cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manipulator Inverse Kinematic Solutions Based on Vector Formulations and Damped Least-Squares Methods

Inverse kinematic solutions are used in manipulator controllers to determine corrective joint motions for errors in end-effector position and orientation. Previous formulations of these solutions, based on the Jacobian matrix, are inefficient and fail near kinematic singularities. Vector formulations of inverse kinematic problems are developed that lead to efficient computer algorithms. To overcome the difficulties encountered near kinematic singularities, the exact inverse problem is reformulated as a damped least-squares problem, which balances the error in the solution against the size of the solution. This yields useful results for all manipulator configurations.
THE ROLE OF AUDITOR CULPABILITY IN NAMING AUDITOR DEFENDANTS IN UNITED STATES SECURITIES CLASS ACTIONS

Abstract Arguments for passage by the United States Congress of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, 1995 (Reform Act), as well as the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act, 1998, center on two allegations. First, that there was a general lack of merits (i.e. management culpability did not matter) in pre-Reform Act private securities class actions. Second, that nonculpable auditors were routinely named defendants in these lawsuits. A theoretical framework consisting of the constructs auditor culpability, management culpability, and nonculpability is used to investigate whether nonculpable auditors were routinely named defendants in these lawsuits. Empirical evidence based on 446 securities lawsuits filed from April 1992 to April 1995 in federal and state courts against United States companies suggests that nonculpable auditors were not routinely named defendants in these lawsuits.
Factors determining the activity of ischemic heart disease

Abstract Transient regional myocardial ischemia appears to underlie symptoms such as angina pectoris and represents a key pathophysiologic step, since it is an objective marker of disease activity and is capable of causing disabling symptoms and damage to left ventricular myocardium. A study of the characteristics of transient ischemia in and out of the hospital has shown that symptoms are an inconsistent underestimation of these events. Ischemia is generally prolonged, mostly asymptomatic, and usually accompanied by a regional decrease in myocardial perfusion. Studies out of the hospital have also shown that these episodes are frequently triggered by a wide range of ordinary everyday activities. These new features of transient ischemia are worth noting when searching for relevant causes that are present during everyday life and when trying to choose more rational therapy. More detailed studies of patient activity have shown that different levels of mental arousal are the most common triggering mechanism causing ischemia out of the hospital. In addition, the occurrence of transient ischemia during everyday life displays a circadian rhythm, with an increase and peak occurrence between 6:00 A.M. and 12 noon each day. The day-to-day variability of ischemia is marked, indicating functional disturbances of coronary stenoses against a background of a severe reduction in cross-sectional area. The examination of proximal stenoses has shown that (1) the reduction in cross-sectional area is usually underestimated by conventional angiography; (2) pressure gradients across coronary stenoses are common and, with reduced poststenotic blood pressure, can jeopardize perfusion; (3) disturbances of vessel caliber and antegrade flow can accompany many of the ordinary everyday activities known to trigger ischemia detected in Holter tapes studied out of the hospital; and (4) there is clear-cut evidence of endothelial dysfunction in these patients, with reversal of the normal dilator response to acetylcholine and paradoxical constriction of stenoses. This evidence of endothelial dysfunction in humans could be central to the problems of atheromatous narrowing, thrombus, and disturbed vasomotion.
Human impact management in a coastal recreation and natural area

Abstract A scientifically based management plan was developed for a recreation and natural area to allow high visitation while preserving the environment. A private organization managing the R.T. Crane Jr Memorial Reservation, and members of a public university, cooperated to examine human impacts, and develop and implement management strategies. Basic scientific research methods, including vegetation surveying and vegetation mapping, were combined with proven management techniques, such as constructing elevated boardwalks, fencing sensitive areas, and educating visitors. A resurvey of study sites two years after implementation of the plan confirmed the success of this project and suggested that a similar approach could be used in other contexts.
Influences of supplemental dietary poultry fat and F-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection on the early performance of commercial egg laying hens

ABSTRACT F-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum (FMG) may alter reproductive performance in layers through its effects on lipid metabolism. Therefore, the influences of 1.5% supplemental dietary poultry fat (PF) and FMG infection on the early performance of commercial egg-laying hens were determined. Birds were either sham- or FMG-inoculated at 12 wk, and experimental diets were initiated at 20 wk of age. Body weight at 12, 20, and 24 wk, total daily egg mass, feed consumption and feed conversion at 20 and 24 wk, weekly egg weight between 19 and 26 wk, weekly egg production (EP) between 18 and 26 wk, and weekly mortality between 12 and 26 wk of age were determined. Inoculation with FMG reduced EP at 18 and 19 wk of age. Between 20 and 26 wk, FMG reduced EP in birds fed control diets, conversely, PF eliminated differences in EP between sham- and FMG-inoculated birds. Furthermore, at wk 20 and 24, birds consumed less feed when fed PF-supplemented diets than when fed control diets if they were sham-inoculated, but the difference in feed consumption between diets was ameliorated if birds were previously inoculated with FMG. These data demonstrate that the effects of a 12-wk inoculation of FMG on EP and feed consumption through 26 wk of age in commercial egg-laying chickens can be modified by 1.5% supplemental dietary P F. More specifically, PF may alleviate reductions in early EP due to FMG.
Impact collision ion scattering spectrometry studies of thin metal overlayers on Si(111) surfaces

