New Infrared Spectra of Acetylene-Water Dimers: First Determination of the A Rotational Constant and Another K-Dependent Anomaly.

Infrared spectra of acetylene-water complexes are studied in the regions of the H2O ν2 bend (1600 cm-1) and the D2O ν1/ν3 stretches (2670-2808 cm-1), using tunable infrared sources to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. In the H2O bend region, there is a puzzling absence of Ka = 0 transitions for C2H2-H2O, while both Ka = 0 and 1 are observed for C2D2-H2O. This continues a pattern of "missing" Ka states noted in previous infrared studies of acetylene-water. Noticeable line broadening gives estimates of upper state predissociation lifetimes of about 1.6 ns for C2D2-H2O with Ka' = 1, 0.8 ns for C2H2-H2O with Ka' = 1, and 0.8 ns for C2D2-H2O with Ka' = 0. The lifetime for C2H2-H2O Ka' = 0 must be much shorter (<0.05 ns) since rapid predissociation seems to be the only explanation for its absence in the spectrum. In the D2O ν3 region, clear sub-bands with Ka = 0 ← 1, 1 ← 0, and 2 ← 1 are observed which enable a good determination of the A rotational constant of C2H2-D2O (7.313 ± 0.007 cm-1), a first for acetylene-water dimer and larger than previously expected.

Water-carbon disulfide dimers: observation of a new isomer and ab initio structure theory.

The weakly bound dimer water-carbon disulfide is studied by ab initio structure theory and high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. The calculations yield three stable minima in the potential energy surface, all planar. The most stable, isomer 1, was observed previously by microwave spectroscopy. It has C2v symmetry, an S-O bond, and a linear O-S-C-S backbone. Isomer 2, the next most stable, has not been considered previously by theory or experiment. It also has C2v symmetry, but with a side-by-side structure. Isomer 3, which is slightly less stable, is side-by-side with one O-H bond pointing toward an S atom. The first gas phase water-CS2 infrared spectra are reported. For isomer 1, H2O-, HDO-, and D2O-CS2 are observed in the CS2ν1 + ν3 region, H2O-CS2 in the H2O ν2 bend region, and D2O-CS2 in the D2O ν1 and ν3 stretch regions. The latter ν3 spectrum enables an experimental determination of the A rotational parameter, which turns out to be larger than expected. The new isomer 2 is observed by means of a band in the H2O ν2 region, confirming its C2v symmetry and calculated structure.

Infrared spectra of partially deuterated water dimers in the fundamental O-D stretch region.

Spectra of mixed H/D water dimers are studied in the mid-infrared region of the O-D stretch fundamental (2630-2800 cm-1) using a pulsed supersonic slit jet and a tunable optical parametric oscillator infrared source. Over 30 bands, belonging to nine of the ten possible isotopologues (only H2O-HOD is missed), are observed and analyzed. The implications for excited state tunneling splittings, lifetime effects, and vibrational shifts are discussed. These are the first significant new experimental results on (gas phase) mixed water dimers in over 25 years, and they are valuable for testing water dimer theoretical calculations, a field which continues to be of lively current interest.

Age, Gender, and Liver Enzyme Impact Hospital Stay in COVID-19 Minority Patient with Cancer in the USA: Does Race Matters in the Pandemic?

Patients with cancer are known to have a poor prognosis when infected with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed in this study to assess health outcomes in COVID-19 patients with different cancers in comparison to non-cancer COVID-19 patients from different centers in the United States (US). We evaluated medical records of 1,943 COVID-19 Cancer patients from 3 hospitals admitted between December 2019 to October 2021 and compared them with non-cancer COVID-19 patients. Among 1,943 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 18.7% (n=364) have an active or previous history of cancer. Among these 364 cancer patients, 222 were African Americans (61.7%) and 121 were Caucasians (33.2%). Cancer patients had significantly longer hospitalization compared to controls (8.24 vs 6.7 days). Overall, Lung cancer is associated with high mortality. Patients with a previous history of cancer were more prone to death (p=0.04) than active cancer patients. In univariate and multivariate analyses, predictors of death among cancer patients were male sex, older age, presence of dyspnea, elevated troponin, elevated AST (0.001) and ALT (0.05), low albumin (p=0.04) and mechanical ventilation (p=0.001). Patients with a previous history of cancer were more prone to death when compared to active cancer COVID-19 patients. Early recognition of cancer COVID-19 patients' death-associated risk factors can help determine appropriate treatment and management plans for better prognosis and outcome.

