New insights in polarity-dependent oxide breakdown for ultrathin gate oxide

In this work, a quantitative analysis is applied to resolve the newly reported polarity-dependent charge-to-breakdown (Q/sub BD/) data from thick oxides of 6.8 nm down to ultrathin oxides of 1.9 nm. Three independent sets of Q/sub BD/ data, i.e., n/sup +/poly/NFET stressed under inversion and accumulation, and p/sup +/ poly/PFET under accumulation are carefully investigated. The Q/sub BD/ degradation observed for p-type anodes, either poly-Si or Si-substrate, can be nicely understood with the framework of maximum energy released by injected electrons. Thus, this work provides a universal and quantitative account for a variety of experimental observations in the time-to-breakdown (T/sub BD/) and Q/sub BD/ polarity-dependence of oxide breakdown.     

针对医疗设备的精确电池备份

本文通过测试测量方案介绍了如何进行医疗设备的精确电池备份。     

Modelling biological processes under anaerobic conditions through integrating titrimetric and off-gas measurements-applied to EBPR systems.

An innovative method for modelling biological processes under anaerobic conditions is presented and discussed. The method is based on titrimetric and off-gas measurements. Titrimetric data is recorded as the addition rate of hydroxyl ions or protons that is required to maintain pH in a bioreactor at a constant level. An off-gas analysis arrangement measures, among other things, the transfer rate of carbon dioxide. The integration of these signals results in a continuous signal which is solely related to the biological reactions. When coupled with a mathematical model of the biological reactions, the signal allows a detailed characterisation of these reactions, which would otherwise be difficult to achieve. Two applications of the method to the enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes are presented and discussed to demonstrate the principle and effectiveness of the method.     

Distraction effects on muscle. Leg lengthening studied in rabbits

We investigated changes in the anterior tibial muscle during lengthening of the lower leg in rabbits. In 37 rabbits, an osteotomy of the right middle tibia was performed and was fixed by a unilateral external fixator. The rabbits were randomized into 6 groups. In groups 1, 2, and 3 the tibiae were distracted 0.5 mm/day. In groups 1 and 2, the rabbits were killed after 14 and 28 days of distraction, respectively, and in group 3 after 28 days of distraction, followed by 14 days of rest. Groups 1a, 2a, and 3a served as controls. They were treated similarly as groups 1, 2, and 3, but no distraction was performed. Proliferating cell nuclei were labeled with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and were identified by immunohistochemical staining. The weight of the muscle was measured. During bone lengthening the muscle showed signs of growth, as indicated by increasing weight and number of proliferating cell nuclei. This was observed only during lengthening and it ceased when the lengthening was stopped.     

One-step fluorescent probe product-enhanced reverse transcriptase assay

The Chiari type II malformation is the leading cause of death in infants with myelomeningocele. The authors report 17 cases of symptomatic Chiari type II malformation occurring in two distinct age dependent population. In Group I, 13 neonates and infants in the first year of life presented with cranial nerve and brain stem dysfunction characterized by vocal cord paralysis, apnea, dysphagia and laryngeal stridor. In Group II, 4 patients developed signs and symptoms after the first year of life. In this group, the presentation was more insidious and included neck pain and cerebellar manifestations. The surgical treatment consisted initially in shunt implantation or revision and when there was no improvement, posterior fossa decompression was performed. The response to the surgical treatment differed considerably between the two groups: older patients improved promptly after surgery and there was no casualties; in newborn and infants, especially those under 6 months of age, the mortality rate was 46.1%. The authors stress that prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention should be performed in order to produce a favorable outcome.     

A fuzzy logic rule-based automatic target recognizer

Methods for modeling and managing uncertainty in computer vision systems have received increased attention in recent years. Automatic target recognition is one application area of computer vision where the demands are particularly acute. In this article, fuzzy logic is proposed as a means of handling uncertainty in an expert system structure for automatic target recognition. A new technique for logical inference is described which is well-suited for this type of application. A prototype system has been developed and tested on multisensor and temporal images. the results are compared to a similar expert system which used a numeric uncertainty calculus.     

