Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping and validation of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri genes regulated by putative plant-inducible promoter box (PIP-box).

Citrus canker, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp citri (Xac), is a major disease affecting citriculture worldwide, because of the susceptibility of the host and the lack of efficient control methods. Previous studies have reported that some genes of phytopathogenic bacteria possess a consensus nucleotide sequence (TTCGC.N15.TTCGC) designated the "plant-inducible-promoter box" (PIP box) located in the promoter region, which is responsible for activating the expression of pathogenicity and virulence factors when the pathogen is in contact with the host plant. In this study, we mapped and investigated the expression of 104 Xac genes associated with the PIP box sequences using a macroarray analysis. Xac gene expression was observed during in vitro (Xac grown for 12 or 20 h in XAM1 induction medium) or in vivo (bacteria grown in orange leaves for 3 to 5 days) infection conditions. Xac grown in non-induction NB liquid medium was used as the control. cDNA was isolated from bacteria grown under the different conditions and hybridized to the macroarray, and 32 genes differentially expressed during the infection period (in vitro or in vivo induction) were identified. The macroarray results were validated for some of the genes through semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and the functionality of the PIP box-containing promoter was demonstrated by activating b-glucuronidase reporter gene activity by the PIP box-containing promoter region during Xac-citrus host interaction.
Is Formal Ethics Training Merely Cosmetic? A Study of Ethics Training and Ethical Organizational Culture

ABSTRACT: U.S. Organizational Sentencing Guidelines provide firms with incentives to develop formal ethics programs to promote ethical organizational cultures and thereby decrease corporate offenses. Yet critics argue such programs are cosmetic. Here we studied bank employees before and after the introduction of formal ethics training—an important component of formal ethics programs—to examine the effects of training on ethical organizational culture. Two years after a single training session, we find sustained, positive effects on indicators of an ethical organizational culture (observed unethical behavior, intentions to behave ethically, perceptions of organizational efficacy in managing ethics, and the firm’s normative structure). While espoused organizational values also rose in importance post-training, the boost dissipated after the second year which suggests perceptions of values are not driving sustained behavioral improvements. This finding conflicts with past theory which asserts that enduring behavioral improvements arise from the inculcation of organizational values. Implications for future research are discussed.
Factors Affecting Organizational Performance

There is an accumulated body of literature on the diffusion of a variety of relatively new strategic management tools in organizations. However, there is scant research on the level of association between the adoption of these techniques and organizational performance. Investigating the diffusion of six proposed strategic management tools of the past few decades through the lens of organizational change theory, we examine the relationship between the adoption of these techniques and organizational performance in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing organizations in New Zealand. The findings suggest a significant association between the diffusion of these relatively new strategic management tools and organizational performance. The findings also show that the adoption of strategic management tools is equally important for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing organizations.
Improving Opportunistic Data Dissemination via Known Vector

An opportunistic network is a network where each node only has connectiviy with other nodes opportunistically. To disseminate data in this kind of network is a challenging task and had drawn lots of research effort. When two nodes have connectivity with each other, the data bundles stored in their memory will be either replicated or forwarded to the other node in the hope that the data eventually reaches the destination node. The protocols that has only one copy of each data bundle is catagorized as forwarding protocol while the ones with multiple copies called replicating protocols. In opportunistic network, the replicating protocols are preferred over forwarding protocols. Yet, a big overhead is to be solved for replicating routing protocols, i.e.the exchanging of metadata. To avoid sending data bundles the other party already has, replicating protocols usually exchange metadata at the beginning of the connecting period. The naive method, sending the data bundles index summary in the memory, seems reasonable. But over time, this metadata exchange will become a big overhead. This paper propose a new scheme of indexing data bundles in the memory and can also reduces the metadata exchanged by large extent.
Migration of a Legacy Procedural System to Service-Oriented Computing Using Feature Analysis

Transforming a legacy system to operate within a service-oriented web environment requires an identification of features and services within the system. In order to move a procedural legacy system to a service-oriented web environment, the legacy system must first be transformed to an object-oriented based system. This new object-oriented system’s features and services must be identified and then transformed to Web services. This paper presents an approach where a tool first analyses data and control dependencies among component files which, along with selected domain analysis techniques, then identifies related groups of components that offer features and identifies related aggregated component groups that offer services. A case study of a 100 000 line telecommunication system demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in identifying relevant services and features. Using these techniques, feature identification can, to some degree, be automated unlike other feature identification methods which tend to be heavily dependent on user expertise to select appropriate web service features from a list of candidates.
RankFuzz: Fuzz Testing Based on Comprehensive Evaluation

