Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting Lifetime of Thick Al Wire Bonds Using Signals Obtained From Ultrasonic Generator

Routine monitoring of the wire bonding process requires real-time evaluation and control of wire bond quality. In this paper, we present a nondestructive technique for detecting bond quality by the application of a semisupervised classification algorithm to process the signals obtained from an ultrasonic generator. Experimental tests verified that the classification method is capable of accurately predicting bond quality, indicated by bonded area measured by X-ray tomography. Samples classified during bonding were subjected to temperature cycling between -55 °C and +125 °C, and the distribution of bond life amongst the different classes was analyzed. It is demonstrated that the as-bonded quality classification is closely correlated with thermal cycling life and can, therefore, be used as a nondestructive tool for monitoring bond quality and predicting useful service life.
The STAR (Self-Testing And Repairing) Computer: An Investigation of the Theory and Practice of Fault-Tolerant Computer Design

This paper presents the results obtained in a continuing investigation of fault-tolerant computing which is being conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Initial studies led to the decision to design and construct an experimental computer with dynamic (standby) redundancy, including replaceable subsystems and a program rollback provision to eliminate transient errors. This system, called the STAR computer, began operation in 1969. The following aspects of the STAR system are described: architecture, reliability analysis, software, automatic maintenance of peripheral systems, and adaptation to serve as the central computer of an outerplanet exploration spacecraft.
Genetic identification of factors for extracellular cellulose accumulation in the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus vulcanus: proposal of a novel tripartite secretion system

Cells of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus vulcanus strain RKN (NIES‐2134) aggregate and produce extracellular cellulose under induced conditions of blue light and low temperature, and both aggregation and cellulose production require the cellulose synthase Tll0007 (XcsA) and photosensory diguanylate cyclases. However, overexpression of both the cellulose synthase and a constitutively active diguanylate cyclase was not sufficient to induce cellulose‐mediated cell aggregation under normal growth conditions. Synteny analysis and gene knockout revealed that two putative genes, hlyD‐like tlr0903 (xcsB) and endoglucanase‐like tlr1902 (xcsC), are linked to tll0007, although they are located apart from tll0007 in the T. vulcanus genome. Gene knockdown revealed that tlr1605 (tolC) was essential for the cellulose‐mediated cell aggregation. Low temperature induced marked upregulation of tlr0903, and overexpression of both tlr0903 (but not tlr1902) and diguanylate cyclase resulted in the strong cell aggregation and cellulose accumulation under normal conditions. Based on these and phylogenetic analysis, we propose that the cyanobacterial extracellular cellulose production is due to a novel variant of the bacterial tripartite secretion system.
The PKRC's Value as a Professional Development Model Validated

After a brief review of the 4-H professional development standards, a new model for determining the value of continuing professional development is introduced and applied to the 4-H standards. The validity of the 4-H standards is affirmed. 4-H Extension professionals are encouraged to celebrate the strength of their standards and to engage the wider field of professional development in dialogue.
Activity of Rhodobacter sphaeroides RpoHII, a Second Member of the Heat Shock Sigma Factor Family

ABSTRACT We have identified a second RpoH homolog, RpoHII, in the α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Primary amino acid sequence comparisons demonstrate that R. sphaeroides RpoHII belongs to a phylogenetically distinct group with RpoH orthologs from α-proteobacteria that contain two rpoH genes. Like its previously identified paralog, RpoHI, RpoHII is able to complement the temperature-sensitive phenotype of an Escherichia coli σ32 (rpoH) mutant. In addition, we show that recombinant RpoHI and RpoHII each transcribe two E. coli σ32-dependent promoters (rpoD PHS and dnaK P1) when reconstituted with E. coli core RNA polymerase. We observed differences, however, in the ability of each sigma factor to recognize six R. sphaeroides promoters (cycA P1, groESL 1, rpoD PHS, dnaK P1, hslO, and ecfE), all of which resemble the E. coli σ32 promoter consensus. While RpoHI reconstituted with R. sphaeroides core RNA polymerase transcribed all six promoters, RpoHII produced detectable transcripts from only four promoters (cycA P1, groESL 1, hslO, and ecfE). These results, in combination with previous work demonstrating that an RpoHI mutant mounts a typical heat shock response, suggest that while RpoHI and RpoHII have redundant roles in response to heat, they may also have roles in response to other environmental stresses.
The prevention of hip fracture with risedronate and ergocalciferol plus calcium supplementation in elderly women with Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND A high incidence of fractures, particularly of the hip, represents an important problem in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), who are prone to falls and have osteoporosis. We previously found that deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and compensatory hyperparathyroidism cause reduced bone mineral density in female patients with AD. We address the possibility that treatment with risedronate sodium and ergocalciferol plus calcium supplementation may reduce the incidence of nonvertebral fractures in elderly women with AD. METHODS A total of 500 elderly women with AD were randomly assigned to daily treatment with 2.5 mg of risedronate sodium or a placebo, combined with 1000 IU of ergocalciferol and 1200 mg of elementary calcium, and followed up for 18 months. RESULTS At baseline, patients of both groups showed 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency with compensatory hyperparathyroidism. During the study period, bone mineral density in the risedronate group increased by 4.1% and decreased by 0.9% in the control group. Vertebral fractures occurred in 29 patients (24 hip fractures) in the control group and 8 patients (5 hip fractures) in the risedronate group. The relative risk in the risedronate group compared with the control group was 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.59). CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with AD hypovitaminosis D are at increased risk for hip fracture. Treatment with risedronate and ergocalciferol may be safe and effective in reducing the risk of a fracture in elderly patients with AD.
Software design for mini-type ground control station of UAV

