Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Lightweight Privacy-Aware Continuous Authentication Protocol-PACA

As many vulnerabilities of one-time authentication systems have already been uncovered, there is a growing need and trend to adopt continuous authentication systems. Biometrics provides an excellent means for periodic verification of the authenticated users without breaking the continuity of a session. Nevertheless, as attacks to computing systems increase, biometric systems demand more user information in their operations, yielding privacy issues for users in biometric-based continuous authentication systems. However, the current state-of-the-art privacy technologies are not viable or costly for the continuous authentication systems, which require periodic real-time verification. In this article, we introduce a novel, lightweight, privacy-aware, and secure continuous authentication protocol called PACA. PACA is initiated through a password-based key exchange (PAKE) mechanism, and it continuously authenticates users based on their biometrics in a privacy-aware manner. Then, we design an actual continuous user authentication system under the proposed protocol. In this concrete system, we utilize a privacy-aware template matching technique and a wearable-assisted keystroke dynamics-based continuous authentication method. This provides privacy guarantees without relying on any trusted third party while allowing the comparison of noisy user inputs (due to biometric data) and yielding an efficient and lightweight protocol. Finally, we implement our system on an Apple smartwatch and perform experiments with real user data to evaluate the accuracy and resource consumption of our concrete system.
Developing a Frequency Calibration Model for Tellurium Spectra

The tellurium spectrometer, an optical setup exploiting saturation absorption spectroscopy (SAS) to measure Doppler-free spectra of 130 Te 2 gas, is a preferred frequency reference in the exercise of laser spectroscopy. However, the particle-antiparticle research community has been seeking a resolution to the proton charge radius puzzle of quantum electrodynamic theory (QED). The community has thus been pushing for a positronium frequency 1 3 S 1 - 2 3 S 1 measurement precision greater than the MHz precision limit partly due to the limited reproducibility of tellurium spectra frequencies. This limited reproducibility is mostly attributed to design and temperature sensor discrepancies among manufactured tellurium ovens. A preliminary experiment was carried out to make headway towards resolving this tellurium spectra reproducibility issue. Using an Ultra-Low-Expansion (ULE) cavity as a frequency reference, frequency differences between individual 486 nm tellurium spectrum lines were measured for a set tellurium oven temperature to create the procedure groundwork of a frequency calibration model. Though the results of this practice experiment did not lead to the completion of this model nor demonstrated the model’s effectiveness in reducing the MHz calibration uncertainty, the procedure executed in this experiment is deemed to be appropriate for the partial construction of the frequency calibration model.
Linking voice pitch to fighting success in male amateur mixed martial arts athletes and boxers

Abstract Abstract Whereas voice pitch is strongly linked to people's perceptions in contexts of sexual selection, such as attractiveness and dominance, evidence that links voice pitch to actual behaviour or the formidability of a speaker is sparse and mixed. In this registered report, we investigated how male speakers’ voice pitch is linked to fighting success in a dataset comprising 135 (amateur) mixed martial arts and 189 (amateur) boxing fights. Based on the assumption that voice pitch is an honest signal of formidability, we expected lower voice pitch to be linked to higher fighting success. The results indicated no significant relation between a fighter's voice pitch, as directly measured before a fight, and successive fighting success in both mixed martial arts fighters and boxers.
Continuation versus discontinuation of aspirin-based antiplatelet therapy for perioperative bleeding and ischaemic events in adults undergoing neurosurgery: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Antiplatelet therapy is commonly used in primary or secondary prevention of atherosclerotic and thrombotic diseases, such as coronary artery disease, transient ischaemic attack or stroke. Recent studies noted that antiplatelet therapy should be continued perioperatively in patients at high risk of thrombosis and low bleeding risk in orthopaedic, spinal or urological surgery. However, evidence in neurosurgery is lacking. Thus, we aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the continuous use of antiplatelet drugs in neurosurgery increases the risk of perioperative bleeding. Methods and analysis We will search PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Embase using a strategy that combines the terms aspirin, bleeding/ischaemic and neurosurgery. Two reviewers will independently screen all identified abstracts for eligibility and evaluate the risk of bias of the included studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised controlled studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies (including cohort studies, case–control studies, case series). Discrepancies will be resolved by consultation with a third researcher. We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. If evidence suggests moderate statistical or clinical heterogeneity, we plan to investigate this heterogeneity by performing subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis. Ethics and dissemination No ethics approval will be sought as no original data will be collected for this review. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020202590.
The impact mechanism of industrial agglomeration on energy efficiency-Evidence from producer service industry in China

