Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Routing attacks detection and reaction scheme for mobile ad hoc networks using statistical methods

Due to the vulnerabilities of nodes and channels, absence of central management, and the resources constraints, mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is relatively vulnerable to malicious attacks. In MANET, routing attacks try to disrupt the routing protocol functions by intentionally or unintentionally dropping packets or by propagating faked routing messages. However, due to their computation requirements and inefficiency against internal attacks, the prevention only mechanisms are not powerful enough to secure MANET routing protocols. In this paper, we present a distributed and cooperative scheme for MANETs routing attacks detection. The scheme collects and analyzes data that are sensitive to routing attacks so as to detect anomalous events. In this scheme, both direct observations and indirect observations are used so as to characterize the behaviors of both neighboring and remote nodes. The scheme utilizes the Grubb's test to develop new methods for detecting routing attacks and evaluating the exchanged information.
REVERSING F-STRUCTURE REWRITING FOR GENERATION FROM MEANING REPRESENTATIONS

We describe the design of an LFG-based generation system tha t provides a framework for empirical studies on the choice among gramma tical paraphrases (i.e. syntactic alternations), as an effect of inte rac ing soft constraints. To be able to study the relevant variation, we exte nd he XLE generation architecture so it no longer departs from standard f-s tructures, but from a more abstract level of (meaning) representation. This rep res ntation is constructed by means of XFR term-rewrite rules. We discuss the d esign of the meaning representation in the light of the surface realisat ion task. In particular, we address the problem of obtaining a transfer grammar that reverses meaning construction, taking into account the generation p erformance.
Assessment of DNA Damage by RAPD in Paracentrotus lividus Embryos Exposed to Amniotic Fluid from Residents Living Close to Waste Landfill Sites

The aim of this study was to assess the genotoxic effects of environmental chemicals on residents living near landfills. The study was based on samples of amniotic fluid from women living in the intensely polluted areas around the Campania region of Italy compared to a nonexposed control group. We evaluated the genetic effects that this amniotic fluids collected in contaminated sites had on Paracentrotus lividus embryos. DNA damage was detected through changes in RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA) profiles. The absence of the amplified DNA fragments indicated deletions in Paracentrotus lividus DNA exposed to the contaminated amniotic fluids when compared to equal exposure to uncontaminated fluids. These results show the ability of RAPD-PCR to detect and isolate DNA sequences representing genetic alterations induced in P. lividus embryos. Using this method, we identified two candidate target regions for DNA alterations in the genome of P. lividus. Our research indicates that RAPD-PCR in P. lividus embryo DNA can provide a molecular approach for studying DNA damage from pollutants that can impact human health. To our knowledge, this is the first time that assessment of DNA damage in P. lividus embryos has been tested using the RAPD strategy after exposure to amniotic fluid from residents near waste landfill sites.
Shape from Focus and Defocus: Convexity, Quasiconvexity and Defocus-Invariant Textures

In this paper we analyze the convexity and the quasiconvexity of shape from focus/defocus and image restoration. We show that these problems are strictly quasiconvex for a family of Bregman's divergences, and in particular for least-squares. In addition to giving novel analytical insight to these problems, this study can be readily exploited to design algorithms: One can do away with global minimizers and obtain the same optimal solution by employing simple and efficient local methods. We experimentally validate this investigation by comparing two minimization algorithms: one based on a local method (gradient-flow) and another based on a global method (graph cuts). We show that both algorithms find the global optimum. Finally, we fully characterize defocus-invariant textures, a class of textures that do not allow depth recovery. We show how to decompose textures into defocus-invariant and defocus-varying components, and how this decomposition can be used to dramatically improve depth estimates.
Echo state network based prediction intervals estimation for blast furnace gas pipeline pressure in steel industry

Abstract The pipeline pressure of blast furnace gas (BFG) system in steel industry provides effective information for the energy scheduling operations. However, due to the complexity of the byproduct gas pipeline network and the large fluctuations of the gas flow, it is rather difficult to establish an accurate prediction model for the pipeline pressure. Additionally, the quantitative reliability of the prediction accuracy is the key concerns of energy scheduling workers since there are always a variety of uncertainties in industrial process. In this study, an echo state network (ESN) modelling with output feedback is proposed to predict the BFG pipeline pressure. Given the gas flows data and the pressures sampled from the sensors are generally accompanied with noise, a Bayesian framework for the prediction intervals (PIs) is designed, which can quantify the input and output noises. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a number of prediction experiments coming from industrial data are conducted here. And, the experimental results indicate that the proposed approach has a satisfactory performance on PIs for the pipeline pressure.
Piggyback game: Efficient event stream dissemination in Online Social Network systems

