Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical Graphs for Optimal Side-Channel Resistant Memory-Hard Functions

A memory-hard function (MHF) ƒn with parameter n can be computed in sequential time and space n. Simultaneously, a high amortized parallel area-time complexity (aAT) is incurred per evaluation. In practice, MHFs are used to limit the rate at which an adversary (using a custom computational device) can evaluate a security sensitive function that still occasionally needs to be evaluated by honest users (using an off-the-shelf general purpose device). The most prevalent examples of such sensitive functions are Key Derivation Functions (KDFs) and password hashing algorithms where rate limits help mitigate off-line dictionary attacks. As the honest users' inputs to these functions are often (low-entropy) passwords special attention is given to a class of side-channel resistant MHFs called iMHFs. Essentially all iMHFs can be viewed as some mode of operation (making n calls to some round function) given by a directed acyclic graph (DAG) with very low indegree. Recently, a combinatorial property of a DAG has been identified (called "depth-robustness") which results in good provable security for an iMHF based on that DAG. Depth-robust DAGs have also proven useful in other cryptographic applications. Unfortunately, up till now, all known very depth-robust DAGs are impractically complicated and little is known about their exact (i.e. non-asymptotic) depth-robustness both in theory and in practice. In this work we build and analyze (both formally and empirically) several exceedingly simple and efficient to navigate practical DAGs for use in iMHFs and other applications. For each DAG we: Prove that their depth-robustness is asymptotically maximal. Prove bounds of at least 3 orders of magnitude better on their exact depth-robustness compared to known bounds for other practical iMHF. Implement and empirically evaluate their depth-robustness and aAT against a variety of state-of-the art (and several new) depth-reduction and low aAT attacks. We find that, against all attacks, the new DAGs perform significantly better in practice than Argon2i, the most widely deployed iMHF in practice. Along the way we also improve the best known empirical attacks on the aAT of Argon2i by implementing and testing several heuristic versions of a (hitherto purely theoretical) depth-reduction attack. Finally, we demonstrate practicality of our constructions by modifying the Argon2i code base to use one of the new high aAT DAGs. Experimental benchmarks on a standard off-the-shelf CPU show that the new modifications do not adversely affect the impressive throughput of Argon2i (despite seemingly enjoying significantly higher aAT).
Finite-time boundedness and stabilization of discrete-time nonlinear quadratic systems

This paper deals with the problems of finite-time boundedness and stabilization for discrete-time nonlinear quadratic systems. Some sufficient conditions are derived, under which the finite-time boundedness of nonlinear quadratic systems is guaranteed. By using a similar method, the finite-time stability for discrete-time nonlinear quadratic systems is also established as a corollary. Moreover, to solve the finite-time stabilization problem, a stabilizing state feedback controller is designed. A simulation example is provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed technique.
Heat capacities and entropies of Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/, Mn/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/, and Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ between 5 and 380 K

The heat capacities of synthetic single crystals of Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ (foresterite), Mn/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ (tephroite), and Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ (cobalt olivine), were measured between 5 and 380 K using an adiabatically shielded calorimeter. Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ is diamagnetic, and its heat capacity follows a normal sigmoidal curve at low temperatures. Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ shows a single sharp lambda-type transition at 49.85 +/- 0.02 K associated with the antiferromagnetic ordering of the magnetic moments of the Co/sup 2 +/ ions into a collinear spin arrangement below 49.8 K. In contrast to Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ Mn/sub 2/siO/sub 4/ has two transitions in C/sup o//sub p/, a sharp lambda-type transition at 47.38 +/- 0.05 K and a smaller ''shoulder'' in C/sup o//sub p/ centered near 12 K. The upper transition corresponds to the paramagnetic (disordered) to collinear antiferromagnetic ordering of the Mn/sup 2 +/ moments, whereas the shoulder near 12 K corresponds to the change from the collinear to a canted spin structure. Our calorimetric values for the antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition temperature (Neel Temperature) are in excellent agreement with those obtained by powder magnetic susceptibility measurements, 49 +/- 2 K and 50 +/- 5 K for Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ and Mn/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/more » respectively. The thermal Debye temperature, THETA/sup C//sub D/, of Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ calculated from our C/sup o//sub p/ measurements between 6.3 and 13.8 K is 768 +/- 15 K and agrees well with the elastic value THETA/sup E//sub D/ of 758 K based on the mean sound velocity calculated from the room temperature elastic stiffness constants (c/sub ij/) of Graham and Barsch. At 298.15 K (25/sup 0/C) the molar heat capacities are 118.6, 128.7, and 133.4 J/(mol . K) and the molar entropies are 94.11 +/- 0.10, 155.9 +/0 0.4 and 142.6 +/- 0.2 J/(mol . K) respectively for Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/, Mn=2SiO/sub 4/, and Co/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/. « less
What Kids Get from Parents: Packages of Parental Involvement across Complex Family Forms

