Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Authentication and key agreement scheme for CDMA cellular system

The code division multiple access (CDMA) system is considered to be the most secured cellular standard because of its strong security techniques such as scrambling and interleaving. These security techniques have been improved from the GSM security system. However, the CDMA cellular standard still has some limitations particularly in term of authentication and key agreement process. In this paper, a new authentication and key agreement protocol is proposed to provide a security technique to ensure the mutual authentication of both the mobile station and the network provider, as well as provide a key agreement protocol for session keys by using short and efficenent signature with bilinear pairing method with some modifications to make the proposed scheme more compatible for the CDMA cellular system.
Global Competitive Ranking for Constraints Handling with Modified Differential Evolution

Constrained nonlinear programming problems involving a nonlinear objective function with inequality and/or equality constraints introduce the possibility of multiple local optima. The task of global optimization is to find a solution where the objective function obtains its most extreme value while satisfying the constraints. Depending on the nature of the involved functions many solution methods have been proposed. Most of the existing population-based stochastic methods try to make the solution feasible by using a penalty function method. However, to find the appropriate penalty parameter is not an easy task. Population-based differential evolution is shown to be very efficient to solve global optimization problems with simple bounds. To handle the constraints effectively, in this paper, we propose a modified constrained differential evolution that uses self-adaptive control parameters, a mixed modified mutation, the inversion operation, a modified selection and the elitism in order to progress efficiently towards a global solution. In the modified selection, we propose a fitness function based on the global competitive ranking technique for handling the constraints. We test 13 benchmark problems. We also compare the results with the results found in literature. It is shown that our method is rather effective when solving constrained problems.
Prosodically-enhanced recurrent neural network language models

Recurrent neural network language models have been shown to consistently reduce the word error rates (WERs) of large vocabulary speech recognition tasks. In this work we propose to enhance the RNNLMs with prosodic features computed using the context of the current word. Since it is plausible to compute the prosody features at the word and syllable level we have trained the models on prosody features computed at both these levels. To investigate the effectiveness of proposed models we report perplexity and WER for two speech recognition tasks, Switchboard and TED. We observed substantial improvements in perplexity and small improvements in WER.
Sauert and Vary : Near End Listening Enhancement ITG-Fachtagung Sprachkommunikation 2006 Improving Speech Intelligibility in Noisy Environments by Near End Listening Enhancement

In contrast to common noise reduction systems, this contribution presents a digital signal processing algorithm to improve intelligibility of clean far end speech for the near end listener who is located in an environment with background noise. Since the noise reaches the ears of the near end listener directly and therefore can hardly be influenced, a sensible option is to manipulate the far end speech. The proposed algorithm raises the average speech spectrum over the average noise spectrum and takes precautions to prevent hearing damage. Informal listening tests and the Speech Intelligibility Index indicate an improved speech intelligibility.
The connection between the decision to join a secular Jewish-oriented group and perceived Jewish identity: A comparative study between American and Israeli joiners

The literature about self-identity views the self as socially constructed, constantly revised, and providing the individual with a narrative of continuity despite change (Shu-Fang Dien, 2000; McAdams, 1985). In this study, identity literature and the narrative approach were used theoretically and methodologically, to explore the connections between the decision to join a secular Jewish-oriented group (SJOG), and the joiner's perceived Jewish identity among joiners in Israel and in the U.S. It was hypothesized that joining serves to reinforce, distinguish, and renegotiate a Jewish secular identity. Additionally, differences in the group's social context were expected to manifest through identity-negotiations content. Results emphasized the importance of joining a group, and group identity, to the development of self-identity. Joiner's narrations revealed an attempt to bridge polarized selfidentities and thus create a continuous and balanced self-story. The social context subtlety influenced the decision to join a SJOG. Finally, in negotiating identities, individuals created outer social constructs to accommodate their identity needs.
Let There be Light! An Initial Exploratory Study of Whether Lighting Influences Consumer Evaluations of Packaged Food Products

