Methods for improving surface flatness in thick Cu film electrodeposition

An experimental evaluation is reported of some methods for improving the surface flatness of thick Cu films grown by electroplating. These are (1) placing an insulator mask of suitable diameter and thickness near the cathode surface, (2) placing extra cathodes near the main one, (3) rotating the cathode, (4) changing to an anode of another shape, and (5) passing an alternating current with a nonzero dc component. The surface flatness of Cu films thus obtained is measured in absolute and relative terms.     

Steady-state methadone effect on generalized arousal in male and female mice.

Methadone is widely used in treatment of short-acting opiate addiction. The on-off effects of opioids have been documented to have profound differences from steady-state opioids. The authors hypothesize that opioids play important roles in either generalized arousal (GA) or aversive state of arousal during opioid withdrawal. Both male and female C57BL6 mice received steady-state methadone (SSM) through osmotic pumps at 10 or 20 mg/kg/day, and GA was measured in voluntary motor activity, sensory responsivity, and contextual fear conditioning. SSM did not have any effect on those GA behaviors in either sex. Females had higher activity and less fear conditioning than males. The effects of SSM on stress-responsive orexin gene expression in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and medial hypothalamus (MH, including perifornical and dorsomedial areas) were measured after the behavioral tests. Females showed significantly lower basal LH (but not MH) orexin mRNA levels than males. A panel of GA stressors increased LH orexin mRNA levels in females only; these increases were blunted by SSM at 20 mg/kg. In summary, SSM had no effect on GA behaviors. In females, SSM blunted the GA stress-induced LH orexin gene expression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)