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The aim of this study was to investigate the differential time-course responses of the auditory cortex to repeated auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showing auditory hypersensitivity. Auditory-evoked field values were obtained from 21 boys with ASD (12 with and 9 without auditory hypersensitivity) and 15 age-matched typically developing controls. M50 dipole moments were significantly increased during the time-course study only in the ASD with auditory hypersensitivity compared with those for the other two groups. The boys having ASD with auditory hypersensitivity also showed more prolonged response duration than those in the other two groups. The response duration was significantly related to the severity of auditory hypersensitivity. We propose that auditory hypersensitivity is associated with decreased inhibitory processing, possibly resulting from an abnormal sensory gating system or dysfunction of inhibitory interneurons.

We have observed an anomalously delayed photocurrent component related to Γ−X transfer in a type-I GaAs AlAs thin-barrier superlattice, for the first time to our knowledge, by electrical time-of-flight experiments. The appearance of the delayed photocurrent was strongly influenced by the reverse bias voltage, but independent of the excitation intensity or temperature. The delayed photocurrent originates from carriers trapped in the X-valley states in the remote AlAs barriers. When the delayed photocurrent is observed, the energy level of the Γ-valley ground state in the GaAs well is resonantly located closer to the energy levels of the X-valley states in the remote AlAs barriers. In particular, when the X-valley state is in resonance with the adjacent Γ-valley second state, the amount of delayed carriers strongly increases and establishes a second peak in the photocurrent temporal response.

We have studied absorption saturation characteristics in short-period GaAs AlAs superlattice self-electro-optic effect devices based on Wannier-Stark localization. The disappearance of negative differential resistances due to absorption saturation was observed under high optical excitation intensities. To understand the mechanism, we measured the time-resolved photocurrent and time-resolved photoluminescence. Results revealed that the absorption saturation is caused by electric field screening originating from the space-charge of remaining holes due to effective mass filtering.

The carrier conduction mechanism of leakage current in n+-gate p-channel metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect-transistors with HfAlOx (Hf:60at%,Al:40at%)∕SiO2 dielectric layers has been investigated using the carrier separation method. Since the gate current depends on the substrate voltage and both electron and hole currents are independent of temperature in the range of 25–150°C, the conduction mechanism for both currents is a tunneling process. It is shown that the dominant carrier in the leakage current depends on the structure of the high-k stack. When the interfacial SiO2 layer (IL) thickness increases at a fixed high-k thickness (Thigh‐k), the dominant carrier in the leakage current changes from hole to electron at ∼2.0–2.3‐nm-thick IL, because of asymmetric barrier height for electron and hole in the SiO2∕Si system. In contrast, for the case of a fixed IL thickness of 1.3nm, the hole current dominates in the leakage current, regardless of Thigh‐k, due to symmetric barrier height of the condu...

Hot flushes are one of the most frequent symptoms in menopausal women. We investigated effect of soybean isoflavones (Soyaflavone HG) on nifedipine-induced flushing in ovariectomized mice. Ovariectomy markedly aggravated nifedipine-induced increase in tail skin temperature. Soyaflavone HG (10 mg/kg, p.o., once a day for 5 days) inhibited nifedipine-induced flushing in ovariectomized mice. The inhibitory effect of Soyaflavone HG was significantly reversed by an estrogen-receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780, suggesting that Soyaflavone HG prevents nifedipine-induced flushing partially through estrogen receptors. We presented the experimental evidence suggesting that soybean isoflavones including Soyaflavone HG have the benefits for menopausal hot flushes. Keywords:: soybean isoflavone, menopausal flushing, ovariectomy

Ultrathin metal oxide films with electrical properties suitable for gate dielectrics application have been formed by a new room-temperature deposition process which combines adsorption of metal-containing precursors from the vapor phase with liquid-phase hydrolysis.

