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This paper analyses the antonymy of spatial adjectives. The aim is to verify the extent to which the frequency of occurrence of certain associations is related with the meaning of adjectives and the degree of opposition among members of adjectival antonymic pairs. Adjective antonyms were analysed on the basis of the Associative Dictionary and verbal associations, which were obtained through a survey with associative tests. Based on the material from the dictionary, it was concluded that in adjectives that have regular antonyms, in most cases the antonym appears as the first association. However, the survey has shown that with adjectives that have an antonym, the antonym does not necessarily appear as the most frequent association.

This extensive study considered the air pollution data after the flash smelting technology for copper production had become fully operational. The assessment of the air quality after the implementation was significantly important, since the modernisation was necessary for reducing the environmental contamination in one of the most polluted regions in South-Eastern Europe. The concentrations of SO

One of the aims in reproductive medicine is to differentiate between couples that have favourable chances of conceiving naturally and those that do not. Since the development of the prediction model of Hunault, characteristics of the subfertile population have changed. The objective of this analysis was to assess whether additional predictors can refine the Hunault model and extend its applicability. Consecutive subfertile couples with unexplained and mild male subfertility presenting in fertility clinics were asked to participate in a prospective cohort study. We constructed a multivariable prediction model with the predictors from the Hunault model and new potential predictors. The primary outcome, natural conception leading to an ongoing pregnancy, was observed in 1053 women of the 5184 included couples 120%). All predictors of the Hunault model were selected into the revised model plus an additional seven Ivvoman's body mass index, cycle length, basal FSH levels, tubal status, history of previous pregnancies in the current relationship [ongoing pregnancies after natural conception, fertility treatment or miscarriages), semen volume, and semen morphology. Predictions from the revised model seem to concur better with observed pregnancy rates compared with the Hunault model; c-statistic of 0.71 195% CI 0.69 to 0.731 compared with 0.59 195% CI 0.57 to 0.61). (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Reproductive Healthcare Ltd

Levels of SO2 and metals/metalloids in the air near a copper smelter in Bor (Serbia) from 2009 to 2015 were presented in this study. Annual levels of SO2 were constantly above the proposed limit value (LV), at almost all the measuring sites. SO2 concentrations on an annual level measured in different zones in Bor were several times higher compared to the LV in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Enormously high daily SO2 concentrations measured at the suburban zone (3734μgm-3) was 187 times higher than the LV given by the World Health Organization. Annual arsenic concentrations exceeded the LV at all the measuring sites during the study period. Extremely high annual As level in 2012 was 21 times higher than the LV proposed by the European Union. The annual lead and cadmium concentrations frequently exceeded the LV. The vicinity of the measuring sites to the copper smelter and the location of the sites in regard to the prevailing wind directions contribute to higher content of air pollutants. The data presented in this study revealed that extremely high concentrations of air polluting substances could rank the town of Bor as one of the most polluted regions in Serbia and beyond.

The town of Bor and its surroundings (Serbia) have been under environmental pollution for more than a century, due to exploitation of large copper deposits. Naturally present Corylus spp. were sampled in the surroundings of the mine and flotation tailings at 12 sites distributed in six zones with different pollution loads, under the assumption that all the zones were endangered except for the background. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn inputs from soil and the air were evaluated in plant parts, in terms of absorption, accumulation and indication abilities of Corylus spp. The obtained results showed that As and Cu were the most enriched elements in soil, and their concentration exceeded the limit and remediation values proposed by the regulation. Plant parts (root, branch, leaf and catkin) also showed enrichment of most studied elements in wide ranges. According to the enrichment factor for plant, metal/metalloid inputs, particularly in leaves, were from anthropogenic origin. Plant absorption which occurred at the soil-root interface was low, based on the bioaccumulation factor, which could be indicative of resistance mechanisms of root to abiotic stress induced by a high content of elements in soil substrate. The values of bioaccumulation coefficient suggested weak and intermediate absorption and exclusion abilities of Corylus spp. to the studied elements. Element concentrations differ in unwashed and washed leaves, as well as pollution loads in plant and soil samples from the background, traffic and the sites with clear mining-metallurgical influence. Therefore, Corylus spp. could be promising in biomonitoring studies.

