Optimization of a self-aligned titanium silicide process forsubmicron technology

The optimization of a manufacturable self-aligned titanium silicide process is described. In particular, the integrity of the TiSi ₂ layer has been studied versus the BPSG reflow conditions. Excellent contact resistance and very low leakage currents have been obtained. The good device parameters obtained with an n⁺ or n ⁺/p⁺ gate have demonstrated that the self-aligned process can be integrated in a 0.8-μm double-metal CMOS process     

Women oriented toward male dominated careers: Is the reference group male or female?

Explored the relationships between a number of network variables and level of self-valuing in 43 women (predominantly university students) who demonstrated interest in science careers that have been traditionally associated with males. Ss provided self-report information concerning self-esteem, attitudes toward encouragement and valuing of men and women, size of male and female networks, and perceived levels of emotional support received from both sexes. Multiple regression analyses showed that female-oriented variables were able to account for 68% of the variance associated with valuing of self, whereas male-oriented predictors accounted for a substantially smaller portion of the variance. Results are discussed in the context of reference group theory and J. L. Laws's (1975) concept of tokenism. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cholinergic blockade, septal lesions, and DRL performance in the rat.

Reports 4 experiments with a total of 20 male Long-Evans hooded rats describing the effects of cholinergic blockade produced by systemic injection of either atropine sulfate or atropine methyl nitrate on Ss' differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) responding. It was shown that atropine sulfate injected either chronically or at high dosages suppressed DRL responding. Injected acutely, atropine sulfate produced disinhibitory effects. When atropine was injected either chronically or acutely into Ss with septal lesions, there was suppression of responding. It is suggested that the specific behavioral outcome resulting from cholinergic blockade depends on the balance resulting from the competing peripheral and central effects of such blockade. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spiritual values and death anxiety: Implications for counseling with terminal cancer patients.

Investigated death fear as a function of discomfort level, previous experience with death, and religiosity among indigent cancer patients in a county general hospital. The patients were those participants in a cancer rehabilitation program who were judged closest to death. The Allport Religious Orientation Scale, Discomfort Indices, and the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) were administered to each patient. Patients also participated in a structured interview which examined death fear at the conscious and imagery (unconscious) levels, religious values, and support systems. The DAS was also administered to a standardization sample of outpatients in the eye clinic of the same hospital. Results indicate that these patients depend strongly on perceived strength of religious beliefs and integral religious values in their coping with imminent death. Also highly associated with minimal or low fear of death was previous experience with a dying person with whom one had a close relationship. The mean DAS score for the cancer patients was significantly lower than that obtained for the standardization population. These findings reveal sources of support that are very important to this population and that are suggestive of untapped resources available as appropriate intervention avenues. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polymer aqyeous solutions as quenching media. I. Polyvinylpyrrolidone

The cooling power of aqueous solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone are studied with a silver standard sample by using two apparatuses quench with injection and quench with agitation. The dependences of the cooling rates at each temperature on polymer concentration and solution viscosity are established and empirical laws of variation are given.     

European interlaboratory trial regarding the official microscopic method for the detection of the presence of animal constituents in feedstuffs

The bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic is thought to have occurred as a consequence of feeding prion-infected material to cattle. To avoid the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy diffusion, the European Commission (Directive 2003/126/EC) established an official method to detect the presence of animal-derived constituents in feedstuffs, using microscopic examination. This method allows easy identification of bone fragments among other animal constituents. The analysis is based on morphological conformation of the fragments and their characterization (mainly of the shape of lacunae) to discriminate among mammalian, poultry, and fish tissues. The aim of this study was to assess the performances of nine European laboratories through a ring trial of the official microscopic method, and to calculate accuracy and reproducibility of the method. In general the reproducibility of the microscopic method was very good (kappa overall = 0.83), with a high sensitivity for all laboratories. Concerning the analysis on the different animal-derived constituents, the results show values of sensitivity with large variability between fish and poultry or mammal. It was generally more difficult to discriminate between mammalian and poultry tissues than fish tissue.