Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical study of thermomechanical fatigue influence of intermetallic compounds in a lead free solder joint

The study aims at investigating the influence of IMC growth on the thermomechanical fatigue behaviour of lead free solder joints. As a potential driving parameter of the failure of such assemblies, a numerical study is carried out to conclude on the implementation in future predictive FE models. A first FE model of a Single Lap Shear test is used to highlight in which conditions neglecting the IMC thickness can be an issue for material identification. It has been shown that common IMC layers present after fusion do not represent an important source of error except for the thinnest and stiffest soldered joints. The most important impact of IMC on this kind of test is the error of estimation on the Young's modulus and the stress increasing at the ends of the joint. The creep properties determination is not impacted by IMC. A second FE model is used to simulate the consequences of IMC growth in a BGA. The simulation of a classic BGA under a thermal load shows that warpage is not really impacted by a stiffer joint contrary to the stress levels in the corner ball. Differential displacement due to CTE mismatch produces higher stress levels in the solder balls near the bi-material interfaces when IMC layers are considered. Submodelling techniques are used to analyse with more details the interfacial gradients of stress and determine if IMC implementation is necessary to reproduce all the potential conditions of failure.
X-ray crystallographic studies of serotonin N-acetyltransferase catalysis and inhibition.

The structure of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (also known as arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase; AANAT) bound to a potent bisubstrate analog inhibitor has been determined at 2.0 A resolution using a two-edge (Se, Br) multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) experiment. This acetyl-CoA dependent enzyme is a member of the GCN5-related family of N-acetyltransferases (GNATs), which share four conserved sequence motifs (A-D). In serotonin N-acetyltransferase, motif A adopts an alpha/beta conformation characteristic of the phylogenetically invariant cofactor binding site seen in all previously characterized GNATs. Motif B displays a significantly lower level of conservation among family members, giving rise to a novel alpha/beta structure for the serotonin binding slot. Utilization of a brominated CoA-S-acetyl-tryptamine-bisubstrate analog inhibitor and the MAD method permitted conclusive identification of two radically different conformations for the tryptamine moiety in the catalytic site (cis and trans). A second high-resolution X-ray structure of the enzyme bound to a bisubstrate analog inhibitor, with a longer tether between the acetyl-CoA and tryptamine moieties, demonstrates only the trans conformation. Given a previous proposal that AANAT can catalyze an alkyltransferase reaction in a conformationally altered active site relative to its acetyltransferase activity, it is possible that the two conformations of the bisubstrate analog observed crystallographically correspond to these alternative reaction pathways. Our findings may ultimately lead to the design of analogs with improved AANAT inhibitory properties for in vivo applications.
Quantum dot-folic acid conjugates as potential photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy of cancer

This study examined the in vitro potential of bioconjugated quantum dots (QDs) as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). According to our previous approaches using photosensitizers, folic acid appears to be an optimal targeting ligand for selective delivery of attached therapeutic agents to cancer tissues. We synthesized hydrophilic near infrared emitting CdTe(S)-type QDs conjugated with folic acid using different spacers. Photodynamic efficiency of QDs conjugated or not with folic acid was evaluated on KB cells, acting as a positive control due to their overexpression of FR-α, and HT-29 cells lacking FR-α, as negative control. A design of experiments was suggested as a rational solution to evaluate the impacts of each experimental factor (QD type and concentration, light fluence and excitation wavelength, time of contact before irradiation and cell phenotype). We demonstrated that, for concentrations lower than 10 nM, QDs displayed practically no cytotoxic effect without light exposure for both cell lines. Whereas QDs at 2.1 nM displayed a weak photodynamic activity, a concentration of 8 nM significantly enhanced the photodynamic efficiency characterized by a light dose-dependent response. A statistically significant difference in photodynamic efficiency between KB and HT-29 cells was evidenced in the case of folic acid-conjugated QDs. Optimal conditions led to an enhanced photocytotoxicity response, allowing us to validate the ability of QDs to generate a photodynamic effect and of folic acid-conjugated QDs for targeted PDT.
Deciphering Genomic Regions for High Grain Iron and Zinc Content Using Association Mapping in Pearl Millet

