Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polynomial-time Attack on Output Perturbation Sanitizers for Real-valued Databases

We review the attack given by Dinur and Nissim [6] on the output perturbation sanitizer, and generalize it to a setting that includes, as particular cases, databases with values in {0,1}---with the metric considered in [6]---and databases with real values, with other appropriate metrics (hence the binary case is not included in the real case). Previous works [12, 14] on the binary case gave results more efficient than ours. Those results could be used to extend the binary case to the real-valued case, hence implying our results. The contributions of this paper are: to make the implication explicit, and to give an alternative general proof. We state a property about the function dist that measures the error of the attacker's approximation of the database, which is satisfied in our cases of interest, and is sufficiently strong to prove the impossibility results regarding the privacy provided by the output-perturbation sanitizer, in both the real and binary cases. In this general context we establish an inequality (an upper bound to the probability of adversary's failure) that relates all the parameters of the problem---the size of the database, the relative error of the adversary, the number of queries made by the adversary (which determines its time complexity), its probability of failure, and the perturbation of the sanitizer---making explicit the trade-offs among them. From this inequality we deduce that for binary and real valued databases, the adversary described in [6] can defeat perturbation o(n1/2) with time complexity determined by o(n log n) number of queries (instead of O(n log2 n) as in [6]).
Optimal importance sampling in securities pricing

To reduce variance in estimating security prices via Monte Carlo simulation, we formulate a parametric minimization problem for the optimal importance sampling measure, which is solved using infinitesimal perturbation analysis (IPA) and stochastic approximation (SA). Compared with existing methods, the IPA estimator we derive is more universally applicable and more computationally efficient. Under suitable conditions, we show that the objective function is a convex function, the IPA estimator is unbiased, and the stochastic approximation algorithm converges to the optimum. Lastly, we demonstrate how combining importance sampling with indirect estimation using put-call parity can lead to further substantial variance reduction. ∗This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant DMI-9713720 and by the Semiconductor Research Corporation under Grant 97-FJ-491. An earlier version of this manuscript that accepted for presentation at the 2000 Winter Simulation Conference (Su and Fu 2000) did not include the proofs of the theoretical results nor the computational work on fixed income securities and indirect estimation.
Fast and correctly rounded logarithms in double-precision

This article is a case study in the implementation of a portable, proven and efficient correctly rounded elementary function in double-precision. We describe the methodology used to achieve these goals in the crlibm library. There are two novel aspects to this approach. The first is the proof framework, and in general the techniques used to balance performance and provability. The second is the introduction of processor-specific optimization to get performance equivalent to the best current mathematical libraries, while trying to minimize the proof work. The implementation of the natural logarithm is detailed to illustrate these questions.
Review of current mode control schemes and introduction of a new digital current mode control method for the parallel module DC-DC converters

Ever increasing demands for the development of compact, lightweight power supplies with more power density, higher efficiency and fast dynamics, often require power conversion through parallel connected converter. In order to realize the parallel module DC-DC converters, a current mode control scheme is essential for current sharing control among the modules. The general analog current mode control schemes, such as peak current mode control (PCM), charge current mode control (CC) and average current mode control (ACM), are reviewed and compared of their characteristics, in this paper. With recvent advances in digital systems, digital control has becmoe increeasingly visible even for high-frequency, low-to-medium power switching converters. However, digital current mode control for the parallel module converter is not easy because the switch or inductor current is a fast-changing waveform and the switching frequency is high. This paper introduces one of possible solutions for a digital current mode control employing nonlinear resistive current mode control as well.
A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, multicentre trial of combination therapy with methotrexate plus ciclosporin in patients with active psoriatic arthritis

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding ciclosporin A (CSA) to the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) demonstrating an incomplete response to methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy. Methods: In a 12 month, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial at five centres in three countries, 72 patients with active PsA with an incomplete response to MTX were randomised to receive either CSA (n = 38) or placebo (n = 34). Patients underwent full clinical and radiological assessment and, in addition, high resolution ultrasound (HRUS) was performed at one centre. An intention to treat (last observation carried forward) analysis was employed. Results: Some significant improvements were noted at 12 months in both groups. However, in the active but not the placebo arm there were significant improvements in swollen joint count, mean (SD), from 11.7 (9.7) to 6.7 (6.5) (p<0.001) and C reactive protein, from 17.4 (14.5) to 12.7 (14.3) mg/l (p<0.05) as compared with baseline. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score improved in the active group (2 (2.3) to 0.8 (1.3)) as compared with placebo (2.2 (2.7) to 1.9 (2.8)), p<0.001, and synovitis detected by HRUS (33 patients, 285 joints) was reduced by 33% in the active group compared with 6% in the placebo group (p<0.05). No improvement in Health Assessment Questionnaire or pain scores was detected. Conclusions: Synovitis detected by HRUS was significantly reduced. Combining CSA and MTX treatment in patients with active PsA, and a partial response to MTX, significantly improves the signs of inflammation but not pain or quality of life.
Modelling Offices Through Discourse Analysis: A Comparison and Evaluation of SAMPO with OSSAD and ICN

