Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DENSITY RELAXATION AND IMPURITY INCORPORATION IN THIN SILICON DIOXIDE FILMS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON BORON DIFFUSION

Integrated circuit device geometries require precise control of thickness and electrical properties in thin gate dielectric. This work studies the evolution of excess density generated during thermal oxidation of silicon and the properties of the resulting oxide films. This work also investigates impurity incorporation in thin oxides and its effect on boron penetration leading to changes in threshold voltage. Due to differences in molecular volume between silicon and SiO 2, the oxidation process results in the generation of stress near the Si/SiO 2 interface. This stress substantially reduces the diffusivity and solubility of oxidant species (e.g., O 2) in the oxide, modifying oxidation kinetics. To be able to model diffusion in the oxide as a function of stress, one is required to first model the stress generation and relaxation in the oxide. We have proposed a model that accounts for mechanical behavior of silicon dioxide. In the model, the newly created oxide is assumed to be highly compressed, relaxing as oxidation (or annealing) proceeds. The model was matched to both one and two-step oxidation kinetics to extract stress-dependent diffusivity and solubility for O2 in SiO2. We also investigated the influence of oxide density on boron diffusion through thin gate dielectrics. Capacitor structures were fabricated by depositing polysilicon on top of 54–60 Å oxide films grown at 800 C in dry O2. A subset of these high density oxides (approximately 3–4% excess density) were then annealed at 1100 C, to relax the grown-in stress. Following ion implantation of boron into the polysilicon, the capacitor structures were annealed in an inert ambient at 950 C to allow boron penetration. Capacitance-voltage measurements revealed that boron penetration was greatly enhanced for the films that saw the high temperature relaxation anneal, leading to the conclusion that boron diffusion in SiO 2 is retarded in the presence of excess density. This work also examines boron penetration from p + polysilicon through 50–70̊ A gate dielectrics following B or BF2 implantation. Gate oxides were grown in N 2O/O2 mixtures with average nitrogen contents varying from 0 to 1.4%. A series of capacitance-voltage measurements were used to determine the amount of boron penetration, and SIMS measurement were carried out to measure the depth profiles of incorporated nitrogen and fluorine. In addition, to better understand the role of fluorine, experiments were carried out to
Judicious Use of Multiple Hypothesis Tests

Abstract: When analyzing a table of statistical results, one must first decide whether adjustment of significance levels is appropriate. If the main goal is hypothesis generation or initial screening for potential conservation problems, then it may be appropriate to use the standard comparisonwise significance level to avoid Type II errors (not detecting real differences or trends). If the main goal is rigorous testing of a hypothesis, however, then an adjustment for multiple tests is needed. To control the familywise Type I error rate (the probability of rejecting at least one true null hypothesis), sequential modifications of the standard Bonferroni method, such as Holm's method, will provide more statistical power than the standard Bonferroni method. Additional power may be achieved through procedures that control the false discovery rate (FDR) (the expected proportion of false positives among tests found to be significant). Holm's sequential Bonferroni method and two FDR‐controlling procedures were applied to the results of multiple‐regression analyses of the relationship between habitat variables and the abundance of 25 species of forest birds in Japan, and the FDR‐controlling procedures provided considerably greater statistical power.
The Role of Short-Term Memory in Semantic Priming

Abstract Two theories of priming were compared: spreading activation theories, in particular ACT* (J. R. Anderson, 1983), and compound-cue theories (R. Ratcliff & G. McKoon, 1988). Whereas ACT* assumes that priming is a result of diffusing activation in long-term memory, compound-cue models suggest that priming results from a formation process of prime and target in short-term memory. Thirty-eight participants took part in a study that combined a digit span task with a double lexical decision task consisting of a prime and a target item. Digit span length (low, medium, and high) and prime type (related or unrelated word or nonword) were both within-subject variables. As expected, results showed significant priming effects. In favor of ACT*, no interaction between digit span length and prime type was found. Additionally, a nonword inhibition effect (unrelated versus nonword prime) was found, which was predicted by compound-cue theories. This finding is discussed in terms of the process interference and response competition hypotheses.
Evaluation of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene mutations in a cohort of Italian patients with autoimmune‐polyendocrinopathy‐candidiasis‐ectodermal‐dystrophy (APECED) and in their relatives

