Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lattice-Based Signature with Efficient Protocols, Revisited

Digital signature is an essential primitive in cryptography, which can be used as the digital analogue of handwritten signatures but also as a building block for more complex systems. In the latter case, signatures with specific features are needed, so as to smoothly interact with the other components of the systems, such as zero-knowledge proofs. This has given rise to so-called signatures with efficient protocols , a versatile tool that has been used in countless applications. Designing such signatures is however quite difficult, in particular if one wishes to withstand quantum computing. We are indeed aware of only one post-quantum construction, proposed by Libert et al. at Asiacrypt’16, yielding very large signatures and proofs. In this paper, we propose a new construction that can be instantiated in both standard lattices and structured ones, resulting in each case in dramatic performance improvements. In particular, the size of a proof of message-signature possession, which is one of the main metrics for such schemes, can be brought down to less than 650 KB. As our construction retains all the features expected from signatures with efficient protocols, it can be used as a drop-in replacement in all systems using them, which mechanically improves their own performance, and has thus an impact on many applications.
Byzantine Reliable Broadcast with O(nL+kn+n2 log n) Communication

Byzantine reliable broadcast (BRB) is one of the most fundamental primitives in fault-tolerant distributed computing. It is well-known that the best BRB protocol one can hope for has O ( nL + n 2 ) communication. It is unclear if this bound is achievable. This paper provides a novel BRB protocol—BRB1, which achieves O ( nL + kn + n 2 log n ) communication, where n , L , and k are the number of replicas, the message length, and the security parameter, respectively. Our protocol is efficient, because the only building blocks we need are threshold signatures which have been used in various Byzantine fault-tolerant (BFT) protocols (e.g., SBFT, HoneyBadgerBFT, HotStuff). Our protocol is the first asynchronous BRB protocol that breaks the known O ( nL + kn 2 ) bound.
Importance of quality AC power distribution and understanding of EMC standards IEC 61000-3-2, IEC 61000-3-3 and IEC 61000-3-11

The aim of this technical paper is to bring out the importance of regulations on AC power distributions on AC power distribution and understanding of the international EMC standards IEC 61000-3-2 (1998) that deals with the limitation of harmonic currents injected into the public mains supply, IEC 61000-3-3 (1994) and IEC 61000-3-11 (2000) those deal with measure of the ability of the product to cause voltage fluctuations and lightning to flicker at frequencies which cause human discomfort. The paper discusses the cause and effects of power harmonics, voltage fluctuations and flicker, in the power distribution system. The paper explains how the switched-mode power conversion technology based power supplies can cause a variety of undesirable effects in the power distribution system. It also presents how the power quality of the AC mains deteriorate due to voltage fluctuations caused by phase-controlled AC input operated electrical devices. The sources of "flicker" and its effects on human safety are also highlighted. An overview of EMC standards, IEC 61000-3-2 and IEC 61000-3-3/IEC 61000-3-11 is presented in this paper. Finally, experimental results of a product evaluated for EMC compliance as per IEC 61000-3-2 and IEC 61000-3-3 are also presented.
HARPOCRATES: An Approach Towards Efficient Encryption of Data-at-rest

This paper proposes a new block cipher called HARPOCRA-TES, which is diﬀerent from traditional SPN, Feistel, or ARX designs. The new design structure that we use is called the substitution convolution network. The novelty of the approach lies in that the substitu-tion function does not use ﬁxed S-boxes. Instead, it uses a key-driven lookup table storing a permutation of all 8-bit values. If the lookup table is suﬃciently randomly shuﬄed, the round sub-operations achieve good confusion and diﬀusion to the cipher. While designing the cipher, the security, cost, and performances are balanced, keeping the requirements of encryption of data-at-rest in mind. The round sub-operations are massively parallelizable and designed such that a single active bit may make the entire state (an 8 × 16 binary matrix) active in one round. We analyze the security of the cipher against linear, diﬀerential, and impossible diﬀerential cryptanalysis. The cipher’s resistance against many other attacks like algebraic attacks, structural attacks, and weak keys are also shown. We implemented the cipher in software and hardware; found that the software implementation of the cipher results in better throughput than many well-known ciphers. Although HARPOCRATES is appropriate for the encryption of data-at-rest, it is also well-suited in data-in-transit environments.
Interactive Self-Assembling Agent Ensembles

