cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexibility of thoracic spines under simultaneous multi-planar loading

The corrective potential of two posterior-only destabilization procedures for scoliosis deformity was quantified under single and multi-planar loading using cadaveric spines. Ten full-length human cadaveric thoracic spines were mounted in an 8-df servohydraulic load frame. Cyclic, pure moments were applied in: (1) flexion–extension, (2) lateral bending, (3) axial rotation, (4) flexion–extension with axial rotation, and (5) lateral bending with axial rotation at 0.5°/s, to ±4 Nm. Each specimen was tested intact, and again after nine en bloc bilateral total facetectomies, and one, two, three, and four levels of Ponte osteotomies. Motion was measured throughout loading using optical motion tracking. Under single-plane loading, facetectomies and Ponte osteotomies increased thoracic spine flexibility in all three planes. Compared to total facetectomies, higher per-level increases were seen following Ponte osteotomies, with increases in total range of motion (total ROM) of up to 2.7° in flexion–extension, 1.4° in lateral bending, and 3.1° in axial rotation following each osteotomy. Compared to the facetectomies, four supplemental osteotomies increased total ROM by 23 % in flexion (p < 0.01) and 8 % in axial rotation (p < 0.01). Increases in lateral bending were smaller. Under multi-planar loading, each Ponte osteotomy provided simultaneous increases of up to 1.4°, 1.6°, and 2.2° in flexion–extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Ponte osteotomies provided higher per-level increases in ROM under single-plane loading than total facetectomies alone. Further, Ponte osteotomies provided simultaneous increase in all three planes under multi-planar loading. These results indicated that, to predict the correction potential of a surgical release, multi-planar testing may be necessary.
A closed-loop system for control of the fraction of inspired oxygen and the positive end-expiratory pressure in mechanical ventilation

A system for automatic control of the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2), and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for patients on mechanical ventilation is presented. In this system, FIO2 is controlled by using two interacting mechanisms; a fine control mechanism and a fast stepwise procedure used when patient's oxygen saturation level (SpO2) falls abruptly. The PEEP level is controlled automatically and in relation to FIO2 to prevent hypoxemia. The system has been tested by using bench studies and computer simulations. The results show the potential of the system as an aide in effective oxygenation of patients on mechanical ventilation.
Next generation Digital Beamforming Synthetic Aperture Radar (DBSAR-2)

The second generation Digital Beamforming SAR (DBSAR-2) is a state-of-the-art airborne L-band radar being developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The instrument employs a 16-channel radar architecture characterized by multi-mode operation, software defined waveform generation, digital beamforming, and configurable radar parameters. The instrument has been design to support several disciplines in Earth and Planetary sciences. This technology seeks to establish the Next Generation SAR as a science instrument while setting a path future airborne and spaceborne SAR missions.
Infection and Cerebral Palsy

Recent data suggest a possible association of infection and cerebral palsy. The objective of this article is to examine the relationship between intrauterine infection, fetal infection, and long-term neurological dysfunction. In some children maternal infection is associated with brain white matter damage, periventricular leukomalacia, and cerebral palsy.
A forced-choice adaptive procedure for measuring auditory thresholds in children

A modification of the two-down/one-up tracking procedure was used to estimate thresholds of audibility in 46 children (ages 3 to 6 years) and 10 adults. A two-alternative forced-choice version (26 children, 5 adults) of this method was successful in estimating thresholds of audibility in 5-year-olds, but not in 3- and 4-year-olds. A single-interval version of the procedure was successful in estimating thresholds of audibility for all the children. Measures from the children of between- and within-subjects variability, psychometric functions, and response bias all indicate that the procedure enables one to estimate thresholds that are in close agreement with those obtained from adults and with results of other investigators.
Adaptive multipurpose probe fixation device for use on newborns

Detailed information on the construction and assembly of a noncommercial hood-like multipurpose probe fixation device is given. A vacuum technique is used to individually mold the device to the skull of newborn infants and to attach sensors firmly with minimum pressure. By design, in the range of 22 to 38 cm head circumference for transfontanellar Doppler monitoring, no more than four different sizes of the hood are required to match individual positions of the anterior fontanelle. A ball-and-socket joint facility is integrated. The flexibility of the design allows for an easy adaptation of the device to different probe requirements. This provides the opportunity to investigate cerebral circulation by using various methods simultaneously.
Ethics and behavior on the Russian commodity exchange

With tumultuous changes occurring in the former Soviet Union, a unique opportunity exists to examine the implications of unethical behavior in what is,de facto, a totally unregulated market. Recent legalization of commodity trading in Moscow carried with it no legal structure to ensure swift compliance with contract terms. This paper demonstrates that in the absence of legal remedies, a free marketplace appropriately punishes unethical conduct.
A new era begins in meeting the needs of education, research, and dental health.

