cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ramp-rate limitation experiments using a hybrid superconducting cable

Abstract Ramp-rate limitation experiments were done in a new facility at the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Plasma Fusion Center. The features of this new facility include (1) a superconducting pulse coil that can superimpose high ramp-down rates, up to 25 T s−1, (2 T in 80 ms) at a background field up to 5 T, (2) new power supplies that can supply high rates of dl dt and dB dt to the sample under test and (3) a forced-flow supercritical helium system for cooling CICCs (Cable-In-Conduit Conductors). This paper discusses the results of the ramp-rate limitation experiments on a 27-strand hybrid Nb3Sn cable. The cable was tested under field ramps of up to 2.5 T s−1 with various operating currents. It did not quench with dB dt , field and average strand currents that were simultaneously above the operating range of TPX-PF (Tokamak Physics Experiment Poloidal Field) coils. Further ramp-rate limitation experiments revealed that the tested 27-strand hybrid cable has very high transient stability at ramped fields, extending out to average strand currents that are nearly triple the TPX-PF operating current.
Mass spectrometric measurement of β-endorphin and methionine enkephalin in human pituitaries. Tumors and post-mortem controls

Abstract Two opioid neuropeptides, β-endorphin (BE), which derives from the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) precursor, and methionine enkephalin (DE), which derives from proenkephalin A, were quantified with fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) in individual human pituitaries (post-mortem) and in tumor pituitaries (post-surgery) in a study to clarify the molecular processes that occur in tumor formation. FAB-MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode linked the precursor ion (the MH + ion) of the peptide with a fragment ion that was unique to each neuropeptide to increase significantly the molecular specificity of these quantitative analytical measurements. The ME was quantified as the intact pentapeptide, whereas BE 1–31 was quantified via its tryptic fragment BE 20–24 (NAIIK). Two corresponding stable isotope-incorporated peptides, [ 2 H 5 – 4 Phe]-ME and [ 2 H 4 – 22 Ile]-BE 1–31 , human respectively, were used as the internal standards. The amount of each neuropeptide quantified in control post-mortem pituitaries ( n = 8) was 75.2 ± 29.6(s.e.m.) pmol ME mg −1 protein, and in the pituitary tumor samples ( n = 5), 25.0 ± 7.6 pmol ME mg −1 protein and 36.0 ± 14.8 pmol BE mg −1 protein. The difference in the BE content between the control and tumor pituitaries was significant ( p = 0.004), and reflected an aberrant metabolism of the POMC system in those human pituitary tumor tissues.
A miniature solid propellant rocket motor

A miniature solid-propellant rocket motor has been developed to impart a specific motion to an object deployed in space. This rocket motor effectively eliminated the need for a cold-gas thruster system or mechanical spin-up system. A low-energy igniter, an XMC4397, employing a semiconductor bridge was used to ignite the rocket motor. The rocket motor was ground-tested in a vacuum tank to verify predicted space performance and successfully flown in a Sandia National Laboratories flight vehicle program.
City profile Managua

Managua shares a number of similarities with other Third World and Central American capital cities. However, its history and geographic setting are unique and present planners with some unusual problems, but also interesting potential. The country's overall political situation continues to play the most important role in determining the city's future and its ability to address the myriad of problems that it must confront. Despite the city's shortcomings, the tenacity of its residents cannot be overlooked. One hopes for a future where the political leaders will be able to harness the persistence of the city's residents to build toward a better future.
Nanostructured Surfaces that Show Antimicrobial, Anticorrosive, and Antibiofilm Properties

Provided in this article are the quantitative and qualitative morphological results describing the action of several nanostructured surfaces for bactericidal and bacteriostatic action. Results are also provided to illustrate microbial corrosion and its impact. Biofilm formation is correlated to colony formation. Nanostructured surfaces, i.e. surfaces with welded nanoparticles are noted to display biocidal activity with varying efficacies. Porous nanostructures, on stainless steel and copper substrates, made of high purity Ag, Ti, Al, Cu, MoSi2, and carbon nanotubes, are tested for their efficacy against bacterial colony formation for both gram-negative, and gram-positive bacteria. Silver and Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) nanostructures are found to be the most effective bactericidal agents with MoSi2 being particularly effective in both low and high humidity conditions. Bacteriostatic activity is also noted. The nanostructured surfaces are tested by controlled exposures to several microbial species including (Gram+ve) bacteria such as Bacillus Cereus and (Gram-ve) bacteria such as Enterobacter Aerogenes. The resistance to simultaneous exposure from diverse bacterial species including Arthrobacter Globiformis, Bacillus Megaterium, and Cupriavidus Necator is also studied. The nanostructured surfaces were found to eliminates or delay bacterial colony formation, even with short exposure times, and even after simulated surface abrasion. The virgin 316 stainless steel and copper substrates, i.e. without the nanostructure, always displayed rapid bacterial colony evolution indicating the lack of antimicrobial action. The efficacy of the nanostructured surface against colony formation (bacterial recovery) for E-Coli (two strains) and virus Phi 6 Bacteriophage with a host Pseudomonas Syringae was also studied. Preliminary results are presented that also show possible anti-fungal properties by the nanostructured MoSi2. When comparing antimicrobial efficacy of flat polished surfaces (no curvature or nanostructure) with nanostructure containing surfaces (high curvature) of the same chemistry, shows that bacterial action results from both the nanostructure size and chemistry.
Rapid transcriptional regulation of the Cab and pEA207 gene families in peas by blue light in the absence of cytoplasmic protein synthesis.

