cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of MRI Measurements of Right Ventricular Size and Function in Patients with Normal and Dilated Ventricles

Purpose To determine the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived measurements of right ventricular (RV) mass, volume, and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles. Materials and methods CMR studies of 60 patients in three groups were studied: a normal RV group (N = 20) and two groups with RV dilation-atrial septal defect (ASD) (N = 20) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (N = 20). Two independent observers analyzed each study on two separate occasions. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of biventricular mass, volume, ejection fraction (EF), and stroke volume (SV) measurements were calculated. Results High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were found for interobserver (ICC = 0.94-0.99) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96-0.99) comparisons of RV and left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and SV measurements. RV and LV EF measurements were less reproducible (ICC = 0.79-0.87). RV mass measurements were significantly less correlated than the respective LV measurements. Small but statistically significant differences in correlation were noted in RV measurements across groups. Conclusion Except for RV mass, inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of RV size and function measurements is high and generally comparable to that in the LV in patients with both normal and dilated RV.
Adolescent Social Networks: General and Smoking-Specific Characteristics Associated With Smoking

Objective:Converging lines of research suggest that adolescents’ smoking behaviors are strongly influenced by the characteristics of their social network and the social processes their network facilitates. The primary goal of this study was to conduct a detailed comparison of the social networks of adolescent smokers and nonsmokers to determine what aspects relate the most to smoking status. A secondary goal was to conduct within-group analyses to examine relationships between key measures of behavior-specific social support and (a) smoking susceptibility among nonsmokers, and (b) readiness to quit smoking among smokers.Method:A matched sample of 190 adolescent smokers and nonsmokers (Mage = 16.8 years; 51% female) completed a questionnaire in which they nominated and reported on up to 10 important people in their lives. This measure allowed us to examine adolescents’ overall networks (both peers and family) and to investigate numerous aspects, including general network characteristics (e.g., size of netw...
The cytologic diagnosis of neoplasia

Although the definitive diagnosis of most neoplasms requires histologic evaluation of excised tumor masses, cytology is a useful adjunct to histopathology. For some neoplasms, the diagnosis may be made more readily based on cytology. This article describes the cytologic characteristics of some of the more commonly encountered neoplasms in veterinary medicine, including lymphoma, mast cell tumor, histiocytoma, transmissible venereal tumor, melanoma, and epithelial and mesenchymal tumors of the skin.
An assessment of sediment contamination in Presque Isle Bay, PA, with historical comparisons

The harbor at Erie, Pennsylvania, known as Presque Isle Bay (the 43rd Great Lakes Area of Concern), has been designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as being in a stage of recovery. The impaired beneficial uses include the high incidence of fish tumors and restrictions on dredging. The goal of this study was to assess the level of chemical contamination in Bay sediments, and to some extent its tributaries, and to compare the findings to prior studies. Parameters investigated were the previously identified contaminants of concern: selected heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The acid volatile sulfide/simultaneously extracted metals ratio was used to estimate bioavailability of metals. It appeared that the deepest sediments and the most recent sediments were less contaminated with heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than those sediments in the middle region studied, that is, from about 10 cm below the surface to about 30 cm below the surface. These more h...
Aggregation of liposomes by dextrans of high molecular weight

Abstract Sonicated dispersions (liposomes) of natural and synthetic phospholipids are aggregated reversibly by Dextrans 40, 110 and 500. The dextran concentration required for aggregation is dependent on chain length, lipid composition of the liposome and, for ionically-charged phospholipids, the ionic strength of the medium. The results indicate that adsorption of dextrans to the erythrocyte surface can occur by interaction with surface phospholipid substituents.
Nanogranular nickel iron thin films for high frequency power applications

Multi-layer nickel-iron-zirconia granular thin films were prepared using magnetron sputtering of NiFe and Zr targets in an Ar+O2 mixture. The resulting films showed strong uniaxial in-plane anisotropy and good soft magnetic properties which are promising for high frequency power applications. The material exhibited low hysteresis loss when excited along the hard-axis direction and is expected to have low eddy current losses at high frequencies due to the high in-plane resistivity and insulation layers between the granular magnetic layers. The core loss of the thin film is predicted to be significantly lower than commercial nickel-zinc and manganese-zinc ferrites, when excited with a peak ac flux density between 0 and 200 mT. A high relative permeability of 540 makes the material useful for applications such as transformers and coupled inductors.
Theoretical study of the Ogawa band system of NO