Abstract The technique of impact-collision ion scattering spectrometry (ICISS) was used to determine the in-plane geometries of the (a) Si (111)−(√3×√3) Ag and (b) Si (111)− Ni surfaces. For Si (111)−(√3×√3) Ag , comparison of experimental data with computer simulation leads to a substitutional trimer (ST) model in which Si honeycombs sit on top of Ag trimers occupying substitutional sites. The separation of the Si and Ag layers is 0.7±0.3 A and the SiAg bond length is 2.66±0.3 A. We also observed type-A and type-B arrangements of the Si and Ag atoms on the surface, with type-B being type-A rotated 180° about the surface normal. Our results are consistent with reported scanning tunneling microscopy images and also with a missing top layer (MTL) model proposed from photoemission and x-ray photoelectron diffraction studies. For Si (111)− Ni , the agreement between computer simulations and experimental data indicates that at extremely low Ni coverages, ∼0.1 ML, Ni atoms diffuse into the Si substrate at room temperature and form regions of predominantly type-B NiSi 2 .
A Diabetes Camp as the Service-Learning Capstone Experience in a Diabetes Concentration

Objectives. To assess the effectiveness of a service-learning advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in a diabetes camp to improve student confidence in diabetes knowledge and related skills Design. Pharmacy students assisted medical staff during a week-long diabetes camp for children. Students participated in all aspects of diabetes care, as well as wrote pre- and post-camp reflection papers, completed online quizzes, presented an educational training session, and completed pre- and post-camp survey instruments. Assessment. Students' confidence in their diabetes knowledge and patient care skills increased as a result of participating in the camp. Conclusion. A diabetes camp APPE improved students' confidence in their knowledge and ability to manage diabetes, and allowed them to gain experience working with an interdisciplinary team in a unique real-world environment.
Production of hydroxy fatty acids by cell suspension cultures of the marine brown alga Laminaria saccharina

Abstract Photolithotrophic cell suspension cultures established from the microscopic gametophytic life phase of Laminaria saccharina produced three hydroxy fatty acids deriving from an ω-6 lipoxygenase (LOX) oxidation: 15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), 13-hydroxy-6,9,11,15-octadecatetraenoic acid (13-HODTA), and 13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HODE). The yields of 15-HETE, 13-HODTA, and 13-HODE ranged from 100 to 1000 μg product g−1 dry biomass. In the attempt to stimulate ω-6 LOX metabolism in vitro, three C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic, α-linolenic, and γ-linolenic acid were added separately to the culture medium after 20 days of cultivation and then allowed to incubate with the culture for 10 days. Linoleic and γ-linolenic acid increased the yield of all three hydroxy fatty acids from 2 to 4 times over controls, with 15-HETE showing the most significant increase. In contrast, α-linolenic acid was toxic to the culture at 200 mg 1−1.
Analysis of direct liquid-solid contact heat transfer in monodispersed spray cooling

The heat-transfer characteristics of a single droplet and spray impacting upon a horizontal surface heated above the Leidenfrost temperature are analytically investigated. The heat-transfer model of a single impacting droplet is developed, based on the postulate that heat transfer through direct contact is the dominant mechanism of the droplet impacting heat transfer. Heat-transfer models of spray are also developed by expanding the single droplet model to include the effects of droplet interference upon the impacting dynamics. A criterion value of liquid mass flux for classifying a spray as "sparse" or "dense" is established. The analytical models are compared with the existing experimental results, and they are found to be in good agreement.
Coordination of perishable product returns with imbalance information

