Characteristics of Reactively Sputtered Niobium Nitride Thin Films as Diffusion Barriers for Cu Metallization

Cheng-Lin Huang,Chih-Huang Lai,Po-Hao Tsai,Hsing-An Huang,Jing-Cheng Lin,Chiapyng Lee 대한금속·재료학회 2013 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.9 No.5

NbN films were prepared by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering and then employed as diffusion barriers between Cu and Si. The microstructure of the NbN films was an assembly of very small columnar crystallites with a cubic structure. To investigate the properties as diffusion barriers, we performed metallurgical reactions of Cu/NbN0.8/Si, Cu/Nb/Si and Cu/TaN0.7/Si for comparisons. The sheet resistance increased dramatically after annealing above 750°C for Cu/NbN0.80/Si, and above 500°C for both Cu/Nb/Si and Cu/TaN0.7/Si. The interfaces were deteriorated seriously and formation of Cu3Si was observed when the sheet resistance was significantly increased. The diffusion coefficient of Cu in NbN barrier films was estimated by using the change of resistance (ΔRs/Rs %). Compared with TaN0.7, NbN0.8 films possess larger grain size and lower Cu diffusion coefficient. Our results suggest that the NbN film can be used as a diffusion barrier for Cu metallization as compared to the well-known TaN film.

In-situ biochar application conserves nutrients while simultaneously mitigating runoff and erosion of an Fe-oxide-enriched tropical soil

Lee, Chia-Hsing,Wang, Chung-Chi,Lin, Huan-Hsuan,Lee, Sang Soo,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Jien, Shih-Hao,Ok, Yong Sik Elsevier 2018 The Science of the total environment Vol.619 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Climate change gives rise to rapid degradation of rural soils in sloping subtropical and tropical areas and might further threaten environmental sustainability. In this study, we conducted an integrated evaluation of the effects of wood biochar (WB) application mixed with a green waste dreg compost (GWC) on runoff quality, soil losses, and agricultural productivity for a highly weathered tropical soil. A conventional agriculture method, in which soils are treated with anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), was also conducted for comparison. The amounts of runoff and soil loss, and nutrient retention were evaluated a year after WB application. Soil fertility was also investigated through a year pot experiment with rape (<I>Brassica campestris</I> L.) cultivation. Our results showed that the WB application not only effectively increased soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) and exchangeable K<SUP>+</SUP> but also increased the production of rape plants. Significant reduction of runoff and the increases of inorganic nitrogen (IN) and total phosphorus (TP) were found in the WB-treated soil. Compared to the control, the co-application of WB and GWC, particularly for the WB at 4%, decreased runoff by 16.8%, soil loss by 25%, and IN loss (via runoff) by 41.8%. Meanwhile, compared to the control and PAM treatments, the co-application of WB and GWC improved soil acidity and the contents of SOC, IN, TP, and exchangeable K<SUP>+</SUP>. The co-application of WB and GWC could be an alternative agricultural strategy to obtain benefits to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Co-applying biochar and compost notably reduced runoff and soil loss by 16%–25% in a tropical soil. </LI> <LI> In-situ biochar applying increased inorganic N, available P and K by 1.5–2.5 times in slopelands. </LI> <LI> Crop productivity was enhanced by biochar applying 1.5–2 times at least in a tropical slopeland. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Initial Factors Influencing Duration of Hospital Stay in Adult Patients With Peritonsillar Abscess

Yu-Hsi Liu,Hsing-Hao Su,Yi-Wen Tsai,Yu-Yi Hou,Kuo-Ping Chang,Chao-Chuan Chi,Ming-Yee Lin,Pi-Hsiung Wu 대한이비인후과학회 2017 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.10 No.1

Objectives. To review cases of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the initial clinical factors that may influence the duration of hospitalization. To determine the predictive factors of prolonged hospital stay in adult patients with peritonsillar abscess. Methods. Subjects were adults hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess. We retrospectively reviewed 377 medical records from 1990 to 2013 in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan. The association between clinical characteristics and the length of hospital stay was analyzed with independent t-test, univariate linear regression and multiple linear regression analysis. Results. The mean duration of hospitalization was 6.2±6.0 days. With univariate linear regression, a prolonged hospital stay was associated with several variables, including female gender, older ages, nonsmoking status, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, band forms in white blood cell (WBC) counts, and lower hemoglobin levels. With multiple linear regression analysis, four independent predictors of hospital stay were noted: years of age (P<0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (P<0.001), ratio of band form WBC (P<0.001), and hemoglobin levels (P<0.001). Conclusion. In adult patients with peritonsillar abscess, older ages, history of diabetes mellitus, band forms in WBC counts and lower hemoglobin levels were independent predictors of longer hospitalization.

