Electron mobility in poly(3-hexylthiophene) enhanced by gamma-ray irradiation

Gamma-ray irradiation effects on the photoresponsive thin-film devices based on the regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) conjugated polymer have been studied by means of atomic force microscopy, UV–vis absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and time-of-flight measurements. As a result, increased light absorption in the red region and PL quenching induced by the irradiation were observed. Besides, enhancement of the electron/hole mobilities, attributable to improved ordering or increased nanodomain size of the P3HT thin films, was revealed.     

Fe（CO）5双色共振增强多光子电离研究

利用超声分子束、强激光多光子电离和飞行时间质谱探测装置研究了Fe(CO)_5分子在355nm、532nm和355nm+532nm单、双色激光作用下的多光子电离质谱.实验结果证明了双色激光的共振增强电离作用.由飞行时间质谱的展宽峰型结构估算了Fe(CO)_5等分子的光解离寿命与Fe~+和Fe(CO)_5离子分子反应截面.     

Prediction of enhanced ferromagnetism in (Ga,Mn)As by intrinsic defect manipulation

In the diluted magnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As the excess of As incorporated as As antisites (As_Ga) is responsible for the hole compensation. The As_Ga defect can be transformed into a As interstitial–Ga vacancy pair (As_i–V_Ga) upon illumination. In this paper we study the effects of such a transition on the ferromagnetism of (Ga,Mn)As using density functional theory within the local spin density approximation. We find that the ferromagnetic order in (Ga,Mn)As is strongly enhanced if As_Ga are transformed into As_i–V_Ga pairs, since the hole compensation is reduced. This suggests a valuable way to tune the carrier concentration and hence the T_c in (Ga,Mn)As, without changing the Mn concentration nor the microscopic configuration of the Mn ions.     

Glutamate-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells is mediated via caspase-dependent and independent mechanisms involving calpain and caspase-3 proteases as well as apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and this process is inhibited by equine estrogens

Background  

Glutamate, a major excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, causes apoptotic neuronal cell death at high concentrations. Our previous studies have shown that depending on the neuronal cell type, glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death was associated with regulation of genes such as Bcl-2, Bax, and/or caspase-3 and mitochondrial cytochrome c. To further delineate the intracellular mechanisms, we have investigated the role of calpain, an important calcium-dependent protease thought to be involved in apoptosis along with mitochondrial apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and caspase-3 in primary cortical cells and a mouse hippocampal cell line HT22.     

Enhanced memory performance by tailoring the microstructural evolution of (ZrO2)0.6(SiO2)0.4 charge trapping layer in the nanocrystallites-based charge trap flash memory cells

ZrO₂ nanocrystallites based charge trap memory cells by incorporating a (ZrO₂)_0.6(SiO₂)_0.4 film as a charge trapping layer and amorphous Al₂O₃ as tunneling and blocking layer were prepared and investigated. The precipitation reaction in charge trapping layer forming ZrO₂ nanocrystallites during rapid thermal annealing was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The density and size of ZrO₂ nanocrystallites are the critical factors for controlling the charge storage characteristics. The ZrO₂ nanocrystallites based memory cells after postannealing at 800 ^°C for 60 s exhibit the best electrical characteristics and a low charge loss ～5 % after 10⁵ write/erase cycles operation.     

Analysis of the spatial structure of calixarenes in solutions by 2-D NMR (NOESY) spectroscopy

The spatial structure of calixarenes has been investigated by two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY). A technique to study spatial structure of small molecules based on the combination of the method of small relaxation delays (Fast NOESY) and the method to measure relative cross-peak intensities has been proposed and approved. The given combination of methods allows one at a fixed time to reach a greater accuracy of measurements in comparison with other methods.     

Identification of anthocyanins in plant sources and textiles by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

The aim of the present study was to provide experimental procedures for the identification of anthocyanin‐based dyes used in antiquity. In particular, we assessed the possibility to identify anthocyanins, both in plant extracts and in dyed textiles, by means of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a very chemically specific technique that is moreover sensitive to the changes in structures of molecules, phenomena that occur extensively in the chemistry of anthocyanins. The choice of the plant sources (bilberry, elderberry, sumac, purple corn and hollyhock) was based on their attested use in history as dyeing matters. Suitable extraction and pre‐treatment procedures were optimized both for plant sources (berries, cob glumes and flowers) and textiles dyed with such sources in the laboratory, followed by SERS analyses at different pH values. Finally, special attention was paid to the well‐known instability of anthocyanins: dyed wool samples were exposed to artificial aging in order to verify the possibility to identify such molecules also in faded textiles. The achievement of reliable surface‐enhanced Raman spectra from these samples encourages us to suggest the protocol for the analysis of historical objects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection and analysis of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) in environmental samples by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Techniques for rapid and sensitive detection of energetics such as cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) are needed both for environmental and security screening applications. Here we report the use of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to detect traces of RDX with good sensitivity and reproducibility. Using gold (Au) nanoparticles (∼90–100 nm in diameter) as SERS substrates, RDX was detectable at concentrations as low as 0.15 mg/l in a contaminated groundwater sample. This detection limit is about two orders of magnitude lower than those reported previously using SERS techniques. A surface enhancement factor of ∼6 × 10⁴ was obtained. This research further demonstrates the potential for using SERS as a rapid, in situ field screening tool for energetics detection when coupled with a portable Raman spectrometer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The enhanced electron injection by fluorinated tris-(8-hydroxy-quinolinato) aluminum derivatives in high efficient Si-anode OLEDs

Fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and lasers on silicon substrates is a feasible route to integrate microelectronic chips with optical devices for telecommunications. However, the efficiency of Si-anode based OLEDs is restricted by the imbalance of hole-electron injection because a p-type Si anode owns better hole injection ability than ITO. We have used fluorinated tris-(8-hydroxy-quinolinato) aluminum (FAlq₃) derivatives to prepare Si-anode based OLEDs. We observed that, when tris-(5-fuloro-8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum (5FAlq₃) is used as the electron-transporting material instead of Alq₃, the cathode electron injection is enhanced due to its lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) compared to the Alq₃. The device can keep the relative carrier balance even when a Si anode capable of stronger hole injection was used. Further optimization of the device structure by introducing 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP) as a hole blocking layer showed significant increase in the device power efficiency from 0.029 to 0.462 lm/W. This indicates that use of fluorinated Alq₃ derivatives is an effective way to improve the performance of Si-anode based OLEDs.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of chloramphenicol in Ag colloids prepared by microwave heating method

Ag colloids were prepared by the microwave heating method. The UV‐visible spectrum and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the Ag colloids. The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of chloramphenicol (CAP) in Ag colloids were successfully recorded. The Raman spectra of CAP were recorded with good concordance comparing to the theoretical results calculated by the Gaussian'98 program. CAP molecules on the Ag surface are oriented tilted to the particle surface via C20‐O23, N‐O13, and N‐O23, which played an important role in the SERS effect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on the (1, 2) and (2, 3) bands in the comet-tail system of 12C16O+ by optical heterodyne magnetic rotation enhanced velocity modulation spectroscopy

Optical heterodyne magnetic rotation enhanced velocity modulation spectroscopy was employed to observe the absorption spectra of the (1, 2) and (2, 3) bands of the comet-tail (A² Π_i—X²Σ⁺) system of CO⁺ in the visible region. A rotational analysis was performed to obtain more precise molecular constants for the four involved vibrational levels. Moreover, accurate RKR potentials and the Franck-Condon factors are given for these four vibronic levels. This calclulation reveals that v = 0, 5, 10 vibrational levels in the A state will be perturbed by the v = 10, 14, 18 levels in the × state, respectively, and the v = 9 level might be weakly perturbed by the v = 17 level.     

Morphological and optical properties changes in nanocrystalline Si (nc-Si) deposited on porous aluminum nanostructures by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition for Solar energy applications

Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy was used to determine the electrical band gap of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) deposited by plasma enhancement chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on porous alumina structure by fitting the experimental spectra using a model based on the quantum confinement of electrons in Si nanocrystallites having spherical and cylindrical forms. This model permits to correlate the PL spectra to the microstructure of the porous aluminum silicon layer (PASL) structure. The microstructure of aluminum surface layer and nc-Si films was systematically studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the structure of the nanocrystalline silicon layer (NSL) is dependent of the porosity (void) of the porous alumina layer (PAL) substrate. This structure was performed in two steps, namely the PAL substrate was prepared using sulfuric acid solution attack on an Al foil and then the silicon was deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on it. The optical constants (n and k as a function of wavelength) of the deposited films were obtained using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the UV-vis-NIR regions. The SE spectrum of the porous aluminum silicon layer (PASL) was modeled as a mixture of void, crystalline silicon and aluminum using the Cauchy model approximation. The specific surface area (SSA) was estimated and was found to decrease linearly when porosity increases. Based on this full characterization, it is demonstrated that the optical characteristics of the films are directly correlated to their micro-structural properties.     

Effect of vasodilator hydralazine on tumor microvascular random flow and blood volume as measured by intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) weighted MRI in conjunction with Gd-DTPA-Albumin enhanced MRI.

