Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Android Application Protection Scheme against Dynamic Reverse Engineering Attacks

Reverse engineering of Android applications is easy because the applications are written in the high level but simple bytecode language. Due to malicious reverse engineering attacks, many Android applications are tampered and repackaged into malicious applications. To protect Android applications from reverse engineering, many research studies have proposed and developed anti-reverse engineering techniques such as obfuscation, packing (packed executable), encryption, and anti-debugging. Obfuscation, packing and encryption are the defense techniques against static reverse engineering, which cannot prevent dynamic reverse engineering like memory dumping and runtime debugging. On the other hand, the existing defense techniques against dynamic reverse engineering have usually tried to protect applications by determining whether they are being executed on an emulation-based analysis environment and stopping their execution on the emulator. However, the protection techniques based on detecting the emulators become ineffective because attackers recently employ dynamic reverse engineering directly on real mobile devices. This paper presents a new protection scheme for Android applications against dynamic reverse engineering which can be applied on real mobile devices. Our scheme checks if a device on which the application is running is rooted and/or the application is being debugged. If so, our scheme stops the execution of the application. Our experiments demonstrate that the rooted/debugging environments detection techniques can be evaded by method hooking attacks and that the evasion attack, fortunately, can be detected by our scheme. One of the strength of our approach is that it is not implemented as a part of application’s source code but a separate executable. It can be applied to applications whose source code is not available.
Altered Peripheral B-Lymphocyte Subsets in Type 1 Diabetes and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

OBJECTIVE B lymphocytes play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. We hypothesized that the altered B-cell subset phenotype is associated with autoimmune diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) (n = 81), latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) (n = 82), or type 2 diabetes (T2D) (n = 95) and healthy control subjects (n = 218) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were recruited. We determined the percentage of circulating B-lymphocyte subsets, including CD19+CD23−CD21+ (marginal zone B [MZB]), CD19+CD23+CD21− (follicular B [FoB]), and CD19+CD5+CD1dhi (interleukin-10–producing regulatory B [B10]) cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS Patients with T1D or LADA had increased percentages of MZB cells and decreased percentages of FoB cells compared with healthy control subjects with NGT and patients with T2D. Moreover, patients with T1D showed the lowest frequency of B10 cells compared with patients with LADA or T2D, whereas healthy control subjects expressed the highest frequency of B10 cells. Of note, the frequency of MZB cells was negatively associated and the frequency of FoB cells was positively associated with fasting C-peptide (FCP). The frequency of B10 cells was positively correlated with FCP and negatively correlated with hemoglobin A1c. CONCLUSIONS The data show that patients with T1D or LADA express an altered frequency of B-cell subsets, which is associated with islet function and glycemia. These findings suggest that B lymphocytes may be involved in loss of self-tolerance and β-cell destruction and could be used as a biomarker and potential target for immunological intervention.
Spectrum of germ-line RB1 gene mutations in Malaysian patients with retinoblastoma

Purpose The availability of molecular genetic testing for retinoblastoma (RB) in Malaysia has enabled patients with a heritable predisposition to the disease to be identified, which thus improves the clinical management of these patients and their families. In this paper, we presented our strategy for performing molecular genetic testing of the RB1 gene and the findings from our first 2 years of starting this service. Methods The peripheral blood of 19 RB probands, including seven bilateral and 12 unilateral cases, was obtained, and genomic DNA was extracted. Analysis of the RB1 exons and the promoter region was conducted first using PCR and direct sequencing. Next, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis was performed for patients whom the first results were negative. For patients whom either the first or second method results were positive, parental samples were analyzed to determine the origin of the mutation. Results Ten RB1 mutations were identified in ten (52.6%) of the 19 probands (seven bilateral and three unilateral cases), of which 30.0% (3/10) was identified with MLPA. The detection rates in the bilateral and unilateral cases were 100.0% (7/7) and 25.0% (3/12), respectively. Three new RB1 mutations were discovered, two in patients with bilateral RB and one in patient with unilateral RB. Interestingly, all mutations detected with the PCR-sequencing method were predicted to create a premature stop codon. Eight mutations were proven to be de novo while one mutation was inherited from the mother in a family with a positive history of RB. Conclusions Our results confirmed the heterogeneous nature of RB1 mutations and the predominantly de novo origin. The high prevalence of pathogenic truncating mutations was evident among local patients with RB. The combination of PCR sequencing and MLPA is recommended for sensitive identification of heritable RB cases.
Dealing with TRACS: The Game of Confidence and Consequence