Objective Autoimmune‐polyendocrinopathy‐candidiasis‐ectodermal‐dystrophy (APECED) is a rare syndrome characterized by chronic candidiasis, chronic hypoparathyroidism and Addison's disease. APECED has been associated with mutations in autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Our aim is to perform a genetic analysis of the AIRE gene in Italian APECED patients and in their relatives.
Evidence for Gag p24-specific CD4 T cells with reduced susceptibility to R5 HIV-1 infection in a UK cohort of HIV-exposed-seronegative subjects

Aim: To characterize HIV-1 Gag p24-specific CD4 cell responses in HIV-exposed-seronegative (ES) individuals. Methodology: Twelve ES individuals, of diverse ethnicity and wild type for the CCR5 Δ-32 mutation, were identified. Controls were HIV-negative blood donors. Gag p24-specific and total Vβ+ CD4 cells that expressed MIP-1β, IFN-γ and IL-2 were enumerated by intracytoplasmic cytokine staining. β-Chemokine expression was correlated with susceptibility to R5 HIV-1 infection, as measured by polymerase chain reaction for integrated HIV-1 and by p24 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Similar numbers of mitogen-stimulated and Vβ+ MIP-1β+, IFN-γ+ and IL-2+ T cells were found in ES and HIV-negative control subjects. However, all ES subjects tested had an HIV Gag p24-specific MIP-1β+, IFN-γ+ and IL-2+ CD4 T-cell response that was rare in controls. p24-Specific cells of all ES but no control subjects could be expanded by in-vitro Ag/IL-2 stimulation, and when re-stimulated with an overlapping peptide series showed evidence of a broad CD4 cell memory response directed against multiple regions of Gag p24. Mitogen-stimulated ES CD4 cells were as susceptible to HIV infection as those from control subjects, but p24-specific IFN-γ+ CD4 cells of six out of seven ES subjects tested were less susceptible to R5 HIV-1 infection than the counterpart fraction depleted of p24-specific IFN-γ+ cells. The addition of blocking anti-β-chemokine antibodies did not promote R5 HIV-1 infection of p24-specific IFN-γ+ cells. Conclusion: Specific CD4 cell immunity, characterized by a broadly directed memory Gag-p24 CD4 cell response and reduced susceptibility of specific CD4 cells to R5 HIV-1 infection, is a likely correlate of non-transmission.
Preliminary results of an S5000 V2 bathymetrie side scan sonar

Side scan sonars are increasingly fitted with arrays to perform interferometry in order to provide bottom topography as well as backscatter imagery. Applications range from hydrography to morphologic augmentation of seabed imagery. Accuracy requirements for topographic data vary with intended application, but in general merging the data from multiple survey lines into a single area mosaic requires compensation for transducer motion as well as knowledge of sonar array location. L-3 Communications Klein Associates (Klein) began manufacturing such a system, the Klein S5410, in 1999. It has been successfully employed to produce data of comparable quality to a commercial multibeam system at depths of 8–20 meters (Reference [1]) after significant development effort provided by the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire. This paper presents data from a new Klein interferometric side scan sonar, the S5000 V2. It incorporates a number of improvements on the S5410 design, intended to provide an integrated system capable of producing data equivalent to, or better than, the S5410 while easily integrating with standard navigation, motion and environmental sensors, and producing output that is compatible with commercial post processing software. The sonar is designed to be either towed or mounted directly to a survey vessel. Data examined in this paper was collected with the sonar mounted at the bow of a small research vessel.
Density of μ‐opioid receptors in the hippocampus of adult male and female rats is altered by prenatal morphine exposure and gonadal hormone treatment

