Evaluation of Electronic Spectra of Unsaturated Organic Compounds Using the Pariser-Parr-Pople Method with Adaptation of Parameters

The possibility of quantitative predictions of absorption maxima in electronic spectra of unsaturated organic compounds by means of the Pariser-Parr-Pople method with adaptation of parameters is examined. A schematic classification of quantum chemical methods is proposed which is based on the idea of extrapolation from elementary particles (physical constants) to the molecule, from atoms to the molecule and, finally, from fragments to the molecule

Localized Excitons and Breaking of Chemical Bonds at III-V (110) Surfaces

Electron-hole excitations in the surface bands of GaAs(110) are analyzed using constrained density-functional theory calculations. The results show that Frenkel-type autolocalized excitons are formed. The excitons induce a local surface unrelaxation which results in a strong exciton-exciton attraction and makes complexes of two or three electron-hole pairs more favorable than separate excitons. In such microscopic exciton "droplets" the electron density is mainly concentrated in the dangling orbital of a surface Ga atom whereas the holes are distributed over the bonds of this atom to its As neighbors thus weakening the bonding to the substrate. This finding suggests the microscopic mechanism of a laser-induced emission of neutral Ga atoms from GaAs and GaP (110) surfaces.Comment: submitted to PRL, 10 pages, 4 figures available upon request from: [email protected]

P2X1 and P2X5 subunits form the functional P2X receptor in mouse cortical astrocytes

ATP plays an important role in signal transduction between neuronal and glial circuits and within glial networks. Here we describe currents activated by ATP in astrocytes acutely isolated from cortical brain slices by non-enzymatic mechanical dissociation. Brain slices were prepared from transgenic mice that express enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter. Astrocytes were studied by whole-cell voltage clamp. Exogenous ATP evoked inward currents in 75 of 81 astrocytes. In the majority (~65%) of cells, ATP-induced responses comprising a fast and delayed component; in the remaining subpopulation of astrocytes, ATP triggered a smoother response with rapid peak and slowly decaying plateau phase. The fast component of the response was sensitive to low concentrations of ATP (with EC50 of ~40 nM). All ATP-induced currents were blocked by pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS); they were insensitive to ivermectin. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated strong expression of P2X1 and P2X5 receptor subunits and some expression of P2X2 subunit mRNAs. The main properties of the ATP-induced response in cortical astrocytes (high sensitivity to ATP, biphasic kinetics, and sensitivity to PPADS) were very similar to those reported for P2X1/5 heteromeric receptors studied previously in heterologous expression systems

Effect of Cherenkov radiation on the jitter of solitons in the driven underdamped Frenkel-Kontorova model

The effect of complex dynamics of solitons on the output noise of the system (thermal jitter) is studied in the frame of the driven underdamped Frenkel-Kontorova model. In contrast to the continuous case, we have observed a dramatic splash of the jitter. It is demonstrated that this jitter increase is related to the joining of an initial soliton with the one generated by large amplitude oscillations of the Cherenkov radiation tail, which results in the establishment of a unified soliton structure

Symmetrical Josephson vortex interferometer as an advanced ballistic single-shot detector

We consider a ballistic detector formed in an interferometer manner which operational principle relies on Josephson vortex scattering at a measurement potential. We propose an approach to symmetrize the detector scheme and explore arising advantages in the signal-to-noise ratio and in the back-action on a measured object by means of recently presented numerical and analytical methods for modeling of a soliton scattering dynamics in the presence of thermal fluctuations. The obtained characteristics for experimentally relevant parameters reveal practical applicability of the considered schemes including possibility of coupling with standard digital rapid single flux quantum circuits

Biotehnološka primjena gljive Lentinula edodes – od lentinana do lektina

Lentinula edodes was the first medicinal macrofungus to enter the realm of modern biotechnology. The present paper briefly reviews the history of the modern biotechnology of this mushroom starting with the production of the polysaccharide preparation lentinan, and ending with an overview of our own work regarding the production of lectins. Our work with lectins has involved studies of the effect of initial pH, carbon and nitrogen sources and the C:N ratio on lectin production in both the mycelium and culture medium. We have shown that lectin activity is related to morphological development, with the activity being highest in extracts of the pigmented mycelial films that precede fruiting body production.Lentinula edodes prva je medicinska gljiva koja se počela primjenjivati u suvremenoj biotehnologiji. U ovom se radu nalazi kratak pregled razvoja suvremene biotehnološke primjene te gljive, počevši od proizvodnje polisaharida lentinana pa sve do prikaza rezultata autora u proizvodnji lektina. Njihovo istraživanje obuhvaća ispitivanje učinka početne pH-vrijednosti, izvora ugljika i dušika te njihova omjera na nastanak lektina u podlozi za uzgoj micelija i kulture. Dokazano je da je aktivnost lektina povezana s morfološkim razvojem, te da je najveća u ekstraktima pigmentiranoga micelijskog filma koji prethodi nastanku plodišta