Experimental Investigation of the Evolution of Gaussian Quantum Discord in an Open System

Gaussian quantum discord is a measure of quantum correlations in Gaussian systems. Using Gaussian discord we quantify the quantum correlations of a bipartite entangled state and a separable two-mode mixture of coherent states. We experimentally analyze the effect of noise addition and dissipation on Gaussian discord and show that the former noise degrades the discord while the latter noise for some states leads to an increase of the discord. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the near-death of discord by noisy evolution and its revival through dissipation.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Gaussian Error Correction of Quantum States in a Correlated Noisy Channel

Noise is the main obstacle for the realization of fault tolerant quantum information processing and secure communication over long distances. In this work, we propose a communication protocol relying on simple linear optics that optimally protects quantum states from non-Markovian or corre- lated noise. We implement the protocol experimentally and demonstrate the near ideal protection of coherent and entangled states in an extremely noisy channel. Since all real-life channels are exhibit- ing pronounced non-Markovian behavior, the proposed protocol will have immediate implications in improving the performance of various quantum information protocols.Comment: New references adde

AVALIANDO UMA FORMAÇÃO EM PENSAMENTO COMPUTACIONAL COM ATIVIDADES PLUGADAS CRIADAS NO SCRATCH

This article describes the process of evaluating the knowledge acquired by a group of teachers of Mathematics and Informatics during a training in Computational Thinking using Scratch in order to verify how the group appropriated the knowledge. The training provided program creation activities in Scratch evaluating them quantitatively with the Dr. Scratch. After the teacher training stage, they used the knowledge acquired in classroom training with their students who also developed activities in Scratch and were evaluated with Dr. Scratch. The results obtained demonstrated that the concepts of Computational Thinking that had the highest score for teachers were also the ones that obtained the highest score for students, indicating a direct influence of teachers in the program proposals created by students.Este artigo descreve o processo de avaliação dos conhecimentos adquiridos por um grupo de professores de Matemática e Informática, durante uma formação em Pensamento Computacional, utilizando Scratch com o objetivo de verificar a forma como o grupo se apropriou dos conhecimentos. A formação disponibilizou atividades de criação de programas no Scratch, avaliando as mesmas quantitativamente com a ferramenta Dr. Scratch. Após a etapa de formação, os professores utilizaram os conhecimentos adquiridos na formação com os seus alunos, que também desenvolveram atividades no Scratch e foram avaliadas com o Dr. Scratch. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que os conceitos do Pensamento Computacional que tiveram maior pontuação para os professores também foram os que obtiveram maior pontuação para os alunos, indicando uma influência direta dos professores nas propostas de programas criadas pelos alunos

Avaliando a formação de professores no contexto do pensamento computacional

Este artigo descreve a implementac¸ao de um programa de formac¸ ˜ ao˜ de professores oferecida a rede municipal de ensino de um munic ` ´ıpio do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Um total de 49 professores participaram da formac¸ao˜ que trouxe conceitos relacionados ao Pensamento Computacional utilizando como ferramenta de implementac¸ao o Scratch. Uma an ˜ alise do desempenho ´ dos professores na utilizac¸ao do Scratch dentro das 7 dimens ˜ oes do Pensamento ˜ Computacional foi realizada utilizando a ferramenta Dr. Scratch. As impressoes ˜ dos professores com relac¸ao˜ a formac¸ ` ao foram analisadas atrav ˜ es das an ´ alises ´ de conteudo com processo de codificac¸ ´ ao. Os resultados obtidos sugerem de- ˜ terminada resistencia por parte dos professores em integrar atividades relaci- ˆ onadas ao pensamento computacional em seus encargos e praticas de ensino ´ correntes.This article describes a training program offered to a public education network in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil to train teachers to work with computational thinking. A total of 49 teachers participated in the program, which proposed the use of the tool Scratch. An analysis of the performance of teachers in the use of Scratch within the 7 dimensions of Computational Thinking was performed using Dr. Scratch. Teachers’ perceptions regarding the training program were analyzed through content analysis with coding process. Results suggest a certain resistance from teachers to integrate computational thinking to their current tasks and teaching practices

Avaliando a Formação de Professores no Contexto do Pensamento Computacional

Este artigo descreve a implementação de um programa de formação de professores oferecida `a rede municipal de ensino de um município do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Um total de 49 professores participaram da formação que trouxe conceitos relacionados ao Pensamento Computacional utilizando como ferramenta de implementação o Scratch. Uma análise do desempenho dos professores na utilização do Scratch dentro das 7 dimensões do Pensamento Computacional foi realizada utilizando a ferramenta Dr. Scratch. As impressões dos professores com relação `a formação foram analisadas através das análises de conteúdo com processo de codificação. Os resultados obtidos sugerem determinada resistência por parte dos professores em integrar atividades relacionadas ao pensamento computacional em seus encargos e práticas de ensino correntes

