Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eclipse Attacks on Overlay Networks: Threats and Defenses

Overlay networks are widely used to deploy functionality at edge nodes without changing network routers. Each node in an overlay network maintains connections with a number of peers, forming a graph upon which a distributed application or service is implemented. In an “Eclipse” attack, a set of malicious, colluding overlay nodes arranges for a correct node to peer only with members of the coalition. If successful, the attacker can mediate most or all communication to and from the victim. Furthermore, by supplying biased neighbor information during normal overlay maintenance, a modest number of malicious nodes can eclipse a large number of correct victim nodes. This paper studies the impact of Eclipse attacks on structured overlays and shows the limitations of known defenses. We then present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a new defense, in which nodes anonymously audit each other’s connectivity. The key observation is that a node that mounts an Eclipse attack must have a higher than average node degree. We show that enforcing a node degree limit by auditing is an effective defense against Eclipse attacks. Furthermore, unlike most existing defenses, our defense leaves flexibility in the selection of neighboring nodes, thus permitting important overlay optimizations like proximity neighbor selection (PNS).
Efficient code size reduction without performance loss

For many embedded applications, program code size is a critical design factor for its relationship with limited memory, energy and communication bandwidth. While pursuing better code redundancy elimination in compilation time, people also began to focus on better encoding. Some RISC processors, such as ARM, MIPS and UniCore, support a 32bit/16bit dual-width instruction set. Mixed code generation is introduced in expectation of achieving both higher code density from the 16-bit instruction set and good performance from the 32-bit one, with little extra cost. We describe a new fine-grained mixed code generation scheme in this paper. We introduce into the 32-bit ISA a new 16-bit Mode-Changing instruction set which has the following features: firstly, the operation of the instructions are very common in UniCore32 programs and are appropriate to be coded into 16 bits; secondly, they can switch the current processor mode while performing their own operations. We implement the mixed code generation at link time in our compilation toolchain. Our experiments show that this scheme is successful in better encoding a program's computations to reduce code size without sacrificing performance. In addition, there are little modifications to micro-architecture, ensuring good compatibility with the original instruction set architecture.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Unfolding Protein Response-Apoptosis Cascade Causes Chondrodysplasia in a col2a1 p.Gly1170Ser Mutated Mouse Model

The collagen type II alpha 1 (COL2A1) mutation causes severe skeletal malformations, but the pathogenic mechanisms of how this occurs are unclear. To understand how this may happen, a col2a1 p.Gly1170Ser mutated mouse model was constructed and in homozygotes, the chondrodysplasia phenotype was observed. Misfolded procollagen was largely synthesized and retained in dilated endoplasmic reticulum and the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-unfolded protein response (UPR)-apoptosis cascade was activated. Apoptosis occurred prior to hypertrophy, prevented the formation of a hypertrophic zone, disrupted normal chondrogenic signaling pathways, and eventually caused chondrodysplasia. Heterozygotes had normal phenotypes and endoplasmic reticulum stress intensity was limited with no abnormal apoptosis detected. Our results suggest that earlier chondrocyte death was related to the ERS-UPR-apoptosis cascade and that this was the chief cause of chondrodysplaia. The col2a1 p.Gly1170Ser mutated mouse model offered a novel connection between misfolded collagen and skeletal malformation. Further investigation of this mouse mutant model can help us understand mechanisms of type II collagenopathies.
Approximation Algorithms for the Multiorganization Scheduling Problem

The distributed nature of new computing platforms results in the problem of scheduling parallel jobs produced by several independent organizations that have each their own rules. They have no direct control over the whole system; thus, it is necessary to revisit classical scheduling with locality constraints. In this work, we consider distributed computing systems in which each organization has its own resources. Each organization aims at minimizing the execution times of its own jobs. We introduce a global centralized mechanism for designing a collaborative solution that improves the global performance of the system while respecting organizations' selfish objectives. The proposed algorithm is proved to have an approximation ratio equal to 3 over the global optimal makespan and this bound is shown to be asymptotically tight (when the number of organizations is large). Several variants of this problem are also studied. Then, we derive another algorithm that improves in practice these solutions by further balancing the schedules. Finally, we provide some experiments based on simulations that demonstrate a very good efficiency of this last algorithm on typical instances.
Comparative evaluation and implementation of various kernel techniques for nonlinear data classification in support vector machine.

