Photoinduced Electron Transfer System from Cesium Lead Bromide Quantum Dots to Naphthalenediimide Supramolecular Polymers.

Supramolecular polymers (SPs) formed via the stacking of π-conjugated molecules are attractive nanomaterials because of their potential optoelectronic properties derived from the non-covalent interaction between the π-skeletons. Especially, SPs possessing naphthalenediimide (NDI) core units can act as superior electron acceptors due to their deep lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Interaction of such SP with electron donors can realize a charge transfer system, but this has not been established.

High-Temperature Oxidation of NbTi-Bearing Refractory Medium- and High-Entropy Alloys.

The oxidation of six NbTi-i refractory medium- and high-entropy alloys (NbTi + Ta, NbTi + CrTa, NbTi + AlTa, NbTi + AlMo, NbTi + AlMoTa and NbTi + AlCrMo) were investigated at 1000 °C for 20 h. According to our observation, increased Cr content promoted the formation of protective CrNbO and CrO oxides in NbTi + CrTa and NbTi + AlCrMo, enhancing oxidation resistance. The addition of Al resulted in the formation of AlTi-rich oxide in NbTi + AlTa.

[Examination of cases in which senility was determined to be the cause of death in community medicine].

Aim: In community medicine, there are many opportunities in which senility is noted as the cause of death. However, there are no clear criteria for diagnosing senility, and this decision is often left to the judgment of individual doctors. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with senility at our hospital.

Bowl-Shaped Kekulene Analogues: Cycloarenes with two Five-Membered Rings.

Kekulene, a cycloarene composed of 12 fused benzene rings in a circular arrangement, exhibits a highly planar and robust structure. Kekulene has been the subject of investigation into its aromaticity and electronic structure, particularly in relation to the cyclic benzenoid. We have successfully synthesized novel bowl-shaped kekulene analogues with five-membered rings incorporated into the kekulene structure.

Effect of Alloying Elements on the High-Temperature Yielding Behavior of Multicomponent γ'-L1 Alloys.

The exceptional mechanical properties of Ni-based high entropy alloys are due to the presence of ordered L1 (γ') precipitates embedded within a disordered matrix phase. While the strengthening contribution of the γ' phase is generally accepted, there is no consensus on the precise contribution of the individual strengthening mechanisms to the overall strength. In addition, changes in alloy composition influence several different mechanisms, making the assessment of alloying conditions complex.

Effect of serrated grain boundary on tensile and creep properties of a precipitation strengthened high entropy alloy.

In this study, tensile and creep deformation of a high-entropy alloy processed by selective laser melting (SLM) has been investigated; hot ductility drop was identified at first, and the loss of ductility at elevated temperature was associated with intergranular fracture. By modifying the grain boundary morphology from straight to serration, the hot ductility drop issue has been resolved successfully. The serrated grain boundary could be achieved by reducing the cooling rate of solution heat treatment, which allowed the coarsening of L1 structured γ' precipitates to interfere with mobile grain boundaries, resulting in undulation of the grain boundary morphology.

Hierarchical microstructure strengthening in a single crystal high entropy superalloy.

A hierarchical microstructure strengthened high entropy superalloy (HESA) with superior cost specific yield strength from room temperature up to 1,023 K is presented. By phase transformation pathway through metastability, HESA possesses a hierarchical microstructure containing a dispersion of nano size disordered FCC particles inside ordered L1 precipitates that are within the FCC matrix. The average tensile yield strength of HESA from room temperature to 1,023 K could be 120 MPa higher than that of advanced single crystal superalloy, while HESA could still exhibit an elongation greater than 20%.

A strategy of designing high-entropy alloys with high-temperature shape memory effect.

Shape memory effect, the ability to recover a pre-deformed shape on heating, results from a reversible martensitic transformation between austenite and martensite phases. Here, we demonstrate a strategy of designing high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with high-temperature shape memory effect in the CrMnFeCoNi alloy system. First, we calculate the difference in Gibbs free energy between face-centered-cubic (FCC) and hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) phases, and find a substantial increase in thermodynamic equilibrium temperature between the FCC and HCP phases through composition tuning, leading to thermally- and stress-induced martensitic transformations.

An oxidation resistant refractory high entropy alloy protected by CrTaO-based oxide.

Although refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) have shown potentials to be developed as structural materials for elevated temperature applications, most of the reported oxidation behaviours of RHEA were associated with short term exposures for only up to 48 hours, and there is a lack of understanding on the oxidation mechanism of any RHEA to-date. In this work, by using thermogravimetric analysis, isothermal oxidation was conducted on a novel RHEA at 1000 °C and 1100 °C for up to 200 hours, which is an unprecedented testing duration. The external oxide layer strongly influenced the weight gain behaviours, and it consisted of CrTaO-based oxide with some dispersion of AlO and CrO.

The High Temperature Tensile and Creep Behaviors of High Entropy Superalloy.

This article presents the high temperature tensile and creep behaviors of a novel high entropy alloy (HEA). The microstructure of this HEA resembles that of advanced superalloys with a high entropy FCC matrix and L1 ordered precipitates, so it is also named as "high entropy superalloy (HESA)". The tensile yield strengths of HESA surpass those of the reported HEAs from room temperature to elevated temperatures; furthermore, its creep resistance at 982 °C can be compared to those of some Ni-based superalloys.

Synthesis and electrocatalytic performance of atomically ordered nickel carbide (Ni3C) nanoparticles.

Atomically ordered nickel carbide, Ni3C, was synthesized by reduction of nickel cyclopentadienyl (NiCp2) with sodium naphthalide to form Ni clusters coordinated by Cp (Ni-Cp clusters). Ni-Cp clusters were thermally decomposed to Ni3C nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm. The Ni3C nanoparticles showed better performance than Ni nanoparticles and Au nanoparticles in the electrooxidation of sodium borohydride.

