Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Due Process and the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) operates under a regime of complementarity: a domestic state prosecution of a defendant charged before the ICC bars the Court from hearing the case unless the state is unable or unwilling to prosecute the accused. For years, scholars have debated the role of due process considerations in complementarity. Can a state that has failed to provide the accused with adequate due process protections nonetheless bar a parallel ICC prosecution? One popular view, first expressed by Professor Kevin Jon Heller, holds that due process considerations do not factor into complementarity and the ICC could be forced to cede a case even to a state intent on subjecting the accused to a show trial. Drawing on recent ICC precedents, this Article argues that the Pre-Trial Chamber has begun to resolve this open question. The Court is now developing a system of “predictive due process. ” Under this new model of due process, the Court considers to a limited extent whether domestic criminal proceedings abide by international norms and, as part of the analysis, the Court tries to predict how the state in question would treat the accused if given control of the case. Taking a rational actor view of judicial behavior, this Article concludes that the rise of predictive due process is inevitable. From the perspective of ICC judges entrusted with the Court’s institutional legitimacy, some consideration of due process factors is the optimal risk-averse strategy. Finally, proceeding from the conclusion that the ICC inevitably will use predictive due process, the Article argues that the ICC should learn from other courts that engage in similar inquiries. Specifically, the Court should seek guidance from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia’s decision making under Article 11 bis, international economic law jurisprudence on standards of review, and the proportionality jurisprudence of international human rights tribunals. Although reliance on human rights law conflicts with stated ICC doctrine, this standard may give way in practice, if not in form.
Automatic Signature Stability Analysis and Verification Using Local Features

The purpose of writing this paper is two-fold. First, it presents a novel signature stability analysis based on signature's local / part-based features. The Speeded Up Local features (SURF) are used for local analysis which give various clues about the potential areas from whom the features should be exclusively considered while performing signature verification. Second, based on the results of the local stability analysis we present a novel signature verification system and evaluate this system on the publicly available dataset of forensic signature verification competition, 4NSigComp2010, which contains genuine, forged, and disguised signatures. The proposed system achieved an EER of 15%, which is considerably very low when compared against all the participants of the said competition. Furthermore, we also compare the proposed system with some of the earlier reported systems on the said data. The proposed system also outperforms these systems.
Sequence‐specific positioning of nucleosomes over the steroid‐inducible MMTV promoter.

We have investigated chromatin organization over the MMTV LTR, a promoter regulated by steroid hormones. The studies were performed on cell lines containing BPV‐based episomal constructs. Nucleosome positioning was determined by localization of sites sensitive to the enzyme micrococcal nuclease, or to the chemical MPE‐Fe(II). Experiments with both reagents indicate that nucleosomes are specifically positioned in MMTV LTR chromatin. In the absence of hormone a regular cutting pattern is obtained, with cleavage sites at +136, −60, −250, −444, −651, −826 and −1019 relative to the Cap site. In the presence of hormone the cutting pattern is unchanged, except for a region between −60 and −250 that becomes hypersensitive to MPE‐Fe(II). This region contains the DNA sequences to which steroid receptor complexes bind during transcriptional activation. Our results indicate that this region is associated in chromatin from uninduced cells with a macromolecular complex (probably a nucleosome core), and this complex is displaced (or modified) upon binding of activated receptor.
Future challenges to ensure sustainable forest management

This paper is based on a presentation at the international workshop "Forests and Forestry in Central and Eastern European Countries - The Transition Process and Challenges Ahead" held on 12-13 September 2001 in Debe, Poland. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Poland; The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Liaison Unit Vienna; the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. This paper presents a conceptual framework for sustainable development in the transition countries and the challenges ahead in achieving sustainable forestry in the transition countries.
Discrimination effects in zeolite modified metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors

The use of zeolites to enhance the response and discriminating power of solid state metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors is demonstrated. Thick film sensors were prepared by screen printing layers of chromium titanium oxide (CTO) with various zeolites as over-layers. The sensors gas response was tested against two similar gases; ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. The modified sensors effectively discriminated between the two gases. An understanding of this discriminating behaviour is elucidated through computer modelling of diffusion and reaction processes occurring in the zeolite transformation layer and sensor element. Our analysis suggests that the discriminating behaviour is the result of a size and shape selective catalysis.
Cellular mRNA expression of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), IL‐4 and transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) in rats nasally tolerized against experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG)

