Use of 1-m Bi2O3 nonlinear fiber for 160-Gbit/s optical time-division demultiplexing based on polarization rotation and a wavelength shift induced by cross-phase modulation

We present, for the first time to our knowledge, experimental results of the use of a 1-m-long Bi2O3-based nonlinear fiber (Bi-NLF) with a nonlinear parameter gamma of approximately 1100 W(-1) km(-l) within an all-fiber-based 160Gbit/s optical time-division multiplexing (OTDM) data demultiplexer. Our demultiplexing switch basically uses the principle of the Kerr shutter, and its switching performance is further enhanced by the additional use of the wavelength blueshift of data pulses, which is induced by cross-phase modulation from the control pulse's trailing edge. The OTDM demultiplexer, composed of the 1-m Bi-NLF, readily achieves error-free demultiplexing operation of all 16 channels.     

Enhancement of superconducting transition temperature due to the strong antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in the noncentrosymmetric heavy-fermion superconductor CeIrSi3: A 29Si NMR study under pressure

We report a (29)Si NMR study on the pressure-induced superconductivity (SC) in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) heavy-fermion compound CeIrSi(3) without inversion symmetry. In the SC state at P = 2.7-2.8 GPa, the temperature (T) dependence of the nuclear-spin lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) below T(c) exhibits a T(3) behavior without any coherence peak just below T(c), revealing the presence of line nodes in the SC gap. In the normal state, 1/T(1) follows a square root T-like behavior, suggesting that the SC emerges under the non-Fermi-liquid state dominated by AFM spin fluctuations enhanced around a quantum critical point. The reason why the maximum T(c) in CeIrSi(3) is relatively high among the Ce-based heavy-fermion superconductors may be the existence of the strong AFM spin fluctuations. We discuss the comparison with the other Ce-based heavy-fermion superconductors.     

Charge ordering in Eu3S4 determined by the valence-difference contrast of synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction study for single crystals of Eu₃S₄ has revealed that a Th₃P₄-type structure transforms to a charge-ordered one at T_c=188.5 K. The crystal structures of Eu₃S₄ at T=300, 180 and 160 K were determined in the least-squares refinements with the Mo K intensity data. The valence-difference contrast method was applied at the L_II absorption edge of Eu, utilizing a large difference in anomalous scattering factors between Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺. The cation distribution of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ was determined by crystal-structure analyses based on the intensity data collected at two wavelengths of λ=1.6312 and 1.6298 Å.The least-squares structural refinements suggest that the most plausible atomic arrangement is [Eu³⁺]^4a[Eu²⁺Eu³⁺]^8dS₄. The charge-ordering scheme is that a half of Eu³⁺ ions occupy the whole 4a sites in the crystal structure, while the remaining half of Eu³⁺ ions mix with Eu²⁺ in the 8d sites. The scheme is also supported by the energy dependence of Bragg intensities for 400 and 004 reflections.     

In-beam γ -ray study of the neutron-rich nuclei 240U, 246Pu, and 250Cm produced by the (18O, 16O) reaction

We have measured deexcitation γ rays in the neutron-rich nuclei of ²⁴⁰U, ²⁴⁶Pu, and ²⁵⁰Cm produced by the (¹⁸O, ¹⁶O) two-neutron transfer reactions, in coincidence with the ¹⁶O particles using Si ΔE−E detectors. The γ rays in these nuclei were identified by selecting the kinetic energies of ¹⁶O particles, which correspond to the excitation energies in the residual nuclei below the neutron separation energies. The ground-state bands of ²⁴⁰U, ²⁴⁶Pu, and ²⁵⁰Cm were established up to 12⁺ states and the K ^π = 0⁻ octupole band of ²⁴⁰U was established up to 9⁻ states. The systematics of the moments of inertia of the ground-state bands for actinide nuclei shows that the deformed subshell closure at N = 152 is sustained for ₉₆Cm isotopes and that it disappears for ₉₄Pu isotopes. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Higher reactivity of 3‐pyridinium boronic acid compared with 3‐pyridinium boronate ion toward 4‐isopropyltropolone in acidic aqueous solution: fundamental reaction analyses for an effective organoboron‐based chemosensor

