IGBT chip current imaging system by scanning local magnetic field

An IGBT / power diode current distribution imaging system was demonstrated. This system can capture current redistribution or oscillation inside or among chips on a DBC-level sub-module. It can perform failure analysis of power semiconductors by detecting problems such as nonuniform current distribution between bonding wires. The system scans the chip’s shape using a laser sensor and then records the local magnetic field near the bonding wire using a 4-axis robot coil sensor. The coil sensor has two pair of Cu patterned spiral coils symmetrically arranged on both sides of a 60-μm-thick polyimide film. The system enables the analysis of destructive current concentrations of the entire chip, among chips or a part of the chip under high current or high voltage switching conditions, without making any changes or disassembling the chip connections.24th European Symposium on Reliability of Electron Devices, Failure Physics and Analysis. Schedule, September 30-October 4, 2013, Venue, Arcachon, Franc

Determinação de ph e potássio em solos do meio norte de mato grosso utilizando eletrodos seletivos de íons

Amostragens de solo em grades regulares na agricultura de precisão são comumente utilizadas comercialmente em campos na região meio norte de Mato Grosso com sucesso. Porém, a confiabilidade dos mapas depende muito da densidade amostral, sendo mais confiáveis quando são mais intensivamente amostrados. Além da limitação técnica da utilização da krigagem com poucos pontos, existe uma necessidade de baratear o custo laboratorial de amostragens intensas. Neste sentido, o objetivo desde trabalho foi determinar o teor de pH e potássio em solos utilizando eletrodos seletivos de íons e também realizar uma comparação de mapas gerados por amostras laboratoriais convencionais comparadas com amostras medidas com eletrodos seletivos de íons. Foram realizadas amostragens em grades regulares de 4 ha em talhões no meio norte de Mato Grosso tentando cobrir uma amplitude de solos representativos da região, sendo realizadas 9 subamostras em cada 4 ha. As amostras foram enviadas para laboratório comercial e também realizadas medidas diretas com eletrodos de íons seletivos em bancada. Resultados preliminares mostram boas correlações entre os métodos, sendo r=0.56 e 0.61, para pH e potássio, respectivamente. Comparações espaciais mostram que além da similaridade entre os mapas houve uma tendência de suavização dos valores para medições feitas com os eletrodos, mostrando mais coerência das manchas dos teores no solo

Magnetic properties of Co film in Pt/Co/Cr₂O₃/Pt structure

Magnetic properties of Co film in Pt/Co/α-Cr₂O₃/Pt/α-Al₂O₃ structure were investigated. Co layer thickness tCo dependence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy density K reveals that the bulk magnetic anisotropy plays an important role in the system in addition to the interfacial anisotropy. Damping constant α monotonically increases with the decrease of tCo but not proportionally to 1/tCo. Both K and α increase with the increase of Pt layer thickness tPt from 3 nm to 5 nm and keeps almost constant in the tPt range between 5 nm to 20 nm. These results are of importance to understand the magnetization switching behavior driven by the magneto-electric (ME) effect as well as to design the spintronics device using the ME effect.T. V. A. Nguyen, Y. Shiratsuchi, H. Sato, S. Ikeda, T. Endoh, and Y. Endo, AIP Advances 10, 015152 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5130439

Effect of Fe atomic layers at the ferromagnet-semiconductor interface on temperature-dependent spin transport in semiconductors

Using artificially controlled ferromagnet (FM)-semiconductor (SC) interfaces, we study the decay of the nonlocal spin signals with increasing temperature in SC-based lateral spin-valve devices. When more than five atomic layers of Fe are inserted at the FM/SC interfaces, the temperature-dependent spin injection/detection efficiency (P inj /det) can be interpreted in terms of the T3/2 law, meaning a model of the thermally excited spin waves in the FM electrodes. For the FM/SC interfaces with the insufficient insertion of Fe atomic layers, on the other hand, the decay of P inj /det is more rapid than the T3/2 curve. Using magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements, we find that more than five atomic layers of Fe inserted between FM and SC enable us to enhance the ferromagnetic nature of the FM/SC heterointerfaces. Thus, the ferromagnetism in the ultra-thin FM layer just on top of SC is strongly related to the temperature-dependent nonlocal spin transport in SC-based lateral spin-valve devices. We propose that the sufficient ferromagnetism near the FM/SC interface is essential for high-performance FM-SC hybrid devices above room temperature.M. Yamada, Y. Shiratsuchi, H. Kambe, K. Kudo, S. Yamada, K. Sawano, R. Nakatani, and K. Hamaya, Journal of Applied Physics 129, 183901 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0048321

