Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A lightweight access control mechanism for mobile cloud computing

In order to meet the security requirement, most data are stored in cloud as cipher-texts. Hence, a cipher-text based access control mechanism is needed for data sharing in cloud. A popular solution is to use the attribute-based encryption. However, it is not suitable for mobile cloud due to the heavy computation overhead caused by bilinear pairing, which also makes it difficult to change the access control policy. In addition, attribute-based encryption can't achieve fine-grained access control yet. In this paper, we present a lightweight cipher-text access control mechanism for mobile cloud computing, which is based on authorization certificates and secret sharing. Only the certificate owner can reconstruct decryption keys for his/her files. Our analyses show that the mechanism can achieve efficient and fine-grained access control on cipher-text at a much lower cost than the attribute-based encryption solution.
Suicide Bombing as a Strategic Weapon: An Empirical Investigation of Hamas and Islamic Jihad

Using twice-yearly data from 1991 to 2003, we analyze the incidents of suicide attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad within Israel and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Given the exploratory nature of the question, we have first estimated the relevant coefficients by using a Quasi-Maximum Likelihood Ratio and then checked their robustness by reestimating the model with the help of a Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) as an interrelated system. The results indicate that the two groups deliberately use suicide bombings as strategic weapons within the larger Israeli-Palestinian political milieu. With the Western world locked in an armed struggle with the militant extremists of Islam based on millenarian ideologies, this study emphasizes the need to develop appropriate analytical capabilities to distinguish among terrorist groups and their motivations, ideologies, and tactics. At times, Palestinian politics are dizzyingly incoherent,…at times bloody, at other times perfectly clear. —Edward W. Said
Recommendations Using Coupled Matrix Factorization

Consider the task of recommending movies to users, such as the Netflix challenge. Given additional information for the movies, e.g. features derived from Internet Movie Database, are we able to improve the recommendation quality? In this work, we pose the aforementioned problem (which encompasses a variety of different scenarios, all under the family of recommender systems/collaborative filtering) as a regularized Coupled Matrix Factorization instance. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach over traditional collaborative filtering approaches that employ matrix factorization. In particular, we show that for two different recommendation tasks viz. movie recommendation and question recommendation for “ask an expert” web site, our model outperforms state of the art matrix factorization models, in terms of root mean squared error.
Reconstructing seafloor bathymetry with a multichannel broadband InSAS using Belief Propagation

Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) provides high resolution imagery with range independent resolution. However, imagery has been limited to two-dimensions, showing acoustic reflectivity for a given scene. To further enhance the usefulness of a SAS system this needs to be combined with a topographical height map of the same scene. This paper presents a novel technique to obtain the third-dimension by first remapping on to a set of common ground-planes, with the most likely surface through this volume found using Belief Propagation. This technique allows any a priori information to be incorporated and thus provides a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of the seafloor height. Results are presented from a rough seafloor simulator with height reconstructions using this technique.
A novel nonlinear and intelligent control technique for induction motor drive systems

This paper presents a novel control method for induction motor drive systems. A voltage source inverter (VSI) is used as the power converter that feeds the machine. The variables, mechanical rotational speed, electro-mechanical torque and rotor flux linkage are directly controlled. The control principle is based on a sliding mode nonlinear technique combined with fuzzy logic methodology. The proposed controllers for direct torque and rotor flux control construct an intelligent and robust drive system. The performance of the induction motor (IM) drive system was tested and simulation and experimental results are presented.
Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Yersinia ruckeri and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in culture fisheries

Bacterial cold water disease, enteric red mouth disease and frunculosis are the common bacterial diseases of fish worldwide. The etiologic agents of these diseases are Flavobacterium (F.) psychrophilum, Yersinia (Y.) ruckeri and Aeromonas (A.) salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, respectively. In this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) method with YER8/10-Fer3/4-FP1/3 primer pairs which can identify these fish pathogens simultaneously was developed and optimized. In optimized conditions, neither false specific nor nonspecific amplification occurred. The detection limits of the m-PCR method using DNA extracts from dilutions of pure cultures of bacteria were 35 pg for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 70 pg for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. It was determined that 15 CFU Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 30 CFU A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida could be detected by m-PCR developed using genomic DNA extracted from dilutions of the suspensions. The detection limits in the presence of tissue debris were 125 CFU for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 250 CFU for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. In conclusion, we submit that the m-PCR method developed and optimized in this study can be used for accurate and rapid identification of these bacteria.
Workload Characterization

