343 research outputs found
Signatures of the excitonic memory effects in four-wave mixing processes in cavity polaritons
We report the signatures of the exciton correlation effects with finite
memory time in frequency domain degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) in
semiconductor microcavity. By utilizing the polarization selection rules, we
discriminate instantaneous, mean field interactions between excitons with the
same spins, long-living correlation due to the formation of biexciton state by
excitons with opposite spins, and short-memory correlation effects in the
continuum of unbound two-exciton states. The DFWM spectra give us the relative
contributions of these effects and the upper limit for the time of the
exciton-exciton correlation in the unbound two-exciton continuum. The obtained
results reveal the basis of the cavity polariton scattering model for the DFWM
processes in high-Q GaAs microcavity.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur
Variable coordination of amine functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene ligands to Ru, Rh and Rr: C-H and N-H activation and catalytic transfer hydrogenation
Chelating amine and amido complexes of late transition metals are highly valuable bifunctional catalysts in organic synthesis, but complexes of bidentate amineâNHC and amidoâNHC ligands are scarce. Hence, we report the reactions of a secondary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2a and a primary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2b with [( p -cymene)RuCl 2 ] 2 and [Cp*MCl 2 ] 2 (M = Rh, Ir). Treating 2a with [Cp*MCl 2 ] 2 and NaOAc gave the cyclometallated compounds Cp*M(C,C)I (M = Rh, 3 ;M = Ir, 4 ), resulting from aromatic CâH activation. In contrast, treating 2b with [( p -cymene)RuCl 2 ] 2 ,Ag 2 O and KI gave the amineâNHC complex [( p -cymene)Ru(C,NH 2 )I]I ( 5 ). The reaction of 2b with [Cp*MCl 2 ] 2 (M = Rh, Ir), NaO t Bu and KI gave the amineâNHC complex [Cp*Rh(NH 2 )I]I ( 6 ) or the amidoâNHC complex Cp*Ir(C,NH)I ( 7 ); both protonation states of the Ir complex could be accessed: treating 7 with trifluoroacetic acid gave the amineâNHC complex [Cp*Ir(C,NH 2 )I][CF 3 CO 2 ]( 8 ). These are the first primary amineâ or amidoâNHC complexes of Rh and Ir. Solid-state structures of the complexes 3â8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 5 , 6 and 7 are pre-catalysts for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol, with ruthenium complex 5 demonstrating especially high reactivity
Anti-prion activity of an RNA aptamer and its structural basis.
Prion proteins (PrPs) cause prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The conversion of a normal cellular form (PrP(C)) of PrP into an abnormal form (PrP(Sc)) is thought to be associated with the pathogenesis. An RNA aptamer that tightly binds to and stabilizes PrP(C) is expected to block this conversion and to thereby prevent prion diseases. Here, we show that an RNA aptamer comprising only 12 residues, r(GGAGGAGGAGGA) (R12), reduces the PrP(Sc) level in mouse neuronal cells persistently infected with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agent. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that R12, folded into a unique quadruplex structure, forms a dimer and that each monomer simultaneously binds to two portions of the N-terminal half of PrP(C), resulting in tight binding. Electrostatic and stacking interactions contribute to the affinity of each portion. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of an RNA aptamer as to prion diseases
Monoclinic phase in the relaxor-based piezo-/ ferroelectric Pb(MgNb-PbTiO system
A ferroelectric monoclinic phase of space group ( type) has been
discovered in 0.65Pb(MgNb-0.35PbTiO by means of high
resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction. It appears at room temperature in a
single crystal previously poled under an electric field of 43 kV/cm applied
along the pseudocubic [001] direction, in the region of the phase diagram
around the morphotropic phase boundary between the rhombohedral (R3m) and the
tetragonal (P4mm) phases. The monoclinic phase has lattice parameters a = 5.692
A, b = 5.679 A, c = 4.050 A and = , with the b-axis
oriented along the pseudo-cubic [110] direction . It is similar to the
monoclinic phase observed in PbZrTiO, but different from that
recently found in Pb(ZnNb-PbTiO, which is of space
group ( type).Comment: Revised version after referees' comments. PDF file. 6 pages, 4
figures embedde
Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) from fresh and aged air pollution in the megacity region of Beijing