The present in vitro autoradiography study demonstrates that prenatal exposure to morphine alters the density of μ‐opioid receptors in the hippocampus of adult female but not adult male rats. Prenatal morphine exposure increased the μ‐opioid receptor density in the CA1 of ovariectomized (OVX) females and in the CA3 of OVX, estradiol benzoate‐plus progesterone (EB+P)‐treated females, but decreased it in CA3 of OVX females. There were also hormonal effects on μ‐opioid receptor density in adult female rats. In the CA1, only morphine‐exposed but not saline‐exposed, hormone‐treated females (EB, P, or EB+P) had a decrease in μ‐opioid receptor density relative to OVX females. Both saline‐exposed and morphine‐exposed, OVX females after gonadal hormone replacement had a lower density of μ‐opioid receptors in the CA3 and in the dentate gyrus (DG) than OVX females. In male rats, there was a decrease in μ‐opioid receptor density in the CA1 and CA3 of gonadectomized (GNX), testosterone 17β‐proprionate (TP)‐treated males relative to GNX males regardless of prenatal morphine exposure. In the DG, the μ‐opioid receptor density was reduced only in morphine‐exposed but not in saline‐exposed, TP‐treated males compared with GNX males. Thus, our data demonstrate that μ‐opioid receptor density in the hippocampus is affected by prenatal morphine exposure and by male and female gonadal hormones. Hippocampus 2003;13:461–471. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction therapy with short-term high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by mycophenolate mofetil in proliferative lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND For decades, high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (ivCY) given for 24-30 months was regarded as the standard therapy for proliferative lupus nephritis, despite serious side effects. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of induction therapy with short-term high-dose ivCY followed by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on disease parameters, mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis. METHODS Between January 2003 and November 2006, 71 patients with biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis were included in the second Dutch Lupus Nephritis Study. All patients were treated with ivCY (750 mg÷m2, six monthly pulses) plus oral prednisone, followed by MMF (2000 mg÷day) plus oral prednisone for 18 months, and then azathioprine (2 mg÷kg÷day) plus oral prednisone. Study endpoints included the occurrence of renal relapse, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 3.8 years (range 0.1-4.5), four (5.6%) of the 71 patients had a renal relapse, one (1.4%) failed treatment, one (1.4%) reached ESRD, and two (2.8%) died. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Disease Activity Index, serum creatinine, proteinuria and antibodies against anti-dsDNA decreased significantly during treatment and serum levels of complement factor 3 and 4 increased significantly. Furthermore, six of eight domains of the Short Form-36 as well as the number of symptoms and total distress level according to the SLE Symptom Checklist improved significantly over time. CONCLUSIONS This open-label study shows that induction therapy with short-term (six monthly pulses) high-dose ivCY followed by MMF is effective in preventing renal relapses, ESRD and mortality and improving HRQoL in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.
On the Design and Synthesis of Voting Games

In many real-world decision making settings, situations arise in which the parties (or: players) involved must collectively make decisions while not every player is supposed to have an equal amount of influence in the outcome of such a decision. The weighted voting game is a model that is often used to make such decisions. The amount of influence that a player has in a weighted voting game can be measured by means of various power indices. Weighted voting games are part of the more general class of simple games. In this thesis, we study the problem of finding for a given class of simple games (including weighted voting games), the game in which the distribution of the influence among the players is as close as possible to a given target value (i.e. power index). We investigate the posibilities that we have for exactly solving this problem. For the case of weighted voting games, we obtain a method that relies on a new efficient procedure for enumerating weighted voting games of a fixed number of players. The enumeration algorithm we propose works by exploiting the properties of a specific partial order over the class of weighted voting games, for which we prove existence. The algorithm enumerates weighted voting games of a fixed number of players in time exponential in the number of players, but polynomial in the number of games output. As a consequence we obtain an exact anytime algorithm for designing weighted voting games. We look at various ways to improve on this algorithm. A large improvement follows by exploiting the properties of two specific types of coalitions, which we refer to as roof coalitions and ceiling coalitions. The algorithm, together with these improvements, has been implemented in order to measure the practical performance and to obtain various data on the class of weighted voting games. Our method for solving the voting game design problem heavily relies on the ability to transform between different representations of simple games, which we refer to as voting game synthesis problems. We give an extensive treatment of these synthesis problems, and in particular we prove that there does not exist a polynomial time algorithm that transforms the list of ceiling coalitions of a game into the list of roof coalitions. However, we also show that an output-polynomial time algorithm for this problem actually does exist, by providing one.
Baboon Syndrome in Childhood: Easy to Avoid, Easy to Diagnose, but the Problem Continues

