Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Privacy-preserving protocols for IEEE 802.11s-based smart grid advanced metering infrastructure networks ()

OF THE DISSERTATION PRIVACY-PRESERVING PROTOCOLS FOR IEEE 802.11S-BASED SMART GRID ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS by Samet Tonyali Florida International University, 2018 Miami, Florida Professor Kemal Akkaya, Major Professor The ongoing Smart Grid (SG) initiative proposes several modifications to the existing power grid in order to better manage power demands, reduce CO2 emissions and ensure reliability through several new applications. One part of the SG initiative that is currently being implemented is the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which provides two-way communication between the utility company and the consumers’ smart meters (SMs). The AMI can be built by using a wireless mesh network which enables multi-hop communication of SMs. The AMI network enables collection of fine-grained power consumption data at frequent intervals. Such a fine-grained level poses several privacy concerns for the consumers. Eavesdroppers can capture data packets and analyze them by means of load monitoring techniques to make inferences about household activities. To prevent this, in this dissertation, we proposed several privacy-preserving protocols for the IEEE 802.11s-based AMI network, which are based on data obfuscation, fully homomorphic encryption and secure multiparty computation. Simulation results have shown that the performance of the protocols degrades as the network grows. To overcome this problem, we presented a scalable simulation framework for the evaluation of IEEE 802.11s-based AMI applications. We proposed several modifications and parameter adjustments for the network protocols being used. In addition,
Developing Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOTS) Mathematic Problem Using That Quiz Application

This study aims to describe process, responses, and effectiveness of applying HOTS problem using That Quiz application in the learning of Sequence and Series. Based on the analysis of ADDIE model, it was obtained that HOTS questions were in good quality because they meet valid, reliable, and objective criteria. The results of the questionnaire responses of students' responses, the development of HOTS questions using That Quiz received a positive response from students. While based on the analysis of formative test results in the implementation class, students' post-test scores were better than the pretest scores. Pre-test and post-test data are both normally distributed data. After the data has been tested using the statistical test t, the value of the pretest to post-test increases more than 40 points. So the development of HOTS questions using That Quiz is said to be appropriate in supporting learning. Based on the teacher's response questionnaire, HOTS questions using That Quiz are also practical. Therefore, the development of HOTS questions using That Quiz can be said to be effective. Furthermore, based on the results of analysis, HOTS questions using That Quiz can be used by mathematics teachers in Sequence and Series lesson. Keywords— Instrument, HOTS, That quiz
Complementarity effect of supply chain competencies on innovation capability

Purpose From the perspective of the economic theory of complementarity, the purpose of this paper is to examine how internal collaboration and external competencies would provoke and strengthen each other, and subsequently enhance organizational innovation capability. Design/methodology/approach The survey data were collected from 201 manufacturing firms and checked for common method variance, validity and reliability. Structural equation modeling was then used to test the hypothetical complementarity effect. Findings The results suggest that internal collaboration (as a manifestation of exploitative learning) and external competencies, which include supply network flexibility and supplier operational capabilities (as manifestation of exploratory learning), do in fact compensate for each other’s deficiencies. Complementary deployment of internal collaboration and external competencies enhances each other’s contribution to innovation capability. Practically, the study indicates that organizations should consider making concerted efforts to develop internal collaboration, supply network flexibility and supplier operational capability as a bundle. Originality/value Extensive discussions exist in the literature on exploration and exploitation being essential components of innovation and their conflicting impact on innovation efficiency and effectiveness. But how an organization should operationally develop supply chain competencies in order to maximize overall innovation capability still remains largely an unanswered question. The current study advances the research on the inter-relationships between exploration and exploitation by empirically demonstrating the complementary nature of internal collaboration and external competencies in developing sustainable innovation capabilities.
Correlation of Hardware in the Loop Simulation (HILS) and real control vehicle flight test for reducing flight failures

After development of simulation system in laboratory tests has been completed, before implementing an autonomous flight control system directly in a high speed UAV, the system needs to be tested in a ‘transitional’ vehicle namely Clouds aeromodeling, to make sure all devices of the control system function well in manual mode, stability and auto pilot by way point. Compatibility of setting gain PID in the simulation test with the real flight test becomes a challenge to ensure the success of the vehicle in flying, as probability of flight failures or target missing is reduced. This research has successfully proven the compatibility of the gain PID in an auto pilot by way point flight condition.
Keystroke Dynamics Identification Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Intelligent Keyboard Using Deep Learning Method

