Ultraviolet Visual Research Articles

Compact Spatial Heterodyne Spectrographs for Future Space-Based Observations: Instrument Modeling and Applications.

High-resolution spectroscopy employing spatial heterodyne spectrographs (SHS) holds significant promise for forthcoming space missions, building upon its established track record in science applications. Notably, it offers exceptional performance and cost- effectiveness in the ultraviolet-visual (UV-Vis) region compared to contemporary instruments. SHS instruments provide high-resolution capabilities and substantially larger etendues than similar resolving power instruments. This study introduces a comprehensive Python-based SHS model integrated with a user-friendly web scraping interface for target star selection, parameter generation, and 2D interferogram creation. Our SHS model demonstrates double the resolving power of a grating spectrometer and a throughput comparable to a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) but without moving parts, enhancing robustness for deployment in space. The interferogram processing algorithm includes flat-fielding, bias removal, apodization, and an inverse Fourier transform (IFT) for accurate spectrum retrieval. Despite bandwidth limitations due to resolving power constraints, SHS models excel in applications requiring high spectral resolution over narrow wavelength ranges, such as studying isotopic emission lines. The model provides optimization results and trade-offs for system parameters, ensuring precise spectral recovery with realistic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values. SHS is versatile and effective for various scientific applications, including investigating atomic and molecular emissions from comets, planetary atmospheres, the Earth's atmosphere, the Sun, and the interstellar medium (ISM). This research significantly contributes to expediting the development and deployment of SHS instruments, demonstrating their potential across numerous scientific domains.

LensingETC: A Tool to Optimize Multifilter Imaging Campaigns of Galaxy-scale Strong Lensing Systems

Imaging data is the principal observable required to use galaxy-scale strong lensing in a multitude of applications in extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology. In this paper, we develop Lensing Exposure Time Calculator (LensingETC; https://github.com/ajshajib/LensingETC) to optimize the efficiency of telescope-time usage when planning multifilter imaging campaigns for galaxy-scale strong lenses. This tool simulates realistic data tailored to specified instrument characteristics and then automatically models them to assess the power of the data in constraining lens model parameters. We demonstrate a use case of this tool by optimizing a two-filter observing strategy (in the IR and ultraviolet-visual (UVIS)) within the limited exposure time per system allowed by a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Snapshot program. We find that higher resolution is more advantageous to gain constraining power on the lensing observables, when there is a trade-off between signal-to-noise ratio and resolution; for example, between the UVIS and IR filters of the HST. We also find that, whereas a point-spread function (PSF) with sub-Nyquist sampling allows the sample mean for a model parameter to be robustly recovered for both galaxy–galaxy and point-source lensing systems, a sub-Nyquist-sampled PSF introduces a larger scatter than a Nyquist-sampled one in the deviation from the ground truth for point-source lens systems.

Study on rapid quality analysis method of Shengxuebao Mixture

A rapid analysis method based on ultraviolet-visual(UV-Vis) spectroscopy, near infrared(NIR) spectroscopy and multivariable data analysis was established for quality evaluation of Shengxuebao Mixture. The contents of eight active ingredients of Shengxuebao Mixture including albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetra-hydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, specnuezhenide,ecliptasaponin D, emodin, calycosin-7-glucoside and astragaloside Ⅳ were simultaneously detected by using this method. HPLC-UV-MS was used as a reference method for determining the contents of these ingredients. Partial least squares(PLS) analysis was implemented as a linear method for multivariate models calibrated between UV spectrum/NIR spectrum and contents of 8 ingredients. Finally, the performance of the model was evaluated by 24 batches of test samples. The results showed that both UV-Vis and NIR models gave a good calibration ability with an R~2 value above 0.9, and the prediction ability was also satisfactory, with an R~2 value higher than 0.83 for UV-Vis model and higher than 0.79 for NIR model. The overall results demonstrate that the established method is accurate, robust and fast, therefore, it can be used for rapid quality evaluation of Shengxuebao Mixture.

Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties of Biofabricated Silver Nanoparticles Using Different Extracts of Boerhavia diffusa L.

The benefit of utilizing plants for the synthesis of nanoparticles include a broad variability of metabolites that may aid in reduction, easily available as well as safe to handle. Boerhavia diffusa L. is known as punarnava, possessing anti-inflammatory, diuretic activities and is being used for the common clinical problems such as nephrotic edema, syndrome and ascites resulting from early cirrhosis of the liver and chronic peritonitis. The present study aims at biosynthesis of silver fabricated nanoparticles with the aqueous extracts of B. diffusa leaves and roots by using 1 mM AgNO3 . Preliminary confirmation of silver nanoparticles was done by using Ultra Violet Visual (UV-VIS) Spectrophotometer. The biomolecules were responsible for reducing the Ag+ to Ag0 which was identified by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The nanoparticles were subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis to detect the Size and morphology of the particles. The nanoscale level (< 100 nm) of spherical shaped aggregates was identified. Antimicrobial assays were carried out with the selected clinical isolates using disc diffusion method and the notable inhibitory zones were observed against all the isolates at very low concentration.

Charge Transfer and Energy Transfer between CdSe Semiconductor Nano Crystals and Polyaniline Molecule

CdSe semiconductor nano crystals (NCs) and Polyaniline (PAni) are mixed uniformly to prepare CdSe NCs/PAni complex. PAni can quench the fluorescent signal of CdSe NCs. The fluorescent intensity of CdSe NCs/PAni complex is related to the size of CdSe NCs and concentration of PAni. Ultraviolet visual (UV-Vis) absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra are employed to analysis the quenching phenomenon. The mechanism of fluorescence quench is dependent on two factors: on one hand, the FÖrster resonance energy transfer conducts from CdSe to PAni; on the other hand, PAni can intercept the electron charge of CdSe and lead to the interruption of radiative recombination.

Accurate dereplication of bioactive secondary metabolites from marine-derived fungi by UHPLC-DAD-QTOFMS and a MS/HRMS library.

In drug discovery, reliable and fast dereplication of known compounds is essential for identification of novel bioactive compounds. Here, we show an integrated approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-QTOFMS) providing both accurate mass full-scan mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem high resolution MS (MS/HRMS) data. The methodology was demonstrated on compounds from bioactive marine-derived strains of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Emericellopsis, including small polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, terpenes, and meroterpenoids. The MS/HRMS data were then searched against an in-house MS/HRMS library of ~1300 compounds for unambiguous identification. The full scan MS data was used for dereplication of compounds not in the MS/HRMS library, combined with ultraviolet/visual (UV/Vis) and MS/HRMS data for faster exclusion of database search results. This led to the identification of four novel isomers of the known anticancer compound, asperphenamate. Except for very low intensity peaks, no false negatives were found using the MS/HRMS approach, which proved to be robust against poor data quality caused by system overload or loss of lock-mass. Only for small polyketides, like patulin, were both retention time and UV/Vis spectra necessary for unambiguous identification. For the ophiobolin family with many structurally similar analogues partly co-eluting, the peaks could be assigned correctly by combining MS/HRMS data and m/z of the [M + Na]+ ions.

Using in situ ultraviolet‐visual spectroscopy to measure nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and suspended solids concentrations at a high frequency in a brackish tidal marsh

