Numerical Modeling of Silicon Photodiodes for High-Accuracy Applications Part I. Simulation Programs

The suitability of the semiconductor-device modeling program PC-1D for high-accuracy simulation of silicon photodiodes is discussed. A set of user interface programs optimized to support high-accuracy batch-mode operation of PC-1D for modeling the internal quantum efficiency of photodiodes is also described. The optimization includes correction for the dark current under reverse- and forward-bias conditions before calculating the quantum efficiency, and easy access to the highest numerical accuracy available from PC-1D, neither of which is conveniently available with PC-1D’s standard user interface.     

Pathway to health: Cluster-randomized trail to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among smokers in public housing.

Objectives: Examine the effectiveness of an intervention to increase fruits and vegetables (FV) consumption among smokers. Design: Cluster-randomized trial of 20 public housing developments; 10 randomly assigned to an FV intervention and 10 to a smoking cessation intervention. Main outcome measures: Usual (past 7 days) and past 30 days change in daily FV intake at 8 weeks and 6 months postbaseline. Results: Greater increases were seen in the FV group. At Week 8 and Month 6, the FV group had consumed 1.58 (p = .001) and 0.78 (p = .04), respectively, more daily FV servings in the past 7 days than the cessation group. At the same time points, the FV group had consumed 3.61 (p = .01) and 3.93 (p = .01), respectively, more FV servings in the past 30 days than the cessation group. Completing more motivational interviewing sessions (p = .02) and trying more recipes (p = .02) led to significantly greater increases at Month 6 among FV participants. Conclusions: Motivational interviewing counseling and lifestyle modification through trying out healthy recipes may be effective in helping a high-risk population increase their FV intake. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the dependence of the dynamic crack tip temperature fields in metals upon crack tip velocity and material parameters

Although various approximations have been used to analytically predict the temperature rise at a dynamic crack tip and its relation to the crack tip velocity or the material properties, few experimental investigations of these effects exist. Here, the method of using a high speed infrared detector array to measure the temperature distribution at the tip of a dynamically propagating crack tip is outlined, and the results from a number of experiments on different metal alloys are reviewed. First the effect of crack tip velocity in 4340 steel is investigated, and it is seen that the maximum temperature increases with increasing velocity, the maximum plastic work rate density increases with velocity and the active plastic zone size decreases with increasing velocity. Also, it is observed that a significant change in the geometry of the temperature distribution occurs at higher velocities in steel due to the opening of the crack faces behind the crack tip. Next, the effect of thermal properties is examined, and it is seen that, due to adiabatic conditions at the crack tip, changes in thermal conductivity do not significantly affect the temperature field. Changes in density and heat capacity (as well as material dynamic fracture toughness) are more likely to produce significant differences in temperature than changes in thermal conductivity. Finally, the effect of heat upon the crack tip deformation is reviewed, and it is seen that the generation of heat at the crack tip in steel leads to the localization of deformation in the shear lip. The shear lip is actualy an adiabatic shear band formed at 45° to the surface of the specimen. In titanium, no conclusive evidence of shear localization in the shear lip is seen.     

Effect of L-carnitine treatment on very low density lipoprotein kinetics in the hyperlipidemic rabbit

This study examined the hypolipidemic effect of 4 weeks of L-carnitine treatment (170 mg/kg b.w./day) in New Zealand White rabbits fed a high fat diet (5% corn oil/0.5% cholesterol). Specifically, [3H] glycerol and [125I] very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) turnover studies were conducted to examine the effect of treatment on VLDL kinetics. The masses of plasma VLDL-triglycerides (VLDL-TG) and VLDL-apoprotein B (VLDL-apoB) were significantly increased by the high-fat diet. Four weeks of treatment with L-carnitine significantly reduced these masses. Kinetic analysis indicated that fat feeding reduced the fractional catabolic rates (FCRs) of VLDL-TG and VLDL-apoB relative to chow-fed controls. The transport of these VLDL components was not altered by the diet. L-carnitine treatment had no effect on the FCRs of VLDL-TG and VLDL-apoB or on the transport of VLDL-apoB. Yet, treatment significantly lowered the transport of VLDL-TG. These data indicate that the lipid-lowering effect of L-carnitine in this animal model was due, in part, to a decrease in the transport and not due to an alteration in the fractional catabolic rate of VLDL-TG.     

