Short Periods Of Illumination Research Articles

(Invited) How Does Oxygen Open Up New Horizons at the Interface III-Vs/Liquid Ammonia?

In acidic pH, after a short period of illumination, a significant increase of the cathodic current in the dark is recorded onto p-GaAs until reaching a stationary current. This “final configuration” of the interface is unique since O2 reduction mechanism proceeds then only by holes injections. Collapse straight lines of Mott-Schottky are recorded after O2 reduction. A dissolution of the p-GaAs is observed. As a corrosive reactant, H2O2 can be also suggested in acidic NH3 Liq.

Rapid Light-Response Curve of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Terrestrial Plants: Relationship to CO2 Exchange among Five Woody and Four Fern Species Adapted to Different Light and Water Regimes.

The rapid light response of electron transport rate (ETRR), obtained from chlorophyll fluorescence parameters by short illumination periods (10–30 s) at each light level, can provide a rapid and easy measurement of photosynthetic light response in plants. However, the relationship between ETRR and the steady-state light response of CO2 exchange rate (AS) of terrestrial plants has not been studied in detail. In this study, we compared the ETRR and AS for five woody and four fern species with different light and/or water adaptations. Under well-watered conditions, a constant temperature (25 °C) and with stomatal conductance (gs) not being a main limiting factor for photosynthesis, ETRR and AS were closely related, even when merging data for regression analysis for a species grown under different light conditions and measured under different light intensity and air humidity. However, when Alnus formosana was treated with low soil water and air humidity, because of the decrease in AS mainly due to stomatal closure, the ETRR–AS relation was not so close. In addition, at both 100 and 2000 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), ETRR and AS were significantly correlated within a plant group (i.e., woody plants and ferns) regardless of the broad difference in AS due to different species or environmental factors. The results indicate that the relationship between the ETRR and AS is varied by species. We concluded that 1) ETRR could reflect the variation in AS at each irradiance level within a species under well-watered conditions and 2) ETRR at 100 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD (as the efficiency of light capture) or 2000 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD (as a maximum photosynthetic parameter) could be used to compare the photosynthetic capacity within a plant group, such as woody plants and ferns.

Light-exposure at night impairs mouse ovary development via cell apoptosis and DNA damage.

The alternation of light and dark rhythm causes a series of physiological, biochemical and metabolic changes in animals, which also alters the growth and development of animals, and feeding, migration, reproduction and other behavioral activities. In recent years, many studies have reported the effects of long-term (more than 6 weeks) illumination on ovarian growth and development. In the present study, we observed the damage, repair and apoptosis of ovarian DNA in a short period of illumination. The results showed that, in short time (less than 2 weeks) illumination conditions, the 24-h light treatment caused the reduction of total ovarian follicle number and down-regulation of circadian clock related genes. Furthermore, the changed levels of serum sex hormones were also detected after 24-h light exposure, of which the concentrations of LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and E2 (estradiol) were increased, but the concentration of PROG (progesterone) was decreased. Moreover, 24-h light exposure increased the expression of DNA damage and repair related genes, the number of TUNEL and RAD51 positive cells. These results indicated that 24-h light exposure for 4, 8 and 12 days increased DNA damage and cell apoptosis, thereby affecting the development of ovary.

Dynamic interplay between photodamage and photoprotection in photosystem II.

Photoinhibition is the light-induced reduction in photosynthetic efficiency and is usually associated with damage to the D1 photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre protein. This damage must either be repaired, through the PSII repair cycle, or prevented in the first place by nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Both NPQ and D1 repair contribute to light tolerance because they ensure the long-term maintenance of the highest quantum yield of PSII. However, the relative contribution of each of these processes is yet to be elucidated. The application of a pulse amplitude modulation fluorescence methodology, called protective NPQ, enabled us to evaluate of the protective effectiveness of the processes. Within this study, the contribution of NPQ and D1 repair to the photoprotective capacity of Arabidopsis thaliana was elucidated by using inhibitors and mutants known to affect each process. We conclude that NPQ contributes a greater amount to the maintenance of a high PSII yield than D1 repair under short periods of illumination. This research further supports the role of protective components of NPQ during light fluctuations and the value of protective NPQ and qPd as unambiguous fluorescence parameters, as opposed to qI and Fv /Fm , for quantifying photoinactivation of reaction centre II and light tolerance of photosynthetic organisms.