It has been proven successful that fuzz testing can successfully find security vulnerabilities in programs. However, traditional black box fuzz testing tools, which randomly mutate the input, are blind and ineffective. The white box fuzzing technology, known as the symbolic execution, is still facing the problem of low efficiency and path explosion. We present a new automated fuzzing technique based on comprehensive evaluation and a tool, Rank Fuzz, that implements this technique. By running dynamic taint analysis, we divide the input into several fields and make a rank to each of them according to the comprehensive evaluation results, in the hope that the potential vulnerability can be quickly found. We use several existing vulnerabilities to assess the reasonability of our evaluation system, finding that Rank Fuzz can effectively locate the bytes triggering the vulnerabilities and all of their ranks are on the top 30% of total fields. We also test two off-the-shelf applications within 8 hours and find 3 new vulnerabilities.
The Prospective Contribution of Hostility Characteristics to High Fasting Glucose Levels

OBJECTIVE—To assess whether psychological constructs of hostility, anger, type A behavior pattern, and depressive symptom severity 1) were associated with concurrent and prospective fasting glucose levels and 2) whether this association was moderated by marital status. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Participants were 485 healthy men ([mean ± SD] age 59 ± 7 years) without a history of heart disease, diabetes, or taking related medications in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Their fasting glucose levels between 1986 and 1995 were examined. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to investigate whether hostility, anger, type A behavior, and depressive symptoms were associated with concurrent fasting glucose levels as well as fasting glucose 9 years later, controlling for standard sociodemographic and biomedical covariates, including baseline fasting glucose, age, education, marital status, BMI, total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure. RESULTS—Although none of the psychological variables were associated with concurrent fasting glucose, Cook-Medley hostility (β = 0.105), anger (β = 0.091), and type A behavior (β = 0.152) each were associated with prospective fasting glucose 9 years later, controlling for standard covariates. Depressive symptom severity was not associated with either concurrent or follow-up glucose levels. Further analysis showed that marital status moderated the effects of these characteristics on follow-up fasting glucose such that hostility, anger, and type A behavior were significant only among those who were not married (β = 0.348, 0.444, 0.439, respectively; all P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS—Hostility, anger, and type A behavior appear to be independent risk factors for impaired glucose metabolism among unmarried older men.
moPGA: Towards a New Generation of Multi-objective Genetic Algorithms

This paper describes a multi-objective parameter-less genetic algorithm (moPGA), which combines several recent developments including efficient non-dominated sorting, linkage learning, isin-Dominance, building-block mutation and convergence detection. Additionally, a novel method of clustering in the objective space using an isin-Pareto Set is introduced. Comparisons with well-known multi-objective GAs on scalable benchmark problems indicate that the algorithm scales well with problem size in terms of number of function evaluations and quality of solutions found. moPGA was built for easy usage and hence, in addition to the problem function and encoding, there are only two required user defined parameters; (1) the maximum running time or generations and (2) the precision of the desired solutions (isin).
Self-Control of Chaos in Central Pattern

One of the simplest and well known biological systems exhibiting plasticity is the Central Pattern Generator (CPG) of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion. This neural network is composed by a small number of neurons (about 30) and it is responsible for generating periodic patterns: voltage oscillations that control the chewing and the flux of food in the stomach. Depending on the particular chemical modulators this network is exposed to in the organism, a large number of different patterns can be generated. During these stable regimes, however, they are still flexible enough to respond to sensory input from the environment. Experimental results show that some neurons from these CPGs present chaotic behavior when they are isolated from the net by removing their synaptic connections. We investigate why a network that is designed to perform periodic oscillations is composed by chaotic neurons. Many authors affirm that chaotic oscillators are responsible for the flexibility of those systems. We study this question by simulating networks composed by 2 neurons and connected by inhibitory synapses. The activity of the neurons is simulated by four coupled equations (Hindmarsh-Rose model [1,2]). The neurons are set in a wide range of isolated behaviors, from periodic to chaotic and then connected through the synapses. The effect of neuromodulators is implemented by changing the synaptic conductances and keeping fixed the parameters of the neurons. We show that the same circuit with chaotic neurons can generate more flexible behavior when compared with circuits with periodic
Old, Rich, and Eccentric: Two Jovian Planets Orbiting Evolved Metal-Rich Stars

We present radial velocity measurements of two stars observed as part of the Lick Subgiants Planet Search and the Keck N2K survey. Variations in the radial velocities of both stars reveal the presence of Jupiter-mass exoplanets in highly eccentric orbits. HD 16175 is a G0 subgiant from the Lick Subgiants Planet Search, orbited by a planet having a minimum mass of 4.4 MJup, in an eccentric (e = 0.59), 2.71 yr orbit. HD 96167 is a G5 subgiant from the N2K (“Next 2000”) program at Keck Observatory, orbited by a planet having a minimum mass of 0.68 MJup, in an eccentric (e = 0.71), 1.366 yr orbit. Both stars are relatively massive (M⋆ = 1.3 M⊙) and are very metal rich ([Fe/H] > +0.3). We describe our methods for measuring the stars’ radial velocity variations and photometric stability.
FFT processor: a case study in ASIP development

