Alignment properties of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal on the rubbed substrates.

The orientation characteristics of FNLC-919, a new material with a ferroelectric nematic phase at room temperature, were investigated. Its alignment characteristics varied greatly depending on the relative rubbing direction on both substrates of a liquid crystal cell. In a cell where the two substrates were rubbed in the same direction, they were arranged homogeneously along the rubbing direction without domains or defects in the ferroelectric nematic phase.

Electro-optical synaptic characteristics of ferroelectric liquid crystals for artificial intelligence.

We propose electro-optical synaptic devices using surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals. Typical synaptic characteristics were observed for varying pulse time intervals, numbers of pulses, and signal voltages. Plasticity only occurred when pulses were applied at intervals shorter than the response time of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Management of overwintering pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus with colonized Beauveria bassiana ERL836.

Monochamus alternatus is a major forest pest that spreads pine wilt disease in pine trees as a vector of pine wilt nematodes. Chemical insecticides used as fumigants to control overwintering M. alternatus in forests are highly toxic to the environment, so we investigated entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana ERL836 as an eco-friendly and alternative material to control overwintering M.

Hacking detection based on the elastic properties of liquid crystals in different phases.

We present a security device that can detect and block hacking using the characteristics of liquid crystals. This device is based on a liquid crystal cell consisting of a uniformly aligned layer and a photo-alignment layer. To inscribe a pattern, the device is illuminated when the liquid crystal is in the smectic phase.

Tuning photoluminescence spectra of MoS with liquid crystals.

The photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectra of molybdenum disulfide (MoS) can be tuned with liquid crystals. A nematic liquid crystal, 5CB, was aligned in a zigzag direction on an MoS monolayer flake. The PL and A Raman mode peaks of the MoS monolayer were shifted by 46 meV and 2 cm, respectively, owing to the interaction between MoS and the liquid crystal.

Bidirectional rotation control of a carbon fiber in nematic liquid crystal using AC electric field.

Colloidal particles dispersed in nematic liquid crystals are aligned along the orientation that minimizes the elastic free energy. Through applying an electric field to a nematic colloidal system, the orientation of the director can change. Consequently, colloidal particles realign to minimize the total free energy, which is the sum of the elastic and electric free energies.

Characterization of T-DNA insertion mutants with decreased virulence in the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana JEF-007.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a major agricultural pest that reduces crop quality and value. Chemical pesticides have contributed to pest management, but resistance to these chemicals has significantly limited their use. Alternative strategies with different modes of action, such as entomopathogenic fungi, are therefore of great interest.

Production of antibacterial Bombyx mori cecropin A in mealworm-pathogenic Beauveria bassiana ERL1170.

Efforts are underway to produce antimicrobial peptides in yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), which can be developed as more effective and safer animal feed additives. In this work, we expressed Bombyx mori (Bm) cecropin-A in mealworms by the infection of transformed entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana ERL1170. The active domain of Bm cecropin A gene was tagged with a signal sequence of B.

Mapping of the atomic lattice orientation of a graphite flake using macroscopic liquid crystal texture.

The electronic properties of graphene depend critically on its lattice orientation and edge type. However, it is very difficult to identify them, and they are accessible only using sophisticated tools. In this paper, we show an easy and reliable way to reveal the lattice orientation and edge type of graphene and graphite flakes, i.

Characteristics of localized surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured Au patterns for biosensing.

Periodic arrays of pseudotetrahedal-shaped gold nanoparticles were fabricated using nanosphere lithography (NSL) and examined for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The dependence of the LSPR on particle size of the periodic gold nanostructures was explored for potential application as a new biosensor. With increasing size and height of the Au nanoparticles, the absorption peak of the LSPR shifts to the longer wavelength and becomes relatively sharper.