Probing Proteins in Solution by Xe NMR Spectroscopy

The interaction of xenon with different proteins in aqueous solution is investigated by ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy. Chemical shifts are measured in horse metmyoglobin, hen egg white lysozyme, and horse cytochrome c solutions as a function of xenon concentration. In these systems, xenon is in fast exchange between all possible environments. The results suggest that nonspecific interactions exist between xenon and the protein exteriors and the data are analyzed in term of parameters which characterize the protein surfaces. The experimental data for horse metmyoglobin are interpreted using a model in which xenon forms a 1:1 complex with the protein and the chemical shift of the complexed xenon is reported (Locci et al., Keystone Symposia “Frontiers of NMR in Molecular Biology VI”, Jan. 9–15, 1999, Breckenridge, CO, Abstract E216, p. 53; Locci et al., XeMAT 2000 “Optical Polarization and Xenon NMR of Materials”, June 28–30, 2000, Sestri Levante, Italy, p. 46).     

A Proof of Haag-Swieca's Compactness Property for Elastic Scattering States

 It is proved that in any massive relativistic quantum field theory satisfying two-particle asymptotic completeness, all the bounded energy components in the elastic two-particle range of all subsets of states which are excitations of the vacuum state by uniformly bounded observables localized in a given finite region of spacetime are compact in the Hilbert space of states. This result, which is in agreement with Haag-Swieca's conjecture, is also given a more precise form in terms of the rate of decrease of the ``N–dimensional thickness' (or approximation number) of such sets of states when N tends to infinity. A similar computation, valid at arbitrarily high energies, is also given for the massive free-field case. Received: 7 February 2003 / Accepted: 5 April 2003 Published online: 13 May 2003 Communicated by H. Araki, D. Buchholz and K. Fredenhagen     

Chalcogenide Glass for Passive Infrared Applications

Chalcogenide glass fibers have been successfully used for remote spectroscopy, temperature sensing and CO2 laser power delivery. In bulk form, chalcogenide glass is the most promising candidate for replacing the expensive germanium lenses for thermal imaging.     

Spectral intensities in the ν1 band of carbonyl sulfide and its isotopic species

A tunable diode laser was used to perform measurements of absolute lines intensities in the ν₁ fundamental of carbonyl sulfide. Spectra have also been recorded for the following isotopic species: ¹⁶O¹²C³⁴S, ¹⁶O¹³C³²S and ¹⁶O¹²C³³S. The vibrational band strength S_v⁰ was calculated at 298 K. The absolute intensity for 100% of ¹⁶O¹²C³²S species is found to be S_v⁰ = 29.69 ± 0.15 cm⁻² atm⁻¹ with the uncertainty covering three times the standard deviation. We have tried to determine the α-coefficient involved in the Hermann-Wallis factor F = (1 + αm + )² and the value is found to be negligible (−5 ± 8) × 10⁻⁵. The S_v⁰ value obtained for the other isotopic species is very close to the normal one.     

An optical fibre pH sensor based on dye doped mesostructured silica

This paper describes the synthesis and optical pH sensing properties of a pH indicator dye activated mesostructured silica coated optical fibre. The pH-sensitive dye bromothymol blue was incorporated into the mesostructure sol precursor and thin films/coatings were used for pH-sensing applications without prior removal of the surfactant. The pH sensitivity range and operating wavelength were analysed by absorption measurements on layer dip-coated on glass slides. The pH sensing properties of coated optical fibre were tested by evanescent wave method. Experiments were carried out by using a series of solutions of known pH. No leaching was observed (except at very high pH) and an excellent reversibility was obtained between pH=2 and 5.     

Spin-spin coupling edition in chiral liquid crystal NMR solvent

The application of the G-SERFph pulse sequence is presented on enantiomeric mixtures dissolved in a chiral liquid crystal. It aims at editing, within one single 2D spectrum, every proton coupling which is experienced by a given proton site in the molecule, and leads to real phased T-edited spectroscopy (T=J+2D). This NMR experiment is based on the combination of homonuclear semi-selective refocusing techniques with a spatial frequency encoding of the sample. This approach, which consists in handling selectively each coupling in separate cross sections of the sample, is applied to the visualization of enantiomers dissolved in a chiral liquid crystalline phase. Advantages and limits of this methodology are widely discussed.     

Compact three-dimensional camera for robot and vehicle guidance

A very compact 3-D range sensor for robot and vehicle guidance is described. A dual aperture mask in a camera lens is used to transform a small commercially available CCD video camera into a ranging sensor. An active system using a projected laser beam provides a 360° range map which can be used to plan trajectories, either for robots or autonomous vehicles. Good quality panoramic intensity and 3-D images were obtained. Accuracy, speed of acquisition, and cost are discussed. Experimental results are presented.