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The Resurgence of State-Owned Enterprise in China under XI Jinping
No full textMacAllister Hogan explores the revival of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under Xi Jinping’s administration. The paper discusses the historical role of SOEs, recent reforms to enhance their efficiency, and the implications of increased state control for China’s economic growth and market dynamic
Angular Deviation Diffuser: A Transformer-Based Diffusion Model for Efficient Protean Conformational Ensemble Generation
No full textProtein functionality is inherently tied to its structure, with both static and dynamic conformations playing critical roles in defining biological activity. While molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have long been the standard for exploring protein dynamics, they come with high computational costs and limited sampling efficiency. Recent advances in deep learning, such as AlphaFold, have significantly improved static protein structure prediction, yet accurately generating the dynamic ensemble of protein conformations remains a complex challenge. In this thesis, we present a transformer-based diffusion model that generates diverse conformational ensembles of protein backbones by utilizing angular deviations as data flow. Our model combines a cutting-edge diffusion model with the principles of SE(3) symmetry to enhance both the accuracy and efficiency of conformational sampling. Applied to the Vivid (VVD) Photoreceptor protein system, the generated ensembles closely align with those from MD simulations while covering a broader range of conformational states. This approach offers an improved methodology for capturing protein dynamics, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of protein structure and function
Hardware Security Enhancement Of IEEE 1687 Network
No full textIn today’s world, the complexity of an IC (Integrated Circuit) has increased as features like testing, debugging, monitoring, and configuration are developed and enhanced. To accomplish this, these integrated circuits contain many embedded instruments, such as BIST (Built-In-Self-Test) controllers, on-chip sensors (which sense temperature or voltage), power management, and built-in monitoring units, among others. The IEEE 1687 working group developed the IEEE 1687 standard, also known as IJTAG (Internal Joint Test Action Group), which introduced an efficient way to access these instruments on integrated circuits. It has a more efficient way of accessing instruments than the previous IEEE 1149.1 standard and better lends itself to design reuse. The IEEE 1687 standard introduces the concept of a SIB (Segment Insertion Bit) to provide access to a segment in the scan chain consisting of one or more additional TDRs (Test Data Registers). A SIB can be accessed easily by an authorized user to access the embedded instruments. However, it is also simple for an unauthorized user to access this network with minimal knowledge. The LSIB (Locking Segment Insertion Bit) and subsequent enhancements, such as traps, honeytraps, and switching LSIBs, have been introduced previously to increase the difficulty experienced by an attacker attempting to access the instruments hidden within the network. vii This thesis will investigate the ability of different LSIB-based designs used to enhance the security of the IEEE 1687 network at a reasonable cost. In particular, the cost disparity in access time between potential attackers and authorized users will be calculated. It also introduces a new variation of SIB-based security: the E-LSIB. A well-considered strategy that balances security and authorized access time will enable test and DFT engineers to make informed decisions based on the security benefits provided
Miniature And Flexible ph Sensors Based On Iridium Oxide For Biofluids Applications
No full textTraditional glass-rod pH sensors provide reliable pH performance but are bulky and do not allow miniaturization. The pH-sensitive membrane at the electrode tip requires intermittent calibration and is prone to membrane clogging in non-aqueous or viscous solutions. The characteristics compromise pH accuracy specifically for continuous and long-term stable applications. Clinical challenges using traditional bulky pH sensors for skin and body regulation are intermittent calibration, periodic monitoring, and labor-intensive diagnosis. Miniature pH sensors developed on flexible platforms do not require frequent calibration, allow continuous data transduction by electronic integration, and straight forward operation. To facilitate such features, researchers have engineered pH sensors by manipulating materials and detection techniques.
This dissertation focuses on the development and optimization of miniature and flexible iridium oxide (IrOx) based pH sensors for biofluid monitoring. The biocompatible and inert nature of IrOx makes it a desirable material for biosensing applications. A comprehensive literature review on IrOx pH sensors, encompassing film types, substrates, and performance factors, laid the groundwork for subsequent investigations.
To enhance sensor flexibility and compatibility with skin applications, IrOx films were deposited on porous and flexible substrates. The resulting sensors were characterized for pH sensitivity, hysteresis, and stability in controlled buffer and biofluid environments. Building upon this, flexible microwire IrOx pH sensors were integrated into meshed fabric pads for potential use in electrical bandages. Electrical measurements performed in microwells also vi demonstrated the small-volume sensing capabilities, needed for real-time biofluid sensing.
