Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proceedings of the Workshop on Incremental Parsing: Bringing Engineering and Cognition Together

The papers in these proceedings were presented at the ACL-2004 workshop Incremental Parsing: Bringing Engineering and Cognition Together, held in Barcelona on July 25. Incremental processing is crucial for many NLP tasks. Language modelling, for instance, typically requires that probabilities are assigned incrementally as more and more of the speech stream becomes available. Also, there is substantial evidence showing that humans process language in an incremental fashion, and thus any cognitively plausible model of human parsing must take incrementality into account. The aim of the workshop was to address the dual challenge of defining incremental parsing models that are useful for engineering tasks such as language modelling, while also contributing to our understanding and modelling of the human parsing mechanism. We were pleased to receive 20 submissions, of which we accepted 8 papers for presentation and 3 as reserve papers. Both elements of the workshop theme are well-represented in the proceedings, with roughly 6 of the papers relating to NLP/language engineering, and 5 relating to cognitive modelling.
Automatic Frame Composition Using Histogram Based Graph Cut

In this paper, we present an automatic background composition method using histogram-based graph cut. The proposed method consists of four steps: i) initial label map generation, ii) label map update, iii) object extraction by segmentation, and iv) dynamic background composition. Since the proposed method can minimize the user interaction for generating the initial label map and updating, it is suitable for simple interaction using a low-speed processor and limited memory space. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides better segmentation results compared with existing state-of-the-art methods with significantly reduced computational complexity. The proposed automatic object segmentation and background composition method can be applied to video editing, video conference, and video contents creation using low-cost mobile devices such as smart phones, smart TVs, and tablet PCs.
Augmenting Traditional Static Analysis With Commonly Available Metadata

Developers and security analysts have been using static analysis for a long time to analyze programs for defects and vulnerabilities with some success. Generally a static analysis tool is run on the source code for a given program, flagging areas of code that need to be further inspected by a human analyst. These areas may be obvious bugs like potential buffer overflows, information leakage flaws, or the use of uninitialized variables. These tools tend to work fairly well – every year they find many important bugs. These tools are more impressive considering the fact that they only examine the source code, which may be very complex. Now consider the amount of data available that these tools do not analyze. There are many pieces of information that would prove invaluable for finding bugs in code, things such as a history of bug reports, a history of all changes to the code, information about committers, etc. By leveraging all this additional data, it is possible to find more bugs with less user interaction, as well as track useful metrics such as number and type of defects injected by committer. This dissertation provides a method for leveraging development metadata to find bugs that would otherwise be difficult to find using standard static analysis tools. We showcase two case studies that demonstrate the ability to find 0day vulnerabilities in large and small software projects by finding new vulnerabilities in the cpython and Roundup open source projects.
A New Xanthone from the Pericarp of Garcinia mangostana

A new prenylxanthone, garcimangostanol (1), was isolated from the EtOAc-soluble partition of the ethanol extract of the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana L. , along with three known compounds, namely 8-deoxygartanin (2), 1-isomangostin (3), and garcinone C (4). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of its 1D, 2D NMR and MS data. Compounds 1–4 exhibited either significant or moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7, A549, Hep-G2 and CNE human cancer cell lines in vitro with IC50 values from 4.0 ± 0.3 to 23.6 ± 1.5 μM by MTT colorimetric assay.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Cognitive neuroscientists of language comprehension study how neural computations relate to cognitive computations during comprehension. On the cognitive part of the equation, it is important that the computations and processing complexity are explicitly de ﬁ ned. Probabilistic language models can be used to give a computationally explicit account of language complexity during comprehension. Whereas such models have so far predominantly been evaluated against behavioral data, only recently have the models been used to explain neurobiological signals. Measures obtained from these models emphasize the probabilistic, information-processing view of language understanding and provide a set of tools that can be used for testing neural hypotheses about language comprehension. Here, we provide a cursory review of the theoretical foundations and example neuroimaging studies employing probabilistic language models. We highlight the advantages and potential pitfalls of this approach and indicate avenues for future research.
Interactions in milk suggest a physiological role for β-lactoglobulin

