Thermal noise in Hg0.795Cd0.205Te detectors for large biasing fields

Thermal noise in Hg_0.795Cd_0.205Te detectors is estimated for large biasing fields at a lattice temperature of 77 K, by computing the correlation functions of the velocity fluctuations with the Monte Carlo technique. The noise temperature for current components transverse to the field is almost independent of the field, but that corresponding to the parallel component increases by a factor of about 1.3 at 50 V/cm and by a factor of 3.0 at 300V/cm. The thermal noise voltage for a detector of 85 resistance increases from 0.6nV/Hz^1/2 at low biasing fields to about 3nV/Hz^1/2 at a field of 300 V/cm. The noise power is also found to remain constant up to about 75 GHz, and it decreases thereafter by a factor of 0.25 for doubling of the frequency.     

Stereoselective reduction of arteannuin B and its chemical transformations

Absolute stereochemistry of dihydroarteannuin B 5 obtained by the reduction of arteannuin B 3 with Ni₂B, NaBH₄ or CdCl₂-Mg-MeOH-H₂O has been established by 2D NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Some experiments aimed at the synthesis of dihydrodeoxyarteannuin B [C-4, 5 double bond isomer of 11] are also discussed.     

Differential thermal analysis studies on the kinetics of crystallization of calcium tungstate from solutions in sodium tungstate melts

The kinetics of calcium tungstate crystallization from solutions in sodium tungstate melts were studied in a platinum crucible by continuous cooling from an initial crystallization temperatureT ₀=800 to 1000 to below the eutectic temperature at cooling ratesR _T=0.67 to 3.3 min^–1. The main crystal growth was diffusion rate-controlled. The diffusion rate-constant (k _D) values for the growth along the major axis were estimated. Such values increased with the cooling rate and initial crystallization temperature. They were lower than those for diffusion-controlled growth of calcium tungstate from sodium tungstate melts in alumina crucibles. The experimentalk _D values were compared with the theoreticalk _D values.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Kristallisation von Calciumwolframat aus Lösungen von Natriumwolframatschmelzen wurde im Platintiegel durch kontinuierliches Kühlen von der AnfangskristallisationstemperaturT ₀=800 bis 1000 bis unter die eutektische Temperatur, bei Abkühlgeschwindigkeiten vonR _T =0.67 bis 3.3 min^–1, untersucht. Das Hauptkristallwachstum wurde durch die Diffusionsgeschwindigkeit bedingt. Die Werte der Diffusionsgeschwindigkeitskonstante (k _D) in Richtung der Hauptachse wurden geschÄtzt. Diese Werte nahmen mit der Abkühlgeschwindigkeit und der Anfangskristallisationstemperatur zu. Sie waren niedriger als jene des diffusionsbedingten Wachstums von Calciumwolframat aus Natriumwolframatschmelzen in Aluminiumtiegeln. Die experimentellenk _D-Werte wurden mit den theoretischenk _D-Werten verglichen.

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Résumé La cinétique de la cristallisation du tungstate de calcium à partir de ses solutions dans le tungstate de sodium fondu a été étudiée dans un creuset de platine au cours du refroidissement continu depuis la température initiale de cristallisationT ₀=800 à 1000 C jusqu'à température inférieure à celle de l'eutectique, avec des vitesses de refroidissement allant de 0.67 à 3.3 C · min^–1. La croissance des cristaux est contrÔlée principalement par le processus de diffusion. Les valeurs de la constante de vitesse de diffusion (k _D) ont été estimées pour la croissance le long de l'axe principal. Ces valeurs augmentent avec la vitesse de refroidissement et la température initiale de cristallisation et sont plus faibles que les valeurs correspondantes en creusets d'alumine. Les valeurs expérimentales et théoriques dek _D sont comparées.

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₀=800 1000 R =0.67 3.3 ^–1. . (k _d ) . . , - . k _d .

     

Studies on catalytic decomposition of CO over transition metal ion (TMI) doped alumina-boria catalyst systems

ESCA and ESR studies on TMI incorporating alumina-boria catalyst systems for CO conversion show the presence of carbidic phase and no valence change of the incorporated copper in the spent catalyst.     

Quadruplex formation by a guanine-rich PNA oligomer

A guanine-rich PNA dodecamer having the sequence H-G4T4G4-Lys-NH2 (G-PNA) hybridizes with a DNA dodecamer of homologous sequence to form a four-stranded quadruplex (Datta, B.; Schmitt, C.; Armitage, B. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 4111-4118). This report describes quadruplex formation by the PNA alone. UV melting curves and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments reveal formation of a multistranded structure stabilized by guanine tetrads. The ion dependency of these structures is analogous to that reported for DNA quadruplexes. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicates that both dimeric and tetrameric quadruplexes are formed by G4-PNA, with the dimeric form being preferred. These results have implications for the use of G-rich PNA for homologous hybridization to G-rich targets in chromosomal DNA and suggest additional applications in assembling quadruplex structures within lipid bilayer environments.     