ABSTRACT The development of regional industry in China has become one of the significant factors affecting energy efficiency. This paper combined the industry agglomeration theory and the improved Stochastic Impacts model to explore the impact mechanism of producer service industry agglomeration on energy efficiency. We applied spatial econometric model to estimate the spatial effects of the agglomeration on energy efficiency with panel data of 31 provinces from 2008 to 2017 in China. The results showed that China’s inter-provincial energy efficiency has a significant spatial spillover effect. Simultaneously, the specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration of producer services have a “U”-shaped effect on energy efficiency. Finally, we need to pay attention to the coordination and synchronization of the specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration of the producer service industry. An increase in the relative gap between the two can inhibit energy efficiency, but its inhibitory effect gradually weakened.
Determination of 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine in Rice by High-performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Isotope Dilution

ABSTRACT 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC), which plays important roles in the epigenetic remodeling in mammals, has been recently determined in plant genomes at trace concentrations. In this study, a method for the sensitive, specific, and rapid assessment of 5-hmdC in rice is reported using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–tandem MS) with isotope dilution. The recovery of this method was from 75.6% to 81.3% for 5-hmdC and the intra- and inter-day precision values were within 5.81%. The quantification limit for 5-hmdC was 5.0 pM. Genomic DNA from rice was extracted and enzymatically digested for nucleotides for the HPLC–tandem MS assay. The 5-hmdC levels were 1.32 ± 0.08, 1.64 ± 0.12, and 1.98 ± 0.07 modifications per million nucleosides in the Shengdao-18, Shengxiang-145, and Jindao-263 rice cultivars. The application of HPLC–tandem MS for 5-hmdC demonstrated its presence in the genomic DNA of rice and is useful in further studying the role of modified cytosine in the epigenetic regulation of rice.
South African marine citizen science – benefits, challenges and future directions

South Africa has a long history of engagement in citizen science (CS), particularly marine CS. This review examines the contributions made by marine CS, from the 1930s through to the current era, where websites, social media and mobile apps provide a wide range of opportunities. Largescale marine CS projects, such as the Oceanographic Research Institute’s Cooperative Fish Tagging Project, have made enormous contributions to marine scientific research. Individual citizen scientists have also made considerable contributions, particularly in taxonomy and the publication of field guides. Marine CS has also contributed towards the popularisation of science and improved scientific literacy through the active engagement of many citizens. These benefits align well with the visions of policies that currently guide the South African marine research agenda. However, marine CS in the developing world is not without challenges, and practitioners should be cognisant of the time and effort required to initiate and maintain viable CS initiatives. Especially, long-term successful CS projects depend on secure, ongoing funding, institutional support and enthusiastic champions. Participation by almost exclusively the urban and middle-class sectors of society is also of concern. These challenges can be addressed through stakeholder-inclusive planning, development of novel methods that engage with broader sectors of society, and regular critical evaluations of CS projects. Where global projects on the intended taxa/subject of study already exist, it may also be preferable to enter into collaborative data-sharing agreements with these to reduce operational costs and avoid duplication.
Sex Objects: How Self-Objectification Undermines Political Efficacy and Engagement

ABSTRACT Women are significantly less politically engaged than men at both the mass and elite levels. More recent scholarship has found that structural factors and standard predictors of political behavior no longer sufficiently explain this persistent gap in engagement. In the present study, I take a novel approach to exploring the discrepancy in men and women’s political engagement and participation. I ask: Does self-objectification, the internalization of observers’ perspectives of our physical bodies, undermine political engagement and in part, drive the gender gap in engagement? I argue that the cognitive, motivational, and affective correlates of self-objectification work to decrease political engagement and participation. I conduct two separate survey studies on diverse populations. Overall, I find a negative association between trait self-objectification and political engagement. These findings highlight the relevance of objectification and its cognitive and psychological correlates to the study of political engagement.
Microplastics pollution in the sediments of creeks and estuaries of Kenya, western Indian Ocean

