Resonance Scattering Spectral Detection of Catalase Activity Using Au@Ag Nanoparticle as Probe and Coupling Catalase Catalytic Reaction with Fenton Reaction

The Au_coreAg_shell (Au@Ag) nanoparticles in size of 30 nm were prepared using 10 nm gold nanoparticles as seeds at 90°C, and were purified by high-speed centrifugation to remove the excess trisodium citrate to obtain Au@Ag nanoprobe. In the medium of pH 4.0 acetate buffer solution—7.2 μmol/L H₂O₂–67 μmol/L Fe(II), Au@Ag nanoparticles exhibited a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 538 nm. Upon addition of Catalase (Ct), the system produced hydroxyl radical that oxidized the Au@Ag nanoprobe to form the AuAg nanoparticles with partly bare nanogold. Those AuAg nanoparticles aggregated to large nanoclusters that led to the RS peak wavelength red-shift and its RS peak intensity enhanced. The catalase activity (C) is linear to the enhanced RS intensity (ΔI) in the range of 6 to 2,800 U/L, with regression equation of ΔI = 0.168 C-0.2, the correlation coefficient of 0.9952, and detection limit of 2.8 U/L. This method was applied to the detection of serum samples, and the results were agreement with that of the spectrophotometry. A new catalytic mechanism of catalase was proposed with oxywater principle that was agreement with the results of resonance scattering spectroscopy, absorption spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy and laser scattering.     

Yield of singlet oxygen from optically pumped CCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> solution of fullerenes

Boiling occurs in a solution of oxygen and fullerenes in CCl₄ upon optical pumping of C₆₀ upon the fast appearance of incandescent fullerenes in cold solvent. Upon single-photon absorption, a spherical zone of the critical state of CCl₄ is formed within 5 ns (with a diameter of 22–25 nm, P _cr ∼ 45 atm, and T _cr ∼ 556 K). This spherical zone (gas-bubble nucleus) expands to a diameter of ∼100–400 nm for 2–5 ns. If the external pressure (natural or artificial) is rapidly released, the bubble accelerates and emerges into a vacuum chamber within 0.7–25 μs (the length of the passage is 0.1–5 cm depending on the construction of the singlet oxygen generator). We note that singlet oxygen appears 50 ns after the absorption of a photon by fullerene (i.e., inside of the almost formed gas bubble that only begins to emerge from the liquid to a low-pressure gas region).     

Valency control in MoO<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript> nanoparticles generated by pulsed laser liquid solid interaction

The possibility of synthesizing binary oxides nanoparticles in a nano-scaled form by laser liquid solid interaction using a NdYAG “1.064 μm” as an irradiating laser source is reported. The case of MoO_3−δ is emphasized. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the Mo–O electronic valence can be controlled through the coupling effects of oxygen enriched nature of the used coating liquid layer, namely pure H₂O or H₂O₂ and the laser beam fluence. Dark blue hydrated molybdic pentoxide Mo₂O₅·xH₂O and yellow molybdenum trioxide MoO₃ nano-suspensions were reproducibly synthesized with hydrogen peroxide and water, respectively, at a relatively high ablation rate. The average size of the molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles was about <ϕ>~8 nm, slightly larger than the molybdic pentoxide ones “<ϕ>~6.2 nm”.     

Radiative cooling of fullerene anions in a storage ring

Thermionic emission from hot fullerene anions, C_N ^-, has been measured in an electrostatic storage ring for even N values from 36 to 96. The decay is quenched by radiative cooling and hence the observations give information on the intensity of thermal radiation from fullerenes. The experiments are analysed by comparison with a simulation which includes the quantisation of photon energy and the statistics of emission. Experiments with heating of the molecules with a laser beam confirm the interpretation of the observations in terms of radiative cooling and give an independent estimate of the cooling rate for C₆₀ ^-. The measured cooling rates agree in general within a factor of two with the prediction from a classical dielectric model of a thermal radiation intensity of ∼ 300 eV/s for C₆₀ at 1 400 K, scaling approximately with the 6th power of the temperature and with the number of atoms in the molecule. Received 12 March 2001 and Received in final form 12 June 2001     

