cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Value of Screening Questions for Vestibular Dysfunction in HIV Disease: A Pilot Study

**Introduction:** A number of vestibular function tests have been used to evaluate vestibular symptoms among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, these tests are inconsistent due to poor sensitivity and specificity. This study attempts to identify sensitive and specific vestibular symptoms that may be useful in selecting appropriate HIV-positive adults for clinical vestibular function tests. **Methods:** Participants were enrolled from the Baltimore-Washington, DC, site of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and the Washington, DC, site of the Women's Interagency HIV Study. A total of 246 participants were evaluated using the Dix-Hallpike (DH) maneuver and the eyes closed, standing on foam (ECF) position in the Romberg test, and completed the Adult Balance and Dizziness Supplemental questionnaire of the 2008 National Health Interview Survey. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated using self-reported vestibular dysfunction from the questionnaire data compared with vestibular dysfunction determined by clinical testing. **Results:** Sixty participants (24.4%) reported vestibular dysfunction. The prevalence of abnormal tests was 40.8% for DH--any nystagmus, 1.5% for DH--classical nystagmus, 40.3% for DH--nonclassical nystagmus, 38.3% for gaze-evoked nystagmus, and 15.7% for Romberg ECF. Sensitivity of self-reported vestibular symptoms for all vestibular function tests reported ranged from 23.1% to 50.0%. These symptoms were moderately specific and ranged from 73.3% to 77.9%. **Conclusions:** Despite adequate specificity, the low sensitivity of self-reported symptoms of vestibular dysfunction were not useful to rule out a vestibular disorder in this sample of middle-aged PLWH. Therefore, clinical testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis of a vestibular disorder in the management of HIV disease.
Examining the cultural impacts of an emergency department move using ethnography.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this ethnographic study was to evaluate the cultural impacts of an emergency department (ED) move from an old to new physical space. Method Fieldwork was conducted over 14 months at an academic medical center ED in the United States. Primary data sources included participant observations and semistructured interviews. Results Over 720 h of participant observation and semi-structured interviews (n = 39) with emergency nurse, non-nurse clinicians, and unit administrators were collected and analyzed. One cross-cutting theme, “decisional power,” and three supporting themes “inadequate move preparation,” “change fatigue,” and “lack of change standardization” were identified. “Decisional power” was the perceived influence certain ED groups had making move-related decisions over others. “Change fatigue” described the impact of frequent change implementation on participants’ work processes, well-being, and job satisfaction. “Lack of change standardization” described power differentials between nurses striving to standardize new move-related processes and physicians implementing work styles discordant with such processes. Conclusion Findings can inform recommendations for health care policy and organizational operations such as: 1) including frontline stakeholder perspectives in move-related decisions; 2) allocating adequate time for clinician/employee training/education in the pre-move period; 3) assessing clinician/employee well-being throughout move implementation; 4) increasing unit administrator sensitivity to clinician change fatigue.
United States Digital Divide

The United States is a technology powerhouse and has the largest global economy, although its ICT utilization does not rank it in the top 15 worldwide. Our U.S. conceptual model posits that fourteen independent factors are associated with eight dependent ones. Several unique factors for states are overall freedom index, election performance index, and Putnam’s social capital index. Spatially, cluster analysis shows the U.S. to have four clusters of states with no single, high outliers as in China, India, and Japan. The two clusters with higher use include one that includes much of the northeast and New England, plus California, Alaska, and Hawaii and a second centered in the Rocky Mountain and upper Midwestern states. The central and lower South cluster has the lowest levels. Findings show that social capital, education, societal openness, urbanization, and ethnic factors are associated with use of ICTs. The State of Georgia case exemplifies that government can stimulate a state’s technology through proactive programs, while a Nebraska case examines small enterprise challenges in ICT in view of our findings.
Five Reforms for Copyright

US copyright law deserves credit for encouraging an outpouring of original expressive works, bequeathing us a rich cultural heritage. But the copyright regime has grown too big and too powerful. We need to pursue a new direction in copyright reform: toward freedom. We can best improve copyright by limiting its power, repairing its foundations, and opening up ways to escape it entirely. Specifically, we should strive to (1) reinstate the Founders’ Copyright Act, (2) withdraw the US from the Berne Convention, (3) develop misuse doctrine into an escape from copyright, (4) focus copyright policy on consumers’ costs, not producers’ profits, and (5) reconceive “IP” as “Intellectual Privilege.” Property is neither an accurate label for copyright nor one we have to embrace by default. We can more accurately label copyright a privilege—a statutory exception to common-law rights and obligations that vests its holder with special powers and immunities. Copyright’s statutory privileges come only at hazard to our natural and common-law rights. To preserve our freedoms, therefore, we must reform copyright.
Chapter 2 Methods of Cell Fusion with Germiston Virus

