Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A rewriting-based forwards semantics for Maude-NPA

The Maude-NRL Protocol Analyzer (Maude-NPA) is a tool for reasoning about the security of cryptographic protocols in which the cryptosystems satisfy different equational properties. It tries to find secrecy or authentication attacks by searching backwards from an insecure attack state pattern that may contain logical variables, in such a way that logical variables become properly instantiated in order to find an initial state. The execution mechanism for this logical reachability is narrowing modulo an equational theory. Although Maude-NPA also possesses a forwards semantics naturally derivable from the backwards semantics, it is not suitable for state space exploration or protocol simulation. In this paper we define an executable forwards semantics for Maude-NPA, instead of its usual backwards one, and restrict it to the case of concrete states, that is, to terms without logical variables. This case corresponds to standard rewriting modulo an equational theory. We prove soundness and completeness of the backwards narrowing-based semantics with respect to the rewriting-based forwards semantics. We show its effectiveness as an analysis method that complements the backwards analysis with new prototyping, simulation, and explicit-state model checking features by providing some experimental results.
A Sliding-Mode-Control Law for Mobile Robots Based on Epipolar Visual Servoing From Three Views

Driving mobile robots to precise locations is of recognized interest, and using vision sensors in this context supplies many advantages. We propose a novel control law based on sliding-mode theory in order to drive mobile robots to a target location, which is specified by a previously acquired reference image. The control scheme exploits the piecewise epipolar geometry of three views on the basis of image-based visual servoing, in such a way that no 3-D scene information is required. The contribution of the paper is a new control law that achieves convergence to the target with no auxiliary images and without changing to any approach other than epipolar-based control. Additionally, the use of sliding-mode control deals with singularities, thus allowing the robot to move directly toward the target as well as avoiding the need of a precise camera calibration. The effectiveness of our approach is tested with simulations and real-world experiments.
Functional properties of LptA and LptD in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Abstract Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are central components of the outer membrane and consist of Lipid A, the core polysaccharide, and the O-antigen. The synthesis of LPS is initiated at the cytosolic face of the cytoplasmic membrane. The subsequent transport to and across the outer membrane involves multiple lipopolysaccharide transport (Lpt) proteins. Among those proteins, the periplasmic-localized LptA and the outer membrane-embedded LptD participate in the last steps of transfer and insertion of LPS into the outer membrane. While the process is described for proteobacterial model systems, not much is known about the machinery in cyanobacteria. We demonstrate that anaLptD (alr1278) of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is important for cell wall function and its pore domain shows a Lipid A sensitive cation-selective gating behavior. The N-terminal domain of anaLptD recognizes anaLptA (alr4067), but not ecLptA. Furthermore, anaLptA specifically interacts with the Lipid A from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 only, while anaLptD binds to Lipid A isolated from Escherichia coli as well. Based on the comparative analysis of proteins from E. coli and Anabaena sp. we discuss the properties of the cyanobacterial Lpt system.
Natural Variation at the FRD3 MATE Transporter Locus Reveals Cross-Talk between Fe Homeostasis and Zn Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Zinc (Zn) is essential for the optimal growth of plants but is toxic if present in excess, so Zn homeostasis needs to be finely tuned. Understanding Zn homeostasis mechanisms in plants will help in the development of innovative approaches for the phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated sites. In this study, Zn tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified by analyzing differences in the Bay-0 and Shahdara accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. Fine-scale mapping showed that a variant of the Fe homeostasis-related FERRIC REDUCTASE DEFECTIVE3 (FRD3) gene, which encodes a multidrug and toxin efflux (MATE) transporter, is responsible for reduced Zn tolerance in A. thaliana. Allelic variation in FRD3 revealed which amino acids are necessary for FRD3 function. In addition, the results of allele-specific expression assays in F1 individuals provide evidence for the existence of at least one putative metal-responsive cis-regulatory element. Our results suggest that FRD3 works as a multimer and is involved in loading Zn into xylem. Cross-homeostasis between Fe and Zn therefore appears to be important for Zn tolerance in A. thaliana with FRD3 acting as an essential regulator.
Democracy Now? Race, Education, and Black Self-Determination

Background/Context The Supreme Court's June 2007 decision on the Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No.1 (PICS) provides an important context for school districts and educational policy makers as they consider the role of race in school assignment. The PICS decision has been described as essentially “undoing” the 1954 Supreme Court decision in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case that ended de jure racial segregation. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study Given the rhetoric that education in the United States is the “great equalizer,” this conceptual article considers how the PICS decisions impact notions of educational equity and self-determination for African Americans. Research Design This article provides a conceptual analysis of the PICS decision and educational equity. Conclusions/Recommendations The author recommends that despite the PICS decision, school administrators and policy makers continue to consider how race impacts school assignment to ensure that public schools are democratic institutions that are racially and educationally equitable.
Inhibition of Nucleoside Transport by Protein Kinase Inhibitors

