Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel prevention mechanism for Sybil attack in online social network

In Online Social Network (OSN) one of the major attacks is Sybil attack, in which an attacker subverts the system by creating a large number of pseudonymous identities (i.e. fake user accounts) and using them to establish as many as possible of friendships with honest users to have disproportionately large influence in the network. Finally, the Sybil accounts led to many malicious activities in the online social network. To detect these kinds of fake accounts in online social network is a big challenge. In this paper, we propose a prevention mechanism for Sybil attack in OSN based on pairing and identity-based cryptography. During the formation of a group when any user wants to join the group, a user needs to pass a trapdoor which is built based on pairing-based cryptography and consists of a challenge and response mechanism (process). Only the authenticated users can pass the trapdoor and the fake users cannot pass the process, therefore, exclusively the genuine users can join a group. Thus, the Sybil nodes would not be able to join the group and the Sybil attack would be prevented in the OSN.
Mosaic evolution of brain structure in mammals

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Synthesis of Novel Ether Thionocarbamates and Study on Their Flotation Performance for Chalcopyrite

Novel ether thionocarbamates, O-butoxy isopropyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (BIPECTC) and O-(2-butoxy-1-methylethoxy) isopropyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (BMIPECTC), were synthesized in this study. Their collecting efficiencies in the flotation of chalcopyrite were investigated using flotation tests, adsorption measurements, ultraviolet spectra (UV) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The synthesized ether thionocarbamates showed better frothing properties than methyl-isobutyl-carbinol (MIBC) and stronger affinity to chalcopyrite compared with O-isopropyl-N-ethyl thionocarbamate (IPETC) and O-isobutyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (IBECTC). UV spectra analysis showed that the ether thionocarbamates react with Cu2+, with the exception of Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+. Additionally, it was further confirmed by FTIR spectra that a chemical reaction occurs between copper ion and BIPECTC and BMIPECTC. The adsorption capacity measurements revealed that chalcopyrite exhibits good adsorption ability for ether thionocarbamates at an approximate pH of 8–10, which agrees with the flotation tests. The quantum chemistry calculation results indicated that the ether thionocarbamates exhibit stronger collecting ability for copper mineral in terms of frontier molecular orbital analysis, binding model simulation with copper ions and the molecular hydrophobicity compared with IPETC and IBECTC. The computational results are in very good agreement with the experimental results.
Evidence for Fixpoint Logic

For many modal logics, dedicated model checkers offer diagnostics (e.g., counterexamples) that help the user understand the result provided by the solver. Fixpoint logic offers a unifying framework in which such problems can be expressed and solved, but a drawback of this framework is that it lacks comprehensive diagnostics generation. We extend the framework with a notion of evidence, which can be specialized to obtain diagnostics for various model checking problems, behavioural equivalence and refinement checking problems. We demonstrate this by showing how our notion of evidence can be used to obtain diagnostics for the problem of deciding stuttering bisimilarity. Moreover, we show that our notion generalizes the existing notions of counterexample and witness for LTL and ACTL* model checking.
Discovering the Knowledge Hierarchy of MathWorld for Web Intelligence

One important demonstration of web intelligence is learning oriented search, which means to find the right knowledge from the right place and present to the user in the right order so that the user can learn fast and manage the knowledge easily. The most difficult question here is how to present the knowledge to the user for fast learning, which requires to discover the knowledge hierarchy from the web automatically. We study this problem using the MathWorld as an example, which is an online encyclopedia of mathematics. We study various statistical properties of the network, and find that the network of mathematical knowledge is a small world and is not created through preferential attachment. Only a small number of knowledge with large between ness centralities are the basic and important mathematical knowledge, and should be learned first by a user. We hope this work sheds insight to the study on web intelligence in general.
Methane biodegradation in a two-phase partition internal loop airlift reactor with gas recirculation

