10 research outputs found
On the Bosnian Genocide and Prijedor
No full textA public presentation by Rezak Hukanović, author of Tenth Circle of Hell: A Memoir of Life in the Death Camps of Bosnia
IJPGC2003-40019 NUCLEAR POWER: TIME TO START AGAIN
No full textABSTRACT One of America's best kept secrets is the success of its nuclear electric power industry. This paper presents data which support the construction and operating successes enjoyed by energy companies that operate nuclear power plants in the US. The result--the US nuclear industry is alive and well. Perhaps it's time to start anew the building of nuclear power plants. Let's take the wraps off the major successes achieved in the nuclear power industry. Over 20% of the electricity generated in the United States comes from nuclear power plants. An adequate, reliable supply of reasonably priced electric energy is not a consequence of an expanding economy and gross national product; it is an absolute necessity before such expansion can occur. It is hard to imagine any aspect of our business or personal lives not, in some way, dependent upon electricity. All over the world (in 34 countries) nuclear power is a lowcost, secure, safe, dependable, and environmentally friendly form of electric power generation. Nuclear plants in these countries are built in six to eight years using technology developed in the US, with good performance and safety records. This treatise addresses the success experienced by the US nuclear industry over the last 40 years, and makes the case that this reliable, cost-competitive source of electric power can help support the economic engine of the country and help prevent experiences like the recent crisis in California. Traditionally, the evaluation of electric power generation facility performance has focused on the ability of plants to produce at design capacity for high percentages of the time. Successful operation of nuclear facilities is determined by examining capacity or load factors. Load factor is the percentage of design generating capacity that a power plant actually produces over the course of a year's operation. This paper makes the case that these operating performance indicators warrant renewed consideration of the nuclear option. Usage of electricity in the US now approaches total generating capacity. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has pre-approved construction and operating licenses for several nuclear plant designs. State public service commissions are beginning to understand that dramatic reform is required. The economy is recovering and inflation is minimal. It's time, once more, to turn to the safe, reliable, environmentally friendly nuclear power alternative. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bill Rezak has been President of the State University of New York College of Technology at Alfred since 1993. He has been instrumental in transforming Alfred State from a two-year technical college into a baccalaureate polytechnic. Prior to coming to Alfred State, he was Dea
Privacy Preserving Federated Learning: A Novel Approach for Combining Differential Privacy and Homomorphic Encryption
No full textInternational audienceEnsuring the data security and privacy stands as a prominent concern in the landscape of machine learning. The conventional approach of centralizing training data raises privacy concerns. Federated learning addresses this by avoiding the need to transfer local data when training a global model, opting to share only local model updates. Despite this, the challenge of information leakage persists. Various attempts tried to tackle this issue, but existing solutions lead to a tradeoff between accuracy, privacy and computation time. This is an unevitable challenge. In this paper, we address that challenge by combining differential privacy and homomorphic encryption. This approach allow to add less noise to the data by shuffling to anonymize the data, not only at the client level but also at the parameter level. Hence, it improves the accuracy of the output models while offering strong privacy guarantees. Importantly, our method avoids complex homomorphic operation, thereby mitigating the computational overhead of HE. In this manner, the data remains protected from all participants in the learning process. Our findings demonstrate that, for an equivalent level of privacy, our method introduces less noise compared to the local DP method, resulting in increased accuracy after aggregation. However, the privacy amplification requires a substantial number of clients, which make our approach more suitable for cross-device Federated learning. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2024
Exploring Homomorphic Encryption and Differential Privacy Techniques towards Secure Federated Learning Paradigm