We present analytic solutions for a chaotic dynamical system that do not have the regular timing characteristic of recently reported solvable chaotic systems. The dynamical system can be viewed as a first order filter with binary feedback. The feedback state may be switched only at instants defined by an external clock signal. Generalizing from a period one clock, we show analytic solutions for period two and higher period clocks. We show that even when the clock ‘ticks’ randomly the chaotic system has an analytic solution. These solutions can be visualized in a stroboscopic map whose complexity increases with the complexity of the clock. We provide both analytic results as well as experimental data from an electronic circuit implementation of the system. Our findings bridge the gap between the irregular timing of well known chaotic systems such as Lorenz and Rossler and the well regulated oscillations of recently reported solvable chaotic systems.

This extensive study considered the air pollution data after the flash smelting technology for copper production had become fully operational. The assessment of the air quality after the implementation was significantly important, since the modernisation was necessary for reducing the environmental contamination in one of the most polluted regions in South-Eastern Europe. The concentrations of SO2, PM10 and toxic elements (As, Pb, Cd, Ni) in PM10 samples were monitored at different sites, with respect to the copper smelter, in the period 2016–2019. The air quality evaluation was performed concerning the corresponding limit and target values defined by the Serbian and European legislation, as well as the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO AQG). The measured SO2 concentrations indicated frequent exceedances of the defined daily and annual limit values, at both national and European level. Although exceedances were not as pronounced as in the period before the implementation of the new technology, the episodes of extreme air pollution with SO2 persisted on the daily basis. The maximum daily SO2 concentration of 2125 μg m−3 was more than 100 times higher compared to the WHO AQG, but lower compared to the period before the implementation of the flash smelting technology. The air quality considering PM10 and especially As levels in PM10 samples was notably poorer after the modernisation. The annual target value for As, defined by the European and Serbian Regulation, was exceeded at all the measuring sites, with maximum exceedance of more than 90 times at the suburban site during 2019. The frequent exceedances of the corresponding annual limit and target values were also denoted for Pb and Cd in PM10 samples. The analysed data emphasised that the Bor area could still be characterised as an environmental hotspot in Serbia and beyond.

The structural and optical properties of two 210 nm thick InAsSbBi epilayers grown on (100) GaSb substrates by molecular beam epitaxy at 400 and 280 °C are investigated using X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Both samples are free of observable defects. The higher temperature growth results in reduced Bi incorporation, good optical performance, smooth interfaces, and lateral composition modulation of the Bi mole fraction. The lower temperature growth results in near unity Bi incorporation, poor optical performance, interface roughness, and CuPtB -type atomic ordering on the {111}B planes.

In this talk, we describe a chaotic electronic circuit designed to realize a physical random number generator that is easily integrated. The small footprint of the circuit enables massive parallel realization to achieve high-speed, true-random bit sequences. The analog circuit can be fully characterized, and conjugacy to a symbolic shift proves the presence of chaos. The symbolic representation also provides a rigorous means to extract the maximum entropy from the chaotic device. Analysis of the circuit dynamics reveals critical tunings that yield special Markov properties, which are essential for removing correlations in the random sequences. Practically important is the presence of a sensitive circuit statistic that enables efficient feedback control to the Markov tuning. Numerical simulation and breadboard experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed physical random number generator device.

This study aimed to evaluate the activities of five soil hydrolases (β-glucosidase, urease, arylsulphatase, acid and alkaline phosphatase) as indicators in the area characterized with long-term pollution from one of the biggest copper smelters in Southeastern Europe. Sampling of the root zone soil of Plantago spp. was performed at five sites, at different distances from the copper smelter as the main pollution source. The results revealed serious heavy metal pollution of soil, whereby Cu, Pb and Zn were described as the primary pollutants. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were about 100, 5, and 4 times higher, respectively, than the corresponding limit values defined by the Serbian Regulation at the extremely polluted site in the proximity to the copper smelter. Among the five studied soil hydrolase activities, arylsulphatase was found to be the most sensitive to the soil heavy metal content, being significantly negatively correlated with Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn. Enzyme activity change ratio indicated inhibition of arysulphatase activity in the contaminated soils. The results denoted that arysulphatase activity could be regarded as an indicator of the soil contamination by heavy metals. The observed effects of the heavy metal concentrations on the soil enzyme activities pointed out the potential alterations of soil nutrient cycles, as well as soil quality degradation.

