Influence of intramolecular vibrations in charge redistribution at the pentacene-graphite interface

We have investigated the relation between the intramolecular vibrational modes of pentacene and the charge redistribution at the pentacene-graphite interface by using high-resolution electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy. The three main vibrational peaks shift to lower energies as the pentacene film thickness decreases. In order to discuss this energy shift, we have calculated the vibrational energies of a free pentacene molecule by changing its charge state. We have also calculated the vibrational energies of a pentacene molecule adsorbed on a graphite sheet by changing the pentacene-graphite distance. Taking the experimental and calculation results into account, we conclude that the observed energy shifts result from an intramolecular charge redistribution. The present results indicate that the effect of an intramolecular charge redistribution is essential to discuss the origin of an energy shift observed in a vibrational study of an organic molecule/substrate interface.     

A frequency response model in multiquantum well lasers with unequilibrium carrier transport

A carrier transport model to explain the high-frequency response in high-speed MQW lasers is described. The ambipolar approximation, which is unsuitable for dealing with the high-speed carrier dynamics in MQW structures, was not adopted for small-signal analysis. The carrier transport effect can be characterized by four time constants: the electron transport time, _bmn; the hole transport time, _bmp; the electron escape time, _wbn; and the hole escape time, _wbp. The frequency response was interpreted as the sum of the constant response term due to the fast electron current and the roll-off term due to the slow hole transport time. The ratio of the electron contribution to the total response was proportional to the ratio of electron contribution to the total differential gain, , and reciprocally proportional to _n0 = 1 + _bmn/_wbn. The value of was calculated to be about 0.5 for typical MQW lasers. The roll-off frequency is mainly determined by . The ratio _p0 = 1 + _bmp/_wbp affects the resonant frequency and the damping rate in the high-bias condition.     

Monolithic silica columns with various skeleton sizes and through-pore sizes for capillary liquid chromatography

Reduction of through-pore size and skeleton size of a monolithic silica column was attempted to provide high separation efficiency in a short time. Monolithic silica columns were prepared to have various sizes of skeletons (approximately 1-2 microm) and through-pores (approximately 2-8 microm) in a fused-silica capillary (50-200 microm I.D.). The columns were evaluated in HPLC after derivatization to C18 phase. It was possible to prepare monolithic silica structures in capillaries of up to 200 microm I.D. from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane. As expected, a monolithic silica column with smaller domain size showed higher column efficiency and higher pressure drop. High external porosity (> 80%) and large through-pores resulted in high permeability (K = 8 x 10(-14) -1.3 x 10(-12) m2) that was 2-30 times higher than that of a column packed with 5-mirom silica particles. The monolithic silica columns prepared in capillaries produced a plate height of about 8-12 microm with an 80% aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase at a linear velocity of 1 mm/s. Separation impedance, E, was found to be as low as 100 under optimum conditions, a value about an order of magnitude lower than reported for conventional columns packed with 5-microm particles. Although a column with smaller domain size generally resulted in higher separation impedance and the lower total performance, the monolithic silica columns showed performance beyond the limit of conventional particle-packed columns under pressure-driven conditions.     

Two-dimensional separation system of coupling capillary liquid chromatography to capillary electrophoresis for analysis of Escherichia coli metabolites

A two-dimensional (2-D) separation system of coupling chromatography to electrophoresis was developed for profiling Escherichia coli metabolites. Capillary liquid chromatography (LC) with a monolithic silica-octadecyl silica column (500 x 0.2 mm ID) was used as the first dimension, from which the effluent fractions were further analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) acting as the second dimension. Field-enhanced stacking was selectively employed as a concentration strategy to interface the two dimensions, which proved to be beneficial for the detection of metabolites. An artificial sample containing 118 standards, some of which lack chromophores or have weak UV absorbance, was used to optimize the 2-D separation system. Under the optimum conditions, 63 components in the artificial sample having absorbance at 254 nm could be well resolved and detected. The utility of the system was demonstrated by comprehensive analysis of E. coli metabolites. Comparing with the previous 2-D separation system we published in Anal. Chem. 2004, 76, 1419-1428, using a longer monolithic column in the first dimension improved the separation efficiency and offered the possibility of increasing the injection volume without compromising the separation efficiency. In the second dimension, field-enhanced stacking was used to improve the concentration sensitivity of the metabolites, and more metabolites in E. coli cell extract were detected and identified using the developed 2-D separation system. In addition, preliminary investigation for future CE-mass spectrometry coupling was also made in the study by using volatile buffers in the capillary LC and CE techniques.     

