cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On analyzing free-response data on location level

Free-response ROC (FROC) data are typically collected when primary question of interest is focused on the proportions of the correct detection-localization of known targets and frequencies of false positive responses, which can be multiple per subject (image). These studies are particularly relevant for CAD and related applications. The fundamental tool of the location-level FROC analysis is the FROC curve. Although there are many methods of FROC analysis, as we describe in this work, some of the standard and popular approaches, while important, are not suitable for analyzing specifically the location-level FROC performance as summarized by the FROC curve. Analysis of the FROC curve, on the other hand, might not be straightforward. Recently we developed an approach for the location-level analysis of the FROC data using the well-known tools for clustered ROC analysis. In the current work, based on previously developed concepts, and using specific examples, we demonstrate the key reasons why specifically location-level FROC performance cannot be fully addressed by the common approaches as well as illustrate the proposed solution. Specifically, we consider the two most salient FROC approaches, namely JAFROC and the area under the exponentially transformed FROC curve (AFE) and show that clearly superior FROC curves can have lower values for these indices. We describe the specific features that make these approaches inconsistent with FROC curves. This work illustrates some caveats for using the common approaches for location-level FROC analysis and provides guidelines for the appropriate assessment or comparison of FROC systems.
Identifying Key Success Factors of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program for People with Disabilities: A Multi-Level Analysis Approach

This study proposes a multi-level approach to identify both superficial and latent relationships among variables in the data set obtained from a vocational rehabilitation (VR) services program of people with significant disabilities. In our study, classification models are first used to extract the superficial relationships between dependent and independent variables at the first level, and association rule mining algorithms are employed to extract additional sets of interesting associative relationships among variables at the second level. Finally, nonlinear nonparametric canonical correlation analysis (NLCCA) along with clustering algorithm is employed to identify latent nonlinear relationships. Experimental outputs validate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Medical Parole and Aging Prisoners: A Qualitative Study.

The population of geriatric prisoners in the United States will reach unprecedented levels in the coming decades. Geriatric prisoners are at increased risk for deteriorating health and experience t...
Rapid Assessment of the Physical Stability of Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) can potentially increase the apparent solubility and thereby the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds. However, their physical instability, i.e., potential to crystallize, is a major concern. Our objective was to explore methods for rapid assessment of the physical stability of ASDs. Ketoconazole ASDs were prepared with each of the three polymers, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The physical stability of these ASDs was evaluated after exposure to 90% RH (25 °C) in an automated water sorption analyzer. The onset time for ketoconazole crystallization, induced by water sorption, was rank ordered as PAA > PHEMA > PVP. Additionally, the ability of the polymers to inhibit crystallization on contact with aqueous medium was studied by powder X-ray diffractometry using synchrotron radiation. In this case, the rank ordering was PAA ∼ PHEMA > PVP. To check the validity of our approach, the long-term st...
Narratives of harmful clinical supervision: Synthesis and recommendations

ABSTRACTScarce information exists that considers supervisees’ experiences of harmful supervision despite research that indicates occurrences at startling rates (e.g., Ellis, Creaner, Hutman, & Timulak, 2015). This Special Issue attempts to serve as a starting point for stimulating conversation, action, and change around harmful supervision practices across disciplines and internationally. Specifically, in this article we aim to synthesize the introductory, narrative, and reaction articles (Ammirati & Kaslow, 2017; Beddoe, 2017; Ellis, 2017; Ellis, Taylor, Corp, Hutman, & Kangos, 2017; Reiser & Milne, 2017). In addition, we offer implications and recommendations to minimize the occurrence of and redress harmful supervision.
The Vacuum Bell Treatment

Objective Previously used procedures to correct pectus excavatum (PE) were largely based on surgical techniques like Ravitch procedure or the minimally invasive Nuss technique. Conservative treatment with the vacuum bell to elevate the funnel in patients with PE, represents a potential alternative to surgery in selected patients.
The Feasibility of Standardized Performance Assessment in the Visual Arts: Lessons from the Dutch Model

In this paper, the assessment of art production through a standardized performance-based examination is discussed. Seminal issues regarding standardized assessment in the productive domain are addressed, such as alignment with the best features of performance-based evaluation and the value of a summative evaluation tool contributing to the comprehensive assessment of art education. The Dutch national standardized performance examination in the visual arts is introduced as a useful model for future development of performance assessment, with certain features of the Dutch examination analyzed as to their feasibility for art practices in the United States.
The success of sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant therapy: A single institution review.