To address the challenges of viscosity and salt interference in biofluids, IrOx films were developed on flexible polyimide substrates. A comparative study with commercial pH sensors was conducted to evaluate the performance of the developed IrOx sensors. Through collaboration with a startup company, the production of IrOx sensors on polyimide substrates was mass-printed, and rigorous testing protocols were implemented. The mass-produced printed electrodes showed high reliability and repeatability based on electrical measurements among different sets of electrodes. Electrodes were further laminated and tested in flat and conformed conditions showing exceptional repeatability.
To improve long-term sensor stability, anhydrous and hydrous IrOx films were developed on a polyimide substrate. A reset technique utilizing an external DC voltage was applied to the IrOx electrodes to achieve quicker transition time and enable long-term stability. The consistency in performance metrics, including stability, sensitivity, and hysteresis, across multiple electrode batches, demonstrated robust reproducibility. Subsequent testing of electrodes in both a fresh state and after a 14-day period validated the reliability of the reset technique in improving the drifting issue. This milestone eliminates electrode dependency on the need for frequent calibration.
Finally, the pH sensor built on polyimide with good mechanical rigidity was miniaturized for subcutaneous needle insertion to enable biofluid sensing directly from tissue. This research contributes to the advancement of miniaturized IrOx pH sensor technology, paving the way for real-time, reliable monitoring in healthcare such as early Sepsis detection from the human blood
Variability in Northeastern Early Paleoindian Period Basecamps: Implications for the Peopling of New Landscapes
No full textThe Pleistocene peopling of the Americas remains a process we still do not fully understand. One primary reason for this is that in many regions of North America, it is not always possible to determine whether the earliest archaeological sites represent the activities of pioneering people, or of later populations. One area where the earliest sites are most likely to represent a founding population is Northeastern North America (e.g., the Great Lakes and New England-Maritimes regions), due to the relatively late deglaciation in this area. The earliest sites in this area include a dozen or so large, distinctive basecamps with discrete activity areas and a high degree of spatial patterning. There are several possible explanations regarding the function of these sites and their role (or lack thereof) in the peopling process of the Northeast, but we still do not know whether they were in fact related to the first expansion into the newly deglaciated region, or if they were inhabited by people who had already begun ‘settling in’ to the area. In addition, it is unclear whether the people at these sites employed similar adaptive strategies as they moved into and/or settled into the region, or if their adaptive strategies and behaviors varied.
This study addressed this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive and comparative analysis of six early Paleoindian-period sites across the Northeast: Paleo Crossing, Nobles Pond, Arc, Bull Brook, Vail, and Debert. The purpose of this project was to answer the following questions: First, how familiar were the occupants of these sites with the surrounding landscape? Second, did the occupants of these sites vary in their risk minimization strategies, mobility patterns, and site activities, or was their behavior broadly similar across the landscape?
Lithic raw material source representation and procurement patterns, as inferred from visual source identifications, X-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analysis, provided information on lithic source utilization, landscape familiarity, and mobility patterns. Site activities, and variation therein, were assessed via a comparison of tool classes, technological traits, and use wear. Risk-minimization strategies (specifically tool longevity, functional flexibility, and portability) were assessed for each site via a series of analyses carried out on flake tools, preforms, and projectile points. Social connectivity was assessed via a geometric morphometric analysis of biface stylistic variation between sites. From these analyses, this dissertation concluded the following:
While variability in site activities was evident, overall, the sites fit what would be expected for a generalized adaptation to the region, with differing emphases on activities occurring across the sites, but not wholly different behaviors. Evidence for this was also seen in the risk minimization strategies at these sites. Broadly: most of the sites lacked an obvious emphasis on tool longevity and functional flexibility, but showed a pronounced emphasis on portability. The single exception to these observations was the Paleo Crossing site, which did suggest an emphasis on functional flexibility and had lower typological tool diversity than all other sites in the study. When the technological analyses for these sites are combined with the results from the raw material analyses, almost all the sites in this study align with what is expected for relatively high landscape familiarity. In other words: they appear to reflect people who had already ‘settled in’ to the deglaciated landscape, and who were either using lithic resources that would be difficult to locate for people new to a landscape or who were using wholly local/semi-local materials. Again, the solitary exception to this trend was the Paleo Crossing site, which, based on its unique raw-material profile (the majority of which is from a lithic source 500 km away) and its more maintainable, functionally flexible assemblage, does appear to be more closely associated with the peopling of the Northeast.
