Resistive superconducting transition of κ-type BEDT-TTF organic superconductors in a magnetic field

The superconducting transition of the organic compoundsκ-(BEDT-TTF)₂ X is studied by resistive measurement in a magnetic field up to 10 T applied normal to the conducting plane. For the salts withX=Cu[N(CN)₂]Br andX=CuCN[N(CN)₂] the transition shows fanshaped broadening caused by superconductivity fluctuation. For theX=Cu(NCS)₂ salt the resistivity shows a peak in the transition region in a magnetic field below 4 T.This phenomenon is suppressed in defect-reduced samples for intralayer conduction. We discuss this peak in relation to the thermal fluctuation on the Josephson junction structures in this salt.     

Pressure effects on the low temperature state of the α-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4 organic conductor family

Systematic magnetotransport measurements as a function of hydrostatic pressure have been made on four members of the α-(BEDT-TTF)₂MHg(SCN)₄ organic conductor family (M = K, Tl, Rb, NH₄). Applied pressure above about 6 Kbar removes the density wave state for M = K, Tl, and Rb. For M = NH₄ the superconducting state is removed with pressure as dT_c/dP = − 0.25 K/Kbar. In all cases the Shubnikov de Haas oscillation frequency increases with pressure, including the β orbit (which involves the entire Brillouin zone), and new orbits involving very small fractions of the Fermi surface are formed.     

Development of a flexible autonomous robot without sensors or controllers

Recently, various robots with many degrees of freedom, such as rescue robots and domestic robots, have been developed and used in practical applications. It is difficult to control such robots autonomously in real environments, because in order to control the many degrees of freedom, we have to observe many states, calculate huge amounts of information, and operate many actuators. In this study, we consider a flexible robot without sensors or controllers that can determine the inclination of a slope and climb up the slope. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, we have developed a prototype robot and conducted experiments. The result indicates that the robot could determine the inclination and climb up a gentle slope autonomously. Thus, we have realized an autonomous robot that has no explicit sensors or controllers.     

Are lebed’s magic angles truly magic?

We report high-resolution angle-dependent measurements of the Periodic Orbit Resonance (POR) effect in (TMTSF)₂ClO₄. We observe additional harmonic resonances that were not observed in previous studies. By measuring over a broad range of frequency, field, and field orientation, we find that all of the POR evolve from the Lebed magic angles observed in dc (ω=0) AMRO measurements. However, we find that the resonance angles vary with frequency in a manner that can easily be explained using a semiclassical model. This indicates that these angles are not ‘magic’ at frequencies on the order of the cyclotron frequency.     

Prevention of peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and nitration reactions by ellagic acid

Four benzoic acid derivatives and three phenylpropanoids were tested for their ability to suppress oxidation of dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCDHF) induced by 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, a peroxynitrite donor). Ellagic acid was found to potently inhibit this oxidation and to inhibit oxidation of DCDHF induced by peroxynitrite itself. Moreover, this compound prevented peroxynitrite-induced oxidative single strand breaks in pTZ 18U plasmid DNA and nitration of tyrosyl residues in bovine serum albumin. These results show that ellagic acid protects biomolecules against oxidative and nitrative damage induced by peroxynitrite in vitro.     

Co40Ni33.5Al26.5合金马氏体相变、磁性与淬火温度的关系

Co-Ni-Al合金不仅可以作为铁磁性形状记忆合金,也是传统和高温形状记忆合金的候选材料,本文通过金相显微分析,DSC和VSM方法,研究了Co40Ni33.5Al26.5合金马氏体相变和Curie点随淬火温度变化的情况,结果发现该合金马氏体相变温度和Curie点与淬火温度成正比关系.马氏体相变的4种温度,即Ms、Mf、As和At基本平行变化,淬火温度每升高10℃,马氏体相变温度升高8～9℃,而Curie点升高6～7℃.其马氏体相变温度和Curie点随淬火温度的变化与基体相β的成分变化有关,β相中Al的含量随淬火温度升高而降低,因而马氏体相变温度和Curie点升高.并且发现随着淬火温度升高,Co40Ni33.5Al26.5合金马氏体相的磁晶各向异性有减弱的倾向.     

Preparation of avidin-containing polyelectrolyte microcapsules and their uptake and release properties

Avidin-containing polyelectrolyte microcapsules were prepared by a layer-by-layer deposition technique and uptake and release of biotin-labelled fluorescein (b-FITC) was studied. The polyelectrolyte microcapsules were prepared by coating the surface of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) microparticles containing avidin-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) conjugate, followed by dissolution of CaCO₃ core in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution. Release of avidin from the microcapsules was markedly suppressed due to formation of a high molecular weight of avidin-PSS conjugate in the microcapsules. The uptake of b-FITC into the microcapsules was highly enhanced through a strong binding of b-FITC to avidin, as compared to the uptake into avidin-free microcapsules. Release of b-FITC from the microcapsules was accelerated upon addition of biotin, 2-iminobiotin, or lipoic acid in the solution due to the competitive binding of the additives to the binding site of avidin.     

Thermodynamic assessment of the KCl–K2CO3–NaCl–Na2CO3 system

Phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the KCl–K₂CO₃–NaCl–Na₂CO₃ system were analyzed on the basis of the thermodynamic evaluation of the KCl–NaCl,KCl–K₂CO₃,NaCl–Na₂CO₃,K₂CO₃–Na₂CO₃ and KCl–K₂CO₃–NaCl–Na₂CO₃ systems. The Gibbs energies of individual phases was approximated by two-sublattice models for ionic liquids and crystals. Most of the experimental information was well described by the present set of thermodynamic parameters. The lowest monovariant eutectic temperature in the KCl–NaCl–Na₂CO₃ system is located at 573 ^°C, with a composition of X_Na2CO3=0.31,X_KCl=0.35 and X_NaCl=0.34.