Mechanisms of orientational and photoelastic birefringence generation of methacrylates for the design of zero–zero‐birefringence polymers

The intrinsic birefringence Δn⁰ and photoelastic coefficient C of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(2,2,2‐trifluroethyl methacrylate), poly(phenyl methacrylate), and poly(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) were determined. We categorized these methacrylate polymers into four birefringence‐types, even though their molecular structures differed only by the substituents on the side chains. Based on the results of Δn⁰ and C, novel polymers that exhibit neither orientational nor photoelastic birefringence, i.e., zero–zero‐birefringence polymers, were designed and synthesized by quaternary copolymerization system. Furthermore, we confirmed that the mechanisms of orientational birefringence and photoelastic birefringence generation were different in these methacrylate polymers. The conformation of the repeat unit of the polymers was nearly constant during the generation of orientational birefringence. In contrast, the conformation of the repeat unit of the polymers changed during the generation of photoelastic birefringence in the glassy state. These findings demonstrated the reasonability of evaluating orientational and photoelastic birefringence separately, as well as the adequacy of the classification of polymers into four birefringence‐types. Given these results and the fact that zero–zero‐birefringence polymers could be prepared successfully by four‐birefringence type monomers, we demonstrated the reasonability of the method for designing the zero–zero‐birefringence polymers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1330–1338, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A 322 MHz random-cycle embedded DRAM with high-accuracy sensing and tuning

A 16 Mb embedded DRAM macro in a fully CMOS logic compatible 90 nm process with a low noise core architecture and a high-accuracy post-fabrication tuning scheme has been developed. Based on the proposed techniques, 61% improvement of the sensing accuracy is realized. Even with the smallest 5 fF/cell capacitance, a 322 MHz random-cycle access while 32 ms data retention time which contributes to save the data retention power down to 60 /spl mu/W are achieved.     

Passivation effects of deuterium exposure on boron-doped CVD homoepitaxial diamond

The deuterium (hydrogen) passivation effect on acceptors in boron-doped CVD homoepitaxial diamond was studied by electrical (Hall-effect) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements. Deuterium was incorporated into the samples using microwave (MW) deuterium plasma at 673 K for 2–24 h. We observed the progress of acceptor passivation with p-type conduction, which finally resulted in a highly resistive state.     

Effect of rapid sample cooling on efficiency of multiple impurity-atom doping

Shallow and efficient doping of wide band-gap semiconductors has remained one of yet unresolved problems to date. A possible solution to this problem is doping with complexes of a few impurity atoms at a quasi-equilibrium state, which is introduced by controlled cooling of a sample after doping. In this work, (1) we first define a global and quasi-equilibria of our interest based on a simple thermodynamic model for a doped crystal, and then (2) we discuss how the cooling rate affects the probability of impurity-complex formation at a quasi-equilibrium as defined. Our main message is that one should design impurity complexes as small in size as possible which have as large a binding energy as possible. This is a required condition for complex designs when it is difficult to tune the cooling rate.     

Dendritic remodelling of retinal ganglion cells during development of the rat

Investigation of the morphology of ganglion cells in the cat retina has shown that a remarkable reduction in the number of dendritic spines and branches occurs during development of the alpha and beta cell classes. To learn whether dendritic remodelling represents a generalized mechanism of mammalian retinal ganglion cell development, we have examined the morphology of ganglion cells in the retina of the developing rat. The present study has concentrated on type II cells, which retain a great number of dendritic spines and branches in the adult and comprise a large proportion of the population of rat retinal ganglion cells. To reveal fine dendritic and axonal processes, Lucifer yellow was injected intracellularly in living retinae maintained in vitro. Size and complexity of the dendritic trees were found to increase rapidly during an initial stage of development lasting from late fetal life until approximately postnatal day 12 (P12). Dendrites and axons of immature ganglion cells expressed several transient morphological features comprising an excessive number of dendritic branches and spine-like processes, and short, delicate axonal sidebranches. The following developmental stage was characterized by a remarkable decrease in the morphological complexity of retinal ganglion cells and a slowed growth of their dendritic fields. The number of dendritic branches and spines of types I and II retinal ganglion cells declined after P12 to reach a mature level by the end of the first postnatal month. Thus, even cells that retain a highly complex dendritic tree into the adult state undergo extensive remodelling. These results suggest that regressive modifications at the level of the dendritic field constitute a generalized mechanism of maturation in mammalian retinal ganglion cells.     

Osteoclastic features of multinucleated giant cells responding to synthetic hydroxyapatite implanted in rat jaw bone.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) that responded to synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) implanted in rat mandibles were studied with electron microscopy. HAP used in this study sintered at 200 degrees C (HAP200) and at 125 degrees C (HAP1250) after the synthesis by a wet method. One to three weeks after the intraosseous implantation of HAP, MGCs responding to HAP200 had not only well-developed ruffled border and the clear zone but well-developed perinuclear Golgi complex, many mitochondria and vesicles in their cytoplasms. MGCs responding to HAP1250 had the clear zone, but not the ruffled border although they showed similar cytoplasmic features to those of MGCs responding to HAP200. They merely extended short slender cytoplasmic processes to HAP1250. These results suggest that although osteoclast-like MGCs respond to HAP implanted in the bone, the development of the ruffled border-clear zone system depends on physicochemical properties of HAP.     

Fully methylated oriC with negative superhelicity forms an oriC-membrane complex before initiation of chromosome replication

In an in vitro assay, the oriC DNA has been shown to bind to the outer membrane fraction only when it is hemimethylated (G.B. Ogden et al., Cell, 54, 127-135,1988). In this report, however, we demonstrated that a significant amount of the oriC DNA was recovered from the cells just before initiation with the oriC DNA being fully methylated. Formation of this preinitiation oriC-membrane complex and following initiation of chromosome replication were strongly inhibited by novobiocin, a DNA gyrase B subunit inhibitor, which reduced the superhelicity of the reporter plasmid in the cells. On the other hand, both reactions proceeded in the presence of nalidixic acid, a DNA gyrase A subunit inhibitor, which did not have the effect of reducing the superhelicity. These results suggest that the negative superhelicity of the DNA is required for preinitiation oriC-membrane complex formation and following initiation event of replication.