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Suppression of nonlinear signal generation in radiofrequency (RF) surface and bulk acoustic wave devices is one of the most important subjects for the RF front-end modules of recent cellular handsets. In particular, issues with second-order nonlinear products of bulk acoustic waves are well known. In this work, we succeeded in extracting the dominant parameters for second-order nonlinear analysis proposed by Hashimoto et al. [Joint Conf. European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE Freq. Cont. Symp., 2017, p. 538] and verified that it is applicable in a wide frequency range and also effective for film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) device design. Combining the extracted nonlinear coefficients on the perturbation analysis by driving near the fundamental frequency (f0) and half resonant frequency (1/2f0) of the FBAR could reproduce second-order nonlinear characteristics in a wide frequency range. It was also confirmed that the proposed simulations are in good agreement with measurement results for various types of resonators and FBAR filters.

Introduction Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) are metabolite hydroperoxides in the blood, and their serum levels were associated with the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ROMs would be predictive of the clinical disease activity index (CDAI) remission, simplified disease activity index (SDAI) remission, or Boolean remission. Materials and methods Fifty-one biologic agents (BA)-naïve RA patients were included in this observational study. Associations between ROMs, C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase-3, DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CDAI, SDAI, and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) at 12 weeks and the DAS28, CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean remission rates at 52 weeks were investigated. Results The DAS28, CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean remission rates at 52 weeks were 66.7, 52.9, 54.9, and 54.9%, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ROMs and HAQ at 12 weeks were associated with the CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean remission at 52 weeks. Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated that the cut-off value for CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean remission was 389.5 U.Carr. Conclusion Reactive oxygen metabolites at 12 weeks of initial treatment with BAs was a predictor for CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean remission at 52 weeks. Serum levels of ROMs may be a useful biomarker in the current treatment strategy aiming at early remission of RA.

In this study, the impact of SiOF on the 2nd harmonic (H2) of TC-FBAR was investigated. TC-FBARs with SiOFs as temperature compensation material on the outside of the electrodes were fabricated, and their H2 were measured. The measured H2 were very different from that of the standard FBAR consisting of electrodes and piezoelectric AlN, and it is confirmed that the SiOF has a strong impact on the H2 of the TC-FBAR. As a result of comparing the simulated H2 with the measured H2, we confirmed the existence of the strong second-order nonlinearity in elasticity in SiOF.

Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the known risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus infection. The authors report the case of a patient with cervical spondylosis and AD who developed delayed surgical site infection after posterior cervical instrumented surgery. Patient: A 39-year-old male presented to our hospital with paralysis of the left upper extremity without any cause or prior injury. He had a history of severe AD. We performed C3–C7 posterior decompression and instrumented fusion based on the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy. One year after surgery, his deltoid and bicep muscle strength were fully recovered. Nevertheless, his neck pain worsened 2 years after surgery following worsening of AD. One month after that, he developed severe myelopathy and was admitted to our hospital. Radiographic findings showed that all the screws had loosened and the retropharyngeal space had expanded. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed severe abscess formation and destruction of the C7/T1 vertebrae. Result: We diagnosed him with delayed surgical site infection. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified on abscess culture. The patient responded adequately to treatment with antibiotic therapy and two debridements and the infection subsided. Conclusion: We should consider the possibility of delayed surgical site infection when conducting instrumented spinal surgery in patients with severe AD.

We previously showed that reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) serum levels were associated with the DAS28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ROM would be predictive of the CDAI-, SDAI- or Boolean-remission. Fifty-one biologic agents (BA)-naïve RA patients were included in this observational study. Associations between ROM, C-reactive protein (CRP), MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-3, DAS28-ESR, CDAI, SDAI, and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) at 12 weeks and the DAS28-, CDAI-, SDAI-, and Boolean-remission at 52 weeks were investigated. The DAS28-, CDAI-, SDAI- and Boolean-remission rates at 52 weeks were 66.7, 52.9, 54.9 and 54.9%, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ROM and HAQ at 12 weeks were associated with the CDAI-, SDAI- and Boolean-remission at 52 weeks. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses demonstrated that the cut-off value for CDAI remission was 389.5 U.Carr, and that for SDAI and Boolean remission was 389.5 U.Carr. ROM at 12 weeks of initial treatment with BAs was a predictor for the CDAI-, SDAI-, and Boolean-remission at 52 weeks. Serum levels of ROM may be a useful biomarker in the current treatment strategy aiming at the early remission of RA.

