Liquid crystal photo-alignment layers made from aromatic bismaleimides

We propose a new type of liquid crystal photo-alignment layer made from aromatic bismaleimides. Aromatic bismaleimides are expected to react anisotropically by irradiation of polarized ultraviolet (UV) light. In the fabrication process of the new photo-alignment layers the curing process is much shorter than that needed for conventional polymeric types of photo-alignment layers. We have proved that the use of aromatic bismaleimides enables liquid crystal molecules to be aligned homogeneously by irradiation of polarized UV light. In particular N , N '- p -phenylenebismaleimide shows good photo-alignment characteristics and high UV sensitivity. In studying the relationship between molecular structures of aromatic bismaleimides and photo-alignment properties, we find that aromatic bismaleimides that have a linear molecular structure and resonance structure produce good photo-alignment layers.     

Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of copper nanocrystals without using additional protective agents

We report the synthesis of 2 nm copper nanocrystals (Cu NCs) via a microwave-assisted polyol method without using additional protective and reducing agents. The Cu NCs are oxidation resistant and exhibit photoluminescence and highly stable properties in a colloidal dispersion.     

Use of thermally annealed multilayer gold nanoparticle films in combination analysis of localized surface plasmon resonance sensing and MALDI mass spectrometry

A self-assembled film of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a raspberry-like morphology was prepared on a glass plate by the layer-by-layer thermal annealing of multilayer films of AuNPs. It was possible to control the morphology of the obtained films of AuNPs by changing the annealing temperature, duration of annealing, and number of layers. On investigating the plasmonic properties of these films, we found that AuNP films with a raspberry-like morphology yielded the highest refractive index unit, which is a critical parameter in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing, as compared to other types of AuNP films. Self-assembled AuNP films with a raspberry-like morphology were subsequently functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) to enable the binding of lysozyme to the MUA-modified Au surface. The superior limit of detection for the LSPR sensing of lysozyme in a buffer solution was found to be in the picomolar range (～10(-12) M). The high sensitivity observed in the region was attributed to the raspberry-like morphology, where the AuNPs were packed closely together, and the electromagnetic field confinement was most intense (i.e., at hot spots). The MUA-modified, self-assembled AuNP films with a raspberry-like morphology were finally used in the combination analysis of LSPR sensing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for the selective detection and identification of lysozyme in human serum.     

日本寿险业效率变动实证研究:1998-2008

日本是世界上保险业最发达的国家之一.但自20世纪90年代以来随着泡沫经济的破灭,宏观经济和金融环境的恶化,日本保险业尤其是寿险业进入了停滞与调整期.面对这一情况,日本政府层面和公司层面都推出各种措施,振兴踯躅前行中的日本寿险业.利用数据包络分析(DEA)方法对1998 2008年期间日本全部寿险公司的技术效率、纯技术效率和规模效率及其变动趋势进行了测度,对日本寿险市场的发展演变历程进行全面分析,希望对中国寿险业的发展提供经验借鉴.     

Experimental analysis on MR fluid channel flow dynamics with complex fluid-wall interactions

MR fluid plugging performance by aggregation of magnetized particles in MR fluid is recently expected to be one of the most promising applications in medical or safety devices, such as blood flow control, steam issuing shut-down valve and fuel supply control for automobile. In this study, dynamic response of MR fluid plugging and its breakdown in a pressure mode with complex fluid-wall interactions was experimentally investigated, considering the effects of magnetic flux density, wall surface structure, wall permeability and wall elasticity of tube. Higher endurance pressure is obtained for wall surface groove structure and for steel wall due to a strong anchoring effect by rigid cluster formation in a concave region and strong MR fluid column formation in a channel core region, respectively. Furthermore, MR fluid plugging performance and the fluid storage characteristic of PVA tube as a bio-material was clarified. Because of the large radial expansion of the tube at the applied magnetic region in a pressure mode, PVA tube shows unique characteristics, such as storing MR fluid under magnetic field and MR fluid jet issuing under releasing magnetic field.     

Simulation of Duty Cycle-Based Trapping and Ejection of Massive Ions Using Linear Digital Quadrupoles: the Enabling Technology for High Resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry in the Ultra High Mass Range

Duty cycle-based trapping and extraction processes have been investigated for linear digitally-driven multipoles by simulating ion trajectories. The duty cycles of the applied waveforms were adjusted so that an effective trapping or ejection electric field was created between the rods and the grounded end cap electrodes. By manipulating the duty cycles of the waveforms, the potentials of the multipole rods can be set equal for part of the waveform cycle. When all rods are negative for this period, the device traps positive ions and when all are positive, it ejects them in focused trajectories. Four Linac II electrodes[1] have been added between the quadrupole rods along the asymptotes to create an electric field along the symmetry axis for collecting the ions near the exit end cap electrode and prompt ejection. This method permits the ions to be collected and then ejected in a concentrated and collimated plug into the acceleration region of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). Our method has been shown to be independent of mass. Because the resolution of orthogonal acceleration TOFMS depends primarily on the dispersion of the ions injected into the acceleration region and not on the ion mass, this technology will enable high resolution in the ultrahigh mass range (m/z > 20,000).     