This case concerns a 50-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with rectal cancer without any obvious distal metastasis. The patient underwent abdominoperineal resection of the rectum with lateral lymph node dissection exclusively on the lesion side. An obturator lymph node metastasis was found, and histopathological tests revealed that the patient was in Stage IIIb. FOLFOX4 therapy was performed as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and although temporary discontinuation was necessary due to abscesses in the buttocks, the patient completed 10 courses of chemotherapy. Lung metastasis was diagnosed when a chest computed tomography revealed a nodule 12 mm in diameter immediately above the diaphragm in the left S8. Since the nodule was a solitary tumor, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy was performed, after which postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was changed to FOLFIRI therapy. No obvious adverse events occurred, making it possible to continue the therapy without withdrawal. The lesions tended to gradually shrink, and during the 50th course of the therapy, the patient converted from partial remission (PR) to complete remission (CR). The FOLFIRI therapy was continued for another 6 months and then suspended for a while. The patient received 62 courses of FOLFIRI therapy in total. No sign of recurrence has been found. This case demonstrates the successful treatment and CR of recurrent lung metastasis after surgery for rectal cancer using lung RFA therapy and long-term administration of FOLFIRI.

Sotos syndrome (OMIM #117550) is a congenital syndrome characterized by overgrowth with advanced bone age, macrocephaly, and learning difficulties. Endocrine complications of this syndrome have not yet been fully described in previous reports. We here investigated the clinical manifestations of Sotos syndrome in Japanese patients who presented with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy. We recruited patients diagnosed as having Sotos syndrome who presented with the complication of hyperinsulinemia during the neonatal period using a survey of the abstracts of Pediatric Meetings in domestic areas of Japan from 2007 to 2011. As a result, five patients (four females and one male) were recruited to evaluate the clinical presentation of Sotos syndrome by reference to the clinical record of each patient. A 5q35 deletion including the NSD1 gene was detected in all patients. Major anomalies in the central nervous, cardiovascular, and genito-urinary systems were frequently found. Hypoglycemia occurred between 0.5 and 3 hr after birth and high levels of insulin were initially found within 3 days of birth. The patients were treated with intravenous glucose infusion at a maximum rate of 4.6–11.0 mg/kg/min for 12–49 days. Three of the five patients required nasal tube feeding. One patient received medical treatment with diazoxide. This study shows that patients with Sotos syndrome may present with transient hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in the neonatal period. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Summary Objectives High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) on intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) recordings have been reported to be useful to identify the epileptogenic zone in intractable epilepsy. We investigated whether the ictal HFOs on scalp EEG seen during spasms contributed to identification of the epileptogenic zone in symptomatic West syndrome (S-WS). Methods In S-WS, ictal scalp EEGs were recorded during a series of spasms. The HFOs associated with spasms were visualized in the temporally expanded EEG traces and subjected to time-frequency analysis. The results on the distribution of HFOs were compared with that of cortical lesions indicated by neuroimaging. Results In the 4 children examined, HFOs at 80–150 Hz preceded the clinical onsets of spasms. The maximum augmentation of these HFOs was larger than that of HFOs at 20–70 Hz. The regions of the maximum augmentation of HFOs at 80–150 Hz were identical to the lesions detected by neuroimaging. Two patients who underwent dissection of the area including the area with HFOs resulted in Engel class I. Conclusion Ictal HFOs of spasms on scalp EEG showed a strong association with neuroimaging abnormalities presumed to be the epileptogenic zone in S-WS. Ictal HFOs can thus be a useful marker for exploring lesions for epilepsy surgery.

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) therapy has been approved as a first-line therapy for spastic torticollis. However it has been suggested as that its use in patients with respiratory distress should be decided cautiously. We treated 5 patients with abnormal posture, cervical hypertonia and obstructive respiratory distress by BTX-A, and analyzed its efficacy for respiratory distress by their Tsui score and respiratory status after BTX-A therapy. All 5 patients clinically had some degree of dysphagia before BTX-A therapy. Cervical hypertonia and induced abnormal posture were improved in all patients. The youngest patient could control muscle tone after only 2 doses of BTX-A and subsequently maintained a good condition without additional BTX-A. BTX-A therapy can decrease torsion and hyperextension of the upper respiratory tract by reducing cervical hypertonia. Consequently, it may improve respiratory status. On the other hand, mild dysphagia and excessive salivation was noted in one patient for each symptom. It is safe to avoid BTX-A invasion to the anterior muscle of neck and rapid changes in the swallowing pattern.