Objectives: Little information is available regarding long-term follow-up of radiographic progression of damage (RPD) to large joints during treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). We evaluated 3- to 4-year follow-up results and the associations between RPD and patient background and Larsen grade (LG) of joints.Methods: Seventy-one RA patients receiving bDMARDs for 3 to 4 years or who achieved bDMARD-free status were included. The mean age and disease duration at the start of bDMARDs were 62.4 years and 10.8 years, respectively. A total of 314 joints, including shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles, were evaluated to determine whether RPD was present by comparing radiographs before and after treatment.Results: RPD was observed in 24 patients (33.8%) and 34 joints (10.8%). Joints with an LG of III or higher had significantly higher rates of RPD than those with LGs I and II. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that stage and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score at 18-months were independent risk factors for RPD (cut-off value: 2.5, odds ratio: 7.222 for stage; cut-off value: 0.9375, odds ratio: 6.278 for HAQ at 18-months).Conclusion: Stage, HAQ at 18-months, and LG at the start of bDMARDs were predictive of RPD after 3 to 4 years. bDMARDs should be started before both stage and LG exceed III and the therapeutic strategy should be determined so that HAQ does not exceed 1.0 during treatment.

Recent reports indicate that oxidative stress is involved in the pathobiology of acute spinal cord injury or compression myelopathy. We conducted an observational study to determine levels of oxidative stress markers in serum from 80 patients who underwent spinal surgery to treat neurological symptoms related to lumbar degenerative disorders. Serum samples were collected before surgery and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in the serum samples were measured to gauge the level of oxidative stress. For preoperative neurological evaluation, patients were assessed for motor weakness in the lower extremities. We divided the patient samples into two groups: ROM decreasing at 1 year after surgery (G group) and ROM increasing at 1 year after surgery (W group). Then, we evaluated clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Among the samples from the 80 enrolled patients, mean ROM levels before surgery increased to 388.5 ± 92.0 , indicating the presence of moderate oxidative stress. The level of ROM gradually decreased after surgery and 1 year after surgery: the levels had significantly decreased to 367.6 ± 83.3 ( p < 0.05 ). In patients who exhibited motor weakness, ROM values were significantly increased compared to those patients who had no motor weakness ( p < 0.05 ). In analyses of clinical outcomes, ODI values for the W group 1 year after surgery were significantly higher than those for the G group ( p < 0.05 ). Moderate oxidative stress was present in patients who had lumbar degenerative disorders and the degree of oxidative stress gradually improved within 1 year after surgery. The clinical results suggest that neurogenic oxidative stress can be mitigated by surgery for patients with lumbar degenerative disorders, and residual oxidative stress reflects poor surgical outcomes.

Background Recent reports indicate that oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species is associated with the pathobiology of neurodegenerative disorders that involve neuronal cell apoptosis. Here we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate serum levels of oxidative stress in cervical compression myelopathy. Methods Thirty-six serum samples were collected preoperatively from patients treated for acutely worsening compression myelopathy (AM) and chronic compression myelopathy (CM). Serum levels of oxidative stress markers were evaluated by measuring derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), which reflect concentrations of hydroperoxides. ROM in healthy individuals range from 250 to 300 (U. CARR), whereas ROM >340–400 and > 400 define moderate and severe levels of oxidative stress, respectively. Difference of ROM by the cause of disorders whether cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or cervical ossification of longitudinal ligament (OPLL), correlations between ROM and patient age, body mass index (BMI), history of smoking, existence of diabetes were examined. Neurological evaluations according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were performed and correlated with ROM. Results ROM increased to 349.5 ± 54.8, representing a moderate oxidative stress, in CM samples. ROM increased to 409.2 ± 77.9 in AM samples, reflecting severe oxidative stress which were significantly higher than for CM samples (p p 2 = 0.454, p = 0.047) was observed in the AM group. Conclusions Although moderate oxidative stress was present in patients with CM, levels of oxidative stress increased in severity in patients with AM. These results suggest that postsurgical neurological recovery is influenced by severe oxidative stress in AM.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with severe infection in RA patients, with a particular focus on the association of the nutritional status.Methods: We ...

