Mechanism analysis of gate-induced drain leakage in off-state n-MOSFET

An analytical expression for both band-to-band and band-trap-band indirect tunnelings is used to study the gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current of MOSFETs measured before and after hot-carrier stress. The voltage and temperature dependence of GIDL are characterized. Both results show that interface traps situated near the midgap participate in the conduction of GIDL, and band-trap-band indirect tunneling could be the major mechanism. This is further supported by the fact that the percentage increase in GIDL induced by hot-carrier stress is about the same as the corresponding increase in interface-trap density. On the other hand, under low-field conditions, trap-assisted Poole–Frenkle emission dominates over tunneling for temperatures even well below room temperature.     

The cardiovascular interaction between caffeine and nicotine in humans

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized design, we investigated the cardiovascular interaction between caffeine (250 mg intravenously) and nicotine (4 mg chewing gum) in 10 healthy volunteers, both under baseline conditions and during physical and mental stress (standing up and mental arithmetic). Caffeine alone induced a significant increase in blood pressure associated with a decrease in heart rate, whereas nicotine alone increased both blood pressure and heart rate. The combination of caffeine and nicotine increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 10.8 +/- 2.0 and 12.4 +/- 1.9 mm Hg, respectively. This pressor response did not differ significantly from the calculated additive effects of caffeine and nicotine on blood pressure, measuring 12.9 +/- 2.0 and 14.2 +/- 2.1 mm Hg, respectively. Heart rate and forearm blood flow also showed a similar response when the combination of caffeine and nicotine was compared with the calculated sum. During physical stress (standing up), blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma catecholamines increased in the placebo test. The pressor response to standing up was less pronounced after the combination of caffeine and nicotine compared with the sum of the separate effects (combination versus sum: delta diastolic blood pressure, 24.7 +/- 1.9 versus 35.2 +/- 2.6 mm Hg [p < 0.01]; delta mean arterial pressure, 22.1 +/- 2.0 mm Hg versus 28.6 +/- 1.6 mm Hg [p < 0.05]). The plasma catecholamine response did not differ between the combination and the sum of both drugs. During mental arithmetic, blood pressure, heart rate, and forearm blood flow increased in the placebo test. The forearm vasodilator response to mental stress was attenuated by the combination of caffeine and nicotine compared with the sum of both drugs (combination versus sum: delta forearm blood flow, -0.1 +/- 0.3 versus 1.4 +/- 0.5 ml/100 ml/min [p < 0.05]). We conclude that the combined administration of caffeine and nicotine shows additive effects on cardiovascular parameters during baseline conditions but less than additive effects during sympathoadrenal stimulation.     

In vitro degradation of dermal sheep collagen cross-linked using a water-soluble carbodiimide

Bacterial collagenase was used to study the susceptibility of dermal sheep collagen (DSC) cross-linked with a mixture of the water-soluble carbodiimide 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide (E/N-DSC) towards enzymatic degradation. Contrary to non-cross-linked DSC (N-DSC), which had a rate of weight-loss of 18.1% per hour upon degradation, no weight loss was observed for E/N-DSC during a 24 h degradation period. The tensile strength of the E/N-DSC samples decreased during this time period, resulting in partially degraded samples having 80% of the initial tensile strength remaining. The susceptibility of E/N-DSC samples towards enzymatic degradation could be controlled by varying the degree of cross-linking of the samples. Ethylene oxide sterilization of E/N-DSC samples made the material more resistant against degradation compared with non-sterilized E/N-DSC samples. This may be explained by a decrease of the adsorption of bacterial collagenase onto the collagen owing to reaction of ethylene oxide with remaining free amine groups in the collagen matrix.     

Postauricular chondrocutaneous flap in auricular reconstruction

We report an unusual case of a 1 cm papillary renal cell carcinoma arising from the outer surface of the free wall of a radiographically simple renal cyst. Most malignancies arising from the wall of a renal cyst are present along the inner surface, usually adjacent to underlying renal parenchyma. While this is a rare occurrence, it does reinforce the need to explore even small solid renal masses.     

Extracorporeal cholelithotripsy, is it still justified as treatment of cholecystolithiasis?

This prospective study evaluates the results of extracorporal shock-wave piezoelectric lithotripsy in 52 patients, 41 with radiolucent and 11 with calcified shell gallstones. The fragmentation rate was above 90% and the complication rate 31% particularly with pains or intolerance to the adjuvant dissolution therapy. At the end of the treatment, seven cholecystectomies were carried out among the 31 patients for who lithotripsy failed. After 18 months, the success rate was 23% and 12 patients only remained stone free. Nowadays, thanks to the new laparoscopic therapy, extracorporal shock-wave lithotripsy is no longer judged appropriate, especially because of its poor cost-effectiveness and high recurrence ratio.     

Fibrinogen as a cardiovascular risk factor in Spanish children and adolescents. The Ni?o Jesus Group

Studies done on adults reveal a significant role of fibrinogen (FG) in cardiovascular disease. The main purpose of our study was to determine the level of plasma FG in children, its distribution according to age and sex, and its relationship to other cardiovascular risk factors such as cigarette smoking, plasma lipid disturbances, and a positive family history for other cardiovascular risk factors. We studied a population of 2224 children, aged 2 to 18 years, from five different schools located in Madrid. We found a significantly higher level of FG in the groups of females aged 6 to 8 and 16 to 18 years than in males of the same ages (p < 0.001). The study population was distributed into two groups according to the plasma fibrinogen level: > 394 mg/dl and < 394 mg/dl. In both groups we determined plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and found these parameters significantly higher in the group with an FG level > 394 mg/dl (p < 0.05).     

Nature of terpenoids of aTaxodioxylon gypsaceum from the fossil forest of Dunarobba (Italy)

A specimen fromt he fossil forest of Dunarobba (Central Italy) attributed toTaxodioxylon gypsaceum was chemically analyzed particularly for its terpene content. Main chemical constituents show variations related to ageing and carbonization process, while terpene content exhibits a drop of mono- and sesquiterpenes in favour of diterpenes and higher MW compounds. All components are exclusively hydrocarbons and represent alicyclic or partially aromatic structures. The identified families include abietane, phyllocladane, norabietane and norpimarane among diterpenes and traces of cadinane and selinane among sesquiterpenes.     

Dynamics of Crust Formation and Kinetics of Quality Changes During Frying of Meatballs

Mathematical models describing dynamics of crust formation and kinetics of crust color and firmness changes were developed for the deep-fat frying of beef meatballs. Good agreement (R2 ranged between 0.815 and 0.987) was observed between experimental and predicted data. Crust color lightness, redness, and yellowness decreased exponentially with frying time while total color change increased. All color parameters followed first order reaction kinetics. Meatball firmness was measured by peak force obtained from a puncture test whose kinetics model had a reaction rate constant of 5.39E-3 1/(s.N^n-1) and a reaction order of 0.0013.