Multilayer Integration Research Articles

Sociocultural Competence and Critical Consciousness: Stories of a Vietnamese Dual-Language Program in South Texas

ABSTRACT Drawing upon the theoretical underpinnings of sociocultural competence and critical consciousness as two key components in the guiding principles for dual-language and bilingual education (DLBE), this paper documents the purposeful curricular design and implementation of cultural aspects of a Vietnamese Dual-Language Program in South Texas. Findings reveal a robust multilayered integration of the sociocultural competence pillar at four levels: community, school, classroom, and transnational. These four levels altogether have had a positive impact on current students’ and alumni’s social well-being and attitudes toward bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism. Further findings also point to the stakeholders’ critically conscious actions such as the strategic incorporation of sociocultural competence into the program’s curriculum and efforts of renegotiating power, reaffirming identities, and historicizing schools and programs. Those insights might have significant implications for future research and educational programs that foreground DLBE, especially among less-commonly-taught-language groups.

A Self‐Powered Smart White Cane for Improving Mobility of Visually Impaired Person Using a Triboelectric Nanogenerator

The present research offers an innovative approach to enhance the safety and mobility of people with visual impairments by using a smart white cane sensor. Herein, an aluminum electrode, Kapton film, and an inexpensive PET substrate are employed to develop an origami‐shaped multilayered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device. The multilayered integration of three‐unit TENGs produces output with a high power of 51 μW at 50 MΩ, along with 155 V and 4.5 μA. Capacitor charging, low‐power electronics powering, and the integration of mechanoluminescent materials are demonstrated. The integration of mechanoluminescent materials enables efficient identification of visually impaired people in regions with poor lighting. A single‐electrode TENG is also implemented for successful surface material detection. To further enhance the sensor's capabilities, digital signal processing techniques are employed for obstacle recognition on their route. The intelligent white cane sensor effectively detects obstructions, offering the user instantaneous feedback and enabling more secure navigation in sophisticated environments. This study highlights the possibility of integrating TENG technologies to provide a complete solution for people with visual impairments. The smart white cane sensor has the potential to greatly increase the safety and independence of visually impaired people in a variety of outdoor and public spaces.

Emerging market multinationals’ embeddedness in Global South countries: an empirical study of Chinese MNEs in Peru

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) are integrating and expanding into other emerging market host countries, focusing on Chinese mining companies in Peru.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a qualitative approach, an in-depth analysis of two Chinese state-owned enterprises’ strategies was conducted, building on stakeholder theory and the business ecosystem perspective.FindingsThis study reveals a reliance on high-level political lobbying rather than localized engagement strategies. However, findings point to increasing grassroots resistance among local stakeholders, undermining EMNEs’ bargaining power.Originality/valueThis paper argues for a paradigm shift toward inclusive, cooperative “translocal governance” approaches as empowered communities gain voice. Key contributions include advancing theoretical understanding of changing stakeholder relationships and power configurations in emerging countries, underscoring the rising significance of microlevel sociocultural embeddedness for MNE success and highlighting practical imperatives for EMNEs to embark on rapid localization strategies in Latin America. By elucidating multilayered integration realities in Peru, this interdisciplinary study yields contextualized insights and enriches perspective on the conditions and pathways for EMNEs to build sustainability in Global South emerging market environments.

Angular Isotonic Loss Guided Multi-Layer Integration for Few-Shot Fine-Grained Image Classification.

Recent research on few-shot fine-grained image classification (FSFG) has predominantly focused on extracting discriminative features. The limited attention paid to the role of loss functions has resulted in weaker preservation of similarity relationships between query and support instances, thereby potentially limiting the performance of FSFG. In this regard, we analyze the limitations of widely adopted cross-entropy loss and introduce a novel Angular ISotonic (AIS) loss. The AIS loss introduces an angular margin to constrain the prototypes to maintain a certain distance from a pre-set threshold. It guides the model to converge more stably, learn clearer boundaries among highly similar classes, and achieve higher accuracy faster with limited instances. Moreover, to better accommodate the feature requirements of the AIS loss and fully exploit its potential in FSFG, we propose a Multi-Layer Integration (MLI) network that captures object features from multiple perspectives to provide more comprehensive and informative representations of the input images. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method on four standard fine-grained benchmarks. Codes are available at: https://github.com/Legenddddd/AIS-MLI.

