cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of non-ionic surfactants on transient cavitation in a megasonic field

High resolution chronoamperometry has been used to characterize the effect of two non-ionic surfactants, Triton X-100 and NCW-1002, on cavitation in aqueous solutions exposed to � 1 MHz sound field. Specifically, using ferricyanide as the electroactive species, temporal variation of current during its reduction on a 25 lm Pt microelectrode has been measured and is used to elucidate transient cavity behavior. The chronoamperograms for solutions exposed to megasonic field show current ‘peaks’ riding on the baseline current. These current ‘peaks’ have been attributed to the diffusion of ferricyanide species concentrated at the liquid–vapor interface of a transient cavity at the end of its collapse. In the presence of surfactants, the frequency of occurrence of current ‘peaks’ with magnitude P0.3 lA is found to increase indicating a higher number of transient cavity collapses. A simple mathematical model based on diffusion developed previously by the authors has been used to extract the maximum cavity size and range of distances between the center of the collapsing cavity and the electrode surface in the surfactant solutions. 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Regulation of the Murine Nfatc1 Gene by NFATc2

NFAT proteins play a key role in the inducible expression of cytokine genes in T lymphocytes. NFATc1 and NFATc2 are the predominant NFAT family members in the peripheral immune system. NFATc2 is found abundantly in the cytoplasm of resting T cells, whereasNfatc1 expression is induced during T cell activation. To investigate Nfatc1 regulation, we characterized the structure of the murine Nfatc1 gene and its 5′-flanking region. A 290-bp sequence proximal to the transcription start site is highly conserved between mouse and human and possesses both basal and inducible promoter activities. Multiple binding sites for transcription factors were identified within this region, including a consensus NFAT-binding site. This promoter segment was cyclosporin A-sensitive, and mutation of the NFAT site abrogated inducible promoter activity and inhibited formation of an inducible DNA·protein complex containing NFATc2 in primary T cells. Overexpression of NFATc2 increased inducibleNfatc1 promoter activity, whereas this inducibility was attenuated in NFATc2−/− splenocytes. This study suggests that pre-existing NFATc2 contributes to the subsequent induction ofNfatc1 during T cell activation.
Highly fault-tolerant parallel computation

We re-introduce the coded model of fault-tolerant computation in which the input and output of a computational device are treated as words in an error-correcting code. A computational device correctly computes a function in the coded model if its input and output, once decoded, are a valid input and output of the function. In the coded model, it is reasonable to hope to simulate all computational devices by devices whose size is greater by a constant factor but which are exponentially reliable even if each of their components can fail with some constant probability. We consider fine-grained parallel computations in which each processor has a constant probability of producing the wrong output at each time step. We show that any parallel computation that runs for time t on w processors can be performed reliably on a faulty machine in the coded model using wlog/sup 0(1/)w processors and time tlog/sup 0(1)/w. The failure probability of the computation will be at most t/spl middot/exp(-w/sup 1/4 /). The codes used to communicate with our fault-tolerant machines are generalized Reed-Solomon codes and can thus be encoded and decoded in O(nlog/sup 0(1)/n) sequential time and are independent of the machine they are used to communicate with. We also show how coded computation can be used to self-correct many linear functions in parallel with arbitrarily small overhead.
Can using polymer-coated seed reduce the risk of poor soybean emergence in no-tillage soil

Adoption of no-tillage in the northern Corn Belt has lagged behind other regions because of slow warming and drying of soils early in the spring coupled with a short growing season. Cold, wet soil can lead to seed damage resulting in poor stand establishment. Because of slow warming and drying, no-tilled soils are typically sown later than conventionally tilled systems thus often requiring the use of early maturing crop cultivars. Temperature-activated polymer seed coatings might allow soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to be sown earlier than normal under no-tillage while protecting seed against damage caused by cold, wet soil and perhaps allow the use of later maturing cultivars. These ideas were tested during 2005 and 2006 in west central MN on a Barnes loam no-tilled soil previously cropped in corn (Zea mays L.). Polymer-coated seed of a maturity group (MG) 0 and I soybean were sown as early as possible (early- to mid-April) and at an average recommended time (mid-May) for the study site. Only in 2005 did the polymer coating significantly increase emergence (p < 0.0001), where maximum emergence of early sown polymer-coated seed of the MG 0 and I cultivars was 51 and 35% greater than their uncoated counterparts. Conversely, for the average sowing date in 2006, under unusually dry conditions, the polymer coating slowed seedling emergence and reduced maximum emergence, although yield was not affected. Laboratory incubations confirmed that the germination delay of soybean caused by the polymer-coating increased by decreasing initial osmotic moisture potentials. The MG I soybean out yielded the earlier maturing cultivar in both years, but sowing date did not have a significant effect either year. Results indicate that temperature-activated polymer-coated seed may reduce the risk of poor stand establishment in no-tilled soil in instances where low soil temperatures cause seed to remain in the soil for an extended time before emerging.
Parameter Optimization for an H 2 Problem with Multivariable Gain and Phase Margin Constraints

