Risk assessment for a video surveillance system based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps

For various IT systems security is considered a key quality factor. In particular, it might be crucial for video surveillance systems, as their goal is to provide continuous protection of critical infrastructure and other facilities. Risk assessment is an important activity in security management; it aims at identifying assets, threats and vulnerabilities, analysis of implemented countermeasures and their effectiveness in mitigating risks. This paper discusses an application of a new risk assessment method, in which risk calculation is based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) to a complex automated video surveillance system. FCMs are used to capture dependencies between assets and FCM based reasoning is applied to aggregate risks assigned to lower-level assets (e.g. cameras, hardware, software modules, communications, people) to such high level assets as services, maintained data and processes. Lessons learned indicate, that the proposed method is an efficient and low-cost approach, giving instantaneous feedback and enabling reasoning on effectiveness of security system.     

Innovation and the growth of service companies: the variety of firm activities and industry effects

This paper examines the relationship between innovation performance and employment growth in firms by taking a closer look at specific innovation activities and industry effects in the context of the services sector. Firm-level CIS data on Polish services firms in 2004–2009 are analysed using robust M-estimation. The results indicate that the effects of product, process and organisational innovations depend strongly on the level of technological opportunities in the industry in question. Given the widely acknowledged role of marketing innovations in services, possible synergies between innovations in the form of new products and new marketing techniques are also analysed. We demonstrate that marketing innovations are conducive to firm growth if they complement product innovations, but they are less likely to foster growth when applied in isolation.     

The decrease of lasalocid residue in the edible tissues by silymarin supplementation of chicken diet

Widespread use of coccidiostats, in spite of beneficial control of protozoan infections in poultry, implies a risk of residues in edible tissues, and there is increasing interest in the development of strategies for prevention of veterinary drugs residue in food-producing animals. The aim of this study is assigned to clarify the impact of silymarin addendum in the diet on lasalocid concentration in the liver and breast muscles from the broiler. Four groups of chickens received a feed with lasalocid at levels between 75 and 200 mg kg^?1. Other four groups received a feed with lasalocid (75–200 mg kg^?1) plus silymarin. Significant differences of lasalocid concentrations between the liver and breast muscles were observed. Moreover, the chickens from the groups supplemented with silymarin shown significant decreases of lasalocid concentrations in the analysed tissues. The herbal substance did not counteract the ionophore in the treatment of coccidiosis and did not change biochemical parameters of blood. These findings suggest that silymarin might be used in chicken feeding in order to reduce the risk from lasalocid contamination of the broiler edible tissues.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of bioactive chitosan scaffolds doped with Au nanoparticles for mesenchymal stem cells culture

In this work we present a novel strategy for chitosan-based scaffolds. Chitosan is a versatile biopolymer obtained from waste biomass known of its favorable biological properties. Thus it can replace other polymers in the preparation of bioactive scaffolds. To increase its durability chitosan can be crosslinked into form of the hydrogel yet application of toxic crosslinkers may lead to loss of biocompability. Mesenchymal stem cells can be used in cell therapy for advanced wound treatment. However their culture requires special biomaterials application. In this article a novel microwave-assisted synthesis method for bioactive chitosan scaffolds is presented.     

Mo–Si–B alloys for ultra-high-temperature space and ground applications: liquid-assisted fabrication under various temperature and time conditions

Journal of Materials Science - Boron-doped molybdenum silicides have been already recognized as attractive candidates for space and ground ultra-high-temperature applications far beyond limits of...