Crystal Polymorphism of Curdlan Propionate: 6-Fold versus 5-Fold Helices

The molecular and crystal structures of curdlan propionate (CDPr) were examined by the X-ray fiber diffraction methods combined with energy calculations. CDPr forms two different crystal structures (CDPr forms I and II) depending on annealing conditions: solvent-annealing yields CDPr form I, whereas thermal-annealing gives CDPr form II. In CDPr form I, the 6/1 helix is packed in the hexagonal unit cell with a = b = 1.154 nm, and c (fiber axis) = 2.287 nm. In the case of CDPr form II, the 5/1 helix is packed in the pseudohexagonal cell with a = b = 1.175 nm, and c (fiber axis) = 1.859 nm. The crystal transition from CDPr forms I to II occurs by thermal-annealing at temperatures ≥ 160 °C.

Contemporary evolution of host plant range expansion in an introduced herbivorous beetle Ophraella communa

Host range expansion of herbivorous insects is a key event in ecological speciation and insect pest management. However, the mechanistic processes are relatively unknown because it is difficult to observe the ongoing host range expansion in natural population. In this study, we focused on the ongoing host range expansion in introduced populations of the ragweed leaf beetle, Ophraella communa, to estimate the evolutionary process of host plant range expansion of a herbivorous insect. In the native range of North America, O. communa does not utilize Ambrosia trifida, as a host plant, but this plant is extensively utilized in the beetle's introduced range. Larval performance and adult preference experiments demonstrated that native O. communa beetles show better survival on host plant individuals from introduced plant populations than those from native plant populations and they also oviposit on the introduced plant, but not on the native plant. Introduced O. communa beetles showed significantly higher performance on and preference for both introduced and native A. trifida plants, when compared with native O. communa. These results indicate the contemporary evolution of host plant range expansion of introduced O. communa and suggest that the evolutionary change of both the host plant and the herbivorous insect involved in the host range expansion.

Structural disorder, anisotropic micro-strain and cation vacancies in thermo-electric lead chalcogenides

Structural disorder, cation defects and anisotropic microstrain is quantified in the deceptively simple rock salt lead chalcogenides, PbX (X = S, Se, Te), based on high-resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction analysis.

A new approach for the facile preparation of metal–organic framework composites directly contacting with metal nanoparticles through arc plasma deposition

The arc plasma deposition (APD) method is first applied to prepare metal–organic framework (MOF) composites loading metal nanoparticles having a direct contact with MOF.

A significant change in selective adsorption behaviour for ethanol by flexibility control through the type of central metals in a metal-organic framework

We conducted a systematic study of the control of selective adsorption behaviour through the type of central metals in a series of analogous MOFs that show closed-open structural transformations.

Closed–open structural transformations in flexible metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are of interest for potential applications such as separation, because of their complete selectivity for the adsorption of specific guest molecules. Here, we report the control of the adsorption behaviour in a series of flexible MOFs, (H₂dab)[M₂(ox)₃] (H₂dab = 1,4-diammoniumbutane, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, or Mg), having different central metals with analogous crystal structures. We found that a significant change in the selective adsorption behaviour for EtOH over MeCHO and MeCN is caused by the type of central metals, without changes in the crystal structures of all phases (except the Ni compound). A systematic study of adsorption measurements and structural analyses of the analogous MOFs reveals for the first time that the framework flexibility around the central metals of MOFs is truly related to the selective adsorption behaviour.

Control of parental investment changes plastically over time with residual reproductive value

Evolutionary conflict between parents and offspring over parental resource investment is a significant selective force on the traits of both parents and offspring. Empirical studies have shown that for some species, the amount of parental investment is controlled by the parents, whereas in other species, it is controlled by the offspring. The main difference between these two strategies is the residual reproductive value of the parents or opportunities for future reproduction. Therefore, this could explain the patterns of control of parental investment at the species level. However, the residual reproductive value of the parents will change during their lifetime; therefore, parental influence on the amount of investment can be expected to change plastically. Here, we investigated control of parental investment when parents were young and had a high residual reproductive value, compared to when they were old and had a low residual reproductive value using a cross-fostering experiment in the burying beetle Nicrophorus quadripunctatus. We found that parents exert greater control over parental investment when they are young, but parental control is weakened as the parents age. Our results demonstrate that control of parental investment is not fixed, but changes plastically during the parent's lifetime.

Visualizing patterned thin films by grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering coupled with computed tomography

Images of the spatial distribution of nanostructures in thin films were successfully reconstructed by grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) coupled with computed tomography (CT) measurements. As a model sample of inhomogeneous thin films, a thin film was patterned with four characters (F, B, S and L) consisting of nanoparticles of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), Au/Pt and Pt/Au, respectively, on a silicon substrate. The characters each produced respective two-dimensional GISAXS images which reflect the nanoparticle structures and their correlations in the thin film. The application of the GISAXS-CT technique to the characteristic scattering GISAXS intensity of each component enables one to reconstruct the images of each character independently. Moreover, it was found that the patterned images could be reconstructed even from very weak scattered intensities at higherqpositions and the diffuse intensities. These results indicate that the GISAXS-CT method is a powerful tool to obtain distinct reconstruction images detailing the particle size, shape and surface roughness.

