cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flip Chip Process Development and Relaibility Evaluation With Lead-Free Solder Alloy

Usually, flipchip technology is based on either high-Pb or eutectic Sn/Pb solder forming the connections between the semiconductor chip and the carrier substrate. However decay of the 210 Pb constituent, via 210 Bi and 210 Po, to 206 Pb involves the emission of energetic alpha particles which have a tendency to cause soft errors in nearby active elements on the chip. Also, impending legislations in Europe and Japan on the elimination of Pb from electronic products have prompted the investigation of alternative solder alloys. This paper outlines an initial development effort focussed on the Sn/Ag/Cu (95.8/3.5/0.7) alloy. The study involved the development of a flip chip assembly process followed by a reliability evaluation comparing the fatigue resistance of the Sn/Ag/Cu alloy to that of eutectic Sn/Pb solder. The test vehicle used was a 225μm bump pitch, 11mm square die mounted on a ceramic substrate.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Research and Implementation of an Expert System for Fault Diagnosis of Fan Based on Knowledge Rule

An example of the rule-based expert system applied to the fan fault diagnosis is presented. The architecture and function of the fault diagnosis system are introduced. The expression of the fault diagnosis knowledge and the attribute of knowledge base based on the relational database have been studied. The hybrid reasoning technology was applied to the implementation of the diagnosis inference engine in the expert system. The presented fault diagnosis system is easy to modify the knowledge base with the experience accumulated in practice, and it has the advantages of expansibility, portability, concision, and high efficiency.
Persistence of müllerian duct structures in a genetic male with distal monosomy 10q.

Persistent mullerian duct syndrome (PMD) with antimullerian hormone (AMH) deficiency is usually associated with mutations or deletions of the AMH gene, although many cases have no identified gene association. We report on a genetic male with PMD and AMH deficiency associated with distal monosomy 10q. A term 3,230 g infant was born to a healthy 27-year-old. Fetal ultrasound had shown possible genital ambiguity. Postnatal exam showed a 0.5 cm phallus with basal meatus, normal scrotum with no palpable gonads, no vaginal orifice, and a rectal fistula with an imperforate anus. Voiding cystourethrogram with ultrasound, cystoscopy, and laparoscopy showed normal bladder, urethral orifice, distal vagina, cervix, and bilateral abdominal testis. At 24 hours of life, testosterone was within normal range with low AMH level. Chromosome microarray analysis showed 46, XY, del10(10q25.3q26.13) involving an 8.2 MB interstitial deletion. Whole exome sequencing identified a NOTCH2 variant (1p11.2). AMH sequencing revealed no abnormalities. Following multidisciplinary team and parent discussion, male gender was assigned. Testosterone treatment resulted in penile length of 1.5 cm. Bilateral orchiopexy and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty were performed at 11 months of age; rudimentary mullerian structures were identified. This observation suggests an association of 10qter elements with male differentiation including AMH expression and is similar to a patient with 46, XY, del(10q26.1) in which AMH levels were not reported. Regional candidate genes include FGFR2 (10q26.13). The possible contribution of a NOTCH2 variant cannot be excluded. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of ketamine HCl on the in vitro metabolism of norepinephrine in rat cerebral cortex tissue

Abstract The effect of ketamine HCl on the in vitro metabolism of norepinephrine (NE) was investigated in rat cerebral cortex tissue. It was shown that ketamine competitively inhibited the high affinity transport system responsible for the uptake of NE into adrenergic nerve terminals. The drug also had weak NE releasing properties and potentiated the release induced by potassium chloride, a characteristic common to drugs in which the primary action is to inhibit the reuptake process. Intraneuronal deamination of NE was reduced by ketamine. This effect appeared to be primarily related to the inhibition of reuptake and a subsequent substrate deficiency for intraneuronal monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4). However, high concentrations of ketamine did slightly reduce the deamination of [ 3 H]-NE, directly. The ability of ketamine to inhibit the high affinity transport system for NE may be partially responsible for the central nervous system excitation observed with the use of the drug in clinical anaesthesia.
Severe Hypertension in Children With Renal Disease: Treatment With Minoxidil

Sixteen children with renal disease and severe hypertension refractory to other drugs were treated with minoxidil for periods of five days to 77 months. The maximum dose ranged from 0.05 to 1.88 mg/kg/d. With therapy, the mean BP decreased from 158/112 to 133/90. Thirteen children had an anti hypertensive response, 2 had progressive rejection of transplanted kidneys, and 1 received a low dose and failed to respond. Complications were hypertrichosis in 14; fluid retention in 4, with congestive heart failure in 1; and decreased renal function in 2. Pericarditis, possibly related to minoxidil, occurred in one child. Minoxidil is a valuable anti hypertensive drug in children but should be used with caution.
Rainfall algorithm improvements and validation for the TRMM microwave imager

