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Niobium compounds and materials such as noibium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ), niobic acid (Nb 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O), niobium phosphate (NbOPO 4 ), niobium layer compounds (K 4 Nb 6 O 17 , HCa 2 Nb 3 O 10 , etc.) and mixed oxides containing niobia (Nb 2 O 5 SiO 2 , Nb 2 O 5 Al 2 O 5 , Nb 2 O 5 TiO 2 , Nb 2 O 5 V 2 O 5 , etc.) are shown to be useful as promoters and supports of catalysts and as unique solid acid catalysts, selective oxidation catalysts and photosensitive catalysts. High catalytic activities, selectivities and stabilities of these niobium compounds and materials and metals (Rh, Pd, Ni, Co, etc.) supported on Nb 2 O 5 are demonstrated for various reactions given in the following list of contents.

We have investigated the thermally stimulated exoelectron emission (TSEE) from graphite surfaces exposed to O2, CF4, and Ar plasmas in combination with the measurements of surface potential (SP) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surfaces exposed to the plasmas were left in the ambient air prior to the measurements. The TSEE glow curves, the change in SP, and the XPS spectra were examined as a function of plasma exposure time and pressure. The TSEE glow curves for each plasma gas exhibited one sharp emission peak (peak I) at ∼98 °C, the intensity of peak I decreasing in the order, O2≳CF4≳Ar. Furthermore, for CF4 plasma a broad peak (peak II) was also observed at ∼250 °C. The SP for the surfaces exposed to the plasmas became highly negative, decreasing in the order, Ar≳O2≳CF4. This can be attributed to an increase in the O and F contents on the surface. The change in SP after the plasma treatment was nearly reversed to the original value in each case after the TSEE measurement. The origins for...

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), one of the major drugs for the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and autoimmune diseases, is incorporated as thioguanine in nucleic acid and it induces cytotoxicity and fetotoxicity. In the present study, pregnant rats were treated with 50 mg/kg of 6-MP on 13 embryonic days (E), and fetuses were collected from 12 to 96 h after the treatment to examine the mechanism and time-course changes in neural cell death in the developing brain. The weights of fetal telencephalon and the thickness of the dorsal telencephalic wall of the fetuses were significantly reduced at 96 h. The number of pyknotic neural cells in the fetal telencephalon began to increase at 24 h, peaked at 36 h, and then gradually decreased toward 72 h. The nuclei of most of these pyknotic cells were stained positively by TUNEL method, which detects DNA fragmentation. Moreover, pyknotic cells were immunohistochemically positive for cleaved caspase-3, one of the key executioners of apoptosis, and the increased expression of the protein from 30 to 48 h was confirmed by using Western blot analysis. Also, electron microscopical features of the pyknotic cells showed ultrastructural characteristics of apoptosis. On the other hand, the number of mitotic and BrdU-positive neural cells in the telencephalon decreased from 30 to 72 h. These results suggest that 6-MP induced apoptotic cell death in neural cells in the rat fetal brain is probably due to cytotoxic action of 6-MP.

Practical resolution, the minimum feature size with a depth of focus (DOF) required for LSI fabrication process, is analyzed. Dependence of practical resolution on various factors, such as optical system parameters (exposure wavelength lambda , and numerical aperture NA), resist processes, and required DOF, is investigated. It is shown that practical resolution in the sub-halfmicrometer region is not improved, and may even be degraded, with increasing NA. Furthermore, resolution improvement by increasing NA becomes less effective as lambda becomes shorter. This means that the high-resolution capability of high-NA/short-wavelength optics cannot be utilized to create fine-pattern LSIs. In order to overcome this limitation, the effectiveness of advanced image formation techniques, the phase-shifting method and the FLEX method, in practical resolution enhancement is investigated. It is experimentally verified, using a phase-shifting mask and the excimer laser stepper, that a pattern feature size less than 0.2 mu m can be clearly delineated with sufficient focus latitude. These advanced techniques make it possible to overcome the resolution limitation of conventional optical lithography. >

