Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thrifty privacy: efficient support for privacy-preserving publish/subscribe

Content-based publish/subscribe is an appealing paradigm for building large-scale distributed applications. Such applications are often deployed over multiple administrative domains, some of which may not be trusted. Recent attacks in public clouds indicate that a major concern in untrusted domains is the enforcement of privacy. By routing data based on subscriptions evaluated on the content of publications, publish/subscribe systems can expose critical information to unauthorized parties. Information leakage can be avoided by the means of privacy-preserving filtering, which is supported by several mechanisms for encrypted matching. Unfortunately, all existing approaches have in common a high performance overhead and the difficulty to use classical optimization for content-based filtering such as per-attribute containment. In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism that greatly reduces the cost of supporting privacy-preserving filtering based on encrypted matching operators. It is based on a pre-filtering stage that can be combined with containment graphs, if available. Our experiments indicate that pre-filtering is able to significantly reduce the number of encrypted matching for a variety of workloads, and therefore the costs associated with the cryptographic mechanisms. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the additional data structures used for pre-filtering have very limited impact on the effectiveness of privacy preservation.
Multidimensional Trust Evaluation Model Based on Redemption and Data Aggregation

Traditional trust evaluation models in wireless sensor networks separate detection and evaluation from data aggregation. Data accuracy is ignored in these models. Algorithms like WTE alleviate some of the problem, but not all. For example, it cannot resist attacks from nodes with a good reputation. Another ignored problem is the false detection caused by occasional abnormal behavior, hash environment and model flaw. To solve the problems mentioned above, this paper proposes a multidimensional trust evaluation model based on redemption and data aggregation. One malicious node can launch various attacks. Bad data attack is one of them. When data are aggregated, Spatial and temporal correlation are taken into consideration. Nodes recognized to transmit bad data are refused to join the data aggregation. Isolated nodes are given a chance to return to networks if certain conditions are satisfied. But the network has less tolerance to them. The simulation prevents that the model has high detection rate and more accurate data.
Tropical Understory Piper Shrubs Maintain High Levels of Genotypic Diversity Despite Frequent Asexual Recruitment

Many plant species have the capacity to regenerate asexually by resprouting from stem and leaf fragments. In the pan‐tropical shrub genus Piper, this tendency is thought to be higher in shade‐tolerant than light‐demanding species, and to represent a trade‐off with annual seed production. Here we use molecular markers to identify clones in five Piper species varying in light requirements. We test predictions that (i) asexual recruitment success is highest in shade‐tolerant species, and (ii) that consequently, shade‐tolerant species are characterized by lower genotypic diversity than light‐demanding Piper. We found that two shade‐tolerant Piper species recruited asexually more frequently (36–42% of sampled shoots were of asexual origin) than, two light‐demanding and one shade‐tolerant species (0–26%). Furthermore, as predicted, genotypic diversity was negatively correlated with the frequency of asexual recruitment in the population. Nonetheless, genotypic diversity of Piper was high compared with other clonal plants. The proportion of unique genotypes found per population ranged from 0.58 to 1.0 and the genotypic Simpson's diversity ranged from 0.93 to 1.0 for all five species. Our results suggest that even though asexual reproduction plays an important role in maintaining local populations of Piper in the understory, it does not seem to reduce genotypic diversity to levels that will threaten these species ability to respond to environmental change.
Knowledge Diffusion in Complex Networks

Modern communication networks and social networks are the main tunnels of knowledge diffusion. Knowledge diffusion in complex networks is different from the epidemic like information spreading, since individuals are willing to learn and spread knowledge to their friends and the learning process can hardly be achieved in few conversations. In this paper, we investigate the important issue as which topological structure is suitable for knowledge diffusion. We propose a new knowledge diffusion model, where learning and forgetting mechanisms are considered. In this model, individuals can play imparter and learner simultaneously. Comparing the knowledge diffusion on a series of complex topologies, we observe that the individuals with a large degree can quickly learn more knowledge, who are beneficial to the knowledge diffusion. Our results surprisingly reveal that the networks with high degree heterogeneities are likely to be suitable for the knowledge diffusion. Our finding suggests that enhancing the degree heterogeneity of existing social networks may help to improve the performance of the knowledge diffusion. This result is well confirmed by our extensive simulation results. Our model therefore provides a theoretical framework for understanding the knowledge diffusion in complex topologies.
Defect-causal analysis drives down error rates

Defect-causal analysis (DCA), a low-cost technique for driving down error rates in software, is discussed. The learning method used in DCA is described, and its benefits are discussed. The effect of DCA on maturity (as in the Capability Maturity model) is considered. Possibly pitfalls in using DCA are pointed out. <<ETX>>
A genetic approach in relay-jammer selection and power allocation for physical layer security

