We have analyzed ASCA data of about 30 early type galaxies, and studied their X-ray emitting ISM (InterStellar Medium) properties. Our study has been motivated by the apparently very low metallicity of the ISM, which cannot easily be reconciled with theoretical predictions. By carefully examining the abundance ratios and uncertainties in the Fe-L complex, we have concluded that the ISM abundances in X-ray luminous galaxies are in fact about 1 solar. Therefore, the severe discrepancy between the ISM and stellar abundance has been relaxed. The ISM metallicity of X-ray fainter galaxies are uncertain, but at least SNe Ia contribution to the ISM abundance is smaller than in the X-ray luminous ones.

It is very important to know the physical conditions of circumnuclear molecular gas in order to understand the nature of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), since the circumnuclear molecular gas in active galaxies might be directly affected by or is affecting the activity of nucleus. To investigate the physical conditions of the molecular clouds in detail, multi-line observations with millimeter arrays are essential.

In the Virgo cluster, we can perform a close study of the gas injection mechanism from galaxies into the cluster space and the interaction between the injected gas and the sorrouding cluster medium. In 1996 to 1997, we carried out mapping observations of a 2.°5 × 2.°5 area in the north-west region of the cluster. There are 16 pointings in total in this region, and the observed results are briefly reported here.

We synthesized amorphous semiconductor films composed of Mo-encapsulating Si clusters (MoSi n : n∼10) on solid substrates. The MoSi10 films had Si networks similar to hydrogenated amorphous Si and an optical gap of 1.5 eV. Electron spin resonance signals were not observed in the films indicating that dangling bonds of Si were terminated by Mo atoms. We fabricated thin-film-transistors using the MoSi10 film as a channel material. The electric field effect of the film was clearly observed. This suggests that the density of mid-gap states in the film is low enough for the field effect to occur.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

Recent epidemiological data suggest a link between the consumption of bovine offal products and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection in Japan. This study thus examined the prevalence of STEC in various types of these foods. PCR screened 229 bovine offal products for the presence of Shiga toxin (stx) gene. Thirty-eight (16·6%) samples were stx positive, of which eight were positive for rfbEO157 and three were positive for wzyO26. Four O157 and one O26 STEC isolates were finally obtained from small-intestine and omasum products. Notably, homogenates of bovine intestinal products significantly reduced the extent of growth of O157 in the enrichment process compared to homogenates of beef carcass. As co-incubation of O157 with background microbiota complex from bovine intestinal products in buffered peptone water, in the absence of meat samples, tended to reduce the extent of growth of O157, we reasoned that certain microbiota present in offal products played a role. In support of this, inoculation of generic E. coli from bovine intestinal products into the homogenates significantly reduced the extent of growth of O157 in the homogenates of bovine intestinal and loin-beef products, and this effect was markedly increased when these homogenates were heat-treated prior to inoculation. Together, this report provides first evidence of the prevalence of STEC in a variety of bovine offal products in Japan. The prevalence data herein may be useful for risk assessment of those products as a potential source of human STEC infection beyond the epidemiological background. The growth characteristic of STEC O157 in offal products also indicates the importance of being aware when to test these food products.

Vanadium oxide nanotubes (VONT) were formed from vanadium (V) oxide and the dodecylamine templating agent by a sol-gel reaction and subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The nanotubes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanotubes consist of VO2.4[C12H28N] 0.27 and range in diameter from 100 nm to150 nm. The study further reveals that the compound maintained the tubular morphology when heated at 430o C in an inert atmosphere. However, the tubular morphology is destroyed when the compound is heated at about 130°C in oxygen. Organic free manganese intercalated vanadium oxide nanotubes (MnVONT) were synthesized by an ion exchange reaction. The previously mentioned techniques were used to characterize MnVONT. Mn0.86V7O16+δ. nH2O layers have 2D tetragonal cell with a=6.157(3) Å, while interlayer spacing is 10.52 (3) Å. VONT, heated VONT and Mn0.86V7O16+δ. nH2O are redox - active and can insert lithium reversibly. This study reveals that the electrochemical performance of VONT is enhanced by removing the organic template by heating in an inert atmosphere or exchanging with Mn2+ ions.

