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The photochemistry of DNA systems is characterized by the ultraviolet (UV) absorption of pi-stacked nucleobases, resulting in exciton states delocalized over several bases. As their relaxation sensitively depends on local stacking conformations, disentangling the ensuing electronic and structural dynamics has remained an experimental challenge, despite their fundamental role in protecting the genome from potentially harmful UV radiation. Here we use transient absorption and transient absorption anisotropy spectroscopy with broadband femtosecond deep-UV pulses (250-360 nm) to resolve the exciton dynamics of UV-excited adenosine single strands under physiological conditions. Due to the exceptional deep-UV bandwidth and polarization sensitivity of our experimental approach, we simultaneously resolve the population dynamics, charge-transfer (CT) character and conformational changes encoded in the UV transition dipoles of the pi-stacked nucleotides. Whilst UV excitation forms fully charge-separated CT excitons in less than 0.3 ps, we find that most decay back to the ground state via a back-electron transfer. Based on the anisotropy measurements, we propose that this mechanism is accompanied by a structural relaxation of the photoexcited base-stack, involving an inter-base rotation of the nucleotides. Our results finally complete the exciton relaxation mechanism for adenosine single strands and offer a direct view into the coupling of electronic and structural dynamics in aggregated photochemical systems.

We present ultrafast spectroscopic investigations of the coherent acoustic vibrations of Au/SiO2 and Au/TiO2 core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) upon excitation of the Au surface plasmon resonance. The oscillations are detected in the region of the interband transitions of Au in the deep-ultraviolet, where they appear in the form of intensity modulations with no changes in the spectra. For the Au/SiO2 NPs, the oscillation period (typically ∼10 ps) is similar to that of bare Au NPs having a size identical to that of the core, implying a negligible coupling of the core with the shell. For Au/TiO2 NPs, significantly slower (∼20 ps) oscillations appear, whose period is identical to that of a bare gold NP having the same total diameter, implying that the Au/TiO2 NPs can be treated as a single object. This may due to the strong chemical interaction at the gold/TiO2 interface. Finally, the amplitude modulations are a consequence of the modifications of the band structure of the Au NP, resulting from the strain due to the phonons, which may affect the joint density of states.

The photochemistry of DNA systems is characterized by the ultraviolet (UV) absorption of π-stacked nucleobases, resulting in exciton states delocalized over several bases. As their relaxation sensitively depends on local stacking conformations, disentangling the ensuing electronic and structural dynamics has remained an experimental challenge, despite their fundamental role in protecting the genome from potentially harmful UV radiation. Here we use transient absorption and transient absorption anisotropy spectroscopy with broadband femtosecond deep-UV pulses (250-360 nm) to resolve the exciton dynamics of UV-excited adenosine single strands under physiological conditions. Due to the exceptional deep-UV bandwidth and polarization sensitivity of our experimental approach, we simultaneously resolve the population dynamics, charge-transfer (CT) character and conformational changes encoded in the UV transition dipoles of the π-stacked nucleotides. Whilst UV excitation forms fully charge-separated CT excitons in less than 0.3 ps, we find that most decay back to the ground state via a solvent-assisted back-electron transfer. This deactivation mechanism is accompanied by a structural relaxation of the photoexcited base-stack, which we identify as an inter-base rotation of the nucleotides. Our results finally complete the exciton relaxation mechanism for adenosine single strands and offer a direct view into the coupling of electronic and structural dynamics in aggregated photochemical systems.

