Private Objectives Research Articles

PODI: A Private Object Detection Inference framework for autonomous vehicles

Object detection is essential for autonomous vehicles to perceive and understand their environment. The restricted storage and processing capacities of vehicles necessitate the outsourcing of object detection services. However, this may raise concerns regarding the privacy of the uploaded images. Although there have been some studies on privacy-preserving object detection networks, they either lack location privacy protection or involve excessive computational and communication overheads. To address this issue, we propose a private object detection inference framework (PODI), which is based on a Faster R-CNN and aims to protect both classification and location privacy. PODI employs additive secret sharing protocols to support collaborative computation between two edge servers. By using efficient protocols such as secure Maxpool, secure array access, and secure exponent, PODI significantly reduces computational and communication overheads. A theoretical analysis has confirmed the security, correctness, and efficiency of PODI. Extensive experiments were used to demonstrate its security, inference accuracy comparable to plaintext approaches, and lower cost of secure inference.

Achievement of privatization objectives of Japanese expressway companies

In 2005, Japan’s four road-related public corporations were privatized into expressway companies to achieve three main objectives: steady repayment of interest-bearing debt, early and inexpensive construction of expressways, and provision of various services. Currently, all shares of the three Nippon Expressway Companies are owned by the Japanese government; however, the government plans to consider listing its shares in the future. To promote discussion on further privatization of expressway companies, examining the status of the original objectives and the factors that have contributed to their achievement or non-achievement is imperative. By analyzing the Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency agreement documents and investor relations information, this study clarifies the achievement status of the aforementioned objectives and identifies factors that have contributed to their attainment. The findings indicate that while the objective of repaying interest-bearing debt has been achieved, there is still ambiguity regarding the early and inexpensive construction of the expressway objective. Furthermore, the objective of providing various services has not been achieved. The results indicate that identifying the factors related to the achievement or non-achievement of the objectives can help further privatize these companies more efficiently.

Privacy-Preserving Distributed ADMM With Event-Triggered Communication.

This article addresses distributed optimization problems, in which a group of agents cooperatively minimize the sum of their private objective functions via information exchanging. Building on alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), we propose a privacy-preserving and communication-efficient decentralized quadratically approximated ADMM algorithm, termed PC-DQM, for solving such type of problems under the scenario of limited communication. In PC-DQM, an event-triggered mechanism is designed to schedule the communication instants for reducing communication cost. Simultaneously, for privacy preservation, a Hessian matrix with perturbed noise is introduced to quadratically approximate the objective function, which results in a closed form of primal vector update and then avoids solving a subproblem at each iteration with possible high computation cost. In addition, the triggered scheme is also utilized to schedule the update of Hessian, which can also reduce computation cost. We theoretically show that PC-DQM can protect privacy but without losing accuracy. In addition, we rigorously prove that PC-DQM converges linearly to the exact optimal solution for strongly convex and smooth objective functions. Finally, numerical simulation is presented to illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our algorithm.

The (Not-So-)Private Mind: Why Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury Is and Is Not a Failure

Abstract: Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury attempts to represent first-person experience in a radical fashion. In what I call (paradoxically) “free indirect discourse in the first person,” Faulkner ostensibly presents both thought thought and thought below the level of awareness together in one stream of text. The Quentin section in particular relies on an idealistic picture of language as meaningful in itself, apart from any intersubjective context or significant use, as though we could bypass communication and look inside Quentin’s head, finding not the brain but the “exact language” of his conscious life. I consider this temptation by way of Wittgenstein’s critique of the privacy of the mental. Wittgenstein’s aim, I argue, is not to deny or demote interiority, but rather to impugn a certain picture of how “the inner” must look — a realm composed of private objects to which the “I” alone has access. I thus suggest that we think of Quentin as an experiment, an appeal. Faulkner tries to reveal a mind in the brutal fullness of its suffering without forcing that mind to address us: to tell us that they suffer . I contend that this appeal fails, and in failing reveals the manner in which the (not-so-private) mind is essentially embedded in a shared, intersubjective world.