SAXS and EXAFS were applied to study genesis of polynuclear zirconium hydroxyspecies in pillaring solutions as dependent upon the zirconium concentration, addition of alkaline-earth chlorides and aging. After the montmorillonite clay pillaring, the structure of zirconium nanopillars was characterized by applying X-ray structural analysis, UV-Vis, FTIRS of adsorbed CO and nitrogen adsorption isotherms. Main pillaring species appear to be nanorods comprised of several Zr4 tetramers. Basic structural features of the tetramers are preserved in zirconia nanoparticles fixed between alumosilicate layers in pillared clays. In calcined samples, those nanoparticles contain only bridging hydroxyls and/or oxygen anions responsible for bonding within pillars and between pillars and clay sheets.

A combination of XRD and TEM techniques have been used to characterize the response of room temperature magnetron sputtered Fe-Pd thin films on Si-susbtrates to post-deposition order-annealing at temperatures between 400-500°C. Deposition produced the disordered Fe-Pd phase with (111)-twinned grains approximately 18nm in size. Ordering occurred for annealing at 450°C and 500°C after 1.8ks, accompanied by grain growth (40-70nm). The ordered FePd grains contained (111)-twins rather than {101}-twins typical of bulk ordered FePd. The metallic overlayers and underlayers selected here produced detrimental dissolution (Pt into Fe-Pd phases) and precipitation reactions between Pd and the Si substrate.

(Ni75Fe25)v/(SiO2)1-v nanocomposites with v =0.5, 0.7, and 1.0, where 75 denotes the atomic percent of Ni in the Ni-Fe alloy phase and v denotes the volume fraction of the magnetic constituent in the composite, were synthesized using a wet chemical approach. The x-ray diffraction and TEM experiments show that the synthetic NiFe/SiO2 is a two-phase composite system in that an amorphous insulating SiO2 layer coats each Ni-Fe particle. The Ni-Fe particle is in a fcc Ni-Fe alloy state. Its size can be controlled over a rather large range between 5 nm to 70 nm by adjusting the reaction parameters. Particular attention was paid to reduce the chemical reaction temperature so as to insure the smallness of the particle size. Meanwhile, measurements of the saturation magnetization indicated that the higher the heat treatment temperature, the more complete the chemical reaction to form the Ni-Fe alloys from precursor materials.

Hydroxyapetite (HA) coating on medical implant has been used in commercial application for several decades. The coating, commercially made by thermal spray method, functions as a intermediate layer between human tissues and the metal implant. The coating can speed up early stage healing after operation but the life span is much limited by low interfacial bond strength, which comes from the dissolution of amorphous HA in human body fluid during its service. This amorphous phase is formed in coating process under high temperature. To overcome these problems, we have developed a novel room temperature electrophoretic deposition process to fabricate nanostructured HA coating. This nanostructured HA coating significantly improved coating's bond strength up to 50-60 MPa, 2-3 times better than the thermal sprayed HA coating. The nanostructured HA coating also has corrosion resistance 50-100 times higher than the conventional HA coating. X-ray diffraction shows that all the HA coating is fully crystalline phase. It is expected that the implants with the nanostructured HA coating will have much longer service life. Other benefits derived from this process include room temperature deposition, the ability to control the coating microstructure and phases, and low cost for production.

NiFe2O4 is an important high frequency soft magnetic material due to its ultra high resistivity; however, its initial permeability is rather low. Conventional magnetic ferrites are manufactured through ceramic processing. In an effort to explore innovative approaches for fabricating ferrite materials with improved performance, a study of fabricating nanostructured NiFe2O4 using wet chemical approaches has been carried out. The synthetic NiFe2O4 precursor was synthesized by a citrate reaction method followed by calcinating at various temperatures. Systematic studies concerning the crystallographic structure, the nanostructure and morphology of the particle, the phase homogeneity, the conditions for chemical reaction completion, and the magnetic properties have been carried out using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetic measurements. The results show that by using a citrate reaction approach, pure phase and stoichiometric NiFe2O4 can be fabricated easily, and the particle size can be controlled on a nanometer scale, even at high calcination temperatures. In addition, a comparative study of the NiFe2O4 fabricated by conventional ceramic processing and this new citrate processing will be presented.

In an effort to explore new highly resistive soft magnetic materials, Fe/SiO2 nanocomposite materials have been synthesized using a wet chemical reaction approach in which the precursor complex was annealed at various temperatures. The crystallographic structure, nanostructure, morphology, and magnetic properties of the synthetic Fe/SiO2 particles were studied by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetic measurements. The experimental results show that for this approach, the [.alpha]-Fe particles are coated with amorphous silica. The progress of the reaction, the purity of Fe/SiO2 in the synthetic powder, and the Fe particle size are highly dependent on the annealing temperature. By adjusting the annealing temperature, the particle size can be controlled from approximately 20 nm to 70 nm. For the synthetic nanopowder obtained by H2 reduction at 400 °C, there exists a superparamagnetic behavior below room temperature; while for the nanopowders obtained by reduction at higher temperatures, the ferromagnetic behavior is dominant. Based on these studies, optimum synthesis conditions for Fe/SiO2 nanocomposites is determined.

