Synthesis and photosensitivity of acryloylmorpholine copolymers with a pendant (meth)acryloyl group

We have developed new photopolymers that have superior waterproof properties and that can easily interact with polyfunctional acrylate compounds, thus serving as hydrophobic photocrosslinking reagents. Acryloylmorpholine monomers whose homopolymers were less moisture absorbing than the usual water‐soluble polymers but were still water soluble to a good degree, were copolymerized with other acryloyl monomers. We then introduced the photosensitive (meth)acryloyl group to side chains of the resulting polymers. Among six copolymers examined, the copolymers composed of acryloyl morpholine, hydroxyethyl acrylate, ethyl, or methyl methacrylate, and methacryloyl isocyanate were found to have nicely balanced hydrophilicity and waterproof properties, in addition to good compatibility with hydrophobic photocrosslinking reagents. The composite polymers thus obtained were confirmed to be promising photopolymers usable even in a highly humid environment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 684–692, 2003     

Amyloid beta-protein deposition in the leptomeninges and cerebral cortex

To further investigate the process of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) deposition, we determined, using sensitive enzyme immunoassays, the levels of Abeta40 and Abeta42 (Abetas) in the soluble and insoluble fractions of the leptomeninges (containing arachnoid mater and leptomeningeal vessels) and cerebral cortices from elderly control subjects showing various stages of Abeta deposition and from patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). In both locations, insoluble Abeta levels were higher by orders of magnitude than soluble Abeta levels. Soluble Abeta levels in cortices were much lower than those in leptomeninges. In insoluble Abeta in the cortex, Abeta42 was by far the predominant species, and Abeta42 in AD cortices was characterized by the highest degree of modifications in the amino terminus. In contrast, this Abeta42 predominance was not observed in insoluble Abeta in the leptomeninges, which were found to be able to accumulate Abetas to an extent similar to that in the cortex, on a weight basis. The levels of insoluble Abeta in the leptomeninges or cortex generally correlated with the degree of cerebral amyloid angiopathy or the abundance of senile plaque, respectively. However, the presence of plaque-free cortical samples showing significant levels of insoluble Abeta42 suggests that biochemically detectable Abeta accumulation precedes immunocytochemically detectable Abeta deposition in the cortex.     

Photolithographic packaging with selectively occupied repeatedtransfer (PL-Pack with SORT) for scalable film optical linkmultichip-module (S-FOLM)

"Photolithographic packaging (PL-pack) with selectively occupied repeated transfer (SORT)" is proposed for optoelectronic microsystem integration. PL-pack with SORT integrates different types of thin-film device pieces into one substrate with desired configurations using an all-photolithographic process. A process design example is presented for a scalable film optical link multichip-module (S-FOLM). A preliminary estimation reveals that PL-Pack with SORT will achieve III-V epitaxial material saving of <1/100 and module cost reduction of <1/10, compared with flip-chip-bonding-based packaging. The result indicates that the process will save on cost and resources simultaneously. A critical issue is how to simplify the procedure for distributing thin-film device pieces onto a substrate. SORT is found to reduce the distribution step count typically by factor of <1/10-1/10000 compared with the conventional one-by-one method. PL-pack with SORT will be extended to the 3R process (reduce, reuse, recycle), which is generally applied to a variety of device/module fabrications     

Graphite formation on Ni film by chemical vapor deposition

Thin film formation of graphite by chemical vapor deposition using 2-methyl-1,2′-naphthyl ketone as a starting material was carried out on Ni film substrates. On Ni films directly deposited on quartz glass, the graphite films were obtained when the Ni film thickness was above 1 000 Å and above 5 000 Å at 700 °C and 1 000 °C, respectively. Depositions on thinner Ni film substrates comprise amorphous carbon (a-C) or graphite tubes which was owing to the thermal coagulation of the Ni film into droplets. On the other hand, graphite film was obtained on the Ni film with thickness 10 Å when a-C was inserted between the Ni film and the quartz glass. The coagulation of the Ni film is considered to be avoided by inserting a-C layer.     

