Hidden Function Research Articles

Online learning of smooth functions

In this paper, we study the online learning of real-valued functions where the hidden function is known to have certain smoothness properties. Specifically, for q≥1, let Fq be the class of absolutely continuous functions f:[0,1]→R such that ‖f′‖q≤1. For q≥1 and d∈Z+, let Fq,d be the class of functions f:[0,1]d→R such that any function g:[0,1]→R formed by fixing all but one parameter of f is in Fq. For any class of real-valued functions F and p>0, let optp(F) be the best upper bound on the sum of pth powers of absolute prediction errors that a learner can guarantee in the worst case. In the single-variable setup, we find new bounds for optp(Fq) that are sharp up to a constant factor. We show for all ε∈(0,1) that opt1+ε(F∞)=Θ(ε−12) and opt1+ε(Fq)=Θ(ε−12) for all q≥2. We also show for ε∈(0,1) that opt2(F1+ε)=Θ(ε−1). In addition, we obtain new exact results by proving that optp(Fq)=1 for q∈(1,2) and p≥2+1q−1. In the multi-variable setup, we establish inequalities relating optp(Fq,d) to optp(Fq) and show that optp(F∞,d) is infinite when p<d and finite when p>d. We also obtain sharp bounds on learning F∞,d for p<d when the number of trials is bounded.

Did You Train on My Dataset? Towards Public Dataset Protection with CleanLabel Backdoor Watermarking

The huge supporting training data on the Internet has been a key factor in the success of deep learning models. However, this abundance of public-available data also raises concerns about the unauthorized exploitation of datasets for commercial purposes, which is forbidden by dataset licenses. In this paper, we propose a backdoor-based watermarking approach that serves as a general framework for safeguarding publicavailable data. By inserting a small number of watermarking samples into the dataset, our approach enables the learning model to implicitly learn a secret function set by defenders. This hidden function can then be used as a watermark to track down third-party models that use the dataset illegally. Unfortunately, existing backdoor insertion methods often entail adding arbitrary and mislabeled data to the training set, leading to a significant drop in performance and easy detection by anomaly detection algorithms. To overcome this challenge, we introduce a clean-label backdoor watermarking framework that uses imperceptible perturbations to replace mislabeled samples. As a result, the watermarking samples remain consistent with the original labels, making them difficult to detect. Our experiments on text, image, and audio datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively safeguards datasets with minimal impact on original task performance. We also show that adding just 1% of watermarking samples can inject a traceable watermarking function and that our watermarking samples are stealthy and look benign upon visual inspection.

Use of Endodontic Imaging Modalities in Forensic Identifications

Background: Forensic odontology has a advance role in identifying a deceased person using dental records. Because of the growing trend of litigation around the world, precise recording of clinical dental operations has become increasingly necessary. Objective: To see the endodontic obturation radiographs have a hidden function in identification. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dental OPD, Central Park, Lahore and Private Clinics of Lahore from 1st March 2022 to 31st August 2022. Methods: From the digital X-ray system's data bank, 30 periapical radiographs of patients who had endodontic treatment of the mandibular left (first molars with three canals) were randomly selected. The ante-mortem data "Set 1" consisted of post-operative radiographs. From the thirty radiographs, ten were reprinted, labelled (A-J), and deemed post-mortem data "Set 2."This "Set 2" post-mortem group of 10 radiographs would be compared to the "Set 1" ante-mortem group of 30 radiographs. Ten dentally educated persons would examine these two sets of radiographs. Each examiner was given thirty radiographs from "Set 1" and ten radiographs from "Set 2," with the task of matching the individual post-mortem radiographs ("Set 2") with the ante-mortem radiographs ("Set 1"). Results: Thirty four examiners had a 100% success rate, 4 examiners had a 97.5% success rate (1 mismatch), and 2 examiners had a 95% success rate (2 mismatches). Conclusion: On the off chance that after death radiographs are precise duplicates of endodontic obturated radiographs, the obturation's novel shape can be taken advantage of for forensic ID. Keywords: Forensic odontology, Endodontic obturated radiographs

LibDroid: Summarizing information flow of android native libraries via static analysis