Abstract Theoretical potential curves and dipole moment functions (DMFs) for the a 4 Π and b 4 Σ − states of NO and the b 4 Σ − - a 4 Π electronic transition moment function have been determined using CASSCF/multireference CI methods. The calculated radiative lifetimes for the v = 0, 1, and 2 vibrational levels of the b 4 Σ − state are 19.5, 13.2, and 10.6 μs, respectively. As the experimental lifetimes for v = 1 and 2 are considerably shorter, it is probable that collisional quenching effects or intersystem crossing to the B 2 Π state reduce the measured lifetimes. Equivalent calculations performed for the analogous b 4 Σ g − - a 4 Π μ first negative band system of the isoelectronic O 2 + molecule give lifetimes that agree well with experiment and an earlier theoretical study. The a 4 Π DMF of NO is found to differ substantially from an earlier theoretical value calculated using first-order CI wave functions. In fact, the dipole moment in the lowest vibrational levels of the a 4 Π state is found to be of N − O + polarity, in contrast to the earlier work.
Post-Pleistocene facial reduction, biomechanics and selection against morphologically complex teeth: A rejoinder to macchiarelli and bondioli

Macchiarelli & Bondioli (1984, 1986) argue that post-Pleistocene cranio-facial reduction cannot be explained by biomechanical factors related to change in the diet (Carlson, 1974;Carlson & Van Gerven, 1977) or to facial reduction related to the selective advantages of smaller, morphologically simpler teeth (Greene, 1967;Van Gerven, Armelagos & Rohr, 1977). Instead, they maintain that facial reduction is a mere side-effect of a reduction in overall body size. Our analysis of skeletal and facial reduction in post-Pleistocene Sudanese Nubia suggests thatMacchiarelli & Bondioli's interpretation is incorrect for two reasons. First, the reduction in facial morphology (at least since Mesolithic times) is greater by several orders of magnitude than the reduction in general body size. Second, the dentition not only shows a greater size reduction than does general body size, but a shifting pattern of dental reduction rather than a general decrease across all teeth.
Single-chip microcomputer application in high-altitude balloon orientation system

Describes the application of a single-chip microcomputer in a high-altitude balloon instrumentation system. The system, consisting of a magnetometer, a stepping motor, a microcomputer and a gray code shaft encoder, is used to provide an orientation reference to point a scientific instrument at an object in space. The single-chip microcomputer, Intel's 8748, consisting of a CPU, program memory, data memory and I/O ports, is used to control the orientation of the system.
Multibody Dynamics Model for Analysis of Human Body Response to Vibrations

Some laboratory studies have showed that vibrational stimulation can enhance muscle strength and improve bone density, but it is not clearly understood how frequency and magnitude of vibration have effects on human muscles and bones. In this paper, a whole-body vibration case study is presented to help understand mechanism of human body responses to vibration intervention. A whole body vibration platform is used to provide a source of vibrational intervention. A person steps up and stands on the platform to experience whole-body vibration. Based on this whole-body vibration intervention case, a multibody biomechanical model is created to represent the human body and the WBV platform, and a sinusoidal force function is used to stand for vibrational input from the platform. Kane’s methods are used to derive equations of motion of this multibody biomechanical system. The model will be used to carry out computer simulation and to analyze how human body response to vibrations.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Pulsar spin down and cosmologies with varying gravity

IN this paper I show that some cosmologies with weakening gravity are in conflict with the measured spin down of the pulsar JP1953. If gravity is weakening, it must do so even more slowly than the limits set by radar ranging. For group theory cosmologies with strengthening gravity, we also give a natural explanation for the lack of long period pulsars.
An artificial intelligence system for computer-assisted menu planning

Abstract Planning nutritious and appetizing menus is a complex task that researchers have tried to computerize since the early 1960s. We have attempted to facilitate computer-assisted menu planning by modeling the reasoning an expert dietitian uses to plan menus. Two independent expert systems were built, each designed to plan a daily menu meeting the nutrition needs and personal preferences of an individual client. One system modeled rule-based, or logical, reasoning, whereas the other modeled case-based, or experiential, reasoning. The 2 systems were evaluated and their strengths and weaknesses identified. A hybrid system was built, combining the best of both systems. The hybrid system represents an important step forward because it plans daily menus in accordance with a person's needs and preferences; the Reference Daily Intakes; the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and accepted aesthetic standards for color, texture, temperature, taste, and variety. Additional work to expand the system's scope and to enhance the user interface will be needed to make it a practical tool. Our system framework could be applied to special-purpose menu planning for patients in medical settings or adapted for institutional use. We conclude that an artificial intelligence approach has practical use for computer-assisted menu planning. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:1009-1014 .
The study of CD behavior due to transmission control position change within photomask substrate

As design rule of memory device is smaller and smaller, the CD uniformity of a photomask become the most important factor to satisfy wafer exposure performance. Once the photomask is made, CD uniformity of the mask can't be changed and if CD uniformity of the mask is not good to use for wafer exposure, we must reject it and make another one again. But, after applying transmission control tool for CD uniformity, we have an extra chance to control mask CD uniformity in one mask and this is very effective for wafer printing result. In this paper, we are going to evaluate the behavior of wafer CD due to transmission control position change within photomask substrate and find the optimum control position for better wafer result.
Database theory column

