Duplication of the stomach as a rare cause of cystic epigastric tumor

Duplications of the gastrointestinal tract are congenital anomalies seen in about 0.2% of all children. These include the rare gastric duplications. Latter diagnosis is usually made in the first months after birth on recurrent vomiting by detection of an abdominal tumor. The most important imaging modality is ultrasonography. The case of a prematurely born child weighing 1900 g is presented in whom at the age of three weeks a gastric duplication of the greater curvature was diagnosed and who was successfully treated by resection. The postoperative follow-up for 24 months was uncomplicated.     

Influence of Stress-Induced Leakage Current on Reliability of HfSiOx

HfSiO_x with TiN gate is investigated under substrate injection with respect to stress-induced leakage current (SILC). Most damage caused by electrical stress was found in the high- layer and not in the interface to silicon. Dependent on the application, SILC can exhibit several levels of severity. In pure logic circuits, a large area approximation is sufficient. However, for memory applications, the current increase in small area is important as well. Both contributions are investigated, revealing no lifetime-limiting current increase. With an improved deposition process, SILC can even be suppressed.     

Reliability aspects of Hf-based capacitors: Breakdown and trapping effects

Dielectric breakdown and trapping effects are of serious concern for high-k dielectrics. In this paper acceleration models for dielectric breakdown and leakage current degradation in HfSiO films thicker 10 nm are introduced and the mechanism for leakage current increase during constant voltage stress is evaluated.     

The influence of crystallinity on the resistive switching behavior of TiO2

The resistive switching characteristics of Pt/TiO₂/Al devices were investigated. Amorphous and rutile TiO₂ samples were prepared and electrically characterized. The amorphous sample was sputtered at room temperature. The rutile phase of the TiO₂ was prepared by sputtering at elevated temperatures of 500 °C. Without an electroforming process, the amorphous sample showed bipolar resistive switching in low current mode. Switchable rectifying effects have been demonstrated in this mode. After applying the electroforming process on the rutile or amorphous device both samples exhibited a bipolar switching in high current mode. Amorphous titanium oxide showed low and high current mode bipolar switching in one device.     

Modulation of noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nerves of the human saphenous vein and pulmonary artery by presynaptic EP3- and DP-receptors

1. Spirally cut strips of the human saphenous vein and pulmonary artery were used to determine the pharmacological properties of the presynaptic prostanoid receptors involved in the modulation of sympathetic [3H]-noradrenaline release. Strips preincubated with [3H]-noradenaline were superfused with physiological salt solution containing inhibitors of uptake1 and uptake2 and rauwolscine to eliminate involvement of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Tritium overflow was evoked by transmural electrical stimulation (standard frequency: 2 Hz). 2. In the saphenous vein, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibited the electrically-evoked tritium overflow; at the highest concentration investigated, tritium overflow was inhibited by more than 75% and the pEC50 value was 7.00. These effects were mimicked by prostaglandin E1, the EP1/EP3 receptor agonist, sulprostone and the EP2/EP3 receptor agonist, misoprostol with the rank order (pEC50): sulprostone (8.60) > PGE1 (7.25) > misoprostol (6.96). This rank order of potency suggests that the inhibitory effect of the drugs is mediated by presynaptic EP3-receptors. In contrast, PGF2 alpha did not inhibit evoked tritium overflow; the IP/EP1 receptor agonist iloprost and the stable thromboxane A2 analogue U 46619 (9, 11-dideoxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxy-methanoprostaglandin F2 alpha) produced inhibition only at concentrations above 1 microM. 3. The EP1-receptor antagonist, AH 6809 (6-isopropoxy-9-oxoxanthene-2-carboxylic acid) had no effect on the evoked tritium overflow nor did it modify the inhibitory effect of PGE2, further excluding involvement of inhibitory presynaptic EP1-receptors. 4. PGD2 caused a facilitation of evoked tritium overflow in the saphenous vein; this facilitation is probably mediated by presynaptic DP-receptors, since it was abolished by the selective DP-receptor antagonist, BW A868C (3-benzyl-5-(6-carboxyhexyl)-1-(2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxyethylamino)hydantoin).5. In the pulmonary artery, sulprostone (pECm value 8.35), misoprostol (7.70) and PGE2 (6.80)inhibited electrically-evoked tritium overflow. This rank order of potency is consistent with the involvement of inhibitory presynaptic EP3-receptors.6. These results suggest that the sympathetic nerve fibres of both human saphenous vein and pulmonary artery are endowed with presynaptic inhibitory EP3 receptors. The EP3-receptors do not interact with the alpha 2-autoreceptors. In addition, the human saphenous vein seems to be endowed with presynaptic facilitatory DP-receptors.     

Improved thermal stability of Ni-silicides on Si:C epitaxial layers

The thermal stability of Ni-silicides on tensily strained in situ P doped Si:C epitaxial layers was evaluated. The baseline Ni silicidation process was shown to be compatible with Si:C Recessed Source-Drain (RSD) stressors for NMOS strain engineering while the thermal stability of NiSi:C contacts was significantly improved compared to NiSi ones. Dominant degradation mechanism was shown to be the transition to the NiSi₂:C phase. It was demonstrated that the Si:C strain level affects the silicide formation but has no significant effect on the NiSi:C thermal stability. A mechanism responsible for the improved thermal stability of NiSi:C silicides is discussed.