Observation of bound solitons generated by a figure-9 fiber laser in the 1 µm band.

The paper describes the observation of diverse bound-state patterns, including tightly bound states, loosely bound states, and composite bound states, in a figure-9 fiber laser. By performing dispersion management and using polarization-maintaining fibers with high gain coefficient, stable dispersion-managed solitons and bound solitons can be simultaneously generated. This work advances our understanding of complex soliton dynamics and presents a novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach for future applications of bound states. Additionally, the research involves integrated packaging, effectively enhancing overall work stability.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Active Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticle-Persistent Luminescence Material Composite Films for Multiple Illegal Dye Detection.

Uniform two-dimensional plasmonic nanoparticle (NP)-semiconductor composite films could retard the attenuation of electromagnetic evanescent wave and show intensive Raman activity for the multiplex monitoring of hazards in a practical food matrix. Here, an efficient Raman platform is developed by employing a plasmonic nanoparticle (NP)-persistent luminescence material (PLM) composite film. PLM show upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) properties. The emitted photons are absorbed by plasmonic NPs, which further boost the surface plasmon resonance for the generation of high polarizability and induce strong electromagnetic strength for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement. A UCPL-assisted SERS-enhanced mechanism is proposed and verified. A plasmonic NP-PLM film with superior SERS activity and detection capability becomes an alternative candidate for the sensitive and multiple detection of illegal addition of dyes in a food matrix. The proposed UCPL-assisted SERS-enhanced mechanism provides promising future directions to this end to design a next-generation SERS-active plasmonic NP-PLM composite film for the specific detection in complex samples.

1,1'-(Ethane-1,2-di-yl)dipyridinium bis-(1,2-di-cyano-ethene-1,2-di-thiol-ato-κ(2) S,S')cuprate(II).

In the title ion-pair complex, (C12H14N2)[Cu(C4N2S2)2], the complex anion exhibits a highly twisted coordination environment around the tetra-coordinated Cu(II) atom. The dihedral angles between the 1,2-di-cyano-ethene-1,2-di-thiol-ato ligands and between the two pyridine rings in the cation are 37.49 (3) and 29.18 (10)°, respectively. Weak C-H⋯N and C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into a three-dimensional network.

Inhibitory Mechanisms of trans-2-Hexenal on the Growth of Geotrichum citri-aurantii.

Geotrichum citri-aurantii (G. citri-aurantii) is one of the most important postharvest pathogens leading to a postharvest loss of citrus by causing sour rot. In this study, the antifungal activity of trans-2-hexenal, a natural component of essential oil, against G. citri-aurantii was evaluated. Trans-2-hexenal treatment inhibited the mycelia growth of G. citri-aurantii with a minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of trans-2-hexenal at 0.50 and 1.00 µL/mL, respectively. Moreover, trans-2-hexenal efficiently reduced the incidence of sour rot of Satsuma fruit inoculated with G. citri-aurantii. Ultrastructural observations and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results showed that trans-2-hexenal treatment affected the cell wall and cell membrane instructions of G. citri-aurantii. The content of ß-1,3-glucan was significantly decreased after trans-2-hexenal treatment, but the cell wall permeability was not changed. The decrease in lipid and ergosterol contents might be responsible for this antifungal activity. Several important genes, FKS1, ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11, showed decreasing expression levels after trans-2-hexenal treatment. Molecule-docking results also indicated that trans-2-hexenal could join with the protein of FKS1, ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11 to impact enzyme activities. These results demonstrated that trans-2-hexenal is a promising fungicide for controlling sour rot of harvested citrus fruit by damaging the membrane integrity of G. citri-aurantii.

catena-Poly[[tetra-aqua-nickel(II)]-µ-(9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carboxyl-ato)-κ(2)O(1):O(8)-[tetra-aqua-nickel(II)]-µ-4,4'-bipyridine-κ(2)N:N'].

