cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ion implantation in advanced planar and vertical devices

Abstract The extent (“gate overlap”) and slope (“abruptness”) of the lateral junction are quickly replacing vertical junction depth as the most important physical junction metrics in advanced device architectures. This is in particular true for ultra-thin body devices, where the vertical junction is limited by a geometric constraint. The optimum gate overlap is quite small, or may even be negative, making a process without the need of high-tilt implantation feasible, even for dopant activation with negligible diffusion by flash annealing or laser thermal processing. Dopant activation by solid phase epitaxial regrowth might require high-tilt implants for a positive overlap. The use of such implants, however, is expected to lead to severe gate-poly and gate-oxide degradation. Scaling the 150 nm technology has drastically shrunk the overlap, accomplished by an equally aggressive reduction in thermal budget. For a 65 nm node device, a significant fraction of the overlap originates in the as-implanted dopant profile and the importance of diffusion is diminished. As a consequence small changes in the as-implanted profile are beginning to have a disproportionate impact on device characteristics. Small angular deviations of the incident beam from normal incidence, as seen by the wafer, lead to large changes in on-current. This can be alleviated significantly by a quad implant provided the tilt-angle is sufficiently large, in the order >5°.
Capacitive Analysis of Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Displays

Abstract Magnetocapacitive null (MCN) and capacitance versus voltage (C-V) measurements are valuable tools for analyzing electro-optical properties of twisted bematic LCDs. the C-V technique is particularly useful when resulrs are presented in the form of reduced capacitance CR(V) = [C(V) - C]/(C∥ - C1) = sin2α, where αe(V) is an effective molecular tilt. Thus, the effective voltage induced distortion of the LC is determined by monitoring CR-V.
Cognitive Domains of the Mood System

One possible outline of the interrelationship between mood and cognition makes use of a fourfold framework: mood-state introspections yield a report of the mood, mood-sensitive judgments are influenced by mood, metamood experiences include thoughts about the mood, and mood-related traits predict the likelihood of being in a mood. Three studies were conducted to investigate the relation between mood introspection and mood-sensitive judgment (e.g., mood-related changes in judgments about "objective" events such as belief in the probability of a nuclear war). These same studies also examined the metamood experiences and mood-related traits occurring simultaneously with the above moods and judgments. Judgment was mood-sensitive across all studies. Factor analysis of the various measures was supportive of the partial independence of the four domains. Mood introspection, mood-sensitive judgment, and mood-related traits appeared on separate factors. Metamood experience was factorially complex and was distributed across factors. Interrelations among the domains were described. The relevance of the framework for representing personality and psychopathology was discussed, as was the influence of mood on everyday judgments.
Nematic liquid-crystal technology for Si wafer-based reflective spatial light modulators

— Various nematic LC modes are reviewed and compared in terms optical throughput, driving voltage, response time, contrast ratio, and spectral responses for LCoS applications. The effects of fringe-field-induced disclination on display performance and the mechanism of slow response of the disclination line between two topologically non-equivalent LC states will be discussed. Issues involving flicker and photo-instability of LCoS displays will be addressed as well.
Worldwide development potential for sour gas

Abstract In this study, we summarize data on the location and scale of proven and probable sour gas resources and compare with size and location of oil fields. This provides an indication of the location and scale of opportunities to gain further experience in the application of CCS. This by using captured carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from sour gas resources, which are presently undeveloped or underdeveloped, for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR). Currently there are globally many undeveloped or underdeveloped sour gas accumulations containing a significant fraction of CO 2 . The high CO 2 content between 15% and 80%, as well as in some cases the addition of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), severely limits the economic and environmental viability of sour gas resources. Globally a total resource of around 4 trillion m 3 of net hydrocarbon gas and 15000 MT of associated CO 2 has been identified. This was done by summing individual undeveloped and underdeveloped fields with ultimate recoverable proven and probable resources larger than 14 billion m 3 each of net hydrocarbon gas and CO 2 content between 15% and 80%. Development of these fields could be enabled by the availability of a cost effective gas separation method such as the Controlled Freeze Zone TM (CFZ) technology, and of viable CO 2 enhanced oil recovery opportunities (CO 2 -EOR) to reduce the cost of CO 2 capture, transportation and storage. Sour gas resources have been mapped globally using the IHS fields and reservoirs database from 2009. The largest concentrations of sour gas are located in SE Asia & NW Australia, Central USA, Middle East and North Africa. In the USA, Middle East and North Africa, which are oil rich, there is significant potential for CO 2 -EOR opportunities. The relative absence of significant oil accumulations in SE Asia & NW Australia will in many cases require the storage of CO 2 in saline aquifers, as is planned for the Gorgon field in Australia. The challenges of developing natural gas fields with a high CO 2 content can be best illustrated by ExxonMobil’s development of the LaBarge field. This field, located in SW Wyoming, USA, was discovered in 1963, but production was delayed until 1986 because of the challenging gas composition of 65% carbon dioxide, 21% methane, 7% nitrogen, 5% hydrogen sulfide, and 0.6% helium. It is the lowest hydrocarbon content natural gas commercially produced in the world. Currently the majority of the recovered CO 2 is transported and sold to EOR operators. Additionally, construction of a commercial demonstration facility for ExxonMobil’s Controlled Freeze Zone™ (CFZ) gas treatment technology has been completed at Shute Creek, Wyoming. The CFZ™ technology allows the single step separation of CO 2 and other contaminants from a natural gas stream without the use of solvents or absorbents.
Social networking technologies and knowledge sharing in organizations