Thermoresponsive actuation enabled by permittivity switching in an electrostatically anisotropic hydrogel

Electrostatic repulsion, long used for attenuating surface friction, is not typically employed for the design of bulk structural materials. We recently developed a hydrogel with a layered structure consisting of cofacially oriented electrolyte nanosheets. Because this unusual geometry imparts a large anisotropic electrostatic repulsion to the hydrogel interior, the hydrogel resisted compression orthogonal to the sheets but readily deformed along parallel shear. Building on this concept, here we show a hydrogel actuator that operates by modulating its anisotropic electrostatics in response to changes of electrostatic permittivity associated with a lower critical solution temperature transition. In the absence of substantial water uptake and release, the distance between the nanosheets rapidly expands and contracts on heating and cooling, respectively, so that the hydrogel lengthens and shortens significantly, even in air. An L-shaped hydrogel with an oblique nanosheet configuration can thus act as a unidirectionally proceeding actuator that operates without the need for external physical biases.

Observation of an Orientation Change in Highly Oriented Layer-by-Layer Films of a Ruthenium Complex upon Oxidation Reaction

Layer-by-layer films composed of redox-active ruthenium dimer and Zr(IV) ions were fabricated on an indium tin oxide electrode. The fabricating behavior was monitored by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis absorption spectral measurements. The orientation of the film was also monitored by grazing-incidence small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) measurements, and it has been clarified that this film has a crystalline structure. The peaks obtained by GISAXS were changed upon oxidation reaction, which indicates that a change in the orientation of the ruthenium dimer occurred in the film.

Hybrid materials of Ni NP@MOF prepared by a simple synthetic method

We demonstrate a novel, simple synthetic method for metal (Ni) NPs in a MOF using the partial thermal decomposition of nickel(II) 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate (Ni-MOF-74). The Ni NPs inside the Ni-MOF-74 are several nanometers in size, and the size can be precisely controlled by the heating conditions.

Chemically Locked Bicelles with High Thermal and Kinetic Stability

In situ polymerization of a bicellar mixture composed of a phospholipid and polymerizable surfactants afforded unprecedented stable bicelles. The polymerized composite showed an aligned phase over a wide thermal range (25 to >90 °C) with excellent (2)H quadrupole splitting of the solvent signal, thus implying versatility as an alignment medium for NMR studies. Crosslinking of the surfactants also brought favorable effects on the kinetic stability and alignment morphology of the bicelles. This system could thus offer a new class of scaffolds for biomembrane models.

Use of extension-deformation-based crystallisation of silk fibres to differentiate their functions in nature

β-Sheet crystals play an important role in determining the stiffness, strength, and optical properties of silk and in the exhibition of silk-type-specific functions. It is important to elucidate the structural changes that occur during the stretching of silk fibres to understand the functions of different types of fibres. Herein, we elucidate the initial crystallisation behaviour of silk molecules during the stretching of three types of silk fibres using synchrotron radiation X-ray analysis. When spider dragline silk was stretched, it underwent crystallisation and the alignment of the β-sheet crystals became disordered initially but was later recovered. On the other hand, silkworm cocoon silk did not exhibit further crystallisation, whereas capture spiral silk was predominantly amorphous. Structural analyses showed that the crystallisation of silks following extension deformation has a critical effect on their mechanical and optical properties. These findings should aid the production of artificial silk fibres and facilitate the development of silk-inspired functional materials.

Ferroelectric-like metallic state in electron doped BaTiO3

We report that a ferroelectric-like metallic state with reduced anisotropy of polarization is created by the doping of conduction electrons into BaTiO3, on the bases of x-ray/electron diffraction and infrared spectroscopic experiments. The crystal structure is heterogeneous in nanometer-scale, as enabled by the reduced polarization anisotropy. The enhanced infrared intensity of soft phonon along with the resistivity reduction suggests the presence of unusual electron-phonon coupling, which may be responsible for the emergent ferroelectric structure compatible with metallic state.

Coordination nano-space as stage of hydrogen ortho-para conversion

The ability to design and control properties of nano-sized space in porous coordination polymers (PCPs) would provide us with an ideal stage for fascinating physical and chemical phenomena. We found an interconversion of nuclear-spin isomers for hydrogen molecule H2 adsorbed in a Hofmann-type PCP, {Fe(pz)[Pd(CN)4]} (pz=pyrazine), by the temperature dependence of Raman spectra. The ortho (o)-para (p) conversion process of H2 is forbidden for an isolated molecule. The charge density study using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction reveals the electric field generated in coordination nano-space. The present results corroborate similar findings observed on different systems and confirm that o-p conversion can occur on non-magnetic solids and that electric field can induce the catalytic hydrogen o-p conversion.

An ordered bcc CuPd nanoalloy synthesised via the thermal decomposition of Pd nanoparticles covered with a metal-organic framework under hydrogen gas

Presented here is the synthesis of an ordered bcc copper-palladium nanoalloy, via the decomposition of a Pd nanoparticle@metal-organic framework composite material. In situ XRD measurements were performed in order to understand the mechanism of the decomposition process. This result gives a further perspective into the synthesis of new nanomaterials via metal-organic framework decomposition.

Photoalignment of an azobenzene-based chromonic liquid crystal dispersed in triacetyl cellulose: single-layer alignment films with an exceptionally high order parameter

Single-layer thin alignment films of dye molecules are of growing importance, particularly for state-of-the-art LCD technology. Here we show that a sequential process involving the photoalignment and humidification of a chromonic liquid crystalline azobenzene (brilliant yellow; BY) dispersed in a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) matrix gives a thin alignment film with an exceptionally high order parameter (0.81). Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses of a BY/TAC composite film in each alignment process revealed that brief humidification triggers restructuring of the BY assembly from 1D nematic-like order to anisotropic 2D columnar order, resulting in the dramatic increase in the order parameter.