Single-crystal growth and characterization of Cu2O and CuO

We have prepared a large number of crystals of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) by various procedures. Photoluminescence spectra of these crystals were studied to examine the concentration of defects, especially copper vacancy VCu to seek favourable conditions for growing Cu2O crystal. High-quality single crystals of Cu2O were prepared by the floating-zone melting method in air. Several synthetic crystals (specimens FA, FZ and GZ) and also a natural crystal were studied by X-ray analysis, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy analysis, optical absorption, photoluminescence, photoconductivity and cyclotron resonance absorption, photoluminescence, photoconductivity and cyclotron resonance absorption to characterize their optical and electrical qualities. The best values of mobility and scattering time of photocarriers at T = 4.2 K are estimated to be h1.8 × 105 cm2 V–1 s–1 and h60 ps for positive holes, and 1.3 × 105 cm2 V–1 s–1 and 70 ps for electrons in Cu2O. Further, we report preliminary experimental results on transport property of crystals also of cupric oxide (CuO) purified by the floating-zone melting method.     

Novel DNA detection system of flow injection analysis (2). The distinctive properties of a novel system employing PNA (peptide nucleic acid) as a probe for specific DNA detection

In order to realize immediate detection of a double stranded DNA amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), we applied Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) to the probe of DNA detection system using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). We report our success in immediate detection of PCR products solution with high sequence-specificity.     

Temperature distribution in Li2O pellets under neutron irradiation

The center temperature of Li₂O pellets under neutron irradiation was measured using an encapsuled pin. The surface temperatures of the pellets and the pellet/cladding heat transfer coefficients were estimated on the basis of the well-known conductivity integral.     

A 7 ns 1 Mb BiCMOS ECL SRAM with shift redundancy

A 7-Mb BiCMOS ECL (emitter coupled logic) SRAM was fabricated in a 0.8 μm BiCMOS process. An improved buffer with a high-level output of nearly V_CC is adopted to eliminate the DC current in the level converter circuit, and the PMOS transistor has a wide operating margin in the level converter. The configurable bit organization is realized by using a sense-amplifier switch circuit with no access degradation. A wired-OR demultiplexer for the ×1 output, having the same critical path as the ×4 output circuit, allows for the same access time between the two modes. The ×1 or ×4 mode is electrically selected by the external signal. A simplified programming redundancy technology, shift redundancy, is utilized. Address programming is performed by cutting only one fuse in the shift redundancy. The RAM operates at the ECL-10K level with an access time of 7 ns. and the power dissipation at 50 MHz is 600 mW for the × mode     

Esquentian of the mean by three stage procedure

Let X₁, X₂... be i.i.d. observations with mean μ and variance σ², and suppose that given a sample of size n one wishes to estimate μ by X_n, subject to the loss function L_n= A²(X_n-μ)²+n. When σ² is unknown, the optimal sample size n₀ for minimizing the risk R_n = E{L_n} cannotbe found. To resolve this problem, Robbins (1959) proposed a sequential procedure whenX_i is normally distributed, and then the asymptotic properties have been extensively studied. In this paper, we apply Hall's three stage procedure to the problem without specifying the distribution of X_i and derive the second order asymptotic expansions of the expected sample size and the risk.     

Dual roles of proteasome in the metabolism of presenilin 1

Presenilin 1 (PS1) has been identified as a causative gene for most early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. Biochemical studies revealed that PS1 exists predominantly as two processed fragments in cells and brain tissues. We prepared stably transfected cells expressing the wild-type and familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutants of PS1 and investigated the enzyme that participates in the metabolism of PS1. After treatment of the cells with proteasome inhibitors, the full-length PS1 was significantly accumulated. The levels of N- and C-terminal fragments were also increased. The accumulation of PS1 with a deletion of exon 10, which is unable to be processed, on treatment of the transfected cells with lactacystin indicated that proteasome can degrade full-length PS1. A synthetic peptide that includes the processing region of PS1 was cleaved by 20S proteasome at the putative processing sites after Met288 and Glu299. Metabolic labeling experiments showed that the appearance of the N-terminal fragment was attenuated by the inhibitor. Finally, 28-kDa N- and 20-kDa C-terminal fragments were generated by purified PS1 in vitro. These data indicated that the proteasome pathway is involved in PS1 processing. These results demonstrate that the proteasome pathway plays dual roles in processing and degradation of PS1.     

Route guidance by a car navigation system based on augmented reality

Car navigation systems play a prominent role in road traffic safety and traffic regulation. However, it is necessary to improve the route guidance of car navigation systems so that they accurately and quickly recognize small differences in location. Thus, to increase the ease of understanding and safety of car navigation systems, navigation systems based on augmented reality have been proposed for providing guidance at road intersections. We are currently developing a car navigation system based on augmented reality, called AR‐Navi. We investigated designs for the display of road intersection guidance that can be easily understood even when limited information is available and proposed a “best shot” display method that does not use moving images. In addition, we implemented a prototype system that includes these methods and conducted driving experiments on public roads to evaluate the ease of understanding and safety of AR‐Navi. Using the evaluation results, we confirmed that the ease of understanding and safety is similar in the case of AR‐Navi and CG‐Navi. We also clarified the characteristics of AR‐Navi. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(2): 43–54, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22278     

PZT capacitor with Ir/IrO2/Ir electrode fabricated by RTA

Abstract

PZT capacitor with direct contact between Si substrate and bottom electrode of the capacitor was obtained with Ir/IrO₂/Ir/Ti electrode, by crystallizing sol-gel PZT thin film using RTA (650°CC 30 sec.). Contact resistance for hole diameter of 0.72 μm was 19 Ω. It was observed by cross-sectional TEM that Ti silicide was formed at the interface, but there was not oxygen diffusion from PZT thin film. Fatigue property of the PZT thin film was improved by RTA compared with furnace annealed film (600°CC 60 min.). The absolute value of the remnant polarization was 13 μC/cm² for both films, but it did not degrade until 10⁸ cycles of switching for the film by RTA, while it degraded before 10⁵ cycles for furnace annealed film.     

Mechanism for change in leakage current waveform on a wet silicone rubber surface-a study using a dynamic 3-D model

This paper describes the results of experiments and simulations made to examine the waveform of leakage current flowing through the surface of HTV (high temperature vulcanized) silicone rubber specimen exposed to clean fog. Water droplets were placed on the surface of specimen energized with AC voltage and investigations of the surface state were done by a high-speed video camera in a wet condition produced by sprayed clean fog. Simultaneously, according to the experimental condition, a dynamic 3-D model was built to calculate the electric field and current density distribution on the specimen surface by a finite element software. A conducting water layer is formed due to the deformation of droplets and the development of dry band arcing. This caused large distortion and nonlinearly which increased the odd harmonic components in the leakage current waveform. This is in good agreement with the simulating calculation. The information from the leakage current frequency characteristic was extracted and correlated with the insulation surface condition. It can be considered as a diagnostic index for electrical characteristics and insulation state of polymer insulators in the wet condition.