Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DR-SNBot: A Social Network-Based Botnet with Strong Destroy-Resistance

Social network-based botnets have become an important research direction of botnets. To avoid the single-point failure of existing centralized botnets, we propose a Social Network-based Botnet with strong Destroy-Resistance (DR-SNBot). By enhancing the security of the Command and Control (C&C) channel and introducing a divide-and-conquer and automatic reconstruction mechanism, we greatly improve the destroy-resistance of DR-SNBot. Moreover, we design the pseudo code for nickname generation algorithm, botmaster and bot respectively. Then, we construct the DR-SNBot via sin a blog and make simulated experiments to evaluate it. Furthermore, we make comparisons of controllability between botnets Mrrbot and DR-SNBot. The experimental results indicate that DRSNBot is more resilient. It is not only available in real-world environment, but also resistant enough to varying degrees of C&C-server removals in simulated environment.
The LOCKSS peer-to-peer digital preservation system

The LOCKSS project has developed and deployed in a world-wide test a peer-to-peer system for preserving access to journals and other archival information published on the Web. It consists of a large number of independent, low-cost, persistent Web caches that cooperate to detect and repair damage to their content by voting in “opinion polls. ” Based on this experience, we present a design for and simulations of a novel protocol for voting in systems of this kind. It incorporates rate limitation and intrusion detection to ensure that even some very powerful adversaries attacking over many years have only a small probability of causing irrecoverable damage before being detected.
Accuracy of Decoupled Implicit Integration Formulas

Dynamical systems can often be decomposed into loosely coupled subsystems. The system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) modelling such a problem can then be partitioned corresponding to the subsystems, and the loose couplings can be exploited by special integration methods to solve the problem using a parallel computer or just solve the problem more efficiently than by standard methods. This paper presents accuracy analysis of methods for the numerical integration of stiff partitioned systems of ODEs. The discretization formulas are based on the implicit Euler formula and the second order implicit backward differentiation formula (BDF2). Each subsystem of the partitioned problem is discretized independently, and the couplings to the other subsystems are based on solution values from previous time steps. Applied this way, the discretization formulas are called decoupled. The stability properties of the decoupled implicit Euler formula are well understood. This paper presents error bounds and asymptotic error expansions to be used in controlling step size, relaxation between subsystems and the validity of the partitioning. The decoupled BDF2 formula is analyzed within the same framework. Finally, the analysis is used in the design of a decoupled numerical integration algorithm with variable step size to control the local error and adaptive selection of partitionings. Two versions of the algorithm with decoupled implicit Euler and BDF2, respectively, are used in examples where a realistic problem is solved. The examples compare the results from the decoupled implicit Euler and BDF2 formulas, and compare them with results from the corresponding classical formulas.
Omnidirectional sensing and combined multiple sensing

Conventional T.V. cameras are limited in their field of view. A real-time omnidirectional camera which can acquire an omnidirectional (360 degrees) field of view at video rate could be applied in a variety of fields such as autonomous navigation, telepresence, virtual reality, remote monitoring. We have developed a new omnidirectional image sensor named HyperOmni Vision which consists of a CCD camera and a hyperboloidal mirror placed in front of the camera. An important feature of using the hyperboloidal mirror is that it has a focal point (center of projection). Using this interesting characteristic, we can easily generate any desired image projected on any designated image plane, such as a pure perspective image or or a panoramic image, from the omnidirectional input image deformed by the hyperboloidal mirror. The omnidirectional image is suitable for rough understanding of the environment, but resolution of the omnidirectional camera is not sufficient for detailed analysis of an interesting object. We have developed a new multiple visual sensing sensor on a single camera with two types of imaging; omnidirectional imaging which can obtain a 360 degrees field of view with limited resolution and binocular vision which can obtain a high resolution image with a limited field of view.
Update to Provable Security : Designs and Open Questions