Here, we communicate a point of departure in the development of aquatic ecosystem models, namely a new community-based framework, which supports an enhanced and transparent union between the collective expertise that exists in the communities of traditional ecologists and model developers. Through a literature survey, we document the growing importance of numerical aquatic ecosystem models while also noting the difficulties, up until now, of the aquatic scientific community to make significant advances in these models during the past two decades. Through a common forum for aquatic ecosystem modellers we aim to (i) advance collaboration within the aquatic ecosystem modelling community, (ii) enable increased use of models for research, policy and ecosystem-based management, (iii) facilitate a collective framework using common (standardised) code to ensure that model development is incremental, (iv) increase the transparency of model structure, assumptions and techniques, (v) achieve a greater understanding of aquatic ecosystem functioning, (vi) increase the reliability of predictions by aquatic ecosystem models, (vii) stimulate model inter-comparisons including differing model approaches, and (viii) avoid 're-inventing the wheel', thus accelerating improvements to aquatic ecosystem models. We intend to achieve this as a community that fosters interactions amongst ecologists and model developers. Further, we outline scientific topics recently articulated by the scientific community, which lend themselves well to being addressed by integrative modelling approaches and serve to motivate the progress and implementation of an open source model framework. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin films have been grown on Pt/SiO2/Si substrate at 650[ddot]C by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The relative dielectric constant increased as the La content was increased up to about 5 atomic percent (at%). The remanent polarization and coercive field decreased from 30 to 20 μC/cm2 and from 53 to 30 kV/cm, respectively, with increasing La content in the range of 0–13 at%. The leakage current of PLZT film was 3 × 10−9 A/cm2 at an applied voltage of 3 V. The degradation of switched charge density of PLZT film was not observed even at 2 × 1011 cycles.

It has been hypothesized that early seizure control may prevent children with intractable epileptic spasms (ES) from developmental regression and may contribute to better developmental outcome. The effectiveness of surgery for ES has been reported. We investigated long-term post-operative outcomes of seizure control and development in patients with symptomatic West syndrome (S-WS) who underwent epilepsy surgery. Six children who underwent surgical intervention for intractable ES were retrospectively investigated. Cortical malformations were observed on pre-operative MRI in all patients, with hemispheric or multilobar involvement in four children and focal lesions in two. Following surgery, we measured motor function, developmental age (DA), language skills, and sociopsychological function for up to 7 years (mean, 4.9 years). Post-operative seizure outcome was Engel Class I (n = 4) or III (n = 2). Motor function and DA was increased following surgery in six and five patients, respectively. Two patients started to speak in sentences following focal resection. Autistic features were noted in four of the five examined patients post-operatively. None of the patients showed developmental regression following surgery. Epilepsy surgery for S-WS with ES may result in good seizure control and improvement in motor development. Improvement in cognitive function was modest in this small cohort of children and autistic features were noted post-operatively in a substantial proportion of the children. While seizure control can be obtained by epilepsy surgery, early intervention for sociopsychological comorbidities may be warranted in children with S-WS.

出発原料としてリチウムおよびニオビウムのβ-ジケトン錯体を用いた減圧MOCVD法により,ニオブ酸リチウム薄膜を合成した。[Nb(C11H19O2)Cl3]からNb205膜の生成は熱分解反応が主反応であるが,[Li(C11H19O2)]からLi2O膜の場合は熱分解と酸化反応が併発する。基板表面での化学反応の活性化エネルギーの値は,前者の反応で21.2kcal/mol,後者の反応で44.4/molが得られた。Li20とNb2O5の同時析出において,[Li(C11H19O2)]からLi2Oへの反応率が低下するため,LiNbO3膜の合成には[Li(C11H19O2)]を過剰に供給する必要があった。基板温度625～650℃,全ガス流量300ml/min,酸素濃度50%,圧力5Torrの条件で,Nb205とLi2Oのモル基準での析出速度比r=R(Nb205)/R(Li20)が0.4のとき,化学量論組成で三方晶単一相のLiNbo3膜が得られた。LiNbO3膜は石英基板上では無配向であったが,Si(100)基板上では(012)面に優先的に配向し,LiTaO3(001)上では(001)面にエピタキシャルに成長した膜が得られた。

