Separation and quantification of imidazoles in atmospheric particles using LC–Orbitrap‐MS

A method using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer was developed to identify and quantify imidazoles in aqueous extracts of aerosol particles. The aqueous particle extract was used without further enrichment or sample clean‐up. Five columns were tested for efficient separation of ten imidazoles and the Acquity HSS T3 column was chosen for further optimization. Low limits of detection (<25 nM) and good intraday and interday repeatability (<1.6 and <6%, respectively) were achieved. Investigation of matrix effects showed that external calibration is applicable when the loading of organic carbon in the sample is below 10 µg m^?3. The developed method was applied to ten real samples, and six out of the ten test imidazoles were successfully quantified, while six further imidazoles were qualitatively identified, among them 4‐imidazolecarboxaldehyde and 4‐methyl‐5‐imidazolecarboxaldehyde. Advantages of the method are the minimal sample preparation, the short run time for each sample, and the low detection limits. These allow for a fast and reliable quantification of imidazoles even in a large number of aqueous particle extract samples.     

Ultrabroadband biphotons generated via chirped quasi-phase-matched optical parametric down-conversion

We generate ultrabroadband biphotons via the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in quasi-phase-matched nonlinear gratings that have a linearly chirped wave vector. By using these ultrabroadband biphotons (300-nm bandwidth), we measure the narrowest Hong-Ou-Mandel dip to date, having a full width at half maximum of 7.1 fs. This enables the generation of a high flux of nonoverlapping biphotons with ultrabroad bandwidth, thereby promoting the use of SPDC light in many nonclassical applications.     

Wolf equations for two-photon light

The spatiotemporal two-photon probability amplitude that describes light in a two-photon entangled state obeys equations identical to the Wolf equations, which are satisfied by the mutual coherence function for light in any quantum state. Both functions therefore propagate similarly through optical systems. A generalized van Cittert-Zernike theorem explains the predicted enhancement in resolution for entangled-photon microscopy and quantum lithography. The Wolf equations provide a particularly powerful analytical tool for studying three-dimensional imaging and lithography since they describe propagation in continuous inhomogeneous media.     

GUIDELINES FOR WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

There is strong epidemiological evidence that occupational exposure to WBV is associated with an increased risk of low back pain (LBP), sciatic pain, and degenerative changes in the spinal system, including lumbar intervertebral disc disorders. A prototype health surveillance scheme for WBV is presented in this paper. Surveillance is the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data for the purpose of prevention. The aims are to assess health status and diagnose vibration-induced disorders at an early stage, to inform the workers on the potential risk associated with vibration exposure, to give preventive advice to employers and employees and to control whether preventive measures which have been taken, were successful. It is suggested that a pre-placement health examination should be offered to each worker who will be exposed to WBV so as to make the worker aware of the hazards, to obtain baseline health data, and to identify medical conditions that may increase the risk due to WBV. The case history should focus on personal history, work history, and leisure activities involving driving of vehicles. The personal medical history should detail back pain complaints, disorders in the spine, any injuries or surgery to the musculoskeletal system. A physical examination on the lower back should be performed on workers who have experienced LBP symptoms over the past 12 months. The preplacement examination should be followed by periodic health reassessment with a regular interval according to the legislation of the country. It is suggested that periodic medical examination should be made available at least every 2 years to all workers who are exposed to WBV. Any change in vibration exposure at the workplace should be reported by the employer. If an increase in vibration exposure or a change in health status have occurred, the medical re-examination should be offered at shorter intervals at the discretion of the attending physician. There should be a periodic medical examination, which includes recording any change in exposure to WBV. The findings for the individual should be compared with previous examinations. Group data should also be compiled periodically. Medical removal may be considered along with re-placement in working practices without exposure to WBV. This paper presents opinions on health surveillance for whole-body vibration developed within a working group of partners funded on a European Community Network (BIOMED2 concerted action BMH4-CT98-3251: Research network on detection and prevention of injuries due to occupational vibration exposures). The health surveillance protocol and the draft questionnaire with explanation comments are presented for wider consideration by the science community and others before being considered appropriate for implementation.     

Ellipsometric measurements by use of photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion

We present a novel interferometric technique for performing ellipsometric measurements. This technique relies on the use of a nonclassical optical source, namely, polarization-entangled twin photons generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion from a nonlinear crystal, in conjunction with a coincidence-detection scheme. Ellipsometric measurements acquired with this scheme are absolute; i.e., they do not require source and detector calibration.     

New stereoselective intramolecular

Efficient 1,4-asymmetric induction has been achieved in the highly stereocontrolled intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloadditions between ketenimines and imines, leading to 1,2-dihydroazeto[2, 1-b]quinazolines. The chiral methine carbon adjacent to the iminic nitrogen controls the exclusive formation of the cycloadducts with relative trans configuration at C2 and C8. The stepwise mechanistic model, based on theoretical calculations, fully supports the stereochemical outcome of these cycloadditions.     

N-fold joint photocounting distribution for modulated laser radiation: Transmission through the turbulent atmosphere

In this paper a generalised result for theN-fold joint photoelectron counting distribution for independently modulated radiation is given. We extend the recent results of Diament and Teich, for the one-fold photoelectron counting distribution for light propagated through an atmosphere characterised by log-normal irradiance fluctuations, to theN-fold joint photoelectron counting distribution. An approximate solution for thisN-fold distribution is obtained, for detection intervals {T_i} « _a where _a is the characteristic time of the atmospheric turbulence. We present specifically the two-fold joint photocounting distribution for amplitude-stabilised laser radiation passing through such an atmosphere for several levels of turbulence and degrees of correlation. Cases including additive, independent, non-interfering Poisson noise are considered. Computer generated plots of the photocounting distribution are presented. For noise-free detection, the otherwise narrow-peaked photocounting distribution is seen to broaden markedly and shift its peak to lower counts as the turbulence level increases. Furthermore, a non-singular counting distribution is obtained for fully correlated detection. In the presence of additive noise and varying only the signal-to-noise ratio, the probability surface is intermediate between that of the Poisson and that of the noise-free log-normal fading counting distribution. The peak, however, is observed to decrease and then again increase in magnitude as , for correlated detection only. These results are expected to be of use in the study of atmospheric turbulence, as well as in the evaluation of certain stochastic functionals that occur in optical communication theory for the turbulent atmospheric channel.This work was supported in part by the US National Science Foundation under Grant Number NSF-GK-16649.     

Demonstration of dispersion-canceled quantum-optical coherence tomography

We present an experimental demonstration of quantum-optical coherence tomography. The technique makes use of an entangled twin-photon light source to carry out axial optical sectioning. It is compared to conventional optical coherence tomography. The immunity of the quantum version to dispersion, as well as a factor of 2 enhancement in resolution, is experimentally demonstrated.