Tails in harnesses

We consider space- and time-uniformd-dimensional random processes with linear local interaction, which we call harnesses and which may be used as discrete mathematical models of random interfaces. Their components are rea random variablesa _s ^t , wheres ∈ Z ^d andt=0, 1, 2.,... At every time step two events occur: first, every component turns into a linear combination of itsN neighbors, and second, a symmetric random i.i.d. “noise”v is added to every component. For any σ ∈Z _d ⁺ define Δ_σ a′ _s as follows. If σ=(0,...,0), σ=(0,...,0), Δ_σ a _s ^t =a _s ^t . Then by induction, wheree _i is thed-dimensional vector, whoseith component is one and other components are zeros. Denote |σ| the sum of components of σ. Call a real random variable ϕ symmetric if it is distributed as −ϕ. For any symmetric random variable ϕpower decay or P-decay is defined as the supremum of thoser for which therth absolute moment of ϕ is finite. Convergence a.s., in probability and in law whent→∞ is examined in terms of P-decay(v): Ifd=1, σ=0 ord=2, σ=(0,0), Δ_σ a _s ^t diverges. In all the other cases: If P-decay(v)<(d+2)/(d+|σ|), Δ_σ a _s ^t diverges; if P-decay(v)>(d+2)/(d+|σ|), Δ_σ a _s ^t , converges and P-decay(ν) For any symmetric random variable ϕexponential decay or E-decay is defined as the supremum of thoser for which the expectation of exp(|x|^r) is finite. Let E-decay(v)>0. Whenever Δ_σ a _s ^t converges (that is, ifd>2 or |σ|>0: Ifd>2, E-decay(lima _s ^t )=min(E-decay(v),d+2/2); if |σ|=1, E-decay (lim Δ_σ a _s ^t )=min(E-decay(ν),d+2); if |σ| ⩾, E-decay (lim Δ_σ a _s ^t )=E-decay(ν).     

Acoustic probing of two-temperature relaxation initiated by action of ultrashort laser pulse

Ultrashort laser pulse transfers metal into a two-temperature warm dense matter state and triggers a chain of hydrodynamic and kinetic processes—melting, expansion, stretching, creation of tensile stress and transition into metastable state. We study the response of aluminum film deposited on a glass substrate to irradiation by a pump laser pulse transmitted through glass. Several films with thicknesses from 350 to 1200 nm have been investigated. The smallest thickness is of the order of the heating depth d _T∼100 nm in Al. The d _T-layer and the free rear side of the film are coupled through pressure waves propagating between them. Therefore, the processes within d _T-layer affects the time dependent displacement Δ x _rear(t) of the rear surface. We compare simulated and experimental dependencies Δ x _rear(t) obtained by the pump–probe technique. It allows us to define a thickness of molten Al layer and explore the two-temperature processes occurring inside the heated layer.     

Kinetics of photon generation and propagation in a scintillation layer

Experimental results of an investigation of the kinetics of photon generation and propagation in a scintillation layer (n-terphenyl in polystyrene) are presented in this paper for the case of relativistic μ-meson passage through the layer. The duration of the photon emission Δt_em has been measured as a function of the scintillation layer thickness (l=0.05–0.5 m). The total duration of the photon emission and exit from the scintillation layer Δt_tot measured with a side coating having diffuse light reflection coefficient ρ=0.9 and 0.95 is given. A kinetic model of the photon generation and propagation in the scintillation layer is described. Satisfactory agreement of the expected values of Δt_em and Δt_tot with the exeeriment is indicated. Ivanovo State University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 73–77, June, 1999.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been studied by a direct method in two samples of the manganite Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a single crystal (sample A) and a ceramic sample (sample C). The temperature dependences of the ΔT effect of both samples exhibit a maximum at T _max = 143.3 K for the sample A and T _max = 143 K for the sample C. In these maxima, the values of the ΔT effect are 0.8 and 0.4 K in the magnetic field H = 14.2 kOe for the samples A and C, respectively. In addition, the ΔT(T) curve of the sample A has a minimum at T _min = 120 K, in which ΔT = −0.1 K. The maximum value of the ΔT effect increases with an increase in the magnetic field H in the range of magnetic fields up to 14.2 kOe, and the rate of this increase at H > 8 kOe is higher than that at H < 8 kOe. These features of the ΔT effect are explained by the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic A- and CE-type clusters in the samples.     