Nasal administration of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) to Lewis rats prior to myasthenogenic immunization with AChR plus Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) resulted in prevention or marked decrease of the severity of EAMG, suppression of AChR‐specific B cell responses and of AChR‐reactive T cell functions. To examine the involvement of immunoregulatory cytokines and the underlying mechanisms involved in tolerance induction, in situ hybridization with radiolabelled synthetic oligonucleotide probes was adopted to enumerate mononuclear cells (MNC) expressing mRNA for the proinflammatory cytokine IFN‐γ, the B cell stimulating IL‐4 and the immune response‐down‐regulating TGF‐β. Popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes from EAMG rats contained elevated numbers of AChR‐reactive IFN‐γ, IL‐4 and TGF‐β mRNA‐expressing cells compared with control rats receiving PBS nasally and injected with FCA only. Nasal tolerance to EAMG was accompanied by decreased numbers of AChR‐reactive IFN‐γ and IL‐4 mRNA‐expressing cells, and strong up‐regulation of TGF‐β mRNA‐positive cells in lymphoid organs compared with non‐tolerized EAMG control rats. The relative affinity of anti‐AChR antibodies was lower, but muscle AChR amounts were higher in nasally tolerized rats compared with non‐tolerized EAMG control rats. The results suggest that IFN‐γ and IL‐4 are central effector molecules in the development of EAMG, and that TGF‐β plays an important role in tolerance induction to EAMG.
Reliability of Transmission Links Consisting of Overhead Lines and Underground Cables

Underground cables will be applied more often within new connections of the extra-high-voltage (EHV) transmission network. Since EHV underground cables are a relatively new technology, not much is known about their behavior in large transmission networks. Underground cable connections (consisting of cables, joints, and terminations) are, in general, less reliable than traditional overhead lines, mainly because of their much longer repair time. This can negatively influence the reliability of the transmission network as well. It is therefore of interest to study the reliability of underground cable connections in detail. This paper concentrates on the reliability of EHV underground cable and overhead line connections. Based on actual failure statistics of individual components, the reliability of a connection is analyzed, and which factors are of influence and what measures can be taken to improve the reliability are studied. An optimized cable repair process and a configuration with additional disconnectors are two solutions.
Determinant of the Relationship between Natural Gas Prices and Leading Natural Gas Countries’ Stock Exchange

Over the recent decades, natural sources of energy have become an interesting topic to investigate for researchers. Sources of energy play a crucial role in all industrial segments such as export revenue, exchange rate and stock market. One of the major sources is natural gas which its price affects many countriesi¯ economy. This paper investigates the effect of natural gas price on the three leading natural gas exporting countriesi¯ stock market: Russia, Norway and Qatar. This paper employs monthly data observations including natural gas price and stock exchange market index on Russia, Norway and Qatar from January 2005 to November 2013. This study uses Unrestricted Vector Autoregressive model (VAR) to apply Granger Causality test, Impulse Response functions and Variance Decomposition. Findings show that there are two-way causality relationship between natural gas prices and stock exchanges of Russia and Norway, though natural gas prices affected Russia stock exchange index at 10% significance level and Norway stock exchange index at 5% significance. However, there is not causality relationship between Qatar stock exchange and natural gas prices. Moreover, outcomes of impulse response function present that natural gas price shock does not have significant impact on all three countriesi¯ stock exchange. The variance decomposition test also reinforces the results from impulse response function since Russia, Norway and Qatari¯s stock exchange variance are not significantly due to natural gas price.
Differential transcriptional regulation of CD161 and a novel gene, 197/15a, by IL-2, IL-15, and IL-12 in NK and T cells.

Cytokine-mediated enhancement of spontaneous cytotoxicity depends, at least in part, on modulation of the expression of surface molecules responsible for recognition of target cell structures and triggering or inhibition of the cytotoxic machinery. We previously demonstrated that expression of transcription factors (e.g., Egr-1, JunB, and c-Fos) is differentially regulated by IL-2 and IL-12. Here we show that expression of CD161/NKR-P1A, a molecule involved in triggering cytotoxicity, is specifically upregulated by IL-12. CD161 transcription, mRNA accumulation, and surface expression are increased by IL-12. Other cytokines sharing the IL-2R beta- and/or common gamma-chains (i.e., IL-15, IL-4, and IL-7) do not mediate these effects. In an effort to analyze the mechanisms by which IL-2, IL-12, and IL-15 differentially regulate gene transcription, we have isolated a novel gene, 197/15a, the expression of which in NK and T cells is down-regulated by IL-2 and IL-15, up-regulated by IL-12, and not affected by IL-4 and IL-7. IL-2 and IL-15 act, at least in part, repressing 197/15a transcription; their effect on 197/15a mRNA accumulation is partially independent of novel protein synthesis, likely not mediated by JunB, Bcl-2, or Bax, and requires the activity of rapamycin-sensitive molecule(s). The observation that IL-2 and IL-12 differentially modulate CD161 expression suggests the existence of cytokine-specific mechanisms of modulation of spontaneous cytotoxicity based on the regulation of expression of surface molecules involved in target cell recognition and/or triggering of the cytolytic machinery.
Return of drinking water supply in Paris to public control