This study investigates how lighting influences consumer evaluations of packaged food products. Fifty-eight participants evaluated two identical packaged meals (alternated between subjects) in a laboratory setting. The products were stored in a freezer with cold light (blue light-emitting diode [LED]) on one side and warm light (yellow LED) on the other side. A three-way mixed multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that, independent of package color and gender, food products were evaluated more negatively in the cold light than in the warm light in terms of quality, attractiveness and inferred taste. Therefore, lighting may influence consumers' overall evaluations of packaged meals. This finding also highlights the managerial problem whereby the lighting standards that exist at print agencies in order to eliminate ambiguities when making decisions about package design are rare for in-store lighting. Consequently, products that look attractive at the print agency may look unappealing in a store. The results are discussed in terms of processing fluency and cross-modal correspondences.
Integration of Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Revealed a Fatty Acid Network Exerting Growth Inhibitory Effects in Human Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: To identify metabolic pathways that are perturbed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we investigated gene-metabolite networks with integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics. Experimental Design: We conducted global metabolite profiling analysis on two independent cohorts of resected PDAC cases to identify critical metabolites alteration that may contribute to the progression of pancreatic cancer. We then searched for gene surrogates that were significantly correlated with the key metabolites, by integrating metabolite and gene expression profiles. Results: Fifty-five metabolites were consistently altered in tumors as compared with adjacent nontumor tissues in a test cohort (N = 33) and an independent validation cohort (N = 31). Weighted network analysis revealed a unique set of free fatty acids (FFA) that were highly coregulated and decreased in PDAC. Pathway analysis of 157 differentially expressed gene surrogates revealed a significantly altered lipid metabolism network, including key lipolytic enzymes PNLIP, CLPS, PNLIPRP1, and PNLIPRP2. Gene expressions of these lipases were significantly decreased in pancreatic tumors as compared with nontumor tissues, leading to reduced FFAs. More importantly, a lower gene expression of PNLIP in tumors was associated with poorer survival in two independent cohorts. We further showed that two saturated FFAs, palmitate and stearate, significantly induced TRAIL expression, triggered apoptosis, and inhibited proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusions: Our results suggest that impairment in a lipolytic pathway involving lipases, and a unique set of FFAs, may play an important role in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer and provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Clin Cancer Res; 19(18); 4983–93. ©2013 AACR.
Stress in the Roman Catholic priesthood : "harvest for a millennium"

This thesis investigates the existence of stress in the Roman Catholic priesthood. A transactional model of stress is adopted as a heuristic for this investigation. Here, stress is seen as the relationship between features of the work environment, as appraised by clergy themselves, and various indicators of diminished well-being e.g. poorer self reported health, lower self-esteem and increased pessimism about the role and effectiveness of the priest in the future. This model also places considerable emphasis upon the possible role of perceived support in the overall aetiology - or amelioration - of stress. Using this transactional model as a guide, seventeen work environment stressors, were identified on the basis of qualitative and quantitative investigations with a total sample of 189 priests drawn from four dioceses. The qualitative investigation comprised twelve in-depth interviews with an opportunistic sample of clergy. The focus of these interviews was to determine the antecedents and consequences of stress as perceived by members of the clergy. On the basis of the interview data a bespoke questionnaire was developed for distribution to a broad sample of priests. The questionnaire measured both antecedents (work environment factors) and consequences (impacts on well-being) as well as perceptions of the support available to priests both inside and outside the Church. The data to be presented show that it is the contradictions that many priests have to deal with which are often pivotal in the aetiology of stress e.g. the implementation of Canon Law in an increasingly secular world. The multiplicity and diversity of roles that priests now have to fulfil - whether at Diocesan or parochial level, is also a key factor, as are the daily parish/diocesan administration duties that priests have to undertake and the increasingly 'convenience stores mentality' (as clergy see it) of the Church community. Very little support in dealing with these issues was perceived to be available to them by many priests within the sample. The implications of these results are discussed both in terms of their correspondence with findings in general occupational stress research and in terms of a proposed rudimentary stress management programme that might be implemented to help manage stress within the Roman Catholic priesthood.
Patch-Based Principal Covariance Discriminative Learning for Image Set Classification

Image set classification has attracted increasing attention with respect to the use of significant amounts of within-set information. The covariance matrix is a natural and effective descriptor for describing image sets. Non-singular covariance matrices, known as symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrices, are regarded as points on a Riemannian manifold. A common method of classifying points on a manifold is to explicitly map the SPD matrices from a Riemannian manifold to Euclidean space, such as in the covariance discriminative learning (CDL) method. However, the disadvantages of the CDL method are as follows: 1) the method models the whole image set as a covariance matrix, whereas if there are insufficient set samples or merely one set, the within-class information studied by the discriminative learning may not be utilized well and 2) when the original sample covariance matrices are of high dimensionality, the computational cost is non-trivial. To address these problems of CDL, we propose to exploit the maximal linear patch to cluster image sets into multiple subsets (local patches), which could provide substantially more within-class information. Moreover, we refine the manifold formed by the SPD matrices to a lower dimensionality and more discriminative manifold by collaboratively applying principal component analysis to all training sets. Experiments are performed on face recognition and objection categorization tasks; extensive comparison results illustrate the considerable effectiveness of our proposed method.
Motivated Value Selection for Artificial Agents

