Spin transport properties in a naphthyl diamine derivative film investigated by the spin pumping

We report the spin transport properties in a thin film of a naphthyl diamine derivative: N,N'-Bis(naphthalen-1-yl)-N,N'-bis(phenyl)-2,2'-dimethylbenzidine (alpha-NPD). In a palladium(Pd)/alpha-NPD/Ni80Fe20 tri-layer structure sample, a pure spin current is generated in the alpha-NPD layer with the spin pumping driven by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The generated spin current is absorbed into the Pd layer, and converted into a charge current with the inverse spin-Hall effect (ISHE) in Pd. An electromotive force due to the ISHE in the Pd layer is observed under the FMR of the Ni80Fe20 layer, which is clear evidence for the spin transport in an alpha-NPD film. The spin diffusion length in an alpha-NPD film is estimated to be about 62 nm at room temperature, which is long enough as a spin transport material for spintronic devices.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures. To be appeared in Solid State Commu

ASSESSMENT OF BENZENE RISK AROUND ROADSIDE AT ASHIYA CITY, JAPAN

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Bilateral Renal Cell Carcinoma and its Treatment

A report is presented on two cases of bilateral renal cell carcinoma together with a review of the literature. Bilateral renal cell carcinoma is rare and there is much controversy concerning its treatment. Our current experience supports conservative therapy for bilateral renal cell carcinoma

Robust Performance Analysis of Uncertain LTI Systems: Dual LMI Approach and Verifications for Exactness

This paper addresses robust performance analysis problems of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems affected by real parametric uncertainties. These problems, known also as a special class of structured singular value computation problems, are inherently intractable (NP-hard problems). As such intensive research effort has been made to obtain computationally tractable and less conservative analysis conditions, where linear matrix inequality (LMI) plays an important. Nevertheless, since LMI-based conditions are expected to be conservative in general, it is often the case that we cannot conclude anything if the LMI at hand turns out to be infeasible. This motivates us to consider the dual of the LMI and examine the structure of the dual solution. By pursuing this direction, in this paper, we provide rank conditions on the dual solution matrix under which we can conclude that the underlying robust performance is never attained. In particular, a set of uncertain parameters that violates the specified performance can be computed. These results come from block-moment matrix structure of the dual variable, which is consistent with the recent results on polynomial optimization. This particular structure enables us to make good use of simultaneous diagonalizability property of commuting diagonalizable matrices so that the sound rank conditions for the exactness verification can be obtained

Robust Performance Analysis of Uncertain LTI Systems: Dual LMI Approach and Verifications for Exactness

This paper addresses robust performance analysis problems of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems affected by real parametric uncertainties. These problems, known also as a special class of structured singular value computation problems, are inherently intractable (NP-hard problems). As such intensive research effort has been made to obtain computationally tractable and less conservative analysis conditions, where linear matrix inequality (LMI) plays an important. Nevertheless, since LMI-based conditions are expected to be conservative in general, it is often the case that we cannot conclude anything if the LMI at hand turns out to be infeasible. This motivates us to consider the dual of the LMI and examine the structure of the dual solution. By pursuing this direction, in this paper, we provide rank conditions on the dual solution matrix under which we can conclude that the underlying robust performance is never attained. In particular, a set of uncertain parameters that violates the specified performance can be computed. These results come from block-moment matrix structure of the dual variable, which is consistent with the recent results on polynomial optimization. This particular structure enables us to make good use of simultaneous diagonalizability property of commuting diagonalizable matrices so that the sound rank conditions for the exactness verification can be obtained

Developmental Fates of Axillary Buds as a Major Determinant for the Pattern of Life History in Lolium

The architecture of a grass population is determined by the spatial distribution and morphology of tillers. The demographic and phase changes of tillers were compared between an annual-like (Progrow) and perennial (Ruanui) lines of Loliumspecies. We investigated the developmental fate of axillary buds for 57 weeks after germination (WAG) under a constant condition. In general, a high production of seeds is positively correlated with the annual habit in plants. A high production of seeds was highly associated with % reproductive tillers in annual¬like Progrow, which resulted from the death of non-reproductive or vegetative tillers before heading. However, no such tendency was observed in perennial Ruanui. This showed that the death of tillers is genetically regulated to contribute to the maximum success in fitness depending on the longevity. In addition, % reproductive tillers was distinctly reduced during the following regrowth in Ruanui, suggesting that a phase change in the tiller system took places during the growth. Microscopic observations of quiescent axillary buds showed that a phase change from reproductive to vegetative occurred at maturity in Ruanui but not in Progrow. As a result, numerous ears developed in Ruanui plants only when they were vernalized after first maturation (30 WAG), showing that the vernalized state gradually diminishes with time in Ruanui. Thus, the present results confirmed that the differential regulation in the develop¬mental fate of axillary buds actually plays a role for determining the pattern of life history in Lolium

Life Cycle and Genetic Diversity of Symplocarpus nipponicus (Araceae), an Endangered Species in Japan

Symplocarpus nipponicus, a member of the Araceae family, is an endangered plant in several prefectures in Japan. For the conservation of this wild species, we investigated the morphology, life cycle, and genetic diversity of three wild populations. By fixed-point observation over several years, we found that it takes at least four years for the plant to set the inflorescences consisting of spadices and spathes, and another two years for it to set mature seeds. To examine the genetic diversity in the wild population, we developed 11 novel microsatellite markers and investigated the genetic variation in three populations in Kyoto Prefecture: Ayabe, Hanase, and Momoi. The Ayabe population carried less genetic variation than the other two areas, suggesting the isolation of the habitat and thus a higher risk of extinction. Our results provide basic knowledge of the ecological aspects of S. nipponicus, as well as molecular techniques for the assessment of its genetic diversity, and thus are useful for the conservation of this endangered species

Allelic Diversification at the C (OsC1) Locus of Wild and Cultivated Rice: Nucleotide Changes Associated With Phenotypes

Divergent phenotypes are often detected in domesticated plants despite the existence of invariant phenotypes in their wild forms. One such example in rice is the occurrence of varying degrees of apiculus coloration due to anthocyanin pigmentation, which was previously reported to be caused by a series of alleles at the C locus. The present study reveals, on the basis of comparison of its maps, that the C gene appears to be the rice homolog (OsC1) of maize C1, which belongs to the group of R2R3-Myb factors. Two different types of deletions causing a frameshift were detected in the third exon, and both of the deleted nucleotides corresponded to the positions of putative base-contacting residues, suggesting that the Indica and Japonica types carry loss-of-function mutations with independent origins. In addition, replacement substitutions were frequently detected in OsC1 of strains carrying the previously defined C alleles. Molecular population analysis revealed that 17 haplotypes were found in 39 wild and cultivated rices, and the haplotypes of most cultivated forms could be classified into one of three distinct groups, with few shared haplotypes among taxa, including Indica and Japonica types. The genealogy of the OsC1 gene suggests that allelic diversification causing phenotypic change might have resulted from mutations in the coding region rather than from recombination between preexisting alleles. The McDonald and Kreitman test revealed that the changes in amino acids might be associated with selective forces acting on the lineage of group A whose haplotypes were carried by most Asian cultivated forms. The results regarding a significant implication for genetic diversity in landraces of rice are also discussed