Interface states and traps in thin N2O-grown oxynitride/oxide di-layer for PowerMOSFET devices

A detailed study of the interface state properties shown by the silicon/oxynitride/oxide gate layers used in Vertically Diffused PowerMOSFET (PowerVDMOS) technologies is reported. A quantitative analysis of interface states versus the specific N₂O based nitridation process, extracted from current–voltage characteristics in depletion regime, provided a clear trend and turns to be of great importance for reliability performances of the final device.     

Motivational enhancement therapy for adolescent marijuana users: A preliminary randomized controlled trial.

This study's aims were (a) to investigate the feasibility of a school-based motivational enhancement therapy (MET) intervention in voluntarily attracting adolescents who smoke marijuana regularly but who are not seeking formal treatment and (b) to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention in reducing marijuana use. Ninety-seven adolescents who had used marijuana at least 9 times in the past month were randomly assigned to either an immediate 2-session MET intervention or to a 3-month delay condition. Two thirds of the sample characterized themselves as in the precontemplation or contemplation stages of change regarding marijuana use. Participants' marijuana use and associated negative consequences were assessed at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Analyses revealed that both groups significantly reduced marijuana use at the 3-month follow-up ( p = .001); however, no between-group differences were observed. Despite the absence of a clear effect of MET, this study demonstrated that adolescents could be attracted to participate in a voluntary marijuana intervention that holds promise for reducing problematic levels of marijuana use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of and Consumer Satisfaction With an Assertive Community Treatment Program for the Severely Mentally Ill: A 3-Year Follow-Up.

Assertive community treatment (ACT) programs have made substantial strides in reducing inpatient hospitalizations and in improving the lives of individuals with a severe mental illness. However, few studies have investigated their effectiveness outside of a 24-month treatment period. The present study investigated treatment outcomes in an ACT program over a 36-month period. Results indicate that participants experienced a statistically significant reduction in hospital bed days during the first 2 years of treatment. Positive outcomes were demonstrated on other variables, including an increase in compliance with outpatient psychiatric appointments and a reduction in emergency outpatient contacts. Results indicate that clients and family members were satisfied overall with ACT services, but family members reported greater satisfaction than clients in all areas assessed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF PARAFFINIC SOLVENTS ON THE ONSET AND BULK PRECIPITATION OF ASPHALTENES

Asphaltene onset concentration and bulk deposition were measured for a typical live reservoir oil titrated with n-C₆H₁₄, n-C₅H₁₂, n-C₄H₁₀, C₃H₈, C₂H₆, CH₄ and CO₂ at 100° C (212 ° F) and 29.9 MPa (4340 psia). The concentration of titrant at asphaltene onset was observed to decrease approximately in a linear fashion with decreasing molecular weight of the paraffinic solvent; CH₄ did not induce any asphaltene precipitation. Bulk deposition experiments were performed using a solvent: oil volume ratio of 10:1; the results indicated that the weight percent of asphaltenes precipitated increased exponentially with decreasing molecular weight of the paraffinic solvents. More importantly, the asphaltene molecular weight showed a maximum for n-C₄H₁₀ precipitated asphaltenes. Possible explanations for this unusual result are presented.     

Sensitivity and teaching by dysphoric and nondysphoric women in structured versus unstructured situations.

This study compared the sensitivity and teaching strategies of dysphoric and nondysphoric women working with unfamiliar 5- and 6-year-olds. Interactions of 20 dysphoric and 20 nondysphoric mothers and an unfamiliar child were observed during 2 classification tasks and 3 unstructured activities staged as breaks. Nondysphoric women were more sensitive to children's level of understanding than dysphoric women and were more likely to use a variety of teaching strategies. Dyads with nondysphoric women were also more likely to share decision making than dyads with dysphoric women. These differences between dysphoric and nondysphoric women were significant only in the structured classification tasks. The findings indicate that in some situations dysphoric and nondysphoric women vary in their sensitivity to children's cues and in the teaching strategies they use with children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Business processes—attempts to find a definition

Definitions of business process given in much of the literature on Business Process Management are limited in depth and their related models of business processes are correspondingly constrained. After giving a brief history of the progress of business process modeling techniques from production systems to the office environment, this paper proposes that most definitions are based on machine metaphor type explorations of a process. While these techniques are often rich and illuminating it is suggested that they are too limited to express the true nature of business processes that need to develop and adapt to today's challenging environment.     

Cultural variation in infants' sleeping arrangements: Questions of independence.

Examines the decisions of middle-class US and Highland Mayan parents regarding sleeping arrangements during their child's 1st 2 yrs and their explanations for their differing practices. All 14 Mayan children slept in their mothers' beds into toddlerhood. None of the 18 US infants slept in bed with their mothers on a regular basis as newborns, although 15 slept near their mothers until age 3–6 mo, when most were moved to a separate room. The Mayan parents explained their practices in terms of the value of closeness with infants; US parents explained their practices in terms of the value of independence for infants. US families, but not Mayan families, used bedtime routines and objects to facilitate the transition to sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improving outcome research in rehabilitation psychology: Some methodological recommendations.

Reviews the value of null statistical hypothesis testing and discuss its limitations and misuses. It is contended that this method is of nominal utility in outcomes research, that rehabilitation researchers should focus on the calculation and interpretation of statistical power and effect size. During this era when outcomes are paramount, researchers in rehabilitation psychology cannot afford to conduct studies where significant methodological shortcomings compromise the validity of the results. Study design, evaluation, and presentation recommendations for the appropriate use and interpretation of statistical analysis in outcomes research are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Study of the modulus of elasticity of polymer concrete compounds and comparative assessment of polymer concrete and portland cement concrete

The main aim of this study is to assess the modulus of elasticity of polymer concrete (PC) compounds produced using two types of binders: orthophtalic or isophtalic polyester. The compositions used were selected from a previous study that identified cost-effective PC compositions. Based on those data, the concentrations of polymer used were 12% of orthophtalic polyester and 13% of isophtalic polyester by weight of the dry materials. Fly ash was used as a filler and compositions with 8%, 12%, 16% and 20% of ash by weight of aggregate were studied. Results indicate that all compositions assessed in this study display high modulus of elasticity values. Statistical analysis of the data reveals that the type of resin and the concentration of fly ash, both in isolation and in combination, have a significant effect on the modulus of elasticity of these compounds.     

Response control and the execution of verbal rules.

Two-year-olds' difficulty with rule execution is robust and pervasive. In Experiment 1, 120 32-month-olds received 1 of 6 tasks: a task assessing knowledge about a series of items; a deductive card sort requiring children to use their knowledge to sort the items by rules; and 4 modifications of the card sort that provided various types of task support. Children performed better on the knowledge task than the other tasks, which did not differ. Errors increased over trials and were typically perseverative. Experiment 2 replicated the finding that children failed to use rules systematically even when items were labeled by the rules' antecedents. Improvements in rule use seem to reflect emerging control over actions rather than increased representational flexibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)