Coding values (or preferences) directly into an artificial agent is a very challenging task, while value selection (or value-learning, or value-loading) allows agents to learn values from their programmers, other humans or their environments in an interactive way. However, there is a conflict between agents learning their future values and following their current values, which motivates agents to manipulate the value selection process. This paper establishes the conditions under which motivated value selection is an issue for some types of agents, and presents an example of an `indifferent' agent that avoids it entirely. This poses and solves an issue which has not to the author's knowledge been formally addressed in the literature.
Management of transfusional iron overload – differential properties and efficacy of iron chelating agents

Regular red cell transfusion therapy ameliorates disease-related morbidity and can be lifesaving in patients with various hematological disorders. Transfusion therapy, however, causes progressive iron loading, which, if untreated, results in endocrinopathies, cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, hepatic fibrosis, and premature death. Iron chelation therapy is used to prevent iron loading, remove excess accumulated iron, detoxify iron, and reverse some of the iron-related complications. Three chelators have undergone extensive testing to date: deferoxamine, deferasirox, and deferiprone (although the latter drug is not currently licensed for use in North America where it is available only through compassionate use programs and research protocols). These chelators differ in their modes of administration, pharmacokinetics, efficacy with regard to organ-specific iron removal, and adverse-effect profiles. These differential properties influence acceptability, tolerability and adherence to therapy, and, ultimately, the effectiveness of treatment. Chelation therapy, therefore, must be individualized, taking into account patient preferences, toxicities, ongoing transfusional iron intake, and the degree of cardiac and hepatic iron loading.
Targeted mutagenesis of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 3 (PfEMP3) disrupts cytoadherence of malaria‐infected red blood cells

Adhesion of parasite‐infected red blood cells to the vascular endothelium is a critical event in the pathogenesis of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Adherence is mediated by the variant erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). Another protein, erythrocyte membrane protein‐3 (PfEMP3), is deposited under the membrane of the parasite‐infected erythrocyte but its function is unknown. Here we show that mutation of PfEMP3 disrupts transfer of PfEMP1 to the outside of the P.falciparum‐infected cell. Truncation of the C‐terminal end of PfEMP3 by transfection prevents distribution of this large (>300 kDa) protein around the membrane but does not disrupt trafficking of the protein from the parasite to the cytoplasmic face of the erythrocyte membrane. The truncated PfEMP3 accumulates in structures that appear to be associated with the erythrocyte membrane. We show that accumulation of mutated PfEMP3 blocks the transfer of PfEMP1 onto the outside of the parasitized cell surface and suggest that these proteins traffic through an erythrocyte membrane‐associated compartment that is involved in the transfer of PfEMP1 to the surface of the parasite‐infected red blood cell.
Comparison of epidural butorphanol and fentanyl as adjuvants in the lower abdominal surgery: A randomized clinical study

Background: Epidural opioids acting through the spinal cord receptors improve the quality and duration of analgesia along with dose-sparing effect with the local anesthetics. The present study compared the efficacy and safety profile of epidurally administered butorphanol and fentanyl combined with bupivacaine (B). Materials and Methods: A total of 75 adult patients of either sex of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I and II, aged 20-60 years, undergoing lower abdominal under epidural anesthesia were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups of 25 each: B, bupivacaine and butorphanol (BB) and bupivacaine + fentanyl (BF). B (0.5%) 20 ml was administered epidurally in all the three groups with the addition of 1 mg butorphanol in BB group and 100 μg fentanyl in the BF group. The hemodynamic parameters as well as various block characteristics including onset, completion, level and duration of sensory analgesia as well as onset, completion and regression of motor block were observed and compared. Adverse events and post-operative visual analgesia scale scores were also noted and compared. Data was analyzed using ANOVA with post-hoc significance, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Value of P < 0.05 was considered significant and P < 0.001 as highly significant. Results: The demographic profile of patients was comparable in all the three groups. Onset and completion of sensory analgesia was earliest in BF group, followed by BB and B group. The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in BB group followed by BF as compared with group B. Addition of butorphanol and fentanyl to B had no effect on the time of onset, completion and regression of motor block. No serious cardio-respiratory side effects were observed in any group. Conclusions: Butorphanol and fentanyl as epidural adjuvants are equally safe and provide comparable stable hemodynamics, early onset and establishment of sensory anesthesia. Butorphanol provides a significantly prolonged post-operative analgesia.
Improving a bank-check processing system with new HMM-based algorithms

