Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electromigration in Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu flip chip solder joint

Electromigration in Sn30Ag05Cu flip chip solder joints was investigated under a current density of the order of 10 4 A/cm 2 . The transfer of atoms or vacancies and the formation of Joule heating induced by electromigration were studies in terms of microstructural evolution. The formation of pancake-type void at the interface between solder and intermetallic compound was dominated by current concentration and the directional transfer of vacancies induced by electromigration. Series of voids were also found at the interface between Ni（P） finishes and solder joint. The area of voids at substrate side are less than that at chip side. The flux of Cu atoms in the pad has the same direction as the electron flux. The transfer of Cu atoms from pad to solder joint led to the formation of large areas of intermetallic compound in solder joint, and the amount of intermetallic compound increased along the direction of electron flux.
Design, modelling and control of a micro-positioning actuator based on magnetic shape memory alloys

This paper presents an actuator based on magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) suitable for precise positioning in a wide range (up to 1 mm). The actuator is based on the spring returned operating mode and uses a Smalley wave spring to maintain the same operating parameters of a classical coil spring, while being characterized by a smaller dimension. The MSMA element inside the actuator provides a deformation when excited by an external magnetic field, but its behavior is characterized by an asymmetric and saturated hysteresis. Thus, two models are exploited in this work to represent such a non-linear behavior, i.e., the modified and generalized Prandtl–Ishlinskii models. These models are particularly suitable for control purposes due to the existence of their analytical inversion that can be easily exploited in real time control systems. To this aim, this paper investigates three closed-loop control strategies, namely a classical PID regulator, a PID regulator with direct hysteresis compensation, and a combined PID and feedforward compensation strategy. The effectiveness of both modelling and control strategies applied to the designed MSMA-based actuator is illustrated by means of experimental results.
Clustered Multi-Task Learning for Automatic Radar Target Recognition

Model training is a key technique for radar target recognition. Traditional model training algorithms in the framework of single task leaning ignore the relationships among multiple tasks, which degrades the recognition performance. In this paper, we propose a clustered multi-task learning, which can reveal and share the multi-task relationships for radar target recognition. To further make full use of these relationships, the latent multi-task relationships in the projection space are taken into consideration. Specifically, a constraint term in the projection space is proposed, the main idea of which is that multiple tasks within a close cluster should be close to each other in the projection space. In the proposed method, the cluster structures and multi-task relationships can be autonomously learned and utilized in both of the original and projected space. In view of the nonlinear characteristics of radar targets, the proposed method is extended to a non-linear kernel version and the corresponding non-linear multi-task solving method is proposed. Comprehensive experimental studies on simulated high-resolution range profile dataset and MSTAR SAR public database verify the superiority of the proposed method to some related algorithms.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PASSIVE SHOULDER ROTATION RANGE OF MOTION, ISOMETRIC ROTATION STRENGTH AND SERVE SPEED BETWEEN ELITE TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT HISTORY OF SHOULDER PAIN.

Background Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and external rotation strength have been associated with the development of shoulder pain in overhead athletes. Objective To examine the bilateral passive shoulder rotational range of motion (ROM), the isometric rotational strength and unilateral serve speed in elite tennis players with and without shoulder pain history (PH and NPH, respectively) and compare between dominant and non-dominant limbs and between groups. Study Design Cohort study. Methods Fifty-eight elite tennis players were distributed into the PH group (n = 20) and the NPH group (n = 38). Serve velocity, dominant and non-dominant passive shoulder external and internal rotation (ER and IR) ROM, total arc of motion (TAM: the sum of IR and ER ROM), ER and IR isometric strength, bilateral deficits and ER/IR strength ratio were measured in both groups. Questionnaires were administered in order to classify characteristics of shoulder pain. Results The dominant shoulder showed significantly reduced IR ROM and TAM, and increased ER ROM compared to the non-dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER strength and ER/IR strength ratio were significantly lower in the dominant shoulder in the PH group when compared with the NPH group. No significant differences between groups were found for serve speed. Conclusion These data show specific adaptations in the IR, TAM and ER ROM in the dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER muscle weakness and ER/IR strength ratio deficit appear to be associated with history of shoulder injuries in elite tennis players. It would be advisable for clinicians to use the present information to design injury prevention programs. Level of evidence 2.
Population-Based Study of Prediagnostic Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in Relation to Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