Photopatterning of Hydrogel Microarrays in Closed Microchips.

To date, optical lithography has been extensively used for in situ patterning of hydrogel structures in a scale range from hundreds of microns to a few millimeters. The two main limitations which prevent smaller feature sizes of hydrogel structures are (1) the upper glass layer of a microchip maintains a large spacing (typically 525 μm) between the photomask and hydrogel precursor, leading to diffraction of UV light at the edges of mask patterns, (2) diffusion of free radicals and monomers results in irregular polymerization near the illumination interface. In this work, we present a simple approach to enable the use of optical lithography to fabricate hydrogel arrays with a minimum feature size of 4 μm inside closed microchips. To achieve this, we combined two different techniques. First, the upper glass layer of the microchip was thinned by mechanical polishing to reduce the spacing between the photomask and hydrogel precursor, and thereby the diffraction of UV light at the edges of mask patterns. The polishing process reduces the upper layer thickness from ∼525 to ∼100 μm, and the mean surface roughness from 20 to 3 nm. Second, we developed an intermittent illumination technique consisting of short illumination periods followed by relatively longer dark periods, which decrease the diffusion of monomers. Combination of these two methods allows for fabrication of 0.4 × 10(6) sub-10 μm sized hydrogel patterns over large areas (cm(2)) with high reproducibility (∼98.5% patterning success). The patterning method is tested with two different types of photopolymerizing hydrogels: polyacrylamide and polyethylene glycol diacrylate. This method enables in situ fabrication of well-defined hydrogel patterns and presents a simple approach to fabricate 3-D hydrogel matrices for biomolecule separation, biosensing, tissue engineering, and immobilized protein microarray applications.

Using induced electroosmotic micromixer to enhance the reproducibility of chemiluminescence intensity

In this study, induced electroosmotic vortex flows were generated using an AC electric field by one pair of external electrodes to rapidly mix luminescence reagents in a 30 μL micromixer and enhance the reproducibility of chemiluminescence (CL) assays. A solution containing the catalyst reagent ferricyanide ions (4 μL) was pipetted into a reservoir containing luminol to produce CL in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. When the added ferricyanide aliquot contacted the reservoir solution, the CL began flashing, but rapidly diminished as the ferricyanide was consumed. In such a short illumination period, the solutes could not mix homogeneously. Therefore, the reproducibility of CL intensities collected using a CCD and multiple aliquot additions was determined to be inadequate. By contrast, when the solutes were efficiently mixed after adding a ferricyanide aliquot to a micromixer, the intensity reproducibility was significantly improved. When the CL temporal profile was analyzed using a PMT, a consistent improvement in reproducibility was observed between the CL intensity and estimated CL reaction rate. Replicating the proposed device would create a multiple well plate that contains a micromixer in each reservoir; this system is compatible with conventional CL instrumentation and requires no CL enhancer to slow a reaction.

Characterisation of potential landing sites for the European Space Agency's Lunar Lander project

This article describes the characterisation activities of the landing sites currently envisaged for the Lunar Lander mission of the European Space Agency. These sites have been identified in the South Pole Region (−85° to−90° latitude) based on favourable illumination conditions, which make it possible to have a long-duration mission with conventional power and thermal control subsystems, capable of enduring relatively short periods of darkness (in the order of tens of hours), instead of utilising Radioisotope Heating Units. The illumination conditions are simulated at the potential landing sites based on topographic data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), using three independent tools. Risk assessment of the identified sites is also being performed through independent studies. Long baseline slopes are assessed based on LOLA, while craters and boulders are detected both visually and using computer tools in Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) images, down to a size of less than 2m, and size-frequency distributions are generated. Shadow hazards are also assessed via LROC images. The preliminary results show that areas with quasi-continuous illumination of several months exist, but their size is small (few hundred metres); the duration of the illumination period drops quickly to less than one month outside the areas, and some areas present gaps with short illumination periods. Concerning hazard distributions, 50m slopes are found to be shallow (few degrees) based on LOLA, whereas at the scale of the lander footprint (∼5m) they are mostly dominated by craters, expected to be mature (from geological context) and shallow (∼11°). The preliminary conclusion is that the environment at the prospective landing sites is within the capabilities of the Lander design.

