Improvement of a dynamic accumulator at ICICS 07 and its application in multi-user keyword-based retrieval on encrypted data

A dynamic accumulator is an algorithm, which merges a large set of elements into a constant-size value such that for an element accumulated, there is a witness confirming that the element was included into the value, with a property that accumulated elements can be dynamically added and deleted into/from the original set. Recently Wang et al. presented a dynamic accumulator for batch updates at ICICS 2007. However, their construction suffers from two serious problems. We analyze them and propose a way to repair their scheme. We use the accumulator to construct a new scheme for common secure indices with conjunctive keyword-based retrieval.

Juana Molina : left-field folktronica at the Brisbane Festival

Argentine singer-songwriter Juana Molina is one of those fearless artists. The kind of fearless artist who abandons a successful TV show at the height of its popularity to pursue a solo career in making and performing slightly left-field South American folk-tinged electronica...

Explaining lower rates of sexual abuse in China

Accumulating research suggests that rates of child sexual abuse are comparatively low in China. This commentary is an effort to evaluate whether it reflects a true lower prevalence or alternatively the effect of inhibited disclosure by victims. We conclude that while some estimates have almost certainly been affected by inhibited disclosure, the overall magnitude of the contrast between Chinese and international rates, particularly for girls, and its consistency with other indicators do suggest a true lower prevalence, although the evidence is equivocal. We discuss some factors that could account for such lower rates including Confucian family values, definitions of masculinity and a collectivist culture that may be protective.

A vibrational spectroscopic study of the silicate mineral normandite – NaCa(Mn2+,Fe2+)(Ti,Nb,Zr)Si2O7(O,F)2

We have studied the mineral normandite using a combination of scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. The mineral normandite NaCa(Mn2+,Fe2+)(Ti,Nb,Zr)Si2O7(O,F)2 is a crystalline sodium calcium silicate which contains rare earth elements. Chemical analysis shows the mineral contains a range of elements including Na, Mn2+, Ca, Fe2+ and the rare earth element niobium. No Raman bands are observed above 1100 cm−1. The mineral is characterised by Raman bands observed at 724, 748, 782 and 813 cm−1. Infrared bands are broad; nevertheless bands may be resolved at 723, 860, 910, 958, 933, 1057 and 1073 cm−1. Intense Raman bands at 454, 477 and 513 cm−1 are attributed to OSiO bending modes. No Raman bands are observed in the hydroxyl stretching region, but low intensity infrared bands are observed at 3191 and 3450 cm−1. This observation brings into question the true formula of the mineral.