With advancements in technology, people are taking advantage of mobile devices to access e-mails, search the web, and video chat. Therefore, extracting evidence from mobile phones is an important component of the investigation process. As Android app developers could leverage existing native libraries to implement a part of the program, evidentiary data are generated and stored by these native libraries. However, current state-of-art Android static analysis tools, such as FlowDroid (Arzt et al., 2014), Evihunter (Cheng et al., 2018), DroidSafe (Gordon et al., 2015) and CHEX (Lu et al., 2012) adopt the conservative approach for data-flow analysis on native method invocation. None of those tools have the capability to capture the data-flow within native libraries.In this work, we propose a new approach to conduct native data-flow analysis for security vetting of Android native libraries and build an analysis framework, called LibDroid to compute data-flow and summarize taint propagation for Android native libraries. The common question app users and developers often face is whether certain native libraries contain hidden functions or utilize user private information. LibDroid aims to answer this question. Therefore, we build a precise and efficient data-flow analysis with the support of SummarizeNativeMethod algorithm, and pre-compute an Android Native Libraries Database (ANLD) for 13,138 native libraries collected from 2,627 real-world Android applications. The ANLD includes the taint propagation summary of each native method and potential evidentiary data generated or stored within the native library. We evaluate LibDroid on 52 open-source native libraries and 2,627 real-world apps. Our results show that LibDroid can precisely summarize the information flow within the native libraries.

Units of Military Fortification Complex as Phenomenon Elements of the Czech Borderlands Landscape

This paper is focused on selected units of casemates with enhanced fortification in the military fortification complex of the Czech borderlands landscape as specific forms of brownfields. They represent a functional system that interacts with surrounding nature, landscape character, and human society. Four approaches were chosen to study the function and potential of selected individual abandoned casemates with enhanced fortification, where each of them corresponds to one of the four landscape layers: genius loci, socio-economic sphere, functional relationship (between human and the landscape), and natural conditions. There is a corresponding research method for each of the landscape layers (guided interview with respondents, data analysis on abandoned casemates with enhanced fortifications as brownfields, analysis of their landscape functions, and zoological survey of interior). The main results could show that abandoned casemates with enhanced fortifications can play important roles in all landscape layers: stories and genius loci, abandoned casemates with enhanced fortification as a special type of military brownfield but also as a semi-natural ecosystem, and the same time as a habitat for invertebrates. The analyses and surveys conducted clearly demonstrate that abandoned casemates with enhanced fortification as units of military fortification complex of the Czech borderlands landscape perform several hidden important functions in the landscape for which they cannot be viewed as brownfields. This hidden functional potential is most likely best described by the concept of hidden singularity, which offers itself for integration into basic approaches to brownfields.

What's in a distraction? The effect of parental cell phone use on parents' and children's question-asking.

Although questions fuel children's learning, adult cell phone use may preoccupy parents, affecting the frequency of questions parents and children ask and answer. We ask whether parental cell phone use will lead to a decrease in the number of questions children and parents ask one another while playing with a novel toy. Fifty-seven parent-child dyads (Mage = 48.72 months, SD = 6.53, 28 girls; 84.2% White) were randomly assigned to a cell phone, paper, or control condition. As children played with a novel toy with hidden functions, parents in the cell phone condition completed a survey about reading on their cell phone, while parents in the paper condition did it on paper. Parents in the control condition did not complete the survey. Results suggest that children asked fewer questions in the cell phone than in the control condition. However, no other condition differences emerged. Parents' information-seeking questioning, however, differed in all three conditions: they asked more in the control than in the cell phone and paper conditions and, critically, asked more in the paper than cell phone condition. Possible explanations and implications for parents' cell phone use are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Data Hiding in AMBTC Images Using Selective XOR Hiding Scheme

Nowadays since the Internet is ubiquitous, the frequency of data transfer through the public network is increasing. Hiding secure data in these transmitted data has emerged broad security issue, such as authentication and copyright protection. On the other hand, considering the transmission efficiency issue, image transmission usually involves image compression in Internet-based applications. To address both issues, this paper presents a data hiding scheme for the image compression method called absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC). First, an image is divided into non-overlapping blocks through AMBTC compression, the blocks are classified four types, namely smooth, semi-smooth, semi-complex, and complex. The secret data are embedded into the smooth blocks by using a simple replacement strategy. The proposed method respectively embeds nine bits (and five bits) of secret data into the bitmap of the semi-smooth blocks (and semi-complex blocks) through the exclusive-or (XOR) operation. The secret data are embedded into the complex blocks by using a hidden function. After the embedding phase, the direct binary search (DBS) method is performed to improve the image quality without damaging the secret data. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method yields higher quality and hiding capacity than other reference methods.