Abstract Background The appropriate management of the axilla among women undergoing neoadjuvant therapy is in evolution. Method A retrospective review of a prospective database of women with breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant systemic therapy using endocrine/chemotherapy (NE/CT) from 2002 to 2015 was performed. Results We reviewed 253 women: triple negative breast cancer (30%), ER+HER2- (44%) breast cancer and HER2+ (25%) disease. The mean age was 55 years (SD = 12). 197 patients were analyzed based on their axillary disease. 33 patients (35%) who had clinical N1-3 disease prior to neoadjuvant therapy had no axillary metastases at definitive surgery. There were no significant differences in overall survival or local/regional recurrence between patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), or SLNB+ALND (p = 0.05061 and p = 0.33). Conclusion SLNB is a viable technique in patients with breast cancer undergoing NE/CT. Patients with pre-neoadjuvant therapy proven axillary disease may be a candidate for SLNB as opposed to planned ALND with good multidisciplinary review of their response and localization of previously positive lymph nodes.
Efficient Satisfiability Verification for Conditional Importance Networks

Conditional importance networks (CI-nets) provide a formal framework for modeling and reasoning with qualitative preferences over sets of many variables. Existing approaches for verifying the satisfiability of a CI-net operate on a complete model of the CI-net’s semantics, but the time required to construct this model limits the practical usefulness of CI-nets. We present an algorithm that decides a CI-net’s satisfiability by analyzing a sufficient partial model of its semantics, and we show how to efficiently construct such a model. Our method significantly reduces the average time needed to verify the satisfiability of CI-nets.
Predicting demographic attributes from web usage: Purpose and methodologies

Web usage mining is a way of identifying and analyzing how users interact with a web site. This browsing data collected as web log, which is first preprocessed and then number of data mining methods such as classification, clustering and association rule mining etc. applied to find out interesting patterns. User's demographic information plays important role in designing business strategies, advertisement etc. Previous research shows some techniques to predict these demographic attributes (age gender etc.). This paper discusses detailed review of various preprocessing, prediction and recommendation techniques.
Lithic Technological Organization and Paleoenvironmental Change

Due to their ubiquity in the archaeological record, stone tools provide important evidence for the different ways hunter-gatherer societies adapted to different climate and environmental changes throughout prehistory. The technological organization approach was developed over 40 years ago with the aim of understanding how organizational changes facilitated these adaptations. In this introduction, we note the refinements of this approach over the last four decades, and the new challenges that face researchers due to recent advances in our knowledge of paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental change.
Poor Survival After Retransplantation in NASH Cirrhosis.

BackgroundNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis is a common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. There is a paucity of data on retransplantation (re-LT) in those who were initially transplanted for NASH.MethodsWe queried the United Network for Organ Sharing data se
Direct-acting antiviral sustained virologic response: Impact on mortality in patients without advanced liver disease.

The impact of sustained virologic response (SVR) on mortality after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment is not well documented in patients without advanced liver disease and affects access to treatment. This study evaluated the impact of SVR achieved with interferon-free DAA treatment on all-cause mortality in hepatitis C virus-infected patients without advanced liver disease. This observational cohort analysis was comprised of 103,346 genotype 1, 2, and 3, hepatitis C virus-monoinfected patients without advanced liver disease, defined by FIB-4 ≤3.25 and no diagnosis of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, or hepatocellular carcinoma or history of liver transplantation, identified from the Veterans Affairs Hepatitis C Clinical Case Registry. Among 40,664 patients treated with interferon-free DAA regimens, 39,374 (96.8%) achieved SVR and 1,290 (3.2%) patients were No SVR; 62,682 patients constituted the untreated cohort. The mortality rate for SVR patients of 1.18 deaths/100 patient-years was significantly lower than the rates for both No SVR patients (2.84 deaths/100 patient-years; P < 0.001) and untreated patients (3.84 deaths/100 patient-years; P < 0.001). SVR patients with FIB-4 <1.45 and 1.45-3.25 had a 46.0% (P = 0.036) and 63.2% (P < 0.001) reduction in mortality rates, respectively, compared to No SVR patients and 66.7% (P < 0.001) and 70.6% (P < 0.001) reduction in mortality rates, respectively, compared to untreated patients. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard models controlling for baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities, SVR was independently associated with reduced risk of death compared to No SVR (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.59; P < 0.001) and compared to untreated patients (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.36; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Successfully treating hepatitis C virus with DAAs in patients without clinically apparent advanced liver disease translates into a significant mortality benefit. (Hepatology 2018).
Keeping it together: absence of genetic variation and DNA incorporation by the predatory bacteria Micavibrio aeruginosavorus and Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus during predation.

