We report the results of mid- to far-infrared spectroscopic observations of Galactic star-forming regions with ISO, Spitzer, and AKARI. Owing to the high sensitivity of the IRS onboard Spitzer, we detected [Si II] 35 μm, [Fe II] 26 μm, and [Fe III] 23 μm lines widely in low-density star-forming regions, and derived gas-phase Si and Fe abundances as 3–100% and <22%, respectively. With the FTS onboard AKARI, we obtained the spatial distribution of the [O III]  88 μm emission in two star-forming regions.

We observed embedded super-star clusters (SSCs) in blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) IIZw40 and He2-10 with N-band and Q-band imaging and spectroscopy using the Cooled Mid-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (COMICS) on board the 8m Subaru Telescope. Our infrared images of Henize 2–10 resolve the radio knots (knots I-V; Kobulnicky & Johnson 1999) and the N- and Q-band spectra show the strong [NeII] 12.8 μm and the [SIII] 18.71 μm together with relatively weak [SIV] 10.51 μm and [ArIII] 8.99 μm as well as the distinct unidentified infrared (UIR) bands at 8.6, 11.2 and 12.7 μm. We find the typical stellar spectral type of the members in the SSCs is O9 using the CoStar model (Stasinska & Schaerer 1997) and that the ionization environment in the most deeply embedded SSC(POS/#D) is the softest among those SSCs. The UIR bands exhibit a flat distribution over the galaxy and do not show a correlation with the MIR continuum, suggesting that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not strongly associated with the SSCs. We also find a possible decrease in the UIR 12.7 μm/11.2 μm ratio inside the embedded SSCs, suggesting that smooth-edged large PAHs are dominant (Hony et al. 2001) there. The small UIR to continuum ratio inside the embedded SSCs also suggests that the size distribution of the carbonaceous dust is skewed to the larger ones inside the embedded SSCs. Possible destruction of smaller species by harsh radiation field in the vicinity of massive stars due to the smaller heat capacity and/or the coagulation process that have been undertaken in dense dusty embedded SSCs would explain our results consistently. From the mid-infrared spectroscopy of IIZw40, the UIR bands are detected only in the south-western border of the mid-infrared peaks, suggesting the uneven distribution of PAHs within 4×106yr (Vanzi et al. 1996) after the nuclear starburst triggered in the merging of two small original galaxies.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2006

A new SSMR process to produce ultra-fine-grained hot strip is introduced, featuring: closely spaced rolling stands, continuous high speed rolling with moderately large reductions rolling, rapid interpass cooling and rapid finish rolling cooling. An ultra-fine-grained CMn steel strip (1μm) is obtained with a 700 MPa yield stress. A proper choice of the work roll diameter and a careful control of the friction coefficient should make it possible to keep the rolling force at a level compatible with the design capacity of a conventional rolling mill.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005

Background. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical characteristics, including co-morbid personality disorders in patients with both anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in comparison with age- and sex-matched patients with OCD.

Methods. Fifty-three female patients with AN were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a current diagnosis of OCD, as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Patient version (SCID-P). Twenty-one women (40%) who met the DSM-III-R criteria for both AN and OCD were compared with 23 female patients with OCD, using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the SCID Axis II disorders.

Results. There were no significant differences on the mean Y-BOCS severity scores between these groups. However, AN patients with OCD were significantly more likely than OCD patients to have obsessions with need for symmetry or exactness and ordering/arranging compulsions, whereas both aggressive obsessions and checking compulsions tended to be more frequently identified in OCD patients compared with AN patients with OCD. AN patients with OCD were significantly more likely than OCD patients to meet the criteria for obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).

Conclusions. These results suggest that there are some differential characteristics of the OCD symptomatology between these disorders, although many patients with AN manifest significant impairment from primary OCD symptoms with similar magnitude in severity to that found in OCD patients.

The response function of the front-illuminated CCD, like SIS on ASCA, can be devided into three parts: the gate structure transmission, the absorption efficiency in the depletion region and the charge spreading after the photo-absorption. These effect depend on both the incident X-ray energy and the landing posion of the X-ray inside the CCD pixel. Then, the measurement of the X-ray efficiency within the pixel is important for the response function of the CCD. By using a new technique, we performed an experiment using the SIS CCD chip in the GSFC in order to measure how the various types of events are formed.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a soluble metal complex polymer for electroluminescent (EL) applications. The polymer was prepared by the reaction of a zinc Schiff base with 4,4′-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate. The polymer is amorphous and with glass transition temperature of 156 °C and is soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP). High optical quality films were obtained by spin-coating the polymer solution of THF. The zinc Schiff base, and the polyurethane (PU) shows strong photoluminescence under a UV-lamp illumination. Single and double layer EL devices consisting ITO/hole transfer layer (HTL)/PU/Al have been fabricated and characterized. The results indicated that the complex polymer could act as both electron transport and emissive layers for EL devices.

One solution to reduce the time constant of ultra large scale integrated circuit (ULSI) is the use of a low dielectric constant intermetal film like fluorinated silicon oxide (SiOF). We could obtain SiOF films with low dielectric constant as low as 2.6 and good step coverage by adding CF4 to SiH4 and N2O in plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. To investigate the dielectric constants due to each polarization and the reason for the decrease in the dielectric constant, we used capacitance-voltage (C-V) and ellipsometry measurements, and Kramers-Kronig transformation. The decrease in dielectric constant could not be completely explained by the reduction in ionic and electronic polarization. We could detect silanol groups, Si-OH in the films and their decrease with increasing CF4 flow rate. It is suggested that the main polarization component to decrease dielectric constant is such as orientational polarization. The step coverage of film was improved by adding CF4. It is suggested that the reduction in the sticking probability of films forming species due to the change in surface state improved the step coverage.

The mechanical properties of SiC whisker, SiCw, reinforced β-Sialon composite were investigated. β-Sialon with 20 vol% SiCw showed excellent high temperature strength, 610 MPa at 1350°C, and fracture toughness, 5.3 MPa √m (Chevron Notched Beam, CNB, method). This fracture toughness value was an improvement of 75% over that of β-Sialon (monolithic material). This composite also showed excellent oxidation-resistance; the weight gain due to oxidation after 200 hr at 1350°C in dry air was 0.3 mg/cm2, and after oxidation the high temperature strength, 1350°C, was 683 MPa, an improvement over the pre-oxidation value. Also, in high temperature creep testing (200 hr at 1350°C and 300 MPa) deformation of the SiCw reinforced β-Sialon composite, SiCw/β-Sialon was 66% smaller than that of β-Sialon.

The observation of 8B solar Neutrinos in the Kamiokande-II detector is presented. Based on 450 days of data in the time period of January 1987 through May 1988, the measured flux obtained with Ee ≥ 9.3 MeV was 0.46 ± 0.13 (stat) ± 0.08 (sys) of the value predicted by the standard solar model. The detector and analysis methods were improved since June 1988 and the background level has been decreased by a factor of about three since then.

Molecular doping of Poly(oxyethylene) by p-nitroaniline, followed by a crystallization under electric field, yields a material which exhibit strong second harmonic generation intensity such as 91 times that of urea.

This strong activity arise from the new crystals possessing a noncentrosymmetric structure formed by the electric field crystallization.