Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitigating Power Attacks through Fine-Grained Instruction Reordering

Side-channel attacks are a security exploit that take advantage of information leakage. They use measurement and analysis of physical parameters to reverse engineer and extract secrets from a system. Power analysis attacks in particular, collect a set of power traces from a computing device and use statistical techniques to correlate this information with the attacked application data and source code. Counter measures like just-in-time compilation, random code injection and instruction descheduling obfuscate the execution of instructions to reduce the security risk. Unfortunately, due to the randomness and excess instructions executed by these solutions, they introduce large overheads in performance, power and area. In this work we propose a scheduling algorithm that dynamically reorders instructions in an out-of-order processor to provide obfuscated execution and mitigate power analysis attacks with little-to-no effect on the performance, power or area of the processor. We exploit the time between operand availability of critical instructions (slack) to create high-performance random schedules without requiring additional instructions or static prescheduling. Further, we perform an extended security analysis using different attacks. We highlight the dangers of using incorrect adversarial assumptions, which can often lead to a false sense of security. In that regard, our advanced security metric demonstrates improvements of 34$\times$, while our basic security evaluation shows results up to 261$\times$. Moreover, our system achieves performance within 96% on average, of the baseline unprotected processor.
Taxonomizing local versus global structure in neural network loss landscapes

Viewing neural network models in terms of their loss landscapes has a long history in the statistical mechanics approach to learning, and in recent years it has received attention within machine learning proper. Among other things, local metrics (such as the smoothness of the loss landscape) have been shown to correlate with global properties of the model (such as good generalization performance). Here, we perform a detailed empirical analysis of the loss landscape structure of thousands of neural network models, systematically varying learning tasks, model architectures, and/or quantity/quality of data. By considering a range of metrics that attempt to capture different aspects of the loss landscape, we demonstrate that the best test accuracy is obtained when: the loss landscape is globally well-connected; ensembles of trained models are more similar to each other; and models converge to locally smooth regions. We also show that globally poorly-connected landscapes can arise when models are small or when they are trained to lower quality data; and that, if the loss landscape is globally poorly-connected, then training to zero loss can actually lead to worse test accuracy. Our detailed empirical results shed light on phases of learning (and consequent double descent behavior), fundamental versus incidental determinants of good generalization, the role of load-like and temperature-like parameters in the learning process, different influences on the loss landscape from model and data, and the relationships between local and global metrics, all topics of recent interest.
Trajectory Design for UAV-Based Internet of Things Data Collection: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach

In this article, we investigate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted Internet of Things (IoT) system in a sophisticated 3-D environment, where the UAV’s trajectory is optimized to efficiently collect data from multiple IoT ground nodes. Unlike existing approaches focusing only on a simplified 2-D scenario and the availability of perfect channel state information (CSI), this article considers a practical 3-D urban environment with imperfect CSI, where the UAV’s trajectory is designed to minimize data collection completion time subject to practical throughput and flight movement constraints. Specifically, inspired by the state-of-the-art deep reinforcement learning approaches, we leverage the twin-delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) to design the UAV’s trajectory and we present a TD3-based trajectory design for completion time minimization (TD3-TDCTM) algorithm. In particular, we set an additional information, i.e., the merged pheromone, to represent the state information of the UAV and environment as a reference of reward which facilitates the algorithm design. By taking the service statuses of the IoT nodes, the UAV’s position, and the merged pheromone as input, the proposed algorithm can continuously and adaptively learn how to adjust the UAV’s movement strategy. By interacting with the external environment in the corresponding Markov decision process, the proposed algorithm can achieve a near-optimal navigation strategy. Our simulation results show the superiority of the proposed TD3-TDCTM algorithm over three conventional nonlearning-based baseline methods.
VisMCA: A Visual Analytics System for Misclassification Correction and Analysis. VAST Challenge 2020, Mini-Challenge 2 Award: Honorable Mention for Detailed Analysis of Patterns of Misclassification

This paper presents VisMCA, an interactive visual analytics system that supports deepening understanding in ML results, augmenting users' capabilities in correcting misclassification, and providing an analysis of underlying patterns, in response to the VAST Challenge 2020 Mini-Challenge 2. VisMCA facilitates tracking provenance and provides a comprehensive view of object detection results, easing re-labeling, and producing reliable, corrected data for future training. Our solution implements multiple analytical views on visual analysis to offer a deep insight for underlying pattern discovery.
Learning Quadruped Locomotion Policies with Reward Machines

