Benchmarking high fidelity single-shot readout of semiconductor qubits

Determination of qubit initialisation and measurement fidelity is important for the overall performance of a quantum computer. However, the method by which it is calculated in semiconductor qubits varies between experiments. In this paper we present a full theoretical analysis of electronic single-shot readout and describe critical parameters to achieve high fidelity readout. In particular, we derive a model for energy selective state readout based on a charge detector response and examine how to optimise the fidelity by choosing correct experimental parameters. Although we focus on single electron spin readout, the theory presented can be applied to other electronic readout techniques in semiconductors that use a reservoir.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Identification of LIMK2 as a therapeutic target in castration resistant prostate cancer

This study identified LIMK2 kinase as a disease-specific target in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) pathogenesis, which is upregulated in response to androgen deprivation therapy, the current standard of treatment for prostate cancer. Surgical castration increases LIMK2 expression in mouse prostates due to increased hypoxia. Similarly, human clinical specimens showed highest LIMK2 levels in CRPC tissues compared to other stages, while minimal LIMK2 was observed in normal prostates. Most notably, inducible knockdown of LIMK2 fully reverses CRPC tumorigenesis in castrated mice, underscoring its potential as a clinical target for CRPC. We also identified TWIST1 as a direct substrate of LIMK2, which uncovered the molecular mechanism of LIMK2-induced malignancy. TWIST1 is strongly associated with CRPC initiation, progression and poor prognosis. LIMK2 increases TWIST1 mRNA levels upon hypoxia; and stabilizes TWIST1 by direct phosphorylation. TWIST1 also stabilizes LIMK2 by inhibiting its ubiquitylation. Phosphorylation-dead TWIST1 acts as dominant negative and fully prevents EMT and tumor formation in vivo, thereby highlighting the significance of LIMK2-TWIST1 signaling axis in CRPC. As LIMK2 null mice are viable, targeting LIMK2 should have minimal collateral toxicity, thereby improving the overall survival of CRPC patients

Adsorption and desorption of methylene blue on porous carbon monoliths and nanocrystalline cellulose

The dynamic batch adsorption of methylene blue (MB), a widely used and toxic dye, onto nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and crushed powder of carbon monolith (CM) was investigated using the pseudo-first- and -second-order kinetics. CM outperformed NCC with a maximum capacity of 127 mg/g compared to 101 mg/g for NCC. The Langmuir isotherm model was applicable for describing the binding data for MB on CM and NCC, indicating the homogeneous surface of these two materials. The Gibbs free energy of −15.22 kJ/mol estimated for CM unravelled the spontaneous nature of this adsorbent for MB, appreciably faster than the use of NCC (−4.47 kJ/mol). Both pH and temperature exhibited only a modest effect on the adsorption of MB onto CM. The desorption of MB from CM using acetonitrile was very effective with more than 94 % of MB desorbed from CM within 10 min to allow the reusability of this porous carbon material. In contrast, acetonitrile was less effective than ethanol in desorbing MB from NCC. The two solvents were incapable of completely desorbing MB on commercial granular coal-derived activated carbon

MicroRNAs regulate T-cell production of interleukin-9 and identify hypoxia-inducible factor-2a as an important regulator of T helper 9 and regularoty T-cell differentiation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate many aspects of helper T cell (Th) development and function. Here we found that they are required for the suppression of interleukin‐9 (IL‐9) expression in Th9 cells and other Th subsets. Two highly related miRNAs (miR‐15b and miR‐16) that we previously found to play an important role in regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation were capable of suppressing IL‐9 expression when they were over‐expressed in Th9 cells. We used these miRNAs as tools to identify novel regulators of IL‐9 expression and found that they could regulate the expression of Epas1, which encodes hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐2α. HIF proteins regulate metabolic pathway usage that is important in determining appropriate Th differentiation. The related protein, HIF‐1α enhances Th17 differentiation and inhibits Treg cell differentiation. Here we found that HIF‐2α was required for IL‐9 expression in Th9 cells, but its expression was not sufficient in other Th subsets. Furthermore, HIF‐2α suppressed Treg cell differentiation like HIF‐1α, demonstrating both similar and distinct roles of the HIF proteins in Th differentiation and adding a further dimension to their function. Ironically, even though miR‐15b and miR‐16 suppressed HIF‐2α expression in Treg cells, inhibiting their function in Treg cells did not lead to an increase in IL‐9 expression. Therefore, the physiologically relevant miRNAs that regulate IL‐9 expression in Treg cells and other subsets remain unknown. Nevertheless, the analysis of miR‐15b and miR‐16 function led to the discovery of the importance of HIF‐2α so this work demonstrated the utility of studying miRNA function to identify novel regulatory pathways in helper T‐cell development