The works of the Leningrad art industry enterprises of the second half of the twentieth century and their role in the organization of the living environment (on the example of the products of the Leningrad Enamel plant)

During the last decade scientific interest of the Soviet period consumer goods has been increasing in the context of global political processes, on the one hand, and from the point of view of the organization of the living environment, on the other. The post-war and the late Soviet period consumer goods are interesting for analysis, since they are connected with the state policy of the everyday life of a Soviet citizen. Since the late 1940s, the formation of the consumer goods has been taking place on three levels of everyday culture: the space of the body, the space of the house, the space of the city. The article examines the problem of transition from an environment filled with private objects (1950s) to a single concept of the organization of the environment - design (1960s), using the example of the products of Leningrad art industry enterprises and archival materials (enterprise reports). The study of the material filling of the everyday space of the Soviet are citizen within the framework of the culturological approach assumed the use of a structural and functional method. As part of archival research, a source–based assessment of materials was carried out - annual reports of enterprises. When analyzing the works - products of the art industry enterprises, a set of art criticism methods was used. The materials of the Leningrad Enamel artel/plant are presented for the first time, some samples of the company's products are selected and analyzed in the context of changing stylistic coordinates and the formation of technical aesthetics. Based on the analysis of the degree of study of the porcelain and textile industry of Leningrad in the post-war and late Soviet periods, the conclusion is made about the importance of studying the problem of transition from a stylistic marker of the subject component of the living environment to a design one. This transition is demonstrated by the example of the history and some works from the assortment of the Leningrad Enamel company. Archival materials made it possible to expand the understanding of the history of the enterprise, the circumstances of the transfer of the artel to state administration and the making of products in accordance with the requirements of decorative minimalism. The analysis of artistically designed household goods (cigarette cases, compact boxes) confirms the theses not only about the formal change of artistic language, but also about the formation of ideas about a new living environment.

Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina

AbstractThe Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This decision raises concerns about the technical and ethical aspects of the translocation. Firstly, there is a lack of proper evaluation and scientific evidence to support the need, opportunity, and feasibility of this translocation. The guanaco population is currently over one million and is increasing, and genetic differences exist among local populations. The translocation could produce anthropogenic‐driven admixed populations, leading to genetic swamping and disrupting evolutionary processes. Second, there are ethical conflicts around managing wild species populations that prioritize private objectives and disregard local, publicly funded science. Rewilding projects require a deep understanding of interacting ecosystem processes, and of the socio‐economic context. This management decision violates guiding principles for rewilding and should have followed proper scientific evaluation and transparent local consultation.

INDIGENOUS PUBLIC MANAGEMENT IN BRAZIL

This article addresses aspects related to indigenous public management in Brazil, from the perspective of the ethics of understanding, theorized by Edgar Morin. Assuming that many indigenous communities have not yet been guaranteed possession of their ancestral territories, in line with the provisions of Article 231 of the Federal Constitution, this academic work aims to identify factors that may be impacting the effective guarantee of the territorial rights of native peoples. As a methodological parameter for quantitative analysis, it was decided to systematize data referring to the demarcation of indigenous lands in each government after the 1985 re-democratization. freely appointed positions within the scope of the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai). Considering that all the recent presidents of Brazil made political concessions to the agribusiness caucus in the Federal Congress with the aim of making governability viable, it can be concluded that none of the last indigenous public administrations acted effectively in the sense of proceeding with the fulfillment of the territorial demands of the indigenous peoples, as such a measure is directly opposed to the interests of the congressional agribusiness group. Considering that ethics is configured as one of the fundamental pillars on which public management is based, this article sought to identify possible uses of private objectives, alien to the foundations of state indigenism, in the appointment of Funai leaders, who tend to overlap their particular interests to the public function of the indigenist agency.

