Text Representation for Nonconcatenative Morphology

The last six years have seen the immense improvement of the NMT in terms of translation quality. With the help of the neural networks, the NMT has been able to achieve the state-of-the-art results in transla- tion quality. However, the NMT is still not able to achieve translation quality near human levels. In this thesis, we propose new approaches to improve the language representation as input to the NMT. This can be achieved by exploiting language specific knowledge, such as phonetic alterations, the morphology, and the syntax. We propose a new approach to improve the language representation by exploiting mor- phological phenomena in Turkish and Hebrew and show that the proposed segmentation approaches can improve translation quality. We have used several different segmentation approaches and compared them with each other. All of the segmentation approaches are rooted in the language specific morphological analysis of Turkish and Hebrew. We have also looked at the effect of the specific segmentation approach on translation quality. We have trained six different models of the type transformer with different seg- mentation approaches and compared them with each other. For each of the segmentation approaches, we have evaluated the translation quality using two automatic metrics and the human evaluation. We have also observed that the segmentation approaches can improve the translation quality in the case of the human evaluation, but not in the case of the automatic metrics. We have emphasized the importance of the human evaluation for NMT, and have shown that the automatic metrics can often be misleading

HERBICIDE PHOSPHINOTHRICIN CAUSES DIRECT STIMULATION HORMESIS

Herbicide phosphinothricin (PPT) inhibits glutamine synthetase (GS), a key enzyme in nitrogen assimilation, thus causing ammonia accumulation, glutamine depletion and eventually plant death. However, the growth response of Lotus corniculatus L. plants immersed in solutions with a broad range of PPT concentrations is biphasic, with pronounced stimulating effect on biomass production at concentrations ≤ 50 μM and growth inhibition at higher concentrations. The growth stimulation at low PPT concentrations is a result of activation of chloroplastic isoform GS2, while the growth suppression is caused by inhibition of both cytosolic GS1 and GS2 at higher PPT concentrations. Since the results are obtained in cell-free system (e.g. protein extracts), to which the principles of homeostasis are not applicable, this PPT effect is an unambiguous example of direct stimulation hormesis. A detailed molecular mechanism of concentration-dependent interaction of both PPT and a related GS inhibitor, methionine sulfoximine, with GS holoen- zymes is proposed. The mechanism is in concurrence with all experimental and literature data

Detection and quantification of hepatitis e virus genome in pig liver samples originating from Serbian retail establishments

Hepatitis E is considered an emerging human viral disease with a zoonotic nature, and domestic and wild pigs are the main reservoirs of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among animals. Pork liver is the target tissue of this virus. This study aimed to investigate the presence of HEV in commercial pig liver samples. Sixty samples were collected during one year from different retail outlets in Serbia. Furthermore, the collected samples were separated by four seasons, and every season included three months. The presence of HEV in the livers was examined by molecular analysis using RT-qPCR. The overall prevalence of the virus in analysed pig livers was 5%. HEV was detected in three livers, two in the first season and one in the second, while in the third and fourth season, no positive livers were detected. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the surveyed seasons. HEV was quantified in positive livers. Among positive livers, HEV concentrations ranged between 8×101 and 1.9×104 genome copies of the virus per gram. The presence of HEV in commercial pig livers indicates a potential risk for consumers. Appropriate heat treatment of meals during preparation is essential to eliminate the potential risk of developing the illness. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA IN EXACERBATION AND REMISSION PHASE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background: The variations in proinflamatory cytokine levels have been associated with schizophrenia (SCH), duration of illness, psychopathology and treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) in schizophrenic patients during exacerbation and remission, and its association with course of illness and therapy. Subjects and methods: We measured serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in 43 schizophrenic patients in exacerbation and remission and compared them to 29 healthy controls, matched by sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits. The severity of psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: There was no difference in levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in exacerbation compared to remission in schizophrenic patients. IL-6 was higher and TNF-α was lower in schizophrenic patients in both exacerbation and remission in comparison with healthy controls. TNF-α in exacerbation was in negative correlation with IL-6 in remission. No statistical significance was found between levels of cytokines and sex, age, BMI, smoking habits, antipsychotic medication, duration of treatment and duration of illness. IL-6 levels were in positive correlation with the age of onset and the duration of untreated psychosis. In schizophrenic patients on adjunctive treatment with mood stabilizers, TNF-α levels increased in remission. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the connection between schizophrenia, cytokines and medication is multifaceted, and not necessarily linear. Adjunct mood stabilizers not only ameliorate psychopathology, but might convey immunomodulatory effects as well. Further longitudinal studies could elucidate potential beneficial effect of combined therapy in treatment of SCH

Effects of Combined Allogenic Adipose Stem Cells and Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment on Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis in Knee Joint Induced by Monoiodoacetate

