Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computationally Efficient PKI-Based Single Sign-On Protocol, PKASSO for Mobile Devices

In an attempt to expand Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) usage to a ubiquitous and mobile computing environment, we found that the deployment of the PKI on a resource-constrained device such as an 8-bit microprocessor leads to user-obstructive latency or additional circuitry for the operations. To alleviate these limitations, we propose a new PKI-based authentication protocol and security infrastructure, namely, PKASSO, which is enhanced with the single sign-on and delegation technology that is used especially for mobile devices with restricted computation power. PKASSO offloads complex PKI operations from the mobile devices to the infrastructure so as to keep the hardware and software complexity of the devices as low as possible. In addition, even though a conventional delegation mechanism cannot support a nonrepudiation mechanism against malicious user behavior, PKASSO can provide such a mechanism by devising a referee server that, on one hand, generates binding information between a device and authentication messages and, on the other hand, retains the information in its local storage for future accusation. We present the detailed design and performance evaluation of PKASSO and offer a protocol analysis in terms of user authentication latency and the completeness of the protocol. According to the performance evaluation, the authentication latency of our infrastructure (which averages 0.082 second) is much shorter than the authentication latency of a conventional PKI-based authentication latency (which averages 5.01 seconds).
Running head : Distinctiveness heuristic in children 1 Are Children Conservative or Liberal ? Involvement of the Distinctiveness Heuristic in Decision Making

The present experiment investigates whether young children are able to reduce their false recognition rate after distinctive encoding by implementing a strategic metacognitive rule. Seventy-two children, aged 4, 6, and 9 years, studied two lists of unrelated items. One of these lists was visually displayed (picture condition) while the other was presented auditorily (word condition). After each study phase, participants completed recognition tests. Finally, they answered questions about their explicit knowledge of the distinctive-encoding effect. The results revealed that even the youngest children in our sample showed a smaller proportion of intrusions in the picture condition than in the word condition. Furthermore, the results of the signal detection analyses were consistent with the hypothesis that the lower rate of false recognitions after picture encoding results from the implementation of a conservative response criterion based on metacognitive expectations (distinctiveness heuristic). Moreover, the absence of correlation between children’s explicit knowledge of the distinctiveness rule and their effective use of this metacognitive heuristic seems to indicate that its involvement in memory decisions could be mediated by implicit mechanisms.
Total energy efficiency of cellular large scale antenna system multiple access mobile networks

Energy efficiency and spectral efficiency of a Large Scale Antenna System in both dense urban and suburban multi-macro-cellular scenarios are quantified using a new total energy efficiency model, which consists of a rigorous capacity lower bound and a power model accounting for RF generation, LSAS critical computing and a per antenna internal power consumption for other analog electronics and A/D and D/A converters that are associated with each LSAS service antenna. Based on our model, in dense urban, an LSAS with sixty-four OdB gain service antennas per cell, each service antenna consuming an internal power of 128 mW above the power required for RF generation and for LSAS critical computing, can simultaneously serve 15 users with a total energy efficiency almost 1000 times greater than that of a typical LTE base station and at the same time more than quadruple the aggregate spectral efficiency.
Spatial and temporal aspects of navigation in two neurological patients

We present two cases (A.C. and W.J.) with navigation problems resulting from parieto-occipital right hemisphere damage. For both the cases, performance on the neuropsychological tests did not indicate specific impairments in spatial processing, despite severe subjective complaints of spatial disorientation. Various aspects of navigation were tested in a new virtual reality task, the Virtual Tübingen task. A double dissociation between spatial and temporal deficits was found; A.C. was impaired in route ordering, a temporal test, whereas W.J. was impaired in scene recognition and route continuation, which are spatial in nature. These findings offer important insights in the functional and neural architecture of navigation.
The association between birth season and future development of childhood asthma

The aim of this study was to examine a possible association between birth season (date of birth) and future development of asthma in children. A case‐control study was designed to include asthmatic children aged 2–7 years, living in the city of Beer‐Sheva, in southern Israel, registered in one pediatric center. Controls were healthy children matched for age and registered at the same clinic. Demographic data, past medical history, and asthma history and severity were collected using the computerized medical charts and asthma registry. A structured telephone questionnaire was used to complete the data. Children with a history of prematurity or chronic significant illness were excluded from the study. Sixty‐six children and 69 controls were enrolled in the study. There were significantly more males in the asthmatic group compared to controls (P = 0.003). History of bronchiolitis or recurrent wheezing episodes in the first year, family history of asthma, and Middle‐Eastern origin were significantly more common among asthmatic children than controls (P < 0.001). Asthmatic children were more likely to be born between March and June and least likely to be born between October and December, compared to controls (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three variables to be independent significant risk factors for development of asthma: birth season between March and June, acute bronchiolitis or recurrent wheezing episodes during first year of life, and male gender. Birth season during late winter and spring is associated with asthma during childhood. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006; 41:1125–1128. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase, glutathione S-transferase P1, traffic and childhood asthma

