nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Universally Composable Authentication and Key Exchange with Global PKI
Venue: Public Key Cryptography

Message authentication and key exchange are two of the most basic tasks of cryptography and are often basic components in complex and security sensitive protocols. Thus composable security analysis of these primitives is highly motivated. Still, the state of the art in composable security analysis of these primitives is somewhat unsatisfactory in the prevalent case where solutions are based on public key infrastructure PKI. Specifically, existing treatments either ai 3/4 ?make the unrealistic assumption that the PKI is accessible only within the confines of the protocol itself, thus failing to capture real world PKI based authentication, or bi 3/4 ?impose often unnecessary requirements such as strong on line non transferability on candidate protocols, thus ruling out natural candidates. We give a modular and universally composable analytical framework for PKI based message authentication and key exchange protocols. This framework guarantees security even when the PKI is pre existing and globally available, without being unnecessarily restrictive. Specifically, we model PKI as a global set up functionality within the Globali 3/4 ?UC security model [Canetti eti 3/4 ?al. TCC 2007] and relax the ideal authentication and key exchange functionalities accordingly. We then demonstrate the security of basic signature based authentication and key exchange protocols. Our modeling makes minimal security assumptions on the PKI in use; in particular, "knowledge of the secret key" is not needed. Furthermore, there is no requirement of uniqueness in this binding: an identity may be represented by multiple strings of public keys.
Multi Scale Context Aggregation by Dilated Convolutions
Venue: ICLR

State of the art models for semantic segmentation are based on adaptations of convolutional networks that had originally been designed for image classification. However, dense prediction and image classification are structurally different. In this work, we develop a new convolutional network module that is specifically designed for dense prediction. The presented module uses dilated convolutions to systematically aggregate multi scale contextual information without losing resolution. The architecture is based on the fact that dilated convolutions support exponential expansion of the receptive field without loss of resolution or coverage. We show that the presented context module increases the accuracy of state of the art semantic segmentation systems. In addition, we examine the adaptation of image classification networks to dense prediction and show that simplifying the adapted network can increase accuracy.
A non linear mixed effects model of plant growth and estimation via stochastic variants of the EM algorithm

There is a strong genetic variability among plants, even of the same variety, which, combined with the locally varying environmental conditions in a given field, can lead to the development of highly different neighboring plants. This is one of the reasons why population based methods for modeling plant growth are of great interest. GreenLab is a functional structural plant growth model which has already been shown to be successful in describing plant growth dynamics primarily at individual level. In this study, we extend its formulation to the population level. In order to model the deviations from some fixed but unknown important biophysical and genetic parameters we introduce random effects. The resulting model can be cast into the framework of non linear mixed models, which can be seen as particular types of incomplete data models. A stochastic variant of an EM type algorithm (expectation maximization) is generally needed to perform maximum likelihood estimation for this type of models. Under some assumptions, the complete data distribution belongs to a subclass of the exponential family of distributions for which the M step can be solved explicitly. In such cases, the interest is focused on the best approximation of the E step by competing simulation methods. In this direction, we propose to compare two commonly used stochastic algorithms: the Monte Carlo EM (MCEM) and the SAEM algorithm. The performances of both algorithms are compared on simulated data, and an application to real data from sugar beet plants is also given.
On the number of claims until ruin in a two barrier renewal risk model with Erlang mixtures
Venue: J. Comput. Appl. Math.

In this paper, we consider the renewal risk model and we are interested in the distribution of the number of claims until the first time that insurer's surplus process falls below zero (ruin) or exceeds a predefined upper barrier b u (safety level) immediately after the payment of a claim. By using exponentially tilted measures we derive an expression for the joint generating function of and S the surplus amount at termination time. This expression is built upon the generating functions of the overshoot and undershoot of the surplus process. Furthermore, we offer explicit results for the case where the claim amounts and the claim inter arrival times follow mixed Erlang Distributions. We finally propose and implement an algorithm for the numerical calculation of the distributions of interest via appropriate computer algebra software.
Transnational Nationalism and Idealistic Science: The Alcohol Question between the Wars
Venue: Social history of medicine the journal of the Society for the Social History of Medicine