Climate uncertainty and vulnerability of urban flooding associated with regional risk using multi-criteria analysis in Mumbai, India

The study made a comprehensive effort to examine climatic uncertainties at both yearly and monthly scales, along with mapping flood risks based on different land use categories. Recent studies have progressively been engrossed in demonstrating regional climate variations and associated flood probability to maintain the geo-ecological balance at micro to macro-regions. To carry out this investigation, various historical remote sensing record, reanalyzed and in-situ data sets were acquired with a high level of spatial precision using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) web-based remote sensing platform. Non-parametric techniques and multi-layer integration methods were then employed to illustrate the fluctuations in climate factors alongside creating maps indicating the susceptibility to floods. The study reveals an increased pattern in LST (Land Surface Temperature) (0.03 °C/year), albeit marginal declined in southern coastal regions (−0.15 °C/year) along with uneven rainfall patterns (1.42 mm/year). Moreover, long-term LULC change estimation divulges increased trends of urbanization (16.4 km2/year) together with vegetation growth (8.7 km2/year) from 2002 to 2022. Furthermore, this inquiry involves numerous environmental factors that influence the situation (elevation data, topographic wetness index, drainage density, proximity to water bodies, slope, and soil properties) as well as socio-economic attributes (population) to assess flood risk areas through the utilization of Analytical Hierarchy Process and overlay methods with assigned weights. The outcomes reveal nearly 55 percent of urban land is susceptible to flood in 2022, which were 45 and 37 percent in 2012 and 2002 separately. Additionally, 106 km2 of urban area is highly susceptible to inundation, whereas vegetation also occupies a significant proportion (52 km2). This thorough exploration offers a significant chance to formulate flood management and mitigation strategies tailored to specific regions during the era of climate change.

Taxonomies. Architectures, scales and themes for a peri-urban sustainable regeneration

This contribution analyzes issues and spaces of the architecture for the regeneration of peri-urban areas according to the perspective of the programs to combat the effects of climate change activated by the Green Deal and New European Bauhaus. The contribution aims to highlight how the Taxonomy elaborated by the eu needs a multilayer integration coordinated by a systematization of environmental resources with cultural ones and with the project of territories, as well as how research in architecture can interact and act as a catalyst concerning the objectives set by the European Union. Places of experimentation for a possible taxonomy can be peri-urban areas as catalysts of integrated regeneration processes.

A multi-layer multi-view stacking model for credit risk assessment

Credit risk assessment plays a key role in determining the banking policies and commercial strategies of financial institutions. Ensemble learning approaches have been validated to be more competitive than individual classifiers and statistical techniques for default prediction. However, most researches focused on improving overall prediction accuracy rather than improving the identification of actual defaulted loans. In addition, model interpretability has not been paid enough attention in previous studies. To fill up these gaps, we propose a Multi-layer Multi-view Stacking Integration (MLMVS) approach to predict default risk in the P2P lending scenario. As the main innovation, our proposal explores multi-view learning and soft probability outputs to produce multi-layer integration based on stacking. An interpretable artificial intelligence tool LIME is embedded for interpreting the prediction results. We perform a comprehensive analysis of MLMVS on the Lending Club dataset and conduct comparative experiments to compare it with a number of well-known individual classifiers and ensemble classification methods, which demonstrate the superiority of MLMVS.

Multilayer integration in silicon nitride: decoupling linear and nonlinear functionalities for ultralow loss photonic integrated systems

Silicon nitride is an excellent material platform for its extremely low loss in a large wavelength range, which makes it ideal for the linear processing of optical signals on a chip. Moreover, the Kerr nonlinearity and the lack of two-photon absorption in the near infrared enable efficient nonlinear optics, e.g., frequency comb generation. However, linear and nonlinear operations require distinct engineering of the waveguide core geometry, resulting in a tradeoff between optical loss and single-mode behavior, which hinders the development of high-performance, ultralow-loss linear processing blocks on a single layer. Here, we demonstrate a dual-layer photonic integration approach with two silicon-nitride platforms exhibiting ultralow optical losses, i.e., a few dB/m, and individually optimized to perform either nonlinear or linear processing tasks. We demonstrate the functionality of this approach by integrating a power-efficient microcomb with an arrayed waveguide grating demultiplexer to filter a few frequency comb lines in the same monolithically integrated chip. This approach can significantly improve the integration of linear and nonlinear optical elements on a chip and opens the way to the development of fully integrated processing of Kerr nonlinear sources.

