A study on the interface and bulk charge density of AlN films with sputtering pressure

An attempt to correlate deposition-induced effects and the morphological properties with the electrical properties of the aluminum nitride (AlN) films have been made. The AlN film was sputter deposited on silicon while increasing the pressure in steps from 2×10⁻³ to 8×10⁻³ mbar. An X-ray diffractogram revealed that the intensity of (0 0 2) orientation increased till 6×10⁻³ mbar pressure, but it changed to (1 0 0) orientation of the AlN film at 8×10⁻³ mbar. The FTIR spectra of the absorption band of the films were observed around 682 cm⁻¹ and became prominent at 6×10⁻³ mbar. A decrease in the grain size was seen by SEM images at 8×10⁻³ mbar. The AFM measurements revealed that the surface roughness varied from 1.56 to 3.24 nm with pressure. It was found that the insulator charge density (Q_in) increased from 1.4×10¹¹ cm⁻² to 1.3×10¹² cm⁻² with increase in pressure. On the other hand, the interface state density (D_it) was found minimum (7.3×10¹¹ eV⁻¹ cm⁻²) at 6×10⁻³ mbar. It is found that presence of the Q_in and D_it are primarily governed by the sputtering pressure of the AlN film.     

A novel multimodal clustering framework for images with diverse associated text

Multimedia Tools and Applications - With the enormous growth in the number of images on the web, image clustering has become an essential part of any image retrieval system. Since web images are...     

Nuclear data sheets for A = 159

Nuclear data based upon reaction and radioactivity studies of mass 159 nuclei are presented.For A = 159 all nuclei with 63 ?Z?72 with the exception of Yb and Lu have been reported; but not much is known for Eu, Er, Tm, and Hf isobars other than their ground-state properties. The only stable nucleus with A = 159 is ¹⁵⁹Tb, and it has been studied in considerable detail both by nuclear reactions and radioactive decay of its neighboring isobars. Because of ambiguity in beta branching in ¹⁵⁹Eu decay and since the beta branch to ¹⁵⁹Tb g.s. in ¹⁵⁹Gd decay is known only approximately, the normalizations in these radioactive decays are rather uncertain.For brevity some of the older data have been omitted or referenced as other measurements.It has been attempted to include all available data prior to February 1, 1973.     

Influence of rapid thermal annealing on morphological and electrical properties of RF sputtered AlN films

Aluminum nitride films were deposited, at 200 °C, on silicon substrates by RF sputtering. Effects of rapid thermal annealing on these films, at temperatures ranging from 400 to 1000 °C, have been studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the characteristic absorption band of Al–N, around 684 cm⁻¹, became prominent with increased annealing temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited a better, c-axis, (0 0 2) oriented AlN films at 800 °C. Significant rise in surface roughness, from 2.1 to 3.68 nm, was observed as annealing temperatures increased. Apart from these observations, micro-cracks were observed at 1000 °C. Insulator charge density increased from 2×10¹¹ to 7.7×10¹¹ cm⁻² at higher temperatures, whereas, the interface charge density was found minimum, 3.2×10¹¹ eV⁻¹cm⁻², at 600 °C.     

Trabeculectomy with releasable sutures: a prospective, randomized pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term and long-term efficacy of using releasable sutures vs conventional interrupted sutures for scleral flap suturing in trabeculectomy. DESIGN: A prospective randomized study. SETTING: A university-affiliated referral eye hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty consecutive patients requiring trabeculectomy for uncontrolled primary glaucoma. INTERVENTION: Fifteen patients underwent trabeculectomy with permanent interrupted sutures; the same number underwent trabeculectomy with releasable sutures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of short-term shallowing of anterior chamber or hypotony and related complications, and long-term intraocular pressure control and bleb score. RESULTS: The mean percentage reduction in intraocular pressure on day 1 in the group with releasable sutures was 55.2%, while only a 0.8% reduction in anterior chamber depth was noted. This compared with figures of 59.3% and 10.1%, respectively, in the group without releasable sutures. Hypotony (intraocular pressure < or =6 mm Hg) was noted in 8 (53%) of cases without releasable sutures and 3 (20%) of cases with releasable sutures. Shallow anterior chamber (central anterior chamber depth, < or =1 mm) was noted in 5 (33%) of cases without releasable sutures and 1 (7%) of cases with releasable sutures. The mean +/- SD final bleb score was 5.4 +/- 0.3 in the group with releasable sutures compared with 4.2 +/- 0.6 in the group without releasable sutures (P<.001). The mean +/- SD final intraocular pressure at the end of 12 months was 16.9 +/- 1.2 mm Hg in the group without releasable sutures and 15.0 +/- 0.9 mm Hg in the group with releasable sutures (P<.001). Final intraocular pressure was controlled (intraocular pressure < or =21 mm Hg) in all patients in the group with releasable sutures, giving a success rate of 100%, and in 12 patients in the group without releasable sutures, giving a success rate of 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Use of releasable sutures is an effective way at no extra cost or instrumentation to maximize the long-term bleb score and lower intraocular pressure, and to minimize the short-term complications of trabeculectomy.     

Nuclear reaction and structure data services of the National Nuclear Data Center

The mission of the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) includes collection, evaluation, and dissemination of nuclear physics data for basic nuclear research and applied nuclear technologies. In 2004, to answer the needs of nuclear data users, NNDC completed a project to modernize storage and management of its databases and began offering new nuclear data Web services. The principles of database and Web application development used at NNDC are described. Examples of nuclear structure, nuclear reaction and bibliographical database applications along with a number of nuclear science tools and codes are presented.     

中欧混凝土规范中受压区高度要求的差异

介绍了受弯构件正截面相对受压区高度的基本概念及承载力设计的基本假定,结合中欧混凝土规范的混凝土及钢筋材料相关参数推导了受弯构件相对界限受压区高度的计算公式,分析了中欧混凝土规范中相对界限受压区高度的取值及含义,得出了中欧规范在设计中受压区高度的取值范围的差异,为设计人员更好的学习国内外规范提供参考。