bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural determination of the Δ2, 10-phytadienyl substituent in the 17-propionate of bacteriochlorophyll-b fromHalorhodospira halochloris
Authors: Mizoguchi Tadashi , Isaji Megumi , Harada Jiro , Watabe Kazuyuki , Tamiaki Hitoshi
Published: March 2009

Bacteriochlorophyll(BChl)-b, having a unique phytadienyl group in the propionate-type residue at the 17-position instead of a usual phytyl group, was isolated from the thermophilic purple photosynthetic bacterium Halorhodospira (Hlr.) halochloris. The structure of the propionate, especially for the positions of two C=C double bonds, was unambiguously determined to be C2=C3 and C10=C11 (Δ2, 10-phytadienyl) by means of NMR spectroscopy. To confirm the molecular structure by reverse-phase (RP) HPLC, two types of chlorophyll (Chl) derivatives, 3-acetyl-Chl-a, having different phytadienyl groups to the 17-propionate were prepared: one had a Δ2, 10-phytadienyl group prepared by isomerization of the structurally determined BChl-b, and the other had a Δ2, 14-phytadienyl by oxidation of BChl-a from the other purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sp. Rits as reported previously. HPLC analyses of these derivatives showed their distinct retention times under reverse-phase conditions; the Δ2, 14-phytadienyl-type derivative was eluted more slowly than the Δ2, 10-phytadienyl type. The results clearly indicated that the positions of two C=C double bonds in the ester group affected RP-HPLC elution, which directly reflected the hydrophobicity in a molecule. RP-HPLC analyses thus serve as an aid for structural determination of (B)Chl molecules esterified with various long hydrocarbon chains in photosynthetic organisms, and also enable estimation of their hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity.
CTrigger
Authors: Park Soyeon , Lu Shan , Zhou Yuanyuan
Published: March 2009

Multicore hardware is making concurrent programs pervasive. Unfortunately, concurrent programs are prone to bugs. Among different types of concurrency bugs, atomicity violation bugs are common and important. Existing techniques to detect atomicity violation bugs suffer from one limitation: requiring bugs to manifest during monitored runs, which is an open problem in concurrent program testing.

This paper makes two contributions. First, it studies the interleaving characteristics of the common practice in concurrent program testing (i.e., running a program over and over) to understand why atomicity violation bugs are hard to expose. Second, it proposes CTrigger to effectively and efficiently expose atomicity violation bugs in large programs. CTrigger focuses on a special type of interleavings (i.e., unserializable interleavings) that are inherently correlated to atomicity violation bugs, and uses trace analysis to systematically identify (likely) feasible unserializable interleavings with low occurrence-probability. CTrigger then uses minimum execution perturbation to exercise low-probability interleavings and expose difficult-to-catch atomicity violation.

We evaluate CTrigger with real-world atomicity violation bugs from four sever/desktop applications (Apache, MySQL, Mozilla, and PBZIP2) and three SPLASH2 applications on 8-core machines. CTrigger efficiently exposes the tested bugs within 1--235 seconds, two to four orders of magnitude faster than stress testing. Without CTrigger, some of these bugs do not manifest even after 7 full days of stress testing. In addition, without deterministic replay support, once a bug is exposed, CTrigger can help programmers reliably reproduce it for diagnosis. Our tested bugs are reproduced by CTrigger mostly within 5 seconds, 300 to over 60000 times faster than stress testing.
PowerNap
Authors: Meisner David , Gold Brian T. , Wenisch Thomas F.
Published: March 2009

Data center power consumption is growing to unprecedented levels: the EPA estimates U.S. data centers will consume 100 billion kilowatt hours annually by 2011. Much of this energy is wasted in idle systems: in typical deployments, server utilization is below 30%, but idle servers still consume 60% of their peak power draw. Typical idle periods though frequent--last seconds or less, confounding simple energy-conservation approaches.

In this paper, we propose PowerNap, an energy-conservation approach where the entire system transitions rapidly between a high-performance active state and a near-zero-power idle state in response to instantaneous load. Rather than requiring fine-grained power-performance states and complex load-proportional operation from each system component, PowerNap instead calls for minimizing idle power and transition time, which are simpler optimization goals. Based on the PowerNap concept, we develop requirements and outline mechanisms to eliminate idle power waste in enterprise blade servers. Because PowerNap operates in low-efficiency regions of current blade center power supplies, we introduce the Redundant Array for Inexpensive Load Sharing (RAILS), a power provisioning approach that provides high conversion efficiency across the entire range of PowerNap's power demands. Using utilization traces collected from enterprise-scale commercial deployments, we demonstrate that, together, PowerNap and RAILS reduce average server power consumption by 74%.
Leak pruning
Authors: Bond Michael D. , McKinley Kathryn S.
Published: March 2009

Managed languages improve programmer productivity with type safety and garbage collection, which eliminate memory errors such as dangling pointers, double frees, and buffer overflows. However, because garbage collection uses reachability to over-approximate live objects, programs may still leak memory if programmers forget to eliminate the last reference to an object that will not be used again. Leaks slow programs by increasing collector workload and frequency. Growing leaks eventually crash programs.

