High-precision measurement of π−p elastic scattering in a wide angular range at incident momenta between 2.06 and 3.48 GeV/c

We have measured the differential cross section for π^?p elastic scattering at eight incident momenta, 2.06, 2.26, 2.45, 2.65, 2.86, 3.05, 3.26 and 3.48 GeV/c, in a wide range of c.m. scattering angle between 15° and 160°. A pronounced dip-bump structure has been found at large angles. Details of the structure are quantitatively described as functions of the incident momentum.     

Mechanism of formation of shish kebab structures

To describe the characteristic crystalline structure of polyolefins, Pennings first proposed a model consisting of a combination of an extended chain crystal (a “shish”) and folded chain crystals (“kebabs”). In Pennings' model the “shish” forms first during a crystallization process under stress and then later the “kebabs” overgrow this “shish” structure epitaxially. Because we had some doubts about such a mechanism, we undertook a series of experimental studies on linear polyethylene, particularly in regard to the crystallization process from a solution under shear. Our conclusion is that the crystals grow first by a screw dislocation mechanism, like whiskers, and then later these are deformed by the shear stress to form the shish kebab structures.     

A simple route for fabricating poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) particles by using ionic liquids and a solvent evaporation process

Particles of a poly(para-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) precursor were prepared from an aqueous solution of the polymer by simple evaporation of water from the solution, which also contained an ionic liquid as a poor solvent (self-organized precipitation (SORP) method); PPV precursor nanoparticles were successfully converted to PPV nanoparticles after annealing at 240 degrees C under reduced pressure, this simple process constituting a novel route to nanoparticles of functional polymeric materials.     

Effect of honeycomb-patterned surface topography on the adhesion and signal transduction of porcine aortic endothelial cells

Surface topography has vital roles in cellular response. Here, to investigate the mechanism behind cellular response to surface topography, we prepared honeycomb (HC)-patterned films from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) with micropatterned surface topography by casting a polymer solution of water-immiscible solvent under high humidity. We characterized the adsorption of fibronectin (Fn) on the film using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The response of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) to adsorbed Fn molecules onto HC-patterned films was observed by immunofluorescence labeling of vinculin and the actin fiber of PAECs cultured for 1 and 72 h in serum-free medium. The expression of focal adhesion kinase autophosphorylated at the tyrosine residue (pFAK) at 1 h culture was determined using an immunoprecipitation method. Fn adsorbed selectively around the pore edges to form ring-shaped aggregates. The immunostaining results revealed that PAECs adhered to the HC-patterned films at focal contact points localized around pore peripheries. These points correspond to adsorption sites of Fn. The expression of pFAK after 1 h on the HC-patterned film was 3 times higher than that on a corresponding flat film, indicating that the signaling mediated by the binding between Fn and the integrin receptor was more highly activated on the HC-patterned film. These results suggest that the cellular response to HC-patterned films (e.g., adhesion pattern and phosphorylation of FAK) originates from the regularly aligned adsorption pattern of Fn determined by the pore structure of the film.     

Influence of free-space calibration using He on the measurement of adsorption isotherms

It is well known that helium (He) molecules that remain inside micropores after free-space calibration at a low temperature (77.4 K) affect the shape of an adsorption isotherm, especially in a very low relative pressure region. This negative effect of the remaining He leads to a misunderstanding of the porous characteristics, such as micropore size distribution and surface properties. However, it is still believed that such erroneous interpretations are limited to narrow microporous materials such as activated carbon and measurements at low temperatures, namely the measurement of the adsorption of N₂ and Ar at their boiling points. Here we report a systematic investigation of the influence of free-space calibration using He on microporous, mesoporous and non-porous materials. Zeolite Y, mesoporous silica, carbon black and aerosil 200 were used for the measurements. N₂, H₂O and CO₂ adsorption isotherms were measured at 77.4, 298 and 298 K, respectively. Free-space calibration was carried out before and after the isotherm measurement for each sample. Although the influence of the He that remained in the sample was small for the non-porous sample, the shape of the isotherms for the other samples in a low relative pressure region was rather affected by the timing of the free-space calibration even for the mesoporous sample, and at an ambient temperature.     

Duality of Non-Homogeneous Central Herz-Morrey-Musielak-Orlicz Spaces

We determine the associate space of non-homogeneous central Herz-Morrey-Musielak-Orlicz space \(\mathcal {H}^{\Phi ,q,\omega }(\textbf {R}^{N})\). We also determine the associate spaces of the space \(\underline {\mathcal {H}}^{\Phi ,q,\omega }(\textbf {R}^{N})\) and its complementary space \(\overline {\mathcal {H}}^{\Phi ,q,\omega }(\textbf {R}^{N})\).     

Synthesis and properties of a new AIE macrocyclic emitter with triarylamine backbone

A new macrocyclic AIE emitter composed of triarylamine backbone was successfully synthesized through convenient homocoupling procedure and easily purified by silica gel column chromatography, and recrystallization. The optical and electrochemical properties of the compound have been investigated. Intriguingly, the compound shows dual emission both 423 nm and 505 nm. This result implied that the violet emission was originated from an isolated component of the emitter, whereas the yellowish-green emission simultaneously exhibited AIE nature. The compound exhibits enough thermal stability and high glass transition temperature to be applied for organic devices.     

Dynamics of water in partially crystallized polymer/water mixtures studied by dielectric spectroscopy

The dielectric relaxation process of water was investigated for polymer/water mixtures containing poly(vinyl methyl ether), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) with a polymer concentration of up to 40 wt % at frequencies between 10 MHz and 10 GHz in subzero temperatures down to -55 degrees C. These polymer/water mixtures have a crystallization temperature TC of water at -10 to -2 degrees C. Below TC, part of the water crystallized and another part of the water, uncrystallized water (UCW), remained in a liquid state with the polymer in an uncrystallized phase. The dielectric relaxation process of UCW was observed, and reliable dielectric relaxation parameters of UCW were obtained at temperatures of -26 to -2 degrees C. At TC, the relaxation strength, relaxation time, and relaxation time distribution change abruptly, and their subsequent changes with decreasing temperature are larger than those above TC. The relaxation strength of UCW decreases, and the relaxation time and dynamic heterogeneity (distribution of relaxation time) increase with decreasing temperature. These large temperature dependences below TC can be explained by the increase in polymer concentration in the uncrystallized phase C(p,UCP) with decreasing temperature. C(p,UCP) is independent of the initial polymer concentration. In contrast to the relaxation times above TC, which vary with the chemical structure of the polymer and its concentration, the relaxation times of UCW are independent of both of them. This indicates that the factor determining whether the water forms ice crystals or stays as UCW is the mobility of the water molecules.     

Impact of metal-ion dependence on the porous and electronic properties of TCNQ-dianion-based porous coordination polymers

A series of TCNQ-dianion-based porous coordination polymers [M(TCNQ)bpy] (M = Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd) have been synthesized and characterized. The synthesis reactions of these compounds are promoted by the addition of ascorbic acid, which is the key to obtaining a high yield. They form almost identical three-dimensional pillared layer structures with the M-TCNQ two-dimensional layers linked by bpy pillar ligands. The electronic properties of these compounds vary depending on the constitutional metal ions and guest molecules. We found that the electronic interaction between metal ions and TCNQ moieties in the frameworks strongly impacted the electronic properties of the compounds.