cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of image-processing software to characterize the photomask key parameters for future technologies

The intent of photomask metrology has always been to understand the relationship between the features on the photomask and the design data. This desire has been actuated by the necessity to close the loop between the photomask process steps and the wafer lithography. As the Si technology approaches 0.25 micron and beyond, and the employment of resolution enhancement techniques (OPC and phase shifting mask) to extend the capability of optical lithography, both the photomask critical dimension control and pattern fidelity become important and challenging. Describing the features accurately on the photomask is critical to ensure the quality of photomasks. In this paper, the image processing software is examined for measuring and characterizing key photomask parameters, such as edge roughness, edge defects, isolated defects, corner rounding, and contacts. With this image processing software, the effect of mask processing on those key mask parameters, and the impact of those key parameters on defect printability were characterized. Thus, the application of image processing software will contribute immensely to photomask metrology.
Stimulation of Fungal Infection of Bentgrass

DURING an investigation of factors influencing plant fungal infection, the effects of guttation fluid were tested on conidia of Helminthosporium sorokinianum Sacc. ex Sorok. Guttation fluid was produced by growing seedlings of Hordeum vulgare L., barley variety Atlas 54, on paper towels wetted with tap water in closed containers at 75° F and a light intensity of 90 ft.-candles. Because barley produces large droplets, it was used instead of bentgrass. Fluid was collected daily from the leaf tips and frozen immediately. The samples were thawed, sterilized with a bacteriological filter and kept frozen until used.
Justice and Emotions

Sociological theories of justice emphasize (a) the level of discrepancy or congruence between shares of resources received relative to individuals’ perceptions of “just shares” and (b) the emotions aroused with either discrepancy or congruence. While these theories tend to have precision and elegance, they generally do not specify the full range of reference points that can be used to establish what is considered a “just share,” nor do they explore the complete array of emotions (and targets of these emotions) aroused during justice evaluations. In this article, an effort is made to expand the conception of reference points elicited in justice evaluations, the structural processes that determine the specific emotions that will be aroused during justice evaluations, and the psychodynamics that mediate among reference points, structural processes, emotional arousal, and targeting of emotional reactions onto self, others, and social structures. The article concludes with some hypotheses about the emotions aroused and targeted during justice evaluations employing varying reference points and arising under specific structural conditions.
Unified field theory for space-time systems

The communication efficiency associated with the problems of transmitting information in space and time is known to be dependent upon the characteristics of the transmission medium. Notably Turin (1977), Kailath (1961), and Bello (1963) have considered the temporal channel response as a function of the channel time and delay spread processes. The physics of the medium have not been considered. Middleton and Groginsky (1965) and Wittwer (1980) have attempted to incorporate the physics of the medium in a strictly temporal channel model. This paper presents a theory that generalizes the earlier work for characterizing medium-induced effects upon deterministic and random space-time fields, and the theory is applicable to any frequency band in the electromagnetic spectrum. For a linear medium, a space-time system field function (S-TSFF) is introduced as a system model for an arbitrary (turbulent or material) medium (Lo 1988). The unified system field theory states that the output space-time field is related to...
COBALT- AND PLATINUM-RICH FERROMANGANESE CRUSTS AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTRATE ROCKS FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Abstract Ferromanganese crusts cover most hard substrates on seafloor edifices in the central Pacific basin. Crust samples and their associated substrates from seven volcanic edifices of Cretaceous age along the Ratak chain of the Marshall Islands are discussed. The two most abundant substrate lithologies recovered were limestone, dominantly fore-reef slope deposits, and volcanic breccia composed primarily of differentiated alkalic basalt and hawaiite clasts in a phosphatized carbonate matrix. The degree of mass wasting on the slopes of these seamounts is inversely correlated with the thickness of crusts. Crusts are generally thin on limestone substrate. Away from areas of active mass-wasting processes, and large atolls, crusts may be as thick as 10 cm maximum. The dominant crystalline phase in the Marshall Islands crusts is δ-MnO 2 (vernadite). High concentrations of cobalt, platinum and rhodium strongly suggest that the Marshall Islands crusts are a viable source for these important metals. Many metals and the rare earth elements vary significantly on a fine scale through most crusts, thus reflecting the abundances of different host mineral phases in the crusts and changes in seawater composition with time. High concentrations of cobalt, nickel, titanium, zinc, lead, cerium and platinum result from a combination of their substitution in the iron and manganese phases and their oxidation potential.
A Midurethral Sling to Reduce Incontinence after Vaginal Prolapse Repair

Of the 337 women who underwent randomization, 327 (97%) completed follow-up at 1 year. At 3 months, the rate of urinary incontinence (or treatment) was 23.6% in the sling group and 49.4% in the sham group (P<0.001). At 12 months, urinary incontinence (allowing for subsequent treatment of incontinence) was present in 27.3% and 43.0% of patients in the sling and sham groups, respectively (P = 0.002). The number needed to treat with a sling to prevent one case of urinary incontinence at 12 months was 6.3. The rate of bladder perforation was higher in the sling group than in the sham group (6.7% vs. 0%), as were rates of urinary tract infection (31.0% vs. 18.3%), major bleeding complications (3.1% vs. 0%), and incomplete bladder emptying 6 weeks after surgery (3.7% vs. 0%) (P≤0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS A prophylactic midurethral sling inserted during vaginal prolapse surgery resulted in a lower rate of urinary incontinence at 3 and 12 months but higher rates of adverse events. (Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health; OPUS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00460434.)
Hydrogen peroxide induces nitric oxide and proteosome activity in endothelial cells: a bell-shaped signaling response.