My doctoral research is an exploratory project focused on understanding and theorizing on the ways in which various social networking technologies (SNTs) facilitate informal knowledge sharing in the workplace. Forms of SNT include (but are not limited to) corporate social networking platforms, weblogs, wikis, and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Here I discuss the work to date, outline future steps and detail the expected contributions of this research. The primary outcome of this research is a greater conceptualization of the role and value of various SNTs for knowledge sharing in organizational contexts, which still remain understudied within the CSCW arena.
Comparison of Soybean-Grain Sorghum Silage with Corn Silage for Lactating Cows

Abstract Data were collected in a 3-yr experiment to compare the intake, milk production, and return above feed cost of cows fed soybean-grain sorghum silage with those of cows fed corn silage. In the last yr, soybean-grain sorghum was harvested at the flower stage of the soybean plants. In the 2nd and 3rd yr, soybean-grain sorghum was harvested at both the flower and early bean stages. In all 3 yr corn silage was harvested in the dent stage of maturity. Ten cows in early lactation were on each treatment in each of the 3 yr (80 cows) to evaluate the silages. Cows fed corn silage consumed 10, 12, and 20% more dry matter and produced 1.8, 1.9, and .8kg more fat-corrected milk daily than those fed flower stage soybean-grain sorghum for yr 1 to 3. Cows fed corn silage consumed 3 and 14% more dry matter and produced 1.8 and 2.0kg more fat-corrected milk than cows fed the early stage bean. Corn cost more per hectare than soybean-grain sorghum to grow each year, but the cost per unit silage produced was less. Higher daily milk production coupled with lower silage cost resulted in consistently greater return above feed cost for corn silage.
Comparison of Theory and Experiment for Non-Linear Flutter and Stall Response of a Helicopter Blade

Abstract The purpose of the present paper is to study the flutter instability and forced response of a non-rotating helicopter blade model with a parabolic or cubic and freeplay torsional stiffness non-linearity based upon the semi-empirical (linear and) non-linear ONERA stall aerodynamic model. An experiment has also been carried out in the Duke Universtiy low speed wind tunnel. The wind tunnel test results show good agreement between theory and experiment for linear and non-linear flutter instability; for periodic, limit cycle and chaotic flutter motion and forced response behavior; and for the effects of an initial disturbance on non-linear flutter instability. Comparisons of the results from theory and experiment are helpful in understanding physically the non-linear aeroelasticity phenomena and chaotic oscillations.
Dislocation Models for Shear Transformations

The role of various combinations of partial dislocations as shear transformation interfaces is examined. Dislocation models for all transformations involving 2H, 3C, 4H, 5H, and 6H are developed. The commonly occurring 2H 4H and 2H 6H1 appear to be favored kinetically because the particular growth interfaces involved contain only partial dislocation dipoles. Several examples from the literature, including Jagodzinski's layer transposition in polytypism, and results of several recent transmission electron microscopy studies are interpreted in terms of appropriate dislocation models. Es wird die Rolle verschiedener Kombinationen von Partialversetzungen als Scherungsubergangs-grenzflache untersucht. Versetzungsmodelle fur alle Transformationen, die 2H, 3C, 4H, 5H und 6H einschliesen, werden entwickelt. Die ublicherweise auftretenden 2H 4H- und 2H 6H1-Ubergange scheinen kinetisch bevorzugt zu sein, da die speziellen beteiligten Wachstumsgrenz-flachen nur Teilversetzungsdipole enthalten. Einige Beispiele aus der Literatur, einschlieslich der Jagodzinskischen Schichttransposition des Polytypismus, und Ergebnisse von verschiedenen neueren Transmissionselektronenmikroskopieuntersuchungen werden mit geeigneten Versetzungs-modellen interpretiert.
Forward-angle elastic p → p spin-depolarization and -rotation parameters at 0.8 GeV

800 MeV elastic p+p spin-depolarization and -rotation parameters D/sub N/N, D/sub S/S, D/sub L/L, D/sub S/L, and D/sub L/S have been measured for the center-of-momentum angular range 4.8/sup 0/--23.8/sup 0/ (0.26 fm/sup -1/< or =q< or =1.28 fm/sup -1/). Statistical uncertainties are approx. = +- 0.01--0.02 and total systematic uncertainty is < or = +- 0.035. The data are in overall agreement with predictions from global phase shift analysis.
Benefits and Burdens of Genetic Carrier Identification

