Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Privacy Preserving Multiset Union with ElGamal Encryption

The privacy preserving multiset union (PPMU) protocol allows a set of parties, each with a multiset, to collaboratively compute a multiset union secretly, meaning that any information other than union is not revealed. We propose an efficient PPMU protocol, using multiplicative homomorphic property of ElGamal encryption over Fq[x]/f(x) where q is a prime and f(x) is an irreducible polynomial over Fq. The protocol involves a constant number of rounds and improves the computation and communication complexities of the scheme proposed by Kissner and Song. We also prove the security of the protocol in the random oracle model.
Are we educating educators about academic integrity? A study of UK higher education textbooks

Abstract A substantial proportion of university students report committing plagiarism and related forms of misconduct. An academic integrity-focused approach to addressing plagiarism emphasises the promotion of positive values alongside education of staff and students about good, and bad, practice in writing, studying and assessment design. The concept was developed many years ago and is seen as desirable, yet it is not clear whether academic integrity features prominently in the education of academics themselves. We analysed source texts for postgraduate certificates in higher education (or equivalent) at UK universities. Overall, academic integrity was poorly addressed in these texts, and the language used (‘cheating’, ‘plagiarism’) was not reflective of an academic integrity-based approach. Newer issues, such as the purchasing of custom written assignments (contract cheating), were barely addressed. We conclude that the concept of academic integrity needs to be integrated into mainstream discourse around teaching in UK higher education.
Expression of Cre recombinase during transient phage infection permits efficient marker removal in Streptomyces

We report a system for the efficient removal of a marker flanked by two loxP sites in Streptomyces coelicolor, using a derivative of the temperate phage φC31 that expresses Cre recombinase during a transient infection. As the test case for this recombinant phage (called Cre-phage), we present the construction of an in-frame deletion of a gene, pglW, required for phage growth limitation or Pgl in S.coelicolor. Cre-phage was also used for marker deletion in other strains of S.coelicolor.
Advanced Doherty Architecture

For modulated signals with a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), the transmitter has to be operated with its average output power backed off for an acceptable linearity at the expense of low efficiency. To achieve high efficiency and high linearity at the same time, both an efficiency enhancement technique and a linearization technique should be utilized. A powerful and reliable linearization technique, digital predistortion (DPD), is currently the most favored method for the linearization of base-station amplifiers [1]-[3]. Possible efficiency enhancement techniques are the hybrid envelope elimination and restoration/envelope tracking technique (H-EER/ET) and the Do-herty technique.
Robustness Analysis of Floating-Point Programs by Self-Composition

Robustness is a key property for critical systems that run in uncertain environments, to ensure that small input perturbations can cause only small output changes. Current critical systems often involve lots of floating-point computations which are inexact. Robustness analysis of floating-point programs needs to consider both the uncertain inputs and the inexact computation. In this paper, we propose to leverage the idea of self-composition to transform the robustness analysis problem into a reachability problem, which enables the use of standard reachability analysis techniques such as software model checking and symbolic execution for robustness analysis. To handle floating-point arithmetic, we employ an abstraction that encompasses the effect of rounding and that can encompass all rounding modes. It converts floating-point expressions into linear expressions with interval coefficients in exact real arithmetic. On this basis, we employ interval linear programming to compute the maximum output change or maximum allowed input perturbation for the abstracted programs. Preliminary experimental results of our prototype implementation are encouraging.
ARRAY RADAR BASED ON THE COMPRESSED SENSING

In this paper, a novel forward-looking imaging method based on the compressed sensing is proposed for scanning phased array radar (PAR) in order to improve the azimuth resolution. Firstly, the echo of targets is modeled according to the principle of PAR. Then, it is analyzed why some of the former methods as multi-channel deconvolution are ineffective based on the signal model. Using a widely accepted assumption that dominant scatterers in an interesting area are sparse or compressible, an imaging algorithm based on the compressed sensing is proposed and investigated. This method obtains its high range resolution by transmitting and compressing chirp pulse signal, and improves its azimuth resolution by utilizing the compressed sensing technique. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated and analyzed with simulations data.
Artificial development of connections in SHRUTI networks using a multi objective genetic algorithm

SHRUTI is a model of how first-order logic can be represented and reasoned upon using a network of spiking neurons in an attempt to model the brain's ability to perform reasoning. This paper extends the biological plausibility of the SHRUTI model by presenting a genotype representation of connections in a SHRUTI network using indirect encoding and showing that networks represented in this way can be generated by an evolutionary process.
Being Brave: Negotiating the Path of Social Transition With a Transgender Child in Foster Care