The far-UV spectral window widely used for the conformational analysis of biomolecules is not easily covered with broad-band lasers. This has made it difficult to use circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to directly follow fast structure changes. By combining transient CD spectroscopy in the deep-UV with thioamide substitution, we demonstrate a method to overcome this difficulty. We investigated a dipeptide whose two carbonyl oxygen atoms were replaced by sulfur, red-shifting the strong lowest-lying pi pi* transitions into the more accessible 250-370 nm spectral window. Coupling of the two thioamide units cannot be resolved by achiral 2D-UV spectroscopy, but it gives rise to a pronounced bisignate CD spectrum. The transient CD spectra reveal weakening of this coupling in the electronically excited state, where conformational constraints are released. Our results show that direct local probing of fast backbone conformational change via CD spectroscopy is possible in combination with site-selective thio substitution in peptides and proteins.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii; Coxiella-infected ruminants are the main reservoir shedding the pathogen during abortion or parturition through birth products. Germany has a long history of small-scale Q fever epidemics in the human population mostly associated with lambing sheep. Therefore, fast and efficient control measures are essentially required to prevent transmission from infected sheep flocks to humans. In our present study, three sheep flocks were vaccinated with an inactivated C. burnetii phase I vaccine after a field infection with C. burnetii was diagnosed. Serum samples and vaginal swabs were collected at different time points to evaluate the extent of the outbreak and the consequences of the vaccination. The serum samples were examined by phase-specific IgG phase I and phase II ELISAs and a commercial ELISA, simultaneously detecting both phase variations. Moreover, vaginal swabs were analysed by qPCR. The fourth flock with no Q fever history and non-vaccinated animals were used as a control group to evaluate the phase-specific ELISAs. The inactivated C. burnetii phase I vaccine induced an IgG phase II response and boosted the humoral immune reaction against natural pre-infections. Furthermore, the longevity of vaccine-induced antibodies seems to depend on previous infections. Around 16 months after primary vaccination, mainly IgG phase I antibodies were detectable. Vaccination did not prevent shedding at the next lambing season. Most interestingly, the phase-specific ELISAs revealed more C. burnetii positive animals than the blended ELISA-Assay. Taken together, phase-specific ELISAs are suitable tools to provide insights into natural- or vaccine-induced humoral immune responses to C. burnetii in sheep.

This paper deals with the decomposition of a domain into star-shaped blocks, which is motivated by the idea of solving PDEs by means of the scaled boundary isogeometric analysis (SB-IGA). In the first part of the paper an introduction to the SB-IGA is given and we show the necessity for the domain to be star-shaped. Of course not every domain has this property, and for this reason the main focus of the paper is the generation of star-shaped blocks. The approaches that we take into account are the quadtree decomposition and the art gallery decomposition. We highlight the steps of those algorithms and we provide a computable sufficient criterion for the identification of the star-shapedness of a block. Moreover, for the art gallery decomposition an extension of Fisk’s method and the Voronoi diagram are employed. Finally we solve the Poisson equation on different geometries, among them the Yeti footprint domain, and compare the approaches.

The main reservoir of Coxiella (C.) burnetii are ruminants. They shed the pathogen through birth products, vaginal mucus, faeces and milk. A direct comparison of C. burnetii excretions between naturally infected sheep and goats was performed on the same farm to investigate species-specific differences. The animals were vaccinated with an inactivated C. burnetii phase I vaccine at the beginning of the study period for public health reasons. Vaginal and rectal swabs along with milk specimens were taken monthly during the lambing period and once again at the next lambing season. To estimate the environmental contamination of the animals’ housings, nasal swabs from every animal were taken simultaneously. Moreover, dust samples from the windowsills and straw beddings were collected. All samples were examined by qPCR targeting the IS1111 gene and the MLVA/VNTR typing method was performed. Whole genome sequencing was applied to determine the number of IS1111 copies followed by a calculation of C. burnetii genome equivalents of each sample. The cattle-associated genotype C7 was detected containing 29 IS1111 copies. Overall, goats seem to shed more C. burnetii through vaginal mucus and in particular shed more and for longer via the rectal route than sheep. This is supported by the larger quantities of C. burnetii DNA detected in caprine nasal swabs and environmental samples compared to the ovine ones. Transmission of C. burnetii from cattle to small ruminants must also be considered.