BACKGROUND: The potential of organic liquid solvents and solid polymers to enhance CH4 mass transfer was studied in a two-phase partition internal loop airlift reactor operated with gas recirculation under biotic and abiotic conditions. A preliminary screening of the most common liquid solvents (silicone oil 20 cSt, silicone oil 200 cSt and 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptametilnonane) and solid polymers (Kraton® G6157, Desmopan® DP9370A and Elvax® 880) resulted in the selection of silicone oil 200 cSt (S200) and Desmopan DP9370A (D9370) for further investigation based on their high affinity for CH4, biocompatibility and nonbiodegradability. RESULTS: Under abiotic conditions, the increase in gas recirculation from 0 to 1 vvm in the absence of a transfer vector increased the overall mass transfer coefficient for oxygen (kLa) by 195%. The presence of S200 and D9370 at 10% (v/v) under operation at 1 vvm of gas recirculation rate mediated an increase in kLa of 100% and 136%, respectively. Likewise, the increase in gas recirculation from 0 to 1 vvm in the absence of a transfer vector and in the presence of S200 during the continuous biodegradation of methane at 3% (v/v) and 7.3 min empty bed residence time resulted in increases in CH4 removal and CO2 production rates of 47% and 36%, respectively. Nevertheless, no significant enhancement in CH4 removal due to the presence of 10% of Desmopan or silicone oil was recorded under operation at 1 vvm. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that microbial activity rather than mass transport could be the limiting step in biological CH4 abatement in this system, contrary to that observed in previous studies with stirred tank reactors, where the organic phase addition increased methane biodegradation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Stimulation of Cardiac Apoptosis in Essential Hypertension: Potential Role of Angiotensin II

We investigated whether cardiac apoptosis is stimulated in the heart of hypertensive patients and whether angiotensin II plays a role in such alteration. The study was performed in 28 patients with essential hypertension and no evidence of either ischemic cardiomyopathy or heart failure. After randomization, 14 patients were assigned to losartan and 14 patients to amlodipine treatment. At baseline and after 12 months, right septal endomyocardial biopsies were performed, and the number of apoptotic nuclei was assessed by DNA end-labeling (TUNEL). In addition, immunostaining for the active form of caspase-3 was also performed to assess apoptosis. Compared with normotensive autopsied hearts, both cardiomyocyte and noncardiomyocyte apoptosis were increased (P <0.001) in hypertensive hearts. Time-course changes in blood pressure during treatment were similar in the 2 groups of patients. In losartan-treated patients, both cardiomyocyte and noncardiomyocyte apoptosis decreased (P <0.05). Neither cardiomyocyte nor noncardiomyocyte apoptosis changed significantly in amlodipine-treated patients. These findings indicate that apoptosis is abnormally stimulated in the heart of patients with essential hypertension. Our data also suggest that the ability of antihypertensive treatment to inhibit cardiac apoptosis is independent of its antihypertensive efficacy. We propose that angiotensin II may participate in the stimulation of cardiac apoptosis in essential hypertension.
The SV40 72 base repair repeat has a striking effect on gene expression both in SV40 and other chimeric recombinants.

By introduction of recombinant plasmids into monkey CV1 cells, we have unambiguously demonstrated that sequences entirely within the 72 bp repeat, which is located upstream of the SV40 early region, are crucial for T-antigen expression in vivo. We have also shown that a DNA fragment containing the 72 bp repeat, inserted directly before chicken conalbumin or adenovirus-2 major late promoter sequences in chimeric plasmids where these promoters replace that of the SV40 early genes, caused a dramatic increase in the expression of T-antigen in vivo. This effect was independent of the orientation of the 72 bp repeat, but was sensitive to its location within the plasmid, when the 72 bp repeat was separated from the promoter sequences, T-antigen expression was reduced. Insertion of the 72 bp repeat into equivalent plasmids containing no known eukaryotic promoter sequences (plasmids which were not detectably expressed in vivo) gave rise to a measurable, but smaller level of expression. The stimulation of expression by the 72 bp repeat is cis-acting : it required covalent linkage to the recombinant. We discuss the possibility that the 72 bp repeat region in SV40 may act as a bi-directional entry site for RNA polymerase B such that promoter sequences linked to the repeat are more efficiently utilised.
Visual Quality and File Size Prediction of H.264 Videos and Its Application to Video Transcoding for the Multimedia Messaging Service and Video on Demand

