Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DynSGX: A Privacy Preserving Toolset for Dinamically Loading Functions into Intel(R) SGX Enclaves

Intel(R) Software Guard eXtensions (SGX) is a hardware-based technology for ensuring security of sensitive data from disclosure or modification that enables user-level applications to allocate protected areas of memory called enclaves. Such memory areas are cryptographically protected even from code running with higher privilege levels. This memory protection can be used to develop secure and dependable applications, but the technology has some limitations: (i) the code of an enclave is visible at load time, (ii) libraries used by the code must be statically linked, and (iii) the protected memory size is limited, demanding page swapping to be done when this limit is exceeded. We present DynSGX, a privacy preserving tool that enables users and developers to dynamically load and unload code to be executed inside SGX enclaves. Such a technology makes possible that developers use public cloud infrastructures to run applications based on sensitive code and data. Moreover, we present a series of experiments that assess how applications dynamically loaded by DynSGX perform in comparison to statically linked applications that disregard privacy of the enclave code at load time.
Cat-CVD SiN-passivated AlGaN-GaN HFETs with thin and high Al composition barrier Layers

The effect of SiN surface passivation by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD) on Al/sub 0.4/Ga/sub 0.6/N-GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) was investigated. The channel sheet resistance was reduced by the passivation due to an increase in electron density, and the device characteristics of the thin-barrier HFETs were significantly improved by the reduction of source and drain resistances. The AlGaN(8 nm)-AlN(1.3 nm)-GaN HFET device with a source/drain distance of 3 /spl mu/m and a gate length of 1 /spl mu/m had a maximum drain current density of 0.83 A/mm at a gate bias of +1.5 V and an extrinsic maximum transconductance of 403 mS/mm. These results indicate the substantial potential of Cat-CVD SiN-passivated AlGaN-GaN HFETs with thin and high Al composition barrier layers.
Schemas in the brain: Influences of prior knowledge on learning, memory, and education

We remember information that is congruent instead of incongruent with prior knowledge better, but the underlying neural mechanisms related to this enhancement are still relatively unknown. Recently, this memory enhancement due to a prior schema has been suggested to be based on rapid neocortical assimilation of new information, related to optimized encoding and consolidation processes. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is thought to be important in mediating this process, but its role in retrieval of schema-consistent information is still unclear. In this study, we regarded multisensory congruency with prior knowledge as a schema and used this factor to probe retrieval of consolidated memories either consistent or inconsistent with prior knowledge. We conducted a visuo-tactile learning paradigm in which participants studied visual motifs randomly associated with word-fabric combinations that were either congruent or incongruent with common knowledge. The next day, participants were scanned using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) while their memory was tested. Congruent associations were remembered better than incongruent ones. This behavioral finding was parallelized by stronger retrieval-related activity in and connectivity between medial prefrontal and left somatosensory cortex. Moreover, we found a positive across-subject correlation between the connectivity enhancement and the behavioral congruency effect. These results show that successful retrieval of congruent compared to incongruent visuotactile associations is related to enhanced processing in an mPFC-somatosensory network, and support the hypothesis that new information that fits a pre-existing schema is more rapidly assimilated in neocortical networks, a process that may be mediated, at least in part, by the mPFC.
Painlevé V and time-dependent Jacobi polynomials

In this paper we study the simplest deformation on a sequence of orthogonal polynomials. This in turn induces a deformation on the moment matrix of the polynomials and associated Hankel determinant. We replace the original (or reference) weight w0(x) (supported on or subsets of ) by w0(x) e−tx. It is a well-known fact that under such a deformation the recurrence coefficients denoted as αn and βn evolve in t according to the Toda equations, giving rise to the time-dependent orthogonal polynomials and time-dependent determinants, using Sogo's terminology. If w0 is the normal density , or the gamma density xα e−x, , α > −1, then the initial value problem of the Toda equations can be trivially solved. This is because under elementary scaling and translation the orthogonality relations reduce to the original ones. However, if w0 is the beta density (1 − x)α(1 + x)β, x ∊ [ − 1, 1], α, β > −1, the resulting ‘time-dependent’ Jacobi polynomials will again satisfy a linear second-order ode, but no longer in the Sturm–Liouville form, which is to be expected. This deformation induces an irregular singular point at infinity in addition to three regular singular points of the hypergeometric equation satisfied by the Jacobi polynomials. We will show that the coefficients of this ode, as well as the Hankel determinant, are intimately related to a particular Painlevé V. In particular we show that , where is the coefficient of zn−1 of the monic orthogonal polynomials associated with the ‘time-dependent’ Jacobi weight, satisfies, up to a translation in t, the Jimbo–Miwa σ-form of the same PV; while a recurrence coefficient αn(t) is up to a translation in t and a linear fractional transformation PV(α2/2, − β2/2, 2n + 1 + α + β, − 1/2). These results are found from combining a pair of nonlinear difference equations and a pair of Toda equations. This will in turn allow us to show that a certain Fredholm determinant related to a class of Toeplitz plus Hankel operators has a connection to a Painlevé equation. The case with α = β = −1/2 arose from a certain integrable system and this was brought to our attention by A P Veselov.
Optical Properties and Modulation Characteristics of Ultra-Strong Injection-Locked Distributed Feedback Lasers