The 26th edition of the ACM SIGMOD-SIGACT-SIGART Symposium on Principles of Databases (PODS), took place from 11 to 13 June 2007. As usual since 1991, the symposium was organized jointly with the ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data. While SIGMOD focuses on practical aspects of database systems, PODS focuses on the theory of such systems. The joint organization stimulates interaction between systems and theory research. For the first time ever the joint SIGMOD/PODS conference was held in Asia: it took place in Beijing, China.
Offering supplementary wireless technologies: Adoption behavior and offloading benefits

To alleviate the congestion caused by rapid growth in demand for mobile data, ISPs have begun encouraging users to offload some of their traffic onto a supplementary, better quality network technology, e.g., offloading from 3G or 4G to WiFi and femtocells. With the growing popularity of such offerings, a deeper understanding of the underlying economic principles and their impact on technology adoption is necessary. To this end, we develop a model for user adoption of a base wireless technology and a bundle of the base plus a supplementary technology. In our model, individual users make their adoption decisions based on several factors, including the technologies' intrinsic qualities, throughput degradation due to congestion externalities from other subscribers, and the flat access rates that an ISP charges. We study the adoption dynamics and show that they converge to a unique equilibrium for a given set of exogenously determined system parameters. In particular, we characterize the occurrence of interesting adoption behaviors, including a possible decrease in the adoption of the supplementary technology as its coverage increases. Similar behaviors occur at an ISP's profit-maximizing prices and the optimal coverage area for the supplementary technology. To account for the potential benefits from offloading in practice, we collect 3G and WiFi usage and location data from twenty mobile users. We then use this data to numerically investigate the profit-maximizing adoption levels when an ISP accounts for its cost of deploying the supplemental technology and savings from offloading traffic onto this technology.
Processing of InP and related compounds at nanometer dimensions

Processes for the fabrication of nanometer-scale geometries in InP and related materials are discussed. Special emphasis is directed to pattern transfer using reactive ion etching in methane-hydrogen plasmas. Using these processes, 70 nm period gratings etched 900 nm deep in InP resulting in an aspect ratio of 25 is demonstrated. It is shown that these processes can be applied successfully to the fabrication of quantum wires in InP/InGaAs heterostructures. The high luminescence efficiency of these wires even at dimensions down to 40 nm shows that CH4/H2 reactive ion etching does not severely degrade the optical properties of quantum wires.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toxicity of novel aromatic and aliphatic organic acid and ester analogs of trypsin modulating oostatic factor to larvae of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens complex, and the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Eight non-peptidic chemical analogs of trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF, NH2-YDPAP6), an insect hormone inhibiting trypsin biosynthesis in mosquitoes, were synthesized based on the structure of the native peptide. The median lethal concentration (LC50) for the chemical analogs, TMOF and FDPAP (a peptidic analog of TMOF) was estimated for larvae of the northern house mosquito, the Culex pipiens complex, using a static 5-day bioassay. Four of these compounds demonstrated the same larvicidal activity as TMOF, while three of these compounds were 1.2–2.5-fold more active than TMOF. The compounds introduced by injection were toxic to fourth instars of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, except for TMOF, FDPAP, and PPHEN. Injection of TMOF and FDPAP into fourth stadium and TMOF into second stadium M. sexta had no effect on trypsin activity, growth, or mortality. Apparently the mosquito hormone is inactive in the tobacco hornworm at the developmental stages examined. Three TMOF analogs (CHEA, PHEA, and PHA) demonstrating the highest activity by injection in M. sexta were also found to be toxic by injection in fourth instars of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens, and the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, as well as adult male German cockroaches, Blattela germanica. A two-choice feeding bioassay with H. virescens indicated that at least one of the TMOF analogs, PHEA, has anti-feeding properties.
Equine Arteritis Virus Does Not Induce Interferon Production in Equine Endothelial Cells: Identification of Nonstructural Protein 1 as a Main Interferon Antagonist

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of equine arteritis virus (EAV) on type I interferon (IFN) production. Equine endothelial cells (EECs) were infected with the virulent Bucyrus strain (VBS) of EAV and expression of IFN-β was measured at mRNA and protein levels by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and IFN bioassay using vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the green fluorescence protein (VSV-GFP), respectively. Quantitative RT-PCR results showed that IFN-β mRNA levels in EECs infected with EAV VBS were not increased compared to those in mock-infected cells. Consistent with quantitative RT-PCR, Sendai virus- (SeV-) induced type I IFN production was inhibited by EAV infection. Using an IFN-β promoter-luciferase reporter assay, we subsequently demonstrated that EAV nsps 1, 2, and 11 had the capability to inhibit type I IFN activation. Of these three nsps, nsp1 exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect. Taken together, these data demonstrate that EAV has the ability to suppress the type I IFN production in EECs and nsp1 may play a critical role to subvert the equine innate immune response.
In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift imaging by selective irradiation