Optimal communication waveforms matched to a large and practically important class of filters are investigated and shown to be chaotic. Filters of this class are defined by an infinite impulse response (IIR) and a transfer function comprising a finite number of distinct stable poles. This class contains many of the most popular and widely used filter families, including Butterworth, Chebyshev (type I), and Bessel. For such a filter, a matched basis function is derived and convolved with a random binary sequence to construct a communication waveform. It is shown that this waveform is chaotic in the sense that it is deterministic and characterized by a positive Lyapunov exponent. This result supports a recent conjecture that optimal communication waveforms matched to stable IIR filters are chaotic, and it further establishes that chaos is fundamental to modern communication theory.

Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements are reported for InAsSbBi alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy with Bi mole fractions ranging from 0 to 0.8%, yielding minority carrier lifetimes on the order of hundreds of nanoseconds. The minority carrier lifetimes extracted from the time-resolved photoluminescence measurements are comparable to those of lattice-matched InAsSb grown at the same respective temperatures. Nomarski imaging shows that smooth, droplet-free surface morphologies are obtained in 1 μm thick InAsSbBi epilayers grown at temperatures between 360 and 380 °C. The alloy composition-dependent bandgap energies for the InAsSbBi samples are determined from temperature-dependent steady-state photoluminescence measurements and compared with the tetragonal distortion measured by x-ray diffraction to determine the Sb and Bi mole fractions of each sample. The minority carrier lifetime and the achievable extension of the InAsSb(Bi) cut-off wavelength are analyzed as functions of alloy composition and compared with the performance of InAsSb layers with similar growth parameters.

This research was conducted in order to determine As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations in soil and parts of wild rose (Rosa spp., predominantly Rosa canina L.) in the Bor area, known for more than 100 years of mining and pyrometallurgical production of copper, as well as to determine the possibility of its usage as an environmental indicator or for phytoremediation. The results showed that the sampled soils were highly contaminated with As and Cu, since the obtained concentrations exceeded the corresponding limit and remediation values. The soil samples from the sites which were closest to the Mining-Metallurgical Complex or in the prevailing wind directions were most enriched with the analyzed elements. According to the element analysis in the parts of Rosa spp., branches, leaves, and roots contained higher concentrations of the studied elements than the fruits. Based on the values of the biological factors, it can be concluded that Rosa spp. restricted the absorption of the elements from the soil. Since the absorption rates from soil to roots were low for all the studied elements, Rosa spp. was not suitable for the phytoextraction or phytostabilization. Statistically significant positive correlations of the elements in the soil and parts of Rosa spp. indicated their anthropogenic origin. Differences in the element concentrations in the plant parts and the soil samples from the background and the sites which were under the influence of the emissions from the Mining–Metallurgical Complex indicated that Rosa spp. had a potential for usage in biomonitoring.

Radio-Frequency (RF) losses on High-Resistivity Silicon (HRS) substrates were studied for several different surface passivation layers comprising thin-films of SiC, SiN and SiO 2 In many combinations, losses from conductive surface channels were reduced and increasing the number of interfaces between thin-films was found to be beneficial. In some cases the surface losses were completely eliminated. For example, with plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (PECVD) α-SiC layers up to a few tens of nm thick and exposed to nitridation or SiN growth at 850°C to form a SiC:N interface layer, values for the total losses of 1.6 dB/cm were achieved. Analysis of these layers was performed by using temperature dependent measurements of the RF losses on Coplanar Waveguides (CPWs), the capacitance-voltage characteristics and the sheet resistance along the Si surface. The overall results can be explained by assuming that the thin-films are so defected that they allow vertical current paths to highly-resistive interface layers where both fixed and mobile charge can be stored.

In this work, we present the results of integrated Ge detectors grown on a Si photonic platform for sensing applications. The detectors are fabricated on a passive photonic circuit for maximum coupling efficiency. Measurement results at 1300 nm wavelength show a responsivity of 0.2 A/W and very low dark current levels. For a voltage range between 0 and −10 V, the dark current is better than 0.1 nA which is crucial for highly sensitivity devices and applications, like OpticalCoherence Tomography.

