Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SafeVanish: An Improved Data Self-Destruction for Protecting Data Privacy

In the background of cloud, self-destructing data mainly aims at protecting the data privacy. All the data and its copies will become destructed or unreadable after a user-specified period, without any user intervention. Besides, anyone cannot get the decryption key after timeout, neither the sender nor the receiver. The Washington’s Vanish system is a system for self-destructing data under cloud computing, and it is vulnerable to “hopping attack” and “sniffer attack”. We propose a new scheme in this paper, called Safe Vanish, to prevent hopping attacks by way of extending the length range of the key shares to increase the attack cost substantially, and do some improvement on the Shamir Secret Sharing algorithm implemented in the Original Vanish system. We present an improved approach against sniffing attacks by using the public key cryptosystem to protectt from sniffing operations. In addition, we evaluate analytically the functionality of the proposed Safe Vanish system.
Visual Coding in Locust Photoreceptors

Information capture by photoreceptors ultimately limits the quality of visual processing in the brain. Using conventional sharp microelectrodes, we studied how locust photoreceptors encode random (white-noise, WN) and naturalistic (1/f stimuli, NS) light patterns in vivo and how this coding changes with mean illumination and ambient temperature. We also examined the role of their plasma membrane in shaping voltage responses. We found that brightening or warming increase and accelerate voltage responses, but reduce noise, enabling photoreceptors to encode more information. For WN stimuli, this was accompanied by broadening of the linear frequency range. On the contrary, with NS the signaling took place within a constant bandwidth, possibly revealing a ‘preference’ for inputs with 1/f statistics. The faster signaling was caused by acceleration of the elementary phototransduction current - leading to bumps - and their distribution. The membrane linearly translated phototransduction currents into voltage responses without limiting the throughput of these messages. As the bumps reflected fast changes in membrane resistance, the data suggest that their shape is predominantly driven by fast changes in the light-gated conductance. On the other hand, the slower bump latency distribution is likely to represent slower enzymatic intracellular reactions. Furthermore, the Q10s of bump duration and latency distribution depended on light intensity. Altogether, this study suggests that biochemical constraints imposed upon signaling change continuously as locust photoreceptors adapt to environmental light and temperature conditions.
Frequency domain power and thermal integrity analysis of 3D power delivery networks

3D power delivery networks are essential for delivering supply voltage to all tiers. PDNs on each tier are mesh networks that are bridged together using Through-Silicon-Vias (TSVs) to devise 3D PDNs. However, a host of vulnerabilities influence their resiliency and reliability such as power supply noise, long parasitic current paths, switching activities, high frequencies, and sensitivity to temperature variations. In this work, we perform a qualitative analysis to capture the impact of TSV-to-TSV substrate coupling (inductive and capacitive), power supply noise transfer among tiers, and different PDN topologies on 3D PDNs. Experiments show the criticality of these factors and their impact on power and thermal integrity of 3D PDNs.
Bottom-up effects of host-plant species diversity and top-down effects of ants interactively increase plant performance

While plant diversity is well known to increase primary productivity, whether these bottom-up effects are enhanced by reciprocal top-down effects from the third trophic level is unknown. We studied whether pine tree species diversity, aphid-tending ants and their interaction determined plant performance and arthropod community structure. Plant diversity had a positive effect on aphids, but only in the presence of mutualistic ants, leading to a threefold greater number of both groups in the tri-specific cultures than in monocultures. Plant diversity increased ant abundance not only by increasing aphid number, but also by increasing ant recruitment per aphid. The positive effect of diversity on ants in turn cascaded down to increase plant performance; diversity increased plant growth (but not biomass), and this effect was stronger in the presence of ants. Consequently, bottom-up effects of diversity within the same genus and guild of plants, and top-down effects from the third trophic level (predatory ants), interactively increased plant performance.
Determining Native Language and Deception Using Phonetic Features and Classifier Combination

For several years, the Interspeech ComParE Challenge has focused on paralinguistic tasks of various kinds. In this paper we focus on the Native Language and the Deception subchallenges of ComParE 2016, where the goal is to identify the native language of the speaker, and to recognize deceptive speech. As both tasks can be treated as classification ones, we experiment with several state-of-the-art machine learning methods (Support-Vector Machines, AdaBoost.MH and Deep Neural Networks), and also test a simple-yet-robust combination method. Furthermore, we will assume that the native language of the speaker affects the pronunciation of specific phonemes in the language he is currently using. To exploit this, we extract phonetic features for the Native Language task. Moreover, for the Deception Sub-Challenge we compensate for the highly unbalanced class distribution by instance re-sampling. With these techniques we are able to significantly outperform the baseline SVM on the unpublished test set.
The Impact of Evaporites in the Greek and Albanian Oil Systems