The speed of processing product returns is an important issue for a supply chain with perishable items. Especially, more manufacturers have recently started outsourcing the reverse logistics to third-party logistics (3-PL) providers. This paper proposes a model for such a supply chain with a single manufacturer and single 3-PL provider. The proposed model suggests a way of coordination between the manufacturer and its 3-PL provider with an optimal processing speed of product returns and allocation of total profits between the two parties. Specifically, the model provides the optimal coordination strategies for the manufacturer when both parties have the imbalance information about the processing cost of the 3-PL provider.
A randomized, controlled trial of the renal effects of ultrafiltration as compared to furosemide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Abstract Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the consequences of ultrafiltration (UF) and standard intravenous diuretic (furosemide) therapy on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Background It has been hypothesized that treatment with diuretics may worsen renal function as the result of systemic neurohormonal activation and direct renal vascular effects. UF also removes fluid, but its actions on intrarenal hemodynamics, and therefore renal function, are unknown. Methods Patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure with an ejection fraction less than 40% and two or more signs of hypervolemia were randomized to receive UF or intravenous diuretics. Urine output, GFR (as measured by iothalamate), and renal plasma flow (as measured by para-aminohippurate) were assessed before fluid removal and after 48 hours. Results Nineteen patients (59 ± 16 years, 68% were male) were randomized to receive UF (n = 9) or intravenous diuretics (n = 10). The change in GFR (−3.4 ± 7.7 mL/min vs. −3.6 ± 11.5 mL/min; P = .966), renal plasma flow (26.6 ± 62.7 mL/min vs. 16.1 ± 42.0 mL/min; P = .669), and filtration fraction (−6.9 ± 13.6 mL/min vs. −3.9 ± 13.6 mL/min; P = .644) after treatment were not significantly different between the UF and furosemide treatment groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in net 48-hour fluid removal between the groups (−3211 ± 2345 mL for UF and −2725 ± 2330 mL for furosemide, P = .682). UF removed 3666 ± 2402 mL. Urine output during 48 hours was significantly greater in the furosemide group (5786 ± 2587 mL) compared with the UF group (2286 ± 915 mL, P Conclusions During a 48-hour period, UF did not cause any significant differences in renal hemodynamics compared with the standard treatment of intravenous diuretics.
Endoscopic endonasal approach to the optic nerve: A technical note

An endoscopic endonasal technique was used in the surgical treatment of a meningioma compressing the optic nerve. The patient was a 58-year-old woman who had experienced progressive visual loss in her left eye. Magnetic resonance (MR) scans of the brain demonstrated a contrast-enhancing tumor mass, which was measured to be 10 × 15 mm in size, compressing the left optic nerve. Automated visual field examination confirmed left-eye visual field defects, the temporal visual field worse than the nasal. The tumor was excised in total endoscopically through her right nostril. Histological diagnosis was meningothelial meningioma. Her hospital stay was overnight. Her left-eye vision improved with a residual crescentic temporal-field defect. She has done well without tumor recurrence as evidenced by a 20-month follow-up. This is the first report describing endoscopic endonasal removal of an intracranial tumor compressing the optic nerve.
The Coastal Trade of the British North American Colonies, 1768–1772

The coastal trade of the British North American colonies, as well as the coastal trade among the American states and the remaining British colonies after the American Revolution and well into the nineteenth century, remains one of those areas in North American economic history about which we know very little. The broad outlines and patterns of this coastal trade, or various segments of it, have been described by others, but as Arthur L. Jensen has put it: “Trade among the continental colonies has been treated as something of a poor relation in many studies of colonial commerce.” The most serious inadequacy is the lack of any overall view of the specific patterns and magnitudes of the coastal trade and its relationship both to the overseas trades and to overall economic activity. Various and strikingly contrasting views have been expressed. One historian of transportation states: “Prior to the Revolution intercolonial commerce was inconsiderable, and intercolonial trade-routes, where they existed, were entirely inadequate.” On the other hand, Innis, in referring to the trade between Newfoundland and New England, states that in 1765 exports from New England to Newfoundland probably exceeded £200,000 sterling (including smuggling), and that by 1774 they had reached £.300,000 or £400,000.
The effect of polymorphism and magnesium substitution on oxygen isotope fractionation between calcium carbonate and water.

Abstract Calcite, aragonite and magnesian calcite were slowly precipitated from aqueous bicarbonate solutions, and oxygen isotope fractionation factors between the precipitate and water were measured. For calcite-water at 25°C and 0°C, 1000 ln α = 28.1 and 33.7, respectively, both values in excellent agreement with the Urey-Epstein paleotemperature scale. Aragonitewater at 25°C gave 28.7, implying a small but significant fractionation between aragonite and calcite. O18 also concentrates in magnesian calcite, relative to pure calcite precipitated under the same conditions, by 0.06%. for each mole-percent MgCO3 in calcite.
Structural Differences between Two Types of "Heavy Chain" Disease Proteins and Myeloma Globulins of Corresponding Types

Structural differences between two antigenic types (designated C and Z) of γ-globulins, both of low molecular weight, produced in " Heavy chain" disease are revealed by their relative susceptibilities to enzymatic degradation by papain and the nature of the cleavage products. Corresponding structural differences exist between the respective type C and type Z myeloma γ2-globulins. These structural differences are tentatively assigned to the H-chains, and more specifically to the portion of the H-chain contained in the fast-moving (F) fragment of papain-treated γ2-globulins.
The Integrity bare-metal stent made by continuous sinusoid technology.