Until very recently the development of cryptographic solutions for electronic commerce applications was done in an ad hoc manner. Notions of security for protocols that designers wished to meet were intuitive rather that rigorous. Schemes were designed that were subsequently broken, modifications were made to prevent specific attacks, and so the cycle would repeat. This is clearly an unsatisfactory methodology, since an adversary will devise its attacks after the scheme has been specified. In particular, it will try to take actions other than those envisioned by the designer. The idea of provable security is to formally define security notions for cryptographic problems. Once one has formal definition, one then designs schemes so that one can provide a mathematical justification for their security under the chosen definition. The way one does this is by showing how an algorithm to break the scheme could be used to solve some intractable problem. The conclusion is that, if the problem is indeed intractable, then the scheme must be secure under the chosen definition. This is preferable to an ad hoc approach because the result holds regardless of the strategy employed by the adversary when it attempts to break the scheme. The idea of provable security was first introduced by Goldwasser and Micali in 1984 in their paperProbabilistic Encryption. The cryptographic scheme that they treated in this work was public key encryption. Since then the principle has been applied extensively in a variety of contexts. In this report we survey the state of the art of provable security. We begin by giving a more indepth introduction to the subject and describing some of the major results that have been achieved. Having done this we discuss some of the most pressing open problems in the area. 2 ECRYPT — European NoE in Cryptology
Differences in clinical profile and relapse rate of type 1 versus type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been divided into subtypes 1 (lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis) and 2 (idiopathic duct centric pancreatitis). We compared clinical profiles and long-term outcomes of types 1 and 2 AIP. METHODS We compared clinical presentation, relapse, and vital status of 78 patients with type 1 AIP who met the original HISORt criteria and 19 patients with histologically confirmed type 2 AIP. RESULTS At presentation, patients with type 1 AIP were older than those with type 2 AIP (62 +/- 14 vs 48 +/- 19 years; P < .0001) and had a greater prevalence of increased serum levels of immunoglobulin G4 (47/59 [80%] vs 1/6 [17%]; P = .004). Patients with type 1 were more likely than those with type 2 to have proximal biliary, retroperitoneal, renal, or salivary disease (60% vs 0; P < .0001). Inflammatory bowel disease was associated with types 1 and 2 (6% vs 16%; P = .37). During median clinical follow-up periods of 42 and 29 months, respectively, 47% of patients with type 1 and none of those with type 2 experienced a relapse. In type 1 AIP, proximal biliary involvement (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; P = .038) and diffuse pancreatic swelling (HR, 2.00; P = .049) were predictive of relapse, whereas pancreaticoduodenectomy reduced the relapse rate (vs the corticosteroid-treated group; HR, 0.15; P = .0001). After median follow-up periods of 58 and 89 months (types 1 and 2, respectively), the 5-year survival rates for both groups were similar to those of the age- and sex-matched US population. CONCLUSIONS Types 1 and 2 AIP have distinct clinical profiles. Patients with type 1 AIP have a high relapse rate, but patients with type 2 AIP do not experience relapse. AIP does not affect long-term survival.
The neurobiology of depression.

INTRODUCTION OR BACKGROUND Depressive disorder is a long term, relapsing condition associated with high levels of disability and mortality. It has a neurobiological basis and is associated with functional and structural brain abnormalities. SOURCES OF DATA The data discussed have been obtained mainly from meta-analyses, randomized controlled clinical trials and key review papers as well as animal studies. AREAS OF AGREEMENT Genetic vulnerability and stress are key factors in its aetiopathogenesis. Dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reduces hippocampal volumes and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity in depressed patients and disrupts homeostasis within the neurocircuit of depression. Antidepressant drugs increase brain-derived neurotrophin, restoring neuronal growth and activity and modulate interactions between the neurocircuit anatomical structures. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY It remains to be confirmed whether structural changes in the brain are purely abnormalities in neuroplasticity and are fully reversible, whether they predate depression and whether they increase in the long term. GROWING POINTS Investigation of the molecular mechanisms mediating gene and environment interaction is a growing and potentially fruitful area of research in the neurobiology of depression. Further elucidation of the neuroanatomical and physiological connections between the limbic structures and PFC may help identify key areas to target in treatment. The role of the dysregulation of the HPA axis and identifiable stressors in the recent or remote past which are not always present in depression need further study. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH Prospective studies examining the interaction between changes in brain function and structure in relation to stress and identified relevant genes and how these may be influenced by antidepressant drug treatment and the long-term course of depression would help clarify their role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
Evidence of recycling of isotopically light CO2 (aq) in stratified black shale basins: Contrasts between the Whitby Mudstone and Kimmeridge Clay formations, United Kingdom

Calculation of [CO 2 (aq)] and p CO 2-atm based on proxy temperature and salinity data (δ 18 O and δ 13 C from belemnite rostra), and δ 13 C TOC (TOC—total organic carbon) from Toarcian marine organic-rich shales, yields unreasonably large intraformational p CO 2 (atm) variations. We postulate that the low δ 13 C TOC values in the shales can instead be explained by episodic release of isotopically light CO 2 that had built up below a relatively deep pycnocline (halocline? ). The lowest δ 13 C TOC values would thus be associated with mixing and erosion of the pycnocline following extended periods of stable stratification. In contrast, the studied Tithonian oil shales were probably deposited during periods of only slight perturbation of a photic zone chemocline, which probably led to only modest release of isotopically light CO 2 . In addition, the higher productivity associated with the nutrient release would have resulted in depletion of the mixed-layer CO 2 , leading to lower fractionation and higher δ 13 C TOC values.
Tech-Savvy Beef Cattle? How Heifers Respond to Moving Virtual Fence Lines