The Texas A&M monthly total oceanic rainfall retrieval algorithm is based on radiative transfer models and can only be modified on a physically sound basis. Within this constraint we have examined some improvements to the algorithm and it appears that it can be made significantly better. In particular, it appears that by proper use of the range of frequencies available on TMI (TRMM Microwave Imager) and AMSR that the need for the log-normal fit can be eliminated.
Religion and metaphor of war

Perhaps nowhere is the metaphor of war more ingrained than in the realm of religion. This is particularly true of the sects whose roots are planted in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The scriptures of these three great religions are bloody‐minded texts. In the Old Testament we find verses such as: “He shall thrust out the enemy before thee; and shall say, Destroy them—He teaches my hands to war.—Yea, for thy sake we killed all the day long.” The Koran contains the following: “Slay them wheresoever you find them, and expel them from whence they have expelled you, for sedition is more grievous than slaying.” The New Testament is just as sanguineous: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword—And power was given to them that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” By far, the most bloody text is the Old Testament, parts of which are accepted as canon by all th...
An Adaptive Anti-Brownian Electrokinetic Trap for Prolonged Observation of Single Molecules in Solution

We report an improved Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap for studying single molecules in solution, using a Kalman filter-based tracking algorithm. We have also developed a method to extract transport properties of trapped objects in real-time.
Function, structure and regulation of the vacuolar (H+)-ATPases.

The vacuolar ATPases (or V-ATPases) are ATP-driven proton pumps that function to both acidify intracellular compartments and to transport protons across the plasma membrane. Intracellular V-ATPases function in such normal cellular processes as receptor-mediated endocytosis, intracellular membrane traffic, prohormone processing, protein degradation and neurotransmitter uptake, as well as in disease processes, including infection by influenza and other viruses and killing of cells by anthrax and diphtheria toxin. Plasma membrane V-ATPases are important in such physiological processes as urinary acidification, bone resorption and sperm maturation as well as in human diseases, including osteopetrosis, renal tubular acidosis and tumor metastasis. V-ATPases are large multi-subunit complexes composed of a peripheral domain (V1) responsible for hydrolysis of ATP and an integral domain (V0) that carries out proton transport. Proton transport is coupled to ATP hydrolysis by a rotary mechanism. V-ATPase activity is regulated in vivo using a number of mechanisms, including reversible dissociation of the V1 and V0 domains, changes in coupling efficiency of proton transport and ATP hydrolysis and changes in pump density through reversible fusion of V-ATPase containing vesicles. V-ATPases are emerging as potential drug targets in treating a number of human diseases including osteoporosis and cancer.
Magnetocardiography: An Overview

Since 1963 when recording of the human magnetocardiogram (MCG) was first reported, the number of clinical studies has been limited. High-quality tracings can now be easily obtained in special shielded chambers, but problems remain if records are to be made in hospitals without such chambers. Measurement techniques, theory of the MCG, and model studies are discussed. Configuration of the MCG waveform is much the same as that of the electrocardiogram (ECG). Measurements of dc currents of injury in dogs by means of the MCG have been reported, and are potentially of great clinical interest. Effects of magnetic susceptibility changes in the torso associated with blood movement may contribute to variations in the external field. The questions of what new diagnostic information is available in the MCG and what lead systems are most appropriate remain to be answered.
A New Approach to the Study of Tooth Wear

Human tooth wear occurs so slowly that traditionally it has needed months or years to be measurable. This study showed that microscopic changes in wear patterns on human teeth could be detected in a matter of days and could be used as indicators of rates of wear. Thus, daily or weekly changes in rates of wear can be documented for specific locations on teeth. For instance, through this new approach, rates of wear of human teeth were shown to be significantly slower than rates of wear of the teeth of laboratory monkeys raised on hard or soft diets. Similar techniques may ultimately be used to monitor subtle changes in tooth use-including those associated with growth and development and those occurring in response to various dental clinical procedures.
Some Effects of Gamma Radiation on Trogoderma Sternale Jayne

The present study is an extension of work begun in 1955 on the comparative effects of radiation on various species of Coleoptera (see Howden, 1957). The first species investigated, Onthophagus lexanus Schaeffer, belonged to that large group of Coleoptera that possess relatively fixed food habits and a low reproductive capacity. Trogodertna sternale (family Dermestidae), the species considered in this paper, is labile in its food needs and has a high reproductive capacity, which characterizes it as belonging to the group of insects that often are of economic importance.
Dopaminergic neurons—Alteration in the sensitivity of tyrosine hydroxylase to inhibition by endogenous dopamine after cessation of impulse flow

