Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formally Secure Compilation Last updated : January 3 , 2017 General Information

Severe low-level vulnerabilities abound in today’s computer systems, allowing cyber-attackers to remotely gain full control. This happens in big part because our programming languages, compilers, and architectures were designed in an era of scarce hardware resources and too often trade off security for efficiency. The semantics of mainstream low-level languages like C is inherently insecure, and even for safer languages, establishing security with respect to a high-level semantics does not guarantee the absence of low-level attacks. Secure compilation using the coarse-grained protection mechanisms provided by mainstream hardware architectures would be too inefficient for most practical scenarios. This new ERC-funded project called SECOMP1 is aimed at leveraging emerging hardware capabilities for fine-grained protection to build the first, efficient secure compilers for realistic programming languages, both low-level (the C language) and high-level (F, a dependently-typed ML variant [3, 23]). These compilers will provide a secure semantics for all programs and will ensure that high-level abstractions cannot be violated even when interacting with untrusted low-level code. To achieve this level of security without sacrificing efficiency, our secure compilers will target a tagged architecture [7, 9], which associates a metadata tag to each word and efficiently propagates and checks tags according to software-defined rules. We will use property-based testing and formal verification to provide high confidence that our compilers are
FCNC Processes in the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity: a 2009 Look

We update our 2006-2007 results for FCNC processes in the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity (LHT). The removal of the logarithmic UV cutoff dependence in our previous results through a new contribution to the Z^0-penguin diagrams identified by Goto et al. and del Aguila et al., while making the deviations from the SM expectations in the quark sector less spectacular, still allows for sizable new physics effects in K -> pi nu anti-nu and K_L -> pi^0 l^+ l^- decays and in the CP-asymmetry S_{psi phi} with the latter unaffected by the new contribution. We extend our analysis by a study of the fine-tuning required to fit the data on epsilon_K and by the inclusion of the decay K_L -> mu^+ mu^-. A number of correlations can distinguish this model from the custodially protected Randall-Sundrum model analysed recently. We also reconsider lepton flavour violating decays, including now a discussion of fine-tuning. While the l_i -> l_j gamma decays are unaffected by the removal of the logarithmic cutoff dependence, the branching ratios for decays with three leptons in the final state, like mu -> 3 e are lowered by almost an order of magnitude. In spite of this, the pattern of lepton flavour violation in the LHT model can still be distinguished from the one in supersymmetric models.
DEV: Design explorer for verification

While the design complexity increases, tape-out schedule remains tight hence prompting development of a tool for applications in pre-silicon system to gate-level verification and ASIC design. The tool is developed to mitigate problems such as difficulty in hierarchical path name generation, difficulty in obtaining relation between interconnected blocks with regard to instances, ports, nets, and behavioural statements in a more meaningful way, difficulty in seeing the big picture of a design when the HDL code is extremely long even with the help of the automated tracing feature in third-party proprietary tool, and difficulty in tracing signals in ASIC designs. Data mining concept, arithmetic series and motivation from Google search engine are applied in the development of the tool with Perl and C++ as the programming languages. As a result of incremental development, current prototype of the tool known as Design Explorer for Verification (DEV) is capable of extracting I/O metadata, structural metadata (instances, ports and nets), behavioural metadata, and has a tree diagram (hierarchical graph) generator. The prototype is applied in full-chip RTL/Gate-level Configuration/JTAG verification, hierarchical path name debugging in full-chip verification, and full-chip contention check. The devices involved are Stratix® IV GX and Hardcopy® III.
Digital Average Current-Mode Controller for DC–DC Converters in Physical Vapor Deposition Applications

A dc power supply in physical vapor deposition (PVD) applications operates as a constant power source during normal operation or as a constant current source during fast micro arcs in the plasma. A two-loop control is usually applied: an external (slower) loop controls the output power, while an internal (fast) loop controls the current. This paper introduces a digital average current mode controller for DC power supplies in PVD applications. The controller provides a current source response to fast disturbances, and enables equal current sharing among buck converter modules operating in parallel. Adaptive adjustments of the compensator gain in the digital current control loop enable operation over wide ranges of output power and voltage. The proposed control strategy is robust and noise insensitive. The current and power control algorithms are implemented on a digital signal processor/field-programmable gate array-based digital control platform using a low-cost 10-bit 500 kS/s analog-to-digital converter. The performance is verified on a 25 kW experimental prototype.
The CR# Algebra and its Application in Loop Analysis and Optimization

