Low-Force Electric Contact Processes on Cu Electrodes

A contact process between large-scale integration (LSI) pads and test probes at low contact force is a key to developing a probe card with smaller pitch and higher pin count. In this paper, we report on the characteristics of low-force contact methods on Cu electrodes. One is the fritting process, in which an electric breakdown is utilized to break the surface oxide, and the other is the heating treatment in hydrogen gas aimed at deoxidizing the surface Cu oxide. Conventional tungsten needle probes were used as testing probes, and contact resistances at low contact force of 1-5 mN were measured. Contact resistances smaller than 1 Omega were obtained by the fritting processes, in which the voltage and the current were 10 V and 280-320 mA, respectively. A deoxidization process at over 260degC was found to be effective for decreasing the contact resistance. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was utilized to investigate the surface state of hydrogen-treated Cu, and the deoxidization of Cu₂O to Cu was observed in samples treated at 260degC, while no change was found in that at 150degC.     

Automatic extraction of citation information in Japanese patent applications

The need for academic researchers to retrieve patents and research papers is increasing, because applying for patents is now considered an important research activity. However, retrieving patents using keywords is a laborious task for researchers, because the terms used in patents for the purpose of enlarging the scope of the claims are generally more abstract than those used in research papers. Therefore, we have constructed a framework that facilitates patent retrieval for researchers, and have integrated research papers and patents by analysing the citation relationships between them. We obtained cited research papers in patents using two steps: (1) detection of sentences containing bibliographic information, and (2) extraction of bibliographic information from those sentences. To investigate the effectiveness of our method, we conducted two experiments. In the experiment involving Step 1, we prepared 42,073 sentences, among which a human subject manually identified 1,476 sentences containing citations of papers. For Step 2, we prepared 3,000 sentences, in which the titles, authors, and other bibliographic information were manually identified. We obtained a precision of 91.6%, and a recall of 86.9% in Step 1, and a precision of 86.2% and a recall of 85.1% in Step 2. Finally, we constructed an information retrieval system that provided two methods of retrieving research papers and patents. One method was retrieval by query, and another was from the citation relationships between research papers and patents.     

A case of primary splenic large cell lymphoma with a t(9;14)(p13;q32)

Appropriately substituted 2,3-dihydro-7H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-ones 9-12 and 18 were considered as annulated analogues of HEPT (1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)-thymine), and some of these compounds were also found active against HIV-1, the most active one being 2,3-dihydro-5-[(3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl]-3-ethoxy-6-ethyl-7H- thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-one (10b). S-Alkylation of 5-alkyl-6-(arylmethyl)-2-thiouracils 1-4 was performed with 2-bromoacetaldehyde acetals to furnish the S-[bis(alkoxy)ethyl] derivatives 5-8 and with allyl bromide to furnish S-allyl derivatives 17. The target compounds 9-12 were obtained by an N1 regioselective intramolecular cyclization reaction of silylated 5-8 using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMS triflate) as the catalyst. Treatment of the S-allyl derivatives 17 with bromine in dry methylene chloride afforded the 3-(bromomethyl) derivatives 18.     

Simple equation for elastohydrodynamic film thickness under acceleration

A simple approximation of EHD film thickness under varying speed conditions is proposed. The equation is based on continuity of flow, by which the film formed at the contact inlet moves downstream within the contact with little subsequent change in its thickness even though the boundary velocities are changing. The approximation is supported by experimental results of non-steady state film thickness measurement using ultra-thin film interferometry. It is also shown by numerical simulation that the approximation holds for film thickness in the rigid piezoviscous regime under line contact so long as the squeeze film effect is insignificant.     

Characteristics of permeation and separation of dimethyl acrylamide-methyl methacrylate random and graft copolymer membranes for a benzene/cyclohexane mixture

When a benzene/cyclohexane mixture was permeated through poly(dimethyl acrylamide-random-methyl methacrylate) (DMAA-r-MMA) and poly(dimethyl acrylamide)-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate) (DMAA-g-MMA) membranes by pervaporation, the benzene-permselectivity of the DMAA-r-MMA membrane changed from the diffusivity selectivity to the solubility selectivity with increasing DMAA content but DMAA-g-MMA membranes with a high DMAA content had the higher apparent diffusivity selectivity than the apparent solubility selectivity. Furthermore, the apparent solubility selectivity for a benzene/cyclohexane mixture between the DMAA-r-MMA membrane and the DMAA-g-MMA membrane with a high DMAA content was remarkably different. These results were attributed to the difference of structure between the copolymers. Received: 27 August 1997/Revised version: 22 October 1997/Accepted: 30 October 1997     

Expression, structure and chromosomal localization of the human cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase PDE5A gene