Background Chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted reported bacterial infections worldwide. The well-known sequelae of chlamydial infection include pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal factor infertility, but the evidence linking C. trachomatis infection and adverse pregnancy outcome is inconsistent and has been largely based on case-control studies with limited study populations. We evaluated this link in a population-based longitudinal biobank health registry setting. Methods The association between C. trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) peptide-specific IgG antibodies and ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and preterm delivery was examined in a prospective case-control study nested in the Finnish Maternity Cohort. Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage cases were identified through the Hospital Discharge Register 1998–2005; cases with preterm deliveries were identified through the Finnish Medical Birth register 1988–2005. Control samples were retrieved from the Finnish Maternity Cohort serum bank. A total of 800 cases of ectopic pregnancy, 800 cases of miscarriage, and 1350 cases of preterm birth were included. Equal number of pregnant women without the outcome diagnosis served as controls. The cases and controls were matched by sampling time, at the serum sampling and postal code district. Results Antichlamydial IgG antibodies were associated with ectopic pregnancy. Positive antibody levels were found in 21.0% of cases and 14.6% of controls (P = 0.001; odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.20–2.03). Previous exposure to C. trachomatis, as indicated by serum antibodies, doubled the risk of ectopic pregnancy within age and was highest among women 35 years or older. Antichlamydial IgG antibody rates between the cases with miscarriage (16.3% in cases vs. 16.8% in controls) or preterm delivery (18.1% vs. 18.1%) and controls did not differ. Conclusions Our findings confirm the association between previous exposure to C. trachomatis and ectopic pregnancy. We found no association between C. trachomatis seropositivity and miscarriage or preterm birth.
5′ to 3′ mRNA Decay Contributes to the Regulation of Arabidopsis Seed Germination by Dormancy1

The regulation of seed germination by dormancy is controlled by the degradation of specific subsets of mRNA during imbibition through the involvement of a 5′ to 3′ decay machinery. The regulation of plant gene expression, necessary for development and adaptive responses, relies not only on RNA transcription but also on messenger RNA (mRNA) fate. To understand whether seed germination relies on the degradation of specific subsets of mRNA, we investigated whether the 5′ to 3′ RNA decay machinery participated in the regulation of this process. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds of exoribonuclease4 (xrn4) and varicose (vcs) mutants displayed distinct dormancy phenotypes. Transcriptome analysis of xrn4-5 and vcs-8 mutant seeds allowed us to identify genes that are likely to play a role in the control of germination. Study of 5′ untranslated region features of these transcripts revealed that specific motifs, secondary energy, and GC content could play a role in their degradation by XRN4 and VCS, and Gene Ontology clustering revealed novel actors of seed dormancy and germination. Several specific transcripts identified as being putative targets of XRN4 and VCS in seeds (PECTIN LYASE-LIKE, ASPARTYL PROTEASE, DWD-HYPERSENSITIVE-TO-ABA3, and YELLOW STRIPE-LIKE5) were further studied by reverse genetics, and their functional roles in the germination process were confirmed by mutant analysis. These findings suggest that completion of germination and its regulation by dormancy also depend on the degradation of specific subsets of mRNA.
Lead (Pb) neurotoxicology and cognition

ABSTRACT Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic substance. While it is widely understood that Pb exposure in early childhood adversely impacts neurodevelopment and intelligence, other aspects of cognition that are negatively affected, and the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology underlying Pb-related cognitive impairment are not widely appreciated by clinicians. This critical review gives a broad synopsis of the current literature in the field. The means by which Pb enters the body, crosses the blood-brain barrier, alters brain structure and function, and consequently impacts measurable aspects of cognition are reviewed. We detail research relating exposure to Pb at various levels in early childhood to deficits in IQ, academic achievement, executive functioning, and cognition in general. Clinical disorders associated with early Pb exposure, common and uncommon routes of environmental exposure, and potential confounding variables are discussed. We discuss methods of statistically accounting for these issues in the context of potential means of relying upon existing research and specific individuals’ known blood Pb levels to make reasonable calculations regarding Pb-related compromise of intellectual functioning for individuals in clinical settings.
Effects of genetic strain, slow versus rapid-feathering maternal genotype, and cage density on the performance of Single Comb White Leghorns.