High-Resolution Short-Circuit Fault Localization in a Multilayer Integrated Circuit Using a Quantum Diamond Microscope

High-Resolution Short-Circuit Fault Localization in a Multilayer Integrated Circuit Using a Quantum Diamond Microscope

MDB-29. MEDULLOBLASTOMA SUBGROUP-SPECIFIC CHROMATIN STATES REVEAL NOVEL THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITIES

Abstract Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant childhood brain tumor comprising a collection of molecularly and clinically distinct entities. Mutations in chromatin-modifying genes distribute across subgroups and account for nearly half of all MBs. However, the molecular consequences of chromatin modifier alterations remain poorly understood. Herein, we characterize the chromatin landscape of fifty-two primary MBs representing each MB subgroup using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) for six histone marks and perform multi-layered integration with somatic genetics, genome-wide DNA methylation, and transcriptomic datasets extracted from the same tumors. Analysis of differential chromatin states across MB subgroups identified significant enrichment of a bivalent enhancer state (EnhBiv) in Group 4 MB. Group 4-specific EnhBivs mapped to promoters of key neurodevelopmental genes and transcription factors and was associated with increased DNA methylation and reduced expression. In accordance with higher EnhBivs coverage in Group 4 MB, we found that KDM2B, a H3K4me3 and H3K36me2 demethylase, is highly expressed in Group 4 MBs and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). KDM2B knockout mediated by CRISPR targeting suppressed growth of both Group 3 MB cell lines in vitro and Group 4 MB PDXs in vivo but had no effect on control SHH-MB cells, suggesting that KDM2B is a novel selective dependency in MB. Knockout of KDM2B in MB cells induced profound upregulation of PRC2 targets, genes regulated by bivalent histone marks, as well as genes involved in neuronal differentiation. Further biochemical and molecular studies demonstrated that KDM2B interacts with PRC2 complex subunits and occupies gene promoters associated with Group 4-specific EnhBiv chromatin. In summary, our comprehensive characterization of the MB chromatin landscape in a large cohort of primary tumors provides novel insights into the epigenetic basis of MB and implicates KDM2B as a novel Group 4 MB dependency that should be prioritized as a therapeutic target in this subgroup.

The longitudinal relation between executive functioning and multilayer network topology in glioma patients.

Many patients with glioma, primary brain tumors, suffer from poorly understood executive functioning deficits before and/or after tumor resection. We aimed to test whether frontoparietal network centrality of multilayer networks, allowing for integration across multiple frequencies, relates to and predicts executive functioning in glioma. Patients with glioma (n = 37) underwent resting-state magnetoencephalography and neuropsychological tests assessing word fluency, inhibition, and set shifting before (T1) and one year after tumor resection (T2). We constructed binary multilayer networks comprising six layers, with each layer representing frequency-specific functional connectivity between source-localized time series of 78 cortical regions. Average frontoparietal network multilayer eigenvector centrality, a measure for network integration, was calculated at both time points. Regression analyses were used to investigate associations with executive functioning. At T1, lower multilayer integration (p = 0.017) and epilepsy (p = 0.006) associated with poorer set shifting (adj. R2 = 0.269). Decreasing multilayer integration (p = 0.022) and not undergoing chemotherapy at T2 (p = 0.004) related to deteriorating set shifting over time (adj. R2 = 0.283). No significant associations were found for word fluency or inhibition, nor did T1 multilayer integration predict changes in executive functioning. As expected, our results establish multilayer integration of the frontoparietal network as a cross-sectional and longitudinal correlate of executive functioning in glioma patients. However, multilayer integration did not predict postoperative changes in executive functioning, which together with the fact that this correlate is also found in health and other diseases, limits its specific clinical relevance in glioma.

A flexible organic mechanoluminophore device

A flexible mechanoluminophore device that is capable of converting mechanical energy into visualizable patterns through light-emission holds great promise in many applications, such as human-machine interfaces, Internet of Things, wearables, etc. However, the development has been very nascent, and more importantly, existing mechanoluminophore materials or devices emit light that cannot be discernible under ambient light, in particular with slight applied force or deformation. Here we report the development of a low-cost flexible organic mechanoluminophore device, which is constructed based on the multi-layered integration of a high-efficiency, high-contrast top-emitting organic light-emitting device and a piezoelectric generator on a thin polymer substrate. The device is rationalized based on a high-performance top-emitting organic light-emitting device design and maximized piezoelectric generator output through a bending stress optimization and have demonstrated that it is discernible under an ambient illumination as high as 3000 lux. A flexible multifunctional anti-counterfeiting device is further developed by integrating patterned electro-responsive and photo-responsive organic emitters onto the flexible organic mechanoluminophore device, capable of converting mechanical, electrical, and/or optical inputs into light emission and patterned displays.