Spectra of the D2O dimer in the O-D fundamental stretch region: The acceptor symmetric stretch fundamental and new combination bands.

The O-D stretch fundamental region of the deuterated water dimer, (D2O)2, is further studied using a pulsed supersonic slit jet and a tunable optical parametric oscillator infrared source. The previously unobserved acceptor symmetric O-D stretch fundamental vibration is detected, with Ka = 0 ← 0 and 1 ← 0 sub-bands at about 2669 and 2674 cm-1, respectively. The analysis indicates that the various water dimer tunneling splittings generally decrease in the excited vibrational state, similar to the three other previously observed O-D stretch fundamentals. Two new (D2O)2 combination bands are observed, giving information on intermolecular vibrations in the excited O-D stretch states. The likely vibrational assignments for these and a previously observed combination band are discussed.

Doped rare gas clusters up to completion of first solvation shell, CO2-(Rg)n, n = 3-17, Rg = Ar, Kr, Xe.

Spectra of rare gas atom clusters containing a single carbon dioxide molecule are observed using a tunable mid-infrared (4.3 µm) source to probe a pulsed slit jet supersonic expansion. There are relatively few previous detailed experimental results on such clusters. The assigned clusters include CO2-Arn with n = 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 17, and CO2-Krn and CO2-Xen with n = 3, 4, and 5. Each spectrum has (at least) a partially resolved rotational structure, and each yields precise values for the shift of the CO2 vibrational frequency (ν3) induced by the nearby rare gas atoms, together with one or more rotational constants. These results are compared with theoretical predictions. The more readily assigned CO2-Arn species tend to be those with symmetric structures, and CO2-Ar17 represents completion of a highly symmetric (D5h) solvation shell. Those not assigned (e.g., n = 7 and 13) are probably also present in the observed spectra but with band structures that are not well-resolved and, thus, are not recognizable. The spectra of CO2-Ar9, CO2-Ar15, and CO2-Ar17 suggest the presence of sequences involving very low frequency (≈2 cm-1) cluster vibrational modes, an interpretation which should be amenable to theoretical confirmation (or rejection).

Spectra of CO2-Rg2 and CO2-Rg-He trimers (Rg = Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe): Intermolecular CO2 rock, vibrational shifts and three-body effects.

Weakly bound CO2-Rg2 trimers are studied by high-resolution (0.002 cm-1) infrared spectroscopy in the region of the CO2 ν3 fundamental band (≈2350 cm-1), using a tunable optical parametric oscillator to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion with an effective rotational temperature of about 2 K. CO2-Ar2 spectra have been reported previously, but they are extended here to include Rg = Ne, Kr, and Xe as well as new combination and hot bands. For Kr and Xe, a unified scaled parameter scheme is used to account for the many possible isotopic species. Vibrational shifts of CO2-Rg2 trimers are compared to those of CO2-Rg dimers, and in all cases the trimer shifts are slightly more positive (blue-shifted) than expected on the basis of linear extrapolation from the dimer. Combination bands directly measure an intermolecular vibrational mode (the CO2 rock) and give values of about 32.2, 33.8, and 34.7 cm-1 for CO2-Ar2, -Kr2, and -Xe2. Structural parameters derived for CO2-Rg2 trimers are compared with those of CO2-Rg and Rg2 dimers. Spectra of the mixed trimers CO2-Rg-He are also reported.

Observing the Completion of the First Solvation Shell of Carbon Dioxide in Argon from Rotationally Resolved Spectra.

Widespread interest in weakly bound molecular clusters of medium size (5-50 molecules) is motivated by their complicated energy landscapes, which lead to hundreds or thousands of distinct isomers. But most studies are theoretical in nature, and there are no experimental results which provide definitive structural information on completion of the first solvation shell. Here we assign rotationally resolved mid-infrared spectra to argon clusters containing a single carbon dioxide molecule, CO2-Ar15 and CO2-Ar17. These mark the completion of the first solvation shell for CO2 in argon. The assignments are confirmed by nuclear spin intensity alternation in the spectra, a marker of highly symmetric structures for these clusters. Precise values are determined for rotational parameters and for shifts of the CO2 vibrational frequency induced by the argon atoms. The spectra indicate possible low-frequency (∼2 cm-1) vibrational modes in these clusters, posing a challenge for future cluster theory.