Two hatches involving 11,158 pullets from 22 Single Comb White Leghorn strain crosses were used in these experiments: 13 from rapid-feathering (k+/-) and 9 from slow-feathering (K/-) dams, some of which shared common genetic backgrounds; and all from 5 homozygous k+ sire types. Birds were grown intermingled within hatch, and were subsequently caged in two laying houses, one with 30.5 cm x 40.6-cm cages and the other with 40.6 cm x 30.5-cm cages, at densities of three or four birds/cage. Data were collected by cage on hen-day rate of lay from 50% production to 52 wk of age; (HD%), number of eggs produced per hen housed (EHH), percentage mortality (%M) to 52 wk of age; 35-wk BW (BW35); egg weight (EW34), specific gravity (SG34), and percentage bloodspots (BS%34) at 34 wk of age. The effects of hatches or house (H), density (D), maternal feathering type (MFT), genetic strain within MFT (GS/MFT), bank level within house (BL/H), and all possible interactions were included in the analysis model. Hatch, house, and cage type were completely confounded, so no general conclusion can be made concerning the effects of the reverse and standard cages on performance. The H effects were significant for all traits except HD%. Cage D significantly affected all traits except SG34 and BS%34. Pullets housed at three/cage weighed 26 g less, produced 5.5 more eggs that were . 3 g/egg lighter, laid at a 1.7% higher hen-day rate, and had 3.6 less %M from 20 to 52 wk of age than those housed at four/cage. The MFT significantly affected all traits except %M, SG34, and BS%34. The k+/- daughters from K/- dams weighed 34 g less, produced at a 2.8% lower HD%, laid 6.9 fewer eggs, which eggs averaged . 6 g/egg less than the eggs from the k+/- daughters of the k+/- dams. Interactions were in general small and nonsignificant. However, the H x GS/MFT interactions were significant for HD%, EHH, BW35, %M, and EW34 (P less than .05); their significance is suggestive of the presence of genotype x environment interactions.
Primjena neuronskih mreža za hidrološko modeliranje u krškom području

U ovom radu je razmatrana mogućnost kratkoročnog predviđanja protoka vode u krškom području. Četiri suvremena algoritma strojnog učenja su korištena za predviđanje protoka jedan dan unaprijed i to: neuronska mreža s višeslojnim perceptronom, neuronska mreža s radijalnom aktivacijskom funkcijom, metoda potpornih vektora za regresiju (SVR), adaptivni neuroneizraziti (fuzzy) sustav zaključivanja (ANFIS). Rezultati pokazuju da ANFIS model nadmašuje ostale algoritme kada se korijen srednje kvadratne popogreške i srednja apsolutna pogreška upotrijebe kao mjere kvalitete.
Isolation of blood-brain barrier-crossing antibodies from a phage display library by competitive elution and their ability to penetrate the central nervous system

ABSTRACT The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a formidable obstacle for delivery of biologic therapeutics to central nervous system (CNS) targets. Whilst the BBB prevents passage of the vast majority of molecules, it also selectively transports a wide variety of molecules required to maintain brain homeostasis. Receptor-mediated transcytosis is one example of a macromolecule transport system that is employed by cells of the BBB to supply essential proteins to the brain and which can be utilized to deliver biologic payloads, such as antibodies, across the BBB. In this study, we performed phage display selections on the mouse brain endothelial cell line, bEND.3, to enrich for antibody single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) that could compete for binding with a known BBB-crossing antibody fragment, FC5. A number of these scFvs were converted to IgGs and characterized for their ability to bind to mouse, rat and human brain endothelial cells, and subsequent ability to transport across the BBB. We demonstrated that these newly identified BBB-targeting IgGs had increased brain exposure when delivered peripherally in mice and were also able to transport a biologically active molecule, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), into the CNS. The antagonism of the interleukin-1 system within the CNS can result in the relief of neuropathic pain. We demonstrated that the BBB-targeting IgGs were able to elicit an analgesic response in a mouse model of nerve ligation-induced hypersensitivity when fused to IL-1RA.
Transcoding or not? — A study of quantization configuration for H.264-to-HEVC transcoding

