Chaos and relative entropy

One characterization of a chaotic system is the quick delocalization of quantum information (fast scrambling). One therefore expects that in such a system a state quickly becomes locally indistinguishable from its perturbations. In this paper we study the time dependence of the relative entropy between the reduced density matrices of the thermofield double state and its perturbations in two dimensional conformal field theories. We show that in a CFT with a gravity dual, this relative entropy exponentially decays until the scrambling time. This decay is not uniform. We argue that the early time exponent is universal while the late time exponent is sensitive to the butterfly effect. This large $c$ answer breaks down at the scrambling time, therefore we also study the relative entropy in a class of spin chain models numerically. We find a similar universal exponential decay at early times, while at later times we observe that the relative entropy has large revivals in integrable models, whereas there are no revivals in non-integrable models.Comment: 34+11 pages, 8 figure

Cytological and molecular characterization of wheat lines with Thinopyrum intermedium chromosome additions, substitutions and translocations resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is the most serious viral disease affecting wheat and genes for BYDV resistance have not been found in wheat. BYDV-resistant alien addition and alien substitution lines produced from a wheat × Thinopyrum intermedium (species of Agropyron complex) cross were characterized. Chromosome pairing in the hybrids between two substitution lines showed that they had the same Th. intermedium chromosome. Likewise, two addition lines involved the same alien chromosome. In situ hybridization of chromosomes, confirmed that line P29 is a disomic substitution line. Double monosomic seeds and self-pollinated seeds from monosomic addition plants were irradiated to induce translocations between wheat and Th. intermedium chromosomes. Putative translocations were selected on the basis of BYDV resistance and studied by chromosome analysis, Southern hybridization using Thinopyrum specific probe and RFLP markers. A BYDV-resistant translocation was identified

Biomarker development for presymptomatic molecular diagnosis of preeclampsia: Feasible, useful or even unnecessary?

The past decade saw the advent of a number of promising biomarkers to detect pregnancies at risk for preeclampsia (PE), the foremost being those associated with an imbalance of angiogenic factors. In late pregnancy, these are useful for the detection of imminent cases of PE, while earlier they were more predictive for early- than late-onset PE. This suggests that there may be fundamental differences between the underlying pathology of these two PE forms. Therefore, it is possible that such a biological premise may limit the development of biomarkers that will permit the efficacious detection of both early- and late-onset PE via an analysis of first-trimester maternal blood samples. Consequently, a significant increase in our understanding of the underlying pathology of PE, using a variety of approaches ranging from systems biology to animal models, will be necessary in order to overcome this obstacle. © Informa UK, Ltd

Computing patient data in the cloud: practical and legal considerations for genetics and genomics research in Europe and internationally

Biomedical research is becoming increasingly large-scale and international. Cloud computing enables the comprehensive integration of genomic and clinical data, and the global sharing and collaborative processing of these data within a flexibly scalable infrastructure. Clouds offer novel research opportunities in genomics, as they facilitate cohort studies to be carried out at unprecedented scale, and they enable computer processing with superior pace and throughput, allowing researchers to address questions that could not be addressed by studies using limited cohorts. A well-developed example of such research is the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project, which involves the analysis of petabyte-scale genomic datasets from research centers in different locations or countries and different jurisdictions. Aside from the tremendous opportunities, there are also concerns regarding the utilization of clouds; these concerns pertain to perceived limitations in data security and protection, and the need for due consideration of the rights of patient donors and research participants. Furthermore, the increased outsourcing of information technology impedes the ability of researchers to act within the realm of existing local regulations owing to fundamental differences in the understanding of the right to data protection in various legal systems. In this Opinion article, we address the current opportunities and limitations of cloud computing and highlight the responsible use of federated and hybrid clouds that are set up between public and private partners as an adequate solution for genetics and genomics research in Europe, and under certain conditions between Europe and international partners. This approach could represent a sensible middle ground between fragmented individual solutions and a “one-size-fits-all” approach

The Genome of the Chicken DT40 Bursal Lymphoma Cell Line

The chicken DT40 cell line is a widely used model system in the study of multiple cellular processes due to the efficiency of homologous gene targeting. The cell line was derived from a bursal lymphoma induced by avian leukosis virus infection. In this study we characterized the genome of the cell line using whole genome shotgun sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism array hybridization. The results indicate that wild type DT40 has a relatively normal karyotype except for whole chromosome copy number gains, and no karyotype variability within stocks. In a comparison to two domestic chicken genomes and the Gallus gallus reference genome we found no unique mutational processes shaping the DT40 genome except for a mild increase in insertion and deletion events, particularly deletions at tandem repeats. We mapped coding sequence mutations that are unique to the DT40 genome; mutations inactivating the PIK3R1 and ATRX genes likely contributed to the oncogenic transformation. In addition to a known avian leukosis virus integration in the MYC gene we detected further integration sites that are likely to de-regulate gene expression. The new findings support the hypothesis that DT40 is a typical transformed cell line with a relatively intact genome, therefore it is well suited to the role of a model system for DNA repair and related processes. The sequence data generated by this study, including a searchable de novo genome assembly and annotated lists of mutated genes, will support future research using this cell line

The Cascading Reservoir Continuum Concept (CRCC) and its application to the river Tietê-basin, São Paulo State, Brazil