Personalization of Control Systems by Policy Update With Improving User Trust

In this letter, we address the design of personalized control systems, which pursue an individual and private objective defined for each user. To this end, a problem of policy update is formulated where an individual objective function is estimated and the corresponding optimal control law is updated. The novelty of the problem setting is in the presence of a system-user and the policy update driven by his/her rating. The system-user rates on the control system to be updated and the rating is used for estimating his/her objective function. It is assumed that the rating depends not only on his/her private objective but also on his/her trust on the control system. Then, we address the problem of the policy update improving the rating while not impairing the trust. Algorithms of the policy update, which is essentially the objective function estimation, are developed and their convergence analysis is presented. Finally, through a numerical experiment, the effectiveness of the algorithms is shown.

Event-Triggered Optimal Consensus of Second-Order MASs With Disturbances and Cyber Attacks on Communications Edges

This paper investigates the distributed optimal consensus problem (DOCP) for second-order multi-agent systems (MASs) in the presence of system disturbances and cyber attacks on communication edges. In optimization, the global objective function is the sum of a class of local private objective functions, which are assumed to be strongly convex and continuously differentiable with Lipschitz continuous gradients. Unlike most optimization problems for MASs studied in the literature, in this study, the dynamics of agents are second-order and disturbed, considering cyber attacks among neighboring agents. In order to achieve DOC with low online resource consumption, novel distributed event-triggered controllers are designed for agents. Not only the communication and computation resources can be saved, but also the frequency of controller updates can be reduced. Moreover, the controllers can prevent the information of the states of second-order MASs from leaking to neighbors. Under restrictions on cyber attacks, sufficient conditions are derived, under which all controlled agents can achieve consensus on the optimal solution of the global objective function exponentially. Furthermore, the Zeno-behavior is excluded on triggering time sequences. Finally, three simulation examples are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed controllers in saving online resources.

Accelerating Distributed Optimization via Fixed-Time Convergent Flows

Distributed optimization has gained significant attention in recent years, primarily fueled by the availability of a large amount of data and privacy-preserving requirements. This paper presents a fixed-time convergent optimization algorithm for solving a potentially non-convex optimization problem using a first-order multi-agent system. Each agent in the network can access only its private objective function, while local information exchange is permitted between the neighbors. The proposed optimization algorithm combines a fixed-time convergent distributed parameter estimation scheme with a fixed-time distributed consensus scheme as its solution methodology. The results are presented under the assumption that the team objective function is strongly convex, as opposed to the common assumptions in the literature requiring each of the local objective functions to be strongly convex. The results extend to the class of possibly non-convex team objective functions satisfying only the Polyak-Lojasiewicz (PL) inequality. It is also shown that the proposed continuous-time scheme, when discretized using Euler's method, leads to consistent discretization.

Criminal tattoos as a private object of criminological research of a criminal identity

Criminal tattoos as a private object of criminological research of a criminal identity

Moore on Scepticism and Certainty

In this paper, I would like to present G.E. Moore’s view on Scepticism and certainty with reference to his papers “Defence of common sense” “Proof of an external world” and “Certainty”. In section I following Moore’s “Proof of an External World” the distinction between empirical objects like paper, human hand, shoes and socks and private objects like images in dreams, double images, after images, and toothache have been highlighted. It has been pointed out that according to Moore, no example of private objects in place of “these are my two hands” could have successfully refuted scepticism; and that Moore does follow Kant’s definition of external objects in order to prove the existence of the external world. The second section emphasizes two points; i) the example of these are my two hands is not a frivolous activity and ii) Moore does recognize the point of Descartes’ dream argument at least to the extent that de does recognize that knowing that P is different from Proving that P. In section III Moore’s attribution of certainty to empirical propositions has been highlighted by responding to the remarks made by Wittgenstein and Malcolm against Moore. In Section IV following Moore’s certainty, a logical explanation of Moore’s thesis that contingent propositions can be certain has been carried out. In addition to that an explanation of how Moore has weakened the dream argument by finding it incoherent. Finally, it has been concluded that Moore’s refutation of scepticism is quite successful in so far as scepticism has no place in common sense.

