Usefulness of multiqubit W-type states in quantum information processing

We analyze the efficiency of multiqubit W-type states as resources for quantum information. For this, we identify and generalize four-qubit W-type states. Our results show that these states can be used as resources for deterministic quantum information processing. The utility of results, however, is limited by the availability of experimental setups to perform and distinguish multiqubit measurements. We therefore emphasize protocols where two users want to establish an optimal bipartite entanglement using the partially entangled W-type states. We find that for such practical purposes, four-qubit W-type states can be a better resource in comparison to three-qubit W-type states. For a dense coding protocol, our states can be used deterministically to send two bits of classical message by locally manipulating a single qubit. In addition, we also propose a realistic experimental method to prepare the four-qubit W-type states using standard unitary operations and weak measurements.     

Antileishmanial diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf

The crude extracts of tubers of Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf were investigated for in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major. The dichloromethane extract at pH 2.5 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ value of 27.10 ± 0.0 μg/mL. Chromatographic purification of the dichloromethane extract led to isolation of three C-19 norditerpenoid alkaloids indaconitine (1), chasmaconitine (2) and ludaconitine (3). Compounds 3 and 2 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ = 36.10 ± 3.4 and 56.30 ± 2.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 was less effective (IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL). The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 2 and 3 studied against MCF7, HeLa and PC3 cancer cell lines and 3T3 normal fibroblast cell line did not show cytotoxicity at 30 μM.     

Determination and optimization of mode matching into optical cavities by heterodyne detection

We report on a novel high-sensitivity method to characterize and improve mode matching into optical cavities. This method is based on heterodyne detection of cylindrical transverse cavity modes. A specially designed annular-segmented photodiode is used to measure the amplitude of nonresonant modes reflected by the cavity. Our measurements allow us to optimize cavity mode matching to nearly 99.98% and will play an important diagnostic role in gravitational-wave detectors.     

New cyanopyridine‐based π‐conjugative poly(azomethine)s: Synthesis,characterization and electroluminescence studies

Four new Schiff‐base type conjugative polymers (CPs), that is, Py _1‐4 carrying a strong electron‐withdrawing cyanopyridine scaffold coupled with different electron‐donating aromatic/heteroaromatic moieties were synthesized from their respective co‐monomers by simple poly‐condensation route. They were subjected to structural, thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical characterizations and theoretical investigations in order to identify their suitability in polymer light‐emitting diode (PLED) application. All these polymers showed good film‐forming ability and exhibited favorable photophysical behaviors with an optical bandgap in the order of 2.54‐2.68 eV. Further, their electrochemical data were used to evaluate highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels. Finally, Py _1‐4 were successfully employed as blue‐light emitter in the construction of new ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ Py _1‐4 /Al configured light‐emitting diodes (LED), and the fabricated devices demonstrated stable blue electroluminescence behavior endorsing an effective electrons injection in the PLEDs.     

Synthesis of Carbohydrate Based Macrolactones and Their Applications as Receptors for Ion Recognition and Catalysis

Glycomacrolactones exhibit many interesting biological properties, and they are also important in molecular recognitions and for supramolecular chemistry. Therefore, it is important to be able to access glycomacrocycles with different sizes and functionality. A new series of carbohydrate-based macrocycles containing triazole and lactone moieties have been designed and synthesized. The synthesis features an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction for the macrocyclization step. In this article, the effect of some common sulfonate leaving groups is evaluated for macrolactonization. Using tosylate gave good selectivity for monolactonization products with good yields. Fourteen different macrocycles have been synthesized and characterized, of which eleven macrocycles are from cyclization of the C1 to C6 positions of N-acetyl D-glucosamine derivatives and three others from C2 to C6 cyclization of functionalized D-glucosamine derivatives. These novel macrolactones have unique structures and demonstrate interesting anion binding properties, especially for chloride. The macrocycles containing two triazoles form complexes with copper sulfate, and they are effective ligands for copper sulfate mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC). In addition, several macrocycles show some selectivity for different alkynes.     

