Round-Optimal Secure Two-Party Computation from Trapdoor Permutations

In this work we continue the study on the round complexity of secure two-party computation with black-box simulation. Katz and Ostrovsky in CRYPTO 2004 showed a 5 (optimal) round construction assuming trapdoor permutations for the general case where both players receive the output. They also proved that their result is round optimal. This lower bound has been recently revisited by Garg et al. in Eurocrypt 2016 where a 4 (optimal) round protocol is showed assuming a simultaneous message exchange channel. Unfortunately there is no instantiation of the protocol of Garg et al. under standard polynomial-time hardness assumptions. In this work we close the above gap by showing a 4 (optimal) round construction for secure two-party computation in the simultaneous message channel model with black-box simulation, assuming trapdoor permutations against polynomial-time adversaries. Our construction for secure two-party computation relies on a special 4-round protocol for oblivious transfer that nicely composes with other protocols in parallel. We define and construct such special oblivious transfer protocol from trapdoor permutations. This building block is clearly interesting on its own. Our construction also makes use of a recent advance on non-malleability: a delayed-input 4-round non-malleable zero knowledge argument

Effects of equine assisted activity on children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of disorders which are characterized as having impaired communication skills, social skills and repetitive behaviors or body movements.1,2 Since every individual with ASD presents with different challenges, treatment modalities for ASD are quite diverse. Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) to include therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is a treatment modality that has been utilized more in recent years for children and adolescents with ASD, as it is thought the connection between the individual and the horse can facilitate emotional, behavioral, and cognitive growth.3 Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Equine Assisted Activity (EAA) to include therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on behavior and adaptive functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Design: Systematic Literature Review. Methods: A literature search of PubMed Database and Scopus using the search terms “equine therapy,” and “ autism.” In PubMed and Scopus the following limits were used: published in the past six years, articles in English, randomized control trials, meta-analysis, human subjects, and free full text articles. Results: The following studies were included: a randomized controlled trial by Gabriels et al, a quasi-longitudinal study by Ward et al, and a quasi-longitudinal study by Lanning et al. All studies showed that various behavioral outcomes were improved in children and adolescents with ASD who participated in an EAA. Conclusion: EAA to include THR can be beneficial to those with ASD. However, due to the large spectrum of ASD, certain children and adolescents may benefit more from EAA than others. There are few studies on the effects EAA has on children with autism, and these published studies have small, predominantly male sample sizes. Future studies need to be conducted and must include a larger population and a more even distribution of males to females to determine both short term and long term effects EAA has on behavioral and adaptive functioning in children and adolescents with ASD

Utilization of agricultural and forestry resources in Central Guatemalan Highlands: a case study

This paper analyses some key findings emerged in the study of the Mayan community of S. José Sinaché, located in the Guatemalan Highlands. The research highlights how colonial and post-colonial legislation influences the actual land tenure and hampers the development of the community. Little land ownership together with high demographic growth lead to insufficient crop production. As a consequence, human pressure on S. José forest and seasonal migration to sugar cane plantations of the Pacific Coast is carried out by householders in order to ensure subsistence to their families. A multisectorial approach must be implemented in order to give socio-economical and environmentally sound answers. New cropping and agroforestry techniques have to be coupled with the reformation of land property distribution and the participation of indigenous communities to decisional processes

Electrochemically Generated Luminescence of Luminol and Luciferin in Ionic Liquids

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is the generation of light triggered by an electrochemical reaction. ECL has been extensively studied in solvent-based electrolytes, but there is a lack of data on using electrode reactions to populate an excited-state light emitter in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). This work explores the current response, light intensity (photon counting), and spectral signatures of the cathodic ECL of luminol and firefly's luciferin in imidazolium-based RTILs. We have demonstrated that the cathodic (superoxide-triggered) ECL of both luminol and adenylate-ester of firefly's luciferin is viable in RTILs, explored the effect of water contaminations, and importantly, shown that the ECL signal persists for up to about 700 s after the removal of the external cathodic pulse, which is probably due to the stabilization of superoxide by double-layer cation-rich structures. Long-lived RTIL double-layer structures and their endogenous fields are detected as stable and discrete open-circuit potential plateaus

Low-cost smart solutions for daylight and electric lighting integration in historical buildings

Research have shown that the correct integration of daylight and electric lighting reduces the energy use in buildings, while improving visual comfort. Smart shading systems, especially those electrically controlled, play an important role to control solar radiation. Similarly, smart and dimmable/tunable lighting can help to adjust the artificial light to the real users' needs. This paper presents preliminary results of an ongoing living lab study investigating how artificial lighting systems can be integrated with shading systems, placing human comfort at the heart of the study and yet saving energy. A manually controlled, commercial and low-cost smart system integrating two motorized shading devices and six dimmable LED luminaires with a different selection of CCT were installed in a private office in a historical building. Indoor and outdoor lighting conditions and energy consumption associated to the lighting system are constantly monitored to assess how the people use shading and lighting upon varying the boundary conditions.. Preliminary results highlight that users prefer to maximise daylight on the work plane as well as they generally use both shading and electric lighting systems in response to boundary conditions that cause serious discomfort

First results from the INDRA-FAZIA apparatus on isospin diffusion in 58,64 Ni+58,64 Ni systems at Fermi energies