Summary Triassic Evaporites are widespread in the External Hellenides and Albanides zones of Greece and mainly in the Ionian zone, playing an important role in the formation of folds and thrust belts. They also contribute in the westward propagating contractional deformation and thrusting process in the External Hellenides orogenic (fold-and-thrust) belt. Scope of the present work is to shed light on the significance of evaporites in the oil systems of Greece and Albania. This scope is implemented by combining geological information, well data and seismic reflection data. The wells drilled both in Greece and in Albania indicate a wide extension of the evaporites on the surface but they are absent in the Kruja zone in Albania and Greece. Evaporitic diapirs have extruded through the pre-existing, tectonic axis, thrusting faults and younger extensional structures, resulting locally in NNW - SSE trending diapiric walls (W. Greece). Concerning the thickness of the evaporites, it is ranging between 2 and 3 kilometers (Ionian zone), that locally may be more than 3 Km related to diapirisms. Evaporite thickness is decreasing westwards, at the Pre-Apulia platform margins (Pre-Apulia zone).
Transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal complex mechanisms of reproductive diapause in the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae

Although a variety of factors underlying diapause have been identified in arthropods and other organisms, the molecular mechanisms regulating diapause are still largely unknown. Here, to better understand this process, we examined diapause‐associated genes in the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, by comparing the transcriptomes and proteomes of early diapausing and reproductive adult females. Amongst genes underlying diapause revealed by the transcriptomic and proteomic data sets, we described the noticeable change in Ca2+‐associated genes, including 65 Ca2+‐binding protein genes and 23 Ca2+ transporter genes, indicating that Ca2+ signalling has a substantial role in diapause regulation. Other interesting changes in diapause included up‐regulation of (1) glutamate receptors that may be involved in synaptic plasticity changes, (2) genes involved in cytoskeletal reorganization including genes encoding each of the components of thick and thin filaments, tubulin and members of integrin signalling and (3) genes involved in anaerobic energy metabolism, which reflects a shift to anaerobic energy metabolism in early diapausing mites.
Dual route for subtask order control: Evidence from the psychological refractory paradigm

A change in subtask order in the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm increases the effect of stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) on the second response. We used a paradigm with cued, randomly determined subtask order to test the hypothesis that this SOA by order switch overadditivity reflects order control, via “copying” stimulus order. In Experiments 1a and 1b, overadditivity was evident only with insufficient opportunity for cue-based order control. In Experiment 2, overadditivity was decreased by using the same set of stimuli in the two subtasks, presumably by removing the opportunity to rely on stimulus order. In Experiment 3, removing the order cue increased the overadditivity, presumably because control was based solely upon copying stimulus order. The results indicate interactive top-down and bottom-up order control. Implications to theories of the PRP paradigm are discussed.
Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Cytokine Levels in HIV-Infected Individuals: A Preliminary Study

Inflammation persists in patients infected with HIV. Reduction of inflammatory cytokines and microbial translocation might be one way that this could be managed. Purpose: The anti-inflammatory properties of certain probiotic strains prompted us to investigate whether a probiotic could reduce the inflammatory index of HIV-infected patients. Methods: The study involved 30 HIV+ males on antiretroviral therapy, who were given one bottle of fermented milk Yakult Light® containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) twice a day for four weeks. Results: The probiotic LcS was associated with an increase of T lymphocytes and a significant increase of CD56+ cells (p = 0.04). There was also a significant decrease of mRNA levels of TGFβ, IL-10 and IL-12 (p < 0.001) and IL-1β expression (p < 0.001) and an increase of serum IL-23 (p = 0.03). In addition, decreased inflammation and cardiovascular risk were observed, as shown by a reduction of cystatin C (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These data provide preliminary evidence that probiotic supplementation may modulate certain immunological parameters and some of the cytokines that were analyzed. Thus, we propose that LcS may be an inexpensive and practical strategy to support the immune function of HIV+ patients.
Uncoupling of Peripheral and Master Clock Gene Rhythms by Reversed Feeding Leads to an Exacerbated Inflammatory Response After Polymicrobial Sepsis in Mice

Abstract Reversed feeding uncouples peripheral and master clock gene rhythms and leads to an increased risk of disease development. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of clock gene uncoupling on sepsis-induced inflammation using a mouse cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. C57BL/6N mice were entrained to a 12-h light-dark cycle (lights on at 7 AM). Mice were permitted ad libitum feeding either during the night (7 PM–7 AM) or the nonphysiological light phase (7 AM–7 PM) for a week before CLP. In daytime-fed mice, phase inversion of clock gene expression was observed in the liver, but not in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Daytime-fed mice also had decreased body weight and food intake. Survival rate was significantly lower in daytime-fed mice (29%) compared with nighttime-fed mice (54%) 72 h after CLP (P = 0.03). Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor &agr;, high mobility group box 1, IL-1&agr;, IL-9, eotaxin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor increased in daytime-fed mice compared with nighttime-fed mice after CLP. Baseline expression levels of sirtuin peroxisome 1 and proliferator-activated receptor &ggr; coactivator 1&agr; in the liver decreased in daytime-fed mice compared with nighttime-fed mice. Thus, daytime feeding induces clock gene uncoupling, which leads to decreased expression of longevity-related and energy metabolism proteins. Daytime feeding may also increase the levels of inflammatory cytokines, thereby increasing mortality in a mouse sepsis model. Our findings suggest that uncoupling of peripheral and master clock gene rhythms by reversed feeding exacerbates inflammatory responses.
The Monitoring and Control of Task Sequences in Human and Non-Human Primates

Our ability to plan and execute a series of tasks leading to a desired goal requires remarkable coordination between sensory, motor, and decision-related systems. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to play a central role in this coordination, especially when actions must be assembled extemporaneously and cannot be programmed as a rote series of movements. A central component of this flexible behavior is the moment-by-moment allocation of working memory and attention. The ubiquity of sequence planning in our everyday lives belies the neural complexity that supports this capacity, and little is known about how frontal cortical regions orchestrate the monitoring and control of sequential behaviors. For example, it remains unclear if and how sensory cortical areas, which provide essential driving inputs for behavior, are modulated by the frontal cortex during these tasks. Here, we review what is known about moment-to-moment monitoring as it relates to visually guided, rule-driven behaviors that change over time. We highlight recent human work that shows how the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) participates in monitoring during task sequences. Neurophysiological data from monkeys suggests that monitoring may be accomplished by neurons that respond to items within the sequence and may in turn influence the tuning properties of neurons in posterior sensory areas. Understanding the interplay between proceduralized or habitual acts and supervised control of sequences is key to our understanding of sequential task execution. A crucial bridge will be the use of experimental protocols that allow for the examination of the functional homology between monkeys and humans. We illustrate how task sequences may be parceled into components and examined experimentally, thereby opening future avenues of investigation into the neural basis of sequential monitoring and control.
Features of Distribution of Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) in North Eurasia

ABSTRACT Efremov, A. ; Bolotova, Ya. ; Mesterházy, A. , and Toma, C. , 2018. Features of distribution of Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) in North Eurasia. An assessment of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) distribution was made, with the involvement of a wide range of data (herbarium collections, Web resources, literature sources, and authors' observations), covering the period 1811–2016. It is shown that Hydrilla is a plurizonal macrothermal semicosmopolite species with many disjunctions in the geographical range. In the 20th century, H. verticillata expanded its secondary range significantly, primarily in North and South America (neocosmopolite). Within the primary range, in connection with high economic activities and development of transport, new invasion localities have appeared. For the European continent, H. verticillata should be considered a limitedly spreading naturalized neophyte (with the northern border at 55–56° N). In Northern Asia, H. verticillata can probably be considered a tertiary (Eocene) relict, which is currently allocated to the following enclaves: Central Asia–West Siberian, East Siberian (probably formed later), and the largest SE Asian habitats. The northern border of Hydrilla in the Asian continent lies along 56–58° N. Within the Asian part of the range the formation of new foci of infestation is currently observed, the species distribution is not controlled only by abiotic factors (temperature, length of vegetation period, hydrochemical features of the waterbodies), but also by biotic ones; there is a competition with the more aggressive neophyte Elodea canadensis.
Learning-to-Rank for Real-Time High-Precision Hashtag Recommendation for Streaming News

We address the problem of real-time recommendation of streaming Twitter hashtags to an incoming stream of news articles. The technical challenge can be framed as large scale topic classification where the set of topics (i.e., hashtags) is huge and highly dynamic. Our main applications come from digital journalism, e.g., promoting original content to Twitter communities and social indexing of news to enable better retrieval and story tracking. In contrast to the state-of-the-art that focuses on topic modelling approaches, we propose a learning-to-rank approach for modelling hashtag relevance. This enables us to deal with the dynamic nature of the problem, since a relevance model is stable over time, while a topic model needs to be continuously retrained. We present the data collection and processing pipeline, as well as our methodology for achieving low latency, high precision recommendations. Our empirical results show that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art, delivering more than 80% precision. Our techniques are implemented in a real-time system that is currently under user trial with a big news organisation.
Mobile Social Networks and Social Practice: A Case Study of Dodgeball

