Structural‐Deformation‐Energy‐Modulation Strategy in a Soft Porous Coordination Polymer with an Interpenetrated Framework

To achieve unique molecular‐recognition patterns, a rational control of the flexibility of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) is highly sought, but it remains elusive. From a thermodynamic perspective, the competitive relationship between the structural deformation energy (E_def) of soft PCPs and the guest interaction is key for selective a guest‐triggered structural‐transformation behavior. Therefore, it is vital to investigate and control E_def to regulate this competition for flexibility control. Driven by these theoretical insights, we demonstrate an E_def‐modulation strategy via encoding inter‐framework hydrogen bonds into a soft PCP with an interpenetrated structure. As a proof of this concept, the enhanced E_def of PCP enables a selective gate‐opening behavior toward CHCl₃ over CH₂Cl₂ by changing the adsorption‐energy landscape of the compounds. This study provides a new direction for the design of functional soft porous materials.     

Total Synthesis of Syringolin A and Improvement of Its Biological Activity

The development process for syringolin A analogues having improved proteasome inhibitory and antitumor activity is described. The strategy was to first establish a convergent synthesis of syringolin A using a rare intramolecular Ugi three‐component reaction in the last stage of the synthesis, so as to gain access toa set of structure‐based analogues. The inhibitory activity of chymotrypsin‐like activity of 20S proteasome was largely improved by targeting the S3 subsite of the β5 subunit. Cytotoxic activity was also improved by installing the membrane‐permeable substituent. These biological properties are comparable to those of bortezomib, a clinically used first‐line proteasome inhibitor.     

Lattice topological field theory in two dimensions

The lattice definition of a two-dimensional topological field theory (TFT) is given generically, and the exact solution is obtained explicitly. In particular, the set of all lattice topological field theories is shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the set of all associative algebrasR, and the physical Hilbert space is identified with the centerZ(R) of the associative algebraR. Perturbations of TFT's are also considered in this approach, showing that the form of topological perturbations is automatically determined, and that all TFT's are obtained from one TFT by such perturbations. Several examples are presented, including twistedN=2 minimal topological matter and the case whereR is a group ring.     

Analyzing powers of the continuum spectra: 65 MeV polarized protons on 12C, 28Si, 45Sc, 58Ni, 93Nb, 165Ho, 166Er and 209Bi

Analyzing powers of the continuum spectra were measured for 65 MeV protons from ¹²C, ²⁸Si, ⁴⁵Sc, ⁵⁸Ni, ⁹³Nb, ¹⁶⁵Ho, ¹⁶⁶Er, ${}^{209}\text{Bi}\text{(}\text{p}\text{,}\text{p\#}\text{prime;}\text{X}\text{)}$ and ($\text{p}$, dX) reactions and from ⁹³Nb, ²⁰⁹Bi($\text{p}$, αX) reactions. The analyzing powers of the continuum spectra were found to be small at forward angles where the pre-equilibrium process is important. However they do not show a systematic tendency. This feature indicates the importance of the spin-dependent interaction as well as nuclear structure effects. On the other hand, the analyzing powers were very large and positive at backward angles where the shape of the energy spectra resembles that of an evaporation spectrum. The maximum values of the analyzing power in the backward hemisphere depend on the target mass for the A < 45 mass region and they are as large as 15%, 20% and 35% for ${}^{93}\text{Nb}\text{(}\text{p}\text{,}\text{p}\text{′}\text{X}\text{)}$, ($\text{p}$, dX), ($\text{p}$, αX) reactions at E_X = 20 MeV, respectively. These large values are mainly due to the entrance channel effect. There is no appreciable even-odd mass effect on the analyzing power for medium-mass nuclei. These features were unexpected from the conventional pre-equilibrium reaction models.     

On convex decompositions of a planar point set

Let P be a planar point set in general position. Neumann-Lara et al. showed that there is a convex decomposition of P with at most elements. In this paper, we improve this upper bound to .     

Pressure studies of (La, Sm)FeAsO1−xFx and LaFePO

Pressure dependence on superconducting transition temperature (T_c) was examined for iron-based superconductor LaFeAsO_1?xF_x, SmFeAsO_1?xF_x and LaFePO. The T_c’s increase largely for LaFePO and LaFeAsO_1?xF_x with a small increase of pressure. The electrical resistivity measurements reveal the pressure-induced superconductivity in undoped LaFeAsO and SmFeAsO. X-ray diffraction measurements were also performed under high pressure up to 10 GPa for LaFePO and LaFeAsO_1?xF_x system, where the anisotropic decrease of the lattice constants was observed with applying pressure.     

Microwave‐Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] Membranes with Superior Separation Performances

In this study, we report a facile ligand‐assisted in situ hydrothermal approach for preparation of compact [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] (1,4‐NDC=1,4‐naphthalenedicarboxylate) MOF membranes on porous γ‐Al₂O₃ substrates, which also served as the Al³⁺ source of MOF membranes. Simultaneously, it was observed that the heating mode exerted significant influence on the final microstructure and separation performance of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] membranes. Compared with the conventional hydrothermal method, the employment of microwave heating led to the formation of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] membranes composed of closely packed nanorods with superior H₂/CH₄ selectivity.     

Towards beyond-1 GHz solution NMR: internal 2H lock operation in an external current mode

We have commenced a project to develop a beyond-1 GHz solution NMR spectrometer using a HTS coil. Due to a small residual resistance present in the HTS conductor and joint resistance between conductors, a stable persistent current sufficient for NMR measurements is unlikely. Therefore, a current has to be supplied to the HTS coil from an external power supply. The ripple of an external power supply causes a field fluctuation which must be stabilized. In this study we show results of NMR measurements using a 500-600 MHz NMR in such an external current mode: the field fluctuations are stabilized by an internal 2H lock. The field fluctuation from the external power supply comprises a major field fluctuation component at low frequencies, 0.003-0.005 Hz, and superimposed minor field ripples at 2 Hz and 50 Hz. The former limits the time interval of the internal 2H lock, while the latter generates sidebands in the NMR spectrum. Sideband and baseline noise are controlled by appropriate selection of the feedback loop parameters of the lock. The quality of the 1D-solution NMR spectra observed in external current mode is equivalent to that obtained in persistent current mode. However, if the feedback loop time is as short as the gradient pulse width, refocusing of the NMR signal is lost and NMR peaks disappear. The 2D-NOESY and the 2D-HSQC spectra of ubiquitin in an external current mode have been acquired. The quality of the 2D spectra is equivalent to those obtained in persistent current mode; i.e. the internal 2H lock operates stably over an experimental time interval of 40-50 min. To realize a beyond-1 GHz NMR spectrometer, further investigations must be made of (i) the long term stability of a DC power supply, (ii) the enhancement of the compensation field limit for the internal 2H lock, (iii) the extension of the helium refill time interval, and (iv) a method to correct the field homogeneity in the external current mode.