cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does energy demand have an additional control in ischemia or are current models of metabolic control adequate at extremes

It has been suggested12 that the response of tissues to falling [O2] can fall in one of two classes: 1. “regulators”, where VO2 is constant in the face of falling Po, until it is too low to support any ATP production and 2. “conformers”, where VO2 decreases as [O2] decreases without a depletion of ATP. A brief review6 described 3-4 different phases to the metabolic response of a “regulating” cell as [O2] decreases. Initially there may be no change at all. If oxygen supplies are more than adequate then [O2] can decrease to some turnover dependent level without affecting the metabolic state or rate of ATP turnover. The next phase shows no change in VO2 but there is a change in metabolic state as reflected in decreases in the creatine charge ([PCr]/[total creatine], {PCr}) and changes in the cytosolic redox state as glycolysis is recruited. This phase has been documented in isolated mitochondria and supportive evidence seen in intact tissue, especially working muscle19,20,21As the [O2] decreases further, some critical point (PO2crit) is reached where the concentration of oxygen limits the ability of the cell to produce ATP aerobically and the cells is dysoxic. The PO2crit and the PO2 range of dysoxia depends very much on the ATP turnover rate in the cell, being higher at higher turnover rates6. When there is no oxygen available (anoxia) the ATP supply will be severely limited by the capacity to produce ATP from glycolysis and transiently from PCr stores at rates consistent with the ATP consumption. In dysoxia and anoxia the sustainable ATP demand is limited both in rate and in duration.
Chronic urogenital infections in men. Prostatitis and related syndromes

Despite general acknowledgement of the importance of chronic prostatitis, chronic urethritis and related syndromes, we have limited understanding of the etiology of these conditions. Clinical observations suggest that infectious agents may be important, but pathogens are often difficult to identify. Thus, treatment is empirical and often ineffective. This article reviews the literature and our recent studies suggesting that genitourinary tract infections are indeed responsible for significant morbidity in men with idiopathic lower tract syndromes. The critical implication is that accurate identification of the causes should lead to specific therapy and reduce unnecessary procedures.
Audiology: Diagnosis and Treatment

The use of the computer in audiology presupposes that audiological procedures are logical processes. This chapter discusses the logic involved in the clinical audiological diagnosis process. Two of the general procedures involved in the diagnostic process are case management and individual test management. Case management refers to the selection, interpretation, and prescription aspects of the diagnostic process. Individual test management deals with the administration and scoring of specific tests in the audiological battery. The field of audiology has been founded on a technological achievement, the electronic audiometer. The primary care provided by the field for rehabilition is amplification, founded on the technological capability which permits the use of minature circuitry in hearing aids. The chapter explains that given the technological orientation of the field, it is inevitable that the computer will become the basis for the hearing test of the future. The computer will be used in all areas of audiological management. The most obvious uses have already become established, for example, the development of database-managed hearing conservation programs and signal averaging for evoked auditory potentials. However, the potential of the computer to generate and control the acoustic signal through digital-to-analog conversion will lead to the use of stimuli that are much more complex. This will result in the evaluation procedures that can test more parameters of hearing.
Update on infection control practices in cancer hospitals

Therapies in oncology have evolved rapidly over the last years. At the same pace, supportive care for patients receiving cancer therapy has also evolved, allowing patients to safely receive the newest advances in treatment in both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The recognition of the role of infection control and prevention (ICP) in the outcomes of patients living with cancer has been such that it is now a requirement for hospitals and involves multidisciplinary groups. Some unique aspects of ICP for patients with cancer that have gained momentum over the past few decades include catheter-related infections, multidrug-resistant organisms, community-acquired viral infections, and the impact of the health care environment on the horizontal transmission of organisms. Furthermore, as the potential for infections to cross international borders has increased, alertness for outbreaks or new infections that occur outside the area have become constant. As the future approaches, ICP in immunocompromised hosts will continue to integrate emerging disciplines, such as antibiotic stewardship and the microbiome, and new techniques for environmental cleaning and for controlling the spread of infections, such as whole-genome sequencing. CA Cancer J Clin 2018;000:000-000. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Herbaceous forage variability in an arid pastoral region of Kenya: importance of topographic and rainfall gradients.