The performance and prediction uncertainty (owing to parameter and structural uncertainties) of four dynamic watershed acidification models (MAGIC, PnET-BGC, SAFE, and VSD) were assessed by systematically applying them to data from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, where long-term records of precipitation and stream chemistry were available. In order to facilitate systematic evaluation, Monte Carlo simulation was used to randomly generate common model input data sets (n ) 10 000) from parameter distributions; input data were subsequently translated among models to retain consistency. The model simulations were objectively calibrated against observed data (streamwater: 1963-2004, soil: 1983). The ensemble of calibrated models was used to assess future response of soil and stream chemistry to reduced sulfur deposition at the HBEF. Although both hindcast (1850-1962) and forecast (2005-2100) predictions were qualitatively similar across the four models, the temporal pattern of key indicators of acidification recovery (stream acid neutralizing capacity and soil base saturation) differed substantially. The range in predictions resulted from differences in model structure and their associated posterior parameter distributions. These differences can be accommodated by employing multiple models (ensemble analysis) but have implications for individual model applications. (Less)

Statins have pleiotropic vascular protective effects that are independent of their cholesterol-lowering effects. The aim of the present study was to determine if statins have anti-flushing actions in an animal model of forced exercise-induced temperature dysregulation in menopausal hot flushes, and to clarify the critical role of statins in regulating vascular reactivity in the tail arteries of ovariectomized rats. Administration of fluvastatin or pravastatin (3 mg/kg/day for 7 days, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the flushing of tail skin in ovariectomized mice, and the effect of each statin was comparable with that of estrogen replacement (1 mg/kg/week for 3 weeks, i.m.). In phenylephrine-pre-contracted rat-tail arteries, ovariectomy inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation, but augmented sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation. These ovariectomy-altered vasodilator responses were restored by fluvastatin treatment as well as by estrogen replacement. Nitrite/nitrate levels in the plasma of ovariectomized animals showed significantly lower values than those in sham-operated animals; this ovariectomy-reduced production of nitric oxide was improved by fluvastatin treatment. These data provide the first experimental evidence that statins such as fluvastatin and pravastatin exert anti-flushing effects by improving vasomotor dysfunction through nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms in ovariectomized animals. Thus, therapeutic methods that target improvement of vasomotor dysfunction could be novel strategies for reducing menopausal hot flushes.

Lanthanum‐modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin films have been grown on Pt/MgO(100) and Pt/SiO2/Si substrates at 650 °C by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using Pb(C2H5)4, La(DPM)3, Zr(DPM)4 and Ti(i − OC3H7)4 as the source materials. The properties of PLZT films were investigated as a function of the La content in a range of 0–15 at.% with a composition ratio of Zr/(Zr+Ti)

A 15-year-old girl had no REM sleep presumably due to a pontine cavernous hemangioma was reported. Her brain MRI revealed a cavernous hemangioma extending from the dorsal pontine to the medulla. She manifested truncal ataxia, facial nerve palsy, and ocular motor apraxia. She could not sleep in the supine position due to the sleep apnea accompanied with loud snoring. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) was performed for detection of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In addition to severe OSAS and Cheyne-Stokes-like respiration at wake after sleep onset, her 1st PSG study revealed no periods with rapid eye movement, EEG characteristic of REM sleep, atonia and variation on respiratory and heart rate. Even after effective therapy for OSAS with non-invasive positive airway pressure ventilation (NPPV), her 2nd PSG also failed to show stage REM. These findings suggest that this pontine cavernous hemangioma disturbed her REM-on system. This is the first report of an individual with long-term loss of REM sleep and a valuable case for the understanding of anatomical structures of the REM-on system and the role of REM in memory consolidation.

