Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Grape Cultivar and Sap Culture Conditions Affect the Development of Xylella fastidiosa Phenotypes Associated with Pierce's Disease

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium in plant hosts and causes Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevines, which differ in susceptibility according to the Vitis species (spp.). In this work we compared X. fastidiosa biofilm formation and population dynamics when cultured in xylem saps from PD-susceptible and -resistant Vitis spp. under different conditions. Behaviors in a closed-culture system were compared to those in different sap-renewal cultures that would more closely mimic the physicochemical environment encountered in planta. Significant differences in biofilm formation and growth in saps from PD-susceptible and -resistant spp. were only observed using sap renewal culture. Compared to saps from susceptible V. vinifera, those from PD-resistant V. aestivalis supported lower titers of X. fastidiosa and less biofilm and V. champinii suppressed both growth and biofilm formation, behaviors which are correlated with disease susceptibility. Furthermore, in microfluidic chambers X. fastidiosa formed thick mature biofilm with three-dimensional (3-D) structures, such as pillars and mounds, in saps from all susceptible spp. In contrast, only small aggregates of various shapes were formed in saps from four out of five of the resistant spp. ; sap from the resistant spp. V. mustangensis was an exception in that it also supported thick lawns of biofilm but not the above described 3-D structures typically seen in a mature biofilm from the susceptible saps. Our findings provide not only critical technical information for future bioassays, but also suggest further understanding of PD susceptibility.
Towards femtosecond electronics based on single-walled carbon nanotubes

To combine the advantages of ultrafast femtosecond optics with an on-chip communication scheme, optical signals with a frequency of several hundreds of THz need to be down-converted to coherent electronic signals of GHz or less. Here, we present an optoelectronic measurement scheme that allows for the direct read-out of ultrafast electronic nonequilibrium processes in nanoscale circuits. Particular, we demonstrate that photocurrents in single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under a resonant optical excitation of their subbands can be ballistic on subpicosecond timescales. The investigated semiconducting CNTs are integrated as functional parts of on-chip THz stripline circuits. In turn, the ballistic currents in the CNTs drive THz transients in the on-chip THz circuits with a bandwidth of up to 2 THz. The transients propagate within the striplines on a macroscopic, millimeter scale. Our results pave the way towards femtosecond on-chip electronics based on single-walled CNTs.
Detailed Localization of Augmented Angiotensinogen mRNA and Protein in Proximal Tubule Segments of Diabetic Kidneys in Rats and Humans

In the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, angiotensinogen levels are well known to be increased in diabetes, and these enhanced intrarenal angiotensinogen levels may initiate the development and accelerate the progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the specific localization of the augmented angiotensinogen in proximal tubule segments in diabetes is still unknown. We investigated the detailed localization of angiotensinogen in 3 proximal tubule segments in the diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats and the control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. We also prepared OLETF rats treated with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, olmesartan or with a combination of vasodilator agents. Moreover, biopsied samples of human kidney cortex were used to confirm the results of animal studies. We examined the co-localization of angiotensinogen with segment-specific markers by double staining using fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or immunofluorescence. Angiotensinogen mRNA expression was barely detectable in segment 1. In segment 3, the area of angiotensinogen mRNA expression was augmented in the OLETF rats compared with the LETO rats. Angiotensinogen protein expression areas in segments 1 and 3 were also increased in the OLETF rats compared with the LETO rats. Chronic treatment with olmesartan ameliorated these areas of augmented angiotensinogen expression. Biopsied human kidney samples showed similar results. These data suggest that the augmented angiotensinogen mRNA levels in segment 3 and angiotensinogen protein levels in segments 1 and 3 may contribute to the progression of diabetic nephropathy.
E-commerce : It ’ s Impact on consumer Behavior

The main goal of the paper is to obtain quantitative describing the actuality of internet shopping in the case of the India in order to explain the development of internet shopping and its impact on consumer behavior. The paper build on the relevant literature and at the same time examines consumer behavior by questionnaires. Furthermore, the future development of internet shopping will be measured and deep comparison of consumer behavior between different countries. This paper support the research questions that including recent trends and various issues in internet shopping, and principle factors for consumer behavior. Also, the result of the study shows that internet consumer trust and perceived risk have strong impacts on their purchasing decisions. Consumer`s trust, privacy concerns, security concerns are the major factors for using internet for shopping, the trust on websites influence to the purchasing decision of any consumer. More specifically, the empirical result suggests how the E-commerce companies make marketing strategies according the research data and analyzing result.
Design, construction, and evaluation of energy-harvesting asphalt pavement systems