This article studies the interwar international conferences on the alcohol problem. How did they view the alcohol problem and its causes; what were the consequences for the individual and the society as a whole; and which solutions merited discussion? The first post war conferences enjoyed an optimistic and internationalistic atmosphere, added to by American prohibition, which had given the temperance movement plenty to be hopeful about. But when the 1920s turned to the 1930s, the conferences were transformed into arenas for national solutions and into outright propaganda pieces. The responses to the alcohol problem debated in the interwar conferences built on a combination of scientifically masked ideological conviction and ideologically inspired passion for science. The apparently neutral ethics of such thinking was manifested in various radical measures to combat alcohol abuse.
Abraham Joshua Heschel and Nostra Aetate: Shaping the Catholic Reconsideration of Judaism during Vatican II

Although Nostra Aetate is only comprised of five short paragraphs, this document represents a turning point, not just for Catholic Jewish relations, but also sketches the fundamental aims of embodying the Christian faith in a pluralistic age. There is a complex but important narrative that needs to be revisited so that we do not forget the ways in which Catholic learning has developed, and how this development has often been prompted by non Catholics. In this article, I will re examine some crucial details in the back story of the formulation of Nostra Aetate and offer some observations about the potential consequences of omitting these details. My argument is that some recent events and scholarship suffer from a form of amnesia about the role that Jewish people have played in the development of Catholic learning a form of amnesia that manifests in explicit proselytizing tendencies. In particular, I want to highlight the role that Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel played during the Second Vatican Council as an instructive example for Catholic Jewish dialogue today.
The Comparative Study of Chinese Japanese Temple Garden Stones

Stone" is a very important gardening element for the temple gardens, even to be the point that "no stone no garden" rockery stone home is the basic approach of the temple garden stone scene to create, and plays a very important role in our traditional gardening art in status. Learn from the achievements of the temple garden, Japanese temple garden evolves mainly for the same formations, landscape architecture Japanese temple gardens. Although imported from China, it lays the foundation for Japanese garden landscape as architecture. This paper uses literature and comparative analysis method, studies the similarities and differences between the two countries in art of stone temple garden practices, mood style, aesthetic and other aspects.
Knowledge retention strategies in public sector organizations

This article discusses knowledge retention strategies in public sector organizations in sub Saharan Africa. Based on a survey of empirical and theoretical literature the article addresses the following research questions: What organizational learning activities take place in public sector organizations? What strategies are public sector organizations using to capture and retain knowledge? What ICT infrastructure is available in public sector organizations for knowledge capturing and sharing? What challenges face public sector organizations in sub Saharan Africa in capturing and retaining knowledge? What is the current status of knowledge retention in the public sector in sub Saharan Africa? The results reveal that public sector organizations are using various strategies such as codification, personalization, training, education, workshops, seminars, storytelling, mentoring and apprenticeship to capture and retain knowledge. The ICT infrastructure available for capturing and retaining knowledge in the public sector includes institutional repositories, emails, global networks databases, portals, accounting and financial systems, human resource systems, knowledge route maps knowledge networks and discussions forums. The challenges for managing knowledge assets in public sector organizations include limited understanding of KM benefits; shortage of skill; lack of incentives or rewards to share knowledge; lack of appropriate technology; limited commitment from senior management, lack of appropriate models to learn from and brain drain. The implementation of e government initiatives across the continent was starting to institutionalize and promote knowledge management strategies in public sector organizations. The results from this article provide a foundation for knowledge management policy formulation to enhance efficiency and service delivery in public agencies.
Few layer epitaxial germanene: a novel two dimensional Dirac material
Venue: Scientific reports

