cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chip-scale atomic devices at NIST

We provide an overview of our research on chip-scale atomic devices. By miniaturizing optical setups based on precision spectroscopy, we have developed small atomic sensors and atomic references such as atomic clocks, atomic magnetometers, and optical wavelength references. We have integrated microfabricated alkali vapor cells with small low-power lasers, micro-optics, and low-power microwave oscillators. As a result, we anticipate that atomic stability can be achieved with small size, low cost, battery-operated devices. Advances in fabrication methods and performance are presented.
Kartagener's Triad

In 1933, Kartagener reported an unusual triad: situs inversus, bronchiectasis, and sinusitis. This is a report of 15 cases seen by the authors. Seven of these cases occurred in four families with multiple siblings showing one, two, or all three components. There was one set of identical twins. Bronchiectasis occurs more frequently in patients with situs inversus. This is reported 12 per cent-25 per cent as opposed to 0.3 per cent-0.5 per cent in general population. The etiology and relationship of bronchiectasis in situs inversus is probably congenital, but it is difficult to determine the factor involved. Management of these cases did not vary from usual treatment of suppurative tracheobronchial and paranasal difficulties. Pulmonary resection was done in five of these cases.
Preparation and characterization of tetragonal ZrO2

Abstract Tetragonal ZrO 2 is prepared by decomposing either the basic carbonate or basic nitrate. The oxide obtained from the direct decomposition of the basic carbonate shows a higher surface area and smaller crystallite size. This is related to the morphology of the products obtained. Transformation of the tetragonal to the monoclinic phase is studied as a function of temperature.
Optimizing abdominal CT dose and image quality with respect to x-ray tube voltage

The objective of this study was to identify the x-ray tube voltage that results in optimum performance for abdominal CT imaging for a range of imaging tasks and patient sizes. Theoretical calculations were performed of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) for disk shaped lesions of muscle, fat, bone and iodine embedded in a uniform water background. Lesion contrast was the mean Hounsfield Unit value at the effective photon energy, and image noise was determined from the total radiation intensity incident on the CT x-ray detector. Patient size ranging from young infants (10 kg) to oversized adults (120 kg), with CNR values obtained for x-ray tube voltages ranging from 80 to 140 kV. Patients of varying sizes were modeled as an equivalent cylinder of water, and the mean section dose (D) was determined for each selected x-ray tube kV value at a constant mAs. For each patient size and lesion type, we identified an optimal kV as the x-ray tube voltage that yields a maximum value of the figure of merit (CNR2/D). Increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV reduced lesion contrast by 11% for muscle, 21% for fat, 35% for bone and 52% for iodine, and these reductions were approximately independent of patient size. Increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV increased a muscle lesion CNR relative to a uniform water background by a factor of 2.6, with similar trends observed for fat (2.3), bone (1.9) and iodine (1.4). The improvement in lesion CNR with increasing x-ray tube voltage was highest for the largest sized patients. Increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV increased the patient dose by a factor of between 5.0 and 6.2 depending on the patient size. For small sized patients (10 and 30 kg) and muscle lesions, best performance is obtained at 80 kV; however, for adults (70 kg) and oversized adults (120 kg), the best performance would be obtained at 140 kV. Imaging fat lesions was best performed at 80 kV for all patients except for oversized adults, where 140 kV offers the best imaging performance. For high Z lesions of bone and iodine, imaging performance generally degrades with increasing kV for all patient sizes, with the degree of degradation largest for the smallest patients. We conclude that 80 kV is optimal with respect to radiation dose in abdominal CT for all pediatric patients. For adults, 80 kV is the x-ray voltage of choice for high Z lesions, whereas 140 kV would generally be the voltage of choice of lesions that have an atomic number similar to that of water.
Do investors reward restaurant firms that go abroad

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate, empirically, the value relevance of the degree of internationalization in publicly traded restaurant firms in the USA.Design/methodology/approach – Data for the study were obtained from the Compustat Industrial Annual. Pearson correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Vuong's Z‐test were employed to analyze the data.Findings – The paper has two principal findings: the degree of internationalization is positively and significantly related to market capitalization; and the relation is strong enough to cause an 18.3 percent increase in the explanatory power, in the presence of control variables.Research limitations/implications – The method of expansion might have some impact on market capitalization and this is not explicitly controlled for in the study due to data and cost constraints. Moreover, there are likely other variables affecting firms' market capitalization, but due to data constraints, they are also not included in the model.Practical im...
Activation of spinal neuropeptide FF and the neuropeptide FF receptor 2 during inflammatory hyperalgesia in rats.

