The Role of Radical Bridges in Polynuclear Single-Molecule Magnets

Employing radical bridges between anisotropic metal ions has been a viable route to achieve high-performance single-molecule magnets (SMMs). While the bridges have been mainly considered for their ability to promote exchange interactions, the crystal-field effect arising from them has not been taken into account explicitly. This lack of consideration may distort the understanding and limit the development of the entire family. To shed light on this aspect, herein we report a theoretical investigation of a series of N -radical-bridged diterbium complexes. It is found that while promoting strong exchange coupling between the terbium ions, the N -radical induces a crystal field that interferes destructively with that of the outer ligands, and thus reduces the overall SMM behavior. Based on the theoretical results, we conclude that the SMM behavior in this series could be further maximized if the crystal field of the outer ligands is designed to be collinear with that of the radical bridge. This conclusion can be generalized to all exchange-coupled SMMs.     

Synthesis and optical properties of new chalcones containing 4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]phenyl fragment

New chalcones with 4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino] phenyl fragment were obtained from 4-[bis(2-acetoxyethyl) amino]- benzaldehyde by the Claisen–Schmidt reaction. From their UV-VIS absorption and emission spectra, optical band gap values were calculated based on the Stokes shifts as well as the molar absorption coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields were estimated. The dependence of the absorption and emission maxima on solvent polarity and pH was evaluated.     

Full counting statistics of transport electrons through a two-level quantum dot with spin–orbit coupling

We study the full counting statistics of transport electrons through a semiconductor two-level quantum dot with Rashba spin–orbit (SO) coupling, which acts as a nonabelian gauge field and thus induces the electron transition between two levels along with the spin flip. By means of the quantum master equation approach, shot noise and skewness are obtained at finite temperature with two-body Coulomb interaction. We particularly demonstrate the crucial effect of SO coupling on the super-Poissonian fluctuation of transport electrons, in terms of which the SO coupling can be probed by the zero-frequency cumulants. While the charge currents are not sensitive to the SO coupling.     

Defects related emission and nanosecond optical power limiting in CuS quantum dots

We report optical and nonlinear optical properties of CuS quantum dots and nanoparticles prepared through a nontoxic, green, one-pot synthesis method. The presence of surface states and defects in the quantum dots are evident from the luminescent behavior and enhanced nonlinear optical properties measured using the open aperture Z-scan, employing 5 ns laser pulses at 532 nm. The quantum dots exhibit large effective third order nonlinear optical coefficients with a relatively lower optical limiting threshold of 2.3 J cm⁻², and the optical nonlinearity arises largely from absorption saturation and excited state absorption. Results suggest that these materials are potential candidates for designing efficient optical limiters with applications in laser safety devices.     

Time dependent Schrödinger equation for black hole evaporation: No information loss

In 1976 S. Hawking claimed that “Because part of the information about the state of the system is lost down the hole, the final situation is represented by a density matrix rather than a pure quantum state”. ¹ This was the starting point of the popular “black hole (BH) information paradox”.     

Curvature investigation in tapered fibers and its application to sensing and mode conversion

Non-adiabatic tapered fibers are basic photonic components used in a wide range of applications. Here we investigate a way to increase their utility through the controllable bending of one of their tapered sections. The experiments carried out explain, for the first time, the mechanics of this approach showing how these tapers can be used to build more sensitive sensors. Their use as highly efficient mode converters is also discussed.     

Hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots: Properties,preparation and applications

As a new type of quantum dots (QDs), hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) exhibit promising potential in the applications of disease diagnosis, fluorescence imaging, biosensing, metal ion detection, and so on, because of their remarkable chemical stability, excellent biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and outstanding photoluminescence properties. However, the large-scale fabrication of homogeneous BNQDs still remains challenging. In this article, the properties and common fabrication methods of BNQDs are summarized based on the recent research progress. Then, the corresponding yields, morphologies, and fabrication mechanisms of these as-obtained BNQDs are discussed in detail. Moreover, the applications of these as-obtained BNQDs in different fields are also discussed. This article is expected to inspire new methods and improvements to achieve large-scale fabrication of homogeneous BNQDs, which will enable their practical applications in future.     

Recent advances and challenges in the recovery and purification of cellular exosomes

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by most cellular types that carry important biochemical compounds throughout the body with different purposes, playing a preponderant role in cellular communication. Because of their structure, physicochemical properties and stability, recent studies are focusing in their use as nanocarriers for different therapeutic compounds for the treatment of different diseases ranging from cancer to Parkinson's disease. However, current bioseparation protocols and methodologies are selected based on the final exosome application or intended use and present both advantages and disadvantages when compared among them. In this context, this review aims to present the most important technologies available for exosome isolation while discussing their advantages and disadvantages and the possibilities of being combined with other strategies. This is critical since the development of novel exosome‐based therapeutic strategies will be constrained to the effectiveness and yield of the selected downstream purification methodologies for which a thorough understanding of the available technological resources is needed.     

紫色球杆菌视紫红质光谱特性的机器学习研究

近年来，机器学习等人工智能技术被应用于蛋白质工程，其在蛋白质结构、功能预测、催化活性等研究中具有独特优势。在未知蛋白质结构的情况下，将蛋白质序列和功能特性与机器学习相结合，基于序列-活性关系（innovative sequence-activity relationship，ISAR）算法，将蛋白质氨基酸序列数字化，用快速傅里叶变换（fast four transform，FFT）进行预处理，再进行偏最小二乘回归建模，可在数据集较少情况下拟合得到最佳模型。通过机器学习对紫色球杆菌视紫红质（gloeobacter violaceus rhodopsin，GR）的突变体蛋白质氨基酸序列与光谱最大吸收波长进行建模，获得了最佳模型。用最佳索引LEVM760106建模得到的确定系数R² 为0.944，均方误差E为11.64。用小波变换进行的预处理，其R² 虽也约为0.944，但E大于11.64，不及FFT进行的预处理。方法较好地解决了蛋白质序列与功能特性之间的数学建模问题，在蛋白质工程中可为预测更优的突变体提供支持。