Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PIR with Low Storage Overhead: Coding instead of Replication

Private information retrieval (PIR) protocols allow a user to retrieve a data item from a database without revealing any information about the identity of the item being retrieved. Specifically, in information-theoretic $k$-server PIR, the database is replicated among $k$ non-communicating servers, and each server learns nothing about the item retrieved by the user. The cost of PIR protocols is usually measured in terms of their communication complexity, which is the total number of bits exchanged between the user and the servers, and storage overhead, which is the ratio between the total number of bits stored on all the servers and the number of bits in the database. Since single-server information-theoretic PIR is impossible, the storage overhead of all existing PIR protocols is at least $2$. In this work, we show that information-theoretic PIR can be achieved with storage overhead arbitrarily close to the optimal value of $1$, without sacrificing the communication complexity. Specifically, we prove that all known $k$-server PIR protocols can be efficiently emulated, while preserving both privacy and communication complexity but significantly reducing the storage overhead. To this end, we distribute the $n$ bits of the database among $s+r$ servers, each storing $n/s$ coded bits (rather than replicas). For every fixed $k$, the resulting storage overhead $(s+r)/s$ approaches $1$ as $s$ grows; explicitly we have $r\le k\sqrt{s}(1+o(1))$. Moreover, in the special case $k = 2$, the storage overhead is only $1 + \frac{1}{s}$. In order to achieve these results, we introduce and study a new kind of binary linear codes, called here $k$-server PIR codes. We then show how such codes can be constructed, and we establish several bounds on the parameters of $k$-server PIR codes. Finally, we briefly discuss extensions of our results to nonbinary alphabets, to robust PIR, and to $t$-private PIR.
Variable crustal structure along the Juan de Fuca Ridge: Influence of on‐axis hot spots and absolute plate motions

Multichannel seismic and bathymetric data from the Juan de Fuca Ridge (JDFR) provide constraints on axial and ridge flank structure for the past 4–8 Ma within three spreading corridors crossing Cleft, Northern Symmetric, and Endeavour segments. Along‐axis data reveal south‐to‐north gradients in seafloor relief and presence and depth of the crustal magma lens, which indicate a warmer axial regime to the south, both on a regional scale and within individual segments. For young crust, cross‐axis lines reveal differences between segments in Moho two‐way traveltimes of 200–300 ms which indicate 0.5–1 km thicker crust at Endeavour and Cleft compared to Northern Symmetric. Moho traveltime anomalies extend beyond the 5–15 km wide axial high and coincide with distinct plateaus, 32 and 40 km wide and 200–400 m high, found at both segments. On older crust, Moho traveltimes are similar for all three segments (∼2100 ± 100 ms), indicating little difference in average crustal production prior to ∼0.6 and 0.7 Ma. The presence of broad axis‐centered bathymetric plateau with thickened crust at Cleft and Endeavour segments is attributed to recent initiation of ridge axis‐centered melt anomalies associated with the Cobb hot spot and the Heckle melt anomaly. Increased melt supply at Cleft segment upon initiation of Axial Volcano and southward propagation of Endeavour segment during the Brunhes point to rapid southward directed along‐axis channeling of melt anomalies linked to these hot spots. Preferential southward flow of the Cobb and Heckle melt anomalies and the regional‐scale south‐to‐north gradients in ridge structure along the JDFR may reflect influence of the northwesterly absolute motion of the ridge axis on subaxial melt distribution.
Recruitment of RED-SMU1 Complex by Influenza A Virus RNA Polymerase to Control Viral mRNA Splicing

Influenza A viruses are major pathogens in humans and in animals, whose genome consists of eight single-stranded RNA segments of negative polarity. Viral mRNAs are synthesized by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the nucleus of infected cells, in close association with the cellular transcriptional machinery. Two proteins essential for viral multiplication, the exportin NS2/NEP and the ion channel protein M2, are produced by splicing of the NS1 and M1 mRNAs, respectively. Here we identify two human spliceosomal factors, RED and SMU1, that control the expression of NS2/NEP and are required for efficient viral multiplication. We provide several lines of evidence that in infected cells, the hetero-trimeric viral polymerase recruits a complex formed by RED and SMU1 through interaction with its PB2 and PB1 subunits. We demonstrate that the splicing of the NS1 viral mRNA is specifically affected in cells depleted of RED or SMU1, leading to a decreased production of the spliced mRNA species NS2, and to a reduced NS2/NS1 protein ratio. In agreement with the exportin function of NS2, these defects impair the transport of newly synthesized viral ribonucleoproteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and strongly reduce the production of infectious influenza virions. Overall, our results unravel a new mechanism of viral subversion of the cellular splicing machinery, by establishing that the human splicing factors RED and SMU1 act jointly as key regulators of influenza virus gene expression. In addition, our data point to a central role of the viral RNA polymerase in coupling transcription and alternative splicing of the viral mRNAs.
Regulation of MET by FOXP2, Genes Implicated in Higher Cognitive Dysfunction and Autism Risk