Flushing is one of the most common vasodilation-related adverse effects associated with both nitrates and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of orchidectomy and ovariectomy on isosorbide dinitrate-, sildenafil-, vardenafil- and tadalafil-induced flushing of tail-skin in mice. Both orchidectomy and ovariectomy markedly increased the tail-skin temperature, a good parameter of flushing, induced by isosorbide dinitrate (500 microg/kg, i.p.). These observations suggest that both testosterone withdrawal and estrogen withdrawal are risk factors for isosorbide dinitrate-induced flushing. In contrast, sildenafil (100 mg/kg, p.o.)-, vardenafil (10 mg/kg, p.o.)- and tadalafil (40 mg/kg, p.o.)-induced flushing of tail-skin in mice was aggravated by ovariectomy but not by orchidectomy. Orchidectomized male mice, but not ovariectomized female mice, showed significantly lower levels of PDE5 mRNA expression in tail artery compared with those of sham-operated mice. The present findings suggest that estrogen withdrawal, but not testosterone withdrawal, is a risk factor for PDE5 inhibitor-induced flushing. These gender differences in the vascular adverse reactions of PDE5 inhibitors may be interpreted as occurring due to differences in the levels of PDE5 mRNA expression in peripheral arteries.

Magneto‐optic bismuth‐substituted yttrium iron garnet thin films were epitaxially grown during deposition for the first time by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Triphenyl bismuth and both yttrium and iron tridipivaloylmethane were used as source materials. Prior to the preparation of garnet films, the deposition behavior of Y2O3, Fe2O3, and Bi2O3 films was examined separately. Epitaxially grown films were as‐deposited on a Gd3Ga5O12(111) substrate at 750 °C under a reduced pressure of 6 Torr with a deposition rate of 200–500 A/min, which is about 10 times faster than that obtained by the conventional sputtering method. A film with a bismuth content of 2.5 atoms per formula unit showed a large Faraday rotation, − 7.5 × 104 deg/cm at λ=633 nm, because of the high bismuth substitution and the crystalline perfection.

Since patients who used brand-name and generic ketoprofen (KP) tapes dispensed in the Fukuoka City Pharmaceutical Association Pharmacy complained of a difference in feeling between the two products, we conducted a questionnaire survey in patients using KP tapes to determine the usability of brand-name and generic tapes. Patients receiving the brand-name KP tape (product A) and/or a generic KP tape (product B) in our pharmacy were interviewed concerning 20 items including 1) dosage regimen, 2) outer package, 3) liner, 4) the tape itself, and 5) condition of application sites. A significant difference in usability between products A and B was observed in 4 of the 20 items evaluated, i.e., 1) easiness of opening of the outer pouch, 2) easiness of removing the liner film, 3) condition of the application site after removal of the tape, and 4) relief of pain in the target lesion after application. As suggested by patients who had complained of a difference in usability between products A and B, the participants in the survey tended to prefer the brand-name KP tape to the generic product. The findings of the survey indicate that when a brand-name product is switched to generic products, pharmacists should evaluate the usability of such products carefully to select those that will ensure proper drug use by patients.

We encountered an 11-year-old girl with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) who developed occipital lobe epilepsy at the age of 7 years and 4 months. Thereafter she had repeated status epilepticus associated with stroke-like episodes. Status epilepticus consisted of repetitive complex partial seizures with or without secondarily generalized tonic clonic seizures. The seizures did not respond to conventional anticonvulsive drugs, including diazepam, midazolam, phenytoin, lidocaine, chloral hydrate, and thiamylal sodium, and lasted for several hours (mean 9.5 hours). At the age of 11 years, intravenous infusion of L-arginine (0.5 g/kg body weight) was first given five hours after the onset of status epilepticus. The seizures and electroencephalographic abnormalities improved dramatically. After the introduction of L-arginine, in addition to shortened duration of status epilepticus (mean 3 hours), clinical recovery from the status epilepticus was prompt, and the average hospitalization periods could be shortened. There were no obvious adverse effects, including vomiting, hypotension, and urticaria. Our experience suggests that early intravenous administration of L-arginine may be useful in the treatment of status epilepticus associated with stroke-like episode in patients with MELAS.