Temporal and spatial variabilities in rainfall, herbaceous production and biomass were studied over a 4-year period in a topographically diverse, arid pastoral region of northwest Kenya. A significant relation between rainfall and primary production was found, and this was applied in a manner that considered topographic variation and its influence on rainfall variation over the region. Primary production responses to rainfall occurred as pulses that were rapidly attenuated as the dry seasons progressed. The combination of spatial and temporal variability of herbaceous forage is significant for nomadic pastoralists who move along rainfall gradients between wet and dry seasons. Dry areas at low elevations produce forage that is available for only a short period of time, which explains pastoral use of drier areas early in the wet season. Quantitative analyses of relationships between topography, rainfall and forage are needed to determine appropriate pastoral densities in topographically diverse arid regions.
Born to Invent

In this story of the three important decades of Lee de Forest, it is his inventions of the vacuum tube and the radio that will make the talking picture possible. But this is not just the story of one inventor or a single invention. It is about many interesting and influential people and how they transformed Nineteenth Century science into Twentieth Century art. In this story of invention the film is shown to evolve from a chemical process into entertainment, and wireless telegraphy into radio broadcasting. Lee de Forest puts it all together and creates the sound motion picture. While this story concentrates on the decade of the 1920s and talking pictures, it is also about the creation of the electronic entertainment media and its audiences.
Influence of PaO2 on cerebral macro- and microcirculation as observed by light reflection: time course of changes.

A silicon intensified target camera was used to study cerebral cortical vessels of the cat through a skull window implant, and red cell content changes were measured by light reflectance. Red cell content changes were observed in cerebral arterioles, capillaries, and venules when the PaO2 was decreased by lowering the PiO2.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Fluid Phase Equilibria and Interfacial Properties for Water/Alkane Mixtures: An Assessment of Nonpolarizable Water Models and of Departures from the Lorentz–Berthelot Combining Rules

Monte Carlo simulations in the Gibbs ensemble were carried out to determine the mutual solubilities for water/n-alkane mixtures over a wide range of temperatures, pressures, and alkane chain length...
Capture, Capacities, and Thresholds

There can be a number of different problem settings under which covering models can be defined and applied. Many of the models that are discussed in this chapter were originally inspired by issues associated with retail and competition. Although one at first blush may think of retail siting and coverage models as having little in common, except for something obvious like a pizza chain attempting to locate facilities so that it can deliver pizzas everywhere in a city within 30 min, there are surprisingly many retail elements that can be defined and addressed using coverage constructs.
Aligning English Language Proficiency Standards With Content Standards: Shared Opportunity and Responsibility Across English Learner Education and Content Areas

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 mandates that English language proficiency (ELP) standards align with content standards. As the fast-growing population of English learners (ELs) is expected ...
Development and validation of a short form Children's power of Food Scale.

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a shortened form of the Children's Power of Food Scale (C-PFS), which measures anticipated reward from consuming highly palatable foods (i.e., hedonic hunger). Presently, two gaps exist with the C-PFS: the need for a shorter tighter measure, and evidence to support similar item function across populations. Method Ninth grade students (N = 3277; 14.1 ± 0.4 years; 53.5% Female; 47% Hispanic) from 10 Los Angeles high schools completed the C-PFS and other surveys in class. Factor analysis, graded response modeling, and differential item functioning explored the structure of the 15 C-PFS items and identified a reduced set that parsimoniously taps hedonic hunger across the latent continuum and exhibits item-level invariance across sex, race/ethnicity, and weight status. Construct validity was examined via associations of self-reported dietary intake, impulsivity, and body mass index (BMI) to C-PFS scores. Results Factor analytic models supported a single, primary dimension of hedonic hunger that accounted for 61% of the variance across all 15-items (α = 0.94). Adequate severity, discriminatory ability, and non-overlapping item-difficulty were observed for 11-items, of which 9-items were found to have item-level invariance across demographic and weight status groupings. Poor performing items were removed to create a 9-item scale (C-PFS-9; α = 0.93). Construct validity was demonstrated as higher C-PFS-9 scores were significantly related to greater sweet (β = 0.32, [95%CI = 0.23, 0.41], p Conclusion The C-PFS-9 possesses excellent psychometric properties and retains the original construct coverage of hedonic hunger without a marked decrease in information obtained.
Parents’ Perceptions of Constraints Impacting the Development of Walking in Children with CHARGE Syndrome:

This study examined parents’ perceptions of constraints that impact the attainment of independent walking in children with CHARGE syndrome. This syndrome is a multifaceted syndrome including a degr...
Diffuse Gas and LMXBs in the Chandra Observation of the S0 Galaxy NGC 1553

We have spatially and spectrally resolved the sources of X-ray emission from the X-ray faint S0 galaxy NGC 1553 using an observation from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The majority (70%) of the emission in the 0.3 - 10.0 keV band is diffuse, and the remaining 30% is resolved into 49 discrete sources. Most of the discrete sources associated with the galaxy appear to be low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). The luminosity function of the LMXB sources is well-fit by a broken power-law with a break luminosity comparable to the Eddington luminosity for a 1.4 solar mass neutron star. It is likely that those sources with luminosities above the break are accreting black holes and those below are mostly neutron stars in binary systems. Spectra were extracted for the total emission, diffuse emission, and sum of the resolved sources; the spectral fits for all require a model including both a soft and hard component. The diffuse emission is predominately soft while the emission from the sources is mostly hard. Approximately 24% of the diffuse emission arises from unresolved LMXBs, with the remainder resulting from thermal emission from hot gas. There is a very bright source at the projected position of the nucleus of the galaxy. The spectrum and luminosity derived from this central source are consistent with it being an AGN; the galaxy also is a weak radio source. Finally, the diffuse emission exhibits significant substructure with an intriguing spiral feature passing through the center of the galaxy. The X-ray spectrum and surface brightness of the spiral feature are consistent with adiabatic or shock compression of ambient gas, but not with cooling. This feature may be due to compression of the hot interstellar gas by radio lobes or jets associated with the AGN.
Models for the Origin of the Current Martian Satellites

