Investigation of the biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid from pyruvic acid and the quantitative evaluation of incorporated 13C-labeled l-alanine in Arthrobacter hyalinus

Studies on the contribution to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid from the pyruvic acid transformation from l-alanine in Arthrobacter hyalinus were conducted by means of feeding experiments with l-[1-¹³C]alanine and l-[3-¹³C]alanine, followed by an analysis of the labeling patterns of coproporphyrinogen III using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that l-alanine was transformed via pyruvic acid to both acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid. Additionally, the quantitative analysis indicated that pyruvic acid was transformed to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid in the ratio of 1:0.8.     

Improved Crystallinity of Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-Phenyl-C61 Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Film by Pulsed Electrospray Deposition

We investigated crystallinity parameters and ordering domains of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) blended in [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester films, which were fabricated by pulsed electrospray deposition methods. The crystallinity parameter and the ordering domain were estimated from Raman and optical absorption spectra, respectively. As a result, they were improved with decreasing the off time of pulse voltage, corresponding to the slow evaporation speed of solvent. In addition, both the space-charge limited current mobility and the photoconversion efficiency showed same trend. A highest photoconversion efficiency of 1.11 % was achieved without the thermal annealing process after depositing the active layer.     

High‐Quality Three‐Dimensional Nanoporous Graphene

We report three‐dimensional (3D) nanoporous graphene with preserved 2D electronic properties, tunable pore sizes, and high electron mobility for electronic applications. The complex 3D network comprised of interconnected graphene retains a 2D coherent electron system of massless Dirac fermions. The transport properties of the nanoporous graphene show a semiconducting behavior and strong pore‐size dependence, together with unique angular independence. The free‐standing, large‐scale nanoporous graphene with 2D electronic properties and high electron mobility holds great promise for practical applications in 3D electronic devices.     

The electronic band structure analysis of OLED device by means of in situ LEIPS and UPS combined with GCIB

Low-energy inverse photoelectron spectroscopy (LEIPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) incorporated into the multitechnique XPS system were used to probe the ionization potential and the electron affinity of organic materials, respectively. By utilizing gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), in situ analyses and depth profiling of LEIPS and UPS were also demonstrated. The band structures of the 10-nm-thick buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) thin film on Au (100 nm)/indium tin oxide (100 nm)/glass substrate were successfully evaluated in depth direction.     

Reactions of 2-Pyridyl Substituted Phosphine Oxides and Phosphonium Salts with Organometallic Reagents and in Aqueous Media

Phosphine oxides bearing two or three 2-pyridyl groups react with organometallic reagents affording 2,2′-bipyridyl, 2-substituted pyridines and pyridine in good yields. Phosphonium salts and phosphine oxides, bearing at least two 2-pyridyl or substituted 2-pyridyl groups also give the corresponding 2,2′-bipyridyls and pyridines upon treatment with acid or neutral solvents such as water and alcohols in substantial yields. The 2,2′-bipyridyls are considered to be formed by ligand coupling within the pentacoordinated phosphorus intermediate formed incipiently during the reaction.     

A Statistical Study of the Correlation between Geomagnetic Storms and M ≥ 7.0 Global Earthquakes during 1957–2020

In order to find out whether the geomagnetic storms and large-mega earthquakes are correlated or not, statistical studies based on Superposed Epoch Analysis (SEA), significance analysis, and Z test have been applied to the Dst index data and M ≥ 7.0 global earthquakes during 1957–2020. The results indicate that before M ≥ 7.0 global earthquakes, there are clearly higher probabilities of geomagnetic storms than after them. Geomagnetic storms are more likely to be related with shallow earthquakes rather than deep ones. Further statistical investigations of the results based on cumulative storm hours show consistency with those based on storm days, suggesting that the high probability of geomagnetic storms prior to large-mega earthquakes is significant and robust. Some possible mechanisms such as a reverse piezoelectric effect and/or electroosmotic flow are discussed to explain the statistical correlation. The result might open new perspectives in the complex process of earthquakes and the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere (LAI) coupling.     

Facile synthesis of chiral glycine using D-glucose as a chiral template

A facile synthetic method of chiral glycine and a new access to chiral acetic acid based on a concept of chirality transfer from glucose are described.     

Synthetic studies on β-lactam antibiotics. Part 16. synthesis of 1-carba-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid esters from penicillins utilizing a carbon-carbon coupling reaction

Allylazetidinones $\text{9}$, $\text{10}$, prepared by coupling of allylcoppers $\text{8}$ with chloroazetidinones $\text{6}$, $\text{7}$, were converted into carbapenem esters $\text{16}$, $\text{28}$–$\text{31}$ using an Emmons-Horner reaction to introduce the 6-side chain and an intramolecular Wittig reaction to form the carbapenem ring system.