Tracking interacting dark states through higher order absorption resonances

A three photon resonance arising due to coherent population trapped (CPT) states in multi-level systems, is experimentally shown to be a powerful spectral marker to detect interacting CPT states. In systems showing N type or double Λ type level configurations, these absorption resonances can be used to identify spectral positions of maximal interactions between competing CPT ground states. The contrast of the absorption resonance serves to identify even partially destructive interactions between the CPT states, eliminating the need for strong resonant changes of ground state coherence for identification. We demonstrate this effect in a room temperature, gaseous collection of ⁸⁷Rb. atoms. Three laser fields interact with a double Λ configuration in the Zeeman degenerate levels of the ground state 5S_1/2S_{1/2}, F = 1 and those of the excited states 5P_3/2P_{3/2}, F = 0,1, around the D2 line. The three-photon resonance is studied in the counter-propagating third field when the other two co-propagating fields satisfy the two-photon resonance condition necessary for creation of CPT states. We envisage that this absorption feature in the third field, can become a veritable tool to quantify degradation of CPT induced effects in engineered quantum states using multi-level systems.     

Chemoenzymatic surface decoration of Nisin-shelled nanoemulsions: Novel targeted drug-nanocarriers for cancer applications

Nisin, a peptide used as a natural food preservative, is employed in this work for the development of a novel nanocarrier system. Stable and uniform nisin-shelled nanoemulsions (NSNE) with a diameter of 100 ± 20 nm were successfully prepared using 20 kHz flow-through ultrasonication technique. The NSNE showed limited toxicity, high bactericidal activity and high drug loading capacity (EE 65 % w/w). In addition, the nisin shell was exploited for the site-specific attachment of a recombinantly produced cancer targeting ligand (αHER2_LPETG IgG). Employing a unique two phases (bio-click) approach which involved both Sortase A mediated Azide Bioconjugation (SMAB) and Strain Promoted Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition (SPAAC) reactions, targeted NSNE (NSNE_DOX-αHER2 IgG) were successfully assembled and loaded with the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin (DOX). Finally, NSNE_DOX-αHER2 IgG showed cancer-specific binding and augmented cytotoxicity to HER2 expressing tumour cells.     

Light Auxiliary Hydrogen‐Evolution Catalyst Based on Uniformly Pt Nanoparticles Decorated Molybdenum Sulfide Hybrids

The electrocatalytic splitting of water via hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the most efficient technologies for hydrogen production, while the massive consumption of precious Pt‐based catalysts hinders its commercialization, bringing an urgent task to explore low‐cost and earth‐abundant alternatives. Herein, a cost‐efficient system composed of metal Pt/molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) nanosheets hybrids for the HER by auxiliary of solar light is reported. The uniformly Pt nanoparticle decorated MoS₂ sheets can be easily obtained under hydrothermal condition using oleylamine as capping agent and N,N‐dimethylmethanamide (DMF) as intercalation molecule for MoS₂ exfoliation. The Pt/MoS₂ hybrid shows a significantly enhanced HER activity compared with bare MoS₂ due to enhancing conductivity and reducing overpotential by electron transport between Pt and MoS₂. As a result, a Tafel slope of 38 mV per decade is obtained, suggesting a highly efficient Volmer–Heyrovsky reaction of hydrogen evolution.     

Surface‐enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopic characterization of cytochrome c immobilized on 2‐mercaptoethanesulfonate monolayers on silver