The ‘reclaiming’ by Paris of its water back into public hands is a paradox in the homeland of transnational water companies and at a time when the European Commission rather favours the liberalisation of public services ‘of general economic interest’. Yet what has happened is more complex. A quick historical review of management formulas in Europe reveals both the specific model of delegation to private companies made in France, and also the maintained direct labour management formula (with direct public procurement by municipalities) used in several French cities to be presented. Paris has a long history of public procurement of water, whilst using a private company for metering and billing customers. Mayor Chirac changed to a semi-public company with public production and private distribution contracted out to two private companies (with responsibility for the right and left banks). Mayor Delanoe managed to reclaim the distribution in a commercial but public institution called an Etablissement Public a caractere Industriel et Commercial (EPIC); this had unsuspected impacts on water supply issue in the suburbs. While Paris can obviously run its services directly, the emerging issue appears to be multi-level governance at the metropolitan level, rather than just a public–private debate. This paper also discusses in detail the arguments put forward by Anne le Strat, Deputy Mayor for Water, in favour of returning to public control, and presents the difficulties of assessing the performance of a service operator, under both delegation and direct management.
Ubiquitin–proteasome system and Parkinson's disease

Increasing genetic, pathological, and experimental evidence suggest that neurodegeneration in both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) may be related to a defect in the capacity of the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) to clear unwanted proteins, resulting in protein accumulation, aggregation, and cytotoxicity. This concept is supported by in vitro and in vivo laboratory experiments which show that inhibition of UPS function can cause neurodegeneration coupled with the formation of Lewy body–like inclusions. This hypothesis could account for the presence of protein aggregates and Lewy bodies in PD, the other biochemical features seen in the disorder, and the age‐related vulnerability of the substantia nigra pars compacta. It also suggests novel targets for putative neuroprotective therapies for PD. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Modulating the tumor microenvironment to increase radiation responsiveness

Radiosensitivity can be influenced both by factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the cancer cell. One of the factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) extrinsic to the cancer cell that can affect radiosensitivity is oxygenation. Severely hypoxic cells require a 2-3 fold higher dose of radiation to achieve the same level of cell killing as do well-oxygenated cells. Other elements in the microenvironment that may influence tumor radiosensitivity are the response of stromal cells to radiation and the expression of factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a). There are currently several classes of agents that may increase tumor radiosensitivity by modulating the TME. Pre-clinical evidence indicates that inhibition of VEGF may increase local control after radiation. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain this including radiosensitization of tumor endothelial cells, prevention of the establishment of new vasculature post-radiation, and increased oxygenation secondary to vascular normalization. Agents targeting HIF-1a also increase local control after radiation in pre-clinical models. This may occur via indirect inhibition of VEGF, which is a downstream target of HIF-1, or by VEGF-independent means. When combined with radiation, the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab improves local control and survival in patients with head and neck cancer. Pre-clinical data indicate that EGFR inhibitors can increase the intrinsic radiosensitivity of cancer cells. They can also improve tumor blood flow and oxygenation, which may increase extrinsic radiosensitivity. One of the pathways downstream of EGFR that may contribute to this effect is the PI3K/Akt pathway. Agents that directly inhibit this pathway improve blood flow and increase tumor oxygenation in pre-clinical models. The challenge remains to obtain clinical data from patients showing that modulation of the TME is an important mechanism by which biological agents can radiosensitize tumors and then to utilize this information to optimize therapy.
Optical Power Domain NOMA for Visible Light Communications

We propose an optical power domain non-orthogonal multiple access (OPD-NOMA) scheme for visible light communications. OPD-NOMA superposes user messages in the optical power domain based on a light-emitting diode (LED) array. The maximum driven current for respective circuits is reduced compared to that of conventional NOMA, in which the LED-array-module is driven by a single circuit. OPD-NOMA reduces the gain and bandwidth requirements for the driver circuit of light source. The nonlinear power-current response of LED largely restricts its usable dynamic range and thus the transmit power. In OPD-NOMA, signals with lower powers suffer from reduced nonlinear distortion. The experimental results show that, OPD-NOMA offers improved transmission performance compared to conventional NOMA using the same driver circuit, since it can make a better use of the linear dynamic range of the LED’s power–current response.
The TPACK Model to Prepare and Evaluate Lesson Plans: An Experience with Pre-service Teachers Using Social Networks and Digital Resources

