318 research outputs found
Undetermined states: how to find them and their applications
We investigate the undetermined sets consisting of two-level, multi-partite
pure quantum states, whose reduced density matrices give absolutely no
information of their original states. Two approached of finding these quantum
states are proposed. One is to establish the relation between codewords of the
stabilizer quantum error correction codes (SQECCs) and the undetermined states.
The other is to study the local complementation rules of the graph states. As
an application, the undetermined states can be exploited in the quantum secret
sharing scheme. The security is guaranteed by their undetermineness.Comment: 6 pages, no figur
Effective spinless fermions in the strong coupling Kondo model
Starting from the two-orbital Kondo-lattice model with classical t_2g spins,
an effective spinless fermion model is derived for strong Hund coupling J_H
with a projection technique. The model is studied by Monte Carlo simulations
and analytically using a uniform hopping approximation. The results for the
spinless fermion model are in remarkable agreement with those of the original
Kondo-lattice model, independent of the carrier concentration, and even for
moderate Hund coupling J_H. Phase separation, the phase diagram in uniform
hopping approximation, as well as spectral properties including the formation
of a pseudo-gap are discussed for both the Kondo-lattice and the effective
spinless fermion model in one and three dimensions.Comment: Revtex4, 10 pages, 15 figures, typos correcte
Optimal manipulations with qubits: Universal quantum entanglers
We analyze various scenarios for entangling two initially unentangled qubits.
In particular, we propose an optimal universal entangler which entangles a
qubit in unknown state with a qubit in a reference (known) state
. That is, our entangler generates the output state which is as close as
possible to the pure (symmetrized) state . The most
attractive feature of this entangling machine, is that the fidelity of its
performance (i.e. the distance between the output and the ideally entangled --
symmetrized state) does not depend on the input and takes the constant value
. We also analyze how to optimally generate
from a single qubit initially prepared in an unknown state |\Psi\r a two
qubit entangled system which is as close as possible to a Bell state
, where \l\Psi|\Psi^\perp\r =0.Comment: 11 pages, 3 eps figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Organ specificity and transcriptional control of metabolic routes revealed by expression QTL profiling of source-sink tissues in a segregating potato population
Background With the completion of genome sequences belonging to some of the major crop plants, new challenges arise to utilize this data for crop improvement and increased food security. The field of genetical genomics has the potential to identify genes displaying heritable differential expression associated to important phenotypic traits. Here we describe the identification of expression QTLs (eQTLs) in two different potato tissues of a segregating potato population and query the potato genome sequence to differentiate between cis- and trans-acting eQTLs in relation to gene subfunctionalization. Results Leaf and tuber samples were analysed and screened for the presence of conserved and tissue dependent eQTLs. Expression QTLs present in both tissues are predominantly cis-acting whilst for tissue specific QTLs, the percentage of trans-acting QTLs increases. Tissue dependent eQTLs were assigned to functional classes and visualized in metabolic pathways. We identified a potential regulatory network on chromosome 10 involving genes crucial for maintaining circadian rhythms and controlling clock output genes. In addition, we show that the type of genetic material screened and sampling strategy applied, can have a high impact on the output of genetical genomics studies. Conclusions Identification of tissue dependent regulatory networks based on mapped differential expression not only gives us insight in tissue dependent gene subfunctionalization but brings new insights into key biological processes and delivers targets for future haplotyping and genetic marker development
Inhibition of somatosensory mechanotransduction by annexin A6
Mechanically activated, slowly adapting currents in sensory neurons have been linked to noxious mechanosensation. The conotoxin NMB-1 (noxious mechanosensation blocker-1) blocks such currents and inhibits mechanical pain. Using a biotinylated form of NMB-1 in mass spectrometry analysis, we identified 67 binding proteins in sensory neurons and a sensory neuron-derived cell line, of which the top candidate was annexin A6, a membrane-associated calcium-binding protein. Annexin A6-deficient mice showed increased sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. Sensory neurons from these mice showed increased activity of the cation channel Piezo2, which mediates a rapidly adapting mechano-gated current linked to proprioception and touch, and a decrease in mechanically activated, slowly adapting currents. Conversely, overexpression of annexin A6 in sensory neurons inhibited rapidly adapting currents that were partially mediated by Piezo2. Furthermore, overexpression of annexin A6 in sensory neurons attenuated mechanical pain in a mouse model of osteoarthritis, a disease in which mechanically evoked pain is particularly problematic. These data suggest that annexin A6 can be exploited to inhibit chronic mechanical pain
Spatial representation of temporal information through spike timing dependent plasticity
We suggest a mechanism based on spike time dependent plasticity (STDP) of
synapses to store, retrieve and predict temporal sequences. The mechanism is
demonstrated in a model system of simplified integrate-and-fire type neurons
densely connected by STDP synapses. All synapses are modified according to the
so-called normal STDP rule observed in various real biological synapses. After
conditioning through repeated input of a limited number of of temporal
sequences the system is able to complete the temporal sequence upon receiving
the input of a fraction of them. This is an example of effective unsupervised
learning in an biologically realistic system. We investigate the dependence of
learning success on entrainment time, system size and presence of noise.
