cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of tumor size as staging variable in the revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I leiomyosarcoma: a population-based study.

Introduction: Tumor size has been introduced as a staging variable in the 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for stage I leiomyosarcoma. In the prior 1988 FIGO staging system, leiomyosarcoma used the same staging criteria as endometrial cancer including cervical involvement. In this large population-based study, we validate the use of tumor size for purposes of risk stratification among stage I leiomyosarcoma patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1988 and 2005. Kaplan-Meier log rank and Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis and to identify possible predictors for survival. Results: The identified cohort included 819 women: 158 (19.3%), 2008 FIGO stage IA and 661 (80.7%), 2008 FIGO stage IB leiomyosarcoma. The 5-year overall survival rate was better in stage IA than in stage IB leiomyosarcoma (76.6% vs 48.4%, P Conclusions: The new staging system using tumor size is better for risk stratification in stage I leiomyosarcoma compared with the 1988 FIGO staging system of endometrial cancer.
PRO: Secondary Surgical Debulking Is an Acceptable Option in Patients with Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

Introduction While cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy remain mainstays of the primary treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, 60% of patients will be diagnosed with a recurrence. Depite the large number of patients who experience recurrences, the econdary treatment of choice varies widely. Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCR) in platinum-sensitive disase is a viable option for the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian ancer. The theory behind this technique stems from the same ratioale as that behind primary debulking procedures as developed by riffiths in 1975. It was hypothesized that by decreasing the tumor burden, the growth fractions of the tumor should increase. In doing this, tumor cells that are poorly perfused secondary to a large tumor size should be reduced. This leads to increased accessibility of the remaining tumor cells to chemotherapy delivered via the blood stream. Finally, by decreasing tumor burden, the chance that these ells would then undergo spontaneous mutation ending in drug-resisant strains should also decrease. This theory, along with the evidence that will be presented, justifies that a second debulking procedure, in the appropriate candidate, is an attractive option in the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer in platinum-sensitive disease.
Atmospheric pressure microwave-powered microplasma source based on strip-line structure

Summary form only given. Portable low cost microplasma sources are of interest for various applications such as materials processing, treatment of biomedical materials, chemical analysis and optical radiation sources. Microplasma sources are especially of interest for atmospheric pressure operation because they do not require a vacuum system. Further, by using higher frequency energy (microwave) to power the microplasma discharge, erosion of electrodes is reduced or essentially eliminated. Another feature of microplasmas is the high power density and plasma density of the discharges. Additionally, the gas temperature of microdischarges is lower than larger plasmas at atmospheric pressure. In this investigation a microwave powered microplasma system based on a double-strip-line structure is developed for the generation of atmospheric pressure plasmas with various feed-gases and feed-gas mixtures. The microplasma system is constructed with the top and bottom copper strip-lines separated by a dielectric material. The strip-line structure is powered at one end and the plasma is formed at the other end where the two copper strip-lines are brought together to a gap with 250 microns separation. The feed-gas is flowed through a channel in the dielectric such that it exits with the feed-gas flowing into the gap created by the two strip-lines. The gas flow channel in the dielectric is 250 microns high by 6 mm wide. The flow rate is varied from 900-2400 sccm. Argon and argon-oxygen microplasma discharges are formed in the gap between the two copper strip-lines. In argon-oxygen plasmas investigated, the oxygen percentage is varied from 1% up to 5%. The microwave power used for the discharges varies from 5 to 60 Watts. Images of the plasma are taken to show the shape, volume and intensity of the microplasmas. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to diagnose the discharges. The emissions from selected excited atomic and molecular oxygen species are measured. Other properties of the microplasma including gas temperature and electron temperature are also measured. Some experiments of etching diamond with argon-oxygen microdischarges will be presented.
Closed-Form RC and RLC Delay Models Considering Input Rise Time

The Elmore delay model is the most popular and efficient delay model used for analytical delay estimation. Closed-form delay formulas are useful for circuit design, timing-driven physical design, synthesis, and optimization. As signal rise time becomes faster and the line resistance becomes smaller from copper technology, the significance of inductance increases. Both RC and RLC delays are a strong function of signal rise time. We propose a novel and efficient delay modeling method based on nondimensionalization to consider finite input rise time as an improvement over the Elmore's approach. To further improve the accuracy of the delay model, a new correction method, effective distance correction factor (EDCF), is proposed to consider resistive shielding of downstream capacitance. EDCF can be used to correct the delays for both RC and RLC tree structures. The proposed delay modeling method was applied to a number of nets selected from an integrated circuit (IC) design, and the delay estimation results were compared with HSPICE simulations. The new delay model retains the efficiency and simplicity of the Elmore delay model with significantly improved accuracy.
Relationship Between Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Catches When Using Pheromone Traps and Egg Counts in Cotton

The seven-component pheromone of Heliothis virescens (F.) was used as bait in a cone or TP 75–50 trap to monitor adult moths in South Carolina. A direct relationship was found between the number of H. virescens (F.) moths captured by using pheromone traps and egg counts in cotton fields. Pheromone traps effectively monitored population fluctuation of H. virescens during 1979 and 1980.
Cognizers' innards and connectionist nets: a holy alliance?

