Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fracture mechanics study of fatigue crack growth in solder joints under drop impact

This paper describes the use of a fracture mechanics-based modeling approach to explain two interesting experimental observations in solder joints subjected to high speed cyclic bending, namely 1) the evolution of the crack front from a positive to a negative curvature; and 2) the initial acceleration and the subsequent retardation of the crack growth rate. Two- dimensional crack fronts in the solder joint were modeled, and J-integral along the crack front was computed. The modeling results have provided physical insights into the experimentally observed crack growth phenomena.
Monitor-Based In-Field Wearout Mitigation for CMOS LC Oscillators

Failure due to aging mechanisms is an important concern for RF circuits. In-field aging results in continuous degradation of circuit performances before they cause catastrophic failures. In this regard, the lifetime of RF/analog circuits, which is defined as the point where at least one specification fails, is determined not only by aging at the device level but also by the slack in the specifications, process variations, and the stress conditions on each of the devices. In this paper, we present a methodology for analyzing, monitoring, and recovering performance degradation in cross-coupled LC oscillators caused by aging mechanisms in MOSFET devices. At design time, we identify reliability hot spots and concentrate our efforts on improving these components. We also identify the circuit variable that is easy to measure but highly correlated to the performance of the primary circuit and codesign the monitoring and reconfiguration mechanism along with the primary circuit. Experimental results with a fabricated oscillator chip show that the phase noise of the oscillator degraded by 1.5 dB over ten days (240 h) of accelerated stress conditions, and this loss can be recovered by the proposed mitigation scheme.
Facebook: An Affinity Space for Young People’s Environmental Learning and Action

This paper draws on my dissertation research, that is focused on elucidating the substance, structure, and dynamics of how youth are engaging in interest-driven environmental peer-to-peer learning and activism within social networking “affinity spaces”. Affinity spaces – virtual or physical - are locations where groups of people are drawn together because of an engagement or shared interest in a common activity (Gee, 2005). My research is situated within a constructivist research paradigm and employs ethnographic methods to gain “insider” understandings of teen social media practices that relate to environmental learning and action, as experienced by the teens themselves (Lankshear et al, 2011). Drawing upon data obtained from surveys, social media observation, and interviews with youth from 11 different interest-driven environmentally-focused Facebook groups, I will discuss variations of the networks and interactions. Specifically, I will explore the network structure and various interactional dynamics related to: scale of network, leadership, membership, and adult facilitators. Along with these findings, I will offer some recommendations for adult facilitators in regards to fostering environmental learning and action in youth-driven affinity spaces.
Calibration of a stochastic agent-based model for re-hospitalization numbers of psychiatric patients

Calibration is a vital part of the modeling and simulation process and denotes the determination of parameter values by estimating them from comparison between simulation results with reference data. During recent decades, a lot of algorithms have been developed for this purpose which are able to fit mentioned parameter values generically without information about the modelled system or the simulation. Especially for stochastic simulation models these routines very often require thousands of iterative simulation executions which, in case of large agent-based models, might be too time intensive. In this paper, we illustrate a real-world example for such a problem and present a solution for it based on probability theory. Hereby we not only calibrate the desired parameters, but also find a measure for the quality of the fit as well. By presenting this example we want to motivate modelers to analyze agent-based models to save costly calibration time.
High Glucose Impairs Voltage-Gated K+ Channel Current in Rat Small Coronary Arteries

