A high resolution negative working resist,LMR-UV,for g- and i-line lithography

LMR-UV (“low molecular weight resist for uv lithography”), a naphthoquinone-diazide sulfonic acid ester of a novolak resin, is a negative working resist. The mechanism of insolubilization of LMR-UV is based on the facts that the naphthoquinone-diazide moiety is decomposed to indenecarboxylic acid (polar compound) by photolysis upon UV irradiation and that the irradiated resist film insolubilizes in a non-polar developer. LMR-UV reliably forms 0.6 μm lines and spaces over a reflective substrate with steps by using a g-line stepper having a 0.35 NA lens. 0.6 μm-wide aluminum patterns over topography are obtained by use of g-line exposure and reactive ion etching. By use of an i-line aligner (NA = 0.42), LMR-UV resolves 0.25 μm space patterns with overhang profiles. The profiles are due to the large absorption coefficient of 3.8 μm^?1. 0.3 μm wide aluminum patterns are formed by i-line exposure and lift-off metallization.     

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been reported to be involved in inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). However, little is known about the role of MMPs in the pathogenesis of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)/Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). To address this issue, we examined the tissue expression and localization of MMPs and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the spinal cord lesions of HAM/TSP using immunohistochemistry. In addition, the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of MMPs and TIMPs of the patients with HAM/TSP were determined using sandwich enzyme immunoassays (SIA) and gelatin zymography. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that collagen IV and decorin immunoreactivity on the basement membrane of CNS parenchymal vessels was partially disrupted where inflammatory mononuclear cells infiltrated in active-chronic lesions of HAM/TSP. In these lesions, MMP-2 (gelatinase A) was immunostained mainly on the surface of foamy macrophages and lymphocytes, whereas MMP-9 (gelatinase B) expression was positive in the intravascular and perivascular mononuclear cells but not on foamy macrophages. In contrast, inactive chronic lesions of the spinal cords of the HAM/TSP contained fewer MMP-2-positive or MMP-9-positive mononuclear cells than active-chronic lesions. Many parenchymal vessels had thickened vascular walls which showed increased immunoreactivity to decorin. SIA revealed that production levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in both blood and CSF were higher in the patients with HAM/TSP than those in non-inflammatory other neurological disease controls (ONDs). Using zymography, proMMP-9 was detected more frequently in the CSF of patients with HAM/TSP than those in ONDs. Taken together, our data indicate that MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play an important role in the blood-brain barrier breakdown and tissue remodeling in the CNS of HAM/TSP.     

Development of a high‐definition 32‐in. PDP

We developed the world's smallest‐profile 32‐in. HDTV PDP. By improving the luminous efficiency, a luminance of 650 cd/m² and power consumption (discharge and driving circuit) of 200 W or less was achieved. Moreover, incorporating an advanced color compensating (ACC) filter improved the PDP's color‐reproduction capability, better than that of CRTs.     

Wireless network coding in slotted aloha with two-hop unbalanced traffic

This paper deals with two representative unbalanced traffic cases for two-hop wireless relay access systems employing network coding and a slotted ALOHA protocol. Network coding is a recent and highly regarded technology for capacity enhancement with multiple unicast and multisource multicast networks. We have analyzed the performance of network coding on a two-hop wireless relay access system employing the slotted ALOHA under a balanced bidirectional traffic. The relay nodes will generally undergo this unbalanced multidirectional traffic but the impact of this unbalanced traffic on network coding has not been analyzed. This paper provides closed-form expressions for the throughput and packet delay for two-hop unbalanced bidirectional traffic cases both with and without network coding even if the buffers on nodes are unsaturated. The analytical results are mainly derived by solving queueing systems for the buffer behavior at the relay node. The results show that the transmission probability of the relay node is a design parameter that is crucial to maximizing the achievable throughput of wireless network coding in slotted ALOHA on two-hop unbalanced traffic cases. Furthermore, we show that the throughput is enhanced even if the traffic at the relay node is unbalanced.     

Development of Novel Inhibitors for Histone Methyltransferase SET7/9 based on Cyproheptadine

The histone methyltransferase SET7/9 methylates not only histone but also non‐histone proteins as substrates, and therefore, SET7/9 inhibitors are considered candidates for the treatment of diseases. Previously, our group identified cyproheptadine, used clinically as a serotonin receptor antagonist and histamine receptor (H1) antagonist, as a novel scaffold of the SET7/9 inhibitor. In this work, we focused on dibenzosuberene as a substructure of cyproheptadine and synthesized derivatives with various functional groups. Among them, the compound bearing a 2‐hydroxy group showed the most potent activity. On the other hand, a 3‐hydroxy group or another hydrophilic functional group such as acetamide decreased the activity. Structural analysis clarified a rationale for the improved potency only by tightly restricted location and type of the hydrophilic group. In addition, a SET7/9 loop, which was only partially visible in the complex with cyproheptadine, became more clearly visible in the complex with 2‐hydroxycyproheptadine. These results are expected to be helpful for further structure‐based development of SET7/9 inhibitors.     

Engineering surface and development of a new DNA micro array chip

This paper proposes a new concept of the ‘engineering surface’, which extends the conventional idea of a functional surface by combining it with micro/nano manufacturing technology. Characteristic features and possibilities of the engineering surface are discussed in detail. This paper reviews studies on micro/nano fabrication technologies for advanced materials and evaluation technology for surface function. New fabrication technologies, micro machining and nano forming, are introduced, which will be basic manufacturing processes of the engineering surface. Also, a new surface evaluation technique is introduced for the surface energy of the nano fabricated surface. Design of a new DNA micro array chip is introduced as an example of applications of the engineering surface. Controllability of surface property by nano fabrication is studied.     

Sintering Metal–Organic Framework Gels for Application as Structural Adhesives

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)/coordination polymers are promising materials for gas separation, fuel storage, catalysis, and biopharmaceuticals. However, most applied research on MOFs is limited to these functional materials thus far. This study focuses on the potential of MOFs as structural adhesives. A sintering technique is applied to a zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) gel that enables the joining of Cu substrates, resulting in a shear strength of over 30 MPa, which is comparable to that of conventional structural adhesives. Additionally, systematic experiments are performed to evaluate the effects of temperature and pressure on adhesion, indicating that the removal of excess 2-methylimidazole and the by-product (acetic acid) from the sintered material by vaporization results in a microstructure composed of large spherical ZIF-67 crystals that are densely aggregated, which is essential for achieving a high shear strength.     

Magnetic fluid grinding of advanced ceramic balls

A new method of finishing advanced ceramics, namely, magnetic fluid grinding with a float, has been developed especially for Si₃N₄ balls. The removal mechanism in this process and the optimum grinding conditions have been studied in the last seven years. In this paper, the results from the published papers are surveyed and summarized from the viewpoints of removal rate, surface roughness and sphericity of balls. From this review, it was found that magnetic fluid grinding can be applied to the rough finishing process at high speed. However, if a sphericity smaller than 0.1 μm is required, some new ideas are necessary.     

Current rectification with poly-l-lysine-coated quartz nanopipettes

Ion current rectification with quartz nanopipette electrodes was investigated through the control of the surface charge. The presence and absence of a positively charged poly-l-lysine (PLL) coating resulted in the rectified current with opposite polarity. The results agreed with the theories developed for current-rectifying conical nanopores, suggesting the similar underlying mechanism among asymmetric nanostructure in general. This surface condition dependence can be used as the fundamental principle of multi-purpose real-time in vivo biosensors.