Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constrained Function Based En-Route Filtering for Sensor Networks

Sensor networks are vulnerable to \emph{false data injection attack} and \emph{path-based DoS} (PDoS) attack. While conventional authentication schemes are insufficient for solving these security conflicts, an \emph{en-route filtering} scheme acts as a defense against these two attacks. To construct an efficient en-route filtering scheme, this paper first presents a Constrained Function based message Authentication (CFA) scheme, which can be thought of as a hash function directly supporting the en-route filtering functionality. Together with the \emph{redundancy property} of sensor networks, which means that an event can be simultaneously observed by multiple sensor nodes, the devised CFA scheme is used to construct a CFA-based en-route filtering (CFAEF) scheme. In contrast to most of the existing methods, which rely on complicated security associations among sensor nodes, our design, which directly exploits an en-route filtering hash function, appears to be novel. We examine the CFA and CFAEF schemes from both the theoretical and numerical aspects to demonstrate their efficiency and effectiveness.
Pregnancy Promotes Maternal Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Guinea Pigs

Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) modulates cognition and behavior in mammals, while motherhood is associated with cognitive and behavioral changes essential for the care of the young. In mice and rats, hippocampal neurogenesis is reported to be reduced or unchanged during pregnancy, with few data available from other species. In guinea pigs, pregnancy lasts ~9 weeks; we set to explore if hippocampal neurogenesis is altered in these animals, relative to gestational stages. Time-pregnant primigravidas (3-5 months old) and age-matched nonpregnant females were examined, with neurogenic potential evaluated via immunolabeling of Ki67, Sp8, doublecortin (DCX), and neuron-specific nuclear antigen (NeuN) combined with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) birth-dating. Relative to control, subgranular Ki67, Sp8, and DCX-immunoreactive (+) cells tended to increase from early gestation to postpartum and peaked at the late gestational stage. In BrdU pulse-chasing experiments in nonpregnant females surviving for different time points (2-120 days), BrdU+ cells in the DG colocalized with DCX partially from 2 to 42 days (most frequently at 14-30 days) and with NeuN increasingly from 14 to 120 days. In pregnant females that received BrdU at early, middle, and late gestational stages and survived for 42 days, the density of BrdU+ cells in the DG was mostly high in the late gestational group. The rates of BrdU/DCX and BrdU/NeuN colocalization were similar among these groups and comparable to those among the corresponding control group. Together, the findings suggest that pregnancy promotes maternal hippocampal neurogenesis in guinea pigs, at least among primigravidas.
Polarization-Sensitive Descending Neurons in the Locust: Connecting the Brain to Thoracic Ganglia

Many animal species, in particular insects, exploit the E-vector pattern of the blue sky for sun compass navigation. Like other insects, locusts detect dorsal polarized light via photoreceptors in a specialized dorsal rim area of the compound eye. Polarized light information is transmitted through several processing stages to the central complex, a brain area involved in the control of goal-directed orientation behavior. To investigate how polarized light information is transmitted to thoracic motor circuits, we studied the responses of locust descending neurons to polarized light. Three sets of polarization-sensitive descending neurons were characterized through intracellular recordings from axonal fibers in the neck connectives combined with single-cell dye injections. Two descending neurons from the brain, one with ipsilaterally and the second with contralaterally descending axon, are likely to bridge the gap between polarization-sensitive neurons in the brain and thoracic motor centers. In both neurons, E-vector tuning changed linearly with daytime, suggesting that they signal time-compensated spatial directions, an important prerequisite for navigation using celestial signals. The third type connects the suboesophageal ganglion with the prothoracic ganglion. It showed no evidence for time compensation in E-vector tuning and might play a role in flight stabilization and control of head movements.
ZF Beamforming Performance Analysis for Multiuser Spatial Multiplexing with Imperfect Channel Feedback

In this paper, we focus on downlink zero forcing (ZF) beamforming design scheme for multiuser (MU) spatial multiplexing (SM) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Based on the minimum average probability of symbol error (PSE), we give the optimal design method of the beamforming weight matrices. Furthermore, we derive the upper bound PSEs to evaluate the impact of channel feedback errors on the system performance. Comparison of the upper bounds of the average PSE for several schemes shows that the downlink ZF beamforming for multiuser spatial multiplexing MIMO schemes provide almost the same performance as the SU beamforming scheme.
Combination of a 22-pole Trap With an Electron Energy Filter - Study of Associative Detachment H + H ! H2 + e

In this work, we present an apparatus that is being developed at the Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague. Our aim is to study in detail the associative detachment reaction H + H ! H2 + e . The experiment will consist of the CEB-22PT apparatus from the Chemnitz University of Technology. extended with a Magnetic Adiabatic Collimator with Electrostatic filter (MAC-E filter for short). This article contains information about the electromagnetic design of the MAC-E filter and numerical tests of its resolution. We discuss the possibility of operating this filter in combination with 22-pole trap. Numerical simulations of cooling ions in superimposed magnetic and RF fields are presented.
Scenario reduction in stochastic programming: An approach using probability metrics