Abstract— Hyperglycemia is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent dilation that is due to quenching of NO by superoxide (O2· −). In small coronary arteries (CAs), dilation depends more on smooth muscle hyperpolarization, such as that mediated by voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels. We determined whether high glucose enhances O2·− production and reduces microvascular Kv channel current and functional responses. CAs from Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated 24 hours in medium containing either normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mmol/L d-glucose), high glucose (HG, 23 mmol/L d-glucose), or l-glucose (LG, 5.5 mmol/L d-glucose and 17 mmol/L l-glucose). O2·− production was increased in HG arteries. Whole-cell patch clamping showed a reduction of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)–sensitive current (Kv current) from smooth muscle cells of HG CAs versus NG CAs or versus LG CAs (peak density was 9.95±5.3 pA/pF for HG versus 27.8±6.8 pA/pF for NG and 28.5±5.2 pA/pF for LG;P <0.05). O2·− generation (xanthine+xanthine oxidase) decreased K+ current density, with no further reduction by 4-AP. Partial restoration was observed with superoxide dismutase and catalase. Constriction to 3 mmol/L 4-AP was reduced in vessels exposed to HG (13±5%, P <0.05) versus NG (30±7%) or LG (34±4%). Responses to KCl and nifedipine were not different among groups. Superoxide dismutase and catalase increased contraction to 4-AP in HG CAs. This is the first direct evidence that exposure of CAs to HG impairs Kv channel activity. We speculate that this O2·−-induced impairment may reduce vasodilator responsiveness in the coronary circulation of subjects with coronary disease or its risk factors.
Multiphase Numerical Modeling of Dendritic Solidiﬁcation for Jigsaw Puzzle Generation

We explore an opportunity to expand the stylistic variety of hand-made and artisanal jigsaw puzzles through the appication of techniques from natural simulation. Typical jigsaw puzzle designs reﬂect the manufacturing constraints of die-cut, mass-production methods. We generate novel families of puzzle forms by applying a phase ﬁeld approach to the simulation of dendritic solidiﬁcation. We extend existing models of solidiﬁcation with multiphase meth-ods to satisfy aesthetic and geometric considerations speciﬁc to jig-saw puzzle design. We present examples of the resulting puzzle forms and discuss possible extensions and reﬁnements.
The GJR-GARCH and EGARCH option pricing models which incorporate the Piterbarg methodology

Knowledge of the risk-neutral distribution of the cumulative return with respect to the model used, is needed in European option pricing. Duan, Gauthier, Simonato and Sasseville (DGSS) provided an analytic approximation model for the case where an EGARCH or a GJR-GARCH specification is used to describe the asset price dynamics. The DGSS model requires the risk-neutral pricing methodology of the Black-Scholes-Merton (BSM) option pricing model. The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) exposed the shortcomings of the risk-neutral option pricing methodology. In this paper, the DGSS option pricing models are extended to incorporate the Piterbarg option pricing methodology.
Suppression of expulsion of Aspiculuris tetraptera in hydrocortisone and methotrexate treated mice

Hydrocortisone treated male and female mice, given a primary infection with Aspiculuris tetraptera, did not reject the worms during the third week of infection. Mice given hydrocortisone during the first week of infection had elevated worm burdens on day 10, suggesting that some worm loss was encountered during the anterior migration in control mice. Furthermore, this temporary period of treatment was sufficient totally to suppress rejection and to allow the parasite to persist until day 28. Methotrexate also significantly delayed rejection, but larval growth was retarded in treated mice. These results, it is suggested, add strength to the hypothesis that the loss of A. tetraptera in a primary infection in mice, is an immunological phenomenon.
Hyper‐Reactive Hypothalamo‐Pituitary‐Adrenocortical Axis in Rats Bred for High Anxiety‐Related Behaviour

Psychiatric patients suffering from anxiety disorders or endogenous depression exhibit increased activity in their hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Recently, two Wistar rat lines, bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety‐related behaviour on the elevated plus‐maze, were described as a unique psychopathological animal model (1). The present study focused on the HPA axis reactivity of HAB and LAB animals to an emotional stressor. Thus, adult male HAB and LAB animals, fitted with jugular vein catheters 5 days prior to the experiment, were exposed to an open arm of the elevated plus‐maze for 5 min. Whereas basal levels of ACTH and corticosterone were similar in both lines, HAB rats showed higher plasma concentrations at 5 and 15 min following stressor exposure (both hormones and both time points: P<0.01 vs LAB). Furthermore, increased basal (P<0.05 vs LAB) and stimulated (P<0.01 vs LAB) prolactin concentrations in HAB rats were found. In contrast to ACTH, corticosterone and prolactin, plasma oxytocin and vasopressin levels did not differ between HAB and LAB animals; oxytocin, but not vasopressin, responding to open arm exposure with a significant increase in both lines (P<0.05). In conclusion, particularly due to the association between inborn anxiety and HPA axis hyper‐reactivity, the HAB rat represents a promising animal model for further investigation of the relationship between emotional disturbance and neuroendocrine activity.
A randomized, controlled study of a simple, once-daily regimen of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated, multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria.