Chance discovery and management require judgments and decisions under uncertainty. Our research explores how, and how well, people make these judgments and decisions. Our tool is a card game called TRACS in which players are faced with prototypical tasks of “probabilistic risk assessment” and “dynamic resource management”. Our methods include experiments with human subjects to identify cognitive strategies, and simulations with software agents to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive and alternative strategies. These scientific investigations on TRACS have potential applications to “command and control” in a variety of practical situations. This paper provides the conceptual foundation, presents our initial investigations and previews practical applications of TRACS.
Malaria transmission after artemether-lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) reduces the potential for malaria transmission, compared with non-ACTs. It is unclear whether this effect differs between ACTs. METHODS A total of 298 children (age, 6 months to 10 years) with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were randomized to artemether-lumefantrine (AL; n = 153) or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP; n = 145) in Mbita, a community in western Kenya. Gametocyte carriage was determined by molecular methods on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 after treatment initiation. The gametocyte infectiousness to mosquitoes was determined by mosquito-feeding assays on day 7 after beginning therapy. RESULTS The cumulative risk of recurrent parasitemia on day 42 after initiation of treatment, unadjusted by polymerase chain reaction findings, was 20.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.4-28.2) for AL, compared with 3.7% (95% CI, 1.2-8.5) for DP (P < .001). The mean duration of gametocyte carriage was 5.5 days (95% CI, 3.6-8.5) for AL and 15.3 days (95% CI, 9.7-24.2) for DP (P = .001). The proportion of mosquitoes that became infected after feeding on blood from AL-treated children was 1.88% (43 of 2293), compared with 3.50% (83 of 2371) for those that fed on blood from DP-treated children (P = .06); the oocyst burden among mosquitoes was lower among those that fed on blood from AL-treated children (P = .005) CONCLUSIONS: While DP was associated with a longer prophylactic time after treatment, gametocyte carriage and malaria transmission to mosquitoes was lower after AL treatment. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT00868465.
Changes in the thermosphere and ionosphere of Mars from Viking to MAVEN

We compare Viking and Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN) Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) observations of the thermosphere and ionosphere of Mars in order to test predictions of large variations in conditions over the solar cycle and with season. Substantial differences exist between the Viking observations at solar minimum and near aphelion and the MAVEN NGIMS observations at moderate solar activity and near perihelion. Differences in the O/CO2 ratio, the O+ ionospheric peak, ion densities at high altitude, and neutral and ion scale heights can be attributed to differences in solar activity and season, but the relative importance of solar activity and season for these differences was not established. Current models do not explain the observed differences in the mixing ratios of N, NO, and O2. These results place new constraints on models of how the thermosphere and ionosphere of Mars vary over the solar cycle and with season.
Brain serotonin and dopamine transporter bindings in adults with high-functioning autism.

CONTEXT Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by repetitive and/or obsessive interests and behavior and by deficits in sociability and communication. Although its neurobiological underpinnings are postulated to lie in abnormalities of the serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems, the details remain unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the occurrence of changes in the binding of serotonin and dopamine transporters, which are highly selective markers for their respective neuronal systems. DESIGN Using positron emission tomography, we measured the binding of brain serotonin and dopamine transporters in each individual with the radioligands carbon 11 ((11)C)-labeled trans-1,2,3,5,6,10-beta-hexahydro-6-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]pyrrolo-[2,1-a]isoquinoline ([(11)C](+)McN-5652) and 2beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane ([(11)C]WIN-35,428), respectively. Statistical parametric mapping was used for between-subject analysis and within-subject correlation analysis with respect to clinical variables. SETTING Participants recruited from the community. PARTICIPANTS Twenty men (age range, 18-26 years; mean [SD] IQ, 99.3 [18.1]) with autism and 20 age- and IQ-matched control subjects. RESULTS Serotonin transporter binding was significantly lower throughout the brain in autistic individuals compared with controls (P < .05, corrected). Specifically, the reduction in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices was associated with the impairment of social cognition in the autistic subjects (P < .05, corrected). A significant correlation was also found between repetitive and/or obsessive behavior and interests and the reduction of serotonin transporter binding in the thalamus (P < .05, corrected). In contrast, the dopamine transporter binding was significantly higher in the orbitofrontal cortex of the autistic group (P < .05, corrected in voxelwise analysis). In the orbitofrontal cortex, the dopamine transporter binding was significantly inversely correlated with serotonin transporter binding (r = -0.61; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS The brains of autistic individuals have abnormalities in both serotonin transporter and dopamine transporter binding. The present findings indicate that the gross abnormalities in these neurotransmitter systems may underpin the neurophysiologic mechanism of autism. Our sample was not characteristic or representative of a typical sample of adults with autism in the community.
Second language speakers’ awareness of their own comprehensibility