In the past several decades, many video coding standards with higher coding efficiency were developed. It raises an interesting question: Does transcoding benefit a previous coded video stream? This work uses H.264-HEVC transcoding as the study object. The experimental results show that the quality parameter (QP) plays the key role. With low H.264 QP and high HEVC QP, transcoding can always reduce the bitrate with similar PSNR. The bitrate saving can be over 50%, depending on the texture complexity. On the contrary, high H.264 QP with low HEVC QP can only cost tremendous bitrate with little PSNR improvement.
Acute thermal stressors and synthesis of antibodies in chickens.

Three experiments utilizing 368 chickens were conducted to determine the effect of acute heat and cold stress on antibody (Ab) production to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). All birds were injected with 1 ml of a 7% suspension of SRBC within 24 hr of initiation of the thermal stress. Each experiment used the same heat and cold stress regimen: four 30-min exposures to thermal treatments during four consecutive hours. In the first experiment, 40 five-week-old Hubbard broilers were either heat-stressed at an air temperature of 42 C or held at an ambient temperature of 24 C. While no differences (P greater than .10) were observed, antibody titers (log2: mean +/- SE) on day 5 after antigen injection were 10.12 +/- . 24 and 9.41 +/- . 24 for the control and heat-stressed birds, respectively. In the second experiment, 41 nine-week-old Hubbard broilers were held at air temperatures of 42 C or 26 C. No differences (P greater than .10) were observed in either total titers, 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) sensitive, or ME-resistant Ab titers. In Experiment 3, 72 chicks from each of the Athens Randombred, New Hampshire and White Leghorn breeds, and Hubbard broilers were acutely heat-stressed (41 C), cold-stressed (6 C), or maintained at 24 C. There were no differences (P greater than .10) in Ab titers among treatment groups. In contrast to previous reports, these data indicate that an acute, intermittent heat, or cold stress does not significantly alter the ability of several commercially available breeds of chickens to synthesize antibodies to sheep red blood cells. The effect of chronic themal stressors on the immune system of poultry remains unknown.
Thickness and Elasticity of Gram-Negative Murein Sacculi Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy

ABSTRACT Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the thickness of air-dried, collapsed murein sacculi from Escherichia coliK-12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Air-dried sacculi from E. coli had a thickness of 3.0 nm, whereas those fromP. aeruginosa were 1.5 nm thick. When rehydrated, the sacculi of both bacteria swelled to double their anhydrous thickness. Computer simulation of a section of a model single-layer peptidoglycan network in an aqueous solution with a Debye shielding length of 0.3 nm gave a mass distribution full width at half height of 2.4 nm, in essential agreement with these results. When E. colisacculi were suspended over a narrow groove that had been etched into a silicon surface and the tip of the atomic force microscope used to depress and stretch the peptidoglycan, an elastic modulus of 2.5 × 107 N/m2 was determined for hydrated sacculi; they were perfectly elastic, springing back to their original position when the tip was removed. Dried sacculi were more rigid with a modulus of 3 × 108 to 4 × 108N/m2 and at times could be broken by the atomic force microscope tip. Sacculi aligned over the groove with their long axis at right angles to the channel axis were more deformable than those with their long axis parallel to the groove axis, as would be expected if the peptidoglycan strands in the sacculus were oriented at right angles to the long cell axis of this gram-negative rod. Polar caps were not found to be more rigid structures but collapsed to the same thickness as the cylindrical portions of the sacculi. The elasticity of intactE. coli sacculi is such that, if the peptidoglycan strands are aligned in unison, the interstrand spacing should increase by 12% with every 1 atm increase in (turgor) pressure. Assuming an unstressed hydrated interstrand spacing of 1.3 nm (R. E. Burge, A. G. Fowler, and D. A. Reaveley, J. Mol. Biol. 117:927–953, 1977) and an internal turgor pressure of 3 to 5 atm (or 304 to 507 kPa) (A. L. Koch, Adv. Microbial Physiol. 24:301–366, 1983), the natural interstrand spacing in cells would be 1.6 to 2.0 nm. Clearly, if large macromolecules of a diameter greater than these spacings are secreted through this layer, the local ordering of the peptidoglycan must somehow be disrupted.
Molecular Mechanisms of Biased and Probe-Dependent Signaling at CXC-Motif Chemokine Receptor CXCR3 Induced by Negative Allosteric Modulators

