Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solidus: Confidential Distributed Ledger Transactions via PVORM

Blockchains and more general distributed ledgers are becoming increasingly popular as efficient, reliable, and persistent records of data and transactions. Unfortunately, they ensure reliability and correctness by making all data public, raising confidentiality concerns that eliminate many potential uses. In this paper we present Solidus, a protocol for confidential transactions on public blockchains, such as those required for asset transfers with on-chain settlement. Solidus operates in a framework based on real-world financial institutions: a modest number of banks each maintain a large number of user accounts. Within this framework, Solidus hides both transaction values and the transaction graph (i.e., the identities of transacting entities) while maintaining the public verifiability that makes blockchains so appealing. To achieve strong confidentiality of this kind, we introduce the concept of a Publicly-Verifiable Oblivious RAM Machine (PVORM). We present a set of formal security definitions for both PVORM and Solidus and show that our constructions are secure. Finally, we implement Solidus and present a set of benchmarks indicating that the system is efficient in practice.
Dichotomy Results on the Hardness of H-free Edge Modification Problems

For a graph $H$, the $H$-free Edge Deletion problem asks whether there exist at most $k$ edges whose deletion from the input graph $G$ results in a graph without any induced copy of $H$. $H$-free Edge Completion and $H$-free Edge Editing are defined similarly where only completion (addition) of edges are allowed in the former and both completion and deletion are allowed in the latter. We completely settle the classical complexities of these problems by proving that $H$-free Edge Deletion is NP-complete if and only if $H$ is a graph with at least two edges, $H$-free Edge Completion is NP-complete if and only if $H$ is a graph with at least two nonedges, and $H$-free Edge Editing is NP-complete if and only if $H$ is a graph with at least three vertices. Our result on $H$-free Edge Editing resolves a conjecture by Alon and Stav [Theoret. Comput. Sci., 2009, pp. 4920--4927]. Additionally, we prove that these NP-complete problems cannot be solved in parameterized subexponential time, i.e., in time $2^{o(k)}\cd.
Theories of Journalism in a Digital age

This special issue introductory article investigates contemporary notions of theory in journalism studies. Many scholars have argued that we need better ways of conceptualising what journalism is and how it develops in a digital age. There is, however, a lack of knowledge regarding what the theoretical trends within the interdisciplinary domain of journalism studies are today and to what extent contemporary inquiries into journalism are framed by emerging theories and perspectives. To fill this knowledge gap, we have conducted an analysis of more than 9000 metadata keywords and 195 abstracts found in the first 14 volumes (2000–2013) of the two most internationally acknowledged journals dedicated to journalism studies: Journalism—Theory, Practice and Criticism and Journalism Studies. The findings indicate that there has been a move towards greater theoretical awareness in journalism studies since 2000 and that the variety of theoretical approaches has increased.
Intellectual Capital in the Process of Organizational Culture to Firm Performance

This paper explores the interaction of organizational culture, intellectual capital and fire performance. Based on survey data from 167 companies in China, our result shows that both organizational culture hasn't positive firm performance, and intellectual capital has positive effects on firm performance, which demonstrates that intellectual capital significantly mediated the effect of organizational culture on firm performance.
Chronic leg ulcer as a complication of post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula: colour doppler evaluation

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) can be either be iatrogenic, traumatic or congenital. Most femoral AVFs commonly developed secondary to penetrating injuries. This is a case of post traumatic femoral AVF in a 40 year old man who presented with chronic leg ulcer, is presented to illustrate the inherent danger in the delayed diagnosis and treatment of AVF and role of ultrasound in diagnosis. Review of the existing literature outlining the pathogenesis, clinical features and radiological therapeutic considerations as they relate to arteriovenous fistula.
Toward designing a robot that learns actions from parental demonstrations