The suitability of linden and elder as biomonitors was evaluated in the tourist zone of the Bor region well known for pyrometallurgical copper production. The concentrations of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in the soil, washed and unwashed leaves and roots of linden and elder were determined. The absorption of As, Cu, Pb and Zn from soil to roots and leaves, as well as the translocation of the studied elements from roots to leaves, was analysed. It was observed that the soil in the tourist zone of Bor (Bor lake and Brestovac spa) was greatly polluted with Cu and As. Linden and elder leaves can be used as a low-cost material for detection of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in the atmospheric deposition, which was concluded due to the amounts of these elements removed after a washing treatment. Thus, canopies of linden and elder might have an important role in the removal of the polluting substances from the air. The elder leaves were more suitable to be used for indication of environmental pollution with As, Cu and Pb than the linden leaves. The area of the Bor lake sampling site had higher air pollution with As and Pb than Brestovac spa, since greater amounts of As and Pb were washed off the linden and elder leaves from the Bor lake sampling site. The linden and elder used different adaptation strategies in conditions of the increased soil and air pollution. These strategies were based on different efficiencies of element absorption from the soil and on limited or efficient translocation of the studied elements from roots to leaves, and therefore, they have an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of the examined elements in the environment.

Objectives To examine Serbian gynaecologists' attitudes and practices related to contraception and abortion, as the principal alternative to contraception. Methods A self-reported questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of gynaecologists attending educational meetings of a medical society from October 2012 to October 2013. The data gathered were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Almost half of the respondents had ethical objections and would refuse to provide certain contraceptives to patients. Two thirds of the gynaecologists (63%) considered fertility awareness methods to be a poor option for most women. Twenty-three percent objected to abortion. Those who objected to contraceptives were less likely to object to abortions (OR: 0.422). This attitude was more prevalent in Southern and Eastern Serbia, where gynaecologists were more likely to object (OR: 4.892) and to refuse to prescribe contraceptives (OR: 4.161), but less likely to object to abortion (OR: 0.278) than in other regions. Conclusions A large proportion of Serbian gynaecologists objected to some contraceptive methods and were more in favour of abortions, especially in the least developed regions.

Emergency hormonal contraception is used to prevent unintended pregnancy postcoitally. The mechanism of action of the most frequently used hormonal preparations for emergency contraception, levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA), is still not fully known, but clinical trials indicate that they act by inhibiting or delaying ovulation. LNG has a long history of use for emergency contraception, proven safety and high efficacy if administered in the preovulation period. The newest emergency contraceptive, UPA, available only with a prescription, is indicated within this period of 120 hours after sexual intercourse and the data indicate that UPA does not lose efficacy within this period. Clinical trials showed its noninferiority versus LNG and its effect on the potentially occurring pregnancy is being additionally monitored. However, many misconceptions and controversial opinions about emergency contraception are still present, even among pharmacists. A search of Medline database identified 20 papers published from January 1993 to December 2012, on pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to emergency contraception. In these papers, the attitudes of pharmacists pertaining to the dispensing regime of emergency contraception were different. Research in Australia has shown that personal attitudes and religious convictions influence the practice of dispensing emergency contraception. In the research conducted in New Mexico, 30% of pharmacists were against prescribing emergency contraception for religious or moral reasons. There were no published data in regards to pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and dispensing practice in Serbia and such research is highly recommended. Hitna hormonska kontracepcija se koristi za sprečavanje neželjene trudnoće postkoitalno. Mehanizam dejstva najčešće korišćenih preparata hitne kontracepcije, levonorgestrela (LNG) i ulipristal-acetata (UPA) još uvek nije u potpnosti poznat, ali klinička ispitivanja ukazuju da je u pitanju inhibicija ili odlaganje ovulacije. Za hitnu kontracepciju dugo se koristi LNG, jer ima dokazanu bezbednost i visoku efikasnost, ukoliko se primeni u periodu pre ovulacije. Najnoviji preparat iz ove grupe, UPA, koji se izdaje samo na recept, može se primeniti u periodu od 120 sati nakon seksualnog odnosa. U kliničkim ispitivanjima se nije pokazao lošijim u odnosu na LNG, a njegov uticaj na eventualno nastalu trudnoću se dodatno prati. Podaci ukazuju na činjenicu da UPA ne gubi na efikasnosti u periodu od 120 sati. Međutim, prisutne su mnoge zablude i kontroverzna mišljenja o hitnoj kontracepciji, čak i među farmaceutima. Pretraživanjem Medline baze podataka nađeno je 20 radova objavljenih u periodu od januara 1993. do decembra 2012. godine koji razmatraju znanje, stavove i praksu farmaceuta u vezi sa hitnom kontracepcijom. U ovim radovima se stavovi farmaceuta razlikuju po pitanju režima izdavanja hitne kontracepcije. Istraživanje u Australiji pokazalo je da lični stavovi i religijska uverenja utiču na način izdavanja hitne kontracepcije. U istraživanju u Novom Meksiku 30% farmaceuta je bilo protiv propisivanja hitne kontracepcije iz religioznih ili moralnih razloga. Među pronađenim radovima nije bilo podataka o istraživanjima iz Srbije. Preporuka je da se sprovedu istraživanja o znanju, stavovima i praksi farmaceuta u vezi sa hitnom hormonskom kontracepcijom u Srbiji.

