Visible-light-sensitive photocatalytic reaction on chromium-containing mesoporous silica: selective partial oxidation of propane with molecular oxygen

The photocatalytic reactivities of chromium-containing mesoporous silica molecular sieves (Cr-HMS) under visible light irradiation have been investigated. Cr-HMS involves tetrahedral chromium oxide (Cr-oxide) moieties which are highly dispersed and incorporated in the framework of molecular sieve with two terminal Cr=O groups. In the presence of propane with molecular oxygen, a partial oxidation proceeded under visible light irradiation to produce acetone and acrolein, with high selectivity, while a complete oxidation proceeded under UV light irradiation mainly to produce CO₂. The charge-transfer excited state of the tetrahedral Cr-oxide moieties plays a significant role in the photocatalytic reactions.     

A convenient method for the preparation of α-vinylfurans by phosphine-initiated reactions of various substituted enynes bearing a carbonyl group with aldehydes

α-Vinylfurans were obtained by phosphine-initiated cyclization of various enynes bearing a carbonyl group at the ene end in the presence of various aldehydes, in moderate to high yields. The reaction may consist of 1,6-addition of phosphine to the enynes, ring closure, and Wittig reaction between the ylid resulting from cyclization and an aldehyde. Thus, various aldehydes were able to be used in the reaction. The reaction was influenced greatly by the substituents at the acetylene position (R¹) and the α-position of the carbonyl group (R³).     

A new monitoring system of cultured myocardial cell motion: effect of pilose antler extract and cardioactive agents on spontaneous beating of myocardial cell sheets

Effects of various cardioactive agents and a water extract of the pilose antler of Cervus nippon var. mantchuricus on periodic beating of cultured myocardial cell sheets were examined by using an image analyzing system. Norepinephrine increased the beating rate and the beating amplitude, whereas digoxin and forskolin enlarged only the beating amplitude. Verapamil and propranolol decreased both the beating rate and the beating amplitude. The water extract of the pilose antler showed no remarkable effects in a standard medium (2.1 mM Ca2+). However, it significantly increased the beating amplitude when the beating was suppressed by replacement with a low calcium medium (0.5 mM Ca2+). A similar effect was found for 70% ethanol-soluble and -insoluble fractions of the extract.     

Development of Non-Halogen Flame Retardant Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cord

A non-halogen highly flame-retardant 0.9mm optical fiber and 2.0mm simplex optical cord, which are harmonized with the ecosystem, have been developed. The characteristics of them are presented in this paper.     

Development of measuring magnetic Compton profiles by grazing incidence geometry

A novel technique of measuring a magnetic Compton profile using the grazing angle geometry against a sample surface (Grazing Incidence Magnetic Compton Profile) has been successively developed. Measurements of a magnetic moment and a magnetic Compton profile are possible for a Fe 200 nm film on a thick glass substrate. The estimated thinnest limit for measurements is 100 nm for a Fe film.     

Constructive and Destructive Two-Pulse Excitation Investigated with a White-Light Michelson Interferometer

Linear propagation of two pulses through methanol solution of aluminum phthalocyanine chloride is investigated using a modified white-light Michelson interferometer. The observed coherence time of the white light is 6 fs, and the separation between the two-excitation pulses is set to about 10 fs. The excitation is dependent on the phase-relation between the two pulses. We have observed an enhancement of the excitation when the two pulses are in-phase and strong suppression of the excitation when the two pulses are out of phase by π.