The guiding ideology and principle of GCS (Ground Control Station) software design & development were proposed by analyzing the role of CGS in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) systems. Firstly, established an abstract GCS software structure model of bi-directional information interaction; Secondly, analyzed the hardware system constraints caused by development of portable, mini-type GCS, as well as influences on GCS software design. Also, GCS software compatibility and interoperability standards and requirements were discussed. In the process of software design, at first, made a comprehensive analysis of the content of UAV data & information; Then finished the virtual instrument application design, put forward a multi-layer architecture model of 2D flight situation. The structure model analysis, data & information analysis provides a good guidance to the procedure of GCS software design & development, so as to avoid blindness and improve development efficiency. Virtual instrument interface design reflects the basic method of GUI (Graphical User Interface) design. The proposed multi-layer structure model of 2D flight situation shows the general scheme to solve the problem of navigation information output.
Prevalence and behavioral risk factors of overweight and obesity among children aged 2-18 in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity and the related behavioral risk factors among children in Beijing. METHODS Data were collected as part of a 2004 comprehensive study on obesity and metabolic syndrome among 21 198 children, aged 2-18 years old in Beijing. Four local and international references for the classification of childhood overweight and obesity were compared. RESULTS The combined prevalence of obesity and overweight among children, aged 2-18 years old, was 18.7%, 21.4%, and 20.1% based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference, new World Health Organization (WHO) growth standard, and the US 2000 Center for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts, respectively; and it was 21.7%, according to the local Chinese body mass index (BMI) reference for school-age children (aged 7-18 years). Physical inactivity, less sleep duration, higher consumption of alcohol, snack food and Western fast food and more screen time were associated with overweight and obesity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Over 20% of children and adolescents in Beijing are overweight or obese. Effort should be made to combat the growing obesity epidemic.
Situated Directives in Italian L2 Service-Learning Encounters

Interaction with local speakers of a second language (L2) in a naturalistic setting during study abroad is beneficial to language learning in many respects; particularly in the development of pragmatic competence, or the awareness and ability to use the appropriate language for a specific social context (Kinginger, 2011; Magnan & Back, 2007; Schauer, 2009; Shively, 2011). Servicelearning volunteering in the local community combined with an academic pursuit during study abroad provides the opportunity for meaningful interaction between language learners and local speakers of the L2 in authentic and collaborative settings (Overfield, 2007). This study examines the interactions of Italian L2 users and local speakers of Italian while engaged in service-learning in Italy. A sociopragmatic framework revealed emergent trends and linguistic norms of interaction in this context. Using a discourse analytic approach, this study offers a detailed description of directive use of the L2 learners and the local Italian speakers (Blum-Kulka, et al, 1989; Ervin-Tripp, 1976; Nuzzo, 2007). The study also examines (mis)understandings and relational work (Locher & Watts, 2008) that occur in the interactions. Primary data consists of audio recordings of the naturally-occurring interactions at three service-learning sites during a short-term summer study abroad program in Italy. Secondary data consists of interviews with the L2 users and their interlocutors. The data reveal that the majority of directives came from the local Italian speakers, not the L2 users, likely due to the clear power dynamic and the nature of the activities at each site. The directives were most commonly in the imperative with little or no mitigation for purposes of clarity and/or urgency of the tasks. Misunderstandings expressed by the L2 users were primarily linguistic, although there were also instances of pragmatic
Single-phase active power filter using FFT with harmonic phase-delay compensation

This paper describes a single-phase active power filter based on newly developed digital controller. The developed controller utilizes FFT algorithm to extract the reference signal from the load current, considering the phase-angle delay of each harmonic component. Optimizing technique was applied for whole control algorithm to implement the real-time operation of developed controller. The performance of developed controller for a single-phase active power filter was verified through computer simulations. The feasibility of hardware implementation was confirmed building and testing a prototype of whole system. The developed digital controller for a single-phase active power filter can compensate the harmonic current generated by the power supply for digital equipment.
Function of thick and thin nerve fibers in carpal tunnel syndrome before and after surgical treatment