The new directions of the American Fund for Dental Health, formerly the American Fund for Dental Education, include national and local fund-raising programs to increase support in all areas. The history of the Fund, which has provided more than $15 million for education, dental health, and research projects, is reviewed.
Endo entry to the nortricyclyl-norbornenyl cation system: Stereochemistry in the fragmentation of endo-5-norbornenyl-2-oxychlorocarbene

Fragmentation of (S)-endo-5-norbornenyl-2-oxychlorocarbene [(S)-8] in cyclohexane-d12 gives approximately 20% (S)-endo-2-chloro-5-norbornene [(S)-7] with approximately 50% ee, 65-70% (R)-exo-2-chloro-5-norbornene [(R)-4] with >95% ee, and approximately 12% (R)-3-nortricyclyl chloride [(R)-5] with approximately 22% ee. (Analogous stereochemical results were also obtained starting with the enantiomeric carbene (R)-8.) The (S)-8 to (S)-7 and (S)-8 to (R)-4 conversions are ascribed mainly to retention and inversion S(N)i transition states, respectively. These have been located by computational methods and are nearly isoenergetic. In more polar solvents (CDCl3 and CD3CN), the fragmentation of (S)-8 increasingly occurs via competitive ion pair pathways in which steroselectivity is diminished, and escape to the norbornenyl-nortricyclyl cation directs the products away from endo-2-chloro-5-norbornene toward exo-chloride 4 and nortricyclyl chloride 5.
Ambient analysis of saturated hydrocarbons using discharge-induced oxidation in desorption electrospray ionization.

Saturated nonfunctionalized hydrocarbons can be oxidized in situ by initiating an electrical discharge during desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) to generate the corresponding alchohols and ketones. This form of reactive DESI experiment can be utilized as an in situ derivatization method for rapid and direct analysis of alkanes at atmospheric pressure without sample preparation. Betaine aldehyde was incorporated into the DESI spray solution to improve the sensitivity of detecting the long-chain alcohol oxidation products. The limit of detection for alkanes (C15H32 to C30H62) from pure samples is ∼20 ng. Multiple oxidations and dehydrogenations occurred during the DESI discharge, but no hydrocarbon fragmentation was observed, even for highly branched squalane. Using exact mass measurements, the technique was successfully implemented for analysis of petroleum distillates containing saturated hydrocarbons.
Effects of laparoscopy on surgical discharge practice patterns.

OBJECTIVES The length of stay (LOS) after surgical procedures often varies regionally and reflects local idiosyncratic practice patterns. We sought to elicit the influence of local pressures (in the form of the technologic imperative exerted by laparoscopy) on discharge physician practice style as measured by LOS. METHODS Patients undergoing prostatectomy, nephrectomy, and hysterectomy in 2003 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Within each procedure, the laparoscopy volume was measured and sorted into tertiles. Patients remaining in the hospital longer than the 90th percentile after each surgery were excluded to minimize the influence of imperative indications on LOS. For each procedure, generalized linear models were used to measure the relationship between the hospital laparoscopy volume and log-transformed LOS outcomes among patients undergoing conventional surgery. RESULTS In 2003, 2%, 19%, and 16% of patients underwent laparoscopic prostatectomy, nephrectomy, and hysterectomy, respectively. A hospital's laparoscopy and conventional volumes were moderately to highly correlated for hysterectomy (r = 0.65) and nephrectomy (r = 0.58) and less so for prostatectomy (r = 0.24). Among patients undergoing conventional prostatectomy and nephrectomy, those treated at high-volume laparoscopy hospitals had 0.41 and 0.30 fewer hospital days, respectively, compared with those treated at hospitals at which only conventional surgery was performed (both P <0.05). This effect was partially explained by a hospital's open procedure volume (both P = 0.07). Similar relationships were not evident for hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS These data highlight that patients treated by conventional methods at high-volume laparoscopy centers have shorter hospital stays and suggest that physician practices might susceptible to external influences such as the technologic imperative.
Thermodynamic Consistency of the Anelastic Approximation for a Moist Atmosphere

Abstract The primary goal of this paper is to validate the use of the anelastic approximation for fluids with a complex equation of state such as moist air or seawater. The anelastic approximation is based on a leading-order expansion of the equations of motion for a compressible fluid in terms of density. Its application to atmospheric flows has been based on a dry framework that treats phase transitions as an external energy source. However, cloudy air is more accurately described as a two-phase fluid in which condensed water and water vapor are in thermodynamic equilibrium. Thermodynamic equilibrium reduces to three the number of state variables necessary to describe the thermodynamic state of moist air, and leads to a discontinuity in the partial derivatives of the equation of state at the saturation point. A version of the anelastic approximation for a moist atmosphere is derived here by considering the atmospheric density as a small perturbation from a moist-adiabatic reference profile, and using mo...
Chemical applications of metastable argon atoms II. A clean system for the formation of N2(A3σ+u)

