Memory-Based Shallow Parsing

We present a memory-based learning (MBL) approach to shallow parsing in which POS tagging, chunking, and identification of syntactic relations are formulated as memory-based modules. The experiments reported in this paper show competitive results, the F-value for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) treebank is: 93.8% for NP chunking, 94.7% for VP chunking, 77.1% for subject detection and 79.0% for object detection.Comment: 8 pages, to appear in: Proceedings of the EACL'99 workshop on Computational Natural Language Learning (CoNLL-99), Bergen, Norway, June 199

Age-related increase of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in mice prevention by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761)

Enhanced apoptosis and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in aging. In addition, several neurodegenerative diseases are associated with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in neuronal tissue. Antioxidative treatment has neuro-protective effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes of susceptibility to apoptotic cell death by oxidative stress in aging and its inhibition by the antioxidant Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761. We investigated basal and ROS-induced levels of apoptotic lymphocytes derived from the spleen in young (3 months) and old (24 months) mice. ROS were induced by 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib) that depletes the intracellular pool of reduced glutathione. Lymphocytes from aged mice accumulate apoptotic cells to a significantly higher extent under basal conditions compared to cells from young mice. Treatment with dRib enhanced this difference, implicating a higher sensitivity to ROS in aging. Apoptosis can be reduced in vitro by treatment with EGb761. In addition, mice were treated daily with 100mg/kg EGb761 per os over a period of two weeks. ROS-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced in the EGb761 group. Interestingly, this effect seemed to be more pronounced in old mice

Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Celtic Sea (South Western Approaches, NE Atlantic)

The faunal composition and diversity pattern of Recent benthic foraminifera from the shelf and slope of the South Western Approaches (Celtic Sea) were assessed. The sampling stations cover a depth range from 100 to 500 m. A total number of 294 species was recorded, of which 89 were found exclusively in the living fauna and 118 only in the dead assemblage, whereas 87 species were found in both assemblages. The faunal composition revealed a distinct bisection of the living fauna on the shelf. While certain distribution patterns of living dominant species were recognized along a NE-SW trending transect towards the shelf edge, the living fauna changed within small depth intervals and geographic position on the slope. Causes for this structured slope assemblages were probably along-slope currents of varying strengths, as well as variations in topography and bottom sediments. Analyses of population densities and diversity patterns determined high densities along the shelf edge and at one slope station, as well as an increasing diversity with water depth. A comparison with literature data from the same area yields distinct differences in faunal composition on the shelf and slope. The diversity was similar on the shelf, but higher at corresponding stations on the slope. We conclude that the faunal composition was highly influenced by the time and methods of sampling. In order to obtain consistent results in regional studies, all samples should be taken in a short time interval and by using the same sampling device. In addition, we depicted the influences of environmental parameters on dead faunal assemblages and their consequences for paleoenvironmental interpretations of fossil foraminiferal assemblages

Effects of EGb 761® Ginkgo biloba extract on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress

As major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial structures are exposed to high concentrations of ROS and may therefore be particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. Mitochondrial damage could play a pivotal role in the cell death decision. A decrease in mitochondrial energy charge and redox state, loss of transmembrane potential (depolarization), mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment, and release of substances such as calcium and cytochrome c all contribute to apoptosis. These mitochondrial abnormalities may constitute a part of the spectrum of chronic oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Accumulation of amyloid beta (Abeta) in form of senile plaques is also thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease mediated by oxidative stress. In addition, increasing evidence shows that Abeta generates free radicals in vitro, which mediate the toxicity of this peptide. In our study, PC12 cells were used to examine the protective features of EGb 761(definition see editorial) on mitochondria stressed with hydrogen peroxide and antimycin, an inhibitor of complex III. In addition, we investigated the efficacy of EGb 761 in Abeta-induced MTT reduction in PC12 cells. Moreover, we examined the effects of EGb 761 on ROS levels and ROS-induced apoptosis in lymphocytes from aged mice after in vivo administration. Here, we will report that EGb 761 was able to protect mitochondria from the attack of hydrogen peroxide, antimycin and Abeta. Furthermore, EGb 761 reduced ROS levels and ROS-induced apoptosis in lymphocytes from aged mice treated orally with EGb 761 for 2 weeks. Our data further emphasize neuroprotective properties of EGb 761, such as protection against Abeta-toxicity, and antiapoptotic properties, which are probably due to its preventive effects on mitochondria

Should Behavior Harmful to Others Be a Sufficient Criterion of Mental Disorders? Conceptual Problems of the Diagnoses of Antisocial Personality Disorder and Pedophilic Disorder

