Fractal growth mechanism of sp3-bonded 5H-BN microcones by plasma-assisted pulsed-laser chemical vapor deposition

Here we propose a repetitive photochemical reaction and diffusion model for the fractal pattern formation of sp(3)-bonded 5H-BN microcones in laser-assisted plasma chemical vapor deposition, which was observed experimentally and reported previously. This model describing the behavior of the surface density of precursor species gave explanations to (1) the "line-drawing" nature of the patterns, (2) the origin of the scale-invariant self-similarity (fractality) of the pattern, and (3) the temperature-dependent uniform to fractal transition. The results have implications for controlling the self-organized arrangements of electron-emitter cones at the micro-and nanoscale by adjusting macroscopically the boundary condition (L(X),L(Y)) for the deposition, which will be very effective in improving the electron field emission properties.     

Development of an analytical method using microchip capillary electrophoresis for the measurement of fluorescein-labeled salivary components in response to exercise stress

We have developed an analytical method using microchip capillary electrophoresis (microchip CE) for the high-speed separation of fluorescein-labeled salivary components in response to exercise stress. Optimal separation was obtained using a borate buffer at pH 9.5 containing 10 mM beta-cyclodextrin and 1.0% (w/v) methylcellulose. To minimize individual differences in human saliva, such as viscosity, conductivity, and contaminants, the concentration of methylcellulose in the analytical conditions played a key factor. The optimized separation conditions produced identical electropherograms successfully despite of the use of different microchips made from quartz glass or poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA). In addition, a practical application of bicycle ergometer stress was performed. Some components in human saliva showed a marked decrease after exercise stress.     

Hollow nanoshell of layered double hydroxide

Hollow nanoshells of layered double hydroxide (LDH) have been fabricated using exfoliated LDH nanosheets as a shell building block and polystyrene beads as a sacrificial template.     

Direct deprotected glycosyl-asparagine ligation

A simple and efficient synthesis of N-linked glycoamino acids and glycopeptides from deprotected sugars using the Staudinger reaction.     

Synthesis and properties of a new kinetically stabilized digermyne: new insights for a germanium analogue of an alkyne

The reduction of an overcrowded (E)-1,2-dibromodigermene, Bbt(Br)Ge=Ge(Br)Bbt (2) [Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl], with KC8 afforded a stable digermyne, BbtGe[triple bond]GeBbt (1). The Ge[triple bond]Ge triple-bond characters of 1 were revealed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis and spectroscopic studies (UV/vis and Raman spectra) together with theoretical calculations. The Ge[triple bond]Ge bond lengths of the two nonidentical molecules of 1 observed in the unit cell were shorter than that of the previously reported digermyne, Ar'Ge[triple bond]GeAr' (Ar' = 2,6-Dip2C6H3, Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl).     

Utilization of the pleiotropy of a peptidic aptamer to fabricate heterogeneous nanodot-containing multilayer nanostructures

Peptide aptamers (=binders) against inorganic materials often show a capacity for mineralization of their target atoms; thus they are able to function both as binding molecules and as mediators for mineralization. Although the mechanisms underlying these two properties of peptide aptamers are not yet fully understood, they have been used separately to fabricate various nanostructures. Here, we present a novel method of nanofabrication, in which binding and mineralization by a peptide aptamer are alternately utilized to assemble multilayered nanostructures comprised of metal loaded cage proteins ornamented with Ti-binding peptides.     

Distinction of gases with a semiconductor sensor depending on the scanning profile of a cyclic temperature

A gas-sensing system based on a dynamic nonlinear response is reported to improve the selectivity in the sensor response toward sample gases. A cyclic temperature composed of fundamental and second harmonics was applied to a SnO(2) semiconductor gas sensor and the resulting conductance of the sensor was analyzed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT). The dynamic nonlinear responses to the gas species were further characterized depending on the scanning profile of the temperature. These characteristic sensor responses under the application of second-harmonic perturbation were theoretically considered based on a reaction-diffusion model for the semiconductor surface.     

Organocatalytic direct asymmetric aldol reactions in water

We have developed direct asymmetric cross-aldol reactions that can be performed in water without addition of organic solvents. A bifunctional catalyst with a long hydrophobic alkyl chain efficiently catalyzed the reactions and afforded the desired aldol products in excellent yield with high enantiomeric excess, even when only an equal molar ratio of the donor and acceptor was used. These results reveal an effective design strategy for the development of aqueous organocatalytic systems.     

Elastic properties of swollen polyelectrolyte gels in aqueous salt solutions

The elastic relaxation responding to a uniaxially stretched poly(acrylic acid) rodlike gel in the aqueous NaCl solution was investigated. The relaxation elucidated the shear (mu) and bulk (K) moduli and the frictional coefficients (sigma) of the fully ionized gel at pH above 9 as functions of the degree of swelling, which was controlled by the NaCl concentration (C(S)) of the solution. Two gels, cross-linked chains of which consist of 500 (GelA500) and 50 (GelA50) monomeric units, were examined to investigate the effect of the chain length on the elastic behavior. The moduli of GelA500 increased with swelling at C(S) below 100 mM and decreased at C(S) above it. The mu values of both gels can be characterized by the power function of gel diameter, d as mu proportional, variantd(beta). The beta values being -1 at C(S) above 100 mM transitionally changed to 1.2 at C(S) about 100 mM. That is, the dimensionality of space for the chains to distribute, n(dim) [= (beta+5)/(beta+2) according to the conventional theory [Sasaki et al., J. Chem. Phys. 102, 5694 (1995)]], changed from 4 (n(dim) of ideal chain) to 1.9 at C(S) = 100 mM. This indicates that the electrostatic repulsion between gel chains reduces the n(dim) at C(S) below 100 mM but not at C(S) above it. It was found that the K values of GelA500 were well described by the conventional theory but those of GelA50 not. The sigma(zr)/sigma(rr) (sigma(zr) is an off-diagonal element of the friction coefficient tensor and sigma(rr) is a diagonal element of the friction coefficient tensor) was found to be 2.7 x 10(-2), which was the same as the previously reported value for the swollen poly(acrylamide) gel [Sasaki, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 5789 (2004)]. The sigma(rr) of unit volume of the GelA500 is well explained by the free draining model while the sigma(rr) of GelA50 is less than that of the free draining model, suggesting the slip between water and ionized chain.     

Synthetic study of azaspiracid-1: synthesis of the EFGHI-ring fragment

Here, we report a synthesis of the lower half C21-C40 fragment of the shellfish toxin, azaspiracid-1. The C28-C40 fragment was synthesized by a coupling between the C28-C35 epoxide and the C36-C40 dithioacetal anion, followed by the HI-ring spiroaminal formation. An aldehyde corresponding to the C28-C40 fragment was then coupled with the C21-C27 allylic stannane by using InCl3. Finally, the FG-ring was constructed by HF.pyridine to accomplish the synthesis of the suitably protected C21-C40 fragment.