We consider the fundamental tradeoff between the storage cost and the download cost in private information retrieval (PIR) systems, without any explicit structural restrictions on the storage codes, ...such as maximum distance separable codes or uncoded storage. Our focus in this work is on the two extreme points: the point when the storage cost is minimal, and the point when the download cost is minimal. Two novel outer bounds are provided, which have the following implications at these two extreme points. When the messages are stored without any redundancy across the databases, the optimal PIR strategy is to download all the messages; on the other hand, for PIR capacity-achieving codes, each database can reduce the storage cost, from storing all the messages, by no more than one message on average. To better understand the second extreme point, we then focus on the two-message two-database case, and show that a stronger outer bound can be derived through a novel pseudo-message technique. This stronger outer bound suggests that a precise characterization of the storage-download tradeoff may require more sophisticated bounding techniques.
We illustrate how computer-aided methods can be used to investigate the fundamental limits of the caching systems, which are significantly different from the conventional analytical approach usually ...seen in the information theory literature. The linear programming (LP) outer bound of the entropy space serves as the starting point of this approach; however, our effort goes significantly beyond using it to prove information inequalities. We first identify and formalize the symmetry structure in the problem, which enables us to show the existence of optimal symmetric solutions. A symmetry-reduced linear program is then used to identify the boundary of the memory-transmission-rate tradeoff for several small cases, for which we obtain a set of tight outer bounds. General hypotheses on the optimal tradeoff region are formed from these computed data, which are then analytically proven. This leads to a complete characterization of the optimal tradeoff for systems with only two users, and certain partial characterization for systems with only two files. Next, we show that by carefully analyzing the joint entropy structure of the outer bounds for certain cases, a novel code construction can be reverse-engineered, which eventually leads to a general class of codes. Finally, we show that outer bounds can be computed through strategically relaxing the LP in different ways, which can be used to explore the problem computationally. This allows us firstly to deduce generic characteristic of the converse proof, and secondly to compute outer bounds for larger problem cases, despite the seemingly impossible computation scale.
This report aims to analyze the experimental monkey shortage generated by the COVID‐19 lockdown. The supply capability of the monkey breeding farms is insufficient to meet demand, and the sales ...prices have skyrocketed since 2018. The contradiction will be further aggravated with import prohibition although the countermeasures suggested.
In order to characterize the fundamental limit of the tradeoff between the amount of cache memory and the delivery transmission rate of multiuser caching systems, various coding schemes have been ...proposed in the literature. These schemes can largely be categorized into two classes, namely uncoded prefetching schemes and coded prefetching schemes. While uncoded prefetching schemes in general offer order-wise optimal performance, coded prefetching schemes often have better performance at the low cache memory regime. The significant differences in the coding components between the two classes may leave the impression that they are largely unrelated. In this paper, we provide a connection between the uncoded prefetching scheme proposed by Maddah Ali and Niesen (and its improved version by Yu et al. ) and the coded prefetching scheme proposed by Tian and Chen. A critical observation is made, where a coding component in the Tian-Chen scheme can be replaced by a binary code, which enables us to view the two schemes as the extremes of a more general scheme. An explicit example is given to show that the intermediate operating points of this general scheme can provide new memory-rate tradeoff points previously not known to be achievable in the literature. This new general coding scheme is then presented and analyzed rigorously, which yields a new inner bound to the memory-rate tradeoff for the caching problem.
The ability to slow down wave propagation in materials has attracted significant research interest. A successful solution will give rise to manageable enhanced wave-matter interaction, freewheeling ...phase engineering and spatial compression of wave signals. The existing methods are typically associated with constructing dispersive materials or structures with local resonators, thus resulting in unavoidable distortion of waveforms. Here we show that, with helical-structured acoustic metamaterials, it is now possible to implement dispersion-free sound deceleration. The helical-structured metamaterials present a non-dispersive high effective refractive index that is tunable through adjusting the helicity of structures, while the wavefront revolution plays a dominant role in reducing the group velocity. Finally, we numerically and experimentally demonstrate that the helical-structured metamaterials with designed inhomogeneous unit cells can turn a normally incident plane wave into a self-accelerating beam on the prescribed parabolic trajectory. The helical-structured metamaterials will have profound impact to applications in explorations of slow wave physics.