β-Lactoglobulin is the most abundant protein in the whey fraction of ruminant milks, yet is absent in human milk. It has been studied intensively due to its impact on the processing and allergenic properties of ruminant milk products. However, the physiological function of β-lactoglobulin remains unclear. Sedimentation velocity experiments have identified new interactions between fluorescently-labelled β-lactoglobulin and other components in milk. Co-elution experiments support that these β-lactoglobulin interactions occur naturally in milk and provide evidence that the interacting partners are immunoglobulins, while further sedimentation velocity experiments confirm that an interaction occurs between these molecules. Ruminants (e.g. cows and goats) are born without circulating immunoglobulins, which they must obtain from their mothers’ milk, whilst humans obtain immunoglobulins both through milk and during gestation via the placenta. We propose that β-lactoglobulin serves to protect immunoglobulins within ruminant milk during digestion, ensuring their efficient transfer from mother to offspring. Statement of Significance β-Lactoglobulin is an abundant protein in the whey fraction of ruminant milks (e.g. cow and goat milk), yet it is completely absent in human milk. While this protein has been extensively studied, due to its impact on the processing and allergenic properties of milk, its physiological function remains unclear. We fluorescently labelled β-lactoglobulin to monitor its interactions with other milk components within its physiological environment, milk. Under these near physiological conditions β-lactoglobulin is capable of interacting with several classes of immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are susceptible to digestion, but are required to confer immunity from the mother to the offspring. We propose that β-lactoglobulin serves to protect immunoglobulins within ruminant milk during digestion, ensuring their efficient transfer from mother to offspring.
Genetic analysis reveals strong phylogeographical divergences within the Scarlet Macaw
 Ara macao

Scarlet Macaws Ara macao have the largest geographical distribution of any Neotropical psittacine, occupying a variety of lowland forest habitats from Mexico to Brazil. Two subspecies, Ara macao macao and Ara macao cyanoptera, are currently recognized based on wing chord length and plumage coloration, with formal descriptions suggesting genetic introgression in southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of genetic diversification within A. macao by analysing mitochondrial sequence data from contemporary and historical samples. Phylogenetic reconstruction and population aggregation analysis confirmed two distinct phylogeographical groups, with a high degree of intraspecific genetic structure and no evidence of a putative hybrid zone. Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing further confirmed substantial divergence (~ 1.8%) between the cyanoptera and macao lineages. These results demonstrate a separation of A. macao into two distinct evolutionary entities and highlight a non‐uniform distribution of intraspecific diversity, suggesting current conservation designations may warrant re‐evaluation.
Phenotype Characteristics and Osteogenic Differentiation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Amnion Membrane (HAMSCs) and Umbilical Cord (HUC-MSCs)

Introduction: Human amnion membrane mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are potential, non invasive sources of stem cells used for bone tissue engineering. Phenotyping characterization is an extremely important consideration in the choice of the appropriate passage in order to maximize its osteogenic differentiation potential. Aim: To explore phenotype characteristics and compare osteogenic differentiation potential of hAMSCs and hUC-MSCs. Method: Isolation and culture were performed on hAMSCs and hUC-MSCs from a healthy woman in her 38th weeks of pregnancy. CD90, CD105 and CD73 phenotype characterization was done in passage 4-7. An osteogenic differentiation examination of hAMSCs and hUC-MSCs with Alizarin red staining and RUNX2 expression was performed in the passage that had appropriate expressions of phenotype characteristics. Results: The expression of CD90 hUC-MSCs was higher than that of hAMSCs in all passages. CD105 hUC-MSCs was higher in passage 4-6, while CD105 hAMSCs was equal to that of hUC-MSCs in passage 7. CD73 hUC-MSCs was higher than hAMSCs in passage 4 and 5, while in passage 6 and 7 hAMSCs was higher than hUC-MSCs. There was a decrease in the number of CD90, CD105 and CD73 on hAMSCs and hUC-MSCs in passage 5, then determined as appropriate passage. Alizarin red staining examination showed calcium deposition and revealed no significant difference, but RUNX2 expression of hUC-MSCs was significantly higher than that for hAMSCs. Conclusion: Both hAMSCs and hUC-MSCs had phenotype characteristics of mesenchymal stem cell and showed ostegenic differentiation potential.
An Effective Caching Scheme for Multimedia in Mobile Ad-hoc Network