This paper introduces leak pruning, which keeps programs running by predicting and reclaiming leaked objects at run time. It predicts dead objects and reclaims them based on observing data structure usage patterns. Leak pruning preserves semantics because it waits for heap exhaustion before reclaiming objects and poisons references to objects it reclaims. If the program later tries to access a poisoned reference, the virtual machine (VM) throws an error. We show leak pruning has low overhead in a Java VM and evaluate it on 10 leaking programs. Leak pruning does not help two programs, executes five substantial programs 1.6-81X longer, and executes three programs, including a leak in Eclipse, for at least 24 hours. In the worst case, leak pruning defers fatal errors. In the best case, it keeps leaky programs running with preserved semantics and consistent throughput.
Electrical Defect Issues of Hetero-Epitaxy for Advanced Nanometric CMOS Technologies
Authors: Claeys Cor , Gonzalez Mireia B. , Eneman G. , Hikavyy Andriy , Loo Roger , Simoen Eddy
Published: March 2009

Epitaxial techniques have been around for several decades already, but are now becoming an essential process module for several state-of-the-art process technologies, whereby the stringent defect control requirements have imposed new challenges. Some state-of-the-art hetero-epitaxial applications are briefly reviewed from a defect engineering point of view.
Transport in Silicon Nanowire Transistors
Authors: Hiramoto Toshiro , Chen Jiezhi , Jeong YeonJoo , Saraya Takuya
Published: March 2009

Mobility and strain effects in silicon nanowire MOSFETs are extensively studied by experiments. The electron mobility of silicon nanowire with width less than 10nm has been evaluated by the split CV method for the first time. It is found that the mobility decreases with decreasing nanowire width and depends strongly on nanowire direction. The strain effects of nanowire nMOSFETs has been evaluated for the first time. It is found that the transverse tensile strain offers more favorable effects than longitudinal one in terms of Ion/Ioff ratio.
pMOSFET Off-state Leakage and Junction Leakage Current in Ge-based Devices
Authors: Simoen Eddy , De Stefano F. , Eneman G. , De Jaeger B. , Claeys Cor , Crupi F.
Published: March 2009

The impact of the post-implantation Rapid Thermal Anneal (RTA) temperature on the leakage current of p+n junctions fabricated in epitaxial Ge-on-Si substrates is analyzed in terms of the area and the peripheral leakage current component. While the former is not clearly affected, it is shown that the peripheral leakage current density increases in the range 500 to 600oC. A similar trend is found for the off-state leakage current of pMOSFETs made in the same substrates. This is ascribed to a higher activation of the halo implantation, which generates a higher band-to-band tunneling at the interface. It is, finally, shown that replacing the standard BF2 extension implantation by a Ge pre-amorphization followed by a low-energy B implant improves the area leakage current density, most likely because of a lower residual damage.
A Study of Stress Technology for 65nm Generic CMOS Technology
Authors: Liu Xinfu , Dai Wenjun , Yu Xing , Lim Louis , Xue Bin , He Boyong
Published: March 2009

For deep sub-100nm CMOS technology, the stress level impacts transistor performance significantly. In this paper, we present the investigation results of stress technology in a 65 nm generic process. We studied some mobility enhancing technologies such as Stress-Memorization Technology (SMT) and Dual Stress Liner (DSL) process in a conventional 65 nm Generic CMOS process. The transistor performance with different stress layers and stress levels are reported. The experimental results show that SMT and higher stress level tensile ESL (Etch-Stop Layer) improve NMOS performance while compressive ESL improve PMOS significantly. For the required-device performance, the stress layer and stress architecture should be carefully optimized. The stress technology reported in this paper has been successfully implemented in the production of 65 nm generic process.
Characteristic Variations Induced by Random Fluctuation of Source/Drain Lateral Distribution Dopant in Nano-Scale UTB SOI MOSFET
Authors: Du Linfeng , Deng Hui , Du Gang , Han Ruqi , Zhang Shengdong
Published: March 2009

The "nominally" un-doped or lightly-doped channels are actually doped considerably due to the lateral distribution of dopants from Source/Drain (S/D) doping, thus forming a new source of Random Dopant Fluctuation (RDF). In this work, the unexpected RDF effect of sub-20nm UTB SOI MOSFETs is investigated by device simulation. A new method to simulate the RDF effect was introduced. The results show that a severe Vth variation due to the new RDF effect will take place when device is scaled into sub-20 nm regime, even with un-doped channel. The device parameter dependence of Vth variations of MOSFETs with un-doped channel were presented, which was found to be largely similar to that of ones with doped channel. The drain current and subthreshold fluctuations were also investigated to gain a more comprehensive insight to RDF in MOSFETs. Our results illustrated the importance of suppressing the lateral distribution of S/D dopants for scaled devices.
A Novel Super-Halo Doping Concept for Nanoscale CMOS Technology
Authors: Liao Congwei , Zhang Shengdong
Published: March 2009

A novel super-halo doping concept for nano-scale CMOS application is presented, which features a counter ion implantation performed through the gaps formed at the gate edges. The implantation forms two high localized halo doping (LHD) zones below the source and drain regions adjacent to the channel. The LHD zones effectively shield the source and channel regions from the drain field penetration, ensuring a much improved short-channel effect. The excellent performances of the LHD devices are verified by simulation results. The fabrication process for the LHD devices is also suggested and discussed.
Simulation Details for the Electrical Field Distribution and Breakdown Voltage of 0.15μThin Film SOI Power Device
Authors: You Hsin-Chiang N. , Liu Yen-Ling , Tsaur Shyh-Chang , Sheu Gene N.
Published: March 2009