Background Early postnatal hyperoxia is a major risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely premature infants. To reduce the occurrence of ROP, we adopted a lower early postnatal oxygen saturation (SpO2) target range (85–92%) from April 2011. Lower SpO2 target range, however, may lead to hypoxemia and an increase in the risk of ductus arteriosus (DA) closure failure. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether a lower SpO2 target range, during the early postnatal stage, increases the risk of DA closure failure. Methods Infants born at

Background:Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, which lead to lower physical ability, less quality of life (QoL), frailty and mortality. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be one of the causes of sarcopenia.Objectives:To clarify the effectiveness of biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on sarcopenia, including physical ability, body composition and nutritional status.Methods:This is a prospective cohort study including consecutive 48 patients (male 11, female 37, age 64.2±15.1) with RA who started bDMARDs in Niigata Rheumatic Center. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was according to the diagnostic algorithm of European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). We monitored disease activity of RA, physical ability, body composition, nutritional status and QoL at baseline, 6 months and at 12 months. Disease activity was measured by disease activity score-28 joint count based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), clinical disease activity index (CDAI). Physical activity was measured by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), 10m walking test (10MWT). Nutritional status was measured by controlling nutrition status (CONUT) score, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Overall QoL was measured by EuroQol 5 dimentions (EQ5D).Results:Among 48 patients who started bDMARDs, 21 patients were classified as having sarcopenia. The bDMARDs used were adalimumab in 10 cases, certolizumab pegol in 9 cases, abatacept in 9 cases, golimumab in 7 cases, tocilizumab in 5 cases, infliximab in 5 cases and etanercept in 3 cases. DAS28-ESR (4.7±1.4 vs. 2.7±1.0, p < 0.001) and CDAI (18.4±9.4 vs. 7.4±5.5, pConclusion:Twelve months of bDMARDs therapy significantly ameliorated disease activity, nutritional status and physical activity. In RA patients with sarcopenia, bDMARDs significantly increased skeletal muscle and may be effective for treatment of sacrcopenia.Disclosure of Interests: :Eriko Hasegawa: None declared, Satoshi Ito Speakers bureau: Abbvie,Eisai, Yoichi Kurosawa: None declared, Shinji Taniguchi: None declared, Daisuke Kobayashi: None declared, Asami Abe: None declared, Hiroshi Otani: None declared, Kiyoshi Nakazono: None declared, Akira Murasawa: None declared, Ichiei Narita: None declared, Hajime Ishikawa: None declared

As fractures heal, immature callus formed in the hematoma is calcified by osteoblasts and altered to mature bone. Although the bone strength in the fracture-healing process cannot be objectively measured in clinical settings, bone strength can be predicted by specimen-specific finite element modeling (FEM) of quantitative computed tomography (qCT) scans. FEM predictions of callus strength would enable an objective treatment plan. The present study establishes an equation that converts material properties to bone density and proposes a specimen-specific FEM. In 10 male New Zealand white rabbits, a 10-mm long bone defect was created in the center of the femur and fixed by an external fixator. The callus formed in the defect was extracted after 3–6 weeks, and formed into a (5 × 5 × 5 mm3) cube. The bone density measured by qCT was related to the Young's modulus and the yield stress measured with a mechanical tester. For validation, a 10-mm long bone defect was created in the central femurs of another six New Zealand white rabbits, and fixed by an external fixator. At 3, 4, and 5 weeks, the femur was removed and subjected to Computed tomography (CT) scanning and mechanical testing. A specimen-specific finite element model was created from the CT data. Finally, the bone strength was measured and compared with the experimental value. The bone mineral density σ was significantly and nonlinearly correlated with both the Young's modulus E and the yield stress σ. The material-property conversion equations were E = 0.2391e8.00ρ and ρ = 30.49σ2.41. Moreover, the experimental bone strength was significantly linearly correlated with the prospective FEM. We demonstrated the Young's moduli and yield stresses for different bone densities, enabling a FEM of the bone-healing process. An FEM based on these material properties is expected to yield objective clinical judgment criteria.