Background: Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) metabolises xenobiotics including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Functional variants at this locus have been associated with respiratory diseases. The effects of EPHX1 variants may depend upon exposures from tobacco smoke and traffic emissions that contain PAHs as well as variants in other enzymes in the PAH metabolic pathway such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes. A study was undertaken to investigate associations of variants in EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 with asthma and the relationships between asthma, EPHX1 metabolic phenotypes and exposure to sources of PAHs. Methods: Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to estimate the associations of genetic variants and exposures with asthma phenotypes using data from 3124 children from the Children’s Health Study. Results: High EPHX1 activity was associated with an increased risk for lifetime asthma (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.98) which varied by GSTP1 Ile105Val genotype and by residential proximity to major roads (p for interaction = 0.006 and 0.03, respectively). Among children with GSTP1 105Val/Val genotype, those who had high EPHX1 phenotype had a fourfold (95% CI 1.97 to 8.16) increased risk of lifetime asthma than children with low/intermediate EPHX1 phenotype. Among children living within 75 metres of a major road, those with high EPHX1 activity had a 3.2-fold (95% CI 1.75 to 6.00) higher lifetime asthma risk than those with low/intermediate activity. The results were similar for current, early persistent and late onset asthma. Children with high EPHX1 phenotype, GSTP1 Val/Val genotype who lived <75 metres from a major road were at the highest asthma risk. Conclusion: EPHX1 and GSTP1 variants contribute to the occurrence of childhood asthma and increase asthma susceptibility to exposures from major roads.
Global existence results for complex hyperbolic models of bacterial chemotaxis

Bacteria are able to respond to environmental signals by changing their rules of movement. When we take into account chemical signals in the environment, this behaviour is often called chemotaxis. At the individual-level, chemotaxis consists of several steps. First, the cell detects the extracellular signal using receptors on its membrane. Then, the cell processes the signal information through the intracellular signal transduction network, and finally it responds by altering its motile behaviour accordingly. At the population level, chemotaxis can lead to aggregation of bacteria, travelling waves or pattern formation, and the important task is to explain the population-level behaviour in terms of individual-based models. It has been previously shown that the transport equation framework [12, 13] is suitable for connecting different levels of modelling of bacterial chemotaxis. In this paper, we couple the transport equation for bacteria with the (parabolic/elliptic) equation for the extracellular signals. We prove global existence of solutions for the general hyperbolic chemotaxis models of cells which process the information about the extracellular signal through the intracellular biochemical network and interact by altering the extracellular signal as well. Working in one spatial dimension with multi-dimensional internal dynamics, conditions for global existence in terms of the properties of the signal transduction model are given.
Microsporidiosis and Malnutrition in Children with Persistent Diarrhea, Uganda

We show that the microsporidian fungus Enterocytozoon bieneusi is associated with lower rates of weight gain in children in Uganda with persistent diarrhea. This relationship remained after controlling for HIV and concurrent cryptosporidiosis. Children with microsporidiosis were predicted to weigh 1.3 kg less than children without microsporidiosis at 5 years of age.
Hsp70 Inhibits Heat-induced Apoptosis Upstream of Mitochondria by Preventing Bax Translocation*

Hsp70 overexpression can protect cells from stress-induced apoptosis. Our previous observation that Hsp70 inhibits cytochrome c release in heat-stressed cells led us to examine events occurring upstream of mitochondrial disruption. In this study we examined the effects of heat shock on the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bax because of its central role in regulating cytochrome c release in stressed cells. We found that heat shock caused a conformational change in Bax that leads to its translocation to mitochondria, stable membrane association, and oligomerization. All of these events were inhibited in cells that had elevated levels of Hsp70. Hsp70 did not physically interact with Bax in control or heat-shocked cells, indicating that Hsp70 acts to suppress signals leading to Bax activation. Hsp70 inhibited stress-induced JNK activation and inhibition of JNK with SP600125 or by expression of a dominant negative mutant of JNK-blocked Bax translocation as effectively as Hsp70 overexpression. Hsp70 did not protect cells expressing a mutant form of Bax that has constitutive membrane insertion capability or cells treated with a small molecule activator of apoptosome formation, indicating that it is unable to prevent cell death after mitochondrial disruption and caspase activation have occurred. These results indicate that Hsp70 blocks heat-induced apoptosis primarily by inhibiting Bax activation and thereby preventing the release of proapoptotic factors from mitochondria. Hsp70, therefore, inhibits events leading up to mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in heat-stressed cells and thereby controls the decision to die but does not interfere with cell death after this event has occurred.
Docosahexaenoic acid ameliorates aluminum induced biochemical and morphological alteration in rat cerebellum

