nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
10 Pheromone Action in the Fungal Groups Chytridiomycetes and Zygomycetes and in the Oophytes

In the three organismic groups considered, one noticeable observation concerning pheromone action recurs. The sexual interactions in large systematic units are mediated by the same or very similar substances at least at the level of genera and probably families in chytridiomycetes and oophytes and even in a whole class in zygomycetes. Nevertheless, different levels of specificity exist within each group, enabling recognition of a compatible mating partner belonging to the same species. In oophytes and zygomycetes, species specificity is, at a first level of recognition, realised by using different derivatives and isomers of a common basic compound and, subsequently and most probably more specifically, via interactions of individual surface components.
Natural Products as Sources of New Drugs from 1981 to 2014.
Venue: Journal of natural products

This contribution is a completely updated and expanded version of the four prior analogous reviews that were published in this journal in 1997, 2003, 2007, and 2012. In the case of all approved therapeutic agents, the time frame has been extended to cover the 34 years from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 2014, for all diseases worldwide, and from 1950 (earliest so far identified) to December 2014 for all approved antitumor drugs worldwide. As mentioned in the 2012 review, we have continued to utilize our secondary subdivision of a "natural product mimic" or "NM" to join the original primary divisions and the designation "natural product botanical" or "NB" to cover those botanical "defined mixtures" now recognized as drug entities by the U.S. FDA (and similar organizations) From the data presented in this review, the utilization of natural products and/or their novel structures, in order to discover and develop the final drug entity, is still alive and well. For example, in the area of cancer, over the time frame from around the 1940s to the end of 2014, of the 175 small molecules approved, 131, or 75% are other than "S" (synthetic) with 85, or 49% actually being either natural products or directly derived therefrom. In other areas, the influence of natural product structures is quite marked, with, as expected from prior information, the anti infective area being dependent on natural products and their structures. We wish to draw the attention of readers to the rapidly evolving recognition that a significant number of natural product drugs/leads are actually produced by microbes and/or microbial interactions with the "host from whence it was isolated" and therefore it is considered that this area of natural product research should be expanded significantly.
Information Fiduciaries and the First Amendment

This article introduces the concept of an information fiduciary to explain how to protect digital privacy and prevent overreaching by online enterprises consistent with the First Amendment. An information fiduciary is someone who, because of their relationship with another, assumes special duties with respect to the information they obtain in the course of the relationship. Traditional information fiduciaries include professionals with special skills like doctors and lawyers. Clients cannot easily observe and monitor what professionals do and are dependent on professional expertise; moreover, professionals expect and encourage clients to have confidence in them. Lacking knowledge, skill, and the ability to monitor, clients must trust that these fiduciaries will not abuse their position and misuse the information they obtain from their clients.For similar reasons, many online service providers and cloud companies should be considered as information fiduciaries with respect to their customers, clients, and end users. They keep their operations secret and they encourage end users to trust them; moreover, end users do not understand and cannot monitor how their information will be used in the future.The duties of this new class of digital information fiduciaries may differ from and be more limited than those of traditional fiduciaries. Permissible regulations depend on the nature of their businesses and the kinds of trust and confidence they encourage from their end users and clients. Governments may impose privacy regulations to enforce these fiduciary obligations without violating the First Amendment.Similar reasoning explains how courts should modify the third party doctrine in Fourth Amendment law. People should have a reasonable expectation that those who owe them fiduciary duties of trust and confidence will not betray them to third parties, including the government. If new digital online service providers are information fiduciaries, end users should have reasonable expectations of privacy in at least some of the information shared with them. Hence governments must show probable cause and/or obtain a warrant to access this information. The same reasons that governments may protect personal information under the First Amendment also provide justifications for a reasonable expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment.
Intention Based Information Retrieval of Electronic Health Records
Venue: 2016 IEEE 25th International Conference on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises (WETICE)

The large volume of information stored in electronical health records is very valuable in the medical field, e.g. for clinical research and administrative purposes. However, health care professionals still face difficulties to recover and select relevant data. Although literature has investigated the influence of lexical, syntactical and semantic parameters in information retrieval techniques, few studies explore intentions as explicit users' actions in information recovery. This article studies means of considering intentions in search engines. We define a method with an original algorithm to properly rank search results from a set of electronical health records. This investigation relies on well established theories to categorize several types of intentions. The proposed technique is based on knowledge representation models for annotating meanings and intentions in medical records. Achieved results are illustrated in scenarios based on real medical cases.
Theory Based User Modeling for Personalized interactive Information Retrieval
Venue: UMAP

