Surface modification of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxthiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) films by atmospheric-pressure argon plasma for organic thin-film solar cells

Highly-conductive poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) films obtained by the addition of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the argon plasma exposure were used as a transparent conductive anode (TCA) for copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc)/C60 organic thin-film solar cells (OSCs). The CuPc/C60 OSCs on as-grown DMSO added PEDOT:PSS layer showed a power efficiency of 0.6%, whereas it was improved markedly to 1.34% after the atmospheric-pressure argon plasma exposure, which was comparable to that formed on indium-tin-oxide layer. Effects of the DMSO addition and the argon plasma exposure in the spin-coated PEDOT:PSS films is demonstrated in terms of the in-depth characterization of optical and electrical properties.     

Introduction of local tensile strain on Ge substrates by SiGe stressors selectively grown on wet chemically recessed regions for strained Ge-nMOSFETs

Introduction of tensile strain into Ge substrates was demonstrated by forming embedded SiGe stressors on the recessed regions formed by an anisotropic wet chemical etching process for strained Ge-nMOSFETs having high electron mobility. A damage-free and well controlled anisotropic wet chemical etching process is developed in order to avoid plasma-induced damages in a conventional RIE process. The uni-axial tensile strain over 1% near the Ge recess-edge regions, which is induced by the embedded SiGe stressors, is also demonstrated for the first time. These results suggest that higher electron mobility than the upper-limit for a Si-MOSFET is obtainable in short channel strained Ge-nMOSFETs with the embedded SiGe stressors.     

Selection of acid tolerant bifidobacteria and evidence for a low-pH-inducible acid tolerance response in Bifidobacterium longum

Acidity is an environmental condition commonly encountered by lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and fermented foods. In the present study, 22 strains of Bifidobacterium were screened for acid tolerance in artificial gastric juice (AGJ, pH 3.0) and fermented milk. AGJ tolerance was found to be strain-specific, with a pronounced variation among the strains. Several strains with a high survival rate in AGJ that belonged to Bifid. longum, Bifid. breve and Bifid. adolescentis were selected. Among them, only strain BL1 of Bifid longum was found to possess a high survival rate in fermented milk during refrigerated storage. Strain BL1 exhibited a survival rate of more than 25% in AGJ at pH 3.0 for 2 h and maintained a viable cfu level of more than 10(8) per gram of product in fermented milk (pH 4.6) under refrigerated conditions for 2 weeks. The acid tolerance of strain BL1 was found to depend on the final growth pH (<4.5). Rapid loss of acid tolerance was observed when the cells were shifted from acid to neutral conditions by addition of NaOH. Strain BL1 cells were able to maintain much higher intracellular pH under acid conditions, in comparison with those of AGJ sensitive mutant (BL1-S) or cells that lost acid tolerance following pH shifting from acid to neutral conditions. These results suggested that a cytoplasmic pH homeostasis system may function in the acid tolerance response in this strain.     

Effect of glyceric acid calcium salt on the viability of ethanol-dosed gastric cells

D-Glyceric acid (D-GA) calcium has been reported to accelerate ethanol oxidation in vivo in rats (Eriksson et al., Metabolism, 56, 895-898 (2007)). However, no other reports have shown that D-GA can reduce the harmful effects of ethanol. In this study, the effects of D-, L-, and DL-GA calcium on ethanol-dosed gastric cell viability were investigated using human gastric carcinoma cells (Kato III) and normal rat gastric mucosa cells (RGM1). Addition of 2% and 3 % ethanol to Kato III and RGM1 cells, respectively, decreased their cell viability by approximately 20-50 % after 24 or 72 h of cultivation. In 2 % ethanol-dosed Kato III cells cultivated for 24 h, addition of 0.002-20 μg/mL D- and L-GA calcium did not affect cell viability. Similarly, addition of less than 20 μg/mL DL-GA calcium did not affect cell viability. However, when 20 μg/mL DL-GA calcium was added, cell viability increased by 35.7 % after 72 h of incubation, compared to the viability of control cells without ethanol or GA. Addition of 20 μg/mL DL-GA calcium to 3 % ethanol-dosed RGM1 cells cultivated for 24 or 72 h also increased cell viability up to those observed in control cells. These results suggest that a racemic mixture of GA may have the strongest effect on enhancing the viability of ethanol-exposed cells.     

