The Role of Nitric Oxide in Mycobacterial Infections

Although tuberculosis poses a significant health threat to the global population, it is a challenge to develop new and effective therapeutic strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) are important in innate immune responses to various intracellular bacterial infections, including mycobacterial infections. It is generally recognized that reactive nitrogen intermediates play an effective role in host defense mechanisms against tuberculosis. In a murine model of tuberculosis, NO plays a crucial role in antimycobacterial activity; however, it is controversial whether NO is critically involved in host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. Here, we review the roles of NO in host defense against murine and human tuberculosis. We also discuss the specific roles of NO in the central nervous system and lung epithelial cells during mycobacterial infection. A greater understanding of these defense mechanisms in human tuberculosis will aid in the development of new strategies for the treatment of disease

Demonstration of TiO2 based ultra high-k (k=30) MIS capacitor and its electrical properties

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Defect Curing Effects on High-k Gate Stack (Al/Al2O3/Si-sub) by Using H2 Plasma Treatment and Rapid Thermal Anneal

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Demonstration of TiO2 Based Ultra High-k (k = 30) Metal-Insulator–Semiconductor Capacitor and Its Electrical Properties

In this paper, we investigated TiO2 as gate dielectric to achieve the large dielectric constant. The ultra high-k value over 30 was obtained by Capacitance–Voltage measurement of Al/Ti/TiO2/Si Metal-Insulator–Semiconductor (MIS) capacitor. Among as deposited, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 750 °C and 1000 °C, the RTA at 750 °C showed the lowest gate leakage current. It implies that TiO2 has optimum RTA temperature having the lowest leakage current. When TiO2 is annealed at 750 °C, the phase of TiO2 changes to anatase and interfacial layer between TiOx and Si was formed. While TiO2 is annealed at 1000 °C, the phase of TiO2 changes to rutile and diffusion of silicon atoms was clearly observed and it causes the silicide formation. Based on measurement data, we proposed the energy band diagram of Al/TiO2/Si MIS capacitors. This diagram shows that the energy band gap of RTA at 750 °C is expanded while that of RTA at 1000 °C is contracted. In addition, TiO2 with RTA at 550 °C was tested to confirm leakage current and it shows lower leakage current than RTA at 750 °C as we expected. This result confirmed that optimum RTA temperature of TiO2 would exist under 750 °C.11Nsci

Interface trap curing effects on high-k gate stack (Al/Al2O3/Si-sub) by rapid thermal anneal (RTA)

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Electrical and Dielectric Properties of TiO2 Based MIS Capacitor

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Effect of hydrogen plasma treatment on the electrical properties for SiC-based power MOSFETs

© 2022 Elsevier B.V.This study investigates the effects of hydrogen plasma treatment on the leakage current and capacitance characteristics of metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures on SiC substrate. The H2 plasma treatment resulted in improved breakdown voltage and reduced defect density (Nd) in an atomic-layer-deposited 30 nm-thick Al2O3 (top)/15 nm-thick SiO2 bi-layer dielectric. The breakdown voltage in Al2O3/SiO2 bi-layer dielectric after H2 plasma treatment was improved by about 6.2% (initial 47 V). The value of Nd decreased by about one order in the Al2O3/SiO2 bi-layer dielectric from 2.3 × 1011/cm2 to 3.4 × 1010/cm2 after H2 plasma treatment. Further, the interface trap density (Dit) of Al2O3/SiO2 bi-layer dielectrics was 1.4 × 1012 cm−2·eV−1, and 50% of that of the SiO2 single dielectric film.11Nsciescopu

Myosin va cooperates with PKA RIα to mediate maintenance of the endplate in vivo

Myosin V motor proteins facilitate recycling of synaptic receptors, including AMPA and acetylcholine receptors, in central and peripheral synapses, respectively. To shed light on the regulation of receptor recycling, we employed in vivo imaging of mouse neuromuscular synapses. We found that myosin Va cooperates with PKA on the postsynapse to maintain size and integrity of the synapse; this cooperation also regulated the lifetime of acetylcholine receptors. Myosin Va and PKA colocalized in subsynaptic enrichments. These accumulations were crucial for synaptic integrity and proper cAMP signaling, and were dependent on AKAP function, myosin Va, and an intact actin cytoskeleton. The neuropeptide and cAMP agonist, calcitonin-gene related peptide, rescued fragmentation of synapses upon denervation. We hypothesize that neuronal ligands trigger local activation of PKA, which in turn controls synaptic integrity and turnover of receptors. To this end, myosin Va mediates correct positioning of PKA in a postsynaptic microdomain, presumably by tethering PKA to the actin cytoskeleton

Contemporary Status of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Korean Patients: Korean Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction for Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers

Background: This study aimed to present the development process and characteristics of the Korean Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction for Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (KRAMI-RCC). Methods: We developed KRAMI-RCC, a web-based registry for patients with AMI. Patients from 14 RCCs were registered for more than three years from July 2016. It includes an automatic error-checking system, and user training and on-site monitoring are performed to manage data quality. Results: A total of 11,700 AMI patients were registered in KRAMI-RCC over three years (73.9% men). The proportions of patients with ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction at discharge were 43.4% and 56.6%, respectively. Of the total three-year patients, 5.6% died in the hospital, and 4.4% died 12 months after discharge. The case fatality within 12 months was 9.7%. Pre-hospital care data showed delayed arrival time after onset of symptoms (median 153 min) and low transportation rate by public ambulance (25.2%). Post-hospital care data showed lower participation rate in the second rehabilitation program (16.8%). Conclusions: The recently developed KRAMI-RCC registry has been more focused on pre-hospital and post-hospital data, which will be helpful in understanding the current state of AMI disease management and in making policy decisions to reduce case fatality in Korea