cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parameter-specific electronic measurement and analysis of sources of variation using ring oscillators

Parameter-specific and simulation-calibrated ring oscillator (RO) inverter layouts are described for identifying and quantitatively modeling sources of circuit performance variation from source/drain stress, shallow trench isolation (STI) stress, lithography, etch, and misalignment. This paper extends the RO approach by adding physical modeling/simulation of the sources of variability to tune the layouts of monitors for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. Poly and diffusion layout choices have been guided by fast-CAD pattern matching. The accuracy of the fast-CAD estimate from the Pattern Matcher for these lithography issues is corroborated by simulations in Mentor Graphics Calibre. Generic conceptual results are given based on the experience from preparing of proprietary layouts that pass DRC check for a 45 nm test chip with ST Micro. Typical improvements in sensitivity of 2 fold are possible with layouts for lithography focus. A layout monitor for poly to diffusion misalignment based on programmable off-sets shows a 0.8% change in RO frequency per 1nm poly to diffusion off-set. Layouts are also described for characterizing stress effects associated with diffusion area size, asymmetry, vertical spacing, and multiple gate lengths.
Project Risk Management Using the Project Risk FMEA

Abstract:Identifying and mitigating project risks are crucial steps in managing successful projects. This article proposes the extension of the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) format to quantify and analyze project risks. The new technique is labeled the project risk FMEA (RFMEA). The RFMEA is a modification of the well-known process, product, and service FMEA technique. In order to use the FMEA format for projects, the detection value of the standard FMEA is modified slightly for use in the project environment. The new approach is illustrated in a case study from the electronics industry. By adding the detection value to the risk quantification process, another measure beyond the typical risk score is made available to the project team. The benefits of the RFMEA include an increased focus on the most imminent risks, prioritizing risk contingency planning, improved team participation in the risk management process, and development of improved risk controls.
RECURRENT TWIDDLER'S SYNDROME IN A NONTHORACOTOMY ICD SYSTEM DESPITE A DACRON POUCH

Abstract Twiddler's syndrome is a highly recognized yet rare complication of pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator (i.c.d.) implantation. We present a case in which persistent generator rotation resulted in lead dislodgment and inappropriate shocks in an initial ICD and recurrent lead fracture in a second ICD system. This case is unusual in that even with extensive surgical precautions including use of a Dacron pouch, generator rotation could not be prevented. Submuscular implantation and use of a smaller generator may prevent Twiddler's syndrome.
THE MITOTIC COUNT IN THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF NORMAL GUINEA PIGS1

THE PRESENT INVESTIGATIONS into the degree of mitotic proliferation taking place in the adrenal cortex of normal guinea pigs were undertaken for two reasons:(a), to obtain a standard with which to compare variations in the number ofmitoses found under varying experimental conditions, on which we shall reportsubsequently and (b), to determine which of the counts was the correct one amongthe different counts reported by several investigators. Almost sixty years ago, Canalis(i) recorded 5 to 12 mitoses per section of the adrenal gland in normal guinea pigs,and more recently Hoerr (2) found 2 to 8 mitotic divisions per section in guinea pigsweighing 350 to 400 gm. Extending to the adrenal gland the investigations of Loeband his collaborators into the proliferative activity of the thyroid gland under normaland various experimental conditions, Schmeckebier (3) found an average of 5 mitosesper section in guinea pigs weighing 190 to 200 gm., and of 1.5 mitoses in animalsweighing 400 to 600 gm.
Adult ambulatory care visits to nurses and physicians: methodological limitations of the medical expenditure panel survey data.

The 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data report that approximately 80 million adult ambulatory visits are made to nursing personnel. Adults who visit nursing personnel and who visit ph...
Applying Learner-Centered Design Principles to UML Sequence Diagrams

The Unified Modeling Language has been shown to be complex and difficult to learn. The difficulty of learning to build the individual diagrams in the UML, however, has received scant attention. In this article, we consider the case of the UML sequence diagram. Despite the fact that these diagrams are among the most frequently used in practice, they are difficult to learn to build. In this article, we consider the question of why these diagrams remain so difficult to learn to build. Specifically, we analyze the process of learning to build sequence diagrams in the context of cognitive complexity theory. Based on this analysis, and drawing on the theory of learner-centered design, we develop a set of recommendations for presenting the sequence diagram building task to the student analyst to reduce the complexity of learning how to build them.
Spectral stability of relative equilibria

The spectral stability of synchronous circular orbits in a rotating conservative force field is treated using a recently developed Hamiltonian method. A complete set of necessary and sufficient conditions for spectral stability is derived in spherical geometry. The resulting theory provides a general unified framework that encompasses a wide class of relative equilibria, including the circular restricted three-body problem and synchronous satellite motion about an aspherical planet. In the latter case we find an interesting class of stable nonequatorial circular orbits. A new and simplified treatment of the stability of the Lagrange points is given for the restricted three-body problem.
The psychiatrist's image in commercially available American movies.

