Fractional quiver W-algebras

We introduce quiver gauge theory associated with the non-simply laced type fractional quiver and define fractional quiver W-algebras by using construction of Kimura and Pestun (Lett Math Phys, 2018.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11005-018-1072-1; Lett Math Phys, 2018.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11005-018-1073-0) with representation of fractional quivers.     

Effect of Sr addition to La-based perovskite-type oxide as an electrode material for zirconia-based amperometric-type NOx sensor

The sensing characteristics of an amperometric NOx sensor with yttria-stabilized zirconia and a La-based perovskite-type oxide sensing electrode were examined. La_1-xSr_xMO₃ (M = Co, Mn, x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) were synthesized using the spray pyrolysis method. The NO₂ response of a sensor fabricated with La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ increased with increasing amount of Sr, and the trend was in contrast to that of the sensors fabricated with La_1-xSr_xCoO₃. LaSr_0.2MnO₃ was determined to be the most appropriate material for the sensor in terms of a high NO₂ response and low O₂ current. In order to discuss the effects of Sr addition to La-based perovskite oxides for the sensor, NO adsorption and desorption properties of oxides and the relationship between the oxidation number of the B-site cation and Sr substitution were examined using temperature-programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively.     

pH-Sensitive self-propelled motion of oil droplets in the presence of cationic surfactants containing hydrolyzable ester linkages

Self-propelled oil droplets in a nonequilibrium system have drawn much attention as both a primitive type of inanimate chemical machinery and a dynamic model of the origin of life. Here, to create the pH-sensitive self-propelled motion of oil droplets, we synthesized cationic surfactants containing hydrolyzable ester linkages. We found that n-heptyloxybenzaldehyde oil droplets were self-propelled in the presence of ester-containing cationic surfactant. In basic solution prepared with sodium hydroxide, oil droplets moved as molecular aggregates formed on their surface. Moreover, the self-propelled motion in the presence of the hydrolyzable cationic surfactant lasted longer than that in the presence of nonhydrolyzable cationic surfactant. This is probably due to the production of a fatty acid by the hydrolysis of the ester-containing cationic surfactant and the subsequent neutralization of the fatty acid with sodium hydroxide. A complex surfactant was formed in the aqueous solution because of the cation and anion combination. Because such complex formation can induce both a decrease in the interfacial tension of the oil droplet and self-assembly with n-heptyloxybenzaldehyde and lauric acid in the aqueous dispersion, the prolonged movement of the oil droplet may be explained by the increase in heterogeneity of the interfacial tension of the oil droplet triggered by the hydrolysis of the ester-containing surfactant.     

High-speed wavelength-division multiplexing quantum key distribution system

A high-speed quantum key distribution system was developed with the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technique and dedicated key distillation hardware engines. Two interferometers for encoding and decoding are shared over eight wavelengths to reduce the system's size, cost, and control complexity. The key distillation engines can process a huge amount of data from the WDM channels by using a 1 Mbit block in real time. We demonstrated a three-channel WDM system that simultaneously uses avalanche photodiodes and superconducting single-photon detectors. We achieved 12 h continuous key generation with a secure key rate of 208 kilobits per second through a 45 km field fiber with 14.5 dB loss.     

Shingle magnetic recording assessment with spinstand measurement

Shingle Magnetic Recording (SMR) is a candidate to realize recording density of over 1 Tbit/in². At the cost of complex HDD firmware, we can expect many gains such as higher write-ability to break through the famous tri-lemma. In this paper, promising empirical data and concerns found on spinstand were introduced and discussed. More than 18 dB of better reverse overwrite (ROW) than conventional write recording (CWR) was confirmed at 40 nm of track pitch. Areal density capability (ADC) was improved by 25.5% by SMR. Another gain from SMR was observed at inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) that ADC loss due to skew effect was improved by using preferable side write pole edge. The dependence of ADC on magnetic read width measured with micro-track method (MRWu) indicates that side reading is limiting ADC. Reduction in side reading through narrower MRWu and inter-track interference cancellation technology are necessary to further improve ADC. BPI capability improvement by steeper down track field gradient at the track edge needs to be considered.     

