PROPERTIES OF THYMINE DIMERS

Abstract— The photochemical and chemical properties of the four dimers of thymine have been studied. The extinction coefficients, reversal cross-sections and quantum yields for reversal are presented as a function of wavelength in the range 200–289 nm. At any wavelength, the dimers have different reversal cross-sections but also different extinction coefficients. The quantum yields for reversal are nearly the same for all four dimers, the values ranging from 0·6 to 0·9 over the wavelength range 200–289 nm. Titration curves for the four dimers show that for each dimer, two groups are involved with two pK's at about 10·5 and 12·2. Dimers A and B are stable at alkali and acid pH's. Dimers C and D are stable from pH 1 to 3 and unstable at other pH's, with thymine the main degradation product.     

Photodissociation quantum yield of NO2 in the region 375 to 420 nm

The absolute absorption cross section and photodissociation quantum yield of NO₂ were determined over the wavelength region 375 to 420 nm at a temperature of 296 K. The quantum yield measurements were made at 1 nm intervals over this frequency range with an accuracy of ± 7%. The data show a significant decrease in the quantum yield between 380 and 390 nm indicating the possibility of a non-dissociating NO₂ excited state in this region.     

UV absorption cross-sections of a series of dimethylbenzaldehydes

The ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5- dimethylbenzaldehydes are reported in the wavelength range 240-320 nm. The measurements were carried out in the temperature range 318-363 K using two different experimental systems (D 2 lamp-monochromator and D 2 lamp-diode array). The absorption spectra of the five aldehydes have been found to exhibit relatively high absorption cross-sections in the region of the tropospheric interest with maxima around 290 nm. This work provides the first UV cross-section measurements for these aromatic aldehydes. The obtained cross-section values enable us to estimate the tropospheric photolysis lifetimes of these compounds. The results suggest that photolysis could be an important removal process for these species in the troposphere.     

Two-photon spectroscopy of cyclometalated iridium complexes

The near-infrared two-photon absorption (TPA) spectra of a series of cyclometalated iridium complexes have been measured. These complexes exhibit moderately large TPA cross-sections of approximately 20 GM at the biological relevant wavelength of 800 nm. A new complex has been designed and synthesised, and found to have an increased cross-section of 44 GM at 800 nm. Full photophysical characterisation of this complex is presented.     

Saturable absorption dynamics in the triplet system and triplet excitation induced singlet fluorescence of some organic molecules

The triplet saturable absorption behaviour of the xanthene dyes eosin Y, erythrosin B, and rose bengal and of the fullerene molecule C₇₀ is studied. The molecules are excited to the S₁-state by intense picosecond pulses (wavelength λ_P=527 nm). They relax dominantly to the triplet system by intersystem crossing. The triplet–triplet saturable absorption is investigated with time-delayed intense picosecond pulses (wavelength λ_L=1054 nm) in the transparency region of the molecules in the singlet ground state. Higher excited-state triplet absorption cross-sections and higher excited-state triplet relaxation times are determined by numerical simulation of the experimental results. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements reveal higher excited-state triplet to singlet back-intersystem-crossing and multi-step triplet photoionization. Additionally the two-photon absorption cross-sections at λ_L=1054 nm are determined by measurement of the fundamental pulse two-photon induced fluorescence relative to the second-harmonic pulse single-photon induced fluorescence.     

两个系列星型准八极矩分子单光子和双光子吸收性质的理论研究

采用DFT/B3LYP/6-31G*和ZINDO-SOS方法, 系统地研究了两个系列(以苯为中心的a系列和以三苯胺为中心的b系列)星型准八极矩分子及其单枝物的单光子和双光子吸收性质. 结果表明, b系列分子有较大的双光子吸收截面和更长的单光子和双光子吸收波长. 星型三分枝分子的双光子吸收截面较其单个分枝增长了超过3倍因为存在分枝间的相互作用. 含1,3,4-噁二唑的分子比含2,1,3-苯并噻二唑的分子有更大的双光子吸收截面但是最大吸收波长却蓝移, 不在红外或近红外区域.     

Temperature dependent absorption cross-sections for acetone and n-butanone—implications for atmospheric lifetimes

Temperature dependent absorption cross-sections for acetone and n-butanone have been measured over the temperature range 260–360 K for 260 nm < λ < 360 nm. The temperature dependence of the cross-sections was fitted using simple, two-level models to allow the measured cross-sections to be extrapolated to upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric temperatures. Atmospheric photoexcitation rates were calculated as a function of altitude using both room temperature and temperature dependent cross-sections. Absorption in the 310–330 nm region makes the dominant contribution to solar photoexcitation in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Neglect of the temperature dependence of the absorption cross-sections results in significant over-estimations of the solar photoexcitation rate for both acetone and n-butanone in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Since the atmospheric lifetimes of these compounds are inversely proportional to the photoexcitation rate, current models may underestimate the upper atmospheric lifetimes of these compounds by ≈50%.     

