Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intel ® Trusted Execution Technology Hardware-based Technology for Enhancing Server Platform Security

architecture called Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) that provides hardware-based security technologies to help build a solid foundation for security.1 Built into Intel’s silicon, these technologies address the increasing and evolving security threats across physical and virtual infrastructures by complementing runtime protections such as anti-virus software. Intel TXT also can play a role in meeting government and industry regulations and data protection standards by providing a hardwarebased method of verification useful in compliance efforts. Intel TXT is specifically designed to harden platforms from the emerging threats of hypervisor attacks, BIOS, or other firmware attacks, malicious root kit installations, or other softwarebased attacks. It increases protection by allowing greater control of the launch stack through a Measured Launch Environment (MLE) and enabling isolation in the boot process. More specifically, it extends the Virtual Machine Extensions (VMX) environment of Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT), permitting a verifiably secure installation, launch, and use of a hypervisor or operating system (OS). Intel TXT gives IT and security organizations important enhancements to help ensure more secure platforms; greater application, data, or virtual machine (VM) isolation; and improved security or compliance audit capabilities. Not only can it help reduce support and remediation costs, but it can also provide a foundation for more advanced solutions as security needs change to support increasingly virtualized or “multi-tenant” shared data center resources. This paper describes the basic uses of Intel TXT, the core components, how they operate, and critical enabling requirements for the technology in server implementations. Executive Summary A building is only as good as its foundation. The same is true for a computer architecture’s information security. In an age where security breaches in IT infrastructure are increasingly common front page news, it’s imperative that organizations use the most secure building blocks for the foundations of their IT solutions. This is of growing importance today, as IT managers are being asked to evolve their data centers into new and more demanding uses that challenge existing security practices. For example, as the data center gets increasingly virtualized, high-value or highly sensitive workloads from different lines of business will be shared across common physical infrastructure. Where traditional physical isolation is no longer possible a more trusted infrastructure is the key to maintaining the high assurance and control required to meet the security needs in the data center. The increased interest in cloud computing will only further emphasize the need for more visibility into the security status of workloads and systems and new control capabilities to meet compliance mandates. Intel® Trusted Execution Technology
Cell-based protein delivery system for the inhibition of the growth of pancreatic cancer: NK4 gene-transduced oral mucosal epithelial cell sheet.

PURPOSE Pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer is the only curative modality, but the high incidence of local recurrence after surgery results in a very poor prognosis. This study aims to develop a new therapeutic tool that could inhibit the growth of remnant cancer cells, which is based on local delivery of NK4 (hepatocyte growth factor antagonist) secreted from an NK4 gene-transduced oral mucosal epithelial cell (OMEC) sheet (NK4-sheet), which is adhered to the resected surface. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OMECs, harvested and cultured according to 3T3 feeder layer technique, were seeded on a collagen mesh-overlayered, biodegradable VICRYL mesh to produce an OMEC sheet. NK4 gene transduction was mediated by recombinant adenovirus (Ad-NK4). Applicability of OMECs for cell-based NK4 delivery was examined. An experimental model using nude mice was established to determine the effect of an NK4-sheet on both tumor growth and angiogenesis. RESULTS NK4 secreted from Ad-NK4-transduced OMECs suppressed MRC-5-induced invasion of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Heterotopically implanted gene-transduced OMECs remained for >/==" BORDER="0">10 days while gradually decreasing. NK4-sheets inhibited both angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION Autologous OMEC was found to be suited to this purpose because of no secretion of hepatocyte growth factor, ease in harvesting from a patient, reasonably high proliferation potential, and no immune reaction. Although NK4-sheets under development exhibited a low level and short period of NK4 secretion, it is expected that this system may have a great potentiality of protein delivery system to target tissue at clinical situations when it is loaded with multilayered OMECs.
Scene Recognition by Hyperspectral Ratio Indexing: How Many Channels Are Necessary?

The problem of object or scene recognition is often addressed by seeking geometric image properties that are invariant under changes in viewing conditions. An alternative, non-geometric, ratio method was described by Funt and Finlayson (IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 17,522, 1995) in which histograms of spatial ratios of colour RGB triplets from neighbouring image regions were used to recognise objects under changes in viewpoint and illumination. In this study, ratio indexing was extended from RGB images to hyperspectral images with a variable number of sensor channels distributed over 400-720 nm. Fifty natural scenes were used to generate test and reference images. For each number of sensors, independent random samples were drawn from each test image of a scene under either a daylight of correlated colour temperature of 25000 K or of 4000 K and matched against independent random samples drawn from each reference image of the scenes under a daylight of correlated colour temperature 6500 K. Matching was based on the intersection of multi-dimensional histograms of ratios of sensor signals in these samples Differences between match hit and false-alarm rates provided a measure of recognition performance. Results suggest that for small samples, indexing with five sensor channels has advantages over indexing with three sensor channels for the recognition of natural scenes.
Path Optimization Techniques for Trusted Routing in Tactical Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Isr develops, applies and teaches advanced methodologies of design and analysis to solve complex, hierarchical, heterogeneous and dynamic problems of engineering technology and systems for industry and government. Isr is a permanent institute of the university of maryland, within the a. James clark school of engineering. It is a graduated national science foundation engineering research center.
Cornering Stationary and Restless Mixing Bandits with Remix-UCB

