Comparison between Abel test stability and thermal decomposition behavior of nitrocellulose

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nitrocellulose (NC) is prone to spontaneous decomposition with exothermic heat release and thus is generally evaluated for stability during the storage...     

Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

High-throughput characterization of local conductivity of Nd0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3O7−δ thin film by the low-temperature scanning microwave microscope

We developed a scanning microwave microscope (SμM) designed for high-throughput electric-property screening as well as for rapid construction of electronic phase diagrams at low temperatures. As a sensor probe, we used a high-Qλ/4 coaxial cavity resonator to which a thin needle with ball-tip end was attached. The sensor module was mounted on the low-temperature XYZ stage, which allowed us to map out the change of resonance frequency and quality factor due to the local tip-sample interaction at low temperatures. From the measurements of combinatorial thin films, such as Ti_1−xCo_xO_2−δ and Nd_0.9Ca_0.1Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (NCBCO), it was demonstrated that this SμM system has enough performance for the high-throughput characterization of sample conductance under variable temperature conditions.     

New Plasmon Waveguides Composed of Twin Metal Wedges with a Nano Gap

We have numerically shown the existence of coupled wedge plasmons (CWPs) which propagates along a nano gap of a twin metal wedge. The CWPs are formed by wedge plasmons which can interact with each other. The dispersion relations of the wavenumber, propagation distance, and beam area of CWPs, are described and show that the characteristics of CWPs are similar to those of wedge plasmons and of gap plasmons. We also propose a new plasmon waveguide composed of twin metal wedges with a nano gap.     

Characteristic values of the integral equation satisfied by the Mathieu functions and its application to a system with chirality-pair interaction on a one-dimensional lattice

We investigate low-temperature behaviors of a system with chirality-pair interaction on a one-dimensional lattice. In the course of the investigation, we evaluate asymptotic forms of the characteristic values of the integral equation satisfied by the Mathieu functions. It turns out that the low-temperature behavior of correlation length of the chirality-pair correlation function is different from the one for the Ising model of spin ±1 but akin to the one for the Ising model of infinite spin.     

Day-side auroral signatures based on simultaneous, coordinatedobservations at Svalbard and Greenland

The height distribution of the dayside cusp aurora and the relation between optical emissions and net downward electron energy flux are discussed. These two important characteristics of day-side cusp aurora are still unknown. It is instructive to compare particle flux and optical luminosity because these two quantities should be proportional if the cusp aurora is caused by electron impact, as has been found for nighttime aurora in the oval. Furthermore, there should then be a direct relation between auroral altitudes and particle energy. Based on coordinated auroral observations at Svalbard and Greenland, together with simultaneous, overhead F-9 satellite measurements, these quantities have been evaluated     

Intrinsic field theory of chemical reactions

An intrinsic principle of least action is presented for the intrinsic dynamism of chemical reactions. Then, as the stationary trajectory, a meta-IRC (intrinsic reaction coordinate) draws a geodesic curve in a rigged Riemannian space. This establishes a geodesic law for the intrinsic dynamism. Moreover, a diagrammatic perturbation theory is formulated for the intrinsic dynamism, and a dynamical interaction between a chemically reacting system and a background system is investigated. Then, the structural stability of the system is discussed using a new concept of the dynamical potential field. An example is given in order to elucidate the present theory.Dedicated to Prof. Hermann Hartmann on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

A hydrogen rearrangement of formamidine and the solvent effects thereupon

The nature of the 1,3 hydrogen rearrangement of formamidine (H₂N-CH=NH) and the solvent effects on that reaction are studied with ab initio molecular orbital calculations on the basis of the supermolecule model. The reaction path and the motion of the migrating hydrogen atom are traced by using the concept of the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC). Four types of orientation of one water molecule to formamidine at the transition state of reaction are examined and the results are discussed from the standpoint of the orbital interactions.