Event stream dissemination dominates the workloads in large-scale Online Social Network (OSN) systems. Based on the de facto per-user view data storage, event stream dissemination raises a large amount of inter-server traffics due to the complex interconnection among OSN users. The state-of-the-art schemes mainly explore the structure features of social graphs to reduce the inter-server messages for event stream dissemination. Different sub-graph structures are exploited for achieving the approximated optimal assignment. However, such schemes incur high costs of computation or communication. In this work, we follow a different design philosophy by using a game theoretic approach, which decomposes the high complex graph computation problem into individuals' rational strategy selection of each node. Specifically, we propose a novel social piggyback game to achieve a more efficient solution. We mathematically prove the existing of the Nash Equilibrium of the social piggyback game. Moreover, we propose an efficient best response dynamic algorithm to achieve the Nash Equilibrium, which quickly converges in a small number of iterations for large-scale OSNs. We further show that the communication cost of this design achieves a 1.5-approximation of the theoretical social optimal. We conduct comprehensive experiments to evaluate the performance of this design using large-scale real-world traces from popular OSN systems. Results show that the social piggyback game achieves a significant 302× improvement in system efficiency compared to existing schemes.
Selection bias in the LETOR datasets

The LETOR datasets consist of data extracted from traditional IR test corpora. For each of a number of test topics, a set of documents has been extracted, in the form of features of each document-query pair, for use by a ranker. An examination of the ways in which documents were selected for each topic shows that the selection has (for each of the three corpora) a particular bias or skewness. This has some unexpected effects which may considerably influence any learning-to-rank exercise conducted on these datasets. The problems may be resolvable by modifying the datasets.
Molecular Aspect of Good Eating Quality Formation in Japonica Rice

The composition of amylopectin is the determinant of rice eating quality under certain threshold of protein content and the ratio of amylose and amylopectin. In molecular biology level, the fine structure of amylopectin is determined by relative activities of starch branching enzyme (SBE), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), and soluble starch synthase (SSS) in rice grain under the same ADP-Glucose level. But the underlying mechanism of eating quality in molecular biology level remains unclear. This paper reports the differences on major parameters such as SNP and insertion-deletion sites, RNA expressions, and enzyme activities associated with eating quality of japonica varieties. Eight japonica rice varieties with significant differences in various eating quality parameters such as palatability and protein content were used in this experiment. Association analysis between nucleotide polymorphism and eating quality showed that S12 and S13 loci in SBE1, S55 in SSS1, S58 in SSS2A were significantly associated with apparent amylose content, alkali digestion value, setback viscosity, consistency viscosity, pasting temperature, which explained most of the variation in apparent amylose content, setback viscosity, and consistency viscosity; and explained almost all variations in alkali digestion value and pasting temperature. Thirty-five SNPs and insertion-deletions from SBE1, SBE3, GBSS1, SSS1, and SSS2A differentiated high or intermediate palatability rice varieties from low palatability rice varieties. Correlation analysis between enzyme activities and eating quality properties revealed that SBE25 and SSS15/W15 were positively correlated with palatability, whereas GBSS10 and GBSS15 were negatively correlated. Gene expressions showed that SBE1 and SBE3 expressions in high palatability varieties tended to be higher than middle and low palatability varieties. Collectively, SBE1, SBE3, SSS1, and SSS2A, especially SBE1 and SBE3 could improve eating quality, but GBSS1 decreased eating quality. The results indicated the possibility of developing high palatability cultivars through modification of key genes related to japonica rice eating quality formation in starch biosynthesis.
Zooming and tunneling in Tioga: supporting navigation in multidimensional space

The Tioga system applies a boxes and arrows programming notation to allow nonexpert users to graphically construct database applications. Users connect database procedures using a dataflow model. Browsers are used to visualize the resulting data. This paper describes extensions to the Tioga browser protocol. These extensions allow sophisticated, flight-simulator navigation through a multidimensional data space. This design also incorporates wormholes to allow tunneling between different multidimensional spaces. Wormholes are shown to be substantial generalizations of hyperlinks in a hypertext system. These powerful mechanisms for relating data provide users with great flexibility. For example, users can create magnifying glasses that provide an enhanced view of the underlying data. <<ETX>>
Ethic of care and its relationship to attachment, object relations and social cognition

