Effect of glutaphen on generation of active oxygen species, photosynthetic electron transport, and the functional activity of photosystem 2 in Chlorella cells

Treatment of chlorella green algae (Chlorella sp.) for 2 h in the dark with the photodynamic herbicide glutaphen (GTP), consisting of 0.3 mM 1,10-phenanthroline and 0.6 mM glutamic acid, followed by illumination leads to efficient generation of active oxygen species (AOS). After 15 min of illumination, AOS accumulation reaches 200% compared with the level in cells of the control culture, then it decreases down to 130% and 115% after 1 day and 3 days of illumination. During the first few days after treatment, we observe inhibition of synthesis of a specific precursor of chlorophyll (Chl): 5-aminolevulinic acid molecules, and then we observe stimulation of the synthesis. The effect of GTP on the photosynthetic activity of chlorella does not depend on the AOS level but rather remains uniform, in contrast to its effect on the Chl biosynthesis system. GTP does not change the efficiency of light harvesting and charge separation at the reaction centers of photosystem (PS) 2, but significantly lowers the functional efficiency of the electron transport chain: the photochemical quenching constants for Chl a fluorescence and the effective quantum yield of photochemical reactions in photosystem 2 decrease. The major mechanism of action for GTP is probably displacement of the secondary quinone acceptor Q_B from its binding site on the D1 protein by the 1,10-phenanthroline, consequent inhibition of electron efflux from Q _A ⁻ and increase in the fraction of Q_B-nonreducing centers of PS 2. The active oxygen species generated in the cells have a photodegradative effect on the Chl biosynthesis system, in particular on its initial steps, and do not involve already formed pigment-protein complexes of PS 2. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 801–806, November–December, 2006.     

Quantum key distribution experiment through a PLC matrix switch

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is being studied as a way to provide unconditionally secure communications. Several experiments have shown its feasibility. However, most experiments have used a point-to-point occupied optical link. In order to use QKD for secure communications on a real network, it is preferable to be able to change parties on demand and to have quantum transmission and ordinary optical transmission share the optical network. In this work, QKD through a silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) 8 × 8 non-blocking matrix switch was investigated. We found that an interferometer type switch can work even for a single-photon-level light and that a multi-user QKD network can be constructed using a silica-based PLC 8 × 8 non-blocking matrix switch. In addition, single-photon-level transmission and ordinary optical transmission can share the same 8 × 8 non-blocking matrix switch, so which shows the possibility of sending quantum signals through current optical networks.     

Structural transformations on an oxidized Ag(111) surface

The structure of the Ag(111) surface after the adsorption of molecular oxygen at a temperature of 300 K is studied by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. It is established that local surface oxide is formed at the first stage of adsorption. The subsequent adsorption of O results in the appearance of new objects with a size of 3–8 Å and a height of 1.0–1.5 Å on the Ag(111) surface, which form quasi-ordered structures with increasing degree of coating. The heating of the system obtained up to 500 K leads to a structural transition resulting in the formation of single islands of the p (4×4) phase on the surface. Surface structures are identified by a simulation based on the density functional theory.     

New estimates of extensive-air-shower energies on the basis of signals in scintillation detectors

New formulas for estimating the energy of inclined extensive air showers (EASs) on the basis of signals in detectors by means of an original method and detailed tables of signals induced in scintillation detectors by photons, electrons, positrons, and muons and calculated with the aid of the GEANT4 code package were proposed in terms of the QGSJETII-04, EPOS LHC, and GHEISHA models. The parameters appearing in the proposed formulas were calculated by employing the CORSIKA code package. It is shown that, for showers of zenith angles in the range of 20?–45?, the standard constant-intensity-cut method, which is used to interpret data from the Yakutsk EAS array, overestimates the shower energy by a factor of 1.2 to 1.5. It is proposed to employ the calculated VEM (Vertical Equivalent Muon) signal units of 10.8 and 11.4 MeV for, respectively, ground-based and underground scintillation detectors and to take into account the dependence of signals on the azimuthal angle of the detector position and fluctuations in the development of showers.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel by polymerized complex method

Ultrafine MgAl₂O₄ powder has been synthesized by a polymerized complex method. Heating of a precursor solution containing citric acid (CA), ethylene glycol (EG) and Mg and Al salts with a molar ratio of Mg/Al/CA/EG=1/2/8/32 at 180°C produced a transparent polymeric gel, which have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and TG/DTA. The organic fraction was removed by controlled thermal treatments (350–1200°C) whereby the bimetallic oxide was formed. XRD analysis showed the presence of MgAl₂O₄ at 600°C. TEM observation showed that the spherical nanosized powders with good uniformity was obtained. Furthermore, these powders showed excellent sinterability, relative density up to 99.8% was achieved when sintered at 1550°C for 3 h in air without any sintering additive.     

Surface wave photonic device based on porous silicon multilayers

Porous silicon is widely studied in the field of photonics due to its interesting optical properties. In this work, we present theoretical and first experimental studies of a new kind of porous silicon photonic device based on optical surface wave. A theoretical analysis of the device is presented using plane-wave approximation. The porous silicon multilayered structures are realized using electrochemical etching of p⁺-type silicon. Morphological and optical characterizations of the realized structures are reported.     

Acoustic characteristics of chamfered Hartmann whistles

Experimental studies are conducted to investigate the effect of internal chamfer at the mouth of Hartmann resonators. Studies involve a range of nozzle pressure ratios from 4 to 6, and chamfer angles 15°, 30°, and 45°. Further, the effects of cavity length and stand-off distance are also considered. The spectra, directivity, and acoustic power characteristics are studied in detail. Detailed numerical simulations are carried out to capture the flow oscillations inside as well as at the outside of the mouth of the chamfered cavities. Computations show flow diversion in chamfered cavities and explain the shift in the directivity observed experimentally. The fundamental frequency of cavities with 15° and 30° chamfers is observed to be higher than that of regular cavities. Resonance is intensified by the presence of chamfer resulting in higher overall sound pressure levels of chamfered whistles. Thus, chamfered Hartmann whistles are found to emit more than twice the acoustic power of a regular cylindrical whistle. The tonal quality of sound is analyzed using a new metric termed as “resonance index”.     

On the stability properties of a damped oscillator with a periodically time-varying mass

In this paper the vibrations of a damped, linear, single degree of freedom oscillator (sdofo) with a time-varying mass will be considered. Both the free and forced vibrations of the oscillator will be studied. For the free vibrations the minimal damping rates will be computed, for which the oscillator is always stable. The forced vibrations are partly due to small masses, which are periodically hitting and leaving the oscillator with different velocities. Since these small masses stay for some time on the oscillator surface the effective mass of the oscillator will periodically vary in time. Additionally, an external harmonic force will be applied to the oscillator. Not only solutions of the oscillator equations will be constructed, but also stability properties for the free, and for the forced vibrations will be presented for various parameter values. For the external, harmonic forcing case an interesting resonance condition will be derived.