Lateral ion implant straggle and mask proximity effect

Lateral scattering of retrograde well implants is shown to have an effect on the threshold voltage of nearby devices. The threshold voltage of both NMOSFETs and PMOSFETs increases in magnitude for conventional retrograde wells, but for triple-well isolated NMOSFETs the threshold voltage decreases for narrow devices near the edge of the well. Electrical data, SIMS, and SUPREM4 simulations are shown that elucidate the phenomenon.     

Modeling alternative zoning strategies in forest management

To satisfy public demands for environmental values, forest companies are facing the prospect of a reduction in wood supply and increases in costs. Some Canadian provincial governments have proposed intensifying silviculture in special zones dedicated to timber production as the means for pushing out the forest possibility frontiers. In this paper, we compare the traditional two‐zone land allocation framework which includes ecological reserves and integrated forest management zones with the triad — a three‐zone scheme which adds a zone dedicated to intensive timber production. We compare the solutions of the mixed‐integer linear programs formulated under both land‐allocation frameworks. We explore through sensitivity analysis the conditions under which the triad regime can offset the impact on timber production from increased environmental demands. We show that under the realistic conditions characteristic to Coastal British Columbia, higher environmental demands may be satisfied under the triad regime without increasing the financial burdens on the industry or reducing its wood supply. This occurs, however, only if regulatory constraints in timber production zone are flexible.     

The role of urodynamics in the evaluation of voiding dysfunction in men after cerebrovascular accident

PURPOSE: The etiology of voiding dysfunction was determined in men after a cerebrovascular accident who were at risk for obstructive uropathy to evaluate whether the cause of voiding dysfunction could be predicted by the type (obstructive or irritative) or onset of symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 38 men with complaints of voiding dysfunction following a cerebrovascular accident. All patients were of the age when bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia would otherwise be prevalent. After a comprehensive history and physical examination, all patients underwent multichannel urodynamic studies at a medium fill rate (20 to 50 ml. per minute). Findings were classified by the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram as obstruction, no obstruction or equivocal. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 70 years (range 54 to 87). Patients were grouped according to the presenting voiding complaints (purely irritative in 42%, purely obstructive in 34% or mixed in 24%). In 34 patients (89%) the onset of symptoms paralleled the occurrence of the cerebrovascular accident. Detrusor hyperreflexia was noted in 82% of the patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of detrusor hyperreflexia among the 3 symptom groups (Fisher's exact test). Pressure-flow analysis clearly showed obstruction in 24 patients (63%), no obstruction in 9 (24%) and equivocal results in 5 (13%) according to the nomogram. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of obstruction among the 3 symptom groups (Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Presenting symptoms did not predict the urodynamic findings of bladder outlet obstruction or detrusor hyperreflexia. The significant incidence of onset of symptoms after stroke suggests that the cerebrovascular accident induced voiding dysfunction in the face of preexisting bladder outlet obstruction may exacerbate the symptoms of the latter condition or vice versa.     

Functional palatoraphy and modified genioplasty in obstructive sleep apnea

10 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have been treated with the new surgical procedure functional palatoraphy and modified genioplasty. 5 months after surgery 7 patients with an apnea hypopnea index under 10 were cured. Three therapy refractory patients were all overweight with a body mass index of more than 29 kg/m2. Excessively overweight patients should therefore not be operated. Following the selection criteria we introduced an effective new treatment method for OSAS.     

A generalized technique for evaluating reflection coefficients for ground-plane systems

General formulae are derived for the reflection of insolation from finite plane surfaces unto tilted sensors. These results are reduced to various special cases which are compared to known results when possible. Both circular and rectangular geometries are considered.     

Pyridoxine for severe metabolic acidosis and seizures due to isoniazid overdose

A 15-year-old girl took 3 g of isoniazid (15 tablets) in a suicide attempt and was brought unconscious to the emergency room. She was in respiratory failure, with seizures that could not be stopped with diazepam. Severe metabolic acidosis with normal serum lactate developed (pH 6.85), but did not improve after infusion of bicarbonate. Intravenous administration of pyridoxine led to prompt cessation of the seizures and to gradual improvement of acid-base status. She recovered consciousness after several hours and was discharged a week later.     

A hierarchical distributed control model for coordinating intelligent systems

This paper describes a hierarchical distributed control (HDC) model for coordinating cooperative problem-solving among intelligent systems. The model was implemented using SOCIAL^TM, an innovative object-oriented tool for integrating heterogeneous, distributed software systems. SOCIAL embeds applications in “wrapper” objects called Agents, which supply predefined capabilities for distributed communication, control, data specification and translation. The HDC model is realized in SOCIAL as a “Manager” Agent that coordinates interactions among application Agents. The HDC-Manager indexes the capabilities of application Agents; routes request messages to suitable server Agents; and stores results in a commonly accessible “bulletin board.” This centralized control model is illustrated in a fault-diagnosis application for launch operations support of the Space Shuttle fleet at the NASA Kennedy Space Center.     

Optimal implementations of UPGMA and other common clustering algorithms

In this work we consider hierarchical clustering algorithms, such as UPGMA, which follow the closest-pair joining scheme. We survey optimal O(n²)-time implementations of such algorithms which use a ‘locally closest’ joining scheme, and specify conditions under which this relaxed joining scheme is equivalent to the original one (i.e. ‘globally closest’).     

On the temporal relations between memory scanning and response preparation

Three experiments were conducted to investigate whether response processes can start before memory scanning has finished when both are required in the same task. In Experiment 1 the color of a stimulus letter determined which hand might respond, and the letter's memory set membership determined whether that response should be made or withheld. Electrophysiological data suggested that lateralized response preparation was not initiated until memory scanning finished. Experiment 2 replicated these results with a consistent stimulus-response mapping to make the scanning process easier. Experiment 3 tested for earlier response priming with a probe reaction time paradigm, and the results suggested that color information can be used to activate a response before memory scanning is finished. The results of Experiments 1-3 suggest that interference between memory scanning and response preparation precludes the concurrent operation of these processes.