A 146-mm/sup 2/ 8-gb multi-level NAND flash memory with 70-nm CMOS technology

An 8-Gb multi-level NAND Flash memory with 4-level programmed cells has been developed successfully. The cost-effective small chip has been fabricated in 70-nm CMOS technology. To decrease the chip size, a one-sided pad arrangement with compacted core architecture and a block address expansion scheme without block redundancy replacement have been introduced. With these methods, the chip size has been reduced to 146 mm/sup 2/, which is 4.9% smaller than the conventional chip. In terms of performance, the program throughput reaches 6 MB/s at 4-KB page operation, which is significantly faster than previously reported and very competitive with binary Flash memories. This high performance has been achieved by the combination of the multi-level cell (MLC) programming with write caches and with the program voltage compensation technique for neighboring select transistors. The read throughput reaches 60 MB/s using 16I/O configuration.     

The effect of ulinastatin on CFU-C colony formation in mouse myelocyte cultures

The mixture of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p)/EDTA/NaCl has been used to delineate low-affinity conditions for agonists binding to G-protein-linked receptors. The effects of this mixture on [3H]RX821002 (2-methoxyidazoxan) binding to alpha2-adrenoceptors were evaluated in different tissues. The density of alpha2-adrenoceptors in the presence of the mixture was 11, 78 and 60% higher in human cortex (predominant alpha2A), human caudate (alpha2A + alpha2C) and rat kidney (alpha2A + alpha2B), respectively, than in its absence. In rat kidney, masking of alpha2B-adrenoceptors by ARC239 (2-[2-[4-(o-methoxyphenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethyl]-4,4-dimethyl-1,3 -(2H,4H)-isoquinolindione) (50 nM) or masking of alpha2A-adrenoceptors by BRL44408 (2-[2H-(1-methyl-1,3-dihydroisoindole)methyl]-4,5-dihydroimidaz ole) (100 nM) demonstrated that the increase was in the alpha2B-adrenoceptor but not in the alpha2A-adrenoceptor subtype.     

Heterogeneous Multi-Core Architecture That Enables 54x AAC-LC Stereo Encoding

This paper describes a heterogeneous multi-core processor (HMCP) architecture that integrates general-purpose processors (CPUs) and accelerators (ACCs) to achieve exceptional performance as well as low-power consumption for the SoCs of embedded systems. The memory architectures of CPUs and ACCs were unified to improve programming and compiling efficiency. Advanced audio codec-low complexity (AAC-LC) stereo audio encoding was parallelized on a heterogeneous multi-core having homogeneous processor cores and dynamically reconfigurable processor (DRP) ACC cores in a preliminary evaluation of the HMCP architecture. The performance evaluation revealed that 54times AAC encoding was achieved on the chip with two CPUs at 600 MHz and two DRPs at 300 MHz, which achieved encoding of an entire CD within 1- 2 min.     

Monolithic PIN-HEMT receiver with internal equaliser for long-wavelength fibre optic communications

An optical receiver, in which a GaInAs PIN photodiode, an AlInAs/GaInAs HEMT high impedance amplifier and even an equaliser were integrated monolithically on an InP substrate, has been fabricated. An optical sensitivity of -30.4 dBm was obtained at 1.2 Gbit/s and 1.3 mu m wavelength.<>     

Measurement of 2-dimensional local instantaneous liquid film thickness around simulated nuclear fuel rod by ultrasonic transmission technique

An accurate knowledge of hydro-dynamic behavior of a liquid film flow on nuclear fuel rods is indispensable for analysis of the CHF under postulated loss-of-coolant-accidents in boiling water reactors. This work is concerned with a new development of ultrasonic transmission technique for film flow measurements. The technique adopted a rotating reflector, capable of measuring time-dependent spatial distribution of liquid film thickness around a simulated nuclear fuel rod. The scanning time is currently 4 ms for reconstruction of one image of the circumferential film thickness distribution.     

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with numerous axonal spheroids in the corticospinal tract and massive degeneration of the cortex

The use of biomarkers is a promising approach to the study of human cancer risk. Bronchial metaplasia in sputum cytology may be a marker for potential premalignancy that can be used for population studies. We recently performed a randomized, controlled trial in smokers on the effect of 14 weeks beta-carotene (20mg/day) on markers for DNA damage. We now have evaluated the application of sputum cytology in this study and performed a preliminary evaluation of the effect of beta-carotene. Of the 150 potential participants in this trial 75 were not eligible because they failed to produce sputum samples (n = 29), or because samples were unsatisfactory (n = 46). The eligible group was older (41 vs 37 years) and had smoked longer (23 vs 19 years), but had similar cigarette consumption (mean 21/day) and plasma cotinine levels. Metaplasia was graded in seven categories. Only 11 subjects (15%) showed minor or mild atypia on study entry. Agreement within and between observers was 95% within the same or an adjacent category. We observed no significant correlation between before and after treatment final metaplasia scores in either the beta-carotene (Spearman R = 0.18, P = 0.3) or placebo group (Spearman R = 0.17, P = 0.3). Initial metaplasia scores were somewhat higher in the beta-carotene group (n = 33) than in the placebo group (n = 42) (P = 0.06). Final metaplasia scores were similar in both groups (P = 0.69), and there was no decrease in metaplasia scores in the beta-carotene group (P = 0.75). This study indicates that sputum cytology may not yet be a readily applicable marker in studies of a healthy asymptomatic population, because many smokers do not spontaneously produce sputum, more severe lesions are rare, and variation over time in the minor lesions in large. Therefore, the preliminary evidence that beta-carotene has no influence should be interpreted with care.     

