Quantum nonlocality in the excitation energy transfer in the Fenna–Matthews–Olson complex

The Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) complex—a pigment protein complex involved in photosynthesis in green sulfur bacteria—is remarkably efficient in transferring excitation energy from light harvesting antenna molecules to a reaction center. Recent experimental and theoretical studies suggest that quantum coherence and entanglement may play a role in this excitation energy transfer (EET). We examine whether bipartite quantum nonlocality, a property that expresses a stronger‐than‐entanglement form of correlation, exists between different pairs of chromophores in the FMO complex when modeling the EET by the hierarchically coupled equations of motion method. We compare the results for nonlocality with the amount of bipartite entanglement in the system. In particular, we analyze in what way these correlation properties are affected by different initial conditions. It is found that bipartite nonlocality only exists when the initial conditions are chosen in an unphysiological manner and probably is absent when considering the EET in the FMO complex in its natural habitat. It is also seen that nonlocality and entanglement behave quite differently in this system. In particular, for localized initial states, nonlocality only exists on a very short time scale and then drops to zero in an abrupt manner. As already known from previous studies, quantum entanglement between chromophore pairs, on the other hand, is oscillating and exponentially decaying and follow thereby a pattern more similar to the chromophore population dynamics. The abrupt disappearance of nonlocality in the presence of nonvanishing entanglement is a phenomenon we call nonlocality sudden death; a striking manifestation of the difference between these two types of correlations in quantum systems.     

Pressure-adjusted continual flow heart-cutting for the high throughput determination of amphetamine-type stimulant drugs in whole blood by fast multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Innovative features and technical improvements in modern bench-top quadrupole gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) have prepared the way for faster and more cost-effective applications while still maintaining sufficient chromatographic resolution, speed of MS data acquisition and reliability of analytical methodology. In this paper, a short wide-bore capillary column with low film thickness (5 m x 0.32 mm i.d., 0.1 microm) was used a pre-fractionating column and only chosen heart-cuts were transferred to the second chromatographic dimension (15 m x 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 microm) by means of a pressure-adjusted continual flow type switching device for quantification of five common amphetamine-type stimulant drugs. The instrumental setting used, in combination with carefully optimized operational fast GC and MS parameters, markedly decreased the retention times of the targeted analytes, e.g., amphetamine 0.891 min and methamphetamine 1.037 min, and the total chromatographic runtime (1.700 min), as well as reducing the need for continuous cleaning of the MS ion source and increasing column life compared with conventional GC-MS approaches. The performance of the instrumental configuration and analytical method was evaluated in validation experiments and the method was also applied to authentic samples. The method demonstrates the potential of fast GC-MS in combination with a gas-phase microfluidic Deans switch device for analysing of (semi)volatile compounds, such as amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) drugs. This should be particularly useful in modern laboratories aiming at cost-efficient analysis as well as the optimum use of available laboratory capacity and instrumentation.     

Micelle and Vesicle Formation of Amphiphilic Nanoparticles

Nanoparticle brushes : Complex nanostructures can be formed by self assembly of amphiphilic CdSe/CdS core–shell nanoparticles that bear a brushlike layer of poly(ethylene oxide) chains. This route is based on controlling the volume fractions of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties within the particles and allows the formation of micellar, cylindrical, or vesicular nanoobjects (see picture).

     

The manganese ion of the heterodinuclear Mn/Fe cofactor in Chlamydia trachomatis ribonucleotide reductase R2c is located at metal position 1

The essential catalytic radical of Class-I ribonucleotide reductase is generated and delivered by protein R2, carrying a dinuclear metal cofactor. A new R2 subclass, R2c, prototyped by the Chlamydia trachomatis protein was recently discovered. This protein carries an oxygen-activating heterodinuclear Mn(II)/Fe(II) metal cofactor and generates a radical-equivalent Mn(IV)/Fe(III) oxidation state of the metal site, as opposed to the tyrosyl radical generated by other R2 subclasses. The metal arrangement of the heterodinuclear cofactor remains unknown. Is the metal positioning specific, and if so, where is which ion located? Here we use X-ray crystallography with anomalous scattering to show that the metal arrangement of this cofactor is specific with the manganese ion occupying metal position 1. This is the position proximal to the tyrosyl radical site in other R2 proteins and consistent with the assumption that the high-valent Mn(IV) species functions as a direct substitute for the tyrosyl radical.     

Pressurized hot ethanol extraction of carotenoids from carrot by-products

Carotenoids are known for their antioxidant activity and health promoting effects. One of the richest sources of carotenoids are carrots. However, about 25% of the annual production is regarded as by-products due to strict market policies. The aim of this study was to extract carotenoids from those by-products. Conventional carotenoid extraction methods require the use of organic solvents, which are costly, environmentally hazardous, and require expensive disposal procedures. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) utilizes conventional solvents at elevated temperatures and pressure, and it requires less solvent and shorter extraction times. The extraction solvent of choice in this study was ethanol, which is a solvent generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The extraction procedure was optimized by varying the extraction time (2-10 min) and the temperature (60-180 °C). β-Carotene was used as an indicator for carotenoids content in the carrots. The results showed that time and temperatures of extraction have significant effect on the yield of carotenoids. Increasing the flush volume during extraction did not improve the extractability of carotenoids, indicating that the extrication method was mainly desorption/diffusion controlled. Use of a dispersing agent that absorbs the moisture content was important for the efficiency of extraction. Analysing the content of β-carotene at the different length of extraction cycles showed that about 80% was recovered after around 20 min of extraction.     

Collection in analytical-scale supercritical fluid extraction

This review is a comprehensive summary of available collection techniques in supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), with emphasis on which parameters are especially important for a successful analyte collection. Environmental, biological and agricultural applications, including several types of sample matrices and analyte groups, are discussed with respect to choice of collection mode and optimization of collection conditions. This review also includes discussions about collection when a modifier is used or when the sample contains large amounts of fat or water, as well as possibilities to achieve enhanced selectivity.     

Synthesis of alpha-P-modified nucleoside diphosphates with ethylenediamine

This report describes a one-pot synthesis of alpha-P-borano-, alpha-P-thio-, and alpha-P-seleno-modified nucleoside diphosphate analogues that are otherwise difficult to obtain. The key step involves the intramolecular nucleophilic attack by an amino group in 5 to remove the gamma-phosphate. The absolute configurations of P-diastereomers were confirmed by analysis of their 1H NMR. Affinity studies revealed that the nucleoside boranodiphosphates are potentially useful in antiviral research.     

Solubility and Thermal Degradation of Quercetin in CO2-Expanded Liquids

The solubility of quercetin and its thermal degradation was studied in CO₂-expanded ethanol and ethyl lactate. An equipment setup was constructed that enabled the separation of the products of degradation while quantifying the solubility of quercetin. Three different conditions of temperature were analyzed (308, 323, and 343 K) at 10 MPa. Higher solubility and thermal degradation of quercetin were observed for CO₂-expanded ethyl lactate in comparison with CO₂-expanded ethanol. At the same time, as the amount of CO₂ was increased in the CO₂-expanded liquids mixtures, the thermal degradation of quercetin decreased for almost all the conditions of temperature considered in this work. The importance of considering thermal degradation while performing solubility measurements of compounds that are thermally unstable such as quercetin was highlighted.