Dynamic threshold voltage MOS in partially depleted SOI technology: a wide frequency band analysis

This paper analyzes the frequency dependence of the gate transconductance (G(m)) and output conductance (G(d)) of a DTMOS in 0.25 mum PD SOI MOS technology. Our experimental results demonstrate for the first time that DTMOS devices suffer from a strong degradation of G(m) and G(d) around 1 GHz. An equivalent small-signal circuit is proposed to explain the observed phenomena. The model clearly identifies the non-zero value of the body contact resistance as the source of the G(m) and G(d) degradation. DTMOS stays a promising MOS structure for low power, low voltage high frequency applications. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An asymmetric channel SOI nMOSFET for improving DC and microwave characteristics

Asymmetric doped channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) have recently been investigated by several authors in bulk and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technologies as a possible solution for the problems of premature drain breakdown, hot carrier effects, and threshold voltage rolloff issues in deep sub-micrometer devices. In this paper, the DC and microwave characteristics of the asymmetric doped channel fully depleted (FD) SOI MOSFET are presented and compared to conventional uniformly doped FD SOI MOSFET

Quality evaluation of methyl binding domain based kits for enrichment DNA-methylation sequencing

DNA-methylation is an important epigenetic feature in health and disease. Methylated sequence capturing by Methyl Binding Domain (MBD) based enrichment followed by second-generation sequencing provides the best combination of sensitivity and cost-efficiency for genome-wide DNA-methylation profiling. However, existing implementations are numerous, and quality control and optimization require expensive external validation. Therefore, this study has two aims: 1) to identify a best performing kit for MBD-based enrichment using independent validation data, and 2) to evaluate whether quality evaluation can also be performed solely based on the characteristics of the generated sequences. Five commercially available kits for MBD enrichment were combined with Illumina GAIIx sequencing for three cell lines (HCT15, DU145, PC3). Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing data (all three cell lines) and publicly available Illumina Infinium BeadChip data (DU145 and PC3) were used for benchmarking. Consistent large-scale differences in yield, sensitivity and specificity between the different kits could be identified, with Diagenode's MethylCap kit as overall best performing kit under the tested conditions. This kit could also be identified with the Fragment CpG-plot, which summarizes the CpG content of the captured fragments, implying that the latter can be used as a tool to monitor data quality. In conclusion, there are major quality differences between kits for MBD-based capturing of methylated DNA, with the MethylCap kit performing best under the used settings. The Fragment CpG-plot is able to monitor data quality based on inherent sequence data characteristics, and is therefore a cost-efficient tool for experimental optimization, but also to monitor quality throughout routine applications

Role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of endometriosis

peer reviewedEndometriosis is usually described as a complex multifactorial disease involving dysregulation of estrogen metabolism, inflammatory and immunological mechanisms. Recently, many authors have questioned the environmental pollution and toxins in the formation and development of endometriotic lesions. Therefore, while dioxins and PCBs have been implicated, insufficient data are available until now to confirm this theory. Endometriosis has also been considered as a genetic disease. Indeed, early familial aggregation and twin studies noted a higher risk of endometriosis among relatives. However, demonstration of a genetic component in the pathogenesis of such a multifactorial disease is quite difficult due to many limitations such as ethnic differences, involvement of environmental factors and size of needed patients cohorts. Over the last decade, the epigenetic approach (DNA methylation, histones modifications and microRNA) has allowed to consider many new perspectives. Indeed, dysregulation (hyper- or hypomethylation) of many genes has already been highlighted. This method of analysis is the subject of numerous studies in order to develop diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools for this disease which is becoming a real public health problem

Action of the chorionic gonadotropin hormone on the gap junctions network in the antral follicles of rat

peer reviewedA morphometrical study of gap junctions has been realized in rat antral follicle after an injection of 20 I. U. of hCG. A clear and rapid reduction of the gap junctions number and of the membranous surface they are occupying has been demonstrated whatever the follicle region one consider. The significance of those gap junction modifications is discussed with respect to resumption of meiotic maturation

Recombinant non collagenous (NC1) type IV collagen subunits as a tool to characterize the immune response in anti-GBM nephritis

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