cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Item Preequating and Random Groups Equating Using IRT and Equipercentile Methods

An item-preequating design and a random groups design were used to equate forms of the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment Mathematics Test. Equipercentile and 3-parameter logistic model item-response theory (IRT) procedures were used for both designs. Both pretest methods produced inadequate equating results, and the IRT item preequating method resulted in more equating error than had no equating been conducted. Although neither of the item preequating methods performed well, the results from the equipercentile preequating method were more consistent with those from the random groups method than were the results from the IRT item pretest method. Item context and position effects were likely responsible, at least in part, for the inadequate results for item preequating. Such effects need to be either controlled or modeled, and the design further researched before the item preequating design can be recommendedfor operational use. In the item preequating design for equating alternate forms of a test, items to be included in subsequent forms are pretested during the operational administrations of already equated forms. Item statistics for the pretested items are then used to equate scores on the newly constructed forms to the scale used for
Inflammation revisited: inflammation versus resolution of inflammation following myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main cause for the progression of the left ventricle towards congestive heart failure. The optimal healing after MI requires timely induction and resolution of inflammation. Primarily, there have been a number of strategies applied to inhibit the post-MI inflammation but approaches that focus on the resolution of inflammation have sparsely been used in the treatment of heart failure. The early attempts to inhibit post-MI inflammation resulted in adverse outcomes that were realized in heart failure trials. We provide here an overview on the cyclooxygenase (COX)- and lipoxygenase (LOX)-derived lipid mediators that are either impairing or resolving the post-MI inflammation. With the evolution of lipidomics there has been emerging novel bioactive-specialized lipid mediators that promise to resolve chronic inflammation rather than promoting inhibition. The current review is focused on post-MI immune cells kinetics and the unexplored array of lipid mediators that are coordinated by COX and LOX. Thus, an emphasis on COX and LOX poses key questions and potential for the development of novel targets in the heart failure treatment strategy. This updated dynamic approach aims to fuse basic pre-clinical discoveries and translational bioactive lipid-based resolvin discoveries that could be potentially used in the clinic for the treatment of heart failure.
Long Gd-123 coated conductor by PLD method

Abstract We have developed long Gd-123 coated conductors by ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) and pulsed-laser-deposition (PLD) method. Recently, large-scale reel-to-reel apparatus with the 110 cm × 15 cm assisting ion source was introduced to IBAD system. It was enable to produce 500 m-class IBAD–Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 (GZO) tapes with Δ ϕ of below 15° and high throughputs of 3 m/h. Furthermore, apparatus with multi-lane and laser scanning was introduced to PLD system. As a result, end to end I c of 318 A were obtained for a 201.5 m long tape, and I c × L values were 64,077 Am. Furthermore, 500 m-class deposition was carried out by improving PLD conditions. As a result, I c × L values of 112,166 Am was obtained and it’s a world record on August 2007. In the short samples, I c of over 500 A was obtained with Gd-123 thickness of 2.0 μm and over 100 A was obtained in magnetic field of 3 T, perpendicular to c -axis.
Crosstalk between the DNA damage response pathway and microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small, non-coding RNAs that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by destabilizing and inhibiting translation of their target messenger RNAs. MiRNAs are involved in the regulation of a number of fundamental biological processes, and their dysregulation is thought to contribute to several disease processes. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs also play a critical role in protecting the heritable genome by contributing to the regulation of the DNA damage response. Consequently, much recent investigative effort has been directed towards an improved understanding of how miRNAs are regulated in response to DNA damage. In this review, we discuss the most recent findings regarding the regulation of miRNA expression and the functional roles of miRNAs in the DNA damage response.
Lymphatic filariasis in Papua New Guinea: interdisciplinary research on a national health problem

Bancroftian filariasis is a major public health problem in Papua New Guinea, where the level of transmission by the mosquito vector, human infection rates and clinical morbidity are among the highest in the world. Coordinated research efforts within the country, involving the disciplines of epidemiology, vector biology, immunology and genetics, have led to new insights into the ecology and pathogenesis of human lymphatic filariasis. Recent work using this knowledge base should be helpful in assessing local and global strategies aimed at eliminating Wuchereria bancrofti and in guiding research that will facilitate achievement of this goal.
Cohesive-Zone Explicit Sub-Modeling for Shock Life-Prediction in Electronics

