Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of some aryl β-D-C-glycosides

The synthesis of some aryl β-D-C-glycosides bearing long alkoxy chains (grafted on the carbohydrate moiety through the intermediate of an aromatic core) is described. Their mesomorphic properties (studied by microscopic observations under polarized light, DSC and X-ray diffraction) are presented.     

环结构中的若干新成果(一)

代数结构的理论发展起来后,Artin,E.在环中引进极小条件,建立了具极小条件的半单纯环与单纯环的结构理论,被誉为是抽象代数中仅次于Galois理论的工作。对称地,Goldie与Lesieur and Croisot等又建立了具极大条件的半质环的结构理论,其结果也是很漂亮的。     

Analysis of the Effects of Protic,Aprotic, and Multi-Component Solvents on the Fluorescence Emission of Naphthalene and its Exciplex with Triethylamine

The emission spectra of naphthalene (NP)–triethylamine (TEA) systems were measured under steady-state illumination conditions in some protic and aprotic solvent-tetrahydrofuran (THF) mixtures. The fluorescence spectrum of the NP–TEA system in THF could be separated into two component bands (band A at 329 nm (fluorescence of NP) and band B at 468 nm (emission from an intermolecular exciplex)). The intensities of bands A and B decreased with increasing solvent polarity. The intensity of band B also decreased owing to the hydrogen-bonding interaction between TEA and protic solvents, but in this case the intensity of band A increased. The decrease in the intensity of band A with increasing solvent polarity is considered to be caused by the enhanced formation of an ion-pair parallel to the formation of an exciplex with increasing solvent polarity. The decrease in the intensity of band B is considered to be caused by the enhanced formation of ion-pair both parallel to and through the formation of the exciplex. The increase in the intensity of band A and the decrease in that of band B upon the addition of protic solvents is caused by the decrease in the concentration of free TEA. Acetonitrile only has a polar effect and trichloroacetic acid only has a hydrogen-bonding (protonation) effect, while alcohols have both the effects.     

Quantum entanglement and chaos in kicked two-component Bose-Einstein condensates

We study two-component Bose-Einstein condensates that behave collectively as a spin system obeying the dynamics of a quantum kicked top. Depending on the nonlinear interaction between atoms in the classical limit, the kicked top exhibits both regular and chaotic dynamical behavior. The quantum entanglement is physically meaningful if the system is viewed as a bipartite system, where the subsystem is any one of the two modes. The dynamics of the entanglement between the two modes in this classical chaotic system has been investigated. The chaos leads to rapid rise and saturation of the quantum entanglement. Furthermore, the saturated values of the entanglement fall short of its maximum. The mean entanglement has been used to clearly display the close relation between quantum entanglement and underlying chaos.     

Low-temperature synthesis of single crystalline Ag2S nanowires on silver substrates

We report on the successful synthesis of silver sulfide (Ag(2)S) nanowires by a simple and mild gas-solid reaction approach. For the nanowire synthesis, a preoxidized silver substrate is exposed to an atmosphere of an O(2)/H(2)S mixture at room temperature or slightly above. The resulting Ag(2)S nanowires are phase pure with a monoclinic crystal structure and have diameters of a few tens of nanometers and lengths up to 100 mum. The influence of reaction conditions on the diameter, length, and morphology of the Ag(2)S nanowires has been studied by a number of structural and spectroscopic techniques. The nanowire growth mechanism on the Ag substrate has been discussed, which is likely characterized by continuous deposition at the tip. Additionally, we demonstrate thinning and cutting of individual Ag(2)S nanowires with electron beams and laser beams, which are potentially useful for nanowire manipulation and engineering.     

Core/shell quantum-dot-photosensitized nano-TiO2 films: fabrication and application to the damage of cells and DNA

Through the use of monodisperse core/shell quantum dots (QDs) as photosensitizers for the first time, a novel strategy for the fabrication of QD-photosensitized nano-TiO2 films was demonstrated. Core/shell QDs were self-assembled on nano-TiO2 films through carboxyls as anchoring groups to metal oxides. Atomic force microscopy and some other experiments showed the fabrication strategy is successful. Reactive oxygen species detection experiments indicated that such films have photosensitization ability. The results of bactericidal and DNA damage experiments demonstrate that such films have excellent photoactivity.     

Hydrothermal growth and optical properties of doughnut-shaped ZnO microparticles

Doughnut-shaped ZnO microparticles have been grown through a hydrothermal reaction in citrate solution at 120 degrees C. FESEM reveals that these microparticles consist of regular arranged nanoplates, and there is a concave on the surface of each microparticle. The existence of citrate is vital to the formation of the complex microparticles. Room temperature photoluminescence measurements show strong UV band emission. The yellow and green emissions related to the structure defects can be barely observed, indicating the high crystalline perfection of these microparticles.     

Observation of individual microtubule motor steps in living cells with endocytosed quantum dots

We report the observation of individual steps taken by motor proteins in living cells by following movements of endocytic vesicles that contain quantum dots (QDs) with a fast camera. The brightness and photostability of quantum dots allow us to record motor displacement traces with 300 micros time resolution and 1.5 nm spatial precision. We observed individual 8 nm steps in active transport toward both the microtubule plus- and minus-ends, the directions of kinesin and dynein movements, respectively. In addition, we clearly resolved abrupt 16 nm steps in the plus-end direction and often consecutive 16 nm and occasional 24 nm steps in minus-end directed movements. This work demonstrates the ability of the QD assay to probe the operation of motor proteins at the molecular level in living cells under physiological conditions.     

Picosecond thermometer in the amide I band of myoglobin

The amide I and II bands in myoglobin show a heterogeneous temperature dependence, with bands at 6.17 and 6.43 microm which are more intense at low temperatures. The amide I band temperature dependence is on the long wavelength edge of the band, while the short wavelength side has almost no temperature dependence. We compare concepts of anharmonic solid-state crystal physics and chemical physics for the origins of these bands. We suggest that the long wavelength side is composed of those amino acids which hydrogen bond to the hydration shell of the protein, and that temperature dependent bands can be used to determine the time it takes vibrational energy to flow into the hydration shell. We determine that vibrational energy flow to the hydration shell from the amide I takes approximately 20 ps to occur.     

Complexes of Fulvic Acid on Hematite Interfaces: Characterization and Photochemical Properties

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), combined with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and transmission electron micrograph (TEM), has been used to observe the interaction between fulvic acid (FA) and hematite. The FTIR data have shown that the interaction mechanism corresponds mainly to the ligand-exchange involving carboxylic functional groups of the FA and hematite surface sites. The general trends included an increase in the content of Fe(III)-humate complexes on hematite surfaces accompanied by a decrease in pH and an increasing in the ionic strength. Both UV-Vis spectroscopy and TEM images have shown that hematite can interplay with FA under acidic conditions. In particular, the TEM images have shown that the presence of FA can significantly alter the characteristics of the hematite surfaces. Photochemical experiments have shown that hematite promotes the phototransformation of lindane (-HCH), whereas the presence of FA adversely affects the phototransformation of the target pollutant. The hematite coated with FA displayed a somewhat better catalyzing capability compared to the hematite only.