Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SkyNET: A 3G-Enabled Mobile Attack Drone and Stealth Botmaster

SkyNET is a stealth network that connects hosts to a bot-master through a mobile drone. The network is comprised of machines on home Wi-Fi networks in a proximal urban area, and one or more autonomous attack drones. The SkyNET is used by a botmaster to command their botnet(s) without using the Internet. The drones are programmed to scour an urban area and compromise wireless networks. Once compromised, the drone attacks the local hosts. When a host is compromised it joins both the Internet-facing botnet, and the sun-facing SkyNET. Subsequent drone flights are used to issue command and control without ever linking the botmaster to the botnet via the Internet. Reverse engineering the botnet, or enumerating the bots, does not reveal the identity of the botmaster. An analyst is forced to observe the autonomous attack drone to bridge the command and control gap. In this paper we present a working example, SkyNET complete with a prototype attack drone, discuss the reality of using such a command and control method, and provide insight on how to prevent against such attacks.
Comparison of the Transcriptional Profiles of Melanocytes from Dark and Light Skinned Individuals under Basal Conditions and Following Ultraviolet-B Irradiation

We analysed the whole-genome transcriptional profile of 6 cell lines of dark melanocytes (DM) and 6 of light melanocytes (LM) at basal conditions and after ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation at different time points to investigate the mechanisms by which melanocytes protect human skin from the damaging effects of UVB. Further, we assessed the effect of different keratinocyte-conditioned media (KCM+ and KCM-) on melanocytes. Our results suggest that an interaction between ribosomal proteins and the P53 signaling pathway may occur in response to UVB in both DM and LM. We also observed that DM and LM show differentially expressed genes after irradiation, in particular at the first 6h after UVB. These are mainly associated with inflammatory reactions, cell survival or melanoma. Furthermore, the culture with KCM+ compared with KCM- had a noticeable effect on LM. This effect includes the activation of various signaling pathways such as the mTOR pathway, involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, growth, proliferation and survival. Finally, the comparison of the transcriptional profiles between LM and DM under basal conditions, and the application of natural selection tests in human populations allowed us to support the significant evolutionary role of MIF and ATP6V0B in the pigmentary phenotype.
Interaction between mode of learning and subjective experience: Translation effects in long-term memory

It has been suggested that writing auditorily presented words at encoding involves distinctive translation processes between visual and auditory domains, leading to the formation of distinctive memory traces at retrieval. This translation effect leads to higher levels of recognition than the writing of visually presented words, a non-translation effect. The present research investigated whether writing and the other translation effect of vocalisation (vocalising visually presented words) would be present in tests of recall, recognition memory and whether these effects are based on the subjective experience of remembering or knowing. Experiment 1 found a translation effect in the auditory domain in recall, as the translation effect of writing yielded higher recall than both non-translation effects of vocalisation and silently hearing. Experiment 2 found a translation effect in the visual domain in recognition, as the translation effect of vocalisation yielded higher recognition than both non-translation effects of writing and silently reading. This translation effect was attributable to the subjective experience of remembering rather than knowing. The present research therefore demonstrates the beneficial effect of translation in both recall and recognition, with the effect of vocalisation in recognition being based on rich episodic remembering.
Sensor-Based Pedestrian Protection

Pedestrian accidents represent the second-largest source of traffic-related injuries and fatalities, after accidents involving car passengers. Children are especially at risk. A complementary approach to accident prevention is to focus on sensor-based solutions, which let vehicles "look ahead" and detect pedestrians in their surroundings. The article investigates the state of the art in this domain, reviewing passive, video based approaches and approaches involving active sensors (radar and laser range finders).
Research with d/Deaf People

This review specifically concerns social care research with, or in contexts that concern, d/Deaf adults. It addresses: (i) key background knowledge concerning the diversity of what it is to be d/Deaf including the essentially contested nature of the term ? deaf? and its implications; (ii) how the special or additional considerations surrounding what it is to be d/Deaf influence research design (including what happens when these are ignored); (iii) specific issues of innovative or adaptive research practice in research with d/Deaf people or in d/Deaf contexts; and (iv) ethical considerations in carrying out research with d/Deaf people.
The Authenticity of Positive Emotional Displays: Client Responses to Leisure Service Employees

This field study examined leisure employees' emotional expression, and its effects on clients' satisfaction with group fitness classes. Participants were 132 clients of five fitness instructors at a fitness club. Client perceptions of their instructor were compared over two conditions—classes in which the instructors reported that they often deep acted (tried to create appropriate emotional expression), and classes in which the instructors' emotional expression was naturally felt. Clients were able to detect whether the instructor's enthusiasm for the class was genuine, and these perceptions were related to the clients' positive affect, satisfaction with the instructor and attitudinal loyalty to the instructor. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Fetal Fraction in Maternal Plasma Cell-Free DNA at 11–13 Weeks’ Gestation: Effect of Maternal and Fetal Factors