The dielectric breakdown mechanism of HfAlO/sub x//SiO/sub 2/ stacked gate dielectrics has been studied. Under the positive gate stress, validity of the anode hole injection model has been experimentally confirmed for the first time, while the cathode electron injection model is valid under the negative gate stress. Consolidating these mechanisms, the generated subordinate carrier injection (GSCI) model has been proposed for gate dielectrics including the conventional SiO/sub 2/.

We investigate an origin of the Fermi-level pinning at the gate electrode/HfO/sub x/(N) interface, and propose a new technology for tuning the work function with a partial silicidation of Pt on HfO/sub x/ (N). It is clearly shown that the effective work functions (/spl Phi/ /sub m,eff/) of fully silicided (FUSI) NiSi and PtSi on HfO/sub x/(N) are rigidly fixed due to the Fermi-level pinning, and that the impurity doping does not help changing /spl Phi/ /sub m,eff/ at all. The large flatband voltage (VFB) shifts of FUSI PtSi MOSFETs have been observed irrespective of Si deposition processes. On the basis of these new findings, nMOSFET with pinned n+poly-Si and pMOSFET with partially pinned PtSi on HfO/sub x/ (N) for a balanced CMOS have been proposed, and both of them have shown good electrical properties. Furthermore, it is experimentally discussed that the control of the Si atom content at the PtSi/sub x//HfO/sub 2/ interface is a key factor to relax the pinning effect. The partial silicidation technology will be a most feasible method for advanced metal gate CMOS.

Self‐oscillations of the photocurrent have been observed in type‐II GaAs‐AlAs superlattices. In addition to the fundamental frequency, several higher harmonics are present. The frequency of the oscillations can be tuned for a fixed carrier density from 15 to 120 MHz by simply changing the applied bias. The frequency distribution within a certain voltage range can be varied by changing the density of photoexcited carriers. For larger carrier densities, higher frequencies are observed in a different voltage range. This system could therefore be used as a high‐frequency oscillator, which can be controlled by two external parameters, the applied voltage and the light intensity.

The carrier type involved in the leakage current through HfAlO/sub X//SiO/sub 2/ dielectric layers has been investigated for unstressed and stressed MOSFETs, using the carrier separation method. It is found that the hole current dominates the leakage current in the unstressed HfAlO/sub X//SiO/sub 2/. The dominant carrier in stress-induced leakage current (SILC) is hole, while the electron current is predominant after the soft breakdown (SBD) of the dielectric film. For the SILC condition, the trap generation in the high-k stack occurs both near the conduction band edge of n/sup +/poly-Si and the valence band edge of Si substrate. The defect sites generated in the high-k stack after SBD are located at energies near the conduction band edge of n/sup +/poly-Si.

We propose a new method for high-k film growth and demonstrate its usefulness in terms of improvements of electrical characteristics of MOSCAPs and nMOSFETs. Layer-by-Layer Deposition & Annealing (LL-D&A) is a key concept to reduce impurities incorporated in the film through decomposition of precursors. For HfAlO/sub X/ (Hf:75at.%), it is shown that there are big differences in physical and electrical properties between LL-D&A and conventional ALD+PDA. The maximum film thickness for annealing to effectively remove impurities and presumably to cure imperfections should be less than 1.8 nm. The excellent properties for EOT=1.38 nm HfAlO/sub X/ grown through D&A(O/sub 2/) process, such as a very small flatband voltage shift (/spl delta/V/sub FB/) less than 0.06 V for MOSCAP, a well controlled subthreshold swing of 77 mV/dec, a peak mobility of 210 cm/sup 2//Vs and 10-year lifetime at V/sub g/=-1.9 V for poly-Si gate nMOSFET, manifest the superiority of LL-D&A to the conventional ALD+PDA.