The purpose of this study was to expand the construct validation for a newly developed measure of care-oriented moral reasoning, the Ethic of Care Interview, based on Gilligan's theory of moral development. Previous construct validation research has found a relationship between the Ethic of Care Interview and measures of ego identity development. Hypotheses stated that individuals' level of care-oriented moral development would be related to their level of affective and cognitive maturity in interpersonal functioning. In addition to the Ethic of Care Interview, measures included The Relationship Questionnaire, a self-report measure of attachment, and four dimensions of object relations and social cognition coded fiom Thematic Apperception Test responses. Participants were 43 male and 45 female undergraduate university students. As predicted, individuals at lower levels of moral development (self-oriented) scored higher on the fearfid attachment style and were less mature in both affective and cognitive dimensions of object relations and social cognition. Contrary to expectations, individuals at the highest levels (self-and-other-oriented) and the conventional level (other-oriented) of moral development could not be distinguished as predicted. Individuals at both the highest levels and the conventional level scored high on the secure attachment style and in terms of affective interpersonal functioning, individuals at the conventional level were more mature than individuals at the highest levels. With regard to cognitive sophistication, however, the highest levels were distinct fiom the conventional level. A further unexpected finding was that the conventional level of moral development also received high ratings on the dismissing attachment style. These findings suggest that while measures of interpersonal functioning are related to the Ethic of Care levels, they may not discriminate as well among these levels as measures of ego development. These results were discussed in
The genus of the 2-amalgamations of graphs

A graph G is called the 2-amalgamation of subgraphs G1 and G2 if G = G1 ∪ G2 and G1 ∩ G2 = {x, y}, 2 distinct points. in this case we write G = G1∪{x, y}G2. in this paper we show that the orientable genus, γ(G), satisfies the inequalities γ(G1) + γ(G2) − 1 ≤ γ(G1 ∪{x, y}G2) ≤ γ(G1) + γ(G2) + 1 and that this is the best possible result, i. e. , the resulting three values for γ(G1 ∪{x, y}G2) which are possible can actually be realized by appropriate choices for G1 and G2.
Polymorphisms associated with cholesterol and risk of cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol modestly affect lipid levels. We tested the hypothesis that a combination of such SNPs contributes to the risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS We studied SNPs at nine loci in 5414 subjects from the cardiovascular cohort of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. We first validated the association between SNPs and either LDL or HDL cholesterol and subsequently created a genotype score on the basis of the number of unfavorable alleles. We used Cox proportional-hazards models to determine the time to the first cardiovascular event in relation to the genotype score. RESULTS All nine SNPs showed replication of an association with levels of either LDL or HDL cholesterol. With increasing genotype scores, the level of LDL cholesterol increased from 152 mg to 171 mg per deciliter (3.9 to 4.4 mmol per liter), whereas HDL cholesterol decreased from 60 mg to 51 mg per deciliter (1.6 to 1.3 mmol per liter). During follow-up (median, 10.6 years), 238 subjects had a first cardiovascular event. The genotype score was associated with incident cardiovascular disease in models adjusted for covariates including baseline lipid levels (P<0.001). The use of the genotype score did not improve the clinical risk prediction, as assessed by the C statistic. However, there was a significant improvement in risk classification with the use of models that included the genotype score, as compared with those that did not include the genotype score. CONCLUSIONS A genotype score of nine validated SNPs that are associated with modulation in levels of LDL or HDL cholesterol was an independent risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease. The score did not improve risk discrimination but did modestly improve clinical risk reclassification for individual subjects beyond standard clinical factors.
Development and Calibration of an Earthquake Fatality Function

Structures present a risk during seismic events from partial or full collapse that can cause death and injury to the occupants. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has collated data on deaths from and magnitudes of earthquakes. These data have not previously been analyzed to establish any relationships between fatality tolls or fatality rates in different earthquakes. An investigation of the fatality catalogue establishes a bounding function for the twentieth-century fatality data using the USGS assigned earthquake magnitude as the dependent variable. A simple equation was established and calibrated to relate the fatalities in earthquakes having tolls lower than the bounding function to the bounding function. This equation and the calibration data, essentially for unreinforced masonry and timber-framed buildings, provides a procedure for estimating fatality counts in future theoretical events with a specific combination of circumstances. Potential uses of the fatality function with further refinement are economic analysis of seismic mitigation alternatives for unreinforced masonry structures. Current uses of the fatality function can be for real-time estimating of fatalities in earthquakes in remote locations, and estimating fatality counts in future earthquakes for planning purposes.
Algebraic structures on generalized strings

A garland based on a manifold $P$ is a finite set of manifolds homeomorphic to $P$ with some of them glued together at marked points. Fix a manifold $M$ and consider a space $\NN$ of all smooth mappings of garlands based on $P$ into $M$. We construct operations $\bullet$ and $[-,-]$ on the bordism groups $\bor_*(\NN)$ that give $\bor_*(\NN)$ the natural graded commutative assosiative and graded Lie algebra structures. We also construct two auto-homomorphisms $\pr$ and $\li$ of $\bor_*(\NN)$ such that $\pr(\li \alpha_1\bullet \li \alpha_2)= [\alpha_1, \alpha_2]$ for all $\alpha_1, \alpha_2 \in \bor_*(\NN)$. If $P$ is a boundary, then $\pr \circ \li=0$ and thus $\Delta^2=0$ for $\Delta=\li \circ \pr$. We show that under certain conditions the operations $\Delta$ and $\bullet$ give rise to Batalin-Vilkoviski and Gerstenhaber algebra structures on $\bor_*(\NN)$. In a particular case when $P=S^1$, the algebra $\bor_*(\NN)$ is related to the string-homology algebra constructed by Chas and Sullivan.
The End of Marriage

