Defocusing image to pattern contact holes using attenuated phase shift masks

The patterning of contact holes by selecting out-of-focus image plane (defocus) using attenuated phase shift masks (APSM) has been studied. Defocus is found to enhance the image modulation at low partial coherence for contact holes with negative local average of mask function. Semi-dense holes up to 130 nm in 8% APSM have been printed by 0.5 μm defocus at a partial coherence of 0.31 using KrF scanner with highest numerical aperture of 0.68. However, these holes were closed with in-focus imaging. Defocus is also found to be beneficial for patterning the pitches that have extensive side lobes with in-focus imaging.     

The Intellectual Development of Science and Engineering Students. Part 2: Teaching to Promote Growth

As college students experience the challenges of their classes and extracurricular activities, they undergo a developmental progression in which they gradually relinquish their belief in the certainty of knowledge and the omniscience of authorities and take increasing responsibility for their own learning. At the highest developmental level normally seen in college students (which few attain before graduation), they display attitudes and thinking patterns resembling those of expert scientists and engineers, including habitually and skillfully gathering and analyzing evidence to support their judgments. This paper proposes an instructional model designed to provide a suitable balance of challenge and support to advance students to that level. The model components are (1) variety and choice of learning tasks; (2) explicit communication and explanation of expectations; (3) modeling, practice, and constructive feedback on high‐level tasks; (4) a student‐centered instructional environment; and (5) respect for students at all levels of development.     

硬件锁中的无线USB

无线USB的前途似乎无与伦比——它能消除那些把大家桌面弄得像鼠窝一样小小的不怎么灵便的电缆。但事实上,只有需要大量的外设时无线USB设备才有优势,而且它必须非常微型而廉价,否则带来的麻烦远多于缠绕的电缆。因此,插在PC USB端口作为无线基站的硬件锁就必须有尽可能高的集成度。但一片芯片中要包含USB有线接口、控制器、无线基带和RF电路,技术上还无法实现。下面我们将看到一家供应商Wisalr的一种可量产参考设计,它是如何接近于解决这个问题的。     

Magnetic effects of direct ion implantation of Mn and Fe into p-GaN

In p-GaN implanted with Mn (3×10¹⁶ cm⁻² at 250 keV), the material after annealing shows ferromagnetic properties below 250 K. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of platelet structures with hexagonal symmetry. These regions are most likely Ga_xMn_1−xN, which produce the ferromagnetic contribution to the magnetization. In p-GaN implanted with Fe, the material after annealing showed ferromagnetic properties at temperatures that were dependent on the Fe dose, but were below 200 K in all cases. In these samples, TEM and diffraction analysis did not reveal any secondary phase formation. The results for the Fe implantation are similar to those reported for Fe doping during epitaxial growth of GaN.     

Temporary leukocyte depletion reduces ventricular dysfunction during prolonged postischemic reperfusion

Leukocyte depletion improves early postischemic ventricular performance in neonatal models of global myocardial ischemia. However, the rate of leukocyte reaccumulation after cardiopulmonary bypass and its subsequent impact on myocardial function is not known. This laboratory study examined the effect of leukocyte depletion on myocardial performance during the initial 6-hour period after bypass in an in situ, in vivo porcine model of neonatal cardiac surgery. Fifteen 3- to 5-day-old piglets (eight control and seven leukocyte depleted animals) were instrumented by placement of left ventricular short-axis sonomicrometry crystals and an intraventricular micromanometer catheter. Mechanical leukocyte depletion was achieved with Pall RC100 filters (Pall Biomedical, Inc., Fajardo, Puerto Rico) in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Neonatal hearts were subjected to 90 minutes of hypothermic ischemia after a single dose of cold crystalloid cardioplegia. Two control animals died after the operation and were excluded from data analysis. Leukocyte filtration reduced the granulocyte count during initial myocardial reperfusion to 0.8% of control values. However, circulating granulocyte counts increased in leukocyte depleted animals throughout the postoperative period, reaching 68% of control values by 6 hours. Despite this rapid return of circulating granulocytes, animals subjected to leukocyte depletion had significantly better preservation of left ventricular performance (measured by preload recruitable stroke work, p < or = 0.02), left ventricular systolic function (measured by end-systolic pressure-volume relationship, p < or = 0.05), and ventricular compliance (p < or = 0.04) during the experiment. These changes in ventricular function were associated with a significant increase in left ventricular water content (p < or = 0.02) and tissue myeloperoxidase activity (p < or = 0.005) in control animals compared with leukocyte depleted animals. This study demonstrates that leukocyte depletion during initial reperfusion results in sustained improvement in postischemic left ventricular function despite the rapid return of granulocytes to the circulation.     

Some scientist-practitioners do.

Comments on the argument of L. T. Hoshmand and D. E. Polkinghorn (see record 1992-21300-001) that psychological practice should inform science to the same degree that science informs practice. Based on a survey of 121 faculty members in programs accredited by the American Psychological Association, 65% reported practice activity. The authors agree that the problem involves a much more complex integrative task that goes beyond simply recognizing knowledge gained in practice settings as valid. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chronic fluoride exposure does not cause detrimental, extraskeletal effects in nutritionally deficient rats

On the basis of observations that endemic fluorosis occurs more often in malnourished populations, a series of studies tested the hypothesis that deficient dietary intake of calcium, protein or energy affects fluoride metabolism so that the margin of safe fluoride exposure may be reduced. The objective of the investigation was to determine whether changes in fluoride metabolism in nutritionally deficient rats resulted in manifestation of any extraskeletal toxic fluoride effects not observed in healthy animals. This investigation included two studies, one that monitored the effect of calcium deficiency on the effects of chronic fluoride exposure, and a second study that observed fluoride effects in rats that were deficient either in protein or in energy and total nutrient intake. Control and experimental rats received drinking water containing 0, 0.26 (5), 0.79 (15) or 2.63 (50) mmol fluoride/L (mg/L) for 16 or 48 wk. Control rats were fed optimal diets and experimental rats were fed diets deficient in calcium (Study 1) or protein (Study 2). An additional group of experimental rats (Study 2) was provided with a restricted amount of diet; thus these rats were deficient in energy and total nutrient intake. The intake, excretion and retention of fluoride were monitored; after the rats were killed, tissue fluoride levels and biochemical markers of tissue function were analyzed. Bone marrow cells were harvested from some of the rats, after 48 wk of treatment, for determining the frequency of sister chromatid exchange, a marker of genetic damage. Although there were significant differences among fluoride treatment groups in fluoride excretion and retention that resulted in significantly greater fluoride levels in tissues of the experimental rats, we were unable to detect any harmful, extraskeletal biochemical, physiologic or genetic effects of fluoride in the nutritionally deficient rats.