Memory characteristics of platinum nanoparticle-embedded MOS capacitors

The capacitance characteristics of platinum nanoparticle (NP)-embedded metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with gate Al₂O₃ layers are studied in this work. The capacitance versus voltage (C–V) curves obtained for a representative MOS capacitor exhibit flat-band voltage shifts, demonstrating the presence of charge storages in the platinum NPs. The counterclockwise hysteresis and flat-band voltage shift, observed from the C–V curves imply that electrons are stored in a floating gate layer consisting of the platinum NPs present between the tunneling and control oxide layers in the MOS capacitor and that these stored electrons originate from the Si substrate. Moreover, the charge remains versus time curve for the platinum NP-embedded MOS capacitor is investigated in this work.     

Iterative method for dynamic condensation combined with substructuring scheme

An iterated improved reduced system (IIRS) procedure combined with substructuring scheme for both undamped and nonclassically damped structures is presented. Iterated IIRS method is an efficient reduction technique because the highly accurate eigenproperties from the repeatedly updated condensed matrices can be obtained without consuming expensive computational cost. However, single domain direct approach of this method to large structures requires much computational resources and even makes analysis intractable in the case only limited computer storage is available. These problems can be overcome by combining the substructuring scheme with IIRS procedure. The newly developed IIRS method combined with a substructuring scheme can provide an efficient methodology for large-scale eigenvalue problems. The validation of the present method and the evaluation of computational efficiency are demonstrated through the numerical examples.     

Scanning ion conductance microscopy for imaging biological samples in liquid: a comparative study with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

The present study was designed to show the applicability of scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) for imaging different types of biological samples. For this purpose, we first applied SICM to image collagen fibrils and showed the usefulness of the approach-retract scanning (ARS)/hopping mode for such samples with steep slopes. Comparison of SICM images with those obtained by AFM revealed that the ARS/hopping SICM mode can probe the surface topography of collagen fibrils and chromosomes at nanoscale resolution under liquid conditions. In addition, we successfully imaged cultured HeLa cells, with 15 μm in height by ARS/hopping SICM mode. Because SICM can obtain non-contact (or force-free) images, delicate cellular projections were visualized on the surface of the fixed cell. SICM imaging of live HeLa cells further demonstrated its applicability to study the morphological dynamics associated with biological processes on the time scale of minutes under liquid conditions. We further applied SICM for imaging the luminal surface of the trachea and succeeded in visualizing the surface of both ciliated and non-ciliated cells. These SICM images were comparable with those obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Although the dynamic mode of AFM provides better resolution than the ARS/hopping mode of SICM in some samples, only the latter can obtain contact-free images of samples with steep slopes, rendering it an important tool for observing live cells as well as unfixed or fixed soft samples with complicated shapes. Taken together, we demonstrate that SICM imaging, especially using an ARS/hopping mode, is a useful technique with unique capabilities for imaging the three-dimensional topography of a range of biological samples under physiologically relevant aqueous conditions.     

Precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 in B0→(cc¯)K0 decays

We present a precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 and the direct CP violation parameter A(f) using the final data sample of 772×10(6) BB[over ˉ] pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is reconstructed in a J/ψK(S)(0), ψ(2S)K(S)(0), χ(c1)K(S)(0), or J/ψK(L)(0) CP eigenstate and its flavor is identified from the decay products of the accompanying B meson. From the distribution of proper-time intervals between the two B decays, we obtain the following CP violation parameters: sin2φ1=0.667±0.023(stat)±0.012(syst) and A(f)=0.006±0.016(stat)±0.012(syst).     