Abstract Inhibition of firing in the nigro-neostriatal dopamine system causes a rapid increase in the steady state levels of dopamine and an apparent activation in vivo of tyrosine hydroxylase. Although the apparent activity of tyrosine hydroxylase returns to normal after dopamine levels have been increased, the elevated dopamine levels do not appear to inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase below control levels. In contrast, when dopamine levels are increased by administration of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, there is a significant reduction in striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity as measured by the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) after administration of a DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor. These results suggest that a blockade of impulse flow in the dopaminergic neurons causes a decrease in the sensitivity of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase to inhibition by elevated levels of dopamine. Administration of dopamine agonists reverses this effect and restores to normal the sensitivity of tyrosine hydroxylase to inhibition by endogenous dopamine. This effect of the dopamine agonists is prevented or reversed by administration of drugs which block dopamine receptors. Thus, the dopamine agonists appear to alter dopamine synthesis in the absence of impulse flow by interacting at a site, possibly on the presynaptic side of the dopamine terminal, which is similar to the post-synaptic dopa-minergic receptor and which appears capable of altering the sensitivity of tyrosine hydroxylase to inhibition by endogenous dopamine.
Endocrine Disruptors: A New Scientific Role for Clinical Pharmacologists? Impact on Human Health, Wildlife, and the Environment

It is important for the clinical pharmacologist to understand the potential human health implications of exposure to environmental chemicals that may act as hormonally active agents. It is necessary to have an understanding of how pharmaceutical and personal care products and other chemicals affect the ecosystem of planet Earth and to understand how they may negatively contribute to human disease. Clinical pharmacologists must understand the various definitions of endocrine disruptors and be able to "decipher" these terms for their patients. Understanding the need for the EPA endocrine disruptor screening program and possessing knowledge of the screening assays used to assess endocrine activity potential are two essential components relevant to the topic of endocrine disruptors. Clinical pharmacologists have an opportunity to play an important role in resolving the question of what role endocrine disruptors play in initiating human disease since some scientists argue that the present evidence is not compelling. Clinical pharmacologists can also play an important role in the evaluation of the risk assessment and use of risk management and risk communication tools required to address public health concerns related to actions of endocrine disruptors. It is important that clinical pharmacologists work with veterinary clinical pharmacologists, toxicologists, industrial chemists, regulators, the scientific community, the general public, and environmental groups to understand the impact of endocrine disruptors on human health, wildlife, and the environment with an ultimate goal to minimize and/or alleviate the unwanted, detrimental effects of the endocrine disruptors.
The mouse ocular albinism 1 gene product is an endolysosomal protein.

Abstract To gain insight into the role of Oa1, the mouse homolog of the human X-linked ocular albinism 1 protein, its properties and subcellular localization were investigated. Antiserum raised against an expressed segment of the Oa1 protein recognized a band of ∼48 kDa in immunoblots of extracts of cultured mouse melan-a melanocytes, but not of cells of non-melanocyte origin. When melanocyte extracts were treated with glycopeptidase F, a ∼44 kDa band appeared. Like the melanogenic enzyme tyrosinase, expression of Oa1 was stimulated by α-melanocyte stimulating hormone and inhibited by agouti signal protein. Upon density gradient centrifugation of organelles of melan-a cells, Oa1 protein colocalized with the late endosomal/lysosomal marker Lamp1, but only partial overlap was observed with melanosomal proteins in the high density region of the gradient. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that neither endogenous Oa1 nor an Oa1-green fluorescent protein fusion product colocalized with the melanosomal protein tyrosinase related protein-1 in the cell periphery. In contrast, colocalization of Oa1 and Oa1-green fluorescent protein fusion product with Lamp1 was extensive throughout the cell. These results indicate that Oa1 is a melanocyte-specific integral membrane glycoprotein localized to late endosomes/lysosomes but not mature melanosomes. Considering the microscopic findings in patients with X-linked ocular albinism 1, we speculate that Oa1 may play a role in the trafficking of vesicles to developing melanosomes.
Sex-Role Orientation and Creativity in Young Females.

