bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical aspects of ocular leptospirosis in New Caledonia (South Pacific)
Authors: Md Erica Mancel , Vetd Fabrice Merien , Pesenti Laurent , PhD Dominique Salino Md , Md Gilles Angibaud , PhD Philippe Perolat Md 
Published: July 2002

Purpose: The incidence of leptospirosis is very high in New Caledonia (average annual incidence rate: 180/100 000 of the population). To investigate the role of pathogenic leptospires as an aetiological agent of ocular diseases, we report the results of a 5‐year survey in New Caledonia. Methods: We reviewed 13 patients (corresponding to 17 investigated pathologic eyes) retrospectively. The selection of patients was based on epidemiological data, initial clinical examination, biological confirmation of leptospirosis according to reference procedures and a specific polymerase chain reaction assay. The anatomic criteria of uveitis and the criteria describing the evolution of the disease were those recommended by the International Uveitis Study Group. Results: Consequent rates of optic neuritis (65%), posterior uveitis (35%), secluded pupil (24%), interstitial keratitis (18%) and pars planitis (12%) were found. Our rates of recurrence (46%) and of ophthalmic complications (82%) were substantial; some symptoms indicated brain involvement. The final visual damage was severe in 35% of eyes. Conclusions: Microagglutination and polymerase chain reaction hybridization are complementary tests for the diagnosis of Leptospira‐induced ophthalmic lesions. Before deciding on treatment, one must consider the ability of virulent leptospires to persist in immunologically privileged sites such as aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid and eukaryotic cells. Polymerase chain reaction is a useful tool for the diagnosis of Leptospira‐induced ocular complications, which are probably misdiagnosed if based only on routine laboratory tests. It enables early diagnosis and early specific treatment that now consists of quinolone and cyclines.
Observation of intracell avalanche amplification in charge-coupled devices (abstract)
Authors: Fedotov M. G. , Kuper E. A. , Panchenko V. E. 
Published: July 2002

At present, in various imager devices, the phenomenon of avalanche amplification—in uniform MIS (metal-insulator-semiconductor) structures is extensively used. For these structures, the current is, as a rule, the output signal. The authors of this paper have previously made the supposition that an alternative approach can be feasible—to achieve the regime of avalanche amplification in MIS imagers dealing with electric charges, and in particular, to obtain intracell amplification in commercial charge-coupled devices (CCD) when detecting x-ray images. In this paper experiments in which the intracell avalanche amplification is obtained in a 1000-element commercial linear CCD imager are described. During direct detection of x rays and red optical radiation, no avalanche amplification takes place because of the peculiarities of the structure of the active regions of this device. However, in the blue spectral range there has been revealed, at room temperature, a stable uniform amplification of the order of 10, limited mainly by the multiplication of thermogenerated charges and, possibly, by a tunneling breakdown. At the temperature of liquid nitrogen, inner amplification factor roughly equal to 105–106 has been obtained in the active regions of the device and, hence, the observation of the signals from individual photogenerated carriers has become possible. The corresponding total amplification factor (of the order of 104) allows one to detect light fluxes in the blue spectral range, which are totally disguised by noise if the amplification is absent.
Such a high amplification factor in the optical region has made it possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of the avalanche regime at the temperature of liquid nitrogen when detecting x radiation, using its conversion to light on the luminophor. The amplification factor achieved is about 102. In conclusion, some peculiarities of the avalanche break-down of nonuniform MIS structures and, in particular, of in the active regions of the CCD under consideration have been analyzed. The structures, oriented to an effective avalanche amplification when detecting x-ray and optical radiation are discussed as well.
Material properties of low pressure chemical vapor deposited silicon nitride for modeling and calibrating the simulation of advanced isolation structures
Authors: Smeys Peter I. L. , Griffin Peter B. , Saraswat Krishna C. 
Published: July 2002