Publisher Summary The phenomenon of fusion of anatomically separated membranes into a continuous structure is of considerable interest for a number of reasons. Cell fusion is a basic physiological mechanism essential to the biological activities of most cells and is involved in the processes of endocytosis, exocytosis, and cell division. Second, cell fusion has become a powerful research tool, the use of which has resulted in rapid advances of our understanding of how gene expression is regulated in eukaryotic cells. These studies are accomplished by facilitating cell fusion with one of a number of techniques such that investigators have been able to construct hybrid cells of diverse species and origins. By fusing permissive with nonpermissive cells, it is becoming possible to demonstrate the presence of viruses in certain kinds of infected tissues wherein infectious virus is not otherwise being produced. This approach has been successful in certain chronic diseases—for example, measles virus and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and for the rescue of tumor viruses under certain conditions. The mechanisms by which viruses induce cell fusion have been reviewed recently by Poste. As noted by Poste, cell fusion may be induced by numerous kinds of viruses, all of which share the common property of possessing envelopes. To eliminate the problems associated with using infectious virus to induce cell fusion, the virus is usually inactivated before use.
Intracellular activation of complement 3 mediates intestinal tissue damage during mesenteric ischemia (INC1P.356)

Ischemia of the intestine followed by reperfusion leads to significant local and remote organ injury (IRI) attributed to inflammatory elements acting during the reperfusion phase. Whether ischemia contributes to IRI has not been addressed. Careful evaluation of intestinal tissue following ischemia we noticed significant local injury, which was associated by increased production of complement 3 (C3) by intestinal epithelial cells. C3-deficient mice failed to exhibit similar injury and while cobra venom factor pre-treatment, which depleted all complement in the circulation, eliminated all IRI, but it failed to mitigate injury during the ischemia phase. C3 was activated within the epithelial cells during ischemia as indicated by immunocytochemistry and Caco2 (colon epithelial cancer cells) produced C3a after LPS stimulation. Production of C3a was decreased in the presence of cathepsin inhibitors. In conclusion, intestinal epithelial cells when subjected to ischemia can produce and activate C3 and initiate intestinal damage, which is amplified during the reperfusion phase.
Least-squares solution of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with the p-version of finite elements

A p-version of the least squares finite element method, based on the velocity-pressure-vorticity formulation, is developed for solving steady state incompressible viscous flow problems. The resulting system of symmetric and positive definite linear equations can be solved satisfactorily with the conjugate gradient method. In conjunction with the use of rapid operator application which avoids the formation of either element of global matrices, it is possible to achieve a highly compact and efficient solution scheme for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical results are presented for two-dimensional flow over a backward facing step. The effectiveness of simple outflow boundary conditions is also demonstrated.
Hydrodynamic impulse in a compressible fluid

A suitable expression for hydrodynamic impulse in a compressible fluid is deduced. The development of appropriate impulse formulation for compressible Euler equations confirms the propriety of the hydrodynamic impulse expression for a compressible fluid given here. Implications of the application of this formulation to a compressible vortex ring are pointed out. Extension of Benjamin's variational characterization of a moving axisymmetric vortex system to a compressible fluid is explored.
Effects of alternative framing on the publics perceived importance of environmental conservation

Effective communication of science to the general public is important for numerous reasons, including support for policy, funding, informed public decision making, among others. Prior research has found that scientists participating in public policy and public communication must frame their communication efforts in order to connect with audiences. A frame is the mechanism that individuals use to understand and interpret the world around them. Framing can encourage specific interpretations and reference points for a particular issue or event; especially when meaning is negotiated between the media and public audiences. In this study, we looked at the effect of framing within an environmental conservation context. To do this we had survey respondents rank common issues, among them being environmental conservation, from most important to least important for the government to address. We framed environmental conservation using three synonymous terms (environmental security, ecosystem services, and environmental quality) to assess whether there was an effect on rankings dependent on how we framed environmental conservation. We also investigated the effect of individuals’ personality characteristics (identity frame) on those environmental conservation rankings. We found that individuals who self-identified as environmentalist were positively associated with ranking highly (most important) environmental conservation when it was framed as either environmental quality or ecosystem services, but not when it was framed as environmental security. Conversely, those individuals who did not rank themselves highly as self-identified environmentalists were positively associated with environmental conservation when it was framed as environmental security. This research suggests that framing audience specific messages can engender audience support in hot-button issues such as environmental conservation and climate change.
Just Put Ice on It

