A quantum circuit design of AES requiring fewer quantum qubits and gate operations

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is one of the most widely used block ciphers nowadays, and has been established as an encryption standard in 2001. Here we design AES-128 and the sample-AES (S-AES) quantum circuits for deciphering. In the quantum circuit of AES-128, we perform an affine transformation for the SubBytes part to solve the problem that the initial state of the output qubits in SubBytes is not the |0>^⊗8 state. After that, we are able to encode the new round sub-key on the qubits encoding the previous round sub-key, and this improvement reduces the number of qubits used by 224 compared with Langenberg et al.’s implementation. For S-AES, a complete quantum circuit is presented with only 48 qubits, which is already within the reach of existing noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers.     

Chemical characterisation of bioactive compounds in Medicago sativa growing in the desert of Oman

Medicago sativa Linn growing in Omani desert were chemically characterised using flame photometry, inductively coupled plasma, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. HPLC analyses were performed to determine the phenolics and flavonoids present in M. sativa. The major compounds detected in M. sativa leaves were protchaechenic acid (3.22%), hydroxyl benzoic acid (1.05%), β-Phenyl caffate (0.97%) and kaempherol (0.89%). Pterostilbene, a cholesterol-lowering compound, was detected in M. sativa.     

Spectrochemical analysis using LIBS and ICP-OES techniques of herbal medicine (Tinnevelly Senna leaves) and its anti-cancerous/antibacterial applications

Tinnevelly senna leaves are being applied to cure many diseases especially in developing countries and sub-Saharan region due to many bioactive compounds such as sennosides, phenols, and flavonoids. The conventional methods to isolate and analyze plant extracts biomolecules are not very effective as well cost effective as they require hazardous chemical solvents and reagents, which are time-consuming processes. The major objective of the present study is to investigate the feasibility of the Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for rapid, eco-friendly, and multi-elemental analysis of Senna leaves extracts and study their antibacterial and anticancer potentials. The elegant LIBS technique was applied as a qualitative and quantitative method for Senna leaves sample’s elemental analysis and their biological activities were measured by evaluating anti-cancer and anti-bacterial analysis. The quantitative analysis of Senna leaves extracts was done using the calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) algorithm showing their appreciable content of several nutrient elements, and the obtained results were in close conformity with these achieved by using the standard analytical ICP OES technique. We studied the bactericidal efficacy of the Senna leaves extract against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by AWD assays and morphogenesis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the anticancer activity was also investigated where different concentrations of Senna leaves extract were tested on cancer cells (HCT-116 and HeLa) and normal cells (HEK-293) using the cell metabolic activity MTT assay and Propidium iodide (PI) staining. We have also calculated the inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the various extracts concentrations (25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 150 µg/ml, 200 µg/ml, and 225 µg/ml). We have found that IC₅₀ value for HCT-116 cells were 13.5 µg/ml, 17.5 µg/ml, 21.5 µg/ml, 22.5 µg/ml, 26 µg/ml and 33.5 µg/ml and for HeLa cells 15.25 µg/ml, 21.25 µg/ml, 23.5 µg/ml, 262.5 µg/ml, 36.25 µg/ml, and 39.50 µg/ml. The bactericidal efficacy of the Senna leaves extract showed significant inhibition against Gram-positive bacterium. Both MTT and PI analysis showed that Senna leaves extract induced profound inhibition on HCT-116 growth and proliferation. Additionally, Senna leaves extract did not exert an inhibitory influence on normal (HEK-293), which is non-cancerous cells. We suggest that the extract specifically targets the cancerous cells, which could be highly beneficial for the development of future safe anticancer and antibacterial drugs using these extracts.     

Rheological Properties of Anionic Surfactant Solutions in the Presence of Al3+ Counterion

Aqueous solutions of ionic surfactants with strongly binding counterions exhibit wormlike or network properties. The properties of anionic micelles of sodium dodecyltrioxyethylene sulfate (AES) in the presence of multivalent counterion Al³⁺ were investigated by dynamic rheological methods. The steady-shear viscosity and stress, the zero-shear viscosity, the complex viscosity, and the dynamic shear modulus have been determined as a function of the surfactant and salt concentrations. Some interesting and noticeable results have been obtained, which can express the micellar growth and structure. The formation of wormlike micelles or network structure in surfactant solutions becomes much easier with increasing surfactant and salt concentrations. The Cox-Merz rule and the Cole-Cole plot are not applicable perfectly to the systems studied. The nonlinear viscoelasticity and non-Newtonian behavior can be found in all solutions according to the comparison with the simple Maxwell model. The technique of freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM) was also applied to confirm the formation of these interesting structures.     