Node cooperation approaches improve physical layer security in wireless networks without applying data encryption. Selecting the appropriate nodes to cooperate as relays or friendly jammers, to degrade eavesdropper's link, is a challenging problem which has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Various approaches, based on conventional exhaustive search, have been suggested for optimal relay-jammer selection and power allocation in the literature. The complexity of these methods is proportional to the number of intermediate nodes. As the number of intermediate nodes exceeds a specific bound, conventional exhaustive search appears infeasible due to high computational complexity. In this paper, we propose a novel approach based on genetic algorithm (GA), for relay-jammer selection, power allocation and computational complexity reduction. Our system model consists of a source-destination pair, one eavesdropper and a number of intermediate nodes which cooperate as relays or friendly jammers. Considering the achievable secrecy rate as the cost function for GA optimization, the proposed algorithm is performed in two steps. First, we determine the desired channel gains that maximize the secrecy rate using GA. In the second step, nodes for which the corresponding channel gains have the smallest deviation from the obtained values in the first step, will be chosen as relays or jammers. We compare the proposed method with two kinds of conventional exhaustive search techniques one with fixed and the other with adaptive power allocated to jammers. Simulation results show that the proposed method reduces computational complexity while attaining a secrecy rate close to conventional techniques. Also the power which is allocated to jammers during each phase of transmission will be declined using GA optimization. Despite of conventional exhaustive search, the complexity of the proposed algorithm is almost the same as the number of cooperative nodes increases. So, the proposed method will outperform the previous works in terms of simplicity, efficiency and security.
Critical Role of S1PR1 and Integrin β4 in HGF/c-Met-mediated Increases in Vascular Integrity

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mediator of endothelial barrier enhancement, however, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Results: HGF-induced endothelial barrier enhancement is mediated via sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) and integrin β4 (ITGB4) transactivation. Conclusion: ITGB4 and S1PR1 are essential for HGF-induced endothelial barrier augmentation. Significance: Our findings identify novel mechanisms of endothelial barrier enhancement by HGF. Vascular endothelial cell (EC) barrier integrity is critical to vessel homeostasis whereas barrier dysfunction is a key feature of inflammatory disorders and tumor angiogenesis. We previously reported that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mediated increases in EC barrier integrity are signaled through a dynamic complex present in lipid rafts involving its receptor, c-Met (1). We extended these observations to confirm that S1PR1 (sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1) and integrin β4 (ITGB4) are essential participants in HGF-induced EC barrier enhancement. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated HGF-mediated recruitment of c-Met, ITGB4 and S1PR1 to caveolin-enriched lipid rafts in human lung EC with direct interactions of c-Met with both S1PR1 and ITGB4 accompanied by c-Met-dependent S1PR1 and ITGB4 transactivation. Reduced S1PR1 expression (siRNA) attenuated both ITGB4 and Rac1 activation as well as c-Met/ITGB4 interaction and resulted in decreased transendothelial electrical resistance. Furthermore, reduced ITGB4 expression attenuated HGF-induced c-Met activation, c-Met/S1PR1 interaction, and effected decreases in S1P- and HGF-induced EC barrier enhancement. Finally, the c-Met inhibitor, XL880, suppressed HGF-induced c-Met activation as well as S1PR1 and ITGB4 transactivation. These results support a critical role for S1PR1 and ITGB4 transactivation as rate-limiting events in the transduction of HGF signals via a dynamic c-Met complex resulting in enhanced EC barrier integrity.
Antibody inhibition of the transcriptase activity of the rotavirus DLP: a structural view.

On entering the host cell the rotavirus virion loses its outer shell to become a double-layered particle (DLP). The DLP then transcribes the 11 segments of its dsRNA genome using its own transcriptase complex, and the mature mRNA emerges along the 5-fold axis. In order to better understand the transcription mechanism and the role of VP6 in transcription we have studied three monoclonal antibodies against VP6: RV-238 which inhibits the transcriptase activity of the DLP; and RV-133 and RV-138 which have no effect on transcription. The structures obtained by cryo-electron microscopy of the DLP/Fab complexes and by X-ray crystallography of the VP6 trimer and the VP6/Fab-238 complex have been combined to give pseudo-atomic structures. Steric hindrance between the Fabs results in limited Fab occupancy. In particular, there are on average only three of a possible five Fabs-238 which point towards the 5-fold axis. Thus, Fabs-238 are not in a position to block the exiting mRNA, nor is there any visible conformational change in VP6 on antibody binding at a resolution of 23 A. However, the epitope of the inhibiting antibody involves two VP6 monomers, whereas, those of the non-inhibiting antibodies have an epitope on only one VP6. Thus, the inhibition of transcription may be a result of inhibition of a possible change in the VP6 conformation associated with the transcription of mRNA.
The role of NAD biosynthesis in plant development and stress responses.

