cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Simultaneous Implant Activation and Borophosphosilicate Glass (BPSG) Reflow during Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) and Furnace Annealing on Complex Topographies

Borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) is an essential insulating material used to modify the complex topography of highly dense, next generation dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices. The shallow junctions in 16 and 64 Meg DRAMs can only be maintained by severely restricting the time, temperature, and atmosphere of all thermal process steps following the junction implant. In this paper we present the results of rapid thermal process (RTP) assisted reflow of BPSG over complex topographies and compare the results of RTP to furnace reflow in both dry and wet ambients. We also compare the out-diffusion of boron and phosphorous from BPSG films during the RTP and furnace reflow. We found an optimum RTP cycle that completely removes voids in the vicinity of overhang geometries and provides sufficient activation of the underlying dopants (as compared to a furnace reflow and activation cycle). In this study we used the results of boron and phosphorous profile redistribution, underlying dopant activation, and the amount of reflow to compare RTP and furnace processing techniques.
Wheat bran as an alternative substrate for macroconidia formation by some Fusarium species

Different plant preparations were evaluated for their ability to support macroconidia formation by Fusarium species in an attempt to find a replacement for the conventional Carnation Leaf Agar (CLA) media. Carnation leaves, typically require an expensive and more complex preparation steps, were replaced with corn hulls and wheat bran. This study illustrates the possibility of replacing CLA plates with a lower-cost simplified media without affecting the morphological or growth characteristics of the isolated fungi.
The GABAA Receptor RDL Suppresses the Conditioned Stimulus Pathway for Olfactory Learning

Assigning a gene's function to specific pathways used for classical conditioning, such as conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) pathway, is important for understanding the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying memory formation. Prior studies have shown that the GABA receptor RDL inhibits aversive olfactory learning via its role in the Drosophila mushroom bodies (MBs). Here, we describe the results of further behavioral tests to further define the pathway involvement of RDL. The expression level of Rdl in the MBs influenced both appetitive and aversive olfactory learning, suggesting that it functions by suppressing a common pathway used for both forms of olfactory learning. Rdl knock down failed to enhance learning in animals carrying mutations in genes of the cAMP signaling pathway, such as rutabaga and NF1, suggesting that RDL works up stream of these functions in CS/US integration. Finally, knocking down Rdl or over expressing the dopamine receptor dDA1 in the MBs enhanced olfactory learning, but no significant additional enhancement was detected with both manipulations. The combined data suggest that RDL suppresses olfactory learning via CS pathway involvement.
Concurrency features for the Trellis/Owl language

Trellis/Owl is an object oriented programming language being developed as part of the Trellis programming environment by the Object Based Systems group within Corporate Research and Architecture at Digital Equipment Corporation's Hudson, MA facility. Trellis/Owl incorporates support for concurrency. Here we describe the high level language features designed, the rationale for that design, the implementation techniques used, the principles behind them, and experience with the resulting system to date. We show how the object oriented nature of Trellis/Owl influenced the design, and how it affected the implementation.
Transmission electron microscopy study of n= 1–5 Srn+1TinO3n+1 epitaxial thin films

Epitaxial Srn+1TinO3n+1 thin films with n = 1–5 were synthesized on (001) SrTiO3 substrates by reactive molecular beam epitaxy. The structure and microstructure of the films were investigated by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microbeam diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in combination with computer image simulations. Both diffraction and HRTEM studies revealed that all the films are epitaxially oriented with their c axis perpendicular to the (001) SrTiO3 plane of the substrate. Detailed investigations using quantitative HRTEM methods indicated that the films have the expected n = 1–5 structures of the Ruddlesden–Popper Srn+1TinO3n+1 homologous series. Among these films, Sr2TiO4, Sr3Ti2O7, and Sr4Ti3O10 thin films are nearly free of intergrowths, while Sr5Ti4O13 and Sr6Ti5O16 thin films contain noticeably more antiphase boundaries in their perovskite sheets and intergrowth defects. We show that these results are consistent with what is known about the thermodynamics of Srn+1TinO3n+1 phases.
Trial-to-Trial Variability and State-Dependent Modulation of Auditory-Evoked Responses in Cortex

