Perfect controlled joint remote state preparation independent of entanglement degree of the quantum channel

We construct a quantum circuit to produce a task-oriented partially entangled state and use it as the quantum channel for controlled joint remote state preparation. Unlike most previous works, where the parameters of the quantum channel are given to the receiver who can accomplish the task only probabilistically by consuming auxiliary resource, operation and measurement, here we give them to the supervisor. Thanks to the knowledge of the task-oriented quantum channel parameters, the supervisor can carry out proper complete projective measurement, which, combined with the feed-forward technique adapted by the preparers, not only much economizes (simplifies) the receiver's resource (operation) but also yields unit total success probability. Notably, such apparent perfection does not depend on the entanglement degree of the shared quantum channel. Our protocol is within the reach of current quantum technologies.     

A novel fluorescent sensor for hydrophobic amines in aqueous solution

A novel fluorescent tweezer was designed and synthesised to sense hydrophobic amines in aqueous solution. Association of the guest was driven by both hydrophobic effect and electrostatic interactions, with the hydrophobic interactions being dominant. The affinity and selectivity of the sensor for amine-based stimulants are reported.     

Nile Red and Nile Blue: Applications and Syntheses of Structural Analogues

Nile red and Nile blue are highly fluorescent and photostable organic dyes from the benzo[a]phenoxazine family. They have been used as histological stains for imaging lysosomes and lipids in vitro. The dyes’ high quantum yields and solvent‐dependent optical properties make them ideal scaffolds for the development of pH probes and local polarity indicators. Reviews of the literature in this area are scarce with only one review ever published in 2006. It has been 10 years since and the field has evolved. This review aims to expand upon topics covered by the previous reviewers and to report on recent advances in the literature. As authors, we hope to convey a sense of scope and to spark renewed interest in this useful niche of dye chemistry.     

Polydiacetylene/Anti‐HBs Complexes for Visible and Fluorescent Detection of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen on a Nitrocellulose Membrane

The immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane offers several advantages. This technique is a rapid and straightforward method in contrast to other immunoassays. Polydiacetylene (PDA) vesicles have unique optical properties, displaying red color and red fluorescence at the same time. In this system, red‐phase PDA vesicles are used as a fluorescent dye as well as a surface for immobilized hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). PDA has a remarkable stability compared with other fluorescent dyes. In this study, the most suitable PDA/HBsAb complexes are introduced for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Then, the PDA/HBsAb complexes affixed antibody is attached to NC membrane, which has two lines to confirm detection of HBsAg. The main advantage of this system is that the detection of HBsAg can be observed in both visible and fluorescent images due to the optical properties of polydiacetylene. Detection of HBsAg is observed up to 0.1 ng mL⁻¹ by fluorescent analysis and confirmed by red line on the NC membrane up to 1 ng mL⁻¹ (HBsAg) using the naked eye. Consequently, these results show that PDA/HBsAb complexes were successfully applied to ICA for the diagnosis of hepatitis B.     

Solution‐processable and thermally cross‐linkable fluorene‐cored triple‐triphenylamines with terminal vinyl groups to enhance electroluminescence of MEH‐PPV: Synthesis,curing, and optoelectronic properties

This study reports the synthesis, curing, and optoelectronic properties of a solution‐processable, thermally cross‐linkable electron‐ and hole‐blocking material containing fluorene‐core and three periphery N‐phenyl‐N‐(4‐vinylphenyl)benzeneamine ( FTV ). The FTV exhibited good thermal stability with T_d above 478 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The FTV is readily cross‐linked via terminal vinyl groups by heating at 160 °C for 30 min to obtain homogeneous film with excellent solvent resistance. Multilayer PLED device [ITO/PEDOT:PSS/cured‐ FTV /MEH‐PPV/Ca (50 nm)/Al (100 nm)] was successfully fabricated using solution processed. Inserting cured‐ FTV is between PEDOT:PSS and MEH‐PPV results in simultaneous reduction in hole injection from PEDOT:PSS to MEH‐PPV and blocking in electron transport from MEH‐PPV to anode. The maximum luminance and maximum current efficiency were enhanced from 1810 and 0.27 to 4640 cd/m² and 1.08 cd/A, respectively, after inserting cured‐ FTV layer. Current results demonstrate that the thermally cross‐linkable FTV enhances not only device efficiency but also film homogeneity after thermal curing. FTV is a promising electron‐ and hole‐blocking material applicable for the fabrication of multilayer PLEDs based on PPV derivatives. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 000: 000–000, 2012     

An analytical method for measuring α‐amylase activity in starch‐containing foods

The quality of starch‐containing foods may be significantly impaired by contamination with very small amounts of α‐amylase, which can enzymatically hydrolyze the starch and cause viscosity loss. Thus, for quality control, it is necessary to have an analytical method that can measure low amylase activity. We developed a sensitive analytical method for measuring the activity of α‐amylase (from Bacillus subtilis) in starch‐containing foods. The method consists of six steps: (1) crude extraction of α‐amylase by centrifugation and filtration; (2) α‐amylase purification by desalting and anion‐exchange chromatography; (3) reaction of the purified amylase with boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY)‐labeled substrate, which releases a fluorescent fragment upon digestion of the substrate, thus avoiding interference from starch derivatives in the sample; (4) stopping the reaction with acetonitrile; (5) reversed‐phase solid‐phase extraction of the fluorescent substrate to remove contaminating dye and impurities; and (6) separation and measurement of BODIPY fluorescence by HPLC. The proposed method could quantify α‐amylase activities as low as 10 mU/mL, which is enough to reduce the viscosity of starch‐containing foods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First Synthesis of the Inherently Chiral Trans-4′ Bisadduct of C59N Azafullerene by Using Cyclo-[2]-dodecylmalonate as a Tether

The multiaddition chemistry of azafullerene C₅₉N has been scarcely explored, and the isolation of pure bisadducts is in its infancy. Encouraged by the recent regioselective synthesis of the inherently chiral equatorial_face bisadduct of C₅₉N, we focused on the isolation of the first trans-4 bisadduct in a simple two-step approach. The first regioselective synthesis of the trans-4 bisadduct of C₅₉N by using cyclo-[2]-dodecylmalonate as a tether is now reported. The newly synthesized bisadduct has C₁ symmetry, as evidenced by ¹³C NMR, while X-ray crystallography validated the trans-4′ addition pattern. Furthermore, the inherently chiral trans-4′ C₅₉N bisadduct was enantiomerically resolved, and the mirror-image relation of the two enantiomers was probed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Finally, UV-Vis and redox assays suggested that the addition pattern has a reflection in the light-harvesting and redox properties of the bisadduct.