cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The toughness of brittle matrix composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers

Abstract The effective fracture toughness of brittle matrix materials can be increased through the addition of short, poorly bonded fibers which bridge the growing crack. Using a fundamental crack opening-restraining traction law for the resistance to crack propagation provided by an arbitrarily oriented fiber which bridges a crack, together with the fiber orientation and location density functions, a micromechanical model is developed. This model determines the effective crack opening-traction law of the bridging fibers. The steady-state toughness increment is obtained by integrating the contributions of the individual fiber pull out energies. This model includes the observed effect that fibers at large angles to the crack face normal may break rather than pull out. The shear stress at the fiber-matrix interface is allowed to vary during pull out, simulating fiber or matrix damage. Results are presented for a variety of representative fiber orientation states and interfacial shear cases.
Design Construction and Test of a Subscale Ammonia Borane Reactor

Two ammonia borane (AB or NH3 BH3 ) dehydrogenation routes, namely hydrolysis and thermolysis, have been described in the literature. The work done on design, construction and testing of a subscale AB reactor is reported herein along with a discussion on the results. In this work, an AB dehydrogenation reactor system capable of handling two grams of AB per batch was designed. Operational safety, material compatibility and manufacturability were the major design requirements. The reactor system consisted of a high pressure feeder, a cylindrical stainless steel reactor vessel, an evolved gas heat exchanger and an ammonia filter, and a hydrogen flow meter. The reactor was operated in a temperature range of 430 K to 445 K for a nominal batch reaction time of 30 minutes. Measurements of hydrogen yield rates, system storage capacity and analysis of the reaction kinetics were completed. Overall repeatability of hydrogen yields was confirmed. A few practical problems associated with byproduct formation and removal are discussed in this paper.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Cumulative first live birth after elective cryopreservation of all embryos due to ovarian hyperresponsiveness.

Abstract Objective To estimate cumulative chance for first live birth after elective pronuclear stage cryopreservation of all embryos due to ovarian hyperresponsiveness. Design Retrospective analysis with longitudinal follow-up. Setting Academic hospital. Patient(s) Thirty subjects with elective cryopreservation of all embryos due to ovarian hyperresponsiveness. Intervention(s) Elective cryopreservation of all embryos at the pronuclear stage (n = 30) and subsequent cryopreserved–thawed ET (n = 51). Main outcome measure(s) Cumulative chance for first live birth. Result(s) Cumulative chance for first live birth was 77% when analyzed by intention to treat and 82% by treatment with ET. Nearly 40% of live births were multiple. Conclusion(s) Cumulative first live birth increased with repetitive ET after elective pronuclear stage cryopreservation of all embryos due to ovarian hyperresponsiveness. Multiple births, however, were frequent. In the context of initial ET attempts in young women, transfer of no more than two cryopreserved–thawed embryos is advised.
Neighborhood Opportunities, Race, and Class: The Black Middle Class and Residential Segregation

Racial residential segregation has received considerable attention from social scientists who, in general, have found that African Americans, particularly those in large, northeastern and midwester...
Masking effectiveness and number of segments in the masking ring

The present study confirms an earlier finding, based on a spatial forced-choice detection task, that masking rings comprising alternating black and white segments are increasingly effective in the backward masking of a target disk as the number of those segments increases. However, as expected, that relation reached an asymptote for rings having 16 and 32 black segments; a complete, inverted V-shaped relation was not found, probablY because the number of segments used was not sufficiently large. The present study is one of a set of experiments on visual backward masking that applies forced-choice detection methodology to the disk-ring paradigm introduced by Werner (1935). In particular, it follows up two previous investigations on the masking effectiveness of incomplete masking rings. Sherrick & Dember (1968) used masking stimuli ha\'ing 40% of the contour of a complete black ring: this contour was distributed in a ring-shaped pattern. into 2.4.6, or 8 equal-sized black segments (alternated with an equal number of white segments). The masking effectiveness of these incomplete rings. as well as that of a complete ring and a no-ring mask. was assessed by measuring the detectability of a black disk when followed by the various masking stimuli. The data showed that masking effectiveness increased as number of ring segments increased. In another related experiment (Dember, Colina, & Sherrick. 1972). 25%, 5017{-. or 75% of a complete black ring was removed: the remammg contour was symmetrically distributed in a ring-shaped pattern into four equal-sized segments. A second set of masking rings was also used. This set consisted of rings which varied in figure-ground contrast so as to yield complete rings having 25';' . 50%. or 75 17'c of the luminance of the white background on which the stimulus figures were presented. Thus, for each degree of ring-incompleteness in the one set. there was a contrast-reduced gray ring in the other set. In this case. it was found that each gray ring was less effective as a mask than was its incomplete counterpart. The purpose of the present experiment was to test the hypothesis that the rela tionship found by Sherrick and Dember (1968) would reach asymptote at some value of number of ring segments greater than 8. where. we assumed. the limits of visual acuity would transform a physically incomplete ring into one that functioned like a complete. but contrast-reduced. and hence (according
Outcome of in vitro fertilization in women 45 years and older who use autologous oocytes.

