Core-shell excitation of isoxazole at the C, N, and O K-edges - an experimental NEXAFS and theoretical TD-DFT study.

The near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of the gas-phase isoxazole molecule have been measured by collecting total ion yields at the C, N, and O K-edges. The spectral structures have been interpreted using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with the short-range corrected SRC2-BLYP exchange-correlation functional. Experimental and calculated energies of core excitations are generally in good agreement, and the nature of observed core-excitation transitions has been elucidated. The experimental C 1s, N 1s, and O 1s core electron binding energies (CEBEs) have additionally been estimated from another yield measurement where the neutral fragments in high-Rydberg (HR) states were ionized by the electric field. For comparison, theoretical CEBEs have been calculated at the ΔM06-2X//mixed basis set level. We have also calculated the vibrationally resolved spectra pertaining to the lowest C 1s and N 1s core-excited roots in the Franck-Condon-Herzberg-Teller (FCHT) approximation. These spectra correlate well with the observed spectral features and have proven useful in resolving certain ambiguities in the assignment of the low-lying C 1s NEXAFS bands.

Valence shell photoelectron angular distributions and vibrationally resolved spectra of imidazole: A combined experimental-theoretical study.

Linearly polarized synchrotron radiation has been used to record polarization dependent valence shell photoelectron spectra of imidazole in the photon energy range 21-100 eV. These have allowed the photoelectron angular distributions, as characterized by the anisotropy parameter ß, and the electronic state intensity branching ratios to be determined. Complementing these experimental data, theoretical photoionization partial cross sections and ß-parameters have been calculated for the outer valence shell orbitals. The assignment of the structure appearing in the experimental photoelectron spectra has been guided by vertical ionization energies and spectral intensities calculated by various theoretical methods that incorporate electron correlation and orbital relaxation. Strong orbital relaxation effects have been found for the 15a', nitrogen lone-pair orbital. The calculations also predict that configuration mixing leads to the formation of several low-lying satellite states. The vibrational structure associated with ionization out of a particular orbital has been simulated within the Franck-Condon model using harmonic vibrational modes. The adiabatic approximation appears to be valid for the X 2A″ state, with the ß-parameter for this state being independent of the level of vibrational excitation. However, for all the other outer valence ionic states, a disparity occurs between the observed and the simulated vibrational structure, and the measured ß-parameters are at variance with the behavior expected at the level of the Franck-Condon approximation. These inconsistencies suggest that the excited electronic states may be interacting vibronically such that the nuclear dynamics occur over coupled potential energy surfaces.

Acetylacetone photodynamics at a seeded free-electron laser.

The first steps in photochemical processes, such as photosynthesis or animal vision, involve changes in electronic and geometric structure on extremely short time scales. Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy is a natural way to measure such changes, but has been hindered hitherto by limitations of available pulsed light sources in the vacuum-ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral region, which have insufficient resolution in time and energy simultaneously. The unique combination of intensity, energy resolution, and femtosecond pulse duration of the FERMI-seeded free-electron laser can now provide exceptionally detailed information on photoexcitation-deexcitation and fragmentation in pump-probe experiments on the 50-femtosecond time scale. For the prototypical system acetylacetone we report here electron spectra measured as a function of time delay with enough spectral and time resolution to follow several photoexcited species through well-characterized individual steps, interpreted using state-of-the-art static and dynamics calculations. These results open the way for investigations of photochemical processes in unprecedented detail.

Field ionization of high-Rydberg fragments produced after inner-shell photoexcitation and photoionization of the methane molecule.

We have studied the production of neutral high-Rydberg (HR) fragments from the CH4 molecule at the C 1s → 3p excitation and at the C 1s ionization threshold. Neutral fragments in HR states were ionized using a pulsed electric field and the resulting ions were mass-analyzed using an ion time-of-flight spectrometer. The atomic fragments C(HR) and H(HR) dominated the spectra, but molecular fragments CH(x)(HR), x = 1-3, and H2(HR) were also observed. The production of HR fragments is attributed to dissociation of CH4(+) and CH4(2+) ions in HR states. Just above the C 1s ionization threshold, such molecular ionic states are created when the C 1s photoelectron is recaptured after single or double Auger decay. Similar HR states may be reached directly following resonant Auger decay at the C 1s → 3p resonance. The energies and geometries of the parent and fragment ions have been calculated in order to gain insight into relevant dissociation pathways.