Background Although damage to large joints such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle has a substantially larger impact on functional ability than damage to the small joints of the hand and foot,1 2 large joints are not routinely monitored for progressive damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, a little information is available regarding long-term follow-up results of radiographic progression of damage (RPD) to the large joints during treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Objectives We investigated ratios of RPD to the large joints in RA patients treated with bDMARDs for 3 to 4 years and analysed association between RPD and patient backgrounds or Larsen grades of individual large joint. Methods Sixty-eight patients (naive: 42, switch: 26) receiving bDMARDs (IFX: 5, ETN: 9, ADA: 7, GLM: 3, CZP: 5, TCZ: 28, ABT: 11) for 3 to 4 years or achieving bDMARDs-free status were included in this study. The mean age and disease duration at the start of bDMARDs was 62.7 year-old and 10.7 years, respectively, and baseline DAS28-ESR and HAQ was 4.61 and 1.014, respectively. A total of 311 joints including shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle were evaluated whether there was RPD during the observation period by comparing radiographs before and after the treatment. Results RPD was found in 22 patients (31.4%) and 32 joints (10.0%), and it occurred during the former half period in 17 joints and during the latter half period in 15 joints. Joints with Larsen grade (LG) III or more had significantly higher ratios of RPD than those with LG II or less (p Conclusions The stage and baseline HAQ were associated with RPD to the large joints, and progressive damage is expected to increase when the stage exceeds III and/or functional disability exceeds an HAQ score of 1.5. Progressive damage also increases when LG exceeds III. Treatment with bDMARDs should be started before stage, HAQ, and LG exceed III, 1.5, and III, respectively. References [1] Drossaers-Bakker KW, Kroon HM, Zwinderman AH, Breedveld FC, Hazes JM. Radiographic damage of large joints in long-term rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to function. Rheumatology (Oxford)2000;39:998–1003. [2] Kuper HH, van Leeuwen MA, van Riel PL, Prevoo ML, Houtman PM, Lolkema WF, van Rijswijk MH. Radiographic damage in large joints in early rheumatoid arthritis: relationship with radiographic damage in hands and feet, disease activity, and physical disability. Br J Rheumatol1997;36:855–60. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Maize plants are well colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which contribute mineral nutrients absorption from soil. However little is known about their role in nitrogen (N) absorption especially from amino acids, which reach a considerable quantity in soils. This experiment was conducted to investigate N acquisition from amino acids through AMF symbiosis. AMF inoculation clearly increased the N content of maize supplied with amino acids (Glu, Ala and Pro). Further study of xylem sap revealed that the composition of amino acids was changed by AMF inoculation. These results indicate that AMF contribute N from amino acids, and may affect the nitrogen assimilation of host plants.

We have developed an X-band filter utilizing air-gap-type film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). The air-gap structure is simple and cost-effective. Results from both simulations and experiments demonstrate that a dome-shaped air gap was formed between the substrate surface and the bottom electrode and that an air-gap-type FBAR structure was possible. The air gap can be formed on the flat substrate using stress control of piezoelectric and metal films without using a thick sacrificial layer. As a result, the fabricated X-band FBAR operated successfully with a keff2 of 6.30%, a resonance Q of 246, and an antiresonance Q of 462. The fabricated filter had a center frequency of 9.07 GHz, a fractional bandwidth of 3.1% and a minimum insertion loss of 1.7 dB.

A bulk acoustic wave filter composed of piezoelectric thin-film resonators has many features superior to those of other small filters such as a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter and a ceramic filter. A high-Q factor and low loss are big advantages for a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR). The electrode material that is selected is very important for maintaining a high-Q and appropriate coupling factor. An analysis of the effects of acoustic impedance on AlN-based FBAR performance is described. The electromechanical coupling factor (k2) and filter loss were found to be influenced by acoustic impedance and to be mainly dominated by Young's modulus. Ru was found by analysis and experiments to be a suitable material for the electrode. Finally, a 2 GHz wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA) filter was demonstrated to have a good performance.

