Characteristic \alpha and ^{6}He decays of the linear-chains in ^{16}C

The linear-chain states of $^{16}$C and their decay modes are theoretically investigated by using the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics. It is found that the positive-parity linear-chain states have the $(3/2^-_\pi)^2(1/2^-_\sigma)^2$ configuration and primary decay to the $^{12}$Be($2^+_1$) as well as to the $^{12}$Be(g.s.) by the $\alpha$ particle emission. Moreover, we show that they also decay to the $^6{\rm He}+{}^{10}{\rm Be}$ channel. In the negative-parity states, it is found that two types of the linear-chains exist. One has the valence neutrons occupying the molecular-orbits $(3/2^-_\pi)^2(1/2^-_\sigma)(3/2^+_\pi)$, while the other's configuration cannot be explained in terms of the molecular orbits because of the strong parity mixing. Both configurations constitute the rotational bands with large moment of inertia and intra-bands $E2$ transitions. Their $\alpha$ and ${}^{6}{\rm He}$ reduced widths are sufficiently large to be distinguished from other non-cluster states although they are smaller than those of the positive-parity linear-chain.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1605.0556

Three-body decay of linear-chain states in 14^{14}C

The decay properties of the linear-chain states in $^{14}$C are investigated by using the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics. The calculation predicts two rotational bands with linear-chain configurations having the $\pi$-bond and $\sigma$-bond valence neutrons. For the $\pi$-bond linear-chain, the calculated excitation energies and the widths of $\alpha$-decay to the ground state of $^{10}{\rm Be}$ reasonably agree with the experimental candidates observed by the $\alpha+{}^{10}{\rm Be}$ resonant scattering. On the other hand, the $\sigma$-bond linear-chain is the candidate of the higher-lying resonant states reported by the break-up reaction. As the evidence of the $\sigma$-bond linear-chain, we discuss its decay pattern. It is found that the $\sigma$-bond linear-chain not only decays to the excited band of $^{10}{\rm Be}$ but also decays to the three-body channel of $^{6}{\rm He}+\alpha+\alpha$, and the branching ratio of these decays are comparable. Hence, we suggest that this characteristic decay pattern is a strong signature of the linear-chain formation and a key observable to distinguish two different linear-chains

ELECTRONIC AND VIBRATIONAL STRUCTURE OF BUCKY BOWL

Bucky bowl is the molecule of nonplanar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We analyzed the vibronic sructure in the S$_1$ $\leftarrow$ S$_0$ fluorescence excitation spectra of jet-cooled sumanene and corannulene. The spectrum is congested with a large number of vibronic bands, which are mostly assigned to out-of-plane vibrational modes. The S$_1$ state of corannulene is identified to $^1$E$_2$ by the normal mode analysis, which is consistent with the result of SAC-CI calculation. The excitation energy of $^1$A$_2$ state was lower than that of the $^1$E$_2$ state by the TD-DFT method. The isolated corannulene molecule is considered to be a normal pentagon with considerable out-of-plane distortion ($C_{5v}$). We observed the IR spectrum of corannulene in solid $para$-H$_2$, which also indicates that the moelcule has a structure with five-fold symmetry in the S$_0$ state. We found the IR bands originated from protonated corannulene molecules, which are produced by the chemical reaction with a proton. \\[-1mm] \begin{flushleft} [1] P. Sundararajan, M. Tsuge, M. Baba, and Y.-P. Lee, ACS Earth Space Chem. {\bf 2}, 1001 (2018) \\[1mm] [2] S. Kunishige, M. Baba, H. Sakurai, et al., J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 139}, 044313 (2013) \end{flushleft

