Mapping the spatial overlap of excitons in a photosynthetic complex via coherent nonlinear frequency generation

We experimentally demonstrate a nonlinear spectroscopic method that is sensitive to exciton-exciton interactions in a Frenkel exciton system. Spatial overlap of one-exciton wavefunctions leads to coupling between them, resulting in two-exciton eigenstates that have the character of many single-exciton pairs. The mixed character of the two-exciton wavefunctions gives rise to a four-wave-mixing nonlinear frequency generation signal. When only part of the linear excitation spectrum of the complex is excited with three spectrally tailored pulses with separate spatial directions, a frequency-shifted third-order nonlinear signal emerges in the phase-matched direction. We employ the nonlinear response function formalism to show that the emergence of the signal is mediated by and carries information about the two-exciton eigenstates of the system. We report experimental results for nonlinear frequency generation in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) photosynthetic pigment-protein complex. Our theoretical analysis of the signal from FMO confirms that the emergence of the frequency-shifted signal is due to the interaction of spatially overlapped excitons. In this method, the signal intensity is directly measured in the frequency domain and does not require scanning of pulse delays or signal phase retrieval. The wavefunctions of the two-exciton states contain information about the spatial overlap of excitons and can be helpful in identifying coupling strengths and relaxation pathways. We propose this method as a facile experimental means of studying exciton correlations in systems with complicated electronic structures.     

Synthesis of Imidazolato and 2-Methyl-Imidazolato Derivatives of Tellurium(IV)

INTRODUCTION

The chemistry of S-N compounds has been well established^[1] in the past few years and the stability was accounted in terms of extensive π bonding^[2,3]. The diversity of these compounds tempted chemsits to explore analogous Se-N and Te-N compounds. However, the poor or even absence of π bonding with heavier Se and Te posed problem to synthesize such compounds in the past. The chemistry of Se-N and Te-N compounds has been developed extensively by introducing new synthetic precursors^[4] in the last decade or so. We have observed that N-trimethyl silylimidazole and 2-methyl silylimidazole are potential reagents for peperation of monomeric transition metal imidazolates and Tin(IV) imidazolate^[5,6]. We, therefore, thought worthwhile to synthesize amido derivatives of Te(IV) incorporating these π delocalised heterocycles which acts as potential 4e (both σ and π) donors.     

Two-grid finite element method for the dual-permeability-Stokes fluid flow model

In this paper, two-grid finite element method for the steady dual-permeability-Stokes fluid flow model is proposed and analyzed. Dual-permeability-Stokes interface system has vast applications in many areas such as hydrocarbon recovery process, especially in hydraulically fractured tight/shale oil/gas reservoirs. Two-grid method is popular and convenient to solve a large multiphysics interface system by decoupling the coupled problem into several subproblems. Herein, the two-grid approach is used to reduce the coding task substantially, which provides computational flexibility without losing the approximate accuracy. Firstly, we solve a global problem through standard P_k ? P_k??1 ? P_k ? P_k finite elements on the coarse grid. After that, a coarse grid solution is applied for the decoupling between the interface terms and the mass exchange terms to solve three independent subproblems on the fine grid. The three independent parallel subproblems are the Stokes equations, the microfracture equations, and the matrix equations, respectively. Four numerical tests are presented to validate the numerical methods and illustrate the features of the dual-permeability-Stokes model.

     

Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of 2‐Methyl‐4,6‐Dinitrophenol using Bismuth Bulk Electrode

This work reports the application of bismuth bulk electrode (BiBE) for the determination of 2‐methyl‐4,6‐dinitrophenol (MDNP) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in Britton‐Robinson buffer of pH 12.0 as an optimal medium. BiBE was prepared by transferring molten bismuth into a glass tube under constant stream of nitrogen. The linear concentration dependences were measured from 1 to 10 μmol ? L^?1 and from 10 to 100 μmol ? L^?1 by using optimum accumulation potential of ?0.7 V and optimum accumulation time 30 s. Under these conditions limit of determination and limit of quantification was 0.45 and 1.5 μmol ? L^?1, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of tap water as a model sample.     

Nitrite electrochemical sensor for food analysis based on direct immobilization of hemoglobin on multi-walled carbon nanotube ionic liquid electrode

A novel nitrite biosensor was constructed by simultaneous immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) and a room temperature ionic liquid, octylpyridinium chloride ([OcPy][Cl]), on multi-walled carbon ionic liquid electrode (MWILE). The direct electron transfer of Hb showed a pair of redox peaks with a formal potential of ?0.187 V vs. Ag/AgCl in pH 5.0 acetate buffer solution. Nitrite (NO₂ ^?) catalysis on the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The biosensor exhibited a wide linear range for NO₂ ^? detection from 0.01 to 15 mM, with a detection limit (3σ) of 1.46 μM. MWILE provided an excellent matrix for protein immobilization and biosensor fabrication which could be used for the determination of NO₂ ^? with a low detection limit, fast response, long linearity, and excellent sensitivity.     