Standard phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) generally requires collecting at least three phase-shifted interferograms to extract the physical quantity being measured. Here, we propose the ...application of a simple two-frame PSI for the testing of a range of optical surfaces, including flats, spheres, and aspheres. The two-frame PSI extracts modulated phase from two randomly phase-shifted interferograms using a Gram-Schmidt algorithm, and can work in either null testing or non-null testing modes. Since only two interferograms are used for phase demodulation and the phase shift amount can be random, requirements on environmental conditions and phase shifter calibration are greatly relaxed. Experimental results of three different mirrors suggest that the two-frame PSI can achieve comparable measurement precision with conventional multi-frame PSI, but has faster data acquisition speed and less stringent hardware requirements. The proposed two-frame PSI expands the flexibility of PSI and holds great potential in many applications.
Talar fractures often require osteotomy during surgery to achieve reduction and screw fixation of the fractured fragments due to limited visualization and operating space of the talar articular ...surface. The objective of this study was to evaluate the horizontal approach to the medial malleolus facet by maximizing exposure through dorsiflexion and plantarflexion positions.
In dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and functional foot positions, we respectively obtained the anterior and posterior edge lines of the projection of the medial malleolus on the medial malleolar facet. The talar model from Mimics was imported into Geomagic software for image refinement. Then Solidworks software was used to segment the medial surface of the talus and extend the edge lines from the three positions to project them onto the "semicircular" base for 2D projection. The exposed area in different positions, the percentage of total area it represents, and the anatomic location of the insertion point at the groove between the anteroposternal protrusions of the medial malleolus were calculated.
The mean total area of the "semicircular" region on the medial malleolus surface of the talus was 542.10 ± 80.05 mm2. In the functional position, the exposed mean area of the medial malleolar facet around the medial malleolus both anteriorly and posteriorly was 141.22 ± 24.34 mm2, 167.58 ± 22.36mm2, respectively. In dorsiflexion, the mean area of the posterior aspect of the medial malleolar facet was 366.28 ± 48.12 mm2. In plantarflexion, the mean of the anterior aspect of the medial malleolar facet was 222.70 ± 35.32 mm2. The mean overlap area of unexposed area in both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was 23.32 ± 5.94 mm2. The mean percentage of the increased exposure area in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were 36.71 ± 3.25% and 15.13 ± 2.83%. The mean distance from the insertion point to the top of the talar dome was 10.69 ± 1.24 mm, to the medial malleolus facet border of the talar trochlea was 5.61 ± 0.96 mm, and to the tuberosity of the posterior tibiotalar portion of the deltoid ligament complex was 4.53 ± 0.64 mm.
Within the 3D model, we measured the exposed area of the medial malleolus facet in different positions and the anatomic location of the insertion point at the medial malleolus groove. When the foot is in plantarflexion or dorsiflexion, a sufficiently large area and operating space can be exposed during surgery. The data regarding the exposed visualization area and virtual screws need to be combined with clinical experience for safer reduction and fixation of fracture fragments. Further validation of its intraoperative feasibility will require additional clinical research.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A general visible-light mediated ortho-C–H trifluoromethylation of aniline derivatives by using a low-cost and stable Langlois reagent (CF3SO2Na) as the “CF3” source has been developed. In contrast ...to previous reports, this strategy allowed access to elusive trifluoromethyl lactams. Furthermore, mechanism experiments revealed that a copper/photoredox dual catalytic mechanism enabled general trifluoromethylation of aniline derivatives.
Infectious diseases have a profound impact on our health and many studies suggest that host genetics play a major role in the pathogenesis of most of them. We perform 23 genome-wide association ...studies for common infections and infection-associated procedures, including chickenpox, shingles, cold sores, mononucleosis, mumps, hepatitis B, plantar warts, positive tuberculosis test results, strep throat, scarlet fever, pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, tonsillectomy, childhood ear infections, myringotomy, measles, hepatitis A, rheumatic fever, common colds, rubella and chronic sinus infection, in over 200,000 individuals of European ancestry. We detect 59 genome-wide significant (P < 5 × 10
) associations in genes with key roles in immunity and embryonic development. We apply fine-mapping analysis to dissect associations in the human leukocyte antigen region, which suggests important roles of specific amino acid polymorphisms in the antigen-binding clefts. Our findings provide an important step toward dissecting the host genetic architecture of response to common infections.Susceptibility to infectious diseases is, among others, influenced by the genetic landscape of the host. Here, Tian and colleagues perform genome-wide association studies for 23 common infections and find 59 risk loci for 17 of these, both within the HLA region and non-HLA loci.
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