Objective: To explore quantitatively how American movies portray psychiatrists/therapist. Method: A total of 106 movies were reviewed regarding how psychiatrists/therapists were portrayed. The psychiatrist's or therapist's sex, age, clinical competence and knowledge, boundary violations, attitude toward the patient, influence in the movie's events, treatment modality or modalities used, intervention's outcome, and therapeutic setting. Results: The psychiatrists/therapists tended to be males (71.2%), and (regardless of sex) middle-aged (50.8%). Despite the general view of the psychiatrists/therapists as friendly (63.6%), there was an over-representation of boundary violations. The percentage of total boundary violations was 44.9% of the cases portrayed and sexual violations accounted for 23.7%, while non-sexual violations accounted for 30.5% (with 9.3% overlap). The appearance of clinical incompetence was 47.5%. Conclusion: The image of psychiatrists/therapists in commercially available movies is not flattering: close to one out of two violated boundaries, close to one out of four committed a sexual boundary violation, and the psychiatrist/therapist was as likely to be incompetent as competent. The bright point is that psychiatrists/therapists were depicted as more likely to be friendly.
Pest reduction services by birds in shade and sun coffee in Jamaica

The reduction of insect pests by birds in agriculture may provide an incentive for farming practices that enhance the conservation value of farms for birds and other wildlife. We investigated pest reduction services by insectivorous birds on a coffee farm in Jamaica, West Indies. Our results suggest that birds reduced insect pests on our study site. Infestation by the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei, the world's most damaging insect pest in coffee, was significantly elevated on coffee shrubs from which birds were experimentally excluded from foraging. Overall, we estimated the economic value of the reduction of coffee berry borer by birds on the 18 ha farm to be US$310 ha⁻¹ for the 2006 harvest season. These results provide additional evidence that birds can reduce numbers of economically damaging pests and enhance crop yields in coffee farms. Differences in the magnitude of pest reduction within the farm may have resulted from variation in shade management and surrounding habitats, and these factors merit further investigation.
Estimation of Weibull parameters

where P is the fracture probability at stress o, m is the shape parameter or Weibull modulus, o 0 is the scale parameter or characteristic strength and ou is the location parameter or threshold stress. Several methods are available for the determination of the Weibull parameters, and the value of m obtained can vary according to the method employed. In spite of relatively recent contributions on the subject [1-3], it seems that no method is unanimously considered the best. This letter compares the effectiveness of several methods among the most often used and provides confidence intervals for the value of m. When analysing fracture results of brittle materials with the Weibull distribution, au is often put equal to zero (as justified, for example, in [4]) and we refer to the distribution as the two-parameter Weibull distribution. Equation 1 can be written as
Comparison of methods of assaying urease activity in soils

Abstract Analyses of 16 soils selected to obtain a wide range in properties showed that the results obtained by a buffer method of assaying urease activity were markedly higher than those obtained by a non-buffer method. Both methods gave reproducible results, but the non-buffer method was the more precise, and studies reported showed that it provides a much better index than the buffer method of the ability of soils to hydrolyze urea under natural conditions. The buffer method detects urease activity that does not occur when soils are treated with urea in the absence of buffer. This is a disadvantage if the purpose of the assay is to obtain an index of the ability of soils to hydrolyze fertilizer urea, but is an advantage if the purpose is to detect urease in soils or soil fractions. Use of toluene to inhibit microbial activity in assay of urease activity by the non-buffer method described did not significantly affect the results obtained by this method, but it is decreased the precision of the method.
Distributed planning of collaborative production

Collaborative production is viewed in two related dimensions: collaboration among machines to achieve increased reliability, quality and productivity; and collaboration between machines and human supervisors to combine internal and global control information. A structure, combining centralised planning and human-machine integration, is developed for distributed planning of such collaborative production. The centralised planning relies on game-theoretic optimisation techniques supported by knowledge-based rules for coalition formation of cooperating production operations. The product of the centralised planner is a general, common production plan. The feasibility of this model is demonstrated mathematically. If the centralised planner cannot reach a solution, then human input is sought. For integrating the human and machine knowledge to reach effective solutions, a neural network model is demonstrated. A simulation demonstrates that the distributed human and machine inputs can be combined under this framework. Such a distributed planning structure can overcome the major difficulties encountered in computerised production systems that seek full automation.
A water-based neutron detector as a well multiplicity counter