Micronutrient malnutrition, especially deficiency of two mineral elements, iron [Fe] and zinc [Zn] in the developing world needs urgent attention. Pearl millet is one of the best crops with many nutritional properties and is accessible to the poor. We report findings of the first attempt to mine favorable alleles for grain iron and zinc content through association mapping in pearl millet. An association mapping panel of 130 diverse lines was evaluated at Delhi, Jodhpur and Dharwad, representing all the three pearl millet growing agro-climatic zones of India, during 2014 and 2015. Wide range of variation was observed for grain iron (32.3–111.9 ppm) and zinc (26.6–73.7 ppm) content. Genotyping with 114 representative polymorphic SSRs revealed 0.35 mean gene diversity. STRUCTURE analysis revealed presence of three sub-populations which was further supported by Neighbor-Joining method of clustering and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Marker-trait associations (MTAs) were analyzed with 267 markers (250 SSRs and 17 genic markers) in both general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM), however, MTAs resulting from MLM were considered for more robustness of the associations. After appropriate Bonferroni correction, Xpsmp 2261 (13.34% R2-value), Xipes 0180 (R2-value of 11.40%) and Xipes 0096 (R2-value of 11.38%) were consistently associated with grain iron and zinc content for all the three locations. Favorable alleles and promising lines were identified for across and specific environments. PPMI 1102 had highest number (7) of favorable alleles, followed by four each for PPMFeZMP 199 and PPMI 708 for across the environment performance for both grain Fe and Zn content, while PPMI 1104 had alleles specific to Dharwad for grain Fe and Zn content. When compared with the reference genome Tift 23D2B1-P1-P5, Xpsmp 2261 amplicon was identified in intergenic region on pseudomolecule 5, while the other marker, Xipes 0810 was observed to be overlapping with aspartic proteinase (Asp) gene on pseudomolecule 3. Thus, this study can help in breeding new lines with enhanced micronutrient content using marker-assisted selection (MAS) in pearl millet leading to improved well-being especially for women and children.
Tacrolimus (FK506) and mycophenolate mofetil combination therapy versus tacrolimus in adult liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) prolongs allograft survival in experimental animals, prevents acute rejection in humans, and has recently been approved for use in renal transplantation in combination with cyclosporine. Tacrolimus (Prograf) has been shown to be effective for the prevention and treatment of allograft rejection in liver transplantation. However, there has been limited experience with the combination of tacrolimus and MMF in liver transplantation. METHODS This retrospective pilot study examined the results in 130 primary, consecutive, adult liver transplants under two separate immunosuppressive protocols. Patients in the study group received MMF (1 g p.o. b.i.d.), tacrolimus (0.1 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d.), and a standard steroid taper. MMF was also tapered and then discontinued within 3 months of transplantation. A historical control received tacrolimus (0.15 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d.) and the same steroid taper. RESULTS Pretransplant demographics, including creatinine, were not significantly different between the groups. The 6-month patient and graft survivals of 96.3% (control) versus 92.0% (study) were not significantly different. The incidence of acute rejection was 45.0% in the control group versus 26.0% in the study group (P = 0.03). The study group had a lower incidence of rejection (mean episodes/patient +/- SEM): 0.28+/-0.07 vs. 0.61+/-0.10 (P = 0.007). All of the study group members responded to high-dose steroids. In the control group, three patients required monoclonal antibody therapy and two patients required the addition of MMF. The incidence of cytomegalovirus was similar in the study group and the control group (13.8% vs. 10.0%, P = NS). Early renal function was better preserved in the tacrolimus/MMF group (mean creatinine +/- SEM): 1.09 mg/dl +/- 0.05 vs. 1.51 mg/dl +/- 0.08 at 30 days, P = 0.0001. The study design required dosing with less tacrolimus (mean mg/day +/- SEM), which was achieved at 1 week (23.2+/-0.7 vs. 13.5+/-0.5); 1 month (18.7+/-0.8 vs. 11.4+/-0.5); 3 months (14.5+/-0.6 vs. 9+/-0.5); and 6 months (11.6+/-0.6 vs. 8.2+/-0.6); P = 0.0001, for all time points. CONCLUSION Combination therapy with tacrolimus and MMF may significantly reduce the incidence of acute liver allograft rejection, allow a significant reduction in tacrolimus dosage, and decrease the incidence of nephrotoxicity. Long-term analysis will be necessary to assess any increased risk of opportunistic infections.
Mesoscale Signature of the North Atlantic Oscillation and Its Interaction With the Ocean