ZusammenfassungDie Kastration von Nutztieren wird weltweit durchgeführt und unterliegt in den verschiedenen Ländern unterschiedlichen Reglementierungen. In Deutschland sind schmerzhafte Eingriffe am Tier im Tierschutzgesetz geregelt. Trotzdem wird die Frage der Indikation und Methodik der Kastration von Schaflämmern und Ziegenkitzen unter verschiedenen Haltungsbedingungen kontrovers diskutiert und bewertet, wobei häufig Unterschiede zwischen theoretischen Forderungen und Erfahrungen in der Praxis auftreten. Besonders die naturnahe Aufzucht von Jungtieren mit ihren Müttern stellt eine Indikation für die Kastration dar. Damit werden ungewollte Trächtigkeiten verhindert sowie die Schlachtung tragender Tiere vermieden. Deshalb muss die Kastration unter Schmerzausschaltung bei kleinen Wiederkäuern nach Meinung der Autoren weiterhin möglich sein. Jedoch sollten Indikation und Methodik dieses schmerzhaften Prozesses neu überdacht und gegebenenfalls gesetzlich neu reglementiert werden. Wenn die Kastration notwendig ist, muss sie unabhängig von Spezies, Alter und Methode mittels größtmöglicher Schmerzausschaltung durchgeführt werden. Dafür sind jedoch Zulassungen von potenten Anästhetika und Analgetika für kleine Wiederkäuer unabdingbar, nicht zuletzt um die praktizierenden Tierärzte von der Umwidmungspflicht und damit Haftung für mögliche Nebenwirkungen zu befreien. Um eine gemeinsame Lösung, die Tieren, Tierhaltern und Tierärzten gerecht wird, zu etablieren, wurde ausführlich die entsprechende Literatur zusammengestellt und mögliche Lösungsansätze formuliert.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) combined with a quantitative analysis of the resulting volume images is a fruitful technique in soil science. However, the variations in X-ray attenuation due to different soil components keep the segmentation of single components within these highly heterogeneous samples a challenging problem. Particularly demanding are bio-pores due to their elongated shape and the low gray value difference to the surrounding soil structure. Recently, variational models in connection with algorithms from convex optimization were successfully applied for image segmentation. In this paper we apply these methods for the first time for the segmentation of bio-pores in CT images of soil samples. We introduce a novel convex model which enforces smooth boundaries of bio-pores and takes the varying attenuation values in the depth into account. Segmentation results are reported for different real-world 3D data sets as well as for simulated data. These results are compared with two gray value thresholding methods, namely indicator kriging and a global thresholding procedure, and with a morphological approach. Pros and cons of the methods are assessed by considering geometric features of the segmented bio-pore systems. The variational approach features well-connected smooth pores while not detecting smaller or shallower pores. This is an advantage in cases where the main bio-pores network is of interest and where infillings, e.g., excrements of earthworms, would result in losing pore connections as observed for the other thresholding methods.

ZusammenfassungSchmerzhafte Eingriffe bei Schafen werden weltweit durchgeführt und unterliegen in den einzelnen Ländern unterschiedlichen Reglementierungen. In Deutschland sind schmerzhafte Eingriffe am Tier im Tierschutzgesetz geregelt. Trotzdem wird die Frage der Indikation und Methodik des Schwanzkupierens bei Schaflämmern unter verschiedenen Haltungsbedingungen kontrovers diskutiert und bewertet, wobei häufig Unterschiede zwischen theoretischen Forderungen und Erfahrungen in der Praxis auftreten. Daher müssen Indikation und Methodik dieses schmerzhaften Prozesses neu überdacht und gegebenenfalls gesetzlich neu reglementiert werden. Als kurz- und mittelfristige Perspektive sollten Veränderungen in der Methodik, auch mit Einsatz von Schmerzmitteln, in Betracht gezogen werden. Hierfür ist allerdings die Zulassung von Schmerzmitteln für die genannte Spezies erforderlich, nicht zuletzt um die praktizierenden Tierärzte von der Umwidmungspflicht und damit Haftung für mögliche Nebenwirkungen zu befreien. Als langfristige Perspektive sind züchterische Maßnahmen unumgänglich. Zur Etablierung einer Lösung, die Tieren, Tierhaltern und Tierärzten gerecht wird, werden in diesem Beitrag die relevanten Literaturquellen präsentiert und mögliche Lösungsansätze formuliert.

