Mutual Contacts Research Articles

TiO2 SUB-MICROSPHERES AS A BI-FUNCTIONAL SCATTERING LAYER FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS

The sub-microspheres play multiple roles in enhancing dye adsorption and light-scattering to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, the well-defined TiO 2 sub-microspheres with anatase granular-like nanocrystals are prepared in high yield by combining hydrolytic process with solvothermal treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that plenty of rhombic nanoparticles with ~ 18 nm diameter having mutual contacts to neighboring nanoparticles were densely self-assembled into sub-microspheres, and abundant mesopores existed in the whole sub-microspheres with superior light scattering ability. The appropriate pore diameter and relatively high specific surface area of the as-obtained sub-microsphere result in a higher dye adsorption. As expected, by using the sub-microspheres as a scattering layer, a higher photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 10.15% is obtained for DSSCs.

Identifying peer‐to‐peer communities in the network by connection graph analysis

SUMMARYIn this paper we present a unified solution to identify peer‐to‐peer (P2P) communities operating in the network. We propose an algorithm that is able to progressively discover nodes cooperating in a P2P network and to identify that P2P network. Starting from a single known node, we can easily identify other nodes in the P2P network, through the analysis of widely available and standardized IPFIX (NetFlow) data. Instead of relying on the analysis of content characteristics or packet properties, we monitor connections of known nodes in the network and then progressively discover other nodes through the analysis of their mutual contacts. We show that our method is able to discover cooperating nodes in many P2P networks and present the real computational requirements of the algorithm on a large network. The use of standardized input data allows for easy deployment onto real networks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Meeting needs: value chain collaboration in stabilisation and reconstruction operations

Purpose– From the perspective of value chains, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the organization of stabilization and reconstruction operations, most notably in Afghanistan, with the intention to improve the way the beneficiaries are involved.Design/methodology/approach– Case study: the paper first develops a theoretical framework that draws upon value chain literature. To gather empirical data fieldwork was done within the Dutch provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Afghanistan. Methods that were used include interviews, participatory observation and desk study.Findings– In the value chain process six steps are identified: early warning, file and analysis, appraisal/qualification, assignment/management, execution and evaluation. Different categories of personnel (military, reservists, civilians) bring with them different backgrounds. This led to different opinions on who can be considered as the customer of the value chain. Moreover, personnel received different signals in the early warning step as to what needed to be done. From there on, different values and perspectives developed during the sequence of the various stages in the value chain that were not easily aligned. The formal structure of the work activities in the PRT was clear but did not match with the everyday reality. This showed another, much more fuzzy picture. Many mutual contacts were needed to overcome the coordination problems, but that required considerable additional efforts.Originality/value– The paper applies value chain literature to stabilization and reconstruction operations and focuses on the customers. It uses unique data and demonstrates the usefulness of a multidisciplinary approach.

Secondary range formation role in providing the contacts between alien plant species populations

The paper describes a complex of random factors that precondition the first stages of secondary range formation and promote the appearance and the start of self-reproduction of populations of alien plant species and their mutual contacts.

Connectomic reconstruction of the inner plexiform layer in the mouse retina

Comprehensive high-resolution structural maps are central to functional exploration and understanding in biology. For the nervous system, in which high resolution and large spatial extent are both needed, such maps are scarce as they challenge data acquisition and analysis capabilities. Here we present for the mouse inner plexiform layer--the main computational neuropil region in the mammalian retina--the dense reconstruction of 950 neurons and their mutual contacts. This was achieved by applying a combination of crowd-sourced manual annotation and machine-learning-based volume segmentation to serial block-face electron microscopy data. We characterize a new type of retinal bipolar interneuron and show that we can subdivide a known type based on connectivity. Circuit motifs that emerge from our data indicate a functional mechanism for a known cellular response in a ganglion cell that detects localized motion, and predict that another ganglion cell is motion sensitive.

Trail traffic flow prediction by contact frequency among individual ants

Ants build a trail that leads to a new location when they move their colony. The trail’s traffic flows smoothly, regardless of the density on the trail. To the best of our knowledge, such a phenomenon has been reported only for ant species. The trail’s capacity is known as trail traffic flow. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic model of trail traffic flow, which overcomes some inadequacies of the kinetic model previously proposed in the literature. Our model answers a question unsolved by the previous model, namely, how many worker ants form such a density-independent trail. We focus on ants’ responses to mutual contacts that involve individuals in trail formation. We propose a model in which contact frequency predicts the number of worker ants that form a trail. We verify that our model’s estimates match the empirical data that ant experts reported in the literature. In modeling and evaluation, we discuss an intelligent ant species, the house-hunting ant Temnothorax albipennis, which is popular among the ant experts.