The ultra-high breakdown voltage behavior of a thin-film SOI LDMOS device with a variation in the lateral doping (VLD) of drift region is analyzed extensively by TSuprem4 and Medici. The on/off state resistance and breakdown voltage depending on device parameters including drift region length, doping density gradient, and gate field plate length are examined thoroughly. The process figure of merit (FOM) has shown excellent result for devices with the optimum linearly doped drift region ranging from 30μ to 60μ. The safe operating area (SOA) for drain source current versus on-state breakdown voltage for a 60μ drift region is also presented.
Reliability of Copper Interconnects: Stress-Induced Voids
Authors: Gambino Jeff , Lee Tom C. , Chen Fen , Sullivan Timothy D.
Published: March 2009

Stress-induced voids can form in Cu interconnects, due to either thermal expansion mismatch between the metal and the dielectric or due to confined grain growth in the Cu. The fail rate due to stress-induced voids increases as device dimensions decrease, because the critical void size to cause a fail decreases. Good process control is required for trench and via profiles, barrier and seed layer coverage, Cu fill, and cap layer adhesion, to prevent fails from stress-induced voids.
Yield Improvement through Mechanism Study on WSi2 Abnormal Growth
Authors: Tang Ji Yue , Fang Zhijun , Xu Zhi
Published: March 2009

More than 7% yield loss from a 0.11 um deep trench DRAM product line was incurred due to short current between the gate contact and the bit line contact caused by abnormal growth of WSix. Tungsten rich during WSi2 deposition was suspected by customer at the beginning of the issue. Further study shows that the oxygen attacking during GC annealing stage is the culprit which causes the abnormal growth of WSix. The paper also explains in detail on why WSi2 will grow abnormally after the oxygen attack. The paper also explains how can the oxygen attacks the WSi2 layer when there is a silicon nitride cap layer on top of the WSi2 film. There is still one more question remain, why O2 in GC RTO process which is just right after GC anneal process will not cause WSi2 abnormal grow? As a summary, the O2 control in GC anneal step is the key to eliminate the WSi2 tumor defects. GC anneal recipe was modified to avoid O2 sensor delay effect to keep the O2 under control.
Line Edge Roughness Analysis for KrF Photoresists under sub 0.11 um Groundrules
Authors: Wang Lei , Ji Liang , Wu Peng , Kan Huan , He Weimin , Zhu Zhiguo , Chen Fucheng , Wei Fang , Zhu Jun
Published: March 2009

To maintain cost competitiveness for the 200 mm wafer production, the industry starts to explore production feasibility under groundrules smaller than 110 nm while maintaining the cost advantages given by the KrF exposure tools systems. The k1 factor under 110 nm will be below 0.35. It has the similar level of complexity in optical proximity correction compared to 65 nm at 0.93 NA with 193 nm exposure tools. However, due to that the KrF photoresists are originally designed for ground rules greater than 110 nm it is relatively unknown how feasible it is to extend their performance below 110 nm. As we know, in each photoresist design, there is a balance among three major performance indices, which are spatial resolution, photospeed, and pattern edge roughness. For example, a fast photoresist may not have the same resolution or pattern edge roughness performance as a slow photoresist, which may, of course, has low productivity. A good production resist usually has a good balance of all three parameters. This paper will explore the line edge roughness parameters under sub 110 nm design rules and will explore the performance dependence on imaging conditions. Classical photo process optimization result is shown and acceptable LWR performance is achieved. In addition, a comparison in line edge roughness among 3 production KrF photoresists will be made.
Lithography Process Transfer from ArF to High-NA KrF Tool
Authors: Hong JongKyun , Serebryakov Alexander
Published: March 2009

In this paper, we present the capabilities of lithographic process transfer by use of high NA KrF tool (TWINSCAN XT:1000H, Maximal NA 0.93). The Metal 1 (100 nm half-pitch)and Via (110 nm half-pitch) layers of 65 nm technology have been chosen for this research. The layers belong to customer product that is currently manufactured on ArF tool (TWINSCAN XT:1400). By optimizing illumination setting and applying advanced OPC solution, we have obtained the overlapping process window of critical features for the KrF process that is comparable with parameters of the initial ArF process. A good performance of Metal layer with respect to MEEF (Mask Error Enhancement Factor) also allows for stable process characteristics within wide line through pitch range. However, to ensure CD uniformity for Via layer an aggressive illumination solution such as soft-QUASAR or customized illumination may be required.
Trefoil Aberration Measurement of Lithographic Projection Optics Based on Linewidth Asymmetry of the Aerial Image
Authors: Yuan Qiongyan , Wang Xiangzhao , Qiu Zicheng
Published: March 2009

