Hypernuclei and nuclear matter in a chiral SU(3) RMF model

We develop a chiral SU(3) RMF model for octet baryons, as an extension of the recently developed chiral SU(2) RMF model with logarithmic sigma potential. For Σ -meson coupling, strong repulsion (SR) and weak repulsion (WR) cases are examined in existing atomic shift data of Σ^- . In both of these cases, we need an attractive pocket of a few MeV depth around nuclear surface.     

Preferential formation of cis-4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives via photoinduced electron transfer-initiated cyclization of N-acyl-α-dehydroarylalanine alkyl esters

The alkyl, aryl, and acyl substituent effects on the photoinduced electron transfer-initiated cyclization reaction of the title compounds (1) were investigated in polar solvents from mechanistic and synthetic points of view. The irradiation of (Z)-1 in methanol containing triethylamine (TEA) was found to quantitatively give cis- and trans-4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives (cis-2 and trans-2). In addition to thermodynamic considerations for electron transfer and fluorescence quenching in the presence of TEA, acyl and aryl substituent effects on the emission intensity and photoreactivity of 1 confirmed the involvement of consecutive electron transfer reactions that form (E)-arylmethylene radical anion and (E)-N-acyl radical anion intermediates. It was also confirmed that the cyclization of the latter intermediate eventually leads to 2. On the basis of the finding that the selectivity for cis-2 is greatly increased with increasing the steric bulkiness of alkyl and aryl substituents in 1, it was concluded that steric hindrance of these substituents toward hydrogen shift in the cyclized biradical intermediate, precursor of 2, is responsible for the kinetically controlled hydrogen shift in this intermediate. A product composition analysis showed that the protic polar solvent, methanol, of hydrogen-bonding solvation ability is a most suitable solvent for the photocyclization reactions examined.     

Synthesis and thermal behaviour of gallium-substituted aluminosilicate inorganic polymers

A combined sol-gel and solid-state method reported for the synthesis of gallium silicate analogues of aluminosilicate inorganic polymers has also been extended to the formation of related compounds with a range of Al-for Ga substitutions. Homogeneous, robust products were obtained at an optimum composition of SiO(2):(Ga(2)O(3) + Al(2)O(3)) = 7. After curing at 40 °C, all the products were typically X-ray amorphous, and the Al and Ga was shown by (27)Al and (71)Ga MAS NMR spectroscopy to be in solely tetrahedral coordination. The (29)Si MAS NMR spectra were as expected for silicate inorganic polymers, but also indicated the presence of some unreacted silica. Electron microscopy in conjunction with EDS elemental mapping showed that the Ga, Al and Si was homogeneously distributed in the products. Thermal treatment of these compounds results in endothermic water loss at about 75-160 °C followed by an exothermic event at about 950 °C corresponding to crystallization of KGaSi(2)O(6) in the gallium end-member. By contrast, the Al-substituted compounds never fully crystallised, but melted at 1200 °C to an X-ray amorphous product.     

Extremophilic Polysaccharide for Biosynthesis and Passivation of Gold Nanoparticles and Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells

Extremophiles are the group of organisms that are far overlooked for exploring novel biomaterials in the field of material science and bionanotechnology. Extremophilic bacterial‐sulfated exopolysaccharide, mauran (MR), is employed for the bioreduction and passivation of gold nanoparticles (AuNps) to enhance the biocompatibility of AuNps and used for photothermal ablation of cancer cells. Here, various concentrations of MR solution are tested for the reduction of HAuCl₄ solution in the presence as well as in the absence of an external reducing agent, to produce mauran‐gold nanoparticles (MRAu Nps). These biocompatible nanocomposites are treated with cancer cell lines under in vitro conditions and NIR irradiated for complete ablation. MRAu Nps‐treated cancer cells on immediate exposure to infrared radiation from a femtosecond pulse laser of operating wavelength 800 nm are subjected to hyperthermia causing cell death. Biocompatible MR stabilization could fairly reduce the cytotoxicity caused by bare AuNps during biomedical applications. Application of a biocompatible polysaccharide from extremophilic bacterial origin for reduction and passivation of AuNps and used for a biomedical purpose is known to be first of its kind in bionanofusion studies.     