The Integrity® Coronary Stent System (Medtronic Vascular, CA, USA) is a low-profile, open-cell, cobalt–chromium-alloy advanced bare-metal iteration of the well-known Driver®/Micro-Driver™ Coronary Stent System (Medtronic Vascular). The Integrity stent is made with a process called continuous sinusoid technology. This process allows stent construction via wrapping a single thin strand of wire around a mandrel in a sinusoid configuration, with laser fusion of adjacent crowns. The wire-forming process and fusion pattern provide the stent with a continuous preferential bending plane, intended to allow easier access to, and smoother tracking within, distal and tortuous vessels while radial strength is maintained. Continuous sinusoid technology represents innovation in the design of stent platforms and will provide a future stent platform for newer technology, including drug-eluting stent platforms, drug-filled stents and core wire stents.
The performance of a precedence-based queuing discipline

A queuing system with infinitely many servers, and with the following queuing discipline is considered: For any two jobs i and j in the system, such that i arrived later than j, there is a fixed probability p that i will have to wait for j's execution to terminate before i starts executing. This queuing system is a very simple model for database concurrency control via “static” locking, as well as of parallel execution of programs consisting of several interdependent processes. The problem of determining the maximum arrival rate (as a function of p) that can be sustained before this system becomes unstable is studied. It is shown that this rate is inversely proportional to p, and close upper and lower bounds on the constant for the case of deterministic departures are found. The result suggests that the degree of multiprogramming of multiuser databases, or the level of parallelism of concurrent programs, is inversely proportional to the probability of conflict, and that the constant is small and known within a factor of 2. The technique used involves the computation of certain asymptotic parameters of a random infinite directed acyclic graph (dag) that seem of interest by themselves.
Evaluation of xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel FAST and xTAG Human Parainfluenza Virus Analyte-Specific Reagents for detection of human parainfluenza viruses in respiratory specimens

The multiplex xTAG(®) Respiratory Viral Panel FAST (RVP FAST) research-use-only assay and xTAG(®) Human Parainfluenza Virus Analyte-Specific Reagent (HPIV-ASR) assay were evaluated with 99 culture-confirmed human parainfluenza virus (HPIV)-positive and -negative specimens and found to have analytical sensitivities of 95.2% and 100% and specificities of 98.3% and 96.6%, respectively. Since the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) version of the RVP FAST assay does not include HPIVs, the HPIV-ASR assay can be tested in parallel with RVP FAST-IVD for optimal detection of HPIVs.
Emerging Therapeutic Options for B-Cell Disorders: Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

B-cell disorders include a large group of malignant and nonmalignant diseases with tremendous variation in incidence, natural history, treatment, and prognosis. This article will focus on adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Clinicians must individualize treatment for ITP and CLL to each patient. Observation without intervention is appropriate for some patients, whereas immediate treatment is indicated for others. Deciding when to treat and which agents to use can be difficult, but new therapeutic options are emerging for both conditions.
Analysis of Critical Systems Certification

We introduce the filter model of regulatory certification of safety-critical systems. This model characterizes the certification process itself as a safety-critical system in which incorrectly certifying a system that should be rejected is an accident. The role of certification is modeled as the identification of faults in the system being certified, i.e., a filter for system faults. Application of safety-engineering techniques to the certification process allows assessment of certification and offers the possibility of correction of weaknesses.
Thermal hydraulic design of a liquid salt-cooled flexible conversion ratio fast reactor

Abstract A 2400 MWth liquid-salt cooled flexible conversion ratio reactor was designed, utilizing the ternary chloride salt NaCl–KCl–MgCl 2 (30–20–50%) as coolant. The reference design uses a wire-wrapped, hexagonal lattice core, and is able to achieve a core power density of 130 kW/l with a core pressure drop of 700 kPa and a maximum cladding temperature under 650 °C. Four kidney-shaped conventional tube-in-shell heat exchangers are used to connect the primary system to a 545 °C supercritical CO 2 power conversion system. The core, intermediate heat exchangers, and reactor coolant pumps fit in a vessel approximately 10 m in diameter and less than 20 m high. Lithium expansion modules (LEMs) were used to reconcile conflicting thermal hydraulic and reactor physics requirements in the liquid salt core. Use of LEMs allowed the design of a very favorable reactivity response which greatly benefits transient mitigation. A reactor vessel auxiliary cooling system (RVACS) and four redundant passive secondary auxiliary cooling systems (PSACSs) are used to provide passive heat removal, and are able to successfully mitigate both the unprotected station blackout transient as well as protected transients in which a scram occurs. Additionally, it was determined that the power conversion system can be used to mitigate both a loss of flow accident and an unprotected transient overpower.
Representations and regularities for solutions to BSDEs with reflections

Abstract In this paper we study a class of backward stochastic differential equations with reflections (BSDER, for short). Three types of discretization procedures are introduced in the spirit of the so-called Bermuda Options in finance, so as to first establish a Feynman–Kac type formula for the martingale integrand of the BSDER, and then to derive the continuity of the paths of the martingale integrand, as well as the C 1 -regularity of the solution to a corresponding obstacle problem. We also introduce a new notion of regularity for a stochastic process, which we call the “ L 2 -modulus regularity”. Such a regularity is different from the usual path regularity in the literature, and we show that such regularity of the martingale integrand produces exactly the rate of convergence of a numerical scheme for BSDERs. Both numerical scheme and its rate of convergence are novel.
FT-IR Studies of the Low-Temperature-Induced Chemical Changes in Rawhide Coal