ABSTRACT A literature review of treatment guidelines regarding children and adolescents with gender dysphoria culminates in consideration of two models: the gender affirmative model and the multidimensional family model. A single case study of a child in foster care in the United Kingdom, from the age of seven to eleven, illustrates the process of social transitioning from the assigned gender to the true gender self. The role of the context of the child in facilitating the process of social transition in the form of school, family, local authority, and the National Health Service is highlighted. Professionals working with gender nonconforming and gender-dysphoric children are encouraged to consider social transitioning as a viable option.
Wheat proteomics: proteome modulation and abiotic stress acclimation

Cellular mechanisms of stress sensing and signaling represent the initial plant responses to adverse conditions. The development of high-throughput “Omics” techniques has initiated a new era of the study of plant molecular strategies for adapting to environmental changes. However, the elucidation of stress adaptation mechanisms in plants requires the accurate isolation and characterization of stress-responsive proteins. Because the functional part of the genome, namely the proteins and their post-translational modifications, are critical for plant stress responses, proteomic studies provide comprehensive information about the fine-tuning of cellular pathways that primarily involved in stress mitigation. This review summarizes the major proteomic findings related to alterations in the wheat proteomic profile in response to abiotic stresses. Moreover, the strengths and weaknesses of different sample preparation techniques, including subcellular protein extraction protocols, are discussed in detail. The continued development of proteomic approaches in combination with rapidly evolving bioinformatics tools and interactive databases will facilitate understanding of the plant mechanisms underlying stress tolerance.
EPortfolios, Google Drive, and Cognitive Process Theory

EPORTFOLIOS, GOOGLE DRIVE, AND COGNITIVE PROCESS THEORY Sarah Elizabeth Carl Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Daniel P. Richards ePortfolios have gained popularity in higher education to document learning, assessing, and career showcasing. This thesis discusses how ePortfolios can be used in first-year writing classrooms to show writing processes using Google Drive, a non-ePortfolio platform and its connection to Linda Flower and John Hayes’ cognitive process theory. The thesis shows how a professor could use Google Drive as an ePortfolio platform through assignments.
Spatial Clustering with Obstacles Constraints by HPSO based on Grid

Spatial clustering has been an active research area in the data mining community. Spatial clustering is not only an important effective method but also a prelude of other task for spatial data mining (SDM). In this paper, we propose a novel spatial clustering with obstacles constraints (SCOC) using an advanced hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) with GA mutation based on grid model. In the process of doing so, we first developed a novel spatial obstructed distance using HPSO based on grid model (HGSOD) to obtain obstructed distance, and then we presented a new HPKSCOC based on HPSO and K-Medoids to cluster spatial data with obstacles constraints. The experimental results show that HGSOD is effective, and HPKSCOC can not only give attention to higher local constringency speed and stronger global optimum search, but also get down to the obstacles constraints and practicalities of spatial clustering; and it performs better than improved K-Medoids SCOC (IKSCOC) in terms of quantization error and has higher constringency speed than genetic K-Medoids SCOC (GKSCOC).
Changes in HIV/AIDS knowledge among early adolescents in Puerto Rico.

INTRODUCTION One of the factors that influences HIV risk behavior among early adolescents is their HIV/AIDS knowledge. The objectives of this study were 1) to describe the sociodemographic features and HIV/AIDS knowledge among Puerto Rican early adolescents participating in the ASUMA (A Supportive Model for HIV Risk Reduction in Early Adolescents) project; and 2) to assess changes in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS within the intervention and nonintervention groups after the first year of the study. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study of 173 early adolescents after 12 months of participation in the ASUMA project. The setting of the study was four junior high schools. Baseline and follow-up self-administered questionnaires were issued to the entire study group. The first workshop was developed directed to increase HIV/AIDS knowledge and decrease vulnerability in the group assigned to the intervention. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. RESULTS 47% of adolescents were cases and 52.6% controls. Most adolescents were 12 years old; 50.3% were boys and 49.7% were girls; 78.6% believe that they could have a good conversation with their parents; and 26.3% reported alcohol use at any time in their lives. A significant increase in HIV/AIDS knowledge was found among adolescents from the intervention group (P < .001), while a nonsignificant increase was found among control adolescents. CONCLUSIONS An increase in HIV/AIDS knowledge was observed among adolescents who participated in the first year of the ASUMA project. This study illustrates the importance of the creation of culturally appropriate instruments and interventions to reduce HIV infection in adolescents.
Rhythm Defects Caused by Newly Engineered Null Mutations in Drosophila's cryptochrome Gene

