bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stroboscopic Schlieren Study of Bubble Formation during Megasonic Agitation
Authors: Hauptmann Marc , Brems Steven , Camerotto Elisabeth , Mertens Paul W. , Heyns Marc M. , de Gendt Stefan , Glorieux Christ , Lauriks Walter
Published: April 2012

An important problem in megasonic cleaning is the nucleation process of bubbles, which act as the cleaning agents. A fundamental understanding of this nucleation process will help to optimize the cleaning parameters for future applications to achieve damage free cleaning. In this work, we use quantitative stroboscopic Schlieren imaging to study the interaction of nucleating bubbles with a travelling acoustic wave. The advantage of this method is that it is non-interfering, meaning that it does not disturb the bubble nucleation. It is revealed that nucleation mechanism is a 2 step process, where a regime of slow bubble growth due to rectified diffusion is subsequently followed by a transient cavitation cycle, where bubbles grow explosively. The latter is accompanied by broadband acoustic emission and enhanced thermal dissipation, leading to the occurrence of thermal convection visible in the Schlieren images.
Low-k Integration Using Metallic Hard Masks
Authors: Joubert O. , Possémé Nicolas , Chevolleau Thierry , David Thibaut , Darnon M.
Published: April 2012

For the 45 nm interconnect technology node, porous dielectric materials (p-SiOCH) have been introduced, leading to complex integration issues due to their high sensitivity upon FC etching and ashing plasma exposure [1, 2]. Thanks to Metallic hard mask (MHM) integration high selectivities towards dielectric materials (>100:1) can be reached and minimizes exposure of p-SiOCH films to ashing plasmas. However MHM such as TiN generates other issues such as i) metal contamination in the patterned structures and ii) growth of metal based residues on the top of the hard mask [3, 4, 5]. The residues growth, which is air exposure time dependent, directly impacts the yield performance with the generation of via and line opens [.
A Descum Review for Cleaning Surfaces in Polymer Embedded Process Flows
Authors: Jamieson G. , Gerets C. , Duval F.C. , Pham N.P. , Iker F. , Funaya T. , Boullart Werner
Published: April 2012

In this paper we review the effects of the plasma descum steps used in current process flows for the fabrication of Cu interconnects embedded in polymer, paying particular attention to polymer residues that are not easily removed in a gentle oxygen only plasma.
Improved Cleaning Process for Etch Residue Removal in an Advanced Copper/Low-k Device without the Use of DMAC (Dimethylacetamide)
Authors: Jung Chung Kyung , Joo Sung Wook , Ryu Sang Wook , Naghshineeh S. , Lee Yang , Han Jae Won
Published: April 2012

Plasma dry etching processes are commonly used to fabricate sidewalls of trenches and vias for copper / low-k dual damascene devices. Typically, some polymers remain in the trench and at the via top and sidewall. Other particulate etch residues are may remained in the bottom and on the sidewalls of vias. Generally, the particulate consists of mixtures of copper oxide with polymers. The polymers on the sidewalls and the particulate residues at the bottom of vias must be removed prior to the next process step. Small amounts of polymer are intentionally left on the sidewalls of trenches and vias during the etching in order to achieve a vertical profile and to protect the low-k materials under the etching mask. Until now, the industry has relied mainly on organic solvent containing mixtures to clean etch / ash residues from such devices. The effectiveness of available residue removers varies with the specific process and also depends on which new integration materials are used. New materials typically include Cu, TaN, low-k dielectrics and others [1-. Solvent content is thought to aid the removal of polymer residues and particulates produced during plasma dry etching processes. Therefore, in the past we have used a residue remover which contains DMAC (dimethylacetamide). But the use of DMAC is banned in microelectronic fabrication facilities in Europe because of its toxicity. Thus we wanted to find and evaluate a DMAC-free residue remover for removing polymer residues while maintaining high selectivity to the copper and ILD films.
Cleaning Requirement in the Thinning Module for 3D-Stacked IC (3D-SIC) Integration
Authors: Wostyn Kurt , Zhao Ming , Cui Hu Shan , Laermans Patrick , Jourdain Anne , Verbinnen Greet , Struyf Herbert , de Strycker Steven , Claes Martine , Travaly Youssef , Leunissen Leonardus
Published: April 2012

Exposure of TSVs from the backside in 3D-SIC is a multistep process [1-. Two steps in this process flow (thinning module) are potentially a high risk for particle contamination: wafer edge trimming and wafer thinning by grinding.
Production of High Purity Functional Water at Point-of-Use for Advanced Mask Cleaning Processes
Authors: Xia Annie Y.
Published: April 2012