One Dimensional Behavior of Singular N Dimensional Solutions of Semilinear Heat Equations

We consider u(x,t) a solution of u _t =Δu+|u| ^{p − 1} u that blows up at time T, where u:ℝ ^N ×[0, T)→ℝ, p>1, (N−2)p<N+2 and either u(0)≥ 0 or (3N−4)p<3N+8. We are concerned with the behavior of the solution near a non isolated blow-up point, as T−t→ 0. Under a non-degeneracy condition and assuming that the blow-up set is locally continuous and N−1 dimensional, we escape logarithmic scales of the variable T−t and give a sharper expansion of the solution with the much smaller error term (T−t)^{1, 1/2−η} for any η>0. In particular, if in addition p>3, then the solution is very close to a superposition of one dimensional solutions as functions of the distance to the blow-up set. Finally, we prove that the mere hypothesis that the blow-up set is continuous implies that it is C ^{1, 1/2−η} for any η>0. Received: 20 June 2001 / Accepted: 6 October 2001     

Maximum of a Fractional Brownian Motion: Probabilities of Small Values

Let b _γ (t), b _γ(0)= 0 be a fractional Brownian motion, i.e., a Gaussian process with the structure function , 0 < γ < 2. We study the logarithmic asymptotics of P _T = P{b _γ (t) < 1,□t∈TΔ} as T→∞, where Δ is either the interval (0,1) or a bounded region that contains a vicinity of 0 for the case of multidimensional time. It is shown that ln P _T = - D ln T(1 + o(1)), where D is the dimension of zeroes of b _γ (t) in the former case and the dimension of time in the latter. Received: 28 September 1998 / Accepted: 19 February 1999     

Dielectric properties of solid solutions (1 ? x)(KBi)1/2TiO3-xNa1/4Bi3/4Fe1/2Ti1/2O3 near the morphotropic phase boundary

The dielectric properties of solid solution ceramics (1 − x)(KBi)_1/2TiO₃-(x/2)(NaBi)_1/2TiO₃-(x/2)BiFeO₃ near the morphotropic phase boundary lying near x = 0.75 and separating the compositions with the orthorhombic (x < 0.75) and rhombohedral (x > 0.75) structures have been studied. The solid solutions are shown to undergo a diffuse phase transition with the Curie temperature T _C = 640–650 K. Based on an analysis of the frequency dependence of the imaginary component of the electric modulus in the range T > T _C, it is concluded that the transition of the system of solid solutions near the morphotropic phase boundary (x = 0.75) to the dipole-ordered state is accompanied by the formation of heterophase microregions with different relaxation times of the dielectric polarization. The activation energies of the relaxation of the dielectric polarization (ΔE _M ) in the aforementioned temperature range and of the dc charge carriers (ΔE _dc ) are determined. It is found that ΔE _dc stepwise increases near 570 K in going toward higher temperatures. It is shown that the behavior of the characteristics of the dielectric response of the solid solutions below 400 K corresponds to a relaxor ferroelectric. For the compositions 0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.8, the estimated freezing temperature of dipole clusters of the relaxation state is about 240 K, and their activation energy decreases with increasing x.     

Synthesis of multishell fullerenes by laser vaporization of composite carbon targets

Multishell fullerenes are the smallest among multishell carbon clusters, such as the larger graphitic onions or multishell nanotubes. Unlike classical fullerenes, which have a cage structure and are known to have been synthesized in a variety of sizes (C₆₀, C₇₀, C₈₄, C₁₀₂, etc.), multishell fullerenes have a cage-inside-cage concentric structure, such as double-shell C₆₀@C₂₄₀ or triple-shell C₆₀@C₂₄₀@C₅₆₀. We report on the synthesis of multishell fullerenes by laser vaporization of C₆₀-containing composite carbon targets. Transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and other methods were used for characterization of the product. The yield of the process reaches up to 40%, which permits production in gram amounts even in laboratory conditions.     

Investigation of the optical properties of AgGaTe2 films obtained by laser deposition

We obtain thin films of AgGaTe₂ by laser vaporization of starting crystals. The compositions of the starting crystals and of the films obtained are determined by x-ray spectral analysis, with their structure and the parameters of the crystal lattice being determined by the x-ray method. The energies of interband transitions and crystalline (Δ _cr ) and spin-orbit (Δ _so ) splitting are calculated from transmission spectra in the region of the main absorption band. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 793–796, November–December, 1997.     

Magnetic circular dichroism in the absorption of theF A centre in KCl doped with Li and Na

Summary The spin-orbit structure ofF _A centres in KCl:Li and KCl:Na have been studied by means of the magnetic circular dichroism. Due to theirC _4V symmetry theF _A centres have two different spin-orbit parameters, Δ^‖ and Δ^⊥, which only in the KCl:Li case follow the relation: Δ^‖ < Δ_F < Δ^⊥ as expected from the theory. For a close comparison we have also reported our measurement of the spin-orbit coupling ofF centre in KCl. The spin-orbit parameters of theF andF _A centres have been determined using the method of moment.     

