cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Technology for More Cost-Effective Arbitration of Cross-Border Commercial Disputes: An Introduction to the Range of Possibilities with a Focus on MSMEs

Online dispute resolution (ODR) is a hot topic when it comes to high-volume, low-value disputes. The utility is obvious where the nature of certain disputes is often largely repetitive, and the cost of individualized resolution is often prohibitive when compared to transactional values. The value proposition in this sort of ODR is often achieved through a “layered” or “sequenced” system in which the majority of disputes are resolved by algorithm, thereby reducing the overall average cost to a level commensurate with the value of the transaction from which the dispute has arisen. Thus, technology is used both in connecting the various participants online, as well as the process of resolving many of the actual disputes, and the result is a more cost-effective dispute resolution mechanism.Perhaps less obvious, but of equal importance, a variety of technology uses may be of significant value in resolving business-to-business (B2B) disputes. While these B2B disputes are far less likely to fall into the high-volume, low-value category more commonly addressed by ODR, many will involve relatively modest amounts in dispute, such that a more cost-effective mechanism for resolving those disputes may be particularly valuable. This essay focuses on the use of technology in arbitration of B2B disputes, especially disputes involving “micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises” (MSMEs), to deliver a more cost effective final award.
Basel III Norms and its Implications on Indian Banking Industry

To reduce the gaps in international supervisory coverage so that no any foreign banks should get away from banking supervision and that should be appropriate, is the main aim of BASEL-III Norms. Basel committee has focused on the capital adequacy in recent years. For this purpose, the committee has proposed Basel I, Basel II and Basel III Accord. The current accord has been implemented in December-2010 is Basel III, Which is third in the series of Basel Accords. In this paper, the researcher has discussed the salient features of Basel-III Accord and its expected implications on the Indianbanks. The researcher says that the effectiveimplementation of Basel III will make the Indian banksstronger, financially stable and sound so that it would help in delivering value to the real sectors ofthe economy. It would also help the Indian banks to manage their capital more efficiently andenhance their profitability.
Structure and biochemistry of phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase from the Pseudomonas putida S12 styrene catabolic pathway

Phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase catalyzes the NAD+-dependent oxidation of phenylactealdehyde to phenylacetic acid in the styrene catabolic and detoxification pathway of Pseudomonas putida (S12). Here we report the structure and mechanistic properties of the N-terminally histidine-tagged enzyme, NPADH. The 2.83 A X-ray crystal structure is similar in fold to sheep liver cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1), but has unique set of intersubunit interactions and active site tunnel for substrate entrance. In solution, NPADH occurs as 227 kDa homotetramer. It follows a sequential reaction mechanism in which NAD+ serves as both the leading substrate and homotropic allosteric activator. In the absence of styrene monooxygenase reductase, which regenerates NAD+ from NADH in the first step of styrene catabolism, NPADH is inhibited by a ternary complex involving NADH, product, and phenylacetaldehyde, substrate. Each oligomerization domain of NPADH contains a six-residue insertion that extends this loop over the substrate entrance tunnel of a neighboring subunit, thereby obstructing the active site of the adjacent subunit. This feature could be an important factor in the homotropic activation and product inhibition mechanisms. Compared to ALDH1, the substrate channel of NPADH is narrower and lined with more aromatic residues, suggesting a means for enhancing substrate specificity.
Non-Metastatic Hepatic Dysfunction Associated with Renal Carcinoma

A retrospective computer analysis of 102 patients treated for renal tubular carcinoma revealed 7 patients who presented with non-metastatic hepatic dysfunction. Of these 7 patients 5 also had the triad of fever, weight loss and fatigue. Only 1 patient survived more than 10 years after nephrectomy. A review of the literature on non-metastatic hepatic dysfunction revealed a significant interval between onset of symptoms and detection of the underlying renal malignancy, as well as a poor over-all survival rate if the syndrome persisted after nephrectomy.
Atmospheric rivers in 20 year weather and climate simulations: A multimodel, global evaluation

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are narrow, elongated, synoptic jets of water vapor that play important roles in the global water cycle and meteorological/hydrological extremes. Increasing evidence shows ARs have signatures and impacts in many regions across different continents. However, global-scale characterizations of AR representations in weather and climate models have been very limited. Using a recently developed AR detection algorithm oriented for global applications, the representation of AR activities in multi-decade weather/climate simulations is evaluated. The algorithm is applied to 6-hourly (daily) integrated water vapor transport from 22 (2) global weather/climate models that participated in the GASS-YoTC Multi-model Experiment, including four models with ocean-atmosphere coupling and two models with super-parameterization. Multiple reanalysis products are used as references to help quantify model errors in the context of reanalysis uncertainty. Model performance is examined for key aspects of ARs (frequency, intensity, geometry, seasonality), with the focus on identifying and understanding systematic errors in simulated ARs. The results highlight the range of model performances relative to reanalysis uncertainty in representing the most basic features of ARs. Among the 17 metrics considered, AR frequency, the zonal component of the integrated water vapor transport (IVT), fractional zonal circumference, fractional total meridional IVT, and three seasonality metrics have consistently large errors across all models. Possible connections between AR simulation qualities and aspects of model configurations are discussed. Despite the lack of a monotonic relationship, the importance of model horizontal resolution to the overall quality of AR simulation is suggested by the evaluation results.
Beacon Art Center and Institute

