Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fortifying password authentication in integrated healthcare delivery systems

Integrated Delivery Systems (IDSs) now become a primary means of care provision in healthcare domain. However, existing password systems (under either the single-server model or the multi-server model) do not provide adequate security when applied to IDSs. We are thus motivated to present a practical password authentication system built upon a novel two-server model. We generalize the two-server model to an architecture of a single control server supporting multiple service servers, tailored to the organizational structure of IDSs. The underlying user authentication and key exchange protocols we propose are password-only, neat, efficient, and robust against off-line dictionary attacks mounted by both servers.
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout

Abstract So far, the large majority of studies on burnout in the international literature have employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). In this paper we criticize the MBI on a number of points and present a new tool for the measurement of burnout: the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The CBI consists of three scales measuring personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout, for use in different domains. On the basis of an ongoing prospective study of burnout in employees in the human service sector, the PUMA study (Project on Burnout, Motivation and Job Satisfaction; N=1914 at baseline), we analysed the validity and reliability of the CBI. All three scales were found to have very high internal reliability, and non-response rates were small. The scales differentiated well between occupational groups in the human service sector, and the expected pattern with regard to correlations with other measures of fatigue and psychological well-being was found. Furthermore, the three scales predicted future sickness absence, sleep problems, use of pain-killers, and intention to quit. Analyses of changes over time showed that substantial proportions of the employees changed with regard to burnout levels. It is concluded that the analyses indicate very satisfactory reliability and validity for the CBI instrument. The CBI is being used in a number of countries and translations into eight languages are available.
Managing Irrelevant Contextual Categories in a Movie Recommender System

Since the users’ decision making depends on the situation the user is in, contextual information has shown to improve the recommendation procedure in context-aware recommender systems (RS). In our previous work we have shown that relevant contextual factors have signicantly improved the quality of rating prediction in RS, while the irrelevant ones have degraded the prediction. In this work we focus on the detection of relevant contextual conditions (i.e., values of contextual factors) which inuence the users’ decision making process. The goals are (i) to lower the intrusion for the end user by simplifying the acquisition process, and (ii) to reduce the sparsity of the acquired data during the contextual modeling. The results showed signicant improvement in the rating prediction task, when managing the irrelevant contextual conditions by the approach that we propose in this paper.
An integrated security monitoring system for digital service network devices

This study helps telecom operators to establish device security monitoring and centralized statistical analysis tools for an entire telecom operator network. Operators can use the proposed process to monitor device security in a variety of heterogeneous network architectures. We propose ISMS, an Integrated Security Monitoring System for monitoring security events on digital service network devices. The system aggregates all security information and presents it in a single panel. The administrators of operator would handle security information from all network devices on a single page. The ISMS consists of three building blocks: device log collection architecture, global security alarm correlation analysis, and security event notification. We use a uniform deployment method to deploy log servers in a heterogeneous network infrastructure to collect device logs. The global security alarm correlation analysis module normalizes log data form log servers and use normalized data to analyze alarm. The analysis result is shown on a single panel. Security event notification module provides fast event notification when events occur. The proposed process and system can help operators discover root causes to security events and reduce the response time to security events.
PARTICIPANTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE VALUE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEADERSHIP BOCA PROGAM by

Leadership development is critical to organizations and communities alike. Worthwhile to such organizations is to sponsor programs and curriculum to support the assertion that individuals with developed leadership skills will benefit the community through contribution and service. This study examined the effectiveness of the Leadership Boca program from the participants’ perspectives. Graduates’ perceptions regarding the usefulness of the program were measured by the researcher facilitating a questionnaire. In addition, the merits for participation and the graduates’ confidence in the program’s ability to meet its commitments were measured. The results from the study indicated graduates’ favorable perceptions of the program meeting its expected outcomes. Research participants reported a strong affiliation with the Boca Raton professional community and an awareness of how participation in the Leadership Boca program benefits employers.
Immune Response Regulation by Leishmania Secreted and Nonsecreted Antigens