We have analyzed the fluence-response and time-course characteristics, and the requirements for protein synthesis, for the blue-light (BL) regulated transcription of the nuclear-coded Cab, pEA207, and pEA25 gene families in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Fluence-response curves indicate two BL responses: a blue low-fluence (BLF) response with a threshold at or below 10−1 μmol·m−2 of BL and a blue high-fluence (BHF) response with a threshold between 101 and 103 μmol·m−2 of BL. Excitation of the photomorphogenic system responsible for the BLF response results in increased Cab, and decreased pEA25, transcription. Excitation of the photomorphogenic system responsible for the BHF response results in decreased pEA207 transcription and induction of turnover for Cab RNA and pEA207 RNA. Altered rates of transcription for the Cab and pEA207 gene families are apparent within 15 min of BL treatment and remain in effect for at least 24 h. The effect of BL on pEA25 transcription is not apparent until 3–5 h after the BL treatment. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis, has no effect on the altered rates of pEA207 and Cab transcription. We conclude from these results that the BLF response for Cab transcription and the BHF response for pEA207 transcription probably occurs without the expression of intervening regulatory genes coded within the nucleus or the translation of pre-existing transcripts derived from nuclear-coded genes.
Effect of Thermal Processing Conditions on Ferroelectric PZT Thin Films

Ferroelectric and transparent lead–zirconate–titanate thin films were fabricated by rf sputtering. The substrates used were Pt–coated single crystal silicon. The deposition temperatures were relatively low (≅ 200°C). Annealing at high temperatures yielded first pyrochlore type and finally perovskite with good switching characteristics. The phase structure, microstructure, surface composition, and properties were measured as a function annealing time and temperature. In general, the Pb concentration on the surface decreased with increasing annealing temperature or time, whereas Zr concentration increased. It was observed that the grain size of perovskite PZT did not show any significant changes with increasing either anneal temperature or time.
New climate lab at

NOAA has set up a new laboratory to monitor and predict climate change. The lab will be staffed by members of three groups within NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory, and will be based at the agency's Environmental Research Laboratories in Boulder, Colo. The Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL), as the new lab will be called, will run programs to analyze data from the atmosphere and oceans and will use the information to characterize global processes that affect climate and to develop predictive models.
Out of Time: Erasing Modernity in an Antique City

Considerations of the socio-politics of archaeology mark the contributions of H. Martin Wobst across studies of many different epochs. Socio-politics open avenues for archaeology to contribute to social justice, especially in places whose histories are fiercely contested, such as in the Middle East. In 1909, a clock tower was built on top of the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem’s walled city; as a material intervention, it was noticeable and noticed. Early in the British Mandate, the clock tower was removed. While there have been many critiques of Israeli erasures of the Palestinian landscape, the antiquing of Jerusalem deserves critical attention. Invoking the dismantling of the clock tower reveals an important aspect of the transformation of the city.
The Pacific Raincoast: Environment and Culture in an American Eden, 1778-1900

This work chronicles the struggle for the Douglas-fir region, from the first sustained contact between native American and Euro-American cultures to 1900, when Fredrick Weyerhaeuser's purchase of some of the area completed one of the largest land deals in US history.
Enhancing Resident Morning Report with “Daily Learning Packages”

The daily "Morning Report" is a fixture in many residency programs. In the past, librarians have attended this meeting and, in various ways, worked to enhance the resident learning experience. At the academic children's hospital discussed in this study, the concept was taken a step further. Together with the chief residents, the librarian provided a complete "learning package" consisting of the case write-up along with relevant, librarian-filtered, evidence-based information. The learning package was then e-mailed to all residents and some of the attending physicians. This program led to a huge increase in the use of library resources and services as well as a renewed recognition of the value of the library and the librarians.
Short stature in children: evaluation and management.