The optical properties and the frequency responses of ultrastrong (injection ratio > 10 dB) injection-locked distributed feedback lasers are investigated experimentally and theoretically. We have observed three distinctive modulation regimes under different frequency detuning between the master and the slave lasers. At large negative frequency detuning, the laser exhibits enhanced modulation efficiency at low frequencies. At intermediate frequency detuning, a flat frequency response with large 3 dB bandwidth is observed. At large positive frequency detuning, the modulation response shows a pronounced resonance peak at high frequencies. These phenomena can be explained by the resonance enhancement of the slave laser cavity mode, with the resonance frequency equal to the difference between the injection-locked frequency and the cavity mode. The experimental results agree well with theoretical calculations based on three coupled rate equations. Depending on the applications, the injection locking conditions can be optimized to achieve high RF link gain, broadband, or high resonance frequency operations.
Analysis of Information Security Problem by Probabilistic Risk Assessment

— The information security risk assessment is investigated from perspectives of most advanced probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) for nuclear power plants. Accident scenario enumeration by initiating events, mitigation systems and event trees are first described and demonstrated. Assets, confidentiality, integrity, availability, threats, vulnerabilities, impacts, likelihoods, and safeguards are reformulated by the PRA. Two illustrative examples are given: network access attacker and physical access attacker. Defenseless time spans and their frequencies are introduced to cope with non-rare initiating events of information security problems. A common event tree structure may apply to variety of security problems, thus facilitating the risk assessment.
Relation of interlobar collaterals to radiological heterogeneity in severe emphysema

Background: A study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of interlobar collateral ventilation in patients with severe emphysema to identify factors that may help to predict patients with significant collateral ventilation. Methods: Between April 2002 and August 2003, ex vivo assessment of the lungs 17 consecutive patients with smoking related severe emphysema was performed. To assess collateral flow, all lobes of explanted specimens were selectively intubated using a wedged cuffed microlaryngeal intubation tube and then manually ventilated using a bagging circuit. Interlobar collateral ventilation was defined as the ability to easily inflate a non-intubated lobe at physiological pressures. Pre-transplant demographic characteristics, physiological data, radiological results, and explant histology were assessed for retrospective relationships with the degree of interlobar collateral ventilation in the explanted lung. Results: A total of 23 lungs were evaluated, 15 of which (66%) had significant collateral interlobar airflow. There were no significant differences in any demographic, physiological, or pathological variables between patients with collateral ventilation and those with no collateral ventilation. However, there was a significant relationship between the presence of interlobar collateral ventilation and radiological scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: Interlobar collateral ventilation occurs to a much greater extent in patients with radiologically homogeneous emphysema than in those with heterogeneous emphysema. Heterogeneity of emphysema may predict patients with a significantly reduced risk of interlobar collateral ventilation.
Controlled study of neuroprosthetic functional electrical stimulation in sub-acute post-stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE Assess the effects of daily neuroprosthetic (NESS Handmaster) functional electrical stimulation in sub-acute stroke. DESIGN Controlled study, patients clinically stratified to 2 groups; no active finger movement, and partial active finger movements, and then randomized to control and neuroprosthesis groups. Observer blinded evaluations at baseline and completion of the 6-week study. SUBJECTS 22 patients with moderate to severe upper limb paresis 3-6 months post-onset. METHODS Patients in day hospital rehabilitation, receiving physical and occupational therapy 3 times weekly. The neuroprosthesis group used the device at home. RESULTS The neuroprosthesis group had significantly greater improvements in spasticity, active range of motion and scores on the functional hand tests (those with partial active motion). Of the few patients with pain and oedema, there was improvement only among those in the neuroprosthesis group. There were no adverse reactions. CONCLUSION Supplementing standard outpatient rehabilitation with daily home neuroprosthetic activation improves upper limb outcomes.
Human Leukocytes Kill Aspergillus nidulans by Reactive Oxygen Species-Independent Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Invasive aspergillosis is a major threat for patients suffering from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Although Aspergillus fumigatus is the most commonly encountered Aspergillus species, the presence of A. nidulans appears to be disproportionately high in CGD patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of the NADPH oxidase and the resulting reactive oxygen species (ROS) in host defense against fungi and to clarify their relationship toward A. nidulans. Murine CGD alveolar macrophages (AM) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy controls and CGD patients were challenged with either A. fumigatus or A. nidulans. Analysis of the antifungal effects of ROS revealed that A. nidulans, in contrast to A. fumigatus, is not susceptible to ROS. In addition, infection with live A. nidulans did not result in any measurable ROS release. Remarkably, human CGD PMN and PBMC and murine CGD AM were at least equipotent at arresting conidial germination compared to healthy controls. Blocking of the NADPH oxidase resulted in significantly reduced damage of A. fumigatus but did not affect A. nidulans hyphae. Furthermore, the microbicidal activity of CGD PMN was maintained toward A. nidulans but not A. fumigatus. In summary, antifungal resistance to A. nidulans is not directly ROS related. The etiology of A. nidulans infections in CGD cannot be explained by the simple absence of the direct microbicidal effect of ROS. In vivo, the NADPH oxidase is a critical regulator of innate immunity whose unraveling will improve our understanding of fungal pathogenesis in CGD.
Layer V neurons bear the majority of mRNAs encoding the five distinct dopamine receptor subtypes in the primate prefrontal cortex