The modern day sees fewer marriages than before, and cohabitation is a major driver of family change. Jane Lewis questions whether this is – as many commentators argue and fear – a sign of ever-increasing individualism. Just as the order in which sex, marriage, cohabitation and childbirth occur can no longer be assumed, nor can the pattern of contributions that men and women make to the household. The End of Marriage? explores both the way in which the old rules have been eroded and what happens as a result. While there may certainly be something of a vacuum, Jane Lewis suggests that in some quarters at least this is being filled by increased negotiation at the household level. This questions the idea that individualism is necessarily selfish and destructive, which in turn raises issues regarding the regulation of the family, an increasingly delicate task for policymakers.
Peptide Bβ15-42 Preserves Endothelial Barrier Function in Shock

Loss of vascular barrier function causes leak of fluid and proteins into tissues, extensive leak leads to shock and death. Barriers are largely formed by endothelial cell-cell contacts built up by VE-cadherin and are under the control of RhoGTPases. Here we show that a natural plasmin digest product of fibrin, peptide Bß15-42 (also called FX06), significantly reduces vascular leak and mortality in animal models for Dengue shock syndrome. The ability of Bß15-42 to preserve endothelial barriers is confirmed in rats i.v. -injected with LPS. In endothelial cells, Bß15-42 prevents thrombin-induced stress fiber formation, myosin light chain phosphorylation and RhoA activation. The molecular key for the protective effect of Bß15-42 is the src kinase Fyn, which associates with VE-cadherin-containing junctions. Following exposure to Bß15-42 Fyn dissociates from VE-cadherin and associates with p190RhoGAP, a known antagonists of RhoA activation. The role of Fyn in transducing effects of Bß15-42 is confirmed in Fyn−/− mice, where the peptide is unable to reduce LPS-induced lung edema, whereas in wild type littermates the peptide significantly reduces leak. Our results demonstrate a novel function for Bß15-42. Formerly mainly considered as a degradation product occurring after fibrin inactivation, it has now to be considered as a signaling molecule. It stabilizes endothelial barriers and thus could be an attractive adjuvant in the treatment of shock.
Joint Wireless Information and Energy Transfer With Reduced Feedback in MIMO Interference Channels

To determine the transmission strategy for the joint wireless information and energy transfer (JWIET) in the MIMO interference channel (IFC), the information access point (IAP) and energy access point (EAP) require the channel state information (CSI) of their associated links to both the information-decoding (ID) mobile stations (MSs) and energy-harvesting (EH) MSs (so-called local CSI). In this paper, to reduce the feedback overhead of MSs for the JWIET in two-user MIMO IFC, we propose a Geodesic energy beamforming scheme that requires partial CSI at the EAP. Furthermore, in the two-user MIMO IFC, it is proved that the Geodesic energy beamforming is the optimal non-cooperative strategy under local CSIT assumption. By adding a rank-one constraint on the transmit signal covariance of IAP, we can further reduce the feedback overhead to IAP by exploiting Geodesic information beamforming. Under the rank-one constraint of IAP's transmit signal, we prove that Geodesic information/energy beamforming approach is the optimal non-cooperative strategy for JWIET in the two-user MIMO IFC. We also discuss the extension of the proposed rank-one Geodesic information/energy beamforming strategies to general K-user MIMO IFC. Finally, by analyzing the achievable rate-energy performance statistically under imperfect partial CSIT, we propose an adaptive bit allocation strategy for both EH MS and ID MS.
Fully polynomial time approximation schemes (FPTAS) for some counting problems

In this thesis we develop FPTASs for the counting problems of m-tuples, contingency tables with two rows, and 0/1 knapsack. For the problem of counting m-tuples, we design two algorithms, one is strongly polynomial. As far as we know, these are the first FPTASs for this problem. For the problem of counting contingency tables we improve significantly over the running time of existing algorithms. For the problem of counting 0/1 knapsack solutions, we design a simple strongly polynomial algorithm, with similar running times to the existing algorithms. Our results are derived by using, as well as expanding, the method of K-approximation sets and functions.
Nellodee 1.0: A Living Book to Enhance Intimacy with Head Gestures and Kinetic Typography

We advance the notion of a "living book" to explore how digital texts can enhance the potential for emotional relationships between readers and books. Our prototype of a living book, called Nellodee, is a user interface system to help readers to be companion with books. In this paper, we present two key concepts of Nellodee: head gesture recognition for expressions of opinion, and kinetic typography as emotional feedback.