Abstract Several lines of evidence suggest that neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is involved in nociception and in the modulation of opioid-mediated analgesia. Following the identification of the precursor protein for NPFF, two NPFF receptors and a second PQRF-NH 2 containing peptide, termed NPVF, were identified. To further explore the functional role of PQRF-NH 2 peptides, we have studied their distribution and also the regulation of NPFF and NPVF systems in the spinal cord of rats with peripheral inflammation. The distribution of NPFF gene expression is very similar to that of NPFF immunoreactive peptide but is distinct from NPVF gene expression. In the rat spinal cord, gene expression of NPFF but not that of NPVF was up-regulated by persistent pain induced by carrageenan inflammation. The distribution of NPFF receptor 2 gene expression is very similar to that of the NPFF peptide with a striking localization in the superficial layer of spinal cord. In rats with carrageenan inflammation of the hind paw, expression of both NPFF and NPFF receptor 2 genes was up-regulated in the spinal cord, while expression of NPVF and NPFF receptor 1 genes was not affected. The results of this study demonstrate a coordinated involvement of the spinal NPFF system in the persistent nociceptive pain states. Several studies have found a potentiation and prolongation of morphine analgesia by NPFF, therefore, it is highly possible that the endogenous spinal NPFF system contributes to the enhanced analgesic potency of morphine in animals with peripheral inflammation.
Electrical characterisation of Ti Schottky barriers on n-type GaN

The Schottky barrier height of Ti on n-type GaN has been measured to be 0.58 and 0.59 eV by capacitance-voltage and current-voltage techniques, respectively. This work is of particular interest because it is the first measure of the Schottky barrier height on GaN for a metal other than Au. The barrier height of Ti on GaN is significantly less than that of Au. This supports the prediction that the Fermi level is not pinned at the GaN surface.
High-fidelity simulation training in advanced resuscitation for pharmacy residents.

Objective. To assess the impact of high-fidelity patient simulation on pharmacy resident knowledge, confidence, and competency with advanced resuscitation algorithms and interventions.Design. An overview of the institutional cardiopulmonary arrest algorithm and a review of pertinent medications and calculations were presented to postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residents, followed by participation in 3 simulated clinical scenarios using a high-fidelity mannequin.Assessment. An improvement of pharmacy resident knowledge, confidence, and competency with advanced resuscitation skills was observed. In addition, pharmacy residents demonstrated high performance levels with skills requiring advanced competency and proactive interactions with the cardiac arrest team.Conclusion. Incorporating high-fidelity patient simulation into an advanced resuscitation training program can help pharmacy residents achieve competency through the active learning of practical skills.
Some experiments in positive ion kinetics

Mean free path and mean energy loss per collision of positive ions of potassium and caesium in helium, neon, argon, hydrogen and nitrogen.—The motion of certain positive ions through gases was investigated in an experimental tube of simple design. The ions were obtained from the potassium and caesium catalyst sources developed at the Fixed Nitrogen Laboratory, and their behavior was studied in helium, neon, argon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. It was found that the results were best explained on the basis of a free path approximately equal to the kinetic theory value, and on an average fraction of energy lost per collision considerably less than would be expected on ordinary considerations. It is suggested that the explanation of this is to be found in a more accurate consideration of the fields of force involved at these encounters.
Sexually Attractive Clothing: Attitudes and Usage

The attitudes and clothing usage of 68 black and 163 white unmarried college females (18 to 21 years of age) enrolled in either one of two southern state universities were studied in relation to the sexual attractiveness of clothing. Subjects rated the sexual attractiveness of 20 specified clothing items and indicated the frequency with which they would wear these items for class time, leisure time, casual date, special date, and job interview. Chi-square analysis indicated that the black females and the white females differed significantly in their attitudes toward the attractiveness to males of one-third of the clothing items and on 43 of the 100 clothing usage variables. The black subjects reported that they would wear 75 percent of the clothing items more frequently and on more occasions than the white subjects. However, both groups reported infrequent use of clothing items which they perceived to be sexually attractive. It appears that sexual attraction is not the primary motive that influences a female's clothing usage.
Influence of Buffers and pH on the Thermal Destruction of Spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus polymyxaa

SUMMARY Spores of Bacillus megaterium 1A28 and B. polymyxa 1A39 were heated at 100°C in buffers adjusted to different pH values. Generally, recovery of survivors was greatest in the neutral zone. Variations in recovery of survivors were attributable to the organism, buffer constituents, and pH of the buffer system. Use of different phosphate salts had no influence on destruction; stability was greatest in a range of .005—.050M phosphate. Citrate, phthalate, or ammonium ion in the buffer usually reduced heat resistance of the spores below that demonstrated in phosphate buffer.
Preisach modeling of aftereffect in a magneto-optical medium with perpendicular magnetization

