A strategy for increasing the breakdown field strength beyond the experimental scaling law in yttria films.

Aiming to increase the dielectric breakdown field strength () of yttria films for application in semiconductor manufacturing, a synthetic strategy based on photo-assisted chemical solution deposition was developed to prepare yttria films with aggregates of very small nanocrystallites. Despite containing many elliptical pores, the films exhibited an exceeding 12.7 MV cm, much higher than that predicted according to conventional experimental scaling laws.

Magnification calibration of X-ray 3D microscopy using micro-line structures.

X-ray microscopy using computed tomography is an excellent 3D imaging instrument. Three-dimensional X-ray microscopy (3DXRM) is a nondestructive imaging technique used to inspect internal and external structures in units of submicrometers or less. The 3DXRM, although attractive, is mostly used as an observation instrument and is limited as a measurement system in quantitative evaluation and quality control.

Ephrin type-A receptor 2-antisense RNA1/2 promote proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells through -dependent Ras signaling pathway mediated by MAPK8/JNK1, MAPK9/JNK2-NFATC2/NFAT1 and JUND.

Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. EPHA2 expression may be causally related to tumorigenesis; therefore, it is important to understand how expression is regulated. We previously reported that EPHA2 antisense RNA (EPHA2-AS), a natural antisense transcript, is an important modulator of EPHA2 mRNA levels and hence production of EPHA2 protein.

Uptake and accumulation mechanisms of hexachloroplatinate(IV) ions in the unicellular alga, Pseudococcomyxa simplex.

Platinum uptake was examined by adding hexachloroplatinate(IV) solution to the unicellular alga Pseudococcomyxa simplex. After the addition of platinum solution ([Pt] = 100 mg/kg, pH 3.2-3.

Contrast mechanism at landing energy near 0 eV in super low-energy scanning electron microscopy.

In recent years, the technique of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation with low landing energy of a few keV or less has become common. We have especially focused on the drastic contrast change at near 0 eV. Using a patterned sample consisting of Si, Ni and Pt, threshold energies where the total reflection of incident electrons occurs were investigated by SEM at near 0 eV.

Formation of biogenic tellurium nanorods in unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Tellurium (Te) is an industrially useful element but causes environmental contamination. The formation of biogenic Te nanorods (Te-BgNRs) in plants is one of the Te detoxification pathways associated with the phytoremediation of Te because Te-BgNRs contain low-toxicity Te at high densities. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of Te-BgNR formation in a common unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, on the basis of elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Evaluation of image distortion in SEM by using a dot-array-based certified reference material.

This paper presents a quick and straightforward method to evaluate image distortion in scanning electron microscopy using a certified reference material (CRM) as a test specimen. The CRM has a square dot-array structure, whose dot-pitch has an accredited value. By calculating the distance between each dot of the CRM via image analysis, we can detect the distortion in the image as variations of dot interval.

EPHA2 antisense RNA modulates EPHA2 mRNA levels in basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), whose over-expression has been observed in a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. EPHA2 expression may be causally related to tumorigenesis; therefore, it is important to understand how EPHA2 gene (EPHA2) expression is regulated. Here, we report that EPHA2 antisense RNA (EPHA2-AS), a natural antisense transcript, is an important modulator of EPHA2 mRNA levels.

Elucidation of tellurium biogenic nanoparticles in garlic, Allium sativum, by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Background: Biosynthesis of Te nanoparticles may occur in higher plants exposed to Te, as reported on microorganisms. However, unambiguous observations of the biogenic nanoparticles (BgNPs) of Te in plants are lacking. Hence, in this study, we investigated the formation of insoluble BgNPs of Te in garlic (Allium sativum) as a model plant.

Development of NMIJ CRM 5207-a tungsten dot-array for the image sharpness evaluation in scanning electron microscopy - structure evaluation and determination of dot-pitch.

We have developed a new certified reference material (CRM) for image sharpness evaluation and magnification calibration for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Designed to be suitable for the image sharpness evaluation by the derivative method, the CRM has nanoscale tungsten dot-array structure fabricated on silicon substrate, which gives steep contrast transition from the dot to the substrate in SEM image. The pitch of the dot-array was SI-traceably measured as a specified value with relative expanded uncertainty ($k=2$) of ~1.

Size and shape distributions of primary crystallites in titania aggregates.

The primary crystallite size of titania powder relates to its properties in a number of applications. Transmission electron microscopy was used in this interlaboratory comparison (ILC) to measure primary crystallite size and shape distributions for a commercial aggregated titania powder. Data of four size descriptors and two shape descriptors were evaluated across nine laboratories.

Three dimensional accurate morphology measurements of polystyrene standard particles on silicon substrate by electron tomography.

Polystyrene latex (PSL) nanoparticle (NP) sample is one of the most widely used standard materials. It is used for calibration of particle counters and particle size measurement tools. It has been reported that the measured NP sizes by various methods, such as Differential Mobility Analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), differ from each other.

World's first telepathology experiments employing WINDS ultra-high-speed internet satellite, nicknamed "KIZUNA".

Background: Recent advances in information technology have allowed the development of a telepathology system involving high-speed transfer of high-volume histological figures via fiber optic landlines. However, at present there are geographical limits to landlines. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has developed the "Kizuna" ultra-high speed internet satellite and has pursued its various applications.

Sharing of secondary electrons by in-lens and out-lens detector in low-voltage scanning electron microscope equipped with immersion lens.

To understand secondary electron (SE) image formation with in-lens and out-lens detector in low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM), we have evaluated SE signals of an in-lens and an out-lens detector in LV-SEM. From the energy distribution spectra of SEs with various boosting voltages of the immersion lens system, we revealed that the electrostatic field of the immersion lens mainly collects electrons with energy lower than 40eV, acting as a low-pass filter. This effect is also observed as a contrast change in LV-SEM images taken by in-lens and out-lens detectors.