cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indicators of Cross-National and International Patterns

Substantive foci in the study of international relations have altered in time with changes in the international system and the coming of academic age of new generations of scholars.2 Prior to World War I, the central substantive concepts were international law and diplomacy. Historiography was the major method, and, given the nature of the historical approach during this period, few theoretical generalizations emerged. World War I revolutionized the study of international relations. The horrible consequences of this first modern war and the idealistic fervor of the war years were instrumental in overlaying the traditional concepts of international law and diplomacy with two new foci: current events and international organizations. Feeling that the citizen should be made aware of the international world-educated for world citizenship-and that he should be given the guidance that the diplomatic history and international law specialist did not provide, many international relations scholars began to accent contemporary affairs. This new interest, however, had no methodological underpinning except fidelity to the "facts," and involved few attempts to delineate recurring patterns of events. The "guidance" given to the student often turned out to be little more than special pleading. The focus on international organizations also reflected an internationalistic viewpoint. International organizations were conceived of as the structural beginning of world government and as a mechanism for international understanding and peace. This focus articulated itself in descriptive studies of the structure and rules of international organizations, past and present, and blueprints for their alteration.3
Application of neural networks for compliant tool polishing operations

Abstract The purpose of this research is to develop a strategy for automating polishing operations using filamentary brushes. In the first stage of the research, the experiments using the Taguchi system of experimental design are performed to identify the effects of various polishing parameters on the surface finish. It is observed that an abrasive impregnated filamentary brush improves the surface finish more substantially than a nylon brush. In addition, an interaction between brush type and rotational speed, and an interaction between brush rotational speed with brush depth, and type of brush with use of lubricant have been identified. In the second stage of the research, the experimental results are utilized to investigate an applicability of using neural networks in predicting and controlling polishing operations. It is shown that neural networks with one hidden layer learn faster than the two hidden layer designs. The neural network trained to predict the surface finish for a given set of polishing parameters performed with an average percent error between 1%–2%. However, the neural network designed to determine the levels of polishing parameters for a desired surface finish did not perform as well.
Texture synthesis for digital painting

The problem of digital painting is considered from a signal processing viewpoint, and is reconsidered as a problem of directed texture synthesis. It is an important characteristic of natural texture that detail may be evident at many scales, and the detail at each scale may have distinct characteristics. A “sparse convolution” procedure for generating random textures with arbitrary spectral content is described. The capability of specifying the texture spectrum (and thus the amount of detail at each scale) is an improvement over stochastic texture synthesis processes which are scalebound or which have a prescribed 1/f spectrum. This spectral texture synthesis procedure provides the basis for a digital paint system which rivals the textural sophistication of traditional artistic media. Applications in terrain synthesis and texturing computer-rendered objects are also shown.
Phylogeny and Taxonomic Review of Philippine Lowland Scops Owls (Strigiformes): Parallel Diversification of Highland and Lowland Clades

Abstract We constructed a phylogenetic hypothesis of the pattern of colonization of Philippine scops owls (Otus and Mimizuku). Two mitochondrial genes, ND2 and cytochrome b, were sequenced for 12 samples representing six Philippine endemic taxa: three endemic species, one of which has three endemic subspecies; and one endemic genus. Topology, branch length information, and sequence divergence were used to present the hypothesis for the pattern, direction, and sequence of island colonization events. Philippine scops owls are in two well-supported clades, consistent with at least two independent colonization routes. One route is represented by the montane clade of Otus sunia, O. longicornis, and O. mirus. The other clade is represented by three subspecies of the lowland O. megalotis. The basal position of Mimizuku gurneyi relative to the megalotis clade suggests early colonization of Mindanao. Branch lengths and sequence divergence data are congruent with the morphological differences among the megalotis ra...
Production and transport of phytoplankton biomass over the continental shelf of the new york bight

