Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cryptographic Protocols, Sensor Network Key Management, and RFID Authentication

This thesis includes my research on efficient cryptographic protocols, sensor network key management, and radio frequency identification (RFID) authentication protocols. Key exchange, identification, and public key encryption are among the fundamental protocols studied in cryptography. There are two important requirements for these protocols: efficiency and security. Efficiency is evaluated using the computational overhead to execute a protocol. In modern cryptography, one way to ensure the security of a protocol is by means of provable security. Provable security consists of a security model that specifies the capabilities and the goals of an adversary against the protocol, one or more cryptographic assumptions, and a reduction showing that breaking the protocol within the security model leads to breaking the assumptions. Often, efficiency and provable security are not easy to achieve simultaneously. The design of efficient protocols in a strict security model with a tight reduction is challenging. Security requirements raised by emerging applications bring up new research challenges in cryptography. One such application is pervasive communication and computation systems, including sensor networks and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Specifically, sensor network key management and RFID authentication protocols have drawn much attention in recent years. In the cryptographic protocol part, we study identification protocols, key exchange protocols, and ElGamal encryption and its variant. A formal security model for challenge-response identification protocols is proposed, and a simple identification protocol is proposed and proved secure in this model. Two authenticated key exchange (AKE) protocols are proposed and proved secure in the extended Canetti-Krawczyk (eCK) model. The proposed AKE protocols achieve tight security reduction and efficient computation. We also study the security of ElGamal encryption and its variant, Damgard’s ElGamal encryption (DEG). Key management is the cornerstone of the security of sensor networks. A commonly recommended key establishment mechanism is based on key predistribution schemes (KPS). Several KPSs have been proposed in the literature. A KPS installs pre-assigned keys to
D2 and D4 dopamine receptor gene polymorphisms and personality traits in a young Korean population

The correlation between the D4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) and the D2 dopamine receptor gene (DRD2) polymorphisms was investigated with personality traits. For this study, homogeneous population consisting of 243 young alcohol‐ and drug‐naive Koreans who were blood‐unrelated with a mean age (±SD) of 13.87 (±0.30) years old was analyzed for the DRD4 and the DRD2 polymorphisms with their personality trait by Temperament and character inventory (TCI). The association between Novelty seeking (NS) score and DRD4 long alleles was only observed among the female subjects (t = 2.11, P = 0.037), but not in the male counter part. Female subjects who carried the DRD2 less frequent alleles (TaqI A1, TaqI B1, and Intron6 1) showed higher RD4 scores (dependence vs. independence) of Reward dependence (RD) than those without these alleles (P < 0.05). There was no interaction between DRD4 and DRD2 on the personality traits. These results, thus, confirmed the previous findings in which the long repeats of the DRD4‐exon III polymorphism are related to NS personality trait, and also suggested that the DRD2 less frequent alleles were also associated with the reward‐dependent trait. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanisms underlying variations in excitation–contraction coupling across the mouse left ventricular free wall

Ca2+ release during excitation–contraction (EC) coupling varies across the left ventricular free wall. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying EC coupling differences between mouse left ventricular epicardial (Epi) and endocardial (Endo) myocytes. We found that diastolic and systolic [Ca2+]i was higher in paced Endo than in Epi myocytes. Our data indicated that differences in action potential (AP) waveform between Epi and Endo cells only partially accounted for differences in [Ca2+]i. Rather, we found that the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transient, but not its trigger – the Ca2+ current – was larger in Endo than in Epi cells. We also found that spontaneous Ca2+ spark activity was about 2.8‐fold higher in Endo than in Epi cells. Interestingly, ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) protein expression was nearly 2‐fold higher in Endo than in Epi myocytes. Finally, we observed less Na+–Ca2+ exchanger function in Endo than in Epi cells, which was associated with decreased Ca2+ efflux during the AP; this contributed to higher diastolic [Ca2+]i and SR Ca2+ in Endo than in Epi cells during pacing. We propose that transmural differences in AP waveform, SR Ca2+ release, and Na+–Ca2+ exchanger function underlie differences in [Ca2+]i and EC coupling across the left ventricular free wall.
Fatal Case of Weeksella virosa Sepsis