Acute robustness problems can arise when the standard Linear Quadratic Regulator/Loop Transfer Recovery (LQR/LTR) method is applied to H 2 problems having frequency-dependent penalties on plant inputs. In this case, state augmentation results in a cross-state-input term in the cost functional which can destroy the good robustness properties of LQR-based designs. The LTR procedure can not, in general, recover sufficient robustness. This paper presents a parameter optimization approach that adopts a typical frequency-shaped Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control structure in which the feedback and observer gains are optimized simultaneously. Robustness is guaranteed in this parameter optimization approach by incorporating multivariable gain and phase margin constraints. Here, the undue conservatism of using singular values alone is alleviated since both gain and phase information are considered.
Knowledge management and data mining for marketing

Due to the proliferation of information systems and technology, businesses increasingly have the capability to accumulate huge amounts of customer data in large databases. However, much of the useful marketing insights into customer characteristics and their purchase patterns are largely hidden and untapped. Current emphasis on customer relationship management makes the marketing function an ideal application area to greatly benefit from the use of data mining tools for decision support. A systematic methodology that uses data mining and knowledge management techniques is proposed to manage the marketing knowledge and support marketing decisions. This methodology can be the basis for enhancing customer relationship management. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Adult Teaching Methods in China and Bloom's Taxonomy

Drawing from Bloom's 1956 Taxonomy and Western theories on adult learning, the authors argue that adult teaching methods in China feature a teacher-centered, information-based and test-driven instructional format. An author-designed survey instrument called Lower- Order Thinking Skills and Higher-Order Thinking Skills (LOTSHOTS) was used to determine whether knowledge, comprehension and application drove adult teaching methods or analysis, synthesis and evaluation drove adult teaching methods in China. The results of the study showed that Chinese instructors of adults were used to teaching lower thinking skills associated with the first three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, namely, knowledge, comprehension and application. The study proposes some possible reasons and implications of such practices, and suggests that teaching higher order thinking skills to Chinese adult students might widen their horizon in engaging more openly in learning.
Effect of Zonal Flows on the Free Oscillations of a Barotropic Atmosphere

Abstract Solutions of the linearized global shallow-water equations (Laplace tidal equations) including the effect of a mean zonal flow are obtained by the Galerkin-transform method. Free oscillations of the first kind (gravity-inertia modes) are little affected by the zonal flow. Solutions of the second kind (rotational modes of the Rossby-Haurwitz type) are significantly affected by a zonal flow different from solid rotation. Only a few lowest rotational modes, whose angular phase velocities are less than the minimum velocity in the zonal flow, appear as discrete. The remaining angular phase velocities fall into a continuous spectrum which covers the interval between the minimum and maximum zonal velocities. An approximate, but accurate, frequency formula is obtained for the discrete modes of free oscillations under the effect of a mean zonal flow. The frequencies and latitudinal structures of a few lowest rotational modes under the effect of a mean zonal flow are examined in detail and compared to obse...
Gender Differences In Assessing Essential Business Information Systems Technology Skills

Previous research studies have noted that university students, graduate and undergraduate, male and female, are concerned that they do not have the necessary career skills to make the transition from college student to corporate employee, and equally concerned about which specific skills open the door of corporate opportunity. This research study attempts to find which Business Information Skills are relevant to student concerns and whether the educational community is fulfilling their needs. Additionally, the second phase of the study will compare the correlation of the initial findings in regard to the gender of the student, both graduate and undergraduate. In terms of the research study, the question interprets the differences between the male university student computer information technology student and the female university computer information technology student in the perceived value of the importance of corporate-defined skills necessary for job success within the prescribed discipline. Initial information was derived from surveys of a discrete selection of the corporate community in southwestern Pennsylvania, which resulted in the matrix of employer desired business skills. Relative information was garnered from graduate and undergraduate student surveys at Robert Morris University, which resulted in an essential student overview of perceived essential business skills. All surveyed students were engaged in one or more of the various Computer Systems programs at the university. Doctoral Information Science programs were not included in the survey. The timeframe of the study, on an ongoing basis, encompasses the period from academic year 2006 to academic year 2008.
NMR Studies of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Tc=90 K)

The authors report Cu NMR studies of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Tc = 90K) in the normal state (using oriented single crystals) and superconducting state (using oriented powders). In the normal state they measure the electric field gradient tensor, the magnetic shift tensor, the spin-lattice relaxation tensor, and the time dependence of the transverse decay (spin-echo envelope) and draw conclusions about the charge and spin states of the Cu atoms. In the superconducting state they measure the shift tensor, using the 89Y resonance to measure the internal field in the sample. The data are compared with various detailed models of spin pairing.
Setting Up a Lung Cancer Screening Program

