cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of new mechanism of epoxy underfill void formation in electronic packages

This paper presents an understanding of a new mechanism of void formation in an epoxy-amine underfill system resulting only from interaction of the underfill with a decomposition product of the residual chip attach flux formed during package assembly. This is possible since flux residues have been known to sometimes be retained between the die and substrate even after the deflux process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used extensively to study the thermal properties of both flux and underfill and to simulate the heating processes that these materials undergo at assembly. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to confirm the mechanism. This study does not make any attempt to explain the other effects contributed by equipment, bump pitch, filler size or any mechanical aspect on the voiding process.
Disruption of tonB in Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis prevents utilization of ferric siderophores, haemin and haemoglobin as iron sources.

The Bordetella bronchiseptica tonB gene was cloned by detection of a chromosomal restriction fragment hybridizing with each of two degenerate oligonucleotides that corresponded to Pro-Glu and Pro-Lys repeats characteristic of known TonB proteins. The tonB Bb gene was situated upstream of exbB and exbD homologues and downstream of a putative Fur-regulated promoter. Hybridization results indicated that the tonB operon and flanking regions were highly conserved between B. bronchiseptica, Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis. Disruption of tonB in B. bronchiseptica resulted in inability to grow in iron-limiting media, and inability to utilize alcaligin, enterobactin, ferrichrome, desferroxamine B, haemin and haemoglobin. Although it was not possible to inactivate tonB in a clinical B. pertussis isolate, tonB was disrupted in a laboratory B. pertussis strain previously selected for the ability to grow on Luria–Bertani medium. This B. pertussis tonB mutant shared a similar iron complex utilization deficient phenotype with the B. bronchiseptica tonB mutant. The B. bronchiseptica tonB operon present on a plasmid did not complement an Escherichia coli tonB mutant, but inefficient reconstitution of enterobactin utilization was observed in one fepA mutant harbouring plasmid copies of the B. pertussis fepA homologue and tonB Bb operon.
Existence principle of an optimal control for a flexible beam with three turning axles

A flexible robot beam with three turning axles is considered in this paper. An evolution equation corresponding to the beam system formulated by partial differential equations with initial and boundary conditions is established in an appropriate Hilbert space. Based on the results of spectral analysis and semigroup generation of the system operator studied previously, an optimal control of the robot beam system is invesigated. Finally, an existence principle of optimal control is proposed and proved.
Predictive Skill of AGCM Seasonal Climate Forecasts Subject to Different SST Prediction Methodologies

Abstract This study examines skill of retrospective forecasts using the ECHAM4.5 atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) forced with predicted sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from methods of varying complexity. The SST fields are predicted in three ways: persisted observed SST anomalies, empirically predicted SSTs, and predicted SSTs from a dynamically coupled ocean–atmosphere model. Investigation of relative skill of the three sets of retrospective forecasts focuses on the ensemble mean, which constitutes the portion of the model response attributable to the prescribed boundary conditions. The anomaly correlation skill analyses for precipitation and 2-m air temperature indicate that dynamically predicted SSTs generally improve upon persisted and empirically predicted SSTs when they are used as boundary forcing in the AGCM predictions. This is particularly the case for precipitation forecasts. The skill differences in these experiments are ascribed to the skill of SST predictions in the tropical ocea...
Home range dynamics of the American lobster, Homarus americanus

A fixed array ultrasonic telemetry system was used to track the fine scale movements of American lobsters, Homarus americanus, within a large enclosure (mesocosm, 3125 m2). Positions of lobsters were obtained continuously, at 5 min intervals, for an average of 4.1 days. A kernel method was used to estimate the daily home ranges (95% utilization distribution, UD), core areas of activity (50% UD) and distance traveled by each lobster. The mean home range size for all lobsters was 760.1 ± 132.0 m2 (n = 32), and the average core area was 74.0 ± 10.9 m2. Home range size was closely correlated with the daily distance traveled by lobsters (523.2 ± 78.1 m day−1; r 2 = 0.62, p = 0.0001). Within the size range of lobsters used in this study (62–93 mm carapace length), there was no correlation between the lobster sizes and the areas of their home ranges. Lobsters changed core areas and home ranges often, occupying 1.4 ± 0.1 different core areas each day. However, despite changing their core areas, the size of their ...
The effects of bisphosphonates on osteoblasts in vitro.

