cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The 'New' Globalization of Engineering: How the Offshoring of Advanced Engineering Affects Competitiveness and Development

Changes in the strategies of multinationals and in the global distribution and movement of technologists have accelerated a “new” globalization of engineering. Field studies with our colleagues in China, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S., lead us to consider in this paper aspects of the recent offshoring of advanced engineering to emerging economies. We examine the potential consequences for multinationals and their home countries of the new globalization of engineering, many of which are unintended, suggesting the need for greater attention by managers, government policymakers and scholars. A generation ago the typical multinational (MNE) was vertically integrated and hierarchically organized. Key functions were headquartered in one of the triad economies of the U.S., Japan or Europe. In the case of technology development, for example, more basic R&D work might be conducted by central research laboratories, with more applied work done at triad production facilities. Some engineering activities were conducted in emerging economies, but these had little to do with the core engineering programs of the firm. At a Whirlpool facility in India, for example, washing machines were redesigned to keep out rats, to survive shipment on bad roads, and to cope with power ebbs and surges in electrical current (WSJ, June 12, 2004). At an automobile plant in an emerging economy, we found, as part of
RICO and International Legal Ethics

Despite the proliferation of international and transnational litigation in recent years, rules governing the ethical conduct of international lawyers remain practically non-existent. International lawyers, like any other counsel, are not immune to ethical lapses and have frequently engaged in fraudulent and unprofessional behavior. In this Essay, I discuss how national legal systems can fill these regulatory gaps. To illustrate the point, I consider a recent case in which a U.S. federal district court applied a federal law — the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) — to an American lawyer’s misconduct in a transnational case, Chevron v. Donziger.
Effect of Al2O3 Recombination Barrier Layers Deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition in Solid-State CdS Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

Despite the promise of quantum dots (QDs) as a light-absorbing material to replace the dye in dye-sensitized solar cells, quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) efficiencies remain low, due in part to high rates of recombination. In this article, we demonstrate that ultrathin recombination barrier layers of Al2O3 deposited by atomic layer deposition can improve the performance of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot-sensitized solar cells with spiro-OMeTAD as the solid-state hole transport material. We explored depositing the Al2O3 barrier layers either before or after the QDs, resulting in TiO2/Al2O3/QD and TiO2/QD/Al2O3 configurations. The effects of barrier layer configuration and thickness were tracked through current–voltage measurements of device performance and transient photovoltage measurements of electron lifetimes. The Al2O3 layers were found to suppress dark current and increase electron lifetimes with increasing Al2O3 thickness in both configurations. For thin barrier layers, gains in open-ci...
Sexual agglutination in yeast. IV. Minimum particle count per cell for fast-sedimenting 5-agglutinin.

Abstract Fast-sedimenting fractions of sexual agglutination activity digested from Hansenula wingei mating type 5 (5-agglutinin) were obtained by centrifuging in guanidine-HCl or in NaCl gradients under conditions designed to produce the highest specific activity. The particles of 5-agglutinin in these fractions ranged from 120 to 300 million molecular weight as determined by light scattering. An average of 1.7 particles of 5-agglutinin per cell was found at the agglutination endpoint. This number is reasonably close to the theoretical limit of 0.5 particle per cell, and is comparable to the value of approximately unity for other precipitating and agglutinating systems.
Attraction of Scolytus multistriatus to Pheromone-baited Traps at Different Heights

Trap height has an important effect on the number of Scolytus multistriatus captured at pheromone-baited traps. Stikem®-coated traps, baited with synthetic pheromone, were placed at ca. 3, 7, and 12 m on healthy elms during the 1st beetle flight period and on both healthy and diseased elms during the 2nd flight period. Traps at 3 m were clearly the most effective in catching beetles on both healthy and diseased trees during both flight periods.
Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy measures the structural dynamics of a self-assembled film only one molecule thick

Since its first demonstration, many comparisons have been made between 2D infrared (2D IR) and NMR spectroscopy (1, 2). Both techniques use a series of pulses to manipulate and measure free induction decays that resolve couplings and dynamics through their characteristic multidimensional plots. The timescales are very different, with 2D IR spectroscopy using femtosecond pulses to measure the picosecond coherence times of vibrational modes, whereas NMR spectroscopy uses microsecond or millisecond pulses to measure nuclear spins that can last seconds. Thus, the two spectroscopies provide vastly different perspectives on structural dynamics. The article by Yan et al. (3), published in PNAS, uses the fast time resolution of 2D IR spectroscopy to study the structural dynamics of a functionalized self-assembled monolayer, providing insights into structural motions that are intimately related to chemistry. However, their experiments are also demonstrating an aspect of the technique that is only now being recognized as exceptional: the sensitivity of the technique to incredibly small amounts of material. NMR spectroscopy is often said to be insensitive (4). Although the level of sensitivity depends on many factors, such as the type of nuclei being measured and the magnetic field strength of the spectrometer, the statement itself refers to the differences in population between the nuclear spin states that create the free induction decays, given by the Boltzman distribution. At room temperature, the energy difference between nuclear spin states is much smaller than kT, resulting in nearly equal populations of states. The difference in population between two 1H proton states in an 11.7-Tesla magnetic … [↵][1]1Email: zanni{at}chem.wisc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Funded Pension Saving