BACKGROUND Pyridine nucleotides are essential for electron transport and serve as co-factors in multiple metabolic processes in all organisms. Each nucleotide has a particular role in metabolism. For instance, the NAD/NADP ratio is believed to be responsible for sustaining the functional status of plant cells. However, since enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of NAD and NADP have not been fully identified, the physiological functions of these co-enzymes in plant growth and development are largely unknown. SCOPE This Botanical Briefing covers progress in the developmental and stress-related roles of genes associated with NAD biosynthesis in plants. Special attention will be given to assessments of physiological impacts through the modulation of NAD and NADP biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS The significance of NAD biosynthesis in plant development and NADP biosynthesis in plant stress tolerance is summarized in this Briefing. Further investigation of cells expressing a set of NAD biosynthetic genes would facilitate understanding of regulatory mechanisms by which plant cells maintain NAD homeostasis.
A special-purpose language for implementing pipelined FPGA-based accelerators

A common use for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) is the implementation of hardware accelerators. A way of doing so is to specify the internal logic of such accelerators by using Hardware Description Languages (HDLs). However, HDLs rely on the expertise of developers and their knowledge about hardware development with FPGAs. Regarding this, efforts have been focused on developing High-level Synthesis (HLS) tools in an attempt to increase the overall abstraction level required for using FPGAs. However, the solutions presented by such tools are commonly considered inefficient in comparison to the ones achieved by a specialized hardware designer. An alternative solution to program FPGAs is the use of Domain- Specific Languages (DSLs), as they can provide higher abstraction levels than HDLs still allowing the developers to deal with specific issues leading to more efficient designs and not always covered by HLS tools. In this paper we present our recent work on a DSL named LALP (Language for Aggressive Loop Pipelining), which has been developed focusing on the development of FPGAbased, aggressively pipelined, hardware accelerators. We present the recent LALP extensions and the challenges we are facing regarding to the compilation of LALP to FPGAs.
The Double Insult: Explaining Gender Differences in the Psychological Consequences of War

Although women have been shown to be at higher mental health risk following the experience of extreme events in war, this phenomenon is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigate the role of gender norms in determining the interpretation of events and the degree of social support given to victims. Thirty-eight survivors from the Kosovo conflict in 1999 were interviewed and data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The findings suggest that events which are seen as affirming gender norms (such as men who were injured in fighting the enemy) evoke pride in the victim and support from the community whereas events that are seen as undermining gender norms (such as women who are sexually assaulted) evoke shame in the victim and rejection by the community. Women, we suggest, are psychologically vulnerable both because they are more likely than men to experience identity undermining events and also because the consequences of such events are more severe for women than men.
Horus: fine-grained encryption-based security for large-scale storage

With the growing use of large-scale distributed systems, the likelihood that at least one node is compromised is increasing. Large-scale systems that process sensitive data such as geographic data with defense implications, drug modeling, nuclear explosion modeling, and private genomic data would benefit greatly from strong security for their storage. Nevertheless, many high performance computing (HPC), cloud, or secure content delivery network (SCDN) systems that handle such data still store them unencrypted or use simple encryption schemes, relying heavily on physical isolation to ensure confidentiality, providing little protection against compromised computers or malicious insiders. Moreover, current encryption solutions cannot efficiently provide fine-grained encryption for large datasets. Our approach, Horus, encrypts large datasets using keyed hash trees (KHTs) to generate different keys for each region of the dataset, providing fine-grained security: the key for one region cannot be used to access another region. Horus also reduces key management and distribution overhead while providing end-to-end data encryption and reducing the need to trust system operators or cloud service providers. Horus requires little modification to existing systems and user applications. Performance evaluation shows that our prototype's key distribution is highly scalable and robust: a single key server can provide 140,000 keys per second, theoretically enough to sustain more than 100 GB/s I/O throughput, and multiple key servers can efficiently operate in parallel to support load balancing and reliability.
Hearing Ancestral Voices Through Creative Art - A Tool For Environmental Education For Sustainability

The research presented in this paper draws on a study in the Kgalagari region of Botswana where participant observation workshops were conducted to illustrate the impact of using the Arts in Education approach (AiE). This approach was used through traditional storytelling in lessons on environmental issues in a rural primary school in the Kgalahari region of Botswana. The BaKgalagari Standard 4 children participated in lessons in which community elders were invited to tell them stories. The lessons conducted offered the participants exemplary activities in conducting a teaching unit incorporating story-telling, dramatizing and visual art, whereby the story was embedded within the learners’ contexts and in the idea of environmental appreciation. The outcome of the study demonstrated that this approach can enhance learning by yielding a more
Validity of Self-Reports in Dementia Research