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable, behaviorally defined, heterogeneous disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Several genetic risk genes have been identified, including the gene encoding the receptor tyrosine kinase MET, which regulates neuronal differentiation and growth. An ASD-associated polymorphism disrupts MET gene transcription, and there are reduced levels of MET protein expression in the mature temporal cortex of subjects with ASD. To address the possible neurodevelopmental contribution of MET to ASD pathogenesis, we examined the expression and transcriptional regulation of MET by a transcription factor, FOXP2, which is implicated in regulation of cognition and language, two functions altered in ASD. MET mRNA expression in the midgestation human fetal cerebral cortex is strikingly restricted, localized to portions of the temporal and occipital lobes. Within the cortical plate of the temporal lobe, the pattern of MET expression is highly complementary to the expression pattern of FOXP2, suggesting the latter may play a role in repression of gene expression. Consistent with this, MET and FOXP2 also are reciprocally expressed by differentiating normal human neuronal progenitor cells (NHNPs) in vitro, leading us to assess whether FOXP2 transcriptionally regulates MET. Indeed, FOXP2 binds directly to the 5′ regulatory region of MET, and overexpression of FOXP2 results in transcriptional repression of MET. The expression of MET in restricted human neocortical regions, and its regulation in part by FOXP2, is consistent with genetic evidence for MET contributing to ASD risk.
A Jam-Absorption Driving Strategy for Mitigating Traffic Oscillations

To mitigate traffic oscillations that usually sustainably propagate upstream, this paper proposes a jam-absorption driving (JAD) strategy in the framework of Newell's car-following theory. The basic idea of the JAD strategy is to guide a vehicle to move slowly before being captured by an oscillation and terminate the slow movement when the vehicle would start to leave the jam if no such slow movement was implemented. To practically implement the idea, a two-step method is proposed to estimate the time–space ending point of the strategy, and a proper vehicle is selected to implement the JAD strategy based on a given expected absorbing speed and current traffic conditions. To test the JAD strategy, two simulated traffic scenarios are constructed based on a realistic data-driven car-following model. The first scenario, which only reproduces one oscillation, directly shows the effectiveness of the JAD idea in preventing wave propagation and capacity drop. The second scenario, which contains a series of traffic oscillations induced by the rubbernecking behavior, validates the proposed JAD strategy in more complicated and realistic conditions. It is indicated that the JAD strategy is able to absorb traffic oscillations; thus, the side effects incurred by the oscillations could be subsequently mitigated. The significance of this paper is to provide us a new idea to mitigate traffic oscillations, i.e., the JAD strategy.
Voluntary Energy Harvesting Relays and Selection in Cooperative Wireless Networks

The use of energy harvesting (EH) nodes as cooperative relays is a promising and emerging solution in wireless systems such as wireless sensor networks. It harnesses the spatial diversity of a multi-relay network and addresses the vexing problem of a relay's batteries getting drained in forwarding information to the destination. We consider a cooperative system in which EH nodes volunteer to serve as amplify-and-forward relays whenever they have sufficient energy for transmission. For a general class of stationary and ergodic EH processes, we introduce the notion of energy constrained and energy unconstrained relays and analytically characterize the symbol error rate of the system. Further insight is gained by an asymptotic analysis that considers the cases where the signal-to-noise-ratio or the number of relays is large. Our analysis quantifies how the energy usage at an EH relay and, consequently, its availability for relaying, depends not only on the relay's energy harvesting process, but also on its transmit power setting and the other relays in the system. The optimal static transmit power setting at the EH relays is also determined. Altogether, our results demonstrate how a system that uses EH relays differs in significant ways from one that uses conventional cooperative relays.
Impact of Series Compensation Insertion in Double HV Transmission Line on the Settings of Distance Protection

This paper presents a study of the performance of distance protection relays when series compensation (SC) is inserted on double circuit transmission line high voltage (HV) 400 kV in Algeria (Group Sonelgaz). The relays setting for distance protection is considered as a great challenge to power system protection engineers. Special considerations on the transmission line impedance measurement are necessary in the application of distance protection. The studies also include different challenges which the protection engineer may face such as current and voltage inversion, non-linearity of the line impedance. A detailed modeling of SC is proposed and integrated in transmission system for five case studies in different point locations on transmission line. The proposed results dealing with distance relays protection setting are performed in MATLAB software environment, for different cases.
Value and Accuracy of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Obstructive Jaundice

