Some Connections between Frames,Mutually Unbiased Bases,and POVM’s in Quantum Information Theory

This paper gives a very brief overview of some aspects of quantum information theory, then explains the relationship between a positive operator valued measure (POVM) and a frame. Some special types of POVM’s are defined and conjectures about them shown to be essentially conjectures about the existence of special types of frames. Finally, some connections with quantum channels and separable states are discussed.     

Relaxation and imaging of lithium in vivo

It has recently been demonstrated that NMR imaging can be used to record the distribution of lithium. We now report on the parameters pertinent to this imaging. Specifically, the relaxation of Li in aqueous solution, in agarose gel, and in vivo has been investigated. In the latter case, both the longitudinal and transverse relaxations were biexponential, consistent with the behavior expected for a spin 3/2 quadrupole relaxed nucleus. The overall relaxation rate was quite slow in vivo with T'1 = 3.5 sec and T'1 = 6.6 sec.     

Sequential and localized grafting on aliphatic polyester diblock copolymers using alkyne deprotection and click cycloaddition

Diblock copolymers, in which both blocks are composed of aliphatic polyesters, were synthesized from two different alkyne‐functionalized δ‐valerolactone monomers by ring opening polymerization and subsequent click cycloaddition. Trimethylsilyl protection of the alkyne functionality of one block was instrumental to the success of the synthesis. These novel aliphatic polyester diblock copolymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Sequential functionalization of the diblock copolymers with hydrophobic groups on one block, and hydrophilic groups on the other block, provides access to amphiphilic structures. Micellar structures generated from these polyester amphiphiles were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy and transition electron microscopy (TEM). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009     

Confusion about Bohm

Conclusion  It is important to distinguish between physics, which is an experimental science, andphysicists, who are people. The latter are most certainlynot objective. Thus, Lipschütz-Yevick’s assertion that Ruskai says that the publication of Bohm’s controversial articles in thePhysical Review is evidence of the objectivity of the establishment towards [Bohm] is not supported by my statement It should be noted that even though studying the foundations of quantum mechanics has long been far from the mainstream, it has never been suppressed. The papers of Bohm, Bell,et al. were published in reputable journals, … Reasonable people may disagree on the significance of a particular theory or individual’s contribution. It is here, rather than in the physicsper se, that questions of social influence are likely to arise. I have commented elsewhere, e.g., [17], on the role that gender sometimes plays. In a subsequent article, I will also discuss the distinction between the effect of the social and political climate on the development of the careers of individuals and the development of physics. The articles by Cronin and Lipschütz-Yevick have stimulated me to think anew about a number of issues related to Bohmian mechanics, for which a full discussion requires clarification of some technical issues regarding the EPR experiment and non-locality. These will be discussed in a forthcoming article.     

Noninvasive imaging of cell death using an Hsp90 ligand

Cell death plays a central role in normal physiology and in disease. Common to apoptotic and necrotic cell death is the eventual loss of plasma membrane integrity. We have produced a small organoarsenical compound, 4-(N-(S-glutathionylacetyl)amino)phenylarsonous acid, that rapidly accumulates in the cytosol of dying cells coincident with loss of plasma membrane integrity. The compound is retained in the cytosol predominantly by covalent reaction with the 90 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90), the most abundant molecular chaperone of the eukaryotic cytoplasm. The organoarsenical was tagged with either optical or radioisotope reporting groups to image cell death in cultured cells and in murine tumors ex vivo and in situ. Tumor cell death in mice was noninvasively imaged by SPECT/CT using an (111)In-tagged compound. This versatile compound should enable the imaging of cell death in most experimental settings.     

Using multiple short-end injections to develop fast electrophoretic separations--applications in iodide analysis

The aim of this study was to develop a fast CE separation method by using multiple short-end injections in a capillary coated with quaternary ammonium chitosan (HACC), in order to determine the iodide content of pharmaceutical formulations. The BGE was composed of 20 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and 11 mM hydrochloric acid, at pH 8. The internal standard used was thiocyanate. Separations were performed in a fused silica capillary (32 cm total length, 8.5 cm effective length and 50 μm i.d.) coated with HACC and direct UV detection at 220 nm. EOF was modified by flushing the capillary with polymeric solution, resulting in a semi-permanent coating of controlled and stable EOF. The EOF was anodic at pH 8. Different strategies, using single and multiple injection short-end configurations, were studied to develop a CE method that resulted in a maximum number of iodide samples analyzed per hour: one plug and flush (Sflush) 35 samples/h, one plug without flush (SWflush) 76 samples/h, four plugs and flush (Mflush) 61 samples/h, and four plugs without flush (MWflush) 80 samples/h. Using the multiple injection configuration, it was possible to inject up to four plugs using spacer electrolytes with good separation efficiency and selectivity. The voltage application time needed to separate the eight peaks (iodide and thiocyanate) with MWflush was only 12s. The method was validated and samples were analyzed using MWflush. Good linearity (R(2)>0.999); a limit of detection 0.4 mg L(-1); intermediate precision better than 3.8% (peak area) and recovery in the range of 99-102% were obtained.     

Subitising activity relative to units construction: a case study

Subitising, a quick apprehension of the numerosity of a small set of items, has been found to change from an individual's reliance on perceptual to conceptual processes. In this study, we utilised a constructivist teaching experiment methodology to investigate how the subitising activity of one preschool student, Amy, related to her construction of prenumerical units. Subitising and counting tasks were designed to assess and perturb Amy's thinking relative to her construction of units, and to observe changes in Amy's activity associated with the different tasks. Findings indicate that as Amy's subitising activity changed from perceptual to conceptual, she constructed subitised motor units and subitised figurative units. Implications of this study suggest that the construction of subitised units may support young children's later development of arithmetic units.     

Double Molecular Encapsulation of Tetrahydrofuran by an Amphiphilic Calix-[4]-arene

The crystal structure of para-octanoylcalix-[4]-arene·2 tetrahydrofuran complex reveals double inclusion of the guest molecules, one deep in the aromatic cavity and the other held in a four-fingered molecular hand formed by the aliphatic chains, the inclusion changes the molecular packing from a bilayer system in the absence of guest, to a head-to-tail antiparallel chain packing.