Fatigue-free behavior of highly oriented Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 thin films grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) by metal-organic solution decomposition

Fatigue-free and highly c-axis oriented Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 (BLT) thin films were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates using metalorganic solution decomposition. Films annealed above 500 degreesC were characterized by strong c-axis preferential growth with an in-plane alignment of grains. The BLT film capacitors with a Pt top electrode showed excellent ferroelectric properties. The remanent polarization (2P(r)) and the coercive field (E-c) were in the range of 26-28 muC/cm(2) and 50-75 kV/cm, respectively. More importantly, the BLT capacitors did not show any significant fatigue up to 3.5x10(10) read/write switching cycles at a frequency of 1 MHz. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics

Compensation of Time-Varying Delay in Networked Control System over Wi-Fi Network

In this study, we design a state predictor-based output feedback controller that compensates for unavoidable time-varying network delays in networked control systems (NCSs) over Wi-Fi networks. We model time-varying network delays as timevarying input delays of NCSs over Wi-Fi networks. The designed controller consists of a linear quadratic regulator (LQR), a full-order observer, and a time-varying stepahead state predictor. The state predictor plays a key role in compensating for the time-varying input delay by providing the LQR with an estimation of future states ahead by the current network delay time. The time-varying network delays are acquired in real time by measuring the time differences between sent and received control data packets. We verify the stability and compensation performance of the designed controller by performing extensive experiments for an NCS in which a rotary inverted pendulum is controlled over Wi-Fi networks

Polarized Raman scattering of epitaxial PbTiO3 thin films with coexisting c- and a-domains

Effects of the orientation of ferroelectric domains on the characteristics of polarized Raman spectra were studied using an epitaxially grown PbTiO3 thin film in which the c-axis oriented domains coexist with the a-axis oriented domains on MgO (001). To obtain polarized spectra for both two distinctive c and a domains, we have employed scattering configurations in which the relevant phonon wave vector, k, is perpendicular to the c axis of the tetragonal unit cell. Compared with the mode frequencies of single-crystal PbTiO3, a softening of the E(TO) phonons was evident for both c and a domains, suggesting the presence of a strong tensile film stress. In addition to this, we observed a splitting of the degenerate "silent" mode into two distinctive B-1 and E modes in an epitaxially grown film on MgO (001). (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics

Early Results from Posterior Cervical Fusion with a Screw-Rod System

PURPOSE: We performed 65 cases of posterior fusion surgery for cervical and/or high thoracic lesions using a polyaxial screw-rod system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 486 screws were implanted in 65 patients. RESULTS: Fixation of the screws was carried out over an average of 2.9 spinal segments. Upon evaluation by postoperative CT scans, twelve (2.5%) screws had suboptimal trajectories but two of these revealed radiculopathy in one patient and required screw repositioning. No vascular sequelae resulted. There has been no segmental motion in any of the cases to date. As for other complications, there was one case of dural tearing and two cases of lateral mass fractures. There were no infections or other wound healing problems or hardware failures. No patients had neurological deterioration after surgery. There were statistically significant improvements in the mean Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores in the preoperative and late postoperative follow-up evaluations. Although further studies are required to establish the long-term results of fusion rates and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: We cautiously suggest that the posterior polyaxial screw-rod system can be safely used as a primary or additional fusion method in this risky region. The successful and safe use of this method is dependent on a precise preoperative surgical plan and tactics for ensuring safe screw fixation.ope

Electroreflectance Study of Zn0.8Mg0.2O/ZnO Nanorod Heterostructures

ZnO, due to its large exciton binding energy which enables excitonic recombination at room temperature, is attracting much attention as a material for room-temperature UV devices. In particular, ZnO nanorod has attracted a great deal of attention because of the commercial interest in short-wavelength semiconductor laser diodes and nanometer-scale electronic devices. Zn0.8Mg0.2O/ZnO nanorod heterostructures were grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy on catalyst-free ZnO nanorods. Electro reflectance measurements were carried out at temperatures between 90 K and 295 K and compared with photoluminescence data. Quantum confinement effects in Zn0.8Mg0.2O/ZnO nanorod heterostructures were observed.This work was supported by KOSEF through the Quantum Photonic Science Research Center at Hanyang University and by MOST through the National R&D Project for Nano Science

