Two-pulse excitation for efficient formation of an sp3 nanodomain with frozen shear in a graphite crystal

We propose a two-pulse excitation to efficiently form a novel sp(3)-bonded nanosize domain with frozen shear in a graphite crystal. This sp(3) structure is well stabilized by shear displacement between two neighboring graphite layers. The shearing motion is induced transiently by the first laser pulse, and is frozen by the second pulse before disappearing, resulting in the efficient formation of the sp(3)-bonded domain with frozen shear. We show this dynamical process qualitatively by molecular dynamics calculations.     

A mechanically controlled indicator displacement assay

Push a host: Mechanical compression was applied to a host monolayer at an interface, which facilitated an indicator displacement assay. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the host and indicator was switched on by this compression. Addition of D-glucose caused the indicator to be displaced, effectively quenching the FRET process.     

On admissible strategies in robust utility maximization

The existence of optimal strategy in robust utility maximization is addressed when the utility function is finite on the entire real line. A delicate problem in this case is to find a ??good definition?? of admissible strategies to admit an optimizer. Under certain assumptions, especially a kind of time-consistency property of the set ${\mathcal{P}}$ of probabilities which describes the model uncertainty, we show that an optimal strategy is obtained in the class of those whose wealths are supermartingales under all local martingale measures having a finite generalized entropy with one of ${P\in\mathcal{P}}$ .     

Tetrakis(dimethyltin)-containing tungstophosphate [{Sn(CH3)2}4(H2P4W24O92)2]28-: first evidence for a lacunary Preyssler ion

We demonstrate for the first time that the superlacunary polyanion [H(2)P(4)W(24)O(94)](22)(-) reacts with electrophiles. One-pot reaction of this precursor polyanion with dimethyltin dichloride in aqueous acidic medium results in the hybrid organic-inorganic [{Sn(CH(3))(2)}(4)(H(2)P(4)W(24)O(92))(2)](28)(-) (1). Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on K(17)Li(11)[{Sn(CH(3))(2)}(4)(H(2)P(4)W(24)O(92))(2)].51H(2)O (1a), which crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group P4(2)/nmc, a = b = 21.5112(17) and c = 27.171(3) A, and Z = 2. Polyanion 1 is composed of two (P(4)W(24)O(92)) fragments that are linked by four equivalent diorganotin groups. The unprecedented assembly 1 has D(2)(d)() symmetry and contains a hydrophobic pocket in the center of the molecule. The cyclic voltammetry pattern of 1 is constituted by a first broad, 16-electron reduction wave followed by a second large current intensity wave. No splitting of the first reduction wave could be obtained at moderate scan rate values, even though two well-separated oxidation processes are associated with it. The characteristics of the first wave are clearly different from those obtained for the polyanion precursor [H(2)P(4)W(24)O(94)](22)(-) and the related, wheel-shaped [H(7)P(8)W(48)O(184)](33)(-), which is due to the {Sn(CH(3))(2)} fragments in 1. However, no feature was observed in the voltammogram which could be associated with reduction of the Sn centers.     

Transition metal containing decatungstosilicate dimer [M(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)](10-) (M = Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+))

The new, monometal substituted silicotungstates [Mn(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)](10-) (1), [Co(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)](10-) (2) and [Ni(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)](10-) (3) have been synthesized and isolated as the potassium salts K(10)[Mn(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)] x 8.25 H(2)O (K-1), K(10)[Co(H(2)O0(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)] x 8.25 H(2)O (K-2) and K(10)[Ni(H(2)O)(2)(gamma-SiW(10)O(35))(2)] x 13.5 H(2)O (K-3), which have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis and cyclic voltammetry. Polyanions 1-3 are composed of two (gamma-SiW(10)O(36)) units fused on one side via two W-O-W' bridges and on the other side by an octahedrally coordinated trans-MO(4)(OH(2))(2) transition metal fragment, resulting in a structure with C(2v) point group symmetry. Anions 1-3 were synthesized by reaction of the dilacunary precursor [gamma-SiW(10)O(36)](8-) with Mn(2+), Co(2+) and Ni(2+) ions, respectively, in 1 M KCl solution at pH 4.5. The electrochemical properties of 1-3 were studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry in a pH 5 buffer medium. The waves associated with the W-centers are compared with each other and with those of the parent lacunary precursor [gamma-SiW(10)O(36)](8-) in the same medium. They appear to be dominated by the acid-base properties of the intermediate reduced species. A facile merging of the waves for 3 is observed while those for 1 and 2 remain split. Controlled potential coulometry of the single wave of 3 or the combined waves of 1 and 2 is accompanied by catalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction. No redox activity was detected for the Ni(2+) center in 3, whereas the Co(2+) center in 2 shows a one-electron redox process. The two-electron, chemically reversible process of the Mn(2+) center in 1 is accompanied by a film deposition on the electrode surface.     

Experimental study of thermal noise caused by an inhomogeneously distributed loss

The thermal fluctuation of a mechanical system with an inhomogeneously distributed loss was measured to prove the invalidity of the normal-mode expansion method which is commonly used to calculate the thermal noise of mechanical oscillators. The measured spectrum is inconsistent with the modal expansion model, while they agree well with an evaluation obtained by applying the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to the measured mechanical response. These are the first experimental results which show that mode expansion is invalid.