Ferreting out the Fluffy Bunnies: Entanglement constrained by Generalized superselection rules

Entanglement is a resource central to quantum information (QI). In particular, entanglement shared between two distant parties allows them to do certain tasks that would otherwise be impossible. In this context, we study the effect on the available entanglement of physical restrictions on the local operations that can be performed by the two parties. We enforce these physical restrictions by generalized superselection rules (SSRs), which we define to be associated with a given group of physical transformations. Specifically the generalized SSR is that the local operations must be covariant with respect to that group. Then we operationally define the entanglement constrained by a SSR, and show that it may be far below that expected on the basis of a naive (or ``fluffy bunny'') calculation. We consider two examples. The first is a particle number SSR. Using this we show that for a two-mode BEC (with Alice owning mode $A$ and Bob mode $B$), the useful entanglement shared by Alice and Bob is identically zero. The second, a SSR associated with the symmetric group, is applicable to ensemble QI processing such as in liquid-NMR. We prove that even for an ensemble comprising many pairs of qubits, with each pair described by a pure Bell state, the entanglement per pair constrained by this SSR goes to zero for a large ensemble.Comment: 8 pages, proceedings paper for an invited talk at 16th International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy (2003

ISOWN: accurate somatic mutation identification in the absence of normal tissue controls.

BackgroundA key step in cancer genome analysis is the identification of somatic mutations in the tumor. This is typically done by comparing the genome of the tumor to the reference genome sequence derived from a normal tissue taken from the same donor. However, there are a variety of common scenarios in which matched normal tissue is not available for comparison.ResultsIn this work, we describe an algorithm to distinguish somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in next-generation sequencing data from germline polymorphisms in the absence of normal samples using a machine learning approach. Our algorithm was evaluated using a family of supervised learning classifications across six different cancer types and ~1600 samples, including cell lines, fresh frozen tissues, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues; we tested our algorithm with both deep targeted and whole-exome sequencing data. Our algorithm correctly classified between 95 and 98% of somatic mutations with F1-measure ranges from 75.9 to 98.6% depending on the tumor type. We have released the algorithm as a software package called ISOWN (Identification of SOmatic mutations Without matching Normal tissues).ConclusionsIn this work, we describe the development, implementation, and validation of ISOWN, an accurate algorithm for predicting somatic mutations in cancer tissues in the absence of matching normal tissues. ISOWN is available as Open Source under Apache License 2.0 from https://github.com/ikalatskaya/ISOWN

Sirtuin1 and autophagy protect cells from fluoride-induced cell stress

AbstractSirtuin1 (SIRT1) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylase functioning in the regulation of metabolism, cell survival and organismal lifespan. Active SIRT1 regulates autophagy during cell stress, including calorie restriction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress. Previously, we reported that fluoride induces ER-stress in ameloblasts responsible for enamel formation, suggesting that ER-stress plays a role in dental fluorosis. However, the molecular mechanism of how cells respond to fluoride-induced cell stress is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that fluoride activates SIRT1 and initiates autophagy to protect cells from fluoride exposure. Fluoride treatment of ameloblast-derived cells (LS8) significantly increased Sirt1 expression and induced SIRT1 phosphorylation resulting in the augmentation of SIRT1 deacetylase activity. To demonstrate that fluoride exposure initiates autophagy, we characterized the expression of autophagy related genes (Atg); Atg5, Atg7 and Atg8/LC3 and showed that both their transcript and protein levels were significantly increased following fluoride treatment. To confirm that SIRT1 plays a protective role in fluoride toxicity, we used resveratrol (RES) to augment SIRT1 activity in fluoride treated LS8 cells. RES increased autophagy, inhibited apoptosis, and decreased fluoride cytotoxicity. Rats treated with fluoride (0, 50, 100 and 125ppm) in drinking water for 6weeks had significantly elevated expression levels of Sirt1, Atg5, Atg7 and Atg8/LC3 in their maturation stage enamel organs. Increased protein levels of p-SIRT1, ATG5 and ATG8/LC3 were present in fluoride-treated rat maturation stage ameloblasts. Therefore, the SIRT1/autophagy pathway may play a critical role as a protective response to help prevent dental fluorosis

A summary of recent NASA/Army contributions to rotorcraft vibrations and structural dynamics technology

The requirement for low vibrations has achieved the status of a critical design consideration in modern helicopters. There is now a recognized need to account for vibrations during both the analytical and experimental phases of design. Research activities in this area were both broad and varied and notable advances were made in recent years in the critical elements of the technology base needed to achieve the goal of a jet smooth ride. The purpose is to present an overview of accomplishments and current activities of govern and government-sponsored research in the area of rotorcraft vibrations and structural dynamics, focusing on NASA and Army contributions over the last decade or so. Specific topics addressed include: airframe finite-element modeling for static and dynamic analyses, analysis of coupled rotor-airframe vibrations, optimization of airframes subject to vibration constraints, active and passive control of vibrations in both the rotating and fixed systems, and integration of testing and analysis in such guises as modal analysis, system identification, structural modification, and vibratory loads measurement

What Is the Risk Posed to the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve During the Use of the Anterior Portal of Supine Hip Arthroscopy and the Minimally Invasive Anterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty?

