Unraveling diffusion behavior in Cu-to-Cu direct bonding with metal passivation layers.

Cu/SiO hybrid bonding presents a promising avenue for achieving high-density interconnects by obviating the need for microbumps and underfills. Traditional copper bonding methods often demand temperatures exceeding 400 °C, prompting recent endeavors to mitigate bonding temperatures through investigations into metal passivation bonding. In this study, we scrutinized the diffusion behavior associated with various metal passivation layers (Platinum, Titanium, Tantalum, and Chromium) in the context of low-temperature direct copper bonding and delved into the essential bonding mechanisms.

Validation of comprehensive complication index in the general surgery department of a small-volume hospital: A prospective observational study.

Background/objective: The comprehensive complication index (CCI) was developed following the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) to more properly reflect various complications that occur in one patient. In this study, we performed a prospective observational study to validate the usefulness of CCI in a small-volume hospital.

Methods: From March 2017 to February 2018, among the patients who had scheduled surgery with general anesthesia in the Department of Surgery in St.

Prevalence of Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients: a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Malnutrition is associated with many adverse clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Korea, evaluate the association between malnutrition and clinical outcomes, and ascertain the risk factors of malnutrition.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed with 300 patients recruited from among the patients admitted in 25 hospitals on January 6, 2014.

Dependence of Grain Size on the Performance of a Polysilicon Channel TFT for 3D NAND Flash Memory.

We investigated the dependence of grain size on the performance of a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) channel TFT for application to 3D NAND Flash memory devices. It has been found that the device performance and memory characteristics are strongly affected by the grain size of the poly-Si channel. Higher on-state current, faster program speed, and poor endurance/reliability properties are observed when the poly-Si grain size is large.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Emergency Surgery and Bridge to Surgery for Malignant Obstruction in Right-Sided Colon Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Malignant obstruction in right-sided colon (MORC) has traditionally been treated by emergency resection with primary anastomosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term postoperative and long-term oncologic outcomes according to the surgical approach adopted for MORC.

Methods: A total of 1785 patients who underwent curative surgery for stage II or III colon cancer in seven hospitals were reviewed retrospectively.

Recurrent cervical esophageal stenosis after colon conduit failure: use of myocutaneous flap.

A 53-year-old male developed cervical esophageal stenosis after esophageal bypass surgery using a right colon conduit. The esophageal bypass surgery was performed to treat multiple esophageal strictures resulting from corrosive ingestion three years prior to presentation. Although the patient underwent several endoscopic stricture dilatations after surgery, he continued to suffer from recurrent esophageal stenosis.

Clinical Significance of Lymph Node Ratio in Stage III Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Recent literature has shown that lymph node ratio is superior to the absolute number of metastatic lymph nodes in predicting the prognosis in several malignances other than colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with stage III colorectal cancer.

Methods: We included 186 stage III colorectal cancer patients who underwent a curative resection over a 10-year period in one hospital.

Graphene gate electrode for MOS structure-based electronic devices.

We demonstrate that the use of a monolayer graphene as a gate electrode on top of a high-κ gate dielectric eliminates mechanical-stress-induced-gate dielectric degradation, resulting in a quantum leap of gate dielectric reliability. The high work function of hole-doped graphene also helps reduce the quantum mechanical tunneling current from the gate electrode. This concept is applied to nonvolatile Flash memory devices, whose performance is critically affected by the quality of the gate dielectric.

Lysyl oxidase G473A polymorphism is closely associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer in a South Korean population.

The aim of this study was to determine whether a single nucleotide polymorphism at G473A (rs1800449) within the LOX-propeptide is associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer. We investigated the genotype and allele frequencies of this gene in tissue specimens from 458 gastric cancer patients and 282 healthy individuals. Polymorphism analysis was performed by amplifying the propeptide region of LOX and digestion with NotI followed by sequencing of the products.

Is conservative treatment with antibiotics the correct strategy for management of right colonic diverticulitis?: a prospective study.

Purpose: The goals of this study were to identify whether conservative treatment with antibiotics in right colonic diverticulitis (RCD) patients, our empirical method used until now, is adequate and to determine how the natural history of RCD is affected by conservative treatment.

Methods: This study was designed as a case-control study. Group I was comprised of 12 patients who were managed conservatively, and clinical data were retrospectively collected.

Prognostic value of CEA and CA 19-9 tumor markers combined with cytology from peritoneal fluid in colorectal cancer.

Background: Early diagnosis and management of peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer patients are difficult clinical challenges. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical significance of tumor markers and cytology in peritoneal effusions (PE) and peritoneal irrigation fluid (PI) and to determine their value as prognostic indicators in this disease.

Methods: Two hundred thirty-four consecutive patients who underwent abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer from January 2006 to December 2007 were included, and tumor markers and cytology in PE and PI were analyzed prospectively.

A comprehensive analysis of the dual roles of BMPs in regulating adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells.

Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are bone marrow stromal progenitor cells that can differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and myogenic lineages. Several signaling pathways have been shown to regulate the lineage commitment and terminal differentiation of MSCs. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 14 types of bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) for their abilities to regulate multilineage specific differentiation of MSCs.

CCN1/Cyr61 is regulated by the canonical Wnt signal and plays an important role in Wnt3A-induced osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Marrow mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent progenitors that can differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells. Wnt signaling has been implicated in regulating osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we analyzed the gene expression profile of mesenchymal stem cells that were stimulated with Wnt3A.

An orthotopic model of human osteosarcoma growth and spontaneous pulmonary metastasis.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone and patients often develop pulmonary metastases. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of human osteosarcoma, there is a great need to develop a clinically relevant animal model. Here we report the development of an osteosarcoma animal model using three related human osteosarcoma lines, the parental TE-85 and two derivative lines MNNG/HOS and 143B.

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway as a novel cancer drug target.

Wnt proteins are a large family of secreted glycoproteins. Wnt proteins bind to the Frizzled receptors and LRP5/6 co-receptors, and through stabilizing the critical mediator beta-catenin, initiate a complex signaling cascade that plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Deregulation of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, mostly by inactivating mutations of the APC tumor suppressor, or oncogenic mutations of beta-catenin, has been implicated in colorectal tumorigenesis.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is regulated by Wnt and bone morphogenetic proteins signaling in osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Osteoblast lineage-specific differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is a well regulated but poorly understood process. Both bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and Wnt signaling are implicated in regulating osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Here we analyzed the expression profiles of mesenchymal stem cells stimulated with Wnt3A and osteogenic BMPs, and we identified connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a potential target of Wnt and BMP signaling.

Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the gallbladder.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the gallbladder are representative of an extremely rare group of tumors. We have encountered a patient with a malignant GIST of the gallbladder and presented it with a review of some articles. A 72-yr-old woman initially presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, fever and chills.

Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation helix-loop-helix proteins mediate bone morphogenetic protein-induced osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the TGF-beta superfamily and play an important role in development and in many cellular processes. We have found that BMP-2, BMP-6, and BMP-9 induce the most potent osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Expression profiling analysis has revealed that the Inhibitors of DNA binding/differentiation (Id)-1, Id-2, and Id-3 are among the most significantly up-regulated genes upon BMP-2, BMP-6, or BMP-9 stimulation.