Multimedia is large volume of data and is played under the timedependent property. In mobile ad-hoc network, the ceaseless service is hardly served as the path is frequently changed due to the node movement. In this paper, we propose a caching scheme to reduce the service delay. The nodes joining the delivery path store all data passing through and the neighbor nodes store only popular items. The cache replacement algorithm is based on the request frequency, the popularity and the block distance. This increases the probability that mobile node stores the data to be used in the future. In evaluation, we examined our proposed scheme in the view of the caching probability and the cache hit ratio. The simulation results show that the proposed caching scheme has better performance in cases of many requester and high node density.
Index fund trading with learning network advisors

A practical investment problem is defined as follows: decide today whether to switch in or out of an S&P 500 index fund, where an initial $10,000 investment will be held for 13 weeks before making the next decision. At the end of the 13-week holding period, the process is repeated. The alternative investment is risk-free and yields a generally available compound annual rate of return of 5%. The performance of 3 strategies are compared: (1) buy-and-hold, (2) dollar-cost averaging, and (3) learning network advisors. The decisions made by the learning systems are based on at most nine inputs: the S&P 500 13-week holding-period yield at the close of today, and 8 past 13-week yields spaced 13 weeks apart. It is shown that very simple wavelet and polynomial neural networks are able to match or exceed the limit of performance implied by the efficient market hypothesis as represented by the buy-and-hold strategy.
Synthèse, caractérisation et évaluation biologique d'apatites phosphocalciques carbo silicatées

La substitution ionique apparait comme une des possibilites pour moduler la bioactivite de l’hydroxyapatite (HA), materiau couramment employe comme substitut osseux. L’incorporation simultanee d’ions carbonates et silicates dans la structure apatitique pourrait permettre de coupler les proprietes de resorption et de dissolution des apatites carbonatees avec le role metabolique important du silicium dans le tissu conjonctif.Des poudres d'hydroxyapatites phosphocalciques substituees en carbonates et en silicates de formule Ca10 x+y(PO4)6-x-y(CO3)x(SiO4)y(OH)2-x+y (avec 0 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 2 et x+y ≤ 2, C Si HA), ont ete synthetisees par precipitation en milieu aqueux. L’originalite de cette synthese reside essentiellement dans l’emploi de reactifs parfaitement solubles et miscibles dans l’eau. L’incorporation des carbonates et des silicates en substitution des phosphates a lieu des la precipitation. Les poudres obtenues sont monophasiques, cristallines et de structure apatitique.Les caracterisations physico-chimiques des poudres ont mis en evidence l’existence d’interactions entre les carbonates (A et B) et les silicates au sein de la maille apatitique. La decarbonatation des sites B, synonyme de decomposition de la phase C-Si-HA, a pu etre decalee a de plus hautes temperatures avec l’emploi du CO2 comme atmosphere de calcination. Le frittage de ceramiques denses et monophasiques en C Si HA destinee a une premiere evaluation biologique a donc ete possible. La culture in vitro de cellules souches mesenchymateuses C3H10T1/2 a la surface de ceramiques de composition C0,8 Si0,4 HA a mis en evidence leur biocompatibilite et des proprietes osteoconductives equivalentes a celles de l’HA.
Transcriptome Dynamics Reveals Progressive Transition from Effector to Memory in CD4+ T cells