Single‐component self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercaptoethanesulfonate (MES) on Ag surfaces were studied with surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy with a view to their application to immobilize (ferro)cytochrome c (cyt c). SERS studies revealed that MES molecules adopt primarily trans (T) conformation even at early stages of the SAM growth and over wide range of pH values. High accessibility of the negatively charged groups for (bio)molecules in solution makes single‐component MES SAMs suitable linkage monolayers for electrostatic attachment of cyt c, which was verified with SERRS. Cyt c was successfully anchored to MES‐coated Ag at natural (∼5), neutral, and isoelectric point (10.6) pH. At pH = 7.0 and 10.6, SERRS bands characteristic of native six‐coordinated low‐spin (6cLS) heme iron configuration were detected. Lack of buffering resulted in additional appearance of five‐coordinated high‐spin (5cHS) SERRS markers and the presence of bands indicating ferric ion. An electrostatic attraction between protein and SAM was confirmed to exclude the hydrophobic interactions involved in cyt c binding. Cyt c attached to MES SAM on Ag was found to be electroactive at neutral pH, and protein oxidation was assisted with reversible conversion of 6cLS to the non‐native 5cHS state. Alteration of heme orientation deduced from SERRS spectra upon change of redox state allowed us to propose the protein dynamics as the electron transfer rate‐limiting step. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Higgs as gauge fields on discrete groups and Standard Models for electroweak and electroweak-strong interactions

We complete the construction of the gauge theory on discrete groups coupled to fermions in the spirit of non-commutative geometry. We show that a simple Higgs field is such a gauge field with respect toZ ₂-gauge symmetry overM ⁴ and the Yukawa coupling between Higgs and fermions is automatically introduced via minimum coupling principle. TheZ ₂-symmetry is taken to be ={e, r=(CPT) ²}, a sub-symmetry of the CPT transformations. The Weinberg-Salam model for the electroweak interaction as well as the Standard Model for the electroweak-strong interaction are reformulated in detail.Work supported in part by The National Natural Science Foundation Of China     

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of extracted oil from Camelina sativa seed treated by dielectric-barrier discharge cold plasma

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma (CP) pretreatment on Camelina sativa “Soheil cultivar” seed. A DBD plasma reactor system was employed for this purpose. The experiments were performed by taking into account variables including voltages of 15, 18, and 21 kV and times of 2, 4, 8, and 16 min. The measured properties were oil yield extraction (%), oil colour parameters (CIEL*a*b*), protein content (meal) (%), surface analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and fatty acids profile of Camelina sativa. The results revealed that the CP treatment had a significant improvement in different properties of the extracted oil. It was observed that the extracted oil was increased, with the increasing time of CP exposure. The treatments of CP enhanced the oil yield from 24.3 to 31.5%, and the optimal conditions were identified as 21 kV and 16 min. Also, the maximum protein amount was observed for the samples treated by CP (39.5%). The SEM analysis showed that the cell structures of pre-treated Camelina samples were damaged, thereby improved the oil extraction efficiency. The variations in the values of L*, a*, and b* (max-min) were calculated to be 3.9, −2.5, and 9.7, respectively, which indicated minor changes of CP treatment on the oil colour parameters. The treated samples showed considerable changes of enhancement in linolenic and linoleic acids among poly-unsaturated fatty acids; and a reduction in palmitic acid content, among saturated fatty acids.     

The CPT Group of the Spin-3/2 Field

We find out that both the matrix and the operator CPT groups for the spin-3/2 field (with or without mass) are respectively isomorphic to D ₄⋊ℤ₂ and Q×ℤ₂. These groups are exactly the same groups as for the Dirac field, though there is no a priori reason why they should coincide.     

The Canadian Penning Trap Spectrometer at Argonne

The Canadian Penning Trap (CPT) mass spectrometer is a device used for high-precision mass measurements on short-lived isotopes. It is located at the ATLAS superconducting heavy-ion linac facility where a novel injection system, the RF gas cooler, allows fast reaction products to be decelerated, thermalized and bunched for rapid and efficient injection into the CPT. The CPT spectrometer and its injection system will be described in detail and its unique capabilities with respect to its initial physics program, concentrating on isotopes around the N=Z line with particular emphasis on isotopes of interest to low-energy tests of the electroweak interaction and the rp-process, will be highlighted. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Conformational Transitions of the Catalytic Domain of Heme-Regulated Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2α Kinase, a Key Translational Regulatory Molecule

