Characterization of anisotropic gas permeability and thermomechanical properties of highly textured porous alumina

Porous alumina with a highly textured microstructure was fabricated by pulse electric current sintering (PECS) using alumina platelets. Highly oriented porous alumina with a porosity of 3%–50% was obtained by a pressure-controlled method of PECS. The properties of the highly textured porous alumina were measured in two directions. The nitrogen gas permeance and thermal conductivity at room temperature were higher in the direction along the platelet length due to the higher continuity of pores and the connectivity of alumina platelets, respectively. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity at room temperature was investigated and explained by the effect of grain size of platelets as well as morphology and orientation of pores. The bending strength was higher with the loading direction along the platelet thickness. The thermal shock strength was clearly different in the two directions. The difference in the thermal shock strength was investigated by the measurement of properties and thermal stress analysis.     

An optical instrumentation using a sensor with a sensordummyagainst noises on sensor and transmission line

This short paper discusses the method of effectively canceling equal status normal mode noise not only on a sensor line but also on a transmission line of an optical instrument using a sensor with a sensordummy resistance     

Photocatalytic Property and Electronic Structure of Lanthanide-based Oxysulfides

Lanthanide-based oxysulfides and sulfide, LnTaO_3.5S_0.5, Ln₁₀OS₁₄ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) and La₄In₅S₁₃, were successively synthesized by sulfurization in a flowing H₂S. The sulfurization decreased the band-gap energies from >4 eV to <3eV, because of the formation of occupied S3p orbitals on the top of valence band. In accordance with the small band gap, the H₂ evolution from a 0.01 M Na₂S and 0.01 M Na₂SO₃ solution system was observed under irradiation of light up to >500 nm. The rate of H₂ evolution under light irradiation of >500 nm increased in the order of Ni/LaTaO_3.5S_0.5 < Ru/La₁₀OS₁₄ < Pt/La₄In₅S₁₃.     

Fabrication of MOD-derived YBCO films on [001]LaAlO/sub 3/ and their application to /spl lambda//4 CPW SIR BPFs

Chemically derived epitaxial thin films of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// (YBCO) are fabricated on [001]LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates by the metalorganic-deposition (MOD) process, which has advantages of high quality, nonvacuum, low-cost, and large-scale production of high-T/sub c/ superconducting films. The MOD-derived YBCO films have a sharp transition at the critical temperature (90.4 K) and a high-quality film with a surface resistance of 0.13 m/spl Omega/ (30 K, 9.98 GHz) is obtained. As a microwave application, simple and compact bandpass filters (BPFs) using /spl lambda//4 coplanar-waveguide. stepped-impedance resonators are demonstrated on the YBCO films. A two-stage Chebyshev BPF of center frequency of 5.731 GHz, bandwidth of 135 MHz, and insertion loss of 0.29 dB with little input power dependency in a power range less than 10 dBm is realized on the film.     

New application of laser beam to failure analysis of LSI with multi-metal layers

A new technique for failure analysis of LSI with multi metal layers is described. There is a fabrication technique to form a big and optional window on upper layers using Nd-YAG laser without destroying any electrical function, and to approach the failure point through this window. The failure analysis procedure based on logical flow is presented. Fabrication technique is located in part of this procedure which consists of four steps. Two difficult reasons for approaching the failure point without fabrication technique are described. This difficulty results from line composition and line width. The fabrication procedure using Nd-YAG laser is reported. This procedure is to cover the chip surface with photo resist, and form a big and optional size window on upper layer with laser beam, and finally expose the purposed layer. Three failure analysis examples using this technique are introduced: unformed contact falure mode, Si-noduled failure mode, and isolation destroying failure mode.     

Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control

Since controller teams are in charge of en-route air traffic control, team cooperation is a key issue for good control performance. We conducted ethnographic field observation at the Tokyo Area Control Center and then analyzed the obtained data to develop a cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. We segmented conversational records, behavioral records, and so on by control unit, and then clarified relations between the segments and identified expert knowledge and judgment behind them. Cognitive processes of controller teams were reconstructed based on a concept of distributed cognition. The analysis revealed that the mutual belief model is applicable to team cooperation processes, the role assignment of tasks within a controller team is implicit and that control plans are implemented smoothly once team situation awareness has been established. A cognitive model of controllers?? team cooperation has been constructed based on these findings.     

Links between Immune Cells from the Periphery and the Brain in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy: A Narrative Review

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the pathogenesis of epilepsy is linked to neuroinflammation and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Peripheral immune cell invasion into the brain, along with these responses, is implicitly involved in epilepsy. This review explored the current literature on the association between the peripheral and central nervous systems in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and highlights novel research directions for therapeutic interventions targeting these reactions. Previous experimental and human studies have demonstrated the activation of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the brain. The time required for monocytes (responsible for innate immunity) and T cells (involved in acquired immunity) to invade the central nervous system after a seizure varies. Moreover, the time between the leakage associated with blood–brain barrier (BBB) failure and the infiltration of these cells varies. This suggests that cell infiltration is not merely a secondary disruptive event associated with BBB failure, but also a non-disruptive event facilitated by various mediators produced by the neurovascular unit consisting of neurons, perivascular astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and endothelial cells. Moreover, genetic manipulation has enabled the differentiation between peripheral monocytes and resident microglia, which was previously considered difficult. Thus, the evidence suggests that peripheral monocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of seizures.