Rod-like liquid crystals of organic transition metal complexes. I. Reversible transformation between blue smectogen and red nematogen

Two novel types of transition-metal-containing liquid crystals, bis(p-n-koxydithiobenzoato)nickel(II) (abbreviated as (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni), and (p-n-alkoxydithiobenzoato)(p-n-alkoxyperthiobenzoato)nickel(II) (abbreviated as (C_nO-DTB)(C_nO-PTB)Ni), were synthesized. It was found that the (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni complex for n = 8 has smectic H and C mesophases, and that the (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni complexes for n = 4 and 8 easily transform into the corresponding monoperthio complexes, _nO-PTB)Ni, by heating at temperatures between 230°C and 285°C. It was confirmed that the transformation originates from an intermolecular reaction between the (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni complexes at high temperatures, and that the origin of the extra sulphurs in the resulting (C_nO-DTB)(C_nO-PTB)Ni complexes is the neighbouring (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni complexes. Interestingly, each of the (C_nO-DTB)(C_nO-PTB)Ni complexes (n = 4 and 8), has nematic mesophase and exhibits a unique double melting behaviour via the nematic phase, which is the first example in liquid crystals. The reversible transformation between the blue smectic rod-like (C_nO-DTB)₂Ni complex and the red nematic Λ-like (C_nO-DTB)(C_nO-PTB)Ni complex is possible.     

Computing the cores of strategic games with punishment–dominance relations

In this paper, we discuss the computational complexity of the strategic cores of a class of n-person games defined by Masuzawa (Int J Game Theory 32:479–483, 2003), which includes economic situations with monotone externality. We propose an algorithm for finding an α-core strategy of any game in this class which, counting the evaluation of a payoff for a strategy profile as one step, terminates after O(n ³· M) operations, where M is the maximum size of a strategy set of any of the n players. The idea underlying this method is based on the property of reduced games. This paper is based on a part of the doctoral dissertation of the author. The author thanks Mikio Nakayama, Masashi Umezawa, William Thomson, an associate editor, and the anonymous referee for their helpful comments, suggestions, and advice. Thanks are also due to Yukihiko Funaki for a comment that led the author to this subject. The author is responsible for errors and inadvertencies.     

In situ monitoring of the H concentration change near an electrode surface through electrolysis using slab optical waveguide pH sensor

The H⁺ concentration change was monitored near an electrode surface through an electrolysis using a slab optical waveguide technique. Indium tin oxide transparent electrode modified by porous insulating polymer to which methyl red was covalently immobilized was used as a guiding layer, and the absorbance change of the polymer film was monitored. H⁺ generation at the vicinity of the electrode through the oxidation of ascorbic acid could be monitored by this technique.     

Catalyst‐free synthesis of polyorganosiloxanes by high temperature and pressure water. II. Understanding of the reaction process

A catalyst‐free polysiloxane synthetic process that uses high temperature and pressure water for the hydrolysis and subsequent polycondensation of phenyltrimethoxysilane was studied in detail to gain insights into the reaction mechanism. It was suggested that this process is essentially composed of two stages: (1) oligomerization of phenyltrimethoxysilane yielding low‐molecular weight species with high contents of silanol and methoxy groups and (2) polycondensation of the oligomers yielding high‐molecular weight species. The use of a preformed oligosiloxane as a starting material was informative to understand the polycondensation stage. A modified synthetic process in which a stop valve was introduced to control the internal pressure was developed based on the understanding of the present process. This modified process enabled a two‐stage reaction resulting in a discernible increase of the molecular weight of polysiloxane. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2656–2663, 2009     

Evaluation of an ODS column modified with zwitterionic/nonionic mixed surfactants and its application to direct injection determination of inorganic anions.