Radiation damage in single crystal L-Histidine as studied by low-temperature thermoluminescence techniques

X-irradiation of single crystal L-Histidine at 10 K produces TL glow peaks at 38, 72, 84, 122, 162, 204, and 245 K. The 84 K peak is the most intense one and is characterized by a thermal activation energy of 0.073 eV and frequency factor of 1.1×10³s^-1. Moreover, it is readily photobleachable, whereas the other glow peaks are not, and is tentatively correlated with the thermal decay of a carboxyl anion radical. Computer simulation of the Randall-Wilkins first-order TL expression provided a check on the experimentally derived parameters characterizing the 38 and 84 K peaks. The initial-rise method did not produce accurate parameters for the 38 K peak; however, computer simulation yielded an activation energy of 0.022 eV and a frequency factor of 20 s^-1 which were in agreement with the experimental shape of the glow curve. This TL peak is attributed to the thermal destruction of an imidazole cation radical. Emission spectra measurements of the 84 K luminescence (other peaks were of insufficient intensity) indicated that TL results from thermal release of electrons and their subsequent de-excitation to the ground state via the singlet and triplet manifolds. At sufficiently high temperatures (～78 K) one only observes singlet state emission due to intersystem crossing.     

A simple spectrophotometric method for the determination of copper in industrial, environmental, biological and soil samples using 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole.

A simple spectrophotometric method is presented for the rapid determination of copper at a trace level using 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMTD) as a new spectrophotometric reagent. The method is based on the reaction of non-absorbent DMTD in a slightly acidic (0.002-0.014 mol dm(-3) sulfuric acid) aqueous solution with copper(II) to produce a highly absorbent greenish-yellow chelate product that has an absorption maximum at 390 nm. The reaction is instantaneous and the absorbance remains stable for 24 h. The average molar absorption coefficient and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 5.65 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 10 ng cm(-2) of CuII, respectively. Linear calibration graphs were obtained for 0.1-20 microg cm(-3) of CuII; the stoichiometric composition of the chelate is 1:2 (Cu:DMTD). A large excess of over 50 cations, anions and complexing agents (e.g. tartrate, oxalate, citrate, phosphate, thiourea, SCN-) do not interfere in the determination. The method was successfully used for the determination of copper in several Standard Reference Materials as well as in some environmental water samples, biological samples, soil samples and solutions containing both copper(I) and copper(II) and complex synthetic mixtures. The method has high precision and accuracy (s = +/-0.01 for 0.5 microg cm(-1)).     

Carbon Paste Electrode Incorporating 1‐[4‐(Ferrocenyl Ethynyl) Phenyl]‐1‐Ethanone for Electrocatalytic and Voltammetric Determination of Tryptophan

A carbon paste electrode spiked with 1‐[4‐ferrocenyl ethynyl) phenyl]‐1‐ethanone (4FEPE) was constructed by incorporation of 4FEPE in graphite powder‐paraffin oil matrix. It has been shown by direct current cyclic voltammetry and double step chronoamperometry that this electrode can catalyze the oxidation of tryptophan (Trp) in aqueous buffered solution. It has been found that under optimum condition (pH 7.00), the oxidation of Trp at the surface of such an electrode occurs at a potential about 200 mV less positive than at an unmodified carbon paste electrode. The kinetic parameters such as electron transfer coefficient, α and rate constant for the chemical reaction between Trp and redox sites in 4FEPE modified carbon paste electrode (4FEPEMCPE) were also determined using electrochemical approaches. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of Trp showed a linear dependent on the Trp concentrations and linear calibration curves were obtained in the ranges of 6.00×10^?6 M–3.35×10^?3 M and 8.50×10^?7 M–6.34×10^?5 M of Trp concentration with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods, respectively. The detection limits (3σ) were determined as 1.80×10^?6 M and 5.60×10^?7 M by CV and DPV methods. This method was also examined as a selective, simple and precise new method for voltammetric determination of tryptophan in real sample.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation effect of flavonols antioxidants on DNA damage

A new electrochemical biosensor was developed to demonstrate the effect of Acridine Orange (AO) on DNA damage. Then, the biosensor was used to check the inhibitors effect of three flavonols antioxidants (myricetin, fisetin and kaempferol) on DNA damage. Acridine Orange (AO) was used as a damaging agent because it shows a high affinity to nucleic acid and stretch of the double helical structure of DNA. Decreasing on the oxidation signals of adenine and guanine (in the DNA) in the presence of AO were used as probes to study the antioxidants power, using DNA-modified screen printed graphene electrode (DNA/SPGE). The results of our study showed that the DNA-biosensor could be suitable biosensor to investigate the inhibitors ability of the flavonols antioxidants on the DNA damage. The linear dependency was detected in the two regions in the ranges of 1.0–15.0 and 15.0–500.0 pmol L⁻¹. The detection limit was found 0.5 pmol L⁻¹ and 0.6 pmol L⁻¹ for guanine and adenine, respectively. To confirm the electrochemical results, Uv–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used too. Finally molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was performed on the structure of DNA in a water box to study any interaction between the antioxidant, AO and DNA.