Effects of PbTiO 3 Seed Layer on the Characteristics of RF-Sputtered Pb(Zr 0.5 ,Ti 0.5 )O 3 Thin Films

The effects of seed layers on the characteristics of rf-sputtered lead zirconium titanate thin films were investigated. Prior to sputtering, PbTiO 3 seed layers (100 nm) were deposited onto the Pt/Ti/Si and Pt/Si substrates by sol-gel (spin coating) processing method. Structure-property relation was studied as functions of substrate temperature and sputtering conditions. Special efforts were given in optimizing the deposition parameters to prepare the films in the perovskite phase without post deposition annealing. Dielectric constant and loss tangent of the films were in the range 800-950 and 0.04 -0.06, respectively. Remanent polarization and coercive field were 23.1 w C/cm 2 and 75kV/cm, respectively, for the films without PbTiO 3 seed layer, where as the corresponding quantities for in situ -deposited perovskite Pb(Zr, Ti)O 3 films on PbTiO 3 seed layer were 28 w C/cm 2 and 65 kV/cm, respectively.     

Fabrication and operation limit of lead-free PTCR ceramics using BaTiO3–(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 system

The electric properties of BaTiO₃–(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BT–BNT) solid solution ceramics were studied as a lead-free PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity) thermistor material usable over 130°C. For determining the maximum switching temperature T _s, the phase diagram of BT–BNT binary system was clarified. Two semiconductorization processes and their electric properties are described. The lanthanum(La)-doped BBNT ceramics sintered in air still showed dielectric behaviors, but the niobium(Nb)-doped ones had a low resistivity at room temperature, ρ _RT, on the order of 10³ Ωcm and showed a PTC behavior. Sintering under a low O₂ atmosphere produces BT–BNT ceramics with less than 10² Ωcm compared to those prepared in air. Our current research produced the BBNT ceramics with T _s values around 210°C by increasing the (Bi_1/2Na_1/2) content in the ceramics.     

Effect of mixing ratio on bactericidal action of MgO–CaO powders

MgO–CaO powders were prepared with different molar ratios (MgO/CaO) at 1400 °C for 2 h in air. By using the powder samples obtained, the change in bactericidal effect as a function of MgO–CaO composition was studied by colony count method. From the XRD measurements, it was found that CaO solid solution was formed by the replacement of Mg²⁺ ion with larger Ca²⁺ ion. However, no formation of MgO solid solution was observed. The average particle size and the specific surface area of the samples used in this study were about 0.2 m and 10.5m²g^–1, respectively. The pH values of physiological saline containing powder samples increased with the increase of CaO content, and the value reached 12.1 in sample with the molar ratio (MgO/CaO) of 0.25. From the results of bactericidal tests for Staphylococcus aureus, it was found that the bactericidal effect increased with the increase of CaO content in the samples.     

Efficiency and polarization performance of a multilayer-coated laminar grating in the 6.5-6.9-nm wavelength region

We applied a Mo/B4C multilayer coating to a laminar holographic grating with 2400 grooves/mm and a 1-m radius of curvature. By use of synchrotron soft x rays the multilayer-coated grating was evaluated to have diffraction efficiencies of 3.1% and 0.017% for s- and p-polarized radiation, respectively, at a 6.7-nm wavelength at a 45.35 degrees grazing angle of incidence in the +1 (inside) grating order. Thus the polarizance was estimated to be 98.9% at least. The zero-order peak was suppressed by the destructive interference caused by the groove profile.     

Training of a leaning agent for navigation--inspired by brain-machine interface.

The design clue for the remote control of a mobile robot is inspired by the Talwar's brain-machine interface technology for remotely training and controlling rats. Our biologically inspired autonomous robot control consciousness-based architecture (CBA) is used for the remote control of a robot as a substitute for a rat. CBA is a developmental hierarchy model of the relationship between consciousness and behavior, including a training algorithm. This training algorithm computes a shortcut path to a goal using a cognitive map created based on behavior obstructions during a single successful trial. However, failures in reaching the goal due to errors of the vision and dead reckoning sensors require human intervention to improve autonomous navigation. A human operator remotely intervenes in autonomous behaviors in two ways: low-level intervention in reflexive actions and high-level ones in the cognitive map. Experiments are conducted to test CBA functions for intervention with a joystick for a Khepera robot navigating from the center of a square obstacle with an open side toward a goal. Their statistical results show that both human interventions, especially high-level ones, are effective in drastically improving the success rate of autonomous detours.     