Modeling transient-dynamics of electronic assemblies is a multi-scale problem requiring methodologies which allow the capture of layer dimensions of solder interconnects, pads, and chip-level interconnects simultaneously with assembly architecture and rigid-body motion. Computational effort needed to attain fine mesh to model chip interconnects while capturing the system-level dynamic behavior is challenging. Product-level testing depends heavily on experimental methods and is influenced by various factors such as the drop height, orientation of drop, and variations in product design. Modeling and simulation of IC packages are very efficient tools for design analysis and optimization. Previously, various modeling approaches have been pursued to predict the transient dynamics of electronics assemblies assuming symmetry of the electronic assemblies. In this paper, modeling approaches to predict the solder joint reliability in electronic assemblies subjected to high mechanical shocks have been developed. Two modeling approaches are proposed in this paper to enable life prediction under both symmetric and anti-symmetric transient-deformation. In the first approach, drop simulations of printed circuit board assemblies in various orientations have been carried out using beam-shell modeling methodologies without any assumptions of symmetry. This approach enables the prediction of full-field stress-strain distribution in the system over the entire drop event. Transient dynamic behavior of the board assemblies in free and JEDEC drop has been measured using high-speed strain and displacement measurements. Relative displacement and strain histories predicted by modeling have been correlated with experimental data. Failure data obtained by solder joint array tensile tests on ball grid array packages is used as a failure proxy to predict the failure in solder interconnections modeled using Timoshenko beam elements in the global model. In the second approach, cohesive elements have been incorporated in the local model at the solder joint-copper pad interface at both the PCB and package side. The constitutive response of the cohesive elements was based on a traction-separation behavior derived from fracture mechanics. Damage initiation and evolution criteria are specified to ensure progressive degradation of the material stiffness leading to cohesive element failure. Use of cohesive zone modeling enabled the detection of dynamic crack initiation and propagation leading to IMC brittle failure in PCB assemblies subject to drop impact. Data on solder interconnect failure has been obtained under free-drop and JEDEC-drop test.
STEROID-SPARING ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR SARCOIDOSIS

Alternatives to corticosteroids for the treatment of sarcoidosis are reviewed. These include cytotoxic agents such as methotrexate, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide. In addition, agents such as hydroxychloroquine and cyclosporine are reviewed. The efficacy, toxicity, and timing of these drugs in the management of sarcoidosis is discussed.
Community-Based Learning and Research.

Community-based learning and research is one of the most exciting ventures in contemporary higher education. This chapter examines programs and practices focusing on administrative structure as well as three specific classroom-based models.
Rationality and the ‘price is right’

Abstract The television game show ‘The Price Is Right’ offers a unique laboratory for observing decision making behavior because rewards are much higher than those encountered in a typical economics experiment and because of the substantial opportunity which contestants have for formulating their strategies. Analysis of contestant behavior substantiates (1) the persistence of decision making errors despite the penalties associated with such errors, and despite the existence of simple strategy which outperforms contestants' behavior and (2) that learning drives competitors toward more effective behavior.
Nonhomogeneity analysis using borrowed strength

Abstract This article develops a “borrowed strength” methodology for estimating local probability densities in a random field. Under a piecewise stationarity condition similarities between the densities in different regions of the field can be exploited by estimating a global mixture density and imposing the parameter-space support of this borrowed strength estimate on the local estimation problems. The local estimates are then used in an analysis of the homogeneity of the field, which is shown to benefit from the method of borrowing strength.
A framework for analyzing the information monitoring and decision support system investment tradeoff dilemma: an application to crisis management

The simplest form of a system consists of an input, a process which adds value to the input, and an output containing actionable information. The value of the output from a system is a function of not only the quality of the input but also the appropriateness, validity, and reliability of the transforming process. For certain classes of decisions such as those that correspond to crisis management, even the most simplistic version of a system presents problems for system developers and hence decision makers. Unlike in highly structured decision settings where precise models exist and high quality data is readily available, decision making in crisis settings involves ill-structured tasks which pose considerable problems for those responsible for the investment of a limited information resource budget. This paper presents a framework for analyzing the information monitoring decision support system tradeoff dilemma that occurs in crisis management settings, it concludes with several insights and recommendations for future research.
New Method for Screening Cowpea Germ Plasm for Resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus

Gillaspie, A. G., Jr. 2006. New method for screening cowpea germ plasm for resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus. Plant Dis. 90:611-614. Utilizing the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-resistant cowpea germ plasm line, GC-86L-98, a new method of screening for resistance in the greenhouse followed by field screening was developed. A uniform source of CMV inoculum (freeze-dried infected cowpea tissue) was diluted to provide an infection rate in GC-86L-98 similar to that observed under field conditions. Plants of test lines were mechanically inoculated with this standard inoculum rate and assessed under greenhouse conditions. Lines considered equivalent in infection percentage with GC-86L-98 were then evaluated in field tests. Test line plants were exposed to virus from susceptible cultivar Coronet when plants were at the first or second trifoliolate leaf stage, and then leaf samples were assayed by direct antigen coating–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lines with infection percentages similar to or lower than the resistant control were considered resistant. A new line (PI 441917) with CMV resistance and several lines with Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus resistance were found. Newly discovered CMV-resistant lines will help to control the serious cowpea stunt disease caused by synergism of the two viruses.
Nerve growth factor receptor‐immunoreactive neurons within the developing human cortex

