An ambient pressure superconductivity of (BEDT-TTF)2Cu(SCN)2 was observed by d.c. magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity measurements. The superconducting critical temperature is the highest (TC=10.4 K) among the organic superconductors so far obtained, even though the anion has a positional disorder in the crystal.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of common bile duct stones, even in high-risk patients.

The crystal structures of an organic superconductor (BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 (Tc=10.4 K) at 298 K and 104 K are determined by X-ray analysis. The packing pattern of donors is nearly analogous to κ-(BEDT-TTF)2I3. The counter anion, Cu(NCS)2−, has no positional disorder and constructs a peculiar sheet where a copper ion is coordinated with a sulfur and two nitrogen atoms to form a one-dimensional polymer with a permanent dipole moment.

We have found that dialysis of 5 mg/mL collagen solution into the phosphate solution with a pH of 7.1 and an ionic strength of 151 mM [corrected] at 25 °C results in a collagen gel with a birefringence and tubular pores aligned parallel to the growth direction of the gel. The time course of averaged diameter of tubular pores during the anisotropic gelation was expressed by a power law with an exponent of 1/3, suggesting that the formation of tubular pores is attributed to a spinodal decomposition-like phase separation. Small angle light scattering patterns and high resolution confocal laser scanning microscope images of the anisotropic collagen gel suggested that the collagen fibrils are aligned perpendicular to the growth direction of the gel. The positional dependence of the order parameter of the collagen fibrils showed that the anisotropic collagen gel has an orientation gradient.