The ̅K N → π Σ decay threshold effect in 3He(in-flight K –, n) reaction spectrum

The formation of a deeply-bound K?? ^–? pp state by the ³He(in-flight K? ^–, n) reaction is investigated theoretically in a distorted-wave impulse approximation using the Green’s function method. The expected inclusive and semi-exclusive spectra at $p_{K^-} = 1.0$ GeV/c and $\theta_n = 0^{\circ}$ are calculated for the forthcoming J-PARC E15 experiment. We discuss these spectra with some K? ^–-“pp” optical potentials, taking into account the energy-dependence of the imaginary part of the potentials by a phase space suppression factor.     

Application of calorimetry and thermodynamics to critical problems in materials science

Calorimetry and thermodynamic studies have long been playing a very important role in the research fields of fundamental science and technology. Some topics and examples of thermodynamics studies are given, and the details are explained on the basis of the present author’s experience, focusing attention to application of adiabatic calorimetry and thermodynamics to solve critical problems in materials science: (1) condensed gas calorimetry and third law entropy, (2) phase transition and polymorphism in simple molecular crystals, (3) incommensurate phase transitions, (4) particle size effects on the phase transitions in ferroelectric/ferroelastic crystals, (5) relaxor ferroelectrics and multi-ferroics, and some other topics in materials science and technology.     

Scanning electrochemical microscope observation of defects in a hexadecanethiol monolayer on gold with shear force-based tip-substrate positioning

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used for imaging of n-hexadecanethiol-modified Au surfaces. In these studies, small defects were observed in the monolayer when a submicrometer electrode was used as an SECM tip, although a cyclic voltammogram of a Au disk electrode showed that the surface of the Au was completely covered with n-hexadecanethiol. The dependence of the SECM images on the potential of the Au electrode was also examined. A comparison of the current at the Au electrode and the tip current in the SECM images showed that direct electron transfer through the monolayer was dominant, rather than electron transfer at the defects. The size of the defects was estimated from the tip current to be 1-100 nm, under the assumption that the defects were small compared to the SECM probe.     

Biocleavable polyrotaxane-plasmid DNA polyplex for enhanced gene delivery

A biocleavable polyrotaxane, having a necklace-like structure consisting of many cationic alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) and a disulfide-introduced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), was synthesized and examined as a nonviral gene carrier. The polyrotaxane formed a stable polyplex having positively charged surface even at low charge ratio. This is likely to be due to structural factors of the polyrotaxane, such as the mobile motion of alpha-CDs in the necklace-like structure. Rapid endosomal escape was observed 90 min after transfection. The positively charged surface and the good buffering capacity are advantageous to show the proton sponge effect. The pDNA decondensation occurred through disulfide cleavage of the polyrotaxane and subsequent supramolecular dissociation of the noncovalent linkages between alpha-CDs and PEG. Transfection of the DMAE-SS-PRX polyplex is independent of the amount of free polycation. Those properties played a key role for delivery of pDNA clusters to the nucleus. Therefore, the polyplex nature and the supramolecular dissociation of the polyrotaxane contributed to the enhanced gene delivery.     

Rhodiolosides A-E, monoterpene glycosides from Rhodiola rosea

Five new monoterpene glycosides, rhodiolosides A-E (1-5), were isolated from the roots of Rhodiola rosea (Crassulaceae). Their structures were elucidated as (2E,6E,4R)-4,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (2E,4R)-4-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (2E,4R)-4-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), (2E,4R)-4,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), and (2E)-7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-octenyl alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses and chemical degradation.     

O-N intramolecular alkoxycarbonyl migration of typical protective groups in hydroxyamino acids

O-N Intramolecular alkoxycarbonyl (carbonate-carbamate) migration was found to occur as a common reaction of hydroxyamino acids under mild basic aqueous conditions with no formation of side products. Carbonate protective groups migrate to produce amino-protected carbamate derivatives of hydroxyamino acids with high efficiency and purity.     

Self-regulated Ni cluster formation on the TiO2(1 1 0) terrace studied using scanning tunneling microscopy

We have studied the growth mode and morphology of Ni clusters on a TiO₂(1 1 0) surface with a wide terrace using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at a low coverage (less than 3 atoms nm⁻²). The Ni clusters are formed on the terrace at the low coverage of 0.2 atoms nm⁻². Their average dimensions are constant in three directions up to 1 atoms nm⁻². The Ni clusters have an oval shape with average sizes of 1.8 nm (along [0 0 1]) × 1.4 nm (along (in the [1 1 0] directions). Above the coverage of 1.0 atoms nm⁻², an increase in the cluster height occurs, retaining an almost constant lateral size. It is proposed that the interaction of the Ni cluster and the support surface regulates the Ni cluster size.     

A combinatorial sample-preparation robot system using the volumetric-weighing method

We have developed a new automatic sample-preparation robot system with use of the volumetric-weighing method. In this system, slurries, aqueous solutions, and other wet reagents are employed as starting materials and 64 (8×8) samples at the maximum are prepared on a library plate of 35 mm × 35 mm size. Volumetric-weighing and mixing of the starting materials and distributing reaction mixtures to the library plate are automatically performed by computer-controlled mechanisms with an easy-to-use programming software interface. While this robot is designed in terms of space saving and portability, it is able to equip with an atmosphere-controlled furnace to sinter the samples on the library plate. Typical preparation time for a library plate of 36 (6×6) samples is less than 40 min. This robot system is promising in enhancing throughput of wet-chemically synthesized materials researches.     

Motion of a Rigid Body in a Special Lorentz Gas: Loss of Memory Effect

Linear motion of a rigid body in a special kind of Lorentz gas is mathematically analyzed. The rigid body moves against gas drag according to Newton’s equation. The gas model is a special Lorentz gas consisting of gas molecules and background obstacles, which was introduced in Tsuji and Aoki (J Stat Phys 146:620–645, 2012). The specular boundary condition is imposed on the resulting kinetic equation. This study complements the numerical study by Tsuji and Aoki cited above—although the setting in this paper is slightly different from theirs, qualitatively the same asymptotic behavior is proved: The velocity V(t) of the rigid body decays exponentially if the obstacles undergo thermal motion; if the obstacles are motionless, then the velocity V(t) decays algebraically with a rate \(t^{-\,5}\) independent of the spatial dimension. This demonstrates the idea that interaction of the molecules with the background obstacles destroys the memory effect due to recollision.     

Recent development of Faith conjecture

Is a semiprimary right self-injective ring a quasi-Frobenius ring? Almost half century has passed since Faith raised this problem. He first conjectured “No” in his book Algebra II. Ring Theory in 1976, but changing his mind, he conjectured “Yes” in his article “When self-injective rings are QF: a report on a problem” in 1990. In this paper, we describe recent studies of this problem based on authors works and raise related problems.