A monoclonal antibody recognizing the p75 receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF) was used to assess the immunohistochemical expression of NGF receptors within the developing human neo-, limbic, and paralimbic cortices as well as the hippocampal complex. Between embryonic weeks 16 and 26, a transient population, of neurons located within the upper and lower subplate zones of the neo-, limbic, and paralimbic cortices expressed the receptor for NGF. In contrast, NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons were only observed in the upper subplate zone of the entorhinal cortex at embryonic week 40 (term), a staining pattern not observed in a 5-year-old specimen. The expression of NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons within the upper subplate zone between embryonic weeks 16 and 40 was characterized by a dense band of immunoreactive neurons and neuropil. These neurons were bipolar with basal and apically directed neurites. NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons were also scattered throughout the lower subplate zone and underlying white matter between embryonic weeks 19 and 26. These neurons were multipolar, with less apically directed neurites. NGF receptor-immunoreactive subplate neurons displayed a topographic distribution with the heaviest concentration found within limbic and paralimbic cortices as well as association neocortex. In contrast, light to moderate NGF receptor-immunoreactivity was seen in sensory-motor cortex. Within the hippocampal complex, only a few lightly stained NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons were seen within the fimbria, hilar region of the dentate gyrus, and subiculum. The expression of NGF receptor-immunoreactivity increased within the subplate zone of the pre- and parasubiculum culminating in intense entorhinal cortex staining. As the entorhinal cortex merged with the developing inferior temporal association cortex, there was a marked reduction in staining intensity. In contrast to those in the subplate zone, neurons within the germinal zone and cortical plate were NGF receptor immunonegative at all times examined. The presence of NGF receptors in the subplate zone suggests that neurotrophins such as NGF play an important role in the transient viability of these neurons as well as in the guidance of cortical afferent inputs into topographically organized regions of the cerebral cortex. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A test of the escape from the persistence of backwardness

A model was constructed and estimated for the Japanese economy from 1872 to 1937. Although the model is limited in scope due to limited data availability, it is capable of testing the escape from the trap hypothesis of which Japan is a popular candidate. An examination of the basic difference equation in all periods indicated that Japan did escape the trap during the period 1873–74. Care should be taken in evaluating the evidence. Clearly, the trap is not verified within the range of the data. Consequently, what appears to be evidence of an escape from the trap is suspicious. An economy could tend to move away from an unstable equilibrium level of per capita income without moving toward a low level stable equilibrium level of per capita income when the rate of change in per capita income is negative. But the evidence does support a turning point in Japan's efforts to develop. After 1873–74 Japan was able to achieve a sustained rise in per capita income. The results of this study identify an escape from a ...
Delay-based congestion avoidance for TCP

The set of TCP congestion control algorithms associated with TCP/Reno (e.g., slow-start and congestion avoidance) have been crucial to ensuring the stability of the Internet. Algorithms such as TCP/NewReno (which has been deployed) and TCP/Vegas (which has not been deployed) represent incrementally deployable enhancements to TCP as they have been shown to improve a TCP connection's throughput without degrading performance to competing flows. Our research focuses on delay-based congestion avoidance algorithms (DCA), like TCP/Vegas, which attempt to utilize the congestion information contained in packet round-trip time (RTT) samples. Through measurement and simulation, we show evidence suggesting that a single deployment of DCA (i.e., a TCP connection enhanced with a DCA algorithm) is not a viable enhancement to TCP over high-speed paths. We define several performance metrics that quantify the level of correlation between packet loss and RTT. Based on our measurement analysis we find that although there is useful congestion information contained within RTT samples, the level of correlation between an increase in RTT and packet loss is not strong enough to allow a TCP/Sender to reliably improve throughput. While DCA is able to reduce the packet loss rate experienced by a connection, in its attempts to avoid packet loss, the algorithm will react unnecessarily to RTT variation that is not associated with packet loss. The result is degraded throughput as compared to a similar flow that does not support DCA.
Down-regulation of a serine protease, myeloblastin, causes growth arrest and differentiation of promyelocytic leukemia cells

Cells from the human leukemia cell line HL-60 undergo terminal differentiation when exposed to inducing agents. Differentiation of these cells is always accompanied by withdrawal from the cell cycle. Here we describe the isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel serine protease that is present in HL-60 cells and is down-regulated during induced differentiation of these cells. We have named this protease myeloblastin. Down-regulation of myeloblastin mRNA occurs with both monocytic and granulocytic inducers. Myeloblastin mRNA is undetectable in fully differentiated HL-60 cells as well as in human peripheral blood monocytes. We found that regulation of myeloblastin mRNA in HL-60 cells is serum dependent. Inhibition of myeloblastin expression by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of promyelocyte-like leukemia cells.
No-regret Algorithms for Online Convex Programs

