Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In the Pines: A Visual Ethnography of American, Mexican, and Canadian Reforestation Workers

An ethnographic film with supplementary written materials, this dissertation examines the lived experiences of reforestation workers in the United States and Canada. The dissertation is based on fieldwork conducted from November 2012 – February 2015, including time spent with three different reforestation crews, one comprised of Mexicans, one of Americans, and one of Canadians. It also relies on oral histories of former and company owners and other individuals who formed and grew the earliest interstate reforestation contracting companies, as well as archival research in the records of the South Eastern Forestry Contractors Alliance My work uses liminality as a framework for understanding the lived experiences of these workers, and I have created the term “liminal labor” to describe jobs that require liminality of workers. The Canadian planters experience the job in a manner akin to a traditional rite of passage, a brief experience that defines them to their community and teaches them skills they will rely on throughout their adult life, but the American and Mexicans planters experience long-term liminality, an extended period that can last decades. For the American workers, most of whom are college educated, this liminality is their own choice. They could find other work, but they enjoy the freedom and lifestyle migrant work affords them. By contrast, for the Mexican H-2B workers, their long-term liminality is a product of necessity, not to enable a rootless lifestyle but to secure land, build houses, and support families in Mexico. The contrast of these two groups is instructive in showing how long-term liminality is neither inherently problematic nor laudable. Instead, its value is very much rooted in the subjectivity of the person living it. This dissertation is primarily an ethnographic film, one that uses editing choices, text on screen, and narration to make an argument. The dissertation itself serves as an example of what I call “academic film,” a style of film that unites cinema’s sensorial and ethnographic potential with the theoretical and written tradition of academia. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Anthropology First Advisor John Jackson Jr.
Intrinsic Light Field Images

We present a method to automatically decompose a light field into its intrinsic shading and albedo components. Contrary to previous work targeted to two‐dimensional (2D) single images and videos, a light field is a 4D structure that captures non‐integrated incoming radiance over a discrete angular domain. This higher dimensionality of the problem renders previous state‐of‐the‐art algorithms impractical either due to their cost of processing a single 2D slice, or their inability to enforce proper coherence in additional dimensions. We propose a new decomposition algorithm that jointly optimizes the whole light field data for proper angular coherence. For efficiency, we extend Retinex theory, working on the gradient domain, where new albedo and occlusion terms are introduced. Results show that our method provides 4D intrinsic decompositions difficult to achieve with previous state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. We further provide a comprehensive analysis and comparisons with existing intrinsic image/video decomposition methods on light field images.
Only fixation for cervical spondylosis: Report of early results with a preliminary experience with 6 cases

Aim: The author reports early post-operative outcome and preliminary experience with an alternative form of treatment of cervical degenerative or spondylotic disease leading to spinal canal stenosis that involves fixation-arthrodesis of the affected spinal segment using one or two (double insurance) transarticular screws for each joint. Materials and Methods: During the period of months from March 2013 to July 2013, six patients having cervical spondylotic cord compression were treated with transarticular method of screw fixation of the involved segments. The operation involved section of the spinous process at its base, opening up of the facet joint, denuding of articular cartilage, placement of intraarticular cavity bone graft chips and insertion of either a single or two transarticular screws at each level. The fixation was done in four levels in four patients and at two levels in two patients. Japanese Orthopedic Association score, visual analog scale (neck pain) and Odom's criteria were used to monitor the clinical status of the patients before and after the surgery and at follow-up. Results: Immediate post-operative and a relatively short-term post-operative outcome was remarkably gratifying. During the average period of follow-up of 6 months (range: 3-8 months); there was varying degree of recovery of symptoms. The procedure resulted in firm stabilization and fixation of the spinal segment and provided a ground for arthrodesis. No patient worsened after treatment. During the period of follow-up, all patients showed remarkable and progressive recovery in symptoms. Conclusions: Vertical instability and telescoping, listhesis or overriding of the facets on physical activity seems to be the defining phenomenon in pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic disease. The clinical outcome in our patients suggest that only fixation of the spinal segment can be a rationale form of treatment. Transarticular method of treatment is a simple, safe and effective method of spinal stabilization. The firm stabilization at the fulcrum of cervical spinal movements provided a ground for segmental spinal arthrodesis. Use of two or “double insurance” screws at each facet is possible and provides reassuring stability in selected cases.
Third row transition metals for the treatment of cancer

