Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond fossil calibrations: realities of molecular clock practices in evolutionary biology

Molecular-based divergence dating methods, or molecular clocks, are the primary neontological tool for estimating the temporal origins of clades. While the appropriate use of vertebrate fossils as external clock calibrations has stimulated heated discussions in the paleontological community, less attention has been given to the quality and implementation of other calibration types. In lieu of appropriate fossils, many studies rely on alternative sources of age constraints based on geological events, substitution rates and heterochronous sampling, as well as dates secondarily derived from previous analyses. To illustrate the breadth and frequency of calibration types currently employed, we conducted a literature survey of over 600 articles published from 2007 to 2013. Over half of all analyses implemented one or more fossil dates as constraints, followed by geological events and secondary calibrations (15% each). Vertebrate taxa were subjects in nearly half of all studies, while invertebrates and plants together accounted for 43%, followed by viruses, protists and fungi (3% each). Current patterns in calibration practices were disproportionate to the number of discussions on their proper use, particularly regarding plants and secondarily derived dates, which are both relatively neglected in methodological evaluations. Based on our survey, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest approaches in clock calibration, and outline strengths and weaknesses associated with each. This critique should serve as a call to action for researchers across multiple communities, particularly those working on clades for which fossil records are poor, to develop their own guidelines regarding selection and implementation of alternative calibration types. This issue is particularly relevant now, as time-calibrated phylogenies are used for more than dating evolutionary origins, but often serve as the backbone of investigations into biogeography, diversity dynamics and rates of phenotypic evolution.
A Factoring and Discrete Logarithm based Cryptosystem

This paper introduces a new public key cryptosystem based on two hard problems : the cube root extraction modulo a composite moduli (which is equivalent to the factorisation of the moduli) and the discrete logarithm problem. These two hard problems are combined during the key generation, encryption and decryption phases. By combining the IFP and the DLP we introduce a secure and efficient public key cryptosystem. To break the scheme, an adversary may solve the IFP and the DLP separately which is computationally infeasible. The key generation is a simple operation based on the discrete logarithm modulo a composite moduli. The encryption phase is based both on the cube root computation and the DLP. These operations are computationally efficient.
Improved distributed algorithms for coloring and network decomposition problems

This paper deals with the problems of computing a maximal independent set and a vertex coloring in a dktributed model of computation. Given a connected graph G = (V, E) with IVI = n and maximum degree A such that G is neither a complete graph nor an odd cycle, Brooks’ theorem shows that G can be colored with A colors. We generalize thk as follows: let G – w be A-colored; then, v can be colored by considering the vertices in an O(loga n) radius around v, and this is tight. Using this, we show that A-coloring G is reducible in 0(log3 n/log A) time to (A+ I)-vertex coloring G in a distributed model. This leads to fast distributed algorithms, and a linear–processor NC algorithm, for Acoloring. We also prove a tight Q(diameter(G)) lower bound for A-edge-coloring bipartite graphs, even with unlimited randomness. When A = 2, this implies an Q(n) lower bound for vertex coloring paths and even cycles. A fundamental notion in distributed graph algorithms is that of a cluster decomposition, introduced by Awerbuch, Goldberg, Luby and Plotkin. We improve the existing bounds by showing how to compute a cluster decomposition in O(n”(’(”)) ) time, where e(n) = 1/=. This implies improved bounds for several problems, such as computing a maximal independent set and a (A + I )-coloring. We also show how to compute a A–coloring within the same time bound, using our reduction technique. Next, we show that the problem of doing better than O(n”(’(m))) time for cluster decomposition is self-reducible to graphs of “intermediate” diameter and degree. This pinpoints the weak points of existing cluster decomposition algorithms. *This research was supported in part by NSF PYI award CGR89-96272 with matching support from UPS and Sun Microsystems. Permission to copy without fee ell or part of this material is granted provided that the copiss are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the ACM copyright notica and tha title of the publication and its date appear, and notice ie given that copying is by permission of the Association for Computing Machinery. To copy otharwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or specific permieaion. 24th ANNUAL ACM STOC 5/92/VICTORIA, B. C. , CANADA a 1992 ACM 0-89791-51 2-7192 /000410! 581 . $1.50
Designing reliable systems from reliable components using the context-dependent constraint concept