L'A. distingue le style ingenieur du style pretre dans la science cognitive, et voit dans les travaux communs de Clark et Karmiloff-Smith la rare coordination du mecanisme et du constructivisme
Evaluation within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General

Rapid, responsive evaluation targeted to decision makers is increasingly becoming more important to improving the quality, efficiency, integrity, and cost of programs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Stopped-Flow Studies of Changes in Fluorescence of 8-Anilino- 1 -naphthalene Sulfonic Acid Caused by Magnesium and Salt Binding to Yeast Enolase

Stopped-flow studies of magnesium and salt (potassium chloride and acetate) effects on yeast enolase were carried out by following 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid fluorescence changes. The fluorescence changes appear to be largely caused by subunit association and dissociation, though there is evidence in some reactions for large changes in fluorescence occurring within the dead time of the stopped-flow measurements. These data are combined with measurements of initial enzyme activity after incubation in various solvents with or without magnesium to obtain subunit association and dissociation rates. From these, it is concluded that magnesium and the salts act by directly changing the affinities of the subunits for each other, apparently by producing a rapid change in protein conformation.
Japanese holly growth and release pattern of ammonium and nitrate from controlled-release fertilizers

Abstract Applications of 0.85, 1.70 or 2.55 kg N m −3 were made to Ilex crenata Thunb. Hetzi. Nitrogen sources included weekly applications of liquid fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 ) and single application of TVA's Sulfur coated urea (SCUT), Gold N (SCUG), Nitroform (NITR), isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), and an experimental N-containing Osmocote (OSCN). Shoot dry matter and leaf N from recently matured leaves were determined. Analyses of NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N were also conducted on the monthly leachates collected from the containers. Most controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) produced greater dry weights at 1.70 kg N, while NH 4 NO 3 produced more dry weight than CRF's at 0.85 or 2.55 kg N. Initially, for CRF's ammonium was more abundant than nitrate in the leachate; subsequently, nitrate became the dominant N form for most of the growing-season. All urea-based fertilizers had higher NH 4 levels in the leachate when compared with NH 4 NO 3 -based fertilizers.
Using webpages to make your life easier

In this paper, we discuss the many ways webpages can be used to increase communication, enhance support, and automate common features.
Agency, Causality, and Meaning

Although the concept of human agency is central to our everyday understanding and explanation of human action, it is often held to be anathemic to a properly scientific study of human action (Sheldon, 1982). The scientific psychologist treats human agency as, at best, a prescientific superstition (Skinner, 1974), and at worst, an objectionable piece of metaphysics. The hermeneutical psychologist does little to discourage this conception by appearing to remove the question of agency from the domain of legitimate empirical enquiry.
Clinical, genetic, and biochemical characterization of a Leber hereditary optic neuropathy family containing both the 11778 and 14484 primary mutations.

Four mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations at nps 3460, 11778, 14484, and 14459 account for roughly 90% of cases of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and are designated as “primary” LHON mutations since they act as major predisposition factors for LHON. Although each primary mutation can arise independently on different mtDNA backgrounds during human evolution, they characteristically do not co-occur in LHON patients. We report here a family with the simultaneous occurrence of the 11778A and 14484C mutations. Neuro-ophthalmological examination of the proband, a nine-year-old Caucasian female, revealed the bilateral optic atrophy, central scotomas, and reduced visual acuity typical of LHON. Her mother had normal appearing optic discs and is today visually asymptomatic. Analysis of the proband blood mtDNA revealed that she harbored both the 11778A (heteroplasmic, 94% mutant) and the 14484C (homoplasmic mutant) mutation. This genotype was maintained in proband lymphoblasts and transmitochondrial cybrids. The mother also had both mutations, with the 14484C mutation homoplasmic in all cell types examined. However, only 31% of her blood mtDNAs carried the 11778 mutation, which segregated to essentially 100% wild-type in lymphoblast and cybrid mtDNA. Complex I-linked respiration and specific enzyme activity were consistently lowest in proband lymphoblast and cybrid mitochondria compared to those from the mother, 11778A patients, 14484C patients, or controls, thus demonstrating both a deleterious synergistic interaction between the 11778A and 14484C mutations and the magnitude of 11778A-associated complex I dysfunction. Remarkably, spontaneous vision recovery occurred in the proband, highlighting the complexities encountered when associating mtDNA genotype and complex I function with LHON expression. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Parental perceptions of their adolescent's weight status: the ECHO study.