Abstract We investigated nitric oxide ( NO)-mediated proteosomal activation in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) treated with varying fluxes of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generated from glucose/glucose oxidase (Glu/GO). Results revealed a bell-shaped NO signaling response in BAEC treated with Glu/GO (2–20 mU/ml). GO treatment (2 mU/ml) enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and NO release in BAEC. With increasing GO concentrations, phospho eNOS and NO levels decreased. Bell-shaped responses in proteasomal function and NO induction were observed in BAEC treated with varying levels of GO (2–10 mU/ml). Proteosomal activation induced in GO-treated BAEC was inhibited by Nω-nitro- l -arginine-methyl ester pretreatment, suggesting that NO mediates proteasomal activation. Intracellular NO induced by H2O2 was detected by isolating the 4,5-diaminoflourescein (DAF-2)/ NO/O2-derived “green fluorescent product” using the high-performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence technique, a more rigorous and quantitative methodology for detecting the DAF-2/ NO/O2 reaction product. Finally, the relationships between H2O2 flux, proteasomal activation/inactivation, endothelial cell survival, and apoptosis are discussed.
Seeing Shape: Shape Appearances and Shape Constancy

AbstractA coin rotating back in depth in some sense presents a changing, elliptical shape. How are we to understand such (in this case) ‘appearances of ellipticality’? How is the experiential sense...
Behavior of highly-dispersed metallic iron catalysts during exposure to carbon monoxide

Abstract The effects of the exposure to carbon monoxide of small metallic iron particles supported on carbon black, alumina and graphite were studied. The alumina- and graphite-supported samples adsorbed amounts of CO consistent with the metallic iron surface areas estimated by magnetic susceptibility. The carbon black-supported samples, however, adsorbed large amounts of CO, in some cases an average of more than three molecules per iron atom. Mossbauer spectroscopy showed that iron pentacarbonyl was formed. The formation of Fe(CO) 5 is thought to require small, coordinatively unsaturated iron particles.
Holographic duals of flavored Script N = 1 super Yang-Mills: beyond the probe approximation

We construct backreacted D3/D7 supergravity backgrounds which are dual to four-dimensional N = 1 and N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills at large Nc with ∞avor quarks in the fundamental representation of SU(Nc). We take into account the backreaction of D7-branes on either AdS5£S 5 or AdS5£T 1;1 , or more generically on backgrounds where the space transverse to the D3-branes is Kahler. The construction of the backreacted geometry splits into two stages. First we determine the modiflcation of the six-dimensional space transverse to the D3 due to the D7, and then we compute the warp factor due to the D3. TheN = 2 background corresponds to placing a single stack of Nf D7-branes in AdS5£S 5 . Here the Kahler potential is known exactly, while the warp factor is obtained in certain limits as a perturbative expansion. By placing another D7 0 probe in the backreacted D3/D7 background, we derive the efiect of the D7-branes on the spectrum of the scalar ∞uctuations to flrst order in Nf. The two systems with N = 1 supersymmetry that we discuss are D3/D7/D7 0 and D3/D7 on the conifold. In both cases, the Kahler potential is obtained perturbatively in the number of D7-branes. We provide all the ingredients necessary for the computation of each term in the expansion, and in each case give the flrst few terms explicitly. Finally, we comment on some aspects of the dual gauge theories.
Development for Mass Production of Homogeneous RE123 Coated Conductors by Hot-Wall PLD Process on IBAD Template Technique

Recent development of production technique for RE123 coated conductors was reviewed, using Hot-wall PLD/ IBAD process. Lot-to-lot distributions for both average value and longitudinal uniformity of Ic at 77 K, 0 T were summarized for 127 run of 300-500-m-long 10-mm-wide CC. By optimizing hotwall PLD process parameters we found a reproducible high Jc production condition (20% enhancement in field at 20 K), less angular dependent to applied magnetic field. Furthermore, new hermetic type Cu stabilization foil configuration was developed and general mechanical properties against tensile strain, etc. were surveyed.
Remount casts for removable partial dentures made in a laboratory

A remount cast for a removable partial denture can be made in the laboratory by making an elastomeric impression of the prosthesis on the cast after processing but before removing it from the cast. After the prosthesis is finished and polished it is placed in the impression, undercuts are blocked out, and a mounting cast is made.
Literature based Bayesian analysis of gene expression data

