Ferroelastic domain structure and phase transition in single-crystalline [PbZn1/3Nb2/3O3]1-x[PbTiO3]x observed via in situ x-ray microbeam

(1-x)Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃ ((1-x)PZN-xPT in short) is one of the most important piezoelectric materials. In this work, we extensively investigated (1-x)PZN-xPT (x = 0.07–0.11) ferroelectric single crystals using in-situ synchrotron μXRD, complemented by TEM and PFM, to correlate microstructures with phase transitions. The results reveal that (i) at 25 °C, the equilibrium state of (1-x)PZN-xPT is a metastable orthorhombic phase for x = 0.07 and 0.08, while it shows coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases for x = 0.09 and x = 0.11, with all ferroelectric phases accompanied by ferroelastic domains; (ii) upon heating, the phase transformation in x = 0.07 is Orthorhombic → Monoclinic → Tetragonal → Cubic. The coexistence of ferroelectric tetragonal and paraelectric cubic phases was in-situ observed in x = 0.08 above Curie temperature (T_C), and (iii) phase transition can be explained by the evolution of the ferroelectric and ferroelastic domains. These results disclose that (1-x)PZN-xPT are in an unstable regime, which is possible factor for its anomalous dielectric response and high piezoelectric coefficient.     

A CMOS multichannel 10-Gb/s transceiver

We describe a CMOS multichannel transceiver that transmits and receives 10 Gb/s per channel over balanced copper media. The transceiver consists of two identical 10-Gb/s modules. Each module operates off a single 1.2-V supply and has a single 5-GHz phase-locked loop to supply a reference clock to two transmitter (Tx) channels and two receiver (Rx) channels. To track the input-signal phase, the Rx channel has a clock recovery unit (CRU), which uses a phase-interpolator-based timing generator and digital loop filter. The CRU can adjust the recovered clock phase with a resolution of 1.56 ps. Two sets of two-channel transceiver units were fabricated in 0.11-/spl mu/m CMOS on a single test chip. The transceiver unit size was 1.6 mm /spl times/ 2.6 mm. The Rx sensitivity was 120-mVp-p differential with a 70-ps phase margin for a common-mode voltage ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 V. The evaluated jitter tolerance curve met the OC-192 specification.     

CODIRO: A New System for Obtaining Data Concerning Consumer Behavior Based on Data Factors of High Interest Determined by the Analyst

The aim of this paper is to propose a new system for the strategic use of customer data that includes and integrates such differing data sources as company databases, mobile telephone networks and Internet data and is a consumer research support system for the discovery of new marketing opportunities. This system, called CODIRO, will be discussed in this paper using a case study of the effects on sales of processed food product television commercials. A system for verifying the validity of consumer behavior models will also be described and discussed. Use of the CODIRO analysis system makes it easy to introduce, into the analytic model, consumer attitude changes and in-store data of many types that have not been used to measure advertising and promotional activity effectiveness in the past.     

Electrophysiological studies of rat substantia nigra neurons in an in vitro slice preparation after middle cerebral artery occlusion

We studied sequential changes in electrophysiological profiles of the ipsilateral substantia nigra neurons in an in vitro slice preparation obtained from the middle cerebral artery-occluded rats. Histological examination revealed marked atrophy and neurodegeneration in the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars reticulata at 14 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Compared with the control group, there was no significant change in electrical membrane properties and synaptic responses of substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons examined at one to two weeks after middle cerebral artery occlusion. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the input resistance and spontaneous firing rate of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons at 13-16 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Furthermore, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials evoked by stimulation of the subthalamus in substantia nigra pars compacta neurons was suppressed at five to eight days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. At the same time excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked by the subthalamic stimulation was increased. Bath application of bicuculline methiodide (50 microM), a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, significantly increased the firing rate of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons from intact rats. These results strongly suggest that changes in electrophysiological responses observed in substantia nigra pars compacta neurons is caused by degeneration of GABAergic afferents from the substantia nigra pars reticulata following middle cerebral artery occlusion. While previous studies indirectly suggested that hyperexcitation due to deafferentation from the neostriatum may be a major underlying mechanism in delayed degeneration of substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons after middle cerebral artery occlusion, the present electrophysiological experiments provide evidence of hyperexcitation in substantia nigra pars compacta neurons but not in pars reticulata neurons at the chronic phase of striatal infarction.     

Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new gram-positive coccus with LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall

A new gram-positive, nonmotile coccus is described. Strains IFO 12422T (T = type strain) and IFO 15385 in the Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, culture collection, which were isolated from soil and water, respectively, have the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: menaquinone MK-9(H4); G + C content of DNA of 67 mol%; and LL-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of ca. 1:2:1:1 (type A3 gamma). Mycolic acids are not present. The taxonomic characteristics of these organisms are different from those of previously described gram-positive, high-G + C-content cocci. The partial 16S rRNA sequence indicated that IFO 12422T represents a distinct line of descent among gram-positive bacteria with a high G + C content. The name Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain IFO 12422.     

Regenerating-mode low-speed operation of sensorless induction motor drive with adaptive observer

Speed estimation methods for sensorless induction motor drives can be divided into two groups. One is based on information about fundamental components of stator currents and voltages. The other is based on high-frequency components injection in stator voltages or currents. The latter may operate stably under zero frequency, which occurs in regenerating mode at low speeds. It, however, causes loss increasing and torque ripple. The former is difficult to operate under zero frequency. The authors propose a stable method categorized in the former group even in regenerating mode at low speeds. The proposed method is based on an adaptive flux observer. First, a new observer gain design is shown. Next, a method avoiding zero-frequency operation with controlling a rotor flux level is proposed.     

Elution of copper from vermiculite with environmentally benign reagents

For the purpose of remediation of soils polluted by heavy metals, the use of some strong synthetic chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been proposed. However, EDTA would not be considered as the preferential choice for the remediation of soil polluted with heavy metals like copper because of its nonbiodegradability and permanent residence in the natural environment. In the present work, some novel environmentally benign chelating agents, glucosamine hydrochloride, chito-oligosaccharide and -asparaginic-N,N-diacetic acid (ASDA) were screened to find alternatives to EDTA by investigating the elution of copper from vermiculite with these reagents and comparing their effectiveness with EDTA. The effects of suspension contact time, reagent concentration and equilibrium pH of the solution on the removal of copper were examined. A stoichiometric amount of EDTA can quantitatively remove copper in both acidic and neutral conditions. Chito-oligosaccharide was a slightly less-effective reagent under acidic conditions compared to EDTA, and an amount well in excess of stoichiometry is required to achieve the maximum removal of copper from vermiculite. Glucosamine hydrochloride shows a relatively weak ability for the liberation of copper. The elution behavior of ASDA was equivalent to EDTA in acidic and neutral media. It was concluded that ASDA is the best substitute for EDTA because of its similar high complexing ability and superior biodegradability.