Given a convex stochastic programming problem with a discrete initial probability distribution, the problem of optimal scenario reduction is stated as follows: Determine a scenario subset of prescribed cardinality and a probability measure based on this set that is the closest to the initial distribution in terms of a natural (or canonical) probability metric. Arguments from stability analysis indicate that Fortet-Mourier type probability metrics may serve as such canonical metrics. Efficient algorithms are developed that determine optimal reduced measures approximately. Numerical experience is reported for reductions of electrical load scenario trees for power management under uncertainty. For instance, it turns out that after 50% reduction of the scenario tree the optimal reduced tree still has about 90% relative accuracy.
Noise robust Voice Activity Detection for multiple speakers

Many modern systems rely on transparent human-machine interfaces that allow them to fulfill their purpose in a more efficient and unobtrusive way. In order to build an efficient and reliable speech based human-machine interface, being able to determine when to process the incoming signals even in unfavorable environments is a definite requisite. Our Voice Activity Detection (VAD) method proposes a novel way of mixing monaural and microphone array techniques; monaural techniques are mainly focused on providing robusticity, while microphone array techniques complete the system with the capability of detecting source direction from background noise. This is implemented by first applying a cochlear filtering and channel selection to remove noise, and then a series of strict conditions are applied in order to be able to obtain the fundamental frequencies of the sources which is finally used to obtain the VAD masks.
Refactoring for Performance: An Experience Report

An enclosure for having foam generated and contained therein is defined between two layers of flexible thermoplastic material, which are edge sealed to define an enclosed unit. One inwardly facing surface of one layer is coated with a first foam generating agent, such as crystals, and the opposite, inwardly facing surface of the other layer is coated with capsules of another foam forming agent, wherein the capsules prevent mixing of the two agents for generating foam. Upon subsequent rupture of the capsules, the foam generating agents mix, react and generate foam in the enclosure. An additional layer may be disposed between the two exterior layers. Both surfaces of the additional layer also carry one of the foam forming agents, whereby two enclosures are defined, one over the other, each for generating and containing foam. In forming the enclosed unit, each layer is separately coated with its respective foam forming agent and thereafter the layers are secured together to define the enclosure.
On OO Design Consistency in Iterative Development

In agile software development practices, the system evolves iteratively but does so in a manner consistent with its design rationale. Evolution often begins with last known design representation because it provides a high level view of the system that is easy to understand. However, the impact of a design change is poorly understood in terms of it's effect on consistency of design. In fact, design evolution presents three important issues: consistency amongst design representations, traceability of a design change in code in order to maintain consistency and versioning of design entities along with versioning of code. In this effort, we propose a solution to the first two issues using a relational meta-model of various design & code entities and an algorithm to check consistency over this relational meta-model
Investigation on Volume Scattering for Vegetation Parameter Estimation of Polarimetric SAR Interferometry

The objective of this paper is to investigate the volume scattering forthevegetation parameter estimation of Polarimetric Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (Pol-InSAR). Firstly the models for describing the volume scattering are derived from the Pol-InSAR imaging geometry and volume scattering characteristics. The interferometric properties of volume scatter- ing as well as the polarimetric properties of volume scattering are analyzed based on the model. Then the efiects of volume height, extinction coe-cient, ground to volume ratio, ground phase, in- cidence angle, and perpendicular baseline,on the volumescatteringcoherenceare analyzed based on the Random Volume over Ground model. Furthermore, with simulated Pol-InSAR data, the efiects of these parameters on the estimation accuracy of vegetation height are presented and the radar parameters for better estimating vegetation height are discussed.
How Educational Expenditures Relate to Student Achievement: Insights from Texas Elementary Schools.

question of how school resources relate to student achievement remains a controversial topic after more than 30 years of research.1 Today, largely as a result of Hanushek's contention that "there is no strong or systematic relationship between school expenditures and student performance,"2 the belief that there is little relationship between educational spending and student achievement persists. However, some researchers are challenging this belief,3 and educational leaders and policymakers are calling for additional research on the relationship between school spending and student performance.4 The present study pursues this line of inquiry by examining detailed school spending and achievement data for over 2,800 elementary schools in Texas. This approach addresses the need for
X-ray and soft γ-ray spectra of broad-line radio galaxies

