High-fidelity preparation, gates, memory and readout of a trapped-ion quantum bit

We implement all single-qubit operations with fidelities significantly above the minimum threshold required for fault-tolerant quantum computing, using a trapped-ion qubit stored in hyperfine "atomic clock" states of $^{43}$Ca$^+$. We measure a combined qubit state preparation and single-shot readout fidelity of 99.93%, a memory coherence time of $T^*_2=50$ seconds, and an average single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.9999%. These results are achieved in a room-temperature microfabricated surface trap, without the use of magnetic field shielding or dynamic decoupling techniques to overcome technical noise.Comment: Supplementary Information included. 6 nines, 7 figures, 8 page

Phytochemical Profiling of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Genotypes Using GC-MS Analysis

Twenty-four soybean genotypes collected from different regions and origin were evaluated for their quality performance to explore their nutritional and medicinal values. The proximate compositions showed considerable variations among soybean genotypes. The USA genotypes recorded the highest values for protein (43.1 g/100 g), total fat (23.61 g/100 g), phenolic content and flavonoids (1.77 and 2.13 mg/g). Using GC-MS analyses of methanolic extracts, a total of 88 compounds were identified in the genotypes and were classified to: 19 heterocyclic compounds, 13 compounds for ketones and esters, 9 for phenolic compound, 7 compounds for carboxylic acids and sugar moiety, 5 compounds for aldehydes and alcohols, 4 ether compounds, 3 amide, 2 alkanes and one alkene and one fatty acid ester. Indonesian genotypes recorded the highest number of phenolic and the Australian genotype A-1 had the maximum number of esters. Genotypes showed high levels of proximate compositions and pharmaceutical components, offering potential candidates for improving those traits in adapted genotypes through breeding program, as well as serving as a good source of mass production of pharmaceutical and medicinal components either through classical or in vitro production. Furthermore, platform was set for isolating and understanding the characteristics of each compound for it pharmacological properties

A measurement of the 4He(g,n) reaction from 23 < Eg < 70 MeV

A comprehensive set of 4He(g,n) absolute cross-section measurements has been performed at MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden. Tagged photons from 23 < Eg < 70 MeV were directed toward a liquid 4He target, and neutrons were identified using pulse-shape discrimination and the Time-of-flight Technique in two liquid-scintillator detector arrays. Seven-point angular distributions have been measured for fourteen photon energies. The results have been subjected to complementary Transition-coefficient and Legendre-coefficient analyses. The results are also compared to experimental data measured at comparable photon energies as well as Recoil-Corrected Continuum Shell Model, Resonating Group Method, and Effective Interaction Hyperspherical-Harmonic Expansion calculations. For photon energies below 29 MeV, the angle-integrated data are significantly larger than the values recommended by Calarco, Berman, and Donnelly in 1983.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, some more revisions, submitted to Physical Review

Interleukin 4 and interleukin 13 downregulate the lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammatory response by human gestation-associated tissues†

Local and systemic inflammation is a key feature of preterm and term labour and delivery. Pro-inflammatory mediators are produced by gestation-associated tissues in response to a broad range of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and IL-13 are well recognised anti-inflammatory cytokines and might have potential as anti-inflammatory therapies to prevent preterm birth. The objective of this study was to determine if IL-4 and IL-13 exert anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by human term gestation-associated tissues (placenta, choriodecidua and amnion). Both IL-4 and IL-13 reduced LPS-stimulated IL-1β and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α with this effect diminishing with delay to exposure to IL-4 or IL-13; there was no effect on LPS-stimulated prostaglandin production. IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα) was expressed throughout the placenta, choriodecidua and amnion, and the inhibitory effects of IL-4 and IL-13 were IL-4Rα-dependent. A combination of IL-4 and IL-13 did not enhance the anti-inflammatory potential of either cytokine; however, a combination of IL-4 and IL-10 had a greater anti-inflammatory effect than either cytokine alone. These findings demonstrate that human term gestation-associated tissues are responsive to the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, which could down-regulate LPS induced cytokine production in these tissues. Anti-inflammatory cytokines might offer an adjunct to existing therapeutics to prevent adverse obstetric outcome