The authors describe the various ways in which the financial market crisis might affect workers, pension funds and governments. In 2008 the impact of the stock market decline on global pension assets was substantial (roughly 40 per cent, according to the authors’ estimates for the G20 countries). Some individuals, especially those near to retirement, may have been severely affected. However, the authors note that, in most countries, the richest part of the population was disproportionately affected by the losses. Moreover, they used a simulation to show that the performance of individual accounts over the past 45 years has been quite satisfactory, even if internal rates of return differ markedly across cohorts. DB pension plans were affected by the crisis as well, since their assets/liability ratio declined sharply; therefore they could be obliged to increase contributions and/or cut benefits in order to restore an adequate level of funding. Governments will also be affected by the fall in asset prices: indeed, they often provide guarantee schemes that offer insurance against the loss of assets in private DB plans due to employer insolvency; in addition, some governments also guarantee minimum benefits or minimum rates of return to defined-contribution pension plans. Finally, there is the possibility that governments will be forced by strong political pressures to compensate pension plans for at least a portion of the reductions in asset value they suffered. The authors warn that in no case should government responses compromise fiscal sustainability.
The involvement of brain serotonin in excessive carbohydrate snacking by obese carbohydrate cravers

A specific hunger for carbohydrate-rich foods has been observed in animals and human beings and appears to be regulated by the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Consumption of a carbohydrate-rich meal increases the synthesis and release of brain serotonin (by enhancing the brain uptake of its precursor, tryptophan). As a consequence of this increased release of serotonin, carbohydrate intake is decreased at the next meal. Consumption of protein does not increase brain serotonin levels or decrease carbohydrate intake. A subgroup of obese individuals who consume carbohydrate-rich snack foods at specific times of day or evening has been identified. Such individuals do not routinely snack on protein-rich foods, and their consumption of calories and nutrients at meals is not excessive. Evidence is presented that carbohydrate snacking seems to be related to a "need" to increase the level of brain serotonin; treatment with a drug, d-1 fenfluramine, that increases serotoninergic neurotransmission significantly decreases carbohydrate snack consumption. Weight loss among the population of carbohydrate cravers might be most successful if treatment includes either a diet or drugs that increase brain serotonin activity when the need to snack on carbohydrate is most likely to occur.
Some Basic Techniques for Constructing Value Functions

Once we are convinced that the existence conditions for the value function are satisfied, or are willing to take the risk to simplify the problem so that we can focus on a value function, we may begin to construct a value function to represent the revealed preference information. One must realize that such an attempt is tantamount to the acceptance of the assumptions described in the previous sections. If one is not sure that the assumptions hold, then at best one can regard the value function to be derived as an approximation of the preference. Thus, admittedly, errors and biases may exist in the preference representation.
A Low-Power Light-Weight Tunable Lens for Ophthalmic Applications

A low-power lightweight piezoelectric liquid lens appropriate for ophthalmic applications is constructed. The lens has aperture diameter of 32 mm, optical power range of ~7 diopters, and the electrical power consumption is less than 20 mW. The thickness of the lens is 9 mm and its weight is 20.6 gr. The small 52 mm diameter lens footprint and very low power consumption makes this lens suitable for adaptive eyeglass applications. The working principle, fabrication and lens performance is demonstrated.
Desobediencia de la razón: El cuerpo y sus placeres en una exquisita novela de Arturo Arias, Sopa de caracol

El presente articulo examina como la risa, la palabra, el placer, los desbordes de la emocion y los sentidos, el travestismo y el deseo aparecen en la novela Sopa de caracol (2002) de Arturo Arias como zonas no normables por el poder y su colonialidad. Son sitios donde poderes otros trabajan de manera distinta a lo usualmente visto en textualidades de la diaspora y la posguerra centroamericana. En esta novela el poder interroga e invierte modelos heterarquicos del poder– actuando, en primera instancia, en la ausencia de patrones que perpetuan moldes racializadores de superioridad/inferioridad de la modernidad/colonialidad. Actua ademas, desde los parametros de una corpo-politica, perspectiva a partir de la cual se subvierten practicas de poder epistemicas que insisten en separar al cuerpo de la razon. Estas otras jurisdicciones no-normables por el poder y su colonialidad en la novela Sopa de caracol son el enfoque del presente trabajo.
In Vitro Tests for Aerosol Deposition. V: Using Realistic Testing to Estimate Variations in Aerosol Properties at the Trachea