The degradation of critical dimension uniformity caused by trefoil aberration of lithographic projection optics is a serious problem in production of dynamic random access memory devices. In the present paper, we propose a novel method for measuring the trefoil aberration of lithographic projection optics. The trefoil aberration can be extracted from the linewidth asymmetry of the aerial image of brick wall patterns. The present method has an advantage of timesaving. The test mark used in the present method is easy and cheap to fabricate, and the model for aberration extraction is simple. The PROLITH simulation results show that, the trefoil aberration can be measured with high accuracy.
High-Accuracy Measurement of Coma with the Optimized Alternating Phase-shifting Mask with a Specific Phase Width
Authors: Qiu Zicheng , Wang Xiangzhao , Yuan Qiongyan , Wang Fan
Published: March 2009

The correlation between the coma sensitivity of the Alternating Phase-Shifting Mask (Alt-PSM) and the Alt-PSM's structure is studied. It is found that an optimized Alt-PSM whose phase width is two thirds of its pitch has a higher sensitivity to coma than Alt-PSMs with the same pitch and the different phase widths, when the pitch of the Alt-PSM makes only +/-1 and +/-3 orders diffraction light enter the lens pupil. The optimized Alt-PSM is used as a measurement mark to retrieve coma aberration from the projection optics in lithographic tools. In comparison with an ordinary Alt-PSM mark whose phase width is a half of its pitch, the measurement accuracies of Z7 and Z14 have increased by 15% and 31% respectively.
Silicon-Containing Coupler Polymers Used For DUV Photoresist
Authors: Ran Ruicheng
Published: March 2009

A new series of photoresists formulated by silicon-containing coupling agents copolymer is introduced to use for DUV microlithography. Those photoresists improved adhesion to substrates, contrast of pattern, lateral resolution and etching-resistance in lithography processing.
Residue Testing of Developer-Soluble Bottom Anti-Reflective Coatings
Authors: Washburn Carlton , April Evers , Brian Smith
Published: March 2009

Organic developer-soluble bottom anti-reflective coatings (DBARCs) are commonly used in the photolithographic process for implant and high-k/metal gate integration. They provide added reflectivity control over topography compared top anti-reflective coatings (TARCs). DBARCs are coated onto substrates and then removed during the develop step with the resist. Occasionally a thin post-develop residue (PDR) remains after the DBARC removal process. The main drivers of this residue are DBARC bake temperature, followed by develop time. For this investigation the amount of residue was tested using Si, SiO2, native SiO2, SiN, and HfO2 substrates at different bake temperatures. In addition, contact and proximity baking are compared and shown to be equivalent in terms of their effect on PDR. This work demonstrates that optimizing the bake process of a DBARC is an effective way to control PDR on a variety of substrates.
A New Kind of Technology for Post CMP Cleaning in IC Fabrication
Authors: Weiwei Li
Published: March 2009

In this paper the forming course and mechanisms of contaminations were systematically analyzed. A new mechanism model has been established about contaminations on wafer surface. According to this model a new kind of cleaning method was putted forward. Block copolymer is used as cleaning solution coordinated by infiltration and corrosive under megasonic. The new cleaning method has three advantages: First, the adsorptive state of particles on wafers is effectively controlled. The efficiency and effect of megasonic particle removal is greatly improved; Second, it has the functions of chelating and non-volatile organic base. It can remove many kinds of metal ions; Third, it can remove organic substance because of the same structure. This new cleaning method can remove particles, metal ions and organic substances together. Its cleaning effect is good without environment pollution. So the new leaning method can be used in commercial production safely.
Application of Surfactant in Si CMP Processing
Authors: Tan Baimei , Niu Xinhuan , Liang Pu , Wu Tao , Liu Y. L.
Published: March 2009

With the rapidly developing of ULSI fabrication technique to high integration and low cost, the key technology is how to ensure the higher flattening, lower roughness and lower cost. The chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method is the best one for global planarization. In this paper, the CMP mechanism process of silicon wafer was analyzed, and it was pointed that chemical reaction was the kinetics control process. The influence of surfactant on silicon surface quality during CMP process was also discussed, and the contrast experiments were processed. SiO2 was selected as abrasive, which particle size was 40nm. And the polishing temperature was 25°. At the end of silicon CMP, the water polishing was processed using de-ionized water with surfactant, and the optimal surface was gotten, and the surface roughness was 0.5nm.
Advanced Process Control of HfxSi1-xO2 Composition using Co-injection Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Bartholomew Larry , Bavin Andy , Lazerand Thierry , Rao Vivek , Weldon Matthew , Wang Li
Published: March 2009

A novel Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) process has been developed in which chemical precursors are co-injected and simultaneously reacted. The process demonstrates hafnium silicate films of uniform composition that can be easily tuned from <30 to >80 % Hf concentration to meet specific device requirements with excellent thickness control proportional to the number of process cycles. The film has been fully integrated into a CMOS structure and provides repeatable parametric results over a wide range of film compositions. In addition we review a VUV metrology technique correlated to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy that enables measurement of the hafnium vs. silicon composition in very thin films <50 Aå, with sensitivity to lower hafnium concentration in the interfacial layer for films deposited directly upon silicon substrates.
Plasma Charging Damage Affecting Flash Memory Device Encountered at Pad Etch
Authors: Chong Shui Fook , Mohammad Khairuddin A. , Ng Fu Shun , Liu Llewellyn J. , Lee Dae Gun , Lee Shannon F.
Published: March 2009