How to teach actions to a robot as well as how a robot learns actions is an important issue to be discussed in designing robot learning systems. Inspired by human parent-infant interaction, we hypothesize that a robot equipped with infant-like abilities can take advantage of parental proper teaching. Parents are known to significantly alter their infant-directed actions versus adult-directed ones, e.g. make more pauses between movements, which is assumed to aid the infants' understanding of the actions. As a first step, we analyzed parental actions using a primal attention model. The model based on visual saliency can detect likely important locations in a scene without employing any knowledge about the actions or the environment. Our statistical analysis revealed that the model was able to extract meaningful structures of the actions, e.g. the initial and final state of the actions and the significant state changes in them, which were highlighted by parental action modifications. We further discuss the issue of designing an infant-like robot that can induce parent-like teaching, and present a human-robot interaction experiment evaluating our robot simulation equipped with the saliency model.
Does Consumers' Feeling Affect Their Quality of Life? Roles of Consumption Emotion and Its Consequences

Emphasizing the importance of attendees’ consumption emotion, this study investigates the impact of festival attendees’ consumption emotion on their psychological outcomes suchas satisfaction, perceivedqualityof life andloyaltytowardthefestival. Structuralequation modeling is usedtotest the dynamics of festival attendees’ consumption behavior and its consequences. Results of this study indicate that festival attendees’ emotional behavior has a positive relationship with their overall satisfaction, which is identified as a key predictor for their loyalty and quality of life. The study’s theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed in detail along with its limitations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 2 July 2013; Revised 9 December 2013; Accepted 2 January 2014
Automatic Extraction of Computer Virus SignaturesJe

One way that anti-virus programs identify the presence of a virus in an executable le, a boot record, or memory is by using short identiiers called signatures, which consist of sequences of bytes in the machine code of the virus. A good signature is one that is found in every object infected by the virus, but is unlikely to be found if the virus is not present; i.e. the likelihood of both false negatives and false positives must be minimized. Typically, a human expert chooses a signature for a new virus by means of a laborious, time-consuming procedure. Unfortunately, the accelerating innux of new computer viruses threatens to outpace the ability of human experts to analyze and nd signatures for them. To help alleviate this burden, we have developed a statistical method for automatically extracting good signatures from the machine code of a virus. The basic idea is to characterize statistically a large corpus of programs (currently about half a gigabyte), and then to use this information to estimate false-positive probabilities for proposed virus signatures. In eeect, the algorithm extrapolates from the corpus to the much larger universe of executable programs which do or might exist. In practice, signatures extracted by this method are very unlikely to generate false positives, even when the scanner that employs them permits some mismatches. This patent-pending technique has been used to either extract or evaluate the more than 2500 virus signatures used by IBM AntiVirus. It obviates the need for a small army of virus analysts, permitting IBM's signature database to be maintained by a single virus expert working halftime.
Laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy reveals reduced innervation and reduction in cell density in all layers of the keratoconic cornea.

PURPOSE The exact pathophysiological processes underlying keratoconus remain an enigma. In this study, laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was used to define further the microstructural abnormalities in the keratoconic cornea and to establish the relationship with disease severity. METHODS This was a prospective, cross-sectional study comparing 52 subjects with keratoconus and 52 age-matched control subjects. Assessment included demographics, history, slit lamp biomicroscopy, computerized corneal tomography, and laser scanning IVCM. RESULTS Significantly lower cell densities (in cells per square millimeter, mean +/- SD) were observed in keratoconus corneas than in normal ones: basal epithelial cells, 4340.6 +/- 595.2 vs. 5777.6 +/- 958.2 (P < 0.001), anterior keratocytes, 523.6 +/- 206.4 vs. 859.7 +/- 219.1 (P < 0.001), posterior keratocytes, 240.4 +/- 64.5 vs. 330.6 +/- 52.3 (P < 0.001), and endothelial cells 2412.2 +/- 339.5 vs. 2845.6 +/- 313.0 (P < 0.001). Subbasal nerve fiber density was 52.7% lower in keratoconus corneas than in the control (P < 0.001). Basal epithelial cell density (P = 0.001), subbasal nerve fiber density (P = 0.015), and anterior keratocyte density (P < 0.001) correlated with severity of disease. Lower subbasal nerve density also correlated with younger age at diagnosis (r = 0.397, P = 0.004). Severe disease was associated with diagnosis at a younger age (P = 0.023), a history of eye rubbing (P = 0.025), and Maori or Pacific Island ethnicity (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Significant microstructural abnormalities were identified at every level of the keratoconic cornea and were related to disease severity. IVCM offers a potential insight into the pathophysiology of the microstructural changes in keratoconus.
The labour market for histopathologists in KwaZulu- Natal: Emerging issues