Genetic influences on job satisfaction: A reply to Cropanzano and James.

Responds to the points made by R. Cropanzano and K. James (see record 1991-00462-001) concerning the article by R. D. Arvey et al (1989). The authors acknowledge that the Arvey et al study is based on a single design, makes use of a small and special sample, and, as such, is vulnerable to threats of internal and external validity. Nevertheless, after providing a more comprehensive conceptual and empirical context for the study, and after reviewing a number of the issues raised by Cropanzano and James, the authors conclude that it is not premature to accept the idea that work attitudes are partially genetically influenced. Indeed, the authors use behavioral genetic theory, together with data gathered in the Arvey et al study, to make specific point predictions regarding the outcomes of an array of studies that easily can be undertaken. Finally, the authors acknowledge that the comments and issues raised by Cropanzano and James, along with the interchange, can offer directions for future research in this important area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nephropathy of type II diabetes: evidence for hereditary factors?

Family studies point to an important genetic element in the genesis of diabetic nephropathy, but it is not known whether renal abnormalities are present prior to the onset of diabetes. To address this issue we examined all consecutive patients suffering from type II diabetes with a duration of more than 10 years who attended a diabetes outpatient clinic. Ninety-four patients had nephropathy, 307 did not. All offspring who were phenotypically normal (no hypertension, normal oral glucose tolerance, non-smoking) and agreed to participate were examined, 26 from nephropathic and 30 from non-nephropathic diabetic parents. They were compared with 30 offspring matched for age, gender and BMI from non-diabetic parents as controls. We measured urinary albumin excretion under baseline conditions and at several time points after ingestion of 300 g cooked beef and submaximal treadmill exercise, respectively. In addition, casual blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure, urinary albumin and urinary alpha-1-microglobulin were measured. Primary renal disease was excluded by clinical examination. Under baseline conditions, median urinary albumin excretion rate (AER; microgram/min) was significantly (P < 0.005) higher in offspring of nephropathic type II diabetic patients (7.8; range 1.04 to 19.5) than in the offspring of non-nephropathic type II diabetic patients (4.8; 0.36 to 17.5) and controls (4.4; 0.16 to 18.4). Submaximal treadmill exercise caused a greater proportional increase of AER in offspring of nephropathic type II diabetics (median 16-fold) than in offspring of non-nephropathic diabetic patients (6.3-fold) or controls (4.8-fold). In offspring of nephropathic diabetic patients casual and particularly ambulatory systolic blood pressures were significantly higher, but AER was not correlated with blood pressure. In summary, higher values, albeit within the normal range, for baseline and postexercise albuminuria were noted in phenotypically normal offspring of parents with type II diabetes and nephropathy. The observation suggests that changes in transglomerular albumin traffic are demonstrable prior to the onset of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy in subjects with a potential genetic predisposition to these conditions.     

Crack growth measurements on components under cyclic loading: comparison of different methods

The cyclic crack growth behaviour was measured by means of d.c. potential drop, a.c. potential drop, ultrasonic and crack-opening displacement (COD) methods. The methods were applied to component tests on straight pipes with an outer diameter of approximately 800 mm and a wall thickness of approximately 50 mm. The pipes were subjected to constant internal pressure (about 15 MPa) and either an alternating (or pulsating) or a quasi-static bending moment using d.c. potential drop, a.c. potential drop, ultrasonic and flaw-opening (COD) methods. The efficiency of the particular methods has been proved by comparison with fractographical analysis of the fracture surfaces.     

High-power passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

We have developed optically pumped passively mode-locked vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. We achieved as much as 950 mW of mode-locked average power in chirped 15-ps pulses, or 530 mW in 3.9-ps pulses with moderate chirp. Both lasers operate at a repetition rate of 6 GHz and have a diffraction-limited output beam near 950 nm. In continuous-wave operation, we demonstrate an average output power as high as 2.2 W. Device designs with a low thermal impedance and a smooth gain spectrum are the key to such performance. We discuss design and fabrication of the gain structures and, particularly, their thermal properties