Abstract We report the performance characteristics of a water-based neutron detecting multiplicity counter for the non-destructive assay of fissile sources. This technique could replace or supplement existing 3He-based multiplicity counters. The counter is a 1.02 m3 tank containing pure deionized water doped with 0.5% GdCl3. It has highly reflective walls and eight 10-in. PMTs mounted at the top. An unshielded source well of 19 cm diameter, mounted at the top and center, extends 73 cm down into the detector. The counter was evaluated using low intensity 252Cf and 60Co sources, and a fast pulsing LED to simulate higher intensity backgrounds. At low gamma ray intensities (~200 kBq or less) we report an absolute neutron detection efficiency of 28% and a 60Co rejection/suppression factor of ~108 to 1. For sources with high gamma ray intensities, the neutron efficiency was 22%±1% up to a 60Co equivalent activity of 4 MBq. The detector background event rate, primarily due to muons and other cosmogenic particles, was found to be stable over a period of almost three months. The minimum detectable neutron source intensity above background was 3.1 n/s, assuming a one-hour data acquisition.
Classical mechanics and entropy

This note addresses a problem of nineteenth century applied mathematics—is it possible in the context of Hamiltonian mechanics to define a functionS of the generalized coordinates and momenta which is monotonically increasing along orbits? The question is of interest, because, for a sytem not in thermodynamic equilibrium, entropy should increase strictly monotonically along an orbit, and a negative answer implies that mechanical principles different from those of Hamiltonian mechanics must be introduced to explain thermodynamics. This note answers the question rigorously for Hamiltonian systems confined to an invariant region of finite volume in phase space; it is not possible to define a continuous function which increases monotonically along orbits. An appendix gives a translation of an 1889 paper of Poincare addressing the same issue.
Economic scarcity alters the perception of race.

When the economy declines, racial minorities are hit the hardest. Although existing explanations for this effect focus on institutional causes, recent psychological findings suggest that scarcity may also alter perceptions of race in ways that exacerbate discrimination. We tested the hypothesis that economic resource scarcity causes decision makers to perceive African Americans as “Blacker” and that this visual distortion elicits disparities in the allocation of resources. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that scarcity altered perceptions of race, lowering subjects’ psychophysical threshold for seeing a mixed-race face as “Black” as opposed to “White.” In studies 3 and 4, scarcity led subjects to visualize African American faces as darker and more “stereotypically Black,” compared with a control condition. When presented to naive subjects, face representations produced under scarcity elicited smaller allocations than control-condition representations. Together, these findings introduce a novel perceptual account for the proliferation of racial disparities under economic scarcity.
Red-mediated recombination of phage lambda in a recA− recB−host

The lambda Red recombination system works poorly among unreplicated gam+ lambda chromosomes in recA- cells compared to recA+ cells. Recombination is not enhanced in recA- recB-cells. Thus, the inability of Red to promote recombination in recA- replication-blocked cross is not due to the hypothetical destruction of recombination intermediates by the recB nuclease. This conclusion strengthens previous proposals that the products of the red genes can operate upon recombinational intermediates which require recA activity for their formation.
Some global solutions of the Yang-Mills equations in Minkowski space

A class of global solutions of the Yang-Mills equations whose Cauchy data depend on a pair of arbitrary functions is constructed. The asymptotic propagation of the energy in space-time is studied. The same results are valid if the Yang-Mills field is coupled to a scalar field.
The effect of solvent and extraction methods on the bacterial mutagenicity of sidestream cigarette smoke.

Abstract The mutagenic activity of sidestream cigarette smoke particles was estimated by testing sidestream cigarette smoke particles which had been collected under controlled burning conditions in the laboratory. Two different extraction methods (Soxhlet and ultrasonic agitation) and 3 different solvents (dichloromethane, methanol, and acetone) were compared for their efficiencies in the extraction of compounds from sidestream cigarette smoke particles which are mutagenic in the Ames test. The mutagenic activity of the sidestream smoke particles was estimated to be 15 000–20 000 revertants per cigarette in TA98 with metabolic activation and 12 000–17 000 revertants per cigarette in TA 100 without metabolic activation. Only weak mutagenic activity was detected in TA98 without activation and in TA 100 with activation. Under test conditions used, ultrasonic agitation produced the most consistent results and acetone extraction produced the highest levels of mutagenic activity.
Designing multi-echelon service parts networks with finite repair capacity

We propose an approach to model and solve the joint problem of facility location, inventory allocation and capacity investment in a two echelon, single-item, service parts supply chain with stochastic demand. The objective of the decision problem is to minimize the total expected costs associated with (1) opening repair facilities, (2) assigning each field service location to an opened facility, (3) determining capacity levels of the opened repair facilities, and (4) optimizing inventory allocation among the locations. Due to the size of the problem, computational efficiency is essential. The accuracy of the approximations and effectiveness of the approach are analyzed with two numerical studies. The approach provides optimal results in 90% of scenarios tested and was within 2% of optimal when it did not.We explore the impact of capacity utilization, inventory availability, and lead times on the performance of the approach. We show that including tactical considerations jointly with strategic network design resulted in additional cost savings from 3% to 12%. Our contribution is the development of a practical model and approach to support the decision making process of joint facility location and multi-echelon inventory optimization.
Micronucleated erythrocyte frequency in control and azidothymidine-treated Tk+/+, Tk+/- and Tk-/- mice.

