 1.5 months, respectively. Polyantimicrobial therapy is effective in eradicating MRSA-related postoperative keratitis. Topical fortified vancomycin and fortified bacitracin were used in both cases, with a third topical antibiotic, polymyxin B-trimethoprim, also required in case 2. Oral doxycycline, nasal mupirocin, and antiseptic soap may be useful adjuncts in management. Treatment time to achieve full resolution may be prolonged relative to other types of bacterial keratitis. Alterations in immune status may have lengthened the time of treatment. Our two patients were immune compromised and were also susceptible to endophthalmitis. It is possible that topical immune-modulating drops such as prednisolone acetate may potentiate MRSA infection, and if used, should be only done so with great caution.
Legitimation durch Akzeptanz. Zur Subjektorientierung einer „systematischen“ Debatte

Zusammenfassung Der Beitrag führt die Legitimitätsdebatten der Soziologie weiter und vollzieht einen Perspektivewechsel von der Legitimation der Systeme hin zur Akzeptanz durch die Akteure. Vor diesem subjektorientierten Hintergrund identifiziert die Autorin aktuelle Legitimationsprobleme demokratischer Gesellschaften als Akzeptanzprobleme auf seiten der Subjekte. Summary The article continues sociological discussions about legitimacy in a change of perspective from the legitimation of systems to the acceptance by the actors. In this subject-orientated view the authoress identifies actual problems of democratic societies as problems of acceptance on the side of the subjects.
On the Articulatory Representation of Speech within the Evolving Transformation System Formalism

This paper deals with the formulation of an alternative, structural, approach to the speech representation and recognition problem. In this approach, we require both the representation and the learning algorithms to be linguistically meaningful and to naturally represent the linguistic data at hand. This allows the speech recognition system to discover the emergent combinatorial structure of the linguistic classes. The proposed approach is developed within the ETS formalism, the first formalism in applied mathematics specifically designed to address the issues of class and object/event representation. We present an initial application of ETS to the articulatory modelling of speech based on elementary physiological gestures that can be reliably represented as the ETS primitives. We discuss the advantages of this gestural approach over prevalent methods and its promising potential to mathematical modelling and representation in linguistics.
Computational model of whole blood exhibiting lateral platelet motion induced by red blood cells

An Immersed Boundary method is developed in which the fluid's motion is calculated using the lattice Boltzmann method. The method is applied to explore the experimentally observed lateral redistribution of platelets and platelet‐sized particles in concentrated suspensions of red blood cells undergoing channel flow. Simulations capture red‐blood‐cell‐induced lateral platelet motion and the consequent development of a platelet concentration profile that includes an enhanced concentration within a few microns of the channel walls. In the simulations, the near‐wall‐enhanced concentration develops within approximately 400 ms starting from a random distribution of red blood cells and a uniform distribution of platelet‐sized particles. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Do Female Faculty In‡uence Female Students' Choice of College Major, and Why?

The belief that female students avoid male-dominated majors due to gender biases, and that the presence of female faculty may mitigate these eects has prompted several North American universities to initiate programs to increase the number of female faculty in various …elds, in particular Science and Engineering. However, existing evidence on the role of gender in major choice is surprisingly thin, sometimes contradictory, and usually based on small, localized samples. This paper studies whether the proportion of female faculty at a department has an in‡uence on the proportion of female students in that …eld by using a nationally representative panel dataset, Computer Aided Science Policy Analysis and Research (CASPAR), over the years 1976-1987. Our panel data analysis reveals a statistically signi…cant positive eect of the proportion of female faculty on female students only for the …eld of Engineering, the …eld with the lowest proportion of female faculty. In an alternate speci…cation, we control for potentially confounding unobserved characteristics of colleges and students that might be correlated with the gender composition of faculty by using the idiosyncratic variation in female faculty in a …eld across time within the same college. This strategy also yields similar results. Once we control for prevailing gender stereotypes across states by using a state-level gender-equality index, the positive in‡uence of female faculty in Engineering disappears. This suggests that the channel through which female faculty in‡uence the choices of female students are by serving as "role models" for female students, and by negating the "stereotype threat". Moreover, we do not …nd any eect of male faculty members on the choice of male students in female-dominated majors; this …nding is consistent with the social psychology theories that females are more in‡uenceable.
Realistic respiratory motion margins for external beam partial breast irradiation.