This observational study uses high‐resolution data to investigate mesoscale signatures of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in the atmosphere and ocean. The production of spatially high‐pass (“mesoscale”) filtered kinetic energy by buoyancy and shear effects in the atmosphere, along with sea surface temperature and surface currents in the ocean is described, and a difference with NAO phase is found. In positive NAO winters, an extension of the Gulf Stream warm core is observed, along with a displacement and acceleration of surface currents. Mesoscale activity in the atmosphere appears to follow this extension of the warm core of the Gulf Stream. This, we suggest, is a new feature of NAO air‐sea interactions which is embedded within the basin‐scale NAO patterns discussed previously in the literature. Further downstream, mesoscale activity seems to reflect more passively the general poleward migration of synoptic activity in positive NAO conditions.
Metal Artifact Reduction From Reformatted Projections for Hip Prostheses in Multislice Helical Computed Tomography: Techniques and Initial Clinical Results

Purpose:Hip prosthesis is one of the most common types of metal implants and can cause significant artifacts in computed tomography (CT) examinations. The purpose of this work was to develop a projection-based method for reducing metal artifacts caused by hip prostheses in multislice helical CT. Method and Materials:The proposed method is based on a novel concept, reformatted projection, which is formed by combining the projection data at the same view angle over the full longitudinal scan range. Detection and segmentation of the metal were performed on each reformatted projection image. Two dimensional interpolation based on Delaunay triangulation was used to fill voids left after removal of the metal in the reformatted projection. The corrected data were then reconstructed using a commercially available algorithm. The main advantage of this method is that both the detection of the metal objects and the interpolations are performed on complete reformatted projections with the entire metal region present, which is particularly useful for long hip prostheses. Twenty clinical abdominal/pelvis exams with hip prostheses were corrected and clinically evaluated. Results:The overall image quality and the conspicuity in some critical organs were significantly improved compared with the uncorrected images: overall quality (P = 0.0024); bladder base (P = 0.0027), and rectum (P = 0.0078). The average noise level in the bladder base was reduced from 86.7 HU to 36.2 HU. In 17 of 20 cases, the radiologists preferred either coronal (13) or axial (4) views of the corrected images. Conclusions:A novel method for reducing metal artifact in multislice helical CT was developed. Initial clinical results showed that the proposed method can effectively reduce the artifacts caused by metal implants for the cases of unilateral and bilateral hip prothesis.
Fusion of Redundant Aided-inertial Sensors with Decentralised Kalman Filter for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Navigation

Most submarines carry more than one set of inertial navigation system (INS) for redundancy and reliability. Apart from INS systems, the submarine carries other sensors that provide different navigation information. A major challenge is to combine these sensors and INS estimates in an optimal and robust manner for navigation. This issue has been addressed by Farrell1. The same approach is used in this paper to combine different sensor measurements along with INS system. However, since more than one INS system is available onboard, it would be better to use multiple INS systems at the same time to obtain a better estimate of states and to provide autonomy in the event of failure of one INS system. This would require us to combine the estimates obtained from local filters (one set of INS system integrated with external sensors), in some optimal way to provide a global estimate. Individual sensor and IMU measurements cannot be accessed in this scenario. Also, autonomous operation requires no sharing of information among local filters. Hence a decentralised Kalman filter approach is considered for combining the estimates of local filters to give a global estimate. This estimate would not be optimal, however. A better optimal estimate can be obtained by accessing individual measurements and augmenting the state vector in Kalman filter, but in that case, corruption of one INS system will lead to failure of the whole filter. Hence to ensure satisfactory performance of the filter even in the event of failure of some INS system, a decentralised Kalman filtering approach is considered.
The Association Between Iron Deficiency and Febrile Seizures in Childhood