The increasing cost and complexity of semiconductor process development has lead to the widespread use of multidimensional semiconductor process simulators. The success of a program like SUPREM−IV is primarily due to the fact that it is based on physical models, rather than empirical equations. This is in contrast to the first generation of process simulators, which calculated impurity profiles and oxide thickness in one dimension based on semiempirical approaches. SUPREM−IV incorporates two-dimensional coupled stress-dependent oxidation and impurity diffusion, which allows the accurate simulations of state-of-the-art integrated processes, provided that accurate model parameter sets are available. In this article we present an improved calibration methodology for simulation of advanced isolation technologies using SUPREM−IV, based on the experimental determination of the material properties of silicon nitride. The proposed strategy is applicable not only to SUPREM−IV but to any numerical simulator that uses the stress-dependent oxidation models to calculate oxide growth. In order to simulate experimental isolation boundary shapes, the oxidation models in SUPREM−IV must be calibrated. This requires a set of five fitting parameters, i.e., the material viscosities and activation volumes for stress-dependent diffusion, reaction rate, and critical stress. These parameters form a quintuplet but are not unique.
Multiplying the viscosity values and dividing the activation volumes by a constant will yield exactly the same isolation structure boundary shape. The calculated stresses in the substrate however do not remain constant when different quintuplets are used. This has serious implications since isolation structures require the stress levels in the silicon substrate to remain well below the yield stress of silicon. If a nonoptimal parameter set is used, incorrect designs will result. Based on the experimental extraction of the silicon nitride viscosity by measuring the relative film thickness shrinkage rate as a function of temperature, a scaled parameter set has been derived. SUPREM−IV simulations predict identical boundary shapes but the simulated stress levels are different from the values obtained using the default parameter set. In order to validate the stress simulations, a comparison with experimental stress values measured by micro-Raman spectroscopy has been carried out. It has been found that the quintuplet based on the experimental nitride viscosity values yields the best agreement with the experimental stress data, supporting the accuracy of the new model parameter set.
Molecular gradients and hessians implemented in density functional theory
Authors: Komornicki Andrew , Fitzgerald George 
Published: July 2002

We derive expressions for molecular gradients and hessians for the case when the energy is evaluated using density functional theory. Although derivative expressions have been proposed previously, our derivation is based on the unitary exponential parameterization of the wavefunction, and our expressions are valid for local and non–local potentials. Density functional theory, although similar in implementation to standard SCF theory, differs in that it introduces an exchange–correlation term which is density dependent. The presence of such a quantity introduces additional derivative terms which are not present in standard approaches of electronic structure theory. Expressions are derived for both the exact Coulombic repulsion, as well as the case where the density is expressed as a fitted quantity. Given these choices our final equations offer a computationally tractable expression with particular emphasis on conditions which ensure that the computed quantities are numerically correct. We show that although the use of a fitted density allows significant computational savings in the energy and the first derivatives, it introduces additional computational complexity, beyond that normally encountered in traditional electronic structure methods, once second derivatives are evaluated. The evaluation of second derivatives also introduces derivatives of the exchange–correlation potential which have not been previously considered.The presence of such terms introduces the most serious computational complexity to the evaluation of any second derivative expression based on the density–functional formalism. Our derivation and analysis presents a computationally tractable procedure for the evaluation of all the terms required to compute the first and second derivatives with respect to perturbations such as nuclear coordinates, and external electric fields. Using a general set of response equations for the first order change in the wavefunction, we provide expressions for the evaluation of harmonic frequencies, infrared intensities, and molecular polarizabilities. Our final discussion assesses the computational consequences of using either an exact form for the density, or a fitted form. Although most of our discussion is cast in the form of a closed–shell formalism, extensions to an unrestricted (UHF) formalism are straightforward.
9.6 GHz and 34 GHz electron paramagnetic resonance studies of chromium-doped forsterite
Authors: Budil David E. , Park Dong Gon , Burlitch James M. , Geray Roland F. , Dieckmann Rüdiger , Freed Jack H. 
Published: July 2002