—Data Mining is knowledge discovery process in database designed to extract data from a dataset and transforms it in to desired data. data processing action is similarly acclimated in get of constant patterns and/or analytical relationships amid variables, and a new to validate the accusation by applying the detected patterns to new subsets of knowledge. Data categoryification is one in every of the info mining technique to map great amount of data set in to applicable class. Data categoryification is reasonably supervised learning that is employed to predict class for information input, wherever categories are predefined.Supervised learning is that part of automatic learning which focuses on modeling input/output relationship the goal of supervised learning is to identify an optimal mapping from input variables to some output variables, which is based on a sample of observations of the values of the variables. Data classification technique includes various application like handwriting recognition, speech recognition, iris matching, text classification, computer vision, drug design etc. objective of this paper is to survey major techniques of data classification. Several major classification techniques are Artificial neural network, decision trees, k-nearest neighbor(KNN), support vector machine, navie-bayesian classifier, etc . in this paper we make comparison of various kernel techniques and a user define kernel technique in svm for nonlinear data classification, which is applicable to general data including, in particular, imagery and other types of high-dimensional data.
Gymnosperm B-sister genes may be involved in ovule/seed development and, in some species, in the growth of fleshy fruit-like structures.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The evolution of seeds together with the mechanisms related to their dispersal into the environment represented a turning point in the evolution of plants. Seeds are produced by gymnosperms and angiosperms but only the latter have an ovary to be transformed into a fruit. Yet some gymnosperms produce fleshy structures attractive to animals, thus behaving like fruits from a functional point of view. The aim of this work is to increase our knowledge of possible mechanisms common to the development of both gymnosperm and angiosperm fruits. METHODS B-sister genes from two gymnosperms (Ginkgo biloba and Taxus baccata) were isolated and studied. The Ginkgo gene was also functionally characterized by ectopically expressing it in tobacco. KEY RESULTS In Ginkgo the fleshy structure derives from the outer seed integument and the B-sister gene is involved in its growth. In Taxus the fleshy structure is formed de novo as an outgrowth of the ovule peduncle, and the B-sister gene is not involved in this growth. In transgenic tobacco the Ginkgo gene has a positive role in tissue growth and confirms its importance in ovule/seed development. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that B-sister genes have a main function in ovule/seed development and a subsidiary role in the formation of fleshy fruit-like structures when the latter have an ovular origin, as occurs in Ginkgo. Thus, the 'fruit function' of B-sister genes is quite old, already being present in Gymnosperms as ancient as Ginkgoales, and is also present in Angiosperms where a B-sister gene has been shown to be involved in the formation of the Arabidopsis fruit.
Inactivation of polymerase inhibitors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA amplification in sputum by using capture resin

Endogenous PCR inhibitors hamper DNA amplification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in sputum samples. Use of an anion binding resin (GeneReleaser [GR]) improved PCR sensitivity from 77% (27 of 35 culture-positive samples) with phenol-chloroform extraction (P-C) alone to 91% (GR without P-C; P > 0.05) and 100% (P-C and GR combined; P < 0.05).
Embedding the Family Check-Up and evidence-based parenting programmes in Head Start to increase parent engagement and reduce conduct problems in young children

Parent engagement (i.e. enrolment, ongoing attendance, participation quality) remains a major obstacle to fully realizing the benefits of evidence-based preventive parent management training in community settings. We describe an approach to parent engagement that addresses the myriad motivational, cognitive and pragmatic barriers parents face by embedding services in Head Start and applying a parent engagement model, the Family Check-Up, as a pre-intervention to augment parent training. In this article, we present the rationale for applying FCU to advance parent readiness for engagement and describe the process by which we partnered with the community to modify FCU to be most impactful for enhancing parent engagement in one specific programme, the Incredible Years Parenting Series. We conclude with preliminary data from our ongoing pilot trial that support our approach.
The influence of PKA treatment on the Ca2+ activation of force generation by trout cardiac muscle

SUMMARY β-Adrenergic stimulation of the mammalian heart increases heart rate, the strength of contraction as well as the kinetics of force generation and relaxation. These effects are due to the phosphorylation of select membrane and thin filament proteins by cAMP-activated protein kinase (PKA). At the level of the sarcomere, it is typically the phosphorylation of cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) that is responsible for the change in the kinetics of contraction and relaxation. Trout cTnI (ScTnI) lacks two critical PKA targets within the N-terminus of the protein that, when phosphorylated in mammalian cTnI, cause a reduction in myofilament Ca2+ affinity. To determine what role the contractile element plays in the response of the trout heart to β-adrenergic stimulation, we characterized the influence of PKA treatment on the Ca2+ activation of skinned preparations dissected from ventricular trabeculae. In these experiments, isometric force generation and the rate of force development were measured over a range of Ca2+ concentrations. The results demonstrate that PKA treatment does not influence the Ca2+ sensitivity of force generation but it decreases maximum force generation by 25% and the rate of force re-development at maximal activation by 46%. Analysis of the trabeculae preparations for phosphoproteins revealed that PKA treatment phosphorylated myosin light chain 2 but not cTnI or cMyBP-C. These results indicate that the function of the trout cardiac contractile element is altered by PKA phosphorylation but in a manner different from that in mammalian heart.
Principals' Beliefs: The Interface of Gender and Sector.