Abstract Seasonal and event scale variations in the distribution and growth of phytoplankton in different hydrographic regions of the continental shelf are compared and evaluated in terms of floristic composition and the evolution of density and nutrient structure across the shelf. Annual cycles of phytoplankton biomass inshore of the 1000-m isobath are characterized by a March maximum and a July minimum. Cross-shelf biomass gradients usually increase in an offshore direction, a phenomenon that is most pronounced during March and April when biomass is high, diatoms dominate, and growth rate is light limited. This is a consequence of the combined effects of growth along the stratified side of the shelf-break front and offshore transport of biomass produced nearshore. We estimate that about 90% of the diatom biomass produced during the February to April bloom period (35% of annual production) is exported from shelf to slope water. Similar but less-pronounced gradients develop during summer due to the development of a chlorophyll maximum layer below the pycnocline where growth rate is also light limited. Production and loss are more tightly coupled under these conditions and about 9% of the biomass produced during May to October appears to be exported (5% of annual production). Export during the diatom bloom period is balanced mainly by nitrate inputs from the Gulf of Maine and adjacent slope water while summer export may be balanced by anthropogenic nitrogen input. The latter could be coupled with biomass export by ammonium remineralization and nitrification in the cold pool of the mid-shelf region. In general, export is greatest when diatoms dominate, growth is light limited, and biomass distributions are physically forced. Export is lowest when nanoplankton dominate, growth is nitrogen limited, and biomass distributions are controlled by grazing. The shelf-break front plays a key role, influencing patterns of phytoplankton growth, biomass distributions, and shelf export. During the diatom bloom period, the development of stratification in nutrient-rich offshore water between storm events results in high growth rates and biomass near the surface on the shelf side of the front. Under these conditions, biomass accumulates in the mid-shelf region on a time scale of days to weeks. Export occurs during wind events with net export from the shelf occurring on a time scale of weeks to months. Blooms also develop along the shelf side of the front during summer but below the pycnocline. Most of the summer export of biomass probably takes place here with accumulation and export occurring on a time scale of hours to days. While this export is small compared to export during the diatom bloom period, it may be critical to the prevention of anoxic events such as that of 1976.
The photo-assisted thermal decomposition of methanol and isopropanol in a fluidized bed

Abstract The principal objective of this work is the direct use of high-flux solar radiation to carry out endothermic reactions. This is accomplished by absorbing the radiation on to the surface of a fluidized bed whose particles contain the catalyst with the reactant molecules adsorbed on the surface. This configuration allows the solar radiation to be absorbed directly at the reaction site where both the reactant molecule and catalyst are present. The solar energy spectrum is simulated using a xenon lamp. Since the fluidized bed particles are chosen to be inert to the chemical reaction, the reaction medium should be free of corrosion. Furthermore, if the fluidized bed particles have the proper optical absorption characteristics, the energy collection efficiency should be high. The studies focus on the nature of the fluidized bed particles and how solar radiation can be used to carry out the endothermic reaction. Particular attention is given to possible photocatalysts which may be used to initiate the reaction by formation of essential radicals that may be used to carry out a chain mechanism. The decomposition of simple aliphatic alcohols was used to test the system and establish essential parameters. The decomposition of methanol has been studied over several catalysts. The reaction with chromium(III) oxide on alumina gives principally carbon dioxide and hydrogen at ~ 500 °C. Presumably, the carbon dioxide comes from the reaction with water which is adsorbed in the alumina. The reaction of methanol over vanadium pentoxide on alumina-silica gives a different reaction pathway to dimethyl ether and water at low temperatures. At high temperatures (~ 500 °C) the dimethyl ether undergoes decomposition to methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. The reaction rate increases significantly when the catalyst is exposed to simulated solar radiation. However, the rate is not significantly affected by the u.v. portion of the spectrum. The increase in rate is apparently due to localized heating on the particle surface which arises from direct absorption of the radiation. The reaction of other aliphatic alcohols and recent studies of hydrocarbon reforming also will be discussed.
The oxidation kinetics of tungsten and the determination of oxygen diffusion coefficient in tungsten trioxide

Abstract By means of the “interruption kinetic technique”, as applied to oxidation of tungsten under 0.048 bar O 2 , the oxygen diffusion coefficient in growing WO 8−x has been determined for the temperature range of 568–908°C and may be expressed as: D = 6.83 × 10 −2 exp (−29,890/ RT ), with the activation energy given in cal/mole. Calculations are made to show the influence of temperature on the concentration of oxygen vacancies in WO 3−x , on their free energy of formation and on the ionic conductivity in WO 3−x . From the kinetic data of W oxidation at 800°C, prior to interruption-annealing, values of oxygen diffusion coefficients due to oxygen transport via lattice and short-circuit paths have been calculated as functions of time for growing WO 3−x . A simplified oxidation model is used for evaluation of the oxidation rate constant of W at 800°C.
Computer simulation of crystallization kinetics and morphology in fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. II. Three-dimensional case

A body of experimental evidence suggests that reinforcing fibers influence both the crystallization kinetics and morphology of those composite materials that are based on crystallizable thermoplastics. The absence of an analytical model to predict the effect of fibers on crystallization has hindered data analysis. A new approach, using computer simulation of polymer crystallization, makes it possible to study the influence that reinforcing fibers have on the crystallization kinetics and morphology of semicrystalline polymers. Fibers depress the crystallization rate relative to an unreinforced polymer since they constrain spherulitic growth by an impingement mechanism. On the other hand, reinforcing fibers can also enhance crystallization rate by providing added surface nucleation sites. This work describes a two-dimensional simplification of the crystallization process that occurs in bulk materials. It is demonstrated that the relative bulk and fiber nucleation densities, in addition to the fiber fraction, fiber diameter, and spherulitic growth rate control the crystallization kinetics and also the spherulitic and transcrystalline morphologies that develop in reinforced thermoplastic composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Risk factors for child physical abuse