Online convex programming has recently emerged as a powerful primitive for designing machine learning algorithms. For example, OCP can be used for learning a linear classifier, dynamically rebalancing a binary search tree, finding the shortest path in a graph with unknown edge lengths, solving a structured classification problem, or finding a good strategy in an extensive-form game. Several researchers have designed no-regret algorithms for OCP. But, compared to algorithms for special cases of OCP such as learning from expert advice, these algorithms are not very numerous or flexible. In learning from expert advice, one tool which has proved particularly valuable is the correspondence between no-regret algorithms and convex potential functions: by reasoning about these potential functions, researchers have designed algorithms with a wide variety of useful guarantees such as good performance when the target hypothesis is sparse. Until now, there has been no such recipe for the more general OCP problem, and therefore no ability to tune OCP algorithms to take advantage of properties of the problem or data. In this paper we derive a new class of no-regret learning algorithms for OCP. These Lagrangian Hedging algorithms are based on a general class of potential functions, and are a direct generalization of known learning rules like weighted majority and external-regret matching. In addition to proving regret bounds, we demonstrate our algorithms learning to play one-card poker.
CPM-based radar waveforms for efficiently bandlimiting a transmitted spectrum

In this paper we shall demonstrate how a polyphase-coded radar waveform can be implemented using a continuous phase modulation (CPM) framework so as to achieve spectral containment while maintaining a constant envelope to maximize energy-on-target. Current modulation techniques such as derivative phase shift keying (DPSK) and minimum shift keying (MSK), which are applicable to binary-coded waveforms, are well-known implementation schemes for spectral containment. The CPM implementation is applicable to polyphase codes and can also achieve better spectral containment, though a by-product is increased range sidelobes that result due to the deviation from the idealized code (implicitly defined for squared-shaped chips). To ameliorate the increased range sidelobes, a version of Least-Squares mismatched filtering is employed that accommodates the continuous nature of the CPM structure. Also, continuous rise/fall-time transitions of the pulse are addressed as part of the holistic implementation of the CPM-based waveform. It is observed that for the CPM implementation the rise/fall-time becomes the limiting factor on spectral containment and a rather simple scheme based on Chireaux out-phasing is suggested as a means to “slow down” the pulse rise/fall.
Martin Bylica at the Court of Matthias Corvinus: Astrology and Politics in Renaissance Hungary

Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary from 1458–1490, recognized an intimate connection between astrology and politics. His rich library contained numerous astrological texts, and he decorated his palaces at Buda and Visegrad with horoscopes. He also provided generous patronage for foreign astrologers. One of the most famous astrologers to spend his career at Corvinus’s court was Martin Bylica. Bylica had been trained in astrology at the University of Krakow before moving, eventually, to Hungary. By 1468, Bylica had attracted Corvinus’s attention and began to benefit from the king’s generous patronage. Bylica provided Corvinus with important political and military advice throughout the king’s reign. Equally important, Bylica’s career in Buda helped to construct the image of Corvinus as a Renaissance monarch who drew on the most sophisticated sciences available in the fifteenth century. Late in the spring 1468, Matthias Corvinus convened the Hungarian diet in the city of Pozsony. Holding the diet in Pozsony enabled him to impress the Hungarian nobles with the local intellectual community that had begun to form at his fledgling Academia Istropolitana, which he had founded the previous year. Pozsony was also conveniently located close to Moravia, where Corvinus had recently initiated hostilities against the governor. The diet had a number important domestic and foreign political issues to resolve. Corvinus’s relations with the Bohemian king, George of Podebrady, had always been strained. Following the death of Corvinus’s wife, Catherine Podebrady in 1464, tensions had increased (Odloilik 1965, pp. 190–221; Engel 2001, p. 304). Corvinus had in March 1468 declared war on Victorin Podebrady, the Bohemian king’s son and governor of Moravia, and had more recently invaded southern Moravia. In addition to the hostilities in Bohemia, Corvinus had to contend with domestic unrest, centered largely around his financial reforms and taxation. In the fall 1467, he had been forced to lead an army into Transylvania to quell a rebellion of barons there. In December, he had been defeated by Prince Stephen in Moldavia when he had tried to force the prince’s allegiance. Corvinus’s hold on the Hungarian throne was certainly not secure. Along with these pressing military and diplomatic issues, Corvinus had scheduled a disputation between two Polish astrologers: Martin Bylica and Jan Stercze. Stercze had been Bylica’s student and was now the court astrologer to Janos Rozgon, a Hungarian count
Comparison of microwave and convective heating in rapid specimen preparation techniques for electron microscopy