Control of the water in the porous structure of coal is desirable both in reaction studies and in order that one be able to rationally compare the composition and processing behavior of different coals. Experimental studies of coal routinely use coal which has been dried under standard conditions (frequently vacuumed at approximately 100°C). It is generally accepted that such drying produces little or no significant chemical or structural change other than volatilization of the water. Recently developed in-situ FT-IR difference spectroscopy techniques, which are extremely sensitive to chemical changes, are used to examine the effect of 100°C vacuum drying on Rawhide (subbituminous) coal. Complex spectroscopic changes of the coal are found to occur which might be indicative of changes both in internal hydrogen-bonded interactions in the coal and in the number and types of strong "crosslinking" bonds. Reactions involving carbon-oxygen functionality, probably as carboxylic acid groups, are observed. A significant change is observed in the composition of the acidic functionality contained in the coal. The substantial IR absorptivity changes in both static and kinetic experiments imply that significant perturbation of the organic coal matrix takes place upon drying. These data imply that mechanistic interpretations of low-temperature chemistry may not be correct. While it is quite conceivable that low-temperature thermal chemistry might not affect the behavior of coal in a much higher temperature pyrolysis, liquefaction or gasification procedure, it is likely to influence the results of some analytical procedures and interpretation of coal structural studies, low-temperature oxidation studies, and low-temperature degradation chemistry. Standardized drying procedures in any particular laboratory might have unknowingly changed the coal structure. Thus, the anomalous results of subsequent experiments could not be fully interpreted because the thermal history of the sample was altered.
Adolescent Dating Violence Differences Between One-Sided and Mutually Violent Profiles

This study investigates differences in 3 dating violence profiles: those who are only victims of violence, those who are only perpetrators of violence, and those who are involved in mutually violent relationships. One hundred and eighty-five adolescents in the 6th to 12th grades responded to a questionnaire about dating violence and dating violence correlates. Study analysis was limited to the 77 students who reported involvement in dating violence in their most recent or current dating relationship. Differences in amount and severity of violence, injuries sustained, relationship characteristics, and individual characteristics across dating violence profile were assessed. About 66% of students reporting violence reported that the violence was mutual. Individuals in mutually violent relationships reported receiving and perpetrating significantly more violence than individuals involved in one-sided violent relationships as victims only or perpetrators only, respectively. Implications are made for treatment ...
Spatiotemporal mapping of brain atrophy in mouse models of Huntington's disease using longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging

Mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD) that recapitulate some of the phenotypic features of human HD, play a crucial role in investigating disease mechanisms and testing potential therapeutic approaches. Longitudinal studies of these models can yield valuable insights into the temporal course of disease progression and the effect of drug treatments on the progressive phenotypes. Atrophy of the brain, particularly the striatum, is a characteristic phenotype of human HD, is known to begin long before the onset of motor symptoms, and correlates strongly with clinical features. Elucidating the spatial and temporal patterns of atrophy in HD mouse models is important to characterize the phenotypes of these models, as well as evaluate the effects of neuroprotective treatments at specific time frames during disease progression. In this study, three dimensional in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and automated longitudinal deformation-based morphological analysis was used to elucidate the spatial and temporal patterns of brain atrophy in the R6/2 and N171-82Q mouse models of HD. Using an established MRI-based brain atlas and mixed-effects modeling of deformation-based metrics, we report the rates of progression and region-specificity of brain atrophy in the two models. Further, the longitudinal analysis approach was used to evaluate the effects of sertraline and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) treatments on progressive atrophy in the N171-82Q model. Sertraline treatment resulted in significant slowing of atrophy, especially in the striatum and frontal cortex regions, while no significant effects of CoQ10 treatment were observed. Progressive cortical and striatal atrophy in the N171-82Q mice showed significant positive correlations with measured functional deficits. The findings of this report can be used for future testing and comparison of potential therapeutics in mouse models of HD.
A rigorous derivation of the exact contingency formula

The formulagives the conditional probability of an (r1 × r2 × … × rk) k-variate contingency table (where is the entry in the cell identified by the k indices im), given all the marginal totalsand the hypothesis that the k random variables tabulated are mutually independent. This formula appears in (1) and more restricted forms can be found elsewhere in the literature. Certain criticisms have been made of the logic and clarity of the available proofs of (1); it is hoped that the alternative derivation given here will dispel any residual doubts, and will provide better insight into the nature of the problem.
The use of dwell-time switching to maintain a formation with only range sensing

Using concepts from switched adaptive control theory plus a special parameterization of the class of 2 x 2 nonsingular matrices, a tractable and provably correct solution is given to the three landmark station keeping problem in the plane in which range measurements are the only sensed signals upon which station keeping is to be based. The performance of the overall system degrades gracefully in the face of increasing measurement and missalignment errors, provided the measurement errors are not too large.
Sensitivity analysis and optimization of excimer laser ablation for microvia formation using neural networks and genetic algorithms