OBJECTIVES To assess the correlates of parental classification of adolescent weight status. METHODS Measured adolescent weight status was compared to parent self-report perception data (n = 374 dyads) using multivariate analyses with interactions to identify characteristics associated with inaccurate parent classification of adolescent weight status. RESULTS Adolescent weight status was underestimated by 31% of parents. College-educated parents were more likely to underestimate the weight of their male adolescents (OR = 1.95) and overweight adolescents (OR = 4.0). Non-college-educated parents were 8.92 times as likely to misclassify overweight adolescents, regardless of the sex of the child. CONCLUSIONS Parental perception may play a role in supporting adolescent's healthy weight-related behaviors.
Conceptualizing the classroom of target students: A qualitative investigation of panelists' experiences during standard setting.

Increasingly, research has focused on the cognitive processes associated with various standard-setting activities. This qualitative study involved an examination of 16 third-grade reading teachers' experiences with the cognitive task of conceptualizing an entire classroom of hypothetical target students when the single-passage bookmark method or the yes/no method was used during a one-day mock panel meeting. Data were collected using in-depth focus group interviews with eight participants from each of the panel meetings, and a whole-text analysis revealed three categories. Most participants experienced difficulty in attempting to conceive of an entire classroom of target students. Most of them were ultimately unable to do so and made use of alternative cognitive strategies. More fundamental issues also contributed to the difficulties experienced in attempting to complete the required cognitive task. Implications of the findings for standard setting and for further research are also discussed.
Flexible and reconfigurable terahertz metamaterials

Metamaterial and plasmonic composites have led to the realization that new possibilities abound for creating materials displaying functional electromagnetic properties not realized by nature. Recently, we have extended these ideas by combining metamaterial elements - specifically, split ring resonators - with MEMS technology. This has enabled the creation of non-planar flexible composites and micromechanically active structures where the orientation of the electromagnetically resonant elements can be precisely controlled with respect to the incident field. Such adaptive structures are the starting point for the development of a host of new functional electromagnetic devices which take advantage of designed and tunable anisotropy.
Evaluation of diode-laser-based indirect fluorometric detection for high-performance liquid chromatography

A diode-laser-based indirect fluorometric detector that monitors a near infrared dye, IR 125, added to the mobile phase for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, was evaluated. Analytical measurements of n-alkyl alcohols were made by measuring the induced change in the IR 125 fluorescence signal at the alcohol retention times. Limits of detection were on the order of 10-8mol injected. Several isocratic separations were carried out at different IR 125 concentrations in different acetonitrile : pH6 sodium phosphate aqueous buffer mobile phase ratios. The results indicate that a small dye/analyte transfer ratio is limiting the capabilities of the detector. However, the low noise and highly selective excitation characteristics of the diode laser present the potential for this detection scheme to attain a detection limit of 10-11M at the detector for analytes with a transfer ratio of 1.
Fitting bent lines to data, with applications to allometry.

Change-point models, in which a linear or non-linear relation is generalized by allowing it to change at a point not fixed in advance, are of growing importance in allometric and other types of modeling. Frequently, the change-point is picked “by eye” and separate regressions are run for each resultant subdomain. This procedure is deficient, however, for the following reasons: first, a repeatable and objective procedure for estimating the change-point has not been used; second, the subsequent analysis usually does not take into account the fact that the change-point is estimated from the data; and last, the usually desirable requirement of continuity at the change-point is ignored. This paper describes various methods for jointly estimating linear relations and the intervening change-point from the data. In the simplest case, with normal errors and a linear relation of one variable upon another, this amounts to fitting a “bent line” via least squares techniques. In addition, tests and graphical diagnostics for the presence of change-points are presented. An example is given where a change-point and slopes are estimated for the relation of running speed with size among land mammals. In the past, these data have been fit with a straight line or a parabola. It is shown here that superior fit and interpretability are achieved using a change-point model.
A T3-like protein complex associated with the antigen receptor on murine T cells

Antigen recognition by human T lymphocytes and initiation of T-cell activation are mediated by a group of integral membrane proteins, the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) and the T3 complex1–8. The polypeptides which comprise T3 (a γ-chain of relative molecular mass (Mr) 25,000 (25K), and δ and e chains of 20K each) are physically associated with the TCR chains9–12. Surface expression of the complex requires the presence of all the com-ponent T3 and TCR proteins13. In contrast to the human system, murine T3 has not been identified using antibodies. Here we describe a murine T3-like protein complex. It appears to be more complicated than human T3, containing three monomeric glyco-proteins (21–28K), two of which have N-linked carbohydrate side chains and a novel family of TCR-associated homo- and heterodimers. The 28K protein is identified as the murine T3 δ-chain. The 21K protein is phosphorylated on cell activation with concanavalin A (Con A)
Tumor Hypoxia and Heterogeneity: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.

