Decomposition behaviors of various crystalline celluloses as treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water

Various types of crystalline cellulose consisting of group I (cell I, III_I, IV_I) and group II (cell II, III_II, IV_II) prepared from cotton linter were adjusted for their degree of polymerization (DP) as starting materials. These celluloses were then treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water (HCW) at 230–270 °C/10 MPa/2–15 min to study their decomposition behaviors. The treatments performed resulted in residues of celluloses and water-soluble (WS) portions. Consequently, the crystallinity of the residues was found to remain the same, but the DP was reduced as the temperature increased. Additionally, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform-infrared analyses demonstrated that crystallographic changes occurred for residues of cell III_I, IV_I and III_II. Despite these changes, the overall results of the residues showed that group I has higher resistance to decomposing than group II. As for the WS portions, the yields of the hydrolyzed and degraded products were higher in group II than group I, indicating that group II is less resistant to decomposition by HCW treatment. Results for both the residues and WS portions are in agreement with each other, showing that the degree of difficulty of decomposition was higher in group I than group II. Therefore, the decomposition behaviors of the celluloses are due to differences in the crystalline forms.     

Structure and bioactivity of a trisnorditerpenoid and a diterpenoid from an Okinawan soft coral, Cespitularia sp.

An Okinawan soft coral Cespitularia sp. has proven to be a good source of cytotoxic metabolites having a carbon skeleton of the seco-type variety of xenicin. This soft coral yielded alcyonolide, the major constituent, and other related compounds, all of which have proven to be cytotoxic. Reinvestigation of the cytotoxic ethyl acetate extracts of the coral yielded two new alcyonolide congeners, trisnorditerpenoid 1 and diterpenoid 2, possessing the same carbon skeleton. Their structures were elucidated by a detailed analysis of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR, and MS). Metabolites 1 and 2 showed cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells (IC₅₀ 6.04 and 47.0 μM, respectively) and a dose dependent, anti-inflammatory effect in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated inflammatory RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.     

Synthesis,Crystal Packing,and Ambipolar Carrier Transport Property of Twisted Dibenzo[g,p]chrysenes

A versatile method for the synthesis of dibenzo[g,p]chrysene (DBC) derivatives based on regio‐ and stereoselective stannyllithiation to diarylacetylenes is described. This method affords a variety of DBCs possessing both electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing functional groups. These twisted molecules take brickwork packing structures in single crystals. Thus, ambipolar carrier transport properties with mobility values of up to 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in the amorphous state were achieved. Functional groups on DBC frameworks are considered to increase carrier mobility through the enhancement of intermolecular interactions in the brickwork packing structures.     

Experimental separation of virtual photon exchange and electron transfer in interatomic coulombic decay of neon dimers

We investigate the interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) of neon dimers following photoionization with simultaneous excitation of the ionized atom (shakeup) in a multiparticle coincidence experiment. We find that, depending on the parity of the excited state, which determines whether ICD takes place via virtual dipole photon emission or overlap of the wave functions, the decay happens at different internuclear distances, illustrating that nuclear dynamics heavily influence the electronic decay in the neon dimer.     

Laser-diode pumped heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic lasers

Laser performance of heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramics was investigated using a two-pass pumping miniature laser configuration. Slope efficiency of 52% and optical-to-optical efficiency of 48% have been achieved for 1-mm-thick YAG ceramic doped with 20 at.% ytterbium ions. Laser spectra of Yb:YAG ceramic and single-crystal lasers were addressed under different intracavity laser intensities. Heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic is more suitable for a thin disk laser than a single-crystal with the same Yb(3+)-ion lasants.     

Converging-axicon-based radially polarized ytterbium fiber laser and evidence on the mode profile inside the gain fiber

The radially polarized mode is achieved from an active Yb fiber by utilizing of an intracavity converging axicon, where the axicon acts as a TM(01) mode selector based on not only its Brewster convex surface but also the distance between its vertex and plane output coupler. The polarization state of the annular laser beam is checked by using a home-made eight-hole aperture. Furthermore, an uncoated plane glass plate is inserted into the cavity, and the reflected beam points to the existence of an annular lasing mode inside the gain fiber. The issues for developing high-power radially polarized fiber lasers also are considered.     

Blue emission from InGaN/GaN hexagonal pyramid structures

Cathodoluminescence (CL) from InGaN grown on GaN hexagonal pyramid structures has been investigated. The facet structure can be controlled by the growth temperature and reactor pressure. GaN pyramid structures surrounded with facets were grown at 1020 C at a pressure of 500 Torr by low-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (LP-MOVPE). The indium mole fraction in the InGaN film depends on the facet structure. The thickness of the InGaN and the peak wavelength and intensity of the CL from the InGaN gradually increased from the bottom to the top of the facets.     

Distribution patterns of gamma radiation dose rate in the high background radiation area of Odisha,India

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Absorbed dose rates in air for 20 residential areas in Odisha were measured using a vehicle-mounted NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. The...