Recently we reported that the pyridinylimidazole class of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors potently inhibited the facilitated transport of nucleosides and nucleoside analogs in K562 cells. These compounds competed with the binding of nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) to K562 cells, consistent with inhibition of the NBMPR-sensitive equilibrative transporter (ENT1). In this study we examined a large number of additional protein kinase inhibitors for their effects on nucleoside transport. We find that incubation of K562 cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (AG825, AG1517, AG1478, STI-571), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors (staurosporine, GF 109203X, R0 31-8220, arcyriarubin A), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (roscovitine, olomoucine, indirubin-3′-monoxime), or rapamycin resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of intracellular uptake of [3H]uridine. In contrast, neither the MAP kinase kinase inhibitors (U0126, PD 98059) nor the phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase inhibitors (wortmannin, LY 294002) affected this process. Furthermore, both transient uptake and prolonged [3H]thymidine incorporation in K562 cells were inhibited by protein kinase inhibitors, inactive analogs of kinase inhibitors (R0 31-6045, SB202474), and NBMPR, independently of effects on cell proliferation as determined by MTT assay. These studies demonstrate that a wide variety of protein kinase inhibitors affect nucleoside uptake through selective inhibition of nucleoside transporters, independently of kinase inhibition.
Rule-Based Pronominal Anaphora Treatment for Machine Translation

In this paper we describe the rule-based MT system Its-2 developed at the University of Geneva and submitted for the shared task on pronoun translation organized within the Second DiscoMT Workshop. For improving pronoun translation, an Anaphora Resolution (AR) step based on Chomsky’s Binding Theory and Hobbs’ algorithm has been implemented. Since this strategy is currently restricted to 3rd person personal pronouns (i.e. they, it translated as elle, elles, il, ils only), absolute performance is affected. However, qualitative differences between the submitted system and a baseline without the AR procedure can be observed.
Male body image: testosterone's response to body comparisons

Male Body Image: Testosterone’s Response to Body Comparisons. (May 2006) Joshua D. Brown, B.S., Appalachian State University; M.S., Texas A&M University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. David H. Gleaves Dr. Gerianne Alexander Although there have been only a few etiological studies that have examined the development and maintenance of body image in males, research fairly consistently reports that exposure and presumed comparison to images of ideal male bodies increases body dissatisfaction. Social comparison provides individuals with a mechanism by which to evaluate their body appearance to those around them. When individuals compare their bodies to those of others, they are attempting to gauge their standing or status relative to those around them, the results of which have inherent status implications. There is increasing empirical evidence that suggests perceived increases in status result in increased testosterone levels, whereas testosterone decreases when status is perceived as having been diminished. Thus, the core of the present study: can the process of comparing the appearance of one’s body to that of others affect the testosterone levels, body satisfaction, and mood of males? To examine the above research questions, a two-part study was designed. A pilot study was conducted with 117 male undergraduates primarily to examine the psychometrics of measures to be used in the main study. The measures appeared
Draft Genome Sequence of the Axenic Strain Phormidesmis priestleyi ULC007, a Cyanobacterium Isolated from Lake Bruehwiler (Larsemann Hills, Antarctica)

ABSTRACT Phormidesmis priestleyi ULC007 is an Antarctic freshwater cyanobacterium. Its draft genome is 5,684,389 bp long. It contains a total of 5,604 protein-encoding genes, of which 22.2% have no clear homologues in known genomes. To date, this draft genome is the first one ever determined for an axenic cyanobacterium from Antarctica.
Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope as Monitoring Tool for Physical Training in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to clarify the utility of oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) as a monitoring tool, and to investigate the effects of physical training in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Seventeen patients (Trained Group) received physical training 2–3 times per week for 20 weeks at the intervals between exercise tests. Patients underwent a combination training of bicycle ergometry, walking and jogging for 30 min duration. The intensity of physical training was adjusted to maintain the exercising heart rate at between 50 and 60% of the peak heart rate. Twelve patients (Control Group) lived without physical training throughout the 20 weeks. Both the Groups received the symptom limited exercise tests before and after the 20 week physical training. Minute ventilation (V̇E), carbon dioxide output (V̇CO2) and oxygen uptake (V̇O2) were continuously measured during the exercise tests. Oxygen uptake efficiency slope was derived from the logarithmic relation between V̇O2 and V̇E during an incremental exercise test. In the Trained Group, OUES after physical training (30.1 ± 5.8) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that before physical training (25.2 ± 2.6), while in the Control Group, OUES did not change in this study period of 20 weeks. In the Trained Group, changes in OUES correlated with those in the maximum oxygen uptake (r = 0.78, P < 0.001) and the anaerobic threshold (r = 0.61, P < 0.01). It was suggested that OUES was applicable as a monitoring tool for cardiorespiratory functional reserve during physical training in HD patients.
Heuristic Based Majority/Minority Logic Synthesis for Emerging Technologies

