Cycloparaphenylene Double Nanohoop: Structure, Lamellar Packing, and Encapsulation of C60 in the Solid State

A new member of the cycloparaphenylene double-nanohoop family was synthesized. Its π-framework features two oval cavities that display different shapes depending on the crystallization conditions. Incorporation of the peropyrene bridge within the nanoring cycles via bay-regions alleviates steric effects and thus allows 1:1 complexation with C60 in the solid state. This nanocarbon adopts a lamellar packing motif, and our results suggest that the structural adjustment of this double nanohoop could enable its use in supramolecular and semiconductive materials

Codeposition of Platinum and Gold on Nickel Wire Electrodes via Galvanic Replacement Reactions for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Alcohols

Codeposition of Pt and Au on Ni wire was performed using a simple treatment of immersing Ni wire in aqueous solutions containing both K₂PtCl₄ and HAuCl₄. For evaluating the electrochemical properties of the thus-prepared electrodes, cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of 1.0 M ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH aqueous solutions were recorded. Compared with Pt- or Au-deposited Ni wire electrodes prepared by treating Ni wire in aqueous solutions of a single component, e.g., 1.0 mM K₂PtCl₄ or 1.0 mM HAuCl₄, a noteworthy increase in the electrocatalytic current was observed for the oxidation of ethanol with a PtAu-codeposited Ni (PtAu/Ni) wire electrode even when it was prepared in an aqueous solution containing both 0.10 mM K₂PtCl₄ and 0.10 mM HAuCl₄. In addition, the shape and the peak potentials of CVs recorded using PtAu/Ni wire electrodes were found to be different from those recorded with the Pt- or Au-deposited Ni wire electrodes. Because the CV responses typical of the PtAu/Ni wire electrodes were observed even when a PtAu/Ni wire electrode was prepared in an aqueous solution containing both 0.010 mM K₂PtCl₄ and 1.0 mM HAuCl₄, it is considered that a small amount of Pt was effectively modified or incorporated and affected the electrochemical properties significantly. The CV results for ethanol oxidation were compared with those for the electrocatalytic oxidations of methanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol. Besides, the CV results recorded with the present PtAu/Ni wire electrodes are discussed in comparison with some previous results obtained using other PtAu nanoelectrocatalysts

First report of the nematode Leidynema appendiculata from Periplaneta fuliginosa

The smokybrown cockroach Periplaneta fuliginosa has spread all over the world, and is now one of the most undesired inva- sive alien pests in Japan. Because cockroaches are generally infected by thelastomatid nematodes, they are being distributed around the world with their parasitic nematodes. Nothing is known about parasitic nematode species in P. fuliginosa differences, or similarity of the parasite’s population structures between the different countries of the host cockroaches. Here we investi- gated the P. fuliginosa invasive to Japan and found that 100% of individuals were infected with one nematode species. According to the morphology and the sequence of the D2/D3 expansion segment of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene, we identified the para- site as Leidynema appendiculata. This nematode reproduced by haplodiploidy and its developmental timing under various con- ditions is quite divergent. Their population in the hindgut of P. fuliginosa was controlled with a few adult females and a male. This is the first report of the thelastomatid nematode isolated from the smokybrown cockroach, and is the basis for our future research examining the origin, distribution route and immigration history of the cockroach and the impact of L. appendiculata on native Japanese cockroach species

Modification with platinum of silver-deposited nickel wire electrodes for electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols

A silver-deposited nickel (Ag/Ni) wire electrode was prepared via a galvanic replacement reaction between Ag⁺ and Ni wire in aqueous solution. It was then found that the Ag/Ni wire electrode could be modified with Pt simply by treating it in an aqueous solution of K₂PtCl₄. Although the deposition of Ag on Ni wire was limited in amount, forming Ag deposits less than 100 nm in size, a considerable increase in the electrocatalytic currents for the oxidation of alcohols could be observed after further modification of the Ag/Ni wire electrodes with Pt. This is in contrast to the fact that it was difficult to produce sufficient electrocatalytic response by modifying Ni wire with Pt directly via a simple galvanic replacement between PtCl₄²⁻ and Ni wire. Thus, the prior deposition of Ag was found to strongly promote modification with Pt via a simple stepwise treatment using AgNO₃ and K₂PtCl₄. This approach should be effective in modifying various Ni materials with Pt, including Ni microparticles

