Directed self-assembly of high-chi block copolymer for nano fabrication of bit patterned media via solvent annealing.

We report the formation of nanoimprint master templates that can be used for the fabrication of bit patterned media (BPM). The template was formed by directed self-assembly, with solvent annealing, of a symmetric ABA triblock copolymer to form perpendicularly oriented lamellae on chemical patterns. We used a high-χ block copolymer, poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) to achieve smaller feature sizes than are possible with polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). The work shows that triblock copolymers can provide a large processing window in terms of pitch commensurability. Using block-selective infiltration (atomic layer deposition with sequential long soaking/purge cycles), an alumina composite with high etch resistance was specifically incorporated into the polar and hydrophilic P2VP domains. Subsequently, the surface pattern was successfully transferred into underlying Si substrates by etching with a fluorine-containing plasma to create a nanoimprint master. The line/space pattern of the nanoimprint master met the BPM fabrication requirement of defectivity <10(-3). For demonstration purposes, the nanoimprint master was used to imprint a replica pattern of photoresist on a quartz wafer.

Transfer of self-aligned spacer patterns for single-digit nanofabrication.

We report the transfer of sub-10 nm half-pitch grating patterns created through a combination of block copolymer directed self-assembly and sidewall spacer-based self-aligned double patterning into Si substrates. Low substrate bias reactive ion etching of TiOx conformally deposited onto carbon mandrels using atomic layer deposition renders distinct, pitch-halved spacers with minimal etch byproduct redeposition. Independent spacer and mandrel width control and the use of an underlying CrNx hard mask deposited by reactive sputtering facilitates etching of Si lines with low roughness and fine placement control. The insights into pattern transfer presented here are directly applicable to the fabrication of rectangular bit pattern nanoimprint templates at densities above 1.5 Td in(-2).

[Absinthe rehabilitated]. / L'absinthe réhabilitée.

Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium) has been known for its medicinal properties since Antiquity. The Egyptians in 1600 BC, then Hippocrates, Galien, The Salerne School in 1649, and 18th-century physicians all recommended it for a variety of maladies. In 1780-1790 in Switzerland (Val de Travers), a traditional healer and, probably, a itinerant physician by the name of Docteur Ordinaire, transformed this purgative elixir into an aperitif liqueur, a move followed by two centuries of unexpected success. Absinthe was manufactured in France, at Pontarlier, for tax reasons. In 1900, the town counted 25 distilleries. Its production then extended to other French provinces. La fée verte ("green fairy") was particularly popular with the military, literary and artistic circles, and, finally the general public. In 1902, following a parliamentary vote, the Minister of the Interior asked the National Academy of Medicine to issue an opinion on "The indication of aperitif liqueurs, including absinthe". The Commission on Alcoholism, chaired by J.V. Laborde, examined the composition of absinthe liqueurs, the physiological and toxic action of their essences, the risks associated with "bitter" aperitifs, and the composition of essence-based liqueurs that were not used as aperitifs. The Commission compiled a list of the most dangerous aperitifs and liqueurs placing absinthe at the top, and recommended that the authorities prohibit the manufacture, circulation, advertisement and sale of all such drinks, including absinthe. However, because these drinks, and especially absinthe, represented an important source of tax revenue, this recommendation was only acted upon 13 years later, with a law adopted in March 1915. Despite subsequent prohibition of the production of absinthe liqueur, manufacturers in the Val de Travers region and a distillery in Pontarlier continued to work in secret until the prohibition was finally lifted in the year 2000. This decision was based on scientific analyses showing that thuyone was only toxic when ingested in very large amounts incompatible with normal consumption. In addition, it was found that the high alcohol content, often including adulterated alcohol, was particularly detrimental. A handful of manufacturers are now authorized, with strict limits placed on the alcohol content and thuyone concentration. Does this mean that the Academy of Medicine was wrong? While the report can be criticized, the fight against alcoholism was a worthy and necessary cause at the time, and remains so today.