Synthesis of Oligo (Phenyleneoxide) by Electro-Oxidative Polymerization

Anodic oxidation of 2,6-disubstituted phenols gave poly(2,6-disubstituted-1,4-phenyleneoxide)s quantitatively by using dichloromethane and tetraethyl ammonium bromide as the solvent and the supporting electrolyte respectively. Phenol was also electro-oxidatively polymerized to yield oligo(1,4-phenyleneoxide) with molecular weight of 1200～2500. The 2-step polymerization and the polymerization in the presence of bisphenol were carried out to increase the molecular weight of the oligo(phenyleneoxide). The mechanism of the electro-oxidative polymerization was discussed by electrochemical and ESR measurements.     

Morphological effects of single-layer graphene oxide in the formation of covalently bonded polypyrrole composites using intermediate diisocyanate chemistry

Single-layer graphene oxide (SLGO) possesses carboxylic and hydroxyl groups suitable for reactions with aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanate molecules. TEM analysis reveals that aliphatic diisocyanate molecules caused SLGO to scroll into star-like formations, whereas aromatic diisocyanate molecules retained SGLO in a flat-sheet morphology. TGA confirms the stabilisation of the formed urea and urethane groups on SLGO, but the onset of sheet pyrolysis occurs at a lower temperature due to isocyanate reactions with anhydride and epoxide groups embedded in the sheet. Pendant isocyanate groups act as bridging units to facilitate the attachment of pyrrole molecules, which are then used as anchor sites for the covalent polymerisation of pyrrole to polypyrrole (PPy). The use of FeCl₃ as the polymerisation catalyst generated both covalent and free PPy, but also iron hydroxide nanoparticles were observed decorating the SLGO surface. When using ammonium persulfate as a catalyst and dodecylbenzenesulfonate as a dopant, free PPy could be removed under treatment with solvents to leave a purely covalent system. Discrete regions of SLGO were observed decorated with nanoparticles of PPy along the edge or across the surface of individual sheets. It was found that the flexibility of the SLGO sheet and the type of diisocyanate used directly affected the electrical resistance of the final composite.     

Spin-polarization of an electro-static positron beam

We constructed an electro-static positron beam apparatus. We fabricated a simple spin-polarimeter composed of a permanent magnet with a surface magnetic field of 0.65 T and an iron pole piece. The longitudinal spin-polarization of the positron beam was determined to be 0.3 by analyzing the magnetic field dependence of the Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation from a fused silica specimen. The effect of spin rotation was examined using an iron poly-crystal and a simple E × B filter.     

Subterranean electrical structure of Kozu-shima volcanic island, Japan

Following the electric current injection experiment carried out in 2009, a VLF-MT (Very Low Frequency Magnetotelluric) survey has been conducted in Kozu-shima Island to obtain further information on the subterranean electrical structure that might help understanding the results of our monitoring of geoelectric potentials. A number of VAN-type pre-seismic geoelectric potential anomalies were observed in 1997-2000, even showing a remarkable "Selectivity". However, similar pre-seismic anomalies were not observed during the Izu-Island volcano-seismic swarm 2000. All these observations would require extremely high degree of heterogeneity in the subterranean electrical structure of the volcanic island and its possible time changes. Several correlations between the results of this survey and the volcanic geology of the island and ground water distribution were found. Further investigation is needed for a complete explanation of the observed phenomena.     

Influence of N-Substituents on Photovoltaic Properties of Singly Bay-Linked Dimeric Perylene Diimides

The influence of N-substituents on the photovoltaic properties of singly bay-linked perylene diimides (diPDIs) was systematically investigated to understand the aromatic-aliphatic balance, which is beneficial for achieving high device performance in organic photovoltaic (OPV) systems. The synthesis of various N-substituted diPDIs was successfully achieved using a newly developed one-step procedure, resulting in sufficiently high yields. Detailed investigations of seven variants of diPDIs demonstrated that the primary alkyl substituents, particularly the 2-ethylhexyl group, induce the self-organized growth of thin films with high crystallinity. This is beneficial for enhancing the device performance of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) systems. The results presented herein reveal the important roles of alkyl side chains as hydrophobic solubilizing auxiliaries or primary determinants in the control of the active layer nanomorphology. This offers a valuable guideline that is essential for developing high-performance organic semiconductor materials for future practical applications.