Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Architecture for text normalization using statistical machine translation techniques

This paper proposes an architecture, based on statistical machine translation, for developing the text normalization module of a text to speech conversion system. The main target is to generate a language independent text normalization module, based on data and flexible enough to deal with all situa-tions presented in this task. The proposed architecture is composed by three main modules: a tokenizer module for splitting the text input into a token graph (tokenization), a phrase-based translation module (token translation) and a post-processing module for removing some tokens. This paper presents initial exper-iments for numbers and abbreviations. The very good results obtained validate the proposed architecture.
Eye1 and Eye2: gene loci that modulate eye size, lens weight, and retinal area in the mouse.

PURPOSE Vision is critically dependent on genetic factors that influence the rate and duration of eye growth. The genetic basis of variation in eye size in mice was explored, and genes that modulate eye weight, lens weight, and retinal area were mapped. METHODS Eyes of approximately 700 mice were weighed. Data were corrected by regression analysis to eliminate effects of sex, age, and body weight. Interval mapping was used to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using recombinant inbred strains and F2 intercrosses between strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. RESULTS Major QTLs were discovered near the centromere of chromosome 5 (Eye1: genomewide P < 0.005) and on proximal chromosome 17 near the mast cell protease 6 gene (Eye2, P < 0.05). Both QTLs have significant effects on eye size, lens weight, and retinal area. The DBA/2J alleles at Eye1 and Eye2 are partially dominant and increase eye weight by as much as 1.0 mg. Analysis of 183 F2 progeny confirmed and refined the chromosomal assignments of both Eye1 and Eye2. CONCLUSIONS Eye1 and Eye2 are the first loci known to control normal variation in eye size in any mammal. The hepatic growth factor gene (Hgf), a potent mitogen expressed in the retina, pigment epithelium, and choroid, is a strong candidate for Eye1. The human homolog of Eye2 should map to chromosome 6p, 16q13.3, or 19q13, whereas that of Eye1 should map to 7q.
Ape Language: From Conditioned Response to Symbol

In this pioneering study, the author traces the acquisition of symbols by two chimpanzees, from their simplest beginnings to their use as representational statements about future actions. The sometimes surprising findings reveal that the use of symbols, even at a single word level, is a multidimensional phenomenon, and that there is no sharp division between the cognitive capacities of apes and those of human beings.
Design and characterization of a quasi-optical mixer fabricated using silicon micromachining

A silicon micromachined uniplanar quasi-optical mixer is presented for the first time. The circuit is based on a membrane-supported double folded slot antenna and a GaAs flip chip Schottky diode, mounted on the bulk area of the structure. The 1.5 mum thin dielectric membrane was obtained by micromachining of high resistivity (100) oriented silicon. The circuit is designed for the 38 GHz frequency range using coplanar waveguide technology and full-wave electromagnetic simulations. The mixer is characterized using the isotropic conversion losses parameter and a value of 10 dB was measured at 38 GHz
The Seeds of Learning: Young Children Develop Important Skills Through Their Gardening Activities at a Midwestern Early Education Program

Using teachers as co-researchers to collect and analyze data, this case study explored preschool and kindergarteners' learning when they were engaged in hands-on activities in the garden and greenhouse areas of a model outdoor classroom. Key findings suggest that when young children are participating in garden and greenhouse activities they are: (1) communicating their knowledge about the world to others, (2) conveying (and learning to process and manage) emotions, and (3) developing important skills (e.g., initiative, self-confidence, literacy, math, science skills) that will help them be more successful in school and better navigate the world.
Novel Energy Transfer Mechanism in a Running Quadruped Robot with One Actuator per Leg

In this work we develop a novel method, or mechanism, of energy transfer in a quadruped running robot. The robot possesses only one actuator per leg, for lower weight and greater power autonomy. The developed mechanism ensures correct dispersion of energy to the actuated and the unactuated degrees of freedom of the robot for stable running. In the mechanism design, we address the added problem of running on inclined ground. In conjunction with a pitch control method, the energy transfer mechanism forms a complete control algorithm. Due to the novel dynamics-based design of the mechanism, it allows the arbitrary setting of the motion forward speed and apex height. Further, it may be applied for different robot physical parameters and ground inclines, without extensive controller tuning. This has not been previously possible using only one actuator per leg. Simulations of a detailed three-dimensional model of the robot demonstrate the mechanism on two different robots. The simulations take into account many real-world characteristics, including realistic leg models, energy loss due to feet collisions, foot–ground friction and energy losses in the joints. Results demonstrate that inclines of up to 20° are properly negotiated.
Optimized Motion Energy Estimation for Group of Pictures in Multi-Level Error Protection of H.264/AVC Video Bitstreams