Much of the knowledge about cryptochrome function in Drosophila stems from analyzing the cryb mutant. Several features of this variant's light responsiveness imply either that CRYb retains circadian-photoreceptive capacities or that additional CRY-independent light-input routes subserve these processes. Potentially to resolve these issues, we generated cry knock-out mutants (cry0's) by gene replacement. They behaved in an anomalously rhythmic manner in constant light (LL). However, cry0 flies frequently exhibited two separate circadian components in LL, not observed in most previous cryb analyses. Temperature-dependent circadian phenotypes exhibited by cry0 flies suggest that CRY is involved in core pacemaking. Further locomotor experiments combined cry0 with an externally blinding mutation (norpAP24), which caused the most severe decrements of circadian photoreception observed so far. cryb cultures were shown previously to exhibit either aperiodic or rhythmic eclosion in separate studies. We found cry0 to eclose in a solidly periodic manner in light:dark cycles or constant darkness. Furthermore, both cry0 and cryb eclosed rhythmically in LL. These findings indicate that the novel cry0 type causes more profound defects than does the cryb mutation, implying that CRYb retains residual activity. Because some norpAP24 cry0 individuals can resynchronize to novel photic regimes, an as-yet undetermined light-input route exists in Drosophila.
DC and AC characteristics and modeling of Si SSD-nano devices

Silicon nano scale self switching device (SSD) and side gated transistor (SGT) are nano scale active components. These devices are manufactured with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology and are operative at room temperature. Simple transistor level models are developed for them. The model parameters are extracted from test structures. The SSD model was verified with test sample measurements. The model show good DC correspondence with the measured values. AC model gives f/sub T/ results that are slightly optimistic but of the right order of magnitude.
Towards A Framework for Effective User Participation in Nonprofit Community Contexts: Beyond User Involvement

In recent years, IS researchers have begun to examine the broader societal impacts of information systems (IS) and technologies. As such, researchers have sought out various approaches to develop the technological capacity of nonprofit and community-based organizations (NCOs). The concept of user participation is gaining increasing attention as a malleable approach to achieve this goal. This paper develops a strategic framework that theorizes user participation in nonprofit and community-based contexts. We conclude with implications for research and practice.
Investigation of Replicating Tiles in Cellular Automata Designed by Evolution Using Conditionally Matching Rules

In this paper we investigate the evolutionary design of replicating tiles in cellular automata. In particular, various sizes of the tiles will be considered whose replication ought to be performed by satisfying a given arrangement of the tiles with respect to each other. The goal is to determine the abilities of the genetic algorithm in combination with conditionally matching rules used for representing the transition functions of cellular automata to find solutions for tiles consisting of up to a hundred of cells. A comparative study will be presented considering the success rate, computational effort and complexity of the obtained solutions as the main values of interest. It will be shown that, in addition to the tile size and the number of states of the cellular automaton, the probability of finding a correct solution is also substantially influenced by the arrangement style. The results show that the tile arrangement that may be considered as the simplest one does not have to necessarily be easily realisable by the genetic algorithm as a transition function for a cellular automaton.
Association Rule Mining Using Graph and Clustering Technique

Mining association rules is an essential task for knowledge discovery. From a large amount of data, potentially useful information may be discovered. Association rules are used to discover the relationships of items or attributes among huge data. These rules can be effective in uncovering unknown relationships, providing results that can be the basis of forecast and decision. Past transaction data can be analyzed to discover customer behaviors such that the quality of business decision can be improved. The approach of mining association rules focuses on discovering large item sets, which are groups of items that appear together in an adequate number of transactions. The proposed method focuses on a combined approach to generate association rules from a large database of customer transactions. It also helps in identifying rarely occurring events. The proposed algorithm will outperform other algorithms which need to make multiple passes over the database.
The FU Berlin parallel lateration-algorithm simulation and visualization engine

We introduce a simulation engine to visually evaluate and compare distance based lateration algorithms and deployments called the FU Berlin Parallel Lateration-Algorithm Simulation and Visualization Engine (LS2). Our engine simulates a scenario which consists of given anchor positions and evaluates all positions of a playing field in parallel, instead of only randomly selected positions. At the end of a simulation run, the user is able to judge the strengths and weaknesses of the algorithm in a picture that displays the spatial position error distribution, a representation of positions in a plane with their errors. Understanding spacial distribution of error is especially valuable, because we observed that it depends on the placement of anchor nodes. This enables the developer to optimize his algorithm or aid him in selecting an algorithm for his application. The simulator's design separates the simulation engine, the lateration algorithms, and the error models. The simulator can be easily extended with additional lateration algorithms and error models. The engine is written in GNU C99 and uses the SSE or AVX vector extensions of modern microprocessors. Thus, it is able to scale fully to all cores. Beside extendability, the main focus is set on execution speed.
Combining Meta-Heuristics to Solve the Rook Problem