Objective To determine the IVF outcome in women over the age of 44 years. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting University-based IVF center. Patient(s) Two hundred eighty-eight consecutive IVF cycles in women over the age of 44 years. Intervention(s) IVF. Main Outcome Measure(s) Ovarian response and cycle outcome. Results The mean age of the patients was 45.4 (±0.73) years, with a range of 45–49 years. Fifty-seven of 288 (19.8%) did not start because of an elevated FSH or ovarian cyst. Just over 30% (70/231) had their cycle cancelled before retrieval. The mean number of oocytes was 6.8 (±3.8), and the mean number of fertilized zygotes was 5.4 (±3.4). On average, the mean numbers of embryos replaced were 3.2 (±1.5). An overall pregnancy rate of 21.1% (34/161) per retrieval was found. Of these, 85.3% (29/34) experienced a pregnancy loss. The overall delivery rate was 3.1% (5/161) per retrieval. Only patients at 45 years of age with a good response (>5 oocytes) achieved a delivery. Conclusion(s) We have shown that IVF is a reasonable option for women of very advanced maternal age (>44 years) but is limited to those at the age of 45 years with a response of >5 oocytes.
Remote handling - blending of energetic materials

Abstract A special handling-blending room fitted with manipulators was built to provide maximum safety for operators working with energetic materials. Backgroun
Propofol, more than halothane, depresses electroencephalographic activation resulting from electrical stimulation in reticular formation.

Background: Halothane and propofol depress the central nervous system, and this is partly manifested by a decrease in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Little work has been performed to determine the differences between these anesthetics with regard to their effects on evoked EEG activity. We examined the effects of halothane and propofol on EEG responses to electrical stimulation of the reticular formation. Methods: Rats (n= 12) were anesthetized with either halothane or propofol, and EEG responses were recorded before and after electrical stimulation of the reticular formation. Two anesthetic concentrations were used (0.8 and 1.2 times the amount needed to prevent gross, purposeful movement in response to supramaximal noxious stimulation), and both anesthetics were studied in each rat using a cross-over design. Results: Electrical stimulation in the reticular formation increased the spectral edge (SEF) and median edge (MEF) frequencies by approximately 1–2 Hz during halothane anesthesia at low and high concentrations. During propofol anesthesia, MEF increased at the low propofol infusion rate, but SEF was unaffected. At the high propofol infusion rate, SEF and MEF decreased following electrical stimulation in the reticular formation. Conclusions: At immobilizing concentrations, propofol produces a larger decrease than halothane in EEG responses to reticular formation stimulation, consistent with propofol having a more profound depressant effect on cortical and subcortical structures.
Renal Dietitians Lack Time And Resources To Collect And Analyze Dietary Intake Data

Previous research indicated that renal dietitians lack the time and computer software to implement the KDOQI nutrition guidelines for assessing dietary intake. This study used an online survey to determine the frequency and method of collecting and analyzing dietary intake data among renal dietitians in the USA and overseas. The link to the survey was emailed to the members of the RenalRD listserve (n=2077), the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (n=93), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Renal Practice Group (n=2362), and the National Kidney Foundation Council on Renal Nutrition (n=1491). Only currently practicing renal dietitians were asked to respond; 599 usable responses were received. A response rate cannot be calculated due to membership overlap between the 4 organizations, although individuals were asked to answer only once. Respondents were 99% female, 91% worked in the USA, 45% had a M.S. degree or higher, and 21% were Board Certified Specialists in Renal Nutrition. Dietitians worked mostly in dialysis (hospital based facility 30%, Fresenius 18%, DaVita 17%) and 5% worked in a pre-dialysis CKD clinic. Median patient load was 120/Full Time Equivalent (inner quartile range 100-150). Dietitians reported that they collected dietary intake data most frequently when labs were abnormal (70%), yearly (41%), and at the first visit only (35%). They did not collect intake data more frequently due to lack of time (42%) and not having analysis software (24.9%). Only 10% of renal dietitians reported that the frequency of diet analysis was determined by following the KDOQI guidelines, while 58.5% reported deciding on their own when to collect data. The most common methods of data collection were the “typical day” recall (50%) and the 24-hour recall (37%). Only 8% reported using a 3-day food record (as recommended by KDOQI). Methods of diet analysis were “estimation in my head” (62%), “calculate by hand” (25%), computer software (6%) and internet analysis sites (7%). These data show that most dietitians are not following the KDOQI nutrition guidelines for frequency or method of diet analysis, and new, inexpensive, and rapid methods of diet assessment must be explored.
Imaging spectroscopy with digital micromirrors