In this paper, we bridge the gap between procedural content generation (PCG) and user-generated content (UGC) by proposing and demonstrating an interactive agent-based model of self-assembling ensembles that can be directed though user input. We motivate these eﬀorts by considering the opportunities technology provides to pursue game designs based on according game design frameworks. We present three diﬀerent use cases of the proposed model that emphasize its potential to (1) self-assemble into predeﬁned 3D graphical assets, (2) deﬁne new structures in the context of virtual environments by self-assembling layers on the surfaces of arbitrary 3D objects, and (3) allow novel structures to self-assemble only considering the model’s conﬁguration and no external dependencies. To address the performance restrictions in computer games, we realized the prototypical model implementation by means of an eﬃcient entity component system (ECS). We conclude the paper with an outlook on future steps to further explore novel interactive, dynamic PCG mechanics and to ensure their eﬃciency.
Methadone N-demethylation by the common CYP2B6 allelic variant CYP2B6.6

The long-acting opioid methadone displays considerable unexplained interindividual pharmacokinetic variability. Methadone metabolism clinically occurs primarily by N-demethylation to 2-ethyl-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), catalyzed predominantly by cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6). Retrospective studies suggest an influence of the common allele variant CYP2B6*6 on methadone plasma concentrations. The catalytic activity of CYP2B6.6, encoded by CYP2B6*6, is highly substrate-dependent. This investigation evaluated methadone N-demethylation by CYP2B6.6, and in comparison to that by wild-type CYP2B6.1. Methadone enantiomer and racemate N-demethylation by recombinant expressed CYP2B6.6 and CYP2B6.1 was determined. At substrate concentrations (0.25-2 µM) approximating plasma concentrations occurring clinically, rates of methadone enantiomer N-demethylation by CYP2B6.6, incubated individually or as the racemate, were one-third to one-fourth those by CYP2B6.1. For methadone individual enantiomers metabolism by CYP2B6.6 compared with CYP2B6.1, V max was diminished, K s was greater, the in vitro intrinsic clearance was diminished 5- to 6-fold. The intrinsic clearance for R- and S-EDDP formation from racemic methadone was diminished approximately 6-fold and 3-fold for R- and S-methadone. Both CYP2B6.6 and CYP2B6.1 showed similar stereoselectivity (S>R-methadone). Human liver microsomes with diminished CYP2B6 content due to a CYP2B6*6 allele had lower rates of methadone N-demethylation. Results show that methadone N-demethylation catalyzed by CYP2B6.6, the CYP2B6 variant encoded by the CYP2B6*6 polymorphism, is catalytically deficient compared with wild-type CYP2B6.1. Diminished methadone N-demethylation by CYP2B6.6 may provide a mechanistic explanation for clinical observations of altered methadone disposition in individuals carrying the CYP2B6*6 polymorphism.
Immunologic Specificity of Transfer Factor