Abstract Background: The dose and aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) of drug aerosols' exiting models of the mouth and throat (MT) during a realistic inhalation profile (IP) may be estimated in vitro and designated Total Lung Dose, TLDin vitro, and APSDTLDin vitro, respectively. These aerosol characteristics likely define the drug's regional distribution in the lung. Methods: A general method was evaluated to enable the simultaneous determination of TLDin vitro and APSDTLDin vitro for budesonide aerosols' exiting small, medium and large VCU-MT models. Following calibration of the modified next generation pharmaceutical impactor (NGI) at 140 L/min, variations in aerosol dose and size exiting MT were determined from Budelin® Novolizer® across the IPs reported by Newman et al., who assessed drug deposition from this inhaler by scintigraphy. Results: Values for TLDin vitro from the test inhaler determined by the general method were found to be statistically comparable to those using a filter captur...
Marine species distribution shifts on the U.S. Northeast Continental Shelf under continued ocean warming

Abstract The U.S. Northeast Continental Shelf marine ecosystem has warmed much faster than the global ocean and it is expected that this enhanced warming will continue through this century. Complex bathymetry and ocean circulation in this region have contributed to biases in global climate model simulations of the Shelf waters. Increasing the resolution of these models results in reductions in the bias of future climate change projections and indicates greater warming than suggested by coarse resolution climate projections. Here, we used a high-resolution global climate model and historical observations of species distributions from a trawl survey to examine changes in the future distribution of suitable thermal habitat for various demersal and pelagic species on the Shelf. Along the southern portion of the shelf (Mid-Atlantic Bight and Georges Bank), a projected 4.1 °C (surface) to 5.0 °C (bottom) warming of ocean temperature from current conditions results in a northward shift of the thermal habitat for the majority of species. While some southern species like butterfish and black sea bass are projected to have moderate losses in suitable thermal habitat, there are potentially significant increases for many species including summer flounder, striped bass, and Atlantic croaker. In the north, in the Gulf of Maine, a projected 3.7 °C (surface) to 3.9 °C (bottom) warming from current conditions results in substantial reductions in suitable thermal habitat such that species currently inhabiting this region may not remain in these waters under continued warming. We project a loss in suitable thermal habitat for key northern species including Acadian redfish, American plaice, Atlantic cod, haddock, and thorney skate, but potential gains for some species including spiny dogfish and American lobster. We illustrate how changes in suitable thermal habitat of important commercially fished species may impact local fishing communities and potentially impact major fishing ports along the U.S. Northeast Shelf. Given the complications of multiple drivers including species interactions and fishing pressure, it is difficult to predict exactly how species will shift. However, observations of species distribution shifts in the historical record under ocean warming suggest that temperature will play a primary role in influencing how species fare. Our results provide critical information on the potential for suitable thermal habitat on the U.S. Northeast Shelf for demersal species in the region, and may contribute to the development of ecosystem-based fisheries management strategies in response to climate change.
Mercury biomagnification in food webs of the northeastern Chukchi Sea, Alaskan Arctic

Abstract Predictive tools and a large new dataset for the northeastern Chukchi Sea (NECS) are used here to help identify regional differences and potential future shifts in the magnitude of Hg biomagnification in the Arctic. At the base of the food web in the NECS, concentrations of total mercury (THg) in phytoplankton (20-µm mesh) ranged from 4–42 ng g −1 dry weight, partly in response to variations in algal biomass and water temperature. A >3-fold increase in monomethylmercury (MMHg) was observed in zooplankton (4.3±0.7 ng g −1 ) relative to phytoplankton ( −1 ), even though concentrations of THg in zooplankton (150-µm mesh) were not significantly different than in phytoplankton. Concentrations and % MMHg increased with trophic level (TL) by >150-fold and from 85%, respectively, from phytoplankton to muscle in the whelk Plicifusus kroeyeri (279 ng g −1 , TL 4.5). For muscle tissue in 10 species plus whole phytoplankton and zooplankton, the trophic magnification slope (TMS) for MMHg (log 10 [MMHg] =m (δ 15 N)+ b ; where m =TMS) was 0.23±0.02 (SE). No significant differences in TMS were found for the NECS plus three other studies from the eastern Canadian Arctic (average TMS=0.24±0.02). Nevertheless, all data for MMHg in biota from the NECS plotted below the combined best fit line for all four studies. Results from an ANCOVA showed that statistically different ( p =0.001) intercept values ( b ), not TMS, best explained the >2-fold lower concentrations of MMHg in biota from the NECS ( b =−1.85) relative to the same species from the eastern Canadian Arctic ( b =−1.29). Future changes that affect bioaccumulation of MMHg in the Arctic may impact the biomagnification equation by shifting the TMS, intercept or both. The intercept is more likely to respond to changes in productivity and concentrations of dissolved Hg whereas the TMS may respond to changing growth rates due to fluctuations in productivity and food availability. In either case, small changes in the intercept or TMS coincide with predictably large increases or decreases in MMHg concentrations in apex predators.
An efficient estimation algorithm for the calibration of low-cost SS-OCT systems