The pK_as of 3‐pyridylboronic acid and its derivatives were determined spectrophotometrically. Most of them had two pK_as assignable to the boron center and pyridine moiety. The pK_a assignment performed by ¹¹B nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that both boron centers in 3‐pyridylboronic acid [3‐PyB(OH)₂] and the N‐methylated derivative [3‐(N‐Me)Py⁺B(OH)₂] have strong acidities (pK_a = 4.4 for both). It was found that introduction of a substituent to pyridine‐C atom in 3‐pyridylboronic acid drastically increased the acidity of the pyridinium moiety, but decreased the acidity of the boron center, whereas the introduction to pyridine‐N atom had no influence on the acidity of the boron center. Kinetic studies on the complexation reactions of 3‐pyridinium boronic acid [3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₂] with 4‐isopropyltropolone (Hipt) carried out in strongly acidic aqueous solution indicated that the positive charge on the boronic acid influenced little on its reactivity; 3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₂ reacts with Hipt and protonated H₂ipt⁺, and its reactivity was in line with those of a series of boronic acids. Kinetics in weakly acidic aqueous solution revealed that 3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₂ reacts with Hipt faster than its conjugate boronate [3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₃^–], which is consistent with our recent results. The reactivity of 3‐(N‐Me)Py⁺B(OH)₂ towards Hipt was also examined kinetically; the reactivities of 3‐(N‐Me)Py⁺B(OH)₂ and 3‐(N‐Me)Py⁺B(OH)₃^– are almost the same as those of their original 3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₂ and 3‐HPy⁺B(OH)₃^–, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SELECTIVE INACTIVATION OF MICROSOMAL DRUG METABOLIZING PROTEINS BY VISIBLE LIGHT

Abstract— Rat liver microsomes treated with heterochromatic visible light (λ > 400 nm) and O₂ showed a preferential inactivation of NADPH-cytochrome P₄₅₀ reductase and cytochrome P₄₅₀, proteins involved in drug metabolism. Cytochrome P₄₅₀ destruction correlates with lipid peroxidation; both are oxygen dependent and affected to the same extent by antioxidants and radical scavengers. Under anaerobic conditions. NADPH-cytochrome P₄₅₀ reductase is the only component which is inactivated; this is accompanied by FMN loss and activity can be restored by reconstitution.     

Role of molecular orbitals near the fermi level in the excitation of vibrational modes of a single molecule at a scanning tunneling microscope junction

Inelastically tunneled electrons from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope were used to induce S-S bond dissociation of a (CH(3)S)(2) and lateral hopping of a CH(3)S on Cu(111) at 4.7 K. Both experimental results and theoretical calculations confirm that the excitation mechanism of the vibrationally induced chemistry reflects the projected density of states of molecular orbitals that appear near the Fermi level as a result of the rehybridization of the orbitals between the adsorbed molecules and the substrate metal atoms.     

Epitaxial growth of isotactic polypropylene on oriented polyethylene from solution

Oriented polyethylene (PE) films with surfaces bounded by the (100) plane were prepared. On the film surfaces, isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was crystallized epitaxially from solution as quadrits with their sides parallel and perpendicular to the polyethylene chain axis. In the through wide-angle x-ray diffraction pattern (taken with incident x-rays normal to the polyethylene film surface), the 111 iPP reflections was observed on the meridian (Parallel to the polyethylene chain axis). In the edge patterns (taken with x-rays incident on the edge of the polyethylene film), 040 and 060 reflections were observed on the equator. From the diffraction patterns, the following lattice coincidence was observed between polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene: (010)iPP//(100) PE, [101]iPP//[001] PE. The Small-angle x-ray scattering patterns showed that edge-on isotactic polypropylene lamellae 9 nm thick were arranged with their long axes inclined at an angle of 40° from the polyethylene axis. Molecular chains were oriented within the lamellae normal to the surfaces.     

Environment-induced morphological changes of polyethylene lamellae during crystallization in solution

Polyethylene (PE) lamellar crystals were grown by two dual-staged crystallization methods: (1) Fractionated PE was first crystallized from n-octane by the self-seeding method, the solvent of the resulting suspension of crystals was exchanged for p-xylene, and thereafter, the suspension was mixed with a solution in p-xylene at various temperatures so that PE grew from p-xylene onto the lamellae pregrown from n-octane, and (2) according to the similar procedure, PE lamellae were first grown from p-xylene and subsequently, PE was deposited from n-octane onto the lamellae pre-grown from p-xylene. In the crystallization procedure (1), triangular lamellae with the 〈010〉 chain folding developed randomly on the {100} lateral surfaces of truncated parent lamellae so that the surfaces were serrated, and otherwise, thin daughter lamellae bordered the parent lamellae along the {110} surfaces, retaining the flat growth fronts with the 〈110〉 folding. In the procedure (2), the {100} sectors with the 〈010〉 folding developed at the apexes of the long diagonal of lozengeshaped parent lamellae, and consequently, their morphology was transfigured into a truncated crystal. These morphological transformations are discussed on the basis of the change in the interfacial free energy between the parent crystal and the surrounding phase due to the substitution of solvent. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.