Chemical bonding states and atomic distribution within Zn(S,O) film prepared on CIGS/Mo/glass substrates by chemical bath deposition

Zn(S,O) thin films fabricated on CIGS/Mo/glass substrates by using chemical bath deposition (CBD) in acidic and basic solutions were studied. The Zn(S,O) thin films prepared in acidic solution [A-Zn(S,O) thin film] showed better crystallinity and a more compact surface morphology with larger grains than those prepared in basic solution [B-Zn(S,O) thin film] did. From the analysis of the chemical bonding states, at the initial growth step, the concentration ratio of Zn–O/Zn–S bonds in A-Zn(S,O) thin films was found to be approximately zero, while that in B-Zn(S,O) thin films was approximately equal to 1. The elemental distribution according to depth, determined by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), was shown to be uniform throughout both the A- and B-Zn(S,O) thin films. To reduce the number of Zn–O bonds in the B-Zn(S,O) thin films, the samples were post-annealed at up to 300 °C under vacuum, after which the concentration ratio of Zn–O/Zn–S bonds decreased by about 71% without any change in the crystallinity or surface morphology.     

In situ monitoring of nucleation and evolution of Ge nanodots on faintly oxidized Si(1 1 1) surfaces

We have investigated the nucleation and evolution of germanium (Ge) nanodot (ND)s taking place while depositing Ge onto the silicon (Si) (1 1 1) surfaces with ultra-thin Si oxide films by using ultra-high vacuum in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy in the profile-imaging geometry. Various types of growth phenomena such as nucleation, growth and coalescence of Ge NDs have successfully been observed. The results show that the growth phenomena of the Ge NDs are dramatically rapid after their size reaches the size of the critical nucleus. The critical nucleus size estimated from a model using the cohesive energy of the Ge NDs has been consistent with observed one.     

Structural and electrical characterization of PZT on gold for micromachined piezoelectric membranes

Piezoelectric membranes have been fabricated that incorporate a gold bottom electrode with an adhesion layer of titanium–tungsten (10:90 wt. %). For solution-deposited acetic acid based lead zirconate titanate (HoAc-PZT) with a Zr:Ti ratio of 40:60, the film’s average piezoelectric coefficient, e₃₁, is -5.31 C/m², with a dielectric constant of 814 at 200 Hz, which is similar to values for platinum bottom electrodes. The PZT structure remains columnar on both types of bottom electrodes. Initial fabrication attempts resulted in cracking that initiated in the PZT layer of the structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was utilized to establish how processing affects diffusion throughout the composite membrane structure. Crack-free membranes were fabricated and tested. This paper discusses the performance properties and piezoelectric fatigue results for these membranes. PACS 77.84.-s; 77.84.Lf     

First measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays

We report a first measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays, where Xs is a charmless state with unit strangeness. The measurement is based on a pseudoinclusive reconstruction technique and uses a sample of 657×10(6)BB pairs accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. For MXs < 2.6 GeV/c2, we measure a branching fraction of [26.1±3.0(stat)-2.1+1.9(syst)-7.1+4.0(model)]×10(-5) and a direct CP asymmetry of ACP=-0.13±0.04-0.03+0.02. Over half of the signal occurs in the range MXs > 1.8 GeV/c2.     

Photo-activated pheophorbide a inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells

Pheophorbide a (PhA) was identified as a photosensitizer to exert cytotoxicity on tumor cells. However, the efficacy of this compound on the treatment of prostate cancer remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the photodynamic effect of PhA on prostate cancer cells. Cellular uptake of PhA and cell viability after photo-activation was studied in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. The corresponding production of reactive oxygen species within cells was determined after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Our results showed that the uptake of PhA into LNCaP cells was in a time-dependent manner and the cytotoxicity of PhA-PDT was photosensitizer dose- and light dose-dependent. The intracellular reactive oxygen species was remarkably induced after PDT treatment, which was responsible for the inhibition effect on prostate cancer cells. This is the first report to evaluate the photodynamic effect of PhA on prostate cancer. Our findings demonstrate that PhA-PDT may be a potentially promising treatment for localized prostate cancer, which can be a therapeutic option after the failures of radiotherapy and hormone therapy.