Just Put Ice on It The use of cryotherapy is one of the most common modalities used in the athletic setting. With a wide variety of applications and proposed benefits, cryotherapy is often used at some point within the injury process. But why is cold/ice so commonly used? The purpose of this editorial is to move away from the mindset of “just putting ice on it” towards having a “prescription” for cryotherapy treatments.
Foundations of Queueing Theory

1. Introduction. 2. Markovian Queueing Systems. 3. The Busy Period, Output and Queues in Series. 4. Erlangian Queueing Systems. 5. Priority Systems. 6. Queueing Networks. 7. The System M/G/1 Priority Systems. 8. The System GI/G/1 Imbedded Markov Chains. A. Appendix. B. Bibliography. Index.
Minimizing the environmental disasters through sustainable development strategies: an African sample

The ecological systems of Africa are facing tremendous pressure due to development. Planned and deliberate development efforts usually pay great dividends because the environment is usually taken into consideration during the planning, construction, and implementation phases of such development. The operationalization of sustainable development concepts provide a mechanism for safeguarding against the negative ramification of extraction of natural resources and the placement of structures (urbanization) in the natural environment. In this paper, the author discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable development in Africa. The author uses a case study in Kakum, Ghana to illustrate how the theory of sustainable development is operationalized in order sustain communities, protect the natural environment from the disasters of development and to sustain the economy and culture of a society.
An analytical bond-order potential for the copper–hydrogen binary system

Despite extensive studies in the past, deterioration of mechanical properties due to hydrogen environment exposure remains a serious problem for structural materials. More effective improvement of a material’s resilience requires advanced computational methods to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of the hydrogen effects. To enable accurate molecular dynamics (MD) studies of the hydrogen effects on metals, we have developed a high-fidelity analytical bond-order potential (BOP) for the copper–hydrogen binary system as a representative case. This potential is available through the publically available MD code LAMMPS. The potential parameters are optimized using an iterative process. First, the potential is fitted to static and reactive properties of a variety of elemental and binary configurations including small clusters and bulk lattices (with coordination varying from 1 to 12). Then the potential is put through a series of rigorous MD simulation tests (e.g., vapor deposition and solidification) that involve chaotic initial configurations. It is demonstrated that this Cu–H BOP not only gives structural and property trends close to those seen in experiments and quantum mechanical calculations, but also predicts the correct phase transformations and chemical reactions in direct MD simulations. The correct structural evolution from chaotic initial states strongly verifies the transferability of the potential. A highly transferable potential is the reason that a well-parameterized analytical BOP can enable MD simulations of metal-hydrogen interactions to reach a fidelity level not achieved in the past.
Bursa-dependent and thymus-dependent "surveillance" of a virus-induced tumour in the chicken.

MUCH attention has focused on two mechanisms which have been implicated in the immunological control of tumour growth, namely surveillance and enhancement. Thomas1 proposed that the main function of cell mediated immunity may be to exert immunological surveillance by recognizing and destroying tumour cells as they arise in the host. Many clinical and experimental data support this concept2. Although the unequivocal validity of the concept of surveillance in oncogenesis has been challenged3, it seems to hold for tumours which are strongly antigenic to the host, such as virus-induced malignancies. Conversely, data mainly obtained in vitro indicate that tumour cells can be protected from the thymus-dependent surveillance system by blocking factors, presumably antibodies or antigen-antibody complexes4. Humoral immunity may, however, influence oncogenesis by means other than blocking factors. Gorer5 has demonstrated that circulating antibodies can contribute significantly to host defence in experimental mouse leukaemia. Also, much clinical evidence supports a role for humoral immunity in the defence against malignancy6.
The Health Team Training Model: A Teaching-Learning Approach in Community Health

Health science students worked as members of interdisciplinary health teams as the teams provided services to multiple-problem Appalachian families. The family became the focus of attention in care delivery while the Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) and the family health plan were used by the teams to provide services. Intra- team issues that evolved included communication, decision making, leadership style, and role identity.
The structure of human beta-defensin-2 shows evidence of higher order oligomerization.

Defensins are small cationic peptides that are crucial components of innate immunity, serving as both antimicrobial agents and chemoattractant molecules. The specific mechanism of antimicrobial activity involves permeabilization of bacterial membranes. It has been postulated that individual monomers oligomerize to form a pore through anionic membranes, although the evidence is only indirect. Here, we report two high resolution x-ray structures of human β-defensin-2 (hBD2). The phases were experimentally determined by the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction method, utilizing a novel, rapid method of derivatization with halide ions. Although the shape and charge distribution of the monomer are similar to those of other defensins, an additional α-helical region makes this protein topologically distinct from the mammalian α- and β-defensin structures reported previously. hBD2 forms dimers topologically distinct from that of human neutrophil peptide-3. The quaternary octameric arrangement of hBD2 is conserved in two crystal forms. These structures provide the first detailed description of dimerization of β-defensins, and we postulate that the mode of dimerization of hBD2 is representative of other β-defensins. The structural and electrostatic properties of the hBD2 octamer support an electrostatic charge-based mechanism of membrane permeabilization by β-defensins, rather than a mechanism based on formation of bilayer-spanning pores.
Future now: operation agility – conference report on the SLA Leadership Summit

