A study of protein A-gold resolution for immunoelectron microscopy

For the purpose of investigating a topographical correlation between antigen molecules and protein A-gold(PAG) particles which localized as an immunocytochemical probe, the simplest model on a localization pattern of antigen molecules, which were arranged two-dimensionally on a plane surface of the resin, was used. Ultrathin sections of a G-actin layer, which was adsorbed on epoxy resin and was re-embedded subsequently in JB-4 resin, was stained indirectly with rabbit anti-actin antibody and subsequently by PAG. From this immunoelectron microscopy, a histogram (relative frequency, denoted by y vs. relative length, denoted by x) was obtained using a computer-assisted method. For this histogram, a fitting curve was calculated by a least squares optimization and three parameters (H, U, and W) of the curve which could be useful for a study on the topographical organization of antigen molecules were estimated. Parameter H (maximum y of the curve) would reflect the maximum amount of epitopes at x = U. Half width W, which is the width of the curve at y = H/2, would reflect a breath of epitope masses. This fitting curve was separated into two overlapping curves whose Ws were different from each other. The one constituent curve of which value W was smaller than the other was regarded as a unit curve and the other constituent curve could be resolved into many unit curves whose W values are the same. From these unit curves, the resolution power of the immunoelectron microscopy, using a post-embedding procedure of ultrathin sections, was estimated as 58–66 A°.     

Effect of annealing on photovoltaic properties and microstructure of conventional and inverted organic solar cells using active bilayer based on liquid‐crystal semiconducting polymer and fullerene

Conventional and inverted organic solar cells of poly[9,9‐dioctyl‐fluorene‐co‐bithiophene] (F8T2) as liquid‐crystal semiconducting polymer and fullerene as electron acceptor were fabricated and characterized. An effect of thermal treatment of the films on annealing condition near glass transition was investigated for tuning optimization and improving the photovoltaic and optical properties. Annealing treatment below the glass transition improved the photovoltaic performance and carrier diffusion in crystal growth of active layer. The X‐ray diffraction patterns indicate a crystalline structure with molecular order of F8T2 in crystal index, 100 as a layer distance between sheets of F8T2 chains. The photovoltaic properties were based on molecular interactions with molecular ordering in active layer at crystal state. As the photovoltaic mechanisms, the F8T2 thin film as p‐type semiconducting polymer worked for electron‐donor layer to support light‐induced generation, carrier diffusion and charge transfer near interface in active layer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microstructure of ion-implanted region in TiNi alloy

TiNi alloy samples implanted with various fluences of 3 MeV Cu²⁺ ions were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffractometer. Cross-sectional TEM images of the samples showed that amorphous region was seen at the fluence of 10¹⁴ ions cm^?2 in case of ion implantation at 300 K of the substrate temperature, but in case of ion implantation at 100 K it did not appear even at 10¹⁵ ions cm^?2. These results were also confirmed by X-ray diffraction profiles of the same samples. Consequently, the extent of microstructure change of TiNi alloy by ion implantation was different depending on the substrate temperature.     

Space charge behavior in polymer film based on increment of capacitance under AC high field

Polymer materials have excellent dielectric and insulation properties; however, those properties in AC high field region have not been known well. Recently we established an evaluation method of high‐field AC dissipation current waveform of polymer materials 1 . AC dissipation current waveforms of polyethylene and polypropylene films show nonlinear distortion in AC high‐field region. This nonlinearity was thought to be related to the behavior of AC space charge formation in the sample near electrodes. The properties of space charge formed under AC high field at power frequency seem to differ from those formed under DC high field. The measurement of AC space charge distribution is not so easy due to the resolution limit of the space charge measurement. We studied the dielectric properties of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film under AC high field up to 120 °C. It was found that tan δ, AC dissipation current (Ixr), and unbalanced component of capacitive current (ΔIxc) increased when the temperature became higher. In particular, ΔIxc increased above some threshold field and was considered to be due to the AC space charge formation. This AC space charge layer near electrode is thought to be formed due to carrier injection under AC high‐field application. Usually, the carrier mobility becomes smaller on lowering the temperature. Most of the carriers injected from the electrode are trapped near the electrode in the sample film. But in the high‐temperature region, the carrier mobility becomes larger and the carrier injection starts to increase from lower field. Many more carriers are injected from the electrode. It is thought that some of the injected carriers are trapped inside the sample film; the others go through the sample to the opposite side. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 141(2): 8–16, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10018     

Spatial correlation coefficients of rainfall intensity inferred from statistics of rainfall intensity and rain attenuation

On the basis of the reliable statistics of rainfall rate and rainfall attenuation for 8 localities in Europe, the spatial correlation coefficient of point rainfall intensity was inferred for each locality from the cumulative distributions of attenuation and rainfall intensity by inversely applying the modified Morita and Higuti rainfall attenuation prediction method. It was found that for European regions the spatial correlation coefficient with an exponential dependence on the horizontal distance is more appropriate for the prediction of rainfall attenuation than that proposed by Morita and Higuti for the Japanese climate. It was also found that although the spatial correlation characteristic varies significantly from one locality to another its variance is not so significant within a particular ccir rainfall climatic zone. This suggests that in predicting the rainfall attenuation it is desirable to employ the spatial correlation coefficient appropriate for the locality to be estimated.     

The growth of carbon coating layers on iron particles and the effect of alloying the iron with silicon

Magnetic fine particles of metallic Fe coated with graphitic carbon layers were synthesized by annealing Fe₂O₃ particles with carbon powders at 1673 K in nitrogen atmosphere. For comparison, SiC was added to Fe₂O₃. X-ray diffraction measurement showed that the lattice constants of Fe changed depending on the Si contents. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed that Fe-Si alloys were formed by the Si addition and that the iron carbide disappeared. Electron microscope images revealed that the thickness of carbon coating layers increased from 24 nm to 36 nm as a result of the Si addition. Soaking tests showed that the corrosion resistance of the carbon-coated Fe particles was improved by the addition of Si. The results suggest that Si caused C to leave the Fe cores and move to the surface to form a carbon coating.     

Control of SF6 discharge gap switch by XeCl excimer laser

Experimental studies have been carried out on triggering characteristics of the SF₆ discharge gap switch by use of XeCl excimer laser (wavelength = 308 nm). First, laser irradiation characteristics are studied on a pure SF₆ in the pressure range of p = 160 ～ 3,800 torr. Using a lens of f (focal length) = 133 mm, the laser is irradiated into the gas, where the energy absorption is studied. If the laser is injected into the gas with the energy above a certain threshold for the breakdown, the rate of energy absorption is found to be ～ 17 percent of the incident energy at p > 760 torr. Injecting the laser into the SF₆-filled gap switch (gap length = 7 mm, p = 760 torr), we have studied the triggering characteristics. Excellent triggering characteristics were obtained; delay time for the discharge ～ 20 ns, and the jitter ～ 260 ps when the gap voltage is operated at 99 percent of the self-breakdown voltage. In addition, the triggering characteristics are studied by changing the focusing point axially. It is found that both the delay time and the jitter decrease when the focusing point tends to approach the high-voltage electrodes.