Due to the physical limitation of CMOS technology researchers are actively exploring other alternatives such as Quantum dot cellular automata (QCA), Nano magnetic logic (NML), Single electron tunneling (SET) and Tunneling phase logic (TPL). These emerging technologies utilize majority gate as a base component for synthesis of logic network. This paper presents a novel heuristic based majority logic synthesis (HMLS) which reduces the time complexity of the synthesis process, and also overcomes the scalability problem faced by currently available synthesis algorithms based on k-map technique. In addition, an updated library is proposed for majority logic synthesis based on 3-input and 5-input majority gates for further optimization of synthesis process. Experiments on microelectronics center of north Carolina (MCNC) benchmarks indicate that, the proposed approach has achieved an average reduction of 33% in majority level and an average reduction of 38% in gate count. Furthermore, while performing experiment for QCA as test case, the proposed approach has achieved an average reduction of 33% in circuit delay and an average reduction of 4% in circuit area.
Text Decodability and the First-grade Reader

Abstract This study investigated the effects of highly decodable text and coordinated phonics instruction on first graders' word recognition strategies. The quantitative study sought to examine the validity of a major claim about highly decodable text—that it enables readers to apply phonics instruction to a greater extent than less decodable text. All participants received the same fourteen-day phonics instruction. However, participants read either highly decodable or less decodable text following the instruction. Treatment participants reading highly decodable text were found to apply letter/sound knowledge to a greater extent than control participants. They also were more accurate and relied on examiners less for assistance. Treatment and control participants did not differ in self-correction rates. As a replication of an earlier study, this work suggested that readers with knowledge of the alphabetic principle, given the same phonics instruction, will apply it more in a highly decodable context.
Heterogeneous Ability, Life Expectancy, and Social Security: Four Essays

Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements This thesis owes to a lot of people: fellow researchers, teachers, mentors, and friends. First of all, Prof. Dr. Friedrich Breyer was my teacher and mentor through the complete time of my studies in economics, on the doctoral level, but also before on the diploma level, as a teacher in several lectures, seminars, and as the supervisor of my diploma thesis, which already laid the path to some of the work included here. The broad question of this thesis was developed in joint work with him, while I always had the freedom to define in detail how to answer the main and subsequent issues. Through the complete time of my doctoral studies, this research would not have been possible without funding of the DFG, namely via the research group Heterogeneous Labor: Positive and Normative Aspects of the Skill Structure of Labor (grant BR 740/15-2), which I gratefully acknowledge. The FDZ–RV of the German Pension System (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund) provided the data I use here, and es-very helpful in collecting and working with the data. A lot of the methods applied here, either empirical or theoretical, were taught in courses of the Doctoral Programme in Quantitative Economics and Finance at the University of Konstanz. The application of non–parametric methods is fundamentally influenced by the course in Microeconometrics by Prof. Dr. Winfried Pohlmeier, and Prof. Dr. Oliver Fabel gave me a concise and elaborate introduction in the analysis of principal–agent phenomena. Normann Lorenz, working at the chair of Prof. Breyer, helped to improve this thesis on various levels and on various details. He especially sharpened a lot of the methodological arguments in the empirical chapters. Prof. Dr. Ralf Brüggemann kindly agreed to be the second referee of this thesis and gave helpful hints on the empirical chapters. Furthermore, colleagues, teachers, and discussants at workshops and conferences deserve thanks (in alphabetical order): Last, but certainly not least, I thank my parents for ongoing support during my doctoral studies. Verena: for proof–reading the manuscript various times, but more important for being her; without her, the completion of the thesis might have been impossible. 2 Introduction 3 Introduction Though the present thesis is not intended as a monograph, its respective chapters are interrelated: The major research question is whether the German public pension system (or potentially any annuity–based pension system) causes redistribution between income groups. Especially the relationship between life expectancy and …
Literacy, poverty and schooling: what matters in young people's education?