Synthesis and evaluation of dioleoyl glyceric acids showing antitrypsin activity

Previously, Le?ová et al. reported the isolation and identification of metabolite OR-1, showing antitrypsin activity, produced during fermentation by Penicillium funiculosum. The structure of OR-1 was a mixture of glyceric acid (GA), esterified with C(14)-C(18) fatty acids, and oleic acid (C18:1) as the most predominant fatty acid (Folia Microbiol. 46, 21-23, 2001). In this study, dioleoyl D-GA and dioleoyl L-GA were synthesized via diesterification with oleoyl chloride, and their antitrypsin activities were evaluated using both a disk diffusion method and spectral absorption measurements. The results show that both compounds and their equivalent mixtures possess antitrypsin activities; however, their IC(50) values (approximately 2 mM) are much higher than that of OR-1 (4.25 μM), suggesting that dioleoyl GA does not play a major role in the OR-1 antitrypsin activity.     

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on posterior alpha wave

Because of the unclear conclusion of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effects on the posterior electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha wave, this study is aimed at investigating these unclear effects. Transcranial stimulation effects are observed by analyzing a measured EEG at the occipital area between prestimulation and the poststimulation. The EEG alpha power and alpha coherence are calculated and analyzed in terms of the ratio between eyes closed and eyes open periods. The results reveal that alpha power ratio at the individual alpha frequency (IAF) significantly increases after the 1‐Hz rTMS and cathodal tDCS and slightly decreases after the anodal tDCS compared to the control and the sham conditions. The results also show that there is a significant difference between the inhibited and excited conditions. Similarities are observed in the patterns of the alpha coherence ratio and alpha power changes. The alpha coherence increases in the rTMS and cathodal tDCS conditions, and decreases in the anodal tDCS condition but these effects occur only when comparing across the hemispheres (O1–O2 and P3–P4). It can be summarized that the EEG alpha wave can be influenced by the transcranial stimulations. The rTMS and cathodal tDCS seem to facilitate the alpha activity and the anodal tDCS inhibits it. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of formic acid on electrochemical properties of high‐porosity Pt/TiN nanoparticle aggregates

Platinum‐deposited titanium nitride (Pt/TiN) nanoparticle aggregates with high porosities were successfully prepared via a self‐assembly‐assisted spray pyrolysis method. The addition of formic acid (HCOOH) had a significant influence on the process, promoting the simultaneous formation of metallic Pt and reduction on the surface of the TiN support material. Complete reduction of the Pt/TiN nanoparticle aggregates improved the catalytic activity. The electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of Pt/TiN with HCOOH (Pt/TiN_w/HCOOH) was 87.15 m²/g‐Pt, which was higher than that of Pt/TiN without HCOOH (Pt/TiN_w/o‐HCOOH). The catalytic durability of Pt/TiN_w/HCOOH was twice that of Pt/TiN_w/o‐HCOOH. An effective strategy for obtaining carbon‐free catalysts with high activities and durabilities was identified. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2753–2760, 2013     

Performance of Used Engine Oil as Gear-Cutting Oil

In Japan, the lubricating oil used for the internal combustion engine of passenger cars is usually exchanged for fresh oil after running a distance in the range from 3,000 to 10,000 km. Refining of the used engine oil is very costly because friction-reducing additives containing sulfur, phosphorus, etc., are included in the oil. Therefore, wasted engine oil (used engine oil) is burned in many cases. This investigation was conducted to effectively re-use wasted engine oil without chemical refining. Performance of used engine oil as a gear-cutting oil was examined by conducting five kinds of experiments: (a) chemical analyses of the oils, (b) measurements of friction coefficients on the four-ball tester, (c) tool wear tests using a lathe, (d) tool life tests using a gear-cutting machine, and (e) accuracy and surface finish of the cut gears. In contrast to general expectations, longer tool lives were obtained when the used engine oils were used instead of a high-grade gear-cutting oil. The reason for this was discussed and it was concluded that used engine oil may be used as a high-performance gear-cutting oil if health risks for workers are removed.