Low-temperature metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (LTMOCVD) of device-quality copper films for microelectronic applications

Copper films for potential use in multilevel metallization in ULSIC’s were produced by low temperature (250–350° C) metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (LTMOCVD) in atmospheres of pure H₂ or mixture Ar/H₂ from the β-diketonate precursor bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato) copper(ll), Cu(hfa)₂. The films were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The results of these studies showed that the films were uniform, continuous, adherent and highly pure—oxygen and carbon contents were below the detection limits of AES. Four point resistivity measurements showed that the copper films had very low resistivity, as low as 1.9 μΩcm for the films deposited in pure hydrogen atmosphere. Our preliminary results seem to indicate that LTMOCVD is a very attractive technique for copper multilevel metallizations.     

Computer Assessment of Atherosclerosis from Angiographic Images

A computer method for detection and quantification of atherosclerosis from angiograms has been developed and used to measure lesion change in human clinical trials. The technique involves tracking the vessel edges and measuring individual lesions as well as the overall irregularity of the arterial image. Application of the technique to conventional arterial-injection femoral and coronary angiograms is outlined and an experimental study to extend the technique to analysis of intravenous angiograms of the carotid and cornary arteries is described.     

Reactions to the May 1972 draft report of the ad hoc Committee on Ethical Standards in Psychological Research.

Contends that the American Psychological Association ad hoc Committee on Ethical Standards has composed a balanced, literate document which fully reflects but does not resolve the fundamental differences among psychologists with regard to the conflicting interests of the factions represented and their disparate hierarchies of values. Although these differences may be at present irreconcilable, the present author recommends that an E who plans to violate the basic rights of Ss demonstrate to a committee of his peers that (a) his objectives, if achieved, would have scientific or social merit; (b) experimental procedures which violate the rights of Ss are necessary to his objectives and will further them significantly better than alternative methods; and (c) debriefing procedures will remove the undesirable consequences of experimental procedures. E should demonstrate to a committee of the prospective Ss' peers that (a) his objectives, if achieved, would have social significance from their point of view; and (b) the indignities suffered by Ss are not excessive in view of this social significance. It is suggested that Es should consider the growing body of evidence that deception is ineffective and thus question the scientific gain to be accomplished by deception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model for mobile code using interacting automata

The Internet supports migration of code from node to node. A number of paradigms exist for distributed computing and mobile code, including client/server, remote evaluation, code-on-demand, and mobile agents. We find them overly-restrictive views of reality. We propose a model that can express previous paradigms as special cases. We derive a model using cellular automata (CA) abstractions to study relations between local node behavior and global system behavior. Example mobile code systems are provided and existing paradigms are expressed in terms of the model. These examples include network attacks such as viruses, worms, and distributed denial of service (DDoS). A distributed system simulation tool based on the model is described. Simulation results provide insights gained from this work.     

Forced motion and free motion aeroelastic tests on a new concept dynamometric section model of the Messina suspension bridge

The work presents a new original experimental rig to more deeply investigate the aerodynamic behaviour of long span suspension bridges. Set-up and model are designed to grant an accurate study on main aeroelastic phenomena in bridge engineering. More in details, experimental set-up and a 1:60 scale sectional model of Messina bridge deck are presented. The complete rig—composed by dynamometric model, suspension set, experimental set-up and active turbulence generator—is designed in order to execute both forced and free motion tests, allowing to change the average position in terms of angle of attack and yaw angle and to investigate flutter derivatives, admittance functions and vortex-induced vibrations.     

Effects of differences in starch content of diets with whole cottonseed or rice bran on milk casein

Forty lactating Holstein cows in early to midlactation were used in a randomized complete block design to measure the effects of the following diets on milk casein. Treatments were four complete rations fed for ad libitum intake consisting of 1) 60% concentrate, 10% alfalfa hay, and 30% corn silage; 2) 45% concentrate, 10% alfalfa hay, 30% corn silage, and 15% whole cottonseed; 3) 60% concentrate, 5% alfalfa hay, 20% corn silage, and 15% whole cottonseed; and 4) 45% concentrate, 10% alfalfa hay, 30% corn silage, and 15% rice bran. Least squares means for daily DM intake all were significantly different and were 3.51, 3.90, 3.28, and 3.74% BW, respectively. Cows fed diet 3 had higher arterial glucose and insulin and venous insulin. Least squares means were significantly different for milk yield, 30.1, 31.4, 28.4, and 31.6 kg/d; for milk protein, 3.30, 3.13, 3.48, and 3.12%; and for casein N, .376, .358, 3.73, and .330, respectively. However, milk protein and casein N yields were similar for all cows. The diet that contained the highest percentage of starch did not result in a significantly higher percentage of casein N in the milk but had the lowest milk production. Both whole cottonseed and rice bran, substituted for concentrate, depressed milk protein percentage.     