Abstract The use of predatory bacteria as a potential live therapeutic to control human infection is gaining increased attention. Earlier work with Micavibrio spp. and Bdellovibrio spp. has demonstrated the ability of these predators to control drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, Tier-1 select agents and biofilms. Additional studies also confirmed that introducing high doses of the predators into animals does not negatively impact animal well-being and might assist in reducing bacterial burden in vivo. The survival of predators requires extreme proximity to the prey cell, which might bring about horizontal transfer of genetic material, such as genes encoding for pathogenic genetic islands that would indirectly facilitate the spread of genetic material to other organisms. In this study, we examined the genetic makeup of several lab isolates of the predators B dellovibrio bacteriovorus and M icavibrio aeruginosavorus that were cultured repeatedly and stored over a course of 13 years. We also conducted controlled experiments in which the predators were sequentially co-cultured on Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by genetic analysis of the predator. In both cases, we saw little genetic variation and no evidence of horizontally transferred chromosomal DNA from the prey during predator–prey interaction. Culturing the predators repeatedly did not cause any change in predation efficacy.
Influence of Monensin on the Performance of Cattle

Performance data on nearly 16,000 head of cattle that were used in trials to document effects of monensin on feedlot cattle were summarized. Cattle fed monensin-containing diets gained 1.6% faster, consumed 6.4% less feed and required 7.5% less feed/100 kg gain than cattle fed control diets. Monensin resulted in the greatest improvement in feed/gain at 2.9 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg diet dry matter (DM). Within the range of monensin concentrations used in the trials that were summarized (31.8 +/- 7.5 mg/kg DM), high monensin concentrations did not improve feed/gain over that obtained with lower concentrations. Carcass characteristics were not significantly influenced by monensin. Responses of cattle to monensin and implants were additive. Energy metabolism data suggested that monensin improved digestibility of DM, reduced fasting heat production and increased dietary net energy maintenance (NEm) values more than it increased net energy gain (NEg) values. Data showing the response of cattle to monensin when fed various dietary protein concentrations or sources of supplemental N suggested that monensin had a protein sparing effect. Monensin has also been shown to reduce lactic acid production, aid in the control of coccidia and bloat and to be toxic to face and horn fly larva in feces of monensin-fed cattle. In pasture trials, monensin improved daily gains. When fed to beef cows, monensin reduced amounts of feed required to maintain cow weight.
Stochastic Differential Equations

The chapter begins with Section 4.1 in which motivational examples of random walks and stochastic phenomena in nature are presented. In Section 4.2 the concept of random processes is introduced in a more precise way. In Section 4.3 the concept of a Gaussian and Markov random process is developed. In Section 4.4 the important special case of white noise is defined. White noise is the driving force for all of the stochastic processes studied in this book. Other sections in this chapter define Ito and Stratonovich stochastic differential equations (SDEs), their properties and corresponding Fokker–Planck equations, which describe how probability densities associated with SDEs evolve over time. In particular, Section 4.7 examines the Fokker–Planck equation for a particular kind of SDE called an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. And Section 4.8 examines how SDEs and Fokker–Planck equations change their appearance when different coordinate systems are used. The main points that the reader should take away from this chapter are: Whereas a deterministic system of ordinary differential equations that satisfies certain conditions (i.e., the Lipschitz conditions) are guaranteed to have a unique solution for any given initial conditions, when random noise is introduced the resulting “stochastic differential equation” will not produce repeatable solutions. It is the ensemble behavior of the sample paths obtained from numerically solving a stochastic differential equation many times that is important. This ensemble behavior can be described either as a stochastic integral (of which there are two main types, called Itˆo and Stratonovich), or by using a partial differential equation akin to the diffusion equations studied in Chapter 2, which is called the Fokker–Planck (or forward Kolmogorov) equation. Two different forms of the Fokker–Planck equation exist, corresponding to the interpretation of the solution of a given SDE as being either an Itˆo or Stratonovich integral, and an analytical apparatus exists for converting between these forms. Multi-dimensional SDEs in Rn can be written in Cartesian or curvilinear coordinates, but care must be taken when converting between coordinate systems because the usual rules of multivariable calculus do not apply in some situations.
Abstract TP360: Nursing Unit Stroke Patient Education Initiative Improves Documentation

Background: Patient education in our organization historically had been delivered in a single session. This was observed to overwhelm the stroke patient and lead to missed documentation by the nurs...
Uncertainty, selective exposure, and message efficacy effects during life transitions

ABSTRACTDrawing on informational utility, uncertainty management, and self-efficacy models, predictions were developed about how individuals select media messages when faced with the transition fro...
Measurement of ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited carriers in β-Ga2O3 by two-color optical pump-probe spectroscopy

We report results from ultrafast two-color optical pump-probe spectroscopy on bulk β-Ga2O3. A two-photon absorption scheme is used to photoexcite carriers with the pump pulse and free-carrier absorption of the probe pulse is used to record the subsequent dynamics of the photoexcited carriers. Our results are consistent with carrier recombination via defect-assisted processes. We also observe transient polarization-selective optical absorption of the probe pulse by defect states under nonequilibrium conditions. A rate equation model for electron and hole capture by defects is proposed and used to explain the data. Whereas the rate constants for electron capture by defects are found to be temperature-independent, they are measured to be strongly temperature-dependent for hole capture and point to a lattice deformation/relaxation process accompanying hole capture. Our results shed light on the mechanisms and rates associated with carrier capture by defects in β-Ga2O3.
Opioid induced adrenal insufficiency: what is new?