ABSTRA C T We study X-ray and soft g-ray spectral properties of nearby broad-line radio galaxies (BLRGs) using data from Ginga, ASCA, OSSE and EXOSAT. The X-ray spectra are well fitted by an intrinsic power-law continuum with an energy index of a , 0:7, moderately absorbed by a cold medium. In addition, the Ginga spectra show fluorescent Fe Ka lines with an average equivalent width of ,100 eV, and, in some cases, Compton reflection humps. However, the latter are significantly weaker than both those seen in radio-quiet Seyfert 1s and those expected if the Fe Ka lines were due to reflection. We find that this weakness of reflection cannot be explained by dilution by another continuum component, e.g. from a jet. Some ASCA and EXOSAT spectra show soft X-ray excesses below ,3 keV. When that component is taken into account, the Fe Ka lines in the ASCA data are found to be unresolved in most cases, and to have equivalent widths &200 eV, consistent with the Ginga data. Multiple observations of 3C 382 and 390.3 show the Fe Ka line approximately constant in flux but accompanied by strong continuum variations. This indicates the bulk of the line is formed by matter at a distance much larger than an accretion-disc scale, consistent with the ASCA line width measurements. The column density of the matter required to account for the observed line fluxes is NH * 10 23 cm π2 . Such a medium is in the line of sight of 3C 445, but it has to be out of it in other objects in which the observed NH are substantially lower. Thus a cold medium with that NH and covering a large solid angle is common in BLRGs, but in most objects it is out of the line of sight, consistent with the unified AGN model. The spectra of BLRGs break and become softer above ,100 keV, as shown by a simultaneous ASCA/OSSE observation of 3C 120 and by the OSSE spectra being on average much softer than the X-ray spectra. Finally, we find the X-ray and g-ray spectral properties of Cen A, a bright narrow-line radio galaxy ‐ a . 0:8, no or weak Compton reflection, NH * 10 23 cm π2 (which is consistent with its Fe Ka line flux), and a high-energy break at ,100 keV ‐ consistent with Cen A being intrinsically very similar to BLRGs studied here, again in agreement with the unified model.
Word Combination Kernel for Text Categorization

We proposed a novel kernel for text categorization. This kernel is an inner product in the feature space generated by all word combinations of specified length. A word combination is a collection of different words co-occurring in the same sentence. The word combination of length k is weighted by the k-th root of the product of the inverse document frequencies (IDF) of its words. A computationally simple and efficient algorithm was proposed to calculate this kernel. By restricting the words of a word combination to the same sentence and considering multi-word combinations, the word combination features can capture similarity at a more specific level than single words. By discarding word order, the word combination features are more compatible with the flexibility of natural language and the dimensionality this kernel can be reduced significantly compared to the word-sequence kernel. We conducted a series of experiments on the Reuters-21578 dataset and 20 Newsgroups dataset. This kernel consistently achieves better performance than the classical word kernel and word-sequence kernel on the two datasets. We also assessed the impact of word combination length on performance and compared the computing efficiency of this kernel to those of the word kernel and word-sequence kernel.
Board Independence , Corporate Spending , and Cash Holdings *

We examine the effect of board independence on cash holdings and spending using the 2003 NYSE and NASDAQ board independence requirements as an exogenous shock. Noncompliant firms that are forced to raise board independence increase their cash holdings, especially when the firms are transparent. Part of the cash increase comes from a reduction in acquisition spending, and the market responds more favorably to the announcements of deals that survive the spending cut. Moreover, the increase in board independence causes the market to place a greater value on cash holdings. Our results suggest that greater board independence improves decisions related to the spending and accumulation of cash. * We thank Jon Garfinkel, Feng Jiang, Yiming Qian, Anand Vijh, Adam Yore, and seminar participants at the University of Iowa for comments and suggestions.
Molecular Mechanism of Sulphonylurea Block of KATP Channels Carrying Mutations That Impair ATP Inhibition and Cause Neonatal Diabetes

Sulphonylurea drugs are the therapy of choice for treating neonatal diabetes (ND) caused by mutations in the ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP channel). We investigated the interactions between MgATP, MgADP, and the sulphonylurea gliclazide with KATP channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In the absence of MgATP, gliclazide block was similar for wild-type channels and those carrying the Kir6.2 ND mutations R210C, G334D, I296L, and V59M. Gliclazide abolished the stimulatory effect of MgATP on all channels. Conversely, high MgATP concentrations reduced the gliclazide concentration, producing a half-maximal block of G334D and R201C channels and suggesting a mutual antagonism between nucleotide and gliclazide binding. The maximal extent of high-affinity gliclazide block of wild-type channels was increased by MgATP, but this effect was smaller for ND channels; channels that were least sensitive to ATP inhibition showed the smallest increase in sulphonylurea block. Consequently, G334D and I296L channels were not fully blocked, even at physiological MgATP concentrations (1 mmol/L). Glibenclamide block was also reduced in β-cells expressing Kir6.2-V59M channels. These data help to explain why patients with some mutations (e.g., G334D, I296L) are insensitive to sulphonylurea therapy, why higher drug concentrations are needed to treat ND than type 2 diabetes, and why patients with severe ND mutations are less prone to drug-induced hypoglycemia.
Identification of Antioxidant Capacity -Related QTLs in Brassica oleracea