Present studies evaluated the functions of thick and thin nerve fibers in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) to determine whether data of thin nerve fibers can add further information to the diagnosis of CTS. Measurements were performed in 22 patients and 16 age‐matched control subjects. Motor and sensory nerve conduction, vibratory testing, thresholds of warmth and cold sensations, suprathreshold magnitude of pain and flare response, as well as sympathetic reflexes induced by noxious mechanostimulation were examined before and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after decompression of the median nerve. Nerve dysfunction in CTS was mainly indicated by the electrophysiological parameters of thick myelinated nerve fibers. Impairment of thin nerve functions in CTS and postoperative recovery was demonstrated by quantitative somatosensory thermotesting. In contrast, assessment of flare response and sympathetic reflexes using infrared thermography and photoplethysmography did not add further information for the diagnosis of CTS. © 1995 John Wiley &Sons, Inc.
Oxygen saturation during daily activities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently develop nocturnal oxygen desturation because of alveolar hypoventilation, worsening of ventilation-perfusion mismatch, and sometimes obstructive sleep apnoeas. In contrast, little is known about their oxygen status during the various activities of daily life. The aim of this study was to compare the oxygen saturation profile during day and night, and to assess the influence of different daily activities in COPD. During a rehabilitation programme, we studied 30 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (median forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 37% of predicted), without marked hypoxaemia (median arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) 9.1 kPa). Arterial oxygen saturation (Sa,O2) was assessed by pulse oximetry during night (8 h) and day (10.5 h). The mean and minimal Sa,O2 were calculated, and desaturations were defined as Sa,O2 falls > 4%. h-1. Daily activities were identified by the patients as resting, eating, washing, nebulization therapy and walking. Mean Sa,O2 was lower during the night (88%) than during the day (89%). In contrast, minimal Sa,O2 was lower during the day (69%) than during the night (72%), and the number of desaturations was higher during the day (8.6 desaturations.h-1) than during the night (6.8 desaturations.h-1). Mean Sa,O2 was 88% during walking, which was lower than during resting (90%), nebulization (90%), and meals (89%). The number of desaturations was higher during walking (13.1 desaturations.h-1), washing (12.6 desaturations.h-1), and eating (9.2 desaturations.h-1) than during resting (5.3 desaturations.h-1). We conclude that daily activities, such as walking, washing and eating, are associated with transient oxygen desaturation in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even without marked resting hypoxaemia.
Functional Analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana CDPK-Related Kinase Family: AtCRK1 Regulates Responses to Continuous Light

The Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase (CDPK)-Related Kinase family (CRKs) consists of eight members in Arabidopsis. Recently, AtCRK5 was shown to play a direct role in the regulation of root gravitropic response involving polar auxin transport (PAT). However, limited information is available about the function of the other AtCRK genes. Here, we report a comparative analysis of the Arabidopsis CRK genes, including transcription regulation, intracellular localization, and biological function. AtCRK transcripts were detectable in all organs tested and a considerable variation in transcript levels was detected among them. Most AtCRK proteins localized at the plasma membrane as revealed by microscopic analysis of 35S::cCRK-GFP (Green Fluorescence Protein) expressing plants or protoplasts. Interestingly, 35S::cCRK1-GFP and 35S::cCRK7-GFP had a dual localization pattern which was associated with plasma membrane and endomembrane structures, as well. Analysis of T-DNA insertion mutants revealed that AtCRK genes are important for root growth and control of gravitropic responses in roots and hypocotyls. While Atcrk mutants were indistinguishable from wild type plants in short days, Atcrk1-1 mutant had serious growth defects under continuous illumination. Semi-dwarf phenotype of Atcrk1-1 was accompanied with chlorophyll depletion, disturbed photosynthesis, accumulation of singlet oxygen, and enhanced cell death in photosynthetic tissues. AtCRK1 is therefore important to maintain cellular homeostasis during continuous illumination.
A comparison of land use land cover classification using superspectral WorldView-3 vs hyperspectral imagery

