Synthesis of Δ1[9]- and/or Δ8[9]-dehydroindolizidines and related compounds

A facile synthesis of Δ^1[9]- and/or Δ^8[9]-dehydroindolizidine and related compounds, consisting of dry distillation of γ-(N-2-piperidinonyl)butyric acid over soda-lime, is described. Reductions of these dehydroindolizidines and stereochemistry of 1-methylindolizidine are also described.     

Channeled spectropolarimetry using a coherent white-light continuum

We carry out polarization measurements using a coherent white-light continuum as a light source for channeled spectropolarimetry. The white-light continuum, whose spectrum ranges from the UV to the IR region, is generated in Kr gas by a terawatt femtosecond laser system. The complete set of Stokes parameters from 450-700 nm are reconstructed from one spectral measurement. Also, the effectiveness of channeled spectropolarimetry using a coherent white-light continuum is experimentally demonstrated with a highly attenuating sample whose transmittance is as low as 10(-6).     

Global solvability for abstract semilinear evolution equations

The Cauchy problem for the abstract semilinear evolution equation u^′(t) = Au (t) + B (u (t)) + C (u (t)) is discussed in a general Banach space X. Here A is the so‐called Hille‐Yosida operator in X, B is a differentiable operator from D (A) into X, and C is a locally Lipschitz continuous operator from D (A) into itself. A vectorvalued functional defined only on X is used and appropriate conditions on the nonlinear operators B and C are imposed so that a vector‐valued functional defined on the domain of the operator A may be constructed in order to specify the growth of a global solution. The advantage of our formulation lies in the fact that it is possible to obtain a global solution by checking some energy inequalities concerning only low order derivatives (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Highly efficient generation of entangled photons by controlling cavity bipolariton states

We theoretically investigate entangled-photon generation via a biexciton in a planar microcavity. Owing to strong exciton-photon coupling, the biexciton in the cavity produces a bound two-cavity-polariton state (cavity bipolariton). Entangled photons are generated by the cascade decay of the cavity bipolariton. We propose a novel scheme for highly efficient entangled-photon generation by controlling the cavity bipolariton states. It is shown that highly efficient generation can be achieved when a weak cavity bipolariton, formed by a biexciton and unbound cavity polaritons, is realized.     

Spin injection in a coupled system of a diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn0.80Mn0.20Se and self-assembled quantum dots of CdSe

Spin injection processes from a Zn_0.80Mn_0.20Se diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) to adjacent self-assembled CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were investigated by cw and time-resolved magneto-optical spectroscopy in combination with tunable laser excitation. Direct experimental evidence for the spin injection was provided from the generation of the spin polarization in the QDs, which was opposite to their expected intrinsic polarization, by resonantly generating the spins in the DMS. The observed limited spin polarization generated by the spin injection, together with the sensitivity of the spin injection efficiency on structure design, indicates severe spin loss during the process and calls for further investigations to optimize spin injection efficiency in quantum structures.     

Recent advances in the integrated micro-flow synthesis containing photochemical reactions

Micro-flow photochemical reactions have great advantage over batch photochemical reactions due to its high light-penetration efficiency. Integrated micro-flow reaction enables efficient synthesis of structurally complex compounds from simple starting materials and it can avoid handling of explosive, toxic, unstable, or odorous intermediates. Combination of micro-flow photochemical reactions with integrated micro-flow synthesis enhances their benefits. Here we summarize recently reported integrated multi-step micro-flow synthesis containing various photochemical reactions.     

Estimate of Fukushima-derived radiocaesium in the North Pacific Ocean in summer 2012

Distributions of radiocaesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) derived from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) accident in the North Pacific Ocean in the summer of 2012 were investigated. We have estimated the radiocaesium inventory in the surface layer using the optimal interpolation analysis and the subducted amount into the central mode water (CMW) by using vertical profiles of FNPP1-¹³⁴Cs and mass balance analysis as the first approach. The inventory of the ¹³⁴Cs in the surface layer in the North Pacific Ocean in August–December 2012 was estimated at 5.1?±?0.9 PBq on 1 October 2012, which corresponds to 8.6?±?1.5 PBq when it was decay corrected to the date of the FNPP1 accident, 11 March 2011. It was revealed that 56?±?10% of the released ¹³⁴Cs into the North Pacific Ocean, which was estimated at 15.3?±?2.6 PBq, transported eastward in the surface layer in 2012. The amount of ¹³⁴Cs subducted in the CMW was estimated to be 2.5?±?0.9 PBq based on the mass balance among the three domains of the surface layer, subtropical mode water, and CMW.     

Syntheses of thallusin analogues and their algal morphogenesis-inducing activities

Thallusin is the only known natural product that induces cell differentiation followed by formation of a thallus during the growth of green macroalgae such as Monostroma and Ulva. Herein, various thallusin analogues based on the terpen skeleton were synthesized to study the structure?activity relationships of thallusin. The potency of the synthetic analogues was investigated in an experimental assay, which demonstrated that the 19-methyl group in thallusin is essential for potent morphogenesis-inducing activity.     

Reflection spectra of silicate glasses in the vacuum ultraviolet region

Reflection spectra of silicate glasses were measured in the spectral region 2–13 eV. The bands due to bridging oxygen were found at 11.6 and 10.4–9.5 eV. The bands for non-bridging oxygens were found in the region 8.8–4.9 eV. They shift to lower energy with increasing ionic radius for the low valency cations while they shift to higher energy with increasing ionic radius for the high valency cations. The correlation between the measured bands and the absorption wavelength calculated from Drude-Voigt dispersion formula is discussed.     

All-Solid-State Rechargeable Air Batteries Using Dihydroxybenzoquinone and Its Polymer as the Negative Electrode

A proof-of-concept study was conducted on an all-solid-state rechargeable air battery (SSAB) using redox-active 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ) and its polymer (PDBM) and a proton-conductive polymer (Nafion). DHBQ functioned well in the redox reaction with the solid Nafion ionomer at 0.47 and 0.57 V vs. RHE, similar to that in acid aqueous solution. The resulting air battery exhibited an open circuit voltage of 0.80 V and a discharge capacity of 29.7 mAh g_DHBQ⁻¹ at a constant current density (1 mA cm⁻²). With PDBM, the discharge capacity was much higher, 176.1 mAh g_PDBM⁻¹, because of the improved utilization of the redox-active moieties. In the rate characteristics of the SSAB-PDBM, the coulombic efficiency was 84 % at 4 C, which decreased to 66 % at 101 C. In a charge/discharge cycle test, the capacity remaining after 30 cycles was 44 %, which was able to be significantly improved, to 78 %, by tuning the Nafion composition in the negative electrode.