Recent research has focused on incorporating biological function and pathway information into the analysis of gene expression data, partly as a means of compensating for insufficient experimental replications, low signal to noise, lack of reproducibility and/or multiple testing confounds. A Bayesian approach seems to be ideal for incorporating functional information into gene expression data analysis. In this study, we tested the feasibility of using literature derived gene relationships in a Bayesian model to analyze gene expression data. Prior distributions were constructed based on gene associations derived from the biomedical literature using Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI). The LSI model was built using more than 1 million Medline abstracts corresponding to 22,000 human and mouse genes. A key advantage of LSI is that both explicit and implicit gene relationships can be derived from the literature. Gene neighborhoods were determined using latent Gaussian Markov random fields and logistic transformation of the latent variables. We tested the procedure on a microarray dataset for interferon-stimulated genes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. By integrating functional information from literature, Bayesian approach identified relevant genes that previously did not meet the 0.05 significance level. In comparison to a standard mixture model, spatial mixture model has more power for identifying direct and indirect interferon regulated genes. The spatial model enhanced the ranks of some genes which are known to be affected by interferon treatment, such as Nmi (NMI N-myc and STAT interactor) and ifi35 (interferon-induced protein 35). It also identified some genes that previously were ignored because of the marginal p-values, such as dpysl2, map2k1, msn, Psck5, and Il6st. Interestingly, these genes appear to be indirectly related to interferon treatment. In summary, we show that our procedure increases statistical power and produces more biologically meaningful gene lists. These results suggest that Bayesian methods which incorporate functional information from the literature may improve analysis of gene expression data.
Using “Think-Alouds” to Understand Variations in Political Thinking

One of the most important skills students can learn is how to use multiple, conflicting sources of information to formulate and defend positions on political issues. However, when we assign students to do this, all instructors see is the final product. Not knowing the process by which students do these assignments makes it difficult to help them perform the task better. I report on “think-alouds” done with upper-level political science majors and with introductory-level college students. Students use multiple articles about capital punishment to help them form/refine and defend their arguments about capital punishment. They do this while “thinking out loud” as they engage in the task. My results suggest that experts make more connections between sources and more effectively argue with the sources; knowing this will help me better scaffold this assignment to support novice students. I conclude by discussing possible future directions for work on the learning of political information skills.
Optimal shape profiles for cooling fins of high and low conductivity.

Abstract We present a numerical approach able to capture the dependence of the optimal shape profiles of thermal fins on the conductivity parameters. We consider the two-dimensional cross-section of a periodic array of fins and involve the third dimension via the thermal boundary layer. The highly conductive fins converge to “sharp-pointed”, narrow base shapes while the low conductivity ones prefer blunted, wide base fins. The optimal shapes we obtain are similar to the shapes of intestinal villi and stegosaurus plates. A meshfree method, coupled with a gradient-based optimization algorithm, is used to handle the significant shape changes from a simple, generic initial guess to the final, optimal shape. We reach the optimal shapes without remeshing.
A time- and depth-dependent model for physical chemical and biological cycles in temperate lakes

Abstract A numerical model is developed for use in studying the complex relationships between physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in many deep, stratified temperate lakes. In particular, a mathematical model for the thermal-stratification cycle in a deep lake is formulated and the results from this model are also combined with a model for phytoplankton growth and nutrient concentrations. In this way, the vertical eddy diffusion of algal cells and dissolved nutrients is made consistent with the mixing processes that influence the thermal structure of the lake. Simulation results compare favorably with measured distributions in Lake Washington. The resultant chlorophyll a and nutrient distributions are found to be largely controlled by the turbulent mixing processes incorporated in the thermal model. The thermal model is formulated in terms of a nonlinear heat diffusion equation where the nonlinearity reflects the interaction between wind-induced turbulence and buoyancy gradients associated with surface heating and cooling. The surface heat flux is specified in terms of standard meteorological parameters. Both finite-difference and finite-element algorithms are used to solve the thermal model and a comparison is made between their accuracies and efficiencies. The biological production model is formulated in terms of a pair of coupled, nonlinear partial differential equations governing the distribution of chlorophyll a and dissolved phosphorus (PO4). The equations are solved by finite-differences and an iteration technique.
Health Care Utilization in the First Year of Life among Small- and Large- for-Gestational Age Term Infants