Objective The purpose of this study was to test the effects of bisphosphonates on osteoblast viability and function. Study design Primary rat osteoblasts were cultured in normal media or media containing increasing concentrations of 2 bisphosphonates, alendronate and zoledronate. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to measure interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor (TGF) β1, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) expression in supernatants after 24, 48, and 72 h. Live and necrotic cell numbers were assessed with trypan blue assays. Results As drug concentrations increased, cell viability decreased significantly. The ELISAs revealed significant increases in TGF-β1 in treatment groups, but no significant change in RANKL or IL-6. Conclusions High concentrations of alendronate and zoledronate were cytotoxic, decreasing cell viability at 72 h. Transforming growth factor β1 increased even as viability decreased, suggesting a mechanism for bisphosphonate action. These data suggest that lower concentrations of bisphosphonates may have therapeutic benefits without the cytotoxic effects which may result in osteonecrosis.
Statistical modeling of biomedical corpora: mining the Caenorhabditis Genetic Center Bibliography for genes related to life span

The statistical modeling of biomedical corpora could yield integrated, coarse-to-fine views of biological phenomena that complement discoveries made from analysis of molecular sequence and profiling data. Here, the potential of such modeling is demonstrated by examining the 5,225 free-text items in the Caenorhabditis Genetic Center (CGC) Bibliography using techniques from statistical information retrieval. Items in the CGC biomedical text corpus were modeled using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. LDA is a hierarchical Bayesian model which represents a document as a random mixture over latent topics; each topic is characterized by a distribution over words. An LDA model estimated from CGC items had better predictive performance than two standard models (unigram and mixture of unigrams) trained using the same data. To illustrate the practical utility of LDA models of biomedical corpora, a trained CGC LDA model was used for a retrospective study of nematode genes known to be associated with life span modification. Corpus-, document-, and word-level LDA parameters were combined with terms from the Gene Ontology to enhance the explanatory value of the CGC LDA model, and to suggest additional candidates for age-related genes. A novel, pairwise document similarity measure based on the posterior distribution on the topic simplex was formulated and used to search the CGC database for "homologs" of a "query" document discussing the life span-modifying clk-2 gene. Inspection of these document homologs enabled and facilitated the production of hypotheses about the function and role of clk-2. Like other graphical models for genetic, genomic and other types of biological data, LDA provides a method for extracting unanticipated insights and generating predictions amenable to subsequent experimental validation.
National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Standards of Laboratory Practice: Recommendations for the Use of Cardiac Markers in Coronary Artery Diseases

The Sixth Conference on the "Standards of Laboratory Practice Series", sponsored by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), was held on August 4-5, 1998, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, in Chicago, IL. An expert committee was assembled to write recommendations on the use of cardiac markers in coronary artery diseases. The NACB Committee prepared a preliminary draft of the guidelines, made them available on the World Wide Web (www.nacb.org), and distributed them before the presentations. The recommendations were divided into four areas: the use of markers in the triage of patients with chest pain, acute coronary syndromes, clinical applications other than acute myocardial infarction and research, and assay platforms and markers of acute myocardial infarction. The recommendations were revised and subsequently re-presented in part at the "Biomarkers in Acute Cardiac Syndromes Conference", sponsored by the Jewish Hospital Heart and Lung Institute, Louisville KY, on October 16-17, 1998. This report lists each recommendation, its scientific justification, and a summary of discussions from conference participants and reviewers. Approximately 100 individuals responded to various versions of these recommendations via direct correspondences, telephone calls to Committee members, electronic mail correspondence to the Committee Chairman, or oral questions and comments raised during one of the two conference presentations. Some of the recommendations were changed to reflect the consensus opinion. In cases in which there was no consensus, the Committee included pertinent discussion without necessarily changing the original recommendations. At times, the Committee members felt that although a particular recommendation might not be the current standard of care today, they anticipate that it likely will be adopted in the near future.
Still Exceptional after All These Years: Socialist Rhetoric, American Exceptionalism, Populism and the Obama Presidency

The paper traces the historical development of the American democratic socialist idea, specifically analyzing the ongoing political debate surrounding the concept of socialism as applied as a critique of Obama administration policies. The paper suggests that the presence of continuing “American Exceptionalism” – the failure of an organized mass left political party in American politics – has allowed for the re-emergence of “pink-baiting.” The paper also analyzes the uses and abuses of the term “socialism” by critics of the Obama administration and the ongoing discussion of the concept of “class warfare” as used in United States political debate. The paper concludes that the Louis Hartz’s thesis of an American culture dominated by a limiting self-completing liberal tradition is still applicable. The paper also focuses on the recent emergence of the Occupy movement and seeks to place it in its historical context. Populist movements of both the left and right have permeated American politics in the past, most notably during the 1890s, the 1930s, and the 1960s. By exploring the relationship between democratic socialists, leaders, theorists and activists in past attempts to enter mainstream politics, the paper draws conclusions regarding the current trajectory of both the Occupy and Tea Party movements in the United States.
PEER TURNOVER AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

This paper examines the effect of peer turnover on academic achievement using random variation in classroom composition induced by Tennessee's Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) experiment. Extremely high levels of classmate turnover are found to positively affect first graders in center city schools and negatively affect students in schools outside of center cities. These results are consistent with a model of classroom learning in which familiar classmates can either be a resource or a distraction. They suggest that a richer understanding of peer continuity effects is essential for designing optimal classroom assignment policies.
Velocity-relaxation measurements with iodine-laser dynamics