Preparation of BaTiO3 ultrafine particles by micro-emulsion charring method

Ultrafine BaTiO₃ particles were prepared by a micro-emulsion charring (MEC) method. The MEC method consisted of two steps. The first step is the preparation of a water/oil micro-emulsion with BaTiO₃ elements, and the second is a low temperature firing process in N₂ atmosphere, which includes charring of oil in an emulsion and powdering BaTiO₃ particles with the char. The char formed around BaTiO₃ particles prevents an agglomeration of BaTiO₃ particles during firing. In the present experiment, the W/O ratio and the amount of emulsifier greatly influenced the size of droplets of the emulsion. The charring temperature was another important experimental factor in order to obtain the desired BaTiO₃ particles. The finally obtained BaTiO₃ charring powders were monodispersed spherical particles and the particle size was 0.1 m to 0.5 m.     

Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a recombinant marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp.

The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) synthesis gene cluster from an EPA-producing bacterium, Shewanella sp. SCRC-2738, was cloned into a broad-host range vector, pJRD215, and then introduced into a marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. NKBG15041c, by conjugation. The transconjugant cyanobacteria produced 3.7±0.2% (2.24±0.13 mg/L) EPA (n-3) and 2.5 ±0.2% (1.49±0.06 mg/L) eicosatetraenoic acid (n-3) of the total fatty acids when the cells were cultured at 23°C at a light intensity of 1,000–1,500 Lux. The EPA and eico-satetraenoic acid contents of the cells were increased to 4.6±0.6% (3.86±1.11 mg/L) and 4.7±0.3% (3.86±0.82 mg/L), and 7.5±0.3% (1.76±0.10 mg/L) and 5.1±0.2% (1.19±0.06 mg/L) when they were cultured at low temperature (18°C) and at lower light intensity (40 Lux), respectively.     

Studies on synthesis and permeability of special polymer membranes

Summary The permeation characteristics of polymer blend membranes from poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly-(ethylene glycol) to aqueous polymer solution were investigated under carefully controlled conditions. The permeation characteristics were influenced significantly by the blend ratio, the temperature and time of heat treatment, which changed the structure of the resulting membranes.     

Effect of temperature on the stereoselectivity of phospholipase D toward glycerol in the transphosphatidylation of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylglycerol

In this study, the effect of temperature on the stereoselectivity of phospholipase D (PLD) toward the two primary hydroxyl groups of glycerol in the transphosphatidylation reaction of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylglycerol (PtdGro) was investigated. For this purpose, PLD from bacteria (Streptomyces septatus TH-2, S. halstedii subsp. scabies K6, and Actinomadura sp.) and cabbage were tested. At the reaction temperatures employed (0–60°C), the proportions of the two PtdGro diastereomers, namely, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-3′-sn-glycerol (R,R configuration) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphol-1′-sn-glycerol (R,S configuration), which were produced with PLD from Streptomyces TH-2 and Actinomadura sp., changed gradually from 50% R,R and 50% R,S at 50–60°C to 70% R,R and 30% R,S at O°C. These alterations suggested that the stereoselectivity of the bacterial PLD toward the two primary hydroxyl groups of prochiral glycerol was significantly influenced by reaction temperature. PLD from Streptomyces K6 showed relatively little effect of temperature on stereoselectivity, giving 65–69% R,R in the temperature range of 60–10°C examined. The plots of In ([R,R]/[R,S]) vs. 1/T gave good linear fits for these three bacterial PLD. No temperature effect was observed for cabbage PLD, which gave an almost equimolar mixture of the R,R and R,S diastereomers in the range from 0 to 40°C. The temperature-dependent change in enantiomeric selectivity of the bacterial PLD promises potentially profitable commercial exploitation.