In this paper, we present a real-time instantaneous phase estimation technique for the calibration of swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) systems. The proposed algorithm is able to accurately estimate both the amplitude and phase content of a swept source signal. The results are robust in the presence of substantial noise. Furthermore, the resulting phase profile is readily unwrapped, allowing for the generation of a k-linear sampling clock by means of a simple comparison step, which enables the SS-OCT system operator to determine the required number of points for accurate image reconstruction without the need for MZI path length modification. Our Simulations exhibit equivalent results with Hilbert transform based calibration techniques and low computational time rendering it suitable for real time applications.
ELISA in respiratory infections of humans

This chapter discusses the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for respiratory tract infections of humans. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of respiratory disease in all age groups. Severe and extensive pulmonary disease occurs occasionally in M . pneumoniae infections. Extrapulmonary manifestations occur and in some cases patients have no prior respiratory manifestations. Definitive diagnosis include cultural isolation of M . pneumoniae from bronchial secretions or other sites in the respiratory tract, isolation of the organism when appropriate from extrapulmonary sites, and a fourfold rise or fall in specific antibody. The specific antibody response to M. pneumoniae infection is demonstrated by indirect hemagglutination, growth inhibition, immunofluorescence, complement fixation, or ELISA. One of the major limitations of serological diagnosis of M . pneumoniae infection by any method is the antigenic cross-reactivity with M. genitalium. M . genitalium was originally isolated from the urogenital tract, it has occasionally been detected in the respiratory tract of patients with pneumonia. Peptides from the non-homologous regions appear to overcome the problem of cross-reactions but ELISAs using these synthetic peptides have not been systematically evaluated using large numbers of patient specimens.
Water Vapor Profiling Using Absorptive Occultation Measurements: A Comparison between SAGE III and ATOMS

A simple side by side comparison of the water vapor retrieval methods and simulated results for two different absorptive occultation instruments is presented: the latest Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment instrument (SAGE III), a currently operational solar occultation instrument, and the Active Tropospheric Ozone and Moisture Sounder (ATOMS), a proposed active microwave occultation system. The ATOMS system is shown to have several potential advantages over SAGE III for monitoring atmospheric water vapor.
Study of pulse shape discrimination for a neutron phoswich detector

A portable phoswich detector capable of differentiating between fast neutrons and thermal neutrons, and photons was developed. The detector design is based on the use of two solid-state scintillators with dissimilar scintillation time properties coupled with a single optical sensor: a 6 Li loaded glass and EJ-299-33A plastic. The on-the-fly digital pulse shape discrimination and the wavelet treatment of measured waveforms were employed in the data analysis. The instrument enabled neutron spectrum evaluation.
Dietary vitamin D3 deficiency exacerbates sinonasal inflammation and alters local 25(OH)D3 metabolism.

Rationale Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) have been shown to be vitamin D3 (VD3) deficient, which is associated with more severe disease and increased polyp size. To gain mechanistic insights into these observational studies, we examined the impact of VD3 deficiency on inflammation and VD3 metabolism in an Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) mouse model of chronic rhinosinusitis (Af-CRS). Methods Balb/c mice were fed control or VD3 deficient diet for 4 weeks. Mice were then sensitized with intraperitoneal Af, and one week later given Af intranasally every three days for four weeks while being maintained on control or VD3 deficient diet. Airway function, sinonasal immune cell infiltrate and sinonasal VD3 metabolism profiles were then examined. Results Mice with VD3 deficiency had increased Penh and sRaw values as compared to controls as well as exacerbated changes in sRaw when coupled with Af-CRS. As compared to controls, VD3 deficient and Af-CRS mice had reduced sinonasal 1α-hydroxylase and the active VD3 metabolite, 1,25(OH)2D3. Differential analysis of nasal lavage samples showed that VD3 deficiency alone and in combination with Af-CRS profoundly upregulated eosinophil, neutrophil and lymphocyte numbers. VD3 deficiency exacerbated increases in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) associated with Af-CRS. Conversely, T-regulatory cells were decreased in both Af-CRS mice and VD3 deficient mice, though coupling VD3 deficiency with Af-CRS did not exacerbate CD4 or T-regulatory cells numbers. Lastly, VD3 deficiency had a modifying or exacerbating impact on nasal lavage levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α, but had no impact on IL-17A. Conclusions VD3 deficiency causes changes in sinonasal immunity, which in many ways mirrors the changes observed in Af-CRS mice, while selectively exacerbating inflammation. Furthermore, both VD3 deficiency and Af-CRS were associated with altered sinonasal VD3 metabolism causing reductions in local levels of the active VD3 metabolite, 1,25(OH)2D3, even with adequate circulating levels.
Physical and ecological evaluation of a fish-friendly surface spillway