The origin of the two small prograde natural satellites of Mars may, or may not, be important in deciphering the early history of planet Mars. There have been many proposals for the origin of Phobos and Deimos but there is no generally accepted model for their origin. There is, however, substantial evidence for oblique impact of large bodies onto the surface of Mars in the retrograde (clock-wise) direction. These features suggest that a sizeable body, probably an asteroid, broke up in the vicinity of Mars and the disrupted debris, large and small, impacted along a great circle pattern on the martian surface. The proponents of this model also suggest that this orbiting retrograde satellite, before breaking apart, could have powered a martian core dynamo via tidal forces. I show the results of numerical simulations in which portions of asteroids could be gravitationally extracted from parent bodies in hyperbolic orbits passing through the weightlessness limit of Mars. The extracted bodies are then inserted into unstable orbits around Mars. These bodies eventually would impact onto the martian surface. Again, there is no consensus model for the origin of Phobos and Deimos.
Privacy: An Elusive Concept:

The subject of this Research Issues Column is privacy as it applies to healthcare. To that end, the notion of privacy from the perspective of the law is considered, followed by a consideration of i...
Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Standalone Versus Cage and Plate Constructs for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

ABSTRACT Background Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has conventionally been performed using an allograft cage with a plate-and-screw construct. Recently, standalone cages have gained popularity due to theorized decreases in operative time and postoperative dysphagia. Few studies have compared these outcomes. Here, we directly compare the outcomes of plated versus standalone ACDF constructs. Methods A single-center retrospective review of patients undergoing ACDF after June 2011 with at least 6 months of follow up was conducted. Clinical outcomes were analyzed and compared between standalone and plated constructs. Multivariate regression analysis of the primary outcome, need for revision surgery, as well as several secondary outcomes, procedure duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay, disposition, and incidence of dysphagia, hoarseness, or surgical site infection, was completed. Results A total of 321 patients underwent ACDF and met inclusion-exclusion criteria, with mean follow-up duration of 20 months. Forty-six (14.3%) patients received standalone constructs, while 275 (85.7%) received plated constructs. Fourteen (4.4%) total revisions were necessary, 4 in the standalone group and 10 in the plated group, yielding revision rates of 8.7% and 3.6%, respectively (P = .125). Mean EBL was 98 mL in the standalone group and 63 mL in the plated group (P = .001). Mean procedure duration was 147 minutes in the standalone group and 151 minutes in the plated group (P = .800). Mean hospital stay was 3.6 days in the standalone group and 2.5 days in the plated group (P = .270). There was no significant difference in incidence of dysphagia (P = .700) or hoarseness (P = .700). Conclusions Standalone ACDF demonstrates higher, but not statistically significant, revision rates than plate-and-screw constructs, without the hypothesized decreased incidence of dysphagia or hoarseness and without decreased procedure duration or EBL. Surgeons may consider limiting use of these constructs to cases of adjacent segment disease. Larger studies with longer follow up are necessary to make more definitive conclusions. Level of Evidence 4. Clinical Relevance This study will help spine surgeons decide between using standalone or cage-and-plate constructs for ACDF.
Efficacy of Short-Term Oral Prednisolone Treatment in the Management of Pericardial Effusion Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

A standard treatment for pericardial effusion without cardiac tamponade after pediatric cardiac surgery has not been established. We evaluated the efficacy of short-term oral prednisolone administration, which is the initial treatment for postoperative pericardial effusion without cardiac tamponade at our institution. Between October 2008 and March 2020, 1429 pediatric cardiac surgeries were performed at our institution. 91 patients required postoperative treatment for pericardial effusion. 81 were treated with short-term oral prednisolone. Pericardial effusion was evaluated using serial echocardiography during diastole. Pericardial drainage was performed for patients with circumferential pericardial effusion with a maximum diameter of ≥ 10 mm or signs of cardiac tamponade. Short-term oral prednisolone treatment was administered to patients with circumferential pericardial effusion with a maximum diameter of < 10 mm or localized pericardial effusion with a maximum diameter of ≥ 5 mm. Patients with localized pericardial effusion with a maximum diameter of < 5 mm were observed. Prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 3 days, added as needed. Short-term oral prednisolone treatment was effective in 71 cases and 90% of patients were regarded as responders. The remaining patients were deemed non-responders who required pericardial drainage. Overall, 55 responders were deemed early responders whose pericardial effusion disappeared within 3 days. There were no cases of deaths, infections, or recurrence of pericardial effusion. The amount of drainage fluid on the day of surgery was higher in the non-responders. In conclusion, short-term oral prednisolone treatment is effective and safe for treating pericardial effusion without cardiac tamponade after pediatric cardiac surgery.
Trigonometric Functions and Applications

We investigate the sine and cosine functions, show the Weierstrass function is continuous and nowhere differentiable, construct the number π, establish that π is an irrational number, and give a brief treatment of polar coordinates.
Laparoscopic antireflux surgery: preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure does not affect outcome.