Purpose – This article aims to report on a two‐day leadership summit which is held each year for Special Library Association Chapter Presidents and Program Chairs. The paper also aims to describe the format and discusses the advantages of such training for local association representatives.Design/methodology/approach – This a simple report of a short leadership training session which describes the format and group exercises comprising the sessions.Findings – The author finds that this intense concentrated training session, using short presentations and small group discussions, works well and seems to provide ample opportunities for interaction among participants leading to an increase in knowledge and understanding, as well as enjoyment. One positive outcome is the enhanced opportunity for information sharing.Originality/value – The author concludes that this kind of leadership skill training has value for not only the new chapter or division leader but for the seasoned information professional as well.
Base Resistance Scaling for Transistors of Various Geometries

Base resistance is an important parameter for bipolar transistor performance and modeling. It can be calculated from simple inputs: base sheet resistance, geometries, and contact metal characteristic impedance. Because a variety of device geometries are used, it is useful to develop scaling equations for different transistor geometries. In this work, we develop generalized equations for the base resistance of multi-finger rectangular devices, ring devices, and horseshoe devices.
Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery for cardiovascular disease

Introduction: Ultrasound (US) has been developed as both a valuable diagnostic tool and a potent promoter of beneficial tissue bioeffects for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. These effects can be mediated by mechanical oscillations of circulating microbubbles, or US contrast agents, which may also encapsulate and shield a therapeutic agent in the bloodstream. Oscillating microbubbles can create stresses directly on nearby tissue or induce fluid effects that effect drug penetration into vascular tissue, lyse thrombi or direct drugs to optimal locations for delivery. Areas covered: The present review summarizes investigations that have provided evidence for US-mediated drug delivery as a potent method to deliver therapeutics to diseased tissue for cardiovascular treatment. In particular, the focus will be on investigations of specific aspects relating to US-mediated drug delivery, such as delivery vehicles, drug transport routes, biochemical mechanisms and molecular targeting strategies. Expert opin...
A 128 Kbit SRAM With an Embedded Energy Monitoring Circuit and Sense-Amplifier Offset Compensation Using Body Biasing

Embedded SRAMs are continuing to be one of the most critical components that limit the performance and energy budget of today's systems. To enable better system level optimization, this paper introduces an embedded energy monitoring circuit that measures the absolute energy consumption of a 128 kbit SRAM circuit that is fabricated using a 65 nm low-power CMOS process. Monitoring circuit results are measured to be accurate within 10% of the actual energy consumption and it works with minimal overhead (below 1% active power). Secondly, to achieve energy-efficient and high-performance SRAM operation, various circuit techniques are employed. 8T bit-cells with word-line voltage boosting is used to enable operation for a wide supply range from 370 mV to 1.2 V. Since variation effects are more prominent at low-voltages, SRAM performance is improved by using a two stage sensing scheme. Global sensing is performed by offset compensated sense amplifiers that leverage body biasing to achieve up to 2x offset reduction for only 3.5% area overhead compared to SRAM area.
QTL Conditioning Physiological Resistance and Avoidance to White Mold in Dry Bean

Physiological resistance is an important component of integrated strategies used to control white mold [caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary] a major disease of common bean (Phaseolus volgaris L.) in North America. Information pertaining to inheritance of physiological resistance, as detected by the greenhouse straw test, and its relationship with field resistance is lacking. The objectives of this study were to compare physiological resistance as detected by two separate straw tests with field resistance, evaluate heritability of physiological resistance, and to characterize the disease reaction of G 122 by quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. This was done in a recombioant inbred population (A 55/G 122) consisting of 67 F derived lines. The greenhouse tests with five and six replications, respectively, and the field test with three replications were conducted in randomized complete block designs. Moderate heritability for disease reaction (scored from 1 = no symptoms to 9 = severe disease) was observed across the straw tests (0.65) and in the field (0.78). Inheritance of disease reaction was further investigated with a framework linkage map composed of 74 markers, Interval mapping detected a QTL on linkage group B7 near the phaseolin seed protein (Phs) locus that explained 38% of the phenotypic variation for disease score across the straw tests. The same B7 QTL (26%), and an additional QTL (18%) on B1 near the fin gene for determinate growth habit conditioned field resistance. A QTL (34%) for canopy porosity, a measure of potential disease avoidance, also mapped to the fin locus. Results confirmed that physiological resistance as detected by the straw lest was an integral component of field resistance, and that both physiological and avoidance mechanisms contributed to field resistance in the A 55/G 122 population. The landrace G 122 clearly provides breeders with a heritable source of physiological resistance to combat white mold discase.
Emotional response as a function of symptoms in schizophrenia

