Estimate of Fukushima-derived radiocaesium in the North Pacific Ocean in summer 2012

Distributions of radiocaesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) derived from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) accident in the North Pacific Ocean in the summer of 2012 were investigated. We have estimated the radiocaesium inventory in the surface layer using the optimal interpolation analysis and the subducted amount into the central mode water (CMW) by using vertical profiles of FNPP1-¹³⁴Cs and mass balance analysis as the first approach. The inventory of the ¹³⁴Cs in the surface layer in the North Pacific Ocean in August–December 2012 was estimated at 5.1?±?0.9 PBq on 1 October 2012, which corresponds to 8.6?±?1.5 PBq when it was decay corrected to the date of the FNPP1 accident, 11 March 2011. It was revealed that 56?±?10% of the released ¹³⁴Cs into the North Pacific Ocean, which was estimated at 15.3?±?2.6 PBq, transported eastward in the surface layer in 2012. The amount of ¹³⁴Cs subducted in the CMW was estimated to be 2.5?±?0.9 PBq based on the mass balance among the three domains of the surface layer, subtropical mode water, and CMW.     

Photophysical property and photostability of J-aggregate thin films of thiacyanine dyes prepared by the spin-coating method

By use of electrostatic interactions of dye molecules and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), the spin-coating technique has been successfully applied to the preparation of stable J-aggregate thin films of thiacarbocyanine dyes on a polycarbonate or quartz plate. The J-aggregate thin films were prepared by the spin-coating of PDDA aqueous solution on dye thin films prepared on a substrate by the spin-coating of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol solution of dyes. Photophysical properties of the dye thin films and J-aggregate thin films were studied by measuring the fluorescence spectra, quantum yields, and lifetimes. Coherent size of the J-aggregates was estimated to be 3-12 by means of the absorption bandwidth (full width at half maximum) or radiative lifetime. Photostability of the J-aggregate thin films was also studied in terms of photodegradation efficiency under argon and oxygen in comparison with the dye thin films, and J-aggregate thin films were found to be more stable than the corresponding dye thin films.     

Biomaterials and biofunctionality in layered macromolecular assemblies

Recent research in the field of LbL assembly is summarized and categorized as fabrication, sensing, drug release/delivery, and cell technology. Special emphasis is given to topics such as cell-membrane-mimic assembly, fabrication of free-standing biomolecular structures including protein microtubes, detection of DNA adducts and reactive metabolites, DNA hybridization analysis, sensing of toxic and bio-active chemicals, entrapment of proteins and DNA, biocomponent carriers with barcode encoding, release and delivery of DNA plasmids, multiagent delivery, smart defense capsules and oxidation-resistant films, vector introduction to cells, patterned cell culturing and microfluidic microreactors, stem cell differentiation, cellular uptake and degradation, and control of cellular apoptosis.     

Crystallographic and theoretical studies of 4,4′-dimethyl-7,7′-bi([1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-b]pyridylidene)–chloranilic acid (1/1) with intermolecular O–H···N hydrogen bonds and S···O heteroatom interactions

Abstract  The molecular and crystal structure of a 1:1 co-crystal of 4,4′-dimethyl-7,7′-bi([1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-b]pyridylidene)–chloranilic acid, (1), has been determined by X-ray diffraction at the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with cell parameters of a = 8.422(6), b = 7.343(4), c = 16.112(7) ?, β = 104.988(8)°, V = 962.5(10) ?³ and Z = 2. In the crystal structure, two components connect via the intermolecular O–H···N hydrogen bonds [2.804(4) ?] and S···O heteroatom interaction [2.945(3) ?] with R ₂ ²(7) couplings to form a unique and infinite one-dimensional supramolecular tape structure. The calculations of (1) at the HF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d), and B3LYP/6-31G(d) levels can almost reproduce X-ray geometry. In addition, the distances of the intermolecular O–H···N and S···O interactions by MP2/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d) levels agree well with those in the crystal. The calculated binding energies corrected BSSE and ZPE are −4.487 (HF), −7.473 (MP2), and −5.640 (B3LYP) kcal/mol. The results suggest that the complex (1) is very stable and the dispersion interaction is significantly important for the attractive intermolecular interaction in (1). The NBO analysis has revealed that the n(N) → σ*(O–H) interaction gives the strongest stabilization to the system and the major interaction for the intermolecular S···O contact is n(O) → σ*(S–N). Index Abstract  In the crystal structure of the title compound, the molecules are linked by intermolecular O–H···N hydrogen bonds and short S···O heteroatom interactions with R ₂ ²(7) couplings to construct a unique and infinite one-dimensional supramolecular tape structure.      

Materials Space-Tectonics: Atomic-level Compositional and Spatial Control Methodologies for Synthesis of Future Materials

Reactions occurring at surfaces and interfaces necessitate the creation of well-designed surface and interfacial structures. To achieve a combination of bulk material (i.e., framework) and void spaces, a meticulous process of “nano-architecting” of the available space is necessary. Conventional porous materials such as mesoporous silica, zeolites, and metal–organic frameworks lack advanced cooperative functionalities owing to their largely monotonous pore geometries and limited conductivities. To overcome these limitations and develop functional structures with surface-specific functions, the novel materials space-tectonics methodology has been proposed for future materials synthesis. This review summarizes recent examples of materials synthesis based on designing building blocks (i.e., tectons) and their hybridization, along with practical guidelines for implementing materials syntheses and state-of-the-art examples of practical applications. Lastly, the potential integration of materials space-tectonics with emerging technologies, such as materials informatics, is discussed.     

Nanomosaic: formation of nanodomains confined in a two-dimensional molecular plane

Atomic force microscopy observations of a (hydrocarbon guanidinium/fluorocarbon carboxylic acid) mixed monolayer revealed that a nanoscopic phase-separated structure was formed by a combination of attractive interaction between the oppositely charged head groups and repulsive phase separation of the hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains.     

Switchable antenna: a star-shaped ruthenium/osmium tetranuclear complex with azobis(bipyridine) bridging ligands

A star-shaped Ru/Os tetranuclear complex, in which a central Os unit is linked to three peripheral Ru units by 4,4'-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (azobpy) bridging ligands, was prepared to examine the unique photodynamics regulated by its redox state. The Ru/Os tetranuclear complex exhibits Ru-based luminescence at 77 K, whereas the three-electron reduction (one for each azobpy) of the Ru/Os complex results in luminescence from the Os unit. The photoexcited state of the Ru/Os complex rapidly decays into low energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states, in which the excited electron is localized in the azobpy ligand in the form of azobpy(.-). Upon the one-electron reduction of the azobpy ligands, the above-mentioned low-energy states become unavailable to the photoexcited complex. As a result, an energy transfer from the Ru-based excited state to the Os-based excited state becomes possible. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements revealed that the energy transfer process consists of two steps; intramolecular electron transfer from the terminal bipyridine ligand (bpy(.-)) to form azobpy(2-) followed by a metal-to-metal electron transfer. Thus, the Ru/Os tetranuclear complex collects light energy into the central Os unit depending on the redox state of the bridging ligands, qualifying as a switchable antenna.     

Enantioselective synthesis of silanol

An enantioselective nucleophilic substitution reaction of achiral dialkoxysilane has been developed. The reaction proceeds with efficient stereocontrol on the silicon chirality center to give the enantioenriched silyl ether, which can be converted to the silanol without loss of enantiopurity. We have analyzed the steric course of the reaction by using DFT calculations and propose a transition state model to explain the observed enantioselectivity.