Early postnatal hyperoxia is a major risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely premature infants. To reduce the occurrence of ROP, we adopted a lower early postnatal oxygen saturation (SpOInfants born at28 weeks' gestation were enrolled in this study. Oxygen saturation target range during the first postnatal 72 h was 84-100% in study period 1 and 85-92% in period 2.Eighty-two infants were included in period 1, and 61 were included in period 2. The lower oxygen saturation target range increased the occurrence of hypoxemia during the first postnatal 72 h. Prevalence of DA closure failure in period 2 (21%) was significantly higher than that in period 1 (1%). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the lower oxygen saturation target range was an independent risk factor for DA closure failure.Lower early postnatal oxygen saturation target range increases the risk of DA closure failure.

Deterioration of the effective electromechanical coupling factor (K eff 2) upon improving the temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) is a serious issue for temperature-compensated bulk acoustic wave (TC-BAW) resonators, because TC-BAW filter applications are restricted to bandpass filters with narrow relative bandwidths under 1.5% in wireless communication systems. Our objective is to therefore enhance the K eff 2of TC-BAW resonators for radio frequency filters and duplexers with wide relative bandwidths. In this work, the two improvements were investigated to enhance the K eff 2of the temperature-compensated thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator (TC-FBAR). First, we applied the fluorine-doped silicon oxide (SiOF) film with a large positive temperature coefficient of velocity (TCV) to a TC-FBAR. The TCV of the SiOF film (8.8 at.% F) was 164 ppm/°C, which was much larger than 70 ppm/°C of the SiO 2 film. Second, we optimized the layer structures of the TC-FBAR. TCF of −11.1 ppm/°C and K eff 2of 6.26% were achieved on the TC-FBAR with the structure of Ru/AlN/Ru/SiOF/Ru. We believe that the SiOF-based TC-FBAR thus enables the application to bandpass filters with wide relative bandwidths greater than 2.5%.

関西地方の18箇所の森林から表土を採取し, 撒き出し施工および実験を行った。多くの森林に生育していたコナラ, アベマキの実生出現頻度は小さかったが, ヒサカキの群落および実生出現頻度はともに大きかった。群落での出現頻度の小さかったアカメガシワ, ヌルデなどの実生出現頻度は大きく, 平均埋土種子密度も7個/m2以上と大きく, 表土撒き出し緑化によって, これらの先駆種からなる群落形成の可能性が示された。複数のサブプロットの組み合わせで算出した種数, 多様度指数—面積曲線によって, 異なる面積のプロット間での多様性の比較が可能となった。低密度出現種の多いプロットでは, 出現種数は面積の影響を大きく受けるため, 種多様性評価を行う場合には大面積の調査が必要であることが明らかとなった。

A 1.9 GHz film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) based complementary cross-coupled voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) designed in 0.18 µm CMOS is presented. DC latch and low frequency instability problems have been solved by the cross- coupled pairs with DC block capacitors. The open loop gain has been analyzed and optimized by considering the effect of transistors' size on enhancement of the stability at low frequencies and the loop gain at the desired oscillation frequency. The optimization of the phase noise has been done by considering the effect of PMOS transistors' size on the quality (Q-) factor and the impedance of FBAR. The final fabricated chip is packaged in dual in-line package (DIP) and the measured performance shows that the proposed FBAR-VCO achieves a phase noise of -148 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset with a figure of merit (FOM) of -212 dBc/Hz.

This paper reports the wafer-bonding-based integration of heterogeneous devices with different die sizes by laser-assisted selective device transfer technique. 1 mm × 1 mm FBAR (film bulk acoustic resonator) dies supported with a glass wafer were selectively transferred to a wafer of 2 mm × 2 mm BiCMOS sustaining amplifiers by low temperature Au-Au bonding. The FBAR dies left on the support glass wafer were transferred to other BiCMOS wafers, and 4 times of integration were done in total using the same FBAR wafer. The integrated device worked as a chip-size-packaged 2 GHz timing oscillator, and a phase noise of -103 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset and -155 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset was confirmed.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered to be involved in the pathobiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, their association with disease activity has not been elucidated. In this study, we measured reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in patients with RA using a new Free Radical Analytical System and determined clinical parameters associated with ROM.One hundred and fifty-two patients with RA and 80 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were included in this observational study. To measure ROM, the d-ROM test was performed on blood samples drawn from all subjects. The correlation between ROM and biomarkers, disease activity, doses of methotrexate (MTX), and prednisolone (PSL) were investigated.There were significant, positive correlations between ROM and CRP, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), Disease Activity Score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI). Multiple regression analysis revealed that CRP and DAS28-ESR were correlated with ROM.The serum level of ROM was associated with CRP and DAS28-ESR, suggesting that ROM, in conjunction with CRP and MMP3, may be able to be used as a new biological disease marker to evaluate the disease activity of RA.