Many human tumors contain a significant fraction of hypoxic cells that can directly affect responsiveness to therapy. Evidence is increasing that hypoxia may also contribute to malignant progression through effects on signal transduction pathways and regulation of transcription of various genes. New methods for detecting and mapping tumor hypoxia are being applied to directly assess the significance of hypoxia in relation to biological characteristics and responsiveness to therapy. Knowledge of which tumors are hypoxic is being used to test new therapies to exploit hypoxia, such as with new bioreductive drugs that are selectively cytotoxic in hypoxic environments. Recent advances in fundamental research are showing mechanisms and intracellular pathways involved in regulating cellular responses to hypoxia and reoxygenation. Response to hypoxic stress involves altering the expression of specific genes. Several different classes of hypoxic stress proteins have been identified. These include glucose regulated proteins that function as "chaperones" in protein processing, glycolytic enzymes that maintain energy metabolism under anerobic conditions, proteins involved in oxidative stress responses and maintaining redox homeostasis, various transcription factors, including protooncogenes and suppressor genes, and molecules involved in the regulation of growth signal transduction pathways. There are many challenges and opportunities for basic research and translational research to apply this fundamental knowledge to the clinic.
Unsupervised classification and visualization of unstructured text for the support of interdisciplinary collaboration

We present a computer supported tool for cooperative work in interdisciplinary fields, which we tested within the area of astrobiology. Our document classification and visualization system is fully automated and data driven, based on unsupervised learning algorithms and network visualization tools. A new feature selection algorithm was created to aid this process that indicates which words should be used for mutual information-based clustering. Our system can extract information about collaborations from unstructured databases with no meta-data and reveals structure that can aid the planning of collaborative research. We analyzed publications produced by researchers from NASA's Astrobiology Institute. We presented this analysis as a cultural probe and recorded reactions from researchers that indicated that our method can help scientists from different disciplines to work together. We have made an interactive version of our visualization and analysis available as a website for long-term use.
General ring-resonator analysis and characterization by characteristic matrix

In this paper, a general analysis method for ring resonators is proposed. The method utilizes a characteristic matrix to express the recursive relationship between transfer functions of adjacent-order optical paths, and consequently, the total transfer function. The method provides a new way to express Mason's rule in general. At the same time, it greatly simplifies the expression in the ring-resonator case. The method can be used to synthesize any ring-resonator devices. In addition, as individual optical paths' transfer functions are derived in this process, the formulas can be applied to incoherent interferometric measurements and can characterize the device parameters of fabricated complex ring-resonator circuits.
Reply to Plantinga

Theists believe that God exists and is justified in permitting El and E2. Since evil is intrinsically bad, what justifies God in permitting El and E2 is something else. To simplify matters we will suppose here that the something else is a good state of affairs (perhaps a conjunctive state of affairs) that God brings about and could bring about only by permitting these evils. Now that good is either a good we know of or a good beyond our ken. [Goods we know of will include both actual and nonactual goods, and goods that can be actual only if God exists-for example, the little girl's enjoying eternal felicity in the presence of God.] The theist, then, believes the following proposition.
Parenteral nutrition with short- and long-chain triglycerides: triacetin reduces atrophy of small and large bowel mucosa and improves protein metabolism in burned rats.

The effect of total parcnteral nutrition with combinations of long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) and triacetin, the water-soluble triglyceride of acetate, on structural compo- nents of the gastrointestinal tract and protein metabolism was assessed in burned (30% body surface area) rats. Rats received isovolemic, isocaloric, and isonitrogenous diets that delivered 672 kJ . kg' . d1 (160 kcal#{149} kg' . d'), 9.6 g amino ac- ids . kg' . d', and 30% nonprotein calories as 90% triacetin/ 10% LCTs, 50% triacctin/50% LCTs, or 100% LCTs for 7 d. Daily and cumulative nitrogen balances and whole-body leucine kinetics and fractional protein synthetic rates in rectus muscle and liver were determined on the last day of nutrition. DNA, protein, and total weight were determined in mucosal scrapings from segments ofjejunum and colon. Plasma acetate concen- trations were substantially higher in both triacetin groups. Par- enteral nutrition with 50% triacctin and 50% LCTs promoted a positive nitrogen balance similar to that of 100% LCTs, increased protein in rectus muscle and liver, smaller and more numerous mucosal cells in jejunum and colon, and increased colonic mu- cosal weight compared with the other groups. Triacetin did not appreciably affect whole-body and tissue leucine kinetics. The equicaloric provision of triacctin and LCTs improved protein utilization and structural components of the small and large bowel and reduced the development of intestinal mucosal atro- phy associated with conventional parenteral nutrition in burn injury. Am JClin Nutr 1992;55:1005-l I.
The outcome of transobturator anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair using porcine dermis graft: intermediate term follow-up.

