Origin of electron mobility enhancement in (1 1 1)-oriented InGaAs channel metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect-transistors

Electrical and physical characteristics of the Al₂O₃/InGaAs interfaces with (1 1 1)A and (1 0 0) orientations were investigated in an attempt to understand the origin of electron mobility enhancement in the (1 1 1)A-channel metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect-transistor. The (1 1 1)A interface has less As atoms of high oxidation states as probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrical measurements showed that energy distribution of the interface traps for the (1 1 1)A interface is shifted toward the conduction band as compared to that for the (1 0 0) interface. Laterally-compressed cross-section transmission electron microscopy images showed that the characteristic lengths of the interface roughness are different between the (1 1 1)A and (1 0 0) interfaces. The contributions of the Coulomb and roughness scattering mechanisms are discussed based on the experimental results.     

Characterization of polymer-adhesive interfaces on a nanometre scale by elemental mapping and image EELS using EFTEM

Energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) was applied for investigating interfaces between a polymer and an adhesive. The sample employed in this work is polybutylene terephtharate (PBT) sheets laminated with an epoxy adhesive. It was found that heat aging of the PBT at 180 degrees C in air for > 9 h prior to adhesion decreases the adhesion strength drastically. To investigate this unfavourable aging effect on the adhesion strength, we performed elemental mapping and image EELS using EFTEM. A weak boundary layer with a thickness of < 50 nm was visualized at the PBT-adhesive interface by elemental mapping in the sample subjected to the heat aging and image EELS revealed the origin of this layer. Thus, we clearly correlated the nanoscale interfacial structure with the adhesion strength by EFTEM.     

Selective Data Deactivation Mechanism in Sustainable Area-based Cache for Mobile Social Networks

This paper presents a proposal of a more resilient mechanism of an area-based sustainable cache system under a temporary decrease of the number of terminals. This mechanism suppresses interruptions of data relay and disappearances of cache data in the cache continually. The core technology enables each terminal to retain the received data in cache areas as ??deactivated data?? instead of deleting the data, even after a terminal leaves the area. Deactivated data are not relayed outside the target designated cache area. The data are reactivated and redistributed to others as relay data once the terminal revisits there. Consequently, the data are shared across time. Furthermore, particularly addressing the limitation of terminal storage, we proposed an adaptive scheme to select which data should be retained as deactivation data. This new mechanism leverages the proposed method under the storage limitation. As presented at the end of this paper, the simulation evaluations underscore the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism, and the adaptive selective scheme of deactivated data.     

Degradation evaluation of poly-Si TFTs by comparing normal and reverse characteristics and behavior analysis of hot-carrier degradation

We propose degradation evaluation of poly-Si TFTs by comparing normal and reverse characteristics. Since symmetrical normal and reverse characteristics indicate Joule-heating degradation whereas asymmetrical characteristics indicate hot-carrier degradation, they can be clearly and easily classified. Moreover, degradation occurrence is contrasted between standard and fine TFTs. Finally, behavior of the hot-carrier degradation is analyzed.     

New Paradigms in Wireless Communication Systems

This paper discusses what a new paradigm can be in wireless communication systems of the twenty-first century. First, it suggests two directions for the new paradigm; one is “micro- and nano-device communication system” which is the projected scenario considering that the entities in source and destination have been shrinking throughout the history of wireless communication systems. The second direction is “networked robot system”, which emerges as a natural extension of mobile ad hoc networking where the networking is closely related to motion control of robots. Secondly, it shows two interesting research topics, “the new communication protocol design” and “signal processing”, respectively, that arise in the wake of the fusion between the two directions in the novel communication paradigm. Finally, it considers a new science of wireless communications in the twenty-first century. Shinsuke Hara received the B.Eng., M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in communications engineering from Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, in 1985, 1987 and 1990, respectively. From April 1990 to March 1997, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Engineering, School of Engineering, Osaka University, and from October 1997 to September 2005, he was an associate professor in the Department of Electronic, Information and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University. Since October 2005, he has been a professor in the Department of Physical Electronics and Informatics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University. In addition, from April 1995 to March 1996, he was a visiting scientist at Telecommunications and Traffic Control Systems Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. His research interests include wireless communications systems and digital signal processing. Hiroyuki Yomo received B.S. degree in communication engineering from Department of Communication Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, in 1997, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in communication engineering from Department of Electronic, Information, and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka Japan, in 1999 and 2002, respectively. From April 2002 to March 2004, he was a Post-doctoral Fellow in Department of Communication Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark. From April 2004 to September 2004, he was at Internet System Laboratory, NEC Corporation, Japan. Since October 2004, he has been an Assistant Research Professor in Center for TeleInfrastructure (CTIF), Aalborg University, Denmark. His main research interests are access technologies, radio resource management, and link-layer techniques in the area of short-range communication, cellular network, cognitive radio, and sensor network. Petar Popovski received the Dipl.-Ing. in electrical engineering and M.Sc. in communication engineering from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He received a Ph.D. degree from Aalborg University, Denmark, in 2004. From 1998 to 2001 he was a teaching and research assistant at the Institute of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Skopje. He is currently Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication Technology at the Aalborg University. His research interests are related to the PHY-MAC aspects of wireless protocols, wireless sensor networks, random access protocols, and network coding. Kazunori Hayashi received the B.E., M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in communication engineering from Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, in 1997, 1999 and 2002, respectively. He spent 3 months in 2000 at Aalborg University, Denmark, as a Visiting Scholar. Since 2002, he has been with the Department of Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University. He is currently an Assistant Professor there. His research interests include digital signal processing for communications systems.     