ABSTRACT Weeksella virosa is an aerobic Gram-negative rod that has rarely been reported to cause infection. We describe a fatal case of W. virosa sepsis in a young female with end-stage renal disease, report three additional cases of W. virosa infection, and review the literature regarding this infection.
miR‐21 normalizes vascular smooth muscle proliferation and improves coronary collateral growth in metabolic syndrome

Inadequate cell proliferation is considered a major causative factor for impaired coronary collateral growth (CCG). Proangiogenic growth factors (GFs) stimulate cell proliferation, but their administration does not promote CCG in patients. These GFs are increased in patients with metabolic syndrome and in animal models, where CCG is impaired. Here, we investigated whether excessive cell proliferation underlies impaired CCG in metabolic syndrome. Normal [Sprague‐Dawley (SD)] and metabolic syndrome [James C. Russell (JCR)] rats underwent repetitive ischemia (RI; transient, repetitive coronary artery occlusion and myocardial ischemia). We have shown that CCG was maximal at d 9 of RI in SD rats but did not occur in JCR rats. The increase in cell proliferation (PCNA, Ki‐67, cyclin A, phospho‐ cdc2, p21Waf, p27Kip) was transient (~4‐fold, d 3 RI) in SD rats but greater and sustained in JCR rats (~8‐ to 6‐fold, d 3‐9 RI). In JCR rats, this was associated with increased and sustained miR‐21 expression and accumulation of proliferating synthetic vascular smooth muscle cells in the lumen of small arterioles, which failed to undergo outward expansion. Administration of anti‐miR‐21 blocked RI‐induced cell proliferation and significantly improved CCG in JCR rats (~60%). miR‐21‐dependent excessive cell proliferation in the later stages of collateral remodeling correlates with impaired CCG in metabolic syndrome. —Hutcheson, R. , Chaplin, J., Hutcheson, B. , Borthwick, F. , Proctor, S. , Gebb, S. , Jadhav, R. , Smith, E. , Russell, J. C. , Rocic, P. miR‐21 normalizes vascular smooth muscle proliferation and improves coronary collateral growth in metabolic syndrome. FASEB J. 28, 4088‐4099 (2014). www.fasebj. org
Blood Metabolic Profile and some of Hormones Concentration in Ewes During Different Physiological Status

AntunoviC, Z. , J. novoSELEC, H. SAuERWEin, M. SpERAndA, M. vEGARA and v . p AviC, 2011. Blood metabolic profile and some of hormones concentration in ewes during different physiological status. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 17: 687-695 The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of physiological status on blood metabolic profile and some of hormones concentration in the blood of ewes. Investigations were carried out on 45 Tsigai ewes (15 pregnant ewes on the 10 th day prior to lambing, 15 lactating ewes on the 20 th day of the lactation and 15 non-pregnant ewes) during winter feeding season. The ewes were average 3 years old and healthy. Ewes were fed meadow hay and 300 g of feed mixture. Higher concentrations of Cl, urea, total bilirubin, AST and GGT activities were determined in the blood ewes in lactation compared to high pregnant and non pregnant ewes. The opposite trend was observed for concentration glucose, hemoglobin, T3, RBC and ALT activity. In the blood pregnant ewes were determined lower concentrations of glucose and urea in relation to non-pregnant ewes and higher concentrations of total protein, albumin, LDL-cholesterol, hematocrit, leptin and insulin in relation to the ewes in lactation. In the ewe’s blood in lactation were determined higher concentrations of K, a number of PLT and increased LDH activity in relation to pregnant ewes. Higher concentrations of triglycerides and lower PLT were determined in blood pregnant ewes in relation to non-pregnant ewes. Changes in concentrations of biochemical indicators (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea), T3, leptin and insulin levels indicate an energy deficiency of ewes in early lactation. The results obtained blood indicators point out justification of the blood metabolic profile in the assessment of food status ewes and ensuring good health in very demanding physiological states - high pregnancy and lactation.
Comparative Cost Analysis of Sequential, Adaptive, Behavioral, Pharmacological, and Combined Treatments for Childhood ADHD