The first step in the activation of the anti-retroviral nucleoside analogue azidothymidine (AZT) involves its conversion to a 5′-monophosphate. In this study, we have evaluated the role of cytosolic thymidine kinase (Tk), the major enzyme involved in phosphorylating thymidine and its analogues, in the nuclear DNA damage produced by AZT in neonatal mice. Tk+/+, Tk+/− and Tk−/− mice were treated intraperitoneally with 200 mg/kg/day of AZT on postnatal days 1 through 8, and micronuclei were measured in peripheral blood 24 h after the last dose. AZT treatment increased the micronucleus (MN) frequencies to similar extents in both the reticulocytes (RETs) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) of Tk+/+ and Tk+/− mice; AZT did not increase the frequency of micronucleated RETs (MN-RETs) or micronucleated NCEs (MN-NCEs) in Tk−/− mice. Unexpectedly, neonatal Tk−/− mice treated with the vehicle had significantly elevated MN frequencies for both RETs and NCEs relative to Tk+/+ and Tk+/− mice (e.g., ∼3.4% MN-RETs and ∼4.8% MN-NCEs in Tk−/− mice versus ∼0.7 and ∼ 0.6% MN-RETs and MN-NCEs in neonatal Tk+/+ mice). Additional assays performed on untreated Tk−/− mice showed that elevated spontaneous MN frequencies persisted until at least 20 weeks of age, which approaches the average lifespan of Tk−/− mice. These results indicate that metabolism by Tk is necessary for the genotoxicity of AZT in neonatal mice; however, the genotoxicity of AZT is not altered by reducing the Tk gene dose by half. The elevated spontaneous MN frequencies in Tk−/− mice suggest the presence of an endogenous genotoxic activity in these mice.
Plasma-induced damage

Abstract This paper describes the device damage due to plasma exposure. Of the many sources of damage the oxide charging is of the most significance in modern small geometry devices fabricated in ULSI technology. In addition, edge damage also plays a significant role in the damage to the device. The effect of oxide thickness on charging damage is described. Oxide wear-out, which manifests itself as increased oxide leakage current and lower breakdown characteristics, is more sensitive indicator of damage than the shift in threshold voltage and subthreshold characteristics.
Half-range expansion analysis for Langewin dynamics in the high-friction limit with a singular absorbing boundary condition: Noncharacteristic case

We consider the dynamics of a Brownian particle given by the Langevin equation in a strip, under the effects of a deterministic force. The trajectories of particles originate at a source whose spatial location in the phase space coincides with the location of adsorbing boundaries. This leads to singular behavior of trajectories in the high-friction limit. We use the half-range expansion technique and systematic asymptotics to solve a boundary value problem for the Fokker-Planck operator and to calculate the steady-state transition probability density, the mean time to absorption, and the distribution of exit points. We do not make assumptions about other parameters in the problem except that they areO(1) relative to the friction coefficient. We calculate explicitly the correct location of the Milne-type extrapolation for absorbing boundary conditions for the Smoluchowski approximation to the Langevin equation.
Role of the nanoscale interfacial arrangement in mechanical strength of tropocollagen-hydroxyapatite-based hard biomaterials.

Abstract Nanoscale interfacial interactions between a polypeptide (e.g. tropocollagen (TC)) phase and a mineral (e.g. hydroxyapatite (HAP), aragonite) phase is a strong determinant of the strength of hard biological materials such as bone, dentin and nacre. This work presents a mechanistic understanding of such interfacial interactions by examining idealized TC and HAP interfacial systems. For this purpose, three-dimensional molecular dynamics analyses of tensile and compressive failure in two structurally distinct TC–HAP supercells with TC molecules arranged either along or perpendicular to a chosen HAP surface are performed. Analyses point out that the peak interfacial strength for failure results when the load is applied in the direction of TC molecules aligned along the HAP surface such that the contact area between the TC and HAP phases is at a maximum. Such an alignment also leads to the localization of peak stress over a larger length scale resulting in higher fracture strength. The addition of water is found to invariably cause an increase in the mechanical strength. Overall, analyses point out that the relative alignment of TC molecules with respect to the HAP mineral surface such that the contact area is maximal, the optimal direction of applied loading with respect to the TC–HAP orientation and the increase in strength in a hydrated environment can be important factors that contribute to making nanoscale staggered arrangement a preferred structural configuration in biomaterials.
Optimal operation of cryogenic air separation systems with demand uncertainty and contractual obligations

