LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Provably Secure Double-Block-Length Hash Functions in a Black-Box Model

In CRYPTO’89, Merkle presented three double-block-length hash functions based on DES. They are optimally collision resistant in a black-box model, that is, the time complexity of any collision-finding algorithm for them is Ω(2 ) if DES is a random block cipher, where is the output length. Their drawback is that their rates are low. In this article, new double-block-length hash functions with higher rates are presented which are also optimally collision resistant in the blackbox model. They are composed of block ciphers whose key length is twice larger than their block length. keywords: double-block-length hash function, black-box model, block cipher
Information Privacy Research: An Interdisciplinary Review

The multidisciplinary nature of information privacy research poses great challenges, since many concepts of information privacy have only been considered and developed through the lens of a particular discipline. It was our goal to conduct a multidisciplinary literature review. Following the three-stage approach proposed by Webster and Watson (2002), our methodology for identifying information privacy publications proceeded in three stages.
Orthant tail dependence of multivariate extreme value distributions

AMS 2000 subject classifications: 62H20 62P05 Keywords: Tail dependence Heavy tails Copula Multivariate extreme value distribution Marshall–Olkin distribution Archimedean copula Contagion risk a b s t r a c t The orthant tail dependence describes the relative deviation of upper-(or lower-) orthant tail probabilities of a random vector from similar orthant tail probabilities of a subset of its components, and can be used in the study of dependence among extreme values. Using the conditional approach, this paper examines the extremal dependence properties of multivariate extreme value distributions and their scale mixtures, and derives the explicit expressions of orthant tail dependence parameters for these distributions. Properties of the tail dependence parameters, including their relations with other extremal dependence measures used in the literature, are discussed. Various examples involving multivariate exponential, multivariate logistic distributions and copulas of Archimedean type are presented to illustrate the results.
Social media as a catalyst for online deliberation? Exploring the affordances of Facebook and YouTube for political expression

This manuscript aims to assess the potential of social media as a channel to foster democratic deliberation. It does this by examining whether the types of discussions that citizens maintain in two of the most used social media channels managed by the White House – Facebook and YouTube – meet the necessary conditions for deliberative democracy. For this purpose 7230 messages were analyzed and assessed in terms of indicators developed to evaluate online discourse derived from the work of Habermas. By contrasting social media channels that differ in the affordances of identifiability and networked information access (two traditional predictors of online deliberation), we seek to contribute a deeper understanding of social media and its impact on deliberation. Drawing on the social identification/deindividuation (SIDE) model of computer mediated communication and network theories, we predict that political discussions in Facebook will present a more egalitarian distribution of comments between discussants and higher level of politeness in their messages. Consistent with our theoretical framework, results confirm that Facebook expands the flow of information to other networks and enables more symmetrical conversations among users, whereas politeness is lower in the more anonymous and deindividuated YouTube. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A longitudinal twin study on Tojikomori and depressive symptoms in Japanese elderly.

BACKGROUND
Genetic factors associated with Tojikomori (being housebound without any limitations in physical functioning or mental problems) are unclear. We performed a twin study to help clarify the causes of Tojikomori and investigate the association between Tojikomori and depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Participants were members of the Osaka University Aged Twin Registry. A total of 157 twin pairs (314 individuals) who provided data in 2008 and 2012 were included. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale short version (GDS). Social Activities Scores (SAS) were measured with questions assessing the frequency of going out and contact with others. Activities of daily living were assessed with the Barthel index. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to evaluate the relative importance of genes and environments for the phenotypes measured.


RESULTS
In the first analysis, for SAS (2012), 25% of the variance was explained by additive genetic effects, and 75% was explained by unique environmental (including error) effects. For the GDS (2012), 28% of the variance was explained by additive genetic effects, and 72% was explained by unique environmental (including error) effects. In the second analysis, 25% of the total variance in SAS (2012) was explained by additive genetic factors, which influenced GDS scores (2008 and 2012). However, only 10% of the total variance in GDS scores (2012) was explained by additive genetic factors that influenced SAS (2008 and 2012).


