Spin-density response function in a 2D electron system under a magnetic field

We study the spin density response function in a two-dimensional electron system under a strong perpendicular magnetic field. The theoretical framework is the extended RPA which takes into account all the second order self-energies of particle-hole propagators. Our results reproduce the data obtained by a light scattering experiment. We clarify how the extended RPA explains the empirical findings which are different even qualitatively from the RPA response. Especially the important role played by the two-particle-two-hole degrees of freedom is stressed.     

Preparation of asymmetrically nanoparticle-supported, monodisperse composite dumbbells by protruding a smooth polymer bulge from rugged spheres

A novel method is proposed to create asymmetrically nanoparticle-supported, monodisperse composite dumbbells. The method consists of the three steps of double soap-free emulsion polymerizations before and after a heterocoagulation. In the first step, soap-free emulsion polymerization was conducted to cover silica cores with cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shells. Then, positively or negatively charged silica nanoparticles were heterocoagulated with the silica-PMMA core-shell particles. In the heterocoagulations, the nanoparticles surface-modified with a cationic silane coupling agent, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, were used as the positively charged ones, and silica nanoparticles without any treatment were used as the negatively charged ones. In the third step, soap-free polymerizations at different pH values were performed to protrude a polystyrene (PSt) bulge from the core-shell particles supporting the charged silica nanoparticles. In the polymerization, the core-shell particles heterocoagulated with the positively charged silica nanoparticles were aggregated in an acidic condition whereas the silica nanoparticles supported on the core-shell particles were dissolved in a basic condition. For the negatively charged silica nanoparticle, a PSt bulge was successfully protruded from the core-shell particle in acidic and neutral conditions without aggregation of the core-shell particles. The protrusion of the PSt bulge became distinctive when the number of heterocoagulated silica nanoparticles per core-shell particle was increased. Additional heterocoagulation experiments, in which positively or negatively charged magnetite nanoparticles were mixed with the asymmetrically nanoparticle-supported composite dumbbells, confirmed direct exposure of silica nanoparticles to the outer solvent phase.     

Solvent-free asymmetric conjugate addition of malonates to enones using a diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalyst

Diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalyst 1 efficiently promotes the asymmetric conjugate addition of malonates to α,β-unsaturated ketones to afford the corresponding addition products in high to excellent yields with up to 98% ee.     

Photothermal reshaping of gold nanorods depends on the passivating layers of the nanorod surfaces

Photothermal reshaping of gold nanorods was triggered by pulsed-laser irradiation. The efficiency of the reshaping was strongly dependent on the surface conditions of the gold nanorods. When the gold nanorods were dispersed in concentrated hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the gold nanorods were efficiently transformed into a phi-shape. By comparison when poly(styrene sulfonate), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol), or phosphatidylcholine layers were used, the CTAB layers were found to be a better thermal insulator that helped to enhance the photothermal reshaping of the gold nanorods.     

Simultaneous quantitation of sphingoid bases and their phosphates in biological samples by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We developed a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of C18 sphingosine (Sph), C18 dihydrosphingosine (dhSph), C18 phytosphingosine (pSph), C18 sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), C18 dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (dhS1P), and C18 phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (pS1P). Samples were prepared by simple methanol deproteinization and analyzed in selected reaction monitoring modes. No peak tailing was observed on the chromatograms using a Capcell Pak ACR column (1.5 mm i.d. × 250 mm, 3 μm, Shiseido). The calibration curves of the sphingoids showed good linearity (r > 0.996) over the range of 0.050-5.00 pmol per injection. The accuracy and precision of this method were demonstrated using four representative biological samples (serum, brain, liver, and spleen) from mice that contained known amounts of the sphingoids. Samples of mice tissue such as plasma, brain, eye, testis, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, lymph node, and thymus were examined for their Sph, dhSph, pSph, S1P, dhS1P, and pS1P composition. The results confirmed the usefulness of this method for the physiological and pathological analysis of the composition of important sphingoids.     

Efficient use of a surfactant for copper-catalyzed coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with imidazoles in water

Copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling of arylboronic acids with imidazoles in water was realized by using an amphiphilic surfactant. By choosing an appropriate surfactant, reactions of a variety of arylboronic acids proceeded smoothly under mild and base-free conditions, providing an efficient, practical, and greener method for the synthesis of N-arylimidazoles.     

Influence of Au and TiO2 structures on hydrogen dissociation over TiO2/Au(100)

We performed H₂–D₂ exchange reactions over TiO_x/Au(100) and compared the observed reaction kinetics with those reported for TiO_x/Au(111) in order to clarify the influence of the Au and TiO₂ structures on dissociation of H₂ molecules. Low energy electron diffraction observations showed that the TiO₂ produced on Au(100) was disordered, in contrast to the comparatively ordered TiO₂ structure formed on Au(111). The activation energies and the turnover frequencies for HD formation over TiO₂/Au(100) agreed well with those for TiO₂/Au(111), clearly indicating that the hydrogen dissociation sites created over TiO₂/Au(100) were the perimeter interface between stoichiometric TiO₂ and Au, as was previously concluded for TiO₂/Au(111). We concluded that the creation of active sites for hydrogen dissociation was independent of the Au and TiO₂ structures consisting perimeter interface, and that local bonds that formed between Au and O atoms of stoichiometric TiO₂ were essential for the creation of active sites.