Abstract A flow system has been developed for the production of N 2 (A 3 Σ u + ) molecules in the absence of other active species. They are detected by means of their emission spectra and energy transfer reactions with NO and Hg. The reactions of N 2 (A) with CO and HN 3 were investigated.
Experimental verification of an analytical bound H ∞ norm collocated control approach

The objective of this paper is to provide an experimental verification of a new H-infinity control scheme on a flexible beam which uses a collocated PZT actuator/sensor pair. We use an analytical bound approach that provides an explicit expression of an upper bound on the H-infinity norm of the closed-loop system and an explicit parametrization of the corresponding output feedback control gains. The method has great computational advantages for large scale structural systems where the solution of H-infinity optimization problems using standard tools could be computationally prohibitive. Both experimental and numerical results are presented that provide a comparison of the performance and the computational requirements on the controller design using the standard H-infinity formulation and the proposed analytical bound approach.
Outcomes and patterns of failure for grade 2 meningioma treated with reduced-margin intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate intracranial control and patterns of local recurrence (LR) for grade 2 meningiomas treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with limited total margin expansions of ≤1 cm. Methods and Materials We reviewed records of patients with a neuropathological diagnosis of grade 2 meningioma who underwent IMRT at our institution between 2002 and 2012. Actuarial rates were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method from the end of RT. LR was defined as in-field if ≥90% of the recurrence was within the prescription isodose, out-of-field (marginal) if ≥90% was outside of the prescription isodose, and both if neither criterion was met. Results Between 2002 and 2012, a total of 54 consecutive patients underwent IMRT for grade 2 meningioma. Eight of these patients had total initial margins >1 cm and were excluded, leaving 46 patients for analysis. The median imaging follow-up period was 26.2 months (range, 7-107 months). The median dose for fractionated IMRT was 59.4 Gy (range, 49.2-61.2 Gy). Median clinical target volume (CTV), planning target volume (PTV), and total margin expansion were 0.5 cm, 0.3 cm, and 0.8 cm, respectively. LR occurred in 8 patients (17%), with 2-year and 3-year actuarial local control (LC) of 92% and 74%, respectively. Six of 8 patients (85%) had a known pattern of failure. Five patients (83%) had in-field LR; no patients had marginal LR; and 1 patient (17%) had both. Conclusions The use of IMRT to treat grade 2 meningiomas with total initial margins (CTV + PTV) ≤1 cm did not appear to compromise outcomes or increase marginal failures compared with other modern retrospective series. Of the 46 patients who had margins ≤1 cm, none experienced marginal failure only. These results demonstrate efficacy and low risk of marginal failure after IMRT treatment of grade 2 meningiomas with reduced margins, warranting study within a prospective clinical trial.
A post-harvest economic model to evaluate grain chilling as an IPM technology

Abstract A spreadsheet model was developed to evaluate the economic costs of new post-harvest integrated pest management technologies, such as grain chilling, against traditional pest control methods, such as phosphine fumigation. The model considers 34 factors including electrical power consumption, capital investment cost, chemical costs, and less quantifiable factors such as worker safety, environmental issues, and changes in end-product value. When applied to the storage of popcorn, a high value speciality crop, and wheat, the annual operating costs of chilled aeration compared to phosphine fumigation with ambient aeration were up to 128 and 300% lower, respectively. The effect of high capital investment with low variable costs, as with chilled aeration, was compared to the low capital investment and high variable costs of phosphine fumigation using a multi-year Net Present Cost (NPC) model. For the case studies evaluated, the NPC of chilled aeration ranged from −122 to 197% of that for in-house fumigation with ambient aeration. Chilling of popcorn became economically feasible if a premium of less than one cent per retail bag could be obtained for popcorn labeled post-harvest pesticide-free. Chiller unit prices of US$ 80,000–90,000 were found to be a reasonable capital expenditure for this alternative integrated pest management technology.
Applications of Fiber-Optic Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy

The evanescent wave (EW) component of light propagated via fiber-optic waveguides can be used to both sense and transmit information regarding the immediate environment of the fiber's surface. In this article, an outline of the theoretical and practical aspects of this emerging methodology is given, as well as a discussion of the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the technique. Examples are given of how EW spectroscopy may be used in the analysis of pharmaceutical systems. Evaluation of attributes of components of EW spectroscopy allows prediction of the future for this rapidly evolving area of photonics.
Use of wetlands for water quality improvement under the USEPA region V clean lakes program

