[110]-surface strained-SOI CMOS devices

We have newly developed [110]-surface strained-silicon-on-insulator (SOI) n- and p-MOSFETs on [110]-surface relaxed-SiGe-on-insulator substrates with the Ge content of 25%, fabricated by applying the Ge condensation technique to SiGe layers grown on [110]-surface SOI wafers. We have demonstrated that the electron and the hole mobility enhancement of [110]-surface strained-SOI devices amounts to 23% and 50%, respectively, against the mobilities of [110]-surface unstrained MOSFETs. As a result, the electron and the hole mobility ratios of [110]-surface strained-SOI MOSFETs to the universal mobility of (100)-surface bulk-MOSFETs increase up to 81% and 203%, respectively. Therefore, the current drive imbalance between n- and p-MOS can be reduced. Moreover, both the electron and the hole mobilities of the [110]-surface strained-SOIs strongly depend on the drain current flow direction, which is qualitatively explained by the anisotropic effective mass characteristics of the carriers on a [110]-surface Si. As a result, the [110]-surface strained-SOI technology with optimization of the current flow directions of n- and p-MOS is promising for realizing higher speed scaled CMOS.     

Occurrence of heterogeneity of N-linked oligosaccharides attached to sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) laccase after excretion

The N-linked oligosaccharide moieties of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) laccase are known to be highly heterogeneous. We confirmed that this oligosaccharide heterogeneity was caused not only during the oligosaccharide biosynthesis in Golgi apparatus, but also after the excretion of laccase protein into a culture medium. The culture medium for the sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) contained beta-galactosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase and beta-xylosidase activities. We showed that the largest sugar chain in laccase, oligosaccharide F, [formula: see text] was degraded to [formula: see text] by a crude exoglycosidase mixture in the culture medium.     

Monolithic rat-race mixers for millimeter waves

In this paper, we report on fully monolithic millimeter-wave Schottky-barrier diode (SBD) down-converters with an IF amplifier using heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT's). A rat-race circuit is used for the mixer, and is analyzed using a harmonic-balance simulator. The measured conversion gain and the isolation are 7.1 and 29 dB in the V-band design, and 8.0 and 25 dB in the W-band design, respectively. The conversion gains are matched well with the circuit simulation     

A new scaling algorithm for the maximum mean cut problem

We present a new scaling algorithm for the maximum mean cut problem. The mean of a cut is defined by the cut capacity divided by the number of arcs crossing the cut. The algorithm uses an approximate binary search and solves the circulation feasibility problem with relaxed capacity bounds. The maximum mean cut problem has recently been studied as a dual analogue of the minimum mean cycle problem in the framework of the minimum cost flow problem by Ervolina and McCormick. A networkN=(G, lower, upper) with lower and upper arc capacities is said to be -feasible ifN has a feasible circulation when we relax the capacity bounds by ; that is, we use (lower(a)- , upper(a)+) bounds instead of (lower(a), upper(a)) bounds for each arca A. During an approximate binary search we maintain two bounds,LB andUB, such thatN is LB-infeasible andUB-feasible, and we reduce the interval size (LB, UB) by at least one-third at each iteration. For a graph withn vertices, m arcs, and integer capacities bounded byU, the running time of this algorithm is O(mn log(nU). This time bound is better than the time achieved by McCormick and Ervolina under thesimilarity condition (that is,U=O(n^o(1))). Our algorithm can be naturally used for the circulation feasibility problem, and thus provides a new scaling algorithm for the minimum cut problem.Research supported by a grant-in-aid of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

A review on fuel economy test procedure for automobiles: Implementation possibilities in Malaysia and lessons for other countries

Automobiles are considered as the main energy consumer in the transportation sector. According to the National Energy Balance, its accounted for about 36% of the total energy consumption in Malaysia. In order to reduce energy consumption in this sector, this country must consider setting fuel economy standards for motor vehicles sometime in near future. The first step toward developing fuel economy standards is to create a precise test and rating procedure for the automobiles. The test procedure is the technical foundation for all related programs namely; fuel economy standards, fuel economy labels and incentive programs. The test conditions should represent the driving situations and environment of the country. This paper is attempts to present a critical review on fuel economy testing procedure around the world and to propose a process for selecting a fuel economy test procedure for automobiles based on the conditions and requirements of the country. The internationally recognize test procedure adopted by several countries is also presented in this paper. Even though the paper only discusses the test procedure for automobiles, the methods can be directly applied for other types of vehicles and in other countries without major modifications.     