Introduction and Hypothesis We evaluated the anatomical success and complications of Perigee® with porcine dermis Graft in the repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP) Materials and Methods After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the charts of all patients who underwent AVWP repair using the Perigee/InteXen® kit from July 2005 to July 2009 were reviewed. Patients who had less than 6-month follow-up were excluded. Preoperative data including patient age, previous AVWP repairs, hysterectomy status, preoperative dyspareunia and pertinent physical findings were collected and recorded. Postoperative success was defined as anatomical stage 0 or I using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scoring system. Graft related complications were also recorded. Results Out of 89 patients, 69 completed at least 6-month follow-up. Median follow-up was 13 (6-48) months. Seventeen patients (25%) had previous AVWP repair and 32 (46%) had previous hysterectomy. Preoperatively, AVWP stage II was found in 9 (13%), stage III in 27 (39%) and stage IV in 33 (48%) patients. Anatomic success was found in 48 (69%) patients, with 23 (33%) having stage 0 and 25 (36%) stage I AVWP. Intraoperative complications included incidental cystotomy in one patient and bladder perforation in one. Postoperative complications included vaginal exposure and dyspareunia in one case, wound dehiscence in one and tenderness over the graft arm with dyspareunia in one. conclusions The use of porcine dermis in AVWP repair is safe with minimal graft related complications; however, anatomical success is lower than that reported with the use of synthetic grafts.
Integration of Crop Management and Genetics for Control of Preharvest Aflatoxin Contamination of Corn

Aflatoxin contamination of corn in the field is influenced by several factors. In the southern U.S., insect populations are usually large every year. Drought caused by warmer and drier than normal weather is conducive to A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination of corn, Zea mays L. When loose-husked hybrids are used in the southern U.S., they accentuate insect damage and aflatoxin contamination. The development and breeding of ‘‘southern-type’’ hybrids is essential for control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination. Molecular biotechnology may make an impact on tackling the complexity of preharvest aflatoxin contamination of corn. Integration of crop management tactics and genetic
Bargain-based Stimulation Mechanism for Selfish Mobile Nodes in Participatory Sensing Network

This paper focuses on the Participatory Sensing Network (PSN) that consists of selfish participants stimulated by certain reward programs. We propose a bargain-based mechanism to encourage cooperative message trading among the selfish nodes to maximize their rewards. We state the necessary condition for feasible message transactions in a theorem. We model message transaction as a two-person cooperative game, and we apply Nash Theorem to obtain optimal solution which is fair and Pareto optimal. We also present a greedy algorithm to reach the optimal solution. The effectiveness of the bargain-based stimulation mechanism is studied by extensive simulations based on real mobility traces.
First-principles study of phase stability of Ti--Al intermetallic compounds

Thermodynamic and structural properties of fcc- and hcp-based Ti–Al alloys are calculated from first-principles and are used to perform an ab initio study of phase stability for the intermetallic compounds in this system. The full potential linear muffin tin orbital method is used to determine heats of formation and other zero-temperature properties of 9 fcc- and 7 hcp-based intermetallic compounds, as well as of elemental fcc and hcp Ti and Al. From the results of these calculations, sets of effective cluster interactions are derived and are used in a cluster variation method calculation of the solid-state portion of the composition-temperature phase diagram for fcc- and hcp-based alloy phases. The results of our calculations are compared with those of experimental studies of stable and metastable phases in the Ti–Al system.
An automated data collection exercise: capacitance position sensor

This exercise represents a semester long project in a course entitled Automated Data Collection. The course was broken into four parts. First, sensor design was discussed in general with a position sensor, implemented as a parallel plate capacitor with movable dielectric, as an example. Second, op amp circuits for signal conditioning were discussed. Third, analog filter design was developed for frequency alteration and anti-aliasing filtration. Fourth, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) techniques were discussed. This exercise integrated the course content and allowed the students to simulate a position sensor data collection system.
Evidence-Based Practices and Autism:

Interventions for autism are increasing being held to standards such as 'evidence-based practice' in psychology and 'scientifically-based research' in education. When these concepts emerged in the context of adult psychotherapy and regular education, they caused considerable controversy. Application of the concepts to autism treatments and special education has raised additional concerns. An analysis of the benefits and limitations of current approaches to empiricism in autism interventions is presented, and suggestions for future research are made.
Thermal stress induced delamination of through silicon vias in 3-D interconnects