In this paper, we focus on the impact of N incorporation on the gate leakage current and the modification of the bonding configuration of HfAlO/sub x/(N) network.

We have investigated the flat-band voltage (VFB) shifts of tantalum nitride gate MOS capacitors prepared by two methods. One is CVD-tantalum nitride (CVD-TaN) deposited by the chemical vapor deposition technique using Ta[NC(CH3)2C2H5][N(CH3)2]3 as a precursor, and the other one is sputtered tantalum nitride (sp-TaN) electrodes deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering. In the case of the CVD-TaN electrodes, the effective work function estimated from the relationship between VFB and the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the MOS capacitors was about 4.4eV after post metallization annealing (PMA) at 400°C, and shifted to the mid-gap after PMA at 950°C. Moreover, the VFB values of MOS capacitors with sp-TaN electrodes also showed the same behavior after PMA. This shift is mainly dependent on the PMA temperature, regardless of the deposition method used. Similar VFB shifts induced by PMA were also observed in sp-TaN/ Al2O3/ SiO2/ p-Si and sp-TaN/ TaOx/ SiO2/ p-Si capacitors. However, in the case of the sp-TaN/ TaOx/ SiO2/ p-Si capacitors, the VFB shift was also observed when the PDA temperature after the TaOx deposition was 800°C and the PMA temperature after the TaN deposition was only 400°C. These results strongly suggest that this VFB shift caused by the PMA originates from a thin interfacial oxide layer between the TaN gate electrode and the dielectrics. Therefore, the maximum processing temperature after gate electrode deposition is important in order to control the threshold voltage of tantalum nitride gate MOSFETs.

We have investigated the influence of nitrogen incorporation into the HfAlOx film prepared by LL-D&A process with NH3 annealing step on structural change and electrical properties. Also, we have evaluated the effects of PDA treatment on electrical properties. Nitrogen concentration in HfAlOx(N) film was enhanced with increasing the NH3 annealing temperature. The shift of Hf 4f average binding energy towards lower side was observed in proportion to nitrogen concentration in HfAlOx(N) film. This result indicates the partial change of the local coordination from O-Hf-O to O-Hf-N. The increase of O-Hf-N component drastically degraded the gate leakage current in HfAlOx(N) film. Nitrogen atoms still maintained in HfAlOx(N) film even after PDA at 850°C in O2 ambient. PDA treatment at higher temperature after D&A(NH3) process improved the flat-band voltage shift and the electron mobility.

This paper demonstrates the performances of fabricated metal gate CMOS, and then focuses on fundamental issues of high-k CMOS. It is shown that a comparative study between n- and p-MOSFETs provides useful information on the V/sub th/ instability and the degradation.

In this study, we investigated the effect of cyclosporin A on the binding properties of the GABAA receptor in the hippocampus, known to be responsible for the induction of seizures, to clarify the mechanism of cyclosporin A-inhibited GABA neurotransmission in ovariectomized rats, as a climacterium model. The effects of single and subchronic treatments with cyclosporin A were examined on [3H]muscimol binding to hippocampal synaptosomal membranes in sham, ovariectomized, and estradiol/ovariectomized rats. A single treatment with cyclosporin A (40 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to change [3H]muscimol binding in the 3 groups, when compared with each corresponding vehicle-treated group. Subchronic treatment with cyclosporin A (40 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 5 days) significantly decreased the amount of [3H]muscimol binding in ovariectomized rats. However, this inhibitory effect was not observed in sham or estradiol/ovariectomized rats. These results demonstrated that the binding activity of the GABAA receptor was decreased in ovariectomized rats after subchronic cyclosporin A treatment. This study supports the hypothesis that ovariectomy elevates the susceptibility to cyclosporin A-induced convulsions by accelerating the inhibitory actions of cyclosporin A on GABA neurotransmission in the hippocampus.