Multiobjective Brain Storm Optimization Community Detection Method Based on Novelty Search

A complex network is characterized by community structure, so it is of great theoretical and practical significance to discover hidden functions by detecting the community structure in complex networks. In this paper, a multiobjective brain storm optimization based on novelty search (MOBSO-NS) community detection method is proposed to solve the current issue of premature convergence caused by the loss of diversity in complex network community detection based on multiobjective optimization algorithm and improve the accuracy of community discovery. The proposed method designs a novel search strategy where novelty individuals are first constructed to improve the global search ability, thus avoiding falling into local optimal solutions; then, the objective space is divided into 3 clusters: elite cluster, ordinary cluster, and novel cluster, which are mapped to the decision space, and finally, the populations are disrupted and merged. In addition, the introduction of a restarting strategy is introduced to avoid stagnation by premature convergence. Experimental results show that the algorithm with good global searchability can find the Pareto optimal network community structure set with uniform distribution and high convergence and excavate the network community with higher quality.

On the Connection Between Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm and Bent Functions

It is presently shown that the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm is connected to the concept of bent function. Particularly, it is noticeable that the quantum circuit used to denote the well-known quantum algorithm is by itself the quantum computer that performs the Walsh transform of a Boolean function. Consequently, the output from the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm when the hidden function is bent corresponds to a flat spectrum of quantum states.

The problems in the communication process between NGOs and society

The article considers and analyses the specificity of social communication on the base of considerations about commu­nication of aid organizations (for example Wspólnota Polska, Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka, Zespół Monitorowania Rasizmu i Ksenofobii, Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej, Polskie Towarzystwo Prawa Antydyskryminacyjnego, Obywatele RP, Fundacja Otwarty Dialog, Komitet Obrony Demokracji, Akcja Demokracja and other) with the society. The article analyses this problem from a sociological point of view. Using the sociological analysis, the authors prove that communication, as one of the variables in the description and translation of social phenomena, also has another hidden function, thanks to which it becomes a specific term – a «picklock». A detailed description of the research and the selection of methods were included in previous studies, and there were also extensive accounts of the encountered actors regarding the nature and context of the observed situations of communication dilemmas. The research area was stretched between the periphery and social centers according to T. Popławski’s theory. The main focus here is on conclusions about communication and bureaucracy. The bu­reaucracy based on the Weberian model seems to be imploding more and more under the weight of extreme rationality, turn­ing into irrationality. The authors sum the article up with practical advice on resolving the issues related to bureaucratism.

A Novel Method to Apply Reliability-Centered Maintenance on Over-Current Protection Systems

An optimum maintenance plan for the protection systems of substations leads to improve the reliability while reducing the related costs. Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) is one of the widely used strategies to obtain an optimal maintenance plan. An important issue in the protection systems is lack of a direct way between normal operation states of the pieces of equipment and their failure states, which is named “hidden function”. This hidden function of the equipment in the protection systems is the main issue challenging the implementation of RCM on such systems. Over-current protection systems are one of the main protection systems which are installed in the outgoing distribution feeders of substations. This paper presents a novel approach for the implementation of RCM on the over-current protection systems. The main advantage of the proposed approach is its global consideration of a protection system instead of only focusing on relays. The proposed approach has been applied on two different substations using real data of their over-current protection systems obtained from The Organization of Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Management of Electric Power in Iran (Tavanir). The results reveal a higher reliability and lower costs of the proposed maintenance plan in comparison with current maintenance plans.

Шумопоглинальні властивості придорожніх лісових смуг різних конструкцій в умовах Західного Полісся

In the modern conditions of society development the role of protective plantings is great importance. In particular, types of such plantations in the study are protective strips along the roads. At first glance, it is difficult to trace the processes that take place in these lanes. However, by selecting the appropriate adapted research methodology, it is possible to trace these seemingly hidden functions. The significance and relevance the use of roadside forest strips in the context of their noise-absorbing functions are presented. Attention is paid to the analysis of noise load for the operation of large vehicles on highways of international and national importance in the conditions of Western Polissya. An analysis of recent scientific publications with an emphasis on protective plantings as an effective means of preventing negative acoustic loads. The main purpose of the research was to determine the noise-absorbing properties of roadside forest belts depending on their design features and species composition. It is noted that the solution of program tasks of work is carried out with the use of special techniques of researches of noise-absorbing effect by protective forest plantations on transport ways. The comparative characteristic of noise-absorbing effect roadside forest strips and noise-protective screens are executed. On the basis of the conducted researches the mathematical models describing a decrease in noise level depending on a design of roadside forest strips are developed. The generalization of the experimental results showed that the roadside strips of dense and openwork structures are marked by the highest quality noise-absorbing effect. Noise protection screens in the study area help to reduce the noise level to 60 dB and less, it than ensure compliance with the necessary sanitary standards for settlements.

