Kinetic nature of the thermal destabilization of LHCII macroaggregates

The main light-harvesting chl a/b pigment-protein complex of photosystem II (LHCII) in isolated state forms macroaggregates with different ultrastructure and lipid content [I. Simidjiev, V. Barzda, L. Mustardy, G. Garab, Anal. Biochem. 250 (1997) 169-175]. The thermodynamic stability of highly delipidated tightly bound LHCII macroaggregates is studied by differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The calorimetric profile of LHCII is asymmetric, the denaturation transition is taking place at around 72 degrees C. A shoulder, which overlaps with the main denaturation transition, appears around 58 degrees C. The denaturation temperature strongly depends on the scanning rate indicating the kinetic nature of the thermal destabilization of LHCII macroaggregates. The fluorescence data prove that the thermal denaturation of LHCII is an irreversible and kinetically controlled process.     

Overtone spectroscopy of some benzaldehyde derivatives

Overtone spectrum of o, m and p-nitrobenzaldehydes and p-chlorobenzaldehyde has been studied in 2000–12000 cm⁻¹ region. Vibrational frequencies and anharmonicity constants for aryl as well as alkyl CH stretch vibrations have been determined. We have also determined the internuclear distances for the aryl CH bond in the different molecules. The small variation observed in these distances is an indication of the substitution effect. It is observed that in the case of p-disubstituted benzens, the shift in aryl CH bond is proportional to sum of the Hammet σ of the substituents. However in the case of o-disubstituted benzenes it is only 80% of the para-substituted shift.     

Crystallization as a means for the switching of nanoscale containers

Melting and crystallization are reported as a means for reversible switching of nanoscale containers. Aqueous dispersions of 10 nm particles of polyethylene with variable branching and crystallinity were prepared by catalytic polymerization with water-soluble Ni(II) complexes. Fluorescence studies of lipophilic probe molecules show that in the low-crystallinity particles they experience a more apolar environment. In crystalline particles, the amorphous portions which can accommodate guest molecules are at the periphery of the particle, such that the probe experiences the water-particle interface to some extent. The polarity experienced by the probe molecules can be switched reversibly by melting and crystallization of the individual dispersed particles. The temperature at which this occurs can be adjusted via the microstructure, that is, degree of branching, of the polymer.     

Role of LHCII organization in the interaction of substituted 1,4-anthraquinones with thylakoid membranes

The chlorophyll fluorescence, photochemical activity and surface electric properties of thylakoid membranes with different stoichiometry of pigment-protein complexes and organization of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex of photosystem II (LHCII) were studied in the presence of substituted 1,4-anthraquinones. Data show strong dependence of the quenching of the chlorophyll fluorescence on the structural organization of LHCII. The increase of the LHCII oligomerization, which is associated with significant reduction of the transmembrane electric charge asymmetry and electric polarizability of the membrane, correlates with enhanced quenching effect of substituted 1,4-athraquinones. Crucial for the large quinone-induced changes in the membrane electric dipole moments is the structure of the quinone molecule. The strongest reduction in the values of the dipole moments is observed after interaction of thylakoids with 3-chloro-9-hydroxy-1,4-anthraquinone (TF33) which has the highest quenching efficiency. The quinone induced changes in the photochemical activity of photosystem II (PSII) correlate with the total amount of the supramolecular LHCII-PSII complex and depend on the number of substituents in the 1,4-anthraquinone molecule.     

Extremes of nuclear structure

With the advent of medium and large gamma detector arrays, it is now possible to look at nuclear structure at high rotational forces. The role of pairing correlations and their eventual breakdown, along with the shell effects have showed us the interesting physics for nuclei at high spins — superdeformation, shape co-existence, yrast traps, alignments and their dramatic effects on nuclear structure and so on. Nuclear structure studies have recently become even more exciting, due to efforts and possibilities to reach nuclei far off from the stability valley. Coupling of gamma ray arrays with ‘filters’, like neutron wall, charged particle detector array, gamma ray total energy and multiplicity castles, conversion electron spectrometers etc gives a great handle to study nuclei produced online with ‘low’ cross-sections. Recently we studied, nuclei in mass region 80 using an array of 8 germanium detectors in conjunction with the recoil mass analyser, HIRA at the Nuclear Science Centre and, most unexpectedly came across the phenomenon of identical bands, with two quasi-particle difference. The discovery of magnetic rotation is another highlight. Our study of light In nucleus, 107In brought us face to face with the ‘dipole’ bands. I plan to discuss some of these aspects. There is also an immensely important development — that of the ‘radioactive ion beams’. The availability of RIB, will probably very dramatically influence our ‘conventional’ concept of nuclear structure. The exotic shapes of these exotic nuclei and some of their expected properties will also be touched upon.     