A nonthermal, anisotropic velocity distribution of photofragments results when a molecule is dissociated. Provided that the velocity distribution is separable, the thermalization process can be characterized by a relaxation of the mean velocity (characteristic time Tv) and a directional relaxation (Tb).1
Differential Sorption of Fumigant Formulations by Wheat and Relative Toxicity to Adult Rice Weevil, Sitophilus sasakii

Differential sorption of three fumigant formulations by wheat was determined with the Beckman GC-2 gas chromatograph. Adult rice weevil, Sitophilus sasakii (Tak.), mortality was observed. Gas and weevil samples were taken at five different wheat. depths in 6-foot towers at 1, 8, 24, 48, 96 and 168 hours following fumigant introduction. Ratios of CCI4 to total formulation components were analyzed by an analysis of variance. Changes in CCl4, properties were studied by orthogonal polynomials. Variation of eel, proportions in fumigant II (82.39 CCl4 17.16 CS2 and O.43 n-pentane, per cent by volume) and fumigant III (79.90 CCI4 18.06 CS2, 0.86 petroleum ether and 1.20 SO2, per cent by volume) was a significant time-quadratic regression changing quadratically with wheat depths. Proportions of CCl4, in fumigant I (80.11 CCI4, and 19.89 CS2, per cent by volume) changed linearly with wheat depths and quadratically with sample times. Greatest CCI4, proportions were usually observed in all three formulations near the bottom of wheat columns early in the exposure period. Formulations were approaching equilibrium at 168 hours following introduction. The three fumigants appeared equally toxic to adult weevils.
The modularity of object propositions

A significant concern in verification research is the ability to reason modularly about programs with state. Recent work has used substructural logics including separation logic , permissions, and Hoare Type Theory to specify each function in terms of its effect on its footprint. The motivation of our work is the need for formal specifications that allow one to hide shared data between two abstractions. In 2014, we proposed object propositions as an automatable extension to abstract predicates. We allow state to be shared between two objects, by providing fractional permissions to access the common data hidden in a predicate, without revealing this sharing in the objects' specifications. Unlike conventional object invariant and ownership-based work, our system allows ownership transfer by passing unique permissions (permissions with a fraction of 1) from one reference to another. Unlike separation logic and permission systems, we can modify objects without owning them. This has information-hiding and system-structuring benefits.
BI-13TISSUE TRANSGLUTMINASE: A POTENTIAL ADJUVANT TARGET FOR PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR

Tissue transglutaminase, upregulated by TGFβ, is also highly expressed in primary brain tumors, including gliomas and meningiomas by expression profile microarray. Direct knockdown of transglutminase induced arrest of cell proliferation and cell apoptosis in brain tumor cells. Higher expression of transglutaminase in meningioma tissue correlated to the WHO grading and recurrence. With competitive inhibition by cystamine to the transglutaminase, the cells presented with decreased AKT phosphorylation and increased c-Jun phosphorylation. The addition of cystamine also increase the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and TUNEL stainings. Furthermore, the S6 ribosome phosphorylation significantly increased, implied the blocking of mTOR pathway. In clonclusion, transglutaminase, possibly linked to TGFβ, maybe a potential adjuvant therapeutic target by decrease of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in primary brain tumors.
Analysis on pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 12402 cases of reproductive tract infections in women

Objective To investigate the prevalence of pathogens which lead to reproductive tract infections(RTIs) of women in Ningbo region(2003~2006) and to analyze antimicrobial susceptibility testing,so as to provide evidence for guiding drug use in clinics.Method Patients diagnosed as RTIs during Jan.2003 to Nov.2006 were performed on laboratory tests.Results The infection rate of RTIs in Ningbo region′ women was 38.92%.Among them,1216 patients suffered two or above pathogens,the coinfection rate of RTIs was 9.80%.Conclusions The tendency pathogen was Ureaplasma urealyticum(Uu),and the drug resistance was severe.In order to rise the women′s reproductive health level,drug administration must be reasonable aiming at pathogens.
Baseline survey on the awareness status of key messages on leprosy prevention and treatment in Haining City in 2012

Objective To investigate the awareness status of key messages on leprosy control among citizens in Haining City so as to provide strategic guidance for conducting leprosy- related health education. Methods A questionnaire survey on awareness status of 7 items of key messages on leprosy control was conducted among 471 citizens selected from 12 villages of 6 towns in Haining City by multi- stage sampling method. Results Totally 471 citizens were surveyed,with a total awareness rate of 41. 10 %. The awareness rates of infectivity of leprosy,population- based resistance,early symptoms,control agencies,policies on free examination and treatment of leprosy,measures for prevention of disability and curability were 62. 85%,31. 85%,25. 05%, 51. 17%,18. 26%,47. 77% and 50. 74%,respectively. There were statistically significant differences in basic awareness rates of key messages among different age groups,education levels and occupations,in which young adults,well- educated people and technical and administrative staff showed the best awareness. But no significant difference was found regarding basic awareness rates of key messages in different genders and marital status. Conclusions Targeted health education should be made to reach the goal of public awareness rate of 80% in 2020 on time.
Er-doped YVO4 amplifier diode pumped at 976 nm

We report on the use of a 976 nm diode pumped Er:YVO4 slab for the amplification of 1603 nm laser radiation with a small signal gain of 2.1. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first use of Er:YVO4 as a non-resonantly pumped amplifier.
Epilepsy in childhood.

