Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Private Information Retrieval in an Anonymous Peer-to-Peer Environment

Private Information Retrieval (PIR) protocols enable a client to access data from a server without revealing what data was accessed. The study of Computational Private Information Retrieval (CPIR) protocols, an area of PIR protocols focusing on computational security, has been a recently reinvigorated area of focus in the study of cryptography. However, CPIR protocols still have not been utilized in any practical applications. The aim of this thesis is to determine whether the Melchor Gaborit CPIR protocol can be successfully utilized in a practical manner in an anonymous peer-to-peer environment.
IMMERSED SPHERES IN 4-MANIFOLDS AND THE IMMERSED THOM CONJECTURE

The introduction of the Seiberg Witten monopole equations ([SW1],[SW2],[W]) has served to make the study of smooth 4-manifolds more accessible. Many of the important earlier theorems regarding Donaldson invariants of smooth 4-manifolds have more easily proven analogues in SeibergWitten theory [J]. Further, new fundamental results have quickly appeared, most notably the proof of the Thom conjecture [KM], the verification of the nontriviality of the Seiberg-Witten invariants for symplectic manifolds [T1], and the results of C. Taubes which relate Seiberg-Witten invariants with the theory of pseudo-holomorphic curves and certain Gromov invariants for symplectic manifolds ([T2],[T3]).
Sharp fronts due to diffusion and viscoelastic relaxation in polymers

A model for sharp fronts in glassy polymers is derived and analyzed. The major effect of a diffusing penetrant on the polymer entanglement network is taken to be the inducement of a differential viscoelastic stress. This couples diffusive and mechanical processes through a viscoelastic response where the strain depends upon the amount of penetrant present. Analytically, the major effect is to produce explicit delay terms via a relaxation parameter. This accounts for the fundamental difference between a polymer in its rubbery state and the polymer in its glassy state, namely the finite relaxation time in the glassy state due to slow response to changing conditions. Both numerical and analytical perturbation studies of a boundary value problem for a dry glass polymer exposed to a penetrant solvent are completed. Concentration profiles in good agreement with observations are obtained.
Towards a study of mobility models impact on VANET connectivity metrics

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are a subclass of mobile ad hoc networks that have emerged recently as a platform to support intelligent inter-vehicle communication and to improve active safety, traffic management, and performance. The knowledge of the topological characteristics of the underlying network is an important factor we should take care of because it can greatly affect the design and development of efficient VANET protocols. As a matter of fact it influences the connectivity of vehicular networks. In this paper, we present an analysis of the influence of mobility models on the topological characteristics of a VANET network by using different connectivity metrics such as lobby index, betweenness centrality and local clustering coefficient. Such parameters could be used for example in choosing the next hop in dissemination protocols.
Imitation or something simpler? modeling simple mechanisms for social information processing

In the pine forests of Israel, black rats Rattus rattus have hit upon a novel feeding technique. They strip the scales from pine cones to obtain the nutritious seeds inside (Terkel, 1996). The behaviour seems to be socially learned in some way, rather than genetically inherited: Terkel has shown that rat pups will learn to strip cones if they are born to a naive mother but then fostered to an experienced one. What mechanism is implicated in the transmission of this behaviour? It could be that rat pups are genuinely imitating their mothers, but this would mean that they are solving a complex correspondence problem in translating novel visual input—from observations of cone manipulation—into appropriate motor outputs. Might a simpler mechanism be involved? The social transmission of pine cone stripping behaviour is only one example of the general strategy of gaining information from the behaviour of one’s conspecifics. Every animal is constantly facing the problem of what to do next: given the various cues that it can detect in its environment at any one time, what behaviour is most likely to further its ultimate goals of survival and reproduction? In all but the most solitary of species, the cues available from the environment will include information about the behaviour of other animals. Investigation of the general question as to how animals might learn from or be otherwise influenced by the behaviour of their conspecifics has often been overshadowed by a focus on the specific issue of imitation. This emphasis has been around for some time: Galef (1988), in a historical review, points out that the debate over whether nonhuman animals are capable of imitation dates back at least to the dispute between Darwin and Wallace over whether the human mind is of evolved or divine origin. One product of this long controversy has been a plethora of definitions of imitation (see Zentall and Galef, 1988; Heyes and Galef, 1996), which we lack the space to adequately review. For the purposes of our argument, we will simply take true imitation to be the goal-directed copying of another’s behaviour. As Tomasello (1996) notes in his discussion of “imitative learning” (p. 324), successful imitation—in the sense we are interested in—requires not only perceiving and reproducing the bodily movements of another, but understanding the changes in the environment caused by the other’s be-
Predicting Bond Lengths in Planar Benzenoid Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Chemometric Approach