Summary Background Objective; To find out the role of MDCT in the evaluation of obstructive jaundice with respect to the cause and level of the obstruction, and its accuracy. To identify the advantages of MDCT with respect to other imaging modalities. To correlate MDCT findings with histopathology/surgical findings/Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography (ERCP) findings as applicable. Material/Methods This was a prospective study conducted over a period of one year from August 2014 to August 2015. Data were collected from 50 patients with clinically suspected obstructive jaundice. CT findings were correlated with histopathology/surgical findings/ERCP findings as applicable. Results Among the 50 people studied, males and females were equal in number, and the majority belonged to the 41–60 year age group. The major cause for obstructive jaundice was choledocholithiasis. MDCT with reformatting techniques was very accurate in picking a mass as the cause for biliary obstruction and was able to differentiate a benign mass from a malignant one with high accuracy. There was 100% correlation between the CT diagnosis and the final diagnosis regarding the level and type of obstruction. MDCT was able to determine the cause of obstruction with an accuracy of 96%. Conclusions MDCT with good reformatting techniques has excellent accuracy in the evaluation of obstructive jaundice with regards to the level and cause of obstruction.
Energy-efficient routing in IPv6 home networks

The multiplication of local access technologies and the increasing number of connected devices exhort today's home networks to be more energy-efficient. In the literature, such kind of challenge is usually handled from the standpoint of devices remaining battery, making resulting approaches specific to resources constrained networks (e.g. wireless sensor networks, ad-hoc networks, etc.). This paper considers the exploitation of devices, either routers and/or hosts, links diversity (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PLC, etc.) as an already pertinent mean to provide energy awareness in home network operations. In this paper, we focus on the design of an IPv6 energy-efficient routing protocol for such complex home networks. Our solution first enhances the OSPF core network routing protocol with a relevant energy metric that reflects the energy consumption of home network links technologies. We further expand the Neighbor Discovery protocol with an interface selection mechanism through two new options ELCO (Energy Link Cost Option) and EPCO (Energy Path Cost Option). This mechanism enables the selection of the most energy-efficient end-to-end path. Our approach is evaluated and compared with conventional routing protocols through real experimentations. The results show that significant energy savings can be reached when using our routing protocol.
A Strong to Fragile Transition in a Model of Liquid Silica

The transport properties of an ionic model for liquid silica [1] at high temperatures and pressure are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. With increasing pressure, a clear change from "strong" to "fragile" behaviour (according to Angell's classification of glass-forming liquids) is observed, albeit only an the small viscosity range that can be explored in MD simulations. This change is related to structural changes, from an almost perfect four-fold coordination to an imperfect five or six-fold coordination.
A suicide prevention program in a region with a very high suicide rate.

CONTEXT Suicide is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Rates vary widely within and between countries. A suicide prevention program has never been tested in a region with a very high suicide rate in comparison with control regions without such intervention over the same period. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of a depression-management educational program for general practitioners (GPs) on the suicide rate in a region with a high suicide rate in Hungary. DESIGN Effects were compared with a control region, the larger surrounding county, and Hungary. SETTING Southwest Hungary. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-eight GPs servicing 73,000 inhabitants participated in the educational program. INTERVENTION A 5-year depression-management educational program for GPs and their nurses was implemented together with establishment of a Depression Treatment Clinic and psychiatrist telephone consultation service in the intervention region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary study outcome measure was annual suicide rate. The secondary outcome measure was antidepressant prescription use. RESULTS The annual suicide rate in the intervention region decreased from the 5-year preintervention average of 59.7 in 100,000 to 49.9 in 100,000. The decrease was comparable with the control region but greater than both the county and Hungary (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). In rural areas, the female suicide rate in the intervention region decreased by 34% and increased by 90% in the control region (P < .07). The increase in antidepressant treatment was greater in the intervention region compared with the control region, the county, and Hungary and in women compared with men (P < .002). CONCLUSIONS A GP-based intervention produced a greater decline in suicide rates compared with the surrounding county and national rates. Increases in patients with depression treated and of dosing were modest and may require additional measures such as depression-care managers. The importance of alcoholism in local suicides was unanticipated and not addressed. Optimal suicide prevention plans must consider major local risk factors.
Adapting Psychologically Grounded Facial Emotional Expressions to Different Anthropomorphic Embodiment Platforms