BACKGROUND Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) is a fixed-combination antimalarial drug increasingly deployed in Southeast Asia. The current regimen involves 4 doses given over 3 days. Simplification of the dose regimen should facilitate treatment adherence and thereby increase effectiveness. METHODS In a randomized, controlled, 3-arm trial conducted along the northwestern border of Thailand, the standard 4-dose course of DP (DP4) was compared to an equivalent dose given as a once-daily regimen (DP3) and to the standard treatment of mefloquine-artesunate (MAS3). RESULTS A total of 499 patients were included in the study. Times to fever and parasite clearance were similar in all groups. The PCR genotyping-adjusted cure rates at day 63 after treatment initiation were 95.7% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 92.2%-98.9%) for MAS3, 100% for DP4, and 99.4% (95% CI, 98.1%-100%) for DP3. The DP4 and DP3 cure rates were significantly higher than that for MAS3 (P=.008 and P=.03, respectively). All regimens were well tolerated. There were 3 deaths (1 in the MAS3 group and 2 in the DP3 group), all of which were considered to be unrelated to treatment. Rates of other adverse events were comparable between the groups, except for diarrhea, which was more common in the DP4 group (P=.05 vs. the MAS3 group). CONCLUSIONS A once-daily, 3-dose regimen of DP is a highly efficacious treatment for multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. This simple, safe, and relatively inexpensive fixed combination could become the treatment of choice for falciparum malaria.
Young Adolescents' Identification of Difficult Life Events

As part of a larger study of parent-child communication, young adolescents (n = 847), aged 1 I to 14 years, responded with brief written answers to the question: "Using your own words, list any happenings that occurred in the family that you feel may have been difficult and have long-lasting effects. " The sample was chiefly seventh- and eighth-grade students from two-parent, White, middle-class, urban homes. Content analyses of their responses resulted in the following themes: feelings of loss due to death, divorce, relocation, or a sibling leaving the family; feelings of threat toward family relationships or integrity, personal or family health, personal of family safety and well-being, and violence; feelings of being hassled due to parents' expectations and limits and siblings' disagreements and conflicts; and testing maturity. The data provide significant examples of the life events offices. Recommendations to identify and care for families and young adolescents experiencing these events are proposed.
Corporate Social Responsibility, Religion, and Firm Risk†

In this article, we examine the empirical influence of the combined effect of Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the degree of local community religiosity on firm risk by investigating their unidirectional and endogenous effects. Employing a large US sample, we find an inverse association between CSR–religiosity and firm risk after controlling for various firm characteristics. Also, after mitigating endogeneity bias, we still find a negative association between CSR–local community religiosity and firm risk. We interpret these results to support the social license to operate (SLO) explanation: the lower the level of firm risk, the higher the level of SLO.
The Gene Controlling Marijuana Psychoactivity