We review the risk and protective factors for child physical abuse (CPA). An etiological model based on moderate to strongly supported risk factors would begin with distal perpetrator variables of being abused as a child/teen and receiving less family social support as a child. Next might come current family variables such as parents' youth, father's drinking, and family's living in a community that is impoverished and/or has a lower percentage of two parent families. More proximal variables that increase the probability of parents, especially mothers, employing severe or abusive physical tactics could include mothers' dysphoria (e.g., unhappiness, emotional distress, anxiety, loneliness and isolation, depression, somatic complaints, interpersonal problems, feelings of incompetence as a parent, a tendency toward becoming upset and angry), and stress (more stressful life events, including parenting and other family stresses) and coping (most likely a protective factor, including problem solving and social support). Finally, risk factors that are proximal to abuse could include mothers' high reactivity (impulsivity, high negative affect and autonomic nervous system arousal), high-risk parenting (harsh discipline strategies, verbal aggression, yelling), and negative attributions, and children's behavior problems (e.g., socialized aggression, attention deficits, and internalizing and externalizing problems).
A new differentiated service model paradigm via explicit endpoint admission control

In this paper we propose a scalable differentiated service model paradigm to provide fine QoS granularity in Internet via the framework of a distributed admission control scheme referred to as explicit endpoint admission control (EEAC). Specifically, in the proposed EEAC scheme the end host sends out probing packet to the network and makes admission decision according to the probing results that are explicitly provided at each router along the path. By introducing the concept of service vector, the proposed service model paradigm allows users to choose different services at different nodes along the path from the source to the destination to achieve fine QoS granularity and architectural scalability. Models for both users and network service providers to maximize their benefits are also discussed in this paper. The corresponding simulation results demonstrate that the new service model paradigm and EEAC scheme can result in lower request drop ratio, satisfactory end-to-end performance, and lower cost for each user.
Quantum-well diode frequency multipliers: varistor case

Local oscillators for heterodyne receivers at submillimeter wavelengths are typically made using a fundamental source followed by a harmonic frequency multiplier. An investigation of the required circuit embedding conditions for a possible new harmonic generator, the quantum-well resonant-tunneling diode, is summarized. A low-frequency multiplier has been tested that employs the resistive nonlinearity of the device as opposed to the reactive nonlinearity. The results show good agreement between practice and theory. >
Role of Nonmodal Growth and Nonlinearity in Cyclogenesis Initial-Value Problems

Observationally motivated idealized initial-value problems of cyclogenesis are studied for quasigeostrophic dynamics. The goals of this investigation are to assess the contributions of normal-mode and nonmodal growth mechanisms and the influence of nonlinearity during incipient cyclogenesis. The initial condition is represented by a coherent vortex superposed on a zero potential vorticity parallel flow. Nonlinear solutions are qualitatively in accord with observations, producing typical deepening of the surface cyclone, an asymmetry in the strength of the cyclone and anticyclone, and the formation of an upper-level front downstream from the cyclogenesis. The growth rate for the projection of the model state vector onto the most unstable mode closely approximates the linear value during the early stages of surface development. Nonlinear dynamics become important after approximately 30 h, beyond which the modal-projection growth rate declines approximately 30%. Linear solutions accurately approximate the intensity and zonal location of the surface cyclone, as well as the asymmetry between the cyclone and upstream anticyclone. The development of the surface cyclone is explained, almost entirely, by the projection onto the growing normal modes. The growing normal modes also account for the development of a prominent ridge of high pressure that forms on the tropopause downstream from the vortex. Nonmodal processes (the complementary subset to the growing normal modes) capture the dispersion of the upper vortex but do not contribute to deepening the surface cyclone. The upper-level front is captured by the linear solutions, and results from a favorable superposition between the growing normal modes and the neutral modes. Tests reveal that surface development declines markedly for vortex length scales smaller than those of observed precursor disturbances. This effect is attributed to a reduction in the vortex projection onto the unstable normal-mode spectrum.
CSF's for Implementing ERP within SME's