What are the hot topics in Japanese rheumatology? Go above and beyond

Japanese rheumatology and immunology have contributed to progress in the field and advancement of rheumatology, including postmarketing surveillance, development of IL-6-targeting therapy and concept of drug tapering, have accelerated in...

A Compact Bandpass Filter Manifold With Ultrawide Frequency and Bandwidth Tuning

This paper reports a comprehensive design methodology and a compact multilayer integration concept for a fully-reconfigurable bandpass filtering (BPF) manifold with simultaneous ultrawide center frequency and bandwidth (BW) tuning. The manifold is based on two RF-switched tune-all BPFs whose transfer function is shaped by three-poles and two transmission zeros (TZs) (i.e., three-pole/two-TZs). Tunability can be achieved by solely reconfiguring the resonant frequency of its constituent resonators (i.e., tuning-coupling less approach). A multi-layer PCB-based vertical integration scheme is proposed for size miniaturization leading to 43% smaller area than a conventional single layer implementation approach. For practical validation purposes, a BPF manifold was designed, built and measured. It exhibited ultrawide continuous center frequency tuning between 1.8 and 3.85 GHz (2.2:1) and continuous BW tuning between 2.5-3:1 (e.g 132-410 MHz at 2 GHz). For all of the aforementioned tuning states, the minimum passband insertion loss (IL) was measured between 2-9 dB and its IIP3 between 12.3-30 dBm.

NCOG-17. THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING AND MULTILAYER CENTRALITY OF THE FRONTOPARIETAL NETWORK IN GLIOMA PATIENTS

Abstract BACKGROUND Many patients with glioma suffer from poorly understood executive functioning deficits before and/or after tumor resection. In the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that there is a complex interplay between glioma and both local and global functional activity and connectivity. Moreover, multilayer network integration of the frontoparietal network across multiple modalities has recently been found to explain individual differences in executive functioning in healthy subjects. OBJECTIVE To test whether multilayer frontoparietal network integration relates to individual differences in executive functioning before and after glioma resection. METHODS Patients with glioma (n = 37) underwent neuropsychological tests assessing word fluency, inhibition, and set shifting as components of executive functioning, and resting-state magnetoencephalography at T1 (at diagnosis, before resection) and T2 (1 year after resection). We constructed binary multilayer networks comprising six layers, with each layer representing frequency-specific functional connectivity between source-localized time series of 78 cortical regions. Average frontoparietal network multilayer eigenvector centrality, a measure for network integration, was calculated at both time points. Regression analyses were used to investigate associations with executive functioning. RESULTS At T1, lower multilayer integration (p = .017) and having epilepsy (p = .006) associated with poorer set shifting. Decreasing multilayer integration (p = .022) between T1 and T2 and not undergoing chemotherapy at T2 (p = .004) related to deteriorating set shifting. No significant associations were found for word fluency or inhibition. CONCLUSION As hypothesized, our results establish multilayer integration of the frontoparietal network as a cross-sectional and longitudinal correlate of executive functioning in glioma patients, further building upon the idea that glioma impacts the whole brain network and general cognitive functioning. However, multilayer integration did not significantly predict postoperative changes in executive functioning, limiting the direct clinical relevance of this measure.

Low-Cost mmWave Metallic Waveguide Based on Multilayer Integrated Vertical-EBG Structure and its Application to Slot Array Antenna Design

A novel methodology to create metallic waveguides with multilayer integrated vertical-electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure is proposed in this article, and the structure realizes low-cost millimeter-wave (mmWave) slot array antennas. A multilayer stack of easy-to-process thin metallic etching plates is introduced to design mmWave waveguide using compression fit instead of diffusion bonding and welding assembly process. The electromagnetic (EM) wave leakage from the gaps between the metallic plates is suppressed using the vertical-EBG structure and antiphasing feeding. The dispersion diagrams of the vertical-EBG unit cell are investigated to illustrate the suppression of leakage. Another leakage wave intercepting methodology is adopted by antiphase feeding to prevent leakage wave from the adjacent slot subarrays. Finally, two examples of 2 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 8 and 8 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 8 slot array antennas are presented to verify our design concept. The measured impedance bandwidths of the two antennas are 77.1–84.6 GHz (9.3%) and 78.6–84.9 GHz (7.7%). In addition, the 3 dB broadside gain bandwidths are 73.1–85.3 GHz (15.1%) and 76.8–84.4 GHz (9.4%). The results show the aperture efficiencies up to 56.4%.