Higher levels of integration on the chip and package with increasing wiring density require highly repeatable and reliable microvias. To meet future needs of local via densities >5000 vias per cm/sup 2/ and via diameters of <50/spl mu/m, a scanning projection excimer laser ablation process is being developed for build-up and flex substrates. Vias with diameters of 30, 40, and 50 /spl mu/m are ablated in 257mu;m thick DuPont Kapton /spl reg/ E polyimide using an ANVIK HexScan/spl trade/ 2150 SXE excimer laser. A 25-1 fractional factorial experiment is conducted to determine the significance of laser fluence, shot frequency, number of pulses, and vertical and horizontal positions of the debris removal system in the laser tool in affecting ablated dielectric thickness, top via diameter, via wall angle, and via resistance. The complex nonlinear interactions between process set points and responses are empirically modelled using the feed-forward neural networks (NNs) employing the error back-propagation training algorithm. Neural networks encode the functional relationship between the process conditions and responses, and are then used to perform sensitivity analysis to quantify the variation in responses for incremental changes in particular process conditions. In addition, genetic algorithms (GAs) are used to identify optimized recipes for neural network response models. Experimental verification of the optimized recipes is performed to achieve completely open microvias, specific microvia diameters and wall angles, and low via resistance.
Effects of patch attributes, barriers, and distance between patches on the distribution of a rock-dwelling rodent (Lagidium viscacia)

We tested whether size of habitat patches and distance between patches are sufficient to predict the distribution of the mountain vizcacha Lagidium viscacia a large, rock-dwelling rodent of the Patagonian steppe Argentina, or whether information on other patch and landscape characteristics also is required. A logistic regression model including the distance between rock crevices and depth of crevices, distance between a patch and the nearest occupied patch, and whether or not there was a river separating it from the nearest occupied patch was a better predictor of patch occupancy by mountain vizcachas than was a model based only on patch size and distance between patches. Our results indicate that a simple metapopulation analysis based on size of habitat patches and distance between patches may not provide an accurate representation of regional population dynamics if patches vary in habitat quality independently of patch size and features in the matrix alter connectivity.
Kinematic Constraints Associated With the Acquisition of Overarm Throwing Part I: Step and Trunk Actions

The purposes of this study were to: (a) examine differences within specific kinematic variables and ball velocity associated with developmental component levels of step and trunk action (Roberton & Halverson, 1984), and (b) if the differences in kinematic variables were significantly associated with the differences in component levels, determine potential kinematic constraints associated with skilled throwing acquisition. Results indicated stride length (69.3%) and time from stride foot contact to ball release (39.7%) provided substantial contributions to ball velocity (p < .001). All trunk kinematic measures increased significantly with increasing component levels (p < .001). Results suggest that trunk linear and rotational velocities, degree of trunk tilt, time from stride foot contact to ball release, and ball velocity represented potential control parameters and, therefore, constraints on overarm throwing acquisition.
MRI of Adnexal Masses in Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to provide a practical review of the incremental benefit of MRI in the assessment of adnexal masses in pregnancy.CONCLUSION. MRI can assist sonographic assessment of adnexal masses in pregnancy by depicting the characteristic findings of exophytic leiomyoma, red degeneration of leiomyoma, endometrioma, decidualized endometrioma, and massive ovarian edema. Accordingly, MRI should be considered as a useful adjunct when sonography is inconclusive or insufficient to guide management of adnexal masses discovered in pregnancy.
The Modern Foreign Languages and Their Critics

Author's Summary.— The foreign language teacher can view his work with pardonable pride and satisfaction. To judge the new-type modern language course in terms of personal experience in modern foreign language study ten, fifteen, or twenty-five years ago, is as ridiculous as comparing the instruction in reading of today with that of the “gay nineties.”
A software cost model with warranty and risk costs

In this paper, a cost model with warranty cost, time to remove each error detected in the software system, and risk cost due to software failure is developed. A software reliability model based on non-homogeneous Poisson process is used. The optimal release policies to minimize the expected total software cost are discussed. A software tool is also developed using Excel and Visual Basic to facilitate the task of determining the optimal software release time. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the results.
Evidence against a Simple Tethering Model for Enhancement of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA Polymerase Processivity by Accessory Protein UL42

