Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the language modeling toolkits for Arabic text

Statistical N-grams language models (LMs) have shown to be very effective in natural language processing (NLP), particularly in automatic speech recognition (ASR) and machine translation. In fact, the successful impact of LMs promote to introduce efficient techniques as well as different types models in various linguistic applications. The LMs mainly include two types that are grammars and statistical language models that is also called N-grams. The main difference between grammars and statistical language models is that the statistical language models are based on the estimation of probabilities for words sequences while the grammars usually do not have probabilities. Despite there are many toolkits that are used to create LMs, however, this work employs two well-known language modeling toolkits with focus on the Arabic text. The implementing toolkits include the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)-Cambridge Language Modeling Toolkit and the Cambridge University Hidden Markov Model Toolkit (HTK) language modeling toolkits. For clarification, we used a small Arabic text corpus to compute the N-grams for 1-gram, 2-gram, and 3-gram. In addition, this paper demonstrates the intermediate steps that are needed to generate the ARPA-format LMs using both toolkits.
White and black adolescent females differ in profiles and longitudinal patterns of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use.

Emerging research suggests that white youth are more likely to show continuity of alcohol use in the year after drinking onset, compared with black youth. Little is known, however, regarding racial differences in year-to-year continuity of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use during adolescence, particularly among females, who are at greater risk for certain substance-related harm than males. This study used latent class/transition analysis to identify profiles of past year alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use at ages 13-17 in a community sample of 1076 adolescent females (57% black, 43% white). Three profiles of past year substance use were identified in separate analyses by race: "no use," "alcohol only," and "polydrug use. " Although similar labels describe the profiles, the probability of endorsing use of a particular substance for a given profile differed by race, precluding direct comparison. Latent transition analyses of five annual waves covering ages 13-17 indicated that an intermittent pattern of use (e.g., use in one year, but not the next) was relatively low at all ages among white girls, but among black girls, an intermittent pattern of use began to decline at age 15. Among black girls, conduct problems at age 12 predicted substance using profiles at age 13, whereas among white girls, intentions to use alcohol and cigarettes at age 12 predicted substance using profiles at age 13. Racial differences in girls' substance use profiles suggest the potential utility of culturally tailored interventions that focus on differences in risk for specific substances and relatively distinct early patterns of use.
Effect of Protein-Load Proteinuria on Glomerular Polyanion 1

Summary Protein-load proteinuria was induced in rats by either intraarterial infusions lasting 1 1/2 hr or by 4 daily, intraperitoneal injections. Control rats were given medium molecular-weight dextran to assess the effect of colloid osmotic load. Glomerular polyanion was reduced histochemically in animals with proteinuria. Reduction of glomerular polyanion and epithelial foot process fusion both may be secondary to proteinuria. Eidence that the negatively charged sialoprotein may be responsible for maintenance of epithelial foot processes is discussed.
Sox18 mutations in the ragged mouse alleles ragged‐like and opossum

Summary: The ragged (Ra) spontaneous mouse mutant is characterised by abnormalities in its coat and cardiovascular system. Four alleles are known and we have previously described mutations in the transcription factor gene Sox18 in the Ra and RaJ alleles. We report here Sox18 mutations in the remaining two ragged alleles, opossum (Raop) and ragged‐like (Ragl). The single‐base deletions cause a C‐terminal frameshift, abolishing transcriptional trans‐activation and impairing interaction with the partner protein MEF2C. The nature of these mutations, together with the near‐normal phenotype of Sox18‐null mice, suggests that the ragged mutant SOX18 proteins act in a dominant‐negative fashion. The four ragged mutants represent an allelic series that reveal SOX18 structure–function relationships and implicate related SOX proteins in cardiovascular and hair follicle development. genesis 36:1–6, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving the Accuracy of Predicted Basal-Area Diameter Distribution in Advanced Stands by Determining Stem

The objective of this paper was to study to what extent the accuracy of predicted basalarea diameter distributions (DDG) could be improved by means of stem number observations in advanced (H > 10 m) stands. In the Finnish forest management planning (FMP) inventory practice, stem number is determined only in young stands; in older stands stand basal area is used. The study material consisted of sixty stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and ninety-one stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) admixtures in southern and eastern Finland. For test data, 167–292 independent, National Forest Inventory-based, permanent sample plots were used. DDGs were estimated with the maximum likelihood method. Species-specific models for predicting the distribution parameters were derived using regression analysis. The two-parameter Weibull distribution was compared to the three-parameter Johnson’s SB distributions in predicting DDGs. The models were based on either predictors that are consistent with current FMP (model G), or assuming an additional stem number observation (model G+N). The predicted distributions were compared in terms of the derived stand variables: stem number, total and timber volumes. The results were similar in modelling and test data sets. Methods, based on the SB distribution obtained with model (G+N), proved to give the most accurate description of the stand structure. Differences were marginal in stand total volumes. However, the error variation in stem number was 20 % to 80 % lower than when applying model (G). SB and Weibull distributions gave very much the same results if model (G) was applied.
Using Phonically Based E-books to Develop Reading Fluency