Abstract The aftereffect of Co/Pt multilayer films with perpendicular magnetization has been measured with a magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometer and calculated with a newly developed Preisach model. Compared to materials such as traditional magnetic recording media, Co/Pt multilayer films show a more complete picture of the progression of aftereffect because the magnetization of this material decays from saturation almost all the way to a ground state in a reasonable length of time. The magnetization measurements for times equal to negative and positive infinity are asymptotically horizontal, with a transition region that is linear on a logarithmic time scale. In contrast, typical published aftereffect analyses exhibit only a very small percentage of the total aftereffect that could be observed if time were not a factor in making measurements. A Preisach–Arrhenius model is used to calculate the magnetic aftereffect in the Co/Pt multilayer. Comparisons of the model to experimental results show not only the validity of the model, but also its value in predicting very short-time and long-time aftereffect behavior, and low levels of aftereffect occurring in noisy data, all of which are difficult to observe experimentally.
Demand-driven structural testing with dynamic instrumentation

Producing reliable and robust software has become one of the most important software development concerns in recent years. Testing is a process by which software quality can be assured through the collection of information. While testing can improve software reliability, current tools typically are inflexible and have high over-heads, making it challenging to test large software projects. In this paper, we describe a new scalable and flexible framework for testing programs with a novel demand-driven approach based on execution paths to implement test coverage. This technique uses dynamic instrumentation on the binary code that can be inserted and removed on-the-fly to keep performance and memory overheads low. We describe and evaluate implementations of the framework for branch, node and defuse testing of Java programs. Experimental results for branch testing show that our approach has, on average, a 1.6 speed up over static instrumentation and also uses less memory.
Information-Transmission Method for Expressing Short-Term Memory Span as Channel Capacity:

A general method, including procedural and computational aspects, for expressing short-term memory span as channel capacity is described. The method is then illustrated on an experiment performed t...
Reactions of coordinated molecules. VII. A theoretical model for intramolecular bonding within metallo-β-diketonate complexes

Abstract The observed tilting of the two trans axial carbon monoxide ligands in complexes of the type cis -[(OC) 4 M(CH 3 CO) 2 ] n M ′, where M is Mn or Re and M ′ is Al or hydrogen, toward the metallo-β-diketonate side of the complex is interpreted as an intramolecular bonding interaction. This distortion results from the interaction of the filled and empty pi-molecular orbitals of the two carbonyl ligands with the filled and empty molecular orbitals of the pi-electron system of the metallo-β-diketone ligand.
Thermogravimetric study of ultrathin PMMA films on silica: effect of tacticity

Abstract The degradation of isotactic and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with an emphasis on their behavior in ultrathin films on silica. Both PMMA tacticity and adsorbed amounts were found to affect the degradation. In bulk, syndiotactic PMMA ( syn -PMMA) has higher thermal stability than isotactic PMMA ( iso -PMMA) due to its lower chain mobility. The T max (maximum rate decomposition temperature) is lower than that of bulk samples at higher adsorbed amounts for both iso - and syn -PMMA. T max increases when the adsorbed amount on the silica surface decreases for syn -PMMA. The degradation behavior of adsorbed iso -PMMA became very complex at low adsorbed amounts.
Cellular growth rates of juvenile and adult Hedera helix L.

Abstract Adult Hedera helix L. plants were caused to revert to the juvenile form by foliar application of gibberellic acid. Beginning at the time of application of gibberellin, stem cross-sections were cultured at weekly intervals from adults and juveniles, and determination was made of the precise time at which complete reversion had taken place by comparing cellular (callus) growth rates. A statistical analysis demonstrated no difference in rates beginning at time t = 3 weeks. This time was far short of the 10 weeks necessary to bring about a complete change in overall shoot morphology.
MEASURMENTS OF ADRENAL CORTICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG MEN SUBJECTED TO ACUTE STRESS

INTRODUCTION ALTHOUGH there have been many studies of the response of animals and of human subjects to acute physiologic or psychologic stress, usually only a few of the indices of adrenal cortical function have been determined in any one experiment. In this study, we have attempted to identify the degree to which the adrenal cortex is affected in human subjects after exposure to physiologic stress of short duration, by a series of determinations before and for several hours after the stress. The procedures were selected on the basis of experimental reports which have indicated that these determinations reflect adrenal cortical function. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND METHODS Twenty-one normal male subjects were immersed for a period of exactly eight minutes in water which had been cooled with ice to a temperature of 9.5° C. The subjects were completely immersed to neck level and allowed only minimal activity in the water. The water had been thoroughly mixed with electric mixers and was maintained at the sta...
IN SITU ION BEAM ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL AND PLASMA ETCHING OF Si

