Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perverse Incentives in Security Contracts : A Case Study in the Colombian Power Grid

In 2008 security forces in Colombia found that one of the companies hired to repair electric transmission towers from guerrilla attacks had hired guerrilla members to demolish towers in their contracted area of service. As a result, their business boomed as they were called often to repair electric towers. We model this problem as a game between contractors and the power transmission company, we show how misaligned incentives enabled contractors to profit by hiring guerrilla groups, and then model the changes to contracts that the transmission company implemented in order to minimize the incentives for future contractors to collude with guerrilla members in destroying electric towers.
Scattering of low-frequency radiation by a gyrating electron

The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by the particle gyrating in an external magnetic field is considered. Particular attention is paid to the low-frequency case, when the frequencies of incident radiation are much less than the electron gyrofrequency. The spectral and polarization features of the scattering cross-section are analysed in detail. It is found that the scattering transfers the low-frequency photons to high harmonics of the gyrofrequency, into the range of the synchrotron emission of the electron. The total scattering cross-section appears much larger than that for the particle at rest. The problem studied is directly applicable to the radio wave scattering in the magnetosphere of a pulsar. The particles acquire relativistic rotational energies as a result of resonant absorption of the high-frequency radio waves and concurrently scatter the low-frequency radio waves, which are still below the resonance. It is shown that the scattering can affect the radio intensity and polarization at the lowest frequencies and can compete with the resonant absorption in contributing to the low-frequency turnover in the pulsar spectrum. Moreover, the scattering can be an efficient mechanism of the pulsar high-energy emission, in addition to the synchrotron re-emission of the particles. Other astrophysical applications of the scattering by gyrating particles are pointed out as well.
Use of an adaptive 3D-DCT scheme for coding multiview stereo images

Our work presents a novel way for compressing image sets that form multiview stereo images used in three dimensional display devices. These image sets exhibit high inter-image correlation that remains unexploited when classic image compression techniques are applied. Our efforts are focused in the development of a compression algorithm based on the three dimensional discrete cosine transform (3D-DCT) which is an extension of the two dimensional case, used widely in image compression. An adaptive 3D-DCT scheme is implemented based on the exploitation of the increased spatial redundancy of certain parts of the image set. This is primarily achieved by locating image parts that belong to the distant background and hence remain unaltered throughout the image set. This technique achieves high compression ratios while maintaining the quality needed for correct stereoscopic viewing
Efficient Zero-Knowledge Identification Schemes for Smart Cards

Secure identification is an important security issue to avoid computer fraud due to masquerading. This can be achieved with zero-knowledge based smart cards. We present very efficient new zero-knowledge schemes in a general algebraic setting. Particular cases of our scheme improve the performance of the Guillou-Quisquater and the Chaum-Evertsevan de Graaf schemes. Our scheme is formally proven and, overall, is more efficient than currently available schemes including the Fiat-Shamir scheme. As an application we discuss how our scheme can be used for identification, in particular as an electronic passport scheme.
Study of the flux tube thickness in 3D lattice gauge theories by means of 2D spin models

We study the flux tube thickness in the confining phase of the (2+1) D SU(2) lattice gauge theory near the deconfining phase transition. Following the Svetitsky–Yaffe conjecture, we map the problem to the study of the correlation function in the 2D spin model with Z2 global symmetry (i.e. the 2D Ising model) in the high temperature phase. Using the form factor approach we obtain an explicit expression for this function and from it we infer the behaviour of the flux density of the original (2+1) D LGT. Remarkably, the result we obtain for the flux tube thickness agrees (apart from an overall normalization) with the effective string prediction for the same quantity.
Why Do Companies Rent Green? Real Property and Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper provides the first systematic analysis of the choice by organizations to occupy green office space. We develop a framework of ecological responsiveness, and we formulate five propositions to explain why specific firms and industries may be more likely to lease green space. We test these propositions by analyzing the decisions of more than 11,000 tenants to choose office space in green buildings or in otherwise comparable non-green buildings located nearby. We find that corporations in the oil and banking industries, as well as government-related and non-profit organizations, are among the most prominent green tenants. After appropriately controlling for building quality and for location within one quarter mile, our empirical analysis shows that firms in mining and construction and organizations in public administration are relatively more likely to lease green rather than conventional office space. Furthermore, organizations employing higher levels of human capital (as measured by skills and compensation) are more likely to lease green office space.
Assorted Iterative Methods as a Solution of Fuzzy Linear Systems