Abstract Cryogenic air separation is an efficient technology for supplying large quantities of nitrogen, argon, and oxygen to chemical, petroleum and manufacturing customers. However, numerous uncertainties make effective operation of these complex processes difficult. This work addresses the problem of determining an optimal operating strategy to maximize the total profit of a cryogenic air separation process while considering demand uncertainty and contractual obligations. A rigorous process model is included as constraints in a nonlinear programming formulation. Uncertain demands are assumed to be normally distributed with known mean and standard deviation, and expected profit in the objective function is evaluated using the standard loss function. A probabilistic fill-rate expression, also based on the loss function, is used to model the contractual obligations by providing a lower bound on the expected product sales. In the single period case with one customer satisfaction constraint, the nonlinear programming formulation can be solved efficiently using the general purpose nonlinear optimization package, Ipopt . This formulation is then extended to include multiple time periods, the potential for product storage, and customer satisfaction constraints on multiple products. To solve the large-scale nonlinear programming formulation that considers a seven-day operating horizon, a tailored parallel nonlinear programming algorithm is used. This approach makes use of a Schur complement decomposition strategy to exploit the block structure of the problem and allow efficient solution in parallel. Using these tools, we solve for a set of optimal operating strategies over the complete space of different fill rates. This produces planning figures that identify key trade-offs between profitability and contractual obligations.
Retention of patients who entered methadone maintenance via an interim methadone clinic.

Abstract Time in treatment is considered an important predictor of good outcomes for drug abuse treatment. Patientretention would be of particular concern for low-service types of treatment. Interim methadone maintenance was developed as an alternative to waiting lists and as a method of providing HIV risk-reduction services to heroin addicts waiting for treatment, and does not include the regular counseling required in comprehensive methad one treatment. This analys is compares the retention of patients first admitted to an interim methadone clinic versus that of patients admitted directly to a comprehensive methadone clinic. The two groups did not differ with regard to demographic characteristics and drug of abuse at the time of admission. The two groups did not differ with respect to demographics. The three-, six-, and 12-month retention rates of patients first admitted to the interim clinic were 78%, 69%, and 62%, respectively. The three-, six-, and 12-month retention rates for patients admitted direc...
High-efficiency reflection polarizer based on light interference in a Buried Low-INDex (BLIND) layer in a high-index substrate at high angles of incidence

A near-ideal, all-dielectric, reflection polarizer is described that employs selective totally destructive interference for the p polarization and constructive interference for the s polarization in a buried low-index (BLIND) film embedded in a high-index substrate near (within 10 degree(s) of) grazing incidence. A specific design is presented of an infrared polarizer that uses a film of refractive index 1.35 embedded in a Ge substrate of refractive index 4.1. Such a polarizer has a throughput for the s polarization of 92% and 99%, when operated at incidence angles of 80 degree(s) and 85 degree(s), respectively.
The Usefulness of a Stretch‐Polyester Pouch to Encase Implanted Pacemakers and Defibrillators

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of enclosing permanent pacemaker and ICD pulse generators in a stretch-polyester pouch prior to implantation. Follow-up of 223 patients with oversized pacemakers and with ICDs and 344 with standard-sized pacemaker pulse generators showed that the pouch was effective in decreasing the frequency of pulse generator migration and extrusion.
Easy glide of lead single crystals

Abstract Lead single crystals like those of other f.c.c. metals show easy glide, the amount increasing with the quantity of dissolved impurity and decreasing with the content of insoluble impurity. Like aluminum, lead has no linear stage II, but in contrast to aluminum it shows no measurable creep at 4.2°K. The impurity effects may be understood by applying a model due to Diehl.
Hydraulic Power Associated with Pulmonary Blood Flow and its Relation to Heart Rate

Pulmonary vascular input impedance and hydraulic power were measured at various heart rates in 29 anesthetized and 5 unanesthetized dogs. Hydraulic power at the pulmonary veno-atrial junction was measured in 5 dogs. The pulmonary vascular impedance spectrum in the unanesthetized dogs did not differ significantly from that in the anesthetized dogs. Average pulmonary arterial power in the anesthetized dogs was 157 milliwatts (mw), of which 108 mw was associated with mean pressure and flow, and 49 mw with the pulsations around these means. Seventy-eight per cent of this input power was dissipated in passage through the pulmonary bed. Kinetic energy accounted for 7% of the total input power. Because of a steep fall in impedance between zero and 3 cycles/sec, and a rate-dependent change in the harmonic structure of flow pulsations, there was an inverse relationship between heart rate and the input power for a given mean flow, up to 180 beats/min. Pulmonary vascular dimensions and elasticity, which determine im...
The Precautionary Principle in Dentistry