The combination of various meta-heuristics to solve NP-hard problems has great potential to produce good results. Ant algorithms and multi-agent system are proposed to solve a chess problem. The problem is about how to place n rooks on a chessboard so that they are all mutually non-attacking. The introduced algorithms produce reasonable results and have several advantages. A combination between the two meta-heuristics is presented and some possible crossover improvements of the proposed algorithms are suggested
Order forecasts, retail sales, and the marketing mix for consumer durables

The paper examines the problem of forecasting ongoing factory orders and monitoring retail demand, with specific reference to high-technology consumer durables. We present evidence of the managerial importance of the problem and, using a case study of a computer peripheral manufacturer, we describe how diAerent data sources and models can be used to increase prediction accuracy. First we examine the order placement and retail demand process using extrapolative methods that focus on identifying short- versus long-run movements in orders. We then introduce marketing-mix data for improved retail demand tracking and forecasting, and we propose the use of conjoint measurement data to simulate a product’s utility over time and include that information in the demand model. Lastly, we describe the forecasting and marketing planning use of these models and discuss their implications. #1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using multi-agent potential fields in real-time strategy games

Bots for Real Time Strategy (Rts) games provide a rich challenge to implement. A bot controls a number of units that may have to navigate in a partially unknown environment, while at the same time search for enemies and coordinate attacks to fight them down. Potential fields is a technique originating from the area of robotics where it is used in controlling the navigation of robots in dynamic environments. Although attempts have been made to transfer the technology to the gaming sector, assumed problems with efficiency and high costs for implementation have made the industry reluctant to adopt it. We present a Multi-agent Potential Field based bot architecture that is evaluated in a real time strategy game setting and compare it, both in terms of performance, and in terms of softer attributes such as configurability with other state-of-the-art solutions. Although our solution did not reach the performance standards of traditional Rts bots in the test, we see great unexploited benefits in using multi-agent potential field based solutions in Rts games.
Feature fusion for urban DSM extraction from high resolution interferometric SAR images

This article addresses the problem of elevation map extraction from high resolution SAR interferograms. The algorithm is dedicated to urban areas. In this study, a unique interferometric pair is used to compute the DSM (Digital Surface Model). Many features can be retrieved from the amplitude image, the interferogram and the coherence image. The superimposition of all the features defines a region graph. The class and the height of each node is jointly optimized with a Markovian process. The complete process has been run on real data.
Working conditions classification of ball mill pulverizing system based on quantum cat swarm optimization clustering algorithm

Ball mill pulverizing system (BMPS) is an important equipment in the thermal power plant and working conditions classification is the premise of realizing the control optimization. This paper proposes working conditions classification of ball mill pulverizing system based on quantum cat swarm optimization clustering algorithm. Firstly, this algorithm creates N cats, representing N kinds of data classifications respectively, to initialize the cat swarm. The position of each cat is coded by the clustering centers. And then the cats are randomly divided into the searching mode and the tracing mode to find their optimal positions. For the searching mode, the simulated annealing method is used to help the cats resist the lure of local optimal position. For the tracing mode, the quantum particle swarm optimization method is applied to enhance the global searching ability of the cats. Moreover, the sum of squared error is used as the fitness function. The proposed method is performed on the artificial dataset, UCI real dataset and the field working conditions dataset obtained from BMPS. Experiments verify that the proposed method is much more suitable for the data set of BMPS and performs much better.
Twinfilin 2 Regulates Actin Filament Lengths in Cochlear Stereocilia

Inner ear sensory hair cells convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. This conversion happens in the exquisitely mechanosensitive hair bundle that protrudes from the cell's apical surface. In mammals, cochlear hair bundles are composed of 50–100 actin-filled stereocilia, which are organized in three rows in a staircase manner. Stereocilia actin filaments are uniformly oriented with their barbed ends toward stereocilia tips. During development, the actin core of each stereocilium undergoes elongation due to addition of actin monomers to the barbed ends of the filaments. Here we show that in the mouse cochlea the barbed end capping protein twinfilin 2 is present at the tips of middle and short rows of stereocilia from postnatal day 5 (P5) onward, which correlates with a time period when these rows stop growing. The tall stereocilia rows, which do not display twinfilin 2 at their tips, continue to elongate between P5 and P15. When we expressed twinfilin 2 in LLC/PK1-CL4 (CL4) cells, we observed a reduction of espin-induced microvilli length, pointing to a potent function of twinfilin 2 in suppressing the elongation of actin filaments. Overexpression of twinfilin 2 in cochlear inner hair cells resulted in a significant reduction of stereocilia length. Our results suggest that twinfilin 2 plays a role in the regulation of stereocilia elongation by restricting excessive elongation of the shorter row stereocilia thereby maintaining the mature staircase architecture of cochlear hair bundles.