A group of 30 individuals with schizophrenia and a comparison group of 10 individuals who had never experienced a psychotic episode rated the pleasantness and arousal of 54 slides varying in normative pleasantness. Individuals with schizophrenia rated the slides as less pleasant than the comparison group. Positive symptom, negative symptom and disorganization symptom ratings were made for all patients with schizophrenia. Higher levels of disorganization symptoms were associated with lower ratings of pleasant slides and with more negative mood at the conclusion of the study. The conclusion from previous research that the self-reported emotional response of schizophrenia patients is not diminished compared to other groups may be premature, especially for patients with higher levels of disorganization.
Development of Multiscale Biological Image Data Analysis: Review of 2006 International Workshop on Multiscale Biological Imaging, Data Mining and Informatics, Santa Barbara, USA (BII06)

The 2006 International Workshop on Multiscale Biological Imaging, Data Mining and Informatics was held at Santa Barbara, on Sept 7–8, 2006. Based on the presentations at the workshop, we selected and compiled this collection of research articles related to novel algorithms and enabling techniques for bio- and biomedical image analysis, mining, visualization, and biology applications.
Ibuprofen inhibits localized bone resorption in the middle ear.

Localized osteoclastic bone resorption plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of several diseases of the middle ear as well as orthodontic tooth movement and long bone remodeling. The mechanisms of control of localized bone loss and systemic bone resorption may be different but both may be mediated by a final common pathway which includes prostaglandins. Prostaglandins seem to have a predominantly stimulatory effect on bone resorption, although the exact mechanism is poorly understood. Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, is known to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins. It is likely that ibuprofen, through its inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, would decrease the localized osteoclastic bone resorption in a previously described animal model system. Mongolian gerbils were divided into three groups: low dose ibuprofen (10 mg/kg per day), high dose ibuprofen (30 mg/kg per day), and a control group. Following surgical implantation of catheters to the right bullae of each gerbil, pressure was applied for 8 days, stimulating osteoclastic bone resorption. After killing the animals and histomorphometric analysis of the bullae from each, comparisons were made between each group using osteoclast surface (percentage of bone area covered by osteoclasts), osteoclast number (number of osteoclasts/mm bone length), and osteoclast profile area (in μm2). Significantly lower osteoclast surface (Oc. S/BS) was found in pressurized bullae from both treatment groups when compared with pressurized bullae from controls (P<0.05) and significantly lower osteoclast number (N.Oc/T.L) in pressurized bullae from both treatment groups when compared with pressurized bullae from controls (P<0.05). These differences were found to be dose-dependent. No significant differences in individual osteoclast profile area were found in either treatment group when compared with controls.
Suicide in mood disorders.

A selective literature review was conducted to determine the link between mood disorders and suicide in children and adolescents. On-line searches of Medline and PubMed were performed and research articles from 1978 to 2001 were reviewed. Mood disorders are reported to be the most common psychiatric illnesses in children and adolescents who attempt or commit suicide. Reports suggest that depression co-morbid with any other psychiatric illness, externalizing disorders, or substance abuse further increases the risk for suicide completion. Mood disorders in children and adolescents are frequently underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated. Data suggest that very early identification combined with aggressive and sustained treatment of mood disorders in youth may actually lessen the risk for suicide. Depression and Anxiety 14:177–182, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Barriers that impede the adoption of pediatric information technology

Background Information technology (IT) is a critical but underused component of health care. Many factors contribute to the inconsistent adoption of IT. Objective To review the literature to better elucidate barriers that are likely to affect the adoption of IT by pediatric professionals. Data Sources Manuscripts were found using a MEDLINE search combining the terms medicine , information systems , and technology transfer . I also obtained references cited by relevant articles. Finally, I explored the Internet usinghttp://www.google.comandhttp://www.northernlight.com. Study Selection Articles discussing barriers or factors affecting the adoption of IT were considered for inclusion. Articles unrelated to clinical IT were excluded. Data Synthesis A variety of barriers exist that affect the adoption of useful technologies. Situational barriers include challenges imposed by the current national health environment, financial and legal risks associated with technology purchasing and use, and access to technology. The most significant barrier is that pediatric health care practitioners may lack the knowledge or training to use IT effectively. Conclusions Although some barriers exist that may be challenging to overcome, other barriers, such as the lack of knowledge about the uses of IT, are imminently solvable. Efforts to overcome these barriers should begin in earnest and should include educating stakeholders in the care of children and adolescents, as well as improving the knowledge about various technologies available to support pediatric and adolescent health care.
Recent advances in diamond detector development