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), a DNA-damaging agent, induces apoptosis of neural progenitor cells, and causes malformation in the fetal brain. The aim of the present study is to clarify the molecular pathway of 6-MP-induced apoptosis of neural progenitor cells in the fetal telencephalon of rats and mice. p53 protein is activated by DNA damage and induces apoptosis through either the intrinsic pathway involving the mitochondria or the extrinsic pathway triggered by death receptors. In this study, the expression of puma and cleaved caspase-9 proteins, which are specific intrinsic pathway factors, increased in the rat telencephalon after 6-MP treatment. 6-MP-induced apoptosis of neural progenitor cells was completely absent in p53-deficient mice. On the other hand, the expression of Fas protein, an extrinsic pathway factor, did not change throughout the experimental period in the rat telencephalon treated with 6-MP. The number of apoptotic neural progenitor cells was similar among Fas-mutated lpr/lpr and wild-type mice, suggesting that the Fas pathway does not play a significant role in 6-MP-induced apoptosis of neural progenitor cells. These results may suggest that the p53-mediated intrinsic pathway is essential for 6-MP-induced apoptosis of neural progenitor cells in the developing telencephalon of rats and mice.

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), an analogue of hypoxanthine, is used in the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and causes fetal neurotoxicity. To clarify the mechanisms of 6-MP-induced fetal neurotoxicity leading to the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of neural progenitor cells, pregnant rats were treated with 50 mg/kg 6-MP on embryonic day (E) 13, and the fetal telencephalons were examined at 12 to 72 h (h) after treatment. Flow-cytometric analysis confirmed an accumulation of cells at G2/M, S, and sub-G1 (apoptotic cells) phases from 24 to 72 h. The number of phosphorylated histone H3-positive cells (mitotic cells) decreased from 36 to 72 h, and the phosphorylated (active) form of p53 protein, which is a mediator of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, increased from 24 to 48 h. An executor of p53-mediated cell cycle arrest, p21, showed intense overexpression at both the mRNA and protein levels from 24 to 72 h. Cdc25A protein, which is needed for the progression of S phase, decreased at 36 and 48 h. In addition, phosphorylated cdc2 protein, which is an inactive form of cdc2 necessary for G2/M progression, increased from 24 to 48 h. These results suggest that 6-MP induced G2/M arrest, delayed S-phase progression, and finally induced apoptosis of neural progenitor cells mediated by p53 in the fetal rat telencephalon.

This method improves linewidth accuracy and overlay accuracy by decreasing the multiple interference effect in a resist film. A clear anti-reflective film is spun on a photoresist prior to alignment pattern detection and exposure

A new method for directly measuring reflectivity at the resist/substrate interface is proposed. In this method, a clear antireflective film (ARCOR: antireflective coating on resist) is spun on a resist film, after which the reflectivity is measured directly through an ARCOR film and a resist film. As an ARCOR film, either a single‐ or a double‐layer film can be used. Since multiple interference effects in a resist film are decreased, resist/substrate interface reflectivity can be measured directly. In this paper this new method and its measurement error are reported. Data is also presented on the resist/substrate interface reflectivities of several substrates. These reflectivities were measured using perfluoroalkyl polyether or spin on glass and di‐propoxy‐bis (acetylacetonato) titanium as ARCOR materials.

Diet including mold oil from a lipid accumulative fungus, containing gamma-linolenic acid, showed an inhibitory effect on thrombus formation in the microvessels of rats by the light/dye method of the authors. Male Wistar rats were fed for 3 to 4 weeks with two series of experimental diets and were examined for thrombus formation. The thrombus formation times to totally occlude, ts, were 347 sec for (mold + soybean)-oil and 236 sec for (palm + soybean)-oil in the first series of diets and 1288 sec for mold oil, 538 sec for olive oil and 575 sec for safflower oil in the second series of diets. Fatty acid composition of plasma, erythrocyte and liver lipids showed an increase in arachidonate content with the diet including the mold oil. Higher arachidonate content seem favorable in inhibiting thrombus formation with increasing PGI2 formation. In terms of the level of lipid hydroperoxides, indicated as a desaturation index of constituent fatty acids, the higher desaturation index with safflower oil gave shorter ts, which suggested some oxygen derived free radicals from polyunsaturated fatty acids were involved in the mechanism of thrombogenesis study by this method.