This study examined the immunologic specificity of transfer factor using a chromatographically purified transfer factor preparation. The specificity of transfer was examined utilizing immunity to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and tuberculin. Transfer factor prepared from a donor immune to KLH successfully transferred KLH skin test reactivity to 10 out of 10 recipients. In contrast, comparable amounts of transfer factor from two donors not immune to KLH failed to transfer immunity to KLH in 11 recipients despite evidence for successful transfer of tuberculin reactivity. Unlike prior studies with a variety of antigens, the immunity to KLH in recipients of KLH immune transfer factor appeared comparable to that of the donor since both could be elicited with the same skin test antigen dose. These observations indicate that transfer factor can initiate a specific immune response to an antigen not previously encountered by the recipient and that in certain circumstances this immune response can be comparable to that of the donor. These observations on specificity and potency of transfer factor have important implications for the clinical use of this material. A B S T R A C T This study examined the immunologic specificity of transfer factor using a chromatographically purified transfer factor preparation. The specificity of transfer was examined utilizing immunity to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and tuberculin. Transfer factor prepared from a donor immune to KLH successfully transferred KLH skin test reactivity to 10 out of 10 recipients. In contrast, comparable amounts of transfer factor from two donors not immune to KLH failed to transfer immunity to KLH in 11 recipients despite evidence for successful transfer of tuberculin reactivity. Unlike prior studies with a variety of antigens, the immunity to KLH in recipients of KLH immune transfer factor appeared comparable to that of the donor since both could be elicited with the same skin test antigen dose. These observations indicate that transfer factor can initiate a specific immune response to an antigen not previously encountered by the recipient and that in certain circumstances this immune response can be comparable to that of the donor. These observations on specificity and potency of transfer factor have important implications for the clinical use of this material elutes five-fourths total bed volume of the and the use of a volatile buffer allows quantitation in terms of weight after lyophilization. For this study, TFc was administered as a single subcutaneous of 250 jig, the product of approximately 4 X 10' lymphocytes.
Infusion of e-Procurement at Indonesian Local Government

: This study examines information system (IS) Infusion Model of e-Procurement at City Government of Bengkulu. This study uses 68 e-Procurement's users distributed by self-administered questionnaire. Data examined using Partial Least Square (PLS) technique. The results show that the opportunity appraisal, threat appraisal, and secondary appraisal have an important role in improving problem-focused adaptation and emotional-focused adaptation. However, only opportunity appraisals have an important role in promoting problem-focused adaptation. Also, only problem-focused adaptation predict IS infusion. Implication for stakeholder and further research are discussed.
Does failing the first assessment affect withdrawal decisions at course level? An empirical evidence

Classical evaluation models were based on measuring the grades of a test or set of tests performing along a specific course. The method had drawbacks, and continuous evaluation is nowadays a preferred method. Continuous evaluation performs a continuous measure of the progress the student fulfils to achieve learning outcomes. However, and in practice, continuous evaluation systems usually consist – or at least, include – a set of assessments along the course which are graded and computed. In this article, we demonstrate the relevance of the first test grade in terms of withdrawal. We make use of a quite uncommon method in learning analytics, such as survival curves. The method is commonly used in other fields, and in particular in medicine, to detect differences among populations under study. Practical implementation will be carried out by analyzing a dataset containing higher education online university courses. Results show that the students failing the first grade show not only higher withdrawal rates, but also disengage earlier from the course. This evidence should reinforce the need to design actions targeted to this group, but also to use an initial test as a measure of engagement.
Extraction and Calculation of Roadway Area from Satellite Images Using Improved Deep Learning Model and Post-Processing

Roadway area calculation is a novel problem in remote sensing and urban planning. This paper models this problem as a two-step problem, roadway extraction, and area calculation. Roadway extraction from satellite images is a problem that has been tackled many times before. This paper proposes a method using pixel resolution to calculate the area of the roads covered in satellite images. The proposed approach uses novel U-net and Resnet architectures called U-net++ and ResNeXt. The state-of-the-art model is combined with the proposed efficient post-processing approach to improve the overlap with ground truth labels. The performance of the proposed road extraction algorithm is evaluated on the Massachusetts dataset and it is shown that the proposed approach outperforms the existing solutions which use models from the U-net family.
Compact diplexer using microstrip half- and quarter-wavelength resonators