The collection of high frequency water quality data are key to making the next leap in hydrological and biogeochemical sciences. Commercially available in situ ultraviolet‐visual (UV‐Vis) spectrometers make possible the long‐term collection of absorption spectra multiple times per hour. This technology has proven useful for measuring nitrate, dissolved organic carbon, and total suspended solids in many environments, but has not been tested in tidal marsh conditions where upstream freshwater mixes with estuarine waters, resulting in rapid changes in concentrations and salinity. These three parameters encompass only a portion of the nutrients that are of interest in these systems. To test the potential of spectroscopy to measure these and other nutrient concentrations, spectrometers were installed in a constructed brackish tidal marsh and absorbance spectra were compared to lab analyses for coinciding discrete samples. Variable selection techniques, including partial least squares regression, lasso regression, and stepwise regression, were used to develop models with which nitrate, total kjeldahl nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, phosphate, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and salinity in brackish marsh waters can be predicted from UV‐Vis spectrometer measurements. Significant relationships between the absorption spectra and the laboratory measured concentrations were observed for all of the parameters. Phosphate and total phosphorus were the only nutrients which had R2 values less than 0.86 for their best calibrations. This study shows the potential to collect multiple water quality parameters at a high frequency in brackish waters using in situ spectrometers and gives the tools to replicate this analysis in all environments.

The ESO UVES advanced data products quasar sample

We present here a dataset of quasars observed with the Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) on the VLT and available in the ESO UVES Advanced Data Products archive. The sample is made up of a total of 250 high resolution quasar spectra with emission redshifts ranging from 0.191 < z_em <6.311. The total UVES exposure time of this dataset is 1560 hours. Thanks to the high resolution of UVES spectra, it is possible to unambiguously measure the column density of absorbers with damping wings, down to N_HI > 10^{19} cm^{-2}, which constitutes the sub-damped Lya absorber (sub-DLA) threshold. Within the wavelength coverage of our UVES data, we find 150 damped Lya systems (DLAs)/sub-DLAs in the range 1.5 < z_abs < 4.7. Of these 150, 93 are DLAs and 57 are sub-DLAs. An extensive search in the literature indicates that 6 of these DLAs and 13 of these sub-DLAs have their N_HI measured for the first time. Among them, 10 are new identifications as DLAs/sub-DLAs. For each of these systems, we obtain an accurate measurement of the HI column density and the absorber's redshift in the range 1.7 < z_abs < 4.2 by implementing a Voigt profile-fitting algorithm. These absorbers are further confirmed thanks to the detection of associated metal lines and/or lines from members of the Lyman series. In our data, a few quasars' lines-of-sight are rich. An interesting example is towards QSO J0133+0400 (z_em = 4.154) with six DLAs and sub-DLAs reported.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Single Crystalline Nano CeO2 and Its Structural, Optical, and Electronic Characterization

Single crystalline CeO2 powder was prepared by precipitation-hydrothermal technique. The hydrothermal treatment temperature and time were the two parameters chosen to observe their effect on nature of ceria. The synthesized samples were characterized for structural, optical, and electrical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), ultraviolet-visual (UV-Vis), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Single crystalline CeO2 nanoparticles of about 5 to 9 nm were formed when the precipitated precursor was heated at 200°C for 3 h. The mean crystalline diameter (MCD) obtained from XRD using Scherrer's formula matched with the particle size as observed from TEM confirming the single crystalline nature of ceria. The crystallinity of sample increased with increase in reaction temperature and time while the lattice parameters decreased, as observed from XRD data. Observation from the micrographs obtained from SEM indicated the decrease in particle size as well agglomeration with increase in reaction temperature which was also confirmed by blue shift in absorption spectra of the sample obtained at 200°C. Room temperature PL spectra of CeO2 nano crystals, excited at wavelength 300 nm, showed emission at 400 and 360 nm corresponding to CeO2 synthesized at temperatures 160°C, and 200°C with corresponding E g values of 2.94 eV and 3.60 eV, respectively.