This article outlines the central role of the pediatrician in the diagnosis and treatment of children with epilepsy. Included in the discussion are current diagnostic modalities, the pharmacologic and surgical management, and the correlation of epilepsy with learning disorders.
Engineering Meteorology: Meteorology and Heating Load Requirements

Temperature and other meteorological parameters, including wind velocity and solar radiation, have been examined to determine their individual and combined effects on fuel requirements. Regression methods established a correlation coefficient of 0.89 between standard degree-days and gas consumption for 147 days during the 1951–52 heating season. A temperature-refined and wind-adjusted degree-day yielded a correlalation coefficient of 0.94, a material improvement in estimating the heating load.
Influence of transparent surface layer on effective thermoreflectance coefficient of typical stacked electronic structures

The investigation of the influence of a transparent passivation layer on the effective thermoreflectance coefficient of metallic and semiconductor materials is carried out for two materials and two types of passivation layers. This investigation is targeted at determining the effective Ctr for composite structures typically found in microelectronic devices; namely, transparent passivation layers covering either semiconductor or metallic materials. The layer of poly-Si or gold is deposited on a Si substrate and covered with a layer of either SiO2 or Si3N4. To study the light interference effect on the CTR value of poly-Si and gold films, the thickness of the passivation layer is varied in the range that envelopes the test wavelength of the light source. The experimental values of the effective CTR are obtained with the intent of correlating them with the intrinsic values of CTR for the materials under study (poly-Si and gold) and the thickness and/or material of the transparent passivation layers (SiO2 or Si3N4).
Becoming Turkish: Nationalist Reforms and Cultural Negotiations in Early Republican Turkey (1923–1945). By Hale Yilmaz. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2013. Pp. xv, 328. $39.95.)

This new book examines how the Kemalist reforms helped make the new Turkish citizen. As this nuanced and highly readable account makes evident, ordinary people did not accept these changes passivel...
Obese Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Phenotype: From Pariah to Central Player.

Article, see p 6 There has long been deep-seated suspicion that patients presenting with signs and symptoms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who were also obese didn’t really have HF but instead were merely obese, deconditioned, and misdiagnosed. Increased body mass index (BMI) has even been a common exclusion criterion in past and ongoing large clinical HFpEF trials.1 However, it has become increasingly difficult to ignore obese HFpEF. In the United States, >80% of patients with HFpEF are overweight or obese, more than twice the general population.1,2 Even before the recent obesity epidemic, the population attributable risk for HF because of obesity was nearly as great as for hypertension.3 However, hypertension has received far more attention as a causative agent for HFpEF than obesity, which has been treated largely as a pariah. Indeed, all large clinical trials to date have utilized medications that had antihypertensive properties and yet were neutral on their primary outcomes. This disappointing experience suggests it may be worthwhile to finally examine what we can learn regarding the role of obesity in HFpEF. There have been 2 key barriers to embracing the obese HFpEF phenotype. Because of mechanisms not fully understood, natriuretic peptide levels are much lower in obese than nonobese patients with definitively documented HFpEF and are frequently below standard diagnostic cut-points. There also seemed to be relative lack of obvious mechanisms whereby excess adipose could cause HFpEF. However, in reality, numerous pathophysiological links exist between obesity and HFpEF. Increased adiposity promotes inflammation, hypertension, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia and also impairs diastolic, systolic, arterial, skeletal muscle, and physical function,1,4,5 all of which are abnormal in HFpEF and contribute to its pathophysiology. Furthermore, reducing excess adipose tissue prevents development of HF and improves established …
Neural - hormonal responses to negative affective stimuli: Impact of dysphoric mood and sex.

Background Maladaptive responses to negative affective stimuli are pervasive, including clinically ill and healthy people, and men and women respond differently at neural and hormonal levels. Inspired by the Research Domain Criteria initiative, we used a transdiagnostic approach to investigate the impact of sex and dysphoric mood on neural-hormonal responses to negative affective stimuli.
Capturing Stochastic Insect Movements with Liquid State Machines

A Liquid State Machine (LSM) is trained to model the stochastic behavior of a cockroach exploring an unknown environment. The LSM is a recurrent neural network of leaky-integrate-and-fire neurons interconnected by synapses with intrinsic dynamics and outputs to an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The LSM is trained by a reinforcement approach to produce a probability distribution over a discrete control space which is then sampled by the controller to determine the next course of action. The LSM is able to capture several observed phenomenon of cockroach exploratory behavior including resting under shelters and wall following.
Mobile Technology to Increase HIV/HCV Testing and Overdose Prevention/Response among People Who Inject Drugs.

