We fabricated an ITO/ZnO/TaON/TaN device as nonvolatile memory (NVM) with resistive switching for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility. It is appropriate for the age of big data, which demands high speed and capacity. We produced a TaON layer by depositing a ZnO layer on a TaN layer using an oxygen-reactive radio frequency (RF) sputtering system. The bi-layer formation of ZnO and TaON interferes with the filament rupture after the forming process and then raises the current level slightly. The current levels were divided into high- and low-compliance modes. The retention, endurance, and pulse conductance were verified with a neuromorphic device. This device was stable and less consumed when it was in low mode rather than high mode.

Objective : Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been regarded as one of the standard treatments for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. Despite the wide use of stent retrievers for MT, arterial intimal damage caused when deployed stent is pulled has been a certain disadvantage. We hypothesized that statin could protect and stabilize vessel damage after endovascular MT using a stent retriever. In this animal study, we observed the protective effects of the statins towards MTinduced vessel wall injury. Methods : Twenty-eight carotid arteries of fourteen rabbits were used in the experiments with MT using stent retriever. We divided the rabbits into four groups as follows : group 1, negative control; group 2, positive control; group 3, statin before MT; and group 4, statin after MT. After MT procedures, we harvested the carotid arteries and performed histomorphological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results : In histomorphological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stain, significant intimal thickening (p<0.05) was observed in the positive control (group 2), compared to in the negative control (group 1). Intimal thickening was improved in the statin-administered groups (groups 3 and 4 vs. group 2, p<0.05). We also observed that statin administration after MT (group 4) resulted in a more effective decrease in intimal thickness than statin administration before MT (group 3) (p<0.05). We performed immunohistochemical analysis with the antibodies for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cluster of differentiation (CD)11b, and CD163. In contrast to the negative control (group 1), the stained percentage areas of all immunological markers were markedly increased in the positive control (group 2) (p<0.05). Based on statin administration, the percentage area of TNF-α staining was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in group 3, compared to the positive control group (group 2). However, significant differences were not observed for CD11b and CD163 staining. In group 4, no significant differences were observed for TNF-α, CD11b, and CD163 staining (p≥0.05). The differences in the percentage areas of the different markers between the statin-administered groups (groups 3 and 4) were also not revealed. Conclusion :We presented that statin administration before and after MT exerted protective effects towards vessel wall injury. The efficacy of statins was greater post-administration than pre-administration. Thus, statin administration in routine prescriptions in the peri-procedural period is strongly advised.

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Objective Subdural hematoma (SDH) primarily occurs in elderly patients. While most patients have good prognosis, some do not. Hematoma recurrence is one of the factors influencing prognosis. Moreover, some characteristic radiological factors may increase the recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of trauma influenced radiological characteristics and hematoma recurrence in SDH patients treated with burr hole trephination. Methods From January 2012 to December 2014, we selected 83 patients diagnosed with unilateral SDH using computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on the presence of trauma. We compared the 2 groups with multiple parameters, such as patient factors, radiological characteristics, and recurrence rate. Results Patients who had a prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) were significantly more common in the non-traumatic SDH group (22.2%:55.2%, p =0.002). There was no statistical difference in radiological parameters between the 2 groups. The recurrence rate was marginally higher in the non-traumatic SDH group (14.8%:17.2%, p =0.502), but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion There were no statistically significant differences in the radiological findings, including brain atrophy, hematoma density, thickness of hematoma, and degree of midline shifting between the 2 groups. The associated trauma history may not influence recurrence. Anticoagulants medication influence INR prolongation, and commonly shown in non-traumatic group, but not statistically. INR prolongation was statistically more common in non-traumatic SDH patients than in traumatic SDH patients. INR prolongation is only a different characteristic between 2 groups.

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