Tominaga K, Kataoka Y, Sendo T, et al. Contrast medium-induced pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability is aggravated in a rat climacterium model. Invest Radiol 2001;36:131-135.To test whether climacterium influences adverse pulmonary reactions to contrast media, the authors investigated the effect of ioxaglate on pulmonary vascular permeability in ovariectomized rats as a climacterium model.From 7 days after surgery, ovariectomized rats were treated with estradiol valerate or vehicle once per week for 3 weeks. At 28 days after surgery, ioxaglate, an ionic contrast medium, was intravenously injected at 1.5 mL/min in rats. Pulmonary vascular permeability was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue dye in the lung tissue.Ioxaglate dose-dependently increased pulmonary vascular permeability in sham-operated and ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats showed a 2.6-fold increased aggravation of vascular permeability by ioxaglate 4 g I/kg compared with sham-operated rats. Estradiol valerate (0.2-5.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently blocked ioxaglate-increased vascular permeability in ovariectomized rats.These findings suggest that climacterium is included, at least in part, in the risk factors for contrast-induced adverse pulmonary reactions, and this risk is lowered by estrogen replacement therapy.

The sensory neuropeptide substance P is known to be involved in neurogenic inflammation. We examined the effect of substance P on neutrophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Stimulation of HUVEC with substance P increased their adhesion to neutrophils in a time- and concentration (10(-10)-10(-7) M)-dependent manner. The adhesion was inhibited by the tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist (+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-Methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine (CP-99,994) and also by the protein kinase C inhibitors 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methyl piperazine (H-7) and bisindolylmaleimide (BIM), but not by the protein kinase A inhibitor N-12-(p-Bromocinnamylamino) ethyl]-S-isoquinoline sulfonamide (H-89). These results indicate that substance P induces adhesion of neutrophils to HUVEC by activation of protein kinase C via the NK1 receptor on the HUVEC.

The authors proposed the novel evaporation supply method, flashing spray chemical vapor deposition (FS-CVD). In the experiment, tetrakisethylmethylamidohafnium (TEMAH) was used as the precursor and n-pentane was used as the low boiling point organic solvent. The critical consolute temperature of TEMAH and n-pentane mixed material solution was 276K. The vapor pressure of the mixed material solution was ten times higher than that of TEMAH by formation of two-phase region. HfO2 film was deposited on Si wafer by using TEMAH and n-pentane with FS-CVD. As the result, the uniformity of HfO2 film was +/-5% and film thickness was 133.6nm. The uniformity of HfO2 film of refractive index was +/-5% and refractive index was 1.63. It is found that the precursor was evaporated by flash boiling and HfO2 film was deposited by decomposition.

We examined ACTH release from cultured anterior pituitary cells of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats 1 week after the injection of STZ (55 mg/kg, i.v.) were used as a short-term diabetic model, while rats 8 weeks after the injection of STZ were used as a long-term diabetic model. ACTH release induced by corticotropin-releasing factors (CRF) was significantly increased in the short-term diabetic rats, whereas ACTH release decreased in the long-term diabetic rats. A stimulator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin, caused marked increases in ACTH release in short-term diabetic rats, whereas it did not affect the long-term diabetic rats. An L-type Ca2+ channel agonist, BAY K 8644, did not affect ACTH release in the short-term diabetic rats, although it decreased ACTH release in long-term diabetic rats. In addition, CRF-induced ACTH release also increased in normal anterior pituitary cells cultured under high glucose conditions (25 mmol/L) for 5 d. These results suggest that the increase in the CRF-induced ACTH release from cultured anterior pituitary cells of short-term diabetic rats appears to involve the cAMP system in part. In contrast, the decrease in the CRF-induced ACTH release from the cultured anterior pituitary cells of long-term diabetic rats may indicate a change in the properties of the L-type Ca2+ channel coupled with the CRF receptor, or in the CRF receptor itself.