Overexpression of the p53-inducible brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 suppresses efficiently tumour angiogenesis

The brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 gene has been isolated in an attempt to find fragments with p53 “functional” binding sites. As reported herein and by others, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 expression is present in some normal tissues, but is reduced or lost in tumour tissues. Such data and its particular structure prompted the hypothesis that brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 may act as a mediator in the local angiogenesis balance. We herein demonstrate that brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 over-expression suppresses tumour angiogenesis, delaying significantly the human tumour growth in immunodeficient mice. The inhibitory effect of brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 was documented using our intravital microscopy system, strongly implicating brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 as a mediator in the control of tumour angiogenesis. In contrast, in vitro tumour cell proliferation was not inhibited by brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 transfection, whereas some level of cytotoxicity was assessed for endothelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumour samples confirmed a reduction in the microvessel density index in brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1-overexpressing tumours. At messenger level, moderate changes could be detected, involving the down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor and collagenase-1 expression. Furthermore, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 expression that was lost in a selection of human cancer cell lines could be restored by wild-type p53 adenoviral transfection. Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 should be considered for gene therapy and development of efficient drugs based on endogenous antiangiogenic molecules

Discriminação da castanheira (Bertholletia excelsa) com análise de mistura espectral com múltiplos membros-finais aplicada a dados multiespectrais WorldView - 2.

O objetivo da pesquisa é testar a aplicação da Análise de Mistura Espectral com Múltiplos Membros-finais (MESMA; Roberts et al., 1998) para indicação da distribuição espacial de castanhais nativos de Bertholletia excelsa na região de Tefé (AM), norte do Brasil, a fim de subsidiar o manejo sustentável da espécie

Agricultura de precisão no Brasil: avanços, dificuldades e impactos no manejo e conservação do solo, segurança alimentar e sustentabilidade.

De acordo com uma de suas definições, a agricultura de precisão (AP) consiste de um conjunto de princípios e tecnologias aplicados no manejo da variabilidade espacial e temporal associada à produção agrícola, objetivando aumentar a produtividade das culturas e a qualidade ambiental (Pierce & Nowak, 1999). Em termos práticos, envolve a obtenção e processamento de informações detalhadas e georreferenciadas sobre as áreas de cultivo agrícola, visando definir estratégias de manejo mais eficientes, em especial, o uso racional de insumos. Com desenvolvimento recente, a AP foi introduzida no Brasil a pouco mais de uma década, mas apresenta grande potencial de aplicação na produção de grãos e em culturas perenes, o que, certamente, contribuirá de forma positiva para a garantia da segurança alimentar, com sustentabilidade econômica e ambiental. As técnicas associadas à AP despertam crescente interesse no meio científico e entre aqueles que se dedicam à atividade agropecuária no Brasil, incluindo produtores rurais e, principalmente, fabricantes de equipamentos, prestadores de serviços e consultores agrícolas. Áreas muito expressivas, ocupadas sobretudo por culturas anuais e cana-de-açúcar, já são manejadas sob algum enfoque da AP, destacando-se a utilização de amostragem georeferenciada para o mapeamento da fertilidade do solo e posterior aplicação de corretivos e fertilizantes a taxa variável. O impacto mais imediato do tratamento diferenciado das lavouras em relação ao manejo de corretivos e fertilizantes tem sido a possibilidade de economia de insumos comparativamente ao manejo tradicional, no qual se utilizam dosagens uniformes em área total baseadas na condição média de fertilidade do talhão. Apesar de certa euforia observada entre os agricultores, impulsionada pelas vantagens econômicas imediatas e pela intensa propaganda difundida pelas empresas prestadoras de serviços de AP, as ações de pesquisa associadas a essa temática vêm evoluindo em ritmo aquém do desejável, em parte, devido à maior complexidade dos procedimentos experimentais envolvidos nos estudos de AP. Nesse cenário, constata-se uma grande defasagem entre as práticas que vêm sendo utilizadas em larga escala no setor produtivo e o que seriam tecnologias de AP validadas com rigor científico. Neste trabalho, é apresentada uma análise crítica sobre a situação atual da agricultura de precisão no Brasil, com foco no manejo da fertilidade do solo em sistemas de produção de culturas anuais, procurando-se destacar os principais aspectos positivos, as limitações, os benefícios potenciais e a necessidade de pesquisa relacionada a essa importante e inovadora abordagem na atividade agropecuária

High susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide-induced lethal shock in encephalomyocarditis virus-infected mice