CONCLUSIONS
Tojikomori was influenced by genetic factors in the elderly Japanese subjects. The association between Tojikomori and depressive symptoms was explained by genetic and environmental factors that are common to both phenotypes. Depressive symptoms were a cause of future Tojikomori and were affected by additive genetic factors. Genetic factors of Tojikomori were not a major cause of future depressive symptoms.
Usefulness of the Novel Oncofetal Antigen Glypican-3 for Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Melanoma

Glypican-3 (GPC3) mRNA and protein are expressed in >80% of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) but not in normal tissues except for placenta and fetal liver. The oncofetal antigen GPC3 is a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored membrane protein and may be secreted. It is a novel tumor marker for human HCC: GPC3 protein was present in sera from 40–50% of HCC patients, but was not detected in sera from patients with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, or in sera from healthy individuals. α-Fetoprotein (AFP) and PIVKA-II (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II), are well known major tumor markers for HCC. Generally, AFP shows high positivity for HCC but also high false-positivity in detection assays. Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) is a recently described marker of HCC. Detection of AFP-L3 shows a much higher specificity than AFP, but a lower sensitivity. On the other hand, detection of PIVKA-II shows a lower false-positivity, but is not always sensitive enough to detect low levels secreted by small HCCs. There was no correlation between the three tumor markers, AFP, PIVKA-II, and GPC3 in terms of their presence in HCC cells. All three tumor markers showed similar positivity in patients with HCC, detecting 80% of patients with the disease. GPC3 is also a novel tumor marker for the diagnosis of human melanoma, especially in the early stages of the disease. Expression of GPC3 mRNA and protein was evident in tumor cells from >80% of patients with melanoma and melanocytic nevus, which is a common benign lesion. GPC3 protein was detected in sera from 40% (36/91) of melanoma patients, but not in sera from those with large congenital melanocytic nevus, or from healthy donors. Surprisingly, we detected serum GPC3 even in patients with stage 0, in situ melanoma. The positive detection rate of serum GPC3 at stage 0,1, and II (44.4%, 40.0%, 47.6%, respectively) was significantly higher than that of 5-S-cysteinyldopa, a well known tumor marker for melanoma (0.0%, 8.0%, and 10.0%, respectively). Interestingly, GPC3 was highly immunogenic in mice and elicited effective anti-tumor immunity with no evidence of autoimmunity. Thus, GPC3 is useful for diagnosis of HCC and melanoma and may also have a role in immunotherapy or tumor prevention. However, studies in humans are warranted.
Parallel but not equivalent: challenges and solutions for repeated assessment of cognition over time.

OBJECTIVE
Analyses of individual differences in change may be unintentionally biased when versions of a neuropsychological test used at different follow-ups are not of equivalent difficulty. This study's objective was to compare mean, linear, and equipercentile equating methods and demonstrate their utility in longitudinal research.


STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE, N = 1,401) study is a longitudinal randomized trial of cognitive training. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n = 819) is an observational cohort study. Nonequivalent alternate versions of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) were administered in both studies.


RESULTS
Using visual displays, raw and mean-equated AVLT scores in both studies showed obvious nonlinear trajectories in reference groups that should show minimal change and poor equivalence over time (ps ≤ .001), and raw scores demonstrated poor fits in models of within-person change (root mean square errors of approximation, RMSEAs > 0.12). Linear and equipercentile equating produced more similar means in reference groups (ps ≥ .09) and performed better in growth models (RMSEAs < 0.05).


CONCLUSION
Equipercentile equating is the preferred equating method because it accommodates tests more difficult than a reference test at different percentiles of performance and performs well in models of within-person trajectory. The method has broad applications in both clinical and research settings to enhance the ability to use nonequivalent test forms.
Event Detection in Twitter using Aggressive Filtering and Hierarchical Tweet Clustering

Twitter has become as much of a news media as a social network, and much research has turned to analyzing its content for tracking real-world events, from politics to sports and natural disasters. This paper describes the techniques we employed for the SNOW Data Challenge 2014, described in [16]. We show that aggressive filtering of tweets based on length and structure, combined with hierarchical clustering of tweets and ranking of the resulting clusters, achieves encouraging results. We present empirical results and discussion for two different Twitter streams focusing on the US presidential elections in 2012 and the recent events about Ukraine, Syria and the Bitcoin, in February 2014.
A Randomized Controlled Study on the Effects of Bisoprolol and Atenolol on Sympathetic Nervous Activity and Central Aortic Pressure in Patients with Essential Hypertension

OBJECTIVE
β-blockers (BBs) with different pharmacological properties may have heterogeneous effects on sympathetic nervous activity (SNA) and central aortic pressure (CAP), which are independent cardiovascular factors for hypertension. Hence, we analyzed the effects of bisoprolol and atenolol on SNA and CAP in hypertensive patients.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 109 never-treated hypertensive subjects randomized to bisoprolol (5 mg) or atenolol (50 mg) for 4-8 weeks. SNA, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) were measured using power spectral analysis using a Finometer. CAP and related parameters were determined using the SphygmoCor device (pulse wave analysis).


