Fabrication of patterned single-walled carbon nanotube films using electrophoretic deposition

Thin films of chemically functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were fabricated by using a direct current (dc) electrophoretic deposition method. SWNTs were shortened and then functionalized with acid chloride group to combine with the amine group-terminated gold substrate. Silica nanospheres with a diameter of about 190nm were arrayed on gold substrate to pattern a thin SWNT film. Periodically patterned SWNT film was eventually produced and would be used in potential applications like electron emitters and large surface area electrodes.     

MFM and gas adsorption isotherm analysis of proton beam irradiated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

To enhance the gas adsorption properties and modify the physical properties of carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were irradiated by high-energy proton beams, and the physical properties including morphology and local surface structure were investigated by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), magnetic force microscope (MFM) and a gas adsorption isotherm apparatus which can deeply probe the fine structure of surface. Interestingly, clearer MFM images were obtained from the proton irradiated samples which supports that carbon exhibits magnetism under proton bombardments, although the intrinsic magnetic property is not understood. The layering properties of argon on MWCNTs were measured from 59 to 69 K and the interaction of argon on the surface was analyzed. The calculated values of isosteric heat of adsorption demonstrated that higher interaction of gas molecules with surface is found from the proton irradiated MWCNTs. This result strongly supports that the local surface modification, partial defects, for example, were created due to the external high energy impacts. Our results are worthy to note that gas adsorption technique can provide the fine atomic resolution which beyond the one of TEM and MFM.     

Integrin-dependent translational control: Implication in cancer progression

The importance of translational control in cancer progression has been underscored by a number of recent studies. However, little is known how cancer cells maintain their high efficiency of translation. Here, we summarize studies that support the role of integrins in translational control, especially at the initiation step, and discuss the various mechanisms by which integrins regulate the recruitment of translational machinery. This review also examines the hypothesis that integrins contribute to various aspects of cancer progression such as proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and invasion through translational control.     

High resolution X-ray phase contrast synchrotron imaging of normal and ligation damaged rat sciatic nerves

This study was performed to apply synchrotron radiation (SR) imaging to a neuropathologic evaluation technique after treatment of peripheral nerve blocks. A phase contrast synchrotron images of normal and ligation damaged rat sciatic nerve were obtained with an 8 KeV monochromatic beam and 20-mum thick CsI(TI) scintillation crystal. The visual image was magnified using a 20x microscope objective and captured using an analog CCD camera. Obtained images were compared with conventional light microscopic findings from the same nerve samples. By using an edge enhancement effect of phase const with SR, we could easily discriminate each nerve fiber and identify the arrangement of nerve fibers within a whole thickness (about 1 mm in diameter) of peripheral nerve without sectioning and fixation. The composite SR image of a ligation damaged rat sciatic nerve sample showed that the response to nerve injury was different on each side of the site of injury. The SR image of damaged distal lesion showed destruction of neural microarchitecture and typical extensive Wallerian degeneration of nerve fibers as clearly as histologic image. We could get very detailed morphologic data for Wallerian degeneration of nerve fibers by using the SR imaging technique. We believe that the phase contrast synchrotron imaging has great potential as an imaging tool in the bioscience and medical science.     

Theoretical justification of approximate norm minimization method for intelligent digital redesign

This paper investigates the theoretical justification of intelligent digital redesign (IDR) methods based on the approximate discrete-time models. Its main purpose is to design the digital fuzzy controller achieving the minimum norm distance between the trajectories of the approximate closed-loop systems under the analog and the digital controls. It is verified that, if there exist the digital gains such that the approximate norm distance is sufficiently small, the redesigned controller makes the trajectories of the exact closed-loop systems close, or, at least, asymptotically stabilizes the plant.     

Adaptive IIR/FIR fusion filter and its application to the INS/GPS integrated system

Motivated by the complementary features of the IIR-type filter and the FIR-type filter, this paper proposes a robust IIR/FIR fusion filter and an INS/GPS integrated system designed with the fusion filter. In the fusion filter, an IIR-type filter (SPKF) and a FIR-type filter (MRHKF filter) are processed independently, and then the two filters are merged using the mixing probability calculated using the residuals and residual covariance information of the two filters. The merits of the SPKF and the MRHKF filter are integrated and the demerits of the filters are diminished through the filter fusion. Consequently, the proposed fusion filter shows robustness against model uncertainty, temporary disturbing noise, large initial estimation error, etc. The stability of the fusion filter is verified by showing the closeness of two filters in the mixing/redistribution process and the upper bound of the error covariance matrices. This fusion filter is applied to an INS/GPS integrated system. The performance of the INS/GPS integrated system designed using the fusion filter is verified through a simulation under various error environments and is experimentally confirmed.     

