Structure Effects on Resistive Switching of $ hbox{Al/TiO}_{x}/hbox{Al}$ Devices for RRAM Applications

Resistive switching characteristics are investigated for Al/TiO_x/Al devices, particularly for the structural effects in crossbar and via-hole-type devices. The via-hole structure shows more reliable switching characteristics than the crossbar structure, owing to the elimination of possible edge effects. The asymmetric switching behavior is analyzed with top Al/TiO_x, and bottom Al/TiO_x interfaces. A trap-controlled space-charge- limited-current model is proposed as a possible switching mechanism, and it is verified that switching mainly occurs on the top electrode/TiO_x, interface side.     

Characterization of Ge<Subscript>22</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>22</Subscript>Te<Subscript>56</Subscript> and Sb-Excess Ge<Subscript>15</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>47</Subscript>Te<Subscript>38</Subscript> Chalcogenide Thin Films for Phase-Change Memory Applications

A phase-change memory device that utilizes an antimony (Sb)-excess Ge₁₅Sb₄₇Te₃₈ chalcogenide thin film was fabricated and its electrical properties were measured and compared with a similar device that uses Ge₂₂Sb₂₂Te₅₆. The resulting electrical characteristics exhibited I _reset values of 14 mA for Ge₂₂Sb₂₂Te₅₆ and 10.6 mA for Ge₁₅Sb₄₇Te₃₈. Also, the set operation time (t _set) for the device using Ge₁₅Sb₄₇Te₃₈ films was 140 ns, which was more than twice as fast as the Ge₂₂Sb₂₂Te₅₆ device. The relationship between the microstructure and the improved electrical performance of the device was examined by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Landing impact analysis of sports shoes using 3-D coupled foot-shoe finite element model

The rapid spread of various sports games has changed the role of shoes from the simple protection of human feet to more advanced ones like competency improvement. Accordingly, intensive research efforts are being focused on the development of high-competency sports shoes by taking kinesiology and biomechanics into consideration. However, the success of this goal depends definitely on the reliable evaluation of the main functions required for sports shoes. As the first part of our study on the landing impact analysis of court sports shoes, this paper introduces a coupled foot-shoe finite element model in order to fully reflect the mutual interaction between the foot and the shoe, not relying on traditional independent field experiments any more. Through illustrative numerical experiments, we assess the reliability of the proposed coupled FEM model by comparing with the experimental results and investigating the fundamental landing impact characteristics of sports shoes.     

Effects of steeping and anaerobic treatment on GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) content in germinated waxy hull-less barley

Effects of steeping conditions (time, temperature and soaking solution) and anaerobic storage on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in waxy hull-less barley grains during germination was examined. The barley kernel was steeped for 16 h at different temperatures (5, 15 or 35 °C) either in water or in a buffer solution (pH 6.0, 50 mmol/L sodium acetate) and then germinated at 15 °C for 72 h. To reach the optimum water content (36–44 g/100 g) for germination, a longer steeping period was required when steeping temperature was lower (16 h at 5 °C vs. 8 h at 15 °C). At 35 °C for steeping, however, the water content in the grains increased excessively, and thus germination percentage became much less than those at 5 and 15 °C. The GABA content increased with increasing germination time and was higher in the buffer solution than water. These findings indicate that the glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which is the rate-limiting enzyme for GABA synthesis, is more activated by extending germination at controlled pH (6.0). An anaerobic storage with nitrogen in the dark for the germinated barley grains substantially raised the GABA content: 14.3 mg/100 g after the treatment for 12 h, which was four times higher than that of control sample (3.7 mg/100 g). Overall results suggest that the steeping prior to germination greatly affects the GABA production during the germination of barley, and the anoxia storage with nitrogen after the germination increases the GABA content.     

In vitro Digestibility of Hydroxypropylated and Cross-linked Waxy and Non-waxy Rice Starches

In vitro digestibility of hydroxypropylated and cross-linked waxy and non-waxy rice starches was investigated to find the proper resistant starch (RS) assaying method for chemically modified starches. RS and total dietary fiber (TDF) content of hydroxypropylated and cross-linked waxy and non-waxy rice starches were measured using the approved AOAC RS assay procedure (AOAC method 2002.02) and the AOAC TDF assay procedure (AOAC method 985.29). Hydroxypropylation did not alter the RS content of waxy and non-waxy rice starches (less than 1% of RS). Cross-linking also did not change the RS content of waxy and non-waxy rice starches (less than 1% of RS). It is interesting to note that non-RS content decreased with increasing hydroxypropylation (97-80%) and cross-linking (99-95%) in both waxy and non-waxy rice starches. This indicates that some fraction of RS in hydroxypropylated and cross-linked waxy and non-waxy rice starches cannot be measured using approved AOAC RS and TDF assay procedures. Therefore, the RS and TDF assay procedures performed in this study are not appropriate to determine the RS content of chemically modified starch. Further investigation is needed to develop a method to determine the RS content of chemically modified starch.     