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the ‘Tales of Jud the Rat’ reading fluency programme and its logic, and to present preliminary results from its use as a form of e-learning. The first section of the chapter provides an overview of the develop‐ ment of the ‘The Tales Jud the Rat’ series. Literature relevant to the neurolinguistic basis of the materials is then reviewed. Results from initial case study and the first cohort of children who have worked on this programme with their parents are pre‐ sented in the third section, while the final section of the chapter provides an evalua‐ tion of the current status of the programme and indicates its potential uses. At this stage in the development of the programme, there is plenty of material avail‐ able, and the ebooks and supporting methodology are currently being used by the parents, therapists and teachers of over seventy children with reading difficulty across our country. Some of the children live over a thousand kilometres from my rooms. Others are in schools or clinics. The results have been promising both with primary school children as well as with adolescents in high school. Parents, thera‐ pists, teachers and children have also provided positive evaluations of the effects improved reading fluency has had on reading ability more generally, as well as on school work.
Role of the microRNA, miR‐206, and its target PIK3C2α in endothelial progenitor cell function – potential link with coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Impaired endothelial function and integrity are major contributory factors to coronary artery disease. MicroRNAs have been proposed to play an important role in coronary artery disease pathogenesis. In the present study, the expression of miR‐206 was found to be significantly upregulated in peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells from patients with coronary artery disease compared to healthy donors. MiR‐206 was found to regulate endothelial progenitor cell activities by targeting the protein kinase PIK3C2α, which showed decreased expression in coronary artery disease endothelial progenitor cells. Knockdown of miR‐206 in coronary artery disease endothelial progenitor cells rescued their angiogenic and vasculogenic abilities both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse ischemic hindlimb model. Furthermore, knockdown of miR‐206 activated not only PIK3C2α, but also the angiogenic signal modulators Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. It is therefore proposed that repression of the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase signal transduction pathway by miR‐206 downregulates angiogenesis contributing to the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease.
Recent advances in efficient and reliable photovoltaic systems

Renewable energies, particularly photovoltaic sources, are more often used together with the classical ones in order to have a local production that cut down the use of classical fuels and improves the reliability of the supplying. Such grid-connected applications fix mandatory constraints to power electronic converters in order to meet power quality specifications and to draw the maximum power conversion from the renewable energy into the electrical one. On the other side, stand-alone applications of renewable energies are gaining an increasing interest due to the spread of portable systems for telecommunications, remote sensing, military apparatuses, aerospace applications, etc. In the context of renewable energies, photovoltaic energy is the most promising due to the low environmental impact, the need of no maintenance after installation are encouraging perspectives in terms of costs and efficiencies.
The confluence of adverse early experience and puberty on the cortisol awakening response

Associations between early deprivation/neglect in the form of institutional care with the cortisol awakening response (CAR) were examined as a function of pubertal status among 12- and 13-year-old postinstitutionalized youth. CARs indexed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical reactivity. Postinstitutionalized youth were compared to youth adopted internationally from foster care (adoption control) and to nonadopted youth reared in families comparable in parental education and income to the adoptive families. Postinstitutionalized youth exhibited a blunted CAR if they were at earlier, but not if they were at later, stages of puberty. Similarly, for both groups of internationally adopted youth combined, earlier but not later stages of puberty were associated with more blunted CARs at higher but not lower levels of parent-reported preadoption physical and social neglect.
Associations between disability and employment 1 year after traumatic brain injury in a working age population

