Landscaper: A Modeling System for 3D Printing Scale Models of Landscapes

Landscape models of geospatial regions provide an intuitive mechanism for exploring complex geospatial information. However, the methods currently used to create these scale models require a large amount of resources, which restricts the availability of these models to a limited number of popular public places, such as museums and airports. In this paper, we have proposed a system for creating these physical models using an affordable 3D printer in order to make the creation of these models more widely accessible. Our system retrieves GIS relevant to creating a physical model of a geospatial region and then addresses the two major limitations of affordable 3D printers, namely the limited number of materials and available printing volume. This is accomplished by separating features into distinct extruded layers and splitting large models into smaller pieces, allowing us to employ different methods for the visualization of different geospatial features, like vegetation and residential areas, in a 3D printing context. We confirm the functionality of our system by printing two large physical models of relatively complex landscape regions.

3D Genome Organization: Causes and Consequences for DNA Damage and Repair

The inability to repair damaged DNA severely compromises the integrity of any organism. In eukaryotes, the DNA damage response (DDR) operates within chromatin, a tightly organized DNA–histone complex in a non-random manner within the nucleus. Chromatin thus orchestrates various cellular processes, including repair. Here, we examine the chromatin landscape before, during, and after the DNA damage, focusing on double strand breaks (DSBs). We study how chromatin is modified during the repair process, not only around the damaged region (in cis), but also genome-wide (in trans). Recent evidence has highlighted a complex landscape in which different chromatin parameters (stiffness, compaction, loops) are transiently modified, defining “codes” for each specific stage of the DDR. We illustrate a novel aspect of DDR where chromatin modifications contribute to the movement of DSB-damaged chromatin, as well as undamaged chromatin, ensuring the mobilization of DSBs, their clustering, and their repair processes.

More than Two Populations of Microtubules Comprise the Dynamic Mitotic Spindle

The microtubules of the mitotic spindle mediate chromosome alignment to the metaphase plate, then sister chromatid segregation to the spindle poles in anaphase. Previous analyses of spindle microtubule kinetics utilizing fluorescence dissipation after photoactivation described two main populations, a slow and a fast turnover population, and these were ascribed to reflect kinetochore versus non-kinetochore microtubules, respectively. Here, we test this categorization by disrupting kinetochores through depletion of the Ndc80 complex. In the absence of functional kinetochores, microtubule dynamics still exhibit slow and fast turnover populations, though the proportion of each population and the timings of turnover are altered. Importantly, the data obtained following Hec1/Ndc80 depletion suggests other sub-populations, in addition to kinetochore microtubules, contribute to the slow turnover population. Further manipulation of spindle microtubules revealed a complex landscape. For example, while Aurora B kinase functions to destabilize kinetochore bound microtubules it may also stabilize certain slow turnover, non-kinetochore microtubules. Dissection of the dynamics of microtubule populations provides a greater understanding of mitotic spindle kinetics and insight into their roles in facilitating chromosome attachment, movement, and segregation during mitosis.

Multimodal Data and Multiscale Kernel-Based Multistream CNN for Fine Classification of a Complex Surface-Mined Area

Fine land cover classification (FLCC) of complex landscapes is a popular and challenging task in the remote sensing community. In complex surface-mined areas (CSMAs), researchers have conducted FLCC using traditional machine learning methods and deep learning algorithms. However, convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms that may be useful for FLCC of CSMAs have not been fully investigated. This study proposes a multimodal remote sensing data and multiscale kernel-based multistream CNN (3M-CNN) model. Experiments based on two ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3) satellite imageries of different times and seasons were conducted in Wuhan, China. The 3M-CNN model had three main features: (1) multimodal data-based multistream CNNs, i.e., using ZY-3 imagery-derived true color, false color, and digital elevation model data to form three CNNs; (2) multisize neighbors, i.e., using different neighbors of optical and topographic data as inputs; and (3) multiscale convolution flows revised from an inception module for optical and topographic data. Results showed that the proposed 3M-CNN model achieved excellent overall accuracies on two different images, and outperformed other comparative models. In particular, the 3M-CNN model yielded obvious better visual performances. In general, the proposed process was beneficial for the FLCC of complex landscape areas.

The Radical Temporality of Drum and Bass

One of the key features of many genres within Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is the creation of simultaneous temporal layers. Genres such as drum and bass, dubstep, and future bass frequently use manipulation of rhythmic ostinati and subtle sonic shading to shift the listener’s perception between these multiple layers; for example, from a fast, intricate motion in the groove, suggestive of the ‘tensed’ experience of A-time, to a slow (or even a-temporal) motion in the vocals, pads, or instrumental lines, creating a sudden feeling of musical ‘space’, which might in turn connote a ‘tenseless’ B-time. This technique allows producers to create layered temporal narratives within the music, creating a complex landscape of musical momentum. Drawing on literature and methods from both sociology and philosophy, this chapter explores the complex relationship between these temporal systems, and in turn demonstrates how drum and bass offers a form of temporal resistance to contemporary life through both the sonic and social experience that the music offers. It concludes by arguing that, through the temporal ruptures caused by its uncertain shifting temporality, drum and bass provides clubgoers with a powerful ontological experience that illuminates the contradictions of time in a uniquely embodied way.

Accounting for Complexity and Context in Implementation through Coaching, Convening, and Co-Design: A New Intermediary’s Approach

The Centre of Excellence on PTSD (the Centre) is a new Canadian intermediary established in part to support the uptake of evidence-based practices among service providers treating veterans. Given the unique and complex landscape for veteran mental health service delivery, the Centre is developing networks and prioritizing co-design to address anticipated implementation challenges.

Identification of transcription factors involved in the specification of photoreceptor subtypes

During development, retinal progenitors navigate a complex landscape of fate decisions that culminates with an array of unique cell types that are required for proper vision. Here, we aim to identify factors that are required for fate decisions in photoreceptors. These factors help create a diversity of photoreceptor subtypes that sustain vision in day and night, enable the detection of colors, of prey and predators, and other aspects of vision. To identify these factors, we generate a high-quality and deep transcriptomic profile of each photoreceptor subtype in zebrafish. From these profiles, we focus on transcription factors---key players in cell-fate decisions. We apply CRISPR-F0 screening as a versatile platform to explore the involvement of transcription factors in photoreceptor subtype-specification. We find that three differentially-expressed transcription factors (Foxq2, Tbx2a and Tbx2b) play unique roles in controlling the identity of photoreceptor subtypes within the retina. Our results provide novel insights into the function of these factors and how photoreceptors acquire their final identities. Furthermore, we have made our transcriptomic dataset openly available and easy to explore. This dataset and the screening method will be valuable to the scientific community and will enable the exploration of genes involved in many essential aspects of photoreceptor biology.

What Do I Need to Know About Cyber Frameworks, Standards, and Laws?

The question “What do I need to know about cyber frameworks, standards, and laws?” distills the complex landscape of cyber risk laws, requirements, and standards. The chapter begins with a case study on Nielsen Holdings’ legal and business trouble with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It distinguishes compliance from security—explaining how readers can achieve both—and clarifies the dynamic, complex legal landscape in a world of ever-evolving cyber risk. It reviews legislation relating to cyber risk including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GBLA), the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and GDPR. The chapter describes the importance of adopting the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, creating a cyber policy/act/law/regulation “watch list” and purchasing cyber insurance. At the chapter’s end Falco shares Embedded Endurance strategy insight from his experience leading a team developing a cyber standard of care.