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region V Clean Lakes Program employs artificial and modified natural wetlands in an effort to improve the water quality of selected lakes. We examined use of wetlands at seven lake sites and evaluated the physical and institutional means by which wetland projects are implemented and managed, relative to USEPA program goals and expert recommendations on the use of wetlands for water quality improvement. Management practices recommended by wetlands experts addressed water level and retention, sheet flow, nutrient removal, chemical treatment, ecological and effectiveness monitoring, and resource enhancement. Institutional characteristics recommended included local monitoring, regulation, and enforcement and shared responsibilities among jurisdictions. Institutional and ecological objectives of the National Clean Lakes Program were met to some degree at every site. Social objectives were achieved to a lesser extent. Wetland protection mechanisms and appropriate institutional decentralization were present at all sites. Optimal management techniques were employed to varying degrees at each site, but most projects lack adequate monitoring to determine adverse ecological impacts and effectiveness of pollutant removal and do not extensively address needs for recreation and wildlife habitat. There is evidence that the wetland projects are contributing to improved lake water quality; however, more emphasis needs to be placed on wetland protection and long-term project evaluation.
Proper efficiency conditions and duality models for constrained multiobjective variational problems containing arbitrary norms

Abstract Necessary and sufficient proper efficiency conditions and eight duality models are presented far two classes of constrained multiobjective variational problems containing arbitrary norms and square roots of positive semidefinite quadratic forms.
Linear-response theory in nucleon-nucleus scattering

Abstract It is shown that the transition amplitude for scattering of nucleons on a hole nucleus can be directly expressed by the linear response function. The correlations in the ground state have been included. The structure of the transition amplitude was studied for an extended schematic model. Furthermore, a short summary of the linear-response theory is given to clarify the assumptions about the effective interaction.
Comparison of Methods for Accurate Characterization of Interface Traps in GaN MOS-HFET Devices

Reliability of dielectrics is a critical concern in GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor-heterojunction-field-effect transistor (MOS-HFET) devices for use in high-voltage power and RF applications. Accurate characterization of interface traps is essential toward developing an understanding of the reliability issues associated with this system and to evaluate the effectiveness of different dielectrics proposed for use in the gate-stack or the passivation of the access regions. Using small-signal equivalent circuit models and TCAD simulations, it is found that conductance and capacitance methods for trap density estimation potentially have severely constrained detection limits and can probe only shallow traps. In contrast, a pulsed-IV method, used along with UV irradiation, can accurately detect a wide range of trap densities over the entire wide bandgap. The effectiveness of this method is also experimentally demonstrated using an AlGaN/GaN MOS-HFET device with HfAlO gate dielectric.
Greedy Signature Processing with Arbitrary Location Distributions: A Divisible Load Framework

The optimal partition of a huge, linear (flat) file among processing nodes in a network to minimize the time to search for signatures of interest in the file is considered. First, an expression is developed for the expected time of finding the kth signature (including the last signature) of K signatures for a uniform distribution of signatures in the file. Secondly, for a single signature we propose processing data in the file in order from that with the most probability mass (i.e., data with the most a priori likelihood of containing the signature) to that with the least probability mass in a "greedy" manner to speed processing time. Applications of this work include radar, sensors, image processing, and search.
Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer — The Debate Continues

Surgical therapy currently offers the only potential cure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Surgical morbidity and mortality have decreased dramatically in recent years; the perioperative mortality as...
Critical adjustment of cysteine and glutamine concentrations for improved clonal growth of WI-38 cells.

Clonal growth of WI-38 cells with a plating efficiency of 45% has been achieved in a synthetic nutrient mixture (MCDB 102) supplemented with either whole or dialyzed fetal bovine serum. For optimum growth, the concentration of cysteine in the medium must be adjusted precisely. Deviation by a factor of three in either direction from the optimum concentration (9.0×10−5M) eliminates essentially all clonal growth. A high concentration of glutamine (2.5×10−3M) is also needed for, optimum clonal growth.
Visualization of mappings between schemas

In this paper we describe a novel approach to the visualization of the mapping between two schemas. Current approaches to visually defining such a mapping fail when the schemas or maps become large. The new approach uses various information visualization techniques to simplify the view, making it possible for users to effectively deal with much larger schemas and maps. A user study verifies that the new approach is useful, usable, and effective. The primary contribution is a demonstration of novel ways to effectively present highly complex information.
The Norse Atlantic Saga: Being the Norse Voyages of Discovery and Settlement to Iceland, Greenland, and North America