The study uses a project retrospective approach to study the implementation of ERP within eight SME’s (small and mid-sized enterprises). A project retrospective is designed to assess project performance, to identify lessons learned, and to measure success. The findings report (1) ERP project management , (2) ERP project timeline, (3) Lessons learned, (4) Risk factors, including adequacy of skill sets and level of customization, (4) Evaluation of ERP project success, and (5) Critical success factors in ERP project implementation. Many of the themes from ERP implementation studies in larger corporations were reiterated as keys to success: top management support, end-user involvement, vanilla implementation of key business processes, and team-building. In the SME’s, project sponsors were senior managers, and project managers were less likely to have ERP project experience. Formalized ROI processes and Steering Committees were not standard. Since change was mandated from the top, and since standard vanilla processes were implemented, many of these projects stayed on-course in terms of time and budget. The story of ERP implementation in SME’s indicates that these projects have definite benefits and can be effectively implemented with existing personnel and existing leadership.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Reacting Turbulent Flows in Complex Geometries

Large-eddy simulation (LES) has traditionally been restricted to fairly simple geometries. This paper discusses LES of reacting flows in geometries as complex as commercial gas turbine engine combustors. The incompressible algorithm developed by Mahesh et al. (J. Comput. Phys., 2004, 197, 215-240) is extended to the zero Mach number equations with heat release. Chemical reactions are modeled using the flamelet/progress variable approach of Pierce and Moin (J. Fluid Mech., 2004, 504, 73-97). The simulations are validated against experiment for methane-air combustion in a coaxial geometry, and jet-A surrogate/air combustion in a gas-turbine combustor geometry.
An evaluation of four methods of measuring urinary creatinine.

Four different methods were evaluated for the determination of the creatinine content of a series of 24-hour urine samples. The results indicate that the methods of Folin, Hare, and Van Pilsum give essentially the same values. The precision of the method of Sullivan and Irreverre was extremely poor and the values obtained were 2-8 times higher than those obtained by the other technics. The compound, 1,4-naphthoquinone, used in the procedure of Sullivan and Irreverre, was synthesized and compared with a commercial sample. Data concerning 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-potassium sulfonate is given to clarify its identity.
The Effect of Excessive Crying on the Development of Emotion Regulation

The goal of this study was to examine the effect of excessive crying in early infancy on the development of emotion self-regulation. Cry diaries were used to categorize excessive criers and typical criers at 6 weeks of age. At 5 and 10 months of age, infants and mothers participated in procedures to elicit infant reactivity and regulation during a frustration task and maternal sensitivity and intrusiveness during a free-play session. Last, maternal ratings of temperament were obtained. Results revealed excessive criers to show higher levels of negative reactivity than typical criers. Excessive criers also demonstrated lower regulation, but this finding was only significant for male infants. Boys in the excessive criers group exhibited the lowest level of emotion self-regulation. Maternal behavior and ratings of temperament at 5 and 10 months failed to distinguish the 2 cry groups. The findings suggest that excessive crying may influence the developmental trajectory of the ability of boys to self-regulate emotion. The hypothesized processes involved in this outcome are discussed.
The prognosis of lupus nephritis in African-Americans: a retrospective analysis.

To fully describe the clinical course of lupus nephritis in an African-American population, we report our experience with 54 patients seen at a large inner-city hospital over a period of 14 years. The patients were divided into five histopathologic groups. Group MES (n = 3) represented mesangial nephritis (World Health Organization [WHO] class II) and group FOC (n = 11) represented mild and moderate focal segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis (WHO class III). Group DIF (n = 9) included patients with severe segmental proliferative, diffuse proliferative, membranoproliferative, and membranous and severe superimposed proliferative lesions (WHO classes III, IV, and Vd). Group CRES (n = 9) combined all the patients with cellular crescents in more than 40% of the glomeruli and included patients in WHO classes III (severe), IV, and Vc and d. Group MEM (n = 22) represented membranous nephritis occurring alone or with superimposed mesangial or mild segmental proliferative lesions (WHO class Va and b). Groups DIF and CRES received intensive treatment with high-dose prednisone and cytotoxic drugs. Groups FOC and MEM received lower doses of prednisone, but half of the patients later received intensive treatment largely for severe systemic manifestations. The three patients in group MES remained well. End-stage renal failure (ESRF) developed in 11 of 18 patients in groups DIF and CRES combined, and in two of 22 patients in group MEM. Three of 11 patients in group FOC, five in groups DIF and CRES, and one in group MEM died. The actuarial 5- and 10-year survival rates were, respectively, 78% and 78% for FOC, 80% and 0% for DIF and CRES, and 100% and 100% for MEM (P
Skull Base Osteoradionecrosis following Radiotherapy for Acromegaly

A 49-year-old male with a past medical history of acromegaly secondary to a pituitary adenoma was referred with concern for tumor recurrence. Four years prior, he underwent 50% tumor debulking via transseptal approach. Postoperative external beam radiation therapy utilizing the intensity modulated therapy (IMRT) technique followed, delivering a total of 5400 cGy in 30 fractions, 180 cGy each, over 6 weeks.
HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS AND PRE-COLUMBIAN MESOAMERICA