Weakly-bound clusters of atmospheric molecules: infrared spectra and structural calculations of (CO2)n-(CO)m-(N2)p, (n,m,p) = (2,1,0), (2,0,1), (1,2,0), (1,0,2), (1,1,1), (1,3,0), (1,0,3), (1,2,1), (1,1,2).

Structural calculations and high-resolution infrared spectra are reported for trimers and tetramers containing CO2 together with CO and/or N2. Among the 9 clusters studied here, only (CO2)2-CO was previously observed by high-resolution spectroscopy. The spectra, which occur in the region of the ν3 fundamental of CO2 (≈2350 cm-1), were recorded using a tunable optical parametric oscillator source to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. The trimers (CO2)2-CO and (CO2)2-N2 have structures in which the CO or N2 is aligned along the symmetry axis of a staggered side-by-side CO2 dimer unit. The observation of two fundamental bands for (CO2)2-CO and (CO2)2-N2 shows that this CO2 dimer unit is non-planar, unlike (CO2)2 itself. For the trimers CO2-(CO)2 and CO2-(N2)2, the CO or N2 monomers occupy equivalent positions in the 'equatorial plane' of the CO2, pointing toward its C atom. To form the tetramers CO2-(CO)3 and CO2-(N2)3, a third CO or N2 monomer is then added off to the 'side' of the first two. In the mixed tetramers CO2-(CO)2-N2 and CO2-CO-(N2)2, this 'side' position is taken by N2 and not CO. In addition to the fundamental bands, combination bands are also observed for (CO2)2-CO, CO2-(CO)2, and CO2-(N2)2, yielding some information about their low-frequency intermolecular vibrations.

Spectroscopic study of the tunneling dynamics in N2-water observed in the O-D stretch region.

The O-D stretch rovibrational spectra of N2-D2O and N2-DOH were measured and analyzed. A combination band involving the in-plane N2 bending vibration was also observed. These bands were recorded using a pulsed-slit supersonic jet expansion and a mid-infrared tunable optical parametric oscillator. The spectra were analyzed by considering the feasible tunneling motions, and transitions were fitted to independent asymmetric rotors for each tunneling state. The rotational constants of the four tunneling components of N2-D2O were retrieved for the excited vibrational states. A two order of magnitude increase in the tunneling splittings is observed for the asymmetric O-D stretch (ν3 in D2O) excitation compared to the symmetric stretch (ν1 in D2O) and to the ground vibrational state. This last finding indicates that the ν3 vibrational state is likely perturbed by a combination state that includes ν1. Finally, the observation of a local perturbation in the ν3 vibrational band, affecting the positions of few rovibrational levels, provides an experimental lower limit of the dissociation energy of the complex, D0 > 120 cm-1.

Exploring the next step in micro-solvation of CO in water: Infrared spectra and structural calculations of (H2O)4-CO and (D2O)4-CO.

We extend studies of micro-solvation of carbon monoxide by a combination of high-resolution IR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Spectra of the (H2O)4-CO and (D2O)4-CO pentamers are observed in the C-O stretch fundamental region (≈2150 cm-1). The H2O containing spectrum is broadened by predissociation, but that of D2O is sharp, enabling detailed analysis that gives a precise band origin and rotational parameters. Ab initio calculations are employed to confirm the assignment to (water)4-CO and to determine the structure in which the geometry of the (water)4 fragment is a cyclic ring very similar to the isolated water tetramer. The CO fragment is located "above" the ring plane, with a partial hydrogen bond between the C atom and one of the "free" protons (deuterons) of the water tetramer. Together with the previous results on D2O-CO, (D2O)2-CO, and (D2O)3-CO, this represents a probe of the four initial steps in the solvation of carbon monoxide at a high resolution.

Symmetry breaking of the bending mode of CO2 in the presence of Ar.

The weak infrared spectrum of CO2-Ar corresponding to the (0111) ← (0110) hot band of CO2 is detected in the region of the carbon dioxide ν3 fundamental vibration (≈2340 cm-1), using a tunable OPO laser source to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. While this method was previously thought to cool clusters to the lowest rotational states of the ground vibrational state, here we show that under suitable jet expansion conditions, sufficient population remains in the first excited bending mode of CO2 (1-2%) to enable observation of vibrationally hot CO2-Ar, and thus to investigate the symmetry breaking of the intramolecular bending mode of CO2 in the presence of Ar. The bending mode of the CO2 monomer splits into an in-plane and an out-of-plane mode, strongly linked by a Coriolis interaction. Analysis of the spectrum yields a direct measurement of the in-plane/out-of-plane splitting measured to be 0.8770 cm-1. Calculations were carried out to determine if key features of our results, i.e., the sign and magnitude of the shift in the energy for the two intramolecular bending modes, are consistent with a quantum chemical potential energy surface. This aspect of intramolecular interactions has received little previous experimental and theoretical consideration. Therefore, we provide an additional avenue by which to study the intramolecular dynamics of this simplest dimer in its bending modes. Similar results should be possible for other weakly-bound complexes.