Platinum compounds are a mainstay of cancer chemotherapy, with over 50% of patients receiving platinum. But there is a great need for improvement. Major features of the cisplatin mechanism of action involve cancer cell entry, formation mainly of intrastrand cross-links that bend and unwind nuclear DNA, transcription inhibition and induction of cell-death programmes while evading repair. Recently, we discovered that platinum cross-link formation is not essential for activity. Monofunctional Pt compounds such as phenanthriplatin, which make only a single bond to DNA nucleobases, can be far more active and effective against a range of tumour types. Without a cross-link-induced bend, monofunctional complexes can be accommodated in the major groove of DNA. Their biological mechanism of action is similar to that of cisplatin. These discoveries opened the door to a large family of heavy metal-based drug candidates, including those of Os and Re, as will be described.
Modeling Parallel Applications for Scalability Analysis : An approach to predict the communication pattern

The performance of message-passing applications varies depending on the parallel system, causing potential inefficiencies when its number of processes increases. By this reason, it is critical to predict the application behavior before executing it, in order to use the system efficiently. We propose a methodology that allows us to predict the application scalability behavior in a specific system, providing information to select the most appropriate resources to run the application. The methodology strives to use a bounded analysis time, and a reduced set of resources. This paper presents the general methodology, focusing on validating the step of the methodology concerning to the generation of scalability communication model. We can predict the evolution of the communication pattern using a reduced set of resources. Analyzing from 16 to 256 processes, we can predict the communication pattern for 4,096 processes.
Auction Protocols for Decentralized Scheduling

Scheduling is the problem of allocating resources to alternate possible uses over designated periods of time. Several have proposed (and some have tried) market-based approaches to decentralized versions of the problem, where the competing uses are represented by autonomous agents. Market mechanisms use prices derived through distributed bidding protocols to determine an allocation, and thus solve the scheduling problem. To analyze the behavior of market schemes, we formalize decentralized scheduling as a discrete resource allocation problem, and bring to bear some relevant economic concepts. Drawing on results from the literature, we discuss the existence of equilibrium prices for some general classes of scheduling problems, and the quality of equilibrium solutions. To remedy the potential nonexistence of price equilibria due to complementarities in preference, we introduce additional markets in combinations of basic goods. We present some auction mechanisms and bidding protocols corresponding to the two market structures, and analyze their computational and economic properties. Finally, we consider direct revelation mechanisms, and compare to the market-based approach.
Long reach cantilevers for sub-cellular force measurements

Maneuverable, high aspect ratio poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) fibers are fabricated for use as cellular force probes that can interface with individual pseudopod adhesive contact sites without forming unintentional secondary contacts to the cell. The straight fibers have lengths between 5 and 40 μm and spring constants in the 0.07–23.2 nN μm−1 range. The spring constants of these fibers were measured directly using an atomic force microscope (AFM). These AFM measurements corroborate determinations based on the transverse vibrational resonance frequencies of the fibers, which is a more convenient method. These fibers are employed to characterize the time dependent forces exerted at adhesive contacts between apical pseudopods of highly migratory D. discoideum cells and the PEDOT fibers, finding an average terminal force of 3.1 ± 2.7 nN and lifetime of 23.4 ± 18.5 s to be associated with these contacts.
RELAX: REaL time transmission of flight information and blAck boXes data

This position paper aims at proposing the use of satellite-based communication systems, which will play an ever increasing role in the future aeronautical communication services, to enable the real time transmission of flight information and black boxes data. Besides the immediate availability of the black boxes data after an air crash, the amount and the kind of the recorded data may be augmented, by including for example cockpit images. The RELAX system will also increase the aircraft safety level, reduce the accident rates and improve the monitoring process overall performance. In this paper, we briefly review existing proposals on this topic, list possible advantages and drawbacks and sketch a draft system architecture
Reducing the Cluster Overhead by Selecting Optimal and Stable Cluster Head through Genetic Algorithm

This paper proposes an idea for selecting cluster heads which are not only stable but also reduces the overhead in maintaining the cluster architecture. Cluster maintenance overheads can be minimized by minimizing the number of generated clusters and the variance of the number of cluster members. The goal is to provide a generic and stable cluster structure for the upper layers. The optimization is done through genetic algorithm.
Building an open-source blockchain ecosystem with ark