The Beacon Art Center and Institute, located in an area of Florida experiencing rapid population growth, has enjoyed increases in membership,revenue and services. The Board of the Corporation and the Director must develop a long range strategic plan for the future of the organization. Ability to function is currently restricted by limited space, limited size of staff, and limited endowment. The center also faces potentially troublesome governance issues. The long run future of the art center must be addressed by the Board and the Director of the organization.
There Was a Conference in Europe

There was a conference in Europe, I think one of the GAMM meetings, where a guy was being an annoying nuisance. Let us call him Dr. X. Dr. X’s paper had not been accepted, but he was using the question period after the other talks to announce his results. Dr. X tried to do this after Gino’s talk. He had understood correctly that the point he wanted to make was one that Gino would agree with, but he did not realize that Gino would regard the point as trivial and not worth making. Gino, of course, was acting as his own chairman, and had signaled to Dr. X that he would take his question, but then immediately realized what was going on.
Sleep Disturbance in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Preliminary Evidence for a Mechanistic Relationship

Sleep disturbance has received growing attention as a transdiagnostic factor that may contribute to multiple forms of psychopathology, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The extant literature regarding the role of sleep disturbance in OCD is rapidly developing. This review integrates the findings related to sleep and OCD over the past year and highlights important areas for future research. Results indicate impaired sleep in those with OCD versus healthy controls and link sleep disturbance to OCD symptom severity in multiple samples. Findings from the past year also implicate cognitive control as a potential mechanism in this relationship. Finally, a recent treatment outcome study suggests that sleep disturbance may limit treatment response in pediatric OCD. Findings from the past year contribute to the robustness of the small, but growing body of literature linking sleep disturbance to OCD. These results highlight the importance of incorporating sleep disturbance into extant models of OCD and suggest that consideration of the biopsychosocial effects of sleep disturbance may offer novel insight into the etiology and treatment of OCD.
Solvent extraction of Eu(III) from hydrochloric acid solutions using PC88A and Cyanex 572 in kerosene

Abstract Solvent extractions of europium (Eu(III)) from hydrochloric acid solutions using 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC88A) and Cyanex 572 (chemical structure not reported) diluted in kerosene are compared and discussed. Pourbaix and speciation diagrams for Eu(III) in chloride solutions are presented to clarify the chemistry of solution at different acidities and chloride concentrations. Preliminary structures, energies and free energies of Eu(III) species in both aqueous and organic phases (the latter consisting of phosphonic acid in heptane) were calculated and compared using molecular modeling. The effects of pH (1–5), extractant concentration (1–100 mM) and ionic strength (0.05–1 M) are studied to systematically characterize the extraction behavior of Eu(III) and, based on these results, an extraction mechanism is suggested. It is found that under similar experimental conditions a higher extent of extraction is obtained with PC88A compared with Cyanex 572. The infrared spectra of the loaded organic solutions support the hypothesis that the Eu(III) extraction reaction is driven by a cation exchange mechanism. Separation studies of Eu(III) from other rare earth elements (REEs) were also carried out and revealed that PC88A provides higher separation of Eu(III) from light REEs while Cyanex 572 achieves higher separation from heavy REEs.
Past role and future outlook of the Conservation Reserve Program for supporting honey bees in the Great Plains.

Human dependence on insect pollinators continues to grow even as pollinators face global declines. The Northern Great Plains (NGP), a region often referred to as America’s last honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) refuge, has undergone rapid land-cover change due to cropland expansion and weakened land conservation programs. We conducted a trend analysis and estimated conversion rates of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollments around bee apiaries from 2006 to 2016 and developed models to identify areas of habitat loss. Our analysis revealed that NGP apiaries lost over 53% of lands enrolled in the CRP, and the rate of loss was highest in areas of high apiary density. We estimated over 163,000 ha of CRP lands in 2006 within 1.6 km of apiaries was converted to row crops by 2012. We also evaluated how alternative scenarios of future CRP acreage caps may affect habitat suitability for supporting honey bee colonies. Our scenario revealed that a further reduction in CRP lands to 7.7 million ha nationally would reduce the number of apiaries in the NGP that meet defined forage criteria by 28% on average. Alternatively, increasing the national cap to 15 million ha would increase the number of NGP apiaries that meet defined forage criteria by 155%. Our scenarios also show that strategic placement of CRP lands near existing apiaries increased the number of apiaries that meet forage criteria by 182%. Our research will be useful for informing the potential consequences of future US farm bill policy and land management in the epicenter of the US beekeeping industry.
Other Computational Intelligence Topics

