Experimental implementation of non-Gaussian attacks on a continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution system

An intercept-resend attack on a continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution protocol is investigated experimentally. By varying the interception fraction, one can implement a family of attacks where the eavesdropper totally controls the channel parameters. In general, such attacks add excess noise in the channel, and may also result in non-Gaussian output distributions. We implement and characterize the measurements needed to detect these attacks, and evaluate experimentally the information rates available to the legitimate users and the eavesdropper. The results are consistent with the optimality of Gaussian attacks resulting from the security proofs.     

Histological approaches for high-quality imaging of zooplanktonic organisms

The investigation of the internal organization of zooplankton communities provides important information on the plankton biology with special interest for the study of ecological processes. Zooplanktoners can play a structural function as indicators for ecosystem health or stress, but their study using histological techniques is still limited. Here we report that the internal structure of zooplanktonic organisms can be facilely observed by a histological approach that combines optimal fixation and processing with a plastic resin (glycol methacrylate) embedding, resulting in increased tissue resolution. Using copepods, organisms that can dominate zooplankton assemblages, as models, collected from a tropical ecosystem (Paraibuna river, Brazil), we showed fine histological details of their muscular, nervous and digestive systems, structure of appendages and cell features. Critical advantages of this approach are that it permits optimal preservation and adequate handling of the organisms (embedded in agar after fixation) for further histological processing and investigation. This is important because it prevents both mechanically induced artifacts and loss of these diminutive organisms during the different steps of processing. Moreover, embedding in plastic resin showed a superior imaging of copepod internal structures compared to paraffin embedding. The use of glycol methacrylate is advantageous over paraffin/paraplast embedding by avoiding heat damage, tissue retraction and allowing faster embedding procedure and better tissue resolution. The value of histological approaches in enabling high-quality imaging of the internal structure of copepods is particularly important because these organisms can be used as indicators of environmental changes.     

The insertion reaction of acetonitrile on aryl nickel complexes stabilized by bidentate N,N'-chelating ligands

Organometallic complexes to be used as single component precursors in the catalytic dimerization/polymerization of olefins usually must contain a labile ligand that can easily be displaced by the olefin. This is the first step in the activation of the precursor. One commonly used labile ligand is a nitrile. Here we report an example of incompatibility between the nickel or palladium aryl bond and acetonitrile. Neutral [MBr(Mes)NN] complexes in which Mes=2,4,6-Me3C6H2, NN=diazabutadiene (DAD), pyridinylimine (PIM), 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) gave the expected [M(Mes)(3,5-lut)(NN)][BF4] compounds and the unexpected [Ni(Mes){NH=C(Me)(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)}(NN)][BF4] complexes in the presence of TlBF4 and 3,5-lutidine or acetonitrile. The sequence of reactions that leads to the imine ligand must include an initial insertion of the nitrile on the sigma(Ni-Mes) bond. These ionic complexes remain stable under 20 bar of ethylene.     

Structure activity relationship studies on antileishmanial steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana

The search for antileishmanial constituents from the medicinal plant Sarcococca hookeriana (Buxaceae) of Nepalese origin has resulted in the isolation of 17 (1-17) active steroidal alkaloids. Compounds 1, 2, and 10 were subjected to derivatization and five chemically derived derivatives (1a, 2a, 10a, 10b, 10c) were also obtained. All these natural compounds and derivatives were found to have potent to mild antileishmanial properties. The IC(50) values were found to be in the range of 0.20-61.44 microg mL(-1) (IC(50) value of standard drug amphotericin B = 0.12 microg mL(-1)). The structure activity relationship indicated that the varieties of functionalities present in ring A of the steroidal alkaloids were found to play a characteristic role to increase the antileishmanial activity.     

Mesoscopic and microscopic investigation on poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels in the presence of sodium decylsulfate

The structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels formed as a result of freeze/thaw treatments of aqueous solutions of the polymer (11 wt % PVA) in the freshly prepared state is analyzed through the combined use of small (SANS) and ultrasmall (USANS) angle neutron scattering techniques. The structure of these hydrogels may be described in terms of polymer rich regions, with dimensions of the order of 1-2 microm, dispersed in a water rich phase, forming two bicontinuous phases. The PVA chains in the polymer rich phase form a network where the cross-linking points are mainly crystalline aggregates of PVA having average dimensions of approximately 45 A. The structural organization of freeze/thaw PVA hydrogel membranes does not change either after rehydration of dried gels or in the presence of a tensile force. Finally, addition of surfactant micelles inside the gel provides a formulation with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, which demonstrates the potential of the system for drug delivery. Both SANS and EPR measurements show that sodium decylsulfate (C10OS) micelles do not significantly interact with the PVA gel. Variation of the gel structure by the number of freeze/thaw cycles should modulate the rate of release of an active constituent, for example, in a dermal patch.     