The possibility of carrying out in situ ion beam analysis of a gas-solid interface using RBS/Channeling techniques has been investigated using chemical and plasma etching of Si. A specially constructed thin Si window cell is used to initiate chemical etching of Si using Xe F2. Analysis of etched Si surface using conventional, micro RBS/Channeling and computer simulated channeling spectra indicates a smooth damage free surface with fairly uniform etching. A moderate increase in etching rate and channeling χmin is observed in the presence of the analyzing beam. The results of chemical etching are compared with that due to Ar+ and Xe+ plasma induced etching of Si. In situ microbeam channeling analysis with CCM (Channeling Contrast Microscopy) of the plasma-etched surface indicates distinct differences in both etching rate and damage profile of Si(100) surface. The etching rate enhancement and damage profile have been explained using conventional TRIM analysis and ion beam surface damage.
Oat cell carcinoma of the lung: A review of 138 cases

All cases seen during the 11 years from 1956 through 1966 are reviewed. They comprised 10% of the bronchogenic cancer population. Males predominated 19:1. There was no positive correlation with cigarette smoking. In most of the patients symptoms were present less than 3 months before diagnosis. Only four patients (3.0%) had overt hypercoticism. Histologic confirmation was easily obtained; bronchoscopic biopsy was positive in 60% of the cases. Our operability rate (60%) and resectability rate (27%) are almost as high as for epidermoid carcinoma; others have reported much lower rates. There are two 5-year survivors, the only asymptomatic patients in the series. In both, the tumor already had prominent vascular invasion, and one had regional lymph node involvement. The survival rate was 5.4% of the resected patients and 1.4% of the total group.
Computer simulation of the interactions of tetraalkylammonium cations with ZSM-5 and ZSM-11

Abstract Minimum-energy calculations have been carried out to determine the stabilization achieved by the occlusion of tetraalkylammonium cations in zeolites ZSM-5 and ZSM-11. The zeolite is treated as a rigid framework, whereas the TAA cations are allowed to be flexible. Only non-bonded intra-template, template-template, and template-zeolite interactions are considered, and calculations are performed for TAA loadings of 1, 3, and 4 cations per zeolite unit cell. At the level of 1 TAA per unit cell, the stabilization energy increases monotonically with the C N ratio of the cation. For 4 TAA cations per unit cell, the stabilization energy increases to a maximum for TPA and then declines in progressing to TBA. Reducing the loading of TBA to 3 cations per unit cell increases the stabilization energy relative to that obtained for 4 cations per unit cell, but the stabilization energy is still less than that achieved with 4 TPA cations per unit cell for both ZSM-5 and ZSM-11.
Neurosteroid Binding Sites on the GABAA Receptor Complex as Novel Targets for Therapeutics to Reduce Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Despite the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in the US and Europe, there are only five approved pharmacotherapies for alcohol dependence. Moreover, these pharmacotherapeutic options have limited clinical utility. The purpose of this paper is to present pertinent literature suggesting that both alcohol and the neurosteroids interact at the GABAA receptor complex and that the neurosteroid sites on this receptor complex could serve as new targets for the development of novel therapeutics for alcohol abuse. This paper will also present data collected by our laboratory showing that one neurosteroid in particular, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), decreases ethanol intake in rats under a variety of conditions. In the process, we will also mention relevant studies from the literature suggesting that both particular subtypes and subunits of the GABAA receptor play an important role in mediating the interaction of neurosteroids and ethanol.
Temperature Measurements On Semi-Permanent Mold Surfaces Using Infrared Thermography

Die surface temperature and internal die thermal balance are critical to the quality of semi-permanent mold die castings. Measurements of the surface temperature are currently made using either hand-held contact temperature probes or optical pyrometers. Neither measurement technique provides a thermal map of the entire die surface. This paper discusses the use of infrared thermography for die surface temperature measurement. Using infrared thermographic techniques, scans were made over the surface of an experimental 302 CID semi-permanent mold cylinder head die during several casting cycles. The results obtained were in reasonable agreement with the temperature measurements made using optical pyrometers and the contact probes. In addition, using gray-level conversion the IR technique provided a measure of the temperature gradient over the surface of the die. Such thermal mapping has not been practical using optical or contact temperature probes.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Connectionist Technique for Accelerated Textual Input: Letting a Network Do the Typing

Each year people spend a huge amount of time typing. The text people type typically contains a tremendous amount of redundancy due to predictable word usage patterns and the text's structure. This paper describes a neural network system call AutoTypist that monitors a person's typing and predicts what will be entered next. AutoTypist displays the most likely subsequent word to the typist, who can accept it with a single keystroke, instead of typing it in its entirety. The multi-layer perceptron at the heart of AutoTypist adapts its predictions of likely subsequent text to the user's word usage pattern, and to the characteristics of the text currently being typed. Increases in typing speed of 2-3% when typing English prose and 10-20% when typing C code have been demonstrated using the system, suggesting a potential time savings of more than 20 hours per user per year. In addition to increasing typing speed, AutoTypist reduces the number of keystrokes a user must type by a similar amount (2-3% for English, 10- 20% for computer programs). This keystroke savings has the potential to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of repeated stress injuries caused by typing, which are the most common injury suffered in today's office environment.
Chromium VI and stomach cancer: a meta-analysis of the current epidemiological evidence

