Properties of quantum Markovian master equations

In this paper we give an essentially self-contained account of some general structural properties of the dynamics of quantum open Markovian systems. We review some recent results regarding the problem of the classification of quantum Markovian master equations and the limiting conditions under which the dynamical evolution of a quantum open system obeys an exact semigroup law (weak coupling limit and singular coupling limit). We discuss a general form of quantum detailed balance and its relation to thermal relaxation and to microreversibility.     

Markov dilations and quantum detailed balance

We construct quantum stochastic processes whose multi-time correlation functions, with suitable time ordering, can be obtained from a quantum dynamical semigroup. We prove that such a process defines a stationary Markov dilation of the associated semigroup if and only if (up to technicalities) the semigroup satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition with respect to its stationary state.     

Billiards in Tubular Neighborhoods of Manifolds¶of Codimension 1

I prove that in (sufficiently small) tubular ρ$-neighborhoods of a given C ³ manifold of codimension 1, any two points can be connected by a billiard trajectory, and that in addition there exists such a trajectory having at most collision points, for a suitable H>0, provided the manifold is of class C ³. Received: 19 June 1998 / Accepted: 7 April 1999     

The effect of cationic groups on the stability of 19F MRI contrast agents in nanoparticles

Fluorine‐19 (¹⁹F)‐based contrast agents are increasingly used for magnetic resonance imaging. Conjugated to polymers, they provide an excellent quantitative imaging tool to detect the movement of the polymeric nanoparticles in vivo as there is no background signal in tissue. One of the challenges is the decline in signal intensity when the conjugated hydrophobic fluorinated functionalities aggregate. Therefore, a new fluorinated monomer was prepared from l ‐arginine that carries a 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl functional group for imaging. The resulting monomer, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethylamide l ‐arginine methacrylamide (3FArgMA), was copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA), [2‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranosyloxy)ethyl methacrylate or 1‐O‐methacryloyl‐2,3:4,5‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐β‐d ‐fructopyranose, respectively, using poly(methyl methacrylate) macro‐reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization agent. The resulting block copolymers, which varied in 3FArgMA content, were self‐assembled into micelles of hydrodynamic diameters from 25 to 60 nm. The permanently positively charged arginine functionality on the 3FArgMA displayed repulsive forces against aggregation enabling high spin–spin relaxation times (T₂) in acidic as well as alkaline solutions. However, the longer poly(ethylene glycol) side functionality in PEGMEMA enabled better steric stabilization (T₂~30 ms) while the short fructose side chain was not enough to maintain high T₂ values, in particular when a higher 3FArgMA content was used. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1994–2001     

Phase segregation of metastable quenched liquid mixtures and the effect of the quenching rate

The effect of the quenching rate on the phase separation of partially miscible liquid mixtures is studied, showing that it may influence the growth rate of single-phase domains. In particular, the phase separation of metastable binary mixtures in the presence of strong emulsifiers appears to be heavily retarded. These effects constitute an important limitation to the phase transition extraction process introduced by the authors in previous works, which is based on the fact that phase separation of unstable mixtures is rapid, even in the presence of surface active compounds.     

Sulfinyl-Mediated Stereoselective Functionalization of Acyclic Conjugated Dienes

The chemo- and stereocontrolled functionalization of conjugated sulfinyl dienes in a cascade process that involves a conjugate addition, diastereoselective protonation and a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement is reported. Enantioenriched 1,4-diol and 1,4-aminoalcohol derivatives are obtained in a very straightforward manner. Further functionalization of these structures, including highly stereoselective epoxidation, dihydroxylation and the stereodivergent synthesis of several polyols in a controlled fashion is described.     

A liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF–MS) method for identification analysis of saponins from Quillaja saponaria bark extracts in foot-and-mouth disease vaccines: Development,validation and applicability

Saponins from Quillaja saponaria have been commonly used as immunomodulatory adjuvants in foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (FMDVs). However, due to the lack of consensus over the possible exacerbation of local inflammatory responses in cattle and its economic impacts, their use has been discouraged by Brazilian authorities. A qualitative method intended to determine the presence of saponins from Q. saponaria bark extracts in FMDVs was developed and validated. Instrumental analysis was performed using an liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a quadrupole–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) system. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization Harmonized Tripartite Guideline Q2 (R1) and Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Analytical Quality Assurance Guidelines. Validation parameters were determined and considered suitable to the established criteria. The validated method has been applied in routine analysis in the National Agricultural Laboratory at Rio Grande do Sul (LANAGRO-RS). All results obtained were in agreement with the vaccine's composition described by the manufacturer. The method is easy and adequate for analysis in routine laboratories. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a method which intends to investigate the presence of saponins from Q. saponaria bark extracts in veterinary vaccines.     

Multiplexed therapeutic drug monitoring of antipsychotics in dried plasma spots by LC‐MS/MS

In this work, a convenient method for the therapeutic monitoring of seven common antipsychotic drugs in “dried plasma spot” samples has been developed. It is based on the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry technique, operating in multiple reaction monitoring mode, and a straightforward procedure for the simultaneous extraction of all antipsychotics in a single step, with high extraction yield. The method was fully validated with proper accuracy, precision, selectivity and sensitivity, for all the drugs. Limits of quantification were 0.12, 1.09, 1.46, 1.47, 5.70, 1.32, 1.33 µg/L for haloperidol, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine, risperidone, and paliperidone, respectively. Accuracy, intra‐ and interday precision values were <10% for all drugs at all concentration levels examined. The method was tested in the analysis of 30 plasma samples from real patients for each drug. The proposed analytical approach, by combining practical and logistical advantages of microsampling with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analytical performance, could offer an ideal strategy for accurate and timely therapeutic drug monitoring of antipsychotic drugs in most clinical settings, even in remote centers and/or in out‐patient settings, bringing so many potential improvements in psychiatric patient care.     

Wastes Treatment: Hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation of wastewater

Abstract

Electrochemical evolution of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine at the electrodes is the usual reaction in conventional electrolysis of aqueous salt solution. However, here we demonstrate that the electrolysis governing reaction in hydrothermal solutions is different from the electrolysis performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 100°C. Experimental electrolytic reaction of aqueous salt solution carried out inside a sealed 300-mL batch autoclave showed that; accumulation of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine is highly suppressed under hydrothermal (250°C and 7 MPa) conditions. We have also observed that, when organics are present in the aqueous salt solution being hydrothermally electrolyzed, an effective oxidation of organics is accomplished. Furthermore, for hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation (HEO) with oxygen gas added, experimentally observed TOC removal profile demonstrates apparent anodic oxidation electrical current efficiency of almost 200% for highconcentrated acetic acid solutions.