Objective: It was the aim of this study to examine the possible effects of maternal and fetal characteristics on the fetal fraction in maternal plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) at 11–13 weeks’ gestation. Methods: In a nested case-control study, cfDNA was extracted from maternal plasma obtained before chorionic villous sampling from 300 euploid, 50 trisomy 21 and 50 trisomy 18 pregnancies at 11–13 weeks’ gestation. Chromosome-selective sequencing of maternal cfDNA non-polymorphic and polymorphic loci, where fetal alleles differ from maternal alleles, was used to determine the proportion of DNA which is of fetal origin. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine which of the factors amongst maternal weight, racial origin, smoking status, plasma storage time, serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein (PAPP)-A and free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), fetal crown-rump length, nuchal translucency thickness, gender and karyotype were significant predictors of the fetal fraction. Results: Significant independent prediction of fetal fraction was provided by maternal weight, serum PAPP-A and serum free β-hCG multiples of the median, but not by other maternal characteristics, fetal karyotype, crown-rump length or nuchal translucency thickness. Fetal fraction increased with serum metabolite levels and decreased with maternal weight. Conclusions: The fetal fraction in maternal plasma cfDNA increases with serum PAPP-A and free β-hCG and decreases with maternal weight.
ICFHR 2012 Competition on Writer Identification Challenge 2: Arabic Scripts

Arabic writer identification is a very active research field. However, no standard benchmark is available for researchers in this field. The aim of this competition is to gather researchers and compare recent advances in Arabic writer identification. This competition has been hosted on Kaggle, it has attracted forty-three teams from both academia and industry. This paper gives details on this competition, including the dataset used, the evaluation procedure and description of participating methods and their performances.
Temporal changes in complexity of cardiovascular regulation during head-up tilt test by entropic measures of fluctuations of heart period intervals and systolic blood pressure

Dynamical aspects of cardiovascular regulation in the head-up tilt test are revealed through the properties of the approximate entropy and sample entropy of increments between subsequent heart period intervals and increments between subsequent systolic blood pressure values. Marked differences are observed in the dynamical response to the tilt test of healthy subjects prone to spontaneous fainting and those who are less susceptible to fainting.
The study on the application of BAN logic in formal analysis of authentication protocols

The authentication protocol is the most fundamental and critical issue in network security and safety system and BAN logic is the most important tool to have a formalization analysis of authentication protocols. This paper first attempts to illustrate the basic methods for BAN logic analysis protocols by making a comparative study between two simplified cases, and then discusses the function of BAN logic in formalization analysis, finally exploring its limitation and methods for improvement.
Everyday functioning in relation to cognitive functioning and neuroimaging in community-dwelling Hispanic and Non-Hispanic older adults

The purpose of this study was to examine how a specific informant-based measure of everyday functioning, the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE; Jorm & Korten, 1988) relates to cognition and structural neuroimaging in a large multicultural, multilingual sample of Caucasians and Hispanics. Cognitive variables included selected subtests from the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales (SENAS; Mungas et al., 2000): Verbal Memory, Object Naming, Verbal Attention Span, Verbal Conceptual Thinking, and Pattern Recognition. The association between the IQCODE and selected neuroimaging variables, hippocampal volume and white matter hyperintensity, was evaluated in a subsample of English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals. The cognitive variables showed strong bivariate relationships with the IQCODE, although only Verbal Memory and Object Naming independently predicted level of functional ability. Verbal Memory was the strongest predictor of functional status, accounting for 23% of the variance in the IQCODE. White matter hyperintensity was also independently related to the IQCODE, accounting for 18% of the variance. Hippocampal volume was related to the IQCODE in a simple bivariate analysis, but was not an independent predictor of reported functional status after controlling for age. The relationships between cognitive variables and functional status, as well as between the imaging variables and the IQCODE, did not differ across language-ethnic groups. (JINS, 2004, 10, 342–354.)
Experimental thermal resistance evaluation of a three-dimensional (3D) chip stack