Recent experimental work has provided evidence that trial-to-trial variability of sensory-evoked responses in cortex can be explained as a linear superposition of random ongoing background activity and a stationary response. While studying single trial variability and state-dependent modulation of evoked responses in auditory cortex of ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized rats, we have observed an apparent violation of this model. Local field potential and unit spike trains were recorded and analyzed during different anesthesia depths—deep, medium, and light—which were defined by the pattern of ongoing cortical activity. Estimation of single trial evoked response was achieved by considering whole waveforms, rather than just one or two peak values from each wave. Principal components analysis was used to quantitatively classify waveforms on the basis of their time courses (i.e., shapes). We found that not only average response but also response variability is modulated by depth of anesthesia. Trial-to-trial variability is highest under medium levels of anesthesia, during which ongoing cortical activity exhibits rhythmic population bursting activity. By triggering the occurrence of stimuli from the spontaneously occurring burst events, we show that the observed variability can be accounted for by the background activity. In particular, the ongoing activity was found to modulate both amplitude and shape (including latency) of evoked local field potentials and evoked unit activity in a manner not predicted by linear superposition of background activity and a stereotyped evoked response. This breakdown of the linear model is likely attributable to rapid transitions between different levels of thalamocortical excitability (e.g., spike-wave discharges), although brain “state” is relatively fixed.
Social Workers' Culture-Based Countertransferences

ABSTRACT This study explored manifestation to culture-based countertransferences (CBCs) among a cross-cultural sample of seventeen social workers. Using a multiple case study research strategy, the study identified ten CBCs from social workers' cross-cultural counseling situations. This article discussed five CBCs most frequently occurring among social workers during the counseling process. These CBCs included: (1) recognizing clients' life achievements, resilience, and strengths; (2) expectations and prescriptions; (3) social workers' assessments, labels and views of clients; (4) what to ask and not to ask clients; (5) social workers' activities to avoid and distance. Practice and research implications of the findings are discussed.
Sonar-based iceberg-relative AUV navigation

AUVs have been operating under the ice for years. All of these systems have relied on combinations of dead-reckoning using inertial measurements, acoustic transponder networks, and/or velocity measurements from a Doppler velocity logger (both seafloor-relative and ice-relative) for navigation and control. These existing systems can be very accurate for operation under a stationary ice sheet, but they cannot provide ice-relative navigation accounting for the full motion of free-floating icebergs (especially rotation). Further, while some of these AUVs have collected sonar images of the underside of the ice, none has used these data for navigation. This paper explores the extension of sonar-based terrain-aided navigation techniques to enable an AUV to localize its position with respect to a moving and rotating iceberg. Terrain-navigation techniques provide drift-free position estimates with respect to mapped terrain and have been demonstrated for aircraft, missile, and numerous underwater vehicle applications. The availability of terrain-aided navigation would enable an AUV to return to sites of interest for sampling and serial observations. In particular, this paper presents an approach to developing maps of the underside of icebergs that would be sufficient to enable autonomous localization and navigation for AUVs. The viability of this approach is demonstrated using data collected from a sideways-looking multibeam sonar system mounted on the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer in Antarctica, June 2008. During data collection, the ship completed approximately 400 degrees of circumnavigation of a small (<1 nmi2) free-floating iceberg. Hence, data from the beginning and end of the experiment overlap the same section of the iceberg. These data are used to estimate parameters in a simple iceberg motion model, and the iceberg-relative ship track is then recovered by subtracting the estimated iceberg motion from the measured GPS track of the ship. Projection of the measured sonar ranges from the iceberg-relative ship track yields a self-consistent iceberg map, up to the accuracy of the estimated iceberg motion.
The Eucharistic Prayer: An Examination of Recent Research

This paper has many aims. It proposes, first of all, to cover some of the research that has gone into the Eucharistic Prayer, especially its genesis in Roman Catholic circles. It has been a topic of interest for most of this century, but particularly so in the last twenty years. It aims to discuss the spirituality of the Prayer and its relationship to practical piety and to show the relationship between the Liturgy of the Word, the Gospel tradition, and the Eucharistic Prayer as our response to the Word of God. Lastly, this paper aims to uncover something of the theological richness of this Prayer and at the same time to show its roots in the human condition. In covering this research the paper also aims at pinpointing its constituent elements. Liturgically speaking, the Eucharistic Prayer is central: it represents the Christian response to his God at his most central and sacred moment. It is a topic with a long history. It was discussed particularly at the Reformation and in the Reformed circles was one of the casualties of the older tradition. It is a topic, the study of which has produced some conclusions. There has been a rather widespread reform of the Eucharistic Prayer in many churches. This is especially clear in the renewal of the Roman Catholic tradition and in the proposals of the Anglican Series Three.
Automated Stimulus-Response Mapping of High-Electrode-Count Neural Implants