Spectrometer for X-ray emission experiments at FERMI free-electron-laser.

A portable and compact photon spectrometer to be used for photon in-photon out experiments, in particular x-ray emission spectroscopy, is presented. The instrument operates in the 25-800 eV energy range to cover the full emissions of the FEL1 and FEL2 stages of FERMI. The optical design consists of two interchangeable spherical varied-lined-spaced gratings and a CCD detector. Different input sections can be accommodated, with/without an entrance slit and with/without an additional relay mirror, that allow to mount the spectrometer in different end-stations and at variable distances from the target area both at synchrotron and at free-electron-laser beamlines. The characterization on the Gas Phase beamline at ELETTRA Synchrotron (Italy) is presented.

CITIUS: an infrared-extreme ultraviolet light source for fundamental and applied ultrafast science.

We present the main features of CITIUS, a new light source for ultrafast science, generating tunable, intense, femtosecond pulses in the spectral range from infrared to extreme ultraviolet (XUV). The XUV pulses (about 10(5)-10(8) photons/pulse in the range 14-80 eV) are produced by laser-induced high-order harmonic generation in gas. This radiation is monochromatized by a time-preserving monochromator, also allowing one to work with high-resolution bandwidth selection. The tunable IR-UV pulses (10(12)-10(15) photons/pulse in the range 0.4-5.6 eV) are generated by an optical parametric amplifier, which is driven by a fraction of the same laser pulse that generates high order harmonics. The IR-UV and XUV pulses follow different optical paths and are eventually recombined on the sample for pump-probe experiments. We also present the results of two pump-probe experiments: with the first one, we fully characterized the temporal duration of harmonic pulses in the time-preserving configuration; with the second one, we demonstrated the possibility of using CITIUS for selective investigation of the ultra-fast dynamics of different elements in a magnetic compound.

Effects of milk casein derived tripeptides on endothelial enzymes in vitro; a study with synthetic tripeptides.

In the fermentation of milk by certain lactic acid bacteria, casein is degraded into bioactive tripeptides shown to lower blood pressure in experimental animal models and in mildly hypertensive humans. This effect is suggested to result mainly in inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE-1).Due to the complexity of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), several other enzymes than ACE-1 can participate in the production of vasoactive components. Therefore, in the present study we investigated effects of tripeptides isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP), valine-proline-proline (VPP) and leucine-proline-proline (LPP) on some endothelial enzymes that are important in RAS or otherwise have a role in the endothelial function. The enzymes investigated were renin, chymase, neutral endopeptidase (NEP), prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), cathepsin G, endothelin converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1), and cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX -1 and COX-2).The tripeptides inhibited prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) dose-dependently. IPP was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 486±95 µM). Contrary, cathepsin G was activated by IPP, VPP and LPP as well as the amino acids proline and isoleucine. The other investigated enzymes were not affected. Inhibition of POP and activation of cathepsin G do not explain the blood pressure lowering effects of the tripeptides. Thus the inhibition of ACE-1 remains the most plausible mechanism of the antihypertensive effects of the tripeptides.

Photoabsorption and S 2p photoionization of the SF6 molecule: resonances in the excitation energy range of 200-280 eV.

Photoabsorption and S 2p photoionization of the SF(6) molecule have been studied experimentally and theoretically in the excitation energy range up to 100 eV above the S 2p ionization potentials. In addition to the well-known 2t(2g) and 4e(g) shape resonances, the spin-orbit-resolved S 2p photoionization cross sections display two weak resonances between 200 and 210 eV, a wide resonance around 217 eV, a Fano-type resonance around 240 eV, and a second wide resonance around 260 eV. Calculations based on time-dependent density functional theory allow us to assign the 217-eV and 260-eV features to the shape resonances in S 2p photoionization. The Fano resonance is caused by the interference between the direct S 2p photoionization channel and the resonant channel that results from the participator decay of the S 2s(-1)6t(1u) excited state. The weak resonances below 210-eV photon energy, not predicted by theory, are tentatively suggested to originate from the coupling between S 2p shake-up photoionization and S 2p single-hole photoionization. The experimental and calculated angular anisotropy parameters for S 2p photoionization are in good agreement.