An investigation of the isospin equilibration process in the reactions 58;64Ni+58;64Ni at two bombarding energies in the Fermi regime (32 MeV/nucleon and 52 MeV/nucleon) is presented. Data have been acquired during the first experimental campaign of the coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus in GANIL. Selecting from peripheral to semi-central collisions, both the neutron content of the quasiprojectile residue and that of the light ejectiles coming from the quasiprojectile evaporation have been used as probes of the dynamical process of isospin diffusion between projectile and target for the asymmetric systems. The isospin transport ratio technique has been employed. The relaxation of the initial isospin imbalance with increasing centrality has been clearly evidenced. The isospin equilibration appears stronger for the reactions at 32 MeV/nucleon, as expected due to the longer projectile-target interaction time than at 52 MeV/nucleon. Coherent indications of isospin equilibration come from the quasiprojectile residue characteristics and from particles ascribed to the quasiprojectile decay.This work was partially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF; Grant No. 2018R1A5A1025563) and by the Spanish Ministerio de Econom a y Empresa (PGC2018-096994-B-C22). We acknowledge support from R egion Normandie under R eseau d'Int er^et Normand FIDNEOS (RIN/FIDNEOS). Many thanks are due to the accelerator sta of GANIL for delivering a very good quality beam and to the technical sta for the continuous support

Nuclear symmetry energy at work in heavy ion reactions: new results from the INDRA-FAZIA apparatus

The recently coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus offers unique opportunities to investigate heavy ion collisions at Fermi energies by combining the optimal identification capabilities of FAZIA and the large angular coverage of INDRA. We present a selection of the results of the analysis of the first experimental campaign performed with INDRA-FAZIA, in which the four reactions Ni-58,Ni-64+Ni-58,Ni-64 have been studied at two different beam energies (32 and 52 MeV/nucleon) in the intermediate energy regime. The present work is focused on the isospin diffusion effects in semiperipheral and peripheral collisions. A stronger isospin equilibration is found at 32 MeV/nucleon than at 52 MeV/nucleon, as expected due to a shorter projectile-target interaction time in the latter cas

Engineering education in a technology-dependent world

Education is the core of any nation development, of a community or personal. It is for sure a society that is depending on technology for deployment of information, communication, and network in real time. In a short period of time, social technologies have given social interactions the speed and scale of the Internet. It affects the way people work, live and make business.This work intends just to show a little of INTERTECH an event that is happening for more than 24 years and its contributions for engineering and technology education. An endeavor of manyscientists in order to provide a breeding ground for discussions about engineering and technology education so important aspects for the formation of professionals and researchers prepared to face the future. The theme of the congress is Engineering Education in a Technology-Dependent World and it has raised a considerable amount of papers of great valuable

Shift for engineering horizons

Science, Engineering and Technology cross nearly every facet of modern life and, as problem solvers, engineers are perfectly capable of managing entrepreneurial activities, mastering innovative ways of business development, when they spend time and efforts understanding and acting in the field. Engineers rely on science and methods for analysis to ensure the quality and liability of design; nevertheless a pinch of creativity is required in order to find innovative solutions for economic and entrepreneurial problems. So, at present, engineers with technical skills must also learn how to work in interdisciplinary teams, how to develop designs rapidly, how to manufacture sustainably, how to combine art and engineering and how to address global markets. Providing opportunities in the work market for future engineers has become now part of university training, as a way to assure also the future competitiveness of universities. In many places, enterprises and universities have still difficulties in working together, it is up to engineering schools and universities to have the initiative to enhance their programs, to assure the proper training for future professionals that can perform in this mutant work environment of the 21st Century. According to the report “The Engineer of 2020”, developed by the National Academy of Engineering, USA, which paints a picture of a dynamically changing and evolving world: “The successful future engineer will need strong analytical skills, practical ingenuity, creativity, good communication skills, business and management knowledge, leadership, high ethical standards, professionalism, dynamism, agility, resilience, flexibility, and the pursuit of lifelong learning”. Currently, the opportunities for professionals seem to be very narrow, once economic crisis is impacting countries and communities worldwide, as the result of a natural cyclic wave of economy, until a new economic model starts to work somehow. To provide future professionals an opportunity in the work market has now become part of university training as a way to assure the future of university. COPEC – Science and Education Research Council’s education research team has designed and implemented a program for engineering students which is called “Working with Communities Course”, providing 3rd year engineering students the chance to work as consultants for the entrepreneurial community in the city. The goal is to offer a space that has been named “Innovative Office”, to which local entrepreneurs can resort to in order to discuss and to find sustainable solutions for a specific problem or project. The choice of the name working with communities was due to the enticing appeal once as young “green generation” they want to cooperate with society segments in any way. However the true goal is to give them a chance to have a professional experience and also some time of internship although early in the program. As they work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards, they can evaluate the reality of professional practice and see if engineering is really what they want to pursue as a career. They have to work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards. The process involves face-to-face meetings and discussions with entrepreneurs of the city, from the presentation of the problem until the delivery of the plans. Once engineers are part of society it is important that they have a stronger interaction with the wider public. So the goal of including this course in the program is to provide students the opportunity to work closely with the real local entrepreneurship environment. Apart from this, engineers need to develop broad fundamental understanding of their professional responsibilities, as well as the need to be entrepreneurial in order to understand and contribute in the context of market and business pressures. If engineers can work with the public to explain how engineering can help address their problems, and to help them to decide which are the most effective and affordable ways to address their concerns, the community can make great progress and improvements. It will surely be a great acquisition for the city business community as well as for the students themselves, once they can get a glimpse of what it is to engineer in real world. This project has the chance developed in partnership with a City Hall as a way to improve entrepreneurship in the region, aiming at fostering employment and private initiatives to change community’s profile. It is an immersive period of internship, in real engineering work environment.Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-010145-FEDER-007043FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/201

Motivation to choose the night course in engineering

This paper presents the research about the motivation of students to choose night period for enrolling engineering programs. The survey was conducted in two different countries of different continents but united by the language and common history. The results are showed in details and some conclusions about the motivations are presented in accordance with the results taking into account the geography, the economic and historical moments of both countries involved in the researchThis work is supported by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019/2019 and the Project UID/CTM/002642C2T – Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Têxtil