The problem of composing a system from well-behaving components is discussed. Specifically, necessary conditions for preserving the behaviour in a system context are analysed in this paper. Such conditions are defined as Context-Dependent Constraints (CDC). A non-formal approach is taken based on common system integration errors. It is suggested that the identification and verification of CDCs should be part of any development method based on component verification. The CDCs can also serve as an aid for designing reliable and maintainable systems, where the goal of the design process is to reduce the number of CDCs.
Control and Nonlinearity

This book presents methods to study the controllability and the stabilization of nonlinear control systems in finite and infinite dimensions. The emphasis is put on specific phenomena due to nonlinearities. In particular, many examples are given where nonlinearities turn out to be essential to get controllability or stabilization. Various methods are presented to study the controllability or to construct stabilizing feedback laws. The power of these methods is illustrated by numerous examples coming from such areas as celestial mechanics, fluid mechanics, and quantum mechanics. The book is addressed to graduate students in mathematics or control theory, and to mathematicians or engineers with an interest in nonlinear control systems governed by ordinary or partial differential equations.
Partial Slices in Program Testing

Program slicing is widely used as an aid in program analysis. In several cases, it is observed that the static slices contain a large number of program statements. Due to this increased size of the static slice, they are of little use in many practical applications. Moreover, the static slices may be less precise compared to dynamic slices. Partial slicing is suggested as a method for program testing in order to eliminate the disadvantages of static slicing. In partial slices, in addition to the static slicing criterion, the user has to provide the program point. Program point specifies the program statement up to which the static slicing is to be performed. The partial slices produced in this manner combines both static and program point information. This in turn is analyzed to verify the constraints and conditions in the slices to remove any obscurity in the program testing process. In this work we propose a partial slicing approach, which can be applied in program testing. An appealing aspect of this work is that, using partial slicing the whole program testing process may be made more direct and effective. Some illustrations which highlight the easiness of the proposed partial slicing are provided to affirm the significance of this work.
FRACTAL DIMENSION AND SELF-SIMILARITY IN ASPARAGUS PLUMOSUS

We measure the fractal dimension of an African plant that is widely cultivated as an ornamental – the Asparagus plumosus. This plant presents self-similarity, remarkable in at least two different scalings. In the following, we present the results obtained by analyzing this plant via the box counting method for three different scalings. We show in a quantitative way that this species is a fractal.
StEERING: A software-defined networking for inline service chaining

Network operators are faced with the challenge of deploying and managing middleboxes (also called inline services) such as firewalls within their broadband access, datacenter or enterprise networks. Due to the lack of available protocols to route traffic through middleboxes, operators still rely on error-prone and complex low-level configurations to coerce traffic through the desired set of middleboxes. Built upon the recent software-defined networking (SDN) architecture and OpenFlow protocol, this paper proposes StEERING, short for SDN inlinE sERvices and forwardlNG. It is a scalable framework for dynamically routing traffic through any sequence of middleboxes. With simple centralized configuration, StEERING can explicitly steer different types of flows through the desired set of middleboxes, scaling at the level of per-subscriber and per-application policies. With its capability to support flexible routing, we further propose an algorithm to select the best locations for placing services, such that the performance is optimized. Overall, StEERING allows network operators to monetize their middlebox deployment in new ways by allowing subscribers flexibly to select available network services.
Passive Wireless Temperature Sensor Based on Time-Coded UWB Chipless RFID Tags

In this paper, an RF identification sensor system is developed. It comprises passive sensors and an ultra-wideband (UWB) reader. The sensors are based on time-coded chipless tags. They consist of an UWB antenna connected to a delay line that is, in turn, loaded with a resistive temperature sensor. This sensor modulates the amplitude of the backscattered signals as a function of the temperature. The sensor tags are identified by changing the length of the delay line. In this paper, the operation principle and design of time-coded tags is presented and the integration of sensors in these tags is addressed. In addition, two measurement techniques are compared to implement the UWB reader. The first one is based on frequency sweeping and uses a vector network analyzer. The second one is based on a low-cost UWB radar. A full characterization of the sensor system is provided.
The Relationship between Strategic Information Systems Planning Facilitators and the Success of South Korean Organisations

Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) is an important activity for strategic use of IS/IT in today's dynamic and increasingly digitalized organisations. However, SISP is not a very straight forward task as it entails simultaneous multiple planning views as well as changing environmental and organisational issues. Although SISP has been widely studied, to date theory on SISP facilitators remain sparse. Therefore the aim of this study is to explore SISP facilitators for sustainable organisational performance and a competitive advantage. This study explores the relationship between SISP facilitators, SISP success and the outcome of SISP in organisations. This study proposes a model indicating the relationship between facilitators of SISP success and organizational outcomes. By surveying a random sample of SISP experts in large South Korean organisations, and via SEM analysis, the relationship between SISP facilitators and outcomes has been determined. The outcome suggests that facilitators positively affect SISP success through improved business-IT strategic alignment and IS planning effectiveness. SISP success includes the achievement of dynamic capabilities and IT infrastructure flexibility. This study proves that a positive relationship among facilitators is essential for SISP and successful organizational outcome. This finding adds to the theory of SISP, and provides a guide to Information Systems planners and organizational managers.
ANALYSING PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICES: HOW USEFUL IS THE CONCEPT OF A PERFORMANCE REGIME?

Approaches to performance assessment have been described as ‘performance regimes’, but there has been little analysis of what is meant by this concept and whether it has any real value. We draw on four perspectives on regimes – ‘institutions and instruments’, ‘risk regulation regimes’, ‘internal logics and effects’ and ‘analytics of government’ – to explore how the concept of a multi‐dimensional regime can be applied to performance assessment in public services. We conclude that the concept is valuable. It helps to frame comparative and longitudinal analyses of approaches to performance assessment and draws attention to the ways in which public service performance regimes operate at different levels, how they change over time and what drives their development. Areas for future research include analysis of the impacts of performance regimes and interactions between their visible features (such as inspections, performance indicators and star ratings) and the veiled rationalities which underpin them.
EvoLens: lens-view visualizations of evolution data

Visualizing software evolution is essential for identifying design erosion that has occurred over the past releases. Making evolutionary aspects explicit via visual representations can help the engineer to focus on particular software parts to identify such hot-spots. Although many tools exist that provide zooming-in and -out within the hierarchical decomposition of a software system, only very few allow an engineer to view a system through a kind of lens view. Our approach called EvoLens is a visualization approach for explorations of evolution data across multiple dimensions. EvoLens is based on temporal lens views. But the graphical representation of this visualization integrates enhanced zooming by navigating through software hierarchies with arbitrary selectable groups of software parts across module or package boundaries. EvoLens allows an engineer to define a focal point for the lens view and navigate along the time dimension by user-defined sliding time windows. The comprehension is supported by using color for metrics of classes. The EvoLens prototype tool has been developed and tested on basis of a large Java application consisting of 580000 LOC that was studied over 18 months of its evolution lifetime.
Lessons Learned from Efforts to Restore Oyster Populations in Maryland and Virginia, 1990 to 2007

ABSTRACT A century-long decline of the fishery for the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) in Maryland and Virginia stimulated numerous efforts by federal, state, and nongovernmental agencies to restore oyster populations, with limited success. To learn from recent efforts, we analyzed records of restoration and monitoring activities undertaken between 1990 and 2007 by 12 such agencies. Of the 1,037 oyster bars (reefs, beds, or grounds) for which we obtained data, 43% experienced both restoration and monitoring, with the remaining experiencing either restoration or monitoring only. Restoration activities involved adding substrate (shell), transplanting hatchery or wild seed (juvenile oysters), bar cleaning, and bagless dredging. Of these, substrate addition and transplanting seed were common actions, with bar cleaning and bagless dredging relatively uncommon. Limited monitoring efforts, a lack of replicated postrestoration sampling, and the effects of harvest on some restored bars hinders evaluations of the effectiveness of restoration activities. Future restoration activities should have clearly articulated objectives and be coordinated among agencies and across bars, which should also be off limits to fishing. To evaluate restoration efforts, experimental designs should include replication, quantitative sampling, and robust sample sizes, supplemented by pre- and postrestoration monitoring.
Using Classification Techniques to Determine Source Code Authorship

The ability to test authorship of source code is a useful technique. We present techniques for using statistical machine learning to accomplish this task. We translate source code into abstract syntax trees and then split up the trees into functions. The tree for each function is considered a document, with a given author. This collection is fed to an SVM package using a kernel that operates on tree structured data. The classifier is trained with source code from two authors, and is then able to prediction which of the two authors wrote a new function. We achieve between 67% and 88% classification accuracy over the set of programs we examined. This demonstrates that our techniques are useful either alone, or in concert with other methods.
A biologically inspired policy based management system for survivability in autonomic networks