While demographers continue to document the notable changes in family structure that have occurred in recent decades, little is known about the quality of parental investment that children receive across a range of contemporary family types. Employing data from a recent US urban birth cohort, we examine parental investment for children ages 1, 3, and 5 in two key domains: parent-child engagement (across three potential parent figures) and access to economic resources. Overall, we find that children living with their married biological parents are advantaged in both parental engagement and household income, while children living in other family types are less advantaged in one or both domains. Our research illuminates how changing family demography is related to parental investments in children, which has implications for public policies designed to support low-income families.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Root Traits in a Japonica Rice Panel

Rice is a crop prone to drought stress in upland and rainfed lowland ecosystems. A deep root system is recognized as the best drought avoidance mechanism. Genome-wide association mapping offers higher resolution for locating quantitative trait loci (QTLs) than QTL mapping in biparental populations. We performed an association mapping study for root traits using a panel of 167 japonica accessions, mostly of tropical origin. The panel was genotyped at an average density of one marker per 22.5 kb using genotyping by sequencing technology. The linkage disequilibrium in the panel was high (r2>0.6, on average, for 20 kb mean distances between markers). The plants were grown in transparent 50 cm × 20 cm × 2 cm Plexiglas nailboard sandwiches filled with 1.5 mm glass beads through which a nutrient solution was circulated. Root system architecture and biomass traits were measured in 30-day-old plants. The panel showed a moderate to high diversity in the various traits, particularly for deep (below 30 cm depth) root mass and the number of deep roots. Association analyses were conducted using a mixed model involving both population structure and kinship to control for false positives. Nineteen associations were significant at P<1e-05, and 78 were significant at P<1e-04. The greatest numbers of significant associations were detected for deep root mass and the number of deep roots, whereas no significant associations were found for total root biomass or deep root proportion. Because several QTLs for different traits were co-localized, 51 unique loci were detected; several co-localized with meta-QTLs for root traits, but none co-localized with rice genes known to be involved in root growth. Several likely candidate genes were found in close proximity to these loci. Additional work is necessary to assess whether these markers are relevant in other backgrounds and whether the genes identified are robust candidates.
Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Fat Grafts in the Repair of Tympanic Membrane Perforations: An Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the use of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve the success rate of fat graft myringoplasty in perforated tympanic membranes of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 20 healthy Wistar albino female rats were divided into two groups. In Group 1, the left tympanic membranes were perforated and grafted with a fat graft that was harvested from the inguinal region. In Group 2, the left tympanic membranes were perforated, and a fat graft was also harvested from the inguinal region. Then, the fat was soaked in 0.5 mL PRP and grafted at the perforation. After the procedure, the rats were examined, and the graft situation was assessed at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days. All of the rats were sacrificed 21 days after perforation, and a histopathological examination was made. RESULTS We compared fat graft histopathological and otomicroscopic findings between the groups. While we did not observe graft rejections in Group 2, we saw 1 case of graft rejection in Group 1. In the histopathological examination, PRP prevents fat graft resorption by the terms of the adipocyte area, granulation tissue area, and vacuolization area. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the efficacy of fat grafts prepared with PRP on rat tympanic membranes. The fat graft with PRP did not statistically improve the success rate compared to the graft without PRP. Histopatologic findings of the study showed that PRP prevents fat graft resorption. Further studies are needed to further examine the advantages of the graft with PRP.
Population Densities, Vegetation Green-Up, and Plant Productivity: Impacts on Reproductive Success and Juvenile Body Mass in Reindeer