Over the past decade, research in the field of functional electrical stimulation (FES) has led to a new generation of high-electrode-count (HEC) devices that offer increasingly selective access to neural populations. Incorporation of these devices into research and clinical applications, however, has been hampered by the lack of hardware and software platforms capable of taking full advantage of them. In this paper, we present the first generation of a closed-loop FES platform built specifically for HEC neural interface devices. The platform was designed to support a wide range of stimulus-response mapping and feedback-based control routines. It includes a central control module, a 1100-channel stimulator, an array of biometric devices, and a 160-channel data recording module. To demonstrate the unique capabilities of this platform, two automated software routines for mapping stimulus-response properties of implanted HEC devices were implemented and tested. The first routine determines stimulation levels that produce perithreshold muscle activity, and the second generates recruitment curves (as measured by peak impulse response). Both routines were tested on 100-electrode Utah slanted electrode arrays (USEAs) implanted in cat hindlimb nerves using joint torque or EMG as muscle output metric. Mean time to map perithreshold stimulus level was 16.4 s for electrodes that evoked responses (n = 3200), and 3.6 s for electrodes that did not evoke responses (n = 1800). Mean time to locate recruitment curve asymptote for an electrode (n = 155) was 9.6 s , and each point in the recruitment curve required 0.87 s. These results demonstrate the utility of our FES platform by showing that it can be used to completely automate a typically time- and effort-intensive procedure associated with using HEC devices.
Modules over the cyclic group of prime order

We describe the structure of all finitely generated modules over the integral group ring ZG, G= cyclic of prime order p. The additive groups of the modules in question need not be torsion free. We give a moderately detailed description of the indecomposable ZG-modules, and determine when two direct sums of such modules are isomorphic to each other.
The use of staphylococcal protein A in diagnostic virology.

Staphylococcal protein A (SPA), a protein component of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus, binds the Fc portion of many immunoglobulins of most mammalian species. Verwey first described SPA in 1940 as a protein antigen present in type A staphylococci (coagulase-positive, a-toxin-positive, mannitol-fermenting, and pathogenic; i.e., S. aureus), but not in type B staphylococci (those lacking these characteristics). The systematic study of antigen A did not begin in earnest until two decades later (Jensen et al. 1961; Lofkvist and Sjoquist 1963; Grov et al. 1964). Grov and associates proposed the designation “protein A” to avoid confusion with the antigenic polysaccharide A (Grov et al. 1964).
Photoluminescence imaging characterization of thin-film InP

Indium phosphide grown using a novel vapor-liquid-solid method is a promising low-cost material for III–V single-junction photovoltaics. In this work, we characterize the properties of these materials using photoluminescence (PL) imaging, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), and microwave-reflection photoconductive decay (μ-PCD). PL image data clearly shows the emergence of a self-similar dendritic growth network from nucleation sites, while zoomed-in images show grain structure and grain boundaries. Single photon TRPL data shows initial surface-dominated recombination, while two-photon excitation TRPL shows a lifetime of 10 ns. Bulk carrier lifetime may be as long as 35 ns as measured by μ-PCD, which can be less sensitive to surface recombination.
Management of Preschool Children with Recurrent Wheezing: Lessons from the NHLBI's Asthma Research Networks.

Recurrent wheezing in the preschool children is a common clinical problem, often associated with significant morbidity related to acute episodes. The management of these children has been complicated by a paucity of high-quality clinical trials in this age group. To fill this knowledge gap, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's asthma research networks have performed a series of clinical trials in an effort to provide practitioners with guidance on appropriate management strategies. These studies establish daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy in toddlers at high risk for subsequent asthma as an effective approach for the prevention of exacerbations and symptom reduction, but without evidence of disease-modifying properties. Additional studies have confirmed substantial heterogeneity in ICS response, in terms of both efficacy and effect on linear growth. Treatment with intermittent high-dose ICS was demonstrated to be an alternative approach to daily low-dose ICS for preventing severe exacerbations in toddlers with intermittent but significant wheeze and a positive modified asthma predictive index. This review details the findings and clinical implications derived from these studies, discuss the utility of biomarkers and the role of oral corticosteroids during acute exacerbations, and summarizes ongoing clinical trials in this age group.
Scholarship improved by case report curriculum

SummaryBackground The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that residents participate in scholarly activity. Case reports are an accessible form of resident scholarship, given the time required relative to other forms of research. Our paediatric residency lacked a curriculum for writing and presenting case reports. Methods We created and implemented a brief curriculum for writing case reports and scientific posters. The curriculum consisted of two 1-hour didactic sessions, followed by mentoring during the writing process. The impact of the curriculum was measured via resident surveys about the material presented and by the rate of presentations of case reports made by residents at our departmental research day, before and after implementation. Results In the year of curriculum implementation, there were 15 case reports presented at the departmental research day, compared with an average of 4.7 per year in the three prior years. The resident (n = 85) participation rate increased from an average of 0.06 case reports per resident per year before implementation to 0.18 case reports per resident per year after implementation (p = 0.0023). Discussion Implementation of a case report curriculum with subsequent mentoring was associated with a marked increase in resident case report presentations at the departmental research day. These results suggest that even brief instruction and subsequent faculty mentorship in preparation of case reports can significantly improve resident participation in scholarly activity.
Neutronic Feasibility Assessment of Liquid Salt―Cooled Pebble Bed Reactors