This article summarizes what is known about the best practices of lung cancer screening and provides suggestions for the proper structure for institutions considering offering lung cancer screening services. Important points of emphasis include the need to con!ne screening to patients at highest risk, the presence of mul tidisciplinary teams capable of managing the high number of falsepositive !ndings, the need for additional research on biomarkers and risk models for lung cancer, and the currently unknown costeffectiveness of lung cancer screening on a societal level. (JNCCN 2012;10:277‐285)
Research Advances: Getting Plants To Rid Themselves of Pesticide Residues; “Dung of the Devil” Plant Roots Point to New Swine Flu Drugs; Kudzu Shows Promise as a Dietary Supplement.....

The Research Advances for February 2010 summarizes research on how plant hormones called brassinosteroids can help to activate plant pesticide metabolism, the presence of a virus fighter in “Devil’s dung,” how kudzu isoflavones might improve human health, whether dihydrogen sulfide might have health benefits, and how curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, can affect cell membranes.
DARPA neurocomputing

Intelligent computing has been highly dependent on the Moore's Law1 bounty. And although there have been algorithm improvements, the 5 orders of magnitude increase in processor speed and memory capacity over the last 40 years account for most of the advances in getting us to where we are today. The DoD is now facing extremely complex and increasingly urgent problems. For example, there are huge quantities of sensor data that require intensive and complex, often real time, analyses. The control of complicated weapon systems has exceeded our ability to write error free software, and cybersecurity threats are evolving faster than we can respond. Addressing these problems requires increasingly more capable intelligent computing. However, we can no longer rely on a stalling Moore's law to get us there. One approach that shows some promise is neural inspired computing, but its near term capabilities are far from obvious. Even so, there are good reasons to be optimistic.
Joint POS tagging and text normalization for informal text

Text normalization and part-of-speech (POS) tagging for social media data have been investigated recently, however, prior work has treated them separately. In this paper, we propose a joint Viterbi decoding process to determine each token's POS tag and non-standard token's correct form at the same time. In order to evaluate our approach, we create two new data sets with POS tag labels and non-standard tokens' correct forms. This is the first data set with such annotation. The experiment results demonstrate the effect of non-standard words on POS tagging, and also show that our proposed methods perform better than the state-of-theart systems in both POS tagging and normalization.
Positive Aspects of the Caregiving Experience: Finding Hope in the Midst of the Storm

Throughout the caregiving literature, few researchers have utilized positive aspects of care (e.g., satisfaction) to help understand the caregiving experience. This study utilized a survey approach to better understand how positive aspects of care relate to the caregiving experience of 70 informal female caregivers of older adult care receivers living with a chronic illness or disability. Positive aspects of caregiving were significantly related to burden, depression, identity loss, and role captivity. Regression analyses indicate positive aspects of care moderate the relationship between burden and depression. Results support the importance of: working with women providing informal and unpaid care to make visible the micro, meso, and macro level forces shaping their caregiving experience; helping clients identify and enact strategies for reducing burden as well as find meaning in their caregiving role; helping clients to identify strengths and sources of personal and relational empowerment; and the need ...
The Effect of Support Composition on Platinum Crystallite Agglomeration in Oxygen

The effects of temperature of oxygen exposure on metal dispersion were determined for platinum deposited on Al2O3, ZrO2, 12 wt% Y2O3–ZrO2, and MgO. Platinum on zirconia and on magnesia showed higher thermal stability than platinum on alumina.
Observations on the Biology and Behavior of the Evergreen Bagworm Moth, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Females of Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth) usually oviposited in their own pupal cases, where the eggs remained in diapause until the following spring. Larvae, after emerging from the pupal cases and the parental bags, passed through 7 stadia in the laboratory, in about 3 months, in bags which they constructed. Exuviae were not eaten, but fell out of the bags or were pushed out by the larvae themselves. Ability to construct bags was limited to a brief period following eclosion. Positive phototropism apparently was involved in the reversal by last-instar larvae of their position in the bags, turning their heads toward the posterior bag openings. The pupal period averaged 18 days. Males emerged as active, free-flying moths; females, with vestigal mouthparts and legs, small eyes, and no antennae or wings, remained in the bags and became merely egg-filled sacs. Some, which had failed as larvae to reverse their position, did so upon becoming adult. This was necessary because pupal cases were only about half as long as the bags, and the bags were crisscrossed internally with larval silk which prevented the pupae from slipping to the posterior ends where the adult female would be accessible to the males. Mating, at best, was a difficult and complicated process; some males died clinging to the bags of receptive females which they had been unable to inseminate. Despite a sex ratio of about 1:1, only about 14% of the females were fertilized in the laboratory-reared generation. However, in nature, all the 21 females of the parent generation collected at Norman, Oklahoma, had been fertilized. Unfertilized eggs remained in the maternal body and appeared viable even a month or more after the parent's death, but eventually they degenerated. Adult longevity was 1–2 days for males, 4–9 days (average 8 days) for females.
Variation in Controlled Experimental Variables

