A 300-MHz 25-/spl mu/A/Mb-leakage on-chip SRAM module featuring process-variation immunity and low-leakage-active mode for mobile-phone application processor

An on-chip 1-Mb SRAM suitable for embedding in the application processor used in mobile cellular phones was developed. This SRAM supports three operating modes - high-speed active mode, low-leakage low-speed active mode, and standby mode - and uses a subdivisional power-line control (SPC) scheme. The combination of three operating modes and the SPC scheme realizes low-power operation under actual usage conditions. It operates at 300 MHz, with leakage of 25 /spl mu/A/Mb in standby mode, and 50 /spl mu/A/Mb at the low-leakage active mode. This SRAM also uses a self-bias write scheme that decreases of minimum operating voltage by about 100 mV.     

Amyloid beta-protein deposition in the leptomeninges and cerebral cortex

To further investigate the process of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) deposition, we determined, using sensitive enzyme immunoassays, the levels of Abeta40 and Abeta42 (Abetas) in the soluble and insoluble fractions of the leptomeninges (containing arachnoid mater and leptomeningeal vessels) and cerebral cortices from elderly control subjects showing various stages of Abeta deposition and from patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). In both locations, insoluble Abeta levels were higher by orders of magnitude than soluble Abeta levels. Soluble Abeta levels in cortices were much lower than those in leptomeninges. In insoluble Abeta in the cortex, Abeta42 was by far the predominant species, and Abeta42 in AD cortices was characterized by the highest degree of modifications in the amino terminus. In contrast, this Abeta42 predominance was not observed in insoluble Abeta in the leptomeninges, which were found to be able to accumulate Abetas to an extent similar to that in the cortex, on a weight basis. The levels of insoluble Abeta in the leptomeninges or cortex generally correlated with the degree of cerebral amyloid angiopathy or the abundance of senile plaque, respectively. However, the presence of plaque-free cortical samples showing significant levels of insoluble Abeta42 suggests that biochemically detectable Abeta accumulation precedes immunocytochemically detectable Abeta deposition in the cortex.     

Ureteral obstruction enhances eicosanoid production in cortical and medullary tubules of rat kidneys

We examined prostaglandin (PG) E2, 6-keto PGF1alpha, and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) production in cortical and medullary tubules from sham-operated control (SOC) rats and rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) of 24 h duration. In SOC rats medullary tubules produced significantly greater amounts of the three eicosanoids than cortical tubules. Again, the production of PGE2, 6-keto PGF1alpha, and TxB2 by cortical and medullary tubules was significantly greater in BUO rats than in SOC rats. To elucidate the mechanisms involved, we examined the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) reactive against phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), the activity of phospholipase C (PLC), and the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX) in cortical and medullary tubules from SOC and BUO rats. In SOC rats the activity of phosphatidylcholine-PLA2 and PE-PLA2, the activity of PLC, and the mass of COX were significantly greater in medullary tubules than in cortical tubules. On the other hand, the activity of PLC in membranes of cortical tubules and the activity of PE-PLA2 and PLC in membranes of medullary tubules, which were in active location, were significantly greater in BUO rats than in SOC rats. COX levels were also significantly greater in cortical and medullary tubules of BUO rats than in those of SOC rats. Thus, we indicate that medullary tubules from SOC rats have greater production of eicosanoids through increased activity of the PLA2 and PLC-COX pathway than cortical tubules from the same group of rats. Again, in rats with BUO, the tubular eicosanoid production may be enhanced via activation of the PLC-COX pathway in cortical tubules or through activation of the PE-PLA2 and PLC-COX pathway in medullary tubules. The enhanced production of tubular eicosanoids observed in rats with BUO may affect tubular function, particularly sodium and water reabsorption.     