Proximity-Directed Labeling Reveals a New Rapamycin-Induced Heterodimer of FKBP25 and FRB in Live Cells

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is a core pathway in cellular metabolism, and control of the mTOR pathway by rapamycin shows potential for the treatment of metabolic diseases. In this study, we employed a new proximity biotin-labeling method using promiscuous biotin ligase (pBirA) to identify unknown elements in the rapamycin-induced interactome on the FK506-rapamycin binding (FRB) domain in living cells. FKBP25 showed the strongest biotin labeling by FRB-pBirA in the presence of rapamycin. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that endogenous FKBP25 has a rapamycin-induced physical interaction with the FRB domain. Furthermore, the crystal structure of the ternary complex of FRB-rapamycin-FKBP25 was determined at 1.67-angstrom resolution. In this crystal structure we found that the conformational changes of FRB generate a hole where there is a methionine-rich space, and covalent metalloid coordination was observed at C2085 of FRB located at the bottom of the hole. Our results imply that FKBP25 might have a unique physiological role related to metallomics in mTOR signaling.ope

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion via a Unilateral Approach

This study sought to determine the outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), via a unilateral approach, in selected patients who presented with unilateral leg pain and segmental instability of the lumbar spine. Patients with a single level of a herniated disc disease in the lumbar spine, unilateral leg pain, chronic disabling lower back pain (LBP), and a failed conservative treatment, were considered for the procedure. A total of 41 patients underwent a single-level PLIF using two PEEK™ (Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone) cages filled with iliac bone, via a unilateral approach. The patients comprised 21 women and 20 men with a mean age of 41 years (range: 22 to 63 years). Two cages were inserted using a unilateral medial facetectomy and a partial hemilaminectomy. At follow-up, the outcomes were assessed using the Prolo Scale. The success of the fusion was determined by dynamic lumbar radiography and/or computerized tomography scanning. All the patients safely underwent surgery without severe complications. During a mean follow-up period of 26 months, 1 patient underwent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation due to persistent LBP. A posterior displacement of the cage was found in one patient. At the last follow up, 90% of the patients demonstrated satisfactory results. An osseous fusion was present in 85% of the patients. A PLIF, via a unilateral approach, enables a solid union with satisfactory clinical results. This preserves part of the posterior elements of the lumbar spine in selected patients with single level instability and unilateral leg pain

Postoperative Spinal Epidural Hematoma: Risk Factor and Clinical Outcome

We report a series of epidural hematomas which cause neurologic deterioration after spinal surgery, and have taken risk factors and prognostic factors into consideration. We retrospectively reviewed the database of 3720 cases of spine operation in a single institute over 7 years (1998 April-2005 July). Nine patients who demonstrated neurologic deterioration after surgery and required surgical decompression were identified. Factors postulated to increase the postoperative epidural hematoma and to improve neurologic outcome were investigated. The incidence of postoperative epidural hematoma was 0.24%. Operation sites were cervical 3 cases, thoracic 2 cases, and lumbar 4 cases. Their original diagnoses were tumor 3 cases, cervical stenosis 2 cases, lumbar stenosis 3 cases and herniated lumbar disc 1case. The symptoms of epidural hematomas were neurologic deterioration and pain. After decompression, clinical outcome revealed complete recovery in 3 cases (33.3%), incomplete recovery in 5 cases (55.6%) and no change in 1 case (11.1%). Factors increasing the risk of postoperative epidural hematoma were coagulopathy from medical illness or anticoagulation therapy (4 cases, 44.4%) and highly vascularized tumor (3 cases, 33.3%). The time interval to evacuation of complete recovery group (29.3 hours) was shorter than incomplete recovery group (66.3 hours). Patients with coagulopathy and highly vascularized tumor were more vulnerable to spinal epidural hematoma. The postoperative outcome was related to the preoperative neurological deficit and the time interval to the decompression