Hydrogen bond studies: 80. A deuteron magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopic study of the water molecule in lithium formate monohydrate,LiHCOO · H2O

A deuteron magnetic resonance and infrared study of the water molecules in lithium formate monohydrate, LiHCOO · H₂O, has been made. The quadrupole coupling constants (e²qQ/h) and asymmetry parameters (η) were found to be 198.7±0.4 and 231.3±0.6 kHz, and 0.060±0.005 and 0.097±0.003, respectively, at 25 ° C.An interpretation is given of the infrared spectra in the OH-stretching region in terms of intra- and intermolecular couplings of the water molecules. It is found that the water molecules are vibrationally distorted by their environments such that the OH-stretching modes consist of independent stretchings of the two O-H bonds.     

Hydrogen bond studies: Part 118. A deuteron magnetic resonance study of BeSO4· 4D2O and Li2SO4· D2O

The electric field gradient (EFG) tensors at the deuterons in the water molecules in BeSO₄ · 4D₂O at 25°C are reported. The quadrupole coupling constants (e²Q/h) and asymmetry parameters (η) for the two independent deuterons are 181.1(4) and 194.8(3) kHz, and 0.226(4) and 0.123(3), respectively. The EFG tensor corresponding to the smallest e²qQ/h is considerably distorted by the beryllium ion, which causes a high η value as well as a deviation of the y-principal axis by 21.8(6)° from the normal to the water molecule plane. A redetermination of the EFG tensors at the deuterons in the water molecule in Li₂SO₄ · D₂O at 25°C and ?110°C is also reported. The e²Q/h and η values for the two deuterons are 236.6(1.2) and 239.8(1.1) kHz, and 0.091(8) and 0.126(7), respectively, at ?110°C. The corresponding e²qQ/h and η values for the averaged EFG tensor at 25°C are 125.8(1.1) kHz and 0.813(13), respectively. The results are in good agreement with those from the pioneer work by Ketudat and Pound, 20 years ago on the same compound.     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from air particulate matter using a temperature programmable injector coupled to GC–C–IRMS†

Compound specific isotopic analysis (CSIA) can provide information about the origin of analysed compounds – in this case, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In the study, PAHs were extracted from three dust samples: winter and summer filter dust and tunnel dust. The measurement was performed using the method validated in our laboratory using pure, solid compounds and EPA 610 reference assortment.

CSIA required an appropriate clean-up method to avoid an unresolved complex in the gas chromatographic analysis usually found in the chromatography of PAHs. Extensive sample clean-up for this particular matrix was found to be necessary to obtain good gas chromatography–combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis results. The sample purification method included two steps in which the sample is cleaned up and the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons are separated.

The concentration of PAHs in the measured samples was low; so a large volume injection technique (100 μl) was applied. The δ_VPDB ¹³C was measured with a final uncertainty smaller than 1 ‰. Comparison of the δ_VPDB ¹³C signatures of PAHs extracted from different dust samples was feasible with this method and, doing so, significant differences were observed.     

Entangled state quantum cryptography: eavesdropping on the ekert protocol

Using polarization-entangled photons from spontaneous parametric down-conversion, we have implemented Ekert's quantum cryptography protocol. The near-perfect correlations of the photons allow the sharing of a secret key between two parties. The presence of an eavesdropper is continually checked by measuring Bell's inequalities. We investigated several possible eavesdropper strategies, including pseudo-quantum-nondemolition measurements. In all cases, the eavesdropper's presence was readily apparent. We discuss a procedure to increase her detectability.     

The complete matter sector in a three-generation compactification

We consider a Calabi-Yau compactification paradigm with three light generations and anR-symmetry. From a special form of the Tian-Yau manifold, we also construct a new three-generation model with markedly different phenomenology. Thecomplete spectrum of all light matter fields is obtained in a universal way and moreover in a physically suitable basis, allowing a straightforward analysis of all their couplings. Here we discuss all the renormalizable Yukawa couplings. This computation can equally well be repeated for all compactification models based on Calabi-Yau complete intersections in products of homogeneous spaces.     

Feedback localization of freely diffusing fluorescent particles near the optical shot-noise limit

We report near-optimal tracking of freely diffusing fluorescent particles in a quasi-two-dimensional geometry via photon counting and real-time feedback. We present a quantitative statistical model of our feedback network and find excellent agreement with the experiment. We monitor the motion of a single fluorescent particle with a sensitivity of 15 nm/sqrt Hz while collecting fewer than 5000 fluorescence photons/s. Fluorescent microspheres (diffusion coefficient 1.3 microm2/s) are tracked with a root-mean-square tracking error of 170 nm, within a factor of 2 of the theoretical limit set by photon counting shot noise.     

Long-range order in a polycrystalline Pd-30 at % Au solid solution

Using x-ray analysis, at % the existence of regions with a long-range order of the Cu₃Au type has been established in a polycrystalline Pd-30 at % Au solid solution.     

High-density targeting of a viral multifunctional nanoplatform to a pathogenic, biofilm-forming bacterium

Nanomedicine directed at diagnosis and treatment of infections can benefit from innovations that have substantially increased the variety of available multifunctional nanoplatforms. Here, we targeted a spherical, icosahedral viral nanoplatform to a pathogenic, biofilm-forming bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. Density of binding mediated through specific protein-ligand interactions exceeded the density expected for a planar, hexagonally close-packed array. A multifunctionalized viral protein cage was used to load imaging agents (fluorophore and MRI contrast agent) onto cells. The fluorescence-imaging capability allowed for direct observation of penetration of the nanoplatform into an S. aureus biofilm. These results demonstrate that multifunctional nanoplatforms based on protein cage architectures have significant potential as tools for both diagnosis and targeted treatment of recalcitrant bacterial infections.