The public does not expect serious side effects when visiting the dentist. And, by and large, the dental profession has succeeded in providing reasonable assurances that serious side effects associated with dental treatments are rare. However they do occur and absolute safety cannot be guaranteed. Even simple and routine dental procedures such as the administration of local anesthetics in dentistry can result in adverse events. Bone or blood products used in periodontal surgery may be contaminated with bloodborne diseases, patients on bisphosphates may develop osteonecrosis of the jaw as a result of surgical procedure, inferior alveolar nerves may get severed with implants or wisdom tooth extractions, and cancers may get induced by computed tomography scans. One can approach such risks from a precautionary or a risk-based perspective. A precautionary approach would consider alternative treatments with lower risks, or inform patients about potential risks even when the risks may only be theoretical and when no credible evidence exists to suggest harm. A risk-based approach, on the contrary, would forego such precautions until credible evidence exists that a procedure or treatment is associated with adverse events. Consider a patient on oral bisphosphonates presenting to your dental practice for dental extractions and implants. The concern is osteonecrosis of the jawVa condition where the jaw necroses. No effective treatment to control this condition exists. The evidence that oral bisphosphonates are associated with this condition is weak. While suggestive evidence on dose-response exists, and while the temporality of the events and the biological plausibility provide suggestions of causality, the evidence is weak. No well-designed case-control studies have established the presence of a causal association. Two contrasting clinical approaches are possible. A precautionary approach would be to provide patients with an informed consent describing in detail the potential risks, to avoid dental surgery, and, if possible, to do a dental clean-up prior to start of bisphosphonates therapy. Such an approach is practiced by some oral and maxillofacial surgeons who provide a detailed informed consent on the risks of bisphosphonates. A risk-based approach would be usual care (no informed consent, no changes in clinical practice). The argument for a risk-based approach would be that the precautionary approach increases cost of care unnecessarily, may cause unnecessary anxiety, and a paralysis of care. A dental practice based on the precautionary principle and the risk-based principle are quite distinct. Three speakers were invited to provide their perspectives on the precautionary principle and their presentations are summarized in the 3 ensuing reports.
Differential relational calculus for integrity maintenance

A differential calculus for first-order logic is developed to enforce database integrity. Formal differentiation of first-order sentences is useful in maintaining database integrity, since once a database constraint is expressed as a first-order sentence, its derivative with respect to a transaction provides the necessary and sufficient condition for maintaining integrity. The derivative is often much simpler to test than the original constraint since it maintains integrity differentially by assuming Integrity before the transaction, and testing only for new violations. The formal differentiation requires no resolution search, only substitution. It is more efficient than resolution-based approaches; and it provides a considerably more general solution than previous substitution-based methods since it is valid for all first-order sentences and with all transactions involving arbitrary collections of atomic changes to the database. It also produces a large number of sufficient conditions that are often less strict than those of the previous approaches; and it can be extended to accommodate many dynamic constraints.
Is Chromium Supplementation Effective in Managing Type Ii Diabetes

The results of a recent placebo-controlled intervention trial in China show beneficial effects of chromium supplementation in type II diabetes. Before extrapolating the results to Western populations, however, large-scale placebo-controlled studies in Westerners are necessary to confirm the positive results.
Do Standard Measures of Preschool Quality Used in Statewide Policy Predict School Readiness

Abstract In the majority of states using Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to improve children's school readiness, the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) is a core assessment of preschool program quality and is central to QRIS metrics and incentive structures. The present study utilizes nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort to examine relations between the ECERS-R and children's academic, language, and socioemotional functioning at age five years. After using a rich set of controls, we found little evidence that the ECERS-R related to children's development. Further, higher levels of quality failed to improve growth in academic, language, or socioemotional skills and behaviors for children with more exposure to sociodemographic risk. Implications of these findings are discussed with regard to recent policy initiatives and strengthening the measurement of quality in early childhood education settings.
Effect of thermal history on the ionic conductivity of block copolymer electrolytes

We have studied the effect of thermal history on ionic conductivity of block copolymer electrolytes. Previous work on block copolymer electrolytes composed of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfone) imide (LiTFSI) salt was restricted to lamellar morphologies. This study addresses both cylindrical and lamellar morphologies. The conductivity of low molecular weight samples decreases after they are annealed. In contrast, the conductivity of high molecular weight samples is generally unaffected by annealing. These results are explained in the context of connectivity and composition of the conducting phase. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 927–934
Life cycle assessment, evaluation method for sustainable development

Abstract This report presents automotive applications of life cycle assessment (LCA) which has attracted public attention as an effective tool for evaluating environmental burdens quantitatively. It also reviews the background of how LCA has been introduced, and discusses future possibilities of LCA applications to automobiles as well as important aspects of LCA.
Proposed histopathologic grading system derived from a study of KIT and CK19 expression in pancreatic endocrine neoplasm

