Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Mean Field Game-Based Distributed Edge Caching in Fog Radio Access Networks

In this paper, the edge caching optimization problem in fog radio access networks (F-RANs) is investigated. Taking into account time-variant user requests and ultra-dense deployment of fog access points (F-APs), we propose a distributed edge caching scheme to jointly minimize the request service delay and fronthaul traffic load. Considering the interactive relationship among F-APs, we model the optimization problem as a stochastic differential game (SDG) which captures the dynamics of F-AP states. To address both the intractability problem of the SDG and the caching capacity constraint, we propose to solve the optimization problem in a distributive manner. Firstly, a mean field game (MFG) is converted from the original SDG by exploiting the ultra-dense property of F-RANs, and the states of all F-APs are characterized by a mean field distribution. Then, an iterative algorithm is developed that enables each F-AP to obtain the mean field equilibrium and caching control without extra information exchange with other F-APs. Secondly, a fractional knapsack problem is formulated based on the mean field equilibrium, and a greedy algorithm is developed that enables each F-AP to obtain the final caching policy subject to the caching capacity constraint. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the baselines.
Visual Functions Generating Conscious Seeing

Visual functions are reviewed that coincide with conscious as opposed to unconscious vision. Four stages of vision are identified, going from the fully invisible, to subjectively invisible, unattended, and clearly visible. It is proposed that feature extraction, categorization, and some aspects of visual inference occur during full and subjective invisibility. Functions related to perceptual organization, such as grouping and figure-ground segregation, occur during inattention as well as full visibility. It is argued that perceptual organization is the function that is central to understanding the transition from unconscious to conscious seeing. It is discussed what this implies for theories of consciousness such as Recurrent Processing Theory, Higher Order Thought Theory, Integrated Information Theory, and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory.
A case where material interpolation fails ?

From the literature, it is seen that shape and topology approaches lead to similar sensitivities. An open question is if there exist a case where shape and density sensitivities differ and perhaps even have opposite signs. In this article we study an example problem that seems to posses this issue. That is, a design problem which is very difficult to solve using density approaches and thus is best treated as a binary (or shape optimization) problem. To the authors knowledge so far only a few problems have this property, e.g. design of antennas (Aage, 2011), design of plasmonic resonators (Yamasaki et al, 2011) and probably the yet unsolved problem of topology optimization for turbulent flows. We illustrate the failure by a simple 1D design problem concerning electromagnetic waves and the optimal distribution of a good conductor, e.g. copper, in order to obtain a strong field enhancement, e.g. resonators, antennas, waveguides (Aage et al, 2010). The problem is first and foremost, that the sensitivities in many situations have wrong signs, and thus leads the optimizer to artificial local minima. Secondly, to move a zero density variable towards one, a small, but non-zero, conductivity must be included in void regions, which then leads to non-physical losses and ultimately to artificial local minima. In fact, the drawback of the standard material interpolations described here does not only effect the density approach, but covers most fixed-mesh
Application of Supervised Machine-Learning Methods for Attesting Provenance in Catalan Traditional Pottery Industry

The traditional pottery industry was an important activity in Catalonia (NE Spain) up to the 20th century. However, nowadays only few workshops persist in small villages were the activity is promoted as a touristic attraction. The preservation and promotion of traditional pottery in Catalonia is part of an ongoing strategy of tourism diversification that is revitalizing the sector. The production of authenticable local pottery handicrafts aims at attracting cultivated and high-purchasing power tourists. The present paper inspects several approaches to set up a scientific protocol based on the chemical composition of both raw materials and pottery. These could be used to develop a seal of quality and provenance to regulate the sector. Six Catalan villages with a renowned tradition of local pottery production have been selected. The chemical composition of their clays and the corresponding fired products has been obtained by Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Using the obtained geochemical dataset, a number of unsupervised and supervised machine learning methods have been applied to test their applicability to define geochemical fingerprints that could allow inter-site discrimination. The unsupervised approach fails to distinguish samples from different provenances. These methods are only roughly able to divide the different provenances in two large groups defined by their different SiO2 and CaCO3 concentrations. In contrast, almost all the tested supervised methods allow inter-site discrimination with accuracy levels above 80%, and accuracies above 85% were obtained using a meta-model combining all the predictive supervised methods. The obtained results can be taken as encouraging and demonstrative of the potential of the supervised approach as a way to define geochemical fingerprints to track or attest the provenance of samples.
BEST IN CLASS BUT BIG WRONGDOERS: Exploring the financial performance and human rights infringe ments nexus in large emerging country companies