The objective of the study was to assess if small- and large-for gestational age term infants have greater health care utilization during the first year of life. The sample included 28,215 singleton term infants (37–42 weeks) without major birth defects delivered from 1998 through 2007 and continuously enrolled at Kaiser Permanente Northwest for 12 months after delivery. Birth weight for gestational age was categorized into 3 levels: 90th percentile (LGA). Length of delivery hospitalization, re-hospitalizations and sick/emergency room visits were obtained from electronic records. Logistic regression models estimated associations between birth weight category and re-hospitalization. Generalized linear models estimated adjusted mean number of sick/emergency visits. Among term infants, 6.2 % were SGA and 13.9 % were LGA. Of infants born by cesarean section, SGA infants had 2.7 higher odds [95 % 1.9, 3.8] than AGA infants of staying ≥5 nights during the delivery hospitalization; of those born vaginally, SGA infants had 1.5 higher adjusted odds [95 % 1.1, 2.1] of staying ≥4 nights. LGA compared to AGA infants had higher odds of re-hospitalization within 2 weeks of delivery [OR 1.25, 95 % CI 0.99, 1.58] and of a length of stay ≥4 days during that hospitalization [OR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.3, 5.0]. The adjusted mean number of sick/emergency room visits was slightly higher in SGA (7.8) than AGA (7.5) infants (P < .05). Term infants born SGA or LGA had greater health care utilization than their counterparts, although the increase in utilization beyond the initial delivery hospitalization was small.
Uniformly distributed distances -- a geometric application of Janson"s inequality

Keywords: planar point set ; distance distributions ; Janson's inequality ; probabilistic construction Note: Professor Pach's number: [099] Reference DCG-ARTICLE-1999-003doi:10.1007/s004930050048 Record created on 2008-11-14, modified on 2017-05-12
K-capture to positon branching ratios in the decay of Ga68

Abstract K-capture to positon branching ratios have been measured in the decay of Ga68 using coincidence scintillation spectrometer techniques. The measured values are 1.28±0.12 (to the first excited state) and 0.10±0.02 (to the ground state). Assuming these decays to be pure Gamow-Teller transitions the Fierz interference terms are computed to be bGT = −0.03±0.02 and +0.03±0.01 respectively (the uncertainty in the latter result arising from uncertainty in N0, the source strength). The ratio of positons to the first excited state and ground state of Zn68 has been found to be (1.76±0.22) × 10−2. A search for a possible low-lying 0+ state in Ga68 was made through the decay of Ge68 using X-ray-X-ray and X-ray-γ-ray coincidences employing NaI(Tl) crystals. Besides the 9 keV K X-ray, annihilation radiation and the known γ-ray in Ga68 whose energy was measured to be 1.067±0.035 MeV, no other γ-ray was observed ( An upper limit of 0.4% per decay was set on positon emission by Ge68.
Critical Managerial Motivational Factors A Cross Cultural Analysis of Four Culturally Divergent Countries

This article examines differences in the motivational dispositions of middle-level managers in four countries - China (N = 204), India (N = 184), the Philippines (N = 220), and the United States (N = 176). Important differences were found in the factors that motivate managers across the four countries. While East-West differences clearly exist, significant differences are noted among the three Asian countries. Specifically, Chinese and American managers represented two extremes in their beliefs about what motivates managerial performance of middle-level managers. Both Filipino and Indian managers were found to be more similar to their US counterparts than their Chinese counterparts. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Strengthening socio-ecological resilience through disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: identifying gaps in an uncertain world.

Global environmental change and climate change are rapidly altering the world's socio-ecological systems and affecting human populations at multiple scales. Important manifestations of these changes are hazard and disaster events. The emerging fields of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction provide significant opportunities to avoid and/or reduce many of the negative consequences associated with such events. Reviewing current attempts to link these two fields, we suggest an urgent need for a holistic and dynamic systems approach, focusing on socio-ecological resilience as a primary objective for adaptation and risk reduction. Furthermore, we propose two mechanisms for transformative change in these fields: (1) the use of iterative risk management as a primary instrument for adaptive decision making, and (2) the establishment of ‘boundary organizations’ and institutional changes that increase the transfer of knowledge between not only science and policy, but also science, policy and practic...
Image compression for flow visualization and analysis

Pattern models for the analysis, visualization, and compression of experimental 2-D flow imagery are developed. Linear and nonlinear models are presented, both of which use the linear phase portrait as a basic building block. These techniques require orientation field computation, critical point detection, and estimation of the associated phase portraits as preliminary analysis steps. In the linear case flows are modeled as a superposition of phase portraits, where their strengths are determined from the orientation field. This works well for flows that exhibit nearly ideal behavior, and a modification is included which is applicable to a wider range of flows. In the nonlinear case flows are modeled by differential equations of Taylor series form. Inclusion of higher order nonlinear terms provides for better modeling of non-ideal flows. The nonlinear coefficients are computed from the estimated linear phase portrait descriptions. The output of these modeling techniques is a compact set of coefficients from which the original flow streamlines are visualized. Finally, the derived models are employed to compress scalar images that exhibit little or gradual variation along the flow streamlines. Compression ratios on the order of 100:1 are achieved.
What is the Logic of Parallel Processing

We can associate with each consistent formula F of first-order logic a computing device as its representation. This computing device is one which will calculate the Skolem functions of F (for a denumerable domain). When two such devices are operating in parallel, the resulting architecture does not necessarily represent any ordinary first-order formula, but it will represent a formula in independence-friendly (IF) logic, which hence can be considered as a true logic of parallel processing. In order to preserve representability by a digital automaton (Turing machine), a nonstandard (constructivistic) interpretation of the logic in question has to be adopted. It is obtained by restricting the Skolem functions available to verify a formula F to recursive ones, as in the Godel’s Dialectica interpretation.
Attainment of full interfacial contact during diffusion bonding

