Supporting participation in communities of practice by scientists from developing countries — The case of high energy physics

Over the last decade, researchers have hypothesized that a new form of scientific organization, the “collaboratory” holds promise to greatly benefit scientists from developing countries by allowing them to reach remotely located experts, instruments, and databases. However, there have been no empirical studies to prove or disprove this hypothesis. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study examines how collaboratories affect one of the factors that purportedly lead to scientific productivity—communities of practice. Results of data analysis indicate that collaboratories bring about new opportunities for scientists from developing countries to access scientists from developed countries and their practices, but barriers also exist. The full value of collaboratories can be achieved only after the technologies themselves and the social practices surrounding the use of technologies are improved.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63070/1/1450450288_ftp.pd

Molecular Cloning, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of the CXCR4 Gene from Turbot: Scophthalmus maximus

Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) belongs to the large superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. The EST sequence of CXCR4 from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) was obtained from a subtractive cDNA library. In the present study, the full-length cDNA sequence of turbot CXCR4 was obtained, and sequence analysis indicated that its primary structure was highly similar to CXCR4 from other vertebrates. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated that the highest expression level of turbot CXCR4 was in the spleen following injection with physiological saline (PS). After turbot were challenged with Vibrio harveyi, the lowest expression level of CXCR4 was detected at 8 hours in the spleen and 12 hours in the head kidney, and then increased gradually to 36 hours. These findings suggested that CXCR4 may play a significant role in the immune response of turbot

Quantify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ratio in pooled DNA based on normalized fluorescence real-time PCR

BACKGROUND: Conventional real-time PCR to quantify the allele ratio in pooled DNA mainly depends on PCR amplification efficiency determination and Ct value, which is defined as the PCR cycle number at which the fluorescence emission exceeds the fixed threshold. Because of the nature of exponential calculation, slight errors are multiplied and the variations of the results seem too large. We have developed a new PCR data point analysis strategy for allele ratio quantification based on normalized fluorescence ratio. RESULTS: In our method, initial reaction background fluorescence was determined based upon fitting of raw fluorescence data to four-parametric sigmoid function. After that, each fluorescence data point was first subtracted by respective background fluorescence and then each subtracted fluorescence data point was divided by the specific background fluorescence to get normalized fluorescence. By relating the normalized fluorescence ratio to the premixed known allele ratio of two alleles in standard samples, standard linear regression equation was generated, from which unknown specimens allele ratios were extrapolated using the measured normalized fluorescence ratio. In this article, we have compared the results of the proposed method with those of baseline subtracted fluorescence ratio method and conventional Ct method. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated that the proposed method could improve the reliability, precision, and repeatability for quantifying allele ratios. At the same time, it has the potential of fully automatic allelic ratio quantification

Imperfect Partnership: Effects of Collaboratories on Scientists from Developing Countries.

In recent years, researchers have hypothesized that a new form of scientific collaboration--the “collaboratory”--holds promises to greatly benefit scientists from developing countries. It is argued that distributed collaborations enabled by various information technologies can allow scientists from developing countries to reach remotely located experts, instruments, and databases that their local institutions cannot afford. However, there have been no empirical studies to prove or disprove this. Prior studies of the impact of information technology on scientific work tend to focus on the correlation between technology use and scientific productivity as measured by publications and citations. This approach ignores the mediating factors affecting the relationship between information technology use and scientific productivity. Adopting a qualitative approach (interviews complemented by field observation), I explore how scientists from developing countries benefit from reaching remotely located resources and participating in communities of practice and networks of practice in the virtual organization of a collaboratory. I also demonstrate how the relation of resource dependency, the nature of collaborative work, geographical distance and cultural differences influence scientists’ participation in collaborataries. These factors affect the ability of scientists from developing countries to access resources of collaboratories, build relationships with other collaboratory members and learn knowledge and practice from their collaborators in the developed world. In addition, I show that collaboratories facilitate technology transfer from scientists from developed countries to those from developing countries. However, scientists from developing countries demonstrate an urgent need to build general competence in performing research. This kind of competence can only be achieved through long-term exposure to the practices of advanced laboratories from the developed world. Collaboratories failed to meet the need because of their project-oriented nature and their funding mechanism.Ph.D.InformationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58369/1/airongl_1.pd