The trend for wireless systems is characterized by the necessity to support multiple standards and transmission modes. This calls for user-transparent system reconfigurations between wireless networks and user terminals. System reconfiguration, in turn, requires flexible implementations. In addition to flexibility, the implementations must meet tight constraints with respect to both performance and development time due to the nature of the applications and of the consumer market respectively. These requirements can be met by employing Application-Specific Instruction-set Processors (ASIPs), or by employing FPGA-based solutions. In this paper, we present a case study in ASIP development based on the Language for Instruction Set Architectures (LISA), and contrast the design flow to an FPGA approach. The case study is based on an FFT processor for OFDM-based systems.
Discriminación salarial de la mujer en el mercado laboral de México y sus regiones

The goal of this paper is to analyze gender job earnings, determine the wage gap and discrimination in Mexico and its regions. We apply the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to the 2000-2004 National Urban Employment Survey 2000-2004. We found a gender wage gap in favor of men, and more than 85 percent of these differences are linked to discrimination. Regionally, the gap oscillates between 15 and 25% and the discrimination tends to converge at 20%, however, in the Capital region it converges at 13 por ciento.
Alternans of Action Potential Duration After Abrupt Shortening of Cycle Length: Differences Between Dog Purkinje and Ventricular Muscle Fibers

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the alternans of action potential duration (APD) occurring in Purkinje and ventricular muscle fibers after an abrupt shortening of cycle length can be explained by the two factors controlling the cycle length-dependent APD changes (i.e., restitution and memory effect). Action potentials were recorded simultaneously from dog Purkinje fibers and ventricular muscle fibers using conventional microelectrode techniques. APD change during alternans was dependent on the preceding diastolic interval in the same manner as during restitution in Purkinje fibers but not in ventricular muscle fibers. The course of memory change was not affected by the presence of alternans in either fiber type. In Purkinje fibers, APD alternans was attenuated by a Ca2+channel blocker, nisoldiplne (2 x 10-6 M), and augmented by a Ca2+ channel agonist, Bay K 8644 (3 x 10-6 M). These effects were attributed to the changes in the kinetics and the amplitude of restitution. In ventricular muscle fibers, APD alternans was always preceded and accompanied by alternans of action potential shape. Alternans of both action potential shape and APD was suppressed by nisoldipine (2 x 10-6 M) and attenuated by Bay K 8644 (3 x 10-3 M). These results show that in Purkinje fibers, APD during alternans can be explained by restitution and memory effect. However, in ventricular muscle fibers, the mechanism of APD alternans is linked to factors controlling action potential shape. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that APD alternans in Purkinje fibers depends on the differences in the recovery of membrane currents generated by the preceding action potential and in ventricular muscle fibers on the differences in the concentration and/or handling of intracellular calcium.
Update on Blue Marlin Stock Assessment

An assessment of blue marlin stocks in the Pacific presented last year at the 14 meeting of the Standing Committee on Tuna and Billfish indicated that the recent state of fish and fisheries is close to fully exploited. The assessment has now been rerun using the same input data but with an enhanced version of MULTIFAN-CL. The basic assessment results are substantially the same in this and the previous analysis. The results in both cases show furthermore that the catch has been hovering about the estimated maximum sustainable yield for almost three decades. However, stability over those decades is maintained by different population dynamic scenarios in this and the previous analysis. Confidence in the assessment results could be substantially improved by inclusion of tagging data and more complete as well as sex-specific sample data.
Morphometric analysis of intralobular, interlobular and pleural lymphatics in normal human lung