The rate-limiting step in the diffusion bonding of materials such as Ti−6 A1−4V is the complete elimination of porosity from the bondline. Here a model for predicting the time to complete bonding based on the mechanisms of porosity removal is developed. Bonding is pictured as a two-stage process: in the first stage long-wavelength surface asperities are flattened by plastic flow, and in the second stage voids are reduced in size by a combination of plastic flow and vacancy diffusion. Both stages have been treated analytically, and the resulting predictions of bonding time are in general agreement with the times usually required for industrial diffusion-bonding operations. In addition, a limited number of experiments have been conducted to verify some basic predictions of the model. As expected, the calculations have shown that the bonding die must be carefully designed so that the local bonding pressure is never unreasonably low. The results also demonstrate that the presence of long-wavelength surface asperities—a result of most surface preparation procedures —can significantly lengthen the bonding times.
Integral sum graphs from identification

The idea of integral sum graphs was introduced by Harary (1994). A graph G is said to be an integral sum graph if its nodes can be given a labeling f with distinct integers, so that for any two distinct nodes u and v of G, uv is an edge of G if and only if f(u) + f(v) = f(w) for some node w in G. A tree is said to be a generalized star if it can be obtained from a star by extending each edge to a path. A node of a tree T is said to be a fork of T if its degree is not equal to two. In this paper, we first introduce some methods of identification on constructing new connected integral sum graphs from given integral sum graphs. Applying the methods of identification, we then prove that the generalized stars and the trees with all forks at least distance 4 apart are integral sum graphs.
Understanding the motivation of instructors to get involved in service-learning environments

Professional associations of engineering have recommended Service Learning environments to cultivate professional engineering skills. However, a report from ASEE published in 2012 showed that faculty did not consider these learning environments to be important. This study aims to understand the motivation of instructors of Service-Learning programs in engineering. The results can be used to propose campaigns to attract faculty toward these effective engineering learning environments.
Pharmacological profile of the excitatory neuromuscular synapses of the insect retractor unguis muscle

Abstract 1. 1. A series of 30 chemicals was tested for their ability to alter the neurally evoked contractions of the retractor unguis muscle isolated from the grasshopper, Romalea microptera, and the locusts, Locusta migratoria, Schistocerca gregaria, and S. vaga. 2. 2. L -Glutamate was one of the most active compounds tested, supporting evidence from previous studies that it may be the insect neuromuscular transmitter at excitatory junctions. Adrenergic and cholinergic drugs and carbamate and organophosphorus esters (anticholinesterase agents) had little or no effect on the responses of the preparation. 3. 3. N-Ethylmaleimide, two phenothiazines, and a dinitrosalicylanilide at 10−3M completely abolished the contractile response. 4. 4. Neurally evoked contractions occurred in solutions with pH values between 6 and 10. Contractions were reversibly abolished in pH5 saline but irreversibly abolished in pH 11 saline.
Natural products: Hunting microbial metabolites

Symbiotic bacteria synthesize many specialized small molecules; however, establishing the role these chemicals play in human health and disease has been difficult. Now, the chemical structure and mechanism of the Escherichia coli product colibactin provides insight into the link between this secondary metabolite and colorectal cancer.
Synthesis of linked 1,3,5-triaroylbenzenes via enamine-directed alkyne cyclotrimerization

Abstract Triaroylbenzenes connected via m -xylyl, p -xylyl, 4,4′-biphenyl, and 1,3,5-benzenetriyl linking units have been prepared in good yield by condensation of bis(enaminones) with aryl ethynyl ketones. The required bis(enaminones) were conveniently prepared starting from the corresponding bis- or tris(halomethyl) linking units and 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
Interleukin 16 is up-regulated in Crohn's disease and participates in TNBS colitis in mice.

Abstract Background & Aims: Interleukin (IL)-16 is a T lymphocyte– derived cytokine that uses CD4 as its receptor and hence selectively recruits CD4-bearing cells. Infiltrating CD4+ T cells are a feature of Crohn's disease; however, the role of IL-16 in intestinal inflammation is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether IL-16 production is increased in inflammatory bowel disease and whether IL-16 participates in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. Methods: IL-16 messenger RNA and protein levels in inflammatory bowel disease tissues were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice were treated with vehicle, TNBS alone, TNBS + anti–IL-16 monoclonal antibody (mAb), TNBS + control mAb, or were untreated. Colonic injury and inflammation were evaluated after 3 or 10 days. Results: Colonic IL-16 protein levels were increased in patients with Crohn's disease (P GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:972-982
Percutaneous cannulation for pediatric venovenous extracorporeal life support