Chromium-doped forsterite single crystals grown under conditions that produce a high Cr4+/Cr3+ ratio were examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at 9.6 and 34 GHz. The crystals were grown in 2–3 atm of oxygen by the floating-zone method starting from polycrystalline chromium-doped forsterite powder synthesized via a sol–gel method. Three crystals with chromium concentrations of 110, 300, and 390 ppm were studied. At 34 GHz, transitions are observed for the laser-active tetrahedral Cr4+ species that are not observable at 9.6 GHz, which improve the resolution and accuracy with which the magnetic parameters can be measured by EPR. In addition, peaks for a non-Kramers species appear at 34 GHz that were not observed at 9.6 GHz. These peaks are not analyzed in detail, but are tentatively ascribed to Cr4+ in the octahedral substitution sites of the crystal. At the highest chromium concentration, the Cr3+ spectra show evidence of direct interaction with Cr4+. A global least-squares fit of the combined 9.6 and 34 GHz data for the 300 ppm crystal gives D=64.26±0.18 GHz, E=−4.619±0.009 GHz, gx=1.955±0.009, gy=2.005±0.040, gz=1.965±0.006, and places the magnetic z axis in the ab plane at an angle of 43.8±0.3° from the b crystallographic axis (in Pbnm).
A method for accurately measuring the Cr4+/Cr4+ ratio using EPR line intensities is given. The EPR linewidth of the Cr4+ center exhibits a strong orientation dependence that is well-modeled by including site variations in the D and E zero-field splittings and in the orientation of the z magnetic axis. The linewidth analysis reveals a high degree of correlation between the distributions in D and E, and a somewhat weaker correlation between E and the z axis orientation. These results are interpreted to suggest that the tetrahedral Cr4+ sites vary mainly in the degree of compression of the tetrahedral cage along the a crystallographic axis. The Cr4+ EPR linewidths increase significantly at higher chromium concentration, but maintain the same qualitative orientation dependence. The EPR data indicate that the major contribution to inhomogeneity in the tetrahedral site, which may be related to the tunable range of the Cr4+ laser center, is distortion induced by chromium substitution into the crystal lattice rather than direct chromium–chromium interactions.
Macroglossia and speech in Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome: a sample survey study
Authors: Van Borsel John , Van Snick Kathleen , Leroy Jules 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIn a sample survey study (questionnaires filled out by parents), all 40 patients with Beckwith‐Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) presented with macroglossia. Articulation problems were reported in 29 of them, which persisted in some following corrective tongue surgery. The impression emerges that the value of surgical treatment needs prospective assessment, that the parents are insufficiently informed, and that the adequacy of direct articulation therapy in BWS needs to be evaluated.
Subjective evaluation of temporal fluctuation of sound source and sound field
Authors: Atagi Junko 
Published: July 2002

Physical properties and subjective evaluation of the tiime-variant sound field were investigated. Physical properties were analyzed by the autocorrelation function (ACF). Three temporal factors are extracted from the ACF: (i) effective duration, τe, which is ten-percentile delay of the envelope of the ACF; (ii) the delay of the first peak of the ACF, τ1; and (iii) its amplitude, φ1. The results showed that the physical properties of the time-variant sound field are identified by τe and the envelope of the ACF of the sound field. In the second part, physical properties and subjective annoyance of traffic noise were investigated. It was found that the physical properties are identified by the temporal factors τ1 and τe of the traffic noise. Paired-comparison tests on subjective annoyance of the traffic noise were also conducted. It was found that the subjective annoyance is associated with the temporal factors τ1 and τe of the traffic noise.
Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando
Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained from Junko Atagi, 6813 Mosonou, Saijo-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0024, Japan. E-mail address: atagi\@urban.ne.jp.
Perception and psychological evaluation for visual and auditory environment based on the correlation mechanisms
Authors: Fujii Kenji 
Published: July 2002