Major changes in the water quality and basic features of phytoplankton assemblages in a series (cascade) of 7 reservoirs int he middle Tiete river, south-east Brazil were investigated in February 1998 (rainy season). The biologically non-affected variables change rapidly in the upstream reservoirs and then remain constant while biologically affected ones showed a prolonged response that can be explained only if considering the cascade as an entire system. The changes in the first reservoir in the system accord to the predictions of the serial discontinuity concept (SDC): the river continuum (RCC) is basically affected. However, changes on the downstream reservoirs become continuous again and show that the same processes remain operative throughout the entire river continuum. Therefore, a cascading reservoir continuum concept (CRCC) can be proposed for handling the ecological processes at a system level. A comparison of the present data with those recorded previously for some of the reservoirs show a fast growing eutrophication of the upper reservoirs in the cascade. On the basis of the CRCC and the present ecological status and water quality of the Tiete cascade a progressive downstream eutrophication can be forecasted thus calling attention for urgent need of restoration measures at the headwaters

Intravaginal prostaglandin F2α for the treatment of metritis and pyometra in the bitch

The purpose of this study was to determine whether intravaginal prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) would be effective for the treatment of metritis or pyometra in the bitch. Seventeen bitches with metritis or pyometra were treated with PGF2α. Prostaglandin F2α(150 (g/kg body weight) was administered once or twice daily by infusing 0.3 ml per 10 kg body wt into the vaginal lumen. Bitches were also treated with amoxicillin (15 mg/kg body wt/48 h) and/or gentamicin (4 mg/kg body wt/day) administered as intramuscular (i.m.) injections. Fifteen bitches were treated successfully with intravaginally administered PGF2αfor 3 to 12 days and with intramuscularly administered antibiotics for 4 to 12 days. Success of treatment was judged by cessation of vaginal discharge, the absence of fluid in the uterus as determined by ultrasonography, and the overall health status of the animal. As two bitches with pyometra showed clinical deterioration in spite of medical treatment, ovariohysterectomy was performed after the first and the second treatment, respectively. No side effects (salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperpnoea, ataxia, urination, anxiety, pupillary dilatation followed by contraction) were observed after PGF2αtreatment. The disease did not recur during the subsequent oestrous cycles within 12 months after the initial treatment. The results demonstrate that intravaginal administration of PGF2αwas effective in 13 dogs (86.6%) with metritis or pyometra, and caused no side effects. Although the study was based on a relatively small number of cases, it is concluded that prostaglandin F2αcan be a useful means of treating bitches with metritis or pyometra. However, in severe cases of pyometra ovariohysterectomy is needed

Periodic orbit quantization of the Sinai billiard in the small scatterer limit

We consider the semiclassical quantization of the Sinai billiard for disk radii R small compared to the wave length 2 pi/k. Via the application of the periodic orbit theory of diffraction we derive the semiclassical spectral determinant. The limitations of the derived determinant are studied by comparing it to the exact KKR determinant, which we generalize here for the A_1 subspace. With the help of the Ewald resummation method developed for the full KKR determinant we transfer the complex diffractive determinant to a real form. The real zeros of the determinant are the quantum eigenvalues in semiclassical approximation. The essential parameter is the strength of the scatterer c=J_0(kR)/Y_0(kR). Surprisingly, this can take any value between plus and minus infinity within the range of validity of the diffractive approximation kR <<4. We study the statistics exhibited by spectra for fixed values of c. It is Poissonian for |c|=infinity, provided the disk is placed inside a rectangle whose sides obeys some constraints. For c=0 we find a good agreement of the level spacing distribution with GOE, whereas the form factor and two-point correlation function are similar but exhibit larger deviations. By varying the parameter c from 0 to infinity the level statistics interpolates smoothly between these limiting cases.Comment: 17 pages LaTeX, 5 postscript figures, submitted to J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Effect of genotype and hens' starting body fat content on the changes in the body fat content of the hens and on the weight and composition of the eggs produced in the first egg laying period

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of genotype and hens’ starting body fat content on the changes in the body fat content of the hens and on the weight and composition of the eggs produced in the first egg laying period. The experiment was carried out with altogether 30 hens (15 TETRA SL brown egg layers and 15 TETRA BLANCA white egg layers), which were chosen from altogether 45 TETRA SL and 45 TETRA BLANCA hens based on their CT (computer tomography) predicted body fat content at 20 weeks of age (hens with the highest (n=5), hens with the lowest (n=5) and hens with average (n=5) body fat content in both genotype). For the in vivo determination of changes in the body composition of these hens, computer tomography (CT) measurements were carried out at every fourth week between the 20th and 72nd week of age. During the CT measurements hens were fixed with belts in a special plexiglass container without using any anaesthetics. The measurements covered the whole body of the hens using overlapping 10 mm slice thickness on a Siemens Somatom Emotion 6 multislice CT scanner. After collecting, weighing and breaking the eggs produced by the experimental birds on the days of the CT measurements their yolk ratio was determined. Based on the results, it was established that the body fat content of the hens increased continuously in both of the genotypes in the first phase of the experimental period, while it did not change further in the second phase of the experiment. It was also observed at all examination days, that the body fat content of the white egg layers was higher than that of the brown egg layers. Hens with the highest starting body fat content had the highest body fat content in both genotypes during the whole egg laying period. The egg production of the hens was not influenced by the body fat content of the birds, but it was affected by the genotype. The TETRA SL hens produced significantly more eggs than the TETRA BLANCA hens. The hens with average body fat content produced lighter eggs than the hens with low or high body fat content