The single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on silicon substrates are a promising candidate for the next generation of electronic and photoelectronic devices, therefore an easy, convenient, and nondestructive method for characterizing such samples is quite important and strongly needed. In this study, we provide in detail such a method to assign (n,m) indices with considerable accuracy through resonant Raman spectra analysis. We developed an equation of ωRBM = 235.9/dt + 5.5 for SWNTs grown by Ni, Co, and Fe catalysts on SiO2/Si substrates in the dt range of 1.2-2.1 nm. This method was further utilized to make (n,m) assignments and quantification for our SWNTs catalyzed by W6Co7, which is highly enriched with (12,6). The less abundant chiralities in the samples were also assigned and the contents were analyzed using a counting-based method. Moreover, these chirality-specified samples allowed us to collect 1330 RBM data for the single chirality (12,6) and the RBM variation was found to be no larger than ±2.5 cm(-1). A step-by-step procedure is also provided as a general guide for (n,m) assignments.

Rhythmic incremental growth lines and the presence of melatonin receptors were discovered in tooth enamel, suggesting possible role of circadian rhythm. We therefore hypothesized that circadian rhythm may regulate enamel formation through melatonin receptors. To test this hypothesis, we examined expression of melatonin receptors (MTs) and amelogenin (AMELX), a maker of enamel formation, during tooth germ development in mouse. Using qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, we found that mRNA and protein levels of both MTs and AMELX in normal mandibular first molar tooth germs increased gradually after birth, peaked at 3 or 4 day postnatal, and then decreased. Expression of MTs and AMELX by immunocytochemistry was significantly delayed in neonatal mice raised in all-dark or all-light environment as well as the enamel development. Furthermore, development of tooth enamel was also delayed showing significant immature histology in those animals, especially for newborn mice raised in all daylight condition. Interestingly, disruption in circadian rhythm in pregnant mice also resulted in delayed enamel development in their babies. Treatment with melatonin receptor antagonist 4P-PDOT in pregnant mice caused underexpression of MTs and AMELX associated with long-lasting deficiency in baby enamel tissue. Electromicroscopic evidence demonstrated increased necrosis and poor enamel mineralization in ameloblasts. The above results suggest that circadian rhythm is important for normal enamel development at both pre- and postnatal stages. Melatonin receptors were partly responsible for the regulation.