This paper is to present plasma charging damage affecting 0.18 micron flash memory product. The affected product encountered high voltage N-MOS transistor current leakage. Correlation analysis pointed towards the passivation / pad etch step. Engineering splits were performed to isolate and understand the root cause. Several factors were suspected contributing to the current leakage. These factors are categorized by recipe, consumable kit and product technology (process flow). Further splits were performed with the consumable kits divided into three groups; quartz group, anodized aluminum group and the gas distribution plate group. The focus of this paper is to highlight the combined impact of high power radio frequency (RF) from process recipe with equipment consumable parts intrinsic defect affecting flash memory device causing plasma charging damage. This paper also investigates the effectiveness of electrical test rework procedure utilizing ultraviolet (UV) erase.
A Novel Approach for Electro Chemical Plating (ECP) Process Swirl Defect Reduction
Authors: Sun Ri-Hui , Zhang Ji-Wei , Jiang Jian-Yong , Bian Yi-Jun , Lin Paul-Chang , Xing Cheng , Li Xiao , Zhou Hua
Published: March 2009

In copper metallization of BEOL, ECP is used for copper deposition in via or trench for interconnection after PVD barrier & seed process. But ECP film easily suffers pits defect with swirl pattern that is a killer defect to CP yield. This paper introduces a method to greatly reduce swirl defect by improving the wetting ability between Cu seed film and ECP chemicals.
High-Speed Cu-TSV for 5:1 iTSV Applications
Authors: Beica Rozalia , Siblerud Paul
Published: March 2009

Transition from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) integration seems to be critical for achieving miniaturization and increased performance and an unavoidable trend for the semiconductor industry. Because of the large variety of applications and requirements as well as a equipment and processes available today for 3D Interconnect, there are still questions about choosing the most suitable integration solutions that can not only provide the performance and advancements required for next generation electronic devices, however a cost effective implementation as well. This paper will address 3D integration using copper electrodeposited through silicon vias (TSV) technology. Various process parameters, such as via profile, seed layer uniformity, wettability and chemical stability as well as process parameters and equipment design were found to be critical in successfully filling TSV structures using copper electrodeposition. This paper will describe the effect of these factors with a focus on the challenges and costs associated with interconnect type TSV structures (iTSV).
Material Solutions for Advanced Thin Packages
Authors: Tanaka Hiroyuki
Published: March 2009

This paper describes thermo-mechanical reliability parameters of thin flip-chip ball-grid array packages--warpage at room and reflow temperatures and solder-bump-fatigue during temperature-cycling tests--as calculated using finite element method. Viscoelasticity of the underfill is considered to improve the accuracy of calculations. The parameters obtained considering the viscoelasticity of the underfill are compared with those obtained considering elasticity alone; they are also compared with parameters obtained from experiments. Optimal properties of the underfill are proposed for thinner reliable flip-chip packages. Results of this study also demonstrate that substrates with a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion and with higher stiffness are necessary for thinner reliable flip-chip packages.
Grooved Ball Pad Structure (GBPS) to Improve FBGA Solder Joint Reliability (SJR) Performance
Authors: Zhou Wei , Jiang Tom
Published: March 2009

In this paper, a novel concept using the circular grooved ball pad structure (GBPS) for FBGA is proposed. The goal of the new design is to significantly improve FBGA solder joint reliability (SJR), with minimal impact in cost and packaging assembly processes. Finite element analysis (FEA) tools are used to understand the package solder joint failure mechanism. Simulation shows the GBPS can improve FBGA package SJR significantly. The leadframe based ball grid array package (LFBGA) is chosen as the vehicle to demonstrate the concept of grooved ball pad structure. The reliability results show that GBPS can improve LFBGA package SJR cycles by 2X. Grooved ball pad technology is further attempted on wafer level chip scale packages (WLCSP).
Resistive Switching Characteristics of MnOx-based ReRAM
Authors: Zhang Sen , Long Shibing , Liu Qi , Wang Qin , Liu Ming
Published: March 2009

Thin film of MnOx was fabricated in the form of Pt/MnOx/Pt and Pt/MnOx/Al and both devices exhibited reversible resistive switching behaviors under sweeping voltage. The resistive switching was believed to be due to the formation and rupture of conductive filaments. The device of Pt/MnOx/Al showed a better endurance performance than Pt/MnOx/Pt, its high/low resistance ratio was over three orders and the state retention was reliable. All of the results suggested that the Pt/MnOx/Al has a potentiality for nonvolatile resistance memory application.
Effect of acute inflation on the mechanics of the inspiratory muscles
Authors: De Troyer André , Wilson Theodore A.
Published: March 2009

When the lung is inflated acutely, the capacity of the diaphragm to generate pressure, in particular pleural pressure (Ppl), is impaired because the muscle during contraction is shorter and generates less force. At very high lung volumes, the pressure-generating capacity of the diaphragm may be further reduced by an increase in the muscle radius of curvature. Lung inflation similarly impairs the pressure-generating capacity of the inspiratory intercostal muscles, both the parasternal intercostals and the external intercostals. In contrast to the diaphragm, however, this adverse effect is largely related to the orientation and motion of the ribs, rather than the ability of the muscles to generate force. During combined activation of the two sets of muscles, the change in Ppl is larger than during isolated diaphragm activation, and this added load on the diaphragm reduces the shortening of the muscle and increases muscle force. In addition, activation of the diaphragm suppresses the cranial displacement of the passive diaphragm that occurs during isolated intercostal contraction and increases the respiratory effect of the intercostals. As a result, the change in Ppl generated during combined diaphragm-intercostal activation is greater than the sum of the pressures generated during separate muscle activation. Although this synergistic interaction becomes particularly prominent at high lung volumes, lung inflation, either bilateral or unilateral, places a substantial stress on the inspiratory muscle pump.
PPARγ in Kidney Physiology and Pathophysiology
Authors: Kiss-Tóth Éva , Rőszer Tamás
Published: March 2009

