On the nonexistence of certain orthogonal arrays of strength four

We show that no orthogonal arrays OA(16A, 11,2,4) exist with A = 6 and 7. This solves an open problem of the NSUCRYPTO Olympiad 2018. Our result allows to determine the minimum weights of certain higher order correlation-immune Boolean functions

The environmental impact of the feral pigeon (Columba Livia f. Domestica) in the historic city centre of Sopron

The presence of different bird species in inhabited areas is becoming increasingly common. The problem with these species is that they are more likely to spread pathogens, contaminate public and private land with their droppings, cause economic damage or even frighten the public. One of the most notable conflict species causing environmental pressures in populated areas is the feral pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica), whose populations are increasing worldwide. Adequate practices and methods are available to reduce the problem. However, their applicability and effectiveness may vary from one locality to another due to the different characteristics of the localities and the different causes of the pigeons' presence. Therefore, it is essential to think in terms of town-specific solutions, the preparation of which requires, among other things, an assessment of the temporal and spatial pattern of occurrence of the species causing the conflict, an understanding of the extent of damage and an overview of the population's level of information. In our study, we investigated the environmental pressures of the feral pigeon in the historical city centre of Sopron, using a combination of the three elements mentioned above. For this purpose, we carried out a monthly visual population assessment combined with a photographic technique at sample points for one year. We conducted a field visit to the area to draw up a damage map of the study area and a spatial localisation of existing control methods. Questionnaire surveys complemented this to assess the public's awareness of the issue. In light of the results, we drew up a map of the pigeon conflict in the city centre of Sopron and identified possible solutions

Simplicity conditions for binary orthogonal arrays

It is known that correlation-immune (CI) Boolean functions used in the framework of side-channel attacks need to have low Hamming weights. The supports of CI functions are (equivalently) simple orthogonal arrays when their elements are written as rows of an array. The minimum Hamming weight of a CI function is then the same as the minimum number of rows in a simple orthogonal array. In this paper, we use Rao's Bound to give a sufficient condition on the number of rows, for a binary orthogonal array (OA) to be simple. We apply this result for determining the minimum number of rows in all simple binary orthogonal arrays of strengths 2 and 3; we show that this minimum is the same in such case as for all OA, and we extend this observation to some OA of strengths $4$ and $5$. This allows us to reply positively, in the case of strengths 2 and 3, to a question raised by the first author and X. Chen on the monotonicity of the minimum Hamming weight of 2-CI Boolean functions, and to partially reply positively to the same question in the case of strengths 4 and 5

Simplicity conditions for binary orthogonal arrays

It is known that correlation-immune (CI) Boolean functions used in the framework of side channel attacks need to have low Hamming weights. The supports of CI functions are (equivalently) simple orthogonal arrays, when their elements are written as rows of an array. The minimum Hamming weight of a CI function is then the same as the minimum number of rows in a simple orthogonal array. In this paper, we use Rao's Bound to give a sufficient condition on the number of rows, for a binary orthogonal array (OA) to be simple. We apply this result for determining the minimum number of rows in all simple binary orthogonal arrays of strengths 2 and 3; we show that this minimum is the same in such case as for all OA, and we extend this observation to some OA of strengths 4 and 5. This allows us to reply positively, in the case of strengths 2 and 3, to a question raised by the first author and X. Chen on the monotonicity of the minimum Hamming weight of 2-CI Boolean functions, and to partially reply positively to the same question in the case of strengths 4 and 5

A gátizomtorna jelentősége a prevencióban

A szerzők jelen tanulmányukban két különböző korosztálynál rávilágítanak a medencealapi izmokat gyengítő tényezőkre, amelyek okozhatnak vizeletvesztési tüneteket. Vizsgálták a fiatal nem szült nőknél jelentkező vizelettartási zavar kezelésére alkalmas gátizomtorna hatását. A vizsgálatokban a serdülő korosztály (n=111; átlagéletkor 16± SD 1.4) és a felnőtt nők (n=311; átlagéletkor 40 év± SD 10,4) vettek részt. A résztvevők kérdőíveket töltöttek ki. 14 fiatal nem szült nő ezen kívül izomerő felmérésen vettek részt, akiknél a gátizomtorna 10 hétig heti 1x1 óra irányított tornáztatásból és otthoni gyakorlásból állt. Az eredmények alapján a probléma nem csak a felnőtt populációt, hanem a fiatal korosztályt is érinti. A kérdőívekből kiderült, hogy az inkontinencia rizikótényezői közül a helytelen szokások jelenléte számottevő. A tornacsoportnál a gátizmok izometriás feszítés mértékének változása szignifikánsan növekedett a tornaprogram végére (25 másodperccel átlagosan), csakúgy, mint a gátizmok dinamikus állóképességét jelző 1 perc alatti összehúzódások száma is (átlagosan 13 ismétlésszámmal). A gátizomtorna program eredményességét támasztja alá, hogy a résztvevők a tünetek csökkenését vagy megszűnését tapasztalták. Az eredmények eszközös bizonyítása további kutatási célok felállítását sürgetik

Disturbed body schema, perceptual body image, and attitudinal body image in patients with borderline personality disorder

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder that affects attitudes toward the body. However, whether this condition also affects body schema and perceptual body image remains unclear. Previous questionnaire-based studies found dissatisfaction with one's body in patients with BPD. In addition to attitudinal body image, our study investigates whether body schema and perceptual body image are disturbed in patients with BPD.MethodOur study included 31 patients diagnosed with BPD (25 women) and 30 healthy individuals (19 women) (Mage = 29 for both groups). The SCID-5-PD interview was used to determine personality disorder. Attitudinal body image was measured using the Body Attitude Test (BAT) factors. Body schema and perceptual body image were measured by two conditions of a body representation task, the body portraying method (BPM).ResultsBPD patients achieved higher scores in all three BAT factors and were more susceptible to misinformation in both conditions of BPM. Based on the results, BPD patients appear to have more negative attitudes toward their bodies and worse perceptual body image and body schema.ConclusionThe novel finding of our study is that, besides the previously found attitudinal dissatisfaction with the body, individuals with BPD also show disturbances at the levels of body schema and perceptual body image. Our findings concerning disturbances in body schema and perceptual body need further research into their etiological factors and provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of BPD