It is known that the severity of compression myelopathy sometimes worsens rapidly and results in poor functional recovery because of limited axonal regeneration. Levels of phosphorylated neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H), which indicate axonal degeneration, are elevated in other neurological disorders. To our knowledge, there has been no examination of pNF-H levels in compression myelopathy. Therefore, we conducted a pilot cross-sectional study to evaluate pNF-H levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with worsening symptoms of cervical compression myelopathy. From January 2011 to March 2013, 51 samples of CSF were collected from patients at the time of myelography before spinal surgery. The indications for surgery were acutely worsening compression myelopathy (AM) in eight, chronic compression myelopathy (CM) in six, and lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) in 37 patients. The pNF-H levels were measured using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean ± standard deviation pNF-H value was 2127.1 ± 556.8 pg/ml in AM patients, 175.8 ± 67.38 pg/ml in CM patients and 518.7 ± 665.7 pg/ml in LCS patients. A significant increase in pNF-H levels was detected in the CSF of patients with AM compared with those with either CM or LCS. The clinical outcome of surgical treatment for patients with cervical myelopathy was satisfactory in both AM and CM patients. Despite the limitations of small sample size and lack of healthy CSF control data due to ethical considerations, our results suggest that pNF-H in CSF can act as a biomarker that reflects the severity of AM.

This paper describes a 3.0 ° 2.5 ° 0.7 mm3 wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) Band I duplexer with receiver (Rx) balanced output we developed. The low-loss and power-durable film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) and the single-to-balanced double mode SAW (DMS) were utilized for the transmitter (Tx) and the Rx filter respectively. It was experimentally confirmed that the 2nd distortion of FBAR was significantly worse than that of the surface acoustic wave (SAW). In order to suppress the 2nd harmonic due to the nonlinear distortion of the duplexer and the power amplifier (PA), a notch circuit was implemented at the antenna port using our high-Q Integrated Passive Devices (IPD) technology. As a result, we realized the duplexer with suppressed nonlinear distortion as well as excellent filter response.

We describe the development of an air-gap type film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filter fabricated using a thin sacrificed layer on a flat substrate. In the development process we focused on reducing the cost of the wafer process. Results from both simulations and experiments demonstrate that a dome- shaped air gap was formed between the substrate surface and the bottom electrode and that an air-gap type FBAR structure was possible. Even if a thin sacrificed layer is used, the air gap can be formed on the flat substrate using stress control. Consequently, the Q-factor at resonance and anti-resonance and effective k2 were found to be 1500, 1100, and 7.2% in the 2-GHz range, respectively. The wideband code division multiple access (W- CDMA) band I duplexer was designed using the proposed air- gap type FBAR filters in a 3.0 times 2.5 times 0.7-mm ceramic package. The insertion losses were as small as 1.2 dB and 1.5 dB in the Tx and Rx bands respectively.

This paper describes FBAR and SAW resonators which have high-Q factor using unique technology, and their applications. A new electrode material suitable for AlN-based FBARs have been developed in order to realize high-Q factor for low loss. The necessary conditions for FBAR electrode materials are low resistivity and high acoustic impedance. It is found the properties of ruthenium (Ru) to be suitable for use as electrode materials for AlN-based FBARs. The resonant characteristics of FBAR using Ru electrodes indicates Q r of 1200 and an effective electromechanical coupling coefficient k2 of 6.7% at 2 GHz. On the contrary, SAW resonator with narrow finger electrode, which can suppress transverse leakage of SAW, shows Q r of 670 and k2 of 7.1%. Furthermore, we applied these resonators to ladder-type FBAR filter for 2-GHz WCDMA and SAW duplexer for US-PCS, respectively, and achieved low-loss and step cut-off filters as a result.