The learning process of a perceptron network, in which the network connection strengths are modified systematically so that the response of the network progressively approximates the desired response, can be structured as a nonlinear optimization problem.
Medical Imaging and Injury Scaling in Trauma Biomechanics

Victims of trauma present unique diagnostic and management challenges to healthcare providers. The role of medical imaging in the evaluation of this patient population has evolved over the last several decades to help provide fast, accurate information to clinicians. The ability to identify important clinical signs to help identify patients in need of screening for different potential injuries can still be a challenge. Utilizing evidence based patient and mechanism specific factors to recognize those at risk of life threatening and potentially life threatening injuries will help guide the decision making process in choosing the most appropriate imaging modality. Additionally, improvements in imaging techniques has allowed for the establishment of image based injury grading systems to expand the role of non operative management of solid organ injuries. These advancements are not without downsides as radiation exposure, contrast exposure, and cost are also on the rise. Therefore, expanding provider familiarity with available imaging modalities, injury patterns, and injury severity is key in providing trauma patients with the best possible care.
The Stalinist Era

Placing Stalinism in its international context, David L. Hoffmann presents a new interpretation of Soviet state intervention and violence. Many 'Stalinist' practices - the state-run economy, surveillance, propaganda campaigns, and the use of concentration camps - did not originate with Stalin or even in Russia, but were instead tools of governance that became widespread throughout Europe during the First World War. The Soviet system was formed at this moment of total war, and wartime practices of mobilization and state violence became building blocks of the new political order. Communist Party leaders in turn used these practices ruthlessly to pursue their ideological agenda of economic and social transformation. Synthesizing new research on Stalinist collectivization, industrialization, cultural affairs, gender roles, nationality policies, the Second World War, and the Cold War, Hoffmann provides a succinct account of this pivotal period in world history.
Stream flow modeling tools inform environmental water policy in California

Management of California's vast water distribution network, involving hundreds of dams and diversions from rivers and streams, provides water to 40 million people and supports a globally prominent agricultural sector, but it has come at a price to local freshwater ecosystems. An essential first step in developing policies that effectively balance human and ecosystem needs is understanding natural stream flow patterns and the role stream flow plays in supporting ecosystem health. We have developed a machine-learning modeling technique that predicts natural stream flows in California's rivers and streams. The technique has been used to assess patterns of stream flow modification, evaluate statewide water rights allocations and establish environmental flow thresholds below which water diversions are prohibited. Our work has informed the statewide Cannabis Cultivation Policy and influenced decision-making in more subtle ways, such as by highlighting shortcomings in the state's water accounting system and building support for needed reforms. Tools and techniques that make use of long-term environmental monitoring data and modern computing power — such as the models described here — can help inform policies seeking to protect the environment while satisfying the demands of California's growing population.
Notes on nesting, territoriality and behaviour of broadbills (Eurylaimidae, Calyptomenidae) and pittas (Pittidae) in Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Basic natural history and behavioural data are lacking for the majority of broadbills and pittas (Eurylaimidae, Calyptomenidae and Pittidae). We present a series of observations on these birds made during two visits to Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, Malaysia. During this period, we detected changes in temporal presence, detectability or vocal behaviour in various species. We also found habitat overlap on one ridgeline among four species of pitta. We observed a Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis respond to our imitation of a call with a wing display. We discuss the social behaviour of Black-and-yellow Eurylaimus ochromalus and Banded Broadbills E. javanicus, including wing displays, territoriality, and in the first-named species, social groups comprising multiple adults. We also describe various nesting behaviours in these two species, including nest-construction techniques, incubation behaviour, nest defence, and the first described Banded Broadbill nest on Borneo. We found Dusky Broadbills Corydon sumatranus to frequently be the most conspicuous members of mixed-species flocks otherwise dominated by Cuculidae and Picidae. We analysed Black-crowned Pitta Erythropitta ussheri home range size and density in a colour-banded population, and found a potential hybrid or backcross with Garnet Pitta E. granatina. We observed that Blue-banded Pitta E. arquata make non-vocal sonations by striking their closed wings on their flanks, and discuss the immature male plumage of Blue-headed Pitta Hydrornis baudii.
Racial Comparisons of Postoperative Weight Loss and Eating-Disorder Psychopathology Among Patients Following Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery.