Chemical fixatives preserve tissue for electron microscopy. Microwave heating (MWH) reduces fixation time from hours to seconds. Comparison of microwave heating (915 MHz and 2.45 GHz) with convective heating suggests that acceleration of fixation is not unique to microwave exposure. Other heating modes appear suitable and may have advantages in cost and convenience. It is demonstrated that equally good fixation can be obtained by raising the temperature of specimens in glutaraldehyde to 40-45 degrees C in a short time interval (10-60 s) via MWH or convective heating (CH). The results suggest that heat is the primary cause of the reduced fixation times associated with MWH and that the heating mode is secondary. >
Cytosolic phospholipase A2 is essential for both the immediate and the delayed phases of eicosanoid generation in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells

We have used mice in which the gene for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has been disrupted to demonstrate the absolute requirement for cPLA2 in both the immediate and the delayed phases of eicosanoid generation by bone marrow-derived mast cells. For the immediate phase, quantitative analysis of the products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway showed that gene disruption of cPLA2 prevented the provision of arachidonic acid substrate for biosynthesis of proximal intermediates. By analogy, we conclude that arachidonic acid substrate was also not available to prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 in the immediate phase of prostaglandin (PG) D2 generation. These defects occurred with two distinct stimuli, stem cell factor and IgE/antigen, which were, however, sufficient for signal transduction defined by exocytosis of β-hexosaminidase. Whereas cPLA2 is essential for immediate eicosanoid generation by providing arachidonic acid, its role in delayed-phase PGD2 generation is more complex and involves the activation-dependent induction of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 and the supply of arachidonic acid for metabolism to PGD2.
Application of GEANT4 to the Simulation of High Energy-Resolution Microcalorimeter Detectors

GEANT4 is a versatile Monte Carlo code for simulating the interactions of radiation with matter. GEANT4 has proven to be an effective toolkit for the simulation of a wide variety of detectors. We are interested in the application of GEANT4 to a new type of sensor technology being developed for X-ray and gamma-ray measurements. Microcalorimeter detectors based on transition-edge sensors coupled to bulk absorbers are an emerging technology for hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray measurements with unprecedented energy resolution. In this work, we assess the ability of the GEANT4 electromagnetic physics package to reproduce measured microcalorimeter data. We also use the simulations to explore the design space of absorber materials and cryostat design.
Speeding up the similarity search in multimedia database

In recent years, applications in multimedia databases have been more and more important. One new capability is to search by similarity in low-level image features (such as color, texture, shape, and motion). The performance of the similarity search highly relies on efficient index structures. However, current high-dimensional indexing techniques have limitations and a simple sequential scan algorithm can outperform them in many cases. We notice that few researchers have really evaluated the utilization of the actual memory size and the trade-off between I/O access time and computation time. Some methods tried to reduce the I/O access time but caused computation overhead. We propose a novel indexing technique, the RA-Blocks (Region Approximated Blocks), to overcome these limitations and improve the similarity search in multimedia databases. We also demonstrate the better performance of our work in experiments.
Engineering evaluation of the energy-storing orthosis FES gait system

A system to restore walking in the vicinity of a wheelchair for people with paraplegia resulting from spinal cord injury is under development. The approach combines single channel surface electrical stimulation with an orthosis. The orthosis is spring loaded and contains a pneumatic system that stores energy during knee extension caused by quadriceps stimulation and transfers it to hip joint for hip extension. A laboratory version of the prototype of the gait system has been fabricated and engineering bench tests were performed. The paper presents the design of the wearable prototype and results of bench testing.
Generation of Antitumor Immunity by Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitope Peptide Vaccination, CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide Adjuvant, and CTLA-4 Blockade

Although peptide immunization often leads to the induction of strong T-cell responses, it is seldom effective against established tumors. One possibility is that these T-cell responses are not strong enough or do not last sufficiently long to have an effect in tumor eradication. Here, we examined the role of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) adjuvants containing unmethylated cytosine-guanine motifs (CpG-ODN) and CTLA-4 blockade in enhancing the antitumor effectiveness of peptide vaccines intended to elicit CTL responses. The results show that combination immunotherapy consisting of vaccination with a synthetic peptide corresponding to an immunodominant CTL epitope derived from tyrosinase-related protein-2 administered with CpG-ODN adjuvant and followed by systemic injection of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies increased the survival of mice against the poorly immunogenic B16 melanoma. Interestingly, whereas this combination therapy was effective when administered to tumor-bearing mice (therapeutic protocol), it had no significant effect when applied in the prophylactic mode (i.e., before the tumor challenge). Moreover, the antitumor effect of the combination immunotherapy required the participation of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and was accompanied by the induction of antitumor CD4+ T-cell responses. The overall results suggest that peptide vaccination of tumor-bearing mice, applied in combination with a strong adjuvant and CTLA-4 blockade, is capable of eliciting durable antitumor T cell responses that provide survival benefit. These findings bear clinical significance for the design of peptide-based therapeutic vaccines for human cancer patients.
A fuzzy chip-based real-time fault classifier in a power controller