In this paper some iterative methods for solving fuzzy linear systems by two crisp linear systems is presented. Also necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of solution are given. Therefore, this paper presents a review on iterative methods as a solution for a general n n× fuzzy system of linear equations of the form b Ax = . It is hope that this review will provide an input in the study of fuzzy linear systems. The efficiency of the iterative methods is illustrated by offering a numerical example.
Inhibition of Murine Bladder Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro by Photocontrollable siRNA Based on Upconversion Fluorescent Nanoparticles

This study provides a unique approach to activate caged small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) using indirect UV light emitted by the near-infrared (NIR)-to-UV upconversion process to achieve high spatial and temporal gene interference patterns. siRNA molecules against the anti-apoptotic gene survivin was caged by light-sensitive molecules (4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitroacetophenone, DMNPE), which rendered them temporarily non-functional. NIR-to-UV NaYF4:Yb,Tm upconversion nanoparticles (UCPs) served as delivery vehicles and activators of the caged siRNA molecules in murine bladder cancer cells (MB49 cell line). Upconverted UV light at 355 nm was emitted from the NIR-irradiated UCPs, which well coincided with the wavelength needed to uncage DMNPE. Consequently, UV light acted as a switch to uncage the delivered siRNA molecule, thereby rendering fully functional for exerting its therapeutic effect in the bladder cancer cells. To achieve the highest RNA interference efficiency, conditions such as time after cellular uptake, excitation time, UCPs concentration and laser power were optimized. Results showed that 200 µg/mL nanoparticle concentration combined with 12 h incubation with MB49 cells and excitation with NIR laser at 100 mW power for 15 min provided the ideal interference efficiency and strongest induction of MB49 cell death. Our findings demonstrate the potential biological application of UCPs in treating bladder cancer by a novel therapeutic approach.
Paclitaxel triggers cell death primarily via caspase-independent routes in the non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H460.

PURPOSE Here we report on the role of mitochondria, death receptors (DRs), and caspases in exerting the cytotoxic effect of clinically relevant concentrations of paclitaxel in the non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H460. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We have characterized paclitaxel-induced cell death with annexin V, propidium iodide staining, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage assays. The involvement of the mitochondria pathway was studied by monitoring cytochrome c release and using H460 cells stable in overexpressing Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L). DR dependency was analyzed in FADD dominant-negative or cytokine response modifier A-overexpressing cells, and a possible role for DR4 and DR5 was investigated by antagonistic antibodies. Caspase activity and cleavage assays and treatment with the synthetic inhibitor zVAD-fmk were used to determine the involvement of caspases. RESULTS Paclitaxel-treated cells displayed several features of apoptosis, including annexin V staining and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. The sequence of events suggested the involvement of a DR, as indicated by an early role for Fas-associated death domain and caspase-8, followed by cleavage of Bid and the disruption of mitochondria; nonetheless, we failed to demonstrate the involvement of DR4 and DR5. Interestingly, inhibition of either one of these routes only resulted in a 30% reduction of cell death that was in line with the observed small effect of caspase inhibition by zVAD-fmk on H460 cell survival. CONCLUSION Paclitaxel triggers cell death in H460 cells mainly via a currently unidentified caspase-independent mechanism in which the basic apoptotic machinery is merely coactivated. This finding is in sharp contrast with the largely caspase-dependent response elicited by DNA-damaging agents in these cells. We speculate on therapeutic implications.
Carbon Allocation into Different Fine-Root Classes of Young Abies alba Trees Is Affected More by Phenology than by Simulated Browsing

Abies alba (European silver fir) was used to investigate possible effects of simulated browsing on C allocation belowground by 13CO2 pulse-labelling at spring, summer or autumn, and by harvesting the trees at the same time point of the labelling or at a later season for biomass and for 13C-allocation into the fine-root system. Before budburst in spring, the leader shoots and 50% of all lateral shoots of half of the investigated 5-year old Abies alba saplings were clipped to simulate browsing. At harvest, different fine-root classes were separated, and starch as an important storage compartment was analysed for concentrations. The phenology had a strong effect on the allocation of the 13C-label from shoots to roots. In spring, shoots did not supply the fine-roots with high amounts of the 13C-label, because the fine-roots contained less than 1% of the applied 13C. In summer and autumn, however, shoots allocated relatively high amounts of the 13C-label to the fine roots. The incorporation of the 13C-label as structural C or as starch into the roots is strongly dependent on the root type and the root diameter. In newly formed fine roots, 3–5% of the applied 13C was incorporated, whereas 1–3% in the ≤0.5 mm root class and 1–1.5% in the >0.5–1.0 mm root class were recorded. Highest 13C-enrichment in the starch was recorded in the newly formed fine roots in autumn. The clipping treatment had a significant positive effect on the amount of allocated 13C-label to the fine roots after the spring labelling, with high relative 13C-contents observed in the ≤0.5 mm and the >0.5–1.0 mm fine-root classes of clipped trees. No effects of the clipping were observed after summer and autumn labelling in the 13C-allocation patterns. Overall, our data imply that the season of C assimilation and, thus, the phenology of trees is the main determinant of the C allocation from shoots to roots and is clearly more important than browsing.
Achievable rate of multiuser downlink for LOS-MIMO systems with uniform circular arrays