Thymic neuroendocrine tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a comparative study on 21 cases among a series of 761 MEN1 from the GTE (Groupe des Tumeurs Endocrines).

BACKGROUND: Thymic neuroendocrine tumors (Th-NET) present a poor prognosis for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). The purpose of this article was to study the clinical, biological, and pathological features of Th-NET in a large cohort of patients with MEN1. METHODS: The 761-patient MEN1 cohort from the GTE registry was used (Groupe des Tumeurs Endocrines). RESULTS: The actuarial probability of occurrence was 2.6% (range, 1.3-5.5%) at aged 40 years. All, except one, Th-NET patients were men. Four patients had no other associated lesions. The youngest patient was aged 16 years. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 42.7 (range, 16.1-67.5) years. The 10-year probability of survival was 36.1% (range, 11.5-62%). Seven patients (33%) belonged to clustered MEN1 families. The spectrum of associated lesions in patients with Th-NET was not statistically different from the spectrum of the remainder of the cohort. Various endocrine markers were high, but none were sensitive or specific enough to be useful for Th-NET detection. CT-scan and MRI were always positive at the time of diagnosis. No particular mutation was found to be associated with Th-NET. Five cases underwent prophylactic thymectomy without success. CONCLUSIONS: Several end points may be helpful for future guidelines: (1) earlier detection of Th-NET in MEN1 patients is required; (2) screening of both sexes is necessary; (3) a prospective study comparing MRI vs. CT scan in yearly screening for Th-NET is needed; (4) a reinforced screening program must be established for patients who belong to clustered families; and (5) thymectomies must be performed in specialized centers.

[Treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: a multidisciplinary task]. / Le traitement de l'échinococcose alvéolaire humaine: une approche multidisciplinaire.

Alveolar echinococcosis is characterized by a long asymptomatic period but, without treatment, up to 80% of patients may die within ten years of diagnosis. Owing to a lack of fast-acting and fully effective chemotherapy, partial radical hepatic resection is the only chance of cure. One-third of patients are now treated in this way, and complex vascular and biliary reconstruction procedures are sometimes necessary. Liver transplantation may also be indicated for highly selected patients (about 5%) with life-threatening complications after failure of other treatments. Interventional radiology and endoscopy can be used to drain liver abscesses and/or infected and obstructed bile ducts, either as palliative procedures or as a bridge to radical resection. Parasitostatic benzimidazole therapy, especially based on continuous albendazole administration, is mandatory for at least two years after radical resection, and for life in inoperable patients.

[1791: a decisive moment in endocrine surgery]. / 1791: un moment décisif pour la chirurgie endocrinienne.

On the 20th of May 1791 a women aged 24 presented herself at the "Hôtel-Dieu" in Paris. She sufferd of a frontal cervical tumor. This giante tumor obliged Pierre Joseph Desault, chief surgeon, to accept the removal of the tumor. At the dawn of the XIX century this operation based on new precepts stand as a fundamental rupture in the approach of treatment of goiter.

Adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava: presentation of a 15-patient series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a controversial risk factor for surgical treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). This study aims to assess the outcome of an aggressive surgical policy for ACC extending into the IVC and discuss treatment strategies based on a review of the literature. METHODS: Over a 25-year period, 15 patients were treated for ACC extending into the IVC. The upper limit of the extension was the infrahepatic IVC in 2 patients, retrohepatic IVC in 6, and suprahepatic IVC in 7, including 4 with extension into the right atrium. Seven patients presented with concurrent metastases. The operative technique was thrombectomy (n = 13), partial resection with direct closure (n = 1), and total resection with replacement of the IVC (n = 1). Venous control was achieved by caval clamping alone (n = 4), hepatic vascular exclusion (n = 5), and the use of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass or hypothermic circulatory arrest (n = 6). RESULTS: Two patients died postoperatively. Ten patients died of metastatic complications at 4 to 31 months. Median survival time was 8 months. Three patients were still alive after 24, 25, and 45 months of follow-up, one of whom was reoperated at 17 months for a local recurrence. No evidence of recurrent intravenous involvement was found during follow-up in any patient in whom complete resection was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that surgical treatment can be effective for management of ACC with extension into the IVC. Long-term prognosis is poor owing to delay in diagnosis, frequent associated metastatic disease and lack of effective adjuvant treatment.