This study investigates the neutronic characteristics of the Pebble Bed―Advanced High Temperature Reactor (PB-AHTR), which combines TRISO fuel technology and liquid salt [flibe (2LiF-Be 2 F)] cooling. Compared to equivalent helium-cooled cores, the flibe-cooled cores feature a significantly larger fraction of neutron loss to coolant absorption but also a reduced neutron loss to leakage. The flibe also significantly contributes to neutron slowing-down and allows an increase of the pebbles' heavy metal-to― carbon volume ratio as compared to helium-cooled cores. In order to guarantee all negative reactivity coefficients, and in particular coolant void and temperature feedbacks, the carbon―to―heavy metal atom ratio must not exceed 300 to 400, depending on the fuel kernel diameter. The maximum burnup attainable from a PB-AHTR that is fueled with 10% enriched uranium and operated in continuous refueling is ∼130 GWd/t HM; this is comparable to the maximum burnup achieved in other high-temperature reactors, either liquid salt or gas cooled. Compared to helium-cooled pebble bed reactors, the PB-AHTR pebbles can be loaded with 2.5 times more fuel, resulting in a smaller number of pebbles to fabricate and a smaller spent-fuel volume to handle per energy generated. Relative to a light water reactor, the PB-AHTR offers improved natural uranium ore utilization and reduced enrichment capacity.
Sex Education in College

A comprehensive understanding of sexual learning in college requires that we view it from the joint perspectives of experiential as well as didactic learning. The sexual attitudes and behavior of college students continue to be shaped primarily by peer interaction and broader social influences rather than through formal instruction. Yet our focus here will be on the latter, and I shall mainly dwell on our experiences at Stanford University. I undertake this task with some trepidation, mindful of Montaigne’s warning that one seldom speaks of oneself without some detriment to the person spoken of.
Testing local Lorentz invariance with gravitational waves

The effects of local Lorentz violation on dispersion and birefringence of gravitational waves are investigated. The covariant dispersion relation for gravitational waves involving gauge-invariant Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary mass dimension is constructed. The chirp signal from the gravitational-wave event GW150914 is used to place numerous first constraints on gravitational Lorentz violation.
Selected Personality Characteristics and Academic Performance of Adult Evening College Students

AbstractThe research literature is rather replete with studies concerning the typical or average college undergraduate, but very little effort or attention has been directed toward his counterpart, the evening student. Therefore, in the present study an attempt was made to obtain a better understanding of the evening student, his motivations, values, anxieties, and aspirations. Specifically, the present study examined the relationship of anxiety, self-concept, values, and aspirations to academic achievement and career choice among students enrolled in an evening college.
Pushing the Boundaries of Silicon Photonics

Photonics on chip enables monolithic integration of optics and microelectronics for applications such as optical interconnects in which high data streams are required in a small footprint. Article not available.
RNase P Ribozyme As an Antiviral Agent Against Human Cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) represents one of the most medically important human viruses and causes a wide spectrum of human diseases, including birth defects and mental retardation in newborns, common opportunistic infections in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (e.g., CMV-associated retinitis and pneumonia), and possibly cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. This chapter describes the utilization of RNase P ribozyme-specifically, M1GS ribozyme, as a gene-targeting agent for blocking HCMV gene expression and growth. The target for the RNase P ribozyme is the overlapping region of the mRNAs that code for HCMV major transcription factors IE1 and IE2, which are essential for viral gene expression and replication. The methods described in this chapter focus primarily on i) construction of the retroviral vector for expression of M1GS ribozymes in cultured cells, ii) generation of stable cell lines expressing ribozymes, iii) determination of the expression of M1GS RNAs in human cells, and iv) evaluation of the efficacy of ribozymes in inhibiting HCMV IE1/IE2 expression and viral growth. Using these methods, we successfully constructed M1GS RNAs against the IE1/IE2 mRNA sequence and recently showed that a reduction of up to 150- to 3000-fold in HCMV growth is found in cells that express the ribozymes.
A General Framework for Manifold Alignment

Manifold alignment has been found to be useful in many fields of machine learning and data mining. In this paper we summarize our work in this area and introduce a general framework for manifold alignment. This framework generates a family of approaches to align manifolds by simultaneously matching the corresponding instances and preserving the local geometry of each given manifold. Some approaches like semi-supervised alignment and manifold projections can be obtained as special cases. Our framework can also solve multiple manifold alignment problems and be adapted to handle the situation when no correspondence information is available. The approaches are described and evaluated both theoretically and experimentally, providing results showing useful knowledge transfer from one domain to another. Novel applications of our methods including identification of topics shared by multiple document collections, and biological structure alignment are discussed in the paper.
Blending Formal and Informal Learning Networks for Online Learning.