The DNA polymerase holoenzyme of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a stable heterodimer consisting of a catalytic subunit (Pol) and a processivity factor (UL42). HSV-1 UL42 differs from most DNA polymerase processivity factors in possessing an inherent ability to bind to double-stranded DNA. It has been proposed that UL42 increases the processivity of Pol by directly tethering it to the primer and template (P/T). To test this hypothesis, we took advantage of the different sensitivities of Pol and Pol/UL42 activities to ionic strength. Although the activity of Pol is inhibited by salt concentrations in excess of 50 mM KCl, the activity of the holoenzyme is relatively refractory to changes in ionic strength from 50 to 125 mM KCl. We used nitrocellulose filter-binding assays and real-time biosensor technology to measure binding affinities and dissociation rate constants of the individual subunits and holoenzyme for a short model P/T as a function of the ionic strength of the buffer. We found that as observed for activity, the binding affinity and dissociation rate constant of the Pol/UL42 holoenzyme for P/T were not altered substantially in high- versus low-ionic-strength buffer. In 50 mM KCl, the apparent affinity with which UL42 bound the P/T did not differ by more than twofold compared to that observed for Pol or Pol/UL42 in the same low-ionic-strength buffer. However, increasing the ionic strength dramatically decreased the affinity of UL42 for P/T, such that it was reduced more than 3 orders of magnitude from that of Pol/UL42 in 125 mM KCl. Real-time binding kinetics revealed that much of the reduced affinity could be attributable to an extremely rapid dissociation of UL42 from the P/T in high-ionic-strength buffer. The resistance of the activity, binding affinity, and stability of the holoenzyme for the model P/T to increases in ionic strength, despite the low apparent affinity and poor stability with which UL42 binds the model P/T in high concentrations of salt, suggests that UL42 does not simply tether the Pol to DNA. Instead, it is likely that conformational alterations induced by interaction of UL42 with Pol allow for high-affinity and high-stability binding of the holoenzyme to the P/T even under high-ionic-strength conditions.
The Challenge of Industrialization: The Catholic Church and the Working Class in and around Vienna, 1815–1848

The period from the fall of Napoleon in 1815 to the March, 1848, Revolution brought to the Habsburg empire the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, with all its attendant social evils. Increasing poverty, vice, and crime presented a growing challenge to the Catholic clergy, traditionally the custodians of moral standards in the monarchy. In the larger cities, most notably in Vienna, priests and bishops could no longer ignore the social problems arising in the expanding industrial towns. This study seeks to explore the extent to which Austrian churchmen, particularly those in the archdiocese of Vienna, where the greatest industrial activity occurred, involved themselves in the problems of the increasing numbers of factory workers in the new towns surrounding the capital during the period before 1848.
Polytomies and bayesian phylogenetic inference

Bayesian phylogenetic analyses are now very popular in systematics and molecular evolution because they allow the use of much more realistic models than currently possible with maximum likelihood methods. There are, however, a growing number of examples in which large Bayesian posterior clade probabilities are associated with very short branch lengths and low values for non-Bayesian measures of support such as nonparametric bootstrapping. For the four-taxon case when the true tree is the star phylogeny, Bayesian analyses become increasingly unpredictable in their preference for one of the three possible resolved tree topologies as data set size increases. This leads to the prediction that hard (or near-hard) polytomies in nature will cause unpredictable behavior in Bayesian analyses, with arbitrary resolutions of the polytomy receiving very high posterior probabilities in some cases. We present a simple solution to this problem involving a reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm that allows exploration of all of tree space, including unresolved tree topologies with one or more polytomies. The reversible-jump MCMC approach allows prior distributions to place some weight on less-resolved tree topologies, which eliminates misleadingly high posteriors associated with arbitrary resolutions of hard polytomies. Fortunately, assigning some prior probability to polytomous tree topologies does not appear to come with a significant cost in terms of the ability to assess the level of support for edges that do exist in the true tree. Methods are discussed for applying arbitrary prior distributions to tree topologies of varying resolution, and an empirical example showing evidence of polytomies is analyzed and discussed.
TALE: A Tool for Approximate Large Graph Matching

Large graph datasets are common in many emerging database applications, and most notably in large-scale scientific applications. To fully exploit the wealth of information encoded in graphs, effective and efficient graph matching tools are critical. Due to the noisy and incomplete nature of real graph datasets, approximate, rather than exact, graph matching is required. Furthermore, many modern applications need to query large graphs, each of which has hundreds to thousands of nodes and edges. This paper presents a novel technique for approximate matching of large graph queries. We propose a novel indexing method that incorporates graph structural information in a hybrid index structure. This indexing technique achieves high pruning power and the index size scales linearly with the database size. In addition, we propose an innovative matching paradigm to query large graphs. This technique distinguishes nodes by their importance in the graph structure. The matching algorithm first matches the important nodes of a query and then progressively extends these matches. Through experiments on several real datasets, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
Optical Clock Signal Distribution With Holographic Optical Elements

An overview of the problems in generating a synchronous clock signal for electrical very large scale integration (VLSI) and multi-processor systems is given. Alternative clocking schemes using optical distribution techniques are then presented and compared with the electrical methods. Issues related to holographic signal distribution are discussed in detail.
InfoGram: a grid service that supports both information queries and job execution

