For a formation of metal hydride of MgH2 or AlH3 under room temperature and ambient pressure, the cathode electrodes of metal and lithium hydride are electrochemically charged with Li anode electrodes in the system of Li-ion extraction. For MgH2 formation, the VC (Voltage-Composition) curve of Mg + 2LiH during charge shows a plateau voltage at 0.6 V until the final composition of 1.05 Li extraction. After charge MgH2 phase is observed by the XRD measurement. Therefore MgH2 is produced by the electrochemical charge from Mg and LiH. For AlH3 formation, Al + 3LiH is charged until the final composition of 0.6 Li at a plateau voltage of 0.8 V which corresponds to the reaction between Al and LiH for the formation of AlH3. In the XRD profile after charge AlH3 phase is not detected although the intensities of Al and LiH decrease compared with these before charge, which suggests the reaction leading to the formation of AlH3.

The changes in fatty acid composition of serum and in platelet aggregation induced by supplementation of arachidonate-enriched TAG were investigated in twenty-four healthy Japanese men in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The arachidonate-enriched TAG ingested was an edible oil, extracted and purified from a biomass of submerged fermented Mortierella alpina. Mean daily intake of fish and shellfish by subjects was 87·2 (se5·3) g/d, while dietary intakes of arachidonic acid (ARA) by the ARA group and placebo group were 175 (se12) and 179 (se13) mg/d, respectively. In the ARA group, after 2-week supplementation of 838 mg ARA/d, ARA concentration in serum phospholipids was increased from 9·6 (se0·4) to 13·7 (se0·4) g/100 g total fatty acids, and was significantly different from that in the placebo group (P < 0·001). This level was maintained for 4 weeks but returned to baseline level after a 4-week washout period. Linoleic acid concentration in serum phospholipids decreased from 19·2 (se0·8) to 16·3 (se0·6) g/100 g total fatty acids in the ARA group. Similarly, ARA content of serum TAG increased after ARA supplementation. Neither the EPA nor DHA content of serum phospholipids or TAG was altered by ARA supplementation. The platelet aggregation induced in platelet-rich plasma by adding adenosine diphosphate, collagen and ARA, physical characteristics of subjects, and biochemical parameters were unchanged throughout the test period. These findings suggest that ARA concentration in serum phospholipids and TAG can be safely increased by supplementation of arachidonate-enriched TAG oil.

Degradation property of aluminum due to hydrogen is studied. Hydrogen is introduced by electrolysis charge in aqueous solution with addition of 0.1 mass % NH4SCN as a hydrogen recombination poison. The amount of hydrogen and its existing state in the material is analyzed by hydrogen desorption curves measured by the thermal desorption spectroscopy. The hydrogen desorption curves of charged aluminum showed two peaks, one at less than 100 °C and the other around 400 °C. The existing state of hydrogen relate to each peaks are identified as weakly trapped solute hydrogen to vacancy and free hydrogen molecule located in cavities that exists in the bulk of the material. Tensile properties are obtained to determine degradation property of the material due to hydrogen. The effect of hydrogen on degradation of charged aluminum is analyzed in terms of interaction between hydrogen and vacancy or dislocation. Solute hydrogen and cavities are found to affect ductility of aluminum, whereas hydrogen molecule in cavities has no effect.

The methylation of 2′-hydroxyl groups is one of the most common posttranscriptional modifications of naturally occurring stable RNA molecules. Some tRNA species have a 2′-O-methyl nucleoside at the first position of the anticodon, and it was suggested that this modification stabilizes the codon–anticodon duplex. However, no tRNA species have been found to have the modification at the second or third position of the anticodon. In the present study, we measured the effects of anticodon 2′-O-methylation on the codon-reading efficiencies of the anticodon variants of the unmodified forms of Escherichia coli tRNA1Ser, using a cell-free protein synthesis assay. The modification of C in the first position of the anticodon into 2′-O-methylcytidine increased the efficiency of reading the G-ending codon. On the other hand, the modifications of the second and/or third positions were detrimental to the codon-reading activity. Thus, 2′-hydroxyl groups at the second and third positions of the anticodon may have some role in the translation reaction, and this may be the reason why 2′-O-methyl nucleosides are not found in these positions within natural tRNA species.