Involvement of human small fragment nuclease in the resistance of human cells to UV-C-induced cell death

Human small fragment nuclease (Sfn) is one of the cellular proteins that were reported to degrade small, single-stranded DNA and RNA. However, the biological role of Sfn in cellular response to various stressors such as UV-C (mainly 254 nm wavelength ultraviolet ray) remains unclear. We have examined whether modulation of human SFN gene expression affects cell survival capacity against UV-C-induced cell death, analyzing colony survival ability in UV-C-sensitive human RSa cells treated with short double-stranded RNA (siRNA) specific for SFN messenger RNA (mRNA). The expression levels of SFN mRNA in the siRNA-treated RSa cells decreased to about 15% compared with those in the control siRNA-treated cells. The siRNA-treated RSa cells showed lower colony survival and higher activity of caspase-3 after UV-C irradiation than the control siRNA-treated RSa cells. Furthermore, the removal capacity of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in the siRNA-treated RSa cells decreased compared with the control siRNA-treated RSa cells. There was no difference in the colony survival and CPD removal capacity after UV-C irradiation between the control siRNA-treated RSa cells and mock-treated RSa cells. These results suggest that SFN expression is involved in resistance of RSa cells to UV-C-induced cell death through the roles it plays in the DNA repair process.     

Flavonoids from Sedum japonicum subsp. oryzifolium (Crassulaceae)

Twenty-two flavonoids were isolated from the leaves and stems of Sedum japonicum subsp. oryzifolium (Crassulaceae). Of these compounds, five flavonoids were reported in nature for the first time, and identified as herbacetin 3-O-xyloside-8-O-glucoside, herbacetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-(2′′′-acetylxyloside), gossypetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-arabinoside, gossypetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-(2′′′-acetylxyloside) and hibiscetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-arabinoside via UV, HR-MS, LC-MS, acid hydrolysis and NMR. Other seventeen known flavonoids were identified as herbacetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-arabinoside, herbacetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-xyloside, gossypetin 3-O-glucoside-8-O-xyloside, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-xylosyl-(1→2)-rhamnoside-7-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, kaempferol 7-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3,7-di-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucosyl-(1→2)-rhamnoside-7-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-xylosyl-(1→2)-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-xylosyl-(1→2)-rhamnoside-7-O-rhamnoside, myricetin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. Some flavonol 3,8-di-O-glycosides were found in Sedum japonicum subsp. oryzifolium as major flavonoids in this survey. They were presumed to be the diagnostic flavonoids in the species. Flavonoids were reported from S. japonicum for the first time.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes of isoquinoline‐1‐carboxylate

trans‐Di­aqua­bis­(iso­quinoline‐1‐carboxyl­ato‐κ²N,O)­cobalt(II) dihydrate, [Co(C₁₀H₆NO₂)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O, and trans‐di­aqua­bis­(iso­quinoline‐1‐carboxyl­ato‐κ²N,O)­nickel(II) dihydrate, [Ni(C₁₀H₆NO₂)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O, contain the same isoquinoline ligand, with both metal atoms residing on a centre of symmetry and having the same distorted octahedral coordination. In the former complex, the Co—O(water) bond length in the axial direction is 2.167 (2) Å, which is longer than the Co—O(carboxylate) and Co—N bond lengths in the equatorial plane [2.055 (2) and 2.096 (2) Å, respectively]. In the latter complex, the corresponding bond lengths for Ni—O(water), Ni—O(carboxylate) and Ni—N are 2.127 (2), 2.036 (2) and 2.039 (3) Å, respectively. Both crystals are stabilized by similar stacking interactions of the ligand, and also by hydrogen bonds between the hydrate and coordinated water molecules.     