CD4+ T cells are repositories of immune memory, conferring enhanced immunity to many infectious agents. Studies of acute viral and bacterial infection suggest that memory CD4+ T cells develop directly from effectors. However, delineating these dynamic developmental pathways has been challenging. Here, we used high-resolution single-cell RNA-seq and temporal mixture modelling to examine the fate of Th1 and Tfh effector cells during non-lethal Plasmodium infection in mice. We observed linear Th1 and Tfh pathways towards memory, characterized by progressive halving in the numbers of genes expressed, and partial transcriptomic coalescence. Low-level persisting infection diverted but did not block these pathways. We observed in the Th1-pathway a linear transition from Th1 through a Tr1 state to TEM cells, which were then poised for Th1 re-call. The Tfh-pathway exhibited a modest Th1-signature throughout, with little evidence of Tr1 development, and co-expression of TCM and memory Tfh markers. Thus, we present a high-resolution atlas of transcriptome dynamics for naïve to memory transitions in CD4+ T cells. We also defined a subset of memory-associated genes, including transcription factors Id2 and Maf, whose expression increased progressively against the background of transcriptomic quiescence. Single-cell ATAC-seq revealed substantial heterogeneity in chromatin accessibility in single effectors, which was extensively, though incompletely reset and homogenized in memory. Our data reveal that linear transitions from effector to memory occur in a progressive manner over several weeks, suggesting opportunities for manipulating CD4+ T cell memory after primary infection. Highlights scRNA-seq reveals progressive transition from effector to memory in CD4+ T cells. Transcriptome dynamics suggest linear not branching models for memory development. A subset of genes associates with gradual onset of CD4+ T cell memory. Th1/Tfh predisposition varies among clonotypes with identical antigen-specificity. scATAC-seq uncovers non-coding “memory” elements in the genome.
Systematic Review of Genetic Factors in the Etiology of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in African Populations

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), one of the most aggressive cancers, is endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, constituting a major health burden. It has the most divergence in cancer incidence globally, with high prevalence reported in East Asia, Southern Europe, and in East and Southern Africa. Its etiology is multifactorial, with lifestyle, environmental, and genetic risk factors. Very little is known about the role of genetic factors in ESCC development and progression among African populations. The study aimed to systematically assess the evidence on genetic variants associated with ESCC in African populations. Methods: We carried out a comprehensive search of all African published studies up to April 2019, using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases. Quality assessment and data extraction were carried out by two investigators. The strength of the associations was measured by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Twenty-three genetic studies on ESCC in African populations were included in the systematic review. They were carried out on Black and admixed South African populations, as well as on Malawian, Sudanese, and Kenyan populations. Most studies were candidate gene studies and included DNA sequence variants in 58 different genes. Only one study carried out whole-exome sequencing of 59 ESCC patients. Sample sizes varied from 18 to 880 cases and 88 to 939 controls. Altogether, over 100 variants in 37 genes were part of 17 case-control genetic association studies to identify susceptibility loci for ESCC. In these studies, 25 variants in 20 genes were reported to have a statistically significant association. In addition, eight studies investigated changes in cancer tissues and identified somatic alterations in 17 genes and evidence of loss of heterozygosity, copy number variation, and microsatellite instability. Two genes were assessed for both genetic association and somatic mutation. Conclusions: Comprehensive large-scale studies on the genetic basis of ESCC are still lacking in Africa. Sample sizes in existing studies are too small to draw definitive conclusions about ESCC etiology. Only a small number of African populations have been analyzed, and replication and validation studies are missing. The genetic etiology of ESCC in Africa is, therefore, still poorly defined.
Toxic effects of 12 pesticides on green lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