This article reports on a broad scale study of a balanced sample of male and female principals in Australia. It used questionnaire, interview, and historical data to explore the relationships between the perceptions and beliefs of principals, their gender, and other key contextual factors. Earlier claims that there are important and frequently overlooked differences in the cognitive frameworks of male and female leaders are confirmed. However, essentialist stereotypes are challenged by findings that factors such as level of schooling, institutional scale, and students' gender interact with and modify gender predispositions. Sectorial identity was found to be one of the most powerful sources of differences. ¹ The findings call for sophisticated theoretical perspectives that acknowledge the interactive nature of principals' gender and organizational context.
The 2-approximation algorithm of sorting by prefix transposition revisited

A transposition is an operation that exchanges two adjacent blocks in a permutation. A prefix transposition always moves a prefix of the permutation to another location. In this article, we use a data structure, called the permutation tree, to improve the running time of the best known approximation algorithm (with approximation ratio 2) for sorting a permutation by prefix transpositions. By using the permutation tree, we improve the running time of the 2-approximation algorithm to O(n log n).
Stroke: who's counting what?

INTRODUCTION Patients with stroke are often selected for epidemiological reporting and research using ICD-9-CM (ICD-9) diagnostic codes. This study addresses the accuracy of these codes in identifying patients with stroke. METHODS A sample of 279 patients with new stroke and 392 non-stroke (no evidence of new stroke) patients were identified by medical record review from 11 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Administrative records containing ICD-9-CM diagnoses were matched with this sample. Coding sensitivity and specificity were determined using individual ICD-9 codes and two coding algorithms. RESULTS Significant variation was found in the accuracy of cerebrovascular ICD-9-CM codes in identifying patients diagnosed with stroke. Two coding algorithms were identified with the following performance statistics based on the sampled populations: 1) 91-percent sensitivity, 40-percent specificity; and 2) 54-percent sensitivity, 87-percent specificity. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Variability in identifying patients with stroke using ICD-9 codes has been reported in the literature and confirmed. Two coding algorithms for maximizing sensitivity or specificity are proposed. Caution is urged when using ICD-9-coded administrative data to identify patients with stroke.
When "I" becomes one of "Us": Cognitive and Motivational Underpinnings of the Self-Stereotyping Process in Minority Status Groups

Self-stereotyping is a process by which people belonging to a stigmatized social group tend to describe themselves more with both positive and negative, stereotypical personality traits compared to traits that are irrelevant to the ingroup stereotype. The present work wants to analyse some of the underlying mechanisms, both cognitive and motivational, explaining when, how, and why it are especially members of socially stigmatised groups that are more inclined to self-stereotype than members of majority status groups.
A two-stage approach for the estimation of multiple input multiple output acoustic channels

Underwater acoustic communication (UWA) is a reliable way for data transmission in underwater environment, however, it is quite challenging due to its doubly spread characteristics as delay spread and Doppler spread. In this paper, a discrete-time channel input-output relationship for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) single-carrier block transmissions is derived based on parameterization for amplitude and delay variations with polynomial fitting, where the mathematical model is characterized by a few parameter sets, transforming the estimation problem into estimation of the low-dimensional parameter sets. Then a two-stage sparse approach for delay-spread and Doppler-scale estimation of MIMO UWA channel is proposed, using orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm to search on the delay-Doppler scale grid. The results of the proposed approach are further evaluated by simulations.
Voices of gender role conflict: The social construction of college men's identity

The purpose of this constructivist inquiry was to explore the impact of socially prescribed gender roles on college men identity development. Ten White, traditionally-aged students were interviewed and data from the interviews were analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenology. Students discussed communication restrictions associated with scripted gender roles, fear of femininity, feelings of being overly challenged, and a sense of confusion about masculinity.
Viscosity sensor using long-period fiber grating based on transmission amplitude change of resonance wavelength

This work addresses a fiber optical viscosity sensor using long-period fiber grating (LPFG) with a capillary tube mechanism. As soon as the preheated 100 ml fluid reaches an LPFG, the time need was used to determine the discharge time. Thus, a noticeable amplitude change of resonance wavelength in transmission spectrum was observed. The LPFG sensor was first immersed in hot air and then in fluid and the corresponding amplitude-change-based discharge time and transmission spectra were measured at the same test temperature. We simultaneously measured the LPFG-induced discharge time and the transmission spectra both in hot air and AC-20 asphalt (or sunflower oil) at different temperatures. Comparative plot shows that the LPFG-induced discharge time agreed with the asphalt viscosities obtained from the rotational viscometer. The amplitude changes between sensing in air at 60°C and sunflower oil at several temperature increasing and decreasing conditions were also noticeable.
Auditory and speech processing in specific language impairment (SLI) and dyslexia

