Almost-regular factorization of graphs

For integers a and b, 0 ? a ? a ? b, an [a, b]-graph G satisties a ? deg(x, G) ? b for every vertex x of G, and an [a, b]-factor is a spanning subgraph F such that a ? deg(x, F) ? b for every vertex x of F. An [a, b]-factor is almost-regular if b = a + 1. A graph is [a, b]-factorable if its edges can be decomposed into [a, b]-factors. When both K and t are positive integers and s is a nonnegative integer, we prove that every [(12K + 2)t + 2ks, (12k + 4)t + 2ks]-graph is [2k,2k + 1]-factorable. As its corollary, we prove that every [r.r + 1]-graph with r ? 12k² + 2k is [2k + 1]-factorable, which is a partial extension of the two results, one by Thomassen and the other by Era.     

X-ray crystal structure of a thiabenzene derivative

The first success of an X-ray analysis of a thiabenzene derivative, 1-benzoyl-2-methyl-2-thianaphthalene is described.     

Kinetics of phase separation in polymer blends. Calculations based on nonlinear theory

Suzuki's scaling theory for transient phenomena is applied to the calculation of the kinetics of phase separation in the early-to-intermediate stage based on a nonlinear theory proposed by Langer, Bar-on, and Miller (LBM). Calculated results are compared with experimental data on light scattering from a polymer blend system. Deviations from predictions of Cahn's linearized theory in the early time range of phase separation can be explained well by the proposed method of calculation. Nonlinear effects are found to play an essential role in characterizing the light scattering behavior of phase separation in the intermediate stage. Time evolutions of the single-point distribution function of composition are calculated, and the results are in good agreement with those reported in digital imaging analysis experiments and computer simulations of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation. The influence of asymmetry of free-energy on the single-point distribution function is also investigated in this study. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mechanism of speckle reduction in laser-microscope images using a rotating optical fiber

The reduction mechanism of speckles appearing in laser-microscope images is studied theoretically and experimentally when an object is illuminated by laser light through a rotating multimode optical fiber. The principle of the speckle reduction is based on independent addition of microscope images with boiling-like speckles as a result of the rotational motion of the optical fiber used for illumination. Especially, the speckle reduction is evaluated from first-order statistics of the speckle intensity in which its saturation effect is taken into consideration.     

Visible light-induced degradation of ethylene glycol on nitrogen-doped TiO2 powders

The photocatalytic degradation processes of ethylene glycol (EG) during the UV or visible light irradiation of pure anatase and nitrogen (N)-doped TiO2 powders (TiO(2-x)N(x), x = 0, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.007) were investigated using time-resolved diffuse reflectance (TDR) and solid-state NMR spectroscopies. The TDR spectra and time traces observed for the charge carriers indicated that the scavenging of photogenerated holes (h+) by EG occurred during the 355-nm laser photolysis of the N-doped TiO2 powders, while no direct oxidation reaction of EG by h+ occurred during the 460-nm laser photolysis, although the charge carriers were sufficiently generated upon excitation. The solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR measurements revealed that EG is preferentially chemisorbed on the surface of the N-doped TiO2 powders, in contrast to the pure TiO2, and degrades under visible light irradiation.     

Magnetism of nanographene network influenced by the interaction with acid species

The magnetism of nanographite (stacked nanographene sheets)-based nanoporous carbon is investigated in relation to the interaction with acid guest species. The concentration of the localized spins of non-bonding π-electron state (edge state) localized in the nanographene edges decreases upon the sulfonation of nanographene edges through charge-transfer interaction with sulfonic groups. The sulfonation of nanographene edges enhances the hydrophilic nature of the edges, resulting in the easiness in the water adsorption into the nanopores. This enhances the mechanical compression effect of water molecules condensed in the nanopores on the nanographite domains, resulting in the decrease in the spin concentration. The change in the magnetism upon water uptake reveals ferrimagnetic nature of individual nanographene sheets. The adsorption of HCl having no oxidation ability shows a mechanical effect on the edge-state spins similar to water adsorption. The spin concentration is reduced in two-step manner by the charge-transfer interaction with guest concentrated HNO₃ that is strong oxidant. In the presence of H₂O molecules in diluted HNO₃ the cooperation of mechanical and charge-transfer interactions creates also a two-step change in the magnetism.     

Photo- and electroluminescence of nitrogen isoelectronic traps in GaAs1–xPx

The variation with temperature of the charge on the surface of NaCl single crystals has been measured directly by means of vibrating capacitor probe. The charge is negative at room temperature, in agreement with theory based on values of the free energy of vacancy formation, decreases with increase of temperature in two stages to a zero value at the isoelectric temperature, and then becomes positive. Values of isoelectric temperature obtained on surfaces are consistent with those obtained by experiments on charged dislocations, which suggests that surfaces could be used to obtain accurate values of the free energy of formation of cation and anion vacancies.