In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to determine the laminar distribution of D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 dopamine receptor mRNAs in the primate prefrontal cortex and to compare striatal and cortical levels of these messages within the same tissue sections. All five subtypes of dopamine receptor mRNA are present in both the monkey striatum and the cerebral cortex but in different proportions within each structure. Thus, levels of D1 and D2 mRNAs are noticeably stronger in the striatum than in the cortex, whereas D4 and D5 expression is clearly higher in the cortex. The D3 transcripts appear nearly equivalent in the striatum and the cortex. A major finding is that, within the prefrontal cortex, mRNAs encoding all dopamine receptor subtypes are expressed most strongly in layer V. This laminar pattern of mRNA distribution does not hold in all cortical regions. The relatively high levels of mRNAs encoding known dopamine receptor subtypes in the primate cerebral cortex, including the D4 receptor, underscore the importance of this structure as a target for therapeutic actions of antipsychotic drugs. Further, their prominence in layer V of the prefrontal cortex, which contains the corticostriatal and corticotectal projection neurons, provides a neural basis for dopaminergic regulation of the descending control systems. Synapse 28:10–20, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The relationships between impulsivity, weight, eating behaviour and parental feeding practices in children

Previous research has indicated that impulsivity is associated with child weight, eating behaviour and some controlling feeding practices and that there are differences in these variables between children with high (including clinically elevated) and low impulsivity levels. Few of these studies have used a range of impulsivity measures to assess this multifaceted concept. This thesis aimed to explore these relationships and differences using a range of parent-report and behavioural impulsivity measures. Three samples of children (2-4-year-olds, 7 -11 -year-olds and 5-15-year-olds) and their parents participated in three studies. Analyses indicated that impulsivity was positively associated with child weight and snack intake (Chapters Three and Five). Links between impulsivity, restriction and pressure to eat were mixed (Chapters Three and Five). Parental monitoring moderated links between impulsivity and food approach behaviour; a lack of monitoring was detrimental to child eating behaviour (Chapter Three). Observations of mealtime behaviours of parent-child dyads in which children had high vs. low impulsivity levels showed that parents of children with high impulsivity levels used more pressure to eat, while their children made more requests for food (Chapter Four). Furthermore, impulsivity, dietary restraint and stress interacted in their effects over snack intake; children high in impulsivity and dietary restraint decreased their intake under stress, while children low in dietary restraint increased their intake under stress (Chapter Six). Finally, parents and their children with and without clinically elevated impulsivity levels differed in eating and feeding behaviours (Chapter Seven). Interesting gender differences emerged throughout and the implications of the results and limitations of the individual studies are discussed in each chapter.
Efficient Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for Decoding Neural Spike Trains

