Fano Resonances for Tilted Linear and Quadratic Band Touching Dispersions in a Harmonically Driven Potential Well

Considering models with tilted linear and quadratic band touching dispersions, the effect of the transverse linear tilt on the transmission spectra is analyzed through a harmonically driven potential well oriented longitudinally. Employing the Floquet scattering matrix formalism, Fano resonances are found as an outcome of matching between the Floquet sidebands and quasi-bound states, where the tilt renormalizes their energies and wave vectors. It is found that the Fano resonance energy decreases (increases) for linear (quadratic) band touchings as the magnitude of the transverse momentum increases, indicating a distinct signature of the underlying band dispersion in the transmission profile. The sign of the product of the transverse momentum and the tilt also determines the relative shift in the Fano resonance energy with respect to the untilted case for both band dispersions, suggesting a possible tunability of the Fano resonance for tilted systems. Importantly, the tilt strength can also be directly determined by measuring the Fano resonance energy as function of the transverse momenta direction. The shot noise spectra and their differential property are further studied where an inflection region and undulation, respectively, is found around the Fano resonance energy. Interestingly, differential shot noise and transmission spectra both qualitatively behave in a similar fashion and might thus serve as important observables for future experiments on driven solid-state systems.     

Effects of nonproductive binding on the kinetics of enzymatic reactions with patterned substrates

Existing models of ligand-receptor binding kinetics suggest that clustering surface-associated molecules tends to decrease the rates with which solution phase molecules associate and dissociate. Here, the authors use kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to study the case of an enzyme catalyzing the turnover of substrate molecules immobilized on a surface. The simulations reveal a crossover in the overall reaction rates for randomly distributed and clustered substrate molecules as the enzyme unbinding rate is varied. Approximate expressions for the effective kinetic parameters are introduced, and they show that the observed behavior derives from sequestration of the enzyme in the strong-sticking limit.     

Microlocal parameters in a modelling of microperiodic multilayered elastic plates

Summary The paper deals with modelling problems of multilayered microperiodic plates. By means of the homogenization method based on the nonstandard analysis [18–23] we derive homogenized models of microperiodic laminated plates in which each lamina is composed of n+1 different homogeneous anisotropic linear-elastic layers. The proposed models take into account certain microlocal effects resulting from the fine periodic structure of the body.

---

Mikrolokale Parameter bei der Modellierung elastischer, vielschichtiger mikroperiodischer Platten

Übersicht Die Arbeit befaßt sich mit der Modellierung elastischer, vielschichtiger mikroperiodischer Platten. Das dargestellte Modell ist in Anlehnung an eine Nichtstandardanalyse konstruiert worden, im Rahmen derer die Beschreibung der mikrolokalen Effekte, die durch eine dichte periodische Struktur des Körpers verursacht sind, möglich wird. Die betrachteten Platten sind linienförmige elastische Schichtpreßstoffe, in denen jede Grundschicht aus n+1 homogenen Anisotropieschichten besteht.

     

Core-modified expanded porphyrins with large third-order nonlinear optical response

The third-order nonlinear optical response through measurement of two-photon absorption cross-sections (TPACS) for aromatic core-modified expanded porphyrin analogues by a femtosecond open aperture Z-scan method is reported. The values reported here are among the largest known so far in the literature for any organic molecules.     

Bi3+‐Er3+ and Bi3+‐Yb3+ Codoped Cs2AgInCl6 Double Perovskite Near‐Infrared Emitters

Bi³⁺ and lanthanide ions have been codoped in metal oxides as optical sensitizers and emitters. But such codoping is not known in typical semiconductors such as Si, GaAs, and CdSe. Metal halide perovskite with coordination number 6 provides an opportunity to codope Bi³⁺ and lanthanide ions. Codoping of Bi³⁺ and Ln³⁺ (Ln=Er and Yb) in Cs₂AgInCl₆ double perovskite is presented. Bi³⁺‐Er³⁺ codoped Cs₂AgInCl₆ shows Er³⁺ f‐electron emission at 1540 nm (suitable for low‐loss optical communication). Bi³⁺ codoping decreases the excitation (absorption) energy, such that the samples can be excited with ca. 370 nm light. At that excitation, Bi³⁺‐Er³⁺ codoped Cs₂AgInCl₆ shows ca. 45 times higher emission intensity compared to the Er³⁺ doped Cs₂AgInCl₆. Similar results are also observed in Bi³⁺‐Yb³⁺ codoped sample emitting at 994 nm. A combination of temperature‐dependent (5.7 K to 423 K) photoluminescence and calculations is used to understand the optical sensitization and emission processes.     

BCN: A Graphene Analogue with Remarkable Adsorptive Properties

A new analogue of graphene containing boron, carbon and nitrogen (BCN) has been obtained by the reaction of high‐surface‐area activated charcoal with a mixture of boric acid and urea at 900 °C. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy reveal the composition to be close to BCN. The X‐ray diffraction pattern, high‐resolution electron microscopy images and Raman spectrum indicate the presence of graphite‐type layers with low sheet‐to‐sheet registry. Atomic force microscopy reveals the sample to consist of two to three layers of BCN, as in a few‐layer graphene. BCN exhibits more electrical resistivity than graphene, but weaker magnetic features. BCN exhibits a surface area of 2911 m² g^?1, which is the highest value known for a B_xC_yN_z composition. It exhibits high propensity for adsorbing CO₂ (≈100 wt %) at 195 K and a hydrogen uptake of 2.6 wt % at 77 K. A first‐principles pseudopotential‐based DFT study shows the stable structure to consist of BN₃ and NB₃ motifs. The calculations also suggest the strongest CO₂ adsorption to occur with a binding energy of 3.7 kJ mol^?1 compared with 2.0 kJ mol^?1 on graphene.     

