Multiple Discourse Relations on the Sentential Level in Japanese

In the German government (BMBF) funded project Verbmobil, a semantic formalism Language for Underspecified Discourse Representation Structures (LUD) is used which describes several DRSs and allows for underspecification. Dealing with Japanese poses challenging problems. In this paper, a treatment of multiple discourse relation constructions on the sentential level is shown, which are common in Japanese but cause a problem for the formalism,. The problem is to distinguish discourse relations which take the widest scope compared with other scope-taking elements on the one hand and to have them underspecified among each other on the other hand. We also state a semantic constraint on the resolution of multiple discourse relations which seems to prevail over the syntactic c-command constraint.Comment: 6 pages, Postscrip

Computability of Probability Distributions and Distribution Functions

We define the computability of probability distributions on the real line as well as that of distribution functions. Mutual relationships between the computability notion of a probability distribution and that of the corresponding distribution function are discussed. It is carried out through attempts to effectivize some classical fundamental theorems concerning probability distributions. We then define the effective convergence of probability distributions as an effectivization of the classical vague convergence. For distribution functions, computability and effective convergence are naturally defined as real functions. A weaker effective convergence is also defined as an effectivization of pointwise convergence

Random Iteration Algorithm for Graph-Directed Sets

A random iteration algorithm for graph-directed sets is defined and discussed. Similarly to the Barnsley-Elton\u27s theorem, it is shown that almost all sequences obtained by this algorithm reflect a probability measure which is invariant with respect to the system of contractions with probabilities

Bullous Variant of Sweet's Syndrome after Herpes Zoster Virus Infection

Aim: Cutaneous manifestations of Sweet’s syndrome (SS) are typically painful plaque-forming erythematous papules, while bullae are quite uncommon. We present a case of bullous variant of SS in acute myeloid leukaemia. In this case, herpes infection of the left mandible had preceded the development of SS. Case Report: A 75-year-old male with myelodysplastic syndrome first presented with herpes zoster virus infection-like bullae and erosive plaques on the left side of the face and neck. Treatment with valacyclovir and antibiotics was effective only for the initial lesions, whereas the other bullae kept developing predominantly on the left side. Histopathological study revealed epidermal bulla formation, pandermal neutrophilic infiltration, erythrocyte extravasation and subepidermal oedema, but no vasculitis. The findings suggested the diagnosis of bullous variant of SS. Discussion: Our case was unique in that bullous SS symptoms developed predominantly on one side of the cheek and neck where the herpes zoster infection occurred prior to SS. The tendency may explain the possible association between viral infection and development of SS

Effect of introduction of chondroitin sulfate into polymer-peptide conjugate responding to intracellular signals

We recently developed a novel tumor-targeted gene delivery system responding to hyperactivated intracellular signals. Polymeric carrier for gene delivery consists of hydrophilic neutral polymer as main chains and cationic peptide substrate for target enzyme as side chains, and was named polymer-peptide conjugate (PPC). Introduction of chondroitin sulfate (CS), which induces receptor-medicated endocytosis, into polymers mainly with a high cationic charge density such as polyethylenimine can increase tumor-targeted gene delivery. In the present study, we examined whether introduction of CS into PPC containing five cationic amino acids can increase gene expression in tumor cells. Size and zeta potential of plasmid DNA (pDNA)/PPC/CS complex were <200 nm and between -10 and -15 mV, respectively. In tumor cell experiments, pDNA/PPC/CS complex showed lower stability and gene regulation, compared with that of pDNA/PPC. Moreover, no difference in gene expression was identified between positive and negative polymer. These results were caused by fast disintegration of pDNA/PPC/CS complexes in the presence of serum. Thus, we suggest that introduction of negatively charged CS into polymers with a low charge density may lead to low stability and gene regulation of complexes