A mobile social network system MSNS allows groups of friends to be accessed and engaged with from one's mobile phone. Dodgeball is a MSNS that seeks to facilitate social connection and coordination among friends in urban public spaces. Based on a year-long qualitative field study, this article reports on the social and behavioral norms of Dodgeball use. A comparison between social network sites and Dodgeball highlights some of the communicative differences of mobile technology and the Internet. The findings of the study suggest that Dodgeball use can influence the way that informants experience public space and social relations therein. At times Dodgeball can facilitate the creation of third spaces, which are dynamic and itinerant forms of "third places. " Additionally, exchanging messages through Dodgeball can lead to social molecularization, whereby active Dodgeball members experience and move through the city in a collective manner.
The Use of an Oral Exercise Device in the Treatment of Muscular TMD

ABSTRACT Forty-five patients with a primary diagnosis of muscular MD were evaluated and treated in a university based facial pain center. The patients were equally and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Group 1 patients were treated with traditional therapies appropriate for the particular patient. Group two patients used similar therapies that were appropriate for the patient but also had an oral vertical exercise device integrated into their therapy. Patients in the third group were instructed in home care, educated about TMD, and instructed in the use of the oral exercise device. Results indicated that all three groups demonstrated significant overall patient clinical and subjective improvement. The three groups did not differ significantly from each other in degree of patient improvement.
Revealing the Mysteries of Population Mobility Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: Comparative Analysis With Internet of Things-Based Thermostat Data and Google Mobility Insights.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated public health policies to limit human mobility and curb infection spread. Human mobility, which is often underestimated, plays a pivotal role in health outcomes, impacting both infectious and chronic diseases. Collecting precise mobility data is vital for understanding human behavior and informing public health strategies. Google's GPS-based location tracking, which is compiled in Google Mobility Reports, became the gold standard for monitoring outdoor mobility during the pandemic. However, indoor mobility remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study investigates in-home mobility data from ecobee's smart thermostats in Canada (February 2020 to February 2021) and compares it directly with Google's residential mobility data. By assessing the suitability of smart thermostat data, we aim to shed light on indoor mobility patterns, contributing valuable insights to public health research and strategies. METHODS Motion sensor data were acquired from the ecobee "Donate Your Data" initiative via Google's BigQuery cloud platform. Concurrently, residential mobility data were sourced from the Google Mobility Report. This study centered on 4 Canadian provinces-Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia-during the period from February 15, 2020, to February 14, 2021. Data processing, analysis, and visualization were conducted on the Microsoft Azure platform using Python (Python Software Foundation) and R programming languages (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Our investigation involved assessing changes in mobility relative to the baseline in both data sets, with the strength of this relationship assessed using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. We scrutinized daily, weekly, and monthly variations in mobility patterns across the data sets and performed anomaly detection for further insights. RESULTS The results revealed noteworthy week-to-week and month-to-month shifts in population mobility within the chosen provinces, aligning with pandemic-driven policy adjustments. Notably, the ecobee data exhibited a robust correlation with Google's data set. Examination of Google's daily patterns detected more pronounced mobility fluctuations during weekdays, a trend not mirrored in the ecobee data. Anomaly detection successfully identified substantial mobility deviations coinciding with policy modifications and cultural events. CONCLUSIONS This study's findings illustrate the substantial influence of the Canadian stay-at-home and work-from-home policies on population mobility. This impact was discernible through both Google's out-of-house residential mobility data and ecobee's in-house smart thermostat data. As such, we deduce that smart thermostats represent a valid tool for facilitating intelligent monitoring of population mobility in response to policy-driven shifts.
The C-terminal Domain of Escherichia coli Trigger Factor Represents the Central Module of Its Chaperone Activity*

In bacteria, ribosome-bound Trigger Factor assists the folding of newly synthesized proteins. The N-terminal domain (N) of Trigger Factor mediates ribosome binding, whereas the middle domain (P) harbors peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity. The function of the C-terminal domain (C) has remained enigmatic due to structural instability in isolation. Here, we have characterized a stabilized version of the C domain (CS), designed on the basis of the recently solved atomic structure of Trigger Factor. Strikingly, only the isolated CS domain or domain combinations thereof (NCS, PCS) revealed substantial chaperone activity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, to disrupt the C domain without affecting the overall Trigger Factor structure, we generated a mutant (Δ53) by deletion of the C-terminal 53 amino acid residues. This truncation caused the complete loss of the chaperone activity of Trigger Factor in vitro and severely impaired its function in vivo. Therefore, we conclude that the chaperone activity of Trigger Factor critically depends on its C-terminal domain as the central structural chaperone module. Intriguingly, a structurally similar module is found in the periplasmic chaperone SurA and in MPN555, a protein of unknown function. We speculate that this conserved module can exist solely or in combination with additional domains to fulfill diverse chaperone functions in the cell.