A fuzzy chip-based electrical power faults classifier is presented in this paper. The system, which utilizes a fuzzy chip designed for the fuzzy rule base inference, detects the faults in the electrical power system in real time and activates the circuit control unit to take the appropriate actions. A set of features are extracted, and two sets of fuzzy inference rules are used to classify faults based on those features. The membership functions for all fuzzy variables are trained based on a supervised learning algorithm. Features extracted from structure properties of the patterns enable the classifier to rapidly detect the faults appearing in electrical power within 50 /spl mu/s. The fuzzy chip, in this fault classifier, provides speed and cost improvement over the existing general-purpose microprocessor technologies,. >
Experimental measurements of surface mount component lead stiffness

An approach to the experimental determination of lead stiffness (the straddle board method) has been used to assess surface-mount package leads of actual service dimensions. Correlation was observed between the experimental data and trends of predicted values from the linear elastic beam model. However, the simplified model cannot be used to predict actual performance. Current 3D finite-element analysis shows good correlation and predictive capability. Lead stiffness values of PLCC (plastic leaded chip carrier), cerquad (ceramic quad flat pack), and PQFP (plastic quad flat pack) packages have been measured. Transverse values exceed lateral for PLCC and cerquad packages. Cerquad packages exhibit lower stiffness than PLCC. This behavior can be attributed to the longer shoulder length of the cerquad lead and thinner lead thickness, which offsets the effect of the elastic modulus. PQFP leads are in order of magnitude more compliant than the 50-mil pitch J-lead configuration due to the smaller lead cross section and the gull-wing configuration. The board-level solder-joint reliability of PQFP packages is expected to exceed that of the established PLCC component because of the increased lead compliancy. >
Manual of Inpatient Psychiatry

Inpatient units treat some of the most difficult psychiatric patients. This compact clinical manual is convenient for use on the ward and serves as a standard guide for treatment, addressing the common questions and issues that clinicians face in day-to-day psychiatric work with this challenging patient group. Chapters are organised around the diagnoses found on inpatient psychiatric units, with additional chapters addressing documentation and the care of young adult inpatients. Charts, tables and clinical hints amplify the text, allowing practising clinicians to find the information they need quickly and easily, and enabling students to master the field for board and end-of-clerkship exams. This practical manual is essential reading for practising psychiatrists, psychiatric residents and all psychiatric educators, as well as serving as an accessible reference for physicians in other specialties who consult on the psychiatric ward, psychiatric nurses and medical students.
Test differences in accessing bilingual memory

Abstract Theories of how bilinguals represent information have been conceived in terms of either a single, language-independent code or dual, language-specific codes. In this study, Spanish-English bilinguals exhibited both a language-independent and a language-specific pattern of results under identical study conditions depending on the retrieval demands of a task. With the data-driven task of word fragment completion, language specificity was observed. With the conceptually driven task of free recall, language-independence was generally observed. Results from a yes/no test of recognition memory were interpreted as reflecting both types of processing. The issue of whether bilinguals store information in one or two codes seems indeterminable, because the varying retrieval demands of different tasks produce different patterns of results and lead to opposite conclusions. Rather, a transfer appropriate processing framework—in which performance on retention tests is shown to benefit to the extent to which procedures required on the test recapitulate those employed during encoding—provides a more fruitful analysis.
Analysis of a memristor based 1T1M crossbar architecture

The recently discovered memristor has the potential to be the building block of a high-density memory system. A memristor based crossbar memory system was analyzed in terms of timing and switching energy using SPICE. The memristor model in the simulations was designed to match the I–V characteristics of three different published devices. The simulation results for each device were compared to demonstrate the performance of a one transistor one memristor (1T1M) memristor crossbar.
Genes targeted by the Hedgehog-signaling pathway can be regulated by Estrogen related receptor β

