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.     

Reciprocal Relationships Between Collective Efficacy and Team Performance in Women's Ice Hockey.

This study examined reciprocal relationships between collective efficacy and team performance over a season of competition in women's intercollegiate ice hockey within weekends where the opponent was constant for 2 games. Collective efficacy beliefs within 12 teams were assessed prior to both games for at least 7 weekends. Team performance indexes produced an overall measure of performance for each game. The average influence of Saturday collective efficacy on Saturday performance was moderate and positive after controlling for Friday performance. The average influence of Friday performance on Saturday collective efficacy was small and positive after removing the influence of Friday collective efficacy from Friday performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reduced modified quadratures for quadratic membrane finite elements

Reduced integration is frequently used in evaluating the element stiffness matrix of quadratically interpolated finite elements. Typical examples are the serendipity (Q8) and Lagrangian (Q9) membrane finite elements, for which a reduced 2 × 2 Gauss–Legendre integration rule is frequently used, as opposed to full 3 × 3 Gauss–Legendre integration. This ‘softens’ these element, thereby increasing accuracy, albeit at the introduction of spurious zero energy modes on the element level. This is in general not considered problematic for the ‘hourglass’ mode common to Q8 and Q9 elements, since this spurious mode is non‐communicable. The remaining two zero energy modes occurring in the Q9 element are indeed communicable. However, in topology optimization for instance, conditions may arise where the non‐communicable spurious mode associated with the elements becomes activated. To effectively suppress these modes altogether in elements employing quadratic interpolation fields, two modified quadratures are employed herein. For the Q8 and Q9 membrane elements, the respective rules are a five and an eight point rule. As compared to fully integrated elements, the new rules enhance element accuracy due to the introduction of soft, higher‐order deformation modes. A number of standard test problems reveal that element accuracy remains comparable to that of the under‐integrated counterparts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frequency domain identification of Wiener models

This paper proposes a frequency domain algorithm for Wiener model identifications based on exploring the fundamental frequency and harmonics generated by the unknown nonlinearity. The convergence of the algorithm is established in the presence of white noise. No a priori knowledge of the structure of the nonlinearity is required and the linear part can be nonparametric.     

Complete mobile email management

Years have lapsed since the inauguration of the first Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) application. One of the main reasons for the lukewarm response so far may be attributed to the lack of a “Killer” application. Many companies and developers have attempted to replicate email services (an Internet Killer appplication) within the WAP realm, but till now, no significant success has been reported. This paper will first discuss on the key functions which are lacking in the present WAP-email service, and which are arguably necessary if a much larger user base is to be attracted to these services. A new system will be proposed which can enable the user to send files residing in a remote personal computer (PC) as attachments to his emails using WAP-enabled mobile devices. The implementation of the system will be presented in details. Issue relating to the connection to various types of email servers and the security of the system will also be addressed in the paper.