Ultrastructural investigation of intact orbital implant surfaces using atomic force microscopy

This study examined the surface nanostructures of three orbital implants: nonporous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), porous aluminum oxide and porous polyethylene. The morphological characteristics of the orbital implants surfaces were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM topography, phase shift and deflection images of the intact implant samples were obtained. The surface of the nonporous PMMA implant showed severe scratches and debris. The surface of the aluminum oxide implant showed a porous structure with varying densities and sizes. The PMMA implant showed nodule nanostructures, 215.56 ± 52.34 nm in size, and the aluminum oxide implant showed crystal structures, 730.22 ± 341.02 nm in size. The nonporous PMMA implant showed the lowest roughness compared with other implant biomaterials, followed by the porous aluminum oxide implant. The porous polyethylene implant showed the highest roughness and severe surface irregularities. Overall, the surface roughness of orbital implants might be associated with the rate of complications and cell adhesion. SCANNING 33: 211–221, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

CO oxidation from syngas (CO and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>) using nanoporous Pt/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst

The concept of “waste-to-wealth” is spreading awareness to prevent global warming and recycle the restrictive resources. To contribute towards sustainable development, hydrogen energy is obtained from syngas (CO and H₂) generated from waste gasification, followed by CO oxidation and CO₂ removal. In H₂ generation, it is key to produce more purified H₂ from syngas using heterogeneous catalysts. In this respect, we prepared Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst with nanoporous structure using precipitation method, and compared its catalytic activity with commercial alumina (Degussa). Based on the results of XRD and TEM, it was found that metal particles did not aggregate on the alumina surface and showed high dispersion. Optimum condition for CO conversion was 1.5 wt% Pt loaded on Al₂O₃ support, and pure hydrogen was obtained after removal of CO₂ gas.     

Multistage access network for bidirectional DWDM transmission using ASE-injected FP-LD

We propose a novel optical distribution network for multistage optical access network with multiple remote nodes (RNs) using 4skip0 filters. The system can be implemented by use of 1/spl times/N arrayed waveguide grating in the central office, cascaded RNs, and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). It also employs colorless ONUs based on incoherent light injected Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot laser diodes for low operation and maintenance cost. Experiment shows error-free transmission with simultaneous bidirectional 1.25 Gb/s per channel up to 20 km.     

A spatially and temporally correlated fading model for arrayantenna applications

In this paper, a new channel model is proposed. Since it is spatially and temporally correlated simultaneously, this new model is well consistent with the real environment of array antenna applications. The widely used sum of scattered waves and the measurement-based model have a common drawback of imperfect statistical properties, reducing the reliability of simulation results. The new model (spatially and temporally correlated fading model [STCFM]) is derived rigorously in the spatiotemporal domain so that it can provide high accuracy for the evaluation of the array antenna system. Simulation results show that direction of arrival (DOA) and angle of spread (AOS) are well defined in STCFM, BPSK with two-branch maximal ratio combining and DBPSK with differential detection are considered to verify the spatial and temporal correlation robustness of the new model, respectively. As is shown, the simulation results agree well with the theory     

Fabrication of tin oxide film by sol–gel method for photovoltaic solar cell system

Transparent conducting tin(IV) oxide thin films have been developed with a sol–gel method, which is a low-cost process for the electrode materials of solar cell substrate. The precursor solution was made of tin isopropoxide dissolved in isopropyl alcohol. The hydrolysis rate was controlled by the addition of triethanolamine. Dipping and spin-coating technique were applied to coat tin oxide on borosilicate glass. The resistivity of the thin film was lower than 0.01 Ω-cm and the transmittance was higher than 90% in a visible range.     