In a previous paper the importance of framing office communications in terms of discourse analysis was explored. 2 It also presented an approach based on speech acts and conversations to allow this framing to occur. The approach was termed SAMPO. In this paper, we continue the discussion on discourse analysis by comparing SAMPO with two prominent office modelling approaches, Information Control Nets (ICN) and OSSAD, and discuss its merits in modelling office communications.
IReS: Intelligent, Multi-Engine Resource Scheduler for Big Data Analytics Workflows

Big data analytics tools are steadily gaining ground at becoming indispensable to businesses worldwide. The complexity of the tasks they execute is ever increasing due to the surge in data and task heterogeneity. Current analytics platforms, while successful in harnessing multiple aspects of this ``data deluge", bind their efficacy to a single data and compute model and often depend on proprietary systems. However, no single execution engine is suitable for all types of computation and no single data store is suitable for all types of data. To this end, we demonstrate IReS, the Intelligent Resource Scheduler for complex analytics workflows executed over multi-engine environments. Our system models the cost and performance of the required tasks over the available platforms. IReS is then able to match distinct workflow parts to the execution and/or storage engine among the available ones in order to optimize with respect to a user-defined policy. During the demo, the attendees will be able to execute workflows that match real use cases and parametrize the input datasets and optimization policy. The underlying platform supports multiple compute and data engines, allowing the user to choose any subset of them. Through the inspection of the produced plan, its execution and the collection and presentation of numerous cost and performance metrics, the audience will experience first-hand how IReS takes advantage of heterogeneous runtimes and data stores and effectively models operator cost and performance for actual and diverse workflows.
On the convergence of a finite element method for a nonlinear hyperbolic conservation law

We consider a space-time finite element discretization of a time-dependent nonlinear hyperbolic conservation law in one space dimension (Burgers' equation). The finite element method is higher-order accurate and is a Petrov-Galerkin method based on the so-called streamline diffusion modification of the test functions giving added stability. We first prove that if a sequence of finite element solutions converges boundedly almost everywhere (as the mesh size tends to zero) to a function u, then u is an entropy solution of the conservation law. This result may be extended to systems of conservation laws with convex entropy in several dimensions. We then prove, using a compensated compactness result of Murat-Tartar, that if the finite element solutions are uniformly bounded then a subsequence will converge to an entropy solution of Burgers' equation. We also consider a further modification of the test functions giving a method with improved shock capturing. Finally, we present the results of some numerical experiments.
Effects of disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs on nonvertebral fracture risk in rheumatoid arthritis: A population‐based cohort study

Several prior investigations demonstrate an improvement in bone mineral density associated with use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). We compared the risk of osteoporotic fractures among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating a disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). A population‐based cohort study was conducted using health care utilization data (1996–2008) from a Canadian province and a U.S. commercial insurance plan. Patients with at least two RA diagnoses were identified, and follow‐up began with the first prescription for a DMARD. Drug regimens were categorized into three mutually exclusive hierarchical groups: (1) TNFi with or without nonbiologic DMARDs (nbDMARD), (2) methotrexate (MTX) without a TNFi, or (3) other nbDMARD without a TNFi or MTX. Main outcomes were hospitalizations for fractures of the hip, wrist, humerus, or pelvis based on diagnoses and procedure codes. The study cohort consisted of 16,412 RA patients with 25,988 new treatment episodes: 5856 TNFi, 12,554 MTX, and 7578 other nbDMARD. The incidence rate per 1000 person‐years for osteoporotic fracture were 5.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.50–7.45] for TNFi, 5.35 (95% CI 4.08–7.02) for MTX, and 6.38 (95% CI 3.78–10.77) for other nbDMARD. After multivariable adjustment for osteoporosis and fracture‐related risk factors, the risk of nonvertebral osteoporotic fracture was not different in either TNFi [hazard ratio (HR) 1.07, 95% CI 0.57–1.98] or MTX (HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.60–2.34) compared with nbDMARD. Among subjects diagnosed with RA, the adjusted risk of nonvertebral fracture was similar across persons starting a TNFi, MTX, or other nbDMARD. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Novel Ring Structure in the gp41 Trimer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 That Modulates Sensitivity and Resistance to Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