Abstract Spillway passage is one of the commonly accepted dam passage alternatives for downstream-migrating salmonids and other species. Fish passing in spill near the water surface may have improved chances of survival over fish that pass deeper in the water column near spillway structures. In this study, an autonomous sensor device (Sensor Fish) was deployed in 2005 to evaluate fish passage conditions through the Removable Spillway Weir (RSW) at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River in south-central Washington State. The Sensor Fish deployment was undertaken concurrently with a separate live fish injury and survival study. Conditions at the RSW–Spillway Chute Transition and Deflector region were found to be potentially detrimental to fish. As a result, the spillway slope and deflector radius were modified, and the efficacy of the modifications was evaluated in 2015 using Sensor Fish and a concurrent live fish study. The frequency of severe acceleration events (acceleration ≥ 95 G) during passage decreased significantly (from 51% to 35%; p-value = 0.049), and collisions with structures decreased from 47% to 27% (p-value = 0.015). Pressures observed in the Spillway–Deflector region and pressure rates of change decreased as well. Overall, the modifications resulted in hydraulic conditions that contributed to improved fish passage conditions and increased fish survival.
A statistic manifold kernel with graph embedding discriminant analysis for action and expression recognition

Graph embedding discriminant analysis is effective but computationally expensive for video-based recognition tasks. This paper proposes a statistic manifold kernel for visual modeling. Discriminant analysis can achieve effective computation with the proposed kernel for action and expression recognition. Firstly, symmetric positive definite (SPD) manifold is proposed to incorporate Gaussian mixture distribution of the video clips. Secondly, a projection kernel is constructed on the SPD manifold. Then an inter-class graph and an intra-class graph are introduced to measure the inter-class separability and intra-class compactness. The geometrical structure of the input data is thus exploited. A Marginal discriminant analysis(MDA) is finally performed on the kernel Hilbert space of the SPD Riemannian manifold. Recognition is achieved by the Nearest Neighbor (NN) method. Promising performances demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for action and facial expression recognition.
Modern Marine Stromatolitic Structures: The Sediment Dilemma

Modern marine stromatolites have been considered for some time as “windows” into the past that can potentially reveal information about the circumstances in which ancient examples formed. Many studies have focused on lithified, laminated examples from Shark Bay Western Australia over the last 50 years and from the Bahamas over the last 30 years. The early works provided thorough studies of the environments and the stromatolitic structures and discussed many unknowns left to be explained. In the last 20 years, significant advancements in the study of microbial ecosystems have resulted from innovative methodologies and technologies. This paper is a brief summary of recent developments in the research on the formation of lithified modern normal marine stromatolitic structures from the Bahamas.
Monkey's revenge: coordinate geometry learning environment with game-like elements

Educational games intend to make learning more enjoyable, but at the potential cost of compromising learning efficiency. Therefore, instead of creating educational games, we have created a learning environment with game-like elements: the elements of games that are engaging. Our approach is to assess each game-like element in terms of benefits such as enhancing engagement as well as its costs such as sensory or working memory overload, with the goal of maximizing both engagement and learning. We created Monkey’s Revenge, a coordinate geometry learning environment with game –like elements such as narrative, immediate visual feedback, personalization, collecting badges, etc. The tutor basically consists of a series of 8th grade (approximately 13-year olds) coordinate geometry problems wrapped in a visual cover story. In the narrative, Mike, a boy is thrown out of class for playing a game on his cell phone and encounters a monkey and they become friends. He builds a house for the monkey, but the monkey is not eager to become domesticated and destroys the house, steals his phone and runs away. The boy tries to get back his phone by throwing balls to the monkey. To move the story forward, the students have to solve coordinate problems like calculating distance between the boy and the monkey, slope of the roof and walls of the house, finding points where the monkey tied to a rope cannot find bananas and finally figure out slopes, intercepts and equation of the line of the path of the ball. The math content gets more advanced as a student progresses through the story. Students get immediate visual feedback on their response. For example, if a student puts banana at the wrong coordinate, the monkey can reach it and will eat the banana. We are using a very simple and minimalistic approach so as not to overwhelm students who are already struggling with the content.
The Stability of the Immune Network

The fact that the immune response presents various modes implies the existence of well defined regulatory pathways involving lymphocytes and the substances they produce. One of the most attractive theories to explain the way such regulation occurs is that the immune system is a complex network governed by idiotypic interactions (Jerne, 1974 and 1976). The idea is essentially the following: an exogeneous. antigen stimulates the production of anti-idiotypic antibodies (which we shall designate Ab1) characterized by specific idiotypes. The latter are immunogenic and they induce the production of anti-idiotypic antibodies (which we shall designate Ab2), which can in turn elicit the production of an anti-anti-idiotypic set (Ab3), and so on. There is an increasing amount of experimental data in favor of Jerne’s hypothesis (see Eichmann, 1978 for a recent review). Some of the most interesting experiments deal with the production of auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Rodkey, 1974; Kluskens and Kohler, 1974; Cosenza, 1976; Binz and Wigzell, 1976; Tasiaux et al., 1978; Bona et al., 1978). In particular, it has been shown that the decrease in the number of spleen cells producing Ab1 is accompanied by an increase in the number of spleen cells secreting Ab2 (Cosenza, 1976; Bona et al., 1978).
An examination of color theories in map-based information visualization