In this paper we investigated the interfacial delamination of through silicon via (TSV) structures under thermal cycling or processing. First finite element analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate the thermal stresses and the driving force of TSV delamaination. Then, the modeling results were validated by analytical solutions of the crack driving force deduced for a long crack at the steady state. Both results were found to be in good agreement at the steady state and together they suggested a fracture mechanism to account for the TSV delamination observed. The analytical solution further provided a basic framework for studying the impact of materials, process and structural design on reliability of the TSV structure. In particular, we found that reducing the TSV diameter yields a definite advantage in lowering the crack driving force. In addition, annular TSVs and an overlaying metal pad on a TSV can reduce the crack driving force for delamination during thermal cycling. Finally, the metallization effect was investigated for four TSV materials: copper, aluminum, nickel, and tungsten. Tungsten was found to have the smallest crack driving force due to the least thermal mismatch with the surrounding silicon. The reliability implication was discussed.
Prospects for diffraction-limited high-power multi-mode fiber amplifiers and amplifier arrays using SBS phase conjugation

Here I discuss the possibilities for scaling to high power by using a multi-mode Yb-core fiber amplifier. The master oscillator must produce light with a narrow frequency bandwith. Such light could be generated using a low-power Nd:YAG laser. I refer to this as pump light, not to be confused with the diode light which pumps the fiber amplifier. Both the pump light and the counter-propagating Stokes light are amplified by the gain medium. I discuss under what conditions it may be possible to control the phase of the Stokes output of such an amplifier by injection seeding the opposite end of the fiber at the Stokes frequency.
Modeling of Alpha-Induced Single Event Upsets for 45 nm Node SOI Devices Using Realistic C4 and 3D Circuit Geometries

Novel techniques have been applied to model realistic alpha particle source distributions in complex back-end-of-the-line geometries. Rigorous Monte Carlo simulations with high resolution have been performed to analyze the charge collection in 45 nm SOI test devices. These studies reveal soft fail sensitivity to the topologies of the alpha particle source and the BEOL structure.
On concentration for denoiser-loss estimators

We study the concentration of denoiser loss estimators, with application to the selection of denoiser parameters for a given observed sequence (in particular, the window size k of the DUDE algorithm [1]) via minimization of the estimated loss. We show that for a loss estimator proposed earlier [2], it is not possible to derive strong concentration results for certain pathological input sequences. By modifying the estimator slightly we obtain a loss estimator for which the DUDE's estimated loss strongly concentrates around the true loss provided kM2k = o(n), where M is the size of the alphabet and n the sequence length. We also show that for certain channels, it is possible to estimate the best k using a combination of the two loss estimators. Moreover, for non-pathological sequences and k = o(n¼), we derive concentration results for the original loss estimator and all channels.
Bargaining Stances and Outcomes in Buyer–Seller Negotiations: Experimental Results

SUMMARY Buyer–supplier relationships are affected by contractual negotiations between the respective parties. This paper examines the variables likely to influence the outcomes of a two-party negotiation in an experiment that reproduces some of the details encountered in real-life negotiations. The study used two-party negotiations to examine the effect of reservation prices, aspiration prices and competitive stance on the outcome of the negotiations. The study confirms the importance of reference points, and that negotiators may adjust their reference points during the negotiation. The results also suggest that the negotiator's bargaining stance has a significant influence on settlement price and may act as a moderator of the effect of reference points on settlement price. Finally, the analysis suggests that a negative bargaining zone does not necessarily lead to an impasse; however, it increases the risk of an impasse compared with a negotiation with a positive bargaining zone.
PEAK SHIFT DISCRIMINATION LEARNING AS A MECHANISM OF SIGNAL EVOLUTION

Peak shift'' is a behavioral response bias arising from discrimination learning in which animals display a directional, but limited, preference for or avoidance of unusual stimuli. Its hypothesized evolutionary relevance has been primarily in the realm of aposematic coloration and limited sexual dimorphism. Here, we develop a novel functional approach to peak shift, based on signal detection theory, which characterizes the response bias as arising from uncertainty about stimulus appearance, frequency, and quality. This approach allows the influence of peak shift to be generalized to the evolution of signals in a variety of domains and sensory modalities. The approach is illustrated with a bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) discrimination learning experiment. Bees exhibited peak shift while foraging in an artificial Batesian mimicry system. Changes in flower abundance, color distribution, and visitation reward induced bees to preferentially visit novel flower colors that reduced the risk of flower-type misidentification. Under conditions of signal uncertainty, peak shift results in visitation to rarer, but more easily distinguished, morphological variants of rewarding species in preference to their average morphology. Peak shift is a common and taxonomically wide- spread phenomenon. This example of the possible role of peak shift in signal evolution can be generalized to other systems in which a signal receiver learns to make choices in situations in which signal variation is linked to the sender's reproductive success.
Management-Based license discovery for the cloud