Imprinting spatial helicity structure of vector vortex beam on spin texture in semiconductors

We present the transfer of the spatially variant polarization of topologically structured light to the spatial spin texture in a semiconductor quantum well. The electron spin texture, which is a circular pattern with repeating spin-up and spin-down states whose repetition rate is determined by the topological charge, is directly excited by a vector vortex beam with a spatial helicity structure. The generated spin texture efficiently evolves into a helical spin wave pattern owing to the spin-orbit effective magnetic fields in the persistent spin helix state by controlling the spatial wave number of the excited spin mode. By tuning the repetition length and azimuthal angle, we simultaneously generate helical spin waves with opposite phases by a single beam.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

COMPARISON OF THE ABUNDANCE OF PREY ANIMALS FOR ORIENTAL STORKS IN A BIOTOPE AND LOTUS FIELDS IN NARUTO CITY, TOKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN.

本研究では，鳴門市に造成されたビオトープが，コウノトリの餌場として機能するかを明らかにするため，周囲の飛来回数の異なるレンコン田とコウノトリの餌生物量を比較した．餌生物は，すくい採りとペットボトルトラップによって採集した．調査の結果，ビオトープで採集された餌生物の湿重量は，コウノトリの飛来回数が多いレンコン田より小さかった．レンコン田で採集された生物は，アメリカザリガニやウシガエルといった外来種が大半を占めた．これらの生物はコウノトリの主要な餌となり得るが，在来種を捕食するなど，在来生態系に負の影響を与えることが懸念される．今後のビオトープ管理においては，在来種の生息に適した環境づくりとともに，外来種の侵入・拡大防止を両立する取り組みが重要であると考えられた．In order to clarify whether the biotope created in Naruto City functions as a feeding sites for storks, this study compared the amount of stork prey in a lotus root field and a biotope created with different numbers of storks flying to the field. Prey organisms were collected by scooping and plastic bottle traps. The results showed that the wet weight of prey organisms collected in the biotope was smaller than that in the lotus root fields, where the storks visited more frequently. The majority of organisms collected in the lotus root fields were non-native species such as American crayfish and bullfrogs. These organisms are the main food source for storks, but there is concern that they may have a negative impact on native ecosystems, for example, by preying on native species. In future biotope management, it is important to create an environment suitable for habitat of native species as well as to prevent the invasion and spread of non-native species

Epidemiology of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus in Goiás, central Brazil: re-evaluation based on G-L intergenic region

Abstract Background Vampire bat related rabies harms both livestock industry and public health sector in central Brazil. The geographical distributions of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus variants are delimited by mountain chains. These findings were elucidated by analyzing a high conserved nucleoprotein gene. This study aims to elucidate the detailed epidemiological characters of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus by phylogenetic methods based on 619-nt sequence including unconserved G-L intergenic region. Findings The vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus isolates divided into 8 phylogenetic lineages in the previous nucleoprotein gene analysis were divided into 10 phylogenetic lineages with significant bootstrap values. The distributions of most variants were reconfirmed to be delimited by mountain chains. Furthermore, variants in undulating areas have narrow distributions and are apparently separated by mountain ridges. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the 619-nt sequence including G-L intergenic region is more useful for a state-level phylogenetic analysis of rabies virus than the partial nucleoprotein gene, and simultaneously that the distribution of vampire bat-transmitted RABV variants tends to be separated not only by mountain chains but also by mountain ridges, thus suggesting that the diversity of vampire bat-transmitted RABV variants was delimited by geographical undulations