Mask cleaning remains as one of the major challenges in EUV lithography. Without the use of traditional pellicles, EUV masks demand high purity and effective but mild cleaning techniques for protection from defects. Recently, trends towards dilute chemistries and progress in megasonic cleaning have brought renewed interest in gasified DI water. In this paper, we describe the design and development of a point-of-use functional water treatment system, specifically for advanced mask cleaning applications. The system comprises two modules the purification module and the gasification module. The purification module provides treatment features including TOC reduction, sub-micron particle retention, and degassing, as well as thermal and pressure control. The gasification module employs micro-porous PFA membrane contacting technology to deliver ultra clean bubble-free DI water with various gases (O3, N2, H2, CO2, NH3, etc.) over a wide concentration range. The treatment system is also equipped with closed loop process control to maintain and regulate process temperature, pressure and dissolved gas concentration. This active control feature allows precise control and minimal process variations.
Exploratory Materials and Devices to Advance CMOS beyond the Classical Si Roadmap
Authors: Heyns Marc M.
Published: April 2012

The megasonic cleaning efficiency is evaluated as a function of the angle of incidence of acoustic waves on a Si wafer. Acoustic Schlichting streaming alone is not able to remove nanoparticles smaller than 400 nm. It is shown that oscillating or collapsing behavior of bubbles are responsible for removing nanoparticles smaller than 400 nm during a cleaning process with ultrasound. Optimal particle removal efficiency is obtained around the angle of acoustic transmission of the silicon wafer.
Ozone Based Chemical Oxide Growth for Crystalline Solar Cell Production
Authors: Wolke Klaus , Gottschalk Christiane , Rentsch Jochen , Angermann Heike
Published: April 2012

Emitter formation of crystalline silicon solar cells by inline diffusion can be affected by non-uniformities in dopant deposition prior to the furnace due to insufficient wetting of hydrophobic surfaces. The impact of dissolved ozone treatment after texturing has been investigated with respect to the possibility of improving the emitter formation with a low cost process enhancement. The chemically grown thin oxide improves wetting capability without modification of other surface characteristics that can impact cell efficiency. It could be shown that already low concentrations of ozone in UPW prior to phosphorus doping improve the sheet resistance uniformity on Cz-Si and multi-crystalline Si solar cells between 30 and 100 % compared to HF last treated ones.
Advanced Texturization of Mc-Si Solar Cells
Authors: Braun Simon , Mathijssen Stefan , Michel Michael , Schmidt Michael , Shen Mary Mei Chin , Lin William Cheng Wei , Klipp Andreas
Published: April 2012

The new texture process Textur+ gives an increased efficiency and wafer yield compared to the standard UKN texture. This is achieved by adding a third acid, H2SO4, to the composition. The improvements are already proven for bath life times of 100,000 wafers. Furthermore we present first data on a further improved texture that allows reducing the reflectivity drastically. Therefore it is expected to improve the efficiency further with this process.
Surface Contamination of Silicon Wafer after Acidic Texturisation
Authors: Oltersdorf Antje , Moldovan Anamaria , Bayer Michael , Zimmer Martin , Rentsch Jochen
Published: April 2012

The acidic texture bath that is commonly used in crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing is a mixture of HF/HNO3/H2O [. While the influences of metal contamination on silicon wafer surfaces as well as several cleaning methods were intensively investigated in the previous 30 years [ the effect of metal contaminations in texturisation baths has not yet been studied intensively. There are two categories of contaminations:
HF Last Passivation for High Efficiency a-Si/c-Si Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Danel Adrien , Souche Florent , Nolan Thomas , Le Tiec Yannick , Ribeyron P.J.
Published: April 2012

Amorphous/crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells are commonly made by low temperature deposition of front and back side thin films on bare H-passivated Si wafers, obtained by HF last processes. This work discusses the impact of HF last step parameters on cell performance, considering textured and cleaned Si (100) wafers. A complete native oxide removal is mandatory and achieved in a short time (< 5 min) by HF concentration higher than 1% (by weight). Above 1%, surface passivation and cells performance slightly increases with the concentration. The best process time is found to be the minimum time to deoxidize textured wafers, as seen by a good dewetting. For [H > 2% this is less than 1 min. Longer process times slightly degrade surface passivation. Post rinse and drying, provided they do not reoxydize the surface, were seen to have no impact. The delay between the HF last and deposition steps is critical and depends on the efficiency of the cleaning before the HF last. With a high performance cleaning, leading to a very good surface passivation (< 10 cm/s surface recombination velocity), 30 min delay has no impact and 90 min leads to about 5% relative degradation of cell performance. Regarding the HF cleanliness, HCl spiking is an efficient way to enhance robustness of surface passivation keeping < 10 cm/s values when the metallic contamination, including Cu, is in the sub 50 ppb range.
Wet-Chemical Preparation of Textured Silicon Solar Cell Substrates: Surface Conditioning and Electronic Interface Properties
Authors: Angermann Heike , Laades Abdelazize , Stürzebecher U. , Conrad E. , Klimm C. , Schulze T.F. , Jacob K. , Lawerenz A. , Korte L.
Published: April 2012