In an effort to improve users' search experiences during their information seeking process, providing a personalized information retrieval system is proposed to be one of the effective approaches. To personalize the search systems requires a good understanding of the users. User modeling has been approved to be a good method for learning and representing users. Therefore many user modeling studies have been carried out and some user models have been developed. The majority of the user modeling studies applies inductive approach, and only small number of studies employs deductive approach. In this paper, an EISE (Extended Information goal, Search strategy and Evaluation threshold) user model is proposed, which uses the deductive approach based on psychology theories and an existing user model. Ten users' interactive search log obtained from the real search engine is applied to validate the proposed user model. The preliminary validation results show that the EISE model can be applied to identify different types of users. The search preferences of the different user types can be applied to inform interactive search system design and development. CCS Concepts *Human centered computing HCI design and evaluation methods; User models; *Information systems Users and interactive retrieval; Personalization;
Physical inactivity during leisure time and irregular meals are associated with functional gastrointestinal complaints in middle aged and elder subjects
Venue: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology

Few studies have examined how lifestyle factors affect functional gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to see if leisure time physical inactivity, dietary habits or body mass index (BMI) were associated with increased risk of functional abdominal pain, functional bloating, functional constipation or functional diarrhea.  This study was based on a questionnaire as part of the Swedish EpiHealth study. The cohort included 16,840 subjects between 45 and 75 years of age. Subjects with organic gastrointestinal diseases were excluded. Gastrointestinal symptoms were defined as functional abdominal pain, functional bloating, functional constipation and functional diarrhea. A meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) was considered irregular if not taken every day. The impact of leisure time physical activity, dietary habits and BMI on functional symptoms were examined by logistic regression, adjusted for age, gender, socio economy, smoking and alcohol habits.  Higher the degree of physical activity, lower the risk for all kind of gastrointestinal complaints (p 0.001) Intakes of lunch more seldom or never versus every day were associated with diarrhea (OR: 1.592; 95% CI: 1.046 2.422) Irregular breakfast habits tended to associate with bloating (OR: 1.366; 95% CI 0.995 1.874) BMI was not significantly associated with gastrointestinal complaints, but BMI =25 kg/m2 tended to reduce risk of constipation compared with BMI <25 kg/m2.  Physical inactivity during leisure time shows independent associations with all functional gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas irregular dietary habits mainly associates with functional diarrhea. Higher degree of physical activity is associated with corresponding risk reductions of symptoms.
Lung nodule detection using 3D convolutional neural networks trained on weakly labeled data
Venue: SPIE Medical Imaging

Early detection of lung nodules is currently the one of the most effective ways to predict and treat lung cancer. As a result, the past decade has seen a lot of focus on computer aided diagnosis (CAD) of lung nodules, whose goal is to efficiently detect, segment lung nodules and classify them as being benign or malignant. Effective detection of such nodules remains a challenge due to their arbitrariness in shape, size and texture. In this paper, we propose to employ 3D convolutional neural networks (CNN) to learn highly discriminative features for nodule detection in lieu of hand engineered ones such as geometric shape or texture. While 3D CNNs are promising tools to model the spatio temporal statistics of data, they are limited by their need for detailed 3D labels, which can be prohibitively expensive when compared obtaining 2D labels. Existing CAD methods rely on obtaining detailed labels for lung nodules, to train models, which is also unrealistic and time consuming. To alleviate this challenge, we propose a solution wherein the expert needs to provide only a point label, i.e. the central pixel of of the nodule, and its largest expected size. We use unsupervised segmentation to grow out a 3D region, which is used to train the CNN. Using experiments on the SPIE LUNGx dataset, we show that the network trained using these weak labels can produce reasonably low false positive rates with a high sensitivity, even in the absence of accurate 3D labels.
Spritz a spongy RC4 like stream cipher and hash function
Venue: IACR Cryptol. ePrint Arch.