Sequential stir bar sorptive extraction for uniform enrichment of trace amounts of organic pollutants in water samples

A novel extraction procedure for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) termed sequential SBSE was developed. Compared to conventional SBSE, sequential SBSE provides more uniform enrichment over the entire polarity/volatility range for organic pollutants at ultra-trace levels in water. Sequential SBSE consists of a SBSE performed sequentially on a 5-mL sample first without modifier using one stir bar, then on the same sample after addition of 30% NaCl using a second stir bar. The first extraction with unmodified sample is mainly targeting solutes with high Kow (logKow>4.0), the second extraction with modified sample solution (containing 30% NaCl) is targeting solutes with low and medium Kow (logKow<4.0). After extraction the two stir bars are placed in a single glass desorption liner and are simultaneously desorbed. The desorbed compounds were analyzed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Recovery of model compounds consisting of 80 pesticides (organochlorine, carbamate, organophosphorus, pyrethroid, and others) for sequential SBSE was evaluated as a function of logKow (1.70-8.35). The recovery using sequential SBSE was compared with those of conventional SBSE with or without salt addition (30% NaCl). The sequential approach provided very good recovery in the range of 82-113% for most of the solutes, and recovery less than 80% for only five solutes with low Kow (logKow<2.5), while conventional approaches (with or without salt addition) showed less than 80% recovery for 23 and 41 solutes, respectively. The method showed good linearity (r2>0.9900) and high sensitivity (limit of detection: <10ngL(-1)) for most of the model compounds even with the scan mode in the MS. The method was successfully applied to screening of pesticides at ngL(-1) level in river water samples.     

Fabrication and optical reflection behavior of a two-dimensional barium titanate ceramic photonic crystal

We demonstrate a method for fabricating a two-dimensional hexagonal array of nanoscale barium titanate ceramic pillars. A precursor array was prepared by introducing a sol solution into an electron-beam resist mold with air holes and subsequently dry etching the unnecessary gel layer formed on the mold. A ceramic array, consisting of barium titanate ceramic pillars with a radius of 85 nm, a lattice constant of 450 nm, and a height of 500 nm, was fabricated by sintering the precursor array at 1073 K. The reflection spectra for the ceramic array in the visible range revealed the underlying photonic band gaps, which were in good agreement with results calculated using a plane-wave method. PACS 77.84.-s; 42.70.-a; 42.70.Qs     

Molecular aggregation of rhodamine dyes in dispersions of layered silicates: influence of dye molecular structure and silicate properties

The molecular aggregation of six rhodamine dyes (rhodamine 560, B, 3B, 19, 6G, 123) in layered silicate (saponite and fluorohectorite) dispersions was investigated by using visible (vis) spectroscopy. The dye molecular aggregation was influenced by the properties of both the silicates and the dyes themselves. The layer charge of the silicates enhanced the molecular aggregation of the hydrophilic, cationic dyes. The presence of a carboxyl acid group in the dye molecules inhibited adsorption of the dyes on the surface of fluorohectorite, a silicate with a high charge density. A lower or no adsorption could be observed by vis spectroscopy. Strong association of the dyes to the silicate surface led to remarkable changes in the dye spectra, mainly due to the molecular aggregation. Dye assemblies initially formed after mixing the dye solutions with silicate dispersions were unstable. Decomposition of the dye molecular assemblies, and the formation of new species or molecular aggregate rearrangements, were studied on the bases of time-difference spectra. The reaction pathways were specific, not only for the dyes, depending upon their molecular structure and properties, but also on the silicate substrates.