Stimulus reconstruction or decoding methods provide an important tool for understanding how sensory and motor information is represented in neural activity. We discuss Bayesian decoding methods based on an encoding generalized linear model (GLM) that accurately describes how stimuli are transformed into the spike trains of a group of neurons. The form of the GLM likelihood ensures that the posterior distribution over the stimuli that caused an observed set of spike trains is log concave so long as the prior is. This allows the maximum a posteriori (MAP) stimulus estimate to be obtained using efficient optimization algorithms. Unfortunately, the MAP estimate can have a relatively large average error when the posterior is highly nongaussian. Here we compare several Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms that allow for the calculation of general Bayesian estimators involving posterior expectations (conditional on model parameters). An efficient version of the hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) algorithm was significantly superior to other MCMC methods for gaussian priors. When the prior distribution has sharp edges and corners, on the other hand, the hit-and-run algorithm performed better than other MCMC methods. Using these algorithms, we show that for this latter class of priors, the posterior mean estimate can have a considerably lower average error than MAP, whereas for gaussian priors, the two estimators have roughly equal efficiency. We also address the application of MCMC methods for extracting nonmarginal properties of the posterior distribution. For example, by using MCMC to calculate the mutual information between the stimulus and response, we verify the validity of a computationally efficient Laplace approximation to this quantity for gaussian priors in a wide range of model parameters; this makes direct model-based computation of the mutual information tractable even in the case of large observed neural populations, where methods based on binning the spike train fail. Finally, we consider the effect of uncertainty in the GLM parameters on the posterior estimators.
Brain mechanisms mediating auditory attentional capture in humans.

The ability to detect and preferentially process salient auditory stimuli, even when irrelevant to a current task, is often critical for adaptive behavior. This stimulus-driven allocation of processing resources is known as "attentional capture. " Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging in humans to investigate brain activity and behavioral effects related to such auditory attentional capture. Participants searched a sequence of tones for a target tone that was shorter or longer than the nontarget tones. An irrelevant singleton feature in the tone sequence resulted in behavioral interference (attentional capture) and activation of parietal and prefrontal cortices only when the singleton was associated with a nontarget tone (nontarget singleton) and not when associated with a target tone (target singleton). In contrast, the presence (vs. absence) of a singleton feature in the sequence was associated with activation of frontal and temporal loci previously associated with auditory change detection. These results suggest that a ventral network involving superior temporal and inferior frontal cortices responds to acoustic variability, regardless of attentional significance, but a dorsal frontoparietal network responds only when a feature singleton captures attention.
Mass spectrometry proves under-O-glycosylation of glomerular IgA1 in IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND The IgA1 molecule, which is predominantly deposited in glomeruli in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), is a unique serum glycoprotein because it has O-glycan side chains in its hinge region. Our study was conducted to investigate the O-glycan structure in the glomerular IgA1 in IgAN. METHODS The IgA1 was separated from 290 renal biopsy specimens of 278 IgAN patients and from four serum IgA1 samples (IgAN, 2; control, 2). The variety of O-glycan glycoform was determined by estimating the precise molecular weights of the IgA1 hinge glycopeptides using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS The peak distribution of IgA1 hinge glycopeptides clearly shifted to lesser molecular weights in both glomerular and serum IgA1 in IgAN compared with the serum IgA1 of controls. In the five major peaks of IgA1 hinge glycopeptides in each sample, the numbers of carbohydrates composing O-glycans (GalNAc, Gal, and NANA) in the deposited and serum IgA1 in IgAN patients were significantly fewer than those in the serum IgA1 in the control groups. CONCLUSION The O-glycan side chains in the hinge of the glomerular IgA1 were highly underglycosylated in IgAN. These results indicate that the decreased sialylation and galactosylation of the IgA1 hinge glycopeptides play a crucial role in its glomerular deposition in IgAN.
Rapid gastric emptying of an oral glucose solution in type 2 diabetic patients.

Gastric emptying of a liquid glucose meal was measured with scintigraphic techniques in nine recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients and nine sex- and age-matched nondiabetic control subjects. Seven of the nine Type 2 diabetic patients were receiving oral hypoglycemic therapy which was discontinued the evening prior to the study. The other two diabetic patients were taking no medication. The average gastric half-emptying time was 33.6 min (s.e.m. = 3.2) for the diabetic patients and 64.6 min (s.e.m. = 4.2) for the nondiabetic controls (p = 0.0005). These measurements indicate rapid gastric emptying in Type 2 diabetic patients which may contribute to worsening of glucose control in these patients.
Early onset of neural synchronization in the contextual associations network

Objects are more easily recognized in their typical context. However, is contextual information activated early enough to facilitate the perception of individual objects, or is contextual facilitation caused by postperceptual mechanisms? To elucidate this issue, we first need to study the temporal dynamics and neural interactions associated with contextual processing. Studies have shown that the contextual network consists of the parahippocampal, retrosplenial, and medial prefrontal cortices. We used functional MRI, magnetoencephalography, and phase synchrony analyses to compare the neural response to stimuli with strong or weak contextual associations. The context network was activated in functional MRI and preferentially synchronized in magnetoencephalography (MEG) for stimuli with strong contextual associations. Phase synchrony increased early (150–250 ms) only when it involved the parahippocampal cortex, whereas retrosplenial–medial prefrontal cortices synchrony was enhanced later (300–400 ms). These results describe the neural dynamics of context processing and suggest that context is activated early during object perception.