NMR studies on the ligand exchange reactions between diaryl tellurides and phenyllithium: Detection of hypervalent triaryl tellurium ate complexes

Diaryl tellurides undergo rapid ligand exchange and disproportionation reactions on treatment with phenyllithium at −78°C. Triarylteliuranes [10-Te-3(C₃)]⁻ Li⁺ were identified as discrete intermediates during the reactions by ¹²⁵Te, ¹H, ¹³C, and CH-COSY NMR studies.     

Poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) film coating for corrosion protection of iron

A poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) film was coated on the iron surface by the electropolymerization of 2,5-dimethoxyaniline in neutral buffer solution (pH?6.86). The PDMA film strongly adhered to the surface because of the polar methoxy groups of the PDMA molecules. The fact that no electrochemical response of the PDMA film-coated iron electrode to dissolved Fe²⁺ exhibited that the PDMA film was less permeable to dissolved species, acting as a diffusion barrier against agents causing corrosion such as H₂O and O₂. The PDMA film coating greatly lowered the anodic current peak ascribed to the anodic dissolution of iron and the corrosion current in strongly acidic medium, 0.5?M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution (1?M?????mol?dm^??) as well as neutral medium (pH?6.86). The high anti-corrosion ability was due to a hybrid effect of the PDMA film not only as the diffusion barrier, but also as an in situ oxidant in spite of the slight redox activity of PDMA. In addition, the PDMA film is much more durable and adhesive than polyaniline film against over-oxidation.     

On the Nature of Functional Differentiation: The Role of Self-Organization with Constraints

The focus of this article is the self-organization of neural systems under constraints. In 2016, we proposed a theory for self-organization with constraints to clarify the neural mechanism of functional differentiation. As a typical application of the theory, we developed evolutionary reservoir computers that exhibit functional differentiation of neurons. Regarding the self-organized structure of neural systems, Warren McCulloch described the neural networks of the brain as being “heterarchical”, rather than hierarchical, in structure. Unlike the fixed boundary conditions in conventional self-organization theory, where stationary phenomena are the target for study, the neural networks of the brain change their functional structure via synaptic learning and neural differentiation to exhibit specific functions, thereby adapting to nonstationary environmental changes. Thus, the neural network structure is altered dynamically among possible network structures. We refer to such changes as a dynamic heterarchy. Through the dynamic changes of the network structure under constraints, such as physical, chemical, and informational factors, which act on the whole system, neural systems realize functional differentiation or functional parcellation. Based on the computation results of our model for functional differentiation, we propose hypotheses on the neuronal mechanism of functional differentiation. Finally, using the Kolmogorov–Arnold–Sprecher superposition theorem, which can be realized by a layered deep neural network, we propose a possible scenario of functional (including cell) differentiation.     

Epitaxial strain effects on the metal-insulator transition in V2O3 thin films

Effects of epitaxial stress on the metal-insulator transition of V₂O₃ have been studied for in the form of epitaxial thin films grown on α-Al₂O₃ (0001) and LiTaO₃ (0001) substrates. A metallic phase is stabilized down to 2 K in the V₂O₃ thin film on α-Al₂O₃ (0001), where the a-axis is compressed by 4% owing to large epitaxial stress. On the other hand, the transition temperature T_MI is raised by 20 K from the value of 170 K in bulk samples in the film on LiTaO₃ (0001), where the a-axis is expanded. These results suggest an intimate relationship between the a-axis length and T_MI in V₂O₃. The conductivity of the metallic ultrathin films shows logarithmic temperature dependence below 20 K, probably due to the Anderson localization in two-dimensional systems.     

Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube Thin Films for Flexible Transistors by Using a Cross-Linked Amine Polymer

Owing to their remarkable properties, single-walled carbon nanotube thin-film transistors (SWCNT-TFTs) are expected to be used in various flexible electronics applications. To fabricate SWCNT channel layers for TFTs, solution-based film formation on a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) covered with amino groups is commonly used. However, this method uses highly oxidized surfaces, which is not suitable for flexible polymeric substrates. In this work, a solution-based SWCNT film fabrication using methoxycarbonyl polyallylamine (Moc-PAA) is reported. The NH₂-terminated surface of the cross-linked Moc-PAA layer enables the formation of highly dense and uniform SWCNT networks on both rigid and flexible substrates. TFTs that use the fabricated SWCNT thin film exhibited excellent performance with small variations. The presented simple method to access SWCNT thin film accelerates the realization of flexible nanoelectronics.     

One-loop Kähler potential in 5D gauged supergravity with generic prepotential

We calculate one-loop contributions to the Kähler potential in 4D effective theory of 5D gauged supergravity (SUGRA) on S¹/_Z2$S^1/Z_2$ with a generic form of the prepotential   and arbitrary boundary terms. Our result is applicable to a wide class of 5D SUGRA models. The derivation is systematically performed by means of an N=1$N=1$ superfield formalism based on the superconformal formulation of 5D SUGRA. As an illustrative example, we provide an explicit expression of the Kähler potential in the case of 5D flat spacetime.     

Impaired pulmonary blood flow distribution in congestive heart failure assessed using synchrotron radiation microangiography

Synchrotron radiation microangiography is a powerful tool for assessing adverse changes in pulmonary vessel density associated with primary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Congestive heart failure (CHF) leads to a `secondary' onset of PH, yet it is unknown whether secondary PH is also associated with reduced vessel density. This study utilized synchrotron radiation to assess both pulmonary vessel density and endothelial function in a Dahl rat model of CHF with secondary PH. High salt‐fed Dahl salt‐sensitive (Dahl‐S) and salt‐resistant (Dahl‐R) rats were anesthetized and microangiography was performed to assess the pulmonary vessel density and vascular responses to (i) sodium nitroprusside (5.0 µg kg^?1 min^?1), (ii) acetylcholine (3.0 µg kg^?1 min^?1) and (iii) ET‐1_A receptor blockade, BQ‐123 (1 mg kg^?1). Dahl‐S rats developed CHF and secondary PH as evident by endothelial dysfunction, impaired vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine, enhanced vasodilatory responses to BQ‐123 and extensive pulmonary vascular remodeling. Consequently, the pulmonary vessel density was adversely reduced. Interestingly, the etiology of secondary PH manifests with structural and functional changes that are comparable with that previously reported for primary PH. One important discrepancy, however, is that ET‐1 modulation of pulmonary vessels is most striking in vessels with a diameter range of 100–200 µm in secondary PH, in contrast to a range of 200–300 µm in primary PH. Such discrepancies should be considered in future studies investigating primary and secondary forms of PH.     

Neutron electric dipole moment measurement with a buffer gas comagnetometer

A neutron EDM measurement with a comagnetometer is discussed. For magnetometry, polarized xenon atoms are injected into a cylindrical cell where a cylindrically symmetric magnetic field and an electric field are applied for the EDM measurement. The geometric phase effect (GPE), which originates from particle motion in a magnetic field gradient, is analyzed in terms of the Dyson series. The motion of the xenon atom is largely suppressed because of a small mean free path. The field gradient is controlled by means of NMR measurements, where the false effect of Earth?s rotation is removed. As a result, the GPE is reduced below 10⁻²⁸e cm${10}^{-28}e\text{cm}$.