A large number of dielectric layer stacks of different combinations of SiC, SiN and SiO2 are studied with respect to their ability to suppress surface-channel currents that give radio-frequency (RF) and microwave losses in coplanar waveguides (CPWs), integrated on high-resistivity silicon (HRS) substrates. Measurements are performed of the Space Charge Layer sheet resistances (SCL-RSH) and the RF losses in CPWs. The lowest, bias-independent losses of 1.6 dB/cm are achieved on thin Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD)-nitrated Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) amorphous ( α -) SiC layers, for which the surface currents are conducted away from the crystalline HRS into the α -SiC:N. The nitridation appears to have changed the surface of the SiC from an insulating to a highly resistive layer, where the presence of SiC:N compounds suggests a possible n-doping by nitrogen. The α -SiC/SiC:N layer is known to remain stable during high-temperature thermal treatments typically used for dopant activation as indicated previously.

Recently, a class of chaotic hybrid dynamical systems has been shown to have analytic solutions. Here we present a new example in this class and its electronic circuit implementation. This example builds on a previous study of a first order system in which a set point is switched between two values at times dictated by an external clock. We explore increasing the number of set points. An analytic solution to the system is presented and an electronic circuit is described. The circuit consists of an unstable resistor-capacitor filter with switching feedback. The feedback switches the set point to any number of values at times determined by an externally generated clock signal.

We carried out a cross-sectional, web-based study to identify predictors (personal characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes) of Serbian pharmacists' decisions to decline emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) dispensing. In total, 452 questionnaires were completed and analyzed. Half of the surveyed pharmacists had poor knowledge of ECP. Almost the same number (42%) had either never undertaken training in these products or did not remember having training. The less knowledgeable respondents were more likely to decline ECP provision overall (OR 1.862) and in particular circumstances (nonintended user (OR 1.412) or > 72 h after intercourse (OR 1.445)). To expand availability of these products, well-organized trainings are needed.

While to date investigations provided convincing evidence on the role of aristolochic acids (AAs) in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and upper urothelial cancer (UUC), the exposure pathways by which AAs enter human bodies to cause BEN and UUC remain obscure. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that environmental pollution by AAs and root uptake of AAs in the polluted soil may be one of the pathways by which AAs enter the human food chain. The hypothesis driving this study was that the decay of Aristolochia clematitis L., a AA-containing herbaceous plant that is found growing widespread in the endemic regions, could release free AAs to the soil, which could be taken up by food crops growing nearby, thereby transferring this potent human nephrotoxin and carcinogen into their edible parts. Using the highly sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection method, we identified and quantitated in this study for the first time AAs in corn, wheat grain, and soil samples collected from the endemic village Kutles in Serbia. Our results provide the first direct evidence that food crops and soil in the Balkans are contaminated with AAs. It is possible that the presence of AAs in edible parts of crops originating from the AA-contaminated soil could be one of the major pathways by which humans become exposed to AAs.

Emergency contraception (EC) in Serbia is available in two products: Levonorgestel, which has nonprescription status, and Ulipristal acetate, which is a prescription-only medicine. Considering their dispensing statuses, gynecologists and pharmacists are health care professionals (HCPs) with the widest impact on EC use. Yet little is known about their beliefs and practices regarding these medicines. We surveyed 166 gynecologists (during October 2012-October 2013) and 452 community pharmacists (during January-April 2014). Results showed significant differences between these two groups, suggesting that provision of EC to users may be inconsistent. Gynecologists were more convinced than pharmacists that EC would reduce the abortion rate (86% versus 53%, p lt .001). However, they were more concerned than pharmacists that easy access to EC would cause less regular contraceptive use (66% versus 29%, p lt .001) and risky sexual behaviors, including initiating sexual activity at a younger age (37% versus 19%, p lt .001) and having more sexual partners (33% versus 12%, p lt .001). Additionally, more pharmacists than gynecologists (12% versus 2%, p lt .001) said they would not provide EC to anyone under any circumstance, even to victims of sexual assault. These results indicated a need for reevaluating and establishing official guidelines for dispensing practices. This is peer-reviewed version of the following article: Milosavljevic, J.; Bogavac-Stanojevic, N.; Krajnovic, D.; Mitrovic-Jovanovic, A. Serbian Gynecologists’ and Pharmacists’ Beliefs about Emergency Contraception. Women Health 2017, 57 (4), 508–519. [https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1176099]

