E/D-Mode GaN Inverter on a 150-mm Si Wafer Based on p-GaN Gate E-Mode HEMT Technology.

AlGaN/GaN E/D-mode GaN inverters are successfully fabricated on a 150-mm Si wafer. P-GaN gate technology is applied to be compatible with the commercial E-mode GaN power device technology platform and a systematic study of E/D-mode GaN inverters has been conducted with detail. The key electrical characters have been analyzed from room temperature (RT) to 200 °C. Small variations of the inverters are observed at different temperatures. The logic swing voltage of 2.91 V and 2.89 V are observed at RT and 200 °C at a supply voltage of 3 V. Correspondingly, low/high input noise margins of 0.78 V/1.67 V and 0.68 V/1.72 V are observed at RT and 200 °C. The inverters also demonstrate small rising edge time of the output signal. The results show great potential for GaN smart power integrated circuit (IC) application.

Identification of Genes Involved in the Responses of Tangor (C. reticulata × C. sinensis) to Drought Stress.

Drought is the major abiotic stress with adverse effects on citrus, decreasing the agronomical yield and influencing the fruit quality. In this study, cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technique was used to investigate the transcriptional profile changes and identify drought-responsive genes in "Amakusa" tangor (C. reticulata × C. sinensis), a hybrid citrus sensitive to water stress. The 255 out of 6,245 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) displayed altered expression patterns including (A) induction, (B) repression, (C) upregulation, and (D) downregulation. With BLAST search, the gene products of differentially expressed fragments (DEFs) could be classified into several categories: cellular processes, transcription, transport, metabolism, stress/stimuli response, and developmental processes. Downregulated genes were highly represented by photosynthesis and basic metabolism, while upregulated ones were enriched in genes that were involved in transcription regulation, defense, energy, and transport. Present result also revealed some transient and up- and then downregulated genes such as aquaporin protein and photosystem enzyme. Expression patterns of 17 TDFs among 18 homologous to function-known genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. The present results revealed potential mechanism of drought tolerance in fruit crop and also provided candidate genes for future experiments in citrus.

[Effects of renal sympathetic denervation on inducibility of atrial fibrillation during rapid atrial pacing].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of renal sympathetic denervation on inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) during rapid atrial pacing. METHODS: Thirteen dogs were selected and divided into control group (n=7) and renal artery ablation group (RAA) (n=6). In the control group, the animals were subjected to atrial pacing at 800 beats/min for 7 hours. And atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and induced AF were measured hourly during non-pacing. In the RAA group, after each renal artery ablation, the procedures of pacing and electrophysiological measurement were nearly the same as those in the control group. Blood was collected before and after pacing to measure the levels of rennin, angiotensin AngII (AngII) and aldosterone. RESULTS: There was a persistent decrease in AERP in both groups. However, after a 7-hour pacing, induced number of times and duration of AF were higher in the control group than those in the RAA group. The plasma concentrations of rennin and aldosterone increased significantly after 7-hour rapid pacing in the control group (rennin: (120±31) to (185±104) pg/ml, P<0.01, aldosterone: (288±43) to (370±110) pg/ml, P=0.01). No significant difference existed in the levels of AngII at pre- and post-pacing in the control group ((160±48) to (189±164) pg/ml, P=0.23). The levels of rennin and aldosterone showed a decreasing trend in the RAA group. But there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Episodes of AF during short-time rapid atrial pacing may be decreased by renal sympathetic denervation. This effect is probably related with the decreased activity of RAAS.