Nitrogen addition to iron powder by mechanical alloying

Nitrogen was alloyed into iron (a) by mechanical processing in a nitrogen gas environment, and (b) by mechanically alloying with iron-nitride powders to characterize resulting nano-structure and nitrogen distribution. Although the infused nitrogen concentration was significantly greater than the thermodynamic equilibrium solubility of iron, no nitrides formed, even for nitrogen concentrations as high as 4.1 wt.% However, a bctFe phase did form. Lattice expansion calculations indicate that the sum of the interstitial bcc-Fe and bctFe nitrogen concentrations was significantly less than the total measured nitrogen concentration. A considerable portion of the mechanically infused nitrogen was determined to be associated with nanograin boundaries.     

Adolescents in stepfamilies: Developmental family interventions.

Discusses issues and interventions for working with adolescents who live in stepfamilies. A developmental perspective, using psychoeducation and brief strategic intervention approaches, is proposed for working with stepfamilies. Six major issues for adolescents in stepfamilies are discussed: developmental issues, sexuality issues, parent–child relationships, parenting in stepfamilies, nonresidential parent–child issues, and changes in visitation and custody. Case illustrations and suggested interventions are presented for each of these areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A conceptual critique of the EA:es comparison in the Comprehensive Rorschach System.

Despite its empirical and normative strengths, the underlying conceptual base of the Comprehensive Rorschach System at times lacks clarity and an overarching theory of personality that can help psychodiagnosticians make more clinically relevant inferences. After reviewing the functions provided by an integral theory of personality, the author focuses on the Experience Actual:Experienced Stimulation (EA:es) index as a way of demonstrating how mechanistic jargon and lack of a guiding theory and conceptual clarity can lead to misleading and contradictory inferences. Case examples are provided, and some of the empirical foundations of the EA:es index are reviewed. The author concludes by offering recommendations on ways in which the Comprehensive System can become more sensitive in its appearance to capturing the complexities of personality functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Double dissociation of fornix and caudate nucleus lesions on acquisition of two water maze tasks: Further evidence for multiple memory systems.

Examined the effect of lesions of the caudate nucleus or fimbria-fornix on the acquisition of 2 water maze tasks. In both tasks, 2 rubber balls with different visual patterns were used as cues. The correct cue was attached to a submerged rectangular platform and could be mounted by an animal to escape the water. The incorrect cue was attached to a thin round pedestal and could not be mounted. In a spatial version of the task, the correct cue was located in the same quadrant of the maze on all trials, whereas the visual pattern on the cue was varied from trial to trial. Lesions of the fornix, but not the caudate nucleus, impaired acquisition of this spatial task in relation to control animals. In a simultaneous visual discrimination version of the task, the correct cue on all trials was one with a specific visual pattern, and the spatial location of the correct cue was varied from trial to trial. Lesions of the caudate nucleus, but not the fornix, impaired acquisition of this visual discrimination task in relation to control animals. The double dissociation observed supports the hypothesis that the hippocampus and caudate nucleus are parts of systems that differ in the type of memory they mediate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminating age-associated memory impairment from Alzheimer's disease.

The authors attempt to provide a better understanding of the differences between the normal memory decline characteristic of age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and the pathological decline typical of mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). Batteries of traditional memory tests and computer-simulated everyday-memory tests discriminated between the 2 groups, which were matched on age, gender, and education, with reasonable degrees of accuracy (87.5% and 88.4%, respectively). False positives were the most frequent classification errors when using either battery. These results indicate that it is possible to use ecologically valid memory assessment paradigms without sacrificing discriminant validity. The clinical significance of discriminating mild AD from AAMI is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)