Δ1-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase is the enzyme that catalyzes oxidative cyclization of cannabigerolic acid into THCA, the precursor of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol. We cloned a novel cDNA (GenBank™ accession number AB057805) encoding THCA synthase by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactions from rapidly expanding leaves of Cannabis sativa. This gene consists of a 1635-nucleotide open reading frame, encoding a 545-amino acid polypeptide of which the first 28 amino acid residues constitute the signal peptide. The predicted molecular weight of the 517-amino acid mature polypeptide is 58,597 Da. Interestingly, the deduced amino acid sequence exhibited high homology to berberine bridge enzyme from Eschscholtzia californica, which is involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. The liquid culture of transgenic tobacco hairy roots harboring the cDNA produced THCA upon feeding of cannabigerolic acid, demonstrating unequivocally that this gene encodes an active THCA synthase. Overexpression of the recombinant THCA synthase was achieved using a baculovirus-insect expression system. The purified recombinant enzyme contained covalently attached FAD cofactor at a molar ratio of FAD to protein of 1:1. The mutant enzyme constructed by changing His-114 of the wild-type enzyme to Ala-114 exhibited neither absorption characteristics of flavoproteins nor THCA synthase activity. Thus, we concluded that the FAD binding residue is His-114 and that the THCA synthase reaction is FAD-dependent. This is the first report on molecular characterization of an enzyme specific to cannabinoid biosynthesis.
Interpreting the significance of changes in health-related quality-of-life scores.

PURPOSE To determine the significance to patients of changes in health-related quality-of-life (HLQ) scores assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). PATIENTS AND METHODS A subjective significance questionnaire (SSQ), which asks patients about perceived changes in physical, emotional, and social functioning and in global quality of life (global QL) and the QLQ-C30 were completed by patients who received chemotherapy for either breast cancer or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In the SSQ, patients rated their perception of change since the last time they completed the QLQ-C30 using a 7-category scale that ranged from "much worse" through "no change" to "much better. " For each category of change in the SSQ, the corresponding differences were calculated in QLQ-C30 mean scores and effect sizes were determined. RESULTS For patients who indicated "no change" in the SSQ, the mean change in scores in the corresponding QLQ-C30 domains was not significantly different from 0. For patients who indicated "a little" change either for better or for worse, the mean change in scores was about 5 to 10; for "moderate" change, about 10 to 20; and for "very much" change, greater than 20. Effect sizes increased in concordance with increasing changes in SSQ ratings and QLQ-C30 scores. CONCLUSION The significance of changes in QLQ-C30 scores can be interpreted in terms of small, moderate, or large changes in quality of life as reported by patients in the SSQ. The magnitude of these changes also can be used to calculate the sample sizes required to detect a specified change in clinical trials.
HIGHER EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: SWEDISH EVIDENCE FROM MULTIVARIATE FRAMEWORK

In this article, we investigate the long and short run relationship between higher education and economic growth in multivariate framework for Sweden, for the period from 1971 to 2013, by using ARDL approach. Toda-Yamamoto procedures of Granger non-causality test were applied to detect the direction of causality in the relationship between economic growth and higher education. We found that unidirectional causality between higher education and real GDP per capita, exists. This relationship is positive, but not mutually reinforcing.
Erosion mitigation in the Waikato District, New Zealand: economic implications for agriculture

Soil erosion, in its various forms, is caused or aggravated by agricultural activities. Mitigation of surface erosion comprises the construction of shelterbelts, fencing, riparian buffering, and stock reduction. Mitigation of mass-movement erosion, in turn, takes the form of spaced planting of trees to maintain a persistent, healthy, and complete ground cover. In this article, we assess the economic implications to agriculture of the adoption of mitigation alternatives for erosion control in the Waikato District, New Zealand. The Waikato District presents a spatial pattern of erosion that affects profitability of dairy, and sheep and beef enterprises. We use the Universal Soil Loss Equation and the New Zealand Empirical Erosion Model to estimate erosion figures that are then fed into an economic-focused, nonlinear, partial equilibrium mathematical programming model of New Zealand land use. Different scenarios are constructed for surface and mass-movement soil erosion targets ranging from 0% to 50% below baseline levels. We find that achieving surface erosion targets is more expensive than mass-movement targets, and results in different responses in regional-level costs, land use, enterprise net revenue, and adoption of mitigation alternatives.
Evaluation of Distensibility and Stiffness of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

