Subwavelength-sized beam spot confinement using an optical thin core dielectric ridge-type waveguide in leaky mode

Optical near-field plasmon-enhancement techniques have made marked contributions to the field of subwavelength optical beam spot generation for photonic devices. However, the metal material used is not sufficiently heat resistant for high-temperature operating requirements, such as laser-assisted magnetic recording storage. Therefore, it is preferable to use a dielectric material as a heat source for this application. To realize a subwavelength optical beam spot size using a dielectric material, we extensively analyze a leaky mode dielectric waveguide with a thin core. Finally, we show a new ridge-type dielectric waveguide using a leaky mode operation for a subwavelength beam spot.     

Visualization of Magnetization Transfer Effect in Polyethylene Glycol Impregnated Waterlogged Wood

To visualize the condition of impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in waterlogged wood, we demonstrated magnetic transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a series of process of PEG impregnation. Three different samples were examined; reference wood, 10 cm cut wood, and 5 cm cut wood. During this study, the upper section sample was kept immersed in water, for the middle and lower sections the concentration of PEG solution was changed at 20 wt% intervals from 20 to 100 wt%. The impregnated periods of each PEG solution concentration were 14 days. Then, MR imaging were performed with/without MT pulse. The MTR value for both 10 cm- and 5 cm-samples were shown to decrease at 20 wt% PEG at peak concentration. When the sample volume was large, e.g., 10 cm-sample, the MTR value decreased to 100 wt% PEG concentration. In contrast, when a sample volume was small, e.g., 5 cm-sample, MTR value decreased to 60 wt% PEG concentration. In conclusion, MTR analysis makes it possible to nondestructively visualize and evaluate the inner condition concerning the PEG impregnation method for waterlogged wood.     

核子与核力决定的核形状(英文)

讨论了最近提出的作为量子多体系统重要潜在机制之一的量子自组织,原子核无疑是最好的实例。由于原子核内核子的单粒子和集体运动共存,它们的相互制约决定了核结构。集体模式因其驱动力,如使椭球形变的四极力及其阻力达到平衡形成,而单粒子能量就是产生阻力的一种根源。当存在较大单粒子能隙时,相关的集体运动更易受到阻碍。因此,一般认为,单粒子运动和集体运动是相互对抗的"天敌"。然而,由于核力的多样和复杂性,单极相互作用使单粒子能量改变也能减小其对集体运动的阻碍而加强集体模式,该现象将通过Zr同位素实例加以说明。这就导致了量子自组织的产生:单粒子能量由两种量子液体（质子和中子）和控制阻力的单极相互作用自组织。于是,不同于朗道费米液体理论的结论,原子核不一定像填装了自由核子的刚性瓶。Ⅱ型壳演化即是包含跨准幻壳能隙激发的直观实例。在重核中,量子自组织因其轨道和核子数更多而更为重要。We discuss the quantum self-organization introduced recently as one of the major underlying mechanisms of the quantum many-body systems. Atomic nuclei are actually a good example, because two types of the motion of nucleons, single-particle states and collective modes, interplay in determining their structure. The collective mode appears as a consequence of the balance between the effect of the mode-driving force (e.g., quadrupole force for the ellipsoidal deformation) and the resistance power against it. The single-particle energies are one of the sources to bring about such resistance power:a coherent collective motion is more hindered by larger spacings between relevant single particle states. Thus, the single-particle state and the collective mode are "enemies" against each other in the usual understanding. However, the nuclear forces are rich and complicated enough so as to enhance relevant collective mode by reducing the resistance power by changing single-particle energies for each eigenstate through monopole interactions. This will be demonstrated with the concrete example taken from Zr isotopes. In this way, the quantum self-organization occurs:single-particle energies can be self-organized by (i) two quantum liquids, e.g., protons and neutrons, (ii) monopole interaction (to control resistance). Thus, atomic nuclei are not necessarily like simple rigid vases containing almost free nucleons, in contrast to the naïve Fermi liquid picture a la Landau. Type Ⅱ shell evolution is considered to be a simple visible case involving excitations across a (sub)magic gap. The quantum self-organization becomes more important in heavier nuclei where the number of active orbits and the number of active nucleons are larger.     

Critical Role of Spherulite Structure on Behavior of Stabilizers in Poly(propylene) Stabilization

Summary: We found that the spherulite structure of polypropylene (PP) significantly influences the stability of PP by affecting the behavior of stabilizers. Smaller spherulites resulted in more homogeneous dispersion of stabilizers and their slower release into air, so as to elongate the lifetime of PP. Moreover, chemically and physically weak spherulite boundaries were selectively oxidized in the presence of stabilizers. The significance to control higher order structures on the stabilization of PP is reported.     

Application of high‐resolution ESI and MALDI mass spectrometry to metabolite profiling of small interfering RNA duplex

We investigated the application of a high‐resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometer to the metabolite profiling of a model small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplex TSR#34 and compared their functions and capabilities. TSR#34 duplex was incubated in human serum in vitro, and the duplex and its metabolites were then purified by ion exchange chromatography in order to remove the biological matrices. The fraction containing the siRNA duplex and its metabolites was collected and desalted and then subjected to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a reversed phase column. The siRNA and its metabolites were separated into single strands by elevated chromatographic temperature and analyzed using the ESI‐Orbitrap or the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer. Using this method, the 5' and/or 3' truncated metabolites of each strand were detected in the human serum samples. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer enabled differentiation between two possible RNA‐based sequences, a monoisotopic molecular mass difference which was less than 2 Da, with an intrinsic mass resolving power. In‐source decay (ISD) analysis using a MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer allowed the sequencing of the RNA metabolite with characteristic fragment ions, using 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone (2,4‐DHAP) as a matrix. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer provided the highest mass accuracy and the benefit of on‐line coupling with HPLC for metabolite profiling. Meanwhile, the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer, in combination with 2,4‐DHAP, has the potential for the sequencing of RNA by ISD analysis. The combined use of these methods will be beneficial to characterize the metabolites of therapeutic siRNA compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new method for the synthesis of some 9-β-D-arabinofuranosylpurines by a combination of chemical and enzymatic reactions

An enzymatic transarabinosylation between 2-chlorohypoxanthine and 1-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosyluracil gave 9-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosyl-2-chlorohypoxanthine which was chemically converted to 9-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosylguanine and its derivatives.     

Photophysical studies of 9,10-phenanthrenequinones

The characterization of the excited states of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) and its derivatives substituted in the 3 and 6 positions with methoxy (PQ1), chloro (PQ2), methyl (PQ3) and fluoro (PQ3) was carried out using steady-state UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy and phosphorescence emission spectroscopy at room temperature and at 77 K. Nanosecond laser flash photolysis was used to obtain the time resolved spectra from the triplet emission decays. The compounds presented phosphorescence in benzene, chlorobenzene and acetonitrile solutions at room temperature and at 77 K. The phosphorescence of the methoxy derivative, however, was observed only at low temperature. The derivatives showed a slightly higher triplet energy than PQ. The Hammett plots were applied to correlate singlet and triplet energies with sigma values that account for resonance and the radical character. It is observed that singlet and triplet energies increase with electron donating groups.