The Association of Cholesterol Uptake and Synthesis with Histology and Genotype in Cortisol-Producing Adenoma (CPA)

Cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA) is composed of clear and compact cells. Clear cells are lipid abundant, and compact ones lipid poor but associated with higher production of steroid hormones. PRKACA mutation (PRKACA mt) in CPA patients was reported to be associated with more pronounced clinical manifestation of Cushing’s syndrome. In this study, we examined the association of histological features and genotypes with cholesterol uptake receptors and synthetic enzymes in 40 CPA cases, and with the quantitative results obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in 33 cases to explore their biological and clinical significance. Both cholesterol uptake receptors and synthetic enzymes were more abundant in compact cells. GC-MS analysis demonstrated that the percentage of compact cells was inversely correlated with the concentrations of cholesterol and cholesterol esters, and positively with the activity of cholesterol biosynthesis from cholesterol esters. In addition, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which catalyzes cholesterol biosynthesis from cholesterol esters, tended to be more abundant in compact cells of PRKACA mt CPAs. These results demonstrated that both cholesterol uptake and biosynthesis were more pronounced in compact cells in CPA. In addition, more pronounced HSL expression in compact cells of PRKACA mt CPA could contribute to their more pronounced clinical manifestation.     

Integrin beta2 (CD18)-mediated cell proliferation of HEL cells on a hematopoietic-supportive bone marrow stromal cell line, HESS-5 cells

Cellular interactions between hematopoietic cells and stromal cells play important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. The proliferation of a human erythroleukemia cell line, HEL cells, which can differentiate into macrophage- and megakaryocyte-like cells, and erythroid precursors was dramatically induced on coculture with a hematopoietic-supportive stromal cell line, HESS-5 cells, which can support long-term hematopoiesis in vitro without fetal bovine serum. HEL cells proliferated when they were cocultured with but not without direct cell contact. Because the coculture supernatants with direct cell contact and cytokines such as interleukins and growth factors did not exhibit growth-stimulating activity toward HEL cells, it was suggested that some molecule that has growth-stimulating activity exists on the surface of the cells. Extracellular matrix components such as fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and collagen did not affect the proliferation of HEL cells. An anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody, which recognizes the common beta chain of the beta2 integrin subfamily, induced dramatic proliferation of HEL cells. Moreover, the proliferation of HEL cells was inhibited by an antisense oligonucleotide of CD18 mRNA. As judged from these observations, the proliferation of HEL cells was mediated by CD18 molecules expressed on HEL cells. On the contrary, the common counter-receptor of the beta2 integrin subfamily, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which is expressed on CHO-K1 cells, did not stimulate the growth of HEL cells. It is known that other counter molecules of the beta2 integrin subfamily, such as complement C3bi and fibrinogen, are not produced by stromal cells. These findings suggest that the proliferation of HEL cells may be induced through an interaction between a novel molecule of the beta2 integrin subfamily on HEL cells and the counter-receptor on HESS-5 cells. The beta2 integrin subfamily may regulate the growth of hematopoietic cells in hematopoiesis in vivo and/or cause the abnormal growth of leukemia cells.     

Surgical treatment of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with protein-losing enteropathy: report of a case

PURPOSE: The case of a patient with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, who developed a protein-losing enteropathy, is reported. METHODS: After localization of the protein-losing region, a right colectomy was performed. RESULTS: Hypoproteinemia and ectodermal changes improved postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is an effective treatment for protein-losing enteropathy in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Ectodermal changes improve after correcting malnutrition.     

High-speed source-heterojunction-MOS-transistor (SHOT) utilizing high-velocity electron injection

We have developed the source-heterojunction-MOS-transistor (SHOT), a novel high-speed MOSFET with relaxed-SiGe/strained-Si heterojunction source structures for quasi-ballistic or full-ballistic transistors. Using the band-offset energy at the source SiGe/strained-Si heterojunction, high velocity electrons can be injected into the strained-Si channel from the SiGe source region. For the first time, we have experimentally demonstrated that the transconductance is enhanced in SHOT for high applied drain voltage, compared to that of strained- and conventional silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs. We have also shown that the transconductance enhancement in SHOT depends on both the gate drive and the drain bias.