Panasonic (China)

Two types of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP), a ceria-stabilized TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite (CZA) and a conventional yttria-stabilized TZP (Y-TZP), were sandblasted with 70-microm alumina and 125-microm SiC powders, then partially annealed at 500-1200 degrees C for five minutes. Monoclinic ZrO2 content was determined by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. Biaxial flexure test was conducted on the specimens before and after the treatments. Monoclinic ZrO2 content and biaxial flexure strength increased after sandblasting, but decreased after heat treatment. However, in both cases, the strength of CZA was higher than that of Y-TZP. Raman spectroscopy showed that a compressive stress field was introduced on the sample surface after sandblasting. It was concluded that sandblasting induced tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation and that the volume expansion associated with such a phase transformation gave rise to an increase in compressive stress on the surface of CZA. With the occurrence of such a strengthening mechanism in the microstructure, it was concluded that CZA was more susceptible to stress-induced transformation than Y-TZP.

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming occurs during preimplantation embryo development. However, it remains largely unclear how the drastic epigenetic reprogramming contributes to transcriptional regulatory network during this period. Here, we develop a single-cell multiomics sequencing technology (scNOMeRe-seq) that enables profiling of genome-wide chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation and RNA expression in the same individual cell. We apply this method to depict a single-cell multiomics map of mouse preimplantation development. We find that genome-wide DNA methylation remodeling facilitates the reconstruction of genetic lineages in early embryos. Further, we construct a zygotic genome activation (ZGA)-associated regulatory network and reveal coordination among multiple epigenetic layers, transcription factors and repeat elements that instruct proper ZGA. Cell fates associated cis-regulatory elements are activated stepwise in post-ZGA stages. Trophectoderm (TE)-specific transcription factors play dual roles in promoting the TE program while repressing the inner cell mass (ICM) program during the ICM/TE separation.

A transparent glass plate was roughened at the submicron level, and then a chemically adsorbed monolayer of a fluorocarbon compound was formed along the glass surface. The monolayer was prepared using the chemical coupling reaction accompanying dehydrochlorination between a chlorosilyl group of the heptadeca-fluorodecyltrichlorosilane (CF 3 (CF 2 ) 7 (CH 2 ) 2 SiCl 3 : HFTS) surface-active agent and a hydroxyl group on the glass surface. The contact angle of the glass surface relative to water was approximately 155 degrees with transmittance kept at 92%. This glass plate may be useful for various products, such as motor vehicles and building window glass.

The nitrogen doping effect on the Ge–Sb–Te recording layer was quantitatively examined. We succeeded in the quantitative analysis of the nitrogen concentration in the Ge–Sb–Te–(N) recording layer by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) observation. The nitrogen concentration could be finely controlled at a high deposition rate of 4.7 nm/s. The addition of a small amount of nitrogen remarkably improved the overwrite cycle numbers. We found that the most suitable nitrogen concentration was from 2 to 3 at%. We proposed a model to explain the nitrogen atom function in the recording layer. The nitrogen atoms produced nitrides, which are condensed near the grain boundaries of Ge–Sb–Te microcrystals. This resulted in the formation of very thin wrappings, which wrap the crystal grain in a manner similar to that of the peel of a peach and suppressed the micro-material flow. We achieved 8×10 5 overwrite cycles at λ=790 nm, N A =0.50 and using the pit position modulation (PPM) recording method where the minimum bit length is 0.87 µm.

Thin films of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system were prepared by sequential deposition of Bi, SrCu, CaCu and SrCu oxides using multitarget sputtering. It was confirmed that the c -axis spacing of lattice planes could be controlled by the variation of the CaCu oxide layer. Also, thin films of the Bi system with the insertion of four Cu-O 2 planes were synthesized. The T c s of the films were found to be 80 K, 110 K and 90 K for the Bi system with two, three and four Cu-O 2 planes, respectively.

Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells with an efficiency of 6.3 % have been prepared on a borosilicate glass substrate of 4s×4 cm2 by successively repeating screen printing and heating (sintering) of each paste of CdS, CdTe and C. The CdS paste consists of CdS, CdCl2, GaCl2 and propylene glycol (PG). The CdTe paste contains CdCl2 and PG, and the C paste contains PG and a small amount of acceptor impurity. During the heating of C paste, an n·CdS/p·CdTe heterojunction is formed. In the most efficient cell, the peak of electron voltaic effect exists within 1 µm of the CdTe side from the CdS/CdTe metallurgical boundary. The C electrode cell is more stable than the previous Cu2Te electrode cell for an accelerated life test. From 25 elemental cells with 4×4 cm2 substrate, a 1 watt module has tentatively been constructed with a module efficiency of 2.9 %.

The absolute fluorescent quantum efficiencies of NBS phosphor standard samples which were excited by a 254nm radiation were measured by a polychromator. The polychromator was calibrated by a conical cavity thermal radiation detector, which used polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films, coated inside with gold black absorber. The effective spectral absorptance of the derector was constant within 0.3% over a wavelength region of 200-600nm. Reproducibility of the absolute fluorescent quantum efficiency was within ±0.02.The relative values of fluorescent quantum emitted per 254nm incident radiation quantum agreed with the NBS data within 3%. The fluorescent quantum efficiency of NBS phosphor standard samples (NBS 1027) was 0.81.

We have previously shown that atrial natriuretic polypeptide is present in the brain with the highest concentration in the hypothalamus and septum and that intracerebroventricular injection of atrial natriuretic polypeptide inhibits water drinking induced by centrally injected angiotensin II or 24-hour water deprivation in rats. To study further the role of brain atrial natriuretic polypeptide in the control of water and electrolyte balance, the effect of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of atrial natriuretic polypeptide on salt appetite in spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats was examined with a free-choice, two-bottle preference test. The intracerebroventricular infusion of 100 ng/hour and 500 ng/hour of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide preferentially suppressed the intake of 0.30 M NaCl solution and attenuated the elevated preference for the hypertonic saline in spontaneously hypertensive rats while centrally infused alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide had no significant effects on drinking behavior in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Blood pressure did not change significantly throughout the experiment in either rat strain. It is concluded that the exaggerated salt appetite in spontaneously hypertensive rats is blunted by centrally administered atrial natriuretic polypeptide. Such an effect of atrial natriuretic polypeptide along with its antidipsogenic effect suggests that brain atrial natriuretic polypeptide plays a role in water and electrolyte homeostasis and in blood pressure control.

The effects of diltiazem, a calcium antagonist, on the development of atherosclerosis were studied in Japanese white rabbits. The rabbits were examined at the end of 10 weeks on the following regimens; a diet of standard pellets and daily intraperitoneal (ip) injections of saline; a diet of pellets containing 1% cholesterol and daily ip injections of saline; or a diet of pellets containing 1% cholesterol and daily ip injections of diltiazem (50 mg). The plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels for the third group were significantly lower than those of the cholesterol diet group. Macroscopically, atheromatous lesions covered 26.7% +/- 6.7% (mean +/- SE) of the intimal surface of the aorta in the second group, and 0.7% +/- 0.3% in the third group (p less than 0.005). The levels of cholesterol, calcium, and uronic acid in the aortic tissue of the second group were significantly higher than those in the third. We concluded that diltiazem administered intraperitoneally suppresses the plasma total and LDL cholesterol elevation induced by the cholesterol diet and inhibits experimentally-induced atherosclerosis.

A novel atomic force microscope (AFM) having a chemical sensing function has been proposed. Using an AFM having a tip on which surface sensor molecules were immobilized, the molecular lengths of chemically adsorbed molecules on the solid surface were discriminated for the first time.