Long-term results of Watson-Jones tenodesis of the ankle. Clinical and radiographic findings after ten to eighteen years of follow-up

Thirty-seven chronically unstable ankles in thirty-six patients were operated on with use of a Watson-Jones tenodesis. Thirty-four ankles (thirty-three patients) were followed for a mean duration of thirteen years and eight months (range, ten to eighteen years) after the operation. There were nine male and twenty-four female patients. The mean age of the patients was thirty-one years (range, fourteen to fifty-seven years) at the time of the operation and forty-four years (range, twenty-eight to seventy years) at the time of the latest follow-up. At the time of the most recent follow-up evaluation, twenty-seven patients (twenty-eight ankles) were examined directly by one of us and twenty-five patients (twenty-six ankles) also were evaluated radiographically. The other six patients were interviewed, with use of a questionnaire, by telephone. Of the thirty-four ankles, nineteen had an excellent result (grade 1), eleven had a good result (grade 2), three had a fair result (grade 3), and one had a poor result (grade 4) according to the rating system of Good et al. The mean score (and standard deviation) on the ankle-hindfoot scale of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society for the twenty-eight ankles that were examined directly by one of us was 90 +/- 9.3 points (range, 68 to 100 points). Progression of an exostosis at the edge of the joint was detected in eighteen (69 percent) of the twenty-six ankles that were examined radiographically, but narrowing of the joint space was not seen in any ankle. No relationship was detected between the clinical results and radiographic osteoarthrotic changes or the duration of follow-up. The results did not deteriorate over the long term.     

Antinociceptive effect of dihydroetorphine in diabetic mice

The antinociceptive potency of dihydroetorphine in diabetic mice was examined. Subcutaneous administration of dihydroetorphine produced a dose-dependent antinociception in both non-diabetic and diabetic mice. The antinociceptive potency of s.c. dihydroetorphine was less in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The antinociception induced by i.c.v. dihydroetorphine (0.02 microgram) was also significantly less in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The antinociceptive effects of dihydroetorphine (10 micrograms/kg i.p.) in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice were significantly antagonized by s.c. administration of beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of dihydroetorphine (10 micrograms/kg i.p.) in non-diabetic mice, but not in diabetic mice, was also significantly antagonized by naloxonazine, a selective mu 1-opioid receptor antagonist. The time course and the potency of the antinociceptive effect of dihydroetorphine (10 micrograms/kg i.p.) in diabetic mice were similar to those in naloxonazine-treated non-diabetic mice. Naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, or nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, had no significant effect on the antinociceptive effect of dihydroetorphine (10 micrograms/kg i.p.) in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice. These results suggest that dihydroetorphine produces an antinociceptive effect through the activation of both mu 1- and mu 2-opioid receptors in mice. Furthermore, the reduction in dihydroetorphine-induced antinociception in diabetic mice, as compared with non-diabetic mice, may be due to the hyporesponsive to supraspinal mu 1-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception in diabetic mice.     

The phenol red thread tear test: a cross-cultural study

PURPOSE: To examine the results of the phenol red thread tear test in a cross-cultural comparison. METHODS: Two groups of 500 controlled normal subjects who do not wear contact lenses from the United States and Japan were investigated. RESULTS: The mean wet length of the thread for the United States was 23.9 mm (SD 9.5 mm). The mean for Japan was 18.8 mm (SD 8.6 mm). There was a significant difference between the two countries (P < 0.05). Males subjects had significantly longer wet lengths than females for both countries (P < 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between right and left eye results for both countries. CONCLUSIONS: The phenol red thread tear test was found to be easy to administer. Results were in line with current knowledge and theories of the lacrimal system. Results also indicated that this test may disclose subtle differences not previously found with other tear tests.     

Highly hydrogenated dietary soybean oil modifies the responses to polychlorinated biphenyls in rats

The effects of dietary highly hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO) upon the changes caused by dietary polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were examined in rats. Six groups of rats were fed the following diets for 30 d: a 20% soybean oil-containing diet (control diet), a diet in which a half of soybean oil was substituted with HSO (HSO-A diet), a diet in which cellulose powder was replaced with HSO (HSO-B diet) and these diets supplemented with 100 ppm PCBs (control+PCBs, HSO-A+PCBs and HSO-B+PCBs diets). Hepatic concentration of PCBs and relative liver weight were markedly decreased in rats fed with the HSO-A+PCBs diet compared with those fed with the other diets containing PCBs. Liver lipids and liver cholesterol were considerably decreased with a reciprocal increase in fecal sterol excretion by rats fed the HSO-A+PCBs and the HSO-B+PCBs diets compared with those fed with the control+PCBs diet. The fatty acid composition in hepatic phospholipids showed an independent increase of the saturated fatty acid content induced by dietary HSO and PCBs. Dietary PCBs also caused decreases in the amounts of monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that dietary HSO prevents accumulation of PCBs in the liver and promotes the excretion of lipids stimulated by PCBs, accompanied by a change in fatty acid metabolism.