When a designed experiment is conducted, the exact levels of controlled experimental variables specified by the design may not be attainable. Two different types of situations can occur in which the actual settings of the design variables deviate from the target design settings. In one case, the actual settings obtained are unknown. In the other case, the actual settings are known; however desirable design properties such as orthogonality may have been lost. This paper examines the impact of known and unknown errors in experimental variables for designed experiments in which the response is assumed to be approximately linear in the region of interest. For comparison, the well-known situation where the target values of the experimental variables can actually be obtained will also be considered.
Identification of Sterile Backcross Heliothis Males in Field Collections

Hybridization of Heliothis virescens (F.) males with Heliothis subflexa (Cuennee) females followed by back crossing of the female progeny to H. virescens males produces a backcross (BC) line consisting of fertile females and sterile males each generation. A rapid cytological method for distinguishing between sterile BC Heliothis males and fertile native males is presented. The method requires no fixing or staining of tissues. Application of this technique in future Heliothis suppression programs involving release of sterile BC insects is discussed.
Articular cartilage vesicles and calcium crystal deposition diseases.

Purpose of review Articular cartilage vesicles (ACVs) are small extracellular vesicles that serve as foci of pathologic calcium crystal deposition in articular cartilage matrix. In this review, I have summarized the role of ACVs in calcium crystal formation and discuss recent findings that impact our understanding of the content, behavior, and origin of ACVs in healthy and diseased joints. The burgeoning interest in extracellular vesicles in other fields renders this a timely and relevant topic. Recent findings I have highlighted recent studies demonstrating that some ACVs originate in the autophagic pathway in healthy articular chondrocytes. I have reviewed accumulating evidence that nonmineralizing functions of ACVs contribute to osteoarthritis. I have also discussed new work supporting a role for extracellular vesicles in interleukin-1β-induced mineralization and in mediating the catabolic effects of synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis. Summary We are making slow and steady progress in understanding the origin and function of ACVs and other relevant extracellular vesicles in arthritis. Further work in this interesting area is warranted.
Validation of a performance checklist for ultrasound-guided internal jugular central lines for use in procedural instruction and assessment.

Purpose of the study Tools created to measure procedural competency must be tested in their intended environment against an established standard in order to be validated. We previously created a checklist for ultrasound-guided internal jugular central venous catheter (US IJ CVC) insertion using the modified Delphi method. We sought to further validate the checklist tool for use in an educational environment. Study design This is a cohort study involving 15 emergency medicine interns being evaluated on their skill in US IJ CVC placement. We compared the checklist tool with a modified version of a clinically validated global rating scale (GRS) for procedural performance. Results The correlation between the GRS tool and the checklist tool was excellent, with a correlation coefficient (Pearson9s r) of 0.90 (p Conclusions This checklist represents a useful tool for measuring procedural competency.
The Problem of Animal Pain

The work of this chapter is to state the problem under consideration with some precision (§2.1), and to gain some reasonable clarity in the terms at play (§2.2). I will also address the issue of just how much suffering I take there to be (§2.3).
Modified Paddock Vacuum Reduces Labor Input for Chinese Chestnut Harvest