Energy-harvesting pavements, one of which is the Hydronic Asphalt Pavement (HAP) system, have been proven to be both more durable and sustainable than conventional pavement systems. A HAP consists of a system of connected pipes embedded within the asphalt pavement which function to extract or reject heat from/into the pavement via a circulating fluid. Three large-scale systems were designed and constructed in the field: a control section, a regular HAP section, and a section containing a HAP coupled to a horizontal ground heat exchanger (GCHAP). The field data showed that neither the HAP section nor the GCHAP section were able to substantially decrease the pavement surface temperature. However, both GCHAP and HAP were able to decrease the asphalt temperature at a depth of 2.5 cm below the surface by a magnitude of around 10°C. Another key finding of this study shows that increasing the conductivity of a flexible pavement asphalt layer, rather than increasing the conductivity of the embedded pipes, significantly enhances the effectiveness of the HAP system.
Impact of developer turnover on quality in open-source software

Turnover is the phenomenon of continuous influx and retreat of human resources in a team. Despite being well-studied in many settings, turnover has not been characterized for open-source software projects. We study the source code repositories of five open-source projects to characterize patterns of turnover and to determine the effects of turnover on software quality. We define the base concepts of both external and internal turnover, which are the mobility of developers in and out of a project, and the mobility of developers inside a project, respectively. We provide a qualitative analysis of turnover patterns. We also found, in a quantitative analysis, that the activity of external newcomers negatively impact software quality.
MARTX Toxin in the Zoonotic Serovar of Vibrio vulnificus Triggers an Early Cytokine Storm in Mice

Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2-serovar E is a zoonotic clonal complex that can cause death by sepsis in humans and fish. Unlike other biotypes, Bt2 produces a unique type of MARTXVv (Multifunctional-Autoprocessive-Repeats-in-Toxin; RtxA13), which is encoded by a gene duplicated in the pVvBt2 plasmid and chromosome II. In this work, we analyzed the activity of this toxin and its role in human sepsis by performing in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays. First, we demonstrated that the ACD domain, present exclusively in this toxin variant, effectively has an actin-cross-linking activity. Second, we determined that the whole toxin caused death of human endotheliocytes and monocytes by lysis and apoptosis, respectively. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that RtxA13 contributes to human death caused by this zoonotic serovar by triggering an early cytokine storm in blood. To this end, we used a Bt2-SerE strain (R99) together with its rtxA13 deficient mutant, and a Bt1 strain (YJ016) producing RtxA11 (the most studied MARTXVv) together with its rtxA11 deficient mutant, as controls. Our results showed that RtxA13 was essential for virulence, as R99ΔΔrtxA13 was completely avirulent in our murine model of infection, and that R99, but not strain YJ016, induced an early, strong and dysregulated immune response involving the up-regulation of a high number of genes. This dysregulated immune response was directly linked to RtxA13. Based on these results and those obtained ex vivo (human blood), we propose a model of infection for the zoonotic serovar of V. vulnificus, in which RtxA13 would act as a sepsis-inducing toxin.
Analysis of the ultraviolet B response in primary human keratinocytes using oligonucleotide microarrays

UV radiation is the most important environmental skin aggressor, causing cancer and other problems. This paper reports the use of oligonucleotide microarray technology to determine changes in gene expression in human keratinocytes after UVB treatment. Examination of the effects of different doses at different times after irradiation gave a global picture of the keratinocyte response to this type of insult. Five hundred thirty-nine regulated transcripts were found and organized into nine different clusters depending on behavior patterns. Classification of these genes into 23 functional categories revealed that several biological processes are globally affected by UVB. In addition to confirming a majority up-regulation of the transcripts related to the UV-specific inflammatory and stress responses, significant increases were seen in the expression of genes involved in basal transcription, splicing, and translation as well as in the proteasome-mediated degradation category. On the other hand, those transcripts belonging to the metabolism and adhesion categories were strongly downregulated. These results demonstrate the complexity of the transcriptional profile of the UVB response, describe several cellular processes previously not known to be affected by UV irradiation, and serve as a basis for the global characterization of UV-regulated genes and pathways.
Delayed graft function does not reduce the survival of renal transplant allografts.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of delayed graft function (DGF) in graft outcome when adjusted by the presence of acute rejection in the first month after transplantation. METHODS A total of 437 cadaveric renal transplant patients on cyclosporine and steroids were included in the study. Variables related to donor, recipient, and graft were prospectively collected. RESULTS The incidence of DGF was 44.4%. When patients dying with a functioning graft were censored, graft survival rates at 1 and 6 years were similar in patients with immediate function to those with DGF, when rejection was not present (96% and 81% vs. 95% and 83%, respectively). Rejection negatively influenced graft survival rates at 1 and 6 years, both in patients with immediate graft function (80% and 73%, P<0.05 vs. no DGF/no rejection) and more deeply in those with associated DGF (77% and 62%, P<0.001 vs. no DGF/no rejection). Rejection was more frequently diagnosed in patients with DGF than in those with immediate graft function (50% vs. 39.9%, P<0.05). Length of hospitalization was longer and the number of needle core biopsies was higher in patients with DGF or rejection. The presence of both complications had an additive effect. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that DGF did not adversely affect kidney graft survival in patients without rejection. However, it increased the length of hospitalization and the number of graft biopsies, thus increasing the cost of transplantation. Moreover, rejection was more frequent in patients with DGF, and it had a negative impact on graft outcome. Because the association of DGF and rejection gave the poorest outcome, an effort should be made to prevent both complications.
Emotional Facilitation of Sensory Processing in the Visual Cortex