ABSTRACT The identification of the determinants of sensitivity and resistance to broadly neutralizing antibodies is a high priority for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research. An analysis of the swarm of closely related envelope protein variants in an HIV-infected individual revealed a mutation that markedly affected sensitivity to neutralization by antibodies and antiviral entry inhibitors targeting both gp41 and gp120. This mutation mapped to the C34 helix of gp41 and disrupted an unexplored structural feature consisting of a ring of hydrogen bonds in the gp41 trimer. This mutation appeared to affect the assembly of the six-helix bundle required for virus fusion and to alter the conformational equilibria so as to favor the prehairpin intermediate conformation required for the binding of the membrane proximal external region-specific neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10 and the antiviral drug enfuvirtide (Fuzeon). The “swarm analysis” method we describe furthers our understanding of the relationships among the structure, function, and antigenicity of the HIV envelope protein and represents a new approach to the identification of vaccine antigens.
Volume Bragg Gratings: Fundamentals and Applications in Laser Beam Combining and Beam Phase Transformations

Two major volume Bragg grating (VBG) applications will be presented and in particular laser beam combining and holographically encoded phase masks. Laser beam combining is an approach where multiple lasers are combined to produce more power. Spectral beam combining is a technique in which different wavelengths are superimposed spatially (combined) using a dispersive element such as a volume Bragg grating. To reduce the complexity of such combining system instead of multiple individual VBGs, it will be demonstrated that a single holographic element with multiple VBGs recorded inside could be used for the same purpose. Similar multiplex volume holographic elements could be used for coher ent beam combining. In this case, the gratings operate at the same wavelength and have degenerate output. Such coherent combining using gratings written in photothermorefractive (PTR) glass will be discussed. The chapter also demonstrates that binary phase profiles may be encoded into volume Bragg gratings, and that for any probe beam capable of satisfying the Bragg condition of the hologram, this phase profile will be present in the diffracted beam. A multiplexed set of these holographic phase masks (HPMs) can simultaneously combine beams while also performing mode conversion. An approach for making HPMs fully achromatic by combining them with a pair of surface gratings will be outlined.
A supervised cooperative clustering scheme for diagnosing process faults in an industrial plant

This paper presents a novel supervised clustering technique including different clustering algorithms which cooperate together to span the decision space in a supervised manner. It uses a variety of clustering methods for an efficient partitioning. An evolutionary algorithm is used to tune the key parameters of the cooperative scheme which minimizes an error-based objective function on the training dataset. The proposed supervised scheme is developed for diagnosing faults in the Tennessee Eastman process, which is a standard benchmark for fault detection and diagnosis. Experimental results show that the proposed technique can efficiently diagnose the process faults.
Investigating the cortical regions involved in MEP modulation in tDCS

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used in several studies to evaluate cortical excitability changes induced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex. Interpretation of these results, however, is hindered by the very different spatial distribution of the electric field (E-field) induced by the two techniques and by the different target neurons that they might act upon. In this study we used the finite element method to calculate the E-field distribution induced by TMS and tDCS in a realistically shaped model of a human head. A model of a commercially available figure-8 coil was placed over a position above the identified hand knob (HK) region. We also modeled two configurations of bipolar tDCS montages with one of the electrodes placed over the HK and a return electrode over the contralateral orbital region. The electrodes over the HK were either rectangular in shape, with an area of 35 cm2 or cylindrical with an area of π cm2 (1 cm radius). To compare the E-field distribution in TMS and the two tDCS models, average values of the E-field's magnitude as well as the polar and azimuthal angle were investigated in the HK region and premotor areas. The results show that both techniques induce fields with different magnitudes and directions in the HK: the field in tDCS is predominantly perpendicular to the cortical surface, contrary to what happens in TMS where the field is mostly parallel to it. In the premotor areas, the magnitude of the E-field induced in TMS was well below the accepted threshold for MEP generation, 100 V/m. In tDCS, the magnitude of the field in these areas was comparable to that induced at the HK with a significant component perpendicular to the cortical surface. These results indicate that tDCS and TMS target preferentially different neuronal structures at the HK. Besides, they show that premotor areas may play a role in the tDCS-induced after effects on motor cortex excitability.
Tongue angioedema in vivo: Antagonist response of anti-inflammatory drugs

