Novel High‐Temperature Antiferroelectric‐Based Dielectric NaNbO3–NaTaO3 Solid Solutions Processed in Low Oxygen Partial Pressures

The (1?x)NaNbO₃–(x)NaTaO₃ solid solution was investigated for x ≤ 0.4 in terms of new high‐temperature and high‐permittivity dielectric system that is suitable for base metal inner electrode capacitor applications. The addition of Ta significantly enhanced the resistivity of the dielectric, resulting in superior resistivity than the dielectrics‐formulated BaTiO₃ systems that dominate the multilayer ceramic capacitor dielectric devices. The voltage dependence of the permittivity was also superior to BaTiO₃‐based materials, providing higher capacitance at higher temperatures. A transmission electron microscopy study illustrated that the grains had so‐called core‐shell structure. According to the electron diffraction analysis, the core region had an inhomogeneous structure between antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases, and shell region had an incommensurate ferroelectric‐like structure. The core and shell region had Nb‐ and Ta‐rich composition, respectively, and their interface was compositionally sharp, implying that shell region was formed via a liquid phase during the sintering process with an incongruent Ta dissolution reprecipitation. We anticipate that these or similar materials based on the alkali‐niobate perovskites can be further enhanced to provide capacitor solutions from 150°C to 250°C, which is an important range for a number of new AC–DC invertor and engine control units.     

Preparation of a high hydrophobic aluminium surface by double zincating process

In this present study, an efficient method has been proposed to develop a high hydrophobic zincated coating on the eva-core aluminium (Al) alloy surface. The double zincating method (Z2) was utilized to develop the required roughness on the Al surface. To control the surface energy, lauric acid (LA) was coated on the surface using the liquid self-assembled monolayers (L-SAMs) method. Surface morphology, the chemical composition of the treated and untreated Al alloy has been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The hydrophobicity of the substrates has also been analysed using a contact angle measurement (CA). AFM micrographs show the surface roughness of the Al alloy has been drastically increased with chemical treatments from 0.071 to 0.32 μm. XRD shows the percentage crystallinity of the Al alloy is decreased with double zincating and LA coating from 56.8 to 22.7%. As a result, a high hydrophobicity of Al alloy was induced with a contact angle of 150° upon the double zincating method and L-SAMs coating.     

Flavonoids from Orostachys japonicus A. Berger Inhibit the Invasion of LnCaP Prostate Carcinoma Cells by Inactivating Akt and Modulating Tight Junctions

Tight junctions (TJs) are a mode of cell-to-cell adhesion in epithelial or endothelial cells, and serve as a physical barrier to maintenance of homeostasis in body by controlling paracellular transport. Claudins are the most important molecules of the TJs, but paradoxically these proteins are frequently over-expressed in cancers and their overexpression is implicated in the invasive potential of cancer. Hence, we investigated the effects of flavonoids extracted from Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (FEOJ) on TJs and the expression of claudins as well as cancer invasion along with in LnCaP human prostate cancer. FEOJ suppressed cancer cell motility and invasiveness at the concentrations where FEOJ did not show anti-proliferative activity. FEOJ increased transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) associated with tightening TJs, and suppressed expression of claudin proteins. Furthermore, FEOJ suppressed the activities of MMP-2 and -9 in a dose-dependent manner, which came from the activation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) by FEOJ. FEOJ suppressed migration and invasion by suppressing PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Taken together, this study suggest that FEOJ suppresses cancer migration and invasion by tightening TJs through the suppression of claudin expression, and by suppressing MMPs in LnCaP human prostate cancer cells, which at least in part results from the suppression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Aptamer-modified magnetic nanoprobe for molecular MR imaging of VEGFR2 on angiogenic vasculature

Nucleic acid-based aptamers have been developed for the specific delivery of diagnostic nanoprobes. Here, we introduce a new class of smart imaging nanoprobe, which is based on hybridization of a magnetic nanocrystal with a specific aptamer for specific detection of the angiogenic vasculature of glioblastoma via magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The magnetic nanocrystal imaging core was synthesized using the thermal decomposition method and enveloped by carboxyl polysorbate 80 for water solubilization and conjugation of the targeting moiety. Subsequently, the surface of the carboxylated magnetic nanocrystal was modified with amine-functionalized aptamers that specifically bind to the vascular growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) that is overexpressed on angiogenic vessels. To assess the targeted imaging potential of the aptamer-conjugated magnetic nanocrystal for VEGFR2 markers, the magnetic properties and MR imaging sensitivity were investigated using the orthotopic glioblastoma mouse model. In in vivo tests, the aptamer-conjugated magnetic nanocrystal effectively targeted VEGFR2 and demonstrated excellent MR imaging sensitivity with no cytotoxicity.     

