High Catalytic Activity of Heteropolynuclear Cyanide Complexes Containing Cobalt and Platinum Ions: Visible-Light Driven Water Oxidation

A near-stoichiometric amount of O_2 was evolved as observed in the visible-light irradiation of an aqueous buffer (pH 8) containing [Ru^(II)(2,2′-bipyridine)_3] as a photosensitizer, Na_2S_2O_8 as a sacrificial electron acceptor, and a heteropolynuclear cyanide complex as a water-oxidation catalyst. The heteropolynuclear cyanide complexes exhibited higher catalytic activity than a polynuclear cyanide complex containing only Co^(III) or Pt^(IV) ions as C-bound metal ions. The origin of the synergistic effect between Co and Pt ions is discussed in relation to electronic and local atomic structures of the complexes

Helicobacter cinaedi-associated Carotid Arteritis

A 65-year-old Japanese man with bilateral carotid atherosclerosis presented with right neck pain and fever. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography suggested carotid arteritis, and carotid ultrasonography showed an unstable plaque. The patient developed a cerebral embolism, causing a transient ischemic attack. Helicobacter cinaedi was detected in blood culture, and H. cinaedi-associated carotid arteritis was diagnosed. Empirical antibiotic therapy was administered for 6 weeks. After readmission for recurrent fever, he was treated another 8 weeks. Although the relationship between H. cinaedi infection and atherosclerosis development remains unclear, the atherosclerotic changes in our patient’s carotid artery might have been attributable to H. cinaedi infection

VLBI Detections of Parsec-Scale Nonthermal Jets in Radio-Loud Broad Absorption Line Quasars

We conducted radio detection observations at 8.4 GHz for 22 radio-loud broad absorption line (BAL) quasars, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Third Data Release, by a very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) technique. The VLBI instrument we used was developed by the Optically ConnecTed Array for VLBI Exploration project (OCTAVE), which is operated as a subarray of the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN). We aimed at selecting BAL quasars with nonthermal jets suitable for measuring their orientation angles and ages by subsequent detailed VLBI imaging studies to evaluate two controversial issues of whether BAL quasars are viewed nearly edge-on, and of whether BAL quasars are in a short-lived evolutionary phase of quasar population. We detected 20 out of 22 sources using the OCTAVE baselines, implying brightness temperatures greater than 10^5 K, which presumably come from nonthermal jets. Hence, BAL outflows and nonthermal jets can be generated simultaneously in these central engines. We also found four inverted-spectrum sources, which are interpreted as Doppler-beamed, pole-on-viewed relativistic jet sources or young radio sources: single edge-on geometry cannot describe all BAL quasars. We discuss the implications of the OCTAVE observations for investigations for the orientation and evolutionary stage of BAL quasars.Comment: 10 pages, no figure, 3 tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Swelling behavior of butyl and chloroprene rubber composites with poly (sodium acrylate) showing high water-uptake

金沢大学理工研究域フロンティア工学系Water‐swellable rubber (WSR) comprises super absorbent polymer (SAP) embedded in a rubber matrix and has been commonly used as sealants and caulks, in which high water uptake and sufficient mechanical strength are required. In this work, we investigated the swelling behavior and mechanical properties of rubber composites comprising SAP powders. A reinforcement effect is caused by the SAP particles, which are described using a modified Guth–Gold equation up to the semi‐dilute region. The complex modulus shows upper deviation at high SAP content owing to network formation between SAP particles. The swelling force of the WSR is explained by the amount of SAP particles in the surface layer of the matrix up to the semi‐dilute region. The formation of the SAP network leads to an appreciable increase in the swelling force of WSR, as SAP particles embedded in the matrix also contribute to the swelling of WSR. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48535.Embargo Period 12 month