One of the industrial applications of mesoporous silica is drug delivery since there is a possibility that the uniform mesopores can control storage and release of medicinal substances. In the present work, SBA-15 was selected as a candidate for the drug delivery carrier, and the effect of the pore size decreased by grafting propyl and octyl groups on the storage and release of vitamin E whose antioxidative ability is efficacious against diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and so on was investigated. N₂ adsorption isotherm at 77 K verified that the octyl group reduced the pore size more than propyl group. Vitamin E soluble in ethanol was accommodated into pore channels under ambient condition, but an amount of the accommodated vitamin E decreased with pore size of the employed carriers. On the other hand, the release ratio of the accommodated vitamin E in ethanol increased with the decrease in the pore size. Based on the experimental results mentioned above, location model of vitamin E in the pore channels was discussed for the neat and the grafted carriers. Furthermore, the accelerated oxidization of linseed oil was operated at 373 K in the presence of the neat carrier to evaluate the controlled vitamin E release.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using the Forced Thin-Film Type Reactor (FTFR). The precipitation solution was changed from aqueous sodium hydroxide to ammonia solutions. By adjusting the mixing ratio of trivalent and tetravalent cerium ions in the solutions and varying the cerium ion concentration, the shape of the particles varied from spherical to truncated octahedron and irregular shape to cuboidal to truncated octahedral. It was estimated that the change in particle shape could be attributed to the difference in the concentration of dissolved oxygen and hydroxide ion in each solution.

Patterns perceived as regular by humans are ubiquitous and can be classified into non-biological patterns like cloud formations and sand dune stripes, biological patterns like zebra stripes, and artificial patterns like tiles. This paper focuses on three examples of non-biological self-organized patterns: wrinkles on material surfaces, alignment defect structures in liquid crystals, and a layered structure in liquid crystal elastomers. These non-biological patterns exhibiting useful functions are advantageous due to their low fabrication costs compared to biological and artificial patterns.

This article explores the innovative application of the traditional Japanese “Seigaiha” (blue ocean wave) pattern to nanoscale silicon structures for thermal management in semiconductor devices. We investigate the anisotropic in-plane thermal conduction in silicon thin films with nanoscale Seigaiha patterns using micro time-domain thermoreflectance measurements across a wide temperature range (4–300 K). Our findings reveal a remarkable reversal of thermal conductivity anisotropy below 80 K, attributed to the transition from diffusive to quasi-ballistic phonon transport regimes. Monte Carlo simulations elucidate the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating how the unique geometry of the Seigaiha pattern influences phonon propagation and creates thermally dead volumes. This research not only advances our understanding of nanoscale heat transport but also showcases the potential of integrating cultural design elements with cutting-edge nanotechnology. The results provide valuable insights for directional heat dissipation in electronic devices and open new avenues for thermal management strategies in semiconductor technology.

A small pufferfish has been discovered building an elaborate geometric circular structure, known as the “mystery circle,” with a diameter of approximately 2 meters on the seabed of Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, capturing global attention. Our previous research has shown that males build the structure to attract females for mating and to provide a nest for spawning and egg care. The shape and size of the structure have been suggested to influence female mate choice. Two-dimensional computer simulations indicate that the radial patterns surrounding the nest emerge through repeated digging behavior following a simple algorithm. The structure exhibits unique hydrodynamic properties and hold potential applications in biomimetic design.