Simple Summary Physical fences are not always possible, thus automated technology called “virtual fencing” provides a potential solution. Virtual fencing uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and animals wear collar devices. As animals approach the virtual fence line, the collar emits an audio tone; if the animals walk further forward, they receive an electrical stimulus. If the animal turns around after the audio tone, they receive no electrical stimulus. However, no studies to date have looked at how animals respond when virtual fences have moved to different paddock locations. Virtual boundaries were set up to restrict six beef cattle wearing collars to different paddock areas. Within a few days, the animals were able to avoid the electrical stimulus by learning to turn away from the fence when they heard the audio tone. Over several weeks, the virtual fence was moved to three different locations within the paddock, and the animals rapidly learned it had moved, turning away at the audio tone the majority of the time. This shows that animals can learn the different collar signals and avoid moving virtual boundaries via the audio tone. The application of virtual fencing to farms enables improved animal management and animal exclusion from environmentally sensitive areas. Abstract Global Positioning System (GPS)-based virtual fences offer the potential to improve the management of grazing animals. Prototype collar devices utilising patented virtual fencing algorithms were placed on six Angus heifers in a 6.15 hectare paddock. After a “no fence” period, sequential, shifting virtual fences restricted the animals to 40%, 60%, and 80% of the paddock area widthways and 50% lengthways across 22 days. Audio cues signaled the virtual boundary, and were paired with electrical stimuli if the animals continued forward into the boundary. Within approximately 48 h, the cattle learned the 40% fence and were henceforth restricted to the subsequent inclusion zones a minimum of 96.70% (±standard error 0.01%) of the time. Over time, the animals increasingly stayed within the inclusion zones using audio cues alone, and on average, approached the new fence within 4.25 h. The animals were thus attentive to the audio cue, not the fence location. The time spent standing and lying and the number of steps were similar between inclusion zones (all p ≥ 0.42). More lying bouts occurred at the 80% and lengthways inclusion zones relative to “no fence” (p = 0.04). Further research should test different cattle groups in variable paddock settings and measure physiological welfare responses to the virtual fencing stimuli.
Remarkable objects: supporting collaboration in a creative environment

In this paper, we report the results of a field trial of a Ubicomp system called CAM that is aimed at supporting and enhancing collaboration in a design studio environment. CAM uses a mobile-tagging application which allows designers to collaboratively store relevant information onto their physical design objects in the form of messages, annotations and external web links. The purpose of our field trial was to explore the role of augmented objects in supporting and enhancing creative work. Our results show that CAM was used not only to support participants' mutual awareness and coordination but also to facilitate designers in appropriating their augmented design objects to be explorative, extendable and playful, supporting creative aspects of design work. In general, our results show how CAM transformed static design objects into 'remarkable' objects that made the creative and playful side of cooperative design visible.
SHELLS: A thin‐shell program for modeling neotectonics of regional or global lithosphere with faults

The thin-plate method of modeling neotectonics uses isostasy and vertical integration of lithospheric strength to reduce three-dimensional problems to two dimensions. We introduce new thin-shell continuum elements and fault elements which satisfy the completeness and compatibility requirements, and permit extension of these methods to the lithospheres of spherical planets. Even a coarse grid of these elements with elastic rheology can reproduce low-order toroidal free oscillations. In the program SHELLS, a realistic frictional/dislocation-creep rheology is handled by iteration; this method converges to solutions which can be numerically tested to confirm that they satisfy both local equilibrium and the balance of torques on whole plates. Because this code can incorporate both natural plate shapes (with internal faults) and realistic rheologies, it yields models that are readily tested by their predictions of geodetic velocities, stresses, and fault slip rates.
Impact of eight weeks of repeated ischaemic preconditioning on brachial artery and cutaneous microcirculatory function in healthy males