Abstract The United States faces dramatically increasing rates of opioid overdose deaths, as well as persistent ongoing problems of undiagnosed HIV and HCV infection. These problems commonly occur together in substance using populations that have limited, if any, access to primary care and other routine health services. To collectively address all three issues we developed the Mobile Intervention Kit (MIK), a tablet computer-based intervention designed to provide overdose prevention and response training, and to facilitate HIV/HCV testing in community settings. Intervention content was produced in collaboration with experienced street outreach workers who appear onscreen in a series of educational videos. A preliminary pilot test of the MIK in a Bronx, NY street outreach syringe exchange program (SEP) found the MIK is feasible and highly acceptable to a population of people who inject drugs (PWID). Participants accepted HIV and HCV testing post-intervention, as well as naloxone training to reverse overdose events. Pre-post tests also showed significant increases in knowledge of overdose prevention, HIV testing procedures, and asymptomatic HCV infection. Future iterations of the MIK can be optimized for use in community as well as clinical settings nationwide, and perhaps globally, with a focus on underserved urban populations.
Formic Acid Dissociative Adsorption on NiO(111): Energetics and Structure of Adsorbed Formate

The dissociative adsorption of carboxylic acids on oxide surfaces is important for understanding adsorbed carboxylates, which are important as intermediates in catalytic reactions, for the organo-functionalization of oxide surfaces, and in many other aspects of oxide surface chemistry. We present here the first direct experimental measurement of the heat of dissociative adsorption of any carboxylic acid on any single-crystal oxide surface. The enthalpy of the dissociative adsorption of formic acid, the simplest carboxylic acid, to produce adsorbed formate and hydrogen (as a surface hydroxyl) on a (2 × 2)-NiO(111) surface is measured by single crystal adsorption calorimetry. The differential heat of adsorption decreases with formic acid coverage from 202 to 99 kJ/mol at saturation (0.25 ML). The structure of the adsorbed products is clarified by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which provide energies in reasonable agreement with the calorimetry. These calculations show that formic acid readily...
Interstitial telomeric loops and implications of the interaction between TRF2 and lamin A/C.

The protein-DNA complexes that compose the end of mammalian chromosomes-telomeres-serve to stabilize linear genomic DNA and are involved in cellular and organismal aging. One mechanism that protects telomeres from premature degradation is the formation of structures called t-loops, in which the single-stranded 3' overhang present at the terminal end of telomeres loops back and invades medial double-stranded telomeric DNA. We identified looped structures formed between terminal chromosome ends and interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs), which are found throughout the human genome, that we have termed interstitial telomeric loops (ITLs). While they form in a TRF2-dependent manner similar to t-loops, ITLs further require the physical interaction of TRF2 with the nuclear intermediate filament protein lamin A/C. Our findings suggest that interactions between telomeres and the nucleoskeleton broadly impact genomic integrity, including telomere stability, chromosome structure, and chromosome fragility. Here, we review the roles of TRF2 and lamin A/C in telomere biology and consider how their interaction may relate telomere homeostasis to cellular and organismal aging.
Injection Locking Analysis and Simulation of Weakly Coupled Oscillator Networks

Coupled oscillator networks (CONs) occur in various domains such as biology and electronics. The nonlinear phenomenon of “injection locking” leads to frequency synchronization among the oscillators in a CON. In this chapter, we first obtain simplified tools to analyze the phenomenon of injection locking and present the Generalized Adler’s equation. The Generalized Adler’s equation is applicable for analyzing the injection locking in any type of oscillator. We demonstrate the use of Generalized Adler’s equation for injection locking analysis on a ring oscillator and a Hodgkin-Huxley neuronal oscillator. Next, we describe efficient system-level simulation techniques (synchronized steady state and transient) for coupled oscillator networks using the Perturbation Projection Vector (PPV) phase macromodel of the oscillator. The coupled oscillator simulation techniques are generic in nature and can be applied for the simulation of any coupled oscillator network, like the ones found in biological or electronic systems. We apply our system-level techniques on a −G m LC (harmonic) and a Hodgkin-Huxley (non-harmonic) CON.
On Statistical Micromechanical Theories for Brittle Solids with Interacting Microcracks

The nonlinear mechanical responses of damaged solids due to the existence, growth, and nucleation of microdefects are of significant importance to engineers, and have been the subject of many investigations. See Krajcinovic (1989) for a literature review on damage mechanics. For brittle materials, in particular, microcracks often control overall deformation and failure mechanisms. To date, the only exact results derived for microcrack-weakened brittle solids are for dilute microcrack concentrations, where microcrack interactions are entirely neglected. These micromechanical damage models are called “Taylor’s models”. On the other hand, several approximate micromechanical analyses (“effective medium methods”) were proposed in the literature to account for interaction effects of distributed microcracks.
Basic Forms, Spectral Sequence, Characteristic Form

