Dipolar interactions and origin of spin ice in ising pyrochlore magnets

Recent experiments suggest that the Ising pyrochlore magnets Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7 display qualitative properties of the nearest-neighbor "spin ice" model. We discuss the dipolar energy scale present in both these materials and discuss how spin-ice behavior can occur despite the presence of long-range dipolar interactions. We present results of numerical simulations and a mean field analysis of Ising pyrochlore systems. Based on our quantitative theory, we suggest that the spin-ice behavior in these systems is due to long-range dipolar interactions, and that the nearest-neighbor exchange in Dy2Ti2O7 is antiferromagnetic.     

Use of V/III ratio to produce heterostructures in ordered GaInP

Compositional ordering in Ga_0.52 In_0.48 P results in a significant reduction in bandgap energy. The degree of order is known to be a strong function of the input partial pressure of the P precursor during growth due to the effect of this parameter on the surface reconstruction. This raises the possibility of producing heterostructures by simply changing the flow rate of the P precursor during growth. The change in bandgap energy at order/disorder (O/D) heterostructures formed by decreasing the P partial pressure during the OMVPE growth cycle is graded over several thousands of Å when PH₃ is used as the P precursor. Examination of the transmission electron microscope image and the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum reveals that the ordered structure in the lower layer persists far into the upper layer. Similarly, disorder/order (D/O) structures produced in this way yield PL spectra indicative of graded composition at the heterostructure when the P precursor is PH₃. The abruptness is not affected by interruptions in the growth cycle for as long as one hour. Similar heterostructures produced using tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP) as the P precursor are distinctly different. Both D/O and O/D heterostructures can be produced by abruptly increasing the TBP flow rate during the growth cycle. PL studies show two distinct peaks closely corresponding to those observed for single layers grown using these conditions. Surface photoabsorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the transition in surface reconstruction. The change was found to be limited by the dynamics of the mass flow controller. The only difference detected which might explain the difference in behavior between PH₃ and TBP is that atomic force microscopy scans show the layers grown using TBP are covered by monolayer and bilayer (6 Å in height) steps. Growth under similar conditions using PH₃ produces bunched steps, much larger than 6 Å in height.     

Photophysical, photochemical, and tumor-selectivity properties of bromine derivatives of rhodamine-123

The conceptual basis for the development of mitochondrial targeting as a novel therapeutic strategy for both chemotherapy and photochemotherapy of neoplastic diseases rests on the observation that enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential is a common tumor cell phenotype. The potential of this strategy is highlighted by the fact that the toxic effects associated with a number of cationic dyes known to localize in energized cell mitochondria are much more pronounced in tumor cells than in normal cells. Here we evaluate the phototoxic properties of four bromine derivatives of rhodamine-123 toward human uterine sarcoma (MES-SA) and green monkey kidney (CV-1) cells and compare the degrees of tumor cell selectivity associated with these dyes with those associated with two model mitochondrial triarylmethanes (crystal violet and ethyl violet). Selective phototoxicity toward tumor cells was found to be highly dependent upon the lipophilic/hydrophilic character of the cationic photosensitizer. Our experimental data have indicated that the probability of success of mitochondrial targeting in (photo)chemotherapy of neoplastic diseases is higher when the octan-1-ol/water partition coefficient of the drug candidate falls within approximately two orders of magnitude from that of the prototypical mitochondria-specific dye rhodamine-123.     

Synthesis and fluorescence study of 7-azaindole in DNA oligonucleotides replacing a purine base

The fluorescence spectroscopy of 7-azaindole (7aIn) incorporated in DNA oligonucleotides is investigated. Incorporation of 7aIn into DNA oligonucleotides is accomplished through standard solid-phase phosphoramidite chemistry. Fluorescence emission of the 7aIn chromophore shifts slightly to the red (from 386 nm to 388 nm) upon glycosylation at the N-1 position, but its relative fluorescence quantum yield increases 23 times, from 0.023 to 0.53. Upon incorporation into DNA, the fluorescence emission of 7aIn is greatly quenched with fluorescence quantum yields of 0.020 and 0.016 in single and double strand DNA, respectively. The fluorescence emission for 7aIn in DNA oligonucleotides shifts to the blue with an emission maximum at 379 nm. Both the strong fluorescence quenching and the blue shift of the emission spectrum signify that 7aIn is stacked with neighboring DNA bases in both single and double strand DNA. As the duplex DNA melts due to temperature increase, the fluorescence of the 7aIn chromophore increases, indicating the transition from the less fluorescent duplex DNA to the more fluorescent single strand DNA. Since this fluorescent 7aIn is a structural analog of purine, its fluorescence property may be utilized as a probe for studying nucleic acid structure and dynamics.     

Se-Ga23Se phase equilibria: a regular associated solution model for the Ga-Se liquid

Se vapor pressures were measured by the dew point method for the binary system Ga_1·xSe_x, 0.60 < x < 1.00 (Ga₂Se₃-Se), between 700 and 1050°C. The Se vapor pressure was found to decrease rapidly near x = 60 atomic% Se. The T-X and P-X liquidus curves are thermodymanically modelled by a regular associated solution model for the liquid phase, with the associate, Ga₂Se₃. The best fit to the data was obtained with 4000 cal/mole of Ga₂Se₃ for the regular solution interaction parameter and 0.10 for the degree of dissociation in the stoichiometric liquid (x = 0.60).