Abstract Although short stature is common in childhood, the nurse practitioner often must determine whether the condition is the result of a pathologic condition requiring diagnosis and treatment, a constitutional or genetic event, or a variant growth pattern. Assessment of short stature requires knowledge of normal and variant growth patterns and includes a thorough history and physical examination. An update is presented of the common causes of short stature, their evaluation, and treatment.
Synthesis of Co@Au core-shell nanoparticles in non-aqueous solution and their characterization

A homogeneous non-aqueous solution reactions method has been developed to prepare gold-coated cobalt (Co@Au) nanoparticles. After the sample was washed with 8% HCl, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and magnetic measurements SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) are utilized to characterize the nanocomposites. XRD shows the pattern of sample, which is responding to gold and cobalt, no cobalt oxide was found. TEM results show that the average size of Co@Au nanoparticles is about 10 nm and we can find core-shell structure of the sample. SQUID results show that the particles are ferromagnetic materials at 300K. So the gold-coated cobalt nanoparticles (Co@Au) can be successfully prepared by the homogeneous nonaqueous approach. This kind of core-shell materials is stable in acid condition, which would give many opportunities for bio- application.
Evaluation of wood ash disposal on agricultural land. II. Potential toxic effects on plant growth

Abstract Land application of wood ash is a rapidly growing disposal option for industries combusting wood for steam or electricity. Recent research has demonstrated that wood ash is a valuable soil amendment and liming agent. The objective of this study was to examine the potential phytotoxic components of wood ash and their interactive effects in order to determine appropriate land application rates. Bush beans (cv. ‘Blue Lake 274') were grown under greenhouse conditions in an acidic Palouse silt loam soil treated with a background concentration of wood ash equivalent to 10 mt/ha (0.09 kg/ha of B, 462 kg/ha of K, and pH 6.5). The ash‐soil mixture was then amended with different concentrations of B, K, and CaO (for pH change) in a completely randomized factorial experiment. Soil pH and K concentration appeared to be the major rate limiting components in land application of wood ash. Bean yield was adversely impacted when application rates resulted in a soil pH >6.5 and 2,662 kg K/ha. Since pH was the most...
USE OF CACO-2 CELLS AS AN IN VITRO INTESTINAL ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM MODEL

AbstractThe Caco-2 cell line, a human colorectal carcinoma cell line, is an established in vitro model for the study of drug transport in the human intestine. We have routinely utilized this in vitro model to 1) elucidate intestinal absorption mechanisms of small drug molecules and peptide-like therapeutic agents (e.g. paracellular/transcellular passive diffusion and carrier-mediated active transport), 2) screen and select orally active therapeutic agents, 3) identify optimum luminal pH's for drug absorptions, 4) address dissolution rate-related absorption problems, 5) assess mucosal toxicity of therapeutic agents, and 6) evaluate prodrug approaches for enhanced drug absorptions. We have also utilized this in vitro model to assess the metabolic stability of therapeutic agents in the intestinal epithelium. Demonstrated in this report are primarily the techniques for the elucidation of absorption mechanisms. Examples of the characterization of paracellular/ transcellular passive diffusion pathways and carri...
The risk of abdominal operations in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are the operations of choice for patients with hydrocephalus in most pediatric hospitals. Children with VP shunts frequently undergo abdominal operations unrelated to their shunts, which might lead to shunt infections or to malfunctions related to adhesions. Although prophylactic antibiotics are usually used in this setting, there are few data to support their use, or to assess other risks to the shunt from the abdominal procedures. Consequently, we reviewed the records of 37 children with VP shunts who underwent a total of 44 abdominal operations. In 8 cases, the genitourinary (GU) tract was opened (ureteral reimplantation, bladder augmentation, nephrectomy), whereas in 18 patients the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was opened (appendectomy, gastrostomy, small/large bowel resection). In 18 operations neither GI nor GU tract was opened (lysis of adhesions, herniorrhaphy, orchiopexy). Antibiotic coverage was highly variable: 9 received no antibiotics, 9 received antibiotics only postoperatively, 4 were given antibiotics only preoperatively, and in 22 cases antibiotics were given both preoperatively and postoperatively. One shunt that was involved in a periappendiceal abscess was exteriorized and later successfully replaced. In the remaining cases, no episodes of shunt infection or malfunction occurred in 1 to 10 years of follow-up. Likewise, no abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts formed as a result of abdominal adhesions. These data demonstrate that children with VP shunts can safely undergo abdominal operations, even when the GI or GU systems are opened, with minimal risk of shunt infection or malfunction. Rigid protocols of prophylactic antibiotics cannot be supported by this series.
The Nanometer-Resolution Local Electrical Potential and Resistance Mapping of CdTe Thin Films