We study the restless bandit problem where arms are associated with stationary φ-mixing processes and where rewards are therefore dependent: the question that arises from this setting is that of carefully recovering some independence by 'ignoring' the values of some rewards. As we shall see, the bandit problem we tackle requires us to address the exploration/exploitation/independence trade-off, which we do by considering the idea of a waiting arm in the new Remix-UCB algorithm, a generalization of Improved-UCB for the problem at hand, that we introduce. We provide a regret analysis for this bandit strategy; two noticeable features of Remix-UCB are that i) it reduces to the regular Improved-UCB when the φ-mixing coefficients are all 0, i.e. when the i.i. d scenario is recovered, and ii) when φ(n) = O(n-α), it is able to ensure a controlled regret of order Θ~ (Δ*(α-2)/ α log1/α T), where Δ* encodes the distance between the best arm and the best suboptimal arm, even in the case when α < 1, i.e. the case when the φ-mixing coefficients are not summable.
INVERSE MODELING FOR SPATIAL PATTERN OF TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY ( Q 10 ) IN CHINA

Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration (Q10) is an important parameter on evaluations of feedback intensity between soil carbon efflux and global warming. Although experiments of soil respiration indicate its value has high spatial heterogeneity due to influences of many spatially heterogeneous environmental factors, the coupled climate-carbon cycle models usually assume it a globally invariant constant for its spatial complexity. Therefore, revealing the spatial pattern of Q10 value and incorporating it into coupled climate-cycle models is an urgent scientific problem for reducing uncertainties of projected climate and atmospheric CO2 content. In this study, an inversion analysis method, which combines a process-based terrestrial carbon cycle model (CASA model) with observations of soil organic carbon, was used to retrieve the spatial pattern of Q10 in China at 0.08 by 0.08 degree resolution. The results indicate that the optimal Q10 value for different spatial grid is spatially heterogeneous, which are matched with those derived from soil respiration observations. The mean Q10 values for different soil types range from 1.09 to 2.38. The results indicate that the spatial pattern of Q10 value is related with environmental factors, especially precipitation and top soil organic carbon content. * Corresponding author.
Suppression of epidemic spreading in complex networks by local information based behavioral responses

The interplay between individual behaviors and epidemic dynamics in complex networks is a topic of recent interest. In particular, individuals can obtain different types of information about the disease and respond by altering their behaviors, and this can affect the spreading dynamics, possibly in a significant way. We propose a model where individuals' behavioral response is based on a generic type of local information, i.e., the number of neighbors that has been infected with the disease. Mathematically, the response can be characterized by a reduction in the transmission rate by a factor that depends on the number of infected neighbors. Utilizing the standard susceptible-infected-susceptible and susceptible-infected-recovery dynamical models for epidemic spreading, we derive a theoretical formula for the epidemic threshold and provide numerical verification. Our analysis lays on a solid quantitative footing the intuition that individual behavioral response can in general suppress epidemic spreading. Furthermore, we find that the hub nodes play the role of “double-edged sword” in that they can either suppress or promote outbreak, depending on their responses to the epidemic, providing additional support for the idea that these nodes are key to controlling epidemic spreading in complex networks.
Developing Competencies for Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine

In 2006, hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) became an officially recognized subspecialty. This designation helped initiate the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education Outcomes Project in HPM. As part of this process, a group of expert clinician–educators in HPM defined the initial competency-based outcomes for HPM fellows (General HPM Competencies). Concurrently, these experts recognized and acknowledged that additional expertise in pediatric HPM would ensure that the competencies for pediatric HPM were optimally represented. To fill this gap, a group of pediatric HPM experts used a product development method to define specific Pediatric HPM Competencies. This article describes the development process. With the ongoing evolution of HPM, these competencies will evolve. As part of the Next Accreditation System, the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education uses milestones as a framework to better define competency-based, measurable outcomes for trainees. Currently, there are no milestones specific to HPM, although the field is designing curricular milestones with multispecialty involvement, including pediatrics. These competencies are the conceptual framework for the pediatric content in the HPM milestones. They are specific to the pediatric HPM subspecialist and should be integrated into the training of pediatric HPM subspecialists. They will serve a foundational role in HPM and should inform a wide range of emerging innovations, including the next evolution of HPM Competencies, development of HPM curricular milestones, and training of adult HPM and other pediatric subspecialists. They may also inform pediatric HPM outcome measures, as well as standards of practice and performance for pediatric HPM interdisciplinary teams.
Belonging to a majority reduces the immediate need threat from ostracism in individuals with a high need to belong