Background: Concern has been raised about operating on patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and normal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure for the fear that a fundoplication may fail to control reflux and result in a high rate of postoperative dysphagia. We hypothesized that fundoplication is effective in patients with GERD irrespective of the preoperative LES pressure, and that in patients with normal LES pressure, a total fundoplication does not result in a high incidence of dysphagia. Methods: We studied 280 unselected patients with GERD who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication. They were divided in three groups based on the preoperative LES pressure (normal, 14–24 mmHg): group A (LES pressure, 0–6 mmHg; 61 patients; 22%); group B (LES pressure, 7–13 mmHg; 178 patients; 64%); group C (LES pressure, ?14 mmHg; 41 patients; 14%). De novo dysphagia was defined as new onset of postoperative dysphagia lasting more than 10 weeks. The average follow-up period was 17 ± 22 months. Results: There was no difference in resolution of symptoms among the three groups. Heartburn and regurgitation resolved or improved respectively in 96% of group A, 90% of group B, and 91% of group C patients. In addition, there was no difference in the incidence of de novo dysphagia, which occurred in 8% of group A, 7% of group B, and 2% of group C. Conclusions: We conclude that fundoplication controlled GERD irrespective of preoperative LES pressure, and that a normal LES pressure before surgery was not associated with a higher rate of postoperative dysphagia.
Ethnic Social, Political, and Economic Progress: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

This article examines the thesis that a reduction in occupational and educational differentials across cross-cutting lines of differentiation, and a more representative government, will have a redi...
Comparative perspectives on environmental policies and issues

Chapter 1: A Preview of Environmental Policies and Issues Robert Dibie. 2. Environmental Concepts and Applications Robert Dibie. Part I: Developed Countries. 3. Environmental Policies and Issues in the United States Robert Dibie and Mary Bourke. 4. Analysis Environmental Health Issues and Policies in Western Europe Emeka Nwagwu. 5. Environmental Health Policies and Issues in Canada Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe and Robert Dibie. Part II: Developing Countries - Africa. 6. Environmental Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa Robert Dibie. 7. Environmental Policies and Issues in Ghana Albert O. Assibey-Mensah and Robert Dibie. 8. Environmental Policy and Impacts in South Africa Robert Dibie and Kealeboga Maphunye. 9. Environmental Policies and Issues in Ethiopia Robert Dibie. 10. Environmental Policy and Issues in Nigeria Offiong Offiong and Robert Dibie. Part III: Developing Countries - Other Continents. 11. Environmental Health Policy in Brazil Robert Dibie, William Mello, and Galia Benitez. 12. Environmental Policies and Issues in Jamaica Robert Dibie. 13. Environmental Policies and Issues in Trinidad and Tobago Robert Dibie. 14. Environmental Policies and Issues in Belize Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe. 15. Environmental Policies and Issues in Some Arab Countries Robert Dibie and Muawya Hussein. Conclusion. 16. Environmental Sustainability and Solutions Robert Dibie.
The impact of same-sex marriage on Hawai'i's economy and government.

This report provides quantitative and qualitative measures of the impact of same-sex marriage on Hawai'i's economy and government. We find that marriage equality is likely to lead to substantial increases in visitor arrivals, visitor spending, and state and county general excise tax revenues. We estimate that fewer than 100 spouses will be added as beneficiaries to public and private employer-provided health insurance plans. The size of the gains from marriage equality depends critically on upcoming rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Californiaâ€™s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.
Nasty, Brutish and False: Rousseau's State in the International Order

Focusing on the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, this article offers an account of an important episode in the historical development of international legal theory: the emergence of a conception of the state as a singular agent, a fictional person that behaves differently from the people who constitute it. In the process, this article challenges prevailing interpretations of Rousseau's place in the Western tradition of international thought and also situates him in the positivist tradition of international law.
Evaluating the impacts of climate change and switchgrass production on a semiarid basin