We have investigated the microelectrical properties of CdTe thin films using scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) and scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM). Two films with the configurations of substrate and superstrate were subjected to the characterization studies. The electrical potential and resistance were properly mapped with the substrate film but not with the superstrate film because the underlying CdS/CdTe junction largely impacted the characterizations. The higher SKPFM potential on grain boundaries (GBs) of the substrate film than on the grain surface indicates positively charged GBs and upward band bending around the GB; therefore, the GBs are either depleted or inverted. The SSRM resistance mapping on this film shows nonuniformities and features that are associated with the grain structure and facets. However, the GBs do not exhibit distinct characteristic resistance. Comparing the low resistance channel along the GBs of high-performance CIGS films, the SSRM mapping of CdTe supports depletion of the GBs. In SSRM measurement, it is critical to adequately indent the probe to the film, and to apply a bias voltage larger than the onset voltage of the probe/film barrier, so that the contact resistance is minimized and that the local spreading resistance of CdTe film beneath the probe is measured.
Partial reinforcement in autoshaping with pigeons

The acquisition, maintenance, and extinction of autoshaped responding in pigeons were studied under partial and continuous reinforcement. Five values of probability of reinforcement, ranging from .1 to 1.0, were combined factorially with five values of intertrial interval ranging from 15 to 250 sec for different groups. The number of trials required before autoshaped responding emerged varied inversely with the duration of the intertriai interval and probability of reinforcment, but partial reinforcement did not increase the number of reinforcers before acquisition. During maintained training, partial reinforcement increased the overall rate of responding. A temporal gradient of accelerated responding over the trial duration emerged during maintenance training for partial reinforcement groups, and was evident for all groups in extinction. Partial reinforcement groups responded more than continuous reinforcement groups over an equivalent number of trials in extinction. However, this partial-reinforcment extinction effect disappeared when examined in terms of the omission of “expected” reinforcers.
Contrasting types of chromium-spinel peridotite xenoliths in basanitic lavas, western Grand Canyon, Arizona

Abstract Several hundred xenoliths of Cr-diopside-spinel peridotite from basanitic lavas in the western Grand Canyon along the eastern margin of the Basin and Range Province can be grouped into essentially three distinct textural categories with correlative contrasts in mineral composition. At least two of these textures seem unique to this locality. Xenoliths display varying degrees of depletion in basaltic constituents and last equilibrated between 900 and 1000°C. A few contain coarse exsolution intergrowths of diopside and enstatite whose reconstructed composition has about 15 wt.% CaO corresponding to an original temperature of crystallization of approximately 1400°C. The genetic relation between the three types — if such exists — is uncertain, but overall they indicate a vertically inhomogeneous upper mantle. The variety of textures found worldwide in mantle-derived Cr-spinel peridotite xenoliths of more or less equivalent composition suggests varied and probably complexly superposed histories.
Synthesis and characterization of platinum(II) and (IV) complexes containing hexamethyleneimine ligand: crystal structure of [PtII(hexamethyleneimine)2(cyclobutanedicarboxylato)].H2O

Abstract A series of new platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes of the type [PtII(HMI)2X] (where HMI=hexamethyleneimine, X=dichloro, sulfato, 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato [CBDCA], oxalato, methylmalonato, or tatronato) and [PtIV(HMI)2Y2Cl2] (where Y=hydroxo, acetato, or chloro) were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 13C and 195Pt nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Among the complexes synthesized, [PtII(hexamethyleneimine)2(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)]·H2O was examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The slightly distorted square planar coordination environment of the platinum metal includes the amino group of the hexamethyleneimine (HMI) molecule and the oxygen atoms of the carboxylato ligand. The cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (CBDCA) molecule adopts six-member chelating rings with platinum. Hydrogen bonding plays an important part in holding the crystal lattice together.
Integrated detection, tracking, and recognition of faces with omnivideo array in intelligent environments

We present a multilevel system architecture for intelligent environments equipped with omnivideo arrays. In order to gain unobtrusive human awareness, real-time 3D human tracking as well as robust video-based face detection and tracking and face recognition algorithms are needed. We first propose a multiprimitive face detection and tracking loop to crop face videos as the front end of our face recognition algorithm. Both skin-tone and elliptical detections are used for robust face searching, and view-based face classification is applied to the candidates before updating the Kalman filters for face tracking. For video-based face recognition, we propose three decision rules on the facial video segments. The majority rule and discrete HMM (DHMM) rule accumulate single-frame face recognition results, while continuous density HMM (CDHMM) works directly with the PCA facial features of the video segment for accumulated maximum likelihood (ML) decision. The experiments demonstrate the robustness of the proposed face detection and tracking scheme and the three streaming face recognition schemes with 99% accuracy of the CDHMM rule. We then experiment on the system interactions with single person and group people by the integrated layers of activity awareness.We also discuss the speech-aided incremental learning of new faces.
In Situ Voltammetric Microelectrodes: Application to the Measurement of Median Eminence Catecholamine Release During Simulated Suckling