1. Nicotinylalanine, an inhibitor of kynurenine metabolism, has been shown to elevate brain levels of endogenous kynurenic acid, an excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist. This study examined the potential of nicotinylalanine to influence excitotoxic damage to striatal NADPH diaphorase (NADPH-d) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurones that are selectively lost in Huntington's disease. 2. A unilateral injection of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, quinolinic acid, into the rat striatum produced an 88% depletion of NADPH-d neurones. Intrastriatal infusion of quinolinic acid also produced a dose-dependent reduction in striatal GABA content. 3. Nicotinylalanine (2.3, 3.2, 4.6, 6.4 nmol 5 microl(-1), i.c.v.) administered with L-kynurenine (450 mg kg(-1)), a precursor of kynurenic acid, and probenecid (200 mg kg(-1)), an inhibitor of organic acid transport, 3 h before the injection of quinolinic acid (15 nmol) produced a dose-related attenuation of the quinolinic acid-induced loss of NADPH-d neurones. Nicotinylalanine (5.6 nmol 5 microl(-1)) in combination with L-kynurenine and probenecid also attenuated quinolinic acid-induced reductions in striatal GABA content. 4. Nicotinylalanine (4.6 nmol, i.c.v.), L-kynurenine alone or L-kynurenine administered with probenecid did not attenuate quinolinic acid-induced depletion of striatal NADPH-d neurones. However, combined administration of kynurenine and probenecid did prevent quinolinic acid-induced reductions in ipsilateral striatal GABA content. 5. Injection of nicotinylalanine, at doses (4.6 nmol and 5.6 nmol i.c.v.) which attenuated quinolinic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity, when combined with L-kynurenine and probenecid produced increases in both whole brain and striatal kynurenic acid levels. Administration of L-kynurenine and probenecid without nicotinylalanine also elevated kynurenic acid, but to a lesser extent. 6. The results of this study demonstrate that nicotinylalanine has the potential to attenuate quinolinic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity. It is suggested that nicotinylalanine exerts its effect by increasing levels of endogenous kynurenic acid in the brain. The results of this study suggest that agents which influence levels of endogenous excitatory amino acid antagonists such as kynurenic acid may be useful in preventing excitotoxic damage to neurones in the CNS.     

Reduction of heat leak in cryogenic system using Peltier current leads

Peltier current leads (PCLs) for cryogenic systems are investigated in regard to temperature dependence of thermoelectric materials. Due to the Peltier effect on the thermoelectric parts of the current lead, PCLs act as heat pumps. It is expected that PCLs will reduce the amount of heat leak from the room temperature side to the low temperature side of a cryogenic system. Six (three each for p and n type) hot-pressed BiTe samples for PCLs are selected to estimate PCL performance. Our experimental results and analyses indicate that PCLs show a capacity in the order of several hundred Amperes and as much as 20-30% reductions of heat leak.     

Photoluminescence of nitrogen-doped anatase

Photoluminescence depending on nitrogen concentration was investigated using anatase-type TiO₂ prepared by the calcination of a mixture of titanyl sulfate hydrate and urea. The substitutional ratio (x) of nitrogen in TiO₂ was successfully varied from 0.004 to 0.022 by changing the molar ratio of the mixture. The absorbance at 380–560 nm due to the formation of mid-gap states was proportional to the substitutional ratio of nitrogen controlled by the preparation conditions. In contrast, the fluorescent intensity at 382 nm originating from the band-to-band transition monotonically decreased with an increase in the substitutional ratio with an expansion of the anatase lattice. On the other hand, the maximum intensity of photoluminescence at 560 nm excited at 350 nm, which could be associated with the transition from the conduction band to the mid-gap states, was observed at x = 0.01. The optimal substitutional ratio for the emission was almost agreed with that for the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue and acetaldehyde under visible-light illumination. The photoluminescence was fundamentally determined by the balance between photoexcitation originating from a sufficient number of mid-gap states and deactivation of excited electrons and holes due to lattice distortion or defective states induced with the nitrogen doping.     

Dystrophin acts as a transplantation rejection antigen in dystrophin-deficient mice: implication for gene therapy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal and common X-linked recessive disease caused by a defect in dystrophin. Normal myoblast transplantation and dystrophin gene transfer have been expected to correct the deficiency in the muscles, but their clinical application has been hampered by the limited preservation of dystrophin-positive myofibers. In this study we investigated the mechanism for immunologic rejection of normal C57BL/10 (B10) myoblasts transplanted into dystrophin-deficient mdx mice, an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We found that mdx mice develop CTL specific for dystrophin itself, which were CD8 dominant and restricted by H-2Kb. We identified several antigenic peptides derived from dystrophin that bind to H-2Kb and are recognized by the mdx anti-B10 CTL. Immunologic tolerance against dystrophin was successfully induced by i.v. injection of these peptides before B10 myoblast transplantation, which resulted in sustained preservation of dystrophin-expressing myofibers in mdx mice. These results demonstrate that dystrophin is antigenic in dystrophin-deficient mice and that immunologic regimen would be necessary to achieve the persistent expression of introduced dystrophin in the muscles of dystrophin-deficient individuals.