Recent extensive nanomechanical experiments have revealed that the instantaneous strength and plasticity of a material can be significantly affected by the size (of sample, microstructure, or stressed zone). One more important property to be added into the list of size-dependent properties is time-dependent plastic deformation referred to as creep; it has been reported that the creep becomes more active at the small scale. Analyzing the creep in the small scale can be valuable not only for solving scientific curiosity but also for obtaining practical engineering information about the lifetime or durability of advanced small-scale structures. For the purpose, nanoindentation creep experiments have been widely performed by far. Here we critically review the existing nanoindentation creep methods and the related issues and finally suggest possible novel ways to better estimate the small-scale creep properties.

We performed this study to investigate the effect of histone deacetylase inhibition during extended culture of in vitro matured mouse oocytes. In vitro matured mouse (BDF1) oocytes were cultured in vitro for 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively, and then inseminated. During in vitro culture for 6 and 12 h, two doses of trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, were added (100 nM and 500 nM) to the culture medium and the oocytes were then inseminated. During the 24-h in vitro culture, two doses of TSA were added (100 nM and 500 nM) to the medium and the oocytes were activated with 10 mM SrCl2. After the 6-h culture, the fertilization rate was similar to that of the control group, but the blastocyst formation rate was significantly decreased. After the 12-h culture, both the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates were significantly decreased. After the 24-h culture, total fertilization failure occurred. In the oocytes cultured for 6 and 12 h, the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates did not differ between the TSA-supplemented and control groups. Although extended culture of the mouse oocytes significantly affected their fertilization and embryo development, TSA supplementation did not overcome their decreased developmental potential.

To enhance the lifetime of large-sized active matrix organic light emitting diodes (AMOLEDs), we developed a liquid desiccant for encapsulation. The liquid desiccant was prepared by mixing nano-sized calcium oxide (CaO) powders and silicone binder including polyalkylalkenylsiloxane, polyalkylhydrogensiloxane and platinum compound. It was confirmed that liquid desiccant had an effect on absorption of penetrated moisture and oxygen through calcium tests. Also, the test cells encapsulated with only epoxy sealant dispensed at the edge of the cell developed dark spots within 100 hrs, which grew larger with time at 85 oC and 85 % R.H. On the other hand, the test cell sealed with epoxy sealant and liquid desiccant showed no dark spots and retained 97% of its initial luminance even after being stored for 800 hrs at 85 oC and 85 % R.H. Furthermore, the accelerating storage lifetimes of 31-inch bottom-emitting AMOLEDs with epoxy sealant and liquid desiccant showed about 1000 hrs. These results suggest that the liquid desiccant can be applied to encapsulation of large-sized AMOLEDs.

This study aimed to investigate whether aquaporin 3 (Aqp3) mRNAs are expressed in immature oocytes and altered during in vitro maturation process. Five- to 6-week-old female ICR mice were primed by gonadotropin for 24 and 48 h. Immature oocytes obtained 48 h after priming were also matured in vitro for 17 to 18 h. In vivo matured oocytes were obtained after 48 h priming followed by hCG injection. Total RNAs were extracted from 80 to 150 oocytes in each experimental group, and the levels of Aqp3 mRNA were quantified by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The experiments were repeated twice using different oocytes. The Aqp3 mRNA was expressed in immature oocytes, as well as in in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes. The expression level was higher in immature oocytes obtained 48 h after priming (17.2 ± 8.6, mean ± SD) than those with no priming (5.7 ± 0.8) or obtained 24 h after priming (2.5 ± 0.8). The expression of Aqp3 mRNA decreased after in vitro maturation (1.2 ± 0.5), which was similar to in vivo matured oocytes (1.0 ± 0.0). Our work demonstrated that Aqp3 mRNA expression increased during the development of immature oocyte but decreased after completion of in vitro maturation. The results indicate that AQP3 is certainly needed for the acquisition of immature oocytes’ full growing potential within antral follicles.

In this study, we have investigated microencapsulation of magenta, yellow, and cyan color polymer balls with white pigment for multi-color electrophoretic display implementation. The charged color pigments have been prepared by physical coating of magenta, yellow, and cyan with functionalized polymers, then surface charging with charge control agent. These color balls with white pigment were microencapsulated in suspending fluid through in-situ polymerization.

The complex dielectric constants of several π-conjugated materials were measured, and generalized Langevin equation was used to analyze the dielectric behavior in the frequency domain. From the results of the fitting the experimental data using the generalized Langevin equation, we suggest that the charge carriers are electrically screened by the neighboring charges through the structural relaxation, and the carriers are not interact each other. We confirmed that the generalized Langevin equation offers a very good approach to analyze and understand the transport properties of charge carriers in π-conjugated materials.