The availability of optical MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) is promising to revolutionize optical instrument design. We are developing a multiobject imaging spectrometer based on a commercially available optical MEMS--the Texas Instrument's Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)TM. The micromirror array is laced at an image plane of an optical system, and is used as a spatial light modulator to redirect portions of the image into the spectrograph. The programmability of the micromirror array allows the creation of arbitrary `slit' patterns as input to the spectrograph. In addition, by controlling the dwell time of each micromirror individually, it is possible to adaptively extend the dynamic range of the spectral imaging system.
Micro architecture coverage directed generation of test programs

In this paper we demonstrate a method for generation of assembler test programs that systematically probe the architecture of a PowerPC superscalar processor. We show innovations such as ways to make small models for large designs, predict, with cycle accuracy the movement of instructions through the pipes (taking into account stalls and dependencies) and generation of test programs such that each reaches a new architectural state. We compare our method to the established practice of massive random generation and show that the quality of our tests, as measured by transition coverage, is much higher. The main contribution of this paper is not in theory as the theory has been discussed in previous papers, but in describing how to translate this theory into practice in a practical way a task that was far from trivial.
Monitoring the chemical polymerization of aniline by open-circuit-potential measurements

Abstract We present the first open-circuit-potential (OCP) study of the chemical polymerization of aniline in the presence of various aromatic additives and demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring the polymerization rate by the OCP technique. With (NH4)2S2O8 as oxidant, there are three stages in the OCP-reaction time plots. The time (t1 + t2) needed for completion of the first two stages is inversely related to the rate of polymerization. The presence of p-aminodiphenylamine, N,N′-diphenylhydrazine, benzidine and p-phenylenediamine reduces the t1 + t2 value and therefore increases the rate of polymerization. In contrast, the presence of p-hydroquinone increases the t1 + t2 value and thus reduces the polymerization rate. These preliminary results are consistent with the kinetics and mechanism of the electrochemical polymerization of aniline.
Pulsating combustion of liquid fuel in partially closed vessels

Two modes of combustion are possible for a liquid fuel in a vessel that is closed except for a single orifice: constant pressure diffusion burning and pulsating combustion. An experimental and theoretical investigation has been made of the pulsating mode of combustion using methanol liquid fuel. Measurements were made of liquid-fuel burning rates and of chamber pressure as a function of time in cylindrical vessels for various chamber lengths and orifice diameters. In addition, high-speed schlieren motion pictures were taken of the pulsating combustion process in order to obtain qualitative information about flow patterns, mixing, and ignition during each combustion cycle. Self-sustained pulsating combustion was found to be possible only within certain limits of chamber length and orifice diameter. Within these limits, combustion frequency ranged from about 25 to 70 c/s, and was always smaller than the Helmholtz resonator frequency by at least a factor of three. Pressure amplitudes varied from about 10 to 85 mm of mercury. Methanol burning rates were found to be as much as eight times larger than those for steady diffusion burning in open-top cylinders of the same size. Other liquid fuels, in addition to methanol, were found also to exhibit pulsating combustion. A theoretical analysis gives chamber pressure as a function of time during the pressure decay part of each cycle and agrees substantially with experimental measurements.
Acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on striatal single-unit activity and behavior in freely moving rats: differential involvement of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely abused amphetamine derivative that increases dopamine (DA) and serotonin release via a reverse transport mechanism. Changes in the activity of striatal neurons in response to increased DA transmission may shape the behavioral patterns associated with amphetamine-like stimulants. To determine how the striatum participates in MDMA-induced locomotor activation, we recorded the activity of >100 single units in the striatum of freely moving rats in response to a dose that increased motor activation (5.0 mg/kg). MDMA had a predominantly excitatory effect on neuronal activity that was positively correlated with the magnitude of locomotor activation. Categorizing neurons according to baseline locomotor responsiveness revealed that MDMA excited significantly more neurons showing movement-related increases in activity compared to units that were non-movement-related or associated with movement-related decreases in activity. Further analysis revealed that the drug-induced striatal activation was not simply secondary to the behavioral change, indicating a primary action of MDMA on striatal motor circuits. Prior administration of SCH-23390 (0.2 mg/kg), a D(1) antagonist, resulted in a late onset of MDMA-induced locomotion, which correlated positively with delayed neuronal excitations. Conversely, prior administration of eticlopride (0.2 mg/kg), a D(2) antagonist, completely abolished MDMA-induced locomotion, which paralleled its blockade of MDMA-induced excitatory neuronal responses. Our results highlight the importance of striatal neuronal activity in shaping the behavioral response to MDMA, and suggest that DA D(1) and D(2) receptors have distinct functional roles in the expression of MDMA-induced striatal and locomotor activation.
Raising a Generation of Environmentally Literate Children: Are Preservice Teachers Ready?