Climate and land use changes greatly modify hydrologic regimes. In this paper, we modelled the impacts of biofuel cultivation in the US Great Plains on a 1061-km2 watershed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic model. The model was calibrated to monthly discharges spanning 2002–2010 and for the winter, spring, and summer seasons. SWAT was then run for a climate-change-only scenario using downscaled precipitation and a projected temperature for 16 general circulation model (GCM) runs associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios A2 scenario spanning 2040–2050. SWAT was also run on a climate change plus land use change scenario in which Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) replaced native range grasses, winter wheat, and rye (89% of the basin). For the climate-change-only scenario, the GCMs agreed on a monthly temperature increase of 1–2 °C by the 2042–2050 period, but they disagreed on the direction of change in precipitation. For this scenario, decreases in surface runoff during all three seasons and increases in spring and summer evapotranspiration (eT) were driven predominantly by precipitation. Increased summer temperatures also significantly contributed to changes in eT. With the addition of switchgrass, changes in surface runoff are amplified during the winter and summer, and changes in eT are amplified during all three seasons. Depending on the GCM utilized, either climate change or land use change (switchgrass cultivation) was the dominant driver of change in surface runoff while switchgrass cultivation was the major driver of changes in eT. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A finite-element thermoelectric model for phase-change memory devices

In this article, we present a finite-element method (FEM)-based thermo-electric model to accurately capture the characteristics of phase-change memory devices. The individual thermoelectric heating components are separated to obtain a detailed understanding of thermal transport in the device. This work is different from other exciting modeling work on thermoelectrics in that, for the first time, it compares the modeling results with experimental measurements obtained over a range of ambient temperatures, thereby validating the accuracy of the proposed model.
Governance Without Government: An Overview and Application of Interactions Between Law-State and Governance-Corporate Systems

The diffusion of power in the wake of globalization has also revived the recognition of governance authority beyond the state and its formally constituted governance apparatus. Globalization is said to have produced movements toward governance that is based on functionally differentiated transnational public systems that operate above the state. Globalization has provided a governance framework environment marked by a fracturing and diffusing of power beyond political actors. Though the state remains very much alive and continues to be powerful within the ambit of its authority, its claim to a monopoly of governance power, either directly or through public organs at the supra- or infra- national levels, is no longer plausible. This chapter provides an overview of the extent of “governance without government” outside the framework of the state system of public law. It suggests the possibility of a public law without public organs, and the constitution of governance beyond both government and state. The chapter first examines the strands of the theoretical debate. The focus of this section is on a growing corpus of work that suggests that while non-governmental actors are, to an increasing extent, exercising governance power, defined in a variety of ways, none of these governance systems has achieved “escape velocity” from the state. Nor, for many, is such an escape necessary, feasible or prudent. The heart of the examination is on the more radical notion that private entities also govern without the state or its apparatus in functionally differentiated regulatory communities. This is not merely academic theory. A recent example from within the OECD’s enforcement structure points the way to the future. Through an examination of the U.K. National Contact Point’s decision in Vedanta one sees the outlines of polycentricity as an aggregating mechanism for the elaboration of non-state systems free, within its jurisdiction, from the state.
Clinical and histological events preceding hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in chronic type B hepatitis.

A 60-mo longitudinal study has been undertaken in 99 HBeAg-positive patients with clinicopathologically verified chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis B e antigen clearance occurred in 30 patients at a rate of ~ 17% per year. A phenomenon of abrupt elevation of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (>300 IU/L) with histological changes compatible with chronic lobular hepatitis was observed in 13 of 20 patients (65%) preceding spontaneous HBeAg clearance. In contrast, 8 of 10 patients on immunosuppressive or antiviral therapy, or both, had uneventful HBeAg clearance. It was concluded that HBeAg clearance can occur in patients with varying immunologic status. The mechanism responsible for HBeAg clearance awaits further study.
The Monty Hall Problem and beyond: Digital-Mathematical and Cognitive Analysis in Boole’s Algebra, Including an Extension and Generalization to Related Cases

The Monty Hall problem has received its fair share of attention in mathematics. Recently, an entire monograph has been devoted to its history. There has been a multiplicity of approaches to the problem. These approaches are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The design of the present paper is to add one more approach by analyzing the mathematical structure of the Monty Hall problem in digital terms. The structure of the problem is described as much as possible in the tradition and the spirit—and as much as possible by means of the algebraic conventions—of George Boole’s Investigation of the Laws of Thought (1854), the Magna Charta of the digital age, and of John Venn’s Symbolic Logic (second edition, 1894), which is squarely based on Boole’s Investigation and elucidates it in many ways. The focus is not only on the digital-mathematical structure itself but also on its relation to the presumed digital nature of cognition as expressed in rational thought and language. The digital approach is outlined in part 1. In part 2, the Monty Hall problem is analyzed digitally. To ensure the generality of the digital approach and demonstrate its reliability and productivity, the Monty Hall problem is extended and generalized in parts 3 and 4 to related cases in light of the axioms of probability theory. In the full mapping of the mathematical structure of the Monty Hall problem and any extensions thereof, a digital or non-quantitative skeleton is fleshed out by a quantitative component. The pertinent mathematical equations are developed and presented and illustrated by means of examples.
A multivariate double EWMA process adjustment scheme for drifting processes

