Emission amplification by sumanene nanocrystals in an onigiri-type organic-organic assembly

Core-shell assemblies of nanocrystals of sumanene (shell) and sumanenetrione (core) resembling onigiri (filled Japanese rice balls) were fabricated by stepwise reprecipitation. Optical properties of the onigiri-type assemblies showed that emissions from the core sumanenetrione nanocrystals were amplified through energy transfer from the shell sumanene nanocrystals through the nanocrystalline interface.     

Charge-order driven proton arrangement in a hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer complex based on a pyridyl-substituted TTF derivative

A unique N(+)-HN hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) dimer motif based on partially oxidized pyridyl-substituted TTF was constructed in the charge-transfer complex. The charge ordering in the TTF column by the charge disproportionation in the dimer regulates the arrangement of the H-bonded proton, evidencing the proton-electron coupled state.     

Origin of the large polarization in multiferroic YMnO3 thin films revealed by soft- and hard-X-ray diffraction

We investigated the magnetic structure of an orthorhombic YMnO(3) thin film by resonant soft x-ray and hard x-ray diffraction. We observed a temperature-dependent incommensurate magnetic reflection below 45 K and a commensurate lattice-distortion reflection below 35 K. These results demonstrate that the ground state is composed of coexisting E-type and cycloidal states. Their different ordering temperatures clarify the origin of the large polarization to be caused by the E-type antiferromagnetic states in the orthorhombic YMnO(3) thin film.     

Effects of diffuse and specular reflections on the perceived age of facial skin

Age perception is a better biomarker of skin aging than chronological age. However, the optical cues that determine the perception of human skin age are difficult to assess given the complex interactions between light and the multi layered structure of the skin. The aim of the present study is to clarify the independent contribution of both diffuse and specular reflection components to the skin age perception. First, according to our results, subjects were able to estimate the age of skin only by using the diffuse reflection component. Moreover, we showed that inclusion of the specular reflection component added on average 5 years to their age estimation. Second, by artificially manipulating the specular component, we concluded that the luminance distribution affects the perceived age of the skin.     

The promoting effect of energetic activation of a methane molecular-beam in the direct catalytic partial oxidation of methane

Energetic activation of a methane molecular-beam promoted remarkably the direct catalytic partial oxidation on Pt and Rh foils, in particular, hydrogen formation was dramatically enhanced.