Semi-Cats: Nonclassicality and Generation

We define generalized cat states as linear superpositions of the semi-coherent states. They can be considered as superpositions of two distinguishable components of the Schrödinger cat states. We study the statistical properties of the introduced states in detail. The physical properties of these states, like the sub-Poissonian statistics and normal-order as well as amplitude-squared squeezing effect, are discussed analytically. Moreover, we find some interesting properties of their optical tomogram derived in terms of the exponential function. Finally, we suggest a new theoretical framework for preparing generalized cat states.     

Video-rate near-infrared optical tomography using spectrally encoded parallel light delivery

A novel parallel source implementation approach to near-infrared tomography is demonstrated through spectral encoding of the light delivery. This new technique allows many sources to be input into the tissue at the same time, and a high-resolution spectrometer is used to spatially spread out the signals from each spectrally encoded source. The parallel sampling of all sources at all detection locations renders rapid imaging. Acquisition of complete tomographic data sets at a video rate of 35 frames/s is achieved for imaging of a 6.35 mm diameter inclusion with an absorption coefficient of 0.01 mm(-1) and a reduced scattering coefficient of 1.5 mm(-1) that is moving along a circular path inside a 1% Intralipid solution.     

Nitrous oxide dimer: observation of a new polar isomer

Spectra of the nitrous oxide dimer (N2O)2 are studied in the region of the N2O nu1 fundamental band around 2230 cm-1 using a rapid-scan tunable diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. The previously known band of the centrosymmetric nonpolar dimer is analyzed in improved detail, and a new band is observed and assigned to a polar isomer of (N2O)2. This polar form of the dimer has a slipped parallel structure, rather similar to the slipped antiparallel structure of the nonpolar form but with a slightly larger intermolecular distance. The accurate rotational parameters determined here should enable a microwave observation of the polar N2O dimer. The need for a modern ab initio investigation of the N2O-N2O intermolecular potential energy surface is emphasized.     

Cyclodextrin Host‐Guest Recognition Approach for Simultaneous Quantification and Voltammetric Studies of Levodopa and Carbidopa in Pharmaceutical Products

An electrochemical sensor for simultaneous quantification of Levodopa (L‐dopa) and Carbidopa (C‐dopa) using a β‐cyclodextrin/poly(N‐acetylaniline) (β‐CD/PNAANI) modified carbon paste electrode has been developed. Preconcentrating effect of β‐CD as well as its different inclusion complex stability with L‐dopa and C‐dopa was used to construct an electrochemical sensor for quantification of these important analytes. The overlapping anodic peaks of L‐dopa and C‐dopa at 810 mV on bare carbon paste electrode resolved in two well‐defined voltammetric peaks at 450 and 880 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, with a drastic enhancement of the anodic peak currents. Under optimized conditions, linear calibration curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.5–117 µM and 1.6–210 µM with detection limits down to 0.2 and 0.8 µM for L‐dopa and C‐dopa, respectively. The proposed electrode was successfully applied for the determination of L‐dopa /C‐dopa in pharmaceutical formulations and the results were in close agreement with the labeled values.     

Resolvent Operator and Self-Adjointness of Sturm–Liouville Operators with a Finite Number of Transmission Conditions

In this paper, we consider a Sturm–Liouville operator with eigenparameter-dependent boundary conditions and transmission conditions at a finite number of interior points. We introduce a Hilbert space formulation such that the problem under consideration can be interpreted as an eigenvalue problem for a suitable self-adjoint linear operator. We construct Green function of the problem and resolvent operator. We establish the self-adjointness of the discontinuous Sturm–Liouville operator.     

Efficient Synthesis of β‐Acetamido Ketones and Esters Using Aluminum Chloride as an Inexpensive and Green Catalyst

Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) efficiently catalyzes one‐pot multicomponent condensation of enolizable ketones or alkyl acetoacetates with aldehydes, acetonitrile and acetyl chloride to afford β‐acetamido ketone or ester derivatives in high to excellent yields and in relatively short reaction times. Moreover, by this synthetic method, some novel β‐acetamido ketones and esters (i.e. one complex structure) are prepared.     

Spectrally resolved bioluminescence optical tomography

Spectrally resolved bioluminescence optical tomography is an approach to recover images of luciferase activity within a volume using multiwavelength emission data from internal bioluminescence sources. The underlying problem of uniqueness associated with nonspectrally resolved intensity-based bioluminescence tomography is highlighted. Reconstructed images of bioluminescence are presented by using as input both simulated and real multiwavelength data from a tissue-simulating phantom. The location of the internal bioluminescence is obtained with 1 mm accuracy. Further, the amplitude of the reconstructed source is proportional to the actual bioluminescence intensity.