Conservation movements of the 1960s stemming from environmental concerns and public activism have greatly influenced the projected educational objectives of the 21st century. Environmental education aiming to develop an environmentally literate citizenry has gained prominence resulting in a demand for environmentally conscious teachers. When education policies do not clarify governmental stance on environmental education, the onus often falls upon teacher preparation programs to bridge the gap. This study, comparing the levels of environmental awareness of 4th-grade students and that of preservice teachers, has implications for shaping teacher education programs of the 21st century. The objective is to develop an environmentally literate teacher workforce that will subsequently influence the earth's future by helping to prepare the upcoming generation of environmentally literate citizens.
Self-organizing sensor sub-network protocol for structural health monitoring

A novel self-organizing sub-network (SOS) protocol that improves the lifetime, scalability, and reduces the overall energy consumption is proposed for wireless sensor networks (WSN). In SOS protocol, the nodes are usually in idle or sleep mode but when an event is detected; the nodes near the event become active and form sub-networks. Subsequently, cluster heads (CHs) are selected within each sub-network, and the nodes are grouped into clusters. Nodes in the cluster send data to their respective CH, which in turn aggregates the data. This method of forming sub-networks reduces the amount of energy used, because only a part of the network closer to the unexpected event is active, when compared to the other existing methods. The results of SOS protocol obtained using GloMoSim demonstrate that the protocol minimizes the energy consumed, lowers the end-to-end delay, increases the lifetime of the network, and ensures scalability when compared to LEACH protocol. The applicability of SOS protocols for structural heath monitoring is investigated.
Incidence and Predictors of Repeated Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Emergency Department Patients

Study objective Use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the pulmonary arteries to evaluate for pulmonary embolism has increased, raising concern about radiation and contrast toxicity. We sought to measure the frequency of repeat CT pulmonary angiography in emergency department (ED) patients. Methods This was a prospective, longitudinal follow-up of ED patients who underwent first-time CT pulmonary angiography as part of a research protocol for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in 2001 to 2002. Two authors (DMB and MCK) searched electronic medical record databases to measure the frequency of repeated CT scans performed within 5 years. Primary outcome was greater than or equal to 1 repeated CT pulmonary angiography examination. Radiologist-written interpretations of CT pulmonary angiography were categorized by 2 observers (DMB and JAK). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios for 24 clinical variables. Results A cohort of 675 ED patients was observed for a median of 1,989 days: 226 of 675 (33%) had at least 1 additional CT pulmonary angiography scan, and 60 died with no repeated CT pulmonary angiography, leading to a mortality-adjusted frequency of repeated CT pulmonary angiography scanning of 226 of 615, or 37%. Seventy-three percent of the cohort had 1 or more subsequent CT scans of any body part, and 31 patients (5%) had 5 or more repeated CT pulmonary angiography scans. The pulmonary embolism (positive) prevalence was 57 of 675 (8.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.5% to 10.8%) on the first CT pulmonary angiography versus 8 of 226 (3.5%; 95% CI 1.5% to 6.9%) on the second CT pulmonary angiography scan. Hazard ratios indicated that respiratory rate, active malignancy, previous coronary artery disease, and previous or new diagnosis of venous thromboembolism were positively associated with repeated CT pulmonary angiography scanning. Conclusion At least one third of ED patients who undergo CT pulmonary angiography scanning will have a second CT pulmonary angiography result that will be negative for pulmonary embolism. New methods are needed to exclude pulmonary embolism recurrence without use of ionizing radiation.
Light trapping with a few cavities

We describe a dynamically-tuned system capable of capturing light pulses incident from a waveguide in a pair of microcavities. We use coupled mode theory to design a method for determining how to tune the microcavity resonant frequencies. The results show that pulses can be captured almost completely, with arbitrarily small reflected power. We optimize the pulse capture bandwidth by varying the cavity coupling constants and show that the maximum bandwidth is comparable to the resonant-frequency tuning range. We demonstrate near complete pulse capture in FDTD simulations of a two cavity 2D photonic crystal implementation of the system. Current technology would allow for capture of pulses with widths as low as ∼100ps, with a holding time limited only by cavity loss rates.
Numerical Assessment of the Influence of End Conditions on Constitutive Behavior of Geomaterials

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of elastic–plastic specimens during testing in a triaxial apparatus. In particular, an investigation of the influence of a number of imperfections on the observed behavior of a specimen is performed. To this end, we present influences of end platen friction, end platen inclinations, and the shape of specimen on what we broadly understand by “constitutive behavior.” We investigate the issues related to the constitutive as opposed to boundary value behavior or elastic–plastic specimens. We present a number of examples to illustrate the differences between different types of response, which are usually, and wrongly, just called the constitutive behavior.
Effect of relative amplitude manipulation on perception of voiceless fricatives by normal and impaired listeners

