Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Picking vs. Guessing Secrets: A Game-Theoretic Analysis

Choosing a hard-to-guess secret is a prerequisite in many security applications. Whether it is a password for user authentication or a secret key for a cryptographic primitive, picking it requires the user to trade-off usability costs with resistance against an adversary: a simple password is easier to remember but is also easier to guess, likewise, a shorter cryptographic key may require fewer computational and storage resources but it is also easier to attack. A fundamental question is how one can optimally resolve this trade-off. A big challenge is the fact that an adversary can also utilize the knowledge of such usability vs. security trade-offs to strengthen its attack. In this paper, we propose a game-theoretic framework for analyzing the optimal trade-offs in the face of strategic adversaries. We consider two types of adversaries: those limited in their number of tries, and those that are ruled by the cost of making individual guesses. For each type, we derive the mutually-optimal decisions as Nash Equilibria, the strategically pessimistic decisions as maximin, and optimal commitments as Strong Stackelberg Equilibria of the game. We establish that when the adversaries are faced with a capped number of guesses, the user's optimal trade-off is a uniform randomization over a subset of the secret domain. On the other hand, when the attacker strategy is ruled by the cost of making individual guesses, Nash Equilibria may completely fail to provide the user with any level of security, signifying the crucial role of credible commitment for such cases. We illustrate our results using numerical examples based on real-world samples and discuss some policy implications of our work.
Seasonal and Ascending Trends in the Incidence of Carriage of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella Species in 2 German Hospitals

Background. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing strains of bacteria have become a major public health concern. In the present study, the incidence of carriage of ESBL-producing strains was analyzed for general trends and seasonality. Methods. Monthly data on ESBL-producing strains were collected retrospectively at 2 large university hospitals in Germany. The mean monthly temperatures for the 2 settings were collected from Germany's national meteorological service. Multivariable time series analyses were performed to explain variations in the monthly incidence densities of carriage of ESBL-producing bacteria (number of cases involving ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella species per 1,000 patient days). For the final models, we incorporated variables for the ascending linear trends and other variables representing the mean monthly temperature. Results. Our models demonstrated that there was an increasing trend in the incidences of carriage of ESBL-producing bacteria. In addition, the incidences of carriage of all ESBL-producing bacteria responded positively to the mean temperature, meaning that during the summer, more cases involving ESBL-producing bacteria were detected than during the winter. The same methodology was also applied to the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage, but no association was found with the mean temperature. Conclusions. In the present study, we demonstrated that the monthly incidence of carriage of ESBL-producing bacteria was highly correlated with the mean monthly temperature, a fact that should be considered in experimental studies as an additional parameter influencing the incidence of ESBL-producing bacteria.
Diarrhea and Colitis in Mice Require the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2-Encoded Secretion Function but Not SifA or Spv Effectors

ABSTRACT We investigated the roles of Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) and two SPI-2 effectors in Salmonella colitis and diarrhea in genetically resistant BALB/c.D2 Slc11a1 congenic mice with the wild-type Nramp1 locus. Wild-type Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028s caused a pan-colitis, and the infected mice developed frank diarrhea with a doubling of the fecal water content. An ssaV mutant caused only a 26% increase in fecal water content, without producing the pathological changes of colitis, and it did not cause weight loss over a 1-week period of observation. However, two SPI-2 effector mutants, the spvB and sifA mutants, and a double spvB sifA mutant caused diarrhea and colitis, even though the sifA mutant was sensitive to killing by bone marrow-derived macrophages from BALB/c.D2 mice and was severely impaired in extraintestinal growth but not in growth in the cecum. These results demonstrate that systemic S. enterica infection and diarrhea/colitis are distinct pathogenic processes and that only the former requires spvB and sifA.
Attachment of Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 to zooplankton and phytoplankton of Bangladesh waters

Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1, the causative agent of cholera, is capable of surviving in aquatic environments for extended periods and is considered an autochthonous species in estuarine and brackish waters. These environments contain numerous elements that may affect its ecology. The studies reported here examined physical interactions between V. cholerae O1 and natural plankton populations of a geographical region in Bangladesh where cholera is an endemic disease. Results showed that four of five clinical V. cholerae O1 strains and endogenous bacterial flora were attached preferentially to zooplankton molts (exuviae) rather than to whole specimens. One strain attached in approximately equal numbers to both exuviae and whole specimens. V. cholerae O1 also attached to several phytoplankton species. The results show that V. cholerae O1 can bind to diverse plankton species collected from an area where cholera is an endemic disease, with potentially significant effects on its ecology.
Identifying dielectric and resistive electrode losses in high-density capacitors at radio frequencies

A regression-based technique is presented which distinguishes the dielectric loss from the resistive loss of high density planar capacitors in a very wide bandwidth of 0.1-8 GHz. Moreover, the procedure yields useful results if the capacitor deviates from a lumped element model and indicates when the used approximations break down or whether size-dependent loss mechanisms exist.
Evaluation of the effect of a large volume spacer on the systemic bioactivity of fluticasone propionate metered-dose inhaler.