Optically induced Faraday effect in aΛconfiguration of spin-polarized cold cesium atoms

Polarization rotation of weak probe light induced by circularly polarized strong coupling light in a $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ configuration is studied. We use spin-polarized cold cesium atoms trapped in a magneto-optical trap to remove complications from Zeeman distribution, Doppler broadening, and collisional decoherence. By using a very low probe intensity and short illumination period we work in a strictly linear regime. The probe and the coupling fields are optically phase locked to eliminate phase fluctuation and consequent atomic decoherence. Using this idealized situation we clarify the roles of optically induced Faraday rotation, circular dichroism, and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in determining the final state of the probe light. In particular, we identify an experimental situation where the roles of atomic coherence and EIT are important.

Otrzymywanie i wlasciwosci fotoczulych, organicznych i hybrydowych (nieorganiczno-organicznych) materialow polimerowych z chromoforowym ugrupowaniem diazenylowym

Two methods of the synthesis of new photosensitive methacrylate polymers (PM) or hybrid polymer materials (PH) containing chromophoric diazene moieties of structures described by general Formulas (I), (II) or (III) were presented. The first one (Scheme A) was based on radical polymerization of chromophoric methacrylate monomer (MM) or copolymerization of this monomer with a non-chromophoric MM in solution. An alternative way to get the title polymers was modification of non-chromophoric polymers by coupling reaction of diazonium salts with dialkylaminophenyl group present in the side chain of the polymers (Scheme B). The yield of the synthesis of chromophoric PM was above 70 %, their number average molecular weight was in the range 3400-23000 and polydispersity was 1.1-3.0. All PM obtained (homo-, co- and terpolymers) were able to form transparent photosensitive films on glass substrates. The photosensitive PH materials (XV) were obtained via sol-gel process. The first step of the process was reaction of the free OH groups containing monomers (IV) (Scheme A) or co- and terpolymes PH [(X), R5 or R6 = CH2CH2OH; Scheme A] with 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate (ICTESP) followed by co-hydrolysis and condensation reaction of the resulting carbamate with tetraethoxysilane. The sol obtained was deposited onto glass plates and hardened to transparent glassy film at ca. 120 oC. The chromophoric methacrylate polymers showed reverse trans-cis isomerization [reaction (5); Fig. 1] in solutions and in thin films under illumination with light. The course of isomerization was dependent on the kind of material containing the chromophore moiety and reaction environment (solution, film). The organic and hybrid polymer glass showed ability to form holographic grating on the films in two beam coupling arrangement with using green laser (532 nm) use. The grating formation was reversible at relatively short illumination period but relatively stable when prolonged beam interference caused thickness gradient in the film. Both types of the gratings could be used in holographic data recording. Detail characteristics of PM and PH obtained (chemicals structure, yield of synthesis, values of Mn, Mw/Mn, Tg as well as parameters describing trans"cis isomerization) are given in Table 1.

