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Presents a study which gave the segregation and transport coefficients at the Si/SiO[sub2] interface. Significance of the impurity redistribution across the Si/SiO[sub2] interface to the fabrication of scaled integrated circuits; Analytical model of impurity transport at an oxidizing Si/SiO[sub2] interface; Temperature dependencies of the segregation and transport coefficients.

We propose a new approach of smearing origins of a zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) in high-Tc superconductor tunnel junctions through the analysis based on the circuit theory for a d-wave pairing symmetry. The circuit theory has been recently developed from conventional superconductors to unconventional superconductors. The ZBCP frequently appears in line shapes for this theory, in which the total resistance was constructed by taking account of the effects between a d-wave superconductor and a diffusive normal metal (DN) at a junction interface, including the midgap Andreev resonant states (MARS), the coherent Andreev reflection (CAR) and the proximity effect. Therefore, we have analyzed experimental spectra with the ZBCP of Ag-SiO-Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212) planar tunnel junctions for the {110}-oriented direction by using a simplified formula of the circuit theory for d-wave superconductors. The fitting results reveal that the spectral features of the ZBCP are well explained by the circuit theory not only excluding the Dynes's broadening factor but also considering only the MARS and the DN resistance. Thus, the ZBCP behaviors are understood to be consistent with those of recent studies on the circuit theory extended to the systems containing d-wave superconductor tunnel junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates suitability of FD-SOI devices for low power digital and RF applications for wireless communication. FD-SOI CMOS offers an approximately 60% power reduction over bulk CMOS while maintaining operation speed. Passive devices for RF applications exhibit excellent Q values. In particular, cross-talk immunity at gigahertz range is superior to the bulk. These are very attractive for mixed signal circuits in the gigahertz era. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present the temperature dependence of tunneling spectra of as-grown Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals. An enhancement of the zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) was observed for the ab-plane tunnel junctions. The ZBCP has appeared below the bulk superconducting critical temperature Tc. This experimental result suggests that the ZBCP obviously arises by way of the superconducting gap and not the pseudogap. This result is consistent with recent studies of the Andreev bound states model for d-wave superconductors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

SummaryAims Recently an (A–C)n dinucleotide repeat polymorphic marker in the 5′-region of the ALR2 gene encoding aldose reductase was found to be associated with diabetic retinopathy in the Chinese population in Hong Kong, and with nephropathy and neuropathy in the British Caucasian population. The present study assessed the association between the polymorphism and microvascular complications in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods DNA from 87 Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 90 control subjects with normal glucose tolerance were typed for the polymorphic marker by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Results Six alleles, namely Z-12, Z-6, Z-4, Z-2, Z, and Z+2 were identified. There was no significant difference in allele distribution between diabetic patients and controls. The Z-2 allele frequency was significantly higher in subjects with diabetic retinopathy than those without retinopathy (0.35 vs. 0.20, P = 0.039), suggesting that aldose reductase is involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy. In contrast, the microsatellite marker was not associated with diabetic nephropathy, peripheral or autonomic neuropathy. The discrepancy may be partly attributable to the low frequency of Z+2 allele in the Japanese subjects. Conclusions The (A–C)n dinucleotide repeat polymorphism may be a useful genetic marker to screen for patients at high risk of retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost plastic packaging of laser diodes and photodiodes mounted on planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platform are developed and its reliability is confirmed under various environmental and endurance tests. The high performance of the module is maintained under reliability tests, such as high-humidity high-temperature tests (85°C, 85%RH) and temperature cycling tests (-40°C/85°C). No laser diodes show any device characteristics change during environmental tests and their stability has very little dependence on current bias. Although the photodiodes show an increase in leakage current under high-temperature high-humidity tests and the rate of leakage current increase is proportional to the square root of bias voltage, the increase is negligible for system use. These plastic modules can be applied to actual access networks and other fiber-optic networks [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Several recent studies have indicated that the Fas-Fas ligand system may be critical for pancreatic beta-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes. Although the fundamental roles of caspases in the mammalian apoptotic machinery have been elucidated, it is not known which caspase or caspases play a major role in Fas-mediated apoptosis of beta-cells. In this study, we transfected human Fas cDNA into a mouse beta-cell line (betaTC1) and established a beta-cell clone expressing human Fas. This clone, designated hFas/betaTC1, underwent apoptosis when exposed to anti-Fas, showing hallmarks of apoptosis (chromatin condensation, nucleolar disintegration, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and annexin V staining), indicating that the mouse beta-cell line has the intact machinery of Fas-mediated apoptosis. The cross-linking of Fas by anti-Fas resulted in the elevation of caspase-3-like, but not caspase-1-like, protease activity 2-12 h after the addition of the anti-Fas. A caspase-3 inhibitor, Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, attenuated the Fas-mediated beta-cell apoptosis, while a caspase-1 inhibitor, acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethylketone, failed to suppress the apoptosis. Thus the Fas-induced death signal apparently bypassed caspase-1 in the cells. Furthermore, an antisense caspase-3 construct blocked caspase-3 activation and substantially suppressed Fas-triggered apoptosis of hFas/betaTC1 cells. These observations suggest the essential role of caspase-3 in Fas-mediated apoptosis of the beta-cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents user-interface facilities of a map information system (HI-MAP) which provides visual feedback to the user. The facilities include semantic panning and zooming, overlaying of thematic maps, etc., and are available to the user through an interactive menu system. In accordance with the user's requirements, HI-MAP retrieves map elements in a specified region on the basis of their relevance and their categorical classification. It has a data structure which includes logical and physical hierarchies for the management of semantic relationships and graphic map elements. The software for implementing these facilities is well modularized, and a variety of interfacing modes can be realized by simple communication between modules. The system contributes toward reduction of the difficulties in obtaining what is really required from databases. Our trial can be seen as a step toward visualization of database manipulation languages to reduce semantic gaps between the user's view and the system's functions, and supports our general research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]