In mammalian cells, the heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI) plays a critical role in the regulation of protein synthesis at the initiation step through phosphorylation of α-subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). In this study we have cloned and performed biophysical characterization of the kinase catalytic domain (KD) of rabbit HRI. The KD described here comprises kinase 1, the kinase insertion domain (KI) and kinase 2. We report here the existence of an active and stable monomer of HRI (KD). The HRI (KD) containing three tryptophan residues was examined for its conformational transitions occurring under various denaturing conditions using steady-state and time-resolved tryptophan fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) and hydrophobic dye binding. The parameter A and phase diagram analysis revealed multi-state unfolding and existence of three stable intermediates during guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) induced unfolding of HRI (KD). The protein treated with 6 M Gdn-HCl showed collisional and static mechanism of acrylamide quenching and the constants (K _sv  = 3.08 M⁻¹and K _s   = 5.62 M⁻¹) were resolved using time resolved fluorescence titration. Based on pH, guanidine hydrochloride and temperature mediated transitions, HRI (KD) appears to exemplify a rigid molten globule-like intermediate with compact secondary structure, altered tertiary structure and exposed hydrophobic patches at pH 3.0. The results indicate the inherent structural stability of HRI (KD), a member of the class of stress response proteins.     

Three-dimensional triple-resonance NMR Spectroscopy of isotopically enriched proteins. 1990

Four new and complementary three-dimensional triple-resonance experiments are described for obtaining complete backbone ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N resonance assignments of proteins uniformly enriched with ¹³C and ¹⁵N. The new methods all rely on ¹H detection and use multiple magnetization transfers through well-resolved one-bond J couplings. Therefore, the 3D experiments are sensitive and permit relatively rapid recording of 3D spectra (l–2 days) for protein concentrations on the order of 1 mM. One experiment (HNCO) correlates the amide ¹H and ¹⁵N shifts with the ¹³C shift of the carbonyl resonance of the preceding amino acid. A second experiment (HNCA) correlates the intraresidue amide ¹H and ¹⁵N shifts with the Cα chemical shift. This experiment often also provides a weak correlation between the amide NH and ¹⁵N resonances of one amino acid and the Ca resonance of the preceding amino acid. A third experiment (HCACO) correlates the Hα and Cα shifts with the intraresidue carbonyl shift. Finally, a 3D relay experiment, HCA(CO)N, correlates Ha and Cal resonances of one residue with the ¹⁵N frequency of the succeeding residue. The principles of these experiments are described in terms of the operator formalism. To optimize spectral resolution, special attention is paid to removal of undesired J splittings in the 3D spectra. Technical details regarding the implementation of these triple-resonance experiments on a commercial spectrometer are also provided. The experiments are demonstrated for the protein calmodulin (16.7 kDa).     

Theoretical study on interaction of cytochrome f and plastocyanin complex by a simple coarse-grained model with molecular crowding effect

ABSTRACT

We present a simple coarse-grained model with the molecular crowding effect in solvent to investigate the structure and dynamics of protein complexes including association and/or dissociation processes and investigate some physical properties such as the structure and the reaction rate from the viewpoint of the hydrophobic intermolecular interactions of protein complex. In the present coarse-grained model, a function depending upon the density of hydrophobic amino acid residues in a binding area of the complex is introduced, and the function involves the molecular crowding effect for the intermolecular interactions of hydrophobic amino acid residues between proteins. We propose a hydrophobic intermolecular potential energy between proteins by using the density-dependent function. The present coarse-grained model is applied to the complex of cytochrome f and plastocyanin by using the Langevin dynamics simulation to investigate some physical properties such as the complex structure, the electron transfer reaction rate constant from plastocyanin to cytochrome f and so on. We find that for proceeding the electron transfer reaction, the distance between metals in their active sites is necessary within about 18 Å. We discuss some typical complex structures formed in the present simulation in relation to the molecular crowding effect on hydrophobic interactions.     

Development of the quantum discriminator for compact atomic clock

In the Laboratory of Frequency Standards, Quantum Radiophysics Division, Lebedev Physical Institute, a compact atomic standard of frequency and time is being developed. The results of this study make it possible to achieve a narrower metrological resonance of coherent population trapping (CPT) than in developed foreign analogues of compact atomic clocks, which will have a direct effect on the standard stability. The effect of the combination of buffer gas and antirelaxation coating on the CPT amplitude and resonance width are studied; parameters of short-cavity diode lasers (SCDLs) specially developed in collaboration with the Polyus Research and Development Institute are studied. A prototype of the compact physical discriminator for the atomic clock is developed and assembled. The dark width of the metrological resonance in the discriminator is less than 1 kHz, which theoretically implies the development of a compact atomic clock with a stability (Allan parameter) no worse than 3 · 10⁻¹² per hour.     