Monolayer germanene, a novel graphene like germanium allotrope akin to silicene has been recently grown on metallic substrates. Lying directly on the metal surfaces the reconstructed atom thin sheets are prone to lose the massless Dirac fermion character and unique associated physical properties of free standing germanene. Here, we show that few layer germanene, which we create by dry epitaxy on a gold template, possesses Dirac cones thanks to a reduced interaction. This finding established on synchrotron radiation based photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and surface electron diffraction places few layer germanene among the rare two dimensional Dirac materials. Since germanium is currently used in the mainstream Si based electronics, perspectives of using germanene for scaling down beyond the 5 nm node appear very promising. Other fascinating properties seem at hand, typically the robust quantum spin Hall effect for applications in spintronics and the engineering of Floquet Majorana fermions by light for quantum computing.
Re evaluation of the roles of DROSHA, Exportin 5, and DICER in microRNA biogenesis
Venue: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with diverse roles in development and pathogenesis. Biogenesis of canonical miRNA requires nuclear processing by DROSHA, nuclear export by Exportin 5, and cytoplasmic processing by DICER. To gain a deeper understanding of the maturation processes, we here ablated the DROSHA, Exportin 5, and DICER genes using the same human cell line. Canonical miRNA production was abolished in DROSHA deleted cells, revealing an irreplaceable role of DROSHA. Interestingly, however, some canonical miRNAs were still produced without DICER albeit at markedly reduced levels, and many were detected in Exportin 5 deleted cells at only modestly decreased levels. Our study allows us to understand differential contributions of key biogenesis factors, and provides valuable resources for miRNA research. Biogenesis of canonical microRNAs (miRNAs) involves multiple steps: nuclear processing of primary miRNA (pri miRNA) by DROSHA, nuclear export of precursor miRNA (pre miRNA) by Exportin 5 (XPO5) and cytoplasmic processing of pre miRNA by DICER. To gain a deeper understanding of the contribution of each of these maturation steps, we deleted DROSHA, XPO5, and DICER in the same human cell line, and analyzed their effects on miRNA biogenesis. Canonical miRNA production was completely abolished in DROSHA deleted cells, whereas we detected a few DROSHA independent miRNAs including three previously unidentified noncanonical miRNAs (miR 7706, miR 3615, and miR 1254) In contrast to DROSHA knockout, many canonical miRNAs were still detected without DICER albeit at markedly reduced levels. In the absence of DICER, pre miRNAs are loaded directly onto AGO and trimmed at the 3' end, yielding miRNAs from the 5' strand (5p miRNAs) Interestingly, in XPO5 knockout cells, most miRNAs are affected only modestly, suggesting that XPO5 is necessary but not critical for miRNA maturation. Our study demonstrates an essential role of DROSHA and an important contribution of DICER in the canonical miRNA pathway, and reveals that the function of XPO5 can be complemented by alternative mechanisms. Thus, this study allows us to understand differential contributions of key biogenesis factors, and provides with valuable resources for miRNA research.
How Evolution May Work Through Curiosity Driven Developmental Process
Venue: Top. Cogn. Sci.

Infants' own activities create and actively select their learning experiences. Here we review recent models of embodied information seeking and curiosity driven learning and show that these mechanisms have deep implications for development and evolution. We discuss how these mechanisms yield self organized epigenesis with emergent ordered behavioral and cognitive developmental stages. We describe a robotic experiment that explored the hypothesis that progress in learning, in and for itself, generates intrinsic rewards: The robot learners probabilistically selected experiences according to their potential for reducing uncertainty. In these experiments, curiosity driven learning led the robot learner to successively discover object affordances and vocal interaction with its peers. We explain how a learning curriculum adapted to the current constraints of the learning system automatically formed, constraining learning and shaping the developmental trajectory. The observed trajectories in the robot experiment share many properties with those in infant development, including a mixture of regularities and diversities in the developmental patterns. Finally, we argue that such emergent developmental structures can guide and constrain evolution, in particular with regard to the origins of language.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of N Pyrazolyl Derivatives and Pyrazolopyrimidine Bearing a Biologically Active Sulfonamide Moiety as Potential Antimicrobial Agent
Venue: Molecules

A series of novel pyrazole 5 carboxylate containing N triazole derivatives 3,4; different heterocyclic amines 7a b and 10a b; pyrazolo[4,3 d]pyrimidine containing sulfa drugs 14a,b; and oxypyrazolo[4,3 d]pyrimidine derivatives 17, 19, 21 has been synthesized. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was elucidated on the basis of analytical and spectral analyses. All compounds have been screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against three gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as three fungi. The results revealed that compounds 14b and 17 had more potent antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains than reference drug Cefotaxime. Moreover compounds 4, 7b, and 12b showed excellent antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans in low inhibitory concentrations but slightly less than the reference drug miconazole against Aspergillus flavus.
Synthesis of Some Sulfa Drug Derivatives as Antibacterial Agents

Sulfonamides are an important class of synthetic bacteriostatic antibiotics still used today for the treatment of bacterial infections and those caused by other microorganisms. They are also known as sulfa drugs and were the main source of therapy against bacterial infections before the introduction of penicillin in 1941. Although sulfonamides have for the most part been replaced by other agents, they still maintain considerable action in certain types of infection, for example in the urinary tract, eye and ear, and bronchitis (Mok, 2008) The activity of the sulfa drugs has been extensively studied and can be explained in the following manner. Sulfonamides are typically administered in doses that are bacteriostatic, meaning they prevent or limit bacterial multiplication.
IL 17 superfamily cytokines modulate normal germinal center B cell migration
Venue: Journal of leukocyte biology

