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OBJECTIVE Twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is a rare congenital anomaly that is difficult to distinguish from moyamoya angiopathy (MMA), given the similarity of the angioarchitectures. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the radiological and clinical features of T-MCA and to distinguish this condition from MMA. METHODS A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 29 patients with T-MCA and 57 patients with MMA. Demographic, radiological, and clinical data were compared between the patients with T-MCA and those with MMA. RESULTS The T-MCA group tended to be older than the MMA group (mean age 47 ± 18 vs 39 ± 22 years). Twenty patients with T-MCA (69%) were initially diagnosed with MMA. All T-MCA cases had twig-like networks and steno-occlusive changes involving the MCA. The T-MCA group had a higher incidence of intracranial aneurysms (35% vs 11%) and coexisting arterial anomalies (48% vs 12%). T-MCA and MMA cases had significant differences in involvement of the internal carotid artery terminus (0% vs 100%) and posterior cerebral artery (0% vs 23%), and in transdural anastomosis (0% vs 51%). T-MCA cases were less likely to present with stroke (59% vs 86%) and more likely to be asymptomatic (28% vs 12%). Of the patients with stroke, those with T-MCA had more hemorrhagic strokes (41% vs 29%) and fewer ischemic strokes (59% vs 71%) compared to those with MMA. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that T-MCA is a different disease entity from MMA based on significant differences in the radiological and clinical features. Neurosurgeons should recognize this anomaly and understand the key features that differentiate T-MCA from MMA.

Background Brain abscess is a life-threatening event. Moreover, when Klebsiella pneumoniae is the cause, rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment are required. Klebsiella invasive liver abscess syndrome, a bloodstream metastatic infection of potentially aggressive nature, has been recognized to cause infection in the central nervous system, and concern for Klebsiella liver abscess syndrome is increasing globally. Case presentation A 73-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to the institution complaining of aggravated dysarthria and weakness in the right upper extremities with onset 5 days earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a brain abscess in the left basal ganglia, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a liver abscess in liver segment 7. The patient’s dysarthria symptoms became increasingly worse over the next few days, so surgical drainage via frontotemporal craniotomy was performed on admission day 3, and subsequent culture from the brain abscess showed growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae. On admission day 9, percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the liver segment 7 abscess was undertaken. The pus culture also showed growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae, thus associating the liver abscess with the brain abscess. Following long-term conservative treatment with antibiotics and abscess drainage, the liver abscess disappeared. However, the patient continuously presented with right upper quadrant pain, and abdominal computed tomography showed swelling of the gallbladder. Consequently, percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage was initially administered, and the bile culture was also positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. For radical treatment, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on admission day 99. The postoperative period was complicated by an intraabdominal abscess; however, conservative therapy was successful. She was subsequently discharged, and 12-month follow-up revealed no further sequelae. Conclusions We describe a rare case of Klebsiella liver abscess syndrome, which first presented with a central nervous system manifestation. Our patient was successfully treated via an early surgical intervention and subsequent antibiotic therapy. Although surgical drainage remains the cornerstone treatment for brain abscess, when a brain abscess is found, and there is a high index of suspicion for the existence of a liver abscess, Klebsiella liver abscess syndrome should be considered as a possible diagnosis.

A 63-year-old man developed vomiting, paraparesis, dysuria, bulbar palsy, and orthostatic hypotension over a period of 5 months. Neuroradiological examinations showed a swollen lower brainstem with a dural arteriovenous fistula at the craniocervical junction (DAVF-CCJ). A steroid was administered intravenously in the hospital to relieve brainstem edema. A few hours later, however, the patient developed acute tetraparesis with respiratory failure. Recently, there have been several reports describing the acute worsening of paraparesis in patients with a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula after steroid treatment. In addition to these reports, the present case suggests the risk of administering steroids to patients with DAVF-CCJ, especially those with brainstem dysfunction.