In this paper, we investigate the achievable downlink rate of line-of-sight (LOS) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where uniform circular arrays (UCAs) is deployed at Base station (BS). Based on an existing three-dimensional channel model developed by considering both the azimuth and elevation dimensions. We first analyze channel vectors by assuming that users are randomly distributed in a cell, which indicates that the inner product of channel vectors in LOS-MIMO systems satisfies Bessel function when the number of transmit antenna is sufficiently large. Based on the properties of Bessel function, novel closed-form lower bound of achievable sum-rate are derived by considering two different cases with azimuth angles or elevation angles of users being identical. Our results show that with increasing the radius of UCAs, the achievable sum-rate converges to a saturated value. Finally, the theoretical analysis is validated via numerical simulations.
LAYER EXTRACTION USING GRAPH CUTS AND FEATURE TRACKING

In this paper we present a new method for layer extraction by tracking a non-rigid body with no fixed motion model, in a video. The method integrates the graph cuts approach with robust point based tracking to achieve good tracking of the whole object over frames of a video. With the help of a little user interaction our method can perform layer extraction over irregular motion and difficult object boundaries. To achieve this we apply the 3D graph cuts on a pair of frames and propagate the labels obtained in the earlier frame to new frame by use of robust tracking method. The user is shown the results of the layer extraction and can provide extra strokes to improve the results.
Fountain Codes With Nonuniform Selection Distributions Through Feedback

One key requirement for fountain (rateless) coding schemes is to achieve a high intermediate symbol recovery rate. Recent coding schemes have incorporated the use of a feedback channel to improve the intermediate performance of traditional rateless codes; however, these codes with feedback are designed based on uniformly at random selection of input symbols. In this paper, on the other hand, we develop feedback-based fountain codes with dynamically adjusted nonuniform symbol selection distributions, and show that this characteristic can enhance the intermediate decoding rate. We provide an analysis of our codes, including bounds on computational complexity and failure probability for a maximum likelihood decoder; the latter is tighter than bounds known for classical rateless codes. Through numerical simulations, we also show that the feedback information paired with a nonuniform selection distribution can highly improve the symbol recovery rate, and that the amount of feedback sent can be tuned to the specific transmission properties of a given feedback channel.
Carotid Plaque MRI and Stroke Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and Purpose— MRI characterization of carotid plaque has been studied recently as a potential tool to predict stroke caused by carotid atherosclerosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the association of MRI-determined intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap with subsequent ischemic events. Methods— We performed a comprehensive literature search evaluating the association of carotid plaque composition on MRI with ischemic outcomes. We included cohort studies examining intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, or thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap with mean follow-up of ≥1 month and an outcome measure of ipsilateral stroke or transient ischemic attack. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model with assessment of study heterogeneity and publication bias was performed. Results— Of the 3436 articles screened, 9 studies with a total of 779 subjects met eligibility for systematic review. The hazard ratios for intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap as predictors of subsequent stroke/transient ischemic attack were 4.59 (95% confidence interval, 2.91–7.24), 3.00 (95% confidence interval, 1.51–5.95), and 5.93 (95% confidence interval, 2.65–13.20), respectively. No statistically significant heterogeneity or publication bias was present in the 3 main meta-analyses performed. Conclusions— The presence of intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap on MRI of carotid plaque is associated with increased risk of future stroke or transient ischemic attack in patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease. Dedicated MRI of plaque composition offers stroke risk information beyond measurement of luminal stenosis in carotid atherosclerotic disease.
The genes coding for the antigen 85 complexes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG are members of a gene family: cloning, sequence determination, and genomic organization of the gene coding for antigen 85-C of M. tuberculosis

A gene encoding the 33-kDa secreted protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (antigen 85-C) was isolated and sequenced. The corresponding DNA sequence contains a 1,020-bp coding region. The deduced amino acid sequence corresponds to a 340-residue protein consisting of a 46-amino-acid signal peptide and a 294-amino-acid mature protein. Comparison with previously described genes for the 30-kDa antigen (the alpha antigen of M. bovis BCG, also called antigen 85-B) and the 32-kDa antigens from M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis (antigens 85-A) indicates that the three genes share considerable sequence homology (70.8 to 77.5%) but may also code for distinctive epitopes. Strong differences among the three sequences are clearly visible upstream and downstream from the region coding for the mature proteins. The three genes have been detected in the genome of M. bovis BCG by Southern blot hybridization with three type-specific probes. Furthermore, hybridization of large DNA fragments (100 to 1,000 kbp) from M. tuberculosis separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the three genes coding for the antigen 85 complex are not clustered within the bacterial genome.
Swarm Intelligence based Genetic Algorithm for Multi-Objective Optimization