To propose an appropriate cooling solution for a three-dimensional (3D) chip stack at the design phase, it is necessary to estimate the total thermal resistance of a 3D chip stack. The interconnection between stacked chips is considered as one of the thermal resistance bottleneck of a 3D chip stack, but it is not experimentally clear yet. We have previously measured the thermal conductivity of SnAg with Cu post to be 37–41W/mC by a steady state thermal resistance measurement method, using the sample which was simply composed of two Si chips and SnAg with Cu post between two Si chips. In this study, 3D stacked test chips are fabricated, which are implemented with PN junction diodes for temperature sensors and diffused resistors for heating, and the thermal conductivity of the interconnection in actual 3D stacked structure is experimentally obtained. The temperature distributions of two 3-layer-stacked-test-chips are measured and the equivalent thermal conductivity of the interconnection is experimentally obtained to be 1.6W/mC. This value is compared with the measured thermal conductivity of SnAg with Cu post (37–41W/mC) and its adequacy is examined.
An Unconditional Lower Bound on the Time-Approximation Trade-off for the Distributed Minimum Spanning Tree Problem

The design of distributed approximation protocols is a relatively new and rapidly developing area of research. However, so far, little progress has been made in the study of the hardness of distributed approximation. In this paper we initiate the systematic study of this subject and show strong unconditional lower bounds on the time-approximation trade-off of the distributed minimum spanning tree problem, and show some of its variants.
Local constancy for the reduction mod p of 2‐dimensional crystalline representations

Irreducible crystalline representations of dimension 2 of Gal(Q¯p/Qp) are all twists of some representations Vk,αp which depend on two parameters, the weight k and the trace of the Frobenius map ap. We show that the reduction modulo p of Vk,αp is a locally constant function of ap (with an explicit radius), and a locally constant function of the weight k if ap≠0. We then give (for p≠2) an algorithm for computing the reduction modulo p of Vk,αp . The main ingredient is Fontaine's theory of (ϕ, Γ)‐modules, as well as the theory of Wach modules.
Regulation of protein translation through mRNA structure influences MHC class I loading and T cell recognition

Many viruses avoid immune surveillance during latent infection through reduction in the synthesis of virally encoded proteins. Although antigen presentation critically depends on the level of viral protein synthesis, the precise mechanism used to regulate the generation of antigenic peptide precursors remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a purine overloaded virally encoded mRNA lacking secondary structure significantly impacts the efficiency of protein translation and prevents endogenous antigen presentation. Reducing this purine bias through the generation of constructs expressing codon-modified sequences, while maintaining the encoded protein sequence, increased the stem–loop structure of the corresponding mRNA and dramatically enhanced self-synthesis of the viral protein. As a consequence, a higher number of HLA–peptide complexes were detected on the surface of cells expressing this viral protein. Furthermore, these cells were more efficiently recognized by virus-specific T cells compared with those expressing the same antigen expressed by a purine-biased mRNA. These findings delineate a mechanism by which viruses regulate self-synthesis of proteins and offer an effective strategy to evade CD8+ T cell-mediated immune regulation.
Threshold Learning from Samples Drawn from the Null Hypothesis for the Generalized Likelihood Ratio CUSUM Test

Although optimality of sequential tests for the detection of a change in the parameter of a model has been widely discussed, the test parameter tuning is still an issue. In this communication, we propose a learning strategy to set the threshold of the GLR CUSUM statistics to take a decision with a desired false alarm probability. Only data before the change point are required to perform the learning process. Extensive simulations are performed to assess the validity of the proposed method. The paper is concluded by opening the path to a new approach to multi-modal feature based event detection for video parsing
Personality Assessment Inventory Profile and Predictors of Elevations Among Dissociative Disorder Patients

Assessing patients with dissociative disorders (DD) using personality tests is difficult. On the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989), DD patients often obtain elevations on multiple clinical scales as well as on validity scales that were thought to indicate exaggeration yet have been shown to be elevated among traumatized individuals, including those with DD. No research has been conducted to determine how DD patients score on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; L. C. Morey, 1991), which includes the symptom exaggeration scale Negative Impression (NIM) and the malingering scales Malingering Index (MAL) and Rogers Discriminant Function (RDF). The goals of this study were to document the PAI profile of dissociative identity disorder (DID) and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) patients and to determine how the validity and Schizophrenia scales are related to other PAI scales as well as dissociation. A total of 42 inpatients with DID or DDNOS were assessed on the PAI as well as the Dissociative Experiences Scale–II. The DID/DDNOS patients were elevated on many PAI scales, including NIM and, to a lesser extent, MAL, but not RDF. Dissociation scores significantly and uniquely predicted NIM scores above and beyond Depression and Borderline Features. In addition, after we controlled for MAL and RDF, dissociation was positively associated with NIM. In contrast, after we controlled for the other 2 scales, dissociation was not related to MAL and was negatively related to RDF, indicating that RDF and, to a lesser extent, MAL are better correlates of feigning in DD patients than NIM.
Synthesis Of Space-Time Optimal Systolic Algorithms For The Cholesky Factorization

