Incorporation of a well-defined polyether side-chain into segmented poly(ether-urethane urea) and examination for blood-compatibility

A new method of introducing a hydrophilic polyether side chain into segmented polyurethane using a polypropylene oxide macromer with 1,3-diol at one chain-end, which behaves as chain extender, is described. In this procedure, a molecular-designed side-chain is incorporated quantitatively and directly into polyurethane biomedical elastomer. The design is also of interest to biomaterials in artificial organs.     

Giant electric double-layer capacitance of heavily boron-doped diamond electrode

The physical and electrochemical properties of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond electrodes, prepared with various B/C ratio, i.e., 0.1%, 0.5% (BDD-A), 1% (BDD-B), and 5% (BDD-C), were investigated. Electrochemical measurements of the heavily boron-doped films (BDD-C) showed giant electric double-layer capacitance and activity which is significantly larger than BDD-A and BDD-B as well as glassy carbon electrodes. However, interestingly, actual boron concentration of BDD-C was observed to be almost the same as that of BDD-B by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) analysis. It is suggested that the large capacitance is due to a few sp²-bonded carbon impurities, which was observed only in BDD-C, although the amount of the sp²-bonded nondiamond species are very small. In the present work, the reason for the interesting electrochemical properties of heavily boron-doped diamond electrodes is discussed. Furthermore, dimensional stability of the electrodes was also confirmed by conducting harsh anodic treatment.     

A facile approach to the fabrication of ultrathin polymer films and application to optical lenses

A facile approach to the fabrication of ultrathin polymer films on a flat or curved substrate is presented. Polymers with unsaturated pendant groups were spin-coated on a photoinitiator tethered surface, which was then photoirradiated and washed with a solvent. The obtained films were uniform, smooth (R_a < 0.2 nm) and exhibited robustness toward solvents. The thickness of the films was determined by the molecular weight of the coated polymer and was not dependent on the initial spin-coated thickness. A mechanism for the formation of the ultrathin film and application to optical lenses is presented.     

Selective detection method derived from a controlled diffusion process at metal-modified diamond electrodes

A novel, selective methodology is derived based on the difference between the diffusion processes at microelectrodes (i.e., hemispherical diffusion) and the macroelectrode (i.e., linear diffusion) in a metal-implanted boron-doped diamond electrode (metal-BDDs). As an example, the selective detection of glucose in a solution containing interference species such as ascorbic acid and uric acid is demonstrated. The electrochemical properties of BDD, which are low background current, extremely high stability, and (especially) inactivity toward glucose, play an important role in realizing these differences in the diffusion characteristics. The present methodology can be applied not only to selective glucose detection by the metal-BDD system but also to other selective detection systems.     

A Gate‐Current Model for Advanced MOSFET Technologies Implemented into HiSIM2

A gate leakage current model for advanced MOSFETs has been developed and implemented into the Hiroshima‐university STARC IGFET Model (HiSIM), the first complete surface‐potential‐based model. The model consists of four tunneling mechanisms, the gate to channel/bulk/source/drain, and requires totally 15 model parameters covering all bias conditions. Simulation results reproduce measurement for any device size and temperature without binning. Validity of the model has been tested with circuits that are sensitive to the change of stored charge due to tunneling current. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conformational change detection in nonmetal proteins by direct electrochemical oxidation using diamond electrodes

In this report, we established a new electrochemical method for the detection of conformational changes in large, non-metalloproteins such as bovine serum albumin, using flow injection analysis coupled with hydrogen-terminated, boron-doped diamond electrodes. The oxidation current was used as a signal reporter in the monitoring of urea-induced BSA denaturation. In the denatured state at high urea concentrations, the electrochemical signal increased, and the amperometric responses for the oxidation potential at 1300 mV were consistent with the results of conventional methods of denaturation monitoring using fluorescence spectroscopy. The oxidation involved at least five redox-active species (cysteine, tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine, and disulfide bonds). Furthermore, the method also showed high sensitivity for quantitative analysis of protein. A linear dynamic in the concentration range 50-400 microg/mL (r(2) = 0.977) with a lower detection limit of 190 ng/mL was achieved for BSA. Direct electrochemical detection of conformation changes of proteins using BDD electrodes can be performed with advantages in terms of simplicity and sensitivity.     