INTRODUCTION Magnetic resonance imaging emerging as a new tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of ascending aortic aneurysm. The aim of our study is to evaluate in vivo distensibility and pulse wave velocity of the aortic wall using functional magnetic resonance imaging technique. METHODS We enrolled 25 patients undergoing surgery for ascending aortic aneurysm and or aortic valve replacement for a period of 8 months. Preoperatively, all the patients underwent functional MRI study of the aorta. Aortic wall distensibility and pulse wave velocity of ascending aorta was evaluated. RESULTS Mean age of the patient was 66 years (66.68 ± 5.62 years) with 60% (15) male patients. More than fifty percentages of patients were smoker (52%), hypertensive (64%) and diabetic (56%). We have observed significant decrease of distensibilty in the patients with aortic diameter above 50 mm (p-0.0002). Furthermore, we have found a significant inverse correlation between aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity (R= -0.650, R2= 0.42, p-0.0004). Similarly, we have found a significant inverse correlation between ascending aortic diameter and distensibility of the aorta (R= -0.785, R2= 0.61, p-0.00001). Statistically significant positive correlation was observed between aortic diameter and pulse wave velocity (R= 0.865, R2= 0.74, p-0.00001). CONCLUSIONS MRI measurement of aortic diameters, distensibility, and flow wave velocity is an easy, reliable and reproducible technique. Distensibility and pulse wave velocity define the elasticity of the aorta. We have observed that elasticity of aortic wall is decreased in ascending aorta aneurysm patients.
Resource quality affects weapon and testis size and the ability of these traits to respond to selection in the leaf‐footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata

Abstract The size of weapons and testes can be central to male reproductive success. Yet, the expression of these traits is often extremely variable. Studies are needed that take a more complete organism perspective, investigating the sources of variation in both traits simultaneously and using developmental conditions that mimic those in nature. In this study, we investigated the components of variation in weapon and testis sizes using the leaf‐footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on three natural developmental diets. We show that the developmental diet has profound effects on both weapon and testis expression and scaling. Intriguingly, males in the medium‐quality diet express large weapons but have relatively tiny testes, suggesting complex allocation decisions. We also find that heritability, evolvability, and additive genetic variation are highest in the high‐quality diet for testis and body mass. This result suggests that these traits may have an enhanced ability to respond to selection during a small window of time each year when this diet is available. Taken together, these results illustrate that normal, seasonal fluctuations in the nutritional environment may play a large role in the expression of sexually selected traits and the ability of these traits to respond to selection.
A Dominant-negative p38 MAPK Mutant and Novel Selective Inhibitors of p38 MAPK Reduce Insulin-stimulated Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes without Affecting GLUT4 Translocation*

Participation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) in insulin-induced glucose uptake was suggested using pyridinylimidazole p38 inhibitors (e.g. SB203580). However, the role of p38 in insulin action remains controversial. We further test p38 participation in glucose uptake using a dominant-negative p38 mutant and two novel pharmacological p38 inhibitors related to but different from SB203580. We present the structures and activities of the azaazulene pharmacophores A291077 and A304000. p38 kinase activity was inhibited in vitro by A291077 and A304000 (IC50 = 0.6 and 4.7 μm). At higher concentrations A291077 but not A304000 inhibited JNK2α (IC50 = 3.5 μm). Pretreatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes expressing GLUT4myc (L6-GLUT4myc myotubes) with A291077, A304000, SB202190, or SB203580 reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by 50–60%, whereas chemical analogues inert toward p38 were ineffective. Expression of an inducible, dominant-negative p38 mutant in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface, immunodetected on plasma membrane lawns of 3T3-L1 adipocytes or on intact L6-GLUT4myc myotubes, was not altered by chemical or molecular inhibition of p38. We propose that p38 contributes to enhancing GLUT4 activity, thereby increasing glucose uptake. In addition, the azaazulene class of inhibitors described will be useful to decipher cellular actions of p38 and JNK.