This paper draws upon several decades of literacy research in schools in high poverty environments to explore what matters in young people’s education. In dialogue with themes from Kevin Marjoribanks’ work, such as student aspirations, family environments, and teacher expectations, key insights are summarised. Referring to longitudinal case studies and a current ethnographic project, the interplay between literacy, poverty and schooling, and, young people’s aspirations and education outcomes is explored. While the work of educators in high poverty communities continues to be highly demanding, there are some schools and teachers making a durable positive difference to learner dispositions and literate repertoires. Teacher expectations and discursive practices are crucial in this process.
XML linking

The Web Consortium's XML Linking working group is developing specifications to enable more advanced hypertext functionality on the Web: in particular fine-grained anchors, external annotation, and bidirectional links. This paper examines basic goals and approaches; describes HTML linking limitations XML Linking seeks to overcome; and surveys the Working Group's primary specifications: XPath, XPointer, and XLink. As of this writing, the last two, while well advanced, are not final recommendations, and so are subject to change. Consult the W3C Web site for the latest versions.
Clustering Algorithm Based on Sparse Feature Vector for Interval-Scaled Variables

A two-step algorithm, clustering algorithm based on sparse feature vector for interval-scaled variables (CABOSFV_I), is proposed for high dimensional sparse data clustering in this paper. It decomposes a high dimensional problem into several low dimensional ones in first step and then gets the final clusters by second clustering. Because the irrelevant attributes are removed from each cluster in first step, it diminishes the dimensions effectively. Furthermore, the algorithm compresses data effectively by using 'Sparse Feature Vector'. Data scale is reduced enormously, but clustering quality is not affected. Because of the effective dimension deduction and data compression, the algorithm finds clusters in high dimensional large datasets effectively and efficiently.
Towards better protocol identification using profile HMMs

We present improved techniques for the identification of unknown TCP connections in wide-area Internet traffic using Profile Hidden Markov Models. Specifically, we built mixture models using a k-means clustering approach to find component behavior patterns in the traffic traces. These mixture models allow us to better recognize protocols that tend to exhibit more than one characteristic behavioral pattern. Moreover, our models use only those features that remain intact after encryption, namely packet sizes and inter-arrival times. Using a vector quantization approach to combine these features in a single model, we show how to substantially increase recognition accuracy over prior work — in some cases well over 30 percent.
Colony-Stimulating Factor-1-Dependent Macrophage Functions Regulate the Maternal Decidua Immune Responses against Listeria monocytogenes Infections during Early Gestation in Mice

ABSTRACT The association between extreme-prematurity births and intrauterine infection emphasizes the importance of understanding the host immune responses against uterine-invading microbes during early pregnancy to the prevention of preterm births. Listeria monocytogenes, a clinically relevant intracellular bacterium, has a predilection for replication at the maternofetal interface during pregnancy. Here, using mice carrying the recessive null osteopetrotic mutation in the colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) gene, we show that CSF-1-dependent macrophage functions are required for the maternal decidua immune responses against L. monocytogenes infections during early gestation in mice. In the absence of CSF-1, pregnant mice were more susceptible to uterine infection by L. monocytogenes; their inability to control the expansion of colonized bacteria in the pregnant uterus led to decidual cell death, tissue disintegration, and resorption of the developing embryo. However, CSF-1-deficient mice were able to produce significant levels of both Th1 cytokines and neutrophil chemoattractants and to recruit neutrophils to the decidual tissue in response to Listeria infection. Depletion of macrophages in hormonally induced pseudopregnant mice resulted in higher uterine bacterial levels after L. monocytogenes infection. These data suggest that the anti-Listeria responses in the maternal decidual tissue are dependent on CSF-1-regulated macrophages.
Relations Between Dairy Food Intake and Arterial Stiffness: Pulse Wave Velocity and Pulse Pressure

Modifiable risk factors, such as diet, are becomingly increasingly important in the management of cardiovascular disease, one of the greatest major causes of death and disease burden. Few studies have examined the role of diet as a possible means of reducing arterial stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity, an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dairy food intake is associated with measures of arterial stiffness, including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure. A cross-sectional analysis of a subset of the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study sample was performed. A linear decrease in pulse wave velocity was observed across increasing intakes of dairy food consumption (ranging from never/rarely to daily dairy food intake). The negative linear relationship between pulse wave velocity and intake of dairy food was independent of demographic variables, other cardiovascular disease risk factors, and nutrition variables. The pattern of results was very similar for pulse pressure, whereas no association between dairy food intake and lipid levels was found. Further intervention studies are needed to ascertain whether dairy food intake may be an appropriate dietary intervention for the attenuation of age-related arterial stiffening and reduction of cardiovascular disease risk.