Electron-microscopic imaging of single-walled carbon nanotubes grown on silicon and silicon oxide substrates

Direct imaging of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) suspended on pillar-patterned Si or SiO2 substrates is investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The suspended nanotubes are successfully observed by direct TEM imaging and it is seen that they have either individual or bundles of SWNTs. Low energy (< or =2 keV) SEM produces high contrast images of suspended SWNTs. On the contrary, when SWNTs contact a SiO2 substrate, they are imaged using electron-beam induced current. The image brightness depends on the length of SWNTs.     

In situ high-temperature visible microspectroscopy for volcanic materials

In situ high-temperature visible microspectroscopy has been developed in order to study color change kinetics of volcanic materials. Olivine thin sections put on a synthetic alumina plate are heated on a heating stage at 600-800 degrees C under a visible microspectroscope. Changes in visible absorption spectra are monitored every 60 s for 5 hours. The obtained high-temperature visible spectra showed a gradual increase with time in absorbance in the shorter wavelength region (400-600 nm). The 430 nm absorbance (ligand field transition of Fe3+ increased more with time at higher temperatures. Assuming diffusional transport in plane sheets, apparent diffusion coefficients were determined at temperatures of 600-800 degrees C. The activation energy for this diffusion in olivine is 208 +/- 17 kJ/mol. This activation energy value is similar to those for the metal vacancy diffusion in olivine. This newly developed in situ high-temperature visible microspectroscopy can provide kinetic measurements of visible spectral change of materials at high temperatures such as volcanic materials.     

Preparation and properties of fine hematite powders by hydrolysis of iron carboxylate solutions

Submicrometer, crystalline hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) particles were prepared by hydrolysis of organic iron carboxylate solutions using water at 175 °C for 30 minutes. The particle size of hematite was significantly dependent on the liquid-phase stirring speed and the organic compositions. The precipitation rate of hematite from the organic solution followed first-order kinetics. The precipitation rate increased markedly with increasing temperature, and the activation energy for the process was 94.6 kJ mol⁻¹. At 220 °C, the hydrolysis of iron carboxylate solution led to a mixture of hematite and magnetite (Fe₃O₄). The iron oxides prepared at 175 °C to 220 °C were found to be free from organic contamination by the starting material.     

Development of in-process visualization system for laser-assisted three-dimensional microfabrication using photocatalyst nanoparticles

Recently, microfabrication technology has been used to develop micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMSs), micro-total analysis systems (μ-TASs), and photonic crystals. Various microfabrication techniques have been proposed; however, a technique that can be used to efficiently fabricate 3-D structures via a simple procedure has not been reported thus far. Because 3-D metal structures have not only mechanical functions but also electromagnetic functions, it is desirable to develop such a technique. Our research group is in the process of developing a new technique for 3-D microfabrication that involves the use of a lower power continuous wave laser. Our technique is characterized by the reduction of silver ions via the photocatalysis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) excited at the laser beam waist. For the analysis and development of our microfabrication technique, we developed a microscope system that enabled us to observe the microfabrication process along the fabrication beam optical axis and its radial direction. We successfully visualized the microfabrication process in 3-D. The visualization showed that when the beam waist was swept, the silver structure grew in 3-D following its path. The effect of the substrate on the deposition condition was examined.     

Application of step‐response test for evaluation of uncertainty of standard measuring system for lightning‐impulse high voltage

In evaluating the uncertainty of the standard measuring system for lightning‐impulse high voltages, which is composed of a standard voltage divider, a digital recorder, and calibrators, step‐response tests of the standard voltage divider may be useful. In this paper, a convolution algorithm is employed to calculate the output impulse voltage waveforms from measured step‐response waveforms. The uncertainties of peak‐value measurement due to the influence of the nominal epoch, uncertainty of the peak‐value measurement due to dispersion of the AC scale factor, and uncertainty of the virtual front‐time measurement due to long‐term stability are evaluated. Furthermore, the error of the virtual front time of the output waveforms is discussed. The front part of the step‐response waveform, t≤ T₃₀%, does not influence the error of the virtual front time. Therefore, for the standard voltage divider, the step‐response parameters, that is, the experimental response time, partial response time, settling time, and overshoot, have almost nothing to do with the error of the virtual front time. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(2): 24–32, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21279     

