Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Linearly-Homomorphic Encryption to Evaluate Degree-2 Functions on Encrypted Data

We show a technique to transform a linearly-homomorphic encryption into a scheme capable of evaluating degree-2 computations on ciphertexts. Our transformation is surprisingly simple and requires only one very mild property on the underlying linearly-homomorphic scheme: the message space must be a public ring in which it is possible to sample elements uniformly at random. This allows us to instantiate our transformation with virtually all existing number-theoretic linearly-homomorphic schemes, such as Goldwasser-Micali, Paillier, or ElGamal. Our resulting schemes achieve circuit privacy and are compact when considering a subclass of degree-2 polynomials where the number of additions of degree-2 terms is bounded by a constant. As an additional contribution we extend our technique to build a protocol for outsourcing computation on encrypted data using two (non-communicating) servers. Somewhat interestingly, in this case we can boost a linearly-homomorphic scheme to support the evaluation of any degree-2 polynomial while achieving full compactness.
A New Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Biotype Identified

ABSTRACT Shortly after its arrival, the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), became established as the most important insect pest of soybean, Glycine max L. (Merr.), in the northern part of the North American soybean production region. Soybean resistance is an environmentally sustainable method to manage the pest and new soybean aphid resistant cultivars are beginning to be deployed into production. However, an earlier study identifying a soybean aphid biotype that could colonize plants with the Ragl resistance gene has raised concerns about the durability of soybean aphid resistance genes. Choice and nonchoice tests conducted in this study characterized the colonization of a soybean aphid isolate, collected from the overwintering host Frangula alnus P. Mill in Springfield Fen, IN, on different aphid resistant soybean genotypes, This isolate readily colonized plants with the Rag2 resistance gene, distinguishing it from the two biotypes previously characterized and indicating that it represented a new biotype named biotype 3. The identification of soybean aphid biotypes that can overcome Rag1 and Rag2 resistance, even before soybean cultivars with the resistance genes have been deployed in production, suggests that there is high variability in virulence within soybean aphid populations present in North America. Such variability in virulence gives the pest a high potential to adapt to and reduce the effective life of resistance genes deployed in production. The search for new soybean aphid resistance genes must, therefore, continue, along with the development of alternative sustainable strategies to manage the pest.
Who moved our cheese? Reclaiming professionalism in business education

This article discusses professionalism in business education. The past year has witnessed an outpouring of concern that business education may be headed in the wrong direction. The inaugural issue of this journal also revealed clear signs of concern about the direction business education is taking. However, scholars differed widely in their analysis of the problem and what should be done about it. Various authors have presented interesting and provocative views about the nature of present challenges in business education. An examination of the history of higher education suggests that the path away from professionalism has not resulted primarily from proactive strategizing on the part of management educators. Although much of the research on organizational fields has examined processes by which organizations within fields came to resemble each other over time, observers also have noted that fields are often in flux and do not necessarily stabilize. The number of students has increased as well, with a high.
Mediatization and Personalization of Politics in Italy and France: The Cases of Berlusconi and Sarkozy

In contemporary democracies, the construction of political leadership is driven by communication strategies with greater emphasis on image over substance and personality over ideology. This article analyzes two countries, Italy and France, that have been recently characterized by a remarkable increase in the personalization and mediatization of politics. First, the article intends to identify some key features of the leadership that emerge and prove to be successful in mediatized democracies. Second, the article makes a comparison of Italian and French electoral campaigns, paying special attention to the role of the media in the construction of leadership. Finally, the article examines the cases of two leaders who have left their mark on recent electoral campaigns and are credited with remarkable expertise in political marketing and news management: Silvio Berlusconi and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Who's Listening to Victims? Nurses' Listening Styles and Domestic Violence Screening

The current study applies the Listening Styles Profile (LSP16) to nurses and nursing students. Compared to a control group (n = 102), nurses (n = 188) and nursing students (n = 206) show marked differences in listening styles. The majority of participants were people-oriented listeners. People-oriented nurses tend to be more knowledgeable about domestic abuse, as well as hospital policies and procedures. They are also the most confident about their ability to identify and assist victims of domestic abuse. Content-oriented listening is also conducive to effective screening, but time-oriented and action-oriented listening may be detrimental to patients. Implications for nursing education and effective screening are discussed.
Forms of Capital and Social Structure in Cultural Fields: Examining Bourdieu's Social Topography

