Sciadopitys verticillata Resin: Volatile Components and Impact on Plant Pathogenic and Foodborne Bacteria

Sciadopitys verticillata (Sv) produces a white, sticky, latex-like resin with antimicrobial properties. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effects of this resin (Sv resin) on bacterial populations and to determine the impact of its primary volatile components on bioactivity. The impact of sample treatment on chemical composition of Sv resin was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with principal component analysis. The presence and concentration of volatiles in lyophilized resin were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Changes in bacterial population counts due to treatment with resin or its primary volatile components were monitored. Autoclaving of the samples did not affect the FTIR spectra of Sv resin; however, lyophilization altered spectra, mainly in the CH and C=O regions. Three primary bioactive compounds that constituted \u3e90% of volatiles (1R-α-pinene, tricyclene, and β-pinene) were identified in Sv resin. Autoclaved resin impacted bacterial growth. The resin was stimulatory for some plant and foodborne pathogens (Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae, and Xanthomonas perforans) and antimicrobial for others (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Erwinia amylovora). Treatment with either 1R-α-pinene or β-pinene reduced B. cereus population growth less than did autoclaved resin. The complex resin likely contains additional antimicrobial compounds that act synergistically to inhibit bacterial growth

Coherent control of a superconducting qubit using light

Quantum science and technology promise the realization of a powerful computational resource that relies on a network of quantum processors connected with low loss and low noise communication channels capable of distributing entangled states [1,2]. While superconducting microwave qubits (3-8 GHz) operating in cryogenic environments have emerged as promising candidates for quantum processor nodes due to their strong Josephson nonlinearity and low loss [3], the information between spatially separated processor nodes will likely be carried at room temperature via telecommunication photons (200 THz) propagating in low loss optical fibers. Transduction of quantum information [4-10] between these disparate frequencies is therefore critical to leverage the advantages of each platform by interfacing quantum resources. Here, we demonstrate coherent optical control of a superconducting qubit. We achieve this by developing a microwave-optical quantum transducer that operates with up to 1.18% conversion efficiency (1.16% cooperativity) and demonstrate optically-driven Rabi oscillations (2.27 MHz) in a superconducting qubit without impacting qubit coherence times (800 ns). Finally, we discuss outlooks towards using the transducer to network quantum processor nodes

Reduced Indium Tin Oxide as a Transparent Superconductor

Absorption of optical light in superconducting electronics is a major limitation on the quality of circuit architectures that integrate optical components with superconducting components. Such absorption causes losses in the optics and quasiparticle generation in the superconductor, decreasing the performance of both [1]. However, integration of optical and superconducting components will be crucial for the development of electro-optical transducers for quantum networking [2], scalable readout of single photon detectors [3], and neuromorphic computing [4]. Ideally, we could fabricate the superconducting electronics in these systems out of a material that is transparent to the wavelengths used by the optical components. Few conductive materials are transparent to optical wavelengths though, let alone superconducting materials. Typical metals have a high carrier concentration and no band gap, resulting in strong absorption for light below x-ray frequencies [5]. However, certain degenerately doped semiconductors known as transparent conductive oxides have ultraviolet band gap energies, high mobilities, and low carrier concentrations, thus allowing for both good conduction and optical transparency. Under the right conditions, these materials may superconduct as well. One such material, indium tin oxide (ITO), has been shown to superconduct with a maximum transition temperature of about 4 K when doped to carrier concentrations of about 1021cm−3 [6]. In particular, arbitrary samples of ITO can superconduct when sufficiently doped by electrochemical reduction [7]. In this thesis, we characterize the effects of electrochemical reduction on the electronic properties, structure, and composition of ITO and evaluate its suitability for superconducting electronics. First, in Chapter 1, we outline the theory of transparent superconductivity and review existing work on such materials. Then in Chapter 2 we describe the basic theory and design of our electrochemical cell and discuss the characterization techniques we will use to evaluate our films. In Chapter 3 we present our findings on the electronic properties, structure, and composition of ITO reduced to different total reduction charge densities. In Chapter 4 we quantify the optical properties of reduced ITO and compare it to niobium, a common material for superconducting electronics. In Chapter 5 we consider different methods for fabricating electronics on reduced ITO and evaluate the resulting microwires. Finally, in Chapter 6 we discuss the implications of our findings and future directions for work on transparent superconductors.S.M

Sciadopitys verticillata Resin: Volatile Components and Impact on Plant Pathogenic and Foodborne Bacteria

Sciadopitys verticillata (Sv) produces a white, sticky, latex-like resin with antimicrobial properties. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effects of this resin (Sv resin) on bacterial populations and to determine the impact of its primary volatile components on bioactivity. The impact of sample treatment on chemical composition of Sv resin was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with principal component analysis. The presence and concentration of volatiles in lyophilized resin were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Changes in bacterial population counts due to treatment with resin or its primary volatile components were monitored. Autoclaving of the samples did not affect the FTIR spectra of Sv resin; however, lyophilization altered spectra, mainly in the CH and C=O regions. Three primary bioactive compounds that constituted >90% of volatiles (1R-α-pinene, tricyclene, and β-pinene) were identified in Sv resin. Autoclaved resin impacted bacterial growth. The resin was stimulatory for some plant and foodborne pathogens (Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae, and Xanthomonas perforans) and antimicrobial for others (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Erwinia amylovora). Treatment with either 1R-α-pinene or β-pinene reduced B. cereus population growth less than did autoclaved resin. The complex resin likely contains additional antimicrobial compounds that act synergistically to inhibit bacterial growth

Dexamphetamine enhances explicit new word learning for novel objects

Past research suggests that dexamphetamine (Dex) can facilitate learning and memory in healthy individuals and after a neurological lesion. This study investigated the effects of Dex on the learning of names for new objects in young healthy adults (n = 37) within an explicit learning paradigm by using a double-blind, placebo-controlled between- subjects design. Participants received 10 mg Dex or a placebo each morning over five consecutive days before viewing 100 novel objects with non-word names plus matched fillers. Compared to the placebo, Dex enhanced both the rate of learning and the retention of the words 1 wk and 1 month later. The improved word learning correlated with baseline attention and memory scores for participants in the Dex group only. No correlations were observed between word-learning success and sustained attention, mood or cardiovascular arousal. It was concluded that the improved explicit word learning may have reflected dexamphetamine-incluced changes in short-term memory and/or memory consolidation

Transforming "apathy into movement": the role of prosocial emotions in motivating action for social change

This article explores the synergies between recent developments in the social identity of helping, and advantaged groups' prosocial emotion. The authors review the literature on the potential of guilt, sympathy, and outrage to transform advantaged groups' apathy into positive action. They place this research into a novel framework by exploring the ways these emotions shape group processes to produce action strategies that emphasize either social cohesion or social change. These prosocial emotions have a critical but underrecognized role in creating contexts of in-group inclusion or exclusion, shaping normative content and meaning, and informing group interests. Furthermore, these distinctions provide a useful way of differentiating commonly discussed emotions. The authors conclude that the most "effective" emotion will depend on the context of the inequality but that outrage seems particularly likely to productively shape group processes and social change outcomes