In their professional attainment, men achieve to a significantly greater degree than do women. In examining this disparity, it has been argued that one important element in the comparison is the influence of early sex-role development in women. This study investigated cross sex-typing, one facet of sex-role development, as a possible correlate of creative thought and productive thinking. The subjects for this study were 47 fifth-grade girls. Participants completed a standardized measure of sex-typing and were tested on standardized tests of creativity. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. The results indicated that creative performance was associated with high masculine and low feminine interests. These findings support those of previous investigators who have observed that the development of problem-solving skills and the perpetuation of creativity in women appear to be related to sex-role orientation.
Topiramate for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION Topiramate (TOP) blocks glutamate receptors and facilitates GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmission, effects that may facilitate smoking cessation. We compared the effects of behavioral counseling combined with (a) TOP, (b) TOP/nicotine patch (TOP/NIC), or (c) placebo (PLC) for smoking cessation. METHODS We conducted a 10-week randomized trial in which subjects and research personnel were blinded to TOP versus PLC but not to the TOP/NIC patch condition. In groups receiving TOP, the medication dosage was titrated gradually up to 200 mg/day. The smoking quit date (QD) was scheduled after 2 weeks of medication treatment. NIC (21 mg) was started on the QD in subjects randomized to the TOP/NIC condition. The main outcome measure was the end-of-treatment, 4-week continuous abstinence rate (CAR; biochemically confirmed). RESULTS Fifty-seven subjects were randomized to treatment. The 4-week CAR was 1 of 19 (5%) in the PLC group, 5 of 19 (26%) in the TOP group, and 7 of 19 (37%) in the TOP/NIC group (p = .056). Pairwise comparisons showed a difference between TOP/NIC and PLC (p = .042) and a nonsignificant difference between TOP and PLC (p = .18). The PLC group gained 0.37 lb/week, the TOP group lost 0.41 lb/week, and the TOP/NIC group lost 0.07 lb/week (p = .004). Pairwise comparisons showed a difference between TOP and PLC (p < .001) and between TOP/NIC and PLC groups (p = .035). Paresthesia was more frequent in subjects on TOP than PLC (p = .011). CONCLUSIONS TOP, alone or in combination with the NIC, resulted in a numerically higher quit rate than PLC and decreased weight. A larger, PLC-controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings.
Long-Term Estrogen Replacement Coordinately Decreases trkA and β-PPT mRNA Levels in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Abstract Estrogen status has profound effects on cutaneous sensitivity in adult female rats. The presence of α-estrogen receptor mRNA and protein in NGF-dependent, adult female rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons raises the possibility that estrogen modulates cutaneous sensation by acting directly on primary afferent neurons, perhaps by altering their sensitivity to NGF. The present study examined the effect of long-term (90 days) daily injections of an estrogen preparation, Premarin (Wyeth-Ayerst, Radnor, PA), to ovariectomized adult rats on lumbar DRG high-affinity NGF receptor, trkA, mRNA levels, and on β-preprotachykinin (β-PPT) mRNA levels, which have been shown to be regulated by NGF. Two doses were used in the experiments, the higher dose being 10 times that of the lower dose. Such injections had an effect opposite that reported for short-term, acute estrogen treatment on DRG trkA mRNA levels. The current data show that long-term daily estrogen treatment decreases trkA mRNA levels by 36%. After 90 days of estrogen treatment, no dose effect was evident. Moreover, as would be expected if β-PPT gene expression is regulated by NGF through the trkA receptor, long-term estrogen treatment decreased DRG neuronal β-PPT mRNA levels by about 30%. As with trkA, there was no dose effect evident after 90 days of estrogen treatment. These data suggest the possibility that estrogen modulates DRG neuropeptide gene expression and, perhaps, cutaneous sensitivity by regulating NGF receptor gene expression.
Numerical simulations of the effect of hydrodynamic interactions on diffusivities of integral membrane proteins

Proteins in a biological membrane can be idealized as disks suspended in a thin viscous sheet surrounded by a fluid of lower viscosity (Saffman 1976). To determine the effect of hydrodynamic interactions on protein diffusivities in non-dilute suspensions, we numerically solve the Stokes equations of motion for a system of disks in a bounded periodic two-dimensional fluid using a multipole expansion technique. We consider both free suspensions, in which all the proteins are mobile, and fixed beds, in which a fraction of the proteins are fixed. For free suspensions, we determine both translational and rotational short-time self-diffusivities and the gradient diffusivity as a function of the area fraction of the disks. The translational self- and gradient diffusivities computed in this way grow logarithmically with the number of disks owing to Stokes paradox ; to obtain finite values, we renormalize our simulation results by treating long-range interactions in terms of a membrane with an enhanced viscosity in contact with a low-viscosity three-dimensional fluid. The diffusivities in fixed beds require no such adjustment because, at non-dilute area fractions of disks, the Brinkman screening of hydrodynamic interactions is more important that the viscous drag due to the surrounding three-dimensional fluid in limiting the range of hydrodynamic interactions. The diffusivities are determined as functions of the area fractions of both mobile and fixed proteins. We compare our results for diffusivities with experimental measurements of long-time protein self-diffusivity after adjusting our short-time diffusivities calculations in an approximate way to account for effects of hindered diffusion due to volume exclusion, and find very good agreement between the two.
Electronic structure and O K-edge XAS spectroscopy of U3O8