Strong Surface‐Termination Effect on Electroresistance in Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions

Tunnel electroresistance in ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) has attracted considerable interest, because of a promising application to nonvolatile memories. Development of ferroelectric thin‐film devices requires atomic‐scale band‐structure engineering based on depolarization‐field effects at interfaces. By using FTJs consisting of ultrathin layers of the prototypical ferroelectric BaTiO₃, it is demonstrated that the surface termination of the ferroelectric in contact with a simple‐metal electrode critically affects properties of electroresistance. BaTiO₃ barrier‐layers with TiO₂ or BaO terminations show opposing relationships between the polarization direction and the resistance state. The resistance‐switching ratio in the junctions can be remarkably enhanced up to 10⁵% at room temperature, by artificially controlling the fraction of BaO termination. These results are explained in terms of the termination dependence of the depolarization field that is generated by a dead layer and imperfect charge screening. The findings on the mechanism of tunnel electroresistance should lead to performance improvements in the devices based on nanoscale ferroelectrics.     

Colored Fluorescent Silk Made by Transgenic Silkworms

Silk is a protein fiber used to weave fabrics and as a biomaterial in medical applications. Recently, genetically modified silks have been produced from transgenic silkworms. In the present study, transgenic silkworms for the mass production of three colors of fluorescent silks, (green, red, and orange) are generated using a vector originating from the fibroin H chain gene and a classical breeding method. The suitability of the recombinant silks for making fabrics is investigated by harvesting large amounts of the cocoons, obtained from rearing over 20 thousand silkworms. The application of low temperature and a weakly alkaline solution for cooking and reeling enables the production of silk fiber without loss of color. The maximum strain tolerated and Young's modulus of the fluorescent silks are similar to those of ordinary silk, although the maximum stress value of the recombinant silk is slightly lower than that of the control. Fabrics with fluorescent color are demonstrated using the recombinant silk, with the color persisting for over two years. The results indicate that large amounts of genetically modified silk can be made by transgenic silkworms, and the silk is applicable as functional silk fiber for making fabrics and for use in medical applications.     

Engineering of Lipid Nanoparticles by the Multifunctionalization of the Surface with Amino Acid Derivatives for the Neutralization of a Target Toxic Peptide

Protein affinity reagents (e.g., antibodies) are often used for basic research, diagnostics, separations, and disease therapy. Although a lot of “synthetic” protein affinity reagents have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to antibodies, their low biocompatibility is a considerable problem for clinical application. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent a highly biocompatible drug delivery agent. However, little has been reported that LNP itself works as a protein affinity reagent in living animals. Here, LNP is engineered for binding to and neutralizing a target toxic peptide in living animals by multifunctionalization with amino acid derivatives. Multifunctionalized LNP (MF-LNP) is prepared using amino acid derivative-conjugated lipids. Optimized MF-LNP exhibits nanomolar affinity to the target toxic peptide and inhibits toxic peptide-dependent hemolysis and cytotoxicity. In addition, MF-LNP captures and neutralizes the toxic peptide after intravenous injection in the bloodstream; in addition, MF-LNP does not release the toxic peptide in the accumulated organ. These results reveal the potential of using LNP as a highly biocompatible protein affinity reagent such as an antidote.     

High-cycle fatigue characteristics of quasi-isotropic CFRP laminates over 10 cycles (Initiation and propagation of delamination considering interaction with transverse cracks)

High-cycle fatigue features of over 10⁸ cycles, particularly the initiation and propagation of edge delamination considering the effects of transverse cracks, were investigated using quasi-isotropic carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates with a stacking sequence of [45/0/−45/90]_s in this study. In the relationship between a transverse crack density and initiation and growth of edge delamination, it was found that fatigue damage growth behavior varied depending on applied stress. It was observed that edge delamination initiated and grew at parts where transverse cracks were dense at ordinary applied stress, whereas it was observed that edge delamination grew before or simultaneously with transverse crack propagation at a low applied stress and high-cycle loading. In addition, the critical transverse crack density where delamination begins growing was calculated to evaluate the interaction between transverse crack and edge delamination growth.