Summary Predicting the biologic behavior of pancreatic endocrine neoplasm in the absence of local invasion or metastasis is difficult. We recently proposed an immunohistochemical classification system based on a combination of KIT and CK19 expression: low risk (KIT−/CK19−), intermediate risk (KIT−/CK19+), and high risk (KIT+/CK19+). In the current study, we sought histopathologic features that correlated with the immunohistochemical categories and that could be used in predicting tumor behavior. We assessed histologic findings of 97 pancreatic endocrine neoplasm that had been classified into 3 risk groups based on KIT/CK19 expression. Clinicopathologic associations with prognosis were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Tumor size, mitoses, infiltrative border, extrapancreatic extension, perineural invasion, and presence of amyloid were significantly different among the 3 risk groups, and tumor necrosis approached statistical significance as well ( P = .089). A scoring system using mitoses, necrosis, and tumor border was developed as follows: mitosis: 0 (0/50 high-power field), 1 (1-3/50 high-power field), and 2 (≥4/50 high-power field); necrosis: 0 (absent) and 1 (present); tumor border: 0 (noninfiltrating) and 1 (infiltrating), giving a possible histology score of 0 to 4. Although there was an overall difference in disease-specific survival among the 4 histology scores ( P
Transition Form Factors: A Unique Opportunity to Connect Non-Perturbative Strong Interactions to QCD

Meson-photoproduction measurements and their reaction-amplitude analyses can establish more sensitively, and in some cases in an almost model-independent way, nucleon excitations and non-resonant reaction amplitudes. However, to investigate the strong interaction from explored — where meson-cloud degrees of freedom contribute substantially to the baryon structure — to still unexplored distance scales — where quark degrees of freedom dominate and the transition from dressed to current quarks occurs — we depend on experiments that allow us to measure observables that are probing this evolving non-perturbative QCD regime over its full range. Elastic and transition form factors are uniquely suited to trace this evolution by measuring elastic electron scattering and exclusive single-meson and double-pion electroproduction cross sections off the nucleon. These exclusive measurements will be extended to higher momentum transfers with the energy-upgraded CEBAF beam at JLab to study the quark degrees of freedom, where their strong interaction is responsible for the ground and excited nucleon state formations. After establishing unprecedented high-precision data, the imminent next challenge is a high-quality analysis to extract these relevant electrocoupling parameters for various resonances that then can be compared to state-of-the-art models and QCD-based calculations. Recent results will demonstrate the status of the analysis and of their theoretical descriptions, and an experimental and theoretical outlook will highlight what shall and may be achieved in the new era of the 12-GeV upgraded transition form factor program.
Recent developments in dental litigation

Several legal cases involving dental malpractice are reviewed. To avoid malpractice litigation, a dentist should exercise care not only in dealing with patients but also with other dentists and insurance carriers. The decisions in these cases should serve as a warning to the dentist that he must keep abreast of modern developments in the dental practice, and of current legal problems as they relate to his practice.
Studies on the antifungal properties of N-thiolated β-lactams

N-thiolated beta-lactams had previously been shown to have antibacterial activity against a narrow selection of pathogenic bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis, as well as apoptotic-inducing activity in a variety of human cancer cell lines. We now have found that these lactams also possess antifungal activity against Candida and other fungi by exerting powerful cytostatic effects that disrupt the structural integrity of cytoplasmic membranes. The mode of action and structure-activity trends of these lactams as antifungals parallel that previously seen in our antibacterial studies.
It is time to check estimated glomerular filtration rate level in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

ischaemic cardiomyopathy and ICDs. Among 274 consecutive patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and ICDs, there were 96 (35%) patients with eGFR ,60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 .A s expected, patients with decreased eGFR levels were older and had higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, but other clinical and ECG parameters did not show any significant difference between patients with eGFR below and above 60 mL/min/ 1.72 m 2 . During the median 27 month follow-up, appropriate ICD therapy occurred in a significantly higher number of patients (59%) with decreased eGFR than in patients with normal eGFR levels (40%). Interestingly, the proportion of patients receiving ICD therapy for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation was similar in both groups. Also, electrical storms were observed twice more frequently in patients with a decreased eGFR than the normal eGFR (33 vs. 17%, respectively). A 4 year mortality rate was estimated at 32% for patients with a decreased eGFR and 22% in patients with a normal eGFR. In multivariate analysis, a decreased eGFR was significantly associated with increased risk of appropriate therapy after adjustment for relevant covariates. This manuscript provides an important addition to the literature describing for the first time the association between eGFR levels and outcome in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and ICDs. Similarly to what was described for ischaemic cardiomyopathy ICD patients, 4,5 it proves that non-ischaemic ICD patients with a decreased eGFR have significantly increased risk of mortality and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias requiring ICD therapy. A very important aspect of the analysis focuses on 207 patients in whom eGFR level was re-evaluated after 1 year. A decreased eGFR of 15 mL/min/m 2 was observed in 36% of patients who exhibited an increased propensity to arrhythmic events. This observation stresses the need for continuous follow-up of these high-risk patients whose dynamic disease process might alter their status towards the high-risk category. There are a few remaining questions regarding the data presented in this paper. It would be beneficial to know the proportion
Nosocomial infections in elderly patients in the United States, 1986–1990