Introduction. The toxicity of Dieffenbachia picta, an ornamental plant, arises from its ability to cause painful edema of oral mucous membranes, buccal ulcerations, and tongue hypertrophy after chewing on the stem or contact with the sap. Objectives. We compared the anti-inflammatory effect of eugenol (2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol) to different drugs, and investigated the role of oxalate crystals in the development of the inflammation reaction. Methods. Tongue edema in live mice were measured with a digital tachymeter, 2 h after topical application (0.1 mL) or tissue injection (0.05 mL) of D. picta sap. The mice were treated by intraperitoneal or topical application of drugs, 15 min after edema induction. Vascular permeability was quantified based on abdominal skin plasma extravasation of Evans blue dye in response to intradermal administration of D. picta sap. The proteolytic assay was carried out as previously described (Kunitz M. Crystalline soybean trypsin inhibitor. General properties. J Gen Physiol 1947; 30:291–310.). Results. Arachidonate cascade antagonists and eugenol showed anti-edematogenic effects. High doses of eugenol (50 μg/kg) and sodium cromoglycate (100 mg/kg), but not a combination of the two, inhibited plasma extravasations. The sap without crystals, its methanol extract, or the ethanol-washed crystals in saline-reconstituted solution did not reproduce the tongue edema seen with the original sap. Topical application of 10% sodium bicarbonate completely abolished the tongue edema. Conclusions. The inflammatory response induced by D. picta may be due to mechanical tissue damage resulting from the physical presence of calcium oxalate crystals. We were, however, unable to exclude the possibility of an insoluble toxicity present within the sap as an etiological agent. We realized that emergency treatment should also aim to inhibit antidromic vasodilation and axon reflex flare, reducing mastocyte degranulation and release of tachykinins from nerve endings. We speculate that eugenol showed better antiedematogenic results because it seems to function not only as a classic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but also as a local anesthetic, blocking neurotransmission in the damaged tissue.
Processing Fluency and Aesthetic Pleasure: Is Beauty in the Perceiver's Processing Experience?

We propose that aesthetic pleasure is a funnction of the perceiver's processing dynamics: The more fluently perceivers can process an object, the more positive their aesthetic response. We review variables known to influence aesthetic judgments, such as figural goodness, figure-ground contrast, stimulus repetition, symmetry, and prototypicality, and trace their effects to changes in processing fluency. Other variables that influence processing fluency, like visual or semantic priming, similarly increase judgments of aesthetic pleasure. Our proposal provides an integrative framework for the study of aesthetic pleasure and sheds light on the interplay between early preferences versus cultural influences on taste, preferences for both prototypical and abstracted forms, and the relation between beauty and truth. In contrast to theories that trace aesthetic pleasure to objective stimulus features per se, we propose that beauty is grounded in the processing experiences of the perceiver, which are in part a function of stimulus properties.
Reply & Supply: Efficient crowdsourced exploration for growing question sets and nets

Crowdsourcing is now invaluable in many domains for performing data collection and analysis by distributing tasks to workers, yet the true potential of crowdsourcing lies in workers not only performing tasks or answering questions but also in using their intuition and experience to contribute new tasks or questions for subsequent crowd analysis. Algorithms to efficiently assign tasks to workers focus on fixed question sets, but exploration of a growing set of questions presents greater challenges. For example, Markov Decision Processes made significant advances to question assignment algorithms, but they do not naturally account for hidden state transitions needed to represent newly contributed questions. We consider growing question sets as growing networks of items linked by questions. If these networks grew at random, they would obey classic 'rich-get-richer' dynamics, where the number of questions associated with an item depends on how early the item entered the network. This leads to more crowd time spent answering questions related to older items and less time exploring newer items. We introduce a probability matching algorithm to curtail this bias by efficiently distributing workers between exploring new questions and addressing current questions. The method handles non-network growing question sets equally well. Experiments and simulations demonstrate that this algorithm can efficiently explore an unbounded set of questions while maintaining confidence in crowd answers.
Resolvin E1 inhibits dendritic cell migration in the skin and attenuates contact hypersensitivity responses

Sawada et al. report that Resolvin E1 (RvE1) down-regulates DC motility in both steady state and inflammatory conditions in the skin and exerts its antiinflammatory effects in contact hypersensitivity. They propose the LTB4-BLT1 signaling blockade as a possible major mechanism through which RvE1 exerts its regulatory effects.
Data-driven optimization of dynamic reconfigurable systems of systems.

This report documents the results of a Strategic Partnership (aka University Collaboration) LDRD program between Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne. The project is titled 'Data-Driven Optimization of Dynamic Reconfigurable Systems of Systems' and was conducted during FY 2009 and FY 2010. The purpose of this study was to determine and implement ways to incorporate real-time data mining and information discovery into existing Systems of Systems (SoS) modeling capabilities. Current SoS modeling is typically conducted in an iterative manner in which replications are carried out in order to quantify variation in the simulation results. The expense of many replications for large simulations, especially when considering the need for optimization, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification, can be prohibitive. In addition, extracting useful information from the resulting large datasets is a challenging task. This work demonstrates methods of identifying trends and other forms of information in datasets that can be used on a wide range of applications such as quantifying the strength of various inputs on outputs, identifying the sources of variation in the simulation, and potentially steering an optimization process for improved efficiency.