The measurement of chirality and its temporal evolution are crucial for the understanding of a large range of biological functions and chemical reactions. Steady-state circular dichroism (CD) is a standard analytical tool for measuring chirality in chemistry and biology. Nevertheless, its push into the ultrafast time domain and in the deep-ultraviolet has remained a challenge, with only some isolated reports of subnanosecond CD. Here, we present a broadband time-resolved CD spectrometer in the deep ultraviolet (UV) spectral range with femtosecond time resolution. The setup employs a photo-elastic modulator to achieve shot-to-shot polarization switching of a 20 kHz pulse train of broadband femtosecond deep-UV pulses (250-370 nm). The resulting sequence of alternating left- and right-circularly polarized probe pulses is employed in a pump-probe scheme with shot-to-shot dispersive detection and thus allows for the acquisition of broadband CD spectra of ground- and excited-state species. Through polarization scrambling of the probe pulses prior to detection, artifact-free static and transient CD spectra of enantiopure [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) are successfully recorded with a sensitivity of

The COVID-19 outbreak has sent shockwaves throughout the aviation industry, sending a myriad of liquidity-strapped airlines into administration or part government ownership. In turn, this paper argues that the novel phenomenon of Ultra Long Haul (ULH) operations already maintains the necessary characteristics to generate a competitive advantage that will not only succeed, but outperform other business models, in a post COVID-19 era. Our modelling and scenario analysis results suggest that point-to-point ULH services, with access to a strong domestic feeder system, will not only require minimal adjustments to cope with COVID-19, but will simultaneously produce higher seat-load factors and yields, heightened network flexibility, and unique health benefits tied to its ability to bypass densely populated hub airports., Highlights • COVID-19 has forced airlines to fundamentally re-evaluate their business models. • ULH operations have become an increasingly viable business proposition in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. • ULH provides a range of unique net benefits when compared to the Hub & Spoke model. • Synergised with Point-to-Point operations, ULH can provide Full Service Network Carriers with greater flexibility and agility. • ULH can connect COVID-19 safe countries without the need to transfer at densely populated hub airports.

The castration of farm animals is practiced routinely throughout the world and the procedure is subject to different levels of regulation in different countries. In Germany, painful procedures in animals are regulated by the animal welfare act. However, the indications for acceptable methods of lamb and kid castration are still under discussion. There are distinct differences between the theoretical requirements of this legislation and experiences in practice. When male lambs are kept for many months with their dams, or with ewe lambs, castration is essential to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the slaughter of pregnant females. In the opinion of the authors, it is essential that castration of small ruminants must remain possible. However, the methods used for these painful procedures need to be reassessed and if necessary new regulations established. When castration is necessary, sufficient anaesthesia and analgesia must be used irrespective of species, age and method. To make this possible potent anaesthetics and analgesics urgently need to be licensed for use in these species. This would provide an evidence base for their use and extricate veterinary practitioners from the need to use the cascade system with its associated liabilities. Current literature has been reviewed here and possible new approaches discussed in order to establish solutions that are suitable for the animals, their keepers and veterinarians.

Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick borne zoonosis in Europe. In Germany, about 250 human cases are registered annually, with the highest incidence reported in the last years coming from the federal states Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. In veterinary medicine, only sporadic cases in wild and domestic animals have been reported; however, a high number of wild and domestic animals have tested positive for the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) antibody. Case presentation In May 2015, a five-month-old lamb from a farm with 15 Merino Land sheep and offspring in Nersingen/Bavaria, a TBEV risk area, showed impaired general health with pyrexia and acute neurological signs. The sheep suffered from ataxia, torticollis, tremor, nystagmus, salivation and finally somnolence with inappetence and recumbency. After euthanasia, pathological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, bacteriological, parasitological and virological analyses were performed. Additionally, blood samples from the remaining, healthy sheep in the herd were taken for detection of TBEV antibody titres. At necropsy and accompanying parasitology, the sheep showed a moderate to severe infection with Trichostrongylids, Moniezia and Eimeria species. Histopathology revealed mild to moderate necrotising, lymphohistiocytic and granulocytic meningoencephalitis with gliosis and neuronophagia. Immunohistochemistry for TBEV was negative. RNA of a TBEV strain, closely related to the Kumlinge A52 strain, was detected in the brain by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and subsequent PCR product sequencing. A phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship to the TBEV of central Europe. TBEV was cultured from brain tissue. Serologically, one of blood samples from the other sheep in the herd was positive for TBEV in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and in a serum neutralisation test (SNT), and one was borderline in an ELISA. Conclusion To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of a natural TBEV infection in a sheep in Europe with clinical manifestation, which describes the clinical presentation and the histopathology of TBEV infection.