Purpose of reviewDespite the declaration of an opioid epidemic, opioid use remains prevalent. Side-effects of chronic opioid use continue to be problematic. Opioid-induced endocrinopathies have been well documented, yet opioid-induced adrenal insufficiency (OIAI) remains underappreciated. This revie
Capacity of Polarized-MIMO (P-MIMO) System in Different Wireless Channels

The channel capacity of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication systems can be remarkably improved via using polarization diversity. It is obvious that the aforementioned improvement can save transmission power/energy; therefore, contribute to green communications. Recent researches have proposed system designs to utilize antennas with multiple polarization. A MIMO communication system that utilizes these antennas will improve its channel capacity if optimal polarization vectors are used. This paper provides analysis and evaluation of the improvement in channel capacity for different wireless channels via employing the polarized-MIMO (P-MIMO) system. Comprehensive simulation results are provided to show that P-MIMO system can substantially improve channel capacity in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), Rayleigh, and Rician fading channels. These three channel distributions are used in the simulations to observe the effect that each has on the P-MIMO system. Each channel exhibits different characteristics from other channels.
Excision of Benign Soft Tissue Lesions

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for excision of benign soft tissue lesions as performed by the open approach. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: complete clinical excision of lesion.
Disturbance history modulates how litter and herbaceous cover influence conifer regeneration after fire

Climate-driven increases in disturbance frequency and extent augment the potential for compounded disturbances. Drawing on well-studied forests that experienced successive disturbances, we asked: (1) how does post-fire cover of litter, herbaceous cover and bare ground vary between stands affected by combinations of blow-down, insect outbreak, and fire? (2) How do post-fire relationships between ground cover and conifer regeneration vary with recent disturbance history? We measured ground cover and conifer regeneration from 2003 to 2014 following stand-replacing fires in 2002. Burned stands were either blown down in 1997, affected by a 1940s Dendroctonus rufipennis (spruce beetle; SB) outbreak, or neither. Implementing mixed-effects models, we measured the relationships between pre-fire stand attributes (structural stage, canopy dominance and combination of disturbances) and post-fire ground cover and between post-fire ground cover and conifer regeneration. Fire-only stands had more litter and herbaceous cover post fire than other stands (P < 0.05). Fir regeneration increased with litter in stands that only burned, but decreased with litter in stands that were first blown down. Similarly, pine and fir regeneration increased with herbaceous cover after fire-only, but did the opposite in stands affected by the SB outbreak. Pre-fire legacies can modulate the effects of ground cover on plant regeneration.
Habitat Partitioning in the Marine Sector of Karst Subterranean Estuaries and Bermuda's Marine Caves: Benthic Foraminiferal Evidence

Karst subterranean estuaries (KSEs) are created from the two- and three-way mixing of saline groundwater, rain, and oceanic water in the subsurface on carbonate landscapes, and this hydrographic framework promotes unique physical processes, biogeochemical cycling, and biological communities. Here we provide evidence that the source and quantity of particulate organic matter (POM) that is delivered to the benthos strongly correlates to benthic habitat partitioning in the oxygenated marine sectors of KSEs. A dataset of benthic foraminifera at 128 different locations from several large flooded cave systems in Bermuda were compiled and evaluated against common environmental characteristics (e.g., tidal exposure, substrate particle size, bulk organic matter, C:N, total organic carbon, and δ13Corg). Benthic areas receiving more carbon isotopically depleted organic matter sources (mean 13Corg values less than –23.2‰, C:N ratios >11), most likely from the terrestrial surface and some marine plankton, were dominated by Trochammina inflata, Bolivina spp., and Helenina anderseni. In contrast, benthic areas receiving more carbon isotopically enriched organic matter sources (mean 13Corg values greater than –21.6‰, C:N ratios <10), most likely from marine plankton transported through marine cave openings cave from adjacent coastal waters, were dominated by Spirophthalmidium emaciatum, Spirillina vivipara, Patellina corrugata, and Rotaliella arctica. The benthic foraminifera most distal from any cave entrances were dominated by taxa also known from the deep-sea (e.g., Rotaliella, Spirophthalmidium) in sediment with the lowest bulk organic matter content (mean: 6%), or taxa that prefer hard substrates and are potentially living attached to cave walls (Patellina, Spirillina). While physical groundwater characteristics (e.g. salinity, dissolved oxygen) are expected drivers of benthic ecosystems in KSEs, these results suggest that POM source, quantity, and delivery mechanisms (e.g., groundwater-seawater circulation mechanisms, terrestrial flux) play an important role in benthic habitat partitioning and the spatial variability of biogeochemical cycles in the oxygenated marine sector of KSEs.
Meta-Learning with Fewer Tasks through Task Interpolation.

