Liquid–Liquid Equilibria for Extraction of Citrus Essential Oil Using Ionic Liquids

The object of this study was to measure the liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) data of binary mixtures containing ionic liquids and citrus essential oil. We investigated linalool as the citrus essential oil, and 1-alkyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C _n MIM]⁺[TFSI]^?) as the ionic liquid. Firstly, the experimental apparatus and procedure for the LLE measurement of mixtures containing ionic liquids were verified by measuring the LLE of the binary mixture 1-hexyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C₆MIM]⁺[TFSI]^?) + 1-hexanol as a reference test system recommended by Marsh et al. (Pure Appl Chem 81:781–789, 2009). Next, the LLE data for IL + linalool were obtained, and the LLE data of two binary mixtures 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C₄MIM]⁺[TFSI]^?) or [C₆MIM]⁺[TFSI]^? + linalool were determined. The experimental LLE data were satisfactorily represented by the non-random two-liquid model.     

Factors Related to Continuation of Health Behaviours among Stroke Survivors

Purpose: This study investigated stroke survivors'' perspectives of health behaviours after stroke. We aimed to explore the actual process by which stroke survivors changed their health behaviours. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 people in a 1-year prospective study in the regional city of Chiba, Japan. Interviews covered views of health behaviours in order to explore why patients change their risk factors. Data were analysed using the principles of modified grounded theory. Results: Six categories related to practising health behaviours were identified: cause of stroke, antithetic thinking, awareness of the body, fear of disease progression, view of health, and psychological meaning of practise. Stroke survivors constructed a meaning of practise for each health behaviour. The recognition of previous lifestyle as cause of stroke, hope for recovery, and fear of future progression influenced health behaviours. Conclusions: The key finding of this study is that when cognitive behavioural therapy principles are enforced, an important aspect is that stroke survivors recognize the possibility that previous lifestyle was a cause of stroke and appreciate the necessity of preventing a new stroke.     

Very fast magic angle spinning (1)H-(14)N 2D solid-state NMR: sub-micro-liter sample data collection in a few minutes

Substantial resolution and sensitivity enhancements of solid-state (1)H detected (14)N HMQC NMR spectra at very fast MAS rates up to 80 kHz, in a 1mm MAS rotor, are presented. Very fast MAS enhances the (1)H transverse relaxation time and efficiently decouples the (1)H-(14)N interactions, both effects leading to resolution enhancement. The micro-coil contributes to the sensitivity increase via strong (14)N rf fields and high sensitivity per unit volume. (1)H-(14)N HMQC 2D spectra of glycine and glycyl-L-alanine at 70 kHz MAS at 11.7 T are observed in a few minutes with a sample volume of 0.8 μL.     

Efficient radiative recombination of multinode-type excitons up to room temperature in CuCl thin films

We report the observation of anomalous temperature dependences of degenerate four-wave mixing spectra in CuCl thin films with high crystalline quality. The observed temperature dependence is in good agreement with the phase-decay-constant dependence of calculated induced-polarization spectrum. An excitonic state with large radiative width can be observed at high temperatures as superradiance is faster than the dephasing process. We succeeded in observing the DFWM signal up to room temperature based on the extremely large radiative width peculiar to the thickness region beyond the long-wavelength approximation regime.     

Single molecule FRET detection in CdSe-QD donor and Cy5-labeled molecular chaperone acceptor complex by imaging microscopy