Ultrastructure of a cardiac rhabdomyoma

Electron microscopic study of a cardiac rhabdomyoma removed at open heart operation revealed large rounded or polygonal cells that contained large amounts of monoparticulate glycogen. Myofibrils in these cells were few and located either subjacent to the plasma membranes or radiating from central areas. Leptofibrils and masses of anomalous Z band material were abundant. Shallow tubular sarcolemmal invaginations and elements of free and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum were associated with the myofibrils. Desmosomes and nexuses were evident in intercellular junctions, which were extensive and randomly distributed throughout the cell surfaces. It is concluded that cardiac rhabdomyomas probably are hamartomas.     

Selective reactions in the analysis and characterization of steroids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a technique especially suitable for the analysis and characterization of steroids, and its power has been extensively demonstrated. The efficacy of GC-MS is limited, nevertheless, by the fact that steroid mixtures—whether of natural origin only, or augmented by synthetic analogs—often contain similar components that are poorly distinguished. The fortuitous overlap of gas chromatographic peaks from disparate compounds also impairs the definition of retention data. Controlled modification of the sample by means of selective reactions is therefore a valuable adjunct to the application of GC-MS. Two examples are discussed: (a) the enzyme cholesterol oxidase, isolated from various microorganisms, catalyzes the oxidation of many 3β-hydroxy-5-enes (with concomitant isomerization) to 4-en-3-ones; 3β-hydroxy-5α-steroids are also oxidized to the corresponding 3-ones, but other steroids (3α-hydroxy- or 5β-isomers, etc.) are unaffected. The mild conditions required (pH 7, 30 C) are advantageous for the analysis of sensitive steroids, and the retention index increments, as well as the mass spectra of the ketones, are characteristic. The enzyme accepts as substrates a wide range of 3β-hydroxysteroids, tolerating oxygenation in ring B and even catalyzing the oxidation of 2-oxacholesterol to the expected lactone; and (b) steroids possessing 1,2-diol or 1,3-diol groupings include estriols, 2-hydroxyestrone, 20,22-dihydroxycholesterols, ecdysones, brassinolide and many corticosteroids. The selective formation of cyclic derivatives can provide several analytically useful features, such as convenient retention times, moderate mass increments (24 amu for a methaneboronate), distinctive mass spectra and usually abundant molecular ions. These are exemplified for 5-pregnene-3β-20,21-triols and for 20,22-dihydroxycholesterol as well as its enzymic oxidation product.     

Semi-rigid––simply supported shear deformable pultruded GRP beams subjected to end moment loading: comparison of measured and predicted deflections

A single span shear deformable beam is analysed. One end is simply supported and subjected to an external moment and the other is supported by a semi-rigid joint with a linear moment––rotation characteristic. An expression for the mid-span deflection is derived in order to predict deflections recorded in tests on pultruded GRP beams with four types of semi-rigid joint. Using rotational stiffnesses derived from moment––rotation tests on similar joints it is shown that semi-rigid, shear deformable beam analysis is generally able to predict the measured deflections to within less than 10%. The mid-span deflection formula is recast to allow a back analysis to be carried out to determine the actual stiffness of two of the semi-rigid joints. It is shown that the joint tests significantly under-estimate the rotational stiffness of the bolted web cleat joint, whereas the predicted stiffness of the bolted web and flange cleat connection differs only by about 20% from that determined in one of the joint tests on this connection.     

Intravenous aminophylline in patients with cystic fibrosis. Pharmacokinetics and effect on pulmonary function

Intravenous aminophylline was administered to ten patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) to determine if the medication would improve pulmonary function and to study theophylline pharmacokinetics. Intravenous normal saline was given on another day as a control. Thoracic gas volume and airway resistance, measured in a volume displacement body plethysmograph, and maximal expiratory flow-volume curves were performed before and after each infusion. No significant improvement was noted in pulmonary function after normal saline infusion. Following aminophylline infusion. Following aminophylline infusion, significant improvement in thoracic gas volume, residual volume, specific airway conductance, and maximal expiratory flow at 60% of total lung capacity was noted. The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a mean half-life of 4.7 hours, a total clearance of 91 mL/hr/kg, and a volume of distribution of 574 mL/kg. Intravenous aminophylline can acutely decrease airway obstruction in children with CF.