Abstract Background/Purpose: The objective of this study was to show the safety and efficacy of a method of percutaneous cannulation for venovenous extracorporeal life support (ECLS) access in nonneonatal (>10 kg) pediatric patients. Methods: Between June 1992 and October 1998, 26 pediatric patients (age range, 3 to 17 years; weight range, 19 to 100 kg) underwent attempted percutaneous cannulation for venovenous ECLS at our institution. Venous drainage access was attempted using a modified Seldinger technique via the right internal jugular vein (RIJ, n=22) or right femoral vein (RFV, n=4). Reinfusion access was attempted via the RFV (n = 19), RIJ (n = 4), or left femoral vein (n = 3). Results: The percutaneous technique was successful in 24 of 26 patients (92.3%). Maximum blood flow during ECLS was 80.1 ± 30.0 mL/kg/min, generating a postmembrane lung outlet pressure of 138 ± 54.8 mm Hg. Adequate gas exchange was achieved in all patients, and survival to discharge was 79.2%. There was no procedure-related mortality. Complications potentially related to the percutaneous technique included RIJ thrombosis (n = 1) detected after decannulation and cannula site bleeding (n = 3). Conclusion: Percutaneous access may be used safely and effectively for venovenous ECLS in pediatric patients. J Pediatr Surg 35:943-947. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
The ISTeC People-Animals-Robots laboratory: Robust resource allocation

This corresponds to the material in the invited plenary presentation by H. J. Siegel. It is an overview of the ISTeC PAR Laboratory under development, and a summary of some current robust search efforts that are part of PAR. In the chaotic, time-sensitive environment of a post-disaster search and rescue scenario, making decisions on how to best utilize resources is difficult. Leaders must assign assets (e.g., people, robots, animals, equipment) to accomplish the mission quickly and with minimal loss of life. Their difficulties are compounded by the communication and inter-operability challenges presented by a multi-entity team. The developing ISTeC People-Animals-Robots (PAR) laboratory at Colorado State University will identify and solve the challenges presented by these diverse teams. This multi-disciplinary research group will provide a directed, coordinated environment for the development of the knowledge and competency required to design a good synergistic solution of people, animals, and robots for a given problem. This invited paper provides an overview of the PAR Laboratory and extends a mathematical model of a village search to the search and rescue domain.
The role of geomorphic processes in the transport and fate of mercury in the Carson River basin, west-central Nevada

The historic processing of precious metal ores mined from the Comstock Lode of west-central Nevada resulted in the release of substantial, but unquantified amounts of mercury-contaminated mill tailings to the Carson River basin. Geomorphic and stratigraphic studies indicate that the introduction of these waste materials led to a period of valley-floor aggradation that was accompanied by lateral channel instability. The combined result of these geomorphic responses was the storage of large volumes of mercury-enriched sediment within a complexly structured alluvial sequence located along the Carson River valley. Much of the contaminated sediment is associated with filled paleochannels produced by the cutoff and abandonment of meander loops, and their subsequent infilling with contaminated particles. Geochemically, these deposits are characterized by variations in mercury levels that exceed three orders of magnitude. Continued lateral instability, coupled with an episode of channel-bed incision, followed the decline of Comstock mining, and has reexposed contaminated debris within the banks of the river. Erosion of bank sediments reintroduces mercury-enriched particles to the modern channel bed. It is suggested on the basis of geochemical and sedimentological data that during the bank erosion process, much of the mercury associated with fine (<63 μ) valley-fill deposits are carried downstream without being incorporated to any appreciable extent within the channel-bed sediments. In contrast, mercury associated with larger and denser particles, particularly mercury-gold-silver amalgam grains, are accumulated in the channel-bed sediments as the river traverses polluted reaches of the Carson River valley. Concentration patterns developed along the modern channel indicate that the valley fill is the primary source of mercury to the river today. Thus, these data imply that efforts to reduce the influx of mercury to the aquatic environment should examine methods for reducing bank erosion rates.
Some limits on the performance of an analog optical link

Recent performance improvements in analog optical links have prompted us to investigate analytically the limits to link performance. In this paper these limits are derived and compared to current state-of-the-art link performance.
Effects of Video Prompting Techniques on Teaching Daily Living Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review.

Video-based instruction is becoming a common intervention in today’s classrooms. Previous research has focused primarily on video modeling techniques that required the student to watch an entire vi...
V-shape property for optimal schedules with monotone penalty functions

Abstract Consider a single-machine scheduling of n jobs with a common due date d . If a job is either completed before the due date or after the due date a penalty is imposed. The unit early penalty cost may be different from the unit late penalty cost. It is shown that any optimal schedule which minimizes the sum of the penalties (early or late as the case may be) for all the jobs is V-shaped when the penalty function for each job is “monotone”.
Dynamics of bubble oscillation in constrained media and mechanisms of vessel rupture in SWL.