The dominance of crystalline silicon (Si) in photovoltaics can be ascribed partly to the extensive knowledge about this material, which has been accumulated in microelectronics technology. Methods to passivate Si interfaces, which were developed for microelectronic device technologies, have been extended to solar cell manufacturing in the past. These methods, however, have been optimised for polished substrates, and do not work so effective with textured surfaces, which commonly used in the fabrication of high efficiency Si solar cells to enhance anti-reflection properties.
Static Charge Induced Damage during Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) by Single Wafer Cleaning Process
Authors: Guo Ted , Tsai Tsung Hsun , Chien Chin Cheng , Chan Michael , Yang Chan Lon , Wu Jun Yuan
Published: April 2012

The present work reports some approaches to reduce the static charge defects induced during single wafer cleaning process. Increase conductivity of DIW with CO2, adding backside rinse and IPA drying sequence optimization were evidenced to be effective by surface potential difference with Quantox tool. TEM and EELS were also used for analysis of volcano-like discharge defects.
Evaluation of the antimalarial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Gossypium barbadense (Malvaeceae) in mice
Authors: Salako Olanrewaju A. , Awodele Olufunsho
Published: April 2012

Some medicinal plants have been shown to have antimalarial activity when used as combination therapy. Gossypium barbadense has been used by herbal medicine practitioners in combination with other herbs, and as a monotherapy in the treatment of malarial infection. The study was, therefore, aimed at evaluating the antimalarial effect of the aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense using mice infected with P. berghei. The suppressive effect was evaluated by administering 25 mice divided into five groups with 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense, 5 mg/kg of chloroquine, and 10 mL/kg of distilled water, respectively, starting from the day of inoculation with P. berghei for four days. The curative effect was evaluated by administering 25 mice divided into five groups as above with treatment starting 72 h post inoculation with P. berghei. The results indicate that the aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense, when used alone as monotherapy, has a non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) but slight suppressive antimalarial activity (23%) when compared with that of chloroquine (100%). The curative model also revealed that aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense showed no significant antimalarial activity. It can be concluded that the use of aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense as monotherapy for malaria has no significant therapeutic effect. Therefore, it is not recommended to be used alone to manage malaria infection as practiced by some herbal medicine practitioners.
Renal Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor: Does Age at Diagnosis Impact Outcomes?
Authors: Aghili Mahdi , Rafiei Elham , Mojahed Mohamad , Zare Mahkameh
Published: April 2012