Interlayer Slope Waveguide Coupler for Multilayer Chalcogenide Photonics

The interlayer coupler is one of the critical building blocks for optical interconnect based on multilayer photonic integration to realize light coupling between stacked optical waveguides. However, commonly used coupling strategies, such as evanescent field coupling, usually require a close distance, which could cause undesired interlayer crosstalk. This work presents a novel interlayer slope waveguide coupler based on a multilayer chalcogenide glass photonic platform, enabling light to be directly guided from one layer to another with a large interlayer gap (1 µm), a small footprint (6 × 1 × 0.8 µm3), low propagation loss (0.2 dB at 1520 nm), low device processing temperature, and a high bandwidth, similar to that in a straight waveguide. The proposed interlayer slope waveguide coupler could further promote the development of advanced multilayer integration in 3D optical communications systems.

Enabling In-Flight Connectivity with the new Generation of Electronically Steered Antennas

In-flight communication (IFC) services offered to passengers and crew are of great importance to the air transport sector. The improvement of the satellite capacity with High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in GEO and the advent of MEO and LEO constellations will support the forecast growth of the IFC market. Antenna equipment for satellite communications will need to address multiple scenarios from G2G (Gate-to-Gate) to multi-operation under GEO-MEO-LEO systems. Under these conditions, antennas with the ability to track multiple satellites and having superior performance and reliability will play a key role. Electronically steered antennas (ESA) have emerged as a viable solution in response to these demands. The EU-funded LESAF project proposes an ESA solution of reduced size and greater efficiency for the next generation of in-flight connectivity services. This will be managed through the requirements definition, system analysis, technology assessment, prototyping and validation of ESAs. The project has successfully passed the first milestone corresponding to requirements consolidation, baseline architecture definition and candidate technology trade-offs. Multi-beam Electronically Steered Antennas, separated apertures for both transmission and reception, a flexible modular approach coupled with planar multilayer integration and an advanced beamformer design are the basis for the proposed concept. The following project phase will be focused on the design and validation of an antenna demonstrator aimed at proving the superior added value of ESAs technological solution for the aviation industry needs.

A simple and reliable microfabrication process for a programmable microvalve array

We describe our reliable methodology for fabricating a complex programmable microvalve array (PMA) and its integration with a glass microcapillary electrophoresis chip. This methodology is applicable to any device that requires multilayered PDMS, multiple alignment processes, selective PDMS bonding, and multilayered integration with downstream sensing systems. Along with the detailed step-by-step process, we discuss essential quality assurance checks that can be performed throughout fabrication to assist in troubleshooting and maximizing chip yield.•Comprehensive instructions for designing and fabricating a programmable microvalve array.•Selective bonding of PDMS and glass by microcontact printing.•Numerous quality control procedures to boost chip yield.

Screen-Printable Flexible Textile-Based Ultra-Broadband Millimeter-Wave DC-Blocking Transmission Lines Based on Microstrip-Embedded Printed Capacitors

In this paper, a novel multi-layered microstrip line with built-in parallel-plate capacitors is proposed for DC-blocking applications, with its transmission characteristics measured up to 50 GHz. The microstrip lines are fabricated via screen printing directly onto polyurethane films laminated on standard textile substrates which would otherwise be unsuitable for printing. Compared to a standard microstrip line on the same substrate, the proposed 10 cm-long line on felt (with an embedded 44 pF capacitance) suffers from less than 0.1 dB higher insertion loss up to 4 GHz. Furthermore, varying the overlapping length of the lines and hence the capacitance enables the realization of DC blocking and <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$-$</tex-math></inline-formula> 3 dB high-pass filtering with pass-bands starting between 88 MHz and 1.2 GHz. This is achieved without altering the cut-off frequency of the microstrip line’s mode-free propagation, measured up to 50 GHz, exhibiting a low attenuation of 0.32 dB/mm at 50 GHz on a felt fabric substrate. Compared to a lumped capacitor, the proposed microstrip-embedded printed capacitor demonstrates a significant improvement in mechanical reliability, withstanding over 10,000 bending cycles, and RF power handling with under 6 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{\circ }$</tex-math></inline-formula> C temperature rise at 1 W. The lines are fabricated on two textile substrates and their transmission characteristics were measured up to 50 GHz, which represents the highest frequency characterization of textile-based lines to date, demonstrating a stable group delay and insertion losses. Based on the proposed multi-layered integration method, low-cost screen-printed microstrip-embedded capacitors on textiles can be used for microwave applications up to mmWave bands.