Ostracism—being ignored and excluded—threatens the basic human needs for belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence. This work introduces belonging to a majority as a buffer against the immediate negative impact of ostracism on basic needs for individuals with a high need to belong, for whom social groups are especially relevant. Three studies show that for individuals high in the need to belong, need threat was attenuated by membership in a majority group, but not by membership in a minority group (Studies 1 and 3) or a group of unknown size (Study 2). By contrast, individuals low in the need to belong—who place less importance on group membership in general—did not benefit from belonging to a majority group. The general pattern replicated across different manipulations of group membership and social exclusion, with two measures of need threat, and with participants from two different countries.
Rate-distortion optimized video coding with stopping rules: quality and complexity

This paper presents a new motion estimation (ME) strategy for video coding. Such a strategy makes use of stopping rules in the ME process, which considers both the motion vector coding cost and desired minimum quality for each macroblock used. In a rate-distortion sense, the obtained results by the proposed algorithm are superior to the ones achieved with the full search (FS) algorithm. Moreover, the strategy reduces the mean number of searching points. Through simulations, by using an H.263 encoder, we verify that the proposed algorithm is more effective for video coding than the one used in the TMN11-LC (low complexity mode decision) FS implementation.
The blue host galaxy of the red GRB 000418

We report on multi-band ( UB VRIZJ sKs) observations of the host galaxy of the April 18, 2000 gamma-ray burst. The Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) is analysed by fitting empirical and synthetic spectral templates. We find that: (i) the best SED fit is obtained with a starburst template, (ii) the photometric redshift is consistent with the spectroscopic redshift, (iii) the colours of the host are inconsistent with an old stellar population, and (iv) the global extinction is constrained to be in the range AV = 0:12-0:61 mag. The derived global extinction agrees with the one reported for the afterglow (AV = 0:4-0:9 mag), suggesting a homogeneous distribution of the interstellar medium (ISM) in the host galaxy. These findings are supplemented by morphological information from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging: the surface brightness profile is smooth, symmetric and compact with no underlying structures (like dust lanes, spiral arms or disks). A natural scenario which accounts of all the above results is a nuclear starburst that harbours a young population of stars from which the GRB originated.
Virtual Reality and Body Heat : A Pilot Study

Recent studies in social warmth suggest the essence of physical warmth to the interpersonal interaction and human relationship. Mediated warmth therefore can serve as a computer mediated communication (CMC) when the persons are physically separated. Through this study, a pilot experiment was designed and developed to learn about the possibility of body warmth as an intimate cue when experiencing social interaction in virtual reality. The pilot experiment aims to learn more about the proposed methodology and discuss future improvements for the actual experiment which will be carried out later. In the experiment, social proximity was investigated by simulating an interaction in virtual reality and utilizing the equilibrium theory of intimacy compensation. The participant was expected to keep further distance from the avatar when they were put into the virtual environment with another participant (who is actually a confederate) while feeling the warmth on their shoulder when wearing the heat vest. As a result, the experiment’s manipulation worked as intended and the cover story was credible. However, some prominent issues need to be further discussed: How should the instructions be integrated to ensure the immersive experience in the virtual environment? Which part of the heat vest should be heated to simulate the tactile intimacy? What needs to be improved in the interaction among participants, confederates, and experimenters? In addition, suggestions on how the data analysis and means of measure should be carried out will be given in this paper.
Gabor and HOG approach to facial emotion recognition

Automated facial emotion recognition is an essential step for proper Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) since much of human-human interaction occurs outside of our speech and tone of voice. While other papers have tried singular approaches to this problem, we explore a combination of Gabor and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) to accurately recognise emotion from still images. This novel method has out-achieved many competing Gabor alone and HOG alone methods with future work aiming to explore larger databases and classifiers.
Molecular Clouds as Cosmic-Ray Barometers