Nonlinear spectroscopy with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)

We have evaluated the suitability of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode (VCSEL) for spectroscopic applications. Despite its low output power it is possible to observe narrow resonances in a saturated absorption spectroscopy experiment on the cesium D ₂ transition at 852 nm, limited in width by the laser linewidth of several tens of MHz. High modulation efficiency of the VCSEL allows us to create modulation sidebands at 9.2 GHz frequency via direct modulation of the laser injection current. Using the carrier and either one of the sidebands coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances in a buffered cesium vapor can be prepared with linewidths below 130 Hz. With this very compact setup we have studied the dependence of CPT resonance position and linewidth as a function of optical detuning and find evidence of the influence of the excited state hyperfine structure. Received: 30 April 1999 / Revised version: 25 June 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

Collapse transitions of a periodic hydrophilic hydrophobic chain

We study a single self avoiding hydrophilic hydrophobic polymer chain, through Monte-Carlo lattice simulations. The affinity of monomer i for water is characterized by a (scalar) charge , and the monomer-water interaction is short-ranged. Assuming incompressibility yields an effective short ranged interaction between monomer pairs (i,j), proportional to . In this article, we take (resp. ()) for hydrophilic (resp. hydrophobic) monomers and consider a chain with (i) an equal number of hydro-philic and -phobic monomers (ii) a periodic distribution of the along the chain, with periodicity 2p. The simulations are done for various chain lengths N, in d=2 (square lattice) and d=3 (cubic lattice). There is a critical value p _c (d,N) of the periodicity, which distinguishes between different low temperature structures. For p >p _c , the ground state corresponds to a macroscopic phase separation between a dense hydrophobic core and hydrophilic loops. For p <p _c (but not too small), one gets a microscopic (finite scale) phase separation, and the ground state corresponds to a chain or network of hydrophobic droplets, coated by hydrophilic monomers. We restrict our study to two extreme cases, and to illustrate the physics of the various phase transitions. A tentative variational approach is also presented. Received: 10 March 1998 / Received in final form: 25 June 1998 / Accepted: 1st July 1998     

Phylogenetic analysis and homology modelling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracentrotus lividus</Emphasis> nectin

The extracellular matrix protein Pl-nectin, a 210-kDa homodimer originally purified from sea urchin eggs, plays a crucial role in cell adhesion and embryonic morphogenesis. The compiled cDNA sequence, obtained by RT-PCR primer walking and 3′ RACE, identified a 984aa product containing a 23aa signal peptide and including all six internal peptides identified by protein microsequencing. The protein is a new member of the galactose-binding protein superfamily as it consists of six 151–156aa-long tandemly repeated domains (D1–D6), homologous to the discoidin-like domains, also known as F5/8-type C domains. Based on homology modelling, we present a three-dimensional structure (3D) for D5, identified as the prototype domain. The molecular modelling of the assembled Pl-nectin homodimer accounts for a Pl-nectin quaternary structure composed of two 105-kDa C-shaped monomers linked by a S–S bridge. The presence of an LDT motif between the first and the second exposed loops of the D2 domain suggests the binding of Pl-nectin to an integrin receptor. Altogether, the in silico analysis described here is consistent with previous biochemical reports and offers a basis for predictions to be experimentally tested.     

Tests of fundamental symmetries and interactions – using nuclei and lasers

State of the art laser technology and modern spectroscopic methods allow to address issues of fundamental symmetries and fundamental interactions in atoms with high precision experiments. In particular the discrete symmetries Parity (P), Charge Conjugation (C), Time Reversal (T) as well as their combinations CP and CPT are in the center of interest at present. Actual projects are concerned with Parity Violation in atoms, Time Reversal Violation in β-decays and searches for permanent Electric Dipole Moments (EDMs), and tests of CPT conservation in particle-antiparticle properties, in particular antiprotonic atoms. This work is supported in part by the Dutch Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM) under programme number 48 (TRIμP).     