In the present study, previous work on the relative amplitude and presentation level was extended to include the voiceless fricative /s/–/■/ contrast. Synthetic CV stimuli were used, in which format transitions, frication duration, and relative amplitude were manipulated. For the relative amplitude manipulation, the amplitude of friction relative to vowel onset in the F3 frequency range was varied across a 20‐dB range. Frication duration was varied from 140–50 ms. Stimuli were presented at 90 dB SPL. Eight listeners with normal hearing and three listeners with moderate sensorineural hearing loss participated in the experiment. Results showed that listeners with sensorineural hearing loss gave significantly more /s/ responses for lower relative amplitude values. Results from this study and previous studies [Hedrick et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 98, 1292–1303 (1995); M. S. Hedrick and W. Jesteadt, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 100, 3398–3407 (1996)] suggest that perception of acoustic cues for consonants by listeners with sensorineural hearing loss may differ from that of listeners with normal hearing, even when the cues are audible.
Time Crawls: The Temporal Resolution of Infants’ Visual Attention

Conscious visual perception of the constantly changing environment is one of the brain’s most critical functions. In virtually every moment of every daily activity, the visual system is confronted with the task of accurately representing and interpreting scenes that change rapidly over time. Adults can judge the identity and order of changing images presented at a rate of up to 10 Hz (~50 ms per image); this limit reflects a finite temporal resolution of attention. In the research reported here, although 6- to 15-month-old infants could detect the presence of rapid flicker without difficulty, their ability to segment individual alternating states within the flicker was severely limited: Fifteen-month-old infants had a temporal resolution of attention approximately one order of magnitude lower than that of adults (~1 Hz). Coarse temporal resolution constrains how infants perceive and utilize dynamic visual information and may play a role in the visual processing deficits found in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Meeting US biofuel goals with less land: the potential of Miscanthus

Biofuels from crops are emerging as a Jekyll & Hyde – promoted by some as a means to offset fossil fuel emissions, denigrated by others as lacking sustainability and taking land from food crops. It is frequently asserted that plants convert only 0.1% of solar energy into biomass, therefore requiring unacceptable amounts of land for production of fuel feedstocks. The C4 perennial grass Miscanthus×giganteus has proved a promising biomass crop in Europe, while switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has been tested at several locations in N. America. Here, replicated side-by-side trials of these two crops were established for the first time along a latitudinal gradient in Illinois. Over 3 years of trials, Miscanthus×giganteus achieved average annual conversion efficiencies into harvestable biomass of 1.0% (30 t ha−1) and a maximum of 2.0% (61 t ha−1), with minimal agricultural inputs. The regionally adapted switchgrass variety Cave-in-Rock achieved somewhat lower yields, averaging 10 t ha−1. Given that there has been little attempt to improve the agronomy and genetics of these grasses compared with the major grain crops, these efficiencies are the minimum of what may be achieved. At this 1.0% efficiency, 12 million hectares, or 9.3% of current US cropland, would be sufficient to provide 133 × 109 L of ethanol, enough to offset one-fifth of the current US gasoline use. In contrast, maize grain from the same area of land would only provide 49 × 109 L, while requiring much higher nitrogen and fossil energy inputs in its cultivation.
Incremental collaborative filtering via evolutionary co-clustering

Collaborative filtering is a popular approach for building recommender systems. Current collaborative filtering algorithms are accurate but also computationally expensive, and so are best in static off-line settings. It is desirable to include the new data in a collaborative filtering model in an online manner, requiring a model that can be incrementally updated efficiently. Incremental collaborative filtering via co-clustering has been shown to be a very scalable approach for this purpose. However, locally optimized co-clustering solutions via current fast iterative algorithms give poor accuracy. We propose an evolutionary co-clustering method that improves predictive performance while maintaining the scalability of co-clustering in the online phase.
The morphology and systematic position of the green algae Ernodesmis and Apjohnia

Abstract The monotypic genera Ernodesmis Borgesen and Apjohnia Harvey, which in habit resemble each other and which have been regarded as belonging to the Siphonocladaceae by most authors, are shown to be different genera. Neither appears to belong to the Siphonocladaceae. Ernodesmis fits well in the Valoniaceae (Siphonocladales) and Apjohnia is provisionally assigned to the Anadyomenaceae (Cladophorales). Peculiar intracellular rhizoid-like cells are produced at the base of branches in older parts of the thallus of Apjohnia. Comparable structures are also formed in several other green algae, including Ernodesmis and Cladophora rugulosa. They are believed to give mechanical strength at the juncture of adjacent cells, especially at the place of insertion of branches.
Dependence of Flip Chip Solder Reliability on Filler Settling

