Anomalous Magnetic Phase Diagram of CeTe under High Pressure

We have investigated the anomalous ordered phase of CeTe under high pressure, which has been suggested to be an antiferroquadrupole ordered phase. An anisotropic magnetic phase diagram has been obtained from magnetization and specific heat measurements for the three main field directions along [100], [110], and [111]. We discuss the magnetic phase diagram using a two-sublattice mean-field calculation including antiferromagnetic and antiferroquadrupolar interactions. The anomalous ordered phase can be interpreted as an antiferromagnetic ordered phase, which is strongly affected by the antiferroquadrupolar interaction through the off-diagonal matrix element between the Γ7 crystal-field ground state and the Γ8 excited state.This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 21204456, 21102515, and 2430087) from JSPS and MEXT

Transurethral resection for botryoid bladder rhabdomyosarcoma

The outcome of multimodal therapy for localized bladder rhabdomyosarcoma is quite good in terms of morbidity, and conservative surgery is generally recommended. However, in cases originating in the bladder neck, tumorectomy or partial cystectomy has adverse effects on bladder function. A 2-year-old girl underwent transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TUR-BT), chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide, and radiotherapy. She was in remission for 3 years when frequent urination became evident. Her bladder capacity and compliance were low; however, her urinary symptom was controlled using anticholinergic medication. Accordingly, TUR-BT could be an optional approach for bladder rhabdomyosarcoma

Effects of Different Feedstock Type and Carbonization Temperature of Biochar on Oat Growth and Nitrogen Uptake in Coapplication with Compost

Abstract: We aimed to verify whether (i) biochar-compost application improves plant growth when compared with compost application alone and (ii) a diversity of biochar caused by feedstock type and carbonization temperature affects the extent of plant growth. We prepared six types of biochar from larch (Larix kaempferi Sarg.) and dairy manure at 300 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C for 1 h. Compost was applied as control, and each biochar was co-applied with compost to oat plants (Avena sativa L.). The total nitrogen input of all the seven treatments was adjusted to the same level to assess their effects on plant nitrogen uptake and nitrogen content. Compared with the control, biomass production increased from 13.1 to 34.0% with the wood biochar application and from 39.7 to 64.2% with manure biochar application because of more mineralization of compost and nitrogen fixation through rhizobacteria and/or diazotrophic endophytes. The diversity of biochar caused a difference in the extent of oat growth, and feedstock type of biochar was a more dominant factor than carbonization temperature. Due to the favorable chemical properties of manure biochar like high pH and more labile-C and -N content, the manure biochar application increased average biomass production by 26.0% compared with the wood biochar application. The carbonization temperature had no significant impact on oat growth, but the optimal temperature was indicated as approximately 450 °C. Biochar diversity causes a difference in plant growth in biochar-compost application, and the selection of appropriate biochar, such as manure biochar at 450 °C, would be a guideline for achieving a robust crop production system

Room-Temperature Chemical Synthesis of C2

Diatomic carbon (C2) is historically an elusive chemical species. It has long been believed that the generation of C2 requires extremely high “physical” energy, such as an electric carbon arc or multiple photon excitation, and so it has been the general consensus that the inherent nature of C2 in the ground state is experimentally inaccessible. Here, we present the first “chemical” synthesis of C2 in a flask at room temperature or below, providing the first experimental evidence to support theoretical predictions that (1) C2 has a singlet biradical character with a quadruple bond, thus settling a long-standing controversy between experimental and theoretical chemists, and that (2) C2 serves as a molecular element in the formation of sp2-carbon allotropes such as graphite, carbon nanotubes and C60

Thiol-Organosilica Particles Internally Functionalized with Propidium Iodide as a Multicolor Fluorescence and X‑ray Computed Tomography Probe and Application for Non-Invasive Functional Gastrointestinal Tract Imaging

Propidium iodide (PI) is a fluorescent nucleic acid dye that contains iodide molecules. Thiol-organosilica particles that were internally functionalized with PI (PI particles) were prepared for X-ray computed tomography (CT) and multicolor fluorescence imaging. PI particles of various sizes were synthesized in a one-pot process. The particles showed unique fluorescent signals and X-ray absorption, with enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of PI located inside organosilica particles. PI particles had multicolor fluorescence, including original fluorescence and near-infrared (NIR). Orally administered PI particles were observed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) using fluorescent imaging devices and X-ray CT. An in vivo fluorescence imaging system could detect the NIR fluorescence of PI particles in the GIT specifically. Multipurpose zoom fluorescence microscopy was used to noninvasively visualize the real-time passage of particles and the movement of the GIT. The passage and distribution of particles over time in the GIT were demonstrated using X-ray CT. A correlation analysis between the fluorescent and X-ray CT data demonstrated the characteristics, limitations, and novel potential for noninvasive functional GIT dual modal imaging