DeResolver: A Decentralized Conflict Resolution Framework with Autonomous Negotiation for Smart City Services

As various smart services are increasingly deployed in modern cities, many unexpected conflicts arise due to various physical world couplings. Existing solutions for conflict resolution often rely on centralized control to enforce predetermined and fixed priorities of different services, which is challenging due to the inconsistent and private objectives of the services. Also, the centralized solutions miss opportunities to more effectively resolve conflicts according to their spatiotemporal locality of the conflicts. To address this issue, we design a decentralized negotiation and conflict resolution framework named DeResolver, which allows services to resolve conflicts by communicating and negotiating with each other to reach a Pareto-optimal agreement autonomously and efficiently. Our design features a two-step self-supervised learning-based algorithm to predict acceptable proposals and their rankings of each opponent through the negotiation. Our design is evaluated with a smart city case study of three services: intelligent traffic light control, pedestrian service, and environmental control. In this case study, a data-driven evaluation is conducted using a large dataset consisting of the GPS locations of 246 surveillance cameras and an automatic traffic monitoring system with more than 3 million records per day to extract real-world vehicle routes. The evaluation results show that our solution achieves much more balanced results, i.e., only increasing the average waiting time of vehicles, the measurement metric of intelligent traffic light control service, by 6.8% while reducing the weighted sum of air pollutant emission, measured for environment control service, by 12.1%, and the pedestrian waiting time, the measurement metric of pedestrian service, by 33.1%, compared to priority-based solution.

Neural‐network‐based constrained optimal coordination for heterogeneous uncertain nonlinear multi‐agent systems

AbstractIn this article, we investigate a constrained optimal coordination problem for a class of heterogeneous nonlinear multi‐agent systems described by high‐order dynamics subject to both unknown nonlinearities and external disturbances. Each agent has a private objective function and a steady‐state constraint about its output. We develop a composite distributed controller for each agent by a combination of internal model and neural network techniques. All agent outputs are proven to reach the constrained minimal point of the aggregate objective function with bounded residual errors irrespective of the unknown nonlinearities and external disturbances. Two examples are finally given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.

The Problem of Existence of Virtual Objects from the Philosophical Perspective

I consider the problem of existence of virtual objects, mainly their mode of existence, while omitting the issue of the criteria of their existence. I present and analyze the concepts of modes (forms, kinds) of existence of virtual objects proposed in the literature of the subject, and then I demonstrate my own position on the issue. My position on the existence of virtual objects has certain points coinciding with the already postulated views, but at the same time it differs from them in some basic aspects. In my view virtual objects are “born” in human individual consciousness as the objects of specific creative states of the mind. So initially they are private objects belonging to the individual subjective sphere. However, their final and ready forms emerge in complex processes of objectifying and autonomizing the respective private conscious states and their objects. In these processes the private objects are transformed into objects intersubjectively accessible and existing in the collective cultural sphere. In both their forms, initial and final, virtual objects are non-material entities: first subjective, then objective. The ontic status of virtual objects is very similar to the status of intangible ideas and all the non-material objects created by the human mind. The main difference consists in that virtual objects are expressed by the use computers programmes, while other non-material objects created by human beings are expressed by use of words, pictures, literature and art works, etc.

Secure Social Internet of Things Based on Post-Quantum Blockchain

With the advancement of the application of Internet of Things (IoTs), the IoT technology is combining with the social network, forming a new network with private object information as the media and social entertainment as the purpose. Social Internet of things (SIoTs) is a new application of IoT technology in social network. The current SIoT systems are centralized and the user's security and privacy is not properly protected. In order to address the challenges in SIoTs, we propose a privacy protection system for the users. First, we propose a post-quantum ring signature. Second, we propose a blockchain system based on the ring signature. Compared with the traditional SIoTs, our system is based on post-quantum techniques, which is secure against both traditional computers and quantum computers. The results of the blockchain system show that it is very suitable for SIoTs.