In this paper, we address the problem of adapting video files to meet terminal file size and resolution constraints while maximizing visual quality. First, two new quality estimation models are proposed, which predict quality as function of resolution, quantization step size, and frame rate parameters. The first model is generic and the second takes video motion into account. Then, we propose a video file size estimation model. Simulation results show a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.956 between the mean opinion score and our generic quality model (0.959 for the motion-conscious model). We obtain a PCC of 0.98 between actual and estimated file sizes. Using these models, we estimate the combination of parameters that yields the best video quality while meeting the target terminal's constraints. We obtain an average quality difference of 4.39% (generic model) and of 3.22% (motion-conscious model) when compared with the best theoretical transcoding possible. The proposed models can be applied to video transcoding for the Multimedia Messaging Service and for video on demand services such as YouTube and Netflix.
Water management issues in the Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin: DFID- JWL and stakeholders experience in information sharing, reaching consensus and physical interventions

The Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin (HJKYB) is an inter-state and transboundary basin in Northern Nigeria. Covering an area of approximately 84,000 km, it is an area of recent drama in water resource issues. Natural phenomena combined with long-term institutional failure in management of water resources of the basin have led to environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, resource use competition and conflicts, apathy and poverty among the various resource users in the basin. The Joint Wetlands Livelihoods (JWL) Project, which is supported by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), has been designed to address increasing poverty and other resource use issues in the basin. Specifically, JWL is concerned with demonstrating processes that will help to improve the management of common pool resources (CPRs) particularly water resources in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands (HNWs) in particular and the HJKYB as a whole as a means of reducing poverty. This process has brought together key stakeholders to form platforms for developing and implementing strategies to overcome CPR management problems. This is being pursued at three levels, i.e. basin, wetlands and community, but as an integrated programme. To facilitate the work of the platforms, JWL is promoting improvements in information generation and exchange, mechanisms for communication flow, co-ordination of activities between the key stakeholders and execution of pilot projects that demonstrate best practice and influence policy. During the last two years, a key learning point has been that bringing the stakeholders together to discuss CPR issues in the HJKYB has exposed many of the technocrats as well as some decision-makers to the problems in the basin, and the parties concerned have started to change their attitudes and disposition towards these problems. Based on this, together with the efforts and support provided by communities and people whose livelihoods depend directly on these CPRs, consensus has been reached by stakeholders over many issues in the basin and in some cases, collective intervention measures for overcoming some of the problems have been proffered and implemented. These attitudinal and dispositional changes, reaching consensus in decision and collective intervention measures taken by stakeholders, have been a key lesson for the JWL project.
Low-Delay Singing Voice Alignment to Text

In this paper we present some ideas and preliminary results on how to move phoneme recognition techniques from speech to the singing voice to solve the low-delay alignment problem. The work focus mainly on searching the most appropriate Hidden Markov Model (HMM) architecture and suitable input features for the singing voice, and reducing the delay of the phonetic aligner without reducing its accuracy.
Computable general equilibrium modelling and the evaluation of agricultural policy

This thesis is concerned with computable general equilibrium modelling and evaluation of agricultural policy in a global context. Particular emphasis has been given to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, reform of which was an important element in the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round (UR), and which is to be subject to further reforms under Agenda 2000. Nevertheless, attention has also been given to modelling the effects of other Uruguay Round outcomes in manufactures and services, so that the reform of the CAP can be assessed within the liberalised global setting. Chapter 1 describes the UR agreement in general, and the Agricultural Agreement in detail. Chapter 2 discusses the construction of computable general equilibrium models. This informs the consideration given in Chapter 3 to the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model and to results from several papers that use the model for the analysis of the UR, as well as other UR CGE models. The GTAP version 2 database is examined in Chapter 4 (the latest version, released in June 1998, is covered in Chapter 7). Chapter 5 gives attention to the finer detail of the standard GTAP model, and describes the modifications and extensions made to this model, such as the modelling of partiallyspecific- factors and endogenous subsidy rates and a means of decomposing welfare changes in the GTAP model. Chapter 6 presents the resuUs from modelling the Uruguay Round with the aggregation and model developed in Chapters 4 and 5. The main resuUs for these simulations show that the global welfare gain and regional gains to the EU, the USA and Japan are comparable to studies discussed in Chapter 3. Chapters 7 and 8 use the most recent GTAP database, which gives wider coverage of regions, sectors and factors than the version used in earlier chapters. Chapter 7 augments the model of Chapter 5 with production quotas for milk and sugar, explicit modelling of compensation and headage payment, intervention prices and support buying, and detailed representation of the EU export subsidy commitments. Chapter 8 reports the resuUs of simulations using this in a model 'projected' to 2005. The main resuUs are that the UR leads to welfare losses in the EU, which are partially reduced through Agenda 2000, and that in all scenarios, the redistributional impacts of reforms are far greater than the overall welfare changes. Finally, Chapter 9 offers some conclusions and suggestions for future research.
Repetition as Artifact Generation in Polyphonic CSCL Chats

