Novel electro-optic properties of epitaxially grown (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O3 (PLZT) thin films derived by advanced sol–gel methods

Advanced sol–gel methods using a secondary solvent addition into (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O₃ (PLZT) sol–gel solution and a methanol pre-treatment of sapphire substrates are demonstrated. For the secondary solvent addition, the additive affected the crystallinity and electro-optic (EO) property of PLZT films and only methanol addition can improve them. In addition, the methanol pre-treatment is also appeared to be effective to improve film characteristics.

Through these optimizations, epitaxially grown PLZT thin films on r-cut sapphire are obtained and a high Pockels coefficient which is comparable to those of bulk PLZTs is achieved. It is believed that these PLZT thin films are applicable for integrated EO devices and open the door for the future data communication systems.     

Involvement of brain serotonergic function in lidocaine-induced convulsions in mice

Influences of drug-induced manipulations of central serotonergic function on lidocaine- and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions were examined in mice. Agents that suppressed serotonergic transmission increased, whereas drugs that facilitated serotonin (5-HT) function decreased the incidence of lidocaine-induced convulsions. These treatments had similar influences on the incidence of PTZ-induced convulsions. Lidocaine (10(-5)-10(-3) M) reduced the stimulation evoked [3H]5-HT release from cortical slices, followed with an increased spontaneous [3H] overflow at higher concentrations. These results may suggest that brain 5-HT neurons are causally involved as inhibitory neurons in lidocaine-induced convulsions as in the case of PTZ-induced convulsions.     

Investigation into the therapeutic efficacy of continuous isoproterenol inhalation in relation to respiratory infections in asthmatic children

In our Department, continuous isoproterenol inhalation therapy has been conducted on status asthmatics over the last 10 years. In the present study, we investigated whether there are any differences in the therapeutic efficacy of continuous inhalation of isoproterenol in the presence or absence of respiratory infections which may induce or aggravate asthma attacks. The treatment period was significantly longer in patients with pneumonia. Further prolongation of the treatment period was noted in patients with atelectasis. However, there were no apparent differences in therapeutic efficacy according to age or the severity of attacks. These findings suggest that continuous inhalation of isoproterenol is very effective for status asthmatics if respiratory infections are thoroughly controlled.     

Spontaneous hemorrhage of an adrenal cortical adenoma causing Cushing''s syndrome

A modified surgical splint for Le Fort I osteotomies with transverse expansion is presented. The splint is made of a transpalatal stainless steel bar with acrylic abutment against the palatal surface of the molar and bicuspid tooth. It is rigid and renders excellent retention. It causes minimal patient discomfort, and oral hygiene is hardly compromised.     

Oxidation behaviours of carbon/carbon composite with multi-coatings of LaB6-Si/polycarbosilane/SiO2

The influence of multi-coatings of LaB₆-Si/polycarbosilane/SiO₂ on the oxidation behaviour of carbon/carbon composite materials was investigated in the temperature range from 500 to 1400 °C. The additives of LaB₆-Si offered lower oxidation rates and accelerated increases in oxidation rates at temperatures below 900 °C. The coating of polycarbosilane (PCS) improved the compatibility of the coating on the carbon/carbon composite and lowered the oxidation rates of the LaB₆-Si coated composite below the transition temperature. With the SiO₂ coating, the cracks of the LaB₆-Si/PCS coating was sealed and a good oxidation resistance of the LaB₆-Si/PCS/SiO₂ coated composite was found at temperatures up to 1300 °C.     

The Gmicro/500 superscalar microprocessor with branch buffers

The Gmicro/500, which features a RISC-like dual-pipeline structure for high-speed execution of basic instructions and represents a significant advance for the TRON architecture, is presented. Upwardly-object-compatible with earlier members of the Gmicro series, this microprocessor uses resident dedicated branch buffers to greatly enhance branch instruction execution speed. Its microprograms simultaneously use dual execution blocks to execute high-level language instructions effectively. Fabricated with a 0.6-μm CMOS technology on a 10.9-mm×16-mm die, the chip operates at 50/66 MHz and achieves a processing rate of 100/132 MIPS     

Gas permeation property of polyaniline films

We examined the influence of polyaniline (PAn)'s unit sequence and doping with low molecular weight dopants or polymer dopants on permeation property. It was found that CO₂ permeability was increased by the formation of a quinonediimine unit in PAn with the oxidation. CO₂ sorption amount of PAn was decreased by oxidation. The increase of CO₂ permeability with oxidation, therefore, resulted from the increase of diffusivity, which was attributable to morphological variation by the increase of a quinonediimine unit. The permselectivity of PAn films was found to be remarkably improved by doping. In particular, the selectivity value of the PAn film doped with polyvinyl sulphonic acid as a polymer dopant went up to over 2,000. This remarkable increase of selectivity was found to result in the increase of selectivity, depending on diffusivity. It was also found that the permselectivity of the PAn film doped by polymer dopants was surpassed, as compared with that doped by low molecular dopants. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural features of inclusion complexes of γ-cyclodextrin with various polymers

The crystalline structures of inclusion complexes of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) with poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(propylene glycol) and poly(isobutylene) were studied by electron microscopy, in combination with X-ray diffraction works and measurements of thermal properties by DSC and TGA. The crystalline structure of as-prepared complexes was tetragonal and its cell dimensions were a = b = 2.380 nm and c = 1.48 nm. When an as-prepared sample was dried in a vacuum at room temperature, the tetragonal modification was transformed into the monoclinic one with the projected cell dimensions of a = 1.75, b = 1.36 nm and γ = 110°. The transformation occurred by progressive ‘shifting’ of rows of polymer necklaces in the [110] direction along the (110) plane in an original tetragonal lamellar crystal. Complexes lost weight by 10-15% in the process of heating up to 140 °C. The tetragonal crystalline modification was transformed into the hexagonal one, and concurrently, the X-ray diffraction profiles of annealed complexes were broadened. When a sample was dried in a vacuum at room temperature or annealed at high temperatures, followed by exposure to water vapor, the original tetragonal crystalline structure was recovered, restoring the original degree of orientation of crystallites in the sample. When water molecules were removed, the lateral stacking order of γ-CD-polymer complexes was destroyed, but the basic necklace structure in which polymer chains threaded through the cavity of γ-CD rings' structure could be retained.