Brassica vegetables possess high levels of antioxidant metabolites associated with beneficial health effects including vitamins, carotenoids, anthocyanins, soluble sugars and phenolics. Until now, no reports have been documented on the genetic basis of the antioxidant activity (AA) in Brassicas and the content of metabolites with AA like phenolics, anthocyanins and carotenoids. For this reason, this study aimed to: (1) study the relationship among different electron transfer (ET) methods for measuring AA, (2) study the relationship between these methods and phenolic, carotenoid and anthocyanin content, and (3) find QTLs of AA measured with ET assays and for phenolic, carotenoid and anthocyanin contents in leaves and flower buds in a DH population of B. oleracea as an early step in order to identify genes related to these traits. Low correlation coefficients among different methods for measuring AA suggest that it is necessary to employ more than one method at the same time. A total of 19 QTLs were detected for all traits. For AA methods, seven QTLs were found in leaves and six QTLs were found in flower buds. Meanwhile, for the content of metabolites with AA, two QTLs were found in leaves and four QTLs were found in flower buds. AA of the mapping population is related to phenolic compounds but also to carotenoid content. Three genomic regions determined variation for more than one ET method measuring AA. After the syntenic analysis with A. thaliana, several candidate genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis are proposed for the QTLs found.
Archaeal and bacterial communities in three alkaline hot springs in Heart Lake Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

The Heart Lake Geyser Basin (HLGB) is remotely located at the base of Mount Sheridan in southern Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming, USA and is situated along Witch Creek and the northwestern shore of Heart Lake. Likely because of its location, little is known about the microbial community structure of springs in the HLGB. Bacterial and archaeal populations were monitored via small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene pyrosequencing over 3 years in 3 alkaline (pH 8.5) hot springs with varying temperatures (44°C, 63°C, 75°C). The bacterial populations were generally stable over time, but varied by temperature. The dominant bacterial community changed from moderately thermophilic and photosynthetic members (Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi) at 44°C to a mixed photosynthetic and thermophilic community (Deinococcus-Thermus) at 63°C and a non-photosynthetic thermophilic community at 75°C. The archaeal community was more variable across time and was predominantly a methanogenic community in the 44 and 63°C springs and a thermophilic community in the 75°C spring. The 75°C spring demonstrated large shifts in the archaeal populations and was predominantly Candidatus Nitrosocaldus, an ammonia-oxidizing crenarchaeote, in the 2007 sample, and almost exclusively Thermofilum or Candidatus Caldiarchaeum in the 2009 sample, depending on SSU rRNA gene region examined. The majority of sequences were dissimilar (≥10% different) to any known organisms suggesting that HLGB possesses numerous new phylogenetic groups that warrant cultivation efforts.
Novel Wireless Mesh Networking Architectures for Future Smart Homes

Future smart homes will create comfortable living environments which are embedded with a wide range of intelligent functionalities including home computing, entertainment, health care, and security. These place stringent requirements on the home networking architecture. In this paper, we propose a novel concept of Virtual Wireless Wire (Viwiwire), which is a set of consecutive high bandwidth wireless links over which concurrent transmission and reception can operate without interference. Based on this concept, a number of specific mesh networking architectures are proposed for future smart home networking. These include: wireless busline mesh, wireless ring mesh, and general multi-path mesh. The paper presents analyses that demonstrate the high performance of the proposed networking architectures.
A task-management system using future prediction based on personal lifelogs and plans

People who are busy generally have to manage a great variety of tasks. But sometimes, they fall behind in minor tasks and gradually, even without them noticing, a huge backlog piles up, far beyond the person's capacity to complete them well and on time. We proposed a task-management system that predicts a user's future state on the basis of the user's lifelog and plans, using a simple linear regression model. We implemented the system using a smartphone and estimated its usefulness with a user test. As a result, the users of our system saw their future diaries and tried to alter their current daily activities.
A study of resilience in First Nations post-secondary education students

The drop out rate of First Nations students has been a long-standing issue and concern. Although it is important to explore the factors for this dropout, this study takes a different approach. This thesis is intended to contribute to an understanding of the resilience processes that enable those who persevere and succeed in spite of great adversity. Six graduates, three female and three male, from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, Indian Education Program, were interviewed. Using a narrative inquiry method, their stories were analyzed. Data analysis revealed the factors and themes associated with resiliency. A model of resilience is presented based on the predominant protective factors that have been identified. These factors are: self-efficacy, vision, faith, stability, compassion, and resourcefulness. The implications of this study for First Nations education and research are discussed.