This report presents a novel family of linear-time algorithms for loop analysis based on the CR# (CR-sharp) algebra, which is a new nontrivial extension of the Chains of Recurrences (CR) algebra. Conventional compiler methods apply induction variable substitution and array recovery translations to construct closed forms for induction variables and pointers prior to dependence testing and loop optimization. In this report we take a radically different approach to symbolic analysis by turning the problem up-sidedown. We convert closed forms to recurrences and compute recurrence relations for (non)linear induction variables and conditionally updated variables and pointers. The recurrence forms are used to solve a larger class of loop analysis problems such as nonlinear array dependence testing without requiring a-priori code translations.
An Analytical Survey of "On-Site Customer" Practice in Extreme Programming

Extreme programming (XP) is one of the most frequently used methodologies in Agile Software Development. According to various reports it had a significant effect on the software projects that use XP. In this paper, one of the main practices of XP, called "on-site customer" is considered, in detail. Also, various important cases and problems related to its implementation are considered. In each case, according to reports and researches related to user involvement, suitable solutions for resolving the problems are offered. At the end of each case, having an appropriate alternative that uses "Product Management Team" is proposed.
An intrinsic robust PID controller on Lie groups

This paper presents a PID controller for fully actuated, left-invariant, mechanical systems on a general Lie group. The class of problems solved includes tracking of a smoothly time-varying desired orientation for a rigid body with fully actuated attitude dynamics in two or three dimensions. If the reference velocity and unmodeled disturbance forces converge to constant values, then the closed-loop system will be almost-globally exponentially stable. The controller is robust to errors or variations in the inertial parameters and the actuator parameters. We explicitly construct the controller on the group of rigid body rotations and demonstrate its performance in quadrotor attitude tracking.
Assessing Interventions to Manage West Nile Virus Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis with Risk Scenarios

The recent emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) in North America highlights vulnerability to climate sensitive diseases and stresses the importance of preventive efforts to reduce their public health impact. Effective prevention involves reducing environmental risk of exposure and increasing adoption of preventive behaviours, both of which depend on knowledge and acceptance of such measures. When making operational decisions about disease prevention and control, public health must take into account a wide range of operational, environmental, social and economic considerations in addition to intervention effectiveness. The current study aimed to identify, assess and rank possible risk reduction measures taking into account a broad set of criteria and perspectives applicable to the management of WNV in Quebec under increasing transmission risk scenarios, some of which may be related to ongoing warming in higher-latitude regions. A participatory approach was used to collect information on categories of concern to relevant stakeholders with respect to WNV prevention and control. Multi-criteria decision analysis was applied to examine stakeholder perspectives and their effect on strategy rankings under increasing transmission risk scenarios. Twenty-three preventive interventions were retained for evaluation using eighteen criteria identified by stakeholders. Combined evaluations revealed that, at an individual-level, inspecting window screen integrity, wearing light colored, long clothing, eliminating peridomestic larval sites and reducing outdoor activities at peak times were top interventions under six WNV transmission scenarios. At a regional-level, the use of larvicides was a preferred strategy in five out of six scenarios, while use of adulticides and dissemination of sterile male mosquitoes were found to be among the least favoured interventions in almost all scenarios. Our findings suggest that continued public health efforts aimed at reinforcing individual-level preventive behaviours combined with the application of larvicides to manage the risk of WNV infection are the interventions most acceptable and effective at reaching current management objectives now and under future theoretical transmission risk.
Death in Rome: Using an Online Game for Inquiry-Based Learning in a Pre-Service Teacher Training Course

This chapter presents a case study that used an online game in a pre-service science teacher training course in the context of computer-supported inquiry learning. Numerous studies have shown that preservice teachers complete their education with an inadequate range of skills and knowledge in the use of technology in the classroom. In this study, the authors focus on developing pre-service teachers’ skills in using a game to teach students through inquiry-based learning. The game used in this study was Death in Rome, a free to access point-and-click game. In the workshop, the participants were required to complete an inquiry-based learning activity using an online game. Overall, this study shows a positive change in attitudes towards game-based learning in science education.
Image segmentation in wavelet domain using fuzzy logic

One of the most important tasks of image processing is the image segmentation where it should be extracted the significant features for the following classification or detection stages. Numerous methods have been developed in the segmentation, but by now, this problem demands finding efficient and fast algorithms. In this paper, we propose a novel framework that is based on cluster segmentation in the wavelet transform space, where decomposition procedure permits to analyze texture features in high frequency bands. Different simulation results, which have been revised in objective and subjective matter, confirm the efficiency of the novel segmentation framework for images of different nature, in particular dermoscopic ones.
Energy-aware error control coding for Flash memories

The use of flash memories in portable embedded systems is ever increasing. This is because of the multi-level storage capability that makes them excellent candidates for high density memory devices. However, cost of writing or programming flash memories is an order of magnitude higher than traditional memories. In this paper, we design an algorithm to reduce both average write energy and latency in flash memories. We achieve this by reducing the number of expensive dasia01psila and dasia10psila bit-patterns during error control coding. We show that the algorithm does not change the error correction capability and moreover improves endurance. Simulations results on representative bit-stream traces show that the use of the proposed algorithm saves, on average, 33% of write energy and 31% of latency of Intel MLC NOR Flash memory, and improves the endurance by 24%.
A Medial node based privacy approaches for preventing selective jamming in wireless networks

