Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Survey on Open-Source-Defined Wireless Networks: Framework, Key Technology, and Implementation

—The realization of open-source-deﬁned wireless net- works in the telecommunication domain is accomplished through the ﬁfth-generation network (5G). In contrast to it predecessors (3G and 4G), the 5G network can support a wide variety of heterogeneous use cases with challenging requirements from both the Internet and Internet of Things (IoT). The future sixth-generation (6G) network will not only extend 5G capabilities but also innovate new functionalities to address emerging academic and engineering challenges. The research community has identi- ﬁed these challenges could be overcome by open-source-deﬁned wireless networks, which is based on open-source software and hardware. In this survey, we present an overview of different aspects of open-source-deﬁned wireless networks, comprising motivation, frameworks, key technologies, and implementation. We start by introducing the motivation and explore several frameworks with classiﬁcation into three different categories: black-box, grey-box, and white-box. We review research efforts related to open-source-deﬁned Core Network (CN), Radio Access Network (RAN), Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), the ca- pabilities of security threats, open-source hardware, and various implementations, including testbeds. The last but most important in this survey, lessons learned, future research direction, open research issues, pitfalls and limitations of existing surveys on open-source wireless networks are included to motivate and encourage future research.
InviCloak: An End-to-End Approach to Privacy and Performance in Web Content Distribution

In today's web ecosystem, a website that uses a Content Delivery Network (CDN) shares its Transport Layer Security (TLS) private key or session key with the CDN. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of InviCloak, a system that protects the confidentiality and integrity of a user and a website's private communications without changing TLS or upgrading a CDN. InviCloak builds a lightweight but secure and practical key distribution mechanism using the existing DNS infrastructure to distribute a new public key associated with a website's domain name. A web client and a website can use the new key pair to build an encryption channel inside TLS. InviCloak accommodates the current web ecosystem. A website can deploy InviCloak unilaterally without a client's involvement to prevent a passive attacker inside a CDN from eavesdropping on their communications. If a client also installs InviCloak's browser extension, the client and the website can achieve end-to-end confidential and untampered communications in the presence of an active attacker inside a CDN. Our evaluation shows that InviCloak increases the median page load times (PLTs) of realistic web pages from 2.0s to 2.1s, which is smaller than the median PLTs (2.8s) of a state-of-the-art TEE-based solution.
Aspects of inflation in string theory

In this thesis we make small steps towards the ambitious goal of a microphysical understanding of the inflationary era in the early universe. We identify three key questions that require a proper understanding of the ultraviolet limit of the theory: i) the delicate flatness of the inflaton potential, ii) the possibility of observable gravitational waves and iii) a large non-Gaussianity of the primordial density fluctuations. We study these fundamental aspects of inflation in the context of string theory. V (φ): In the first half of the thesis, we give the first fully explicit derivation of the potential for warped D-brane inflation. The analysis exposes the eta-problem, relates effective parameters in the inflaton Lagrangian to microscopic string theory input, and illustrates important correlations between the parameters of the potential. We show that compactification constraints significantly limit the possibility of obtaining inflationary solutions in these scenarios. r: All inflationary models that predict an observable gravitational wave signal require that the inflaton field evolves over a super-Planckian range. In the second half of the thesis, we derive a microscopic bound on the maximal inflaton field variation for D-brane models. The bound arises from the compact nature of the extra dimensions and puts a strong upper limit on the gravitational wave signal. fNL: Finally, we explain that our limit on the field range also significantly constrains the parameter space of Dirac-Born-Infeld inflation. In this case the bound strongly restricts the possibility of a large non-Gaussianity in the primordial fluctuations.
DualCam: A Novel Benchmark Dataset for Fine-Grained Real-Time Traffic Light Detection

Traffic light detection is essential for self-driving cars to navigate safely in urban areas. Publicly available traffic light datasets are inadequate for the development of algorithms for detecting distant traffic lights that provide important navigation information. We introduce a novel bench-mark traffic light dataset captured using a synchronized pair of narrow-angle and wide-angle cameras covering urban and semi-urban roads. We provide 1032 images for training and 813 synchronized image pairs for testing. Additionally, we provide synchronized test video pairs for qualitative analysis. The dataset includes images of resolution $1920\times 1080$ covering 10 different classes. Furthermore, we propose a post-processing algorithm for combining outputs from the two cameras. Results show that our technique can strike a balance between speed and accuracy, compared to the conventional approach of using a single camera frame. The dataset and algorithm are available at https://github.com/harinduravin/DualCam
Exact Penalization at D-Stationary Points of Cardinality- or Rank-Constrained Problem