We conducted a cost analysis of the behavioral, pharmacological, and combined interventions employed in a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized, and adaptive trial investigating the sequencing and enhancement of treatment for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; Pelham et al., 201X; N = 146, 76% male, 80% Caucasian). The quantity of resources expended on each child’s treatment was determined from records that listed the type, date, location, persons present, and duration of all services provided. The inputs considered were the amount of physician time, clinician time, paraprofessional time, teacher time, parent time, medication, and gasoline. Quantities of these inputs were converted into costs in 2013 USD using national wage estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices of 30-day supplies of prescription drugs from the national Express Scripts service, and mean fuel prices from the Energy Information Administration. Beginning treatment with a low-dose/intensity regimen of behavior modification (large-group parent training) was less costly for a school year of treatment ($961) than beginning treatment with a low dose of stimulant medication ($1,669), regardless of whether the initial treatment was intensified with a higher “dose” or if the other modality was added. Outcome data from the parent study (Pelham et al., 201X) found equivalent or superior outcomes for treatments beginning with low-intensity behavior modification compared to intervention beginning with medication. Combined with the present analyses, these findings suggest that initiating treatment with behavior modification rather than medication is the more cost-effective option for children with ADHD.
Visual sensitivity to a conspicuous male cue varies by reproductive state in Physalaemus pustulosus females

SUMMARY The vocal sac is a visually conspicuous attribute of most male frogs, but its role in visual communication has only been demonstrated recently in diurnally displaying frogs. Here we characterized the spectral properties of the inflated vocal sac of male túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus), a nocturnal species, and túngara visual sensitivity to this cue across reproductive state and sex. We measured the spectral and total reflectance of different male body regions, including inflated and non-inflated vocal sacs, along with samples of the visual background against which males are perceived. Inflated vocal sacs were the most reflective of all body parts, being one log unit more reflective than background materials. We utilized an optomotor drum with black stripes and stripes that mimicked the spectral reflectance of the inflated vocal sacs with various nocturnal light intensities to measure the visual sensitivity thresholds of males, non-reproductive females and reproductive females. All three groups exhibited visual sensitivities corresponding to intensities below moonless conditions in open habitats or at the edge of secondary tropical forests. Reproductive females exhibited the greatest visual sensitivity of all groups, and were significantly more sensitive than non-reproductive females. Though the mechanism for this physiological difference between reproductive and non-reproductive females is unknown, it is consistent with previously observed patterns of light-dependent phonotaxic behavior in túngaras. We suggest that the visual ecology of the vocal sac, especially in nocturnal frogs, offers a rich source for investigations of visual ecology and physiological regulation of vision.
Models of Access Delays in Multiprocessor Memories

The performance of an interleaved common memory accessed uniformly by multiple processors is modeled by queuing and simulation methods. The model includes access conflicts at the bank level while assuming an ideal access network. A general scaling law is derived that indicates that memory access delays are given by the product of the bank reservation time and a function of the memory utilization, which is the average number of access requests arriving at a bank per bank reservation time. For light, uniform memory traffic. access delays are proportional to the square of the bank reservation time and to the ratio of the number of active memory access streams to the number of memory banks. With an assumption of random access patterns, an open and a closed queuing model are developed. To model pipelined access operations a new negative feedback model is introduced that includes the open and the closed models as special cases and is also well suited for modeling linked access streams. Delay dependence on bank reservation time is quadratic for light loads and linear for very heavy loads. The queuing models are validated by simulations. >
Pediatric Exercise-Induced Laryngomalacia

