Carrier Trap Density Reduction at SiO/4H-Silicon Carbide Interface with Annealing Processes in Phosphoryl Chloride and Nitride Oxide Atmospheres.

The electrical and physical properties of the SiC/SiO interfaces are critical for the reliability and performance of SiC-based MOSFETs. Optimizing the oxidation and post-oxidation processes is the most promising method of improving oxide quality, channel mobility, and thus the series resistance of the MOSFET. In this work, we analyze the effects of the POCl annealing and NO annealing processes on the electrical properties of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices formed on 4H-SiC (0001).

Usefulness of discography, discoblock and a new mechanical method for identifying a painful segment/disc.

Background: We previously described a procedure for eliciting deep spatial discrimination of individual segments in the healthy lumbar spine of normal subjects: the percutaneous mechanical provocation (PMP) test. Our goal was to devise a method for accurate identification of the spinal level of pathology in chronic low back pain (CLBP). In the present study, we validated the PMP test, using a subgroup of CLBP patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS).

Observations by a statistical watchdog.

During more than five decades, the author has kept a critical eye on how statistical methods are (mis-)used in medical research. Some areas are presented where serious statistical mistakes are prevalent. Two investigations with erroneous conclusions are described in detail.

Quantum chemical benchmark databases of gold-standard dimer interaction energies.

Advances in computational chemistry create an ongoing need for larger and higher-quality datasets that characterize noncovalent molecular interactions. We present three benchmark collections of quantum mechanical data, covering approximately 3,700 distinct types of interacting molecule pairs. The first collection, which we refer to as DES370K, contains interaction energies for more than 370,000 dimer geometries.

Are degenerative spondylolisthesis and further slippage postoperatively really issues in spinal stenosis surgery?

Background and aims Opinions diverge concerning the prognostic importance of preoperative degenerative spondylolisthesis in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, as well as the significance of further slippage post-operatively following decompression alone. However, a slip is only one among several factors related to the topic, e.g.

AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors on Semi-Insulating Ammono-GaN Substrates with Regrown Ohmic Contacts.

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors on semi-insulating bulk ammonothermal GaN have been investigated. By application of regrown ohmic contacts, the problem with obtaining low resistance ohmic contacts to low-dislocation high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures was solved. The maximum output current was about 1 A/mm and contact resistances was in the range of 0.

Graphene-based plastic absorber for total sub-terahertz radiation shielding.

Increasing the requirements on telecommunications systems such as the need for higher data rates and connectivity via the Internet of things results in continuously increasing amounts of electromagnetic radiation in ever-higher telecommunications bands (up to terahertz). This can generate unwanted electromagnetic radiation that can affect the operation of electronic devices and human health. Here, we demonstrate that nonconductive and lightweight, graphene-based composites can shield more than 99.

Superior outcomes following cervical fusion vs. multimodal rehabilitation in a subgroup of randomized Whiplash-Associated-Disorders (WAD) patients indicating somatic pain origin-Comparison of outcome assessments made by four examiners from different disciplines.

Background And Aims: Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) are characterized by great variability in long-term symptoms. Patients with central neck and movement-induced stabbing pain participated in a randomized study comparing cervical fusion and multimodal rehabilitation. As reported in our previous paper, more patients treated by cervical fusion than by rehabilitation experienced pain relief.

Improving the accuracy of Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with neural networks.

Noncovalent interactions are of fundamental importance across the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, and biology. Quantum chemical calculations on noncovalently bound complexes, which allow for the quantification of properties such as binding energies and geometries, play an essential role in advancing our understanding of, and building models for, a vast array of complex processes involving molecular association or self-assembly. Because of its relatively modest computational cost, second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) theory is one of the most widely used methods in quantum chemistry for studying noncovalent interactions.

A small group Whiplash-Associated-Disorders (WAD) patients with central neck pain and movement induced stabbing pain, the painful segment determined by mechanical provocation: Fusion surgery was superior to multimodal rehabilitation in a randomized trial.

Background: The majority of patients suffering from a whiplash injury will recover, but some will have symptoms (Whiplash Associated Disorders, WAD) for years despite conservative treatment. Some of these patients perceive neck pain that might come from a motion segment, possibly the disc. In comprehensive reviews no evidence has been found that fusion operations have a positive treatment effect on neck pain in WAD patients.

Symptoms and signs possibly indicating segmental, discogenic pain. A fusion study with 18 years of follow-up.

Background: Only two out of the five existing randomized studies have reported better results from fusion surgery for chronic low back pain (CLBP) compared to conservative treatment. In these studies the back symptoms of the patients were described simply as "chronic low back pain". One possible reason for the modest results of surgery is the lack of a description of specified symptoms that might be related to a painful segment/disc, and patient selection may therefore be more or less a matter of chance.

Clinical outcome following anterior arthrodesis in patients with presumed sacroiliac joint pain.

Background: It has been reported that in 13-32% of patients with chronic low back pain, the pain may originate in the sacroiliac (SI) joints. When treatment of these patients with analgesics and physiotherapy has failed, a surgical solution may be discussed. Results of such surgery are often based on small series, retrospective analyses or studies using a minimal invasive technique, frequently sponsored by manufacturers.

Temperature-dependent thermal properties of supported MoS2 monolayers.