Middle triassic post-orogenic extension on Hainan Island: Chronology and geochemistry constraints of bimodal intrusive rocks

This work studies new petrological and geochemical data and zircon U-Pb ages for bimodal intrusive rocks from Xinglong region, Hainan Island. Zircon U-Pb dating yields mean 238U/206Pb ages of 238 ± 2 Ma and 234 ± 2 Ma for diabasic and granitic phases, respectively, representing the Middle Triassic emplacement. The diabase and granite bodies were formed from discrete mafic and acidic magma sources that experienced local mechanical mixing at their mutual contacts. Although SiO2 content of intrusions is bimodal, trace element ratios indicate that both were formed in a post-orogenic extensional setting. Sr-Nd isotopic composition reflects a shared EMII type enriched mantle source component, possibly influenced by subduction-fluid metasomatism.

Areas of cooperation or competition – rapport or conflict? The Polish-Czechoslovakian relations exemplified by the activity of Polish cultural and educational associations in Czechoslovakia in the years 1947–1958

The postwar Czechoslovakian and Polish relations were not the most cordial, as the cooperation was disturbed by mutual territorial claims, as well as by various expectations regarding the national minorities. It caused a rise in mistrust between the Polish and Czech as well as Slovakian nations, generating conflicts and mutual accusations. The state of the relations has changed after the 10th of March 1947 when The Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Czechoslovakia was signed. Political agreement helped to improve relations regarding a number of contentious issues, particularly in the treatment of national minorities. One of the main provisions arising from the records of the Protocol-Appendix from the Treaty was necessity of the settlement of the Polish cultural and educational organization on the territory of Czechoslovakia. In June 1947 the government of Czechoslovakia completing the arrangements approved the statutes of the Treaty and allowed the operating of the Polish Cultural and Educational Association in Czechoslovakia. Association conducted a large-scale cultural and educational activity, and therefore played a great role in education and integration of Polish minority in Zaolzie. It affected the nature of the relationship, and mutual contacts between the Polish and the Czechs and Slovaks.

LATGALIAN JOKES: EXPRESSIONS OF LINGUISTIC CONTACTS

<p>The research interest of the author of the article in the ethnosis living in Latgale, intercultural communication is related to the compilation of the entries for „Latgalian Linguo-Territorial Dictionary” with ESF project „Linguo-Cultural and Socio-Economic Aspects of Territorial Identity in the Development of the Region of Latgale” (Nr. 2009/0227/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/071). The tasks of this research: 1) to prepare a review about the frequency of linguistic contacts and themes for conversations in jokes; 2) to determine the linguistic attitude of the addressee and the sender; 3) to trace linguistic processes in the event of intercultural communication.</p><p>The theoretical background of the research is based on the speech act in theory (J. Searle), highlighting the impact of social and historical factors on the speech act (D. Hymes). In order to describe the results of linguistic contacts linguistic, social and historical factors shall be taken into consideration. Jokes (131 unit in total) have been selected according to the following components of the speech act: form of message – dialogue; sender and addressee – Latvians and non-ethnic Latvians (Russians, Poles, Jews, Gypsies, etc.) of Latgale and representatives of other regions; communication channel – oral and written communication; code – patois, dialect, language; theme – daily life, culture, religion, politics etc.; situation – Latgale of 20th century (episodically – Latvia, Russia, Germany, USA, Lithuania).</p><p>The analysis of the expressions of language contacts in the texts of jokes lets conclude how intensive the mutual contacts of various languages and their users were in Latgale in the 20th century: if in the first half of the century the linguistic contacts were extremely diverse (interaction of Latgalian Latvians, Russians, Jews, Gypsies, Polish), then in the second half of the century mostly the linguistic contacts of Latvian (Latgalian) and Russian speaking population were domineering under the impact of the russification policy.</p><p>The result of linguistic contacts are: 1) a tolerant attitude towards other languages and their users is typical for a Latgalian (character of jokes), but he/she has a negative position to an strange language (Latvian, Russian) as an expression of enforced power; 2) in the communication process one can observe intentional of code-switching and unintentional of code-mixing (basis of the comic: interlinguistic homonyms, homoforms); 3) linguistic interference: phonetic, lexical and grammatical borrowings (from Latvian, Russian, English); 4) foreign language skills (in the beginning of 20th century the modest foreigner language skills led to more frequent misunderstandings).</p><p>The achievement of the aim put forward, result is a significant component of the speech act. The analyzed material of jokes proves that in many communicative situations this aim is not reached due to the weak communicative competence of the addressee and addresser (lack of awareness, understanding and recognition of the linguistic and cultural features of the representative of another ethos). Therefore, a conversation takes place, but an intercultural dialogue is not formed. Under current complex economic, political and linguistic situation in Latvia these are significant reasons for splitting of the society.</p>

