Operator spaces with few completely bounded maps

We construct several examples of Hilbertian operator spaces with few completely bounded maps. In particular, we give an example of a separable 1-Hilbertian operator space X₀ such that, whenever X is an infinite dimensional quotient of X₀, X is a subspace of X, and is a completely bounded map, then T=I_X+S, where S is compact Hilbert-Schmidt and ||S||₂/16||S||_cb||S||₂. Moreover, every infinite dimensional quotient of a subspace of X₀ fails the operator approximation property. We also show that every Banach space can be equipped with an operator space structure without the operator approximation property. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000):The first author was supported in part by the NSF grants DMS-9970369, 0296094, and 0200714.     

The Daugavet Property of C*-Algebras and Non-commutative Lp-Spaces

We prove that a C ^*-algebra A or a predual N _* of a von Neumann algebra N has the Daugavet property if and only if A (or N) is non-atomic. We also prove a similar (although somewhat weaker) result for non-commutative L _p-spaces corresponding to non-atomic von Neumann algebras.     

A feasibility study of X‐ray phase‐contrast mammographic tomography at the Imaging and Medical beamline of the Australian Synchrotron

Results are presented of a recent experiment at the Imaging and Medical beamline of the Australian Synchrotron intended to contribute to the implementation of low‐dose high‐sensitivity three‐dimensional mammographic phase‐contrast imaging, initially at synchrotrons and subsequently in hospitals and medical imaging clinics. The effect of such imaging parameters as X‐ray energy, source size, detector resolution, sample‐to‐detector distance, scanning and data processing strategies in the case of propagation‐based phase‐contrast computed tomography (CT) have been tested, quantified, evaluated and optimized using a plastic phantom simulating relevant breast‐tissue characteristics. Analysis of the data collected using a Hamamatsu CMOS Flat Panel Sensor, with a pixel size of 100 µm, revealed the presence of propagation‐based phase contrast and demonstrated significant improvement of the quality of phase‐contrast CT imaging compared with conventional (absorption‐based) CT, at medically acceptable radiation doses.     

Lipase biosensor for tributyrin and pesticide detection

Potentiometric biosensors based on Candida rugosa lipase was described for the detection of organophosphorus pesticide; methyl-parathion and tributyrin. Lipase was immobilized on the glass electrode by means of a gelatin membrane, which is then cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The principle of the biosensor is based on the measurement of pH variation which was recorded in millivolts due to the enzymatic hydrolysis of tributyrin to butyric acid. For the inhibitor detection, biosensor responses were measured after pesticide treatment, which caused a drop in enzyme activity because of the irreversible inhibition. Reactivation conditions of the reused enzyme electrodes were also investigated by pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide (2-PAM). The limit of detection for tributyrin was estimated as 93?µM for lipase sensor within the linear range of 65–455?µM.     

Reduction of the matrix influence on analytical signal in laser-enhanced ionization spectrometry with laser sampling

The novel approach using a slope of correlation line (laser-enhanced ionization of lithium versus laser-induced plasma emission of aluminum) as analytical signal was proposed for reduction of matrix interferences in laser-enhanced ionization spectrometric determination of Li with laser sampling.     

A biosensor based on graphite epoxy composite electrode for aspartame and ethanol detection

A gelatin membrane with carboxyl esterase and alcohol oxidase was subsequently integrated onto the surface of a graphite epoxy composite electrode (GECE). The developed biosensors showed linearity in the range of 2.5–400 μM for aspartame and 2.5–25 μM for ethanol with response times of 170 and 70 s for each analyte, respectively. The resulting bienzyme biosensor was used for aspartame detection in diet coke samples and ethanol detection in beer and wine samples. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that the developed biosensor is a selective, practical and economic tool for aspartame and ethanol detection in real samples.