Abstract: Baboon syndrome was first described as a particular type of systemic contact dermatitis, characterized by an exanthem with involvement of the buttocks and flexures. In children, it is an important entity to take into account for the differential diagnosis of viral exanthem. A large number of allergens have been implicated, although inhalation of mercury vapor is a common trigger. We present the findings in 14 patients younger than 14 years with baboon syndrome. We also look at the frequency in children and the most common causes and triggers in our area.
Effect of intravenous lidocaine and ketamine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in goats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of i.v. lidocaine (L) and ketamine (K), alone and in combination (LK), on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane (ISO) in goats. STUDY DESIGN Randomized crossover design. ANIMALS Eight, adult mixed breed castrated male goats, aged 1-2 years weighing 24-51 kg. METHODS Anesthesia was induced with ISO that was delivered via a mask. The tracheas were intubated and the animals ventilated to maintain an end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure between 25 and 30 mmHg (3.3-4 kPa). Baseline MAC (MAC(B)) that prevented purposeful movement in response to clamping a claw was determined in triplicate. After MAC(B) determination, each goat received one of the following treatments, which were administered as a loading (LD) dose followed by a constant rate infusion, IV: L (2.5 mg kg(-1); 100 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)), K (1.5 mg kg(-1); 50 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)), L and K combination or saline, and the MAC (MAC(T)) was re-determined in triplicate. Plasma concentrations of L and K were measured around each MAC point and the values averaged. RESULTS The least-squares mean MAC(B) for all treatments was 1.13 +/- 0.03%. L, K, and LK reduced (p < 0.05) MAC(B) by 18.3%, 49.6% and 69.4%, respectively. Plasma concentrations for L, K, and LK were 1617 +/- 385, 1535 +/- 251 and 1865 +/- 317/1467 +/- 185 ng mL(-1), respectively. No change (p > 0.05) occurred with saline. CONCLUSION Lidocaine and K caused significant decreases in the MAC of ISO. The combination (LK) had an additive effect. However, the plasma L concentrations were less than predicted, as was the MAC reduction with L. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The use of L, K and the combination, at the doses studied, will allow a clinically important reduction in the concentration of ISO required to maintain general anesthesia in goats.
The effects of three commonly used extraction methods on the redox properties of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge

Recently, the redox properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have attracted the attention of scientists due to their associated environmental significance, such as organic pollutant (e.g. nitroaromatics and substituted nitrobenzenes) degradation and heavy metal (e.g. Cr(VI) and U(VI)) detoxification. Although the separation of EPS from bacterial cells is more often the first step in studies on EPS, and studies have demonstrated that extraction procedures can influence the sorption properties of EPS, few attempts have been made to investigate how separation methods affect the redox properties of the obtained EPS. In this study, three common extraction approaches, that is, centrifugation, formaldehyde+NaOH and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), were employed to extract EPS from activated sludge, and the obtained EPS were evaluated for their redox properties using electrochemical means, including cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. In addition, spectroscopic techniques were utilized to explore the structural characteristics and composition of EPS. The results indicated that EPS extracted by EDTA clearly displayed reversible oxidation–reduction peaks in cyclic voltammograms and significantly higher electron-accepting capacity compared with EPS extracted using the other two approaches. Fourier transform infrared spectra and three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix spectra suggested that the EPS extracted with EDTA presented better redox properties because of the effective and efficient extraction of the humic substances, which are important components of the EPS of activated sludge. Therefore, extraction method has an impact on the composition and redox properties of EPS and should be chosen according to research purpose and EPS source.
Facultative Sterol Uptake in an Ergosterol-Deficient Clinical Isolate of Candida glabrata Harboring a Missense Mutation in ERG11 and Exhibiting Cross-Resistance to Azoles and Amphotericin B