Two hundred and twenty-three aromatic carbon-carbon bond lengths in high precision crystal structures containing 22 planar condensed benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PB-PAHs) were related to the Pauling pi-bond order, its analogue corrected to crystal packing effects, the number of hexagonal rings around the bond, and the numbers of carbons atoms around the bond at topological distance one and two. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the bond lengths in PB-PAHs are at least two-dimensional phenomenon, with well pronounced classification into 12 types of bonds, as confirmed with Hierachical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Consequently, Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) models were superior to univariate models, reducing the degeneration of the data set and improving the estimation of Julg's structural aromaticity index. The approximate regression models based on topological descriptors only were built for fast and easy prediction of bond lengths and bond orders in PB-PAHs.
Dominant Texture and Diffusion Distance Manifolds

Texture synthesis techniques require nearly uniform texture samples, however identifying suitable texture samples in an image requires significant data preprocessing. To eliminate this work, we introduce a fully automatic pipeline to detect dominant texture samples based on a manifold generated using the diffusion distance. We define the characteristics of dominant texture and three different types of outliers that allow us to efficiently identify dominant texture in feature space. We demonstrate how this method enables the analysis/synthesis of a wide range of natural textures. We compare textures synthesized from a sample image, with and without dominant texture detection. We also compare our approach to that of using a texture segmentation technique alone, and to using Euclidean, rather than diffusion, distances between texture features.
Development of a measure of cognitions and beliefs in trichotillomania

Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterised by the repetitive removal of one’s hair, causing hair loss (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Behavioural models and phenomenological accounts comparing TTM with putatively related compulsiveimpulsive spectrum disorders have been highly influential in steering research regarding its phenomenology and treatment (e.g., Azrin & Nunn, 1973; Hollander & Wong, 1995; Mansueto, Stemberger, Thomas, & Golomb, 1997). Despite a cognitive model of TTM being proposed two decades ago (Gluhoski, 1995), there has been limited research on the role of maladaptive cognitions and beliefs in the development and maintenance of TTM (cf. Norberg, Wetterneck, Woods, & Conelea, 2007). The development and testing of standard and third-wave cognitive behavioural therapies for TTM have nevertheless proliferated despite the absence of research identifying maladaptive beliefs known to elicit and maintain TTM symptoms. This thesis aimed to investigate the nature of dysfunctional cognitions and beliefs associated with TTM via the development and validation of a psychometric measure of TTM-relevant beliefs. Given the paucity of research conducted in this area, it was first necessary to perform an in-depth, qualitative exploration of the dysfunctional cognitions, identified by individuals with TTM, as playing a role in the onset and maintenance of their hairpulling episodes (Study 1). Participants in this study comprised eight women (Mage = 29.88, SD = 5.05) whose symptoms met DSM-IV-TR criteria for TTM (APA, 2000). Interview data were analysed using the qualitative methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith, 1996). Six themes of beliefs were identified; negative self-beliefs, control beliefs, coping beliefs, beliefs about negative emotion, permission-giving cognitions, and perfectionistic standards (for hair quality).
Teasing out the role of age and exposure in EFL learners’ lexical profiles: A comparison of children and adults

Abstract The present paper examines the lexical profiles of children and adult EFL learners in an attempt to untangle the roles of age and hours of exposure and their effect on lexical knowledge. Both age and exposure time have generally been acknowledged as relevant factors influencing foreign language acquisition, and vocabulary learning specifically. Participants in the study, who share the same amount of exposure to the target language but differ in age, were asked to write an informal letter introducing themselves. Their letters were scrutinized and mean production of tokens and types was found together with word frequencies and some lexical inconsistencies. In addition, the children participating in the study were enrolled in a CLIL program to match their hours of instruction with those of the adults. Their lexical profiles are characterized by fewer tokens and types and words of lower frequency related to the fields of school, home and science, the CLIL subject. They also use more cognates and commit more lexical inconsistencies than adult learners, who in turn produce more general words in longer letters. We interpret our results in light of the relevant role of age and instructional program.
Deletion of Apolipoprotein E Receptor-2 in Mice Lowers Brain Selenium and Causes Severe Neurological Dysfunction and Death When a Low-Selenium Diet Is Fed

