Minitwistor spaces,Severi varieties,and Einstein–Weyl structure

In this article, we show that the space of nodal rational curves, which is so called a Severi variety (of rational curves), on any non-singular projective surface is always equipped with a natural Einstein–Weyl structure, if the space is 3-dimensional. This is a generalization of the Einstein–Weyl structure on the space of smooth rational curves on a complex surface, given by Hitchin. As geometric objects naturally associated to Einstein–Weyl structure, we investigate null surfaces and geodesics on the Severi varieties. Also, we see that if the projective surface has an appropriate real structure, then the real locus of the Severi variety becomes a positive definite Einstein–Weyl manifold. Moreover, we construct various explicit examples of rational surfaces having 3-dimensional Severi varieties of rational curves.     

Electroless galvanic inks on inorganic WO3/Al boards

A tungsten trioxide (WO(3)) coated aluminium (Al) substrate exhibits a reversible color change without light irradiation or an electric power supply. The sample turns blue upon exposure to an aqueous acid solution, but exposure to oxygen restores the original light yellow color. This color change is due to the galvanic redox reaction between WO(3) and Al.     

Ellagic Acid Suppresses ApoB Secretion and Enhances ApoA-1 Secretion from Human Hepatoma Cells,HepG2

The effect of ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, on the secretion of apolipoproteins from human hepatocytes, HepG2, was investigated. The levels of apoB and apoA-1 secreted in the cell culture medium were determined by sandwich ELISA. EA did not affect cell viability at the tested concentrations (up to 50 µM). EA suppressed the secretion of apoB and enhanced that of apoA-1 from HepG2 cells. However, cellular apoB levels were increased, suggesting that EA inhibited the trafficking of apoB during the process of secretion. In contrast, the increase in the cellular levels of apoA-1 was consistent with its secreted levels. These results indicate that EA inhibits the secretion of apoB from hepatocytes and increases the secretion of apoA-1. Both of these effects are beneficial for lipoprotein metabolism in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. The detailed mechanism underlying these effects of EA on lipoprotein metabolism should be elucidated in the future, but this naturally occurring polyphenolic compound might be antihyperlipidemic. Based on these results, EA is suggested as a candidate food-derived compound for the prevention of hyperlipidemia.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polyesters with dicyanovinyl substituents

The synthesis, characterization, and structure—property relations of aromatic polyesters with dicyanovinyl substituents is presented. Two comparable series of polyesters based on 3,4-dihydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile and 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidenemalononitrile were prepared. As aromatic diacid components, terephthalic acid, phenylterephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and 2-phenylisophthalic acid were used. The polyesters were prepared by solution polycondensation. GPC investigations revealed the existence of substantial amounts of defined cyclic products. These cycles could be isolated by preparative GPC. The polyesters are soluble in common low boiling organic solvents, particularly the phenyl-substituted ones. The polyesters are amorphous and have glass transition temperatures between 140 and 170°C. The absorption maxima are in the 306–322 nm range. The cut-off wavelength is between 400 and 428 nm. The polyesters with methoxy substitutent have generally the absorptions at longer wavelength. The refractive index of thin films of these polyesters were between 1.61 and 1.63 at 632.8 nm. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nonnegative determinant of a rectangular matrix: Its definition and applications to multivariate analysis

It is well known that the determinant of a matrix can only be defined for a square matrix. In this paper, we propose a new definition of the determinant of a rectangular matrix and examine its properties. We apply these properties to squared canonical correlation coefficients, and to squared partial canonical correlation coefficients. The proposed definition of the determinant of a rectangular matrix allows an easy and straightforward decomposition of the likelihood ratio when given sets of variables are partitioned into row block matrices. The last section describes a general theorem on redundancies among variables measured in terms of the likelihood ratio of a partitioned matrix.     

Spatial frequency selective reconstruction using Fourier transform holograms generated in functionalized mesogenic composites

We have demonstrated spatial frequency selective reconstruction (SFSR) of two-dimensional optical images by using functionalized mesogenic composites possessing real-time holographic capability. The two-dimensional optical image was Fourier transformed by a lens and part of the spatial frequency was brought into interference with the reference beam in the Raman-Nath regime. The SFSR images were observed in the self-diffraction patterns and we calculated the expected reconstructed images which were in good agreement with the observed images.     

Phase grating generation and optical phase conjugation in photorefractive polymer/dissolved liquid crystal composites

The orientational photorefractive properties of photorefractive mesogenic composites have been investigated by means of two-beam coupling and degenerate four-wave mixing. Photorefractive mesogenic composites, consisting of low molar mass liquid crystals, polymer, and photoconductive sensitizer, constitute novel organic materials possessing high performance photoreractivity. The refractive index change was estimated on the basis of the theory of two-beam coupling and four-wave mixing, and large index modulation of over 0.01 was obtained.     

Thermally enhanced photoinduced in‐plane reorientation in photo‐cross‐linkable polymer liquid crystalline films and its application to linear polarizer

Thermally enhanced photoinduced in‐plane molecular reorientation in new photo‐cross‐linkable polymer liquid crystalline (PPLC) films comprising 4‐[ω‐(4‐methoxycinnamoyloxy)alkyloxy]biphenyl side groups is explored using linearly polarized ultraviolet (LPUV) light exposure and subsequent annealing. The influence of the alkylene spacer length between the photo‐cross‐linkable group and the biphenyl mesogenic moiety is investigated. The straight‐line characteristics of the photoreactive mesogenic side group and the 4‐methoxycinnamoyl group play important roles in the high photoreactivity and the large thermally enhanced molecular reorientation, where the in‐plane order and the birefringence of the reoriented film are 0.61 and 0.18 are obtained. Finally, cooperative molecular reorientation of dichroic dyes doped in PPLC films is also achieved to fabricate a linear polarizer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4712–4718, 2008