The research described in this paper is performed as part of the Globus Project. It introduces a new grid service called InfoGram that combines the ability of serving as information service and as a job execution service. Previously, both services were architected and implemented within the Globus Toolkit as two different services with different wire protocols. Our service demonstrates a significant simplification of the architecture while treating job submissions and information queries alike. The advantage of our service is that it provides backwards compatibility to existing grid services, while at the same time providing forwards compatibility to the emerging Web services world. Part of the work conducted within this effort is already reused by the current open grid services architecture prototype implementation.
Exploring the mechanism of Stille C–C coupling via peptide-capped Pd nanoparticles results in low temperature reagent selectivity

Herein we systematically probed the atom-leaching mechanism of Pd nanoparticle-driven Stille coupling to further elucidate the fate of the highly active Pd0 atoms released in solution. In this regard, initial oxidative addition at the particle surface results in Pd atom abstraction for reactivity in solution. As a result, two reaction sites are present, the particle surface and pre-leached Pd atoms, thus different degrees of reactivity are possible. This effect was probed via aryl halide combinations that varied the halogen identity allowing for oxidative addition of two substrates simultaneously. The results demonstrate that the system was highly reactive for iodo-based compounds in the mixture at room temperature; however, reactivity at bromo-based substrates was only observed at slightly elevated temperatures of 40.0 °C. As such, substrate selectivity was evident from the catalytic materials that can be controlled based upon the aryl halide composition and reaction temperature. Furthermore, both intermolecular and intramolecular selectivity is possible, thus raising the degree of reaction complexity that can be achieved.
Constraints on additional Z bosons.

$Z$-pole, $W$-mass, and weak neutral-current (WNC) data as well as direct collider limits are used to constrain the mass and mixing of possible heavy ${Z}_{2}$ bosons with couplings expected in grand unified theories and ${\mathrm{SU}(2)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{SU}(2)}_{R}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ models. The data now enable the top-quark mass and ${Z}_{2}$ properties to be limited simultaneously. The indirect ($Z$-pole, ${M}_{W}$, WNC) data stringently constrain the ${Z}_{1}^{0}\ensuremath{-}{Z}_{2}^{0}$ mixing angle $\ensuremath{\theta}$ ($|\ensuremath{\theta}|l0.01$ in most cases). For models with arbitrary Higgs representations, the limits on the ${Z}_{2}$ mass ${M}_{2}$ from indirect and direct constraints are rather weak (typically 160-400 GeV), but in specific models in which ${M}_{2}$ and $\ensuremath{\theta}$ are correlated, the constraints are much stronger (${M}_{2}g500\ensuremath{-}1000$ GeV). The weak angle in the modified minimal subtraction scheme is well determined even allowing for extra $Z'\mathrm{s}$ and an arbitrary Higgs structure: ${sin}^{2}{\stackrel{^}{\ensuremath{\theta}}}_{W}({M}_{Z})={0.2334}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0011}^{+0.0008}$, for the models considered, where the uncertainties include ${m}_{t}$, compared to the SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1) model value 0.2333\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0008. The 95%-C.L. upper limits on ${m}_{t}$ (${m}_{t}l182$ GeV for Higgs doublets and singlets only, and ${m}_{t}l310$ GeV for arbitrary Higgs representations) continue to hold in the presence of the extra $Z'\mathrm{s}$ considered. The implications of these results for ordinary and supersymmetric grand unification, atomic parity violation, charged-current universality, $R$ (${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, hadrons) below the $Z$ pole, and superstring theories are discussed. A nongauge model in which the ${Z}_{2}$ has the same couplings as the ordinary $Z$ is included for comparison.
Stimulation of gastric secretion in man by a serotonin antagonist.

Summary The administration of the serotonin antagonist, 1-methyl- d -lysergic acid butanolamide bimaleate (UML-491), to peptic ulcer patients produced striking elevations in gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid, both during the basal state and during stimulation with histamine. The prior infusion of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan, inhibited the stimulatory effect during the basal state. The possibility that endogenous serotonin may have an inhibitory influence on gastric secretory function is considered.
Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index Is Associated With Right Ventricular Failure After Left Ventricular Assist Device Surgery.

Abstract Background Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after CF-LVAD implantation. We explored the association of pulmonary artery compliance (PAC), pulmonary artery elastance (PAE), and pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) in addition to established parameters as preoperative determinants of postoperative RVF after CF-LVAD surgery. Methods and Results We retrospectively reviewed 132 consecutive CF-LVAD implantations at Tufts Medical Center from 2008 to 2013. Clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic data were studied. RVF was defined as the unplanned need for a right ventricular assist device or inotrope dependence for ≥14 days. Univariate analysis was performed. RVF occurred in 32 of 132 patients (24%). PAC and PAE were not changed, whereas the PAPi was lower among patients with versus without postoperative RVF (1.32 ± 0.46 vs 2.77 ± 1.16; P Conclusions PAPi is a simple hemodynamic variable that may help to identify patients at high risk of developing RVF after LVAD implantation.