A key function of emotion is the preparation for action. However, organization of successful behavioral strategies depends on efficient stimulus encoding. The present study tested the hypothesis that perceptual encoding in the visual cortex is modulated by the emotional significance of visual stimuli. Event-related brain potentials were measured while subjects viewed pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures. Early selective encoding of pleasant and unpleasant images was associated with a posterior negativity, indicating primary sources of activation in the visual cortex. The study also replicated previous findings in that affective cues also elicited enlarged late positive potentials, indexing increased stimulus relevance at higher-order stages of stimulus processing. These results support the hypothesis that sensory encoding of affective stimuli is facilitated implicitly by natural selective attention. Thus, the affect system not only modulates motor output (i.e., favoring approach or avoidance dispositions), but already operates at an early level of sensory encoding.
Connectivity properties of moment maps on based loop groups

For a compact, connected, simply-connected Lie group G, the loop group LG is the infinite-dimensional Hilbert Lie group consisting of H^1-Sobolev maps S^1-->G. The geometry of LG and its homogeneous spaces is related to representation theory and has been extensively studied. The space of based loops Omega(G) is an example of a homogeneous space of $LG$ and has a natural Hamiltonian T x S^1 action, where T is the maximal torus of G. We study the moment map mu for this action, and in particular prove that its regular level sets are connected. This result is as an infinite-dimensional analogue of a theorem of Atiyah that states that the preimage of a moment map for a Hamiltonian torus action on a compact symplectic manifold is connected. In the finite-dimensional case, this connectivity result is used to prove that the image of the moment map for a compact Hamiltonian T-space is convex. Thus our theorem can also be viewed as a companion result to a theorem of Atiyah and Pressley, which states that the image mu(Omega(G)) is convex. We also show that for the energy functional E, which is the moment map for the S^1 rotation action, each non-empty preimage is connected.
Geo-Spatial Location Spoofing Detection for Internet of Things

We develop a new location spoofing detection algorithm for geo-spatial tagging and location-based services in the Internet of Things (IoT), called enhanced location spoofing detection using audibility (ELSA), which can be implemented at the backend server without modifying existing legacy IoT systems. ELSA is based on a statistical decision theory framework and uses two-way time-of-arrival (TW-TOA) information between the user's device and the anchors. In addition to the TW-TOA information, ELSA exploits the implicit audibility information (or outage information) to improve detection rates of location spoofing attacks. Given TW-TOA and audibility information, we derive the decision rule for the verification of the device's location, based on the generalized likelihood ratio test. We develop a practical threat model for delay measurements' spoofing scenarios, and investigate in detail the performance of ELSA in terms of detection and false alarm rates. Our extensive simulation results on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the superior performance of ELSA compared to conventional non-audibility-aware approaches.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of boron activation in implanted Si under laser thermal annealing

We investigate the correlation between dopant activation and damage evolution in boron-implanted silicon under excimer laser irradiation. The dopant activation efficiency in the solid phase was measured under a wide range of irradiation conditions and simulated using coupled phase-field and kinetic Monte Carlo models. With the inclusion of dopant atoms, the presented code extends the capabilities of a previous version, allowing its definitive validation by means of detailed comparisons with experimental data. The stochastic method predicts the post-implant kinetics of the defect-dopant system in the far-from-equilibrium conditions caused by laser irradiation. The simulations explain the dopant activation dynamics and demonstrate that the competitive dopant-defect kinetics during the first laser annealing treatment dominates the activation phenomenon, stabilizing the system against additional laser irradiation steps.
Prevention of experimental Haemophilus ducreyi infection: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Human subjects were infected with Haemophilus ducreyi. All subjects developed papules and were randomized to treatment with a single dose of azithromycin (1 g) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg). At weekly intervals, volunteers were reinoculated with H. ducreyi, and drug concentrations were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). When papules developed, the subjects were treated with antibiotics and dismissed from the study. Eight of the ciprofloxacin-treated subjects developed papules 1 week after the initial treatment, and the ninth subject developed disease 2 weeks after treatment. The 9 azithromycin-treated subjects developed papules 4-10 weeks (mean, 6.8) after the initial treatment (P < .001). Azithromycin was detected in PBMC for 3-6 weeks (mean, 4). Pre- and posttreatment lesions had histology typical of experimental chancroid or were culture positive. Azithromycin prevents experimental chancroid for nearly 2 months. These findings have implications for strategies to prevent chancroid.
Constraints versus Priors