The voyages of the Norsemen, or Vikings, across the North Atlantic to Iceland c. 860-70, Greenland c. 986, and the east coast of North America was a turning point in world history and one of the greatest adventures of all time. In Norse Atlantic Saga, Gwyn Jones re-tells the dramatic story of the Viking voyages in vivid, striking prose and includes translations of six classic Viking epics: "The Book os the Icelanders," "The Book of the Settlements," "The Greenlander's Saga," "Eirik the Red's Saga," "Karlsefni's Voyage to Vinland," and "The Story of Einar Sokkason." Published to great acclaim in 1964, The Norse Atlantic Saga is now available in an expanded edition, which takes into account the tremendous gains that have been made in Viking scholarship in the past 22 years: the discrediting of the Vinland Map, greatly extended knowledge of the Vikings' life in Greenland and proof that Norsemen did indeed land and establish a settlement in L'Anse aux Meadows in the New World. For this expanded edition, Jones has largely rewritten his account of the Viking voyages, and added numerous new maps, plates, and illustrations, as well as appendices in which Robert McGhee, Thomas H. McGovern and Brigitta Linderoth Wallace, three prominent archaeologists, discuss their recent findings. The incorporation of this latest research into Gwyn Jones's narrative account of the Viking story guarantees its continued importance to Viking scholars as well as to readers interested in tales of bravery and heroic adventure.
Systems for cooperative work and group decision-making: status of use and problems in development

The application of computer and information technology to cooperative work and group decision-making has grown out of three traditions: computer-based communications, computer-based information service provision, and computer-based decision support. The authors provide an overview of the various kinds of systems that have been configured to meet the needs of groups at work, evaluates the status of these systems in the US, evaluates the experience with them, assesses barriers to their further development and use, and draws conclusions about what future work in this area should be undertaken. >
Superradiance from a cylindrically shaped cloud of N two-level atoms

Using the eigenmodes of the scalar-photon kernel of interacting N two-level atoms in a cylindrical configuration, I obtain the time dependence of the superradiant emission for this geometry in two cases of interest. In particular, I consider first the case when one or two eigenmodes dominate the system's dynamics for an inverted system which has been initially prepared in an isotropic state and show that for certain values of the radius of the cylinder (r=m{lambda},m integer) one obtains temporal modulation in the state function. In the second case of interest, I show that the angular distribution of the state function of a system initially prepared in a phased state appears to be chaotic; however, I show that this behavior is due to the high multiplicity of modes having close values for their amplification coefficients.
Psychiatrists on the side of the angels: the Falun Gong and Soviet Jewry.

when the first reports of psychiatric abuse of Falun Gong practitioners began to reach the West, activists have turned to organized psychiatry to rally to their cause. To my knowledge, complaints have in fact been lodged with the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the World Psychiatric Association, and no doubt others. Criticisms of China’s psychiatrists include the accusation that they are behaving like the Soviet psychiatrists who were condemned by their Western colleagues back in the 1970s. Robin Munro is a leading figure in this effort. He has published a long paper entitled “Judicial Psychiatry in China and its Political Abuses.” 2 Munro worked in Hong Kong for Human Rights Watch and since then has spent a great deal of time researching texts and documents dealing with what he confusingly describes as “forensic psychiatry” in China in the second half of the 20th century. This research on published material is the principal source of his evidence. One can sense his deep commitments to human rights on every page of his 120-page paper. Obviously, he is a man “on the side of the angels.” I shall discuss Munro’s paper in light of both my experience as a board member and president of the APA and my independent academic efforts. (This includes dealing with allegations against the Soviet Union, meetings with leading Soviet psychiatrists, examining a famous Soviet dissident, leading the APA’s investigation of alleged abuses in South Africa,
Rollback and Recovery Strategies for Computer Programs

Reliability is an important aspect of any system. On-line diagnosis, parity check coding, triple modular redundancy, and other methods have been used to improve the reliability of computing systems. In this paper another aspect of reliable computing systems is explored. The problem is that of recovering error-free information when an error is detected at some stage in the processing of a program. If an error or fault is detected while a program is being processed and if it cannot be corrected immediately, it may be necessary to run the entire program again. The time spent in rerunning the program may be substantial and in some real time applications critical. Recovery time can be reduced by saving states of the program (all the information stored in registers, primary and secondary storage, etc.) at intervals, as the processing continues. If an error is detected the program is restarted from its most recently saved state. However, a price is paid in saving a state in the form of time spent storing all the relevant information in secondary storage. Hence it is expensive to save the state of the program too often. Not saving any state of the program may cause an unacceptably large recovery time. The problem that we solve is the following. Determine the optimum points at which the state of the program should be stored to recover after any malfunction.
Benthic Diatoms and Heavy Metals in East Foundry Cove and Constitution Marsh, NY, Post Superfund Restoration