ABSTRACT We identified a clinical isolate of Candida glabrata (CG156) exhibiting flocculent growth and cross-resistance to fluconazole (FLC), voriconazole (VRC), and amphotericin B (AMB), with MICs of >256, >256, and 32 μg ml−1, respectively. Sterol analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that CG156 was a sterol 14α-demethylase (Erg11p) mutant, wherein 14α-methylated intermediates (lanosterol was >80% of the total) were the only detectable sterols. ERG11 sequencing indicated that CG156 harbored a single-amino-acid substitution (G315D) which nullified the function of native Erg11p. In heterologous expression studies using a doxycycline-regulatable Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg11 strain, wild-type C. glabrata Erg11p fully complemented the function of S. cerevisiae sterol 14α-demethylase, restoring growth and ergosterol synthesis in recombinant yeast; mutated CG156 Erg11p did not. CG156 was culturable using sterol-free, glucose-containing yeast minimal medium (glcYM). However, when grown on sterol-supplemented glcYM (with ergosta 7,22-dienol, ergosterol, cholestanol, cholesterol, Δ7-cholestenol, or desmosterol), CG156 cultures exhibited shorter lag phases, reached higher cell densities, and showed alterations in cellular sterol composition. Unlike comparator isolates (harboring wild-type ERG11) that became less sensitive to FLC and VRC when cultured on sterol-supplemented glcYM, facultative sterol uptake by CG156 did not affect its azole-resistant phenotype. Conversely, CG156 grown using glcYM with ergosterol (or with ergosta 7,22-dienol) showed increased sensitivity to AMB; CG156 grown using glcYM with cholesterol (or with cholestanol) became more resistant (MICs of 2 and >64 μg AMB ml−1, respectively). Our results provide insights into the consequences of sterol uptake and metabolism on growth and antifungal resistance in C. glabrata.
Measurement of the B+ → ωℓ+ν branching fraction with semileptonically tagged B mesons

We report a measurement of the branching fraction of the exclusive charmless semileptonic decay B þ ! ‘ þ (cid:1) ,where ‘ iseitheranelectronoramuon.Weusesamplesof B þ mesonstaggedbyareconstructed charmed semileptonic decay of the other B meson in the event. The measurement is based on a data set of 426 : 1 fb (cid:1) 1 of e þ e (cid:1) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e þ e (cid:1) storage rings. We measure a branching fraction of B ð B þ ! ‘ þ (cid:1) Þ ¼ ð 1 : 35 (cid:2) 0 : 21 (cid:2) 0 : 11 Þ (cid:3) 10 (cid:1) 4 , where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. We also present measurements of the partial branching fractions in three bins of q 2 , the invariant-mass squared of the lepton-neutrino system, and we compare them to theoretical predictions of the form factors.
A comparison of enameloplasty sealant technique with conventional sealant technique: a scanning electron microscope study.

CONTEXT An accurate diagnosis of occlusal surface of permanent posterior teeth for the presence of caries is a challenge to the clinician, when using traditional explorer. This dilemma of hidden caries has led to invasively opening of the fissure before sealant placement. Enameloplasty is one such invasive procedure that has been implicated in the successful application of pit and fissure sealants. AIMS The present study aims at evaluating the fissure micromorphology and sealant penetration under scanning electron microscope both with conventional sealant technique and enameloplasty sealant technique. SETTINGS AND DESIGN The study comprised of extracted human posterior teeth subjected to enameloplasty of the fissures in the study groups as compared to unprepared fissures in the control groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS The enameloplasty was performed with the help of specially designed Fissurotomy bur. The sealant used was Clinpro from 3M. All the samples were prepared for examination under scanning electron microscope. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS A student 't' test was performed to compare the study and the control groups. RESULTS (i) The surface area available for sealant placement on the occlusal surface was significantly increased following enameloplasty. (ii) Fissure width following enameloplasty was significantly increased. (iii) Extent of sealant penetration was significantly greater with enameloplasty sealant technique as compared to conventional sealant. CONCLUSION Enameloplasty sealant technique can be preferred to conventional sealant technique for improving adhesion, adaptation and penetration of the sealant within the fissure system.