This paper studies the properties of d-stationary points of the trimmed lasso (Luo et al., 2013, Huang et al., 2015, and Gotoh et al., 2018) and the composite optimization problem with the truncated nuclear norm (Gao and Sun, 2010, and Zhang et al., 2012), which are known as tight relaxations of nonconvex optimization problems that have either cardinality or rank constraints, respectively. First, we extend the trimmed lasso for broader applications and conduct a uniﬁed analysis of the property of the generalized trimmed lasso. Next, the equivalence between local optimality and d-stationarity of the generalized trimmed lasso is shown under a suitable assumption. More generally, the equivalence is shown for problems that minimize a function deﬁned by the pointwise minimum of ﬁnitely many convex functions. Then, we present new results of the exact penalty at d-stationary points of the generalized trimmed lasso and the problem with the truncated nuclear norm penalty under mild assumptions. Our exact penalty results are not only new, but also intuitive, so that we can see what properties of the problems play a role for establishing the exact penalization. Lastly, it is shown that existing algorithms that yield a d-stationary point always converge to a solution that satisﬁes the cardinality or rank constraint.
A Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Approach for Safe and Efficient Behavior Planning of Connected Autonomous Vehicles

The recent advancements in wireless technology enable connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) to gather information about their environment by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. In this work, we design an information-sharing-based multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) framework for CAVs, to take advantage of the extra information when making decisions to improve traffic efficiency and safety. The safe actor-critic algorithm we propose has two new techniques: the truncated Q-function and safe action mapping. The truncated Q-function utilizes the shared information from neighboring CAVs such that the joint state and action spaces of the Q-function do not grow in our algorithm for a large-scale CAV system. We prove the bound of the approximation error between the truncated-Q and global Q-functions. The safe action mapping provides a provable safety guarantee for both the training and execution based on control barrier functions. Using the CARLA simulator for experiments, we show that our approach can improve the CAV system's efficiency in terms of average velocity and comfort under different CAV ratios and different traffic densities. We also show that our approach avoids the execution of unsafe actions and always maintains a safe distance from other vehicles. We construct an obstacle-at-corner scenario to show that the shared vision can help CAVs to observe obstacles earlier and take action to avoid traffic jams.
THE CALIBRATION OF STAR FORMATION RATE INDICATORS FOR WISE 22 μm-SELECTED GALAXIES IN THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY

We study star formation rate (SFR) indicators for Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) 22 μm-selected, star-forming galaxies at 0.01 < z < 0.3 in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Using extinction-corrected Hα luminosities and total infrared luminosities as reference SFR estimates, we calibrate WISE mid-infrared- (MIR-) related SFR indicators. Both the 12 and 22 μm monochromatic luminosities correlate well with the reference the SFR estimates, but tend to underestimate the SFRs of metal-poor galaxies (at lower than solar metallicity), consistent with previous studies. We mitigate this metallicity dependence by using a linear combination of observed Hα and WISE MIR luminosities for our SFR estimates. This combination provides SFR measurements as robust as those applied to Spitzer data by Kennicutt et al. However, we find that the coefficient a in LHα(obs) + aLMIR increases with the SFR, and show that a nonlinear combination of observed Hα and MIR luminosities gives the best SFR estimates with small scatters and with little dependence on physical parameters. Such a combination of Hα and MIR luminosities for SFR estimates is first applied to the WISE data. Using WISE data, we provide several SFR recipes that are applicable to galaxies with 0.1 ≲ SFR (M☉ yr−1) ≲ 100.
Dynamics of an inverted flexible plate in a uniform flow

The dynamics of an inverted flexible plate with a free leading-edge and a fixed trailing-edge in a uniform flow has been studied numerically by an immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method for the fluid flow and a finite element method for the plate deformation. Mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the fluid-plate system are elucidated systematically. A series of distinct states of the plate deformation and motion are identified and can be described as straight, flapping, deflected, deflected-flapping, and asymmetric-flapping states. Which state to occur depends mainly on the bending stiffness and aspect ratio of the plate. The forces exerted on the plate and the elastic strain energy of the plate are analyzed. It is found that the flapping state can improve the conversion of fluid kinetic energy to elastic strain energy. In addition, the effects of the mass ratio of the plate and the fluid, the Reynolds number, and the angle of attack of the uniform flow on the dynamics and the elastic strain energy of flexible plate are also investigated in detail. The vortical structures around the plate are given to discuss the connection of the evolution of vortices with the plate deformation and motion. The results obtained in this study provide physical insight into the understanding of the mechanisms on the dynamics of the fluid-plate system.
Injective completion with respect to homology