In spite of their presumed relevance in maintaining interalveolar septal fluid homeostasis, the knowledge of the anatomy of human lung lymphatics is still incomplete. The recent discovery of reliable markers specific for lymphatic endothelium has led to the observation that, contrary to previous assumptions, human lymphatic vessels extend deep inside the pulmonary lobule in association with bronchioles, intralobular arterioles or small pulmonary veins. The aim of this study was to provide a morphometric characterization of lymphatic vessels in the periphery of the human lung. Human lung sections were immunolabelled with the lymphatic marker D2‐40, followed by blood vessel staining with von Willebrand Factor. Lymphatic vessels were classified into: intralobular (including those associated with bronchovascular bundles, perivascular, peribronchiolar and interalveolar), pleural (in the connective tissue of the visceral pleura), and interlobular (in interlobular septa). The percentage area occupied by the lymphatic lumen was much greater in the interlobular septa and in the subpleural space than in the lobule. Most of the intralobular lymphatic vessels were in close contact with a blood vessel, either alone or within a bronchovascular bundle, whereas 7% were associated with a bronchiole and < 1% were not connected to blood vessels or bronchioles (interalveolar). Intralobular lymphatic size progressively decreased from bronchovascular through to peribronchiolar, perivascular and interalveolar lymphatics. Lymphatics associated with bronchovascular bundles had similar morphometric characteristics to pleural and interlobular lymphatics. Shape factors were similar across lymphatic populations, except that peribronchiolar lymphatics had a marginally increased roundness and circularity, suggesting a more regular shape due to increased filling, and interlobular lymphatics had greater elongation, due to a greater proportion of conducting lymphatics cut longitudinally. Unsupervised cluster analysis confirmed a marked heterogeneity of lymphatic vessels both within and between groups, with a cluster of smaller vessels specifically represented in perivascular and interalveolar lymphatics within the alveolar interstitium. Our data indicate that intralobular lymphatics are a heterogeneous population, including vessels surrounding the bronchovascular bundle analogous to the conducting vessels present in the pleural and interlobular septa, many small perivascular lymphatics responsible for maintaining fluid balance in the alveolar interstitium, and a minority of intermediate lymphatics draining the peripheral airways. These lymphatic populations could be differentially involved in the pathogenesis of diseases preferentially involving distinct lung compartments.
GRB 050223: a faint gamma-ray burst discovered by Swift

GRB050223 was discovered by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer on 23 February 2005 and was the first Gamma-Ray Burst to be observed by both Swift and XMM-Newton. At the time of writing (May 2005), it has one of the faintest GRB afterglows ever observed. The spacecraft could not slew immediately to the burst, so the first X-ray and optical observations occurred approximately 45 minutes after the trigger. Although no optical emission was found by any instrument, both Swift and XMM-Newton detected the fading X-ray afterglow. Combined data from both of these observatories show the afterglow to be fading monotonically as 0.99 +0.15 0.12 over a time frame between 45 minutes to 27 hours post-burst. Spectral analysis, allowed largely by the higher through-put of XMM-Newton, implies a power-law with a slope of = 1.75 +0.19 0.18 and shows no evidence for absorption above the Galactic column of 7 × 10 20 cm 2 . From the X-ray decay and spectral slopes, a low electron power-law index of p = 1.3–1.9 is derived; the slopes also imply that a jet-break has not occured up to 27 hours after the burst. The faintness of GRB050223 may be due to a large jet opening or viewing angle or a high redshift.
Six proteins regulate the activation of Myf5 expression in embryonic mouse limbs

Myf5, a member of the myogenic regulatory factor family, plays a major role in determining myogenic cell fate at the onset of skeletal muscle formation in the embryo. Spatiotemporal control of its expression during development requires multiple enhancer elements spread over >100 kb at the Myf5 locus. Transcription in embryonic limbs is regulated by a 145-bp element located at −57.5 kb from the Myf5 gene. In the present study we show that Myf5 expression is severely impaired in the limb buds of Six1−/− and Six1−/−Six4−/+ mouse mutants despite the presence of myogenic progenitor cells. The 145-bp regulatory element contains a sequence that binds Six1 and Six4 in electromobility shift assays in vitro and in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with embryonic extracts. We further show that Six1 is able to transactivate a reporter gene under the control of this sequence. In vivo functionality of the Six binding site is demonstrated by transgenic analysis. Mutation of this site impairs reporter gene expression in the limbs and in mature somites where the 145-bp regulatory element is also active. Six1/4 therefore regulate Myf5 transcription, together with Pax3, which was previously shown to be required for the activity of the 145-bp element. Six homeoproteins, which also directly regulate the myogenic differentiation gene Myogenin and lie genetically upstream of Pax3, thus control hypaxial myogenesis at multiple levels.
Survey of dynamic taint analysis

Dynamic taint analysis (DTA) is to analyze execution paths that an attacker may use to exploit a system. Dynamic taint analysis is a method to analyze executable files by tracing information flow without source code. DTA marks certain inputs to program as tainted, and then propagates values operated with tainted inputs. Due to the increased popularity of dynamic taint analysis, there have been a few recent research approaches to provide a generalized tainting infrastructure. In this paper, we introduce some approaches of dynamic taint analysis, and analyze their approaches. Lam and Chiueh's approach proposed a method that instruments code to perform taint marking and propagation. DYTAN considers three dimensions: taint source, propagation policies, taint sink. These dimensions make DYTAN to be more general framework for dynamic taint analysis. DTA++ proposes an idea to vanilla dynamic taint analysis that propagates additional taints along with targeted control dependencies. Control dependency causes results of taint analysis to have decreased accuracies. To improve accuracies, DTA++ showed that data transformation containing implicit flows should propagate properly to avoid under-tainting.