Abstract East Foundry Cove and Constitution Marsh are located on the east side of the Hudson River, 85 km upriver from lower Manhattan. Between 1965 and 1971, Marathon Battery Company discharged an estimated 51,004 kg of particulate cadmium, and 1569 kg of soluble cadmium were discharged directly into East Foundry Cove, which became a Superfund site in 1994. Dredging and restoration of East Foundry Cove were completed in 1996. Cadmium concentrations were reduced from greater than 900 mg/kg to less than 3 mg/kg in East Foundry Cove. Constitution Marsh and South Cove were not included in Superfund restoration. For this study, 738 surface sediment samples were collected from 15 sampling sites on 8 occasions from 18 September 1997 to 30 October 1998. Diatoms were identified and enumerated for each collected sample. These data were analyzed using Bray-Curtis similarity, MDS ordination, analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), and similarity of percentages (SIMPER). Cadmium concentrations (mg/kg) were also determined f...
An Innovative Approach to Methadone Detoxification

An atmosphere can be created in which the user's anxiety during methadone or heroin detoxification is reduced via the facilitation of adaptive, druglike experiences provided through behavioral and psychological means. The switch to a nondrug life-style is promoted by the continued satisfaction of underlying needs which, through appropriate dosage, can lead to a higher probability of self-reliance and abstinence. The addictive dependency on the nondrug, need-gratifying therapy is resolved through clinically monitored and graded frustrations.
Modeling and design study of nanocrystal memory devices

Semiconductor memory for the future demand high density/low cost and low power consumption cell design. Compared with DRAM, flash memory with floating gate structure consume less power and they can also achieve much high array density. However, the tunnel oxide must be less than 25 A in order to achieve 100 ns write/erase time for a reasonable programming voltage (<10 V). Unfortunately, the retention time of a floating-gate device with 20 A tunnel oxide is less than 1 ms. To achieve a better retention/programming time ratio, a semiconductor memory with nanocrystal embedded in the gate dielectric was proposed. Although a nanocrystal memory device has been experimentally investigated, no theory is available to guide its design or to predict its performance limits, especially the nanocrystal size scaling limit. In this paper, the write/erase and retention time of semiconductor nanocrystal memory devices at room temperature are modeled using single-charge tunneling theory with quantum confinement and Coulomb blockade effects. The impact of nanocrystal size and tunnel-oxide thickness are studied, and the suitability of nanocrystal memory devices for nonvolatile memory and DRAM applications is discussed.
Clinical Decision Support for Perioperative Information Management Systems

Clinical decision support (CDS) systems are being used to optimize the increasingly complex care that our health care system delivers. These systems have become increasingly important in the delivery of perioperative care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular procedures. The adoption of perioperative information management systems (PIMS) has allowed these technologies to enter the operating room and support the clinical work flow of anesthesiologists and operational processes. Constructing effective CDS systems necessitates an understanding of operative work flow and technical considerations as well as achieving integration with existing information systems. In this review, we describe published examples of CDS for PIMS, including support for cardiopulmonary bypass separation physiological alarms, β-blocker guideline adherence, enhanced revenue capture for arterial line placement, and detection of hemodynamic monitoring gaps. Although these and other areas are amenable to CDS systems, the challenges of latency and data reliability represent fundamental limitations on the potential application of these tools to specific types of clinical issues. Ultimately, we expect that CDS will remain an important tool in our efforts to optimize the quality of care delivered.
On the mechanism of formation of N-acetyldopamine quinone methide in insect cuticle

The mechanism of formation of quinone methide from the sclerotizing precursor N-acetyldopamine (NADA) was studied using three different cuticular enzyme systems viz. Sarcophaga bullata larval cuticle, Manduca sexta pharate pupae, and Periplaneta americana presclerotized adult cuticle. All three cuticular samples readily oxidized NADA. During the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation, the majority of NADA oxidized became bound covalently to the cuticle through the side chain with the retention of o-diphenolic function, while a minor amount was recovered as N-acetylnorepinephrine (NANE). Cuticle treated with NADA readily released 2-hydroxy-3′,4′-dihydroxyacetophenone on mild acid hydrolysis confirming the operation of quinone methide sclerotization. Attempts to demonstrate the direct formation of NADA-quinone methide by trapping experiments with N-acetylcysteine surprisingly yielded NADA-quinone-N-acetylcysteine adduct rather than the expected NADA-quinone methide-N-acetylcysteine adduct. These results are indicative of NADA oxidation to NADA-quinone and its subsequent isomerization to NADA-quinone methide. Accordingly, all three cuticular samples exhibited the presence of an isomerase, which catalyzed the conversion of NADA-quinone to NADA-quinone methide as evidenced by the formation of NANE—the water adduct of quinone methide. Thus, in association with phenoloxidase, newly discovered quinone methide isomerase seems to generate quinone methides and provide them for quinone methide sclerotization.
Using railguns to break barriers between engineering disciplines at the United States Military Academy

