Ultrasmall Nanodiamonds: Perspectives and Questions

Nanodiamonds are at the heart of a plethora of emerging applications in areas ranging from nanocomposites and tribology to nanomedicine and quantum sensing. The development of alternative synthesis methods, a better understanding, and the availability of ultrasmall nanodiamonds of less than 3 nm size with a precisely engineered composition, including the particle surface and atomic defects in the diamond crystal lattice, would mark a leap forward for many existing and future applications. Yet today, we are unable to accurately control nanodiamond composition at the atomic scale, nor can we reliably create and isolate particles in this size range. In this perspective, we discuss recent advances, challenges, and opportunities in the synthesis, characterization, and application of ultrasmall nanodiamonds. We particularly focus on the advantages of bottom-up synthesis of these particles and critically assess the physicochemical properties of ultrasmall nanodiamonds, which significantly differ from those of larger particles and bulk diamond

Single NV in nanodiamond for quantum sensing of protein dynamics in an ABEL trap

Enzymes are cellular protein machines using a variety of conformational changes to power fast biochemical catalysis. Our goal is to exploit the single-spin properties of the luminescent NV (nitrogen-vacancy) center in nanodiamonds to reveal the dynamics of an active enzyme complex at physiological conditions with the highest spatio-temporal resolution. Specifically attached to the membrane enzyme FoF1-ATP synthase, the NV sensor will report the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven full rotation of Fo motor subunits in ten consecutive 36{\deg} steps. Conformational dynamics are monitored using either a double electron-electron resonance scheme or NV- magnetometry with optical readout or using NV- relaxometry with a superparamagnetic nanoparticle as the second marker attached to the same enzyme. First, we show how all photophysical parameters like individual size, charge, brightness, spectral range of fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime can be determined for the NV- center in a single nanodiamond held in aqueous solution by a confocal anti-Brownian electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap). Stable photon count rates of individual nanodiamonds and the absence of blinking allow for observation times of single nanodiamonds in solution exceeding hundreds of seconds. For the proposed quantum sensing of nanometer-sized distance changes within an active enzyme, we show that local magnetic field fluctuations can be detected all-optically by analyzing fluorescence lifetime changes of the NV- center in each nanodiamond in solution.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Strongly inhomogeneous distribution of spectral properties of silicon-vacancy color centers in nanodiamonds

The silicon-vacancy (SiV) color center in diamond is a solid-state single photon emitter and spin quantum bit suited as a component in quantum devices. Here, we show that the SiV center in nanodiamond exhibits a strongly inhomogeneous distribution with regard to the center wavelengths and linewidths of the zero-phonon-line (ZPL) emission at room temperature. We find that the SiV centers separate in two clusters: one group exhibits ZPLs with center wavelengths within a narrow range of approximatly 730 nm to 742 nm and broad linewidths between 5 nm and 17 nm, whereas the second group comprises a very broad distribution of center wavelengths between 715 nm and 835 nm, but narrow linewidths from below 1 nm up to 4 nm. Supported by ab initio Kohn-Sham density functional theory calculations we show that the ZPL shifts of the first group are consistently explained by strain in the diamond lattice. Further, we suggest, that the second group showing the strongly inhomogeneous distribution of center wavelengths might be comprised of modified SiV centers. Whereas single photon emission is demonstrated for SiV centers of both clusters, we show that emitters from different clusters show different spectroscopic features such as variations of the phonon sideband spectra and different blinking dynamics

Controlled Formation of Porous 2D Lattices from C 3 ‐symmetric Ph 6 −Me‐Tribenzotriquinacene‐OAc 3

The on-surface self-assembly of molecules to form holey nanographenes is a promising approach to control the properties of the resulting 2D lattice. Usually, planar molecules are utilized to prepare flat, structurally confined molecular layers, with only a few recent examples of warped precursors. However, control of the superstructures is limited thus far. Herein, we report the temperature-controlled self-assembly of a bowl-shaped, acetylated C3 -symmetric hexaphenyltribenzotriquinacene derivative on Cu(111). Combining scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) confirms the formation of highly differing arrangements starting with π-stacked bowl-to-bowl dimers at low coverage at room temperature via chiral honeycomb structures, an intermediate trigonal superstructure, followed by a fully carbon-based, flattened hexagonal superstructure formed by on-surface deacetylation, which is proposed as a precursor for holey graphene networks with unique defect structures