Magneto-optical effect near theD1resonance of spin-polarized cold cesium atoms

We report our study of the magneto-optical effect in a strictly linear regime on spin-polarized cold cesium atoms. Due to the low intensity and the short illumination period of the probe beam, less than 7.5% of the sample atoms change their states by absorbing probe photons. We produce a medium of atoms at rest in either the $6{S}_{1∕2},F=3,{m}_{F}=0$ or $6{S}_{1∕2},F=3,{m}_{F}=3$ state by optically pumping atoms trapped in a magneto-optical trap. We use the $D1$ resonance with large lower and upper state hyperfine splittings as a probe transition to avoid hyperfine mixing from the Zeeman interaction. Under this idealized situation we measure the Stokes parameters in order to find the polarization rotation and circular dichroism experienced by the probe light. We find that there are qualitative differences between the results for the ${m}_{F}=0$ and ${m}_{F}=3$ cases. While dispersion and consequent Faraday rotation play a dominant role when the atoms are in the ${m}_{F}=0$ state, it is dissipation and circular dichroism that are important when they are in the ${m}_{F}=3$ state. Similarly, while the size of the Faraday rotation and the circular dichroism for the ${m}_{F}=0$ case scales linearly with the applied magnetic field, for the ${m}_{F}=3$ case it is the shift of the probe polarization change versus frequency that is linearly proportional to the magnetic field strength.

WST11, A Novel Water‐soluble Bacteriochlorophyll Derivative; Cellular Uptake, Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution and Vascular‐targeted Photodynamic Activity Using Melanoma Tumors as a Model¶

ABSTRACTWST11 is a novel negatively charged water‐soluble palladiumbacteriochlorophyll derivative that was developed for vascular‐targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in our laboratory. The in vitro results suggest that WST11 cellular uptake, clearance and phototoxicity are mediated by serum albumin trafficking. In vivo, WST11 was found to clear rapidly from the circulation (t1/2= 1.65 min) after intravenous bolus injection in the mouse, whereas a longer clearance time (t1/2= 7.5 min) was noted in rats after 20 min of infusion. The biodistribution of WST11 in mouse tissues indicates hepatic clearance (t1/2= 20 min), with minor (kidney, lung and spleen) or no intermediary accumulation in other tissues. As soon as 1 h after injection, WST11 had nearly cleared from the body of the mouse, except for a temporal accumulation in the lungs from which it cleared within 40 min. On the basis of these results, we set the VTP protocol for a short illumination period (5 min), delivered immediately after WST11 injection. On subjecting M2R melanoma xenografts to WST11‐VTP, we achieved 100% tumor flattening at all doses and a 70% cure with 9 mg/kg and a light exposure dose of 100 mW/cm2. These results provide direct evidence that WST11 is an effective agent for VTP and provide guidelines for further development of new candidates.

WST11, A Novel Water-soluble Bacteriochlorophyll Derivative; Cellular Uptake, Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution and Vascular-targeted Photodynamic Activity Using Melanoma Tumors as a Model¶

WST11 is a novel negatively charged water-soluble palladiumbacteriochlorophyll derivative that was developed for vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in our laboratory. The in vitro results suggest that WST11 cellular uptake, clearance and phototoxicity are mediated by serum albumin trafficking. In vivo, WST11 was found to clear rapidly from the circulation (t1/2 5 1.65 min) after intravenous bolus injection in the mouse, whereas a longer clearance time (t1/2 5 7.5 min) was noted in rats after 20 min of infusion. The biodistribution of WST11 in mouse tissues indicates hepatic clearance (t1/2 5 20 min), with minor (kidney, lung and spleen) or no intermediary accumulation in other tissues. As soon as 1 h after injection, WST11 had nearly cleared from the body of the mouse, except for a temporal accumulation in the lungs from which it cleared within 40 min. On the basis of these results, we set the VTP protocol for a short illumination period (5 min), delivered immediately after WST11 injection. On subjecting M2R melanoma xenografts to WST11-VTP, we achieved 100% tumor flattening at all doses and a 70% cure with 9 mg/kg and a light exposure dose of 100 mW/cm 2 . These results provide direct evidence that WST11 is an effective agent for VTP and provide guidelines for further development of new candidates.