This Letter presents a compact microstrip diplexer. The high-frequency signal path is constructed by two electrically-coupling half-wavelength resonators, its external coupling adopts the tapped line structure. The low-frequency signal path is formed by two magnetically-coupling quarter-wavelength resonators, its external coupling is accomplished by microstrip coupling lines, which are formed from the tapped line structure and resonator of the high-frequency signal paths. The novel combination of the two signal path removes the need of T-junction in conventional diplexers. Meantime, the coupling strength of the two pass bands at the input port can be separately designed. A diplexer with Chebyshev frequency response at both signal paths with the central frequencies of 1.8/2.4 GHz is designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results give a good agreement with the simulated ones, which verifies the effectiveness of the diplexer.
Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Model of Healthcare Professionals on Hearing Loss at Elderly Dementia Residences in Korea

Due to a lack of knowledge about age-related hearing loss, its early identification and appropriate intervention are not being carried out in the field of dementia care. Since the untreated hearing loss of the elderly leads to a more rapid cognitive decline, the present study aimed to understand the hearing-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals in long-term care (LTC) facilities in Korea. A total of 557 workers (104 facility managers and 453 healthcare professionals) in residential LTC participated in this cross-sectional multicenter survey study. The Korean version of the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) on-line survey with a five-point scale or yes/no response was applied as the experimental tool. The results of structural equation modeling showed that knowledge significantly affected the attitudes and health-seeking practices of the facility manager, and allied healthcare professionals demonstrated similar results, which showed the significant effects of that knowledge on attitudes and health-seeking practices. This clearly indicated that sufficient knowledge is the driving force for the health-seeking practices and positive attitudes of both the facility manager and the healthcare professionals. Thus, we suggest that a further step, such as the development of comprehensive and professional guidelines regarding hearing care information for these professionals in residential LTC facilities, should be followed, and believe that this effort could lead to improving hearing-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in order to clinically and politically care for the elderly population.
Potential Resilience to Ocean Acidification of Benthic Foraminifers Living in Posidonia oceanica Meadows: The Case of the Shallow Venting Site of Panarea

This research shows the results regarding the response to acidic condition of the sediment and Posidonia foraminiferal assemblages collected around the Panarea Island. The Aeolian Archipelago represents a natural laboratory and a much-promising study site for multidisciplinary marine research (carbon capture and storage, geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids and ocean acidification vs. benthic and pelagic organisms). The variability and the complexity of the interaction of the ecological factors characterizing extreme environments such as shallow hydrothermal vents did not allow us to carry out a real pattern of biota responses in situ, differently from those observed under controlled laboratory conditions. However, the study provides new insights into foraminiferal response to increasing ocean acidification (OA) in terms of biodiversity, faunal density, specific composition of the assemblages and morphological variations of the shells. The study highlights how the foraminiferal response to different pH conditions can change depending on different environmental conditions and microhabitats (sediments, Posidonia leaves and rhizomes). Indeed, mineral sediments were more impacted by acidification, whereas Posidonia microhabitats, thanks to their buffer effect, can offer “refugia” and more mitigated acidic environment. At species level, rosalinids and agglutinated group represent the most abundant taxa showing the most specific resilience and capability to face acidic conditions.
Reconsidering Pye's theory of making through digital craft practice: A theoretical framework towards continuous designing

The term 'Digital Craft' is commonly applied in the context of craft as exercised with the aid of digital technology. If the application of digital tools and techniques merits the term digital craft, then where does the craft lie in Computer Numeric Control (CNC) making? This article takes the position that craft practice is rooted in the relationship between materials, tools and techniques as an intricate workflow. We suggest that the workflow can be considered as autopoietic in nature, in that it is both self-referential and self-making, at the same time as continuously designing. Through this, digital fabrication can be seen as a practice that co-evolves technology and material systems. The first author took a step back and reconsidered David Pye's theory of making in relationship to digital craft practice. This is later cross-examined with a series of semi-structured interviews with contemporary craft practitioners, to devise a systematic approach to the analysis of craft practices. This research stems from the first author's background in architecture, whose design practice is craft based using digital fabrication technology. Through this research, we examined making as a means of generating design knowledge in the process. The article suggests that the authenticity of craft lies within the deeper structure of the practice: the formation of repertoire where its social and cultural meaning is derived through coupling the practice with other systems.
Novel Assessment of Region-Based CNNs for Detecting Monocot/Dicot Weeds in Dense Field Environments