Private discovery of common social contacts

Digital services that are offered, and consumed, on the basis of social relationships form the backbone of social clouds—an emerging new concept that finds its roots in online social networks. The latter have already taken an essential role in people’s daily life, helping users to build and reflect their social relationships to other participants. A key step in establishing new links entails the reconciliation of shared contacts and friends. However, for many individuals, personal relationships belong to the private sphere, and, as such, should be concealed from potentially prying eyes of strangers. Consequently, the transition toward social clouds cannot set aside mechanisms to control the disclosure of social links. This paper motivates and introduces the concept of Private Discovery of Common Social Contacts, which allows two users to assess their social proximity through interaction and learn the set of contacts (e.g., friends) that are common to both users, while hiding contacts that they do not share. We realize private contact discovery using a new cryptographic primitive, called contact discovery scheme (CDS), whose functionality and privacy is formalized in this work. To this end, we define a novel privacy feature, called contact-hiding, that captures our strong privacy goals. We also propose the concept of contact certification and show that it is essential to thwart impersonation attacks on social relationships. We build provably private and realistically efficient CDS protocols for private discovery of mutual contacts. Our constructions do not rely on a trusted third party (TTP)—all contacts are managed independently by the users. The practicality of our proposals is confirmed both analytically and experimentally on different computing platforms. We show that they can be efficiently deployed on smartphones, thus allowing ad hoc and ubiquitous contact discovery outside of existing social networks. Our CDS constructions allow users to select their (certified) contacts to be included in individual protocol executions. That is, users may perform context-dependent contact discovery using any subset (circle) of their contacts.

Innovative Improvement and Intensification of Business Relationships Supported by Cooperative Networks

Abstract Nowadays, the opportunity for companies to be involved in cluster initiatives and international business associations is a major factor that contributes to the increase of their innovative potential. Companies organized in technological clusters have greater access to mutual business contacts, faster information transfer and deployment of advanced technologies. These companies cooperate more frequently with universities and research - development institutions on innovative projects. An important benefit of cluster associations is that they create a suitable environment for innovation and the transfer of knowledge by means of international cooperation and networking. This supportive environment is not easy to access for different small and mediumsized companies, who are not members of any clusters or networks. Supplier-customer business channels expand by means of transnational networks and exchanges of experience. Knowledge potential is broadened and joint innovative projects are developed. Reflecting the growing importance of clusters as driving forces of economic and regional development, a number of cluster policies and initiatives have emerged in the last few decades, oriented to encourage the establishment of new clusters, to support existing clusters, or to assist the development of transnational cooperation. To achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy, European countries should have an interest in building strong clusters and developing cluster cooperation by sharing specialized research infrastructures and testing facilities and facilitating knowledge transfer for crossborder cooperation. This requires developing a long term joint strategy in order to facilitate the development of open global clusters and innovative small and medium entrepreneurs.

Korespondencja Krakowa i Wrocławia z Głównym Miastem Gdańskiem w późnym średniowieczu

The subject of this article is the correspondence between Gdansk and the cities of Krakow and Wroclaw in the late medieval period. Only letters between the municipal authorities of these cities are considered herein. The sources on which this article is based consist of letters sent from Krakow (24) and Wroclaw (37) to Gdansk’s Main Town council. The second group of sources is provided by city records featuring copies of letters (known as “missiva”) sent from Gdansk to the aforementioned cities (Ref. No. APGd, 300, 27/1–12). These records include copies of 10 letters sent to Krakow, 22 – sent to Wroclaw and two – sent to both cities. In this article the letters have been divided into six thematic groups. They cover topics concerning membership of the Hansa (in particular regarding the participation of city representatives in Hanseatic assemblies), as well as trade, financial obligations, rents, inheritances and other issues. This correspondence illustrates the problems which occurred in Gdansk’s relations with Krakow and Wroclaw. In the late medieval period these cities belonged to different economic zones: Gdansk was part of the Baltic zone, whilst Krakow and Wroclaw belonged to the upper-German zone. This, however, was no obstacle to mutual contacts. Up until the latter half of the 15th century, all of these cities were united in their membership of the Hanseatic League. The statistical analysis carried out in this article reveals that matters concerning all manner of payments and movement of goods between these cities predominated in their correspondence. Gdansk’s contacts with Krakow and with Wroclaw also had certain distinctive features. Many of the letters exchanged with Wroclaw (particularly in the first half of the 15th century) pertained to rents, which were purchased by Gdansk citizens and subsequently not redeemed on time by Wroclaw. In Gdansk’s relations with Krakow, this problem occurred very rarely.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Polish political and economic perspective