Involvement of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in kidney physiology has been explored recently. Synthetic PPARγ ligands can ameliorate the diabetic kidney disease through different mechanisms, involving inhibition of mesangial cell growth, reduction of mesangial matrix, and cytokine production of glomerular cells as well as promoting endothelial cell survival within the kidney glomeruli. Activation of PPARγ has additional profibrotic consequences, which can contribute to wound healing in diabetic glomerulonephritis. Beside many beneficial effects, PPARγ activation, however, can lead to severe water retention, a common side effect of thiazolidinedione therapy. This unwanted effect is due to the activation of PPARγ in the mesonephric distal collecting system, where PPARγ positively regulates sodium and water resorbtion leading to the expansion of interstitial fluid volume. Recent studies indicate that PPARγ is also involved in the normal kidney development, renal lipid metabolism, and activation of the renin‐angiotensin system. In this paper, we give a synopsis of the current knowledge on PPARγ functions in kidney phyisology and pathophysiology.
Stability of the Jensen‐Type Functional Equation in C∗‐Algebras: A Fixed Point Approach
Authors: Park Choonkil , Rassias John Michael
Published: March 2009

Using fixed point methods, we prove the generalized Hyers‐Ulam stability of homomorphisms in C∗‐algebras and Lie C∗‐algebras and also of derivations on
C∗‐algebras and Lie C∗‐algebras for the Jensen‐type functional equation
f((x + y)/2) + f((x − y)/2) = f(x).
Beneficial Effects on Glucose Metabolism of Chronic Feeding of Isomaltulose versus Sucrose in Rats
Authors: Häberer Doreen , Thibault Louise , Langhans Wolfgang , Geary Nori
Published: March 2009

Background/Aims: Isomaltulose (α-D-glucosylpyranosyl-1,6-D-fructofuranose) is a natural disaccharide used in human nutrition. It is structurally related to sucrose, but more slowly hydrolyzed and absorbed. Because this sugar’s metabolic effects are poorly characterized, we compared the effects of chronic ad libitum access to high-isomaltulose and high-sucrose diets on glucose metabolism in rats. Methods: Adult male rats were offered 62% isomaltulose, sucrose or starch diets ad libitum for 26 (trial 1) or 56 (trial 2) days. After 2- to 3-week adaptation, plasma glucose, fructose and insulin were measured after test meals of the adaptation diet. Results: The main finding was that both plasma glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were transiently but markedly increased after sucrose test meals compared to isomaltulose or starch meals. These differences were not associated with consistent differences in food intake, body weight gain or adiposity. Conclusions: Chronic isomaltulose feeding has beneficial effects on postprandial glucose metabolism in comparison to sucrose feeding in rats, although the effects are modest. Further work is warranted to determine whether substitution of isomaltulose for sucrose or other sweet carbohydrates might be therapeutically useful in patients with, or at risk for, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Aspirin Use, Dose, and Clinical Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women With Stable Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Berger Jeffrey S. , Brown David L. , Burke Gregory L. , Oberman Albert , Kostis John B. , Langer Robert D. , Wong Nathan D. , Wassertheil-Smoller Sylvia
Published: March 2009

Background—

Despite compelling evidence that aspirin reduces fatal and nonfatal vascular events among the overall population in various settings, women have frequently been underrepresented and their data underreported. We sought to evaluate the relationship between aspirin use, dose (81 or 325 mg), and clinical outcomes among postmenopausal women with stable cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods and Results—

Women with CVD (n=8928) enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study were used for this analysis. The primary outcome was the incidence of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death). Among 8928 women with stable CVD, 4101 (46%) reported taking aspirin, of whom 30% were on 81 mg and 70% were on 325 mg. At 6.5 years of follow-up, no significant association was noted for aspirin use and all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events. However, after multivariate adjustment, aspirin use was associated with a significantly lower all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.86 [0.75 to 0.99];
P
=0.04) and cardiovascular-related mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.75 [0.60 to 0.95];
P
=0.01) compared with no aspirin. Aspirin use was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.90 [0.78 to 1.04];
P
=0.14), which did not meet statistical significance. Compared with 325 mg, use of 81 mg was not significantly different for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, or any individual end point.