Objective: To investigate associations between disability and employment 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a conceptual model. Design and methods: A prospective study including 93 patients with moderate-to-severe TBI (aged 16–55 year). Disability components of the ICF model (impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions) and personal factors (age, gender, pre-injury employment status) were used as independent variables. The outcome measure was employment at 1 year post-injury categorized into unemployed and employed groups. Results: Personal factors, impairments (brain injury severity, overall trauma severity and number of impaired body functions) and activity limitations (motor and cognitive abilities) accounted for 57% of the variance in employment outcome. Multivariate analyses showed that the probabilities of being employed 1 year post-injury were 95% lower for patients who were unemployed pre-injury (OR = 0.05), 74% lower for those with more severe brain injury (OR = 0.26) and 82% lower for those with more cognitive limitations (OR = 0.18). Conclusion: Rehabilitation professionals should take into account the importance of the ICF model when planning vocational rehabilitation interventions for individuals with TBI and focus on targeting modifiable aspects related to employment outcome, such as the individual's cognitive ability.
ORDINARY AND GENERALIZED SHEAF COHOMOLOGY

This article is expanded from a talk given by the author in (the preliminary version of) the Student Algebraic Topology seminar in University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The rst part will be a review of ordinary sheaf cohomology which is done in such a way that generalization to generalized sheaf cohomology theory becomes automatic. The second part is a quick introduction of the approach to generalized sheaf cohomology in [6], along with fundamental results on generalized sheaf cohomology by Brown [3].
Perceptual Distortion in Homonymous Paracentral Scotomas

Background: Cortical remapping after peripheral or central visual deafferentation alters visual perception, but it is unclear whether such a phenomenon impinges on areas remote from a scotoma. To investigate this question, we studied variations of perceptual spatial distortion in the visual field of patients with homonymous paracentral scotoma. Methods: Two patients with right inferior homonymous paracentral scotoma were asked to describe their perception of a series of figures showing two isometric vertical lines symmetrically located on either side of a fixation point. In each figure, the fixation point varied by steps of 2° along a hypothetical vertical line equidistant between the test lines. The lines subtended 20° of visual angle, and the right line passed through the scotoma in both cases. Time for spatial distortion to manifest was recorded. Results: Both subjects reported that the right line was perceived as shorter than the left one. The line shortening varied in magnitude with the distance of the fixation point from the end of the line and was more pronounced when the distance increased. Moreover, perceptual line shortening appeared 5-10 seconds after steady fixation, but values of shortening varied during the following 10 seconds. In addition, the right line appeared uninterrupted or slightly blurred in the scotoma region. Conclusions: These observations reflect long-range cortical reorganization after brain damage. Larger receptive fields in the periphery of the visual map could explain why perceptual shortening is more pronounced with increased eccentricity.
Parametric Analysis of Spectral Fano Lineshape for Plasmonic Waveguide-Coupled Dual Nanoresonator

Numerical investigations of metal-dielectric-metal waveguide-coupled dual nanoresonator is demonstrated. Phase dependent resonant behavior along with its complex plane analysis is investigated in wavelength regime. Detailed analysis of the influence of the structural parameters on the resonance curve helps to determine the correct device parameters for different plasmonic applications. This waveguide-coupled plasmonic resonator can be utilized for chemical and biological sensing. In this context, figure of merit related to the asymmetric Fano line shape is redefined, incorporating both differential phase and quality (Q)-factor. Theoretical analysis of differential phase sensitivity in wavelength regime predicts the possibility of detection of refractive index change of the order of 10-8 RIU.
Method for long-term intestinal access in the dog

A variety of devices have been used to establish long-term intestinal access in laboratory animals. Their use is complicated by infection, tissue reaction, and a frequent need for single housing to prevent implant damage. Intussuscepted nipple valves have long been used in the human field of surgery for various applications where there is a need to create a reservoir without leakage. With the use of the nipple valve it was possible to establish long-term intestinal access in dogs with minimal post-operative complications, no leakage and, because no foreign material was used, no complications due to tissue rejection. The advantages of a nipple valve over the similar technique of a straight stoma is less post-operative complications in the form of leakage as well as enhanced access due to the design of the nipple valve. Encouraging results prompted us to widen the use of nipple valves to 14 dogs in which it has been possible to establish long-term colonic or duodenal/ileal access at one or two sites. Nine of the dogs are still in use with duration of instrumentation for some animals exceeding 60 weeks. This method requires minimal maintenance, does not prevent group housing of instrumented dogs or outdoor activities nor does it compromise the quality of life for the animals.
Genetic and Immunological Characterization of Fibrinogen Inclusion Bodies in Patients with Hepatic Fibrinogen Storage and Liver Disease