The advent of high sensitivity, high resolution � -ray detectors, together with a knowledge of the distribution of the atomic hydrogen and especially of the molecular hydrogen in the Galaxy on a subdegree scale, creates a unique opportunity to explore the flux of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. We here present the new data on the distribution of the molecular hydrogen from a large region of the inner Galaxy obtained by the NANTEN Collaboration. We then introduce a methodology which aims to provide a test bed for current and future � -ray observatories to explore the cosmic-ray flux at various positions in our Galaxy. In particular, for a distribution of molecular clouds, as provided by the NANTEN survey, and local cosmic-ray density as measured at the Earth, we estimate the expected GeV to TeV � -ray signal, which can then be compared with observations, and use to test the cosmic-ray flux.
A study of information seeking behavior: investigating exploratory behavior in physical & online spaces

OF THE DISSERTATION A Study of Information Seeking Behavior: Investigating Exploratory Behavior in Physical & Online Spaces by Dongho Choi Dissertation Director: Chirag Shah, Ph.D. An individual has their own behavioral patterns that exhibit commonalities over different contexts and situations. Several studies have shown (1) dichotomic human mobility patterns in everyday life such as returner vs. explorer, (2) the analogy of the “Explorer” and the “Web Explorer,” and (3) the same brain structure used during both physical and online navigation. Meanwhile, modern technologies such as smart phones and wearable devices have allowed researchers to collect users’ personal, contextual, and cognitive information and to create behavioral models from different perspectives. Based on the analogy between the physical and online searching, this dissertation investigates individuals’ behaviors during online and physical search tasks to identify their behavioral patterns. To observe the behaviors, during web search task and physical search games, 31 participants’ data was collected via eye-tracker, web browser, and wearable video recorder. Analysis of the behavioral data suggests individuals have preferred searching strategy that they adopt in different tasks and environments. The behavioral pattern, however, was found to be affected by the task type and the way information is structured in the environments.
Multi-view face detection using support vector machines and eigenspace modelling

An approach to multi-view face detection based on head pose estimation is presented in this paper. Support vector regression is employed to solve the problem of pose estimation. Three methods, the eigenface method the support vector machine (SVM) based method, and a combination of the two methods, are investigated. The eigenface method, which seeks to estimate the overall probability distribution of patterns to be recognised, is fast but less accurate because of the overlap of confidence distributions between face and non-face classes. On the other hand, the SVM method, which tries to model the boundary of two classes to be classified is more accurate but slower as the number of support vectors is normally large. The combined method can achieve an improved performance by speeding up the computation and keeping the accuracy to a preset level. It can be used to automatically detect and track faces in face verification and identification systems.
Psychometric properties of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control - A and General Self-Efficacy Scale in civil servants: ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal Study (ELSA-Brasil MSK)

Abstract Background Health-related control and self-efficacy beliefs can be assessed in the general population using Multidimensional Health Locus of Control-A subscales (MHLC-A) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), respectively. Objective To test construct validity, internal consistency, reliability (test-retest) and ceiling and floor effects of Portuguese-Brazil versions of MHLC-A and GSES. Method Civil servants (N=2901) enrolled in a large Brazilian cohort were included. A new version of the GSES was produced (GSES-Brazil). Procedures for cross-cultural adaptation and testing of psychometric properties followed well-accepted international guidelines. Results Confirmatory factor analyses yielded the following indices: MHLC-A (tridimensional model): χ2[df]=223.45[132], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.87; TLI=0.85; RMSEA=0.07 (0.07-0.08); WRMR=3.00. GSES-Brazil (unidimensional model): χ2[df]=788.60[35], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.95; TLI=0.94; RMSEA=0.09 (0.08-0.09); WRMR=2.50. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2,1) ranged from 0.57 (0.54-0.59) and 0.57 (0.47-0.65) for MHLC-A internality to 0.80 (0.79-0.81) and 0.71 (0.66-0.77) for GSES-Brazil, respectively. There was no evidence of ceiling and floor effects. Convergent validity analyses provided further support for construct validity of both scales. Conclusion These findings support the use of the newly developed version of GSES-Brazil for the assessment of general self-efficacy of adult Brazilians. Internal consistency was lower than ideal for MHLC-A, indicating these subscales may need further refinements to provide a more psychometrically sound measure of control beliefs.
A Robot That Communicates With Vocal Fillers Has … Uhhh … Greater Social Presence

Social robots are communicative partners that need interpersonal communication skills. Vocal fillers have been shown to act as cues during interpersonal communication. The purpose of this experiment was to test people’s perceptions of their social presence with social robots utilizing vocal fillers. Participants reported an increase in their perceptions of social presence during the condition in which the social robot spoke with vocal fillers.