Global warming is expected to cause earlier springs and increased primary productivity in the Arctic. These changes may improve food availability for Arctic herbivores, but may also have negative effects by generating a mismatch between the surge of high quality food in the spring and the timing of reproduction. We analyzed a 10 year dataset of satellite derived measures of vegetation green-up, population densities, calf body masses and female reproductive success in 19 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) populations in Northern Norway. An early onset of spring and high peak plant productivity had positive effects on calf autumn body masses and female reproductive success. In addition, body masses and reproductive success were both negatively related to population density. The quantity of food available, as determined by the onset of vegetation green-up and plant productivity over the summer were the main drivers of body mass growth and reproductive success. We found no evidence for an effect of the speed of spring green-up. Nor did we detect a negative mismatch between early springs and subsequent recruitment. Effects of global warming on plant productivity and onset of spring is likely to positively affect sub-Arctic reindeer.
A study of CCND1 with epithelial ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE Ovarian cancer is a gynecological malignancy with high mortality rates all over the world. Markers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are urgently required to improve the mortality rates. As a key proto-oncogene, CCND1 is known to be amplified in many different carcinomas, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, etc. CCND1 plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, its function and mechanism have not been completely elucidated in ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, we use cisplatin in vitro to inhibit the cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3. CCND1 expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were carried out by real-time PCR, CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that cisplatin could inhibit the expression of CCND1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, which is related to the decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that CCND1 is a potential therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment.
When the Wedding March becomes sad: Semantic memory impairment for music in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia

ABSTRACT Music can induce particular emotions and activate semantic knowledge. In the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), semantic memory is impaired as a result of anterior temporal lobe (ATL) atrophy. Semantics is responsible for the encoding and retrieval of factual knowledge about music, including associative and emotional attributes. In the present study, we report the performance of two individuals with svPPA in three experiments. NG with bilateral ATL atrophy and ND with atrophy largely restricted to the left ATL. Experiment 1 assessed the recognition of musical excerpts and both patients were unimpaired. Experiment 2 studied the emotions conveyed by music and only NG showed impaired performance. Experiment 3 tested the association of semantic concepts to musical excerpts and both patients were impaired. These results suggest that the right ATL seems essential for the recognition of emotions conveyed by music and that the left ATL is involved in binding music to semantics. They are in line with the notion that the ATLs are devoted to the binding of different modality-specific properties and suggest that they are also differentially involved in the processing of factual and emotional knowledge associated with music.
Yorkshire Type Ammonites

WITH the issue of the eighth part of Mr. S. S. Buckman's “Yorkshire Type Ammonites” the first volume of this important work is brought to completion. The chief aim of this publication, as pointed out in NATURE for February 17, 1910 (p. 455), is to establish on a sound basis, by photographs of type-specimens and by critical and descriptive notes, the species imperfectly made known in the writings of Young and Bird, John Phillips and Martin Simpson. The method followed is akin to that adopted in the well-known “Palæontologia Universalis”; and in undertaking his arduous task Mr. Buckman has been fortunate in securing the collaboration of Mr. J. W. Tutcher, who possesses much experience and skill in carrying out photographic work of this kind.Yorkshire Type Ammonites.Parts i–viii. Edited by S. S. Buckman. The original descriptions reprinted, and illustrated by figures of the types, reproduced from photographs mainly by J. W. Tutcher. (London: William Wesley and Son, 1909–1912.) Price 3s. 6d. net per part, post free.
Biological approach of zinc oxide nanoparticles formation and its characterization

Herein, we are reporting a novel biological approach for the formation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Maddar (Calotropis procera) latex at room temperature. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) pattern reveals the formation of ZnO nanoparticles, which shows crystallinity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggested particles size and shape in the range of 5-40 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image reveals that the particles are of spherical and granular nature. UV-Vis absorption shows characteristic absorption peak of ZnO nanoparticles. Photoluminescence (PL) studies were performed to emphasize its emission properties. This simple and cost-effective biological approach for the formation of ZnO NPs has a promising application in biosensing, electronics and photonics. Copyright © 2011 VBRI press.
Cardiovascular Health Status in Baby Boomers with Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the cardiovascular health status of baby boomers with diabetes mellitus (DM) in comparison to the same-age population with DM 10 years previously. Methods The study was conducted in baby boomers with DM using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2012 compared with NHANES 1999–2002. Cardiovascular health metrics were derived from the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7. The primary outcome was the comparison of the proportion of individuals with each characteristic, including healthy diet, healthy weight, not smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining an optimal level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), cholesterol, and blood pressure. Results Current baby boomers with DM (NHANES 2009–2012) had more obesity (70.9% vs 58.8%; P = 0.009) and a lower proportion of ideal physical activity (20.9% vs 31.7%; P = 0.01) than people of the same age 10 years ago; fewer than 1% adhere to an ideal healthy diet. Current baby boomers more often had ideal cholesterol (59.4% vs 47.2; P = 0.01) and reached an ideal HbA1C (51.0% vs 43.4%; P = 0.047). Blood pressure control, adherence to ideal diet, and smoking rates were not significantly different from 10 years ago. In logistic regression analyses controlling for likely confounders, baby boomers persisted in having more obesity and exercising less often, and reaching an ideal cholesterol level more often (P < 0.01). Conclusions Although improving in cholesterol and HbA1C, baby boomers demonstrated worsening in several key cardiovascular health indicators, particularly obesity and physical activity.
Comparison of Intelligibility Measures for Adults With Parkinson's Disease, Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, and Healthy Controls.