Latent catalyst effects in halogen‐free epoxy molding compounds for semiconductor encapsulation

Latent catalyst effects were investigated to improve the physical properties of halogen‐free epoxy molding compounds (EMCs) for semiconductor encapsulation. In this study, biphenyl‐type resins were used as the epoxy and hardener resin for halogen‐free EMCs to obtain high flame‐retardant properties and high filler contents. Latent catalyst effects were examined with two kinds of EMC compositions, halogen‐free EMCs and conventional EMC compositions. We used triphenylphosphine‐benzoquinone salt (TPP‐BQ) as a latent catalyst. Spiral flow and gel time were measured to investigate the change in moldability with the latent catalyst. We measured package fail, moisture absorption, and delamination for reliability evaluation and flexural strength, flexural modulus, and adhesion for mechanical properties to examine latent catalyst effects. An improvement in moldability, reliability, and the mechanical properties were observed in two types of halogen‐free EMCs with TPP‐BQ as a latent catalyst. These phenomena were seen in conventional EMCs, including o‐cresol novolac epoxy resin. The cure kinetics of these systems were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry with an isothermal approach to explain these phenomena. The results indicate that the improvement in moldability in halogen‐free EMCs with TPP‐BQ was due to the low conversion rate of this system, and the increase in mechanical properties was attributed to the high conversion of curing reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2287–2299, 2005     

Apatite Induction on Ca-Containing Titania Formed by Micro-Arc Oxidation

Ca-containing, particularly CaTiO₃, titania films were prepared by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) of Ti in an electrolytic solution containing calcium acetate monohydrate (CA), and their apatite-inducing ability was evaluated in a simulated body fluid (SBF). The phase, Ca content, and morphology of the films were found to be strongly dependent on the applied voltage. The CaTiO₃-embedded titania was obtained at higher voltages (>300 V). When immersed in SBF, no apatite was induced in all the MAO specimens irrespective of the presence of CaTiO₃, which has been claimed to be an apatite inducer. However, after a hydrothermal treatment at 250°C, apatite was formed on the surfaces of the CaTiO₃-embedded titania after 28 days, which was closely related to the formation of amorphous Ca(OH)₂ and presumably surface Ti–OH groups.     

Fuel size effect on pinewood combustion in a packed bed

In this paper, particle size effect on pinewood combustion in a stationary packed bed was investigated. Mass loss rate, temperature profile at different bed locations and gas compositions in the out-of-bed flue gases were measured at a fixed primary air flow rate. Pinewood cubes was fired with size ranging from 5 to 35 mm. A unique numerical model applicable to thermally thick particles was proposed and relevant equations were solved to simulate the non-homogeneous characteristics of the burning process. It is found that at the operating conditions of the current study, smaller particles are quicker to ignite than larger particles and have distinctive combustion stages; burning rate is also higher with smaller fuel size; and smaller fuels have a thinner reaction zone and result in both higher CO and CH₄ concentrations in the out-of-bed flue gases; on the other hand, larger particles produced a higher flame temperature and result in higher H₂ concentration in the flue gases. Larger particles also cause the combustion process becoming more transient where the burning rate varies for most part of the combustion process.     

Radiation detector made of a high-quality polycrystalline diamond

Radiation detector was made of a high-quality CVD polycrystalline diamond composed of frost column like structure diamond grains, and induced charge distribution spectra and drift velocities were measured by using alpha particles. As a result, the CVD polycrystalline achieved maximum induced charge of 83% of HP/HT type IIa diamond. Moreover, the CVD crystal had lower charge loss on electrons compared with the HP/HT type IIa diamond. Drift velocities of electrons and holes were v_e = 7.7 × 10⁴ and v_h = 7.3 × 10⁴cm/s at an electric field of 20 kV/cm, respectively. In addition, response function measurement for 14 MeV neutrons was carried out.     

Radiation tolerance of type IIa synthetic diamond detector for 14 MeV neutrons

Radiation tolerance of a type IIa synthetic diamond detector was examined from irradiation of mono-energetic 14 MeV neutrons. Measurements of I–V (current–voltage) characteristics and energy spectrum for 5.486 MeV alpha particles were performed after neutron irradiation. In the I–V characteristics measurement, enhancement of rectification was observed after neutron irradiation of up to 2.0 × 10¹² n/cm². Concurrently with the enhancement of rectification, significant decrease in signal amplitude was observed in energy spectrum measurement for alpha particles. It is considered that these changes were due to increase in the concentration of defects acting as shallow energy levels in the forbidden band. For neutron irradiation of higher than 1.6 × 10¹³ n/cm², weakening of the rectification characteristics and recovery of the signal amplitude were observed. These changes imply that deep energy levels, which were also considered to be introduced by defects, were dominant and weakened the effects of the shallow energy levels. Increase in the concentration of the deep trapping levels resulted in gradual decrease of the signal amplitude and degradation in the energy resolution. The peak for the alpha particles was obtained up to 5.5 × 10¹³ n/cm².     

Dynamics of the wet-end section in paper mills

A model representing the wet-end section of a paper mill has been developed to characterize its dynamic behavior during the grade change. The model is based on the mass balance relationships written for the simplified wetend white water network. From the linearization of the dynamic model, higher-order Laplace transfer functions were obtained followed by the reduction procedure to give simple lower-order models in the form of 1^st-order or 2^nd-order plus dead times. The dynamic response of the wet-end is influenced both by the white water volume and by the level of wire retention. Effects of key manipulated variables such as the thick stock flow rate, the ash flow rate and the retention aid flow rate on the major controlled variables were analyzed by numerical simulations. The simple dynamic model developed in the present study can be effectively used in the operation and control. This paper is dedicated to Professor Se Ki Moon on the occasion of his retirement from Hanyang University.