Enterprise software is typically licensed through contracts that require organizations to monitor their own usage of the software and purchase the number or amount of licenses required by the vendor's terms and conditions for that software. Vendors reserve the right to audit an organization's use of their software, and if an organization is under-licensed, costly back-payments may be required. For this reason, organizations go to great expense to maintain a complete and accurate inventory of their software so that they know their license obligations. The cloud, as an environment offering both greater flexibility in, and a higher degree of control over, an enterprise's computing infrastructure, presents both new challenges for license compliance as well as new opportunities. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to producing accurate software inventories based on capturing the knowledge that is present in cloud management systems at the time of software provisioning and installation. We also demonstrate new capabilities for rule-based alerting and enforcement that are made possible by our approach.
Free-space optical communications research and demonstrations at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Free-space optical communication can allow high-bandwidth data links that are hard to detect, intercept, or jam. This makes them attractive for many applications. However, these links also require very accurate pointing, and their availability is affected by weather. These challenges have limited the deployment of free-space optical systems. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has, for the last 15 years, engaged in research into atmospheric propagation and photonic components with a goal of characterizing and overcoming these limitations. In addition several demonstrations of free-space optical links in real-world Navy applications have been conducted. This paper reviews this work and the principles guiding it.
Salts and pH as Probes of the Organization of the two Photosystems

The interaction of both types of photosynthetic reaction centers with their natural reductants occurs close to the inner surface of the thylakoid membrane. Hence, in intact thylakoids, the electron accepting sites of the reaction centers are reached by externally added reagents only after they have penetrated the thylakoid membrane. Conversely, cofactors or components of the electron transfer complexes are retained in the thylakoid lumen even after their dissociation unless they are capable of escaping across the surrounding membrane.
ON THE LIMITS OF CHARHDI KALA

The recent narrative of Sikhs in America as victims is overly simplistic and incongruent with Sikh traditions. It is time for us to revisit this victimization narrative and account for the Sikh spi...
Therapeutic Abortion in a Midwestern City

Summary.-A questionnaire was administered to 188 women undcrgo~ng therapeutic abortions in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Results showed the women to be younger than average, mainly unmarried, and representing all cross sections of the population. The women showed little knowledge of their own fertility and sparse use of birth control devices. The implications of these and other results are discussed. The legalization of abortion in the United States has led to the opening of abortion clinics in a large number of cities, and a removal of some of the secrecy surrounding therapeutic abortions. The opening of one such clinic in a midwestern city provided an opportunity to investigate some demographic and behavioral characteristics of those who undergo abortions. A number of recent studies (Bracken, et al., 1973; Harris, et al., 1973; Pakter, et al., 1973; Kaltreider, 1973; Smith, 1973; Osofsky & Osofsky, 1972; Athenasiou, e$ al., 1973; Martin, 1973) have investigated, among others, factors such as the use of birth control devices, the relationship with the man responsible, reasons for having the abortion, the number of previous pregnancies and the demographic characteristics of those having abortions. Recent reviews of some of the results may be found in Osofsky and Osofsky (1972) and in David (1973). No theoretical underpinning was assumed for the present study in that the efforts simply provided empirical data about an important social phenomenon in a new geographical area. METHOD The subjects were 188 women who had had a therapeutic abortion in an abortion clinic in a midwestern city. The questionnaire used in the study was given to the patients by a nurse between 1 and 2 hr. after they had had the abortion and while they were resting in the recovery room. Respondents were asked to fill out the questionnaires anonymously and to place the completed questionnaires in a receptacle provided. Only one woman who was given the questionnaire refused to answer it, so that responses were available from 187 respondents. The questionnaire contained both forced-choice and open-ended questions. Included were questions designed to gather demographic information, open-ended questions about menstrual cycle length, times of maximum and minimum fertility, and questions about feelings about the abortion and the man responsible.
Low Osmolar Contrast Agents: Pharmacoeconomic and Medicolegal Issues Surrounding Their Use:

Most healthcare experts agree that there is a growing disparity between the availability of technology and society's ability to pay for it. Because consumerism in healthcare has become so intimidat...
Gamete intrafallopian transfer: the effect of the number of eggs used and the depth of gamete placement on pregnancy initiation *

The role of the fallopian tube in initiating pregnancy was examined in 246 consecutive gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) cycles. Before actual transfer, the ampulla of each tube was measured to determine the depth at which gametes could be placed. Fifty-seven transfers were made with four oocytes into a single tube; of these, when gametes were deposited deeper than 4 cm, the pregnancy rate was higher than when they were placed at between 3 to 4 cm (69.6% compared with 41.2%). Presumably, a deeper placement is more secure and decreases the likelihood of gamete displacement. The pregnancy rate also rose with the number of oocytes used: from 0% with a single oocyte to 42.9% with four oocytes.
Seven neurons memorizing sequences of alphabetical images via spike-timing dependent plasticity.