Due to the heavy reliance on computers and networks, security issues have become a major concern for individuals, companies, and nations. Traditional security measures such as personal identification numbers, tokens, or passwords only provide limited protection. With the development of intelligent keyboard (IKB), this paper proposes a deep‐learning‐based keystroke dynamics identification method for increased security. The IKB is a kind of self‐powered, nonmechanical‐punching keyboard, which converts mechanical stimuli applied to the keyboard into local electronic signals. Multilayer deep belief network (DBN) is established to mine the useful information from raw electronic signals and output the keystroke dynamics identification result. The contributions include development of a novel solution that does not rely on manual feature extraction, and provides promising recognition accuracy on large amount of typing samples. One significant advantage of the proposed method is that it extracts features adaptively from the raw current signals and automatically recognizes the typing pattern, which simplifies the design of verification and identification system. The experimental results on 104 typing samples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed method has extensive applications in keyboard‐based information security.
Barriers to parent-child communication on sexual and reproductive health issues in East Africa: A review of qualitative research in four countries

The increasing rate of risky behaviours among the East African adolescents has greater burden to the adolescent, family and the society. Young women in this region are exposed to potential sexual and reproductive health problems including sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, contraception, sexual abuse and rape, female genital mutilation, and maternal or child mortality. This is attributed by failure of communication of most parents in this region with their adolescents on issues of sexuality and reproductive health like condom use, puberty, STIs and physical development. On the base of academic literature and other materials, this paper argues that parents’- adolescents’ communication on sexual and reproductive health issues in this region is circumscribed by various factors including gender differences, level of education among parents, occupations, traditional norms and religion. The paper concludes that, parents and other adults’ discussion with adolescents on reproductive health issues is imperative in reducing risky behaviors among adolescents. For effective communication on reproductive health issues, parents and adults need to be educated on their roles as primary source of information to their children. Furthermore, there is a need to address gender differences and socio-cultural norms that hinder effective communication. Key words: Parent, adolescent, sexuality, reproductive health, communication, barriers, East Africa.
Using a Community Engagement Project to Reduce Apathy and Pessimism in an Urban Social Problems Course

In this paper I discuss concerns that influenced my decision to revise the pedagogical methods I originally employed in teaching an urban social problems course. It had become apparent to me that those methods left students with a sense of apathy concerning problems in their community. I, therefore, restructured the course to include a civic engagement project that reflected several goals: to reduce student’s sense of apathy; to increase awareness of the organizational efforts that had resulted in positive changes in the community; and to enhance the student’s sense of self efficacy. Findings from the pre- and post-survey and the comments offered by students at the end of the term indicate the advantage of engaging students in the community as a tool to achieve these
Survey on cognitive function and its influencing factors in aged people over 65 years old in China

AIM: To explore the current situation of cognitive function and its risk factors in the aged people over 65 years old . METHODS: Based on the survey data on the heath status of Chinese old people in 2005, the characteristics of their cognitive function and the influencing factors were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that sex, age, occupation, marriage, and education level, et al, exerted effects on cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Old man's cognitive function is related with sex, age, primary occupations, marriage, education level, birth place, self-rated health, drinking, exercise, physical activity, and diet, et al. High education level, proper drinking habit, physical activity, and diet habits have protective effects on cognitive function. Aging, female, birth in countryside, incorrect diet habits are risk factors.
Españoles que emigran a países de la Unión Europea: predictores de su ajuste psicológico

