Synthesis and reactions of benzopentathiepin having hydroxyl group

The synthesis of benzopentathiepin having a hydroxyl group at the neighboring position of polysulfur ring was performed by demethylation of 6-ethyl-9-methoxybenzopentathiepin with hydrogenbromide. Benzotrithiole having hydroxyl group was not isolated at all. The hydroxyl group was also alkylated with alkyl iodide in the presence of weak base.     

Long-lived ultrafast spin precession in manganese alloys films with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Spin precession with frequencies up to 280 GHz is observed in Mn(3-δ)Ga alloy films with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant K(u)～15 M?erg/cm(3). The damping constant α, characterizing macroscopic spin relaxation and being a key factor in spin-transfer-torque systems, is not larger than 0.008 (0.015) for the δ=1.46 (0.88) film. Those are about one-tenth of α values for known materials with large K(u). First-principles calculations well describe both low α and large K(u) for these alloys.     

Robust stabilization of uncertain linear dynamical systems with time-varying delay

In this paper, the problem of the robust stabilization for a class of uncertain linear dynamical systems with time-varying delay is considered. By making use of an algebraic Riccati equation, we derive some sufficient conditions for robust stability of time-varying delay dynamical systems with unstructured or structured uncertainties. In our approach, the only restriction on the delay functionh(t) is the knowledge of its upper boundh ^–. Some analytical methods are employed to investigate these stability conditions. Since these conditions are independent of the delay, our results are also applicable to systems with perturbed time delay. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the use of the sufficient conditions developed in this paper.     

Robust stabilization for a class of uncertain dynamical systems with time delay

In this paper, a new and simple approach whereby we derive several sufficient conditions on robust stabilizability for a class of uncertain dynamical systems with time delay is presented. Some analytical methods and the Bellman-Gronwall inequality are employed to investigate these sufficient conditions. The notable features of the results obtained are their simplicity in testing the stability of uncertain dynamical systems with time delay and their clarity in giving insight into system analysis. Finally, several numerical examples are given to demonstrate the utilization of the results.The authors would like to acknowledge the many helpful comments provided by the reviewer. Particularly, in the light of these comments, the proof of Theorem 3.1 has been considerably shortened.     

Formation of double helix self-assembled monolayers of ethynylhelicene oligomer disulfides on gold surfaces

Optically active ethynylhelicene pentamers and hexamers linked by disulfide bonds were synthesized. They formed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with double helix structure on gold surfaces, which were analyzed by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and circular dichroism (CD). Double helix SAMs could be formed on gold surfaces either from double helices or random coils in solution. The double helices on the surface were more stable than in solution. This result suggested the presence of strong intercomplex interactions between double helix complexes on the surface.     

Confinement in carbon nanospace-induced production of KI nanocrystals of high-pressure phase

An outstanding compression function for materials preparation exhibited by nanospaces of single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) was studied using the B1-to-B2 solid phase transition of KI crystals at 1.9 GPa. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction examinations provided evidence that KI nanocrystals doped in the nanotube spaces of SWCNHs at pressures below 0.1 MPa had the super-high-pressure B2 phase structure, which is induced at pressures above 1.9 GPa in bulk KI crystals. This finding of the supercompression function of the carbon nanotubular spaces can lead to the development of a new compression-free route to precious materials whose syntheses require the application of high pressure.     

Development of molecular imaging tools to investigate protein functions by chemical probe design

Molecular imaging technologies, which enable the visualization of the behaviors or functions of biomolecules in living systems, have received considerable attention from life scientists. Novel imaging technologies that overcome the limitations of current imaging techniques are desired. In this review, two independent technologies that were recently developed by the authors are described. The first technology is for smart (19)F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes that were developed for in vivo applications. These probes were developed by exploiting paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in order to detect hydrolase activity. With respect to cellular applications, gene expression in cells was visualized using one of the (19)F MRI probes. It was confirmed that this probe design principle is effective for various hydrolases, and broad applications are expected. The second technology is for practical protein labeling. This labeling method is based on a mutant β-lactamase and its specific labeling probes. Since the probe is fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based, this labeling method achieves both specific and fluorogenic labeling of target proteins. In addition, derivatization of the probe enabled the labeling of intracellular proteins and the modification of various functional molecules.     

Image analysis applied to study on frictional-drag reduction by electrolytic microbubbles in a turbulent channel flow

We investigate frictional-drag reduction with electrolytic microbubbles based on image measurement of a turbulent flow in a water channel at Re = 4800 (based on the half channel height). Microbubbles with a diameter ranging 30–200 μm can reduce frictional drag by as much as 30% relative to single-phase flow even at low void fractions (α ≈ 3 × 10⁻⁴); however, drag reduction is only effective within a limited downstream distance from an electrode array. Arrangement of the optical system allows us to measure the bubble-production rate by water electrolysis from images near the wall and to trace the motion of bubbles. We also measure velocity fields using particle-tracking velocimetry based on a shallow depth-of-field approach by segregating tracer particles from microbubbles. Vertically oscillating microbubbles likely represent interaction with vortical structures near the wall, and bubbles approaching the wall appear to induce negative streamwise velocity relative to the surrounding fluid. We relate the wall friction with the double integral of the Reynolds-stress profile and show that its variation due to microbubbles decreases the drag on the wall. Microbubbles tend to coalesce downstream resulting in a fewer bubbles but with greater size; accordingly, the oscillatory motion diminishes, and the frictional drag rather increases.