NMR images of preselected chemically shifted species can be obtained by selective irradiation of the remainder of the NMR chemical shift spectrum prior to application of a conventional NMR imaging sequence. The chemical-selective irradiation consists of narrow-bandwidth pi/2 or saturation radio-frequency pulses applied in the absence of imaging gradients. The technique permits substantial reductions in scan and reconstruction times over standard three- and four-dimensional Fourier transform chemical-shift-imaging methods, when images of few spectral peaks are desired. It is also suitable for the elimination of chemical shift artifacts in conventional high-field NMR imaging. In vivo applications of the technique to the head and limbs in a 1.5-T magnetic field yield 1H H2O and -CH2-images, with little detectable -CH2- in muscle and brain.
Universal Service: Prosaic Motives and Great Ideals

The recent proliferation of telecommunications services has turned the idea of universal service into a serious problem, because there is little consensus about what should constitute a “bare essential” package. Scholars addressing this problem have sought to develop a new definition for universal service which can provide a framework for formulating appropriate public policies. The analysis presented in this article suggests that this approach is a misdirected effort. In the United States, incremental processes are likely to have a greater chance of success than those based on a master plan.
Association of Sleep-Related Problems With CKD in the United States, 2005-2008

Background Sleep-related problems, which have been associated with poor health outcomes, have not been investigated thoroughly in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined the prevalence of a variety of sleep-related problems in persons with and without CKD. Study Design National cross-sectional survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008). Setting & Participants Community-based survey of 9,110 noninstitutionalized US civilian residents 20 years or older. Predictor CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 15-59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (stages 3 and 4) or eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and albumin-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g (stages 1 and 2). Outcome Sleep quality, defined using self-report in a multi-item sleep questionnaire including items from previously validated instruments. Measurements Albuminuria and eGFR assessed from urine and blood samples; sleep, demographics, and comorbid conditions assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Results Inadequate sleep (≤6 hours per night) differed by CKD severity (37.4%, 43.0%, and 30.9% for no CKD, CKD stages 1 and 2, and CKD stages 3 and 4, respectively; P = 0.003). Frequent sleeping pill use (8.4%, 9.9%, and 16.6%), leg symptoms (39.2%, 48.0%, and 50.9%), and nocturia (20.9%, 35.2%, and 43.6%; P Limitations Inability to establish causality and possible unmeasured confounding. Conclusion Providers should be aware of early sleep-related CKD manifestations, including inadequate sleep, leg symptoms, and nocturia, and of the high rate of reported sleep medication use in this population.
SOME NEW RHODIUM(I)‐AZIRIDINE COMPLEXES

Throughout the past decade our research group has been interested in coordination compounds of aziridine (Az = aziridine or ethylenimine, a three-membered ring. A previously reported Rh(I)-aziridine complex, iodotris(ethylenimine)rhodium(I), derived by the HI reduction of a Rh (III) compound provided the impetus for the work described here. If Rh(Az)_3I exists as empirically written, it will be a rare example of a coordinately-unsaturated and exclusively sigma-bonded Rh(I) complex. Generally, such low oxidation states are stabilized by one or more pi-bonding ligands. However, this compound lacks the stabilizing influence of such ligands. Subsequent attempts to duplicate the reported synthesis of this complex in order to examine more carefully its chemical and physical properties were unsuccessful. Consequently, a new approach has been devised using carbonyltris(ethylenimine)rhodium(I) chloride as an intermediate in the preparative scheme. Dicarbonylbis(ethylenimine)rhodium(I) chloride has also been prepared as a possible precursorin a continued study of Rh(Az)_3I. Unfortunately, the study was not completed due to aziridne poisoning suffered by M. R. Hoffmann; our positive results are presented here.
SAPHO syndrome with adrenal deficiency: a case report

Introduction The SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteomyelitis) is a rare painful disorder, usually with a good long-term prognosis. Its etiology remains unclear, and various treatment regimens frequently fail to control the disease.
Coherence lengths and penetration depths in high-Tc superconductors

Abstract The important features of the high-Tc superconductors are the 2-dimensional (2-D) layers of superconducting sheets with 2-D Cooper pairs. It has been shown recently that the BCS theory may be applicable to these systems. The coherence lengths ξ and penetration depths γ have been calculated by adapting the standard theory to 2-D anisotropic systems. Our theoretical results, ξa = 34A˚, ξc = 6A˚λa = 400A˚ andλc = 2300A˚, are consistent with the experimental values of 30, 5, 400 and 3000A˚for YBa2Cu3O7.
Rectal Temperatures of Immobilized, Snare-trapped Black Bears in Great Dismal Swamp