The history of bilateral relations between Poland and Vietnam reaches the year 1950 when countries of the Eastern Bloc, including Poland, acknowledged independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Since then, we have observed more or less intensive mutual contacts. We have cooperated in many fields. And today, watching moves of Polish and Vietnamese politicians and signed agreements, we can see that this cooperation is getting colors and like years ago, it covers various fields. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Polish political and economic perspective does not have a significant status. Despite the fact that with every year, the interest of the Polish as well as Vietnamese side is getting bigger. However the biggest problem is the adverse balance of trade between both countries. Time will show in which direction the Polish-Vietnamese cooperation will go. However, looking at expressive economic growth of Vietnam during the last few years and what is even more important, at further perspectives of this prosperity, Poland should maintain good relations with this economic partner, enlarging at the same time its export to this country. We can see in Vietnam an opportunity for Polish traders for exporting their products to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Experiments with P2P Botnet Detection

Abstract Botnets, which are used to perform various malicious activities, have become a major threat in recent years. Spamming, phishing, stealing sensitive information, conducting distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, scanning to find more hosts to compromise using malware are the goals of many botnets, sometimes of low-profile botnets such as the Nugache botnet [1] which used a peer-to-peer (P2P) structure. Some botnets hide their network activities for many months (and maybe years) before being noticed. Networks might contain more deceptive or dormant bots which haven´t been exposed yet. Here we apply an a posteriori detection approach based on mutual contacts peers exchange in a network, called the dye-pumping algorithm [2]. After briefly recalling typical botnet operations, we will talk further about the dye-pumping algorithm (DPA) mechanism and implementation, its input data structures, and then give a short analysis of the results of our experiment.

Szkoła demokracji – młodzież w świecie społeczno-politycznym. Wykluczenie, czy zaniedbanie?

The paper attempts to show the role of young people in society and politics. It tries to approach young adults on one hand as subjects of politics with their consciousness, rights and obligations, and on the other as the objects of a wide range of social engineering, media and educational activities by politicians. Two significant phenomena concerning the young are briefly discussed, namely social capital and exclusion from political life. The latter can be interpreted either as an attempt to escape a reality that the young do not understand, or as their conscious choice and a substitute for freedom. The process of education is significantly contributed to (apart from the institutions dedicated to this purpose, such as school and family) by the media, in particular the modern media, or post-modern ones that provide a communication channel among the young, but also attract the politicians, who try to attract the attention of the young and win their support. The author concludes by saying that the social capital generated by educational institutions as well as by the ‘networks of mutual contacts’ among the young can offer the best possible protection from the processes of alienation and exclusion that constitute a threat to democracy.

Higher-order structure of nucleic acids in the gas phase: Top-down analysis of base-pairing interactions

Non-ergodic as well as ergodic activation methods are capable of maintaining the integrity of base pairs during the top-down analysis of nucleic acids. Here, we investigate the significance of this characteristic in the investigation of higher-order structures of increasing complexity. We show that cognate fragments produced by typical backbone cleavages may not be always detected as separate sequence ions, but rather as individual products that remain associated through mutual pairing contacts. This effect translates into unintended masking of cleavage events that take place in double-stranded regions, thus leading to the preferential detection of fragments originating from unpaired regions. Such effect is determined by the stability of the weak non-covalent association between complementary stretches, which is affected by base composition, length of the double-stranded structure, and charge of the precursor ion selected for analysis. Although such effect may prevent the achievement of full sequence coverage for primary structure determination, it may provide the key to correctly differentiate double- versus single-stranded regions, in what could be defined as gas-phase footprinting experiments. In light of the critical role played by base pairs in defining the higher-order structure of nucleic acids, these approaches will be expected to support an increased utilization of mass spectrometry for the investigation of nucleic acid structure and dynamics.