Matrix method to study IEEE 802.11 network

In this paper, we estimate characteristics of the IEEE 802.11 DCF (Distributed Coordination Function) in non-saturation mode. We take into account two significant features inherent to the non-saturated 802.11 DCF: (i) the possibility of asynchronous transmission performed without preceding backoff for the first packet arriving at the idle staion; and (ii) so-called post backoff meaning that a station must perform a backoff once after any of its transmissions even if its queue becomes empty. We derive the probability generating function (PGF) of Head-of-Line delay (HoL-delay). Our method to find PGF of HoL-delay is quite intuitive and straightforward. Also, we obtain the packet loss probability and non-saturation throughput. Numerical results show that these two features inherent to the non-saturated 802.11 DCF influence on the performance measures of DCF such as delay considerably and it should be taken into account for accurate modeling of DCF.     

Effects of morphologies of (Cd+Te) powders on the properties of sintered CdS/CdTe solar cells

Polycrystalline CdS/CdTe solar cells have been prepared by coating and sintering a CdS slurry and a (Cd+Te) slurry. CdS layers were first formed on borosilicate glass substrates at 600°C in nitrogen and then CdTe layers were formed on the sintered CdS layers at 625°C in nitrogen. The (Cd+Te) slurry contained (Cd+Te) powders mixed in a ball mill for 12–220 h instead of more expensive CdTe powders. The shape of cadmium particles changed from spherical to plate-like and the diameter of the plate-shaped particles became smaller as the ball-milling time increased. In addition, a compound CdTe started to form during a long milling time. The sintered CdTe layers were more compact as the diameter of plate-shaped cadmium particles decreased. However, cracks developed in the sintered CdTe layer when the diameter was small ( 2 m). The efficiency of sintered CdS/CdTe solar cells increased with decreasing particle diameter and then decreased with further decrease in particle diameter. The highest efficiency of 12.1% was achieved using a mixture of (Cd+Te) powders which had plate-shaped cadmium particles with a diameter of 5 m. The results suggest that high-efficiency sintered CdS/CdTe solar cells can be fabricated by using CdTe slurry from the mixture of (Cd+Te) powders with an inexpensive ball-milling process.     

Pedophiles' ratings of adult and child photographs using a semantic differential

Recent knowledge of the widespread extent of child sexual abuse and its consequences has led to an increasing interest in the understanding and treatment of perpetrators. This study examined a group of pedophiles in an English Special Hospital to determine possible characteristics that make children attractive and adults unattractive to them, using Repertory Grid technique and Semantic Differential. A small number of significant findings suggest that pedophiles may perceive some children and women in an unusual way. The large number of insignificant findings are discussed with reference to the sensitivity of the instrument; the pedophiles' desire to give socially acceptable answers; and subject characteristics of low IQ and "psychopathic disorder." Future directions for research are suggested.     

Acetals as nucleating agents for polypropylene

Nucleating agents increase the impact strength, tensile strength, and tensile elasticity modulus of semicrystalline polymers. Nucleating agents also decrease product cycle times, resulting in a cost savings per product unit. We have synthesized and tested 15 compounds as nucleactors for polypropylene. Of these, trinapthylidene sorbitol, tri-(4-methyl-1-naphthylidene)sorbitol, tri-(4-methoxy-1-naphthylidene) sorbitol, and dibenzylidene xylitol are efficient nucleators of polypropylene. Trinaphthylidene sorbitol (tns) has two major diastereomers: The “S” diastereomer yields a faster crystallization rate for polypropylene than does the commercial nucleator dibenzylidene sorbitol (Millad 3905). Crystallization rates are 208 and 88, respectively (t min^?1 × 1000). The “R” diastereomer, however, is a poor nucleator and interferes with the nucleating activity of the “S” diastereomer. A 52/48 mixture of diastereomers does not nucleate polypropylene, even at twice the concentration. This is first time that the importance of stereochemistry has been demonstrated in the nucleating action. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.