: Ark aims to create an entire ecosystem of linked chains by providing easy to use tools to deploy your own blockchain. Being highly flexible and adaptable, it allows products to be adopted by the general public much quicker and smoother. By having open source code, it is available to anyone who wants to contribute, or to build their own blockchain based on Ark technology stack. With a new block created every 8 seconds, its transactions are incredibly fast! In this paper we will present the building foundation of ARK Ecosystem, the decentralized organization behind ARK token, what are the challenges we are currently facing in general with blockchain technology and what is the role of the open-source community (ARK community fund, GitHub bounty program). We will also cover basics about the new ARK Core v2, which is a complete rewrite of the core blockchain code, addressed to deliver our vision of blockchain technology.
Satellite-based detection of Canadian boreal forest fires: Development and application of the algorithm

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of fires across the Canadian boreal forest zone by means of satellite-based remote sensing. A firedetection algorithm was designed to monitor fires using daily Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images. It exploits information from multichannel AVHRR measurements to determine the locations of fires on satellite pixels of about 1 km2 under clear sky or thin smoke cloud conditions. Daily fire maps were obtained showing most of the active fires across Canada (except those obscured by thick clouds). This was achieved by first compositing AVHRR scenes acquired over Canada on a given day and then applying the fire-detection algorithm. For the fire seasons of 1994-1998, about 800 NOAA/AVHRR daily mosaics were processed. The results provide valuable nation-wide information on fire activities in terms of their locations, burned area, starting and ending dates, as well as development. The total burned area as detected by satellite across Canada is estimated to be approximately 3.9, 4.9, 1.3, 0.4 and 2.4 million hectares in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The peak month of burning varies considerably from one year to another between June and August, as does the spatial distribution of fires. In general, conifer forests appear to be more vulnerable to burning and fires tend to grow larger than in deciduous forests.
Osteosarcoma of the larynx

Malignant neoplasms of the larynx are divided into epithelial and non-epithelial. Non-epithelial neoplasms include, among others, mesenchymal chondrosarcomas and osteosarcomas. Few cases of laryngeal osteosarcomas described in the literature were usually treated by surgery without the need to use adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy. Few authors propose the initial application of radiotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy. Our study presents a very rare case of a woman treated due to laryngeal osteosarcoma. We have also presented diagnostic difficulties preceding a decision to perform radical surgery. The patient had been eligible for radical surgical treatment, even though there were no features of malignancy in a histopathological examination of the biopsy material. Complete laryngectomy was carried out without the surgery of the cervical lymphatic system. Laryngeal osteosarcoma was diagnosed based on the postoperative histopathological examination using vimentin and Ki67. The patient remains under the care of the Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Department and Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz. There were no reports on local recurrence or distant metastases during regular check-ups.
BERT Chart Analysis of Turbo Frequency Domain Equalization with Imperfect Channel State Information

In this paper we analytically evaluate the performance of turbo frequency domain equalizers when the frequency selective channel is estimated erroneously. We generalize the bit error rate transfer chart method proposed with the assumption of perfect channel information to the case with imperfect channel state information to analyze the performance of a turbo frequency domain equalizer. Through a comparative performance evaluation we show that the performance achieved by simulations is consistent with the one predicted by the bit error rate transfer chart. By this analysis tool we investigate the sensitivity of both adaptive and non- adaptive schemes to the processing gain of channel estimation. We show that the former case is less sensitive to channel estimation error.
Learning Abstractions for Verifying Data-Structure Properties

This paper concerns the question of how to create abstractions that are useful for program analysis. It presents a method that refines an abstraction automatically for analysis problems in which the semantics of statements and the query of interest are expressed using logical formulas. We present two strategies for refining an abstraction. The simpler strategy is effective in many cases. The second strategy uses a known machine-learning algorithm to learn an appropriate abstraction. A tool that incorporates the method has been implemented and applied to several programs that manipulate linked lists and binary-search trees. In all cases, the tool is able to demonstrate (i) the partial correctness of the programs, and (ii) that the programs possess additional properties—e.g., stability or antistability.
Are There Missing Girls in the United States ? Evidence from Birth Data