Rectal temperature was determined for 84 black bears (Ursus americanus) during 99 handlings in Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia and North Carolina (USA). All bears had been trapped with cable snares and immobilized with a 2:1 ketamine hydrochloride-xylazine hydrochloride mixture. Temperatures were significantly greater in males and varied significantly by season. Immobilized bears began panting at rectal temperatures >42.0 C. One death occurred at 43.0 C. We recommended cooling measures on black bears at rectal temperatures of ≥40.0 C.
Porous anodic alumina microreactors for production of hydrogen from ammonia

The synthesis and properties are described of a ruthenium-impregnated anodic aluminum catalyst for use in microreactors for the production of hydrogen from an ammonia feed. The catalyst structure was synthesized using microelectric discharge machining to create a series of 300 × 300-μm posts on an aluminum substrate. The posts were anodized to yield a 60-μm covering of anodic alumina, with an average surface area of 16 m2/gm and an average pore size of 50 nm. Ruthenium metal was dispersed on the alumina using conventional wet impregnation. A 0.9 × 0.9-cm reactor containing 250 posts decomposed 95% of anhydrous ammonia at 650°C to yield 15 sccm of hydrogen. A possible application of these microreactor fabrication methods is hydrogen generation for fuel cells in mobile power production. 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50:829–834, 2004
The Role of Positive Affect in Syllogism Performance

Previous research has found that people in positive moods perform better than others on creativity and divergent thinking tasks but perform more poorly and/or process the available information less thoroughly on many other cognitive tasks. The present experiment examined various hypotheses concerning the process mediating the latter effect. Positive mood subjects performed significantly worse on a set of syllogisms than control subjects, even though they had ample timefor the task. Positive mood subjects were also significantly more likely than controls to select an unqualified conclusion, tended to take less time on the task, tended to diagram the relationships depicted by the premises less frequently, and tended to give more answers consistent with the atmosphere heuristic. Together; these findings argue against distraction accounts of the influence of positive affect. The results are most consistent with accounts arguing that people in positive moods expend less effort.
Minimal Delay Interconnect Design Using Alphabetic Trees

We propose a new algorithm for the performance-driven interconnect design problem, based on alphabetic trees. The interconnect topology is determined in a global manner and does not greedily add edges as in conventional approaches. The algorithm can handle cases where the sink capacitances are different. Good results are obtained while running two to sixty times faster than three existing algorithms on practical instances.
The Effect of Near-Ultraviolet Radiation on the Morphology of Nylon 66

Photodegradation of nylon 66 resulting from outdoor exposure and simulated weather conditions has been reported. Tensile strength losses and photochemical decomposition have been shown to occur on exposure to broad band irradiation. Physical properties of textile materials are intimately related to fiber structure. Therefore, any insights into phenomena which alter that structure, and consequently affect the expected performance of textile goods, would be useful . This study examined the morphology of nylon 66 fibers as affected by near ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in a dry oxygen atmosphere. Ninety percent emission from the irradiation source was at 3500 ± 500 A, a wavelength range found in sunlight at the earth's surface.
Dynamical calculation of quark, lepton, and gauge-boson masses

A model is proposed in which fermion and gauge-boson masses are calculable. Fermions get their masses from their own condensates and the low-lying gauge bosons such as $Z$ or $W$ get their masses from the condensate of fermions of higher generations. The short-distance contribution to chiralsymmetry breaking is important, in contrast to the technicolor theory. We have no difficulty concerning the flavor-changing neutral current.
Photon-counting 1.55 μm optical communications with pulse-position modulation and a multimode upconversion single-photon receiver

We report single-photon frequency upconversion of multimode light from 1.55 to 0.532μm and demonstrate an end-to-end optical link that emulates photon-starved communications and atmospheric propagation. Using 64-ary pulse-position modulation and a half-rate serially concatenated turbo code we achieve a decoded efficiency of 0.3 detected photons/bit.
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COMMERCIALLY PROCESSED FLUID MILKS

Flow profiles of commercially processed whole, two-percent, one-percent and nonfat milks with added solids as well as skim milk without added solids were measured using a rotational steady shear viscometer. Also tested were mixtures of concentrated skim milk added to skim milk over a range of 9.7% to 20.2% total solids. A shear rate range of 121 to 486 s-1 was used with a cone and plate geometry. In all cases, linear plots of shear stress versus shear rate with small nonzero intercepts were obtained.
Temperature and Time-dependent Property Prediction and Validation for Nano-Underfills using RSA based RVE Algorithms