Generalizing F-nilpotent completion for a ring spectrum F we first define the notion of completion with respect to a thick subcategory in a monogenic stable homotopy category. Specializing this to the thick subcategory generated by F-injectives gives an injective completion functor. This is the completion functor adapted to the modified Adams spectral sequence, which uses absolute instead of relative injective resolutions. Finally we show, that both constructions coincide for suitable ring spectra.
Avian influenza antibody prevalence increases with mercury contamination in wild waterfowl

Environmental contamination is widespread and can negatively impact wildlife health. Some contaminants, including heavy metals, have immunosuppressive effects, but prior studies have rarely measured contamination and disease simultaneously, which limits our understanding of how contaminants and pathogens interact to influence wildlife health. Here, we measured mercury concentrations, influenza infection, influenza antibodies and body condition in 749 individuals from 11 species of wild ducks overwintering in California. We found that the odds of prior influenza infection increased more than fivefold across the observed range of blood mercury concentrations, while accounting for species, age, sex and date. Influenza infection prevalence was also higher in species with higher average mercury concentrations. We detected no relationship between influenza infection and body fat content. This positive relationship between influenza prevalence and mercury concentrations in migratory waterfowl suggests that immunotoxic effects of mercury contamination could promote the spread of avian influenza along migratory flyways, especially if influenza has minimal effects on bird health and mobility. More generally, these results show that the effects of environmental contamination could extend beyond the geographical area of contamination itself by altering the prevalence of infectious diseases in highly mobile hosts.
The role of booster vaccination and ongoing viral evolution in seasonal circulation of SARS-CoV-2

Periodic resurgences of COVID-19 in the coming years can be expected, while public health interventions may be able to reduce their intensity. We used a transmission model to assess how the use of booster doses and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) amid ongoing pathogen evolution might influence future transmission waves. We find that incidence is likely to increase as NPIs relax, with a second seasonally driven surge expected in autumn 2022. However, booster doses can greatly reduce the intensity of both waves and reduce cumulative deaths by 20% between 7 January 2022 and 7 January 2023. Reintroducing NPIs during the autumn as incidence begins to increase again could also be impactful. Combining boosters and NPIs results in a 30% decrease in cumulative deaths, with potential for greater impacts if variant-adapted boosters are used. Reintroducing these NPIs in autumn 2022 as transmission rates increase provides similar benefits to sustaining NPIs indefinitely (307 000 deaths with indefinite NPIs and boosters compared with 304 000 deaths with transient NPIs and boosters). If novel variants with increased transmissibility or immune escape emerge, deaths will be higher, but vaccination and NPIs are expected to remain effective tools to decrease both cumulative and peak health system burden, providing proportionally similar relative impacts.
The valence-dominance model applies to body perception

First impressions of a person, including social judgements, are often based on appearance. The widely accepted valence-dominance model of face perception (Oosterhof and Todorov 2008 Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 11 087–11 092 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0805664105)) posits that social judgements of faces fall along two orthogonal dimensions: trustworthiness (valence) and dominance. The current study aimed to establish the principal components of social judgements based on the perception of bodies, hypothesizing that these would follow the same dimensions as face perception. Stimuli were black and white photographs showing bodies dressed in grey clothing, standing in their natural posture, in left profile. Raters (N = 237) judged the stimuli on the 14 traits used in Oosterhof and Todorov's original study (Oosterhof and Todorov 2008 Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 11 087–11 092 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0805664105)). Data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), as in the original study, with an additional exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using oblique rotation. While PCA produced a third dimension in line with several replications of the original study, results from the EFA produced two dimensions, representing trustworthiness and dominance, providing support for the hypothesis that social perceptions of bodies can be summarized using the valence-dominance model. These two factors could represent universal perceptions we have about people. Future research could explore social judgements of humans based on other stimuli, such as voices or body odour, to evaluate whether the trustworthiness and dominance dimensions are consistent across modalities.
Semantic Role Labeling for Sentiment Inference: A Case Study

In this paper, we evaluate in a case study whether semantic role labelling (SRL) can be reliably used for verb-based sentiment inference (SI). SI strives to identify polar relations (against, in-favour-of) between discourse entities. We took 300 sentences with 10 different verbs that show verb alternations or are ambiguous in order to find out if current SRL systems actually can assign the correct semantic roles and find the correct underlying predicates. Since in SI each verb reading comes with a particular polar profile, SRL is useful only if its analyses are consistent and reliable. We found that this is not (yet) given for German.
Intersexual social dominance mimicry drives female hummingbird polymorphism