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the kidney is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm. The median age for renal PNET is 27 years but it can be seen also in a wide age range between 3 and 78 years. We performed a Medline search for the term renal PNET and identified 79 cases up till December of 2010. We report here a new case of renal PNET and a literature review for published data for evaluation of clinicopathological prognostic factors, with an emphasis on prognosis in two groups of adults and children-adolescents: 18 years of age or under and over 18 years.
Molecular characterization of water soluble organic nitrogen in marine rainwater by ultra-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Altieri K. E. , Hastings M. G. , Peters A. J. , Sigman D. M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Atmospheric water soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) is a subset of the complex organic matter in aerosols and rainwater, which impacts cloud condensation processes and aerosol chemical and optical properties and may play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycle of N. However, its sources, composition, connections to inorganic N, and variability are largely unknown. Rainwater samples were collected on the island of Bermuda (32.27° N, 64.87° W), which experiences both anthropogenic and marine influenced air masses. Samples were analyzed by ultra-high resolution electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to chemically characterize the WSON. Elemental compositions of 2281 N containing compounds were determined over the mass range m/z+ 50 to 500. The five compound classes with the largest number of elemental formulas identified, in order from the highest number of formulas to the lowest, contained carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON+), CHON compounds that contained sulfur (CHONS+), CHON compounds that contained phosphorus (CHONP+), CHON compounds that contained both sulfur and phosphorus (CHONSP+), and compounds that contained only carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen (CHN+). Compared to rainwater collected in the continental USA, average O:C ratios of all N containing compound classes were lower in the marine samples whereas double bond equivalent values were higher, suggesting a reduced role of secondary formation mechanisms. Despite their prevalence in continental rainwater, no organonitrates or nitrooxy-organosulfates were detected, but there was an increased presence of organic S and organic P containing compounds in the marine rainwater. Cluster analysis showed a clear chemical distinction between samples collected during the cold season (October to March) which have anthropogenic air mass origins and samples collected during the warm season (April to September) with remote marine air mass origins. This, in conjunction with patterns identified in van Krevelen diagrams, suggests that the cold season WSON is a mixture of organic matter with both marine and anthropogenic sources while in the warm season the WSON appears to be dominated by marine sources. These findings indicate that, although the concentrations and percent contribution of WSON to total N is fairly consistent across diverse geographic regions, the chemical composition of WSON varies strongly as a function of source region and atmospheric environment.
Effects of atmospheric conditions on ice nucleation activity of Pseudomonas
Authors: Attard E. , Yang H. , Delort A.-M. , Amato P. , Pöschl U. , Glaux C. , Koop T. , Morris C. E.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Although ice nuclei from bacterial origin are known to be efficient at the highest temperatures known for ice catalysts, quantitative data are still needed to assess their role in cloud processes. Here we studied the effects of three typical cloud conditions (i) acidic pH (ii) NO2 and O3 exposure and (iii) UV-A exposure on the ice nucleation activity (INA) of four Pseudomonas strains. Three of the Pseudomonas syringae strains were isolated from cloud water and the phyllosphere and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CGina-01 was isolated from Antarctic glacier ice melt. Among the three conditions tested, acidic pH caused the most significant effects on INA likely due to denaturation of the ice nucleation protein complex. Exposure to NO2 and O3 gases had no significant or only weak effects on the INA of two P. syringae strains whereas the INA of P. fluorescens CGina-01 was significantly affected. The INA of the third P. syringae strain showed variable responses to NO2 and O3 exposure. These differences in the INA of different Pseudomonas suggest that the response to atmospheric conditions could be strain-specific. After UV-A exposure, a substantial loss of viability of all four strains was observed whereas their INA decreased only slightly. This corroborates the notion that under certain conditions dead bacterial cells can maintain their INA. Overall, the negative effects of the three environmental factors on INA were more significant at the warmer temperatures. Our results suggest that in clouds where temperatures are near 0 °C, the importance of bacterial ice nucleation in precipitation processes could be reduced by some environmental factors.
Multifactor controls on terrestrial N2O flux over North America from 1979 through 2010
Authors: Xu X. F. , Tian H. Q. , Chen G. S. , Liu M. L. , Ren W. , Lu C. Q. , Zhang C.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas which also contributes to the depletion of stratospheric ozone (O3). However, the magnitude and underlying mechanisms for the spatiotemporal variations in the terrestrial sources of N2O are still far from certain. Using a process-based ecosystem model (DLEM – the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model) driven by multiple global change factors, including climate variability, nitrogen (N) deposition, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), tropospheric O3 pollution, N fertilizer application, and land conversion, this study examined the spatial and temporal variations in terrestrial N2O flux over North America and further attributed these variations to various driving factors. From 1979 to 2010, the North America cumulatively emitted 53.9 ± 0.9 Tg N2O-N (1 Tg = 1012 g), of which global change factors contributed 2.4 ± 0.9 Tg N2O-N, and baseline emission contributed 51.5 ± 0.6 Tg N2O-N. Climate variability, N deposition, O3 pollution, N fertilizer application, and land conversion increased N2O emission while the elevated atmospheric CO2 posed opposite effect at continental level; the interactive effect among multiple factors enhanced N2O emission over the past 32 yr. N input, including N fertilizer application in cropland and N deposition, and multi-factor interaction dominated the increases in N2O emission at continental level. At country level, N fertilizer application and multi-factor interaction made large contribution to N2O emission increase in the United States of America (USA). The climate variability dominated the increase in N2O emission from Canada. N inputs and multiple factors interaction made large contribution to the increases in N2O emission from Mexico. Central and southeastern parts of the North America – including central Canada, central USA, southeastern USA, and all of Mexico – experienced increases in N2O emission from 1979 to 2010. The fact that climate variability and multi-factor interaction largely controlled the inter-annual variations in terrestrial N2O emission at both continental and country levels indicate that projected changes in the global climate system may substantially alter the regime of N2O emission from terrestrial ecosystems during the 21st century. Our study also showed that the interactive effect among global change factors may significantly affect N2O flux, and more field experiments involving multiple factors are urgently needed.
Mass, nutrients and oxygen budgets for the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Maze G. , Mercier H. , Thierry V. , Memery L. , Morin P. , Perez F. F.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. A surface to bottom North-East Atlantic Ocean budget for mass, nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and oxygen is determined using an optimization method based on climatological data from the World Ocean Atlas 2009 and three surveys of the OVIDE transect (from Greenland to Portugal). Budgets are derived for two communicating boxes representing the North Eastern European Basin (NEEB) and the Irminger Sea. For the NEEB (Irminger) box, it is found that 30% of the mass import (export) across the OVIDE section reach (originate from) the Nordic Seas while 70% is redistributed between both boxes through the Reykjanes Ridge (9.3±0.7×109 kg s−1). Net biological source/sink terms of nitrate point to both the Irminger and NEEB boxes as net organic matter production sites (consumming nitrate at a rate of −7.8±6.5 kmol s−1 and −8.4±6.6 kmol s−1 respectively). Using a standard Redfield ratio of C:N =106:16, nitrate consumption rates indicate that about 40 TgC yr−1 of carbon is fixed by organic matter production between the OVIDE transect and the Greenland-Scotland Ridge. Nutrients fluxes also induce a net biological production of oxygen of 73±60 kmol s−1 and 79±62 kmol s−1 in the Irminger and NEEB boxes which points to the region as being autotrophic. Air-sea oxygen fluxes show an oceanic oxygen uptake in the two regions (264±66 kmol s−1 in the north and 443±70 kmol s−1 in the south), dominated by the abiotic component. The abiotic flux is partitionned into a mixing and a thermal components. It is found that the Irminger Sea oceanic oxygen uptake is driven by an air-sea heat flux cooling increasing the ocean surface oxygen solubility. Over the North Eastern European Basin the mixing component is about half the thermal flux, presumably because of the oxygen minimum in the subtropical thermocline.