Thermomechanical reliability of solder joints in flip-chip packages is usually analyzed by assuming a homogeneous underfill ignoring the settling of filler particles. However, filler settling does impact flip chip reliability. This paper reports a numerical study of the influence of filler settling on the fatigue estimation of flip-chip solder joints. In total, nine underfill materials ( 35 vol% silica filler in three epoxies with three filler settling profiles for each epoxy) are individually introduced in a 2-D finite element (FE) model to compare the thermal response of flip chip solder joints that are surrounded by the underfill. The results show that the fatigue indicators for the solder joints (inelastic shear strain increments and inelastic shear strain energy density) corresponding to a gradual, nonuniform filler profile studied in this paper can be smaller than those associated with the uniform filler profile, suggesting that certain gradual filler settling profiles in conjunction with certain resin grades may favor a longer solder fatigue lifetime. The origin of this intriguing observation is in the fact that the solder fatigue indicators are a function of the thermal mismatch among the die, substrate, solder, and underfill materials. The thermal mechanics interplayed among these materials along with a gradual filler profile may allow for minimizing thermal mismatch; and thus lead to lower fatigue indicators.
Factors influencing the susceptibility of mice to Mycoplasma arthritidis

Concentrated broth constituents markedly enhanced the development of abscesses after subcutaneous injection of Mycoplasma arthritidis. Under appropriate conditions, both virulent and avirulent strains of M. arthritidis produced toxic effects in mice, as detected by the development of necrotic abscesses and death of the animals. The treatment of mice at birth with M. arthritidis antigens rendered the animals more susceptible to infection with M. arthritidis later in life, as evidenced by increased arthritis after intravenous injection. The injection of M. arthritidis into pregnant mice resulted in a high incidence of abortions. Comparative studies using different mouse strains showed that DBA mice were the most susceptible and BALB/c and C57BL mice were the most resistant to infection by M. arthritidis.
Lack of efficacy of aurintricarboxylic acid and ethacrynic acid against vaccinia virus respiratory infections in mice.

Background:Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) and ethacrynic acid (ECA) have been reported to exhibit antiviral activity against vaccinia virus infections in cell culture by inhibiting early and late ge...
A DC technique for determining GaAs MESFET thermal resistance

A novel DC electrical method (DCEM) for measuring the thermal resistance of GaAs MESFETs using the temperature dependence of the gate metal resistivity is described. The method requires a DC current to be passed (end-to-end) through the gate stripe to monitor the average temperature of the channel. The DCEM can measure the average thermal resistance over the entire operating range of a Schottky-gate MESFET using only DC measuring instruments. An example is given showing the thermal resistance of an ion-implanted 0.5- mu m GaAs MESFET as a function of DC power dissipation. >
The epidemiology of vitamin D and colorectal cancer : recent findings

Summary Recent studies add more support to a potential role of vitamin D on risk of colorectal cancer, but suggest that intakes higher than customary are required if solar ultraviolet-B exposure is low. More studies are required to determine the optimal levels and intakes of this vitamin to reduce cancer risk. Potential benefits of vitamin D on other digestive-tract cancers and on survival in patients with colorectal cancer have been suggested by recent studies, but require confirmation.
Anogenital distance and the risk of prostate cancer

The present study suggests that the same fetal exposures may also affect the risk of prostate cancer. Men who had the shortest AGD, presumably representing the weakest androgen signalling, had the highest risk of prostate cancer. Although somewhat counterintuitive to the data about the relationship between prostate cancer and testostosterone signalling, the association is supported by research showing that hypogonadal men are at an increased risk for prostate cancer [ 5 ] .
Zebrafish Models of p53 Functions

Zebrafish models have significantly contributed to our understanding of vertebrate development and, more recently, human disease. The growing number of genetic tools available in zebrafish research has resulted in the identification of many genes involved in developmental and disease processes. In particular, studies in the zebrafish have clarified roles of the p53 tumor suppressor in the formation of specific tumor types, as well as roles of p53 family members during embryonic development. The zebrafish has also been instrumental in identifying novel mechanisms of p53 regulation and highlighting the importance of these mechanisms in vivo. This article will summarize how zebrafish models have been used to reveal numerous, important aspects of p53 function.
Increased cycle length during long-duration ventricular fibrillation is caused by decreased upstroke velocity as well as prolonged refractoriness

Background Cycle length (CL) increases as ventricular fibrillation (VF) progresses. Objective The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that increased CL is due to increased diastolic interval (DI), not increased action potential duration (APD), and that the DI increase is not solely due to increased postrepolarization refractoriness. Methods In 10 swine, VF was recorded for 20 minutes using a floating microelectrode through a hole in a 504-electrode epicardial plaque. Mean APD, DI, action potential amplitude (APA), maximum change in voltage during the AP upstroke (V max ), and CL were calculated from the floating microelectrode recordings each minute of VF. The refractory period was estimated from the minimum DI (DI min ). In two animals, rapid pacing was performed to gauge refractoriness. Results As VF progressed, CL, DI, and DI min increased ( P max , and APA decreased ( P min was not different from mean DI at VF onset. Pacing captured, but 53% of paced wavefronts blocked within the plaque. Conclusion Increasing CL in VF is due to increased DI and not APD, which shortens. The increase in DI min over time is much less than the increase in mean DI, indicating that the myocardium is excitable during much of the DI. This finding, along with the ability to pace at a CL shorter than the native VF CL and the poor paced wavefront propagation, suggests that the increase in DI is due not only to increased postrepolarization refractoriness but also to poor wavefront propagation because of decreased APA and V max secondary to global ischemia caused by VF.
Profiling DNA Methylomes from Microarray to Genome-Scale Sequencing