The relation between stresses of sputtered a-Si: H films and the film deposition conditions are investigated. The film stresses change from a large compressive stress of 1000 MPa to an almost stress-free one. They arise from distortions of the Si network via the following two mechanisms. The first results from the inclusion of the Ar-sputtering gas into the films, which provides volume expansion of the film network. The other is due to structural disorders, such as a deviation of the Si bond angle which is generated during the deposition processes. Moreover, it is found that Si–H terminations in the films contribute to reducing the film stresses because the Si–H termination breaks and relaxes the Si network. These effects can be realized as long as the Si–H terminations are homogeneously distributed in the films.

The charge collection efficiency of a diode with a retrograde well was estimated using focused ion beam irradiation at 400 keV and 2 MeV. The retrograde well was found to effectively suppress a collection of charge carriers created by energetic particles. The charge collection efficiency of the diode with the retrograde well was ~ 25 % lower than that with the conventional well when 400 keV ~ 2 MeV protons were irradiated normal to diodes. This result was in good agreement with device simulation.

The chemical stability of the surface of metals, such as aluminum and stainless steel (SUS304), exposed to acid solutions is remarkably improved by the digital growth of Al2O3 using the sequential surface chemical reaction of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and water vapor. Samples thus coated with Al2O3 thin films were not etched by 1 N HCl or 1 N H2SO4 completely, and no change in the surface morphology was observed by these immersion tests. By the quantitative verification of polarization measurement in 1 N HCl and 1 N H2SO4, the polarization resistance was estimated to be 1.4 × 101–5.18 × 103 times that of noncoated samples. Anticorrosion coating of SUS304 pipe walls was also demonstrated.

A nondestructive three-dimensional RBS/channeling analysis system with an atomic resolution has been designed and is being constructed in Osaka University for analysis of nanostructured surfaces and interfaces. An ultra high-vacuum sample-chamber with a threeaxis goniometer and a toroidal electrostatic analyzer for medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) was combined with a short acceleration column for a focused ion beam. A liquid metal ion source (LMIS) for light metal ions such as Li+ or Be+ was mounted on the short column.

A minimum beam spot-size of about 10 nm with a current of 10 pA is estimated by optical property calculation for 200 keV Li+ LMIS. An energy resolution of 4 × 10-3 (AE/E) for the toroidal analyzer gives rise to atomic resolution in RBS spectra for Si and GaAs. This system seems feasible for atomic level analysis of localized crystalline/disorder structures and surfaces.

An ultra high vacuum (UHV) scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has been designed and constructed to solve problems, arising from STM surface imaging and nanofabrication using STM tips, such as difficulty in probe tip location and change in tip shape. The system facilitates to image and/or to modify a wide range of area from submicron down to subnanometer. A ZrO/W thermal emitter in a Schottky mode has been used for an electron gun to obtain a low energy spread with a high angular current density. Minimum beam spot diameters of 6 and 12 nm with currents of 100 pA and 4 nA are estimated by optical property calculation for high resolution (SEM) and high current (fabrication) modes, respectively.

The chemical stability of the surface of stainless steel (SUS) 304 in acid immersion tests is greatly improved by the laser implant-deposition (LID) process, i.e., the simultaneous deposition and incorporation of silicon by KrF excimer laser irradiation. The etching depths of the treated samples in 1.32 N HCl solution are substantially zero at the laser irradiation conditions of more than 40 pulses and of more than 400 mJ/cm2 at the surface. By the quantitative verification of cathodic polarization in 1 N H2SO4, the highest polarization resistance is estimated to be 26.7 times that of the nontreated sample.