Nonlinear optical metal-organic frameworks for ratiometric temperature sensing in physiological range

The precise and real-time sensing of the temperature within the physiological range is of great significance in biology and medicine. Here, a Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF) named Zn-TCOMA is synthesized with good SHG performance due to its unique structure of the ligand and 3D frameworks. By encapsulating the two-photon fluorescent dye DMASE into the pores of Zn-TCOMA, the composite Zn-TCOMA?DMASE is obtained and simultaneously exhibits SHG response and two-photon fluorescence. Utilizing the intensity ratio between two-photon fluorescence of DMASE and SHG signal of Zn-TCOMA, Zn-TCOMA?DMASE exhibits ratiometric temperature sensing property at physiological temperature region of 20～60 °C with high sensitivity. This MOF thermometer also shows excellent repeatability, good biocompatibility, and high temperature resolution of 0.018 °C, opening a new avenue to develop diverse optical thermometric or thermographic applications in biotechnology or other areas.     

Two-photon dual-channel fluorogenic probe for in situ imaging the mitochondrial H2S/viscosity in the brain of drosophila Parkinson’s disease model

H₂S is an essential gas signal molecule in cells, and viscosity is a key internal environmental parameter. Recent studies have shown that H₂S acts as a cytoarchitecture agent and gas transmitter in many tissues, e.g., as a regulator of neuroendocrine in the brain for mediating vascular tone in blood vessels. Mitochondrial viscosity is an important parameter for judging whether mitochondrial function is normal. It has been reported that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are connected with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the protective role of H₂S in PD models has been extensively demonstrated. Herein, Mito-HS, a new two-photon fluorescent probe was demonstrated to detect cross-talk between the two channels of mitochondrial viscosity and H₂S content. Moreover, this probe could detect the relative amount of and changes in mitochondrial H₂S in situ due to the reduced mitochondrial targeting ability after reaction with H₂S. The results show that H₂S in mitochondria is inversely related to viscosity. The PD model has a lower H₂S in mitochondria and a higher mitochondrial viscosity than did the normal. This result is important for our deep understanding of PD and its causes.     

Broadband excitation pulses for high‐field solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

In nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, experimental limits due to the radiofrequency transmitter and/or coil means that conventional radiofrequency pulses (“hard pulses”) are sometimes not sufficiently powerful to excite magnetization uniformly over a desired range of frequencies. Effects due to nonuniform excitation are most frequently encountered at high magnetic fields for nuclei with a large range of chemical shifts. Using optimal control theory, we have designed broadband excitation pulses that are suitable for solid‐state samples under magic‐angle‐spinning conditions. These pulses are easy to implement, robust to spinning frequency variations, and radiofrequency inhomogeneities, and only four times as long as a corresponding hard pulse. The utility of these pulses for uniformly exciting ¹³C nuclei is demonstrated on a 900 MHz (21.1 T) spectrometer. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical time-resolved study of the excitation dynamics*

Transient behaviour of the excited states originated from the neutral and the charged species is discussed using data from time-resolved experiments. Complex transient characteristics obtained for the slightly charged poly-(bithiophene) film during electrochemical doping were explained in terms of sequential molar fraction changes of the neutral species, the radical cation and the π-dimerized radical cations. Femtosecond transient absorption measurement carried out in time range of 0-4 ns for a two-photon excited dye reveals a multi-exponent decay with well separated relaxation times and the distinct relaxation mechanisms. At high irradiance and a sufficient fluence, the multi-photon excitation processes affect the subpicosecond response and lead to formation of the photo-products.     

Propagating surface plasmon polaritons for remote excitation surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy

To illustrate the attractive potentials of remote-excitation surface enhanced Raman scattering (RE-SERS), we review the fundamental concepts and typical applications of propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs). Based on the RE-SERS technic, the adsorbed molecules are protected from being directly illuminated, while the merits of SERS still remained. However, the critical limitations of applying RE-SERS hinder its rapid development. Hence, drawing an overview about the PSPPs would be beneficial for further promoting the significance of RE-SERS in biological application and investigating the mechanism of surface catalytic reactions.     

Painlevé analysis,lump-kink solutions and localized excitation solutions for the (3+1)-dimensional Boiti–Leon–Manna–Pempinelli equation

In this paper the (3+1)-dimensional Boiti–Leon–Manna–Pempinelli (BLMP) equation is investigated. The integrability test is performed yielding a positive result. Through the Painlevé–Bäcklund transformation, we derive four types of lump-kink solutions composed of two quadratic functions and N exponential functions. It is shown that fission and fusion interactions occur in the lump-kink solutions. Furthermore, a new variable separation solution with two arbitrary functions is obtained, the localized excitations including lumps, dromions and periodic waves are analyzed by some graphs.     

Photoluminescence of green nanophosphors Sr2MgSi2O7 doped with Tb3+ under 374-nm excitation

A series of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Tb³⁺ nanophosphors is prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction. The x-ray diffraction patterns show that the crystal structure of the sample is not significantly affected by Tb³⁺ ions. However, the images of the scanning electron microscope illustrate that the average size of nanoparticles becomes larger with the increase of Tb³⁺ concentration. Unlike earlier investigations on down-conversion emission of Tb³⁺ ion excited by deep ultraviolet light, in this work, the photoluminescence characteristics of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ nanophosphors doped with different Tb³⁺ concentrations are analyzed under 374-nm excitations. The intense green emission at 545 nm is observed at an optimal doping concentration of 1.6 mol%. The main reason for the concentration quenching is due to the electric dipole-electric dipole interaction among Tb³⁺ ions.     

The stabilization of partially-premixed jet flames in the presence of high potential electric fields

Numerous research efforts have focused on flame stabilization and emissions. Based on initial experiments, specific mechanisms resulting from DC electric fields were chosen to be investigated, namely the chemical, thermal, and ionization mechanisms. Numerical simulations were performed on premixed propane-ozone-air flames to characterize ozone effects on flame speed resulting from the formation of ozone in high potential electric fields. These results were compared against partially premixed flame experiments to observe the dominant influences within leading edge stabilization within high potential electric fields. It was found that the electromagnetic or ionization influences, serve as the dominant effect on the combustion zone.