This study investigated whether second language (L2) speakers are aware of and can manipulate aspects of their speech contributing to comprehensibility. Forty Mandarin speakers of L2 English performed two versions of the same oral task. Before the second task, half of the speakers were asked to make their speech as easy for the interlocutor to understand as possible, while the other half received no additional prompt. Speakers self-assessed comprehensibility after each task and were interviewed about how they improved their comprehensibility. Native-speaking listeners evaluated speaker performances for five dimensions, rating speech similarly across groups and tasks. Overall, participants did not become more comprehensible from task 1 to task 2, whether prompted or not, nor did speakers’ self-assessments become more in line with raters’, indicating speakers may not be aware of their own comprehensibility. However, speakers who did demonstrate greater improvement in comprehensibility received higher ratings of flow, and speakers’ self-ratings of comprehensibility were aligned with listeners’ assessments only in the second task. When discussing comprehensibility, speakers commented more on task content than linguistic dimensions. Results highlight the roles of task repetition and self-assessment in speakers’ awareness of comprehensibility.
Technology Enabled Entrepreneurship under Poverty Alleviation Programme

This paper talks about how technology can be used for generating livelihood in poverty alleviation programmes. Lending from microfinance to the farmers may not be utilized fully for production purposes. Lack of knowledge about the optimum price for their produce and the market where the produce has the maximum demand often drive the farmers to desperation. In their eagerness to sell the produce, they sell their products to commission agents or in the near by market which often, does not result in full market potential of their produce. This paper shows how farmers can invest in cellular phones and get the benefits of technology for getting the maximum profit and become entrepreneurs in a self-sustaining manner. To illustrate the viability of the approach, e-choupal has been used as an example. Using the same example, return on investment has been calculated which shows that the investment in technology actually results in surplus which helps in improving their living conditions and helps in poverty alleviation.
International transmission of financial stress: evidence from a GVAR

We analyze the international transmission of financial stress and its effects on economic activity. We construct country specific monthly financial stress indexes (FSI) using dynamic factor models from 1970 until 2012 for 20 countries. We show that there is a strong co-movement of the FSI during financial crises and that the FSI of financially open countries are relatively more correlated to FSI in other countries. Subsequently, we investigate the international transmission of financial stress and its impact on economic activity in a Global VAR (GVAR) model. We show that i) financial stress is quickly transmitted internationally, ii) financial stress has a lagged but persistent negative effect on economic activity, and iii) that economic slowdowns induce only limited financial stress.
A New Approach to Online Generation of Association Rules

We discuss the problem of online mining of association rules in a large database of sales transactions. The online mining is performed by preprocessing the data effectively in order to make it suitable for repeated online queries. We store the preprocessed data in such a way that online processing may be done by applying a graph theoretic search algorithm whose complexity is proportional to the size of the output. The result is an online algorithm which is independent of the size of the transactional data and the size of the preprocessed data. The algorithm is almost instantaneous in the size of the output. The algorithm also supports techniques for quickly discovering association rules from large itemsets. The algorithm is capable of finding rules with specific items in the antecedent or consequent. These association rules are presented in a compact form, eliminating redundancy. The use of nonredundant association rules helps significantly in the reduction of irrelevant noise in the data mining process.
An example of a C-minimal group which is not abelian-by-finite

In 1996 D. Macpherson and C. Steinhorn introduced C-minimality as an analogue, for valued fields and some groups with a definable chain of normal subgroups with trivial intersection, of the notion of o-minimality. One of the open questions of that paper was the existence of a non abelian-by-finite C-minimal group. We give here the first example of such a group.
New calibration technique for microwave moisture sensors

A new calibration technique was developed for implementation with microwave moisture sensors. The calibration permittivity function used for this purpose allows computation of moisture content in granular materials with significant differences in shape, dimensions, and composition, independent of bulk density and with temperature compensation. A 3D representation is used to plot the calibration permittivity function as it depends on temperature and moisture content in wheat and corn. For each material, data points form a plane surface. These planes have nearly the same coefficients, which can be utilized for the development of a "universal" calibration method for moisture sensing in natural and manufactured granular materials. Foundations of the method are discussed based on results obtained for wheat and corn over a wide temperature range and at moisture contents of practical interest.
Big Five Personality Factors and Library Anxiety