Rupture of small blood vessels is a primary feature of the vascular injury associated with shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) and cavitation has been implicated as a potential mechanism. To understand more precisely the underlying mechanical cause of the injury, the dynamics of SWL-induced bubble dynamics in constrained media were investigated. Silicone tubing and regenerated cellulose hollow fibers of various inner diameters (0.2 to 1.5 mm) were used to fabricate vessel phantoms, which were placed in a test chamber filled with castor oil so that cavitation outside the phantom could be suppressed. Degassed water seeded with 0.2% Albunex® contrast agent was circulated inside the vessel phantom, and intraluminal bubble dynamics during SWL were examined by high-speed shadowgraph imaging and passive cavitation detection via a 20-MHz focused transducer. It was observed that, in contrast to the typical large and prolonged expansion and violent inertial collapse of SWL-induced bubbles in a free field, the expansion of the bubbles inside the vessel phantom was significantly constrained, leading to asymmetric elongation of the bubbles along the vessel axis and, presumably, much weakened collapse. The severity of the constraint is vessel-size dependent, and increases dramatically when the inner diameter of the vessel becomes smaller than 300 μm. Conversely, the rapid, large intraluminal expansion of the bubbles causes a significant dilation of the vessel wall, leading to consistent rupture of the hollow fibers (i.d. = 200 μm) after less than 20 pulses of shock wave exposure in a XL-1 lithotripter. The rupture is dose-dependent, and varies with the spatial location of the vessel phantom in the lithotripter field. Further, when the large intraluminal bubble expansion was suppressed by inversion of the lithotripter pressure waveform, rupture of the hollow fiber could be avoided even after 100 shocks. Theoretical calculation of SWL-induced bubble dynamics in blood confirms that the propensity of vascular injury due to intraluminal bubble expansion increases with the tensile pressure of the lithotripter shock wave, and with the reduction of the inner diameter of the vessel. It is suggested that selective truncation of the tensile pressure of the shock wave may reduce tissue injury without compromising the fragmentation capability of the lithotripter pulse. (E-mail: pzhong@acpub.duke.edu)
Moonlighting: why training programs should monitor residents' activities.

Moonlighting by psychiatric residents, or employment outside the residency program, is a longstanding and widespread practice. The author contends that moonlighting detracts from residents' ability to gain full benefit from their educational program, compromises the safety of patients treated by residents who moonlight in unsupervised settings, and exposes health care institutions to risk of costly legal actions. Although moonlighting should ideally be eliminated, a workable alternative to the current system would include oversight by residency program directors of residents' extracurricular employment to assure that the assignments complement the educational program. institutions that employ moonlighting residents would also reimburse the residency program for selecting appropriate residents to fill the positions they offer.
How to measure and predict the molar absorption coefficient of a protein.

The molar absorption coefficient, E, of a protein is usually based on concentrations measured by dry weight, nitrogen, or amino acid analysis. The studies reported here suggest that the Edelhoch method is the best method for measuring E for a protein. (This method is described by Gill and von Hippel [1989, Anal Biochem 182:3193261 and is based on data from Edelhoch [1967, Biochemistry 6:1948-19541.) The absorbance of a protein at 280 nm depends on the content of Trp, Tyr, and cystine (disulfide bonds). The average E values for these chromophores in a sample of 18 well-characterized proteins have been estimated, and the E values in water, propanol, 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCI), and 8 M urea have been measured. For Trp, the average E values for the proteins are less than the E values measured in any of the solvents. For Tyr, the average E values for the proteins are intermediate between those measured in 6 M GdnHCl and those measured in propanol. Based on a sample of 116 measured t values for 80 proteins, the t at 280 nm of a folded protein in water, t(280), can best be predicted with this equation:
Immunological detection of B-DNA to Z-DNA transition of polynucleotides by immobilization of the DNA conformation on a solid support.

Abstract We studied the B-DNA to Z-DNA transition of poly(dG-dC) · poly(dG-dC) and poly(dG-m 5 dC) · poly(dG-m 5 dC) in the presence of NaCl using an enzyme immunoassay. The polynucleotides were coated on microtiter plates at varying concentrations of NaCl and treated with a monoclonal anti-Z-DNA antibody, Z22. The plates were subsequently treated with alkaline phosphatase conjugated polyvalent mouse immunoglobulins and the enzyme substrate, p -nitrophenyl phosphate. The color development due to the enzyme-substrate reaction was quantitated using a microplate autoreader. Our results show that the antibody does not recognize the polynucleotides in the B-DNA conformation and binds strongly to the Z-DNA conformation. A smooth transition curve is obtained at intermediate concentrations of the counterions. From the transition curves, we determined the concentration of the counterions at the midpoint of B-DNA to Z-DNA transition. The midpoint concentrations for poly(dG-dC) · poly(dG-dC) and poly(dG-m 5 dC) · poly(dG-m 5 dC) are 2.3 and 0.74 m NaCl, respectively. Using the immunological method, we also examined the B-DNA to Z-DNA transition of poly(dG-m 5 dC) · poly(dG-m 5 dC) in the presence of naturally occurring polyamines. The midpoint concentrations of the polyamines are as follows: putrescine, 2.5 m m ; spermidine, 34 μ m ; spermine, 1.8 μ m . The midpoint values determined by the enzyme immunoassay are in good agreement with those determined by circular dichroism and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopic measurements. These results demonstrate that immobilization of a preexisting conformation or a mixture of conformations of DNA on a solid support followed by a titration of the DNA conformations using a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody is an excellent method to study the conformational dynamics of DNA.
Efficiency and Spatial Impacts of Development Taxes: The Critical Role of Alternative Revenue-Recycling Schemes