Summary form only given. The Microprocesses and Nanotechnology Conference (MNC) celebrates 20th anniversary this year. This paper presents the history and prospect of the MNC with looking back many papers presented at the conference. The MNC was established in 1988 for a conference discussing lithography and other micro-fabrication technologies for semiconductor industries in Asia, like the 3-beams-conference, now electron, ion, and photon beam technology and nanofabrication (EIPBN), in the United States and the micro-and nano-engineering (MNE), in Europe at the time. Over the past 20 years, the conferences were held mainly in Japan including twice holding abroad, in 1994 Taiwan and in 1998 Korea. Consequently, papers from Asian countries besides Japan have been increasing steadily since 1998. This year, papers from Asian countries exceed 35% of the total papers. The conference name of MNC was changed from the former name of Micro Process Conference (MPC) in 1997, expecting the increasing prosperity of nanotechnologies. The conference, then, have been coverings nano fabrication, nano devices and materials, and their physics and applications, as well as equipments (tool technologies) using photons, electrons, ions, and other energetic particles. To extend application areas further, MEMS and micromachining have been added to its scope in 1997, and also biotechnology and so-called lab-on-a-chip were added in 2000. Imprint lithography also was added in 2003. In this way MNC has played a key role not only being a center of excellence specializing in lithography but also providing a forum discussing on cross-disciplinary areas. In the presentation we introduce several papers selected from those contributed over the past 20 years which showed outstanding quality in originality or foresight. They presented new concepts and significant advances together with the background of the research at the time. We also introduce papers which have made outstanding contributions to the introduction and growth of newly appearing the subjects. Some technologies have been faded out as time goes by, however the knowledge has lived on in succeeding generation. New things will be found by studying the old. The presentation material is exhibited in the MNC anniversary DVD booklet together with all abstracts for the 20 years of the conference series.

This study aims to develop an environment recognition method for a mobile robot using visual information in irregular ground. A mobile robot can autonomous movement, an environment recognition and object tracking by using visual information. But researches using visual information do not consider irregular ground. Visual information have errors in irregular ground. There are handling method by image processing technology, but that have limitations. So, We realize an environment recognition using visual information in irregular ground. We describe a relationship desparity errors between measurement errors of stereo method. Next, we measure distribution of disparity errors and propose correction method by disparity errors. We experiment moving on flat surface and irregular ground and verified effectiveness correction method by disparity errors.

The intramolecular proton transfer reaction of malonaldehyde in neon solvent has been investigated by mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics (QCMD) calculations and fully classical molecular dynamics (FCMD) calculations. Comparing these calculated results with those for malonaldehyde in water reported in Part I [A. Yamada, H. Kojima, and S. Okazaki, J. Chem. Phys. 141, 084509 (2014)], the solvent dependence of the reaction rate, the reaction mechanism involved, and the quantum effect therein have been investigated. With FCMD, the reaction rate in weakly interacting neon is lower than that in strongly interacting water. However, with QCMD, the order of the reaction rates is reversed. To investigate the mechanisms in detail, the reactions were categorized into three mechanisms: tunneling, thermal activation, and barrier vanishing. Then, the quantum and solvent effects were analyzed from the viewpoint of the reaction mechanism focusing on the shape of potential energy curve and its fluctuations. The higher reaction rate that was found for neon in QCMD compared with that found for water solvent arises from the tunneling reactions because of the nearly symmetric double-well shape of the potential curve in neon. The thermal activation and barrier vanishing reactions were also accelerated by the zero-point energy. The number of reactions based on these two mechanisms in water was greater than that in neon in both QCMD and FCMD because these reactions are dominated by the strength of solute-solvent interactions.