Let F be an arbitrary foliation on a manifold M. A differential form ω ∈ Ω r(M) is basic, if $$i\left( V \right)\omega = 0,\theta \left( V \right)\omega = 0{\text{ for all }}V \in \Gamma L$$ In a distinguished chart X1,…X p ;Y 1 …Xq of.Fthis means that $$\omega \sum\limits_{{{{\alpha }_{1}} < \ldots < {{\alpha }_{r}}}} {{{\omega }_{{{{\alpha }_{1}} \ldots {{\alpha }_{r}}}}}d{{y}_{{{{\alpha }_{1}}}}} \wedge \ldots } \wedge d{{y}_{{{{\alpha }_{r}}}}}$$ where the functions \({{\omega }_{{{{\alpha }_{1}} \ldots {{\alpha }_{r}}}}}\) are independent ofxi.e. \(\frac{\partial }{{\partial {{x}_{i}}}}{{\omega }_{{{{\alpha }_{1}} \ldots {{\alpha }_{r}}}}} = 0\) The exterior derivative preserves basic forms, since \(\theta \left( V \right)d\omega = d\theta \left( V \right)\omega = 0,i\left( V \right)d\omega = \theta \left( V \right)\omega - di\left( V \right)\omega = 0\) for w basic. Thus the set \({{\Omega }_{B}} \equiv {{\Omega }_{B}}\left( \mathcal{F} \right)\) of all basic forms constitutes a subcomplex $$d:\Omega _{B}^{r} \to \Omega _{B}^{{r + 1}}$$ of the De Rham complex \({{\Omega }^{ \cdot }}\left( M \right)\) We also denote dΩ B =d B Its cohomology $$H_{B}^{ \cdot } \equiv H_{B}^{ \cdot }\left( \mathcal{F} \right) = H\left( {\Omega _{B}^{ \cdot }\left( \mathcal{F} \right),{{d}_{B}}} \right)$$ is the basic cohomology of F. It plays the role of the De Rham cohomology of the leaf space of the foliation.
Price-Quantity Oligopoly with Adjustment Costs

Economists have long discussed whether output or price is the “correct” decision variable for an oligopolistic firm. The earliest reference to this issue is probably Bertrand (1883); more recent contributors are Alger (1979), Shubik and Levitan (1980), Kreps and Scheinkman (1983), Davidson and Deneckere (1986), Benassy (1986a, 1986b), and Friedman (1988). In Friedman (1988) I analyzed three versions of an n-firm differentiated products oligopoly in which firms choose both prices and output levels, and firms that have not produced enough to meet their demand cause a spillover demand that benefits firms having excess production. Except for Benassy the papers listed above deal with homogeneous product duopoly. Benassy (1986b) is concerned with much the same questions as Friedman (1988) and he uses a similar framework. The present paper extends Benassy (1986b) and Friedman (1988) by allowing firms to adjust their output at some extra cost after obtaining price information. In Friedman (1988), three decision frameworks were examined: a) Game S, a model of simultaneous price and output choice, b) Game Q, a model of sequential choice. with output first, and c) Game P, a model of sequential choice with price first. In Benassy (1986b) frameworks (a) and (c) were examined. With attention restricted to pure strategy equilibria, the following results were obtained: An equilibrium never exists in the simultaneous choice model. In the output-first model, equilibrium may exist and, when it does, it coincides with the equilibrium of a straight output model. In the price-first model equilibrium may not exist and, when it does, it coincides with the equilibrium of a straight price model.*
Multiparametric MRI detects longitudinal evolution of folic acid-induced nephropathy in mice

The rodent model of folic acid (FA)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) provides a useful model for studying human AKI, but little is known about longitudinal changes in renal hemodynamics and evolut...
Managing treatment fluctuations in Parkinson disease: "On" again-, "off" again.

The first truly effective medical therapy for Parkinson disease (PD), levodopa, was introduced in the 1960s. Patients had to take huge doses of levodopa, with treatment limited by peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase (DDC), resulting in substantial peripheral side effects.1 Benserazide and carbidopa were developed as dopa decarboxylase inhibitors (DDCIs); because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier, they effectively block the peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa to dopamine. The combination of carbidopa and levodopa (Sinemet; Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ) was marketed in 1975. This allowed for levodopa dose reduction due to increased (brain) bioavailability and a marked reduction of peripheral side effects.2 The total daily dose of carbidopa needed to effectively block peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa has been 75 to 100 mg, although some patients require supplemental higher doses of carbidopa (Lodosyn; Aton Pharma, Lawrenceville, NJ). Doses of carbidopa up to 400 mg per day are tolerable and safe.3
Aggregation properties of triamcinolone acetonide injection in human serum: considerations when performing epidural steroid injections.

