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In laser spectroscopy, high photon flux can perturb the sample away from thermal equilibrium, altering its spectroscopic properties. Here, we describe an optical beam scanning apparatus that minimizes repetitive sample excitation while providing shot-to-shot sample exchange for samples such as cryostats, films, and air-tight cuvettes. In this apparatus, the beam crossing point is moved within the
Femtosecond two-dimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy is used to determine the static bandgap inhomogeneity of a colloidal quantum dot ensemble. The excited states of quantum dots absorb light, so their absorptive two-dimensional (2D) spectra will typically have positive and negative peaks. It is shown that the absorption bandgap inhomogeneity is robustly determined by the slope of the nodal
In experiments with high photon flux, it is necessary to rapidly remove the sample from the beam and to delay re-excitation until the sample has returned to equilibrium. Rapid and complete sample exchange has been a challenge for air-sensitive samples and for vibration-sensitive experiments. Here, a compact spinning sample cell for air and moisture sensitive liquid and thin film samples is describ
Pump-probe polarization anisotropy measurements with 15 fs pulses are employed to investigate the electronic structure of PbS quantum dots. The initial anisotropy at the bandgap is anomalously low (<0.1) and suggests large electronic couplings.
The first low-energy Coulomb-excitation measurement of the radioactive, semi-magic, two proton-hole nucleus 206Hg, was performed at CERN's recently-commissioned HIE-ISOLDE facility. Two γ rays depopulating low-lying states in 206Hg were observed. From the data, a reduced transition strength B(E2; 2+1 → 0+1) = 4.4(6) W.u. was determined, the first such value for an N=126 nucleus south of 208Pb, wh
A recent case of a flawed medical AI system that was backed by public funding provides an opportunity to discuss the impact of government policies and regulation in AI.
Multi-gigawatt-scale hydrogen production by water electrolysis is central in the green transition when it comes to storage of energy and forming the basis for sustainable fuels and materials. Alkaline water electrolysis plays a key role in this context, as the scale of implementation is not limited by the availability of scarce and expensive raw materials. Even though it is a mature technology, th
This article addresses the development under Xi Jinping of ideological and political education at the university level. It provides an overview of trends among youth, major policies and recent developments, and an analysis of how ideological and political education is organised at universities and incorporated into the curricula. It also argues that ideological and political education targeting yo
The increasing investment in and emphasis on ideological andpolitical education at Chinese universities, and statements, including by Xi Jinping himself, and other policies related to youth and higher education, reveals a growing concern about youth. This article provides a brief overview of developments and policies affecting Chinese youth, including the emergence of new values among them.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if desquamated oral epithelial cells (DOECs) express the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and if these cells thereby may contribute to salivary EGF contents.BACKGROUND: DOECs have recently been shown to harbor the antimicrobial peptide LL-37, proposing that they may also store other biologically important salivary peptides/proteins. The EGF peptide
Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments were conducted on cyclic and linear polymers of racemic and l-lactides (PLA) with the goal of comparing chain configurations, scaling, and effective polymer–solvent interactions of the two topologies in acetone-d6 and THF-d8. There are limited reports of SANS results on cyclic polymers due to the lack of substantial development in the field unt
This work demonstrates the first continuous, stable, and safe operation of organometallic reactions in flow under ambient conditions with high moisture tolerance and clogging resistance. The addition of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), such as glyceline (choline chloride/glycerol) and reline (choline chloride/urea), overcomes the previous limitations associated with the need for cryogenic conditions
Mixtures of sulfobetaine based lipids with phosphocholine phospholipids are of interest in order to study the interactions between zwitterionic surfactants and the phospholipids present in cell membranes. In this study we have investigated the structure of mixed monolayers of sulfobetaines and phosphocholine phospholipids. The sulfobetaine used has a single 18-carbon tail, and is referred to as SB
In this work we present a novel, low temperature and green method for atom-efficient solvothermal synthesis of crystalline, micelle templated cerium IV oxide (ceria) from a type IV deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprising a hydrated cerium containing metal salt, cerium(iii) nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)3·6H2O), and a hydrogen bond donor, urea, in a molar ratio of 1 : 3.5. Self-assembled nanostructure
The replacement of plastic microbeads with biodegradable alternatives is essential due to the environmental persistence of plastics and their accumulation within the human food chain. Hypothesis: Cellulose microbeads could be such alternative, but their production is hindered by the high viscosity of cellulose solutions. It is expected that this viscosity can be harnessed to induce filament thinni
The production of sub-10 µm cellulose microbeads via membrane emulsification using isoporous membranes is reported here for the first time. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) membranes, with defined interpore distances, pore diameters and straight-through pores were fabricated via photolithography. A dispersed phase of 8 wt% cellulose solution was extruded through the membrane pores, forming, due to she
The extensive use of antibiotics over the last decades is responsible for the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms that are challenging health care systems worldwide. The use of alternative antimicrobial materials could mitigate the selection of new MDR strains by reducing antibiotic overuse. This paper describes the design of enzyme-based antimicrobial cellulose beads contai
Our recently developed ensilication approach can physically stabilize proteins in silica without use of a pre-formed particle matrix. Stabilisation is done by tailor fitting individual proteins with a silica coat using a modified sol-gel process. Biopharmaceuticals, e.g. liquid-formulated vaccines with adjuvants, frequently have poor thermal stability; heating and/or freezing impairs their potency