No full textThe trend of the next generation of the internet has already been scrutinized by top analytics enterprises. According to Gartner investigations, it is predicted that, by 2024, 75% of the global population will have their personal data covered under privacy regulations. This alarming statistic necessitates the orchestration of several security components to address the enormous challenges posed by federated and distributed learning environments. Federated learning (FL) is a promising technique that allows multiple parties to collaboratively train a model without sharing their data. However, even though FL is seen as a privacy-preserving distributed machine learning method, recent works have demonstrated that FL is vulnerable to some privacy attacks. Homomorphic encryption (HE) and differential privacy (DP) are two promising techniques that can be used to address these privacy concerns. HE allows secure computations on encrypted data, while DP provides strong privacy guarantees by adding noise to the data. This paper first presents consistent attacks on privacy in federated learning and then provides an overview of HE and DP techniques for secure federated learning in next-generation internet applications. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these techniques in different settings as described in the literature, with a particular focus on the trade-off between privacy and convergence, as well as the computation overheads involved. The objective of this paper is to analyze the challenges associated with each technique and identify potential opportunities and solutions for designing a more robust, privacy-preserving federated learning framework
Secure and non-interactive k-NN classifier using symmetric fully homomorphic encryption
No full textInternational audience"Machine learning as a service" (MLaaS) in the cloud accelerates the adoption of machine learning techniques. Nevertheless, the externalization of data on the cloud raises a serious vulnerability issue because it requires disclosing private data to the cloud provider. This paper deals with this problem and brings a solution for the K-nearest neighbors (k-NN) algorithm with a homomorphic encryption scheme (called TFHE) by operating on end-to-end encrypted data while preserving privacy. The proposed solution addresses all stages of k-NN algorithm with fully encrypted data, including the majority vote for the class-label assignment. Unlike existing techniques, our solution does not require intermediate interactions between the server and the client when executing the classification task. Our algorithm has been assessed with quantitative variables and has demonstrated its efficiency on large and relevant real-world data sets while scaling well across different parameters on simulated data
A distribution study of deep-sea macrobenthos collected from the western Gulf of Mexico
No full textVita.One of Texas A&M University's more detailed oceanographic cruises was that of R/V ALAMINOS 69A11, basically biological in scope but also including hydrographic, sediment coring, and bottom photography stations. Dredge sampling of the deep-sea macrobenthos was accomplished by means of the benthic skimmer in three western Gulf regions (Galveston, Tampico, and Vera Cruz). This distribution study of the benthic macrofauna revealed five faunal zones that were differentiated on a bathymetric basis. These have been designated as Outer Continental Shelf, Upper Continental Slope, Lower Continental Slope, Continental Rise, and Abyssal Plain. Faunal breaks revealed by the similarity dendrogram, constructed from individual station data, support the proposed faunal zones. Recurrent patterns of species occurrence were used to formulate benthic assemblage, showing expected species and their relative abundance, for specific depths within the faunal zones. Data concerning species occurrence within the three geographic regions of the western Gulf under consideration were not sufficient to warrant extension of existing biotic provinces into the deep sea. Analysis of sea-floor photographs revealed at least 87 living organisms, various plant fragments, sediment composition and texture, and other ichnological phenomena. Several selected photographs have been included. A phylogenetic list of all benthic species, including author and date, collected as living specimens at one or more of the dredge stations has been compiled. Slight modification and combination of the suprageneric taxonomy used by earlier authors was utilized
Distribution, growth rates, and diagenesis of coralline algal structures on the Flower Garden Banks, northwestern Gulf of Mexico
No full textTypescript (photocopy).The East and West Flower Garden Banks are located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, approximately 190 km SSE of Galveston, Texas. These bathymetric highs are surface expressions of salt domes, and are two of the many offshore banks that have been extensively examined by Texas A&M University oceanographers during the past ten years. Although the crests of the East and West Flower Gardens are capped by living coral reefs with 18 species of hermatypic corals (20-50 m depths), crustose coralline algae are the primary framework builders and sediment contributors below 50 m. A depth zonation spanning 20-90 meters has been established on the banks and slopes using eleven genera of corallines (Lithothamnium, Mesophyllum, Melobesia, Archaeolithothamnium, Lithophyllum, Tenarea, Hydrolithon, Porolithon, Paragoniolithon, Lithoporella, and Fosliella), one squamariacean (Peyssonnelia spp.), and an encrusting foraminifer (Gypsina plana). On the upper coral reefs, the most common coralline algae genera are Hydrolithon, Lithoporella, Lithophyllum, Paragoniolithon, and Porolithon. On the flanks of the East Flower Gardens, coralline algae have stabilized ridges of coral debris at 30-35 m depths. These Madracis-algal ridges also support a lush growth of leafy brown algae owing to the absence of intensive grazing, which