Assessing the optical changes in dissolved organic matter in humic lakes by spectral slope distributions

The impact of photodegradation and mixing processes on the optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was examined using a distribution of absorption spectral slopes and fluorescence measurements in two Argentine lakes. By examining the variability of the absorption spectral slopes throughout the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, it was possible to determine which wavelength intervals were most sensitive to dominant loss processes. For DOM photodegradation, results show that increases in the absorption spectral slope between 265 and 305 nm were highly sensitive to increased exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. A slightly larger wavelength range (265-340 nm) was found to be influenced when both mixing and photodegradation processes were considered, in terms DOM residence time, DOM absorption and UV diffuse attenuation coefficients. This same interval of spectral slopes (265-340 nm) was found to highly correlate with changes in fluorescence emission/excitation in wavelengths that are typically associated with terrestrial humic-like DOM. The identification of specific wavelength intervals, rather than the use of standard wavelength intervals or ratios, improved our ability to identify the dominant dissolved organic matter (humic-like) and major loss mechanisms (photodegradation) in these lakes.     

WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE (150–290 nm) OF THE FORMATION OF THE CYCLOBUTANE DIMER AND THE (6–4) PHOTOPRODUCT OF THYMINE

The action cross sections for the formation of the cyclobutane dimer and the (6-4) photoproduct of thymine as well as the absorption cross sections of thymine were determined in the wavelength region between 150 and 290 nm. Thymine films sublimed on glass plates were irradiated by monochromatic photons in a vacuum; the induced photoproducts were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Under our conditions, two major peaks appeared on the HPLC chromatograms of irradiated samples. The two peaks were identified as being the cis-syn cyclobutane dimer and the (6-4) photoproduct, based on their HPLC retention times, absorption spectra in the effluent, and photochemical reactivity. The fractions of the two photoproducts increased linearly with the fluence at low fluences over the entire wavelength range. Their action cross sections were determined by the slopes of the linear fluence response curve at 10 nm intervals between 150 and 290 nm. The two action spectra showed a similar wavelength dependence and had a maximum at 270 nm as well as two minor peaks at 180 and 220 nm, at which wavelengths the peaks of the absorption spectrum of thymine sublimed on a CaF2 crystal plate appeared. The quantum yields had relatively constant values of around 0.008 for the dimer and 0.013 for the (6-4) photoproduct above 200 nm, decreasing to 0.003 and 0.006, respectively, at 150 nm as the wavelength became shorter.     

Biological nano-ceramic materials for holographic data storage

Here we present, a two-photon absorption (2PA) study in Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ oxidation states of cytochrome c molecule in water solution, using the femtosecond Z-scan technique with pulses from 560 to 850 nm. No qualitative difference was observed in the 2PA process for the two Fe oxidation states. The 2PA cross-sections, for both samples, increase as the wavelength approaches the absorption band, in agreement with the resonant denominator in the sum-over states model, presenting a maximum value of approximately 1000 GM at about 600 nm.     

Investigating the Red Shift between in vitro and in vivo Urocanic Acid Photoisomerization Action Spectra

Abstract— Trans-urocanic acid (UCA) is found in the upper layer of the skin and UV irradiation induces its photoisomerization to cis -UCA. Cis -UCA mimics some of the immunosuppressive properties of UV exposure. The wavelength dependence for in vitro photoisomerization of trans-UCA (15 μM) over the spectral range 250 nm-340 nm (10 nm intervals) was determined. The action spectrum revealed that maximal cis-UCA production occurred at 280 nm, which is red-shifted by 10-12 nm from its absorption peak at 268 nm and differs markedly from the reported action spectra for cis-UCA production in mouse skin in vivo , which peaks at 300-310 nm. The reasons for the red shift between the in vitro and in vivo action spectra are not clear. There is limited evidence suggesting that the UV absorption maximum of trans- UCA red shifts from 268 nm in vitro to 310 nm on interaction with stratum corneum proteins in vivo. This phenomenon was investigated by applying trans-UCA (2.5 mg/cm²) in an oil emulsion to isolated human stratum corneum. After incubation at 37°C for 1 h, the absorption spectra of stratum corneum with UCA and with oil only were compared using a Xe arc source and a spectrora-diometer. A moderate red shift in trans-UCA absorption from ∼268 nm to 280 nm was observed. In summary, we suggest that the 10-12 nm red shift between the UCA absorption spectrum peak and the action spectrum peak in vitro may be accounted for by the wavelength dependence of quantum yields reported over the 254-313 nm range. The red shift between the in vitro and in vivo photoisomerization action spectra may result from the 10 to 12 nm red shift in the absorption of UCA in association with stratum corneum proteins, combined with increasing quantum yields over the 254-313 nm range.     