Features of peaceful contacts between Lithuanians and Germans in the 14th-century vortex of war

The aim of this article is to make an enquiry into the peaceful contacts between the Lithuanians and the Germans, which were bound to take place against the backdrop of continual hostilities in the 14th century. Scholarship has made very much in terms of political history of this war (circumstances and results of military campaigns, their chronological sequence, participants, etc.), but, in our opinion, it has so far not devoted sufficient attention to the fact that even in those circumstances the pagan society of Lithuania was rather receptive to the military and non-military innovations that arrived in the wake of this war. The chronological limits of our paper lie largely in square with those of the chronicle of Wigand of Marburg (1311–1394), a chronicle which, along with that of Peter of Duisburg, supplies the bulk of evidence and spans a rather long period of time to allow us to see what spheres of interaction were most exposed to mutual contacts. In pursuing this aim, we have broken down the availbale material into what follows: a) talks and banquettes of Lithuanian grand dukes with Teutonic knights; b) knights serving at the grand-ducal court; c) German and Lithuanian deserters and d) the movement of military innovations in both directions. It became clear that peaceful contacts were quite intensive between the parties, but they involved only a very limited number of men: such contacts were maintained by Lithuanian dukes and their closest entourage and by the top military officers of the Teutonic Order (mainly grand master and marshal) and the commanders of frontier castles (Ragnit, e. g.). The contacts between them may be regarded as pragmatic in the sense that they were unavoidable in the midst of hostilities when talks on armistice and negotiations over the matters related to prisoners-of-war had to be on the order of the day. This zone of interaction produced a thin social stratum that must be regarded as the main go-between who brought news to one side about the other (they were spies, scouts, deserters and the like). It is also clear that contacts between the Lithuanian grand dukes and the knights were instrumental in stimulating the Lithuanians to adopt certain elements of knightly culture while they were still pagan (the second half of the 14th – first half of the 15th century).

Problems of Cross-Border Cooperation Between Poland and the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation

Problems of Cross-Border Cooperation Between Poland and the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation Thanks to the opening of Europe to Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad to Europe, this region has been given an opportunity to gradually break the isolation which was the primary reason for its peripheral position. The enlargement of the Schengen Area complicated its relations and weakened cross-border cooperation with Poland. Further cross-border cooperation trends, though facing various barriers, may lead to improving the state of the natural environment in the Polish-Russian transborder region, joint planning of its development, growing mutual contacts, and making the populations living on both sides of the border more familiar with each other. Kaliningrad's future also requires sustainable economic, ecological, social and political development. The working out of new principles of model cooperation between the EU and Russia may significantly stimulate the economy in the Polish-Russian cross-border areas. The mainstream options for opening Kaliningrad to regional cooperation can be an important step towards full integration of Baltic Europe.

The impact of contact tracing in clustered populations.

The tracing of potentially infectious contacts has become an important part of the control strategy for many infectious diseases, from early cases of novel infections to endemic sexually transmitted infections. Here, we make use of mathematical models to consider the case of partner notification for sexually transmitted infection, however these models are sufficiently simple to allow more general conclusions to be drawn. We show that, when contact network structure is considered in addition to contact tracing, standard “mass action” models are generally inadequate. To consider the impact of mutual contacts (specifically clustering) we develop an improvement to existing pairwise network models, which we use to demonstrate that ceteris paribus, clustering improves the efficacy of contact tracing for a large region of parameter space. This result is sometimes reversed, however, for the case of highly effective contact tracing. We also develop stochastic simulations for comparison, using simple re-wiring methods that allow the generation of appropriate comparator networks. In this way we contribute to the general theory of network-based interventions against infectious disease.

Endothelial Calcium Machinery and Angiogenesis: Understanding Physiology to Interfere with Pathology

Endothelial cells (ECs) play a pivotal role in physiological and altered tissue neovascularization. They face multiple morphological, biochemical and functional changes during the different phases of angiogenesis, under the regulation of a great number of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic signals, including soluble and insoluble factors, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. ECs mutual contacts (and also interactions with other cell types, such as pericytes and smooth vascular muscle cells), motility, proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation are all calcium-dependent events finely tuned in space and time. Most of the angiogenic-related peptidic factors (VEGF, bFGF and others) promote an increase of cytosolic free calcium concentration in ECs, giving rise to calcium-activated intracellular cascades engaged in the different steps of the angiogenic process. A better knowledge of such signals could allow to set new diagnostic and therapeutical approaches aimed to interfere with altered neovascularization, particularly during cancer progression. This review reports the state of the art about endothelial angiogenic-related calcium signaling and discusses the most attractive perspectives for the future.