The time required to harvest and field sort chinese chestnuts (Castanea mollissima) with two types of paddock vacuums and with a manual nut-harvesting tool was compared. Pickup time for harvesting chinese chestnuts was faster with a small paddock vacuum (Paddock Vac) than with a manual nut-harvesting tool (Nut Wizard), but field sorting plant material and soil, as well as movement of the small vacuum, was time-consuming. With minor equipment modifications to facilitate sorting, harvest time for a larger paddock vacuum (Maxi Vac) was 2 seconds faster per nut than that for the manual nut-harvesting tool. Economic analyses revealed that the larger modified vacuum also reduced labor costs by $237 when the wage rate was low ($8 per hour) and with total production at 1000 kg. However, with the lower equipment cost, the manual nut-harvesting tool was more economical to use than the modified paddock vacuum, with $8 per hour labor costs and 4555, 3466, and 2510 kg, respectively. Thus, the modified pasture vacuum may provide a relatively inexpensive method for new, small producers to mechanize chestnut harvest.
OF REEF FISHES, OVERFISHING AND IN SITU OBSERVATIONS OF FISH TRAPS IN ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Fishing with a variety of methods and gears, including traps, is allowed within the waters of Virgin Islands National Park (St. 10hn, U.S. Virgin Islands). Randall's 1 9 6 1 observation of the effects of overushing in nearshore waters off Sto John has been followed by three and a half decades of reports documenting the declining reef fish catch in the Virgin Islands and much of the Caribbean. To assess the state of the trap fishery in St. John waters, traps set by fishers were visually censused in situ in 1992, 1993 and 1994 both inside and outside park waters. Fifty-nine species of fishes representing 23 families and 1340 individuals were identified from 285 traps set in five habitat types (coral reef, octocoral hard-bottom, seagrass beds, algal plains and non-living substrate). The greatest number of observed traps were in algal plain (31%) and gorgonian habitat (27%), pointing to greater exploitation of deeper, non­ coral habitats. Coral habitat accounted for the most species trapped (41), whereas the mean number of fishes per trap was highest in algal plain (5.7, se=0.6). Six species made up 51% of all fish observed in traps. The Acanthuridae was the most abundant family. Species composition and number of fishes per trap were similar inside and outside park waters. Scarids and serranids were more frequently observed in traps inside the park. Between 1992 and 1994. patterns in the data emerged: smaller numbers of fish per trap; shifts to smaller size classes; fewer serranids, lutjanids, sparids, and balistids, and all feeding guilds except herbivores per trap; more acanthurids per trap. Compared with other trap data from the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean - Florida region, the mean number of fish and biomass per St. John trap are low, serranid numbers are low, and acanthurid and herbivore numbers are high. The reef-associated fishes of St. John appear to be overexploited.
Dynamical analysis of chemotherapy models with time-dependent infusion

Abstract Classical mathematical models for chemotherapy assume a constant infusion rate of the chemotherapy agent. However in reality the infusion rate usually varies with respect to time, due to the natural (temporal or random) fluctuation of environments or clinical needs. In this work we study a non-autonomous chemotherapy model where the injection rate and injection concentration of the chemotherapy agent are time-dependent. In particular, we prove that the non-autonomous dynamical system generated by solutions to the non-autonomous chemotherapy system possesses a pullback attractor. In addition, we investigate the detailed interior structures of the pullback attractor to provide crucial information on the effectiveness of the treatment. The main analytical tool used is the theory of non-autonomous dynamical systems. Numerical experiments are carried out to supplement the analysis and illustrate the effectiveness of different types of infusions.
Millimeter Wave Reflectometry and Imaging for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Skin Burn Injuries

Accurate assessment of the degree of burn in human skin is critically important for burn technicians and physicians when making treatment decisions. Millimeter wave reflectometry and imaging are potential diagnostic tools capable of distinguishing between healthy and burned skin, as the dielectric properties of the latter are significantly different from that of the former. In this paper, the commonly used layered model of human skin is used to simulate the reflection properties of skin with varying degrees of burn, at Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz), to demonstrate the potential for such diagnosis. Measurements of complex reflection coefficient are also conducted on a pigskin with and without medical dressing, which is a close mimic to human skin. Good agreement is obtained, in amplitude and variation trends in the reflection coefficient results, between simulation and measurement results, indicating the potential effectiveness and feasibility of burn degree diagnosis by localized millimeter wave reflectometry and complex reflection coefficient $L^{{\mathrm {2}}}$ -Norm analysis. Finally, synthetic aperture radar imaging technique is used to examine the efficacy of imaging for burn wound at V-band (50–75 GHz). In addition, the effectiveness of localized and imaging methods for evaluating burns covered by medical dressings is also demonstrated.
Analytical challenges of determining composition and structure in small volumes with applications to semiconductor technology, nanostructures and solid state science

Determining the structure and composition of small volumes is vital to the ability to understand and control nanoscale properties and critical for advancing both fundamental science and applications, such as semiconductor device manufacturing. While metrology of nanoscale materials (nanoparticles, nanocomposites) and nanoscale semiconductor structures is challenging, both basic research and cutting edge technology benefit from new and enhanced analytical techniques. This focus issue contains articles describing approaches to overcome the challenges in obtaining statistically significant atomic-scale quantification of structure and composition in a variety of materials and devices using electron microscopy and atom probe tomography.
Significance of estrogen receptor in thyroid cancer: Molecular link of epidemiologic observations