Weeding operations represent an effective approach to increase crop yields. Reliable and precise weed detection is a prerequisite for achieving high-precision weed monitoring and control in precision agriculture. To develop an effective approach for detecting weeds within the red, green, and blue (RGB) images, two state-of-the-art object detection models, EfficientDet (coefficient 3) and YOLOv5m, were trained on more than 26,000 in situ labeled images with monocot/dicot classes recorded from more than 200 different fields in Denmark. The dataset was collected using a high velocity camera (HVCAM) equipped with a xenon ring flash that overrules the sunlight and minimize shadows, which enables the camera to record images with a horizontal velocity of over 50 km h-1. Software-wise, a novel image processing algorithm was developed and utilized to generate synthetic images for testing the model performance on some difficult occluded images with weeds that were properly generated using the proposed algorithm. Both deep-learning networks were trained on in-situ images and then evaluated on both synthetic and new unseen in-situ images to assess their performances. The obtained average precision (AP) of both EfficientDet and YOLOv5 models on 6625 synthetic images were 64.27% and 63.23%, respectively, for the monocot class and 45.96% and 37.11% for the dicot class. These results confirmed that both deep-learning networks could detect weeds with high performance. However, it is essential to verify both the model’s robustness on in-situ images in which there is heavy occlusion with a complicated background. Therefore, 1149 in-field images were recorded in 5 different fields in Denmark and then utilized to evaluate both proposed model’s robustness. In the next step, by running both models on 1149 in-situ images, the AP of monocot/dicot for EfficientDet and YOLOv5 models obtained 27.43%/42.91% and 30.70%/51.50%, respectively. Furthermore, this paper provides information regarding challenges of monocot/dicot weed detection by releasing 1149 in situ test images with their corresponding labels (RoboWeedMap) publicly to facilitate the research in the weed detection domain within the precision agriculture field.
A PRIMAL-DUAL IPMS FOR SDO PROBLEM BASED ON A NEW KERNEL FUNCTION WITH A LOGARITHMIC BARRIER TERM

In this paper, we consider primal-dual Interior Point Method $(IPMs)$ for semidefinite optimization problem $(SDO)$ problems, based on a new kernel function with a logarithmic barrier term, which play an important role for generating a new design of primaldual (IPM) algorithms. New search directions and proximity functions are proposed, based on this kernel function.We proved that our algorithm has $\mathbf{O}\left( qsn^{\frac{sq+1}{2sq}}\log \left( \frac{n}{\epsilon }\right) \right) $ iteration bound for large-update methods and $\mathbf{O}\left(q^{2}s^{2}\sqrt{n}\log \left( \frac{n}{\epsilon }\right) \right) $ iteration bound for small-update methods. Finally, for its numerical tests, some strategies are used and indicate that the algorithm is efficient.
Nanoscale imaging applications of soft X-ray microscope based on a gas-puff target source

A compact microscope based on nitrogen double stream gas puff target soft X-ray source, which emits radiation in the water-window spectral range, at the wavelength of λ = 2.88 nm, is presented. The microscope, employing ellipsoidal grazing incidence condenser and a Fresnel zone plate objective, is capable of capturing images with a 60 nm spatial resolution and exposure time as low as a few seconds. Examples of different applications of the SXR microscopy, and its applicability for various fields of science, are presented and discussed.
A RFI detecting method based on multiple statistical characteristics for interferometric microwave radiometers

Interferometric radiometers play an important role in microwave remote sensing. The measurements provide massive amounts of information for earth observation. However, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) sources can deteriorate scientific data quality, if they haven’t been detected properly. In this paper, we describe a RFI detecting method based on multiple statistical characteristics, and experiments have been carried out on global brightness temperature to demonstrate its effectiveness.