Generally, diseases are primarily harmful to the individual herself; harm to others may or may not be a secondary effect of diseases (e.g., in case of infectious diseases). This is also true for mental disorders. However, both ICD-10 and DSM-5 contain two diagnoses which are primarily defined by behavior harmful to others, namely Pedophilic Disorder and Antisocial (or Dissocial) Personality Disorder (ASPD or DPD). Both diagnoses have severe conceptual problems in the light of general definitions of mental disorder, like the definition in DSM-5 or Wakefield's "harmful dysfunction" model. We argue that in the diagnoses of Pedophilic Disorder and ASPD the criterion of harm to the individual is substituted by the criterion of harm to others. Furthermore, the application of the criterion of dysfunction to these two diagnoses is problematic because both heavily depend on cultural and social norms. Therefore, these two diagnoses fall outside the general disease concept and even outside the general concept of mental disorders. We discuss whether diagnoses which primarily or exclusively ground on morally wrong, socially inacceptable, or criminal behavior should be eliminated from ICD and DSM. On the one side, if harming others is a sufficient criterion of a mental disorder, the "evil" is pathologized. On the other side, there are practical reasons for keeping these diagnoses: first for having an official research frame, second for organizing and financing treatment and prevention. We argue that the criteria set of Pedophilic Disorder should be reformulated in order to make it consistent with the general definition of mental disorder in DSM-5. This diagnosis should only be applicable to individuals that are distressed or impaired by it, but not solely based on behavior harmful to others. For ASPD, we conclude that the arguments for eliminating it from the diagnostic manuals overweigh the arguments for keeping it

CP violation in charged Higgs boson decays into tau and neutrino

We calculate the CP-violating rate asymmetry of H^\pm decays into tau and neutrino at one loop in the MSSM with complex parameters. We find that the asymmetry is typically of the order of 10^-3, depending mainly on the phases of the trilinear coupling A_\tau and of the gaugino mass M_1.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, uses JHEP3.cl

Sampling Refugees for an Educational Longitudinal Survey

In the years 2015 and 2016, in Germany more than half a million refugees were granted asylum or they were accepted being eligible for subsidiary protection. Thus, they got a residence permit. About 29% of the accepted refugees were younger than 18 years. To study education related integration issues in this group, in 2016 the large-scale survey study “Refugees in the German Educational System (ReGES)” had been established. In this study, refugee children not yet in elementary school and students in lower secondary education are surveyed. This article gives some first insights from the field of the study, details its multistage sampling and study design, reports gross and net sample sizes, and gives response rates. In total, more than 4,000 families were found to have more than 5,000 children of the desired population. About 2,400 refugee children and about the same number of refugee students participated in the first wave in 2017/2018. This is around 50% of the Kindergarten children’s parents and around 44% of the students, whose addresses were sampled, and an interviewer was sent to, could be interviewed. These high response rates point to the effectiveness of the study design. Additionally, they show the strong interest of the considered refugee population in the study

Die Bedeutung von Zikaden bei der Evaluierung des Naturschutzgroßprojektes „Bergwiesen im Osterzgebirge“* (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha)

Bei der Evaluierung des Naturschutzgro.projektes „Bergwiesen im Osterzgebirge“ im Jahr 2018 wurden neben anderen Insektengruppen auch die Zikaden einbezogen. In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse der Erfassungen für die Kennarten des frischen und feuchten bzw. nassen Grünlands auf 10 Probeflächen mit insgesamt 16 verschiedenen Biotoptypen aus den Jahren 2018, 2001 und teilweise 1996 präsentiert. Insgesamt konnten 96 Zikadenarten erfasst werden, wovon 32 Arten des frischen Grünlands und 36 des Feucht- und Nassgrünlands als Kennarten zur Bewertung ausgewählt wurden. 24 Arten (= 25 %) werden nach den Roten Listen Deutschlands und Sachsens als gefährdet eingestuft. Auf den meisten Flächen mit konstanter Nutzung oder Pflege hat sich das Artenspektrum nur wenig verändert. Tendenziell wirkt sich eine konsequent extensive Nutzung positiv auf den Artenreichtum aus, mehrjähriges Brachfallen dagegen beeinträchtigt Arten- und Individuenreichtum. Zum Vergleich werden historische Daten für das Teilgebiet der Wiesen am Geisingberg einbezogen und belegen eine weitgehende Stabilität der Artvorkommen im Gebiet über mehr als 50 Jahre. In 2018 I studied the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in the conservation project "montane meadows of the Eastern Ore Mountains". In this paper a survey of typical species of damp to wet grassland is presented, referring to 10 sample plots with altogether 16 habitat types studied in 2018, including data from some of the plots in 2001 and 1996. Altogether 96 species were recorded. 32 of these were selected as specific for the evaluation of damp grassland and 36 for wet grassland. 24 species (= 25 %) are included in the Red Lists of Germany and Saxony. I also included historical data sets for meadows of the Geisingberg section as well as species lists of the conservation project. Species assemblages have changed little on most sites with permanent land use or management. A permanent low-intensity use tended to have a positive effect on species richness, whereas fallowing had a negative impact on species richness and individual numbers after several years

Caryophyllales 2015 in Berlin and the Global Caryophyllales Initiative

Fil: Arias, Salvador. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Berendsohn, Walter G.. Freie Universität Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Borsch, Thomas. Freie Universität Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Flores Olvera, Hilda. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Ochoterena, Helga. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: von Mering, Sabine. Freie Universität Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Zuloaga, Fernando Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentin