Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low Depth Circuits for Efficient Homomorphic Sorting

We introduce a sorting scheme which is capable of efficiently sorting encrypted data without the secret key. The technique is obtained by focusing on the multiplicative depth of the sorting circuit alongside the more traditional metrics such as number of comparisons and number of iterations. The reduced depth allows much reduced noise growth and thereby makes it possible to select smaller parameter sizes in somewhat homomorphic encryption instantiations resulting in greater efficiency savings. We first consider a number of well known comparison based sorting algorithms as well as some sorting networks, and analyze their circuit implementations with respect to multiplicative depth. In what follows, we introduce a new ranking based sorting scheme and rigorously analyze the multiplicative depth complexity as O(log(N) + log(`)), where N is the size of the array to be sorted and ` is the bit size of the array elements. Finally, we simulate our sorting scheme using a leveled/batched instantiation of a SWHE library. Our sorting scheme performs favorably over the analyzed classical sorting algorithms.
Online Sexual Grooming in Sweden—Online and Offline Sex Offences against Children as Described in Swedish Police Data

The expansion in Internet use since the mid‐1990s has created a completely new and largely unmonitored forum for contacts between adults and children. The anonymity provided by Internet communications has been viewed as creating favourable conditions for adults wishing to develop manipulative relationships with children, and there has been a growing concern about the way the Internet may be used by adults intent on sexually exploiting and abusing young people. Much of the focus of this concern has been directed at adults using the Internet to create opportunities for the commission of offline sex offences. Based on police data from Sweden, this article describes the range of Internet‐related sexual offences against children currently being brought to the attention of the Swedish justice system. It focuses not only on the range of strategies employed by adults to persuade children to meet them offline for the purposes of sexual exploitation and abuse but also on the different types of online sexual offences that children in Sweden are currently being subjected to.
Tissue microarray methodology identifies complement pathway activation and dysregulation in progressive multiple sclerosis

The complement pathway has potential contributions to both white (WM) and grey matter (GM) pathology in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A quantitative assessment of complement involvement is lacking. Here we describe the use of Tissue MicroArray (TMA) methodology in conjunction with immunohistochemistry to investigate the localization of complement pathway proteins in progressive MS cortical GM and subcortical WM. Antibodies targeting complement proteins C1q, C3b, regulatory proteins C1 inhibitor (C1INH, complement receptor 1 (CR1), clusterin, factor H (FH) and the C5a anaphylatoxin receptor (C5aR) were utilised alongside standard markers of tissue pathology. All stained slides were digitised for quantitative analysis. We found that numbers of cells immunolabelled for HLA‐DR, GFAP, C5aR, C1q and C3b were increased in WM lesions (WML) and GM lesions (GML) compared to normal appearing WM (NAWM) and GM (NAGM), respectively. The complement regulators C1INH, CR1, FH and clusterin were more abundant in WM lesions, while the number of C1q+ neurons were increased and the number of C1INH+, clusterin+, FH+ and CR1+ neurons decreased in GM lesions. The number of complement component positive cells (C1q, C3b) correlated with complement regulator expression in WM, but there was no statistical association between complement activation and regulator expression in the GM. We conclude that TMA methodology and quantitative analysis provides evidence of complement dysregulation in MS GML, including an association of the numerical density of C1q+ cells with tissue lesions. Our work confirms that complement activation and dysregulation occur in all cases of progressive MS and suggest that complement may provide potential biomarkers of the disease.
A review of preanalytical factors affecting molecular, protein, and morphological analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue: how well do you know your FFPE specimen?

CONTEXT Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding is a timeless, cost-efficient, and widely adopted method of preserving human tissue biospecimens that has resulted in a substantial reservoir of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks that represent both the pathology and preanalytical handling of the biospecimen. This reservoir of specimens is increasingly being used for DNA, RNA, and proteomic analyses. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on downstream morphological and molecular endpoints. DATA SOURCES We surveyed the existing literature using the National Cancer Institute's Biospecimen Research Database for published reports investigating the potential influence of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on DNA, RNA, protein, and morphological endpoints. CONCLUSIONS Based on the literature evidence, the molecular, proteomic, and morphological endpoints can be altered in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by suboptimal processing conditions. While the direction and magnitude of effects associated with a given preanalytical factor were dependent on the analyte (DNA, RNA, protein, and morphology) and analytical platform, acceptable conditions are highlighted, and a summary of conditions that could preclude analysis is provided.
ICT for all? Access and use of Public ICT Sites in the UK

As part of their "information age' policy agenda, the UK government sees "universal' access to information and communications technology (ICT) being achieved via new and existing public sites, where shared access to new technologies can be made available at little or no cost. State-sponsored augmentation of public ICT access in the UK has involved a variety of initiatives, most notably the recent establishment of a network of over 7,000 "UK Online Centres' located in a variety of distributed sites such as libraries, museums and colleges. Whilst there have been a number of localized case studies of users of public ICT sites, there has been little large-scale "mapping' of how these facilities are being used (and not used) by the general public. Based on a randomized household survey with 1,001 individuals in twelve research areas in the West of England and South Wales – augmented with a "booster' sample of 100 interviews with individuals carried out in public ICT sites in these areas – the present paper seeks to explore: (i) who has access to what forms of public ICT sites; and (ii) who is (and who is not) making use of different forms of public ICT sites. The survey data suggest that, in terms of people's effective access to ICT, public access sites have a relatively slight profile when compared with household and wider family access – perceived to offer ready access to ICT by only a minority of respondents. Moreover, when the use of these public ICT sites is examined, there is little evidence of public ICT sites attracting those social groups who may otherwise be excluded or marginalized from the information age. Given these findings, the paper considers the influences underlying the currently modest impact of public ICT sites on the general population and suggests changes to current public ICT provision that may prompt wider usage of these sites.
Security Conscious Web Service Composition with Semantic Web Support

A Web service is a software system designed to support interoperable application-to-application interactions over the Internet. Recently, there has been a growing interest in Web service composition, and some languages (e.g. WSBPEL and BPML) for modeling the composition have been proposed. In this paper, we focus on security constraints of Web service composition with semantic Web support, which have not been deeply investigated so far. Based on our prior work, we present a method for modeling security constraints and a brokered architecture, which exploits the REI reasoner. to build composite Web services according to the specified security constraints.
Discussion on common data analysis strategies used in MS‐based proteomics

Current proteomics technology is limited in resolving the proteome complexity of biological systems. The main issue at stake is to increase throughput and spectra quality so that spatiotemporal dimensions, population parameters and the complexity of protein modifications on a quantitative scale can be considered. MS‐based proteomics and protein arrays are the main players in large‐scale proteome analysis and an integration of these two methodologies is powerful but presently not sufficient for detailed quantitative and spatiotemporal proteome characterization. Improvements of instrumentation for MS‐based proteomics have been achieved recently resulting in data sets of approximately one million spectra which is a large step in the right direction. The corresponding raw data range from 50 to 100 Gb and are frequently made available. Multidimensional LC‐MS data sets have been demonstrated to identify and quantitate 2000–8000 proteins from whole cell extracts. The analysis of the resulting data sets requires several steps from raw data processing, to database‐dependent search, statistical evaluation of the search result, quantitative algorithms and statistical analysis of quantitative data. A large number of software tools have been proposed for the above‐mentioned tasks. However, it is not the aim of this review to cover all software tools, but rather discuss common data analysis strategies used by various algorithms for each of the above‐mentioned steps in a non‐redundant approach and to argue that there are still some areas which need improvements.
Early Adolescents' Goals and Mothers' Accuracy in Predicting Adolescent Goals in the Context of Type 1 Diabetes

The study examined content of adolescent goals and mothers' awareness of these goals in the context of type 1 diabetes management. Adolescents and their mothers independently reported short-term goals for the adolescent, which were coded into domains. Mothers predicted whether the goal they rated as most important would also be reported by their adolescent, and coders verified the accuracy of mothers' judgments. Mothers' accuracy was associated with less adolescent depressed mood. When mothers' accuracy reflected mother–adolescent agreement that the goal was important and being pursued by the adolescent, this positive accuracy was associated with less adolescent depressed mood, fewer problems with diabetes, and maternal acceptance. Results emphasize the importance of considering the social nature of goals in mother–adolescent relationships and diabetes management.
H∞ and Mixed H2/H∞ Control of Dual-Actuator Hard Disk Drive via LMIs

In this paper, H<sub>infin</sub> and mixed H<sub>2</sub>/H<sub>infin</sub> controllers are designed for a hard disk drive (HDD) using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In the proposed algorithm, the problem of minimizing track misregistration (TMR) in the presence of unmodeled dynamics of voice-coil motor (VCM) is formulated as robust H<sub>infin</sub> and mixed H<sub>2</sub>/H<sub>infin</sub> problems. Additional stack variables are introduced to characterize H<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>infin</sub> performances. The simulation and comparison results demonstrate the significant performance improvement of TMR under unmodeled dynamics of VCM.
Immune Responses in Male Mice with Aggressive and Submissive Behavior Patterns: Strain Differences

Immune responses in two strains of male mice with aggressive and submissive behavior patterns was studied. In aggressive CBA males immunized on the 10th day of agonistic confrontations with submissive partners, greater numbers of plaque-forming cells (PFC) and rosette-forming cells (RFC) were noted compared to control mice. Unlike the CBA strain, both PFC and RFC levels in aggressive C57BL males did not increase, but both PFC and RFC numbers decreased in submissive animals.
Intra-uterine insemination versus fallopian tube sperm perfusion for non-tubal infertility.

BACKGROUND Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI) is commonly offered to couples with subfertility that does not involve the fallopian tubes. Another method is fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP). This technique ensures the presence of higher sperm densities in the fallopian tubes at the time of ovulation than does standard IUI. The aim of this review was to determine whether FSP and IUI differ in improving the probability of conception. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether pregnancy and live birth outcomes differ between fallopian tube sperm perfusion and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of non-tubal subfertility. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Trials Register (October 2008), MEDLINE (January 1966 to October 2008), and EMBASE (January 1988 to October 2008). Abstracts of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (1987 to 2008) and European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (1987 to 2008) meetings were searched using the same key or text words. SELECTION CRITERIA Only truly randomised controlled studies comparing FSP with IUI were included in this review. Couples with non-tubal subfertility who have been trying to conceive for at least one year were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently selected the trials for inclusion based on the quality of the studies. MAIN RESULTS Eight studies involving 595 couples were included in the meta-analysis. Only one study reported the live birth rate and there was no evidence of a difference between FSP and IUI (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.39 to 3.5). There was no evidence of a difference between FSP and IUI for clinical pregnancy per couple (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.7). A subgroup analysis which included couples with unexplained subfertility only (n = 239) did not report any difference between FSP and IUI (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.89 to 2.8). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS For non-tubal subfertility, the results indicate no clear benefit for FSP over IUI. Therefore the advice offered to subfertile couples regarding the comparative use of FSP versus IUI in the treatment of non-tubal subfertility should reflect this.
Turn it this way: grounding collaborative action with remote gestures

Remote gesture systems have been shown to provide a significant enhancement to performance in collaborative physical tasks, an effect ascribed to the ability of remote gestures to help ground deictic references. The argument that this effect works by replacing complex referential descriptions with simple pointing behaviours has been drawn into question by recent research. In this paper we significantly unpack the effects of remote gesturing on collaborative language, arguing for a more complex role for remote gestures in interaction. We demonstrate how remote gestures influence the structure of collaborative discourse, and how their use can also influence the temporal nature of the grounding process. Through generating a deeper understanding of these effects of remote gesturing on collaborative language we derive implications for the development and deployment of these technologies.
ZitB (YbgR), a Member of the Cation Diffusion Facilitator Family, Is an Additional Zinc Transporter inEscherichia coli

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli zitB gene encodes a Zn(II) transporter belonging to the cation diffusion facilitator family. ZitB is specifically induced by zinc. ZitB expression on a plasmid renderedzntA-disrupted E. coli cells more resistant to zinc, and the cells exhibited reduced accumulation of 65Zn, suggesting ZitB-mediated efflux of zinc.
On the trajectories of a particle in a translation invariant involutive field

We introduce a double-folded operator that, upon iterative application, generates a dynamical system with two types of trajectories: a cyclic one and, another that grows endlessly on parabolas. These trajectories produce two distinct partitions of the set of lattice points in the plane. Our object is to analyze these trajectories and to point out a few special arithmetic properties of the integers they represent. We also introduce and study the parabolic-taxicab distance, which measures the fast traveling on the steps of the stairs defined by points on the parabolic trajectories whose coordinates are based on triangular numbers.
Quality of care for diabetic patients in a large urban public hospital.

OBJECTIVE We compared diabetes quality-of-care indicators for patients receiving medical treatment in three practice settings of the same hospital. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A cross-sectional medical record review for patients receiving care between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2001 was conducted. Records were abstracted from three practice settings: the Diabetes Clinic (DIABETES), a general medicine clinic staffed by internal medicine residents (RESIDENT), and a general medicine clinic whose providers were medical school faculty physicians (FACULTY). Record review (n = 791) yielded data on diabetes indicators that were derived primarily from the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project. RESULTS There were significant differences between the DIABETES, RESIDENT, and FACULTY clinics for the percentages of patients with HbA(1c) testing (94 vs. 92 vs. 76%, P < 0.001), HbA(1c) >9.5% (31 vs. 36 vs. 43%, P < 0.05), nephropathy assessment (79 vs. 67 vs. 58%, P < 0.001), lipid assessment (86 vs. 79 vs. 76%, P < 0.050), LDL <130 mg/dl (54 vs. 44 vs. 43%, P < 0.05), blood pressure <140/90 mmHg (63 vs. 55 vs. 49%, P < 0.025), eye examinations (64 vs. 50 vs. 31%, P < 0.001), foot examinations (97 vs. 55 vs. 24%, P < 0.001), ACE inhibitor treatment (66 vs. 69 vs. 35%, P < 0.001), and aspirin treatment (71 vs. 59 vs. 15%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There is considerable variation in diabetes management in different primary care settings of the same hospital. Although management in all settings was suboptimal, the results attained by the patients in the Diabetes Clinic represent minimal achievable goals for all diabetic patients in this hospital.
Runaway collisions in young star clusters - II. Numerical results

We present a new study of the collisional runaway scenario to form an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH, M-BH greater than or similar to 100M(circle dot)) at the centre of a young, compact stellar cluster. The first phase is the formation of a very dense central core of massive stars (M-* similar or equal to 30-120M(circle dot)) through mass segregation and gravothermal collapse. Previous work established the conditions for this to happen before the massive stars evolve off the main sequence ( MS). In this and a companion paper, we investigate the next stage by implementing direct collisions between stars. Using a Monte Carlo stellar dynamics code, we follow the core collapse and subsequent collisional phase in more than 100 models with varying cluster mass, size, and initial concentration. Collisions are treated either as ideal, 'sticky-sphere' mergers or using realistic prescriptions derived from 3D hydrodynamics computations. In all cases for which the core collapse happens in less than the MS lifetime of massive stars (similar or equal to 3 Myr), we obtain the growth of a single very massive star (VMS, M-* similar or equal to 400-4000M(circle dot)) through a runaway sequence of mergers. Mass loss from collisions, even for velocity dispersions as high as sigma(v) similar to 1000 km s(-1), does not prevent the runaway. The region of cluster parameter space leading to runaway is even more extended than predicted in previous work because, in clusters with sigma(v) > 300 km s(-1), collisions accelerate (and, in extreme cases, drive) core collapse. Although the VMS grows rapidly to greater than or similar to 1000M(circle dot) in models exhibiting runaway, we cannot predict accurately its final mass. This is because the termination of the runaway process must eventually be determined by a complex interplay between stellar dynamics, hydrodynamics, and the stellar evolution of the VMS. In the vast majority of cases, we find that the time between successive collisions becomes much shorter than the thermal time-scale of the VMS. Therefore, our assumption that all stars return quickly to the MS after a collision must eventually break down for the runaway product, and the stellar evolution of the VMS becomes very uncertain. For the same reason, the final fate of the VMS, including its possible collapse to an IMBH, remains unclear.
Application of the classification tree model in predicting learner dropout behaviour in open and distance learning

This paper demonstrates the meaningful application of learning analytics for determining dropout predictors in the context of open and distance learning in a large developing country. The study was conducted at the Directorate of Distance Education at the University of North Bengal, West Bengal, India. This study employed a quantitative research design using a data mining approach to examine the predictive relationship between pre-entry demographic variables of learners with their dropout behaviour. Demographic and academic variables of learners, such as gender, marital and employment status, subject chosen, social status, age and income status were taken as independent or explanatory variables for predicting the response variables. Data analysis showed that the pattern of learner attrition is strongly biased towards a relatively disadvantaged category of learners, namely married and employed learners and those belonging to a higher age group. It also indicated that employed men or married women are more likely to leave due to factors such as pregnancy or relocation, and that remoteness of location of residence contributed to a high dropout rate. The results of this study provide important input for counsellors and faculty members to advise learners for best possible completion options.