N,N′-Bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide complexes of ruthenium: Synthesis,structure and redox properties

Reaction of five N,N′-bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides (H₂L-R, where H₂ denotes the two acidic protons and R (R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂) the para substituent in the aryl fragment) with [Ru(trpy)Cl₃](trpy = 2,2′,2″-terpyridine) in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords a group of complexes of the type [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)], each of which contains an amide ligand coordinated to the metal center as a dianionic tridentate N,N,N-donor along with a terpyridine ligand. Structure of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-Cl)] complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(II) complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes shows a Ru(II)–Ru(III) oxidation within 0.16–0.33 V versus SCE. An oxidation of the coordinated amide ligand is also observed within 0.94–1.33 V versus SCE and a reduction of coordinated terpyridine ligand within −1.10 to −1.15 V versus SCE. Constant potential coulometric oxidation of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes produces the corresponding [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]⁺ complexes, which have been isolated as the perchlorate salts. Structure of the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-CH₃)]ClO₄ complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(III) complexes are one-electron paramagnetic, and show anisotropic ESR spectra at 77 K and intense LMCT transitions in the visible region. A weak ligand-field band has also been shown by all the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]ClO₄ complexes near 1600 nm.     

Dramatic influence of the orientation of linker between hydrophilic and hydrophobic lipid moiety in liposomal gene delivery

A number of prior studies have demonstrated that the DNA-binding and gene transfection efficacies of cationic amphiphiles crucially depend on their various structural parameters including hydrophobic chain lengths, headgroup functionalities, and the nature of the linker-functionality used in tethering the polar headgroup and hydrophobic tails. However, to date addressing the issue of linker orientation remains unexplored in liposomal gene delivery. Toward probing the influence of linker orientation in cationic lipid mediated gene delivery, we have designed and synthesized two structurally isomeric remarkably similar cationic amphiphiles 1 and 2 bearing the same hydrophobic tails and the same polar headgroups connected by the same ester linker group. The only structural difference between the cationic amphiphiles 1 and 2 is the orientation of their linker ester functionality. While lipid 1 showed high gene transfer efficacies in multiple cultured animal cells, lipid 2 was essentially transfection incompetent. Findings in both transmission electron microscopic and dynamic laser light scattering studies revealed no significant size difference between the lipoplexes of lipids 1 and 2. Findings in confocal microscopic and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments, taken together, support the notion that the remarkably higher gene transfer efficacies of lipid 1 compared to those of lipid 2 presumably originate from higher biomembrane fusogenicity of lipid 1 liposomes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence anisotropy studies revealed a significantly higher gel-to-liquid crystalline temperature for the lipid 2 liposomes than that for lipid 1 liposomes. Findings in the dye entrapment experiment were also consistent with the higher rigidity of lipid 2/cholesterol (1:1 mole ratio) liposomes. Thus, the higher biomembrane fusibility of lipid 1 liposomes than that of lipid 2 liposomes presumably originates from the more rigid nature of lipid 2 cationic liposomes. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate for the first time that even as minor a structural variation as linker orientation reversal in cationic amphiphiles can profoundly influence DNA-binding characteristics, membrane rigidity, membrane fusibility, cellular uptake, and consequently gene delivery efficacies of cationic liposomes.     

Interfacial organizations of gel phospholipid and cholesterol in bovine lung surfactant films

Pulmonary surfactants stabilize the lung by way of reducing surface tension at the air-lung interface of the alveolus. 31P NMR, thin-layer chromatography, and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy of bovine lipid extract surfactant (BLES) confirmed dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) to be the major phospholipid species, with significant amounts of palmitoyl-oleoylphosphatidylcholine, palmitoyl-myristoylphosphatidylcholine, and palmitoyl-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol. BLES and DPPC spread at the air-water interface were studied through surface pressure area, fluorescence, and Brewster angle microscopy measurements. Langmuir-Blodgett films of monomolecular films, deposited on mica, were characterized by atomic force microscopy. BLES films displayed shape, size, and vertical height profiles distinct from those of DPPC alone. Calcium ions in the subphase altered BLES film domain structure. The addition of cholesterol (4 mol %) resulted in the destabilization of compressed BLES films at higher surface pressures (>40 mN m-1) and the formation of multilayered structures, apparently consisting of stacked monolayers. The studies suggested potential roles for individual surfactant lipid components in supramolecular arrangements, which could be the contributing factors in pulmonary surfactant to attain low surface tension at the air-water interface.     

Velocity auto-correlation and hot-electron diffusion constant in GaAs and InP

Auto-correlation functions of the fluctuations in the electron velocities transverse and parallel to the applied electric field are calculated by the Monte Carlo method for GaAs and InP at three different values of field strength which are around three times the threshold field for negative differential mobility in each case. From these the frequency-dependent diffusion coefficients transverse and parallel to the applied field and the figure of merit for noise performance when used in a microwave amplifying device are determined. The results indicate that the transverse auto-correlation functionC _t (s) falls nearly exponentially to zero with increasing intervals while the parallel functionC _p (s) falls sharply, attains a minimum and then rises towards zero. In each case a higher field gives a higher rate of fall and makes the correlation functions zero within a shorter interval. The transverses diffusion coefficient falls monotonically with the frequency but the parallel diffusion coefficient generally starts with a low value at low frequencies, rises to a maximum and then falls. InP, with a larger separation between the central and the satellite valleys, has a higher value of the low frequency transverse diffusion coefficient and a lower value of its parallel counterpart. The noise performance of microwave semiconductor amplifying devices depends mainly on the low frequency parallel diffusion constant and consequently devices made out of materials like InP with a large separation between valleys are likely to have better noise characteristics.