This article tests one key assumption of Bourdieu's theory of culture fields: that actors are positioned in a "topography" of social relations according to their endowments of economic, social, and cultural capital. Blockmodeling procedures are used to analyze data on German writers and to indentify a social structure in which positions vary according to the types and amounts of capital accumulated. A strong split between elite and marginal writers dominates the social structure, and even the fundamental distinction between high and low culture is embedded in this bipartition. Significant differences in both cultural and social capital distinguish elite from nonelite positions; within this bipartition, pronounced differences in cultural capital separate high and low culture. Relative to cultural and social capital, economic capital plays a lesser role in understanding the social structure of cultural fields.
0 Semantic Knowledge Representations for Soft Data Fusion

ion is the process of highlighting some of the aspects of a thing in order to grasp its characteristics. It is somehow a process of generalization. Abstracting an observable thing leads to a general representation of this reality, which is often called a concept. Data items are unprocessed and uninterpreted symbols. They are elementary descriptions of measurable properties. Information is what data items become once they have been interpreted and contextualized so to become useful within a specific objective and for a specific user. Having information is “knowing what is happening”. The information answers to questions such as “who? ”, “what? ”, “where? ” and “when? ” Knowledge is a combination of information with experience and judgment. It allows reasoning among information and interpreting data in order to create new data and information items. The knowledge answers to the question “How? ”. In the specific case of fusion, the notions of data, information and knowledge are also linked one to another within the process of abstraction (see Figure 1). The aim of information and data fusion is to have a representation of an external situation. This representation can be built thanks to observations of the external situation that are acquired through sensors and reported to fusion systems. Sensors are either low-level physical sensors, that report about physical measurements such as temperature or speed, or human observers that report about (some parts of) complex situations. In the first case, the physical sensors give a set of data that must be interpreted. The human sensors, on the contrary, provide interpreted information. Combining all the information items in order to deduce new information and pieces of knowledge is the role of the information fusion systems. Both data and information fusion systems use domain knowledge in order to interpret and combine the data and information items, according to a specific aim and within a specific context. Domain knowledge is also used in order to solve inconsistencies and discrepancies among the data and information items. 2.2 Soft data: a new challenge for decision support systems “Soft data” items are observations that are generated by humans. They may be expressed as unconstrained natural language (see Sambhoos et al. (2008)), through textual data or speech signal, but can also be made of semi constrained data items such as xml files or data bases, which are keyed in by humans through forms for instance. As soft data is provided by 4 Efficient Decision Support Systems – Practice and Challenges From Current o Future
Growing Artificial Societies: Social Science from the Bottom Up

How do social structures and group behaviors arise from the interaction of individuals? Growing Artificial Societies approaches this question with cutting-edge computer simulation techniques. Fundamental collective behaviors such as group formation, cultural transmission, combat, and trade are seen to "emerge" from the interaction of individual agents following a few simple rules. In their program, named Sugarscape, Epstein and Axtell begin the development of a "bottom up" social science that is capturing the attention of researchers and commentators alike. The study is part of the 2050 Project, a joint venture of the Santa Fe Institute, the World Resources Institute, and the Brookings Institution. The project is an international effort to identify conditions for a sustainable global system in the next century and to design policies to help achieve such a system.
Antioxidant phenolic compounds from the leaves of Erica Arborea (Ericaceae)

Reversed-phase HPLC analyses of the methanol extract of the leaves of Erica arborea afforded a novel phenylpropanoid glucoside, named ericarborin, together with five flavonoids, dihydromyricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and apigenin 7-O-β-D-(6-O-acetyl-glucopyranoside). While the structure of ericarborin was determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses, the structures of all known flavonoids were determined by direct comparison of their spectroscopic data with respective literature data. The antioxidant properties of these compounds were assessed by the DPPH assay. The chemotaxonomic significance of these phenolic compounds has been discussed.
The Effects of Alkyl Chain Combinations on the Structural and Mechanical Properties of Biomimetic Ion Pair Amphiphile Bilayers

Ion pair amphiphile (IPA), a lipid-like complex composed of a pair of cationic and anionic surfactants, has great potentials in various pharmaceutical applications. In this work, we utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to systematically examine the structural and mechanical properties of the biomimetic bilayers consist of alkyltrimethyl-ammonium-alkylsulfate (CmTMA+-CnS−) IPAs with various alkyl chain combinations. Our simulations show an intrinsic one-atom offset for the CmTMA+ and CnS− alignment, leading to the asymmetric index definition of ΔC = m − (n + 1). Larger |ΔC| gives rise to higher conformational fluctuations of the alkyl chains with the reduced packing order and mechanical strength. In contrast, increasing the IPA chain length enhances the van der Waals interactions within the bilayer and thus improves the bilayer packing order and mechanical properties. Further elongating the CmTMA+-CnS− alkyl chains to m and n ≥ 12 causes the liquid disorder to gel phase transition of the bilayer at 298 K, with the threshold membrane properties of 0.45 nm2 molecular area, deuterium order parameter value of 0.31, and effective bending rigidity of 20 kBT, etc. The combined results provide molecular insights into the design of biomimetic IPA bilayers with wide structural and mechanical characteristics for various applications.
Housing Market Spillovers: Evidence from an Estimated DSGE Model