We have investigated the growth mechanism and thin film morphology of pentacene thin films by the process of low-pressure gas assisted organic vapor deposition (LP-GAOVD). As the source temperature, flow rate of the carrier gas, substrate temperature and chamber pressure were varied, the growth rate, morphology and grain size of the films were differently obtained. The electrical properties of pentacene thin films for applications in organic thin film transistor and electrophoretic displays were discussed

AlxGa1-xN sample with x=0.36 was epitaxially grown on sapphire by MOCVD. SAW velocity of 5420 m/s and TCF (temperature coefficient of frequency) of -51.20 ppm/°C were measured from the SAW devices fabricated on the AlxGa1-xN sample, when kh value was 0.078, at temperatures between –30 °C and 60 °C Electromechanical coupling coefficient was ranged from 1.26 % to 2.22 %. The fabricated SAW filter have shown a good device performance with insertion loss of -33.853 dB and side lobe attenuation of 20 dB.

Boundary properties between two adjacent grains with different crystallographic orientation relation are important factors in deciding the mechanical properties of materials. in our previous reports, we introduced the geometric compatibility equation as a factor determining the brittle crack propagation condition into the adjacent grain in banitic low alloy steel as follows:

M = cos α · cos θ

where α is the angle between crack normal in the cracked grain-I and normal to (001) plane in the adjacent grain-II and θ is the angle between normal to (001) plane in the grain II and loading axis.(see FIG. 1) Higher M gives greater possibility to the crack propagation. The geometric compatibility factor (M) could be easily calculated from the crystallographic data obtained from Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis, and successfully predicted actual crack propagation plane. We also found that there was a critical M value to arrest the brittle crack propagation at the boundaries.

YMnO3 thin films were sputtered on Si (100) substrates under different ambient conditions. After rapid thermal annealing process at 850 °C, the YMnO3 film deposited in Ar ambient had random orientations and the YMnO3 film deposited in Ar+O2 ambient was crystallized with distinct two layers, i.e., c-axis oriented layer in top region and random oriented layer in bottom region. Relations between the microstructure and the electrical properties of Pt/YMnO3/Si capacitor were investigated. Memory window and leakage current depended on the orientation of the YMnO3 thin films and the interfacial microstructure of the YMnO3/Si, respectively

The YSTAR program is a general sky survey looking for variability. The main equipments are three 0.5-m telescopes. These telescopes have fast F/2 optics covering nearly 3.5 square degree field onto a 2K CCD. They also have very fast slew capability, which exceeds 10 degrees per second. These two factors make them most suitable for rapid target acquisition and wide-field surveys of various kinds. Our primary objective is to identify and monitor variable stars down to 18th R-magnitude, and our observing mode allows the same data set to be also useful in identifying asteroids. Our first telescope has just begun regular automated operation, and the second telescope will be installed in South Africa within this year to provide coverage of the southern sky.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the Ca2+ channels in smooth muscle cells from human stomach and to examine the effects of osmotic swelling on the channel activity. Ca2+ channel current with either Ca2+ or Ba2+ as charge carrier was recorded from freshly isolated smooth muscle cells using the conventional whole-cell patch clamp technique. The degree of cell swelling as a result of hypotonic challenge was monitored using a video image analysis system. The changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured by microfluorimetry. The pharmacological and voltage activation profile suggests a typical dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ current. Cell swelling, induced by hypotonic challenge, enhanced the amplitude of currents through L-type Ca2+ channels without significant effects on steady-state voltage dependency. After treatment with the L-type Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 (0.1-2 µM), no further significant increase in calcium channel current or corresponding [Ca2+]i transients were provoked by the swelling. The above results demonstrated that the presence of L-type Ca2+ current in smooth muscle cells of the human stomach and the augmentation of the current are closely associated with the volume increase resulting from hypotonic swelling. Experimental Physiology (2000) 85.5, 497-504.

Boundary properties between two adjacent grains with different crystallographic orientation relation are important factors in deciding the mechanical properties of materials. The concept of the geometric compatibility factor has been introduced in order to explain the relationship between transfer of deformation mode and crystal orientation. In the same manner, when the brittle crack propagates, grain boundary also obstructs crack propagation. Therefore it is also possible to introduce the concept of geometric compatibility considering the crystallographic orientation in analyzing the crack propagation.

In this study, the characteristics of the brittle crack propagation in bainitic low alloy steel with compositions shown in table 1 have been investigated using EBSD analysis. A 3-point bending test was performed at -100°C and the secondary crack below fracture surface was analyzed in relation to the crystallographic orientation. In order to explain the behavior of crack propagation, modified geometric compatibility factor, M was introduced considering loading axis and crystallographic orientation relationship.