Traditionally, financial distress and lack of access to opportunities have been seen as among the most important determinants of corporate wrongdoing. Applying performance feedback theory to the context of emerging country companies (ECCs), we seek to show that the biggest wrongdoers are ‘best in class’ companies with better performance than that of their industry peers. Using an original dataset, we examine the involvement in business-related human rights controversies (HRCs) for a sample of 245 large public companies from Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Thailand during the period 1992-2012. We find ECCs with good financial performance (relative to their industry peers) are more likely to be involved in HRCs but that this probability is attenuated if these companies invest in host countries characterized by strong regulatory enforcement which demonstrates the importance of internationalization for reducing wrongful business conduct. We find evidence also that firm self-regulatory policies (i.e. adoption of corporate social responsibility policies) work to mitigate the probability of high performers violating human rights in the conduct of their business. We discuss the contribution to research on the antecedents to corporate wrongdoing, and for performance feedback theory.
Size and Power in Asset Pricing Tests

We study the size-power tradeoff in commonly employed tests of return predictability. We provide conditions under which short-horizon dividend-growth tests and long-horizon return tests are asympotically more powerful than short-horizon return tests. Monte Carlo results show that the asymptotic power advantages carry over to small samples, although the reasons are different. Asymptotically, dividendgrowth tests are close to uniformly most powerful. In small samples, dividend-growth tests and long-horizon tests have similar power. JEL Codes: G12, G14, C32
Public transport route planning in the stochastic network based on the user individual preferences

Nowadays transport systems becomes more and more complex. Therefore, passengers have difficulty with route planning due to the variety of possible ways to get from the starting point to the destination one. Since the travel time often not considered as single and main criteria by passengers, it is important to take into account their own preferences which may be very different. In this paper, we proposed a stochastic route planning algorithm, which considers the user individual preferences. This method is based on the modified Dijkstra’s algorithm. The proposed algorithm is tested using real public transport dataset obtained from the transportation network of Samara, Russia.
Volatile-organic compound changes in rose twigs consequent to infection with rose powdery mildew

The chemical mechanisms involved in indirect plant-mediated interactions between insects and phytopathogenic fungi on the host plant are poorly understood. Fungus-induced changes in the volatile organic compound (VOC) contents of plants need to be elucidated to address this. Here, changes in VOCs in rose (Rosa chinensis Jacq.) leaves infected with rose powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa [Wallr.: Fr.] de Bary) were studied. VOCs were collected from undamaged live leaves of healthy and infected intact rose plants by dynamic headspace adsorption and identified by GC-MS. VOCs were extracted using n-hexane, and 38 chemicals were found to be produced by P. pannosa. A total of 71 VOCs not produced by P. pannosa were produced to different degrees by infected and healthy plants, and 18 of these were produced only by infected plants. Principal component analysis of chromatographic data gave VOC profiles distinguishing between infected and healthy plants. Hexadecanol, octadecanol, tetradecanol, n-butyl hexadecanoate, and n-butyl stearate dominated the VOCs produced by infected plants. These chemicals can be used as markers for detecting mildew-infected rose plants even 4-7 d after infection before symptoms appear. Clear temporal changes in the concentrations of these five chemicals were found. The results improve our understanding of the chemical mechanisms involved in interactions between insects and phytopathogenic fungi.
Redistribution and Human Capital Investment

We use a heterogeneous-agent framework to examine the impact of optimal redistributive policies on human capital investment. In a model in which physical capital is available as an alternative to investment in education we study the decisions of households that differ ex ante in wealth and ability, and in productivity ex post. Their choices are also shaped by the insurance and incentive effects of public policies. Policies that redistribute initial endowments, public provision of education and progressive income taxation providing a radical redistribution of income are shown to generate significant welfare gains and a reduction in inequality. A suitable combination of redistributive measures is consistent with significantly more human capital investment by the less wealthy, and in particular for those with higher ability.
Is Electric Street Car a Sustainable Public Transport System in India? A Demand Side Analysis