In the crystal of the title polymeric complex, [Ni(2)(C(18)H(4)O(10))(C(10)H(8)N(2))(H(2)O)(8)](n), each Ni(II) cation is coord-in-ated by four water mol-ecules in the equatorial plane, and is further bridged by an 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carb-oxy-l-ate anion and a 4,4'-bipyridine ligand in the axial directions, forming a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carboxyl-ate anion is centrosymmetric with the centroid of the quinone ring located about an inversion center; the 4,4'-bipyridine ligand is also centrosymmetric with the mid-point of the C-C bond linking two pyridine rings located about another invertion center. The 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carboxyl-ate anion and bypiridine ligand bridge the Ni(II) cations, forming a polymeric chain along the b axis. π-π stacking is observed between pyridine and benzene rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.705 (2) Å]. All of the coordinating water mol-ecules are involved in O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding.

Poly[[aqua-(µ(2)-4,4'-bipyridine-κ(2)N:N')[µ(3)-3-bromo-2-(carboxyl-atometh-yl)-benzoato-κ(3)O(1):O(1'):O(2)]cadmium] monohydrate].

In the title compound, {[Cd(C(9)H(5)BrO(4))(C(10)H(8)N(2))(H(2)O)]·H(2)O}(n), the Cd(II) atom has a distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry. Two N atoms from two 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy) ligands occupy the axial positions, while the equatorial positions are furnished by three carboxyl-ate O atoms from three 3-bromo-2-(carboxyl-atometh-yl)benzoate (bcb) ligands and one O atom from a water mol-ecule. The bipy and bcb ligands link the Cd(II) atoms into a three-dimensional network. O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π inter-actions between the pyridine and benzene rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.736 (4) Å] are present in the crystal.

Citronellal Exerts Its Antifungal Activity by Targeting Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Penicillium digitatum.

Ergosterol (ERG) is a potential target for the development of antifungal agents against Penicillium digitatum, the pathogen of green mold in citrus fruits. This study examined the mechanism by which citronellal, a typical terpenoid of Cymbopogon nardus essential oil, acts on ergosterol to exhibit its antifungal activity against P. digitatum. We previously reported that citronellal inhibited the growth of P. digitatum with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 1.36 and 2.72 mg/mL, respectively. In citronellal-treated cells, the membrane integrity and ergosterol contents significantly decreased, whereas lanosterol, which serves as a precursor for ergosterol biosynthesis, massively accumulated. Addition of 150 mg/L of exogenous ergosterol decreased the inhibitory rate of citronellal, restoring the ergosterol content and hence the membrane structure to normal levels, and triggered expression of nearly all ERG genes. Based on our findings, we deduce that citronellal damages the cell membrane integrity of P. digitatum by down-regulating the ERG genes responsible for conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol, the key downregulated gene being ERG3, due to the observed accumulation of ergosta-7,22-dienol.

Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on cobalt(II) complex of maleonitriledithiolate and 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline.

The molecular structure, electronic and infrared spectroscopic properties for the title complex Co(mnt)(5-NO2-phen) (mnt2-=maleonitriledithiolate, 5-NO2-phen=5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline) were studied in this paper. With semi-empirical PM3 and non-empirical density functional theory (DFT) methods, the gaseous molecular geometry of the complex was optimized and corresponding vibrational spectra was obtained. The calculated results of structure and frequency from DFT were more reasonable than those from PM3, and the two methods were both agreed with the experimental values. A complete assignment to the IR spectra of such a complicated molecule has been exhibited. An electronic spectra was calculated by ZINDOS/S method. The results showed that the calculated values agreed with the observed ones.

Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on cobalt (II) complex of maleonitriledithiolate and 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline.

The molecular structure, electronic and infrared spectroscopic properties of the title complex Co(mnt)(5-NO(2)-phen) (mnt(2-) = maleonitriledithiolate, 5-NO(2)-phen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline) were studied in this paper. With non-empirical density functional theory (DFT) methods, the gaseous molecular geometry of the complex was optimized and corresponding vibrational spectra was obtained. A complete assignment to the IR spectra of such a complicated molecule has been exhibited. And the established scientific method could give a complete and accurate analysis about the vibrational spectra of this complex. An electronic spectra was calculated by ZINDOS/S method. The results showed that the calculated values agreed with the observed ones.