BACKGROUND Inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone propionate (FP) have dose-related systemic effects, including adrenal suppression. We have therefore investigated the effect of adding a large volume spacer on the systemic bioactivity of FP given via a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI). METHODS Fourteen healthy volunteers (mean age, 29.9 years old) were studied using an open, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover design. Single doses of the following were given at 5:00 PM in a randomized sequence: (1) eight puffs of FP by pMDI, 1.76 mg (250 microg ex-valve, 220 microg ex-actuator); (2) eight puffs of FP by pMDI, 250 microg, with 750-mL spacer (Volumatic; Allen & Hanburys; Uxbridge, UK); and (3) eight puffs of placebo by pMDI. Measurements were made after each dose, including overnight and early morning urinary cortisol/creatinine ratios and 8:00 AM serum cortisol. RESULTS Significant (p < 0.05) suppression of all three end points occurred with each active treatment compared to treatment with placebo. Furthermore, significant (p < 0.05) additional suppression occurred when comparing FP by pMDI alone to FP by pMDI with spacer. Geometric mean fold differences (95% confidence interval for fold difference) between FP by pMDI alone and FP by pMDI with spacer were 1.94-fold (1.00-3.78) for overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio and 1.98-fold (1.26-3.10) for 8:00 AM serum cortisol. This was mirrored by a twofold rise in the number of values for uncorrected overnight urinary cortisol < 10 nmol/10 h: placebo treatment (none of 14 subjects); FP by pMDI (6 of 14 subjects; 43%); and FP by pMDI with spacer (12 of 14 subjects; 86%). CONCLUSIONS The use of a large volume spacer with FP by pMDI results in a twofold increase in the systemic bioavailability as assessed by sensitive measures of adrenal suppression. This, in turn, reflects a twofold improvement in respirable dose delivery with the spacer device.
Parallel Communication in a Large Distributed Environment

The evolution of MultiRPC, a parallel remote procedure call mechanism implemented in Unix is described. Parallelism is obtained from the concurrency of processing on servers and from the overlapping of retransmissions and timeouts. Each of the parallel calls retains the semantics and functionality of the standard remote procedure calls. The underlying communication medium need not support multicast or broadcast transmissions. An analytic model of the system is derived and validated. The experimental observations demonstrate the feasibility of using MultiRPC to contact up to 100 servers in parallel. >
Treatment with selumetinib preserves cardiac function and improves survival in cardiomyopathy caused by mutation in the lamin A/C gene.

AIMS Mutations in A-type nuclear lamins gene, LMNA, lead to a dilated cardiomyopathy. We have reported abnormal activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling in hearts from Lmna(H222P/H222P) mice, which develop dilated cardiomyopathy. We therefore determined whether an inhibitor of ERK1/2 signalling that has been investigated in clinical trials for cancer has the potential to be translated to humans with LMNA cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS To evaluate the relevance of this finding in mice to patients, we analysed the ERK1/2 signalling in heart tissue from human subjects with LMNA cardiomyopathy and showed that it was abnormally activated. To determine whether pharmacological inhibitors of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway could potentially be used to treat LMNA cardiomyopathy, we administered selumetinib to male Lmna(H222P/H222P) mice starting at 16 weeks of age, after they show signs of cardiac deterioration, up to 20 weeks of age. Selumetinib is an inhibitor of ERK1/2 signalling and has been given safely to human subjects in clinical trials for cancer. Systemic treatment with selumetinib inhibited cardiac ERK1/2 phosphorylation and blocked increased expression of RNAs encoding natriuretic peptide precursors and proteins involved in sarcomere architecture that occurred in placebo-treated mice. Echocardiography and histological analysis demonstrated that treatment increases cardiac fractional shortening, prevents myocardial fibrosis, and prolongs survival. Selumetinib treatment did not induce biochemical abnormalities suggestive of renal or hepatic toxicity. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that selumetinib or other related inhibitors that have been safely administered to humans in clinical trials could potentially be used to treat LMNA cardiomyopathy.
Mood Induction Procedure: Importance of Individualising Music

Studies examining the musical mood induction procedure (MMIP) currently typically involve the experimenter preselecting a piece of music for use with all subjects. This assumes that the same piece of music will be equally effective at eliciting low mood for all subjects. The validity of this assumption was evaluated among 12 bulimic and 12 control women. Subjects listened to seven preselected pieces of music and rated them according to how likely it would be that the piece of music would help them to lower their mood / feel sad. Analysis showed that subjects were highly individual in their responses, and that it could not be assumed that the same piece of music would be equally effective at eliciting low mood across subjects.
Claudin-4 Deficiency Results in Urothelial Hyperplasia and Lethal Hydronephrosis