Radiationless decay in the region of the 2t2g and 4eg resonances in SF6.

The S 2p Auger spectrum of SF(6) has been studied in the region of the 2t(2g) and 4e(g) resonances. The partial Auger spectra due to the ionization of the 2p spin-orbit components and of a shake-up satellite state have been measured selectively by tuning the photon energy and using the Auger electron-photoelectron coincidence technique. A detailed analysis of the Auger spectrum has also been performed using the Green's function-based second-order algebraic diagrammatic construction method.

The C 1s and N 1s near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectra of five azabenzenes in the gas phase.

Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectra have been measured and interpreted by means of density functional theory for five different azabenzenes (pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, and s-triazine) in the gas phase. The experimental and theoretical spectra at the N 1s and C 1s edges show a strong resonance assigned to the transition of the 1s electron in the respective N or C atoms to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital with pi(*) symmetry. As opposed to the N 1s edge, at the C 1s edge this resonance is split due to the different environments of the core hole atom in the molecule. The shift in atomic core-level energy due to a specific chemical environment is explained with the higher electronegativity of the N atom compared to the C atom. The remaining resonances below the ionization potential (IP) are assigned to sigma or pi [corrected] orbitals with mixed valence/Rydberg [corrected] character. Upon N addition, a reduction of intensity is observed in the Rydberg region at both edges as compared to the intensity in the continuum. Above the IP one or more resonances are seen and ascribed here to transitions to sigma(*) orbitals. Calculating the experimental and theoretical Delta(pi) term values at both edges, we observe that they are almost the same within +/-1 eV as expected for isoelectronic bonded pairs. The term values of the pi(*) and sigma(*) resonances are discussed in terms of the total Z number of the atoms participating in the bond.

Localized versus delocalized excitations just above the 3d threshold in krypton clusters studied by Auger electron spectroscopy.

We present Auger spectroscopy studies of large krypton clusters excited by soft x-ray photons with energies on and just above the 3d(52) ionization threshold. The deexcitation spectra contain new features as compared to the spectra measured both below and far above threshold. Possible origins of these extra features, which stay at constant kinetic energies, are discussed: (1) normal Auger process with a postcollision interaction induced energy shift, (2) recapture of photoelectrons into high Rydberg orbitals after Auger decay, and (3) excitation into the conduction band (or "internal" ionization) followed by Auger decay. The first two schemes are ruled out, hence internal ionization remains the most probable explanation.

Fluorescence emission from photo-fragments after resonant S 2p excitations in H2S.

Visible-UV fluorescence emission of gas-phase hydrogen sulfide, H(2)S, has been studied at the S 2p edge with synchrotron radiation excitation. Dispersed fluorescence measurements in the wavelength range 300-900 nm were taken at several photon energies corresponding to the excitations of the S 2p electrons to the unoccupied molecular and Rydberg orbitals. The spectra reveal fluorescence from the H, S, S(+), HS and HS(+) photo-fragments. H is found to be the strongest emitter at Rydberg excitations, while the emission from S(+) is dominant at the molecular resonances and above the S 2p ionization thresholds. The intensities of hydrogen Lyman-alpha (122 nm), Balmer-alpha (656 nm), Balmer-beta (486 nm) transitions as well as the visible-UV total fluorescence yield (300-900 nm) and the total ion yield were measured by scanning the photon energy in small steps across the S 2p edge. The different Balmer lines show some sensitivity to the specific core excitations, which is, however, not so strong as that recently observed in the water molecule [E. Melero García, A. Kivimäki, L. G. M. Pettersson, J. Alvarez Ruiz, M. Coreno, M. de Simone, R. Richter and K. C. Prince, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2006, 96, 063003].

Fluorescence emission of excited hydrogen atoms after core excitation of water vapor.