Presently, no-flow underfills have very low or no filler content because micron-size filler particles hinder solder joint formation. Nano-silica underfills have the potential of attaining higher filler loading in no-flow underfills without hindering solder interconnect formation (Kraszewshi et al., 2001 and Shi and Wong, 1999). The silica particles reduce coefficient of thermal expansion of the underfill-epoxy matrix. In traditional underfills, the size of silica particles is in the micrometer range. In this paper, property prediction models based on representative volume element (RVE) and modified random spatial adsorption (RSA) have been developed. The models utilize statistically isotropic random-placement of nano-particles, in addition to random size-distribution of particles for analysis of material. Volume fractions up to 40 percent of nano-silica filler have been studied. Properties predicted and correlated with experimental data include, coefficient of thermal expansion, elastic modulus, poisson's ratio, and viscoelastic properties including stress relaxation under applied strain. All properties have been measured in the temperature range of -175 degC to +150degC. Nano-underfills with 10 percent and 22 percent volume fraction of filler assembled with 63Sn37Pb eutectic and 95.5Sn3.5Ag1.0Cu leadfree flip-chip devices have been subjected to thermal shock tests in the range of -55 to 125degC and -55 to 150degC respectively. The trade-offs between using nano-fillers instead of micron-fillers on thermo-mechanical properties and reliability has been benchmarked
The Problematic Pipeline Demographic Trends and Latino Participation in Graduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Programs

This article addresses Latino population growth in the United States and their participation in higher education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. The demographic and educational trends outlined here suggest that although the Latino population will continue to grow very rapidly, the participation in higher education by Latino students and faculty will not keep pace. The projected increase of school-age Latinos will increase the pool of students at the K-12 end of the educational pipeline; however, without effective interventions, the higher education end of this pipeline will remain narrow, and only a small number of Latinos with graduate degrees will be produced.
An analytical model for the calculation of the change in transmembrane potential produced by an ultrawideband electromagnetic pulse.

The electric field pulse shape and change in transmembrane potential produced at various points within a sphere by an intense, ultrawideband pulse are calculated in a four stage, analytical procedure. Spheres of two sizes are used to represent the head of a human and the head of a rat. In the first stage, the pulse is decomposed into its Fourier components. In the second stage, Mie scattering analysis (MSA) is performed for a particular point in the sphere on each of the Fourier components, and the resulting electric field pulse shape is obtained for that point. In the third stage, the long wavelength approximation (LWA) is used to obtain the change in transmembrane potential in a cell at that point. In the final stage, an energy analysis is performed. These calculations are performed at 45 points within each sphere. Large electric fields and transmembrane potential changes on the order of a millivolt are produced within the brain, but on a time scale on the order of nanoseconds. The pulse shape within the brain differs considerably from that of the incident pulse. Comparison of the results for spheres of different sizes indicates that scaling of such pulses across species is complicated. Bioelectromagnetics 25:251–259, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evolution of Stress During Heteroepitaxial Growth of NiSi2 on (001) and (111) Silicon Substrates

Thin film stresses accompanying the nucleation and growth of NiSi2, resulting from the interaction of polycrystalline nickel films with (001) and (111) silicon substrates, have been measured at an annealing temperature of 825° C. Results Indicate a significantly larger stress reduction during the formation of NiSi2 on (111) silicon (∼ 200 MPa) whereas the stress reduction is comparatively small (50–100 MPa) for the formation of NiSi2 on (001) silicon. TEM studies reveal that for NiSi2 on (111) silicon, two sets of dislocations in edge or mixed orientation are initially produced - one set consisting of Shockleys spaced 25Onm and a second set consisting of 5Onm spaced Shockleys; dislocations and their Burgers vector lie in the growth interface. For NiSi2 on (001) silicon, dislocations are rarely observed, however, a large concentration of ledges or facets are observed in an orthogonal network lying at the NiSi2 - (001)Si interface. It is argued thai the observed stress reduction of NiSi2 on (111)Si is due to concurrent dislocation multiplication and interfacial glide of the Shockley partials. Larger compressive stresses of NiSi2 on (111) silicon at the annealing temperature is attributed to the accumulation of the edge type Shockleys present in the NiSi2 phase. In contrast, the negligible decrease in stress during the formation of NiSi2 on (001) silicon is believed to result from the presence of sessile misfit compensating ledges which lie at the NiSi2-Si interface.
Characterization of a nucleus-encoded chitinase from the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis.

