Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oracle problem in software testing

The oracle problem remains one of the key challenges in software testing, for which little automated support has been developed so far. In my thesis work we introduce a technique for assessing and improving test oracles by reducing the incidence of both false positives and false negatives. Our technique combines test case generation to reveal false positives and mutation testing to reveal false negatives. The experimental results on five real-world subjects show that the fault detection rate of the oracles after improvement increases, on average, by 48.6% (86% over the implicit oracle). Three actual, exposed faults in the studied systems were subsequently confirmed and fixed by the developers. However, our technique contains a human in the loop, which was represented only by the author during the initial experiments. Our next goal is to conduct further experiments where the human in the loop will be represented by real developers. Our second future goal is to address the oracle placement problem. When testing software, developers can place oracles externally or internally to a method. Given a faulty execution state, i.e., one that differs from the expected one, an oracle might be unable to expose the fault if it is placed at a program point with no access to the incorrect program state or where the program state is no longer corrupted. In such a case, the oracle is subject to failed error propagation. Internal oracles are in principle less subject to failed error propagation than external oracles. However, they are also more difficult to define manually. Hence, a key research question is whether a more intrusive oracle placement is justified by its higher fault detection capability.
The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes

This revision of the classification of eukaryotes, which updates that of Adl et al. [J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 52 (2005) 399], retains an emphasis on the protists and incorporates changes since 2005 that have resolved nodes and branches in phylogenetic trees. Whereas the previous revision was successful in re‐introducing name stability to the classification, this revision provides a classification for lineages that were then still unresolved. The supergroups have withstood phylogenetic hypothesis testing with some modifications, but despite some progress, problematic nodes at the base of the eukaryotic tree still remain to be statistically resolved. Looking forward, subsequent transformations to our understanding of the diversity of life will be from the discovery of novel lineages in previously under‐sampled areas and from environmental genomic information.
Political Clientelism and Ethnicity in Tropical Africa: Competing Solidarities in Nation-Building

The concept of political clientelism is one if the few genuinely crosscultural concepts available to political scientists for the comparative study of transitional systems. As a descriptive concept, political clientelism helps us uncover patterns of relationships which deviate markedly from those ordinarily associated with class or ethnicity. As an analytic concept political clientelism provides crucial insights into the internal dynamics of social and political change. Moreover, if, as some contend, patterns of resource allocation are more meaningful indicators of political development than their conceptual opposites, political clientelism may well supply the critical “missing link” between micro- and macro-sociological or system-centered theories of political development.
Cyclic AMP‐ and calmodulin‐dependent phosphorylation of 21 and 26 kDa proteins in axoneme is a prerequisite for SAAF‐induced motile activation in ascidian spermatozoa

Sperm activating and ‐attracting factor (SAAF), derived from the egg of the ascidian Ciona, activates sperm motility through adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)‐synthesis. A demembranated preparation of intact immotile sperm without SAAF was shown to require cAMP for reactivation. However, a demembranated preparation of intact motile sperm treated with SAAF did not require cAMP for reactivation, suggesting that cAMP is a prerequisite factor for SAAF‐dependent activation of sperm motility. Furthermore, a cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor, H‐89, was found to inhibit sperm motility. During in vivo or in vitro activation of sperm motility by SAAF or cAMP, a 26 kDa axonemal protein and 21 kDa dynein light chain were phosphorylated, respectively, suggesting the involvement of PKA‐dependent phosphorylation of these proteins in sperm activation. The calmodulin antagonist, W‐7, and an inhibitor of calmodulin‐dependent myosin light chain kinase, ML‐7, also inhibited the activation of sperm motility. Inhibition was reversed by the addition of phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine. Demembranated preparations of immotile sperm in the presence of W‐7 or ML‐7 were reactivated by cAMP, suggesting that calmodulin participated in sperm activation and that cAMP synthesis was followed by activation of a calmodulin‐dependent mechanism.
Left atrial ligation alters intracardiac flow patterns and the biomechanical landscape in the chick embryo

Background: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a major human congenital heart defect that results in single ventricle physiology and high mortality. Clinical data indicate that intracardiac blood flow patterns during cardiac morphogenesis are a significant etiology. We used the left atrial ligation (LAL) model in the chick embryo to test the hypothesis that LAL immediately alters intracardiac flow streams and the biomechanical environment, preceding morphologic and structural defects observed in HLHS. Results: Using fluorescent dye injections, we found that intracardiac flow patterns from the right common cardinal vein, right vitelline vein, and left vitelline vein were altered immediately following LAL. Furthermore, we quantified a significant ventral shift of the right common cardinal and right vitelline vein flow streams. We developed an in silico model of LAL, which revealed that wall shear stress was reduced at the left atrioventricular canal and left side of the common ventricle. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that intracardiac flow patterns change immediately following LAL, supporting the role of hemodynamics in the progression of HLHS. Sites of reduced WSS revealed by computational modeling are commonly affected in HLHS, suggesting that changes in the biomechanical environment may lead to abnormal growth and remodeling of left heart structures. Developmental Dynamics 243:652–662, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
QSAR-Hansch Analysis and Related Approaches in Drug Design

QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships) have been applied for decades in the development of relationships between physicochemical properties of chemical substances and their biological activities to obtain a reliable mathematical and statistical model for prediction of the activities of new chemical entities. (QSAR) have helped the scientists in the development of mathematical relationships linking chemical structures and pharmacological activity in quantitative manner of series of compound. The fundamental principle underlying the QSAR is that the difference in structural properties is responsible for the variations in biological activities of the compounds. In the classical QSAR studies, affinities of ligands to their binding sites, inhibition constants, rate constants, and other biological end points, with atomic, group or molecular properties such as lipophilicity, polarizability, electronic and steric properties (Hansch analysis) or with certain structural features (Free-Wilson analysis) have been correlated. QSAR certainly decreases the number of compounds to be synthesized by facilitating the selection of the most promising candidates. This review seeks to provide a view of the different QSAR approaches employed within the current drug discovery process to construct predictive structure– activity relationships and also discusses the limitations that are fundamental to these approaches, as well as those that might be overcome with the improved strategies.
A Low-Complexity Cross-Layer Optimization Algorithm for Video Communication Over Wireless Networks

Recent years have witnessed a rapid increment in video applications over wireless networks including on-demand video streaming and video phoning. This growth has also brought the need to find a good compromise in the conflict between resource limitations affecting mobile devices and the desire for high-quality multimedia services. It is possible to face this problem adopting a cross-layer strategy that jointly tunes the parameters of each layer in the network protocol stack. In this optimization strategy, complexity is one of the most significant issues because of the limited computational resources and power supply. The paper presents a low-complexity cross-layer algorithm that is able to jointly tune the parameters of different protocol layers by adopting simple but effective models. The quality of the reconstructed video sequence, the produced bit rate, and the service class associated to each packet are seen as functions of the percentage of null DCT coefficients. This modeling permits to find a closed-form solution to the joint optimization problem that can be computed with a limited number of operations and grants, at the same time, a good visual quality in the reconstructed sequence.
Changes in the association of low birth weight with socioeconomic status in Hawaii: 1970–1990

Abstract This study examines rates of low birth weight (LBW) in the state of Hawaii and changes in the association of LBW with socioeconomic status from 1970 to 1990. The analysis is based on aggregate data for census tracts. Rates of low birth weight were calculated for each census tract. Relative socioeconomic scores were calculated from average household income and years of education. The results show that (1) there was a decrease in the rate of low birth weight infants in Hawaii; and (2) that the correlation between socioeconomic status and low birth weight was substantially reduced, though a significant correlation remains. The paper suggests likely ceiling effects, but that the progressive public health policies and expansion of access to primary health care in Hawaii during this period played a major role in reducing the rate of low birth weight infants and in decreasing socioeconomic inequality on this important health indicator.
Slips of the Tongue as Linguistic Evidence: Finnish Word Initial Segments and Vowel Harmony

Hypotheses for two pervasive phonological features of Finnish were assessed through slips of the tongue. Psycholinguistic (external) evidence supporting these hypotheses has until now been gained solely from language games (secret languages). In general, the language game data have shown that Finnish word-initial syllables are segmented after the first vowel segment (CV hypothesis) and that the wordforms created by the games conform to the palatal vowel harmony of the language (naturalness of harmony hypothesis). In the present study we seek to determine whether similar evidence is to be found from spontaneous slips of the tongue. This search is motivated by the fact that language games rely on principles that are different from those of subdoxastic input/output representations and processes which should be the focus of a linguist's attention. In spite of the differences in the causal mechanisms between the data-sources compared, our analyses of three independent slip corpora support the view that the onset plus the first nuclear segment (i.e. CV) form a word-initial subsyllabic unit in Finnish. Moreover, the palatal harmony is shown to be persistent in slips as well as in language games
Test Oracles