4254 The incidence of thyroid cancer is three times higher in women than in men. Women of childbearing age are at highest risk for non medullary thyroid cancer. Given the preponderance of thyroid cancer in women, we examined the significance of estrogen receptor (ER) in thyroid cancer using cell culture models. Our experimental model consisted of an immortalized normal thyroid cell line (NTHY-1), two papillary thyroid cancer cell lines (BCPAP and 8505-C), two follicular thyroid cancer cell lines (CGTHW-1 and ML-1) and a goiter cancer cell line (KAT50TS). We examined the cellular localization of ER, estrogen metabolism and responsiveness of these cells to estrogen and its metabolites. Our data using western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) suggest that both ER-α and ER-β are present in the normal and thyroid cancer cell lines. The ER is localized in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus without any estradiol stimulation. However the nuclear ER in the cancer cells bind to the estrogen response element (ERE) whereas in the NTHY-1 cells, the nuclear or cytoplasmic ER did not bind to the ERE. All the cell lines were capable of metabolizing estradiol (E2) into its two key metabolites, 2-hydroxyestrone and 16 -hydroxyestrone, suggesting that thyroid cells are similar to estrogen responsive tissues and they do not lack the functional machinery necessary for estradiol metabolism. Binding of ER-Hsp90 although present in all thyroid cancer cell lines, showed cell- specific variations. These studies linking the cellular activity of ER together with the structural analysis of ER in thyroid cancer cells may provide the experimental rationale for the observed gender bias of thyroid cancer prevalence.
FOWLP: Chip-First and Die Face-Up

The design, materials, process, fabrication, and reliability of fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) with chip-first and die face-up method are presented in this chapter. Emphasis is placed on the issues and their solutions (such as reconstituted carrier, die-attach film placement, pitch compensation, die shift, epoxy molding compound dispensing, compression molding, warpage, and Cu revealing) during the fabrication of a very large test chip (10 mm × 10 mm × 150 µm) and test package (13.47 mm × 13.47 mm), and three redistribution layers (RDLs) with the smallest line width/spacing = 5 µm/5 µm. The FOWLP test package on a six-layer printed circuit board (PCB) is subjected to thermal cycling and drop tests. Recommendations of process integration and guidelines on FOWLP with chip-first and die face-up are provided.
Phospholipases A2 purified from cottonmouth snake venoms display no antibacterial effect against four representative bacterial species.

Abstract Snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has widely been reported to possess antibacterial effects, and PLA2 is the major component of cottonmouth snake venoms. We assessed the antibacterial activities of crude venoms from Western cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma), Eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus), and Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti) snakes against two gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus), and two gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae) bacteria. Antibacterial activity of PLA2 proteins, AplAsp49 and AplLys49 purified from A. p. leucostoma venom, was also examined. Disk-diffusion assays revealed that A. p. leucostoma crude venom is most effective in inhibiting the growth of the bacteria tested, compared to the other two. Surprisingly, AplAsp49 and AplLys49 PLA2s purified from A. p. leucostoma venom did not display detectable antibacterial activity against any bacteria tested neither by disk-diffusion nor by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). The lack of antibacterial activity of cottonmouth venom PLA2s is discussed.
Ligand structure-function relationships in the vitamin D endocrine system from the perspective of drug development (including cancer treatment).

It has become readily apparent to many scientists and pharmaceutical companies that the vitamin D endocrine system offers a wide array of drug development opportunities. There are already successes, as noted by la,25(OH)2D3(Roche, and Abbott) for renal osteodystrophy and osteoporosis and la(OH)D3(Leo, Chugai, Teijin) for renal osteodystrophy and (in Japan) osteoporosis, la,24(OH)2-24-cyc1opropy1-D3(Dovonex) and la,24(OH)2D3(Teijin) for psoriasis, and 19-nor-la,25(OH)2D2(Abbott) for renal osteodystrophy, as well as drugs under active development. Yet there are still many important and challenging drug development frontiers, particularly in the area of cancer treatment and immune system disorders where exploration is only in the initial early stages. In addition, the application of vitamin D-related drugs in neurology and brain pathology should not be overlooked. It is to be hoped that the cellular and molecular basis for the vexing problem of analog-induced hypercalcemia will be elucidated. Given that there are believed to be over 2000 analogs of la,25(OH)2D3already available for consideration, it is to be expected that over the next decade a significant number of new vitamin D structure-function drug development projects will be brought to conclusion.
Some Comments on Massive Neutrinos

In this talk, the concept of massive Majorana neutrinos is explained; one particular scenario is pointed out by which grand unified theories may lead to “large” neutrino masses; and some astrophysical evidence for a neutrino weighing several tens of electron volts is reviewed.
Case 25: Open globe injury with posterior foreign body

A 53-year-old man presented with 3-week delay of a self-sealed Zone 1 open globe injury with a retained intraocular foreign body of the right eye. The patient underwent intraocular foreign body removal via pars plana vitrectomy. The post-operative follow up was complicated with recurrent retinal detachment from the original strike site. The detachment was repaired with repeat pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling, and silicone oil insertion. Patient remains aphakic and attached.
In-situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Deformation and EPSC Modeling of AZ31 Mg Alloy