Objective This study aimed to examine racial differences in postoperative eating-disorder psychopathology, psychosocial functioning, and weight loss among adults with loss-of-control (LOC) eating following sleeve gastrectomy. Methods Participants were 123 patients (n = 74 non-Hispanic White and n = 49 non-Hispanic Black) who underwent sleeve gastrectomy surgery within the previous 4 to 9 months and reported regular LOC eating during the previous month. The Eating Disorder Examination Bariatric Surgery Version assessed LOC eating, eating-disorder psychopathology, and meal patterns. Participants completed self-report measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey. Results Presurgical BMI did not differ by race, but Black patients had significantly less percent total weight loss and percent excess weight loss than White patients. Black and White patients did not differ significantly in LOC eating frequency, onset time of postoperative LOC eating, eating-disorder psychopathology, depressive symptoms, or physical or mental health-related quality of life. White patients were significantly more likely to meet criteria for lifetime binge-eating disorder than Black patients. Black patients were significantly more likely to skip breakfast and dinner and engage in night eating than White patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that among patients with LOC eating following sleeve gastrectomy surgery, there exist few racial differences in current eating-disorder psychopathology and psychosocial functioning, although Black patients achieved less weight loss than White patients.
Atomistic Computational Analysis of the Loading Orientation-Dependent Phase Transformation in Graphite under Compression

In this work, we perform atomistic simulations to study the phase transformations (PT) in graphite under compression. Our major findings are: (1) when the compression is parallel to the basal plane, graphite layers buckle, kink bands form, and then the diamond nucleates at the intersection of kink bands; the initially introduced dislocations block the graphite layer slippage and promote the graphite-to-diamond PT; (2) instead, when the sample is compressed normal to the basal plane, no buckling is observed, and in this situation, the pre-existing dislocations delay the structure change; and (3) the PT is found to be controlled by local stresses from which a criterion can be formulated for detecting the graphite lattice instability. Despite the limited length scales in our atomistic models, the above results may support the search for new routes to fabricate artificial diamonds at a significantly less cost than that required by traditional techniques.
Telehealth Availability in US Hospitals in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth is likely to play a crucial role in treating COVID-19 patients. However, not all US hospitals possess telehealth capabilities. This brief report was designed to explore US hospitals' readiness with respect to telehealth availability. We hope to gain deeper insight into the factors affecting possession of these valuable capabilities, and how this varies between rural and urban areas. METHODS: Based on 2017 data from the American Hospital Association survey, Area Health Resource Files and Medicare cost reports, we used logistic regression models to identify predictors of telehealth and eICU capabilities in US hospitals. RESULTS: We found that larger hospitals (OR(telehealth) = 1.013; P < .01) and system members (OR(telehealth) = 1.55; P < .01) (OR(eICU) = 1.65; P < .01) had higher odds of possessing telehealth and eICU capabilities. We also found evidence suggesting that telehealth and eICU capabilities are concentrated in particular regions; the West North Central region was the most likely to possess capabilities, given that these hospitals had higher odds of possessing telehealth (OR = 1.49; P < .10) and eICU capabilities (OR = 2.15; P < .05). Rural hospitals had higher odds of possessing telehealth capabilities as compared to their urban counterparts, although this relationship was marginally significant (OR = 1.34, P < .10). CONCLUSIONS: US hospitals vary in their preparation to use telehealth to aid in the COVID-19 battle, among other issues. Hospitals' odds of possessing the capability to provide such services vary largely by region; overall, rural hospitals have more widespread telehealth capabilities than urban hospitals. There is still great potential to expand these capabilities further, especially in areas that have been hard hit by COVID-19.
General Health and Depression Outcomes Related to Cumulative Indicators of Unmet Social Determinant of Health Needs for College Students

Unmet social determinants of health (SDOH) needs impact college students’ general and mental health, however research is lacking in the cumulative impact of unmet SDOH needs. Utilizing a cross-sect...
Upper and Lower Bounds for End-to-End Risks in Stochastic Robot Navigation