This qualitative study examined experiences of adults requesting genetic-carrier testing for four autosomal-recessive and X-linked-recessive disorders. The sample consisted of 34 adults with a positive family history or membership in an ethnic group at risk for the inherited disorder. A semistructured interview guide was used to collect data during an interview 1 month after receipt of test results. Noncarriers experienced benefits of emotional relief and freedom to move ahead with reproductive planning. Carriers experienced burdens of sadness and loss of reproductive expectations. Some subjects in both groups experienced difficulty disclosing results to selected family members and expressed concerns regarding disclosure of testing to insurance providers.
On the loss of latin -b- in Rumanian and related phenomena

Abstract The general consonantal structure of Rumanian is characterized by its closeness to that of Latin. Modifications of the Latin pattern concern primarily the simplification of the geminates and certain consonant clusters (ct > pt, -qu > -p, etc.). But Latin voiced and unvoiced single stops are meticulously preserved. Yet there is one important exception to this rule: the Latin intervocalic -b- and {-u-}, with which it had merged in late Latin, was eliminated. The process of elimination must have been comparatively early, for it had ceased to be operative at the time of the borrowing of Slavic words 1 . The purpose of this article is to consider from a structural viewpoint the reasons which forced Rumanian to depart from the Latin structure with respect to the intervocalic -b- and {-u-}.
Beta- and gamma-range human lower limb corticomuscular coherence

Coherence between electroencephalography (EEG) recorded on the scalp above the motor cortex and electromyography (EMG) recorded on the skin of the limbs is thought to reflect corticospinal coupling between motor cortex and muscle motor units. Beta-range (13-30 Hz) corticomuscular coherence has been extensively documented during static force output while gamma-range (31-45 Hz) coherence has been linked to dynamic force output. However, the explanation for this beta-to-gamma coherence shift remains unclear. We recorded 264-channel EEG and 8-channel lower limb electromyography (EMG) while 8 healthy subjects performed isometric and isotonic, knee and ankle exercises. Adaptive mixture independent component analysis (AMICA) parsed EEG into models of underlying source signals. We computed magnitude squared coherence between electrocortical source signals and EMG. Significant coherence between contralateral motor cortex electrocortical signals and lower limb EMG was observed in the beta- and gamma-range for all exercise types. Gamma-range coherence was significantly greater for isotonic exercises than for isometric exercises. We conclude that active muscle movement modulates the speed of corticospinal oscillations. Specifically, isotonic contractions shift corticospinal oscillations towards the gamma-range while isometric contractions favor beta-range oscillations. Prior research has suggested that tasks requiring increased integration of visual and somatosensory information may shift corticomuscular coherence to the gamma-range. The isometric and isotonic tasks studied here likely required similar amounts of visual and somatosensory integration. This suggests that muscle dynamics, including the amount and type of proprioception, may play a role in the beta-to-gamma shift.
Impact of Stressful Life Events, Depression, Social Support, Coping, and Cortisol on Progression to AIDS

OBJECTIVE: This study examined prospectively the effects of stressful events, depressive symptoms, social support, coping methods, and cortisol levels on progression of HIV-1 infection. METHOD: Eighty-two homosexual men with HIV type-1 infection without AIDS or symptoms at baseline were studied every 6 months for up to 7.5 years. Men were recruited from rural and urban areas in North Carolina, and none was using antiretroviral medications at entry. Disease progression was defined as CD4+ lymphocyte count <200/μl or the presence of an AIDS indicator condition. RESULTS: Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates were used adjusting for race, baseline CD4+ count and viral load, and cumulative average antiretroviral medications. Faster progression to AIDS was associated with higher cumulative average stressful life events, coping by means of denial, and higher serum cortisol as well as with lower cumulative average satisfaction with social support. Other background (e.g., age, education) and health ...
Routes of uptake and their relative contribution to the toxicologic response of Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) to an organophosphate pesticide