WST11, A Novel Water-Soluble Bacteriochlorophyll Derivative; Cellular uptake, Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution, and Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Activity Against Melanoma tumors

WST11 is a novel negatively charged water-soluble palladium-bacteriochlorophyll derivative that was developed for vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in our laboratory. The in vitro results suggest that WST11 cellular uptake, clearance and phototoxicity are mediated by serum albumin trafficking. In vivo, WST11 was found to clear rapidly from the circulation (t1/2=1.65 min) after intravenous bolus injection in the mouse, whereas a longer clearance time (t1/2=7.5 min) was noted in rats after 20 min of infusion. The biodistribution of WST11 in mouse tissues indicates hepatic clearance (t1/2=20 min), with minor (kidney, lung and spleen) or no intermediary accumulation in other tissues. As soon as 1 h after injection, WST11 had nearly cleared from the body of the mouse, except for a temporal accumulation in the lungs from which it cleared within 40 min. On the basis of these results, we set the VTP protocol for a short illumination period (5 min), delivered immediately after WST11 injection. On subjecting M2R melanoma xenografts to WST11-VTP, we achieved 100% tumor flattening at all doses and a 70% cure with 9 mg/kg and a light exposure dose of 100 mW/cm2. These results provide direct evidence that WST11 is an effective agent for VTP and provide guidelines for further development of new candidates.

Effect of calcium ions on the secondary structures of photosystem II and its relations with photoinhibition

Calcium ions play an important role in the oxygen-evolving process of photosystem II as demonstrated in many experiments. The changes of the secondary structures of PS II induced by the depletion of Ca2+ were reported. The results indicated that the removal of Ca2+ led to the transition of ahelix to turns and sheet structures. While Ca2+ was re-added to the media, only the structures changed to turns could be recovered. The protein conformational changes of PS II during the donor side photoinhibition induced by the depletion of ca2+ were also studied. This showed that the protein conformational changes differed between the control and Ca2+-depleted samples in a short period of illumination (within 10 min). However, the changes became similar when the illumination time was increased.

Effect of the carbon acceptor concentration on the photoquenching and following enhancement of the photoacoustic signals of semi-insulating GaAs

The spectral and the time dependent piezoelectric photoacoustic (PPA) measurements under the continuous light illumination were carried out at 85 K to investigate nonradiative recombination processes involving EL2 defect levels in carbon concentration controlled and not intentionally doped semi-insulating (SI) GaAs. The decrease of the PPA signal due to the photoquenching effect of EL2 is observed for a short period of illumination in the photon energy region from 1.0 to 1.3 eV. Since almost all of the carbon acceptors are compensated by deep donor EL2 in SI GaAs, electron occupancy of EL2 level can be controlled by changing the carbon acceptor concentration. It is found that the photoquenching becomes drastic with increasing the carbon concentration. After fully photoquenching, the PPA signal increases again through a local minimum by the continuous light illumination and finally exceeds the initial value before illumination until the saturation level is reached. The deep donor level EL6 and its metastable state are proposed. EL6 level donates electrons to compensate a part of carbon acceptors after EL20 to EL2* transition is accomplished. The nonradiative recombination through this level generates the PPA signal. Since the PPA measurement can detect lower concentration of EL6 than that of EL2, the higher sensitivity of the PPA measurements than the optical absorption measurements is pointed out. The usefulness of the PPA technique for studying the nonradiative transition through deep levels in semiconductors is also suggested.

Effect Of The Carbon Acceptor Concentration On The Photoquenching And Enhancement Of The Piezoelectric Photoacoustic Signals Of Semi-Insulating Gaas

AbstractThe spectral and the time dependent piezoelectric photoacoustic (PPA) measurements under the continuous light illumination were carried out at 85 K to investigate nonradiative recombination processes involving EL2 defect levels in carbon doped semi-insulating (SI) GaAs. The decrease of the PPA signal due to the photoquenching effect of EL2 was observed for a short period of illumination of 1.12 eV. It was found that the photoquenching becomes drastic with increasing the carbon concentration. After fully photoquenching, the PPA signal increased again through a local minimum by the continuous light illumination and finally exceeded the initial value before illumination until the saturation level was reached. The deep donor level EL6 and its metastable state are proposed. EL6 level donates electrons to compensate a part of carbon acceptors after photoquenching. The nonradiative recombination through this level generates the PPA signal. The usefulness of the PPA technique for studying the nonradiative transition through deep levels in semiconductor is suggested.