The molecular interaction of Fas and FAP-1. A tripeptide blocker of human Fas interaction with FAP-1 promotes Fas-induced apoptosis

Fas (APO-1/CD95), which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a cell surface receptor that induces apoptosis. A protein tyrosine phosphatase, Fas-associated phosphatase-1 (FAP-1), that was previously identified as a Fas binding protein interacts with the C-terminal 15 amino acids of the regulatory domain of the Fas receptor. To identify the minimal region of the Fas C-terminal necessary for binding to FAP-1, we employed an in vitro inhibition assay of Fas/FAP-1 binding using a series of synthetic peptides as well as a screen of random peptide libraries by the yeast two-hybrid system. The results showed that the C-terminal three amino acids (SLV) of human Fas were necessary and sufficient for its interaction with the third PDZ (GLGF) domain of FAP-1. Furthermore, the direct cytoplasmic microinjection of this tripeptide (Ac-SLV) resulted in the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line that expresses both Fas and FAP-1. Since t(S/T)X(V/L/I) motifs in the C termini of several other receptors have been shown to interact with PDZ domain in signal transducing molecules, this may represent a general motif for protein-protein interactions with important biological functions.     

Performance of compression/absorption hybrid refrigeration cycle with propane/mineral oil combination

This paper discusses the feasibility of a vapor compression/absorption hybrid refrigeration cycle for energy saving and utilization of waste heat. The cycle employs propane as a natural refrigerant and a refrigeration oil as an absorbent. A prototype of the cycle is constructed, in which a compressor and an absorption unit are combined in series. The performance of the cycle is examined both theoretically and experimentally. Although the solubility of the propane with the oil is not enough as a working pair in the absorption unit, the theoretical calculation shows that the hybrid cycle has a potential to achieve a higher performance in comparison with a simple vapor compression cycle by using the waste heat. In the experiment, the prototype cycle is operated successfully and it is found that an improvement of an absorber is necessary to achieve the good performance close to the theoretical one. The application of an AHE (absorber heat exchanger) can reduce the heat input to a generator. Further examinations on some other combinations of refrigerant/refrigeration oil and additives are desirable.     

Monoclonal antibody analysis of phosphatidylserine and protein kinase C localizations in developing rat cerebellum

Understanding the topographical relationships between phosphatidylserine (PS) and protein kinase C (PKC) within neurons can provide clues about the mechanism of translocation and activation of PKC. For this purpose we applied monoclonal antibodies (Abs) of PS and PKC to sections of developing rat cerebellum. The anti-PKC Ab immunohistochemical pattern showed homogeneous staining of Purkinje cells over various postnatal ages, whereas the anti-PS Ab staining showed a heterogeneous localization over these ages. Purkinje cells did not stain well between postnatal day 14 (PND 14) and PND 21, suggesting that the PS was lost from the membrane during preparation of the sections during this period. These data imply that interactions between PS and PKC vary in Purkinje cells during postnatal development.     

90-nm process-variation adaptive embedded SRAM modules with power-line-floating write technique

The power consumption of a low-power system-on-a-chip (SoC) has a large impact on the battery life of mobile appliances. General SoCs have large on-chip SRAMs, which consume a large proportion of the whole LSI power. To achieve a low-power SoC, we have developed embedded SRAM modules, which use some low-power SRAM techniques. One technique involves expanding the write margin; another is a power-line-floating write technique, which enables low-voltage write operation. The power-line-floating write technique makes it possible to lower the minimum operating supply voltage by 100 mV. The other techniques involve using a process-variation-adaptive write replica circuit and reducing leakage current. These techniques reduce active power during write operations by 18% and reduce active leakage of the word-line driver by 64%. The prototype SRAM modules achieve 0.8-V operation, and a 512-kb SRAM module achieves 48.4-/spl mu/A active leakage and 7.8-/spl mu/A standby leakage with worst-leakage devices.     

An application of rapid freezing,freeze substitution–fixation for scanning electron microscopy

A combined technique of the rapid freezing, freeze substitution–fixation method and the osmium–DMSO-osmium method was devised. By this combined method we clearly observed the architecture of intracellular components in three dimensions. Morphological characteristics were generally similar to those of tissue prepared by the osmium–DMSO-osmium method but different in some respects. Mucigen droplets in intestinal goblet cells, for example, appeared as separated spheres, while in specimens prepared by chemical fixation they were observed as a mass of fused droplets. In the Golgi complex, all cisternae were extremely flat, although they usually dilated on the cis side after chemical fixation. Particles on the mitochondrial tubules of liver cells were well distinguished. They were mushroom shaped, as are those observed by negative staining. The combined method, that is, the rapid freezing, osmium–DMSO-osmium method, is thought to be effective for studying the true structure of intracellular components by scanning electron microscopy.