Hidden Function in Wool Fiber as the Originator of Composite Materials

Hidden Function in Wool Fiber as the Originator of Composite Materials

DETECTION OF HIDDEN FUNCTIONALITIES OF SMART PHONE MALWARE APP USING PATTERN-MATCHING TECHNIQUES

Malware developers are progressively using advanced techniques to defeat malware detection tools. One such technique commonly observed in recent malware samples consists of hiding and obfuscating modules containing malicious functionality in places that static analysis tools overlook. In this paper, we describe a dynamic analysis approach for detecting such hidden or obfuscated malware components distributed as parts of an app package. The key idea is behavioral differences between the original app and a number of automatically generated versions of it, where a number of modifications (faults) have been carefully injected. The differential signature is analyzed through a pattern-matching process driven by rules that relate different types of hidden functionalities with patterns found in the signature. A thorough justification and a description of the proposed model are provided.

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation for estimation of position control performance of machine tool feed drive

One of the most important measures for improving the performance of a machine tool is to set its controller parameters appropriately. The setting of these parameters is typically done by an expert when the machine tool is initially installed. Although parameter tuning is crucial when there is a change in the operation conditions, it is a challenge faced by non-experts as improper settings can result in critical problems in the machine tools. Simulation software, which estimate the control performance and identify appropriate parameters, can be used for the easy customization of these parameters. However, it is difficult to accurately model a commercial controller owing to its complex structure and several hidden functions. This paper proposes a novel method that utilizes Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) simulation for estimating the position control performance of machine tool feed drives. HIL improves the simulation accuracy by integrating a real commercial controller into the simulation loop. The simulation error caused by the inaccuracy of the controller model is out of existence in the HIL simulation. The procedure of configuring the HIL simulation, from modeling and parameter identification of the machine tool feed drives, to organizing data exchange between the real controller and feed drive model, is extensively explained. The accuracy of the proposed HIL simulation is experimentally evaluated and applied for the estimation of position control performance, based on the controller parameters. The estimation of step response, failure mode, and effect analysis, as well as the evaluation of the control algorithm, are also performed using the HIL simulation. The results demonstrate that the HIL simulation can not only be used for the estimation of control performance but also for performance enhancement of machine tools.

Visual IoT Security: Data Hiding in AMBTC Images Using Block-Wise Embedding Strategy.

This study investigates combining the property of human vision system and a 2-phase data hiding strategy to improve the visual quality of data-embedded compressed images. The visual Internet of Things (IoT) is indispensable in smart cities, where different sources of visual data are collected for more efficient management. With the transmission through the public network, security issue becomes critical. Moreover, for the sake of increasing transmission efficiency, image compression is widely used. In order to respond to both needs, we present a novel data hiding scheme for image compression with Absolute Moment Block Truncation Coding (AMBTC). Embedding secure data in digital images has broad security uses, e.g., image authentication, prevention of forgery attacks, and intellectual property protection. The proposed method embeds data into an AMBTC block by two phases. In the intra-block embedding phase, a hidden function is proposed, where the five AMBTC parameters are extracted and manipulated to embed the secret data. In the inter-block embedding phase, the relevance of high mean and low mean values between adjacent blocks are exploited to embed additional secret data in a reversible way. Between these two embedding phases, a halftoning scheme called direct binary search is integrated to efficiently improve the image quality without changing the fixed parameters. The modulo operator is used for data extraction. The advantages of this study contain two aspects. First, data hiding is an essential area of research for increasing the IoT security. Second, hiding in compressed images instead of original images can improve the network transmission efficiency. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.