Abstract Catechol-sensitive microelectrodes (10–30 μm) were developed and then used to study the dynamic regulatory role of the prolactin inhibiting factor, dopamine, under conditions of simulated suckling. Current flow resulting from the electrochemical oxidation of catecholamines at the microelectrode surface was linearly related to the concentration of catecholamines present in solution over the range of 5–100 μM. Endogenous catecholamine levels in the rat median eminence were readily detectable and the electrochemical signal corresponding to dopamine release responded in an appropriate manner to various pharmacologic manipulations. We then implanted carbon microelectrodes into the medial median eminence region among capillaries of the primary portal plexus of urethane anesthetized lactating rats. Catecholamine release into the extracellular fluid was electrochemically measured once each minute before, during and after electrical stimulation (15 Hz, 5–30 V, 15 min) of a surgically isolated mammary nerve trunk. This simulated suckling paradigm reliably evoked prolactin secretory episodes qualitatively similar to those observed during suckling of the nipples by the young. During the period of nerve stimulation, a transient (3–5 min) 65% decline in electrochemically detectable catecholamine release was observed. Following cessation of nerve stimulation an oscillatory pattern of catecholamine release was observed with an overall trend toward an increased level of release. This latter observation corresponds with previous reports of increased hypothalamic dopamine turnover during or following suckling and with the increased levels of dopamine measured in hypophysial portal blood following mammary nerve stimulation. The transient nature of the decline of catecholamine release during the nerve stimulation period may explain why a similar observation has not been forthcoming from experiments utilizing the stalk blood collection technique (unless the standard collection periods are considerably shortened). These observations lead us to reject the hypothesis of a mirror image relationship between stalk blood dopamine and peripheral prolactin levels. Instead, we suggest that a transient decline in dopamine secretion coincident with the onset of suckling acts to prepare the pituitary lactotrophs to respond to a prolactin releasi ng factor which then facilitates prolactin secretion.
Serotonergic transcriptional networks and potential importance to mental health

Transcription regulatory networks governing the genesis, maturation and maintenance of vertebrate brain serotonin (5-HT) neurons determine the level of serotonergic gene expression and signaling throughout an animal's lifespan. Recent studies suggest that alterations in these networks can cause behavioral and physiological pathogenesis in mice. Here, we synthesize findings from vertebrate loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies to build a new model of the transcriptional regulatory networks that specify 5-HT neurons during fetal life, integrate them into CNS circuitry in early postnatal life and maintain them in adulthood. We then describe findings from animal and human genetic studies that support possible alterations in the activity of serotonergic regulatory networks in the etiology of mental illness. We conclude with a discussion of the potential utility of our model, as an experimentally well-defined molecular pathway, to predict and interpret the biological effect of genetic variation that may be discovered in the orthologous human network.
Directional solidification of Ni3Al

Abstract A nickel aluminide intermetallic material (IC-50) was directionally solidified under various growth rates utilizing a modified Bridgeman apparatus. The microstructural features of interest, namely: primary dentrite arm spacing (PDAS); secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS); and dendrite tip radius of curvature (ϱ) were measured as functions of the growth rate. Under the experimental conditions used in the present study, the critical growth rate for the cellular-dendritic transition occurs in the 2.7–6.1 μm/s range. This range was noted to be in excellent agreement with the value of 2.9 μm/s predicted by the Kurz and Fisher model. The primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) decreases proportionally with the growth rate to a power of −0.17. Although this growth rate exponent is smaller than that anticipated from theoretical models (−0.25), the present results are in good agreement with those reported elsewhere for nickel base superalloys. The secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) and the tip radius (ϱ) vary with the growth rate approximately in the same manner. The present results suggest a scaling law between SDAS and ϱ of the following type: λ2 = 3.0ϱ; the numerical coefficient is higher than that anticipated theoretically (2.1). The discrepancy between the present data and the results anticipated from the Kurz and Fisher model are discussed in terms of the assumptions involved in the derivation of the model.
On the heavy-ion coulomb polarization potential☆

Abstract The coupled channel radial equations for multiple Coulomb excitation are used to derive the Coulomb polarization potential in the elastic channel. The r -dependence of this potential is seen to be simple. A WKB form for the elastic scattering cross section incorporating the above potential is seen to provide a reasonable fit to the data on 20 Ne + 148 Sm, 150 Sm and 152 Sm at E lab = 70 MeV.
Nonlinear Optoacoustic Underwater Sound Source

Certain nonlinear optoacoustic generation processes at the water surface were investigated, using a Nd:glass laser operating at a wavelength of 1.0611 as the optical energy source. A new theoretical model called the equilibrium blast model was developed based on the hydrodynamic equations of equilibrium. The conditions at the shock fronts are determined by the maximum entropy condition, and the distribution of energy within the blast is assumed to be through thermal conduction. The model predictions were compared with experimental data. From the experimental results, three distinct processes have been identified: the weak blast, the thermal conduction limited blast, and the emission limited blast. The last deserves further study from a basic physics point of view and from an applications standpoint.
A Paradigm Shift in the Development of Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP): Cost-Effective CMP Planarization in Next Generation Substrate/Package Design and Manufacturing