It is not possible to assess how popular sex-determination tests and gender-selection techniques might be among Indian-Americans or any other group. There are no official statistics, and people who wish to choose the sex of their child do not wish to discuss it publicly … A martya Sen (1990, 1992) coined the term " missing women " to illustrate differential mortality rates experienced by women in several Asian countries. Sen (1990, 1992) has estimated 80–100 million " missing women " in Asia 1 and has pointed to gender selection as one contributing factor: Given a preference for boys over girls that many male-dominated societies have, gender inequality can manifest itself in the form of the parents' wanting the new born to be a boy rather than a 1 Several studies (e.g., Stephan Klasen and Claudia Wink 2002, 2003) reexamined the level and trend of " missing women " in Asia. of the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) for their assistance during the data acquisition process. The California birth data used in this paper cannot be released due to a confidentiality agreement with the CDHS. The federal birth data and census data used in this paper were obtained from the and Syracuse University also provided helpful comments. Jack Barron provided invaluable computer assistance. Dudley Poston, Jr. kindly provided data on Chinese and South Korean sex ratios at birth. An earlier version of this paper (Abrevaya 2005) was based on fewer years of birth data and inadvertently included multiple births (e.g., twins) in some of the empirical analysis. We offer evidence of gender selection within the United States. Analysis of comprehensive birth data shows unusually high boy-birth percentages after 1980 among later children (most notably third and fourth children) born to Chinese and Asian Indian mothers. Based upon linked data from California, Asian Indian mothers are found to be significantly more likely to have a terminated pregnancy and to give birth to a boy when they have previously only given birth to girls. The observed boy-birth percentages are consistent with over 2,000 " missing " Chinese and Indian girls in the United States between 1991 and 2004. (JEL J11, J16)
Host cell lipids control cholesteryl ester synthesis and storage in intracellular Toxoplasma

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii lacks a de novo mechanism for cholesterol synthesis and therefore must scavenge this essential lipid from the host environment. In this study, we demonstrated that T. gondii diverts cholesterol from low‐density lipoproteins for cholesteryl ester synthesis and storage in lipid bodies. We identified and characterized two isoforms of acyl‐CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT)‐related enzymes, designated TgACAT1α and TgACAT1β in T. gondii. Both proteins are coexpressed in the parasite, localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and participate in cholesteryl ester synthesis. In contrast to mammalian ACAT, TgACAT1α and TgACAT1β preferentially incorporate palmitate into cholesteryl esters and present a broad sterol substrate affinity. Mammalian ACAT‐deficient cells transfected with either TgACAT1α or TgACAT1β are restored in their capability of cholesterol esterification. TgACAT1α produces steryl esters and forms lipid bodies after transformation in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain lacking neutral lipids. In addition to their role as ACAT substrates, host fatty acids and low‐density lipoproteins directly serve as Toxoplasma ACAT activators by stimulating cholesteryl ester synthesis and lipid droplet biogenesis. Free fatty acids significantly increase TgACAT1α mRNA levels. Selected cholesterol esterification inhibitors impair parasite growth by rapid disruption of plasma membrane. Altogether, these studies indicate that host lipids govern neutral lipid synthesis in Toxoplasma and that interference with mechanisms of host lipid storage is detrimental to parasite survival in mammalian cells.
Metric: A Multi-Echelon Technique for Recoverable Item Control

Metric is a mathematical model of a base-depot supply system in which item demand is compound Poisson with a mean value estimated by a Bayesian procedure. When a unit fails at base level there is a probability r that it can be repaired at the base according to an arbitrary probability distribution of repair time, and a probability 1 − r that it must be returned to the depot for repair according to some other arbitrary distribution. In the latter case the base levies a resupply request on depot. No lateral resupply between bases is considered in the model. For high-cost, low-demand items the appropriate policy is ( s − 1, s ), which means that items are not batched for repair or resupply requests. This problem has a simple analytic solution that is a function of the mean repair times rather than the repair time distributions. A practical and efficient computer program has been designed to show the cost-effectiveness tradeoff for a large group of recoverable items. In addition to minimizing expected backorders for any system investment, the program can evaluate any distribution of stock and it can compute the optimal redistribution of stock. No arbitrary estimates of backorder cost or holding cost are required.
Obtaining Audit Evidence for Assessing Companies' Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, Using Duration Models

According to The International Standards on Auditing , the purpose of the auditor in an audit engagement is to express an independent, objective and a professional opinion regarding the accuracy of the financial statements of the companies audited. During his mission, the auditors must also assess the company’s ability to continue as a going concern , with a major impact on the preparation and the quality of financial statements that are reported. To support his opinion, regarding the hypothesis of going concern , the auditor must obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, and perform the necessary audit procedures. For that, analytical procedures ensure a series of comparative information at the level of analyzed periods or branch, useful to the auditor in the audit engagement. The present study aims to obtain a deterministic model based on duration models, for assessing the audited companies’ ability to continue as a going concern . The research results are useful to the auditor in the assessment of the audited company’s compliance with the going concern assumption , in preparation of financial statements. The analysis was performed on a sample of 77 companies quoted on the Bucharest Stock Exchange that were subject to the insolvency risk, in the period 2008-2011. To obtain the research results, data were treated with statistical software SPSS 19.0.