Wireless networks is still an emerging field in terms of security. Taking advantage from unreliability nature of wireless medium, antagonists can easily accomplish numerous attacks. Among those attacks, selective jamming is more clever technique in which jammer will target and corrupt only the messages of high importance. There are existing methods to prevent selective jamming in internal threat model like strong hiding commitment scheme(SHCS), cryptographic puzzle hiding scheme(CPHS) in which they focused only on the correct message delivery to the receiver node. But on the other side, jammer node can solve the puzzle by taking entire packet, making the adversary to know the secured message that was transmitted. Initially, a mechanism to identify the existence of selective jamming is demonstrated. Later, a solution to know the exact node that is performing selective jamming is derived. Then two novel techniques called Embedding Future Key (EFK) and Medial node Method (MNM) are proposed to prevent selective jamming. Finally, experiments are conducted on proposed methods and it is established that better throughput is achieved than the existing methods.
Pinealectomy Reduces Optic Nerve But Not Intergeniculate Leaflet Input to the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus at Night

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus regulates circadian rhythms in mammals. It receives, among others, direct inputs from the retina and from the thalamic intergeniculate leaflet (IGL). The former sends photic signals to the SCN, whereas the latter probably integrates photic and nonphotic information. To characterise these inputs in vivo, extracellular single‐unit recordings were made from the SCN of rats under urethane anaesthesia during electrical stimulation of the optic nerve (OptN) or the IGL region. Cell responses were evaluated by creating peri‐stimulus time histograms. Because humoral signals such as melatonin might modulate the activity of the SCN in addition to neural inputs, recordings were also made using pinealectomised (Px) rats to test for a possible role of this hormone in regulating inputs to the SCN. A significantly greater number of cells responded to IGL (60 of 90, 67%) than to OptN (35 of 75, 47%) stimulation in intact animals (χ2 = 5.905, P = 0.015). The same was true when Px animals were tested (IGL, 82 of 131, 63%; OptN, 31 of 111, 28%; χ2 = 27.637, P < 0.001). In intact animals, the proportion of cells responsive to IGL stimulation during the day and during the night was not significantly different from the proportion responsive in Px animals. The same was true for OptN stimulation during the day. However, during the night, the proportion of cells responsive to OptN stimulation in intact animals was significantly greater than the proportion responsive in Px animals (χ2 = 7.127, P = 0.008). Our findings suggest that a lack of melatonin modulates OptN but not IGL inputs to the SCN.
Use It or Lose It Part I: Brain Fitness

W hen Carol Lupkie moved to Country Meadows in Harrisburg, PA, 5 years ago, she was a busy volunteer who devoted considerable time to her church and one of her favorite causes, the Lupus Foundation. Then she fractured a hip and discouragement became a constant companion. “I was confined to my room an entire year and I began to feel pretty worthless,” says Lupkie, now 86. “I felt that I wasn’t measuring up because I was not doing anything positive other than trying to get better. ” Lupkie noticed something else: the reading that she always enjoyed was becoming much more of a challenge. So Lupkie enrolled in the care community’s Brain Fitness Program— a series of computer-based exercises designed to improve important brain functions. Along with other residents, she visited a computer lab 1 hour a day for 8 weeks—a total of 40 sessions. Many of the exercises were based on honing recall skills. “The story-telling was good, and the programs were colorful and entertaining,” she adds. The program provided Lupkie a boost in a number of ways. “I’m much more aware of things I hear on the TV and radio, and while talking to people,” she explains. “And I’m more inclined to try to recall that information. ” She’s also taking an art course, a skill she is developing for the first time in her life.
Recognition of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine by the Uhrf1 SRA Domain

Recent discovery of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in genomic DNA raises the question how this sixth base is recognized by cellular proteins. In contrast to the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) of MeCP2, we found that the SRA domain of Uhrf1, an essential factor in DNA maintenance methylation, binds 5hmC and 5-methylcytosine containing substrates with similar affinity. Based on the co-crystal structure, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of the SRA:DNA complex with the flipped cytosine base carrying either of these epigenetic modifications. Our data indicate that the SRA binding pocket can accommodate 5hmC and stabilizes the flipped base by hydrogen bond formation with the hydroxyl group.
A scalable approach for fingerprint matching system based on minutiae extraction