We studied the effect of hydralazine on tumor blood volume fraction and microvascular random flow velocity magnitude by IVIM weighted MRI in conjunction with dynamic Gd-DTPA-Albumin enhanced MRI. Blood volume fraction maps were obtained from the dynamic Gd-DTPA-Albumin enhanced MRI measurements. The average blood volume fraction of R3230 AC adenocarcinoma decreased from 0.125 +/- 0.022 (s.d.) ml/g to 0.105 +/- 0.018 (s.d.) ml/g (p < 0.001) after the administration of hydralazine at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The microvascular random flow velocity magnitude maps were obtained from the IVIM weighted MRI signals by utilizing the Gd-DTPA-Albumin measured blood volume fractions as an input in the compartmental modeling analysis of the IVIM weighted MRI signal. The random-directional microvascular flow induced MRI signal attenuation was separated from the molecular diffusion induced signal attenuation. Flow induced attenuation was more significant after the administration of hydralazine. The mean microvascular random flow velocity magnitude increased from 0.52 +/- 0.15 (s.d.) mm/sec to 0.73 +/- 0.23 (s.d.) mm/sec (p < 0.05) in the presence of the above blood volume fraction change.     

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 on a copper electrode in 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF4) monitored by surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

The electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into value‐added products using room temperature ionic liquids as solvent/electrolyte has been proposed as an alternative to minimize the environmental effects of CO₂ emissions. A key issue in the design of electrochemical systems for the reduction of CO₂ is the in situ identification of intermediate surface species as well as reaction products. Copper electrodes, besides being used as cathodes in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂, present surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) when properly activated. In this sense, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ over a copper electrode in the room temperature ionic liquids 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF₄) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and by in situ SERS. The cyclic voltammetries have shown that the presence of CO₂ on the BMI.BF₄ anticipates the reduction of BMI⁺ to the corresponding carbene. Fourier‐transform‐SERS spectra excited at 1064 nm and SERS spectra excited at 632.8 nm have shown vibrational signals from adsorbed CO. These SERS results indicated that CO adsorbs on the copper surface at two different surface sites. The observation of a 2275 cm⁻¹ vibration in the SERS spectra also confirmed the presence of chemically adsorbed CO₂. Other products of CO₂ reduction in BMI.BF₄, besides CO, were identified, including BMI carbene and the BMI‐CO₂ adduct. The SERS results also suggest that the presence of a thin film of Cu₂O on the copper surface anticipates the reduction of CO₂ to CO, an important component of syngas. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The neuroblast and angioblast chemotaxic factor SDF-1 (CXCL12) expression is briefly up regulated by reactive astrocytes in brain following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury

Background  

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12) is chemotaxic for CXCR4 expressing bone marrow-derived cells. It functions in brain embryonic development and in response to ischemic injury in helping guide neuroblast migration and vasculogenesis. In experimental adult stroke models SDF-1 is expressed perivascularly in the injured region up to 30 days after the injury, suggesting it could be a therapeutic target for tissue repair strategies. We hypothesized that SDF-1 would be expressed in similar temporal and spatial patterns following hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in neonatal brain.     

Incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into membrane mimetic systems composed by phospholipid layer‐by‐layer (LbL) films to achieve surface‐enhanced Raman scattering as a tool in drug interaction studies

The synergistic effect produced by nanoparticles when incorporated into different systems used as analytical tools represents a growing research field nowadays. On the other hand, the study of interactions involving pharmacological drugs and biological membranes using phospholipids as mimetic systems is a research field already well established. Here, we combine both the anionic phospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG) and negative Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) to form layer‐by‐layer (LbL) multilayered films using the cationic polymer poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) as the supporting polyelectrolyte, which were further investigated in the presence of a phenothiazine compound (methylene blue—MB). The molecular architecture of the LbL films in terms of controlled growth, morphology with micro and nanometer spatial resolutions, and dispersion of both AgNP and MB within the DPPG matrix was determined combining spectroscopy [ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption and micro‐Raman spectroscopy] and microscopy [scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM)]. The results showed that the LbL films can be grown in a controlled way at nanometer thickness scale with the surface morphology susceptible to the presence of both AgNP and MB. The surface‐enhanced phenomenon was applied to investigate the LbL films taking the advantage of the strong surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) signal presented by the MB molecules. Besides, as MB is a pharmacological drug of interest, its molecular arrangements when dispersed in LbL films containing DPPG, which is the biological membrane mimetic system here, were investigated. In this case, the AgNP played a key role in achieving the MB SERRS signal. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">recombination activation gene 1</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rag1</Emphasis>) is expressed in a subset of zebrafish olfactory neurons but is not essential for axon targeting or amino acid detection

Background  

Rag1 (Recombination activation gene-1) mediates genomic rearrangement and is essential for adaptive immunity in vertebrates. This gene is also expressed in the olfactory epithelium, but its function there is unknown.