Spectra of CO2-N2 dimer in the 4.2 µm region: Symmetry breaking of the intramolecular CO2 bend, the intermolecular bend, and higher K-values for the fundamental.

Infrared spectra of the CO2-N2 dimer are observed in the carbon dioxide ν3 asymmetric stretch region (≈2350 cm-1) using a tunable infrared optical parametric oscillator to probe a pulsed slit jet supersonic expansion. Previous results for the b-type fundamental band are extended to higher values of Ka. An a-type combination band involving the lowest in-plane intermolecular bending mode is observed. This yields a value of 21.4 cm-1 and represents the first experimental determination of an intermolecular mode for CO2-N2. This intermolecular frequency is at odds with the value of 45.9 cm-1 obtained from a recent 4D intermolecular potential energy surface. In addition, two weak bands near 2337 cm-1 are assigned to the CO2 hot band transition (v1, v2 l2, v3) = (0111) ← (0110). They yield a value of 2.307 cm-1 for the splitting of the degenerate CO2 ν2 bend into in-plane and out-of-plane components due to the presence of the nearby N2. The in-plane mode lies at a lower energy relative to the out-of-plane mode.

Micro-solvation of CO in water: infrared spectra and structural calculations for (D2O)2-CO and (D2O)3-CO.

The weakly-bound molecular clusters (D2O)2-CO and (D2O)3-CO are observed in the C-O stretch fundamental region (≈2150 cm-1), and their rotationally-resolved infrared spectra yield precise rotational parameters. The corresponding H2O clusters are also observed, but their bands are broadened by predissociation, preventing detailed analysis. The rotational parameters are insufficient in themselves to determine cluster structures, so ab initio calculations are employed, and good agreement between the experiment and theory is found for the most stable cluster isomers, yielding the basic cluster geometries as well as confirming the assignments to (D2O)2-CO and (D2O)3-CO. The trimer, (D2O)2-CO, has a near-planar geometry with one D atom from each D2O slightly out of the plane. The tetramer, (D2O)3-CO, has the water molecules arranged in a cyclic quasi-planar ring similar to the water trimer, with the carbon monoxide located 'above' the ring and roughly parallel to its plane. The tunneling effects observed in the free water dimer and trimer are quenched by the presence of CO. The previously observed water-CO dimer together with the trimer and tetramer reported here represent the first three steps in the solvation of carbon monoxide.

The effect of cycling using active-passive trainers on spasticity, cardiovascular fitness, function and quality of life in people with moderate to severe Multiple Sclerosis (MS); a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Exercise options for those with moderate to high levels of disability are limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of a progressive, four week lower limb cycling programme using active-passive trainers (APT's) on spasticity, cardiovascular fitness, function and quality of life in people with moderate to severe MS. METHODS: Participants were in-patients in the Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK and randomised to APT + usual care or usual care only. The APT group received 30 min of APT (2 min passive warm up, 26 min active cycling, 2 min passive cool down), five days per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures; Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope, Modified Ashworth Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Timed 25 foot walk test and the MSQOL-54, were taken before and after the intervention period. Symmetry, distance cycled and active participation were also recorded for each cycling session. RESULTS: 24 participants were recruited, 15 to the intervention and 9 to the control group. There was a 100% adherence to the intervention and a significant increase in average speed, power output and distance cycled (p < 0.001 for each) over the four weeks. There were no adverse events and both groups improved in average scores for all outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: APT cycling was well tolerated, while the cycling parameters improved it was difficult to separate the effects of the therapy programme and APT cycling. A longer duration, fully powered trial in a community setting is merited.

The water-carbon monoxide dimer: new infrared spectra, ab initio rovibrational energy level calculations, and an interesting in-termolecular mode.

