Direct visualization of Young’s boundary diffraction wave

Experimental investigations on Young’s boundary diffraction wave are presented where a wavefront division interferometric scheme is used on diffracted wavefront to generate two-beam interference fringes in the geometrically shadow region. These fringes have good visibility and are observable in the whole space, strongly advocating the physical existence of Young’s boundary diffraction wave as a separate entity. Analysis of these fringes may provide vital information about the structure and nature of boundary diffraction wave e.g. existence in whole space, dependence of amplitude on obliquity factor etc.     

Second-sphere coordination in hexaamminecobalt(III) salt with organic sulphonate anion: Synthesis, characterisation and X-ray crystal structure of [Co(NH3)6](CH3SO3)3

Reaction of hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride with the silver salt of methanesulphonic acid in aqueous medium (1:3 molar ratio) forms hexaamminecobalt(III) methanesulphonate, [Co(NH₃)₆](CH₃SO₃)₃, in high yield. This cobalt(III) complex has been characterized by spectroscopic techniques (UV/visible, IR and NMR) and its solubility product determined. The X-ray crystal structure shows that the [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ cations interact at the second sphere by sharing edges with the anions, via N–H  O hydrogen bonds. The structure is related to that of [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl(CH₃SO₃)₂, but is modified to accommodate additional anions in place of Cl⁻.     

Determination of arsenic species in Solanum Lyratum Thunb using capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A simple and highly efficient interface to couple capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry by a microflow polyfluoroalkoxy nebulizer and a quadruple ion deflector was developed in this study. By using this interface, six arsenic species, including arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine, were baseline‐separated and determined in a single run within 11 min under the optimized separation conditions. The instrumental detection limit was in the range of 0.02–0.06 ng/mL for the six arsenic compounds. Repeatability expressed as the relative standard deviation (n = 5) of both migration time and peak area were better than 2.5 and 4.3% for six arsenic compounds. The proposed method, combined with a closed‐vessel microwave‐assisted extraction procedure, was successfully applied for the determination of arsenic species in the Solanum Lyratum Thunb samples from Anhui province in China with the relative standard deviations (n = 5) ≤4%, method detection limits of 0.2–0.6 ng As/g and a recovery of 98–104%. The experimental results showed that arsenobetaine was the main speciation of arsenic in the Solanum Lyratum Thunb samples from different provinces in China, with a concentration of 0.42–1.30 μg/g.     

Pi and sigma-phenylethynyl radicals and their isomers o-, m-, and p-ethynylphenyl: structures, energetics, and electron affinities

Molecular structures, energetics, vibrational frequencies, and electron affinities are predicted for the phenylethynyl radical and its isomers. Electron affinities are computed using density functional theory, -namely, the BHLYP, BLYP, B3LYP, BP86, BPW91, and B3PW91 functionals-, employing the double-zeta plus polarization DZP++ basis set; this level of theory is known to perform well for the computation of electron affinities. Furthermore, ab initio computations employing perturbation theory, coupled cluster with single and double excitations [CCSD], and the inclusion of perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] are performed to determine the relative energies of the isomers. These higher level computations are performed with the correlation consistent family of basis sets cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5). Three electronic states are probed for the phenylethynyl radical. In C2v symmetry, the out-of-plane (2B1) radical is predicted to lie about 10 kcal/mol below the in-plane (2B2) radical by DFT methods, which becomes 9.4 kcal/mol with the consideration of the CCSD(T) method. The energy difference between the lowest pi and sigma electronic states of the phenylethynyl radical is also about 10 kcal/mol according to DFT; however, CCSD(T) with the cc-pVQZ basis set shows this energy separation to be just 1.8 kcal/mol. The theoretical electron affinities of the phenylethynyl radical are predicted to be 3.00 eV (B3LYP/DZP++) and 3.03 eV (CCSD(T)/DZP++//MP2/DZP++). The adiabatic electron affinities (EAad) of the three isomers of phenylethynyl, that is, the ortho-, meta-, and para-ethynylphenyl, are predicted to be 1.45, 1.40, and 1.43 eV, respectively. Hence, the phenylethynyl radical binds an electron far more effectively than the three other radicals studied. Thermochemical predictions, such as the bond dissociation energies of the aromatic and ethynyl C-H bonds and the proton affinities of the phenylethynyl and ethynylphenyl anions, are also reported.     