The “predictor-corrector” feedback controller, a process adjustment scheme proposed for semiconductor manufacturing run-to-run processes that drift, is extended to the multiple-input-multiple-output case. The controller is based on two coupled multivariate Exponentially-Weighted-Moving-Average (EWMA) equations, thus its performance depends on the choices of EWMA weight matrices. Stability conditions are given for a pure gain process adjusted with a MIMO double EWMA (EWMA) controller. It is shown that the stability conditions are invariant with respect to various realistic drift disturbance models. Recommendations on how to choose the EWMA weight matrices are given. An analysis is conducted to assess the impact of errors in the estimates of the process gains. The proposed MIMO EWMA feedback controller is compared to the common practice of using multiple single-input-single-ouput dEWMA controllers running in parallel.
Integrated aerodynamic-structural design of a transport wing

The integrated aerodynamic-structural design of a subsonic transport wing for minimum weight subject to required range is formulated and solved. The problem requires large computational resources, and two methods are used to alleviate the computational burden. First, a modular sensitivity method that permits the usage of black-box disciplinary software packages, is used to reduce the cost of sensitivity derivatives. In particular, it is shown that derivatives of the aeroelastic response and divergence speed can be calculated without the costly computation of derivatives of aerodynamic influence coefficient and structural stiffness matrices. A sequential approximate optimization is used to further reduce computational cost. The optimization procedure is shown to require a relatively small number of analysis and sensitivity calculations.
Insulin secretion from pancreatic islets: effect of growth hormone and related proteins.

Insulin responses to clinical grade human growth hormone (hGH), intact hGH, naturally occurring diabetogenic substance (NDS), and subtilisin cleaved forms of hGH (S1 and S3) were studied using hypophysectomized rat pancreatic islets. While clinical grade hGH (200 μg/ml) elicited a prompt and sustained release of insulin, purified intact hGH (200 μg/ml) did not. Naturally occurring diabetogenic substance, isolated from clinical grade hGH preparations, stimulated insulin release at 200 ng/ml. Upon repeat stimulation with NDS, a significantly greater insulin release than with initial stimulation was observed. Although S3 (200 μ/ml) elicited significant insulin release, S1 (200 μg/ml) did not. Direct stimulation of insulin release with clinical grade hGH is not due to intact hGH but another protein(s) such as NDS. Enzymic modification of intact hGH appears to enhance insulin stimulatory capacity.
Growth and characterization of silicon carbide thin films on silicon using a hollow cathode pulse sputtering technique

Abstract Investigations of thin film depositions of silicon carbide (SiC) from pulse sputtering a hollow cathode SiC target are presented. The unique feature of the hollow cathode technique is that germanium can be added to the films. This changes the properties of the SiC. Such changes include evidence of Ge C bonds, lowering of the resistivity, and lowering of the bandgap. The analysis includes crystallographic and morphological studies of the deposited films and their quality using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy data. Basic electrical properties are also presented along with optical bandgap information gathered from spectroscopic ellipsometry data.
Cryopreserved embryos: who shall decide their fate?

(1992). Cryopreserved embryos: Who shall decide their fate? Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 463-500.
Intranasal oxytocin reduces psychotic symptoms and improves Theory of Mind and social perception in schizophrenia

Oxytocin has numerous prosocial and antipsychotic-like effects in animals. Prosocial effects of acute intranasal oxytocin administration have also been reported in human subjects. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing the effects of twice daily intranasal oxytocin treatment for 14 days on psychotic symptoms and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia. PANSS scores declined significantly and several social cognition measures improved significantly or nearly significantly in oxytocin (N=11) but not placebo (N=9) recipients. Our results suggest that, in addition to reducing classic psychotic symptoms, oxytocin may diminish certain social cognition deficits that are not improved by current antipsychotic medications.
Valuation of Certificates on a Straddle with Forward Start—Theory and Evidence

This paper introduces a new financial product named Certificates on a Straddle with Forward Start and provides detailed descriptions of the product specifications. It shows that the payoff of a Certificate on a Straddle with Forward Start can be duplicated by the combination of long positions in call and put options on the underlying asset. A pricing formula is developed to price the certificates. A certificate issued by Credit Suisse is presented as an example to examine how well the model fits empirical data. The results show that issuing Certificates on a Straddle with Forward Start is a profitable business and the results are in line with previous studies pricing other structured products.
Current Views of the Structure of the Mammalian Mitochondrial Ribosome

Mammalian mitochondria synthesize polypeptides crucial for energy generation using ribosomes with a number of unique features. These ribosomes are very protein rich and have very truncated ribosomal RNAs. The bulk of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome is composed of proteins, only about half of which are homologs of ribosomal proteins found in other translational systems. A number of distinctive features are found in these ribosomes. Among these is a gate-like structure that allows entrance of the primarily leaderless mRNAs that characterize this system. The exit tunnel of the large subunit is also quite unusual and includes a site in which the nascent peptide is visible to solvent prior to the normal exit site. Further, this region of the mitochondrial ribosome is dominated by ribosomal proteins rather than rRNA and is involved in the interaction of the ribosome with the inner membrane where all of the translation products are ultimately located. The proteins of the mitochondrial ribosome appear to play a number of important roles in the cell in addition to their function in protein biosynthesis, including roles in apoptosis and in cell cycle control.
Technology Acceptance in an Academic Context: Faculty Acceptance of Online Education