PURPOSE: To determine: (1) What is the proximity of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) to the anterior portal (AP) used in supine hip arthroscopy? (2) What is the proximity of the LCFN to the incision in the minimally invasive anterior approach (MIAA) for total hip arthroplasty? (3) What effect does lateralizing the AP have on the likelihood of nerve injury? (4) What branching patterns are observable in the LFCN? METHODS: Forty-five hemipelves were dissected. The LFCN was identified and its path dissected. The positions of the nerve in relation to the AP and the MIAA incision were measured. RESULTS: The AP intersected with 38% of nerves. In the remainder, the LFCN was located 5.7 ± 4.5 mm from the portal's edge. In addition, 44% of nerves crossed the incision of the MIAA. Of those that did not, the average minimum distance from the incision was 14.4 ± 7.0 mm. We found a significant reduction in risk if the AP is moved medially by 5 mm or laterally by 15 mm (P = .0054 and P = .0002). The LFCN showed considerable variation with 4 branching variants. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the LFCN is at high risk during supine hip arthroscopy and the MIAA, emphasizing the need for meticulous dissection. We suggest that relocation of the AP 5 mm medially or 15 mm laterally will reduce the risk to the LFCN. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings should aid surgeons in minimizing the risk to the LCFN during hip arthroscopy and the minimally invasive anterior approach to the hip

Nitrate Radical Facilitates Indirect Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation on Bismuth(III) Vanadate Photoelectrodes

Bismuth(III) vanadate (BiVO4) films show activity for direct benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH) oxidation to benzaldehyde (PhCHO) in acetonitrile solvent. Introducing tetrabutylammonium nitrate (Bu4NNO3) drastically reduces the overpotential required to generate the PhCHO product while maintaining a high faradaic efficiency (FE) >90 %. BiVO4 corrosion accompanies PhCH2OH oxidation. However, the presence of nitrate ions (NO3−) results in significantly less bismuth‐ and vanadium‐ion leaching (determined by ICP‐MS analysis), as well as reduced surface roughening (determined by SEM imaging). In this reaction, it is proposed that rate‐determining NO3− oxidation generates a highly reactive nitrate radical (NO3⋅) that reacts with PhCH2OH by hydrogen‐atom abstraction (HAT). NO3− is stoichiometrically consumed by the irreversible formation of electrochemically inert HNO3, characterized by an ECi mechanism, rather than a catalytic EC′ mechanism. In the presence of PhCH2OH, NO3− oxidation on BiVO4 becomes more facile; every order of magnitude increase in PhCH2OH concentration shifts the NO3−/ NO3⋅ equilibrium potential negatively by 200 mV. The shift results from the introduction of a consumption pathway for the nitrate radical intermediate via a coupled chemical step with benzyl alcohol. This report is the first example of photoelectrochemical NO3⋅ generation to initiate indirect PhCH2OH oxidation.Initiate to generate: Bismuth(III) vanadate (BiVO4) films show activity for direct benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH) oxidation to benzaldehyde (PhCHO) in acetonitrile solvent. Introducing tetrabutylammonium nitrate (Bu4NNO3) drastically reduces the overpotential required to generate the PhCHO product while maintaining a high faradaic efficiency. BiVO4 corrosion accompanies PhCH2OH oxidation. Moreover, the presence of nitrate ions (NO3−) results in significantly less bismuth‐ and vanadium‐ion leaching as well as reduced surface roughening.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162788/3/celc202000911.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162788/2/celc202000911-sup-0001-misc_information.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162788/1/celc202000911_am.pd

Dentin sialoprotein, dentin phosphoprotein, enamelysin and ameloblastin, tooth- specific molecules that are distinctively expressed during murine dental differentiation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73260/1/j.0909-8836.1998.eos106510.x.pd

Characterization of cutaneous and articular sensory neurons

Background: A wide range of stimuli can activate sensory neurons and neurons innervating specific tissues often have distinct properties. Here we used retrograde tracing to identify sensory neurons innervating the hind paw skin (cutaneous) and ankle/knee joints (articular), and combined immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology analysis to determine the neurochemical phenotype of cutaneous and articular neurons, as well as their electrical and chemical excitability. Results: Immunohistochemistry analysis using RetroBeads as a retrograde tracer confirmed previous data that cutaneous and articular neurons are a mixture of myelinated and unmyelinated neurons, and the majority of both populations are peptidergic. In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons, voltage-gated inward currents and action potential parameters were largely similar between articular and cutaneous neurons, although cutaneous neuron action potentials had a longer half-peak duration. An assessment of chemical sensitivity showed that all neurons responded to a pH 5.0 solution, but that acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) currents, determined by inhibition with the non-selective ASIC antagonist benzamil, were of a greater magnitude in cutaneous compared to articular neurons. 40 – 50% of cutaneous and articular neurons responded to capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde and menthol, indicating similar expression levels of TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM8 respectively. By contrast, significantly more articular neurons responded to ATP than cutaneous neurons. Conclusion: This work makes a detailed characterization of cutaneous and articular sensory neurons, and highlights the importance of making recordings from identified neuronal populations: sensory neurons innervating different tissues have subtly different properties, possibly reflecting different functions.ISS was funded by an Erasmus for Graduate Students grant from the University of Coimbra. ZMAH and experiments were funded by an Arthritis Research Project Grant (Grant Reference 20930) to ESS. JDB was funded by a Corpus Christi College Study and Travel Grant. EStJS was funded by an Early Career Research Grant from the International Association for the Study of Pain. Thanks to Christoforos Tsantoulas for assistance with immunohistochemistry and members of the Smith lab for their technical assistance and help in preparing the manuscript.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from SAGE via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/174480691663638

Meeting report: a hard look at the state of enamel research.

The Encouraging Novel Amelogenesis Models and Ex vivo cell Lines (ENAMEL) Development workshop was held on 23 June 2017 at the Bethesda headquarters of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Discussion topics included model organisms, stem cells/cell lines, and tissues/3D cell culture/organoids. Scientists from a number of disciplines, representing institutions from across the United States, gathered to discuss advances in our understanding of enamel, as well as future directions for the field