In sum, the results of this dissertation imply that the large, Early Paleoindian-period sites in the Northeast vary based on landscape familiarity, thus reflecting intra-Clovis variation that is visible in the archaeological record. While most of the sites in this study are consistent with expectations for people who were already relatively familiar with the region, one site (Paleo Crossing) appears to reflect people who were less familiar with the landscape and more closely associated with the peopling of the region. These findings thus indicate that the earliest sites in any region should be assessed on a case-by-case basis to understand their proximity to the peopling of that region, instead of assuming a priori that they reflect a colonization event
Raising the Bar in Child Welfare Law
No full textThis article explores the unique opportunities arising from child welfare law practice in clinical legal education. While training law students for lawyering in all practice areas, the clinic can also inspire experienced child welfare practitioners to raise the level of their practice. The article provides an overview of the child welfare practice in Texas, the various roles of lawyers in the system, the special training required for these lawyers, and how the lawyers are employed and paid. The article proposes that the clear impact of child welfare legal practice on clients, combined with its interdisciplinary complexity, creates an ideal combination for motivating law students to zealous representation while teaching them how to apply real facts to a wide variety of law and policy in a culturally competent framework. Because SMU’s clinic students are eager learners experiencing lawyering firsthand, without bearing the burden of the “billable hour,” they can explore issues and model best practices in the Dallas community. The Child Advocacy Clinic’s work representing children and former foster youth stands as a proving ground for current issues and best practices. In turn, SMU Dedman Law can turn the lessons learned in the robust clinic practice to provide essential training to the child welfare community at large. The article also relies on, and was greatly inspired by, clinic students’ words in describing the lawyering experiences they gained through the clinic
Wills & Trusts
No full textThis article discusses developments relating to the Texas law of intestacy, wills, estate administration, trusts, and other estate planning matters during the Survey period of December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023. The reader is warned that not all newly enacted statutes or decided cases during the Survey period are presented, and not all aspects of each statute or case are analyzed. You must read and study each statute or case’s full text before relying on it or using it as precedent. The discussion of most cases includes a moral, that is, the important lesson to be learned from the case. By recognizing situations that resulted in time-consuming and costly litigation in the past, the reader may be able to reduce the likelihood of the same situations arising with his or her clients
Intermediary Balance Sheet Constraints, Bond Mutual Funds\u27 Strategies, and Bond Returns
No full textWe show that after the introduction of the leverage ratio constraint on bank-affiliated dealers, bond mutual funds have engaged in more liquidity provision in investment-grade corporate bonds, and their performance has benefited. However, the liquidity and returns of investment-grade corporate bonds have become more exposed to aggregate outflows from bond mutual funds with liquidity-supplying strategies. Thus, the occasional inability of bond funds to purchase bonds exposed to leverage constraints impacts market functioning. We show that mutual funds\u27 missing liquidity provision helps explain which bonds experienced more severe deterioration in liquidity and returns at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Tailoring Biometric Innovation to Privacy Law in the Retail Industry
No full textBiometric data technology is trending in retail. Retailers utilize biometric data to improve their bottom line through virtual try-on technology (VTOT), contactless payment methods, fingerprint scanners, and more—albeit at potentially steep prices. Many types of biometric technology used in retail fall under strict U.S. state privacy laws, exposing businesses to serious legal and financial consequences. This Comment provides an analysis of the current state of biometric data privacy law in the U.S., focusing on Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and more. This Comment also identifies proposed legislation, relevant case law, and broader policy implications that highlight how state laws create a complex web of regulations that lead to costly penalties for businesses both big and small. In response, many retailers are either adapting their use of biometric technology to address privacy concerns or abandoning it altogether, despite the operational and financial benefits it offers. By exploring the traditional applications of biometric data in retail, the intricate nature of U.S. biometric privacy laws, retailers\u27 responses to these privacy issues, and recent legislative developments, this Comment underscores the need for consistent privacy laws in the U.S. to balance innovation in retail with effective data protection for everyday consumers