Directed Self-Assembly of Triblock Copolymer on Chemical Patterns for Sub-10-nm Nanofabrication via Solvent Annealing.

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) is a leading strategy to pattern at sublithographic resolution in the technology roadmap for semiconductors and is the only known solution to fabricate nanoimprint templates for the production of bit pattern media. While great progress has been made to implement block copolymer lithography with features in the range of 10-20 nm, patterning solutions below 10 nm are still not mature. Many BCP systems self-assemble at this length scale, but challenges remain in simultaneously tuning the interfacial energy atop the film to control the orientation of BCP domains, designing materials, templates, and processes for ultra-high-density DSA, and establishing a robust pattern transfer strategy. Among the various solutions to achieve domains that are perpendicular to the substrate, solvent annealing is advantageous because it is a versatile method that can be applied to a diversity of materials. Here we report a DSA process based on chemical contrast templates and solvent annealing to fabricate 8 nm features on a 16 nm pitch. To make this possible, a number of innovations were brought in concert with a common platform: (1) assembling the BCP in the phase-separated, solvated state, (2) identifying a larger process window for solvated triblock vs diblock BCPs as a function of solvent volume fraction, (3) employing templates for sub-10-nm BCP systems accessible by lithography, and (4) integrating a robust pattern transfer strategy by vapor infiltration of organometallic precursors for selective metal oxide synthesis to prepare an inorganic hard mask.

Cyclin E correlates with malignancy and adverse prognosis in adrenocortical tumors.

OBJECTIVE: In many cases, the prognosis of an adrenocortical tumor cannot be determined from pathologic findings alone. We investigated cyclin E levels as a potential marker. METHODS: We studied 57 tumors by immunohistochemical staining with an anticyclin E antibody. We also evaluated clinical and pathologic factors (McFarlane staging and Weiss score) and previously validated genetic markers (17p13 loss of heterozygosity, 11p15 uniparental disomy, and overexpression of the IGF-II gene) for these tumors. Disease-free survival was estimated in 49 patients who underwent curative surgery. RESULTS: Cyclin E overproduction (> or =5%) was associated with the malignant phenotype and was strongly correlated with tumor size (P<0.0001), Weiss score (P<0.0001) and the presence of genetic abnormalities in tumors (P<0.001) (nonparametric Wilcoxon test and Fisher's exact test). Within a median follow-up of 44.1 months, seven patients exhibited a recurrence and two patients died from other causes. Cyclin E overproduction was significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival in univariate analysis (P=0.016; RR: 7.6), as were histologic grade (Weiss score > or =4; P=0.0006; RR: 18), 17p13 LOH (P=0.014, RR: 14.9), 11p15 UPD (P=0.003, RR: 11.8) and overexpression of the IGF-II gene (P=0.015, RR: 13.8). CONCLUSION: This study shows that cyclin E overproduction is of adverse prognostic significance in adrenocortical tumors.

[New directions in the surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism]. / Orientations nouvelles dans le traitement chirurgical de l'hyperparathyroïdisme primaire.

For a long time, bilateral cervicotomy with a scrupulous exploration of the sites of the parathyroid glands was the technique of choice in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Recently new less invasive surgical techniques appeared: unilateral approach under local anaesthesia (UA LA) and video endoscopic parathyroidectomy (VEP), which could be used in 50% of patients after elimination of contraindications. Three factors support these new techniques: HPT I is in 85% of the patients related to a solitary adenoma. Ultrasonography or scintigraphy isolated or associated can detect the adenoma. Peroperative monitoring of the PTH can control the success of surgery. In our experience, 95 to 98 per cent of patients are cured of their HPTI.... In our opinion, UALA, technically simpler, with long term good results, is the technique of choice.