减小一独立压力控制型无级变速器压力波动的研究

本文研究一金属带型独立压力控制无级变速器（CVT）的压力特性,并建议修正降低稳态的压力波动。根据试验,监测辅助压力区在减速比内压力波动。为分析压力特性,求得包含CVT变速器液压控制模型,采用该动力学模型,研究影响压力波动的诸参数。根据仿真,我们发现液体刚度的变化是压力波动的主要原因。基于对刚度的分析,建议修正辅助控制阀供给部分刻痕来减少由辅助控制阀到CVT变速器液体供给管道刚度梯度。根据仿真和试验,采有这种液体刚度修正可以降低压力波动影响。     

Substrate-specific photocatalytic activities of TiO2 and multiactivity test for water treatment application

The multidimensional aspects of the photocatalytic activity were investigated in a systematic way. The photocatalytic activities of eight commercial TiO2 samples were quantified by employing 19 test substrates (phenols, organic acids, amines, chlorohydrocarbons, dyes, inorganic ions, etc.) in terms of their degradation or conversion rates in water. The measured activities exhibited a complex behavior that depends on the test substrate. The photocatalytic activities are roughly correlated only among structurally related compounds. The photocatalytic activities can be represented in many different ways, and even the relative activity order among the tested photocatalysts depends on what substrate is used. Each TiO2 (among eight samples) showed the best activity for at least one test-substrate. This highly substrate-specific activity of TiO2 photocatalysts hinders the straightforward comparison of which catalyst is better than others. Even the common belief that anatase is more photoactive than rutile cannot be fully supported on the basis of the present data set. Although there seems to be no simple correlation between the activity and the common physicochemical parameters of photocatalysts, the substrate-specific activity was analyzed and discussed in terms of various parameters such as surface area, crystallinity, surface charge, and substrate adsorption. Finally, the multivalue photocatalytic activity test in relation with water treatment application was proposed to take the substrate-specificity into account.     

Improvement of catalytic activity of oxide electrode by double layer pore structure using nanofiber polyaniline

Improving the catalytic activity of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3?δ (LSCF) by applying polyaniline nanofiber (PA) as a pore former and the electrochemical property of each pore structure was investigated by structural and morphological analyses. The pore volume and specific surface area of the PA-added LSCF layer increased by about 3.2 and 2.7 times, respectively, relative to the existing LSCF layer. Coarse pores of 2?μm diameter were observed by PA agglomeration. The double-layered LSCF (LSCF_PA1) coated with PA-added LSCF on an LSCF single layer presented the lowest polarisation resistance at all measured temperatures. This was due to increased oxygen reduction reaction by the LSCF?+?PA layer with high porosity that promoted oxygen gas diffusion. Charge transfer was also improved by the wide contact area between the LSCF layer with lower porosity and the Sm-doped ceria powder electrolyte. Micro-porous LSCF showed about 19% lower polarisation resistance than the nano-porous LSCF at 600°C because of mass transfer through oxygen diffusion.     

Phenethyl isothiocyanate decreases thymic stromal lymphopoietin‐induced inflammatory reactions in mast cells

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) has been reported to have anti‐inflammatory and anti‐carcinogenic properties. However, the anti‐inflammatory effects of PEITC on thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)‐induced inflammatory responses are uncertain. This study evaluates pharmacological activities of PEITC on inflammatory reactions in TSLP‐stimulated mast cells. Human mast cell line HMC‐1 was treated with PEITC (0.04, 0.4, and 4 µM) and subjected to inflammation by TSLP. Our results showed that PEITC significantly attenuated IL‐13 and TNF‐α levels increased by TSLP in HMC‐1. PEITC significantly decreased TSLP‐promoted HMC‐1 proliferation and Ki67 mRNA expression. Protein levels of MDM2 and pSTAT6 increased by TSLP were significantly suppressed by PEITC in HMC‐1. In addition, PEITC significantly enhanced protein levels of cleaved poly ADP‐ribose polymerase and p53 decreased by TSLP. Based on the effects of PEITC on inflammation and proliferation in this study, it is possible that PEITC is a potential candidate to treat mast cells‐mediated inflammatory disorders.

Practical applications

This report provides strong evidence that Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) which is a dietary constituent derived from cruciferous vegetables, may be considered an alternative agent for treatment of mast cells‐mediated inflammatory disorders.     

Physicochemical and in vitro digestion characteristics of size-different red ginseng powders

The aims of the present study were to prepare different-sized red ginseng powders and investigate the particle size effect on the release property of ginsenosides in in vitro digestion conditions. Ultrafine powder showed bimodal particle size distribution with a large peak at around 100 μm and small peak at around 10 μm, differently from fine powder showing unimodal distribution at 100 μm. The specific surface areas of fine- and ultrafine powders were 48.72 ± 6.41 and 86.74 ± 5.96 m²/g, respectively. Time-dependent release property of the powders in the simulated gastrointestinal fluids was determined by quantifying ginsenoside Rg1 released. The initial and final concentrations of ginsenoside Rg1 released was higher in ultrafine powder than fine one. It is expected that particle size reduction and corresponding increase in the specific surface area have a potential to improve the release of ginsenosides in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance the chances to be absorbed in human body.