Background The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have well-characterized effects on inflammation and oxidative stress and may have neuroprotective effects in a number of neurodegenerative conditions including AD. Brain tissue contains large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are particularly vulnerable to free radical injury. Purpose The present study attempts to examine protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (100 mg/kg body weight) and on aluminum (100 mg/kg b. wt. of AlCl3) mediated oxidative damage in the cerebellum in male albino rats along with the motor and learning ability and morphological changes. Methods Twenty four male Rattusnorigious, Wistar strain rats (weight 220 ± 10 grams) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12) viz. Group 1 served as control treated with normal saline, Group 2 treated with 100mg/kg body weight of DHA, Group three treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of AlCl3 and Group four treated with 100mg AlCl3 + 100 mg DHA for 90 days. Dose was directly introduced into the rat pharynx via a feeding cannula to rats for 90 days. Behavioral tests followed by biochemical analysis was performed. Results A significant decrease in the antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione) and increased lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyl content in aluminum exposed rats was noted. After DHA supplementation these effects were reversed. Moreover, DHA also significantly (p<0.05) prevented aluminum induced dysfunctioning of the motor and learning ability. The light microscopic studies revealed altered Purkinje’s neurons and granular layer. These changes were not seen in the DHA treated rats. Conclusion On the basis of our results it may be concluded that Al may be linked with cerebellar degeneration and neuromuscular disorders while DHA helps to prevent these alterations.
Prophylaxis of Mycobacterium avium complex bacteremia in patients with AIDS.

Prevention of opportunistic infections is an integral part of caring for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteremia can cause severe morbidity and excess mortality among these patients. Controlled trials of rifabutin for the prophylaxis of MAC bacteremia have been completed. Rifabutin reduced the incidence of MAC bacteremia by approximately one-half and, when disseminated disease due to MAC (DMAC) did develop, reduced the frequency of associated clinical symptoms. Moreover, prophylaxis with rifabutin was well tolerated. Prophylaxis of MAC bacteremia with macrolide antibiotics is currently being investigated, but no data from large-scale prospective trials are yet available. On the basis of trials completed thus far, the U.S. Public Health Service has recently recommended the use of rifabutin (300 mg/d) as prophylaxis for MAC bacteremia in patients with fewer than 100 CD4+ lymphocytes/mm3. The widespread use of this prophylactic regimen could reduce the rates of morbidity and mortality caused by DMAC. However, rifabutin must be administered only after careful consideration of the circumstances of individual patients. Potential drug interactions, cost, and compliance are important factors in the decision about which patients should receive prophylaxis.
Association of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, albumin, or leukocyte count with coronary heart disease: meta-analyses of prospective studies.

CONTEXT A large number of epidemiologic studies have reported on associations between various "inflammatory" factors and coronary heart disease (CHD). OBJECTIVE To assess the associations of blood levels of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin and leukocyte count with the subsequent risk of CHD. DATA SOURCES Meta-analyses of any long-term prospective studies of CHD published before 1998 on any of these 4 factors. Studies were identified by MEDLINE searches, scanning of relevant reference lists, hand searching of cardiology, epidemiology, and other relevant journals, and discussions with authors of relevant reports. STUDY SELECTION All relevant studies identified were included. DATA EXTRACTION The following information was abstracted from published reports (supplemented, in several cases, by the authors): size and type of cohort, mean age, mean duration of follow-up, assay methods, degree of adjustment for confounders, and relationship of CHD risk to the baseline assay results. DATA SYNTHESIS For fibrinogen, with 4018 CHD cases in 18 studies, comparison of individuals in the top third with those in the bottom third of the baseline measurements yielded a combined risk ratio of 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-2.0) associated with a difference in long-term usual mean fibrinogen levels of 2.9 pmol/L (0.1 g/dL) between the top and bottom thirds (10.3 vs 7.4 pmol/L [0.35 vs 0.25 g/dL]). For CRP, with 1053 CHD cases in 7 studies, the combined risk ratio of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.4-2.1) was associated with a difference of 1.4 mg/L (2.4 vs 1.0 mg/L). For albumin, with 3770 CHD cases in 8 studies, the combined risk ratio of 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3-1.7) was associated with a difference of 4 g/L (38 vs 42 g/L, ie, an inverse association). For leukocyte count, with 5337 CHD cases in the 7 largest studies, the combined risk ratio of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.3-1.5) was associated with a difference of 2.8 x 10(9)/L (8.4 vs 5.6 x 10(9)/L). Each of these overall results was highly significant (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS The published results from these prospective studies are remarkably consistent for each factor, indicating moderate but highly statistically significant associations with CHD. Hence, even though mechanisms that might account for these associations are not clear, further study of the relevance of these factors to the causation of CHD is warranted.
We discuss some of our favorite open questions about Ramsey numbers and a related problem on edge Folkman numbers