Subband structures and optical gains of both unstrained and biaxial strained wurtzite GaN/AlGaN quantum well (QW) laser diodes (LDs) are theoretically investigated by the 8×8 k \cdotp p theory, with the assistance of the first-principles calculations in the derivation of the required parameters such as deformation potentials. The strong electron affinity and the small spin-orbit coupling of a nitrogen yield much heavier effective masses even in the QWs. It plays an essential role in causing a higher threshold current density for any well length than GaAs/AlGaAs QW LDs. Considering a biaxial strain induced by the lattice mismatch, the optical gain property qualitatively improves for any well length. However, the effect on the reduction of the threshold current density is quantitatively not so effective as GaAs/AlGaAs QW LDs.

yS-Amino proprionitrile (BAPN) at dietary concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 g BAPN/kg rat chow was administered to rats for 14-21 days following surgical constriction of the ascending aorta. Five and 10 g BAPN/kg rat chow prevented the increase in left ventricular collagen content which occurred with cardiac hypertrophy in rats following aortic constriction. In spite of this block in the increase in collagen in the ventricles, isolated trabecular muscles from hypertrophied hearts showed a decrease in maximum velocity of shortening at a preload of 0.5 g/mm 2 (max V) and an increase in time to peak tension as compared with values for sham-operated animals. Max V for rats with aortic constriction was decreased 0.57 muscle length/sec as compared with sham-operated animals (P< 0.01) whereas time to peak tension was prolonged by 12 msec (P < 0.05). In rats with aortic constriction receiving 10 g BAPN/kg rat chow, max V was decreased 0.66 muscle length/sec (P < 0.05), and time to peak tension was prolonged by 21 msec (P < 0.001). Resting tension was increased to 1.70 0.18 (mean SEM) g/mm 2 as compared with shams (1.22 0.10 g/mm 2 ; P < 0.002) in cardiac hypertrophy without BAPN. However, the increase in resting tension was not seen when animals with aortic constriction received 10 g BAPN/kg rat chow [1.23 0.9 g/mm 2 as compared with shams, 1.15 0.09 g/mm 2 (not significant)]. We conclude that the decrease in maximum velocity of shortening and prolongation of time to peak tension in experimental cardiac hypertrophy occur independently of elevated collagen content, whereas elevations in resting tension appear to depend upon an increase in collagen content of these hearts.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) enables the examination of the electrochemical nature of electrodes and electrochemical cells by applying an alternating voltage (or current) and measuring the resulting current (or voltage). The resistance and capacitance components of the electrode can be evaluated by applying an AC voltage and changing the frequency. In particular, analysis using the equivalent circuit can determine important parameters related to the electrochemical reaction of the electrode, such as the charge transfer resistance, electric double-layer capacitance, and Warburg impedance. Moreover, the internal resistance of the cell can be divided into resistances caused by the positive electrode, negative electrode, and electrolyte. Because of these advantages, EIS is a powerful technique used for basic research, such as in identifying the rate-determining step of an electrochemical reaction, and also for applied research, such as characterizing electrochemical devices (e.g., batteries and capacitors). In this paper, the concept of impedance, which represents the relationship between the AC voltage and current, is first explained; then, the AC characteristics of various circuit elements used in equivalent circuits, which are essential for understanding EIS, are described. Finally, treatments of more complex circuits based on transmission-line models (TLMs), which are used to represent equivalent circuits of porous electrodes, are presented. Analyses based on TLMs are the foundation for understanding electrodes for practical applications because porous electrodes are usually used in electrochemical devices.

Lead zirconate-titanate (PZT, PbZr x Ti 1- x O 3 , x =0.2-0.9) films with submicron thickness (600-900 nm) were prepared using an rf -magnetron sputtering technique. The crystal structure and the orientation of the films were studied as a function of the substrate temperature. The relationships between electric properties and the film compositions were elucidated. The films of x =0.90 exhibit a large remanent polarization of 46 µC/cm 2 and small coercive force of 28 kV/cm. In addition, no fatigue after &gt;10 11 cycles under an accelerated bipolar stressing was observed.