Endogenous proteins secreted from Kluyveromyces lactis were screened for their ability to bind to or to hydrolyze chitin. This analysis resulted in identification of a nucleus-encoded extracellular chitinase (KlCts1p) with a chitinolytic activity distinct from that of the plasmid-encoded killer toxin α-subunit. Sequence analysis of cloned KlCTS1 indicated that it encodes a 551-amino-acid chitinase having a secretion signal peptide, an amino-terminal family 18 chitinase catalytic domain, a serine-threonine-rich domain, and a carboxy-terminal type 2 chitin-binding domain. The association of purified KlCts1p with chitin is stable in the presence of high salt concentrations and pH 3 to 10 buffers; however, complete dissociation and release of fully active KlCts1p occur in 20 mM NaOH. Similarly, secreted human serum albumin harboring a carboxy-terminal fusion with the chitin-binding domain derived from KlCts1p also dissociates from chitin in 20 mM NaOH, demonstrating the domain9s potential utility as an affinity tag for reversible chitin immobilization or purification of alkaliphilic or alkali-tolerant recombinant fusion proteins. Finally, haploid K. lactis cells harboring a cts1 null mutation are viable but exhibit a cell separation defect, suggesting that KlCts1p is required for normal cytokinesis, probably by facilitating the degradation of septum-localized chitin.
A study on the routing convergence of Latin American networks

BGP is known to suffer from slow routing convergence after network connectivity changes. In this paper we identify the impact of network connectivity on the routing convergence delay and discuss its implication for networks in the Latin American region. BGP routing table snapshots showed that some networks in Latin American region are directly attached to large Internet service providers, while others attached to regional services providers. Our study shows that, when an edge network loses some of its connectivities, its attachment point to the Internet has great impacts on the BGP convergence delay. Our analysis shows that proximity to large Internet service providers improves the convergence time. We confirm our analysis through both simulation experiments and BGP routing log analysis for specific Latin American destinations.
The effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on endothelial dysfunction: potential role in myocardial ischemia

A is well known, the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its clinical consequences, myocardial ischemia and infarction, are related both to atherosclerotic stenoses that limit increases in oxygen supply on demand and to inappropriate dilation or abnormal constriction of coronary arteries or microcirculation.1–3 One mechanism involved in disturbances of coronary vasomotion is endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium performs a number of regulatory activities that maintain vascular structure and function, including vascular tone, growth, hemostasis, inflammation, and redox state.2,4,5 In the physiologic state, vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) helps maintain vessel tone. In endothelial dysfunction, however, the vascular ACE system is central to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. ACE modulates the formation of angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor whose effect is to decrease myocardial oxygen supply.6 ACE also promotes the degradation of bradykinin, a peptide that promotes the release of nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator that has been shown in experimental studies to decrease tissue oxygen consumption.4,5,7 Such findings, coupled with the anti-ischemic effects of ACE inhibitors observed in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or acute myocardial infarction,8,9 suggest that ACE inhibition may have anti-ischemic effects in patients with myocardial ischemia and preserved ventricular function. A large ongoing study is evaluating the effects of an ACE inhibitor on ischemia-related events in patients with preserved ventricular function—the QUinapril Anti-ischemia and Symptoms of Angina Reduction (QUASAR) study.
Long Radius Flow Nozzle Study

The objective of this study is to examine the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Long Radius Flow Nozzle. This study was conducted with regard to published standards for design and installation, manufacturing, and the comparative analysis of laboratory flow calibrations to the theoretical predictions of the coefficient of discharge. Several sets of identically designed Long Radius Flow Nozzles were manufactured and laboratory flow calibrated. The results of the flow calibration data were used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction equations for the Coefficient of Discharge and to determine the effects of materials and manufacturing processes such as post weld stress relieving. Preliminary results of continuing research indicate that the uncertainty of the coefficient of discharge may be 1% or less while the published uncertainty is 2%. These results indicate that well controlled design and manufacturing processes influence the flow nozzle performance. These results are based on flow calibration data from an independent laboratory. In conclusion, the long radius flow nozzle can be designed and manufactured so the uncertainty associated with the coefficient of discharge is less than published values. Further study is required of the published equations for predicting the coefficient of discharge.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Long Term Variability of SDSS Quasars

We use a sample of 3791 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Early Data Release (EDR), and compare their photometry to historic plate material for the same set of quasars in order to study their variability properties. The time base-line we attain this way ranges from a few months to up to 50 years. In contrast to monitoring programs, where relatively few quasars are photometrically measured over shorter time periods, we utilize existing databases to extend this base-line as much as possible, at the cost of sampling per quasar. Our method, however, can easily be extended to much larger samples. We construct variability Structure Functions and compare these to the literature and model functions. From our modeling we conclude that 1) quasars are more variable toward shorter wavelengths, 2) their variability is consistent with an exponentially decaying light-curve with a typical time-scale of ~2 years, 3) these outbursts occur on typical time-scales of ~200 years. With the upcoming first data release of the SDSS, a much larger quasar sample can be used to put these conclusions on a more secure footing.
Do Financial Aid Awards in College Affect Graduates' Democratic Values and Civic Engagement?