Workload characterization is a well-established discipline that plays a key role in many performance engineering studies. The large-scale social behavior inherent in the applications and services being deployed nowadays leads to rapid changes in workload intensity and characteristics and opens new challenging management and performance issues. A deep understanding of user behavior and workload properties and patterns is therefore compelling. This article presents a comprehensive survey of the state of the art of workload characterization by addressing its exploitation in some popular application domains. In particular, we focus on conventional web workloads as well as on the workloads associated with online social networks, video services, mobile apps, and cloud computing infrastructures. We discuss the peculiarities of these workloads and present the methodological approaches and modeling techniques applied for their characterization. The role of workload models in various scenarios (e.g., performance evaluation, capacity planning, content distribution, resource provisioning) is also analyzed.
Modeling the Plasticity in Motor Cortex

To study the mechanism of motor deficiency, therapy and rehabilitation following stroke, motor cortex network was represented as a directed graph and implemented as a dynamical system. Complexity was used to express the extent to which a system is both functionally segregated and functionally integrated. Motor cortex network was optimized by pattern search to investigate the change of connection under normal, stroke and rehabilitation state. The simulation results show that motor areas have strong connections in normal state. The connections between motor areas decrease greatly, but connections with other areas and self-connections increase in stroke. Stimulation acting on specified areas help to strengthen motor areas connections and weaken other connections to evolve the system to normal state. It indicates the model can reflect the plasticity of motor cortex qualitatively.
Association of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations with Metastatic Presentations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

We performed this retrospective study to assess the association of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with metastatic presentations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The data from 125 patients with stage III or IV NSCLC were analyzed. We detected EGFR mutations in 36 NSCLC patients. EGFR mutations were predominant in never-smokers (P < .001), patients with adenocarcinomas (P < .001), and female patients (P < .001). When the metastatic sites were analyzed, pleural metastases were associated with a high incidence of EGFR mutations (P = .028). Particularly, pleural metastases with minimal effusion (PMME) were associated with EGFR mutational status (P = .001). Patients with N3 lesions were less likely to harbor EGFR mutations (P = .033). On multivariate analysis, N3 lesions (P = .017) and PMME (P < .001) remained significant factors for EGFR mutations. EGFR mutations may be associated with different presentations of pleural and N3 nodal metastases.
New aspects on analyzing ZVS conditions for converters using super-junction Si and wide bandgap SiC and GaN power FETs

Paper analyzes substantial Coss behavior differences of FETs using super-junction Si, SiC and GaN technologies versus traditional Si process and suggests new practical models for power losses optimization. These models applied to derive normalized ZVS conditions and boundaries for popular PWM ZVS topologies allowing efficiency optimization at wide operating conditions.
Investigation of Knowledge Management Processes Among Academicians at Faculty of Industrial Information Technology, UNISEL: A Case Study

This paper focused on the Knowledge Management (KM) processes at the Faculty of Industrial Information Technology (FIIT), Universiti Industri Selangor (UNISEL). The processes of KM studied here are Knowledge Capturing,Organizing, Refining and Transferring. KM has become an important to the organization, as it combines both the tacit and explicit knowledge from the expertise in that particular organization. Among academicians, knowledge sharing is crucial, and the KM processes should be practiced to ensure the knowledge sharing take place. The study was conducted at FIIT and academicians at FIIT are used as population. There are two groups of academicians responded to the questionnaires: academicians who served in the year 2006; and academicians who served in 2008. Statistical analysis was conducted to the data gathered and collected from the questionnaires. Using the t-Test, the study had concluded that the processes of KM do exist at FIIT; and the study can significantly prove that all academicians do practice the processes of KM.
Inhibition of airway proteases in cystic fibrosis lung disease

Progressive lung disease determines the morbidity and mortality of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. CF lung disease is characterised by endobronchial inflammation sustained by bacterial infections and an ongoing accumulation of airway neutrophils. Activated or necrotic neutrophils liberate proteases that cause damage to structural, cellular and soluble components of the pulmonary microenvironment. Among various proteases released by airway cells, elastase is considered to play the major role in CF lung disease. Based on this concept, several therapeutic approaches have been developed to inhibit free elastolytic activity, including small synthetic chemical compounds, semi-synthetic inhibitors and natural inhibitors of free elastase. The present review summarises and discusses the pathophysiological rationales, methodological requirements and clinical implications of inhibition of airway proteases in cystic fibrosis lung disease.
Neurophysiology of Aggression in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a universal anxiety disorder, affecting not only soldiers but also victims of every sort of traumatic stress-natural disaster, automobile collision, crime, domestic violence, bereavement. Aggressiveness, stemming from “intermittent explosive anger”, is a not infrequent comorbidity of PTSD, with the most serious consequences. The neurophysiology of aggression and anger in general, and PTSD in particular, is a jigsaw puzzle of which we are first gathering the pieces. In this chapter, PTSD is conceptualized as revolving around an idee fix of the traumatic experience, leading to fear and a derivative defensive form of aggression. The history of research in the neurophysiology of aggression and pertinent forms of memory and emotion are then reviewed, leading to a neuronal system that spans the brain. Some basic phenomena in neurophysiology are touched onsynaptic plasticity in the form of long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission, G-protein–coupled receptor modulation thereof, and the theta rhythm of the electroencephalogram-and the path we are following in our attempt to integrate these phenomena into a model of the neurophysiology of aggression in PTSD is described.
A Snapshot of Global Internet Worm Activity