Because of its potential to preserve open space and promote revitalization of the urban core in declining cities, "smart growth" strategies to curb urban sprawl have become a major U.S. public policy issue. Policymakers can choose from a wide array of antisprawl policies, includ ing urban growth boundaries (UGB), devel opment taxes, subsidies to infill development, and direct purchases of open space at the urban fringe. In the environmental economics literature, the "double-dividend" debate has pointed out that an important attraction of revenue-raising instruments over non-revenue-raising instru ments is that the revenues generated from environmental motivated taxes can be used to alleviate preexisting distortions in the econ omy (Parry 1995, 1997; Goulder, Parry, and Burtraw 1997). Indeed, in the context of an tisprawl policies, Bento, Franco, and Kaffine (2008b) find that development taxes are pre ferred to UGBs because revenues from de velopment taxes can be used to correct other preexisting urban spatial distortions, such as urban decline at the city core. In particular, when development tax revenues are used to subsidize housing revitalization of decaying inner cities, there is an additional source of welfare that UGBs are unable to exploit The importance of this revenue-recycling effect can be as significant, if not more, as the welfare gain from preserving open space at the fringe. As a consequence, Bento, Franco, and Kaffine (2008b) demonstrate that even when there is uncertainty about the potential benefits of open space preservation at the fringe, devel opment taxes should still be part of the local tax system. This paper extends Bento, Franco, and Kaffine (2008b) and examines further the critical importance of alternative revenue recycling schemes, as a source of additional welfare from antisprawl policies. Whenever a new tax is implemented, the issue of what to do with its revenues becomes relevant. In
Statistical Modeling of Downslope Windstorms in Boulder, Colorado

Downslope windstorms are of major concern to those living in and around Boulder, Colorado, often striking with little warning, occasionally bringing clear-air wind gusts of 35–50 m s �1 or higher, and producing widespread damage. Historically, numerical models used for forecasting these events had lower than desired accuracy. This observation provides the motivation to study the potential for improving windstorm forecasting through the use of linear and nonlinear statistical modeling techniques with a perfect prog approach. A 10-yr mountain-windstorm dataset and a set of 18 predictors are used to train and test the models. For the linear model, a stepwise regression is applied. It is difficult to determine which predictor is the most important, although significance testing suggests that 700-hPa flow is selected often. The nonlinear techniques employed, feedforward neural networks (NN) and support vector regression (SVR), do not filter out predictors as the former uses a hidden layer to account for the nonlinearities in the data, whereas the latter fits a kernel function to the data to optimize prediction. The models are evaluated using root-mean-square error (RMSE) and median residuals. The SVR model has the lowest forecast errors, consistently, and is not prone to creating outlier forecasts. Stepwise linear regression (LR) yielded results that were accurate to within an RMSE of 8 m s �1 ; whereas an NN had errors of 7–9 m s �1 and SVR had errors of 4–6 m s �1 . For SVR, 85% of the forecasts predicted maximum wind gusts with an RMSE of less than 6 m s �1 and all forecasts predicted wind gusts with an RMSE of below 12 m s �1 . The LR method performed slightly better in most evaluations than NNs; however, SVR was the optimal technique.
Sex, attitudes, and the assibilation of /r/ among young people in San Luis Potosí, Mexico

This article analyzes the assibilation of /r/ among young people in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in light of previous research on women's speech in language change. It is demonstrated that assibilation, an innovation known to have first appeared in the speech of women of the middle and upper social echelons, is closely associated with sex, sociocultural level, and attitude toward traditional male and female roles. These attitudes are suggested as a factor that plays an important role in the dynamics of the change, showing opposite effects among young men and women. That is, young men with traditional attitudes assibilate least, whereas young women with traditional attitudes assibilate most frequently. Parallels between this study and one of a similar innovation in Argentinian Spanish suggest a generalized pattern of change in which variables introduced by women of the middle and upper social echelons become markers of gender display in the lower classes, where they grow to be favored by women and avoided by men. The discovery of the role of attitude toward traditional sex roles in this pattern of change is unique to the present study.
Hot-wire CVD-grown epitaxial Si films on Si (100) substrates and a model of epitaxial breakdown

We have previously reported on the low-temperature (T = 300–475 °C) epitaxial growth of thin silicon films by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition on Si (100). We derived a phase diagram for Si epitaxy on Si (100). With dilute SiH4, epitaxial growth is seen until 50 nm thickness, while twinned epitaxial growth is seen even at 1 μm thickness. Computer simulation of HWCVD growth suggests that oxygen incorporation is responsible for epitaxial breakdown. The model predicts that the silicon to oxygen ratio decreases with temperature and dilution ratio during the growth of the first monolayer of silicon.