—Legged robots have been shown to be effective in navigating unstructured environments. Although there has been much success in learning locomotion policies for quadruped robots, there is little research on how to incorporate human knowledge to facilitate this learning process. In this paper, we demonstrate that human knowledge in the form of LTL formulas can be applied to quadruped locomotion learning within a Reward Machine (RM) framework. Experimental results in simulation show that our RM-based approach enables easily deﬁning diverse locomotion styles
Shadow generalized parton distributions: a practical approach to the deconvolution problem of DVCS

Deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) attracts a lot of interest due to its sensitivity to generalized parton distributions (GPDs) which provide a rich access to the partonic structure of hadrons. However, the practical extraction of GPDs for this channel requires a deconvolution procedure, whose feasibility has been disputed. We provide a practical approach to this problem based on a next-to-leading order analysis and a careful study of evolution effects, by exhibiting shadow GPDs with arbitrarily small imprints on DVCS observables at current and future experimental facilities. This shows that DVCS alone will not allow for a model independent extraction of GPDs and a multi-channel analysis is required for this purpose.
Dominating orders, vertex pursuit games and computability theory

Dominating orders on graphs play a significant role in the study of vertex pursuit games. Here, a graph consists of a vertex set V and a symmetric reflexive edge relation E ⊆ V×V . Although the definitions below make sense for a wider class of graphs, we are primarily interested in connected countable graphs for which V ⊆ N. The restriction to V ⊆ N is convenient for studying computability theoretic properties. We are interested in connected graphs because connectedness is a necessary condition for a reflexive graph to have a dominating order. Let G = (V,E) be a graph. We say x, y ∈ V are neighbors if E(x, y) and we define NG[x] = {v ∈ G | E(x, v)}. The vertex x dominates y if x 6= y and NG[y] ⊆ NG[x]. Because our graphs are reflexive, x ∈ NG[x], and so if x dominates y, then x and y are connected by an edge. Given an ordering ≺ of V and x ∈ V , let V x = {v ∈ G | v x}, and let G x be the induced subgraph on V x. Definition 1.1. A dominating order of G is a well ordering ≺ of V such that for all x ∈ V , if x is not the ≺-least element of V , then x is dominated in G x. G is called constructible if it admits a dominating order.
Surface Modification of TiO2 with Ag Nanoparticles and CuO Nanoclusters for Application in Photocatalysis

Ag and CuO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized on the surface of commercial TiO2 (P25) by radiolytic reduction were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). In the case of modification with silver and copper, results from HAADF-STEM, EDS, XPS, and XAS show that Ag@CuO nanoparticles (large silver cores decorated with small clusters of CuO) were obtained on TiO2–P25. The photocatalytic properties of bare and modified TiO2–P25 were studied for phenol photodegradation and for acetic acid oxidation under UV and visible irradiation. The mechanisms involved in photocatalysis were studied by time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) and action spectra (AS). The electronic properties of the surface-modified TiO2–P25 were studied by TRMC to follow the cha.
FTIR transmission spectroscopy of sideronatrite, a sodiumiron hydrous sulfate

Abstract This paper relates an infrared (IR) (6000-2500; 1400-400 cm−1) spectroscopic study of sideronatrite, Na2Fe3+(SO4)2(OH)·3H2O. Spectra in the 600-1250 cm−1 range are dominated by fundamental S-O absorption bands. Factor-group analysis based on the space group P212121 (D24 ) is in accordance with the observed band multiplicity. A broad and convolute absorption centred around 3400 cm−1 and a sharp band at 3605 cm−1 are observed in the 2900-3900 cm−1 frequency region. The resolution of the broad band is significantly improved at liquid nitrogen temperature; seven components can be fitted to the pattern and these can be assigned to H2O/OH molecules in the structure. All components in the broad band and the sharp absorption at 3605 cm−1 are strongly polarized for E//a, in accordance with the structure analysis results. Infrared transmission spectroscopy is a useful tool to identify these sulfate minerals occurring in specific geological environments.
The role of body mass index-for-age in the assessment of acute malnutrition and obesity in Moroccan hospitalized children

Hassan Barouaca1,*,† , Dalal Ben Loubir1, Bachir El Bouhali2, Nabil Tachfouti3, Adil El Midaoui4,† 1Higher Institute of Nursing Profession, Techniques of Health, Errachidia, Morocco. 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Errachidia, Morocco. 3Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie, Recherche Clinique et de Santé communautaire, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Fès, Fès, Maroc. 4 Research Team “Biology, Environment and Health,” Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Errachidia, Morocco.
Classifying Usage Control and Data Provenance Architectures