Electric Street Car (ESC) is well acknowledged as a public transport system in urban space which offers better safety, minimum pollution, conservation of fossil fuel and hence establishing as an ideal one for urban agglomeration. Yet, India embarked on an ambitious plan for going all-electric by 2030 by procuring E-buses rather than ESCs (i.e., tramways). The crucial question is, when the government is trying to implement electric public transport system with a drive towards a low carbon emission technology then why not upgrade the existing ESC as a part of that initiative considering that the E-buses need a profound infrastructure development in India? This paper identifies the factors under which the stated preferences of the commuters to avail the ESC service are more than e-buses. Our study is based on the primary survey from randomly selected 1028 daily public transport commuters’ responses from the city of Kolkata, as in the Indian sub-continent it is the only city having ESCs in operation till date. Using random utility choice model the study estimates the impact of specific performance improvements on the intention to avail the ESC services compared to the E-buses. The study helps to understand how perceptions of the individuals about ESC are aligned when the commuters are frequent or infrequent travellers of ESC. It is identified that higher frequency in availability of ESC service and technological upgradation are two important factors which contributes towards the switching intention of the commuters towards ESC. By promoting the ESC services over E-buses, Indian government could save substantial amount of public investment and can reach a low carbon pathway cost effectively. The findings have crucial implication both from managerial and policy perspective in transportation sector, energy sector, urban development, climate change and in public policy.
Moments of Boundary Research: A Long-Term Perspective

In this chapter, I will offer a selective survey of the research done on identities and boundaries in the social sciencs from a long-term perspective, focusing on the question of national and ethnic boundaries (at the expense of the rich socio-psychological research on categorization, classification, and boundary drawing in artificial groups: see Diehl 1990 – at the expense, also, of other groups, such as gender groups or classes). This chapter has found methodological inspiration in conceptual history for its analysis of conceptual transformation (Koselleck 1982; Richter 1995); and in Pocock's (1990 [1987]) concept of a "language" for its analysis of the social sciences as a continuous discourse held together by a small set of core assumptions and problems (see Terrier 2011). In the first part of this chapter, I will look into the various meanings taken by the boundary concept through history. I will especially suggest that "boundary", as a scientific concept, has undergone a shift in meaning from the concrete to the abstract during the twentieth century: while it traditionally meant "dividing line", it has now acquired the prevalent meaning of "principle of differentiation" or "set of distinctive features of an object". I will then move to a description of some important stations of boundary research since the nineteenth century, by way of a presentation of some key authors and their legacies. Lastly, I will offer some more systematic and theoretical reflections in my conclusion.
Article: “Measurement of damping in magnetic materials by optical heterodyne interferometry” Authors: Chicharro

A study of damping and its field-dependence in magnetic materials is presented. An optical heterodyne interferometer is used as detector of the longitudinal vibration of a slender rod located within a solenoid. Two different experiments are carried out in order to investigate damping in the demagnetized and saturated states. In one, the attenuation constant is determined by examining the free vibration of the sample. In the other, damping is indirectly measured from the sharpness of its resonance curve. Logarithmic decrement and its variation with the magnetic field is calculated. The detection and excitation systems used do not interact with the sample. Nickel rods and wires ranging in diameter from 2 mm to 10 mm are used as samples. Young’s modulus is also determined.
More than process restart/pre-start: Operational readiness – alive and kicking

A large European airline has adopted the operational readiness concept as a means to manage change in their systems and processes. Aviation is a highly competitive market. Increasingly, commercial viability depends on operational innovation. It is equally critical to sustain high levels of safety. These are assumed by passengers and demanded by regulators. In 2012, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) introduced new regulations. These have spurred aviation companies to find new ways to manage safety. The airline is using operational readiness to:
ZAWARTO ŚĆ BIOMASY ŻYWYCH MIKROORGANIZMÓW ORAZ ICH LICZEBNO ŚĆ W GLEBIE OGRODNICZEJ WZBOGACONEJ BIOPREPARATEM THE CONTENT OF LIVE MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND ITS NUMBE R IN HORTICULTURAL SOIL ENRICHED IN BIOLOGICAL PREPAR ATION