台灣社區營造之資源盤點及整合模式建立研究

陳亭伊(Ting-Yi Chen),謝杏慧(Hsing-Hui Hsieh),林漢明(Han-Ming Lin),陳怡昌(Yi-Chang Chen),黃招憲(Jau-Hsien Huang),郭殷豪(Yin-Hao Kuo),Hsin-Mien Wang 한국외국어대학교 대만연구센터 2016 대만연구 Vol.- No.9

For the promotion of community development, the first step is to investigate the specialty resources and human resources, to understand the process and the current appearance of community development, and to explore the future development vision or direction should be promoted. Secondly, the local smart people must have the abilities of cooperation, communication, cross-domain integration, and linking external support. It is one of the keypoints of adding-value workforce. Therefore, leaders of a community must find the local characteristics of the championship, and have the capacity to promote citizen participation and to integrate external support and cooperation, so that communities can acquire and integrate diverse and sufficient resources in order to succeed in community sustainability. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to establish a model of resource inventory and integration. Through the methods of literature analysis and focus group discussion, this paper explores the community cases of Guantu area in Taipei, Shennong Street and Jingliao community in Tainan how to inventory both natural and human resources, to seek community development and value-added directions, to promote civic participation, cooperation, and to link external groups, so as to achieve the success of internal and external resource integration.

A Study of Optical Properties of InGaAs/GaAs Quantum Dots

Gwo-Jen Jan,Chih-Ming Lai,Fu-Yu Chang,Hao-Hsing Lin 한국물리학회 2003 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.42 No.III

The optical properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) were investigated by temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopies. The surface morphology and structure analysis of InGaAs QDs were also examined and characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The In$_{0.5}$Ga$_{0.5}$As/GaAs self-assembled QDs specimens were grown with gas-source molecular beam epitaxy and migration enhanced techniques. The area density of the QDs is on an order of magnitude about 1 $\times$ 10$^{10}$ dots/cm$^2$. The measured PL results exhibited 5 major energy peaks, two of which are attributed to InGaAs QDs, one is attributed to the InGaAs wetting layer and the other two are attributed to GaAs band-gap transitions. Two of the low energy features are identified to the optical transitions of the ground state. They were originated from the two kinds of InGaAs QDs which might be formed with slight change of the indium composition. An inverted ``S curve'' shape of the temperature-dependent PL peak energies was observed. This abnormal behavior of the line-shape is attributed to carrier localization. The results of PR measurement which reveal energy features on the high energy side contributed by GaAs is also reported.

Malignant transformation of ovarian mature cystic teratoma into squamous cell carcinoma: a Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (TGOG) study

An Jen Chiang,Min-Yu Chen,Chia-Sui Weng,Hao Lin,Chien-Hsing Lu,Peng-Hui Wang,Yu-Fang Huang,Ying-Cheng Chiang,Mu-Hsien Yu,Chih-Long Chang 대한부인종양학회 2017 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.28 No.5

Objective: The malignant transformation (MT) of ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT)to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is very rare. This study analyzed cases from multiplemedical centers in Taiwan to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, andprognostic factors of this disease and reviewed related literature. Methods: Pathological reports of 16,001 patients with primary ovarian cancer who weretreated at Taiwan medical centers from 1990 to 2011 were reviewed. In total, 52 patients withMT of MCT to SCC were identified. Results: Among all ovarian MCTs, the incidence of MT to SCC is 0.2%. The median age ofpatients was 52 years (range, 29–89 years), and the mean tumor size was 10.5 cm (range, 1–40cm). We analyzed the patients in our study and those in the literature and determined thatearly identification and complete surgical resection of the tumor are essential for long-termsurvival. In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be usedto treat this malignancy. Old age, large tumor size (≥15.0 cm), and solid components in MCTsare suitable indicators predicting the risk of MT of MCT to SCC. Conclusion: Similar to general epithelial ovarian cancers, the early detection of MT of MCTto SCC is critical to long-term survival. Therefore, older patients with a large tumor or those with a tumor containing a solid component in a clinically diagnosed MCT should beevaluated to exclude potential MT to SCC.