Meta-learning enables algorithms to quickly learn a newly encountered task with just a few labeled examples by transferring previously learned knowledge. However, the bottleneck of current meta-learning algorithms is the requirement of a large number of meta-training tasks, which may not be accessible in real-world scenarios. To address the challenge that available tasks may not densely sample the space of tasks, we propose to augment the task set through interpolation. By meta-learning with task interpolation (MLTI), our approach effectively generates additional tasks by randomly sampling a pair of tasks and interpolating the corresponding features and labels. Under both gradient-based and metric-based meta-learning settings, our theoretical analysis shows MLTI corresponds to a data-adaptive meta-regularization and further improves the generalization. Empirically, in our experiments on eight datasets from diverse domains including image recognition, pose prediction, molecule property prediction, and medical image classification, we find that the proposed general MLTI framework is compatible with representative meta-learning algorithms and consistently outperforms other state-of-the-art strategies.
A Democratic Approach to Leadership Opportunity

When the opportunity to study abroad and the concept of Expedition Inside Culture (EIC) entered the author’s life in the fall of 2016, during her first semester of college, she never would have guessed that she would be writing a piece about how acting as a participat in and acting as a student leader on EIC trips has significantly influenced the mindset that she carries each day and the teacher that she hopes to be in the future.
What a Computer-Based Legal Reference Work Can and Must Deliver

This paper was presented at a conference on electronic publishing sponsored by the National Center for Automated Information Retrieval in 1991. It draws on the author's work designing and building an electronic treatise covering Social Security law, within the limitations of the LEXIS online service of the period. It reviews the more obvious advantages works of this kind can offer before focusing on the very different relationship between author text and authoritative primary material possible in this new research environment.
Stability Theory for Modulators

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Linear Analysis First- and Second-Order Modulators Practical Design Methodology Continuous-Time Design Nonlinear Stabilization Techniques Conclusion This chapter contains sections titled: Acknowledgments References
From Cell Phones to Cyborgs

Several areas of biotechnology are advancing more rapidly than others. Perhaps the two most obvious are speedier DNA sequencing technology and emerging novel roles for RNA. This chapter is new to this edition of this book and tackles a third area. Unlike the other two, this area is on the boundary where biotechnology merges with computer science and electronics.
Effects of organic substrates on dechlorination of aroclor 1242 in anaerobic sediments.

The effects of different organic substrates on the abilities of anaerobic sediment enrichments to reductively dechlorinate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied. Sediments collected from a site previously contaminated with PCBs were dosed with additional PCBs (Aroclor 1242; approximately 300 ppm [300 μg/g], sediment dry weight) and incubated anaerobically with acetate, acetone, methanol, or glucose. The pattern of dechlorination was similar for each substrate-fed batch; however, the extents and rates of dechlorination were different. Significant dechlorination over time was observed, with the relative rates and extents of dechlorination being greatest for methanol-, glucose-, and acetone-fed batches and least for acetate-fed batches. Dechlorination occurred primarily on the meta- and para- positions of the highly chlorinated congeners, resulting in the accumulation of less-chlorinated, primarily ortho-substituted products. No significant dechlorination was observed in incubation batches receiving no additional organic substrate, even though identical inorganic nutrients were added to all incubation batches. In addition, dechlorination was not observed in autoclaved controls that received substrate and nutrients.
The Politics of Citizenship in Europe: The New European Frontier

INTRODUCTION Although the main themes of this book concern the EU-15, or “older” countries of the European Union, this chapter extends the analysis to the group of countries that I refer to as the “Accession-12.” The EU now consists of twenty-seven member-states, as ten countries – Cyprus and Malta, along with post-communist Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia – became members in 2004, and Bulgaria and Romania joined them in 2007. Given how recently they entered the EU, it is too early to analyze questions of continuity and change in the citizenship policies of the Accession-12, particularly for the countries that were in the post-communist bloc, which until the past few years faced lower – or certainly very different – pressures for immigration. As a result of these distinct experiences, most of the countries in this group find themselves in a situation very different from that of the EU-15. Nonetheless, given the reality of the now considerably expanded EU, it would be negligent to ignore these countries, and it is important to explore their current citizenship policies in order to understand the full EU picture. Unlike most of the countries in the EU-15, where the topic of citizenship has generated tremendous interest in a vast (and growing) scholarly literature, the citizenship policies of the recent accession countries have received very little attention to date. Few sources are available, and most of them are either outdated or very narrow.
Calcified-Tissue Investigations Using Synchrotron X-Ray Microscopy