This note reconsiders the design of the stream cipher RC4, and proposes an improved variant, which we call \Spritz" (since the output comes in ne drops rather than big blocks. Our work leverages the considerable cryptanalytic work done on the original RC4 and its proposed variants. It also uses simulations extensively to search for biases and to guide the selection of intermediate expressions. We estimate that Spritz can produce output with about 24 cycles/byte of computation. Furthermore, our statistical tests suggest that about 2 81 bytes of output are needed before one can reasonably distinguish Spritz output from random output; this is a marked improvement over RC4. In addition, we formulate Spritz as a \sponge (or sponge like) function,"[5] which can Absorb new data at any time, and from which one can Squeeze pseudorandom output sequences of arbitrary length. Spritz can thus be easily adapted for use as a cryptographic hash function, an encryption algorithm, or a message authentication code generator. (However, in hash function mode, Spritz is rather slow.
More Efficient Privacy Amplification With Less Random Seeds via Dual Universal Hash Function
Venue: IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory

We explicitly construct random hash functions for privacy amplification (extractors) that require smaller random seed lengths than the previous literature, and still allow efficient implementations with complexity $O(n\log n) for input length $n$ The key idea is the concept of dual universal2 hash function introduced recently. We also use a new method for constructing extractors by concatenating \delta almost dual universal2 hash functions with other extractors. Besides minimizing seed lengths, we also introduce methods that allow one to use non uniform random seeds for extractors. These methods can be applied to a wide class of extractors, including dual universal2 hash function, as well as to the conventional universal2 hash functions.
Quantum Hash function and its application to privacy amplification in quantum key distribution, pseudo random number generation and image encryption
Venue: Scientific reports

Quantum information and quantum computation have achieved a huge success during the last years. In this paper, we investigate the capability of quantum Hash function, which can be constructed by subtly modifying quantum walks, a famous quantum computation model. It is found that quantum Hash function can act as a hash function for the privacy amplification process of quantum key distribution systems with higher security. As a byproduct, quantum Hash function can also be used for pseudo random number generation due to its inherent chaotic dynamics. Further we discuss the application of quantum Hash function to image encryption and propose a novel image encryption algorithm. Numerical simulations and performance comparisons show that quantum Hash function is eligible for privacy amplification in quantum key distribution, pseudo random number generation and image encryption in terms of various hash tests and randomness tests. It extends the scope of application of quantum computation and quantum information.
Hash Function Based PRFs: AMAC and Its Multi User Security
Venue: EUROCRYPT

\mathsf {AMAC}$AMAC is a simple and fast candidate construction of a PRF from an MD style hash function which applies the keyed hash function and then a cheap, un keyed output transform such as truncation. Spurred by its use in the widely deployed Ed25519 signature scheme, this paper investigates the provable PRF security of \mathsf {AMAC}$AMAC to deliver the following three fold message: 1 First, we prove PRF security of \mathsf {AMAC}$AMAC. 2 Second, we show that \mathsf {AMAC}$AMAC has a quite unique and attractive feature, namely that its multi user security is essentially as good as its single user security and in particular superior in some settings to that of competitors. 3 Third, it is technically interesting, its security and analysis intrinsically linked to security of the compression function in the presence of leakage.
Hash One: a lightweight cryptographic hash function
Venue: IET Inf. Secur.

The increased demand for lightweight applications has triggered the need for appropriate security mechanisms in them. Lightweight cryptographic hash functions are among the major responses toward such a requirement. The authors thus have a handful of such hash functions such as QUARK, PHOTON, SPONGENT and GLUON introduced already. The cryptanalysis of these hash functions is crucial in analysing their strength and often calls for improvement in designs. Their performance, are also to be taken care of, in terms of both software and hardware implementations. Here, they propose a lightweight hash function with reduced complexity in terms of hardware implementation, capable of achieving standard security. It uses sponge construction with permutation function involving the update of two non linear feedback shift registers. Thus, in terms of sponge capacity it provides at least 80 bit security against generic attacks which is acceptable currently.
Neeva: A Lightweight Hash Function
Venue: IACR Cryptol. ePrint Arch.