We present novel upper and lower bounds to estimate the collision probability of motion plans for autonomous agents with discrete-time linear Gaussian dynamics. Motion plans generated by planning algorithms cannot be perfectly executed by autonomous agents in reality due to the inherent uncertainties in the real world. Estimating collision probability is crucial to characterize the safety of trajectories and plan risk optimal trajectories. Our approach is an application of standard results in probability theory including the inequalities of Hunter, Kounias, Frechet, and Dawson. Using a ground robot navigation example, we numerically demonstrate that our method is considerably faster than the naive Monte Carlo sampling method and the proposed bounds are significantly less conservative than Boole's bound commonly used in the literature.
Knowledge-Based Models for NRG HN001 Proton Plan Quality Analysis.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Radiotherapy treatment plan quality is essential to the success of clinical trials. Knowledge-based models have been used extensively for photon-based plan quality evaluation. With an increasing number of intensive modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans submitted to clinical trials, we built knowledge-based proton planning (KBP) models for nasopharyngeal cancer cases. We report on the testing and the implementation of the models for the review of the quality of NRG-HN001 proton plans. MATERIALS/METHODS IMPT plans were manually created for 50 cases submitted to NRG-HN001. These plans were used to train a KBP model. Iterations of KBP-based re-optimization of model plans were performed to enhance the model performance. The final model was then used for generating 20 IMPT plans on the original proton cohort of patients to compare with submitted plans for quality evaluation. RESULTS Among the 20 IMPT plans to date submitted to HN001, 11 plans showed deviation unacceptable for target coverage and 7 plans for OARs sparing. Compared with submitted plans, all KBP plans meet per protocol or variation acceptable values for both target and OAR volumes. The 20-plan average target volume VRxGy[%] increased 8% (P = 0.00371), meanwhile, brain stem D0.03 cc [Gy] decreased 8 Gy (P < 0.00001), optic nerves D0.03 cc [Gy] decreased 11 Gy (P = 0.0002), chiasm D0.03 cc [Gy] decreased 12 Gy (P = 0.0006), parotids mean dose decreased 4Gy (P = 0.002). Doses to other OARs (spinal cord, mandible, TM joint, temporal lobes, eyes, lens, larynx, cochlea, and esophagus) showed no statistically significant changes. CONCLUSION This is the first successful application of KBP for clinical trial IMPT plan quality assurance. KBP-aided IMPT plans demonstrate better target coverage with reduced OAR doses compared with submitted plans from multi-institutions, showing improvement opportunities for IMPT planning. It is feasible to use these KBP models for current and future nasopharyngeal cancer clinical trials to improve proton radiotherapy plan quality.
An analytical model for composite tubes with bend-twist coupling

Abstract A simple analytical model is derived for composite tubes subjected to bending and torsion. The model is applied to a novel design of composite tube that exhibits bend–twist coupling such that the shear center of the cross section is away from the tube axis. Analytical expressions are derived for the shear center distance – distance of the shear center from the tube axis. Finite element analysis of the tubes is performed using shell elements. The agreement between analytical and numerical results is excellent. It is found that the shear center distance is independent of the radius of the tube but proportional to the length of the tube and it is also a function of coefficient of mutual influence of the composite material.
How STEM Can Gain Some STEAM: Crafting Meaningful Collaborations Between STEM Disciplines and Inquiry-Based Writing Programs

Harrison and Parks provide a framework for interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) collaborations, arguing that such collaborations lead to more varied and textured learning environments for students entering a uniquely competitive and complex global world. Focusing on a model for English-centered initiatives in STEAM-based learning, the chapter explores the successes and challenges of an innovative summer bridge course. In addition, approaches to incorporating STEM-based features in first-year writing classes and writing center models for self-identified STEM majors are discussed. The goal of “How STEM can gain some STEAM” is to help other educators create meaningful experiences for students that emphasize and practice shared tenets and methodologies of seemingly divergent disciplines and that center the sciences culturally and politically in a humanities framework.
Animal Models of Speech and Vocal Communication Deficits Associated With Psychiatric Disorders

Disruptions in speech, language, and vocal communication are hallmarks of several neuropsychiatric disorders, most notably autism spectrum disorders. Historically, the use of animal models to dissect molecular pathways and connect them to behavioral endophenotypes in cognitive disorders has proven to be an effective approach for developing and testing disease-relevant therapeutics. The unique aspects of human language compared with vocal behaviors in other animals make such an approach potentially more challenging. However, the study of vocal learning in species with analogous brain circuits to humans may provide entry points for understanding this human-specific phenotype and diseases. We review animal models of vocal learning and vocal communication and specifically link phenotypes of psychiatric disorders to relevant model systems. Evolutionary constraints in the organization of neural circuits and synaptic plasticity result in similarities in the brain mechanisms for vocal learning and vocal communication. Comparative approaches and careful consideration of the behavioral limitations among different animal models can provide critical avenues for dissecting the molecular pathways underlying cognitive disorders that disrupt speech, language, and vocal communication.
What constitutes a good hand offs in the emergency department: a patient's perspective.