Synchrotron x-ray microscopy has been used to examine elemental distributions in specimens of rat tibia, human deciduous teeth, and an orthopedic implant phantom. The results illustrate the usefulness of SXRM for measurements of different types of calcified tissue.
Hammer test to detect BEOL process marginalities on via chains in advanced nodes

In advanced nodes of 28nm and below, inline detection of a process issue inline is very challenging. Inline detection of process marginalities through Characterization Vehicle® (CV®), scribe line structures and optical scans are becoming more challenging. With the technology shrink and complex designs, the Characterization Vehicle® (CV®) and scribe line structures cannot completely represent the product designs. The optical scans were also less effective compared to past nodes due to the signal-noise ratio. Also the optical scans are effective to detect an issue that happens on the surface of the silicon rather than something buried. This paper discusses a methodology that was able to detect successfully the issue inline saving a lot of time in a manufacturing environment.
Characterization of Bifilms and Oxide Inclusions in Investment Cast IN100

Oxide bifilms are a proposed casting inclusion reported to have been observed in vacuum investment cast polycrystalline Ni-base superalloys. Ongoing research seeks to determine if current superalloy casting practices can result in the formation of oxide bifilms, and subsequently if it is possible to observe and characterize this phenomenon. The effect of casting atmosphere, turbulence, filtering, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and heat treatment have been investigated to identify the critical parameters that can result in bifilm formation in Ni-based superalloy IN100. Tensile and fatigue testing is used to identify the effects of each casting and processing parameter on bifilm formation and the resultant effects on mechanical properties. Characterization of mechanical test specimens seeks to identify the role of bifilms in the fracture mechanics of the conditions utilized, as well as the prevalence of bifilm formation and the chemical composition(s) of oxide bifilms. The characterization methods used were scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Across the range of process parameters investigated, bifilms were not indicated by mechanical testing or identified by the characterization methods employed. A nano-layer of sulfur has been identified on the surface of dendritic casting porosity and characterized by in-situ fractographic Auger analysis.
Fundamentals of charge storage in acoustic charge transport devices

Double-packet storage is demonstrated for the first time, and the properties of single-packet and double-packet storage are compared. Double-packet storage is found to provide higher storage capacity with less storage voltage than single-packet storage. For the same SAW (surface acoustic wave) frequency, however, double-packet storage has half the bandwidth of single-packet storage. Intercell diffusion is a key factor that limits the storage capacity of single-packet storage, but it is not a key limiting factor for double-packet storage. Surface extraction can be a significant limiting factor for single-packet storage, if the doping level is too low. It was not found to be a significant factor for double-packet storage. The primary factor limiting the storage capacity of double-packet storage is the delay-line charge capacity. >
Three-dimensional face and finger biometrics

The use of dense range scans of the face to supplement or supplant visible-light images in face recognition systems has been a subject of recent interest in the biometrics community. This paper summarizes recent research activities designed to assess the potential of a high-resolution 3D face scan as a viable biometric, using a large database of such scans. We show that 3D faces offer potential for this application but also exhibit challenges that must be addressed before systems based on 3D face can be fielded. We also describe preliminary results from a study of 3D hand shape biometrics employing curvature classification of the finger skin surface.
Distributed Scheduling Algorithm for Highly Available Component Based Applications

The emergence of multi-clouds makes it difficult for application providers to offer reliable applications to end users. The different levels of infrastructure reliability offered by various cloud providers need to be abstracted at application level through application-aware algorithms for high availability. This task is challenging due to the closed world approach taken by the various cloud providers. In the face of different access and management policies orchestrated distributed management algorithms are needed instead of centralized solutions. In this paper we present a decentralized autonomic algorithm for achieving application high availability by harnessing the properties of scalable component-based applications and the advantage of overlay networks to communicate between peers. In a multi-cloud environment the algorithm maintains cloud provider independence while achieving global application availability. The algorithm was tested on a simulator and results show that it gives similar results to a centralized approach without inducing much communication overhead.
An integrated process and product model

The relationship between product quality and process capability and maturity has been recognized as a major issue in software engineering based on the premise that improvements in process will lead to higher quality products. To this end, we have been investigating an important facet of process capability, stability, as defined and evaluated by trend, change, and shape metrics, across releases and within a release. Our integration of product and process measurement and evaluation serves the dual purpose of using metrics to assess and predict reliability and risk and concurrently using these metrics for process stability evaluation. We use the NASA Space Shuttle flight software to illustrate our approach.
Interleukin-1α and -β modulation of luteinized human granulosa cell oestrogen and progesterone biosynthesis