Objectives Chromium VI (hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI)) is an established cause of lung cancer, but its association with gastrointestinal cancer is less clear. The goal of this study was to examine whether the current human epidemiological research on occupationally inhaled Cr(VI) supports the hypothesis that Cr(VI) is associated with human stomach cancer. Methods Following a thorough literature search and review of individual studies, we used meta-analysis to summarise the current epidemiological literature on inhaled Cr(VI) and stomach cancer, explore major sources of heterogeneity, and assess other elements of causal inference. Results We identified 56 cohort and case–control studies and 74 individual relative risk (RR) estimates on stomach cancer and Cr(VI) exposure or work in an occupation associated with high Cr(VI) exposure including chromium production, chrome plating, leather work and work with Portland cement. The summary RR for all studies combined was 1.27 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.38). In analyses limited to only those studies identifying increased risks of lung cancer, the summary RR for stomach cancer was higher (RR=1.41, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.69). Conclusions Overall, these results suggest that Cr(VI) is a stomach carcinogen in humans, which is consistent with the tumour results reported in rodent studies.
A technique for improving the accuracy of the nonuniform finite-difference time-domain algorithm

This paper deals with the problem of improving the accuracy of the nonuniform finite-difference time-domain (NUFDTD) algorithm, which is known to contain higher discretization errors than the conventional uniform FDTD. The improvement is achieved by effectively canceling out the numerical reflections that typically occur due to dispersion in the nonuniform mesh. The modified nonuniform algorithm is applied to a generic coaxial discontinuity problem and to that of near-to-far-field transformation. The proposed method is simple, does not require any interpolations or extrapolations, provides higher accuracy than the conventional NUFDTD algorithm, and is stable.
fmRI evidence for an organization of prefrontal cortex by both type of process and type of information

Neuroimaging evidence is conflicting regarding whether human prefrontal cortex (PFC) shows functional organization by type of processes engaged or type of information processed. Most studies use complex working or long-term memory tasks requiring multiple processes and the combinations of processes recruited for different materials may vary. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and simple tasks suggested by a component process approach, we found activity in left PFC when participants thought about (refreshed) a just-seen item and in right PFC when participants noted whether an item had been presented previously. Furthermore, the distribution of activation in left or right PFC varied with type of information. Thus, at the component process level, PFC shows functional organization by both process and type of information.
An 8bit 3GHz Si/SiGe HBT sample-and-hold

An 8 bit 3 GHz HBT sample-and-hold amplifier (SHA) is demonstrated in a 0.5 /spl mu/m, 55 GHz Si/SiGe HBT technology. An analysis of the switched-emitter-follower based sample-and-hold, along with improved circuit design techniques to minimize the high frequency sampling errors is presented. The bandwidth and dynamic range of this circuit, at the required sample rate, is superior to other SHNs in silicon technology. The SHA core consumed 90 mA from an 8 V supply.
Impact of Multidetector CT on Donor Selection and Surgical Planning Before Living Adult Right Lobe Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVE. This study was performed to document the impact of multidetector multiphase CT in facilitating patient selection and surgical planning in potential donors being evaluated for living adult right lobe liver transplantation.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Forty consecutive potential donors were included in the study. There were 26 men and 14 women, (age range, 18-57 years; mean, 37 years) We performed CT using a multidetector scanner, after IV injection of 180 mL of contrast material at 5 mL/sec. Arterial phase images were acquired at 18 sec (collimation, 1.25 mm; table speed, 7.5) and portal phase images, at 60 sec (collimation, 2.5 mm; table speed, 15). Postprocessing was performed on a commercially available workstation. CT data included dual-energy assessment of liver parenchyma for fatty infiltration; depiction of arterial, portal venous, and hepatic venous anatomy and identification of important vascular variants; and determination of total and lobar liver volume.RESULTS. Of the 40 potential liver don...
Variable expression of the estrogen receptor in normal and atherosclerotic coronary arteries of premenopausal women

BACKGROUNDThe relative absence of coronary atherosclerosis in premenopausal women has been established. Estrogen is presumed to play a role in the protection of coronary arteries from atherosclerosis, and part of this protective effect appears to be mediated by amelioration of serum lipid profiles. However, all of the atheroprotective effect of estrogen is not explained by alteration of serum lipids. In this study, we attempt to identify evidence of estrogen receptors in coronary artery specimens of female patients and in human vascular smooth muscle cells.METHODS AND RESULTSPostmortem coronary artery specimens were obtained from premenopausal (n = 18) and postmenopausal (n = 22) women who died with significant coronary artery disease (n = 19) and from noncardiac causes with normal coronary arteries (n = 21). Sections were examined for evidence of estrogen receptor expression using a monoclonal antibody stain. Radioligand binding assays for estrogen receptors were performed on human vascular smooth muscle...
A Self-Locking Technique With Fast Response and High Sensitivity for Micro-Cantilever Based Sensing of Analytes