Atmospheric aerosol particles serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are key elements of the hydrological cycle and climate. CCN properties were measured and characterized during the CAREBeijing-2006 campaign at a regional site south of the megacity of Beijing, China. Size-resolved CCN efficiency spectra recorded for a supersaturation range of <i>S</i>=0.07% to 0.86% yielded average activation diameters in the range of 190 nm to 45 nm. The corresponding effective hygroscopicity parameters (&kappa;) exhibited a strong size dependence ranging from ~0.25 in the Aitken size range to ~0.45 in the accumulation size range. The campaign average value (&kappa; =0.3 ± 0.1) was similar to the values observed and modeled for other populated continental regions. <br><br> The hygroscopicity parameters derived from the CCN measurements were consistent with chemical composition data recorded by an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) and thermo-optical measurements of apparent elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC). The CCN hygroscopicity and its size dependence could be parameterized as a function of only AMS based organic and inorganic mass fractions (<i>f</i><sub>org</sub>, <i>f</i><sub>inorg</sub>) using the simple mixing rule &kappa;<sub>p</sub> â 0.1 · <i>f</i><sub>org</sub> + 0.7 · <i>f</i><sub>inorg</sub>. <br><br> When the measured air masses originated from the north and passed rapidly over the center of Beijing (fresh city pollution), the average particle hygroscopicity was reduced (&kappa; = 0.2 ± 0.1), which is consistent with enhanced mass fractions of organic compounds (~50%) and EC (~30%) in the fine particulate matter (PM<sub>1</sub>). Moreover, substantial fractions of externally mixed weakly CCN-active particles were observed at low supersaturation (<i>S</i>=0.07%), which can be explained by the presence of freshly emitted soot particles with very low hygroscopicity (&kappa; < 0.1). Particles in stagnant air from the industrialized region south of Beijing (aged regional pollution) were on average larger and more hygroscopic, which is consistent with enhanced mass fractions (~60%) of soluble inorganic ions (mostly sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate). Accordingly, the number concentration of CCN in aged air from the megacity region was higher than in fresh city outflow ((2.5â9.9) Ă 10<sup>3</sup> cm<sup>â3</sup> vs. (0.4â8.3) Ă 10<sup>3</sup> cm<sup>â3</sup> for <i>S</i>=0.07â0.86%) although the total aerosol particle number concentration was lower (1.2 Ă 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>â3</sup> vs. 2.3 Ă 10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>â3</sup>). A comparison with related studies suggests that the fresh outflow from Chinese urban centers generally may contain more, but smaller and less hygroscopic aerosol particles and thus fewer CCN than the aged outflow from megacity regions
Phase diagram of the ferroelectric-relaxor (1-x)PbMg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3-xPbTiO3
Synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction measurements have been performed on
unpoled ceramic samples of (1-x)PbMg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-xPT) with 30%<=
x<= 39% as a function of temperature around the morphotropic phase boundary
(MPB), which is the line separating the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in
the phase diagram. The experiments have revealed very interesting features
previously unknown in this or related systems. The sharp and well-defined
diffraction profiles observed at high and intermediate temperatures in the
cubic and tetragonal phases, respectively, are in contrast to the broad
features encountered at low temperatures. These peculiar characteristics, which
are associated with the monoclinic phase of MC-type previously reported by Kiat
et al and Singh et al., can only be interpreted as multiple coexisting
structures with MC as the major component. An analysis of the diffraction
profiles has allowed us to properly characterize the PMN-xPT phase diagram and
to determine the stability region of the monoclinic phase, which extends from
x= 31% to x= 37% at 20 K. The complex lansdcape of observed phases points to an
energy balance between the different PMN-xPT phases which is intrinsically much
more delicate than that of related systems such as PbZr(1-x)TixO3 or
(1-x)PbZn(1/3)Nb(1/3)O3-xPbTiO3. These observations are in good accord with an
optical study of x= 33% by Xu et al., who observed monoclinic domains with
several different polar directions coexisting with rhombohedral domains, in the
same single crystal.Comment: REVTeX4, 11 pages, 10 figures embedde