Abstract Understanding the uranium 5f/6d orbital mixing with oxygen 2p valence orbitals in uranium oxides is important for advancing nuclear technology. Unfortunately, U–O orbital mixing is difficult to probe experimentally. In this manuscript, U–O bonding is evaluated in U 3 O 8 using O K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). To confirm that the O K-edge XAS spectra were correct and did not contain contributions from surface contamination, three different sample types were investigated using three unique detection methods. Specifically an epitaxial film of U 3 O 8 deposited on Al 2 O 3 (PAD-U 3 O 8 ) was probed using grazing-incidence fluorescence yield (GIFY) detection, a bulk powder of α-phase U 3 O 8 was analyzed with fluorescence yield (FY) detection at normal incidence, and particles of α-phase U 3 O 8 were studied in transmission mode using a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM). Experimental spectra have been presented in the context of previously published computational results from DFT using the Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof (HSE) screened hybrid functional. Overall, the comparative analyses of PAD-U 3 O 8 and α-phase U 3 O 8 samples enabled identification of unique signatures associated with oxygen 2p orbital mixing with both U V and U VI 5f and 6d valence orbitals.
Histochemical changes in succinic dehydrogenase activity in rat kidney following administration of mercurial diuretics.

Summary and ConclusionsMercuhydrin, when administered to rats by subcutaneous injection causes a marked depression of succinic dehydrogenase activity in the proximal convoluted portion of the kidney tubules, while other portions of the nephron are little affected. This enzymatic inhibition is concomitant with the known time of diuresis and both can be prevented by the administration of BAL. This suggests that the enzymatic inhibition is, in fact, related to the diuresis. This places the locus of mercurial action on the proximal convoluted tubule-most certainly as regards its inhibition of succinic dehydrogenase activity and by implication also its diuretic action
Analysis of flavor quality and residual solvent of soy protein products

A simple, direct, gas Chromatographic technique is described for eluting and resolving residual solvent and flavor-related volatile components from soy products such as flour and protein isolates. No prior enrichment of volatiles is necessary. A sample, together with a small amount of water, is secured in a glass liner and placed in the heated injection port of a gas Chromatograph. The volatiles are rapidly steam distilled from the sample by the heat, moisture, and flow of carrier gas and are adsorbed on the chromatographic column in situ. Residual solvent and other volatiles adsorbed on the column are resolved by temperature-programmed gas chromatography and identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The correlation between taste panel flavor score and concentration of volatile components is significant at the 1% level.
Rescheduling of previously cancelled surgical cases does not increase variability in operating room workload when cases are scheduled based on maximizing efficiency of use of operating room time

BACKGROUND:Conceptually, cancelling a case close to the scheduled day of surgery increases variability in operating room (OR) workload (i.e., total hours of scheduled cases plus turnovers), creating managerial problems. However, in our recent study of an OR scheduling office, cancellations (slightly
Hierarchical bayes forecasts of multinomial dirichlet data applied to coupon redemptions

This paper considers forecasting count data from a multinomial Dirichlet distribution. The forecasting procedure implements hierarchical Bayes methods in order to develop a prior distribution for a new series of data. The methodology is applied to the redemption of cents-off promotional coupons. In a forecasting experiment, early forecasts of new series are similar to those from pooling all redemptions from previous coupon promotions. However, the hierarchical Bayes model provides realistic estimates of forecasting errors, while those for the pooled forecasts are consistently optimistic. As the current series evolves, the hierarchical Bayes forecasts adapt more rapidly and are more accurate than pooled forecasts.
The rehabilitative management of acute severe combined demyelination: a case report.

Demyelination involving both the peripheral and central nervous system, seen with Acute Severe Combined Demyelination, results in a combination of the deficits from Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. The unique medical, physical, psychosocial and functional challenges this disorder presents to the rehabilitation team have not been described. A-70-year old individual with a 3-week course of ascending paralysis, dysesthesias, urinary retention, insomnia and cognitive deficits is presented. An individualized program of rehabilitation entailing principles of spinal cord injury, brain injury and geriatric rehabilitation was implemented. Significant improvements in upper extremity weakness, pain, bladder control, sleep disturbance and cognition were achieved, however, lower extremity weakness and truncal control deficits remained after a lO-week rehabilitation program. This case r:eport describes the rehabilitative management of an adult with Acute Severe Combined Demyelination, highlighting the unique aspects of intervention. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
T wave changes in mitral stenosis

Abstract In right ventricular overload, the horizontal plane T axis deviates posteriorly, and the direction of inscription alters to clockwise. The result of this change in inscription is an alteration in the configuration of the T wave in the right precordial leads. Initially, lead V 1 shows a diphasic T wave with initial negativity and terminal positivity. With increasing degrees of right ventricular overload, the T wave becomes inverted in lead V 1 , and this abnormal diphasic configuration shifts to lead V 2 and later to lead V 3 or V 4 . Alteration of the configuration of the T wave in lead V 1 frequently occurs before the T axis has deviated sufficiently posteriorly to cause inversion of the T wave in lead V 1 . If this configuration is recognized as a criterion of right ventricular overload, milder degrees of right ventricular overload are recognized before other alterations occur in the electrocardiogram. The present study indicates that it is a sensitive index of right ventricular overload. Furthermore, this configuration of the T wave does not occur in anterior myocardial infarction, the other most frequent cause of inversion of the T wave in the right precordial V leads.
Public Health Messages Regarding Skin Cancer