Spegtrophotometrig Determination of α -Tocopherol Acetate in Soft Capsules

Abstract

Two spectrophotometric methods have been described for the determination of α -tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) in soft capsules. The first method applies the orthogonal function method under least squares. The quadratic coefficients calculated over the wavelength range 277 - 304 nm at 4-nm intervals in chloroform were reproducible and independent of ethyl oleate concentration. The second method applies the second derivative (D₂) to correct for irrelevant absorbance due to ethyl oleate The peak trough amplitude at 271 - 287 nm was in linear correlation to the concentration of vitamin E. The recoveries obtained using the proposed methods agreed with those obtained using the official proceduce.     

Quantum-sized gold clusters as efficient two-photon absorbers

The two-photon absorption properties of Au25 cluster has been investigated with the aid of two-photon excited fluorescence in the communication wavelength region with a cross-section of 2700 GM at 1290 nm. Additional visible fluorescence has been discovered for small gold clusters which is two-photon allowed (after excitation at 800 nm), and the absolute cross-section has been determined for gold clusters with number of gold atoms varying from 25 to all the way up to 2406 using one and two-photon excited time-resolved fluorescence upconversion measurements. Record high TPA cross-sections have been measured for quantum sized clusters making them suitable for two-photon imaging as well as other applications such as optical power limiting and lithography.     

Syntheses of Novel Asymmetric Cyclopentanone Dyes and Measurement of Two－photon Absorption Cross－section

A simple synthesis route with a high yield of novel asymmetric cyclopentanone dyes 3a—3e and their highly two-photon up-converted fluorescences are reported. The dyes have good solubilities in most of ordi-nary solvents, a wide UV absorption wavelength range from 380—540 nm, and high fluorescence quantum yields. The two-photon absorption cross-sections of dyes 3a—M were measured in chloroform by a two-pho-ton induced fluorescence method. All of these properties of the new dyes make them suitable for being used as two-photon fluorescent probes.     

Calculated absorption and scattering properties of gold nanoparticles of different size, shape, and composition: applications in biological imaging and biomedicine

The selection of nanoparticles for achieving efficient contrast for biological and cell imaging applications, as well as for photothermal therapeutic applications, is based on the optical properties of the nanoparticles. We use Mie theory and discrete dipole approximation method to calculate absorption and scattering efficiencies and optical resonance wavelengths for three commonly used classes of nanoparticles: gold nanospheres, silica-gold nanoshells, and gold nanorods. The calculated spectra clearly reflect the well-known dependence of nanoparticle optical properties viz. the resonance wavelength, the extinction cross-section, and the ratio of scattering to absorption, on the nanoparticle dimensions. A systematic quantitative study of the various trends is presented. By increasing the size of gold nanospheres from 20 to 80 nm, the magnitude of extinction as well as the relative contribution of scattering to the extinction rapidly increases. Gold nanospheres in the size range commonly employed ( approximately 40 nm) show an absorption cross-section 5 orders higher than conventional absorbing dyes, while the magnitude of light scattering by 80-nm gold nanospheres is 5 orders higher than the light emission from strongly fluorescing dyes. The variation in the plasmon wavelength maximum of nanospheres, i.e., from approximately 520 to 550 nm, is however too limited to be useful for in vivo applications. Gold nanoshells are found to have optical cross-sections comparable to and even higher than the nanospheres. Additionally, their optical resonances lie favorably in the near-infrared region. The resonance wavelength can be rapidly increased by either increasing the total nanoshell size or increasing the ratio of the core-to-shell radius. The total extinction of nanoshells shows a linear dependence on their total size, however, it is independent of the core/shell radius ratio. The relative scattering contribution to the extinction can be rapidly increased by increasing the nanoshell size or decreasing the ratio of the core/shell radius. Gold nanorods show optical cross-sections comparable to nanospheres and nanoshells, however, at much smaller effective size. Their optical resonance can be linearly tuned across the near-infrared region by changing either the effective size or the aspect ratio of the nanorods. The total extinction as well as the relative scattering contribution increases rapidly with the effective size, however, they are independent of the aspect ratio. To compare the effectiveness of nanoparticles of different sizes for real biomedical applications, size-normalized optical cross-sections or per micron coefficients are calculated. Gold nanorods show per micron absorption and scattering coefficients that are an order of magnitude higher than those for nanoshells and nanospheres. While nanorods with a higher aspect ratio along with a smaller effective radius are the best photoabsorbing nanoparticles, the highest scattering contrast for imaging applications is obtained from nanorods of high aspect ratio with a larger effective radius.     