The finger print matching process, the minutiae detection plays a major role to identify the maximum matching point of the finger print of the input image to train the dataset. The image segmentation is based on the thresholding algorithm. By using the thresholding algorithm, the region of interest area is segmented and then the minutiae of the maximum matching point are detected on the region. The centroid value of each ridge is calculated from the input image and the minutia of each ridge is detected. At finally, the distance between the each ridge is calculated from the image. When the region of interest is segmented from the input image, then the orientation of the rigid surface is calculated for the each surface. These orientations are detected based on the centroid value of the rigid surface as well as the minutia detection of the each rigid surface.
Treatment of Experimental (Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid) Colitis by Intranasal Administration of Transforming Growth Factor (Tgf)-β1 Plasmid

In this study, we show that a single intranasal dose of a plasmid encoding active transforming growth factor β1 (pCMV-TGF-β1) prevents the development of T helper cell type 1 (Th1)-mediated experimental colitis induced by the haptenating reagent, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). In addition, such plasmid administration abrogates TNBS colitis after it has been established, whereas, in contrast, intraperitoneal administration of rTGF-β1 protein does not have this effect. Intranasal pCMV-TGF-β1 administration leads to the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in the intestinal lamina propria and spleen for 2 wk, as well as the appearance of TGF-β1–producing T cells and macrophages in these tissues, and is not associated with the appearances of fibrosis. These cells cause marked suppression of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ production and enhancement of IL-10 production; in addition, they inhibit IL-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) chain expression. Coadministration of anti–IL-10 at the time of pCMV-TGF-β1 administration prevents the enhancement of IL-10 production and reverses the suppression of IL-12 but not IFN-γ secretion. However, anti–IL-10 leads to increased tumor necrosis factor α production, especially in established colitis. Taken together, these studies show that TGF-β1 inhibition of a Th1-mediated colitis is due to: (a) suppression of IL-12 secretion by IL-10 induction and (b) inhibition of IL-12 signaling via downregulation of IL-12Rβ2 chain expression. In addition, TGF-β1 may also have an inhibitory effect on IFN-γ transcription.
A study of techniques for selecting and positioning objects in immersive VEs : effects of distance , size , and visual feedback

We present results of a formal evaluation of three direct manipulation interaction techniques for picking and positioning objects in VEs: the “classical” virtual hand, raycasting, and the Go-Go techniques. Our goal was to assess and compare the two most basic metaphors for selection and manipulation in VEs: virtual pointer and virtual hand. The main variables of interest were distance to and size of objects, interaction technique, and visual feedback. The results of the studies suggest that within the user-centered coordinate system, virtual pointing is an essentially twodimensional metaphor, while the virtual hand is a threedimensional metaphor. We also found that for some applications the “classical” virtual hand technique appears to be obsolete and may be replaced by the ray or Go-Go techniques without a reduction in user performance. The paper reports these and other experimental results and discusses their implications for the design of VEs.
Adaptive Suspicious Prevention for Defending DoS Attacks in SDN-Based Convergent Networks

The convergent communication network will play an important role as a single platform to unify heterogeneous networks and integrate emerging technologies and existing legacy networks. Although there have been proposed many feasible solutions, they could not become convergent frameworks since they mainly focused on converting functions between various protocols and interfaces in edge networks, and handling functions for multiple services in core networks, e.g., the Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technique. Software-defined networking (SDN), on the other hand, is expected to be the ideal future for the convergent network since it can provide a controllable, dynamic, and cost-effective network. However, SDN has an original structural vulnerability behind a lot of advantages, which is the centralized control plane. As the brains of the network, a controller manages the whole network, which is attractive to attackers. In this context, we proposes a novel solution called adaptive suspicious prevention (ASP) mechanism to protect the controller from the Denial of Service (DoS) attacks that could incapacitate an SDN. The ASP is integrated with OpenFlow protocol to detect and prevent DoS attacks effectively. Our comprehensive experimental results show that the ASP enhances the resilience of an SDN network against DoS attacks by up to 38%.
A Finite-State Approach to Translate SNOMED CT Terms into Basque Using Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

This paper presents a system that generates Basque equivalents to terms that describe disorders in SNOMED CT. This task has been performed using Finite-State transducers and a medical prefixes and suffixes lexicon. This lexicon is composed of English-Basque translation pairs, and it is used both for the identification of the affixes of the English term and for the translation of them into Basque. The translated affixes are composed using morphotactic rules. We evaluated the system with a Gold Standard obtaining promising results (0.93 of precision). This system is part of a more general system which aim is the translation of SNOMED CT into Basque.
Some Aspects of the AdS/CFT Correspondence

This is a very brief review of some aspects of the AdS/CFT correspondence with an emphasis on the role of the topology of the boundary and the meaning of the sum over bulk geometries. To appear in the proceedings of the 73rd Meeting between Physicists and Mathematicians ``(A)dS/CFT correspondence,'' Strasbourg, September 11-13, 2003.