Solution synthesis of crystallized AMO4 (A=Ba, Sr, Ca; M=W, Mo) film at room temperature

A well-crystallized AMO₄ (A=Ba, Ca, Sr; M=W, Mo) films have been prepared at room temperature through a simple solution reaction in respective alkaline solution at higher pH ranging from 12–14. Adopting the corrosion principle for oxidation of metal substrate, these double oxide films were carried out in presence of chemical driving force without any special apparatus or devices. Hydrogen peroxide was used to enhance the dissolution rate of metal substrates. The driving force for the film formation and growth were high concentration of A²⁺, MO₄²⁻ ions with high pH conditions. Average grain sizes of 8–10 μm with bipyramidal shaped particle were grown to the thickness of about 10–14 μm after 3–6 hours treatment. The crystallization of AMO₄ was characterized by three-dimensional nucleation. This work demonstrates the possibility of fabrication of functional ceramic films directly from the aqueous solution in a single step by solution reactions.     

Coupling ratio control of polymeric waveguide couplers by bending

Directional couplers are successfully fabricated on acrylic substrates using polymers synthesised from deuterated methacrylate and deuterated fluoromethacrylate monomers. The excess loss of a 50 mm long coupler is about 0.7 dB including waveguide and fibre coupling losses. A novel method is proposed for tuning the coupling ratio. By bending the coupler, high precision control of within 1% is attained without optical polarisation dependence.<>     

TRVs and fault clearing stresses in extra-high-voltage radial networks

To cope with the high rate of increase of power demand in the main industrialized districts in Japan, 550-kV transmission systems covering the districts have been reinforced, with most of the main power plants connected directly to these systems. Through 550-/300-kV substations, the majority of power to the districts is supplied by 300-kV systems. To limit the excess short-circuit capacity in the 300-kV systems, they tend to be reconstructed as so-called radial networks. In radial networks with high short-circuit capacity and relatively small number of transmission lines connected to the substation busbars, the rate of rise of TRV can be far higher than standard value. This paper analyzes the transient recovery voltages (TRV) in such extra-high-voltage radial networks in Japan, together with the relevant stresses to circuit-breakers during fault clearings. Future system conditions have also been introduced. As the typical rate of rise of the TRV values, more than twice that of today's standard ones are probable.     

Ectopic accumulation of 99mTc-HMDP in primary lung cancer in comparison with CT findings

Hypertension attributable to pheochromocytoma is a very attractive model for the elucidation of the pathogenesis of hypertension. Sixteen different point mutations in the RET proto-oncogene and 30 mutations in the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene have been identified so far associated with expression of pheochromocytoma. Each of these mutations initiates either the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) (MEN 2A and MEN 2B) or the VHL disease. Certain mutations in both genes are associated with the presence of pheochromocytoma. In general, these pheochromocytomas produce catecholamines that result in hypertension. Therefore, analysis for germline mutations in these genes are of practical value, because susceptibility to these diseases can be predicted in as yet clinically unaffected relatives.     

Electrochemical noise analysis for estimation of corrosion rate of carbon steel in bicarbonate solution

We have investigated the electrochemical noise behavior of carbon steel in fully deaerated aqueous bicarbonate solutions, and discussed the optimum conditions of the noise analysis for estimating corrosion rate of the steel. Noise of the potential difference and of the short-circuit current between two identical steel coupons were successfully measured. The time-series noise patterns were transformed into frequency domain by fast Fourier transformation, and then their power spectrum densities (PSDs) at a frequency were determined to be compared with the corrosion rate. The PSDs of the potential and of the current varied with changing environmental factors of bicarbonate concentration, pH, and immersion time. The factors also controlled the corrosion rate of the steel. The PSDs were associated with the corrosion rate, and then it was found that the PSDs of the potential and of the current showed linear correlation with the corrosion rate in log-log scale. There was also linear relationship between the corrosion rate and a spectral noise resistance obtained from the PSDs of the potential and the current. The linearities of the three correlations were better at a lower analyzed frequency. Furthermore, the PSDs of the current and the noise resistance indicated more linear correlation with the corrosion rate than that of the potential. As the simplicity of the measurement system is additionally considered, it is concluded that the PSD of the current noise at an analyzed frequency of 3 mHz is the optimum conditions for estimating the corrosion rate from 10⁻² to 10⁰ A m⁻² in this study.