Parametric X-ray radiation as a beam size monitor

We propose two new approaches, referred to as the local and remote methods, for measuring electron beam sizes using parametric X-ray radiation. Using the local method, we have carried out a proof-of-principle experiment, and good agreement was obtained with the results of a standard method using a fluorescent screen. For the remote method, we have proposed a scheme to measure beam sizes using a Fresnel zone plate as an X-ray lens. These methods may prove useful for measuring the sizes of electron beams with small emittances or short bunch lengths in recent advanced accelerators.     

Auditory sustained field responses to periodic noise

Background  

Auditory sustained responses have been recently suggested to reflect neural processing of speech sounds in the auditory cortex. As periodic fluctuations below the pitch range are important for speech perception, it is necessary to investigate how low frequency periodic sounds are processed in the human auditory cortex. Auditory sustained responses have been shown to be sensitive to temporal regularity but the relationship between the amplitudes of auditory evoked sustained responses and the repetitive rates of auditory inputs remains elusive. As the temporal and spectral features of sounds enhance different components of sustained responses, previous studies with click trains and vowel stimuli presented diverging results. In order to investigate the effect of repetition rate on cortical responses, we analyzed the auditory sustained fields evoked by periodic and aperiodic noises using magnetoencephalography.     

Walking nanothermometers: spatiotemporal temperature measurement of transported acidic organelles in single living cells

We fabricated fluorescent nanoparticles which monitor temperature changes without sensitivity to pH (4-10) and ionic strength (0-500 mM). The nanothermometers spontaneously enter living HeLa cells via endocytosis, enclosed in acidic organelles, i.e., endosome/lysosome, and then transported along microtubules in a temperature-dependent manner, working as "walking nanothermometers".     

Respiratory variation of the extrahepatic bile duct: evaluation with deep inspiratory and expiratory MRCP

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the respiratory variation of the extrahepatic bile duct in morphology including shape, length and duct diameter on the breath-hold magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) obtained during deep inspiration and deep expiration in patients with or without biliary diseases.

Materials and Methods

This study included 102 patients with or without biliary diseases. Breath-hold MRCP was obtained twice during the end-inspiration and the end-expiration. MRCP images were evaluated for the length, maximal diameter and “bowing” of the extrahepatic bile duct.

Results

In the normal group, the mean maximal diameter of the extrahepatic bile duct was significantly larger on the end-inspiratory MRCP (8.0±2.0 mm) than on the end-expiratory MRCP (7.3±1.8 mm) (P<.0001), while it was not significantly different in the dilated group. In the normal group, 25 (39%) of 65 patients had an increase in the mean maximal diameter of more than 1 mm at the end-inspiration, whereas 4 (11%) of 37 patients in the dilated group had it. The bowing of the extrahepatic bile duct on the end-inspiratory MRCP was observed in 60 (92%) of 65 normal patients, while it was seen in 22 (60%) of 37 patients with biliary dilatation (P<.0001).

Conclusion

Deep inspiratory and expiratory MRCP demonstrated the respiratory variations of the extrahepatic bile duct in the shape (bowing), length and maximal duct diameter in patients with nondilated bile ducts. Awareness of this normal phenomenon will be important for the correct interpretation of MRCP in patients with or without biliary diseases.     

Switching phenomenon induced by breakdown of chaotic phase synchronization

We investigate chaotic phase synchronization (CPS) in three-coupled chaotic oscillator systems. According to the coupling strength and mismatches in the frequencies of these oscillators, we can observe complete CPS where all three oscillators exhibit CPS, and partial CPS where only two oscillators exhibit CPS. When the coupling strength is weakened, we observe a phenomenon that complete CPS among the three oscillators is suddenly disrupted without going through partial CPS. In this case oscillators exhibit quasi-CPS where two oscillators appear to exhibit CPS transiently, and the combination of the two oscillators changes with time. We call this phenomenon CPS switching D. It is revealed that phase fluctuation plays an important role in CPS switching D. It is also shown that the amplitude with a specific structure strengthens the degree of CPS switching. In the present paper, we characterize this CPS switching and discuss its mechanism.     

Experimental implementation of multiplexing/demultiplexing in digital images using virtual phase conjugation for holographic data storage

We experimentally implemented and proved the concept of multiplexing and demultiplexing in digital images using virtual phase conjugation, which was proposed in our previous study. In the experiment, we concluded that two digital images multiplexed in a single signal beam are recorded in a holographic medium, and these images are independently and successfully reproduced. In this method, the digital images are multiplexed by superimposing them on a complex amplitude, and not using volume hologram’s multiplexing. Thus, the exposure amount in the holographic medium is constant regardless of the number of multiplexing of digital images, and the method has great potential for achieving high recording density.     

Cross-Coupling of Aryllithiums with Aryl and Vinyl Halides in Flow Microreactors

The use of Pd catalysts that contained a carbene ligand, such as PEPPSI-SIPr, speeded up the Murahashi coupling of ArLi with ArBr, by enabling its integration with the Br/Li exchange of ArBr with BuLi in flow. Space integration realized the rapid cross-coupling of two different ArBr substrates. However, the cross-coupling reaction with vinyl halides could not be achieved under similar conditions. Pd(OAc)₂ was an effective catalyst, and the space integration of the Br/Li exchange of ArBr with BuLi and the Murahashi coupling with vinyl halides was successfully achieved.     

Hydrocarboxylation of unactivated internal alkynes with carboxylic acids catalyzed by dinuclear palladium complexes

Dinuclear palladium complexes catalyzed addition reactions of carboxylic acid O-H bond to unactivated internal alkynes. The reaction afforded a trans-adduct selectively.     

A capillary electrophoresis method for free fatty acids screening and acidity determination in biodiesel

The advent of policies that incentivize or require alternative diesel fuels has increased the demand for the development of fast analytical methods aiming for the quality control of these fuels. This study approached an alternative method for the determination of biodiesel acidity employing capillary zone electrophoresis based on free fatty acids screening and quantification. Sample preparation comprised vortex-assisted liquid-liquid extraction of free fatty acids and was a crucial step for analysis. It was studied through a 3² full factorial design considering sample mass and the stirring time. Then, solvent suitability was evaluated univariately. The free fatty acid screening was carried out employing a capillary zone electrophoresis method able to separate C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 n-9, C18:2 n-6, and C18:3 n-3, major fatty acids in a variety of vegetable oils used for biodiesel synthesis. In addition to the straightforward sample preparation protocol, the running time of the developed method was only 12 min. Moreover, ultraviolet absorption indirect detection of analytes was approached to avoid analytes derivatization, considering the lack of chromophore groups in saturated fatty acids. Statistical tests did not evidence any significant differences in the biodiesel acidity determination expressed in percentage of free fatty acids when comparing the proposed capillary zone electrophoresis method and the traditional potentiometric titration approach within the 95% confidence interval, which demonstrates the suitability of this alternative method for the biodiesel quality control in routine.