Two independent photon pairs versus four-photon entangled states in parametric down conversion

We study the physics of four-photon states generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion with a pulsed pump field. In the limit where the coherence time of the photons t_c is much shorter than the duration of the pump pulse Delta t, the four photons can be described as two independent pairs. In the opposite limit, the four photons are in a four-particle entangled state. Any intermediate case can be characterized by a single parameter chi, which is a function of t_c/Delta t. We present a direct measurement of chi through a simple experimental setup. The full theoretical analysis is also provided.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, submitte

Albendazole negatively regulates keratinocyte proliferation

Abstract Background: Increased keratinocyte proliferation occurs in the skin of psoriatic patients and is supposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Compounds interfering with keratinocyte proliferation could be useful in the management of psoriatic patients. Aim: To investigate whether albendazole, an anti-helmintic drug that regulates epithelial cell function in various systems, inhibits keratinocyte proliferation in models of psoriasis. Methods: Aldara-treated mice received daily topical application of albendazole. Keratinocyte proliferation and keratin (K) 6 and K16 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and inflammatory cells/mediators were analysed by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. In human keratinocytes (HEKa and HaCaT) treated with albendazole, cell cycle and proliferation, keratins and cell cycle-associated factors were evaluated by flow cytometry, colorimetric assay and Western blotting respectively. Results: Aldara-treated mice given albendazole exhibited reduced epidermal thickness, decreased number of proliferating keratinocytes and K6/K16 expression. Reduction of CD3- and Ly6G-positive cells in the skin of albendazole-treated mice associated with inhibition of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-36, CCL17, CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL5 expression. Treatment of keratinocytes with albendazole reduced K6/K16 expression and reversibly inhibited cell growth by promoting accumulation of cells in S-phase. This phenomenon was accompanied by down-regulation of CDC25A, a phosphatase regulating progression of cell cycle through S-phase, and PKR-dependent hyper-phosphorylation of eIF2α, an inhibitor of CDC25 translation. In Aldara-treated mice, albendazole activated PKR, enhanced eIF2α phosphorylation and reduced CDC25A expression. Conclusions: Data show that albendazole inhibits keratinocyte proliferation and exerts therapeutic effect in a murine model of psoriasis

Insulin-like Growth Factor II mRNA-Binding Protein 1 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth through the Surveillance of CDC25A mRNA

: A number of data indicate that the sources of different kinds of PDAC may be discovered at the transcription/transduction stage. RNA metabolism is manipulated at various steps by different RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and the deregulation or irregular activity of RBPs is known to contribute to tumor promotion and progression. The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein family (IMPs), and IMP1 in particular, has been linked with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients; however, little is known about its contribution in PDAC carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the function of IMP1 in PDAC. To evaluate IMP1 expression and correlation with PDAC prognosis, we utilized several public databases. Using a specific siRNA IMP1, we analyzed cell death and cell cycle progression in PDAC cell lines and 3D spheroids. the role of IMP1 was also evaluated in vivo in a panc-1-derived tumor xenograft murine model. Public data suggest that PDAC patients with higher expression of IMP1 showed poor overall and progression-free survival. IMP1 silencing leads to reduced cell growth in PDAC cells and three-dimensional spheroids. Abrogation of IMP1 in PDAC cells showed lower levels of CDC25A, increased phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2, and accumulation of PDAC cells in the G1 phase. immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that IMP1 binds CDC25A mRNA, thus controlling cell-cycle progression. Ultimately, we proved that suppression of IMP1 blocked in vivo growth of Panc-1 transferred into immunodeficient mice. Our results indicate that IMP1 drives the PDCA cell cycle and represents a novel strategy for overcoming PDCA cell proliferation

Report on first inflight data of bepicolombo’s mercury orbiter radio-science experiment

BepiColombo’s Mercury Orbiter Radio-science Experiment (MORE) was conceived to enable extremely accurate radio tracking measurements of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter to precisely determine the gravity field and rotational state of Mercury, and to test theories of gravitation (e. g. Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity). The design accuracy of the radio tracking data was 0.004 mm/sec (at 1000 s integration time) for range-rate measurements and 20 cm for range (at a few seconds of integration time). These accuracies are attained due to a combination of simultaneous two-way microwave links at X (7.2-8.4 GHz) and Kaband (32-34 GHz) to calibrate the dispersive plasma noise component. In this letter, we present the first analysis of range and range-rate data collected by ESA’s deep space antenna (DSA) during the initial cruise phase of BepiColombo. The novel 24 Mcps pseudo-noise (PN) modulation of the Ka-band carrier, enabled by MORE’s Ka-band Transponder (KaT), built by Thales Alenia Space Italy, provided two-way range measurements to centimeterlevel accuracy, with an integration time of 4.2 s at 0.29 astronomical units. In tracking passes with favorable weather conditions, range-rate measurements attained an average accuracy of 0.01 mm/s at 60 s integration time. Data from 20 to 24 May 2019 were combined in a multi-pass analysis to test the link stability on a longer timescale. The results confirm the noise level observed with the single-pass analysis and provide a preliminary indication that the MORE PN ranging system at 24 Mcps is compatible with the realization of an absolute measurement, where the need to introduce range biases in the orbital fit is much more limited than in the past. We show that in the initial cruise test the BepiColombo radio link provided range measurements of unprecedented accuracy for a planetary mission, and that, in general, all target accuracies for radio-metric measurements were exceeded

Smad7 Sustains Stat3 Expression and Signaling in Colon Cancer Cells

: Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells contain elevated levels of active signal transducer and the activator of transcription (Stat)-3, which exerts proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. Various molecules produced in the CRC tissue can activate Stat3, but the mechanisms that amplify such an activation are yet to be determined. In this paper, we assessed whether Smad7, an inhibitor of Transforiming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1 activity, sustains Stat3 expression/activation in CRC cells. Both Smad7 and phosphorylated (p)/activated-Stat3 were more expressed in the tumoral areas of CRC patients, compared to the normal adjacent colonic mucosa of the same patients, and were co-localized in primary CRC cells and CRC cell lines. The knockdown of Smad7 with a Smad7 antisense oligonucleotide (AS) reduced p-Stat3 in both unstimulated and interleukin (IL)-6- and IL-22-stimulated DLD-1 and HCT116 cells. Consistently, reduced levels of BCL-xL and survivin, two downstream signaling targets of Stat3 activation, were seen in Smad7 AS-treated cells. An analysis of the mechanisms underlying Smad7 AS-induced Stat3 inactivation revealed that Smad7 AS reduced Stat3 RNA and protein expression. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed the direct regulatory effect of Smad7 on the Stat3 promoter. RNA-sequencing data from the Tumor, Normal and Metastatic (TNM) plot database showed a positive correlation between Smad7 and Stat3 in 1450 CRC samples. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence supporting the theory that Smad7 positively regulates Stat3 function in CRC

Final design and construction of the ERIS calibration unit

The Calibration Unit (CU) is a subsystem of the Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS), the newgeneration instrument for the Cassegrain focus of the ESO UT4/VLT, aimed at performing AO-assisted imaging and medium resolution spectroscopy in the 1-5 micron wavelength range. The ERIS-CU is aimed to providing both focal plane artificial sources and uniform illumination over the 0.4 - 2.4 micron wavelengh range, for purposes of calibration and technical check of the SPIFFIER spectrograph, the NIX camera and the AO Module. Some challenging aspects emerged during the detailed design phase, mainly related to the need to cover such a broad wavelength range while ensuring adequate photon rates, excellent image quality and high Strehl. The technical solutions adopted to achieve the final design goals are presented and their implementation during the construction phase are shown and discussed