This article presents some of the authors' perspectives on the past 20 years of work that applies the results of research in historical linguistics to the understanding of the histories and cultural practices of pre-Columbian Mesoamericans. It focuses on major cultural transformations to which both historical linguistic and archaeological data can contribute, such as the spread of agriculture, and migrations in Mesoamerican prehistory. It also addresses major culture-historical studies on narrower topics: on Nawa and its place in the prehistory of Mexico, in particular confirming standard views that Nawas were immigrants into Mesoamerica; on Archaic and Formative period interactions involving Oto-Mangeans, which is work that is largely still to be done; on the prospects for work on long-distance contacts between Mesoamerica and North America; on the contributions of historical linguistics in Mesoamerican epigraphy; and on the value and prospects of updating the methodology of glottochronology.
MESO: Supporting Online Decision Making in Autonomic Computing Systems

Autonomic computing systems must be able to detect and respond to errant behavior or changing conditions with little or no human intervention. Clearly, decision making is a critical issue in such systems, which must learn how and when to invoke corrective actions based on past experience. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of MESO, a pattern classifier designed to support online, incremental learning and decision making in autonomic systems. A novel feature of MESO is its use of small agglomerative clusters, called sensitivity spheres, that aggregate similar training samples. Sensitivity spheres are partitioned into sets during the construction of a memory-efficient hierarchical data structure. This structure facilitates data compression, which is important to many autonomic systems. Results are presented demonstrating that MESO achieves high accuracy while enabling rapid incremental training and classification. A case study is described in which MESO enables a mobile computing application to learn, by imitation, user preferences for balancing wireless network packet loss and bandwidth consumption. Once trained, the application can autonomously adjust error control parameters as needed while the user roams about a wireless cell
Laparoscopic Surgical Management of Diaphragmatic Endometriosis

Abstract Objective: To review the clinical presentations of and management options for diaphragmatic endometriosis. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Referral center. Patient(s): Twenty-four women with endometriosis of the diaphragm. Intervention(s): Surgical management. Main Outcome Measure(s): Diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic feasibility of operative laparoscopy. Result(s): Operative findings in 17 patients included 2–5 spots of endometriosis on the diaphragm measuring Conclusion(s): The abdominal diaphragm can be involved with endometriosis and can be diagnosed and treated effectively with the use of videolaparoscopy.
Microneme Rhomboid Protease TgROM1 Is Required for Efficient Intracellular Growth of Toxoplasma gondii

Rhomboids are serine proteases that cleave their substrates within the transmembrane domain. Toxoplasma gondii contains six rhomboids that are expressed in different life cycle stages and localized to different cellular compartments. Toxoplasma rhomboid protein 1 (TgROM1) has previously been shown to be active in vitro, and the orthologue in Plasmodium falciparum processes the essential microneme protein AMA1 in a heterologous system. We investigated the role of TgROM1 to determine its role during in vitro growth of T. gondii. TgROM1 was localized in the secretory pathway of the parasite, including the Golgi apparatus and micronemes, which contain adhesive proteins involved in invasion of host cells. However, unlike other micronemal proteins, TgROM1 was not released onto the parasite surface during cell invasion, suggesting it does not play a critical role in cell invasion. Suppression of TgROM1 using the tetracycline-regulatable system revealed that ROM1-deficient parasites were outcompeted by wild-type T. gondii. ROM1-deficient parasites showed only modest decrease in invasion but replicated more slowly than wild-type cells. Collectively, these results indicate that ROM1 is required for efficient intracellular growth by T. gondii.
Airways in smooth muscle α-actin null mice experience a compensatory mechanism that modulates their contractile response

We hypothesized that ablation of smooth muscle α-actin (SM α-A), a contractile-cytoskeletal protein expressed in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, abolishes ASM shortening capacity and decreases lu...
Deinococcus radiodurans RNA ligase exemplifies a novel ligase clade with a distinctive N-terminal module that is important for 5′-PO4 nick sealing and ligase adenylylation but dispensable for phosphodiester formation at an adenylylated nick