A silicon photodiode detector is presented for use in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Enhanced imaging capabilities are achieved for sub-keV electron energy values by employing a pure boron (PureB) layer photodiode technology to deposit nanometer-thin photosensitive anodes. As a result, imaging using backscattered electrons is demonstrated for 50-eV electron landing energy values. The detector is built up of several closely packed photodiodes, and to obtain high scanning speed, each photodiode is engineered with low series resistance and low capacitance values. The low capacitance (

A novel thermal micro-stepper motor (TMM) principle based on friction and thermal expansion has been developed. Its objective is to move, rotate, align and adjust micro-objects with nanometre precision while having a long stroke. In this study, the design of a linear and a rotational motor and their microfabrication is presented. The fabricated devices were characterised and the first experimental results are presented. Several challenges in MEMS design, microfabrication and micro-assemble the future moving axel with the microsystem had to be overcome.

This paper reviews special RF/microwave silicon device implementations in a process that allows two-sided contacting of the devices: the back-wafer contacted silicon-on-glass (SOG) substrate-transfer technology (STT) developed at DIMES. In this technology, metal transmission lines can be placed on the low-loss glass substrate, while the resistive/capacitive parasitics of the silicon devices can be minimized by a direct two-sided contacting. Focus is placed here on the improved device performance that can be achieved. In particular, high-quality SOG varactors have been developed and an overview is given of a number of innovative highly-linear circuit configurations that have successfully made use of the special device properties. A high flexibility in device design is achieved by two-sided contacting because it eliminates the need for buried layers. This aspect has enabled the implementation of varactors with special Ndx -2 doping profiles and a straightforward integration of complementary bipolar devices. For the latter, the integration of AlN heatspreaders has been essential for achieving effective circuit cooling. Moreover, the use of Schottky collector contacts is highlighted also with respect to the potential benefits for the speed of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs).

To investigate the contribution of central vasopressin receptors to blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) response to stress we injected non-peptide selective V(1a) (SR49059), V(1b) (SSR149415), V(2) (SR121463) receptor antagonists, diazepam or vehicle in the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious freely moving rats stressed by blowing air on their heads for 2 min. Cardiovascular effects of stress were evaluated by analyzing maximum increase of BP and HR (MAX), latency of maximum response (LAT), integral under BP and HR curve (integral), duration of their recovery and spectral parameters of BP and HR indicative of increased sympathetic outflow (LF(BP) and LF/HF(HR)). Moreover, the increase of serum corticosterone was measured. Exposure to air-jet stress induced simultaneous increase in BP and HR followed by gradual decline during recovery while LF(BP) oscillation remained increased as well as serum corticosterone level. Rats pre-treated with vasopressin receptor antagonists were not sedated while diazepam induced sedation that persisted during exposure to stress. V(1a), V(1b) and V(2) receptor antagonists applied separately did not modify basal values of cardiovascular parameters but prevented the increase in integral(BP). In addition, V(1b) and V(2) receptor antagonists reduced BP(MAX) whereas V(1a), V(1b) antagonist and diazepam reduced HR(MAX) induced by exposure to air-jet stress. All drugs shortened the recovery period, prevented the increase of LF(BP) without affecting the increase in serum corticosterone levels. Results indicate that vasopressin receptors located within the central nervous system mediate, in part, the cardiovascular response to air-jet stress without affecting either the neuroendocrine component or inducing sedation. They support the view that the V(1b) receptor antagonist may be of potential therapeutic value in reducing arterial pressure induced by stress-related disorders.

The paper presents experimental data of breakdown voltage as a function of voltage increase rate for nitrogen-filled tubes at pressures of 133 and 399 Pa. By fitting this data using polynomial approximation, static breakdown voltages for these tubes were estimated. The influence of voltage increase rate, voltage step, time interval between successive voltage step, and relaxation time on the static breakdown voltage was analyzed. The processes in gas advanced during breakdown were also analyzed, as well as their influence on the breakdown voltage.

