Showing papers by "University of Colorado Colorado Springs published in 1994"

Determinants of innovative behavior: a path model of individual innovation in the workplace

Abstract: The present study integrated a number of streams of research on the antecedents of innovation to develop and test a model of individual innovative behavior. Hypothesizing that leadership, individual problem-solving style, and work group relations affect innovative behavior directly and indirectly through their influence on perceptions of the climate for innovation, we used structural equation analysis to test the parameters of the proposed model simultaneously and also explored the moderating effect of task characteristics. The model explained approximately 37 percent of the variance in innovative behavior. Task type moderated the relationship between leader role expectations and innovative behavior.

Role of consciousness and accessibility of death-related thoughts in mortality salience effects.

Abstract: On the basis of terror management theory, research has shown that subtle mortality salience inductions engender increased prejudice, nationalism, and intergroup bias. Study 1 replicated this effect (increased preference for a pro-U.S. author over an anti-U.S. author) and found weaker effects when Ss are led to think more deeply about mortality or about the death of a loved one. Study 2 showed that this effect is not produced by thoughts of non-death-related aversive events. Studies 2 and 3 demonstrated that this effect occurs only if Ss are distracted from mortality salience before assessment of its effects. Study 4 revealed that although the accessibility of death-related thoughts does not increase immediately after mortality salience, it does increase after Ss are distracted from mortality salience. These findings suggest that mortality salience effects are unique to thoughts of death and occur primarily when such thoughts are highly accessible but outside of consciousness. Language: en

Thought Self‐leadership: Finding Spiritual Fulfilment in Organizational Life

Abstract: Offers a number of insights into the nature of spirituality in organizations and how employees can gain greater spirituality and purpose in their work. Specifically, proposes that a recent leadership theory, thought self‐leadership, can assist employees in influencing or leading themselves towards experiencing more spirituality in their organizational life.

Five-years experience with intravascular lead extraction. U.S. Lead Extraction Database.

Abstract: From December 1988 to April 1994, the extraction of 2,195 intravascular pacing leads from 1,299 patients was attempted at 193 centers. Indications were: infection (54%, including 10% septicemia), pacemaker reoperation with removal of nonfunctional or incompatible leads (40%), and other causes (6%). Extraction was attempted via the implant vein using locking stylets and dilator sheaths, via the femoral vein using snares, retrieval baskets, and sheaths, or via both approaches. Leads had been implanted for 0.2 months to 24 years (mean 56 months). At the conclusion of the intravascular procedure, 86.8% of the leads were completely removed, 7.5% were partially removed, and 5.7% were not removed. For physicians performing their first case, 12% of leads were not removed; for physicians who had performed more than 10 cases, only 2% of leads were not removed. Of the 189 leads where extraction attempts had previously failed, 75.1% were completely removed, 14.8% were partially removed, and 10.1% were not removed. Scar tissue increased in severity with implant duration, was a complicating factor, and was the main cause of failure to remove leads. Use of the femoral approach increased with implant duration (5% of leads implanted 12 months or less, 11% of leads 13 months to 3 years, 20% of leads 4-7 years, and 31% of leads 8-24 years), primarily because of increasingly abundant scarring and prior lead damage. Fatal and near fatal complications occurred in 2.5%, including 8 (0.6%) deaths (3 hemopericardium/tamponade, 1 hemothorax, 3 pulmonary embolus, 1 stroke).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Imagery interventions in sport.

Abstract: The use of imagery processes in the regulation and enhancement of sports performance is examined in this review paper Research studies in this area are reviewed and four general categories of research are identified: 1) mental practice, 2) precompetition imagery, 3) comparisons of successful and unsuccessful competitors, and 4) mediating variables The conclusion is reached that mental practice research has produced equivocal results and the reasons for this are examined The argument is made that the mental practice model for research into imagery processes in sports is nonproductive Suggestions for future research directions are offered and guidelines for productive imagery research in sport are provided

Fiber optic guide wire and support catheter therefor

Abstract: A guide wire for a catheter has a tubular portion with a flexible body fixed to its distal end. The distal end of the body may be composed of a radiopaque material. Optical fibers are disposed within the assembly and terminate in a radiopaque tip at the distal end of the body. The guide wire may have a longitudinal marker wire or mandrel for providing stiffness and radioscopic tracking characteristics, as well as providing torsional control and tip shaping capabilities. The guide wire has a proximal end attached to the tube and a distal end that also terminates in the tip. The wire may be maneuvered in a vascular area like a conventional guide wire and may be used in conjunction with a support catheter to increase its maneuverability. Then, laser energy is conveyed to the vascular area by the optical fibers to ablate an obstruction. The proximal end of the guide wire is then removed and a larger catheter may then be slid over the guide wire to continue the ablation operation. Employing plastic tubing, a wire coil, or a combination of these two for the distal body, the guide wire may be used in peripheral or coronary angioplasty applications. The guide wire may be used in conjunction with a support catheter which is used to direct the guide wire to a treatment site and provides improved tracking characteristics.

