"Cation pool" method based on C-C bond dissociation. Effective generation of monocations and dications

The "cation pools" of alkoxyarylcarbenium ions were effectively generated by the oxidative C-C bond dissociation using low temperature electrolysis. The present method is especially effective for the generation and accumulation of dications, which react with carbon nucleophiles.     

Opposite-side angular correlation of high-pT particles as a probe of gluons

Opposite-side angular distributions of high-p_T particles in the jet trigger experiments are studied in the lowest-order QCD. Gluon jets play a crucial role in understanding correlations between two high-p_T jets. The angular distribution of the positive-to-negative particle ratio and that of charmed particles can be good probes of the gluon density inside a nucleon.     

C high-resolution NMR study of the effect of the deuterium isotope on liquid crystal CBOOA-d17

High-resolution ¹³C NMR experiments were performed in isotropic liquid and liquid crystalline phases of 4-octyloxy-N-(4-cyanobenzylidene)aniline (CBOOA) and its chain-deuterated analogue (CBOOA-d₁₇). The spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) for each carbon atom in the molecules were measured to elucidate the differences between molecular interactions in CBOOA and CBOOA-d₁₇.     

Giant reduction in dynamic modulus of kappa-carrageenan magnetic gels

Effects of magnetization on the complex modulus of kappa-carrageenan magnetic gels have been investigated. The magnetic gel was made of a natural polymer, kappa-carrageenan, and a ferrimagnetic particle, barium ferrite. The complex modulus was measured before and after magnetization of the gel by dynamic viscoelastic measurements with a compressional strain. The gels showed a giant reduction in the storage modulus of approximately 10(7) Pa and also in the loss modulus of approximately 10(6) Pa due to magnetization. The reduction increased with increasing volume fraction of ferrite, and it was nearly independent of the frequency. It was also found that the change in the modulus was nearly independent of the magnetization direction and irradiation time of the magnetic fields to the gel. The magnetic gels demonstrating the giant reduction in the dynamic modulus showed a large nonlinear viscoelastic response. It was observed that the magnetic gel was deformed slightly due to magnetization. The observed giant complex modulus reduction could be attributed to the nonlinear viscoelasticity and deformation caused by magnetization. Magnetism, nonlinear viscoelasticity, and effects of magnetization on the morphological and shape changes were discussed.     

Fluorometric determination of sugars using fluorescein-labeled concanavalin A–glycogen conjugates

The fluorescence of fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labeled concanavalin A (FITC-Con A) was quenched by forming an FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate and dequenched upon addition of sugars to the conjugate solution due to disaggregation of the conjugate. However, fluorescence quenching was barely observed upon formation of FITC-Con A–dextran conjugate. The sugar-induced fluorescence response of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate depended significantly on the type of sugar: methylated α-D-glucose and α-D-mannose both induced high and rapid responses, while the responses to D-mannose and D-glucose were moderate. In contrast, no response was observed in the presence of D-galactose due to a lack of affinity to Con A. Thus, it is apparent that D-glucose and other sugars can be detected via the fluorescence of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate.      

High-resolution GaP Terahertz Spectrometer and Its Application to Detect Defects in Gamma-irradiated Glucose Crystal

We developed high-resolution GaP THz signal generator using Cr:Forsterite lasers with gratings as both a pump and a signal beam for difference-frequency generation. A line width of less than 500 MHz and a wide tunable frequency range (0.6–6.2 THz) provide sufficient resolution for measuring materials with sharp absorption bands using the generator as the light source for a THz spectrometer. This is suitable for materials such as gases or solid samples at low temperatures. We demonstrated the detection of defects in organic materials, as they appear as slight deviations in the absorption frequency in the THz region.