Thin aluminum nitride (AlN) films, deposited by means of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) to a thickness up to 200 nm, are studied as RF passivation layers for transmission lines High Resistivity Silicon (HRS) substrates. Excellent passivation properties are demonstrated by measuring RF losses on coplanar waveguides (CPWs) as well as the space-charge-layer sheet resistance (SCL-RSH) on specially designed MISFET structures. Compared to oxide interfaces the losses go from a strongly bias-dependent ~ 10 dB/cm to a bias-independent 1.7 dB/cm for the AlN:Si interfacial layer, corresponding to an increase of SCL-RSH from ~ 104 Ω/□ to 107 Ω/□. The results suggest that a high resistive AlN:Si layer is formed by interdiffusion of the AlN and underlying Si which then conducts the parasitic interface currents.

An account is given of an experimental investigation of the snarling of different yarns by the use of a simple determination of free-hanging open-yarn-loop geometrical parameters. The experimental results enabled the relative importance of individual loop parameters to be compared, the reproducibility of the results obtained to be investigated, and their dependence on the yarn-twist level to be determined. The differences in conventional-yarn and rotor-spun-yarn torsional rigidities and their influence on the results were established, as would be expected. This simple method is recommended as one that gives a good indication of the behaviour of various spun structures under torsion.

A Pure Boron (PureB) photodiode technology is developed for low-energy (down to 200 eV) electron detectors, and implemented in a versatile production-ripe process for highspeed detectors for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It is here investigated with respect to transfer from the existing low-resistivity-silicon (LRS) process to a locally-thinned high-resistivity-silicon (HRS) process. In this way a lower capacitance, i.e., a wider low-doped region, can be achieved. A trade-off must be made to meet the demands of optimized SEM imaging: the larger lateral depletion of each photodiode can be in conflict with the requirement to have the detector divided into arrays of several electrically-separated closely-packed photodiodes. Here a 37% reduction in total capacitance is achieved, with junction capacitance of < 1 pF/mm2, while detection efficiency, series resistance, dark current, and packing density are kept within specifications.

Silicon nanowire FET arrays have been designed and fabricated with a relatively low-cost, but wafer-scale process without the use of e-beam lithography. An optimized fabrication process that improves the etching uniformity of NWs and also provides a better control of the NW dimensions is presented. The fabricated devices are electrically characterized and their performance is discussed. A dedicated measurement set-up and a preparation procedure to employ these SiNW FET arrays for real time monitoring of the substance P activation of neurokinin (NK1) receptors in HEK 293 cells are presented.

This paper places focus on the special properties of pure boron chemical-vapor deposition (CVD) thin-film layers that, in several device applications, have recently been shown to augment the potentials of silicon device integration. Besides forming a reliable an efficient dopant source for both ultrashallow and deep p+n junctions, the deposited amorphous boron (α-B) layer itself, even for sub-nm thicknesses, is instrumental in suppressing minority electron injection from the n-region into the p+ contact. Therefore, even for nm-shallow junctions where the current levels mainly will approach high Schottky-like values, the diodes exhibit saturation current levels that can become as low as that of conventional deep junctions. Moreover, the α-B layer has chemical etch properties that make it particularly suitable for integration as the front-entrance window in photodiodes for detecting nm-low-penetration-depth radiation and charged particles.

This paper presents a new method of supplying the high doses of boron needed for creating several micron deep p+n junctions. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in a Si/SiGe epitaxial reactor, of nanometer-thick pure boron layers is used to fabricate 5 μm deep p+n junctions. The 10 min B deposition is combined with a 195 min drive-in at 1100°C to give a resulting sheet resistance of 3.1 Ω/sq. For as-deposited B-layers in windows through an silicon dioxide isolation to the Si substrate, reactions of the Si with oxide at the perimeter of the deposited windows will be enhanced by the presence of the B-layer during the high-temperature drive-in. Detrimental effects such as lateral contact window widening, small surface defects and/or large spikes formation, are avoided by capping the surface of the windows with either thermal oxide in a selective process or a low-pressure CVD (LPCVD) oxide during the drive-in. A good electrical quality of the oxide capping layer was achieved. The surface morphology was investigated by atomic force and scanning electron microscopy (AFM/SEM) analysis and found to depend on the overall method of fabrication.

A new silicon electron detector technology for Scanning Electron Microscopy, based on ultrashallow p+n boron-layer photodiodes, features nm-thin anodes enabling low-energy electron detection with record-high sensitivity down to 200 eV. Designs with segmented, closely-packed photodiodes and through-wafer apertures allow flexible configurations for optimal material and/or topographical contrasts. A high scanning speed is obtained by growing a well-controlled, lightly-doped, tens-of-microns-thick epi-layer for low capacitance, and by patterning a conductive grid directly on the photosensitive surface for low series resistance.