Motion estimation coprocessor

Abstract: A motion estimation coprocessor (20) for use in a video data system. The motion estimation coprocessor may be used with a video memory (175) that subdivides a P row x Q column image of pixels into several pages. The page structure enables efficient loading of video data into the coprocessor. The motion estimation coprocessor may perform several block matches simultaneously. The motion estimation coprocessor may perform exhaustive block matching or use a hierarchical search.

Mapping a social network of heterosexuals at high risk for HIV infection.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To determine how heterosexuals at risk for HIV infection interconnect in social networks and how such relationships affect HIV transmission. DESIGN Cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews to ascertain sociosexual connections; serologic testing. PARTICIPANTS Prostitute women (n = 133), their paying (n = 129) and non-paying (n = 47) male partners; injecting drug users (n = 200) and their sex partners (n = 41). Participants were recruited in sexually transmitted disease and methadone clinics, an HIV-testing site, and through street outreach in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported behaviors, risk perceptions, sociosexual linkages, and HIV prevalence. RESULTS Respondents were well informed, but reported engaging in high-risk behaviors frequently. Nevertheless, over 70% of respondents perceived themselves to be at low risk for HIV infection. The 595 respondents identified a social network of 5162 people to which they belonged. Network analytic methods indicated 147 separate connected components of this network; eight of the 19 HIV-positive individuals in the network were located in smaller components remote from the largest connected component. CONCLUSION The isolated position of HIV-positive individuals may serve as a barrier to HIV transmission and may account for the lack of diffusion of HIV in heterosexual populations in this region. Network analysis appears useful for understanding the dynamics of disease transmission and warrants further development as a tool for intervention and control.

Polarization Fatigue Characteristics of Sol-Gel Ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 Thin-Film Capacitors

Abstract: Fatigue characteristics of PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3 (PZT) thin-film capacitors made by sol-gel spin coating have been evaluated using hysteresis measurement by bipolar continuous pulses. The following three stages were found according to the cumulative polarization switching cycles: (1) slow fatigue stage at the initial switching cycles, (2) logarithmic fatigue stage at middle switching cycles which is recognized in general, (3) saturated stage at extremely large number of switching cycles. The decays of the nonswitched parts started in the middle of the logarithmic fatigue stage. The switching cycles at half of the initial remanent polarization are exponentially proportional to reverse electric field, and the degradation is explained in terms of an "electric-field-activating process" with an accelerating factor of 1.2×10-3 in units of decade kV/cm on our PZT thin-film capacitors. Temperature dependence of fatigue characteristics was unexpectedly small and activation energy was estimated to be 0.051 eV. A plausible fatigue model is proposed in which injected charge initiates the polarization fatigue.

Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of malingered and other invalid WAIS-R and clinical memory data

Abstract: To further the understanding of malingering and other compromises to data validity on standard neuropsychological tasks, the present study evaluated WAIS-R and clinical memory data produced by two groups from a mildly head-injured sample: Malingerers (MPs; n = 12) were identified via below chance forced-choice testing; “QVs” (n = 10) provided implausible neuropsychological performances but were not clearly malingering A low level of performance characterized the data of the MPs and QVs: Full Scale IQ and Performance IQ were significantly lower for MPs and QVs than for matched controls, and obtained IQ for MPs and QVs averaged 18 points below estimated IQ On the California Verbal Learning Test, total words recalled and recognition memory were significantly lower for MPs and QVs than for controls In contrast, qualitative analyses, such as approximate answers, bizarre responses, “scatter” on the WAIS-R, inconsistency in performance across similar tasks, clustering, and intrusions on memory measur

A three-invariant smooth cap model with mixed hardening

Abstract: A cap model is presented that uses a multiplicative formulation to define a smooth (continuous derivative) failure surface that includes the third stress invariant. This formulation offers several advantages over previous cap model formulations: elimination of ‘corner’ coding, resulting in a numerical algorithm suitable for vectorization; a three stress invariant implementation that is easily specialized to classical failure surfaces or generalized to represent observed material response; and a framework for easily implementing additional model features such as kinematic hardening as demonstrated.