Abstract This study was designed to test the hypothesis that interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and beta directly affect progesterone, and oestradiol production in cultures of purified human granulosa cells. Luteinized granulosa cells were obtained from women during in-vitro fertilization cycles. Granulosa cells with and without associated white blood cells were cultured in the presence of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta (0.5-50 ng/ml) for 48 h. Media were changed at 24 h intervals and assayed for progesterone and oestradiol. In separate experiments, granulosa cell viability was assessed with the tetrazolium salt reduction assay, haemocytometer cell counts, and Trypan blue dye exclusion. Our results indicate that progesterone synthesis by basal and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-stimulated granulosa cells co-cultured with white blood cells was inhibited by 5.0 ng/ml of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta at 48 h of culture. In the presence of white blood cells, granulosa cell oestradiol synthesis was inhibited by IL-1 beta but not IL-1 alpha. Oestradiol was inhibited after both 24 and 48 h of culture and was maximally affected by 5.0 ng/ml of IL-1 beta. In contrast, basal and HCG-stimulated oestradiol production by granulosa cells cultured free of white blood cells was inhibited only by IL-1 alpha. IL-1 alpha at 5.0 ng/ml produced maximal inhibition of basal oestradiol (57%) and HCG-stimulated oestradiol (41%) production at 48 h of culture. Gonadal steroid inhibition by IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta was not mediated through cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects on granulosa cells. Specificity of the granulosa cell response to IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta was demonstrated by abrogation of steroid inhibition with anti-IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta neutralizing antibodies. In conclusion, IL-1 alpha directly inhibited the production of oestradiol by human ovarian granulosa cells. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta also exerted indirect effects on steroid production via white blood cells that are usually present in granulosa cell cultures if steps are not taken to remove them. These data support the hypothesis that cytokines play an important role in intra-ovarian regulation of steroid biosynthesis.
Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase

It has long been appreciated that purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP; purine nucleoside: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.1) may play a role in cancer chemotherapy by catalyzing the degradation of potentially cytotoxic purine deoxynucleoside analogs, e.g., 2′-deoxy-6-thioguanosine. More recently, the identification of an immunodeficiency disorder associated with a deficiency in PNP (Giblett et al., 1975) has drawn attention to this enzyme as a possible target for the design of novel immunosuppressive agents. In contrast to the severe combined immunodeficiency disease seen with adenosine deaminase deficiency, where defects occur in both cellular and humoral immunity, patients with PNP deficiency lack cellular, but not humoral, immunity. Also, these individuals excrete the more soluble nucleosides of hypoxanthine and guanine rather than the relatively insoluble end product of purine metabolism, uric acid. Thus it has been proposed that a potent inhibitor of PNP might serve as a biochemical modifier in chemotherapy with purine nucleoside analogs, as a selective immunosuppressive agent, and perhaps in the treatment of secondary gout (Parks et al., 1981; Stoeckler et al., 1980a, 1982; Kazmers et al., 1981).
Do surgical brain lesions present as isolated dementia? A population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of clinically important subdural hematoma (SDH), hydrocephalus not associated with a recent intracranial bleed, and intracranial tumor that is not obviously metastatic, and to test the sensitivity of a promising decision rule for computerized tomography (CT) in dementia. DESIGN: Population-based, retrospective, sequential case series. SETTING: Staff model health maintenance organization (HMO). PATIENTS: Patients aged 65 years and older with one of the three lesions, diagnosed over a 4.5-year period, identified mainly through computerized databases of hospital discharge diagnoses and a registry of malignant tumors. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical data were based on chart review. The decision rule, based on one that had been previously proposed and tested, stated that CT would be required if any one of 11 clinical criteria were met by a patient with cognitive impairment. Rule sensitivity was evaluated using clinical information recorded before CT. MAIN RESULTS: One hundred forty-five clinically important lesions were identified among 137,100 person-years at risk. Average annual incidence per 100,000 was 46.7 (95% CI 36.0, 59.6) for SDH, 5.8 (95% CI 2.5, 11.5) for hydrocephalus not associated with a recent intracranial bleed, and 53.2 (95% CI 41.7, 66.9) for intracranial tumors that were not obviously metastatic. Using the 65 to 74- year age strata as a reference, the relative risk for SDH was 4.8 (95% CI 2.7, 8.5) in 75 to 84-year-olds and 13.1 (95% CI 7.7, 22.5) in the 85 and older strata. Among 59 patients who presented with cognitive impairment, without altered sensorium or physical evidence of trauma, decision rule sensitivity was 93.2% (95% CI 83.5%, 98.1%). Sensitivity was 90.7% (95% CI 77.9%, 97.4%) in the subgroup that presented to an ambulatory care clinic rather than to an emergency department. CONCLUSIONS: These three lesions, which are the most common surgical lesions that may present as dementia, are rare. Most cases have presentations that easily distinguish them from typical Alzheimer's disease. This case series indicates that it may be feasible to develop a decision rule for the selective use of CT in dementia. Disease spectrum will influence measures of decision rule performance such as sensitivity and specificity.
Intrafamily agreement: Association with clinical status, social desirability, and observational ratings