The aim of this article was to assess the factors that shape the labour market for histopathologists in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The literature on the labour market and labour processes of histopathologists is dominated by North American and European literature. This gap is most acutely felt on the African continent. This article attempts to fill this gap by shifting the focus towards understanding the factors that shape the professional milieu and labour market for histopathologists in South Africa. This study through a qualitative, descriptive and contextual design engaged in in-depth interviews with 70% of the population of histopathologists in KZN. The interviews were analysed thematically. These interviews were triangulated against labour market statistics for histopathologists in South Africa as well as a range of documentary evidence. The outcome of the study has demonstrated four key challenges facing the labour market for histopathologists: racial inequities persist in the labour market, gender inequities also persist, there is unfettered public-private sector mobility, and poor curriculum design at medical school level accounts for a limited input of registrars into the profession. The article concludes that there needs to be a shift from only studying the labour market and work organisation of clinical doctors to empirical research on the role of medical laboratory specialists in the healthcare chain, which will render South African histopathologists and their work visible. A set of labour market interventions is also suggested. Die artikel bestudeer die faktore wat die arbeidsmark vir histopatoloe in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Suid-Afrika beinvloed. Die literatuur oor die arbeidsmark en arbeidsprosesse van histopatoloe word gedomineer deur Noord-Amerikaanse en Europese literatuur. Hierdie gaping is veral akuut op die Afrika kontinent. Die artikel poog om hierdie gaping te vul deur die fokus te verksuif na die faktore wat die professionele millieu en die arbeidsmark van histopatoloe in Suid-Afrika beinvloed. Die studie het gebruik gemaak van ‘n kwalitatiewe, beskrywende en kontekstuele ontwerp. In-diepte onderhoude is gevoer met 70% van die histopatoloe in KZN. Die onderhoude is tematies geanaliseer. Hierdie onderhoude is getrianguleer teen arbeidsmark statistieke vir histopatoloe in Suid-Afrika, sowel as ‘n reeks dokumentere bronne. Die uitkoms van die studie het vier belangrike struikelblokke geidentifiseer wat die arbeidsmark vir histopatoloe in die gesig staar: rasse-ongelykhede duur voort in die arbeidsmark, so ook geslagsongelykheid, daar is vrylike beweging tussen die publieke- en privaatsektors, en ‘n sleg ontwikkelde kurrikulum by mediese skole het lae toetrede getalle vir registrateurs in die professie tot gevolg. Die artikel kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat dit onvoldoende is om slegs die mark en werksoraganisasies van kliniese dokters te bestudeer – empiriese navorsing is ook nodig om die rol van die mediese labaratorium spesialiste in die gesondheidsorg ketting te bestudeer. ‘n Stel arbeidsmark ingrypings word ook voorgestel.
Conflict, peacebuilding and NGO legitimacy: National NGOs in Sri Lanka1

This paper explores the growing role of national NGOs in the interventions of western governments in conflict-affected regions. Using three case studies of national NGOs working in Sri Lanka, it focuses on the complex relationships between national NGOs, donors and a range of domestic stakeholders. These relationships involved competing demands, interests and expectations and were characterised by tensions, reversals and trade-offs. The paper argues that although donors have increasingly favoured national NGOs in their peacebuilding interventions, these organisations have been particularly vulnerable to crises of legitimacy. This tendency has disrupted NGO programmes and limited the capacity for donors to meet stated objectives.
Vitamin D metabolites (25‐hydroxyvitamin D, 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D) and osteocalcin in β‐thalassaemia