All software testing methods depend on the availability of an oracle, that is, some method for checking whether the system under test has behaved correctly on a particular execution. An ideal oracle would provide an unerring pass/fail judgment for any possible program execution, judged against a natural specification of intended behavior. Practical approaches must make compromises to balance trade-offs and provide useful capabilities. This report surveys proposed approaches to the oracle problem that are general in the sense that they require neither pre-computed input/output pairs nor a previous version of the system under test. The survey is not encyclopedic, but discusses representative examples of the main approaches and tactics for solving common problems. Partially supported by the Italian National Research Council (CNR). This work has also been supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Rome Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, USAF, under agreement number F30602-97-2-0034. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright annotation thereon. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Rome Laboratory, or the U.S. Government.
Rollover of heavy commercial vehicles

The state-of-the-art understanding of rollover of the commercial vehicle is reviewed. Accident statistics are presented which highlight the severity and lethal nature of rollover crashes. Physical and statistical evidence for the linkage between vehicle roll stability and the actual occurrence of rollover accidents is presented. The fundamentals of static roll stability are described in detail and then enhanced with discussion of dynamic considerations of the rollover process. The text concludes with a discussion of the evolving use of intelligent electronic systems and active vehicle control for reducing the occurrence of rollover. Appendices include a bibliography of the literature on heavy-vehicle rollover.
Extended Backstepping Method for Single-Machine Infinite-Bus Power Systems With SMES

This brief studies the stability of single-machine infinite-bus power systems with superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) via simultaneous design of generator excitation control and SMES control. Since the object model is of non-strict-feedback form and thus the traditional backstepping method is not applicable, we propose an extended backstepping method for a class of general nonlinear systems. Then, we apply the proposed method to the object model and design the generator excitation controller and SMES controller simultaneously, which stabilize the power angle, the generator terminal voltage, and the power oscillation. In addition, we improve the transient and steady-state performances of power systems by introducing class K functions in the design process. Simulation results also show the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed controller.
Women's Groups in British Unions

Women’s groups in unions are collective spaces within which women seek to advance their concerns and access empowering positions. This paper examines their pursuit of gender equality in unions. The need to explore unions and women’s groups is heightened by women’s significance as a source of union membership, and the connection between union revitalization and responsiveness to women. The paper uses case studies of two unions, MSF and USDAW, and seven women’s groups. The analysis is structured by a typology of two frameworks: (i) a typology of gendered equality ideas derived from various literatures, and (ii) the dynamic and linked dimensions of Hyman’s (1994) union organization model. Implications for research and theory, and for union policy and practice, are discussed.
Rupture du contrat psychologique et risques psycho-sociaux : une recherche intervention dans le cadre de la théorie de la conservation des ressources

Les organisations publiques contemporaines subissent aujourd'hui de nombreuses transformations, parfois lourdes de consequences pour les agents publics. Le contrat psychologique (modelisation de la relation d'emploi) qui lie l'agent a son organisation en est bouscule. Cet article se propose d'aborder les processus en jeu afin d'accompagner ces changements et preserver la sante des agents. Il ambitionne d'apporter des elements de comprehension du lien existant entre rupture, violation du contrat psychologique et mal-etre au travail dans le contexte des organisations publiques. Cette recherche-intervention examine ainsi les processus par lesquels la rupture du contrat psychologique debouche sur du mal-etre, en lien avec des atteintes aux ressources. Cette analyse est realisee dans le contexte d'un service public en direction des personnes âgees et des personnes handicapees ayant fait l'objet d'une recherche-intervention d'une duree d'une annee complete. Ce contexte (les metiers du social) nous permet d'interroger a la fois un contrat psychologique tourne vers le service au public et des contraintes classiques comme l'augmentation de la charge de travail ou la rarefaction des moyens. Nos resultats montrent l'importance du collectif dans le processus de reconstruction des ressources mais egalement que la violation du contrat psychologique correspond a une atteinte a des ressources fondamentales qui constituent le cœur de ce contrat. La demarche en elle-meme revele la pertinence d'une methodologie de recherche-intervention dans la creation de connaissances dans le domaine de la sante au travail.
Motivational sources of confirmation bias in criminal investigations: the need for cognitive closure

In two experiments, criminal investigators (N = 50) and undergraduate students (N = 68) read a set of facts from the preliminary investigation of a homicide case. Participants' initial hypothesis regarding the crime was manipulated by providing background information implying that the prime suspect had a jealousy motive or that there might be an alternative perpetrator. Students displayed a framing effect, such that guilt was ascribed to the prime suspect only when a potential motive was presented, whereas investigators did so regardless of hypothesis, thus being less sensitive to alternative interpretations. Investigators' need for cognitive closure (NFC) moderated the effect of the hypothesis on perceptions of the strength of the evidence against the prime suspect; high (v low) NFC investigators were less likely to acknowledge inconsistencies in the material when presented with a potential motive, but were more likely to do so when made aware of the possibility of an alternative perpetrator. Interpretations are somewhat clouded by the fact that dispositional NFC did not seem to affect in a consistent manner participants' motivation toward the experimental task. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of Apoptosis Signal-regulating Kinase 1 by Nitric Oxide through a Thiol Redox Mechanism*