An artificial neural network, such as a Boltzmann machine, can be trained with the Hebb rule so that it stores static patterns and retrieves a particular pattern when an associated cue is presented to it. Such a network, however, cannot effectively deal with dynamic patterns in the manner of living creatures. Here, we design a dynamic Boltzmann machine (DyBM) and a learning rule that has some of the properties of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), which has been postulated for biological neural networks. We train a DyBM consisting of only seven neurons in a way that it memorizes the sequence of the bitmap patterns in an alphabetical image “SCIENCE” and its reverse sequence and retrieves either sequence when a partial sequence is presented as a cue. The DyBM is to STDP as the Boltzmann machine is to the Hebb rule.
New a priori and a posteriori probabilistic bounds for robust counterpart optimization: II. A priori bounds for known symmetric and asymmetric probability distributions

Abstract When optimization problems contain uncertain parameters, their nominal solutions may prove to be overly optimistic or even rendered infeasible given the actual parameter realizations. The application of probabilistic bounds in constructing the robust counterpart formulation of a model under uncertainty can greatly reduce the conservatism of traditional worst-case robust optimization. In Part I, we derived new a priori and a posteriori bounds on the probability of constraint violation for constraints with uncertain parameters whose distributions were unknown. Here, we first present new a priori bounds applicable to uncertain constraints with linearly participating uncertain parameters whose distributions are known or conservatively approximated. We then extend the robust counterpart optimization methodology by allowing attributed known distributions to be symmetric or asymmetric. The new methods greatly reduce the conservatism and significantly augment the performance and applicability of robust counterpart optimization. A mixed-integer linear optimization example and a multiperiod planning problem demonstrate the improvements of the new a priori bounds relative to existing bounds.
Racialization, Schooling, and Becoming American: Asian American Experiences

Racial categories, inequalities, and hierarchies have shaped life in the United States since the formation of the country. For children and youth in the immigrant and second generations, schools ar...
Renewing the Longitudinal Study of Trial Courts

ABSTRACTBetween 1974 and the early 1990s, scholars carried out a series of longitudinal studies of trial courts. While the high tide of that research came in the late 1970s, scholars continued to conduct longitudinal research throughout the 1980s, even as they expressed increasing doubt about its value. Finally, by the mid-1990s, the field was no longer considered a viable social science research program. The waning of this once popular field has had two consequences. First, it has left a void in social science research. Currently, we find no robust social science study of trial courts across space and time. Second, the demise of this research program has helped to discourage the development of empirical theories of trial courts. This article argues that, contrary to received opinion, the longitudinal study of trial courts, once it is detached from modernization theory, is a productive field of research, despite the difficulties of operationalizing the units of analysis to be employed in such research. Th...
A case study introducing dynamic programming in CS2

To assess students' understanding and the advantages gained in being introduced to the concepts of dynamic programming early in their computer science experience, students were introduced to dynamic programming in CS2. Two lab assignments, one homework assignment and one quiz were given following an introduction to the topic in our CS2 course, Data Structures with C++. Our results reveal that types of problems addressed were fully comprehensible and we expect this comprehension to lend itself to later success in an Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures course that explores dynamic programming in greater depth.
Ali–Frazier 1: Black Gladiators, White Promoters, and the Economics of Big-Time Boxing

AbstractThe March 1971 heavyweight championship bout between undefeated black boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier elicited numerous responses. Ali, because of his brash persona, refusal to be draft...
Evaluation and Staging of Oral Cancer

Although the American Joint Committee on Cancer developed its first cancer-specific staging system in 1959, the TNM classification, as it has become known, has undergone many revisions mainly due to the advancements in both diagnosis and management of cancer, Although the basic purpose of the cancer staging system has remained fundamentally unchanged, the ease with which the cancer can be staged has evolved with newer methods. This article reviews cancer evaluation for staging, as well as the introduction of a new staging method effective as of 2018.
Communicating performance: the extent and effectiveness of performance reporting by u.s. colleges and universities

Performance measures have long been a topic of interest in higher education although no consensus on the best way to measure performance has been achieved. This paper examines the extent and effectiveness of service efforts and accomplishment reporting by public and not-for-profit U.S. colleges and universities using survey data provided by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Effectiveness is evaluated using the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) suggested criteria. Regression analysis suggests an association between the extent of disclosure and size, leverage, level of education provided, and regional accreditation agency. Private institutions rate themselves as more effective communicators. Effectiveness of communication is also associated with the extent of disclosure, level of education provided and accreditation region.