Selenoprotein P (Sepp1) is a plasma and extracellular protein that is rich in selenium. Deletion of Sepp1 results in sharp decreases of selenium levels in the brain and testis with dysfunction of those organs. Deletion of Sepp1 also causes increased urinary selenium excretion, leading to moderate depletion of whole-body selenium. The lipoprotein receptor apolipoprotein E receptor-2 (apoER2) binds Sepp1 and facilitates its uptake by Sertoli cells, thus providing selenium for spermatogenesis. Experiments were performed to assess the effect of apoER2 on the concentration and function of selenium in the brain and on whole-body selenium. ApoER2−/− and apoER2+/+ male mice were fed a semipurified diet with selenite added as the source of selenium. ApoER2−/− mice had depressed brain and testis selenium, but normal levels in liver, kidney, muscle, and the whole body. Feeding a selenium-deficient diet to apoER2−/− mice led to neurological dysfunction and death, with some of the characteristics exhibited by Sepp1−/− mice fed the same diet. Thus, although it does not affect whole-body selenium, apoER2 is necessary for maintenance of brain selenium and for prevention of neurological dysfunction and death under conditions of selenium deficiency, suggesting an interaction of apoER2 with Sepp1 in the brain.
GAP-Independent Termination of Photoreceptor Light Response by Excess γ Subunit of the cGMP-Phosphodiesterase

We have generated a mouse with rod photoreceptors overexpressing the γ inhibitory subunit (PDE6γ) of the photoreceptor G-protein effector cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6). PDE6γ overexpression decreases the rate of rise of the rod response at dim intensities, indicating a reduction in the gain of transduction that may be the result of cytoplasmic PDE6γ binding to activated transducin α GTP (Tα-GTP) before the Tα-GTP binds to endogenous PDE6γ. Excess PDE6γ also produces a marked acceleration in the falling phase of the light response and more rapid recovery of sensitivity and circulating current after prolonged light exposure. These effects are not mediated by accelerating GTP hydrolysis through the GAP (GTPase activating protein) complex, because the decay of the light response is also accelerated in rods that overexpress PDE6γ but lack RGS9. Our results show that the PDE6γ binding sites of PDE6 α and β are accessible to excess (presumably cytoplasmic) PDE6γ in the light, once endogenous PDE6γ has been displaced from its binding site by Tα-GTP. They also suggest that in the presence of Tα-GTP, the PDE6γ remains attached to the rest of the PDE6 molecule, but after conversion of Tα-GTP to Tα-GDP, the PDE6γ may dissociate from the PDE6 and exchange with a cytoplasmic pool. This pool may exist even in wild-type rods and may explain the decay of rod photoresponses in the presence of nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP.
Constructing symmetric structure-preserving strong linearizations

Polynomials eigenvalue problems with structured matrix polynomials arise in many applications. The standard way to solve polynomial eigenvalue problems is through the classical Frobenius companion linearizations, which may not retain the structure of the matrix polynomial. Particularly, the structure of the symmetric matrix polynomials can be lost, while from the computational point of view, it is advisable to construct a linearization which preserves the symmetry structure. Recently, new families of block-Kronecker pencils have been introduced in [5]. Applying block-Kronecker pencils, we present structure-preserving strong linearizations for symmetric matrix polynomials. When the matrix polynomial has an odd degree, these linearizations are strong regardless of whether the matrix polynomial is regular or singular. Additionally, we construct structure-preserving strong linearizations for regular symmetric matrix polynomials of even degree under some simple nonsingularity conditions.
Experimental evaluation of message latency and power usage in WSNs

Different techniques for measuring packet delivery ratio, packet latency and power usage on single hop radio links have been developed. These techniques were tested with Zolertia Z1 motes running Contiki by measuring the performances of different radio duty cycling protocols using a range of radio wake-up rates and various levels of global radio traffic. Advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques are discussed and the feasibility of enhancing them for multihop networks is explored.
A NEW DYNAMICAL MODEL FOR THE BLACK HOLE BINARY LMC X-1

We present a dynamical model of the high mass X-ray binary LMC X-1 based on high-resolution optical spectroscopy and extensive optical and near-infrared photometry. From our new optical data we find an orbital period of P = 3.90917 ± 0.00005 days. We present a refined analysis of the All Sky Monitor data from RXTE and find an X-ray period of P = 3.9094 ± 0.0008 days, which is consistent with the optical period. A simple model of Thomson scattering in the stellar wind can account for the modulation seen in the X-ray light curves. The V − K color of the star (1.17 ± 0.05) implies AV = 2.28 ± 0.06, which is much larger than previously assumed. For the secondary star, we measure a radius of R2 = 17.0 ± 0.8 R☉ and a projected rotational velocity of Vrotsin i = 129.9 ± 2.2 km s−1. Using these measured properties to constrain the dynamical model, we find an inclination of i = 36. °38 ± 1. °92, a secondary star mass of M2 = 31.79 ± 3.48 M☉, and a black hole mass of 10.91 ± 1.41 M☉. The present location of the secondary star in a temperature–luminosity diagram is consistent with that of a star with an initial mass of 35 M☉ that is 5 Myr past the zero-age main sequence. The star nearly fills its Roche lobe (≈90% or more), and owing to the rapid change in radius with time in its present evolutionary state, it will encounter its Roche lobe and begin rapid and possibly unstable mass transfer on a timescale of a few hundred thousand years.
A novel approach to evaluate blood parameters using computer vision techniques

