This work analyses electromigration and dielectric lifetimes of 45 nm node CMOS interconnects. Reliability mechanisms and failure modes are discussed considering, on one hand, the interconnect materials and processes steps, and on the other hand scaling issues. Robust reliability performance meeting the required products target is actually obtained with process integration schemes used for the 45 nm node thanks to fine optimizations of Cu barriers, Cu filling, and ULK surface quality.

Bi-directional current stressing was used for monitoring electromigration (EM) lifetime evolution in 45nm node interconnects. Experimental results show that an initial bimodal distribution of lifetimes can be modified into a more robust mono-modal distribution. Since the bi-directional tests provide successive void nucleation and void healing phases, the Cu microstructure is thought to evolve once the formed void is filled thanks to EM induced matter displacement. FEM modeling is used to compare the predicted location of void nucleation for given microstructures at the cathode end: a multigrain structure is compared to a perfect bamboo microstructure. Experimental and modeling results let us assume that small grains (

If myasthenia gravis is not a usual complication of interferon therapy, several cases have been described with the use of theses molecules in the treatment of hepatitis C, cancer or multiple sclerosis. We report a new case of serious myasthenia gravis during interferon alpha and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C.

Si la myasthénie n’est pas une complication habituelle du traitement par interféron, plusieurs observations ont cependant été décrites depuis l’utilisation de ce médicament dans le traitement de l’hépatite C, des néoplasies ou de la sclérose en plaques. Nous rapportons une nouvelle observation de myasthénie sévère survenue au cours du traitement combiné d’une hépatite C par interféron-α et ribavirine. If myasthenia gravis is not a usual complication of interferon therapy, several cases have been described with the use of theses molecules in the treatment of hepatitis C, cancer or multiple sclerosis. We report a new case of serious myasthenia gravis during interferon alpha and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C.

Package electromigration tests were performed on dual damascene copper interconnects issued from the 90, 65 and 45 nm-node technologies. By varying the stress conditions during the steady state regime of the resistance increase, we study drift velocity evolution as a function of the current density j. Thus we show some large deviation of the Black's law, which assumes a linear dependence of the lifetime with j. Finally we have determined the Black's exponent n in a broad range of current density j (2.5-50 mA/mum2). For 250 mum long lines, a n=1 is obtained between 10 and 20 mA/mum2, it increases up to 2 for j=2.5 mA/mum2.

This paper presents a study on electromigration performances of narrow and wide damascene copper lines with a view to always be aware of the limitations of circuit lifetime with respect to this failure mechanism. It appears that narrow and large lines do not present the same activation energy. Narrow lines are characterized by a rather high activation energy, around 0.90 eV, referring to copper migration at the copper/top barrier interface, whereas large lines present an activation energy around 0.74 eV, apparently referring to copper migration at the grain boundaries. These experimental results suggest a careful choice in interconnect design, depending on the circuit application (digital/analog), to always provide a robust circuit.

The spiral CT imgaging protocols that are presented are those that we use on a routine basis at the Geneva University Hospital for studies of the abdomen.

L'uro-IRM (urographie par IRM) est devenue une alternative interessante aux autres moyens traditionnels d'imagerie que sont l'echographie, l'urographie intraveineuse et la tomodensitometrie dans le bilan des affections des voies urinaires, en particulier des obstructions de celles-ci. L'uro-IRM remplit pour l'instant un role complementaire dons certaines situations cliniques : en cas d'intolerance aux produits de contraste iodes, chez les patients en insuffisance renale, les femmes enceintes et les enfants. L'uro-IRM a le potentiel de realiser un bilan global d'imagerie des voies urinaires comprenant une angio-IRM et une nephrographie IRM (par exemple, chez un donneur de rein natif ou chez un patient transplante renal). Bien que l'examen soit couteux, il a un bon rapport cout/benefice car il permet d'eviter un bilan comprenant de multiples examens et son impact sur la prise en charge des patients est important, permettant notamment une diminution du sejour hospitalier.

Meme a l'heure actuelle, des complications peuvent survenir apres la transplantation renale. L'echo-Doppler reste l'examen de choix pour distinguer les complications chirurgicales des complications medicales. Nous passerons en revue les progres en echo-Doppler (Doppler energie et produits de contraste echographiques) et en imagerie par resonance magnetique (IRM). L'IRM permet de fournir des information precises, obtenues de maniere non invasive et non nephrotoxique, sur l'anatomie vasculaire (angio-IRM) sur le parenchyme (IRM avec injection intraveineuse d'un chelate de gadolinium) et sur l'arbre urinaire (uro-IRM).

Les modes de revelation des ulcerations gastriques sont multiples, allant de la decouverte fortuite au cours d'une endoscopie, a l'hemorragie digestive comme dans l'observation que nous rapportons. Si les etiologies des ulcerations aigues sont dominees par certains medicaments et les stress medicaux et chirurgicaux, les contextes d'immunodepression peuvent orienter vers des atteintes infectieuses, notamment par le cytomegalovirus. De rares observations d'ulcerations par ce virus ont ete decrites chez les malades non immunodeprimes, justifiant un traitement antiviral dans les formes compliquees.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

An X-ray diffraction study of a crystal of 2,2',-4,4',6,6'-hexanitrodiphenylmethane showed that the two phenyl rings are essentially planar and are nearly perpendicular to each other, confirming previous conclusions drawn from C-13 NMR measurements.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.