We describe the facilities for ultraviolet studies in the femtosecond to nanosecond time domain. These facilities consist of: i) a set-up for deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy in the 260–380 nm range in both pump and probe pulses for transient absorption/reflectivity or two-dimensional spectroscopy studies; ii) a set-up for ultrafast fluorescence measurements with detection down to 300 nm. The capabilities of these set-ups are demonstrated by examples on molecular systems, biosystems, nanoparticles and solid materials.

The non-conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is able to utilize a wide range of different substrates like glucose, glycerol, ethanol, acetate, proteins and various hydrophobic molecules. Although most metabolic pathways for the utilization of these substrates have been clarified by now, it was not clear whether ethanol is oxidized by alcohol dehydrogenases or by an alternative oxidation system inside the cell. In order to detect the genes that are required for ethanol utilization in Y. lipolytica, eight alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) genes and one alcohol oxidase gene (FAO1) have been identified and respective deletion strains were tested for their ability to metabolize ethanol. As a result of this, we found that the availability of ADH1, ADH2 or ADH3 is required for ethanol utilization in Y. lipolytica. A strain with deletions in all three genes is lacking the ability to utilize ethanol as sole carbon source. Although Adh2p showed by far the highest enzyme activity in an in vitro assay, the availability of any of the three genes was sufficient to enable a decent growth. In addition to ADH1, ADH2 and ADH3, an acetyl-CoA synthetase encoding gene (ACS1) was found to be essential for ethanol utilization. As Y. lipolytica is a non-fermenting yeast, it is neither able to grow under anaerobic conditions nor to produce ethanol. To investigate whether Y. lipolytica may produce ethanol, the key genes of alcoholic fermentation in S. cerevisiae, ScADH1 and ScPDC1, were overexpressed in an ADH and an ACS1 deletion strain. However, instead of producing ethanol, the respective strains regained the ability to use ethanol as single carbon source and were still not able to grow under anaerobic conditions.

Solid-state processes of introducing oxygen vacancies and transference of fluorine to n-TiO2 nanoparticles by co-milling with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) powder were examined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) of UV, visual, near- and mid-IR regions, thermal analyses (TG-DTA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The broad absorption peak at around 8800 cm(-1) (1140 nm) was attributed to the change in the electronic states, viz, electrons trapped at the oxygen vacancies (Vo) and d-d transitions of titanium ions. Incorporation of fluorine into n-TiO2 was concentrated at the near surface region and amounted to ca. 40 at% of the total fluorine in PTFE, after co-milling for 3 h, as confirmed by the F1s XPS spectrum. The overall atomic ratio, F/Ti, determined by EDXS was 0.294. By combining these analytical results, a mechanism of the present solid state processes at the boundary between PTFE and n-TiO2 was proposed. The entire process is triggered by the partial oxidative decomposition of PTFE. This is accompanied by the abstraction of oxygen atoms from the n-TiO2 lattices. Loss of the oxygen atoms results in the formation of the diverse states of locally distorted coordination units of titania, i.e. TiO(6-n)Vo(n), located at the near surface region. This leads subsequent partial ligand exchange between F and O, to incorporate fluorine preferentially to the near surface region of n-TiO2 particles, where local non-crystalline states predominate. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Additive manufacturing offers the possibility of producing novel plastic products, which can be unique and complex, especially when the use of load-bearing components leads to a periodic load. Therefore, plastic components must also be examined for a sufficient service life. The aspects of crack initiation and crack propagation are particularly important. In this regard, a significant parameter is the crack propagation curve, for whose determination a continuous crack-size measurement is required. This article addresses how far the Direct Current Potential Drop (DCPD) method can be applied on additive manufactured plastics in order to make a statement about the fracture mechanical behavior of the materials. For this reason, the surfaces of compact tension (CT) specimens were coated with an electrically conductive layer using two different coating methods. Referring to this, experimental investigations were carried out in regard to the applicability of the DCPD method. Overall, two different coating methods were tested with experimental investigations. The experiments showed that the methods of galvanization and specimen coating enabled the application of the DCPD method to additive manufactured plastics. Furthermore, fracture mechanical investigations were carried out. In this context, crack propagation curves were determined by using both methods, and typical fracture mechanics parameters, e.g., threshold value, ΔKI,th, and stress-intensity factor at unstable crack propagation, ΔKIC, were identified.