With the emergence of social software and the advance of web-based technologies, online learning networks provide invaluable opportunities for learning, whether formal or informal. Unlike top-down, instructor-centered, and carefully planned formal learning settings, informal learning networks offer more bottom-up, student-centered participatory but somewhat disorganized learning opportunities for students. This paper presents a research study where graduate students are surveyed in their use of informal and formal learning networks in online courses to understand the interaction between the two and how they impact each other. The findings showed that students and professors use both environments often, to optimize learning but online course design is usually not designed to consider informal experiences of the students. The results and illustrated course design framework may contribute to the discussion of blending informal and formal learning for online learning.
Determination of Vinylidene Chloride in Saran Films by Electron Capture Gas-Solid Chromatography and Confirmation by Mass Spectrometry

A method is presented for determining vinylidene chloride (VdC) in Saran food packaging films by using electron capture gas-solid chromatography. The VdC present was confirmed by combined gas-solid chromatography-mass spectrometry, employing selected ion recording. The method is capable of detecting larger than or equal to 5 ppm VdC in films. Production lots of Saran film were analyzed and found to contain 6-30 ppm VdC.
The emerging public discourse on state legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the US: Analysis of news media coverage, 2010-2014.

Abstract Objectives US states have begun to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In the absence of clear scientific evidence regarding the likely public health consequences of legalization, it is important to understand how the risks and benefits of this policy are being discussed in the national dialogue. To assess the public discourse on recreational marijuana policy, we assessed the volume and content of US news media coverage of the topic. Method We analyzed the content of a 20% random sample of news stories published/aired in high circulation/viewership print, television, and Internet news sources from 2010 to 2014 (N = 610). Results News media coverage of recreational marijuana policy was heavily concentrated in news outlets from the four states (AK, CO, OR, WA) and DC that legalized marijuana for recreational use during the study period. Overall, 53% of news stories mentioned pro-legalization arguments and 47% mentioned anti-legalization arguments. The most frequent pro-legalization arguments posited that legalization would reduce criminal justice involvement/costs (20% of news stories) and increase tax revenue (19%). Anti-legalization arguments centered on adverse public health consequences, such as detriments to youth health and well-being (22%) and marijuana-impaired driving (6%). Some evidence-informed public health regulatory options, like marketing and packaging restrictions, were mentioned in 5% of news stories or fewer. Conclusion As additional states continue to debate legalization of marijuana for recreational use, it is critical for the public health community to develop communication strategies that accurately convey the rapidly evolving research evidence regarding recreational marijuana policy.
Rethinking 'Death Row': Variations in the Housing of Individuals Sentenced to Death

In 2015, individuals sentenced to death in the United States were housed in varying degrees of isolation. Many people were kept apart from others in profoundly isolating conditions, while others were housed with each other or with the general prison population. Given the growing awareness of the debilitating effects of long-term isolation, the placement of death-sentenced prisoners on what is colloquially known as “death row” has become the subject of discussion, controversy, and litigation. This Report, written under the auspices of the Arthur Liman Public Interest Program at Yale Law School, examines the legal parameters of death row housing to learn whether correctional administrators have discretion in deciding how to house death-sentenced individuals and to document the choices made in three jurisdictions where death-sentenced prisoners are not kept in isolation. Part I details the statutes, regulations, and policies that govern the housing of those sentenced to death and reviews prior research on the housing conditions of death-sentenced prisoners. Part II presents an overview of decisions in three states, North Carolina, Missouri, and Colorado, where correctional administrators enable death-sentenced prisoners to have meaningful opportunities to interact with others. Given the discretion that correctional officials have over housing arrangements, these states provide models to house capital-sentenced prisoners without placing them in solitary confinement.
Abstract 3797: Validation of a novel antibody against fibulin-3 for targeted therapy of glioblastoma