Abstract : MEMS based microcantilevers have been employed as sensors in both liquid and ambient conditions. One scheme for detection is based upon monitoring the change in microcantilever resonant frequency as a function of the adsorbed analyte concentration. However, the sensitivity is limited by the accuracy of the frequency measurements, which is a function of the Q-factor of the vibrating element and the measurement bandwidth. In this paper, we present a feedback scheme for self-locking amplification of the small-amplitude thermal oscillations of the microcantilever. Using this approach, we demonstrate an improvement in the Q-factor by two to three orders of magnitude as compared to that of the undriven microcantilever. Use of this technique eliminates the need for lock-in detection and results in improved response times for sensor applications. Experiments using the proposed feedback amplification technique show improved sensitivity for the detection of biological molecules in liquids, and for adsorbed vapors under ambient conditions.
Estimation of red pine tree height using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and ancillary data

In this paper accurate tree height retrieval for red pine and Austrian pine is demonstrated using C-band Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) height and ancillary data. The tree height retrieval algorithm is based on modeling uniform tree stands with a single layer of randomly-oriented vegetation particles. For such scattering media, the scattering phase center (SPC) height, as measured by SRTM, is a function of tree height, incidence angle, and the extinction coefficient of the medium. The extinction coefficient for uniform tree stands is calculated as a function of tree height and density using allometric equations and a fractal tree model. The algorithm outputs tree height estimates that are significantly closer to the true tree height than the raw SRTM SPC height values obtained from the height difference between the SRTM data and the National Elevation Dataset (NED). The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated using SRTM and TOPSAR data for 15 red pine and Austrian pine stands.
Development of a Binomial Sampling Plan for the Carob Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a Pest of California Dates

The seasonal density fluctuations of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were determined in a commercial date, Phoenix dactylifera L. garden. Four fruit categories (axil, ground, abscised green, and abscised brown) were sampled, and two carob moth life stages, eggs and immatures (larvae and pupae combined), were evaluated on these fruits. Based on the relative consistency of these eight sampling units (four fruit categories and two carob moth stages), four were used for the development of a binomial sampling plan. The average number of carob moth eggs and immatures on ground and abscised brown fruit was estimated from the proportion of infested fruit, and these binomial models were evaluated for model fitness and precision. These analyses suggested that the best sampling plan should consist of abscised brown dates and carob moth immatures by using a sample size of 100 dates. The performance of this binomial plan was evaluated further using a resampling protocol with 25 independent data sets at action thresholds of 7, 10, and 15% to represent light, medium and severe infestations, respectively. Results from the resampling program suggested that increasing sample size from 100 to 150 dates improved the precision of the binomial sampling plan. Use of this sampling plan will be the cornerstone of an integrated pest management program for carob moth in dates.
EFFECTS OF NONPLASTIC FINES ON THE LIQUEFACTION RESISTANCE OF SANDS

A laboratory parametric study utilizing cyclic triaxial tests was performed to clarify the effects of nonplastic fines on the liquefaction susceptibility of sands. Studies previously published in the literature have reported what appear to be conflicting results as to the effects of silt content on the liquefaction susceptibility of sandy soils. The current study has shown that if the soil structure is composed of silt particles contained within a sand matrix, the resistance to liquefaction of the soil is controlled by the relative density of the soil and is independent of the silt content of the soil. For soils whose structure is composed of sand particles suspended within a silt matrix, the resistance to liquefaction is again controlled by the relative density of the soil, but is lower than for soils with sand-dominated matrices at similar relative densities. In this case, the resistance to liquefaction is essentially independent of the amount and type of sand. These findings suggest the need for further evaluation of the effects of nonplastic fines content upon penetration resistance, and the manner in which this relationship affects the simplified methods currently used in engineering practice to evaluate the liquefaction resistance of silty soils.
Optimizing Cauchy Reed-Solomon Codes for Fault-Tolerant Network Storage Applications

In the past few years, all manner of storage applications, ranging from disk array systems to distributed and wide-area systems, have started to grapple with the reality of tolerating multiple simultaneous failures of storage nodes. Unlike the single failure case, which is optimally handled with RAID Level-5 parity, the multiple failure case is more difficult because optimal general purpose strategies are not yet known. Erasure Coding is the field of research that deals with these strategies, and this field has blossomed in recent years. Despite this research, the decades-old Reed- Solomon erasure code remains the only space-optimal (MDS) code for all but the smallest storage systems. The best performing implementations of Reed-Solomon coding employ a variant called Cauchy Reed-Solomon coding, developed in the mid 1990s [4]. In this paper, we present an improvement to Cauchy Reed-Solomon coding that is based on optimizing the Cauchy distribution matrix. We detail an algorithm for generating good matrices and then evaluate the performance of encoding using all implementations Reed- Solomon codes, plus the best MDS codes from the literature. The improvements over the original Cauchy Reed-Solomon codes are as much as 83% in realistic scenarios, and average roughly 10% over all cases that we tested.
Effect of rhHB-EGF on the expression of hydrocephalus-related genes in vitro

