Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Privacy and Cooperation in Peer-to-Peer Systems

P2P networks employ the resources available at peers to reduce the load at, or eliminate the need for a server. In order to achieve these goals, protocols are implemented which aim to allow peers to collaborate efficiently. However, these same protocols can make peers an easy target, as their willingness to collaborate can be susceptible to attackers. While a considerable body of research exists on reducing the vulnerability of peers to attackers, most only consider a file sharing or backup solution context. In this thesis, we look at other forms of collaboration wherein a P2P system can overcome some of the other downsides of centralized solutions, e.g. the privacy concerns.
Risk from vibration in Indian mines

Equipment-induced vibration is widely recognized as a health hazard. It is a physical stressor to which many people are exposed at workplace. Mining industry is no exception. In spite of extensive research undertaken in the developed countries, information on the magnitude of the problem in India is not available. An estimated 1 million workers were engaged in the Indian mining industry in the year 2003. The actual figures could be much higher. Analysis of employees' database of several mines reveals that 18% employees in the Indian mining industry are occupationally exposed to vibration. Large-scale mechanization considerably adds to the severity and complexity of the problem because of 1) increase in the percentage of exposed population and 2) longer duration of exposure. The clinical picture and health outcomes of exposure to hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration are scantily documented in the Indian context. In view of the health risk and action taken in other countries, we submit that there is an urgent need to develop a practical management strategy for evaluation, monitoring and control of equipment-induced vibration in the mining industry.
New therapies for reducing post-myocardial left ventricular remodeling.

Current therapies for myocardial infarction are geared to try to limit ischemic/reperfusion injury by early and complete reperfusion, including percutaneous coronary interventions, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulants; and attempts to limit post infarction left ventricular remodeling by inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathway or administration of beta blockers. Despite wide use of these therapies, 30-day mortality still runs 7-8% and one year mortality runs around 23% (1).
Operational oceanography for the North West European Shelf seas: NOOS 2002–2006

Arising from the EuroGOOS North-West Shelf task team, the North-West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System NOOS was established in September 2002, with national agencies signing a memorandum of understanding. Membership of NOOS has now grown to 14 agencies, with responsibilities ranging from monitoring to forecast modelling, and there are four associate research institutes. Members of NOOS routinely provide a range of services to their national governments, and some are also demonstrating this through participation in GMES service element projects funded by the European Space Agency. NOOS works through networking to establish collaborative, incremental developments to the day-to-day business of the member agencies. Thus NOOS activities are truly sustainable. Where available, individual member agencies gain project funding from national or European Commission Framework Program research projects. NOOS activities include data exchange for sea level observations and storm surge forecasts, cooperation on development of 3D forecast modelling, contribution to the ICES-EuroGOOS North Sea pilot project for an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, exchange of calculated model transports, and bi-lateral developments to provide robust and resilient backup for storm surge forecast modelling. Data exchange within NOOS is being actively developed and this will contribute to the SEPRISE project demonstration during 2006.
Business Corruption, Uncertainty and Risk Aversion

The presence of business-corruption in a market provokes firms to make choices between legal business approaches and illegal bribery. The outcome of a chosen strategy will usually be uncertain at the time the decision is made, and a firm's decision will depend partly on its attitude towards risk. Drawing on the empirical data provided by a survey of 82 Norwegian exporting businesses, the paper proposes a theory about firm's choices between legal and illegal business practices. It begins by describing the risks, uncertainties and benefits attached to bribery, and specifies their impact on firm's propensity to offer bribes. It then demonstrates how risk averse firms can be more inclined to offer bribes than risk neutral, and even risk attracted firms. Although the analysis diverges from existing theory in stressing the differences between illegal and legal forms of rent-seeking, the findings correspond to the results reported in the literature on legal forms of rent-seeking. JEL D81, F23, K40
Adapting Agile in a Globally Distributed Software Development

This paper describes the journey of adapting Agile-Scrum in a project, referred here as Global Configurator Project (GCP), where the project members are distributed across locations in Germany, India, and U. S. Here, we will be discussing about the practices like new taxonomy on scrum roles, scaling scrum with actually using Scrum of scrums and evolving cross-functional multi-skilled and self-managed feature team from silos components teams. This paper also measures the impact of our practices on communication and collaboration at the project level. This paper will be useful for scrum masters, product owners, and project managers while adapting Scrum.
Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Road Following

