Single-Electron Device With Si Nanodot Array and Multiple Input Gates

We have developed a flexible-logic-gate single-electron device (SED) with an array of nanodots. Although the small size of SEDs is highly advantageous, the size of the nanodots inevitably fluctuates, which causes variations in device characteristics. This variability can be eliminated and high device functionality can be obtained by exploiting the oscillatory characteristics and multigate capability of SEDs. We fabricated, on a silicon-on-insulator wafer, a Si nanodot array device with two input gates and a control gate and investigated its basic operation characteristics experimentally. The device was demonstrated to operate as a logic gate providing six important logic functions ( and, or, nand, nor, xor, and xnor), which are obtained by adjusting the control-gate voltage.     

Application of nonlinear fitting and selection of the most fitted equation by AIC in stability test of pharmaceutical ingredients

We proposed a method for objectively selecting the most fitted rate equation among candidate rate equations based on chemical kinetics by both nonlinear regression analysis and Akaike's information criterion (AIC), to express the decrease of pharmaceutical ingredient as an appropriate equation. Pseudo-zero, first, and second-order rate equations were prepared as candidates beforehand, and AIC was introduced for selecting the most fitted rate equation among the candidates. We compared the proposed method to the Weibull method that expressed any decrease patterns as a single equation.

We quantified the contents of thiamine nitrate (VB1) and taurine after storage for one, three, and six months under 40°C-75% relative humidity by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Decrease patterns of each sample were most fitted to one of the candidate rate equations, that is, pseudo-zero, first, and second-order rate equations, respectively, and the degree of fit in the most fitted equation was superior to that of the Weibull method, except for the pseudo-first-order rate equation.

Moreover, we confirmed that the proposed method was considerably precise for estimating the stability of pharmaceuticals by comparing estimated residual rates and confidence intervals to experimental data.     

Improvement of the energy efficiency in the decomposition of dilute trichloroethylene by the barrier discharge plasma process

In order to improve the energy efficiency in the dilute trichloroethylene (TCE) removal by the nonthermal plasma process, the barrier discharge reactor was studied experimentally. It is investigated by combining it with catalyst of manganese dioxide at the downstream of the barrier discharge reactor. Decomposition efficiency by the barrier discharge reactor was about 83% at the gas flow rate 2 L/min, where the dilute TCE concentration is 250 ppm. Decomposition efficiency with passing through manganese dioxide was improved about 99% at the specific energy of 40 J/L. However, other by-products including ozone and oxidation by-products such as DCAC and TCAA were detected by the gas chromatograph mass spectrometry or the Fourier transform infrared spectroscope measurement. DCAC is generated at the plasma reactor, but TCAA is generated at catalyst during ozone decomposition. CO/sub x/ yield increased about twice with passing through catalyst in the Direct Process. Nitric oxides such as NO, NO/sub 2/, and N/sub 2/O did not generate so much in this barrier discharge process. The dielectric barrier discharge process combined with manganese dioxide is considered as a very desirable way to improve the energy efficiency.     

Correlation study between VAD preform deposition surface and Germanium doping profiles

The refractive index profile of germanium doped preforms for optical fibers is determined by the radial distribution of germanium concentration. Knowing that there is a correlation between the germanium doping profile and the deposition surface profile of vapor-phase axial deposition (VAD) preforms, the study of this correlation has been carried out in order to estimate, indirectly, the refractive index profile of VAD preforms for optical fibers during the deposition stage. This correlation was studied through the parameterization of the preform deposition surface using two parameters: the power law index profile that best fits the preform bottom profile (/spl alpha/) and the axial distance from the bottom tip to a reference height (h). A range of values of these parameters to produce VAD preforms with standard and special doping profiles has been presented. Preforms with triangular index profile can be fabricated with /spl alpha/ and h values of about 2.0 and 5.0 mm, respectively, and preforms with parabolic index profiles can be produced with /spl alpha/ and h values of about 2.0 and 4.0 mm, respectively.     