Conclusions—

After multivariate adjustment, aspirin use was associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality, specifically, cardiovascular mortality, among postmenopausal women with stable CVD. No significant difference was noted between 81 mg and 325 mg of aspirin. Overall, aspirin use was low in this cohort of women with stable CVD.
Heightened Resting Neural Activity Predicts Exaggerated Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity
Authors: Gianaros Peter J. , Sheu Lei K. , Remo Allison M. , Christie Israel C. , Crtichley Hugo D. , Wang Jiongjiong
Published: March 2009

Individuals who express relatively large-magnitude or “exaggerated” blood pressure (BP) reactions to behavioral stressors are presumably at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. As shown by recent neuroimaging studies, individuals who express exaggerated stressor-evoked BP reactivity also express heightened neural activity in corticolimbic brain areas that centrally regulate the cardiovascular system. These studies, however, have exclusively examined BP reactivity and concomitant neural activity during stressor exposure. If exaggerated BP reactivity originates in part from a centrally regulated and dispositional cardiovascular response tendency, then heightened resting (prestressor) corticolimbic activity may predict the subsequent expression of exaggerated stressor-evoked BP reactivity. To test this hypothesis, perfusion MRI was used to quantify resting regional cerebral blood flow (an indirect metabolic measure of neural activity) in men (n=19) and women (n=20) aged 20 to 37 years who subsequently performed cognitive stressor tasks to evoke BP reactivity. Individuals who expressed larger task-induced rises in systolic and diastolic BP also expressed higher resting regional cerebral blood flow in 4 functionally related corticolimbic areas: the dorsal and perigenual anterior cingulate, medial prefrontal, and insular cortices. Specifically, resting regional cerebral blood flow in these areas accounted, respectively, for 40% and 31% of the variance in systolic (
P
=0.001) and diastolic (
P
=0.008) BP reactivity, after accounting for total resting cerebral blood flow, resting BP, task performance, and task-related ratings of unpleasantness, arousal, and perceived psychological control. Heightened resting corticolimbic activity may represent a neurobiological correlate of an individual’s predisposition for exaggerated stressor-evoked BP reactivity and possibly related cardiovascular risk.
Hemodynamic and Cardiac Effects of Chronic Eprosartan and Moxonidine Therapy in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Mukaddam-Daher Suhayla , Menaouar Ahmed , Paquette Pierre-Alexandre , Jankowski Marek , Gutkowska Jolanta , Gillis Marc-Antoine , Shi Yan-Fen , Calderone Angelo , Tardif Jean-Claude
Published: March 2009

The renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems play critical interlinked roles in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction. These studies investigated the hemodynamic and cardiac effects of monoblockade and coblockade of renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (16 weeks old; male; n=12 per group) received the sympatholytic imidazoline compound, moxonidine (2.4 mg/kg per day); the angiotensin-receptor blocker eprosartan (30 mg/kg per day), separately or in combination; or saline vehicle for 8 weeks, SC, via osmotic minipumps. Blood pressure and heart rate were continuously measured by radiotelemetry. After 8 weeks, in vivo cardiac function and structure were measured by transthoracic echocardiography and a Millar conductance catheter, and the rats were then euthanized and blood and heart ventricles collected for various determinations. Compared with vehicle, the subhypotensive dose of moxonidine resulted in lower (
P
<0.01) heart rate, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and mRNA for natriuretic peptides. Eprosartan reduced pressure (
P
<0.01), as well as extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) 44 phosphorylation, Bax/Bcl-2, and collagen I/III, and improved left ventricular diastolic function (
P
<0.03). Combined treatment resulted in greater reductions in blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular hypertrophy, collagen I/III, and inhibited inducible NO synthase and increased endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation, as well as reduced left ventricular anterior wall thickness, without altering the other parameters. Thus, in advanced hypertension complicated with cardiac fibrosis, sympathetic inhibition and angiotensin II blockade resulted in greater reduction in blood pressure and heart rate, inhibition of inflammation, and improved left ventricular pathology but did not add to the benefits of angiotensin II blockade on cardiac function.
Inflammatory and Hemostatic Biomarkers Associated With Early Recurrent Ischemic Lesions in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kang Dong-Wha , Yoo Sung-Hee , Chun Sail , Kwon Kyum-Yil , Kwon Sun U. , Koh Jae-Young , Kim Jong S.
Published: March 2009

Background and Purpose—

Early recurrent ischemic lesions (ERILs) on diffusion-weighted imaging after acute ischemic stroke have been suggested as a potential marker of early recurrent stroke. We hypothesized that biomarkers of inflammation or coagulation may be associated with the pathogenesis of ERILs and sought to investigate whether these biomarkers provide prognostic information on the risk of development of ERILs independently of clinical and imaging variables.

Methods—

This prospective study enrolled 153 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging within 24 hours and subsequently at 5 days after onset and whose plasma or serum for biomarkers (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen,
d
-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) were collected within 24 hours of onset. Those receiving thrombolysis or interventional therapy were excluded. ERILs were defined as new ischemic lesions on 5-day diffusion-weighted imaging separate from the index stroke lesions, which were not accompanied by subsequent recanalization.

Results—

ERILs were observed in 37 patients (24.2%). In univariate analysis, shorter time from onset to initial MRI (
P
=0.013), initial acute multiple infarcts (
P
<0.001), initial larger infarct volume (
P
=0.005), stroke subtype (
P
<0.001), elevated
d
-dimer (
P
=0.028), and anticoagulation after admission (
P
=0.001) were associated with ERILs. In multivariate analysis, initial acute multiple infarcts (OR, 16.60; 95% CI, 5.73 to 48.08), large artery atherosclerosis (OR, 4.62; 95% CI, 1.51 to 14.11), and log
d
-dimer (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.14 to 9.00) remained independent predictors of ERILs.