It is useful, indeed critical, to periodically re-examine the messages we disseminate to the general population, and their underlying assumptions. This is certainly the case with skin cancer issues, as Thieden (2004) remind us in this issue. In this commentary, I briefly discuss a few of the messages requiring re-examination, and some of the issues pertinent to that re-examination. Some may require re-examination because the messages were motivated and drafted by concern for healthy skin alone, yet their impact on subcutaneous organ systems could be consequential. In other cases, the message is not sufficiently consistent with our scientific understanding, or risks public misunderstanding.
Alpha-maximized factor analysis (alphamax): its relation to alpha and canonical factor analysis.

An alpha-O coefficient of internal consistency is defined for an observed score composite. Maximizing alpha-O leads to a system of psychometric (vs. statistical) factor analysis in which successive factors describe dimensions of successively less internal-consistency. Factoring stops when alpha-O is zero or less. In contrast to Kaiser-Caffrey's alpha-C analysis, when the factored matrix is rank 1, alpha-O does not reach unity; it can approach unity only as the number of variables reach infinity. The relative usefulness and domains of generalization of alpha-C and alpha-O are compared. Basically, alpha-C analysis is concerned with the representativeness of factors while alpha-O analysis is concerned with the assessibility of factors. Consequently, either system of factoring can and should be summarized by both the alpha-C and alpha-O coefficients. Not surprisingly, alpha-O analysis is computationally analogous to Rao's canonical factor analysis.
THE DEIODINATIQN OF THYROXINE TO TRIIODOTHYRONINE BY KIDNEY SLICES OF RATS WITH VARYING THYROID FUNCTION1

THE identification of triiodiothyronine in biological materials and subsequent demonstration of its metabolic activity has stimulated interest in its relationship to thyroxine. Several observations from in vivo experiments have led to the concept that thyroxine is converted to triiodothyronine in peripheral tissues (Gross and Leblond, 1951; Gross and Pitt-Rivers, 1952 a; Flock and Bollman, 1954; Kalant, Lee and Sellers, 1955). Further support for this relationship was afforded by the demonstration of the deiodination of thyroxine to triiodothyronine in vitro by rat kidney slices (Albright, Larson and Tust, 1954). The deiodination reaction assumes greater significance if it can be shown to depend upon the level of thyroid activity. The purpose of the present paper is to report experiments on thyroxine deiodination by kidney slices of rats with varying thyroid function. methods and materials Female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 100–150 gm, were used.
Three-membered domains for aristotle's syllogistic

The paper shows that for any invalid polysyllogism there is a procedure for constructing a model with a domain with exactly three members and an interpretation that assigns non-empty, non-universal subsets of the domain to terms such that the model invalidates the polysyllogism.
Tutorials in clinical research: VII. Understanding comparative statistics (contrast)--part B: application of T-test, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square.

Objective This tutorial on comparative statistics has been written in two complementary segments. The first paper (part A) focused on explaining the general concepts of the null hypothesis and statistical significance. This second article (part B) addresses the application of three specific statistical tests. These two articles should be read sequentially and the first article should be available for reference while one reads the second. Study design Tutorial. Methods The authors met weekly for 10 months to discuss clinical research articles and the applied statistics. The difficulty was not the material but the effort to make it easy to read and as short as possible. Results The article discusses the application of three common statistical indexes of contrast, chi2, Mann-Whitney U, and Student t-test and other concepts, such as sample size, degrees of freedom, errors, power, and confidence intervals. Conclusions Statistical tests generate a number known as a statistic (chi2, U, t), which is sometimes called a "critical ratio" because it helps us to make a decision. This number is then associated with a probability, or P value. Sample size is a crucial element in the initial design of a research project and in the subsequent ability of the results to show statistical significance if the difference is clinically important. The example data used in this paper demonstrate the application of the three specific tests and illustrate the effect of sample size on the results.
Optics Technology Education Programs in the U. S.