This paper discusses an on-going research effort to investigate planarization strategies capable of meeting next generation high density package performance and cost requirements. The approach entails the development of an ultra-high removal rate (∼15 μm/min) copper CMP process used in the fabrication of package substrate inter-connects. Initial slurry recycling feasibility has also been investigated as part of the strategy to further reduce operating costs. A recent key thrust in advanced packaging interconnects necessitates the use of damascene-like processing techniques to fabricate build-up substrate layers having high-aspect ratio conductor traces. Inherent thickness variations resulting from the feature forming and copper electroplating processes require subsequent planarization to preserve design requirements for critical trace and ground plane uniformities. The removal rates that have been achieved are nearly one order of magnitude greater than any known ‘high removal rate’ copper slurries commercially available today. Slurry re-use feasibility evaluations were performed using a series of tests designed to characterize the slurry solubility limits. Preliminary data collection indicates promising results for recirculation/recycling of copper slurries without compromise of removal rate stability. CMP process modeling using CAD simulation tools have been shown to be successful in validating the slurry recirculation model with the experimental polish data collected.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Proton mean-free path in nuclear matter and in finite nuclei.

The mean-free path of protons is calculated in nuclear matter and in finite nuclei using the extended Skyrme interaction. The Green's function technique is employed for infinite nuclear matter to carry out the calculations analytically. The connection to finite nuclei is established and results are compared to data extracted from reaction cross sections and optical-potential fits for three closed-shell nuclei. Fixing the radius parameter as in the interpretation of the measurements leads to reasonable agreement within the accuracy of the data.
Traumatic Brain Injury: Risk Factors and Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

A complex interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors has often been a suspected trigger for the development of neurodegenerative disease. Yet of all the possible environmental risk factors, trauma to the central nervous system is one of the most consistent candidates for initiating the molecular cascades that result in several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In almost all of the studies investigating traumatic brain injury and AD risk, AD was diagnosed based on clinical criteria for probable or possible AD, without neuropathological verification. Recent evidence also suggests that mild traumatic brain injury, including repetitive concussions and subconcussive trauma, can provoke another distinctive neurodegeneration termed chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Because most reports were based on clinical diagnostic criteria that may lack the specificity to rule out other causes of dementia, it is possible that the increased incidence of dementia following head injuries is due to CTE, alone or in conjunction with other neurodegenerative conditions such as AD. The search for, and validation of, biomarkers for specific neurodegenerative diseases provide disease diagnosis and indicators of risk and disease progression, and offer a means to monitor therapeutic efficacy.
Wire-Speed Differential SOAP Encoding

The use of SOAP based communication protocol in complex Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) environments can cause a significant strain on network resources thereby degrading application level performance. In this paper, we present software and hardware approaches for transparent line-rate encoding and decoding of SOAP traffic for alleviating network bandwidth bottlenecks. The proposed approaches are significantly lighter weight than gzip and binary XML encoding techniques while achieving better compression ratios. First we present a software-based scheme with a linear runtime that uses a finite set of pre-selected message templates for differential encoding of SOAP messages. We propose generating the templates by extracting the longest common subsequence from a representative set of SOAP messages encountered during the service operation. Next we present an architecture for line-rate implementation of data differencing functionality in hardware. As compared to the software-based scheme, the hardware design allows higher flexibility in the template selection and message encoding without compromising the encoder throughput. We test both schemes on a sample workload running on a SOAP based Business Intelligence software platform. Our results show that the proposed techniques can achieve an average of 10X reduction in the overall SOAP traffic. Furthermore, we show that the differentially encoded data can be further compressed by gzip to achieve a combined 15-17X reduction in the message sizes as compared to less than 5X compression obtained when using gzip by itself.
Acute grief and mourning: One obstetrician's experience

Perinatal death is a fact of our workplace. Most losses are unexpected. The acute nature of the loss is associated with grief and mourning lasting for many months. The emotional impact on the family and the physician, both initially and during the bereavement period, is intense and potentially negative. The clinical interactions that occur during this time speak to the art of medicine and the privilege of being a physician.
Virus Assembly and Maturation: Auto-Regulation through Allosteric Molecular Switches

We generalize the concept of allostery from the traditional non-active-site control of enzymes to virus maturation. Virtually, all animal viruses transition from a procapsid noninfectious state to a mature infectious state. The procapsid contains an encoded chemical program that is executed following an environmental cue. We developed an exceptionally accessible virus system for the study of the activators of maturation and the downstream consequences that result in particle stability and infectivity. Nudaurelia capensis omega virus (NωV) is a T=4 icosahedral virus that undergoes a dramatic maturation in which the 490-A spherical procapsid condenses to a 400-A icosahedral-shaped capsid with associated specific auto-proteolysis and stabilization. Employing X-ray crystallography, time-resolved electron cryo-microscopy and hydrogen/deuterium exchange as well as biochemistry, it was possible to define the mechanisms of allosteric communication among the four quasi-equivalent subunits in the icosahedral asymmetric unit. These gene products undergo proteolysis at different rates, dependent on quaternary structure environment, while particle stability is conferred globally following only a few local subunit transitions. We show that there is a close similarity between the concepts of tensegrity (associated with geodesic domes and mechanical engineering) and allostery (associated with biochemical control mechanisms).
Monitoring free-text data using medical language processing

