Polarized spectroscopy of electric and magnetic dipole transitions of Europium (III) ions in C2 sites

Polarization anisotropy of luminescent properties of europium (III) ions in low-symmetry C2 sites is studied using monoclinic (sp. gr. C2/c) tungstate crystal KY(WO4)2. The 5D0 → 7FJ (where J = 0…6) transitions are characterized for the principal light polarizations. Polarization selection rules for the magnetic dipole 5D0 → 7F1 transition are presented. The stimulated-emission cross-sections for Eu3+ ions relevant for laser operation are determined.

Development of High Affinity Calcitonin Analog Fragments Targeting Extracellular Domains of Calcitonin Family Receptors

The calcitonin and amylin receptors (CTR and AMY receptors) are the drug targets for osteoporosis and diabetes treatment, respectively. Salmon calcitonin (sCT) and pramlintide were developed as peptide drugs that activate these receptors. However, next-generation drugs with improved receptor binding profiles are desirable for more effective pharmacotherapy. The extracellular domain (ECD) of CTR was reported as the critical binding site for the C-terminal half of sCT. For the screening of high-affinity sCT analog fragments, purified CTR ECD was used for fluorescence polarization/anisotropy peptide binding assay. When three mutations (N26D, S29P, and P32HYP) were introduced to the sCT(22–32) fragment, sCT(22–32) affinity for the CTR ECD was increased by 21-fold. CTR was reported to form a complex with receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP), and the CTR:RAMP complexes function as amylin receptors with increased binding for the peptide hormone amylin. All three types of functional AMY receptor ECDs were prepared and tested for the binding of the mutated sCT(22–32). Interestingly, the mutated sCT(22–32) also retained its high affinity for all three types of the AMY receptor ECDs. In summary, the mutated sCT(22–32) showing high affinity for CTR and AMY receptor ECDs could be considered for developing the next-generation peptide agonists.

CASPAM: a triple modality biosensor for multiplexed imaging of caspase network activity

Understanding signal propagation across biological networks requires to simultaneously monitor the dynamics of several nodes to uncover correlations masked by inherent intercellular variability. To monitor the enzymatic activity of more than two components over short time scales has proven challenging. Exploiting the narrow spectral width of homoFRET-based biosensors, up to three activities can be imaged through fluorescence polarization anisotropy microscopy. We introduce CASPAM (Caspase Activity Sensor by Polarization Anisotropy Multiplexing) a single-plasmid triple-modality-reporter of key nodes of the apoptotic network. Apoptosis provides an ideal molecular framework to study interactions between its three composing pathways (intrinsic, extrinsic and effector). We characterized the biosensor performance and demonstrated the advantages that equimolar expression has both in simplifying experimental procedure and reducing observable variation, thus enabling robust data-driven modelling. Tools like CASPAM become essential to analyze molecular pathways where multiple nodes need to be simultaneously monitored.

Measurement of sea wave height by radar sounding with polarizationmodulated signals

Methods for determining the height of sea waves, which are relevant for maritime navigation, have been investigated. The measurement of the height of sea waves by the method of radar sounding by polarization-modulated signals is considered. The energy and spectral characteristics of the radar signal reflected by the sea surface at low angles of incidence are described. An algorithm for calculating the average wave height based on the results of measuring the polarization anisotropy of the specific effective scattering surface of the sea area is considered. The relation of the average frequency of the amplitude fluctuations of the reflected radar signals with the sea waves is given. The spectral characteristics of radar signals reflected by the sea surface when irradiated with polarization-modulated signals are analyzed. The procedure for forming an effective statistical estimate of the average wave height based on the results of spectral measurements is considered. The errors of the generated estimates of the wave height associated with the measurement errors of the polarization anisotropy of the effective scattering surface and the average frequency of the envelope of the amplitude fluctuations caused by the Doppler effect are analyzed. The results of experimental measurements of the spectra of the amplitude fluctuations of the envelope of the reflected signals at different states of the sea surface are presented. The analytical dependence of the polarization anisotropy of the effective sea scattering surface on the irradiation angle relative to the wave propagation direction is given. A comparison of estimates of the height of sea waves obtained from radar sounding and meteorological observation data is carried out.

Antibody and Aptamer Based Competitive Fluorescence Polarization/Anisotropy Assays for Ochratoxin A with Tetramethylrhodamine Labeled Ochratoxin A

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of mycotoxin that often contaminates a variety of food stuffs, and it is a potential carcinogen for humans. Taking advantage of selective affinity binding and...

Impact of a surface on the electro-reflectance spectra of n-Si(110) and their polarization anisotropy

The electro-reflectance spectra, including their polarization dependencies were analyzed for n-Si(110) in the energy range of 2.9-3.8 eV. Based on the optical anisotropy of electro-optical effect, two contributions originated from a surface, (isotropic part relates to the linear electro-optical effect which inherent for (110) surface) and bulk, (anisotropic part relates to the Franz–Keldysh effect) were identified and separated. The presence of such extreme is explained by the zero value of the electron wave function on the surface and (or) the structure gettering of the free carriers.

Strong and robust polarization anisotropy of site- and size-controlled single InGaN/GaN quantum wires

Optical polarization is an indispensable component in photonic applications, the orthogonality of which extends the degree of freedom of information, and strongly polarized and highly efficient small-size emitters are essential for compact polarization-based devices. We propose a group III-nitride quantum wire for a highly-efficient, strongly-polarized emitter, the polarization anisotropy of which stems solely from its one-dimensionality. We fabricated a site-selective and size-controlled single quantum wire using the geometrical shape of a three-dimensional structure under a self-limited growth mechanism. We present a strong and robust optical polarization anisotropy at room temperature emerging from a group III-nitride single quantum wire. Based on polarization-resolved spectroscopy and strain-included 6-band k·p calculations, the strong anisotropy is mainly attributed to the anisotropic strain distribution caused by the one-dimensionality, and its robustness to temperature is associated with an asymmetric quantum confinement effect.