Background Heparin binding epidermal growth factor like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the epidermal growth factor family. The role of HB-EGF in cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis has been well-reported but its pertinence to cerebrovascular disease including hydrocephalus is unknown. In our laboratory human HB-EGF transgenic mice have been observed to demonstrate communicating hydrocephalus. The goal of this study was to find any difference in expression of three genes in vascular-lining cells under varying concentration of this growth factor.
Useless Eaters: Disability as Genocidal Marker in Nazi Germany

The methods used for mass extermination in the Nazi death camps originated and were perfected in earlier use against people with physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities. This article describes the historical context of attitudes toward people with disabilities in Germany and how this context produced mass murder of people with disabilities prior to and during the early years of World War II. Several key marker variables, the manipulation of which allowed a highly sophisticated Western society to officially sanction the murder of people with disabilities, are examined. Important implications must continually be drawn from these sad events as we work with people with disabilities at the dawn of a new century.
Time-domain reflectometry — parametric study for the evaluation of physical properties in soils

Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) has become a commonly used method in geotechnical engineering to measure the volumetric water content and electrical conductivity in soils. The ability of TDR to acc...
Coronary angioplasty with gradual versus rapid balloon inflation: Initial results and complications

Although a variety of coronary angioplasty balloon inflation protocols are employed, prior studies have not evaluated the relation of rate of inflation to the type and extent of arterial damage produced by angioplasty. We randomized 103 patients to either a gradual (gradual, incremental increase to peak inflation pressure) or rapid inflation protocol (rapid increase to peak inflation pressure). Fifty-one patients with 72 lesions underwent gradual and 52 patients with 73 lesions received rapid inflation protocols. There were no significant group differences with regard to age, sex, artery dilated, number of diseased vessels, presence of unstable angina and lesion morphological characteristics except for more lesions located on a bend in the gradual inflation group (p < 0.02). Although there was a tendency towards a higher success rate in patients with gradual inflation, the complete success rates were high in both groups (100% vs. 93%, p < 0.08). The dissection rate was higher in patients with rapid inflation (43/73 [59%] vs. 26/72 [36%], p < 0.01). The collective complication rate was higher in patients with rapid inflation (19% vs. 6%, p < 0.03). No deaths occurred in either group. Thus a gradual compared to rapid coronary angioplasty balloon inflation protocol reduces the frequency of dissection despite similar inflation pressure and balloon/vessel diameter ratio. Gradual inflations may reduce the frequency of procedure-related complications. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Improving nanoelectronic designs using a statistical approach to identify key parameters in circuit level SEU simulations

One of the key challenges in nanoelectronics design is the decreasing reliability due to radiation induced single-event upsets. Without detailed device level simulations or physical experimentation, circuit level models can generate misleading reliability information. We present the results from a screening experiment to identify significant parameters in circuit level SEU simulations. We show that cell supply voltage, sizing parameters, and transient waveform descriptions have an important impact on design and should therefore be considered with care in circuit level designs. Larger variations in parameters can lead to soft error rate estimates that vary by more than 4 orders of magnitude, even small variations can lead to 15times variation in soft error rate estimation for a design. We present our methodology for screening and a ranking based on significance of several parameters involved in soft error simulation at the SPICE level.
A Hidden Past: the Hypermetamorphic Development of Marmara arbutiella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Abstract Development in Marmara arbutiella Busck is hypermetamorphic, with 3 behaviorally and morphologically distinct larval forms. There are 6–8 sap-feeding and 2 nonfeeding, structurally differentiated instars. The early instars are legless, dorsoventrally compressed, prognathous sap feeders. The 1st of the nonfeeding instars, which we call the transition instar, never issues from the cuticle of the previous (feeding) instar; instead there is apolysis without ecdysis. It is characterized by reduction—the cuticle is transparent, the feeding structures are nonfunctional, and the legs are vestigial. Moreover, the stadium is ephemeral, lasting no ≤24 h. The 2nd nonfeeding stage is a fully legged and ambulatory instar, with rudimentary feeding structures and a functional spinneret. Upon issuing from the mine, this instar spins a cocoon that is elaborately decorated with clusters of 31–114 pearly bubbles that are extruded from its anus and then individually attached to the exterior of the cocoon. We contrast...
Morphology and frequency of early myocardial damage in various diseases.

