Effect of the discharging and recharging of the stress generated oxide charge in metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors on the low field leakage current

Low field leakage currents, through thin gate oxides of metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors, increase after negative high field stress. We have observed that this increase could be reduced and even suppressed if the trapped holes created by the stress were neutralized by application of low voltage pulses. We have also observed that these pulses had the effect of making the recharge of the stress created slow states more and more difficult.     

Association between hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation induced by administering orotic acid and enhanced phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in rats

OBJECTIVES: To improve the diagnostic criteria of the congenital long QT syndrome in borderline cases we examined rate adaptation of ventricular repolarization phases during exercise and subsequent recovery in children with the long QT syndrome and controls. METHODS: Nineteen children with definite long QT syndrome and 19 healthy controls underwent exercise testing. QT intervals were measured to the apex (early QT), to the end (total QT) and from apex to the end of the T wave (late QT) at heart rates from 90 by steps of 10 to 150 beats, min-1. RESULTS: In 11/19 long QT syndrome patients (61%) and 2/19 controls (12%) the total QT lengthened during the recovery phase compared with exercise (P = 0.005) at the lowest comparable heart rate. No difference was found between the groups during exercise. The sensitivity of rate adaptation of repolarization intervals was analysed by calculating linear regression slopes relating the QT intervals to the heart rates. During recovery, slopes relating the total QT to heart rate were steeper in long QT syndrome patients than those in controls (-2.50 +/- 0.82 vs -1.79 +/- 0.47, P = 0.003). Total QT/heart rate slopes differed between exercise and recovery phases in the long QT syndrome group only (-1.77 +/- 0.71 vs 2.50 +/- 0.82, P = 0.009). In long QT syndrome patients, the difference in total QT/heart rate slopes was mainly because the late QT/heart rate slopes indicating inhomogeneity of repolarization were steeper during recovery (-1.27 +/- 0.74) than during exercise (-0.46 +/- 0.29, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: After exercise in long QT syndrome children the QT interval lengthens abnormally and inhomogeneity of repolarization increases. Evaluation of the QT interval, and especially its late portion after exercise, may help in establishing the diagnosis of long QT syndrome.     

Pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation: a simplified titration method of the extrinsic positive expiratory pressure

For the inverse problem of equivalent dipole localization, a new residual function was proposed which is based on spatio-temporal correlation of background electroencephalogram (EEG). This residual has the advantage that it allows the calculation of a confidence region for estimated dipole parameters. This method was applied to two sets of visual evoked potential (VEP) data. The localization was compared by using the volume of the confidence region. The outcome of the equivalent dipole localization was compared for three different residual functions: 1) least square; 2) based on spatial correlations in the background EEG; and 3) the proposed new function which is based on spatial and temporal correlations in the background EEG. It was found that the proposed residual function leads us to the highest accuracy and the fastest convergence in the equivalent dipole localization and that even for two-dipole localization, the present method yields more accurate solutions with less iterations than the conventional methods.     

Different prognostic effect of postoperative chemoradiation therapy on diploid and nondiploid high-risk rectal cancers

PURPOSE: DNA ploidy has been shown to play a role in the response to cytotoxic therapy in a variety of malignancies, including breast cancer and melanoma. However, the importance of DNA ploidy in rectal cancer is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether ploidy status might be associated with response to postoperative chemoradiation in TNM Stages II to III rectal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from 229 patients with TNM Stages II to III rectal cancer who underwent resection between 1979 and 1984. The ploidy status and treatment modalities in relation to outcome were assessed. RESULTS: The recurrence-free ten-year survival rate was 52.2 percent for patients with diploidy and 50.5 percent for patients with nondiploidy (P = 0.99). The ten-year survival rates for patients with diploidy and patients with nondiploidy were 55 and 19 percent (P = 0.016) in the chemoradiation group, and 51 and 60 percent (P = 0.15) in the nonchemoradiation group, respectively. In the chemoradiation group, DNA nondiploidy was associated with an increased recurrence rate (83.3 vs. 50.0 percent; P = 0.001). The interaction between DNA nondiploidy and chemoradiation remained important in predicting outcome in the Cox regression model. Factors independently correlated with a worse outcome included Stage IIIb (relative risk, 2.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.7-5; P = 0.0001), perineural invasion (relative risk, 2.5; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.6-4, P = 0.0001), distal tumor (relative risk, 1.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1-2.7, P = 0.014), and nondiploidy with chemoradiation (relative risk, 2.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2-7.2, P = 0.0213). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that DNA nondiploidy is inversely correlated with long-term outcome among patients with high-risk rectal cancer receiving chemoradiation.     