Serum levels of the vitamin D metabolites 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D. and of osteocalcin. C‐tenninal parathyroid hormone and other biochemical indices related to bone metabolism, were determined in two groups of patients with β‐thalassaemia aged 5–10 years (summer 7.8 ± 0.4 years, mean ± SEM. and winter 7.7 ± 0.4 years, group A, n= 15) and 11–23 years (16.6 ± 0.9 and 15.7 ± 0.9 years in summer and winter, respectively, group B, n= 22). Emphasis was given to populations of school and adolescent ages and to the seasons of summer and winter when vitamin D status demonstrates the widest extremes. The mean serum levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D in patients aged 5–10 years did not differ from those of controls during both seasons studied. In contrast, in the age group 11–23 years these levels were found to be lower in patients than in controls both in winter (10.6 ± 0.9ng/ml vs 15.0 ± 2.0ng/ml, p < 0.05) and summer (20.2 ± 2.1 ng/ml vs 27.1 ± 2.0ng/ml, p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D were lower in the thalassaemic patients than in controls in both age groups and both seasons. In the patients under 10 years of age the mean values of this metabolite in winter were 1.06 ± 0.17 ng/ml vs 1.68 ± 0.20 ng/ml in the respective controls (p < 0.05), and in summer 1.44 ± 0.11 ng/ml vs 2.35 ± 0.36 ng/ml in controls (p < 0.05). In the group of patients aged 11–23 years, the mean levels of 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D were in winter 0.65 ± 0.12 ng/ml vs 1.12 ± 0.19 ng/ml (p < 0.05) in controls and in summer 1.34 ± 0.12 ng/ml vs 1.84 ± 0.20 ng/ml (p < 0.05). The 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations in both thalassaemic patient groups were significantly no different from those in the respective control groups. Serum osteocalcin, C‐terminal parathyroid hormone, calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels in the patients studied were not significantly different from those in controls, except for calcium and phosphate in the older group. In the older group of thalassaemic patients, serum calcium was lower than in the controls (2.26 ± 0.03 vs 2.37 ± 0.03 mmol/1, p < 0.05) in summer and serum phosphate higher than in the controls in winter (1.47 ± 0.05 mmol/1 vs 1.27 ± 0.06 mmol/1. p < 0.05).
Molecular Basis for the RIN 4 Negative Regulation of RPS 2 Disease Resistance

Recent studies have demonstrated that RPS2, a plasma membrane–localized nucleotide binding site/leucine-rich repeat protein from Arabidopsis thaliana, associates with RPM1 Interacting Protein 4 (RIN4) and that this association functions to modulate the RPS2-mediated defense pathway in response to the bacterial effector protein AvrRpt2. In addition to negatively regulating RPS2 activity, RIN4 is also a target of AvrRpt2, a Cys protease and cognate bacterial effector protein of RPS2. Nicotiana benthamiana has been employed as a heterologous expression system to characterize the RPS2–RIN4 association, defining the domains in RIN4 required for the negative regulation of RPS2 activity. Upon inoculation of N. benthamiana leaves with Agrobacterium tumefaciens expressing RPS2, a rapid hypersensitive response (HR) is detected with 22 h of infiltration. The HR can be blocked by infiltrating the leaf with A. tumefaciens expressing RPS2 in the presence of RIN4, recapitulating the ability of RIN4 to interfere with RPS2-mediated resistance in Arabidopsis. Moreover, in the presence of RIN4, the RPS2-mediated HR can be restored by the delivery of AvrRpt2 via A. tumefaciens. This assay has been developed as a phenotypic marker for (1) the HR-inducing phenotype associated with RPS2, (2) negative regulation of RPS2 by RIN4, and (3) the AvrRpt2-mediated disappearance of RIN4. Here, we present a series of deletion and site-directed mutation analyses to identify amino acids in RIN4 required for the RPS2–RIN4 association and to distinguish these from residues in RIN4 that serve as a target sequence for AvrRpt2. In addition to characterizing the RPS2–RIN4 association in N. benthamiana, we have moved forward to show that the biological relevance of these amino acid changes is applicable in Arabidopsis as well. To this end, we have identified specific amino acids within the C-terminal half of RIN4 that are required for RPS2 regulation and association.
An approach to representing and utilizing specification pattern knowledge for computer-aided formalization of requirements