We analyzed 101,479 nosocomial infections in 75,398 adult patients (greater than 15 years) that were reported to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system between 1986 and 1990 by 89 hospitals using the NNIS hospital-wide surveillance component. Overall, 54% of the infections occurred in elderly patients (greater than or equal to 65 years). In the elderly, 44% of the infections were urinary tract infections (UTIs), 18% were pneumonias, 11% were surgical wound infections (SWIs), 8% were bloodstream infections (BSIs), and the remainder were infections at other sites. When we compared the infections in elderly patients with those in younger adult patients, ages 15 to 64 years, a far greater percentage of the infections in elderly patients were UTIs, and there were more pneumonias than SWIs. Elderly and younger patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were about 1.5 times more likely to develop a secondary BSI than those with pneumonia not associated with ventilator use. When the pathogens isolated from the infections were compared to those reported to the NNIS system in 1984, the percentage that were coagulase-negative staphylococci had increased in both elderly and younger patients. The patient died in 12% of all of the infections. Surveillance personnel reported that 54% of the infections in elderly infected patients who died were related to death compared with 59% in younger infected patients who died. When the infection was related to the patient's death, it was most often pneumonia or a BSI. The risk of an infection-related death was significantly higher when the infected patient developed a secondary BSI. Infection prevention efforts should target infections that occur frequently, are amenable to intervention, and have an adverse outcome.
The effect of chlorine on the viability of clostridial spores

Summary A study was made of the effect of chlorine on eight strains of clostridia. Aqueous spore suspensions were treated at 10°C with 0.5 and 5 p.p.m. (mg/1) of free available chlorine and 200 p.p.m. of combined available chlorine (Chloramine T). Clostridium welchii was found to be the most resistant of the species studied and Cl. bifermentans the least resistant. With single strains of these two species it was found that spores which survived treatment with 5 p.p.m. of free chlorine (pH 8.3) were more sensitive to heating between 60–80°C than untreated spores, but there was no change in the optimum temperature range for growth after chlorine treatment. The chlorine-resistance of clostridial spores is discussed in relation to the processing of poultry carcasses.
miR-551a and miR-551b target GLIPR2 and promote tumor growth in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer by modulating autophagy

Distant metastasis (DM) and local-regional recurrence (LR) after radiation and chemo therapy are major cause of treatment failure for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, detailed underlying mechanisms leading to DM and LR in patients are not fully understood yet. MiRNA have been proposed as biomarkers in a variety of biological and medical conditions such as cancer and stress response. The advantages of miRNA as a biomarker lies in its stability in tissues as well as body fluids, hence the potential for non-invasive diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, towards understanding the molecular mechanism causing DM and LR in HN cancer patients we performed miRNA expression profiling using tumor samples from 118 head and neck cancer patients treated by post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1992 to 1999. All patients were considered to be at high-risk for recurrence having histologically proven advanced squamous cell carcinoma. Amongst these samples, 41 found to have distant metastasis (DM), 53 responded without relapse (no evidence of disease (NED)) to PORT. Comparison of miRNA expression between DM and NED specimens using two-way ANOVA identified 28 miRNAs that were differentially expressed with statistical significance (FDR 1.5). Amongst these 28 miRNAs seen in the DM and NED outcome groups, miRNAs 551a and 551b are significantly associated with the DM group. Interestingly these two miRNAs share same seed sequence. Moreover Kaplan-Meir survival analysis in our data set and two other data sets suggested that miR-551a and miR-551b expressions are associated with poor survival in patients. We further performed cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays using the HN5 and UMSCC- 17B head and neck cancer cell lines by transfection of either mimic or an inhibitor of miR-551a and miR-551b. The results suggested that miR-551a and miR-551b mimics promote proliferation, migration and invasion whereas the inhibitor decreased. Further studies indicated that these miRNAs target GLIPR2 expression and miR-551a, miR-551b and GLIPR2 axis at least in part plays an important role in tumor progression. Hence we need to further explore miR-551a and miR-551b-3p role in HN cancer progression in detail in in-vivo models to use them as therapeutic targets in future.
Microstructural Characterization of Deformation and Precipitation in (W, Ti)C

Transmission electron microscopy has been used to study the deformation produced by Vickers micro-indentations in rock-salt structure carbides with approximate compositions (W, Ti)C0.8 and (W, Ti)C0.6. In the more severely deformed regions, the dislocation density increases from the annealed value of 108 cm−2 to around 1013 cm−2. The defects were found to lie on all the three major low index planes, {111}, {110} and {100} with Burgers’ vectors that are consistent with a/2 . The operation of these slip planes is consistent with observations of hardness anisotropy in other transition metal carbides, particularly TiC. Indentations at high loads have revealed interactions between slip bands. These sometimes result in the formation of wedge shaped cracks and in the abrupt displacement of slip traces at the intersection of different bands. The latter may reflect the sequential activation of different slip planes during the loading process.