Glioblastomas (GBM) are highly invasive brain tumors that resist cytotoxic and antiangiogenic therapies, resulting in a high rate of recurrence. Fibulin-3 is an extracellular matrix protein secreted by GBM cells but absent from normal brain. This protein activates Notch signaling to promote tumor invasion and resistance to apoptosis. Conditional knockdown of fibulin-3 reduces GBM growth, invasion and vascularization, thus extending survival. Here we report the initial validation of a function-blocking antibody against this unique GBM target. We first identified the Notch-activating motif of fibulin-3 and developed an immunizing peptide against a key sequence within this motif. A monoclonal antibody generated against this peptide (mAb428.2) showed high affinity for fibulin-3 (Kd 5 nM) and no cross-reactivity against highly homologous fibulin-4 or -5. Antibody mAb428.2 detected fibulin-3 in the stroma and capillaries of human GBM without cross-reactivity against normal brain. The antibody (50-250 μg/ml) blocked the activation of Notch induced by fibulin-3 in GBM cells and caused GBM cell cytotoxicity but had no effects on astrocytes or HEK293 cells. Treatment of mice carrying subcutaneous GBM stem-cell (GSC) derived tumors with mAb428.2 (30 mg/kg IV, q24h x 8 days) resulted in tumor slowdown and extended median survival (47% and 64% in two different GSC models). mAb428.2-treated tumors showed decreased BrdU uptake and increased inflammatory reaction in the tumor stroma (macrophage infiltration and cytokine levels). Mice bearing intracranial tumors did not respond to mAb428.2 when delivered by IV or IP routes, likely due to the inability of the antibody to cross the blood brain barrier. This deficiency was overcome by direct intraparenchymal delivery of the mAb428.2 using chronic infusion (0.3 mg of mAb in 200 μl delivered at 1 μl/h over 7d), which resulted in a 26% increase in median survival. These encouraging results suggest that targeted reagents against fibulin-3 may be of clinical importance for novel combination therapies against GBM. Citation Format: Mohan Sobhana Nandhu, Prajna Behera, Vivek Bhaskaran, Ennio Antonio Chiocca, Mariano S. Viapiano. Validation of a novel antibody against fibulin-3 for targeted therapy of glioblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3797.
Channel length and width effects on NMOS transistor degradation under constant positive gate-voltage stressing

It is pointed out that a reliable gate oxide is the most important component for MOS devices operating under a high gate voltage. Trapped charges and interface states are generated in the oxide under a high gate-voltage bias due to Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. The gate current, charge pumping current, and threshold voltage shift critically depend on the electric field across gate oxide. It is demonstrated that device degradation is a strong function of channel width to channel length ratio (W/L). Under the same stress condition, a higher W/L ratio leads to more severe degradation. This geometric effect is the result of nonuniform distribution of trapped charges and interface states. The densities of trapped charges and the interface states are highest near the source and drain regions and lowest along the isolation edges. >
ELECTROSTATICS OF PARTICLE CONTROL IN GAS-INSULATED APPARATUS

Electrostatic forces are a major cause for the movement of particulate contamination in high voltage, gas insulated apparatus. Because particles can trigger abnormally low voltage breakdown, their control can substantially influence the performance. Motion tangential and perpendicular to electrode surfaces may be induced by a combination of fields associated with the electrodes and with space charges when corona currents are present. Measurements of these forces have been made and analyzed to establish the origin and magnitude of particle motion. In addition, quantitative information has been obtained on a variety of electrode geometries which inactivate particles in low-field trap regions. The results provide design information useful for controlling particles and hence improving the reliability of gas-insulated apparatus.
Selenium and the Plant Microbiome

Studies of plant microbiomes, which include all microorganisms that occur on and inside plants, are increasingly popular in multiple fields, particularly due to advances in next generation sequencing, a technique that has advantages over traditional culture-based methods. There are many advances yet to be made with regard to the interaction of selenium (Se) and the plant microbiome. This chapter will discuss aspects of the plant microbiome as well as the discoveries to date with regard to plant-associated microbes and Se, mostly explored through culture-dependent methods. Selenium hyperaccumulators appear to harbor equally diverse microbial communities as non-hyperaccumulators, although the microbial composition may vary. Investigations have isolated a variety of microbes from plants or soil in seleniferous areas including bacteria and fungi with enhanced Se tolerance. Inoculation of plants with individual strains or consortia of microbes was able to promote plant growth, Se uptake and/or Se volatilization, which shows promise for applications in phytoremediation or biofortification. Plant-derived microbes may also be applicable for cleanup of Se from wastewaters.
Chaotic Dynamics in Neural Pattern Recognition

The use of impulse inputs for characterizing neural “signals” that are embedded in electroencephalographic EEG “noise” is reviewed in the context of linear systems analysis. Examples are given of the use of linear and nearly linear basis functions with statistics for measurement of neural activity patterns of single cells and populations, with emphasis on the relations between microscopic and macroscopic activity, including measurement of local mean fields and description of the transfer of microscopic sensory information to the macroscopic level of perception and then back to microscopic cortical output by action potentials. Some elements of nonlinear dynamics are introduced that are needed to understand the emergence of low-dimensional aperiodic activity in sensory cortex, and its possible uses for the operation of Hebbian synapses during the learning of new generalization gradients.
Abstract SY32-01: The new genetics and treatment of CLL