In this dissertation, the correlation mechanism in modeling the process in the visual perception is introduced. It has been well described that the correlation mechanism is effective for describing subjective attributes in auditory perception. The main result is that it is possible to apply the correlation mechanism to the process in temporal vision and spatial vision, as well as in audition. (1) The psychophysical experiment was performed on subjective flicker rates for complex waveforms. A remarkable result is that the phenomenon of missing fundamental is found in temporal vision as analogous to the auditory pitch perception. This implies the existence of correlation mechanism in visual system. (2) For spatial vision, the autocorrelation analysis provides useful measures for describing three primary perceptual properties of visual texture: contrast, coarseness, and regularity. Another experiment showed that the degree of regularity is a salient cue for texture preference judgment. (3) In addition, the autocorrelation function (ACF) and inter-aural cross-correlation function (IACF) were applied for analysis of the temporal and spatial properties of environmental noise. It was confirmed that the acoustical properties of aircraft noise and traffic noise are well described. These analyses provided useful parameters extracted from the ACF and IACF in assessing the subjective annoyance for noise.
Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando
Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained from Junko Atagi, 6813 Mosonou, Saijo-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0024, Japan. E-mail address: atagi\@urban.ne.jp.
Trends in the Use of Oral Anticoagulants for Adults With Venous Thromboembolism in the US, 2010-2020
Authors: Iyer Geetha S. , Tesfaye Helen , Khan Nazleen F. , Zakoul Heidi , Bykov Katsiaryna 
Published: March 2023

ImportanceThe introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has transformed the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Large health care databases offer valuable insight into how oral anticoagulants (OACs) are used in clinical practice and may aid in understanding reasons for changes in therapy.ObjectivesTo evaluate prescribing patterns of OACs for patients with VTE and identify clinical events that precede treatment changes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study used data from a public (Medicare fee-for-service) and a commercial (IBM MarketScan) health insurance database on 298 609 patients initiating OACs within 90 days of index VTE hospitalization from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted from April to August 2022.ExposuresWarfarin and the DOACs rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, and edoxaban.Main Outcomes and MeasuresCharacteristics of patients initiating different OACs, along with trends over time of patients initiating OACs, were compared. Time receiving continuous anticoagulant therapy, patterns of anticoagulant discontinuation (treatment gap of ≥30 days), and treatment switches were assessed. Clinical events in the 30 days preceding treatment modifications were identified.ResultsA total of 203 378 individuals with Medicare (mean [SD] age, 76.9 [7.6] years; 122 554 women [60.3%]) and 95 231 with commercial insurance (mean [SD] age, 57.6 [15.8] years; 47 139 women [49.5%]) were included (N = 298 609). Warfarin was the most frequent OAC prescribed (163 044 [54.6%]), followed by rivaroxaban (66 882 [22.3%]) and apixaban (65 997 [22.1%]). The proportion of patients initiating DOACs increased from 0% in 2010 to 86.8% (22 420 of 25 817) in 2019 for patients with Medicare and 92.1% (4012 of 4357) in 2020 for commercially insured patients. Patients with chronic kidney disease were more likely to initiate warfarin (35 561 [11.9%]) or apixaban (16 294 [5.5%]) than rivaroxaban (10 136 [3.4%]), and those with a history of bleeding were more likely to initiate apixaban (5424 [1.8%]) than rivaroxaban (3007 [1.0%]). Overall, patients received persistent OAC treatment for approximately 6 months (Medicare: median, 175 days [IQR, 76-327 days]; commercial insurance: median, 168 days [IQR, 83-279 days]). A total of 33 011 patients (11.1%) switched anticoagulant therapy within a year. Switching to another anticoagulant was preceded most frequently by codes for a VTE diagnostic procedure (27.2% of all switchers [8983 of 33 011]).Conclusions and RelevanceThis cohort study using data from 2 US health insurance databases suggests that most patients with VTE continued oral anticoagulant treatment for approximately 6 months. Clinical reasons for modifying anticoagulant therapy were identified in one-third of patients. Identifying reasons for treatment modification is crucial for generating valid evidence on drug safety and effectiveness.
Association of Patients’ Direct Addition of Buprenorphine to Urine Drug Test Specimens With Clinical Factors in Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Pytell Jarratt D. , Whitley Penn , Passik Steven D. , Bundy William L. , Dawson Eric , Saloner Brendan 
Published: March 2023

