Experimental Realization of Optimal Noise Estimation for a General Pauli Channel

We present the experimental realization of the optimal estimation protocol for a Pauli noisy channel. The method is based on the generation of 2-qubit Bell states and the introduction of quantum noise in a controlled way on one of the state subsystems. The efficiency of the optimal estimation, achieved by a Bell measurement, is shown to outperform quantum process tomography

Dynamics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from vine bark in vineyard: Influence of plant age and strain presence during grape must spontaneous fermentations

In this study, two vineyards of different age were chosen. During three years, a sampling campaign was performed for isolating vineyard-associated Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) strains. Bark portions and, when present, grape bunches were regularly collected from the same vine plants during the overall sampling period. Each bark portion was added to a synthetic must, while each grape bunch was manually crushed, and fermentations were run to isolate S. cerevisiae strains. All collected yeasts were identified at different species and strain levels to evaluate the genetic variability of S. cerevisiae strains in the two vineyards and strains dynamics. Moreover, bark-associated strains were compared with those isolated from spontaneous fermentations of grapes collected during the two harvests. Regarding the youngest vineyard, no S. cerevisiae was identified on bark and grape surface, highlighting the importance of vine age on yeast colonization. Results reported the isolation of S. cerevisiae from vine bark of the old vineyard at all sampling times, regardless of the presence of the grape bunch. Therefore, this environment can be considered an alternative ecological niche that permanently hosts S. cerevisiae. Bark-associated strains were not found on grape bunches and during pilot-scale vinifications, indicating no significative strain transfer from vine bark to the grape must. Commercial starters were identified as well both in vineyards and during vinifications

An analytical approximation scheme to two point boundary value problems of ordinary differential equations

A new (algebraic) approximation scheme to find {\sl global} solutions of two point boundary value problems of ordinary differential equations (ODE's) is presented. The method is applicable for both linear and nonlinear (coupled) ODE's whose solutions are analytic near one of the boundary points. It is based on replacing the original ODE's by a sequence of auxiliary first order polynomial ODE's with constant coefficients. The coefficients in the auxiliary ODE's are uniquely determined from the local behaviour of the solution in the neighbourhood of one of the boundary points. To obtain the parameters of the global (connecting) solutions analytic at one of the boundary points, reduces to find the appropriate zeros of algebraic equations. The power of the method is illustrated by computing the approximate values of the ``connecting parameters'' for a number of nonlinear ODE's arising in various problems in field theory. We treat in particular the static and rotationally symmetric global vortex, the skyrmion, the Nielsen-Olesen vortex, as well as the 't Hooft-Polyakov magnetic monopole. The total energy of the skyrmion and of the monopole is also computed by the new method. We also consider some ODE's coming from the exact renormalization group. The ground state energy level of the anharmonic oscillator is also computed for arbitrary coupling strengths with good precision.Comment: 5 pages, 3 tables, Late

Exploring CNS Effects of American Traditional Medicines using Zebrafish Models

Although American traditional medicine (ATM) has been practiced for millennia, its complex multi-target mechanisms of therapeutic action remain poorly understood. Animal models are widely used to elucidate the therapeutic effects of various ATMs, including their modulation of brain and behavior. Complementing rodent models, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a promising novel organism in translational neuroscience and neuropharmacology research. Here, we emphasize the growing value of zebrafish for testing neurotropic effects of ATMs and outline future directions of research in this field. We also demonstrate the developing utility of zebrafish as complementary models for probing CNS mechanisms of ATM action and their potential to treat brain disorders. © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.Applied Genetics MIPT, (075-15-2021-684)International Zebrafish Neurosci-ence Research ConsortiumSirius UniversitySouthwest University Zebrafish Platform Construction Funds (Chongqing, ChinaZNRCConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq, (305051/2018-0)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, FAPERGS, (19/2551-0001-669-7, 19/2551-0001764-2)Russian Science Foundation, RSF, (20-65-46006)The study is supported by the Southwest University Zebrafish Platform Construction Funds (Chongqing, China). AVK is the Chair of the International Zebrafish Neurosci-ence Research Consortium (ZNRC) that coordinated this collaborative project. DBR receives the CNPq research productivity grant (process 305051/2018-0) and the FAPERGS “Gaucho” Researcher Program – PQG fellowship grant (process 19/2551-0001764-2). ACVVG is supported by the FAPERGS research fellowships 19/2551-0001-669-7. The study is partly supported by Sirius University (Sochi, Russia). Research collaboration here is supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) grant 20-65-46006 to Prof. T.G. Amstislavskaya. The funders had no role in the design, analyses, and interpretation of the submitted study or the decision to publish. The study used the facilities and equipment of the Resource Fund of Applied Genetics MIPT (support grant 075-15-2021-684)

The role of seasonality and photoperiod on the lethality of suicide attempts: A case-control study

Background: The risk factors related to suicidal behaviors are complex and not yet fully known. Several studies underline how suicide results from the combination of psycho-social, biological, cultural, and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of seasonality and photoperiod on high-lethality suicide attempts (HLSA) compared with low-lethality suicide attempts (LLSA) in a sample of psychiatric inpatients. Methods: After attempting suicide, subjects were admitted in the emergency/psychiatric ward of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino from 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Results: The sample consisted of four hundred thirty-two individuals admitted for suicide attempt. One hundred thirty-three subjects (30.8%) of the sample committed a HLSA. The HLSA group peaked in the months with a higher sunlight exposure (June and July). Bivariate correlation analyses between seasonality/photoperiod in the whole sample and HLSA were positively associated with summer and highest solar intensity period. Limitations: Data were limited to a single hospital, patients’ seasonal environment, meteorological variables and psychological factors. In addition, the presence of acute life-events fostering the suicidal crisis has not been investigated. Conclusions: The current study provides a novel perspective on the questions surrounding the impact of seasonality and daylight exposure on lethality of suicide attempts. further studies are needed to provide deeper understandings on the delicate molecular network that links suicide behaviors, seasonality and daylight in order to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies in the future