DNA cytosine methylation is a central epigenetic modification which plays critical roles in cellular processes including genome regulation, development and disease. Here, we review current and emerging microarray and next-generation sequencing based technologies that enhance our knowledge of DNA methylation profiling. Each methodology has limitations and their unique applications, and combinations of several modalities may help build the entire methylome. With advances on next-generation sequencing technologies, it is now possible to globally map the DNA cytosine methylation at single-base resolution, providing new insights into the regulation and dynamics of DNA methylation in genomes.
The Ontogenetic Method for Determining Character Polarity and its Relevance to Phylogenetic Systematics

In an attempt to clarify the relevance of ontogenetic transformations for system­ atics, the ontogenetic method for determining character polarity (the biogenetic law of Nelson, 1978) is analyzed from the perspective of phylogenetic systematics. In phylogenetic systematics, as defined here, the relationships sought are those of common ancestry and, thus, the concept of phylogeny is taken as an axiom from which systematic methods are deduced. This perspective has a number of consequences concerning the role of ontogenetic transformations in system­ atics, among which are the following: (1) Von Baer's second law, which states that less general characters are developed from the most general, is not universally true. (2) The validity of Nelson's biogenetic law (not to be confused with other concepts of similar name) does not depend on the validity of von Baer's law. (3) As a theory about the relationship between on­ togeny and phylogeny, Nelson's biogenetic law can only be tested by known character phylog­ enies. However, outgroup, paleontological, and ontogenetic methods of polarity determination need not be interpreted as scientific theories; instead, they can be interpreted as theorems deduced from the axiom of phylogeny and certain auxiliary assumptions. (4) The usefulness of the ontogenetic method rests on an assumption of ancestral character retention. If ancestral characters are retained in descendant ontogenies, then ancestral characters will be more general than their phylogenetic derivatives. (5) The sequence of ontogenetic transformation is irrelevant to the usefulness of the ontogenetic method; generality is the critical factor. (6) An "ontoge­ netic" method based on generality may be useful for determining evolutionary polarity when characters are instantaneous morphologies, but ontogenetic transformations rather than instan­ taneous morphologies are more appropriately considered characters when attempting to deter­ mine phylogenetic relationships among organisms. When ontogenetic transformations are viewed as characters, there can be no ontogenetic method for determining evolutionary character po­ larity; however, the comparative phylogenetic method properly involves a comparison of on­ togenetic transformations. (7) Ontogenetic polarities are different than phylogenetic polarities; the two have the relationship of part to whole, respectively. (8) For characters that exhibit ontogenetic transformation, homology is distinct from synapomorphy. (9) Finally, there is no threefold parallelism in phylogenetic systematics. Comparative anatomy, paleontology, and em­ bryology are not three separate disciplines within systematics; rather, the three form a single comparative method unified in the organism by the concept of evolution. (Biogenetic law; von Baer's law; cladistics; character; evolution; generality; homology; ontogenetic method; ontogeny; outgroup method; paedomorphosis; parsimony; paleontological method; phylogenetic system­ atics; phylogeny; polarity; semaphoront; synapomorphy; threefold parallelism.)
Balloon valvuloplasty and angioplasty in infants and children

Revue d'actualite sur la dilatation par ballon des lesions stenosiques avec experience personnelle sur 150 cas: indications; technique; mecanisme d'action; resultats immediat et au suivi; complications immediates et diffeees; orientations d'avenir
Mutational Landscape of Aggressive Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is often a disfiguring and lethal disease. Very little is currently known about the mutations that drive aggressive cSCC. Experimental Design: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 39 cases of aggressive cSCC to identify driver genes and novel therapeutic targets. Significantly, mutated genes were identified with MutSig or complementary methods developed to specifically identify candidate tumor suppressors based upon their inactivating mutation bias. Results: Despite the very high-mutational background caused by UV exposure, 23 candidate drivers were identified, including the well-known cancer-associated genes TP53 , CDKN2A , NOTCH1 , AJUBA , HRAS , CASP8 , FAT1 , and KMT2C ( MLL3 ). Three novel candidate tumor suppressors with putative links to cancer or differentiation, NOTCH2 , PARD3 , and RASA1 , were also identified as possible drivers in cSCC. KMT2C mutations were associated with poor outcome and increased bone invasion. Conclusions: The mutational spectrum of cSCC is similar to that of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and dominated by tumor-suppressor genes. These results improve the foundation for understanding this disease and should aid in identifying and treating aggressive cSCC. Clin Cancer Res; 20(24); 6582–92. ©2014 AACR .
A Comparison of Rotordynamic-Coefficient Predictions for Annular Honeycomb Gas Seals Using Three Different Friction-Factor Models

