Rhodamine B nanocrystals: elaborations,characterizations and functionalizations for biosensing applications

A biological sensor based on fluorescent organic nanocrystals (NCs) of Rhodamine B grown in sol–gel thin films was developed. The original signalization function is based on fluorescence contrasts of NCs, which exhibit a simple fluorescence signature, good photostability and higher fluorescence intensities compared to dispersed dye molecules. Thanks to a well-controlled dissolution process of the sol–gel surface, accurately followed by atomic force microscopy, the NCs were made emerging just a few nanometers above the silicate thin films to be directly accessible to biological macromolecules. Thus, hairpin-shaped DNA, functionalized by a probe-molecule (DNA probe), has been grafted onto nanocrystal surfaces leading to a fluorescence quenching by Forster resonance energy transfer. After hybridization of these hairpin-shaped DNA probes with their complementary DNA-target, the molecular probes and NCs are pulled apart, stopping thus the quenching. This “turn-on” of nanocrystal fluorescence allows thus a label-free DNA detection. The preparation methodology of the signalization function, its functionalization by hairpin-shaped DNA probes and first DNA-sensor experiments are presented.     

Highly sensitive label-free in vitro detection of aflatoxin B1 in an aptamer assay using optical planar waveguide operating as a polarization interferometer

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - This work reports on further development of an optical biosensor for the in vitro detection of mycotoxins (in particular, aflatoxin B1) using a highly...     

Pulsed erbium fiber laser with an acetylene-filled photonic crystal fiber for saturable absorption

We investigate the dynamics of an erbium-doped fiber ring laser that is equipped with an intracavity hollow core photonic crystal fiber gas cell. The cell is filled with acetylene as a saturable absorber. We observe cw operation at low pressures, Q switching at intermediate pressure levels, and mode locking at high pressures applied. Moreover, we show that the transition from the cw to the pulsed mode may be exploited for sensitive gas detection.     

Dynamical heterogeneity close to the jamming transition in a sheared granular material

The dynamics of a bidimensional dense granular packing under cyclic shear is experimentally investigated close to the jamming transition. Measurement of multipoint correlation functions are produced. The self-intermediate scattering function, displaying slower than exponential relaxation, suggests dynamic heterogeneity. Further analysis of four point correlation functions reveal that the grain relaxations are strongly correlated and spatially heterogeneous, especially at the time scale of the collective rearrangements. Finally, a dynamical correlation length is extracted from a spatiotemporal pattern of mobility. Our experimental results open the way to a systematic study of dynamic correlation functions in granular materials.     

Chiral molecular imprinting in liquid-crystalline network<Superscript>⋆</Superscript>

A cholesteric imprinted elastomer was obtained by cross-linking a nematic side-chain polysiloxane around a chiral template. The template was first linked to some functionalised groups of the polymer via hydrogen-bound interactions, then was removed by washing. The sample was macroscopically oriented during the synthesis; so, both a molecular chirality and a supramolecular phase chirality were topologically imprinted inside the network. Batch rebinding experiments, performed in the presence of the template or of the other enantiomer, showed that the imprinted polymer has a pronounced stereo-selectivity towards the template enantiomer. The rebinding capacity appeared to be greater than an unimprinted mesogenic network as well as than an imprinted non mesogenic one.     

Proton-nucleus elastic scattering at 156 MeV

Cross sections for the elastic scattering of 156 MeV protons on eleven targets ranging from ¹²C to ²⁰⁹Bi were measured and an optical model analysis has been performed. The effect of different optical potentials in DWIA inelastic scattering calculations is shown by some examples.     

Inequivalence Magnetique Due a la Presence d'un Atome de Phosphore Asymetrique ou Pseudo-Asymetrique

In phosphinous esters of general formula R? PH(O)OR', the asymmetric phosphorus atom induces magnetic non-equivalence in geminal protons and methyl groups. When alkoxy groups also possess an asymmetric carbon, the presence of the two possible diastereoisomers in equal amounts is proven by ³¹P and ¹H NMR. ³¹P NMR reveals that the phosphorus atom in phosphonous esters R? P(O·C₄H₉-s)₂ of racemic sec. butyl alcohol, is a centre of pseudo-asymmetry.     

201 MeV proton excitation of giant resonances in 208Pb: Macroscopic and microscopic analysis

The region of the giant resonances in ²⁰⁸Pb has been investigated by inelastic scattering of 201 MeV protons. To test the analysis, angular distributions were measured for the low-lying 3^?, 5^?, 2⁺ and 4⁺ collective states. The giant isoscalar quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) is split into two structures, one at 9.0 MeV with a full width at half-maximum Γ = 1.0 MeV, the other one at 10.6 MeV (Γ = 2.0 MeV), with fine structures at 8.9, 9.3, 10.1, 10.6 and 11 MeV. A macroscopic analysis using the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) leads for the low-lying collective levels, as well as for the ISGQR, to transition probabilities too small by a factor of two, compared with those obtained in other reactions. Microscopic analysis using the distorted-wave impulse approximation (DWIA), with three different sets of random phase approximation (RPA) transition densities, is in very good agreement with the data. At forward angles, in the 12 to 16 MeV excitation energy region, a strong resonance at 13.5 MeV (Γ = 3.6 MeV) is accounted for by the Coulomb excitation of the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR); at larger angles the results are compatible with the excitation of the isoscalar monopole resonance (ISGMR) located at 13.9 MeV (Γ = 2.6 MeV).A resonance located at 21.5 MeV (Γ = 5.7 MeV) appears as the superposition of an isovector quadrupole resonance (IVGQR) excited by Coulomb interaction and a resonance of multipolarity L = 1 ΔT = 0 (ISGDR “squeezing mode”).     

Individual domain wall resistance in submicron ferromagnetic structures

The resistance generated by individual domain walls is measured in a FePd nanostructure. Combining transport and magnetic imaging measurements, the intrinsic domain wall resistance is quantified. It is found positive and of a magnitude consistent with that predicted by models based on spin scattering effects within the walls. This magnetoresistance at a nanometer scale allows a direct counting of the number of walls inside the nanostructure. The effect is then used to measure changes in the magnetic configuration of submicron stripes under application of a magnetic field.