In this paper, we present a snapshot of Internet worm activity from September to November 2001, bearing witness to the rise of Nimda (and Nimda.E), the death of CodeRedII (and CodeRed.d), and a resurrection of the original CodeRed. We determine the demographics of the various worm-infected populations, and make predictions as to their future growth, attrition, and impact. These findings represent the early results of our ongoing research in “blackhole monitoring” – the instrumentation and analysis of an unused class A network, or 1/256 of the entire Internet address space, for evidence of global Internet attack activity.
OPTIMAL SENSOR SCHEDULING ALGORITHMS FOR DISTRIBUTED SENSOR NETWORKS

In this paper, a sensor network is used to estimate the dynamic states of a system. At each time step, one (or multiple) sensors are available that can send its measured data to a central node, in which all of processing is done. We want to provide an optimal algorithm for scheduling sensor selection at every time step. Our goal is to select the appropriate sensor to reduce computations, optimize the energy consumption and enhance the network lifetime. To achieve this goal, we must reduce the error covariance. Three algorithms are used in this work: sliding window, thresholding and randomly chosen algorithms. Moreover, we will offer a new algorithm based on circular selection. Finally, a novel algorithm for selecting multiple sensors is proposed. Performance of the proposed algorithms is illustrated with numerical examples.
Morphology of the coronal-line region in active galactic nuclei

We present new images of the coronal-line region, as traced by [Si vii] 2.48 μm, in some of the nearest Seyfert 2 galaxies. In each of these galaxies, the coronal-line emission comprises a bright, compact central source and extended emission showing broad alignment along a particular direction, usually coinciding with that defined by the radio emission or the extended narrow-line region. The full extent of the coronal-line emission ranges from a few tens of parsecs to ∼150 pc radius from the nucleus and is a factor of ∼10 smaller than that seen in the extended, lower ionization gas. With a spatial resolution of 10 pc or better, the coronal region shows diffuse and filamentary structure in all cases, and it is difficult to see whether it breaks down into discrete blobs such as those seen in lower ionization lines or radio images of comparable resolution. The extent of the coronal-line emission is larger than would be predicted by photoionization models, which argues for additional in situ gas excitation, the most plausible energy source being shock excitation.
Azidothymidine inhibits NF-κB and induces Epstein-Barr virus gene expression in Burkitt lymphoma

The antiviral compound azidothymidine (AZT), alone or in combination with other agents, induces apoptosis in early-passage, Epstein-Barr virus–positive Burkitt lymphoma (EBV+ BL) lines and has clinical activity in EBV+ BL. We report here a mechanism of AZT's antitumor activity. The nuclei of these cells contain activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits p50, c-Rel, RelB, and p52, but not p65. Treatment of primary EBV+ BL lines with AZT inhibited NF-κB within 1 to 2 hours. This was followed by up-regulation of EBV gene expression including viral thymidine kinase (vTK) and apoptosis. Subclones of EBV+ BL cells that demonstrated activated p65 were resistant to AZT. In EBV+ BLs, AZT but not ganciclovir (GCV) was highly phosphorylated to its monophosphate form (AZT-MP). Phosphorylation, as well as apoptosis, was markedly enhanced in the presence of hydroxyurea. AZT inhibits NF-κB and up-regulates EBV gene expression in primary EBV+ BLs. AZT with hydroxyurea may represent an inexpensive, targeted regimen for endemic BL.
Clinical Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography or Exercise Electrocardiogram in Individuals Without Known Cardiovascular Disease