Leishmania infection consists in two sequential events, the host cell colonization followed by the proliferation/dissemination of the parasite. In this review, we discuss the importance of two distinct sets of molecules, the secreted and/or surface and the nonsecreted antigens. The importance of the immune response against secreted and surface antigens is noted in the establishment of the infection and we dissect the contribution of the nonsecreted antigens in the immunopathology associated with leishmaniasis, showing the importance of these panantigens during the course of the infection. As a further example of proteins belonging to these two different groups, we include several laboratorial observations on Leishmania Sir2 and LicTXNPx as excreted/secreted proteins and LmS3arp and LimTXNPx as nonsecreted/panantigens. The role of these two groups of antigens in the immune response observed during the infection is discussed.
Characterization of genes for an alternative nitrogenase in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 is a heterotrophic, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium that has been reported to fix nitrogen and reduce acetylene to ethane in the absence of molybdenum. DNA from this strain hybridized well at low stringency to the nitrogenase 2 (vnfDGK) genes of Azotobacter vinelandii. The hybridizing region was cloned from a lambda EMBL3 genomic library of A. variabilis, mapped, and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences of the vnfD and vnfK genes of A. variabilis showed only about 56% similarity to the nifDK genes of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 but were 76 to 86% similar to the anfDK or vnfDK genes of A. vinelandii. The organization of the vnf gene cluster in A. variabilis was similar to that of A. vinelandii. However, in A. variabilis, the vnfG gene was fused to vnfD; hence, this gene is designated vnfDG. A vnfH gene was not contiguous with the vnfDG gene and has not yet been identified. A mutant strain, in which a neomycin resistance cassette was inserted into the vnf cluster, grew well in a medium lacking a source of fixed nitrogen in the presence of molybdenum but grew poorly when vanadium replaced molybdenum. In contrast, the parent strain grew equally well in media containing either molybdenum or vanadium. The vnf genes were transcribed in the absence of molybdenum, with or without vanadium. The vnf gene cluster did not hybridize to chromosomal DNA from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 or from the heterotrophic strains, Nostoc sp. strain Mac and Nostoc sp. strain ATCC 29150. A hybridizing ClaI fragment very similar in size to the A. variabilis ClaI fragment was present in DNA isolated from several independent, cultured isolates of Anabaena sp. from the Azolla symbiosis.
Population variation in second metacarpal sexual size dimorphism.

This paper contrasts levels of sexual size dimorphism in second metacarpal osteometric and geometric morphology in two bioculturally distinctive populations: 19th century Euro-Canadian settlers, and proto/historic central Canadian Inuit. Significant within-group sexual size dimorphism is found for all variables, though few show significant interpopulation differences. However, in every case the Euro-Canadian sample is more dimorphic than the Inuit sample. Notably, differences reside in geometric measures (total area, Imax) sensitive to variation in functional strain, and thus are interpretable in light of proximate causal models, i.e., activity profiles distinct from generalized mode of subsistence. Other proximate factors, such as nutritional stress acting to diminish Inuit sexual size dimorphism, may also play a role. However, models often cited to explain dimorphism, such as marriage practice (e.g., polygyny) or division of labor situated in mode of subsistence, do not. The higher sexual size dimorphism in the 19th century settler sample belies the notion that technological progress inevitably leads to reduced dimorphism.
Efficient Value-Function Approximation via Online Linear Regression

One of the key problems in reinforcement learning (RL) is balancing exploration and exploitation. Another is learning and acting in large or even continuous Markov decision processes (MDPs), where compact function approximation has to be used. In this paper, we provide a provably efficient, model-free RL algorithm for finite-horizon problems with linear value-function approximation that addresses the exploration-exploitation tradeoff in a principled way. The key element of this algorithm is the use of a hypothesized online linear-regression algorithm in the recently proposed KWIK framework. We show that, if the sample complexity of the KWIK online linear-regression algorithm is polynomial, then the sample complexity of exploration of the RL algorithm is also polynomial. Such a connection provides a promising approach to efficient RL with function approximation via studying a simpler setting.
Repeated administration of Sigma ligands alters the population activity of rat midbrain dopaminergic neurons

Acute and repeated administration of antipsychotic drugs produce distinctive profiles of electrophysiological effects on the population activity of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons which correlate with their clinical effects. Sigma receptors have been hypothesized to be involved in psychosis and in the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs, but little is known about the effects of repeated treatment with sigma ligands on the activity of midbrain DA neuronal populations. In the present study, the cells‐pertrack cell‐sampling method was used to evaluate the effects of 3 sigma ligands on the numbers of spontaneously active A9 and A10 DA neurons in chloral hydrate‐anesthetized rats. One‐hour pretreatment with either (+)‐pentazocine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), DTG (2 mg/kg, i.p.), or JO 1784 (1 or 10 mg/kg, s.c.) did not alter the number of spontaneously active DA neurons encountered per electrode track. Repeated treatment (21 daily injections) with (+)‐pentazocine (1 or 10 mg/kg) or DTG (0.2 or 2 mg/kg) increased the number of A10 DA cells per track; JO 1784 (10 mg/kg but not 1 mg/kg) moderately decreased the number of active A9 DA cells and increased the firing rate of A10 DA neurons. The effect of JO 1784 on A9 DA neurons was not due to depolarization inactivation. The effects of all 3 sigma ligands differ from those of antipsychotic drugs, all of which inactivate A10 DA neurons after repeated treatment. Clinical studies are necessary to determine if selective sigma ligands will provide a novel alternative to DA antagonists in the treatment of psychosis. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Let ' s talk: Adapting accountants ' communications to small business managers ' objectives and preferences