Abstract In this paper, we describe a software system for automated monitoring of free-text data in a medical information system that we call RadTRAC ( Rad iology T ext R eport A nalyzer and C lassifier). RadTRAC uses a medical language processing tool and rules derived from statistical analysis of a database to process free-text chest X-ray (CXR) reports and identify reports that describe new or expanding neoplasms for the purpose of monitoring the follow-up of these patients. To evaluate the RadTRAC system, we examined a set of 470 consecutive radiology reports at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA. We compared RadTRAC classification of CXR reports with retrospective expert classification of the reports and with clinical classification from CXR films as recorded in a logbook while the films were being read. The RadTRAC system had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 82% using the logbook as the gold standard. This was similar to the performance of expert radiologists (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 90%). We then reviewed the charts, appointment schedule, and subsequent X-ray reports of cases either in the logbook or that were identified by RadTRAC as needing follow-up. Two cases in the logbook could have potentially benefited from an automatic monitoring system to ensure follow-up. RadTRAC identified six confirmed new tumors or new metastatic lesions that were not in the logbook. Six other cases were identified by the RadTRAC system with suspicious X-ray findings that had either no follow-up or no further mention of the X-ray lesion in medical records. This suggests that a reminder system based on the RadTRAC technology would be potentially useful.
Crystallization and Colloidal Stability of Calcium Phosphate Phases

The interfacial energy of calcium phosphate powders has been determined through contact angle measurements using thin-layer wicking techniques. The much smaller interfacial energy of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) in contact with water compared with that of hydroxyapatite (HAP) supports the observation that the crystallization of the latter may be preceded by an OCP phase which can serve as a template for apatite growth. The colloidal stabilities of calcium phosphates of colloidal dimensions were also investigated. The relative stabilities of OCP, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), and HAP dispersions could be explained by invoking the concepts of Lewis acid−base interactions in addition to the two other more traditional types of interactions that are involved in the Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek (DLVO) theory, namely, electrical double-layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction.
State estimation based model predictive control applied to shell control problem: a case study

Abstract In this paper, we demonstrate how a practical control problem with multiple control/optimization objectives and various operating constraints is formulated in the theoretical framework of state estimation based model predictive control (SEMPC) proposed by Lee . We use the shell control problem (SCP) of a heavy oil fractionator as case study. The shell control problem embodies most of the critical elements of challenging industrial process control problems (e.g. unmeasured disturbances, model uncertainty, input/output constraints, optimization objective conflicting with control requirements, failure-prone sensors, secondary measurements, nonsquare system, etc.) and therefore serves as a good test problem for investigation of potential benefits and pitfalls of the new technique. We demonstrate in the case study that, while the theory for the new model predictive control (MPC) technique is rigorously laid out, it is nontrivial for practicing engineers to formulate various practical objectives correctly within the theoretical framework to realize all the potential performance improvements of SEMPC over conventional MPC. By formulating and analyzing a series of different SEMPC controller designs for SCP, this paper highlights some of the possible difficulties that engineers may encounter in applying SEMPC to practical control problems and shows how these difficulties are overcome most efficiently.
Pump-noise transfer in dual-pump fiber-optic parametric amplifiers: walk-off effects.

Transfer of intensity noise from pumps to signal in dual-pump fiber-optic parametric amplifiers is simulated numerically for a realistic configuration in which both pumps are amplified and filtered before they enter the fiber. The walk-off effects induced by different group velocities of pumps, signal, and idler are fully taken into account. It is found that the optical signal-to-noise ratio can be as low as 15?dB when the amplifier length is close to 0.5?km, but it can be improved by 3?dB or so by use of longer fibers.
IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: VICTORIAN AGE CONSTRUCTION AND THE SPECULAR SELF

AT AGE FIFTY-TWO, THOMAS HARDY was beginning to feel uneasy about aging. On October 11, 1892, he wrote to his friend Arthur Blomfield: “Hurt my tooth at breakfast-time. I look in the glass. Am conscious of the humiliating sorriness of my earthly tabernacle…. Why should a man's mind have been thrown into such close, sad, sensational, inexplicable relations with such a precarious object as his own body!” (F. Hardy 13–14). This moment of specular disgust was ultimately recorded in a poem: I look into my glass,And view my wasting skin,And say, “Would God it came to passMy heart had shrunk as thin!”For then, I, undistrestBy hearts grown cold to me,Could lonely wait my endless restWith equanimity.But Time, to make me grieve,Part steals, lets part abide;And shakes this fragile frame at eveWith throbbings of noontide. (T. Hardy, Complete Poems 81)
Simplicity and authority: Reflections on theory and practice in Kant's moral philosophy

