Helping Clientele Understand Elements of the Local Economy Through Input-Output Modeling

Extension clientele often seek assistance from Community Development professionals in understanding how their local economies operate. Provision of local economic data has long been an important role for Extension. But many of the questions clientele raise require substantial analysis of this data. This article demonstrates how an input-output model (IMPLAN) can be used to describe a local economy with considerable precision. The model is appropriate for estimating the economic impacts of current or proposed activities. We include estimations of impacts of initial job losses stemming from the recent recession as well as impacts of a long-term plan for economic recovery

Spin-on-carbon hard masks utilising fullerene derivatives

Spin-on-Carbon (SoC) hardmasks are an increasingly key component of the microchip fabrication process. Progress in lithographic resolution has made the adoption of extremely thin photoresist films necessary for the fabrication of “1x nanometre” linewidth structures to prevent issues such as resist collapse during development. While there are resists with high etch durability [1], ultimately etch depth is limited by resist thickness. A possible solution is the use of a multilayer etch stack. This allows for considerable increase in aspect ratio. For the organic hard mask base layer, a carbon-rich material is preferred as carbon possesses a high etch resistance in silicon plasma etch processes. A thin silicon topcoat deposited on the carbon film can be patterned with a thin photoresist film without feature collapse, and the pattern transferred to the underlying carbon film by oxygen plasma. This produces high aspect ratio carbon structures suitable for substrate etching. In terms of manufacturability it is beneficial to spin coat the carbon layer instead of using chemical vapor deposition [2], but the presence of carbon-hydrogen bonds in typical spin-on-carbon leads to line wiggling during the etch (a significant problem at smaller feature sizes). We have previously introduced a fullerene based SoC and reported on material characterization [3,4,5]. The materials low Ohnishi number provides high etch durability and the low hydrogen level allows for high resolution etching without wiggling. The use of the materials in such etch stacks is demonstrated (figures 1-3). A 20nm thin silicon film was sputtered on top of the carbon layers. Resist patterns are defined by e-beam, and in the case of figure 2, EUV lithography and transferred to the silicon thin film using SF6/CHF3 etch chemistry. The carbon layer was then etched by O2 plasma using the silicon mask and finally the pattern was transferred into the silicon substrate using the same process used to etch the topcoat. Recent advances in material development and work towards commercialization of the materials will be reported. Some results from external evaluations of the original 100 series will be presented, together with recent developments with the newer 200 and 300 series formulations (offering improved thermal stability and etch durability). [1] J. Manyam, M. Manickam, J.A. Preece, R.E. Palmer, and A.P.G. Robinson, Proc. SPIE 7972 (2011) 79722N. [2] C.Y. Ho, X.J. Lin, H.R. Chien, C. Lien, Thin Solid Films 518 (2010) 6076 [3] A. Frommhold, J. Manyam, R.E. Palmer, and A.P.G. Robinson, Proc. SPIE 8328 (2012) 83280U [4] A. Frommhold, R.E. Palmer, and A.P.G. Robinson, J. Micro/Nanolith. MEMS MOEMS. 12 (3), 033003 (2013) [5] A Frommhold, A G. Brown, T Lada, A P. G. Robinson, Proc SPIE 9421-21 (2015

Management of hereditary angioedema: 2010 Canadian approach

C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency is a rare blood disorder resulting in angioedema attacks that are debilitating and may be life-threatening. Prophylaxis and therapy of events has changed since our first Canadian Consensus Conference on the diagnosis, therapy and management of HAE. We have formed the Canadian Hereditary Angioedema Network (CHAEN)/Réseau Canadien d'Angioédème Héréditaire (RCAH) - http://www.haecanada.com to advance care of patients with this disorder in Canada. We here present a review of management of HAE in Canada

Observations of the Gas Reservoir around a Star Forming Galaxy in the Early Universe

We present a high signal-to-noise spectrum of a bright galaxy at z = 4.9 in 14 h of integration on VLT FORS2. This galaxy is extremely bright, i_850 = 23.10 +/- 0.01, and is strongly-lensed by the foreground massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689 (z=0.18). Stellar continuum is seen longward of the Ly-alpha emission line at ~7100 \AA, while intergalactic H I produces strong absorption shortward of Ly-alpha. Two transmission spikes at ~6800 Angstroms (A) and ~7040 A are also visible, along with other structures at shorter wavelengths. Although fainter than a QSO, the absence of a strong central ultraviolet flux source in this star forming galaxy enables a measurement of the H I flux transmission in the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the vicinity of a high redshift object. We find that the effective H I optical depth of the IGM is remarkably high within a large 14 Mpc (physical) region surrounding the galaxy compared to that seen towards QSOs at similar redshifts. Evidently, this high-redshift galaxy is located in a region of space where the amount of H I is much larger than that seen at similar epochs in the diffuse IGM. We argue that observations of high-redshift galaxies like this one provide unique insights on the nascent stages of baryonic large-scale structures that evolve into the filamentary cosmic web of galaxies and clusters of galaxies observed in the present universe.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL (corrected typos

A ternary system for delayed curing inverse vulcanisation.

Completion of inverse vulcanisation reactions leads to a crosslinked insoluble polymer, but insufficient reaction allows phase separation of the sulfur and organic corsslinkers. A ternary co-polymer system allows delayed curing to be used, keeping the pre-polymer stable, homogeneous, and ready to be set into its final form when and where needed, allowing greater opportunities for practical production

Allergen-specific T cell quantity in blood is higher in allergic compared to nonallergic individuals

Article deposited according to agreement with BMC, December 6, 2010.YesFunding provided by the Open Access Authors Fund

Differential Expression of Immune Response Genes in Steller Sea Lions (\u3ci\u3eEumetopias jubatus\u3c/i\u3e): An Indicator of Ecosystem Health?

Characterization of the polygenic and polymorphic features of the Steller sea lion major histocompatibility complex (MHC) provides an ideal window for evaluating immunologic vigor of the population and identifying emergence of new genotypes that reflect ecosystem pressures. MHC genotyping can be used to measure the potential immunologic vigor of a population. However, since ecosystem-induced changes to MHC genotype can be slow to emerge, measurement of differential expression of these genes can potentially provide real-time evidence of immunologic perturbations. MHC DRB genes were cloned and sequenced using peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes derived from 10 Steller sea lions from southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and the Aleutian Islands. Nine unique DRB gene sequences were represented in each of ten animals. MHC DRB gene expression was measured in a subset of six sea lions. Although DRB in genomic DNA was identical in all individuals, relative levels of expressed DRB mRNA was highly variable. Selective suppression of MHC DRB genes could be indicative of geographically disparate environmental pressures, thereby serving as an immediate and sensitive indicator of population and ecosystem health