Ingestion of contaminated food is considered the primary route of exposure in birds to agricultural chemicals. Routes of exposure other than ingestion are not often considered in risk assessments of agricultural chemicals to avian wildlife. However, recent studies demonstrated anorexic or avoidance behaviors in birds exposed to organophosphate (OP) insecticides. These behaviors would tend to limit exposure if ingestion alone were considered. The contribution, if any, of dermal, preening, and respiratory pathways to the exposure of birds to pesticides under field conditions is unknown. In addition, oral exposures are currently assessed in artificial environments that do not reflect real-life exposure scenarios. To determine the relative contribution of these pathways and to assess exposures under ecological conditions, 270 northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) were exposed to simulated aerial crop applications of methyl parathion in an environmentally controlled wind tunnel. The wind tunnel environment consisted of a 25-cm cotton plant canopy, a 5-cm-thick floor of silt-loam, a temperature of 25°C, 50% RH, UV intensity similar to summer sunlight, and a wind speed of 3.2 km/h. Inhalation, preening, and dermal routes were isolated in groups of birds exposed to each application. Five birds from each group were collected at 1, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h post-spray to determine cholinesterase (ChE) response to the exposures. Contaminated and uncontaminated darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitar) larvae were presented to free-ranging sprayed birds in the wind tunnel to assess oral uptake. ChE response was determined at 4, 8, 24, and 48 h postspray. All exposures were replicated. All four routes contributed to the inhibition of brain ChE at different post-spray periods. Dermal uptake and preening were major contributors to the overall dose and toxic response of birds to methyl parathion. Inhalation was the major route of exposure at 1 h post-spray. At 4 h post-spray, uptake through preening caused the greatest inhibition of brain ChE activity. Oral ingestion resulted in less than 20% inhibition of brain ChE during the test. Routes of uptake in order of contribution to toxicologic response from 8 to 48 h post-spray were dermal > preening ≥ oral > inhalation.
Blinded comparison of computer-aided detection with human second reading in screening mammography: The importance of the question and the critical numbers game

1Department of Radiology, George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037. Address correspondence to R. F. Brem. he authors of the well-designed study reported in the previous article [1] set out to compare the use of computer-aided detection (CAD) and a single radiologist interpretation of screening mammography with double reading for the improved diagnosis of breast cancer. With the increasing use of CAD, as well as the ongoing controversy about its use, this is an important goal and the authors ask a critically important question. However, it is also a challenging goal. The comparison of single reading with CAD versus double reading requires a large patient population to achieve sufficient statistical power to definitively answer the question posed. The admirable study, reported in this issue of AJR [1], is the basis on which additional studies will continue to build our knowledge base of this rapidly expanding field. Although not the primary goal, additional and excellent insights about the use of CAD as well as its integration into clinical practice result from this study. The authors [1] have used sophisticated and extensive statistics. They report the recall rate, biopsy rate, positive predictive value, and increased cancer detection rates for a single reader with CAD as compared with the double reading of mammograms. In this study, 6,381 consecutive screening mammograms were included in which a total of 18 cancers were present, 15 diagnosed and three false-negative cancers that were found on imaging 1 year later. The literature reports between 3 and 8 cancers per 1,000 screening mammograms [2], although the prevalence of breast cancer in the population reported in the study being discussed is 2.03 per thousand for the primary reader and 2.35 for all three “readers,”—that is, the primary reader, the primary reader with CAD, or the primary reader along with the second human reader [1]. The authors ascribe this difference to the fact that these are predominantly incidence cancers and not prevalence cancers because most patients had prior mammograms and suggest that this difference likely reflects the excellent care afforded patients seen in the investigators’ clinical practice. Nevertheless, the result of the study of the 6,381 screening mammograms is 18 cancers. This is the primary limitation of this study. The authors note that the small study size does not allow for a statistical comparison. In fact, they state that “.... the number of cases was too small to determine if the CAD or if the human reader was superior,....” and therefore the question that this study set out to investigate could not be definitely answered. The authors understand the limitations of their study; they state that:
Inheritance of Cry1F resistance in laboratory-selected European corn borer and its survival on transgenic corn expressing the Cry1F toxin.

A major assumption of the high-dose/refuge strategy proposed for insect resistance management strategies for transgenic crop plants that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis is that resistance traits that evolve in pest species will be recessive. The inheritance of Cry1F resistance and larval survival on commercially available Cry1F corn hybrids were determined in a laboratory-selected strain of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), displaying more than 3000-fold resistance to Cry1F. Concentration-response bioassays of reciprocal parental crosses indicated that the resistance is autosomal and recessive. Bioassays of the backcross of the F1 generation with the selected strain were consistent with the hypothesis that a single locus, or a set of tightly linked loci, is responsible for the resistance. Greenhouse experiments with Cry1F-expressing corn hybrids indicated that some resistant larvae survived the high dose of toxin delivered by Cry1F-expressing plants although F1 progeny of susceptible by resistant crosses had fitness close to zero. These results provide the first direct evidence that the high dose/refuge strategy currently in place to manage resistance in Cry1F-expressing corn is appropriate.
The Constrained Capacity of Single and Multiuser Channels with Unknown Fading