Transmission investment under uncertainty: Reconciling private and public incentives

Private companies (PCs) in restructured electricity industries determine facility investment timing and sizing. Such decisions maximize the PC’s expected profit (rather than social welfare) under uncertainty. By anticipating the PC’s incentives, a welfare-maximizing transmission system operator (TSO) shapes the network to align public and private objectives. Via an option-based approach, we first quantify welfare losses from the PC’s and TSO’s conflicting objectives. We show that by anticipating the optimal timing and capacity decisions of the profit-maximizing PC, the TSO is able to reduce, though not eliminate, welfare loss. Next, we exploit the dependence of the PC’s capacity on the TSO’s infrastructure design to devise a proactive transmission-investment strategy. Hence, we mitigate welfare losses arising from misaligned incentives even in relatively uncertain markets.

Leader-follower equilibria to examine investment decisions in grid resilience-enhancing measures.

Large-area, long-duration power outages are increasingly common in the United States, and cost the economy billions of dollars each year. Building a strategy to enhance grid resilience requires an understanding of the optimal mix of preventive and corrective actions, the inefficiencies that arise when self-interested parties make resilience investment decisions, and the conditions under which regulators may facilitate the realization of efficient market outcomes. We develop a bi-level model to examine the mix of preventive and corrective measures that enhances grid resilience to a severe storm. The model represents a Stackelberg game between a regulated utility (leader) that may harden distribution feeders before a long-duration outage and/or deploy restoration crews after the disruption, and utility customers with varying preferences for reliable power (followers) who may invest in backup generators. We show that the regulator's denial of cost recovery for the utility's preventive expenditures, coupled with the misalignment between private objectives and social welfare maximization, yields significant inefficiencies in the resilience investment mix. Allowing cost recovery for a higher share of the utility's capital expenditures in preventive measures, extending the time horizon associated with damage cost recovery, and adopting a storm restoration compensation mechanism shift the realized market outcome toward the efficient solution. If about one-fifth of preventive resilience investments is approved by regulators, requiring utilities to pay a compensation of $365 per customer for a 3-day outage (about seven times the level of compensation currently offered by US utilities) provides significant incentives toward more efficient preventive resilienceinvestments.

Measuring Video Game Dedication: The Development and Validation of Casual Hardcore Assortment Scale

Gaming literature has noticed for a long-time the existence of two distinct types of video game players. In the current paper, we are proposing a scale that aims to differentiate gamers between two types: hardcore and casual. Casual players invest limited time and resources in video games and are not taking the games too seriously. Their counterparts, hardcore gamers, do the opposite, such as investing substantial monetary and emotional resources in video games, personalizing their private objects in line with their hobbies, spending more in-game time, and taking games more seriously. Based on the characteristics mentioned above, we propose in this paper a 5-item scale called Casual Hardcore Assortment Scale (CHG). The items of the scale look at the following characteristics that distinguish the hardcore player: monetary investments, cultural investments, emotional investments, and time spent in the game. The answers are on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, a higher score indicating a more pronounced presence of the previously mentioned characteristics. That would suggest a high match of the respondent in the typology of the hardcore player. The scale has been tested on a sample of 492 respondents and it showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .75).

Primal-dual algorithms for multi-agent structured optimization over message-passing architectures with bounded communication delays

We consider algorithms for solving structured convex optimization problems over a network of agents with communication delays. It is assumed that each agent performs its local updates using possibly outdated information from its neighbours under the assumption that the delay with respect to each neighbour is bounded but otherwise arbitrary. The private objective of each agent is represented by the sum of two possibly nonsmooth functions one of which is composed with a linear mapping. The global optimization problem is the aggregate of local cost functions and a common Lipschitz-differentiable function. When the coupling between agents is represented only through the common function, the V\\~u-Condat primal-dual algorithm is studied. In the case when the linear maps introduce additional coupling between agents a new algorithm is developed. Moreover, a randomized variant of this algorithm is presented that allows the agents to wake up at random and independently from one another. The convergence of the proposed algorithms is established under strong convexity assumptions.