On the relationship between microhardness and glass transition temperature of some amorphous polymers

On the basis of microhardness (H) data measured at room temperature only for a number of polymers in the glassy state, a linear correlation between H and the glass transition temperature T_g has been found (H = 1.97T_g − 571). By means of this relationship, the deviation of the H values from the additivity law for some multicomponent and/or multiphase polymeric systems can be accounted for. The latter usually contains a liquidlike soft component and/or phase with T_g below room temperature. A completely different deformation mechanism in comparison to systems with T_g above room temperature is invoked. A novel expression for the hardness of polymers in terms of crystallinity of the single components and/or phases, the T_g values, and the mass fraction of each component is proposed. This expression permits the calculation of (i) the room‐temperature H value of amorphous polymers, mainly containing single bonds in the main chain, provided T_g is known, and of (ii) the contribution of the soft liquidlike components (phases) to the hardness of the entire multiphase system. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1413–1419, 1999     

Polymer-Modified Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Affect Photosystem II Photochemistry,Intersystem Electron Transport Carriers and Photosystem I End Acceptors in Pea Plants

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have recently been attracting the attention of plant biologists as a prospective tool for modulation of photosynthesis in higher plants. However, the exact mode of action of SWCNT on the photosynthetic electron transport chain remains unknown. In this work, we examined the effect of foliar application of polymer-grafted SWCNT on the donor side of photosystem II, the intersystem electron transfer chain and the acceptor side of photosystem I. Analysis of the induction curves of chlorophyll fluorescence via JIP test and construction of differential curves revealed that SWCNT concentrations up to 100 mg/L did not affect the photosynthetic electron transport chain. SWCNT concentration of 300 mg/L had no effect on the photosystem II donor side but provoked inactivation of photosystem II reaction centres and slowed down the reduction of the plastoquinone pool and the photosystem I end acceptors. Changes in the modulated reflection at 820 nm, too, indicated slower re-reduction of photosystem I reaction centres in SWCNT-treated leaves. We conclude that SWCNT are likely to be able to divert electrons from the photosynthetic electron transport chain at the level of photosystem I end acceptors and plastoquinone pool in vivo. Further research is needed to unequivocally prove if the observed effects are due to specific interaction between SWCNT and the photosynthetic apparatus.     

Aging-related changes in the calorimetric profile of red blood cells from women with miscarriages

The backward-facing step or the sudden expansion in internal flows is an important problem in different areas. In this study, a porous baffle is mounted on the opposite wall of a sudden expansion to enhance heat transfer near the step. Unlike the solid baffle, which is extensively studied in the literature, the porous baffle has a lower pressure drop, and its properties can be tuned to reach the optimal prospected performance. Effects of different porous baffle geometrical parameters including its normalized height (H_b?=?0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 1.75), width (W_b?=?0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5), porous baffle-step relative distance (D?=?1, 2, 3, 4), Darcy number (10^?2, 10^?3, 10^?4, 10^?6), and Reynolds number (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) on the heat transfer and pressure drop are investigated. The simulation indicates that higher Reynolds numbers enhance more the heat transfer (35% improvement at Re?=?500 with respect to 10% at Re?=?100). Also, longer baffles can lead to higher heat transfer rates (5% improvement in H_b?=?0.5 with respect to 32% at H_b?=?1.5).

     

Preparation, structural analysis and dielectric properties of Bi x La1−x FeO3 perovskite

Rare earth element substituted bismuth ferrites (BiFeO₃) are of enormous importance as magnetoelectric materials. The polycrystalline samples of Bi _x La_1−x FeO₃ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were prepared by solid-state reaction using standard ceramic method. The single-phase formation of these compounds was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The samples with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 are found to be orthorhombic while the sample with x=0.8 is triclinic. The dielectric constant (ε′) and dissipation factor (tan δ) were measured in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature and as a function of temperature at certain fixed frequencies (1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, 1 MHz). All the samples showed dielectric dispersion. The dielectric constant with temperature shows a broad peak; the peak temperature shifts with frequency which reflects the relaxor-type behavior. The peak above 600 K in the measured temperature range corresponds to antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (Néel temperature). The broadness of the peak changes with composition. The ac conductivity as well as ε′ are found to be maximum for the sample x=0.2 at room temperature.