Background Morbidity has been reported as a sequelae of crystalline steroid epidural steroid injections (ESIs), and particulate steroid size, aggregation, and embolization in brain and spinal cord may be the mechanism related to these neurologic effects. Objective The objective of the study was to examine the aggregation properties of triamcinolone acetonide in commonly used local anesthetics with and without human serum. Setting This study was conducted in an academic tertiary care center. Hypothesis Triamcinolone acetonide shows different aggregation characteristics in serum compared to a non-physiologic solution. Design Triamcinolone acetonide was mixed with lidocaine 1% (first group) and bupivacaine 0.5% (second group) in a 1:1 ratio and then mixed with either distilled water (control group) or serum ex vivo. A pathologist blinded to our hypothesis inspected all solutions under light microscopy with 100× and 400× magnifications. Total number of particulate steroid aggregates and the number of particles forming each aggregate (recorded as single,1 double,2 triple,3 quadruple,4 or large [>4} crystals) were counted. Particle size and aggregate size were measured (in μm). The ratios of quadruple to total aggregates, large to total, and quadruple with large to total aggregates were calculated. Steroid-serum solutions and steroid-sterile water were then compared. Results Triamcinolone aggregates showed an increased crystal and aggregate size when compared with other steroids. Within the triamcinolone subgroup, the mixture of lidocaine 1% and serum resulted in the largest crystal aggregates. Limitations Whole blood analysis may have provided a more physiologically accurate model but was not chosen due to poor microscopic analysis. Serum donor variability may also have affected particle characteristics. Conclusion Fewer large triamcinolone aggregates were noted in the presence of serum when compared to the non-serum control groups. However, when compared to previously studied particulate steroids, it had the largest aggregates when added to serum.
Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Competence Regarding Percentage of Consonants Correct:

The aim of this article is to examine speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) knowledge and competence using Percentage of Consonants Correct (PCC). Participants were recruited through posts on social...
Stability Theory for Nonautonomous Systems

This chapter describes the stability theory for nonautonomous systems. The nonautonomous system of differential equations x′ = ƒ ( t, x ), where ƒ: [0 , ∞ ) × R n → R n is continuous. The Liapunov theory is employed to determine behavior of solutions relative to some closed set H ⊆ R n . In general, no invariance principle is readily available. The chapter presents results that improve two of the classical Liapunov theorems. It also presents an improvement of the LaSalle–Yoshizawa theorem for nonautonomous systems for solutions approaching a set and also an improvement of the Marachkoff asymptotic stability theorem. It is evident that one relies heavily on a close relationship between the derivative of a Liapunov function and the norm of the right-hand side equation. It is found that all bounded solutions tend to H or all solutions in the stability region tend to zero.
A Harnack-Type Inequality for a Prescribed-Curvature Equation on a Domain with Boundary

In this paper we use the method of moving spheres to derive a Harnack-type inequality for positive solutions of ( Δu+ K(x)u (n+2)/(n−2) = 0 x ∈ B + ⊂ R n ∂ u ∂ xn = c(x)u n/(n−2) x ∈ ∂ B + ∩ ∂R n, where n ≥ 4, R n is the upper half-space and B + is the upper half unit ball. Under suitable assumptions on K(x) and c(x), we show that there is a positive constant C such that for all positive solutions u, a Harnack type inequality holds. As a consequence of this inequality we obtain the following energy estimate Z B+/2 � u 2n n−2 +|∇u| 2 � dx ≤ C.
Measuring learning outcomes in a RN-to-BSN program

Abstract There are many tools for evaluating the learning outcomes measurements of the prelicensure nursing programs, but not for the postlicensure Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) programs (Farmer et al., 2017; Rodriguez, McNiesh, Goyal, & Apen, 2013). Despite the unprecedented growth in RN-to-BSN programs, including community college-based programs, there are limited learning outcome measurement tools available. This study presents the theoretical framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating an RN-to-BSN survey instrument.
Parametric sensitivity analysis as an essential ingredient of spectroscopic ellipsometry data modeling: An application of the Morris screening method

Parametric sensitivity analysis (SA) is an essential tool in optical data analysis aiming to quantify the relative importance of optical model parameters and identify those with a low influence which should remain fixed during analysis in order to simplify a model. Typically, such sensitivity studies are performed using a local sensitivity analysis, also referred to as “one-at-a-time” analysis, which estimates parameter sensitivity by evaluating the changes in model output while perturbing one parameter at a time and holding all other parameters fixed. All the pitfalls of the local sensitivity approach are quite obvious and well known; however, local SA is still prevailing in the area of data analysis for spectroscopic ellipsometry. In this study, we discuss applications of a global qualitative analysis introduced by Morris in 1991 which determines an overall significance for each model parameter and describes its nonlinear effect on model’s output and/or interactions with other parameters. The Morris method allows effective separation of the model parameters into different groups such as parameters with negligible effects, parameters with large linear effects without interactions, and parameters with large nonlinear and/or interaction effects. Here, we carried out the Morris sensitivity analysis to reveal the model parameter significance ranking in a test case of the B-spline model for titanium nitride (TiN). Such a screening approach can be considered as a practical tool for the initial global SA strategy prior to true “all-at-a-time” global sensitivity analysis.Parametric sensitivity analysis (SA) is an essential tool in optical data analysis aiming to quantify the relative importance of optical model parameters and identify those with a low influence which should remain fixed during analysis in order to simplify a model. Typically, such sensitivity studies are performed using a local sensitivity analysis, also referred to as “one-at-a-time” analysis, which estimates parameter sensitivity by evaluating the changes in model output while perturbing one parameter at a time and holding all other parameters fixed. All the pitfalls of the local sensitivity approach are quite obvious and well known; however, local SA is still prevailing in the area of data analysis for spectroscopic ellipsometry. In this study, we discuss applications of a global qualitative analysis introduced by Morris in 1991 which determines an overall significance for each model parameter and describes its nonlinear effect on model’s output and/or interactions with other parameters. The Morris met...
Transatlantic relations and the Sino-US opening

