Versatile Near-Infrared Super-Resolution Imaging of Amyloid Fibrils with the Fluorogenic Probe CRANAD-2

CRANAD-2 is a fluorogenic curcumin derivative used for near-infrared detection and imaging in vivo of amyloid aggregates, which are involved in neurodegenerative diseases. We explore the performance of CRANAD-2 in two super-resolution imaging techniques, namely stimulated emission depletion (STED) and single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), with markedly different fluorophore requirements. By conveniently adapting the concentration of CRANAD-2, which transiently binds to amyloid fibrils, we show that it performs well in both techniques, achieving a resolution in the range of 45–55 nm. Correlation of SMLM with atomic force microscopy (AFM) validates the resolution of fine features in the reconstructed super-resolved image. The good performance and versatility of CRANAD-2 provides a powerful tool for near-infrared nanoscopic imaging of amyloids in vitro and in vivo.     

3d过渡金属掺杂M_2@Si_(20)(M=Sc-Zn)团簇的密度泛函理论研究

利用密度泛函理论(DFT)研究3d过渡金属掺杂硅团簇的几何结构和稳定性,计算了绝热电子亲和能和垂直电离能,内嵌双金属间距,自旋磁矩等.结果表明内嵌的Sc、Ti、V、Mn金属二聚体和十二面体硅笼构成了稳定的富勒烯结构,随着d电子数目的增加其内嵌的富勒烯构型有部分畸变,总体而言Si_(20)团簇掺杂双金属后稳定性得到了提高.     

光纤中基于双布里渊增益线的受激布里渊散射快光

为了解决受激布里渊散射快光在高吸收区产生损耗的问题,通过分析普通单模光纤中双线泵浦产生的双布里渊增益线特性及在增益峰间实现脉冲的超光速传输理论,利用有限元法数值模拟了双布里渊增益线处受激布里渊散射引起的快光特性。结果表明,当频率分离因子大于0.596时,可以观察到双增益峰;当频率分离因子在1~5.25范围内时,两个泵浦波产生的双增益峰之间可以明显地产生快光;当频率分离因子为1.75时,在双布里渊增益线之间的最大时间提前可达25 ps。当频率分离因子为2.42时,三阶色散所对应的归一化色散长度为无穷大,三阶色散可以得到完全补偿;当频率分离因子大于2.464时,脉冲展宽因子趋近于1,可以实现无畸变传输,但时间提前量小于13.52 ps。本文的研究结论对于在布里渊增益区实现快光具有一定的理论意义,并对设计基于受激布里渊散射快光器件具有理论指导作用。     

Stable blow-up dynamics in the -critical and -supercritical generalized Hartree equation

We study stable blow-up dynamics in the generalized Hartree equation with radial symmetry, which is a Schrödinger-type equation with a nonlocal, convolution-type nonlinearity: First, we consider the -critical case in dimensions and obtain that a generic blow-up has a self-similar structure and exhibits not only the square root blowup rate , but also the log-log correction (via asymptotic analysis and functional fitting), thus, behaving similarly to the stable blow-up regime in the -critical nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In this setting, we also study blow-up profiles and show that generic blow-up solutions converge to the rescaled , a ground state solution of the elliptic equation . We also consider the -supercritical case in dimensions . We derive the profile equation for the self-similar blow-up and establish the existence and local uniqueness of its solutions. As in the NLS -supercritical regime, the profile equation exhibits branches of nonoscillating, polynomially decaying (multi-bump) solutions. A numerical scheme of putting constraints into solving the corresponding ordinary differential equation is applied during the process of finding the multi-bump solutions. Direct numerical simulation of solutions to the generalized Hartree equation by the dynamic rescaling method indicates that the is the profile for the stable blow-up. In this supercritical case, we obtain the blow-up rate without any correction. This blow-up happens at the focusing level , and thus, numerically observable (unlike the -critical case). In summary, we find that the results are similar to the behavior of stable self-similar blowup solutions in the corresponding settings for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Consequently, one may expect that the form of the nonlinearity in the Schrödinger-type equations is not essential in the stable formation of singularities.     

Electron transfer at different electrode materials: Metals,semiconductors, and graphene

Electron transfer reactions are the most important processes at electrochemical interfaces. They are determined by the interplay between the interaction of the reactant with the solvent and the electronic levels of the electrode surface. Theoretical treatments only based on Density Functional Theory calculations are not sufficient. This review emphasizes mainly the effect of the electronic structure of the electrode material on electron transfer under different kinetic regimes. Our goal is to understand experimental results in the framework of a theory valid for arbitrary strengths of electronic coupling.     

表面增强拉曼光谱研究自组装单分子层在化学接触和纳米隔绝下的分子振动活性变化(英文)

为确定表面增强拉曼光谱中某些有争议的弱振动模式是来自高阶的影响还是分子基团对称性变化的影响,本文以1,4-苯二硫醇作为探针分子提供了一种实验验证的框架方法.光谱实验显示,观测到的有争议的弱振动模式并不是来自高阶的影响,而是分子基团对称性变化所致.我们的实验框架方法很容易拓展开来,如用于研究其它波长激光激发的类似体系或有机分子搭接的分子结.     

Selective Excitation with Asymmetric Adiabatic Pulses for NMR Spectroscopy

Existing selective pulses are mainly constructed in the forms of classically shaped pulses, such as the Gaussian pulses, or generated by using numerical optimization methods. However, all of these pulses are highly sensitive to radiofrequency (RF) intensity variation, which means their performance is highly dependent on the accuracy and stability of the RF intensity. Even a slight RF intensity deviation can cause severe degradation in the excitation profile. To solve this problem, we propose a method for narrow selective excitation by sequential application of a pair of phase‐opposite asymmetric adiabatic pulses, all within two scans. By retaining the adiabatic character, the new method is highly robust to RF intensity variation. Moreover, it has flexible excitation bandwidth, ranging from line‐selective to narrow‐band‐selective pulses. The method is tested both in numerical simulations and solution‐state NMR experiments.     

Lowest priority waiting time distribution in an accumulating priority Lévy queue

We derive the waiting time distribution of the lowest class in an accumulating priority (AP) queue with positive Lévy input. The priority of an infinitesimal customer (particle) is a function of their class and waiting time in the system, and the particles with the highest AP are the next to be processed. To this end we introduce a new method that relies on the construction of a workload overtaking process and solving a first-passage problem using an appropriate stopping time.     

3D Laser Micro‐ and Nanoprinting: Challenges for Chemistry

3D printing is a powerful emerging technology for the tailored fabrication of advanced functional materials. This Review summarizes the state‐of‐the art with regard to 3D laser micro‐ and nanoprinting and explores the chemical challenges limiting its full exploitation: from the development of advanced functional materials for applications in cell biology and electronics to the chemical barriers that need to be overcome to enable fast writing velocities with resolution below the diffraction limit. We further explore chemical means to enable direct laser writing of multiple materials in one resist by highly wavelength selective (λ‐orthogonal) photochemical processes. Finally, chemical processes to construct adaptive 3D written structures that are able to respond to external stimuli, such as light, heat, pH value, or specific molecules, are highlighted, and advanced concepts for degradable scaffolds are explored.