Deinococcus radiodurans RNA ligase (DraRnl) is a template-directed ligase that seals nicked duplexes in which the 3'-OH strand is RNA. DraRnl is a 342 amino acid polypeptide composed of a C-terminal adenylyltransferase domain fused to a distinctive 126 amino acid N-terminal module (a putative OB-fold). An alanine scan of the C domain identified 9 amino acids essential for nick ligation, which are located within nucleotidyltransferase motifs I, Ia, III, IIIa, IV and V. Seven mutants were dysfunctional by virtue of defects in ligase adenylylation: T163A, H167A, G168A, K186A, E230A, F281A and E305A. Four of these were also defective in phosphodiester formation at a preadenylylated nick: G168A, E230A, F281A and E305A. Two nick sealing-defective mutants were active in ligase adenylylation and sealing a preadenylylated nick, thereby implicating Ser185 and Lys326 in transfer of AMP from the enzyme to the nick 5'-PO(4). Whereas deletion of the N-terminal domain suppressed overall nick ligation and ligase adenylylation, it did not compromise sealing at a preadenylylated nick. Mutational analysis of 15 residues of the N domain identified Lys26, Gln31 and Arg79 as key constituents. Structure-activity relationships at the essential residues were determined via conservative substitutions. We propose that DraRnl typifies a new clade of polynucleotide ligases. DraRnl homologs are detected in several eukaryal proteomes.
LEGAL AND JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION OF COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL STATUTES AND PROCEDURES

This study provides an analysis of the views of the legal community with respect to competency to stand trial statutes and procedures. Responses from North Carolina judges and defense attorneys reveal significant areas of disagreement or misunderstanding. While many judges believed that defense attorneys misunderstood or misused the competency procedures, the judges uniformly granted the motions. Defense attorneys indicated reasons for requesting competency evaluations that were frequently unrelated to concerns about competency. Hearings to determine competency were often not even held, and if a defendant was found to be incompetent. most judges believed that involuntary commitment to a mental institution should be automatic regardless of perceived dangerousness. The authors argue that these issues demand further attention and resolution to allow the competency laws to accomplish their intended goal without jeopardizing defendants’ rights.
Investment Arbitration in East Asia and the Pacific: A Statistical Analysis of Bilateral Investment Treaties, Other International Investment Agreements and Investment Arbitrations in the Region

Many countries in the East Asian and Pacific (EAP) region have strengthened their networks of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and other international investment agreements (IIAs). This growth in investment protection instruments not only illustrates the region’s continued attractiveness to foreign investors, but also reflects a shift of several developing EAP countries from having been predominantly recipients of foreign investment in the past, toward becoming important sources of foreign investment abroad. Reflecting trade and investment patterns, as of December 2014, EAP countries concluded a total of at least 712 BITs and 69 other IIAs. On the heels of this development, the region has seen a rising number of investment arbitrations. As of December 2014, at least 49 investment arbitrations have been brought against EAP countries and/or by EAP investors. Most recently, the number of new cases has picked up pace significantly, making the region a veritable ‘hot bed’ of investment arbitration.
Effect of Precursor Solution's pH on the Properties of CeO2 Nanoparticles Prepared by Reflux Method☆

Cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles have multiple applications such as ultraviolet blocking, catalyst, chemical mechanical polishing etc., and hence has attracted much attention in the recent years. This work focuses on the synthesis of Cerium dioxide nanoparticles at different pH values by Reflux method. Ammonium Ceric Nitrate and Sodium hydroxide were used as starting precursors to prepare cerium dioxide. The synthesized samples were calcinated at 400 °C for 1hr. The effect of pH on the morphology, particle size, crystal structure, and thermal properties of the synthesized CeO2 nanoparticles has been studied. The structure of the crystallites and particle size were investigated using powder XRD technique. The FTIR analysis was used to confirm the synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles. The optical band gap was calculated from the UV-Vis absorption spectra. The Photoluminescence properties of the sample were also studied. The morphology of the samples were analyzed by SEM. The results are reported and discussed.
Machine learning approaches to knowledge synthesis and integration tasks for advanced engineering

Abstract This paper introduces machine learning approaches from AI research as knowledge processing tools to synthesize and integrate engineering knowledge for advanced automation. An inductive/deductive decision-making framework, which serves as the foundation of our research, is explained. Machine learning is employed as an automatic model building tool, and as a transformation tool among different knowledge representations. The result from the synthesis and integration process is more comprehensive, proactive, and comprehensible domain models (knowledge) which have increased utilities in engineering practice. Several research projects are explained to illustrate implementation challenges and practical impacts of knowledge synthesis and integration.
Embedding Brain Specimens in Transparent Plastic

A simple, reliable and practical technic for permanently embedding brain specimens in plastic is discussed. The anatomic details, including the natural colors, are so well preserved that they give a real picture of the morphologic details, such as preservation of anatomic landmarks and pathologic alterations. The specimen can be observed from different angles, enhancing the student’s opportunity for visual examination. Clearing of the specimen with visualization of the vascular tree after injection with opaque dyes may be accomplished. The procedure is recommended for museums and laboratory teaching.
Orbital, ice sheet, and possible solar controls on Holocene moisture trends in the North Atlantic drainage basin