Abstract Background: Many clinicians and researchers use self-reports from patients. However, these self-reports may not be valid if patients are seriously cognitively impaired. We conducted the following study to determine the mental status level where self-reported data from the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) become invalid. Methods: This study was based on data from 1,465 individuals referred to a memory clinic for memory and/or behavior problems. We examined administration and psychometric properties of the GDS in a cross-sectional and longitudinal fashion. We used the standardized version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a marker for cognitive impairment. Results: Compared to participants with an MMSE score of 29-30, those with scores of 18 or less answered fewer GDS questions (p < .01), and displayed more positive response set bias (p < .01). Comparisons of correlation patterns between GDS scores at time one and at time two for the same respondents indicated that responses of participants with lower MMSE scores could be invalid (p < .01). Discussion: Cognitive impairment may render self-reports invalid once MMSE scores decline below 20. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of this potential pitfall in using and interpreting self-reports.
The Relation Between Norm Accessibility, Pornography Use, and Parental Mediation Among Emerging Adults

Widespread access to and use of pornography has led to concern about the potentially negative effects of exposure to pornography on emerging adults—its largest user group. Past research shows that salient social norms can influence subsequent behavior. This study, therefore, explored the relationship between salient pornography-related norms and pornography use among emerging adults, as well as the relationship between parental mediation of pornography during adolescence and emerging adults’ salient pornography-related norms. Results revealed that emerging adults are more likely to view pornography when they hold a salient belief (norm) that their peers both approve of viewing and regularly view pornography. The study also found that parents’ provision of rules about viewing pornography during adolescence may reduce future pornography use by instilling the salient belief that the parent disapproves of viewing pornography. These findings suggest that the effect of rules in the home about adolescents’ use of pornography may persist into emerging adulthood.
“You Can’t Help a Child if You Don’t Know Something Yourself”: A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Education in an Underserved West Baltimore Community

Abstract:There have been numerous efforts to simultaneously increase awareness and reduce the impact of health disparities and educational inequities. Initiatives have included designing, testing and training on selective interventions, as well as promoting progressive policymaking at local, state, and national levels. Input from the community is essential in building a cradle-to-career continuum of learning and other associated supports. A series of five different focus groups were held with various stakeholders in an underserved community—mothers in a prenatal program (n = 5); youth and young adults (n = 9); community residents (n = 13); principals (n = 5); and teachers and school staff (n = 14). These focus groups were intended to inform research on how children are learning, and how community supports impact student learning. Key themes that emerged included barriers to educational achievement and health promotion, which includes mental health and self-esteem, parental support, early childhood education, and access to healthy food options.
Moderators of the Relationship between Family Caregiver Proxy-Ratings and Person with Dementia Self-Ratings of Quality of Life

As the dementia spectrum lacks any viable cure, quality of life is typically regarded as an essential measure of assessing the clinical course and evaluating interventions. With caregivers typically providing this rating to health professionals, the literature has noted inconsistencies between caregiver and person with dementia (PwD) ratings of quality of life and suggested several factors may moderate the rating relationship. To investigate this, an intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to observe rating agreement and moderator regression analysis was conducted to explore potential moderators. Potential moderators of caregiver burden, caregiver age, caregiver income, PwD IADLs/ADLs, PwD education, PwD cognitive impairment, PwD depressive symptom severity, PwD behavioural symptom severity, as well as relationship between caregiver and PwD. Utilizing secondary data from 107 recruited dyads, analyses conducted found fair agreement between caregivers and those with dementia while none of the hypothesized factors were found to moderate the rating relationship.
Content replication in large distributed caches

In this paper, we consider the algorithmic task of content replication and request routing in a distributed caching system consisting of a central server and a large number of caches, each with limited storage and service capabilities. We study a time-slotted system where in each time-slot, a large batch of requests has to be matched to a large number of caches, where each request can be served by any cache which stores the requested content. All requests which cannot be served by the caches are served by fetching the requested content from the central server. The goal is to minimize the transmission rate from the central server. We use a novel mapping between our content replication problem and the Knapsack problem to prove a lower bound on the transmission rate for any content replication policy. Using insights obtained from the mapping, we propose a content replication policy — Knapsack Storage — which achieves this lower bound. While it intuitively makes sense to replicate the more popular contents on a larger number of caches, surprisingly, in certain cases, the Knapsack Storage policy chooses not to replicate the most popular contents on the caches at all.