Effects of l-arginine on aggregates of fatty-acid/potassium soap in the aqueous media

In the present study, we investigated the effects of l-arginine on aggregates of fatty acid/fatty soap in the aqueous media as a function of pH, by means of hydrogen ion titration, viscoelastic measurement, cryo-transmission electron microscopy and phase contrast microscopy. We found out that l-arginine effectively inhibits the oil droplet growth of oleic acid or octanoic acid. The effect is explained in terms of the adsorption of arginine at the microscopic drop surface, or at the oil/water microinterface through the hydrophobic effect assisted by the hydrogen bonds between carboxyl group of fatty acid and carboxylate of arginine. As to the crystallization of lauric acid at temperatures below the melting point of the hydrocarbon chain, arginine is not effective. In addition, we also found out that the strong binding of arginine cation to anionic oleate micells induces the dominant micellar growth. l-arginine has been used in many refolding systems to suppress protein aggregation. These effects of l-arginine on the aggregates of fatty acid/fatty soap in the aqueous media observed in the present study is expected to form a basis to the specific function displayed in the protein refolding.     

Mode of interaction of ganglioside Langmuir monolayer originated from echinoderms: three binary systems of ganglioside/DPPC, ganglioside/DMPE, and ganglioside/cholesterol

The surface pressure (pi)-area (A), the surface potential (DeltaV)-A, and the dipole moment (mu( perpendicular))-A isotherms were obtained for monolayers made from a ganglioside originated from echinoderms [Diadema setosum ganglioside (DSG-1)], dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), cholesterol (Ch), and their combinations. Monolayers spread on several different substrates were investigated at the air/water interface by the Wilhelmy method, ionizing electrode method, fluorescence microscopy (FM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface potentials (DeltaV) of pure components were analyzed using the three-layer model proposed by Demchak and Fort [R.J. Demchak, T. Fort, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 46 (1974) 191-202]. The new finding was that DSG-1 was stable and showed a liquid-expanded film and that its monolayer behavior of DeltaV was sensitive for the change of the NaCl concentration in the subphase. Moreover, the miscibility of DSG-1 and three major lipids in the two-component monolayers was examined by plotting the variation of the molecular area and the surface potential as a function of the DSG-1 molar fraction (X(DSG-1)), using the additivity rule. From the A-X(DSG-1) and DeltaV(m)-X(DSG-1) plots, partial molecular surface area (PMA) and apparent partial molecular surface potential (APSP) were determined at the discrete surface pressure. The PMA and APSP with the mole fraction were extensively discussed for the miscible system. The miscibility was also investigated from the two-dimensional phase diagrams. Furthermore, a regular surface mixture, for which the Joos equation was used for the analysis of the collapse pressure of two-component monolayers, allowed calculation of the interaction parameter (xi) and the interaction energy (-Deltavarepsilon) between them. The observations using fluorescence microscopy and AFM image also provide us the miscibility in the monolayer state.     

Improvement of vacuum nebulizing interface for direct coupling micro-liquid chromatograph with mass spectrometer and some applications to polar natural organic compounds

Summary A vacuum nebulizing interface for direct coupling a micro-liquid chromatograph (LC) with a mass spectrometer (MS) was improved by incorporating a small water cooling jacket and a bubble saturator for the nebulizing gas. By this improvement the applicability of the micro-LC-MS system was remarkably extended to various non-volatile polar organic compounds such as adenosine, tryptophane, glycyl-glycyl-glycine, mono- and di-saccharides, etc. The desirable temperature profile around the nebulizing tip was also discussed.

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Verbesserung eines Vakuumzerstäubers als Zwischenstück zur direkten Kopplung von Mikro-Flüssig-Chromatograph und Massenspektrometer. Anwendung auf polare organische Verbindungen

Zusammenfassung Ein Vakuumzerstäuber wurde durch Einführung eines Wasser-Kühlmantels und einer Sättigungsvorrichtung für das Zerstäubergas verbessert. Dadurch konnte die Anwendbarkeit des Systems auf verschiedenartige nichtflüchtige polare organische Verbindungen (u. a. Adenosin, Tryptophan, Glycyl-glycyl-glycin, Mono- und Disaccharide) ausgedehnt werden. Das optimale Temperaturprofil und die Zerstäuberspitze wurde ebenfalls untersucht.