Abstract This study assessed intrafamily agreement and family member-observer agreement concerning three dimensions of family relations. Subjects included 130 normal families and 135 families of deliquents. Analyses revealed that the members' reports showed low-moderate agreement about the quality of family relations and that family disturbance was not generally related to intrafamily agreement. Although individual member's ratings of family relations showed some association with social desirability, especially for members of disturbed families, there was little change in the magnitudes of intrafamily correlations when social desirability was partialed out. In addition, there was very low agreement between the reports of individual family members and observers who rated family interaction. It is suggested that investigators and clinicians should be cautious about generalizing from the perceptions of one family member to the rest of the family and that multimethod evaluations may provide more useful data than those derived from either self-report or observational methods alone.
Reactions of Ti+ with methanol and acetonitrile clusters. Efficient dehydration of methanol dimer by TiO+

Abstract A striking difference in the clustering and reaction efficiencies of Ti + with methanol and acetonitrile has been observed following the reactions of laser-generated Ti + with preformed clusters of methanol and acetonitrile. Evidence for a catalytic conversion of methanol dimer into dimethyl ether by TiO + is presented. The resulting sequence TiO + (CH 3 OCH 3 )(CH 3 OH) n shows enhanced ion intensity at n =4 suggesting the formation of a stable octahedral structure TiO + (CH 3 OCH 3 )(CH 3 OH) 4 . In contrast to methanol, the major reactions of Ti + with acetonitrile clusters involve simple clustering producing Ti + (CH 3 CN) n . The difference in reactivity is attributed to the formation of TiO + through the reactions of Ti + with methanol clusters.
HIV DNA in circulating monocytes as a mechanism to dementia and other HIV complications

It is broadly accepted that HIV DNA in lymphoid and myeloid cells persists despite combination antiretroviral therapy. Recognized as the Achilles heel to HIV eradication, the role of these peripheral reservoirs in HIV morbidity is less well developed. The burden of HIV DNA in peripheral mononuclear cells is linked to HIV disease outcomes such as time to AIDS diagnosis, survival, and CD4 T-lymphocyte counts. Monocytes are a minor HIV DNA reservoir, and the burden of HIV DNA in these cells appears to be linked to dementia, suggesting that residual infection in this subset is linked to tissue-related HIV complications. Since monocytes are likely involved in trafficking virus to the brain, there is a strong mechanistic link underlying this discovery. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of monocyte HIV DNA and central nervous system dysfunction in humans. We present a model to understand these relationships and suggest possible treatment approaches to be tested.
The Effects of Clonidine on Rat Pups Neonatally Exposed to Cocaine

This study examined the effects of neonatal cocaine exposure on responsivity to the alpha2 noradrenergic agonist clonidine in 11-day-old rat pups. On postnatal day (PND) 4 neonatal rats were assigned to one of four treatment groups: artificially reared (AR) receiving 40 mg/kg/day cocaine hydrochloride, AR receiving 20 mg/kg cocaine, AR control receiving no drug, and a normally reared control group. Pups were maintained in this fashion from PND 4 to 9 and received no drug on PND 10. On PND 11 subjects received an IP injection of either 0, 0.25, or 1.0 mg/kg clonidine hydrochloride and were observed for locomotor activity and wall-climbing during a 15-min test session. Subjects exposed to the 40 mg/kg dose of cocaine demonstrated an enhanced sensitivity to the locomotor stimulating effects of clonidine relative to both control groups. This cocaine-related enhanced sensitivity was not observed on the wall-climbing measure. All groups showed evidence of wall-climbing, although this behavior was somewhat dampened among AR groups. The 20 mg/kg cocaine-exposed males also took longer to display wall-climbing behavior than their respective females regardless of clonidine dose, although this sex difference was not apparent for any other treatment group. These findings suggest that neonatal cocaine exposure may alter response of the noradrenergic system.
Effects of pentobarbital on fixed-ratio discrimination*

Doses of pentobarbital in the range 5-15 mg/kg were administered to pigeons trained to respond under a fixed-ratio discrimination procedure. Pentobarbital administration produced a dose-related reduction in the level of sensitivity of the discrimination between the two ratios.