EXCITATION ENERGY TRANSFER IN THE CRYPTOPHYTES. FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION SPECTRA AND PICOSECOND TIME-RESOLVED EMISSION SPECTRA OF INTACT ALGAE AT 77 K

Excitation spectra of chlorophyll- a (Chl- a ) fluorescence in intact cells of Cryptomonas ovata, Chroomonas pauciplastida and Chroomonas salina were determined at 77 K. For all species the excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem II (PSII) showed increased contributions by a carotenoid (493 nm) and phycobiliproteins, and decreased contributions by carotenoid (417 nm, 505 nm) and Chl- a (445 nm) as compared to excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem I (PSI). Excitation spectra of C. salina and C. ovata showed an increased contribution by Chl- c ² to PSII Chl- a fluorescence emission. In all three species the absorbance band positions of Chl- a , as determined from the excitation spectra, were similar to those previously described in green plants. green algae and phycobilisome-containing organisms. Time-resolved 77 K fluorescence emission spectra of C. ovata and C. salina showed successive emission from both phycoerythrin and Chl- c ², PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. C. pauciplastida showed successive emission from phycocyanin, PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. Spectral red-shifts with time were observed for the phycobiliprotein peaks in all three species. The fluorescence decay of phycoerythrin in C. ovata and C. salina was faster than that of phycocyanin in C. pauciplastida. The results are discussed in relation to the organization of the antenna pigments of PSII and PSI in the cryptophyte algae.     

Skein related links in 3-manifolds

This paper addresses two problems in the skein theory of homotopy spheres first posed by P. Traczyk. Solutions to both problems are obtained for a large class of manifolds and, since one of the basic techniques used requires the first homology group of the ambient manifold to be torsion free, the extent to which this hypothesis is actually necessary is further explored.     

Hemostatic efficacy and tissue reaction of oxidized regenerated cellulose hemostats

Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) has been used as an absorbable hemostat since World War II. In the present study, hemostasis time was determined in a spleen incision model in swine. The effect of mass on absorbable hemostat efficacy and hemostasis time was evaluated by standardizing the ORC materials on a mass basis. The median hemostasis time for a single layer of the new nonwoven ORC was as much as 51 % shorter than woven ORC (P < 0.001). The mean hemostasis time for nonwoven ORC was not affected by the mass of hemostat applied to the wound. The hemostatic efficacy of woven ORC increased with the mass (layers) of hemostat applied to the wound. Nonwoven ORC is significantly faster in achieving hemostasis than woven ORC, and its hemostatic efficacy is not influenced by the mass of material applied. Tissue reaction was minimal and the material was fully absorbed by 14 days.     

Upconversion in Highly Doped Er3+-Yb3+ Fiber Pumped by Ti:Sapphire Laser at 800 nm

The up-conversion processes were investigated in highly doped Er3+-Yb3+ silica fiber pumped by CW or mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser at 800 nm band. The mechanism is different from that at 980 nm pumped band. The pumping wavelength and power dependences of green, blue and red fluorescence emission were obtained. The up-conversion efficiencies of different doped concentration were investigated. The strong infrared emissions, which limit the efficiency of up-conversion were observed.     

Synthesis of substituted imidazoles via organocatalysis

A one-pot synthesis of substituted imidazoles is described. The cornerstone of this methodology involves the thiazolium-catalyzed addition of an aldehyde to an acyl imine to generate the corresponding alpha-ketoamide in situ followed by ring closure to the imidazole in a one-pot sequence. The extension of this methodology to the one-pot synthesis of substituted oxazoles and thiazoles is also described. [reaction: see text]     

Correlated atomic force microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging of live bacterial cells

We report on imaging living bacterial cells by using a correlated tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). For optimal imaging of Gram-negative Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cells, we explored different methods of bacterial sample preparation, such as spreading the cells on poly-L-lysine coated surfaces or agarose gel coated surfaces. We have found that the agarose gel containing 99% ammonium acetate buffer can provide sufficient local aqueous environment for single bacterial cells. Furthermore, the cell surface topography can be characterized by tapping-mode in-air AFM imaging for the single bacterial cells that are partially embedded. Using in-air rather than under-water AFM imaging of the living cells significantly enhanced the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the AFM images. Near-field AFM-tip-enhanced fluorescence lifetime imaging (AFM-FLIM) holds high promise on obtaining fluorescence images beyond optical diffraction limited spatial resolution. We have previously demonstrated near-field AFM-FLIM imaging of polymer beads beyond diffraction limited spatial resolution. Here, as the first step of applying AFM-FLIM on imaging bacterial living cells, we demonstrated a correlated and consecutive AFM topographic imaging, fluorescence intensity imaging, and FLIM imaging of living bacterial cells to characterize cell polarity.     

The Role of Oxygen in the Antiviral Activity of Hypericin and Hypocrellin

The light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin in the presence and absence of oxygen was examined under experimental conditions where the effect of oxygen depletion could be quantified. There was a significant reduction of light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, antiviral activity of hypocrellin was not observed at low oxygen levels at which hypericin retained measurable virucidal activity. This suggests that additional pathways, such as the generation of protons from excited states of hypericin, may enhance the biological activity of activated oxygen species.