Visible-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2−x by heat treatment and plasma-heat treatment

The partial reduction of TiO₂ was attempted by heat treatment and plasma-heat treatment and it was carried out to investigate the photocatalytic characteristics of partially reduced TiO₂ (TiO_2?x) in the visible-light region. As a result, the plasma-heat treatment shows significantly stronger than the heat treatment for the visible-light photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. The red-shifted absorption bands in the visible-light region of TiO_2?x by plasma-heat treatment gave broader than one by heat treatment. The TiO_2?x by heat treatment and plasma-heat treatment was changed white to beige color, and white to navy, respectively.     

Automated single nucleotide polymorphism typing using bead array in capillary tube

A low-cost and simple on-site technique for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was developed. The technique is based on allele-specific primer PCR and the recently developed bead arrays in a single tip technique. The performance of the method was verified by genotyping four SNPs that correlate with cardiovascular diseases.     

Interaction of π-bonds of the silicon–silicon triple bond with alkali metals: An isolable anion radical upon reduction of a disilyne

The reduction of 1,1,4,4-tetrakis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-1,4-diisopropyltetrasila-2-yne 1 with an equivalent amount of alkali metal (Li, Na, K, KC₈) in THF produced the corresponding disilyne anion radicals 2a–c. Their EPR spectra are independent of the metals used in THF, indicating that the disilyne anion radical species exists as solvent-separated ion pairs in polar solvents. The one-electron reduction also occurred with potassium in toluene to produce the potassium salt of the anion radical 3, which was isolated as extremely air- and moisture-sensitive dark brown crystals. The molecular structure of 3 was established by X-ray crystallography, which showed that the potassium ion is solvated by one toluene molecule. The EPR spectrum of 3 in toluene showed the interaction of the anionic silicon atom with the K⁺ ion.     

The use of a virtual city model for assessing equity in access to views

The development of virtual city models has provided novel possibilities for analyses that require consideration of building heights in urban areas. The study was undertaken to explore these possibilities by using the virtual Kyoto model to examine equity in access to views in the Japanese city. A sample of just over 5000 residences was selected by stratifying for population age and affluence. A series of viewsheds were computed to quantify the visibility of a range of environmental amenities (greenspaces, water bodies, historical buildings, mountains) and disamenities (factories and roads). Evidence of inequity in visual amenity was identified, whereby homes in areas with many old people were much less likely to have views of greenspaces and water bodies, although they were also less likely to see factories and roads and were more likely to view mountains. Homes in more affluent areas had better views of greenspaces, historical buildings, and mountains, and were less likely to see factories and water bodies. We discuss the potential of virtual city models for furthering analyses of the urban environment and raise some caveats regarding their use.     

ALP住宅

精选理由日本住宅在设计上讲究"小、巧、精致、舒适"的实用主义,特别是在集合住宅中,更会将精致与实用相结合。本案例中,建筑师以折叠的立面挑战传统建筑中方盒子形状的体量,用对角线替代绝对水平及绝对垂直线条,操弄开放与闭合之间的关系,营造实用生活空间的同时不忘精致效果。     

Control of carbon incorporation in AlAs grown by atomic layer epitaxy using variously orientated substrates

We demonstrate a method for successfully controlling carbon incorporation in AlAs layers grown by atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) using various GaAs substrates with different orientations. The number of alkyl radicals attached to an Al atom at the surface, which is a main factor in carbon incorporation, can be intentionally controlled by changing substrate orientation. We found that the carbon incorporation in ALE-AlAs using the (3 1 1)B surface is 2 x 10¹⁷,cm^-3, which is the lowest value ever reported for ALE-AlAs that satisfies one-monolayer self-limiting growth conditions.     

液氧集中供气新技术

本文介绍了一种新型的液氧集中供气技术，阐述了该系统主要设备的技术参数选择、性能、安全使用和维护保养等问题。     

Pb-free surface-finishing on electronic components’ terminals for Pb-free soldering assembly

Pb-free solderable surface finishing is essential to implement Pb-free solder assembly in order to meet with the growing demand of environmental consciousness to eliminate Pb from electronic products. Two types of widely applicable Pb-free surface finishing technologies are developed. One is the multilayer-system including Pd with Ni undercoat. Heat-resistance of Pd enables whole-surface-plating on to leadframe before IC-assembling process. The other is the double-layer-system with low-melting-point-materials, for example, thicker Sn underlayer and thinner Sn-Bi alloy overlayer, dilutes Sn-Bi alloy’s defects of harmful reactivity along with substrate metal and mechanical brittleness with keeping its advantages of solder-wettability and no whisker.     

Improvement of polymer/fullerene solar cells by controlling geometry of the ITO substrate surface

We have found that the short-circuit current, J_sc, of polymer/fullerene [RR-P3HT/C₆₀] solar cells has a clear dependence on the surface roughness of the ITO/glass substrate. We prepared an ITO surface with an average roughness, R_a, of 0.7–11 nm by chemical etching. At first J_sc increases with the increase in ITO surface roughness and then gradually decreases. The maximum performance was obtained at R_a≈4 nm. J_sc is also high with a very flat surface of R_a=0.7 nm. This feature can be attributed to the trade-off between the increase in absorption light path length and film-quality deterioration.