Current medical practice for determining hemoglobin concentration (which is especially important for anemic patients in need of blood transfusion) involves frequent blood tests. In this work, we propose an alternative, non-invasive approach to hemoglobin estimation, based on image analysis of a specific conjunctival region. Our ultimate goal is to develop an easy-to-use wearable device that patients themselves can employ at home to autonomously assess their need of blood transfusion. In this paper, we detail the prototype of our device and the methodology for extracting key information from the color values of the acquired image. Tests conducted on 77 anemic and healthy patients show significant correlation between the real hemoglobin value obtained through blood sampling and the value estimated by our algorithm. A prototypical binary classification algorithm for assessing the need of blood transfusion yielded good results in terms of accuracy, specificity and sensitivity, thus making it possible to avoid a significant number of blood tests.
Distributed Creativity on the Internet: A Theoretical Foundation for Online Creative Participation

Starting from the premise that a deeper understanding of creativity as a sociopsychological process is a valuable foundation for analyzing contemporary practices of online creative participation, this article aims to forge a much-needed link between creativity research and online participation. Applying the lens of distributed creativity and integrating literature from across disciplines, we examine the distributed nature of online creativity along three key dimensions: social, material, and temporal. By analyzing online creative participation along these interrelated dimensions, a more nuanced and complex portrait of online creativity emerges—one that is sensitive to both sociocultural and technological influences, as well as to the way these factors intersect in online spaces. We theorize that, while all creativity is distributed, online creativity is paradigmatic in this regard; therefore, studying it in this light allows us to achieve a richer understanding of not only online creative dynamics, but also of creative action as a whole.
Does Pilocarpine-Induced Epilepsy in Adult Rats Require Status epilepticus?

Pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats provide a widely animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Some evidences reported in the literature suggest that at least 1 h of status epilepticus (SE) is required to produce subsequent chronic phase, due to the SE-related acute neuronal damage. However, recent data seems to indicate that neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in epileptogenesis, modulating secondarily a neuronal insult. For this reason, we decided to test the following hypotheses: a) whether pilocarpine-injected rats that did not develop SE can exhibit long-term chronic spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and b) whether acute neurodegeneration is mandatory to obtain chronic epilepsy. Therefore, we compared animals injected with the same dose of pilocarpine that developed or did not SE, and saline treated rats. We used telemetric acquisition of EEG as long-term monitoring system to evaluate the occurrence of seizures in non-SE pilocarpineinjected animals. Furthermore, histology and MRI analysis were applied in order to detect neuronal injury and neuropathological signs. Our observations indicate that non-SE rats exhibit SRS almost 8 (+/22) months after pilocarpine-injection, independently to the absence of initial acute neuronal injury. This is the first time reported that pilocarpine injected rats without developing SE, can experience SRS after a long latency period resembling human pathology. Thus, we strongly emphasize the important meaning of including these animals to model human epileptogenesis in pilocarpine induced epilepsy.
Chemiosmotic energy from malolactic fermentation

By using the luciferase-luciferin ATP assay and whole cells of Leuconostoc oenos, we have demonstrated that malolactic fermentation does yield ATP. This energy-yielding mechanism did not occur in a cell extract and was inhibited in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or an ionophore such as monensin. A lactate:proton efflux mechanism for this proposed pathway is presented.
Local and Global Evaluation Functions for Computational Evolution

This paper compares computational evolution using local and global evaluation functions in the context of solving two classical combinatorial problems on graphs: the k-coloring and minimum coloring problems. It is shown that the essential difference between traditional algorithms using local search (such as simulated annealing) and distributed algorithms (such as the Alife&AER model) lies in the evaluation function. Simulated annealing uses global information to evaluate the whole system state, which is called the global evaluation function (GEF) method. The Alife&AER model uses local information to evaluate the state of a single agent, which is called the local evaluation function (LEF) method. Computer experiment results show that the LEF methods are comparable to GEF methods (simulated annealing and greedy), and in some problem instances the LEF beats GEF methods. We present the consistency theorem which shows that a Nash equilibrium of an LEF is identical to a local optimum of a GEF when they are “consistent. ” This theorem explains why some LEFs can lead the system to a global goal. Some rules for constructing a consistent LEF are proposed.
Artificial dielectrics having refractive indices less than unity

Two types of artificial dielectric are examined; the first consists of an array of conducting rods and the second of a set of parallel conducting plates having perforations in the form of circular holes. Both these media are designed to operate for an incident electromagnetic wave, which is polarized so that its electric field is parallel to the conducting elements. It is found that the effective refractive index of such media is less than unity. An analysis of the propagation within these media gives results from which the effective refractive index may be calculated. The reflection which occurs at the interface between the medium and free space is also investigated.