Lithium ion conducting glasses were prepared in the system (0.6Li2S⋅0.4SiS2)-Li3PO4 by twin-roller rapid quenching. The temperatures of glass transition (Tg) and crystallization (Tc) were determined for the glassy samples with 0-40mol% Li3PO4. The conductivity values at 25°C (σ25) were maximized and the activation energies (Ea) for conduction were minimized at the composition with 5mol% Li3PO4; the maximum σ25 value was as high as 9×10-4S⋅cm-1. Since the difference between Tg and Tc was also maximized at the same composition, it was concluded that the doping of small amounts of Li3PO4 improved both the glass stability against crystallization and the lithium ion conductivities.

We propose a novel object detection and tracking method in order to detect and track objects necessary to describe contents of a soccer game. On the contrary to intensity oriented conventional object detection methods, the proposed method refers to color rarity and local edge property, and integrally evaluates them by a fuzzy function to achieve better detection quality. These image features were chosen considering the characteristics of soccer video images, that most non-object regions are roughly single colored (green) and most objects tend to have locally strong edges. We also propose a simple object tracking method, that could track objects with occlusion with other objects using a color based template matching. The result of an evaluation experiment applied to actual soccer video showed very high detection rate in detecting player regions without occlusion, and promising ability for regions with occlusion.

Single crystals of Cd 1- x Mn x S ( x ≤0.4) were prepared by Bridgman-Stockbarger method under high gas pressure and electrical and optical properties of these crystals were measured. The mobility of electrons was found to be significantly influenced by the alloy scattering. In the optical absorption spectra, three absorption peaks due to Mn 2+ ions were observed at 455, 480, and 510 mµ, similar to the case of Zn 1- x Mn x S crystals. The band gap of Cd 1- x Mn x S varies anomalously with x ; it shows a minimum at x ∼0.03 and increases linearly with x for x ≥0.1. The reason for the appearance of this minimum at small x has not been understood.

Ferroelectric lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) thin films were successfully fabricated by the multi-ion-beam sputtering technique in an oxygen ambient at a low substrate temperature of 415°C. By inserting lead-lanthanum-titanate (PLT) buffer layers between substrates and PZT films, the perovskite-PZT thin films could be epitaxially grown on (100)MgO, (100)Pt/MgO and (111)Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrates. These films, even at thickness values of as low as 630 Å, showed excellent ferroelectric properties with a remanent polarization of 20 µC/cm 2 , coercive field of 200 kV/cm, and a relative dielectric constant of 700.

Deep impurity levels in InP LEC single crystals have been investigated by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The effects of heat treatment on DLTS and PL signals have been investigated, the results indicating that a deep impurity level whose emission activation energy is 0.42 eV is closely related to the well-known PL emission band at 1.1 eV. It seems that these DLTS and PL signals originate from a certain complex including P vacancies and defects, since some behaviours of these signals can be well explained by a configuration-coordinate model. Two other deep levels with emission activation energies of 0.31 and 0.60 eV have also been observed. The origin of these deep impurity levels might be due to native defects in the InP LEC crystals.

A thin nitride layer formed at the interface of a Ge–Sb–Te recording layer and a ZnS–SiO 2 protective layer successfully suppresses the phenomenon that reflectivity or signal amplitude becomes markedly small due to repeated overwrites. Based on secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) observations, the 5-nm-thick interface layer was found to restrain sulfur atoms in the ZnS–SiO 2 layer from diffusing into the Ge–Sb–Te layer and from changing the optical characteristics of the layer. Among several nitride materials, germanium nitride (Ge–N) sputtered film is found to have the most suitable properties as an interface layer: high barrier effect and good adhesiveness with Ge–Sb–Te and ZnS–SiO 2 layers. The optical disk having the Ge–N interface layer achieves more than 5×10 5 cycles of overwrites with almost no changes in signal amplitude, reflectivity and jitter based on DVD-RAM specifications. The disk shows no degradation such as cracking, peeling, and corrosion after exposure to accelerated environmental conditions of 90°C and 80% RH for 200 h.