Abstract The suitability of certain classes of color combinations for overlay of data attributes in map-based information visualization are considered here through user evaluations. The color combination classes considered include: (1) Harmonious colors, (2) opposing (i.e., opponent) colors, (3) high saturated colors, (4) low saturated colors, (5) high lightness colors, (6) low lightness colors, and (7) disharmonious colors. The evaluations focus on noticeability, in particular of the first six classes versus disharmonious colors since earlier work has suggested disharmonious colors may be advantageous. The first class, of which there are a variety of artistic color theories, is of special interest here.
Cesium-131 Interstitial Brachytherapy for Recurrent Malignancies of Skull Base

Background Recurrent malignancy of the skull base poses a treatment challenge due to a lack of treatment options and potential for damage to surrounding structures. Methods Case report of two patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of skull base previously treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Results In both cases, the recurrent tumor was treated with endoscopic surgical resection and intraoperative cesium-131 (Cs-131) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT). Total dose delivered to tumor bed was 57 and 60 Gy, respectively. With a half- life of 9 days, the majority of the radiation dose had been delivered within the first 40 days following implant and there have been no treatment-related complications reported. Conclusion Intraoperative Cs-131 IBT is a feasible adjuvant treatment option for patients with recurrent malignancies of the skull base. These are the first known cases of Cs-131 IBT used for recurrent NPC.
CAPE: A cross-layer framework for accurate microprocessor power estimation

Abstract State-of-the-art system-level simulators can deliver fast power estimates for microprocessor designs, but often at the expense of reduced accuracy. The inaccuracies mainly stem from incorrect or over-simplified modeling of the target architecture. On the other hand, modern register-transfer level (RTL) simulators are cycle-accurate but overwhelmingly time consuming for most real-life workloads. Consequently, the design community often has to make a compromise between accuracy and speed. In this work, we propose a novel cross-layer power estimation (CAPE) technique that carefully integrates system-level and RTL profiling data for the target design in order to attain better accuracy. Our proposed methodology first leverages the SimPoint tool to transform a workload into weighted simulation points. We, then, present two different strategies to represent the critical segment of an application - either with a workload-specific simulation point (CAPE-WSSP) or, with the highest-weighted simulation point (CAPE-HWSP). Next, we profile the critical simulation point with an RTL simulator for maximum accuracy, while the other simulation points are simulated at system-level for fast evaluation. Finally, we input the integrated set of profiling data to the power simulator (McPAT). Our evaluation results show that CAPE can improve the power estimation accuracy by up to 15% for individual simulation points and by ∼8% for the full application, compared to that of a system-level only simulation scheme while adding minimal runtime overhead.
Carbon nanofiber reinforced Co-continuous HDPE/PMMA composites: Exploring the role of viscosity ratio on filler distribution and electrical/thermal properties

Abstract Double percolation threshold method was used in this work to fabricate conductive polymer blend composites comprising of high density polyethylene (HDPE), poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Distribution of fillers and their consequent effect on electrical conductivity (EC) and thermal conductivity (TC) is a function of many parameters including viscosity ratio (VR) of polymeric components, which varies with processing temperatures. Here, the effect of VR on the ultimate TC and EC of this polymer blend composite was investigated by blending the components at two processing temperatures of 150 and 230 °C with VR of 3.5 and 0.9, respectively. The obtained results demonstrated more homogeneous distribution of CNFs in the blend with VR of 0.9 while it was mostly aggregated in the blend with VR of 3.5 leading to different TC and EC properties at the same loading of CNFs. This means that the composite with higher EC showed lower TC and vice-versa. These phenomena can be explained due to passage of electrons through the filler-matrix interface with tunneling effect, whereas phonons will be scattered at the interfaces. Therefore, although more homogenous distribution of fillers results in improved EC, it is accompanied with formation of more interfacial area and phonon scattering, and less enhancement of TC. This study provides a better understanding of the TC and EC mechanisms, and also the importance of VR in optimization of these properties, which can be applied for fabrication of the desired composites based on their targeted applications.
Managing furloughs: how furlough policy and perceptions of fairness impact turnover intentions over time

Given the increasing application of cutback strategies in the workplace, and an underlying need to understand explanatory process at work, we investigated the effects of one cutback strategy to dea...
Living particulate fluxes in throughfall and stemflow during a pollen event