What is the proper task of Kantian ethical theory? This paper seeks to answer this question with reference to Kant's reply to Christian Garve in Section I of his 1793 essay on Theory and Practice. Kant reasserts the distinctness and natural authority of our consciousness of the moral law. Every mature human being is a moral professional—even philosophers like Garve, if only they forget about their ill-conceived ethical systems and listen to the voice of pure practical reason. Normative theory, Kant argues, cannot be refuted with reference to alleged experience. It is the proper task of the moral philosopher to emphasize this fact. The paper also discusses Kant's attempts to clarify his moral psychology, philosophy of value and conception of the highest good in the course of replying to Garve's challenge.
Generalized path integral based quantum transition state theory

A theory for calculating rates of transitions in quantum systems is presented and applied to desorption of H from a 2 . Cu 110 surface. The quantum transition state is defined as a conical dividing surface in the space of closed Feynman paths and a 'reaction coordinate' in this extended space is used to parametrize a reversible work evaluation of the free energy barrier. In a low temperature, harmonic limit the theory reduces to instanton theory. Above the cross-over temperature for tunneling, the theory reduces to the centroid density approximation and in the classical limit, variational classical transition state theory is recovered. q 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
The opioidergic system: potential roles and therapeutic indications in the eye.

OPIUM IS AN EXTRACT derived from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, which, for many centuries, has been used to produce analgesia and alleviate pain. Opium contains several important alkaloid constituents, which vary markedly in their pharmacologic actions. Some of these alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine, are useful therapeutically. In 1806, Serturner isolated morphine from opium; this was a major advancement in opioid research.1 The term opioid was coined by Acheson2 to denote compounds with morphine-like properties despite their chemically diverse structures. However, it was not until 167 years later that the pharmacology of opioids was defined at the receptor level.3 Although morphine is the most widely used analgesic clinically, it produces several undesirable side effects, including nausea, constipation, respiratory depression, and addiction. Chemists have successfully synthesized other forms of opioid molecules in a continuing effort to make analogs with greater selectivity and fewer side effects. The first reports of morphine’s clinical use were provided by a second-century Greek physician, Galen, who administered opium for the relief of pain and to reduce anxiety in those suffering from asthma and congestive heart failure. About A.D. 1000, an Arabic physician, Avicenna, prescribed opium for diarrhea and diseases of the eye.4 In addition to producing analgesia, numerous studies suggest that endogenous opioids are mediators/modulators of: the stress response; immune/inflammatory events; cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and respiratory control; neuronal events related to behavior, learning, memory, perception, and emotion; and regulation of cellular proliferation and survival. Thus, in addition to being effective analgesics, opioids can produce a myriad of pharmacologic actions that might have application in a variety of diseases of the eye. To date, numerous studies have suggested modulatory roles for the opioidergic receptors in neuronal, cardiac, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems. For example, the ability of opioids to elicit protection against ischemia and other insults has been demonstrated unequivocally in the heart, brain, kidney, and liver of laboratory animals.5,6 Moreover, some investigators have proposed that endogenous opioids should be considered messenger molecules (cytokines) at the crossroads of the inflammatory/immune responses.7 These diverse types of pharmacologic actions of endogenous and exogenous opioid ligands have not been investigated sufficiently in the eye. This review provides an overview of the complexity of opioid receptor-mediated pharmacologic actions in the eye and compares it to reports of similar effects in nonocular systems. Based on existing literature and current data, evidence suggests that opioidergic ligands have the potential to protect against retinopathies, particularly those associated with glaucoma. In this regard, it
Delaunay-Subgraph Statistics of Disc Packings

Dense, random, disc-simulated media are generated through mechanical boundary constriction and their structures investigated. It is found that, within the high-to-extremal density regime, geometric conditions allow generation of a generalized Delaunay subset that emphasizes dominant configurations. This representation makes conspicuous details of the progressive structural changes on approaching the upper packing bound, which appears homotaxic with the random close-packed (RCP) configuration. For the present building conditions, the method obtains a linear correlation for the density dependence of particular configurations in the near-RCP region.
Blending object-oriented design principles and software engineering practices into an undergraduate architecture simulator project

It is well understood pedagogically that students learn better through active involvement. Thus the use of architecture simulators can enhance student learning in a computer organization, assembly programming, or architecture course. A deeper understanding can be attained by having students actually construct an architecture simulator. This paper describes the object-oriented design of a junior-level architecture course project that centers around the construction of a PDP-11 simulator. In addition, since this is a substantial system to build, the project blends in a number of software development practices designed to expose students in a practical and subtle way to valuable software engineering principles.