Discourse has a main role in the joint knowledge building in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL). Repetition of words and phrases, as Deborah Tannen, remarked is a mean for inducing involvement and, respectively, cohesion in discourse. Words and phrases may thus become artifacts helping participants change arguments in their debates and solve problems. The paper presents an analysis of repetition of key words and phrases vis a vis debates and negociation in CSCL chats starting from the polyphonic model.
The Economic Returns to Military Service

Abstract : The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which service in the military is a good career investment for young men. Some people believe that the answer is yes, including many young men who are entering the Armed Forces with the anticipation that their training and experiences will enhance their civilian careers. However, many others seem to hold the negative view that skills obtained through military training have little payoff in the civilian labor market. Proponents of the negative view often point to what might be termed low-tech jobs in the Army, and especially in the combat arms, as being especially disadvantageous. The economic returns to military service have been the subject of much research over years. However, this issue has taken on added significance since the institution of the All Volunteer Force (AVF) in 1973 necessitating that the military compete for young people with civilian employers and educational institutions. Unfortunately, earlier research may be of only limited value in assessing the returns to military service during the AVF era since previous research suggests that the returns to military service vary across historical time periods.
HIV Prevalence, Risks for HIV Infection, and Human Rights among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana

Background In the generalized epidemics of HIV in southern Sub-Saharan Africa, men who have sex with men have been largely excluded from HIV surveillance and research. Epidemiologic data for MSM in southern Africa are among the sparsest globally, and HIV risk among these men has yet to be characterized in the majority of countries. Methodology A cross-sectional anonymous probe of 537 men recruited with non-probability sampling among men who reported ever having had sex with another man in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana using a structured survey instrument and HIV screening with the OraQuick© rapid test kit. Principal Findings The HIV prevalence among those between the ages of 18 and 23 was 8.3% (20/241); 20.0% (42/210) among those 24–29; and 35.7% (30/84) among those older than 30 for an overall prevalence of 17.4% (95% CI 14.4–20.8). In multivariate logistic regressions, being older than 25 (aOR 4.0, 95% CI 2.0–8.0), and not always wearing condoms during sex (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3–4.9) were significantly associated with being HIV-positive. Sexual concurrency was common with 16.6% having ongoing concurrent stable relationships with a man and a woman and 53.7% had both male and female sexual partners in proceeding 6 months. Unprotected anal intercourse was common and the use of petroleum-based lubricants was also common when using condoms. Human rights abuses, including blackmail and denial of housing and health care was prevalent with 42.1% (222/527) reporting at least one abuse. Conclusions MSM are a high-risk group for HIV infection and human rights abuses in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana. Concurrency of sexual partnerships with partners of both genders may play important roles in HIV spread in these populations. Further epidemiologic and evaluative research is needed to assess the contribution of MSM to southern Africa's HIV epidemics and how best to mitigate this. These countries should initiate and adequately fund evidence-based and targeted HIV prevention programs for MSM.
Comparing Individual-Specific Benefit Estimates for Public Goods: Finite Versus Continuous Mixing in Logit Models

Multi-attribute stated preference data, derived through choice experiments, is used to investigate the consequence of a finite number of preference groups in a sample of Yorkshire Water residential customers on the conditional distributions of willingness to pay in the sample. The research focuses on ‘public good’ values, and retrieves the implicit customer specific welfare measures conditional on a sequence of four observed choices. We assess and contrast the sample evidence for the presence of a finite number of 2, 3, 4 and 5 latent preference groups (classes), and contrast these with the presence of a continuous distribution of parameter estimates using mixed logit models. The main focus is the conditional valuations in the form of marginal values for the consequence of waste water handling and treatment, namely: river water quality, area flooding by sewage, presence of odour and flies, and other water related amenities.