Multi-objective optimization forms realistic models for many complex engineering problems. Different types of genetic algorithm solutions have been provided to solve these problems. In this paper a new Swarm Intelligence based Genetic Algorithm (SIGA) is proposed to overcome the disadvantages faced in the previous approaches. The example problem chosen is Multi-objective human resource allocation problem. This problem has already been solved by hybrid genetic algorithm. The newly proposed SIGA outperforms the previous one. The simulation results provided at the end of this paper proves this work.
Improving Internet Video Streaming Performance by Parallel TCP-Based Request-Response Streams

TCP-based video streaming encounters difficulties in unreliable networks with unanticipated packet loss. In combination with high round trip times, the effective throughput deteriorates rapidly and TCP connection resets or stalls may occur. In this paper, we propose a client-driven video transmission scheme which utilizes multiple HTTP/TCP streams. The scheme is largely insensitive to unanticipated packet loss and thereby reduces throughput fluctuations. Since it is based on HTTP, the scheme can easily be deployed in existing network infrastructures. It fosters scalability on the server side by shifting complexity from the server to the clients. Certain features of request-response schemes allow maintaining fairness, despite of using multiple HTTP streams. Making use of TCP, the scheme inherently adapts to congested network links.
Reconstructing Galaxy Spectral Energy Distributions from Broadband Photometry

We present a novel approach to photometric redshifts, one that merges the advantages of both the template-fitting and empirical-fitting algorithms without any of their disadvantages. This technique derives a set of templates describing the spectral energy distributions of galaxies from a catalog with both multicolor photometry and spectroscopic redshifts. The algorithm is essentially using the shapes of the templates as the fitting parameters. From simulated multicolor data we show that for a small training set of galaxies we can reconstruct robustly the underlying spectral energy distributions even in the presence of substantial errors in the photometric observations. We apply these techniques to the multicolor and spectroscopic observations of the Hubble Deep Field, building a set of template spectra that reproduced the observed galaxy colors to better than 10%. Finally, we demonstrate that these improved spectral energy distributions lead to a photometric redshift relation for the Hubble Deep Field that is more accurate than standard template-based approaches.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Institutional Theory: New Perspectives on Private Governance

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a pervasive topic in the business literature, but has largely neglected the role of institutions. This introductory article to the Special Issue of Socio-Economic Review examines the potential contributions of institutional theory to understanding CSR as a mode of governance. This perspective suggests going beyond grounding CSR in the voluntary behaviour of companies, and understanding the larger historical and political determinants of whether and in what forms corporations take on social responsibilities. Historically, the prevailing notion of CSR emerged through the defeat of more institutionalized forms of social solidarity in liberal market economies. Meanwhile, CSR is more tightly linked to formal institutions of stakeholder participation or state intervention in other advanced economies. The tensions between business-driven and multi-stakeholder forms of CSR extend to the transnational level, where the form and meaning of CSR remain highly contested. CSR research and practice thus rest on a basic paradox between a liberal notion of voluntary engagement and a contrary implication of socially binding responsibilities. Institutional theory seems to be a promising avenue to explore how the boundaries between business and society are constructed in different ways, and improve our understanding of the effectiveness of CSR within the wider institutional field of economic governance.
Optimization of Simulation Model parameters for solidification of metals with Use of Agent-Based Evolutionary Algorithm

The finite elements method (FEM) is currently widely used for simulation of thermal processes.However, one of still unresolved problems remains proper selection of mathematicalmodel parameters for these processes. As far as modelling of cooling casts in forms is concerned,particular difficulties appear while estimating values of numerous coefficients suchas: heat transport coefficient between metal and form, specific heat, metal and form heatconduction coefficient, metal and form density. Coefficients mentioned above depend not onlyon materials properties but also on temperature. In the paper the idea of optimalizationof simulation method parameters based on adaptive adjustment of curve representing simulationresult and result obtained in physical experiment is presented along with the ideaof evolutionary and agent-based evolutionary optimization system designed to conduct suchoptimizations. Preliminary results obtained with use of ABAQUS system available in ACKCYFRONET and software developed at AGH-UST conclude the paper.