Competing orders in PZN-xPT and PMN-xPT relaxor ferroelectrics
Neutron and x-ray scattering studies on relaxor ferroelectric systems
Pb(ZnNb)O (PZN), Pb(MgNb)O (PMN), and
their solid solutions with PbTiO (PT) have shown that inhomogeneities and
disorder play important roles in the materials properties. Although a
long-range polar order can be established at low temperature - sometimes with
the help of an external electric field; short-range local structures called the
``polar nano-regions'' (PNR) still persist. Both the bulk structure and the PNR
have been studied in details. The coexistence and competition of long- and
short-range polar orders and how they affect the structural and dynamical
properties of relaxor materials are discussed.Comment: Article submitted for JPSJ Special Topics (Novel States of Matter
Induced by Frustration
Involvement of concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 in intestinal absorption of trifluorothymidine, a novel antitumor nucleoside, in rats
there is little information regarding TFT absorption. Therefore, we investigated TFT absorption in the rat small intestine. After oral administration of TFT in rats, more than 75% of the TFT was absorbed. To identify the uptake transport system, uptake studies were conducted by using everted sacs prepared from rat small intestines. TFT uptake was saturable, significantly reduced under Na + -free conditions, and strongly inhibited by the addition of an endogenous pyrimidine nucleoside. From these results, we suggested the involvement of concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs) in TFT absorption into rat small intestine. In rat small intestines, the mRNAs coding for rat CNT1 (rCNT1) and rCNT2, but not for rCNT3, were predominantly expressed. To investigate the roles of rCNT1 and rCNT2 in TFT uptake, we conducted uptake assays by using Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with rCNT1 complementary RNA (cRNA) and rCNT2 cRNA. TFT uptake by Xenopus oocytes injected with rCNT1 cRNA, and not rCNT2 cRNA, was significantly greater than that by JPET#186296 5 water-injected oocytes. Additionally, in situ single-pass perfusion experiments performed using rat jejunum regions showed that thymidine, a substrate for CNT1, strongly inhibited TFT uptake. In conclusion, TFT is absorbed via rCNT1 in the intestinal lumen in rats
Plasmonic nanoparticle monomers and dimers: From nano-antennas to chiral metamaterials
We review the basic physics behind light interaction with plasmonic
nanoparticles. The theoretical foundations of light scattering on one metallic
particle (a plasmonic monomer) and two interacting particles (a plasmonic
dimer) are systematically investigated. Expressions for effective particle
susceptibility (polarizability) are derived, and applications of these results
to plasmonic nanoantennas are outlined. In the long-wavelength limit, the
effective macroscopic parameters of an array of plasmonic dimers are
calculated. These parameters are attributable to an effective medium
corresponding to a dilute arrangement of nanoparticles, i.e., a metamaterial
where plasmonic monomers or dimers have the function of "meta-atoms". It is
shown that planar dimers consisting of rod-like particles generally possess
elliptical dichroism and function as atoms for planar chiral metamaterials. The
fabricational simplicity of the proposed rod-dimer geometry can be used in the
design of more cost-effective chiral metamaterials in the optical domain.Comment: submitted to Appl. Phys.
Advances in small lasers
M.T.H was supported by an Australian Research council Future Fellowship research grant for this work. M.C.G. is grateful to the Scottish Funding Council (via SUPA) for financial support.Small lasers have dimensions or modes sizes close to or smaller than the wavelength of emitted light. In recent years there has been significant progress towards reducing the size and improving the characteristics of these devices. This work has been led primarily by the innovative use of new materials and cavity designs. This Review summarizes some of the latest developments, particularly in metallic and plasmonic lasers, improvements in small dielectric lasers, and the emerging area of small bio-compatible or bio-derived lasers. We examine the different approaches employed to reduce size and how they result in significant differences in the final device, particularly between metal- and dielectric-cavity lasers. We also present potential applications for the various forms of small lasers, and indicate where further developments are required.PostprintPeer reviewe
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