It is essential to understand and manage technology for pre-service teachers in order to propose methodological, educational and assessment strategies that allow them to innovate and respond adequately to the demands of the educational system. The objective is to identify the elements that pre-service teachers use in learning situations for the production of digital educational resources created to teach using social networks through the TPACK rubric. This research was developed focused on a quantitative methodology and a descriptive design. The sample was formed by 32 pre-service teachers who attend an Information and Communication Technology Course in 2014, at the Faculty of Education, Universidad Catolica de la Santisima Concepcion. Main results obtained from the analysis of three educational resources (blog, Prezi and cartoons) indicate that they possess a low level of integration of curricular objectives and technologies; however, results show that students have a high level to select the technological resources in the design of didactic activities. It can be concluded that incorporation of the TPACK model, positively helps pre-service students to know how to integrate the teaching resources in an innovative way. It enables the achievement of an adequate articulation of technology in teaching and learning.
Improving the humidity resistance of electronic packaging materials by micro-nano hierarchical structured silica

Micro-nano structured silica particles were synthesized successfully by grafted 4, 4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). We report a robust procedure for preparing superhydrophobic materials with the advancing water contact angle (WCA) of about 155°. Micro-nano structured surface roughness, which mimics the surface topology of self-cleaning plant leaves, originates from well-defined micro-nano structured silica particles that are covalently bonded to an epoxy-based polymer matrix. The roughened surface is chemically modified with a layer of n-octyltriethoxysilane. The morphology of the silica with micro-nano hierarchical structure was observed by SEM. Hierarchical structure of silica filled epoxy resin composite exhibits better humidity resistance than the neat epoxy resin. The results show that the hierarchical structure of silica filled epoxy resin composite is suitable for electronic packaging in humid environment.
Functional Genomics Reveals That a Compact Terpene Synthase Gene Family Can Account for Terpene Volatile Production in Apple1[W]

Summary: Apple is shown to contain only a small number of functional terpene synthase genes whose evolution appears to have been shaped by genome-wide duplication events and commercial breeding strategies. Terpenes are specialized plant metabolites that act as attractants to pollinators and as defensive compounds against pathogens and herbivores, but they also play an important role in determining the quality of horticultural food products. We show that the genome of cultivated apple (Malus domestica) contains 55 putative terpene synthase (TPS) genes, of which only 10 are predicted to be functional. This low number of predicted functional TPS genes compared with other plant species was supported by the identification of only eight potentially functional TPS enzymes in apple ‘Royal Gala’ expressed sequence tag databases, including the previously characterized apple (E,E)-α-farnesene synthase. In planta functional characterization of these TPS enzymes showed that they could account for the majority of terpene volatiles produced in cv Royal Gala, including the sesquiterpenes germacrene-D and (E)-β-caryophyllene, the monoterpenes linalool and α-pinene, and the homoterpene (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene. Relative expression analysis of the TPS genes indicated that floral and vegetative tissues were the primary sites of terpene production in cv Royal Gala. However, production of cv Royal Gala floral-specific terpenes and TPS genes was observed in the fruit of some heritage apple cultivars. Our results suggest that the apple TPS gene family has been shaped by a combination of ancestral and more recent genome-wide duplication events. The relatively small number of functional enzymes suggests that the remaining terpenes produced in floral and vegetative and fruit tissues are maintained under a positive selective pressure, while the small number of terpenes found in the fruit of modern cultivars may be related to commercial breeding strategies.
Effect of Training on Exposure Judgment Accuracy of Industrial Hygienists

Results are presented from a study that investigated the effect of data interpretation training on exposure judgment accuracy of industrial hygienists across several companies in different industry sectors. Participating companies provided monitoring information on specific exposure tasks. Forty-nine hygienists from six companies participated in the study, and 22 industrial tasks were evaluated. The number of monitoring data points for individual tasks varied between 5 and 24. After reviewing all available basic characterization information for the job, task, and chemical, hygienists were asked to provide their judgment on the probability of the 95th percentile of the underlying exposure distribution being located in one of four exposure categories relative to the occupational exposure limit as outlined in the AIHA® exposure assessment strategy. Ninety-three qualitative judgments (i.e., without reviewing monitoring data) and 2142 quantitative judgments (i.e., those made after reviewing monitoring data) were obtained. Data interpretation training, with simple rules of thumb for estimating 95th percentiles, was provided to all hygienists. A data interpretation test was administered before and after training. All exposure task judgments were collected before and after training. Data interpretation test accuracy for the hygienists increased from 48% to 67% after training (p < 0.001) and a significant underestimation bias was removed. Hygienist quantitative task judgment accuracy improved from 46% to 69% (p < 0.001) post-training. Accuracy results showed good improvement in industrial hygienists’ quantitative judgments as a result of training. Hence, the use of statistical tools is promoted to improve judgments based on monitoring data and provide feedback and calibration to improve qualitative judgments. It may be worthwhile to develop standard training programs to improve exposure judgments.