Integration and properties of devices processed by excimer laser annealing are presented. The best results are achieved by shallow implantations into a native-oxide-free silicon surface and laser annealing with the remainder of the device protected by an Al reflective layer. Low- temperature MISFETs are fabricated with a metal- gate high-k gate stack of PECVD SiO2 and ALD Al2O3 with an EOT of 9.2 nm and an Al-gate. The source/drain regions are self-aligned to the metal gate, which also serves as a laser masking reflective layer. Ablation of the masking layer is prevented due to the low thermal resistance of the thin underlying gate dielectric. The measured devices exhibit good current drivability, which improves with higher laser energy. The maximum processing temperature of the presented MISFETs is 400 C and can potentially to be reduced down to 300 C.

This paper reviews special RF/microwave silicon device implementations in the back-wafer contacted Silicon-On-Glass (SOG) Substrate-Transfer Technology (STT) developed at DIMES. In this technology, metal transmission lines can be placed on the low-loss glass substrate, while the resistive/capacitive parasitics of the silicon devices can be minimized by a direct two-sided contacting. Focus is placed here on the device level aspects of the SOG process. In particular, complementary bipolar device integration and high-quality varactors for high-linearity adaptive circuits are treated in relationship to developments in back-wafer contacting and the integration of AlN heatspreaders.

This paper reviews several novel process modules developed for the processing of the backside of the wafer of our substrate-transfer technology called back-wafer-contacted silicon-on-glass (SOG), which is in use for fabricating RF/microwave devices such as high-quality varactors and bipolar transistors. In this technology the silicon wafer is transferred to glass by gluing. The integrity of the acrylic adhesive limits the subsequent processing temperatures to less than 300°C. Ultra-low-temperature process modules have therefore been developed to nevertheless allow the creation of low-ohmic contacts and high-quality ultrashallow junctions. Moreover, a physical-vapor deposition of AlN provides an effective means of integrating a thin-film dielectric heatspreader.

This paper reviews the applications and potentials of back-wafer contacted silicon-on-glass (SOG) substrate-transfer technology (STT) particularly for RF and microwave silicon-device-design enhancement. This type of SOG process gives direct access to the part of the device that is usually connected via the bulk Si, by allowing advanced patterning and contacting of the backside of the wafer (back-wafer) with respect to the front of the wafer (front-wafer). In this manner the resistive and capacitive parasitics of the device itself, which in silicon often inhibit high-frequency (HF) performance, can be reduced to a minimum. At the same time new device concepts are made possible. Examples of fabricated devices (varactor diodes, vertical double-diffused MOSFETs (VDMOSFETs) and complementary bipolar transistors) are given and described in relationship to issues such as the very limited thermal budget permitted in the back-wafer processing and the inherently high thermal resistance of the SOG devices

Ring-gate MOSFET test structures have been developed with which a differential measurement technique can be used to accurately determine the surface-charge-layer sheet resistance on high-resistivity-silicon substrates. The difference in substrate properties and influence of special surface passivation techniques that are designed to suppress the otherwise conductive surface channel can thus be monitored and characterized for RF transmission line applications.

Turpentine-induced acute-phase (AP) response in rats is followed by transcriptional activation of the alpha2-macroglobulin (MG) gene mediated by cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glucocorticoids. Based on nucleotide sequence analysis of the alpha2-MG gene promoter regions responsive to IL-6, we postulated that binding of members of the liver-enriched CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) family of transcription factors to the type I IL-6 responsive element (IL-6RE) may participate in the transcriptional activation of this gene during AP response. Results of Western immunoblot and Northern-blot assays revealed coordinate changes in the pool levels of C/EBPalpha, -beta. and -delta protein isoforms and their genes expression in liver in response to turpentine. By means of an in vitro phosphorylation assay, South-Western blot, and selective proteolysis we have also found that only abilities of 35-kD C/EBPbeta and 27-kD C/EBPdelta to bind to the alpha2-MG gene promoter were affected by phosphorylation. Based on these data we concluded that transcriptional induction of the rat alpha2-MG gene during AP response correlates with both increased synthesis and phosphorylation-induced binding of 35-kD C/EBPbeta and 27-kD C/EBPdelta.