Phthalocyanine molecular nanowires that were prepared using porous alumina as a template: Development in the sample preparation procedure to evaluate electronic properties

We have proposed the synthesis of organic molecular nanowires using porous alumina as a template. We also proposed the use of a magnetic field to control the molecular packing structure in the nanowires. In this paper, we developed the method to evaluate the electronic properties of the nanowire of a phthalocyanine derivative that was synthesized using porous alumina as a template. The developed method facilitates the study in the organic molecular nanowires that were synthesized using templates and helps their use in future electronic devices.     

Structural analysis and transistor properties of hetero-molecular bilayers

We examined the film morphologies and transistor properties of hetero-molecular bilayer consisting of N, N’-dioctyl-3, 4, 9, 10-perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C₈) and quaterrylene. First, the structure and carrier conduction of PTCDI-C₈ films were studied, followed by an analysis of the carrier accumulation process in a PTCDI-C₈/quaterrylene hetero-bilayer transistor. Based on the displacement current measurement (DCM), we stress the potential of the hetero-bilayer for tuning carrier accumulation like carrier doping techniques in field-effect transistors.     

A canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) antisense cDNA enhances drug sensitivity in human hepatic cancer cells

The human cMOAT gene encodes a membrane protein involved in the ATP-dependent transport of hydrophobic compounds. To determine whether cMOAT is associated with drug sensitivity, we transfected an expression vector containing cMOAT antisense cDNA into the HepG2 human hepatic cancer cell line. We observed a reduction in cMOAT protein, as well as an enhanced level of glutathione, in the antisense transfectants. The transfectants displayed an increased sensitivity to cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, and the camptothecin derivatives, (4S)-4,11-diethyl-4-hydroxy-9-[(4-piperidinopiperidino)carbonyl oxy]dione hydrochloride triethydrate and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin, but not to etoposide, 3-[4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl]-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosoure a, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin C. Results suggest that cMOAT levels are inversely correlated with those of glutathione, and that cMOAT and its related genes may be involved in the sensitivity of cells to certain anticancer agents.     

Detection of the leghemoglobin gene on two chromosomes of Phaseolus vulgaris by in situ PCR linked-fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of phentolamine, a sympathetic blocking agent, on the spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) recorded from a locus of a myofascial trigger spot (MTrS), equivalent to a human trigger point, in rabbit skeletal muscle. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. SETTING: A university medical laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Nine adult New Zealand rabbits. INTERVENTION: In the experimental group phentolamine mesylate (1mg/kg) was injected into the external iliac artery, followed by flushing with normal saline. The control group was treated with normal saline instead of phentolamine using the same procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SEA was recorded from multiple active loci of MTrSs in the biceps femoris muscle: initially SEA in the same locus was recorded before and immediately after phentolamine (or normal saline) injection; then SEA was recorded from 25 different active loci. The mean of the average integrated signal (AIS) of SEA was analyzed, comparing the effects of phentolamine and normal saline on SEA. RESULTS: In the same active locus, the AIS of SEA showed statistically a linear decay with time after phentolamine injection, with a correlation coefficient of .56 at p < .05. However, no statistical relationship could be derived for the control group data with time by using regression analysis, probably because of large variations among the rabbits and movement artifacts during the experiment. In 25 different loci in the phentolamine group, the mean of the AIS of SEA (7.92 microV) was significantly lower than that of the control group (9.89 microV) at p < .05. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that the autonomic nervous system is involved in the pathogenesis of myofascial trigger points. The application of the AIS as an evaluation index seems to be feasible in the quantitative measurement of SEA.     

