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The interface formation between HfO2 and H-terminated Si(111) and Si(100) is studied by in situ infrared absorption spectroscopy during atomic layer deposition using alternating tetrakis-ethylmethylamino hafnium (TEMAH) and deuterium oxide (D2O) pulses. The HfO2 growth is initiated by the reaction of TEMAH with Si–H rather than D2O, and there is no evidence for SiO2 formation at moderate growth temperatures (∼100°C). Although Rutherford backscattering shows a linear increase of Hf coverage, direct observations of Si–H, Si–O–Hf, and HfO2 phonons indicate that five cycles are needed to reach the steady state interface composition of ∼50% reacted sites. The formation of interfacial SiO2 (∼0.7nm) is observed after postdeposition annealing at 700°C in ultrapure nitrogen.

Objective To determine dose-dependent effects of testosterone on sexual function, body composition, muscle performance, and physical function in hysterectomized women with and without oophorectomy. Methods 71 menopausal women who previously underwent hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy with total testosterone<31ng/dl or free testosterone<3.5 pg/ml received a standardized transdermal estradiol regimen during the 12-week run-in period, and were then randomized to receive weekly IM injections of placebo, or 3, 6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg testosterone enanthate for 24 weeks. Total and free testosterone levels were measured by LC-MS/MS and equilibrium dialysis, respectively. The primary outcome was change in sexual function measured using Brief Index of Sexual Function (BISF-W); Secondary outcomes included changes in sexual activity, sexual distress, DeRogatis Inventory of Sexual Function, lean (LBM) and fat mass, muscle strength and power, and physical function. Results 71 women were randomized; five groups were similar at baseline. 62 women with analyzable data for the primary outcome were included in the final analysis. Mean on-treatment total testosterone concentrations were 19, 78, 102, 128 and 210ng/dl in the placebo, 3, 6.25, 12.5 and 25-mg groups, respectively. Changes in composite BISF-W scores, thoughts-desire, arousal, frequency of sexual activity, LBM, chest-press power and loaded stair-climb power were significantly related to increases in free testosterone concentrations; changes were significantly greater in women assigned to the 25-mg group when compared to placebo but not at the lower dose groups. Sexual activity increased by 2.7 encounters per week in 25-mg group. Frequency of androgenic adverse events was low. Conclusion Testosterone administration in hysterectomized women with and without oophorectomy for 24-weeks was associated with dose and concentration-dependent gains in several domains of sexual function, LBM, chest-press power and loaded stair-climb power. Long-term trials are needed to weigh improvements in these outcomes against potential long-term adverse effects.

No abstract

OBJECTIVES Grafts are used for vaginal repair after prolapse, but their use to carry stem cells to regenerate vaginal tissue has not been reported. In this study, we investigated whether 1) muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) grown on small intestinal submucosa (SIS) generate smooth-muscle cells (SMC) in vitro and upon implantation in a rat model of vaginal defects; 2) express markers applicable to the in-vivo detection of vaginal endogenous stem cells; and 3) stimulate the repair of the vagina. METHODS Mouse MDSC grown on monolayer, SIS, or polymeric mesh, were tested for cell differentiation by immunocytochemistry, Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Stem cell markers were screened by DNA microarrays followed by real-time PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot. Rats that underwent hysterectomy and partial vaginectomy were left as such or implanted in the vagina with 4’,6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole (DAPI)–labeled MDSC on SIS, or SIS without MDSC, immunosuppressed, and killed at 2–8 weeks. Immunofluorescence, hematoxylin-eosin, and Masson trichrome were applied to tissue sections. RESULTS Muscle-derived stem cell cultures on monolayer and on scaffolds differentiate into SMC, as shown by α-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), calponin, and smoothelin markers. Muscle-derived stem cells express embryonic stem cell markers Oct-4 and nanog. Dual DAPI/ASMA fluorescence indicated MDSC conversion to SMC. Muscle-derived stem cells/SIS stimulated vaginal tissue repair, including keratin-5 positive epithelium formation and prevented fibrosis at 4 and 8 weeks. Oct-4+ putative endogenous stem cells were identified. CONCLUSION Muscle-derived stem cells/SIS implants stimulate vaginal tissue repair in the rat, thus autologous MDSC on scaffolds may be a promising approach for the treatment of vaginal repair.

The role and effectiveness of chemical pre-functionalization of silicon surfaces (with hydrogen, chlorine, and nitride) to minimize interfacial SiO2 formation during atomic layer deposition growth has been investigated using in situ transmission infrared spectroscopy, ex situ Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and ex situ medium energy ion scattering spectroscopy. No measurable SiO2 was formed during growth at low temperatures (∼100 °C) with tetrakis(ethylmethylamino) hafnium and heavy water as precursors on H-, Cl-, and nitride-passivated silicon surfaces. Interfacial SiO2 appeared after postdeposition annealing, at the point when the initially amorphous HfO2 film crystallized, as reflected by the appearance of a monoclinic HfO2 phonon peak at ∼780 cm-1 and by a periodic arrangement of atoms observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images. Electrical characterization of as-deposited HfO2 films showed that, while the interfacial defect density was reasonably low at growth temperatures when interfacial hydrogen was still present (∼100 °C), the leakage current was significantly increased after postdeposition annealing (∼700 °C in nitrogen).

Minimal existing evidence in the English language suggests that patients with occult incontinence are at increased risk of POSUI. Outcomes in occult incontinence patients undergoing repair of pelvic organ prolapse need systematic study. Until there is adequate solid evidence on the predictive values of our screening test, we cannot counsel patients regarding our ability to prevent POSUI or protect them from unnecessary procedures.

This paper provides a solution to the problem of robustly stabilizing a given interval plant family using P, PI and PID controllers. This solution is derived by combining some recent results on P, PI and PID stabilization of fixed plants with some standard results from the parametric robust control literature. The paper also develops a technique for designing PID controllers which are not only robust with respect to plant parameter perturbations but are also ‘non‐fragile’ in the space of the controller coefficients. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.