The vision of Autonomic Network Management seeks self-governance (e.g. self-organisation, self-management) capabilities amongst network devices and system to minimise complexities found in current network management. Policy based management system provides a mechanism to counter these complexities, where the system provides a consistent model for decision making process. In this paper we propose bio-inspired mechanisms to support network survivability that is integrated with policy based management. Our solution is based on adaptation and integration of various biological principles such as Blood Glucose Homeostasis, Chemotaxis, Reaction-Diffusion and Hormone Signaling. The bio-inspired principles support a high degree of robustness, which is a key feature towards adapting in fluctuating network environment. Simulations results have also been presented to illustrate our proposed solution.
Influence des modèles de mobilité sur un système collaboratif pour flottes autonomes hétérogènes

Cet article s'interesse a l'impact de trois modeles de mobilite sur un nouveau systeme collaboratif pour les flottes heterogenes d'objets mobiles autonomes communicants. Notre systeme est entierement distribue et repose uniquement sur des messages asynchrones. Nous donnons une description de notre modele, base sur du re-etiquetage de graphes dynamiques, ainsi que des resultats de simulations reposant sur un scenario de nettoyage de parc a l'aide de drones aeriens et de robots terrestres specialises. Nous observons que les differents modeles de mobilite influent peu sur les performances de notre systeme.
Hardiness as moderator of the relationship between structural and psychological empowerment on burnout in middle managers

Using a sample of 210 middle managers, a time-lagged design with four data-collection points was used to test whether hardinessmoderates the relationship between structural empowerment (SE), psychological empowerment (PE), and burnout. The structural equation model analysed revealed an indirect effect of SE on burnout through PE. This indirect effect is moderated by hardiness. The results also show that this indirect effect is only significant when the subject shows medium or high levels of hardiness. Our findings suggest that work environment conditions are not enough to explain the levels of burnout.
Scattering of Glueballs and the AdS/CFT Correspondence

Inspired in the AdS/CFT correspondence one can look for dualities between string theory and non conformal field theories. Exact dualities in the non conformal case are intricate but approximations can be helpful in extracting physical results. A phenomenological approach consists in introducing a scale corresponding to the maximum value of the axial AdS coordinate. Here we show that this approach can reproduce the scaling of high energy glueball scattering amplitudes and also an approximation for the scalar glueball mass ratios.
THE RICH CIRCUMSTELLAR CHEMISTRY OF SMP LMC 11

Carbon-rich evolved stars from the asymptotic giant branch to the planetary nebula phase are characterized by a rich and complex carbon chemistry in their circumstellar envelopes. A peculiar object is the preplanetary nebula SMP LMC 11, whose Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph spectrum shows remarkable and diverse molecular absorption bands. To study how the molecular composition in this object compares to our current understanding of circumstellar carbon chemistry, we modeled this molecular absorption. We find high abundances for a number of molecules, perhaps most notably benzene. We also confirm the presence of propyne (CH3C2H) in this spectrum. Of all the cyanopolyynes, only HC3N is evident; we can detect at best a marginal presence of HCN. From comparisons to various chemical models, we can conclude that SMP LMC 11 must have an unusual circumstellar environment (a torus rather than an outflow).
The Dynamic Effect of Price Discrimination in Business Markets Yanwei (

First-degree price discrimination is a prevalent practice in business markets given the private nature of the interactions between buyers and sellers. Some customers accept paying higher prices because they have imperfect information about the distribution of prices or cannot afford to switch to an alternative in the short run. However, customers may become aware (imperfectly) where the prices paid fall in the overall distribution of prices, triggering changes that can affect their purchasing behavior. Using a dynamic model, we show that customers change their purchasing behavior over time. By combining an autoregressive process with a hidden-Markov model, we disentangle pricing dynamics from non-price factors that occur as customers become more experienced with a product. We show that price discrimination can shift customers to a more price attentive state and increase price sensitivity. These effects are observed in terms of quantity purchased and inter-purchase time. We identify salesperson and product portfolio factors that affect customers’ reaction to price discrimination. We find that salespeople vary widely in terms of the subsequent customers responses, i.e. some salespeople can sell at higher prices without an effect on quantity purchased, or increased price sensitivity. We also show that there is a relationship between a salesperson charging more dispersed prices and a customer becoming more price sensitive over time. Product portfolio plays an important role: customers who purchase a broader product range show lower price sensitivity. Cross-product spillover effects are significant, implying that high prices in one product leading to lower quantity of purchase and longer inter-purchase time for other products. Together, these results show that pricing in one product has consequences for customer management across all products. We discuss the implications of these findings for customer profitability, salesforce management and price rigidity.