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between iron deficiency and febrile seizures in a large cohort of children aged 6 to 36 months. Methods. A retrospective case control study with 361 patients who presented with febrile seizures to the emergency department and 390 otherwise healthy controls who presented with a febrile illness to the emergency department were reviewed to determine iron status using the MCV, RDW, and hemoglobin. Results. A total of 9% of cases had iron deficiency (ID) and 6% had iron deficiency anemia (IDA), compared to 5% and 4% of controls respectively. The conditional logistic regression odds ratio for ID in patients with febrile seizures was 1.84 (95% CI, 1.02-3.31). Conclusion. Children with febrile seizures were almost twice as likely to be iron deficient as those with febrile illness alone. The results suggest that screening for ID should be considered in children presenting with febrile seizure.
Mortality After Noncardiac Surgery: Prediction From Administrative Versus Clinical Data

Background:Hospital profiles are increasingly constructed using risk-adjusted clinical data abstracted from patient records. Objective:We sought to compare hospital profiles based on risk adjusted death within 30 days of surgery from administrative versus clinical data in a national cohort of surgical patients. Design:This was a cohort study that included 78,546 major noncardiac operations performed between October 1, 1991 and December 31, 1993 in 44 Veterans Affairs hospitals. Administrative data were used to develop and validate multivariable logistic regression models of 30-day postoperative death for all surgery and 4 surgical specialties (general, orthopedic, thoracic, and vascular). Previously developed and validated clinical models were obtained and reproduced for matching operations using data from the VA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Observed-to-expected 30-day mortality ratios for administrative and clinical data were calculated and compared for each hospital. Results:In multivariable logistic regression models using administrative data, characteristics such as patient age, race, marital status, admission from a nursing home, interhospital transfer, admission on the weekend, weekend surgery, and risk strata consisting of groups of principal and comorbidity diagnoses were predictive of postoperative mortality (P < 0.05). Correlations of the clinical and administrative observed-to-expected ratios were 0.75, 0.83, 0.64, 0.78, and 0.86 for all surgery, general, orthopedic, thoracic, and vascular surgery, respectively. When compared with clinical models, administrative models identified outlier hospitals with sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 89%, positive predictive value of 51%, and negative predictive value of 96%. Conclusions:Our data suggest that risk adjustment of mortality using administrative data may be useful for screening hospitals for potential quality problems.
Decentralized control strategy and probability model for air conditioning loads

Air conditioners can actively participate in frequency control for power system when it suffers from large power shortage. To make full use of reserve resources, a decentralized control strategy for air conditioning loads was proposed. Meanwhile, in order to facilitate analysis and control, the control strategy's probability model was established. Firstly, a modulation strategy responding to frequency was proposed in which air conditioner autonomously adjusts its upper and lower limit of temperature dead-band to keep the operating state be unchanged after load control, so the aggregated power oscillations caused by load diversity loss can be avoided. Moreover, the load control strategy's probability model was established to describe air conditioning load groups' control characteristics. Lastly, the effectiveness of the proposed load group's decentralized control strategy and probability model were verified by simulation results.
On a model of human bioenergetics II