Properties of the ionized gas in HH 202 - II. Results from echelle spectrophotometry with Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph

We present results of deep echelle spectrophotometry of the brightest knot of the Herbig–Haro object HH 202 in the Orion Nebula – HH 202-S – using the Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph in the spectral range from 3100 to 10 400 Å. The high spectral resolution of the observations has permitted to separate the component associated with the ambient gas from that associated with the gas flow. We derive electron densities and temperatures from different diagnostics for both components, as well as the chemical abundances of several ions and elements from collisionally excited lines, including the first determinations of Ca+ and Cr+ abundances in the Orion Nebula. We also calculate the He+, C2+, O+ and O2+ abundances from recombination lines. The difference between the O2+ abundances determined from collisionally excited and recombination lines – the so-called abundance discrepancy factor – is 0.35 and 0.11 dex for the shock and nebular components, respectively. Assuming that the abundance discrepancy is produced by spatial variations in the electron temperature, we derive values of the temperature fluctuation parameter, t2, of 0.050 and 0.016 for the shock and nebular components, respectively. Interestingly, we obtain almost coincident t2 values for both components from the analysis of the intensity ratios of He i lines. We find significant departures from case B predictions in the Balmer and Paschen flux ratios of lines of high principal quantum number n. We analyse the ionization structure of HH 202-S, finding enough evidence to conclude that the flow of HH 202-S has compressed the ambient gas inside the nebula trapping the ionization front. We measure a strong increase of the total abundances of nickel and iron in the shock component, the abundance pattern and the results of photoionization models for both components are consistent with the partial destruction of dust after the passage of the shock wave in HH 202-S.

Mosquito larvicidal activities of Solanum villosum berry extract against the dengue vector Stegomyia aegypti

BackgroundVector control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. Although several plants have been reported for mosquitocidal activity, only a few botanicals have moved from the laboratory to field use, because they are poorly characterized, in most cases active principals are not determined and most of the works are restricted to preliminary screening. Solanum villosum is a common weed distributed in many parts of India with medicinal properties, but the larvicidal activity of this plant has not been reported so far.MethodsAqueous and polar/non-polar solvent extract of fresh, mature, green berries of S. villosum was tested against Stegomyia aegypti, a common vector of dengue fever. A phytochemical analysis of chloroform:methanol extract was performed to search for the active toxic ingredient. The lethal concentration was determined (log probit analysis) and compared with Malathion. The chemical nature of the active substance was also evaluated following ultraviolet-visual (UV-Vis) and infrared (IR) analysis.ResultsIn a 72 hour bioassay experiment with the aqueous extract, the highest mortality was recorded in 0.5% extract. When the mortality of different solvent extracts was compared, the maximum (p < 0.05) mortality was recorded at a concentration of 50 ppm of chloroform:methanol extract (1:1, v/v). The larvicidal activity was lower when compared with the chemical insecticide, Malathion (p < 0.05). Results of regression analysis revealed that the mortality rate (Y) was positively correlated with the period of exposure (X) and the log probit analysis (95% confidence level) recorded lowest value (5.97 ppm) at 72 hours of exposure. Phytochemical analysis of the chlororm:methanol extract reported the presence of many bioactive phytochemicals. Two toxic compounds were detected having Rf = 0.82 (70% and 73.33% mortality in 24 and 48 hours, respectively) and Rf = 0.95 (40% and 50% mortality in 24 and 48 hours, respectively). IR analysis provided preliminary information about the steroidal nature of the active ingredient.ConclusionS. villosum offers promise as potential bio control agent against S. aegypti particularly in its markedly larvicidal effect. The extract or isolated bioactive phytochemical could be used in stagnant water bodies for the control of mosquitoes acting as vector for many communicable diseases.

Synthesis and characterization of organosoluble aromatic copolyimids

A series of aromatic copolyimides was successfully synthesized from the commercial pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with a commercial diamine p-phenyldiamine (PDA) and a diamine 4,4′-methylenebis-(2-tert-butylaniline) (MBTBA) specially designed by the authors. The copolyimides were characterized by Infra-red (IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Ultraviolet Visual (UV-Vis), Thermogravimetic Analysis (TGA) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). The copolyimide was precipitated in m-cresol in the polymerization process when the molar ratio of MBTBA and PDA was lower than 6/4. The number-average molecular weight of the soluble copolyimides measured by GPC was larger than 4.0 × 104, and the polydispersity index was higher than 1.5. Only one glass transition temperature of these copolyimides was detected around 360°C by DMA. The copolyimides did not show appreciable decomposition up to 500°C under N2, and the thermal stability of the copolyimide increased a little with the introduction of PDA into the polyimide main chain.