The Balmer emission from atomic hydrogen has been recorded across the resonances at the oxygen K edge of the water molecule using synchrotron radiation excitation. The emission is observed to be strongest at excitations to Rydberg resonances. The observations are interpreted using a qualitative model for the dynamics of the core-to-Rydberg excited molecule. The model links the quantum state of the core-excited water molecule via resonant Auger decay and subsequent dissociation to the state of the fluorescing hydrogen atom.

Detection of the 1pe series of doubly excited helium states below N=2 via the stark effect.

The Stark effect on the doubly excited states of helium below the N=2 threshold has been studied by vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence yield spectroscopy. Two new series of states are observed at moderate fields (<10 kV/cm), and assigned to the previously unobserved even 1pe series, and a group of 1De series. The 1Se states are observed indirectly via their mixing with nearby 1 po states. The observations at moderate field contradict theoretical predictions that field strengths about an order of magnitude greater are necessary to observe the Stark effect on He doubly excited states at low quantum numbers.

Secretion of heterologous proteins in Bacillus subtilis can be improved by engineering cell components affecting post-translocational protein folding and degradation.

AIMS: To explore the potential to enhance secretion of heterologous proteins in Bacillus subtilis by engineering cell factors affecting extracytoplasmic protein folding and degradation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bottleneck components affecting the extracytoplasmic phase of protein secretion were genetically engineered and their effects on the secretion of 11 industrially interesting heterologous proteins were studied by Western blotting and enzymatic assays. Overproduction of PrsA lipoprotein enhanced the secretion of alpha-amylase of Bacillus stearothermophilus (fourfold) and pneumolysin (1.5-fold). Increasing the net negative charge of the cell wall because of lack of the d-alanine substitution of anionic cell wall polymers enhanced the secretion of pneumolysin c. 1.5-fold. Decreasing the level of HtrA-type quality control proteases caused harmful effects on growth and did not enhance secretion. Pertussis toxin subunit, S1 was found to be a substrate for HtrA-type proteases and its secretion was dependent on these proteases. CONCLUSIONS: Secretion of heterologous proteins can be enhanced by engineering components involved in late stages of secretion in a protein-dependent manner. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study revealed both possibilities and limitations of modulating the post-translocational phase of secretion as a means to improve the yield of heterologous proteins.

O 1s --> sigma* resonance in O2: inadequacy of only two exchange-split components.

The O 1s-->sigma* transition below the O K-edge in O2 has been investigated by absorption, constant ionic state (CIS) experiments, and extensive configuration interaction calculations. CIS scans of the three lowest-lying final states reached in resonant Auger decay provide a wealth of information on energy range, symmetry, and spin multiplicity of the intermediate states with sigma* character. We conclude that the identification of only two exchange-split components is inadequate because a complex manifold of states with sigma* character exists with no unique energy difference between related states.

Occurrence of microcystins in raw water sources and treated drinking water of Finnish waterworks.

Problems caused by cyanobacteria are common around the world and also in raw water sources of drinking water treatment plants. Strains belonging to genera Microcystis, Anabaena and Planktothrix produce potent hepatotoxins, the microcystins. Laboratory and pilot scale studies have shown that microcystins dissolved in water may pass the conventional surface water treatment processes. In 1998 the World Health Organization proposed a guide value of 1 microgram/L for microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in drinking water. The purpose of this research was to study the occurrence of microcystins in raw water sources of surface waterworks and in bank filtration plants and to evaluate the removal of microcystins in operating waterworks. Four bank filtration plants and nine surface waterworks using different processes for water treatment were monitored. Phytoplankton was identified and quantified, and microcystins analysed with sensitive immunoassay. Microcystin occurrence in selected water samples was verified with HPLC and a protein phosphatase inhibition method. Microcystins were detected sporadically in raw water sources of most of the waterworks. In two raw water supplies toxins were detected for several months. The highest microcystin concentrations in incoming raw water were approximately 10 micrograms/L MC-LR equivalents. In treated drinking water microcystins were detected occasionally but the concentrations were always below the guide value proposed by WHO.