The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of golimumab on large joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.We recruited 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and evaluated the radiographic severity of large joint destruction using the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis by scoring of large joint destruction and healing in radiographic imaging (ARASHI) score. We evaluated 450 large joints including the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle at baseline and 52 weeks after treatment with golimumab. Rapid radiographic progression (RRP) and rapid radiographic improvement (RRI) were calculated and the correlation between large joint destruction and clinical factors was analyzed.The mean age of the study population was 61.29 ± 14.71 years old, and most patients (91.1%) were female. The mean disease duration was 12.6 ± 12.48 years. The cohort included patients in all clinical stages of disease as defined by the Steinbroker criteria (I:7, II:10, III:9, IV:19) as well as clinical classes 2 (n = 18), 3 (n = 26), and 4 (n = 1) and the mean disease activity score-CRP (DAS28-CRP) was 4.431 ± 1.044. Patients were treated with methotrexate (mean dose 6.44 ± 1.78 mg/week), prednisolone (PSL) (mean dose 1.078 ± 1.871 mg/d), and golimumab (44.4% of 100 mg). RRP was evident in 20% of the large joints treated with golimumab, and, therefore, golimumab was effective at inhibiting large joint destruction in 80% of joints. RRI was evident in 33.3% of large joints following golimumab treatment. We also observed that EULAR response criteria significantly correlated with the ARASHI change score at 52 weeks after treatment. The total ARASHI status score significantly correlated with the Sharp-van der Heijde score, but not with the delta total sharp score. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the total ARASHI change score was only correlated with EULAR response criteria significantly.Golimumab therapy was effective at inhibiting large joint destruction of RA patients who have good clinical response, including higher improvement of the shoulder and ankle joints than other large joints.

We demonstrate clear self-heating effects (SHEs) of bulk and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFETs for various SOI/buried oxide (BOX) thicknesses including ultra-thin 6 nm BOX, which was not detected by the ac conductance method, using the four-terminal gate resistance technique. We clarify that the SHE in bulk MOSFETs originates from the degradation of thermal conductivity in a heavily doped well region. The strong chip-temperature dependence of the SHE was observed only in bulk MOSFETs. As results of the chip temperature-dependent SHE of bulk devices and the SHE suppression by BOX thinning, the device temperature of ultra-thin BOX SOI MOSFETs is close to that of bulk MOSFETs at an elevated chip temperature, which suggests the thermal advantage of extremely thin BOX structures.

Ruptured aneurysms of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) after radiotherapy for vestibular schwannoma (VS) are rare, and no definite treatment has been established for distal AICA pseudoaneurysms. We describe a 61-year-old man who underwent Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for left VS. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed partial regression of the tumor. Twelve years after GKS, he suffered from subarachnoid hemorrhage. Initial angiogram showed no vascular lesions; second left vertebral angiogram, 10 days after admission, demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm in the lateral pontine segment of the left AICA. The proximal portion of the AICA was occluded by a coil. Postoperative MRI revealed an infarction on the left side of the pons and brachium pontis. Although the patient suffered from mild postoperative cerebellar ataxia and facial and abducens nerve palsy, he was discharged 1 month postoperatively requiring no assistance with activities of daily living. Twelve months later, he recovered satisfactorily with a modified Rankin Scale grade of 1, and no recanalization of the aneurysm was found on MR angiography. Endovascular parent artery occlusion for ruptured aneurysms at distal AICA carries the risk of brain stem infarction, but should be considered when no other option is available such as after radiotherapy for VS.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the levels of stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and its receptor C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in synovium were correlated with clinical outcome and bone and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients being treated with golimumab.Synovial tissues were obtained from 15 golimumab-treated patients and were assessed for SDF-1 and CXCR4 using a new immunohistological scoring system (IH score). The IH score was used to assess correlations between synovial SDF-1 or CXCR4 and the disease activity score (DAS28 CRP), Rooney score, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), CD4, CD20, CD68 and the Assessment of RA by Scoring of Large-Joint Destruction and Healing in Radiographic Imaging (ARASHI) score. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict ARASHI scores from the CXCR4 IH scores.SDF-1 strongly correlated with the DAS28 CRP and serum IL-6. CXCR4 correlated with synovial CD4 and the ARASHI score. ROC analysis of CXCR4 and ARASHI scores 10 indicated a cutoff of 12 points on the IH score for predicting joint destruction during treatment.Synovial SDF-1 correlated with disease activity, and its receptor CXCR4 was related to joint destruction in RA patients treated with golimumab.

Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) in synovium and the disease activity score (DAS) 28 (C-reactive protein, CRP) in treatment of infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. Synovial tissues were obtained from 16 infliximab-treated patients and assessed for TNF-α and IL-6 with a new immunohistology (IH) scoring system. The validation of IH score was performed and applied for the analysis of correlation between synovial TNF-α or IL-6 and DAS28 (CRP) in addition to Rooney score.Results. The IH score had high internal validity; the IH score of TNF-α strongly correlated with serum CRP and matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3), as well as DAS28 (CRP) and the Rooney score. IL-6 did not correlate with DAS28 (CRP).Conclusions. This study indicates that the IH score is useful as a new procedure to assess the cytokine expression easily and TNF-α in synovium correlates with disease activity in patients...

Stabilization against humidity of Limaprost (a prostaglandin E₁ derivative), which is currently marketed as Opalmon, was undertaken using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Aqueous solutions of Limaprost alfadex/dextran 40 were lyophilized with and without β-CD. Limaprost alfadex lyophilized with β-CD was more chemically stable in humid conditions than that without β-CD. Moreover, the addition of β-CD as an excipient to tablets of these lyophilized composites remarkably improved the stability of Limaprost, and Limaprost in this moisture-resistant formulation was chemically stable for 19 weeks at 30°C, 75% relative humidity (R.H.). Chemical analysis of Limaprost and its degradation products indicated that degradation proceeded in the inclusion form (i.e., within the CD cavity). Solid (2)H-NMR spectroscopic studies showed that β-CD constrained the molecular mobility of water in the solid state. These results suggested that the stabilization of Limaprost by β-CD was at least partly due to the restricted molecular mobility of water, which acted as a catalytic species for the degradation, and also to the protection of the five-membered ring of Limaprost from water catalytic dehydration through inclusion complex formation with β-CD.

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive model to express nMOSFET threshold voltage shift induced by stress, ranging from a high tensile one to a high compressive one. Using this model, the quantum confinement effect, combined with large out-of-plane stress, is shown to play an important role to cause the threshold voltage shift as large as about 80 mV induced by high-film-stress contact etch-stop layer.

A procedure for obtaining pure glycoasparagine specimens was developed. This method constitutes ion-exchange chromatography in a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 (borate form) column, using a linear gradient of borate buffer as the eluent. With no conversion, almost all the individual glycoasparagines, including some new ones, derived from ovalbumin could be isolated in pure form. By the borate-ion exchange chromatographic technique presented here, different types of neutral glycoasparagnes having a differing ability to form a complex with borate ions.

Limaprost/α-cyclodextrin (CD)/β-CD ternary inclusion complex was prepared by freeze-drying a solution containing all three components. Under humid conditions, limaprost was more stable in the ternary α-/β-CD inclusion complex than in the binary α- or β-CD complex. Specifically, during storage at 30°C/75% relative humidity (R.H.) for 4 weeks, about 19% of limaprost degraded into 17S,20-dimethyl-trans-Δ(2)-prostaglandin A1 (referred as 11-deoxy-Δ(10)) in the β-CD complex, 8.1% degraded in the α-CD complex, and only 2.2% degraded in the α-/β-CD complex. The mechanism of limaprost stabilization in the presence of both CDs was investigated by Raman and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry. The fast degradation of limaprost to 11-deoxy-Δ(10) in the β-CD complex was due to the rapid crystallization of β-CD from the complex, liberating the free amorphous drug, which is susceptible to degradation. The dissociation and crystallization of β-CD from the inclusion complex were suppressed by freeze-drying limaprost in the presence of both α- and β-CDs. In addition, the interaction between limaprost and the two CDs was reinforced by inclusion of different moieties of limaprost: α-CD predominantly included the alkyl ω-chain, whereas β-CD included the five-membered ring. Thus, a stable ternary inclusion complex was formed that included limaprost, maintaining the amorphous state of the complex and dramatically stabilizing the drug under humid conditions.