Data compression and decompression using memory spaces of more than one size

Abstract: A method for storing data in a memory, including compressing fixed-sized pages of data, and storing the compressed pages into available smaller memory spaces on a medium if the compressed page will fit into such space, or storing the compressed pages onto available larger memory spaces on the medium, if the compressed page will not fit into the smaller space.

Characteristic Change Due to Polarization Fatigue of Sol-Gel Ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 Thin-Film Capacitors

Abstract: We studied the fatigue characteristics of sol-gel ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 (PZT) thin-film capacitors measuring hysteresis loops, time-zero current voltage characteristics and the dielectric constant after polarization switching. All evaluations were carried out on samples with certain switching cycles at the slow fatigue stage, logarithmic fatigue stage and saturated stage. Oxygen-deficient regions at the interfaces at both the top and bottom electrodes were formed after fatigue, as found by observing Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth profiles. Time-zero current-voltage (I-V) characteristics show that ohmic leakage current increased as the switching cycles increased during fatigue. This indicates that oxygen vacancies as donors arising during fatigue may compensate the lead vacancies as acceptors. The electric field dependence of Pr+-Pr- and that of the dielectric constant show that the motion of domains, which can move in the electric field near a coercive field, is suppressed after fatigue. We conclude that the oxygen vacancies suppress the domain motion and cause remanent polarization degradation. Since the biased-dielectric constant beyond 150 kV/cm showed no significant change after fatigue, it seems that no low-dielectric-constant regions adjacent to the electrode were generated during fatigue.

Ferroelectric integrated circuit

Abstract: An oversize ferroelectric capacitor is located against the contact hole to the MOSFET source/drain in a DRAM. A barrier layer made of titanium nitride, titanium tungsten, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, indium tin oxide, tin dioxide, ruthenium oxide, silicon, silicide, or polycide lies between the ferroelectric layer and the source drain. The barrier layer may act as the bottom electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor, or a separate bottom electrode made of platinum may be used. In another embodiment in which the barrier layer forms the bottom electrode, an oxide layer less than 5 nm thick is located between the barrier layer and the ferroelectric layer and the barrier layer is made of silicon, silicide, or polycide. A thin silicide layer forms and ohmic contact between the barrier layer and the source/drain. The capacitor and the barrier layer are patterned in a single mask step. The ends of the capacitor are stepped or tapered. In another embodiment both the bottom and top electrode may be made of silicon, silicide, polycide or a conductive oxide, such as indium tin oxide, tin dioxide, or ruthenium oxide.

The impact of ethgender on self-esteem among adolescents

Abstract: This study examined the impact of ethgender, the combination of race and gender, on global and public domain aspects of adolescent self-esteem. Using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a 3-item index, differences were observed among 10 ethgenders. Black and Hispanic males had the highest levels of global self-esteem, and Asian and Native American Females had the lowest. On public domain components white and black males had the highest scores, and Asian and Native American females had the lowest. Females (except blacks) had lower levels of both global and public domain self-esteem than did males.

Image compression coprocessor with data flow control and multiple processing units

Abstract: The present invention provides an image compression/decompression coprocessor (410) which is integrated on a single chip. The control bus has a control unit (418) which is connected by an internal, global bus (416) to a number of different, special purpose processing units (414, 420, 422, 424, 426 and 428). Each of the processing units is specifically designed to handle only certain steps in compression and decompression processes.

Dielectric breakdown in high-ε films for ULSI DRAMs: II. barium-strontium titanate ceramics

Abstract: We present a study of breakdown fields in BaxSr1−xTiO3 ceramics as functions of thickness, temperature, applied voltage ramp rate, electrode material and cross-sectional area. The data show evidence of Zener-like breakdown mechanisms. The d.c. leakage currents at voltages below breakdown are dominated by tunneling injection and image forces at low voltages (≤3 V), Schottky behavior at intermediate voltages V a (3 V ≤ V a ≤ 6 V; 150 kV/cm ≤ E ≤ 300 kV/cm), and Fowler-Nordheim tunneling at high voltages; it is shown that both the Schottky emission regime and the ultimate breakdown arise from inter-grain effects rather than the BST/electrode interface, in accord with the theory of Neumann and Arlt and of Waser and Klee. In contrast to PbZrxTi1−xO3 (PZT), which displays avalanche breakdown and space-charge limited d.c. leakage currents at normal 5 V silicon IC voltages, BST exhibits Schottky-dominated leakage currents in this 5 V regime, and is dominated by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling in its breakdown ...