Nitric oxide is an endogenous thiol-reactive molecule that modulates the functions of many regulatory proteins by a thiol-redox mechanism. NO has now been shown to inhibit the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells through such a mechanism. Exposure of L929 cells to interferon-γ resulted in the endogenous production of NO and in inhibition of the activation of ASK1 by hydrogen peroxide. The interferon-γ-induced inhibition of ASK1 activity was blocked by NG-nitro-l-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase. Furthermore, the NO donor S-nitro-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine (SNAP) inhibited ASK1 activity in vitro, and this inhibition was reversed by thiol-reducing agents such as dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol. SNAP did not inhibit the kinase activities of MKK3, MKK6, or p38 in vitro. The inhibition of ASK1 by interferon-γ was not changed by 1H- (1,2,4)oxadiazolo[4,3-α]quinoxalin-1-one, an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase nor was it mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that replacement of cysteine 869 of ASK1 by serine rendered this protein resistant to the inhibitory effects both of interferon-γ in intact cells and of SNAP in vitro. Co-immunoprecipitation data showed that NO production inhibited a binding of ASK1, but not ASK1(C869S), to MKK3 or MKK6. Moreover, interferon-γ induced the S-nitrosylation of endogenous ASK1 in L929 cells. Together, these results suggest that NO mediates the interferon-γ-induced inhibition of ASK1 in L929 cells through a thiolredox mechanism.
Characterizing impulsivity in mania.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether specific aspects of impulsivity (response disinhibition, inability to delay gratification, inattention) differ between healthy and bipolar manic subjects, and whether these aspects of impulsivity were associated with each other and severity of affective symptoms. METHODS Performance of 70 bipolar I manic or mixed patients was compared to that of 34 healthy subjects on three tasks specifically designed to study response inhibition, ability to delay gratification, and attention; namely, a stop signal task, a delayed reward task, and a continuous performance task, respectively. Correlations among tasks and with symptom ratings were also performed. RESULTS Bipolar subjects demonstrated significant deficits on all three tasks as compared to healthy subjects. Performance on the three tasks was largely independent. Task performance was not significantly associated with the severity of affective symptom ratings. However, measures of response inhibition and attention were sensitive to medication effects. Differences in the delayed reward task were independent of medication effects or symptom ratings. During the delayed reward task, although bipolar patients made their choices more slowly than healthy subjects, they were significantly more likely to choose a smaller, but more quickly obtained reward. Moreover, performance on this task was not associated with performance on the other impulsivity measures. Manic patients showed more impulsive responding than mixed patients. CONCLUSIONS Bipolar I manic patients demonstrate deficits on tests of various aspects of impulsivity as compared to healthy subjects. Some of these differences between groups may be mediated by medication effects. Findings suggested that inability to delay gratification (i.e., delayed reward task) was not simply a result of the speed of decision making or inattention, but rather that it reflected differences between bipolar and healthy subjects in the valuation of reward relative to delay.
Acquiring the unaccusative unergative distinction in a second language: evidence from English-speaking learners of L2 Chinese

Abstract It has been proposed that intransitive verbs can be divided into two subgroups, unaccusative verbs, such as “break” and “arrive,” and unergative verbs, such as “laugh” and “swim”; the former type has an internal but no external argument, whereas the latter type has an external but no internal argument. Unaccusative verbs are verbs of change of state or location, while unergative verbs are a set of agentive monadic verbs of manner of motion. English and Chinese differ in the mapping between semantics and syntax in the domain of unaccusativity. In English, the internal argument of the unaccusative verb has to raise to subject position to be Case-marked. In Chinese, however, the internal argument can remain in object position and get inherent partitive case as long as it is an indefinite NP. External arguments of unergative verbs in both English and Chinese are in a preverbal position whether they are definite or indefinite. The study reported in this paper was to find out whether the lexical-semantic distinction between the unaccusative verb and the unergative verb could be properly represented in English-speaking learners' L2 syntax of Chinese and whether the learner would allow only the single argument of the unaccusative verb but disallow that of the unergative verb to be in object position. The results indicate that the unaccusative/unergative distinction is acquired very late by English-speaking learners, and that the acquisition does not proceed in a linear fashion.