Abstract We present a series of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction deformation experiments conducted on polycrystalline AZ31 Mg alloy in a D-DIA apparatus at temperatures ranging from 154 °C to 286 °C, at ~3.1 GPa confining pressure and a strain rate of 5 × 10−6/s. For each experiment, we fit the X-ray diffraction data using elastic plastic self-consistent (EPSC) models that incorporate an isotropic deformation mechanism in addition to basal, prismatic and pyramidal slip systems. From the EPSC models, we report the sample strength and the critical resolved shear stresses (CRSS) for individual slip systems for each experiment and compared with previously reported data on this material.
Molecular Chaperones and the Nuclear Response to Stress

Chaperones are a well conserved class of proteins that reside in many different cellular compartments. The nucleus is a compartment of special interest because it houses the genetic material and allows for the expression and maintenance of genes. Many chaperones localize to the nucleus under stress conditions. The current body of evidence indicates that the nuclear function of chaperones is similar to chaperone function in the cytoplasm. Emerging evidence on the nuclear import pathway for chaperones suggests that novel pathways exist that allow chaperones to enter the nucleus under conditions of environmental stress. One such pathway, the Hikeshi pathway, is responsible for the transport of HSP70 and possibly other molecular chaperones.
Fusarium Crown Rot Whitehead Symptom as Influenced by Wheat Crop Management and Sampling Date

Symptoms of Fusarium crown rot of wheat include premature death of inflorescens (whiteheads), lesions on subcrown internodes, and rotting of crown tissue and lower stem internodes. Each symptom type is influenced by a different set of environmental conditions. Whiteheads are the easiest symptom to quantify and are frequently reported in the Pacific Northwest U.S.A. The objective of this research was to examine factors associated with whitehead expression and relationships with wheat yield and test weight. Incidence of whiteheads differed for inoculations with different isolates of F. pseudograminearum and F. culmorum, and over years due to weather factors. Whiteheads became less as planting dates for winter wheat were delayed until after September, and incidence was increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. Dates of initial and greatest expression of whiteheads differed among cultivars, which was associated in part with the cultivar heading date. Whiteheads were not correlated with subcrown internode lesions or browning of crown tissue. Whiteheads were also not correlated with grain test weight. Whiteheads were sometimes negatively associated with grain yield, but that relationship was variable and could not be considered a reliable, recurrent, or accurate measure of crown rot severity. These results indicate the need for caution in reporting whiteheads as a sole indicator of cultivar susceptibility to Fusarium crown rot.
Project-Based Learning Improves Critical Thinking for Software Development Students

Here we share our experiences in applying project-based learning and its impact on critical thinking skills. In the software development (SD) track of information technology majors, upper-level SD courses are designed to combine students' accumulated programming knowledge for learning to develop software applications, reaching their ultimate goal. Usually, SD courses aim to maximize student success and achievement by training students with instructor-defined projects having known solutions. On one hand, students apply past knowledge and skills and improve problem-solving while realizing the project. On the other, students can become disconnected from, or bored with, the problems since students do not own the project. In addition, the projects do not present unknown challenges requiring to exercise critical thinking and creativity. As an alternative, we assign students novel real-world projects, proposed by external clients who direct the development of the respective software product. In-class simulation of real-world scenarios is known to be more effective for learning than lecturing in software development and engineering education [1]. We propose that project-based learning using a previously unsolved problem will improve student critical thinking and problem solving skills, two key STEM competencies important for software engineering. Furthermore, we expect a positive synergy between student success, as project goals are attained, and motivation to complete the project. We measured a significant increase of critical thinking skills in a senior-level undergraduate Software Development course. We assessed these skills using the CAT (Critical Thinking Assessment Test), a standard instrument developed by the Tennessee Tech University [2]. We administered pre- and post- CAT in two sections of the course in Fall 2018, at the beginning and end of the semester, respectively. We observed a statistically significant (one-tailed, paired t-test, p
D-c Motors

The operating characteristics of a d-c motor depend greatly on the type of interconnection between the armature and field windings. To study these characteristics, it is, therefore, very helpful to use so-called schematic diagrams that illustrate these connections in symbolic form. The conventional symbols for such diagrams will now be introduced.
Tracking Control of Fully-Constrained Cable-Driven Parallel Robots using Adaptive Dynamic Programming

In this paper, a new adaptive tracking controller with learning ability is proposed for fully-constrained cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs). For these systems, the necessity of maintaining positive and bounded tensions in all cables while coping with disturbances represents a critical control requirement. To achieve this goal, we propose a control law based on adaptive dynamic programming (ADP), with an actorcritic structure. In the critic part, an artificial neural network (NN) approximates the value function which is to evaluate the system performance; in the action part, the controller’s parameters are tuned online to achieve optimal control performance. Additionally, the anti-windup (AW) technique is combined with the adaptive controller to cope with the input saturation problem. The stability of the closed-loop system with the proposed control algorithm is proved using the Lyapunov method. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Normality: a Two-Faced Concept