There are deep and important philosophical differences between Bayesian and frequentist approaches to quantifying uncertainty. However, some practitioners choose between these approaches primarily on the basis of convenience. For instance, the ability to incorporate parameter constraints is sometimes cited as a reason to use Bayesian methods. This reflects two misunderstandings: First, frequentist methods can indeed incorporate constraints on parameter values. Second, it ignores the crucial question of what the result of the analysis will mean. Bayesian and frequentist measures of uncertainty have similar sounding names but quite different meanings. For instance, Bayesian uncertainties typically involve expectations with respect to the posterior distribution of the parameter, holding the data fixed; frequentist uncertainties typically involve expectations with respect to the distribution of the data, holding the parameter fixed. Bayesian methods, including methods incorporating parameter constraints, requ.
A 'Nice' Bijection for a Content Formula for Skew Semistandard Young Tableaux

Based on Schutzenberger's evacuation and a modification of jeu de taquin, we give a bijective proof of an identity connecting the generating function of reverse semistandard Young tableaux with bounded entries with the generating function of all semistandard Young tableaux. This solves Exercise 7.102 b of Richard Stanley's book 'Enumerative Combinatorics 2'.
Trust, Power and Control in Trans-Organizational Relations

This paper analyzes trust and power as means of co-ordinating trans-organizational relationships. It is argued that, depending on the institutional environment, there are two distinct patterns of controlling relationships, where trust and power are interrelated in quite different ways. First, both mechanisms are generated at the inter-personal level and either trust or power dominates the relationship. Second, power occurs at the level of the structural framework of relationships and is highly conducive to developing trust between individual organizations. Thus, specific forms of trust and power are identified and the institutional environment is viewed as playing a crucial role in shaping the quality of trans-organizational relations. The theoretical background of the paper mainly draws on conceptual ideas of Systems Theory, Structuration Theory and New Institutionalism
Verifying safety of an autonomous spacecraft rendezvous mission

A fundamental maneuver in autonomous space operations is known as rendezvous, where a spacecraft navigates to and approaches another spacecraft. In this case study, we present linear and nonlinear benchmark models of an active chaser spacecraft performing rendezvous toward a passive, orbiting target. The system is modeled as a hybrid automaton, where the chaser must adhere to different sets of constraints in each discrete mode. A switched LQR controller is designed accordingly to meet this collection of physical and geometric safety constraints, while maintaining liveness in navigating toward the target spacecraft. We extend this benchmark problem to check for passive safety, which is collision avoidance along a passive, propulsion-free trajectory that may be followed in the event of system failures. We show that existing hybrid verification tools like SpaceEx, C2E2, and our own implementation of a simulation-driven verification tool can robustly verify this system with respect to the requirements, and a variety of relevant initial conditions.
Automatic transcription of general audio data: preliminary analyses

The task of automatically transcribing general audio data is very different from the transcription task typically required of current automatic speech recognition systems. The general goal of this work is to quantify the difficult issues posed by such data, thus leading to an understanding of how a speech recognition system may have to be altered to accommodate the added complexities. Specifically, we describe some preliminary analyses and experiments we have conducted on data collected from a radio news program. We found that using relatively straightforward acoustic measurements and classification techniques, we were able to achieve better than 80% classification accuracy for seven salient sound classes present in the data, and nearly 94% classification accuracy for a speech/non-speech decision. In addition, lexical analysis revealed that while the vocabulary size of a single broadcast is moderate, it grows exponentially as more shows are added.
Three-Component Decomposition Based on Stokes Vector for Compact Polarimetric SAR

This paper formulates a Stokes vector (SV) based decomposition algorithm for compact polarimetric (CP) SAR under π/4 mode. The three-component scattering model is first established by using the relationship between covariance matrix and SV, and then the contribution of each component is estimated from algebraic calculation. To solve the underdetermined equations for π/4 decomposition, the contribution of volume scattering is taken as a free parameter, under the constraint that the weighting factor of each scattering component should be nonnegative. The feasibility of this algorithm is supported by two data sets from AIRSAR and RADARSAT-2 respectively.