Twist glass transition in regioregulated poly(3-alkylthiophenes)s

The molecular structure and dynamics of regioregulated poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT), and poly(3-dodecylthiophene) (P3DDT) were investigated using Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR), solid state $^{13}$C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. In the DSC measurements, the endothermic peak was obtained around 340 K in P3BT, and assigned to enthalpy relaxation that originated from the glass transition of the thiophene ring twist in crystalline phase from results of FTIR, $^{13}$C cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR, $^{13}$C spin-lattice relaxation time measurements, and centerband-only detection of exchange (CODEX) measurements. We defined this transition as {\it twist-glass transition}, which is analogous to the plastic crystal - glassy crystal transition.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables. Phys.Rev.B, in pres

Engineering Transition Metal Layers for Long Lasting Anionic Redox in Layered Sodium Manganese Oxide

Oxygen-redox-based-layered cathode materials are of great importance in realizing high-energy-density sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) that can satisfy the demands of next-generation energy storage technologies. However, Mn-based-layered materials (P2-type Na-poor Nay[AxMn1−x]O2, where A = alkali ions) still suffer from poor reversibility during oxygen-redox reactions and low conductivity. In this work, the dual Li and Co replacement is investigated in P2-type-layered NaxMnO2. Experimentally and theoretically, it is demonstrated that the efficacy of the dual Li and Co replacement in Na0.6[Li0.15Co0.15Mn0.7]O2 is that it improves the structural and cycling stability despite the reversible Li migration from the transition metal layer during de-/sodiation. Operando X-ray diffraction and ex situ neutron diffraction analysis prove that the material maintains a P2-type structure during the entire range of Na+ extraction and insertion with a small volume change of ≈4.3%. In Na0.6[Li0.15Co0.15Mn0.7]O2, the reversible electrochemical activity of Co3+/Co4+, Mn3+/Mn4+, and O2-/(O2)n- redox is identified as a reliable mechanism for the remarkable stable electrochemical performance. From a broader perspective, this study highlights a possible design roadmap for developing cathode materials with optimized cationic and anionic activities and excellent structural stabilities for SIBs.</p

青森・岩手県境不法投棄産業廃棄物の処理計画に関する住民意識調査

We carried out the attitude survey of residents of Aomori and Hachinohe to investigate the problems concerning the transaction plan of the industrial waste disposed illegally in Aomori-Iwate prefectural border. As the result of this survey we found that we must completely survey an environment with surrounding area of the treatment facilities and disclose information to habitants in order to advance the transaction scheme of industrial waste. Additionally we must make the best use of the industrial waste,so it becomes easy to obtain the understanding of surrounding habitants

Conversion to complete resection with mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab or cetuximab based on K‐RAS status for unresectable colorectal liver metastasis (BECK study): Long‐term results of survival

[Background/Purpose]To investigate the long‐term outcome and entire treatment course of patients with technically unresectable CRLM who underwent conversion hepatectomy and to examine factors associated with conversion to hepatectomy. [Methods]Recurrence and survival data with long‐term follow‐up were analyzed in the cohort of a multi‐institutional phase II trial for technically unresectable colorectal liver metastases (the BECK study). [Results]A total of 22/12 patients with K‐RAS wild‐type/mutant tumors were treated with mFOLFOX6 + cetuximab/bevacizumab. The conversion R0/1 hepatectomy rate was significantly higher in left‐sided primary tumors than in right‐sided tumors (75.0% vs 30.0%, P = .022). The median follow‐up was 72.6 months. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate in the entire cohort was 48.1%. In patients who underwent R0/1 hepatectomy (n = 21), the 5‐year RFS rate and OS rate were 19.1% and 66.3%, respectively. At the final follow‐up, seven patients had no evidence of disease, five were alive with disease, and 20 had died from their original cancer. All 16 patients who achieved 5‐year survival underwent conversion hepatectomy, and 11 of them underwent further resection for other recurrences (median: 2, range: 1‐4). [Conclusions]Conversion hepatectomy achieved a similar long‐term survival to the results of previous studies in initially resectable patients, although many of them experienced several post‐hepatectomy recurrences. Left‐sided primary was found to be the predictor for conversion hepatectomy

Promotion of Intestinal Peristalsis by Bifidobacterium spp. Capable of Hydrolysing Sennosides in Mice

BACKGROUND:While there are a variety of identifiable causes of constipation, even idiopathic constipation has different possible mechanisms. Sennosides, the main laxative constituents of Daio, an ancient Kampo medicine, are prodrugs that are converted to an active principle, rheinanthrone, by intestinal microbiota. In this study, we aimed to determine the sennoside hydrolysis ability of lactic acid bacterial strains and bifidobacteria in the intestine and to investigate their effect on intestinal peristalsis in mice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:A total of 88 lactic acid bacterial strains and 47 bifidobacterial strains were evaluated for their ability to hydrolyze sennosides. Our results revealed that 4 strains, all belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, had strong sennoside hydrolysis ability, exhibiting a decrease of >70% of sennoside content. By thin-layer chromatography analysis, rheinanthrone was detected in the medium cultured with B. pseudocatenulatum LKM10070 and B. animalis subsp. lactis LKM512. The fecal sennoside contents significantly (P<0.001) decreased upon oral administration of these strains as compared with the control. Intestinal peristalsis activity was measured by the moved distance of the charcoal powder administered orally. The distance travelled by the charcoal powder in LKM512-treated mice was significantly longer than that of control (P<0.05). Intestinal microbiota were analysed by real-time PCR and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The diversity of the intestinal microbiota was reduced by kanamycin treatment and the diversity was not recovered by LKM512 treatment. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:We demonstrated that intestinal peristalsis was promoted by rheinanthrone produced by hydrolysis of sennoside by strain LKM512 and LKM10070