Female-limited polymorphisms, where females have multiple forms but males have only one, have been described in a variety of animals, yet are difficult to explain because selection typically is expected to decrease rather than maintain diversity. In the white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora), all males and approximately 20% of females express an ornamented plumage type (androchromic), while other females are non-ornamented (heterochromic). Androchrome females benefit from reduced social harassment, but it remains unclear why both morphs persist. Female morphs may represent balanced alternative behavioural strategies, but an alternative hypothesis is that androchrome females are mimicking males. Here, we test a critical prediction of these hypotheses by measuring morphological, physiological and behavioural traits that relate to resource-holding potential (RHP), or competitive ability. In all these traits, we find little difference between female types, but higher RHP in males. These results, together with previous findings in this species, indicate that androchrome females increase access to food resources through mimicry of more aggressive males. Importantly, the mimicry hypothesis provides a clear theoretical pathway for polymorphism maintenance through frequency-dependent selection. Social dominance mimicry, long suspected to operate between species, can therefore also operate within species, leading to polymorphism and perhaps similarities between sexes more generally.
Working in hospitals during a pandemic: investigating the resilience among medical staff during COVID-19 outbreak through qualitative and quantitative research

Abstract Background: Medical staff in hospitals were faced with great stress as a result of COVID-19’s sudden and severe occurrence, which makes investigating their resilience essential. Aims and methods: Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, this research studied medical staff (n = 403) working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and followed four main goals: First was evaluating the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Adult Resilience Measure-Revised (ARM-R). The second goal was investigating the personal, relational, social, and organizational issues facing the medical staff during the COVID-19 using semi-structural interviews. The third goal was to determine predictive effects of demographic and work-related variables on resilience using stepwise regression analysis. And the fourth was comparing resilience of three groups of the medical staff (coronavirus group consisted of the medical staff in direct contact with COVID-19 patients; emergency group who work in the emergency department who deal with both COVID and non-COVID patients; and non-coronavirus group who had no contact with COVID-19 patients) using one-way ANOVA. Findings: Results showed that internal reliability/consistency, content, and face validity of the Persian version of the ARM-R are acceptable. The construct validity of the test was also verified using exploratory factor analysis and indicated the two factors of personal and relational resilience. The content of the interviews was analyzed using manifest content analysis, and the results were divided into 27 subcategories and 3 main categories including personal, organizational, and family categories. Moreover, regression analysis revealed that the marital status and age of children can explain resilience variance in some medical staff groups. The results of ANOVA and post hoc test also showed that the total resilience of the non-coronavirus group was greater than the coronavirus and emergency groups; the relational resilience of the coronavirus and non-coronavirus groups was greater than the emergency, and non-coronavirus group’s personal resilience was greater than the emergency group.
From Global Route to Detailed Route: ML for Fast and Accurate Wire Parasitics and Timing Prediction

Timing prediction and optimization are challenging in design stages prior to detailed routing (DR) due to the unavailability of routing information. Inaccurate timing prediction wastes design effort, hurts circuit performance, and may lead to design failure. This work focuses on timing prediction after clock tree synthesis and placement legalization, which is the earliest opportunity to time and optimize a "complete" netlist. The paper first documents that having "oracle knowledge" of the final post-DR parasitics enables post-global routing (GR) optimization to produce improved final timing outcomes. Machine learning (ML)-based models are proposed to bridge the gap between GR-based parasitic and timing estimation and post-DR results during post-GR optimization. These models show higher accuracy than GR-based timing estimation and, when used during post-GR optimization, show demonstrable improvements in post-DR circuit performance. Results on open 45nm and 130nm enablements using OpenROAD show efficient improvements in post-DR WNS and TNS metrics without increasing congestion.
Does Collaborative Editing Help Mitigate Security Vulnerabilities in Crowd-Shared IoT Code Examples?

Background: With the proliferation of crowd-sourced developer forums, Software developers are increasingly sharing more coding solutions to programming problems with others in forums. The decentralized nature of knowledge sharing on sites has raised the concern of sharing security vulnerable code, which then can be reused into mission critical software systems - making those systems vulnerable in the process. Collaborative editing has been introduced in forums like Stack Overflow to improve the quality of the shared contents. Aim: In this paper, we investigate whether code editing can mitigate shared vulnerable code examples by analyzing IoT code snippets and their revisions in three Stack Exchange sites: Stack Overflow, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi. Method:We analyze the vulnerabilities present in shared IoT C/C++ code snippets, as C/C++ is one of the most widely used languages in mission-critical devices and low-powered IoT devices. We further analyse the revisions made to these code snippets, and their effects. Results: We find several vulnerabilities such as CWE 788 - Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer , in 740 code snippets. However, we find the vast majority of posts are not revised, or revisions are not made to the code snippets themselves (598 out of 740). We also find that revisions are most likely to result in no change to the number of vulnerabilities in a code snippet rather than deteriorating or improving the snippet. Conclusions: We conclude that the current collaborative editing system in the forums may be insufficient to help mitigate vulnerabilities in the shared code.