AbstractIt is not clear whether screening by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) and/or exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) can improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs in individuals without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). In total, 71,811 consecutive individuals without known CVD who underwent general health examinations were enrolled. Using propensity-score matching according to screening tests, 1-year clinical outcomes and 6-month total and coronary artery disease–related medical costs were analyzed in separate groups: group 1 (CCTA [n = 2578] vs no screening [n = 5146]), group 2 (exercise ECG [n = 2898] vs no screening [n = 5796]), and group 3 (CCTA and exercise ECG [n = 2003] vs no screening [n = 4006]). There were no significant differences in the composite outcome of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in each matched group: group 1 (0.35% vs 0.45%, P = 0.501), group 2 (0.14% vs 0.28%, P = 0.157), and group 3 (0.25% vs 0.27%, P = 0.858). However, revascularization was more frequent in the CCTA screening groups: group 1 (2.02% vs 0.45%, P < 0.001) and group 3 (1.40% vs 0.45%, P < 0.001). Matched screening groups had higher 6-month total and coronary artery disease–related medical costs: group 1 ($777 vs $603, P < 0.001 and $177 vs $39, P < 0.001), group 2 ($544 vs $492, P = 0.045 and $12 vs $15, P = 0.611), and group 3 ($705 vs $627, P = 0.090 and $135 vs $35, P < 0.001). In individuals without known CVD, CCTA screening with or without exercise ECG led to more frequent revascularization at the expense of higher medical costs, but did not decrease the 1-year risk of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
Boundary cells restrict dystroglycan trafficking to control basement membrane sliding during tissue remodeling

Epithelial cells and their underlying basement membranes (BMs) slide along each other to renew epithelia, shape organs, and enlarge BM openings. How BM sliding is controlled, however, is poorly understood. Using genetic and live cell imaging approaches during uterine-vulval attachment in C. elegans, we have discovered that the invasive uterine anchor cell activates Notch signaling in neighboring uterine cells at the boundary of the BM gap through which it invades to promote BM sliding. Through an RNAi screen, we found that Notch activation upregulates expression of ctg-1, which encodes a Sec14-GOLD protein, a member of the Sec14 phosphatidylinositol-transfer protein superfamily that is implicated in vesicle trafficking. Through photobleaching, targeted knockdown, and cell-specific rescue, our results suggest that CTG-1 restricts BM adhesion receptor DGN-1 (dystroglycan) trafficking to the cell-BM interface, which promotes BM sliding. Together, these studies reveal a new morphogenetic signaling pathway that controls BM sliding to remodel tissues. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.17218. 001
INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET (IPA) FRONT VOWEL SOUND RECOGNITION OF BEGINNER FOREIGN LEARNERS

English, as a second language (L2) learning and teaching, is one of the booming global industries. The Philippines is recognised as a quality provider of English language learning where non-native English speakers student come to study. This paper investigated the front vowel sound recognition of beginner foreign learners based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Front vowel recognition was assessed in terms of its influence on foreign learners’ sound production and recognition. The study employed a survey research design to selected Taiwanese and Japanese respondents, identified their common errors as beginner foreign language learners and determined if their sound production is influenced by their sound recognition. This paper argues that sound recognition leads to good communication skills among beginner foreign language learners and sufficient knowledge in recognising the front vowel sound leads to better comprehensible conversation. Findings of the study revealed that vowel sounds are very difficult to recognise by beginner foreign language learners. Both foreign learner groups experienced hard time recognising front vowel sounds which, fundamentally influenced sound production. Sound recognitions vary between Taiwanese and Japanese learners. Foreign beginner learners undergo difficulties in recognising front vowel sounds thereby affect their word production. Only upon correct sound recognition can foreign learners attain correct word production. We recommend that appropriate teaching methods be employed to ensure correct sound recognition among foreign learners in the Philippine context. Teachers need to engage the learners in fun-filled and interactive instructions to develop the learners’ ability in recognising sounds. Only when a learner recognises and produces the sound correctly that comprehensible communication is achieved. Article visualizations:
Identity construction of Sami people with disabilities

The aim of this article is to explore how the political, technological and economic development of recent decades has influenced the identity construction of Sami people with disabilities. While Sami identity work is described as a continuous process carried out in everyday life, the subject is addressed through a presentation and discussion of three narratives. The analysis demonstrates how different types of development have expanded access for Samis with disabilities to participate in traditional Sami activities in many ways and, as such, have increased their opportunities to identify themselves as Sami. At the same time, however, changes in laws and regulations concerning ownership and use of land and sea resources seem to constitute political barriers that hinder disabled Samis from pursuing traditional Sami occupations and activities such as fishing and reindeer herding. Furthermore, ‘cultural blindness’ among professionals within the welfare system seems to block opportunities for Samis with disabilities to access their own culture through language and traditional Sami way of life. This lack of connection to traditional Sami activities is problematic as it may lead to the perception among both disabled Sami individuals and other Samis that these individuals are not entitled to define themselves as Sami.