In this paper, we demonstrate a “Plug and Play” approach, whereby externally synthesized nanoparticles of desired functions and size are incorporated into the semiconductor, followed by the manipulation of surface chemical bonds in order to achieve multiple functionality. Sonochemically synthesised Fe2O3 nanoparticles were introduced onto device quality Si wafers. On annealing the particle-treated Si wafer in ultra high vacuum, oxygen changes the bonding partner from Fe to Si and desorb as SiO at ∼ 760°C, leading to the formation of uniform sized Fe nanoparticles ( size ∼6-8 nm) on the surface and the sample shows ferromagnetic behaviour. More importantly, the particle treated Si exhibits light emission at wavelengths 1.57, 1.61 and 1.65 microns (full width at half maximum ∼ 20 meV). Emission in this wavelength range is crucial for optical communications and is highly desired from a Si based material. Further, oxidation of this material leads to the formation of a selective capping layer of SiO2. Thus, by manipulating the surface chemical bonds, we are able to introduce optical, magnetic, metallic and insulating functions to Si. Additionally, the particles exhibit self-assembly on a patterned Si surface. We believe that this approach is universal and the material developed here is compatible with the planar Si technology, bringing us closer to realization of Si based monolithic electronics.

Highly reflective surface-metallized flexible polyimide films have been prepared by the incorporation of the soluble silver ion complex (1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonato)silver(I) into dimethylacetamide solutions of the poly(amic acid) prepared from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoro-propane (4-BDAF). Thermal curing of solution cast silver(I)-poly(amic acid) films leads to cycloimidization of the amic acid with concommitant silver(I) reduction and formation of a reflective surface-silvered film at 8 and 13 weight percent silver. The metallized films are thermally stable and flexible with mechanical properties similar to those of the parent polyimide. TEM reveals that the bulk (interior) of the polyimide composite films have 5-20 nanometer-sized silver particles with a surface layer of silver metal ca. 80 nm thick. Neither the bulk nor the surface of the films is electrically conductive. Adhesion of the surface metal to polyimide is excellent.

4H-SiC single crystals have been fabricated on the seeds of 6H-type crystals by the vacuum-sublimation (modified Lely) method at a temperature of 2400 °C and under a pressure of 2–60 mbar in an argon atmosphere. Liquid phase epitaxy was attempted by using a dipping method with a 4H-SiC off-orientation substrate whose {0001} C-face varied toward the <1120> direction by 5 degrees. The polytype of the grown crystals was found to be the 4H-type through measurements of Raman scattering and photoluminescence. P-n junction diodes were epitaxially obtained on 4H-SiC substrates. Aluminum and nitrogen were doped as acceptors and donors, respectively. The LED emitted bluish-purple light with a high brightness of 2.2 mcd at a forward current of 20 mA. Other characteristics were as follows : 420–425 nm peak wavelength, 90 % color purity, and a light output of 4 μW.

GaSb, InSb and InAs epitaxial layers with mirror surface were grown on GaSb, GaAs, InP, Si and sapphire substrates at relatively low temperatures by plasma-assisted epitaxy (PAE) in hydrogen plasma. Carrier concentrations and Hall mobilities of undoped PAE layers at room temperature are p=6×O16 cm−3; μp=750cm2/Vs, n=1×1016cm−3; μn=39,000cm2/Vs and n=7×1017 cm−3; μn=21,000cm2/Vs for GaSb on GaAs, InSb on GaAs and InAs on InP, respectively. As the first application of PAE layers to optoelectronic devices, p-GaSb/n-GaAs heterojunction photodiodes have been demonstrated to result in remarkable reduction of dark current with photoresponse in the wavelength region between 0.85 and 1.7μm for the light incident from GaAs.

The elastic behavior and structural changes of single-walled carbon nanotubes under hydrostatic pressure produced by a gasketed diamond anvil cell has been studied using in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The compaction of the raft-like bundles of single-walled carbon nanotube showed a linear behavior up to 1.5 GPa pressure and the volume compressibility deduced from the experimental data is 0.024 GPa−1. The elastic deformation is attributed to the combination of a reduction in the inter-tubular distance and the polygonization of the otherwise circular nanotube sections.