A description is given of the system architecture of an autonomous vehicle and its real-time adaptive vision system for road-following. The vehicle is a 10-ton armored personnel carrier modified for robotic control. A color transformation that best discriminates road and nonroad regions is derived from labeled data samples. A maximum-likelihood pixel classification technique is then used to classify pixels in the transformed color image. The vision system adapts itself to road changes in two ways; color transformation parameters are updated infrequently to accommodate significant road color changes, and classifier parameters are updated every processing cycle to deal with gradual color and intensity changes. To reduce unnecessary computation, only the most likely road region in the segmented image is selected, and a polygonal representation of the detected road region boundary is transformed from the image coordinate system to the local vehicle coordinate system based on a flat-earth assumption. >
The Key Successes of Incubators in Developed Countries: Comparative Study

The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare key dimension of the business incubation landscape in the United States. The comparison will focused on the five key dimensions which include incubators services provided by incubators to client firms, strategic goals, incubators’ sponsors, incubators age and incubators focus. The nature of this research is mainly qualitative. This investigation uses two semi-structured interviews based in the United States and organizational documents. The research findings suggest that there are three keys. The authors believe that, this paper presents an added value to the current literature on the key dimension of business incubation in the United States. Also the research will support the academia and practitioner for successful implementations and follow-up. Keywords : Jobs creation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, incubators, economic growth.
Social Networking Technologies and Informal Knowledge Sharing in Organizations

This presentation investigates the role of corporate social networking technologies in knowledge sharing. Through this research we will investigate the take-up and uses of social network technologies (SNTs) by knowledge workers in formal social organizations. Our premise is that the uses of SNTs, and the personal networks of informal ties that this use both enables and encourages, are mutually constitutive. We focus on the mutual constitution of social networks and SNTs because organizations are increasingly finding information sharing initiatives imperative to their knowledge management activities, and social networking is the most well understood means to do this. In doing this research we pursue three contributions: (1) Conceptual insight and empirical support for the material nature and value of digitally-enabled social connections. (2) Advance current conceptual understanding of SNTâ(cid:128)(cid:153)s organizational value. And, in doing this we build from and synthesize current and relevant research from several intellectual communities such as social computing, information systems, social network analysis, and organizational studies. (3) Articulate organizationally-relevant design and governance principles regarding SNT uses.
Methanol oxidation boosted under various illumination conditions on Pt-TiO2 hybrid electrodes

In this paper, methanol oxidation boosted by various illumination conditions on Pt-TiO2 hybrid electrodes was studied. Platinum was grown on TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) through photodecomposition of chloroplatinic acid to achieve a compact junction between Pt and TiO2. A 9 % increase on oxidation current of methanol was observed under UV (254 nm) illumination, as well as illuminated by red light laser diode (650 nm). Furthermore, a 13 % increase on current was observed under UV and laser co-illumination. Preliminary result demonstrates that the plasmonic enhancement mechanism on Pt-TiO2 hybrid can facilitate the oxidation kinetics of methanol.
A proposal for dose-adjustment of dabigatran etexilate in atrial fibrillation guided by thrombin time.

Dabigatran is an oral anticoagulant that is increasingly used for atrial fibrillation (AF). Presently, many authorities state that routine laboratory coagulation monitoring is not required. However, data have recently been published demonstrating that higher trough plasma dabigatran concentrations are associated with lower thromboembolic and higher haemorrhagic event rates. Using these data, we simulate a range of AF patients with varying risks for these events and derive a target range of trough plasma dabigatran concentrations (30-130 μg l(-1) ). Finally, we propose that a conventional screening coagulation assay, the thrombin time (TT), can be used to discern whether or not patients are within this range of dabigatran concentrations.
OPERATING RISK ANALYSIS FOR AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS

Decisions for substantiating the investments projects in agricultural sector are basedon the assessment of the business's profitability but also, of the economic risk assumed by theenterprisers. The paper presents a dynamic analysis model of the operating risk which is validatedin a case study using an example of an agricultural holding from viticulture. The appreciation ofthe economic risk is based on the Degree of operating leverage indicator, and the proposedanalysis model offers the possibilities to identify the factors which can lead to an adequatemanagement of risk. The case study presented validates the theoretical approach and highlightsthat the economic risk diminished due to modification of costs structure, flexibility of activity,variation of safety margin, sales and profit.
A new multiobjective genetic algorithm with heterogeneous population for solving flowshop scheduling problems