Remote usability testing

Abstract: Imagine being able to collect data lie static and full motion screen images, user video, and user comments , through your computer. Think about observing from your office or lab as an evaluation participant worked in their own o&e. What if you could sample from an intercity, interregional, or international user base without having to leave your office or lab? Thanks to recent developments in the areas of information sharing and collabora-tive work tools, each of these objectives is now attainable Usability evaluators can now view computer networks and modem connections as frameworks upon which distributed usability labs can be constructed, and all network or modem accessible machines as potential windows into remote test sites. These remote test sites can range from a machine down the hall to one on the other side of the world. The technological building blocks needed to create remote testing facilities are now available, in varying degrees, on all major computing platforms (i.e., Unix, MS Windows, Macintosh, OS/2). With computer-to-computer video conferencing tools product development teams can now both see and listen to evaluation participants sitting in front of properly equipped computers anywhere in the world. They can observe evaluation participants as they examine and annotate screen shots or g documentation using shared whiteboard tools. Observers can also watch full motion images of f the participant's screen from remote locations H g as participants use their products. By mixing p and matching these technological building i blocks, usability specialists can conduct a myri-ad of usability engineering activities remotely.

Viscous air damping in laterally driven microresonators

Abstract: A systematic experimental study of viscous air damping in laterally moving planar microstructures is reported. Previous studies indicated that Couette and Stokes flow models underestimated microstructural damping. To investigate this discrepancy, a series of lateral resonant microstructures with different damp plates and combs was fabricated with polysilicon surface micromachining. The resonant frequencies and quality factors of the structures were measured electrically. By examining these data, the damping due to different geometries were isolated and compared to theory. The results indicated that if edge and finite-size effects are included in the model, reasonably accurate prediction on the quality factors can be obtained even for small geometries and comb drives. An empirical formula was developed that predicts quality factor for a range of plate size and comb designs. The damping effects as a function of structural thickness and structure-to-substrate separation are also reported.

Mechanical energy management in cycling: source relations and energy expenditure.

Abstract: Conservation of energy suggests that during cycling the constrained lower extremity is capable of delivering energy to the bicycle without expending energy to move the limbs. The purpose of this study was to characterize the management of mechanical energy during cycling and, specifically, to evaluate the potential for system energetic conservatism. Mechanical energy contributions derived from lower extremity energy sources were computed for 12 experienced male cyclists riding at five combinations of cadence and power output. The knee joint dominated (>50%) in contributing to system energy and a moderate amount of energy was derived from hip joint reaction forces (>6%). Energy generations and dissipations at the sources were sensitive to power output and, within the range of conditions studied, insensitive to cadence. Two energy models estimated mechanical energy expenditure under hypothetical single-joint and multijoint muscle operating conditions. When multi-joint muscles were incorporated into the energy management analysis, a significant reduction in mechanical work relative to the single-joint muscle operation occurred. Energy savings associated with multijoint muscle energy transfers were enhanced at higher bicycle power levels, suggesting that conservation of mechanical energy is plausible given appropriate actions of two-joint muscles.

Digital L-band receiver architecture with direct RF sampling

Abstract: This paper describes the architecture of a fully digital receiver well suited for Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite radio-navigation and other spread-spectrum applications. The unique design of this receiver allows phase coherent measurements to be made across a broad range of frequencies, enabling optimal combination of a set of measurements from signals on different frequencies, for example GPS L1, L2, and L3, GLONASS or ground-based pseudolites. The receiver methodology provides precise absolute positioning measurements by maintaining phase coherency between frequencies of interest by direct L-band digital sampling. A one-bit sampler head is discussed that is suitable for navigation and digital communications applications. Surveillance applications can be accommodated with an expanded, multi-bit sampler. The design is particularly suited for chip set integration leading to a miniaturized and low cost receiver. Design of the receiver's digital front-end provides coherency between the code and carrier phase of the measurements across a 400 MHz bandwidth with down-conversion effected by digital techniques. In addition, it features a software configurable topology that enables filter parameters to be loaded dynamically, allowing rapid change of tracking frequency. The flexible "software receiver" architecture has been developed to allow the receiver to be dynamically reconfigured for different applications. This allows the receiver channels to be used for GPS navigation, ionospheric calibration, attitude determination, or even GLONASS navigation simply through software commands. Sampler performance criteria are discussed as well as test data demonstrating the effect of sampler performance on the receiver correlation loss. >

Casework, Issue Positions, and Voting in Congressional Elections: A District Analysis

