Fidelity and coherence measures from interference

By utilizing single particle interferometry, the fidelity or coherence of a pair of quantum states is identified with their capacity for interference. We consider processes acting on the internal degree of freedom (e.g., spin or polarization) of the interfering particle, preparing it in states rho_{A} or rho_{B} in the respective path of the interferometer. The maximal visibility depends on the choice of interferometer, as well as the locality or nonlocality of the preparations, but otherwise depends only on the states rho_{A} and rho_{B} and not the individual preparation processes themselves. This allows us to define interferometric measures which probe locality and correlation properties of spatially or temporally separated processes, and can be used to differentiate between processes that cannot be distinguished by direct process tomography using only the internal state of the particle.     

Dynamic changes of gangliosides expression during the differentiation of embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells

Stem cells are used for the investigation of developmental processes at both cellular and organism levels and offer tremendous potentials for clinical applications as an unlimited source for transplantation. Gangliosides, sialic acid-conjugated glycosphingolipids, play important regulatory roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. However, their expression patterns in stem cells and during neuronal differentiation are not known. Here, we investigated expression of gangliosides during the growth of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and differentiated neuronal cells by using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Monosialoganglioside 1 (GM1) was expressed in mESCs and MSCs, while GM3 and GD3 were expressed in embryonic bodies. In the 9-day old differentiated neuronal cells from mESCs cells and MSCs, GM1 and GT1b were expressed. Results from immunostaining were consistent with those observed by HPTLC assay. These suggest that gangliosides are specifically expressed according to differentiation of mESCs and MSCs into neuronal cells and expressional difference of gangliosides may be a useful marker to identify differentiation of mESCs and MSCs into neuronal cells.     

Photoelectrochemical decomposition of water into H2 and O2 on porous BiVO4 thin-film electrodes under visible light and significant effect of Ag ion treatment

The photoelectrochemical properties of porous BiVO4 thin-film electrodes on conducting glass for H2 production from water under visible light were investigated. BiVO4 films were prepared by the metal-organic decomposition method, and particles were 90-150 nm in diameter. Under visible-light irradiation, H2 and O2 evolved in a stoichiometric ratio (H2/O2 = 2) from an aqueous solution of Na2SO4 with an external bias. The photocurrent increased with addition of methanol. The band structure of BiVO4 was investigated by open-circuit potential, flat-band potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and calculations based on density functional theory. The top of the valence-band potential of BiVO4 was shifted negatively compared to the potentials of the conventional oxide semiconductors without Bi. We surmise that hybridization between the O-2p and Bi-6s orbitals might contribute to the negative shift of the BiVO4 valence band. Treatment with an aqueous solution of AgNO3 improved the photocurrent of the BiVO4 electrode significantly. The maximum incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency at 420 nm was 44%. This value was the highest among mixed-oxide semiconductor electrodes under visible light irradiation. AgNO3 treatment also improved the stability of the photocurrent. The Ag+ ion in/on the BiVO4 catalyzed the intrinsic photogeneration of oxygen with the holes.     

Maximal resonance of cubic bipartite polyhedral graphs

Let H{\mathcal{H}} be a set of disjoint faces of a cubic bipartite polyhedral graph G. If G has a perfect matching M such that the boundary of each face of H{\mathcal{H}} is an M-alternating cycle (or in other words, G-H{G-\mathcal{H}} has a perfect matching), then H{\mathcal{H}} is called a resonant pattern of G. Furthermore, G is k-resonant if every i (1 \leqslant i \leqslant k){i\,(1\,\leqslant\, i\, \leqslant\, k)} disjoint faces of G form a resonant pattern. In particular, G is called maximally resonant if G is k-resonant for all integers k \geqslant 1{k\,\geqslant\, 1}. In this paper, all the cubic bipartite polyhedral graphs, which are maximally resonant, are characterized. As a corollary, it is shown that if a cubic bipartite polyhedral graph is 3-resonant then it must be maximally resonant. However, 2-resonant ones need not to be maximally resonant.     