A Novel Approach to Overcome the Limitations of Reliability Centered Maintenance Implementation on the Smart Grid Distance Protection System

This brief proposes a novel approach to apply reliability centered maintenance (RCM) on a distance protection system in a smart grid. In the proposed approach, instead of focusing on individual equipment, the RCM is implemented for the whole protection system. The approach helps to calculate the reliability of protection systems by overcoming the limitation of their hidden function and also considering the effect of all system equipment on reliability. Markov process and improved Jaya algorithm (IJA) are used to calculate the reliability and find the optimal maintenance plan. The proposed approach has been applied to real data of smart grid distance protection systems, which results in a higher level of reliability and less cost. Furthermore, in order to validate the suggested technique and its efficiency, the simulation is carried out using a real-time digital simulators and hardware-in-the-loop testing equipment known as opal-RT technology.

RNase E and the High-Fidelity Orchestration of RNA Metabolism.

The bacterial endoribonuclease RNase E occupies a pivotal position in the control of gene expression, as its actions either commit transcripts to an irreversible fate of rapid destruction or unveil their hidden functions through specific processing. Moreover, the enzyme contributes to quality control of rRNAs. The activity of RNase E can be directed and modulated by signals provided through regulatory RNAs that guide the enzyme to specific transcripts that are to be silenced. Early in its evolutionary history, RNase E acquired a natively unfolded appendage that recruits accessory proteins and RNA. These accessory factors facilitate the activity of RNase E and include helicases that remodel RNA and RNA-protein complexes, and polynucleotide phosphorylase, a relative of the archaeal and eukaryotic exosomes. RNase E also associates with enzymes from central metabolism, such as enolase and aconitase. RNase E-based complexes are diverse in composition, but generally bear mechanistic parallels with eukaryotic machinery involved in RNA-induced gene regulation and transcript quality control. That these similar processes arose independently underscores the universality of RNA-based regulation in life. Here we provide a synopsis and perspective of the contributions made by RNase E to sustain robust gene regulation with speed and accuracy.

Pementasan Tari Mongah dalam Upacara Pangwangan di Desa Bunutin, Kecamatan Kintamani, Bangli

Bunutin village is one of the Bali Aga villages located in Kintamani Subdistrict, Bangli District, which has art in the form of sacred dance and still maintained or preserved by society. The art is known by the people of Bunutin Village with the name of Mongah Dance. Mongah Dance staged every two years at the time of the Pangwangan Ceremony, precisely on sasih kasa according to Balinese calendar calculations. Pangwangan ceremony is a ritual performed during the post-harvest period, aims to neutralize the negative influences or outbreaks of diseases, disasters and pests that attack the environment. This is done by performing a dance-shaped art called Mongah Dance. The formulation of the problem in this research include (1) How to perform Mongah Dance in Pangwangan Ceremony in Bunutin Village (2) How the function and meaning of Mongah Dance in Pangwangan Ceremony. This research is intended to describe the Dance of Mongah Dance in the procession of Pangwangan Ceremony, and to know the function and meaning of the Dance of Mongah Dance in Pangwangan Ceremony in Bunutin Village related to the pattern of agriculture. The theory used in this research is the theory of Robert K. Merton about the real function (manifest) and the hidden function (latent) and interpretive theory of Clifford Geertz. The method used is qualitative research method. Data collection techniques include observation, interview and literature study. Data analysis used qualitative descriptive analysis. The results revealed that Mongah Dance staged at the procession of Pangwangan Ceremony at Pura Bale Agung. At the time of dance performances Mongah dancers are sekaa teruna influenced by the element of trance. Mongah Dance costumes utilize many plants that exist in nature. In the execution of the Dance of Mongah Dance in Pangwangan Ceremony there are manifest and latent functions. The first function is Mongah Dance is the most important element in the implementation of Pangwangan Ceremony, Mongah Dance functioned to keep people away from negative elements, and Mongah Dance can strengthen solidarity among the citizens. In addition to the function as for the meaning contained in the staging of Mongah Dance in Pangwangan Ceremony is the meaning to ask for salvation, meaning as a symbol of harmonization, and the meaning of kinship.

Manipulating MiRNA Expression to Uncover Hidden Functions.

There are a numerous target prediction algorithms that allow users to identify putative targets of their microRNAs (miRNAs) of interest. Although these tools are useful to gain insight into the potential role of miRNAs in regulating cellular processes, physical manipulation of the expression of the miRNA is the most superior way to truly determine the function of the miRNA in the system of interest. This chapter outlines methods to reveal miRNA function by modulating miRNA expression by transient transfection of miRNA mimics and inhibitors, and stable overexpression and reduction of miRNA expression using plasmid overexpression and sponge vectors.