PURPOSE Respiratory margins for partial breast irradiation (PBI) have been largely based on geometric observations, which may overestimate the margin required for dosimetric coverage. In this study, dosimetric population-based respiratory margins and margin formulas for external beam partial breast irradiation are determined. METHODS Volunteer respiratory data and anterior-posterior (AP) dose profiles from clinical treatment plans of 28 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) PBI patient plans were used to determine population-based respiratory margins. The peak-to-peak amplitudes (A) of realistic respiratory motion data from healthy volunteers were scaled from A = 1 to 10 mm to create respiratory motion probability density functions. Dose profiles were convolved with the respiratory probability density functions to produce blurred dose profiles accounting for respiratory motion. The required margins were found by measuring the distance between the simulated treatment and original dose profiles at the 95% isodose level. RESULTS The symmetric dosimetric respiratory margins to cover 90%, 95%, and 100% of the simulated treatment population were 1.5, 2, and 4 mm, respectively. With patient set up at end exhale, the required margins were larger in the anterior direction than the posterior. For respiratory amplitudes less than 5 mm, the population-based margins can be expressed as a fraction of the extent of respiratory motion. The derived formulas in the anterior/posterior directions for 90%, 95%, and 100% simulated population coverage were 0.45A/0.25A, 0.50A/0.30A, and 0.70A/0.40A. The differences in formulas for different population coverage criteria demonstrate that respiratory trace shape and baseline drift characteristics affect individual respiratory margins even for the same average peak-to-peak amplitude. CONCLUSIONS A methodology for determining population-based respiratory margins using real respiratory motion patterns and dose profiles in the AP direction was described. It was found that the currently used respiratory margin of 5 mm in partial breast irradiation may be overly conservative for many 3DCRT PBI patients. Amplitude alone was found to be insufficient to determine patient-specific margins: individual respiratory trace shape and baseline drift both contributed to the dosimetric target coverage. With respiratory coaching, individualized respiratory margins smaller than the full extent of motion could reduce planning target volumes while ensuring adequate coverage under respiratory motion.
Mutation of the Drosophila homologue of the Myb protooncogene causes genomic instability

Vertebrates have three related Myb genes. The c-Myb protooncogene is required for definitive hematopoiesis in mice and when mutated causes leukemias and lymphomas in birds and mammals. The A-Myb gene is required for spermatogenesis and mammary gland proliferation in mice. The ubiquitously expressed B-Myb gene is essential for early embryonic development in mice and is directly regulated by the p16/cyclin D/Rb family/E2F pathway along with many critical S-phase genes. Drosophila has a single Myb gene most closely related to B-Myb. We have isolated two late-larval lethal alleles of Drosophila Myb. Mutant imaginal discs show an increased number of cells arrested in M phase. Mutant mitotic cells display a variety of abnormalities including spindle defects and increased polyploidy and aneuploidy. Remarkably, some mutant cells have an aberrant S- to M-phase transition in which replicating chromosomes undergo premature histone phosphorylation and chromosomal condensation. These results suggest that the absence of Drosophila Myb causes a defect in S phase that may result in M-phase abnormalities. Consistent with a role for Drosophila Myb during S phase, we detected Dm-Myb protein in S-phase nuclei of wild-type mitotic cells as well as endocycling cells, which lack both an M phase and cyclin B expression. Moreover, we found that the Dm-Myb protein is concentrated in regions of S-phase nuclei that are actively undergoing DNA replication. Together these findings imply that Dm-Myb provides an essential nontranscriptional function during chromosomal replication.
Risk behaviors for eating disorder in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of risk behaviors for eating disorder (ED) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their association with gender, nutritional status, variables related to T1D, and body satisfaction. METHOD 189 individuals with T1D (12-56 years old) answered the Bulimic Investigation Test (BITE), the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale, and questions regarding control of T1D. Association between ED risk behaviors and the selected variables was assessed with the chi-square test and Student's t-test; factors that influenced the risk of ED were identified by means of logistic regression. RESULTS Of the patients with T1D, 58.7% were at risk of ED (45, 40, and 16% according to the EAT, BITE and BES, respectively). There were significant differences between groups with and without risk for ED related to BMI (p = 0.009), gender (p = 0.001), insulin omission (p = 0.003), use of the carbohydrate counting method (p = 0.019), and body dissatisfaction (p = 0.001). The risk of ED was nine times higher in patients who reduced or omitted insulin (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Patients with T1D demonstrated a high frequency of body dissatisfaction and ED risk behaviors; the omission or reduction of insulin was an important risk factor.
Integrated sensory motor system in prematurely born children.

PURPOSE To investigate about an integrated sensory motor system existence in premature newborns, submitted to gustatory stimulation. METHODS Analytical and experimental study of contents, double-blind. Being participants 90 premature newborns, divided into two groups (water or sucrose analysis 12%). Recorded by 15 minutes (first and last moments, without stimulation; and second time with gustatory stimulation). Three independent judges analyzed the behaviors in the right hand and left hand in the mouth and suction in the left and right and hand during the various behavioral states, those being inserted in the database of Statistical Package for Social Science, being then considered that the events observed by at least two of them. It was made use of Spearman' s rank correlation test on a significance level by p<0.05. RESULTS Considering the groups both separately and together, right and left had initially moderate correlation, being right hand in the mouth remained strong at the end and left hand in the mouth finished on moderate and strong correlation, according to each behavioral state. Right hand suction in its total and sucrose showed a strong correlation initially in drowsy state, becoming moderate at the end. In alertness state there was initially a weak correlation in both stimuli ending in moderate correlation in sucrose and strong in water. Left hand suction presented initially moderate correlation on the alert state, ending in weak correlation in sucrose stimuli, which did not occur in the water that started and finished strong. CONCLUSION The oral stimulation influenced the hand-mouth coordination, showing early motor sensory integration. However, there was no discrimination about the gustatory capacity on the newborns.
Development of 3-DOF finger module for micro manipulation

