New Unconditional Hardness Results for Dynamic and Online Problems

There has been a resurgence of interest in lower bounds whose truth rests on the conjectured hardness of well known computational problems. These conditional lower bounds have become important and popular due to the painfully slow progress on proving strong unconditional lower bounds. Nevertheless, the long term goal is to replace these conditional bounds with unconditional ones. In this paper we make progress in this direction by studying the cell probe complexity of two conjectured to be hard problems of particular importance: matrix-vector multiplication and a version of dynamic set disjointness known as Patrascu's Multiphase Problem. We give improved unconditional lower bounds for these problems as well as introducing new proof techniques of independent interest. These include a technique capable of proving strong threshold lower bounds of the following form: If we insist on having a very fast query time, then the update time has to be slow enough to compute a lookup table with the answer to every possible query. This is the first time a lower bound of this type has been proven

Upper and lower bounds for dynamic data structures on strings

We consider a range of simply stated dynamic data structure problems on strings. An update changes one symbol in the input and a query asks us to compute some function of the pattern of length $m$ and a substring of a longer text. We give both conditional and unconditional lower bounds for variants of exact matching with wildcards, inner product, and Hamming distance computation via a sequence of reductions. As an example, we show that there does not exist an $O(m^{1/2-\varepsilon})$ time algorithm for a large range of these problems unless the online Boolean matrix-vector multiplication conjecture is false. We also provide nearly matching upper bounds for most of the problems we consider.Comment: Accepted at STACS'1

Science Hackathons for Cyberphysical System Security Research: Putting CPS testbed platforms to good use

A challenge is to develop cyber-physical system scenarios that reflect the diversity and complexity of real-life cyber-physical systems in the research questions that they address. Time-bounded collaborative events, such as hackathons, jams and sprints, are increasingly used as a means of bringing groups of individuals together, in order to explore challenges and develop solutions. This paper describes our experiences, using a science hackathon to bring individual researchers together, in order to develop a common use-case implemented on a shared CPS testbed platform that embodies the diversity in their own security research questions. A qualitative study of the event was conducted, in order to evaluate the success of the process, with a view to improving future similar events

Corrupção e direito privado romano nas obras do comediógrafo Plauto

O presente trabalho, quando apenas uma ideia, tinha a pretensão de localizar, nas obras do comediógrafo romano Plauto, indícios de corrupção e Direito Privado Romano. Ele que viveu durante a República Romana, por volta de 200 a.C. e deixou cerca de 21 obras que sobreviveram até nossos dias, ainda que fragmentadas, inspirava a imaginação e aguçava o desejo da pesquisa, que tais temas poderiam ser encontrados em suas sátiras. Pois, afinal, ao longo de mais de dois mil anos que nos separam do dramaturgo, suas peças influenciaram diversas gerações de notáveis, como as de William Shakespeare e Jean-Baptiste Poquelin de Molière. Na trajetória da pesquisa foram escrutinados muitos de seus textos, em versões e traduções dos originais em latim para o português, espanhol, italiano, inglês, francês e alemão. Destas, variadas edições, desde o século XIX até a uma coleção completa, bilíngue (inglês-latim), de 2016. Neste universo multicultural e multitemporal foi possível contemplar: a inspiração e beleza dos originais; a atemporalidade de diversos temas pela perspectiva da dramaturgia, mas também pela influência de quem as traduziu ou versou para seu próprio idioma e contexto histórico. Esta dissertação contempla um pouco da vida e da obra de Plauto e contextualiza-o na Roma vitoriosa e conquistadora, sobretudo sobre os Gregos. Descreve uma sociedade em crescente crise ética e moral, potencializada pela chegada de objetos artísticos, escravos letrados, metais nobres e grande quantidade de moedas. Personalidades de alta relevância histórica do período, também são retratadas. Como Catão e alguns membros da notória família dos Cipiões que travaram batalhas pessoais e públicas. Possuíam como justificativa para o embate, a decadência moral, sobretudo pela contaminação cultural com os helênicos, e a corrupção na administração dos despojos de guerra. O Direito Romano, nesta dissertação, surge da analise da condição de escravo. Personagem típica nas sátiras plautianas. A partir dele são estendidos os relatos para temas amplos como os Direitos da Pessoas; Bens; Sucessão; Obrigações; e temas específicos como o poder paterno; o casamento; o dote; contratos. Todos com uma abordagem de profundidade relativa e não exauriente, mas que cumpre o mister de demonstrar nos textos de Plauto não só a corrupção ao seu tempo, mas sobretudo, o Direito Romano Privado em muito de seu esplendor, como era percebido, sentido e demonstrado pela dramaturgia da época.The present work, when only an idea, was intended to locate, in the works of Roman playwright Plauto, evidences of corruption and Roman Private Law. He who lived during the Roman Republic, around 200 BC and left about 21 plays that survived to our days, inspired the imagination that such themes could be found in his satires. Because during over two thousand years that separate us from the playwright, his plays influenced several generations, including William Shakespeare and Jean-Baptiste Poquelin de Molière. In the trajectory of the research, many of his texts were scrutinized, in versions and translations of the originals in Latin to Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, English, French and German. From these, varied editions, from the 19th century to the complete bilingual collection of 2016. In this multicultural and multitemporal universe it was possible to contemplate: the inspiration and beauty of the originals; the timelessness of various themes, from the perspective of roman dramaturgy, but also by the influence of those who translated to their own language and historical context. This thesis contemplates a few notes of the life and work of Plautus and contextualizes it in victorious Rome, especially on the Greeks. And it assists a society that already saw itself in a growing moral crisis, potentialized by the arrival of artistic objects, literate slaves, noble metals and large quantity of coins. Characters of high historical relevance of the period are also portrayed. Cato and members of the notorious family of the Scipios, who fought personal and public battles justified by a moral decadence, mainly by the cultural contamination with the Hellenics, and corruption in the administration of spoils of war. Roman Private law, in this dissertation, arises from the analysis of slave status. Typical character in plautian satires. From it extended to themes such as: family; marriage; dowry; succession; contracts; piracy. All of them with a superficial approach, but with enough study to fulfill the duty of demonstrating the possibility of finding them in the texts of Plautus