The properties of a proposed three component hydraulic model of human bioenergetics are examined in respect of the maximum exertable power and the endurance time for given workloads. An equation expressing the decline in maximal effort during an "all-out" exercise is derived, from which a Vo2 time equation can be deduced. In addition a workload versus endurance time equation can be obtained, enabling the prediction of time to exhaustion. The resulting equations are illustrated graphically by means of a numerical example. Model predictions, when compared with experimental results, reveal discrepancies which confirm the rejection of the model, as was suggested in an earlier paper.
The Nature of Climate Science for the Rocky Mountain West: Implications for Economists Trying to Help Agriculture Adapt

Climate change may impact the economic viability of farms, ranches and agricultural communities in multiple ways. Climate change will likely increase evaporation and water loss from plants, thereby increasing drought severity while also creating the potential for more frequent droughts (Karl et al., 2009). Drought impacts in the West will likely be amplified as declines in mountain snowpack affect runoff, water storage, and irrigation. Increased pest outbreaks, disease, and extreme weather will also pose critical challenges for crop and livestock production (Karl et al. 2009).
Redetermination of 3-methylisoquinoline at 150 K

The structure of the title compound, C19H9O, has been redetermined at 150 K. The redetermination is of significantly higher precision than a previous room-temperature structure [Ribar et al. (1974 ▶). Cryst. Struct. Commun. 3, 323–325]. The C—N bond lengths for this redetermination are much closer to those observed in comparable structures, and the orientation of the methyl group with respect to the isoquinoline plane is clarified. Intermolecular weak C—H⋯N contacts are present in the crystal.
Some Mixed Evidence of Economic Transformation from Greece: Workforce Patterns and Shifts during the Recession (2008-2013)

The paper analyzes the quarterly Greek Labor Force Survey estimates from early 2008 to early and mid- 2013 via linear econometric regressions with robust standard errors. By isolating the seasonal effects it: (a) examines sectoral employment, unemployment and non-participation trend and cyclical aspects across demographic groups at the sub-regional level, as well as regional workforce aspects at the sub-sectoral level, and (b) identifies sub-sectors, places, and segments of the population which diverge from the rest by exhibiting statistically significant reversals in the recessionary pattern. The findings provide (i) interesting insights into the diverse reactions that take place in the Greek workforce amid the recession, as well as (ii) avenues for further research to advance understanding of the underlying causes of these responses and the operation of country's constituent economies.
Simplification of Privacy Disclosures: An Experimental Test

Simplification of disclosures is widely regarded as an important goal and is increasingly mandated in a variety of areas. In the area of data privacy, lawmakers and interest groups developed best-practices techniques to help consumers understand how firms collect and use personal information. Commentators have even advocated going a step further and using simpler disclosures—warning boxes that alert consumers to the least-expected elements. But do these techniques succeed in better informing consumers or preventing unwise behavior? To answer this question, we engaged a leading market research firm to conduct a survey on risky sexual behaviors while randomizing the format of the privacy disclosures provided to the respondents. We find that best-practice simplification techniques have little or no effect on respondents’ comprehension of the disclosure, willingness to share personal information, and expectations about their rights. Our results challenge the wisdom of focusing regulatory effort on simplifying disclosures.
A Wideband Digital RF Receiver Front-End Employing a New Discrete-Time Filter for m-WiMAX

A wideband digital RF receiver front-end employing a discrete-time (DT) filter is presented for application to m-WiMAX (WiBro). By employing a sampling mixer and a DT filter, the receiver operates in the charge domain. In addition to the flexibility of the DT filter, the new non-decimation finite impulse response (NDF) filter can be cascaded to a conventional finite impulse response (FIR) filter without the decimation effect. Thus, we can easily increase the order of the sincn function-type filtering response and the signal processing bandwidth. The FIR filter is also modified to reduce the noise and the number of required clock signal. Because of the new filter configuration, clock signals can be shared by the FIR filter and NDF filter and the clock generator circuit can be simplified. The designed receiver front-end is implemented using an IBM 0.13-μm RF CMOS process. The fabricated chip satisfies the m-WiMAX specification of an 8.75 MHz channel bandwidth and the total system current dissipation is 26.63 mA from a 1.5-V supply voltage.