This thesis investigates auditory and speech processing in Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and dyslexia. One influential theory of SLI and dyslexia postulates that both SLI and dyslexia stem from similar underlying sensory deficit that impacts speech perception and phonological development leading to oral language and literacy deficits. Previous studies, however, have shown that these underlying sensory deficits exist in only a subgroup of language impaired individuals, and the exact nature of these deficits is still largely unknown. The present thesis investigates three aspects of auditory-phonetic interface: 1) The weighting of acoustic cues to phonetic voicing contrast 2) the preattentive and attentive discrimination of speech and non-linguistic stimuli and 3) the formation of auditory memory traces for speech and non-linguistic stimuli in young adults with SLI and dyslexia. This thesis focuses on looking at both individial and group-level data of auditory and speech processing and their relationship with higher-level language measures. The groups of people with SLI and dyslexia who participated were aged between 14 and 25 and their performance was compared to a group of controls matched on chronological age, IQ, gender and handedness. Investigations revealed a complex pattern of behaviour. The results showed that individuals with SLI or dyslexia are not poor at discriminating sounds (whether speech or non-speech). However, in all experiments, there was more variation and more outliers in the SLI group indicating that auditory deficits may occur in a small subgroup of the SLI population. Moreover, investigations of the exact nature of the input-processing deficit revealed that some individuals with SLI have less categorical representations for speech sounds and that they weight the acoustic cues to phonemic identity differently from controls and dyslexics.
Circulating angiogenic factor levels correlate with extent of disease and risk of recurrence in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND Tumor angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, is regulated by a balance between pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and anti-angiogenic factors such as endostatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS To investigate this angiogenic balance in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), blood samples were collected from 76 STS patients and 15 healthy controls, and analyzed for VEGF, bFGF and endostatin using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS Forty-one patients (54%) had primary tumors, 20 (26%) had local recurrences and 15 (20%) had metastatic disease with or without local disease. Levels of all three angiogenic factors were highly variable in STS patients. Mean levels of VEGF and bFGF were 12 and 14 times higher, respectively, in patients compared with controls (P<0.0001). VEGF levels correlated with size of tumor, with the highest levels found in tumors >10 cm in size. Patients with metastases had endostatin levels 45% lower than patients without metastases (P=0.047). In 54 patients who underwent resection of primary disease or local recurrence, low pre-operative bFGF level was associated with a higher risk of subsequent recurrence (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS STS secrete widely variable levels of angiogenic factors, and levels of specific factors may correlate with extent of disease, predict risk of recurrence and possibly guide the use of anti-angiogenic agents.
Research dynamics, impact, and dissemination: A topic‐level analysis

In informetrics, journals have been used as a standard unit to analyze research impact, productivity, and scholarship. The increasing practice of interdisciplinary research challenges the effectiveness of journal‐based assessments. The aim of this article is to highlight topics as a valuable unit of analysis. A set of topic‐based approaches is applied to a data set on library and information science publications. Results show that topic‐based approaches are capable of revealing the research dynamics, impact, and dissemination of the selected data set. The article also identifies a nonsignificant relationship between topic popularity and impact and argues for the need to use both variables in describing topic characteristics. Additionally, a flow map illustrates critical topic‐level knowledge dissemination channels.
A self-adaptive analysis method of fault diagnosis in roller bearing based on Local mean decomposition

In view of the nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics of fault vibration signal in roller bearing, a self-adaptive fault diagnosis method known as LMD (Local mean decomposition) is proposed. Initially the original vibration signal is decomposed into several stationary PF (product function) which possessed physical meaning and a residual component by using of LMD. Subsequently, the main components in fault signal are determined by calculation of correlation factor of each PF with the original signal aiming at obtaining amplitude and frequency information. LMD is applied in analysis of simulation signals and fault diagnosis of bearing outer-race. The results indicate that LMD method of fault diagnosis in roller bearing is equipped with high fault recognition and identification rate. The characteristics of mechanical fault signals can be effectively extracted.
Identification of Sympathy in Free Conversation

Dialog systems are generally categorized into two types: task oriented and non task oriented systems. Recently, the study of non task oriented dialog systems or chat systems becomes more important since robotic pets or nursing care robots are paid much attention in our daily life. In this paper, as a fundamental technique in a chat system, we propose a method to identify if a speaker displays sympathy in his/her utterance. Our method is based on supervised machine learning. New features are proposed to train a classifier for identifying the sympathy in user’s utterance. Results of our experiments show that the proposed features improve the F-measure by 3-4% over a baseline.