Orientational coupling amplification in ferroelectric nematic colloids

We investigated the physical properties of low concentration ferroelectric nematic colloids, using calorimetry, optical methods, infrared spectroscopy, and capacitance studies. The resulting homogeneous colloids possess a significantly amplified nematic orientational coupling. We find that the nematic orientation coupling increases by approximately 10% for particle concentrations of 0.2%. A manifestation of the increased orientational order is that the clearing temperature of a nematic colloid increases by up to 40 degrees C compared to the pure liquid crystal host. A theoretical model is proposed in which the ferroelectric particles induce local dipoles whose effective interaction is proportional to the square of the orientational order parameter.     

First measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays

We report a first measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays, where Xs is a charmless state with unit strangeness. The measurement is based on a pseudoinclusive reconstruction technique and uses a sample of 657×10(6)BB pairs accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. For MXs < 2.6 GeV/c2, we measure a branching fraction of [26.1±3.0(stat)-2.1+1.9(syst)-7.1+4.0(model)]×10(-5) and a direct CP asymmetry of ACP=-0.13±0.04-0.03+0.02. Over half of the signal occurs in the range MXs > 1.8 GeV/c2.     

Spectral properties of Pascal graphs

We obtain spectral properties of the Pascal graphs by exploring its spectral graph invariants such as the algebraic connectivity, the first three largest Laplacian eigenvalues and the nullity. Some open problems pertaining to the Pascal graphs are given.     

Improved constraints on D0-D0 mixing in D0 --> K+ pi- decays from the Belle detector

We report the results of a search for D0-D0 mixing in D0 --> K+ pi- decays based on 400 fb(-1) of data accumulated by the Belle detector at KEKB. Both assuming CP conservation and allowing for CP violation, we fit the decay-time distribution for the mixing parameters x and y, as well as for the parameter R(D), the ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays to Cabibbo-favored decays. The 95% confidence level region in the (x'2,y') plane is obtained using a frequentist method. Assuming CP conservation, we find x'2 < 0.72 x 10(-3) and -9.9 x 10(-3) < y' < 6.8 x 10(-3) at the 95% confidence level; these are the most stringent constraints on the mixing parameters to date. The no-mixing point (0,0) has a confidence level of 3.9%. Assuming no mixing, we measure R(D) = (0.377 +/- 0.008 +/- 0.005)%.     

Minimum Permanents on a Face of the Polytope of Doubly Stochastic Matrices II

We determine the minimum permanents and minimizing matrices on the face of ω_3+n , for the fully indecomposable (0,1) matrices of order 3+n, which include an identity submatrix of order n .     

Electric field effect on the optically-pumped far-infrared laser

This study investigates the effects of the electric field on the optically-pumped far-infrared (OPFIR) laser. The main mechanisms responsible for the change of the laser output power due to the electric field are considered to be the non-linear Hanle effect (NLHE) and Stark splitting. However, both the rate-equation calculation and the experiments with the circular hollow Stark waveguide OPFIR laser show that the conventional NLHE provides a relatively limited power increase via enhanced absorption. Significant power enhancement is observed in the rectangular waveguide only when both the absorption and emission processes are ΔM=±1 transitions, where the classical Hanle effect (CHE) is considered to be applicable. By including constructive interference, the power increase due to the CHE is calculated for the parallel and orthogonal lines. Experimental results from the rectangular waveguide OPFIR laser show good agreement with the new calculation taking into account the classical Hanle and Stark splitting effects.     

Chemical design of nanoparticle probes for high-performance magnetic resonance imaging

Synthetic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are emerging as versatile probes in biomedical applications, especially in the area of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their size, which is comparable to biological functional units, and their unique magnetic properties allow their utilization as molecular imaging probes. Herein, we present an overview of recent breakthroughs in the development of new synthetic MNP probes with which the sensitive and target-specific observation of biological events at the molecular and cellular levels is possible.     

Nanoparticle assisted magnetic resonance imaging of the early reversible stages of amyloid beta self-assembly

Co@Pt-Au nanoparticles, which have enhanced magnetism and high stability in aqueous media, are utilized in conjunction with MRI to monitor the structural evolution of Abeta assemblies, especially Abeta protofibrils in the early reversible stages.     

Tuning of fluorescence properties of aminoterpyridine fluorophores by N-substitution

Several N-alkyl and N-phenyl derivatives of 6-amino- () and 6,6'-diamino-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine () were synthesized, and their fluorescence properties were studied. A successive red-shift was observed as the number of the N-substituted groups increased. It was also shown that the susceptivity of the fluorophores to a solvent varied considerably according to the mode of the N-substitution. While the monoamino-tpys (tpy: 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) suffered almost complete quenching of their fluorescence in ethanol, the fully N-alkylated diamino-tpys and retained their fluorescence. The results show that N-substitution is a useful way to tune both the radiation energy and solvent susceptivity of the fluorescence of the amino-tpys.