Frustration Effects in Antiferromagnetic FCC Heisenberg Films

We study the effects of frustration in an antiferromagnetic film of FCC lattice with Heisenberg spin model including an Ising-like anisotropy. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations have been used to study thermodynamic properties of the film. We show that the presence of the surface reduces the ground state (GS) degeneracy found in the bulk. The GS is shown to depend on the surface in-plane interaction $J_s$ with a critical value at which ordering of type I coexists with ordering of type II. Near this value a reentrant phase is found. Various physical quantities such as layer magnetizations and layer susceptibilities are shown and discussed. The nature of the phase transition is also studied by histogram technique. We have also used the Green's function (GF) method for the quantum counterpart model. The results at low-$T$ show interesting effects of quantum fluctuations. Results obtained by the GF method at high $T$ are compared to those of MC simulations. A good agreement is observed.Comment: 11 pages, 19 figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Condensed Matte

The impact of liver disease: a leading cause of hospital admissions in people living vith HIV

Background: This study reviews recent trends of HIV inpatient admissions over 5 Infectious diseases Units in Liguria, in 2012. Patients and Methods: Five infectious diseases Units in Liguria, Italy, collected data on inpatient HIV admissions from January to December 2012, including patient demographic, discharge diagnosis, CD4 Tcell count, viral load (VL) and combined anti-retroviral treatment (cART). Results: Rate of patient admissions per 100 years was 6.12 (number=257), in 62.6% (n=161) of admissions a VL under 50 copies/ml was observed. Furthermore, 86.4% (n=222) of admissions were on active cART. Median age was 49 years. Mortality rate was 10.2%. Hepatitis C coinfection occurred in 64.6% of patients (n=166). The most common diagnosis was infectious diseases (29.1%), respiratory diseases (16.6%) and neoplasms (15.%). Chronic HCV infection and its complications (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) accounted for 31% of all discharging diagnosis. Conclusions: The majority of inpatients admitted during 2012 in our Units were on cART and virologically suppressed. The complications of hepatitis C coinfection have a major impact on mortality rates and hospitalization rates in Italy. According to these observations, the availability of new drugs for chronic hepatitis C imposes a further effort to improve the quality of life of our patients

Understanding How Stress Responses and Stress-Related Behaviors Have Evolved in Zebrafish and Mammals

Stress response is essential for the organism to quickly restore physiological homeostasis disturbed by various environmental insults. In addition to well-established physiological cascades, stress also evokes various brain and behavioral responses. Aquatic animal models, including the zebrafish (Danio rerio), have been extensively used to probe pathobiological mechanisms of stress and stress-related brain disorders. Here, we critically discuss the use of zebrafish models for studying mechanisms of stress and modeling its disorders experimentally, with a particular cross-taxon focus on the potential evolution of stress responses from zebrafish to rodents and humans, as well as its translational implications. © 2021 The AuthorsAVK is supported by the Zebrafish Platform Construction Fund from the Southwest University (Chongqing, China). The collaboration was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) grant 19-15-00053. KAD is supported by the President of Russia Graduate Fellowship, and the Special Rector's Fellowship for SPSU students. ACVVG is supported by the FAPERGS research fellowship 19/2551-0001-669-7. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Influence of the mannoproteins of different strains of Starmerella bacillaris used in single and sequential fermentations on foamability, tartaric and protein stabilities of wines

Aim: In this work, seven strains of Starmerella bacillaris were analysed for their ability to release polysaccharides during alcoholic fermentation (AF), both in single-strain and in sequential AF together with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods and results: A synthetic polysaccharide-free must was used to characterise the mannoproteins (MPs) released. The MPs were quantified, characterised in terms of carbohydrate composition, and tested to assess their ability to reduce protein and tartrate instabilities and their ability to affect the foaming properties of wine. Conclusions: All the tested strains in sequential AF increased the total MPs production. Moreover, the strains affected the MPs properties in different ways regarding tartaric and protein stabilities. The MPs released in sequential AF by some S. bacillaris strains showed a significant effect on protein stabilisation and tartaric stability. An effect on the foamability was found for MPs obtained in single-strain AFs of S. bacillaris

Zebrafish as a Model of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) caused by aberrant brain growth and development are life-long, debilitating illnesses that markedly impair the quality of life. Animal models are a valuable tool for studying NDD pathobiology and therapies. Mounting evidence suggests the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a useful model organism to study NDDs, possessing both high physiological homology to humans and sensitivity to pharmacological and genetic manipulations. Here, we summarize experimental models of NDDs in zebrafish and highlight the growing translational significance of zebrafish NDD-related phenotypes. We also emphasize the need in further development of zebrafish models of NDDs to improve our understanding of their pathogenesis and therapeutic treatments. © 2019 IBROThis research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-05-00053. KAD is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research grant 18‐34‐00996, the President of Russia PhD Fellowship and the SPSU Rector's Productivity Fellowship for PhD students. ACVVG is supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) research fellowships 17/2551-0001-269-0. AVK is the President of the International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS, www.stress-and-behavior .com) and the Chair of the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) that coordinated this multi-laboratory collaborative project