Chloride anion transport and copper-mediated DNA cleavage by C-ring functionalized prodigiosenes

A new class of prodigiosenes with stability-enhancing functionalities appended to the C-ring were found to transport chloride anions through liposomal membranes, as well as to induce copper-mediated DNA cleavage.     

Screening of antioxidant compounds during sprouting of Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC

The changes in antioxidant compounds of Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC seeds were monitored during the first twelve days of seedling development. Sprouts were screened at time intervals of two days for phenolic compounds and organic acids. The identified phenolic compounds included esters of sinapic acid with glucose, gentiobiose and kaempferol, as well as sinapoylcholine. The organic acids were oxalic, aconitic, citric, pyruvic, malic, shikimic, and fumaric acids. During germination, a depletion of phenolic compounds was observed, although no qualitative changes were seen. Among individual compounds, kaempferol, choline and glucose esters of sinapic acid showed a marked decrease between days two and six, whereas the changes in gentiobiose esters of sinapic acid were smaller. The total organic acids content increased rapidly during the first four days, with less significant variations thereafter. Malic acid, the major organic acid found in sprouts, greatly contributed to this result though oxalic, pyruvic, and fumaric acids also increased in the same manner. In contrast, aconitic, citric and shikimic acids showed decreases between days two and twelve of germination.     

What have we learnt about heavy carbenes through laser flash photolysis studies?

Time resolved gas-phase kinetic studies have contributed a great deal of fundamental information about the reactions and reactivity of heavy carbenes (silylenes, germylenes and stannylenes) during the past two decades. In this article we trace the development of our understanding through the mechanistic themes of intermediate complexes, third body assisted associations, catalysed reactions, non-observed reactions and substituent effects. Ab initio (quantum chemical) calculations have substantially assisted mechanistic interpretation and are discussed where appropriate. Trends in reactivity are identified and some signposts to future studies are indicated. This review, although detailed, is not comprehensive.     

The reaction between silylene and ammonia: Some gas-phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies

Time-resolved kinetic studies of the reaction of silylene, SiH₂, generated by 193 nm laser flash photolysis of silacyclopent-3-ene, have been carried out in the presence of ammonia, NH₃. Second order kinetics were observed. The reaction was studied in the gas phase at 10 Torr total pressure in SF₆ bath gas at each of the three temperatures, 299, 340 and 400 K. The second order rate constants (laser pulse energy of 60 mJ +) fitted the Arrhenius equation:noindent Experiments at other pressures showed that these rate constants were unaffected by pressure in the range 10–100 Torr, but showed small decreases in value at 3 and 1 Torr. There was also a weak intensity dependence, with rate constants decreasing at laser pulse energies of 30 mJ +. Ab initio calculations at the G3 level of theory, show that SiH₂+NH₃ should form an initial adduct (donor-acceptor complex), but that energy barriers are too great for further reaction of the adduct. This implies that SiH₂+NH₃ should be a pressure dependent association reaction. The experimental data are inconsistent with this and we conclude that SiH₂ decays are better explained by reaction of SiH₂ with the amino radical, NH₂, formed by photodissociation of NH₃ at 193 nm. The mechanism of this previously unstudied reaction is discussed.     

Pharmaceutical determination in surface and wastewaters using high-performance liquid chromatography-(electrospray)-mass spectrometry

A method was developed to determine 11 pharmaceutical compounds in water samples. The method uses SPE and HPLC coupled to MS (LC/MS) using ESI in both positive and negative modes. Three different sorbents were compared for the extraction of analytes from river and sewage treatment plant (STP) waters and OASIS HLB provided the best results. For the solid-phase extraction of 500 mL of river water samples, the recoveries were between 41 and 101% with the exception of acetaminophen, salicylic acid and naproxen. The LODs were between 3 and 5 ng/L for all the compounds, except naproxen which had an LOD of 15 ng/L. Acetaminophen, caffeine, carbamazepine, bezafibrate and ibuprofen were found in three of the tested river samples at ng/L levels and among them, the highest values were for caffeine and bezafibrate with 305 and 363 ng/L, respectively. For the influent and effluent water samples of the STP, volumes of 100 and 250 mL were used, respectively, to obtain acceptable recoveries. All the compounds showed recoveries between 33 and 91% for effluent samples and 33-72% for influent samples, with the exception of acetaminophen, salicylic acid and bezafibrate, which had lower recoveries. The method developed enabled pharmaceuticals in the influent and effluent sewage waters to be determined in five campaigns carried out between February 2004 and June 2005. Several pharmaceuticals were found in the influent samples: for instance, maximum concentrations of ibuprofen and caffeine were 6 and 40 microg/L, respectively.