Near-threshold measurement of the 4He(g,n) reaction

A near-threshold 4He(g,n) cross-section measurement has been performed at MAX-lab. Tagged photons from 23 < Eg < 42 MeV were directed toward a liquid 4He target, and neutrons were detected by time-of-flight in two liquid-scintillator arrays. Seven-point angular distributions were measured for eight photon energies. The results are compared to experimental data measured at comparable energies and Recoil-Corrected Continuum Shell Model, Resonating Group Method, and recent Hyperspherical-Harmonic Expansion calculations. The angle-integrated cross-section data is peaked at a photon energy of about 28 MeV, in disagreement with the value recommended by Calarco, Berman, and Donnelly in 1983.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, some revisions, submitted to Physics Letters

Expression and function of NOD-like receptors by human term gestation-associated tissues

Introduction: Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors or NOD-like receptors (NLRs) have been implicated in several disease pathologies associated with inflammation. Since local and systemic inflammation is a hallmark of both term and preterm labour, a role for NLRs at the materno-fetal interface has been postulated. Methods: Gene expression and immunolocalisation of NLR family members in human placenta, choriodecidua, and amnion were examined. Tissue explants were used to examine the response to activators of NOD1 (Tri-DAP), NOD2 (MDP) and NLRP3 (nigericin). Cell/tissue-free supernatants were examined for the production of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 using specific ELISAs. Results: Expression of transcripts for NOD1, NOD2, NLRP3, NLRC4, NLRX1, NLRP1 and NAIP and protein expression of NOD1, NOD2 and NLRP3 were a broad feature of all term gestation-associated tissues. Production of cytokines was increased significantly in response to all ligands in placenta and choriodecidua, except for MDP-induced IL-10. Similarly, there was a significant increase in cytokine production in the amnion except for MDP induced IL-1β and IL-10 response to either agonist. IL-1β production was dependent on caspase-1 regardless of agonist used or tissue examined.Discussion: Term human gestation-associated tissues express functional NLRs which likely play a role in both sterile and pathogen-driven inflammatory responses at the materno-fetal interface

Assessing the long-term effectiveness of cladribine vs. placebo in the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis CLARITY randomized controlled trial and CLARITY extension using treatment switching adjustment methods

Objectives: Treatment switching adjustment methods are often used to adjust for switching in oncology randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this exploratory analysis, we apply these methods to adjust for treatment changes in the setting of an RCT followed by an extension study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods: The CLARITY trial evaluated cladribine tablets versus placebo over 96 weeks. In the 96-week CLARITY Extension, patients who received placebo in CLARITY received cladribine tablets; patients who received cladribine tablets in CLARITY were re-randomized to placebo or cladribine tablets. Endpoints were time to first qualifying relapse (FQR) and time to 3- and 6-month confirmed disability progression (3mCDP, 6mCDP). We aimed to compare the effectiveness of cladribine tablets to placebo over CLARITY and the extension. The rank preserving structural failure time model (RPSFTM) and Iterative Parameter Estimation (IPE) were used to estimate what would have happened if patients had received placebo in CLARITY and the extension, versus patients that received cladribine tablets and switched to placebo. To gauge whether treatment effect waned after the 96 weeks of CLARITY, we compared hazard ratios (HRs) from the adjustment analysis with HRs from CLARITY. Results: The RPSFTM resulted in a HR of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.62) for FQR, 0.62 (95% CI 0.46-0.84) for 3mCDP, and 0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.88) for 6mCDP. IPE algorithm results were similar. CLARITY HRs were 0.44 (95% CI 0.34-0.58), 0.60 (95% CI 0.41-0.87) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.40-0.83) for FQR, 3mCDP and 6mCDP respectively. Conclusions: Treatment switching adjustment methods are applicable in non-oncology settings. Adjusted CLARITY plus CLARITY Extension HRs were similar to the CLARITY HRs, demonstrating significant treatment benefits associated with cladribine tablets versus placebo