Moulting and copulation by the barnacle Tetraclita japonica attached to an intertidal concrete pier were observed continuously with a video camera housed in a plastic case in summer 1996 and 1997. In a total of 779 individual-day observations, 10 individuals became sexually receptive as functional females and 14 moulted. Copulation occurred not only immediately after, but also before moulting. Duration of receptivity varied from 2 min to nearly 12 h, during which functional females accepted between two to 582 penis insertions by between one to 11 surrounding males. Each insertion time was short, ranging from 0.6 to 42 s, with a median of 2.4 s. Sex role changes were observed between two animals located close to each other, the shortest interval for which was 3.3 h. No significant size differences were detected between functional males and females. A temporal pattern of copulation, with a high frequency of penis insertions of short durations, is discussed in relation to natural habitat conditions.

The thermal stability and local atomic structures of glassy Fe70M10B20 (M = Hf, Zr, Nb, W and Cr) alloys were analyzed by DSC, ordinary X-ray diffraction and AXS measurements. The random network of the trigonal prism-like structure of (Fe,M)3B with edge-sharing, was identified in all the Fe70M10B20 (M = Hf, Zr, Nb, W and Cr) alloys in spite of the wide variety of thermal stability upon heating. Several unique primary precipitated crystalline phases, such as Fe23B6 type and Fe-M phases, were observed in the alloys exhibiting a high thermal stability. These crystallization reactions require relatively long range rearrangements of the constituents and hence the thermal stability of the glassy phase increases, leading to the appearance of a large supercooled liquid region upon heating. These phenomena may be originated from the difference in the chemical affinity and the atomic size mismatch between M and Fe or B.

Organic adsorbates on silicon wafer surfaces exposed to superclean room air were measured to evaluate organic contamination level of silicon wafers stored in a clean bench up to 180min. Such Si wafers were thermally oxidized and the dielectric degradation behavior were systematically investigated. It is found that a carbon contamination level of half a monolayer influences the charge to quasi-breakdown although the degradation mechanism itself remains unchanged.

Organic adsorbates on silicon wafer surfaces exposed to superclean room air were measured to evaluate organic contamination level of silicon wafers stored in a clean bench up to 180min. Such Si wafers were thermally oxidized and the dielectric degradation behavior were systematically investigated. It is found that a carbon contamination level of half a monolayer influences the charge to quasi-breakdown although the degradation mechanism itself remains unchanged.