The present paper discusses the application of a new genetic algorithm (GA) featuring heterogeneous population to solve multiobjective flowshop scheduling problems. Many GAs have been developed to solve multiobjective scheduling problems, but they used a non-heterogeneous population approach, which could lead to premature convergence and local Pareto-optimum solutions. Our experiments with a 20-job and 20-machine benchmark problem given in Taillard (1993) show that the heterogeneous multiobjective genetic algorithm (hMGA) developed in this research outperforms NSGA-II (Deb 2001) one of the widely used algorithms with non-heterogeneous population. Moreover, in this paper we also present the comparison of hMGA with another meta-heuristic method, i.e. multi-objective simulated annealing (MOSA), proposed by Varadharajan and Rajendran (2005). This research concludes that hMGA developed in this work is promising as it can produce a new set of Pareto-optimum solutions that have not been found by MOSA before.
Increased Sensitivity to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B following Adenoviral Infection

ABSTRACT Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces toxic shock and is a major virulence factor of staphylococcal diseases. We examined the effects of systemic adenoviral infection on responses to staphylococcal enterotoxin B in a murine model. We found that adenoviral infection markedly increases the severity of liver injury following exposure to staphylococcal enterotoxin B without d-galactosamine sensitization. In adenovirus-infected mice, staphylococcal enterotoxin B triggered a more profound hypothermia and increased apoptosis in the liver. Consistent with these observations, we also found that adenoviral infection primed for an increased production of gamma interferon in vivo and in vitro following stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Gamma-interferon-knockout mice did not show increased sensitivity to staphylococcal enterotoxin B following adenoviral infection. These data suggest that a preexisting viral infection primes mice for subsequent staphylococcal enterotoxin B exposure, possibly via a gamma-interferon-mediated mechanism.
Identification of Corynebacterium amycolatum and Other Nonlipophilic Fermentative Corynebacteria of Human Origin

ABSTRACT Four identification tests, proposed in addition to conventional methods, were evaluated with 320 fermentative nonlipophilicCorynebacterium strains: growth at 20°C, glucose fermentation at 42°C, alkalinization of sodium formate, and acid production from ethylene glycol. These tests were highly discriminant.Corynebacterium amycolatum displayed a unique profile, allowing it to be distinguished from similar species, such as C. xerosis, C. striatum, and C. minutissimum.
The Utilization of Value-Based Management: An Empirical Analysis

The objective of this paper is to provide information on how value-based management is perceived, implemented, and utilized in leading industrial corporations in the US, and to examine factors that influence the decision to utilize it. We gather data through a survey of the chief financial officers (CFOs) of a large sample of US industrial corporations, in order to ascertain their opinions of and experiences with value-based management systems and metrics. The results suggest that there is room for improvement in the design and implementation of value-based management systems. If value-based management is to have an impact on corporate strategy and value and reduce intra-firm agency costs, then its scope within the firm may need to be expanded.
The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth

Teenage sexual activity is a major problem confronting the nation and has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological injuries, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Abstinence education programs for youth have been proven to be effective in reducing early sexual activity. Abstinence programs also can provide the foundation for personal responsibility and enduring marital commitment. Therefore, they are vitally important to efforts aimed at reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing among young adult women, improving child well-being, and increasing adult happiness over the long term.
Music therapy in dementia: a narrative synthesis systematic review

Recent reviews on music therapy for people with dementia have been limited to attempting to evaluate whether it is effective, but there is a need for a critical assessment of the literature to provide insight into the possible mechanisms of actions of music therapy. This systematic review uses a narrative synthesis format to determine evidence for effectiveness and provide insight into a model of action.
Workshop software process and product improvement

Information has become the key to our lives. As a consequence, information technology is and will be the most important success factor of modern industry and commerce and will rapidly change both our society and our individual lives. This means that software, as the essentially singular base for information processing will receive ever-increasing attention and importance. But despite all the demand, attention and progress, the production of software still does not live up to expectations. Production of software is still too costly, too errorprone, takes too much time and involves too much risk. In the ’devils quadrangle’ (Fig. 1) one cannot improve all four parameters at the same time, if both the functionality of the product and the productivity of the team is given. The only way to increase all four parameters is to improve the overall productivity of the production process.
Risk of cutaneous toxicities in patients with solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND We performed a meta-analysis of the risk of cutaneous toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS Eligible studies included randomized trials of patients with solid tumors on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab, nivolumab, tremelimumab, pidlizumab and pembrolizumab); describing events of rash, vitiligo and pruritus. RESULTS A total of nine clinical trials were considered eligible for the meta-analysis. The relative risk of all-grade rash, vitiligo and pruritus was 4.06 (95% CI: 3.35-4.91; p < 0.0001), 16.3 (95% CI: 3.21-82.8; p = 0.0008) and 3.4 (95% CI: 2.24-5.16; p < 0.00001), respectively. CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis demonstrates that immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of all grade skin rash, vitiligo and pruritus. Clinicians should perform regular clinical cutaneous monitoring.
Defective translocation of a signal sequence mutant in a prlA4 suppressor strain of Escherichia coli.

