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Syntheses, structural variants and characterization of A(2)CdSn(2)S(6) (A = Cs, Rb and K) compounds
No full textFour new A(2)CdSn(2)S(6) (A= Cs(1), Rb(2), K(3-beta) and K(3-alpha)) compounds have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. The isostructural cesium(1) and rubidium(2) compounds have noncentrosymmetric three-dimensional tetrahedral CdSn2S6](2-) framework structure and show second-harmonic-generation response. The layered potassium compounds, 3-beta and 3-alpha, have centrosymmetric tetrahedral and octahedral CdSn2S6](2-) framework structures respectively and the compound 3-beta, on heating, transforms to compound 3-alpha. The compound 3-alpha undergoes facile potassium ion-exchange in aqueous medium with various mono-, di- and tri- valent cations at room temperature
Let-7a-regulated translational readthrough of mammalian AGO1 generates a microRNA pathway inhibitor
No full textTranslational readthrough generates proteins with extended C-termini, which often possess distinct properties. Here, we have used various reporter assays to demonstrate translational readthrough of AGO1 mRNA. Analysis of ribosome profiling data and mass spectrometry data provided additional evidence for translational readthrough of AGO1. The endogenous readthrough product, Ago1x, could be detected by a specific antibody both in vitro and in vivo. This readthrough process is directed by a cis sequence downstream of the canonical AGO1 stop codon, which is sufficient to drive readthrough even in a heterologous context. This cis sequence has a let-7a miRNA-binding site, and readthrough is promoted by let-7a miRNA. Interestingly, Ago1x can load miRNAs on target mRNAs without causing post-transcriptional gene silencing, due to its inability to interact with GW182. Because of these properties, Ago1x can serve as a competitive inhibitor of miRNA pathway. In support of this, we observed increased global translation in cells overexpressing Ago1x. Overall, our results reveal a negative feedback loop in the miRNA pathway mediated by the translational readthrough product of AGO1
Correlating Nanostructure, Optical and Electronic Properties of Nanogranular Silver Layers during Polymer-Template-Assisted Sputter Deposition
No full textTailoring the optical and electronic properties of nanostructured polymer-metal composites demonstrates great potential for efficient fabrication of modern organic optical and electronic devices such as flexible sensors, transistors, diodes, or photovoltaics. Self-assembled polymer metal nanocomposites offer an excellent perspective for creating hierarchical nanostructures on macroscopic scales by simple bottom-up processes. We investigate the growth processes of nanogranular silver (Ag) layers on diblock copolymer thin film templates during sputter deposition. The Ag growth is strongly driven by self-assembly and selective wetting on the lamella structure of polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate). We correlate the emerging nanoscale morphologies with collective optical and electronic properties and quantify the difference in Ag growth on the corresponding homopolymer thin films. Thus, we are able to determine the influence of the respective polymer template and observe substrate effects on the Ag cluster percolation threshold, which affects the insulator-to-metal transition (IMT). Optical spectroscopy in the UV-vis regime reveals localized surface plasmon resonance for the metal polymer composite. Their maximum absorption is observed around the IMT due to the subsequent long-range electron conduction in percolated nanogranular Ag layers. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, we identify the oxidation of Ag at the acrylate side chains as an essential influencing factor driving the selective wetting behavior in the early growth stages. The results of polymer-templated cluster growth are corroborated by atomic force microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy
Ultrathin Free-Standing Nanosheets of Bi2O2Se: Room Temperature Ferroelectricity in Self-Assembled Charged Layered Heterostructure
No full textUltrathin ferroelectric semiconductors with high charge carrier mobility are much coveted systems for the advancement of various electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, in traditional oxide ferroelectric insulators, the ferroelectric transition temperature decreases drastically with decreasing material thickness and ceases to exist below certain critical thickness owing to depolarizing fields. Herein, we show the emergence of an ordered ferroelectric ground state in ultrathin (similar to 2 nm) single crystalline nanosheets of Bi2O2Se at room temperature. Free-standing ferroelectric nanosheets, in which oppositely charged alternating layers are self-assembled together by electrostatic interactions, are synthesized by a simple, rapid, and scalable wet chemical procedure at room temperature. The existence of ferroelectricity in Bi2O2Se nanosheets is confirmed by dielectric measurements and piezoresponse force spectroscopy. The spontaneous orthorhombic distortion in the ultrathin nanosheets breaks the local inversion symmetry, thereby resulting in ferroelectricity. The local structural distortion and the formation of spontaneous dipole moment were directly probed by atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations
Measurement of exclusive rho(770)(0) photoproduction in ultraperipheral pPb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV
No full textExclusive.(770) 0 photoproduction is measured for the first time in ultraperipheral pPb collisions at v s NN = 5.02 TeV with the CMS detector. The cross section s(.p..(770) 0 p) is 11.0 +/- 1.4 (stat) +/- 1.0 (syst) mu b at W. p = 92.6GeV for photon-proton centre-of-mass energies W. p between 29 and 213 GeV. The differential cross section ds/d| t| is measured in the interval 0.025 < | t| < 1GeV 2 as a function of W. p, where t is the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex. The results are compared with previous measurements and theoretical predictions. The measured cross section s(.p..(770) 0 p) has a power-law dependence on the photon-proton centre-of-mass, consistent with electron-proton collision measurements performed at HERA. The W. p dependence of the exponential slope of the differential cross section ds/d| t| is also measured