Purpose – The aim is to determine, from the patient's perspective, what constitutes a good hand-off procedure in the emergency department (ED). The secondary purpose is to evaluate what impact a formalized hand-off had on patient knowledge, throughput and customer service Design/methodology/approach – This study used a randomized controlled clinical trial involving two unique hand-off approaches and a convenience sample. The study alternated between the current hand-off process that documented the process but not specific elements (referred to as the informal process) to one using the IPASS the BATON process (considered the formal process). Consenting patients completed a 12-question validated questionnaire on how the process was perceived by patients and about their understanding why they waited in the ED. Statistical analysis using SPSS calculated descriptive frequencies and t-tests. Findings – In total 107 patients were enrolled: 50 in the informal and 57 in the formal group. Most patients had positive...
Work and Neoliberal Globalization: A Polanyian Synthesis

This article reviews sociological research about economic globalization’s impact on work and labor in developed and developing countries since the 1980s. We find that this period of neoliberal globalization influences work because of intensified activities of multinational corporations (MNCs), financialization of the global economy, and amplified prominence of international organizations, some of which diffuse neoliberal policy scripts while others mobilize a transnational civil society. Research we review generally points to liabilities of neoliberal globalization for workers. To understand these findings, we apply Karl Polanyi’s concepts of fictitious commodities, the self-regulating market, and the double movement. We propose that, on the one hand, the activities of MNCs, international financial organizations, and many states exemplify pushes for institutional separation of economy and society in effort to institutionalize the idea of a self-regulating market at a global scale, which increases labor commodification and global inequalities. On the other hand, the activities of social movements, including unions and transnational actors that target globalization’s impact on work, constitute the counter movement at national and global levels resisting marketization and pushing for labor decommodification. The aftermath of the ongoing economic crisis will tell to what extent this countermovement will be successful in generating an alternative to neoliberal globalization, and more protections for workers.
Mars Sample Return - studies for a fresh look

Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a key mission in the plan for Mars exploration. During 2001, NASA issued contracts to four industrial teams to conduct a broad trade study of what they envisioned to be the best implementation of MSR; the teams were subsequently tasked with focusing on a specific concept and fleshing-out a design sufficiently to provide a cost for the mission. Finally, the teams were asked to identify any technology development or demonstrations that are prerequisite to the mission. This paper describes the breadth of rich trade space that exists for this mission. Included in the paper are both the themes resulting from the industry studies and the general scope of the focused concepts used to assess the current planning for the mission and precursor missions. The results suggest that a scientifically justifiable mission is possible, and that technology and precursor mission demonstration plans currently in the Mars Program are justified (with some modifications).
Vacuum microelectronics 1996: where we are and where we are going

This is an exciting time for vacuum microelectronics research and development. It appears to mirror similar developments in the past, e.g. transistors and integrated circuits, lasers and laser based devices, micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS), and biotechnology products. Starting in 1948, a transition occurred from vacuum devices to solid-state devices. At the beginning of the 21st century, will we see a transition from solid-state back to vacuum, at least for specific niche applications in microelectronics?.
A new concentration result for regularized risk minimizers

We establish a new concentration result for regularized risk minimizers which is similar to an oracle inequality. Applying this inequality to regularized least squares minimizers like least squares support vector machines, we show that these algorithms learn with (almost) the optimal rate in some specific situations. In addition, for regression our results suggest that using the loss function $L_{\a}(y,t)=|y -t|^{\a}$ with $\a$ near $1$ may often be preferable to the usual choice of $\a=2$.
The Effect of Extrinsic Rewards on Knowledge Sharing in a Team Setting

This study investigates the effect of extrinsic rewards on knowledge sharing in a team setting. It also examines whether certain environmental conditions can facilitate individuals’ continued motivation to share knowledge. I perform an experiment with 113 students from accounting and management classes that have team projects. Results suggest that explicitly rewarding knowledge sharing can increase individuals’ knowledge-sharing behaviors and, in the right environment, their internalization of the motivation to share knowledge.
Functions of the Vitreous

Growth of the eye must occur to exact specifications because the various ocular tissues must bear precise geometric relations to one another if effective optic and photoreceptive functions are to be possible. As summarized by Curtin (1985), there is strong support for the concept that the retina organizes ocular growth. Although growth factors probably play an important mediating role, there is evidence to suggest that the retina induces various effects on growth of the eye by influencing the development of the vitreous.
Peroxisomal Pex3 Activates Selective Autophagy of Peroxisomes via Interaction with the Pexophagy Receptor Atg30

Pexophagy is a process that selectively degrades peroxisomes by autophagy. The Pichia pastoris pexophagy receptor Atg30 is recruited to peroxisomes under peroxisome proliferation conditions. During pexophagy, Atg30 undergoes phosphorylation, a prerequisite for its interactions with the autophagy scaffold protein Atg11 and the ubiquitin-like protein Atg8. Atg30 is subsequently shuttled to the vacuole along with the targeted peroxisome for degradation. Here, we defined the binding site for Atg30 on the peroxisomal membrane protein Pex3 and uncovered a role for Pex3 in the activation of Atg30 via phosphorylation and in the recruitment of Atg11 to the receptor protein complex. Pex3 is classically a docking protein for other proteins that affect peroxisome biogenesis, division, and segregation. We conclude that Pex3 has a role beyond simple docking of Atg30 and that its interaction with Atg30 regulates pexophagy in the yeast P. pastoris.
Nigrostriatal lesion alters neurophysiological responses to selective and nonselective D-1 and D-2 dopamine agonists in rat globus pallidus.

