Deposition chemistry in the Cat-CVD processes of the SiH4/NH3 system

Laser spectroscopic as well as mass-spectrometric techniques were employed to examine the deposition chemistry in the catalytic chemical vapor deposition processes of the SiH₄/NH₃ system. The absolute densities of NH, NH₂ and SiH₃ radicals were measured under various conditions. The densities of the stable products, H₂ and N₂, as well as those of the reactants, NH₃ and SiH₄, were also measured. The NH₂ density is always higher than that of NH and both densities decrease by the addition of SiH₄. The SiH₃ density increases nonlinearly with the increase in the SiH₄ pressure. The SiH₃ density was found to be much higher than that of NH₂ under near practical deposition conditions to fabricate Si₃N₄ films (an NH₃ to SiH₄ flow-rate ratio of 50:1, a total pressure of 20 Pa and a catalyzer temperature of 2300 K). No aminosilane molecules were identified, suggesting that the contribution of aminosilyl radicals to the film deposition is minor. Thus, NH₂ and SiH₃ must be the major deposition species to form Si₃N₄.     

A method to measure shearing modulus of the foamed core for sandwich plates

This paper reports on a test method to evaluate the shearing modulus of foamed core which is used for sandwich plates. Although this kind of relatively soft core is widely used for various applications, a suitable test method has not necessarily been established. In the present study, a symmetric test sample with four pieces of core is used to eliminate undesirable deformation due to eccentric load. By varying the core length and the core thickness, we found that the shearing modulus strongly depends on the specimen configuration. This tendency was also recognized from the results of FEM and beam theory analyses where the shearing deformation is incorporated. Finally we propose a methodology for obtaining a reliable shearing modulus with the aid of FEM analysis.     

Application of MO calculation to plasma-enhanced CVD using organosilicon compounds

Ultra water-repellent films for which contact angles of water drops exceed 150° were prepared by microwave plasma-enhanced CVD using two kinds of organosilicon compound and fluoro-alkyl silane (FAS) at low substrate temperature. Hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) were used as starting materials. Molecular orbital (MO) calculation suggested that HMDS was more easily decomposable than HMDSO. The films prepared with HMDS and FAS had ultra water repellency. On the other hand, water repellency of the films prepared with HMDSO and FAS was similar to that of polytetrafluoroethylene.     

Chemical interaction between granular B4C and 304L-type stainless steel materials used in BWRs in Japan

Chemical reactions between stainless steel and boron carbide were investigated using the materials applied for control rods in BWRs in Japan, specifically 304L-type stainless steel and granular boron carbide. The reaction region consisted of 2–4 layers, in which the significant composition variation of each element was detected, especially for B and C. Assuming that the reaction layer growth obeys the parabolic law, the effective rate constant between 304L-type stainless steel and granular boron carbide was evaluated to be approximately one order of magnitude smaller than the previously reported values for boron carbide pellets or powers. This difference might originate from the loose contact between the stainless steel and the granular boron carbide in the present study. Regarding liquefaction progress, the stainless steel components were selectively dissolved in the melt; consequently, the unreacted boron carbide tended to remain.     

Inducing Effect of Clofibric Acid on Stearoyl‐CoA Desaturase in Intestinal Mucosa of Rats

Fibrates have been reported to elevate the hepatic proportion of oleic acid (18:1n‐9) through inducing stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD). Despite abundant studies on the regulation of SCD in the liver, little is known about this issue in the small intestine. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of clofibric acid on the fatty acid profile, particularly monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and the SCD expression in intestinal mucosa. Treatment of rats with a diet containing 0.5 % (w/w) clofibric acid for 7 days changed the MUFA profile of total lipids in intestinal mucosa; the proportion of 18:1n‐9 was significantly increased, whereas those of palmitoleic (16:1n‐7) and cis‐vaccenic (18:1n‐7) acids were not changed. Upon the treatment with clofibric acid, SCD was induced and the gene expression of SCD1, SCD2, and fatty acid elongase (Elovl) 6 was up‐regulated, but that of Elovl5 was unaffected. Fat‐free diet feeding for 28 days increased the proportions of 16:1n‐7 and 18:1n‐7, but did not effectively change that of 18:1n‐9, in intestinal mucosa. Fat‐free diet feeding up‐regulated the gene expression of SCD1, but not that of SCD2, Elovl6, or Elovl5. These results indicate that intestinal mucosa significantly changes its MUFA profile in response to challenges by clofibric acid and a fat‐free diet and suggest that up‐regulation of the gene expression of SCD along with Elovl6 is indispensable to elevate the proportion of 18:1n‐9 in intestinal mucosa.     

