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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Continuum Electrostatics Analysis Of The Kok Cycle Of Photosystem Ii, Witold Szejgis Sep 2017

Continuum Electrostatics Analysis Of The Kok Cycle Of Photosystem Ii, Witold Szejgis

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Kok cycle is catalytic process by which the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) oxidizes two water molecules forming oxygen. Four OEC oxidation states (S0 to S3) in the Kok cycle precede the final product formation in the S4 state. Here a semi-empirical classical electrostatics analysis is applied to S0 to S3 states of the OEC is used to estimate the electrochemical midpoints for each S-state transition and the proton loss coupled to oxidation. To account for geometrical rearrangement within the cluster during Kok cycle optimized QM/MM geometries are used for each …


Second Harmonic Generation – A Novel Approach In Retinal Imaging, Denis Y. Sharoukhov Feb 2017

Second Harmonic Generation – A Novel Approach In Retinal Imaging, Denis Y. Sharoukhov

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Here we present the utilization of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for label-free imaging of microtubules (MTs) in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). MTs are an important part of axonal cytoskeleton, providing structural support and serving as a railroad in intracellular transport. We demonstrate the application of SHG microscopy to the following studies: 1) Can changes in MT conformation be detected when treated with a stabilizing drug (Taxol); 2) if disruption in MT precedes loss of axons in a mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J); and 3) if elevated levels of intraocular pressure affect MT integrity. Our results validate SHG imaging …