A multi-level error protection technique for H.264/AVC video bitstreams structured by Group of Pictures (GOP) is proposed. Protection levels are determined by motion energy, which considers displacements of all macroblocks between consecutive frames. Lagrange polynomial is applied in predicting motion energy of a GOP, which is derived from previous GOPs having a high correlation with each other. The optimum number of previous GOPs is selected in order to obtain a good motion energy estimation of the current one. Conducted analyses and simulation results show that video performance obtained by the proposed technique outperforms other motion activity-based Unequal Error Protection (UEP) techniques, while a similar channel code rate is applied.
Total Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in Sera of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Background Oxidative stress parameters such as total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) have been studied in breast, thyroid, and simple esophageal cancers (EC). We evaluated these parameters in patients with EC and analyzed their correlations with treatment outcomes. Material/Method Serum TOS, TAS, and OSI in 92 patients with EC at different clinical stages and in 64 healthy people (controls) were measured. Results Serum TOS, TAS, and OSI were significantly different between patients with EC and healthy controls (all p<0.001); however, there were no significant differences across different clinical stages (all p>0.05). These factors are not correlated with smoking or drinking history (all p>0.05). Patients with EC with higher TOS and OSI and lower TAS had better responses to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, but there was no significant correlation with different responses (all p>0.05). In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis comparing patients with EC with healthy controls, the Youden indices were 0.391, 0.886, and 1, respectively. Conclusions Serum TOS, TAS, and OSI were significantly different between patients with EC and healthy controls. In patients with EC, these factors were not correlated with smoking or drinking history or with clinical stage. Patients with EC with higher TOS and OSI and lower TAS had a trend towards better outcomes but it did not reach significance. Serum TOS and OSI are potential diagnostic biomarkers that can be used to identify cases of EC.
Platelet Aggregation under Hypocalcaemic Conditions

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Low complexity iterative receiver for linear precoded MIMO systems

In a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) context, we present, in this paper, a space-time bit interleaved coded modulation (STBICM) system combined with a space-time spreader called linear precoding. We propose a practical low-complexity receiver structure performing iteratively space-time detection and channel decoding. The novelty lies in the linearity of the space-time detector which consists of an MMSE MIMO PSIC equalizer and a linear deprecoder. Spectral efficiency and diversity can easily be tuned while keeping a feasible receiver. In the case of independent flat Rayleigh fading, simulation results show that such a system exploits both spatial diversity and capacity provided by the multi-antenna system.
Integrating multi-features by multiple kernel learning to better classify images

Most recent methods for image classification focus on how to formulate different types of features effectively in a uniform formula. Although these features take on different importance for image classification, most previous work gives the same weight to the features when they are combined. In this paper, we propose an approach to integrate multi-features by following the multiple kernel learning (MKL) framework. By using distinct kernels, we propose to combine different similarity measures for each feature type, that is, the feature fusion is calculated at kernellevel. We employ the SimpleMKL algorithm to solve the MKL problem. As illustrated in the experiments on the images extracted from Corel, Caltech-101 and Flickr 18, our approach outperforms the usual fusion schemes in terms of prediction accuracy.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE ELECTRIC ORGAN OF TORPEDO MARMORATA

The fine structure of the electric organ of the fish Torpedo marmorata has been examined after osmium tetroxide or potassium permanganate fixation, acetone dehydration, and Araldite embedment. This organ consists of stacks of electroplaques which possess a dorsal noninnervated and a ventral richly innervated surface. Both surfaces are covered with a thin basement membrane. A tubular membranous network whose lumen is continuous with the extracellular space occupies the dorsal third of the electroplaque. Nerve endings, separated from the ventral surface of the electroplaque by a thin basement membrane, contain synaptic vesicles (diameter 300 to 1200 A), mitochondria, and electron-opaque granules (diameter 300 A). Projections from the nerve endings occupy the lumina of the finger-like invaginations of the ventral surface. The cytoplasm of the electroplaques contains the usual organelles. A "cellular cuff" surrounds most of the nerve fibers in the intercellular space, and is separated from the nerve fibre and its Schwann cell by a space containing connective tissue fibrils. The connective tissue fibrils and fibroblasts in the intercellular space are primarily associated with the dorsal surface of the electroplaque.
Involvement of p40phox in activation of phagocyte NADPH oxidase through association of its carboxyl-terminal, but not its amino-terminal, with p67phox

