Pulsed laser deposition of pure fluoroapatite film without OH groups

The relation between O₂ pressure and composition in the pulsed‐laser deposition of fluoroapatite was investigated using both on‐axis and off‐axis methods to determine the optimal conditions for obtaining a pure fluoroapatite film without OH groups. Through this, it was found that an O₂ pressure of 10 Pa, combined with an off‐axis method, results in P/Ca and F/Ca values (0.6 and 0.2, respectively) that match closely with a stoichiometric composition of Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆F₂. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that this optimized film was almost pure fluoroapatite, with no evidence of any OH groups originating from hydroxyapatite. X‐ray diffraction also revealed that this fluoroapatite film crystallizes with a c‐axis orientation perpendicular to its surface.     

Homoleptic Zincate‐Promoted Room‐Temperature Halogen–Metal Exchange of Bromopyridines

Homoleptic lithium tri‐ and tetraalkyl zincates were reacted with a set of bromopyridines. Efficient and chemoselective bromine–metal exchanges were realized at room temperature with a substoichiometric amount of nBu₄ZnLi₂?TMEDA reagent (1/3 equiv; TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine). This reactivity contrasted with that of tBu₄ZnLi₂?TMEDA, which was inefficient below one equivalent. DFT calculations allowed us to rationalize the formation of N???Li stabilized polypyridyl zincates in the reaction. The one‐pot difunctionalization of dibromopyridines was also realized using the reagent stoichiometrically. The direct creation of C? Zn bonds in bromopyridines enabled us to perform efficient Negishi‐type cross‐couplings.     

Fault analysis: optical performance investigation of fiber connections with imperfect physical contact

We investigated the insertion and return losses of optical fiber connections with various air-filled gaps. Such gaps might occur when a fiber connection using physical contact unexpectedly fails, resulting in imperfect physical contact. The optical performance of these fiber connections depends on wavelength and gap size. We revealed that the measured optical performance of fiber connections with an imperfect physical contact, i.e., with an air-filled gap, might deteriorate to ~18 dB for insertion loss and 9.4 dB for return loss at worst.     

Versatile self-assembled hybrid systems with exotic structures and unique functions

In this review article, we describe recent progress about exotic self-assembled systems with various dimensions including biomolecules, supramolecules, unique hydrophobic amphiphiles, polymers, nano-clusters, and colloidal particles. Construction of robust biomolecular assemblies with exotic structures, such as ring and hollow capsule, is achieved by rational designs of symmetric biomolecular conjugates. In addition, we comprehensively summarized leading-edge topics on optical/topological properties of self-assembled hybrid systems, such as circularly polarized luminescence or structural color. The preparation of colloidal amorphous array with photonic band gap-induced angle-independent structural color is also achieved in consideration of the following situations: i) two-body sphere–sphere potential, ii) disorder packing using different sizes of colloidal particles, and iii) softness of colloidal particles. Lastly, we demonstrated useful utilizations of exotic self-assembled objects. Flakelike microparticles were transcribed into various nano-flake metals and applied as temperature indicator for the local heating of an addictive. All findings described here show meaningful hybrid strategies in self-assembly techniques and their functionalization as well as materialization.     

First observation of a smectic A-cholesteric phase transition in a thermotropic liquid crystal consisting of a rigid-rod helical polysilane

A smectic A-cholesteric phase transition for a rigid-rod helical polymer, poly[n-decyl-(S)-2-methylbutylsilane] (PD2MBS), with a narrow molecular weight distribution, has been observed for the first time. Polarizing optical microscopy showed that the fan-shaped texture of the smectic A phase turned into the characteristic planar texture of the cholesteric phase upon heating. The positive CD band, which corresponds to the reflection band of the cholesteric phase, gradually decreased in intensity within a range 30°C below the transition temperature on cooling, while the peak maximum shifted towards shorter wavelengths. It was concluded that the system has a very wide temperature region over which the cholesteric-smectic A phase transition occurs and in which the cholesteric pitch varies with temperature.     

Investigation of the influence of cell density of human fibroblasts cryopreserved inside collagen sponges at various cooling rates

The influence of cell density of cells cryopreserved inside a collagen matrix at various cooling rates was investigated. Human fibroblasts were three-dimensionally cultured for 2 days in a collagen sponge (20 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) as an extracellular matrix to imitate biological tissue (artificial tissue). Different cell densities for the artificial tissue were used, from 10(5) to 10(7) cells/cm(3). Four artificial tissues were first stacked in a test chamber, frozen at a cooling rate of 0.3 to 50 degrees C/min in a solution of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium, 20% fetal bovine serum and 10% dimethylsulfoxide, kept frozen below -185 degrees C for 2 hours, and then finally thawed. Membrane integrity of fibroblasts using a trypan blue exclusion assay was evaluated as an index for post-thaw cellular viability. Results show that with increasing cell density, the post-thaw membrane integrity decreased. Therefore, in the cryopreservation of biological tissue, it seems high cell density is one factor which causes a decline in viability.     

Highly Chemoselective and Versatile Method for Direct Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to Ketones Utilizing Zinc Ate Complexes

Various carboxylic acids were directly transformed into the corresponding ketones by utilizing organozinc ate complexes, which provide high chemoselectivity without any overreaction to the undesired tertiary carbinol, owing to formation of a stable tetrahedral zincioketal intermediate. This method offers good overall atom/step/pot economy and operational simplicity.     

Laplace transform impedance analysis in the two-phase coexistence reaction of spinel Li1 + x Mn2O4 positive electrode

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - We demonstrate the Laplace transform (LT) impedance technique for measuring electrochemical lithiation and delithiation in the two-phase system of spinel...     

Effect of preparative conditions on crystallinity of apatite particles obtained from simulated body fluids

Preparation of colloidal hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles under body fluid conditions was investigated with focusing on the effect of preparative conditions on crystallinity of the resulting particles. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane was added to 1.5SBF (a solution having 1.5 times higher ion concentrations than those of a simulated body fluid, SBF) to increase the solution pH, which resulted in induction of homogeneous nucleation of HAp in the solution. Colloidal HAp particles having diameters about 300 nm were obtained. When the reaction was proceeded at 70°C and the sample was dried by heating, it was effective to obtain HAp particles having high crystallinity. Experimental results support that remaining water in the sample contributed to increase HAp crystallinity.