espanolEn los ultimos anos han aumentado los movimientos migratorios de personas espanolas a otros paises europeos, sin embargo apenas existen estudios sobre este fenomeno. El objetivo de este trabajo era identificar los factores predictores sociodemograficos y psicosociales migratorios mas relevantes del ajuste psicologico de las personas emigrantes y comprobar los efectos indirectos de dichos factores a traves del estres percibido. Tambien se pretendia comprobar si el ajuste psicologico de la poblacion emigrante era similar al de la poblacion en origen. La muestra estaba compuesta por un grupo de espanoles emigrantes a Alemania o Inglaterra (n = 858) y un grupo control equivalente de espanoles no emigrantes (n = 328). Los resultados senalan como los mejores predictores del estres percibido y del ajuste psicologico el cumplimiento de expectativas migratorias, el apoyo emocional y la calidad del empleo en el pais receptor. Tambien se confirman los efectos indirectos de dichos factores sobre el ajuste psicologico a traves del estres percibido. Por ultimo, la salud mental de las personas emigrantes y no emigrantes era similar, y se discuten sus implicaciones EnglishIn recent years, the migration of Spanish people to other countries in Europe has increased; however, there are hardly any studies on this phenomenon. The aim of this study is to identify the predictive sociodemographic and psychosocial factors of psychological adjustment (life satisfaction and absence of internalizing symptoms) of emigrants and to determine the indirect effects of these factors through perceived stress. This study also seeks to examine whether the psychological adjustment of Spanish emigrants was similar to Spanish non-emigrants. The sample was made up of a group of Spanish emigrants to Germany and England (n = 858) and an equivalent control group of Spanish non-emigrants (n = 328). The results show that fulfilment of expectations, emotional support and job quality are the best predictors of perceived stress and psychological adjustment. These factors are confirmed to have indirect effects on psychological adjustment through perceived stress. Finally, the mental health of emigrants and non-emigrants was similar, and the implications of these findings are discussed.
Parental Attitude towards the use of Contraceptives by Adolescents in Osogbo,Osun State.

Teenage pregnancy is an issue of concern in the world all over and it results from indiscriminate sex among the adolescents, this may not be unconnected to non usage of contraceptives by this age group due to the attitude of parents about it. Contraceptives are methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy among sexually active couples or adolescents and when effectively utilized, it promotes the health of family member and indirectly improving the health of the nation. The study assessed the parental knowledge about contraceptives, attitude of parents toward provision of contraceptives to adolescents and also found out the appropriate method that parents prefer for adolescents in Osogbo. The study adopted a descriptive design, 400 respondents were selected through a multi stage sampling technique from the two local governments in Osogbo. Data was collected using a validated structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The result showed that more than half of the respondents (69.3%) had good knowledge of contraception and 69.5% had negative attitude toward provision of contraceptives to adolescents. Also 57.0% of the respondents agreed that parent have influence on adolescent sexuality and contraception while high percentage of the respondents (84.2%) agreed on total abstinence as the best contraception for adolescents. Statistical analysis further showed that there is a significant relationship between contraceptive device and adolescent sexuality, religion and gender. In conclusion, findings from this study revealed that parents had good knowledge about adolescents’ contraception and they are in support of total abstinence as the best contraceptive option for adolescents. Therefore, there is need for educational programmes to improve on their attitudes toward all the methods of contraception, this will subsequently encourage them to allow their girls to use it.
Individual flipped learning and cooperative flipped learning: their effects on students’ performance, social, and computer anxiety

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to differentiate the effect of cooperative learning strategy integrated with a flipped learning (FL) model from sole FL implementation in promoting students’ performances while decreasing their social and computer anxiety in an undergraduate course. As a method, a classical experimental design is used. The participants were from the department of English Language and Literature, and Translation and Interpretation. Students were randomly assigned to individual FL (the control group) class; and FL with cooperative activities (experimental group) class. The groups were randomly assigned as experimental and control by tossing a coin. The implementation took 10 weeks. Students’ performances (grades), social anxiety, and computer anxiety were dependent variables of the study and they were compared through multivariate analysis of variance. The results indicated that there is no significant mean difference between groups’ performances; however; the group of FL with cooperative activities had less social anxiety, but no significant change occurred at their computer anxiety level.
Student retention at two-year community colleges: A structural equation modeling approach

Drawn from multiple theoretical perspectives (e.g. sociology, economics, psychology, education), researchers have developed several student retention models. Most student retention models are intended for retention of traditional age, full-time students at four-year institutions (Bailey & Alfonso, 2005). The staggering high student attrition rate at community colleges necessitates rigorous studies concerning student retention. Built upon prior research studies, I propose a student retention model for community colleges and estimate the association between student retention and various variables. Data have been drawn from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS: 04/09). Consistent with other research studies, student academic integration plays a more important role than social integration in student retention. While the proportion of minority students and part-time faculty were found to be associated positively with student retention, institution size and the proportion of female students were found to be associated adversely.
Effects of delays and network graphs on multi-agent network dynamics stability and performance