In this study, we formulated pesticides from 12 products, namely machine oil EC, imidacloprid WP, thiamethoxam WP, acetamiprid WP, methidathion EC, acequinocyl WP, clothianidin WP, deltamethrin EC, mancozeb WP, benomyl WP, difenoconazole WP, and bitertanol WP. These 12 pesticides were selected to determine their toxicity to green lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis, at the maximum field recommended dosage under laboratory conditions. Machine oil EC had extremely detrimental effects on eggs of C. nipponensis, resulting in 99% mortality (categorized as Class IV) when eggs were treated with machine oil EC by dipping. Mean larval corrected mortalities (%) for methidathion EC and deltamethrin EC were 62.5% (categorized as Class II) and 87.5% (categorized as Class III) respectively, when larvae were topically treated. As a result of dipping treatments of pupae with pesticides, machine oil EC and thiamethoxam WP were classified as slightly harmful (categorized as Class II). Methidathion EC showed high toxicity, resulting in a total effect index rate 100% (categorized as Class IV). Taxonomical notes of the genus Chrysoperla and C. nipponensis are reviewed here.
A Case Study on the Application of a Structured Experimental Method for Optimal Parameter Design of a Complex Control System

Abstract This report documents a case study on the application of Reliability Engineering techniques to achieve an optimal balance between performance and robustness by tuning the functional parameters of a complex non-linear control system. For complex systems with intricate and non-linear patterns of interaction between system components, analytical derivation of a mathematical model of system performance and robustness in terms of functional parameters may not be feasible or cost-effective. The demonstrated approach is simple, structured, effective, repeatable, and cost and time efficient. This general approach is suitable for a wide range of systems. iv Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1
Genomic Instability and TP53 Genomic Alterations Associate With Poor Antiproliferative Response and Intrinsic Resistance to Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment

PURPOSE Although aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment is effective in estrogen receptor–positive postmenopausal breast cancer, resistance is common and incompletely explained. Genomic instability, as measured by somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs), is important in breast cancer development and prognosis. SCNAs to specific genes may drive intrinsic resistance, or high genomic instability may drive tumor heterogeneity, which allows differential response across tumors and surviving cells to evolve resistance to treatment rapidly. We therefore evaluated the relationship between SCNAs and intrinsic resistance to treatment as measured by a poor antiproliferative response. PATIENTS AND METHODS SCNAs were determined by single nucleotide polymorphism array in baseline and surgery core-cuts from 73 postmenopausal patients randomly assigned to receive 2 weeks of preoperative AI or no AI in the Perioperative Endocrine Therapy—Individualizing Care (POETIC) trial. Fifty-six samples from the AI group included 28 poor responders (PrRs, less than 60% reduction in protein encoded by the MKI67 gene [Ki-67]) and 28 good responders (GdRs, greater than 75% reduction in Ki-67). Exome sequencing was available for 72 pairs of samples. RESULTS Genomic instability correlated with Ki-67 expression at both baseline (P < .001) and surgery (P < .001) and was higher in PrRs (P = .048). The SCNA with the largest difference between GdRs and PrRs was loss of heterozygosity observed at 17p (false discovery rate, 0.08), which includes TP53. Nine of 28 PrRs had loss of wild-type TP53 as a result of mutations and loss of heterozygosity compared with three of 28 GdRs. In PrRs, somatic alterations of TP53 were associated with higher genomic instability, higher baseline Ki-67, and greater resistance to AI treatment compared with wild-type TP53. CONCLUSION We observed that primary tumors with high genomic instability have an intrinsic resistance to AI treatment and do not require additional evolution to develop resistance to estrogen deprivation therapy.
Effect of low protein diets supplemented with free amino acids on growth performance, slaughter yield, litter quality, footpad lesions, economical performance and the ecological footprint of male broilers

J. van Harn, M.A. Dijkslag and M.M. van Krimpen Together with our clients, we integrate scientific know-how and practical experience to develop livestock concepts for the 21st century. With our expertise on innovative livestock systems, nutrition, welfare, genetics and environmental impact of livestock farming and our state-of-the art research facilities, such as Dairy Campus and Swine Innovation Centre Sterksel, we support our customers to find solutions for current and future challenges.