Conclusion—

These data suggest that elevated
d
-dimer level reflecting increase of thrombin generation and fibrin turnover may be an independent factor predicting ERILs.
Can Attitudes about Animal Neglect be Differentiated from Attitudes about Animal Abuse?
Authors: Henry Bill
Published: March 2009

The past decade has seen an increase in interest relating to the correlates and determinants of attitudes about nonhuman animals, especially attitudes about the use or abuse of animals. However, little research has explicitly addressed individual differences in attitudes about the neglect of animals. The current study employs a factor-analytic approach to explore (a) whether attitudes about animal neglect can be reliably differentiated from attitudes about animal abuse and (b) whether the relationship between attitudes about animal neglect and animal abuse differs as a function of gender. Results indicated that attitudes about abuse and neglect can be reliably differentiated among both men and women. However, the structure of these attitudes appears to differ substantially by sex. This paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of these results.
Tolstoy's Animals
Authors: Donovan Josephine
Published: March 2009

In recent years, critics sensitive to animal issues have begun to theorize a new direction in literary criticism, an animal-centric or animal-standpoint criticism. Such a criticism seeks to examine works of literature from the point of view of how animals are treated therein, often looking to reconstruct the standpoint of the animals in question. This article examines a selection of short stories by Leo Tolstoy considering them exemplary from the point of view of animal-standpoint criticism.
Microfinance and Poverty Reduction in Turkey
Authors: Gurses Didem
Published: March 2009

Economic vulnerability in Turkey is quite high for a middle-income country. About one fifth of the population still have no sufficient means to food, clothes, and shelter; furthermore they have very limited or no access to financial services. This paper, first, aims to provide a general overview of the country's poverty profile and to analyze its microfinance sector. The second objective is to assess the impact of the existing microcredit programs to combat poverty. The programs' effectiveness will be examined in terms of two issues: the success of microfinance programs in reaching the “core poor” and in pulling large segments of the poor population out of poverty.
Can’t We Just Talk? Reputational Concerns and International Intervention in Sri Lanka and Indonesia (Aceh)
Authors: Biswas Bidisha
Published: March 2009

The international community has been increasingly interested in the ways by which external actors help end civil conflicts. This study compares and contrasts the conflicts in Sri Lanka and Indonesia (Aceh) in order to understand why international intervention has failed in Sri Lanka but has been successful in Aceh. In Sri Lanka, the intensely fractured nature of domestic politics has been one of the most significant obstacles to successful peace talks. Although international intervention has become necessary to overcome the trust barriers between the two parties, it is seen as a threat to national sovereignty and therefore rejected. In contrast, the democratization process in Indonesia created new opportunities for peace. The political will of principal actors and their receptivity to external assistance enabled a peace agreement in 2005. The findings of this study show that both domestic political consensus and a supportive international environment, which protect the reputational concerns of the negotiating state, are necessary for resolving protracted ethnonational conflicts.
Repeat Tragedy
Authors: Newman Katherine , Fox Cybelle
Published: March 2009

The authors examine rampage shootings in American high schools after 2002 and consider whether factors identified in their prior research on rampages from 1974 to 2002 account for the more recent cases. The authors find that the five factors—social marginality, individual predisposing factors, cultural scripts, failure of the surveillance system, and availability of guns—remain important features. The authors then contrast these high school shootings with the recent spate of college rampage shootings that resemble the high school cases in some ways but differ in others. College shooters are older and therefore typically further along in the development of serious mental illness.
Tertullian
Authors: Ferguson Everett
Published: March 2009

Tertullian offers many paradoxes: an African who was a master of Latin and Greek rhetoric and literature; the principal propagator (if not creator) of theological Latin, but sharp critic of the Roman Church; a beneficiary of Roman rule and culture, but defender of the persecuted Christian Church; outspoken opponent of heresy, but suspect of being a schismatic; champion of rational argument, but often quoted as representative of Christian anti-rationalism.
`Partnership' or `Fellowship': which, today, is truer to the biblical witness?
Authors: Rutishauser-James Sigrid
Published: March 2009

The language of society, and of the Church, changes. This paper focuses on contemporary concepts of `partnership' and suggests that these renew and reinvigorate Christian understanding of what a `shared life' in Christ may mean today.
Punished Bodies in Soyinka’s The Bacchae of Euripides and Morrison’s Beloved
Authors: El Hafi Fethia
Published: March 2009

Wole Soyinka’s The Bacchae of Euripides and Toni Morrison’s Beloved present the reader with a slave population that was uprooted and deported. Both works teem with punished bodies. Institutionalized slavery, as a condition, prevents the slaves from a bundle of rights, and the slave body is defined by its utility to the process of slave labor. Labor is performed under condition of bondage. Working on the plantation or in the mine constitutes the justification of the suffering experienced by the slaves. Pain becomes the foundation for resistance. Rebellion, as an expression of collective will, is triggered by the slaves’ awareness of their enslavement. Both writers beautify pain and seem to suggest that the world had to be made anew by those coming out of slavery. The promise of a new life is present in the regenerating powers of vegetation.