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamond is being developed as radiation hard material for replacement or upgrade to present detectors in extreme radiation environments. During the past few years devices have been manufactured and tested with fast, radiation-hard electronics. In this paper we discuss the present status and recent progress achieved.
The analytical determination of kinetic parameters for a bimolecular EC mechanism from chronoamperometric data

We study the dependence of chronoamperometric data on the kinetic parameters for a bimolecular reaction, characterizing the behavior of an electrochemical mechanism that pertains to lithium/sulfur dioxide batteries. The reaction entails first the reduction of a reactant O to a product R by an instantaneous charge transfer, followed by a homogeneous chemical reaction between O and R to produce an electrochemically inert product P. We model this by a semilinear reaction-diffusion system with discontinuous initial conditions and mixed Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, and develop a procedure to extract from a single potential step experiment the forward and reverse rate constants for the reaction. To do so we define a function \({\mathcal{J}(t):=j(t)\sqrt{t}}\) , where j(t) is the current density from the chronoamperometric output, and use maximum principle and scaling arguments to exploit the location of the minimum of \({\mathcal{J}(t)}\) versus t.
Kinetic study of intermetallic growth and its reliability implications in Pb-free Sn-based microbumps in 3D integration

In this study, we investigated the kinetics of intermetallic compound (IMC) growth in Pb-free Sn-based microbumps with Cu or Ni under-bump metallization (UBM) in three-dimension (3D) integration. An analysis was formulated to study the multi-phase multi-component kinetics for solid-state phase transformation of intermetallic growth. A numerical optimization method called simulated annealing (SA) was applied to derive the diffusion coefficients required for the model analysis. The derivation was based on the kinetic data obtained from IMC formation in through-silicon-via (TSV) microbump structures at 170°C. The diffusion coefficients of Cu in Cu3Sn and Cu6Sn5 were found to be 5.12 10-16 m2/s and 9.42 10-16 m2/s, respectively, while those of Sn were found to be 1.46 10-16 m2/s and 9.44 10-16 m2/s in Cu3Sn and Cu6Sn5, respectively. The diffusion coefficients of Ni and Sn in Ni3Sn4 were found to be 1.36 10-17 m2/s and 6.81 10-18 m2/s, respectively. The deduced diffusivities were then applied to a finite difference model to predict the IMC growth kinetics, and the results were verified by the experiments. Finally, the effect of IMC formation on the reliability of microbumps in 3D structures was discussed.
Positive and negative magnetic field effects in organic semiconducting materials

Abstract It has been found that non-magnetic organic semiconducting materials can exhibit magnetic responses in electrical current, electroluminescence, photoluminescence, and photocurrent when an external magnetic field is applied. These intrinsic magnetic responses can be naturally attributed to (i) magnetic field-dependent singlet/triplet ratio and (ii) singlet/triplet ratio-dependent excited processes. We observe that inter-molecular and intra-molecular excited states are sensitive and insensitive, respectively, to external magnetic field in magnetic field dependences of electroluminescence, photocurrent, and photoluminescence. This experimental phenomenon suggests that the electron–hole separation distance essentially determines whether magnetic field effects can be activated through the competition between spin-exchange interaction-induced singlet–triplet energy difference and magnetic Zeeman splitting when applied magnetic field is stronger than spin–orbital coupling. Furthermore, the dissociation in inter-molecular excited states and exciton–charge reaction in intra-molecular excited states have positive and negative responses to external magnetic field. As a result, controlling the dissociation in inter-molecular excited states and the exciton–charge reaction in intra-molecular excited states provide an effective methodology to tune the magnetic field effects between positive and negative values in organic semiconducting materials.
Physics of instabilities in amorphous semiconductors

A four-fold classification of the current-controlled instabilities in amorphous semiconductors is proposed. The experimenta evidence supporting a simple band model for the amorphous covalent alloys is given. The present understanding of the reversible switching effects and of the switching with memory is discussed.
A communication approach to the acculturation process: A study of Korean immigrants in Chicago☆

Abstract This paper explores a theoretical and methodological basis for studying foreign immigrants' acculturation processes from a communication perspective. Communication patterns of immigrants are conceptualized on three levels — behavioral, attitudinal, and perceptual. The behavioral level of communication includes the immigrant's participation in communication channels of the host society as well as the ethnic community. The perceptual level refers to the immigrant's cognitive structure in perceiving the host society. The attitudinal level is examined by the immigrant's affective-evaluative orientation toward the host society. The three levels of communication patterns were empirically investigated in a survey of 400 randomly selected Koreans in the Chicago area. The communication variables were assessed through composite scores using questionnaire items that were tested for reliability. The results show an overall linear trend in the immigrant's interethnic communication with Americans, positive attitude toward Americans, cognitive complexity in perceiving the American society, and satisfaction level. A simultaneous increase is observed in the immigrant's interpersonal communication with Americans and with other Koreans. The immigrant's use of ethnic media rapidly decreases over the years while that of American media steadily increases. Findings are discussed in comparison to previous studies of foreign immigrants and students and to sociological theories of acculturation of minority groups.
Enhancing the heavy Higgs signal with jet-jet profile cuts.