The need for and the development of optics technology education programs in the US. are discussed. The resulting programs (primarily two-year associate degree programs) supply technicians and technologists for the rapidly expanding optics and electro-optics industry.
The effect of stocking density on the reproductive output of hatchery-reared Florida apple snails, Pomacea paludosa

Abstract The effect of stocking density on the reproductive output of Florida apple snails was investigated with the goal of developing a captive breeding program that would sustain year-round production and yield a high number of juvenile snails. We examined stocking densities of 50, 100, and 150 snails/m 2 to determine the threshold at which density negatively affects reproduction. Adult snails were added to tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system at a 1:1 sex ratio and reproductive output was followed for 8 weeks. The total number of clutches per tank and the number of eggs per clutch were recorded daily. The number of egg clutches produced in each tank was standardized per female to assess among treatment differences. Once hatched, the juveniles were counted and the percent hatch rates were determined for each clutch. The findings of the study demonstrated that density affected the mean number of clutches laid per female per week with snails in the 50 snails/m 2 treatment having higher egg production than snails stocked at 100 and 150 snails/m 2 treatments. Similarly, the number of juveniles produced per female was also higher in the lowest density treatment. There were no significant differences between treatments for egg characteristics (number of eggs per clutch and percent hatch rate). Based on these results, it is recommended that adult snails be stocked at 50 snails/m 2 to yield optimum egg production per female, attain the highest number of juveniles, and to sustain production for a reliable captive breeding program.
Charge effects for differentiation of oligodeoxynucleotide isomers containing 8-oxo-dG residues

Dissociation reactions of a series of multiply charged oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) 12-mer anions were studied using an ion trap mass spectrometer. These mixed nucleobase 12-mers fragment first by loss of a neutral nucleobase (A, G, C, and/or 5-methyl-cytosine) followed by cleavage at 3′ C-O bond of the sugar from which the base is lost to produce the complementary sequence ions, i.e., [a – B] and w type of ions. No detectable loss of 8-oxo-guanine and/or thymine from these 12-mers is observed under gentle collision conditions in the ion trap. The primary loss of a nucleobase and the subsequent backbone cleavage to generate sequence ions strongly depend on the charge state of the parent molecular ion. For low charge states (2- and 3-), product ions due to the loss of a neutral guanine base and related sequence ions are dominant in the tandem mass spectra. However, preferential loss of a neutral adenine becomes the primary reaction channel from the 5- charge state of the molecular ion. Such charge state dependent fragmentation behavior was utilized to determine the site of 8-oxo-dG residue in a series of structural isomers. The position of 8-oxo-dG residue can be simply determined from the fragmentation pattern of 3- charge state, but not of 5- charge state. It is suggested that in addition to specific modification that affects the N-glycosidic bond strength, total charge content of an ODN is an important factor for determining the differential fragmentation behavior.
Lithography simulation of sub-0.30-μm resist features for photomask fabrication using i-line optical pattern generators

The inorganic antireflection coating (AR3-chromium oxide) commonly used on photomask blanks was designed to minimize flare in h-line (405 nm) lithography steppers. The reflection of light (flare) off this coating (air-photomask) increases with shorter exposure wavelengths. High levels of flare occur in 248 nm and 193 nm IC steppers due to reflections off of the photomask surface. The reflections (standing waves) in photomask resists also increase during exposure using lower wavelengths of light. Lithography simulations and photomask manufacturing trials have led to resist processes that can generate sub-0.30 micron resist features on photomasks with I- line optical pattern generators (ALTA 3500). Lower developer concentration, higher exposure doses and the minimization of standing waves by incorporating a post-exposure bake and/or organic antireflection coatings (ARC) maximizes resolution. High resolution photoresists show standing waves on photomasks fabricated with optical pattern generators. Low contrast resist processes show only small standing waves or in certain cases resist 'footing.' The use of organic antireflection coatings can minimize standing waves and allow the use of high contrast resist processes. ARCs reduce the swing ratio, which improves linewidth uniformity. ARCs also improve the adhesion of the resist to the photomask surface. Simulations reveal that the optimal ARC coating thickness is around 46 nm for typical I-line systems and around 50 nm for 257 nm non- chemically amplified photomask resists. Preliminary I-line photomask manufacturing trials have been done with bottom antireflection coatings at the DPI Reticle Technology Center. The first process trials reveal that the standing waves in high resolution resists were reduced but not removed. Very precise control of the ARC thickness must be exercised to completely extinguish standing waves and careful film thickness optimization appears to be necessary to minimize these reflections.
The theory of classes A modification of von Neumann's system

1. The theory of classes presented in this paper is a simplification of that presented by J. von Neumann in his paper Die Axiomatisierung der Mengenlehre. However, this paper is written so that it can be read independently of von Neumann's. The principal modifications of his system are the following.(1) The idea of ordered pair is defined in terms of the other primitive concepts of the system. (See Axiom 4.3 below.)(2) A much simpler proof of the well-ordering theorem, based on von Neumann's equivalence axiom (Axiom 2.2 below) is given. (More exactly, the theory of ordinal numbers, on which the proof of the well-ordering theorem is based, is simplified—see §8.)(3) Functions are not assumed to be defined for all arguments. In place of “ = A” we have “is undefined.” This makes possible a constructive interpretation of the system. (See §2.)2. We wish first to give a rough picture of the system which we are trying to construct. Suppose that we have the idea “class,” but no material from which to construct classes. Nevertheless, we can construct the class 0 having no elements. And then the class 1 having 0 as its only element. And then the classes {1}, and {0, 1}, etc., using always the previously constructed classes as elements. To extend this method to infinite classes, we must give rules telling what elements are to be included. Since the nature of the rules which we can use is not altogether clear, we try to formalize the whole system; that is, to set up a system of axioms which seems to characterize this system of classes. Now in this set of axioms we find it necessary to use the idea of function (in the “Axiom of Replacement”).
A hierarchy of information sources for inferring emotional reactions