We report single molecule spectroscopic evidence of FRET in CdSe quantum dot (QD) conjugated with Cy5-labeled molecular chaperone systems in buffer solutions. Donor QDs are core-shell type nanocrystals covered with organic surfactants on their outermost surfaces, i.e. CdSe/ZnS/TOPO’s. As prototype molecular chaperones, we adopt prefoldins (PFDs), on which Cy5’s are labeled as acceptors. Donor QDs possess two-fold degenerate emission dipoles perpendicular to the c-axis, due to their Wurtzite crystal structures, while acceptor Cy5’s possess linear absorption and emission dipoles. Thus, their combination provides novel features to those in conventional FRET systems. PFDs are jellyfish-shaped hexameric co-chaperones of group II chaperonins, which recognize hydrophobic portions of denatured proteins and encapsulate them within their central cavities. Hence, PFDs will also capture the CdSe/ZnS/TOPO QDs due to its surface similarity to the denatured proteins. By introducing simple microscope setup for single QD-PFD-Cy5 spectroscopy, we have successfully captured the emission spectra in FRET regime. We also have observed peculiar features in time evolution profiles of single QD emissions conjugated with Cy5-labeled PFDs under polarization modulation measurements. Notable point of our hybrid conjugates is that they are biochemically in living action. We describe our present results in relation to possible protein reactions.     

Shape analysis of wavelength-insensitive grating in the resonance domain

A triangular grating was compared with a rectangular one to investigate the effect of the shape, polarization and wavelength on the transmissivity and the diffraction angle distribution. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) and the nonstandard finite-difference time-domain (NS-FDTD) algorithm were used for the calculation. We found that the triangular grating in TE mode had the least wavelength dependence in the resonance domain, and this was explained by two independent parameters—(depth/wavelength) and (diffraction order × wavelength / period), whose ratio of the contribution to the diffraction efficiency equation was dependent on grating shape and polarization.     

Observation of D+ → K(+)η(') and search for CP violation in D+ → π(+)η(') decays

We report the first observation of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays D(+)→K(+)η((')) using a 791 fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The ratio of the branching fractions of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed relative to singly Cabibbo-suppressed D(+)→π(+)η((')) decays are B(D(+)→K(+)η)/B(D(+)→π(+)η)=(3.06±0.43±0.14)% and B(D(+)→K(+)η')/B(D(+)→π(+)η')=(3.77±0.39±0.10)%. From these, we find that the relative final-state phase difference between the tree and annihilation amplitudes in D(+) decays, δ(TA), is (72±9)° or (288±9)°. We also report the most precise measurements of CP asymmetries to date: A(CP)(D(+)→π(+)η)=(+1.74±1.13±0.19)% and A(CP)(D(+)→π(+)η')=(-0.12±1.12±0.17)%.     

Refractive index measurements of solid parahydrogen

Solid para-H2 is a promising gain medium for stimulated Raman scattering, due to its high number density and narrow Raman linewidth. In preparation for the design of a cw solid hydrogen Raman laser, we have made the first measurements, to our knowledge, of the index of refraction of a solid para-H2 crystal, in the wavelength range of 430-1100?nm. For a crystal stabilized at 4.4?K, this refractive index is measured to be n(p-H2)=1.130±0.001 at 514?nm. A slight, but significant, dependence on the final crystal-growth temperature is observed, with higher n(p-H2) at higher crystal-growth temperatures. Once a crystal is grown, it can be heated up to 10?K with no change in n(p-H2). The refractive index varies only slightly over the observed wavelength range, and no significant birefringence was observed.     

Fast single-photon avalanche diode arrays for laser Raman spectroscopy

We incorporate newly developed solid-state detector technology into time-resolved laser Raman spectroscopy, demonstrating the ability to distinguish spectra from Raman and fluorescence processes. As a proof of concept, we show fluorescence rejection on highly fluorescent mineral samples willemite and spodumene using a 128×128 single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array with a measured photon detection efficiency of 5%. The sensitivity achieved in this new instrument architecture is comparable to the sensitivity of a technically more complicated system using a traditional photocathode-based imager. By increasing the SPAD active area and improving coupling efficiency, we expect further improvements in sensitivity by over an order of magnitude. We discuss the relevance of these results to in situ planetary instruments, where size, weight, power, and radiation hardness are of prime concern. The potential large-scale manufacturability of silicon SPAD arrays makes them prime candidates for future portable and in situ Raman instruments spanning numerous applications where fluorescence interference is problematic.