Solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by using polycyclic aromatic ammonium amphiphiles in water--strategy for the design of high-performance solubilizers

We describe the design of polycyclic aromatic compounds with high performance that dissolve single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Synthetic amphiphiles trimethyl-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-ammonium bromide (1) and trimethyl-(2-naphthalen-2-yl-2-oxo-ethyl)-ammonium bromide (2) carrying a phenyl or a naphtyl moiety were not able to dissolve/disperse SWNTs in water. By contrast, trimethyl-(2-oxo-2-phenanthren-9-yl-ethyl)-ammonium bromide (3) solubilized SWNTs, although the solubilization ability was lower than that of trimethyl-(2-oxo-2-pyrene-1-yl-ethyl)-ammonium bromide (4) (solubilization behavior observed by using 4 was described briefly in reference 4a). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as visible/near-IR, fluorescence, and near-IR photoluminescence spectroscopies were employed to reveal the solubilization properties of 4 in water, and to compare these results with those obtained by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) as solubilizers. Compound 4 solubilized both the as-produced SWNTs (raw-SWNTs) and purified SWNTs under mild experimental conditions, and the solubilization ability was better than that of SDS and HTAB. Near-IR photoluminescence measurements revealed that the chiral indices of the SWNTs dissolved in an aqueous solution of 4 were quite different from those obtained by using micelles of SDS and HTAB; for a SWNTs/4 solution, the intensity of the (7,6), (9,5), and (12,1) indices were strong and the chirality distribution was narrower than those of the micellar solutions. This indicates that the aqueous solution of 4 has a tendency to dissolve semiconducting SWNTs with diameters in the range of 0.89-1.0 nm, which are larger than those SWNTs (0.76-0.97 nm) dissolved in the aqueous micelles of SDS and HTAB.     

Antibodies against a Gossypium hirsutum recombinant cellulose synthase (Ces A) specifically label cellulose synthase in Micrasterias denticulata

Using immunocytochemistry combined with light and electron microscopy, antibodies against cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Ces A3 were used to identify and localize Ces A proteins in Micrasterias denticulata. Silver-enhanced, immuno-gold labeling of Ces A was localized on the plasma membrane with light and immuno-electron microscopy. Immuno-gold labeling of -1,4-glucan synthase always was observed in contact with the tips of negatively stained cellulose microfibrils. Although the -1,4-glucan synthesizing system in the cell wall of Micrasterias denticulata has been investigated by several methods in the past few decades, these results provide the first significant evidence that the hexagonal arrays of ‘rosettes’ observed in the freeze-etch replica techniques within the plasma membrane of Micrasterias denticulata are -1, 4-glucan synthases. In addition, the antibodies to cotton Ces A3 show no reactivity with -1,4-glucan synthases from Boergesenia forbesii (a Siphonocladaceaen alga with linear terminal complexes=TCs). These results suggest that the specific morphology of TCs (e.g., rosette or linear arrangement) is closely related to the cellulose synthase antibody binding sites (catalytic domains). These data are consistent with a recent phylogenic analysis which shows that Mesotaenium caldariorum possesses Ces A-type genes that are closely related to Ces A’s in vascular plants. This report suggests a significant divergence between the cellulose synthase catalytic subunits of the Chlorophyta (linear TCs) and the Streptophyta (rosette TCs).     

Development of scattering near-field optical microspectroscopy apparatus using an infrared synchrotron radiation source

We report the status of a scattering near-field microspectroscopy apparatus developed at SPring-8 using an infrared synchrotron radiation (IR-SR) source. It consists of a scattering type scanning near-field optical microscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The IR-SR is used as a highly brilliant and broad-band IR source. This apparatus has potential for application in near-field spectroscopy with high spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit. In order to eliminate background scatterings from the probe shaft and/or sample surface, we used higher harmonic demodulation method. The near-field spectra were observed by 2nd harmonic components using the lock-in detection. The spatial resolution of about 300 nm was achieved at around 1000 cm^? 1 (10 μm wavelength).     

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of mazindol in human plasma.

A simple and convenient high performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection is described for the determination of mazindol [5-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydro-3H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ol] and its major metabolite, 2-(2-aminoethyl)-3-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxyphthalimidine (Met), in human plasma. The analytes were extracted with ethyl acetate from plasma samples and separated on a C18 column using acetonitrile-0.067 mol dm(-3) phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) (24 + 76 v/v) as a mobile phase. The eluates were monitored at 220 nm. Following complete validation and stability studies, the proposed method proved to be sensitive and precise. The limits of detection were 0.07 and 0.08 ng ml(-1) of plasma for mazindol and Met, respectively. The accuracy and recovery were in the ranges 94-102% and 91-102%, respectively, for both compounds. The intra- and inter-assay precisions were less than 7.6 and 9.2%, respectively, for both compounds. The stability of mazindol under different storage conditions, i.e., at room temperature (rt) and 4 degrees C and with freeze-thaw cycles, was also examined. Mazindol was unstable in plasma samples left at rt and 4 degrees C. The method was applied to the determination of mazindol and Met in the plasma of a patient treated for obesity with mazindol.     

Brightness Perception of Light Source Colors in Dense Fog

The characteristics of our color vision are affected by various visual environments. In this experiment, we examined how colored lights look in dense fog. We used 12 kinds of colored light as a test stimulus. At first, in the absence of fog, subjects matched brightness of all the test stimuli with a reference white light adjusted to 0.1 cd/m² or 0.5 cd/m² in luminance, respectively. They then evaluated the apparent brightness of the test stimuli in dense fog with magnitude estimation of 10 grades. In the presence of fog, test stimuli containing a yellow component were given the highest point value of brightness, while test stimuli containing a blue component were given the lowest point value of brightness in fog. We are confident that in a visual environment involving fog, these results will be extremely helpful and practical.     

Mixing of low-frequency Raman-active phonons studied by femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy

We report an optical study of the superconducting transition in the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x films on MgO substrate carried out by femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy. In both the normal and the superconducting state, we have observed the transient time-resolved reflectivity caused by the oscillations associated with two A_1g metal-ion modes. Temporal interference between the modes is modified below the phase transition, which also appeared in an altered relative intensity of the modes in the Fourier transformed spectra.     

Photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation of AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells with growth-interrupted heterointerfaces grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We have measured the photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation (PLE) of AlGaAs/GaAs single quantum wells with growth-interrupted heterointerfaces. PLE shows the small Stokes shifts of less than 1 meV indicating the extremely flat heterointerfaces without microroughness. Photoluminescence spectra show four peaks originating from different monolayer terraces. These peaks exhibit a doublet splitting. We assigned this doublet to free excitons and excitons bound to neutral donors from the strong well width dependence of doublet splitting.     

Conducting filaments and switching phenomena in chalcogenide semiconductors

The sizes of the conducting filaments formed after switching operations in chalcogenide semiconductors have been measured as functions of input power in the on-state and specimen thickness using a scanning electron microscope. The experimental results show that the threshold switching involves double injection from both metallic contacts in the sandwich structure, and the combination of the electrothermal and the electronic processes. The conducting filament responsible for the switching consists of two permanent portions, one started from the anode and the other from the cathode, which have undergone a permanent change in material composition and structure after even one switching operation; and one temporary portion between the ends of the two permanent portions, which has not undergone any change in material composition or structure after many switching operations. The size of each portion depends strongly on the current level in the on-state, at which the filament is formed.