Variations of net primary productivity and phytoplankton community composition in the Southern Ocean as estimated from ocean-color remote sensing data
Authors: Takao S. , Hirawake T. , Wright S. W. , Suzuki K.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Phytoplankton population dynamics play an important role in biogeochemical cycles in the Southern Ocean during austral summer. Recent environmental changes such as a rise in sea surface temperature (SST) are likely to impact on net primary productivity (NPP) and phytoplankton community composition. However, their spatiotemporal relationships are still unclear in the Southern Ocean. Here we assessed the relationships between NPP, dominant phytoplankton groups, and SST in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean over the past decade (1997–2007) using satellite remote sensing data. As a result, we found a statistically significant reduction in NPP in the polar frontal zone over the past decade during austral summer. Moreover, the decrease in NPP positively correlated with the dominance of diatoms (Kendall's rank correlation τ = 0.60) estimated by a phytoplankton community composition model, but not correlated with SST. In the seasonal ice zone, NPP correlated with not only the dominance of diatoms positively (τ = 0.56), but also the dominance of haptophytes (τ = −0.54) and SST (τ = −0.54) negatively. Our results suggested that summer NPP values were strongly affected by the phytoplankton community composition in the Southern Ocean.
Landslide hazard and land management in high-density urban areas of Campania region, Italy
Authors: Di Martire D. , De Rosa M. , Pesce V. , Santangelo M. A. , Calcaterra D.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Results deriving from a research focused on the interplay between landslides and urban development are presented here, with reference to two densely populated settings located in the Campania region, Italy: the city of Naples and the island of Ischia. Both areas suffer adverse consequences from various types of landslides since at least 2000 yr. Our study evidences that, despite the long history of slope instabilities, the urban evolution, often illegal, disregarded the high landslide propensity of the hillsides; thus, unsafe lands have been occupied, even in recent years, when proper and strict rules have been enacted to downgrade the landslide risk. It is finally argued that future guidelines should not be entirely based upon physical countermeasures against mass movements. On the contrary, national and local authorities should enforce the territorial control, obliging citizens to respect the existing regulations and emphasizing the role of alternative, non-structural solutions.
Geo-hydrological risk management for civil protection purposes in the urban area of Genoa (Liguria, NW Italy)
Authors: Brandolini P. , Cevasco A. , Firpo M. , Robbiano A. , Sacchini A.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Over the past century the municipal area of Genoa has been affected by recurring flood events and several landslides that have caused severe damage to urbanized areas on both the coastal-fluvial plains and surrounding slopes, sometimes involving human casualties. The analysis of past events' annual distribution indicates that these phenomena have occurred with rising frequency in the last seventy years, following the main land use change due to the development of harbour, industrial, and residential areas, which has strongly impacted geomorphological processes. Consequently, in Genoa, civil protection activities are taking on an increasing importance for geo-hydrological risk mitigation. The current legislative framework assigns a key role in disaster prevention to municipalities, emergency plan development, as well as response action coordination in disaster situations. In view of the geomorphological and environmental complexity of the study area and referring to environmental laws, geo-hydrological risk mitigation strategies adopted by local administrators for civil protection purposes are presented as examples of current land/urban management related to geo-hydrological hazards. Adopted measures have proven to be effective on several levels (planning, management, structure, understanding, and publication) in different cases. Nevertheless, the last flooding event (4 November 2011) has shown that communication and public information concerning the perception of geo-hydrological hazard can be improved.
Fate of river Tiber discharge investigated through numerical simulation and satellite monitoring
Authors: Inghilesi R. , Ottolenghi L. , Orasi A. , Pizzi C. , Bignami F. , Santoleri R.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the dispersion of passive pollutants associated with the Tiber discharge into the Tyrrhenian Sea using numerical marine dispersion models and satellite data. Numerical results obtained in the simulation of realistic discharge episodes were compared with the corresponding evolution of the spatial distributions of MODIS diffuse light attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (K490), and the results were discussed with reference to the local climate and the seasonal sub-regional circulation regime. The numerical model used for the simulation of the sub-tidal circulation was a Mediterranean sub-regional scale implementation of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), nested in the large-scale Mediterranean Forecasting System. The nesting method enabled the model to be applied to almost every area in the Mediterranean Sea and also to be used in seasons for which imposing climatological boundary conditions would have been questionable. Dynamical effects on coastal circulation and on water density due to the Tiber discharge were additionally accounted for in the oceanographic model by implementing the river estuary as a point source of a buoyant jet. A Lagrangian particle dispersion model fed with the POM current fields was then run, in order to reproduce the effect of the turbulent transport of passive tracers mixed in the plume with the coastal flow. Two significant episodes of river discharge in both Winter and Summer conditions were discussed in this paper. It was found that the Winter regime was characterized by the presence of a strong coastal jet flowing with the ambient current. In Summer the prevailing wind regime induces coastal downwelling conditions, which tend to confine the riverine waters close to the shore. In such conditions sudden wind reversals due to local weather perturbations, causing strong local upwelling, proved to be an effective way to disperse the tracers offshore, moving the plume from the coast and detaching large pools of freshwater.
An operational model for the West Iberian coast: products and services
Authors: Mateus M. , Riflet G. , Chambel P. , Fernandes L. , Fernandes R. , Juliano M. , Campuzano F. , de Pablo H. , Neves R.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. The paper presents the structure and application of a regional scale operational modelling tool for the West Iberian coast. The forecasting suite includes nested hydrodynamic models forced with up-to-date meteorological forecast data and large scale model results as lateral boundary conditions. The present status of the system and its recent upgrades are reviewed, offering a general description of the main components of the system: circulation model, qualitative and quantitative validation methodology and type of results. Seasonal differences in temperature, salinity and current velocity fields are illustrated with model results, and the validation shows a satisfactory reproduction of the top and deep layers thermodynamics. The system provides boundary forcing for a number of local scale model applications via downscaling of the solution, and its potential for products and services for both scientific and coastal management activities is discussed here.
A simple inverse method for the distribution of basal sliding coefficients under ice sheets, applied to Antarctica
Authors: Pollard D. , DeConto R. M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Variations in intrinsic bed conditions that affect basal sliding, such as the distribution of deformable sediment versus hard bedrock, are important boundary conditions for large-scale ice-sheet models, but are hard to observe and remain largely uncertain below the modern Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Here a very simple model-based method is described for deducing the modern spatial distribution of basal sliding coefficients. The model is run forward in time, and the basal sliding coefficient at each grid point is periodically increased or decreased depending on whether the local ice surface elevation is too high or too low compared to observed, in areas of unfrozen bed. The method considerably reduces large-scale errors in Antarctic ice elevation, from several 100's to a few 10 m in most regions. Remaining ice elevation errors over mountain ranges such as the Transantarctics are further improved by parameterizing the possible effect of sub-grid topography in the basal sliding law, representing sliding in deep valleys. Results are briefly compared with previous work using relatively sophisticated control methods, and the method is applied to alternate topographies of the Recovery Glacier basin.
Legislating Limits on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Authors: Muscati Sïna A.
Published: April 2012