Modification of radiation resistance of Bacillus spores by water

Spores of Bacillus subtilis, containing plasmid (B. subtilis BD 366(pUB110, Trp C2 thr 5)), were prepared free of additives and the effect of water on their radiation sensitivity under aerobic condition was investigated. The moisture content of spores was controlled by (i) drying over CaCl₂ (Aw = 0.0), (ii) equilibrating with the vapor of saturated aqueous NaCl solution (Aw = 0.7), or (iii) suspending in water (Aw = 1.0). The resistance of spores to radiation increased with increasing moisture content. The analysis of spore DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis showed that DNA damage (strand breaks) decreased with increasing water activity of the spores, a finding concomitant with the observed survival rates.     

Decomposition of Graphs into (g, f)-Factors

Let G be a multigraph, g and f be integer-valued functions defined on V(G). Then a graph G is called a (g, f)-graph if g(x)≤deg _G(x)≤f(x) for each x∈V(G), and a (g, f)-factor is a spanning (g, f)-subgraph. If the edges of graph G can be decomposed into (g, f)-factors, then we say that G is (g, f)-factorable. In this paper, we obtained some sufficient conditions for a graph to be (g, f)-factorable. One of them is the following: Let m be a positive integer, l be an integer with l=m (mod 4) and 0≤l≤3. If G is an -graph, then G is (g, f)-factorable. Our results imply several previous (g, f)-factorization results. Revised: June 11, 1998     

Stabilization of Bicontinuous Cubic Phase and Its Two-Sided Nature Produced by Use of Siloxane Tails and Introduction of Molecular Nonsymmetry

A recent intriguing finding that a helical network arrangement forms the bicontinuous cubic phase is attracting great attention for the possibility of new routes to asymmetric synthesis by achiral molecules. However, the design of the molecular structure for the cubic phase is still unrevealed. In this work, a nonsymmetric core molecule with larger naphthalene and smaller benzene moieties at each side of the central linkage and the same disiloxanyldecyloxy terminal at both terminals is shown to be the first example of molecule forming both single-layered and double-layered core assembly modes in the Ia3d phase as a single molecule system. The molecule forms the former mode at high temperatures as a thermodynamically stable phase, similarly to the symmetric naphthalene core system, whereas, on cooling below a temperature (∼350 K), a metastable Ia3d phase forms a double-layered core state down to room temperature, which is common to the benzene core system. As another effect of the nonsymmetric core, the cubic phase is maintained at room temperature for more than 100 days with slight distortion. Infrared spectral studies and quantum chemical calculations suggested the easy transformation between the two core assembly modes. The core nonsymmetry can be a versatile fine-tuning of the core assembly mode and phase stability for the cubic phase molecules.     

Migration-enhanced epitaxy (MEE) growth of five-layer asymmetric coupled quantum well (FACQW) and its cross-sectional STM observation

The five-layer asymmetric coupled quantum well (FACQW) is a new potential-tailored quantum well that is promising for ultra-fast and ultra-low-voltage optical modulators and switches. FACQW samples were grown by the migration-enhanced epitaxy (MEE) and the conventional molecular beam epitaxy methods with steep and flat heterointerfaces in the monolayer accuracy. They were characterized with the cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the cross-sectional STM image, double-stripe structures with different contrast were observed. The stripe area corresponds to the FACQW (about 10 nm wide), sandwiched with the AlGaAs barrier layers (15 nm wide). A dark line observed at the middle of the FACQW stripe area corresponds to the 3-monolayer-thick AlAs layer. The cross-sectional STM images of the high-quality heterointerface FACQW structures were successfully observed for the samples grown by the MEE method. More detailed studies of this kind of cross-sectional STM observations will be very effective to obtain the optimized growth conditions for fine and complicated ultra-thin structures.