The aim of this study was to investigate histological changes of bone marrow in response to tocilizumab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After tocilizumab therapy, bone marrow tissues were extracted from ten RA patients at the time of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Control samples were obtained from ten RA patients who underwent MTX mono-therapy. Histological examination of structural differences between the tocilizumab and control groups in bone marrow was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to evaluate differences. In immunohistochemical examination, the expression of seven molecules including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), CD68, osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear kappa B ligand (RANKL), CD4 and osteopontin (OPN) were compared between two groups. NTx was significantly low at 44.5 ± 2 nM BCE/mM Cr compared with control at 73.2 ± 8 nM BCE/mM Cr. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the bone marrow tissues of the RA patients who underwent tocilizumab therapy demonstrated significant positive OPG as compared with the control. However, immunohistochemical examinations after tocilizumab revealed that TNF-α, IL-6, CD68, CD4, OPN and RANKL were not significantly different with control of MTX in bone marrow. Therefore, treatment with tocilizumab increased the expression of OPG as the histological changes with respect to inhibit RANKL-related bone resorption of bone marrow in RA.

Aims: To determine what clinical factors relating to efficacy besides complications of orthopedic surgery for patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy (infliximab), we analyzed the clinical data of 52 cases of orthopedic surgery, such as total hip arthroplasy (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total shoulder arthroplasy (TSA), total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), arthroscopic synovectomy, foot arthroplasty, spine surgery, hand surgery and fracture. Methods: We analyzed clinical factors including age, disease duration, preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score (DAS)-28, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and rheumatoid arthritis particle-agglutination (RAPA) in 52 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing orthopedic surgery. For complications of orthopedic surgery, signs of postoperative infection were recorded, including rubor, discharge, systemic infection and frequencies of wound dehiscence, as well as the incidence of any surgical complication requiring a secondary revision procedure were measured. Results: Signs of infection or surgical complications occurred in two of 52 patients (3.8%). There is significant correlation between RAPA and improvement of CRP 3 months after surgery; however, there is no correlation between infection and clinical factors including age, disease duration, preoperative CRP, MMP-3, RAPA and the period until surgery after infliximab infusion. Conclusion: Infliximab did not increase the risk of either infections or surgical complications occurring in patients with RA within 1 year of orthopedic surgery. Improvement of CRP after surgery is likely to be due to infliximab for high RAPA in RA patients.

Ultra-low off current (Ioff < 1 pA/μm) “silicon on thin buried oxide (SOTB)” CMOSFETs were developed using 65-nm technology. The off current of SOTB CMOSFETs was studied and gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) was adequately reduced by controlling the gate-overlap length. A back-gate bias in a SOTB scheme was demonstrated, and the inverter delay was compared with conventional low-standby-power bulk CMOSFETs. We show small variation in SOTB devices and estimate the standby leakage of a 1-M bit SRAM. The half threshold voltage standard deviation (σVth) of SOTB devices corresponds to a reduction in the standby leakage current of less than half. The ultra-low off current with a small variation also further reduces the standby leakage.