Fluorescence detection and imaging of amino-functionalized organic monolayer

Amino-terminated organic monolayer formed on silicon covered with native oxide (SiO₂/Si) was directly visualized under observation with fluorescent microscopy. This successful fluorescence visualization was achieved by a combination of fluorescamine method and photopatterning of the amino-terminated surface. As a typical example, an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was formed on SiO₂/Si substrate in a vapor of 12.5 vol.% solution of N-(6-aminohexyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane [H₂N(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃Si(OCH₃)₃, AHAPS] diluted with absolute toluene. A micropattern of AHAPS-SAM was photolithographycally prepared using 172 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light under a reduced pressure of 10 Pa for 30 min through a photomask. The resultant micropattern composed of AHAPS- and SiOH-covered regions was provided to fluorescamine method. Due to a nonluminescence of fluorescamine itself under UV/visible irradiation, a fluorescent emission could not be observed on SiOH regions of the micropattern. In contrast, fluorescamine reacted with the outermost amino group of the AHAPS-SAM to give a fluorescent emission. A comprehensible fluorescence method for verifying formation of an amino-terminated organic monolayer has been developed.     

Development,evaluation and benchmarking of simulation software for biomolecule-based computing

Simulators for biomolecular computing, (both in vitro and in silico), have come to play an important role in experimentation, analysis, and evaluation of the efficiency and scalability of DNA and biomolecule based computing. Simulation in silico of DNA computing is useful to support DNA-computing algorithm design and to reduce the cost and effort of lab experiments. Although many simulations have now been developed, there exists no standard for simulation software in this area. Reliability, performance benchmarks, user interfaces, and accessibility are arguably the most important criteria for development and wide spread use of simulation software for BMC. The requirements and evaluation of such software packages for DNA computing software are discussed, particularly questions about software development, appropriate user environments, standardization of benchmark data sets, and centrally available common repositories for software and/or data.     

Temperature effect on aerobic biodegradation of feces using sawdust as a matrix

Temperature is one of the most important factors affecting microbial growth and biological reactions. In this study, the effect of temperature on aerobic biodegradation of feces is described through the comparison and analysis of experimental oxygen utilization rates (OUR) profiles obtained from batch tests conducted at several temperatures covering mainly mesophilic and thermophilic ranges. Additionally, the temperature effect was incorporated into the bio-kinetic model introduced by Lopez Zavala et al. (Water Res 38(5) (2004) 1327) and simulation of experimental OUR profiles was conducted. Results show that mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms behaved differently to temperature; additionally, results suggest that the optimum temperature from the viewpoint of feces biodegradability is within the thermophilic range, nearly 60 degrees C. The enzymatic activity of microorganisms at 70 degrees C was remarkably diminished. For better predictions in the mesophilic range, two fractions of slowly biodegradable organic matter were identified, easily hydrolyzable organic matter (X(Se)) and slowly hydrolyzable organic matter (X(Ss)).     

Effects of hydrogen on carbon nanotube formation in CH4/H2 plasmas

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized using CH₄/H₂ plasmas and plasmas simulated using a one-dimensional fluid model. The thinnest and longest CNTs with the highest number density were obtained using CH₄/H₂ = 27/3 sccm at 10 Torr. These conditions allowed CNTs to grow for 90 min without any meaningful loss of catalyst activity. However, an excess H₂ supply to the CH₄/H₂ mixture plasma made the diameter distribution of the CNTs wider and the yield lower. Hydrogen concentration is considered to affect catalyst particle size and activity during the time interval before starting CNT growth (=incubation period). With CH₄/H₂ = 27/3 sccm for a growth time of 10 min efficient CNT growth was achieved because the amount of carbon atoms in the CNTs and that calculated from simulation showed good agreement. The effect of hydrogen etching on CNTs was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy by observing CNTs treated by H₂ plasma after CNT growth. It was confirmed that (a) multi-walled CNTs were not etched by the H₂ plasma, (b) the C 1s XPS spectra of the CNTs showed no chemical shift after the treatment, and (c) C-H bonds were produced in CNTs during their growth.