Optical properties and highly efficient laser oscillation of Nd:YAG ceramics

Optical absorption, emission spectra have been measured for polycrystalline Nd-doped Y₃Al₅O₁₂ ceramics. Fluorescence lifetimes of 257.6 μs, 237.6 μs, 184.2 μs and 95.6 μs have been obtained for 0.6%, 1%, 2% and 4% neodymium-doped YAG ceramics, respectively. For the first time, highly efficient laser oscillation at 1064 nm has been obtained with this kind of ceramics. Slope efficiency of 53% has been achieved on a uncoated 4.8-mm thick 1% Nd:YAG ceramics sample. Optical to optical conversion efficiency is 47.6%. Laser oscillation has also been obtained with a 2% Nd:YAG ceramics. The optical properties and laser output results have been compared with that of Nd:YAG single crystal grown by the Czochralski method. Almost identical results have been achieved including laser experiments results. But fabrication of Nd:YAG ceramics is much easier compared to the single-crystal growth method. And also large size (now of about 400 mm diameter×5 mm is available) and high-concentration (>1%) Nd:YAG ceramics can be fabricated. The results show that this kind of Nd:YAG ceramics is a very good alternative to Nd:YAG single crystal. Received: 20 April 2000 / Published online: 16 August 2000     

First observation of optical radiation from fullerenes in the gas phase

Optical radiation of C₆₀ fullerenes in the gas phase was observed. The observed emission line λ=258 nm is identified with an electronic transition into the ground state h _g →h _u in C ₆₀. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 9, 683–687 (10 May 1996)     

Monitoring of the Proton Electrochemical Gradient in Reconstituted Vesicles: Quantitative Measurements of Both Transmembrane Potential and Intravesicular pH by Ratiometric Fluorescent Probes

Proteoliposomes carrying reconstituted yeast plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase in their lipid membrane or plasma membrane vesicles are model systems convenient for studying basic electrochemical processes involved in formation of the proton electrochemical gradient (Δμ_H ⁺) across the microbial or plant cell membrane. Δψ- and pH-sensitive fluorescent probes were used to monitor the gradients formed between inner and outer volume of the reconstituted vesicles. The Δψ-sensitive fluorescent ratiometric probe oxonol VI is suitable for quantitative measurements of inside-positive Δψ generated by the reconstituted H⁺-ATPase. Its Δψ response can be calibrated by the K⁺/valinomycin method and ratiometric mode of fluorescence measurements reduces undesirable artefacts. In situ pH-sensitive fluorescent probe pyranine was used for quantitative measurements of pH inside the proteoliposomes. Calibration of pH-sensitive fluorescence response of pyranine entrapped inside proteoliposomes was performed with several ionophores combined in order to deplete the gradients passively formed across the membrane. Presented model system offers a suitable tool for simultaneous monitoring of both components of the proton electrochemical gradient, Δψ and ΔpH. This approach should help in further understanding how their formation is interconnected on biomembranes and even how transport of other ions is combined to it.     

Influence of collisional coupling on the energy extraction from theB,C, andD state in KrF

Collisional coupling between theB, C, andD states of KrF is measured in a discharge pumped KrF laser. Detection of the time resolved populations in the three states via measurement of the side fluorescence in theB→X, C→A, andD→X bands is used to record the collisional relaxation from theC andD state to theB state during laser emission. The experimentally determined limits for the collisional coupling times are τ_B-C≦1 ns and τ_B-D,τ_C-D<20 ns at total pressures of 2 bar. Investigation of theB→X fluorescence band shows that the vibrational manifold of theB state is not thermalized during laser emission. TheV-V,T coupling time is estimated to be τ_V-V,T=4±2 ns. The influence of collisional coupling on energy extraction in the KrF laser is discussed.     

Polarizability exaltation of endofullerenes X@C<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 20, 24, 28, 36, 50, and 60; X is a noble gas atom)

The polarizability exaltation in molecules of endohedral complexes of C₂₀, C₂₄, C₂₈, C₃₆, C₅₀, and C₆₀ fullerenes with He, Ne, Ar, and Kr noble gas atoms has been revealed and studied by the density functional theory method. It has been found that the sign of the Δα polarizability exaltation depends on the number of atoms in a fullerene molecule.