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of small business managers ' - objectives and preferred methods of communicating on the communications aspect of accountants ' - advisory relationship with small business. Through exploring and reporting on these issues, the paper seeks to contribute to understanding of accounting ' - s capacity to satisfy the communication needs of its users. Design/methodology/approach - – The study employs a mixed methodology, comprising a questionnaire to access evidence from small business managers and semi-structured interviews with accountants, which provide a complementary perspective to accountant/small business communications. The analysis of the findings is informed by media richness theory. Findings - – Small business managers prefer direct forms of contact with their accountants and the richness of verbal communications. This is demonstrated in accountants ' - use of visual and audio cues, including reinforcing and adjusting techniques, which enhance the appeal and utility of verbal communications. Accountants ' - documents have been relegated to a supplementary reinforcing function in the profession ' - s communications with small business. Small firm managers ' - objectives influence their interest in and use of accounting information and the communications approach that their accountant implements. The findings indicate that accountants adopt communications approaches with small business managers, which satisfy the communication needs of the economically significant small business sector, a significant user of accounting information and services. Originality/value - – The paper contributes to redressing a gap in the accounting discipline ' - s literature regarding accountants ' - communications with small business, while offering insights that may be useful to practitioners in their advisory relationships with small business managers.
Recruitment of Neural Mechanisms Supporting Fluid Intelligence

Fluid intelligence (gf) influences performance across many cognitive domains. It is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Tasks tapping gf activate a network of brain regions including the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), the presupplementary motor area/anterior cingulate cortex (pre-SMA/ACC), and the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). In line with the ‘‘intermediate phenotype’’ approach, we assessed effects of a polymorphism (val 158 met) in the catecholO-methyltransferase (COMT) gene on activity within this network and on actual task performance during spatial and verbal gf tasks. COMT regulates catecholaminergic signaling in prefrontal cortex. The val 158 allele is associated with higher COMT activity than the met 158 allele. Twenty-two volunteers genotyped for the COMT val 158 met polymorphism completed high and low gf versions of spatial and verbal problem-solving tasks. Our results showed a positive effect of COMT val allele load upon the blood oxygen leveldependent response in LPFC, pre-SMA/ACC, and IPS during high gf versus low gf task performance in both spatial and verbal domains. These results indicate an influence of the COMT val 158 met polymorphism upon the neural circuitry supporting gf. The behavioral effects of val allele load differed inside and outside the scanner, consistent with contextual modulation of the relation between COMT val 158 met genotype and gf task performance.
Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase is a key regulator of the proliferation of malignant brain tumors, including brain tumor stem cells

Emerging evidence suggests that neural stem cells and brain tumors regulate their proliferation via similar pathways. In a previous study, we demonstrated that maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (Melk) is highly expressed in murine neural stem cells and regulates their proliferation. Here we describe how MELK expression is correlated with pathologic grade of brain tumors, and its expression levels are significantly correlated with shorter survival, particularly in younger glioblastoma patients. In normal human astrocytes, MELK is only faintly expressed, and MELK knockdown does not significantly influence their growth, whereas Ras and Akt overexpressing astrocytes have up‐regulated MELK expression, and the effect of MELK knockdown is more prominent in these transformed astrocytes. In primary cultures from human glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, MELK knockdown by siRNA results in inhibition of the proliferation and survival of these tumors. Furthermore, we show that MELK siRNA dramatically inhibits proliferation and, to some extent, survival of stem cells isolated from glioblastoma in vitro. These results demonstrate a critical role for MELK in the proliferation of brain tumors, including their stem cells, and suggest that MELK may be a compelling molecular target for treatment of high‐grade brain tumors. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel ACO algorithm for dynamic binary chains based on changes in the system's stability