The authors surveyed faculty from a college of business and a college of education regarding their attitudes toward online education. Results of the survey were examined to determine the degree to which the technology acceptance model was able to adequately explain faculty acceptance of online education. Results indicate that perceived usefulness is a strong indicator of faculty acceptance; however, perceived ease of use offers little additional predictive power beyond that contributed by perceived usefulness of online education technology.
On random walks on affine group

Diaconis' presumption that the number of steps required to get close to uniform for a random walk on the affine group A pis c(p)p 2with c(p) →a is verified. We also discuss the random number generation associated with the random walk on the affine group. The number of steps to force the generated number to become random is improved. A modified version of Diacohis-Shahshahani's upper bound lemma is given and applied
Reversible complexation of isocyanides by the distannyne Ar′SnSnAr′ (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2)

The reaction of the distannyne Ar′SnSnAr′ (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2) with tert-butyl or mesityl isocyanide afforded the bis-adducts Ar′SnSnAr′(CNBut)2 or Ar′SnSnAr′ (CNMes)2 in which the isonitriles are reversibly bound under ambient conditions.
Effects of β-lactam antibiotics, auxins, and cytokinins on shoot regeneration from callus cultures of two hybrid aspens, Populus tremuloides × P. tremula and P. x canescens × P. gradidentata

The effects of β-lactam antibiotics (penicillin, carbenicillin and cefotaxime), cytokinins, and auxins including phenylacetic acid, a β-lactam breakdown product, were evaluated during in vitro shoot morphogenesis in two hybrid aspens; P. tremuloides × P. tremula (XTTa) and P. x canescens × P. grandidentata (XCaG). Although different callus and shoot induction media were used for both hybrids, the β-lactams often engendered similar responses. At concentrations of 1,000 mg l−1, carbenicillin adversely impacted shoot elongation and, to a lesser degree, shoot regeneration. Cefotaxime enhanced caulogenesis for all of the concentrations evaluated (125–500 mg l−1) especially when the cytokinin thidiazuron was used for shoot induction. The shoots formed faster and in greater numbers; and the improvements were significant (α = 0.05) for both hybrids. However, hyperhydricity was more problematic when cefotaxime was included in the media. The incidence of shoot hyperhydricity for the XCaG hybrid was more than twice as great for the highest cefotaxime concentration evaluated (500 mg l−1) than for the control (>90% vs. ~40%). Penicillin had an opposite effect. Hyperhydricity frequencies for the XCaG hybrid were lower when the media were supplemented with penicllin and the reductions were statistically significant at concentrations of 500–1,000 mg l−1. The effects of the antibiotics were generally not reproduced by the auxins (0.1–100 μM), including phenylacetic acid, or the other potential β-lactam degradation products evaluated (e.g. phenylmalonic acid, aminopenicillanic acid). The antibiotics may have affected shoot hyperhydicity indirectly via changes in the time course of shoot regeneration.
Cluster synthesis. 42. The synthesis and crystal and molecular structures of the sulfur-bridged platinum-ruthenium carbonyl cluster compounds PtRu3(CO)9L(PPh3)(μ3-S)2 (L=CO, PPh3) and PtRu4(CO)12(PPh3)(μ4-S)2

Two new mixed metal cluster complexes PtRu3(CO)10(PPh3)(μ3-S)2,3 14% yield and PtRu3(CO)9(PPh3)2(μ3-S)2,4 23% yield were obtained from the reaction of Ru3(CO)9(μ3-S)2,1 with Pt(PPh3)2(C2H4) at 0°C. The cluster of4 consists of a spiked triangle of four metal atoms with two triply bridging sulfido ligands. The reaction of Ru4(CO)11(μ4-S)2,2 with Pt(PPh3)2(C2H4) yielded the expanded mixed-metal cluster complex PtRu4(CO)12(PPh3)(μ4-S)2,5 in 12% yield. The structure of the cluster5 can be described as a pentagonal bipyramid of five metal atoms and two sulfido ligands with one metal-metal bond missing. Compounds4 and5 were characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Deflection and pull-in instability of nanoscale beams in liquid electrolytes