This work presents a general technique to compute tight upper and lower bounds on the constrained capacity of both the point to point and multiuser Rayleigh flat fading channel with no channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter or the receiver. The paper begins by proving that the optimal input distribution for the point-to-point fading channel must have uniform i.i.d phase and therefore, for constant envelope transmitters, the only design parameter is the density of the driving constellation. The paper then presents plots of the (essentially coincident) upper and lower bounds on the constrained capacity for BPSK,QPSK and 8-PSK inputs as a function of SNR for the point to point channel. These allow the designer to judge the benefits of different channel alphabet choices and to compare the efficiency of the final coding system with the capacity of this channel and modulation alphabet combination. The paper then goes on to extend these methods to multiuser fading channels.
Outage Probabilities of a MIMO Scheme in Shadowed Fading Channels with Micro- and Macrodiversity Reception

A compound probability density function (pdf) model is used for the outage analysis of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) scheme operating in shadowed fading channels. Instead of the lognormal pdf, the compound pdf uses a gamma distribution to account for shadowing, leading to a closed form expression for the pdf of the signal-to-noise ratio in a shadowed fading channel. While the mitigation of short term fading is achieved through the use of multiple transmitters and multiple receivers, the shadowing is mitigated with macrodiversity using two base stations. Taking into account the fact that shadowing has a larger correlation distance, the two base stations are treated to have nonzero correlation. It is shown that the expression for the outage probability in a MIMO scheme operating in shadowed fading channels can be written in a simple form eliminating the need for numerical evaluation of double integrals. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the approach for the analysis of MIMO schemes.
A physical interpretation of elastic guided-wave reflection from normal ends of a waveguide

Studied in this paper are two-dimensional guided wave reflections from normal boundaries in an isotropic elastic media. By making use of the transverse resonance concept, the reflections of the waveguide modes from normal interfaces are interrogated. A general condition is obtained under which the guided waves in an isotropic medium will undergo no mode conversion when interaction occurs with a normal traction free or fixed end. Under some circumstances, similarities are obtained between waveguide modes and bulk-wave modes, for example, doubling of the displacement field at a free end and doubling of the stress field at a fixed end. The results obtained are applicable to all two-dimensional, guided-wave modes, along one waveguide direction with lossless boundaries on the surface(s) parallel to the waveguide direction, including all possible guided-wave modes, propagating and nonpropagating, in plates, one half space, interface of two different half spaces, layers on a half space, multilayer structures, and all axisymmetric modes in cylindrical structures. In addition, the function of displacement potentials is analyzed in the course of guided-wave mode conversion at a normal end.
Algebraic versus analytic design limitations imposed by ill-conditioned plants

A long-standing conjecture has been that ill-conditioned multivariable plants pose an inherent design difficulty in that they limit the class of achievable robust performance specifications. The elusiveness of a proof of this conjecture has motivated study of an alternate design problem, involving only the nominal plant, in the hope that an inherent difficulty due to plant conditioning might emerge for this alternate problem. It is shown, under mild assumptions, that such a difficulty, if it indeed exists, must take the form of a design tradeoff between system properties at different frequencies, rather than between properties at the same frequency. >
Interaction of heavy metals with chitin and chitosan. III. Chromium

The interaction of the natural marine polymer chitin and its deacetylated derivative chitosan with chromium has been investigated. The uptake of chromium from aqueous solution was determined from changes in concentration as measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The uptake of Cr(III) on chitosan was significantly greater than that on chitin. The smaller the size fraction of the chitin/chitosan, the greater the uptake of Cr(III). The Cr(III) uptake increased with increasing solution pH. Minimal desorption of chromium was observed on washing previously chromium-equilibrated chitosan with distilled water. The uptake of Cr(III) by chitosan was enhanced in the presence of phosphate, whereas the converse was not observed. Minimal uptake of Cr(VI) as dichromate by chitin and chitosan was measured. Cr-containing nodules were noted in the SEM/EDAX analysis for Cr(III)-equilibrated chitosan. Cr-containing clusters were detected for Cr(III)- plus phosphate-equilibrated chitosan. XPS results supported the conclusions drawn from the isotherm studies.
Sirt1 Deletion Leads to Enhanced Inflammation and Aggravates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Bacterial endotoxin has been known to induce excessive inflammatory responses and acute kidney injury. In the present study, we used a mouse model of endotoxemia to investigate the role of Sirt1 in inflammatory kidney injury. We examined molecular and cellular responses in inducible Sirt1 knockout (Sirt1−/−) mice and wild type littermates (Sirt1+/+) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced kidney injury. Our studies demonstrated that Sirt1 deletion caused aggravated kidney injury, which was associated with increased inflammatory responses including elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and increased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. Inflammatory signaling such as STAT3/ERK phosphorylation and NF-κB activation was markedly elevated in kidney tissues of Sirt1 knockout mice after LPS challenge. The results indicate that Sirt1 is protective against LPS-induced acute kidney injury by suppressing kidney inflammation and down-regulating inflammatory signaling.
Feedback to first language learners: the role of repetitions and clarification questions.