Anthropological Engagement in the International Sphere

As anthropologists increasingly embark upon the study of the international sphere, this often builds on different forms of engagement within and around organizations, processes, and institutional corridors. The co-authors, building upon a round table exchange, address the advantages and dilemmas of anthropological engagement in the field of international governance, including humanitarian work, diplomacy, international organizations, the Swiss federal government, NGOs, and multinationals

Horses in Denmark Are a Reservoir of Diverse Clones of Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

Denmark is a country with high prevalence of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clonal complex (CC) 398 in pigs. Even though pig farming is regarded as the main source of human infection or colonization with MRSA CC398, 10–15% of the human cases appear not to be linked to pigs. Following the recent reports of MRSA CC398 in horses in other European countries and the lack of knowledge on S. aureus carriage in this animal species, we carried out a study to investigate whether horses constitute a reservoir of MRSA CC398 in Denmark, and to gain knowledge on the frequency and genetic diversity of S. aureus in horses, including both methicillin-resistant and -susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). Nasal swabs were collected from 401 horses originating from 74 farms, either at their farms or prior to admission to veterinary clinics. Following culture on selective media, species identification by MALDI-TOF MS and MRSA confirmation by standard PCR-based methods, S. aureus and MRSA were detected in 54 (13%) and 17 (4%) horses originating from 30 (40%) and 7 (9%) farms, respectively. Based on spa typing, MSSA differed genetically from MRSA isolates. The spa type prevalent among MSSA isolates was t127 (CC1), which was detected in 12 horses from 11 farms and represents the most common S. aureus clone isolated from human bacteremia cases in Denmark. Among the 17 MRSA carriers, 10 horses from three farms carried CC398 t011 harboring the immune evasion cluster (IEC), four horses from two farms carried IEC-negative CC398 t034, and three horses from two farms carried a mecC-positive MRSA lineage previously associated with wildlife and domestic ruminants (CC130 t528). Based on whole-genome phylogenetic analysis of the 14 MRSA CC398, t011 isolates belonged to the recently identified horse-adapted clone in Europe and were closely related to human t011 isolates from three Danish equine veterinarians, whereas t034 isolates belonged to pig-adapted clones. Our study confirms that horses carry an equine-specific clone of MRSA CC398 that can be transmitted to veterinary personnel, and reveals that these animals are exposed to MRSA and MSSA clones that are likely to originate from livestock and humans, respectively

Muscle fiber diameter assessment in cleft lip using image processing

OBJECTIVE: To pilot investigation of muscle fiber diameter (MFD) on medial and lateral sides of the cleft in 18 infants with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) using image processing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from the medial and lateral sides of the cleft were analyzed for MFD using an image-processing program (ImageJ). For within-case comparison, a paired Student's t test was performed. For comparisons between classes, an unpaired t test was used. RESULTS: Image processing enabled rapid measurement of MFD with majority of fibers showing diameter between 6 and 11 μm. There was no significant difference in mean MFD between the medial and lateral sides, or between CL and CLP. However, we found a significant difference on the medial side (p = .032) between males and females. CONCLUSION: The image processing on FFPE tissues resulted in easy quantification of MFD with finding of a smaller MFD on the medial side in males suggesting possible differences in orbicularis oris (OO) muscle between the two sexes in CL that warrants replication using larger number of cases. Moreover, this finding can aid subclinical phenotyping and potentially in the restoration of the anatomy and function of the upper lip

Emergence of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections in Denmark

Background Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 398 (LA-MRSA CC398) is causing an increasing number of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in Denmark and other European countries with industrial pig production. Yet, its impact on MRSA bloodstream infections (BSIs) has not been well studied. Methods We investigated the clinical epidemiology of all human cases of LA-MRSA CC398 BSI during 2010–2015. Cases of LA-MRSA CC398 BSI were compared to cases of BSI caused by other types of MRSA and cases of SSTI caused by LA-MRSA CC398. Whole-genome sequence analysis was used to assess the phylogenetic relationship among LA-MRSA CC398 isolates from Danish pigs and cases of BSI and SSTI. Results The number of LA-MRSA CC398 BSIs and SSTIs increased over the years, peaking in 2014, when LA-MRSA CC398 accounted for 16% (7/44) and 21% (211/985) of all MRSA BSIs and SSTIs, corresponding to 1.2 and 37.4 cases of BSI and SSTI per 1000000 person-years, respectively. Most patients with LA-MRSA CC398 BSI had no contact to livestock, although they tended to live in rural areas. LA-MRSA CC398 caused 24.3 BSIs per 1000 SSTIs among people with no livestock contact, which is similar to the ratio observed for other types of MRSA. Whole-genome sequence analysis showed that most of the BSI and SSTI isolates were closely related to Danish pig isolates. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the increasing number of LA-MRSA CC398 BSIs occurred in parallel with a much larger wave of LA-MRSA CC398 SSTIs and an expanding pig reservoir