Metalation of 2HTCNPP on Ag(111) with Zn: Evidence for the Sitting atop Complex at Room Temperature

We study the interaction and metalation reaction of a free base 5,10,15,20-terakis(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (2HTCNPP) with post-deposited Zn atoms and the targeted reaction product Zn-5,10,15,20-terakis(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (ZnTCNPP) on a Ag(111) surface. The investigations are performed with scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature after Zn deposition and subsequent heating. The goal is to obtain further insights in the metalation reaction and the influence of the cyanogroups on this reaction. The interaction of 2HTCNPP with post-deposited Zn leads to the formation of three different 2D ordered island types that coexist on the surface. All contain a new species with a bright appearance, which increases with the amount of post-deposited Zn. We attribute this to metastable SAT (“sitting atop”) complexes formed by Zn and the macrocycle, that is, an intermediate in the metalation reaction to ZnTCNPP, which occurs upon heating to 500 K. Interestingly, the activation barrier for the successive reaction of the SAT complex to the metalated ZnTCNPP species can also be overcome by a voltage pulse applied to the STM tip.     

Effects of Processing Parameters of 3D Bioprinting on the Cellular Activity of Bioinks

In this review, few established cell printing techniques along with their parameters that affect the cell viability during bioprinting are considered. 3D bioprinting is developed on the principle of additive manufacturing using biomaterial inks and bioinks. Different bioprinting methods impose few challenges on cell printing such as shear stress, mechanical impact, heat, laser radiation, etc., which eventually lead to cell death. These factors also cause alteration of cells phenotype, recoverable or irrecoverable damages to the cells. Such challenges are not addressed in detail in the literature and scientific reports. Hence, this review presents a detailed discussion of several cellular bioprinting methods and their process‐related impacts on cell viability, followed by probable mitigation techniques. Most of the printable bioinks encompass cells within hydrogel as scaffold material to avoid the direct exposure of the harsh printing environment on cells. However, the advantages of printing with scaffold‐free cellular aggregates over cell‐laden hydrogels have emerged very recently. Henceforth, optimal and favorable crosslinking mechanisms providing structural rigidity to the cell‐laden printed constructs with ideal cell differentiation and proliferation, are discussed for improved understanding of cell printing methods for the future of organ printing and transplantation.     

Strongly quasibounded maximal monotone perturbations for the Berkovits-Mustonen topological degree theory

Let X be a real reflexive Banach space with dual X^∗. Let L:X⊃D(L)→X^∗ be densely defined, linear and maximal monotone. Let T:X⊃D(T)→X^∗2, with 0∈D(T) and 0∈T(0), be strongly quasibounded and maximal monotone, and C:X⊃D(C)→X^∗ bounded, demicontinuous and of type (S₊) w.r.t. D(L). A new topological degree theory has been developed for the sum L+T+C. This degree theory is an extension of the Berkovits-Mustonen theory (for T=0) and an improvement of the work of Addou and Mermri (for T:X→X^∗2 bounded). Unbounded maximal monotone operators with are strongly quasibounded and may be used with the new degree theory.     

Arrest of fluid demixing by nanoparticles: a computer simulation study

We use lattice Boltzmann simulations to investigate the formation of arrested structures upon demixing of a binary solvent containing neutrally wetting colloidal particles. Previous simulations for symmetric fluid quenches pointed to the formation of "bijels": bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels. These should be created when a glassy monolayer of particles forms at the fluid-fluid interface, arresting further demixing and rigidifying the structure. Experimental work has broadly confirmed this scenario, but it shows that bijels can also be formed in volumetrically asymmetric quenches. Here, we present new simulation results for such quenches, compare these to the symmetric case, and find a crossover to an arrested droplet phase at strong asymmetry. We then make extensive new analyses of the postarrest dynamics in our simulated bijel and droplet structures, on time scales comparable to the Brownian time for colloid motion. Our results suggest that, on these intermediate time scales, the effective activation barrier to ejection of particles from the fluid-fluid interface is smaller by at least 2 orders of magnitude than the corresponding barrier for an isolated particle on a flat interface.     

Characterization of deformation behavior of heterogeneous polymer systems using spectroscopic and microscopic methods

Rheo-optical Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to clarify the correlation between the morphology and the mechanical properties of two groups of heterogeneous polymers: different styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene triblock copolymers and a dynamic vulcanizate based on polypropylene/ethylene-octene-copolymer. In all the polymers investigated the soft phase always oriented more than the hard phase. The degree of orientation in different phases depended on the nature of the phases as well as on the stress distribution in correlation to the morphology and their alignment. The observations at the molecular level corresponded well with the results from morphological studies at the microscopic level, which, in fact, enables an extensive and complex understanding of the structure-properties correlation of these types of polymers.