The conclusion that information regarding the grammatically of children's speech is unavailable in parental input has recently been challenged (Moerk 1983 a, b, Hirsh-Pasek, Treiman & Schneiderman 1984). The present study expanded on this research by broadening the definition of ‘negative feedback’ and by describing individual styles of mother–child dialogues. The purpose was to investigate whether mothers of four 2-year-old children responded differentially to their children's well-formed or ill-formed utterances with explicit and implicit feedback. The middle-class, English-speaking, mother–child dyads were recorded in a naturalistic context at home during play and eating activities. Explicit and implicit feedback were different in terms of the proportion of responses available to the child and their relation to well-formed and ill-formed utterances. The style of response was similar for most analyses across the four mothers.
Living with Head and Neck Cancer and Coping with Dying when Treatments Fail

Palliative care in patients who have head and neck cancer is a complex topic that requires a multifaceted approach. The head and neck surgeon has an important duty to fulfill in managing and following the wishes of the incurable cancer patient and is obligated to direct them to the appropriate services in this challenging time.
Biomechanical comparison of human pulmonary and aortic roots

OBJECTIVE: Significant dilation of the pulmonary autograft is problematic after the Ross operation and may require reoperation. Pulmonary autograft remodelling occurs in response to the immediate rise in pressure and consequently wall stress. Stress–strain response of the pulmonary root plays an important role in understanding autograft function and remodelling following the Ross procedure. However, limited data are available on mechanical properties of fresh human pulmonary roots. The aim of this study was to compare mechanical properties of fresh human pulmonary and aortic roots prior to the Ross operation. METHODS: Fresh healthy human hearts (n= 21) were obtained from California Transplant Donor Network (Oakland, CA). Five regions of pulmonary and aortic roots, anterior and posterior artery and three sinuses, were subjected to displacement-controlled equibiaxial stretch testing within 24 h of cross-clamp time. Different regions of pulmonary and aortic roots were compared using a paired-comparison approach based on tissue stiffness at systemic pressure. Furthermore, histologic analysis was performed to compare the fibrous structure of pulmonary and aortic roots. RESULTS: Human pulmonary and aortic roots demonstrated nonlinear response to biaxial loading in both circumferential and longitudinal directions. Pulmonary artery was found to be significantly stiffer than ascending aorta at systemic pressure in the two principal directions (P< 0.001). Similarly, pulmonary sinuses were significantly stiffer than the aortic sinuses at systemic pressure in the two directions (P< 0.001). Histological analysis revealed that aortic roots had tight denser weave of elastin than pulmonary roots. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found in the compliance and fibrous structure of human pulmonary and aortic roots. These regional differences may impact pulmonary autograft remodelling and influence late autograft dilation.
Verifying concurrent programs with chalice

One of the problems in verifying concurrent programs is keeping track of which threads have access to which data at which times. The experimental language Chalice makes this explicit by requiring every data access to be justified with a sufficient set of permissions. Permissions can be transferred between threads and can be stored in the heap. The programming language includes specification constructs for describing data invariants and permission transfers. Chalice supports synchronization via shared memory and locks as well as via channels. The Chalice program verifier checks the correctness of programs with respect to their specifications and the rules for data access. Programs that have been proved correct compile to executable code for the .NET platform.In this talk, I will give an overview and demo of the Chalice language and its permission model. I will describe the semantic model used to reason about programs and how this model is encoded in the Boogie intermediate verification language, from which first-order verification conditions are generated and fed to an SMT solver. I will also outline some remaining challenges in making the language and its specifications easy to use, in making the encoding efficient for SMT solvers, and in presenting verification errors to the user.Joint work with Peter Muller and Jan Smans.
Age-dependent therapeutic effects of liver X receptor-α activation in murine polymicrobial sepsis.

The severity of sepsis is significantly affected by advanced age; however, age-dependent molecular mechanisms of this susceptibility are unknown. Nuclear liver X receptor-a (LXRa) is a regulator of lipid metabolism with associated antiinflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the role of LXRa in age-dependent lung injury and outcome of sepsis. Male C57BL/6, LXRa-deficient (LXRa � /� ) and wild type (WT) (LXRa +/+ ) mice of different ages were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In pharmacological studies, treatment with the LXRa ligand T0901317 reduced lung neutrophil infiltration in C57BL/6 mice aged from 1 to 8 mo when compared with vehicle-treated animals subjected to CLP. The LXRa ligand improved survival in young mice (2–3 mo old) but did not affect survival or neutrophil infiltration in mature adult mice (11–13 mo old). Immunoblotting revealed an age-dependent decrease of lung LXRa levels. Young LXRa � /� mice (2–3 mo old) exhibited earlier mortality than age-matched WT mice after CLP. Lung damage and neutrophil infiltration, lung activation of the pro-inflammatory NF-kB and plasma IL-6 levels were higher in LXRa � /� mice 18 h after CLP compared with LXRa +/+ mice. This study suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of LXRa in sepsis
The role of the Pirani scoring system in the management of club foot by the Ponseti method