is typical of the main coral reefs. Between depths of 50-75 m, vast fields of coralline algal nodules, ranging in size from 1-20 cm, cover 60-90% of the bottom. There is a general increase in nodule size with depth. The algal nodule zone can be roughly divided into upper and lower units on the basis of coralline taxonomic composition and the internal structural morphology of the nodules. Nodules decrease in abundance below 75-80 m, and laterally extensive coralline algal pavements and rigid, 1-2 m high algal reefs become the dominant structures. Lithothamnium, Tenarea, and Peyssonnelia are the primary framework builders between 75-90 m. Although constructional void space in the algal reefs is high, most of these cavities have been occluded by micritic high-Mg calcite, the most common cement in algal reefs and nodules. Aragonite cement is also common, especially as spherulites and botryoidal aggregates in coral-line conceptacle voids. The internal morphology and taxonomic composition distinguishes these deep water algal reefs from shallow water algal ridges and cup reefs described by previous authors. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UM
Signs of Urban Identity in Medieval and Early Modern Times: Cracow – Kazimierz – Kleparz (the 13th–18th Centuries)
No full textThis article presents the issue of urban identity signs based on the example of Cracow’s tricity (Cracow – Kazimierz – Kleparz) and their transformations in the 13th–18th centuries. Analysing preserved heraldic and sigillographic monuments, the author adapted a questionnaire developed by Brigitte Miriam Bedos-Rezak in the Polish research, on the basis of which he distinguished three threads present in the self-presentation of those cities: 1. the ideal city (or self-government and independence of the commune); 2. religious (holy guardians); 3. historical, composed in conjunction with the content of captions of the seals with symbolic ‘portraits’ of municipalities. Originally, in Cracow, at the beginning of the 13th century, both the image of the autonomous commune (the gatehouse, the tower house of the Vogt), along with the statues of saint guardians (St. Wenceslaus and St. Stanislaus) and historical reminiscences (the founder’s coat of arms) were used. With time, these references were limited to the signum of the commune in the form of a gate and the state’s coat of arms accompanying it as a reference to the city’s having been the capital of the state. In Kazimierz, however, only the historical thread of the king-founder was exposed (the emblems of the ruler: the K monogram and the crowned royal head), although it is not entirely certain whether in the late modern period it was understood exactly in this way in the city. On the other hand, in Kleparz only a religious thread was represented – the saint patron (St. Florian) who stood guard over the city. Each of these signs, or sets of signs, grew out of their own local tradition; that is why, it is difficult to treat them as a homogeneous group
Signs of urban identity in medieval and early modern times : Cracow - Kazimierz - Kleparz (the 13th-18th centuries)
No full textW artykule zaprezentowane zostało zagadnienie znaków tożsamości miejskiej na
przykładzie krakowskiego trójmiasta (Kraków - Kazimierz - Kleparz) oraz ich przekształceń w XIII-XVIIIw. Analizując zachowane zabytki heraldyczne i sfragistyczne, autor wyróżnił, adaptując w polskich badaniach kwestionariusz wypracowany
przez Brigitte Miriam Bedos-Rezak, trzy wątki obecne w samoprezentacji tytułowych
ośrodków: 1. miasta idealnego (lub samorządności i niezależności gminy), 2. religijny
(świętych opiekunów), 3. historyczny, składające się w połączeniu z treścią legend napieczętnych na symboliczne „portrety” gmin. W Krakowie początkowo (XIIIw.) posługiwano się wizerunkiem autonomicznej gminy (budynek bramny, wieżowy dom
wójtowski), figurami świętych opiekunów (św. Wacława i św. Stanisława) oraz reminiscencjami historycznymi (herb założyciela miasta). Z czasem odwołania te zostały
ograniczone do signum gminy w postaci z bramą oraz towarzyszącego mu herbu państwowego jako nawiązania do stołeczności miasta. W Kazimierzu eksponowany był
natomiast tylko i wyłącznie wątek historyczny, króla-fundatora (znaki władcy: monogram K oraz ukoronowana królewska głowa), choć nie jest do końca pewne, czy
w dobie późnonowożytnej w samym mieście rozumiano go dokładnie w ten sposób.
Z kolei w Kleparzu reprezentowano jedynie wątek religijny - świętego patrona (Floriana) stojącego na straży miasta. Każdy z tych znaków, czy też zespołów znaków, wyrastał z własnej, miejscowej tradycji, stąd też trudno traktować je jako jednorodną
grupę.This article presents the issue of urban identity signs based on the example of
Cracow’s tricity (Cracow - Kazimierz - Kleparz) and their transformations in the
13th-18th centuries. Analysing preserved heraldic and sigillographic monuments, the
author adapted a questionnaire developed by Brigitte Miriam Bedos-Rezak in the
Polish research, on the basis of which he distinguished three threads present in the
self-presentation of those cities: 1. the ideal city (or self-government and independence of the commune); 2. religious (holy guardians); 3. historical, composed in conjunction with the content of captions of the seals with symbolic ‘portraits’ of municipalities. Originally, in Cracow, at the beginning of the 13th century, both the image of