Dynamics of multi-agent systems (MAS) is influenced by communication/activation delays as well as network characteristics. Here, the aim is to design network graphs and develop control algorithms for a class of MAS considering critical the interplay between network delays and network graphs. Specifically, the network graphs influence not only the stability of MAS guaranteed when delay is less than a certain margin, delay margin, but also the performance, reaching speed of agents to a common steady state (consensus). This work is motivated by the counter-intuitive observation, small coupling strengths between agents can enhance their decay rate to consensus under relatively large inter-agent time delays. From this, it is shown that a certain network graph by edge elimination, zero coupling strengths, leads to faster consensus under larger time delays compared to the case with a complete graph. The design of this ideal network graph is influenced by factors including the inter-agent delay, the number of agents and eliminated edges, and the agents initial states. A statistical approach is developed to select the ideal network by using a cluster analysis in data mining. In this data driven approach, one reveals that the delay margin of the MAS is affected by how many and which edges are eliminated. In view of this, a systematic approach is established to design the network graphs rendering more delay tolerance of the MAS. This analytic approach is used to explain a self-regulating mechanism to counter delay-induced instability whereby this mechanism naturally restores stability by agents regrouping. These results provide parallelism to self-regulation and self-healing in collective behavior of nature-made MAS. Further advancements are reported in terms of how Proportional-Retarded (PR) protocols can be tuned for fast consensus in MAS. In particular, such protocols are proposed for a desired decay rate of MAS with double-integrator dynamics. Finally, the MAS model is extended considering non-delayed self-loops, and a computationally efficient mathematical framework is proposed to study the stability of such MAS which are large scale but cannot be conveniently decomposed into subsystems. This framework has the potential to design new control algorithms for achieving a desired delay margin. Dissertation Supervisor: Rifat Sipahi Title: Associate Professor
On Demand Solid Texture Synthesis Using Deep 3D Networks

This paper describes a novel approach for on demand volumetric texture synthesis based on a deep learning framework that allows for the generation of high‐quality three‐dimensional (3D) data at interactive rates. Based on a few example images of textures, a generative network is trained to synthesize coherent portions of solid textures of arbitrary sizes that reproduce the visual characteristics of the examples along some directions. To cope with memory limitations and computation complexity that are inherent to both high resolution and 3D processing on the GPU, only 2D textures referred to as ‘slices’ are generated during the training stage. These synthetic textures are compared to exemplar images via a perceptual loss function based on a pre‐trained deep network. The proposed network is very light (less than 100k parameters), therefore it only requires sustainable training (i.e. few hours) and is capable of very fast generation (around a second for 2563 voxels) on a single GPU. Integrated with a spatially seeded pseudo‐random number generator (PRNG) the proposed generator network directly returns a color value given a set of 3D coordinates. The synthesized volumes have good visual results that are at least equivalent to the state‐of‐the‐art patch‐based approaches. They are naturally seamlessly tileable and can be fully generated in parallel.
Experimental dynamic assessment of a cable-stayed bridge

This work presents the results of the exp erimental dynamic assessment of the cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Garigliano riv er (Italy), a strategic infrastructure built in 1993 along the high-speed road connecting Naples an d Rome. The bridge consists of two equal spans whose length and width are equal to 90 m and 26.1 m, respectively. The precast prestressed concrete box girder is supported by 18 cou ples of cables (nine couples for each span). These cables start from a central pylon whose heigh t above the deck is equal to 30 m. The dynamic response of the deck subjected to ambient v brations was monitored by placing several accelerometers along its longitudinal axis in order to identify the global modal characteristics (i.e., natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios). The cables were equipped with accelerometers as well and the acquired measurement s have been elaborated by means of some simplified analytical formulations for estimating t he traction force. Finally, experimental results have been compared with initial design requirements a d the outcomes of a previous dynamic monitoring campaign.
Mobile devices in the lecture hall: Into it, indifferent, or intrusion?

Abstract The authors explored undergraduate business students’ feelings and thoughts about themselves, other students, and their professors when mobile devices are used in the lecture hall for nonacademic purposes. Specifically, they investigated mobile device use during class time, and whether students support it, are indifferent toward it, or consider it to be an intrusion. Using the critical incident technique, the authors thematically categorized students’ thoughts and feelings regarding mobile device usage in the classroom for nonacademic purposes. The results uncovered unique perspectives presented by the students that carry implications for students, professors and administrators.