New materials often force modification in a metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) fabrication process and a device structure. In our investigation, a high-stress silicon nitride (SiN) contact etch stopper layer (CESL), which improves device performance by straining the Si lattice, was used as the modified structure. A portion of its gate surround was cut to fabricate a fully silicided (FUSI) metal gate. FET characteristics of a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) gate and a Ni-FUSI gate MOSFET with a discontinuous CESL were compared with those of a poly-Si gate MOSFET with an ordinary continuous CESL for several SiN-stress conditions. It was found that the removal of a gate-top CESL diminishes mobility modulation effects of a high-stress CESL. It was also demonstrated that stress due to a FUSI gate compensates the effect of gate-top CESL removal. Mobility enhancement utilizing a high-stress SiN film was still effective for a FUSI gate process.

This paper presents that advanced actively body-bias controlled (Advanced ABC) technology contributes to enhancing operation margins of static random access memory (SRAM). For the first time, significant enhancement of static noise margin (SNM) is successfully realized by using a body bias of load, access, and driver transistors while suppressing threshold-voltage variations. In this technology, well taps control the body potential of the load transistor and word lines also control the body potential of the access and driver transistors. It is demonstrated that the write and read margins of 65-nm-node silicon-on-insulator (SOI) SRAMs are improved by the Advanced ABC technology. Furthermore, it is found that the SNM is enhanced by 27% for 32 nm and 49% for 22 nm node. It is summarized that this technology is one of countermeasures for emerging generations.

To investigate the histological changes of synovium in cases of effect attenuation occurring after the use of infliximab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we histologically assessed synovial tissue from ten methotrexate-treated RA patients and 12 infliximab-treated RA patients after arthroscopic synovectomy. The synovium was observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and analyzed immunohistochemically for expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), B-cell transmembrane protein, cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20), nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB), bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). H&E staining showed significant vascular proliferation in the synovium of the RA patients in the infliximab group (p

肩関節拘縮26 例26 肩に対して肩関節鏡視下授動術に肩峰下徐圧術（ASD）を追加した群としなかった群での長期成績（平均14 カ月）の差と，術後1 カ月の時点で，外旋運動を中心とした外来リハビリテーション訓練回数による可動域の差を検討した．肩関節鏡視下授動術にASDを併用したA群14 例は，男性7 例，女性7 例で，手術時年齢，平均53.7 歳で，ASD併用なしB群12 例は，男性5 例，女性7 例で，手術時年齢平均58.2 歳であった．術後14 カ月時に肩関節可動域は自動，他動ともA群でB群にくらべて大幅に改善し，日本整形外科学会肩関節疾患治療成績評価基準でも有意に改善した．またA群B群それぞれの中で，リハビリテーションを週3 回以上施行した群は週2 回以下の群にくらべ術後1カ月時の可動域改善が大きかった．以上より肩関節拘縮における肩関節鏡視下授動術では肩峰下徐圧術と術後リハビリテーションの重要性を認めた．

Objective – The present study revealed the changes in cerebral oxygen metabolism before and after ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) using 15O positron emission tomography (15O-PET). Methods – Eight patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (i-NPH) underwent VPS. A 15O-PET study was undertaken before and approximately 3 months after VPS. In five patients, the symptoms improved based on the classification by Krauss et al. [Neurosurgery 1996;39:292] (good responders) after VPS. In three patients, the symptoms improved subjectively following VPS (poor responders). The changes in oxygen metabolism before and after VPS were analyzed. Results – The postoperative regional cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (rCMRO2) of the good responders increased significantly. The postoperative regional oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF) is reduced in the poor responders. Conclusion – The improvement of rCMRO2 correlated with the response to VPS. Significant changes in rOEF might predict poor response to VPS.

In this paper, in order to obtain layout-independent transistors in recent fine-pitched LSI circuits, a completely stress-controlled shallow trench isolation (STI) process is proposed. In this process, a single-layered spin-on dielectric (SOD) film is used for STI gap filling without employing a complex hybrid structure. With this technique, the mechanical stress caused by STI is markedly suppressed. Subsequently, drain current (Id) modulation due to the STI stress is inhibited successfully. Thus, this technique is a very promising 45 nm node STI scheme with a high performance and a high reliability.