Preparation of supramolecular assembled films of fullerene C60 on the aqueous solution of water-soluble azocalixarene

A convenient procedure was developed to prepare an ultra-thin film of supermolecules of a spherical fullerene C₆₀ and water-soluble azocalix[6]arene. The C₆₀ molecule is so hydrophobic that it easily forms a three-dimensional aggregate on the water surface. When C₆₀ molecules were spread on an aqueous solution of water-soluble azocalixarene that acts as a host for C₆₀, the hydrophobic C₆₀ was captured in the cavity of the host molecule at the boundary of two phases and formed amphiphilic supermolecules. The supermolecules assembled spontaneously into ultra-thin films over 1-cm wide. The monolayer-like film could be transferred onto a solid support by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique or the inverse Langmuir–Schaefer technique. The morphology and the transferability of the supramolecular assembled films were examined by changing the host molecules, the initial density of C₆₀ on the water surface, the subphase temperature and the metal ions in the subphase.     

荧光探针1.8-ANS对尖吻蝮(AGKISTRODON ACUTUS)蛇毒出血毒素1疏水区的研究

尖吻蝮蛇毒出血毒素1(A2H-1)和荧光疏水探针1.8-ANS结合,其激发峰在370nm,发射峰在470nm,A2H-1存在着可探测的疏水区,ANS不抑制A2H-1的出血活性。每个A2H-1分子统计结合1.42个AaH分子,AaH-1-ANS的解离常数;Kd=1.53×10-5M。 AaH-1-ANS复合物的荧光强度对pH,温度,EDTA等条件的变化敏感,并相应引起出血活性的改变。AaH-1的Trp荧光能部分地转移到结合的ANS上,转移效率为0.523,说明Trp可能处于AaH-1分子表面的凹陷疏水区。     

Structural Insight into Stabilization of Pickering Emulsions with Fe3O4@SiO2 Nanoparticles for Enzyme Catalysis in Organic Media

Encapsulation of enzymes with enhanced activity and recyclability in water‐in‐oil Pickering emulsions is a simple and efficient method for their immobilization; however, the effect produced by the structure of colloidal particles on the stabilization of the Pickering emulsion for enzyme catalysis has not been investigated in detail. In this study, four types of hydrophobic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) with similar chemical compositions, particle diameters, but different surface characteristics have been prepared and utilized for enzyme encapsulation in various water‐in‐oil magnetic Pickering emulsions, after which the relationship between NPs structure, size of emulsions droplets, and enzyme activity is examined. The obtained results indicate that (i) the more hydrophobic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ NPs cause the higher enzyme activity; (ii) the higher hydrophobicity of oil phase also increases the enzyme activity, especially for Fe₃O₄@w‐SiO₂ NPs which form in the solvent of water. The results are mainly attributed to the higher specific surface area of emulsion droplets and interfacial mass transfer of substrates through the interfaces of droplets. The reported data provide new insights into the mechanism of stabilization of Pickering emulsions for enhancing enzyme activity and demonstrate efficient theoretical references for enzyme immobilization and synthesis of stable and active biocatalysts with high recyclability.     

Frequency Stability of Atomic Clocks Based on Coherent Population Trapping Resonance in ^85Rb

An atomic clock system based on coherent population trapping （CPT） resonance in 85Rb is reported, while most past works about the CPT clock are in ST Rb. A new modulation method （full-hyperfine-frequency-splitting modulation） is presented to reduce the effect of light shift to improve the frequency stability of the CPT clock in SSRb. The experimental results show that the short-term frequency stability of the CPT clock in SSRb is in the order of 10^-10/s and the long-term frequency stability can achieve 1.5 × 10^-11/80000s, which performs as well as 87 Rb in CPT resonance. This very good frequency stability performance associated with the low-cost and low-power properties of SSRb indicates that an atomic clock based on CPT in SSRb should be a promising candidate for making the chip scale atomic clock.