An elastic beam suspended horizontally over a substrate in liquid electrolyte was subjected to electric, osmotic, and van der Waals forces. The problem, which is governed by four non-dimensional parameters, was solved using the finite element method. The sum of the electric and osmotic forces, the electrochemical force, is usually attractive. However, the electrochemical force can be repulsive for a narrow range of the ion concentration, the initial separation and surface potentials. Furthermore, the beam deflection is not a monotonic function of the applied surface potentials, the bulk ion concentration, or the initial separation between the beam and the substrate. As these parameters are increased monotonically, the beam bends up and then down. The pull-in voltage increases as the bulk ion concentration increases. The pull-in voltage of a double-wall carbon nanotube suspended over a graphite substrate in liquid can be less than or greater than the pull-in voltage in air, depending on the bulk ion concentration. The critical separation between the DWCNT and the substrate increases with the bulk ion concentration. However, for a given bulk ion concentration, the critical separation is independent of the electric potentials. Furthermore, the critical separation is approximately equal in liquid and air.
Ammonia electrode analysis of nitrogen in Microkjeldahl digests of forest vegetation

Abstract Nitrogen content of forest vegetation is analyzed frequently by the microKjeldahl method. After digestion, nitrogen recovery is determined traditionally by distillation and titration‐processes that require considerable time and bench space. The ammonia electrode technique applied to Kjeldahl digests offers a four‐fold saving in analytic time per sample and yields results comparable to those derived by the traditional method. Concentrations of nitrogen can be measured accurately in digests containing as little as 0.18 mg nitrogen, if calibration standards and samples are treated identically.
Eighteen rules for writing a code of professional ethics

Most professional societies, scientific associations, and the like that undertake to write a code of ethics do so using other codes as models but without much (practical) guidance about how to do the work. The existing literature on codes is much more concerned with content than procedure. This paper adds to guidance already in the literature what I learned from participating in the writing of an important code of ethics. The guidance is given in the form of “rules” each of which is explained and (insofar as possible) justified. The emphasis is on procedure.
Effects of weight cycling on the resting energy expenditure and body composition of obese women.

Objective Numerous reports have suggested that cycles of weight loss and regain (i.e., weight cycling) are associated with adverse health consequences, a concern that may lead some obese individuals to forgo weight control efforts. The present study examined whether weight cycling was associated with a reduction in resting energy expenditure (REE) and with increases in both total and upper body fat. Method: REE, body composition, and body fat distribution were measured before and after weight loss, and following full weight regain, in 12 women who before treatment had a mean (±SEM) age of 38.8 ± 3.4 years and weight of 98.0 ± 3.2 kg. Results: At the end of treatment, patients lost 18.9 ± 2.6 kg which was comprised of significant decreases in body fat and fat-free mass of 15.2 ± 2.2 and 3.7 ± 0.8 kg, respectively (both ps < .001). REE also fell during this time from 1,631 ± 82 to 1,501 ± 51 kcal/d (p < .03). All of these measures, however, returned to their baseline values when patients regained their lost weight. Body fat distribution was unchanged throughout the study. Discussion: These results do not support claims that weight cycling adversely affects REE, body composition, or body fat distribution. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of in vivo ozone exposure to dorset sheep, an animal model with low levels of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.

Considerable interest has recently been directed to the possible extrapulmonary effects caused by exposure to ambient ozone. As a result of ozone induced in vivo alteration of red cell function within human subjects, it has been hypothesized that individuals with an erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency would be at increased hemolytic risk to elevated ambient ozone exposure. In order to evaluate such an hypothesis in an experimental setting it would be of great value to have an appropriate animal model with erythrocyte G-6-PD activity similar to the absolute activity range found in the human population. While no such unique animal model is presently known, the literature has revealed that Dorset sheep have an erythrocyte G-6-PD activity comparable in absolute units to a human G-6-PD deficient. Based on this information, we evaluated the mechanisms by which sheep and human G-6-PD deficient red cells handle oxidant stress. We evaluated the effects of in vivo ozone exposure in Dorset sheep over a broad range of concentrations.
Nickel-based Enzyme Systems

Of the eight known nickel enzymes, all but glyoxylase I catalyze the use and/or production of gases central to the global carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles. Nickel appears to have been selected for its plasticity in coordination and redox chemistry and is able to cycle through three redox states (1+, 2+, 3+) and to catalyze reactions spanning ∼1.5 V. This minireview focuses on the catalytic mechanisms of nickel enzymes, with an emphasis on the role(s) of the metal center. The metal centers vary from mononuclear to complex metal clusters and catalyze simple hydrolytic to multistep redox reactions.
Rambling and Scrambling in Bacterial Transformation— a Historical and Personal Memoir

In these retrospective comments I hope to accomplish several objectives. I shall briefly review the early history of bacterial transformation, with an emphasis on breakthroughs and personalities. Then, I shall describe my own role in the development of the field with its curious dependence on the interplay of rational experimentation and serendipity. In this context, I shall discuss the importance of mentoring, cooperation, chance, and revelation. My title refers to my good fortune in having support that enabled me to ramble over various aspects of transformation, although from time to time I was obliged to scramble to obtain grant funding, to produce publications, and to generally compete in the field. To achieve within these few pages the multiple objectives mentioned above, I shall be rambling and scrambling once again.