Research on embryonic stem cells has generated great intrigue in the scientific community. Many medical researchers consider stem cell-based therapies to have the potential of treating a host of human ailments and yielding a number of medical benefits. They are motivated by the possibility of treating incurable diseases or facilitating effective treatment methods. Their enthusiasm is shared by many of those who are afflicted with these debilitating diseases.
Pre Embryos: The Tiniest Spect of Potential Life Carrying the Seeds for Sweeping Change
Authors: Miehl Kathryn L.
Published: April 2012

The Bush administration has issued two announcements over the last six months which could shape the future of stem cell research, abortion and the disposition of frozen embryos. On July 25, 2002, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that federal funds would be available to qualified applicants for the development and implementation of programs designed to promote public awareness of the option of "adopting" frozen embryos. Then, on October 1, 2002, the National Human Research Protections Advisory Committee under the Clinton Administration was reformed into the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections. Under its new charter, the Committee must provide advice concerning responsible research involving human subjects, with particular emphasis on pregnant women, embryos and fetuses.1
Online Casino Advertising: Testing the Limits of Commercial Speech
Authors: Hall Andrew
Published: April 2012

The advent of the Internet has revolutionized the daily lives of everyone by giving increased access to information and consumer transactions, while also adding change and further complexity to the law. Gambling has adapted to the arrival of the Internet with online sports books2 and online casino gambling,3 both developing a presence on the Internet. These new online casinos have begun to advertise both on the Internet and through more traditional broadcasting, like radio and television.4 As a result, the Department of Justice has begun to crack down on online casino advertisers, primarily by threatening prosecution against advertisers through the Wire Act (18 U.S.C. § 1084).
Regulatory Disparity: The Constitutional Implications of Communications Regulations That Prevent Competitive Neutrality
Authors: Mullady Ryan K.
Published: April 2012