RESULTS
Both drugs were similarly effective in reducing brachial BP. However, central systolic BP (-14±10 mm Hg vs -6±9 mm Hg; P<0.001) and aortic pulse pressure (-3±10 mm Hg vs +3±8 mm Hg; P<0.001) decreased more significantly with bisoprolol than with atenolol. The augmentation index at a HR of 75 bpm (AIxatHR75) was significantly decreased (29%±11% to 25%±12%; P = 0.026) in the bisoprolol group only. Furthermore, the change in BRS in the bisoprolol group (3.99±4.19 ms/mmHg) was higher than in the atenolol group (2.66±3.78 ms/mmHg), although not statistically significant (P>0.05). BRS was stable when RHR was controlled (RHR≤65 bpm), and the two treatments had similar effects on the low frequency/high frequency (HF) ratio and on HF.


CONCLUSION
BBs seem to have different effects on arterial distensibility and compliance in hypertensive subjects. Compared with atenolol, bisoprolol may have a better effect on CAP.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01762436.
Moderate Amounts of Fructose Consumption Impair Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Young Men

OBJECTIVE
Adverse effects of hypercaloric, high-fructose diets on insulin sensitivity and lipids in human subjects have been shown repeatedly. The implications of fructose in amounts close to usual daily consumption, however, have not been well studied. This study assessed the effect of moderate amounts of fructose and sucrose compared with glucose on glucose and lipid metabolism.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Nine healthy, normal-weight male volunteers (aged 21-25 years) were studied in this double-blind, randomized, cross-over trial. All subjects consumed four different sweetened beverages (600 mL/day) for 3 weeks each: medium fructose (MF) at 40 g/day, and high fructose (HF), high glucose (HG), and high sucrose (HS) each at 80 g/day. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps with [6,6]-(2)H(2) glucose labeling were used to measure endogenous glucose production. Lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in fasting samples.


RESULTS
Hepatic suppression of glucose production during the clamp was significantly lower after HF (59.4 ± 11.0%) than HG (70.3 ± 10.5%, P < 0.05), whereas fasting glucose, insulin, and C-peptide did not differ between the interventions. Compared with HG, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol were significantly higher after MF, HF, and HS, and free fatty acids were significantly increased after MF, but not after the two other interventions (P < 0.05). Subjects' energy intake during the interventions did not differ significantly from baseline intake.


CONCLUSIONS
This study clearly shows that moderate amounts of fructose and sucrose significantly alter hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism compared with similar amounts of glucose.
Forward Models for Physiological Motor Control

Based on theoretical and computational studies it has been suggested that the central nervous system (CNS) internally simulates the behaviour of the motor system in planning, control and learning. Such an internal "forward" model is a representation of the motor system that uses the current state of the motor system and motor command to predict the next state. We will outline the uses of such internal models for solving several fundamental computational problems in motor control and then review the evidence for their existence and use by the CNS. Finally we speculate how the location of an internal model within the CNS may be identified. Copyright 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Guest editorial: qualitative studies in information systems: a critical review and some guiding principles

Please refer to attached Guest Editorial
Automatic chatter detection in grinding

Two methods for automatic chatter detection in outer diameter plunge feed grinding are proposed. The methods employ entropy and coarse-grained information rate (CIR) as indicators of chatter. Entropy is calculated from a power spectrum, while CIR is calculated directly from fluctuations of a recorded signal. The methods are verified using signals of the normal grinding force and RMS acoustic emission. The results show that entropy and CIR perform equally well as chatter indicators. Based on the normal grinding force, they detect chatter in its early stage, while only cases of strong chatter are detected based on RMS acoustic emission.  2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Magnetic Materials for Broadband Transmission Line Transformers

Ferrite and iron powder magnetic materials were developed to support a wide range of components, including inductors, EMI suppressors, conventional transformers and transmission line transformers (TLTs). This article deals with transmission line transformers, presenting the observations and conclusions of the author, reached after extensive experimental research into the behavior and performance of these devices in broadband applications.
Reducing Carbon-Based Energy Consumption through Changes in Household Behavior