An orally administered butyrate-releasing derivative reduces neutrophil recruitment and inflammation in dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Butyrate has shown benefits in inflammatory bowel diseases. However, it is not often administered orally because of its rancid smell and unpleasant taste. The efficacy of a more palatable butyrate-releasing derivative, N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenylethyl) butyramide (FBA), was evaluated in a mouse model of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Male 10 week-old BALB/c mice received DSS (2.5%) in drinking water (for 5 days) followed by DSS-free water for 7 days (DSS group). Oral FBA administration (42.5 mg·kg-1 ) was started 7 days before DSS as preventive (P-FBA), or 2 days after DSS as therapeutic (T-FBA); both treatments lasted 19 days. One DSS-untreated group received only tap water (CON). KEY RESULTS: FBA treatments reduced colitis symptoms and colon damage. P-FBA and T-FBA significantly decreased polymorphonuclear cell infiltration score compared with the DSS group. FBA reversed the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (reducing inducible NOS protein expression, CCL2 and IL-6 transcripts in colon and increasing TGFβ and IL-10). Morever, P-FBA and T-FBA limited neutrophil recruitment (by expression and localization of the neutrophil granule protease Ly-6G), restored deficiency of the butyrate transporter and improved intestinal epithelial integrity, preventing tight-junction impairment (zonulin-1 and occludin). FBA, similar to its parental compound sodium butyrate, inhibited histone deacetylase-9 and restored H3 histone acetylation, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect through NF-κB inhibition and the up-regulation of PPARγ. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: FBA reduces inflammatory intestinal damage in mice indicating its potential as a postbiotic derivative without the problems associated with the oral administration of sodium butyrate

Ab-initio Quantum Enhanced Optical Phase Estimation Using Real-time Feedback Control

Optical phase estimation is a vital measurement primitive that is used to perform accurate measurements of various physical quantities like length, velocity and displacements. The precision of such measurements can be largely enhanced by the use of entangled or squeezed states of light as demonstrated in a variety of different optical systems. Most of these accounts however deal with the measurement of a very small shift of an already known phase, which is in stark contrast to ab-initio phase estimation where the initial phase is unknown. Here we report on the realization of a quantum enhanced and fully deterministic phase estimation protocol based on real-time feedback control. Using robust squeezed states of light combined with a real-time Bayesian estimation feedback algorithm, we demonstrate deterministic phase estimation with a precision beyond the quantum shot noise limit. The demonstrated protocol opens up new opportunities for quantum microscopy, quantum metrology and quantum information processing.Comment: 5 figure

Hydroxytyrosol prevents metabolic impairment reducing hepatic inflammation and restoring duodenal integrity in a rat model of NAFLD.

The potential mechanisms of action of polyphenols in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are overlooked. Here, we evaluate the beneficial therapeutic effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT), the major metabolite of the oleuropein, in a nutritional model of insulin resistance (IR) and NAFLD by high-fat diet. Young male rats were divided into three groups receiving (1) standard diet (STD; 10.5% fat), (2) high-fat diet (HFD; 58.0% fat) and (3) HFD+HT (10 mg/kg/day by gavage). After 5 weeks, the oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and at 6th week, blood sample and tissues (liver and duodenum) were collected for following determinations. The HT-treated rats showed a marked reduction in serum AST, ALT and cholesterol and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reducing homeostasis model assessment index. HT significantly corrected the metabolic impairment induced by HFD, increasing hepatic peroxisome proliferator activated receptor PPAR-α and its downstream-regulated gene fibroblast growth factor 21, the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and the mRNA carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a. HT also reduced liver inflammation and nitrosative/oxidative stress decreasing the nitrosylation of proteins, reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, HT restored intestinal barrier integrity and functions (fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability and mRNA zona occludens ZO-1). Our data demonstrate the beneficial effect of HT in the prevention of early inflammatory events responsible for the onset of IR and steatosis, reducing hepatic inflammation and nitrosative/oxidative stress and restoring glucose homeostasis and intestinal barrier integrity

Butyrate Regulates Liver Mitochondrial Function, Efficiency, and Dynamics in Insulin-Resistant Obese Mice

Fatty liver, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are key pathophysiological features of insulin resistance and obesity. Butyrate, produced by fermentation in the large intestine by gut microbiota, and its synthetic derivative, the N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl) butyramide, FBA, have been demonstrated to be protective against insulin resistance and fatty liver. Here, hepatic mitochondria were identified as the main target of the beneficial effect of both butyrate-based compounds in reverting insulin resistance and fat accumulation in diet-induced obese mice. In particular, butyrate and FBA improved respiratory capacity and fatty acid oxidation, activated the AMPK-acetyl-CoA carboxylase pathway, and promoted inefficient metabolism, as shown by the increase in proton leak. Both treatments consistently increased utilization of substrates, especially fatty acids, leading to the reduction of intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Finally, the shift of the mitochondrial dynamic toward fusion by butyrate and FBA resulted in the improvement not only of mitochondrial cell energy metabolism but also of glucose homeostasis. In conclusion, butyrate and its more palatable synthetic derivative, FBA, modulating mitochondrial function, efficiency, and dynamics, can be considered a new therapeutic strategy to counteract obesity and insulin resistance