the autonomous commune (the gatehouse, the tower house of the Vogt), along with
the statues of saint guardians (St. Wenceslaus and St. Stanislaus) and historical reminiscences (the founder’s coat of arms) were used. With time, these references were
limited to the signum of the commune in the form of a gate and the state’s coat of arms
accompanying it as a reference to the city’s having been the capital of the state. In
Kazimierz, however, only the historical thread of the king-founder was exposed (the
emblems of the ruler: the K monogram and the crowned royal head), although it is not
entirely certain whether in the late modern period it was understood exactly in this
way in the city. On the other hand, in Kleparz only a religious thread was represented -
the saint patron (St. Florian) who stood guard over the city. Each of these signs, or sets
of signs, grew out of their own local tradition; that is why, it is difficult to treat them as
a homogeneous group.Der vorstehende Artikel präsentiert das Phänomen der städtischen Identitätszeichen am Beispiel der Krakauer Dreistadt (Krakau - Kazimierz - Kleparz) sowie
deren Veränderungen im 13. bis 18. Jahrhundert. Bei der Analyse der erhaltenen heraldischen und sphragistischen Relikte verwendet der Autor in seinen polnischen Forschungen einen Fragebogen, der von Brigitte Miriam Bedos-Rezak entwickelt wurde,
und unterscheidet drei Motive, die sich in der Selbstpräsentation der im Titel genannten Zentren finden: 1. das der idealen Stadt (oder die Selbstverwaltung und Unabhängigkeit der Gemeinde), 2. das des Religiösen (der Schutzpatrone), 3. das historische,
die sich in der Verbindung mit dem Inhalt der Siegellegenden zu symbolischen „Porträts“ von Gemeinden zusammenfügen. In Krakau bediente man sich zunächst (im
13. Jahrhundert) sowohl eines Bilds der autonomen Gemeinde (Torgebäude, Vogtshaus mit Turm) als auch der Figuren von Schutzheiligen (hl. Wenzel und hl. Stanislaus) und historischer Erinnerungen (Wappen des Stadtgründers). Im Lauf der Zeit
wurden diese Bezüge begrenzt auf das signum der Gemeinde in Gestalt eines Tors und
auf das dieses begleitende Staatswappen als Hinweis auf den Hauptstadtcharakter der
Stadt. In Kazimierz hingegen wurde ausschließlich das historische Motiv des Gründungskönigs herausgestellt (Zeichen des Herrschers: das Monogramm K und ein gekröntes Königshaupt), obwohl nicht völlig sicher ist, ob dieser in der späteren frühen
Neuzeit in der Stadt selbst genau so verstanden wurde. In Kleparz hingegen war nur
das religiöse Motiv vertreten, der heilige Patron (Florian), der über die Stadt wachte.
Jedes dieser Zeichen oder Zeichengruppen erwuchs aus einer eigenen örtlichen Tradition, so dass man sie kaum als eine einheitliche Gruppe behandeln kann
El individuo, 1377-1650: de las matemáticas al yo, después de Carla Mazzio
No full textCarla Mazzio’s work on mathematical terminology to define the self in the early modern period can be extended by medieval examples. Although Peter Stallybrass (1992) finds that the word individual (a mathematical and natural philosophy term meaning “indivisible”) was not attested in English from 1425-1597, French individu is regularly attested, beginning in 1377 (in a comment on infi nite variety of individual complexions, in the French translation of Lanfranc’s Chirurgie). What is more, the semantic fi eld of individu is the same from 1377-1650. This paper discusses the meanings of individu and the continuity of the concept of self in the premodern period. Against Mazzio’s definition of early modern subject as fragmented and disoriented, individu combines the meaning of atom (smallest indivisible particle or mote) with the sense of plenitude: an individu is the smallest discrete entity that is whole. This adds an alternative or complementary parallel to Mazzio’s idea of fragmentation as the origin of depth in the formation of early modern self, and explains why, as Stallybrass notes, early modern individual suggest[ed] indivisibility and (…) divisibility […] together.Los estudios de Carla Mazzio sobre el uso de la terminología matemática para definir el sujeto en la época renacentista se pueden extender y aplicar a casos de la Edad Media. Aunque Peter Stallybrass (1992) afirma que el uso de la palabra individual (un término propio de las matemáticas y de la filosofía natural que significaba “indivisible”) no aparece registrado en inglés entre 1425 y 1597, hay testimonios constantes de la presencia del francés individu a partir de 1377 (cuando aparece en un comentario sobre la infinita variedad de las complexiones naturales, en la Chirurgie de Lanfranc de Milán). Además, el campo semántico de individu se mantiene invariable entre 1377 y 1650. En este artículo abordamos los sentidos de individu y la continuidad del concepto de sujeto en la época premoderna. En relación con la definición que hace Mazzio del sujeto renacentista como fragmentado y desorientado, individu combina el sentido de átomo (la más pequeña partícula o mota indivisible) con el concepto de plenitud: un individu es la entidad discreta más pequeña que existe en forma completa. Esta visión añade un paralelismo alternativo o complementario a la idea de Mazzio de la fragmentación como origen de la profundidad en el proceso de formación del sujeto renacentista, y explica por qué, como apunta Stallybrass, el individu o renacentista sugiere indivisibilidad y (…) divisibilidad (…) a la vez
