MIX-crowds, an anonymity scheme for file retrieval systems

In this paper, we propose an anonymous scheme for file retrieval systems, MIX-Crowds, in which it is harder for an attacker to identify the requester of the file by making use of the idea of MIX [7] and Crowds [20] to establish a path from the requester to the file holder. Result shows that predecessor attack [26] is much more difficult to succeed compared with Crowds [20]. We are able to reduce the estimated number of rounds needed for successful predecessor attack for MIX-Crowds. We also propose a file transfer strategy according to file size. With such strategy, requests for small size files can be completed faster while the downloading time of large size files only increases slightly. © 2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 28th International Conference on Computer Communications (IEEE INFOCOM 2009), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19-25 April 2009. In Proceedings of the IEEE Infocom, 2009, p. 1170-117

Juvenile probationers adjudicated of violent and nonviolent offenses in Hong Kong: are they psychologically different?

Part 9: Psychological and Family Factors and CrimeConference Theme: Asian Innovations in Criminology and Criminal JusticeLimited is known about Hong Kong juvenile offenders who are put on probation. This study consists of 109 male juveniles (aged 14-20 years) who served their probation sentence in a community transitional housing. Of the sample, 34 juveniles are adjudicated for committing a violent offense, while the remaining 75 juveniles are found guilty of a nonviolent offense. Six psychometric measures assessing eight psychological correlates (self-esteem, life satisfaction, social bond, positive affect, negative affect, impulsivity, pro-offending attitudes, and self-perceived life problems) are administered. Four offending history variables (onset age of delinquent behavior, age of first adjudication, number of prior adjudication, and frequency of self-reported delinquency in the past 12 month) are also studied. For exploratory purpose, univariate and bivariate analyses of these two groups (juvenile violent and nonviolent probationers) are first computed. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analyses indicate that several static (offending history) and dynamic (psychological correlates) risk factors are predictors of the juvenile violent and nonviolent probationers’ self-anticipated re-offending risk. Limitations of the study are outlined.postprin

Use of FBG optical sensors for structural health monitoring: Practical application

This paper describes the development of FBG Optical sensors for their practical application on structural health monitoring. The sensors were installed on the Tsing Ma Bridge for a trial run. The results using FBG sensors were in excellent agreement with those acquired by the bridge WASHMS

Dichloro[(1R,2R)-N-(2-pyridylmethylene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine]copper(II)

The crystal structure of [CuC12(CI2Hi7N3)], containing a five-coordinate Cu n atom with distorted trigonalbipyramidal coordination, is reported. The absolute configuration (1R,2R) has been verified.published_or_final_versio

The colonization pattern by resistant microorganisms in an adult intensive care unit (ICU)

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Software testing education and training in Hong Kong

While the use of computer applications is widely spread in every business and, hence, the reliability of software is critical, it is believed that many organizations involved in software development do not take software testing sufficiently seriously as an important task. It is worthwhile to find out how far organizations are carrying out software testing in a systematic and structured manner or still taking on an ad-hoc approach. A survey was conducted to understand the software testing practices and the level of related education and training in Hong Kong. It was found that most testing team members did not have formal training in software testing. University curricula generally did not prepare graduates with enough coverage in software testing. It is proposed that a review of the current software engineering curricula in the universities to examine the coverage of software testing will be useful to the development of quality software. © 2005 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Factorial structure of the Chinese version of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire in adolescents

Aims. To evaluate the underlying factor structure of the Chinese version of General Health Questionnaire-12 using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in Chinese adolescents and find out which factor model proposed by previous empirical research is the best-fit model. Background. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire has been extensively used with adolescents in the West. Yet, it has not been used with adolescents in a Hong Kong Chinese context. Design. A cross-sectional study was employed. Method. Chinese students between the ages of 12-19 from four secondary schools were invited to participate in the study using the multiple-stage stratified random sampling method during the period from December 2007-February, 2008. The total sample size included in the final analysed was 1883. Results. The General Health Questionnaire-12 was found to be internally consistent. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that there are two factors underlying the General Health Questionnaire-12. Of nine factor models were tested by means of confirmatory factor analysis, only three factor model: the eight-item two-factor model, 12-item three-factor model and 10-item two-factor model, demonstrated good model fit across all model fit indices. Conclusion. This study addressed a gap in the literature by evaluating the factorial structure of the Chinese version of General Health Questionnaire-12 using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in Chinese adolescents. The findings revealed that the eight-item two-factor model is the best-fit model. Relevance to clinical practice. The adolescent mental health problem is alarming and aggravating and warrants special attention. It is essential for community nurses to differentiate psychological distress in adolescents and to identify those adolescents who are at a higher risk of suffering from mental health problems. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that measures adolescents' psychological distress is crucial before any nursing interventions to promote their mental health can be appropriately planned, implemented and evaluated. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.postprin

Polarity of influenza H5N1 virus infection in respiratory epithelial cells and the impact of basolateral release of cytokines in disease pathogenesis

Poster Presentations: Virus Host Interaction/PathogenesisINTRODUCTION: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) is the first avian influenza virus that documented to cause respiratory disease and death in human. The biological basis for the severe human disease and high fatality rate remains unclear. We have previously demonstrated that when compared to human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses, infection of influenza H5N1 virus led to the hyper-induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human primary macrophages and ...postprin

Impact of Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation on the Presentation of Coronary Artery Disease

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Outcomes of right-lobe and left-lobe living-donor liver transplantations using small-for-size grafts

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