The jet-jet profile, or detailed manner, in which transverse energy and mass are distributed around the jet-jet system resulting from the hadronic decay of a [ital Z] boson in the process Higgs boson[r arrow][ital ZZ] at a proton-proton collider energy of 40 TeV is carefully examined. Two observables are defined that can be used to help distinguish the [ital l][sup +][ital l[minus]]-jet-jet signal from Higgs boson decay from the ordinary'' QCD background arising from the large transverse momentum production of single [ital Z] bosons plus the associated jets. By making cuts on these observables, signal to background enhancement factors greater than 100 can be obtained.
Antenna Array Developments: A Perspective on the Past, Present and Future

This paper presents a historical development of phased-array antennas as viewed by the authors. Arrays are another approach to high-gain antennas as contrasted with reflector antennas. They originated a little over 100 years ago and received little attention at first. WWII elevated their importance through use in air defense. Since then, the development of computers and solid-state devices has made arrays a very valuable tool in radio-frequency systems. Radio astronomy and defense applications will continue to push the state of the art for many years.
The Term Structure of Second-hand Prices: A Structural Partial Equilibrium Model

Since the pioneering work of Koopmans (1939) and Mossin (1968) in Maritime Economics, the market for new vessels, the market for second-hand vessels, the freight rate market and finally the market for scrap have been considered as different markets where price is formed under the laws of supply and demand. In this paper, we consider the prices of new vessels and the charter rates as sufficient statistics for the value of second-hand vessels. Using modern finance theory, we derive a closed formula for the prices of second-hand vessels taking into consideration their Real Option value. We introduce two explanatory variables for second-hand prices and derive equilibrium prices in a partial equilibrium framework. Our model fits the data and provides some structural insight into the functional form of second-hand prices.
Is transurethral biopsy of the bladder necessary after 3 months to evaluate response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy?

AbstractPurpose: We assessed the need for transurethral biopsy of the bladder at the 3-month evaluation in patients who have received intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).Materials and Methods: A total of 81 patients collectively received 83, 6-week courses of BCG between 1995 and 1997, and underwent transurethral bladder biopsies 3 months after initiation of immunotherapy. The pretreatment and posttreatment bladder biopsy results, urinary cytology and posttreatment cystoscopic findings were correlated.Results: Transitional cell carcinoma was demonstrated in 5 of 11 patients with erythematous bladder mucosa and a positive cytology compared to none of 37 with an erythematous lesion and a negative cytology. Of 12 patients with a papillary lesion on cystoscopy and a positive biopsy 10 had a negative cytology, and only 1 of 13 patients with a negative cystoscopy had a positive biopsy.Conclusions: Bladder biopsy is not necessary in patients 3 months after receiving BCG who have a normal office cystoscop...
A proposed benchmark problem for cargo nuclear threat monitoring

Abstract There is currently a great deal of technical and political effort focused on reducing the risk of potential attacks on the United States involving radiological dispersal devices or nuclear weapons. This paper proposes a benchmark problem for gamma-ray and X-ray cargo monitoring with results calculated using MCNP5, v1.51. The primary goal is to provide a benchmark problem that will allow researchers in this area to evaluate Monte Carlo models for both speed and accuracy in both forward and inverse calculational codes and approaches for nuclear security applications. A previous benchmark problem was developed by one of the authors (RPG) for two similar oil well logging problems (Gardner and Verghese, 1991, [1] ). One of those benchmarks has recently been used by at least two researchers in the nuclear threat area to evaluate the speed and accuracy of Monte Carlo codes combined with variance reduction techniques. This apparent need has prompted us to design this benchmark problem specifically for the nuclear threat researcher. This benchmark consists of conceptual design and preliminary calculational results using gamma‐ray interactions on a system containing three thicknesses of three different shielding materials. A point source is placed inside the three materials lead, aluminum, and plywood. The first two materials are in right circular cylindrical form while the third is a cube. The entire system rests on a sufficiently thick lead base so as to reduce undesired scattering events. The configuration was arranged in such a manner that as gamma-ray moves from the source outward it first passes through the lead circular cylinder, then the aluminum circular cylinder, and finally the wooden cube before reaching the detector. A 2 in.×4 in.×16 in. box style NaI (Tl) detector was placed 1 m from the point source located in the center with the 4 in.×16 in. side facing the system. The two sources used in the benchmark are 137 Cs and 235 U.
Soluble HLA-II expression in African-Americans.