Intestinal blood flow in patients with chronic heart failure: A link with bacterial growth, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cachexia

Background: Blood flow in the intestinal arteries is reduced in patients with stable heart failure (HF) and relates to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac cachexia. Objectives: The aims of this study were to measure arterial intestinal blood flow and assess its role in juxtamucosal bacterial growth, GI symptoms, and cachexia in patients with HF. Methods: A total of 65 patients and 25 controls were investigated. Twelve patients were cachectic. Intestinal blood flow and bowel wall thickness were measured using ultrasound. GI symptoms were documented. Bacteria in stool and juxtamucosal bacteria on biopsies taken during sigmoidoscopy were studied in a subgroup by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Serum lipopolysaccharide antibodies were measured. Results: Patients showed 30% to 43% reduced mean systolic blood flow in the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries and celiac trunk (CT) compared with controls (p < 0.007 for all). Cachectic patients had the lowest blood flow (p < 0.002). Lower blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery and CT was correlated with HF severity (p < 0.04 for all). Patients had more feelings of repletion, flatulence, intestinal murmurs, and burping (p < 0.04). Burping and nausea or vomiting were most severe in patients with cachexia (p < 0.05). Patients with lower CT blood flow had more abdominal discomfort and immunoglobulin A–antilipopolysaccharide (r = 0.76, p < 0.02). Antilipopolysaccharide response was correlated with increased growth of juxtamucosal but not stool bacteria. Patients with intestinal murmurs had greater bowel wall thickness of the sigmoid and descending colon, suggestive of edema contributing to GI symptoms (p < 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, lower blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery, CT (p < 0.04), and inferior mesenteric artery (p = 0.056) was correlated with the presence of cardiac cachexia. Conclusions: Intestinal blood flow is reduced in patients with HF. This may contribute to juxtamucosal bacterial growth and GI symptoms in patients with advanced HF complicated by cachexia

Physiological Correlates of Volunteering

We review research on physiological correlates of volunteering, a neglected but promising research field. Some of these correlates seem to be causal factors influencing volunteering. Volunteers tend to have better physical health, both self-reported and expert-assessed, better mental health, and perform better on cognitive tasks. Research thus far has rarely examined neurological, neurochemical, hormonal, and genetic correlates of volunteering to any significant extent, especially controlling for other factors as potential confounds. Evolutionary theory and behavioral genetic research suggest the importance of such physiological factors in humans. Basically, many aspects of social relationships and social activities have effects on health (e.g., Newman and Roberts 2013; Uchino 2004), as the widely used biopsychosocial (BPS) model suggests (Institute of Medicine 2001). Studies of formal volunteering (FV), charitable giving, and altruistic behavior suggest that physiological characteristics are related to volunteering, including specific genes (such as oxytocin receptor [OXTR] genes, Arginine vasopressin receptor [AVPR] genes, dopamine D4 receptor [DRD4] genes, and 5-HTTLPR). We recommend that future research on physiological factors be extended to non-Western populations, focusing specifically on volunteering, and differentiating between different forms and types of volunteering and civic participation

Genome-wide analysis identifies 12 loci influencing human reproductive behavior.

The genetic architecture of human reproductive behavior-age at first birth (AFB) and number of children ever born (NEB)-has a strong relationship with fitness, human development, infertility and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, very few genetic loci have been identified, and the underlying mechanisms of AFB and NEB are poorly understood. We report a large genome-wide association study of both sexes including 251,151 individuals for AFB and 343,072 individuals for NEB. We identified 12 independent loci that are significantly associated with AFB and/or NEB in a SNP-based genome-wide association study and 4 additional loci associated in a gene-based effort. These loci harbor genes that are likely to have a role, either directly or by affecting non-local gene expression, in human reproduction and infertility, thereby increasing understanding of these complex traits