A compact and economical 3-DOF finger module for micro manipulation is developed; it is designed for a two-finger micro manipulator which can manipulate micrometer-size objects dexterously like chopsticks. A 3-DOF parallel mechanism for this finger is proposed, and its inverse kinematics between the end effector position and the actuator displacements is formulated. The design parameters are determined so that its workspace volume may be as large as possible. A prototype using three piezo-electric actuators and two types of flexure joints, which are proposed for realizing a compact finger, is developed. The Jacobian matrix used for calculating the actuator displacements corresponding to the given end effector position is obtained by experiments. The repeatability and absolute positioning accuracy-about 2.0 /spl mu/m-of this prototype are evaluated.
Effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on PC12 cells by MTS and p53

Iron oxide nanoparticles(Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs) have recently received increasing interest in the biotechnology and life science. However, little is known about the nanoneurotoxicity of Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs following exposure to neurons. This study was to elucidate the cytotoxicity and its mechanism of Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs on PC12 cells line which derived from Rattus norvegicus pheochromocytoma. The cell viability was observed by MTS assay and P53 gene was determined by RT-PCR. The result showed exposure to Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs at dosage levels between 25 and 400 ug/ml decreased cell viability differently. P53 mRNA levels increased when PC12 cells were incubated with different concentrations Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs. In summary, exposure to Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs resulted in a dose-dependent cytotoxicity in cultured PC12 cells that was associated with increased P53 gene expression and much attention should be paid to the potential impact of Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> NPs on the central nervous system.
Conservation priorities of genetic diversity in domesticated metapopulations: a study in taurine cattle breeds

We estimated neutral diversity of 21 European cattle breeds with 105 microsatellites. Nine of them resembled unselected Balkan Buša strains with diffuse breeding barriers and the 12 others were strongly differentiated, isolated breeds. Because of the impact of neutral genetic diversity on long-term population adaptive capacity, we discuss the long-term outcome of different conservation priorities in a subdivided metapopulation of the investigated cattle breeds. The optimal contribution to a pool of total genetic diversity allocated more than 95% of long-term relevant neutral diversity to virtually unselected strains of the Balkan Buša, while the maximization of total variance preferred inbred breeds. Current artificial selection methods, such as genomic selection sped up and a recovery of underestimated traits becomes quickly impossible. We emphasize that currently neutral and even deleterious alleles might be required for future genotypes in sustainable and efficient livestock breeding and production systems of a 21st century. We provide cumulative evidences that long-term survival relies on genetic complexity and complexity relies on allelic diversity. Our results suggest that virtually unselected, nonuniform strains harbor a crucial proportion of neutral diversity and should be conserved with high global priority. As one example, we suggest a cooperative maintenance of the nondifferentiated, highly fragmented, and fast vanishing metapopulation of Balkan Buša.
Health Insurance and Disclosure of Same-Sex Sexual Behaviors Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Same-Sex Relationships.

PURPOSE Gay and bisexual men (GBM) have poorer health outcomes than the general population. Improved health outcomes will require that GBM have access to healthcare and that healthcare providers are aware of their sexual behaviors. This study sought to examine factors associated with having health insurance and disclosure of same-sex sexual behaviors to primary care providers (PCPs) among GBM in primary same-sex relationships. METHODS We conducted an online survey of a national sample of 722 men in same-sex couples living in the United States. Logistic regression and multinomial regression models were conducted to assess whether characteristic differences existed between men who did and did not have health insurance, and between men who did and did not report that their PCP knew about their same-sex sexual activity. RESULTS Our national sample of same-sex partnered men identified themselves predominantly as gay and white, and most reported having an income and health insurance. Having health insurance and disclosing sexual behavior to PCPs was associated with increasing age, higher education, and higher income levels. Insurance was less prevalent among nonwhite participants and those living in the south and midwest United States. Disclosure of sexual behavior was more common in urban respondents and in the western United States. In 25% of couples, one partner was insured, while the other was not. CONCLUSIONS Having health insurance and disclosing one's sexual behavior to PCPs was suboptimal overall and occurred in patterns likely to exacerbate health disparities among those GBM already more heavily burdened with poorer health outcomes. These factors need to be considered by PCPs and health policymakers to improve the health of GBM. Patient- and provider-targeted interventions could also improve the health outcomes of GBM.