The Pirani scoring system, together with the Ponseti method of club foot management, was assessed for its predictive value. The data on 70 idiopathic club feet successfully treated by the Ponseti method and scored by Pirani's system between February 2002 and May 2004 were analysed. There was a significant positive correlation between the initial Pirani score and number of casts required to correct the deformity. A foot scoring 4 or more is likely to require at least four casts, and one scoring less than 4 will require three or fewer. A foot with a hindfoot score of 2.5 or 3 has a 72% chance of requiring a tenotomy. The Pirani scoring system is reliable, quick, and easy to use, and provides a good forecast about the likely treatment for an individual foot but a low score does not exclude the possibility that a tenotomy may be required.
ADAPTIVE BEAMFORMING IN AN ACTIVE DOPPLER SONAR

The paper considers reverberation reduction in an active sonar system transmitting long C.W. pulses from a moving platform. Somewhat different from the MTI radar situation in which clutter can be considered as arriving from a specific bearing within a given doppler cell, the reverberation in the active doppler processing sonar is somewhat spread in angular extent largely because the scatterers, waves and the like, are moving. Reverberation suppression, therefore, requires rather wide nulls in the directivity pattern of the receiver.
Efficient Bayesian Tracking of Multiple Sources of Neural Activity: Algorithms and Real-Time FPGA Implementation

We propose new Bayesian algorithms to automatically track current dipole sources of neural activity in real time. We integrate multiple particle filters to track the dynamic parameters of a known number of dipole sources, resulting in reducing the computational intensity incurred due to the large number of sensors required to observe magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) measurements. When we also need to estimate the time-varying number of dipole sources, we develop an algorithm based on applying probability hypothesis density filtering (PHDF) for multiple object tracking. The PHDF is implemented using particle filters (PF-PHDF), and it is applied in a closed-loop with MEG/EEG measurements to first estimate the number of sources and then their corresponding amplitude, location and orientation. The PF-PHDF tracking algorithm uses an online, window-based multiple channel decomposition processing approach that reduces the overall processing time and computational complexity. We demonstrate the improved performances of the proposed algorithms by simulating neural activity tracking systems witWe propose new Bayesian algorithms to automatically track current dipole sources of neural activity in real time. We integrate multiple particle filters to track the dynamic parameters of a known number of dipole sources, resulting in reducing the computational intensity incurred due to the large number of sensors required to observe magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) measurements. When we also need to estimate the time-varying number of dipole sources, we develop an algorithm based on applying probability hypothesis density filtering (PHDF) for multiple object tracking. The PHDF is implemented using particle filters (PF-PHDF), and it is applied in a closed-loop with MEG/EEG measurements to first estimate the number of sources and then their corresponding amplitude, location and orientation. The PF-PHDF tracking algorithm uses an online, window-based multiple channel decomposition processing approach that reduces the overall processing time and computational complexity. We demonstrate the improved performances of the proposed algorithms by simulating neural activity tracking systems with both synthetic and real data. We map the proposed algorithms onto Xilinx Virtex-5 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms and demonstrate real-time tracking performance. For example, our results showed that the PF-PHDF algorithm can process 100 data samples from three dipoles in only 5.1 ms, when 3 dipole sources are present.h both synthetic and real data. We map the proposed algorithms onto Xilinx Virtex-5 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms and demonstrate real-time tracking performance. For example, our results showed that the PF-PHDF algorithm can process 100 data samples from three dipoles in only 5.1 ms, when 3 dipole sources are present.
Extending the Canon: Some Implications of a Hindu Argument about Scripture

an the sacred texts of non-Christian religious traditions be revelatory for Christians in a fashion that is more than vague and merely theoretical?1 This question is central within the larger project of understanding the significance of the various world religions for Christians, and the effort to answer it must proceed according to three specific tasks. First, it is necessary to describe the ways in which the Christian tradition predisposes and constrains Christian believers on the issue of whether non-Christian texts can be revelatory words of God for non-Christians, for Christians, or for both. The formulation of this description requires reflec-
Quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering in the weak binding approximation

We perform a global analysis of all available electron-deuteron quasielastic scattering data using Q^2-dependent smearing functions that describe inclusive inelastic e-d scattering within the weak binding approximation. We study the dependence of the cross sections on the deuteron wave function and the off-shell extrapolation of the elastic electron-nucleon cross section, which show particular sensitivity at x >> 1. The excellent overall agreement with data over a large range of Q^2 and x suggest a limited need for effects beyond the impulse approximation, with the exception of the very high-x or very low-Q^2 regions, where short-distance effects in the deuteron become more relevant.
Measures of health, fitness, and functional movement among firefighter recruits.

Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between various health and fitness measures and Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) scores among 78 firefighter recruits. Methods. Relationships between FMS™ scores and age, body mass index (BMI), sit and reach (S&R) distance, estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max), estimated one-repetition maximum squat (1RM-Squatmax), and plank endurance (%Plankmax) were examined. Results. Total FMS™ scores were significantly correlated with BMI (r = −0.231, p = 0.042), estimated 1RM-Squatmax (r = 0.302, p = 0.007), and %Plankmax (r = 0.320, p = 0.004). Multiple regression analyses indicated that this combination of predictors significantly predicted (F(3, 74) = 5.043, p = 0.003) Total FMS™ score outcomes and accounted for 17% of the total variance (R2 = 0.170). In addition, logistic regression analyses indicated that estimated 1RM-Squatmax also significantly predicted (χ2 = 6.662, df = 1, p = 0.010) FMS™ group membership (≤14 or ≥15). Conclusion. These...
Improvement of universal salt iodization program on the intelligence quotient among children in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu

Objective To assess the improvement of intelligence quotient through an Universal Salt Iodization Supply Program,among children.Methods 3518 and 1611 children were selected from primary schools in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu in 2006 and 2010respectively.Intelligence quotient (IQ) were measured by the revised Chinese Combined Raven Test C2 (CRT-C2).Results In 2006,the average IQ of children aged 8-10 was 85.1,including 16.7％ of them with IQ≤69.The average IQ was between 80-90 in different counties and cities,with significant differences (P＜0.05).The average IQs were 92.0,90.6 and 81.8 among 8,9 and 10 years old children respectively with 10 year old' s low than those 8 and 9 year olds (P＜0.05).The average IQs of boys and girls were 84.5 and 85.6,but with no significant difference (P ＞0.05).The average IQ of children aged 8-10 in 2010 was 97.2 and 12 points higher than in 2006 (P＜0.05),but 8 IQ points (P＜0.05) less than the average level 105 from the overall of Gansu province.4.7％ of the children having an IQ≤69.IQ of children from Linxia city and Yongjing county,were up to the theoretical level of 100,with an average IQ at around 95 in other counties.The average IQs between counties or cities showed significant differences.The IQ of 8,9 year olds and 10 year olds did not present significant difference (P＞0.05),but in boys (98.8) and in girls (95.9) the difference was significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion The average IQ was close to the theoretical level (100) with the gradual implementation of universal salt iodization program,showing that the iodized salt did play a key role on children's intelligence.However,the average IQ was still lower than the average level of the whole Gansu province in 2010. Key words: Iodine deficiency disorders; Salt iodization; Intelligence; Child
Elimination of Daudi lymphoblasts from human bone marrow using avidin- biotin immunoadsorption

Biotinylated antibodies and an avidin-Sepharose 6MB column were utilized in a novel approach to deplete selected cell populations from human bone marrow. Fluorescein-labeled Daudi lymphoblasts were mixed with bone marrow mononuclear cells in a model system, and removal of Daudi cells was quantitatively assessed with an inverted fluorescent microscope. Treatment using the biotinylated monoclonal antibody 2H7 reactive with Bp32 antigen (expressed on Daudi cells) followed by passage over avidin-Sepharose produced greater than two logs of Daudi cell removal from bone marrow. An alternative method was tested by treating cells successively with nonbiotinylated monoclonal antibody and biotinylated goat antimouse immunoglobulin followed by passage over avidin-Sepharose. Up to three logs of Daudi cells could be eliminated from bone marrow with quantitative recovery of hematopoietic progenitors. The use of biotinylated goat antimouse immunoglobulin eliminates the need to prepare a biotin conjugate of each individual monoclonal antibody. The clinical application of cellular immunoadsorption using the avidin-biotin system may prove useful in bone marrow transplantation.
The Quality of Wine

In considering the quality of any alcoholic beverage, it is insufficient to discuss just the obvious characteristics of a product, which in the case of wine would be color, clarity, aroma, and taste. Perhaps more so for wine than any other beverage, including beer, quality is shrouded in a mystique, a culture, a state of mind, and an almost intangible meeting of geology, climate, locale, tradition, art, mystery, and hyperbole. Let me illustrate. A year or two back, an entrepreneur by the name of Fred Franzia decided that he was going to shake up the snobby world of California wine with the release of products marketed under the name Charles Shaw, but colloquially known to all as “Two Buck Chuck.” This was on account of the fact that they retailed in the charming chain stores of Trader Joe's at the princely sum of $1.99. Understandably, these wines were very popular with all – everyone, that is, except those who considered themselves wine aficionados, experts, and commentators, who decried the exercise as a loss-leading gimmick. That was until the day that the toffee-nosed judges selected Charles Shaw 2002 California Shiraz as one of 53 finalists for the International Eastern Wine Competition at Corning, New York, in a blind tasting of 2,300 submissions. The judges were seen next morning at breakfast to stagger around, heads held low, utterly ashamed of their ignorant mistake and completely baffled as to how they could have been “misled.”