Some results on the Laplacian eigenvalues of unicyclic graphs

In this paper, we provide the smallest value of the second largest Laplacian eigenvalue for any unicyclic graph, and find the unicyclic graphs attaining that value. And also give an “asymptotically good” upper bounds for the second largest Laplacian eigenvalues of unicyclic graphs. Using this results, we can determine unicyclic graphs with maximum Laplacian separator. And unicyclic graphs with maximum Laplacian spread will also be determined.     

Intermolecular Double Prins‐Type Cyclization: A Facile and Efficient Synthesis of 1,6‐Dioxecanes

Double or nothing : The title reaction converts a range of aromatic aldehydes and allenylmethyl/allyl silanes into 1,6‐dioxecane derivatives in good to excellent yields (see scheme; Ar=aryl, Tf=triflate, THF=tetrahydrofuran, TMS=trimethylsilyl). In addition, the bisdiene product has been transformed into the corresponding tricyclic compound through a Diels–Alder reaction.

     

Effects of Annealing on the Properties of Gamma-Irradiated Sago Starch

The increase in health and safety concerns regarding chemical modification in recent years has caused a growing research interest in the modification of starch by physical techniques. There has been a growing trend toward using a combination of treatments in starch modification in producing desirable functional properties to widen the application of a specific starch. In this study, a novel combination of gamma irradiation and annealing (ANN) was used to modify sago starch (Metroxylon sagu). The starch was subjected to gamma irradiation (5, 10, 25, 50 kGy) prior to ANN at 5 °C (T_o-5) and 10 °C (T_o-10) below the gelatinization temperature. Determination of amylose content, pH, carboxyl content, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) intensity ratio (R_1047/1022), swelling power and solubility, thermal behavior, pasting properties, and morphology were carried out. Annealing irradiated starch at T_o-5 promoted more crystalline perfection as compared to T_o-10, particularly when combined with 25 and 50 kGy, whereby a synergistic effect was observed. Dual-modified sago starch exhibited lower swelling power, improved gel firmness, and thermal stability with an intact granular structure. Results suggested the potential of gamma irradiation and annealing to induce some novel characteristics in sago starch for extended applications.     

Effects of Sonication and Thermal Pasteurization on the Nutritional,Antioxidant, and Microbial Properties of Noni Juice

Sonication is recognized as a potential food processing method to improve the functional properties of fruit juice. This study evaluated the effects of different sonication durations (20, 40, and 60 min) and thermal pasteurization on the nutritional, antioxidant, and microbial properties of noni juice. Fresh noni juice served as the control. The main organic acids detected were malic (57.54–89.31 mg/100 mL) and ascorbic (17.15–31.55 mg/100 mL) acids. Compared with the fresh sample, the concentrations of these compounds were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the 60 min sonicated sample but reduced (p < 0.05) in the pasteurized sample. Moreover, sonication for 60 min resulted in increments of scopoletin, rutin, and vanillic acid compared to the fresh sample. The antioxidant activity of the juice sample was improved in the sample sonicated for 60 min. Irrespective of juice processing method, the level of microbial counts in noni juice was within the satisfactory level over the 8 weeks of refrigerated (4 °C) storage. This study highlights the feasibility of using ultrasound processing to enhance the quality of noni juice on the industrial scale.     

Pnictogen-Functionalised C1 Ligands: MC-ARn (n=0, 1, 2, 3)

The chemistry of transition metal carbynes, L_nM≡CR, has historically been dominated by species bearing hydrocarbyl or amino ‘R’ substituents, with other elements appearing only sporadically. In recent years, carbynes and related ‘C₁’ species bearing other main-group substituents, particularly heavier elements of the p-block, have begun to emerge. This review details the chemistry of heavier pnictogen-functionalised C₁ ligands, MCAR_n (A=P, As, Sb, Bi; n=0–3), including their syntheses, properties and reactivities, and how these are distinguished from more traditional carbyne complexes. Recent developments in the closely related phospha-isonitrile L_nM(CPR), cya-phosphide and cya-arside ligands, L_nM(C≡A) (A=P, As), are also discussed.