Background Ischaemic preconditioning has well-established cardiac and vascular protective effects. Short interventions (one week) of daily ischaemic preconditioning episodes improve conduit and microcirculatory function. This study examined whether a longer (eight weeks) and less frequent (three per week) protocol of repeated ischaemic preconditioning improves vascular function. Methods Eighteen males were randomly allocated to either ischaemic preconditioning (22.4 ± 2.3 years, 23.7 ± 3.1 kg/m2) or a control intervention (26.0 ± 4.8 years, 26.4 ± 1.9 kg/m2). Brachial artery endothelial-dependent (FMD), forearm cutaneous microvascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at zero, two and eight weeks. Results A greater improvement in FMD was evident following ischaemic preconditioning training compared with control at weeks 2 (2.24% (0.40, 4.08); p=0.02) and 8 (1.11% (0.13, 2.10); p=0.03). Repeated ischaemic preconditioning did not change cutaneous microcirculatory function or fitness. Conclusions These data indicate that a feasible and practical protocol of regular ischaemic preconditioning episodes improves endothelial function in healthy individuals within two weeks, and these effects persist following repeated ischaemic preconditioning for eight weeks.
Statistical antenna selection for spatial multiplexing systems

Spatial multiplexing is a signaling strategy for achieving high spectral efficiencies in communication links that employ multiple transmit and multiple receive antennas. In such systems, it is desirable to use only a subset of the available transmit and/or receive antennas to reduce cost and complexity. We address the problem of optimal antenna subset selection in spatial multiplexing systems when only the second-order statistics of the channel are available. We derive selection criteria for both the maximum likelihood and zero forcing receivers, motivated by minimizing the average symbol error rate. We characterize the antenna selection gain and show that both coding gain and diversity gain is possible. We then use Monte Carlo simulations to validate our analysis.
Molecular Adaptation of Modern Human Populations

Modern humans have gone through varied processes of genetic adaptations when their ancestors left Africa about 100,000 years ago. The environmental stresses and the social transitions (e.g., emergence of the Neolithic culture) have been acting as the major selective forces reshaping the genetic make-up of human populations. Genetic adaptations have occurred in many aspects of human life, including the adaptation to cold climate and high-altitude hypoxia, the improved ability of defending infectious diseases, and the polished strategy of utilizing new diet with the advent of agriculture. At the same time, the adaptations once developed during evolution may sometimes generate deleterious effects (e.g., susceptibility to diseases) when facing new environmental and social changes. The molecular (especially the genome-wide screening of genetic variations) studies in recent years have detected many genetic variants that show signals of Darwinian positive selection in modern human populations, which will not only provide a better understanding of human evolutionary history, but also help dissecting the genetic basis of human complex diseases.
Cerebral palsy gait, clinical importance.

ABSTRACT Cerebral palsy refers to a lesion on an immature brain, that determines permanent neurological disorders. Knowing the exact cause of the disease does not alter the treatment management. The etiology is 2-2.5/1000 births and the rate is constant in the last 40-50 years because advances in medical technologies have permitted the survival of smaller and premature new born children. Gait analysis has four directions: kinematics (represents body movements analysis without calculating the forces), kinetics (represents body moments and forces), energy consumption (measured by oximetry), and neuromuscular activity (measured by EMG). Gait analysis can observe specific deviations in a patient, allowing us to be more accurate in motor diagnoses and treatment solutions: surgery intervention, botulinum toxin injection, use of orthosis, physical kinetic therapy, oral medications, baclofen pump.
Exploiting predictability in click-based graphical passwords

We provide an in-depth study of the security of click-based graphical password schemes like PassPoints (Weidenbeck et al., 2005), by exploring popular points (hot-spots), and examining strategies to predict and exploit them in guessing attacks. We report on both short- and long-term user studies: one lab-controlled, involving 43 users and 17 diverse images, the other a field test of 223 user accounts. We provide empirical evidence that hot-spots do exist for many images, some more so than others. We explore the use of “human-computation” (in this context, harvesting click-points from a small set of users) to predict these hot-spots. We generate two “human-seeded” attacks based on this method: one based on a first-order Markov model, another based on an independent probability model. Within 100 guesses, our first-order Markov model-based attack finds 4% of passwords in one image's data set, and 10% of passwords in a second image's data set. Our independent model-based attack finds 20% within 2 33 guesses in one image's data set and 36% within 2 31 guesses in a second image's data set. These are all for a system whose full password space has cardinality 2 43. We evaluate our first-order Markov model-based attack with cross-validation of the field study data, which finds an average of 7-10% of user passwords within 3 guesses. We also begin to explore some click-order pattern attacks, which we found improve on our independent model-based attacks. Our results suggest that these graphical password schemes (with parameters as originally proposed) are vulnerable to offline and online attacks, even on systems that implement conservative lock-out policies.