In recent years, the communications industry has changed drastically as new technologies have created industry convergence. On its face, convergence is beneficial to the consumer because it provides more options when choosing services, which in turn should lead to decreased prices. However, convergence has also led to enormous problems in communications regulations. Traditionally, the FCC regulated the industry with regulations that focused on the type of service provider and the technology medium used to provide services. While this worked for many years, the recent onslaught of convergent technologies has led to an environment where companies selling essentially the same services to consumers face different regulations because they use different mediums of transmission. This leads to obvious competition problems because some companies have fewer restrictions and/or costs associated with their service offerings. At this point, the FCC has begun to update its regulations to conform with the newly converged industry, but it still has a long way to go. In the mean time, companies are using defective regulatory classifications to their benefit. This sort of a system is not only unfair, but it is unconstitutional.  The United States has long adopted the idea that corporations are “persons” under the constitution, and for that reason, the constitution bestows equal protection guarantees upon them. Corporations have rarely challenged the FCC’s regulations on constitutional grounds because they would probably be valid if examined under rational basis review. Until now, the FCC could hide behind technological distinctions and antitrust concepts to protect its regulations from equal protection claims. However, with the convergence of markets, a valid argument could be made challenging the government’s interest in its regulations. If a corporation makes that claim, the courts will have to decide whether these regulatory distinctions further a legitimate government interest. If the courts take a closer look, they may realize that the distinctions are arbitrary and capricious and mandate regulatory parity on equal protection grounds.
The Limitations of “Information Privacy” in the Network Environment
Authors: Woo Jisuk , Lee Jae-Hyup
Published: April 2012

The modern concept of privacy as a right to be let alone was developed in the context of print media. With the advent of digital technology, the focus of the privacy concept has changed to individuals’ right to control their information. In this essay, we explore why the individual right to control personal information is not enough to protect privacy in a meaningful way in a networked environment, given the interactive nature of the Internet and the voluntary nature of information activities of individual users. The greatest difficulty for individuals who become the object of surveillance in the current technological environment lies in the fact that as individual users' identities become more and more exposed, subjects of surveillance and their activities become less and less identifiable. Given the power disparity regarding identifiability that always has existed between individuals and institutions and among different individuals, we argue that privacy should not only be an individual's right but also a social good with concerns for the public interest.
Flying the Friendly Skies May Not be so Friendly in Outer Space: International and Domestic Law Leaves United States’ Citizen Space Tourists without a Remedy for Injury Caused by Government Space Debris
Authors: Stayduhar Marla
Published: April 2012

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we would like to welcome you to the moon. Please keep your seat belt fastened until the pilot completely stops at the gate. If this is your final destination, please collect your bags at baggage claim D. If you are headed on to Mars, your bags will be checked through to your final destination.”These words may sound funny now, but the possibility of them becoming a reality is not as far-fetched as it might seem. On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari, a United States citizen of Iranian origin, became the fourth space tourist and the first female civilian to enter outer space.1 She also became the first astronaut to keep a space blog of her experiences to which readers could post a response.2 Shortly before Ms. Ansari’s adventure, on October 1, 2005, Gregory Olsen, scientist and entrepreneur, was the third paying civilian space tourist, and took flight on a Russian shuttle.3 Although his trip cost $20 million,4 it is not unforeseeable that  ordinary citizens will soon be able to take a short trip around the moon or visit a space resort. It has been estimated that space tourism has the potential to generate $10 billion to $20 billion in income in the next few decades.5 Counting on that projection, Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson (the well-known billionaire adventurer6), recently reached an agreement with the State of New Mexico to build a space port on state land.7 Moreover, recent batches of space vehicle competitions and exhibits have piqued greater interest in space tourism for adventurers, scientists, travel agents and government officials alike.8
Google Street View: Walking the Line of Privacy-Intrusion upon Seclusion and Publicity Given to Private Facts in the Digital Age
Authors: Segall Jordan E.
Published: April 2012

On a snowy evening, a man hears of a new restaurant opening in a distant suburb of his metropolis and looks for driving directions to take his significant other out for a romantic evening. He opens Google and conducts a driving direction search. As they have never been to the location, and as the weather is not optimal, they check the layout of the roads in order to alleviate safety concerns through Google's Street View Program.1 They click on the images nextto the proposed turns and see a picture of a man walking with a woman at the intersection. Later it is disclosed in the news that this individual is a high-ranking government official and the woman is not his wife, but his mistress.2 In another image, a smoker is lounging in the background, hiding his addiction from his family and friends.3 With another click of the mouse he sees sunbathers sitting on top of the roof of a building, enjoying the warm summer day as well as the seeming privacy and anonymity of their rooftop abode.
Sources of Law and Modes of Governance: Ethnography and Theory in Second Life
Authors: Aiken, IV Claude T.
Published: April 2012

Belgian police began patrolling Second Life, the virtual world, in early 2007, responding to a claim of virtual rape.[1]  Few crimes evoke as much social revulsion and emotional harm as the powerful forcing themselves on the weak.  But does it make sense to talk about an avatar-on-avatar sexual misconduct in familiar terms (i.e., sexual assault and rape)?  Is it punishable?  Who should take care of the punishing? [1] Benjamin Duranske, Reader Roundtable: “Virtual Rape” Claim Brings Belgian Police to Second Life, Virtually Blind, Apr. 24, 2007, http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/04/24/open-roundtable-allegations-of-virtual-rape-bring-belgian-police-to-second-life/.
Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up after Cormet Hip Resurfacing. A Single Surgeon Series of 234 Hips
Authors: Kordás Geza , Baxter Jon , Parsons Nick , Costa Matthew L. , Krikler Steve J.
Published: April 2012