Loss of miR-15/16 on chromosome 13q14 is the most common genetic alteration in CLL. Recently, we discovered that miR-15/16 target BCL2, an antiaptoptic gene we discovered and named in 1984. Thus, loss of miR-15/16 leads to overexpression of BCL2 (the driver) and causes sensitivity of CLL cells to the antiBcl2 drug venetoclax that is capable of inducing complete remission of CLL in patients and was approved by the FDA in April 2016. The discovery of the involvement of miR-15/16 in CLL also indicated that alterations in genes not encoding proteins can cause cancer. Before our publication of 2002, the dogma was that alterations in protein coding genes, oncogenes, and suppressor genes, cause cancer. We speculate that by looking at other targets of miR-15/16 we might discover other biomarkers that are overexpressed because of miR-15/16 loss, providing novel opportunities to discover targetable targets. Since it seems likely that among the billions of leukemic cells in patients, there are a few that do not respond to the drug—for example, because of mutations in the Bcl2 pocket binding the drug—it is important to develop other drugs capable of killing CLL cells because they have lost miR-15/16. We propose to define whether loss of miR-15/16 may lead to overexpression of specific surface markers that can be targeted by specific monoclonal antibodies. The availability of these antibodies will allow the killing of the same leukemic cells by using a combination of the antibodies and venetoclax minimizing the possibility of drug resistance. Finally, we will assess the role of a new family of short noncoding RNAs we have discovered, ts-RNAs, in the pathogenesis of CLL. Citation Format: Carlo M. Croce. The new genetics and treatment of CLL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr SY32-01. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-SY32-01
Ecosystem services of the Big Bend region of the Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract Ecosystem services estimates have not been published for some biomes, notably desert ecosystems. The Chihuahuan bioregion, which is the largest desert in North America, exhibits high biodiversity and important cultural significance for parts of Mexico and the United States. With low levels of development, the Big Bend region is a relatively unmodified ecosystem, which makes it a good representative landscape to study desert ecosystem services. We found that this region has $504 (2015 USD) of annual value per hectare ($1.61 billion for entire study area), with raw materials, climate regulation, ornamental services, and cultural services contributing the most value. This estimate is markedly lower than published values for other terrestrial biomes, which is not surprising considering deserts are low productivity environments. However, given the size of the Chihuahuan Desert, the ecosystem services value for the entire bioregion is likely considerable. The Chihuahuan Desert is facing numerous threats, including energy development and overuse of natural resources. Projected growth in oil, gas, and wind energy could further degrade the services provided by this region. The relatively low ecosystem services values for this desert environment also indicate that the widespread desertification occurring globally is causing large decreases in ecosystem services across many landscapes.
The small IPO and the investing preferences of mutual funds

Abstract We examine how liquidity and return concerns at large mutual funds explain their diminished participation in small IPOs since the late 1990s. Using 5825 IPOs and portfolio-level information for 37,052 funds, we exploit Russia's 1998 debt default as an exogenous shock to funds' liquidity concerns. After 1998, large funds invested in fewer small/illiquid IPOs and more large/liquid IPOs than smaller funds and received higher returns for small IPO investments. Given increased fund sizes since 1990, these results are consistent with funds' liquidity concerns and their demand for greater compensation when investing in transactions representing a trivial fraction of fund assets.
Europe’s Conceptualization as a Region: Post-Cold War Dynamics

This chapter is devoted to the theoretical field of European regionalism examined through the lens of international relations and international political economy perspectives, European integration studies, and evolving varieties of regionalism as it transitions from “old” to “new” and from inward- to outward-looking varieties. The chapter reviews arguments about the significance of new regionalism as an analytical construct capturing the distinctiveness of the regional level of analysis. The main argument of the chapter is that the study of regionalism based on tenets of structural interdependence is shifting toward broader theories of state behavior and international cooperation that are better positioned to elucidate issues of competition, change, and sustainability pertaining to the evolution of regional blocs.
Adaptive orienteering problem with stochastic travel times

Abstract In this paper, we evaluate the extent to which one can increase the likelihood of collecting greater reward in an orienteering problem with stochastic travel times by adapting paths between reward nodes as travel times are revealed. We evaluate whether this adaptivity impacts the choices of reward nodes to visit in a setting where the agent must commit to reward nodes before commencing operations. We explore the computational challenges of adding adaptive consideration in the selection of reward nodes to visit and examine the extent to which one can capture some of the benefits of adaptivity with a simpler model.
Transitional Flow at Low-Head Ogee Spillway

AbstractLow-head gated spillways provide controlled flow releases for defense against floods and a reliable supply of water for beneficial uses. In addition, a system of spillways in a large water ...
SAS Turbulence Modelling of Technical Flows

Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS) allows the simulation of unsteady flows with both RANS and LES content in a single model environment. As SAS formulations use the von Karman length scale as a second external scale, they can automatically adjust to resolved features in the flow. As a result, SAS develops LESlike solutions in unsteady regions, without a resort to the local grid spacing. In the present article, a definition of the SAS modelling concept will be given. In addition, issues of the numerical treatment of the source terms will be discussed. Results will be shown for the flow in a 3D cavity and for a combustion chamber.
The Initial Events in Leukocytic Stimulation