Studies on solid state synthesis and the oxygenation property of cobalt (II) Schiff base (vanilline polyamine) complexes

Three new cobalt complexes were synthesized by solid-state reaction at room temperature and the resultant Co complexes reacted with two equivalent oxygen molecules at room temperature to produce the oxygenated complexes [Co·(L1)2·(O2)2](NO3)2·2H2O (L1 = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl)-diethylenetriamine), [Co·(L2)2·(O2)2](NO3)2·2H2O (L2 = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl)-triethylenetetramine), and [Co·(L3)2·(O2)2](NO3)2·2H2O (L3 = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl-tetraethylenepentamine). The oxygenated complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR (Infrared), 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), and UV-Vis (Ultraviolet Visual) spectrometry, and TG/DTA (Thermogravimetry/Differential Thermal Analysis) analysis, and molar conductance. The coordinated oxygen contents in the oxygenated complexes were also determined by weight method. It was supposed that only one O2 molecule coordinated to the Co ion forming a superoxo type oxygenated complex.

Study on interaction between Tb(III) and poly( N-isopropylacrylamide)

A new kind of the thermo-sensitive and fluorescent complex of poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and Tb(III) was synthesized by free radical polymerization, in which PNIPAM was used as a polymer ligand. The complex was characterized by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visual (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results from the experiments indicated that there is a strong interaction between PNIPAM and Tb(III), leading to a decrease in the electron density of nitrogen and oxygen atoms and an increase in the electron density of Tb(III) in the PNIPAM containing Tb(III) by contrast with PNIPAM and Tb(III), respectively, meanwhile, exhibiting that the Tb(III) is mainly bonded to oxygen atoms in the polymer chain of PNIPAM and formed the complex of PNIPAM–Tb(III). After forming the PNIPAM–Tb(III) complex, the emission fluorescence intensity of Tb(III) in the PNIPAM–Tb(III) complex is significantly enhanced because the effective intramolecular energy transfer from PNIPAM to Tb(III). Especially, the emission intensity of the fluorescence peak at 547 nm can be increased as high as 145 times comparing with that of the pure Tb(III). The intramolecular energy transfer efficiency for fluorescence peak at 547 nm can reach as high as 68%. The fluorescence intensity is related the weight ratio of Tb(III) and PNIPAM in the PNIPAM–Tb(III) complex. When the weight ratio is 1.4%, the maximum fluorescence enhancement can be obtained. Nevertheless, the lower critical solution temperature of PNIPAM containing a low content of Tb(III) has not obviously changed after the formation of the complex of PNIPAM–Tb(III) by the interaction between PNIPAM and Tb(III). This novel thermosensitive and fluorescence characterization of the PNIPAM–Tb(III) complex may be useful in the fluorescence systems and the biomedical field.

Detection of Diffuse Interstellar Bands in the Magellanic Clouds

With the Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph mounted at the Very Large Telescope, we have observed at unprecedented spectral resolution the absorption spectrum toward reddened stars in the Magellanic Clouds over the wavelength range of 3500-10500 A. This range covers the strong transitions associated with neutral and charged large carbon molecules of varying sizes and structures. We report the first detection of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) at 5780 and 5797 A in the Small Magellanic Cloud and the variation of the 6284 A DIB toward several targets in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The variation of DIBs in the Magellanic Clouds compared with Galactic targets may be governed by a combination of the different chemical processes prevailing in low-metallicity regions and the local environmental conditions.