Phagocyte NADPH oxidase, dormant in resting cells, is activated upon cell stimulation to produce superoxide anion, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants. Active NADPH oxidase is found on the membrane as an enzyme complex, composed of membrane-integrated cytochrome b558 (gp91phox and p22phox subunits) and two cytosolic factors (p47phox and p67phox), each of the latter containing two src homology 3 (SH3) domains. Recently, we radioactively identified a third cytosolic factor, p40phox, as a molecule that associates with p67phox in human neutrophils. Although it has been found that this p40phox protein is defective in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) who lack p67phox, evidence to functionally relate it to the NADPH oxidase system has hitherto been lacking. In this study, we raised separate antibodies against both the COOH- and NH2-terminal polypeptides of p40phox as well as against the COOH-terminal polypeptide of p67phox to examine the mode of interaction between p40phox and p67phox in a complex. The antibody against the COOH terminus of p67phox was able to communoprecipitate p40phox in conjunction with p67phox itself as was expected. Very interestingly, however, the antibody against the COOH terminus of p40phox completely dissociated the p67phox molecule from the p40phox- p67phox complex unit without any detectable coimmunoprecipitation of p67phox, despite their tight association, whereas that against the NH2 terminus of p40phox had absolutely no dissociation effect. Similar results were found regarding their effects on the O2-generating ability of cytosol in a cell-free activation system, i.e., inhibition was noted with the COOH terminus antibody but not with that for the NH2 terminus of p40phox. However, this dissociation did not affect the translocation of the cytosolic components including p47phox to the membrane. Once the NADPH oxidase was activated, the antibody for the COOH terminus did not show any inhibitory effect on catalysis by the activated enzyme. The stimulators of NADPH oxidase, MA and SDS, did not dissociate the p40phox-p67phox complex. These results provide the first demonstration that p40phox is practically involved in the activation of NADPH oxidase through the association of its COOH-terminal, but not its NH2-terminal, with p67phox.
A Characterization of the Manduca sexta Serotonin Receptors in the Context of Olfactory Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation, the alteration of individual neuron response properties, has dramatic consequences for neural network function and is a phenomenon observed across all brain regions and taxa. However, the mechanisms underlying neuromodulation are made complex by the diversity of neuromodulatory receptors expressed within a neural network. In this study we begin to examine the receptor basis for serotonergic neuromodulation in the antennal lobe of Manduca sexta. To this end we cloned all four known insect serotonin receptor types from Manduca (the Ms5HTRs). We used phylogenetic analyses to classify the Ms5HTRs and to establish their relationships to other insect serotonin receptors, other insect amine receptors and the vertebrate serotonin receptors. Pharmacological assays demonstrated that each Ms5HTR was selective for serotonin over other endogenous amines and that serotonin had a similar potency at all four Ms5HTRs. The pharmacological assays also identified several agonists and antagonists of the different Ms5HTRs. Finally, we found that the Ms5HT1A receptor was expressed in a subpopulation of GABAergic local interneurons suggesting that the Ms5HTRs are likely expressed heterogeneously within the antennal lobe based on functional neuronal subtype.
Are We Doing Any Good? A Value-Added Analysis of UBC’s Science One Program

Science One is a full academic year interdisciplinary alternative to the traditional first-year experience in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Anecdotal reports suggest that alumni/ae of the program do very well in upper-level classes and many become successful graduate and medical students. The high faculty/student ratio makes the program an expensive one, however, and thus we have sought rigorous evidence of the benefits to our students. Our approach has been a value-added one; we have compared high-school and upper-level undergraduate grades for students in all UBC's first-year science programs. We have found a clear signal that there is a large benefit to participating in Science One, and conclude that this arises from a combination of the recruitment of enthusiastic students who are up for a challenge, the Science One admissions process, and taking the program itself. Science One consiste en une annee scolaire interdisciplinaire complete qui represente une variante de l’experience traditionnelle vecue en premiere annee a la Faculte des sciences de l’Universite de la Colombie-Britannique (UBC). Des rapports isoles suggerent que les anciens etudiants du programme obtiennent de tres bons resultats dans les cours de niveau superieur et plusieurs obtiennent leur diplome avec succes et etudient en medecine. Cependant, le ratio eleve enseignant/etudiant fait en sorte que le programme coute cher, c’est pourquoi les auteurs ont cherche a obtenir des donnees probantes sur les avantages qu’il presente pour leurs etudiants. Ils ont employe la methode de la valeur ajoutee; ont compare les notes obtenues au secondaire et celles des etudiants de premier cycle inscrits a des cours de niveau superieur dans tous les programmes scientifiques offerts a l’UBC. Ils ont decouvert que la participation a Science One est tres benefique et ont conclu que cela resulte d’une combinaison entre le recrutement d’etudiants enthousiastes qui souhaitent relever un defi, le processus d’admission a Science One et le fait de suivre le programme.
Laminar specificity of functional MRI onset times during somatosensory stimulation in rat