Holocene patterns of hydroclimatic change in the North Atlantic region are poorly understood despite the importance to climate of the region9s freshwater flux to the ocean. Here we reconstruct the history of moisture balance in the North Atlantic drainage by compiling lake-level records from 95 lakes in Europe and North America. We show that recent millennia were significantly wetter than much of the Holocene in both regions. Only 15% of lakes studied in the North Atlantic basin were low in the past millennium. In contrast, 50% of lakes were low at 10 cal kyr B.P. Low moisture levels in the early Holocene likely resulted from high summer and fall insolation and the influence of the continental ice sheets; water levels rose in many areas as these influences diminished. A principal components analysis of the lake-level data, however, also indicates that Holocene atmospheric circulation changes, possibly driven by solar activity, generated additional moisture variation, including low water levels at 5–2 cal kyr B.P. in eastern North America and Scandinavia.
Peace talks: A “dialogical ethics” model of faculty–student collaboration in the undergraduate classroom

AbstractAt the 2015 CIDER conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, professors Abelson and Nelson discussed their intense and inspiring level of instructor–student collaboration, describing how they collaborate with their first-year students in the design of particular assignments and even overall course design at the unit level. This essay seeks to contribute to both our understanding and appreciation of such collaborative learning-centered strategies by applying a “dialogical ethics” model. The essay begins with an extended investigation of the ways in which the dramatistic philosophy of Kenneth Burke illuminates the grammatical, rhetorical, and dialogical mechanisms by which instructor–student collaboration fosters enhanced levels of student engagement in the process of education—including investment, ownership, and empowerment. In doing so, this essay explores how the notions of (i) disparate grammars and recalcitrance, (ii) consubstantiality and irony, and (iii) dialogue of motives and peace treaty ca...
Abstract SY13-02: In vivo cancer theranostics

A theranostic agent enables diagnosis and treatment concurrently. Although a relatively new concept to pharmaceutics, theranostics have been used in nuclear medicine for over 50 years - dating back to the iodine-131 thyroid scan. Today we most frequently associate theranostics with nanotechnology since nanomedicines tend to present an appropriate platform for complex, multifunctional capability such as simultaneous or sequential imaging and therapy. Unlike low molecular weight agents, nanomedicines can carry sufficient information to enable local control of imaging and therapeutic species. But not all theranostics are nanomedicines - they may also be multifunctional genes or suitably functionalized small molecules or serve as biomarkers themselves. Introduction to theranostics with examples of existing and emerging theranostic agents as well as their clinical potential and application will be discussed. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr SY13-02. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-SY13-02
Stochastic Petri Nets for System Survivability and Multi- State Failure Analyses with Application to Space Sy stems

In this work, we explore the applicability of Stoch astic Petri Nets (SPNs) to multi-state failure and survivability analyses, using space sys tems as examples. Multi-state failure analyses introduce degraded states, and thus provid e more insights than the traditional binary reliability analysis into the degradation be havior of a system and its progression towards complete failure. Survivability analysis fo cuses on, among other things, the failure propagation in a system or a network following node or component failure, and it assesses for example whether the system will experience graceful degradation or catastrophic failure. The potential complexity of multi-state failure and system survivability analyses requires powerful (and flexible) stochastic modeling and simulation tools. After a brief introduction to Petri Nets, we argue that SPNs are particularly well suited to these types of analyses, and they are better at the task than the commonly used Markov Chains. We then propose a general framework for system survivability analysis, and we illustrate its applicability using space systems examples. We compare the survivability of two space architectures, a monolith spacecraft and a space-based network (which allows for distributed redundancy of certain subsystems). Monte Carlo simulations are run to generate representative results of stochastic behavior of the two architectures with r espect to on-orbit anomalies and failures. Finally, a comparison of the outputs of the two SPN models indicate, and quantify, the survivability advantage of the space-based network over the monolith spacecraft with respect to on-orbit anomalies and failures.
Cream Puffs: Why Do Elite College Football Programs Schedule Games Against Vastly Inferior Opponents?

This article provides a novel answer to the question of why elite college football programs schedule so-called “cream puff” games against vastly inferior out-of-conference opponents. Using data on ...
The Major Progress and Future Development of China Urban Geology

First,this paper analyzes China's urban geological work results obtained for the past 30 years,discusses and evaluates the urban geological work in theoretical research,data collection,method innovation,analysis applications,result demonstration,method innovation and major progress.According to China urban development planning,and regional geological setting,this paper points out the major working contents of the urban geology for the different urban groups,for the different environmental characteristics,and for the different developing stages,then puts forward the working system on the urban geology.Finally,the development direction of China's urban geological work is discussed.
Immunological Characteristics of a Patient With Belatacept‐Resistant Acute Rejection After Face Transplantation