In the study, the number of basic-taxonomic and ph ysiological microbe groups and the content of live microorganism biomass in selected gardening substra te were determined. The tested sample was the subs trate for vegetables and flowers enriched with microorganisms , the product of Evolution Group. The control sampl e was the substrate for garden plants from Hollas. The de termination of the microorganism number was conduct ed through the soil dilution plate method, using selec tiv microbiological media. The numbers of bacteria , fungi and actinomycetes were determined for the tested substr ate , and the number of microorganisms that are abl to decompose the starch, proteins and fats. The biomas s of live microorganisms was determined according t o the methodology developed by Anderson and Domsch, using the Ultragas U4S analyser. From the made tests it was found that the gardening substrate enriched with bi opreparation was inhabited by both basic microorgan isms and physiological microbes. Introduction of the biologi cal preparation to the substrate contributed to inc reased numbers for the analyzed groups of microorganisms, except of fungi. The substrate enriched with biopre pa ation was characterised by high number of lipolytic micro bes, and significantly lower number of actinomycete s and proteolytic microorganisms. The content of live mic robe biomass in the enriched soil was 1647.5 mg C · (100 g), while in the control soil it was 2 times lesser.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Diabetic foot Ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer(DFU) is the most common complication in diabetic patients, infection has led to increased mortality and sometimes may lead to amputation of limb. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism causing infection in DFU, and there is high prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among them. MRSA is a virulent organism causing delayed wound healing and mortality. To determine the prevalence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in diabetic foot ulcer and to determine antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among MRSA strains. A prospective study pus samples / wound swab were cultured from 100 patients who attented out patients and in patients at diabetic foot clinic with diabetic foot ulcer. Specimens were subjected to routine microbiological study, and antibiotic susceptibility was done by KirbyBaurer disk diffusion test. Out of 100 wound samples 143organisms were isolated, of which 31(21.67%) were staphylococcus aureus. These isolates were tested for Methicillin susceptibility and was found that 13 (41.93%) were resistant and 18(57.8%) were susceptible. These MRSA strains showed high resistance to Ampicillin (100%), Penicillin (100%), tetracycline (70.3%), Amoxycillin (69.23%), and MRSA isolates were sensitive to Vancomycin (100%), Linezolid (100%) Erthromycin (66%) and Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid (69.3%). There is high prevalence of MRSA among diabetic foot ulcers.
Functional Oxide Thin Films and Nanostructures : Growth , Interface , and Applications

1Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA 2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan 3Key Lab of Magnetic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201, China 4Laboratoire ICube, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 67037 Strasbourg, France 5Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Jansen the FUnCtIons And roles oF ICt In pUBlIC seCtor And Its ImpACt on mAnAgement And governAnCe

ICTs have traditionally been seen as a tool that will help businesses and government agencies to achieve their goals without changing the way they organize and implement their management approaches. However, there is an increasing understanding that business as usual is not adequate for the successful governance of ICTs. This study, therefore, analyze the governance of ICTs within the central government in Norway. We seek to identify the ministries IT governance models individually and, more specifically, to explain the different approaches across ministries. The empirical evidence has been collected from two main sources: (1) Policy documents, budget proposals and other documents, and (2) interviews with key civil servants. The analysis of the evidence is based on four IT governance models and a classification of the functions that the technologies may fulfill within the various government sectors. Our findings indicate that there is some correlation between IT governance models and ICT functions.
Factors Affecting Instructional Leadership in Secondary Schools to Meet Vietnam’s General Education Innovation

Currently, there is a huge demand for secondary school education worldwide especially in the developing countries such as Vietnam. School leadership is occupying a central position in educational reform. In order to meet this for the secondary school education, the Vietnamese government tries to develop effective school leadership in its education policy agenda. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of factors on instructional leadership of principals in lower secondary education. The study was completed with 97 secondary public schools teachers and principals in the North of Vietnam. A quantitative research design was used to conduct this study. The data was analyzed through factors such as internal and external from the role of principal in instructional leadership. Research findings underline that instructional leadership is had directly by external such as “The degree of autonomy of the school for instructional activities”, “Awareness of the managers and teachers about leading teaching activities” and “education innovation” more internal such as “System of guiding documents of management levels on teaching activities”; “Conditions of facilities and finance for school teaching activities” and “Principal’s training level” Principals should recognize the change of the context and enhance the improvement of teachers’ shared responsibility and partnership in school decision making. Therefore, the Vietnamese government should make sure to have many positive issues that may have effective instructional leadership capacity in order to improve the culture of teaching and learning in Vietnames secondary schools.
A Contribution to CESE method validation in LS-DYNA

In fluid mechanics, a compressible flow is said when the density varies during a pressure change. Empirically, it is considered that when Mach> 0.3 the flow is compressible. In this case, shock waves, contact discontinuities and relaxation can appear when an obstacle is encountered. Since LS-DYNA R7, a new CESE method is available. Several finite element studies were performed by DynaS+ to evaluate the precision of this method in pure CFD studies and to confirm good abilities in Fluid Structure Interaction studies (Figure 1). Pure fluid cases were tested on strong shocks and expansion studies. Results were compared to experimental data extracted from reference papers. The very good precision obtained with the CESE solver and its ability to represent very dynamic phenomenon will be shown. Fluid Structure Interaction in 2D was tested with a deformable plate. Results (also compared with experimental data extracted from a reference paper) will be presented and will highlight that the Coupling method in 2D is as efficient as in 3D.