Engineering students tend to view their chosen discipline as isolated from other engineering disciplines while many real world problems are interdisciplinary. This paper describes how a small scale railgun is being used to change this student perception in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the United States Military Academy. The railgun is a simple, but elegant, device ideal for a student design project. The student must combine electrical and mechanical engineering science into a single design and analysis project; in the process, the student learns that electrical and mechanical engineering are closely related-and in fact inseparable. The railgun system provides several attractive features as a teaching vehicle. The essential concepts are taught in introductory physics. The student must develop a mathematical system model (three first order, variable coefficient differential equations) and computer simulation to predict system behavior. The wise student makes first order engineering estimates to bound component values before trying to simulate the system. Using the simulation, the student selects an appropriate system design. The circuit is easily and inexpensively built and tested. Finally, a properly designed railgun dramatically grabs the observer's attention when fired.
A damping ring design for future linear colliders

The authors present a preliminary design of a damping ring for the TeV Linear Collider (TLC), a future linear collider with an energy of 1/2 to 1 TeV in the center of mass. Because of limits of the emittance, repetition rate, and longitudinal impedance, use is made of combined function FODO cells with wigglers in insertion regions; there are approximately 22 m of wigglers in the 155-m ring. The ring has a normalized horizontal emittance, including the effect on intrabeam scattering, which is less than 3*10/sup -6/, and an emittance ratio of epsilon /sub x/ approximately=100 epsilon /sub y/. It is designed to damp bunches for seven vertical damping times while operating at a repetition rate of 360 Hz. Because of these requirements on the emittance and the damping per bunch, the ring operates at 1.8 GeV and is relatively large, allowing more bunches to be damped at once. >
Association between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Aortic Arch Plaques

Background Large aortic arch plaques are associated with ischemic stroke. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The association between CIMT and aortic arch plaques has been studied in patients with strokes, but not in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate this association in an elderly asymptomatic cohort and to assess the possibility of using CIMT to predict the presence or absence of large aortic arch plaques. Methods Stroke-free control subjects from the Aortic Plaque and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (APRIS) study underwent transesophageal echocardiography and high-resolution B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries. CIMT was measured at the common carotid artery, bifurcation, and internal carotid artery. The association between CIMT and aortic arch plaques was analyzed using multivariate regression models. The positive and negative predictive values of CIMT for large (≥4 mm) aortic arch plaques were calculated. Results Among 138 subjects, large aortic arch plaques were present in 35 (25.4%). Only CIMT at the bifurcation was associated with large aortic arch plaques after adjustment for atherosclerotic risk factors ( P = .007). The positive and negative predictive values of CIMT for aortic arch plaque ≥ 4 mm at the bifurcation above the 75th percentile (≥0.95 mm) were 42% and 80%, respectively. The negative predictive value increased to 87% when the median CIMT value (0.82 mm) was used. Conclusions CIMT at the bifurcation is independently associated with aortic arch plaque ≥ 4 mm. Its strong negative predictive value for large plaques indicates that CIMT may be used as an initial screening test to exclude severe arch atherosclerosis in the general population.
Three‐dimensional structure and ligand interactions of the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase from Campylobacter jejuni

A putative low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) was identified in the genome sequence of the bacterial pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni. This novel gene, cj1258, has sequence homology with a distinctive class of phosphatases widely distributed among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We report here the solution structure of Cj1258 established by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy using NOE-derived distance restraints, hydrogen bond data, and torsion angle restraints. The three-dimensional structure consists of a central four-stranded parallel β-sheet flanked by five α-helices, revealing an overall structural topology similar to those of the eukaryotic LMW-PTPs, such as human HCPTP-A, bovine BPTP, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae LTP1, and to those of the bacterial LMW-PTPs MPtpA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and YwlE from Bacillus subtilis. The active site of the enzyme is flexible in solution and readily adapts to the binding of ligands, such as the phosphate ion. An NMR-based screen was carried out against a number of potential inhibitors and activators, including phosphonomethylphenylalanine, derivatives of the cinnamic acid, 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, adenine, and hypoxanthine. Despite its bacterial origin, both the three-dimensional structure and ligand-binding properties of Cj1258 suggest that this novel phosphatase may have functional roles close to those of eukaryotic and mammalian tyrosine phosphatases. The three-dimensional structure along with mapping of small-molecule binding will be discussed in the context of developing high-affinity inhibitors of this novel LMW-PTP.
Best Estimates of Functions of the Parameters of the Gaussian and Gamma Distributions

General formulae for minimum variance unbiased estimators of a broad class of functions of the parameters of the Gaussian and gamma distributions are given. The formulae are easy to employ and are applied here to several examples familiar to the reliability engineer.
Genomics: Acorn worms in a nutshell