Belatacept has been introduced as a promising novel immunosuppressant to the field of transplantation, especially for patients suffering from adverse effects of conventional immunosuppression such as nephrotoxicity. Analysis of rejection episodes under costimulation-based regimen in kidney transplants suggested that high percentages of circulating CD4+CD57+PD1- cells pre-transplantation may be predictive markers for belatacept-resistant acute rejection (BRR) (1). We investigated this particular subset in one of our face transplant recipients who experienced complications of CNI-based immunosuppression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Toward a Theory of Mediation

It is argued that a central feature of all communication, and mass communication in particular, is a process of mediation involving organizing and interpretive schema embedded in specific formats. This mediation process may be conceptualized as a general social form that is used to direct and inform social activity and cultural phenomena. Individual action and meaning in everyday life weaves in and out of these organizing and interpretive schema. Building on symbolic interaction theory, so-called media effects are recast as cultural phenomena or content that derive meaning through symbolic references in the formal (format) properties of specific media.
Inspriteful Ariels: Transversal Tempests

The Tempest has been a homage to art, an autobiographical farewell to theater, a colonialist celebration of English expansion, an exhortation on early modern (mis)understandings of racial differences, and an expression of patriarchal power, to name just some of the diverse interpretations that have marked its progress through “Shakespace.”1 Debates over the play’s meaning have spanned topics ranging from geographical determinations to identifying various characters as humans, symbols, or monsters.2 Consistent with the play’s hermeneutic history is the now popular assertion that the play in fact invites conflicting responses. Defending and complicating new historicist readings of the play, for example, Paul Brown reads The Tempest as an “ambivalent text,” which struggles “to produce a coherent discourse adequate to the complex requirements of British colonialism in its initial phase.”3 Stephen Orgel has also championed the notion of the text’s inherent ambivalence. Declaring, “Historically, there has been a consistent tendency to ignore [the play’s] ambivalences, sweeten and sentimentalize it,” Orgel goes on to use the terms “ambivalent” and “ambiguous” no fewer than fifteen times to describe the play.4 Mixed meanings have come to characterize The Tempest’s ideological coordinates, for which it serves as a magnetic sociopolitical conductor, attracting its opposites and propelling those with strong similarities into perhaps more confusing territories. The difficult task at hand is how to assess the influential power and directional inclination of its ambivalent forces, forces that neither necessarily subvert “coherent discourse” nor necessarily lead to indeterminacy.
The New American Way of Ethics: The Political Ethics of Constitutionally Centered Public Service

The conclusion summarizes why the political ethics of public service is a better ethos to govern American society than the prevailing American way of ethics and why constitutionally centered democratic public service qualifies as a bastion of public trust. Operationalizing John Rohr’s normative administrative theory, political ethics enables career public servants to function as constitutional balance-wheels to achieve constitutional equilibrium in government. The book concludes with a proposal for a rigorous leadership program designed to acclimate career public servants to on-the-job intellectual, psychological, moral, and political challenges. Besides preserving American self-government based on universal values—equality and liberty—the political ethics of public service catalyzes ethical progress in US society while endowing Americans with a future of great political possibilities
Teaching animal habitat selection using wildlife tracking equipment

ABSTRACTWe present a hands-on outdoor activity coupled with classroom discussion to teach students about wildlife habitat selection, the process by which animals choose where to live. By selecting locations or habitats with many benefits (e.g., food, shelter, mates) and few costs (e.g., predators), animals improve their ability to survive and reproduce. Biologists track animal movement using radio telemetry technology to study habitat selection so they can better provide species with habitats that promote population growth. We present a curriculum in which students locate “animals” (transmitters) using radio telemetry equipment and apply math skills (use of fractions and percentages) to assess their “animal's” habitat selection by comparing the availability of habitat types with the proportion of “animals” they find in each habitat type.
What Makes Video Ads Viral: Quantifying the Impact of Marketer- and User-Generated Content.

Past research on viral advertising focuses on the direct impact of MGC (i.e. Marketer-Generated Content) on the content viral ability. However, it is not clear how this impact of MGC takes place through the mediating effect of UGC (i.e. User-Generated Content) in this process. In this study, we examine the mechanism that makes a video ad viral by taking into account the impact of both MGC (i.e. video content) and UGC (i.e. video comments) in YouTube. AMT (Amazon Mechanical Turk) and Text-Mining Method are combined to extract the characteristics embedded in MGC and UGC.
An American Dream

Malfunctioning of new technology causes mass confusion at the ballot box on the Election Day: people vote for fictional characters, actors who play them, and dead presidents; hard-core Republicans find themselves voting for Democratic candidates and proud liberals give their votes to representatives of the GOP.