Modelling the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium spectra of silylene (SiH2)

This paper sets out a robust methodology for modelling spectra of polyatomic molecules produced in reactive or dissociative environments, with vibrational populations outside local thermal equilibrium (LTE). The methodology is based on accurate, extensive ro-vibrational line lists containing transitions with high vibrational excitations and relies on the detailed ro-vibrational assignments. The developed methodology is applied to model non-LTE IR and visible spectra of silylene (SiH2) produced in a decomposition of disilane (Si2H6), a reaction of technological importance. Two approaches for non-LTE vibrational populations of the product SiH2 are introduced: a simplistic 1D approach based on the Harmonic approximation and a full 3D model incorporating accurate vibrational wavefunctions of SiH2 computed variationally with the TROVE (Theoretical ROVibrational Energy) program. We show how their non-LTE spectral signatures can be used to trace different reaction channels of molecular dissociations

Time-resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy of CO ∆v = 1 and ∆v = 2 extended bands in the ground X1Σ+ state produced by formamide glow discharge

This paper presents an extension to our knowledge of ∆v = 1 and ∆v = 2 bands of carbon monoxide in the ground state, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of glow discharge of formamide-nitrogen mixture. Lines in declared bands are measured up to v = 30 for ∆v = 1 and up to v = 24 for ∆v = 2 band, by use of both InSb and MCT detectors, which have not been measured in the laboratory before. Dunham parameters obtained by fitting our lines are presented as well as comparison to other authors. The paper also demonstrates the interesting impossibility of sufficient population of ∆v = 2 band of CO when only pure CO is used in the glow discharge, instead of formamide-based mixture. Additionally, we present a non-LTE model to describe the intensity pattern of the ∆v = 1 and the ∆v = 2 bands of 12C16O experimental spectra by simulating the corresponding non-LTE vibrational populations of CO

ExoMol line lists - XLIV. IR and UV line list for silicon monoxide (SiO)

A new silicon monoxide (28Si16O) line list covering infrared, visible and ultraviolet regions called SiOUVenIR is presented. This line list extends the infrared EBJT ExoMol line list by including vibronic transitions to the A 1Π and E 1Σ+ electronic states. Strong perturbations to the A 1Π band system are accurately modelled through the treatment of 6 dark electronic states: C 1Σ−, D 1Δ, a 3Σ+, b 3Π, e 3Σ− and d 3Δ. Along with the X 1Σ+ ground state, these 9 electronic states were used to build a comprehensive spectroscopic model of SiO using a combination of empirical and ab initio curves, including the potential energy (PE), spin-orbit (SO), electronic angular momentum (EAM) and (transition) dipole moment curves. The ab initio PE and coupling curves, computed at the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) level of theory, were refined by fitting their analytical representations to 2617 experimentally derived SiO energy levels determined from 97 vibronic bands belonging to the X–X, E–X and A–X electronic systems through the MARVEL procedure. 112 observed forbidden transitions from the C–X, D–X, e–X, and d–X bands were assigned using our predictions, and these could be fed back into the MARVEL procedure. The SiOUVenIR line list was computed using published ab initio transition dipole moments for the E–X and A–X bands; the line list is suitable for temperatures up to 10 000 K and for wavelengths longer than 140 nm. SiOUVenIR is available from www.exomol.com and the CDS database

ExoMol line lists - XLIV. IR and UV line list for silicon monoxide (SiO)

A new silicon monoxide (28Si16O) line list covering infrared, visible and ultraviolet regions called SiOUVenIR is presented. This line list extends the infrared EBJT ExoMol line list by including vibronic transitions to the A 1Π and E 1Σ+ electronic states. Strong perturbations to the A 1Π band system are accurately modelled through the treatment of 6 dark electronic states: C 1Σ−, D 1Δ, a 3Σ+, b 3Π, e 3Σ− and d 3Δ. Along with the X 1Σ+ ground state, these 9 electronic states were used to build a comprehensive spectroscopic model of SiO using a combination of empirical and ab initio curves, including the potential energy (PE), spin-orbit (SO), electronic angular momentum (EAM) and (transition) dipole moment curves. The ab initio PE and coupling curves, computed at the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) level of theory, were refined by fitting their analytical representations to 2617 experimentally derived SiO energy levels determined from 97 vibronic bands belonging to the X–X, E–X and A–X electronic systems through the MARVEL procedure. 112 observed forbidden transitions from the C–X, D–X, e–X, and d–X bands were assigned using our predictions, and these could be fed back into the MARVEL procedure. The SiOUVenIR line list was computed using published ab initio transition dipole moments for the E–X and A–X bands; the line list is suitable for temperatures up to 10 000 K and for wavelengths longer than 140 nm. SiOUVenIR is available from www.exomol.com and the CDS database

Time-resolved fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy of NH radical in the X3Σ− ground state

The NH radical is an extremely important specie in nitrogen chemical reaction networks, in the interstellar medium and atmospheric chemistry. Time resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy technique in the frequency range 10–13 µm has been applied for the measurement of a pure rotational spectrum of the NH free radical (NH) in the ground X3Σ− electronic state. Twelve high N (26–29) triplet-resolved pure rotation lines of NH were experimentally observed in the laboratory and compared with satellite ACE (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) solar data. In addition, discharge-generated vibration-rotation NH radical bands in the spectral range 1923–3571 cm−1 have been measured with a microsecond time resolution and spectral resolution of 0.02 cm−1. The spectra of the NH radical have been studied in two experimental arrangements. Firstly, in a pulsed positive column discharge of pure hydrogen-nitrogen mixture and secondly, in a discharge of nitrogen-ammonia mixture in the presence of argon buffer gas. Both production methods are described and compared. The population analysis of the experimental spectra was performed via modelling using the accurate MoLLIST line lists for NH. It was shown that laboratory data can be well reproduced by use of a mixture of the local-thermal-equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE models corresponding to high temperatures (up to 8000 K and up to 6000 K rotational)

Amino acids in reproductive nutrition and health

Amino acids are not only the building blocks of proteins, an indispensable component of cells, but also play versatile roles in regulating cell metabolism, proliferation, differentiation and growth by themselves or through their derivatives. At the whole body level, the bioavailability and metabolism of amino acids, interacting with other macronutrients, is critical for the physiological processes of reproduction including gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, placentation, fetal growth and development. In fertilization and early pregnancy, histotroph in oviductal and uterine secretions provides nutrients and microenvironment for conceptus (embryo and extraembryonic membranes) development. These nutrients include select amino acids in histotroph (arginine, leucine and glutamine of particular interest) that stimulate conceptus growth and development, as well as interactions between maternal uterus and the conceptus, thus impacting maintenance of pregnancy, placental growth, development and functions, fetal growth and development, and consequential pregnancy outcomes. Gestational protein undernutrition causes fetal growth restriction and predisposes cardiovascular, metabolic diseases and others in offspring via multiple mechanisms, whereas the supplementation of glycine, leucine and taurine during pregnancy partially rescues growth restriction and beneficially modulates fetal programming. Thus, amino acids are essential for the fertility of humans and all animals