Two-color pump-probe studies reveal ultrafast dynamics of few-fermions in single epitaxial CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots. Induced biexciton absorption, sub-picosecond hole relaxation and deterministic single photon gain are observed under appropriate pumping conditions.

L'objectif de cette étude consiste à étudier l'influence de la prise alimentaire sur la crédulité par rapport aux théories du complot. Nous nous proposons d'étudier cette question dans un cadre télévisuel. Des travaux récents (Topolinski, Lindler, et Freudenberg, 2013) suggèrent que la prise alimentaire pendant l'exposition à des messages persuasifs est susceptible d'influencer l'adhésion à ces messages. L'étude a été menée auprès d'étudiants universitaires (N = 66). Dans la condition "contrôle", ils visionnaient un documentaire défendant une théorie du complot et répondaient ensuite à un questionnaire élaboré pour mesurer leur crédulité vis-à-vis des informations qui y étaient présentées. Dans la condition "alimentation", les participants étaient invités à consommer des snacks (Smarties®) en parallèle à la vision du documentaire. Nous constatons une adhésion au message présenté plus importante en présence qu'en absence de prise alimentaire mais surtout chez les sujets généralement sceptiques par rapport aux théories du complot. Sur une des deux mesures, on observe une configuration inverse chez les personnes possédant des attitudes favorables par rapport aux théories du complot. Nous proposons que l'humeur positive générée par la consommation alimentaire a pu faciliter l'activation de réponse cohérente avec les attitudes initiales vis-à-vis du complot. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of eating on gullibility towards conspiracy theories. We study this question in a TV context. Recent work (Topolinski, Lindler, et Freudenberg, 2013) suggests that eating during exposure to persuasive messages is likely to influence attitude change. The study was conducted with university students (N = 66). In the control condition, they viewed a documentary presenting a conspiracy theory and subsequently answered a questionnaire evaluating their belief in the information presented therein. In the “eating” condition, participants consumed snacks while viewing the documentary. A greater endorsement of the message was observed in the eating than in the control condition but only among people low in conspiracy mentality. On one of the two measures, we observe an opposite pattern among people high in conspiracy beliefs. We suggest that the positive mood generated by food consumption may have facilitated the activation of a response that was consistent with initial attitudes towards conspiracy., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We report on ultrafast transient absorption (TA) studies of surface plasmon-excited similar to 25 nm-diameter Au nanoparticles in solution, monitoring the response of the surface plasmon resonance in the visible region (1.7-3.0 eV) and that of the inter- and intraband transitions in the deep UV region (3.4-4.5 eV). The former reflects lattice heating by electron-phonon energy transfer, while the latter monitors charge carriers, that is, excess holes and electrons, respectively, below and above the Fermi level. Although the steady-state UV absorption spectrum of Au is featureless, the TA spectra reveal three bands that appear promptly upon plasmon excitation and decay over hundreds of picoseconds (ps). Based on the band structure diagram of bulk Au, we attribute symmetry points. The decay of the hot electrons monitored via the probing the intraband transitions at the L symmetry points below the latter requiring tens of ps. These results show that after the initial processes, hot charge carriers above and below the Fermi level remain of ps.

We report broadband transient absorption measurements of adenine strands in the deep-UV (250-370 nm). By varying the strand length we resolve the interplay between inter-base stacking and exciton formation and dynamics in DNA oligomers.

Most chemical and biochemical reactions in nature and in industrial processes are driven by thermal effects that bring the reactants above the energy barrier for reaction. In aqueous solutions, this process can also be triggered by the laser driven temperature jump (T-jump) method, in which the water vibrational (stretch, bend, or combination) modes are excited by a short laser pulse, leading to a temperature increase in the irradiated volume within a few picoseconds. The combination of the laser T-jump with X-ray spectroscopic probes would add element-specificity as well as sensitivity to the structure, the oxidation state, and the spin state of the intermediates of reactions. Here, we present preliminary results of a near infrared pump/X-ray absorption spectroscopy probe to study the ligand exchange of an octahedral aqueous Cobalt complex, which is known to pass through intermediate steps yielding tetrahedral chlorinated as final species. The structural changes of the chemical reaction are monitored with great sensitivity, even in the presence of a mild local increase in temperature. This work opens perspectives for the study of non-light-driven reactions using time-resolved X-ray spectroscopic methods.