The performance of the Cormet hip resurfacing device was evaluated after a minimum of 5 years in 234 hips. The mean age of the patients was 54 years; there were 135 men and 80 women. The primary diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 78% of the patients. Outcome measures were the Harris Hip Score and implant survival. The overall survival rate was 94% with 12 revisions in women and 3 in men. There were 7 femoral and 5 acetabular failures and two revisions for groin pain. Cumulative survival rate in men and women was 98% and 89%, in patients with a femoral component larger than 44 mm and smaller than 44 mm 97% and 89% respectively. Patients with primary osteoarthritis had a 95% cumulative survival rate at 5 years. The risk of failure was 6.4 times higher in women than in men. Our results suggest that hip resurfacing with the Cormet device is an acceptable alternative for active patients with hip arthritis, but patient selection is crucial for good long-term results.
Controversies in the Management of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Revisited
Authors: Guerrero Marlon A. , Clark Orlo H.
Published: April 2012

The debate on the appropriate treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has persisted for several decades. The main controversies focus on the extent of surgery, the timing of central neck dissection, and the indications for radioactive iodine ablation. These controversies continue, for the most part, due to the good prognosis of PTC patients and the questionable effect these treatment modalities have on patient survival. This paper addresses these three controversies and the role of molecular tumor markers in the appropriate treatment selection.
Note on Neighborhoods of Some Classes of Analytic Functions with Negative Coefficients
Authors: Dorca Irina , Acu Mugur , Breaz Daniel
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we prove several inclusion relations associated with the (n,δ) neighborhoods of some subclasses of starlike and convex functions with negative coefficients.
Decreased Nocturnal Awakenings in Young Adults Performing Bikram Yoga: A Low-Constraint Home Sleep Monitoring Study
Authors: Kudesia Ravi S. , Bianchi Matt T.
Published: April 2012

This pilot study evaluated the impact of Bikram Yoga on subjective and objective sleep parameters. We compared subjective (diary) and objective (headband sleep monitor) sleep measures on yoga versus nonyoga days during a 14-day period. Subjects () were not constrained regarding yoga-practice days, other exercise, caffeine, alcohol, or naps. These activities did not segregate by choice of yoga days. Standard sleep metrics were unaffected by yoga, including sleep latency, total sleep time, and percentage of time spent in rapid eye movement (REM), light non-REM, deep non-REM, or wake after sleep onset (WASO). Consistent with prior work, transition probability analysis was a more sensitive index of sleep architecture changes than standard metrics. Specifically, Bikram Yoga was associated with significantly faster return to sleep after nocturnal awakenings. We conclude that objective home sleep monitoring is feasible in a low-constraint, real-world study design. Further studies on patients with insomnia will determine whether the results generalize or not.
Analysis of the Distribution and Temporal Trends of Grade and Stage in Urothelial Bladder Cancer in Northern New England from 1994 to 2004
Authors: Schned Alan R. , Lenz Petra , Moore Lee E. , Johnson Alison , Jones Michael , Kida Masatoshi , Silverman Debra T. , Schwenn Molly , Kelsey Karl T. , Andrew Angeline S. , Baris Dalsu , Karagas Margaret R.
Published: April 2012

We investigate the distribution of bladder tumor category and stage in Northern New England by geographic region, smoking status, and over time. 1091 incident bladder cancer cases from the New England Bladder Cancer Study (NEBCS), a large population-based case-control study carried out in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont (2001–2004) and 680 bladder cancer cases from previous case-control studies in New Hampshire (1994–2000) were used in the analysis. Of 1091 incident bladder cancer cases from the NEBCS, 26.7% of tumors were papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), 26.8% low-grade papillary urothelial carcinomas (PUC-LG), 31.3% high-grade papillary urothelial carcinomas (PUC-HG), 9.1% nonpapillary urothelial carcinomas (non-PUC), and 4.3% carcinoma in situ (CIS). Approximately 70% of cases were noninvasive (Tis/Ta), and all PUNLMP cases were of the Ta category. By contrast, half of all PUC-HG carcinomas were invasive. Short-term time trend analysis within the NEBCS (2001–2004) indicated an increase in the percentage of PUNLMP (P-trend <0.0001) paralleled by a decrease in PUC-LG (P-trend = 0.02) and for PUC-LG an increase in the percentage of non-invasive tumors (P-trend 0.04). Our findings suggest possible short-term trends with an increase in the percentage of PUNLMP and a change in the percentage of PUC-LG towards non-invasive disease.