Analysis on the interaction among agents in arteriosclerotic cerebral infarction

An 1:1 matched case-control study including 105 arteriosclerotic cerebral infarction cases and 105 controls was carried out to estimate the etiologic interaction, in Yi-xing city, March 1997. Results showed that the major risk factors were high levels of serum TG, Lp(a) and BMI while serum level of HDL-C was the only protective factor. When several levels were divided on Lp(a) and BMI, a significantly dose response relation was found. Considering the correlation among serum concentration of lipids, we analysed the interaction of different factors, using Log-Linear models. Results showed that there were significant interactions between arteriosclerotic cerebral infarction and TC, TG, HDL-C and Lp(a). There were also interactions between TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C. However, the strongest interaction is expected to happen at what level remains further investigations.     

An improved method for the detection of the G20210A transition in the prothrombin gene

A lectin histochemistry study was performed in the supraglottic and subglottic regions of 10 hamsters. The submucosal glands were observed by light microscopy. The supraglottic submucosal glands presented numerous mucous tubules but on the other hand, the subglottic submucosal glands had serous tubules which finished at the distal portion in serous acini. The results suggest that the distribution of fucosylated-mucin and serum-type glycoproteins between the supra- and subglottic submucosal glands suggest a different viscosity and function of the mucus.     

Positron emission tomography (PET) and (F-18)-fluorodeoxyglucose in (FDG) in cancerology

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a scintigraphic imaging technique undergoing a rapid growth in the field of oncology. The constant progress of the detectors, either CDET or PET dedicated cameras, allows to obtain in routine conditions images with a 5 mm spatial resolution. Absolute tracer uptake quantification is also possible, which allows to evaluate objectively therapy efficacy. The mechanisms of FDG tissular accumulation are now better understood. Increase of glycolysis and of transmembrane transport of glucose seems to be at the origin of the high tumorous accumulation of FDG. The main current oncologic application of FDG PET is the diagnosis of malignancy of the isolated pulmonary nodules, with a sensitivity of more than 95%, and in the staging of lung cancer where PET shows higher performances than conventional imaging. The same stands in cutaneous melanoma and for malignancies of the digestive tract, either in colorectal, pancreatic or esophageal localizations. In colorectal cancers, the role of PET has for long being recognized in the differential diagnosis between recurrence and postoperative fibrosis. In the head and neck tumors, FDG also allows to differentiate between recurrence and postradiation necrosis. In lymphoma, the most suitable site for biopsy can be identified on a PET scan and therapy efficacy can also be assessed. In breast cancer, the detection of metastases seems to be possible with FDG. In brain and thyroid cancers, the role of FDG PET remains to be further determined. The low uptake of FDG in prostate cancer metastasis is not in favor of its use in this indication. In conclusion, the indications of FDG PET in oncology are now becoming more precise and it can be expected that clinical PET centers will soon appear in France.     

Reliability and qualification methodology of 60 W QCW linear bar arrays

The results reported in this publication are related to the qualification of a pilot line at THOMSON-CSF/TCS for the fabrication of 60 W QCW linear bar arrays. This 2-year program supported by the French MoD has been supervised by the Direction de la Recherche et de la Technologie (DRET/TCE) and the Centre d’Electronique de l’Armement (CELAR). The qualification has been conducted in order to fulfil several criteria: demonstration over several batches of the repeatability of performances for linear bar arrays with: COD (Catastrophic Optical Damage)?90 W QCW, efficiency?40% at 60 W, and slope efficiency?1 W/A; storage tests (−40°C, +80°C); ageing tests at 20 and 50°C and reliability assessments. This paper aims to present the methodology used for the qualification and reliability study, and compares it with published results.