Improvement in microstructure of SBT thin films

Abstract

Various attempts to improve the microstructure of SBT thin films were carried out. One was to employ ultra-thin BT film as a top layer on the conventional SBT thin film. After optimization of the BT top layer thickness, a very smooth SBT surface was successfully achieved. Particularly, the insulation break down field was improved to more than 1.0 MV/cm. Next we used UV exposure during the baking process. By optimizing the UV assisted process, surface morphology was successfully improved with fine grain microstructure. The break down field was improved to more than 1.0 MV/cm. Also, these two process combinations successfully lead to more reliable SBT thin films. The break down field was drastically improved to more than 1.2 MV/cm.     

Real‐time histological imaging of kidneys stained with food dyes using multiphoton microscopy

We have developed a real‐time imaging technique for diagnosis of kidney diseases which is composed of two steps, staining renal cells safely with food dyes and optical sectioning of living renal tissue to obtain histological images by multiphoton microscopy (MPM). Here, we demonstrated that the MPM imaging with food dyes, including erythrosine and indigo carmine, could be used as fluorescent agents to visualize renal functions and structures such as glomerular bloodstreams, glomerular filtration, and morphology of glomeruli and renal tubules. We also showed that the kidneys of IgA nephropathy model‐mice stained with the food dyes presented histopathological characteristics different from those observed in normal kidneys. The use of the food dyes enhances the quality of tissue images obtained by MPM and offers the potential to contribute to a clinical real‐time diagnosis of kidney diseases. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:847–858, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A study on the preparation of supported metal oxide catalysts using JRC-reference catalysts. I. Preparation of a molybdena–alumina catalyst. Part 4. Preparation parameters and impact index

The effects of the volume and pH of the impregnation solution and of the calcination conditions were examined on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of a 13 wt% MoO₃/Al₂O₃ extrudate catalyst. The Al₂O₃ support and drying procedures (static conditions without flowing air) were fixed in the preparations. In the present series of catalysts, the amount of crystalline MoO₃ was marginally small. It was found that the dispersion of Mo oxide species increased as the volume of the impregnation solution increased, gradually approaching a maximum value. The increase in pH (2–8) of the impregnation solution was found to reduce the dispersion of Mo oxide species. The Mo dispersion increased slightly for the impregnation catalysts as the calcination temperature increased (673–873 K), whereas it decreased for the equilibrium adsorption catalysts. The effects of the calcination atmosphere (with or without flowing air, or with flowing humid air) were very small on the dispersion of Mo oxide species under the present preparation conditions. On the other hand, the methanol oxidation activity of MoO₃/Al₂O₃ was sensitive to the preparation parameters examined here. It was demonstrated by means of EPMA and XPS that a considerable migration of Mo took place during the calcination.

In the present study on the preparation of a 13 wt% MoO₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst, an impact index is proposed to measure the magnitude of the effects of the respective parameter(s) on the physicochemical and catalytic properties. With the Mo dispersion, the effects of the preparation parameter decreased in the order, surface area of the support >> drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination temperature and atmosphere. The size of the impact index for the dispersion of Mo sulfide species is 70–75% of that for the Mo oxide species. The HDS activity of the catalyst was less affected by the preparation parameters than the Mo sulfide dispersion. The preparation parameters affected the segregation of Mo on the outer surface of extrudates in a decreasing order: drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination conditions. It was found that the oxidation of methanol was affected most intensely by the drying procedures. The volume of the impregnation solution, calcination conditions and pH of the impregnation solution also strongly affected the oxidation activity. The impact index suggests that the sensitivity to the preparation variables of the physicochemical and catalytic properties of MoO₃/Al₂O₃ decreases in the order, methanol oxidation activity > surface Mo segregation > Mo oxide dispersion > Mo sulfide dispersion > HDS activity.