The ability of a two-sector model to quantify the contribution of the housing market to business fluctuations is investigated using U.S. data and Bayesian methods. The estimated model, which contains nominal and real rigidities and collateral constraints, displays the following features: first, a large fraction of the upward trend in real housing prices over the last 40 years can be accounted for by slow technological progress in the housing sector; second, residential investment and housing prices are very sensitive to monetary policy and housing demand shocks; third, the wealth effects from housing on consumption are positive and significant, and have become more important over time. The structural nature of the model allows identifying and quantifying the sources of fluctuations in house prices and residential investment and measuring the contribution of housing booms and busts to business cycles.
Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Calves Is Reduced by Prior Colonization with the Homologous Strain

ABSTRACT Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 has a natural reservoir in the intestinal tracts of cattle. Colonization is asymptomatic and transient, but it is not clear if protective immunity is induced. This study demonstrates that prior colonization induces humoral immune responses to bacterial antigens and reduces bacterial shedding after experimental challenge with the homologous strain.
Endoscopic biopsy pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Comparison of bacterial detection by immunohistochemistry and Genta stain.

OBJECTIVES To describe the endoscopic biopsy pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis, compare bacterial detection by immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody with the Genta stain, and to compare the relative costs of the 2 techniques. DESIGN One hundred cases of gastritis identified as positive for H pylori by Genta stain and 100 cases considered negative by the same technique were stained using an anti-H pylori-specific polyclonal antibody. Laboratory reagent and labor costs for the 2 methods were compared. RESULTS Chronic active gastritis with lymphoid follicles was significantly associated with H pylori infection (P <.0001). The immunohistochemical method had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 98% compared with the Genta stain, with strong agreement for grading density of organisms (kappa = 0.85; P <.001). Reagent costs were similar for both methods, but immunohistochemistry using an autoimmunostainer required less dedicated technical time and hence was less expensive than the Genta stain. CONCLUSIONS Immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody is an accurate and cost-effective method for H pylori detection in gastric biopsies.
Identification, Interpretation—Evaluation, Response: An alternative framework for analyzing teacher discourse in science

Although research has come to recognize the importance of studying classroom-based student–teacher discourse in science, the emphasis remains largely on teachers' abilities to ask questions and provide students with feedback, or on students' abilities to ask questions or engage in argumentative discourse. Consequently, little research has focused on the discourse elements relating to teacher–student discourse interactions. In this article, we argue for a shift of research attention toward describing what the teacher is responding to (Identification of student inquiry), the process of deciding how to respond (Interpretation—Evaluation of student inquiry), and how the teacher is responding (Response to student inquiry). We propose a new methodological approach for studying teacher discourse, which involves a framework we developed while analyzing 1,385 minutes of fifth grade, whole-class science conversations covering a 2-year period and facilitated by an experienced science teacher. Then, as a case in point, we applied our framework to the teacher discourse data of the study, aiming to show that the framework can be a useful tool for examining how a teacher supports students' inquiry.
Random walk based capacitance extraction for 3D ICs with cylindrical inter-tier-vias

Three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) make use of the vertical dimension for smaller footprint, higher speed, lower power consumption, and better timing performance. In 3D ICs, the inter-tier-via (ITV) is a critical enabling technique because it forms vertical signal and power paths. Accordingly, it is imperative to accurately and efficiently extract the electrostatic capacitances of ITVs using field solvers. Unfortunately, the cylindrical via shape presents major challenges to most of the existing methods. To address this issue, we develop a novel floating random walk (FRW) method by rotating the transition cube to suit the cylindrical surface and devising a special space management technique. Experiments on typical ITV structures suggest that the proposed techniques can accelerate the existing FRW and boundary element method (BEM) based algorithms by up to 20X and 180X, respectively, without loss of accuracy. In addition, compared with the naïve square approximation approach, our techniques can reduce the error by 10X. Large and multi-dielectric structures have been tested to demonstrate the versatility of the proposed techniques.
Partisans and Controversial News Online: Comparing Perceptions of Bias and Credibility in News Content From Blogs and Mainstream Media

Based on the hostile media effect (HME), this 2 (partisan opinion) × 2 (news source) × 2 (content valence) factorial experiment investigated how partisans (N = 132), in terms of perceived bias and credibility, assess same-sex marriage coverage by either an online mainstream news source or a citizen blog. Partisans who disagreed with the content's valence evaluated both mainstream online news and the blog posting as more biased and less credible than did partisans who agreed with the content's valence. The perceived reach of blog postings appears to generate a relative HME similar to that triggered by mainstream news. In particular, this study suggests that user-generated content—specifically blog postings—might generate a stronger relative HME than that observed with mainstream news.
Determinants of the distribution and severity of hypoperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke

Background: In acute cerebral ischemia, two variables characterize the extent of hypoperfusion: the volume of hypoperfused tissue and the intensity of hypoperfusion within these regions. We evaluated the determinants of the intensity of hypoperfusion within oligemic regions among patients who were eligible for recanalization therapy for acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We analyzed data, including pretreatment diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion-weighted imaging, on 119 patients with acute middle cerebral artery infarctions. The intensity of hypoperfusion within oligemic regions was characterized by the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR), defined as the volume of tissue with severe hypoperfusion (Tmax ≥8 seconds) divided by the volume of tissue with any hypoperfusion (Tmax ≥2 seconds). Based on the DWI data, we divided the patients into four stroke phenotypes: large cortical, small (<1 cm diameter) cortical, border-zone, and deep pattern. Results: The mean (SD) volume of severe hypoperfusion was 54.6 (52.5) mL, and that of any hypoperfusion was 140.8 (81.3) mL. The HIR ranged widely, from 0.002 to 0.974, with a median of 0.35 (interquartile range 0.13–0.60). The volume of any hypoperfusion did not predict the intensity of hypoperfusion within the affected region (r = 0.10, p = 0.284). Angiographic collateral flow grade was associated with HIRs (p value for trend = 0.019) and differed among DWI lesion patterns. In multivariate analysis, diastolic pressure on admission (odds ratio 0.959, 95% CI 0.922–0.998) and DWI pattern of deep infarcts (odds ratio 18.004 compared with large cortical pattern, 95% CI 1.855–173.807) were independently associated with a low HIR. Conclusions: The intensity of hypoperfusion within an oligemic field is largely independent of the size of the oligemia region. Predictors of lesser intensity of hypoperfusion are lower diastolic blood pressure and presence of a deep diffusion-weighted imaging lesion pattern. GLOSSARY: AIF = arterial input function; DWI = diffusion-weighted imaging; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; HIR = hypoperfusion intensity ratio; ICA = internal carotid artery; IQR = interquartile range; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; MCA = middle cerebral artery; MR = magnetic resonance; MRA = magnetic resonance angiography; NIHSS = NIH Stroke Scale; OR = odds ratio; PWI = perfusion-weighted imaging.
Cooperation, Quorum Sensing, and Evolution of Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The virulence and fitness in vivo of the major human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus are associated with a cell-to-cell signaling mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS). QS coordinates the production of virulence factors via the production and sensing of autoinducing peptide (AIP) signal molecules by the agr locus. Here we show, in a wax moth larva virulence model, that (i) QS in S. aureus is a cooperative social trait that provides a benefit to the local population of cells, (ii) agr mutants, which do not produce or respond to QS signal, are able to exploit the benefits provided by the QS of others (“cheat”), allowing them to increase in frequency when in mixed populations with cooperators, (iii) these social interactions between cells determine virulence, with the host mortality rate being negatively correlated to the percentage of agr mutants (“cheats”) in a population, and (iv) a higher within-host relatedness (lower strain diversity) selects for QS and hence higher virulence. Our results provide an explanation for why agr mutants show reduced virulence in animal models but can be isolated from infections of humans. More generally, by providing the first evidence that QS is a cooperative social behavior in a Gram-positive bacterium, our results suggest convergent, and potentially widespread, evolution for signaling to coordinate cooperation in bacteria.
Parents and their information needs

Reports results of a British Library, Research and Innovation Centre (BLRIC) supported project, conducted by City University, Department of Information Science, to study the information needs of parents, with children under the age of five, residing in the London Borough of Haringey, UK. The parents’ needs were studied using group and individual interviews, involving 53 parents and five representatives of parents’ organizations. Most parents needed information about child development, school, children’s behaviour and careers, training and education. The commonest need was for information on health and child care. Significant differences were found between the needs of single mothers, older women, fathers and ethnic minority parents. Information currency and authority was found to matter, parents turned to a wide variety of sources but oral information sources (professionals, friends and family) were the most important. Despite the fact that a large proportion of the parents used public libraries for other reasons, they were not looked upon as a key, or even a minor, source of parental information. Concludes that parents’ needs for information on schools, finance and child behaviour are largely unmet. (These results were also reported in British Library Research and Innovation Centre (BLRIC) report No. 56, 1996 with an introduction to the study in Aslib Proceedings , 49 (1) Jan 1997, 5-7).