Low-crosstalk bifurcation detectors for coupled flux qubits

We present experimental results on the crosstalk between two AC-operated dispersive bifurcation detectors, implemented in a circuit for high-fidelity readout of two strongly coupled flux qubits. Both phase-dependent and phase-independent contributions to the crosstalk are analyzed. For proper tuning of the phase the measured crosstalk is 0.1 % and the correlation between the measurement outcomes is less than 0.05 %. These results show that bifurcative readout provides a reliable and generic approach for multi-partite correlation experiments.Comment: Copyright 2010 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Applied Physics Letters and may be found at http://link.aip.org/link/?apl/96/12350

BACE2 distribution in major brain cell types and identification of novel substrates

β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibition is considered one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease, but current BACE1 inhibitors also block BACE2. As the localization and function of BACE2 in the brain remain unknown, it is difficult to predict whether relevant side effects can be caused by off-target inhibition of BACE2 and whether it is important to generate BACE1-specific inhibitors. Here, we show that BACE2 is expressed in discrete subsets of neurons and glia throughout the adult mouse brain. We uncover four new substrates processed by BACE2 in cultured glia: vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, delta and notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, and plexin domain containing 2. Although these substrates were not prominently cleaved by BACE2 in healthy adult mice, proinflammatory TNF induced a drastic increase in BACE2-mediated shedding of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in CSF. Thus, although under steady-state conditions the effect of BACE2 cross-inhibition by BACE1-directed inhibitors is rather subtle, it is important to consider that side effects might become apparent under physiopathological conditions that induce TNF expression

Selected nondigestible carbohydrates and prebiotics support the growth of probiotic fish bacteria mono-cultures in vitro

To search for nondigestible but fermentable (NDF) carbohydrates and prebiotics with a potency to promote the growth of selected bacteria in vitro. The growth of three reference bacteria strains Bacillus subtilis LMG 7135(T), Carnobacterium piscicola LMG 9839, Lactobacillus plantarum LMG 9211 and one candidate probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis was investigated over a minimum period of 48 h in the presence of beta-glucan, xylo-oligosaccharide, arabinoxylo-oligosaccharide, inulin, oligofructose and glucose. Besides the capability to grow on inulin and oligofructose containing media, a distinct high growth in beta-glucan based substrates and a low growth in (arabino)xylooligosaccharide containing media were evident for most bacteria tested. With the exception of B. subtilis and L. plantarum, other bacteria grew equally well or even better on different substrates than on glucose. The fermentation of studied carbohydrates by these micro-organisms was dominated by the production of acetic acid as the main short chain fatty acid. Selected bacteria are able to ferment and grow on NDF and prebiotic carbohydrates but in a substrate dependent manner. This study delivers a first screening of which NDF or prebiotic carbohydrates are the most promising for aquaculture feed supplementations

The Implementation of Brazil Sustainable Urban Mobility Policy

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Local delivery of beta interferon using an adeno-associated virus type 5 effectively inhibits adjuvant arthritis in rats

Beta interferon (IFN-β) is a cytokine with potent immunomodulatory properties and has been described as a promising therapeutic molecule for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IFN-β was previously overexpressed intra-articularly using an adenoviral vector in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) as a model of RA. This effect was powerful, albeit transient due to the vector chosen. Therefore, in the context of pre-clinical development, a delivery vector optimized for intra-articular gene transfer, recombinant adeno-associated virus type 5 (rAAV5), was selected. To exert an optimal effect, protein production should parallel the course of the disease. For this reason, the gene for IFN-β was placed under the control of an inflammation-responsive [nuclear factor (NF)-κB] promoter. After intra-articular injection of the rAAV5 constructs in rats with AA, local transcription of the transgene and production of the IFN-β protein was found, leading to a pronounced and sustained effect on paw swelling when the expression was under the control of the NF-κB-responsive promoter. Additionally, a significant beneficial effect was observed on proteoglycan depletion and erosions. Thus, intra-articular overexpression of IFN-β using a rAAV5 vector exhibits potential as an innovative therapy for the treatment of RA

REGULATION OF PROSTAGLANDIN GENERATION IN CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED PLEURISY BY INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE IN KNOCKOUT MICE

In the present study, by comparing the responses in wild-type mice (iNOSWT) and mice lacking (iNOSKO) the inducible (or type 2) nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), we investigated the correlation between endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) generation in carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The inflammatory response in iNOSKO mice was significantly reduced in respect to iNOSWT animals, as demonstrated by the exudate volume (-63%) and numbers of infiltrating cells (-62%). The levels of NOx in the pleural exudate from carrageenan-treated mice were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in iNOSKO mice (16 ± 7.6 nmoles/mice) compared to iNOSWT animals (133 ± 9 nmoles/mice). Similarly, the amounts of PGE2 in the pleural exudates of carrageenan-treated animals were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in iNOSKO compared to iNOSWT mice (120 ± 20 pg/mice vs. 308 ± 51 pg/mice). Also the amounts of 6-keto-PGF1α produced by lungs from carrageenan-treated iNOSKO mice (1.01 ± 0.10 ng/tissue mg) were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced compared to iNOSWT carrageenan-treated mice (2.1 ± 0.09 ng/tissue mg). In conclusion our results confirm, by the use of iNOSKO mice that in carrageenan-induced pleurisy NO positively modulates PG biosynthesis