In the last decade, Dynamic Optimization Problems (DOP) have received increasing attention. Changes in the problem structure pose a great challenge for the optimization techniques. The Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) metaheuristic has a number of potentials in this field due to its adaptability and flexibility. However their design and analysis are still critical issues. This is where research on formal methods can increase the reliability of these systems and improve the understanding of their dynamics in complex problems such as DOPs. This paper presents a novel ACO algorithm based on an analytical model describing the long-terms behaviours of the ACO systems in problems represented as binary chains, a type of DOP. These behaviours are described using modelling techniques already developed for studying dynamical systems. The algorithm developed takes advantage of new insights offered by this model to regulate the tradeoff of exploration/exploitation resulting in a ACO system able to adapt its long-term behaviours to the problem changes and to improve its performance due to the experiences learnt from the previous explorations. An empirical evaluation is used to validate the algorithm capabilities of adaptability and optimization.
The Asymptotic Distribution of Extreme Sums

converges in distribution along subsequences of the integers {n} to nondegenerate limits and completely describe the possible subsequential limiting distributions. We also give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of An and Cn such that En be asymptotically normal along a given subsequence, and with suitable An and Cn determine the limiting distributions of En along the whole sequence {n} when F is in the domain of attraction of an extreme value distribution.
Horizon Holography

A holographic correspondence between horizon data and space-time physics is investigated. We ﬁnd similarities with the AdS/CFT correspondence, based on the observation that the optical metric near the horizon describes a Euclidean, asymptotically anti-de Sitter space. This picture emerges for a wide class of static space-times with a non-degenerate horizon, including Schwarzschild black holes as well as de Sitter space-time. We reveal an asymptotic conformal symmetry at the horizon. We compute the conformal weights and 2-point functions for a scalar perturbation and discuss possible connections with a conformal ﬁeld theory located on the horizon. We then reconstruct the scalar ﬁeld and the metric from the data given on the horizon. We show that the solution for the metric in the bulk is completely determined in terms of a speciﬁed metric on the horizon. From the General Relativity point of view our solutions present a new class of space-time metrics with non-spherical horizons. The horizon entropy associated with these solutions is also discussed.
Evaluation of the Low Error-Rate Performance of LDPC Codes over Rayleigh Fading Channels Using Importance Sampling

In this paper we propose a novel importance sampling (IS) scheme to estimate the low error-rate performance of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes over Rayleigh fading channels. The proposed scheme exploits the structural weakness of LDPC codes due to trapping sets (TSs). The Rayleigh fading distribution on the bits belonging to a TS is biased by parameter scaling (PS), while the noise distribution on them is biased via mean translation (MT) according to their fading coefficients. The biases in PS and MT are determined so that the variance of the proposed IS estimator is minimized. The proposed IS scheme is compared with the Monte Carlo (MC) simulator and other IS schemes modified from the conventional IS scheme employed for performance estimation of LDPC codes over an AWGN channel. Numerical results show that it provides much more accurate performance than other IS schemes. Furthermore, the proposed IS estimator is even more efficient than the MC estimator and other IS estimators from the viewpoint of the number of required simulation runs.
Mortality dynamics of Daphnia in contrasting habitats and their role in ecological divergence

1. The Daphnia pulex-pulicaria species complex has been proposed as an example of rapid ecological speciation, associated with divergence along the gradient of waterbody size from temporary ponds to deep, stratified lakes. However, this divergence is incomplete, and thus represents an opportunity to study ecological divergence as it is occurring. 2. Dynamics of twelve populations of Daphnia in the pulex-pulicaria species complex were monitored over 1 year. Six temporary pond populations and six permanent lake populations were compared to evaluate demographic differences that may contribute to ecological divergence in this complex. 3. Pond populations experienced greater changes in density, which were reflected in more extreme growth rates, higher birth rates and higher mortality rates than those of lake populations. 4. Mitochondrial DNA was isolated from up to three clones from each population, the D-loop of the control region was sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. This tree revealed two strongly supported clades. The clades were not congruent with habitat type and nominal status, indicating that interhabitat gene flow occurs easily and that the nominal taxa are incompletely diverged. 5. Published reports of genetic life history differences in the D. pulex-pulicaria complex are consistent with the demographic differences reported here. This suggests that ecological differences between the habitats are selectively maintaining trait differences despite the possibility for genetic exchange. Thus, these taxa may be at the inception of ecological speciation.
The SVM Classifier Based on the Modified Particle Swarm Optimization

The problem of development of the SVM classifier based on the modified particle swarm optimization has been considered. This algorithm carries out the simultaneous search of the kernel function type, values of the kernel function parameters and value of the regularization parameter for the SVM classifier. Such SVM classifier provides the high quality of data classification. The idea of particles' «regeneration» is put on the basis of the modified particle swarm optimization algorithm. At the realization of this idea, some particles change their kernel function type to the one which corresponds to the particle with the best value of the classification accuracy. The offered particle swarm optimization algorithm allows reducing the time expenditures for development of the SVM classifier. The results of experimental studies confirm the efficiency of this algorithm.