The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response to somatosensory stimulation was measured in α-chloralose-anesthetized rats. BOLD fMRI was obtained at 40-ms temporal resolution and spatial resolution of 200 × 200 × 2,000 μm3 by using a gated activation paradigm in an 11.7 T MRI. Results show a consistent heterogeneity of fMRI onset times and amplitudes. The earliest onset time (0.59 ± 0.17 s, n = 9) corresponded anatomically to layer IV, with superficial and deeper layers starting significantly later (1.27 ± 0.43 s in layers I–III, and 1.11 ± 0.45 s in layer VI). The amplitude of BOLD signal changes also varied with the cortical depth from the pial surface. Changes in the supragranular layers (8.3%) were 44% bigger than changes in the intermediate layers (5.5%), located only ≈700 μm below, and 144% larger than the bottom layer (3.5%), located ≈1.4 mm below the pial surface. The data presented demonstrate that BOLD signal changes have distinct amplitude and temporal characteristics, which vary spatially across cortical layers.
Interaction in the Language Curriculum: Awareness, Autonomy and Authenticity

1. The AAA curriculum 2. The curriculum as a theory of practice 3. The growth of proficiency 4. Language awareness and learning to learn 5. Motivation, autonomy, and achievement 6. Authenticity 7. Contingency 8. The curriculum as interaction 9. The profession of teaching development and research References Index
A Yeast Four-hybrid System Identifies Cdk-activating Kinase as a Regulator of the XPD Helicase, a Subunit of Transcription Factor IIH*

To understand the role of the various components of TFIIH, a DNA repair/transcription factor, a yeast four-hybrid system was designed. When the ternary Cdk-activating kinase (CAK) complex composed of Cdk7, cyclin H, and MAT1 was used as bait, the xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) D helicase of transcription factor IIH (TFIIH), among other proteins, was identified as an interacting partner. Deletion mutant analyses demonstrated that the coiled-coil and the hydrophobic domains of MAT1 interlink the CAK complex directly with the N-terminal domain of XPD. Using immunoprecipitates from cells coinfected with baculoviruses, we further validated the bridging function of XPD, which anchors CAK to the core TFIIH. In addition we show that upon interaction with MAT1, CAK inhibits the helicase activity of XPD. This inhibition is overcome upon binding to p44, a subunit of the core TFIIH. It is not surprising that under these conditions some XPD mutations affect interactions not only with p44, but also with MAT1, thus preventing either the CAK inhibitory function within CAK·XPD and/or the role of CAK within TFIIH and, consequently, explaining the variety of the XP phenotypes.
Joint Polling and Contention Based Feedback Algorithm to Exploit Multiuser Diversity

One of the most promising approaches to boost the communication efficiency in wireless systems is the use of multiuser diversity (MUDiv), where the fading of channels is exploited. The mechanism of scheduling the user with the best channel condition is called opportunistic scheduling (OS). In this paper we propose a joint polling and contention based feedback (JPCF) algorithm that exploits MUDiv while reducing the feedback load. The guard time, which is between bursts, is divided into minislots that alternate between polling-based feedback minislot (p-minislot) and contention-based feedback minislot (c-minislot). During the minislot, users feedback their channel qualities if above a predetermined threshold. We analyze the scheduling algorithm under slow Rayleigh fading assumption and derive the closed-form expressions of the feedback load as well as the system capacity. We also consider the delay resulting from the time needed to schedule a user and derive the system throughput. The scheduling algorithm is compared with other scheduling algorithms.
Congressional Candidates' Use of YouTube in 2008: Its Frequency and Rationale

ABSTRACT This study investigates the extent of Congressional candidates' use of YouTube in 2008 and analyzes which candidates were more likely to adopt and use this tool. While 72 percent of the major party candidates for the Senate opened YouTube channels, only 28 percent of candidates for the House seats did so. A multivariate analysis of all major-party candidates for the House shows that better-financed candidates and those in competitive elections were more likely to become early adopters by opening a YouTube channel; open seat candidates were less likely than incumbents to open a channel. A multivariate analysis of how extensively candidates used YouTube revealed that incumbents and better-financed candidates posted more videos to their channels. Candidates from districts with a higher percentage of college graduates also were more likely to post videos. YouTube is best understood as a vehicle for disseminating campaign communications produced by or for traditional media, especially television, and not so much as a new technology tool. Separating adoption from implementation leads to some more nuanced and conceptually important interpretations of the findings in this and earlier studies, and underscores the need to attend to life cycle and technology specific attributes of new media in campaigns.