Field observation of morpho-dynamic processes during storms at a Pacific beach,Japan: Role of long-period waves in storm-induced berm erosion

Many ultrasonic wave gages were placed with a small spacing across the swash zone to monitor either sand level or water level. Continuous monitoring conducted for a few years enabled the collection of data on the change in wave properties as well as swash-zone profiles. Data sets including two cases of large-scale berm erosion were analyzed. The results showed that 1) shoreline erosion started when high waves with significant power in long-period (1 to 2 min.) waves reached the top of a well-developed berm with the help of rising tide; 2) the beach in the swash zone was eroded with higher elevation being more depressed, while the bottom elevation just outside the swash zone remained almost unchanged; and 3) erosion stopped in a few hours after the berm was completely eroded or the swash-zone slope became uniformly mild. These findings strongly suggest that long waves play a dominant role in the swash-zone dynamics associated with these erosional events.     

Accurate nano-injection system for capillary gas chromatography

The first version of nano-injection device for capillary gas chromatography (cGC) based on inkjet microchip was developed. The nano-injector could accurately control the injection volume in nano-liter, even pico-liter range. Its configuration and mechanism were discussed in detail. Adopting photolithography and plasma etching technology, we firstly fabricated the inkjet microchip and stuck to a piezoelectric device to eject droplets. Then, a special feedback tube was added to make it function as a nano-injector for cGC, which was an important design to compensate pressure difference between the evaporation chamber of cGC and the sample extrusion chamber of inkjet microchip. The injected volume can be precisely controlled by the number of injected droplets. Excellent precision (RSDs were below 10.0%, n = 5) was observed for the injection of ethanol at elevated pressure. Minimum injection volume was about 1.25 nL at present. Additionally, good repeatability of the calibration curves for the hydrocarbons ethanolic solution (the RSDs of all components were below 5.30%, n = 5) confirmed its feasibility in quantitative analysis regardless of concentration. These results suggested that it can be an accurate nano-injector for cGC.     

Magnetic anisotropy and molecular assembling in d complex cation–f complex anion type coordination compounds

The system [Fe(bpca)₂][Er(NO₃)₄(H₂O)₂] (1) (Hbpca = bis(2-pyridil-carbonyl) amine) is a complex cation–complex anion type coordination compound consisting of distinct d and f units, interlinked by hydrogen bonds. Particularly, the association of f-type complex anions in dimers is remarked and discussed. The energy decomposition analyses based on DFT calculations offered supplementary insight into the coordination effects at the lanthanide ions and the hydrogen bond driven supramolecular association of the complex units. Special ab initio procedures and subsequent modeling afforded the computation of anisotropic magnetization tensors of the [Er(NO₃)₄(H₂O)₂]^? f-type units. The computed results are in line with the experimental data for compound 1.     

Nano-aquarium with microfluidic structures for dynamic analysis of Cryptomonas and Phormidium fabricated by femtosecond laser direct writing of photostructurable glass

We demonstrate fabrication of microchips with microfluidic structures for dynamic analysis of living cells using a femtosecond (fs) laser. Fs laser direct writing followed by annealing and successive wet etching in dilute hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution resulted in formation of three dimensional (3D) hollow microstructures embedded in photostructurable glass. The embedded microchannel structure enabled us to analyze unique phenomenon of Cryptomonas, which suddenly swims very fast under certain condition. Vector analysis of the driving force for the rapid motion was also carried out by introducing nano-beads into the microchannel, in which Cryptomonas was encapsulated. We also fabricated a microchip for observation of Phormidium moving toward a seedling root, which accelerates growth of the seedling. Using the embedded microchannel in the microchip, observation of Phormidium assemblage to the seedling root was easily carried out. Such microchips with microfluidic structures, referred to as a nano-aquarium, realize the efficient and highly functional observation of living cells.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on phase transitions of nematic liquid crystals

Phase diagrams of multi‐wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)/nematic liquid crystal (E7) and buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀‐I _h)/nematic liquid crystal (E7) binary systems have been investigated by means of polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the isotropic–nematic phase transition temperature (T _NI) of the liquid crystal component was enhanced by the incorporation of MWNT within a small composition gap. A chimney‐type phase diagram can be identified in the MWNT/E7 mixture over a narrow range of ～0.1–0.2% MWNT concentration. Upon substituting the nanotubes with isotropic fillers such as fullerene, the (C₆₀‐I _h)/E7 blend showed no discernible change of T _NI in the same concentration range of the chimney of the MWNT/E7 mixture, suggesting a significant contribution of anisotropy (or the aspect ratio) of the nanotubes to the entropy of the system containing liquid crystal molecules. This enhanced T _NI phenomenon may be attributed to anisotropic alignment of liquid crystal molecules along the carbon nanotube bundles.     

Efficient and stereoselective installation of isoquinoline: formal total synthesis of cortistatin A

The highly stereoselective attachment of isoquinoline onto the steroidal framework of cortistatin A has been achieved. Our strategy features a Ce-mediated nucleophilic addition of an isoquinoline unit to the sterically congested ketone followed by formation of the phenyl thiocarbamate, and subsequent stereoselective radical reduction. The new method results in a formal total synthesis of cortistatin A.     

ELECTROOPTIC EFFECTS OF THICK FREELY SUSPENDED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTAL FILM AND CELL

Abstract

Electrooptic effects of thick freely suspended ferroelectric liquid crystal films and conventional cells that are thicker than helical pitch have been studied. A very slow molecular motion was observed in the case of the thick films that have no solid surface.     

Highly polarized very cold neutrons through a permanent magnet quadrupole

We obtained highly polarized very cold neutrons through a quadrupole magnet with a large aperture. When neutrons go through a quadrupole magnet, parallel-spin neutrons are attracted to the magnet axis and anti-parallel-spin neutrons are repelled off the axis. Therefore, the neutrons through a sufficiently long quadrupole magnet have completely parallel-spin. At the downstream of the quadrupole magnet, we placed another quadrupole magnet to divide neutrons into two regions depending on their spin directions. We obtained the neutron polarization from the integrated count of the two regions and found it was 99.88±0.09 (stat.)±0.05 (syst.)%.     

Application Of Insulator-Metal Transition Of Conducting Polymers

As example of application of the insulator-metal transition in conducting polymers, electro-optic device utilizing electrochemical doping and radiation induced doping are discussed in detail.