RFID technology is one of the major applications of lightweight cryptography where security and cost both are equally essential or we may say that cost friendly cryptographic tools have given more weightage. In this paper, we propose a lightweight hash, Neeva hash satisfying the very basic idea of lightweight cryptography. Neeva hash is based on sponge mode of iteration with software friendly permutation which provides great efficiency and required security in RFID technology. The proposed hash can be used for many application based purposes.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Mexico as preparation for higher education

In this study we analyse the relationship between Mexican students' enrolment in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and their college preparedness using a case study methodology. We found that from the Mexican schools that offer the IB DP, most IB students are fairly successful in their college applications, such that the majority enrols at among the most well regarded post secondary institutions in Mexico. The possibility that IB DP grades and/or examination records might help boost students' college admissions options does not seem to be a primary motivating factor for students' IB DP enrolment. Rather, we found that students enrol in the IB DP because they think it will help prepare them to successfully handle college level work. Students and educators believe that various aspects of the IB DP prepare them for college level work, including the Theory of Knowledge course, the Extended Essay and the Creativity, Action and Service programme.
The Effect of Instruction Using English Movies in Learning Attitude and Achievements in College Education

This paper examines the effect of using English movies in learning attitude and achievements in a graduation certification replacement course. The subjects were 10 seniors who haven't obtained the minimum TOEIC requirement scores to be eligible to graduate and therefore, mandatorily took the course in summer of 2015. The course used 5 English movies and the subjects were to dictate what they could hear from the movies, make presentation after each movie, and to complete the questionnaire to learn their motivation and attitude toward the course. Pre and post mock TOEIC tests were administered to compare the results. The subjects' dictation was analyzed to see the improvement in their listening. The study also compared the results with those of Lee's(2014) study on the same course not using movies. The results of the study showed improvement of 22 points whereas only 11 points were improved among the ones without movie watching. The attitudes of the subjects were noticeably better among the movie watching group and the class was manageable unlike the previous courses. It can be concluded that using movies in the class for the students' motivation and learning attitude especially the ones whose TOEIC scores are very low and without motivation to study English. However, selection of the movies has to consider students' interest, theme and length of the movie.
Trails of river monsters: Detecting critically endangered Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas using environmental DNA

Pressures on freshwater biodiversity in Southeast Asia are accelerating, yet the status and conservation needs of many of the region's iconic fish species are poorly known. The Mekong is highly species diverse and supports four of the six largest freshwater fish globally, three of which, including Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) are Critically Endangered. Emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have potential for monitoring threatened freshwater biodiversity, yet have not been applied in complex and biodiverse tropical ecosystems such as the Mekong. We developed species specific primers for amplifying Mekong giant catfish DNA. In situ validation demonstrated that the DNA amplification was successful for all samples taken in reservoirs with known presence of Mekong giant catfish independent of fish density. We collected water samples from six deep pools on the Mekong, identified through Local Ecological Knowledge, in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. DNA was extracted and amplified from these samples using the designed primers and probes. Mekong giant catfish DNA was detected from one sample from the species' presumed spawning grounds on the Mekong mainstream, near the border between northern Thailand and Lao PDR. eDNA sampling using species specific primers has potential for surveying and monitoring poorly known species from complex tropical aquatic environments. However accounting for false absences is likely to be required for the method to function with precision when applied to extremely rare species that are highly dispersed within a large river system. We recommend that such approach be utilised more widely by freshwater conservation practitioners for specific applications. The method is best suited for baseline biodiversity assessments or to identify and prioritise locations for more rigorous sampling. Our methods are particularly relevant for systems or species with limited baseline data or with physical characteristics that logistically limit the application of conventional methods. Such attributes are typical of large tropical rivers such as the Mekong, Congo, or Amazon.
Next generation monitoring of aquatic biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding
Venue: Molecular ecology

Global biodiversity in freshwater and the oceans is declining at high rates. Reliable tools for assessing and monitoring aquatic biodiversity, especially for rare and secretive species, are important for efficient and timely management. Recent advances in DNA sequencing have provided a new tool for species detection from DNA present in the environment. In this study, we tested whether an environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach, using water samples, can be used for addressing significant questions in ecology and conservation. Two key aquatic vertebrate groups were targeted: amphibians and bony fish. The reliability of this method was cautiously validated in silico, in vitro and in situ. When compared with traditional surveys or historical data, eDNA metabarcoding showed a much better detection probability overall. For amphibians, the detection probability with eDNA metabarcoding was 0.97 (CI 0.90 0.99) vs. 0.58 (CI 0.50 0.63) for traditional surveys. For fish, in 89% of the studied sites, the number of taxa detected using the eDNA metabarcoding approach was higher or identical to the number detected using traditional methods. We argue that the proposed DNA based approach has the potential to become the next generation tool for ecological studies and standardized biodiversity monitoring in a wide range of aquatic ecosystems.