The inclusion mode of Limaprost in the presence of α- and β-cyclodextrins (CDs) was investigated to gain insight into the stabilization mechanism of Limaprost-alfadex upon the addition of β-CD in the solid state. The inclusion sites of α- and β-CDs were studied by NMR spectroscopic and kinetic methods. With the addition of α- and β-CDs, displacements in (13)C chemical shifts of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were observed in the ω-chain and the five-membered ring, respectively, of the drug. Similar shift changes were observed with the addition of both α- and β-CDs. In two-dimensional (2D) (1)H-NMR spectra, intermolecular correlation peaks were observed between protons of PGF2α and protons of both α- and β-CDs, suggesting that PGF2α interacts with α- and β-CDs to form a ternary complex by including the ω-chain with the former CD and the five-membered ring with the latter. In kinetic studies in aqueous solution, Limaprost was degraded to 17S,20-dimethyl-trans-Δ(2)-PGA1 (11-deoxy-Δ(10)) and 17S,20-dimethyl-trans-Δ(2)-8-iso-PGE1 (8-iso). The addition of α-CD promoted the dehydration to 11-deoxy-Δ(10), while β-CD promoted the isomerization to 8-iso, under these conditions. In the presence of both α- and β-CDs, dehydration and isomerization were also accelerated, supporting the formation of the ternary Limaprost/α-CD/β-CD complex.

In order to investigate the predictive factors related to clinical efficacy and radiographic progression at 24 weeks by looking at the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 including baseline characteristics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with golimumab, serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were analyzed every 4 weeks up to 24 weeks in 47 patients treated with golimumab. Baseline levels of the Disease Activity Score 28 C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) scores were also assessed. Radiographic progression using the van der Heijde-modified Sharp (vdH-S) score was assessed in 29 patients. Multiple regression analyses related to the DAS28-CRP score and delta total sharp score at 24 weeks was undertaken using the baseline characteristics of patients and serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, TNF-α, and IL–6. The DAS28-CRP score and SDAI decreased significantly at 4 weeks up to 24 weeks compared with baseline. Serum levels of TNF-α were not changed significantly up to 24 weeks compared with baseline, but those of IL-6 decreased significantly at 4 weeks up to 8 weeks. Multiple regression analyses showed that disease duration and serum levels of MMP-3 were related significantly to the DAS28-CRP score at 24 weeks. Radiographic progression was related significantly to disease duration with regard to joint space narrowing and bone erosion. However, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were not correlated significantly with the DAS28-CRP score and radiographic progression. These data suggest that decreasing serum levels of IL-6 significantly, MMP-3, and disease duration are predictive factors for RA activity in patients taking golimumab.

The stability of OPALMON® tablets under humid conditions was improved in a previous study through the use of a better formulation. In the present study, we tested the improved formulation (improved OPALMON® tablets) for purity, content, disintegration time, and tablet hardness. The improved OPALMON® tablets contain a lyophilized form of limaprost alfadex and dextran with dextrin.The stability of the existing formulation of the OPALMON® tablets and improved OPALMON® tablets was compared under humid conditions either by placing tablets in a Petri dish or putting them in a one-dose package which consisted of glassine and cellophane paper. The percentage degradation of the improved OPALMON® tablets was approximately 20% of that of the existing formulation. In the one-dose package, the purity of the improved formulation met the acceptance criteria for four months at 25°C and 60% relative humidity (RH), and eight weeks at 25°C and 75% RH. In the one-dose package, the content and disintegration time of the improved formulation also met the acceptance criteria for four months at 25°C and 60% RH, and eight weeks at 25°C and 75% RH. However, there was a slight reduction in tablet hardness for the improved formulation after one month at 25°C and 60% RH, and one week at 25°C and 75% RH. On evaluating the strength of the tablets at the time of packaging through a packaging test using a fully automated tablet packer, there were no broken or chipped tablets in either the initial samples or samples with reduced hardness. We therefore concluded that the hardness of the improved OPALMON® tablets is satisfactory for our purposes.