Starting from the assumptions that human-ambient intelligence interaction will be improved by having more human-human like communications and that facial expressions are fundamental in human-human communications, we describe how we developed facial expressions for artificial agents based on a psychological theory developed by Scherer. In this current article we describe briefly the psychological theory that we have chosen as well as some of the reason for adopting it. We then describe the two different platforms we used, the Cherry avatar and the iCat Robot with a particular focus on the robot. Finally we explore the steps needed to adapt the psychological theory to the two different platforms and we present some conclusions and future development.
Effects of rice bran oil on the blood lipids profiles and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of rice bran oil consumption on plasma lipids and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-five patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to a placebo group or a rice bran oil group. The placebo group consumed 250 mL soybean oil-modified milk (18 g soybean oil) daily for 5 weeks, and the rice bran oil group consumed 250 mL rice bran oil modified milk (18 g rice bran oil) daily for 5 weeks. At week 0 and week 5, anthropometric measurements, hematology tests, and an oral-glucose-tolerance test were conducted. The results showed that the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance, the area under the curve for postprandial serum insulin, and serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations increased significantly in the placebo group. In the rice bran oil group, fasting and 2-h postprandial blood glucose concentrations and the area under the curve for postprandial plasma glucose increased significantly; however, total serum cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly. However, the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance was not significantly different. Consumption of 18 g rice bran oil modified milk daily for 5 weeks significantly decreased total serum cholesterol concentrations and tended to decrease low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, no significant influence on insulin resistance was observed.
Using Social Relationships to Control Narrative Generation

Narrative generation represents an application domain for AI planning where plan quality is related to properties such as shape of plan trajectory. In our work we have developed a plan-based approach to narrative generation that uses character relationships as a key determinant in controlling plan shape (relationships are key in genres such as serial dramas and soaps). Our approach is implemented in a demonstration Interactive Narrative, called NetworkING, set in the medical drama genre. The system features a user-friendly mechanism for specifying relationships between virtual characters, via a social network and real-time visualisation of generated narratives on a 3D stage.
Complete wave‐vector directions of electromagnetic emissions: Application to INTERBALL‐2 measurements in the nightside auroral zone

We present several newly developed methods for wave propagation analysis. They are based on simultaneous measurement of three magnetic field components and one or two electric field components. The purpose of these techniques is to estimate complete wave vector direction and the refractive index. All the analysis results are validated by well defined simulated data. Propagation analysis of natural emissions in the night-side auroral zone at high altitudes is done using the data of the MEMO (Mesures Multicomposantes des Ondes) experiment onboard INTERBALL-2. The results show that a bursty whistler mode emission propagates toward the Earth near the resonance cone. Upward propagating auroral kilometric radiation in the R-X mode represents another example demonstrating the potential of such analysis for future applications.
C . elegans exposed to calorie restriction and resveratrol concurrently have statistically similar lifespans to the control

Background Aging has become an important topic in the field of molecular biology in recent years and has led to the discovery of different methods that have been shown to increase life span in model organisms, such as Drosophilla melanogaster, Sacchromyces Cerevisiae, and Caenorhabditis elegans (Haigis & Sinclair, 2011). Two of the most well-known methods to extend life involve the calorie restriction (CR) diet and the small chemical resveratrol. Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in higher concentrations in grape skins and peanuts because it aids in preventing fungal infections (Kalantari & Das, 2010). Resveratrol levels tend to increase in the presence of oxidative stressors, such as heavy metal ions and UV radiation, possibly explaining why resveratrol has pro-longevity properties (Marques, Markus, & Morris, 2009). Calorie restriction reduces dietary intake by 20-50%. Unlike resveratrol, CR promotes longevity through under-nutrition not chemical properties. CR has been shown to increase the life in S. cerevisiae, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, M. musculus, and a variety of vertebrate fish by as much as 50% (Haigis & Sinclair, 2011). The study of lifespan extension of the model organism C. elegans by CR and resveratrol provides many advantages over other organisms. The nematodes are useful because they are small, have short life cycles, but most importantly are cheap and easy to culture. Additionally, they are eukaryotic and their pathways that appear to regulate aging are present in humans as well. Therefore, research on C. elegans can potentially have human applications as well. We will be testing the effects of both CR and resveratrol independently as well as jointly to determine the effects of each individually and then to discover if together they are able to amplify their senescent defense properties. It has been conditionally shown in a variety of experiments that both resveratrol and CR can increase lifespan, but it remains unknown how the combination of both will affect the longevity of C. elegans. We believe that the groups exposed to both resveratrol and CR will have the largest increase in lifespan relative to the control group being grown in normal NGM plates. While CR and resveratrol tend to delay the onset of senescence in organisms, each condition can affect different genes. Additionally, genes such as the clk and daf genes appear to affect parallel pathways (Hekimi, 2000). C. elegans daf-2 clk-1 double mutants live longer than either strain with only one of the mutations (Hekimi, 2000). Thus, clk and daf genes appear to have an additive affect when each mutation is tested together (Hekimi, 2000). Although resveratrol and CR appear to have similar pathways, we still believe that there will be an additive affect of both on longevity.