Excess estrogen sulfoconjugation as the possible cause for a poor sign of parturition in pregnant cows carrying somatic cell clone fetuses

We conducted this study to elucidate a factor causing a poor sign of parturition and prolonged gestation, which is frequently observed in cows carrying somatic clone fetuses. Pre-partum rises in concentrations of plasma estrone and estradiol-17beta in the recipient cows pregnant with clones were subtle. By contrast, the plasma concentration of estrone sulfate in clone pregnancies increased gradually from pre-initiation of parturition induction whereas control cows that received in vivo-derived embryos showed a significant increase at parturition. Therefore, in clone pregnancies, the ratio of estrone/estrone sulfate was low during the pre-partum period compared with control. Messenger RNA expression of estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) in the placenta at parturition was significantly higher in clone pregnancies than control pregnancies and was localized in binucleate cells (BNC). SULT1E1 mRNA abundance was negatively and positively correlated with concentrations of maternal estrone and estrone sulfate at parturition respectively. Messenger RNA expressions of estrogen sulfatase (STS) and aromatase (CYP19) were similar between clone and control pregnancies and were localized in BNC and caruncular epithelial cells. STS and CYP19 mRNA abundances showed positive correlations with maternal estradiol-17beta concentration. The population of BNC in the placenta did not differ between clone and control pregnancies. Plasma cortisol concentration of vaginally delivered newborn clone calves was comparable with those of control, although cesarean section delivered clone calves showed a low concentration. These results suggest that excess estrogen sulfoconjugation is the reason for the perturbed low ratio of active to inactive estrogens and the resulting hormonal imbalance contributes to the lack of overt signs of readiness for parturition in cows pregnant with clones.     

同步辐射X射线衍射与DSC相结合研究油脂的物性及其动力学机理的进展

介绍了将同步辐射X射线衍射和DSC相结合,用于油脂的结构和物化性质研究的新技术,以及在该领域的研究进展。     

Influence of rapid thermal annealing at varied temperatures on conductivity activation energy and structural properties of Si-doped β-Ga2O3 film grown by pulsed laser deposition

Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ was generally activated by high-temperature annealing (over 600?°C) due to its strong bonding energy. Considering the electronic applications using β-Ga₂O₃ such as various power devices with low power consumption, it is strongly required to decrease the device process temperature including the impurity activation process. In this article, in order to decrease the impurity activation process temperature, we proposed the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment to activate the Si atoms in the β-Ga₂O₃ films since RTA treatment can give the high thermal energy to specimen in a short time and investigated the influence of RTA treatment with various temperatures on conductivity activation energy, and structural properties of Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ film. Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ films were hetero-epitaxially grown on c-plane sapphire substrate by pulsed laser deposition method. Crystallinity, surface roughness, and electrical properties of specimens were investigated by changing the RTA temperatures. Crystallinity and surface roughness of Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ films were not significantly influenced by RTA treatment at temperatures range of 100–700?°C. Conductivity activation energy of specimens with RTA treatment was about 50–100?meV and did not depend on RTA temperatures. As a result, even Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ film with RTA treatment at 100?°C showed a relatively good conductivity. Based on the experimental results in this study, it can be said that RTA treatment is useful method to decrease the temperature of activation process for Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ thin films without serious structural degradations.     

Phytoextraction by a high-Cd-accumulating rice: reduction of Cd content of soybean seeds

Soybeans (Glycine max (L) Merr.) are the major summer crop grown in Japanese upland fields (characterized by aerobic soil) that have been converted from paddies. To evaluate the effect of phytoextraction by rice on the seed cadmium (Cd) content of soybeans grown subsequently, we grew Milyang 23, a high-Cd-accumulating rice cultivar, and then grew soybeans in three paddy soils contaminated with moderate Cd concentrations (2.50-4.27 mg Cd kg(-1)). The rice accumulated 7-14% of the total soil Cd in its shoots. The soybean seed Cd contents were 24-46% less than those grown on control soils. Phytoextraction by Milyang 23 rice is thus a promising remediation method for reducing seed Cd contents of soybeans grown on paddy soils under aerobic soil conditions.