Pollen shedding can produce rapid, abundant exchanges of nutrient-rich biomass from plant canopies to the surface. When pollen deposits onto understory plants, it can be washed off during storms via throughfall (a drip flux) and stemflow (a flux down plant stems). Pollen deposition may also alter the organismal community on plant surfaces, changing other biological particulates transported by throughfall and stemflow. We report concentrations and fluxes of pollen and other biological particulates (flagellate cells, nematodes, rotifers, mites and hexapodans) in throughfall and stemflow from an understory forb, Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam. dogfennel), during a Pinus palustris (Mill. longleaf pine) pollen shedding event, then compare these results to observations collected when pollen was absent. Pollen flux was 95.6 × 106 grains ha−1 season−1 from dogfennel canopies (63% and 37% transported by throughfall and stemflow, respectively), representing 0.1–3.2 g ha−1. Median concentrations in flagellates, nematodes and rotifers for throughfall and stemflow were higher during pollen shedding; however, mites and hexapodan concentrations were similar regardless of pollen presence. This is the first report of flagellate and hexapodan concentrations in canopy drainage waters. Flagellate concentrations were higher than for other organisms—being similar to those reported for streams, 105–107 cells L−1—and hexapodan fluxes were ~ 50 individuals m−2 per 1 cm of rainfall. These results indicate that throughfall and stemflow can (i) transport ecologically relevant amounts of pollen and organisms from the phyllosphere to the surface, and (ii) that the composition and flux of biological particulates can change markedly during pollen shedding.
Unraveling the mysteries of MYT1L: From reprogramming factor to multifaceted regulator of neuronal differentiation.

In this issue of Neuron, Chen et al. (2021) generated a mouse model for haploinsufficiency of MYT1L. MYT1L is widely used in neuronal reprogramming, and de novo mutations have been linked to a neurodevelopmental syndrome. Extensive characterization in this study better delineates MYT1L's role in transcriptional regulation and neuronal differentiation.
Electrostatic Hazards Assocated with the Transfer and Storage of Liquid Hydrogen

This paper summarizes the results of an experimental program to investigate the potential hazards of static charge generation and accumulation in well-grounded liquid-hydrogen storage and transfer systems. Results of previous investigations of hydrogen hazards indicate that, because of the very low ignition energy requirements and wide range of flammability for mixtures of hydrogen and air (or oxygen), extreme care must be taken to remove all possible ignition sources from hydrogen facilities. The elimination of static electricity as an ignition source, however, required, greater knowledge than was available concerning the conditions governing its occurrence in liquid-hydrogen service. Information was particularly needed about the following: 1. Potential charge build-up in storage tank and transfer equipment during the flow of liquid hydrogen. 2. Charge build-up during venting of boil-off gases from missile and storage tanks.
Leutropin/beta-adrenergic receptor chimeras bind choriogonadotropin and adrenergic ligands but are not expressed at the cell surface.

In some G-protein-coupled receptors (e.g. beta-adrenergic receptor (beta 2 AR)), the ligand-binding pocket is contained within the hydrophobic transmembrane domain. In others (e.g. luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR)), the relative roles of the extracellular N-terminal domain and the transmembrane region in hormone binding are unknown. To study the roles of these domains, we prepared vectors encoding the rat LHR N-terminal domain alone (L- -), the LHR N-terminal domain fused to the transmembrane and C-terminal domains of the vesicular stomatitis virus-G protein (LVV), the LHR N-terminal domain fused to the transmembrane and C-terminal domains of the hamster beta 2 AR (LAA), and the beta 2 AR N-terminal domain fused to the transmembrane and C-terminal domains of the rat LHR (ALL). Membrane preparations obtained from COS-7 cells expressing the beta 2 AR or LAA bound the beta-adrenergic antagonist 125I-cyanopindolol with equal affinity, confirming the observation that the beta 2 AR transmembrane domain forms the hormone-binding site. Membranes from COS-7 cells transfected with LHR bound 125I-human choriomic gonadotropin (hCG). However, membranes from LAA-, L(- -)-, and LVV-transfected cells had low capacity to bind 125I-hCG unless they were solubilized with Triton X-100. The affinity of the detergent-solubilized receptors for 125I-hCG was similar to that of the LHR. We were unable to detect binding of 125I-hCG to ALL in the presence or absence of detergent. These observations suggest that, whereas the transmembrane region of the beta 2 AR is sufficient to bind adrenergic ligands, the N-terminal region of the LHR is required for binding of hCG. Although the N terminus of the LHR is sufficient to bind hCG, both the N terminus and the transmembrane domains of the LHR are required for receptor expression on the cell surface.
HIV-1 Trans Infection of CD4(+) T Cells by Professional Antigen Presenting Cells.