Using longitudinal data collected by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) on two cohorts of Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) recipients and non-recipients, this study examines whether receiving GMS awards during college years affected graduates’ democratic values and civic engagement after college. The results indicated that receiving GMS awards had positive effects on college graduates’ democratic values and civic engagement after college. Those effects were mainly direct, but there were some small yet significant indirect effects of the GMS awards, through their influences on student social engagement in college. These findings can help expand the understanding of the role of financial aid on college students and have implications for preparing college students for lives of civic responsibility.
Reconfigurable clock polarity assignment for peak current reduction of clock-gated circuits

This paper presents a novel clock polarity assignment method to reduce the peak current on the vdd/gnd rails of a clock-gated integrated circuit. The proposed method inserts XOR gates at one level of the clock tree to facilitate the polarity assignment with limited skew degradation. The polarity of clock buffers are configured during runtime such that a maximal peak current reduction is obtained after clock gating. The method is integrated into an industrial design flow to study the practicality. Experimental results show that the worst case peak current on a clock tree can be reduced by 33.3% and 33.9% by inserting XOR gates at the sink level and non-sink level of the clock tree, respectively. Additional 12.8% and 12.9% reductions in the worst case peak current for a clock tree with XOR gates inserted at the sink and non-sink level, respectively, can be achieved by reconfiguring the polarity assignment during runtime based on the clock gating information.
Telencephalon enlargement by the convergent evolution of expanded subventricular zones

Some mammals and birds independently evolved an enlarged telencephalon. They appear to have done so, at least in part, by developing a thick telencephalic subventricular zone (SVZ). We suggest that this correlation between telencephalic enlargement and SVZ expansion is due to a mechanical constraint acting on the proliferative ventricular zone (VZ). Essentially, we argue that rapid proliferation in the VZ after post-mitotic cells in the overlying mantle zone have begun to form limits the VZ's tangential expandability and forces some proliferating cells to emigrate from the VZ and expand the pool of proliferating cells that comprise the SVZ.
Automated Assessment of Left Ventricular Function and Mass Using Heart Deformation Analysis: Initial Experience in 160 Older Adults.

Rationale and Objectives To assess the performance of automated quantification of left ventricular function and mass based on heart deformation analysis (HDA) in asymptomatic older adults. Materials and Methods This study complied with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations. Following the approval of the institutional review board, 160 asymptomatic older participants were recruited for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging including two-dimensional cine images covering the entire left ventricle in short-axis view. Data analysis included the calculation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass (LVM), and cardiac output (CO) using HDA and standard global cardiac function analysis (delineation of end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricle epi- and endocardial borders). The agreement between methods was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CoV). Results HDA had a shorter processing time than the standard method (1.5 ± 0.3 min/case vs. 5.8 ± 1.4 min/case, P P P P Conclusions HDA has the potential to measure LVEF, CO, and LVM without the need for user interaction based on standard cardiac two-dimensional cine images.
Time of Arrival Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks via OFDMA

This paper introduces the coarse time-of-arrival (ToA) estimation in wireless sensor networks (WSN) via orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). In the proposed technique, each sensor node exploits a set of orthogonal subcarrier as its allocated signature to respond of the ToA estimation requests transmitted by target nodes. The target node utilizes the orthogonality across sub-carriers to detect the transmitted signatures and their corresponding delays. This technique is energy efficient as it avoids multiple transmissions and receptions inherent in traditional neighbor discovery protocols and ToA estimation techniques in WSN. Moreover, in this technique, network initiation process does not require channel information or time synchronization across sensor nodes. ToA estimation error is calculated theoretically and via simulations. Moreover, the impact of available bandwidth on the performance of ToA estimation is investigated. Simulation results confirm the feasibility of the proposed method even at low signal to noise ratio (SNR) regimes and in multi- path and frequency selective (MPFS) channels.
Urgency Incontinence before and after Revision of a Synthetic Mid Urethral Sling

Purpose: We evaluate urgency urinary incontinence outcomes for patients who underwent revision of a presumed obstructing synthetic mid urethral sling and examine risk factors for persistent or de novo symptoms after surgery.Materials and Methods: From February 1, 2005 to June 1, 2013, 107 women underwent sling revision for new or worsening lower urinary tract symptoms after synthetic mid urethral sling surgery. Patients were grouped based on urgency urinary incontinence symptoms and characteristics associated with persistent or de novo symptoms after revision were examined using logistic regression models.Results: Median followup was 29 months (IQR 12–54) and time to revision was 21 months (IQR 5–48). Patients presenting for sling revision with urgency incontinence (68) were more likely to experience a more than 6-month delay to revision vs those presenting with obstructive voiding symptoms (39) (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.33–7.92, p <0.01). After revision urgency incontinence persisted in 76.5% (52 of 68) and was...
A model supercomputer for instructional support

Designed to visually illustrate the impact of internode communication on high performance computing, this model supercomputer integrates the major architectural components of modern heterogeneous machines. Using inexpensive compute nodes the machine supports major supercomputing development tools including OpenMP, MPI, and Nvidia's CUDA. These capabilities make it an accessible tool for illustrating parallel computing to a variety of classes.