Characterization of amorphous Ni-Si binary alloy films by flash evaporation

We previously reported on an extremely small temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of thin amorphous Ni-Si film resistors fabricated by new flash evaporating method, which have a wide range of resistivity.¹ In the present paper, we describe the structural and chemical properties of these films for the purpose of clarifying the cause of resistive change of films resulting from heat treatment. X-ray diffraction patterns show that Ni-Si films with greater than 20 wt.% Si remains predominantly amorphous after heat treatment. Changes in composition and binding energy of the films resulting from heat treatment are measured by means of XPS. Electrical characteristics are also investigated as a function of Si concentration and temperature. The resistance variations resulting from heat treatment are found to originate from a structural change. The activation energy needed for this change is obtained by analyzing the extent of change during isothermal heating and found to vary from 1 eV to 2.5 eV with increasing Si content from 20 wt.% to 80 wt.%.     

Algorithm improvement and validation of National Institute for Environmental Studies ozone differential absorption lidar at the Tsukuba Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change complementary station

Recently, a data processing and retrieval algorithm (version 2) for ozone, aerosol, and temperature lidar measurements was developed for an ozone lidar system at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Tsukuba (36 degrees N,140 degrees E), Japan. A method for obtaining the aerosol boundary altitude and the aerosol extinction-to-backscatter ratio in the version 2 algorithm enables a more accurate determination of the vertical profiles of aerosols and a more accurate correction of the systematic errors caused by aerosols in the vertical profile of ozone. Improvements in signal processing are incorporated for the correction of systematic errors such as the signal-induced noise and the dead-time effect. The mean vertical ozone profiles of the NIES ozone lidar were compared with those of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II); they agreed well within a 5% relative difference in the 20-40 km altitude range and within 10% up to 45 km. The long-term variations in the NIES ozone lidar also showed good coincidence with the ozonesonde and SAGE II at 20, 25, 30, and 35 km. The temperatures retrieved from the NIES ozone lidar and those given by the National Center for Environmental Prediction agreed within 7 K in the 35-50 km range.     

In vitro bioactivity evaluation of nano- and micro-crystalline anodic TiO2: HA formation,cellular affinity and organ culture

Anodization is an easily viable technique useful for producing TiO₂ coatings on titanium substrates. Nano-crystalline anodic TiO₂ structure was produced on titanium at 20 V using 1 M Na₂SO₄ and 0.5% NaF and consolidated by a further heat-treatment. Micro-crystalline anodic TiO₂ was produced on titanium by applying a galvanostatic current density of 70 A/m² in water medium. To assess the usefulness of these nano- and micro-oxides for bone implant stability, physical properties and bone in vitro bioactivity including HA formation, cellular affinity and mouse-tissue morphogenesis, were evaluated. Bioactivity of the different anodic surfaces was evaluated by treating them in a simulated body fluid (SBF) to form hydroxyapatite (HA) and the rates of HA formation were compared. Deposits of HA could be seen on the nano-oxide surface within 7 days, whereas HA was detected only after 14 days on the micro-oxide surface. In vitro cell culture tests done using mouse osteoblasts indicated that the nano-oxides showed statistically significant cell activity than the micro-oxides and the machined titanium. Branching morphogenesis test done for 72 h on these surfaces showed more branching on the micro- and nano-oxides as compared with titanium surface.     

Photostability of Isovaline and its Precursor 5-Ethyl-5- methylhydantoin Exposed to Simulated Space Radiations

Aqueous solutions of isovaline and its precursor molecule, 5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin, were irradiated with ultraviolet and γ-ray photons, to evaluate their structural stability against space radiation. The degree of photolysis was measured and irradiation products were identified using chiral, reversed-phase and ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. The experimental results show that the degree of photolysis of 5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin is more significant than that of isovaline under ultraviolet light irradiation, while the results under γ-ray irradiation are the opposite. As the products of isovaline photolysis, aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid and alanine were dominantly detected.     

Selective production of lactic acid in continuous anaerobic acidogenesis by extremely low pH operation

The selective production of lactic acid by anaerobic acidogenesis with low pH control was examined using a chemostat culture. By decreasing culture pH to 3.5 in a chemostat culture containing mixed microbial populations for anaerobic acidogenesis, heterolactic fermentation became dominant, resulting in the selective production of lactic acid and ethanol. This phenomenon was reversible between the acidic and neutral conditions, and was not affected by the dilution rate. The extremely low pH operation was effective for selective lactic acid production in anaerobic acidogenesis.     

Cation Transport Through Liquid Membranes Mediated by Photoreactive Crown Ethers. Effects of Alkali Metal Cations on Their Photoreactivities and Transporting Properties

Photoreactivities and cation transporting properties of monomeric, dimeric, and polymeric crown ethers which contain cinnamoyl residues were investigated. Photochemical cycloaddition reaction of the cinnamoyl moieties was accelerated by NaCl or KCl for the dimeric and polymeric derivatives but not for the monomeric one. The dimeric and polymeric crown ethers after irradiation in the presence of KCl showed a significant enhancement in the transport rates for Rb⁺ cation.     

Selective permeation of o-, m-, and p-isomers of benzene derivatives through polymer membranes based on cyclodextrin complexation in the bulk aqueous solution

Transport behavior of several aromatic compounds through a poly(vinyl chloride)membrane and poly(vinyl alcohol)-poly(ethylenimine) composite membranes was studied in the presence of cyclodextrin in the aqueous solution. o-Isomers of nitrophenol, nitroaniline, and iodophenol were effectively separated from their mixture of regio isomers based on the preferential complexation between cyclodextrin and the m- and p-isomers over the o-isomers. Pumping of p-nitroaniline across the membrane was also observed by addition of cyclodextrin. The results were explained as a consequence of the selective complex formation between cyclodexarin and substrate and the low membrane permeability of the complexes.     

Nonstoichiometric deep levels in Mg-doped GaP epitaxial layers: Effects of pre-annealing of substrates

The effects of substrate pre-annealing on deep level density in Mg-doped GaP liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) layers were investigated by photocapacitance measurement. With annealing under optimum phosphorus-vapor pressure, concentration of deep donor at E_C — 1.9–2.1 eV increased in undoped GaP substrate. Deep level densities in Mg-doped layers were also affected by pre-annealing of the substrates. Densities of dominant deep levels at E_V + 0.85 eV and E_V + 1.5 eV were an order of magnitude reduced and, in contrast, the level at E_C − 2.1 eV in Mg-doped layer increased with long pre-annealing. This level at E_C − 2.1 eV is supposed to be involved with P-rich-type nonstoichiometric defects, such as phosphorus interstitial atoms diffused from the surface of the substrate.     

Suppression effects of active power filter on harmonics of distribution system including capacitors

Voltage distortion of 6.6-kV distribution systems has been increasing recently especially in commercial areas. Harmonic currents of certain orders are amplified and voltage distortions are generated by the resonance between system impedance and static capacitor under the leading power factor condition. This paper describes the results of a test on suppression effects on model systems and an actual system. The effect of the use of an active power filter on the resonant harmonics of the system including capacitor was verified.