Observation of individual microtubule motor steps in living cells with endocytosed quantum dots

We report the observation of individual steps taken by motor proteins in living cells by following movements of endocytic vesicles that contain quantum dots (QDs) with a fast camera. The brightness and photostability of quantum dots allow us to record motor displacement traces with 300 micros time resolution and 1.5 nm spatial precision. We observed individual 8 nm steps in active transport toward both the microtubule plus- and minus-ends, the directions of kinesin and dynein movements, respectively. In addition, we clearly resolved abrupt 16 nm steps in the plus-end direction and often consecutive 16 nm and occasional 24 nm steps in minus-end directed movements. This work demonstrates the ability of the QD assay to probe the operation of motor proteins at the molecular level in living cells under physiological conditions.     

Picosecond thermometer in the amide I band of myoglobin

The amide I and II bands in myoglobin show a heterogeneous temperature dependence, with bands at 6.17 and 6.43 microm which are more intense at low temperatures. The amide I band temperature dependence is on the long wavelength edge of the band, while the short wavelength side has almost no temperature dependence. We compare concepts of anharmonic solid-state crystal physics and chemical physics for the origins of these bands. We suggest that the long wavelength side is composed of those amino acids which hydrogen bond to the hydration shell of the protein, and that temperature dependent bands can be used to determine the time it takes vibrational energy to flow into the hydration shell. We determine that vibrational energy flow to the hydration shell from the amide I takes approximately 20 ps to occur.     

Complexes of Fulvic Acid on Hematite Interfaces: Characterization and Photochemical Properties

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), combined with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and transmission electron micrograph (TEM), has been used to observe the interaction between fulvic acid (FA) and hematite. The FTIR data have shown that the interaction mechanism corresponds mainly to the ligand-exchange involving carboxylic functional groups of the FA and hematite surface sites. The general trends included an increase in the content of Fe(III)-humate complexes on hematite surfaces accompanied by a decrease in pH and an increasing in the ionic strength. Both UV-Vis spectroscopy and TEM images have shown that hematite can interplay with FA under acidic conditions. In particular, the TEM images have shown that the presence of FA can significantly alter the characteristics of the hematite surfaces. Photochemical experiments have shown that hematite promotes the phototransformation of lindane (-HCH), whereas the presence of FA adversely affects the phototransformation of the target pollutant. The hematite coated with FA displayed a somewhat better catalyzing capability compared to the hematite only.     

Controlled shift of optical bistability hysteresis curve and storage of optical signals in a four-level atomic system

The dependence of the shift of an optical bistability hysteresis curve on the nonlinear phase shift induced by a controlling light is observed in a four-level atomic system of 87 Rb inside an optical ring cavity. In the process the intensity of the coupling beam keeps constant and the atomic system is operated at near conditions of coherent population trapping due to atomic coherence. The refractive and absorptive chi3 nonlinearities enhanced by atomic coherence provide the physical mechanism of the phenomena. Based on the effects, all-optical flip-flop and storage of optical pulse signals with a low peak power of several tens of microwatts are implemented.     

Efficiency and current in a correlated ratchet

We present a detailed study of the transport and the efficiency of a ratchet system in a periodic potential in the presence of correlated noises. The current and the efficiency of the system are investigated. It is found that, when the potential is spatially symmetric, the correlation between the two noises can induce a net transport. The efficiency shows many interesting features as a function of the applied force, the noise intensity, the external load, etc. The efficiency can be maximized as a function of noise intensity (or temperature), which shows that the thermal fluctuation can facilitate the efficiency of energy transformation.     

Current reversals in an inhomogeneous system with asymmetric unbiased fluctuations

We present a study of the transport of a Brownian particle moving in a periodic symmetric potential in the presence of asymmetric unbiased fluctuations. The particle is considered to move in a medium with periodic space dependent friction. By tuning the parameters of the system, the direction of the current exhibits reversals, both as a function of temperature as well as the amplitude of rocking force. We found that the mutual interplay between the opposite driving factors is the necessary term for current reversals.Received: 11 October 2003, Published online: 9 April 2004PACS: 05.40.-a Fluctuation phenomena, random processes, noise, and Brownian motion - 02.50.Ey Stochastic processes - 87.10. + e General theory and mathematical aspects     

Exact eigenstates for a class of models describing multiphoton processes in the presence of seven bosonic modes

With recent advances in Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC)[1—3], there has beenmuch interest in nonlinear processes in the various disciplines of physics, such asnonlinear multi-wave mixing processes[4]. Now, great efforts are devoted to constructingthe nonlinear quantized models to numerate the energy spectra and eigenstates of thesenonlinear processes[5—8]. But there still remain some problems with regard to interactionsamong several bosonic modes, for example, how to explicitly obtain the…     

Phase-matched high-order harmonics by interaction of Ar atoms with high-repetition-rate low-energy femtosecond laser pulses

High-order harmonics are generated by coherent interaction of an intense laser and atoms or molecules[1]. With the development of the intense ultrashort pulse laser, the research of high-order harmonic generation has reached the water-window in spectral region[2] and subfemtosecond in time domain[3]. Especially, the generation and application of subfemtosecond pulse led the study of high-order harmonic generation into a completely new world[4, 5]. It has made the study of ultrafast science fro…     

Synthesis of carbon nitride nanotubes with the C(3)N(4) stoichiometry via a benzene-thermal process at low temperatures

In this communication, we first report the direct synthesis of high-quality carbon nitride nanotubes (CNNTs) with inner diameters of 50-100 nm and wall thicknesses of 20-50 nm with the C(3)N(4) stoichiometry on a high-yield of 40%via a simple benzene-thermal process involving the reaction of C(3)N(3)Cl(3) with NaN(3) in a Teflon-lined autoclave at 220 [degree]C without using any catalyst or template.     

Growth of BaWO4 fishbone-like nanostructures in w/o microemulsion

BaWO(4) fishbone-like nanostructures with fourfold structural symmetry have been successfully grown in w/o microemulsion. The BaWO(4) fishbone-like nanostructures have four rows of nanorods, epitaxially grown on the stem and perpendicular to the stem. The obtained samples are characterized by means of XRD, TEM, HRTEM, and SEM. It is found that the water content has a large influence on the size of the product and the molar ratio between cations and anions plays an important role in the morphology of the product. It is assumed that site-selective surfactant adsorption may be responsible for the formation of the BaWO(4) fishbone-like nanostructures.