On the electronic energy spectrum of disordered systems

The present paper deals with the investigation of the electronic energy spectrum of a one-dimensional model of monatomic disordered systems with rectangular-well type atomic potentials. First, an equation describing the connection between the wavefunctions at three consecutive atomic sites is derived, the method followed for this purpose being based on the use of well-known “transfer matrix” together with an approach reported earlier by the author. This connection equation is further analysed with the help of continued fraction methods as well as a perturbational approach (first used by Phariseau), and explicit equations, giving allowed electronic energies for various one-dimensional models with small deviations from periodicity, are obtained thereby. It is found in general that, for the types of disorder considered here, a band structure of electronic energies exists; in addition, there appear extra localised energy levels. The treatments involving continued fractions show that such extra energies lie unambiguously within the forbidden regions of the band structure, while the extra energies obtained with the help of perturbational approach, are seen to have the possibility of lying both in the allowed and forbidden regions. With regard to localisation of electronic states, we have found that, for all tratments, the electronic states other than those giving the band structure are localised. As for the band states Phariseau's approach predicts them to be localised, while the continued fraction methods fail to predict whether the band states are localised or not.     

The Extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum Root and Rhizome Block the Entry of SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type and Omicron Pseudotyped Viruses via Inhibition of the S-Protein and 3CL Protease

COVID-19, resulting from infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, caused a contagious pandemic. Even with the current vaccines, there is still an urgent need to develop effective pharmacological treatments against this deadly disease. Here, we show that the water and ethanol extracts of the root and rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix), a common Chinese herbal medicine, blocked the entry of wild-type and the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus into fibroblasts or zebrafish larvae, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.015 to 0.04 mg/mL. The extracts were shown to inhibit various aspects of the pseudovirus entry, including the interaction between the spike protein (S-protein) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptor, and the 3CL protease activity. Out of the chemical compounds tested in this report, gallic acid, a phytochemical in P. cuspidatum, was shown to have a significant anti-viral effect. Therefore, this might be responsible, at least in part, for the anti-viral efficacy of the herbal extract. Together, our data suggest that the extracts of P. cuspidatum inhibit the entry of wild-type and the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, and so they could be considered as potent treatments against COVID-19.     

Kinetics of crystal growth of strontium tungstate from solutions in sodium tungstate melts by continuous cooling

The crystallisation kinetics of strontium tungstate from unstirred saturated solutions in sodium tungstate melts was studied by continuous cooling from initial crystallisation temperatures T₀ = 1000° to 800°C to room temperature at cooling rates R_T = 0.67° to 3.3°C min⁻¹. The main crystal growth was diffusion rate-controlled; the final crystal growth was rate-controlled by the development rate of excess solute concentration. The estimated diffusion rate constant (k_D) values increased with cooling rates and initial crystallisation temperatures. They are higher than the rate constants for diffusion-controlled growth of calcium tungstate from sodium tungstate melts, but very much smaller than those for strontium tungstate from lithium chloride melts.     

Evolution of Artificial Arginine Analogues—Fluorescent Guanidiniocarbonyl-Indoles as Efficient Oxo-Anion Binders

In this article, we present fluorescent guanidiniocarbonyl-indoles as versatile oxo-anion binders. Herein, the guanidiniocarbonyl-indole (GCI) and methoxy-guanidiniocarbonyl-indole (MGCI) were investigated as ethylamides and compared with the well-known guanidiniocarbonyl-pyrrole (GCP) concerning their photophysical properties as well as their binding behavior towards oxo-anions. Hence, a variety of anionic species, such as carboxylates, phosphonates and sulfonates, have been studied regarding their binding properties with GCP, GCI and MGCI using UV-Vis titrations, in combination with the determination of the complex stoichiometry using the Job method. The emission properties were studied in relation to the pH value using fluorescence spectroscopy as well as the determination of the photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the ground-lying electronic properties of the investigated oxo-anion binders. Additionally, X-ray diffraction of GCP and GCI was conducted. We found that GCI and MGCI efficiently bind carboxylates, phosphonates and sulfonates in buffered aqueous solution and in a similar range as GCP (K_ass ≈ 1000–18,000 M⁻¹, in bis-tris buffer, pH = 6); thus, they could be regarded as promising emissive oxo-anion binders. They also exhibit a visible fluorescence with a sufficient PLQY. Additionally, the excitation and emission wavelength of MGCI was successfully shifted closer to the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum by introducing a methoxy-group into the core structure, which makes them interesting for biological applications.