Given the ubiquity of data acquisition and processing in our everyday life, protecting data sovereignty in distributed systems is a signiﬁcant topic of research. Usage control and provenance tracking systems are very promising steps towards a technical solution for the problem of data sovereignty. However, due to their complexity and diversity these systems are still not fully understood. In this work we investigate the functionality of usage control and provenance tracking systems. We classify them into three diﬀerent categories based on their security goals and properties. Furthermore we identify generic use cases for these systems that help to understand what attack vectors system operators have to be mindful of.
Effectiveness of Tongue cleaning as a component of Oral care on the fasting Plasma Desacyl Ghrelin concentration in very elderly individuals: Six-Week Randomized controlled trial

To investigate whether tongue cleaning as a component of oral care affects the fasting plasma desacyl ghrelin concentrations in elderly people with the peak expiratory flow (PEF) as the measure of coughing ability. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in Kitakyushu, Japan from July 2017 to November 2018. We randomly assigned 52 enrolled Japanese subjects from three nursing care facilities to a routine oral care group (control group) and an oral care with twice-daily tongue cleaning group (intervention group). Before and after 6 weeks of each version of oral care, the PEF of each subject was measured and blood was collected. A final total of 48 subjects (39 females, 9 males, mean ± SD age 88.4 ± 7.5 years) was analyzed. The PEF increased significantly in the intervention group (1.62 ± 0.89 L/s to 2.07 ± 1.09 L/s) but not in the control group (1.76 ± 1.05 L/s to 1.53 ± 0.67 L/s). The fasting plasma desacyl ghrelin concentrations in the intervention group did not change significantly (181 ± 102 fmol/mL to 175 ± 98 fmol/mL) whereas those in the control group decreased significantly Dent Res Oral Health 2021; 4(2): 039-048 DOI: 10.26502/droh.0040 Dental Research and Oral Health Vol. 4 No. 2 June 2021 40 (168 ± 114 fmol/mL to 142 ± 72 fmol/mL). The change of the plasma desacyl ghrelin concentration was significantly correlated with the change in albumin (correlation coefficient = 0.292, p<0.05), but not with that in PEF. Tongue cleaning accompanied by improved coughing ability seemed to help prevent the decrease in the fasting plasma desacyl ghrelin concentration in very elderly individuals.
Secure Authentication and Security System for IoT Environment

— In today’s world many devices are connected via the internet. This provides any third person to intrude and control the IoT system. IoT is an emerging field, it involves devices which are interconnected through some network protocols. The major security issues of IoT are authentication, confidentiality and privacy. This paper gives the detailed technologies and techniques used to handle the security breach
SIX-CABLE ROBOCRANE ADAPTED TO EIGHT-CABLES

This paper presents extension of the triangular 6-cable NIST RoboCrane to a rectangular 8-cablesuspended robot, motivated by an application in the ARGOS (Active Response Gravity Offload System) Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center. Six candidate cable/platform design arrangements are considered and evaluated in MATLAB simulation, based on all-eight-cablepositive tensions workspace, singularities, magnitude and slope of cable tensions during trajectories, translational/rotational stiffness, and cable interference. As ever in engineering design, there are tradeoffs, and recommendations are made as to the most suitable design out of the six candidates.
Physicochemical Properties, Cytocompatibility, and Biocompatibility of a Bioactive Glass Based Retrograde Filling Material

The ideal retrograde filling material that is easy to handle, has good physicochemical properties, and is biocompatible has not yet been developed. The current study reports the development of a novel bioactive glass based powder for use as a retrograde filling material that is capable of altering the consistency and hardening rate of mixtures when mixed with existing bioactive glass based cement. Furthermore, its physicochemical properties, in vitro effects on human cementoblast-like cells, and in vivo effects on inflammatory responses were evaluated. The surface of the hardened cement showed the formation of hydroxyapatite-like precipitates and calcium and silicate ions were eluted from the cement when the pH level was stabilized at 10.5. Additionally, the cement was found to be insoluble and exhibited favorable handling properties. No adverse effects on viability, proliferation, and expression of differentiated markers were observed in the in vitro experiment, and the cement was capable of inducing calcium deposition in the cells. Moreover, the cement demonstrated a lower number of infiltrated inflammatory cells compared to the other materials used in the in vivo mouse subcutaneous implantation experiment. These findings suggest that the retrograde filling material composed of bioactive glass and the novel bioactive glass based powder exhibits favorable physicochemical properties, cytocompatibility, and biocompatibility.
Intraguild Interactions between the Mealybug Predators Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Chrysoperla carnea