A two-control-volume bulk-flow model is used to predict rotordynamic coefficients for an annular, honeycomb-stator/smooth-rotor gas seal. The bulk-flow model uses Hirs' turbulent-lubrication model, which requires a friction factor model to define the shear stresses at the rotor and stator wall. Rotordynamic coefficients predictions are compared for the following three variations of the Blasius pipe-friction model: (i) a basic model where the Reynolds number is a linear function of the local clearance, f s =n s Re m s (ii) a model where the coefficient is a function of the local clearance, and (iii) a model where both the coefficient and exponent are functions of the local clearance. The latter models are based on data that shows the friction factor increasing with increasing clearances. Rotordynamic-coefficient predictions shows that the friction-factor-model choice is important in predicting the effective-damping coefficients at a lower frequency range (60∼70 Hz) where industrial centrifugal compressors and steam turbines tend to become unstable. At a higher frequency range, irrespective of the friction-factor model, the rotordynamic-coefficient predictions tend to coincide. Blasius-based Models which directly account for the observed increase in stator friction factors with increasing clearance predict significantly lower values for the destabilizing cross-coupled stiffness coefficients.
Comparative Evaluation of Two Asthma Care Quality Measures Among Medicaid Beneficiaries

Background: The relative performance of asthma care quality measures has not been evaluated in Medicaid populations. Methods: Using complete claims and pharmaceutical data for 19,076 patients with persistent asthma (based on Health Effectiveness and Data Information Set criteria) in five Medicaid populations, we compared the following two measures of asthma care quality: filling prescriptions for controller asthma medications within 1 year and the ratio of controller medication to the total number of asthma medication prescriptions filled within 1 year. We calculated whether meeting each quality measure was associated with decreased odds of emergency department (ED) treatment episodes. We then compared the odds ratios, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and deviances between models, using each measure to predict ED utilization in Medicaid populations. Results: Although meeting each measure was associated with lower odds of ED utilization, this decrease was larger if the controller asthma medication measure was met rather than the ratio measure. Additionally, models using the controller medication measure had greater areas under the ROC curve and smaller deviances than models using the ratio measure. Conclusions: Both administrative measures of asthma care quality were associated with lower odds of ED utilization. The controller medication measure of asthma care quality may be better than the ratio measure in relation to emergency asthma care utilization by Medicaid beneficiaries. (CHEST 2009; 135:1193–1196)
Cost and performance of fossil fuel power plants with CO2 capture and storage

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) is receiving considerable attention as a potential greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation option for fossil fuel power plants. Cost and performance estimates for CCS are critical factors in energy and policy analysis. CCS cost studies necessarily employ a host of technical and economic assumptions that can dramatically affect results. Thus, particular studies often are of limited value to analysts, researchers, and industry personnel seeking results for alternative cases. In this paper, we use a generalized modeling tool to estimate and compare the emissions, efficiency, resource requirements and current costs of fossil fuel power plants with CCS on a systematic basis. This plant-level analysis explores a broader range of key assumptions than found in recent studies we reviewed for three major plant types: pulverized coal (PC) plants, natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants, and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems using coal. In particular, we examine the effects of recent increases in capital costs and natural gas prices, as well as effects of differential plant utilization rates, IGCC financing and operating assumptions, variations in plant size, and differences in fuel quality, including bituminous, sub-bituminous and lignite coals. Our results show higher power plant and CCS costs than prior studies as a consequence of recent escalations in capital and operating costs. The broader range of cases also reveals differences not previously reported in the relative costs of PC, NGCC and IGCC plants with and without CCS. While CCS can significantly reduce power plant emissions of CO2 (typically by 85–90%), the impacts of CCS energy requirements on plant-level resource requirements and multi-media environmental emissions also are found to be significant, with increases of approximately 15–30% for current CCS systems. To characterize such impacts, an alternative definition of the ‘‘energy penalty’’ is proposed in lieu of the prevailing use of this term. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Online book clubs for preteens and teens

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight and examine public‐library‐based, online book clubs for preteens and teens.Design/methodology/approach – Two online book clubs are discussed.Findings – Overall, the online book clubs proved to be a fun, engaging, and convenient activity for preteen and teens. Parents and librarians also found these clubs to be motivating and flexible.Research limitations/implications – This case‐based manuscript would benefit from insights from other libraries that offer online book clubs, further investigation and empirical research.Practical implications – This manuscript offers theoretical grounding and rich, practical details so that other libraries can capitalize and create their own online book clubs.Originality/value – Online book clubs offer a forum that capitalizes on youths' familiarity with computers and new literacy practices while staying rooted in traditional practices. Public library online book clubs are sites of possibility – a medium through which libra...