Claudin (Cld)-4 is one of the dominant Clds expressed in the kidney and urinary tract, including selective segments of renal nephrons and the entire urothelium from the pelvis to the bladder. We generated Cldn4 −/− mice and found that these mice had increased mortality due to hydronephrosis of relatively late onset. While the renal nephrons of Cldn4 −/− mice showed a concomitant diminution of Cld8 expression at tight junction (TJ), accumulation of Cld3 at TJ was markedly enhanced in compensation and the overall TJ structure was unaffected. Nonetheless, Cldn4 −/− mice showed slightly yet significantly increased fractional excretion of Ca2+ and Cl−, suggesting a role of Cld4 in the specific reabsorption of these ions via a paracellular route. Although the urine volume tended to be increased concordantly, Cldn4 −/− mice were capable of concentrating urine normally on dehydration, with no evidence of diabetes insipidus. In the urothelium, the formation of TJs and uroplaques as well as the gross barrier function were also unaffected. However, intravenous pyelography analysis indicated retarded urine flow prior to hydronephrosis. Histological examination revealed diffuse hyperplasia and a thickening of pelvic and ureteral urothelial layers with markedly increased BrdU uptake in vivo. These results suggest that progressive hydronephrosis in Cldn4 −/− mice arises from urinary tract obstruction due to urothelial hyperplasia, and that Cld4 plays an important role in maintaining the homeostatic integrity of normal urothelium.
Screening For Personality Disorders in Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Patients

The current study evaluates the psychometric properties of both the Standardized Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) and the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV) screener. One hundred two participants were interviewed with the SIDP-IV and the SAPAS. The SIDP-IV was used as the standard to identify PD; the SAPAS and the SIDP-IV screener were compared to the SIDP-IV in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive power, and overall efficiency. ROC analyses were used to identify ideal cut-off scores. The data showed that both the SAPAS and the SIDP-IV screener had moderate sensitivity and specificity. For the SAPAS, the best cut-off score was 4, yielding a sensitivity of 0.70 and a specificity of 0.63. After modifying the scoring procedures for the SIDP-IV screener, we found a sensitivity of 0.70 and a specificity of 0.75. The results show that the psychometric properties of the SAPAS in a population of treatment-seeking SUD patients are relatively poor compared to previous studies in psychiatric populations. Also, the SAPAS cannot be used to screen for cluster B personality disorders. The SIDP-IV screener shows better results regarding this purpose. Due to the low prevalence of PD in the current study the results should be interpreted with caution.
Explaining social change: an analytical approach

Analytical sociology is a middle-range approach to sociological theorizing which seeks to develop precise and realistic action-based explanations of various social phenomena. At the heart of the analytical approach is the idea that acceptable explanations must detail the mechanisms through which the phenomena to be explained were brought about. In this article I discuss the most important elements of this approach and I try to illustrate the various components involved in an explanation of social change. The analytical approach adopted here seeks to closely integrate mechanism-based theories of action and interaction, and agent-based computational modelling. The article is organized in the following way: first I present the guiding ideas behind the mechanisms approach. Second I discuss various mechanisms of action and interaction to illustrate what it is all about. Third I use a socalled agent-based model for illustrating how one can link individual-level mechanisms to social outcomes. Fourth I show how important it is to empirically calibrate these types of models. And fifth, and finally, I round it all up with some concluding remarks.
The Effect of Educational Program on Caregivers (Knowledge and Practicing) Toward Their Autistic Children

Background: Autism is a developmental disorder that causes severe impairment in the areas of language development, communication, and social interaction . the diagnosis of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders in early childhood has increased drastically in recent years. Aim : Evaluate effect of educational program on caregivers (knowledge and practices) toward caring of their autistic children. Subject and methods : A quasi- experimental research design was used ,The presents study included 100 caregivers and their 100 autistic children aged between 4-12 years , they were recruited from two different settings El - Abasia mental health hospital and social & preventive centre ,Cairo University Tools of study, socio-demographic data sheet for caregivers and their children. an interviewing questionnaire to assess the caregivers knowledge and an observational checklist for assessing the caregivers practices for their autistic children as basic self - care, fin and gross motor skills social and emotional skills speech and language skills. By Grejory,(2007) Results: Caregivers in the present study demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge and practices that reflect on their children's skills in motor, emotional and language skills, before and after program implementation as regard (35.5±12.1) , (46.1 ± 15.0 ) for knowledge and (30.6+ 16.3). , (39.3 ± 11.4) for skills Conclusions. The study concluded that, educational program was effective for caregivers to improve their knowledge and practice regarding their autistic children Recommendation : Continuous educational program is needed specially for illiteracy caregivers to raise their awareness toward their autistic children regarding knowledge and practice through home visits, mass media should play a significant role to disseminate the needed information about caring for autistic children. , nurses should receive adequate training programs, in autistic children care (physically, emotionally and socially). In order to provide comprehensive care for those children and their families.
Coseismic thrusting and folding in the 1999 Mw 7.6 Chi‐Chi earthquake: A high‐resolution approach by aerial photos taken from Tsaotun, central Taiwan