Secondary bacterial infection in humans is one of the pathological conditions requiring clinical attention. In this study, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infected mice. All mice inoculated with EMCV at 5 days before LPS challenge died within 24 h. LPS-induced TNF-α mRNA expression was significantly increased in the brain and heart at 5 days after EMCV infection. CD11b+/TLR4+ cell population in the heart was remarkably elevated at 5 days after EMCV infection, and sorted CD11b+ cells at 5 days after EMCV infection produced a large amount of TNF-α on LPS stimulation in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, we found that the infiltration of CD11b+ cells into infected organs is involved in the subsequent LPS-induced lethal shock in viral encephalomyocarditis. This new experimental model can help define the mechanism by which secondary bacterial infection causes a lethal shock in viral encephalomyocarditis

Auxiliary role for D-alanylated wall teichoic acid in Toll-like receptor 2-mediated survival of Staphylococcus aureus in macrophages

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系We previously reported that Staphylococcus aureus avoids killing within macrophages by exploiting the action of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which leads to the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated inhibition of superoxide production. To search for bacterial components responsible for this event, a series of S. aureus mutants, in which the synthesis of the cell wall was interrupted, were screened for the level of JNK activation in macrophages. In addition to a mutant lacking the lipoproteins that have been suggested to act as a TLR2 ligand, two mutant strains were found to activate the phosphorylation of JNK to a lesser extent than the parental strain, and this defect was recovered by acquisition of the corresponding wild-type genes. Macrophages that had phagocytosed the mutant strains produced more superoxide than those engulfing the parental strain, and the mutant bacteria were more efficiently killed in macrophages than the parent. The genes mutated, dltA and tagO, encoded proteins involved in the synthesis of D-alanylated wall teichoic acid. Unlike a cell wall fraction rich in lipoproteins, d-alanine-bound wall teichoic acid purified from the parent strain by itself did not activate JNK phosphorylation in macrophages. These results suggest that the D-alanylated wall teichoic acid of S. aureus modulates the cell wall milieu for lipoproteins so that they effectively serve as a ligand for TLR2. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Clone-specific expression, transcriptional regulation, and action of interleukin-6 in human colon carcinoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many cancer cells produce interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine that plays a role in growth stimulation, metastasis, and angiogenesis of secondary tumours in a variety of malignancies, including colorectal cancer. Effectiveness of IL-6 in this respect may depend on the quantity of basal and inducible IL-6 expressed as the tumour progresses through stages of malignancy. We therefore have evaluated the effect of <it>IL-6 </it>modulators, i.e. IL-1β, prostaglandin E₂, 17β-estradiol, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, on expression and synthesis of the cytokine at different stages of tumour progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We utilized cultures of the human colon carcinoma cell clones Caco-2/AQ, COGA-1A and COGA-13, all of which expressed differentiation and proliferation markers typical of distinct stages of tumour progression. IL-6 mRNA and protein levels were assayed by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. DNA sequencing was utilized to detect polymorphisms in the <it>IL-6 </it>gene promoter.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>IL-6 </it>mRNA and protein concentrations were low in well and moderately differentiated Caco-2/AQ and COGA-1A cells, but were high in poorly differentiated COGA-13 cells. Addition of IL-1β (5 ng/ml) to a COGA-13 culture raised IL-6 production approximately thousandfold via a prostaglandin-independent mechanism. Addition of 17β-estradiol (10^-7M) reduced basal IL-6 production by one-third, but IL-1β-inducible IL-6 was unaffected. Search for polymorphisms in the <it>IL-6 </it>promoter revealed the presence of a single haplotype, i.e., -597A/-572G/-174C, in COGA-13 cells, which is associated with a high degree of transcriptional activity of the <it>IL-6 </it>gene. IL-6 blocked differentiation only in Caco-2/AQ cells and stimulated mitosis through up-regulation of c-<it>myc </it>proto-oncogene expression. These effects were inhibited by 10^-8M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In human colon carcinoma cells derived from well and moderately differentiated tumours, IL-6 expression is low and only marginally affected, if at all, by PGE₂, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, and 17β-estradiol. However, IL-6 is highly abundant in undifferentiated tumour cells and is effectively stimulated by IL-1β. In case of overexpression of an <it>IL-6 </it>gene variant with extreme sensitivity to IL-1β, massive release of the cytokine from undifferentiated tumour cells may accelerate progression towards malignancy by paracrine action on more differentiated tumour cells with a still functioning proliferative IL-6 signalling pathway.</p