Laryngomalacia is a well-recognized cause of airway obstruction and inspiratory stridor in infants. As children grow and become more active, laryngomalacia may manifest in different, unexpected ways. Otherwise healthy athletes may generate enough inspiratory force to draw the aryepiglottic folds into the endolarynx, causing a subtotal glottic obstruction. This problem may be overlooked or attributed to asthma, lack of fitness, or functional abnormalities. The purpose of this report is to review the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of exercise-induced laryngomalacia (EIL) in children and young adults. To study the incidence and diagnosis of this disorder, we examined 10 healthy volunteers. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy was used to videotape each subject's larynx during active exercise on a stationary bicycle. All volunteers demonstrated altered laryngeal dynamics with exercise, and 1 of the 10 volunteers developed laryngomalacia. Anatomically, it appears that the aryepiglottic fold serves as the critical point of obstruction. When symptomatic, laryngomalacia may be treated with supraglottoplasty. We have had experience with 2 EIL patients in the last 12 months who have undergone carbon dioxide laser microlaryngoscopy with supraglottoplasty. Both patients benefited significantly from surgery. We conclude that EIL is underdiagnosed but responds well to treatment.
Independent, Dependent, and Other Variables in Healthcare and Chaplaincy Research

This article begins by defining the term variable and the terms independent variable and dependent variable, providing examples of each. It then proceeds to describe and discuss synonyms for the terms independent variable and dependent variable, including treatment, intervention, predictor, and risk factor, and synonyms for dependent variable, such as response variables and outcomes. The article explains that the terms extraneous, nuisance, and confounding variables refer to any variable that can interfere with the ability to establish relationships between independent variables and dependent variables, and it describes ways to control for such confounds. It further explains that even though intervening, mediating, and moderating variables explicitly alter the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables, they help to explain the causal relationship between them. In addition, the article links terminology about variables with the concept of levels of measurement in research.
A Positive Role for the PP2A Catalytic Subunit in Wnt Signal Transduction*

Protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) is a multisubunit serine/threonine phosphatase involved in intracellular signaling, gene regulation, and cell cycle progression. Different subunits of PP2A bind to Axin and Adenomatous Polyposis Coli, components of the Wnt signal transduction pathway. Using early Xenopusembryos, we studied how PP2A functions in Wnt signal transduction. The catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2A-C) potentiated secondary axis induction and Siamois reporter gene activation by Dishevelled, a component of the Wnt pathway, indicating a positive regulatory role of this enzyme in Wnt signaling. In contrast, small t antigen, an antagonist of PP2A-C, inhibited Dishevelled-mediated signal transduction, as did the regulatory PP2A-B′ε subunit, consistent with the requirement of PP2A function in this pathway. Although Wnt signaling is thought to occur via regulation of β−catenin degradation, PP2A-C did not significantly affect β−catenin stability. Moreover, the pathway activated by a stabilized form of β−catenin was sensitive to PP2A-C and its inhibitors, suggesting that PP2A-C acts downstream of β-catenin. Because previous work has suggested that PP2A can act upstream of β-catenin, we propose that PP2A regulates the Wnt pathway at multiple levels.
Small Vessels-Big Problems : Novel Insights into Microvascular Mechanisms of Diseases Traumatic brain injury-induced autoregulatory dysfunction and spreading depression-related neurovascular uncoupling : Pathomechanisms , perspectives , and therapeutic implications

Peter Toth, Nikolett Szarka, Eszter Farkas, Erzsebet Ezer, Endre Czeiter, Krisztina Amrein, Zoltan Ungvari, Jed A. Hartings, Andras Buki, and Akos Koller Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary; Janos Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary; Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pecs, Hungary; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Institute of Natural Sciences, University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary; and Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Highly Sensitive Photodetector Using Ultra-High-Density 1.5-μm Quantum Dots for Advanced Optical Fiber Communications