In the accompanying paper [Adams, H. , Scotti, P.A. , de Cock, H. , Luirink, J. & Tommassen, J. (2002) Eur. J. Biochem.269, 5564-5571], we showed that the precursor of outer-membrane protein PhoE of Escherichia coli with a Gly to Leu substitution at position -10 in the signal sequence (G-10L) is targeted to the SecYEG translocon via the signal-recognition particle (SRP) route, instead of via the SecB pathway. Here, we studied the fate of the mutant precursor in a prlA4 mutant strain. prlA mutations, located in the secY gene, have been isolated as suppressors that restore the export of precursors with defective signal sequences. Remarkably, the G-10L mutant precursor, which is normally exported in a wild-type strain, accumulated strongly in a prlA4 mutant strain. In vitro cross-linking experiments revealed that the precursor is correctly targeted to the prlA4 mutant translocon. However, translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane was defective, as appeared from proteinase K-accessibility experiments in pulse-labeled cells. Furthermore, the mutant precursor was found to accumulate when expressed in a secY40 mutant, which is defective in the insertion of integral-membrane proteins but not in protein translocation. Together, these data suggest that SecB and SRP substrates are differently processed at the SecYEG translocon.
An unified intelligent inference framework for complex modeling and classification

In this paper, an unified three-dimensional inference framework is proposed for modeling and pattern classification under the complex environment where both stochastic and fuzzy uncertainties exist. Based on a three-dimensional probabilistic fuzzy set, this novel inference method integrates the probabilistic inference and fuzzy inference into one operation to improve the computational efficiency and achieve a better performance than that of the traditional fuzzy method or the probabilistic method. The experiments on the wind speed data and Pima Indians Diabetes data demonstrate the advantages and effectiveness of the unified inference framework under the complex stochastic environment.
New directions in glaucoma research.

1 MD, PhD. Professor in Ophthalmology and Cell Biology. Dept. Ophthalmology. New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA. E-mail: SANSAR_SHARMA@NYMC.EDU Prof. Sharma has introduced revolutionary advances in the experimental glaucoma field. He established the first model of glaucoma in rat that until today is the most used method of cauterizing the epiescleral veins. He for the first time described that RGCs die by apoptosis in glaucoma, and has published many papers on the mechanisms of cell death and survival of retinal ganglion cells during glaucoma. EDITORIAL
Cap rates and commercial property prices

Commercial real estate capitalization rates have been found to be good indicators of expected returns in commercial properties. Recent declines in these cap rates appear to be signaling a commercial real estate rebound, indicating improved investor expectations of price growth in the market. Movements in national cap rates are the predominant drivers of changes in cap rates in local markets. Therefore, the anticipated commercial real estate rebound is likely to be widespread across many metropolitan areas.
CHAPTER 20 PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE , FOOT ULCERS , LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATIONS , AND DIABETES

Dr. Edward J. Boyko is Professor at the University of Washington and Staff Physician at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound, Seattle, WA. Dr. Matilde Monteiro-Soares is an Investigator at the Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS) and an Instructor in the Department of Community Medicine Information and Health Decision Sciences (U753-FCT), Oporto Faculty of Medicine, Oporto, Portugal. Dr. Stephanie G.B. Wheeler is Associate Professor at the University of Washington and Staff Physician, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound, Seattle, WA.
FIR filters using atomic window functions implemented on the DSP C6713

Atomic functions are widely used to solve problems of numerical analysis since they are high accurate and present some interesting computational properties. These functions can be applied to construct weighting windows for digital signal processing, for this reason, in this work we present an implementation on a digital signal processor to compare the characteristics of the filters designed with classical and atomic windows on an application. In order to do the analysis, it was implemented a finite impulse response filter, and with a network analyzer the frequency and phase response graphs were obtained, the results shows that the atomic windows present a remarkable difference in the phase response.
Sustainable Enterprise and Sustainable Futures

What is the role of international business in this dilemma? How and why do international corporations maximize value beyond core strategy and partners through corporate responsibility? This informative and accessible resource expands the readers’ understanding of the ways in which profit maximization, value creation and community benefit interconnect. How to respect the wider business settings and communities, the environment and encourage peace? Is this just another dream? This book clearly provides a starting point for upstream mitigation, in which collective action allows disruption to be avoided at its very roots. It shows the way into responsible business, as a downright condition for an enlightened self-interest for all parties to pursue.