Influence of seat characteristics on occupant motion in low-speed rear impacts

To analyze the effect of the seat characteristics on dummy motions and human volunteer motions, sled tests simulating low-speed rear impacts were conducted with some seats which had different characteristics. Volunteer's cervical vertebral motions were photographed with an X-ray cineradiographic system at a speed of 90 frames/s as well as the visible motions of dummy's and volunteer's were recorded. Although the tests were conducted under limited conditions, the results indicated the relationship between the occupant's visible motions, which are assumed to be closely related to the whiplash injury mechanism, and seat characteristics. It should be noted that the volunteer sled tests were discussed and approved by the Tsukuba University Ethics Committee and the volunteer submitted his informed consent in writing in line with the Helsinki Declaration.     

Experimental study of construction mechanism of V(z) curves obtained by line-focus-beam acoustic microscopy

The propagation characteristics, viz., phase velocity and attenuation, of leaky surface acoustic waves (LSAWs), excited on the water/sample boundary are obtained through analyzing the V(z) curves measured by line-focus-beam acoustic microscopy. However, different values of these characteristics are obtained, depending upon different ultrasonic devices and operating frequencies employed. The construction mechanism of V(z) curves was investigated experimentally by measuring the amplitude and phase for Teflon to provide an understanding of the device performance for velocity measurements. A V(z) curve measured for Teflon, on which no leaky waves are excited when water is the coupling medium, can be used for the characteristic device response, depending only upon the device parameters and the operating frequencies. From the investigation of the ultrasonic device and the frequency dependences of the characteristic device responses, the phase gradient was found to be directly related to values of measured LSAW velocities. From this result, apparent frequency dependences in LSAW velocity measurements are explained quantitatively for a specimen of gadolinium gallium garnet.     

Evaluation and selection of LiNbO(3) and LiTaO(3) substrates for SAW devices by the LFB ultrasonic material characterization system

This paper demonstrates the evaluation and selection of commercially available LiNbO(3) and LiTaO(3) single crystals and wafers for surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices using the line-focus-beam ultrasonic material characterization (LFB-UMC) system. This system enables measuring leaky-SAW (LSAW) propagation characteristics precisely and efficiently for a number of specimens. The wafers are prepared from the top, middle, and bottom parts of four 128 degrees YX LiNbO(3) and seven X-112 degrees Y LiTaO(3) single crystals. For both series of crystals, the measured LSAW velocities increase from top to bottom in the crystals and with the increasing crystal growth number. The velocity changes for all wafers are 0.036% for 128 degrees YX LiNbO(3) and 0.035% for X-112 degrees Y LiTaO(3), corresponding to changes of 0.038 mol% and 0.075 mol% in Li(2)O concentration, respectively. Moreover, the inhomogeneity in the first X-112 degrees Y LiTaO(3) single crystal caused by some undesirable wafer fabrication processes can be detected precisely, although it is difficult for the conventional methods to obtain such information.     

Purification and characterization of sea squirt alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase

Sea squirt alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase was purified to homogeneity. Its molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 160,000 by gel filtration and 40,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing condition. The chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviors indicated that the enzyme was composed of four subunits. The optimum pH of the enzyme reaction was about 4.0 at 37 degrees C, while the enzyme was stable in the range of pH 5.0 to 6.0 during 4 h preincubation at 37 degrees C. Although the enzyme (0.1 unit) was stable at 0 degrees C for 30 min in the presence of 7.5 mM metal ions (Al3+, Ba2+, Ca2+, K+, Mn2+, Pb2+, Sr2+, and Zn2+), almost 40% of the enzyme activity was lost in the presence of Cu2+, Hg2+, monoiodoacetic acid, and EDTA. The enzyme hydrolyzed aryl N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide as well as GalNAcalpha1(-->4GalNAcalpha1-->)n 4GalNAc-p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (ABEE) (n = 1-4), but GalNAcalpha1-->4GalNAc-ABEE only scarcely. Furthermore, an allergenic pentasaccharitol ABEE derivative, GalNAcalpha1-->2Fucalpha1-->3(GalNAcbeta1-->4) GlcNAcbeta1-->2(3-acetoamido-3-deoxy)L-threose-ABEE, the minimum structural unit for the sea squirt allergenicity was hydrolyzed to 95 mol% for 72 h incubation with the enzyme. The enzyme could be utilized as a powerful tool for the structural analyses of the carbohydrate epitopes of the sea squirt allergen molecules.