CH3 INTERNAL ROTATION IN 9-METHYLANTHRACENE

We observed the rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectrum of the S$_1$ $\leftarrow$ S$_0$ transition of jet-cooled 9-methylanthracene. The potential energy curve for CH$_3$ internal rotation is six-fold symmetric. The barrier to rotation ($V_6$) is $\sim$ 120 cm$^{-1}$ [2], which is considerably larger than that of toluene ( $\sim$ 5 cm$^{-1}$ ) [1]. The $V_6$ value is the energy difference between two isomers {\textquoteleft}$staggered${\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}$eclipsed${\textquoteright}. The main contribution to $V_6$ is expected to be hyperconjugation, which is the $\pi$-like interaction between the aromatic $\pi$ orbital and methyl sp$^3$ orbital. The final goal of this work is to quantitatively elucidate the vibrational and rotational energy levels for CH$_3$ internal rotation. It is essential to observe the high-resolution and high-precision electronic spectra and theoretically search the best effective Hamiltonian to reproduce the experimental results. We are now developing a new laser control system with optical frequency comb locked to GPS, and an ab initio method which provides the reliable potential energy curve. \\[-1mm] \begin{flushleft} [1] M. Baba, et al., J. Phys. Chem. A {\bf 113}, 2369 (2009) \\[1mm] [2] D. R. Borst and D. W. Pratt, J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 113}, 3658 (2000) \end{flushleft

Japan's Deflation, Problems in the Financial System, and Monetary Policy

This paper offers three analyses of Japan's macroeconomic experience during the post-1990 period. First, we analyze various facets of deflation during the period, arguing that the deflation of general prices has by no means been a major factor for the stagnating economy. In contrast, the deflation of asset prices was closely related to the economic difficulty of the period. In particular, the negative shocks generated by sharp declines in asset prices in the early 1990s have been propagated and amplified by their interaction with the deterioration in the condition of the financial system. Some statistical evidence supports this view. Second, we analyze the effects of monetary policy adopted by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to fight deflation since the late 1990s. Given that short-term interest rates were already nearly zero in the mid-1990s, policy measures have focused on creating monetary easing effects beyond those created by zero interest rates alone. We show that the zero interest rate policy, which includes a commitment to maintain a zero interest rate for a longer period than that suggested by a baseline monetary policy rule, has produced strong effects on expected future short-term interest rates and thus the entire yield curve. Third, we argue that the BOJ has successfully prevented a repetition of the 1997-98 type liquidity crisis by directing market operations at addressing the financial-sector problems. These operations have taken the form of containing risk and liquidity premiums, particularly in the money market, through proactive provision of liquidity as well as the BOJ's own risk- taking activity.

HIGH-RESOLUTION LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF LEAD OXIDE (PbO)

We observed rotationally resolved spectra of A(0$^+$) $\leftarrow$ X(0$^+$) and B(1) $\leftarrow$ X(0$^+$) transition of PbO produced in a flow cell by laser ablation. The transition frequency was calibrated using an ultralow expansion etalon and (4s $^2$S$_{1/2}$ - 5p $^2$P$_{1/2}$) absorption line of K atoms at 405 nm within the error of 3 MHz. We determined the rotational constants for a number of vibrational levels of three isotopic molecules, $^{206}$PbO, $^{207}$PbO, and $^{208}$PbO. The interaction among electronic excited states are generally significant in such heavy molecules, and we found perturbations in specific rotational levels [1]. We discuss the potential energy curves of low electronic excited states of PbO on the basis of the global analysis of observed transitions. \\[1mm] \begin{flushleft} [1] K. Enomoto, A. Fuwa, N. Hizawa, Y. Moriwaki, and K. Kobayashi, {\it J. Mol. Spectrosc.}, {\bf 339}, 12 (2017) \\[1mm] \end{flushleft

