Plasmon‐Induced Water Splitting Using Metallic‐Nanoparticle‐Loaded Photocatalysts and Photoelectrodes

The front cover artwork is provided by the group of Prof. Hiroaki Misawa (Hokkaido University, Japan, and National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan). The image shows a plasmon‐induced water‐splitting system, which can collect hydrogen and oxygen separately and employs a semiconductor substrate. Read the full text of the Review at 10.1002/cphc.201500761     

Algebras Generated by Reciprocals of Linear Forms

Let Δ be a finite set of nonzero linear forms in several variables with coefficients in a field K of characteristic zero. Consider the K-algebra C(Δ) of rational functions generated by {1/α  α  Δ}. Then the ring ∂(V) of differential operators with constant coefficients naturally acts on C(Δ). We study the graded ∂(V)-module structure of C(Δ). We especially find standard systems of minimal generators and a combinatorial formula for the Poincaré series of C(Δ). Our proofs are based on a theorem by Brion–Vergne [4] and results by Orlik–Terao [9].     

Alternate stranded triplex formation of chimeric DNA composed of tandem alpha- and beta-anomeric strands

A chimeric oligoDNA composed of a natural beta-anomeric oligonucleotide portion and an unnatural alpha-anomeric oligonucleotide portion forms an alternate stranded triplex possessing enhanced thermal stability compared to the triplexes composed of the parental oligomers.     

Molecular imprinting of bisphenol A and alkylphenols using amylose as a host matrix

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer has been created by a radical polymerisation of acryloylamylose in the presence of a template.     

Reinvestigation of the thermoelectric properties of Ag8GeTe6

High‐density polycrystalline samples (above 98% of the theoretical density) of Ag₈GeTe₆ were prepared by solid‐state reactions of Ag₂Te, GeTe, and Te, followed by hot‐pressing. The thermoelectric properties were measured at temperatures ranging from room temperature to around 700 K. The thermal conductivity values were extremely low (0.25 Wm^–1 K^–1 at room temperature), and consequently Ag₈GeTe₆ exhibited a relatively high thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT = 0.48 at 703 K. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interpretation of electronic spectra by configuration analysis: Absorption spectra of monosubstituted naphthalenes

The electronic absorption spectra of four monosubstituted naphthalenes, α-, β-naphthols, and α-, β-naphthylamines have been investigated by means of configuration analysis with particular attention to the dependence of spectra on the position of substitution and on the electron-donating power of the substituent. The results of molecular orbital calculations based on the Pariser-Parr-Pople method are analyzed in terms of locally excited states and intramolecular charge-transfer configurations. The characteristic changes in location and polarization of the L_b, L_a, and B_b bands caused by substitution at the α- or β-position are adequately explained by the analysis. Two strong absorption bands of α-substituted naphthalenes, which appear in place of the B_b band of naphthalene, are shown to result from a mixing of the $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{3u}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{(B}{}_{\mathrm{b}}\text{)}$ and $\text{A}{}_{\mathrm{g}}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ states. The amino group exerts a great influence on the electronic structure of the parent molecule, so that the B_b band cannot be identified in the spectrum of β-naphthylamine.     

Field-induced suppression of the heavy-fermion state in YbRh2Si2

We report dc-magnetization measurements on YbRh2Si2 at temperatures down to 0.04 K, magnetic fields B< or =11.5 T, and under hydrostatic pressure P< or =1.3 GPa. At ambient pressure a kink at B* =9.9 T indicates a new type of field-induced transition from an itinerant to a localized 4f state. This transition is different from the metamagnetic transition observed in other heavy-fermion compounds, as here ferromagnetic rather than antiferromagnetic correlations dominate below B*. Hydrostatic pressure experiments reveal a clear correspondence of B* to the characteristic spin fluctuation temperature determined from specific heat.     

Single Machine Batch Scheduling Problem with Resource Dependent Setup and Processing Time in the Presence of Fuzzy Due Date

We consider a batch scheduling problem on a single machine which processes jobs with resource dependent setup and processing time in the presence of fuzzy due-dates given as follows:1. There are n independent non-preemptive and simultaneously available jobs processed on a single machine in batches. Each job j has a processing time and a due-date.2. All jobs in a batch are completed together upon the completion of the last job in the batch. The batch processing time is equal to the sum of the processing times of its jobs. A common machine setup time is required before the processing of each batch.3. Both the job processing times and the setup time can be compressed through allocation of a continuously divisible resource. Each job uses the same amount of the resource. Each setup also uses the same amount of the resource.4. The due-date of each job is flexible. That is, a membership function describing non-decreasing satisfaction degree about completion time of each job is defined.5. Under above setting, we find an optimal batch sequence and resource values such that the total weighted resource consumption is minimized subject to meeting the job due-dates, and minimal satisfaction degree about each due-date of each job is maximized. But usually we cannot optimize two objectives at a time. So we seek non-dominated pairs i.e. the batch sequence and resource value, after defining dominance between solutions.A polynomial algorithm is constructed based on linear programming formulations of the corresponding problems.     

A Crop Planning Problem with Fuzzy Random Profit Coefficients

The main purpose of this paper is to present a crop planning problem for agricultural management under uncertainty. It is significant that agricultural managers assign their limited farmlands to cultivation of which crops in a season. This planning is called the crop planning problem and influences their incomes for the season. Usually, the crop planning problem is formulated as a linear programming problem. But there are many uncertain factors in agricultural problems, so future profits for crops are not certain values. A linear programming model with constant profit coefficients may not reflect the environment of decision making properly. Therefore, we propose a model of crop planning with fuzzy profit coefficients, and an effective solution procedure for the model. Furthermore, we extend this fuzzy model, setting the profit coefficients as discrete randomized fuzzy numbers. We show concrete optimal solutions for each models.