Abstract: Fibrinogen storage in liver cells can occur under three different morphological inclusions. Type I contain all three fibrinogen chains (Aα, Bβ, and γ) as well as D and E fragments, whereas type II and III lack Bβ as well as D and E fragments. Patients with type I inclusions carry a point mutation (γ284 Gly‐Arg). The mutation is not present in patients with type II and III inclusions. These results appear to suggest that the three various phenotypic expressions (i.e., morphological variants) reflect different genetical abnormalities of fibrinogen.
Sliding Singularities of Bounded Invertible Planar Piecewise Isometric Dynamics

It is known that the singularities of bounded invertible piecewise isometric dynamical systems in Euclidean plane can be classified as, removable, sliding and shuffling singularities, based upon their geometrical aspects. Moreover, it is known that the Devaney-chaos of the bounded invertible piecewise isometric systems can be generated only from the sliding singularities, while the other singularities remain innocuous. For this reason, we concentrate our efforts on the investigation of the sliding singularity. We begin with re-establishing the distinction between the sliding and shuffling singularities in simpler terms. And then, we calculate the sliding ratios explicitly for a class of invertible planar piecewise isometric systems. Keywords— Devaney-chaos, Piecewise continuous dynamical system, Piecewise isometric dynamical system, Singularity.
Deterministic seismic hazard analysis for Peshawar, Pakistan

Ground motion estimation for a site (34.01 o N, 71.45 o E) located in the Peshawar in terms of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values is conducted. It is carried out with deterministic seismic hazard analysis approach using faults sources within a radius of one hundred kilometers around site. The results of this study indicate that the Main Boundary Thrust located at a distance of twenty nine (29) kilometers from the site with a maximum potential moment magnitude of 8.1 is potentially the most seismogenic source for an earthquake in the region. Such a scenario earthquake may generate a design earthquake with PGA values of 0.232 g in Peshawar. PGA map for area surrounding the site (33.75 o -34.15 o N; 71.29 o 71.50 o E) is also developed in this study. This map shows that the peak-ground acceleration values are
Recognizing Textual Entailment in Twitter Using Word Embeddings

In this paper, we investigate the application of machine learning techniques and word embeddings to the task of Recognizing Textual Entailment (RTE) in Social Media. We look at a manually labeled dataset consisting of user generated short texts posted on Twitter (tweets) and related to four recent media events (the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the Ottawa shooting, the Sydney Siege, and the German Wings crash) and test to what extent neural techniques and embeddings are able to distinguish between tweets that entail or contradict each other or that claim unrelated things. We obtain comparable results to the state of the art in a train-test setting, but we show that, due to the noisy aspect of the data, results plummet in an evaluation strategy crafted to better simulate a real-life train-test scenario.
Factors That Influence the Clinical Decision Making of Physical Therapists in Choosing a Balance Assessment Approach

Background: Many methods for examining patients with balance deficits are supported by the literature. How or why therapists choose specific balance assessment methods during examination of patients remains unclear. Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to explore decision making during examination of patients with balance deficits, (2) to understand the selection and use of assessment methods from the clinician's perspective, and (3) to explore why specific methods were selected. Design: A qualitative design using a grounded theory approach permitted exploration of clinical decision making. Methods: Eleven therapists were purposefully selected (6 from outpatient offices, 5 from inpatient rehabilitation settings) to participate in repeated interviews. Credibility of the findings was established through low-inference data, member check, and triangulation among participants and multiple data sources. Results: A highly individualized approach to patient examination based on therapists’ practical knowledge emerged from the data, with limited influence of the literature. Movement observation was the primary assessment and diagnostic tool. When selecting assessment approaches for specific patients, the perceived value of information gathered mattered more than testing time. A 3-stage model of assessment decision making portrayed both the process and reasons influencing therapists’ choices. Conclusions: In the context of the complex and busy nature of clinical practice, therapists gathered data that they considered meaningful during patient examination. The findings provide insight into factors influencing assessment decisions and suggest mechanisms to foster translation of research into clinical practice.
Thermal stress analysis of the microtoroid under CO2 laser

The planar microtoroid with unique whispering gallery mode (WGM) has ultra-high Q value (UHQ) and better optical property. In order to get the UHQ cavity, it is very important to deal with the surface of microtoroid using CO2 laser reflow during the fabrication process. Because of the TEM00 laser output, there will be thermal stress which affects the Q value badly. In this paper, we design physical model and analyze the temperature distribution theoretically. Furthermore, thermal stress of different microtoroids has been tested with Raman Spectral Analyzer. At last we found that when the optical path is stabile and the lens is fixed the output power in the 7/1000 duty cycle of 30 minutes long pulse will have a good result.