ICP OES Simultaneous Determination of Ca,Cu, Fe,Mg, Mn,Na, and P in Biodiesel by Axial and Radial Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of seven trace elements in biodiesel by axial and radial view Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) is proposed, in which the sample is emulsified with Triton X-100 and water, and in which yttrium is employed as an internal standard. The better obtained quantification limits (10 s) were by axial view, 0.165, 0.099, 0.033, 0.007, 0.016, 0.132, 0.660 µg g^?1 for Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, and P, respectively, based on a sample mass of 1.0 g diluted to a final mass of 10 g in the analytical solution. Calibration was carried out with aqueous standards, thus avoiding the use of frequently instable organic standards. Elemental recoveries were in the range of 90 to 109% for all seven analytes studied, and also the precision of the method was satisfactory (RSD < 8%).     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of Ag, Au and Cu nanoclusters on TiO2-nanotubes/Ti substrate

Tubular arrays of TiO₂ nanotubes (ranging in diameter from 40 to 110 nm) on a Ti substrate were used as a support for Ag, Au or Cu deposits obtained by the sputter deposition technique, where the amount of metal varied from 0.01 to 0.2 mg/cm². Those composite supports were intended for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) investigations. Composite samples were studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) to reveal their characteristic morphological and chemical features. Raman spectra of pyridine (as a probe molecule) were measured at different cathodic potentials ranging from −0.2 down to −1.2 V after the pyridine had been adsorbed on the metal-covered TiO₂ nanotube/Ti substrates. In addition, SERS spectra on a bulk standard activated Ag, Au and Cu substrates were also measured. The SERS activity of the composite samples was strongly dependent on the amount of metal deposit, e.g. at and above 0.06 mg Ag/cm², the intensity of SERS signal was even higher than that for the Ag reference substrate. The high activity of these composites is mainly a result of their specific morphology. The high SERS sensitivity on the surface morphology of the substrate made it possible to monitor very small temporal changes in the Ag metal clusters. This rearrangement was not detectable with microscopic (SEM) or microanalytical (AES) methods. The SERS activity of Au or Cu clusters was distinctly lower than those of Ag. The spectral differences exhibited by the three kinds of composites as compared to the reference metal samples are discussed.     

骨中铊的微波消解ICP/AES标准加入测定法

建立骨骼的微波消解和金属毒物铊的ICP/AES标准加入分析方法。取0.2g骨粉于聚四氟乙烯消解管中,加入3.0mL浓硝酸及0.5mL双氧水,进行微波消解。结束后,用2%硝酸定容至10.0mL。根据标准加入法进行ICP-AES定量分析。方法的回收率为99.4%,检出限为5.1ng/g,线性范围为5~500 ng/mL。该方法操作简便,回收率高,检出限低,线性范围宽,可多元素同时测定,结果可靠。     

Summary of ISO/TC 201 Standard: ISO 29081: 2010, surface chemical analysis—Auger electron spectroscopy—reporting of methods used for charge control and charge correction

This international standard specifies the minimum amount of information required for describing the methods of charge control and charge correction in measurements of Auger electron transitions from insulating specimens by electron‐stimulated AES to be reported with the analytical results. Information is provided in an Annex on methods that have been found useful for charge control prior to or during AES analysis. The Annex also includes a summary table of methods or approaches, ordered by simplicity of approach. A similar international standard has been published for XPS (ISO 19318: 2003(E), Surface chemical analysis—XPS—reporting of methods used for charge control and charge correction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用技术用于环境中元素形态分析的最新进展

综述了高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱(HPLC-ICP-MS)联用技术在环境科学中的应用情况.参考过去十年内的国内外文献,从方法学的角度论述了HPLC联用ICP-MS技术的发展,重点探讨了该技术在环境领域,尤其是在元素形态分析(包括生物学,生物无机化学和生物医学)中的应用.