Our recent explorations of allosteric modulators with improved properties resulted in the identification of two biased negative allosteric modulators, BD103 (N-1-{[3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimi-din2yl]ethyl}-4-(4-fluorobutoxy)-N-[(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl}]butanamide) and BD064 (5-[(N-{1-[3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-yl]ethyl-2-[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetamido)methyl]-2-fluorophenyl}boronic acid), that exhibited probe-dependent inhibition of CXC-motif chemokine receptor CXCR3 signaling. With the intention to elucidate the structural mechanisms underlying their selectivity and probe dependence, we used site-directed mutagenesis combined with homology modeling and docking to identify amino acids of CXCR3 that contribute to modulator binding, signaling, and transmission of cooperativity. With the use of allosteric radioligand RAMX3 ([3H]N-{1-[3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-yl]ethyl}-2-[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-[(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl]acetamide), we identified that F1313.32 and Y3087.43 contribute specifically to the binding pocket of BD064, whereas D1864.60 solely participates in the stabilization of binding conformation of BD103. The influence of mutations on the ability of negative allosteric modulators to inhibit chemokine-mediated activation (CXCL11 and CXCL10) was assessed with the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer–based cAMP and β-arrestin recruitment assay. Obtained data revealed complex molecular mechanisms governing biased and probe-dependent signaling at CXCR3. In particular, F1313.32, S3047.39, and Y3087.43 emerged as key residues for the compounds to modulate the chemokine response. Notably, D1864.60, W2686.48, and S3047.39 turned out to play a role in signal pathway selectivity of CXCL10, as mutations of these residues led to a G protein–active but β-arrestin–inactive conformation. These diverse effects of mutations suggest the existence of ligand- and pathway-specific receptor conformations and give new insights in the sophisticated signaling machinery between allosteric ligands, chemokines, and their receptors, which can provide a powerful platform for the development of new allosteric drugs with improved pharmacological properties.
Thrombophilia in 67 Patients With Thrombotic Events After Starting Testosterone Therapy

We compared thrombophilia in 67 cases (59 men and 8 women) with thrombotic events after starting testosterone therapy (TT) versus 111 patient controls having unprovoked venous thrombotic events without TT. In the 67 patients, thrombosis (47 deep venous thrombosis–pulmonary embolism, 16 osteonecrosis, and 4 ocular thrombosis) occurred 6 months (median) after starting TT. Cases differed from controls for factor V Leiden heterozygosity (16 of the 67 [24%] vs 13 [12%] of the 111, P = .038) and for lupus anticoagulant (9 [14%] of the 64 vs 4 [4%] of the 106, P = .019). After a first thrombotic event and continuing TT, 11 cases had a second thrombotic event, despite adequate anticoagulation, 6 of whom, still anticoagulated, had a third thrombosis. Screening for thrombophilia before starting TT should identify men and women at high risk for thrombotic events with an adverse risk–benefit ratio for TT. When TT is given to patients with familial and acquired thrombophilia, thrombosis may occur and recur in thrombophilic men despite anticoagulation.
Design of Hybrid Neural Network Model for Quality Evaluation of Object Oriented Software Modules

–The aim of this paper is to evaluate the quality of object oriented modules. In this work neural network approach is used along with PSO (particle swarm optimization) to find out fault prone components of software. The evaluation measures used are Accuracy, MAE (Mean absolute error), RMSE (Root mean square error) and the results are calculated on different iterations. The Accuracy, MAE, RMSE is improved as number of iterations increases. Keywords––Software engineering, Fault proneness, Neural Network, Particle Swarm Optimization.