Research on the Approach and Strategy of Traditional Logistics Enterprise Transformation Under the Context of the Internet

In order to study the approach and strategy of traditional logistics enterprises to transform to green logistics enterprises under the background of the Internet. In Sichuan province, 1,203 samples were taken and analyzed by SPSS data. Finally, the influence factors of consumers’ usage intentions are obtained. Based on the influence factors, the packaging and lines are designed to ensure the recycle. At the same time, the damage detection function of relevant magnetic stripe is used as auxiliary function, collecting the data information of consumers

Eye tracking study on identifying and analyzing user behavior - eye movements, eye fixation duration and patterns - when processing numeric table data in paper or PDF format

This study describes an eye tracking experiment conducted at the Interaction Design Lab of UNC-CH. This experiment focuses on identifying and analyzing user behavior and patterns when processing numeric table data in paper or PDF format. Eight sets of eye data were collected using the ASL 504 eye tracking system, and raw data were analyzed using EYENAL and FIXPLOT software. Statistical literacy and familiarity with tables is an important factor in determining users' search performances. For both formats, table column and row headings account for nearly half of users' visual attention during search as as measured by fixation duration. In large tables, PDF files do not appear to be appropriate for browsing and searching, and footnotes seem hard to use. Simple manipulations over table data are helpful for users to get a better understanding of statistical tables

Integrated Application and Improvement of Selection Method of Storage Sales Industry

In recent years, in order to adapt to the rapid development of the warehouse-storage sales industry and to solve the problems of location cost and efficiency and optimization of the methods of the new retail store, we have integrated and innovated the barycenter method and grey correlation method, and analyzed the grey correlation method with the weight obtained by the comprehensive analysis. In order to achieve the optimal cost effect, we choose the optimal solution from several alternative address schemes. It is found that using the integrated method as the reference standard for the location calculation of Warehouse Logistics Enterprises under the new retail background is helpful to improve the accuracy rate, and reduce the defects and defects caused by the independent use of the various methods, and adapt to the more practical and concrete conditions of the location selection of warehouse storage enterprises. At the same time, it is also an innovative attempt to cross discrete and continuous boundaries

Fatigue process of rib-to-deck welded joints of orthotropic steel decks

The numerous welded joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) lead to a high probability of fatigue damage. One of the most detrimental problems is the severe reduction of the serviceability due to cracks in rib-to-deck welded joints, which require in-depth studies on the entire fatigue process. The linear elastic fracture mechanics has been proven to be effective in this aspect. When put into practice on actual projects, however, its accuracy and feasibility are largely dependent on features in various scales. This paper presents an investigation on the fatigue behavior of orthotropic steel decks with respect to multiscale concerns. By performing fatigue tests on OSD specimens welded by 15-mm-thick deck plates and 6-mm-thick stiffeners of S355 steel, the rib-to-deck weld toe crack that penetrates the deck plate is produced and the crack growth path is addressed using beach mark method. Afterwards, a two-dimensional local model of the rib-to-deck weld toe crack is built using the extended finite element method by which the stress intensity factors for early-stage cracks can be obtained. Based on the similar concept of nominal stresses, it can easily be linked to the macroscopic model and forms a non-concurrent method that enables to simulate the crack growth at rib-to-deck weld toe. As a result, a crack growth rate curve for the test specimen is given and different stages are analyzed with respect to the Paris law, indicating a clear influence of the early-stage fatigue cracks. The material constants of crack growth are obtained and validated, which may further be introduced to the fatigue assessment and life estimation for the maintenance work of OSDs