Background Primary tumor resection is recommended to manage symptoms such as perforation, obstruction, and bleeding in patients with incurable stage IV colorectal cancer. However, management of asymptomatic patients has not been established. Methods We carried out a retrospective analysis in seventy-seven asymptomatic patients who started chemotherapy with the diagnosis of incurable stage IV colorectal cancer at our institution between March of 2006 and August of 2011. As for impact of primary tumor resection on survival, we compared overall survival between resected and unresected patients and evaluated some predictive factors in association with survival. In unresected patients, we evaluated incidence of primary tumor related complications and some predictive factors associated with the incidence of complications. Results Median follow-up period was 14.0 months. A total of 37 patients underwent resection of the primary tumor, whereas 40 patients were managed without resection. Patient characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups. Resected patients had significantly better median survival time compared with unresected patients (24.3 versus 14.0 months). Perioperative complications in resected patients were low in both frequency and severity, and the period from resection to either discharge or start of chemotherapy was not significantly extended. Univariable analysis identified three significant predictive factors of survival: location of primary tumor, number of distant metastasis, and ALP, and ALP was also a significant predictor of survival in multivariable analysis. Incidence of primary tumor related complications was 25%, and univariable analysis identified no predictive factors. Conclusions Primary tumor resection in patients with incurable and asymptomatic stage IV colorectal cancer may be associated with better overall survival, and primary tumor related complications may be unavoidable to some extent in unresected patients. We plan to present the updated results with extended follow-up period at the presentation.

The authors describe the architecture and performance of a real-time vision system (RVS) and its use of an integrated memory array processor (IMAP) prototype LSI. This LSI integrates eight 8 bit processors and a 144 Kbit SRAM on a single chip. The RVS was developed using 64 IMAP prototype LSIs connected in series in a 512 processor system configuration. A host workstation can access memory on the IMAP prototype LSIs directly through a random access port. RVS peformance is shown in real-time road image processing and in real-time face detection as well as in low level image processing algorithms, such as filtering, histograms, discrete cosine transform (DCT), and rotation. The RVS image processing is shown to be much faster than the video rate.

This paper describes the integrated memory array processor architecture (IMAP), which enables high-speed image processing in compact implementation, and its application to real-time image processing for vision-based vehicle control and traffic surveillance systems. IMAP integrates three fundamental functions for image processing, i.e. a large capacity image memory, a processing array and input/output shift registers. The prototype LSI integrates eight 8-bit processors and a 144 Kbit SRAM on a single chip, where the processors operates in SIMD manner at 200 MIPS (25 MHz). Since the on-chip image memory can be accessed by external devices independently of the internal processing, the prototype LSI can be used as an intelligent VRAM. The real-time vision system (RVS) has been developed by using 64 prototype LSIs connected in series. The RVS is a 512-processor SIMD system whose peak performance reaches 7.7 GIPS at 15 MHz clock. RVS performance is also shown in basic low-level image processings which are useful for vision-based vehicle control and traffic surveillance systems. RVS executes most of them in about one millisecond. >

Fine-gate polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) and TFT circuits for large-area electronics have been successfully fabricated with a new printing technology. Electric characteristics for an experimental 3- mu m-gate n-channel TFT are comparable to those for conventional TFTs. A 5- mu m design-rule NMOS shift register and 8*8 liquid crystal display (LCD) operations have also been achieved. The printing technology can delineate patterns fine enough to produce large-area high-resolution TFT-LCDs without using an optical mask aligner. >

This paper describes hardware implementation and software environment of a one-dimensional SIMD processor, IMAP-VISION. IMAP-VISION board is a single-slot PCI-bus board designed for PC-based real-time vision applications. The SIMD processor consists of 256 8-bit linear processor array and has 10.24 GIPS peak performance. In this paper, some detailed algorithm implementations, those which make use of IMAP-VISION special functions; are described, as well as IMAP-VISION architecture, hardware implementation, performance figures and software environment including high-level language 1DC and graphical user interface.

This paper describes Stack-Based Method (SBM), a general parallelizing method for implementing region parallel operations on Linear Processor Arrays (LPAs). By taking full advantage of the addressing autonomy of each PE. SBM proceeds a pixel-updating-wave (PUW) in a image content directed way across the the image which is separately located on local memories of PEs. Based on SBM, each PE can detect and operate only on pixel data which are ready to be operated in a parallel and autonomous way under the SIMD constraint. Enhancements of existing LPA architectures for full support of SBM is also discussed.

Critical dimension (CD) control for optical-, EB-, and X-ray lithography is analyzed. In the 0.1 to 0.2-/spl mu/m region, processing factors such as diffusion of chemical species in resist films and mask edge accuracy become dominant. These make it difficult to achieve this scale with sufficient CD control even with post-optical lithography methods.