Using the Nixon tapes and the documentary record of US diplomacy, this article argues that the Sino-American opening came as a shock to US allies in Europe but nevertheless was viewed generally in a positive light by transatlantic partners. These sources corroborate other scholarship that the Nixon’s surprise announcement in July 1971 of the opening to China was something of an irritant in Anglo-American relations. Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s secret maneuvers stole some of the limelight from Prime Minister Edward Heath’s efforts to upgrade London’s relations with Beijing to the level of ambassador. Whereas Heath’s government had kept US Secretary of State Rogers apprised of the efforts, Rogers was out of the loop in Washington and the Nixon administration did not reciprocate to London until right before the announcement. Finally, the announced intention of establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing opened something of a floodgate toward broader recognition of the People’s Republic of China, even among traditional transatlantic partners, and disrupted Washington’s efforts at promoting dual representation of Taiwan and the PRC at the United Nations.
Participation of Electric Storage Resources in the NYISO Electricity and Frequency Regulation Markets

This paper presents an approach for electric storage resources (ESRs) to maximize revenue from participation in the day-ahead NYISO electricity and ancillary services markets for two cases. The first case is arbitrage where the ESR system purchases electricity in times of low prices and sells it when the price is high; the second case involves arbitrage combined with the ancillary service known as frequency regulation. In the proposed approach the maximization problem is formulated using linear programming. The paper uses a case study to show that the second case generates more revenue than the first one and that the optimal solution of this case essentially consists of purchasing power to provide frequency regulation. The paper correlates the revenue in this case with the capacity prices of the frequency regulation service. Finally, the paper shows how the NYISO performance index affects the revenue of ESR.
High-Stakes Assessment in Elementary Education Teacher Preparation: Educators' Perceptions and Actions Resulting in Curriculum Change.

Policy makers have begun requiring teacher performance assessments, such as edTPA®, with established validity and reliability in teacher education for certification, program approval, and/or accreditation (Darling-Hammond & Hyler, 2013). Proponents of edTPA argue that the measure is an authentic yet standardized way to assess candidate readiness for teaching and may be beneficial for program renewal and professionalization of the teaching force (Darling-Hammond, 2010; Wei & Pecheone, 2010). Others recognize unintended consequences of a single, standardized assessment which may narrow the curriculum (Kornfeld, Grady, Marker, & Ruddell, 2007); create tensions for teacher candidates who are learning and developing; (Meuwissen & Choppin, 2015); and overlook program values important for preparing candidates to teach in a global society (Sato, 2014). This case study uncovers teacher educators’ perceptions of edTPA and their subsequent actions in response to a state mandate resulting in educative strategies to support their candidates, curriculum change, and lessons learned.
C5 Metalation of Imidazole-Based Monothiolates en Route to Selenothiolates

Lithiation of an imidazole-based monothiolate, 2, by excess n-butyllithium gives a white powder containing both a lithiated product and an nBuLi contaminant (in a ca. 1:1 molar ratio). This white p...
Enhanced osteogenesis of 3D printed β-TCP scaffolds with Cissus Quadrangularis extract-loaded polydopamine coatings.

Abstract Growing demand in bone tissue replacement has shifted treatment strategy from pursuing traditional bone-bone grafting to tissue replacement with bioactive biomaterials. Constructs that exhibit the ability to support the bone structure while encouraging tissue regeneration, integration, and replacement represent the future of bone tissue engineering. The present study aimed to understand the osteogenic and mechanical effects of binder-jet 3D printed, porous β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds modified with a natural polymer/drug coating of polydopamine and Cissus Quadrangularis extract. Compression testing was used to determine the effect the polydopamine coating process had on the mechanical strength of the scaffolds. 3D printed scaffolds without and with polydopamine coatings fractured at 3.84 ± 1.01 MPa and 3.88 ± 0.51 MPa, respectively, suggesting no detrimental effect on strength due to the coating process. The osteogenic potential of the extract-loaded coating was tested in vitro, under static and dynamic flow conditions, and in vivo in a rat distal femur model. Osteoblast cell cultures showed polydopamine resulted in increased proliferation and alkaline phosphatase expression under dynamic flow, which was further enhanced by the addition of Cissus Quadrangularis extract. Histological analysis of implanted scaffolds showed significantly more new bone growth throughout the implant pores at 4 weeks post-op in polydopamine and extract-loaded implants compared to pure β-tricalcium phosphate. These results indicate that implants modified with polydopamine and Cissus Quadrangularis extract considerably outperform pure β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds in facilitating early bone formation and ingrowth.