We have fabricated a high-density 1.5-μm quantum dot photodetector for advanced optical fiber communications and have found unique optical properties, including avalanche multiplication. The structure of the absorption layer had stacked InAs/InGaAlAs layers with a high density of 1 × 1012 cm-2, which consisted of strained 1.5-μm InAs quantum dots and a strain compensation layer of InGaAlAs. A three times larger absorption coefficient than the InGaAs layer, an avalanche multiplication effect, and a low dark current are reported with InAs quantum dot conditions.
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Plays a Critical Role in Mediating Protection against the Helminth Parasite Taenia crassiceps

ABSTRACT To determine the role of endogenous migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in regulation of immune response during murine cysticercosis caused by the helminth parasite Taenia crassiceps, we analyzed the course of T. crassiceps infection in MIF−/− BALB/c mice. MIF−/− mice were highly susceptible to T. crassiceps and developed significantly higher parasite loads compared to similarly infected MIF+/+ mice. Throughout the course of infection, Taenia crassiceps soluble antigen-stimulated spleen cells from both MIF+/+ and MIF−/− mice produced significant and comparable levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), but those from MIF−/− mice produced significantly more IL-13, as well as gamma interferon (IFN-γ), suggesting that the susceptibility of MIF−/− mice to T. crassiceps was not due to the lack of IFN-γ production. Interestingly, low levels of both total and specific immunoglobulin G2a were observed in MIF−/− cysticercotic mice despite the high IFN-γ levels; in addition, peritoneal macrophages obtained from T. crassiceps-infected MIF−/− mice at different time points failed to respond efficiently to stimulation in vitro with lipopolysaccharide plus IFN-γ and produced significantly lower levels of IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and NO compared to those from MIF+/+ mice. These findings demonstrate that MIF plays a critical role in mediating protection against T. crassiceps in vivo. Moreover, these findings also suggest that impaired macrophage function rather than the lack of Th1 development may be responsible for mediating susceptibility to T. crassiceps.
Variation in orgasm occurrence by sexual orientation in a sample of U.S. singles.

INTRODUCTION Despite recent advances in understanding orgasm variation, little is known about ways in which sexual orientation is associated with men's and women's orgasm occurrence. AIM To assess orgasm occurrence during sexual activity across sexual orientation categories. METHODS Data were collected by Internet questionnaire from 6,151 men and women (ages 21-65+ years) as part of a nationally representative sample of single individuals in the United States. Analyses were restricted to a subsample of 2,850 singles (1,497 men, 1,353 women) who had experienced sexual activity in the past 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants reported their sex/gender, self-identified sexual orientation (heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual), and what percentage of the time they experience orgasm when having sex with a familiar partner. RESULTS Mean occurrence rate for experiencing orgasm during sexual activity with a familiar partner was 62.9% among single women and 85.1% among single men, which was significantly different (F1,2848 = 370.6, P < 0.001, η(2) = 0.12). For men, mean occurrence rate of orgasm did not vary by sexual orientation: heterosexual men 85.5%, gay men 84.7%, bisexual men 77.6% (F2,1494 = 2.67, P = 0.07, η(2) = 0.004). For women, however, mean occurrence rate of orgasm varied significantly by sexual orientation: heterosexual women 61.6%, lesbian women 74.7%, bisexual women 58.0% (F2,1350 = 10.95, P < 0.001, η(2) = 0.02). Lesbian women had a significantly higher probability of orgasm than did either heterosexual or bisexual women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Findings from this large dataset of U.S. singles suggest that women, regardless of sexual orientation, have less predictable, more varied orgasm experiences than do men and that for women, but not men, the likelihood of orgasm varies with sexual orientation. These findings demonstrate the need for further investigations into the comparative sexual experiences and sexual health outcomes of sexual minorities.