Microplastic pollution has been recognised as a global threat in marine environments and a danger to prey, predators and humans. Yet, there have been few studies in the western Indian Ocean, specifically along the Kenyan coast, which makes it difficult to estimate the extent of such pollution in the region. This is the first study on microplastics (MPs) in the sediments within creeks and estuaries (Tudor, Port Reitz and Mida creeks) on the Kenyan coast. In January/February and September 2018 sediment samples were collected for MPs analysis. The concentration of MPs differed between the sampling seasons and was distinctively higher in the second sampling season across particle sizes, suggesting that there were more MPs from larger terrestrial discharges due to increased runoff. The concentrations of total MPs, and the occurrence of different sizes, shapes and colours, were established under a microscope. The overall mean concentration was highest for the large size category of MPs (500–4 999 µm) at 9.1 (SE 0.8) particles cm−2, with Tudor Creek being more polluted with MPs than Port Reitz and Mida creeks. We recommend formulation of policies on proper plastic waste management and disposal to protect nearshore ecosystems which are rich in marine biodiversity.
Keep a Human in the Machine and Other Lessons Learned from Deploying and Maintaining Colandr

The rise of the “invest in open” movement has led to increased focus on - and recognition of the positive benefit of - open source toolkits as a way of democratizing access to software that is typically expensive and therefore restricted to research institutions. From 2015-2017, DataKind partnered with researchers from NCEAS through the SNAPP Consortium to tackle a problem common across many sectors: how to digest the amount of evidence available for decision-making in a way that would still allow for timely decisions to be made. Realizing that the evidence was stored primarily in PDFs and that the rise of machine learning techniques such as natural language processing meant that thousands of words from PDFs could be processed on local computers, the research team took an approach of building an open source tool to compete with commercially available evidence synthesis tools. With an algorithmic backend that relies on word vectorization, this project is an example of technology use to aid common labor intensive researcher tasks. From inception to early maintenance, this project produced many valuable lessons regarding the launch and stewardship of a public good and this article is a reflection of the learnings across that process.
What Supports the Development of Children’s Prospective Memory? Examining the Relation between Children’s Prospective Memory, Memory Strategy Use, and Parent Scaffolding

ABSTRACT Remembering to carry out intended actions in the future, known as prospective memory (PM), is an important cognitive ability. In daily life, individuals remember to perform future tasks that might rely on effortful processes (monitoring) but also habitual tasks that might rely on more automatic processes. The development of PM across childhood in laboratory contexts is well understood, but little is known about the social context in which children develop their PM skills in everyday life. In the current study, three hundred and one parents reported on their 3-to 11-year-old child’s PM, child’s strategy use, and on their own scaffolding of their child’s PM using the Children’s Everyday Memory Questionnaire (CEMQ; adapted from the Prospective Memory Questionnaire). Preliminary analyses showed that the PM items on the CEMQ were reliable and composed of two components (a PM and a PM strategy use subscale). Our results showed that children’s PM and use of memory strategies, as reported by their parents, increased with age. Further, more frequent parent scaffolding was related to better PM in children. These relations were also explored separately for older and younger children. Notably, parents of younger, 3-to 6-year-olds reported scaffolding them more frequently with age, while parents of older, 7-to 11-year-olds reported scaffolding them less frequently with age. Open-ended responses revealed that parents used verbal reminders and children used external aids most frequently. Overall, parent scaffolding appears to impact children’s PM, but future research is needed to identify the causal direction of these relations.
Vitamin D supplementation and energy and metabolic homoeostasis in obese and overweight subjects: a protocol for a systematic review

Introduction Obesity and vitamin D deficiency are major public health problems. According to the pathophysiological mechanism of obesity as well as the bidirectional relationship between obesity and vitamin D metabolism and storage, vitamin D supplementation in obese and overweight subjects could have beneficial effects on the energy and metabolic homoeostasis. This review will assess the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on the energy and metabolic homoeostasis in overweight and obese subjects. Methods and analysis In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols, we retrieved the relevant literature from the following electronic bibliographic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from inception to June 2021. A manual search of the reference lists of all the relevant research articles will be performed to identify additional studies. We will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English that examine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on energy and metabolic homoeostasis in overweight and obese subjects. RCTs with multiple vitamin D groups will also be included. Two reviewers will independently complete the article selection, data extraction and rating. The bias tool from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A narrative or quantitative synthesis will be performed based on the available data. The planned start and end dates for the study were 1 February 2021 and 1 March 2022. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval will not be required for this review. The results of this review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021228981.
Signaling Woman and Leader: Navigating the Double Bind as a Foreign Policy Decisionmaker