We used aerial photos taken before and after the 21 September 1999, Mw 7.6, Chi‐Chi earthquake in central Taiwan to measure the near‐field ground deformation. A total of 12 pairs of images were processed with Co‐registration of Optically Sensed Images and Correlation to produce a horizontal displacement map of a 10 km × 10 km area near Tsaotun. Using pairs of images with different viewing angles, both the horizontal and vertical slip across the fault zone can be measured. Our measurements when resampled into lower resolution are consistent with lower resolution measurements of horizontal displacements obtained from SPOT images, as well as with vertical displacements obtained from repeated leveling measurements and field observations. Horizontal strain is strongly localized along the Chelungpu fault (CLPF) and along a secondary scarp that runs parallel to the CLPF about 2 km to the east, the Ailiao fold scarp (ALF). This pattern closely matches the surface ruptures mapped in the field. Horizontal strain across CLPF correlates remarkably well with the topographic features produced by long‐term deformation. The cumulative horizontal shortening across the CLPF and ALF amounts to 4.9 ± 0.4 and 6.1 ± 0.6 m, respectively, and fault‐parallel displacement is 3.4 ± 0.4 m. The pattern of surface strain is consistent with the interpretation of the ALF as a fold scarp formed over an active axial hinge zone. This study shows that, even in this compressional setting, most surface deformation is localized within narrow fault zones or active axial hinges.
Multiphase modeling and qualitative analysis of the growth of tumor cords

In this paper a macroscopic model of tumor cord growth is developed, relying on the mathematical theory of deformable porous media. Tumor is modeled as a saturated mixture of proliferating cells, extracellular fluid and extracellular matrix, that occupies a spatial region close to a blood vessel whence cells get the nutrient needed for their vital functions. Growth of tumor cells takes place within a healthy host tissue, which is in turn modeled as a saturated mixture of non-proliferating cells. Interactions between these two regions are accounted for as an essential mechanism for the growth of the tumor mass. By weakening the role of the extracellular matrix, which is regarded as a rigid non-remodeling scaffold, a system of two partial differential equations is derived, describing the evolution of the cell volume ratio coupled to the dynamics of the nutrient, whose higher and lower concentration levels determine proliferation or death of tumor cells, respectively. Numerical simulations of a reference two-dimensional problem are shown and commented, and a qualitative mathematical analysis of some of its key issues is proposed.
Evaluation of Machine Learning Methods on SPiCe

In this paper, we introduce methods that we used to solve problems from the sequence prediction competition called SPiCe. We train a model from sequences in train data on each problem, and then predict a next symbol following each sequence in test data. We implement several methods to solve these problems. The experiment results show that XGBoost and neural network approaches have good performance overall.
Talk is cheap: measuring drinking outcomes in clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the correspondence among measures of self-reported drinking, standard biological indicators and the reports of collateral informants, and to identify patient characteristics associated with observed discrepancies among these three sources of research data. METHOD Using data collected from a large-scale clinical trial of treatment matching with alcoholics (N = 1,726), these three alternative outcome measures were compared at the time of admission to treatment and at 12 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS Patient self-reports and collateral reports agreed most (97.1%) at treatment admission when heavy drinking was unlikely to be denied. In contrast, liver function tests were relatively insensitive, with positive serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) values obtained from only 39.7% of those who admitted to heavy drinking. At 15-month follow-up the correspondence between client self-report and collateral report decreased to 84.7%, but agreement with blood chemistry values increased to 51.6%. When discrepancies occurred, they still indicated that the client' s self-report is more sensitive to the amount of drinking than the biochemical measures. Patients who presented discrepant results tended to have more severe drinking problems, more previous treatments, higher levels of pretreatment drinking and significantly greater levels of cognitive impairment, all of which could potentially interfere with accurate recall. CONCLUSIONS In clinical trials using self-selected research volunteers, biochemical tests and collateral informant reports do not add sufficiently to self-report measurement accuracy to warrant their routine use. Resources devoted to collecting these alternative sources of outcome data might be better invested in interview procedures designed to increase the validity of self-report information.