Using light scatter simulations, we have predicted the PSL-equivalent sensitivity needed for mask blank inspection. The simulation procedure has two steps. First, the electromagnetic field scattered off a feature is calculated by solving Maxwell's equations with a time-domain finite-element method. Then, the resultant near field is extrapolated to the far field using the Kirchhoff diffraction formula. We performed two-dimensional simulations at a wavelength of 488 nm (Ar laser). The mask blank is illuminated by an s-polarized plane wave at normal incidence. We also discuss the angular distribution of scattered intensity, as well as the effects of incident angle and wavelength on light scattering.

EUV lithography is the most promising candidate for the fabrication of devices with feature sizes of 70 nm and below. Since October, 1998, ASET has been working on the development of the basic technologies of EUV lithography in cooperation with Prof. H.Kinoshita of the Himeji Institute of Technology. These technologies can be broken down into three categories: exposure system, multilayer mask, and resist process.

Characterization of materials on a nanometer scale becomes more important and indispensable year by year [1]. This is due to the development of new materials whose properties and functions are related to the structure and size of materials of the order of nanometers [2]. In this chapter, we will report our recent work on scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM [3]), or near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM [4]) in connection with chemistry and materials science. This work has been mainly carried out and developed in this project. In the first section, we describe some research into SNOM itself for studies of a variety of chemistries and materials.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is associated with prior infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). TAX, the major transactivator of HTLV-1, has been implicated in the immortalization of infected T-cells, but molecular mechanisms of in vivo malignant cell transformation induced by HTLV-1 remain unclear. To investigate the role of TAX in the monoclonal proliferation of ATL cells, we determined the nucleotide sequence of tax DNA clones obtained from 6 ATL patients and analysed the biological function of their products. We found that ATL cells from 2 of these patients possessed tax with a nonsense or frame-shift mutation resulting in the premature termination of its protein product, which was no longer functional. This strongly argued against an indispensable role of TAX for the maintenance of ATL cells in vivo. On the other hand, the frequency of nucleotide substitutions found in non-functional tax DNA clones from these patients was significantly lower than those in functional tax DNA clones from the others, suggesting a role for TAX in the genome instability of infected cells. Although mismatch repair defects in the microsatellite markers, including those in hMSH3, hMSH6, BAX, TGF-beta RII, and E2F4 genes, were infrequent, we found an increase in the number of CAG repeats of the E2F4 microsatellite marker in 1 patient. These findings indicate that while TAX may be a necessary prerequisite for malignant transformation of infected cells, it is not essential for the maintenance of ATL cells in vivo.

The reaction of 3,4-benzo-1,1,2,2-tetraethyl-1,2-disilacyclobutene (1) with benzene in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ni(PEt3)4 affo

We have experienced massive blood loss (80,000 g) during living-related donor liver transplantation (LRDLT) of a 14-year old girl with biliary atresia. As available homologous blood was not sufficient, we transfused autologous blood (13,400 ml) during operation. Although immunosuppressant was administered to the patient, severe infection did not occur for 10 days after the operation. Cold ischemia time of the graft liver was about 16 hr, but her postoperative liver function was well-maintained. The case suggests that intraoperative autologus blood transfusion is effective if homologous blood is insufficient during LRDLT.

The degradation processes of the bilayer and 6-layer graded TBCs are discussed both experimentally and computationally. Transient thermal cycle tests using the hydrogen combustion gas burner showed that the surface layer of both types of coating spalled immediately after the initiation of heating; namely, the top coat was delaminated near the top coat/bond coat interface in the bilayer coating case, while the graded coating showed delamination at the boundary between the 100% stabilized zirconia layer and the adjacent 80% stabilized zirconia-20% MCrAlY composite layer. The maximum heat load to cause the top coat spallation of the graded TBC was clearly greater and the substrate temperature was 200 degree higher than that of the bilayer coatings. Finite element model analysis simulating the thermal cycle tests demonstrated that the top coat spallation of both types of coating is caused by the buckling driven by delamination due to the transient large in-plane compressive stress development immediately after initiate heating.

The authors have been developing a hybrid densitometer for general laboratory application. This type of densitometer can be applied to concentration determinations of thorium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, and americium. It can also be used to determine the ratios of any combination of these nuclear materials. This report describes the hardware and analysis approach. They will also describe some laboratory tests performed with the densitometer and present actual in-plant application results.