Four-leg independent mechanism for MEMS microrobot

In this paper, the development of a quadruped micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) microrobot with a four-leg independent mechanism is described. As the actuator mechanism inside small robot bodies is difficult to realize, many microrobots use external field forces such as magnetism and vibration. In this paper, artificial muscle wires that are family of shape memory alloy are used for the force of the actuator. The artificial muscle wire shows the large displacement by passing the electrical current through the material itself. The double four-link mechanism is adopted for the leg system. The link mechanism transforms the linear motion of the artificial muscle wire to the foot step-like pedaling motion. The location of the backward swing motion is lower than that of forward swing motion. This motion generates the locomotion force. As a result, the total length of the constructed quadruped MEMS microrobot was 6 mm. The microrobot could perform similar gait pattern changes as the quadruped animal.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of crosslinked polyisoprene under deformation

Summary Molecular motions of elastomers under deformations were observed through dynamic mechanical measurements. Composite master curves of dynamic moduli E and E and loss tangent tan over a wide range of frequency and in a state of elongation were obtained by the time-temperature superposition procedure. It is found that both moduli increase with strain, . The slope of the dispersion curve of E become more gradual with the increase in , while that of E is almost unchanged. The increment of E is generally larger than that of E, which does not agree with the N. W. Tschoegl prediction, E ^* ()=f() E _o ^* (), where E ^* () and E _o ^* () are complex moduli at the strain of and O, respectively, and f() is the function of only . The difference in the strain dependence of E from E was found to correspond to the strain dependence of the equilibrium modulus.     

Laser‐induced discharge in a rod–plane electrode in the presence of a negative dc electric field

Discharge induction experiments were performed between a plate and a rod on a plate electrode configuration with a gap length of 1 m using a high‐power CO₂ laser and a dc voltage generator. The electrodes are parallel planes. Each plate electrode consists of a central flat part having a diameter of 3 m with a circular edge on a cross section. The length of the rod is 10 cm. A chain of plasma beads of length 10 cm was created on the tip of the rod by the CO₂ laser and used for artificial triggering of negative high‐voltage sparkover. The behavior of streamer, leader, and return stroke was observed by an image converter camera. It was found that a positive upward traveling leader can be triggered from the tip of the rod on the lower plane to the upper plane by the chain of plasma beads created by the CO₂ laser. This apparatus is useful for study for realization of laser‐induced lightning. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(4): 19–27, 2000     

Tuning of a Ti3+:sapphire laser by an electro-optic beam deflection method

A wavelength-switching method for tuning a self-injection-seeded Ti3+:sapphire laser that uses an electro-optic beam deflection technique is reported. A LiNbO3 prism was employed in a tuning arm of the dual-cavity Ti3+:sapphire laser, and wavelength tuning of approximately 94 pm was attained by altering the deflection angle with the application of an electric field of 10 kV/cm to the prism. The spectral characteristics of the output laser were mainly determined by the diffraction grating in the dual-cavity laser, and the electro-optic prism just behaved as a light-beam deflector for the wavelength tuning purpose. This configuration can allow a simple tuning approach where fast and stable electronic wavelength switching is required in a narrow tuning range, on an order between a few tens of picometers to nanometers, without involving any mechanical movement.     

Anomalous Hall effect governed by electron doping in a room-temperature transparent ferromagnetic semiconductor

Ferromagnetic semiconductors are believed to be suitable for future spintronics, because both charge and spin degrees of freedom can be manipulated by external stimuli. One of the most important characteristics of ferromagnetic semiconductors is the anomalous Hall effect. This is because the ferromagnetically spin-polarized carrier can be probed and controlled electrically, leading to direct application for electronics. Control of the Curie temperature and magnetization direction by electronic field, and photo-induced ferromagnetism have been performed successfully using the anomalous Hall effect for group III-V ferromagnetic semiconductors. In these cases, the operation temperature was much below room temperature because of the limited Curie temperature of less than 160 K (ref. 6). Here, we report on the anomalous Hall effect governed by electron doping in a room-temperature transparent ferromagnetic semiconductor, rutile Ti(1-x)Co(x)O(2-delta) (of oxygen deficiency delta). This result manifests the intrinsic nature of ferromagnetism in this compound, and represents the possible realization of transparent semiconductor spintronics devices operable at room temperature.