Effects of nitrogen substitution in amorphous carbon films on electronic structure and surface reactivity studied with x-ray and ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopies

We investigated the effects of incorporating a very low percentage of nitrogen on the local and the electronic structure of amorphous carbon (a-C) using X-ray pho- toelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon films (a-CNx) with varying nitrogen content, were prepared by a thermal decomposition method using a mixture of CH4 + NH3 under atmosphere. A slight shift of the C 1s core-level spectrum toward the higher binding energy (BE) side was detected in a-CNx as a function of nitrogen content. This was interpreted as a charge transfer between carbon and nitrogen atoms rather than as a shift of the Fermi level (EF). The C 1s peak shifts can be explained by the presence of two kinds of C{N local structures and the charge transferred bulk C{C compo- nents by nitrogen atoms. The two kinds of deconvoluted C 1s components could be well correlated with the two N 1s components. Two localized states were detected below the EF in UPS spectra of a-CNx, which could be assigned to defect bands. These defects played a significant role in the surface reactivity, and were stabilized in a-CNx. The adsorption and reaction of NO were carried out on a-CNx as well as a-C films. It was found that both defect sites and O2- species were responsible on a-C, while O2- species were selectively active for NO adsorption on a-CNx. We concluded that nitrogen doping reduces defect density to stabilize the surface of a-C, while at the same time inducing the selective adsorption capability of NO

炭素繊維の機械的特性へのナノ構造の影響

要約のみTohoku University岡部朋永課

A Technique for Measurement of Cattle Form Using a Trail 3D Digital Camera

Measurement of weight and form are important for the management of grazing cattle; however, form measurement is seldom carried out. Recently, use of 3D digital cameras has been increasing, and 3D-technology for reconstruction of 3D pictures has been developed. The measurement of withers and hip height of cattle from 3D pictures using the image-analysis technique has been reported (Kida et al. 2012). However, time and effort are required to obtain 3D images of grazing cattle in pastures. Here, we examined an automatic photographic technique using a sensor camera

Characterization of SrTiO3 target doped with Co ions, SrCo Ti1−O3−δ, and their thin films prepared by pulsed laser ablation (PLA) in water for visible light response

SrTiO3(STO) and Co-doped SrTiO3(Co-STO) sintered targets were synthesized at 1573 K, then underwent pulsed laser ablation (PLA) to prepare their thin films. The targets showed clear XRD peaks of the STO until the doped Co amount reached 30% denoted as Co(30)-STO. Doped Co ions were substituted with octahedrally coordinated Ti ions as the Co2+ state, which was proved by the Co 2p satellite peaks in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra. The STO and Co(30)-STO targets were treated to evaluate their charge compensation as follows; sputtered by an Ar ion gun, exposed to air, reduction with hydrogen at 1073 K, then exposed to air, and oxidized at 1073 K. Following exposure of the Ar-sputtered target to the air, charge transfer reactions occurred among Co2+,Ti3+,O2- and Sr2+ species which were clarified by their XPS spectra. The origin of two kinds of O 1s spectra detected at 530 and 533 eV was studied by these five treatments and was assigned to the bulk and surface oxygen species, respectively. The PLA of the STO and Co-STO targets was carried out in water at 355 nm and with a constant laser fluence. The atomic ratios of the Ti/Sr and Co/Sr as well as that for the two kinds of O 1s spectra of the LA thin films were studied. The effect of the doped Co ions in the crystal structure of the thin films was studied by the XRD peak shift of the SrTiO3 (110) face. Diffuse reflectance spectra revealed a quantum-sized effect for the r.t. deposited STO thin film, and a d-d transition and charge transfer band for the Co-STO targets. Photo-degradation of methylene blue was carried out on the PLA thin films under very weak power (0.7 mW) visible light at 460 nm from which a quantum yield was obtained to evaluate the role of the doped Co ions in the STO

Imprinting modulates processing of visual information in the visual wulst of chicks

BACKGROUND: Imprinting behavior is one form of learning and memory in precocial birds. With the aim of elucidating of the neural basis for visual imprinting, we focused on visual information processing. RESULTS: A lesion in the visual wulst, which is similar functionally to the mammalian visual cortex, caused anterograde amnesia in visual imprinting behavior. Since the color of an object was one of the important cues for imprinting, we investigated color information processing in the visual wulst. Intrinsic optical signals from the visual wulst were detected in the early posthatch period and the peak regions of responses to red, green, and blue were spatially organized from the caudal to the nasal regions in dark-reared chicks. This spatial representation of color recognition showed plastic changes, and the response pattern along the antero-posterior axis of the visual wulst altered according to the color the chick was imprinted to. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the thalamofugal pathway is critical for learning the imprinting stimulus and that the visual wulst shows learning-related plasticity and may relay processed visual information to indicate the color of the imprint stimulus to the memory storage region, e.g., the intermediate medial mesopallium

Characteristic Feature of Self-Consistent Mean-Field in Level Crossing Region

A shape change of the self-consistent mean-field induced by a configuration change is discussed within the conventional constrained Hartree-Fock (CHF) theory. It is stressed that a single-particle level crossing dynamics should be treated carefully, because the shape of the mean-field in such a finite many-body system as the nucleus strongly changes depending on its configuration. This situation is clearly shown by applying an adiabatic assumption, where the most energetically favorable single-particle states are assumed to be occupied. The excited HF states and the continuously-connected potential energy curves are given by applying the configuration dictated CHF method. The effect of pairing correlation is discussed in the level crossing region. Triaxial deformed results in our Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculation with Gogny force nicely reproduce the available experimental data of Ge isotopes. From our numerical calculation, it is concluded that the CHFB state is more fragile than the CHF state in the level crossing region.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures and 2 table

Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism may be associated with functional dyspepsia in a Japanese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although familial clustering of functional dyspepsia (FD) has been reported, the role of genetics in the susceptibility to FD is still not well understood. In the present study, the association between serotonin transporter (SERT) gene (<it>SLC6A4</it>) polymorphism and FD was explored.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects were divided into either a postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) group or an epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) group according to the Rome III criteria. The healthy controls were those who had visited a hospital for an annual health check-up. The presence of the <it>SLC6A4 </it>promoter polymorphism, <it>5-hydroxytryptamin transporter gene linked polymorphic region </it>(<it>5-HTTLPR</it>), was then evaluated, and logistic regression analysis was used to test all variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>5-HTTLPR </it>genotype distribution was 448 SS, 174 SL, and 24 LL in controls and 30 SS, 20 SL, and 3 LL in FD subjects. No significant correlation was found between the <it>5-HTTLPR </it>genotype and FD. When the genotypes and subtypes of FD were exploratory evaluated, the SL genotype was significantly associated with PDS [odds ratio (OR) = 2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.16-4.32, <it>P </it>= 0.034 after Bonferroni correction] compared to the SS genotype adjusted for sex and age. Comparison of the SS genotype with the SL/LL genotype also showed a significant association of genotype with PDS (OR = 2.32, 95% CI; 1.23-4.37, <it>P </it>= 0.009).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present results suggest that <it>5-HTTLPR </it>L allele may influence the susceptibility to PDS.</p