AB INITIO CALCULATIONS ON ROTATIONAL CONSTANT AND AVERAGED C-H(D) BOND LENGTHS OF BENZENE

Rotational constants in the ground states of benzene and its deuterated isotopologues were accurately determined by high-resolution spectroscopy [1]. It was demonstrated that the averaged bond length r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-H) is approximately identical to the r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-D). Bearing in mind that the experimentally observed rotational constants correspond to the averaged ro-vibrating structure projected onto each principal axis [2], we discussed this finding in terms of wavefunction for the local modes derived from the CCSD(T)/[aVQZ (C, H)] ab initio potential energy surface. Due to the anharmonicity in the C-H stretching motion, r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{str,0}}}(C-H) is calculated to be longer than r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{str,0}}}(C-D) by 0.0024 {\AA}. Since the vibrationally averaged projection-angle of the C-H(D) bond with respect to the principal axis is larger for the C-H bond (having lighter H atom) than the C-D bond, the projected bond-lengths r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{proj,0}}}(C-H) in the out-of-plane and in-plane bending motions become shorter than r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{proj,0}}}(C-D) by 0.0017 {\AA} and 0.0011 {\AA}, respectively. Thus, in the sum of r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{str,0}}} and r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{proj,0}}}, the difference in r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-H) and r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-D) becomes negligibly small value of 0.0004 {\AA}, which explains why we observed r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-H) $\approx$ r_{\mbox {\scriptsize{0,eff}}}(C-D).\\[3mm] \begin{flushleft} [1] S. Kunishige, M. Baba, et al., {\it J. Chem. Phys.}, {\bf 143}, 244302 (2015). \\[3mm] [2] T. Hirano, U. Nagashima, and M. Baba, {\it J. Mol. Spectrosc.}, in press. \end{flushleft

Vitamin D-3 induces expression of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide 18 in newborns

This research was originally published in International Journal of Hematology. Authors. Misawa, Y; Baba, A; Ito, S; Tanaka, M; Shiohara, Title. Vitamin D-3 induces expression of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide 18 in newborns, IJH. Year 2009;Vol. 90, Issue. 5:pp561-pp570. Copyright (c) 2009 by The Japanese Society of Hematology.Bactericidal activities of neutrophils occur by two distinctive mechanisms that are oxygen-dependent and -independent. Human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide 18 (hCAP18), also known as LL-37/FALL-39, is a neutrophil-specific granule protein. We compared the content of hCAP18 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), another neutrophil-specific granule protein, in neutrophils of both neonates and adults by flow cytometry. The percentage as well as fluorescence intensity ratio of hCAP18 and NGAL expression in neonate neutrophils were significantly lower than in adults. Expression of hCAP18 in monocytes, however, was not significantly different between neonates and adults. Both hCAP18 and NGAL expression increased in an age-dependent fashion. Plasma concentration of these peptides measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was not significantly different between neonates and adults. Oral intake of 1 alpha hydroxy vitamin D-3 (1 alpha(OH)D-3) in rickets patients for 4 weeks significantly increased hCAP18 expression in neutrophils compared to age-matched healthy controls without 1 alpha(OH)D-3, indicating the potential of vitamin D-3 as a regulator of the innate immune response of neonates.ArticleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY. 90(5):561-570 (2009)journal articl

LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer, detected by bisulfite pyrosequencing, is associated with poor prognosis

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide DNA hypomethylation plays an important role in genomic instability and carcinogenesis. DNA methylation in the long interspersed nucleotide element-1, L1 (LINE-1) repetitive element is a good indicator of the global DNA methylation level. In some types of human neoplasms, LINE-1 methylation level is attracting interest as a predictive marker for patient prognosis. However, the prognostic significance of LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer remains unclear. METHODS: Using 203 resected gastric cancer specimens, we quantified LINE-1 methylation using bisulfite-pyrosequencing technology. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR), adjusted for the clinical and pathological variables. RESULTS: Gastric cancers showed significantly lower LINE-1 methylation levels compared to matched normal gastric mucosa (p < 0.0001; n = 74). Tumoral LINE-1 methylation range was 11.6–97.5 on a 0–100 scale (n = 203; mean 71.4, median 74.4, standard deviation 12.9). LINE-1 hypomethylation was significantly associated with shorter overall survival [log-rank p = 0.029; univariate HR 2.01, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.09–3.99, p = 0.023; stage-matched HR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.02–3.74, p = 0.041; multivariate HR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.04–4.04, p = 0.036]. No significant effect modification was observed by any of the covariates in survival analysis (all p interaction >0.25). CONCLUSIONS: LINE-1 hypomethylation in gastric cancer is associated with shorter survival, suggesting that it has potential for use as a prognostic biomarker