Actions by individuals and households to reduce carbon-based energy consumption have the potential to change the picture of U.S. energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the near term. To tap this potential, however, energy policies and programs need to replace outmoded assumptions about what drives human behavior; they must integrate insights from the behavioral and social sciences with those from engineering and economics. This integrated approach has thus far only occasionally been implemented. This essay summarizes knowledge from the social sciences and from highly successful energy programs to show what the potential is and how it can be achieved.
Online information needs of cancer patients and their organizations

Increasingly patients, relatives and carers are accessing health information via the internet. However, the health profession and people affected by cancer are becoming concerned with the quality of that information. A European survey was conducted under the auspices of the FP7 European Commission funded Eurocancercoms project during the period September 2010-March 2011. Its aim was to assess current online information needs of people with cancer particularly those who seek information using online social media technologies and the internet more broadly. A literature review was undertaken to gain a greater understanding of health seeking behaviour regarding cancer patients' information needs and patient preferences for accessing different formats and media. This was used to inform the design and validation of online pan-European, multi-lingual questionnaires distributed via patient organizations and via specific Eurocancercoms partner organizations. This paper presents the results of this survey and suggests recommendations to be incorporated into the design of the online platform, ecancerHub, one of the intended outcomes of the Eurocancercoms project following this research. People want a wide variety of easy to find, easy to understand accurate information about cancer and how it is likely to impact on their everyday lives and on those close to them. They differ in the amount and detail of the information they would like and on their ability to identify quality information and understand it sufficiently to base their health-care decisions on. The majority of respondents raised the issue of quality of information and many requested recommendations of websites by the people who usually influence them most, the health professionals involved in their care.
Calculation of LD50 values from the method of Miller and Tainter, 1944.

Dear Editor, Acute toxicity of a drug can be determined by the calculation of LD50, i.e., the dose that will kill 50% of animals of a particular species. Recently, we reported the LD50 of thymoquinone, an active principle of Nigella sativa, in mice and rats by the method described by Miller and Tainter, 1944. Since then some post-graduate students and investigators have asked us to explain the details of calculation of LD50 by this method, as the original article, being very old, is not easily available in the literature. We also faced problem in the calculations, however, we found some details for the calculation of LD50 in the Fundamentals of Experimental Pharmacology by Ghosh, which also is not easy to obtain in many parts of the world. Therefore, few lines are written, on behalf of the other authors, to elaborate the calculation of LD50 by the method of Miller and Tainter for the benefit of young researchers.
Mechanical and tribological properties of ceramic/metal composites: A review of phenomena spanning from the nanometer to the micrometer length scale

Abstract In the present work, the recent advances and promising potential applications of new developed ceramic (alumina, zirconia, spinel)/metal (Ni, Nb, W) micro/nanocomposites are discussed. We review the exotic properties of metal particles embedded into ceramic matrices and the effect of the percolation law, the nature of the interfaces and the size effect (micro/nano). This article discusses the material's mechanical and tribological properties, such as hardness, wear resistance and toughness.
Recommendation sources on the intention to use e-books in academic digital libraries

Purpose – Few library studies have investigated recommendation classifications for e-book (electronic book) usage, while none have directly compared what recommendation sources (word-of-mouth, advertising, and expert recommendation) might influence e-book usage intentions. To fill this gap in the literature, the main purposes of this study are to: examine how users perceive the influence of recommendations on the intention to use e-books for academic purposes; and to measure the level of the perception of trust and perceived risk when users receive e-book recommendations from peers, advertisers, and experts. Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study were collected from 382 academic digital library users between the ages of 18 and 25. A multiple regression analysis was then conducted to identify the key causal relationships. Findings – The comparison of three recommendation sources (word-of-mouth, advertising, and expert recommendations) revealed that word-of-mouth (WOM) played a more important role than other recommendations in determining the intention to use e-books in an academic digital library. In addition, enhancing the perceived trust and reducing the risk towards the use of e-books can mediate the relationship between recommendation sources and the behavioural intentions to use e-books. Research limitations/implications – This study assessed self-reported behavioural intention as part of its survey and, as a result, could have introduced unintentional inaccuracies. Practical implications – Librarians should emphasise e-book advantages (e.g. easy searching, easily accessible index) to get positive recommendation if users follow all of the recommendations of the source. They can also create online discussion forums to provide usage intention discussions, which can influence users’ perceptions of trust and risk and increase the willingness of potential users to read e-books. Originality/value – Little has been written on the intentions of using e-books. Therefore, this conceptual model is novel. This model is also useful in explaining how recommendations stimulate the intentions of using e-books by enhancing the perceived trust and reducing the perceived risk; these findings may generally be applicable to librarians, current users, and potential users.