We discuss some of our favorite open questions about Ramsey numbers and a related problem on edge Folkman numbers. For the classical two-color Ramsey numbers we first focus on constructive bounds for the difference between consecutive Ramsey numbers. We present the history of progress on the Ramsey number R(5, 5) and discuss the conjecture that it is equal to 43. For the multicolor Ramsey numbers we focus on the growth of Rr(k), in particular for k = 3. Two concrete conjectured cases, R(3, 3, 3, 3) = 51 and R(3, 3, 4) = 30, are discussed in some detail. For Folkman numbers, we present the history, recent developments and potential future progress on Fe(3, 3; 4), defined as the smallest number of vertices in any K4-free graph which is not a union of two triangle-free graphs. Although several problems discussed in this paper are concerned with concrete cases, and some involve significant computational approaches, there are interesting and important theoretical questions behind each of them.
Wavelet-based aortic annulus sizing of echocardiography images

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a condition where the calcification deposit within the heart leaflets narrows the valve and restricts the blood from flowing through it. This disease is progressive over time where it may affect the mechanism of the heart valve. To alleviate this condition without resorting to surgery, which runs the risk of mortality, a new method of treatment has been introduced: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), in which imagery acquired from real-time echocardiogram (Echo) are needed to determine the exact size of aortic annulus. However, Echo data often suffers from speckle noise and low pixel resolution, which may result in incorrect sizing of the annulus. Our study therefore aims to perform an automated detection and measurement of aortic annulus size from Echo imagery. Two stages of algorithm are presented — image denoising and object detection. For the removal of speckle noise, Wavelet thresholding technique is applied. It consists of three sequential steps; applying linear discrete wavelet transform, thresholding wavelet coefficients and performing linear inverse wavelet transform. For the next stage of analysis, several morphological operations are used to perform object detection as well as valve sizing. The results showed that the automated system is able to produce more accurate sizing based on ground truth.
Differential development of odorant receptor expression patterns in the olfactory epithelium: A quantitative analysis in the mouse septal organ

The rodent olfactory epithelium expresses more than 1000 odorant receptors (ORs) with distinct patterns, yet it is unclear how such patterns are established during development. In the current study, we investigated development of the expression patterns of different ORs in the septal organ, a small patch of olfactory epithelium predominantly expressing nine identified ORs. The presumptive septal organ first appears at about embryonic day 16 (E16) and it completely separates from the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) at about postnatal day 7 (P7). Using in situ hybridization, we quantified the densities of the septal organ neurons labeled by specific RNA probes of the nine abundant OR genes from E16 to postnatal 3 months. The results indicate that olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) expressing different ORs have asynchronous temporal onsets. For instance, MOR256‐17 and MOR236‐1 cells are present in the septal organ at E16; however, MOR0‐2 cells do not appear until P0. In addition, OSNs expressing different ORs show distinct developmental courses and reach their maximum densities at different stages ranging from E16 (e.g. MOR256‐17) to 1 month (e.g. MOR256‐3 and MOR235‐1). Furthermore, early onset does not correlate with high abundance in adult. This study reveals a dynamic composition of the OSNs expressing different ORs in the developing olfactory epithelium. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008
Designing for mental wellbeing: towards a more holistic approach in the treatment and prevention of mental illness

To date, HCI for mental health has primarily responded to challenges in the treatment of mental illness, with a focus on therapy access and engagement. However, approaches to improving and protecting people's mental wellbeing have received less attention. Prompted by recent discussions in Western Healthcare and Psychology, we argue for a more holistic approach to promoting mental health that expands the field's focus to include strategies for enhancing mental wellbeing. A closer consideration of mental wellbeing can increase the effectiveness of mental health interventions, help in preventing mental illness and relapse, and extend our knowledge as to how we can support people to flourish as individuals and enhance their quality of life more generally. Our aim is to encourage more research on positive aspects of mental health in the treatment and care provision of people with mental health problems, and to support preventive approaches. To this end, the paper provides a comprehensive definition of mental wellbeing as positive emotional, psychological and social health; presents a review of HCI literature illustrating how the field is beginning to respond to the mental wellbeing agenda; and proposes avenues for future design and research in this area.