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Novel BiS2-based superconductors LaO1−xFxBiS2 prepared by a high-pressure synthesis technique were systematically studied. It was found that the high-pressure annealing strongly shrank the lattice as compared to the LaO1−xFxBiS2 samples prepared by conventional solid-state reaction at ambient pressure. Bulk superconductivity was observed within a wide F concentration range of x = 0.2-0.7. On the basis of those results, we have established a phase diagram of LaO1−xFxBiS2.

The effects of a silicate melt and water on seismic velocities are compared at relatively small fluid fraction (less than 20 vol.%) on the basis of a theoretical model of composite materials, to show that the two fluids are clearly characterized by the velocity ratio Vp/Vs. For a silicate melt, Vp/Vs increases with increasing fluid fraction. When a significant reflection is expected, Vp/Vs becomes much larger than 2. For water, Vp/Vs decreases as the fluid fraction increases to 10 vol.% then it increases. But it remains similar to a solid state value (about 1.8), unless the amount of water exceeds 15 vol.%. This will be a good measure to distinguish between two candidates for seismic reflectors: partially molten rocks and rocks containing free water. If a reflector can be treated as a thin low velocity layer, the velocity ratio in it can be estimated from the frequency dependence of reflection coefficient.

We have performed two series of analog experiments using gelatin to study the propagation of liquid-filled cracks in stressed medium. The first series was designed to study the competition between the external stress and the liquid excess pressure in controlling the propagation direction. We systematically controlled the external stress and the liquid excess pressure by changing the surface load and the liquid volume. An ascending crack progressively deflected to be perpendicular to the maximum tensile direction of the external stress. The degree of deflection depends on the ratio of the shear stress on a crack plane to the average liquid excess pressure. More deflection was observed for a crack with a larger ratio. No significant deflection was observed for the ratio less than 0.2. The volcanic activity in a compressional stress field might be understood in the context of this competition. The first series also demonstrated the importance of the gradient of the crack normal stress as a driving force for propagation. The vertical gradient of the gravitational stress generated by a mountain load can control the emplacement depth of magmas, and it might lead to the evolution of eruption style during the lifetime of a volcano. The second series was designed to study the three-dimensional interaction of two parallel buoyancy-driven cracks. The deflection of the second crack takes place, when the ratio of the shear stress generated by the first one to the average excess pressure of the second crack is larger than 0.2. If the second crack reaches the first one, the interaction can lead to the coalescence of two cracks. It has directivity: the region of coalescence extends more in the direction perpendicular to the first crack than in the direction parallel to it. It reflects the stress field around the first crack. This directivity might cause a characteristic spatial variation of magma chemistry through magma mixing.

Abstract. Intercellular communication via gap junctions, as measured by dye and electrical coupling, disappears within 12 h in primary rat hepatocytes cultured in serum-supplemented media or within 24 h in cells in a serum-free, hormonaily defined medium (HDM) designed for hepatocytes. Glucagon and linoleic acid/BSA were the primary factors in the HDM responsible for the extended life span of the electrical coupling. After 24 h of culture, no hormone or growth factor tested could restore the expression of gap junctions. After 4-5 d of culture, the incidence of coupling was undetectable in a serum-supplemented medium and was only 4-5 % in HDM alone.

Wettability and the adhesion force between two silica particles were measured as a function of relative humidity. The wettability of silica particles was controlled by rehydroxylation and modification by hexamethyldisilazane and evaluated by a preferential dispersion test, heat of immersion, and water adsorption. The adhesion force between two particles was measured by atomic force microscopy using a "colloidal technique". The wettability varied from hydrophilic to hydrophobic at trimethylsilyl density ) 1.0 nm -2 as modified groups shielded the residual silanol groups and hindered the formation of a capillary bridge between the two particles. This "hindrance effect" is thought to result in the absence of a critical increase in adhesion force at high relative humidity and also the reduction of surface energy at low humidity where hydrogen bonding dominated the adhesion force.

Phase diagrams of as-grown and O 2 -annealed FeTe 1-x Se x determined from magnetic susceptibility measurement were obtained. For as-grown samples, the antiferromagnetic order was fully suppressed in the range region x ≥ 0.15, and weak superconductivity appeared when x ≥ 0.1.Beginning at x = 0.5, weak superconductivity was found to evolve into bulk superconductivity.Interestingly, for O 2 -annealed samples, complete suppression of magnetic order and the occurrence of bulk superconductivity were observed when x ≥ 0.1. We found that O 2 -annealing induces bulk superconductivity for FeTe 1-x Se x . Oxygen probably plays a key role in the suppression of the magnetic order and the appearance of bulk superconductivity.

We show the observation of the coexistence of bulk superconductivity and ferromagnetism in CeO 1-x