ImportanceThe direct addition of buprenorphine to urine drug test specimens to mimic results suggestive of adherence is a clinically significant result, yet little is known about the phenomenon.ObjectiveTo characterize factors associated with the direct addition of buprenorphine to urine specimens among patients prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study of urine drug test specimens was conducted from January 1, 2017, to April 30, 2022, using a national database of urine drug test specimens ordered by clinicians from primary care, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment clinics. Urine specimens with quantitative norbuprenorphine and buprenorphine concentrations from patients with opioid use disorder currently prescribed buprenorphine were analyzed.ExposuresNonprescribed opioid or stimulant co-positive, clinical setting, collection year, census division, patient age, patient sex, and payor.Main Outcomes and MeasuresNorbuprenorphine to buprenorphine ratio less than 0.02 identified direct addition of buprenorphine. Unadjusted trends in co-positivity for stimulants and opioids were compared between specimens consistent with the direct addition of buprenorphine. Factors associated with the direct addition of buprenorphine were examined with generalized estimating equations.ResultsThis study included 507 735 urine specimens from 58 476 patients. Of all specimens, 261 210 (51.4%) were obtained from male individuals, and 137 254 (37.7%) were from patients aged 25 to 34 years. Overall, 9546 (1.9%) specimens from 4550 (7.6%) patients were suggestive of the direct addition of buprenorphine. The annual prevalence decreased from 2.4% in 2017 to 1.2% in 2020. Opioid-positive with (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.85-2.18) and without (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.81-2.26) stimulant-positive specimens were associated with the direct addition of buprenorphine to specimens, while opioid-negative/stimulant-positive specimens were negatively associated (aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71-0.85). Specimens from patients aged 35 to 44 years (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.34-1.90) and primary care (aOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.44-1.79) were associated with the direct addition of buprenorphine. Differences by treatment setting decreased over time. Specimens from the South Atlantic census region had the highest association (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.25-1.56) and New England had the lowest association (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.46-0.65) with the direct addition of buprenorphine.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cross-sectional study, the direct addition of buprenorphine to urine specimens was associated with other opioid positivity and being collected in primary care settings. The direct addition of buprenorphine to urine specimens is a clinically significant finding, and best practices specific for this phenomenon are needed.
Comprehensive Framework of Firearm Violence Survivor Care
Authors: Timmer-Murillo Sydney C. , Schroeder Mary E. , Trevino Colleen , Geier Timothy J. , Schramm Andrew T. , Brandolino Amber M. , Hargarten Stephen , Holena Daniel , de Moya Marc , Milia David , deRoon-Cassini Terri A. 
Published: March 2023

ImportanceFirearm violence is a public health crisis placing significant burden on individuals, communities, and health care systems. After firearm injury, there is increased risk of poor health, disability, and psychopathology. The newest 2022 guidelines from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma require that all trauma centers screen for risk of psychopathology and provide referral to intervention. Yet, implementing these guidelines in ways that are responsive to the unique needs of communities and specific patient populations, such as after firearm violence, is challenging.ObservationsThe current review highlights important considerations and presents a model for trauma centers to provide comprehensive care to survivors of firearm injury. This model highlights the need to enhance standard practice to provide patient-centered, trauma-informed care, as well as integrate inpatient and outpatient psychological services to address psychosocial needs. Further, incorporation of violence prevention programming better addresses firearm injury as a public health concern.Conclusions and RelevanceUsing research to guide a framework for trauma centers in comprehensive care after firearm violence, we can prevent complications to physical and psychological recovery for this population. Health systems must acknowledge the socioecological context of firearm violence and provide more comprehensive care in the hospital and after discharge, to improve long-term recovery and serve as a means of tertiary prevention of firearm violence.