The effects of the selective D-1 dopamine agonist SKF 38893, the selective D-2 agonist quinpirole, and the nonselective D-1/D-2 agonist apomorphine on spontaneous activity of globus pallidus neurons were compared in normal control rats and rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine induced lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway. In control, unlesioned rats, SKF 38393 (0.4 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) caused no significant net change in the activity of globus pallidus neurons, although some individual cells showed significant increases of decreases in discharge rates following 10 mg/kg SKF 38393 administration. In animals with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine induced lesions, SKF 38393 caused greater increases and decreases in the discharge reates of a larger percentage of pallidal cells recorded on the ipsilateral side than in control, unlesioned animals. These rate changes were effectively reversed by the D-1 antagonist SCH 23390, but not by the D-2 antagonist YM-09151–2. Quinpirole (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) produced modest rate increases in control, unlesioned animals and significantly larger rate increases in nigrostriatal lesioned animals. YM-09151–2, but not SCH 23390, effectively reversed quinpirole's effects in the lesioned animals. As previously reported, the nonselective D-1/D-2 agonist apomorphine (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) produced large increases in discharge rates of pallidal cells in control, unlesioned rats. In contrast, in nigrostriatal lesioned rats, the discharge rates of some ipsilateral pallidal neurons were markedly increased, others were decreased, and some were unaffected following apomorphine administration. The dopamine antagonist spiroperidol partially to fully reversed these rate changes. In summary, apomorphine's neurophysiological profile appears to be an exaggeration of the D-1 agonist profile in the globus pallidus of these lesioned animals. The degree of change observed after apomorphine administration is consistent with results from other studies that have indicated that a synergistic interaction between effects triggered by stimulation of the two receptor subtypes can occur in these animals, as in control, unlesioned animals. However, these results further show that in rats with unilateral nigrostriatal lesions, the denervated dopamine receptors or the processes they mediate are altered so that they no longer have the requirement seen in controls for concurrent stimulation of the complementary dopamine receptor subtype for expression of the selective agonist effects.
Membrane Recycling: Vesiculation of the Amoeba Contractile Vacuole at Systole

Ultrastructural data on the protozoan Amoeba proteus support a model of membrane recycling. At systole the amoeba contractile vacuole fuses with the cell surface and expels its contents. Observations by electron microscopy indicate that, as the vacuole empties, its bounding membrane transforms into tiny (35 nanometers in diameter) vesicles, identical to the vesicles that segregate fluid and contribute to the diastolic vacuole.
Hidden Markov chains and the analysis of genome structure

Abstract In this paper, statistical methods based on a hidden Markov chain model are used to study the structure of some small complete genomes and a human genome segment. A variety of discrete compositional domains are discovered and their correlations with genome function are explored.
The tensile deformation behavior of fine-grained α-plutonium

Abstract Tensile deformation of extruded monoclinic α-plutonium with an average grain size of 4 μm was studied at stress from 2 500 to 100 000 psi (17.3 to 689 MN/m2) and temperatures from 22 to 108°C. The strain rate varied from 10−9 to 7 × 10−3 sec−1. The relation, ϵ = 2.86 × 10 −7 σ 4.2 exp (−25 600/ RT ) sec −1 , was obeyed from 12 000 to 60 000 psi (71.7 to 414 MN/m2) for strain rates greater than about 10−6 sec−1. Stress and temperature dependences of creep rate over this stress range were in accord with a dislocation climb controlled creep model, although the power law behavior occurred at stresses higher than theory predicts. The value of 25 600 cal/mole proved a reasonable value for the activation energy for self-diffusion in α-plutonium. At lower stresses the apparent activation energy for creep increased with decreasing stress, and the stress exponent n (= d log ϵ/ d log σ) increased from 4.2 to 7.9. The high apparent activation energies for creep and high n values at low stresses were attributed to grain growth during creep. Tensile elongation increased with decreasing strain rate and increasing temperature over the entire stress range. Low elongation at high stresses was attributed to lack of grain boundary sliding. Grain size changed during creep toward a size determined by stress. At the highest test temperatures and lowest stresses grain growth occurred during large strains, while at high stresses the average grain size decreased.
Treatment of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia in Long‐term Renal Transplant Patients with Alendronate

Bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone-turnover were evaluated in a 2-year study in 58 long-term renal transplant recipients with good renal function. In the first year of study, data were collected and patients with osteoporosis and parameters of high bone turnover were classified as being at high risk for on-going bone loss (Group A; n = 29). Patients with lesser degrees of bone loss or without biochemical parameters of high bone turnover were followed longitudinally (Group B; n = 29). Group A patients were then placed on alendronate 10mg/day and both groups were followed for an additional year. Changes in regional BMD and bone-turnover markers between the first and second year within each group were analyzed using paired tests. BMD in Group A, which had declined at the lumbar spine (- 1.6 +/- 0.5%) and total femur (-1.5 +/- 0.4%) during the first year of the study, increased on alendronate therapy at both the lumbar spine (+3.4 +/- 0.6%, p = 0.001) and total femur (+1.6 +/- 0.6%, p <0.001). These patients also experienced a significant decline in levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, urinary levels of deoxypyridinoline and pyridinoline. In contrast, neither BMD nor biochemical markers changed significantly over 2 years in Group B. The current results demonstrate that renal transplant patients with osteoporosis and biochemical parameters of high bone turnover are at continued risk for bone loss. Therapy with a bisphosphonate can reverse this bone loss and even increase bone mass in these patients. Whether patients with lesser degrees of bone loss and/or patients without parameters of high bone turnover can also benefit from bisphosphonate therapy deserves further study.
Spatial variation of overbank aggradation rate and its influence on avulsion frequency

River avulsions are commonly considered to be driven by the aggradation and growth of alluvial ridges, and the associated increase in cross-valley slope relative to either the down-channel slope or the down-valley slope (the latter is termed the slope ratio in the present paper). Therefore, spatial patterns of overbank aggradation rate over stratigraphically relevant time scales are critical in avulsion-dominated models of alluvial architecture. Detailed evidence on centennial- to millennial-scale floodplain deposition has, to date, been largely unavailable. New data on such long-term overbank aggradation rates from the Rhine–Meuse and Mississippi deltas demonstrate that the rate of decrease of overbank deposition away from the channel belt is much larger than has been supposed hitherto, and can be similar to observations for single overbank floods. This leads to more rapid growth of alluvial ridges and more rapid increase in slope ratios, potentially resulting in increased avulsion frequencies. A revised input parameter for overbank aggradation rate was used in a three-dimensional model of alluvial architecture to study its effect on avulsion frequency. Realistic patterns of avulsion and interavulsion periods (� 1000 years) were simulated with input data from the Holocene Rhine River, with avulsions occurring when the slope ratio is in the range 3–5. However, caution should be practised with respect to uncritical use of these numbers in different settings. Evidence from the two study areas suggests that the avulsion threshold cannot be represented by one single value, irrespective of whether critical slope ratios are used, as in the present study, or superelevation as has been proposed by other investigators.
Coffee Tourism and Community Development in Guatemala

Agritourism, a key segment of the rural tourism sector that incorporates both a working farm environment and a commercial tourism component, is well studied in the European and North American contexts. However, there is a lack of comparable data for developing countries. This paper explores the development of coffee tourism by a Guatemalan coffee cooperative. It highlights two significant findings regarding the benefits and limitations of agritourism initiatives in less developed countries. First, it details how the development of the coffee tour helped to strengthen the cooperative’s organizational capacity in several specific ways, including the introduction of a diversified managerial structure, extensive training opportunities, and new professional positions. However, it also demonstrates that the coffee tour would have been very difficult to initiate without the substantial external support the cooperative received. Second, the paper explores the content of the coffee tour itself, which moves beyond a narrow focus on agriculture to affirm indigenous identity and culture. The coffee tour echoes the themes of the larger “identity economy” that has grown exponentially in the past decades (Comaroff and Comaroff 2009). Although the tour emphasizes community traditions and history, its benefits are not evenly distributed among residents; while cooperative members receive the benefits, the potential costs, both tangible and intangible, associated with an influx of tourists are borne by the community as a whole. This poses a challenge to the common deployment of concepts like “community” and “local” in tourism development and research.
IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES OF ENTERIC CORONAVIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES(CVLP)

CVLP have been implicated in gastrointestinal illness sporadically among children and in an intensive care nursery outbreak at our hospital. Fecal examination by electron microscopy(EM) is the only means of diagnosis. We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) using ammonium sulfate precipitated CVLP from feces. The purified CVLP was immunogenic in rabbits. Sera containing antibodies against bovine enteric, canine, OC43, and 229E coronaviruses(CV) did not block binding of rabbit anti-CVLP to microtiter wells coated with purified CVLP. Immune EM using these antisera and nonaggregated CVLP also suggested that CVLP are antigenically distinct from other CV. False positives occurred when stools negative for CVLP by EM were tested. This nonspecific reaction was not blocked by sonicates of E.coli, Strep. fecalis, B.fragilis, or C.difficile, or by C.difficile antitoxin. Absorption of rabbit anti-CVLP serum with suckling mouse intestine did not improve specificity. More sophisticated purification of fecal CVLP is needed to improve ELISA sensitivity and specificity, and to characterize the antigen.