Possible applications include learning of motor sequences, recognition and
prediction of temporal sensory information in the visual as well as the
auditory system and late processing in the olfactory system of insects.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures, completely revised and augmented versio
Acute cigarette smoke exposure leads to higher viral infection in human bronchial epithelial cultures by altering interferon, glycolysis and GDF15-related pathways
Background Acute exacerbations of chronic inflammatory lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are frequently associated with rhinovirus (RV) infections. Despite these associations, the pathogenesis of virus-induced exacerbations is incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate effects of cigarette smoke (CS), a primary risk factor for COPD, on RV infection in airway epithelium and identify novel mechanisms related to these effects. Methods Primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) from COPD patients and controls were differentiated by culture at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to CS and RV-A16. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed using samples collected at 6 and 24 h post infection (hpi), and viral load, mediator and l-lactate levels were measured at 6, 24 and 48hpi. To further delineate the effect of CS on RV-A16 infection, we performed growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) knockdown, l-lactate and interferon pre-treatment in ALI-PBEC. We performed deconvolution analysis to predict changes in the cell composition of ALI-PBEC after the various exposures. Finally, we compared transcriptional responses of ALI-PBEC to those in nasal epithelium after human RV-A16 challenge. Results CS exposure impaired antiviral responses at 6hpi and increased viral replication at 24 and 48hpi in ALI-PBEC. At 24hpi, CS exposure enhanced expression of RV-A16-induced epithelial interferons, inflammation-related genes and CXCL8. CS exposure increased expression of oxidative stress-related genes, of GDF15, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. GDF15 knockdown experiments suggested involvement of this pathway in the CS-induced increase in viral replication. Expression of glycolysis-related genes and l-lactate production were increased by CS exposure, and was demonstrated to contribute to higher viral replication. No major differences were demonstrated between COPD and non-COPD-derived cultures. However, cellular deconvolution analysis predicted higher secretory cells in COPD-derived cultures at baseline. Conclusion Altogether, our findings demonstrate that CS exposure leads to higher viral infection in human bronchial epithelium by altering not only interferon responses, but likely also through a switch to glycolysis, and via GDF15related pathways.Pathogenesis and treatment of chronic pulmonary disease
Which behavioural and exercise interventions targeting fatigue show the most promise in multiple sclerosis? A systematic review with narrative synthesis and meta-analysis
Fatigue is a common and highly debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). This meta-analytic systematic review with detailed narrative synthesis examined randomised-controlled (RCTs) and controlled trials of behavioural and exercise interventions targeting fatigue in adults with MS to assess which treatments offer the most promise in reducing fatigue severity/impact. Medline, EMBASE and PsycInfo electronic databases, amongst others, were searched through to August 2018. Thirty-four trials (12 exercise, 16 behavioural and 6 combined; n = 2,434 participants) met inclusion criteria. Data from 31 studies (n = 1,991 participants) contributed to the meta-analysis. Risk of bias (using the Cochrane tool) and study quality (GRADE) were assessed. The pooled (SMD) end-of-treatment effects on self-reported fatigue were: exercise interventions (n = 13) -.84 (95% CI -1.20 to -.47); behavioural interventions (n = 16) -.37 (95% CI -.53 to -.22); combined interventions (n = 5) -.16 (95% CI: -.36 to .04). Heterogeneity was high overall. Study quality was very low for exercise interventions and moderate for behavioural and combined interventions. Considering health care professional time, subgroup results suggest web-based cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue, balance and/or multicomponent exercise interventions may be the cost-efficient therapies. These need testing in large RCTs with long-term follow-up to help define an implementable fatigue management pathway in MS.MS Society, U
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