Hierarchical quantum master equation with semiclassical Drude dissipation

We propose a nonperturbative quantum dissipation theory, in term of hierarchical quantum master equation. It may be used with a great degree of confidence to various dynamics systems in condensed phases. The theoretical development is rooted in an improved semiclassical treatment of Drude bath, beyond the conventional high temperature approximations. It leads to the new theory a simple modification but important improvement over the conventional stochastic Liouville equation theory, without extra numerical cost. Its broad range of validity and applicability is extensively demonstrated with two--level electron transfer model systems, where the new theory can be considered as the modified Zusman equation. We also present a criterion, which depends only on the system--bath coupling strength, characteristic bath memory time, and temperature, to estimate the performance of the hierarchical quantum master equation.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, submitted to J. Chem. Phys. on 2009-08-0

Elevation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in the Mouse Brain after Chronic Nonylphenol Exposure

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of chronic administration of nonylphenol (NP) on the expression of inflammation-related genes in the brains of mice. NP was given orally by gavages at 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d. The expression of inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting assays. The nitric oxide (NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were also measured by biochemical analyses. The results showed that NP at a high dose (200 mg/kg/d) significantly increased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both the hippocampus and cortex. In parallel with the increase in iNOS expression, the NO level was significantly greater at the dose of 200 mg/kg/d, compared to the control. The activity of NOS was also increased in the brain of mice at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg/d. These findings demonstrate that NP may have the potential to induce the chronic inflammation or cause neurotoxicity in the mouse brain

Demonstrating Additional Law of Relativistic Velocities based on Squeezed Light

Special relativity is foundation of many branches of modern physics, of which theoretical results are far beyond our daily experience and hard to realized in kinematic experiments. However, its outcomes could be demonstrated by making use of convenient substitute, i.e. squeezed light in present paper. Squeezed light is very important in the field of quantum optics and the corresponding transformation can be regarded as the coherent state of SU(1; 1). In this paper, the connection between the squeezed operator and Lorentz boost is built under certain conditions. Furthermore, the additional law of relativistic velocities and the angle of Wigner rotation are deduced as well

An investigation of the health value and self-care capabilities of the elderly in urban-rural fringe area nursing homes and the related influencing factors

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the health value and self-care capabilities of the elderly living in urban-rural fringe area nursing homes and the factors that influence these variables.MethodsA cluster sampling method was used to select 280 elderly individuals from seven urban-rural fringe communities in Xianning to complete a survey regarding their health value and self-care capabilities.ResultsThe total health value and self-care capability scores of the elderly were 7.45 ± 1.45 and 100.25 ± 22.56, respectively. Both of these scores significantly differed by age, education level, marital status, and income (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Self-care capability was correlated with health value (r = 0.521). A multivariate linear regression analysis showed that health value, marital status, and age predicted self-care capability.ConclusionsElderly people living in the urban-rural fringe area with higher health values also had higher self-care capabilities. The self-care capabilities of the elderly can be enhanced by improving their health value using the “knowing-trusting-acting” model

Determination, source analysis and preliminary risk assessment of benzoic acid in rice wine

Objective To analyze the concentration and source of benzoic acid in rice wine and evaluate the health risk of dietary benzoic acid intake from rice wine among adult consumers in China. Methods 231 samples of rice wine and 15 samples of raw materials were collected from five main rice wine production areas in China, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shanghai; the content of benzoic acid and its precursors were determined by high performance liquid chromatography; the sources of benzoic acid in rice wine were analyzed by the benzaldehyde and phenylalanine simulation test and the real sample acceleration test; the benzoic acid intake among adult consumers was evaluated by simple distribution assessment method. Results In all rice wine samples, the detection rate of benzoic acid was 99.13% (229/231), the concentration range of benzoic acid was ND (not detectable) -37.00 mg/L, and the average was 2.28 mg/L. In 98 end products, the detection rate of benzoic acid was 100.00% (98/98), the concentration range of benzoic acid was ND-1.60 mg/L, and the average was 0.52 mg/L; in 133 base wine samples, the detection rate of benzoic acid was 98.50% (131/133), the content range of benzoic acid was ND-37.00 mg/L, and the average was 3.58 mg/L. The result of source analysis showed that the benzoic acid in rice wine mainly came from raw materials, degradation of phenylalanine and oxidation of benzaldehyde. Exposure assessment result showed that the average exposure of benzoic acid for rice wine consumers in China was 0.001 mg/kg BW, accounting for 0.02% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI); and the 95th percentile was 0.005 mg/kg BW, accounting for 0.1% of the ADI. Conclusion The detection rate of benzoic acid in rice wine was high but the concentration was low. Source analysis result indicated that benzoic acid in rice wine mainly came from raw materials, degradation of phenylalanine and oxidation of benzaldehyde; the health risk of benzoic acid exposure to adult rice wine consumers in China was low