Abstract The ability of children and adults to infer emotional reactions from different sources of information was investigated. Preschoolers (mean age, 4–9), second graders (mean age, 4–9), and college students were asked to infer emotional reactions from verbally presented stories in which sources of information occurred either singly, in conflict, or in congruence. The sources investigated were situational (the protagonist's social or physical situation), normative (the dispositions of a group to which the protagonist belongs), and personal (the dispositions of the protagonist in particular). Subjects indicated the protagonist's emotional reaction to an event in the story by choosing one of three facial expressions, representing happy, upset, and afraid. A hierarchy of sources for making emotional inferences was found at all three grade levels: personal information was preferred over normative information, and both were dominant over situational information. The relevance of present methods and findings to the study of the development of “empathy” is discussed.
Interaction between retroviral U5 RNA and the T psi C loop of the tRNA(Trp) primer is required for efficient initiation of reverse transcription.

Abstract The 5' end of avian sarcoma and leukosis virus RNA near the primer binding site forms two RNA secondary structures, U5-inverted repeat (U5-IR) and U5-leader stems, which are required for efficient initiation of reverse transcription. Lying between these two secondary structures is a 7-base sequence that can anneal to the T psi C loop of the tRNA(Trp) primer. Base substitutions in U5 RNA which disrupt this potential interaction result in a defect in the initiation of reverse transcription both in vivo and in vitro. The defect can be complemented in vitro by base substitutions in the primer. The U5 RNA-T psi C interaction is also dependent upon the presence of both the U5-IR and the U5-leader structures. These RNA secondary structures and primer interactions are conserved in other type C and D retroviruses, suggesting that there is a common mechanism for the initiation of reverse transcription in all of these retroviruses.
Application of Rotational Isomeric State Theory to Ionic Polymer Stiffness Predictions

Presently, rotational isomeric state (RIS) theory directly addresses polymer chain conformation as it relates to mechanical response trends. The primary goal of this work is to explore the adaptation of this methodology to the prediction of material stiffness. This multiscale modeling approach relies on ionomer chain conformation and polymer morphology and thus has potential as both a predictive modeling tool and a synthesis guide. The Mark-Curro Monte Carlo methodology is applied to generate a statistically valid number of end-to-end chain lengths via RIS theory for four solvated Nafion® cases. For each case, a probability density function for chain length is estimated using various statistical techniques, including the classically applied cubic spline approach. It is found that the stiffness prediction is sensitive to the fitting strategy. The significance of various fitting strategies, as they relate to the physical structure of the polymer, are explored so that a method suitable for stiffness prediction may be identified.
Practical fault localization for dynamic web applications

We leverage combined concrete and symbolic execution and several fault-localization techniques to create a uniquely powerful tool for localizing faults in PHP applications. The tool automatically generates tests that expose failures, and then automatically localizes the faults responsible for those failures, thus overcoming the limitation of previous fault-localization techniques that a test suite be available upfront. The fault-localization techniques we employ combine variations on the Tarantula algorithm with a technique based on maintaining a mapping between statements and the fragments of output they produce. We implemented these techniques in a tool called Apollo, and evaluated them by localizing 75 randomly selected faults that were exposed by automatically generated tests in four PHP applications. Our findings indicate that, using our best technique, 87.7% of the faults under consideration are localized to within 1% of all executed statements, which constitutes an almost five-fold improvement over the Tarantula algorithm.
Statistical evaluation of improvement in RNA secondary structure prediction

With discovery of diverse roles for RNA, its centrality in cellular functions has become increasingly apparent. A number of algorithms have been developed to predict RNA secondary structure. Their performance has been benchmarked by comparing structure predictions to reference secondary structures. Generally, algorithms are compared against each other and one is selected as best without statistical testing to determine whether the improvement is significant. In this work, it is demonstrated that the prediction accuracies of methods correlate with each other over sets of sequences. One possible reason for this correlation is that many algorithms use the same underlying principles. A set of benchmarks published previously for programs that predict a structure common to three or more sequences is statistically analyzed as an example to show that it can be rigorously evaluated using paired two-sample t-tests. Finally, a pipeline of statistical analyses is proposed to guide the choice of data set size and performance assessment for benchmarks of structure prediction. The pipeline is applied using 5S rRNA sequences as an example.