Structure and stability of a homologous series of tin oxides

The structures and stabilities of a series of nonstoichiometric SnO2-x compounds, which are yet unknown experimentally, are predicted using the cluster expansion technique combined with first-principles calculations. A homologous series of Sn(n+1)O(2n) in which oxygen vacancies are layered on (101) planes of the rutile lattice is discovered. The homologous crystals are composed of divalent and quadrivalent Sn atoms. No trivalent Sn atoms are formed.     

Norton's Trace Formulae for the Griess Algebra¶of a Vertex Operator Algebra with Larger Symmetry

Formulae expressing the trace of the composition of several (up to five) adjoint actions of elements of the Griess algebra of a vertex operator algebra are derived under certain assumptions on the action of the automorphism group. They coincide, when applied to the moonshine module V , with the trace formulae obtained in a different way by S. Norton, and the spectrum of some idempotents related to 2A, 2B, 3A and 4A elements of the Monster is determined by the representation theory of the Virasoro algebra at c= 1/2, the W ₃ algebra at c= 4/5 or the W ₄ algebra at c= 1. The generalization to the trace function on the whole space is also given for the composition of two adjoint actions, which can be used to compute the McKay-Thompson series for a 2A involution of the Monster. Received: 24 July 2000 / Accepted: 15 June 2001     

A system for measuring absolute frequencies of up to 4.25 THz using a Josephson point contact

A system for measuring the absolute frequency of a far-infrared (FIR) laser is described. Josephson point contacts have been utilized in the system as a frequency harmonic mixer connecting microwaves and optically pumped CH₃OH laser lines. The Josephson point contacts are capable of generating beat signals of 90 GHz microwaves and FIR waves of up to 4.25 THz. To measure the frequency of the beat signals from the Josephson junction with a frequency counter, tracking oscillators have been developed, which tracks the beat signals by phase locking and regenerate clean signals for frequency counting. It is shown that the absolute frequency can be measured to an accuracy of about 100 Hz by using the tracking oscillators.     

Semaphorins and their receptors: Novel features of neural guidance molecules

Semaphorins were originally identified as axon guidance cues involved in the development of the nervous system. In recent years, it is emerging that they also participate in various biological systems, including physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we primarily focus on our cumulative findings for the role of semaphorins and their receptors in the regulation of the immune system, while also summarizing recent progress in the context of cardiovascular system.     

Structure of dioctadecyl l-glutamide-derived lipid self-assembled monolayers on Au(1 1 1) surface

An l-glutamic acid-derived lipid with a terminal thiol has been synthesized and its corresponding self-assembled structure on Au(1 1 1) surfaces described. The surface morphology of the lipid self-assembled monolayer (SAM) exhibits nano-order patterning, where the height of the monolayer (approximately 1.5 nm) could be interpreted as due to the monolayer structure estimated from molecular models. The molecular orientation in the monolayer is almost perpendicular to the Au(1 1 1) surface depending on the three-point hydrogen-bonding sites in the molecule.     

Numerical Nahm transform for 2-caloron solutions

A new numerical method for performing the Nahm transform for charge k=2 caloron is presented. The Weyl equations with boundary impurities are solved directly and the determination of the appropriate basis to the linear system is established. The action densities of the 2-calorons with 10 moduli parameters are shown.     

Two-dimensional ultrashort echo time imaging using a spiral trajectory

Tissues with very short transverse relaxation time (T2) cannot be detected using conventional magnetic resonance (MR) sequences due to the rapid decay of excited MR signals. In this work, a multiecho sequence employing half-pulse excitation and spiral sampling was developed for ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging of tissues with short T2. Spiral readout gradients were measured and precompensated to reduce gradient distortions due to eddy currents and gradient anisotropy. The effects of spatial blurring due to fast signal decay were investigated experimentally through spiral UTE (SUTE) imaging of rubber bands with different spiral sampling duration. The unwanted long T2 signals were suppressed through the use of an inversion pulse and nulling, and/or subtraction of a later echo image from the initial one. This technique has been applied to imaging of the short T2 components in brain white matter, knee cartilage, bone and carotid vessel wall of normal volunteers at 1.5 T. Preliminary results show high spatial resolution and excellent image contrast for a variety of short T2 tissues in the human body under a relatively short scan time. A quantitative comparison was also made between radial UTE and SUTE in terms of signal-to-noise ratio efficiency.     

Magnesium K‐edge XANES spectroscopy of geological standards

Magnesium K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectra have been investigated to develop a systematic understanding of a suite of Mg‐bearing geological materials such as silicate and carbonate minerals, sediments, rocks and chemical reagents. For the model compounds the Mg XANES was found to vary widely between compounds and to provide a fingerprint for the form of Mg involved in geologic materials. The energy positions and resonance features obtained from these spectra can be used to specify the dominant molecular host site of Mg, thus shedding light on Mg partitioning and isotope fractionation in geologic materials and providing a valuable complement to existing knowledge of Mg geochemistry.