Objective: In this study we evaluated the contribution of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes to soluble histocompatibility antigen class II (sHLA-II) secretion in African American patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).¶Methods: A sensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to quantitate sHLA-II in the serum of 7 patients with RA, as well as 28 of their kinships and 49 HLA typed normal African American individuals.¶Results: Mean sHLA-II values were higher in patients with RA than those in healthy African American individuals (p < 0.05). There were variations in concentrations in individual patients but these were unrelated to any apparent clinical event. The proportion of unaffected family members with detectable levels of sHLA-II was not significantly different than those in normal controls. Neither specific HLA-haplotype, or HLA-allele(s) correlated with high or low sHLA-II secretion.¶Conclusions: Our data suggest that sHLA-II molecules are not regulated by MHC linked genes but may be regulated by non-MHC linked genes and racial background may reflect genetic heterogeneity of the expression of this soluble HLA material. These observations contrast with previous observations concerning soluble HLA class I (sHLA-I) molecules in a described population sample which were almost the precise reverse.
IMPROVING IRRIGATION RETURN FLOW QUALITY WITH A WATER RENTAL MARKET

: Current policies for correcting the problem of irrigation return flow pollution tend to attack the symptoms of the problem, rather than its cause. The present institutional arrangement for allocating irrigation water is seen as the source of the problem. This paper examines the water quality benefits of altering the institutional arrangement to allow for irrigation water transfers through a rental market. It is conceptualized that by creating a water rental market an opportunity cost would be associated with the use of irrigation water such that profit maximizing farmers would be induced to use his water supply more efficiently and rent the surplus to other irrigators, thus reducing return flow pollution. It is shown that a water rental market could increase water quality in the Yakima River in southcentral Washington by 31 percent as well as increase farm incomes and crop production.
Aluminum Incorporation and Interfacial Structures in MCM-41 Mesoporous Molecular Sieves

Two-dimensional (2D) solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been used to identify interfacial species and establish framework locations of aluminum atoms incorporated in aluminosilicate MCM-41 mesophases and mesoporous solids. In these experiments, chemical shifts of protons in the material are correlated with the chemical shifts of nearby (ca. 1 nm) 13C, 27Al, or 29Si species via their respective heteronuclear dipole - dipole couplings. For aluminosilicate MCM-41 mesophases prepared at room temperature, 2D heteronuclear chemical shift correlation NMR spectra show that tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum and silicon species are in close spatial proximity to the trimethylammonium head groups of the cationic surfactant species in the as-synthesized materials and to ammonium cations following calcination and ion exchange. For MCM-41 materials synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, 2D heteronuclear correlation NMR measurements show that the appearance of six-coordinate aluminum species results from strongly bound water molecules coordinated to aluminum atoms that are also proximate to the surfactant species. The detection of couplings between 27 Al or 29 Si species and protons associated with the structure-directing surfactant molecules or exchangeable ammonium counterions establishes that a significant fraction of the aluminum atoms are present in the inorganic frameworks of these materials.
Interactions among some dominant estuarine nekton species

Interactions between pairs of numerically dominant species collected at inlet and creek shorezone and channel habitats within a high salinity estuary in northeastern South Carolina were examined using two-way contingency tables and binomial tests. Of the significant species interactions, over 71% were positive and these primarily occurred within shorezone habitats. The strongest positive interactions were between young-of-the-year spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) juveniles in both shorezone habitats, and between striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), white mullet (Mugil curema), and striped anchovies (Anchoa hepsetus) in the inlet shorezone habitat. One of the most positive species associations in channel habitats was between the bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and the Atlantic brief squid (Lolliguncula brevis). These positive relationships between species may be explained by one species enhancing the habitat for another, both species responding to similar environmental conditions, cooperative social interactions such as mixed schooling, or the attraction of predators to prey. Negative interactions were found between schools of Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) and striped killifish in the inlet shorezone and between schools of Atlantic silversides and bay anchovies in the creek shorezone. Schools of Atlantic silversides may either displace or compete with other common shorezone species. Positive and negative interactions suggest that relationships between some species pairs did not occur randomly within certain habitats and may have contributed to the organization of the estuarine nekton community. Differences in the strengths and direction of interactions of certain species pairs among habitats and seasons were probably related to the differences in the physical characteristics of those habitats and/or changes in the relative abundance of dominant species and life stages over time.