Observation of Optical Second Harmonic Generation in Wet-Spun Films of Na-DNA

The observation of optical second harmonic generation (SHG) from wetspun films of Na-DNA is reported. The SHG signal is stronger at a relative humidity of 92% (corresponding to the B conformation of Na-DNA) than at low humidity of -33% (corresponding to a disordered conformation of Na-DNA). The strength of the SHG signal is also dependent on the orientation of the incident laser beam polarization with respect to the DNA helical axes.     

Persistence and breakdown of Airy beams driven by an initial nonlinearity

We study the behavior of Airy beams propagating from a nonlinear medium to a linear medium. We show that an Airy beam initially driven by a self-defocusing nonlinearity experiences anomalous diffraction and can maintain its shape in subsequent propagation, but its intensity pattern and acceleration cannot persist when driven by a self-focusing nonlinearity. The unusual behavior of Airy beams is examined from their energy flow as well as the Brillouin zone spectrum of self-induced chirped photonic lattices.     

Imaging the neural circuitry and chemical control of aggressive motivation

Background  

With the advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in awake animals it is possible to resolve patterns of neuronal activity across the entire brain with high spatial and temporal resolution. Synchronized changes in neuronal activity across multiple brain areas can be viewed as functional neuroanatomical circuits coordinating the thoughts, memories and emotions for particular behaviors. To this end, fMRI in conscious rats combined with 3D computational analysis was used to identifying the putative distributed neural circuit involved in aggressive motivation and how this circuit is affected by drugs that block aggressive behavior.     

Second harmonic generation with surface plasmons in alkali metals

We calculate the reflected second harmonic light from alkali metal films with the simultaneous excitation of the surface plasmon mode. The harmonic generation from a sodium film at the ruby laser frequency increases by over two orders of magnitude at the angle for surface plasmon excitation. The harmonic enhancement is closely related to the surface plasmon density and exhibits a strong dependence on the angle of incidence, film thickness, and the linear optical constants of the metal film.     

有限元技术用于研究熔体生长中的小面化现象

开发了一种基于边界保角变换技术的有限元方法来处理自由边界问题,并成功地将其用于晶体定向生长过程中的界面动力学影响的研究。所建立的基于石榴石熔体生长过程的各向异性的界面动力学模型可导致相界面上小面的出现。讨论了界面动力学模型中的最大偏移角θｍａｘ对小面的形状和计算误差的影响,给出了一种十分有效地降低计算误差的措施：在模型方程中适当计人表面张力的影响。     

Algorithm for preliminary evaluation of the correlation time of local dynamics in some polymeric materials

A method for preliminary evaluation of the correlation time of local dynamics of the polymeric chains, using the experimental nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice relaxation data, is proposed. The algorithm is based on the model of the passage of a particle over a potential energy barrier. This method was utilized for some molten polymers and concentrated polymeric solutions.     

Error estimates in the determination of rigid body displacements in protein crystals

We report the estimation of random errors in the refinement of the rigid body displacements of the -helices of the enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Least-squares refinement of the TLS parameters of the helices has been carried out using X-ray reflection data of 2.1 Å resolution, resulting in anR-factor of 19.5%. Standard deviations were estimated from the normal matrix. The results show that the translational mean-square displacements of nearly all the helices are significant at this resolution. However the libration parameters are only significant when the helices have at least four turns. Screw-rotation tensor values cannot be determined at this resolution.     

Thermodynamic vs. kinetic control in the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene to 2,3-dicyano-p-benzoquinone

Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene (1a) to 2,3-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (2a), when performed in methanol solvent at ambient temperature, proceeds with kinetic control to afford 1,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-5,8-dioxo-1,4-methanonaphthalene-4a,8a-dicarbonitrile (7, 77% yield). However, when this cycloaddition is performed by refluxing an equimolar solution of1a and2a in benzene for 3 h, the product of thermodynamic control, i.e., 1,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-5,8-dioxo-1,4-methanonaphthalene-6,7-dicarbonitrile (3a) is obtained in 64% yield. The structure of3a was confirmed by an analysis of the reduced intramolecular photocyclization product,9.