In this paper a new version of a bank-check processing system is presented. Many important integrations are proposed in order to improve its classification accuracy. This goal is achieved by using the Computer Aided Software Engineering tools provided by the "Khoros" software framework. New algorithms, based on Hidden Markov Models, both for courtesy and legal amount recognition, are implemented and added to those previously used for image pre-processing, amounts recognition and classifier combination. A visual programming environment is used to re-assemble the bank-check processing system that can be easily modified and extended. Experimental results, using own and international databases, show the obtained improvements.
" Inventory Investment and Output Volatility "

This paper reports the results of a detailed examination of the hypothesis that improved inventory management and production techniques are responsible for the decline in the volatility of U.S. GDP growth. Our innovations are to look at the data at a finer level of disaggregation than previous studies, to exploit cross-sectional heterogeneity to obtain clearer identification of this hypothesis, and to provide a complete accounting of the change in GDP volatility. Changes in inventory behavior can account directly for only up to half of the total reduction in GDP volatility. Cross-section evidence from the manufacturing and trade sector indicates that change in the covariance structure among industries accounts for most of the remaining portion of the reduction in GDP volatility. Sales have become less correlated among industries and inventory investment has become more correlated. These distinctive changes in co-movement of industries suggest that development and management of supply chains may be an indirect channel through which changes in inventory management and production techniques have influenced GDP volatility. for helpful comments. Jennifer Young provided excellent research assistance. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Metabolic Syndrome Among Adults in New York City, 2004 New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Introduction The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with metabolic syndrome among adult New York City residents. Methods The 2004 New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was a population-based, cross-sectional study of noninstitutionalized New York City residents aged 20 years or older. We examined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III revised guidelines, according to demographic subgroups and comorbid diagnoses in a probability sample of 1,263 participants. We conducted bivariable and multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Results The age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 26.7% (95% confidence interval, 23.7%-29.8%). Prevalence was highest among Hispanics (33.9%) and lowest among whites (21.8%). Prevalence increased with age and body mass index and was higher among women (30.1%) than among men (22.9%). More than half (55.4%) of women and 33.0% of men with metabolic syndrome had only 3 metabolic abnormalities, 1 of which was abdominal obesity. The most common combination of metabolic abnormalities was abdominal obesity, elevated fasting blood glucose, and elevated blood pressure. Adjusting for other factors, higher body mass index, Asian race, and current smoking were positively associated with metabolic syndrome; alcohol use was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome among women but increased the likelihood of metabolic syndrome among men. Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is pervasive among New York City adults, particularly women, and is associated with modifiable factors. These results identify population subgroups that could be targeted for prevention and provide a benchmark for assessing such interventions.
Coherent phonons in carbon based nanostructures

We have developed a theory for the generation and detection of coherent phonons in carbon based nanotstructures such as single walled nanotubes (SWNTs), graphene, and graphene nanoribbons. Coherent phonons are generated via the deformation potential electron/hole-phonon interaction with ultrafast photo-excited carriers. They modulate the reflectance or absorption of an optical probe pules on a THz time scale and might be useful for optical modulators. In our theory the electronic states are treated in a third nearest neighbor extended tight binding formalism which gives a good description of the states over the entire Brillouin zone while the phonon states are treated using valence force field models which include bond stretching, in-plane and out-of-plane bond bending, and bond twisting interactions up to fourth neighbor distances. We compare our theory to experiments for the low frequency radial breathing mode (RBM) in micelle suspended single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs). The analysis of such data provides a wealth of information on the dynamics and interplay of photons, phonons and electrons in these carbon based nanostructures.
A new route maintenance in dynamic source routing protocol

Mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is infrastructureless, self-organizable, multi hop packet switched network. A number of routing protocols for MANETs have been proposed in recent years. Dynamic source routing (DSR) protocol is one of the most popular routing protocol for ad hoc networks. This paper presents a novel method to enhance route maintenance part of DSR protocol. Our proposed route maintenance significantly increases the efficiency of the protocol at the time of route failures.