In advance of releasing a WorldView-3 (WV-3) dataset with both VNIR and SWIR bands for research purposes, this study was conducted to provide a baseline comparison of land use/land cover (LULC) classification based on hyperspectral and 16-, 8-, and 4-bands of WV-3 imagery. We chose a well-researched area over the city center of Pavia, Italy. Results suggest that the addition of spectral information from WV-3's SWIR bands helps bridge the gap between precision/recall scores obtained with multispectral VNIR vs. hyperspectral VNIR imagery.
Articular Cartilage Lesions Increase Early Cartilage Degeneration in Knees Treated by Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Articular cartilage degeneration can develop after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although radiological studies have identified risk factors for the progression of degenerative cartilage changes in the long term, risk factors in the early postoperative period remain to be documented. Hypothesis: Cartilage lesions that are present at surgery progress to cartilage degeneration in the early phase after ACLR. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: T1ρ is the spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame magnetic resonance imaging. Sagittal T1ρ maps of the femorotibial joint were obtained before and 1 year after ACLR in 23 patients with ACL injuries. Four regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on images of the cartilage in the medial and lateral femoral condyle (MFC, LFC) and the medial and lateral tibia plateau (MTP, LTP). Changes in the T1ρ value (milliseconds) of each ROI were recorded, and differences between patients with and without cartilage lesions were evaluated. The relationship between changes in the T1ρ value and meniscal tears was also studied. Results: Arthroscopy at ACLR detected cartilage lesions in 15 MFCs, 7 LFCs, and 2 LTPs. The baseline T1ρ value of the MFC and LFC was significantly higher in patients with cartilage lesions (MFC, 40.7 ms; LFC, 42.2 ms) than in patients without cartilage lesions (MFC, 38.0 ms, P = .025; LFC, 39.4 ms, P = .010). At 1-year follow-up, the T1ρ value of the MFC and LFC was also significantly higher in patients with lesions (MFC, 43.1 ms; LFC, 42.7 ms) than in patients without such lesions (MFC, 39.1 ms, P = .002; LFC, 40.4 ms, P = .023, respectively). In patients with cartilage injury, the T1ρ value of the MFC increased during the year after treatment (P = .002). There was no significant difference in the baseline and follow-up T1ρ value in patients with or without meniscal tears on each side although the T1ρ value of the MFC, MTP, and LFC increased during the first year after surgery regardless of the presence or absence of meniscal injuries. Conclusion: Using T1ρ mapping to detect minimal changes, our study demonstrated that cartilage lesions are related to progressive degenerative cartilage changes during the early phase after ACLR.
Global financial crisis and international division of labour

While the most optimistic economists and media commentators are rushing to declare that the worst of the world economic crisis is over, those declarations not only may be premature but also overshadow the fundamental reasons and possible lasting consequences of the current global downturn. In contrast to the prevailing line of arguments of the current orthodoxy on the reasons for the crises, this paper provides an explanation for the current crisis in simple real, rather than financial market, terms. First, we show theoretically the relationship between financial bubbles with both consumption and deindustrialization. Then, by estimating models, based on cross-country panel data, we derive a worldwide trend linking industrialisation to an improving balance of payments and foreign debt position, while, deindustrialisation is found to be correlated with balance of payments deficit and foreign debt. This might be an indication that post-industrial economic development, as it has been evolving so far, is “no-through road”, for Western nations, reducing opportunities for employment and ultimately leading to decreases in standard of living.
Image analysis software for automatic DNA ploidy assessment of archival solid tumours.

BACKGROUND Image cytometry has proved to provide a good alternative to flow cytometry for DNA ploidy measurement of archival tumors. However, when interactively done this technique is unable to give statistically valuable results within an acceptable time for clinical oncology. METHODS An image cytometer was developed for fully automatic DNA ploidy quantitation, focusing efforts on speed and accuracy. Software functionalities include systematic acquisition of fields on a microscopic slide, detection, localization and sorting of nuclei, computation of the DNA content together with post-processing tools, for a deeper analysis of the DNA ploidy diagram. RESULTS DNA ploidy analysis of archival breast carcinoma samples illustrates the accuracy of DNA ploidy measurements and the sensitivity in the detection of DNA ploidy abnormalities as a result of cell sorting. CONCLUSIONS Fully automatic image cytometry is able to combine qualities of flow cytometry (automatic analysis of a statistically significant collection of cell nuclei) with additional advantages: sorting of unwanted events (debris, stromal and inflammatory cell nuclei) and facilities for an a posteriori control of the quality of cell selection. This method is well suited to DNA ploidy analysis of archival cancer samples.
Unfair Pay and Health

This paper investigates physiological responses to perceptions of unfair pay. We use an integrated approach exploiting complementarities between controlled lab and representative panel data. In a simple principal-agent experiment agents produce revenue by working on a tedious task. Principals decide how this revenue is allocated between themselves and their agents. Throughout the experiment we record agents' heart rate variability, which is an indicator of stress-related impaired cardiac autonomic control, and which has been shown to predict coronary heart disease in the long-run. Our findings establish a link between unfair payment and heart rate variability. Building on these findings, we further test for potential adverse health effects of unfair pay using observational data from a large representative panel data set. Complementary to our experimental findings we show a strong and significant negative association between unfair pay and health outcomes, in particular cardiovascular health.