PURPOSE This study obtained judgments of sentence intelligibility using orthographic transcription for comparison with previously reported intelligibility judgments obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS) for individuals with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis and healthy controls (K. Tjaden, J. E. Sussman, & G. E. Wilding, 2014). METHOD Speakers read Harvard sentences in habitual, clear, loud, and slow conditions. Sentence stimuli were equated for peak intensity and mixed with multitalker babble. A total of 50 listeners orthographically transcribed sentences. Procedures were identical to those for a VAS reported in Tjaden, Sussman, and Wilding (2014). RESULTS The percent correct scores from transcription were significantly higher in magnitude than the VAS scores. Multivariate linear modeling indicated that the pattern of findings for transcription and VAS was virtually the same with respect to differences among groups and speaking conditions. Correlation analyses further indicated a moderately strong, positive relationship between the two metrics. The majority of these correlations were significant. Last, intrajudge and interjudge listener reliability metrics for the two intelligibility tasks were comparable. CONCLUSION Results suggest that there may be instances when the less time-consuming VAS task may be a viable substitute for an orthographic transcription task when documenting intelligibility in mild dysarthria.
Improving registration accuracy during total hip arthroplasty: a cadaver study of a new, 3-D mini-optical navigation system

Introduction: Maintaining accuracy of component placement is an important step in ensuring the long-term stability of components during total hip arthroplasty (THA). Computer-assisted navigation has improved accuracy but errors associated with the registration process are known to impact the accuracy of final measurements. The purpose of this cadaver study was to determine the registration error associated with a novel mini-navigation system. Methods: 3 board-certified orthopaedic surgeons performed 4 THA procedures each via the posterolateral approach on 6 cadavers (12 hips) using the mini-navigation tool. Pre- and post-operative radiographs and post-operative computed tomography (CT) images were obtained. Image analysis was performed by 2 radiologists not involved in the surgical procedures. During registration, surgeons aligned the alignment rod with the anterior pelvic plane (APP) to provide a reference plane for comparison with traditional navigation. Cup position from the device was compared with measurements gathered from post-op imaging. Results: The mean difference between CT and device measurements for inclination was -1.7° (standard deviation [SD] 4.9°), while the mean absolute difference was 4.2° (SD 3.2°). The mean difference between anteversion angles calculated from CT scans and from the device was -3.5° (SD 4.5°), with an absolute difference of 4.0° (SD 4.0°). 100% (12/12) of inclination measurements and 92% (11/12) of anteversion measurements fell within both the clinical and statistical limits of agreement when analyzed via the Bland-Altman technique. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the registration error associated with this new mini-navigation system compares favourably with the known registration error associated with traditional navigation systems.
Aerial LaneNet: Lane-Marking Semantic Segmentation in Aerial Imagery Using Wavelet-Enhanced Cost-Sensitive Symmetric Fully Convolutional Neural Networks

The knowledge about the placement and appearance of lane markings is a prerequisite for the creation of maps with high precision, necessary for autonomous driving, infrastructure monitoring, lanewise traffic management, and urban planning. Lane markings are one of the important components of such maps. Lane markings convey the rules of roads to drivers. While these rules are learned by humans, an autonomous driving vehicle should be taught to learn them to localize itself. Therefore, accurate and reliable lane-marking semantic segmentation in the imagery of roads and highways is needed to achieve such goals. We use airborne imagery that can capture a large area in a short period of time by introducing an aerial lane marking data set. In this paper, we propose a symmetric fully convolutional neural network enhanced by wavelet transform in order to automatically carry out lane-marking segmentation in aerial imagery. Due to a heavily unbalanced problem in terms of a number of lane-marking pixels compared with background pixels, we use a customized loss function as well as a new type of data augmentation step. We achieve a high accuracy in pixelwise localization of lane markings compared with the state-of-the-art methods without using the third-party information. In this paper, we introduce the first high-quality data set used within our experiments, which contains a broad range of situations and classes of lane markings representative of today’s transportation systems. This data set will be publicly available, and hence, it can be used as the benchmark data set for future algorithms within this domain.