In this paper we study the synthesis of space-time optimal systolic arrays for the Cholesky Factorization (CF). First, we discuss previous allocation methods and their application to CF. Second, stemming from a new allocation method we derive a space-time optimal array, with nearest neighbor connections, that requires 3N + Θ (1) time steps and N^2/8 + Θ (N) processors, where N is the size of the problem. The number of processors required by this new design improves the best previously known bound, N^2/6 + Θ (N), induced by previous allocation methods. This is the first contribution of the paper. The second contribution stemms from the fact that the paper also introduces a new allocation method that suggests to first perform clever index transformations on the initial dependence graph of a given system of uniform recurrent equations before applying the weakest allocation method, the projection method.
Cauchy Based Matched Filter for Retinal Vessels Detection

In this paper, a novel matched filter based on a new kernel function with Cauchy distribution is introduced to improve the accuracy of the automatic retinal vessel detection compared with other available matched filter-based methods, most notably, the methods built on Gaussian distribution function. Several experiments are conducted to pick the best values of the parameters for the new designed filter, including both Cauchy function parameters as well as the matched filter parameters such as the threshold value. Moreover, the thresholding phase is enhanced with a two-step procedure. Experimental results employed on DRIVE retinal images database confirms that the proposed method has higher accuracy compared with other available matched filter-based methods.
Channel division multiple access: The access solution for UWB networks

In this paper we study a promising multiple access scheme entitled Channel Division Multiple Access (ChDMA). ChDMA was developed to cope with the particularities of low duty cycle Impulsive Radio Ultra Wideband systems (IR-UWB). The idea is based upon the fact that Channel Impulse Responses (CIR) could be exploited as users signatures. Based on the knowledge of the CIRs at the receiver, transmitted signals can be detected and estimated in a very similar approach as performed by DS-CDMA systems. We present in this contribution initial analysis of the spectral efficiency performance of ChDMA systems. As a matter of fact, ChDMA overcomes the multiple access paradigm of impulsive-radio signaling and provides an efficient and low complex technique to exploit the diversity of UWB communications. For the study, we consider three different receiver structures: optimal receiver, matched filter (MF) and linear minimum mean square error receiver (l-MMSE). As a result, it is shown that under certain conditions ChDMA can even outperform CDMA in terms of Shannon's capacity, providing a real option for future communication systems.
'Controlled by food'- lived experiences of coeliac disease.

AIM The aim of this study was to explore the dilemmas experienced by women and men in their everyday lives in relation to their coeliac disease, and to explore the qualities of these dilemmas in relation to specific situations and living conditions. METHODS We interviewed 43 informants, aged 20-40 years, using 'The Critical Incident Technique'. Interviews focused on situations that gave rise to confusion or discomfort in relation to disease. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively. RESULTS We found 195 dilemmas, experienced in five arenas: food situation at work, during purchases, when travelling, in relation to meals at home and meals outside the home. Emotions, relationships and the management of daily life were the three main categories of dilemmas that emerged through the analysis. Specific emotions were experienced in relation to the disease, such as isolation, shame, fear of becoming contaminated by gluten and worries about being a bother. In the relationship with other persons the informants experienced a number of complicating dilemmas such as unwanted visibility, neglect, being forgotten, disclosure avoidance and risk taking. Dilemmas related to the management of daily life were restricted product choice, double work and constantly being on call. CONCLUSIONS The lived experiences of coeliac disease were more varied and profound than expected. It is important to take psychological and social aspects into account in the treatment of patients with coeliac disease.
Genetic variability in geographic populations of the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)

Across altitudinal and latitudinal gradients, the proportion of suitable habitats varies, influencing the individual dispersal that ultimately can produce differentiation among populations. The natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) is distributed across a wide geographic range that qualifies the species as interesting for a geographic analysis of its genetic variability. Five populations of B. calamita in the Sierra de Gredos (Spain) were studied in an altitudinal gradient ranging from 750 to 2270 m using microsatellite markers. In addition, we analyzed the latitudinal genetic variation in B. calamita within a global European distribution using genetic diversity parameters (mean number of alleles per locus [Ma] and expected heterozygosity [HE]) obtained from our results and those published in the literature. The low level of genetic differentiation found between populations of B. calamita (Fst ranging from 0.0115 to 0.1018) and the decreases in genetic diversity with altitude (Ma from 13.6 to 8.3, HE from 0.82 to 0.74) can be interpreted by the combined effects of discontinuous habitat, produced mainly by the high slopes barriers and geographic distance. In the latitudinal gradient, genetic diversity decreases from south to north as a consequence of the colonization of the species from the Pleistocene refugium. We conclude that the genetic variability in B. calamita along its wide altitudinal and latitudinal geographic distribution mainly reflects the colonization history of the species after the last glacial period.