Asymptotic behavior of the solution to the non-isothermal phase field equation

We consider the Penrose–Fife phase field model [Thermodynamically consistent models of phase-field type for the kinetics of phase transitions, Physica D 43 (1990) 44–62] with homogeneous Neumann boundary condition to the nonlinear heat flux q=∇(1/θ)$\mathbf{q}=\nabla (1/\theta )$, i.e., q=0$\mathbf{q}=0$ on the boundary, where θ>0$\theta >0$ is the temperature. There is a unique H¹$H^1$ solution globally in time with the non-empty, connected, compact ω$\omega$-limit set composed of stationary solutions, and the linearized stable stationary solution is dynamically stable.     

SSD1, which encodes a plant-specific novel protein,controls plant elongation by regulating cell division in rice

Plant height is one of the most important traits in crop improvement. Therefore revealing the mechanism of plant elongation and controlling plant height in accordance with breeding object is important. In this study we analyzed a novel dwarf mutant, ssd1, of which phenotype is different from typical GA- or BR-related dwarf phenotype. ssd1 exhibits pleiotropic defects in elongation of various organs such as stems, roots, leaves, and flowers. ssd1 also shows abnormal cell files and shapes, which suggests defects of normal cell division in the mutant. Map-based cloning and complementation test demonstrated that the dwarf phenotype in ssd1 mutant was caused by insertion of retrotransposon in a gene, which encodes plant-specific protein with unknown biochemical function. A BLAST search revealed that SSD1-like genes exist in diverse plant species, including monocots and dicots, but not fern and moss. Our results demonstrate that SSD1 controls plant elongation by controlling cell division in higher plants.     

Preparation of Y2O3:Eu thin films by excimer-laser-assisted metal organic deposition

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃:Eu) thin films were successfully deposited on quartz and ITO/glass substrates by excimer-laser-assisted metal organic deposition (ELAMOD) at low temperatures. The effects of laser wavelength and thermal temperature on the films’ crystallinity and photoluminescence properties were investigated. Films irradiated by an ArF laser at 80 mJ/cm² and 400–500°C were highly crystallized compared with those prepared by thermal MOD. In contrast, when the film was irradiated by a KrF laser at 500°C, no crystalline Y₂O₃:Eu was formed. The Y₂O₃:Eu film irradiated by the ArF laser at 80 mJ/cm² and 500°C showed typical PL spectra of Eu³⁺ ions with cubic symmetry and a ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition at ∼612 nm. The PL intensity at 612 nm was much higher for the film prepared with ELAMOD than for that prepared by the thermal-assisted process, and the photoemission intensity of the film prepared with ELAMOD strongly depended on the substrate material.     

High chelation control of three contiguous stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky reactions of indium enolates with alpha-hydroxy ketones: unexpected stereochemistry of lactone formation

[reaction: see text] A boat-type of chelated bicyclic transition state involving highly diastereoselective construction of three contiguous stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky reaction of indium enolates with alpha-alkoxy/hydroxy ketones is proposed. alpha-Hydroxy ketones with indium enolates furnished highly diastereoselective lactones, while alpha-alkoxy ketones gave acyclic esters in moderate selectivities. X-ray structure analyses of key products unequivocally revealed the unexpected stereochemistry of products and the reaction pathway.     

On alternation numbers of links

We construct infinitely many hyperbolic links with x-distance far from the set of (possibly, splittable) alternating links in the concordance class of every link. A sensitive result is given for the concordance class of every (possibly, split) alternating link. Our proof uses an estimate of the τ-distance by an Alexander invariant and the topological imitation theory, both established earlier by the author.     

Synthesis and Some Properties of Low Melting Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals of Benzylidene Anilines

A series of chiral benzylidene-aniline compounds, 4-alkoxybenzylidene 4′-(2-methylbutyloxycarbonyl)anilines, have been synthesized and their mesomorphic properties are examined. They showed a monotropic chiral smectic C phase in conjunction with enantiotropic smectic A phase, and their chiral smectic C—smectic A phase transition temperatures are around room temperatures. Their spontaneous polarization values are moderately higher than those of DOBAMBC “4-decyloxybenzylidene 4′-amino-(2-methylbutyl)cinnamate”.     

Subject Index to Volume 33

This paper reports the investigation of microdroplet sample preparation for phosphate, strontium and rubidium using X-ray fluorescence. Sample filter papers were prepared by drying under several different conditions and the front and the back sides of the filter papers were measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA).

It was reported by Murata and Murokado that the elemental distribution difference between the front and the back sides after drying the filter paper led to erratic data.¹ It has been found that the intensity difference between the front and the back sides was due to the condensation of the material of interest on the surface of the filter papers and the amount of the condensed material on the filter paper was related to the temperature at which the filter paper was dried.

Optimum temperature at which a filter paper is dried and an appropriate internal standard are essential to reproducible measurements.     

Strain‐Promoted Double Azide Addition to Octadehydrodibenzo[12]annulene Derivatives

Octadehydrodibenzo[12]annulenes (DBAs), readily available by the oxidative acetylenic coupling of 1,2‐diethynylbenzene derivatives, were reacted with organic azides. As compared to the well‐known strain‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (SpAAC) of 5,6,11,12‐tetradehydrodibenzo[a,e][8]annulene, the reactivity of the DBA alkynes was lower due to the lower strain energy. However, the regioselective double azide addition occurred without any side reactions under mild conditions, yielding bis‐triazole products. The structures of the products were confirmed by an X‐ray crystal structure analysis, and the reaction mechanism was studied by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and computational studies. It was also found that the DBAs were hardly fluorescent, while the bis‐triazole products showed a green fluorescence with quantum yields up to 5.1 %. Finally, the new strain‐promoted double azide addition to the DBAs was used for step‐growth polymerization, successfully producing a high molecular weight triazole polymer.     

Ultralow quantum-defect eye-safe Er:Sc2O3 laser

Resonantly pumped Er(3+):Sc(2)O(3) laser operation is achieved with a quantum defect (QD) of 1.5% at liquid nitrogen temperature. The laser, in-line pumped at 1535 nm, operated at 1558 nm with a slope efficiency of over 45%. This is believed to be the lowest QD eye-safe laser ever reported. CW output of over 3.3 W was obtained in this first experiment.