Nuclear receptor family member, Estrogen related receptor β, and the Hedgehog signal transduction pathway are both reported to relate to tumorigenesis and induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. We hypothesize that Estrogen related receptor β can modulate the Hedgehog signaling pathway and affect Hedgehog driven downstream gene expression. We established an estrogen related receptor β-expressing Hedgehog-responsive NIH3T3 cell line by Esrrb transfection, and performed mRNA profiling using RNA-Seq after Hedgehog ligand conditioned medium treatment. Esrrb expression altered 171 genes, while Hedgehog signaling activation alone altered 339 genes. Additionally, estrogen related receptor β expression in combination with Hedgehog signaling activation affects a group of 109 Hedgehog responsive mRNAs, including Hsd11b1, Ogn, Smoc2, Igf1, Pdcd4, Igfbp4, Stmn1, Hp, Hoxd8, Top2a, Tubb4b, Sfrp2, Saa3, Prl2c3 and Dpt. We conclude that Estrogen related receptor β is capable of interacting with Hh-signaling downstream targets. Our results suggest a new level of regulation of Hedgehog signaling by Estrogen related receptor β, and indicate modulation of Estrogen related receptor β can be a new strategy to regulate various functions driven by the Hedgehog signaling pathway.
Dual Damascene Process for FatWires in Copper/FSG Technology

A trench-first dual damascene process has been developed for fat wires (1.26 μm pitch, 1.1 μm thickness) in a 0.18 μm CMOS process with copper/fluorosilicate glass (FSG) interconnect technology. The process window for the patterning of vias in such deep trenches depends on the trench depth and on the line width of the trench, with the worse case being an intermediate line width (lines that are 3X the via diameter). Compared to a single damascene process, the dual damascene process has comparable yield and reliability, with lower via resistance and lower cost.
Political Participation in France

To start on a journey to study the relevance of political activism in France, the reader will need to review a large legacy of knowledge and research on this very topic. Fortunately, Chapter 2 is a bridge between the general research paradigm in this book and the vast amount of information available already. As an essential step to understanding and following the development of the hypotheses in later chapters, the sections that follow will briefly highlight the literature’s position on France’s historical activism and the problems of terminology when someone refers to political participation and its presumed meanings. Once the different terms used to address the study of political action are clear, the last section in the chapter will introduce the first data on political participation in France. As a conclusion this chapter underlines the most important elements that have been accounted for as responsible for political action. The variables presented are a further link between the general findings of political participation research and the more specific French works on the same subject. The gradual shift from the general literature to the more specific variables of analysis allows an easier transition to the technicalities of the index construction section in Chapter 5. The essence of political activism among the French will appear very clearly.
Terpyridine- and bipyridine-based ruthenium complexes as catalysts for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.

We report the successful use of Ru(II)(terpy)2 (1, terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) as a catalyst in the Belousov−Zhabotinsky (BZ) oscillating chemical reaction. We also examine several additional ...
Investigations of The Low Dielectric Constant Fluorinated Polyimide for Use as The Interlayer Dielectric in ULSI

Low dielectric constant interlayer dielectric ( ILD) materials are required for the advanced silicon integrated electronics such as those in the ULSI era[3, 10]. We have investigated several such materials. In this paper the results of our investigations of the materials and electrical properties, processing ( to form ILD ), and applicability of a DuPont fluorinated polyimide are described and discussed. Weight loss, FTIR, and ellipsometric measurements have been carried out. The DuPont fluorinated polyimide thin film was observed to be thermally stable up to 450°C, which is monitored by using dynamic TGA with a ramping rate of 10°C/min or 5°C/min in N2 Ambient. Also MIPOS capacitor characterization, effect of temperature and moisture on these properties have been determined. The dielectric constant was observed to be as low as 2.5 and the refractive index is around 1.63, both being stable up to 450°C. However, the DuPont Fluorinated polyimide exhibited a flat band voltage shift on C-V curve after 400°C annealing in vacuum environments for 1 hr. Compatibility with copper as the interconnecting metal has been determined and discussed[8]. It is concluded that this polymer is a possible candidate for ILD application.
Likelihood ratio testing of variance components in the linear mixed-effects model using restricted maximum likelihood

This paper reports the results of an extensive Monte Carlo study of the distribution of the likelihood ratio test statistic using the value of the restricted likelihood for testing random components in the linear mixed-effects model when the number of fixed components remains constant. The distribution of this test statistic is considered when one additional random component is added. The distribution of the likelihood ratio test statistic computed using restricted maximum likelihood is compared to the likelihood ratio test statistic computed from the usual maximum likelihood. The rejection proportion is computed under the null hypothesis using a mixture of chi-square distributions. The restricted likelihood ratio statistic has a reasonable agreement with the maximum likelihood test statistic. For the parameter combinations considered, the rejection proportions are, in most cases, less than the nominal 5% level for both test statistics, though, on average, the rejection proportions for REML are closer to the nominal level than for ML.
Human Relations Training for Middle Management: Comment

The article reports the author's opinions regarding human relations training for middle managers. The author focuses on responding to the article “Human Relations Training for Middle Management: A ...
Evaluation of the Minimum Temperature Requirements for the RPV Closure Head Flange Region in 10 CFR 50 Appendix G

Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50 Appendix G (10CFR50 App. G) prescribes the pressure-temperature (P-T) limits for light water power reactors by incorporating American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI, Appendix G (ASME App. G) by reference. The P-T limits in ASME App. G are based on the fracture toughness of the vessel limiting material accounting for irradiation effects. The fracture toughness of the limiting material is determined based on the plane strain fracture toughness, KIc , indexed to the material reference temperature, RT NDT . Prior to the 2000 Addenda of ASME App. G, fracture toughness was based on the arrest fracture toughness, KIa , but the approval of Code Case N-640 [1] in 1998 changed the fracture toughness basis to KIc . In addition to the P-T limits determined by ASME App. G, 10CFR50 App. G sets additional minimum temperature requirements that limit the operating pressure based on other factors such as the minimum unirradiated reference temperature, RTNDT(u) , of the material in the closure head flange region. This paper presents an analysis of the closure head flange region minimum temperature requirements based on both KIa and KIc . Recommendations for potential alternative minimum temperature requirements are made for normal operation and hydrostatic test conditions.
Analysis on influenza surveillance during epidemic period in Huairou District of Beijing from 2012-2013

[Objective]To understand the epidemic characteristics of influenza and the variant of influenza viruses during epidemic period in Huairou District of Beijing from 2012-2013,learn about the epidemic trends,and provide scientific basis for making the prevention and control strategies of influenza.[Methods]According to the criterion of China influenza surveillance program and Beijing influenza surveillance program,the epidemiological and pathogenic surveillance were conducted,and the results were collated and analyzed.[Results]From September 2012 to May 2013,2883 influenza like illness( ILI) cases were found in 717 582 outpatient cases,with the ratio of 0. 40%. 289 strains of influenza viruses were isolated from 1496 nasopharyngeal swab specimens,and the positive rate was 19. 32%. In the 289 isolates,170( 58. 82%) were influenza A( H1N1),and 119 were seasonal influenza A( H3N2). During the epidemic period in2012-2013,the isolation rate of viruses in December was the highest,and the predominant strain was influenza A( H1N1).[Conclusion]The epidemic situation of influenza in Huairou District has stayed relatively stable from 2012-2013,the sporadic cases are predominant,and there is not large-scale outbreak. The epidemiological data are not completely consistent with the viral isolation data,which indicates that the sensitivity and specificity of the influenza surveillance system should be further improved.
Agonist-Dependent Delivery of M2 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors to the Cell Surface after Pertussis Toxin Treatment

The internalization of the M2 muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) proceeds through an atypical pathway that is independent of arrestin and clathrin function and shows a unique sensitivity to dynamin when the receptor is expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. In this report we demonstrate that the internalization of the M2 mAChR was modulated by activation of heterotrimeric G proteins, because treatment with pertussis toxin, which ADP-ribosylates G proteins of the Gi/o family, caused a significant delay in the onset of internalization of the M2 mAChR. The effects of pertussis toxin could not be explained by alteration of the agonist-dependent phosphorylation of the M2 mAChR. The modulation of internalization by pertussis toxin was revealed to be due to recruitment of intracellular receptors to the cell surface upon agonist treatment. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin also greatly increased both the rate and extent of recovery of M2 mAChRs to the cell surface after agonist-mediated internalization. These results demonstrate a novel aspect involved in the regulation of GPCRs. As with the tightly controlled internalization of GPCRs, the delivery of GPCRs to the cell surface is also highly regulated.
PHYSICAL AND BOUNDARY-LAYER CLIMATOLOGY

Geographer-climatologists have a rich heritage in the fields of physical and boundary-layer climatology—a heritage deeply rooted in the study of earth-surface interactions with the atmosphere and i...
Safety, Reliability, and Risk Assessment

The definitions of safety and reliability and the means of apportioning mission reliability are discussed, and the reliability function is introduced. Failure rate models are used in the development of reliability estimates, and apportionment goals are evaluated. Propulsion system reliability is used as an example of estimating mission success. An overview of probabilistic risk assessment is presented and the question of functional failures is addressed using the Space Shuttle as an example. The Weibull distribution and its role in risk and reliability studies are described.
Effects of small-amplitude periodic topography on combined stresses due to gravity and tectonics

Abstract Topographic perturbations of gravitational body forces and horizontal tectonic stresses can be substantial, non-intuitive, and important in terms of subsurface engineering and rock fracture near the surface of the Earth. For (co)sinusoidal topography where the amplitude (A) is small relative to the wavelength (L), adjustments to published plane strain (two-dimensional) approximate elastic solutions for stresses in uniform, isotropic rock allow effects of gravity and a uniform regional horizontal stress (T) to be distinguished. These first-order solutions contain a characteristic stress and three geometric terms, one that varies linearly with elevation, one that decays exponentially with depth, and a (co)sinusoidal term; elastic moduli do not enter the solutions. The first-order solutions are useful approximations for A/L