Bound state rovibrational energy level calculations using a high-level intermolecular potential surface are reported for H2O-CO and D2O-CO. They predict the ground K = 1 levels to lie about 20 (12) cm-1 above K = 0 for H2O-CO (D2O-CO) in good agreement with past experiments. But the first excited K = 1 levels are predicted to lie about 3 cm-1 below their K = 0 counterparts in both cases. Line strength calculations also indicate that mid-infrared transitions from the K = 0 ground state to this seemingly anomalous excited K = 1 state should be observable. These predictions are strikingly verified by new spectroscopic measurements covering the C-O stretch region around 2200 cm-1 for H2O-CO, D2O-CO, and HOD-CO, and the O-D stretch region around 2700 cm-1 for D2O-CO, HOD-CO, and DOH-CO. The experiments probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion using tunable infrared quantum cascade laser or optical parametric oscillator sources. Discrete perturbations in the O-D stretch region give an experimental lower limit to the binding energy D0 of about 340 cm-1 for D2O-CO, as compared to our calculated value of 368 cm-1. Wavefunction plots are presented to help understand the intermolecular dynamics of H2O-CO. Coriolis interactions are invoked to explain the seemingly anomalous energies of the first excited K = 1 levels.

Spectra of the D2O dimer in the O-D fundamental stretch region: Vibrational dependence of tunneling splittings and lifetimes.

The fundamental O-D stretch region (2600-2800 cm-1) of the fully deuterated water dimer (D2O)2 is studied using a pulsed supersonic slit jet source and a tunable optical parametric oscillator source. Relatively high spectral resolution (0.002 cm-1) enables all six dimer tunneling components to be observed, in most cases, for the acceptor asymmetric O-D stretch, the donor free O-D stretch, and the donor bound O-D stretch vibrations. The dominant acceptor switching tunneling splittings are observed to decrease moderately in the excited O-D stretch states, to roughly 75% of their ground state values, whereas the smaller donor-acceptor interchange splittings show more dramatic and irregular decreases. Excited state predissociation lifetimes, as determined from the observed line broadening, show large variations (0.2 ≤ τ ≤ 5 ns) depending on the vibrational state, K-value, and tunneling symmetry. Another very weak band is tentatively assigned to a combination mode involving an intramolecular O-D stretch plus an intermolecular twist overtone. Asymmetric O-D stretch bands of the mixed isotopologue dimers D2O-DOH and D2O-HOD are also observed and analyzed.

Infrared bands of CS2 dimer and trimer at 4.5 µm.

We report observation of new infrared bands of (CS2)2 and (CS2)3 in the region of the CS2 ν1 + ν3 combination band (at 4.5 µm) using a quantum cascade laser. The complexes are formed in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion of a gas mixture of carbon disulfide in helium. We have previously shown that the most stable isomer of (CS2)2 is a cross-shaped structure with D2d symmetry and that for (CS2)3 is a barrel-shaped structure with D3 symmetry. The dimer has one doubly degenerate infrared-active band in the ν1 + ν3 region of the CS2 monomer. This band is observed to have a rather small vibrational shift of -0.844 cm-1. We expect one parallel and one perpendicular infrared-active band for the trimer but observe two parallel bands and one perpendicular band. Much larger vibrational shifts of -8.953 cm-1 for the perpendicular band and -8.845 cm-1 and +16.681 cm-1 for the parallel bands are observed. Vibrational shifts and possible vibrational assignments, in the case of the parallel bands of the trimer, are discussed using group theoretical arguments.

Reduction of leucocyte cell surface disulfide bonds during immune activation is dynamic as revealed by a quantitative proteomics workflow (SH-IQ).

Communication through cell surface receptors is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis, coordinating the immune response and pathogen clearance. This is dependent on the interaction of cell surface receptors with their ligands and requires functionally active conformational states. Thus, immune cell function can be controlled by modulating the structure of either the receptor or the ligand. Reductive cleavage of labile disulfide bonds can mediate such an allosteric change, resulting in modulation of the immune system by a hitherto little studied mechanism. Identifying proteins with labile disulfide bonds and determining the extent of reduction is crucial in elucidating the functional result of reduction. We describe a mass spectrometry-based method-thiol identification and quantitation (SH-IQ)-to identify, quantify and monitor such reduction of labile disulfide bonds in primary cells during immune activation. These results provide the first insight into the extent and dynamics of labile disulfide bond reduction in leucocyte cell surface proteins upon immune activation. We show that this process is thiol oxidoreductase-dependent and mainly affects activatory (e.g. CD132, SLAMF1) and adhesion (CD44, ICAM1) molecules, suggesting a mechanism to prevent over-activation of the immune system and excessive accumulation of leucocytes at sites of inflammation.