Présenté comme triomphant dans les années 1970 et 1980, le «modèle» japonais serait aujourd’hui en voie d’alignement sur le «modèle» anglo-saxon car, avec la «décennie perdue» des années 1990, il aurait atteint des limites ou plutôt des contradictions que la mondialisation rend désormais insurmontables. Le renversement de la situation a correspondu à l’éclatement désormais connu de la bulle foncière et financière qui s’était formée pendant le «boom Heisei» . Une étude moins idéologique des faits montre qu’il y a bien eu des changements, par exemple sur des points aussi importants que le «système de la banque principale» , les relations de type «keiretsu» et, de manière plus fondamentale encore, le compromis social, avec le creusement très sensible des inégalités. Toutefois, sur tous ces points, et en ce qui concerne plus généralement la «gouvernance d’entreprise» , on ne saurait parler de disparition mais d’évolution du «modèle japonais» , pour la bonne raison que celui-ci conserve des avantages à moyen et long termes. L’analyse conduite ici suivant les axes et avec les concepts de l’ «école parisienne» de la régulation suggère trois scénarios : celui du maintien de l’hégémonie américaine, celui de l’affirmation de l’hégémonie chinoise, celui du monde de mandala, sans hégémonie, mais avec une intense coopération productive, technique et financière. Ce troisième scénario permettrait à l’économie japonaise de trouver une nouvelle assise et à l’archipel de jouer un rôle positif dans les affaires du monde., Yasuo Inoue. Le modèle japonais et ses relations avec l’Asie orientale. In: Recherches Internationales, n°76, 2-2006. Japon : fin de l’exception ? pp. 83-110.

We propose a compact model for a Flash memory cell that is suitable for circuit simulation. The model includes a hot-electron gate current model that considers not only channel hot electron injection but also channel initiated secondary electron injection to express properly substrate bias dependence of gate current. Tunneling gate current for erasing is expressed by the BSIM4 tunneling gate current model. Good agreement between measured and simulated results of both programming and erasing characteristics for 130-nm technology Flash memory cells indicates that our model is useful in designing and optimizing circuit for Flash memories.

We present a new test structure measuring inter- and intralayer coupling capacitance parasitic to the same target interconnection with subfemtofarad resolution. The coupling capacitance as well as fringing capacitance measured by the test structure are demonstrated for two-level copper interconnections used in 90-nm technology node. In addition, we demonstrate that the accuracy of layout parameters extraction is improved by nondestructive inverse modeling of a copper interconnect cross-sectional structure, which reproduces the pitch dependence of the measured inter- and intralayer coupling capacitance within about a 1% error.

The problem of early thrombosis-occlusion and recurrent carotid artery stenosis has raised a controversy over whether primary closure or patch graft closure is better. In 17 patients treated by CEA between 1998 and 2002, patch grafts were used in our institute to avoid acute thrombosis-occlusion and restenosis. In this study, we investigated the following: surgical complications, ischemic events in the follow-up term and restenosis in the follow-up term. No surgical complications developed. During the follow-up term (26.2±16.7, no patient showed any ischemic symptoms. In 15 patients, follow-up angiography was performed. The mean follow-up was 15.0±17.0 months. On follow-up angiography, no patient showed restenosis of more than 50%. We suggest endarterectomy with patch graft as an effective treatment of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis.

The hole-initiated impact-ionization rate in α-quartz was investigated using both an energy band structure and the corresponding pseudowave functions, which are derived from a self-consistent nonlocal pseudopotential method. The ionization probability is calculated formally from Fermi’s golden rule in a straightforward way. The matrix elements for the ionization transition were evaluated from the band structure and the corresponding pseudowave functions. The matrix elements include both direct and the exchange terms with umklapp terms associated with the periodic part of the Bloch function. The hole-initiated impact-ionization rate is discussed with emphasis on both the anisotropy (wave-vector dependence of the primary hole) associated with the band structure and the contribution of the umklapp process to the impact-ionization rate. In contrast to the Keldysh formula, which has a power exponent of 2, the computed impact-ionization rates are fitted to an analytical formula that has a power exponent of 6.7,...