Receptors of stimuli on leukocytic membranes are undergoing considerable scrutiny in view of the importance of the structures to the stimulation of cell functions. Studies have indicated that occupancy of less than 10% of receptors on neutrophilic leukocytes is sufficient to maximally stimulate the cells provided that occupancy takes place in approximately 10 seconds. Each occupied receptor acts independently to stimulate cell functions, and cooperati vity is not observed. Receptors remain active for a short time only, somewhat less than 20 seconds even though they remain occupied with ligand. Loss of ligand-receptor activity, in the case of O2− generation and lysosomal enzyme release, was related to a switch of the receptor to a high affinity state. This switch to high affinity was causally related to binding of the ligand-receptor complex to the cytoskeletal complex. These studies define early molecular events of cellular stimulation by peptide ligands.
Hemorheological Aspects of Splenic Function

Recent rheological studies have shown that the normal erythrocyte has bipotential flow properties. Solely in response to the forces acting upon it, it can either act as a basic unit of a three-dimensional cell structure and cause great increases in viscous hindrance of blood or it can become deformed and thereby behave like a fluid drop. The unusual deformability of the erythrocyte is based upon the favorable ratio of surface area to volume, high bending compliance of the membrane and the fluidity of the cell content. Within the limit of its given surface area and volume the cell can be deformed to pass pores as small as 1 μ in diameter if the pore length is small.
World Oil Resources: A Statistical Perspective*

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a statistical perspective of world oil resources and explains the development of two probability distributions: one for recoverable oil plus oil equivalent of gas (OE) 2 resources and one for only recoverable oil resources of the world. The chapter presents an examination of existing estimates of world oil resources with respect to these distributions. The essence of the debate on world oil resources can be crudely put by considering whether this commonality represents a convergence on truth or a convergence because of a herding tendency. Such a tendency has been well documented by psychometricians. There has been a lot of focus lately on geological issues, the technologies and sampling efficiency of exploration, the ability of exploration to preferentially select the most productive ground, the relationship of size of total oil resources to minimum deposit size, and the bias in exploration results introduced by political and economic issues.
Development and Application of a Method to Assess Timeliness of Medical Care for HIV Symptoms

Timely access to medical care is important for HIV+ individuals. Standards of care are needed that identify inappropriate delays in receiving care for serious symptoms. We evaluated the reliability and construct validity of provider-based standards for timely care for HIV symptoms, and applied these standards to data from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), a national probability sample of HIV+ persons in care. HIV physicians estimated appropriate time to care HIV+ individuals should receive for headache, cough, diarrhea, or weight loss. Timely care was defined as receiving care by the mean provider-specified acceptable number of days to care, by specific CD4 count, compared to receiving care after the mean days to care. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the provider standards. Inter-rater reliability between physicians for timely care estimates was high (0.97). Up to 70% of HIV+ individuals from the HCSUS survey did not receive timely care for their most bothersome symptom. Physicians rated patients with lower CD4 counts (<200 cells/ml) as requiring care within a shorter period of time. However, patients with lower CD4 counts (<200 cells/ml) were no more likely or less likely to receive timely care. Physicians considered headache and cough more urgent than weight loss. Yet patients with headache or cough were the least likely to receive timely care. In a national probability sample, time to care for a majority of HIV patients for their most bothersome symptoms exceeded provider-based standards. Further research is needed on reasons for this mismatch.
Disparities of population exposed to flood hazards in the United States.

Abstract This study integrates publicly available datasets to provide a county-based assessment of socio-economic disparities of population exposure to flood hazards in the United States. Statistical analyses were applied to reveal the national trends and local deviations from the trends. Results show that approximately 21.8 million (6.87% of) U.S. population are exposed to 100-year-flood in 2015, and most of the exposure is near water bodies (e.g. ocean and rivers). Additionally, communities near water bodies are more responsive to potential flood hazards by avoiding residence in flood zones than inland communities. At the national scale, economically disadvantaged population are more likely to reside in flood zones than outside. At the local scale, economically disadvantaged population tend to reside in flood zones in inland areas, while coastal flood zones are more occupied by wealthier and elderly people. These findings point to an alarming situation of inland communities where people are generally less responsive to flood hazards and people in flood zones are in a lower economic condition. Using “hot spot” analysis, local clusters of disadvantaged population groups with high flood exposure were identified. Overall, this study provides important baseline information for policymaking at different levels of administration and pinpoints local areas where diversified and ad hoc strategies are needed to mitigate flood risk in communities with diverse socio-economic conditions. This study provides empirical evidence of socio-economic disparities and environmental injustice associated with flood exposure in the U.S. and offers valuable insights to the underlying factors.