Studies on photoinactivation by various phthalocyanines of a free or replicating non-enveloped virus

The non-enveloped picornaviruses, which are particularly resistant to physicochemical inactivation, include the aetiological agents of poliomyelitis, hepatitis A and E and infectious common cold (rhinovirus). In this work we used human rhinovirus type 5 (RV-5) cultivated in VERO cells to study the photoinactivating effects of several phthalocyanines and naphthobenzoporphyrazines. Free RV-5 was photoinactivated by aluminium trisulphonated naphthobenzoporphyrazine at 5 × 10 −8 M concentration. This photosensitizer was also active on replicating virus when the infected VERO cells were treated with 5 × 10 −6 M concentration followed by a very short illumination period. On the other hand, the ZnPc(3-MeO-Py) 4 phthalocyanine, which possesses four positive charges, does not photoinactivate free rhinovirus, but this molecule protects VERO cells against RV-5 infection when added to the cultures before virus inoculation, in the presence or absence of subsequent illumination, and may therefore be considered as an antiviral agent in itself.

Evidence that the low-affinity K+ transport system of Rhodobacter capsulatus is a uniporter. The effects of ammonium on the transporter

Comparison of the rate of accumulation of 86Rb+ by intact cells of Rhodobacter capsulatus during short periods of illumination with the Rb+-dependent membrane ionic current measured by electrochromism supports the view that both activities reflect the operation of a low-affinity K+ transport system. In experiments performed under similar conditions the ratio of 86Rb+ uptake to charge uptake was approx. 1.0, suggesting that the transport system operates as a uniporter. The addition of NHinf4sup+to a cell suspension led to an increase in membrane ionic current but failed to inhibit the accumulation of 86Rb+ during illumination. The presence of K+ and NHinf4sup+inhibited the increase in cellular ATP levels at the onset of illumination. This effect was prevented by Cs+. The results are considered within the context of the hypothesis (Golby et al. Eur J Biochem 187: 589–597) that NHinf4sup+can be transported by the K+ carrier and in the context of an alternative hypothesis that NHinf4sup+increases the affinity of the K+ transport system for its natural substrate and for Rb+.

Cyclic temperature treatments of dark-grown pea seedlings induce a rise in specific transcript levels of light-regulated genes related to photomorphogenesis

Dark-grown pea seedlings exposed to cyclic heat shocks or daily temperature changes undergo a morphogenetic development similar to that induced by far red light. The morphological changes observed include expansion of the leaves, shortening of the stems and opening of the hooks. Compared with control etioplasts, plastids of heat-treated seedlings are as large as fully mature chloroplasts and contain well developed, unstacked membranes. These morphogenetic changes correlate with elevated levels of SSU and LHCP mRNAs which, under these conditions, fluctuate in a circadian manner. In contrast, the ELIP mRNA remains under strict light control and shows circadian fluctuations only if the plants are exposed to a short period of illumination. We propose that periodic temperature changes, like light treatment, might serve as a 'Zeitgeber' signal for circadian rhythm. The data indicate a correlation between the existence of circadian oscillations and morphogenetic development.

Beneficial interaction between photosynthesis and respiration in mesophyll protoplasts of pea during short light‐dark cycles

The respiratory uptake or photosynthetic evolution of oxygen by mesophyll protoplasts of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Arkel) were monitored during successive short. (3–5 min) cycles of darkness and illumination. The rate of respiration was nearly doubled after 3–4 short periods of illumination while there was a 15–20% enhancement in photosynthesis with cycles of illumination and darkness preceding illumination. Such interaction between photosynthesis and respiration was statistically significant when bicarbonate was present in the reaction medium. The inhibitors of photosynthesis [3(3,4–dichlorophenyl)‐l,l‐dimethylurea (DCMU), glyceraldehyde] decreased respiration after periods of illumination, whereas inhibitors of respiratory electron transport (Rotenone, antimycin A, NaN3) suppressed photosynthesis, as well. We suggest that a rapid beneficial interaction exists between photosynthesis and respiration in protoplasts, even during short cycles of light and darkness.