Optimal multiqubit operations for Josephson charge qubits

We introduce a method for finding the required control parameters for a quantum computer that yields the desired quantum algorithm without invoking elementary gates. We concentrate on the Josephson charge-qubit model, but the scenario is readily extended to other physical realizations. Our strategy is to numerically find any desired double- or triple-qubit gate. The motivation is the need to significantly accelerate quantum algorithms in order to fight decoherence.     

Complexation of strontium with triisopropyl ester of dichloromethylene-bis(phosphonic acid) in water and ionic liquids

The complexation of strontium with triisopropyl ester of dichloromethylene-bis(phosphonic acid) (NaL) is examined using ³¹P NMR in water and the hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([BMIM][N(CN)₂]):      

Characterization of the first beta-class carbonic anhydrase from an arthropod (Drosophila melanogaster) and phylogenetic analysis of beta-class carbonic anhydrases in invertebrates

Background

The β-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) enzymes have been reported in a variety of organisms, but their existence in animals has been unclear. The purpose of the present study was to perform extensive sequence analysis to show that the β-CAs are present in invertebrates and to clone and characterize a member of this enzyme family from a representative model organism of the animal kingdom, e.g., Drosophila melanogaster.

Results

The novel β-CA gene, here named DmBCA, was identified from FlyBase, and its orthologs were searched and reconstructed from sequence databases, confirming the presence of β-CA sequences in 55 metazoan species. The corresponding recombinant enzyme was produced in Sf9 insect cells, purified, kinetically characterized, and its inhibition was investigated with a series of simple, inorganic anions. Holoenzyme molecular mass was defined by dynamic light scattering analysis and gel filtration, and the results suggested that the holoenzyme is a dimer. Double immunostaining confirmed predictions based on sequence analysis and localized DmBCA protein to mitochondria. The enzyme showed high CO₂ hydratase activity, with a k_cat of 9.5 × 10⁵ s^-1 and a k_cat/K_M of 1.1 × 10⁸ M^{- 1}s^{- 1}. DmBCA was appreciably inhibited by the clinically-used sulfonamide acetazolamide, with an inhibition constant of 49 nM. It was moderately inhibited by halides, pseudohalides, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfite and sulfate (K_I values of 0.67 - 1.36 mM) and more potently by sulfamide (K_I of 0.15 mM). Bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite and phenylarsonic/boronic acids were much weaker inhibitors (K_Is of 26.9 - 43.7 mM).

Conclusions

The Drosophila β-CA represents a highly active mitochondrial enzyme that is a potential model enzyme for anti-parasitic drug development.     

An NMR-Based Approach to the Measurement of High Log K HL Values at Low Ionic Strength. 31P NMR Study of 1,2-Diaminoethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetra(methylenephosphonic Acid) Protonation Equilibrium at pH > 12

A sequential NMR based approach is proposed for measurements of high log K values at low ionic strength. [³¹P] NMR technique is used to determine the protonation constants of 1,2-diaminoethane-N,N,N,N-tetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTPH, H₈L) at 25°C in 0.1 mol-dm^–3 KNO₃ and at 37°C in 0.15 mol-dm^–3 NaCl at pH 11–14. For equilibrium L + H HL log K are found to be 13.3 (0.1) and 12.9 (0.1), respectively.     

Conformational analysis 29: Preparation and1H and13C NMR,FTIR, MS,and crystallographic conformational and configurational study of 3-Oxo-1,3-oxathiane and its monomethyl derivatives

3-Oxo-1,3-oxathiane (1) and its monomethyl derivatives were prepared by oxidation of the corresponding 1,3-oxathianes. The structural analysis was carried out by¹H and¹³C NMR, FTIR, and mass spectrometry. At 298 K compound1 was a 1 1 (at 173 K a 3 1) mixture of the SO(ax) and SO(eq) chair forms. The major oxidation products of methyl 1,3-oxathianes attained exclusively the SO(ax), Me(eq) chair forms except that of the 5-methyl derivative, which consisted of 7% of the SO(eq), Me(ax) chair conformation in CDCl₃ solution. The minor products of oxidation existed in anancomeric SO(eq), Me(eq) chair conformations. The oxidation of 2-methyl- 1,3-oxathiane, however, led to 3,3-dioxo derivative (6) in addition to thetrans [SO(eq)] monoxide. The crystal structures of6 andtrans-3-oxo-5-methyl-1,3-oxathiane were solved by X-ray diffractometry.     

Determination of trace amounts of molybdenum in plant tissue by solvent extraction-atomic-absorption and direct-current plasma emission spectrometry

Methods are presented for determination of molybdenum in plant tissue by flame and graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry and direct-current argon-plasma emission spectrometry. The samples are digested in HNO(3)-H(2)SO(4)-HC1O(4) mixture, and Mo is separated and concentrated by chelation and extraction. Three organic solvents (methyl isobutyl ketone, di-isobutyl ketone and isoamyl alcohol) and two ligands (8-hydroxyquinoline and toluene-3,4-dithiol) were studied. The procedure were tested on pine needle and birch leaf samples.     

Intra-elemental photoelectron line intensities and their significance to quantitative analysis

Intraelemental relative photoelectron line intensities for 20 pure elements obtained under ultrahigh vacuum (5·10^?9 torr) and high resolution with cleaned surfaces are presented. Theoretical and experimental aspects of relative photoelectron line intensities as well as other characteristics of significance to quantitative analysis are discussed. Experimental data are related to theoretical results and compared with other recent work.     

Transition moment directions of some important in-plane vibrations of uracil,thymine and cytosine. A fixed partial charge model calculation

Transition moment directions for the double-bond region vibrations of uracil, thymine and cytosine are calculated using the fixed partial charge model approximation. The coupling between the two carbonyl bonds and the carbon—carbon double bond in uracil and thymine is sensitive to the choice of the corresponding stretching force constants. The transition moment directions are correspondingly changed, thus, in principle, enabling the quantitative determination of coupling between the vibrations from linear dichroism measurements.     

A reform in undergraduate mathematics curriculum : more emphasis on social and pedagogical skills

The paper describes the changes that are being made in the mathematics teachers' subject studies in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Joensuu, in order to provide our mathematics students both with a sufficiently deep knowledge of mathematics and science, and with present-day expertise in their profession as teachers. While the formal structure of the mathematics curriculum remains structured and taught as courses with mostly traditional names like algebra, analysis, and linear algebra, there are also totally new ‘professionally oriented’ courses. Some of the old courses—with rather traditional and rigorous contents—have been changed in a more student-driven direction. In these ‘pedagogically oriented’ courses students are encouraged, and even forced, to study co-operatively in social interaction, for example to negotiate how to solve a problem decently, or how to build a formal definition for a concept with certain wanted attributes. As an ultimate example of a pedagogical experiment we describe in more detail an abstract algebra course, where co-operative learning is combined with intensive programming in a mathematically oriented computer environment.