Microgel/silica hybrid colloids: Bioinspired synthesis and controlled release application
No full textIn the present work, we demonstrate that polymer based functional microgels can be used as autocatalytic template for the bioinspired deposition of silica nanoparticles inside the microgel network under ambient conditions. Temperature responsive poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) based microgels were synthesized by precipitation polymerization using glycidyl methacrylate as a comonomer. These microgels were further reacted with aminoethanthiol to develop amine functional groups inside the microgels. A water soluble silica precursor (PEGPEOS) was developed by modification of hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane with polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Microgel/silica hybrid colloids were prepared by simultaneous PEGPEOS conversion and silica deposition in the microgels. TEM studies showed that silica nanoparticles of approximately 10 nm in size were deposited inside the microgel network owing to the strong acidbase interaction between the acidic silica and basic amine groups. DLS results indicated that the incorporation of silica nanoparticles reduced the thermal sensitivity of microgels. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the interaction between silica precursor and microgels based on radial distribution function and interaction energy. The developed hybrid microgels were further explored for controlled release of aspirin used as a model drug. The preliminary results indicated that the presence of silica rich domains in the microgel network remarkably retarded aspirin release
Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of Discrete Molecular Nanotubular Architectures
No full textTwo new M8L4 tetrafacial nanotubes (T1 and T3) of different lengths have been synthesized in water using ligands L1 and L2, respectively, with acceptor cis-(dch)Pt(NO3)(2)] (M) using coordination-driven self-assembly where dch is 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, L1 is 1,4-di(pyrimidin-5-yl)benzene, and L2 is 4,4'- di(pyrimidin-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl]. In addition to complex T1, a tetrahedral cage of composition M-12(L1)(6)] (T2) was also formed in the self-assembly reaction of ligand L1 with cis-(dch)Pt(NO3)(2)]. The precise composition of the products (T1 and T2) in solution was confirmed by H-1 NMR and ESI-MS. Pure tube T1 was separated out by a crystallization technique and fully characterized by 1H NMR and X-ray diffraction. Temperature- and concentration-dependent NMR studies indicated no equilibrium between T1 and T2 in the solution phase, and the proportion of T1 and T2 in the mixture depends on the temperature of the reaction. In contrast to ligand L1, the self-assembly of the longer ligand, L2, with cis-(dch)Pt(NO3)(2)] gave only tetrafacial tube M-8(L-2)(4)] (T3) without any tetrahedral cage
Analysis and Design of Fixed-Fixed Bistable Arch-Profiles Using a Bilateral Relationship
No full textArch-profiles of bistable arches, in their two force-free equilibrium states, are related to each other. This bilateral relationship is derived for arches with fixed-fixed boundary conditions in two forms: a nonlinear single-variable equation for analysis and a closed-form analytical expression for design. Some symmetrical features of shape as well as necessary and sufficient conditions for bistability are presented as corollaries. Analysis and design of arch-profiles using the bilateral relationship are illustrated through examples
Experimental Evidence of Sensitivity of the High Harmonic Generation to Hydrogen Bonding
No full textThe influence of hydrogen bonding and the associated attosecond hole delocalization on the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) process is investigated with the help of hydrogen-bonded binary mixture of acetonitrile and chloroform solvent vapors. We observe a strong enhancement of the HH yield compared to the results obtained with pure samples. We propose that the observed increase of HHG efficiency is due to the presence of hydrogen-bonded binary mixture. Numerical simulations show evidence of the attosecond hole delocalization in the hydrogen-bonded complex of acetonitrile and chloroform. This attosecond hole delocalization contributes to the enhancement of the harmonic yield in the hydrogen-bonded complex. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the sensitivity of the high harmonic generation process to the hydrogen bonding
Work fluctuation relations for a dragged Brownian particle in active bath
No full textWe study the work distribution of a Brownian particle diffusing in an environment of active particles and being trapped in a harmonic potential, the center of which is subjected to a time-dependent protocol. Employing phase space path integral technique we find an expression of work distribution for any generic model of active noise. Here we consider two active noise models - Gaussian correlated and Poisson white, each of which can represent some physical systems. For both the cases, it is found that transient fluctuation relation of work is not applicable though at steady state it holds by defining a renormalized temperaturer tau(r) in place of bath temperature. Interestingly, tau(r) is the same for both the models and can be expressed in terms of diffusivities of active and thermal noises. For correlated Gaussian bath, an alternative approach is presented. Analogous to the formalism given by Hatano and Sasa (2001), we obtain a work like quantity from nonequilibrium potential with the inclusion of a new stationary parameter Omega. With proper choice of Omega, a steady-state fluctuation relation, namely Jarzynski equality is satisfied