To investigate the gate oxide integrity for the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, we evaluated the time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristic of gate oxide formed on SOI wafer with gate oxide thickness (T o x ) as a parameter. The TDDB characteristic was degraded with increasing the T o x of gate oxide for the SOI wafer. The time to 50% failure of breakdown (T B D ) was shorter when T o x was thicker than 7 nm in contrast to the gate oxide for the bulk silicon wafer.

An idea for obtaining unique identification (ID) numbers using polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a logic LSI compatible process is proposed. Like an actual human fingerprint, the characteristic variations of poly-Si TFTs are utilized for ID numbers in LSIs. The variation of poly-Si TFT characteristics is random, and this method offers unique, nonalterable, and nonduplicable numbers without any special processes, unlike other methods such as flash memory and mask ROM. These characteristics are highly suitable for ID number applications. The device physics of poly-Si TFTs for realizing the stable recognition of ID numbers was studied and a recognition circuit is proposed. The design guidelines for the grain size of poly-Si and AFD applications are also discussed.

A novel selective epitaxial growth (SEG) technology which uses ultrahigh-vacuum chemical vapor deposition and low-damage sidewall etching with a Cl2-plasma gas is experimentally demonstrated for elevated source/drain (S/D) ultrathin silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices. It is found that the deviation of parasitic S/D series resistance in elevated S/D sub-40-nm-thick SOI metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) can be nearly as low as that in bulk MOSFETs, because the excellent surface morphology of the epitaxial Si layer enables formation of a uniform CoSi2 film. Moreover, neither gate/drain bridging nor any other leakage phenomena are pronounced. These results indicate that this SEG technology is promising for elevated S/D ultrathin SOI CMOS devices for the 90-nm technology node and beyond.

The modified gate re-oxidation is described, which is a very effective simple method of improving the memory retention characteristics of embedded dynamic random access memory (DRAM). This new method forms a gate bird's beak through furnace oxidation after the formation of a silicon nitride gate spacer. The amount of gate bird's beak formed by this method is self-adjusted according to the gate width of each transistor. Large gate bird's beaks are formed selectively for narrow gate transistors. Therefore, gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current is suppressed for DRAM cell transistors, without any negative influence on high-speed random logic transistors. The modified gate re-oxidation sample has much better hot carrier reliability than the conventional gate re-oxidation sample. There is almost no difference in the dielectric reliability of gate oxide between the modified sample and the conventional sample. Consequently, this new process realizes the ideal embedded DRAM that has both a highly reliable memory region and a high-speed logic region.

Polysialic acid (PSA) is a regulatory epitope of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in homophilic adhesion of neural cells mediated by NCAM, is also known to be re-expressed in several human tumors, thus serves as an oncodevelopmental antigen. In this study, using a recently developed ultrasensitive chemical method in addition to immunochemical methods, growth stage-dependent and retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation-dependent changes of PSA expression in human neuroblastoma (IMR-32) and rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Both IMR-32 and PC-12 cells expressed PSA on NCAM, and the level of PSA expressed per unit weight of cells increased with post-inoculation incubation time. The most prominent feature was seen at the full confluence stage. RA induced neuronal differentiation in both IMR-32 and CP-12 cells that paralleled the change in the PSA level. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of NCAM glycoforms differing in the degree of polymerization (DP) of oligo/polysialyl chains, whose DP was smaller than 40. DP distribution of PSA was different between the cell lines and was changed by the growth stage and the RA treatment. Thus DP analysis of PSA is important in understanding both mechanism and biological significance of its regulated expression.