The germinal center (GC) is a dynamic structure formed by proliferating B cells in the follicles of secondary lymphoid organs during T cell dependent antibody responses to exogenous antigens. GC is composed by a dark zone, enriched in proliferating centroblasts (CBs) and a light zone where CBs migrate and transform into centrocytes (CCs) a minority of which is selected to survive, undergoes Ig class switch recombination, and differentiates into memory B cells or long lived plasma cells. CBs express CXCR4 and are attracted to the dark zone by stromal cell derived CXCL12, whereas CCs express CXCR5 and are recruited to the light zone along a gradient of CXCL13 produced by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) Therefore, CXCL12 and CXCL13 play crucial roles in the regulation of GC B cell trafficking. Among the numerous molecules involved in GC formation, IL 17A represents a recent addition. Its involvement has been demonstrated in mouse models of human autoimmune or infectious diseases. IL 17A belongs to the IL 17 cytokine superfamily, together with 5 additional structurally related cytokines. We have recently demonstrated that IL 17A renders freshly isolated tonsil GC B cells competent to migrate to CXCL12 and CXCL13 through a NF kBp65 dependent mechanism. Here, we review the role of IL 17A on GC cells and discuss, for the first time, common effects of the cognate cytokines IL 25 and IL 17B on GC B cell function.
Modeling the Interplay Between Tumor Volume Regression and Oxygenation in Uterine Cervical Cancer During Radiotherapy Treatment
Venue: IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics

This paper describes a patient specific mathematical model to predict the evolution of uterine cervical tumors at a macroscopic scale, during fractionated external radiotherapy. The model provides estimates of tumor regrowth and dead cell reabsorption, incorporating the interplay between tumor regression rate and radiosensitivity, as a function of the tumor oxygenation level. Model parameters were estimated by minimizing the difference between predicted and measured tumor volumes, these latter being obtained from a set of 154 serial cone beam computed tomography scans acquired on 16 patients along the course of the therapy. The model stratified patients according to two different estimated dynamics of dead cell removal and to the predicted initial value of the tumor oxygenation. The comparison with a simpler model demonstrated an improvement in fitting properties of this approach (fitting error average value ;5% p 0.01) especially in case of tumor late responses, which can hardly be handled by models entailing a constant radiosensitivity, failing to model changes from initial severe hypoxia to aerobic conditions during the treatment course. The model predictive capabilities suggest the need of clustering patients accounting for cancer cell line, tumor staging, as well as microenvironment conditions (e.g. oxygenation level)
Reference radiochromic film dosimetry: Review of technical aspects.
Venue: Physica medica PM an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics

For decades, film was used as a powerful two dimensional (2D) dosimetry tool for radiotherapy treatment verification and quality assurance. Unlike the old silver halide based radiographic films, radiochromic films change its color upon irradiation without the need for chemical development. Radiation dose deposited within a sensitive layer of the radiochromic film initiates polymerization of the active component, the degree of which depends on the amount of energy deposited. Response of the film to radiation is commonly expressed in terms of optical density change, which can be easily measured by any photometric device. However, a number of factors may have an impact on the signal detected by the measuring device. This review summarizes technical aspects associated with the establishment of reference radiochromic film dosimetry and its subsequent use for either clinical or research applications.
Free Trade and Trade Protectionism: US China Relations and Post Brexit Impact on UK China Relations

On the 2nd October 2016, the United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, that Article 50 the formal process for leaving the European Union, would be triggered by the end of March 2017. This in effect, should facilitate negotiation procedures involved during the two year period following the triggering of the Article resulting in the UK leaving the EU by the end of Summer 2019. The Prime Minister also announced that the EU Repeal Bill which would facilitate the process of making the UK independent again, was to be introduced during the Queen's Speech. The Repeal of the 1972 Act, it was added, should however, take place after the UK leaves the EU.This article explores the impact increased protectionist measures could have on US China relations as well as resulting consequences and dynamics for relations with the United Kingdom. This particularly being the case, in view of recent Brexit results, and the emphasis re iterated by the UK that it would adopt a less protectionist stance in its bid to forge new relations and strategic partnerships with global partners.