Thermal properties can substantially affect the operation of various electronics and optoelectronics devices based on two-dimensional materials. In this work, we describe our investigation of temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal conductance of molybdenum disulfide monolayers supported on SiO2/Si substrates, using Raman spectroscopy. We observed that the calculated thermal conductivity (κ) and interfacial thermal conductance (g) decreased with increasing temperature from 62.

Private and Non-Private Disc Herniation Patients: Do they Differ?

Objectives: In the 2006 yearly report from the Swedish National Register for Lumbar Spine Surgery it was claimed that international studies show obvious differences between private and non-private patients with regard to results from back surgery. Therefore our aim was to reveal such possible differences by comparing the two categories of patients at a private clinic.

Material And Methods: The material comprises 1184 patients operated on for lumbar disc herniation during the period of 1987 to 2007.

Temperature-dependent nonlinear phonon shifts in a supported MoS2 monolayer.

We report Raman spectra measurements on a MoS(2) monolayer supported on SiO(2) as a function of temperature. Unlike in previous studies, the positions of the two main Raman modes, E(2g)(1) and A(1g) exhibited nonlinear temperature dependence. Temperature dependence of phonon shifts and widths is explained by optical phonon decay process into two acoustic phonons.

Raman spectra of high- κ dielectric layers investigated with micro-Raman spectroscopy comparison with silicon dioxide.

Three samples with dielectric layers from high- κ dielectrics, hafnium oxide, gadolinium-silicon oxide, and lanthanum-lutetium oxide on silicon substrate were studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results obtained for high- κ dielectrics were compared with spectra recorded for silicon dioxide. Raman spectra suggest the similarity of gadolinium-silicon oxide and lanthanum-lutetium oxide to the bulk nondensified silicon dioxide.

Review of the specific effects of microwave radiation on bacterial cells.

The aim of the present review was to evaluate the literature suggesting that consideration be given to the existence of specific microwave (MW) effects on prokaryotic microorganisms; that is, effects on organisms that cannot be explained by virtue of temperature increases alone. This review considered a range of the reported effects on cellular components; including membranes, proteins, enzyme activity as well as cell death. It is concluded that the attribution of such effects to non-thermal mechanisms is not justified due to poor control protocols and because of the possibility that an unmeasurable thermal force, relating to instantaneous temperature (T (i)) that occurs during MW processing, has not been taken into account.

Adipokines promote lipotoxicity in human skeletal muscle cells.

Studies have shown the implication of specific adipokines or fatty acids (FA) in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. However, the interplay of adipokines with FA remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of adipokines and low concentrations of palmitic acid (PA, 100 µmol/l) on skeletal muscle metabolism.

Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction: links to cardiovascular diseases.

Abdominal obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and recent studies highlight a key role of adipose tissue dysfunction, inflammation, and aberrant adipokine release in this process. An increased demand for lipid storage results in both hyperplasia and hypertrophy, finally leading to chronic inflammation, hypoxia, and a phenotypic change of the cellular components of adipose tissue, collectively leading to a substantially altered secretory output of adipose tissue. In this review we have assessed the adipo-vascular axis, and an overview of adipokines associated with cardiovascular disease is provided.

Contractile activity of human skeletal muscle cells prevents insulin resistance by inhibiting pro-inflammatory signalling pathways.

Aims/hypothesis: Obesity is closely associated with muscle insulin resistance and is a major risk factor for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity not only prevents obesity, but also considerably improves insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle metabolism. We sought to establish and characterise an in vitro model of human skeletal muscle contraction, with a view to directly studying the signalling pathways and mechanisms that are involved in the beneficial effects of muscle activity.

Proteins in aqueous humor from cataract patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protein content in aqueous humor in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliations (PEX) and to evaluate the quantitative proteomics method, isobaric tagging for relative and absolute protein quantification (iTRAQ), in combination with two separation methods followed by matrix-assisted Laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). During cataract surgery, samples of aqueous humor were collected from 20 eyes with PEX and from 18 control eyes. The relative concentrations of proteins in the pooled samples of ten PEX eyes and eight controls were evaluated after trypsin digestion and Labeling of the peptides with (iTRAQ) reagent.

Use of the levonorgestrel releasing-intrauterine system in nulliparous women--a non-interventional study in Sweden.

Objectives: To evaluate the insertion procedure and continuation rates of the levonorgestrel releasing-intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in nulliparous women who, due to fear of complications, are often denied this very effective contraceptive method.

Methods: A non-interventional study of 224 nulliparous women attending family planning services for insertion of a LNG-IUS.

Results: There were only six unsuccessful insertions.

Specific electromagnetic effects of microwave radiation on Escherichia coli.

The present study investigated the effects of microwave (MW) radiation applied under a sublethal temperature on Escherichia coli. The experiments were conducted at a frequency of 18 GHz and at a temperature below 40°C to avoid the thermal degradation of bacterial cells during exposure. The absorbed power was calculated to be 1,500 kW/m(3), and the electric field was determined to be 300 V/m.

Obesity-associated insulin resistance in skeletal muscle: role of lipid accumulation and physical inactivity.

An alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and associated diseases can be observed world-wide during the past 20 years. In obesity, profound alterations in the secretion profile of adipokines and inflammatory markers as well as increased lipolysis occur, leading besides other events to elevated levels of free fatty acids, which in turn are distributed to nonadipose tissue such as skeletal muscle. While the amount of intramyocellular lipids can be used as a marker of insulin resistance in physical inactive individuals, these neutral triglycerides themselves are not thought to be harmful.