A microscopic wavy appearance of myofibers as an expression of early myocardial damage was studied in random sections of both the right and left ventricles in 207 consecutive autopsies. Waviness of myofibers was consistently associated with fuchsinorrhagia, indicating chemical alterations in the wavy fibers. Both waviness and fuchsinorrhagia appeared to precede the necrosis of myofibers. These changes were transient and were absent in frankly infarcted myocardium. Severe and extensive waviness was present in the left ventricle in recent myocardial infarction and in both ventricles in pulmonary emphysema. Waviness and fuchsinorrhagia were observed more frequently in the right than in the left ventricular myocardium except with recent infarction. It is considered that covert recent myocardial damage, particularly of the right ventricle, may precipitate death in many non-cardiac diseases.
The elderly outpatient: current anesthetic implications.

Purpose of review The present overview describes recent contributions to the literature with regard to choice of anesthetic techniques, approaches to anesthetic management of elderly outpatients undergoing arthroscopy and other procedures, reconsideration of the problem of postoperative delirium in the elderly patient, and a general summary of perioperative management and assessment of anesthetic risk in older adults. Recent findings Major advances in monitoring technology, pharmacology, and comprehensive preoperative assessment have reduced the probability of major adverse outcomes for geriatric surgical patients to low levels. Therefore, it has become difficult to demonstrate clear-cut superiority for any specific anesthetic agent or approach. Nevertheless, the need for prompt and complete recovery of consciousness and rapid discharge after surgery presents additional challenges for the anesthesiologist who is caring for elderly outpatients with regard to prompt recovery of cognitive function and suppression of nausea and vomiting. Summary The efficiency and speed with which outpatient surgery and anesthetic recovery can be conducted in older adults continue to improve. Monitors of depth of anesthesia, ultra-short-acting agents, and combined techniques have minimized minor complications such as nausea and vomiting, and have improved the speed with which these patients recover from anesthesia. A small proportion of elderly surgical outpatients remain at risk for residual postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
Effect of Heparin and Dicoumarol on Thrombosis Induced in the Presence of Venous Stasis.

Summary and Conclusions1. A method for the consistent production of experimental intravascular thrombosis is described. 2. The important role of stasis in the pathogenesis of thrombosis is emphasized. 3. The results show that the administration of heparin and dicoumarol in adequate doses to delay coagulation was not sufficient to prevent the development of experimental intravascular thrombosis in the presence of stasis of the venous circulation as induced in these experiments.
Hydrogen Plasma Treatment of Silicon Dioxide for Improved Silane Deposition

We describe a method for plasma cleaning silicon surfaces in a commercial tool that removes adventitious organic contamination and enhances silane deposition. As shown by wetting, ellipsometry, and XPS, hydrogen, oxygen, and argon plasmas effectively clean Si/SiO2 surfaces. However, only hydrogen plasmas appear to enhance subsequent low-pressure chemical vapor deposition of silanes. Chemical differences between the surfaces were confirmed via (i) deposition of two different silanes: octyldimethylmethoxysilane and butyldimethylmethoxysilane, as evidenced by spectroscopic ellipsometry and wetting, and (ii) a principal components analysis (PCA) of TOF-SIMS data taken from the different plasma-treated surfaces. AFM shows no increase in surface roughness after H2 or O2 plasma treatment of Si/SiO2. The effects of surface treatment with H2/O2 plasmas in different gas ratios, which should allow greater control of surface chemistry, and the duration of the H2 plasma (complete surface treatment appeared to take pla...
Seasonal Temperature Influence on Vagal Control of Diving Bradycardia in the Frog (Rana Pipiens)

1. The influences of asphyxia, temperature, and restraint on diving bradycardia in amphibia have been considered. 2. In restrained diving frogs two forms of bradycardia were distinguised on the bases of rate of attainment, control, and degree of hear-rate reduction. A rapidly attained immersion bradycardia could be eliminated by atropine or bilateral vagotomy and was thus similar to that of other vertebrates. A slowly attained asphyxiant bradycardia, independent of vagal influences, also occured but was less pronounced. 3. Electrical stimulation experiments were conducted in September to determine the influence of temperature on vagale inhibition of the heart. With decreasing temperature partial block of vagal inhibition occurred at about 11° C., and complete block occured at 7-8°C.; on rewarming, partial block returned around 11-12°C., and complete vagal inhibition of the heart was re-established at about 14° C. 4. Though both forms of bradycardia may occur in any one dive, the form predominating was dependent on temerature and season. A Seasonal variability regarding the temerature at which vagal inhibition of the heart can occur has been suggested. 5. A. pronounced diving bradycardia, either slowly or rapidly attained, probably does not occur in unrestrained frogs under normal environmental conditions.
MitraClip With Occluder: Augmenting a Proven Therapy.

MitraClip therapy is a well-established transcatheter treatment for patients with symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) and high surgical risk. To date, more than 30,000 patients have been treated worldwide. Restoring coaptation between the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets with satisfactory