Investigation of Sn Whisker Growth in Electroplated Sn and Sn-Ag as a Function of Plating Variables and Storage Conditions

Sn whiskers are becoming a serious reliability issue in Pb-free electronic packaging applications. Among the numerous Sn whisker mitigation strategies, minor alloying additions to Sn have been proven effective. In this study, several commercial Sn and Sn-Ag baths of low-whisker formulations are evaluated to develop optimum mitigation strategies for electroplated Sn and Sn-Ag. The effects of plating variables and storage conditions, including plating thickness and current density, on Sn whisker growth are investigated for matte Sn, matte Sn-Ag, and bright Sn-Ag electroplated on a Si substrate. Two different storage conditions are applied: an ambient condition (30°C, dry air) and a high-temperature/high-humidity condition (55°C, 85% relative humidity). Scanning electron microscopy is employed to record the Sn whisker growth history of each sample up to 4000 h. Transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and focused ion beam techniques are used to understand the microstructure, the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), oxidation, the Sn whisker growth mechanism, and other features. In this study, it is found that whiskers are observed only under ambient conditions for both thin and thick samples regardless of the current density variations for matte Sn. However, whiskers are not observed on Sn-Ag-plated surfaces due to the equiaxed grains and fine Ag₃Sn IMCs located at grain boundaries. In addition, Sn whiskers can be suppressed under the high-temperature/high-humidity conditions due to the random growth of IMCs and the formation of thick oxide layers.     

Spin transfer torque and tunneling magnetoresistance dependences on finite bias voltages and insulator barrier energy

We investigate the dependence of perpendicular and parallel spin transfer torque (STT) and tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) on the insulator barrier energy of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). We employed the single orbit tight binding model combined with the Keldysh non-equilibrium Green's function method in order to calculate the perpendicular and parallel STT and the TMR in the MTJ with finite bias voltages. The dependences of the STT and TMR on the insulator barrier energy are calculated for semi-infinite half metallic ferromagnetic electrodes. We find a perfect linear relation between the parallel STT and the tunneling current for a wide range of insulator barrier energy. Furthermore, the TMR also depends on the insulator barrier energy, contradicting Julliere's simple model.     

Texturing behaviours of (K0.47Na0.51Li0.02)(Nb0.8Ta0.2)O3 piezoelectric ceramics produced using NaNb1-xTaxO3 templates

Textured (K_0.47Na_0.51Li_0.02)(Nb_0.8Ta_0.2)O₃ (KNLNT20) piezoelectric ceramics were prepared using NaNb_1?xTa_xO₃ templates. The highest degree of grain orientation (97%) and piezoelectric constant (342 pC/N) were obtained upon adding 3 wt% of the NaNb_0.8Ta_0.2O₃ (NNT20) template and sintering at 1150 °C for 1 h. Back-scattered scanning electron micrographs of the textured KNLNT20 samples sintered at 1150 °C for 1 h indicated the presence of templates similar in size to the original ones within the cores of the textured grains. The peak value of the dielectric constant corresponding to the NNT20 core decreased after prolonged holding at 1150 °C, owing to a decrease in the size of the NNT20 core because of the interdiffusion of K, Na, and Li ions between the NNT20 core and KNLNT20 shell. This interdiffusion also decreased the piezoelectric constant, d₃₃ value of the textured KNLNT20 samples by inducing a change in the chemical composition of the shell region.     

AFM study for morphological characteristics and biomechanical properties of human cataract anterior lens capsules

The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate the morphologies (surface roughness) and biomechanical properties (Young's modulus) of human anterior lens capsules (ALCs) for noncataract and cataract groups using atomic force microscopy. Eight human ALCs obtained during phacoemulsification from patients with senile cataracts (72 ± 13 years) were investigated in both the hydrated and dehydrated conditions. The cataract group showed clearly the proliferated lens epithelial cells (LECs) with a monomorphic cell structure, a diameter of 12.54 ± 4.31 μm, and a height of 0.23 ± 0.04 μm, whereas the control group showed no LECs. A substantial amount of false-positive calcification was observed caused by the deposition of remnants of dried salt solution. Cataract group showed significantly higher surface roughness (382.06 nm, p ≤ 0.001) than control group in the anterior side of ALCs, whereas cataract group showed significantly lower surface roughness (353.79 nm, p ≤ 0.001) than control group in their posterior side. Cataract group showed significantly higher Young's modulus (69.52 kPa, p ≤ 0.001) compared to the control group, regardless of the ALC side. Therefore, it is significant that this study provides a new method to examine the nanostructural characteristic and biomechanical property of human ALCs through a nanometer-scale resolution microscopy technique.