Consider how we evaluate how normal an object is. On the dual-nature hypothesis, a normality evaluation depends on the object’s goodness (how good do you think it is?) and frequency (how frequent do you think it is?). On the single-nature hypothesis, the evaluation depends solely on either frequency or goodness. To assess these hypotheses, I ran four experiments. Study 1 shows that normality evaluations vary with both the goodness and the frequency assessment of the object. Study 2 shows that manipulating the goodness and the frequency dimension changes the normality evaluation. Yet, neither experiment rules out that some people evaluate normality solely based on frequency, and the rest evaluate normality solely based on goodness. Whence two more experiments. Study 3 reveals that when scenarios are contrasted—presented one after another—only frequency matters. But, as study 4 shows, when scenarios are evaluated alone, both frequency and goodness influence normality evaluations in a single person, although the more a person is sensitive to one dimension, the less she’s sensitive to the other. The dual-nature hypothesis seems thus true of uncontrasted applications of the concept of normality, whereas the single-nature hypothesis seems true of contrasted applications.
Oral out-patient chemotherapy medication errors in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

9028 Background: Oral out-patient chemotherapy medications (OOCMs) compromise the majority of therapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). OOCM are administered at the patient’s ho...
Gauge Inverse Monoids

The paper introduces a class of inverse (sub)monoids which contains Jones–Lawson’s gauge inverse (sub)monoid. The aim is to give examples and the basic properties of these monoids. Jones–Lawson’s g...
How disease constrains the evolution of social systems.

Animal populations are occasionally shocked by epidemics of contagious diseases. The ability of social systems to withstand epidemic shocks and mitigate disruptions could shape the evolution of com...
Adaptive optics multiphoton microscope for imaging microbial processes in highly scattering soil and roots

In this project, we are developing a custom adaptive optics system integrated with multiphoton microscopy for visualizing plant-microbe-mineral interactions in the rhizosphere to shrdy sustainable food, hrel production, and environmental processes.
Personal DNA Testing Increases Pharmacy Students' Confidence and Competence in Pharmacogenomics.

Objective. Pharmacogenomics, a key tool in personalized medicine, and therapeutic drug management is projected to become an integral part of pharmacy practice. This study describes an innovative pedagogy that used several interactive learning methods to increase learners’ competence and perceptions in pharmacogenomics. Methods. First-year student pharmacists at the Medical College of Wisconsin participated in lectures, discussions, and patient care laboratory training on the topic of pharmacogenomics. These students were given the opportunity to undergo personal pharmacogenomics testing. Before and after these activities, participants were surveyed about their attitudes towards the use of pharmacogenomics in current and future practice. Results. Forty-five students participated in this voluntary personal pharmacogenomics testing and completed pre-course and post-course surveys. Significant improvements were seen in 22 of the 27 surveys questions responses from the pre-course to the post-course surveys. Student learning outcomes, competencies, and attitudes towards pharmacogenomics improved from a relatively neutral perception of pharmacogenomics to one of more confidence. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that participation in a novel pedagogy that included voluntarily individual pharmacogenomics testing was beneficial to student pharmacists by improving knowledge, interest, and confidence in pharmacogenomics and its incorporation into their future pharmacy practice.
Health Care Resource Utilization Associated With Parkinson Disease Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective To compare differences in health care resource utilization (HcRU) over time between Medicare beneficiaries with and without Parkinson disease (PD). Methods This retrospective observational study used the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (5% Medicare sample) between 2005 and 2015. In a propensity score–matched (age, sex, race, and comorbidity adjusted) sample of beneficiaries with and without PD, we examined all-cause HcRU due to inpatient admissions, emergency department (ED) admissions, skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions, health care provider encounters, neurologist visits, rehabilitation service visits, and non-PD medication fills. Relative to beneficiaries without PD, we reported adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for beneficiaries with PD using generalized linear models with log link and negative binomial variance functions. Results A total of 467,064 Medicare enrollees (unmatched sample) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 3.3% had PD. In the matched sample and relative to beneficiaries without PD, beneficiaries with PD displayed higher rates of inpatient admissions (IRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.24–1.34), ED admissions (IRR 1.31, 95% CI 1.27–1.34), SNF admissions (IRR 2.00, 95% CI 1.92–2.09), health care provider encounters (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.16–1.20), neurologist visits (IRR 5.57, 95% CI 5.35–5.78), rehabilitation service visits (IRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.41–1.53), and non-PD medication fills (IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.08–1.11) over time. Conclusion These results reflect patterns of medical care among Medicare beneficiaries with PD. The findings can help clinicians, payers, and policy makers make evidence-based decisions for the allocation of scarce health care resources for PD management. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class II evidence that Medicare beneficiaries with PD use more health care resources than matched controls without PD.