Library anxiety is an unpleasant feeling that is experienced in a library location; it has behavioral, psychological, emotional and cognitive effect, which can be harmful for students’ academic career. The purpose of current study was to investigate the relationship between Library anxiety and the Big Five personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, openness-to-experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) using a multivariate approach among students in Ardabil university. The participants were students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences of which a sample of 580 students was randomly selected. And the assessment methods were revised. The short form of NEO Inventory [1] and the library anxiety questionnaire [2] were used to gather the data. The results showed that Neuroticism increased library anxiety in students, and with increasing the level of education, library anxiety is reduced, whereas by increasing the semester the library anxiety of students increases.
The design of a SRAM-based field-programmable gate array-Part II: Circuit design and layout

For Pt.I see ibid., vol.7, pp.191-7 (1999). Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) are now widely used for the implementation of digital systems, and many commercial architectures are available. Although the literature and data books contain detailed descriptions of these architectures, there is very little information on how the high-level architecture was chosen and no information on the circuit-level or physical design of the devices. In Part I of this paper, we described the high-level architectural design of a static random-access memory programmable FPGA. This paper will address the circuit-design issues through to the physical layout. We address area-speed tradeoffs in the design of the logic block circuits and in the connections between the logic and the routing structure. All commercial FPGA designs are done using full-custom hand layout to obtain absolute minimum die sizes. This is both labor and time intensive. We propose a design style with a minitile that contains a portion of all the components in the logic tile, resulting in less full-custom effort. The minitile is replicated in a 4/spl times/4 array to create a macro tile. The minitile is optimized for layout density and speed, and is customized in the array by adding appropriate vias. This technique also permits easy changing of the hard-wired connections in the logic block architecture and the segmentation length distribution in the routing architecture.
Determinants of New Zealand Bond Yields

This paper examines the driving factors of New Zealand bond yields over the 1988-1997 period. The results indicate that: . the general analytical framework implied by the Uncovered Interest Parity (UIP) relation finds some support in the data. in the long run, short term real bond yields are related to US real bond yields, currency expectations and expectations of the future stance of domestic monetary policy vis a vis the stance offshore. long-term real bond yields are related to Australian real bond yields, currency expectations, inflation uncertainty and relative monetary policy expectations. in recent years, domestic bond yields have been more closely related to offshore yields suggesting increased integration between the domestic and international capital markets. increased perceptions of political risk appears to have played an important role in the rise in domestic long bond yields during the first half of 1996.
Association between IL28B Polymorphisms and Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Background/Aims Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin 28B gene (IL28B; interferon [IFN]-λ-3) are associated with outcomes of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection treated with peginterferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-based antiviral therapy. In this study, we investigated the influence of IL28B polymorphisms on spontaneous clearance of HBV infection in a large Korean cohort. Methods Between January 2007 and June 2010, a total of 208 patients with chronic HBV infection and newly diagnosed HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma were recruited as the CC group [HBsAg(+) for >6 months, anti-HBc(+), and anti-HBs(-)]. In addition, 351 organ donors were stratified into the UE group [n = 106; HBsAg(-), anti-HBc(-), and anti-HBs(-)] or the SC group [n = 245; HBsAg(-), anti-HBc(+), and anti-HBs(+)]. The SNaPshot ddNTP Primer Extension Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) was used for SNP detection. Direct full sequencing of the IL28B coding region was attempted. Results Regardless of group, rs12979860 CC was most frequently identified (85.0% in UE, 85.9% in SC, and 93.5% in CC, respectively), whereas rs12979860 TT was not identified in any group. Similarly, rs12980275 AA and rs8099917 TT were most frequently identified (≥85%) regardless of group, whereas rs12980275 GG was identified in only one subject in the SC group. In addition, rs8099917 GG was not identified. The prevalences of CC in rs12979860, AA in rs12980275, and TT in rs8099917 were significantly higher in the CC group when compared with the UE and SC group (all P<0.05). Among 19 novel SNPs in the IL28B coding region, the proportions of 6 SNPs were significantly different among the UE, SC, and CC groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions The SNP upstream of IL28B that has the strongest genetic association with HCV recovery has an inverse influence on HBV recovery. Additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of this SNP in HBV infection.