Phase transition of layer structure of poly(1,4-benzenedithiol-co-1,4-diethynylbenzene) by photon mode

The effect of light wavelength on the phase transition of the layer structure of poly(1,4-benzenedithiol-co-1,4-diethynylbenzene) was studied under an air atmosphere at 18–22°C. The thin layer polymer crystals were prepared by solid state polymerization, and the amount of the layer structure was evaluated by an X-ray diagram. A monochromatic light with a wavelength in the region of ca. 500–600 nm was used as a light source. The amount of the layer structure was found to be altered by light. There were three characteristic wavelengths at 545.6, 567.8 and 590.1 nm, inducing pronounced peak intensities in the X-ray diagram. On the other hand, at 501.1, 539.6, 571.8 and 588.1 nm the light made the peak intensity decrease steeply. The phase transition was induced by a photon mode, but not by a heat mode. The amount of the layer structure was altered linearly with increasing irradiation time up to 60 min. However, over 60 min the change became dull. The total energy given to the polymers during the irradiation was about 24 X 10^?3 J/cm². Accordingly, the phase transition occurs with a high sensitivity to the light. The polymers were irradiated alternately by the light of 545.6 nm and 571.8 nm at intervals of 60 min, respectively. The amount of the layer structure was controlled reversibly by the light.     

同步荧光分析法同时测定叶绿素a和叶绿素b

众所周知,叶绿素a和叶绿素b(分别用Chla和Chlb表示)在绿色植物的光合作用中起着极重要的作用。它们的测定通常用于不同波长处测量吸光度或在不同激发-发射波长下测量荧光强度,而后解联立方程的光度法。     

Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for quantitative determination of virgin olive oil adulteration with sunflower oil

Adulteration of extra virgin olive oil with sunflower oil is a major issue for the olive oil industry. In this paper, the potential of total synchronous fluorescence (TSyF) spectra to differentiate virgin olive oil from sunflower oil and synchronous fluorescence (SyF) spectra combined with multivariate analysis to assess the adulteration of virgin olive oil are demonstrated. TSyF spectra were acquired by varying the excitation wavelength in the region 270–720 nm and the wavelength interval (Δλ) in the region from 20 to 120 nm. TSyF contour plots for sunflower, in contrast to virgin olive oil, show a fluorescence region in the excitation wavelength range 325–385 nm. Fifteen different virgin olive oil samples were adulterated with sunflower oil at varying levels (0.5–95%) resulting in one hundred and thirty six mixtures. The partial least-squares regression model was used for quantification of the adulteration using wavelength intervals of 20 and 80 nm. This technique is useful for detection of sunflower oil in virgin olive oil at levels down to 3.4% (w/v) in just two and a half minutes using an 80-nm wavelength interval.     

Study on nonlinear spectroscopy of tetraphenylporphyrin and dithiaporphyrin diacids

The nonlinear absorption of two porphyrin diacids (H4TPP2+ and H2DSP2+), the diprotonated forms of free base tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) and dithiaporphyrin (DSP), were studied in the wavelength range of 500-650 nm. The two porphyrin diacids exhibited perturbed static and dynamic characteristics and enhanced nonlinear absorption properties relative to their parent neutral complexes in solution. Furthermore, for the dithiaporphyrin diacid, the introduction of S-atoms into the porphyrin core makes it a better candidate for optical limiting relative to the simple porphyrin. Their photophysical parameters such as ground and excited states absorption cross-sections, together with fluorescence lifetime and intersystem crossing time, were determined.     

ABSORPTION SPECTRA OF DEOXYRIBOSE, RIBOSEPHOSPHATE, ATP AND DNA BY DIRECT TRANSMISSION MEASUREMENTS IN THE VACUUM-UV (150—190 nm) AND FAR-UV (190—260 nm) REGIONS USING SYNCHROTRON RADIATION AS A LIGHT SOURCE

Transmission measurements of 2-deoxy-D-ribose, D-ribose-5-phosphate, ATP and DNA at 5 nm intervals were made with thin films in the wavelength region between 150 nm and 260 nm using synchrotron radiation. ATP and DNA exhibited two peaks in the absorption spectra around 260 nm and 190 nm, and a steep increase below 170 nm, while ribose phosphate and deoxyribose only exhibited the increase below 190 nm with no appreciable absorption above 190 nm. Since adenine does not exhibit the increase of absorption below 180 nm, these results indicate that the absorption of the sugar-phosphate group, rather than adenine, contributed to the increase below 170 nm in the absorption spectra of ATP and DNA.