Abstract: Democratic theory suggests that representation should be associated with both service and policy responsiveness. There is, however, serious question about whether either kind of responsiveness plays any significant role in the outcomes of congressional elections and about whether greater service responsiveness eliminates the need for policy responsiveness. Part of the problem with resolving these questions has been with the kind of data available, since individual-level data on congressional districts are hard to find (compared to data for presidential contests) and are unlikely to combine measures of both kinds of responsiveness. This study utilizes data gathered in a particular congressional district (both data on actual member-constituent contacts and survey data) to discern more explicitly whether ombudsman service and relative issue proximity to the incumbent affects constituent vote choice. The findings support the position that both service and policy responsiveness matter in congressional elections.

Ferroelectric non-volatile memory unit

Abstract: An integrated circuit non-volatile, non-destructive read-out memory unit includes a ferroelectric capacitor having first and second electrodes, a capacitance Cf, and an area Af, and a transistor having a gate, a source and a drain forming a gate capacitor having an area Ag and a gate capacitance Cg, a gate overlap b, and a channel depth a, with the capacitor first electrode connected to the gate of the transistor. The ferroelectric material has a dielectric constant ef and the gate insulator has a dielectric constant eg. A source of a constant reference voltage is connectable to the first electrode. A bit line connects to the second electrode. In one embodiment the first electrode and gate are the same conductive member. In another embodiment the second electrode and the gate are the same conductive member and the first electrode is formed by extensions of the transistor source and drains underlying the gate, with the ferroelectric material between the source and drain extensions and the gate. The memory unit has the parametric relationships: Cf<5×Cg, Af≦2Ag, b≧2a, and eg≧ef/8.

On the relationship of the five-factor personality model to personality disorders: four reservations

Abstract: McCrae and Costa since 1986 have proferred a five-factor personality model as a lingua franca among different psychometric test users, and they suggest that their operationalization of the five-factor model, the NEO Personality Inventory, may also be useful in the clinical assessment of the abnormal personality. The present study examined the inventory and its relationship to the 11 personality disorders of Axis II of DSM-III-R in a sample of 180 adults. Correlational multivariate analyses appear to indicate a limited usefulness of the five-factor model in the understanding of personality disorders, and four major objections are offered. Further research with clinical samples, other models of personality, and other measures of personality disorders are encouraged.

Non-volatile memory

Abstract: A ferroelectric, non-volatile memory (336) includes a constant voltage source (85), a bit line (79), a memory cell (70) having a first ferroelectric capacitor (76) connected between the bit line (79) and the constant voltage source (85), a source (105) of a reference voltage, and a latch (74) connected between the bit line (79) and the reference voltage source (105). The latch (74) drives the bit line (79) to the same logic state as the ferroelectric capacitor (76) to read and rewrite the capacitor (76) in a single operation. The reference voltage is between QI/CD and QSW/CD + QI/CD, where QI is the linear capacitance of said first ferroelectric capacitor (76), CD is the capacitance of said bit line (79), and QSW is the switching charge of said first ferroelectric capacitor (76). In one embodiment, the reference voltage is provided by a ferroelectric dummy capacitor (141) having an area smaller than the area of the first capacitor (128) but greater than 1/2 the area of the first capacitor (128).

Effectiveness of azelastine nasal solution in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Abstract: Azelastine is a novel antiallergy medication currently under investigation for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Pharmacologic studies in laboratory animals and in vitro model systems ...

Antifuse programmable element using ferroelectric material

Abstract: An electrically programmable antifuse element using ferroelectric materials for the insulative dielectric layer, methods for producing same, and an integrated circuit applying a plurality of ferroelectric antifuse elements in a two dimensional matrix of rows and columns for use as a programmable logic device (PLD) or as a programmable read-only memory (PROM). A ferroelectric material is formed between two conductive electrodes to create a ferroelectric antifuse element. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of chemically distinct materials is layered to form the dielectric layer. The combined application of an AC electric field and a DC electric field breaks down the ferroelectric material to form a low-resistance conductive filament. The synergy of the two electric fields permits programming antifuse elements of the present invention by applying DC electric fields as low as 2 volts amplitude. In the preferred embodiment, as compared to prior designs, antifuse devices of the present invention display higher resistivity in the unprogrammed state due to the high dielectric constant of ferroelectric materials and lower resistivity in the programmed state because the ferroelectric material breaks down into metal oxide conductive filaments. The resistivity of the conductive filament may be reduced further by the blending of materials through substitution rather than doping processes.