Since the 1990s we have known of the fascinating ability of a complex set of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs; dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, and B lymphocytes) to mediate HIV-1 trans infection of CD4+ T cells. This results in a burst of virus replication in the T cells that is much greater than that resulting from direct, cis infection of either APC or T cells, or trans infection between T cells. Such APC-to-T cell trans infection first involves a complex set of virus subtype, attachment, entry, and replication patterns that have many similarities among APC, as well as distinct differences related to virus receptors, intracellular trafficking, and productive and nonproductive replication pathways. The end result is that HIV-1 can sequester within the APC for several days and be transmitted via membrane extensions intracellularly and extracellularly to T cells across the virologic synapse. Virus replication requires activated T cells that can develop concurrently with the events of virus transmission. Further research is essential to fill the many gaps in our understanding of these trans infection processes and their role in natural HIV-1 infection.
A collapsed state functions to self-chaperone RNA folding into a native ribonucleoprotein complex.

A collapsed state functions to self-chaperone RNA folding into a native ribonucleoprotein complex
Disruption of neuropsin mRNA expression via RNA interference facilitates the photoinduced increase in thyrotropin-stimulating subunit β in birds.

It has long been known that the avian brain is capable of light detection independently of the eyes. The photoreceptive molecule neuropsin (OPN5) was identified in mammalian and avian brains, and shown to respond to biologically relevant light wavelengths. Whether OPN5 is functionally involved in light detection is unknown. Daylength plays a critical role in regulating the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in birds. The presence of light during a ‘photoinducible’ phase of the circadian cycle, which occurs 12‐16 h after dawn, results in marked changes in hypothalamic gene expression. These changes ultimately control gonadotropin release from the pituitary gland that, in turn, stimulates gonadal development. In this study, we first measured OPN5 expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) in border canaries during the photoinducible period in relation to thyrotropin (TSH) b-subunit mRNA expression, which is implicated in the control of avian reproduction. Second, the knockdown of OPN5 via small interfering RNA antisense in the MBH revealed that there is an inhibitory input in the photoinduced regulation of TSHb mRNA expression. Our data indicate that a decrease in OPN5 mRNA expression is associated with the facilitation in TSHb mRNA expression in the MBH, a critical step for the light-induced increase in gonadal recrudescence. We hypothesise that the removal of an inhibitory input by OPN5 in birds may be a step that occurs during the photoinducible period. Given the distribution of OPN5 in the brain and periphery, this suggests a possible multifunctional role for light information in regulating other physiological processes.
Utilization of cellular automata phase unwrapping method in 3D sensing

Cellular automata are mathematical idealizations of physical systems in which space and time are discrete. A cellular automata is composed of discrete lattice of identical sites. The site evolves according to a set of local rules, the rules specify the value of a particular site in terms of its old value and the values of sites in some finite neighborhood. The utilization of cellular automata phase unwrapping method in 3-D sensing of complex object shapes has been studied. By constructing binary control mask using intensity modulation analysis method, we can unwrap complex phase maps. The experimental results of a human jaw model are given.
Brief anesthesia, but not voluntary locomotion, significantly alters cortical temperature

Changes in brain temperature can alter electrical properties of neurons and cause changes in behavior. However, it is not well understood how behaviors, like locomotion, or experimental manipulations, like anesthesia, alter brain temperature. We implanted thermocouples in sensorimotor cortex of mice to understand how cortical temperature was affected by locomotion, as well as by brief and prolonged anesthesia. Voluntary locomotion induced small (∼ 0.1 °C) but reliable increases in cortical temperature that could be described using a linear convolution model. In contrast, brief (90-s) exposure to isoflurane anesthesia depressed cortical temperature by ∼ 2 °C, which lasted for up to 30 min after the cessation of anesthesia. Cortical temperature decreases were not accompanied by a concomitant decrease in the γ-band local field potential power, multiunit firing rate, or locomotion behavior, which all returned to baseline within a few minutes after the cessation of anesthesia. In anesthetized animals where core body temperature was kept constant, cortical temperature was still > 1 °C lower than in the awake animal. Thermocouples implanted in the subcortex showed similar temperature changes under anesthesia, suggesting these responses occur throughout the brain. Two-photon microscopy of individual blood vessel dynamics following brief isoflurane exposure revealed a large increase in vessel diameter that ceased before the brain temperature significantly decreased, indicating cerebral heat loss was not due to increased cerebral blood vessel dilation. These data should be considered in experimental designs recording in anesthetized preparations, computational models relating temperature and neural activity, and awake-behaving methods that require brief anesthesia before experimental procedures.
A Fast Fertility Hidden Markov Model for Word Alignment Using MCMC

A word in one language can be translated to zero, one, or several words in other languages. Using word fertility features has been shown to be useful in building word alignment models for statistical machine translation. We built a fertility hidden Markov model by adding fertility to the hidden Markov model. This model not only achieves lower alignment error rate than the hidden Markov model, but also runs faster. It is similar in some ways to IBM Model 4, but is much easier to understand. We use Gibbs sampling for parameter estimation, which is more principled than the neighborhood method used in IBM Model 4.