Formalizing requirements in formal specifications usually requires high skills for abstraction and experience in using the formal notation in which the specification is written. This poses a challenge to many practitioners who have to deal with realistic systems within the required schedule and budget. To handle this challenge, a pattern system has been proposed for computer-aided construction of formal expressions. It organizes various inter-related patterns on computer, each of which deals with the formalization of a kind of informal ideas. But how to represent such knowledge to facilitate its automatic utilization and maintenance remains a problem. This paper presents an approach to representing and utilizing the pattern knowledge on the basis of a formal definition of the pattern system. The application process of the pattern system is described in HFSM (Hierarchical Finite State Machine) and treated as knowledge. By performing a proposed algorithm, necessary information can be retrieved from the HFSM for capturing informal requirements and automatically generating formal expressions. We also describe a prototype tool that implements the approach and present a case study on modeling a bank data management system.
On the temporal dynamics of causal attribution in competitive sport

This article provides an overview of conceptual models which detail the nature of attribution change over time. A critical evaluation of the current evidence base identified several emerging trends in the literature. Current hypotheses may not adequately describe how attributions change over time in sport and other achievement contexts, and an alternative hypothesis is presented. This hypothesis details changing perceptions of competition importance, and the corresponding significance to personal self-esteem, as the critical factor influencing changes in attributions over time. Self-serving attributions of athletes, teams and coaches should decline over time, with attributions for unsuccessful outcomes also becoming more unstable, controllable and specific. This paper also discusses the concept of attributions as behaviour predictions whereby the same processes involved in attributing past events are transferable to future events. How attributions develop and change over time is an area in much need of further research. To this end, a review of key concepts should help clarify important advances and stimulate further research into this important field.
A maintenance service contract for a warranted product

In this paper, we investigate a maintenance service contract for a warranted product carried out by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The model was developed under the assumption that there are one consumer and one service provider who is the OEM. This is typically applied to the situation where the OEM is the only service provider such as in the mining industry. From the OEM point of view, two contract options were considered, they are: the OEM carried out all repairs and preventive maintenance activities; the OEM carries out failure and the customer undertakes in house preventive maintenance actions. The model uses a non-cooperative game formulation by maximizing expected profits. We use a linear function of failure intensity to consider a product with increasing failure intensity. We obtain the pricing structure in the contract. And for the customer, they can choose the optimal option under the term of contract.
Imaging current spine hardware: part 1, cervical spine and fracture fixation.

OBJECTIVE The goals of this article are to review the indications for use, the materials, and the designs of hardware more commonly used in the cervical spine; to discuss alternatives for each of the different types of hardware; to review normal postoperative imaging findings; to describe the appropriateness of different imaging modalities for postoperative evaluation; and to illustrate examples of hardware complications. This article will also review vertebral body fracture fixation. CONCLUSION Stabilization and fusion of the spine with intervertebral disk replacement, artificial ligaments, spinous process distraction devices, plate-and-rod systems, dynamic posterior fusion devices, and implants composed of new types of material are increasingly more common in the contemporary surgical practice. These spinal hardware devices will be seen more often in radiology practice. Successful postoperative radiologic evaluation of spinal hardware necessitates an understanding of the fundamental design of the hardware, the physiologic objective of the hardware, normal and abnormal postoperative imaging appearances, and complications unique to the hardware.