The beneficial effects of HBO in inflammatory processes make it an attractive type of treatment for chronic arthritis. In addition, the effects of combination therapy based on adipose stem cells and HBO on OA progression have not been fully investigated. The current study explored the efficacy of intra-articular injection of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) combined with hyperbaric oxygenation treatment (HBO) in a rat osteoarthritis (OA) model. The rat OA model was induced by intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) and 7 days after application of MIA rats were divided into five groups: healthy control (CTRL), osteoarthritis (OA), ADMSCs (ADS), the HBO+ADS21day and HBO+ADS28day groups. A single dose of 1 × 106 allogeneic ADMSCs suspended in sterile saline was injected into the knee joint alone or in combination with HBO treatment. Rats were sacrificed at 3 or 4 weeks after MIA injection. Treatment outcomes were evaluated by radiographic, morphological and histological analysis and by specific staining of articular cartilage. We also measured the level of inflammatory and pro/antioxidative markers. We confirmed that combined treatment of ADMSCs and HBO significantly improved the regeneration of cartilage in the knee joint. Rtg score of knee joint damage was significantly decreased in the HBO+ADS21day and HBO+ADS28day groups compared to the OA. However, the positive effect in the HBO+ADS28day group was greater than the HBO+ADS21day group. The articular cartilage was relatively normal in the HBO+ADS28day group, but moderate degeneration was observed in the HBO+ADS21day compared to the OA group. These findings are in line with the histopathological results. A significantly lower level of O2−. was observed in the HBO+ADS28day group but a higher NO level compared to the HBO+ADS21day group. Moreover, in the HBO+ADS28day group significantly higher concentrations of IL-10 were observed but there was no significant difference in proinflammatory cytokine in serum samples. These results indicate that a single intra-articular injection of allogeneic ADMSCs combined with HBO efficiently attenuated OA progression after 28 days with greater therapeutic effect compared to alone ADMSCs or after 3 weeks of combined treatment. Combined treatment might be an effective treatment for OA in humans

Influence of Higenamine on Exercise Performance of Recreational Female Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to determine the ergogenic effects and the safety profile of a one-component higenamine supplement in female recreational athletes. Twelve recreational female basketball players (age 29–41 years, oxygen consumption (VO2max) > 30 ml⋅kg–1⋅min–1, with training > 5 h wk–1) were randomized either to the higenamine group, or to the placebo group for 3 weeks. In order to determine ergogenic effects and safety profile of higenamine administration, we assessed the following variables before and after 3 weeks of supplementation: anthropometric parameters, resting metabolic rate (RMR), exercise testing variables, serum free fatty acids (FFAs), blood pressure, enzyme activity, urea, lipid profile, and complete blood count. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric parameters, including basal metabolic rate (BMR), RMR and body fat [p = 0.706 (Cohen’s d 0.223), p = 0.169 (Cohen’s d 0.857), and p = 0.223 (Cohen’s d 0.750), respectively], FFAs [0.43 ± 0.03 vs. 0.54 ± 0.23, p = 0.206 (Cohen’s d 0.540)], neither significant differences in cardiopulmonary parameters after the intervention period. Furthermore, all measured outcome variables in the safety assessment were not significant, with values remaining stable during the intervention period for participants in both groups. This is the first study to document the effects and the safety profile of higenamine-based dietary supplements at a specified dose in female recreational athletes. Our data indicate that 21-day of supplementation with 75 mg higenamine would not result in improving cardiopulmonary exercise fitness and weight loss in female recreational athletes. Moreover, supplementation with 75 mg higenamine is safe and well-tolerated in younger recreational female athletes

Satori, the return to true nature

grantor: University of TorontoWhat is our true nature? What we consciously recognize as ourself or something much deeper? In this work I will try to find an answer by giving the insight into Zen Buddhist doctrine of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, in Zen terminology known as Satori, is what reveals our true nature and it takes place in one's mind. Mind in Zen does not consist of subconsciousness and consciousness. These two realms are not standing against each other It a all one consciousness that is differentiated only by our levels of awareness. The higher one's level of awareness is, the closer one gets to own am nature. The Mind is the vehicle that carries one from one "shore" to the other. And it is this very process of enlightenment that takes place in one's mind that will be examined in the work.M.A

"Where am I?" Impact of display and content variables on spatial presence and comprehension in virtual environments

Forgetting immediate physical reality and having awareness of one�s location in the simulated world is critical to enjoyment and performance in virtual environments be it an interactive 3D game such as Quake or an online virtual 3d community space such as Second Life. Answer to the question "where am I?" at two levels, whether the locus is in the immediate real world as opposed to the virtual world and whether one is aware of the spatial co-ordinates of that locus, hold the key to any virtual 3D experience. While 3D environments, especially virtual environments and their impact on spatial comprehension has been studied in disciplines such as architecture, it is difficult to determine the relative contributions of specific attributes such as screen size or stereoscopy towards spatial comprehension since most of them treat the technology as monolith (box-centered). Using a variable-centered approach put forth by Nass and Mason (1990) which breaks down the technology into its component variables and their corresponding values as its theoretical basis, this paper looks at the contributions of five variables (Stereoscopy, screen size, field of view, level of realism and level of detail) common to most virtual environments on spatial comprehension and presence. The variable centered approach can be daunting as the increase in the number of variables can exponentially increase the number of conditions and resources required. We overcome this drawback posed by adoption of such a theoretical approach by the use of a fractional factorial design for the experiment. This study has completed the first wave of data collection and starting the next phase in January 2007 and expected to complete by February 2007. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed

Fruit characteristics in walnut tree population in relation to growing season onset

The objective of walnut selection is to obtain promising genotypes characterized by later growing season onset, shorter period of vegetation, resistance to diseases, stable fruit productivity and high fruit quality. Aiming at obtaining genotypes with favorable properties, in five localities of Eastern Serbia, where walnut is widely grown, we studied the correlation among growing season onset on the one hand, and major pomological properties and fruit quality on the other. In the studied population, trees with early growing season onset and fruit mass up to 8.0 g (30.1%) were predominant, whereas those with late growing season onset were in minority, fruit mass ranging from 10.1 to 12 g (0.07%). Kernel ratio was highest in the former (20.69%), and the lowest in the latter (0.07%). Similar was observed in oil and raw proteins content in kernel which was highest in fruits of early trees (33.62%, 47,55%), while it was remarkably lower in late ones (0.72%, 0.49%). The obtained results suggest that the studied population was dominated by early trees and unfavorable or less favorable fruit properties. In spite of that, we evidenced some trees with favorable properties which can be used in breeding as donors of useful genes