An octadecylsilica (ODS) column modified with zwitterionic/nonionic mixed surfactants was evaluated for the direct injection determination of inorganic anions in biological fluids by ion chromatography. A zwitterionic surfactant (sulfobetaine-type) and a nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylene-type) were used for a stationary-phase modification. When aqueous electrolyte solutions with concentrations of sub-mM to several mM were used as a mobile phase, the zwitterionic surfactant coated on the ODS surface exhibited unique separation selectivity for ionic species, while the nonionic surfactant coated on the ODS might have formed a hydrophilic network over the ODS surface and restricted matrix proteins from adsorbing on the stationary phase. Consequently, the mixed surfactant-modified column system allowed an efficient ion chromatographic separation of inorganic anions as well as a size-exclusive removal of column-fouling proteins. This separation system was applied to the direct injection determination of UV-absorbing anions in human saliva. The detection limits for nitrite, nitrate, iodide and thiocyanate were 3.1, 2.7, 4.5 and 25 microM, respectively, with UV detection at 210 nm (injection volume; 20 microl), and their relative standard deviations for 5 replicate measurements of saliva samples spiked with 100 microM each of those anions were 1.4, 0.9, 2.2 and 5.5%, respectively.     

Stability of Mn moments and spin fluctuations in RMn2 (R: Rare earth)

On the basis of the results of thermal expansion and NMR measurements, the stability of Mn moments and spin fluctuations in RMn₂ are discussed. It has been shown that the interatomic distance of RMn₂ plays a crucial role in determining the Mn magnetism in RMn₂.     

A computational analysis of strained laminar flame propagation in a stratified CH4/H2/air mixture

Propagation of a H₂-added strained laminar CH₄/air flame in a rich-to-lean stratified mixture is numerically studied. The back-support effect, which is known to enhance the consumption speed of a flame propagating into a leaner mixture compared to that into a homogeneous mixture, is evaluated. A new method is devised to characterize unsteady reactant-to-reactant counterflow flames under transiently decreasing equivalence ratio, in order to elucidate the influence of flow strain on the back-support effect. In contrast to the conventional reactant-to-product configurations, the current configuration is more relevant to unsteady stratified flames back-supported by their own combustion products. Moreover, since H₂ distribution downstream of the flame is known to play a crucial role in back-supported CH₄/air flames, the influence of H₂ addition in the upstream mixture is examined. The results suggest that a larger strain rate leads to a larger equivalence ratio gradient at the reaction zone through increased flow divergence, which amplifies the back-support. Meanwhile, since H₂ addition in the upstream mixture does not affect the downstream H₂ content, the relative increase in the consumption speed, i.e. the back-support, is suppressed with larger H₂ addition. Especially, when the upstream H₂ content decreases with the equivalence ratio, the H₂ preferentially diffuses toward the unburned gas, which mitigates H₂ accumulation in the preheat zone and further weakens the back-support.     

2D computations of FREI with cool flames for n-heptane/air mixture

Two-dimensional axisymmetric numerical simulation reproduced flames with repetitive extinction and ignition (FREI) in a micro flow reactor with a controlled temperature profile with a stoichiometric n-heptane/air mixture, which have been observed in the experiment. The ignition of hot flame occurred from consumption reactions of CO that was remained in the previous cycle of FREI. Between extinction and ignition locations of hot flames, several other heat release rate peaks related to cool and blue flames were observed for the first time. After the extinction of the hot flame, cool flame by the low-temperature oxidation of n-heptane appeared first and was stabilized in a low wall temperature region. In the downstream of the stable cool flame, a blue flame by the consumption reactions of cool flame products of CH₂O and H₂O₂ appeared. After that, the hot flame ignition occurred from the remaining CO in the downstream of the blue flame. Then after the next hot flame ignition, the blue flame was swept away by the propagating hot flame. Soon before the hot flame merged with the stable cool flame, the hot flame propagation was intensified by the cool flame. After the hot flame merged with the stable cool flame, the hot flame reacted with the incoming fresh mixture of n-C₇H₁₆ and O₂.