Symmetry and Nonstoichiometry as Possible Origin of Ferromagnetism in Nanoscale oxides

We show through density functional theory calculations that extended magnetic states can inherently occur in oxides as the size of the crystals is reduced down to the nanometer scale even when they do not explicitly include intrinsic defects. This is because in nanoscale systems crystallographically perfect crystallites paradoxically result in nonstoichiometric compositions owing to the finite number of constituting atoms. In these structurally perfect but stoichiometrically imperfect nanocrystallites, the spin-triplet state is found to be more stable than the spin-singlet state, giving rise to an extended spin distribution that expands over the entire crystal. According to this picture, long-range magnetic order arises from the combined effect of crystal symmetry and nonstoichiometry that can coexist exclusively in nanoscale systems. The idea can also give reasonable explanations for the unprecedented ferromagnetic features observed commonly in nanoscale oxides, including ubiquity, anisotropy, and diluteness.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Photochemical Reactions of Ge-Related Centers in Germanosilicate Glass Preparted by Sol-Gel Process (SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY-Amorphous Materials)

Germanosilicate glasses are prepared by a sol-gel method and the UV-photosensitivity of glasses is investigated by optical absorption, ESR, and photoluminescence measurements. Large changes in optical absorption are observed for the sol-gel-derived glass by the ultraviolet laser irradiation; a decrease in 5-eV band and increases in absorption around 4.5 and > 5.7 eV. Photoluminescence intensity under 248- nm excitation decreases with an increase in laser fluence and also with decrease in the 5-eV band. This result strongly implies the novel photochemical reaction from Ge2+ to Ge E' induced by excimer laser irradiation

アマモの葉上着生群集の現存量および種組成の葉齢間における変動

沿岸生態系や物質循環において重要な役割を果たしていることが示唆されつつも，葉上着生群集の種の遷移や現存量の経時的な変化を調べた例は少ない。そこで，アマモ葉上に生育する着生群集を採取し，その現存量と種組成を葉ごとに調べ，葉齢間で比較した。その結果，現存量（クロロフィルα，粒状有機炭素・窒素）と細胞数は葉齢が高くなるほどに高密度であり，最も若い葉を基準にするとその差はPOCで最大21倍，細胞数で最大192倍であった。優占種はシアノバクテリアのLeptolyngbya sp.，珪藻類のCocconeis scutellum, Campylopyxis garkeana, Gomphonemataceaeなどであったが，葉齢と優占種の変化には統計的に有意な差は認められなかった。着生群集中のPOCは珪藻類の細胞数と有意な相関が認められたが，全細胞数との間では認められなかった。このことはシアノバクテリアのLeptolyngbya sp. は細胞数で優占したが，細胞体積が珪藻に比べて顕著に小さい（100～700分の1程度）ためにPOCの増加への寄与が小さいことが原因と考えられた。すなわち，葉上着生群集の中で，珪藻類が有機炭素で示される現存量の主体であることが示唆された。さらに，葉齢の高いものはPOC/DWが低く，無機物含量の多い浮泥等がより付着しやすい環境になっていたと考えられる。The development of the epiphytic community on the leaves of Zostera marina was followed by comparing variations in epiphytic organic carbon, chlorophyll a, cell abundance, and species composition between the younger and older leaves. Biomass of epiphytic community on Z. marina depended on leaf age; particulate organic carbon and cell abundance on the older leaves were 21 and 192 times higher than those on the youngest leaves, respectively. The abundant taxa of epiphytic community were Leptolyngbia sp. (Cyanobacteria), Cocconeis scutellum, Campylopyxis garkeana, and Gomphonemataceae (Bacillariophyceae), and the change of species composition of epiphytic community was independent on the leaf age. Significant relation between CHLa and POC showed organic matter on the leaves was consisted of algal cells. The amount of epiphytic POC was well correlated with diatom cell abundance (P<0.1), but not with total cell abundance. The prevalence of diatoms instead of Cyanobacteria on the leaves was shown by both chemical and taxonomic analyses.　Low POC/DW ratios of epiphytic community on the older leaves indicated that inorganic suspended particles were more likely to adhere