Simple Summary The ladybird Cryptolaemus montrouzieri is a widely commercialized biological control agent of mealybugs. The green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea is mainly released for aphid control, but also attacks mealybugs. Both species have shown potential to control various economically important species of mealybug pests of greenhouse crops. As these predators may be simultaneously present in a crop, the risk of negative interactions between both predators was evaluated in this laboratory study. Individuals of different life stages of either predator were placed together in petri dish arenas and predation was recorded. Attacks between individuals of both species were frequently observed, with lacewing larvae being the dominant predators in most combinations. When mealybug nymphs or lepidopteran eggs were added to the arena, the incidence of attacks between the predators was greatly diminished. The relevance of these observations for the use of the predators in the biological control of greenhouse pests is discussed. Abstract The ladybird Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea have shown potential for use in augmentative biological control of mealybug pests in greenhouse crops. In the context of combining these predators within an integrated pest management system, the risk of negative intraguild interactions between both predators was evaluated in a laboratory setting. Different life stages of either predator were confronted in petri dish arenas containing a Ficus benjamina leaf, and after 24 h the incidence and direction of intraguild predation (IGP) was recorded for each combination. The effect of adding Planococcus citri nymphs or Ephestia kuehniella eggs as extraguild prey on the level of IGP was also studied. IGP was frequently observed between the two predator species and was asymmetrical in favour of C. carnea in most cases. The presence of extraguild prey reduced the number of IGP events between the predators to a similar extent. The relevance of the observed intraguild interactions for the combined use of these predators in protected cultivation is discussed.
In Vitro Study of Human Immune Responses to Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels, Recombinant Spidroins and Human Neural Progenitor Cells of Relevance to Spinal Cord Injury Repair

Scaffolds of recombinant spider silk protein (spidroin) and hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel hold promise in combination with cell therapy for spinal cord injury. However, little is known concerning the human immune response to these biomaterials and grafted human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNPCs). Here, we analyzed short- and long-term in vitro activation of immune cells in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) cultured with/without recombinant spidroins, HA hydrogels, and/or allogeneic hNPCs to assess potential host–donor interactions. Viability, proliferation and phenotype of hPBMCs were analyzed using NucleoCounter and flow cytometry. hPBMC viability was confirmed after exposure to the different biomaterials. Short-term (15 h) co-cultures of hPBMCs with spidroins, but not with HA hydrogel, resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of activated CD69+ CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and NK cells, which likely was caused by residual endotoxins from the Escherichia coli expression system. The observed spidroin-induced hPBMC activation was not altered by hNPCs. It is resource-effective to evaluate human compatibility of novel biomaterials early in development of the production process to, when necessary, make alterations to minimize rejection risk. Here, we present a method to evaluate biomaterials and hPBMC compatibility in conjunction with allogeneic human cells.
Development of Molecular Markers for Predicting Radish (Raphanus sativus) Flesh Color Based on Polymorphisms in the RsTT8 Gene

Red radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cultivars are a rich source of health-promoting anthocyanins and are considered a potential source of natural colorants used in the cosmetic industry. However, the development of red radish cultivars via conventional breeding is very difficult, given the unusual inheritance of the anthocyanin accumulation trait in radishes. Therefore, molecular markers linked with radish color are needed to facilitate radish breeding. Here, we characterized the RsTT8 gene isolated from four radish genotypes with different skin and flesh colors. Sequence analysis of RsTT8 revealed a large number of polymorphisms, including insertion/deletions (InDels), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), between the red-fleshed and white-fleshed radish cultivars. To develop molecular markers on the basis of these polymorphisms for discriminating between radish genotypes with different colored flesh tissues, we designed four primer sets specific to the RsTT8 promoter, InDel, SSR, and WD40/acidic domain (WD/AD), and tested these primers on a diverse collection of radish lines. Except for the SSR-specific primer set, all primer sets successfully discriminated between red-fleshed and white-fleshed radish lines. Thus, we developed three molecular markers that can be efficiently used for breeding red-fleshed radish cultivars.
Membrane Insertion of the M13 Minor Coat Protein G3p Is Dependent on YidC and the SecAYEG Translocase

The minor coat protein G3p of bacteriophage M13 is the key component for the host interaction of this virus and binds to Escherichia coli at the tip of the F pili. As we show here, during the biosynthesis of G3p as a preprotein, the signal sequence interacts primarily with SecY, whereas the hydrophobic anchor sequence at the C-terminus interacts with YidC. Using arrested nascent chains and thiol crosslinking, we show here that the ribosome-exposed signal sequence is first contacted by SecY but not by YidC, suggesting that only SecYEG is involved at this early stage. The protein has a large periplasmic domain, a hydrophobic anchor sequence of 21 residues and a short C-terminal tail that remains in the cytoplasm. During the later synthesis of the entire G3p, the residues 387, 389 and 392 in anchor domain contact YidC in its hydrophobic slide to hold translocation of the C-terminal tail. Finally, the protein is processed by leader peptidase and assembled into new progeny phage particles that are extruded out of the cell.