Nanostructured LaB6 field emitter with lowest apical work function.

LaB(6) nanowires are ideal for applications as an electrical field-induced ion and electron point source due to their miniature dimensions, low work function, as well as excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. We present here a reliable method to fabricate and assemble single LaB(6) nanowire-based field emitters of different crystal orientations. The atomic arrangement, emission brightness from each crystal plane, and field emission stability have been characterized using field ion microscopy (FIM) and field emission microscopy (FEM).

Syntheses, molecular structures and pH-dependent monomer-dimer equilibria of Dawson alpha2-monotitanium(IV)-substituted polyoxometalates.

The preparation and structural characterization of a novel, solid Brønsted acid based on Dawson alpha2-monotitanium(IV)-substituted polyoxometalates (POMs) are described. The free-acid form of the POM, i.e.

Synthesis, reaction and structure of a highly light-stable silver(I) cluster with an Ag4S4N4 core having a tridentate 4N-morpholyl 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone ligand: use of water-soluble silver(I) carboxylates as a silver(I) source.

A novel neutral tetrameric silver(I) cluster [Ag(mtsc)](4) was obtained from reactions of a tridentate (4)N-morpholyl 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone ligand (N'-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene] morpholine-4-carbothiohydrazide, Hmtsc) and silver(I) sources containing Ag-O bonds (Ag(2)O, Ag(OAc), silver(I) 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (infinity){[Ag(Hpyrrld)](2)}, silver(I) 5-oxo-2-tetrahydrofurancarboxylate (infinity){[Ag(othf)](2)}, and silver(I) complexes with camphanic acid (infinity){[Ag(ca)]} and (infinity){[Ag(ca)(Hca)]}). The cluster was characterized by elemental analysis, TG/DTA, FTIR and single-crystal X-ray analysis in the solid state. The solution properties of the complexes were investigated using solution molecular weight measurement, ESI-MS and solution ((1)H, (13)C and (31)P) NMR spectroscopy.

Novel Ti-O-Ti bonding species constructed in a metal-oxide cluster: reaction products of bis(oxalato)oxotitanate(IV) with the dimeric, 1,2-dititanium(IV)-substituted Keggin polyoxotungstate.

The preparation and structural characterization of a novel Ti-O-Ti bonding complex constructed in a dilacunary alpha-Keggin polyoxometalate (POM), [[{Ti(ox)(H2O)}4(mu-O)3](alpha-PW10O37)](7-) (H2ox = oxalic acid) (1a), are described. The water-soluble, crystalline complex with a formula of K6H[1a].0.

Long-term outcome after primary stenting versus balloon angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

The objective of the present prospective multicenter case-control study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcome (5 years) of primary stenting compared to primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) without stenting (POBA) in patients with acute myocardial infarction at 7 cardiovascular centers in Hokkaido, Japan. Forty-one patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with successful primary stenting (stent group: case) and paired with 41 matched control subjects with acute myocardial infarction treated by successful primary PTCA without stenting (POBA group: control) were analyzed. After 1 year, the stent group had a lower incidence of the combined clinical endpoint (death, rehospitalization due to congestive heart failure, nonfatal myocardial infarction, repeat angioplasty, CABG, or cerebrovascular events) compared to the POBA group (17.

Olmesartan ameliorates insulin sensitivity by modulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cyclic AMP in skeletal muscle.

We have reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in skeletal muscle is one of the determinants of insulin resistance and that the renin-angiotensin system may be related to the regulation of TNF-a in skeletal muscle. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the regulation of TNF-a in vascular smooth muscle cells or monocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cAMP and TNF-a in skeletal muscle in connection with the renin-angiotensin system.

Kallikrein/kinin protects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity by inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis.

Background: Our previous study showed that kallikrein gene transfer protects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and enhances renal function. In this study, we investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of kallikrein/kinin on inflammation and apoptosis induced by gentamicin.

Methods: Rats were injected subcutaneously with gentamicin daily for 10 days and received an intravenous injection of adenovirus carrying the human tissue kallikrein gene or control virus on the first day of gentamicin administration.

Low adiponectin level in young normotensive men with a family history of essential hypertension.

Circulating level of adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived protein, is reduced in states of insulin resistance such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. We have previously shown that hypoadiponectinemia is related to insulin resistance in essential hypertension. Recent studies have shown that normotensive subjects with a positive family history of essential hypertension (FH+) have decreased insulin sensitivity compared to subjects with a negative family history of essential hypertension (FH-).

Correlations of adiponectin level with insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in Japanese male populations.

Objective: Adiponectin, which is secreted specifically by adipose tissue, has been shown to have an anti-atherosclerotic effect and to improve insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the correlations of plasma adiponectin concentration with insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.

Design And Methods: We investigated the relationships of adiponectin concentration with insulin sensitivity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hCRP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in male inhabitants of rural communities in Japan.

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system decreases adipocyte size with improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Objective: Based on results of in vitro studies, it has been hypothesized that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) promotes the recruitment and differentiation of pre-adipocytes and that increased formation of small insulin-sensitive adipocytes counteracts ectopic deposition of lipids, thereby improving insulin sensitivity. We investigated the effect of RAS blockade on insulin sensitivity, adipocyte size, and intramuscular lipid content in fructose-fed rats (FFR) as a model of insulin-resistant hypertension.

Design And Methods: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: those fed a standard chow (control) and those fed a fructose-rich chow for 6 weeks.