An All-Recombinant Protein-Based Culture System Specifically Identifies Hematopoietic Stem Cell Maintenance Factors.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are considered one of the most promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of various blood disorders. However, due to difficulties in establishing stable maintenance and expansion of HSCs in vitro, their insufficient supply is a major constraint to transplantation studies. To solve these problems we have developed a fully defined, all-recombinant protein-based culture system. Through this system, we have identified hemopexin (HPX) and interleukin-1α as responsible for HSC maintenance in vitro. Subsequent molecular analysis revealed that HPX reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species levels within cultured HSCs. Furthermore, bone marrow immunostaining and 3D immunohistochemistry revealed that HPX is expressed in non-myelinating Schwann cells, known HSC niche constituents. These results highlight the utility of this fully defined all-recombinant protein-based culture system for reproducible in vitro HSC culture and its potential to contribute to the identification of factors responsible for in vitro maintenance, expansion, and differentiation of stem cell populations

Comparison of absorption coefficients between accumulated matter on the thalli of Ecklonia kurome and suspended matter in the water surrounding Ecklonia bed

海水中の懸濁物と，海藻の葉上堆積物は，ともに藻体表面に到達する光を質的かつ量的に変化させ，海藻の生産力に多大な影響を及ぼす。本研究では内湾域である広島湾における大型褐藻クロメの葉上堆積物とクロメ群落直近の海水中の懸濁物について，両者の光吸収係数を統一的手法（QFT法）に基づいて把握し，その特性を比較した。懸濁物と堆積物の全体の光吸収特性に明瞭な差は認められず，葉上堆積物の多くが沈降した懸濁物によって構成されていたことが推察された。懸濁物・堆積物ともに，デトリタスや微細藻類など多様な要素により構成されており，光合成有効波長域（400-700nm）のうち，短波長側の光は微細藻類の色素以外のデトリタスなどが，長波長側の光は微細藻類の光合成色素が吸収し，それぞれクロメの光吸収に大きく影響すると考えられた。Light is the primary limiting factor for macroalgal production. Understanding not only the quantity but also the quality of light reaching algal thalli is important to the success of algal recovery and sustainability. This study explores the optical properties of accumulated matter on the thalli of Ecklonia kurome and suspended matter in the water surrounding an Ecklonia bed in Hiroshima Bay, based on spectral absorption coefficient estimated by the quantitative filter technique (QFT) method. According to the experiments, minimal difference of optical properties between suspended matter and accumulated matter was recognized. It is assumed that suspended matter in the water formed the accumulated matter on the thalli of E. kurome. Both suspended matter and accumulated matter were composed of multiple components, various kinds of microalgae, detritus and inorganic matter. In the wavelength-specific photosynthetically active radiation (400-700nm), detritus and inorganic matter formed the primary absorber of blue light, while microalgal pigments was the primary absorber of red light. Each absorber in suspended and accumulated matter might attenuate specific wavelength and change the quality of light reaching the thalli of E. kurome

AKARI infrared imaging of reflection nebulae IC4954 and IC4955

We present the observations of the reflection nebulae IC4954 and IC4955 region with the Infrared Camera (IRC) and the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) on board the infrared astronomical satellite AKARI during its performance verification phase. We obtained 7 band images from 7 to 160um with higher spatial resolution and higher sensitivities than previous observations. The mid-infrared color of the S9W (9um) and L18W (18um) bands shows a systematic variation around the exciting sources. The spatial variation in the mid-infrared color suggests that the star-formation in IC4954/4955 is progressing from south-west to north-east. The FIS data also clearly resolve two nebulae for the first time in the far-infrared. The FIS 4-band data from 65um to 160um allow us to correctly estimate the total infrared luminosity from the region, which is about one sixth of the energy emitted from the existing stellar sources. Five candidates for young stellar objects have been detected as point sources for the first time in the 11um image. They are located in the red S9W to L18W color regions, suggesting that current star-formation has been triggered by previous star-formation activities. A wide area map of the size of about 1 x 1 (deg^2) around the IC4954/4955 region was created from the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey data. Together with the HI 21cm data, it suggests a large hollow structure of a degree scale, on whose edge the IC4954/4955 region has been created, indicating star formation over three generations in largely different spatial scales.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ AKARI special issu