ABSTRACT The effects of gender on foreign policy decision-making is an understudied topic. While some research has examined the role of women chief executives in conflict, little research has looked at what role women defense and foreign affairs ministers play on outcomes. In this article, we examine the role that women chief executives, defense ministers, and foreign affairs ministers play in both conflictual and cooperative foreign policies. Specifically, we ask whether women foreign policy leaders are more likely to enact foreign policy decisions and whether they will be more extreme in their decisions. Past research posits that women leaders face a double-bind. Women must be both leader and woman while in office. We argue that this pressure will affect the decisions women make in foreign policy. We examine this relationship from 1980 to 2008 and find that women foreign policy leaders are different from men; they are more active in conflictual foreign policy and have more extreme cooperative foreign policy.
Inflammation and nutrition-based biomarkers in the prognosis of oesophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Accumulating literature has shown the predictive values of inflammation and nutrition-based biomarkers in the prognosis of oesophageal cancer but with inconsistent findings. Method We performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), C reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), systemic inflammation index (SII), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) in oesophageal cancer. The outcome indicators include the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). We applied pooled HR, sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve together with 95% CI to estimate the predictive accuracy. Results A total of 72 studies, including 22 260 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Elevated NLR, PLR CAR, SII, GPS, mGPS and decreased LMR and PNI were associated with poor OS of oesophageal cancer. A high level of NLR, PLR and GPS was related to poor DFS. A high level of NLR and GPS was related to poor CSS. The summarised AUC of CAR (0.72, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.75) and mGPS (0.75, 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.78) surpassed any other indicators. Conclusions Clinical indicators such as NLR, PLR, LMR, PNI, SII, CAR, GPS and mGPS have the moderate predictive ability in OS, DFS and CSS of oesophageal cancer. The pretreatment level of CAR and mGPS showed an outstanding prediction value in 5-year OS for oesophageal cancer.
Should females prefer old males?

Whether females should prefer to mate with old males is controversial. Old males may sire offspring of low quality because of an aging germline, but their proven ability to reach an old age can also be an excellent indicator of superior genetic quality, especially in natural populations. These genetic effects are, however, hard to study in nature, because they are often confounded with direct benefits offered by old males to the female, such as experience and high territory quality. We, therefore, used naturally occurring extra‐pair young to disentangle different aspects of male age on female fitness in a natural population of collared flycatchers because any difference between within‐ and extra‐pair young within a nest should be caused by paternal genetic effects only. Based on 18 years of long‐term data, we found that females paired with older males as social partners experienced an overall reproductive advantage. However, offspring sired by old males were of lower quality as compared to their extra‐pair half‐siblings, whereas the opposite was found in nests attended by young males. These results imply a negative genetic effect of old paternal age, given that extra‐pair males are competitive middle‐age males. Thus, offspring may benefit from being sired by young males but raised by old males, to maximize both genetic and direct effects. Our results show that direct and genetic benefits from pairing with old males may act in opposing directions and that the quality of the germline may deteriorate before other signs of senescence become obvious.
Molecular insights into the inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) by the dicarboxylic acid metabolites

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a salient metabolic enzyme which catalyzes the NAD+ - or NADP+-dependent reversible conversion of α-ketoglutarate (AKG) to L-glutamate; and thereby connects the carbon and nitrogen metabolism cycles in all living organisms. The function of GDH is extensively regulated by both metabolites (citrate, succinate, etc.) and non-metabolites (ATP, NADH, etc.) but sufficient molecular evidences are lacking to rationalize the inhibitory effects by the metabolites. We have expressed and purified NADP+-dependent Aspergillus terreus GDH (AtGDH) in recombinant form. Succinate, malonate, maleate, fumarate and tartrate independently inhibit the activity of AtGDH to different extents. The crystal structures of AtGDH complexed with the dicarboxylic acid metabolites and the coenzyme NADPH have been determined. Although AtGDH structures are not complexed with substrate; surprisingly, they acquire super closed conformation like previously reported for substrate and coenzyme bound catalytically competent Aspergillus niger GDH (AnGDH). These dicarboxylic acid metabolites partially occupy the same binding pocket as substrate; but interact with varying polar interactions and the coenzyme NADPH binds to the Domain-II of AtGDH. The low inhibition potential of tartrate as compared to other dicarboxylic acid metabolites is due to its weaker interactions of carboxylate groups with AtGDH. Our results suggest that the length of carbon skeleton and positioning of the carboxylate groups of inhibitors between two conserved lysine residues at the GDH active site might be the determinants of their inhibitory potency. Molecular details on the dicarboxylic acid metabolites bound AtGDH active site architecture presented here would be applicable to GDHs in general.