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Abstract: The physical origin of both Negative- and Positive Bias Temperature Instability (N-/PBTI) is still unclear and under debate. We analyzed the rarely studied recovery behavior after PBTI stress in pMOSFETs and compared it with NBTI data obtained from the same technology. While recovery after short stress times is consistent with the previously reported emission of trapped holes, for stress times larger than 10ks we observe an unusual recovery behavior not reported before. There, the device degradation appears to continue during recovery up to approximately 30s. Only after that time “normal” recovery behavior dominates. We thoroughly analyze this new observation as this may have significant consequences regarding our understanding of both PBTI and NBTI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Autosomal dominant episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) results from mutations of the CACNA1A gene. We describe EA2 with unusual features in a father and daughter with a novel CACNA1A mutation coding for Y248C. Both patients showed severe cerebellar atrophy in MRI and clinical signs of progressive spinocerebellar atrophy type 6. Most disabling were the very frequent episodes of ataxia with migraine (with aura in the father and without aura in the daughter) and nystagmus in our patients. Additionally, they suffered from ictal hyperhidrosis with acute hypothermia of the extremities. Lastly, the father presented with interictal chronic diarrhea not associated to a known primary gastrointestinal disorder. Both ictal hyperhidrosis and interictal diarrhea ameliorated upon acetazolamide intake, the typical treatment for EA2. The significance of these findings is discussed and the phenotype correlated to previously reported cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]