The aftermath of the interplay between the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and redox signaling

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle of eukaryotic cells. Its main functions include protein synthesis, proper protein folding, protein modification, and the transportation of synthesized proteins. Any perturbations in ER function, such as increased demand for protein folding or the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, lead to a stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). The primary aim of the UPR is to restore cellular homeostasis; however, it triggers apoptotic signaling during prolonged stress. The core mechanisms of the ER stress response, the failure to respond to cellular stress, and the final fate of the cell are not yet clear. Here, we discuss cellular fate during ER stress, cross talk between the ER and mitochondria and its significance, and conditions that can trigger ER stress response failure. We also describe how the redox environment affects the ER stress response, and vice versa, and the aftermath of the ER stress response, integrating a discussion on redox imbalance-induced ER stress response failure progressing to cell death and dynamic pathophysiological changes.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Cell biology     

Raman spectroscopic study of medieval Indian art of 17th century

We report the first Raman spectroscopic investigations of medieval Indian art of 17th century. Three miniature paintings, belonging to Mogul and Rajput schools from the collections of the Madras Museum, were investigated by micro‐Raman spectroscopy using different excitation wavelengths. Many areas in the paintings exhibited rich spectra containing several intense Raman bands. The Raman bands were assigned on the basis of the reported reference spectra of the pigments. Evidences for the presence of massicot, red‐lead, lead‐white, vermilion, litharge, Indian yellow and anatase are found. In addition, tentative assignments of some of the Raman bands to atacamite and orpiment are also made. The present studies suggest that several mineral‐based unique pigments were popular among the Indian artists of this period. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterisation of bis(pentafluorophenyl)antimony(V) cations, [(C6F5)2SbL3]

Pentacoordinate complex cations of the general formula [(C₆F₅)₂SbL₃]³⁺ stabilized as solid salts in combination with tetraphenylborate (BPh₄), tetrafluorobroate (BF₄) anions, where L=DMSO, Ph₃AsO, PyO, DMF, α-, β- and γ-picoline have been isolated. The newly formed complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, solid-state IR and and NMR. From these results, a five-fold coordination around antimony was required.     

1‐(2‐Hydro­xy‐4‐methoxy­phenyl)‐3‐(2,3,4‐tri­methoxy­phenyl)­prop‐2‐en‐1‐one

The title compound, C₁₉H₂₀O₆, crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2₁/c with one mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The mol­ecule is approximately planar and the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings is 11.0 (1)°. The H atoms of the central propenone group are trans. There is an intramolecular O—H⃛O hydrogen bond and the mol­ecules are crosslinked by four intermolecular C—H⃛O hydrogen bonds, producing a three‐dimensional network.     

Recent advancement in inorganic-organic electron transport layers in perovskite solar cell: current status and future outlook

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite solar cells have captured significant attention in recent years due to low processing costs and unprecedented development in power conversion efficiency (PCE). It has appeared from 2009 with PCE of 3.8% to being claimed more than 25.2% PCE in a very short span of time, showing their future prospective toward the fabrication of less expensive and stable solar cells. The incredible advancement in this technology encourages at one end, whereas several hurdles restricting its complete utilization for commercial purposes at another end. Although the selection of perovskite structure is limited with planar and mesoporous electron transport layers (ETLs), but identification of appropriate ETLs necessitates excellent effort to improve the surface morphology of absorber and obtain enhanced PCE with higher stability. In the present review, we have investigated various inorganic-organic ETLs with different device configurations of PSCs, primarily focusing on crystallization and morphology control techniques of ETL thin films. Numerous strategies such as surface functionalization, doping, and addition of interfacial layer are adopted for ETLs, and their effect on device efficiency, performance, and hysteresis is also discussed in detail. Additionally, designs of PSCs with different device configurations are discussed as well, providing future guidelines for significant progress in PSCs structure with different ETLs.     

Vesicle Structures from Bolaamphiphilic Biosurfactants: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies on the Effect of Unsaturation on Sophorolipid Self‐Assemblies

The formation of giant‐vesicle‐like structures by self‐assembling linolenic acid sophorolipid (LNSL) molecules is revealed. Sophorolipids belong to the class of bolaamphiphilic glycolipid biosurfactants. Interestingly, the number of double bonds present in the hydrophobic core of sophorolipids is seen to have a great influence on the type of self‐assembled structures formed. Dye encapsulation results establish the presence of an aqueous compartment inside the LNSL vesicles. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) studies suggest the existence of two possible conformations of LNSLs inside the self‐assembled structures and that LNSL molecules arrange in layered structures.