The genome sequences of two members of the hemichordate group of marine invertebrates bring the evolution of their relatives, including vertebrates, into sharper focus. See Article p.459 Acorn worms or enteropneusts are flaccid sightless sea creatures found burrowing in soft mud and sand. Their genomes hold the key to the evolution of the deuterostomes, an extensive group that encompasses echinoderms (starfishes and their relatives), as well as chordates (including ourselves). Oleg Simakov et al. present genome sequences of two enteropneusts — one a direct-developer, the other with a planktonic larva. Comparison with other animal genomes reveals extensive regions of synteny with the amphioxus (a primitive chordate) and other bilaterians. The authors identify a cassette of genes specifically associated with the development of pharyngeal slits, which are serial perforations of the body wall found at least primitively in all deuterostomes and increasingly thought to be a defining feature of the group as a whole.
The number of inpatient consultations is negatively correlated with patient satisfaction in patients with prolonged hospital stays

Abstract Background Patient satisfaction is often measured using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Our aim was to examine the structural and clinical determinants of satisfaction among inpatients with prolonged lengths of stays (LOS). Methods Adult patients who were admitted between 2009 and 2012, had a LOS of 21 days or more, and completed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, were included. Univariate analyses assessed the relationship between satisfaction and patient/system variables. Recursive partitioning was used to examine the relative importance of the identified variables. Results One hundred one patients met inclusion criteria. The average LOS was 35 days and 58% were admitted to a surgical service. Satisfaction with physician communication was significantly associated with fewer consultations ( P P P P P = .03). Among these, having fewer consultations had the highest relative importance. Conclusions In long stay patients, having fewer inpatient consultations was the strongest predictor of patient satisfaction with physician communication. This suggests that examination of patient-level data in clinically relevant subgroups may be a useful way to identify targets for quality improvement.
Palazzolo v. Rhode Island: The Supreme Court's Expansion of Subsequent Owners' Rights under the Takings Clause

As part of the Thirteenth Annual Supreme Court Review Symposium, Judge Lazer discusses the holding in Palazzolo v. Rhode lsland and it’s impact on New York State court precedents. Judge Lazer believes that Palazzolo is an important case that significantly impacts New York and its existing standards for challenging a taking of property by governmental regulation.
Reply to the Letter “Textbooks and Kinetic Metastability”

This letter discusses the nomenclature issues raised by John Moore’s recent letter on textbook coverage of the subject of kinetic metastability.
On-resonance variable delay multipulse scheme for imaging of fast-exchanging protons and semisolid macromolecules.

PURPOSE To develop an on-resonance variable delay multipulse (VDMP) scheme to image magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) and the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) contrast of total fast-exchanging protons (TFP) with exchange rate above approximately 1 kHz. METHODS A train of high power binomial pulses was applied at the water resonance. The interpulse delay, called mixing time, was varied to observe its effect on the water signal reduction, allowing separation and quantification of MTC and CEST contributions as a result of their different proton transfer rates. The fast-exchanging protons in CEST and MTC are labeled together with the short T2 components in MTC and separated out using a variable mixing time. RESULTS Phantom studies of selected metabolite solutions (glucose, glutamate, creatine, myo-inositol), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and hair conditioner show the capability of on-resonance VDMP to separate out exchangeable protons with exchange rates above 1 kHz. Quantitative MTC and TFP maps were acquired on healthy mouse brains using this method, showing strong gray/white matter contrast for the slowly transferring MTC protons, whereas the TFP map was more uniform across the brain but somewhat higher in gray matter. CONCLUSIONS The new method provides a simple way of imaging fast-exchanging protons and MTC components with a slow transfer rate. Magn Reson Med 77:730-739, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Sowing the "Semillas" of Critical Multicultural Citizenship for Latina/o Undocumented Youth: Spaces in School and out of School.

The purpose of this study is to address how spaces in school and out of school support or constrain undocumented Latina/o youths’ development as critical multicultural citizens. We draw on data from a multi-phase, qualitative study to present findings indicating that the youths persevered through academic and civic engagement. Ultimately, the students drew from their liminal status—the space between legal and “illegal”—to become stewards of a cause. The analysis is limited to a subset of data on undocumented participants from a larger study of the pathways to mobility among Latina/o youth.
Laser beam combining: Theory and methods

This tutorial explores the fundamental underpinnings of laser beam combining theory, as well as several incoherent and coherent beam combining methods. A modal approach is used to explain complex resonator behavior.
Abstract 12455: Evaluation of N-Terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide as a Therapeutic Response Biomarker in Group I Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Purpose: Goal directed management of left heart failure with an NT-proBNP target-based approach has some evidence of providing a survival benefit. To evaluate the potential utility of serial NT-pro...