The effect of surface roughness on the radiative properties ofpatterned silicon wafers

The radiative properties of patterned silicon wafers have a major impact on the two critical issues in rapid thermal processing (RTP), namely wafer temperature uniformity and wafer temperature measurement. The surface topography variation of the die area caused by patterning and the roughness of the wafer backside can have a significant effect on the radiative properties, but these effects are not well characterized. We report measurements of room temperature reflectance of a memory die, logic die, and various multilayered wafer backsides. The surface roughness of the die areas and wafer backsides is characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). These data are subsequently used to assess the effectiveness of thin film optics in providing approximations for the radiative properties of patterned wafers for RTP applications     

A new technique for on-line and off-line high speed computation

A novel technique for both online and offline computation is presented. With this technique, a reconstruction analysis in elementary particle physics, otherwise prohibitively long, has been accomplished. It will be used online in an upcoming Fermilab experiment to reconstruct more than 100000 events per second and to trigger on the basis of that information. The technique delivers 40 gigaoperations per second, has a bandwidth on the order of gigabytes per second, and has a modest cost. An overview of the program, details of the system, and performance measurements are presented     

Enzymatic Firming of Processed Red Pepper by Means of Exogenous Pectinesterase

The objective of this investigation was to demonstrate that the firmness of a commercial vegetable product, diced and frozen red pepper (Capsicum annum var. Sendt), could be improved by the use of exogenous pectinesterase in an industrially relevant process. The diced pepper pieces 10 × 10 × 7 mm³ were infused under vacuum with a commercially available pectinesterase. The range of optimal process conditions was: 15-20°C, 45 min infusion time, a 10-25 mM CaCl₂ infusion brine, a w/w ratio of pepper fruit to infusion brine of 1.5:1, and an enzyme dosage of 30-60 pectinesterase units (PEU) per kg pepper fruit. The firmness as measured by back extrusion was improved by a factor of two to three. The effect of firming was robust and conserved after freezing and heating in a simulated household cooking process. The firming process seems easily adaptable to industrial conditions and may be applicable to other vegetable and fruit products.     

A dilatometer for measuring autogenous deformation in hardening portland cement paste

Different techniques for measuring autogenous deformation in cement paste are discussed, and a newly developed dilatometer designed specially for measuring this deformation is described. A particular characteristic of the dilatometer is the encapsulation of the cement paste in corrugated moulds. This restricts moisture loss and ensures that the hardening cement paste suffers insignificant restraint. In addition, the encapsulation permits measurements to commence shortly after casting.     

Characteristics of the lipase from the mold,Geotrichum candidum: A review

The moldGeotrichum candidum produces an extracellular lipase, readily concentrated by removal of the culture medium in which the microorganism is grown. The lipase is characterized by a unique, but not absolute, specificity for fatty acids containingcis-9 orcis,cis-9, 12 unsaturation, hydrolyzing both regardless of position within the triglyceride molecule. The enzyme also hydrolyzescis-9-16∶1,cis,trans-9,12-18∶2,trans,cis-9,12-18∶2, palmitoyl oleate and cholesteryl oleate. Digested at comparatively slow rates are:trans,trans-9,12-18∶2, double bond positional isomers of 18∶1 (other thancis-9), stearolic acid, oleoylpalmitate, dilinoleoyl phosphatidyl choline, and saturated acids. The enzyme has an optimum pH of 8.2, and the lyophilized powder is extremely stable, retaining activity for at least eight years when stored at-20 C. A purification of 81-fold has been achieved. One of five papers presented in the Symposium “Microbial Lipolytic Enzymes,” AOCS Spring Meeting, New Orleans, April 1973. Scientific contribution 556, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. 06268.     

Lipolysis of trivernolin by pancreatic lipase

Vernolic acid (cis-12,13-epoxy-cis-9-oetadece-noic acid) occurs as the triglyceride in the seed ofVernonia anthelmintica. Incubation of the seed produces a 1,3-divernolin. To determine whether the structure of trivernolin is responsible for the apparent secondary ester position specificity of the natural enzyme, trivernolin and tri-olein, were incubated with pancreatic lipase and the free fatty acids and monoglycerides were determined after 5 and 15 min digestion periods. The preponderance of 2-monoglyceride produced by the action of pancreatic lipase was interpreted to indicate that the structure of trivernolin was not solely responsible for the secondary position specificity of theV. anthelmintica lipase toward trivernolin.     

Creating geometrically robust designs for highly sensitive problems using topology optimization

Resonance and wave-propagation problems are known to be highly sensitive towards parameter variations. This paper discusses topology optimization formulations for creating designs that perform robustly under spatial variations for acoustic cavity problems. For several structural problems, robust topology optimization methods have already proven their worth. However, it is shown that direct application of such methods is not suitable for the acoustic problem under consideration. A new double filter approach is suggested which makes robust optimization for spatial variations possible. Its effect and limitations are discussed. In addition, a known explicit penalization approach is considered for comparison. For near-uniform spatial variations it is shown that highly robust designs can be obtained using the double filter approach. It is finally demonstrated that taking non-uniform variations into account further improves the robustness of the designs.     

Intradermal and subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 41 cases

Superficial leiomyosarcomas are rare tumours. The lesions confined to the dermis, contrary to those involving the subcutis, have been reported to carry a favourable prognosis. A retrospective study of 41 consecutive cases of surgically treated intradermal and subcutaneous leiomyosarcomas was undertaken in order to determine the prognostic factors that may influence the survival of these patients. Seven tumours were predominantly intradermal and 34 involved the subcutaneous tissue. Fifty-four percent of the tumours were located in the lower extremities. All cases stained positively for smooth muscle antigen and 66% for desmin. The tumours were classified with regard to tumour grade I (low grade, 3%), II (intermediate, 12%), IIIA (high grade, 46%) and IIIB (high grade, 39%). In all patients, follow-up information was available. Mean follow-up time was 5 years. The patients with intradermal tumours were all alive without signs of recurrence, whereas 14 of those with leiomyosarcomas involving the subcutis have died with pulmonary metastases. Our study confirms that "pure" intradermal leiomyosarcomas independent of tumour grade behave in a benign fashion, probably due to small tumour size. Tumour size > or = 5 cm, deep localization with fascia involvement, and high malignancy grade (IIIB) were found to deteriorate survival based on a univariate analysis. However, in a multivariate analysis only tumour size was found to be an independent prognostic factor.     

Effects of training to implement new tools and working methods to reduce knee load in floor layers

The purpose was to measure the effect of a participatory ergonomics implementation strategy consisting of information, education, and facilitation on the use of new tools and working methods in the floor laying trade. Floor layers (n=292) were trained in using new working methods. The effects were evaluated by using questionnaires, interviews, and assessments of quality and productivity. Following the training, 43% had used the new working methods weekly/daily compared to 11% before. There was a reduction in the degree of self-reported pain in the knees among the floor layers using the new working methods weekly or daily compared to those using them never or occasionally. The musculoskeletal complaints did not increase from any other region and the quality and the productivity of the work were not decreased. This indicates that within a 3-months perspective the implementation strategy succeeded.